Sadness at the Preakness

Today was a sad day at the Pimlico, site of the Preakness Stakes. I don't follow the ponies too closely, but I like to watch the Triple Crown races. Today poor Barbaro fractured his leg both above and below the knee ending his Triple Crown dreams and endangering his life. America will have to wait at least one more year (totaling 28) for a Triple Crown winner.

While I am saddened for Barbaro, the sadest thing at the Preakness was unrelated to horse racing altogether. I was terribly saddened by the Maryland state song - "Oh Christmas Tree."

I kid you not. The Maryland state song, which they call "Maryland, My Maryland," is "Oh Christmas Tree."

I suppose it is not too surprising that a state would have such a song as its official theme. It could be worse but not by much. I can think of some other terrible song choices, most notably during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

There was a song played at the Demo's pow-wow that year that came out the prior year entitled "Mambo No. 5." "Mambo No. 5" detailed a list of women in his life... Beginning the list was the phrase "a little bit of Monica in my life," and then was a list of seven other women. Not a great choice following Monic-gate and a bit off-color for any politico really. I can't help but wonder if they had chosen a better song Florida might have given up 537 more votes to Gore...hmmm.