Where We Live: Great American Losers
The underside of the American Dream...loss and failure.
It’s one of the most famous baseball radio broadcasts ever: Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges yelling, “The Giants win the pennant.”
Those words made Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca want to throw his radio out the window...he was the pitcher that gave up the blast. It’s been 60 years since the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” and Branca still lives with this legacy.
He has written a new book about that game and coming back from what could have been a crushing blow.
Today, we hear from Branca and others about losing and coming back from loss. Author and cultural historian Scott Sandage joins us to discuss his book Born Losers: A History of Failure in America.
We talk with a Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient about being part of a war many say the U.S. lost. We’ll also hear from a state politician who has run two high profile campaigns and lost tight races both times. Finally, we’ll hear from someone who has lost more than most people ever have.
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Listener email from LK
Good morning really enjoying the program.
Wonder if Bill Buckner is listening?
two points where I would disagree with John's commentary, though. The elements of the "Greatest Generation" that got the US into the Vietnam War did not for the most part (as John said) send THEIR sons to war. Very few children of members of Congress, or other wealthy and powerful Americans, adctually served. The Greatest Generation sent the sons of their employees, maybe.
I also don't think it was the fans of the Vancouver Canucks that were responsible for most of the damage of the team lost the Stanley Cup. For the most part it seemed that the vandals were just troublemakers looking for any excuse to cause trouble.
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