by James Oliphant
They say presidential candidates can’t win the general election without winning Ohio. But the Buckeye State (from which your writer hails) is becoming known for something else: losing. And losing. And losing.
Last night’s defeat of Ohio State at the hands of Louisiana State for the college football championship capped off a remarkable 12 months for the state’s sports-loving citizens. Even more so than in politics, the record doesn’t lie:
Last January, Ohio State lost to Florida in the BCS football championship.
In April, Ohio State lost to Florida (again) in the NCAA basketball championship.
In June, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in the NBA finals to the San Antonio Spurs.
In October, the Cleveland Indians blew a 3-1 lead in the American League championship playoffs to the Boston Red Sox. (Who then went on to sweep Colorado in the World Series)
And, as Tribune correspondent Andrew Zajac (from Cleveland) points out, even the friggin’ Ohio State soccer team last month lost the NCAA championship game to Wake Forest.
And now, here we are again. William Jennings Bryan didn’t lose this much.
So, a note of caution to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or whoever captures the Democratic nomination. Sure, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is an attractive, popular Midwestern governor, the kind of moderate who would look great on the ticket.
But, honestly, do you really want to take that chance?
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Comments
Defend Ohio!!! Obama 2008
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 8, 2008 1:31 PM
If the Democrats are looking for an Ohioan to fill out their ticket, why not go with--Swamp reporter James Oliphant?
Posted by: Bruce | January 8, 2008 1:50 PM
Strickland is NOT moderate. He is as liberal as Obama or Shillary
Posted by: CintiKid | January 8, 2008 1:59 PM
They gave the White House to Bush twice.
Let them rot.
Posted by: Ron S. | January 8, 2008 2:01 PM
Ohio,in 2004,swung a second term for the absolute "WORST" Prez in history.
Look in the mirror Ohio,you are what you choose,LOSERS.
Change your luck in 08,GO OBAMA and get back on track.
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 8, 2008 3:07 PM
Ron S.
Thanks, I'm busted for LOL at work.
Posted by: Brian | January 8, 2008 3:25 PM
Ron S.
While I'm rotting here in Ohio, let me use this time to point out that Ohio was stolen in '04, by the criminal GOP, just as Florida was in 2000.
Doesn't anyone read the news?
And although Ohio deserves a swift kick in the buckeyes for allowing Ken Blackwell, Bob Ney and Bob Taft to run our good name into the ground I'm pretty sure that I saw several other red states on the map on that dark November night.
At least the Strickland administration is cleaning up the mess.
Bruce, Ted Strickland IS a moderate and his 70% approval rating across party lines is one indicator of that.
In sports, it is true, we in Ohio rank a solid second out of all college football teams, major league ball clubs, and nba teams. And I can live with that.
Another GOP win in '08 I cannot live with.
Go Bucks - Go Barack
Posted by: DublinBlue | January 8, 2008 5:32 PM
Just for your information the Coach from LSU was a 1972 graduate of Elyria High School, which is just west of Cleveland. Which goes to prove that most teams around the country only win with some kind of an influence from Ohio!
Posted by: Jiffy | January 8, 2008 5:34 PM