OCTOBER 21, 1996

Full News Archive

• Headline: Ralph Nader's Campus Tour in New Jersey. Impact: Nader's campus tours inspired a generation of students to question everything from politics to the flavor of cafeteria food, leading to an increase in student activism and a decline in Taco Tuesday attendance.. Fact: Ralph Nader once made a speech about the dangers of corporate interests while standing on a soapbox that he ironically bought from a corporate chain..
• Headline: Baseball Labor Agreement Uncertainty Looms. Impact: The failure to reach an immediate labor pact led to the infamous 'Baseball Lockout of 1994,' which resulted in a generation of fans getting really good at complaining about their teams without actually watching them.. Fact: The only thing less likely than a baseball labor agreement is a politician keeping a promise—just ask any baseball fan from 1994!.
• Headline: Darryl Strawberry's Injury Drama in World Series. Impact: Darryl Strawberry's injury led to an unforeseen rise in the popularity of watching reruns of 'The Simpsons' during the World Series, as fans sought solace in Springfield rather than the diamond.. Fact: Strawberry's injuries are so notorious that they have their own fan club, known as the 'Bruised Bananas.'.
• Headline: New Hearing for Ex-President. Impact: The hearing for Robinson set a precedent that led to a nationwide trend of 'hearing your grievances'—so much so that today we have entire reality TV shows dedicated to it.. Fact: Robinson's dismissal was debated in a kitchen, where someone dramatically spilled their coffee, claiming it was 'the real tragedy.'.
• Headline: Clinton, Looking to '97 Congress, Visits New York and New Jersey. Impact: Clinton's campaign efforts in New Jersey helped create an illusion of Democratic unity, which ultimately led to the great 'What Happened to Our Party?' mid-term crises of the late '90s.. Fact: Clinton's New Jersey visit was so well-coordinated that even the pigeons in Central Park were given scripts..
• Headline: Immigrants Fighting Back, As Citizens. Impact: The movement of immigrants seeking citizenship shifted the cultural landscape, leading to the invention of fusion cuisine—who knew tacos and sushi would one day unite in delicious harmony?. Fact: Purnick's column was so influential that it convinced at least three people to finally learn the words to the national anthem..
• Headline: Japanese Give Once-Top Party Big Comeback. Impact: The comeback of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan sparked a chain reaction of political comebacks worldwide, inspiring countless politicians to dust off their old campaign slogans and try again.. Fact: The LDP's comeback was so big that it made a certain '90s boy band look like a minor reunion tour..