No. 1/9 Hoosiers Off to Fast Start at Purdue Invitational
The No. 1/9-ranked Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams got off to a great start on Friday at the Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind.
The team broke a pair of school records and posted two NCAA A cuts to go along with 39 NCAA B cuts on the day. The Hoosiers also won three of the four relays on the day to go along with a pair of individual victories.
The No. 9 Hoosier women lead the eight-team field after the first day of competition with 258 points. No. 14 Florida is second with a total of 235.5, while No. 20 Purdue is third with 143 points.
The No. 1 Indiana men’s team sits in third place out of eight teams after 12 events with a total of 163 points. No. 3 Florida leads with a score of 300 points, while No. 24 Virginia Tech is second with 188 points.
200 Freestyle Relay
The Hoosiers opened Thursday’s final session with a bang, setting two school records in the first event.
The IU women’s team of Grace Haskett, Ali Rockett, Shelby Koontz and Lilly King set the school record, winning the event with a NCAA B cut time of 1:28.95. The relay mark is the second-fastest in the country.
Haskett was tremendous in her leadoff, setting the school record in the 50 freestyle with her NCAA B cut of 22.10. Her time breaks the previous record of 22.32 set by Jenn Cristy almost 17 years ago on Feb. 17, 2001. The freshman’s record split is the third-best time in the nation.
Also in the event, team relay of Laurel Eiber, Camryn Forbes, Abby Kirkpatrick and Marie Chamberlain took 10th overall with a time of 1:32.99.
On the men’s side, the relay of Mohamed Samy, Josh Romany, Nikola Miljenic and Griffin Eiber placed 10th with a time of 1:18.95.
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500 Freestyle
For the IU women, the Hoosiers had four women in the A Final, led by Kennedy Goss who placed second overall with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 4:40.72. Cassy Jernberg was right behind her in third placed with a season-best and B cut mark of 4:42.71.
Maria Paula Heitmann was sixth with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 4:46.15 that ranks her as the 15th-best swimmer in the event in IU history. Delaney Barnard was seventh overall with her fastest time of the season, 4:47.04.
On the men’s side, Nicholas Carlson placed 11th overall with a NCAA B cut and personal-best time of 4:24.56, while Ethan Curl was 12th with a B cut of 4:24.75. Spencer Lehman took 15th with a PR of 4:25.92, while Adam Destrampe rounded out the four Hoosiers in the B Final, placing 16th with a time of 4:26.90.
Mohamed Samy won the D Final with a personal-best time of 4:29.34, while Matthew Kint was 28th with a mark of 4:32.85.
200 IM
Lilly King won the 200 IM, leading four Hoosiers who swam in the A Final of the event. The junior touched first with a NCAA B cut time of 1:55.96, which ranks as the sixth-fastest time in the event in school history.
Christine Jensen took third overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:57.97 which makes her the eighth-fastest swimmer in the 200 IM at IU. Rachel Matsumura was right behind in fourth, touching with a PR and B cut of 1:58.79. Matsumura moves in to 13th place on the program’s all-time performer list. Touching fifth overall with a NCAA B cut of 1:59.25 was Sam Lisy.
In the B Final, Camry Forbes was 12th with a time of 2:02.61, while Josie Grote was 14th in 2:02.77. Abby Kirkpatrick was 15thoverall with a mark of 2:02.80.
Kendall Hermann was 19th with a time of 2:02.45, while Reagan Cook was 26th overall in 2:03.30.
For the Hoosier men, Vini Lanza led the way with a NCAA B cut of 1:43.15, taking third place in the A Final. Blake Pieroni was sixth overall with a B cut of 1:45.57, while Ian Finnerty won the B Final with a NCAA B cut of 1:45.55.
Thomas Vanderbrook placed 19th overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut of 1:48.25, which ties him for 20th place on the program’s all-time performer list in the event. Griffin Eiber was 21st overall with a time of 1:48.56, while Jackson Etter was 22ndin 1:50.06.
Wilson Beckman took 26th overall with a NCAA B cut of 1:48.49, while Matt Jerden was 29th with a PR of 1:49.47. Gary Kostbade was 32nd with a time of 1:51.21.
50 Freestyle
Grace Haskett continued her unbelievable night, winning the 50 freestyle A Final with a NCAA B cut of 22.19. Haskett’s time is second only to her earlier relay split of 22.10 all-time in Indiana history. Ali Rockett placed fifth overall with a NCAA B cut of 22.91 in the A Final.
Shelby Koontz tied for first in the B Final, tying for ninth overall with a personal-best time of 22.87 that ranks her as the ninth-best performer in the event at IU. Laurel Eiber placed 14th with a PR of 23.29.
For the IU men, freshman Bruno Blaskovic had a great showing, taking second in the A Final with a PR and NCAA B cut of 19.76. With his time, Blaskovic is tied as the ninth-best performer in the event at Indiana. Ali Khalafalla took fourth overall with a B cut of 19.86, while Nikola Miljenic touched with a personal-best and NCAA B cut of 19.88. With his mark, Miljenic ranks as the 14th-fastest swimmer in the 50 free at IU.
Oliver Patrouch was sixth overall, touching with a NCAA B cut of 19.89, while Josh Romany rounded out five Hoosier swimmers in the A Final, taking seventh with a B cut of 19.91.
Griffin Eiber placed 19th with a PR of 20.58.
400 Medley Relay
The IU women put an exclamation point on their great opening night at the Purdue Invitational, winning the 400 medley relay.
The team of Ali Rockett, Lilly King, Christine Jensen and Grace Haskett won with the fastest time in the nation this year – 3:32.04. The time is also a NCAA A cut, the first A cut of the 2017-18 season for the Hoosiers. Also with their time, the relay ranks 10th all-time in program history.
Also, the team of Kennedy Goss, Laura Morley, Kendall Hermann and Shelby Koontz took ninth with a time of 3:39.39.
The Hoosier men also touched first, posting a NCAA A cut of their own with the fastest time in the country. The team of Mohamed Samy, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Blake Pieroni touched the wall with a time of 3:05.57, breaking the Purdue pool record. The mark is also tied for the second-fastest in school history.
The team of Wilson Beckman, Gary Kostbade, Corey Gambardella and Bruno Blaskovic placed 10th with a time of 3:12.72.
Competition will continue at the Purdue Invitational with the prelims of the 200 medley relay, 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 800 freestyle relay at 10:00 a.m. ET. Finals will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay
- Grace Haskett, Ali Rockett, Shelby Koontz, Lilly King – 1:28.95 (School Record, NCAA B Cut)
Grace Haskett’s leadoff 50 free split of 22.10
- Laurel Eiber, Camryn Forbes, Abby Kirkpatrick, Marie Chamberlain -Â 1:32.99
Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay
- Mohamed Samy, Josh Romany, Nikola Miljenic, Griffin Eiber – 1:18.95
Women’s 500 Freestyle
- Kennedy Goss – 4:40.72 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 4:43.42, NCAA B Cut)
- Cassy Jernberg – 4:42.71 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 4:46.49, NCAA B Cut)
- Maria Paula Heitmann – 4:46.15 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 4:46.60, NCAA B Cut)
- Delany Barnard – 4:47.04 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 4:48.03)
- Anne Rouleau – 4:57.95 (Personal Best)
- Samantha Kraus – 5:05.35 (Personal Best)
Men’s 500 Freestyle
- Nicholas Carlson – 4:24.56 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 4:26.81)
- Ethan Curl – 4:24.75 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 4:27.23)
- Spencer Lehman – 4:25.92 (Prelims – 4:25.50, Personal Best)
- Adam Destrampe – 4:26.90 (Prelims – 4:25.65)
- Mohamed Samy – 4:29.34 (Personal Best; Prelims – 4:33.29)
- Matthew Kint – 4:32.85 (Personal Best; Prelims – 4:33.37)
- Corey Gambardella – 4:37.19
Women’s 200 IM
- Lilly King – 1:55.96 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 1:58.71, NCAA B Cut)
- Christine Jensen – 1:57.97 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 1:59.21, NCAA B Cut)
- Rachel Matsumura – 1:58.79 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 2:00.67, NCAA B Cut)
- Sam Lisy – 1:59.25 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 2:00.09, NCAA B Cut)
- Camryn Forbes – 2:02.61 (Prelims – 2:02.05)
- Josie Grote – 2:02.77 (Prelims – 2:01.17, NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
- Abby Kirkpatrick – 2:02.80 (Prelims – 2:02.36, Personal Best)
- Kendall Hermann – 2:02.45 (Prelims – 2:03.61)
- Reagan Cook – 2:03.30 (Prelims – 2:03.80)
Men’s 200 IM
- Vini Lanza – 1:43.15 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 1:46.32, NCAA B Cut)
- Blake Pieroni – 1:45.57 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 1:45.86, NCAA B Cut)
- Ian Finnerty – 1:45.55 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 1:46.65, NCAA B Cut)
- Thomas Vanderbrook – 1:48.25 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 1:49.41)
- Griffin Eiber – 1:48.56 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 1:49.15)
- Jackson Etter – 1:50.06 (Prelims – 1:49.74, Personal Best)
- Wilson Beckman – 1:48.49 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 1:50.28)
- Matt Jerden – 1:49.47 (Personal Best; Prelims – 1:49.76)
- Gary Kotbade – 1:51.21 (Prelims – 1:50.36)
- Jacob Steele – 1:51.26 (Personal Best)
- Jack Kucharczyk – 1:52.81 (Personal Best)
- Gage Hamill – 1:53.23
Women’s 50 Freestyle
- Grace Haskett – 22.19 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 22.44, NCAA B Cut)
- Ali Rockett – 22.91 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 22.92, NCAA B Cut)
T-9. Shelby Koontz – 22.87 (Personal Best; NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 23.27)
- Laurel Eiber – 23.29 (Personal Best; Prelims – 23.31)
- Marie Chamberlain – 24.05
- Abby Kirkpatrick – 24.16 (Personal Best)
- Katie Keller – 24.46
- Taylor Truex – 25.02
- Anna Kirkpatrick – 25.05
- Mackenzie Atencio – 25.07 (Personal Best)
- Alexandra Nusawardhana – 26.04
Men’s 50 Freestyle
- Bruno Blaskovic – 19.76 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 19.76, NCAA B Cut)
- Ali Khalafalla – 19.86 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 19.55, NCAA B Cut)
- Nikola Miljenic – 19.88 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best; Prelims – 20.22)
- Oliver Patrouch – 19.89 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 19.81, NCAA B Cut)
- Josh Romany – 19.91 (NCAA B Cut; Prelims – 20.26)
- Griffin Eiber – 20.58 (Personal Best; Prelims – 20.61)
- Brock Brown – 21.17
- Corey Gambardella – 21.24
- Nikola Andjelic – 21.61
- Steve Husch – 21.84
- Sam Apa – 24.87
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
- Ali Rockett, Lilly King, Christine Jensen, Grace Haskett – 3:32.04 (NCAA A Cut)
- Kennedy Goss, Laura Morley, Kendall Hermann, Shelby Koontz – 3:39.39
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
- Mohamed Samy, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza, Blake Pieroni – 3:05.57 (NCAA A Cut, Pool Record)
- Wilson Beckman, Gary Kostbade, Corey Gambardella, Bruno Blaskovic – 3:12.72
IS IT TRUE NOVEMBER 17, 2017
We hope that todays “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?
IS IT TRUE it looks like the discussion if we  should expand the Vanderburgh County jail is over?  …that any day now the State of Indiana will be mandating our local elected officials to start talking about and planning what kind of addition should we build to the current jail?  …that Vanderburgh County now have the funds to build the addition to the jail because of the increases in the Wheel Tax and the County Income Option Tax beginning in 2018?  …we hope that the committee in charge of designing the new Vanderburgh County jail expansion will build it to accommodate our needs for at least the next 25 years?  …its time to serve the wine?
IS IT TRUE we have been informed that on November 27th  the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners will call a special meeting to discuss the possible expansion of the County jail?  …we expect the Sheriff Wedding, attorneys for the County Council and County Commissioners to attend along with the Vanderburgh County Building Authority Director Dave Rector to discuss ways to expand the jail within the soon to be announced budget guidelines?  …we repeat that its time to serve the wine? …this is really a developing story?
IS IT TRUE that yesterday the Indiana State Board of Accounts auditors held an exit conference with the Evansville city officials? Â …the audit review for the City of Evansville covered the 2016 budget year? Â …we hear that some of the findings by the auditors are very interesting? Â …this is a developing story?
IS IT TRUE that we continue to be impressed by Jon Webb over at the Evansville Courier and Press?…while Webb has never made it a secret that he is not an adoring fan of President Donald Trump, his article communicating his doubts that President Trump colluded with any Russians was grounded in the reality of being a good judge of personality?…Webb asserted that President Trump most likely did not collude with the Russians because he first would not have had the attention span to pull something this large and drawn out off without telling someone?…he also asserted that if President Trump would have been clever enough to have essentially gamed the system and stolen the election that he would not have the discipline not to boast about his clever gamesmanship?…we find Mr. Webb’s opinion to be highly probable?…quite frankly we find Webb’s opinion to be more probable that the dream of many Democrats that President Trump was indeed smart enough and disciplined enough to pull off a heist of the White House without bragging about it?…it takes a special kind of person to see things like this and collect the dots when he doesn’t seem to like President Trump a bit, so kudos to Jon Webb for using his reporters skills to reach a highly probable conclusion?
IS IT TRUE that Webb also opined some other truths and one of them is that even if all of the collusion theories were true and President Trump boasted openly during the campaign that he would have still defeated Hillary Clinton?…most polls today conclude the same thing and that if the election were held today, even with President Trump having an approval rating in the mid 30% range, he would still defeat Hillary Clinton today?
IS IT TRUE we have  been told by credible sources that the Steve Hammer for County Commissioner campaign committee has $16,400 pledged towards his campaign so far?  …this is an impressive figure since he hasn’t held one official campaign fundraising event?
IS IT TRUE that Wally Paynter the President of the TriState Alliance is doing an outstanding job in promoting equal rights?
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City County Observer or our advertisers
Sunday Alcohol Sales Gains Support Article Analysis By Gail Riecken
Sunday Alcohol Sales Gains Support Article Analysis By CCO State House Editor Gail Riecken
The article on alcohol sales reminds me of one retiring colleague’s remark. He said something like I guess people will remember me as the the “sin†guy. Not far from wrong. He did lead the complicated issues of gaming/alcohol/and e-cigarettes during the last years of his membership in the legislature and he truly did a great job.
Now putting an end to the Sunday alcohol sales controversy is on the table and possibly near agreement. Let’s hope so. This issue can take the energy out of a session,  and there are so many other important issues that need discussing.
Just this summer there were 8 interim study committee meetings alone on the subject of alcohol, when only three were held each on the important issues of education and elections. Public health, behavioral health and human services interim study committee was scheduled for three meetings and the agenda and presentations from those meetings absolutely commanded more time. Think of just how critical the issues are on each of these topics.
It seems the alcohol parties with vested interests are coming to agreement. Let’s hope they work out their remaining  problems between now and the beginning of session. If not, this issue will drag on throughout session and the games will begin.
Gail Riecken
City County Observer State House Editor
Sunday Alcohol Sales Gains Support
By Adrianna Pitrelli for TheStatehouseFile.com
The Alcohol Code Revision Commission agreed Tuesday that Indiana lawmakers should allow alcohol sales on Sunday, but will wait until next month to work out the details in proposed legislation.
“Sixty-eight percent of people in Indiana want cold beer to be sold in convenient stores and grocery stores,†Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, said. “We should do what’s right for the state of Indiana.â€
Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville. Â Photo by Dustin Beach, TheStatehouseFile.com
The commission’s agenda covered the selling of cold beer and Sunday alcohol sales, and agreed Sunday sales should be allowed. Members are still split on who should be able to sell cold six-packs of beer.
The commission has been meeting throughout the fall to prepare for the 2018 legislative session. Lawmakers earlier this year decided a review of the state’s alcohol laws was needed after a controversy arose over the sale of cold beer.
Convenience store owner Jay Ricker got around the cold beer ban by turning some of his locations into restaurants and then getting a liquor license. Lawmakers banned that tactic but agreed that the state’s alcohol control laws needed to be updated.
The commission reviewed bills proposing Sunday sales. One of them would allow liquor, grocery and convenience stores to sell alcohol from noon until 8 p.m.
Final versions of proposed legislation will be included in the commission’s report. The commission’s recommendations, to be voted on next month, will go to the General Assembly in January to be further discussed and possibly voted on. If any of the proposed legislation becomes law, none is expected to take effect until July 2019.
Indiana is the only state that regulates beer sales based on temperature and only one of nine restricting or prohibiting Sunday alcohol sales, Â according to the National Association of Convenience Stores.
Boots doesn’t sit on the committee, but he’s been to nearly every meeting because he strongly supports Sunday alcohol sales and the purchase of cold beer in convenience and grocery stores.
“Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week,†Boots said. “Every other state around us sells alcohol on Sunday so we lose sales tax and revenue by not selling on Sundays.â€
Boots proposed creating a supplemental license for stores that want to sell on Sundays. It would be a one-day addition to the current six-day license, which Boots said would amount to a $2.3 million increase in revenues.
Commission member Keith Byers agreed Sunday alcohol sales should be permitted.
“I’ve heard nothing that convinces me that Sunday sales is going to add any more alcohol abuse or underage drinking,†Byers said. “To me, it’s a free market issue.â€
Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, was the most outspoken against Sunday sales.
“If we allow cold beer sales on Sundays, I can see family-owned liquor stores going out of business,†he said. “I’m not particularly religious, but beer and religion don’t equate.â€
The other issue raised, the sale of cold beer in venues other than package liquor stores, was the subject of more debate among the members of the commission.
“There is no difference between buying a cold beer in a package store and buying a cold beer in a convenient store,†Boots said. “If you are able to sell it responsibility, you should be able to sell it rather if it is warm or cold.â€
Byers disagreed, saying the only people who should be able to sell it cold are those who already have a permit to do so.
“There is only one reason to have cold beer in a gas station,†Byers said. “You’re going to go in and buy is then go to your car and open it up.â€
The meeting followed an announcement late last week from the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers and the Indiana Retail Council that they agreed to put aside past differences and support Sunday alcohol sales. They also agreed to unite in opposition to cold beer sales outside of a package liquor store.
Previously, liquor stores said they would support Sunday sales if there were restrictions, like building walled-off areas to put the alcohol for sale. But under the agreement announced Friday, they would no longer advocate for those restrictions. Rather, liquor stores will have support from big-box stores to block the expansion of cold beer sales in places like gas stations.
The commission has two more scheduled meetings prior to the start of the 2018 legislative session and 20 alcohol-related draft legislation under consideration. They include requiring everyone to be carded when purchasing alcohol and allowing minors in a liquor store with a parent or guardian. The next meeting is Dec. 1.
FOOTNOTE: Adrianna Pitrelli is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE
EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE
BY MARK HURT CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATEÂ
At a Lincoln Day event in Jasper County earlier this year, one of my advisers had an interesting experience. One, I am sure, well-intentioned young attendee asked him why Republicans were not more in favor of higher education. Whey he pressed him for what he meant, he cited that New York had just passed a bill authorizing free college education for any New York resident making an annual income of $ 100,000.00 or less. The young attendee thought that might be a good platform plank to attract young people to the Republican side.
They had a good conversation. My friend reminded him that the socialist Bernie Sanders had the same idea in the last Presidential race and that Hillary Clinton was close that same view – both embracing more and more the socialist approach to problem solving – spend other people’s money. He recalled for him that the country Sanders cited as a prime example of what New York was trying to do now was Norway. A paradise, if you believe United Nations’ reports on the best countries in which to live. Yes, in Norway there is universal free education through the university and universal free medical care. Sounds great, even assuming incorrectly that the care they receive is on par with hospitals in the USA.
Any downsides he asked him? None the college junior could think of.
Here are a couple downsides. The lowest federal income rate in Norway is 40% and no deductions are allowed. If you make more than $ 78,000 per year, the income tax rate jumps to 68%. Also, there is a 25% national sales tax (what Europeans refer to as a VAT – a Value Added Tax) and a 100% tax on new vehicles, yes 100%! A Honda, for example costing $20,000 in the USA would then be just under $40,000 in Norway. Furthermore, gas is perpetually at least $ 10.00 per gallon. That is why most Norwegians do not own cars and fewer still own homes, and Norwegians have the highest personal debt in the world.
A socialist paradise? Not quite, just in theory. My colleague asked the young Lincoln Day attendee how those numbers fitted into his expected $23,000 per year salary upon graduation from IUPUI. He was floored. As the student put it, “I never thought about that and our professors do not mention it.†As the famous business guru, Dr. W. Edward Deming used to say, “In God we trust, all others bring data.â€
Cops Connecting With Kids Pick Cedar Hall School Students Part of “Reveal Week” 2018 Disney Trip
| Evansville Police Officers and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputies joined the staff of Cedar Hall School yesterday for their 2018 Walt Disney World trip reveal.
At the school wide assembly our law enforcement professionals  announced that 16 students will travel to Walt Disney World as part of the “Cops Connecting With Kids” program in January, 2018. The group will take 48 kids in total from McGary Middle School, Glenwood Leadership Academy, and Cedar Hall. The McGary kids found out they earned their trip on Monday. The Glenwood kids will find out on Friday morning during their 9:00am assembly. The “Cops Connecting With Kids Disney” trip is completely funded through a sponsorship program and fundraisers. The goal of the “Cops Connecting With Kids” program is to build relationships with kids through positive interactions with law enforcement. In the first three years of the program, 118 kids earned an all expenses paid trip to the Disney theme parks. The 2018 trip will bring the total to 166 kids. |
Commentary: Still a fight for love and glory
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS – The actress Lauren Bacall once affectionately called her husband Humphrey Bogart “the ugliest handsome man you’ve ever seen.â€
As I sit in a movie theater watching a special 75th anniversary screening of the Bogart classic “Casablanca,†I realize how apt Bacall’s description was.
In many ways, Bogart was the most unlikely of screen idols.
A slight man with an oversized head who spoke with a slight lisp and had a face almost skeletal in structure, by all common reckoning he shouldn’t have been able to radiate the force he did.
But he did.
In this, the most star-making of his many complex and powerful performances, he did more than own the screen. He created a character that set a code for masculine conduct that lasted for at least two generations.
The movie’s plot is familiar, a tale of two pining lovers – Bogart’s Rick and Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa – separated by fate and circumstance in a world “gone crazy,†one plunged into the maelstrom of a global war. The tension in their story is as old as life itself, the conflict between desire and duty.
Bogart’s Rick is a reluctant hero. At the beginning of the film, he is a wounded man. To the outward world, he is cool and confident, a graceful, self-assured figure in an immaculate white dinner jacket. In private, he nurses his wounds, bathing them in bourbon to the tune of a tinkling piano.
Rick’s narrative arc is the movie’s point. As the plot propels itself forward, Rick rediscovers his best self, remembering his responsibilities to others and to the world around him as he sacrifices the thing he wants most – a life with Ilsa – so he and she can serve the greater good.
There are, to be sure, moments that now seem absurd.
As I watch the scene in which the lovers have reconciled, temporarily, and Bergman’s Ilsa says to Bogart’s Rick that she feels so overwhelmed that he will have “think for both of us,†I try to imagine a circumstance in which my wife, my daughter or any other woman I respect would say such a thing to a man.
I cannot conjure up a single plane of reality in which that might occur.
Nor would I want it to.
Other parts of the Bogart/Rick code, though, still resonate.
Part of that code is the implied assertion that a man’s character should be defined and revealed through his conduct. That what he feels should be made clear by what he does, how he cares for those around him, what he defends, what he resists and where he stands when things that matter are at stake.
And some of that code also can be found in what a man holds back, the taciturn refusal to display one’s wounds, which is an act of faith that there can be and is dignity in owning one’s vulnerabilities and disappointments without reveling in them.
We all hurt at times, but we all have to find ways to keep going.
We owe that much not just to those around us, but to our best selves.
The film’s final scene is justly famous. In it, Bogart’s Rick and the superb Claude Rains’ Capt. Renault, having resolved to return to the world of conflict, stride into the fog, two small figures who seem to grow in stature even as they disappear into the mists, two men ennobled by their determination to try to make moral sense of a world enshrouded by chaos and malice.
The movie’s message – that we should focus not just on what we are owed but also on what we owe others and the world around us – is as pertinent today as it was in 1942.
As the song “Casablanca†made famous makes clear, it’s still “a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die.â€
Because we still live in a world where “the fundamental things apply, as time goes by.â€
John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism, host of “No Limits†WFYI 90.1 Indianapolis and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.