I have a dream

There was a flurry of America’s Cup email last Friday, an event that becomes more like daytime soap opera with each passing sunset. The reason why we do things is often as interesting as the things that we do. This is certainly the case these days with the Cup, and maybe we will some day learn why the current defender Alinghi has handled the business of the 33rd event in the manner they have… but that day is not here yet.

If you read Issue 2492, you will see that Ernesto Bertarelli sent out an Open Letter that states his desire to change the Deed of Gift. The timing of this letter is odd, as ideas like these should have come immediately following his successful defense, and not now, after all the criticism and legal defeats. Soon after Bertarelli’s release, we received an announcement from the New York YC, which had agreed the night before at the club's Annual Meeting to help the defender and new Challenger of Record (BMW Oracle Racing) get the event back on track.

There are some people that are wholly vested in this event and take it quite seriously, and that is appropriate. However, for the majority, we are just trying to be entertained. It is for that later group that we did some word association, and share the first thing that came to mind regarding these announcements:

Ernesto Bertarelli statement: "I have a dream" (Martin Luther King)

NYYC: "You got a friend in me" (Randy Newman) *

We kept waiting for the BOR announcement, but it never came. However, if it did, we thought it might be this:

BMW Oracle Racing: "Shut up and dance" (Aerosmith)

* We learned Monday morning that whatever friendship that might have been forged between Bertarelli and the NYYC prior to Friday, became strained when they were blindsided by Bertarelli’s “I have a dream” announcement. Their release was planned for today, but was quickly assembled and released on Friday instead, as they felt it vital to better clarify their position in these negotiations.