Live Sail Die has an interesting story reporting that, in a poll conducted by a Melbourne radio station, “Australia II” winning the Americas Cup in 1983 was voted the most memorable sporting moment in Australian history. I can't say I'm totally surprised. When Tillerwoman and I visited Australia in 2000 her 85-year-old aunt in Perth, who had never had any direct connection with sailing, was still excited about Australia II. Aussies do love their sailing.
The reaction to the event in the USA was, of course, somewhat different, and not just because America was on the losing side for the first time in 132 years. I think Tom Paxton perfectly captured the feeling of the average American in his satirical song, The Day We Lost The America's Cup. (You'll find it on Paxton's CD One Million Lawyers and Other Disasters.) Reflecting the esteem (or rather lack of it) in which the sport of yachting is held in the USA, the song has the classic line uttered by the dude who is told that we have lost the America's Cup ...
"Oh no, don't tell me. Did we lose the saucer too?"
2 comments:
Great story!
COME ON AUSSIE COME ON, COME ON!
COME ON AUSSIE COME ON!
Sing along!!! You know the words!!!
(They aren't hard to learn if you don't)
COME ON AUSSIE COME ON!!!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO
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