Yes, we intentionally paired No. 6 Stalin Felipe and No. 11 Hitler Makofane. Can you blame us? But the possibility of a Hitler-Hannukkah second-round smackdown? We honestly didn't notice until it was pointed out. History just happens.
And what's up anyway with Hannukkah Wallace, a Jamaican bobsledder (and former sprinter) who, sadly, failed to qualify for the Vancouver Games? The AP investigates:
His mother was pregnant with him and working at a jewelry store at the airport in Kingston. A tourist suggested "Hanukkah" for her soon-to-be-born son's name. Somehow, the extra "n" got into the mix, for reasons that Wallace never understood.
Of course, that doesn't explain why mom took the tourist's suggestion. But there may be a simple cultural reason. According to a lengthy and interesting Hannukkah-prompted discussion on Language Log, a blog affiliated with the Institute for Research in Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Jamaicans are pretty laissez faire namers. (Usain, anyone?) Bonus detail: One commenter said her husband trained with Hannukkah and "did not know if Hanukkah [sic] was Jewish, but he pronounced it "Ha-NOO-kuh."
Baruch atah Adonai. The contestants:
No. 3 Hannukkah Wallace: See above.
No. 14 Cynnamon Crabb: Wife of Iowa copper thief.
No. 6 Stalin Felipe: Falsely accused Hofstra student. (Don't be afraid to use your cellphone video camera!)
No. 11 Hitler Makofane: South African soccer player.
Friday, March 26, 2010
2010 NOTY: Bulltron Regional, Part 3
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10 comments:
Going with Hitler just on the sheer chutzpah it takes to name your child after that dude. I had him beating Hannukkah Wallace in the round of 32. Because irony amuses me.
AND YOU MISSED "BOOLER SHABALALA"?????? You guys are losing your edge.
Booler Shabalala? He's no Courage Shabalala, the 1997 NOTY.
the blog post and poll misspell Cynnamon Crabb's first name.
Fixed. Thanks.
The drawsheet lists the 6 seed as Felipe Stalin, rather than Stalin Felipe. Looks like you've got it right in the ballot box -- but the name in the draw lends it a marvelous, oh-that-crazy-summer-of'62-in-Havana feeling.
Stalin Felipe was corrected in ballot.
Come on people! The guy's name is Hitler! I don't care what part of Africa you're from, you must have heard of Hitler. This guy just has to advance. Vote Hitler.
I almost took Hitler until I learned it was pronounced "ha-NOO-kah." That just adds a whole new level of fantastic.
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