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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 50 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Did They Say That?!
| "Kingston Town can't win!" were the words uttered by legendary race caller Bill Collins in writing off the chances of the Australian champion horse. Which race did the 'King' win to prove him wrong? | Did I Really Say That?
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1982 Cox Plate. Kingston Town fooled everyone (me included) when he rounded the final turn in about seventh place, and seemed to be plodding. Jockey Peter Cook pressed the accelerator shortly afterwards and won the race (Kingston Town's third Cox Plate) by a length, going away. Bill was known as 'The Accurate One' for his clarity and ability to 'read' a race, but he was not allowed to forget his call in this amazing race. Collins was awarded an 'Order of Australia' medal for his services to racing, and died in 1997.
| Sportsmen are not immune to putting their foot (or, in this case, someone else's glove) in their mouth. Six months before a World Heavyweight title bout with Cassius Clay, who fearlessly predicted, "It will take me a round and a half to catch him, and then half a round to knock him out."? | Did I Really Say That?
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Sonny Liston. Poor Sonny! In February 1964, Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali), dominated him for six rounds, and he could not answer the bell for the seventh.
| What literary classic was initially rejected with the comment, "It is impossible to sell animal stories in America."? | Did I Really Say That?
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Animal Farm. Many schoolchildren all over the world will attest to the fact that "Animal Farm" could hardly be classified as a mere 'animal story'. The book, a political satire, was written by George Orwell and released in 1945. I wonder if the same editor regarded "1984" as a calendar...
| I could fill twenty quizzes with the ravings of egotistical politicians, but people of other occupations also make gaffes.
Stage and film critics, for instance, often end up with egg on their faces, too. Two reviewers from 1960 said, "It is the final fruit of Rodgers and Hammerstein's collaboration, and an over-ripe, not to say soggy, old plum it is.", and "As a patriotic Englishman I devotedly hope my fellow Englishmen will reject this show emphatically. It is common and vulgar." Which stage show, later recorded on film, were they talking about? | Did I Really Say That?
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The Sound of Music. "The Sound of Music" broke all sorts of box office records, and is one of the greatest musicals ever released. The movie made a household name of Julie Andrews, but does anyone remember what happened to Robert Mulley and T.C. Worsley, the two guys who pulled the wrong rein?
| In referring to a kickback scandal, a Prime Minister included in his resignation speech, the words, "Frankly speaking, I never expected it to become such a great issue." What country did he lead before that fateful day in 1989? | Did I Really Say That?
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Japan. Noboru Takeshita admitted accepting over two million dollars from the Recruit Company to buy influence. After the news of this broke, his party's popularity rating plunged to three percent, and he was left with no option than to stand aside. He remained active in Japanese politics, and died in 2000.
| "I work only according to the God's instruction." These words were uttered by which infamous dictator? | Did I Really Say That?
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Idi Amin. Amin, a general in the Ugandan Army, overthrew President Milton Obote in 1971 and conducted a reign of terror over the next eight years, killing thousands of his countrymen, and deporting many of his enemies. He was forced into exile in 1979 after welcoming Palestinian terrorists during the hijack and siege of an Israeli plane at Entebbe airport. This quote, made in 1974, was as ludicrous as his 1977 effort; "There are no prisons in Uganda."
| In 1939, former Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes made the comment, "He couldn't lead a flock of homing pigeons". Who was he referring to? | Did I Really Say That?
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Robert Menzies. London-born Hughes (The Little Digger) was Prime Minister from 1915 to 1923, and was active in politics from Federation in 1901 until his death in 1952. Menzies (later Sir Robert) led the Liberal Party as Prime Minister for a record-breaking total of 18 years, winning five successive elections in the 1950's and 60's.
| As part of his election pledges, which American President promised, "I have told you many times and I will tell you again- your sons will NOT be sent into any foreign wars."? | Did I Really Say That?
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Franklin D. Roosevelt. The shades of seven hundred thousand American troops wish he had kept his promise. The USA maintained a semi-neutral role in the early days of World War II, but were forced to become involved by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. FDR died shortly before the end of the war that he had hoped to avoid.
| What leader said, in 1938, "This is the second time in history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time."? | Did I Really Say That?
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Neville Chamberlain. I think Neville got his wires crossed. Within twelve months of uttering these words, on his return from the Appeasement talks with Hitler, the world was plunged into bloody war. The 'second time' refers to Disraeli's 1878 visit to the Congress of Berlin.
| It was October 15th 1987 and using all of the authority associated with his position as the BBC Weatherman this man infamously put down the suggestion of a nervous viewer that there was no hurricane about.
'A woman rang and said she heard a hurricane is on the way. Well, if you are watching and waiting, there isn't.' Which broadcaster was caught out in grand style by the storm which hit the UK within hours of this statement?
| Did They Really Say That?
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Michael Fish. According to the BBC web site "Michael Fish was one of the longest serving Broadcast Meteorologists in the world, celebrating his 30 years of TV forecasting on 4th January 2004."
| This military leader rejected the ideas of Robert Fulton and so, one might conjecture, lost an opportunity to add maritime supremacy to his otherwise global military successes. 'What Sir? Would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I have no time to listen to such nonsense." Can you identify this man? | Did They Really Say That?
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Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 -1821) Emperor of the French and King of Italy under the title of Napoleon I was a military genius who conquered much of Europe and instigated far reaching reform to legal and economic systems in many of the States he conquered. But he was blind to the submarine, or the steam driven battleship which might well have allowed him to defeat the British, whose opposition was based on their maritime might.
| The advent of radio was initially greeted by a number of people with cynicism about its usefulness and doubts about likely popularity in the long term. Among these cynics was a noted man of letters who said, "I am reported to be pessimistic about broadcasting ... I have anticipated its complete disappearance - confident that the unfortunate people, who must now subdue themselves to "listening-in," will soon find a better pastime for their leisure.' Who this was? | Did They Really Say That?
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H G Wells. H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was an English novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian, most famous for his works of science fiction. His best known works strongly featured his view of the future and included; 'The Time Machine' (1895), 'The Invisible Man' (1897), and 'The War Of The Worlds' (1898).
| According to this World War I Allied general "the idea that cavalry will be replaced by these iron coaches (tanks) is absurd. It is little short of treasonous".
Who was this military man? | Did They Really Say That?
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Field Marshall Haig. Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE (1861-1928) was a British soldier and senior commander during World War I. His reputation is as frequently disputed today by historians, as it was by his contemporaries.
| This subsequent US President originally firmly supported the Civil Rights Act (CRA) of 1964. He made these conflicting statements; "I favour the CRA 1964 and it must be enforced at gunpoint if necessary" but within three years had taken a different view altogether when he said, "I would have voted against CRA 1964". Who this it?
| Did They Really Say That?
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Ronald Reagan. Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004) was the 40th President (1981-1989) of the USA. The achievements personal to him through several different careers and of the USA during his presidency are well documented. But, as with most politicians, there are things that appear inconsistent at times.
| This US Presidential candidate regularly displayed his rather inadequate grasp of arithmetic and logic as these two examples show;
"There are only two ways to reduce the budget deficit ... We must do both."
And,
"There are only three ways to reduce the deficit .....We must do all three."
Can you identify him, please? | Did They Really Say That?
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Al Gore. Albert (Al) Arnold Gore was born March 31st 1948. He had been a US Presidential candidate and served as the 45th Vice President from 1993-2001. Following a closely fought campaign for the Presidency against the eventual winner George Bush he polled more in the popular vote but lost the ultimate Supreme Court decision by 5 against 4.
| This occasionally shoeless political leader forcibly expressed his view that the political system to which he ascribed would win in time; "Whether you like it or not history is on our side. We will bury you." Who was it? | Did They Really Say That?
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Nikita Khrushchev. At the height of his power Khrushchev (1894-1971) was Secretary General of the Soviet Communist Party. He was a firm believer in the superiority of the Communist system, and felt that it was only a matter of time (as did Karl Marx) before it would destroy capitalism once and for all. Most of his large scale programmes relating to agriculture and industrial modernisation were doomed to failure.
His behaviour was frequently boorish and on one famous occasion during a debate at the UN he took off his shoe and pounded the desk top in anger as another speaker made a point. (At the end of the tirade Prime Minister Macmillan of the United Kingdom cause much mirth by asking for a translation').
Aristotle. Aristotle's views have had a profound effect on political development in the western world. He lived from 384-322 BC having been born in Macedonia. As a young man he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and much of what we know of Plato today (as his words were not written down) derive from Aristotle's references to his master and mentor. After about twenty yeas he left the Academy and set up his own school known as the Lyceum.
His views on women are certainly worthy of study.
James Ussher (Archbishop of Armagh, 17th Century). James Ussher (his name was also spelled Usher) was a Churchman acceptable to both King Charles I (who promoted him to Bishop of Meath and later Archbishop of Armagh) and later to Oliver Cromwell. He was a noted biblical scholar and he was the author of a work entitled "Annals of the Old and New Testament".
| Quote: "I don't need ID! My grandfather built this town! Don't you guys ever read the newspaper? Can you even read?"
What celebrity (and I use that term loosely) screamed out these words when she was refused admittance to a club in Las Vegas? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Paris Hilton. Apparently this heiress to a hotel fortune feels that security guards are just inherently dumber than she is. Quite the outburst from a girl who couldn't even manage to complete her high school diploma and whose main (mentionable) claim to fame is wanting to copyright the phrase "that's HOT". Normally I'd be reluctant to reward her with the attention she craves by including her in conversation at all, but when it comes to vacuous vocalizations, she pretty much takes the cake. But hey, we should give her respect, right? Because, in her OWN words, she is "America's closest thing to royalty".
| Quote: "Politics gives guys so much power that they tend to behave badly around women. And I hope I never get into that."
What internationally known American politician had the gall to publicly state this and then was accused of lying about such situations many years later? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Bill Clinton. In the interest of protecting the innocent, I shall borrow a line from many a Monty Python skit... "say no more".
| Quote: "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?"
In 1995, which high-ranking British person, famous for controversial remarks, posed this question to a Scottish driving instructor? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Sometimes dubbed the "Duke of Hazard", Prince Philip is rather well known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Every once in awhile he does say something that makes it seem as if he is quite aware that he goes "over the top" more often than he should. Take for instance, on the occasion of his golden wedding anniversary (1997), when asked what he thought the recipe for a good marriage was, he replied, "Tolerance is the one essential ingredient ... You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance." Given the antics of several members of her family, I should say! (source: BBC Online Network).
| Quote: "Models are like baseball players. We make a lot of money quickly, but all of a sudden we're 30 years old, we don't have a college education, we're qualified for nothing, and we're used to a very nice lifestyle. The best thing is to marry a movie star."
Who is this dark-haired supermodel? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Cindy Crawford. Not that Cindy was ever in danger of running out of money, but she did follow her own advice by marrying a movie star (Richard Gere). And while the quote above seems to be slightly superficial and vapid, she's no dummy. She was valedictorian of her high school graduating class and qualified for a university scholarship in chemical engineering.
| Quote: "I'm not squeamish at all. As a child, I dragged a dead squirrel home on a skateboard, cut it open and tried to look at its brain."
An actress, who starred alongside Wesley Snipes in one of the "Blade" vampire genre movies, was asked if she was bothered by the blood and gore in the film. Who was this person who responded with the quote above? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Jessica Biel. Umm, Ms. Biel? If you'd ever picked up a true crime novel, you'd know that profilers consider animal mutilation to be a primary warning indicator that a person might develop into a serial killer later in life. I'd keep that little anecdote under my hat if I were you. And who'd have thought that this is the same girl who played Maria Camden/Rivera in 157 epidsodes of the television series "7th Heaven"? A considerable step up from "Blade: Trinity", two of her other movie roles include parts in "The Illusionist" and "Elizabethtown".
| Quote: "You can't stay married in a situation where you are afraid to go to sleep in case your wife might cut your throat."
These words were spoken, at the time of one of his divorces, by a boxer plagued by emotional, social and financial problems, as well as violent and/or criminal behaviour both inside and outside the ring. What is his name? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Mike Tyson. Awwwww, poor poor Mikey. Our hearts go out in sympathy and our ears hear your pain. Oops - wait a minute, Evander Holyfield might not be of similar opinion lol. Never known for having an excess of marbles up top, even the sports promoter Dan Duka commented on Mike's bad decision (no pun intended) to get hooked (was that a left or a right?) up once again with the infamous Don King - you know, the guy with the fright wig for a hairdo - when he said, "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to PRISON for three years, not Princeton."
| Quote: "The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. No, not our nation's, but in World War II. I mean, we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century, but in this century's history."
In 1988, what American politician astonished us with this garbled statement? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Dan Quayle. With all due respect to the office he held, no quiz containing public statements guaranteed to make you say huh? would be complete without a quote courtesy of former Vice-President James Danforth Quayle. In fact, an entire SERIES of such quizzes could be written using words that came out of his mouth. Under constant scrutiny from media hounds who couldn't wait to jump all over his next verbal faux pas, you almost felt sorry for the guy. I did say "almost" lol.
| Quote: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."
This was Stu Grimson's response to the question as to why he kept a colour photo of himself pasted to his locker. Known as an enforcer, he earned the nickname "The Grim Reaper". What sport do you think he played? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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ice hockey. Yup - there's a reason why helmets are mandatory in the National Hockey League. In his 13-year professional career, Stu played for 7 different teams and managed to rack up over 2,000 penalty minutes. Not surprisingly, after numerous black-outs during the 2002 season, he was forced to retire after a fight due to post-concussion syndrome.
| Quote: "Debts must be collected and loans and mortgages foreclosed as soon as possible. When through a process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and more easily governed by the strong arm of the law applied by the central power of leading financiers."
What American multi-millionaire and co-founder of one of the world's oldest financial services/investment bank uttered those words circa 1900? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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J.P. Morgan. In case you were ever in any doubt, many folks with money consider the rest of us mere pawns in the grand game of finance. Just to really get your undies in a knot, here's the rest of the quote: "People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders. This is well known among our principle men now engaged in forming an imperialism of capitalism to govern the world. By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance to us except as teachers of the common herd." Okay everybody, all together now... say "b-a-a-a".
| Quote: "It's a drag having to wear socks during matches, because the tan, like, stops at the ankles. I can never get my skin, like, color coordinated."
Which female Serb/Hungarian tennis player, winner of 9 Grand Slam events and known for her characteristic "grunting" on volleys, said these words? | I Can't Believe They Said That
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Monica Seles. Like, she was, like, pretty young at the time, so I guess we can forgive her this small indulgence in vanity and pseudo valley-girl-speak. All this was forgotten when she earned world-wide sympathy after being stabbed by a deranged fan while playing in Germany in 1993. As for the other women on the list - Anna is Russian, Martina is a Czech and Chris is American.
| "I suppose there is a lot of toughness in me." This quote is from one of the four possible victims of this multiple choice. Can you guess which one? | Are You Sure They Said That?
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Boy George, Band member Culture Club. When the world learned the word androgynous, it was from George Alan O'Dowd, Boy George. In the 1980's he and the group Culture Club combined reggae, blues and rhythm to worldwide success. Hits such as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?", "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Karma Chameleon", left us asking the question "Male? Female? what? Boy George had us. It is from him we get this quote, the victims in the question is a take on "Victims" off the "Color By Numbers" album.
John Wayne, The Duke, every pilgrim in the world knows of him. A National Treasure, the American for Americans. A man's man, a woman's man, everyone's hero. From "Men Without Women", 1930 through "The Shootist", 1976, any frame of film with him in it is worth watching.
George Patton, "Old Blood and Guts" was the most successful USA Field Commander of any War, Serving in the US Army from 1909 until his death in 1945, he reached the rank of a 4 Star General. At his death, due to an embolism brought on by an injury from a minor road accident, he was buried with his men in Luxembourg.
Patsy Ramsey, wife of John, mother of six-year-old pageant contestant, JonBenet Ramsey, murdered in 1996. Patsy and John were targeted by Boulder,CO law enforcement as suspects. 12 years after JonBenet's death, they were officially cleared, almost two years after Patsy's death from ovarian cancer.
| You are having a dinner party and these four are your guest. After boring discussions on the state of the world and politics, the conversation moves on to the real meaning of life, here your guest are all experts. One jumps up from the table and states "Life is hard. After all, it kills you." Which guest is it? | Are You Sure They Said That?
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Katharine Hepburn, Actress, Oscar winner. Katharine Hepburn, the woman of any year, a lanky redhead who went toe to toe, eye to eye with John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart and others and made them blink. Her record of four Best Actress Oscars and twelve nominations still stands. In 1938 a rare New England hurricane that up rooted and washed away her family home. Showing her true courage, she led her family to safety only moments before. This gal is the voice of the quote in this question, the dinner party guest is a take on her second Oscar win for 1967's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?". Dr Kevorkian, "Doctor Death", an American physician, whose belief in "right to die" earned him a 10-25 year prison sentence. He was paroled after 8 years due to the belief Hepatitis C would have him dead in months. That was in 2007 ... George Burns, "God" of the comedians, along with wife, Gracie Allen, were a comedy team match made in heaven. After her death in 1964 he went on to have a solo career that included an Oscar at 80 years old for "The Sunshine Boys". He lived to be 100 years old. Janis Joplin, Rock Goddess Janis, covered it all, blues, hard rock, psychedelic rock, what ever came out of her mouth was the "Sixties", "Piece of My Heart, Me and Bobby McGee, Tell Mama, Mercedes Benz". The drugs made a triple play with Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis on team "peace, love and rock-n-roll".
| Sometimes you can't refuse a job offer. The hours are good, pay is great, benefits and you have a boss you like. "If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn't have a job if he were any smarter." Whose employment advice is this? | Are You Sure They Said That?
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John Gotti, Criminal, Teflon Don. John Gotti, The Boss of Bosses, The Dapper Don, The Teflon Don, head of the New York Gambino Crime Family,finally convicted in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison. Gotti died from throat cancer in 2002 at US BOP Medical Center, Springfield, MO. The quote in this question is from him, the offer you can't refuse is a take on the "Godfather" movie line. Gotti was buried in Saint John's Cemetery, Queens, NY. Lee Iacocca is the former CEO and Chairman of the Chyrsler Corp. With the 1979 Congressional Bail Out, Iacocca saved Chrysler in the 1980's, the mini-van being it's lifeboat. Lee and Hal Sperlich push the mini-van onto our highways ... Funnily enough, Ford had fired them both, one right after the other. Dick Cheney, the guy you never want to go hunting with, former VP under George W Bush, former CEO Halliburton Company, former Secretary of Defence, under George H W Bush. Afghanistan, Iraq War, world's 2nd largest oil and gas equipment service company, Operation Desert Storm, all with the guy who got five (!) draft deferments during Viet Nam. George Steinbrenner, a Yankee Doodle Dandy who was born on the 4th of July. Lucky also - 7/11, 7 World Series, 11 pennants for this MIT graduate - lucky, except for that conviction for giving illegal campaign funds to Nixon, but Reagan pardoned him, so that's lucky, too. Right?
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