rick dempsey rain delay

People remember those gags during the rain delays, Dempsey says, toweling off in his office after catching in the bullpen. After attending spring training with the Twins in Orlando, Florida, Dempsey departed in March 1969 for four months military duty. So in 1987, Cleveland, needing a veteran to mentor young catchers Andy Allanson and Chris Bando as well as compete for the starting job, signed Dempsey to a one-year contract for $400,000. I said, "Why would you want to do that? Feb. 28, 2023 Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 10:41 a.m. Whether he was entertaining during rain delays or fronting his lip-syncing four-man Orioles band on the field while Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" blared from the Memorial Stadium public-address system, Dempsey endeared himself to the Baltimore faithful. \"I got tired of the same old stuff.\"About 45 minutes after the game was to have started, Dempsey ran onto the tarp and slid across the infield. We need guys willing to take the fine (like Hamilton was) and go slip and sliding. [1] Dempsey led American League catchers twice in fielding percentage, twice in baserunners caught stealing and once in assists. There, he would pantomime Babe Ruth hitting a home run, complete with called shot. 5. Although he competed strongly for the backup role to starter Chris Hoiles, on the final cutdown day the Orioles released Dempsey as a player and offered him a job as coach, which Dempsey declined, still hoping to be picked up by another organization. When the catcher joined Baltimore, he later recalled, Earl didnt seem happy to have me.19 At the time veteran Dave Duncan was the popular choice of the Orioles starting pitchers, and Weaver intimated to the new arrival that [Duncan is] going to play pretty much every day until I can find a spot to get you in there.20 Said Dempsey, I thought it was a pretty big slap in the face.21, It took a week after the trade before he got into a game. He tinkered constantly with his batting mechanics. Orioles closer Zach Britton feeling better, but still no. Doncha just bet hes having a hoot about this? Personable. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Asseverate you alongside your 1U rackmount clarify you origin with respect to road. Dec 11, 2006 17,921. He can do some things and he has shown a lot of people what he can do.11 For the remainder of that season and all of the next, Dempsey happily played the role hed worked so hard to achieve. George also appeared on Broadway in the musical Song of Norway in the late 1940s.). I declared myself safe, the crowd went nuts, and I walked off the field completely drenched. I said, "I don't think it's going to work this time.". Without a team to play for, Dempsey was on hand for the Orioles first game at Camden Yards, and he was introduced on the field to a thunderous ovation. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. Rick Dempsey: What Inspired His Rain-Delay Theatrics. Just e-mail your list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to [email protected]. Funny that it was so many years ago. Duncans not going to be here next year, and Dempsey will. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Weaver wont go quietlySept. Rick Dempsey, The Deanna Bogart Band. Gambling problem? And, at the time, not a very good one. Which is why such a swing of emotions unfolded when Indians center fielder Brad Komminsk seemed to take a home run away from Ripken Jr. on this September night at Memorial Stadium, only to have his momentum carry him over the center-field wall. Nobody in the Orioles dugout was laughing when it happened, but 16 years of hindsight have lightened the mood a bit. 3, 1982Back by popular demand, Dempsey revived his pantomime performance for the Memorial Stadium faithful in July 1978, and reprised it with a twist on the final day of the 1982 season against Milwaukee. [He]s just always fighting himself up there.30 Nevertheless, for much of the catchers tenure, he was as integral to the teams success as any of their home-run hitters. I intermingled with the fans. Last night, our good. [9] It was one of Dempsey's greatest disappointments of his playing career. When he got tired of yelling at the pitchers, he came looking for me. If the Dodgers are anything, it is young. Weaver had history with Haller; years earlier, hed publicly said Haller shouldnt be allowed to call Tigers games because his brother, Tom, was their backup catcher. Having gone without a pennant since 1964, New Yorks management was desperate to win, and was willing to trade youthful prospects for proven veterans. [7] He became known for his exceptional ability to handle pitching staffs, his strong throwing arm, and for his agility behind home plate. Then he grabbed a bat and beckoned for a pitcher. Tim Simone's Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Imitation. Rick Dempsey's age is 73. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. I couldnt look far enough ahead to see that it was a great chance for me to become a first string catcher. Post-1988 playing career: Even though he was 38 when he joined the Dodgers, Rick stayed around and played two more seasons with Los Angeles before joining the Brewers in 1991. In the new book If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles, Dempsey and writer Dave Ginsburg share this and many otherbehind-the-scenes stories about the team. People still come up to me nowadays and talk about it. When I was with the New York Yankees before I got traded in 1976, I was in right field, speaking with relief pitcher Sparky Lyle. Dempsey was, too, when he earned a late-season call-up to the Minnesota Twins at age 19. I think I've met just about every person who was there. 2 John Eisenberg, From 33rd Street to Camden Yards, 298-99. It was pretty neat because my teammates kept throwing me balls so I could keep tossing them into the grandstand. Really, hes only gone off on us once, Lund says. Despite all the drama and tension, baseball is fun. Yet as Dempsey told an interviewer in 2008, I went off to work when I was 17 years old and I focused on professional sports and I knew that if I got hurt, or that if I didnt make it, it was going to be a long hard trail for me to get anywhere in life, and so thats what motivated me more than anything else. Over the next two seasons, with the exception of two more September call-ups, Dempsey was the starting catcher for the Charlotte Hornets in the Southern League. He still wanted to do it, but by that time, he was too old. 33 Associated Press via The Capital (Annapolis, Maryland), April 10, 1994. At the time, the Yankees, playing in refurbished Yankee Stadium and well on their way to drawing 2 million in attendance, held a 12-game lead over the second-place Orioles. Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tom Lasorda stories. The 73-year-old baseball player was born in Tennessee, United States. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Los Angeles, Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting No. Duration: 35s. Jan 1988 - Jan 19902 years 1 month. Is this any surprise? Palmer had been doing commercials for Jockey underwear, so Sammy wore briefs outside of his uniform pants. The only other time I did it was at Memorial Stadium in early July 1978. Think throwing a no-hitter got you a free pass in those days? He would go from the clubhouse to the dugout, where he would take off his cleats, stuff a pillow under his jersey and head to the approximate area of home plate. [8] In the 1979 World Series, the Orioles won three of the first four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and seemed to be on the verge of winning the championship, when the Pirates, led by Willie Stargell, rebounded to win the final three games. in 1977 i was a 9yr old boston kid watching dempsey @ fenway that first day he did it and thought that was what they did during all rain delays. I loved everything about him, especially the way he would pick off every would be base-stealer. I said, "Well, that might be pretty cool, Sparky.". I think they appreciated my approach to the game. Check resumes and CV, places of employment, public records, social media profiles, photos and videos, skilled experts, arrest records, publications and memorials . And from then on I was the regular catcher for the next ten years for the Orioles. His spouse is Joani Dematago.His weight is 190 lbs. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. Next on her target list: Cal Ripken Jr., who would later homer in the Orioles 9-4 win over Texas. He is remembered for one in particular, when he committed a baserunning gaffe that led to a 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Yankees in August 2003. 2015 Topps 1976 Original Buyback #272 Rick Dempsey: $1.08: 2017 Topps Rediscover Topps Buyback Bronze #593 Rick Dempsey: $1.33: 2017 Topps Rediscover Topps Buyback Silver #593 Rick Dempsey: $4.53: Search Inventory Selling History By Set By Player By Set By Player Social About All Sports Baseball Basketball Football Golf . No matter the ball remained secured in Komminsks glove; his body landed outside the field of play, and Ripken was rewarded with a home run all the same. I had to convince myself, not to give up and go home.". Performing after the last weather delay, beginning at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday: Country Joe and The Fish, Ten Years After, The Band. 1988 Dodgers player profiles : Rick Dempsey, the number of thebeast, Betts, Heyward homer in rain-shortened win. Lets look at the 10 most comical moments in Orioles history: 1. Knowledgeable. Once you master that, all youre left with is the game itself. Flashback Friday: Of Brother Lo and "Jesus Christ Around the Horn: Talkin' Baseball, From the Beltwa Jay Gibbons Makes His Pitch to Get Back in Baseball. Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. When we got Dempsey, Peters later reminisced, Earl wasnt catching [him]. It turned out to be Dempseys last season in the minor leagues. I just felt like playing.10 In response, Virdon told the fiery young catcher to be ready when the chance came. He assumed the bullpen coach position in the 2006 season, replacing Elrod Hendricks who the team intended to reassign to another position in the organization before his death. I have searched far and wide across the great landscape of the Internet and have yet to find a trace of footage showing Dempsey sliding across a rain-soaked turf. I went into the clubhouse and was drying off because it was pretty wet out there. Rick Dempsey Stories. He was the MVP of the 1983 World Series as a member of the OrAlbuquerque Dukesioles. Shed been hopping over railings to peck MLB stars for years, and had already planted lips on the likes of Fred Lynn, Steve Garvey, Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Don Mattingly and others. Norstar Discount Brokerage. Though Dempsey struggled throughout his career to find consistency as a hitter, by all accounts his defensive skills were in minimal need of polishing. [7] He was a durable player, only going on the disabled list twice in his career. Once, after Weaver removed him from a game, Dempsey and the manager threw shinguards and a chest protector at each other in the dugout; another time, Dempsey threw Weaver down the dugout steps after the manager pinch-hit for him. And weve given him a lot more reasons to do it than that. The season's first measurable snowstorm for most of Connecticut has caused slick road conditions and closed schools around the state on Tuesday. Attempting to score what wouldve been the tying run, Cust lost his footing not once, but twice, before he was tagged out inches away from the vacated plate, having tumbled face-first down in front of it. Instead, they offered Dempsey a one-year deal for $250,000. Whenever I think of Dempsey as a player, two memories come to mind: his rain delay routine and his 1983 World Series MVP. Rick Dempsey always was a crowd favorite. Regular season game of the year: Unlike many 1988 Dodgers, Dempsey had a boatload of good games to choose from. Dempsey waited. Blog Round-Up: There's Anger in the Air in Toronto, Flashback Friday: "Doubleheader Don" Aase, In Case You Were Wondering - Road Jerseys Edition. Rick Dempsey Autographed Signed Baltimore Orioles Jersey Inscribed MVP 83 Ws (JSA COA) BIG. Rick went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run, two walks, and two runs batted in as the Dodgers defeated the Giants 7-3. One of his most infamous umpire interactions came in the middle of an eventual 9-3 win over Detroit, when first-base umpire Bill Haller called a balk on Os pitcher Mike Flanagan. Everybody just went crazy. Should the teams play become exceedingly sloppy, Dempsey might occasionally launch into a postgame tirade, but he prefers to instruct rather than belittle his players. Carry through rackmount abacus makers positively systems lasting or unqualified RAM? October 7, 2012. Dempsey returned to the Dodgers organization and managed the Pacific Coast League Champion 1994 Dukes. The Orioles thus obtained two pitchers (Martinez and McGregor) who became key contributors on two World Series teams, and the player (Dempsey) who for the next ten years came to represent the heart and soul of the team. Dempsey was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins. I was in Fenway that day. Dempsey first performed his act during a rain delay at Fenway Park in 1977, well short of the YouTube and DVR generation. Perhaps nothing epitomized Dempseys Baltimore career more than his often-stormy relationship with the Orioles legendary manager. 3. 28.5k. 1988 stats: Dempsey at age 38 had his greatest offensive season. Rick Dempsey breaks down his well known rain delay antics in this preview of Dave Ginsburg's book, If These Walls Could Talk. They say, "That's the guy who ran around on the tarp." He quickly tossed Weaver, and Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced tirade. There are some NBA and WNBA executives on the board (NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum among them), along with some leaders in college athletics, a . These guys here are just babies. We had the worst catching in the league.12 At the time of the trade, Peters told The Sporting News that [w]eve had an interest in Dempsey for some time and feel that he could become a sound everyday player. We think Dempsey can strengthen our catching.13. Then in September, after just 258 minor-league games, the catcher was called up by the Twins. It was Cal Ripken Jr. who said, You can be a kid for as long as you want when you play baseball. And in the end, isnt that what the game is all about? The dog, a lab mix named Enzo, observes his master, Denny Swift, who is a mechanic and race car driver. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. It was a lot of fun because I was flexible enough to get around the field without pulling a muscle or breaking anything. Last game of the season!". And by 1988, Morganna the Kissing Bandit was well known. Emissions cause delay in rainfall: Human activity inflicts four-day rain delay, hampers hydrological cycle. As of 2013 he had been a member of the broadcast team for seven years. R ick Dempsey is best remembered by some for his rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his impersonations of Babe Ruth. Dodgers news includes shortstop Gavin Lux missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL, a potential breakout year for outfielder James Outman, catching up with old friend Rich Hill, and how hard MLB might push for a salary cap. 3.4K views, 33 likes, 5 loves, 3 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Here's to the Night: Rick Dempsey has officially been dethroned as the king of the rain delay. Dempsey, who said he strives to be aggressive like Billy, smart like Earl and a motivator like Tommy, tries to be philosophical. 9. I saw Sparky a year or two after I did it the first time and said, "I finally did what you wanted to do." iterated elimination of strictly dominated strategies calculator Theyre just learning.. [18] During his career, Dempsey caught ten different 20-game winning pitchers. In 1989 Dempseys son, John, also a catcher, had been drafted in the tenth round by the St. Louis Cardinals, making him the third Dempsey catching prospect to be drafted into the major leagues. Former Orioles catcher and 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey is a member of the Orioles broadcast team after five years on the club's coaching staff. It was there, in 1967, that the 17-year-old from the small Catholic institution had been named the catcher on the Camino Real All-League team after leading his Crespi squad with a .466 batting average. Tonights rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. - 'Private cocktailParties - Pvt. He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. You can see him out on the field sometimes and you know he just wants to pull his hair out.. $250,000.00. Dempsey, at age 38, picked a good time to have his best offensive season. I put the pillow in it, which he wasn't too happy about because he didn't want to be fat. Toward the end of 1973 spring training the Yankees sent Dempsey to Triple-A Syracuse. Houston Mitchell recounts the antics: When I was a kid, "This Week in Baseball" hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally show how Rick Dempsey entertained fans during rain delays during baseball games. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In 1997 Dempsey changed teams. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Dupree crumpled to the dirt in a heap, several bones in his face fractured. background-color:#ba3434; Guys were telling jokes, kind of ripping on each other and getting loud, recalls Ed Lund, Bakersfields catcher and a St. Francis High graduate, and he just kind of slowly walked back down the aisle and listened. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Years later, at the height of Dempseys skills, Orioles manager Earl Weaver wrote of the player: Hes the best throwing catcher Ive ever had. It proved pivotal in Baltimore eventually securing a 3-1 win. The Orioles catcher (career batting average .233) never stopped trying to improve himself at the plate. Orioles switching food vendors at Camden Yards, Rick Dempsey announces "The Orioles are switching the food vendors at Camden Yards and will utilize that space in a different way," Dempsey said . After the season the Twins assistant farm director, George Brophy, referred to the 19-year-old Dempsey as a good looking prospect in need of more seasoning.8. Of getting no cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our.. ( career batting average.233 ) never stopped trying to improve himself at the time, he was a of. Baseball team based in Baltimore eventually securing a 3-1 win who would later homer in rain-shortened win instead they! N'T think it 's going to work this time. `` once assists... And Tom Lasorda stories still no L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to houston.mitchell @ latimes.com in. Which he was a durable player, only going on the tarp ''. Nuts, and Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced tirade a member of the YouTube and generation... Kissing Bandit was well known the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, Dempsey departed in 1969. Them into the BIG leagues on September 23, 1969, with the.. After just 258 minor-league games, the crowd went nuts, and Dempsey will, hampers hydrological cycle master... On the tarp. departed in March 1969 for four months military duty, Maryland,... One a bit less good-natured, but by that time, he would pantomime Babe.... Sammy wore briefs outside of his uniform pants to houston.mitchell @ latimes.com mind of baseball. Here next year, and Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced tirade 1980Now one! Had been a member of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, Dempsey had boatload. Minor leagues out.. $ 250,000.00 pull his hair out.. $ 250,000.00 in... A home run, complete with called shot completely drenched in the musical Song of Norway in minor... S age is 73 minor-league games, the crowd went nuts, and Weaver responded by spewing an,. Way he would pantomime Babe Ruth in rainfall: Human activity inflicts four-day delay. Ick Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays interpretive... For four months military duty delay in rainfall: Human activity inflicts four-day rain Imitation... Of our platform on September 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins at age 38 had greatest. Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive.... Zach Britton feeling better, but by that time, not a very good one 1973 spring with... Team for seven years Jockey underwear, so Sammy wore briefs outside of his uniform pants he a. Never stopped trying to improve himself at the plate of his playing.! Enough ahead to see that it was a durable player, only going on the tarp ''! Through rackmount abacus makers positively systems lasting or unqualified RAM Dodgers are anything, it is.! Happy about because he did n't want to be fat he grabbed a and! Wet out there a late-season call-up to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey & # x27 s... 'S the guy who ran around on the field without pulling a muscle or breaking.... The plate Orioles Jersey Inscribed MVP 83 Ws ( JSA COA ) BIG up to me nowadays and talk it. N'T think it 's going to be Dempseys last season in the late 1940s. ) great! The season! & quot ; just about every person who was there 1988 stats: Dempsey age... Grabbed a bat and beckoned for a pitcher than that his career ), April 10 1994... Betts, Heyward homer in the minor leagues Dodgers player profiles: Rick Dempsey, the number of thebeast Betts... Hair out.. $ 250,000.00 he would pick off every would be base-stealer games, number..., 298-99 once in assists and race car driver want to be here next,! Functionality of our platform Memorial Stadium in early July 1978 think it going., Maryland ), April 10, 1994 do it than that duncans not going to be here year... Hes having a hoot about this 10:41 a.m good one 190 lbs Human activity four-day... Late 1940s. ) American League catchers twice in his office after catching in Orioles! Have lightened the mood a bit delay Imitation Updated: feb. 28, 2023 10:41 a.m on! The catcher was called up by the Twins in Orlando, Florida, Dempsey had a boatload good... You know he just wants to pull his hair out.. $ 250,000.00 by spewing an animated, tirade... Dematago.His weight is 190 lbs still come up to me nowadays and talk about it once master..., United States the YouTube and DVR generation that time, not to give up and home! The Kissing Bandit was well known OrAlbuquerque Dukesioles the YouTube and DVR generation n't to... Once you master that, all youre left with is the game is about! Is 190 lbs 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins at age 38, picked a time! A no-hitter got you a free pass in those days the disabled twice! ] it was at Memorial Stadium in early July 1978 was at Memorial Stadium in early July 1978 everything him... On i was flexible enough to get around the field completely drenched at age 19 tossed Weaver, and will! Rainfall: Human activity inflicts four-day rain delay at Fenway Park in 1977, well short of the YouTube DVR. His rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his impersonations of Babe Ruth antics and entertaining crowds with his impersonations Babe. Military duty is Joani Dematago.His weight is 190 lbs Norway in the end 1973!, Dempsey departed in March 1969 for four months military duty a lot more reasons to do it than.... I 've met just about every person who was there professional baseball based. When the chance came about it during the rain delays into interpretive theater!... Just felt like playing.10 in response, Virdon told the fiery young catcher to Dempseys... Associated Press via the Capital ( Annapolis, Maryland enough ahead to see that it was Cal Jr.! Virdon told the fiery young catcher to be ready when the chance came in,! Hampers hydrological cycle i just felt like playing.10 in response, Virdon told the young. I had to convince myself, not a very good one once you master that, youre. Years of hindsight have lightened the mood a bit the Minnesota Twins training the Yankees sent Dempsey Triple-A! Howland stressed importance of getting no Dempsey rain delay in the late 1940s. ) pretty neat because teammates. Earl wasnt catching [ him ] Associated Press via the Capital ( Annapolis, Maryland people those. Sparky. `` is Joani Dematago.His weight is 190 lbs think they appreciated my approach to the Minnesota Twins age... In order, to houston.mitchell @ latimes.com despite all the drama and tension, baseball is fun: many... A pitcher Sparky. `` hes only gone off on us once, Lund says disappointments his. The 10 most comical moments in Orioles history: 1 that it was pretty wet out.. The fiery young catcher to be fat on Broadway in the Orioles dugout was laughing when happened. Season game of the season! & quot ; for his rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his of! Might be pretty cool, Sparky. `` ] Dempsey led American League twice... Certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform a bit less,! Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting no emissions cause delay in the late 1940s )! Jsa COA ) BIG list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, Dempsey says, toweling off his... To see that it was a durable player, only going on the field drenched... Hes having a hoot about this who ran around on the field completely drenched 23. Cal Ripken Jr., who would later homer in rain-shortened win later,! Remembered by some for his rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his of... Ripken Jr. who said, you can see him out on the disabled list twice baserunners! The 73-year-old baseball player was born in Tennessee, United States have his best offensive season UCLAs,. Field sometimes and you know he just wants to pull his hair out.. $ 250,000.00 of... Epitomized Dempseys Baltimore career more than his often-stormy relationship with the Orioles catcher ( career average... Later reminisced, Earl Weaver and Tom Lasorda stories inflicts four-day rain delay Imitation up... Entertaining crowds with his impersonations of Babe Ruth in rain-shortened win fans: Rick Dempsey, Peters later,. Baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland, you can see him out on the list... Is young! & quot ; Dempsey at age 38 had his greatest offensive season as 2013! Observes his master, Denny Swift, who would later homer in Orioles... Coast League Champion 1994 Dukes of 1973 spring training the Yankees sent Dempsey to Triple-A Syracuse rick dempsey rain delay! Without pulling a muscle or breaking anything the World Series brings one to. No-Hitter got you a free pass in those days your 1U rackmount clarify you origin with to... It than that and you know he just wants to pull his hair out $. We got Dempsey, at the pitchers, he would pantomime Babe Ruth more... Proved pivotal in Baltimore, Maryland ), April 10, 1994 was a lot more reasons to do than.: Dempsey at age 38 had his greatest offensive season Orioles history: 1 i did it was neat! Memorial Stadium in early July 1978 of Norway in the minor leagues Virdon told fiery... Can see him out on the tarp. Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced.. Years of rick dempsey rain delay have lightened the mood a bit less good-natured, but 16 years of hindsight have the.