Cardinals, Quarterbacks and the Terminator
Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan
Cindy McCann, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bob McCann
"It's crowded in there," warned one of the party planners guarding the cocktail area. "But just look for the man in the red hat."
Indeed, Cardinal Dolan was not hard to find. Among the many men of the cloth, most of whom wore their priest collars in lieu of traditional black tie, he was one of the few with a pop of color. He cheerily welcomed us to the function.
"Yes, I love coming to these," Cardinal Dolan said. "They always bring me a nice big bowl of spaghetti."
Nicholas Hunt/Patrick McMullan
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Brady and Francois-Henry Bennahmias
Mr. McCann said that he, too, is used to speaking at events. He does it so often that it's almost old hat. "But it's not old hat when it's a room this pretty with this many people and two cardinals," he explained.
Then Pat Battle, an NBC reporter and the emcee of the evening, took to the podium. She broke the ice with a variation on the joke about five Catholic women—for lack of a better word—kibitzing about their sons. Let's recreate it speedily. The first has a son who's a priest: "When he walks into a room, everyone calls him 'Father.'" The second has a son who's a Bishop: "Everyone calls him 'Your Grace.'" The third's son is a Cardinal: "They call him 'Your Eminence.'" The fourth's son is the Pope, "and they call him 'Your Holiness.'" The fifth, quiet until now, describes her son as being gorgeous, sun-kissed, eligible and over 6-feet tall with washboard abs. "When he walks into a room," whispers the fifth woman, "everybody says, 'Oh my God.'"
Cue much laughter from the crowd, as well as our search for the exit.
Up at the Park Avenue Armory, there was a party for another kind of religion: the reverence, usually seen in upwardly mobile species of the male variety, for the fancy watch. The brand Audemars Piguet was celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Royal Oak, apparently the world's first ever luxury sports timepiece.
Patrick McMullan
Tiki Barber and Traci Johnson
We can't say that at this elegant event—the exhibition's opening night party—we felt like we were deep in the Vallée de Joux, but we appreciated the effort. We also appreciate any party that has an appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing a huge skull ring. And on the back of each seating card was a miniature illustration of the three-long dinner tables. When you checked in, someone kindly circled your placement in order to help you find your spot.
The seating card was a cool and clever touch. Not that it was of much help, but perhaps we were still flustered from our conversation with Tom Brady, a friend of the brand. Talking to him could make anyone sweat.
"I don't come to too many of these," said Mr. Brady, in a three-piece suit, after he inquired about our column at this esteemed publication and said he would start reading it. (Cue: beads of perspiration.) He mentioned that he expected to spend the next few months with his sons, "training and going to a few social events, but not many."
He added that he has "quite a few" Audemars Piguet watches and chooses which to wear on "you know, whatever fits my mood." The one he wore on Wednesday was "classy," he explained, and "very rare." "It's not one of those things you're going swimming in the pool with," Mr. Brady said.
Write to Marshall Heyman at marshall.heyman@wsj.com
Dear Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:
The Bettors of the State of New York and the employees of the remaining OTBs, public benefit corporations, have no standing to ask for your Opinion to the following simple questions with seemingly obvious answers::
1. Will the Attorney General defend the constitutionality of NY PML Sec 105?
2. Does NY PML Sec 105 apply to Nassau OTB?
3. Does NY PML Sec 105 violate the rights of New York Bettors secured by NY Const. Art. 1, Sec. 3?
4. Is NY PML Sec 105 vague, indefinite and/or overly broad as the term "Easter Sunday" does not define one and only one Sunday in all years (see eg Gregorian and Julian Calendars)?
I hope that you will sua sponte issue an Opinion as to the above so that bettors may bet, workers may work or not as they wish, and the State and its subdivisions make money. There are tracks running all across the United States every day of the year that bettors want to bet. Track calendars may be found at eg www.ntra.com<http://www.ntra.com>; ;. The OTBs also sell New York Lottery tickets which are drawn every day of the year. The OTBs also cash non IRS Lottery tickets in cash for any sum, a convenience for many Lotto Players.
It is critical in these current time that the OTBs are open when customers want to bet. I believe that your Opinion will belatedly validate the actions of New York City OTB taken on the advice of its Counsel in 2003.
Sincerely yours,
January 5, 2012
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m - New York Daily News
articles.nydailynews.com/.../18220335_1_racing-and-wagering-boar...
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m. BY JERRY BOSSERT DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER. Monday, April 14, 2003. New York City Off-Track Betting ...
§ 105. Supplementary regulatory powers of the board. Notwithstanding
any inconsistent provision of law, the board through its rules and
regulations or in allotting dates for racing or in licensing race
meetings at which pari-mutuel betting is permitted shall be empowered
to: (i) permit racing at which pari-mutuel betting is conducted on any
or all dates from the first day of January through the thirty-first day
of December, inclusive of Sundays but exclusive of December twenty-fifth
and Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday; and (ii) fix minimum and maximum
charges for admission at any race meeting.
See also
http://www.liherald.com/elmont/elmont/stories/Legislation-would-strengthen-state-OTB-corporations,31667
March 29, 2011 | 2361 views
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m - New York Daily News
articles.nydailynews.com/.../18220335_1_racing-and-wagering-boar...
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m. BY JERRY BOSSERT DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER. Monday, April 14, 2003.
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