Seven Final Fours That Aren't Taking Place In Atlanta This Weekend
Different year, same slight: As everyone runs to the nearest TV or bar to ogle the final four remaining teams in the NCAA tournament, other impressive surviving quartets exist far out of mind. No longer. These final fours are just as deserving of attention as those Johnnies-Come-Lately down in Atlanta—and attention will be paid. During halftime.
LIVING EX-PRESIDENTS
Four living men not named Obama have presidential portraits hanging in the White House: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Both Clinton and Dubya are 66 years old, while Carter and H.W. are each 88. That 33% advantage in years-aged no doubt makes presidents 42 and 43 the favorites to advance.
MEMBERS OF THE 1998 YANKEES STILL IN PINSTRIPES
Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi are the only current Yankees who still dress the same way they did 15 years ago—even if the first three will likely be out of those threads for 4-6 weeks at a time on multiple occasions this season.
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
30 years ago, 14 different daytime soap operas enriched the airwaves. Now it's just General Hospital, The Days of Our Lives, The Young and The Restless and The Bold and The Beautiful. Y&R hasn't looked back since knocking GH from its perch atop the ratings standings in 1988-89, and the show's cult following seems poised to propel the show to eventual victory (or whatever you would call being the final daytime soap left standing).
CANDIDATES IN BLACK RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN'S SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR
As explained by Cassandra Colson of the Jackson Country Chronicle, it's down to Monticello Village Clerk/Treasurer Ryan Wiesen (above left), BRF Municipal Utilities water system operator Casey Engebretson (web-invisible), Tomah-based tax associate Megan Ellingson (web-invisible) and Wisconsin Challenge Academy admissions counselor Shannon Hough (above right). It's about to get real in Black River Falls.
MEMBERS OF THE U.S. COMPASSIONATE INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG PROGRAM
There are four living medical marijuana consumers in the U.S. for whom the federal government is "their guy".
SURVIVING COPIES OF THE 1215 MAGNA CARTA
None of those dime-a-dozen translations or 1297 reissues. We're talking about the parchments that were there at the beginning, two of which the British Museum is greedily keeping for itself.
SELF-IDENTIFIED COMMUNIST COUNTRIES
