What's in a Name

When I jump behind the wheel of my car each morning I know that only a few people are heading to work or wrapping up their jobs. You've heard of sea world, how about C world? That's the world I operate in when I'm on the road just after 3 a.m.. I like to say the only other people out there are cops, criminals, and cab drivers. Well this morning you can add Congress to the list.

They brought in the cots and pillows and they debated. So I figured as long as they are working my hours I ought to watch. So I flipped on the set at my desk and settled in for the long haul.

Normally I begin my day by watching the news at my desk. But this morning it was the live feed from the Senate. Now let me digress a little. We have a terrific sports staff, the photographers Dave Satchell and Mark Daughterty are easy going and gifted. Then there is our on air staff of Brett Haber, Levan Reid, and Sarah Walsh. What on earth does any of this have to do with members of the United States Senate?

Let me explain. These sleep deprived Senators kept uttering the name of one of our sports staffers. They did it, over and over again. I first noticed it with New York Senator Hillary Cliinton. She kept saying Levan Reid this, and Levan Reid that. At first it kind of caught me off guard. Of course she was talking about the Levin-Reed amendment. The Levin-Reed amendment doesn't have anything to do with sports or Levan Reid. It's named for Michigan Senator Carl Levin and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed.

Just so there can be no confusion we have been kind enough to include pictures of Jack Reed, Carl Levin and Levan Reid.

The Levin-Reed amendment deals with Iraq and most observers say it isn't likely to pass. Now there can be no doubt the war is a serious issue, and I don't want to make light of it. But there is something funny when you string together a bunch of Senators saying Levan Reids' name over and over again. So this morning I mentioned it to our Executive Producer Jay Mishkin and our five a.m. producer Jessica Glasser. I thought it might be a fun part of our morning buzz. I've got to tell you this small staff in the morning is quite nimble. They pulled it off. Here's a link to the segment.

So Levin-Reed is likely to die today, but Levan Reid will live on. He must be pretty happy, this week a new promo featuring him hits the air. In it a living legend and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson says his name, then a couple days later esteemed Senators and perhaps the next President of the United States are busy saying his name over and over again. Not bad for one week! Levan if you are reading this what do you have planned for next week?