Tag: Interview

Posted on

The History Of Prohibition

I was catching up on some podcasts and just finished listening to a Fresh Air program from May that I thought was fascinating. Terry Gross interviews author Daniel Okrent about his book Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. It’s a great interview, so I wanted to share.

Between the years of 1920, when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed, and 1933, when the 21st Amendment repealed the restriction, it was illegal to sell, transport or manufacture “intoxicating” beverages for consumption in the United States.

But Prohibition didn’t stop drinking; it simply pushed the consumption of booze underground. By 1925, there were thousands of speakeasy clubs operating out of New York City, and bootlegging operations sprang up around the country to supply thirsty citizens with alcoholic drinks.

Fresh Air: Prohibition Life: Politics, Loopholes And Bathtub Gin [MP3]

Posted on

Jared Allen’s Gettin’ Antsy Over Brett Favre

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen visits the Vikings camp and talks with Brad Childress and an antsy Jared Allen, who told him:

“I do hope Brett comes back, but in fairness to the team and in fairness to Tarvaris — hey, we’re done with camp now — let’s move things forward. Tarvaris has an opportunity to take this team over … I think you have to have confidence in the quarterback. I think the quarterback has to be the leader of the team, especially the offense and, again, I think stability at the position is key as hell…All I’m saying — and I have a pretty good relationship with Brett — I think this is the last year we want do the flip-flop thing.” Found at ESPN.

Posted on

The Winners In The War On Drugs

Last week, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak blamed white, middle-class, pot-smoking Minnesotans for murders in his city. He told MPR’s Cathy Wurzer:

This assertion is, of course, ridiculous on its face and smacks of a politician grasping at straws, looking for a someone to blame. He’s not the first politician to take the easy excuse rather than having the guts to admit the obvious: The War on Drugs is a miserable failure that creates more problems than it solves.

The first thing you have to come to terms with is that you will never eliminate human beings’ desire to alter their consciousness. We’ve been doing that throughout our history and we will continue to do so (see Prohibition). Then you need to look at who has won during our decades-long effort to fight drug use.

Jim Gray, a conservative judge in conservative Orange County, California, has changed his mind with regard to the War on Drugs. In 1992, he held a press conference during which he recommended that we rethink our drug laws. He is the author of Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed & What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs
. In this interview, he discusses the six groups who benefit from drug prohibition. Found at YouTube from ReasonTV.

Posted on

What It’s Like To Be A Head Coach Of An NFL Team

This is a greatFresh Air interview with Brian Billick, the former Vikings assistant, and Baltimore Ravens’ head coach, about what it’s like to be a coach of an NFL team.

From the NPR web site: On January 28, 2001, Coach Brian Billick led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants. The Ravens became only the third wild card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl — and gave Baltimore its first Super Bowl title in 30 years.

Billick played college football at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Brigham Young University. He was drafted in 1977 by the San Francisco 49ers, but never played in the NFL.

Billick spent nine seasons as the Ravens’ head coach after seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Vikings. After leaving the Ravens, Billick immediately took a position as an analyst with NFL on FOX. Billick’s new book, More Than a Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL, details his long career in the NFL and analyzes current trends in the league.

Posted on

The Favre Effect

University of Minnesota sports management professor Stephen Ross examines the impact of Brett Favre potentially gearing up in a purple jersey and playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Ross explains who will have the most positive outcome if Favre was to join the Vikes and what the opinion of the fans might be.