ISML 2016: Illya, Shana To Contest Heavenly Tiara Hachiman Will Look To Defense Scepter Against Sora By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue November 29, 2016
Match Day 7 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason has concluded. In the Female Division Semifinals, Illuyasviel von Einzbern delivered the Upset of the Round and the closest victory of the round, a 2233-2204 thriller over Mashiro Shiina, while Shana torched Yukino Yukinoshita 2588-2086. Shana will come into the General Election for Saimoe Prime Minister of Japan as the favorite to win.
Over in the Male Division, Hachiman Hikigaya dominated Archer 2357-1915 while Sora prevailed over Yuzuru Otonashi 2077-1922. Hachiman is the incumbent Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister and is favored to be reelected. Mikan Yuuki defeated Hitagi Senjougahara 1878-1628 and Eriri Sawamura Spencer cruised past Yui Hirasawa 1967-1660 to advance to the Divine Circlet Final. Also in Fall Seasonal action, Chitose Karasuma defeated Mizore Yoroizuka 1794-1406 and Ai-chan throttled Ui Wakana 1819-1242.
In Consolation Rouind action, Saber slashed past Azuna Yuuki 2313-2016, Yui Yuigahama rolled past Shiro 2169-2088, Rin Tosaka crushed Kurumi Tokisaki 2355-1989, Kurisu Makise whipped past Nao Tomori 2190-2058, Ayase Aragaki flew past Jibril 2207-1829, Ryuuji Takasu roared past Koyomi Araragi 1991-1826, Rintarou Okabe broke Touma Kamijou 2070-1822, Kiritsugu Emiya punched Saitama 2219-1765, Kyon thumped Edward Elric 1853-1762 and Souma Yukihira defeated Keima Katsuragi 1807-1660.
Match Day 8 of the 2016 International Saimoe League postseason is the final day of the 2016 ISML season and is also the General Election for Saimoe Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Japan. The General Election is scheduled for November 30, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
OTTAWA — Last year there was clutch in the Capital; this year there was a juggling 19-yard touchdown catch by Ernest Jackson in overtime of the Grey Cup.
Jackson’s highlight-reel grab in the first possession of overtime ended up being the difference, as the City of Ottawa has its first professional football championship in 40 years thanks to a 39-33 win by the Ottawa REDBLACKS over the Calgary Stampeders in the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.
Henry Burris combined with Jackson to help the REDBLACKS fend off a furious Calgary comeback from 20 points down, capping off the biggest upset in Canadian Football League Grey Cup history.
Burris was named Grey Cup Most Valuable Player for his efforts while Brad Sinopoli earned Most Valuable Canadian.
The 41-year-old Burris overcame a pre-game injury scare and threw three touchdown passes while running for two more, becoming the oldest quarterback ever to win a Grey Cup. The 17-year veteran threw for 461 yards, the fourth-most ever in a Grey Cup game, earning his second title as a starting CFL quarterback and his first since 2008.
The Stampeders rallied from 20 points down and kicked the game-tying field goal with 10 seconds left to force overtime, the first Grey Cup game to go past regulation since the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes did it in 2005. But in the end, Bo Levi Mitchell’s third-down pass in overtime fell incomplete, sealing an Ottawa REDBLACKS victory.
Patrick Lavoie and Sinopoli caught touchdown passes for the REDBLACKS while defensive back Forrest Hightower intercepted two passes in the winning effort.
Burris was questionable to play after reportedly suffering a knee injury in the warm-up but in the end became the first quarterback since Danny McManus in 1996 to break 400 passing yards in a Grey Cup.
Mitchell threw three interceptions while veteran receiver Marquay McDaniel left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return after a 51-yard catch in the first quarter.
The last time an Ottawa franchise won a Grey Cup was in 1976, when the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Toronto’s CNE Stadium. But on Sunday night, on the exact same site, a capacity crowd of 33,421 watched at BMO Field as the 8-9-1 REDBLACKS upset the heavily-favoured 15-2-1 Stampeders.
With Burris playing potentially the final game of his career, the intrigue surrounding the CFL’s third all-time leading passer reached new heights when he was seen limping off the field following warm-ups. Initial reports indicated the REDBLACKS’ starting pivot had injured his knee and was questionable to play.
But after Trevor Harris came out of the tunnel for player intros and then stood in on the coin flip, Burris was the one under centre when Ottawa’s offence first took the field in the opening quarter. Minutes later, Burris was the one capping off a 10-play scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown on the quarterback sneak.
The REDBLACKS had the Grey Cup’s first points but the hard-throwing Mitchell was quick to respond. The Katy, Texas native, fresh off the first MOP honour of his career on Thursday night, connected with a wide open McDaniel over the middle for a 51-yard pickup into Ottawa territory.
Calgary’s second possession of the game ended with a seven-yard hookup between Mitchell and this year’s Most Outstanding Canadian Jerome Messam, knotting the score at a touchdown apiece.
Ottawa rounded out the first-quarter scoring with a 37-yard field goal off the foot of Ray Early.
Down three points, the Stampeders appeared to be picking up momentum after sacking Burris for a six-yard loss and forcing Ottawa’s first punt of the game. But on the ensuing punt, Roy Finch fumbled the return and Serderius Bryant recovered for the REDBLACKS, flipping both possession and field position.
Burris and the REDBLACKS wasted no time finding the end zone after that as Lavoie caught all three of his quarterback’s completions on the drive, including a six-yard touchdown off of play action to extend the lead to 17-7.
After ending the second quarter on Early’s second field goal of the game, a chip shot from 29 yards out, the REDBLACKS tilted the field further in their favour in the third. Burris had just overshot an open Khalil Paden on an attempted flea-flicker on first down, but he wouldn’t miss again, completing passes to Sinopoli and Jackson before going back to Sinopoli for a nine-yard touchdown.
At that point, Ottawa had a commanding 27-7 lead — but sleeping on the league-leading Stamps would no doubt be a mistake.
It was that third-quarter touchdown that seemed to kick Calgary into gear, starting with a Peredes field goal and followed by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Lemar Durant. The play was reviewed and upheld as the REDBLACKS failed to make contact with Durant while he was down, all of a sudden cutting the Stamps’ deficit to 27-17.
Down 10 with the fourth quarter just under way, Calgary’s quarterback continued to heat up along with the rest of the Stamps’ offence. And just when it seemed like the drive had stalled, the Stampeders challenged for pass interference against Jonathan Rose at the goal line and won, leading to a one-yard plunge across the goal line by Andrew Buckley.
Buckley’s touchdown capped off an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive and also marked the first touchdown in a Grey Cup by a Canadian Quarterback since 1968, making it a 27-23 ball game with 13:24 remaining.
The teams exchanged punts and just when the REDBLACKS needed a response, Burris and company came through. A 22-yard catch and run by Juron Criner moved the sticks on second-and-long, then on second-and-five Burris went for the deep ball and it was Criner again making a highlight-reel grab — this one over the head of Matt Bucknor.
That led to Burris’ second rushing touchdown of the game, again from a yard out, capping off a six-play, 70-yard drive to put Ottawa back in the driver’s seat.
Calgary threatened late to pull within a score as Messam’s first-down run set up a 35-yard highlight-reel grab by the rookie Daniels down to the Ottawa 27. The drive ended with a 19-yard rushing touchdown by Daniels, pulling the Stamps within a field goal with under 2:00 remaining.
The Stamps quickly got the ball back when Rob Maver’s onside kick was recovered by Love, while Mitchell and Daniels continued to move the Red and White down the field.
With the clock ticking under a minute left, an illegal contact penalty against Abdul Kanneh kept Calgary moving with a first down inside the 10. Not long later, however, it was Kanneh saving the game for Ottawa with a shoe-string tackle on Andrew Buckley.
Paredes’ chip shot on third down sent the game to overtime, while from there Burris and Jackson took care of the rest.
Mitchell finished with 391 passing yards on 28-of-38 passing with two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions. Messam, meanwhile, was held to 35 rushing yards on eight carries, but did add 59 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
Sinopoli had six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown while Jackson chipped in with six receptions for 96 yards.
The win for Ottawa ends a remarkable turnaround in the nation’s capital, where the expansion REDBLACKS went from a 2-16 season in 2014 to appearing in back-to-back Grey Cups and, now, winning one.
Questions, meanwhile, will surround Ottawa’s star quarterback in Burris, who’s been non-committal on his future beyond 2016.
HAMILTON (U Sports) – The No. 1 Laval Rouge et Or won their ninth national championship and third in the last five years Saturday, with a 31-26 victory over the No. 6 Calgary Dinos in the 52nd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup at Tim Hortons Field.
Laval’s quarterback Hugo Richard (Longueuil, Que.) won the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game’s MVP, tossing two touchdowns and rushing for another on the ground. He completed 25 of 32 attempts, recording 339 yards in the air and another 62 yards on the ground.
“The kid is kind of guilty of having a great freshman season,” Laval head coach Glen Constantin. “The expectations are very high on him and people are hard on him. And you know what, he’s started more games after three years than most quarterbacks do in five years. I’m very very proud of him. He’s resilient, a better leader and the future is great.”
Richard, Vincent Alarie-Tardi (Chibougamau, Que.), Antony Auclair (Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Que.) and Marc-Antoine Pivin (Sherbrooke, Que.) all scored in Laval’s first Vanier Cup win since 2013.
For Calgary, Adam Sinagra (Pointe-Claire, Que.) tossed 276 yards and one touchdown in relief of injured starter Jimmy Underdahl. Prior to his first quarter injury, Underdahl was three of four, throwing one touchdown and 123 yards.
Dinos running back Jeshrun Antwi (Calgary) rushed for 177 yards, while Anthony Anderson (Medicine Hat, Alta.) scored one touchdown on the ground in the loss for the Calgary.
Cédric Lussier-Roy of Sherbrooke, Que. won the Bruce Coulter Award as defensive MVP. Lussier-Roy forced a critical turnover in the third quarter which resulted in a Rouge et Or touchdown and shifted the game’s momentum to Laval. Lussier-Roy finished with seven total tackles, a forced fumble and one sack.
Calgary came out rolling in their 10th appearance at the Vanier Cup, securing a 14-point lead in the opening five minutes of the game by scoring on their first two possessions.
Underdahl, the fifth-year senior who started the game, connected with Michael Klukas (Calgary, Alta.,) for an 86-yard touchdown strike on Calgary’s first play from scrimmage. Following a Rouge et Or punt, Dinos receiver Anderson capped a six-play, 85-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run followed by a Niko DiFonte (Winnipeg, Man.) rouge seconds later on the ensuing kick to set the score at 14-0.
Underdahl was injured on a Rouge et Or sack by Vincent Desjardins of Quebec, which saw his understudy Sinagra relieve him for the remainder of the game.
The Rouge et Or got on the board on a quick-strike play with 5:34 remaining in the opening quarter, with Richard hitting Pivin on a 37-yard toss to bring the score to 14-7.
In the second quarter, the two teams traded field goals, with Calgary’s DiFonte knocking a 43-yard field goal and Laval’s Dominic Levesque (Saint-Georges, Que.) notching a 38-yard kick to set the score at 17-10 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Calgary added to their lead with DiFonte hitting his second of four field goals to extend the score to 20-10.
At that point, with Calgary looking poised to take control of the game, Lussier-Roy came up with the game-changing sack on Sinagra, who dropped the ball. Lussier-Roy recovered the fumble, and that turnover resulted in a Rouge et Or touchdown, with Richard finding Auclair on a five-yard pass two plays later to bring the Rouge et Or within three points at 20-17.
“I don’t know if we win the game without it – it’s that important,” said Laval first-team All-Canadian Mathieu Betts of the critical play. “He deserves it…It could have happened to anybody. I think we all worked really hard but it came down to Cédric. He was there to make the football play and I’m just so proud of him.”
From there, the game see-sawed back and forth, with Laval taking their first lead of the game when Alaire-Tardif punched in a three-yard rush with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, DiFonte notched back-to-back field goals, giving Calgary the slender 26-24 edge, and setting up a dramatic final few minutes.
Laval went up 31-26 with just 2:33 remaining in the game on a one-yard Richard run.
“That was a designed play,” said Richard. “It’s a play we run a lot on our goal-line offence. It’s a standar QB-power (player) and we love it. A lot of teams have trouble stopping it and it’s our go-to play – we need to score (on it).”
Calgary had two shots to get in the endzone in the remaining minutes, with one of the final drives coming when Laval turned the ball over on downs with 1:27 remaining on a third-and-inches play. Calgary would drive down the field to Laval’s 23-yard line, but failed to convert on third and 10, handing the Laval Rouge et Or their ninth Vanier Cup title.
The game featured 10 quarterback sacks, with Calgary tallying seven and Laval three. Michah Teitz and Boston Rowe, both of Calgary, were the Dinos top defensive players, recording 12 total tackles. Nic Statz of Calgary had two of the Dinos seven sacks.
“We know Laval’s a good team, we didn’t expect anything but a tough game today.” said Calgary head coach Wayne Harris Jr. “I don’t know if people expected a tough game out of us but we tried to provide one.”
NOTES: This was Laval’s 10th Vanier Cup appearance since 1999 … Laval is 3-0 against Calgary in Vanier Cup games and 5-0 all time on the national stage ... Laval also has perfect 3-0 record in Vanier Cups played in Hamilton; Laval earned wins in 2008 vs. Western and 2004 vs. Saskatchewan; both were played at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
SCORING SUMMARY
Online Stats: STATS
LAV 7-3-14-7: 31
CGY 14-3-3-6: 26
First Quarter
CGY - Michael Klukas 86 yard pass from Jimmy Underdahl (Niko Difonte convert failed), 00:30 (6-0 CGY)
CGY - Anthony Anderson 3 yard run (Niko Difonte convert), 04:18 (13-0 CGY)
CGY - Niko Difonte 0 rouge 4:21 (14-0 CGY)
LAV - Marc-Antonie Pivin 37 yard pass from Hugo Richard (Dominic Levesque convert) 9:26 (14-7 CGY)
Second Quarter
CGY - Niko Difonte 43 yard field goal, 2:56 (17-7 CGY)
CGY - Niko Difonte 31 yard field goal 4:40 (20-10 CGY)
LAV - Anthony Auclair 5 yard pass from Hugo Richard (Dominic Levesque convert) 6:46 (20-17, CGY)
LAV - Vincent Alarie-Tardif 3 yard run (Dominic Levesque convert) 0:21 (24-20, LAV)
Fourth Quarter
CGY - Niko Difonte 31 yard field goal 11:55 (24-23, LAV)
CGY - Niko Difonte 29 yard field goal 8:12 (26-24, CGY)
LAV - Hugo Richard 1 yard run (Dominic Levesque convert) 2:33 (31-26, LAV)
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ISML 2016: The Home Stretch Is Underway! By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue November 27, 2016
Match Day 6 of the 2016 ISML Postseason continues, and we are closing on who will be the Saimoe Prime Minister of Japan for the 2017 term, awarded to the winner of the Female Division, and Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister of Japan, awarded to the winner of the Male Division.
In the Female Division, Mashiro Shiina defeated Nao Tomori 1740-1597, Shana torched Rin Tosaka 1975-1545, Yukino Yukinoshita prevailed over Shiro 1706-1668 and Illyasviel von Einzbern won the closest race of the round, a 1659-1634 scalp of Saber. In the Male Division, Hachiman Hikigaya took one more step towards being reelected as Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister with a 1914-1267 hamnering of Edward Elric, Sora slammed Kiritsugu Emiya 1756-1441, Yuzuru Otonashi defeated Touma Kamijou 1651-1468 and Archer prevailed over Ryuuji Takashu 1663-1612.
In Female Consolation action, Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Nanami Aoyama 1753-1547, Yui Yuigahama rolled past Iroha Isshiki 1577-1335 and Asuna Yuuki slashed past Jibril 1831-1430. In Male Consolation action, Saitama punched Izayoi Sakamaki 1533-1407, Rintarou Okabe won the closest race of the round, a 1545-1503 thriller and Koyomi Araragi punished Keima Katsuragi 1587-1204.
In Fall Seasonal action, Chitose Karasuma routed Yuinshiel Asteria 1627-715, Mizore Yorizuka trounced Fine 1287-1006, Ui Wakana defeated Sayaka Miyata 1261-1064 and Ai-chan whipped past Sayuri Muranushi 1408-950.
Match Day 7 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason is scheduled for November 28, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
ISML 2016: Saber Delivers The Upset Of The Round By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue November 24, 2016
Match Day 5 of the 2016 International Saimoe League postseason is in the books and we start with action in the Female Division. Yukino Yukinoshita rolled past Jibril 1624-1227, Nao Tomori won a 1412-1370 nailbiter over Iroha Isshiki, Saber scored the Upset of the Round and the closest victory of the round, a 1461-1427 thriller over Yui Yuigahama and Rin Tosaka clobbered Asuna Yuuki 1512-1357. All four winners advanced to the next round of the tournament.
In the Male Division, Yuzuru Otonashi rolled past Edward Elric 1502-1115, Korosensei dismantled Keima Katsuragi 1386-1124, Kiritsugu Emiya prevailed over Koyomi Araragi 1343-1298 and Archer dominated Rintarou Okabe 1379-1282 in a sweep for Fate/Stay Night. Yuzuru and Edward already qualified for the next round, while Archer and Kiritsugu punched their tickets today. In the consolation round, Kurisu Makise defeated Ayase Aragaki 1498-1306 while Kyon took down Souma Yukihira 1343-1229.
In Fall Diadem action, Chitose Karasuma routed Hana Miyakishi 1519-568, Yuinshiel Asteria defeated Kae Serinuma 949-691, Fine whipped past Matoi Sumeragi 971-714, Mizore Yoroizuka dismissed Nozomi Kaminashi 12676-816, Ui Wakana leveled Izetta 1103-976, Sayaka Miyaka slammed Fuuka Reventon 973-784, Ai-chan cruised past Momoka Sonou 1174-939 and Sayuri Muranushi defeated Tamaki Honda 994-696.
Match Day 6 of the 2016 International Saimoe League is the quarterfinals of the tournament, scheduled for November 25, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
ISML 2016: Illya, Mashiro, Shana and Shiro Move On
By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue November 23, 2016
Match Day 4 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason in in the Books, and the Round of 16 continued to wind down. In the Female Division, Illyasviel von Einzbern scored the Upset of the Round, a 1883-1849 nailbiter over Mashiro Shiina, Kurisu Makise scored the closest victory of the round, a 1822-1803 thriller over Nanami Aoyama, Shana torched Shiro 2027-1691 and Kurumi Tokisaki leveled Ayase Aragaki 2120-1477. Illyas, Mashiro, Shana and Shiro advance to the next round of the tournament.
In the Male Division, Hachiman Hikigaya routed Souma Yukihira 2211-1244, Ryuuji Takasu roared past Izayoi Sakamaki 1952-1470, Sora slammed Kyon 2075 and Touma Kamijou broke Saitama in a 1767-1700 barnburner. Hachiman, Ryuuji, Sora, Touma, Yuzuru Otonashi and Edward Elric have advanced to the next round of the tournament.
Megumin won the Winter Diadem withb a 2069-1184 demolition of Aqua, while Rem won the Spring Diadem after prevailing over Emilia 1973-1618. In Fall Diadem action, Hana Miyakoshi defeated Ryouka Narusaka 1175-1030, Yuinshiel Asteria hammered Akari Kawamoto 1312-908, Matoi Sumeragi rolled past Papika 1215-750, Mizore Yoroizuka crushed Hikari Karibuchi 1706-771, Ui Wakana whipped past Koyuki Himekawa 1492-1081, Fuuka Reventon defeated Cocona 1193-870, Ai-chan annihilated Agari Kamiya 1937-609 and Tamaki Honda rolled past Hitoka Yachi 1297-860. Match Day 5 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason is scheduled for November 23, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
With the win, LBCC finishes 9-2, SCFA National Central Division Co-Champions and winners of the Western State Bowl. A good, strong season that could have been marred by letting the occasion get to them. Too many penalties. A porous pass defense. A kickoff team that could not cover a kick return if their lives depended on it. And a near-replication of their efforts against Saddleback in letting the game get away. The players have to be like this year's East Mississippi CC team in being professional and sportsmanlike in their approach to games. Manage a lead, finish strong, no matter who is on the other side of the hashes. This could have been a heartbreaker, but the fans got what they paid for, including myself.
OTOH, it is a shame that Bakersfield's players chose not to shake hands and trudge out of the field. On these grounds alone I do hope LBCC make it a habit of beating Bakersfield the same way Saddleback is virtually invincible against us. The Gades will head into 2017 on a three-game losing streak and a November of futility and discontent. One has to wonder that given how far Bakersfield has dropped since 2012 if Jeff Chudy is also on his way out too. If I am among the boosters at Bakersfield, I would be of the opinion that the Renegades need a new coach and staff. Just like the song in my video response, "Planet Earth kept going through changes." Bakersfield could use a change to the direction of their football program right about now. For this team, it is certainly a down year.
So, I decided this Wednesday to watch Long Beach City College's women's volleyball team in action against El Camino College. Here's the verdict. As the old saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. Translate that to LBCC Women's Volleyball, this team did not win a conference title overnight in spite of a massive turnaround under Misty May-Treanor. All of the lossses that this team had were in five against teams ranked sixth (Cypress), seventh (Mira Costa) and eighth (El Camino) in the state. No other losses were incurred. 13 of the 18 victories by LBCC were sweeps. (18 as of this post. Worse the team can finish is 18-5.)
This is unheard of. In the past, LBCC women's volleyball was absolutely horrible to watch. We simply were not a competitive team. With a changing of the guard at El Camino next year, and with the Lady Vikings on the rise, LBCC are doing better than Long Beach State. Both teams are on pace to finish second in their respective conference, but LBCC's record (18-4) is slightly better than LBSU's (17-10) wins wise, but when you take into consideration the improvement in talent, LBCC is starting to turn the tables.
The question will have to be asked: how long will Misty May-Treanor coach the women's volleyball and beach volleyball teams? With Brian Gimmillaro soon to step down in a few years, it may not be long before we have an immediately successor. A similar case regarding Mauricio Ingrassia saw Long Beach State women's soccer win conference tournament titles and participate in national tournaments on a frequent basis. I think if LBCC win state, LBSU has to take a look at this.
Of course, there is the possibility that Misty decides to have a longevity similar to a living legend in Le Valley Pattison. But with May being a legend at the Beach, you have to wonder if LBCC are able to pull off a miracle and keep Misty May-Treanor on the books at #VGOH for at least a decade or so. In any case, this result is expected for now. But the signs are present: LBCC Women's Volleyball is finally on the rise.
That being said, this effort against ElCo is similar to the football team's efforts against Saddleback this season: the inability to manage games against proud opposition that don't know how to lose very often. Misty will need to start recruiting high school talent in the area and also in ElCo's territory while pitching the benefits of an A.A. or A.S. degree (and the benefits are real, just so you know) so that this resurging team can stop the likes of Mira Costa, Cypress and especially El Camino on a consistent basis and finally be on par with the men. I am very confident that unless LBCC does the unthinkable and wins State this year, Misty's going to be in your company for a long time so enjoy it, Vikings fans. Who knows...she might even be in the Hall of Champions years from now!?
El Camino won 27-29, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13, 15-10. Fortunately, the football team is getting El Camino's number now and their victory offset's the Lady Vikings not getting it done yet on their end.
ISML 2016: Kurisu Makise, Kiritsugu Emiya Win Diamond Prizes By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue November 15, 2016
Match Day 3 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason was the Diamond Necklace and Pendant Match. Kurisu Makise ended a long wait to win a big one, taking the Diamond Necklace with 731 votes (17.20$), beating out Kurumi Tokisaki (691 votes, 16.40%) and Iroha Isshiki (641 votes, 15.08%). Rounding out the order were Asuna Yuuki (614 votes, 14.44%), Illyasviel von Einzbern (559 votes, 13.15%), Shiro (450 votes, 10.59%), Nanami Aoyama (379 votes, 8.92%) and Jibril (180 votes, 4.23%).
Kiritsugu Emiya (680 votes, 16.62%) delivered the Upset of the Round, edging Touma Kamijou (646 votes, 15.79%) to win the Diamond Pendant. Rounding out the order were Rintarou Okabe (529 votes, 12.93%), Souma Yukihira (521 votes, 12.73%), Izayoi Sakamaki (509 votes, 12.44%), Ryuuji Takasu (463 votes, 11.31%), Kyon (394 votes, 9.63%) and Keima Katsuragi (350 votes, 8.55%).
Four other Round of 128 - Consolation matches took place. Nagisa Furukawa won the first match with 731 votes (17.78%). Shiki Ryogi was another match winner with 728 votes (17.67%). Also coming up huge as match winners were C.C. (945 votes, 23.19%) and Rory Mercury (734 votes, 17.93%).
Match Day 4 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Postseason, part of the Round of 16, is scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. Keep it right here on The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the 2016 International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition!
There are times, where, I do admit, I am a bit too harsh on the athletic teams of my junior college alma mater, Long Beach City College. I generally don't admit these things until a long time after the fact. For a number of years, I did not bother going to their athletic events. Years ago, Nov. 6, 2010, to be exact, I was watching a game between LBCC's football team against the Panthers of Chaffey College at Veterans' Memorial Stadium, and in those days, Mike Reisbig (who I considered at the time to be a talentless hack milking off the legacy of his more successful brother Larry and who drove the program into the ground) was the head coach. I was verbally ripping apart the team for not defending the pass, for not generating enough offense to make up for the inept defending, and for simply not playing the game properly. I ended up getting ejected by security and even the police had to intervene.
Derek Oriee is a longtime employee of the college and is an alumnus of one of a number of men's social service clubs at the college, the Order of Tong International. At the college, I was an active member of Tong, Thane, Alpha Gamma Sigma - Kappa Chapter (an honor society), and the Associated Student Body Cabinet as their administrative assistant. After I was tossed, Derek was gracious enough to drive me all the way home because he didn't want the situation to escalate further. Recalling this event as I type this still drives me to tears because one thing I despise is teams I watched stealing my hard-earned money without giving me a victory.
That was six years ago. Viking football under Mike Reisbig, especially in 2012 was a disgrace. We did not have the players, the talent, the pipelines, and so on and so forth. We were losing games to Cerritos College on a routine basis. We were bad. We sucked. When I found out that Reisbig was let go in 2012 (he got a reprive for making a bowl game the following year, a bowl game we didn't deserve), I considered that to be one of the biggest victories in program history. You see, whenever a team just doesn't know how to play the game properly or even coach the game properly, when a team stains the good name of its college and its city, the athletic department can rebound by getting rid of the coach and its staff.
At a program as successful as Long Beach City, we have expectations. I'm being extremely straight-up with you. I don't earn six figures at my work so if I spend money on a team sporting event, the expectation is that my investment pays off with a win to the team I support. As a result of the Vikings not getting their act together, I stayed away until things changed.
So this guy by the name of Brett Peabody comes in. Suddenly, the only real opponent that continues to have our number on a constant basis is Saddleback. The Gauchos are going to always be good. Nothing anyone out here can do about that, Mark McElroy will always get his players, that's out of our control. What we can control, on the other hand, is turning the tide on Cerritos. Last year, we finally got our act together against these Falcons and got back the Crosstown Cup, which my Tong brothers made.
Now, the Vikings's loss to Saddleback was avoidable. Not being able to manage games hurts, especially with all of college football catching up to Oregon's spread attack and uptempo style. Carries over to the junior college level. Again, the Vikings failed to manage the game late, and the Gauchos's long streak agains the Vikings continued. The one that really hurt was against Mt. San Antonio, or Mt. SAC. 34-3. That effort was reminiscent of the last time I watched these guys against Chaffey years ago. Even though the Vikings won the next four games, their overall record was inferior to Riverside, whose only loss, ironically, came against Long Beach.
So now, Long Beach is back in a bowl game, but not in the playoffs. They will be hosting the Western State Bowl this Saturday and I am planning to be there to do some filming. I had watched Avalon, they won. I had watched St. Anthony, they won. I had watched Azusa Pacific, they won too. I am so far 3-for-3 this year.
That said, this game between Long Beach and the Renegades of Bakersfield College is going to be the last football game I see live unless Woodrow Wilson Classical High School advances on Friday and hosts a CIF Southern Section Division Semifinal. Wilson are on the road against Saugus High. Logic suggests that, based on their performance against Pomona, it's straightforward. Even if St. Anthony beats Dos Pueblos of Goleta, I don't believe in seeing a team I already made a Quik film out of. Also, this is the last game of the season for both teams.
Bakersfield are 6-4 and are on a two-game losing streak. They were demolished by Riverside on the road 45-7, lost a 30-27 overtime heartbreaker away to Moorpark, were blown out of the water by Ventura 49-21 and ended the regular season with a 14-10 defeat at home to Canyons, who the Vikings demolished at home, 41-14. Long Beach defeated Moorpark 43-29 and also this year, I mentioned Chaffey and this year, LBCC routed them, 48-14. On the grounds of this hotstreak, I am compelled to see this team again.
In the past, when I started doing sportswriting, I started out covering junior college football. It was after the site I work for went defunct that I switched to writing about soccer, which I continue to do so today. The main reason why I chose to watch Long Beach City College this weekend instead of St. Anthony is because of watching, in its entirety, Last Chance U. Now if you don't know what that is, it's the story of East Mississippi Community College, which was transformed under Buddy Stephens as a refuge for disgraced NCAA Division I FBS players who got into trouble at their four-year school and ended up playing in Scooba, Miss. to get out of Scooba, Miss. and get back in the major college grind. The series is on Netflix but you can get it for free on Ten Yard Tracker (just make sure to seed after you're done).
Seeing the stories of these disgraced athletes who lost their way and needed salvation in terms of their future and finally being successful despite adversity did a few things to me. 1. EMCC is now my sentimental favorite in terms of quality and newfound notoriety thanks to Netflix's reach. 2. Last Chance U got me to rethink and reassess my attitude towards the quality of football at my own junior college, LBCC. LBCC has won five national championships, a mark that will most likely stay untouched due to the league we play in and the fact that we are not under the NJCAA auspices. EMCC has three and they have all been in this decade alone. If the pollsters are nice, they will have a shot at No. 4.
But back to point No. 2. I have to actually applaud the players on this Long Beach team. Our quality is back, our swagger is back, our form is back. Under Peabody, the Vikings were 4-6 in 2013, 9-2 in 2014, 10-2 in 2015 and 8-2 this season. If you count the numbers right, that is 31-10, going on 32-10. Three straight winning seasons.
And that leads us back to poor Mike Reisbig. On the list of coaches, Mike is listed as an assistant coach on the offensive line...and the academics coordinator. Basically he is doing the same job Brittany Wagner is doing at EMCC. Cue the redemption card. And the lesson to be learned is this: if I can't hack it as a head coach but still possess valuable knowledge about the local high school landscape and drawing the area talent here— in this case, bringing the ones not making the grade but can still play to LBCC—sometimes I am miles better off serving as an assistant. (No, I am not referring to Les Miles, seriously. He's bad. He sucks.)
With a 31-10 mark under Brett, yeah, if I'm Mike, I settle into this role permanently cause life is good if you support Viking football and I don't want to rock the boat. (Boat, not Vote. As a voter who has jumped ship to the Libertarians following Election Day, I am gleefully looking forward to Donald Trump ass-slapping the cruel mistress that is American politics. Getcha popcorn hour ready.) Hotter than hell, sweeter than sex, we are the Beach, send us the check, cha-ching, cha-ching.
So, I am looking forward to what should be a 9-2 season and a 32-10 mark for Brett Peabody heading into next year. The last time we faced Bakersfield was back in 2015 and...it was at home. They were routed, 38 to 7. This is the first meeting for both teams in exactly 14 months. I probably will do what I did the last time and simply film warmups, snaps, crowd shots, maybe my trip to the campus... I mean, this game isn't even nationally televised, and it's only campus TV showing this and this game might be archived on YouTube and that's it. So I cannot imagine the police bothering me. I won't say anything; I'll just film, take photos, same approach as the other games.
But I wouldn't go past these guys stuffing up against Bakersfield. It's happened before. A long time ago. Back when this team was bad. The last time the Renegades beat the Vikings was in 2004 and the year prior was the last time Bakersfield won in Long Beach. Since then, we have returned the favor under Peabody, winning at Bakersfield 31-19 in 2014 and routing them last year at home. The last thing I need...is these rubes stealing my money like they did six years ago. I never forgive, I never forget, so now I'll head back without any regrets.
To close this entry, somehow, Bakersfield College comes to mind...when I play this song. Sports.
ISML 2016: A New Game! Showdown On The Horizon By Jo-Ryan Salazar The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue November 10, 2016
Match Day 2 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Round of 16 is history. The 2016 ISML Summer Diadem Final will feature two popular characters from New Game! Aoba Suzukaze throttled Maihime Tenkawa 1694-932 to earn a spot in the final, while Hifumi Takimoto prevailed ovwr Mizuki Usami 1337-1279. Suzukaze, as a result, will head into the final as the overwhelming favorite to coast through.
In the Female Division, Mashiro Shiina defeated Kurisu Makise 1708-1504, Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Nanami Aoyama 1661-1575, Shana torched Kurumi Tokisaki 1856-1363, Shiro blew past Ayase Aragaki 1791-1351, Yukino Yukinoshita whipped past Nao Tomori 1619-1557, Iroha Isshiki took out Jibril 1655-1447, Saber slashed past Rin Tosaka 1514-1487 and Asuna Yuuki thumped Yui Yuigahama 1700-1520.
In the Male Division, Hachiman Hikigaya dominated Ryuuji Takasu 1833-1228, Souma Yukihira delivered the closest victory of the day, a 1338-1336 thriller over Izayoi Sakamaki, Sora slammed Touma Kamijou 1705-1273, Saitama punched Kyon 1502-1423, Yuzuru Otonashi shot down Korosensei 1537-1440, Edward Elric defeated Keima Katsuraghi 1435-1336, Archer rolled past Koyomi Araragi in a 1575-1402 Upset of the Round and Kiritsugu Emiya prevailed over Rintarou Okabe 1462-1410.
The 2016 International Saimoe League Diamond Period Necklace Match, a.k.a. Postseason Match Day 3, is scheduled for Novembert 14, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
Sorry to keep you waiting; complicated business; complicated.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you very much.
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TRUMP: I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton.
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She congratulated us — it’s about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign. I mean, she — she fought very hard.
Donald Trump Is Elected President in Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment NOV. 9, 2016
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Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.
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I mean that very sincerely.
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Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division; have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.
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It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me.
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For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people. . .
(LAUGHTER)
. . . I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.
(APPLAUSE)
As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign, but rather an incredible and great movement made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their families.
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It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will.
(APPLAUSE)
Working together, we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream. I’ve spent my entire life and business looking at the untapped potential in projects and in people all over the world. That is now what I want to do for our country.
(APPLAUSE)
Tremendous potential. I’ve gotten to know our country so well — tremendous potential. It’s going to be a beautiful thing. Every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
(APPLAUSE)
We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it.
We will also finally take care of our great veterans.
(APPLAUSE)
They’ve been so loyal, and I’ve gotten to know so many over this 18-month journey. The time I’ve spent with them during this campaign has been among my greatest honors. Our veterans are incredible people. We will embark upon a project of national growth and renewal. I will harness the creative talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all. It’s going to happen.
(APPLAUSE)
We have a great economic plan. We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time, we will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us. We will be.
(APPLAUSE)
We’ll have great relationships. We expect to have great, great relationships. No dream is too big, no challenge is too great.
TRUMP: Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.
America will no longer settle for anything less than the best.
(APPLAUSE)
We must reclaim our country’s destiny and dream big and bold and daring. We have to do that. We’re going to dream of things for our country and beautiful things and successful things once again.
I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone — all people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict.
And now I’d like to take this moment to thank some of the people who really helped me with this, what they are calling tonight, very, very historic victory.
First, I want to thank my parents, who I know are looking down on me right now.
(APPLAUSE)
Great people. I’ve learned so much from them. They were wonderful in every regard. I had truly great parents.
I also want to thank my sisters, Maryanne and Elizabeth, who are here with us tonight. And, where are they? They’re here someplace. They’re very shy, actually. And my brother Robert — my great friend. Where is Robert? Where is Robert?
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My brother Robert. And they should all be on this stage, but that’s OK. They’re great. And also my late brother, Fred. Great guy. Fantastic guy.
(APPLAUSE)
Fantastic family. I was very lucky. Great brothers, sisters; great, unbelievable parents.
To Melania and Don. . .
(APPLAUSE) . . . and Ivanka. . .
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. . . and Eric and Tiffany and Baron, I love you and I thank you, and especially for putting up with all of those hours. This was tough.
(APPLAUSE)
This was tough. This political stuff is nasty and it’s tough. So I want to thank my family very much. Really fantastic. Thank you all. Thank you all.
And Lara, unbelievable job, unbelievable.
Vanessa, thank you. Thank you very much.
What a great group. You’ve all given me such incredible support, and I will tell you that we have a large group of people. You know, they kept saying we have a small staff. Not so small. Look at all the people that we have. Look at all of these people.
And Kellyanne and Chris and Rudy and Steve and David. We have got — we have got tremendously talented people up here. And I want to tell you, it’s been — it’s been very, very special. I want to give a very special thanks to our former mayor, Rudy Giuliani.
(APPLAUSE)
Unbelievable. Unbelievable. He traveled with us and he went through meetings. That Rudy never changes. Where’s Rudy? Where is he? Rudy.
Governor Chris Christie, folks, was unbelievable.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you, Chris.
The first man, first senator, first major, major politician, and let me tell you, he is highly respected in Washington because he’s as smart as you get: Senator Jeff Sessions. Where is Jeff?
(APPLAUSE)
Great man.
Another great man, very tough competitor. He was not easy. He was not easy. Who is that? Is that the mayor that showed up?
(LAUGHTER)
Is that Rudy? Oh, Rudy got up here.
Another great man who has been really a friend to me. But I’ll tell you, I got to know him as a competitor because he was one of the folks that was negotiating to go against those Democrats: Dr. Ben Carson. Where is Ben?
(APPLAUSE)
Where is Ben?
TRUMP: And by the way, Mike Huckabee is here someplace, and he is fantastic. Mike and his family, Sarah — thank you very much.
General Mike Flynn. Where is Mike?
(APPLAUSE)
And General Kellogg. We have over 200 generals and admirals that have endorsed our campaign. And they’re special people and it’s really an honor. We have 22 congressional Medal of Honor recipients. We have just tremendous people.
A very special person who believed me and, you know, I’d read reports that I wasn’t getting along with him. I never had a bad second with him. He’s an unbelievable star. He is. . .
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: That’s right. How did you possibly guess? So let me tell you about Reince, and I’ve said this. I said, Reince — and I know it, I know. Look at all those people over there. I know it. Reince is a superstar. But I said, “They can’t call you a superstar, Reince, unless we win,” because you can’t be called a superstar — like Secretariat — if Secretariat came in second, Secretariat would not have that big, beautiful bronze bust at the track at Belmont.
But I’ll tell you, Reince is really a star. And he is the hardest-working guy. And in a certain way, I did this — Reince, come up here. Where is Reince? Get over here, Reince.
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Boy oh boy oh boy. It’s about time you did this, Reince. My God.
(APPLAUSE)
Say a few words. No, come on, say something.
RNC CHAIRMAN REINCE PRIEBUS: Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the United States, Donald Trump.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you. It’s been an honor. God bless. Thank God.
TRUMP: Amazing guy.
Our partnership with the RNC was so important to the success and what we’ve done.
So I also have to say I’ve gotten to know some incredible people — the Secret Service people.
(APPLAUSE)
They’re tough and they’re smart and they’re sharp, and I don’t want to mess around with them, I can tell you. And when I want to go and wave to a big group of people and they rip me down and put me back down on the seat. But they are fantastic people, so I want to thank the Secret Service.
(APPLAUSE)
And law enforcement in New York City. They’re here tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
These are spectacular people, sometimes underappreciated unfortunately, but we appreciate them. We know what they go through.
So, it’s been what they call a historic event, but to be really historic, we have to do a great job. And I promise you that I will not let you down. We will do a great job. We will do a great job.
(APPLAUSE)
I look very much forward to being your president, and hopefully at the end of two years or three years or four years, or maybe even eight years. . .
(APPLAUSE)
. . . you will say, so many of you worked so hard for us, but you will say that — you will say that that was something that you really were very proud to do and I can. . .
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
And I can only say that while the campaign is over, our work on this movement is now really just beginning.
(APPLAUSE)
We’re going to get to work immediately for the American people. And we’re going to be doing a job that hopefully you will be so proud of your president. You’ll be so proud. Again, it’s my honor. It was an amazing evening. It’s been an amazing two-year period. And I love this country.
Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you so much.
Very rowdy group. Thank you, my friends. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so very much for being here. I love you all, too.
Last night I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country.
I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry that we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country.
But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together. This vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this.
Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power.
We don’t just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.
Let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet. And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams.
We’ve spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone—for people of all races, and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities. For everyone.
So now, our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer America we seek. And I know you will.
I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey. [Cheers and applause]
It has been a joy getting to know them better, and it gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia in the Senate. [Cheers and applause]
To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.
We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to so many Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express.
You crisscrossed this country on our behalf and lifted me up when I needed it most—even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom. I will always be grateful to the talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country.
You poured your hearts into this campaign. To some of you who are veterans, it was a campaign after you had done other campaigns. Some of you, it was your first campaign. I want each of you to know that you were the best campaign anybody could have ever expected or wanted.
And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook—even in secret private Facebook sites.
I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward. [Cheers and applause]
To everyone who sent in contributions, even as small as $5, and kept us going, thank you from all of us. And to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this—I have, as Tim said, spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in.
I’ve had successes and I’ve had setbacks. Sometimes, really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers—you will have successes and setbacks too.
This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.
It is, it is worth it. [Cheers and applause]
And so we need—we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.
Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but some day someone will—and hopefully sooner than we might think right now. [Cheers and applause]
And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams. [Cheers and applause]
Finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.
I count my blessings every single day that I am an American. And I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.
Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do.
I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you in this consequential election.
May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.
OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody. Yesterday, before votes were tallied, I shot a video that some of you may have seen in which I said to the American people, regardless of which side you were on in the election, regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, the sun would come up in the morning.
And that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The sun is up. And I know everybody had a long night. I did as well. I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night about 3:30 in the morning, I think it was, to congratulate him on winning the election and I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies.
Now, it is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush’s team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running.
And one thing you realize quickly in this job is that the presidency and the vice presidency is bigger than any of us. So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush’s team set eight years ago, and work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful transition for the president-elect.
Because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. And over the next few months, we are going to show that to the world.
I also had a chance last night to speak with Secretary Clinton and I just had the chance to hear her remarks. I could not be prouder of her. She has lived an extraordinary life of public service. She was a great first lady. She was an outstanding senator for the state of New York. And she could not have been a better secretary of state.
I’m proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her. Her candidacy and nomination was historic and sends a message to our daughters all across the country that they can achieve at the highest levels of politics. And I’m absolutely confident that she and President Clinton will continue to do great work for people here in the United States and all around the world.
Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election, but the day after we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first.
We all want what’s best for this country. That’s what I heard in Mr. Trump’s remarks last night. That’s what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that. That’s what the country needs — a sense of unity, a sense of inclusion, a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law, and respect for each other.
I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition. And I certainly hope that’s how his presidency has a chance to begin.
I also told my team today to keep their heads up, because the remarkable work that they have done day in, day out, often without a lot of fanfare, often with (ph) a lot of — a lot of attention — work in agencies, work in obscure areas of policy that make government run better and make it more responsive and make it more efficient, and make it more service-friendly so that it’s actually helping more people. That remarkable work has left the next president with a stronger, better country than the one that existed eight years ago.
OBAMA: So win or lose in this election, that was always our mission. That was our mission from day one. And everyone on my team should be extraordinarily proud of everything that they have done and so should all of the Americans that I’ve had a chance to meet all across this country who do the hard work of building on that progress every single day.
Teachers in schools, doctors in E.R. clinic, small businesses putting their all into starting something up, making sure they’re treating their employees well, all the important work that’s done by moms and dads and families and congregations in every state, the work of perfecting this union.
So this was a long and hard fought campaign. A lot of our fellow Americans are exalted today, a lot of Americans are less so, but that’s the nature of campaigns, that’s the nature of democracy. It is hard and sometimes contentious and noisy and it’s not always inspiring.
But to the young people who got into politics for the first time and may be disappointed by the results, I just want you to know, you have to stay encouraged. Don’t get cynical, don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. As Secretary Clinton said this morning, fighting for what is right is worth it. Sometimes you lose an argument, sometimes you lose an election.
You know, the path that this country has taken has never been a straight line. We zig and zag and sometimes we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving back, and that’s OK. I’ve lost elections before. Joe hasn’t, but…
(LAUGHTER)
You know. So I’ve been sort of sure…
BIDEN: But (ph) you beat me badly.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: That’s the way politics works sometimes. We try really hard to persuade people that we’re right and then people vote. And then if we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena, we go at it. We try even harder the next time.
The point though is is that we all go forward with a presumption of good faith in our fellow citizens, because that presumption of good faith is essential to a vibrant and functioning democracy. That’s how this country has moved forward for 240 years. It’s how we’ve pushed boundaries and promoted freedom around the world. That’s how we’ve expanded the rights of our founding to reach all of our citizens. It’s how we have come this far.
And that’s why I’m confident that this incredible journey that we’re on, as Americans, will go on. And I’m looking forward to doing everything that I can to make sure that the next president is successful in that.
I’ve said before, I think of this job as being a relay runner. You take the baton, you run your best race and hopefully by the time you hand it off, you’re a little further ahead, you’ve made a little progress. And I can say that we’ve done that and I want to make sure that handoff is well executed because ultimately we’re all on the same team.
What follows is my 100-day action plan to Make America Great Again. It is a contract between myself and the American voter — and begins with restoring honesty, accountability and change to Washington
Therefore, on the first day of my term of office, my administration will immediately pursue the following six measures to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC:
* FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;
* SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);
* THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;
* FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
* FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
* SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.
On the same day, I will begin taking the following 7 actions to protect American workers:
* FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
* SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
* THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator
* FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
* FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.
* SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward
* SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure
Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:
* FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama
* SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States
* THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities
* FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back
* FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.
Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my Administration:
Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief, and lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with 2 children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets will be reduced from 7 to 3, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35 to 15 percent, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10 percent rate.
End The Offshoring Act. Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.
American Energy & Infrastructure Act. Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years. It is revenue neutral.
School Choice And Education Opportunity Act. Redirects education dollars to give parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends common core, brings education supervision to local communities. It expands vocational and technical education, and make 2 and 4-year college more affordable.
Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.
Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act. Allows Americans to deduct childcare and elder care from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-side childcare services, and creates tax-free Dependent Care Savings Accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.
End Illegal Immigration Act Fully-funds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a 2-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a 5-year mandatory minimum for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.
Restoring Community Safety Act. Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a Task Force On Violent Crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.
Restoring National Security Act. Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides Veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values
Clean up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts new ethics reforms to Drain the Swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.
On November 8th, Americans will be voting for this 100-day plan to restore prosperity to our economy, security to our communities, and honesty to our government.
This is my pledge to you.
And if we follow these steps, we will once more have a government of, by and for the people.
