The Onion on Barbaro...

[GenuineRisk]

Yeah, I didn't find this one as funny as I usually find the Onion's stuff. Though the line about the "deranged Brother Derek fan" did make me smile.

[Withers]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Yeah, I didn't find this one as funny as I usually find the Onion's stuff. Though the line about the "deranged Brother Derek fan" did make me smile.

I liked the "deranged Brother Derek fan" and the "face-aging software" thing...I agree that the Onion did have problems making this one work -- especially for true horse fans, but it's nice they give horse-racing a bit of attention, even at Barbaro's expense.

[Linny]

The Onion has been on this story all along. As sad as Barbaro's death was, I still find this funny. The one about his funeral was hilarious.

[The Bid]

Its about as funny as my mom dying.

Should have been left over at the onion

[Linny]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Its about as funny as my mom dying.

Should have been left over at the onion

I cannot believe that you compared the death of an animal you probably never saw in person to the passing of your own Mother.

To make this more real, a story...My Dad passed away 70 hours before my wedding. We buried him the moring of my wedding. He'd been ill with severe Parkinson's and had told my brother months prior that he was planning on attending the wedding with my Mom, who had passed 1 1/2 years before. He told me he couldn't wait for my wedding and we arranged for him to have a place of prominence. My Dad and I were very close.
For me, the only way to deal with it was to joke about it. That was Dad, always messing up my plans. That was Dad, stealing my thunder. That was Dad, center of attention with his giant personality. We still joke about it in my family. What else is there to do, mourn my wedding day?

The stuff in the Onion is irreverent but the fact that Barbaro is still getting press there tells how much of a cultural icon he is/was. I'm surprised he wasn't named as a possible father of Anna Nicole's baby.

[Grits]

Linny--what a great post!!! A great story. Whatever life hands us, we do rise to the circumstances, even rise above them. And in doing so, we're able to remember far beyond those difficult times, to the times of joy, laughter, and love. Those, are with us, always.

[fjh513]

New Member...first post.

The Onion article I thought was pure satire and not meant to be malicious. I used to frequent another forum where the remarks after Barbaro's death were beyond belief. Granted it was not a forum geared to horse racing,but I sure had my Irish up in the thread about Barbaro's death.
There are some scary people out there . I have since abandoned that site and have sought refuge hear...a happier place where I can hopefully benefit from the wealth of knowledge about horses,horse racing,and handicapping. Hope you guys don't mind questions from rank amatuers.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Linny

I cannot believe that you compared the death of an animal you probably never saw in person dying to the passing of your own Mother.

To make this more real, a story...My Dad passed away 70 hours before my wedding. We buried him the moring of my wedding. He'd been ill with severe Parkinson's and had told my brother months prior that he was planning on attending the wedding with my Mom, who had passed 1 1/2 years before. He told me he couldn't wait for my wedding and we arranged for him to have a place of prominence. My Dad and I were very close.
For me, the only way to deal with it was to joke about it. That was Dad, always messing up my plans. That was Dad, stealing my thunder. That was Dad, center of attention with his giant personality. We still joke about it in my family. What else is there to do, mourn my wedding day?

The stuff in the Onion is irreverent but the fact that Barbaro is still getting press there tells how much of a cultural icon he is/was. I'm surprised he wasn't named as a possible father of Anna Nicole's baby.

I think someone just got fired over at The Onion for not coming up with that idea.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Withers

I liked the "deranged Brother Derek fan" and the "face-aging software" thing...I agree that the Onion did have problems making this one work -- especially for true horse fans, but it's nice they give horse-racing a bit of attention, even at Barbaro's expense.

Oh, don't get me wrong; I'm glad you posted it, even if I didn't think it was up to their usual level. But that's the thing with satire- to be effective, it has to be edgy, and it's hard sometimes to find that point that's far enough to be daring, but not so far as to not be funny. Not every article is going to be a hit out of the park. I'm always impressed that the Onion hits it as often as it does.

Though I notice this is the second Onion article that mentions Brother Derek. A Brother Derek fan on the staff? Or more likely, someone just thinks "Brother Derek" is a funny name. Which it kind of is.

[jman5581]

Horse fans should just expect this kind of thing... don't take it too seriously, focus on the future. I think it's kind of a way of honoring Barbaro...he's so great that people would make themselves believe he's still alive!...I know the Jackson's probably wouldn't find it too funny, but, hey, it's pretty funny to me.

[Danzig]

it's funny in the sense that some people think some people (or in this case, a horse)are so great that they can even defeat death--and i'm sure those are the ones the onion is trying to mock here. i'm sure barbaro would be proud to be included with the likes of elvis, jim morrison and dale earnhardt.

strange tho that there have been no princess di sightings. yet.

[brianwspencer]

The one about his funeral was awesome.

Of course you're going to get all sorts of reactions, and some people won't be happy with you about finding anything about Barbaro to be entertaining.

I'm not saying for everyone to get up and move on, but I'm saying that we're going to grow into some really stodgy people if we take every bit of satire as some real social commentary and let it get to us.

I don't think the Iraq war is funny, but satire about the Iraq war is some of my favorite....because it's not actually making light of the fact that scores of people are dying over there.

It's the point of satire, and much comedy, really. To take things that we shouldn't be laughing at and try to lighten them...because otherwise we become stale, jaded humans. I don't want that.

So, thanks for posting this. Ever since I moved out of a place where they had paper copies of the Onion, I tend to not get on their site as often as I should.

[disrespectnfool]

i think it's pretty damn funny.
there comes a point when you have to smile about things.
so i guess he is now the elvis of racing...coming to a truck stop near you.

[ArlJim78]

I love Barbaro and The Onion. I find it funny and at the same time sad. Sad not because of the article per se, just remembering Barbaro.

Kinda strange that Barbaro gets more coverage in The Onion than in a lot of the major press. In one sense you have to give kudos to The Onion for keeping his name out there in their own quirky way.

I love the amatuer video that has a circled horse that some say resembles Barbaro.

[saucon17]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I love the amatuer video that has a circled horse that some say resembles Barbaro.

The thing I thought was amusing about amateur video was how
nice and green everything was in late February in Montana, I
guess they dont have winter there

[ALostTexan]

Is thought it was pretty damn funny. I agree, you have to laugh about things like this or you will cry. And to be big enough to be mentioned in The Onion is an honor.

The 'face aging software' made me laugh, too...

ALostTexan