Wednesday, November 28, 2007

RIP Gatorade Inventor Dr. Robert Cade


I should note that this blog has yet to discuss what would seem a rather obvious passing for us to comment on--Sean Taylor, Washington Area Footballer, and all around bad-ass. Frankly, both Andrew and I are unsure what to say about it. It doesn't fit with our fun, light-hearted, somewhat bastardly worldview. And I would just as soon as not make light of a young man, a father getting struck down at the age of 24. And I don't know enough to write something serious about the incident (though when and if I do, I expect it will be a tirade about handguns make it too damn easy to kill someone).


So for now, let's celebrate a more gentle and timeful passing. Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade, passed away at the age of 80. I can't imagine what he thought as the sportsdrink he invented for college football at Florida exploded into the Pop-Culture juggernaut that it has become. It's hard to even get one's mind around the idea, even as I've been witness to it. I remember when Gatorade was a niche product, and you bought tins of the stuff that would last for months. And now it basically has its own cooler door section at your local 7/11, SA, Circle K, or Kum & Go.

But here's one way of gauging the success: "In its 40-year existence, Gatorade has brought more than $150 million in royalties to UF. That money has funded programs in the UF College of Medicine." $150 million dollars for medical college programs because of a sportsdrink. That's found money, and it is all thanks to Dr. Cade.

Did he, like me, wonder just what the fuck flavor Frost: Glacier Freeze was supposed to be? I'd like to think he did. Dr. Cade was a man who preferred the classics: Orange was his favorite, and I can't fault him on that score at all.

Fare thee well, Dr. Cade. Athletes, and people who are a bit hungover, will continue to enjoy your product until the coming of the Rapture (about three years according to my calcuations).

11 comments:

Muumuuman said...

Check your math, I think you forgot to carry a two - the rapture is in 2012. All praise Jebus.
And also, two young and talented defensive secondary players gunned down within a year. If there's a third I'm getting suspicious.

Big Blue Monkey said...

muumuuman: I, as any right Eschatologist would, do all my calculations in Base 60. I'm rather unsure as to whether your rather pedestrian equations have any import on my Celestial Arithmetic.

Jess said...

I like Blue Gatorade when I'm hung over.

Aren't there flavors named after like, Tiger Woods and probably other athletes? I do not want to know what Tiger Woods tastes like, thankyouverymuch.

Muumuuman said...

I think he tastes like a chocolate covered egg roll.

Muumuuman said...

And my Babylonian Blue monkey - you keep trying to build your tower to the heavens and I'll blow your mind with one number - zero.

Big Blue Monkey said...

I refuse to recognize such an invalid theoretical nonsense digit. How could "something" represent "nothing"?

That's the sort of craziness the world needs to be cleansed of.

Andrew Wice said...

The Babylonians did not have access to the number zero. It was "discovered" by our pals of the Persian persuasion

Lucy Rhode said...

I thought the Mayans were credited with zero.

Muumuuman said...

And I believe it is the Mayan calender that expires on the winter Soltace in 2012. But they didn't use base 60, they used a modified base 20. Also, the Mayans believed the Venus cycle could be used to determine good timed for war, however most western nations named venus for the goddess of love. Love and war, love and war....

Andrew Wice said...

The Mayans could have discovered cotton candy, wheelbarrows and french ticklers and it would have had an equal impact on civilization: zero.

The number zero arrived in western (i.e., "real") civilization via trade in the Mediterranean. The church tried to ban the zero for many years. Eventually, they realized they had no chance (get it?).

Anonymous said...

Jeez. Yall are supposed to be blogging not giving each other a lecture. NERDS!

And plus the world isn't gonna end when people expect it to. It's gonna happen at the moment people least expect so you should convert or go to hell.