Dec 21 2011 09:09 AM
Re: Parody Showdown: (1) G-Fafif vs. (17) LWFS
Good morning. Just moments ago, I spoke with LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr and congratulated him on becoming the winner of this parody thread -- and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time.
I offered to meet with him as soon as possible so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we just passed.
More than a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, “Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you.”
Well, in that same spirit, I say to Parodist-elect LWFS that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of Ryan Thompson, Jose Oquendo, Galen Cisco and Sean Green.
Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our Forum.
Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, "Not under man but under God and law." That's the ruling principle of Mets fan freedom, the source of our parodistic liberties. I've tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided the Crane Pool Forum deliberations of all the complex issues of the past two days.
Now the voters have spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the electorate’s decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified as LWFS awaits the winner of the Valadius-Seawolf thread. And this morning, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our satire, I offer my concession.
I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new parodist-elect and do everything possible to help him bring Poolers together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Terms of Service agreement defines and that our User Profile affirms and defends.
Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. I feel a deep gratitude to Burt Bacharach and Hal David who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership and opened new doors, not just for this parody but on the Billboard charts more than four decades ago.
As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays in the Loser's Lounge. I know I'll spend time with some shrimp, literally and figuratively.
Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the popular songs of the 1970s over the next four weeks, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard.
Like Bo Donaldson. Like Terry Jacks. Like the DeFranco Family. I heard you and I will not forget.
And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to Willie Randolph, it's time for me to go.