Reader Stacie Bilger found this one:
We should point out that even though the picture is described as capturing George W. Bush as "delivering a punch to the face" of an opponent, sports-action photos can make a perfectly ordinary portion of an athletic competition look extraordinarily embarrassing or violent — a play that appears routine in a video clip can look quite different when presented in the context of a single-image still photo. (For example, a defender attempting a high tackle can easily appear as if he were trying to punch his opponent in the face, or the aftermath of a play can leave competitors in unusual positions. The caption might best be regarded as a tongue-in-cheek one.
OK, fine -- so Snopes decided that Bush probably didn't actually deliver a right hook to an opposing player. But read the headline to the story:
Claim: Photo shows Yale undergraduate George W. Bush delivering a punch to the face of a rugby opponent.
Status: True.
Uh, guys -- try fact-checking your headers now and then.
It's rugby. In rugby, this is considered a 'friendly reminder'.
I always thought this was the best photo Bush ever took. It should go on the corner photo of his website if I were on his campaign.
"sports-action photos can make a perfectly ordinary portion of an athletic competition look extraordinarily embarrassing or violent"
Very true. I was once in a court hearing on the subject of high school wrestling. There were photos in evidence, and they did look rather pornographic. It turned out the photos were taken by a group of concerned citizens who were trying behind the scenes to get wrestling banned altogether in that school district because it was "sexual activity."
This photo reminds me of a statue.
The Texas Rangers commissioned a nice statue of Nolan Ryan for their new ballpark several years ago. Carved into the marble around him are his many accomplishments.
It's a nice pose, standing and looking up, hat in his hand, as if he were acknowledging the cheers of the fans after a no-hitter.
But if had been able to select the pose, it would have been Nolan with his arm wrapped around Robin Ventura's neck, beating the shit out of him.
Look at the direction the bodies are heading toward.
If this was a punch it never would have landed. More likely Bush's right hand has probably just slipped off the other player's head (poor tackling technique).
Boy, can you get a dumber effort to smear someone? What a joke.
Make that photo into a leaflet and drop it over the mountainous regions of Pakistan. al-qaida fighters will surrender in droves, convinced of the futility of opposing such a man.
Look at W's feet. If it was a punch, there wasn't any real force behind it... looks like a fairly typical 'arms waving around' kind of pic.
Dave, I was at that game. Only time I ever saw Ryan live, and we didn't even know he'd be pitching when we bought the tickets. Un-real.
