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Stressed Eric

2008-11-06T15:29:58Z

216.94.61.100: /* TV History */

{{Infobox Television
|show_name = Stressed Eric
|image = [[Image:Stressed Eric series two title card.jpg|250px]]
|caption =
|aka =
|genre = [[Animation]][[Comedy]]
|creator =
|writer = [[Carl Gorham]][[Michael Hatt]]
|director =
|creat_director = [[Stig Bergqvist]]
|developer =
|presenter =
|starring =
|voices =
|narrated =
|theme_composer =
|opentheme =
|endtheme =
|composer = [[Peter Baikie]][[Mat Clark]][[Jason McDermid]]
|country = {{UK}}
|language = [[English language|English]]
|num_seasons = 2
|num_episodes = 13
|list_episodes =
|executive_producer =
|co_exec =
|producer =
|sup_producer =
|asst_producer =
|cons_producer =
|co-producer =
|editor = [[John Bryant]]
|story_editor =
|location =
|cinematography =
|camera_setup =
|runtime = 30 Min
|channel = [[BBC TWO]]
|picture_format =
|audio_format =
|first_run =
|first_aired = [[4 April]] [[1998]]
|last_aired = [[11 October]] [[2000]]
|preceded_by =
|followed_by =
|related =
|website = http://www.stressederic.com/
|prod_website = http://www.absolutely.biz/
|imdb_id = 0149525
|tv_com_id = 2539
}}
'''''Stressed Eric''''' is a [[cartoon series]] that was produced by the UK's [[Absolutely Productions]] for the [[BBC Two]] TV channel in the [[United Kingdom]]. The series revolves around Eric Feeble, a [[middle class]] man who is always [[Stress (medicine)|stress]]ed, because of his family, work, co-workers, etc. The animation for the first season was carried out by [[United States|American]] studio ''[[Klasky Csupo]]''.

==Overview==
Eric Feeble is 40 years old, still upset over his divorce two years ago, lives in a middle class London flat, and is always being kept under extreme amounts of pressure and stress from all aspects of life, represented by a throbbing vein in his temple. His two children, Claire and Brian, plague him with fear and worries every day. Claire is a frail six-year-old allergic to ponies, spices etc., while Brian is a nine-year old with learning problems and has been kept back three years running in school. The family's [[au pair]] housekeeper, Maria, is an eighteen-year-old Portuguese woman with a serious drinking problem. Despite Eric's frequent attempts to keep her under control and focused, she seems to find herself passed out on the couch intoxicated for hours at a time. His ex-wife, Liz, left him for a [[Buddhist]], but she always wants to get back together with him, calling him constantly on some occasions, which merely adds to his growing stress level. The next-door neighbours, the wealthy, successful and snobbish Perfect family, provide him a constant and painful view of what his life could have been.

Going to work is no escape from his everyday problems either. His boss, Paul Power (known as PP), is loud, rude and demanding of him, and Eric has been demoted from Assistant Manager to a low-level clerk in an office sandwiched between the janitor's closet and the men's washroom. His secretary is of no use and does not help him in anyway and spends her time on the phone to friends. At the end of almost every episode, the throbbing vein emerges from his temple and wraps itself around his neck, strangling him.

== List of characters ==
*Eric Feeble - Stressed out divorced father of two children.
*Claire Feeble - Daughter of Eric and allergic to just about everything.
*Brian Feeble - Son of Eric who has yet to learn to talk and is always putting things in his mouth.
*Maria Gonzalez - The Feeble family's live-in [[au pair]]; she is [[Portugal|Portuguese]] and always drunk or hungover.
*Liz - Eric's [[eccentricity (behavior)|eccentric]] ex-wife.
*Ray Perfect - Snobbish and "perfect" next-door neighbour of Eric. Shares Eric's workplace but is senior and consistently praised for his fine work.
*Mrs. Perfect - Snobbish wife of Mr. Perfect. Catchphrase: "How ''art'' thou, Eric?"
*Heather Perfect - Snobbish daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perfect.
*Paul Power, a.k.a. P.P - Boss of Eric who is usually very angry. Catchphrase: "Double arseburgers, Eric!"
*Alison - Eric's useless secretary who spends all her time on the telephone gossiping to friends.
*Doc - Eric's dementedly relaxed doctor, more interested in chasing women than treating Eric.
*Mrs. Wilson - An old lady who slowly tries in vain to post a letter, whereupon it always falls from her hand and into a drain, sometimes with Eric to blame. Catchphrase: "Morning, Mister Eric. Just off to the post..."

==Voice cast==
[[Mark Heap]] as Eric Feeble (UK) 
[[Hank Azaria]] as Eric Feeble (USA) 
[[Morwenna Banks]] 
[[Rebecca Front]] 
[[Gordon Kennedy (actor)|Gordon Kennedy]] 
[[Doon Mackichan]] 
[[Geoffrey McGivern]] 
[[Paul Shearer]] 
[[Alison Steadman]]

==TV History==
[[NBC]] bought the rights to broadcast it shortly after its initial airing in the UK, but ceased broadcasting the show after just three episodes, despite changes being made for American audiences: cutting 4 minutes from each episode due to the 8 minutes of commercial time required and giving Eric an American accent (voiced by ''[[Hank Azaria]]'') to make the story revolve more around an American living in [[England]]. The American version ran on NBC from [[August 12]], [[1998]] to [[August 26]], [[1998]], after which ''Stressed Eric'' was never seen again in any form in the United States.

The show's original publicity claimed that it was the first British animated show that could challenge American shows such as ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[South Park]]''.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Some critics felt that this claim was undermined by the fact that the show was animated by an American company.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

The original unedited version was broadcast in Canada on [[YTV (Canadian television)|YTV]] beginning with "Nativity" in December of [[1999]], and the rest of the series shown on Friday nights the following year. It proved a reasonable success, and series two was broadcast in [[2001]].

The series was also shown on Australia's [[The Comedy Channel]].

The first series was shown on TV3 in Ireland aswell.

The series has since been repeated in full in the UK on both ''[[BBC Choice]]'' and ''[[UK Play]]'' (both of which are now defunct). There are no plans to release the series on DVD.

== List of episodes ==
=== Series 1 ===
*Nativity - [[April 20]], [[1998]]
*Sex - [[April 27]], [[1998]]
*Pony - [[May 11]], [[1998]]
*Hospital - [[May 18]], [[1998]]
*Potato - [[June 1]], [[1998]]
*Tidy - [[June 8]], [[1998]]

=== Series 2 ===
*Cricket - [[August 31]], [[2000]]
*Bursting - [[September 6]], [[2000]]
*Team - [[September 13]], [[2000]]
*Tent - [[September 20]], [[2000]]
*Crush - [[September 27]], [[2000]]
*Au pair - [[October 4]], [[2000]]
*Drool - [[October 11]], [[2000]]

==External links==
*[http://www.stressederic.com ''Official Stressed Eric Site]
*[http://www.absolutely.biz ''Official Absolutely Productions Site]
*[http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/stressed-eric-general-comments/1887 Jump The Shark - Stressed Eric]

[[Category:Animated television series]]
[[Category:NBC network shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in London]]
[[Category:BBC television programmes]]
[[Category:1998 television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000 television series endings]]

[[de:Eric im Stress]]

List of Disgaea characters

2008-10-23T12:36:07Z

216.94.61.100: /* Big Sis Prinny */

{{Mergeto|Disgaea (series)|date=September 2008}}
{{Gameguide|date=May 2008}}
{{Copyedit|date=September 2007}}

This article contains information on characters from the [[Video game|video]] [[turn-based strategy|strategy/]][[role-playing games]] ''[[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]]'' for the [[Playstation 2]] video game console, and ''[[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]'' for the [[PlayStation 3]] video game console, developed and published by [[Nippon Ichi]] in [[Japan]], and published in North America by [[Atlus|Atlus Co.]], and later [[Nippon Ichi]], and in Europe by [[Koei]].
{{TOCright|limit=2}}

==Laharl==
'''Age:''' 1313 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1316 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Demon Prince/Overlord in Episode 6 and all later appearances) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Barbara Goodson]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Laharl is the main character of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, and is the son of King Krichevskoy. However, after awakening from a two year slumber, he discovers that his father is dead and almost all of his vassals are gone (most of them are, in fact, trying to take Laharl's place, rather than trying to serve him). As the rightful heir to the throne, Laharl sets out to take back the throne and proclaim himself as the true Overlord of the Netherworld.

Laharl is incredibly arrogant and always tries to prove that he is the strongest demon in the Netherworld. He is, however, extremely powerful for his appearance, which, despite his age, is still that of a small human child (his large hair antennae and billowing scarf are meant to mask this fact). Unfortunately, he has a weakness (as in, he literally gets hurt by) towards optimistic sayings (especially anything concerning the word 'love') and women with sexy bodies. Even after Laharl is crowned the new Overlord half way through the game, he is still referred to as "Prince" by Etna and all those who still remain in the Overlord's Castle.

In the alternate story Etna Mode in the PSP version, Etna kills Laharl as he wakes up by accident. While playing this mode, the player will not have access to Laharl. In order to prevent suspicion from Maderas, Etna places fake antennas on a Prinny and passes it off as Laharl. By the end of Etna Mode, Laharl is actually revealed to be alive. The shot that supposedly killed him only knocked him out and is later found by Etna in Stellar Graveyard.

In the Disgaea manga, Laharl's personality slightly differs. While he is selfish, arrogant, and is willing to use violence to solve his problems, he comes off more mature than his game counterpart, appearing to also be slightly smarter (When Flonne tells Laharl that the Seraph believes demons have love too, Laharl reminds her that her mission to assassinate the Overlord was given to her by the same person). Laharl also appears to hate his father even more in the manga as Laharl is often overshadowed by Krichevskoy, not to mention Krichevskoy's personality annoys Laharl.

In general, the accepted ending is the good ending, in which Laharl spares Lamington's life and is stopped by Mid Boss before he sacrifices himself, allowing him to see Flonne become a Fallen Angel. In the last episode of the anime, however, Laharl gives Overlordship to Etna, then he sacrifices himself in an attempt to revive Flonne. This ending is similar to the normal ending of the game, except that Laharl succeeds in killing Lamington, who would've brought Flonne back to life had he been spared.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Laharl makes a brief appearance, attempting to force Etna to come back to his castle. Part of this reason, as seen in the optional battle against him, comes from the lack of Prinnies to cook for him, forcing him to eat mainly junk food or canned tuna. Though he is initially successful in defeating her and the main characters, the power of Overlord Zenon in Rozalin forces Laharl to flee. (though it should be noted that Laharl wasn't even winded after the battle; he left because, even though Zenon didn't do much to him, he couldn't do anything to Zenon) He also tries to make himself the main character of Disgaea 2 in the optional battles, but not only is he defeated, when given the chance to become a main character for over a minute, he is beaten up by Flonne and Etna. When completing the final mission, Laharl joins after tasting Hanako's cooking since he is unable to make her his chef.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Laharl appears before Mao, who Laharl assumes to be the legendary Overlord who stole his height as well as his screen time in Disgaea 3. Mao, however, believes that Laharl is the legendary Overlord and the two fight, claiming that the loser will be considered the legendary Overlord. They appear evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that no matter how much they want to make each other the legendary Overlord, they won't get their stuff back, ending the fight. Laharl, along with Etna and Flonne, joins the party and reveals to Mao that the legendary Overlord they have all been looking for is Baal. He joins Mao and the rest in the battle against Baal.

In an alternate ending, Laharl suddenly appears before Mao after he defeated Aurum, claiming to be his father. Mao does not believe him at all, despite Laharl's supposed shock in Mao becoming a "loudmouthed punk". Mao then fights Laharl in an attempt to expose him as a fake, but soon begins to believe that Laharl is his father. However, Laharl reveals that he really wasn't his father after all, just an Overlord passing by who wanted nothing more than to get some screen time and take over the game.

===Other Appearances===
Laharl appear as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, Laharl is trapped in a Bottlemail and after meeting the main characters Ash and Marona, he constantly tries to make them his vassals by defeating them. In Makai Kingdom, he is brought before Overlord Zetta after Etna and Flonne were defeated by him, and tries to show Zetta that he is the superior Overlord. He also makes a brief cameo appearance in [[Soul Nomad]]. In the demon path, should the main character choose to call himself the Overlord over the Devourlord ("Eh, Overlord is fine I guess."), Laharl scolds him/her for taking such a title lightly. The main character and Gig, however, ignore Laharl and the story continues from there.

==Etna==
'''Age:''' 1470 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1473 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Vassal in Disgaea/Beauty Queen in Disgaea 2) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Tomoe Hanba]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Amanda Winn-Lee]] (Disgaea: Hour of Darkness), [[Michelle Ruff]] (All of Etna's roles after Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories)

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Etna is the leader of the [[Prinny]] squad, and one of the few vassals who remain in the Overlord's Castle after King Krichevskoy's death. In the beginning, she attempts to wake up Laharl through 'unique' methods (from drills and flails to gatling guns, swords and jackhammers). From then on, Etna becomes Laharl's closest vassal, though not necessarily most trustworthy vassal, aiding him in his rise to power. She is the only vassal from Laharl's original servants who goes out on the battlefield for him.

Etna acts carefree, but is also very devious. Often it is hard to tell for whom she really is working. She holds deep respect and loyalty towards King Krichevskoy, Laharl's father. Etna is often known for ending an episode with an odd "preview" to the next episode, all of which have her in the starring role. Often these previews parody famous TV shows, anime, or video games with the other characters making side comments.

In all but the 'Flonne Tragedy', 'Good', and 'Human Conqueror' ending, Laharl gives up his position as Overlord to Etna. In one ending, she even murders Laharl and Flonne to get the throne, while in the anime, she is given the position of Overlord after Laharl decides to sacrifice his life for Flonne.

In the PSP port of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, there is an alternate mode in the game called Etna Mode. In this mode, rather than awakening Laharl, Etna accidentally kills him and sets out to become Beauty Queen Ultimate Overlord Etna. Etna mode gives the player a closer look at Etna's past, showing how she was taken in by Krichevskoy.

Etna's original U.S. voice actor was Amanda Winn-Lee. However, she did not reprise her role in Disgaea 2. Instead, Michelle Ruff has taken the role of Etna and has provided Etna's voice in all subsequent Nippon Ichi media, including the Disgaea anime and the PSP port of the first game, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Etna quits her position as Laharl's vassal after a fight with Laharl over pudding (which is supposedly a rare delicacy from the Sea of Gehenna) and becomes a Demon Lord, taking the Prinny Squad with her. She then travels to Veldime, hoping to eliminate Overlord Zenon, the ''God of All Overlords'', and runs into Adell and his party in the process. In Episode 9, she gives Adell a fake 'Demon Lord's Nail' and is accidentally summoned by his mother. The failed summon drops her back to level one, and in order to regain her former power she deigns to join up with the player's party. At the end of the game, she, along with Hanako, returns to the Overlord's Castle as Laharl's vassal once again.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Etna appears alongside Laharl and Flonne and assumes the legendary Overlord they are looking for is Mao, while Mao and his party believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord. After the battle, she tries to push Laharl to defeat Mao as the two are evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that neither of them are the legendary Overlord. After the battle, Etna joins the party. Like many of the characters, she has lost something to the legendary Overlord: her one billion Hell savings acount.

In an alternate battle, when Laharl appears before Mao, claiming to be his father, Etna tries to convince Mao that she is his mother, speaking in a motherly tone. However, when Flonne starts claiming she's his mother, the two begin to argue over who the mother should be. Her description of Laharl's selfishness makes it clear that she still doesn't forgive him for eating her pudding and that he still eats her sweets without permission. However, in the end, Laharl reveals that they really weren't his parents after all, just an Overlord and his vassals passing by.

===Other appearances===
She also made it as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, she is the reason why Laharl was sent to Ivoire in a bottlemail. Upon hearing that Laharl had been defeated by Ash and Marona, she and Flonne battle them, but fails to defeat them. She and Flonne later return alongside Laharl to fight them again. In Makai Kingdom, she introduces herself to Zetta in a next episode skit and then returns to fight alongside Laharl when she is defeated.

==Flonne==
'''Age:''' 1509 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1512 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Angel/Fallen Angel (Angel Trainee) 
'''Nickname:''' Love Freak 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yuko Sasamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Flonne is an Angel Trainee who hails from the land of Celestia, where the Angels reside, sent on a mission to the Netherworld by Seraph Lamington to assassinate Overlord Krichevskoy. Some time after her arrival, however, she comes to find that King Krichevskoy has been dead for over two years.

Flonne is the most innocent and naive of the three main characters in Disgaea, with traits of both an otaku and a ditz. She especially loves the [[tokusatsu]] genre, and has a crudely made costume that resembles a purple winged godzilla, which is referenced in one of Etna's Next Episode previews and is used in later games as part of her attacks. She is deeply devoted to both Seraph Lamington and to the concept of 'love' and wishes to spread the latter to others, earning the title 'Love Freak' from Laharl. She, perturbed by Laharl's rejection of everything to do with love, decides to change her mission to follow him and observe if demons truly are incapable of it.

In the good ending of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, she becomes a Fallen Angel and retains this form in all of her future appearances. In some of the other endings, she is supposedly dead as Lamington, who is killed by Laharl in these endings, is the only person who can bring her back to life. In the anime, she is also brought back to life except through Laharl's sacrifice. As a Fallen Angel, Flonne's personality does not make any significant changes, though in the anime, Etna says that she's beginning to really act like a demon.

In the PSP version's ''Etna mode'', Flonne believes that Etna is a great Space Detective and strives to be her assistant. She is later tricked by "God" to kill Etna, only to later realize that "God" was actually Vulcanus.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Although she has no part in the main storyline, Flonne becomes playable in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]] after completing the optional mission "I want to fight an Overlord!" Flonne then decides to stay with Etna in Veldime and later tries to get Laharl and Etna to end their fight with mixed results.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Flonne appears alongside Laharl and Etna when they confront Mao, who they believe is the legendary Overlord. Mao and the others, however, believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord instead, and a battle ensues. After the battle, she tries to encourage Laharl as he and Mao were evenly matched until Almaz stops the battle. Like many of the other characters, Flonne lost something to the legendary Overlord: The Dark Ninja Memorial DVD boxset. She then joins the party afterwards as they face the true legendary Overlord, Baal.

In an alternate battle, while Laharl and Etna are trying to convince Mao that Laharl is his father, Flonne appears before Mao, claiming to be his mother. However, Etna had already been trying to convince that she's Mao mother and the two argue over who the mother should be. Even after being defeated and revealing that Laharl had been lying about him being Mao's father, Flonne still insists that she is the mother. The game ends shortly afterwards.

===Other Appearances===
Flonne appears as a hidden boss in both [[Phantom Brave]] and [[Makai Kingdom]]. In Phantom Brave, she meets Ash and Marona alongside Etna in the Overlord's Castle. Although she is initially against fighting the two, Etna bribes her with a Prism Rangers DVD boxset. She also fights them again alongside Laharl and Etna. In Makai Kingdom, Flonne challenges Zetta, claiming to be a hero of love.

==Vyers (Dark Adonis/Mid Boss)==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Mid Boss (Aristocrat/Baron) 
'''Nicknames:''' Dark Adonis (Beauty Danshaku in Japanese. Lit. ''Baron of Beauty''), Mid Boss (given by Laharl)) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
It is unknown where he came from, but the demon known as Vyers was the recent leader in the battle for the throne until Laharl awakened from his slumber. Vyers often refers to himself as the Dark Adonis; however, Laharl, deeming Vyers unworthy of any real title, brands him with the name 'Mid Boss', which sticks for the rest of the game.

Speaking in a cultured tone seasoned with French (though it is revealed later that this accent is fake), Vyers is very conceited and confident in his own abilities. However, whenever he is about to lose, he either comes up with an excuse (such as stomach cramps) or leaves battle wrapped in bandages. Because he lost to Laharl, Vyers sees Laharl as a rival even though Laharl doesn't even see anything in Vyers. Oddly enough, he isn't above helping his rivals either.

Vyers is also something of an actor. Even for the player it's usually hard to tell when he's playing a role and when he's being himself. There's a great deal more to him than meets the eye. He is also good at heart, as proved when he held Flonne's necklace, which harms the wicked, with impunity.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
The player faces Dark Adonis Vyers as a Hidden Boss in the Sub-Chapter called ''I want to see the Ending''. Rozalin assumes that he's the final boss, but Adell retorts that Vyers is better suited as a 'Mid Boss', which enrages him. When defeated, he dismisses his loss as a fluke and treats the player to their promised "ending" (which is nothing more than the credit reel with artwork of Vyers in the background. [http://www.kawaiidream.net/categories.php?cat_id=857&page=4&sessionid=20e526cfea04d73805b7c27a20258f91&l=english]

===King Krichevskoy===
The Father of Laharl and the Overlord of the Netherworld. While Laharl was trapped within his two year sleep, King Krichevskoy was believed to have died after choking on a "black pretzel". Etna's diary reveals, however, that King Krichevskoy died after sealing away Baal.

He fell in love with a human woman, who he later married. The woman gave birth to Laharl, but she would sacrifice her life to save him from an incurable disease. One day two years before the start of the game, King Krichevskoy asked Laharl if he loved him as a father, as Laharl didn't seem to love him at all, to which Laharl replied that he absolutely loathed him.

It is implied throughout the game that Vyers is King Krichevskoy in disguise. This is confirmed in ''The World of Disgaea,'' a Disgaea artbook published by ''Broccoli Books''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Seto | first = Dietrich | authorlink = Dietrich Sato | title = The World of Disgaea | publisher = Broccoli Books | month = November | year = 2006 | pages = 160 | isbn = 978-1-5974-1112-7}}</ref>

Aside from the flightiness and narcissism that he displays as Vyers, little is revealed about him in the games. He is a noble and kind Overlord according to the entries in Etna's Diary, and a very emotional Overlord according to the six vassals he had left behind, apparently causing several "unnatural disasters" when he was either overjoyed or depressed. The PSP version's Etna Mode reveals that he is also concerned about the state of the Netherworld and, like Seraph Lamington, the discrimnation between demons and angels as well as the noble and common people. He wishes to create a world of equality, which young Etna finds a little strange for a demon Overlord. Both the anime and manga versions of Krichevskoy seems to reflect that with a few differences. In the anime, he is more fond of Laharl and appears to have had more of an impact on Laharl's life as Laharl has more than one flashback of him. In the manga, he acts just as eccentric as Vyers and was very popular with demons to the point where he had groupies. Laharl appeared to really hate Krichevskoy in the manga because he was always overshadowed by his father and he was often annoyed by his eccentric personality.

===Other appearances===
He appears in [[Phantom Brave]] along with the three main Characters of [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]] as Hidden Bosses and is playable should the player beat him.

==Captain Gordon==
'''Age:''' 35 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/38 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Human (37th Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuo Tobita]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''': [[Michael McConnohie]]

The 37th among a long line of heroes, Captain Gordon is sent to the Netherworld under orders from the Earth Defense Force to defeat the Overlord of the Netherworld and to prevent a possible invasion. Along with his sidekick Jennifer and the All-Purpose Robot Thursday, Gordon rushes headlong into the Netherworld to protect the Earth once again.

Gordon has a great sense of justice, but is dim-witted (Etna once remarks that he looks "About as smart as a rock"). He is also blind to the true intentions of others, and never realizes when he's being tricked until it's too late. However, his sense of justice constantly motivates him even in the darkest hours. Gordon is a parody of space heroes (most notably [[Flash Gordon]]).

He returns in Disgaea 2 when Kurtis is having trouble with the Kurtis clones. He and Kurtis join the battle as neutral allies. When the Kurtis clones are defeated, Gordon thanks Adell and Rozalin for helping Kurtis and bestows them with the Defender of Earth ID Card.

==Jennifer==
'''Age:''' 27 
'''Class:''' Human (Sidekick) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Paula Tiso]]

With every hero comes a sidekick that makes up for the hero's flaws. Jennifer fulfills the role as Captain Gordon's beautiful sidekick. She accompanies Gordon on his mission to defeat the Overlord and prevent his alleged invasion of Earth.

Jennifer is a rather sexy woman (much to Laharl's dismay) and often jokes around in a very flirtatious manner. In the anime, her breasts would often bounce whenever Laharl would take notice. She was also afraid of the Netherworld once, thinking that demons were nothing but monsters that would hurt innocent people, especially women and children, until she saw the child-like appearances of Laharl and Etna. Despite her appearance, however, her intelligence and technical knowledge surpasses most scientists. In fact, she was the one who created the All-Purpose Robot Thursday at age five and even earned her Ph. D at age ten. She is also skilled at martial arts, specifically kung fu. Of all the characters in the game, she is the one who supports Gordon the most.

She returns alongside Gordon and Thursday to help Kurtis in Disgaea 2. However, she and Thursday are knocked out, and thus unable to aid Gordon, Kurtis, Adell, and Rozalin.

==Thursday==
'''Creation:''' 22 (Built by Jennifer at the age of 5) 
'''Class:''' Super Robot 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yurika Ochiai]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Since being built by Jennifer at the age of 5, Thursday the All Purpose Robot has always been by her side. Working together with both her and Gordon, he has become a powerful force on their team. When Gordon is sent out to defeat the Overlord, Thursday willingly joins his struggle.

Despite being a robot, Thursday seems to have a heart. Even if he is severely damaged and on the verge breaking down, Thursday continues to fight alongside Gordon and bring about justice. He also seems to be very calm when dealing with various obstacles and can be very sarcastic at times. Thursday usually begins or ends his sentences with 'blip beep'.

He returns in Disgaea 2 with Gordon and Jennifer, but like Jennifer, he is knocked out and doesn't participate in the battle.

==Kurtis==
'''Age:''' 29 (before his death) 
'''Class:''' Human (Rival), Prinny (Rival/Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kousuke Toriumi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' Game: [[Jamieson Price]], Anime: [[David Lodge]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Another human from Earth, Kurtis works under General Carter and the Earth Defense Force like Gordon. However, he views himself as more worthy of the title of Defender of Earth than Gordon. Although it may be coincidence, he has facial features(most notably his pointed nose based on the Cyborg 002 Design)in common with Don Joaquin, the original defender of earth, suggesting a sort of ancestral pride that may fuel his desire to be the defender.

Kurtis suffered a traumatic experience which cost him over 70% of his body in addition to his wife and daughter. Because of this, Kurtis became a cyborg and began to resent Gordon, taking several of his missons. Kurtis is also a brilliant scientist, whose intelligence and technical knowledge rival Jennifer's. However, Kurtis conducts much more fearful research in comparison to hers. He also tends to be rather sarcastic, especially to Gordon.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Kurtis makes a reappearance in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], this time in his Prinny incarnation as the 38th Defender of Earth. He will come to the aid of those who call him on his Cell Phone, although he will make a remark about relying on one's self instead of him. Repeatedly calling him opens up two optional stages. He also becomes a playable character in the Land of Carnage after you get all 16 Pirate Maps in Item World.

===Prinny Kurtis===
Kurtis becomes a prinny after sacrificing himself (despite Laharl making a very open, vocal order directed at Death to let him go on to his family instead). As a prinny, he becomes green to match his previous hair color, and stores some of his old cyber parts in his pouch, allowing him to use most of his abilities. His face shows more emotion than a regular prinny. His eyes are given an angry expression while his beak is slightly longer, possibly a reference to his point nose in his human form. At the end of Disgaea, he was shown to pass on at the Red Moon, but in [[Disgaea 2]], he was shown to still be acting out his duties as a defender of Earth in his prinny form. Prinny Kurtis is also seen in a poster at the end of the Disgaea anime, but his color is the same as normal Prinny. Instead, he retains the spiky hair he had as a human.

===The Clones of Kurtis===
When the Earth Defense Force Base was destroyed and the real Kurtis died, the last computer obtained some DNA that belonged to Kurtis that was then used to create three clones of himself, though with different hair color. The hair colors that the Clones of Kurtis have are Blue, Brown and Light green. Each clone had an evil, crimson left eye. All the clones also talk in a fashion similar to [[William Shatner]], though this is present only in the English audio; The Japanese audio, and original Japanese version, lacked audio for the scenes involving the Kurtis clones.

==Seraph Lamington==
'''Age:''' 9147 
'''Class:''' Angel (Seraph) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Majima Junji]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jamieson Price]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Seraph Lamington is the leader of Celestia, the world of the angels. He seems to be the polar opposite of Overlord Laharl as he acts much more mature and calm. He never raises his voice, and never harbors any vindictive thoughts or emotions, accepting yelling and threats stoically.

While others think that his somewhat emotionless attitude makes him oblivious to his surroundings, Lamington is far from it. Even if one is performing dastardly deeds, he is well aware of it and allows fate to hand over punishments. As the most powerful angel in Celestia, Seraph Lamington has many unique powers, one of which allows him to turn even the most powerful beings into a harmless flower.

In the Disgaea manga, Lamington is a lot more laid back and is somewhat more immature. When he appears, he is usually in the middle of doing normal tasks like baking cakes and eating them. He, like the main characters, also mistakens Vulcanus' mustache for nose hair.

===Makai Senki Disgaea===
In the anime, which is meant to be a sort of combination between both the good and bad endings of the original Disgaea, Lamington survives, as Laharl stays his blade and rage moments before dealing the deathblow.

==Vulcanus==
'''Age:''' 3649 
'''Class:''' Angel (Archangel) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hironori Miyata]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Unlike Flonne, Vulcanus is a full-fledge angel of Celestia (where as Flonne is a trainee), and exceedingly higher in rank. He is an archangel, who serves Seraph Lamington as the second-in-command. However, unlike Flonne and Lamington, his ideals and methods are much more extreme. His hot temper contrasts Lamington's stoic nature, often calling Lamington's name and scolding him for letting things go. He holds demons in contempt and believes that humans are too stupid to live without the guidance of angels. He believes that angels are the only source of good as opposed to Flonne's ideals that every being has love in their hearts. Despite being an angel, Vulcanus isn't above getting dirty. In fact, Vulcanus can and will go to the level of demons and lie, cheat, and eliminate anything (demon or not) that may interfere with his goals. In the end, he confronts Lamington, and his deceptions are revealed. He is transformed into a flower as punishment for his sins (he is later seen in the credits taking lessons about love from Flonne which implies he was changed back.) In the anime, his punishment is to be turned into a frog for 1000 years.

In the manga, when Vulcanus learns that Lamington's views on demons differ from his, Vulcanus gathers several angels and stages a revolt. The angels on Lamington's side alongside Laharl face Vulcanus and the battle ends with Flonne dropping a rock on his head. Most of the other characters tend to mistake his mustache for nose hair.

In the PSP version's Etna Mode, Vulcanus poses as "God" and tricks Flonne into trying to kill Etna. He also tried to use Maderas to kill both Etna and Flonne and when he failed, Vulcanus kills Maderas and proceeds to battle with Etna and Flonne. After the battle, Vulcanus is teleported away by Lamington and, according to Mid Boss, will be punished for his actions.

==Minor characters in Disgaea==
====Big Sis Prinny====
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' [[Prinny]]. A human witch prior to her death. 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''' [[Paula Tiso]]

This prinny is a sort of mother-figure to the other prinnies, set apart from the others by her pink color and the absence of the word 'dood' when she normally speaks. At a later point in ''Disgaea'', she is revealed to be Laharl's mother, who was turned into a Prinny for the highest sin—giving up her own life.

There is not much known about Laharl's mother, but like Flonne, she was an eccentric human who felt that demons could love and tried to force this ideal upon Laharl, often punishing him when he misbehaved. According to Etna's diary, Krichevskoy loved her very much, but this made Etna very jealous, causing her to secretly hate both Laharl and his mother. However, when Laharl contracted a mysterious disease, his mother sacrificed her life to save him. This act, however, became his reason for hating love so much.

===Hoggmeiser===
Hoggmeiser is the former vassal of the late King Krichevskoy. Upon Krichevskoy's death, Hoggmeiser stole huge amounts of treasure from the Overlord's castle, and built his own mansion with that fortune. Laharl and his group meet Hoggmeiser when Laharl decides to rob "the richest demon around." After numerous battles in Hoggmeiser's mansion, Hoggmeiser's son, Porkmeister, puts himself between Laharl and Hoggmeiser. Laharl decides not to kill Hoggmeiser, and, touched by Laharl's kindness, Hoggmeiser joins his group without the player's consent. Note that prior to the release of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Porkmeister was simply known as Hoggmeiser's son and is only given a name when he appeared in Afternoon of Darkness' Etna mode.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed fifty allies before beating the Lavish Hall in Episode 3, Laharl will be able to choose to kill Hoggmeiser. If he chooses not to, the typical sequence with Hoggmeiser's son is initiated. If he does choose to kill Hoggmeiser, Flonne then attempts to stop Laharl, and the game ends, with it heavily implied that Laharl killed Flonne; however, in the Disgaea artbook by Broccoli Books, it's stated that Flonne had defeated Laharl with her "burning flame of justice".

Hoggmeiser is mentioned in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], as he has his own financial firm. The player may receive a small HL increase if Hoggmeiser is called on his Cell Phone.

In the anime, his son hates his father for being so obsessed with money and becoming the Overlord, and leads Laharl and the rest to his castle. When Hoggmeiser is about to be killed, his son tries to protect his father and reveals that he wanted his caring father back. Hoggmeiser apologizes for neglecting his son and Laharl teleports the two somewhere else. In the anime, Hoggmeiser and his son retain their original Japanese names: Zenisuki and Koganesuki.

===Maderas===
Originally, Maderas was a vassal for King Krichevskoy, only to be exiled after stealing Krichevskoy's black pretzels. Maderas is one of the many demons competing for the throne. His biggest edge is that he stole Etna's memories, dangling the promise of their return over her head so she would work for him. Using Etna, he arranged Laharl's initial poisoning. After the poison failed, he designed a plan to kill Laharl by exploiting his weaknesses, which involved using his demon henchman to either yell out highly optimistic things, (I.E. Eternal love, world peace,) or bring out Succubi and their attractive bodies. Laharl is susceptible to both, even affecting his strength in-game. This fails, and he is defeated by him later on. After being spared by Etna, he decides to work under her as her vassal.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed one hundred allies before beating Maderas, Etna can choose to kill him. If she chooses not to, the typical sequence is initiated. If Etna does kill Maderas, Flonne would try to stop Etna, Etna easily distracts Flonne and kills Flonne. Later, she starts to plan to also kill Laharl and becoming the Heroine, after that the game ends with Etna as the "Demon Lord" or "Beauty Queen".

His role in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness' Etna Mode isn't very different from the original story in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. However, toward the end of Etna Mode, he is killed by Vulcanus after being bested by Etna.

The anime changed his personality to make him very effeminate. He also steals only Etna's embarrassing memories to force her into betraying Laharl and Flonne.

===General Carter===
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

General Carter is the adoptive father of Jennifer and the acting leader of Earth. Under the guidance of Archangel Vulcanus, he sends Gordon, Jennifer, and Thursday to act as a beacon for the Earth forces to invade the Netherworld for colonization. Despite his good intentions for Earth, Carter is willing to sacrifice many lives to achieve his goals, including the lives of his daughter and the Defender of Earth, both of whom turn on him once they realize his true intention. After the invasion fails, he flees back to Earth. He later is shown to take classes about love from Flonne.

In an alternate situation, Laharl invades Earth in the hope of taking it over. Carter transforms into "Astro Carter" to battle him and his cohorts. He is then killed by Laharl who proceeds to take over the Earth.

===Aramis===
Aramis is a resident child in Laharl's kingdom whom Etna manipulates to make Laharl prove himself worthy of ruling. He owns many pet zombies. His favorite among them is a special combination of many parts, which, inexplicably, instills fear in Laharl (specifically the "horse wiener". It like the other parts Aramis mentions can be stolen from the zombie). After the ordeal, Aramis enters service as Laharl's vassal.

==Adell==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon, but believes to be human throughout the entire game (Demon Hunter) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hikaru Midorikawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Shiloh Strong]]

The main character of Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories. Adell is the only human left on Veldime, and has been training for years to defeat Zenon and lift the curse. Courageous and determined, Adell dislikes demons and lies, and will never back down from any challenge or resort to dirty tactics as it is not his style. His love for challenging fights is taken to the extreme at times, earning him the name "battle maniac" from Rozalin. He is nice to those he cares about and will never ever break a promise, as it is once again not his style. He initially dislikes women and demons, (In the Colosseum chapter, Adell says "This is the reason I don't like girls." when faced with the Prophet, Elenor. Apparently, she is also the reason for the two scars on Adell's face.) especially due to the way Rozalin treats him, but his attitude changes over the course of the game. Even though he prefers to use his fists to solve problems, he is in fact quite intelligent, as was proven when Adell solved a Geo Puzzle within seconds that took the Geo Master years to create. His parents left him as a child, and in the beginning, he wished only to know more about them (as was revealed when Adell and the gang faced Elenor in the tournament) but later grew to resent them. He never knew that his parents were the Masked Man, Shura, and the Masked Woman, Serion, even though they did tell him that they were being forced to act against their will (when Adell faced them on his way to defeat "Overlord Zenon") and the fact that the Masked Woman had repeatedly helped him throughout his adventures (saying once that she doesn't know why, she just feels that she must).

In the good ending, it is assumed that Adell and Rozalin have truly fallen in love with each other, although the kiss Adell gives her causes Rozalin to react violently in a comedic [[tsundere]]-like way. However, should the player receive the worst ending, Adell is forced to kill Rozalin and soon falls prey to the soul of the real Zenon. After the credit's roll it is unknown what happens but vocal sound makes it seem as though Adell has been completely take over by Zenon and he is either devouring or ripping to shreds Taro and Hanako, uttering "I am a being of solitude".

Adell was not affected by Zenon's curse because the curse feeds off the human conscience. Adell is actually pure-blooded demon. (The Masked Man and Woman are demons, and they are his parents.) When the Fake Overlord Zenon is defeated by the real one, she immediately blasts Adell, with the words "You are also my enemy, child of Sin".

However, he shows no physical or mental signs of his demon heritage. His ears are never revealed since the humanoid demons of the Disgaea universe have pointed ears, and it would be a dead give-away of his true nature. He is also stated to be human at many parts of the game, such as when the Fake Zenon mistakenly referred to him as an 'Altered Human', believing him to have been affected by the curse.

In several of the extra battles, his demon heritage becomes a running joke. In particular, when he obtains the Demon Lord (from defeating Etna early in the game) and the Badass Overlord (from defeating Zetta) titles, Rozalin asks Adell if he truly is human. Adell, of course, angrily denies it, saying he never wanted the title to begin with.

===Other Appearances===
In Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Adell makes a cameo appearance in the DemonHall Mirror stage. Here he fights Laharl twice: once alone and later with Rozalin. He also appears occasionally as a neutral ally in Afternoon of Darkness' multiplayer mode.

Adell, along with Rozalin, is also available in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice in a downloadable stage and will join once completed.

==Rozalin==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon (Zenon's Child) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yukari Tamura]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

The one and only daughter of Overlord Zenon. Rozalin was summoned during a failed attempt by Adell's mother to summon Zenon (which when looked back on was actually successful). Due to the summoning contract placed on her, she is unable to leave Adell and must help him find Zenon. Incredibly snobby, Rozalin is unaware of the world around her due to her pampered life, with her books being her sole source of information. Because of this, she has no battle experience and tries (and fails) to get Adell killed indirectly on several occasions. In addition, Adell's strong vow to bring her back to her father begins to make her think differently.

It turns out that she is the real Zenon, who reincarnated into her current form and that her "father" is an imposter seeking revenge on her. It is believed that Rozalin was originally born into the Snow Clan and that the fake Overlord Zenon took her away when he destroyed it. This is supported by Yukimaru's observation of Rozalin's eyes. The Disgaea 2 Artbook supports this as well, with an (unused, presumably) picture of Rozalin's mother in the character section, complete with an adjoining Baby Rozy sketch. The real Overlord Zenon constantly utters the phrase "I am a being of solitude."

Throughout the game, Rozalin claims that the four-leaf clover seal, which differs from the three-leaf clover that marks the cursed humans, is the symbol that marks her bond with her father. However, it is later revealed that the seal actually prevents the real Zenon from awakening and it can be broken by force (Laharl destroys it after the player loses to him) or by her own will (The voice of the real Zenon persuaded her into doing it). However, Adell was able to bring back Rozalin twice throughout the game, once by reminding her of who she is and later showing her affection. The seal seems to also have a great deal of power as its mere presence causes Prier to flee as well as awaken Baal.

===Other Appearances===
Like Adell, Rozalin makes a cameo appearance in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness in the Demonhall Mirror stage. After defeating Adell the first time, she appears before Laharl and Etna, Etna remarking that she might be upset that they defeated Adell. Adell accompanies her in the battle.

Also like Adell, she appears in a downloadable stage in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice and is playable once defeated.

==Taro==
'''Age:''' 11 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Rozalin's servant) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

Adell's eleven-year old brother. He and his younger sister Hanako are demons, having been born after their parents were cursed. He has a set of horns, as well as clothing that looks cow-like. He starts to admire Rozalin soon after meeting her, and refers to her as Princess. He is not as confident as the other characters, but he tries to help as much as he can. He is also commonly referred to as Tardo (Taro-chan in Japanese) by his sister, Hanako.

It should be noted that Taro and his sister where born after the 'curse' affected everyone. As their parents were demons at that time, they were born full-fledged demons, and therefore, stay that way even when the curse was lifted.

His design is very 'cow-like', which include his horns, his cow print apron or shirt, and his milk-based attacks.

While he isn't present after the credits at the end of the game, Hanako is writing to him from the Netherworld.

==Hanako==
'''Age:''' 9 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Adell's Sister) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]]

Adell and Taro's younger sister. She is bothersome and very cocky, constantly wishing that Adell would take her with him when he goes out to fight. She has great culinary skill as her cooking tops even the greatest of chefs. She also uses her cooking pot as a weapon. Throughout the adventures she does manage to have with Adell, it is proven that she has a wealth of random knowledge, which she obtained from reading her father's many books. She adores Etna and wants to be a Demon Lord like her one day, but also wishes to be sexier than her.

Like her brother, Hanako was born after the curse affected her parents, meaning she was born as a demon, and does not change to a human when the curse was lifted. This is further accented by the fact that she wants to be a demon lord, and being a human would mean she would have little power.

At the end of Disgaea 2 (Good Ending), she became Etna's "Student" and serves Laharl with her.

==Tink==
'''Age:''' 15 
'''Class:''' Frog, originally a demon (Dirty Frog) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Dave Wittenberg]]

A servant of Overlord Zenon and a childhood friend of Rozalin. After a mysterious person (Fubuki) attacked Zenon's Castle, he was transformed into a frog. Tink has two forms. In his normal blue form, he is usually very polite, yet very cowardly. On occasion, he will transform into his red form. In this form, he is lecherous and rude, known for causing trouble wherever he goes. In order for him to revert to his blue form, one must chant the words Drak-Tink-Mahalak.

During battle, Tink has the ability to switch between his two forms at will using his Special Abilities. At the end of the game, Tink's true form is shown in an image during the credits.

By the end of the game, Tink returns to his true form.

==Mom & Dad==
Adell, Taro, and Hanako's parents. Zenon's curse branded Mom with a third eye on her forehead, as well as a purple tail. Dad gained some sort of creature on his chest referred to as a "pimple", as well as gray skin, a horn on his head and longer than average arms. (The Disgaea 2 manga describes him as a demon zombie without the stench.) Mom is very caring, though at the same time somewhat demented due to Zenon's curse affecting her mind. She is very skilled at summoning, though her recent attempt at a summoning failed to summon Zenon (although in hindsight, it *did* work due to Rozalin being Zenon reborn). She is very talented summoner, but because of Zenon's curse, no one knows why she has this ability. Dad is more pitiful in his new condition, but still very friendly and worries about everyone despite knowing that everyone but Adell is a demon.

After the curse gets stronger in Chapter 9, while Adell and the others are out to find Etna, Dad's pimple begins to talk (in the first volume of the Disgaea 2 manga, it seems to be able to speak on its own) but it always speaks in lecherous terms (stating that it wanted to grow between the breasts of a swimsuit model), and after the curse gets even stronger, Dad's soul switches with his own pimple. After this switch, Dad (which is controlled by the pimple) continues its dirty remarks, saying things such as "I love boobies!", which, as it is, Mom doesn't mind this switch.

==Yukimaru==
'''Age:''' 20 
'''Class:''' Demon ([[Kunoichi]]) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kana Ueda]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lara Jill Miller]]

One of the surviving members of the Snow Clan. Yukimaru is a skilled ninja at the age of twenty, looking to defeat Zenon and avenge the destruction of her clan. While she is skilled, she has little confidence in herself, and may try to commit suicide if she is unable to complete her mission. However, the time she spends with Adell and the rest helps her to become more confident in herself, allowing her to confront her brother Fubuki. Yukimaru ends her sentences with the word 'zam' as a way of storing ki. 'De gozaru' was the original phrase in the Japanese version. The phrase 'de gozaru' is famous for being used by samurai and ronin and also ninja. It is a form of de gozaimasu, showing respect for the person who is talked to.

==Fubuki==
'''Class:''' Demon (Ninja Master) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Takehito Koyasu]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Kirk Thornton]]

Yukimaru's brother. A mysterious ninja bent on defeating Zenon in order to avenge the Snow Clan. A skilled ninja, Fubuki is cold hearted and will do anything to destroy Zenon. He is especially skilled in the art of transformation, being able to transform into a Prinny or even Yukimaru and was responsible for transforming Tink into a frog.

Yukimaru later states that due to Fake Zenon's attack on the Snow Clan, Fubuki was blinded. This is shown in his character art, and he even states it (though it was in the guise of Yukimaru at the Coliseum "Even though my eyes see no light, my heart sees everything.")

==Axel==
'''Age:''' 2188 
'''Class:''' Demon (Dark Hero) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuyuki Hiyama]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

A demon who prides himself over once being popular. Axel was once a famous demon action hero and rock star known by many as the Dark Hero, a mastermind of evil. Unfortunately, he is now a reporter for a travel show called Tripping with Axel. Despite this new role, Axel will occasionally try to add action scenes to the show, much to the director's dismay. However, after being defeated by Adell, he is proclaimed dead. Both he and the director spend half the game trying to prove that he is alive and can become popular once again. After he reveals Overlord Zenon's existence following the colliseum tournament's end, he is given a job as a newscaster on Usagi-san and Plenair's news program. However, his director claims he lost the "soul of the Dark Hero" during his brief stint as a newscaster, doing things that could be considered honorable, such as holding charity concerts. He realizes this at the last moment, and holds off the multitude of overlords from other dimensions seeking to defeat Overlord Zenon while Adell and his group fight Overlord Zenon. He claims that Overlord Zenon was all a hoax after Overlord Zenon is defeated, and shortly becomes very popular again (Although he is supposedly punished for it according to the news program).

The original romanization of his name is Akutare. The name of Axel's band, however, is Akutare according to the North American localization. Whenever Axel is summoned into battle via cell phone (and occasionally in stages where he is the boss or part of the storyline) the background music changes to his theme, a song called "White Tiger."

In Disgaea 3, Axel appears to be acting out a detective show when he is confronted by Mao and the others. He claims to have had his stardom stolen and quickly places the blame on Mao. After being defeated, he forces himself into Mao's party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

==Overlord Zenon==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon (God of Overlords) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Norio Wakamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lex Lang]]

Feared as the God of All Overlords who single-handedly defeated 99 rival Overlords in one day and has been known to have killed over 1000 all together. Due to the numerous enemies looking to kill him, Zenon constantly hides himself. An Overlord known for his cruelty, Zenon is responsible for the curse on Veldime that turned its inhabitants into demons and the destruction of the Snow Clan. Rozalin, his daughter, is constantly spoiled by him as he showers her with gifts.

Towards the end of the game, he is revealed to be an imposter and that the curse he placed on Veldime is what gives him his power. The stronger the curse he places on the humans, the greater his power becomes, but at the cost of the humans becoming savage. The real Overlord Zenon is Rozalin, whom he has been seeking revenge upon.

==Minor characters in Disgaea 2==
===The Director===
The Director of Axel's show. He goes wherever Axel goes, following him everywhere. Bears a resemblance to Steven Spielberg. Like a stereotypical Hollywood director, he sometimes addresses Axel as "Axel darling."

===Axel's Family===
A family of 6 people who live in Axel's home world. The family includes his mother, four little brothers and sisters, and a hellcat.

===The Invincible Heroes===
A group of Heroes that have their first match with Adell's group in the Battle Tournament. Only called invincible as their battles are 0-0-0: zero wins, zero losses and zero draws, making them technically undefeated.

===Old Man Geo===
A wise old man that creates Geo Panels. He was beaten by Adell's group in the Battle Tournament and gave Adell's group a remedy that is later used to help Fubuki.

===Elenor and the soul takers===
Years ago, Adell made a deal with Elenor to find out who his real parents were; however, he was tricked by her, and she gave him the scars on his face. Years later, she came back after his soul. This time around, her team was beaten by Adell's group.

===Masked Man & Masked Woman===
Zenon's servants. Nothing is known about them except that they are obedient to Zenon. After hearing that Rozalin disappeared, Zenon sends them out to find her and eliminate those who caused her disappearance. It's fairly rare that one is seen without the other, though the Masked Man is usually noted as being Zenon's right hand demon, being the one who gives Zenon the report that Rozalin went missing and other amounts of information.

The masked woman first encounters the group in Chapter 5, attempting to instruct Rozalin to return to her mansion. She later appears in Chapter 6, promising Rozalin that she won't tell Zenon about her appearance at the Battle Arena. Her next appearance is at the ends of Chapter 7 and 8,giving the whereabouts of Zenon and urging the group to escape while Zenon is battling Etna respectively. She begins to question their role during Chapter 9 onward after having met Adell.

They both appear near the end of Chapter 12, where they urge Adell's to defeat them in order to remove the seal that keeps their memories suppressed. The Masked Man is immune to physical attacks, while the Masked Woman has immunity to magic.

Shura & Serion are their true names and they are Adell's real parents. Serion (Masked Woman) explains that they were demons from another netherworld who escaped to Veldime in order to escape a power war.

Even though the humans of Veldime knew they were demons, Shura and Serion were welcomed in, and they swore to live as humans and help defend the people of Holt Village.

When the Fake Zenon came to invade Veldime, they entrusted everything they had (their son, Adell) to their best friends (Mom and Dad) before transforming into demons to face the Fake Zenon. Despite their attempt, they were defeated and placed under his seal, becoming his servants.

==Mao==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Honor Student) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiromi Hirata]] 
''' English Voice Actor:''' [[Vic Mignogna]]

Mao is the main character of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice. He is the son of the dean of Nether School Evil Academy and the Academy's top Honor Student, a title bestowed upon students who don't attend class and commit acts of villainy or various other evil deeds from thievery to not washing his hands. As the heir to the throne, Mao wants to defeat his father and gain the title of Overlord for himself and he hopes that his research on the power of hero will do so. He steals the title of a hero from Almaz to gain this power, but as soon as he realizes that Almaz is not really a hero, he spends much of the game trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

Mao is an ambitious demon who tries to make use of his research in order to defeat his father. With his 1.8 million EQ, which he constantly boasts about, Mao tries to calculate each and every step he takes toward achieving his goals though at times he can be a little too overzealous and when something goes wrong, he will always question how his perfect calculations could be off. Despite his hatred towards heroes, he realizes that the power of a hero has the power to defeat an Overlord through his research of anime, comic books, and video games. He realizes that "love" is a source of a hero's power and is curious to figure out what it is. When something interests him, such as Almaz's transformation into a demon, he will be ecstatic, shown by him drooling and his glasses fogging, and if he can't figure anything out through research, he will experiment on his subject by either dissecting it or modifying it. Though he is the top Honor Student, thus one of the most evil students in Evil Academy, he constantly follows his own rules if he finds it necessary in order to fulfill his goals, including attending class or opening his heart, both of which are unfavorable among most Honor Students.

Throughout the story, he is shown to hate his father, the Overlord, very much, the destruction of Mao's [[Playstation Portable|Slaystation Portable]] with his 4 million hour save file being his primary reason, among eighteen other things destroyed by his father. However, toward the end of the game, it is shown that he truly respected him, calling him the "strongest, most evil, and simply the best Overlord to rule the Netherworld". Unfortunately, much of the trauma in Mao's heart is due to him being the cause of his death as he told Super Hero Aurum how to defeat him and it is later revealed that Mao's father refused to use his ultimate attack on Aurum due to Mao being nearby. Because of this, Mao developed a strong hatred toward Aurum and even tried to destroy the human world to inflict psychological damage on him. However, this same trauma and hatred becomes the source of his more frighteningly evil powers and Aurum tries to take advantage of this in order to transform him into the most evil and powerful Overlord. If the player receives the bad ending, Mao is engulfed by this power and not only destroys Aurum and the Human world, but Celestia and the Netherworld are destroyed as well. However, if the player receieves the good ending, Mao reconciles with his father and becomes the Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy.

===Mao's Heart===
Most of the demons in Evil Academy store their hearts in the Netherworld Heart Bank, which keeps a demon's secrets and true feelings stored away so that demons can perform acts of evil without restraint. As soon as Mao realizes that Almaz's title is worthless, he makes several trips into the Heart Bank in order to remove the title. Within the Heart Bank, the characters often find items related to Mao's past or residents that make up Mao's personality. The most important ones look like palette-swapped versions of Mao.

'''Mao's True Heart''': Represents Mao's true feelings, differentiated from Mao by his calm tone of voice and green eyes and jacket. He is the gatekeeper of the Heart Vault in the deepest part of Mao's heart. Unlike Mao, he is often patient in dealing with others, including Mao himself. He tells Mao that no matter how much he claims he wants his heart to open, it will never open unless he truly wills it to. His appearance toward the end of the game will depend on the ending the player aims for. In the bad ending, he makes one final attempt to stop Mao from destroying the Human world only to fail. If the player aims for a good ending, he, under the assumption that he is Mao, will appear before Almaz after his death to return his title, calling Almaz his friend.

'''Dark Mao''': Represents all the darkness and hatred in Mao's heart, differentiated by his deep evil tone and purple eyes and jacket. He is available in the game as one of the NPCs in Mao's heart, telling Mao to let him out or to simply annoy him. During bouts of extreme anger and rage, Mao will make use of his evil powers, which is shown in the bad ending to be powerful enough to wipe out the Netherworld, Celestia, and the Human World. However, if the player aims for the good ending, he will appear outside of Mao's body and try to take it over himself, only to be defeated.

'''Saucy Mao''': Represents the part of Mao that likes hot sauce, differentiated by their french accents and orange eyes and jacket and appear in groups. They, like Mao, believe that hot sauce should always be used in eggs and that anyone who uses salt and pepper must be killed. As soon as they sense this from Almaz, they attempt to kill him, but Mao is able to destroy them. However, their defeat causes Mao to suddenly hate hot sauce.

'''Mao Who Says Dad''': Represents the part of Mao that is traumatized by the death of his father, differentiated by their green eyes and jacket and like the Saucy Maos, appear in groups. They constantly utter the word "Dad", which really bothers Mao. Unlike the Saucy Maos, though, their defeat does not cause the removal of Mao's trauma.

'''Savvy Mao''': Differentiated by his blue eyes and jacket. Tries to prevent Mao from returning to his normal self after Almaz pulled the plug on his heart, not wanting Mao's heart to continuing living with a scar or being hurt again. However, Raspberyl believed that Mao should return to the way he was, believing that Mao is not the type to run away from his past scars. She, alongside Almaz, defeats him and helps Almaz return Mao to his normal self.

==Almaz von Almadine Adamant==
'''Age:''' 18 
'''Class:''' Human (Hero/Ever changing Demon titles) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Johnny Yong Bosch]]

Almaz is a human from the Human World, who carries the title of a hero. He was originally a guardsman who wanted nothing more than to protect Princess Sapphire, whom he has a crush on. Once it is believed that Sapphire will one day be kidnapped by the Overlord, Almaz makes it his duty to become a hero and defeat the Overlord before he can kidnap her. However, he gets his hero title stolen by Mao and is forced to join the demons as Mao's slave. Mao calculates that Almaz has 666 hours before he becomes full-fledged demon, so he tries his best to get Mao to open his heart in order to get his title back and become a human again.

Almaz adores heroes and knows everything about them. He is especially passionate about the legendary hero, Super Hero Aurum, to the point where owns most of the merchandise related to Aurum and recites his codes which include "No matter what trouble awaits, a hero must stand, face forward, against it!" Unfortunately, Almaz has a hard time acting according to these codes as he is a coward, not very confident, and very unlucky. Also, despite having a hero title, he never became a hero to begin with and is constantly called a fake hero once Mao and the others become aware of this. Because Mao made him his servant, he is constantly at the mercy of Mao's orders and research. However, despite being cowardly, he has a good heart. As a guardsman under Sapphire when her mother died and everyone believed her to be uncaring, Almaz believed that Sapphire cutting her hair was a way to show that she did care about her mother's death. As he spent his time with Mao and the other demons, he was able to see that demons are not so evil and views Mao as a friend in need of help, no matter how much denies it. He is also very selfless as he will try to protect others, especially Sapphire, without any regard for his own safety and will try to cover up the pain he is going through in order to keep his friends from worrying about him.

If the player succeeds in getting the Human World ending, then Almaz, who was cursed in a previous episode, dies, unable to prevent Mao from wreaking havoc on the Human World. If the player doesn't fulfill the requirements for the Human World ending, however, he is revived after everyone, including Mao, begs for Almaz to return to life. When he comes back to life, he becomes human once again and regains his hero title, now considered a full-fledged hero. He also faces Aurum, knowing that the Aurum before him is not the same hero he once idolized. If the player defeats Aurum with Almaz alone, he faces Mao in a one-on-one duel and is granted the title of Overlord against his will, causing everyone to abandon him in hopes of defeating him. In the good endings, however, after returning to the Human World, he is married to Princess Sapphire. However, he quickly returns to the Netherworld with Sapphire as part of their honeymoon. According to him, despite being married, he and Sapphire haven't even held hands.

==Raspberyl==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Delinquent/Valedictorian) 
'''Nickname:''' Beryl 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Laura Bailey (voice actress)|Laura Bailey]]

Raspberyl is Mao's childhood friend and the number one delinquent of Evil Academy, a title bestowed upon demons who get to class on time, does their homework, and performs good deeds like taking out the trash or donating blood. She considers herself to be Evil Academy's badass and is followed by her subordinates Asuka and Kyoko. Because of her position as the number one delinquent, she is usually worried about her not standing out as much if someone were to perform delinquent acts or head down a road that would lead to delinquency, which is why she tries to stop Mao from become a hero. However, throughout the game, she shows that she genuinely cares for Mao and tries to help him and Almaz whenever she can.

Raspberyl claimed that she once followed the path of an Honor Student, however, she believed that becoming a delinquent was her unique way of proving that she is a badass. She isn't liked by most demons for the way she carries herself and she is even targeted by the School Board President and the PTA, though some, such as the Vato Bros., do actually like her and Mao does come to her rescue despite him claiming that he is doing it to defeat the School Board President. She will never shy away from delinquency, even during a fight, often beginning a fight by talking her opponent out of one and ending one if it conflicts with her classes. However, her concern for Mao is one of her priorities. In the middle of the game, she actually skips a class when there is trouble in Mao's heart. She rushes to help Mao if his ideas go beyond the evil of an Honor Student and even prevents the darkness in Mao's from taking over him. Raspberyl also gets ecstatic when she meets a hero, whom she regards as super rare spawns and will ask for their autographs.

When she decides to skip class to help Mao, Mr. Champloo appears before her to tell her that Evil Academy has decided to make her, Asuka, and Kyoko graduates in an attempt to get rid of them. As the first and one of the only graduates of Evil Academy, she is free to help Mao whenever she feels like it and spends much of the game with him, Almaz, and Sapphire. In the Human World ending, she tries to save Mao from being consumed by the darkness in his heart after realizing her mistake in not believing him, only to be killed by Aurum. In the good ending, however, she watches Mao as he becomes Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy and accompanies him when he searches for the legendary Overlord.

==Sapphire Rhodonite==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Human (Robust Princess) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Akiko Hasegawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]] 
Sapphire is a princess from the Human World, an Evil Academy transfer student, and the object of Almaz's affection. Because of her position as a princess, there is always the fear of her one day being kidnapped by the Overlord. Believing that it would be best to strike first before the Overlord attempts to kidnap her, Sapphire enters the Academy as a transfer student to defeat the Overlord, though her priority soon becomes opening Mao's heart and returning Almaz's hero title to him.

Sapphire, while a beautiful princess, is much more robust in her way of dealing with the various situations that present themselves in the game. She always chooses to act rather than wait around, even going as far as using violence if she feels it is necessary as seen when she pulls out a chainsaw to open Mao's heart. Her motto is "First to strike, first to win", thus she enrolls into the Academy in order to learn more about demons and defeat the Overlord before he can destroy her kingdom and kidnap her. She is also known for inability to cry even when her parents and many of her subjects died. However, this is not to be confused with heartlessness. Despite her use of violence, she does believe in the codes of Super Hero Aurum and tries to help others as much as she can. When Almaz has second thoughts about helping Mao return to his normal self, she hits Almaz, telling him that he's being a pitiful coward who won't help Mao even when the code of Aurum states to help those who are in need. Her inability to cry was never something she wanted as well. She tells Almaz that she just cannot cry when someone dies, and it brings her so much pain that she can't even shed a tear. Even though she is known for taking down many demons, she still has a feminine side. She loves cutesy things, including Raspberyl, and would hug it without a second thought.

Though it seems like Sapphire is oblivious to Almaz's feelings, and in many ways she is, she does really care for Almaz. When her mother died and everyone believed her to be heartless, Almaz believed that Sapphire was not as heartless as she seemed, that she cut her hair as a way of grieving for her mother when she cannot cry. When Almaz protects her from being ineffected by an incurable curse, she is constantly looking out for him, but he would always tell her that he was alright. When Almaz dies, she is visibly hurt by both his refusal to tell her and his passing away, though at first she is unable to shed a tear for him. If player follows the requirements for the Human World ending, she faces Mao one last time, fighting for the memory of Almaz. If the player does not follow the requirements, Almaz returns to life and she finally sheds tears for him, tears of joy. She then joins Mao and Almaz as they face Super Hero Aurum. If the player receieves the Almaz ending, she leaves Almaz as his position as the Overlord means he will destroy the kingdom and kidnap her and so must prepare for their inevitable battle despite Almaz's refusal in becoming an Overlord. If the player receives either of the good endings, she returns to the Human World, becomes the queen, and is married to Almaz. She and Almaz immediately return to the Netherworld for their honeymoon.

==Mr.Champloo==
'''Age:''' 3442 
'''Class:''' Demon (Chef) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Keiichi Kuwabara]]

Mr. Champloo is the Home Economics teacher at Evil Academy and the master of Fire Chaos Style Kitchen Fist martial arts. He is an unlicensed teacher and remained a mystery for quite some time with his class dwelling within the dangerous old school building. However, after meeting Mao and witnessing several strange occurances in Evil Academy, he leaves his class behind and joins Mao.

Mr. Champloo has a strong passion for cooking as well as the heart. In fact, he believes that just as it takes a strong heart to cook up a good meal, it takes a strong heart to overcome any obstacle and he will usually try to convey that to Almaz and Mao. Unfortunately, when he tries to do so, he will frequently use cooking metaphors making much of what he says seem ambiguous, cryptic, or simply not make any sense, though it is mainly good advice. Often times, he will appear before others to give his speech and then suddenly disappear in a puff of smoke, even going as far as mysteriously appearing in someone else's monolgues or thoughts. As a Home Economics teacher, he is very hard on his students when they are unable to possess a strong heart. He also believes in the idea of demons having the freedom to choose whatever path they wished to pursue and not force demons into becoming Honor Students or Deliquents like most demons.

Though the mystery of the Home Economics teacher is solved, Mr. Champloo's true identity is never revealed. When asked who he really is, he always claim to be nothing more than a chef and the Home Economics teacher. What is known about him is that he may have been acquainted with the Dean and Overlord of Evil Academy and knew about the Dean's death as well as what happened to Mao. Champloo, under the orders of the Overlord, watched over the Academy as an undercover teacher and looked into any problems the Academy faced. He also believed in the Overlord's wish for a peaceful Netherworld where demons could live carefree.

It should be noted that Mr. Champloo's design is reminiscent of the Makai Chef's in [[Makai Kingdom]] though there are clear distinctions between his design and that of the Makai Chef's.

==Geoffery==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Gorou Kubota]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Dan Woren]]

This old gentleman demon is very loyal to Mao, known to become over protective of him in certain situations. He's known to cover his failures by laughing them off and seems to be keeping a few secrets himself. His future goal is to watch and help Mao grow up to be a great Overlord. His dislikes involve any people who get in the way of that. There have been demons who say he's even stronger than Mao. Jiiya was the one who found Almaz in the demon world and brought him to Mao in order to help achieve his goal. He is willing to do anything in order to make Mao's dream a reality.

==Kyoko Needleworker==
'''Age:''' 1584 
'''Class:''' Demon (Kunoichi) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Shizuka Arai]] 
'''English Voice Actor:'''
[[Lara Jill Miller]]

Kyoko is subordinate #2 of Raspberyl. She's devoted to Raspberyl and calls her "oneesama" (big sister). Since Raspberyl has pink as her main color, Lilian covers herself in brilliant pink clothing. She takes the roll of the Explanation character, and seems to know everything about the school's history. A female ninja known as "Lilian of Strength", her dream is to help Raspberyl become the Legendary Delinquent. She really hates brutality and will immediately attack an offender by throwing knives, among her many other weapons. Her policy is to fight fair and square, never attacking during the night. Rather she will challenge opponents in broad daylight, hoping for a good fight.

==Asuka of the Paper Cranes/Asuka Cranekick==
'''Age:''' 1593 
'''Class:''' Demon (Delinquent Samurai) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Natsuki Kousaka]]

Asuka is the very loyal subordinate #1 of Raspberyl and addresses her as "oujousama" (my lady). She also happens to be the daughter of a high-class family. Her hobby is to send 1,000 paper cranes to opponents she wounds in battle, as a get well gesture. This has earned her the nickname of "Asuka of the Paper Cranes". Asuka dislikes brutality as well as Lillian, though she will still fight for what she believes in. If she witnesses someone committing an act of brutality, she will punish the person. Her dream is to send a thousand paper cranes to a prince who has fallen from a white horse. This is her form of love.

==Master Big Star/Bigster ==

'''Age:''' 2764 
'''Class:''' Demon (Sophomore Leader) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Liam O'Brien]]

Master Big Star is the charismatic leader of Evil Academy's sophomore class, who loves his subordinates, whom he regards as friends. The "Master" is part of his real name. He has an elegant bearing overflowing with refinement, but he actually has a strong belief as a leader. He believes in the idea of having strong friends and that his belief in his comerades would bring out the best in his friends, while at the same time, their belief in him as their leader would bring out his best. He joins Mao twice throughout the main story, the second time helping him overcome the darkness in his heart and helping Mao defeat Aurum.

After the main story is completed, Mao and the rest find Big Star's name changed to "Master Bigster" as someone stole the space between "Big" and "Star" as well as the 'a' in Star, thus he had to purchase an 'e' as a replacement (since he didn't have enough to buy a replacement 'a' and space). After being defeated by Mao, he agrees to join Mao and the rest in the search of the thief, later revealed to be the legendary Overlord.

== Salvatore the Magnificent==

'''Age:''' 2666 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Miho Yamada]]

Salvatore is one of Evil Academy's Diez Gentlemen, a legendary group of Seniors who are usually never seen among Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Throughout the game, she and some of the Diez Gentlemen follow the orders of their unknown leader.

Salvatore is very strict and militaristic. In battle, she barks orders at her squads, but she will bark orders at her enemies just as much as her allies. In fact, much of her commands tend to be completely absurd and normally impossible to perform by anyone, such as her command for all aside from Mao and Master Big Star to transform into an invincible robot that will blast the area with a -5000 degrees Celsius blizzard. However, as soon as she realizes that her leader was actually Super Hero Aurum, she, after some inner conflict and words from Mr. Champloo, decides to go against Aurum and the Diez Gentlemen, believing that the very idea of a demon obeying a hero is insane. She as well as Master Big Star join Mao soon afterwards to face Aurum.

After the main story, Salvatore reveals to Mao that her spies have found information regarding the Evil Academy thief, though she will only reveal it in exchange for a battle against Mao. After the battle, she reveals that the thief was a legendary Overlord and that she too has been robbed of something: her womanliness. She then joins Mao and appears alongside him in the final battle against Baal.

==Cameos==
The following are characters from other [[Nippon Ichi]] games that have appeared in any of the three Disgaea games. Only basic information, information regarding the character's part in the Disgaea games, or information regarding their encounter with Disgaea characters in their game will be covered. Any in-depth information regarding their respective games will not be covered here.

===Pleinair===
Pleinair is a well-known character from the series regardless of her lack of significant screentime and voice.

In Disgaea and Disgaea 3, she is the receptionist of Dark Assembly.

In Disgaea 2, she became a news reporter as she teamed up with Usagi-san and Axel, the Dark Hero. She has no speaking or text dialogue, except for saying "Congratulations" when you have completed the Dark World (which has no voice behind it).

In Disgaea DS, she starts out as the receptionist of the Dark Assembly. However, if a player completes the game under any ending, then talks with Pleinair and selects the new blank option that appears, Pleinair becomes a playable character. A Prinny with a maid outfit replaces Pleinair as the receptionist to the Dark Assembly.

In Phantom Brave, Pleinair shows up for a couple seconds in a conversation, walking in the background.

In the Disgaea 2 manga, she initially appears as a Dark Assembly Receptionist. In the manga, she appears to be mature and plans ahead as far as job options are concerned, and is very popular (The mere mention of receiving a Pleinair figure was enough to drive many heroes to pay to challenge Laharl). However, she can be quite cruel to people if they get on her bad side as she once theatened Etna that she'd destroy her personal records and used Usagi as live bait when he tried to reveal her measurements in one of the news broadcasts. As with the game, Pleinair becomes Usagi's assistant in the news broadcasts, usually holding signs.

===The Prism Rangers===
The '''Prism Rangers''' are a troupe of [[gag characters]] which appear in [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], and [[Makai Senki Disgaea 3]]. They are heavily inspired by the protagonists of the [[Super Sentai]]/[[Power Rangers]] universes, satirizing them. Each of the members are named after the colors of the rainbow with the word Prism preceding it. Outside of the in-game battle, the Prism Rangers tend to be portrayed as weak, having been taken down in one shot or being unable to do the slightest bit of damage to their opponent. The most vocal of the members is their leader, Prism Red.

Though they call themselves the Prism Rangers, they only have three of the seven colors in Disgaea, and five of the seven in the second game. In the first game, they appear before Laharl when he's attempting to destroy all who are still trying to claim the throne. Despite being Prism Rangers, their team is made up of only three colors: red, blue, and yellow. They claim that the reason for their lack of numbers is that by becoming heroes, they have to live without friends, though Etna is clearly skeptical. They believe that by becoming Overlords, the Prism Rangers will gain enough friends to complete the rainbow and thus truly become Prism Rangers. When attempting to face Laharl, Etna is able to knock out Prism Blue and Prism Yellow, forcing Prism Red to summon a bunch of demons he hired for such an occasion (although Laharl questions whether or not a hero should even hire demons), yet he still loses.

In Disgaea 2, they return with two more members, Prism Green and Prism Violet, but Rozalin tells them that they should recruit more members to complete the rainbow. Initially, they were considering going easy on Adell since he had his siblings with him, but Prism Red reminds the team of what happened in their battle with Laharl. However, they still lose, but claim to return.

In a bonus stage in Disgaea 2, the Prism Rangers seem to finally have acquired enough members to complete the rainbow, though the last two members are recruited without much thought as they were the only ones to show up when the rangers called for volunteers, even going as far as persuading a salaryman to become Prism Indigo with the promise of an amazing salary and insurance. If the player beats this stage, then Prism Red grants Adell the title of Prism Black, while Rozalin is disappointed that she can't be Prism Pink. Prism Violet, Indigo, and Orange can occasionally be seen in the Innocent Towns in Item World, while Prism Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green appear in Holt if the player passes certain bills.

In Disgaea 3, all the Prism Rangers are gone except for Prism Red, who performs the full Prism Ranger role call when he meets Mao and the rest. Mao, like Flonne and Rozalin in the past games, cannot see how he can say Prism Rangers without the other six colors. Mao, Almaz, Raspberyl, and Sapphire then start to choose colors for themselves should they become Super Sentai, upsetting Prism Red when he hears that Mao, as the main character, will claim red. After the battle, Almaz allows him to join the party. With the Demon Change ability, the player can turn Prism Red into a sword and its special ability is Prism Justice, the ultimate Prism Ranger attack in Disgaea 2.

===Overlord Priere===
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Mai Nakahara]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jennifer Hale]] (La Pucelle) 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[La Pucelle: Tactics]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

'''Priere''' is the main character of ''[[La Pucelle: Tactics]]''. In her game, she and her brother Culotte were orphaned at a young age. As they grew older, the became a part of a group of Demon Hunters known as La Pucelle, who carried out jobs for the Church of the Holy Maiden. Though kind hearted, she's known for being impatient and strong, able to knock down a lead door with a single kick. However, she appears in the later games as an Overlord, which references a special ending in La Pucelle in which she becomes the Overlord after defeating numerous demons. Her name is spelled ''Prier'' (French for "to pray") in La Pucelle, but as ''Priere'' ("prayer") in Disgaea.

In Disgaea, Priere appears as an Overlord of an Alternate Netherworld. Though she does not have any speaking roles, Etna notes that she is legendary for being fascinated by the dark arts and searching for a fight. Should she be defeated, Priere joins the party.

She appears again in Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories as a hidden boss where she, still a demon, faces the main characters Adell and Rozalin. She has two speaking (without a voice actor) roles, but no combat voice. Her speaking role makes her seem, while more mature, much more evil than in her La Pucelle days, going as far as claiming she'll turn Veldime into a sea of blood in retaliation for Adell defeating her.

She appears in Disgaea 3 as well, but only as a downloadable character. When the player is given the option to use magichange, she can transform into a baton.

===Marjoly===
Marjoly is the antagonist of [[Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure]] as well as its sequels in the [[Marl Kingdom]] series. She is malevolent and very conceited, with lyrics in her song "Evil Queen" describing herself to be "mightier than the god...more beauitful than the goddess". She fell in love with Prince Ferdinand and meant to teleport him only to turn him into stone. She has three followers: Gao, Crowdia (Claudia in Disgaea 2), and Myao (who appears in Phantom Brave).

Marjoly is accessible in a hidden stage titled Beauty Castle. Etna makes a few crude comments on her attire and excessive amount of makeup, but she recognizes her as the most malevolent witch in the universe. Laharl, of course, is more than willing to show her who really is the most malevolent. Defeating Marjoly in this stage makes her a playable character.

In Disgaea 2, she is once again accessible in her Beauty Castle (only after a player character has obtained and kept 99 felonies). As Rozalin points out, she appears to be under the control of a seal, and thus has no speaking roles. Defeating her in battle nets the player the one of a kind item, the "Sexy Panties".

Also, during the battle, she carries one of a kind items named after several of her followers (Gao's Spirit, Claudia's Charm, and Myao Kitty's Ears).

===Marona===
'''Age:''' 12 
'''Class:''' Human (Chroma) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]] 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[Phantom Brave]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Makai Kingdom]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

Marona is one of two main characters from Phantom Brave. In her game, she is orphaned due to the death of her parents and the only one watches over her is Ash, her parent's companion whom they transformed into a phantom to prevent him from dying completely and leaving the living world. Unfortunately, his presence as a phantom is the reason why Marona is often shunned by most people in Ivoire, the world in which Phantom Brave takes place. Despite that, she works hard as a Chroma, somewhat of a bounty hunter, to pay her bills and to relieve the problems of the people around her. Though she is often despised, she is known for being thoughful, innocent, and naive, which people take advantage of. Along with Ash, she is able to deploy phantoms at her command when she is forced to fight. Marona makes a quick cameo in Makai Kindom and appears in Disgaea 3 and is playable when defeated.

After completing the main story, Marona comes upon a bottlemail and upon opening it, Laharl appears before her and tries to take over Ivoire, who fails to do so, blaming it on being stuffed in the bottlemail. Laharl, as well as Etna and Flonne, force Marona and Ash into numerous battles until Ash tells Marona to fake their defeat in order to get Laharl to stop bothering them. Laharl then makes Ash and Marona his vassals, not knowing that it was faked.

In Disgaea 3, her innocent heart is stolen from her, which is what makes her so naive and thoughtful. Its removal turns her into a mean-spirited brat who doesn't mind hurting others and saying what's on her mind, such as telling Almaz and Sapphire that the two flirting with each other is causing her to hurl. Upon defeat, she joins the party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

===Asagi===
'''Class:''' Human (The Main Character) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]]

Asagi was meant to be the main character in a future Nippon Ichi title, though it is rumored to have been scrapped. Ever since Makai Kingdom, where she is forced to become Zetta's apprentice to design the next game, Asagi has appeared in every game as an optional battle and is playable in all games except Disgaea 2. Her personality changes with each game she appears in with her being a rather calm character in Makai Kingdom. From there, she becomes saddened but hopeful in Disgaea 2, incredibly arrogant and the self-proclaimed "Queen of Games Everywhere" in Soul Nomad, and depressed in Disgaea 3. She appears to be weak in both Makai Kingdom and Disgaea 2 as she is easily defeated by both Zetta and Adell, but by Soul Nomad, she becomes strong enough to amaze even Gig with just 1/10th of her power, though is soundly defeated, but not before being scolded by Gig for destroying the world and thus ending their game.

Disgaea 2 continues where Makai Kingdom left off with Asagi being forced by Zetta to become stronger before becoming the main character again. When Adell and Rozalin meet her, Rozalin has Adell volunteer to test Asagi's power, but she is soundly defeated. Still, it gives her enough hope to be able to get out of the mess Zetta put her in. It should be noted that Disgaea 2 is also the only game that re-uses Asagi's Makai Kingdom sprite, which makes her smaller than most of the characters in Disgaea 2. She claims that everyone is the same size as her in her game. She has a different sprite in Soul Nomad and Disgaea 3.

In Disgaea 3, Asagi supposedly received a game to be the main character of only to have it stolen, and is clearly upset over it. Upon meeting Mao, she assumes him to be the culprit and attacks him. After the battle, she breaks down and cries, saying she had enough and can't understand why she can never be a main character. Mao then tells her that the legendary Overlord who has been stealing things recently is behind this. Asagi joins the party shortly afterwards and is present during the battle with Baal.

===Baal===
There is not much information on Baal, but ever since [[La Pucelle: Tactics]], he has become a recurring boss in all Nippon Ichi games with the exception of [[Soul Nomad]] and is usually the strongest one in the game. Defeating him will usually reward the player with game's best items or a new title. What is known about Baal is that his form can change from game to game, ranging from a towering Lord of Terror to the comical looking Eringa (a mushroom monster), but is still incredibly power with each form. In Disgaea, he is the legendary Lord of Terror who attempted to conquer all the Netherworlds in existence, but he was sealed away by King Krichevskoy. In Makai Kingdom, Trenia explains that he is a collection of evil souls that can transfer into other bodies when defeated. Baal does not have any speaking roles. His dialogue is confined to "..." and only has a monstrous grunt in battle with the exception of the first Baal battle in Makai Kingdom (due to him taking over Zetta's body). This changes in Disgaea 3 when he speaks to Mao and the rest as a Red Eringa.

In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Baal is a legendary Overlord that was sealed by King Krichevskoy a number of years before the start of the storyline of ''Disgaea'', resulting in Krichevskoy becoming fatally weakened. He later faces Laharl, who is taken aback by his levels (Laharl states "You've gotta be kidding! Level 4000?!"). He is later replaced by Prinny Baal, whom the player can fight as many times as he/she desires.

In Disgaea 2, Adell & Rozalin went to ''Baal's Castle'' to face the Supreme Overlord, but upon entering, they find what they assume to be a statue of Baal. However, Rozalin's four-leaf clover seal suddenly reacts and the statue, revealed to actually be Baal, attacks Rozalin. There are two battles in the game against Baal (First against his regular form, then against him again as a Prinny, accompanied by 4 clones of his original self).

Throughout the optional quests in Disgaea 3, Baal is confirmed to be the Legendary Overlord who has been stealing things from the other characters. Among the things he stole are an "a" and a space in Master Big Star's name, Salvatore's feminine side, Prism Red's friends, Asagi's game, Marona's innocent heart, Axel's stardom, Laharl's height (and screentime), Etna's 1 billion HL savings account, Flonne's DVD box set, and an unknown item that's owned by Mao, who refers to it as "That". Upon his defeat and being requested to give everything he stole back, Baal claims that what everyone truly wanted was friends, encounter, a trusting heart, and more screen time in Disgaea 3, all of which he had given to him, causing everyone to reflect on all that has happened. Immediately after the reflection, though, he comments on how good it feels to make everyone reflect once in awhile and runs off, making this the only battle that in which he is not finished off.

{{Disgaea series}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Disgaea]]

List of Disgaea characters

2008-10-23T12:35:03Z

216.94.61.100: /* Big Sis Prinny */

{{Mergeto|Disgaea (series)|date=September 2008}}
{{Gameguide|date=May 2008}}
{{Copyedit|date=September 2007}}

This article contains information on characters from the [[Video game|video]] [[turn-based strategy|strategy/]][[role-playing games]] ''[[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]]'' for the [[Playstation 2]] video game console, and ''[[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]'' for the [[PlayStation 3]] video game console, developed and published by [[Nippon Ichi]] in [[Japan]], and published in North America by [[Atlus|Atlus Co.]], and later [[Nippon Ichi]], and in Europe by [[Koei]].
{{TOCright|limit=2}}

==Laharl==
'''Age:''' 1313 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1316 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Demon Prince/Overlord in Episode 6 and all later appearances) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Barbara Goodson]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Laharl is the main character of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, and is the son of King Krichevskoy. However, after awakening from a two year slumber, he discovers that his father is dead and almost all of his vassals are gone (most of them are, in fact, trying to take Laharl's place, rather than trying to serve him). As the rightful heir to the throne, Laharl sets out to take back the throne and proclaim himself as the true Overlord of the Netherworld.

Laharl is incredibly arrogant and always tries to prove that he is the strongest demon in the Netherworld. He is, however, extremely powerful for his appearance, which, despite his age, is still that of a small human child (his large hair antennae and billowing scarf are meant to mask this fact). Unfortunately, he has a weakness (as in, he literally gets hurt by) towards optimistic sayings (especially anything concerning the word 'love') and women with sexy bodies. Even after Laharl is crowned the new Overlord half way through the game, he is still referred to as "Prince" by Etna and all those who still remain in the Overlord's Castle.

In the alternate story Etna Mode in the PSP version, Etna kills Laharl as he wakes up by accident. While playing this mode, the player will not have access to Laharl. In order to prevent suspicion from Maderas, Etna places fake antennas on a Prinny and passes it off as Laharl. By the end of Etna Mode, Laharl is actually revealed to be alive. The shot that supposedly killed him only knocked him out and is later found by Etna in Stellar Graveyard.

In the Disgaea manga, Laharl's personality slightly differs. While he is selfish, arrogant, and is willing to use violence to solve his problems, he comes off more mature than his game counterpart, appearing to also be slightly smarter (When Flonne tells Laharl that the Seraph believes demons have love too, Laharl reminds her that her mission to assassinate the Overlord was given to her by the same person). Laharl also appears to hate his father even more in the manga as Laharl is often overshadowed by Krichevskoy, not to mention Krichevskoy's personality annoys Laharl.

In general, the accepted ending is the good ending, in which Laharl spares Lamington's life and is stopped by Mid Boss before he sacrifices himself, allowing him to see Flonne become a Fallen Angel. In the last episode of the anime, however, Laharl gives Overlordship to Etna, then he sacrifices himself in an attempt to revive Flonne. This ending is similar to the normal ending of the game, except that Laharl succeeds in killing Lamington, who would've brought Flonne back to life had he been spared.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Laharl makes a brief appearance, attempting to force Etna to come back to his castle. Part of this reason, as seen in the optional battle against him, comes from the lack of Prinnies to cook for him, forcing him to eat mainly junk food or canned tuna. Though he is initially successful in defeating her and the main characters, the power of Overlord Zenon in Rozalin forces Laharl to flee. (though it should be noted that Laharl wasn't even winded after the battle; he left because, even though Zenon didn't do much to him, he couldn't do anything to Zenon) He also tries to make himself the main character of Disgaea 2 in the optional battles, but not only is he defeated, when given the chance to become a main character for over a minute, he is beaten up by Flonne and Etna. When completing the final mission, Laharl joins after tasting Hanako's cooking since he is unable to make her his chef.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Laharl appears before Mao, who Laharl assumes to be the legendary Overlord who stole his height as well as his screen time in Disgaea 3. Mao, however, believes that Laharl is the legendary Overlord and the two fight, claiming that the loser will be considered the legendary Overlord. They appear evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that no matter how much they want to make each other the legendary Overlord, they won't get their stuff back, ending the fight. Laharl, along with Etna and Flonne, joins the party and reveals to Mao that the legendary Overlord they have all been looking for is Baal. He joins Mao and the rest in the battle against Baal.

In an alternate ending, Laharl suddenly appears before Mao after he defeated Aurum, claiming to be his father. Mao does not believe him at all, despite Laharl's supposed shock in Mao becoming a "loudmouthed punk". Mao then fights Laharl in an attempt to expose him as a fake, but soon begins to believe that Laharl is his father. However, Laharl reveals that he really wasn't his father after all, just an Overlord passing by who wanted nothing more than to get some screen time and take over the game.

===Other Appearances===
Laharl appear as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, Laharl is trapped in a Bottlemail and after meeting the main characters Ash and Marona, he constantly tries to make them his vassals by defeating them. In Makai Kingdom, he is brought before Overlord Zetta after Etna and Flonne were defeated by him, and tries to show Zetta that he is the superior Overlord. He also makes a brief cameo appearance in [[Soul Nomad]]. In the demon path, should the main character choose to call himself the Overlord over the Devourlord ("Eh, Overlord is fine I guess."), Laharl scolds him/her for taking such a title lightly. The main character and Gig, however, ignore Laharl and the story continues from there.

==Etna==
'''Age:''' 1470 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1473 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Vassal in Disgaea/Beauty Queen in Disgaea 2) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Tomoe Hanba]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Amanda Winn-Lee]] (Disgaea: Hour of Darkness), [[Michelle Ruff]] (All of Etna's roles after Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories)

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Etna is the leader of the [[Prinny]] squad, and one of the few vassals who remain in the Overlord's Castle after King Krichevskoy's death. In the beginning, she attempts to wake up Laharl through 'unique' methods (from drills and flails to gatling guns, swords and jackhammers). From then on, Etna becomes Laharl's closest vassal, though not necessarily most trustworthy vassal, aiding him in his rise to power. She is the only vassal from Laharl's original servants who goes out on the battlefield for him.

Etna acts carefree, but is also very devious. Often it is hard to tell for whom she really is working. She holds deep respect and loyalty towards King Krichevskoy, Laharl's father. Etna is often known for ending an episode with an odd "preview" to the next episode, all of which have her in the starring role. Often these previews parody famous TV shows, anime, or video games with the other characters making side comments.

In all but the 'Flonne Tragedy', 'Good', and 'Human Conqueror' ending, Laharl gives up his position as Overlord to Etna. In one ending, she even murders Laharl and Flonne to get the throne, while in the anime, she is given the position of Overlord after Laharl decides to sacrifice his life for Flonne.

In the PSP port of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, there is an alternate mode in the game called Etna Mode. In this mode, rather than awakening Laharl, Etna accidentally kills him and sets out to become Beauty Queen Ultimate Overlord Etna. Etna mode gives the player a closer look at Etna's past, showing how she was taken in by Krichevskoy.

Etna's original U.S. voice actor was Amanda Winn-Lee. However, she did not reprise her role in Disgaea 2. Instead, Michelle Ruff has taken the role of Etna and has provided Etna's voice in all subsequent Nippon Ichi media, including the Disgaea anime and the PSP port of the first game, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Etna quits her position as Laharl's vassal after a fight with Laharl over pudding (which is supposedly a rare delicacy from the Sea of Gehenna) and becomes a Demon Lord, taking the Prinny Squad with her. She then travels to Veldime, hoping to eliminate Overlord Zenon, the ''God of All Overlords'', and runs into Adell and his party in the process. In Episode 9, she gives Adell a fake 'Demon Lord's Nail' and is accidentally summoned by his mother. The failed summon drops her back to level one, and in order to regain her former power she deigns to join up with the player's party. At the end of the game, she, along with Hanako, returns to the Overlord's Castle as Laharl's vassal once again.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Etna appears alongside Laharl and Flonne and assumes the legendary Overlord they are looking for is Mao, while Mao and his party believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord. After the battle, she tries to push Laharl to defeat Mao as the two are evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that neither of them are the legendary Overlord. After the battle, Etna joins the party. Like many of the characters, she has lost something to the legendary Overlord: her one billion Hell savings acount.

In an alternate battle, when Laharl appears before Mao, claiming to be his father, Etna tries to convince Mao that she is his mother, speaking in a motherly tone. However, when Flonne starts claiming she's his mother, the two begin to argue over who the mother should be. Her description of Laharl's selfishness makes it clear that she still doesn't forgive him for eating her pudding and that he still eats her sweets without permission. However, in the end, Laharl reveals that they really weren't his parents after all, just an Overlord and his vassals passing by.

===Other appearances===
She also made it as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, she is the reason why Laharl was sent to Ivoire in a bottlemail. Upon hearing that Laharl had been defeated by Ash and Marona, she and Flonne battle them, but fails to defeat them. She and Flonne later return alongside Laharl to fight them again. In Makai Kingdom, she introduces herself to Zetta in a next episode skit and then returns to fight alongside Laharl when she is defeated.

==Flonne==
'''Age:''' 1509 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1512 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Angel/Fallen Angel (Angel Trainee) 
'''Nickname:''' Love Freak 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yuko Sasamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Flonne is an Angel Trainee who hails from the land of Celestia, where the Angels reside, sent on a mission to the Netherworld by Seraph Lamington to assassinate Overlord Krichevskoy. Some time after her arrival, however, she comes to find that King Krichevskoy has been dead for over two years.

Flonne is the most innocent and naive of the three main characters in Disgaea, with traits of both an otaku and a ditz. She especially loves the [[tokusatsu]] genre, and has a crudely made costume that resembles a purple winged godzilla, which is referenced in one of Etna's Next Episode previews and is used in later games as part of her attacks. She is deeply devoted to both Seraph Lamington and to the concept of 'love' and wishes to spread the latter to others, earning the title 'Love Freak' from Laharl. She, perturbed by Laharl's rejection of everything to do with love, decides to change her mission to follow him and observe if demons truly are incapable of it.

In the good ending of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, she becomes a Fallen Angel and retains this form in all of her future appearances. In some of the other endings, she is supposedly dead as Lamington, who is killed by Laharl in these endings, is the only person who can bring her back to life. In the anime, she is also brought back to life except through Laharl's sacrifice. As a Fallen Angel, Flonne's personality does not make any significant changes, though in the anime, Etna says that she's beginning to really act like a demon.

In the PSP version's ''Etna mode'', Flonne believes that Etna is a great Space Detective and strives to be her assistant. She is later tricked by "God" to kill Etna, only to later realize that "God" was actually Vulcanus.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Although she has no part in the main storyline, Flonne becomes playable in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]] after completing the optional mission "I want to fight an Overlord!" Flonne then decides to stay with Etna in Veldime and later tries to get Laharl and Etna to end their fight with mixed results.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Flonne appears alongside Laharl and Etna when they confront Mao, who they believe is the legendary Overlord. Mao and the others, however, believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord instead, and a battle ensues. After the battle, she tries to encourage Laharl as he and Mao were evenly matched until Almaz stops the battle. Like many of the other characters, Flonne lost something to the legendary Overlord: The Dark Ninja Memorial DVD boxset. She then joins the party afterwards as they face the true legendary Overlord, Baal.

In an alternate battle, while Laharl and Etna are trying to convince Mao that Laharl is his father, Flonne appears before Mao, claiming to be his mother. However, Etna had already been trying to convince that she's Mao mother and the two argue over who the mother should be. Even after being defeated and revealing that Laharl had been lying about him being Mao's father, Flonne still insists that she is the mother. The game ends shortly afterwards.

===Other Appearances===
Flonne appears as a hidden boss in both [[Phantom Brave]] and [[Makai Kingdom]]. In Phantom Brave, she meets Ash and Marona alongside Etna in the Overlord's Castle. Although she is initially against fighting the two, Etna bribes her with a Prism Rangers DVD boxset. She also fights them again alongside Laharl and Etna. In Makai Kingdom, Flonne challenges Zetta, claiming to be a hero of love.

==Vyers (Dark Adonis/Mid Boss)==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Mid Boss (Aristocrat/Baron) 
'''Nicknames:''' Dark Adonis (Beauty Danshaku in Japanese. Lit. ''Baron of Beauty''), Mid Boss (given by Laharl)) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
It is unknown where he came from, but the demon known as Vyers was the recent leader in the battle for the throne until Laharl awakened from his slumber. Vyers often refers to himself as the Dark Adonis; however, Laharl, deeming Vyers unworthy of any real title, brands him with the name 'Mid Boss', which sticks for the rest of the game.

Speaking in a cultured tone seasoned with French (though it is revealed later that this accent is fake), Vyers is very conceited and confident in his own abilities. However, whenever he is about to lose, he either comes up with an excuse (such as stomach cramps) or leaves battle wrapped in bandages. Because he lost to Laharl, Vyers sees Laharl as a rival even though Laharl doesn't even see anything in Vyers. Oddly enough, he isn't above helping his rivals either.

Vyers is also something of an actor. Even for the player it's usually hard to tell when he's playing a role and when he's being himself. There's a great deal more to him than meets the eye. He is also good at heart, as proved when he held Flonne's necklace, which harms the wicked, with impunity.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
The player faces Dark Adonis Vyers as a Hidden Boss in the Sub-Chapter called ''I want to see the Ending''. Rozalin assumes that he's the final boss, but Adell retorts that Vyers is better suited as a 'Mid Boss', which enrages him. When defeated, he dismisses his loss as a fluke and treats the player to their promised "ending" (which is nothing more than the credit reel with artwork of Vyers in the background. [http://www.kawaiidream.net/categories.php?cat_id=857&page=4&sessionid=20e526cfea04d73805b7c27a20258f91&l=english]

===King Krichevskoy===
The Father of Laharl and the Overlord of the Netherworld. While Laharl was trapped within his two year sleep, King Krichevskoy was believed to have died after choking on a "black pretzel". Etna's diary reveals, however, that King Krichevskoy died after sealing away Baal.

He fell in love with a human woman, who he later married. The woman gave birth to Laharl, but she would sacrifice her life to save him from an incurable disease. One day two years before the start of the game, King Krichevskoy asked Laharl if he loved him as a father, as Laharl didn't seem to love him at all, to which Laharl replied that he absolutely loathed him.

It is implied throughout the game that Vyers is King Krichevskoy in disguise. This is confirmed in ''The World of Disgaea,'' a Disgaea artbook published by ''Broccoli Books''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Seto | first = Dietrich | authorlink = Dietrich Sato | title = The World of Disgaea | publisher = Broccoli Books | month = November | year = 2006 | pages = 160 | isbn = 978-1-5974-1112-7}}</ref>

Aside from the flightiness and narcissism that he displays as Vyers, little is revealed about him in the games. He is a noble and kind Overlord according to the entries in Etna's Diary, and a very emotional Overlord according to the six vassals he had left behind, apparently causing several "unnatural disasters" when he was either overjoyed or depressed. The PSP version's Etna Mode reveals that he is also concerned about the state of the Netherworld and, like Seraph Lamington, the discrimnation between demons and angels as well as the noble and common people. He wishes to create a world of equality, which young Etna finds a little strange for a demon Overlord. Both the anime and manga versions of Krichevskoy seems to reflect that with a few differences. In the anime, he is more fond of Laharl and appears to have had more of an impact on Laharl's life as Laharl has more than one flashback of him. In the manga, he acts just as eccentric as Vyers and was very popular with demons to the point where he had groupies. Laharl appeared to really hate Krichevskoy in the manga because he was always overshadowed by his father and he was often annoyed by his eccentric personality.

===Other appearances===
He appears in [[Phantom Brave]] along with the three main Characters of [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]] as Hidden Bosses and is playable should the player beat him.

==Captain Gordon==
'''Age:''' 35 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/38 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Human (37th Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuo Tobita]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''': [[Michael McConnohie]]

The 37th among a long line of heroes, Captain Gordon is sent to the Netherworld under orders from the Earth Defense Force to defeat the Overlord of the Netherworld and to prevent a possible invasion. Along with his sidekick Jennifer and the All-Purpose Robot Thursday, Gordon rushes headlong into the Netherworld to protect the Earth once again.

Gordon has a great sense of justice, but is dim-witted (Etna once remarks that he looks "About as smart as a rock"). He is also blind to the true intentions of others, and never realizes when he's being tricked until it's too late. However, his sense of justice constantly motivates him even in the darkest hours. Gordon is a parody of space heroes (most notably [[Flash Gordon]]).

He returns in Disgaea 2 when Kurtis is having trouble with the Kurtis clones. He and Kurtis join the battle as neutral allies. When the Kurtis clones are defeated, Gordon thanks Adell and Rozalin for helping Kurtis and bestows them with the Defender of Earth ID Card.

==Jennifer==
'''Age:''' 27 
'''Class:''' Human (Sidekick) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Paula Tiso]]

With every hero comes a sidekick that makes up for the hero's flaws. Jennifer fulfills the role as Captain Gordon's beautiful sidekick. She accompanies Gordon on his mission to defeat the Overlord and prevent his alleged invasion of Earth.

Jennifer is a rather sexy woman (much to Laharl's dismay) and often jokes around in a very flirtatious manner. In the anime, her breasts would often bounce whenever Laharl would take notice. She was also afraid of the Netherworld once, thinking that demons were nothing but monsters that would hurt innocent people, especially women and children, until she saw the child-like appearances of Laharl and Etna. Despite her appearance, however, her intelligence and technical knowledge surpasses most scientists. In fact, she was the one who created the All-Purpose Robot Thursday at age five and even earned her Ph. D at age ten. She is also skilled at martial arts, specifically kung fu. Of all the characters in the game, she is the one who supports Gordon the most.

She returns alongside Gordon and Thursday to help Kurtis in Disgaea 2. However, she and Thursday are knocked out, and thus unable to aid Gordon, Kurtis, Adell, and Rozalin.

==Thursday==
'''Creation:''' 22 (Built by Jennifer at the age of 5) 
'''Class:''' Super Robot 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yurika Ochiai]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Since being built by Jennifer at the age of 5, Thursday the All Purpose Robot has always been by her side. Working together with both her and Gordon, he has become a powerful force on their team. When Gordon is sent out to defeat the Overlord, Thursday willingly joins his struggle.

Despite being a robot, Thursday seems to have a heart. Even if he is severely damaged and on the verge breaking down, Thursday continues to fight alongside Gordon and bring about justice. He also seems to be very calm when dealing with various obstacles and can be very sarcastic at times. Thursday usually begins or ends his sentences with 'blip beep'.

He returns in Disgaea 2 with Gordon and Jennifer, but like Jennifer, he is knocked out and doesn't participate in the battle.

==Kurtis==
'''Age:''' 29 (before his death) 
'''Class:''' Human (Rival), Prinny (Rival/Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kousuke Toriumi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' Game: [[Jamieson Price]], Anime: [[David Lodge]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Another human from Earth, Kurtis works under General Carter and the Earth Defense Force like Gordon. However, he views himself as more worthy of the title of Defender of Earth than Gordon. Although it may be coincidence, he has facial features(most notably his pointed nose based on the Cyborg 002 Design)in common with Don Joaquin, the original defender of earth, suggesting a sort of ancestral pride that may fuel his desire to be the defender.

Kurtis suffered a traumatic experience which cost him over 70% of his body in addition to his wife and daughter. Because of this, Kurtis became a cyborg and began to resent Gordon, taking several of his missons. Kurtis is also a brilliant scientist, whose intelligence and technical knowledge rival Jennifer's. However, Kurtis conducts much more fearful research in comparison to hers. He also tends to be rather sarcastic, especially to Gordon.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Kurtis makes a reappearance in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], this time in his Prinny incarnation as the 38th Defender of Earth. He will come to the aid of those who call him on his Cell Phone, although he will make a remark about relying on one's self instead of him. Repeatedly calling him opens up two optional stages. He also becomes a playable character in the Land of Carnage after you get all 16 Pirate Maps in Item World.

===Prinny Kurtis===
Kurtis becomes a prinny after sacrificing himself (despite Laharl making a very open, vocal order directed at Death to let him go on to his family instead). As a prinny, he becomes green to match his previous hair color, and stores some of his old cyber parts in his pouch, allowing him to use most of his abilities. His face shows more emotion than a regular prinny. His eyes are given an angry expression while his beak is slightly longer, possibly a reference to his point nose in his human form. At the end of Disgaea, he was shown to pass on at the Red Moon, but in [[Disgaea 2]], he was shown to still be acting out his duties as a defender of Earth in his prinny form. Prinny Kurtis is also seen in a poster at the end of the Disgaea anime, but his color is the same as normal Prinny. Instead, he retains the spiky hair he had as a human.

===The Clones of Kurtis===
When the Earth Defense Force Base was destroyed and the real Kurtis died, the last computer obtained some DNA that belonged to Kurtis that was then used to create three clones of himself, though with different hair color. The hair colors that the Clones of Kurtis have are Blue, Brown and Light green. Each clone had an evil, crimson left eye. All the clones also talk in a fashion similar to [[William Shatner]], though this is present only in the English audio; The Japanese audio, and original Japanese version, lacked audio for the scenes involving the Kurtis clones.

==Seraph Lamington==
'''Age:''' 9147 
'''Class:''' Angel (Seraph) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Majima Junji]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jamieson Price]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Seraph Lamington is the leader of Celestia, the world of the angels. He seems to be the polar opposite of Overlord Laharl as he acts much more mature and calm. He never raises his voice, and never harbors any vindictive thoughts or emotions, accepting yelling and threats stoically.

While others think that his somewhat emotionless attitude makes him oblivious to his surroundings, Lamington is far from it. Even if one is performing dastardly deeds, he is well aware of it and allows fate to hand over punishments. As the most powerful angel in Celestia, Seraph Lamington has many unique powers, one of which allows him to turn even the most powerful beings into a harmless flower.

In the Disgaea manga, Lamington is a lot more laid back and is somewhat more immature. When he appears, he is usually in the middle of doing normal tasks like baking cakes and eating them. He, like the main characters, also mistakens Vulcanus' mustache for nose hair.

===Makai Senki Disgaea===
In the anime, which is meant to be a sort of combination between both the good and bad endings of the original Disgaea, Lamington survives, as Laharl stays his blade and rage moments before dealing the deathblow.

==Vulcanus==
'''Age:''' 3649 
'''Class:''' Angel (Archangel) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hironori Miyata]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Unlike Flonne, Vulcanus is a full-fledge angel of Celestia (where as Flonne is a trainee), and exceedingly higher in rank. He is an archangel, who serves Seraph Lamington as the second-in-command. However, unlike Flonne and Lamington, his ideals and methods are much more extreme. His hot temper contrasts Lamington's stoic nature, often calling Lamington's name and scolding him for letting things go. He holds demons in contempt and believes that humans are too stupid to live without the guidance of angels. He believes that angels are the only source of good as opposed to Flonne's ideals that every being has love in their hearts. Despite being an angel, Vulcanus isn't above getting dirty. In fact, Vulcanus can and will go to the level of demons and lie, cheat, and eliminate anything (demon or not) that may interfere with his goals. In the end, he confronts Lamington, and his deceptions are revealed. He is transformed into a flower as punishment for his sins (he is later seen in the credits taking lessons about love from Flonne which implies he was changed back.) In the anime, his punishment is to be turned into a frog for 1000 years.

In the manga, when Vulcanus learns that Lamington's views on demons differ from his, Vulcanus gathers several angels and stages a revolt. The angels on Lamington's side alongside Laharl face Vulcanus and the battle ends with Flonne dropping a rock on his head. Most of the other characters tend to mistake his mustache for nose hair.

In the PSP version's Etna Mode, Vulcanus poses as "God" and tricks Flonne into trying to kill Etna. He also tried to use Maderas to kill both Etna and Flonne and when he failed, Vulcanus kills Maderas and proceeds to battle with Etna and Flonne. After the battle, Vulcanus is teleported away by Lamington and, according to Mid Boss, will be punished for his actions.

==Minor characters in Disgaea==
====Big Sis Prinny====
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' [[Prinny]]. A human witch prior to her death. 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''' [[Paula Tiso]]

This prinny is a sort of mother-figure to the other prinnies, set apart from the others by her pink color and the absence of the word 'dood' when she normally speaks. At a later point in ''Disgaea'', she is revealed to be Laharl's mother, who was turned into a Prinny for the highest sin—giving up her own life in order to save her son.

There is not much known about Laharl's mother, but like Flonne, she was an eccentric human who felt that demons could love and tried to force this ideal upon Laharl, often punishing him when he misbehaved. According to Etna's diary, Krichevskoy loved her very much, but this made Etna very jealous, causing her to secretly hate both Laharl and his mother. However, when Laharl contracted a mysterious disease, his mother sacrificed her life to save him. This act, however, became his reason for hating love so much.

===Hoggmeiser===
Hoggmeiser is the former vassal of the late King Krichevskoy. Upon Krichevskoy's death, Hoggmeiser stole huge amounts of treasure from the Overlord's castle, and built his own mansion with that fortune. Laharl and his group meet Hoggmeiser when Laharl decides to rob "the richest demon around." After numerous battles in Hoggmeiser's mansion, Hoggmeiser's son, Porkmeister, puts himself between Laharl and Hoggmeiser. Laharl decides not to kill Hoggmeiser, and, touched by Laharl's kindness, Hoggmeiser joins his group without the player's consent. Note that prior to the release of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Porkmeister was simply known as Hoggmeiser's son and is only given a name when he appeared in Afternoon of Darkness' Etna mode.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed fifty allies before beating the Lavish Hall in Episode 3, Laharl will be able to choose to kill Hoggmeiser. If he chooses not to, the typical sequence with Hoggmeiser's son is initiated. If he does choose to kill Hoggmeiser, Flonne then attempts to stop Laharl, and the game ends, with it heavily implied that Laharl killed Flonne; however, in the Disgaea artbook by Broccoli Books, it's stated that Flonne had defeated Laharl with her "burning flame of justice".

Hoggmeiser is mentioned in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], as he has his own financial firm. The player may receive a small HL increase if Hoggmeiser is called on his Cell Phone.

In the anime, his son hates his father for being so obsessed with money and becoming the Overlord, and leads Laharl and the rest to his castle. When Hoggmeiser is about to be killed, his son tries to protect his father and reveals that he wanted his caring father back. Hoggmeiser apologizes for neglecting his son and Laharl teleports the two somewhere else. In the anime, Hoggmeiser and his son retain their original Japanese names: Zenisuki and Koganesuki.

===Maderas===
Originally, Maderas was a vassal for King Krichevskoy, only to be exiled after stealing Krichevskoy's black pretzels. Maderas is one of the many demons competing for the throne. His biggest edge is that he stole Etna's memories, dangling the promise of their return over her head so she would work for him. Using Etna, he arranged Laharl's initial poisoning. After the poison failed, he designed a plan to kill Laharl by exploiting his weaknesses, which involved using his demon henchman to either yell out highly optimistic things, (I.E. Eternal love, world peace,) or bring out Succubi and their attractive bodies. Laharl is susceptible to both, even affecting his strength in-game. This fails, and he is defeated by him later on. After being spared by Etna, he decides to work under her as her vassal.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed one hundred allies before beating Maderas, Etna can choose to kill him. If she chooses not to, the typical sequence is initiated. If Etna does kill Maderas, Flonne would try to stop Etna, Etna easily distracts Flonne and kills Flonne. Later, she starts to plan to also kill Laharl and becoming the Heroine, after that the game ends with Etna as the "Demon Lord" or "Beauty Queen".

His role in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness' Etna Mode isn't very different from the original story in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. However, toward the end of Etna Mode, he is killed by Vulcanus after being bested by Etna.

The anime changed his personality to make him very effeminate. He also steals only Etna's embarrassing memories to force her into betraying Laharl and Flonne.

===General Carter===
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

General Carter is the adoptive father of Jennifer and the acting leader of Earth. Under the guidance of Archangel Vulcanus, he sends Gordon, Jennifer, and Thursday to act as a beacon for the Earth forces to invade the Netherworld for colonization. Despite his good intentions for Earth, Carter is willing to sacrifice many lives to achieve his goals, including the lives of his daughter and the Defender of Earth, both of whom turn on him once they realize his true intention. After the invasion fails, he flees back to Earth. He later is shown to take classes about love from Flonne.

In an alternate situation, Laharl invades Earth in the hope of taking it over. Carter transforms into "Astro Carter" to battle him and his cohorts. He is then killed by Laharl who proceeds to take over the Earth.

===Aramis===
Aramis is a resident child in Laharl's kingdom whom Etna manipulates to make Laharl prove himself worthy of ruling. He owns many pet zombies. His favorite among them is a special combination of many parts, which, inexplicably, instills fear in Laharl (specifically the "horse wiener". It like the other parts Aramis mentions can be stolen from the zombie). After the ordeal, Aramis enters service as Laharl's vassal.

==Adell==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon, but believes to be human throughout the entire game (Demon Hunter) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hikaru Midorikawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Shiloh Strong]]

The main character of Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories. Adell is the only human left on Veldime, and has been training for years to defeat Zenon and lift the curse. Courageous and determined, Adell dislikes demons and lies, and will never back down from any challenge or resort to dirty tactics as it is not his style. His love for challenging fights is taken to the extreme at times, earning him the name "battle maniac" from Rozalin. He is nice to those he cares about and will never ever break a promise, as it is once again not his style. He initially dislikes women and demons, (In the Colosseum chapter, Adell says "This is the reason I don't like girls." when faced with the Prophet, Elenor. Apparently, she is also the reason for the two scars on Adell's face.) especially due to the way Rozalin treats him, but his attitude changes over the course of the game. Even though he prefers to use his fists to solve problems, he is in fact quite intelligent, as was proven when Adell solved a Geo Puzzle within seconds that took the Geo Master years to create. His parents left him as a child, and in the beginning, he wished only to know more about them (as was revealed when Adell and the gang faced Elenor in the tournament) but later grew to resent them. He never knew that his parents were the Masked Man, Shura, and the Masked Woman, Serion, even though they did tell him that they were being forced to act against their will (when Adell faced them on his way to defeat "Overlord Zenon") and the fact that the Masked Woman had repeatedly helped him throughout his adventures (saying once that she doesn't know why, she just feels that she must).

In the good ending, it is assumed that Adell and Rozalin have truly fallen in love with each other, although the kiss Adell gives her causes Rozalin to react violently in a comedic [[tsundere]]-like way. However, should the player receive the worst ending, Adell is forced to kill Rozalin and soon falls prey to the soul of the real Zenon. After the credit's roll it is unknown what happens but vocal sound makes it seem as though Adell has been completely take over by Zenon and he is either devouring or ripping to shreds Taro and Hanako, uttering "I am a being of solitude".

Adell was not affected by Zenon's curse because the curse feeds off the human conscience. Adell is actually pure-blooded demon. (The Masked Man and Woman are demons, and they are his parents.) When the Fake Overlord Zenon is defeated by the real one, she immediately blasts Adell, with the words "You are also my enemy, child of Sin".

However, he shows no physical or mental signs of his demon heritage. His ears are never revealed since the humanoid demons of the Disgaea universe have pointed ears, and it would be a dead give-away of his true nature. He is also stated to be human at many parts of the game, such as when the Fake Zenon mistakenly referred to him as an 'Altered Human', believing him to have been affected by the curse.

In several of the extra battles, his demon heritage becomes a running joke. In particular, when he obtains the Demon Lord (from defeating Etna early in the game) and the Badass Overlord (from defeating Zetta) titles, Rozalin asks Adell if he truly is human. Adell, of course, angrily denies it, saying he never wanted the title to begin with.

===Other Appearances===
In Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Adell makes a cameo appearance in the DemonHall Mirror stage. Here he fights Laharl twice: once alone and later with Rozalin. He also appears occasionally as a neutral ally in Afternoon of Darkness' multiplayer mode.

Adell, along with Rozalin, is also available in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice in a downloadable stage and will join once completed.

==Rozalin==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon (Zenon's Child) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yukari Tamura]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

The one and only daughter of Overlord Zenon. Rozalin was summoned during a failed attempt by Adell's mother to summon Zenon (which when looked back on was actually successful). Due to the summoning contract placed on her, she is unable to leave Adell and must help him find Zenon. Incredibly snobby, Rozalin is unaware of the world around her due to her pampered life, with her books being her sole source of information. Because of this, she has no battle experience and tries (and fails) to get Adell killed indirectly on several occasions. In addition, Adell's strong vow to bring her back to her father begins to make her think differently.

It turns out that she is the real Zenon, who reincarnated into her current form and that her "father" is an imposter seeking revenge on her. It is believed that Rozalin was originally born into the Snow Clan and that the fake Overlord Zenon took her away when he destroyed it. This is supported by Yukimaru's observation of Rozalin's eyes. The Disgaea 2 Artbook supports this as well, with an (unused, presumably) picture of Rozalin's mother in the character section, complete with an adjoining Baby Rozy sketch. The real Overlord Zenon constantly utters the phrase "I am a being of solitude."

Throughout the game, Rozalin claims that the four-leaf clover seal, which differs from the three-leaf clover that marks the cursed humans, is the symbol that marks her bond with her father. However, it is later revealed that the seal actually prevents the real Zenon from awakening and it can be broken by force (Laharl destroys it after the player loses to him) or by her own will (The voice of the real Zenon persuaded her into doing it). However, Adell was able to bring back Rozalin twice throughout the game, once by reminding her of who she is and later showing her affection. The seal seems to also have a great deal of power as its mere presence causes Prier to flee as well as awaken Baal.

===Other Appearances===
Like Adell, Rozalin makes a cameo appearance in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness in the Demonhall Mirror stage. After defeating Adell the first time, she appears before Laharl and Etna, Etna remarking that she might be upset that they defeated Adell. Adell accompanies her in the battle.

Also like Adell, she appears in a downloadable stage in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice and is playable once defeated.

==Taro==
'''Age:''' 11 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Rozalin's servant) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

Adell's eleven-year old brother. He and his younger sister Hanako are demons, having been born after their parents were cursed. He has a set of horns, as well as clothing that looks cow-like. He starts to admire Rozalin soon after meeting her, and refers to her as Princess. He is not as confident as the other characters, but he tries to help as much as he can. He is also commonly referred to as Tardo (Taro-chan in Japanese) by his sister, Hanako.

It should be noted that Taro and his sister where born after the 'curse' affected everyone. As their parents were demons at that time, they were born full-fledged demons, and therefore, stay that way even when the curse was lifted.

His design is very 'cow-like', which include his horns, his cow print apron or shirt, and his milk-based attacks.

While he isn't present after the credits at the end of the game, Hanako is writing to him from the Netherworld.

==Hanako==
'''Age:''' 9 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Adell's Sister) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]]

Adell and Taro's younger sister. She is bothersome and very cocky, constantly wishing that Adell would take her with him when he goes out to fight. She has great culinary skill as her cooking tops even the greatest of chefs. She also uses her cooking pot as a weapon. Throughout the adventures she does manage to have with Adell, it is proven that she has a wealth of random knowledge, which she obtained from reading her father's many books. She adores Etna and wants to be a Demon Lord like her one day, but also wishes to be sexier than her.

Like her brother, Hanako was born after the curse affected her parents, meaning she was born as a demon, and does not change to a human when the curse was lifted. This is further accented by the fact that she wants to be a demon lord, and being a human would mean she would have little power.

At the end of Disgaea 2 (Good Ending), she became Etna's "Student" and serves Laharl with her.

==Tink==
'''Age:''' 15 
'''Class:''' Frog, originally a demon (Dirty Frog) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Dave Wittenberg]]

A servant of Overlord Zenon and a childhood friend of Rozalin. After a mysterious person (Fubuki) attacked Zenon's Castle, he was transformed into a frog. Tink has two forms. In his normal blue form, he is usually very polite, yet very cowardly. On occasion, he will transform into his red form. In this form, he is lecherous and rude, known for causing trouble wherever he goes. In order for him to revert to his blue form, one must chant the words Drak-Tink-Mahalak.

During battle, Tink has the ability to switch between his two forms at will using his Special Abilities. At the end of the game, Tink's true form is shown in an image during the credits.

By the end of the game, Tink returns to his true form.

==Mom & Dad==
Adell, Taro, and Hanako's parents. Zenon's curse branded Mom with a third eye on her forehead, as well as a purple tail. Dad gained some sort of creature on his chest referred to as a "pimple", as well as gray skin, a horn on his head and longer than average arms. (The Disgaea 2 manga describes him as a demon zombie without the stench.) Mom is very caring, though at the same time somewhat demented due to Zenon's curse affecting her mind. She is very skilled at summoning, though her recent attempt at a summoning failed to summon Zenon (although in hindsight, it *did* work due to Rozalin being Zenon reborn). She is very talented summoner, but because of Zenon's curse, no one knows why she has this ability. Dad is more pitiful in his new condition, but still very friendly and worries about everyone despite knowing that everyone but Adell is a demon.

After the curse gets stronger in Chapter 9, while Adell and the others are out to find Etna, Dad's pimple begins to talk (in the first volume of the Disgaea 2 manga, it seems to be able to speak on its own) but it always speaks in lecherous terms (stating that it wanted to grow between the breasts of a swimsuit model), and after the curse gets even stronger, Dad's soul switches with his own pimple. After this switch, Dad (which is controlled by the pimple) continues its dirty remarks, saying things such as "I love boobies!", which, as it is, Mom doesn't mind this switch.

==Yukimaru==
'''Age:''' 20 
'''Class:''' Demon ([[Kunoichi]]) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kana Ueda]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lara Jill Miller]]

One of the surviving members of the Snow Clan. Yukimaru is a skilled ninja at the age of twenty, looking to defeat Zenon and avenge the destruction of her clan. While she is skilled, she has little confidence in herself, and may try to commit suicide if she is unable to complete her mission. However, the time she spends with Adell and the rest helps her to become more confident in herself, allowing her to confront her brother Fubuki. Yukimaru ends her sentences with the word 'zam' as a way of storing ki. 'De gozaru' was the original phrase in the Japanese version. The phrase 'de gozaru' is famous for being used by samurai and ronin and also ninja. It is a form of de gozaimasu, showing respect for the person who is talked to.

==Fubuki==
'''Class:''' Demon (Ninja Master) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Takehito Koyasu]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Kirk Thornton]]

Yukimaru's brother. A mysterious ninja bent on defeating Zenon in order to avenge the Snow Clan. A skilled ninja, Fubuki is cold hearted and will do anything to destroy Zenon. He is especially skilled in the art of transformation, being able to transform into a Prinny or even Yukimaru and was responsible for transforming Tink into a frog.

Yukimaru later states that due to Fake Zenon's attack on the Snow Clan, Fubuki was blinded. This is shown in his character art, and he even states it (though it was in the guise of Yukimaru at the Coliseum "Even though my eyes see no light, my heart sees everything.")

==Axel==
'''Age:''' 2188 
'''Class:''' Demon (Dark Hero) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuyuki Hiyama]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

A demon who prides himself over once being popular. Axel was once a famous demon action hero and rock star known by many as the Dark Hero, a mastermind of evil. Unfortunately, he is now a reporter for a travel show called Tripping with Axel. Despite this new role, Axel will occasionally try to add action scenes to the show, much to the director's dismay. However, after being defeated by Adell, he is proclaimed dead. Both he and the director spend half the game trying to prove that he is alive and can become popular once again. After he reveals Overlord Zenon's existence following the colliseum tournament's end, he is given a job as a newscaster on Usagi-san and Plenair's news program. However, his director claims he lost the "soul of the Dark Hero" during his brief stint as a newscaster, doing things that could be considered honorable, such as holding charity concerts. He realizes this at the last moment, and holds off the multitude of overlords from other dimensions seeking to defeat Overlord Zenon while Adell and his group fight Overlord Zenon. He claims that Overlord Zenon was all a hoax after Overlord Zenon is defeated, and shortly becomes very popular again (Although he is supposedly punished for it according to the news program).

The original romanization of his name is Akutare. The name of Axel's band, however, is Akutare according to the North American localization. Whenever Axel is summoned into battle via cell phone (and occasionally in stages where he is the boss or part of the storyline) the background music changes to his theme, a song called "White Tiger."

In Disgaea 3, Axel appears to be acting out a detective show when he is confronted by Mao and the others. He claims to have had his stardom stolen and quickly places the blame on Mao. After being defeated, he forces himself into Mao's party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

==Overlord Zenon==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon (God of Overlords) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Norio Wakamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lex Lang]]

Feared as the God of All Overlords who single-handedly defeated 99 rival Overlords in one day and has been known to have killed over 1000 all together. Due to the numerous enemies looking to kill him, Zenon constantly hides himself. An Overlord known for his cruelty, Zenon is responsible for the curse on Veldime that turned its inhabitants into demons and the destruction of the Snow Clan. Rozalin, his daughter, is constantly spoiled by him as he showers her with gifts.

Towards the end of the game, he is revealed to be an imposter and that the curse he placed on Veldime is what gives him his power. The stronger the curse he places on the humans, the greater his power becomes, but at the cost of the humans becoming savage. The real Overlord Zenon is Rozalin, whom he has been seeking revenge upon.

==Minor characters in Disgaea 2==
===The Director===
The Director of Axel's show. He goes wherever Axel goes, following him everywhere. Bears a resemblance to Steven Spielberg. Like a stereotypical Hollywood director, he sometimes addresses Axel as "Axel darling."

===Axel's Family===
A family of 6 people who live in Axel's home world. The family includes his mother, four little brothers and sisters, and a hellcat.

===The Invincible Heroes===
A group of Heroes that have their first match with Adell's group in the Battle Tournament. Only called invincible as their battles are 0-0-0: zero wins, zero losses and zero draws, making them technically undefeated.

===Old Man Geo===
A wise old man that creates Geo Panels. He was beaten by Adell's group in the Battle Tournament and gave Adell's group a remedy that is later used to help Fubuki.

===Elenor and the soul takers===
Years ago, Adell made a deal with Elenor to find out who his real parents were; however, he was tricked by her, and she gave him the scars on his face. Years later, she came back after his soul. This time around, her team was beaten by Adell's group.

===Masked Man & Masked Woman===
Zenon's servants. Nothing is known about them except that they are obedient to Zenon. After hearing that Rozalin disappeared, Zenon sends them out to find her and eliminate those who caused her disappearance. It's fairly rare that one is seen without the other, though the Masked Man is usually noted as being Zenon's right hand demon, being the one who gives Zenon the report that Rozalin went missing and other amounts of information.

The masked woman first encounters the group in Chapter 5, attempting to instruct Rozalin to return to her mansion. She later appears in Chapter 6, promising Rozalin that she won't tell Zenon about her appearance at the Battle Arena. Her next appearance is at the ends of Chapter 7 and 8,giving the whereabouts of Zenon and urging the group to escape while Zenon is battling Etna respectively. She begins to question their role during Chapter 9 onward after having met Adell.

They both appear near the end of Chapter 12, where they urge Adell's to defeat them in order to remove the seal that keeps their memories suppressed. The Masked Man is immune to physical attacks, while the Masked Woman has immunity to magic.

Shura & Serion are their true names and they are Adell's real parents. Serion (Masked Woman) explains that they were demons from another netherworld who escaped to Veldime in order to escape a power war.

Even though the humans of Veldime knew they were demons, Shura and Serion were welcomed in, and they swore to live as humans and help defend the people of Holt Village.

When the Fake Zenon came to invade Veldime, they entrusted everything they had (their son, Adell) to their best friends (Mom and Dad) before transforming into demons to face the Fake Zenon. Despite their attempt, they were defeated and placed under his seal, becoming his servants.

==Mao==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Honor Student) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiromi Hirata]] 
''' English Voice Actor:''' [[Vic Mignogna]]

Mao is the main character of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice. He is the son of the dean of Nether School Evil Academy and the Academy's top Honor Student, a title bestowed upon students who don't attend class and commit acts of villainy or various other evil deeds from thievery to not washing his hands. As the heir to the throne, Mao wants to defeat his father and gain the title of Overlord for himself and he hopes that his research on the power of hero will do so. He steals the title of a hero from Almaz to gain this power, but as soon as he realizes that Almaz is not really a hero, he spends much of the game trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

Mao is an ambitious demon who tries to make use of his research in order to defeat his father. With his 1.8 million EQ, which he constantly boasts about, Mao tries to calculate each and every step he takes toward achieving his goals though at times he can be a little too overzealous and when something goes wrong, he will always question how his perfect calculations could be off. Despite his hatred towards heroes, he realizes that the power of a hero has the power to defeat an Overlord through his research of anime, comic books, and video games. He realizes that "love" is a source of a hero's power and is curious to figure out what it is. When something interests him, such as Almaz's transformation into a demon, he will be ecstatic, shown by him drooling and his glasses fogging, and if he can't figure anything out through research, he will experiment on his subject by either dissecting it or modifying it. Though he is the top Honor Student, thus one of the most evil students in Evil Academy, he constantly follows his own rules if he finds it necessary in order to fulfill his goals, including attending class or opening his heart, both of which are unfavorable among most Honor Students.

Throughout the story, he is shown to hate his father, the Overlord, very much, the destruction of Mao's [[Playstation Portable|Slaystation Portable]] with his 4 million hour save file being his primary reason, among eighteen other things destroyed by his father. However, toward the end of the game, it is shown that he truly respected him, calling him the "strongest, most evil, and simply the best Overlord to rule the Netherworld". Unfortunately, much of the trauma in Mao's heart is due to him being the cause of his death as he told Super Hero Aurum how to defeat him and it is later revealed that Mao's father refused to use his ultimate attack on Aurum due to Mao being nearby. Because of this, Mao developed a strong hatred toward Aurum and even tried to destroy the human world to inflict psychological damage on him. However, this same trauma and hatred becomes the source of his more frighteningly evil powers and Aurum tries to take advantage of this in order to transform him into the most evil and powerful Overlord. If the player receives the bad ending, Mao is engulfed by this power and not only destroys Aurum and the Human world, but Celestia and the Netherworld are destroyed as well. However, if the player receieves the good ending, Mao reconciles with his father and becomes the Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy.

===Mao's Heart===
Most of the demons in Evil Academy store their hearts in the Netherworld Heart Bank, which keeps a demon's secrets and true feelings stored away so that demons can perform acts of evil without restraint. As soon as Mao realizes that Almaz's title is worthless, he makes several trips into the Heart Bank in order to remove the title. Within the Heart Bank, the characters often find items related to Mao's past or residents that make up Mao's personality. The most important ones look like palette-swapped versions of Mao.

'''Mao's True Heart''': Represents Mao's true feelings, differentiated from Mao by his calm tone of voice and green eyes and jacket. He is the gatekeeper of the Heart Vault in the deepest part of Mao's heart. Unlike Mao, he is often patient in dealing with others, including Mao himself. He tells Mao that no matter how much he claims he wants his heart to open, it will never open unless he truly wills it to. His appearance toward the end of the game will depend on the ending the player aims for. In the bad ending, he makes one final attempt to stop Mao from destroying the Human world only to fail. If the player aims for a good ending, he, under the assumption that he is Mao, will appear before Almaz after his death to return his title, calling Almaz his friend.

'''Dark Mao''': Represents all the darkness and hatred in Mao's heart, differentiated by his deep evil tone and purple eyes and jacket. He is available in the game as one of the NPCs in Mao's heart, telling Mao to let him out or to simply annoy him. During bouts of extreme anger and rage, Mao will make use of his evil powers, which is shown in the bad ending to be powerful enough to wipe out the Netherworld, Celestia, and the Human World. However, if the player aims for the good ending, he will appear outside of Mao's body and try to take it over himself, only to be defeated.

'''Saucy Mao''': Represents the part of Mao that likes hot sauce, differentiated by their french accents and orange eyes and jacket and appear in groups. They, like Mao, believe that hot sauce should always be used in eggs and that anyone who uses salt and pepper must be killed. As soon as they sense this from Almaz, they attempt to kill him, but Mao is able to destroy them. However, their defeat causes Mao to suddenly hate hot sauce.

'''Mao Who Says Dad''': Represents the part of Mao that is traumatized by the death of his father, differentiated by their green eyes and jacket and like the Saucy Maos, appear in groups. They constantly utter the word "Dad", which really bothers Mao. Unlike the Saucy Maos, though, their defeat does not cause the removal of Mao's trauma.

'''Savvy Mao''': Differentiated by his blue eyes and jacket. Tries to prevent Mao from returning to his normal self after Almaz pulled the plug on his heart, not wanting Mao's heart to continuing living with a scar or being hurt again. However, Raspberyl believed that Mao should return to the way he was, believing that Mao is not the type to run away from his past scars. She, alongside Almaz, defeats him and helps Almaz return Mao to his normal self.

==Almaz von Almadine Adamant==
'''Age:''' 18 
'''Class:''' Human (Hero/Ever changing Demon titles) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Johnny Yong Bosch]]

Almaz is a human from the Human World, who carries the title of a hero. He was originally a guardsman who wanted nothing more than to protect Princess Sapphire, whom he has a crush on. Once it is believed that Sapphire will one day be kidnapped by the Overlord, Almaz makes it his duty to become a hero and defeat the Overlord before he can kidnap her. However, he gets his hero title stolen by Mao and is forced to join the demons as Mao's slave. Mao calculates that Almaz has 666 hours before he becomes full-fledged demon, so he tries his best to get Mao to open his heart in order to get his title back and become a human again.

Almaz adores heroes and knows everything about them. He is especially passionate about the legendary hero, Super Hero Aurum, to the point where owns most of the merchandise related to Aurum and recites his codes which include "No matter what trouble awaits, a hero must stand, face forward, against it!" Unfortunately, Almaz has a hard time acting according to these codes as he is a coward, not very confident, and very unlucky. Also, despite having a hero title, he never became a hero to begin with and is constantly called a fake hero once Mao and the others become aware of this. Because Mao made him his servant, he is constantly at the mercy of Mao's orders and research. However, despite being cowardly, he has a good heart. As a guardsman under Sapphire when her mother died and everyone believed her to be uncaring, Almaz believed that Sapphire cutting her hair was a way to show that she did care about her mother's death. As he spent his time with Mao and the other demons, he was able to see that demons are not so evil and views Mao as a friend in need of help, no matter how much denies it. He is also very selfless as he will try to protect others, especially Sapphire, without any regard for his own safety and will try to cover up the pain he is going through in order to keep his friends from worrying about him.

If the player succeeds in getting the Human World ending, then Almaz, who was cursed in a previous episode, dies, unable to prevent Mao from wreaking havoc on the Human World. If the player doesn't fulfill the requirements for the Human World ending, however, he is revived after everyone, including Mao, begs for Almaz to return to life. When he comes back to life, he becomes human once again and regains his hero title, now considered a full-fledged hero. He also faces Aurum, knowing that the Aurum before him is not the same hero he once idolized. If the player defeats Aurum with Almaz alone, he faces Mao in a one-on-one duel and is granted the title of Overlord against his will, causing everyone to abandon him in hopes of defeating him. In the good endings, however, after returning to the Human World, he is married to Princess Sapphire. However, he quickly returns to the Netherworld with Sapphire as part of their honeymoon. According to him, despite being married, he and Sapphire haven't even held hands.

==Raspberyl==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Delinquent/Valedictorian) 
'''Nickname:''' Beryl 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Laura Bailey (voice actress)|Laura Bailey]]

Raspberyl is Mao's childhood friend and the number one delinquent of Evil Academy, a title bestowed upon demons who get to class on time, does their homework, and performs good deeds like taking out the trash or donating blood. She considers herself to be Evil Academy's badass and is followed by her subordinates Asuka and Kyoko. Because of her position as the number one delinquent, she is usually worried about her not standing out as much if someone were to perform delinquent acts or head down a road that would lead to delinquency, which is why she tries to stop Mao from become a hero. However, throughout the game, she shows that she genuinely cares for Mao and tries to help him and Almaz whenever she can.

Raspberyl claimed that she once followed the path of an Honor Student, however, she believed that becoming a delinquent was her unique way of proving that she is a badass. She isn't liked by most demons for the way she carries herself and she is even targeted by the School Board President and the PTA, though some, such as the Vato Bros., do actually like her and Mao does come to her rescue despite him claiming that he is doing it to defeat the School Board President. She will never shy away from delinquency, even during a fight, often beginning a fight by talking her opponent out of one and ending one if it conflicts with her classes. However, her concern for Mao is one of her priorities. In the middle of the game, she actually skips a class when there is trouble in Mao's heart. She rushes to help Mao if his ideas go beyond the evil of an Honor Student and even prevents the darkness in Mao's from taking over him. Raspberyl also gets ecstatic when she meets a hero, whom she regards as super rare spawns and will ask for their autographs.

When she decides to skip class to help Mao, Mr. Champloo appears before her to tell her that Evil Academy has decided to make her, Asuka, and Kyoko graduates in an attempt to get rid of them. As the first and one of the only graduates of Evil Academy, she is free to help Mao whenever she feels like it and spends much of the game with him, Almaz, and Sapphire. In the Human World ending, she tries to save Mao from being consumed by the darkness in his heart after realizing her mistake in not believing him, only to be killed by Aurum. In the good ending, however, she watches Mao as he becomes Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy and accompanies him when he searches for the legendary Overlord.

==Sapphire Rhodonite==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Human (Robust Princess) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Akiko Hasegawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]] 
Sapphire is a princess from the Human World, an Evil Academy transfer student, and the object of Almaz's affection. Because of her position as a princess, there is always the fear of her one day being kidnapped by the Overlord. Believing that it would be best to strike first before the Overlord attempts to kidnap her, Sapphire enters the Academy as a transfer student to defeat the Overlord, though her priority soon becomes opening Mao's heart and returning Almaz's hero title to him.

Sapphire, while a beautiful princess, is much more robust in her way of dealing with the various situations that present themselves in the game. She always chooses to act rather than wait around, even going as far as using violence if she feels it is necessary as seen when she pulls out a chainsaw to open Mao's heart. Her motto is "First to strike, first to win", thus she enrolls into the Academy in order to learn more about demons and defeat the Overlord before he can destroy her kingdom and kidnap her. She is also known for inability to cry even when her parents and many of her subjects died. However, this is not to be confused with heartlessness. Despite her use of violence, she does believe in the codes of Super Hero Aurum and tries to help others as much as she can. When Almaz has second thoughts about helping Mao return to his normal self, she hits Almaz, telling him that he's being a pitiful coward who won't help Mao even when the code of Aurum states to help those who are in need. Her inability to cry was never something she wanted as well. She tells Almaz that she just cannot cry when someone dies, and it brings her so much pain that she can't even shed a tear. Even though she is known for taking down many demons, she still has a feminine side. She loves cutesy things, including Raspberyl, and would hug it without a second thought.

Though it seems like Sapphire is oblivious to Almaz's feelings, and in many ways she is, she does really care for Almaz. When her mother died and everyone believed her to be heartless, Almaz believed that Sapphire was not as heartless as she seemed, that she cut her hair as a way of grieving for her mother when she cannot cry. When Almaz protects her from being ineffected by an incurable curse, she is constantly looking out for him, but he would always tell her that he was alright. When Almaz dies, she is visibly hurt by both his refusal to tell her and his passing away, though at first she is unable to shed a tear for him. If player follows the requirements for the Human World ending, she faces Mao one last time, fighting for the memory of Almaz. If the player does not follow the requirements, Almaz returns to life and she finally sheds tears for him, tears of joy. She then joins Mao and Almaz as they face Super Hero Aurum. If the player receieves the Almaz ending, she leaves Almaz as his position as the Overlord means he will destroy the kingdom and kidnap her and so must prepare for their inevitable battle despite Almaz's refusal in becoming an Overlord. If the player receives either of the good endings, she returns to the Human World, becomes the queen, and is married to Almaz. She and Almaz immediately return to the Netherworld for their honeymoon.

==Mr.Champloo==
'''Age:''' 3442 
'''Class:''' Demon (Chef) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Keiichi Kuwabara]]

Mr. Champloo is the Home Economics teacher at Evil Academy and the master of Fire Chaos Style Kitchen Fist martial arts. He is an unlicensed teacher and remained a mystery for quite some time with his class dwelling within the dangerous old school building. However, after meeting Mao and witnessing several strange occurances in Evil Academy, he leaves his class behind and joins Mao.

Mr. Champloo has a strong passion for cooking as well as the heart. In fact, he believes that just as it takes a strong heart to cook up a good meal, it takes a strong heart to overcome any obstacle and he will usually try to convey that to Almaz and Mao. Unfortunately, when he tries to do so, he will frequently use cooking metaphors making much of what he says seem ambiguous, cryptic, or simply not make any sense, though it is mainly good advice. Often times, he will appear before others to give his speech and then suddenly disappear in a puff of smoke, even going as far as mysteriously appearing in someone else's monolgues or thoughts. As a Home Economics teacher, he is very hard on his students when they are unable to possess a strong heart. He also believes in the idea of demons having the freedom to choose whatever path they wished to pursue and not force demons into becoming Honor Students or Deliquents like most demons.

Though the mystery of the Home Economics teacher is solved, Mr. Champloo's true identity is never revealed. When asked who he really is, he always claim to be nothing more than a chef and the Home Economics teacher. What is known about him is that he may have been acquainted with the Dean and Overlord of Evil Academy and knew about the Dean's death as well as what happened to Mao. Champloo, under the orders of the Overlord, watched over the Academy as an undercover teacher and looked into any problems the Academy faced. He also believed in the Overlord's wish for a peaceful Netherworld where demons could live carefree.

It should be noted that Mr. Champloo's design is reminiscent of the Makai Chef's in [[Makai Kingdom]] though there are clear distinctions between his design and that of the Makai Chef's.

==Geoffery==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Gorou Kubota]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Dan Woren]]

This old gentleman demon is very loyal to Mao, known to become over protective of him in certain situations. He's known to cover his failures by laughing them off and seems to be keeping a few secrets himself. His future goal is to watch and help Mao grow up to be a great Overlord. His dislikes involve any people who get in the way of that. There have been demons who say he's even stronger than Mao. Jiiya was the one who found Almaz in the demon world and brought him to Mao in order to help achieve his goal. He is willing to do anything in order to make Mao's dream a reality.

==Kyoko Needleworker==
'''Age:''' 1584 
'''Class:''' Demon (Kunoichi) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Shizuka Arai]] 
'''English Voice Actor:'''
[[Lara Jill Miller]]

Kyoko is subordinate #2 of Raspberyl. She's devoted to Raspberyl and calls her "oneesama" (big sister). Since Raspberyl has pink as her main color, Lilian covers herself in brilliant pink clothing. She takes the roll of the Explanation character, and seems to know everything about the school's history. A female ninja known as "Lilian of Strength", her dream is to help Raspberyl become the Legendary Delinquent. She really hates brutality and will immediately attack an offender by throwing knives, among her many other weapons. Her policy is to fight fair and square, never attacking during the night. Rather she will challenge opponents in broad daylight, hoping for a good fight.

==Asuka of the Paper Cranes/Asuka Cranekick==
'''Age:''' 1593 
'''Class:''' Demon (Delinquent Samurai) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Natsuki Kousaka]]

Asuka is the very loyal subordinate #1 of Raspberyl and addresses her as "oujousama" (my lady). She also happens to be the daughter of a high-class family. Her hobby is to send 1,000 paper cranes to opponents she wounds in battle, as a get well gesture. This has earned her the nickname of "Asuka of the Paper Cranes". Asuka dislikes brutality as well as Lillian, though she will still fight for what she believes in. If she witnesses someone committing an act of brutality, she will punish the person. Her dream is to send a thousand paper cranes to a prince who has fallen from a white horse. This is her form of love.

==Master Big Star/Bigster ==

'''Age:''' 2764 
'''Class:''' Demon (Sophomore Leader) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Liam O'Brien]]

Master Big Star is the charismatic leader of Evil Academy's sophomore class, who loves his subordinates, whom he regards as friends. The "Master" is part of his real name. He has an elegant bearing overflowing with refinement, but he actually has a strong belief as a leader. He believes in the idea of having strong friends and that his belief in his comerades would bring out the best in his friends, while at the same time, their belief in him as their leader would bring out his best. He joins Mao twice throughout the main story, the second time helping him overcome the darkness in his heart and helping Mao defeat Aurum.

After the main story is completed, Mao and the rest find Big Star's name changed to "Master Bigster" as someone stole the space between "Big" and "Star" as well as the 'a' in Star, thus he had to purchase an 'e' as a replacement (since he didn't have enough to buy a replacement 'a' and space). After being defeated by Mao, he agrees to join Mao and the rest in the search of the thief, later revealed to be the legendary Overlord.

== Salvatore the Magnificent==

'''Age:''' 2666 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Miho Yamada]]

Salvatore is one of Evil Academy's Diez Gentlemen, a legendary group of Seniors who are usually never seen among Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Throughout the game, she and some of the Diez Gentlemen follow the orders of their unknown leader.

Salvatore is very strict and militaristic. In battle, she barks orders at her squads, but she will bark orders at her enemies just as much as her allies. In fact, much of her commands tend to be completely absurd and normally impossible to perform by anyone, such as her command for all aside from Mao and Master Big Star to transform into an invincible robot that will blast the area with a -5000 degrees Celsius blizzard. However, as soon as she realizes that her leader was actually Super Hero Aurum, she, after some inner conflict and words from Mr. Champloo, decides to go against Aurum and the Diez Gentlemen, believing that the very idea of a demon obeying a hero is insane. She as well as Master Big Star join Mao soon afterwards to face Aurum.

After the main story, Salvatore reveals to Mao that her spies have found information regarding the Evil Academy thief, though she will only reveal it in exchange for a battle against Mao. After the battle, she reveals that the thief was a legendary Overlord and that she too has been robbed of something: her womanliness. She then joins Mao and appears alongside him in the final battle against Baal.

==Cameos==
The following are characters from other [[Nippon Ichi]] games that have appeared in any of the three Disgaea games. Only basic information, information regarding the character's part in the Disgaea games, or information regarding their encounter with Disgaea characters in their game will be covered. Any in-depth information regarding their respective games will not be covered here.

===Pleinair===
Pleinair is a well-known character from the series regardless of her lack of significant screentime and voice.

In Disgaea and Disgaea 3, she is the receptionist of Dark Assembly.

In Disgaea 2, she became a news reporter as she teamed up with Usagi-san and Axel, the Dark Hero. She has no speaking or text dialogue, except for saying "Congratulations" when you have completed the Dark World (which has no voice behind it).

In Disgaea DS, she starts out as the receptionist of the Dark Assembly. However, if a player completes the game under any ending, then talks with Pleinair and selects the new blank option that appears, Pleinair becomes a playable character. A Prinny with a maid outfit replaces Pleinair as the receptionist to the Dark Assembly.

In Phantom Brave, Pleinair shows up for a couple seconds in a conversation, walking in the background.

In the Disgaea 2 manga, she initially appears as a Dark Assembly Receptionist. In the manga, she appears to be mature and plans ahead as far as job options are concerned, and is very popular (The mere mention of receiving a Pleinair figure was enough to drive many heroes to pay to challenge Laharl). However, she can be quite cruel to people if they get on her bad side as she once theatened Etna that she'd destroy her personal records and used Usagi as live bait when he tried to reveal her measurements in one of the news broadcasts. As with the game, Pleinair becomes Usagi's assistant in the news broadcasts, usually holding signs.

===The Prism Rangers===
The '''Prism Rangers''' are a troupe of [[gag characters]] which appear in [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], and [[Makai Senki Disgaea 3]]. They are heavily inspired by the protagonists of the [[Super Sentai]]/[[Power Rangers]] universes, satirizing them. Each of the members are named after the colors of the rainbow with the word Prism preceding it. Outside of the in-game battle, the Prism Rangers tend to be portrayed as weak, having been taken down in one shot or being unable to do the slightest bit of damage to their opponent. The most vocal of the members is their leader, Prism Red.

Though they call themselves the Prism Rangers, they only have three of the seven colors in Disgaea, and five of the seven in the second game. In the first game, they appear before Laharl when he's attempting to destroy all who are still trying to claim the throne. Despite being Prism Rangers, their team is made up of only three colors: red, blue, and yellow. They claim that the reason for their lack of numbers is that by becoming heroes, they have to live without friends, though Etna is clearly skeptical. They believe that by becoming Overlords, the Prism Rangers will gain enough friends to complete the rainbow and thus truly become Prism Rangers. When attempting to face Laharl, Etna is able to knock out Prism Blue and Prism Yellow, forcing Prism Red to summon a bunch of demons he hired for such an occasion (although Laharl questions whether or not a hero should even hire demons), yet he still loses.

In Disgaea 2, they return with two more members, Prism Green and Prism Violet, but Rozalin tells them that they should recruit more members to complete the rainbow. Initially, they were considering going easy on Adell since he had his siblings with him, but Prism Red reminds the team of what happened in their battle with Laharl. However, they still lose, but claim to return.

In a bonus stage in Disgaea 2, the Prism Rangers seem to finally have acquired enough members to complete the rainbow, though the last two members are recruited without much thought as they were the only ones to show up when the rangers called for volunteers, even going as far as persuading a salaryman to become Prism Indigo with the promise of an amazing salary and insurance. If the player beats this stage, then Prism Red grants Adell the title of Prism Black, while Rozalin is disappointed that she can't be Prism Pink. Prism Violet, Indigo, and Orange can occasionally be seen in the Innocent Towns in Item World, while Prism Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green appear in Holt if the player passes certain bills.

In Disgaea 3, all the Prism Rangers are gone except for Prism Red, who performs the full Prism Ranger role call when he meets Mao and the rest. Mao, like Flonne and Rozalin in the past games, cannot see how he can say Prism Rangers without the other six colors. Mao, Almaz, Raspberyl, and Sapphire then start to choose colors for themselves should they become Super Sentai, upsetting Prism Red when he hears that Mao, as the main character, will claim red. After the battle, Almaz allows him to join the party. With the Demon Change ability, the player can turn Prism Red into a sword and its special ability is Prism Justice, the ultimate Prism Ranger attack in Disgaea 2.

===Overlord Priere===
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Mai Nakahara]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jennifer Hale]] (La Pucelle) 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[La Pucelle: Tactics]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

'''Priere''' is the main character of ''[[La Pucelle: Tactics]]''. In her game, she and her brother Culotte were orphaned at a young age. As they grew older, the became a part of a group of Demon Hunters known as La Pucelle, who carried out jobs for the Church of the Holy Maiden. Though kind hearted, she's known for being impatient and strong, able to knock down a lead door with a single kick. However, she appears in the later games as an Overlord, which references a special ending in La Pucelle in which she becomes the Overlord after defeating numerous demons. Her name is spelled ''Prier'' (French for "to pray") in La Pucelle, but as ''Priere'' ("prayer") in Disgaea.

In Disgaea, Priere appears as an Overlord of an Alternate Netherworld. Though she does not have any speaking roles, Etna notes that she is legendary for being fascinated by the dark arts and searching for a fight. Should she be defeated, Priere joins the party.

She appears again in Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories as a hidden boss where she, still a demon, faces the main characters Adell and Rozalin. She has two speaking (without a voice actor) roles, but no combat voice. Her speaking role makes her seem, while more mature, much more evil than in her La Pucelle days, going as far as claiming she'll turn Veldime into a sea of blood in retaliation for Adell defeating her.

She appears in Disgaea 3 as well, but only as a downloadable character. When the player is given the option to use magichange, she can transform into a baton.

===Marjoly===
Marjoly is the antagonist of [[Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure]] as well as its sequels in the [[Marl Kingdom]] series. She is malevolent and very conceited, with lyrics in her song "Evil Queen" describing herself to be "mightier than the god...more beauitful than the goddess". She fell in love with Prince Ferdinand and meant to teleport him only to turn him into stone. She has three followers: Gao, Crowdia (Claudia in Disgaea 2), and Myao (who appears in Phantom Brave).

Marjoly is accessible in a hidden stage titled Beauty Castle. Etna makes a few crude comments on her attire and excessive amount of makeup, but she recognizes her as the most malevolent witch in the universe. Laharl, of course, is more than willing to show her who really is the most malevolent. Defeating Marjoly in this stage makes her a playable character.

In Disgaea 2, she is once again accessible in her Beauty Castle (only after a player character has obtained and kept 99 felonies). As Rozalin points out, she appears to be under the control of a seal, and thus has no speaking roles. Defeating her in battle nets the player the one of a kind item, the "Sexy Panties".

Also, during the battle, she carries one of a kind items named after several of her followers (Gao's Spirit, Claudia's Charm, and Myao Kitty's Ears).

===Marona===
'''Age:''' 12 
'''Class:''' Human (Chroma) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]] 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[Phantom Brave]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Makai Kingdom]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

Marona is one of two main characters from Phantom Brave. In her game, she is orphaned due to the death of her parents and the only one watches over her is Ash, her parent's companion whom they transformed into a phantom to prevent him from dying completely and leaving the living world. Unfortunately, his presence as a phantom is the reason why Marona is often shunned by most people in Ivoire, the world in which Phantom Brave takes place. Despite that, she works hard as a Chroma, somewhat of a bounty hunter, to pay her bills and to relieve the problems of the people around her. Though she is often despised, she is known for being thoughful, innocent, and naive, which people take advantage of. Along with Ash, she is able to deploy phantoms at her command when she is forced to fight. Marona makes a quick cameo in Makai Kindom and appears in Disgaea 3 and is playable when defeated.

After completing the main story, Marona comes upon a bottlemail and upon opening it, Laharl appears before her and tries to take over Ivoire, who fails to do so, blaming it on being stuffed in the bottlemail. Laharl, as well as Etna and Flonne, force Marona and Ash into numerous battles until Ash tells Marona to fake their defeat in order to get Laharl to stop bothering them. Laharl then makes Ash and Marona his vassals, not knowing that it was faked.

In Disgaea 3, her innocent heart is stolen from her, which is what makes her so naive and thoughtful. Its removal turns her into a mean-spirited brat who doesn't mind hurting others and saying what's on her mind, such as telling Almaz and Sapphire that the two flirting with each other is causing her to hurl. Upon defeat, she joins the party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

===Asagi===
'''Class:''' Human (The Main Character) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]]

Asagi was meant to be the main character in a future Nippon Ichi title, though it is rumored to have been scrapped. Ever since Makai Kingdom, where she is forced to become Zetta's apprentice to design the next game, Asagi has appeared in every game as an optional battle and is playable in all games except Disgaea 2. Her personality changes with each game she appears in with her being a rather calm character in Makai Kingdom. From there, she becomes saddened but hopeful in Disgaea 2, incredibly arrogant and the self-proclaimed "Queen of Games Everywhere" in Soul Nomad, and depressed in Disgaea 3. She appears to be weak in both Makai Kingdom and Disgaea 2 as she is easily defeated by both Zetta and Adell, but by Soul Nomad, she becomes strong enough to amaze even Gig with just 1/10th of her power, though is soundly defeated, but not before being scolded by Gig for destroying the world and thus ending their game.

Disgaea 2 continues where Makai Kingdom left off with Asagi being forced by Zetta to become stronger before becoming the main character again. When Adell and Rozalin meet her, Rozalin has Adell volunteer to test Asagi's power, but she is soundly defeated. Still, it gives her enough hope to be able to get out of the mess Zetta put her in. It should be noted that Disgaea 2 is also the only game that re-uses Asagi's Makai Kingdom sprite, which makes her smaller than most of the characters in Disgaea 2. She claims that everyone is the same size as her in her game. She has a different sprite in Soul Nomad and Disgaea 3.

In Disgaea 3, Asagi supposedly received a game to be the main character of only to have it stolen, and is clearly upset over it. Upon meeting Mao, she assumes him to be the culprit and attacks him. After the battle, she breaks down and cries, saying she had enough and can't understand why she can never be a main character. Mao then tells her that the legendary Overlord who has been stealing things recently is behind this. Asagi joins the party shortly afterwards and is present during the battle with Baal.

===Baal===
There is not much information on Baal, but ever since [[La Pucelle: Tactics]], he has become a recurring boss in all Nippon Ichi games with the exception of [[Soul Nomad]] and is usually the strongest one in the game. Defeating him will usually reward the player with game's best items or a new title. What is known about Baal is that his form can change from game to game, ranging from a towering Lord of Terror to the comical looking Eringa (a mushroom monster), but is still incredibly power with each form. In Disgaea, he is the legendary Lord of Terror who attempted to conquer all the Netherworlds in existence, but he was sealed away by King Krichevskoy. In Makai Kingdom, Trenia explains that he is a collection of evil souls that can transfer into other bodies when defeated. Baal does not have any speaking roles. His dialogue is confined to "..." and only has a monstrous grunt in battle with the exception of the first Baal battle in Makai Kingdom (due to him taking over Zetta's body). This changes in Disgaea 3 when he speaks to Mao and the rest as a Red Eringa.

In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Baal is a legendary Overlord that was sealed by King Krichevskoy a number of years before the start of the storyline of ''Disgaea'', resulting in Krichevskoy becoming fatally weakened. He later faces Laharl, who is taken aback by his levels (Laharl states "You've gotta be kidding! Level 4000?!"). He is later replaced by Prinny Baal, whom the player can fight as many times as he/she desires.

In Disgaea 2, Adell & Rozalin went to ''Baal's Castle'' to face the Supreme Overlord, but upon entering, they find what they assume to be a statue of Baal. However, Rozalin's four-leaf clover seal suddenly reacts and the statue, revealed to actually be Baal, attacks Rozalin. There are two battles in the game against Baal (First against his regular form, then against him again as a Prinny, accompanied by 4 clones of his original self).

Throughout the optional quests in Disgaea 3, Baal is confirmed to be the Legendary Overlord who has been stealing things from the other characters. Among the things he stole are an "a" and a space in Master Big Star's name, Salvatore's feminine side, Prism Red's friends, Asagi's game, Marona's innocent heart, Axel's stardom, Laharl's height (and screentime), Etna's 1 billion HL savings account, Flonne's DVD box set, and an unknown item that's owned by Mao, who refers to it as "That". Upon his defeat and being requested to give everything he stole back, Baal claims that what everyone truly wanted was friends, encounter, a trusting heart, and more screen time in Disgaea 3, all of which he had given to him, causing everyone to reflect on all that has happened. Immediately after the reflection, though, he comments on how good it feels to make everyone reflect once in awhile and runs off, making this the only battle that in which he is not finished off.

{{Disgaea series}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Disgaea]]

List of Disgaea characters

2008-10-23T12:33:39Z

216.94.61.100: /* Big Sis Prinny */

{{Mergeto|Disgaea (series)|date=September 2008}}
{{Gameguide|date=May 2008}}
{{Copyedit|date=September 2007}}

This article contains information on characters from the [[Video game|video]] [[turn-based strategy|strategy/]][[role-playing games]] ''[[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]]'' for the [[Playstation 2]] video game console, and ''[[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]'' for the [[PlayStation 3]] video game console, developed and published by [[Nippon Ichi]] in [[Japan]], and published in North America by [[Atlus|Atlus Co.]], and later [[Nippon Ichi]], and in Europe by [[Koei]].
{{TOCright|limit=2}}

==Laharl==
'''Age:''' 1313 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1316 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Demon Prince/Overlord in Episode 6 and all later appearances) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Barbara Goodson]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Laharl is the main character of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, and is the son of King Krichevskoy. However, after awakening from a two year slumber, he discovers that his father is dead and almost all of his vassals are gone (most of them are, in fact, trying to take Laharl's place, rather than trying to serve him). As the rightful heir to the throne, Laharl sets out to take back the throne and proclaim himself as the true Overlord of the Netherworld.

Laharl is incredibly arrogant and always tries to prove that he is the strongest demon in the Netherworld. He is, however, extremely powerful for his appearance, which, despite his age, is still that of a small human child (his large hair antennae and billowing scarf are meant to mask this fact). Unfortunately, he has a weakness (as in, he literally gets hurt by) towards optimistic sayings (especially anything concerning the word 'love') and women with sexy bodies. Even after Laharl is crowned the new Overlord half way through the game, he is still referred to as "Prince" by Etna and all those who still remain in the Overlord's Castle.

In the alternate story Etna Mode in the PSP version, Etna kills Laharl as he wakes up by accident. While playing this mode, the player will not have access to Laharl. In order to prevent suspicion from Maderas, Etna places fake antennas on a Prinny and passes it off as Laharl. By the end of Etna Mode, Laharl is actually revealed to be alive. The shot that supposedly killed him only knocked him out and is later found by Etna in Stellar Graveyard.

In the Disgaea manga, Laharl's personality slightly differs. While he is selfish, arrogant, and is willing to use violence to solve his problems, he comes off more mature than his game counterpart, appearing to also be slightly smarter (When Flonne tells Laharl that the Seraph believes demons have love too, Laharl reminds her that her mission to assassinate the Overlord was given to her by the same person). Laharl also appears to hate his father even more in the manga as Laharl is often overshadowed by Krichevskoy, not to mention Krichevskoy's personality annoys Laharl.

In general, the accepted ending is the good ending, in which Laharl spares Lamington's life and is stopped by Mid Boss before he sacrifices himself, allowing him to see Flonne become a Fallen Angel. In the last episode of the anime, however, Laharl gives Overlordship to Etna, then he sacrifices himself in an attempt to revive Flonne. This ending is similar to the normal ending of the game, except that Laharl succeeds in killing Lamington, who would've brought Flonne back to life had he been spared.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Laharl makes a brief appearance, attempting to force Etna to come back to his castle. Part of this reason, as seen in the optional battle against him, comes from the lack of Prinnies to cook for him, forcing him to eat mainly junk food or canned tuna. Though he is initially successful in defeating her and the main characters, the power of Overlord Zenon in Rozalin forces Laharl to flee. (though it should be noted that Laharl wasn't even winded after the battle; he left because, even though Zenon didn't do much to him, he couldn't do anything to Zenon) He also tries to make himself the main character of Disgaea 2 in the optional battles, but not only is he defeated, when given the chance to become a main character for over a minute, he is beaten up by Flonne and Etna. When completing the final mission, Laharl joins after tasting Hanako's cooking since he is unable to make her his chef.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Laharl appears before Mao, who Laharl assumes to be the legendary Overlord who stole his height as well as his screen time in Disgaea 3. Mao, however, believes that Laharl is the legendary Overlord and the two fight, claiming that the loser will be considered the legendary Overlord. They appear evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that no matter how much they want to make each other the legendary Overlord, they won't get their stuff back, ending the fight. Laharl, along with Etna and Flonne, joins the party and reveals to Mao that the legendary Overlord they have all been looking for is Baal. He joins Mao and the rest in the battle against Baal.

In an alternate ending, Laharl suddenly appears before Mao after he defeated Aurum, claiming to be his father. Mao does not believe him at all, despite Laharl's supposed shock in Mao becoming a "loudmouthed punk". Mao then fights Laharl in an attempt to expose him as a fake, but soon begins to believe that Laharl is his father. However, Laharl reveals that he really wasn't his father after all, just an Overlord passing by who wanted nothing more than to get some screen time and take over the game.

===Other Appearances===
Laharl appear as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, Laharl is trapped in a Bottlemail and after meeting the main characters Ash and Marona, he constantly tries to make them his vassals by defeating them. In Makai Kingdom, he is brought before Overlord Zetta after Etna and Flonne were defeated by him, and tries to show Zetta that he is the superior Overlord. He also makes a brief cameo appearance in [[Soul Nomad]]. In the demon path, should the main character choose to call himself the Overlord over the Devourlord ("Eh, Overlord is fine I guess."), Laharl scolds him/her for taking such a title lightly. The main character and Gig, however, ignore Laharl and the story continues from there.

==Etna==
'''Age:''' 1470 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1473 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Demon (Vassal in Disgaea/Beauty Queen in Disgaea 2) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Tomoe Hanba]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Amanda Winn-Lee]] (Disgaea: Hour of Darkness), [[Michelle Ruff]] (All of Etna's roles after Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories)

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Etna is the leader of the [[Prinny]] squad, and one of the few vassals who remain in the Overlord's Castle after King Krichevskoy's death. In the beginning, she attempts to wake up Laharl through 'unique' methods (from drills and flails to gatling guns, swords and jackhammers). From then on, Etna becomes Laharl's closest vassal, though not necessarily most trustworthy vassal, aiding him in his rise to power. She is the only vassal from Laharl's original servants who goes out on the battlefield for him.

Etna acts carefree, but is also very devious. Often it is hard to tell for whom she really is working. She holds deep respect and loyalty towards King Krichevskoy, Laharl's father. Etna is often known for ending an episode with an odd "preview" to the next episode, all of which have her in the starring role. Often these previews parody famous TV shows, anime, or video games with the other characters making side comments.

In all but the 'Flonne Tragedy', 'Good', and 'Human Conqueror' ending, Laharl gives up his position as Overlord to Etna. In one ending, she even murders Laharl and Flonne to get the throne, while in the anime, she is given the position of Overlord after Laharl decides to sacrifice his life for Flonne.

In the PSP port of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, there is an alternate mode in the game called Etna Mode. In this mode, rather than awakening Laharl, Etna accidentally kills him and sets out to become Beauty Queen Ultimate Overlord Etna. Etna mode gives the player a closer look at Etna's past, showing how she was taken in by Krichevskoy.

Etna's original U.S. voice actor was Amanda Winn-Lee. However, she did not reprise her role in Disgaea 2. Instead, Michelle Ruff has taken the role of Etna and has provided Etna's voice in all subsequent Nippon Ichi media, including the Disgaea anime and the PSP port of the first game, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Etna quits her position as Laharl's vassal after a fight with Laharl over pudding (which is supposedly a rare delicacy from the Sea of Gehenna) and becomes a Demon Lord, taking the Prinny Squad with her. She then travels to Veldime, hoping to eliminate Overlord Zenon, the ''God of All Overlords'', and runs into Adell and his party in the process. In Episode 9, she gives Adell a fake 'Demon Lord's Nail' and is accidentally summoned by his mother. The failed summon drops her back to level one, and in order to regain her former power she deigns to join up with the player's party. At the end of the game, she, along with Hanako, returns to the Overlord's Castle as Laharl's vassal once again.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Etna appears alongside Laharl and Flonne and assumes the legendary Overlord they are looking for is Mao, while Mao and his party believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord. After the battle, she tries to push Laharl to defeat Mao as the two are evenly matched until Almaz makes them realize that neither of them are the legendary Overlord. After the battle, Etna joins the party. Like many of the characters, she has lost something to the legendary Overlord: her one billion Hell savings acount.

In an alternate battle, when Laharl appears before Mao, claiming to be his father, Etna tries to convince Mao that she is his mother, speaking in a motherly tone. However, when Flonne starts claiming she's his mother, the two begin to argue over who the mother should be. Her description of Laharl's selfishness makes it clear that she still doesn't forgive him for eating her pudding and that he still eats her sweets without permission. However, in the end, Laharl reveals that they really weren't his parents after all, just an Overlord and his vassals passing by.

===Other appearances===
She also made it as a Hidden boss in both [[Makai Kingdom]] & [[Phantom Brave]]. In Phantom Brave, she is the reason why Laharl was sent to Ivoire in a bottlemail. Upon hearing that Laharl had been defeated by Ash and Marona, she and Flonne battle them, but fails to defeat them. She and Flonne later return alongside Laharl to fight them again. In Makai Kingdom, she introduces herself to Zetta in a next episode skit and then returns to fight alongside Laharl when she is defeated.

==Flonne==
'''Age:''' 1509 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/1512 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Angel/Fallen Angel (Angel Trainee) 
'''Nickname:''' Love Freak 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yuko Sasamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Flonne is an Angel Trainee who hails from the land of Celestia, where the Angels reside, sent on a mission to the Netherworld by Seraph Lamington to assassinate Overlord Krichevskoy. Some time after her arrival, however, she comes to find that King Krichevskoy has been dead for over two years.

Flonne is the most innocent and naive of the three main characters in Disgaea, with traits of both an otaku and a ditz. She especially loves the [[tokusatsu]] genre, and has a crudely made costume that resembles a purple winged godzilla, which is referenced in one of Etna's Next Episode previews and is used in later games as part of her attacks. She is deeply devoted to both Seraph Lamington and to the concept of 'love' and wishes to spread the latter to others, earning the title 'Love Freak' from Laharl. She, perturbed by Laharl's rejection of everything to do with love, decides to change her mission to follow him and observe if demons truly are incapable of it.

In the good ending of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, she becomes a Fallen Angel and retains this form in all of her future appearances. In some of the other endings, she is supposedly dead as Lamington, who is killed by Laharl in these endings, is the only person who can bring her back to life. In the anime, she is also brought back to life except through Laharl's sacrifice. As a Fallen Angel, Flonne's personality does not make any significant changes, though in the anime, Etna says that she's beginning to really act like a demon.

In the PSP version's ''Etna mode'', Flonne believes that Etna is a great Space Detective and strives to be her assistant. She is later tricked by "God" to kill Etna, only to later realize that "God" was actually Vulcanus.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Although she has no part in the main storyline, Flonne becomes playable in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]] after completing the optional mission "I want to fight an Overlord!" Flonne then decides to stay with Etna in Veldime and later tries to get Laharl and Etna to end their fight with mixed results.

===Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice===
Flonne appears alongside Laharl and Etna when they confront Mao, who they believe is the legendary Overlord. Mao and the others, however, believe that Laharl is the legendary Overlord instead, and a battle ensues. After the battle, she tries to encourage Laharl as he and Mao were evenly matched until Almaz stops the battle. Like many of the other characters, Flonne lost something to the legendary Overlord: The Dark Ninja Memorial DVD boxset. She then joins the party afterwards as they face the true legendary Overlord, Baal.

In an alternate battle, while Laharl and Etna are trying to convince Mao that Laharl is his father, Flonne appears before Mao, claiming to be his mother. However, Etna had already been trying to convince that she's Mao mother and the two argue over who the mother should be. Even after being defeated and revealing that Laharl had been lying about him being Mao's father, Flonne still insists that she is the mother. The game ends shortly afterwards.

===Other Appearances===
Flonne appears as a hidden boss in both [[Phantom Brave]] and [[Makai Kingdom]]. In Phantom Brave, she meets Ash and Marona alongside Etna in the Overlord's Castle. Although she is initially against fighting the two, Etna bribes her with a Prism Rangers DVD boxset. She also fights them again alongside Laharl and Etna. In Makai Kingdom, Flonne challenges Zetta, claiming to be a hero of love.

==Vyers (Dark Adonis/Mid Boss)==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Mid Boss (Aristocrat/Baron) 
'''Nicknames:''' Dark Adonis (Beauty Danshaku in Japanese. Lit. ''Baron of Beauty''), Mid Boss (given by Laharl)) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
It is unknown where he came from, but the demon known as Vyers was the recent leader in the battle for the throne until Laharl awakened from his slumber. Vyers often refers to himself as the Dark Adonis; however, Laharl, deeming Vyers unworthy of any real title, brands him with the name 'Mid Boss', which sticks for the rest of the game.

Speaking in a cultured tone seasoned with French (though it is revealed later that this accent is fake), Vyers is very conceited and confident in his own abilities. However, whenever he is about to lose, he either comes up with an excuse (such as stomach cramps) or leaves battle wrapped in bandages. Because he lost to Laharl, Vyers sees Laharl as a rival even though Laharl doesn't even see anything in Vyers. Oddly enough, he isn't above helping his rivals either.

Vyers is also something of an actor. Even for the player it's usually hard to tell when he's playing a role and when he's being himself. There's a great deal more to him than meets the eye. He is also good at heart, as proved when he held Flonne's necklace, which harms the wicked, with impunity.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
The player faces Dark Adonis Vyers as a Hidden Boss in the Sub-Chapter called ''I want to see the Ending''. Rozalin assumes that he's the final boss, but Adell retorts that Vyers is better suited as a 'Mid Boss', which enrages him. When defeated, he dismisses his loss as a fluke and treats the player to their promised "ending" (which is nothing more than the credit reel with artwork of Vyers in the background. [http://www.kawaiidream.net/categories.php?cat_id=857&page=4&sessionid=20e526cfea04d73805b7c27a20258f91&l=english]

===King Krichevskoy===
The Father of Laharl and the Overlord of the Netherworld. While Laharl was trapped within his two year sleep, King Krichevskoy was believed to have died after choking on a "black pretzel". Etna's diary reveals, however, that King Krichevskoy died after sealing away Baal.

He fell in love with a human woman, who he later married. The woman gave birth to Laharl, but she would sacrifice her life to save him from an incurable disease. One day two years before the start of the game, King Krichevskoy asked Laharl if he loved him as a father, as Laharl didn't seem to love him at all, to which Laharl replied that he absolutely loathed him.

It is implied throughout the game that Vyers is King Krichevskoy in disguise. This is confirmed in ''The World of Disgaea,'' a Disgaea artbook published by ''Broccoli Books''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Seto | first = Dietrich | authorlink = Dietrich Sato | title = The World of Disgaea | publisher = Broccoli Books | month = November | year = 2006 | pages = 160 | isbn = 978-1-5974-1112-7}}</ref>

Aside from the flightiness and narcissism that he displays as Vyers, little is revealed about him in the games. He is a noble and kind Overlord according to the entries in Etna's Diary, and a very emotional Overlord according to the six vassals he had left behind, apparently causing several "unnatural disasters" when he was either overjoyed or depressed. The PSP version's Etna Mode reveals that he is also concerned about the state of the Netherworld and, like Seraph Lamington, the discrimnation between demons and angels as well as the noble and common people. He wishes to create a world of equality, which young Etna finds a little strange for a demon Overlord. Both the anime and manga versions of Krichevskoy seems to reflect that with a few differences. In the anime, he is more fond of Laharl and appears to have had more of an impact on Laharl's life as Laharl has more than one flashback of him. In the manga, he acts just as eccentric as Vyers and was very popular with demons to the point where he had groupies. Laharl appeared to really hate Krichevskoy in the manga because he was always overshadowed by his father and he was often annoyed by his eccentric personality.

===Other appearances===
He appears in [[Phantom Brave]] along with the three main Characters of [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]] as Hidden Bosses and is playable should the player beat him.

==Captain Gordon==
'''Age:''' 35 in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/38 in Disgaea 2 
'''Class:''' Human (37th Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuo Tobita]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''': [[Michael McConnohie]]

The 37th among a long line of heroes, Captain Gordon is sent to the Netherworld under orders from the Earth Defense Force to defeat the Overlord of the Netherworld and to prevent a possible invasion. Along with his sidekick Jennifer and the All-Purpose Robot Thursday, Gordon rushes headlong into the Netherworld to protect the Earth once again.

Gordon has a great sense of justice, but is dim-witted (Etna once remarks that he looks "About as smart as a rock"). He is also blind to the true intentions of others, and never realizes when he's being tricked until it's too late. However, his sense of justice constantly motivates him even in the darkest hours. Gordon is a parody of space heroes (most notably [[Flash Gordon]]).

He returns in Disgaea 2 when Kurtis is having trouble with the Kurtis clones. He and Kurtis join the battle as neutral allies. When the Kurtis clones are defeated, Gordon thanks Adell and Rozalin for helping Kurtis and bestows them with the Defender of Earth ID Card.

==Jennifer==
'''Age:''' 27 
'''Class:''' Human (Sidekick) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Paula Tiso]]

With every hero comes a sidekick that makes up for the hero's flaws. Jennifer fulfills the role as Captain Gordon's beautiful sidekick. She accompanies Gordon on his mission to defeat the Overlord and prevent his alleged invasion of Earth.

Jennifer is a rather sexy woman (much to Laharl's dismay) and often jokes around in a very flirtatious manner. In the anime, her breasts would often bounce whenever Laharl would take notice. She was also afraid of the Netherworld once, thinking that demons were nothing but monsters that would hurt innocent people, especially women and children, until she saw the child-like appearances of Laharl and Etna. Despite her appearance, however, her intelligence and technical knowledge surpasses most scientists. In fact, she was the one who created the All-Purpose Robot Thursday at age five and even earned her Ph. D at age ten. She is also skilled at martial arts, specifically kung fu. Of all the characters in the game, she is the one who supports Gordon the most.

She returns alongside Gordon and Thursday to help Kurtis in Disgaea 2. However, she and Thursday are knocked out, and thus unable to aid Gordon, Kurtis, Adell, and Rozalin.

==Thursday==
'''Creation:''' 22 (Built by Jennifer at the age of 5) 
'''Class:''' Super Robot 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yurika Ochiai]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Since being built by Jennifer at the age of 5, Thursday the All Purpose Robot has always been by her side. Working together with both her and Gordon, he has become a powerful force on their team. When Gordon is sent out to defeat the Overlord, Thursday willingly joins his struggle.

Despite being a robot, Thursday seems to have a heart. Even if he is severely damaged and on the verge breaking down, Thursday continues to fight alongside Gordon and bring about justice. He also seems to be very calm when dealing with various obstacles and can be very sarcastic at times. Thursday usually begins or ends his sentences with 'blip beep'.

He returns in Disgaea 2 with Gordon and Jennifer, but like Jennifer, he is knocked out and doesn't participate in the battle.

==Kurtis==
'''Age:''' 29 (before his death) 
'''Class:''' Human (Rival), Prinny (Rival/Defender of Earth) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kousuke Toriumi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' Game: [[Jamieson Price]], Anime: [[David Lodge]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Another human from Earth, Kurtis works under General Carter and the Earth Defense Force like Gordon. However, he views himself as more worthy of the title of Defender of Earth than Gordon. Although it may be coincidence, he has facial features(most notably his pointed nose based on the Cyborg 002 Design)in common with Don Joaquin, the original defender of earth, suggesting a sort of ancestral pride that may fuel his desire to be the defender.

Kurtis suffered a traumatic experience which cost him over 70% of his body in addition to his wife and daughter. Because of this, Kurtis became a cyborg and began to resent Gordon, taking several of his missons. Kurtis is also a brilliant scientist, whose intelligence and technical knowledge rival Jennifer's. However, Kurtis conducts much more fearful research in comparison to hers. He also tends to be rather sarcastic, especially to Gordon.

===Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories===
Kurtis makes a reappearance in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], this time in his Prinny incarnation as the 38th Defender of Earth. He will come to the aid of those who call him on his Cell Phone, although he will make a remark about relying on one's self instead of him. Repeatedly calling him opens up two optional stages. He also becomes a playable character in the Land of Carnage after you get all 16 Pirate Maps in Item World.

===Prinny Kurtis===
Kurtis becomes a prinny after sacrificing himself (despite Laharl making a very open, vocal order directed at Death to let him go on to his family instead). As a prinny, he becomes green to match his previous hair color, and stores some of his old cyber parts in his pouch, allowing him to use most of his abilities. His face shows more emotion than a regular prinny. His eyes are given an angry expression while his beak is slightly longer, possibly a reference to his point nose in his human form. At the end of Disgaea, he was shown to pass on at the Red Moon, but in [[Disgaea 2]], he was shown to still be acting out his duties as a defender of Earth in his prinny form. Prinny Kurtis is also seen in a poster at the end of the Disgaea anime, but his color is the same as normal Prinny. Instead, he retains the spiky hair he had as a human.

===The Clones of Kurtis===
When the Earth Defense Force Base was destroyed and the real Kurtis died, the last computer obtained some DNA that belonged to Kurtis that was then used to create three clones of himself, though with different hair color. The hair colors that the Clones of Kurtis have are Blue, Brown and Light green. Each clone had an evil, crimson left eye. All the clones also talk in a fashion similar to [[William Shatner]], though this is present only in the English audio; The Japanese audio, and original Japanese version, lacked audio for the scenes involving the Kurtis clones.

==Seraph Lamington==
'''Age:''' 9147 
'''Class:''' Angel (Seraph) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Majima Junji]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jamieson Price]]

===Disgaea: Hour of Darkness===
Seraph Lamington is the leader of Celestia, the world of the angels. He seems to be the polar opposite of Overlord Laharl as he acts much more mature and calm. He never raises his voice, and never harbors any vindictive thoughts or emotions, accepting yelling and threats stoically.

While others think that his somewhat emotionless attitude makes him oblivious to his surroundings, Lamington is far from it. Even if one is performing dastardly deeds, he is well aware of it and allows fate to hand over punishments. As the most powerful angel in Celestia, Seraph Lamington has many unique powers, one of which allows him to turn even the most powerful beings into a harmless flower.

In the Disgaea manga, Lamington is a lot more laid back and is somewhat more immature. When he appears, he is usually in the middle of doing normal tasks like baking cakes and eating them. He, like the main characters, also mistakens Vulcanus' mustache for nose hair.

===Makai Senki Disgaea===
In the anime, which is meant to be a sort of combination between both the good and bad endings of the original Disgaea, Lamington survives, as Laharl stays his blade and rage moments before dealing the deathblow.

==Vulcanus==
'''Age:''' 3649 
'''Class:''' Angel (Archangel) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hironori Miyata]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

Unlike Flonne, Vulcanus is a full-fledge angel of Celestia (where as Flonne is a trainee), and exceedingly higher in rank. He is an archangel, who serves Seraph Lamington as the second-in-command. However, unlike Flonne and Lamington, his ideals and methods are much more extreme. His hot temper contrasts Lamington's stoic nature, often calling Lamington's name and scolding him for letting things go. He holds demons in contempt and believes that humans are too stupid to live without the guidance of angels. He believes that angels are the only source of good as opposed to Flonne's ideals that every being has love in their hearts. Despite being an angel, Vulcanus isn't above getting dirty. In fact, Vulcanus can and will go to the level of demons and lie, cheat, and eliminate anything (demon or not) that may interfere with his goals. In the end, he confronts Lamington, and his deceptions are revealed. He is transformed into a flower as punishment for his sins (he is later seen in the credits taking lessons about love from Flonne which implies he was changed back.) In the anime, his punishment is to be turned into a frog for 1000 years.

In the manga, when Vulcanus learns that Lamington's views on demons differ from his, Vulcanus gathers several angels and stages a revolt. The angels on Lamington's side alongside Laharl face Vulcanus and the battle ends with Flonne dropping a rock on his head. Most of the other characters tend to mistake his mustache for nose hair.

In the PSP version's Etna Mode, Vulcanus poses as "God" and tricks Flonne into trying to kill Etna. He also tried to use Maderas to kill both Etna and Flonne and when he failed, Vulcanus kills Maderas and proceeds to battle with Etna and Flonne. After the battle, Vulcanus is teleported away by Lamington and, according to Mid Boss, will be punished for his actions.

==Minor characters in Disgaea==
====Big Sis Prinny====
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' [[Prinny]]. A human witch prior to her death. 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor''' [[Paula Tiso]]

This prinny is a sort of mother-figure to the other prinnies, set apart from the others by her pink color and the absence of the word 'dood' when she normally speaks. At a later point in ''Disgaea'', she is revealed to be Laharl's mother, who was turned into a Prinny for the highest sin—giving up her own life to save her son.

There is not much known about Laharl's mother, but like Flonne, she was an eccentric human who felt that demons could love and tried to force this ideal upon Laharl, often punishing him when he misbehaved. According to Etna's diary, Krichevskoy loved her very much, but this made Etna very jealous, causing her to secretly hate both Laharl and his mother. However, when Laharl contracted a mysterious disease, his mother sacrificed her life to save him. This act, however, became his reason for hating love so much.

===Hoggmeiser===
Hoggmeiser is the former vassal of the late King Krichevskoy. Upon Krichevskoy's death, Hoggmeiser stole huge amounts of treasure from the Overlord's castle, and built his own mansion with that fortune. Laharl and his group meet Hoggmeiser when Laharl decides to rob "the richest demon around." After numerous battles in Hoggmeiser's mansion, Hoggmeiser's son, Porkmeister, puts himself between Laharl and Hoggmeiser. Laharl decides not to kill Hoggmeiser, and, touched by Laharl's kindness, Hoggmeiser joins his group without the player's consent. Note that prior to the release of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Porkmeister was simply known as Hoggmeiser's son and is only given a name when he appeared in Afternoon of Darkness' Etna mode.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed fifty allies before beating the Lavish Hall in Episode 3, Laharl will be able to choose to kill Hoggmeiser. If he chooses not to, the typical sequence with Hoggmeiser's son is initiated. If he does choose to kill Hoggmeiser, Flonne then attempts to stop Laharl, and the game ends, with it heavily implied that Laharl killed Flonne; however, in the Disgaea artbook by Broccoli Books, it's stated that Flonne had defeated Laharl with her "burning flame of justice".

Hoggmeiser is mentioned in [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], as he has his own financial firm. The player may receive a small HL increase if Hoggmeiser is called on his Cell Phone.

In the anime, his son hates his father for being so obsessed with money and becoming the Overlord, and leads Laharl and the rest to his castle. When Hoggmeiser is about to be killed, his son tries to protect his father and reveals that he wanted his caring father back. Hoggmeiser apologizes for neglecting his son and Laharl teleports the two somewhere else. In the anime, Hoggmeiser and his son retain their original Japanese names: Zenisuki and Koganesuki.

===Maderas===
Originally, Maderas was a vassal for King Krichevskoy, only to be exiled after stealing Krichevskoy's black pretzels. Maderas is one of the many demons competing for the throne. His biggest edge is that he stole Etna's memories, dangling the promise of their return over her head so she would work for him. Using Etna, he arranged Laharl's initial poisoning. After the poison failed, he designed a plan to kill Laharl by exploiting his weaknesses, which involved using his demon henchman to either yell out highly optimistic things, (I.E. Eternal love, world peace,) or bring out Succubi and their attractive bodies. Laharl is susceptible to both, even affecting his strength in-game. This fails, and he is defeated by him later on. After being spared by Etna, he decides to work under her as her vassal.

In an alternative situation, if the player had killed one hundred allies before beating Maderas, Etna can choose to kill him. If she chooses not to, the typical sequence is initiated. If Etna does kill Maderas, Flonne would try to stop Etna, Etna easily distracts Flonne and kills Flonne. Later, she starts to plan to also kill Laharl and becoming the Heroine, after that the game ends with Etna as the "Demon Lord" or "Beauty Queen".

His role in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness' Etna Mode isn't very different from the original story in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. However, toward the end of Etna Mode, he is killed by Vulcanus after being bested by Etna.

The anime changed his personality to make him very effeminate. He also steals only Etna's embarrassing memories to force her into betraying Laharl and Flonne.

===General Carter===
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Bob Papenbrook]]

General Carter is the adoptive father of Jennifer and the acting leader of Earth. Under the guidance of Archangel Vulcanus, he sends Gordon, Jennifer, and Thursday to act as a beacon for the Earth forces to invade the Netherworld for colonization. Despite his good intentions for Earth, Carter is willing to sacrifice many lives to achieve his goals, including the lives of his daughter and the Defender of Earth, both of whom turn on him once they realize his true intention. After the invasion fails, he flees back to Earth. He later is shown to take classes about love from Flonne.

In an alternate situation, Laharl invades Earth in the hope of taking it over. Carter transforms into "Astro Carter" to battle him and his cohorts. He is then killed by Laharl who proceeds to take over the Earth.

===Aramis===
Aramis is a resident child in Laharl's kingdom whom Etna manipulates to make Laharl prove himself worthy of ruling. He owns many pet zombies. His favorite among them is a special combination of many parts, which, inexplicably, instills fear in Laharl (specifically the "horse wiener". It like the other parts Aramis mentions can be stolen from the zombie). After the ordeal, Aramis enters service as Laharl's vassal.

==Adell==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon, but believes to be human throughout the entire game (Demon Hunter) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hikaru Midorikawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Shiloh Strong]]

The main character of Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories. Adell is the only human left on Veldime, and has been training for years to defeat Zenon and lift the curse. Courageous and determined, Adell dislikes demons and lies, and will never back down from any challenge or resort to dirty tactics as it is not his style. His love for challenging fights is taken to the extreme at times, earning him the name "battle maniac" from Rozalin. He is nice to those he cares about and will never ever break a promise, as it is once again not his style. He initially dislikes women and demons, (In the Colosseum chapter, Adell says "This is the reason I don't like girls." when faced with the Prophet, Elenor. Apparently, she is also the reason for the two scars on Adell's face.) especially due to the way Rozalin treats him, but his attitude changes over the course of the game. Even though he prefers to use his fists to solve problems, he is in fact quite intelligent, as was proven when Adell solved a Geo Puzzle within seconds that took the Geo Master years to create. His parents left him as a child, and in the beginning, he wished only to know more about them (as was revealed when Adell and the gang faced Elenor in the tournament) but later grew to resent them. He never knew that his parents were the Masked Man, Shura, and the Masked Woman, Serion, even though they did tell him that they were being forced to act against their will (when Adell faced them on his way to defeat "Overlord Zenon") and the fact that the Masked Woman had repeatedly helped him throughout his adventures (saying once that she doesn't know why, she just feels that she must).

In the good ending, it is assumed that Adell and Rozalin have truly fallen in love with each other, although the kiss Adell gives her causes Rozalin to react violently in a comedic [[tsundere]]-like way. However, should the player receive the worst ending, Adell is forced to kill Rozalin and soon falls prey to the soul of the real Zenon. After the credit's roll it is unknown what happens but vocal sound makes it seem as though Adell has been completely take over by Zenon and he is either devouring or ripping to shreds Taro and Hanako, uttering "I am a being of solitude".

Adell was not affected by Zenon's curse because the curse feeds off the human conscience. Adell is actually pure-blooded demon. (The Masked Man and Woman are demons, and they are his parents.) When the Fake Overlord Zenon is defeated by the real one, she immediately blasts Adell, with the words "You are also my enemy, child of Sin".

However, he shows no physical or mental signs of his demon heritage. His ears are never revealed since the humanoid demons of the Disgaea universe have pointed ears, and it would be a dead give-away of his true nature. He is also stated to be human at many parts of the game, such as when the Fake Zenon mistakenly referred to him as an 'Altered Human', believing him to have been affected by the curse.

In several of the extra battles, his demon heritage becomes a running joke. In particular, when he obtains the Demon Lord (from defeating Etna early in the game) and the Badass Overlord (from defeating Zetta) titles, Rozalin asks Adell if he truly is human. Adell, of course, angrily denies it, saying he never wanted the title to begin with.

===Other Appearances===
In Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, Adell makes a cameo appearance in the DemonHall Mirror stage. Here he fights Laharl twice: once alone and later with Rozalin. He also appears occasionally as a neutral ally in Afternoon of Darkness' multiplayer mode.

Adell, along with Rozalin, is also available in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice in a downloadable stage and will join once completed.

==Rozalin==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Demon (Zenon's Child) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Yukari Tamura]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

The one and only daughter of Overlord Zenon. Rozalin was summoned during a failed attempt by Adell's mother to summon Zenon (which when looked back on was actually successful). Due to the summoning contract placed on her, she is unable to leave Adell and must help him find Zenon. Incredibly snobby, Rozalin is unaware of the world around her due to her pampered life, with her books being her sole source of information. Because of this, she has no battle experience and tries (and fails) to get Adell killed indirectly on several occasions. In addition, Adell's strong vow to bring her back to her father begins to make her think differently.

It turns out that she is the real Zenon, who reincarnated into her current form and that her "father" is an imposter seeking revenge on her. It is believed that Rozalin was originally born into the Snow Clan and that the fake Overlord Zenon took her away when he destroyed it. This is supported by Yukimaru's observation of Rozalin's eyes. The Disgaea 2 Artbook supports this as well, with an (unused, presumably) picture of Rozalin's mother in the character section, complete with an adjoining Baby Rozy sketch. The real Overlord Zenon constantly utters the phrase "I am a being of solitude."

Throughout the game, Rozalin claims that the four-leaf clover seal, which differs from the three-leaf clover that marks the cursed humans, is the symbol that marks her bond with her father. However, it is later revealed that the seal actually prevents the real Zenon from awakening and it can be broken by force (Laharl destroys it after the player loses to him) or by her own will (The voice of the real Zenon persuaded her into doing it). However, Adell was able to bring back Rozalin twice throughout the game, once by reminding her of who she is and later showing her affection. The seal seems to also have a great deal of power as its mere presence causes Prier to flee as well as awaken Baal.

===Other Appearances===
Like Adell, Rozalin makes a cameo appearance in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness in the Demonhall Mirror stage. After defeating Adell the first time, she appears before Laharl and Etna, Etna remarking that she might be upset that they defeated Adell. Adell accompanies her in the battle.

Also like Adell, she appears in a downloadable stage in Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice and is playable once defeated.

==Taro==
'''Age:''' 11 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Rozalin's servant) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Wendee Lee]]

Adell's eleven-year old brother. He and his younger sister Hanako are demons, having been born after their parents were cursed. He has a set of horns, as well as clothing that looks cow-like. He starts to admire Rozalin soon after meeting her, and refers to her as Princess. He is not as confident as the other characters, but he tries to help as much as he can. He is also commonly referred to as Tardo (Taro-chan in Japanese) by his sister, Hanako.

It should be noted that Taro and his sister where born after the 'curse' affected everyone. As their parents were demons at that time, they were born full-fledged demons, and therefore, stay that way even when the curse was lifted.

His design is very 'cow-like', which include his horns, his cow print apron or shirt, and his milk-based attacks.

While he isn't present after the credits at the end of the game, Hanako is writing to him from the Netherworld.

==Hanako==
'''Age:''' 9 
'''Class:''' Demon born of humans affected by Zenon's curse (Adell's Sister) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]]

Adell and Taro's younger sister. She is bothersome and very cocky, constantly wishing that Adell would take her with him when he goes out to fight. She has great culinary skill as her cooking tops even the greatest of chefs. She also uses her cooking pot as a weapon. Throughout the adventures she does manage to have with Adell, it is proven that she has a wealth of random knowledge, which she obtained from reading her father's many books. She adores Etna and wants to be a Demon Lord like her one day, but also wishes to be sexier than her.

Like her brother, Hanako was born after the curse affected her parents, meaning she was born as a demon, and does not change to a human when the curse was lifted. This is further accented by the fact that she wants to be a demon lord, and being a human would mean she would have little power.

At the end of Disgaea 2 (Good Ending), she became Etna's "Student" and serves Laharl with her.

==Tink==
'''Age:''' 15 
'''Class:''' Frog, originally a demon (Dirty Frog) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Dave Wittenberg]]

A servant of Overlord Zenon and a childhood friend of Rozalin. After a mysterious person (Fubuki) attacked Zenon's Castle, he was transformed into a frog. Tink has two forms. In his normal blue form, he is usually very polite, yet very cowardly. On occasion, he will transform into his red form. In this form, he is lecherous and rude, known for causing trouble wherever he goes. In order for him to revert to his blue form, one must chant the words Drak-Tink-Mahalak.

During battle, Tink has the ability to switch between his two forms at will using his Special Abilities. At the end of the game, Tink's true form is shown in an image during the credits.

By the end of the game, Tink returns to his true form.

==Mom & Dad==
Adell, Taro, and Hanako's parents. Zenon's curse branded Mom with a third eye on her forehead, as well as a purple tail. Dad gained some sort of creature on his chest referred to as a "pimple", as well as gray skin, a horn on his head and longer than average arms. (The Disgaea 2 manga describes him as a demon zombie without the stench.) Mom is very caring, though at the same time somewhat demented due to Zenon's curse affecting her mind. She is very skilled at summoning, though her recent attempt at a summoning failed to summon Zenon (although in hindsight, it *did* work due to Rozalin being Zenon reborn). She is very talented summoner, but because of Zenon's curse, no one knows why she has this ability. Dad is more pitiful in his new condition, but still very friendly and worries about everyone despite knowing that everyone but Adell is a demon.

After the curse gets stronger in Chapter 9, while Adell and the others are out to find Etna, Dad's pimple begins to talk (in the first volume of the Disgaea 2 manga, it seems to be able to speak on its own) but it always speaks in lecherous terms (stating that it wanted to grow between the breasts of a swimsuit model), and after the curse gets even stronger, Dad's soul switches with his own pimple. After this switch, Dad (which is controlled by the pimple) continues its dirty remarks, saying things such as "I love boobies!", which, as it is, Mom doesn't mind this switch.

==Yukimaru==
'''Age:''' 20 
'''Class:''' Demon ([[Kunoichi]]) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kana Ueda]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lara Jill Miller]]

One of the surviving members of the Snow Clan. Yukimaru is a skilled ninja at the age of twenty, looking to defeat Zenon and avenge the destruction of her clan. While she is skilled, she has little confidence in herself, and may try to commit suicide if she is unable to complete her mission. However, the time she spends with Adell and the rest helps her to become more confident in herself, allowing her to confront her brother Fubuki. Yukimaru ends her sentences with the word 'zam' as a way of storing ki. 'De gozaru' was the original phrase in the Japanese version. The phrase 'de gozaru' is famous for being used by samurai and ronin and also ninja. It is a form of de gozaimasu, showing respect for the person who is talked to.

==Fubuki==
'''Class:''' Demon (Ninja Master) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Takehito Koyasu]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Kirk Thornton]]

Yukimaru's brother. A mysterious ninja bent on defeating Zenon in order to avenge the Snow Clan. A skilled ninja, Fubuki is cold hearted and will do anything to destroy Zenon. He is especially skilled in the art of transformation, being able to transform into a Prinny or even Yukimaru and was responsible for transforming Tink into a frog.

Yukimaru later states that due to Fake Zenon's attack on the Snow Clan, Fubuki was blinded. This is shown in his character art, and he even states it (though it was in the guise of Yukimaru at the Coliseum "Even though my eyes see no light, my heart sees everything.")

==Axel==
'''Age:''' 2188 
'''Class:''' Demon (Dark Hero) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Nobuyuki Hiyama]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Grant George]]

A demon who prides himself over once being popular. Axel was once a famous demon action hero and rock star known by many as the Dark Hero, a mastermind of evil. Unfortunately, he is now a reporter for a travel show called Tripping with Axel. Despite this new role, Axel will occasionally try to add action scenes to the show, much to the director's dismay. However, after being defeated by Adell, he is proclaimed dead. Both he and the director spend half the game trying to prove that he is alive and can become popular once again. After he reveals Overlord Zenon's existence following the colliseum tournament's end, he is given a job as a newscaster on Usagi-san and Plenair's news program. However, his director claims he lost the "soul of the Dark Hero" during his brief stint as a newscaster, doing things that could be considered honorable, such as holding charity concerts. He realizes this at the last moment, and holds off the multitude of overlords from other dimensions seeking to defeat Overlord Zenon while Adell and his group fight Overlord Zenon. He claims that Overlord Zenon was all a hoax after Overlord Zenon is defeated, and shortly becomes very popular again (Although he is supposedly punished for it according to the news program).

The original romanization of his name is Akutare. The name of Axel's band, however, is Akutare according to the North American localization. Whenever Axel is summoned into battle via cell phone (and occasionally in stages where he is the boss or part of the storyline) the background music changes to his theme, a song called "White Tiger."

In Disgaea 3, Axel appears to be acting out a detective show when he is confronted by Mao and the others. He claims to have had his stardom stolen and quickly places the blame on Mao. After being defeated, he forces himself into Mao's party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

==Overlord Zenon==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon (God of Overlords) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Norio Wakamoto]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Lex Lang]]

Feared as the God of All Overlords who single-handedly defeated 99 rival Overlords in one day and has been known to have killed over 1000 all together. Due to the numerous enemies looking to kill him, Zenon constantly hides himself. An Overlord known for his cruelty, Zenon is responsible for the curse on Veldime that turned its inhabitants into demons and the destruction of the Snow Clan. Rozalin, his daughter, is constantly spoiled by him as he showers her with gifts.

Towards the end of the game, he is revealed to be an imposter and that the curse he placed on Veldime is what gives him his power. The stronger the curse he places on the humans, the greater his power becomes, but at the cost of the humans becoming savage. The real Overlord Zenon is Rozalin, whom he has been seeking revenge upon.

==Minor characters in Disgaea 2==
===The Director===
The Director of Axel's show. He goes wherever Axel goes, following him everywhere. Bears a resemblance to Steven Spielberg. Like a stereotypical Hollywood director, he sometimes addresses Axel as "Axel darling."

===Axel's Family===
A family of 6 people who live in Axel's home world. The family includes his mother, four little brothers and sisters, and a hellcat.

===The Invincible Heroes===
A group of Heroes that have their first match with Adell's group in the Battle Tournament. Only called invincible as their battles are 0-0-0: zero wins, zero losses and zero draws, making them technically undefeated.

===Old Man Geo===
A wise old man that creates Geo Panels. He was beaten by Adell's group in the Battle Tournament and gave Adell's group a remedy that is later used to help Fubuki.

===Elenor and the soul takers===
Years ago, Adell made a deal with Elenor to find out who his real parents were; however, he was tricked by her, and she gave him the scars on his face. Years later, she came back after his soul. This time around, her team was beaten by Adell's group.

===Masked Man & Masked Woman===
Zenon's servants. Nothing is known about them except that they are obedient to Zenon. After hearing that Rozalin disappeared, Zenon sends them out to find her and eliminate those who caused her disappearance. It's fairly rare that one is seen without the other, though the Masked Man is usually noted as being Zenon's right hand demon, being the one who gives Zenon the report that Rozalin went missing and other amounts of information.

The masked woman first encounters the group in Chapter 5, attempting to instruct Rozalin to return to her mansion. She later appears in Chapter 6, promising Rozalin that she won't tell Zenon about her appearance at the Battle Arena. Her next appearance is at the ends of Chapter 7 and 8,giving the whereabouts of Zenon and urging the group to escape while Zenon is battling Etna respectively. She begins to question their role during Chapter 9 onward after having met Adell.

They both appear near the end of Chapter 12, where they urge Adell's to defeat them in order to remove the seal that keeps their memories suppressed. The Masked Man is immune to physical attacks, while the Masked Woman has immunity to magic.

Shura & Serion are their true names and they are Adell's real parents. Serion (Masked Woman) explains that they were demons from another netherworld who escaped to Veldime in order to escape a power war.

Even though the humans of Veldime knew they were demons, Shura and Serion were welcomed in, and they swore to live as humans and help defend the people of Holt Village.

When the Fake Zenon came to invade Veldime, they entrusted everything they had (their son, Adell) to their best friends (Mom and Dad) before transforming into demons to face the Fake Zenon. Despite their attempt, they were defeated and placed under his seal, becoming his servants.

==Mao==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Honor Student) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiromi Hirata]] 
''' English Voice Actor:''' [[Vic Mignogna]]

Mao is the main character of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice. He is the son of the dean of Nether School Evil Academy and the Academy's top Honor Student, a title bestowed upon students who don't attend class and commit acts of villainy or various other evil deeds from thievery to not washing his hands. As the heir to the throne, Mao wants to defeat his father and gain the title of Overlord for himself and he hopes that his research on the power of hero will do so. He steals the title of a hero from Almaz to gain this power, but as soon as he realizes that Almaz is not really a hero, he spends much of the game trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

Mao is an ambitious demon who tries to make use of his research in order to defeat his father. With his 1.8 million EQ, which he constantly boasts about, Mao tries to calculate each and every step he takes toward achieving his goals though at times he can be a little too overzealous and when something goes wrong, he will always question how his perfect calculations could be off. Despite his hatred towards heroes, he realizes that the power of a hero has the power to defeat an Overlord through his research of anime, comic books, and video games. He realizes that "love" is a source of a hero's power and is curious to figure out what it is. When something interests him, such as Almaz's transformation into a demon, he will be ecstatic, shown by him drooling and his glasses fogging, and if he can't figure anything out through research, he will experiment on his subject by either dissecting it or modifying it. Though he is the top Honor Student, thus one of the most evil students in Evil Academy, he constantly follows his own rules if he finds it necessary in order to fulfill his goals, including attending class or opening his heart, both of which are unfavorable among most Honor Students.

Throughout the story, he is shown to hate his father, the Overlord, very much, the destruction of Mao's [[Playstation Portable|Slaystation Portable]] with his 4 million hour save file being his primary reason, among eighteen other things destroyed by his father. However, toward the end of the game, it is shown that he truly respected him, calling him the "strongest, most evil, and simply the best Overlord to rule the Netherworld". Unfortunately, much of the trauma in Mao's heart is due to him being the cause of his death as he told Super Hero Aurum how to defeat him and it is later revealed that Mao's father refused to use his ultimate attack on Aurum due to Mao being nearby. Because of this, Mao developed a strong hatred toward Aurum and even tried to destroy the human world to inflict psychological damage on him. However, this same trauma and hatred becomes the source of his more frighteningly evil powers and Aurum tries to take advantage of this in order to transform him into the most evil and powerful Overlord. If the player receives the bad ending, Mao is engulfed by this power and not only destroys Aurum and the Human world, but Celestia and the Netherworld are destroyed as well. However, if the player receieves the good ending, Mao reconciles with his father and becomes the Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy.

===Mao's Heart===
Most of the demons in Evil Academy store their hearts in the Netherworld Heart Bank, which keeps a demon's secrets and true feelings stored away so that demons can perform acts of evil without restraint. As soon as Mao realizes that Almaz's title is worthless, he makes several trips into the Heart Bank in order to remove the title. Within the Heart Bank, the characters often find items related to Mao's past or residents that make up Mao's personality. The most important ones look like palette-swapped versions of Mao.

'''Mao's True Heart''': Represents Mao's true feelings, differentiated from Mao by his calm tone of voice and green eyes and jacket. He is the gatekeeper of the Heart Vault in the deepest part of Mao's heart. Unlike Mao, he is often patient in dealing with others, including Mao himself. He tells Mao that no matter how much he claims he wants his heart to open, it will never open unless he truly wills it to. His appearance toward the end of the game will depend on the ending the player aims for. In the bad ending, he makes one final attempt to stop Mao from destroying the Human world only to fail. If the player aims for a good ending, he, under the assumption that he is Mao, will appear before Almaz after his death to return his title, calling Almaz his friend.

'''Dark Mao''': Represents all the darkness and hatred in Mao's heart, differentiated by his deep evil tone and purple eyes and jacket. He is available in the game as one of the NPCs in Mao's heart, telling Mao to let him out or to simply annoy him. During bouts of extreme anger and rage, Mao will make use of his evil powers, which is shown in the bad ending to be powerful enough to wipe out the Netherworld, Celestia, and the Human World. However, if the player aims for the good ending, he will appear outside of Mao's body and try to take it over himself, only to be defeated.

'''Saucy Mao''': Represents the part of Mao that likes hot sauce, differentiated by their french accents and orange eyes and jacket and appear in groups. They, like Mao, believe that hot sauce should always be used in eggs and that anyone who uses salt and pepper must be killed. As soon as they sense this from Almaz, they attempt to kill him, but Mao is able to destroy them. However, their defeat causes Mao to suddenly hate hot sauce.

'''Mao Who Says Dad''': Represents the part of Mao that is traumatized by the death of his father, differentiated by their green eyes and jacket and like the Saucy Maos, appear in groups. They constantly utter the word "Dad", which really bothers Mao. Unlike the Saucy Maos, though, their defeat does not cause the removal of Mao's trauma.

'''Savvy Mao''': Differentiated by his blue eyes and jacket. Tries to prevent Mao from returning to his normal self after Almaz pulled the plug on his heart, not wanting Mao's heart to continuing living with a scar or being hurt again. However, Raspberyl believed that Mao should return to the way he was, believing that Mao is not the type to run away from his past scars. She, alongside Almaz, defeats him and helps Almaz return Mao to his normal self.

==Almaz von Almadine Adamant==
'''Age:''' 18 
'''Class:''' Human (Hero/Ever changing Demon titles) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Hiro Shimono]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Johnny Yong Bosch]]

Almaz is a human from the Human World, who carries the title of a hero. He was originally a guardsman who wanted nothing more than to protect Princess Sapphire, whom he has a crush on. Once it is believed that Sapphire will one day be kidnapped by the Overlord, Almaz makes it his duty to become a hero and defeat the Overlord before he can kidnap her. However, he gets his hero title stolen by Mao and is forced to join the demons as Mao's slave. Mao calculates that Almaz has 666 hours before he becomes full-fledged demon, so he tries his best to get Mao to open his heart in order to get his title back and become a human again.

Almaz adores heroes and knows everything about them. He is especially passionate about the legendary hero, Super Hero Aurum, to the point where owns most of the merchandise related to Aurum and recites his codes which include "No matter what trouble awaits, a hero must stand, face forward, against it!" Unfortunately, Almaz has a hard time acting according to these codes as he is a coward, not very confident, and very unlucky. Also, despite having a hero title, he never became a hero to begin with and is constantly called a fake hero once Mao and the others become aware of this. Because Mao made him his servant, he is constantly at the mercy of Mao's orders and research. However, despite being cowardly, he has a good heart. As a guardsman under Sapphire when her mother died and everyone believed her to be uncaring, Almaz believed that Sapphire cutting her hair was a way to show that she did care about her mother's death. As he spent his time with Mao and the other demons, he was able to see that demons are not so evil and views Mao as a friend in need of help, no matter how much denies it. He is also very selfless as he will try to protect others, especially Sapphire, without any regard for his own safety and will try to cover up the pain he is going through in order to keep his friends from worrying about him.

If the player succeeds in getting the Human World ending, then Almaz, who was cursed in a previous episode, dies, unable to prevent Mao from wreaking havoc on the Human World. If the player doesn't fulfill the requirements for the Human World ending, however, he is revived after everyone, including Mao, begs for Almaz to return to life. When he comes back to life, he becomes human once again and regains his hero title, now considered a full-fledged hero. He also faces Aurum, knowing that the Aurum before him is not the same hero he once idolized. If the player defeats Aurum with Almaz alone, he faces Mao in a one-on-one duel and is granted the title of Overlord against his will, causing everyone to abandon him in hopes of defeating him. In the good endings, however, after returning to the Human World, he is married to Princess Sapphire. However, he quickly returns to the Netherworld with Sapphire as part of their honeymoon. According to him, despite being married, he and Sapphire haven't even held hands.

==Raspberyl==
'''Age:''' 1578 
'''Class:''' Demon (Evil Academy Delinquent/Valedictorian) 
'''Nickname:''' Beryl 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Laura Bailey (voice actress)|Laura Bailey]]

Raspberyl is Mao's childhood friend and the number one delinquent of Evil Academy, a title bestowed upon demons who get to class on time, does their homework, and performs good deeds like taking out the trash or donating blood. She considers herself to be Evil Academy's badass and is followed by her subordinates Asuka and Kyoko. Because of her position as the number one delinquent, she is usually worried about her not standing out as much if someone were to perform delinquent acts or head down a road that would lead to delinquency, which is why she tries to stop Mao from become a hero. However, throughout the game, she shows that she genuinely cares for Mao and tries to help him and Almaz whenever she can.

Raspberyl claimed that she once followed the path of an Honor Student, however, she believed that becoming a delinquent was her unique way of proving that she is a badass. She isn't liked by most demons for the way she carries herself and she is even targeted by the School Board President and the PTA, though some, such as the Vato Bros., do actually like her and Mao does come to her rescue despite him claiming that he is doing it to defeat the School Board President. She will never shy away from delinquency, even during a fight, often beginning a fight by talking her opponent out of one and ending one if it conflicts with her classes. However, her concern for Mao is one of her priorities. In the middle of the game, she actually skips a class when there is trouble in Mao's heart. She rushes to help Mao if his ideas go beyond the evil of an Honor Student and even prevents the darkness in Mao's from taking over him. Raspberyl also gets ecstatic when she meets a hero, whom she regards as super rare spawns and will ask for their autographs.

When she decides to skip class to help Mao, Mr. Champloo appears before her to tell her that Evil Academy has decided to make her, Asuka, and Kyoko graduates in an attempt to get rid of them. As the first and one of the only graduates of Evil Academy, she is free to help Mao whenever she feels like it and spends much of the game with him, Almaz, and Sapphire. In the Human World ending, she tries to save Mao from being consumed by the darkness in his heart after realizing her mistake in not believing him, only to be killed by Aurum. In the good ending, however, she watches Mao as he becomes Overlord and Dean of Evil Academy and accompanies him when he searches for the legendary Overlord.

==Sapphire Rhodonite==
'''Age:''' 17 
'''Class:''' Human (Robust Princess) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Akiko Hasegawa]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Stephanie Sheh]] 
Sapphire is a princess from the Human World, an Evil Academy transfer student, and the object of Almaz's affection. Because of her position as a princess, there is always the fear of her one day being kidnapped by the Overlord. Believing that it would be best to strike first before the Overlord attempts to kidnap her, Sapphire enters the Academy as a transfer student to defeat the Overlord, though her priority soon becomes opening Mao's heart and returning Almaz's hero title to him.

Sapphire, while a beautiful princess, is much more robust in her way of dealing with the various situations that present themselves in the game. She always chooses to act rather than wait around, even going as far as using violence if she feels it is necessary as seen when she pulls out a chainsaw to open Mao's heart. Her motto is "First to strike, first to win", thus she enrolls into the Academy in order to learn more about demons and defeat the Overlord before he can destroy her kingdom and kidnap her. She is also known for inability to cry even when her parents and many of her subjects died. However, this is not to be confused with heartlessness. Despite her use of violence, she does believe in the codes of Super Hero Aurum and tries to help others as much as she can. When Almaz has second thoughts about helping Mao return to his normal self, she hits Almaz, telling him that he's being a pitiful coward who won't help Mao even when the code of Aurum states to help those who are in need. Her inability to cry was never something she wanted as well. She tells Almaz that she just cannot cry when someone dies, and it brings her so much pain that she can't even shed a tear. Even though she is known for taking down many demons, she still has a feminine side. She loves cutesy things, including Raspberyl, and would hug it without a second thought.

Though it seems like Sapphire is oblivious to Almaz's feelings, and in many ways she is, she does really care for Almaz. When her mother died and everyone believed her to be heartless, Almaz believed that Sapphire was not as heartless as she seemed, that she cut her hair as a way of grieving for her mother when she cannot cry. When Almaz protects her from being ineffected by an incurable curse, she is constantly looking out for him, but he would always tell her that he was alright. When Almaz dies, she is visibly hurt by both his refusal to tell her and his passing away, though at first she is unable to shed a tear for him. If player follows the requirements for the Human World ending, she faces Mao one last time, fighting for the memory of Almaz. If the player does not follow the requirements, Almaz returns to life and she finally sheds tears for him, tears of joy. She then joins Mao and Almaz as they face Super Hero Aurum. If the player receieves the Almaz ending, she leaves Almaz as his position as the Overlord means he will destroy the kingdom and kidnap her and so must prepare for their inevitable battle despite Almaz's refusal in becoming an Overlord. If the player receives either of the good endings, she returns to the Human World, becomes the queen, and is married to Almaz. She and Almaz immediately return to the Netherworld for their honeymoon.

==Mr.Champloo==
'''Age:''' 3442 
'''Class:''' Demon (Chef) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Keiichi Kuwabara]]

Mr. Champloo is the Home Economics teacher at Evil Academy and the master of Fire Chaos Style Kitchen Fist martial arts. He is an unlicensed teacher and remained a mystery for quite some time with his class dwelling within the dangerous old school building. However, after meeting Mao and witnessing several strange occurances in Evil Academy, he leaves his class behind and joins Mao.

Mr. Champloo has a strong passion for cooking as well as the heart. In fact, he believes that just as it takes a strong heart to cook up a good meal, it takes a strong heart to overcome any obstacle and he will usually try to convey that to Almaz and Mao. Unfortunately, when he tries to do so, he will frequently use cooking metaphors making much of what he says seem ambiguous, cryptic, or simply not make any sense, though it is mainly good advice. Often times, he will appear before others to give his speech and then suddenly disappear in a puff of smoke, even going as far as mysteriously appearing in someone else's monolgues or thoughts. As a Home Economics teacher, he is very hard on his students when they are unable to possess a strong heart. He also believes in the idea of demons having the freedom to choose whatever path they wished to pursue and not force demons into becoming Honor Students or Deliquents like most demons.

Though the mystery of the Home Economics teacher is solved, Mr. Champloo's true identity is never revealed. When asked who he really is, he always claim to be nothing more than a chef and the Home Economics teacher. What is known about him is that he may have been acquainted with the Dean and Overlord of Evil Academy and knew about the Dean's death as well as what happened to Mao. Champloo, under the orders of the Overlord, watched over the Academy as an undercover teacher and looked into any problems the Academy faced. He also believed in the Overlord's wish for a peaceful Netherworld where demons could live carefree.

It should be noted that Mr. Champloo's design is reminiscent of the Makai Chef's in [[Makai Kingdom]] though there are clear distinctions between his design and that of the Makai Chef's.

==Geoffery==
'''Age:''' Unknown 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Gorou Kubota]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Dan Woren]]

This old gentleman demon is very loyal to Mao, known to become over protective of him in certain situations. He's known to cover his failures by laughing them off and seems to be keeping a few secrets himself. His future goal is to watch and help Mao grow up to be a great Overlord. His dislikes involve any people who get in the way of that. There have been demons who say he's even stronger than Mao. Jiiya was the one who found Almaz in the demon world and brought him to Mao in order to help achieve his goal. He is willing to do anything in order to make Mao's dream a reality.

==Kyoko Needleworker==
'''Age:''' 1584 
'''Class:''' Demon (Kunoichi) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Shizuka Arai]] 
'''English Voice Actor:'''
[[Lara Jill Miller]]

Kyoko is subordinate #2 of Raspberyl. She's devoted to Raspberyl and calls her "oneesama" (big sister). Since Raspberyl has pink as her main color, Lilian covers herself in brilliant pink clothing. She takes the roll of the Explanation character, and seems to know everything about the school's history. A female ninja known as "Lilian of Strength", her dream is to help Raspberyl become the Legendary Delinquent. She really hates brutality and will immediately attack an offender by throwing knives, among her many other weapons. Her policy is to fight fair and square, never attacking during the night. Rather she will challenge opponents in broad daylight, hoping for a good fight.

==Asuka of the Paper Cranes/Asuka Cranekick==
'''Age:''' 1593 
'''Class:''' Demon (Delinquent Samurai) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Natsuki Kousaka]]

Asuka is the very loyal subordinate #1 of Raspberyl and addresses her as "oujousama" (my lady). She also happens to be the daughter of a high-class family. Her hobby is to send 1,000 paper cranes to opponents she wounds in battle, as a get well gesture. This has earned her the nickname of "Asuka of the Paper Cranes". Asuka dislikes brutality as well as Lillian, though she will still fight for what she believes in. If she witnesses someone committing an act of brutality, she will punish the person. Her dream is to send a thousand paper cranes to a prince who has fallen from a white horse. This is her form of love.

==Master Big Star/Bigster ==

'''Age:''' 2764 
'''Class:''' Demon (Sophomore Leader) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chihiro Suzuki]] 
'''English Voice Actor:''' [[Liam O'Brien]]

Master Big Star is the charismatic leader of Evil Academy's sophomore class, who loves his subordinates, whom he regards as friends. The "Master" is part of his real name. He has an elegant bearing overflowing with refinement, but he actually has a strong belief as a leader. He believes in the idea of having strong friends and that his belief in his comerades would bring out the best in his friends, while at the same time, their belief in him as their leader would bring out his best. He joins Mao twice throughout the main story, the second time helping him overcome the darkness in his heart and helping Mao defeat Aurum.

After the main story is completed, Mao and the rest find Big Star's name changed to "Master Bigster" as someone stole the space between "Big" and "Star" as well as the 'a' in Star, thus he had to purchase an 'e' as a replacement (since he didn't have enough to buy a replacement 'a' and space). After being defeated by Mao, he agrees to join Mao and the rest in the search of the thief, later revealed to be the legendary Overlord.

== Salvatore the Magnificent==

'''Age:''' 2666 
'''Class:''' Demon 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Miho Yamada]]

Salvatore is one of Evil Academy's Diez Gentlemen, a legendary group of Seniors who are usually never seen among Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Throughout the game, she and some of the Diez Gentlemen follow the orders of their unknown leader.

Salvatore is very strict and militaristic. In battle, she barks orders at her squads, but she will bark orders at her enemies just as much as her allies. In fact, much of her commands tend to be completely absurd and normally impossible to perform by anyone, such as her command for all aside from Mao and Master Big Star to transform into an invincible robot that will blast the area with a -5000 degrees Celsius blizzard. However, as soon as she realizes that her leader was actually Super Hero Aurum, she, after some inner conflict and words from Mr. Champloo, decides to go against Aurum and the Diez Gentlemen, believing that the very idea of a demon obeying a hero is insane. She as well as Master Big Star join Mao soon afterwards to face Aurum.

After the main story, Salvatore reveals to Mao that her spies have found information regarding the Evil Academy thief, though she will only reveal it in exchange for a battle against Mao. After the battle, she reveals that the thief was a legendary Overlord and that she too has been robbed of something: her womanliness. She then joins Mao and appears alongside him in the final battle against Baal.

==Cameos==
The following are characters from other [[Nippon Ichi]] games that have appeared in any of the three Disgaea games. Only basic information, information regarding the character's part in the Disgaea games, or information regarding their encounter with Disgaea characters in their game will be covered. Any in-depth information regarding their respective games will not be covered here.

===Pleinair===
Pleinair is a well-known character from the series regardless of her lack of significant screentime and voice.

In Disgaea and Disgaea 3, she is the receptionist of Dark Assembly.

In Disgaea 2, she became a news reporter as she teamed up with Usagi-san and Axel, the Dark Hero. She has no speaking or text dialogue, except for saying "Congratulations" when you have completed the Dark World (which has no voice behind it).

In Disgaea DS, she starts out as the receptionist of the Dark Assembly. However, if a player completes the game under any ending, then talks with Pleinair and selects the new blank option that appears, Pleinair becomes a playable character. A Prinny with a maid outfit replaces Pleinair as the receptionist to the Dark Assembly.

In Phantom Brave, Pleinair shows up for a couple seconds in a conversation, walking in the background.

In the Disgaea 2 manga, she initially appears as a Dark Assembly Receptionist. In the manga, she appears to be mature and plans ahead as far as job options are concerned, and is very popular (The mere mention of receiving a Pleinair figure was enough to drive many heroes to pay to challenge Laharl). However, she can be quite cruel to people if they get on her bad side as she once theatened Etna that she'd destroy her personal records and used Usagi as live bait when he tried to reveal her measurements in one of the news broadcasts. As with the game, Pleinair becomes Usagi's assistant in the news broadcasts, usually holding signs.

===The Prism Rangers===
The '''Prism Rangers''' are a troupe of [[gag characters]] which appear in [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], and [[Makai Senki Disgaea 3]]. They are heavily inspired by the protagonists of the [[Super Sentai]]/[[Power Rangers]] universes, satirizing them. Each of the members are named after the colors of the rainbow with the word Prism preceding it. Outside of the in-game battle, the Prism Rangers tend to be portrayed as weak, having been taken down in one shot or being unable to do the slightest bit of damage to their opponent. The most vocal of the members is their leader, Prism Red.

Though they call themselves the Prism Rangers, they only have three of the seven colors in Disgaea, and five of the seven in the second game. In the first game, they appear before Laharl when he's attempting to destroy all who are still trying to claim the throne. Despite being Prism Rangers, their team is made up of only three colors: red, blue, and yellow. They claim that the reason for their lack of numbers is that by becoming heroes, they have to live without friends, though Etna is clearly skeptical. They believe that by becoming Overlords, the Prism Rangers will gain enough friends to complete the rainbow and thus truly become Prism Rangers. When attempting to face Laharl, Etna is able to knock out Prism Blue and Prism Yellow, forcing Prism Red to summon a bunch of demons he hired for such an occasion (although Laharl questions whether or not a hero should even hire demons), yet he still loses.

In Disgaea 2, they return with two more members, Prism Green and Prism Violet, but Rozalin tells them that they should recruit more members to complete the rainbow. Initially, they were considering going easy on Adell since he had his siblings with him, but Prism Red reminds the team of what happened in their battle with Laharl. However, they still lose, but claim to return.

In a bonus stage in Disgaea 2, the Prism Rangers seem to finally have acquired enough members to complete the rainbow, though the last two members are recruited without much thought as they were the only ones to show up when the rangers called for volunteers, even going as far as persuading a salaryman to become Prism Indigo with the promise of an amazing salary and insurance. If the player beats this stage, then Prism Red grants Adell the title of Prism Black, while Rozalin is disappointed that she can't be Prism Pink. Prism Violet, Indigo, and Orange can occasionally be seen in the Innocent Towns in Item World, while Prism Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green appear in Holt if the player passes certain bills.

In Disgaea 3, all the Prism Rangers are gone except for Prism Red, who performs the full Prism Ranger role call when he meets Mao and the rest. Mao, like Flonne and Rozalin in the past games, cannot see how he can say Prism Rangers without the other six colors. Mao, Almaz, Raspberyl, and Sapphire then start to choose colors for themselves should they become Super Sentai, upsetting Prism Red when he hears that Mao, as the main character, will claim red. After the battle, Almaz allows him to join the party. With the Demon Change ability, the player can turn Prism Red into a sword and its special ability is Prism Justice, the ultimate Prism Ranger attack in Disgaea 2.

===Overlord Priere===
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Mai Nakahara]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Jennifer Hale]] (La Pucelle) 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[La Pucelle: Tactics]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Disgaea: Hour of Darkness]], [[Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

'''Priere''' is the main character of ''[[La Pucelle: Tactics]]''. In her game, she and her brother Culotte were orphaned at a young age. As they grew older, the became a part of a group of Demon Hunters known as La Pucelle, who carried out jobs for the Church of the Holy Maiden. Though kind hearted, she's known for being impatient and strong, able to knock down a lead door with a single kick. However, she appears in the later games as an Overlord, which references a special ending in La Pucelle in which she becomes the Overlord after defeating numerous demons. Her name is spelled ''Prier'' (French for "to pray") in La Pucelle, but as ''Priere'' ("prayer") in Disgaea.

In Disgaea, Priere appears as an Overlord of an Alternate Netherworld. Though she does not have any speaking roles, Etna notes that she is legendary for being fascinated by the dark arts and searching for a fight. Should she be defeated, Priere joins the party.

She appears again in Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories as a hidden boss where she, still a demon, faces the main characters Adell and Rozalin. She has two speaking (without a voice actor) roles, but no combat voice. Her speaking role makes her seem, while more mature, much more evil than in her La Pucelle days, going as far as claiming she'll turn Veldime into a sea of blood in retaliation for Adell defeating her.

She appears in Disgaea 3 as well, but only as a downloadable character. When the player is given the option to use magichange, she can transform into a baton.

===Marjoly===
Marjoly is the antagonist of [[Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure]] as well as its sequels in the [[Marl Kingdom]] series. She is malevolent and very conceited, with lyrics in her song "Evil Queen" describing herself to be "mightier than the god...more beauitful than the goddess". She fell in love with Prince Ferdinand and meant to teleport him only to turn him into stone. She has three followers: Gao, Crowdia (Claudia in Disgaea 2), and Myao (who appears in Phantom Brave).

Marjoly is accessible in a hidden stage titled Beauty Castle. Etna makes a few crude comments on her attire and excessive amount of makeup, but she recognizes her as the most malevolent witch in the universe. Laharl, of course, is more than willing to show her who really is the most malevolent. Defeating Marjoly in this stage makes her a playable character.

In Disgaea 2, she is once again accessible in her Beauty Castle (only after a player character has obtained and kept 99 felonies). As Rozalin points out, she appears to be under the control of a seal, and thus has no speaking roles. Defeating her in battle nets the player the one of a kind item, the "Sexy Panties".

Also, during the battle, she carries one of a kind items named after several of her followers (Gao's Spirit, Claudia's Charm, and Myao Kitty's Ears).

===Marona===
'''Age:''' 12 
'''Class:''' Human (Chroma) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Kaori Mizuhashi]] 
'''U.S. Voice Actor:''' [[Sandy Fox]] 
'''Original Nippon Ichi game:''' [[Phantom Brave]] 
'''Cameo Appearances:''' [[Makai Kingdom]], [[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]

Marona is one of two main characters from Phantom Brave. In her game, she is orphaned due to the death of her parents and the only one watches over her is Ash, her parent's companion whom they transformed into a phantom to prevent him from dying completely and leaving the living world. Unfortunately, his presence as a phantom is the reason why Marona is often shunned by most people in Ivoire, the world in which Phantom Brave takes place. Despite that, she works hard as a Chroma, somewhat of a bounty hunter, to pay her bills and to relieve the problems of the people around her. Though she is often despised, she is known for being thoughful, innocent, and naive, which people take advantage of. Along with Ash, she is able to deploy phantoms at her command when she is forced to fight. Marona makes a quick cameo in Makai Kindom and appears in Disgaea 3 and is playable when defeated.

After completing the main story, Marona comes upon a bottlemail and upon opening it, Laharl appears before her and tries to take over Ivoire, who fails to do so, blaming it on being stuffed in the bottlemail. Laharl, as well as Etna and Flonne, force Marona and Ash into numerous battles until Ash tells Marona to fake their defeat in order to get Laharl to stop bothering them. Laharl then makes Ash and Marona his vassals, not knowing that it was faked.

In Disgaea 3, her innocent heart is stolen from her, which is what makes her so naive and thoughtful. Its removal turns her into a mean-spirited brat who doesn't mind hurting others and saying what's on her mind, such as telling Almaz and Sapphire that the two flirting with each other is causing her to hurl. Upon defeat, she joins the party and is present during the final battle with Baal.

===Asagi===
'''Class:''' Human (The Main Character) 
'''Japanese Voice Actor:''' [[Chiwa Saito]]

Asagi was meant to be the main character in a future Nippon Ichi title, though it is rumored to have been scrapped. Ever since Makai Kingdom, where she is forced to become Zetta's apprentice to design the next game, Asagi has appeared in every game as an optional battle and is playable in all games except Disgaea 2. Her personality changes with each game she appears in with her being a rather calm character in Makai Kingdom. From there, she becomes saddened but hopeful in Disgaea 2, incredibly arrogant and the self-proclaimed "Queen of Games Everywhere" in Soul Nomad, and depressed in Disgaea 3. She appears to be weak in both Makai Kingdom and Disgaea 2 as she is easily defeated by both Zetta and Adell, but by Soul Nomad, she becomes strong enough to amaze even Gig with just 1/10th of her power, though is soundly defeated, but not before being scolded by Gig for destroying the world and thus ending their game.

Disgaea 2 continues where Makai Kingdom left off with Asagi being forced by Zetta to become stronger before becoming the main character again. When Adell and Rozalin meet her, Rozalin has Adell volunteer to test Asagi's power, but she is soundly defeated. Still, it gives her enough hope to be able to get out of the mess Zetta put her in. It should be noted that Disgaea 2 is also the only game that re-uses Asagi's Makai Kingdom sprite, which makes her smaller than most of the characters in Disgaea 2. She claims that everyone is the same size as her in her game. She has a different sprite in Soul Nomad and Disgaea 3.

In Disgaea 3, Asagi supposedly received a game to be the main character of only to have it stolen, and is clearly upset over it. Upon meeting Mao, she assumes him to be the culprit and attacks him. After the battle, she breaks down and cries, saying she had enough and can't understand why she can never be a main character. Mao then tells her that the legendary Overlord who has been stealing things recently is behind this. Asagi joins the party shortly afterwards and is present during the battle with Baal.

===Baal===
There is not much information on Baal, but ever since [[La Pucelle: Tactics]], he has become a recurring boss in all Nippon Ichi games with the exception of [[Soul Nomad]] and is usually the strongest one in the game. Defeating him will usually reward the player with game's best items or a new title. What is known about Baal is that his form can change from game to game, ranging from a towering Lord of Terror to the comical looking Eringa (a mushroom monster), but is still incredibly power with each form. In Disgaea, he is the legendary Lord of Terror who attempted to conquer all the Netherworlds in existence, but he was sealed away by King Krichevskoy. In Makai Kingdom, Trenia explains that he is a collection of evil souls that can transfer into other bodies when defeated. Baal does not have any speaking roles. His dialogue is confined to "..." and only has a monstrous grunt in battle with the exception of the first Baal battle in Makai Kingdom (due to him taking over Zetta's body). This changes in Disgaea 3 when he speaks to Mao and the rest as a Red Eringa.

In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Baal is a legendary Overlord that was sealed by King Krichevskoy a number of years before the start of the storyline of ''Disgaea'', resulting in Krichevskoy becoming fatally weakened. He later faces Laharl, who is taken aback by his levels (Laharl states "You've gotta be kidding! Level 4000?!"). He is later replaced by Prinny Baal, whom the player can fight as many times as he/she desires.

In Disgaea 2, Adell & Rozalin went to ''Baal's Castle'' to face the Supreme Overlord, but upon entering, they find what they assume to be a statue of Baal. However, Rozalin's four-leaf clover seal suddenly reacts and the statue, revealed to actually be Baal, attacks Rozalin. There are two battles in the game against Baal (First against his regular form, then against him again as a Prinny, accompanied by 4 clones of his original self).

Throughout the optional quests in Disgaea 3, Baal is confirmed to be the Legendary Overlord who has been stealing things from the other characters. Among the things he stole are an "a" and a space in Master Big Star's name, Salvatore's feminine side, Prism Red's friends, Asagi's game, Marona's innocent heart, Axel's stardom, Laharl's height (and screentime), Etna's 1 billion HL savings account, Flonne's DVD box set, and an unknown item that's owned by Mao, who refers to it as "That". Upon his defeat and being requested to give everything he stole back, Baal claims that what everyone truly wanted was friends, encounter, a trusting heart, and more screen time in Disgaea 3, all of which he had given to him, causing everyone to reflect on all that has happened. Immediately after the reflection, though, he comments on how good it feels to make everyone reflect once in awhile and runs off, making this the only battle that in which he is not finished off.

{{Disgaea series}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Disgaea]]

Honeymoon

2008-10-17T16:46:40Z

216.94.61.100: Undid revision 245736439 by 203.206.102.116 (talk)

A '''honeymoon''' is the traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion. Today, honeymoons by Westerners are sometimes celebrated somewhere [[exotic]] or otherwise considered special and [[romance (love)|romantic]].

==History==

In [[Western culture]], the custom of a newlywed couple going on a holiday together originated in early 19th century [[Great Britain]]. Upper-class couples would take a "bridal tour", sometimes accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives that had not been able to attend the [[wedding]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Selling Sex in Honeymoon Heaven|author=[[Ginger Strand]]|publisher=[[The Believer (magazine)|The Believer]]|month=January | year=2008|url=http://www.believermag.com/issues/200801/?read=article_strand}}</ref> The practice soon spread to the European continent and was known as ''voyage à la façon anglaise'' (English-style voyage) in France from the 1820s on.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}

Honeymoons in the modern sense (i.e. a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the married couple) became widespread during the [[Belle Époque]],<ref>[[Sylvain Venayre]]. Le Temps du voyage noces. L’Histoire no 321, juin 2007. ISSN 0182-2411 p. 57</ref> as one of the first instances of modern [[mass tourism]]. This came about in spite of initial disapproval by contemporary medical opinion (which worried about women's frail health) and by ''savoir vivre'' guidebooks (which deplored the public attention drawn to what was assumed to be the wife's sexual initiation).<ref>Venayre, op.cit., p. 58</ref> The most popular honeymoon destinations at the time were the [[French Riviera|Côte d'Azur]] and [[Italy]], particularly its seaside resorts and romantic cities such as [[Rome]], [[Verona]] or [[Venice]].

==Etymology==

{{wiktionarypar|honeymoon}}
The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' offers no [[etymology]], but gives examples dating back to the 16th century. The Merriam-Webster dictionary reports the etymology as from "the idea that the first month of marriage is the sweetest" (1546).

A honeymoon can also be the first moments a newly-wed couple spend together, or the first holiday they spend together to celebrate their marriage.

{{cquote|The first month after marriage, when there is nothing but [[tenderness]] and [[pleasure]]" ([[Samuel Johnson]]); originally having no reference to the period of a month, but comparing the mutual affection of newly-married persons to the changing moon which is no sooner full than it begins to wane; now, usually, the holiday spent together by a newly-married couple, before settling down at home.}}

One of the more recent citations in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' indicates that, while today ''honeymoon'' has a positive meaning, the word was originally a reference to the inevitable waning of love like a [[moon phase|phase of the moon]]. This, the first known literary reference to the honeymoon, was penned in 1552, in [[Richard Huloet]]'s ''[[Abecedarium Anglico Latinum]]''. Huloet writes:

{{cquote|Hony mone, a term proverbially applied to such as be newly married, which will not fall out at the first, but th'one loveth the other at the beginning exceedingly, the likelihood of their exceadinge love appearing to aswage, ye which time the vulgar people call the hony mone.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}}}

In many parts of Europe it was traditional to supply a newly married couple with enough [[mead]] for a month, ensuring happiness and fertility. From this practice we get ''honeymoon'' or, as the French say, ''lune de miel''<ref name="Gayre">{{cite book| last=Gayre| first=Robert | title=Wassail! In Mazers of Mead | publisher=Brewers Publications - Boulder, CO |year=1986 | id=ISBN 0-937381-00-4 }}, p.22</ref><ref name="Acton">{{cite book| last=Acton| first=Bryan | title=Making Mead | publisher=The Amateur Winemaker |year=1968 | id=SBN 900841-07-9}}, p.14</ref>

There are many [[calque]]s of the word honeymoon from English into other languages. The [[Welsh language|Welsh]] word for honeymoon is ''mis mêl'' (honey month). In Hebrew it is 'Yerach D'vash translated to honey month (interestingly the word 'Yerach'-Month is very close to the word 'Yare'ach'-Moon. The two words are spelled alike: ירח). In [[Arabic]] it is ''shahr el 'assal'' also translated to honey month. The Spanish word for honeymoon is ''la luna de miel'' (the moon of honey), and the Italian ''luna di miele'' (same translation). The Persian word for it is ''mah e asal'' which has both the translations honeymoon and honey month (''mah'' in Persian meaning both ''moon'' and ''month'').

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Wedding]]

[[ar:شهر عسل]]
[[da:Hvedebrødsdage]]
[[de:Flitterwochen]]
[[es:Luna de miel]]
[[eu:Eztei-bidaia]]
[[fr:Lune de miel]]
[[id:Bulan madu]]
[[it:Luna di miele]]
[[he:ירח דבש]]
[[lt:Medaus mėnuo]]
[[nl:Huwelijksreis]]
[[ja:新婚旅行]]
[[pl:Miesiąc miodowy]]
[[pt:Lua-de-mel]]
[[uk:Медовий місяць]]
[[zh:蜜月]]

Perfect World (video game)

2008-10-16T18:32:00Z

216.94.61.100: /* Beastkind/Untamed */

{{articleissues|article=yes|globalize=September 2008|primarysources=November 2007}}
{{Gameguide|date=February 2008}}
{{otheruses4|the computer game|other uses|Perfect World (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox VG
|title = Perfect World
|image = [[Image:Perfect World logo.png|260px|]]
|developer = [[Beijing Perfect World]]
|publisher = [[Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|22px|China]] [[Beijing Perfect World]] [[Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|22px|Taiwan]] [[GF Station]] [[Image:Flag of Vietnam.svg|22px|Vietnam]] [[Quang Minh]] [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|22px|Japan]] [[MK-Style]] [[Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg|22px|Malaysia]] [[Cubinet Interactive]] [[Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg|22px|Philippines]] [[Level Up! Games]] [[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|22px|Brazil]] [[Level Up! Games]] [[Image:Flag of South Korea.svg|22px|South Korea]] [[CJ Internet]] [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|22px|United States]] [http://www.perfectworld.com/about/ Perfect World Entertainment] [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|22px|Russia]] [[Nival Interactive|Nival Online]] [[Image:Flag of Europe.svg|22px|Europe]] [http://www.games-masters.com Games-Masters Ltd.]
|designer =
|engine =
|released = [[Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|22px|China]] July [[2005 in video gaming|2005]] [[Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg|22px|Taiwan]] December [[2006 in video gaming|2006]] [[Image:Flag of Vietnam.svg|22px|Vietnam]] February [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|22px|Japan]] March [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] [[Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg|22px|Malaysia]] May [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] [[Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg|22px|Malaysia EN]] September [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] [[Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg|22px|Philippines]] May [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] *OB [[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|22px|Brazil]] August [[2007 in video gaming|2007]] *CBT [[Image:Flag of South Korea.svg|22px|South Korea]] TBA [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|22px|United States]] Fall 2008 [[Image:Flag of Europe.svg|22px|Europe]] Q3/2008
|genre = [[Fantasy]] [[MMORPG]]
|modes = [[MMO]]
|ratings =
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
|media = Download, [[Compact Disc|CD]], [[DVD]]
|requirements = '''Minimum''' 
800 MHz [[Pentium 3]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] 256M [[random access memory|RAM]] 32mb 3D Accelerator [[graphics card]](GF2 series or VGA with similar grade) [[DirectX]] 9.0c 2.5 [[gigabyte|GB]] [[hard disk]] space Internet Connection

----
'''Recommended''' 
1.5 GHz [[Pentium 4]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] 512M [[random access memory|RAM]] 128mb 3D Accelerator [[graphics card]] [[DirectX]] 9.0c 2.5 [[gigabyte|GB]] [[hard disk]] space Internet Connection
|input = [[Keyboard (computing)|Keyboard]], [[Mouse (computing)|Mouse]]
}}
'''''Perfect World''''' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 完美世界, commonly abbreviated as '''PW''' and '''W2'''), is an [[MMORPG]] developed by [[Beijing Perfect World]]. It has been released in several different areas in different versions already. The Malaysian version has now released their English version of Perfect World to all countries. Perfect World International , the official English version of the game, opened its teaser site on July 15th, 2008, and launched its closed beta August 19th, 2008. The open beta began on September 2nd, 2008. The International Version is specifically built to accommodate North America, Europe, and other English-spoken territories, and has been localized in standard English. In addition, the Multilanguage-Version is being prepared and will be available in the 3rd Quarter 2008. Perfect World Korea is currently still under development.

== Background ==
Perfect World is a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[MMORPG]] that is heavily based on [[Chinese mythology]], and is set in the world of [[Pangu]].

==The World==
Perfect World centers on flight, and has many floating structures and areas. The game shifts from night to day and sunny to rainy season on a regular cycle, changing the view of each area with time for realism.
[[Image:2007-05-10 22-43-24.jpg|thumb|left|Mainland.]]
 

 

==Races and Classes==
===Human===

Fah Shih (Magician (MG) or Wizards)
specialize in fire, water, and earth magic spells and crafts. Their greatest asset is their intelligence which allows them to deal power magical damage, but they are weak when it comes to physical damage. Like the other two magic-type classes of Perfect World, a mage is vulnerable to any creature or player that comes within melee range (EA being the exception, having ranged physical attacks) before the mage can deal enough damage to kill it. Mages are among the least favored class in the game. This is because mages are hard to use in the beginning of the game and can subsequently become tedious to advance. Mages are known as "late bloomers", however, and can become extremely powerful in the end game.

Wu Xia (Warrior (WR) or Blade Masters)
Fastest sword, spear, fist, and axe wielders, warriors specialize in melee combat. Their greatest asset is their high hit-points and strong melee attacks. They are weak to magic attacks but they can protect themselves by using light armors. Human Warriors are the game's best pure-tank character, next to the WereBeast.

Human Classes fly on magic swords, which become first available at level 30.

===Wingkind/Winged Elves===

Yu Mang (Elf Archer (EA) or just Archer)
utilize powerful and quick ranged attacks to their advantage. Combining powerful skills like fa shi and their long range can be fatal. They wield bow, crossbow, and sling; damage depends on agility. Their weakness is that the player has to distribute agility and strength to have a good armor, and the subsequent small constitution attribute makes them vulnerable to both magic and physical damage. Their motto is simply "kill it before it reaches you." Their damage can be unstable as sometimes criticals occur randomly. Due to having to dump ability points mostly into agility (with strength being second to that and intelligence and constitution a toss-up for third), the Elf Archer is limited by its strength and intelligence as to what armor it can wear. A typical EA wears the middle armor set, based on agility, which tries to balance physical and magical defense.

Yu Ling (Elf Cleric (EP) or just Cleric)
specialize in buff and healing skills, wield metal elemental attacks and a ranged physical wing attack which make its attack skill both physical and magical. They have good physical and magical defense due to their buffs and can also cast curses. However, since they are predominantly a magic-type (where the user will want to dump the most points into intelligence), they are mostly limited to high elemental defense, low physical defense armor. Without their buffs, Elf Priests are highly vulnerable to physical attack. In addition, being hit physically runs the risk of interrupting any attempt on the part of the EP to cast offensive or defensive magic.

Winged Elf classes fly from the start, however flying and engaging in aerial combat consumes MP. Since Clerics get a MP recovery rate boost, this does not affect their mana unless they are in combat. At level 30 they receive a pair of wings which do not consume MP.

===Beastkind/Untamed===

Ye Shou (WereBeast(WB)or Barbarian(Gender limitation: male))
Are the best tankers in the game. Wielding axes and hammers, they have hp buffs (that's why they have vast amount of hp and useful knockback skills). Although they are slow moving, they can transform into a white tiger which makes them faster. They are also the best catapult holder in the game.

Yao Jing (WereFox (WF) or Venomancer(Gender limitation: female))
have the ability to cast powerful wood, water, and fire elemental attacks, some of which immobilize the enemy or lower the enemy's physical defense. In addition, the WereFox is the only class in Perfect World that can tame and use battle pets (while all characters can have a pet, only the WF can have one fight with her). Their major advantage is their pet, which they can use to aggro, lure, and tank enemies many levels above them. The WereFox can also be considered the richest class because they can tame pets which they can then sell to other players or to NPC shops. Their disadvantage: like all magic-type characters in Perfect World, the WereFox is weak against physical attacks and any physical attack runs the risk of spell interruption. Any PK (Player Killer) knows when facing a WereFox to ignore the pet since once the master is dead, the pet goes with it. Fighting against monsters, the WereFox also runs the risk of the monster changing targets and ignoring the pet to attack the player. Despite this, the WereFox (and its pet) makes for a good balance between a damage-over-time caster and tank.

Beast Kind classes fly on animals, which they receive at level 30.

==Game Features==

===Territorial Battles===
Territory wars allow your guild to take over the server one area at a time. When taking over an area, it has to be owned by the environment or another guild. When trying to take the area from another guild you will have to partake in battles up to 90vs.90. Territory battles are very similar to DotA in that there are two bases and two guilds. When you want to take over an area, your guild will have to bid on the area, the two guilds with the highest bid will fight over it.

===Mount System===
The Mount system of Perfect World is vast and diverse.{{Or|date=September 2008}} Available mounts common to all servers are regular horses, leopards, raptors, elephants and rare mounts obtained through the DSQ (Dragon Seeker Quest).

===Personalized Clothing===
Players have the ability to more fully express themselves through their in-game characters by customizing clothing, and creating fully personalized objects. These items can be bought from the item mall or from other players.


===Guild/Clan System===
Guilds enable chat between members, creation of guild emblems(16x16 [[jpeg]] or [[gif]] files), guild versus guild battles, control of existing cities, and city creation.

Members can also be assigned certain jobs within the guild structure. Guild Masters can create and alter rules and slogans of the guild, member ranks, and dismiss or invite members. The Vice Guild Master can do the same things.

===Crafting System===
Players can select and raise four different crafting skills. Blacksmithing (creates weapons), Tailoring (creates armor), Jewelry (creates various jewelry and arrows), and Pharmacist (creates potions and hierograms). Players will need materials for items they need to make. Crafted items will have the player's name adorned on them for the purpose of credit.

===Marriage System===
Like many other MMORPGs, Perfect World has a complete marriage system. Both players will have an online notice, have a wife/husband title, have 2 special marriage-related skills, lover's clothes, and driving pets. Marriage requires an item from the Cash Shop which is worth around $30 in Perfect World item shop currency (Cubi-Gold)

=== Phone Lock ===
As a prevention system against account hackers, Perfect World has a Phone Lock feature<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gfb.gameflier.com/billing/w2/phone_service/index.htm|title=Perfect World Taiwan Phone Lock Website}}</ref> for those who wish to use it. The Phone Lock, when activated, will freeze an account until the player of that account dials in using the registered phone number. Once the number is recognized, the account is temporarily activated for login. The player must login within 10 minutes of activation before the account login is frozen again. The player may continue to play despite the freeze. If the player logs out after the 10 minutes is up, that player must once again dial in to temporarily deactivate the Phone Lock.

==Major Events==
[[Image:C04.jpg|thumb|left|Perfect World.]]
===Horse Racing===
Players level 40 and above can participate in this event, and a mount is not required. However, you are unable to fly. The course of the race is spread over a large variety of terrain. The winner will receive a medal that allows them to continue other quests. The consolation prize is a speed badge which can be sold to other players or exchanged for sp. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://world2.gameflier.com/action/20070201/index.html|title=Perfect World Events from Perfect World Taiwan}}</ref>

===Treasure Hunts===
All players are able to participate in this event; there are four different locations where this event can take place. Players who wish to participate will need to enter the major cities' battle dome (arena) and open up the treasure chest. Each chest can only be opened by one player and the player who does so is vulnerable to attacks. Surprises are released when a chest is opened. For example, an ancient monster might appear, or just a few potions.

===Forest Hunts/Jungle Ruins===
Participants are transported into jungle ruins containing invincible monsters. Players are required to run from room to room, avoiding the monsters, which can kill players with one hit. The objective is to make it to the last room as quickly as possible.Player who succeeded to do so will be rewarded a great amount of exp and sp. There is a time limit of 3 hours. As time passes the exp and sp value of the reward will decrease. There is no penalty for death. Perfect world has recently stopped the Forest Hunts and Jungle Ruins expeditions. Due to many players finding a way to increase their chances of winning, they have been taken out of the game.

==Perfect World Radio==
Perfect World has its own [[radio station]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world2.com.cn/radio/index.htm|title=Perfect World China Radio Website}}</ref>. Players are able to request music from the Perfect World Radio website. The [[DJ]]s act as a [[Gamemaster]] in the game, holding events on different servers and giving out prizes to the winners. Currently not available for most servers.

==Soundtrack==
*Perfect World has its own theme song, however versions of the song differ on each client. The song is played while in the log in screen and in selected areas in-game.

*Perfect World China, Korea, Vietnam: "Fly with Me" by Shui Mu Nian Hua.

*Perfect World Malaysia, US/UK: "Perfect World" by Henley.

*Perfect World Philippines: "Perfect World (Fly with Me)" by Toni Gonzaga.

*Perfect World Taiwan: "Wan Mei Shi Jie" by Yang Pei An.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
=== Official Websites ===
*[http://www.perfectworld.com/ ''Perfect World International-Official English''] — Official North American Perfect World Website (English)
*[http://www.perfectworld.ms/ ''Perfect World Multilanguage Service''] — Official European Perfect World Website (Spanish, Turkish, German, French and English)
*[http://www.1perfectworld.com/ ''1perfectworld.com''] — Official Fansite In English
*[http://pw.mmosite.com/ ''MMOsite Perfect World Zone''] — English Fansite

== See also ==
* [[List of free MMOGs]]

[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:2007 video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:List of free MMOGs]]

[[de:Perfect World (Spiel)]]
[[es:Perfect World (MMORPG)]]
[[fr:Perfect World]]
[[id:Perfect World]]
[[ja:パーフェクトワールド -完美世界-]]
[[pt:Perfect World (MMORPG)]]
[[ru:Perfect World]]
[[zh:完美世界]]

Talk:Perfect World (video game)

2008-10-16T18:26:46Z

216.94.61.100: /* HELP! */

{{Template:Talkheader}}
{{WikiProject Video games|class=stub}}
== gampleay ==
if the only aspect of gameplay is click to move your character around or use Wasd keys, there should at least be some talk about how shitty a game this is for making a game where thats all you do. the title of the topic is gameplay, not classes, not movement system. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/85.105.169.186 |85.105.169.186 ]] ([[User talk:85.105.169.186 |talk]]) 03:25, 19 October 2007 (UTC) 
: Gameplay is what a user does, in this game the user moves around and goes on quests while developing their character. I don't think theres much more to it. [[User:Sir LoseALot|Sir LoseALot]] ([[User talk:Sir LoseALot|talk]]) 16:42, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

== cleanup URGENTLY required ==

this article is in major need of cleanup [[User:MuRocks|MuRocks]] 11:46, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
:Yes, agreed, I've added more information and rearranged some informations. also I included some picture. [[user:lancerex6|lancerex6]] 20:35, 10 May 2007 (UTC)
::cleaned up the features section, please note i have not played the game, feel free to correct any mistakes [[User:Paolobueno|Paolobueno]] 11:45, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
: sorry, this is my first activity on Wiki. I have played Perfect World for a bit now and have been impressed by the community there most of all. The players are generally polite and simply there to have fun. I find this contrasting very well with the communities in WoW, AoC, Cabal, FlyFF, and several others. As for a section on gameplay, it is quite simple, could the WoW article not be a base for the gameplay of PW. They are incredibly similar. Calem 09.04.08 —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Calemjbhotmailcom|Calemjbhotmailcom]] ([[User talk:Calemjbhotmailcom|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Calemjbhotmailcom|contribs]]) 15:25, 4 September 2008 (UTC) 

== Language link ==
Heres a link to the Japanese and Chinese wiki articles. (since I do not know how to add those to the "in other languages" thing. http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3%82%AF%E3%83%88%E3%83%AF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%83%89
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%8C%E7%BE%8E%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C [[User:151.199.104.11|151.199.104.11]] 19:18, 17 April 2007 (UTC)
:I have linked both languages for you. [[user:lancerex6|lancerex6]] 20:33, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

==Perfect World Vietnam==
Does anyone know the publisher of Perfect World in Vietnam? and the release date of the OBT. - [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 11:09, 12 May 2007 (UTC)
:I found out its publisher is Quang Minh and OBT was Feb 14 2007. - [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 15:43, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

==Reference Tag==
I have add several sources/references to the article. If anyone think any part of the article still need citation, please discuss it here. [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 22:10, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

:thank you for improving this article.
::Please sign using four ~ at the end of your comment. If there no suggestion on citation i am going to remove the tag soon. [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 23:45, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

== Requesting write protection for the fansite link section ==
Because of some unregistered people deleting fansite links all the time or changing the adress to their own instead of the original I'd like to request a write protection for that section so that it can only be edited by registered users. I know that it's possible to do so but I just don't know how or whom to ask. --[[User:Mortes|Mortes]] 14:11, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
: I have requested for the whole page semi-protection.just waiting for the response from admin now. - [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 23:43, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
::The request have been denied, it says there not enough recent activity of vandalism. [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 01:31, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

==Fansite Edit==
For those IP editors, is there any reason why you are changing things around as it proved no point of doing so. If you really wish to edit this article, please discuss it or leave a edit summary. [[User:Lancerex6|Lancerex6]] 01:40, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

I remember visiting this wiki article and found a lot more fansites than what is currently listed. Can anyone fix this? -[[User:Miaire|Miaire]] 08:45, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

== Added the new Official MY-EN website ==

Yea, the site for English (Non Phili) launched as of the date of this post, and I wanted to edit it in. The title of it might not be up to snuff, but I did my best. Feel free to fix it. The link is right though, and I think it belongs there. [[User:Bronislav84|Bronislav84]] 01:57, 29 July 2007 (UTC) Changed title of the link. [[User:Bronislav84|Bronislav84]] 09:10, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

In regards to this, many people have the confusion that the MY-EN Version is the International Version. They are not the same, an International version was still cited to be due by their developer website at an unknown time by an unknown company specifically for North America and Europe in English. Such would thus give more localized components, which thus far appears to be localized events as well as permitting cafes in both continents to register with the server. This is a huge difference compared to MY-EN Service. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Krescen|Krescen]] ([[User talk:Krescen|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Krescen|contribs]]) 05:43, 21 November 2007 (UTC) 

== Warning: Those who edit this page, look at it closely ==
An anonymous user is removing the PW Wiki in the Fansite section. [[User:Bronislav84|Bronislav84]] 20:58, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
 I hate vandals, changing my text too. Fixed. [[User:Bronislav84|Bronislav84]] 20:59, 31 July 2007 (UTC)

who deleted like all the info on this page?!?!?! no more info????? all gone!!!!!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!!!<big>[[User:Pepperboi|'''  Xeysz ''']][[User talk:Xeysz| ☼ ]]</big> 00:10, 5 August 2007 (UTC)
:Deleted what dude? What are you talking about? I usually keep this page well maintained, so please explain. [[User:Bronislav84|Bronislav84]] 21:17, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

== Encyclopedic? ==
Having trouble agreeing that this entry is encyclopedic - at the present time it is basically advertising. Are there no reliable references? Is there no history, market, or usership data? —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/85.105.169.186 |85.105.169.186 ]] ([[User talk:85.105.169.186 |talk]]) 11:24, 10 September 2007 (UTC) 

== new brazilian fansite ==

hi all guys, i am adding a serious brazilian fansite to the fansite section. link: www.pwbrasil.com —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:FelipeMR|FelipeMR]] ([[User talk:FelipeMR|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/FelipeMR|contribs]]) 01:55, 23 January 2008 (UTC) 

== Indonesian Fansite ==

Hi, i'm from indonesia. I develop a fansite for indonesian people. Can I add my site's link to wiki? my link is www.perfect-world.biz

== Elf Race ==

All of a sudden I can't find Elf Archer or Elf Priest. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/85.105.169.186 |85.105.169.186 ]] ([[User talk:85.105.169.186 |talk]]) 18:25, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Saints Row 2

2008-10-16T15:24:49Z

216.94.61.100: /* Combat */

{{Refimprove|date=September 2008}}
{{Infobox VG
| title = Saints Row 2
| image = [[Image:Sr2 cover.jpg]]
| caption = "''Saints Row 2''" box art
| resolution =
| developer = [[Volition, Inc.]]
| publisher = [[THQ]]
| designer = [[Volition, Inc.]]
| series = [[Saints Row (series)|Saints Row]]
| engine = Custom, [[Havok (software)|Havok]]
| ratings = [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M)
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<ref name="sr2pc">{{cite web | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/dont-trip-dawg-saints-row-2-be-comin-2-pc/ | title = Don't trip dawg, Saints Row 2 be comin' 2 PC | publisher = [[Joystiq]] | author = Alexander Sliwinski | date = 2008-06-02 | accessdate = 2008-06-02 }}</ref>, [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]]
| released = {{vgrelease|North America|NA|[[October 14]], [[2008]]}} {{vgrelease|Australia|AU|[[October 16]], [[2008]]}} {{vgrelease|Europe|EU|[[October 17]], [[2008]]}} {{vgrelease|PC[NA]|[[November 10]], [[2008]]}} {{vgrelease|PC[EU]|[[November 7]], [[2008]]}} {{vgrelease|PC[AUS]|[[January]], [[2009]]}} 
| genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| media = [[Blu-ray Disc]], [[DVD-DL]]
| requirements = '''PC''': [[TBA]]
| input = [[Keyboard (computing)|Keyboard]] and [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]], [[Gamepad]]
}}

'''''Saints Row 2''''' (abbreviated to '''''SR2''''') is a [[Nonlinear gameplay|sandbox-style]] [[action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[video game]] developed by [[Volition, Inc.|Volition Inc]] and published by [[THQ]]. It is the sequel to ''[[Saints Row (video game)|Saints Row]]'' and is the second title in the [[Saints Row (series)|''Saints Row'' series]]. ''Saints Row 2'' was released in North America on [[October 14]], [[2008]], in Australia on [[October 15]], [[2008]], and in Europe on [[October 17]], [[2008]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vgreleases.com/ps3/ReleaseDate-39099.aspx | title = Saints Row 2 Release Date | publisher = [[VGReleases]] | date = [[2008-10-09]] | accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref>, for [[Microsoft Windows]] and the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]]. A smaller variant of the game will also be published for [[mobile phone|mobiles]]. Announced on [[May 11]], [[2007]] <ref>{{cite web | url= http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/787/787621p1.html| title= Saints Row 2 Announced }}</ref>, ''Saints Row 2'' was originally slated for an [[August 26]], [[2008]] release, but was delayed <ref>{{cite web | url= http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/877/877595p1.html| title= IGN Announces Saints Row 2 has been pushed back }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://au.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/saintsrow2/news.html?sid=6191742&mode=news| title= GameSpot announces Saints Row 2 has been pushed back}}</ref> for marketing considerations. A Collector’s Edition for the game was also released, and included a tin, a Saints Row 2 money clip, a bullet shaped USB drive with backgrounds for computers and phones and buddy icons. It also included a map of Stilwater with a poster of two Saints on the other side, and an exclusive art book.

Set in a redesigned rendition of Stilwater, a fictional city based heavily on the cities of [[Detroit]] and [[Chicago]], the game picks up from where ''Saints Row'' left off, with the player waking up from a trauma-induced coma in a prison hospital, five years after the events of ''Saints Row'', only to escape the prison island and rejoin the 3rd Street Saints, the gang the series is set around. The protagonist learns that the Saints have fallen apart, and that three new gangs have risen to power in Stilwater.

==Gameplay==
''Saints Row 2'' has no gameplay structure similar to ''Saints Row''. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming, climbing and jumping, as well as utilising weapons and basic hand-to-hand combat. After ''Saints Row'' was produced and work begun on ''Saints Row 2'', the streaming engine was completely rewritten. Because of this, new air-based vehicle types and online co-operative play have been made possible, along with many new major improvements to provide a smooth, interactive world, with significant decreases in terms of glitches, bugs and pop ins. The game incoprorates three difficulties: casual, normal and hardcore, which can be changed at the beginning of the game.

After ''Saints Row'' was developed, [[Havok (software)|the game's engine]] was completely re-tooled, allowing noticable graphical improvements. Textures and dynamics have been reworked so the city looks more realistic. Night-time lighting and shadowing have been dramatically improved, and explosions and visual effects are also noticeably better. The game will also include additional weather effects. Rain and wind have dramatic effects on the landscape, notably altering sea tides and roads.

[[Artificial intelligence|AI]] has also undergone major improvements <ref>http://community.saintsrow.com/blogs/?p=176#more-176</ref>. [[Non-player character|NPCs]] will undertake more realistic actions, such as doing yoga, opening umbrellas at the chance of rain and sitting on benches and cuddling, which would not have been possible in [[Saints Row]], because the physics, animation and action node systems didn’t support two people interacting that closely. Additionally, numerous NPCs can be seen around Stilwater eg barber shop quartets, fire eaters, mimes, skydivers. NPCs will also react and respond to the player's actions in the world.

Although ''Saints Row 2'' uses [[ragdoll physics]] on character models in the game, car physics have been touched up slightly, and will still be maintaining a "loose" feel with easy turning and brake mechanisms. Additionally, a [[cruise control]] system has been introduced on many vehicles in the game, which has been stated to make drive bys and car chases much easier.

===Customization===

The player can customize the character's appearance even further. The player is now given the option of customizing the character's age and weight, as well as their voice, walk, fighting style, taunts, facial expression and weapon holding. Height modification for the player was originally in development, but was later cut due to difficulties and glitches.

Clothing and apparel customization has also been modified to become more in-depth. The player is given a wide variety of clothing to wear. Customizing clothes gives the player more choice over how they wear their clothes, with additional coloring and layout designs. Also, there is a broader range of tattoos, which can now be applied to the face, and jewelry. The player can also save outfits in their crib and reload them for later use.

Crib and gang customization have been introduced as new features in ''Saints Row 2''. The player can customize the 3rd Street Saints and the nine cribs they can dwell in. Cribs cannot be simply bought, but are unlocked at certain points in the game <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=25972806&union_id=2286 | title = James Tsai interviewing the United People of Saints Row (Letter 1 of 4)}}</ref>. The player can choose from three pre-set styles; cheap (rundown and dilapidated), classy (well furbished with basic walls and floors) and ultra-modern (stylishly decorated interior design). Additionally, the player can fully furnish the crib, with a wide array of items, such as pool tables, minibars, pianos, lounges, TVs, strippers and more. Cribs serve as locations to hang out with fellow Saints, save the game, change clothes, access a weapon stash and customize the 3rd Street Saints. In terms of customizing the player's gang, a variety of clothing styles can be applied to the gang. Also, the gang sign and graffiti tag can be chosen and the player can equip the gang with certain vehicles.

===Combat===
[[Image:Bank vault under attack- SR2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The player escaping from Stilwater Prison.]]
Combat in ''Saints Row 2'' offers additional features which are not seen in ''Saints Row''. The player can still walk, run, climb, jump, swim, drive, engage in hand-to-hand combat and fire weapons. However, in ''Saints Row 2'', the player can take [[human shield]]s which can be used as cover in outdoor areas. When the player no longer needs the hostage, they can either kill the hostage, or push them away. Also, finishers are introduced in ''Saints Row 2''. If three hits are dealt with the same button on an enemy, the player performs a quick finishing move.

Police are alerted when the player commits crimes, dispatched to the scene of the crime in order to deal with the perpetrator. As in ''Saints Row'', there are five notoriety levels, which are gained gradually as the player commits more and more crimes. Notoriety levels are represented by an allotted amount of stars. At a one star level, police rely on non-lethal means to deal with law violators, using standard nightsticks, [[Taser]]s and [[pepper spray]]. However, at two stars, the cops are actively searching for the offender, dispatching standard squad cars, and also police boats and helicopters if the chase leads to the sea or sky. Though still relying on non-lethal means, if the player opens fire on the police, they will respond appropriately. From three stars onwards, negotiation and arrest are no longer options. Human shields, even if they are police, will not be spared, as the police are now desperately trying to get rid of the player. At three stars, roadblocks are established, and police helicopters dispatch [[SWAT]] officers to help deal with the perpetrator. At four and five stars, the Tornado helicopter is introduced into the battle, unleashing torrents of firepower. The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] are called in at five stars, using any means necessary to deal with the criminal. Police force will no longer use spike strips, even if the player is at a high notoriety level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://au.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26106400&union_id=2286 | title = James Tsai interviewing the United People of Saints Row (Letter 2 of 4)}}</ref>

Many old weapons from ''Saints Row'' will not be appearing in the game, however several new weapons will be included in ''Saints Row 2''. Dual-wielding has been introduced on [[submachine gun]]s and [[handgun]]s.
Some new weapons in ''Saints Row 2'' are [[chainsaw]]s, [[sledgehammer]]s, [[flamethrower]]s, [[katana]]s, [[electroshock weapon|stun guns]] and [[Defibrillation|shock pads]]. [[Satchel charge]]s are introduced, and can stick to walls, vehicles and even people <ref name="weaponsvehicles trailer">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32962.html | title = Gametrailers.com - Saints Row 2 - Vehicles and Weapons Trailer | publisher = [[Gametrailers]] | author = | date = 2008-06-05 | access date = 2008-06-05 }}</ref> The player can now pick up and use objects from the environment as melee weapons such as [[garden gnomes]] and [[cement blocks]].<ref name="gamespot first look">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/saintsrow2/news.html?sid=6187214&om_act=convert&om_clk=newlyadded&tag=newlyadded;title;1 | title = Saints Row 2 First Look | publisher = Gamespot | first = Justin | last = Calvert | date = [[2008-03-05]] | accessdate = 2008-03-07 }}</ref> Additionally, over half a dozen weapons can be unlocked throughout the game, but have not been announced yet. <ref>{{ cite web | url = http://au.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26506739&union_id=2286 | title = James Tsai interviewing the United People of Saints Row (Letter 4 of 4) }}</ref>

===Side-play===
[[Image:Saints Row 2 BASE jumping.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[BASE jumping]], one of the many new diversions]]
Activities were first seen in ''Saints Row'', where the protagonist would perform various tasks to earn money and respect, in-game currency used to unlock missions and progress through the storyline. In addition, numerous items and also homies could be unlocked by doing such activities. ''Saints Row 2'' includes eleven of the twelve activities from ''Saints Row'', including racing, snatch, escort, drug trafficking, hitman, insurance fraud, demolition derby, chop shop, mayhem, loan shark and tagging. Hijacking has been excluded from the game. All returning activities have been touched up slightly, and feel slightly different to what they originally were. In ''Saints Row'', activities spanned out over eight progressing difficulty levels however, in ''Saints Row 2'', activities span out over six. The protagonist also gains unlockables like strength and stamina upgrades, weapon enhancements etc for completing every three and six levels of each activity <ref>{{cite web | url = http://au.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26506739&union_id=2286 | title = James Tsai interviewing the United People of Saints Row (Letter 4 of 4) }}</ref>. Additionally, activities are only seen in two locations around the city, instead of three from ''Saints Row''.

As well as the old activities from ''Saints Row'', six<ref name="activities trailer">{{cite web | url = http://gamersyde.com/news_6599_en.html | title = Saint's Row 2: Activities - Gamersyde | publisher = Gamersyde | author = | date = 2008-06-05 | access date = 2008-06-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://community.saintsrow.com/blogs/?p=148#more-100 | title = "Activities and Diversions" Developer Blog}}</ref> new activities are available for the player to participate in. Each activity has also been designed to suit co-operative play.

''Crowd Control'' sees the player acting as a security guard for a celebrity as they go about their daily business at various events. Crazed fans will harass and even attack the celebrity, and so the player must fend off these fans by means of throwing them into oncoming trains, helicopter rotor blades and anything else in the world.

''Fight Club'' is a fighting-based activity where the player signs up to fight in underground arenas. The player must eliminate opponents using the melee system and also any items that can be found littered on the ground.Once an opponent has been successfully knocked down, the player must approach the opponent and begin a button-tapping showdown where the player will break the neck of the opponent if they manage to succeed.

''FUZZ'' is a fictional [[police procedural|cop]] [[television series|show]], where the player is followed around with a camera crew and must deal with criminals. More creativity in dealing with the perpetrator earns the player more points.

''Heli Assault'' sees the dealing with enemy aircraft and vehicles to protect gang lieutenants as they deliver drugs around the city. The player is given the Tornado attack helicopter and must stop interferences with deals, using heat-seeking missiles.

''Septic Avenger'' is a task in which the player must devalue property and its owners using a Stilwater Municipal septic truck and spraying human waste on buildings and people.

''Trail Blazing'' is an activity where the player must drive checkpoint races around the city in the Toad quad bike, while wearing a flame-retardant suit that ignites people and blows up cars that come into contact with the player, which earns the player more time to complete the courses.

A fully 3D [[survival horror]] game can be played at arcades and television across the city. The game, titled ''Zombie Uprising'' <ref>http://au.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/saintsrow2/news.html?sid=6197587&mode=news</ref>, sees the player in a dark, zombie-filled setting, and must eliminate these zombies in waves using a limited number of weapons. Fellow survivors also aid the player in the fight. If a zombie manages to latch on to the protagonist, a [[Resident Evil]]-like button mashing pushback, where the protagonist knocks back the attacker if the button is pressed in succession.

Diversions are mini-activities in the ''[[Saints Row (series)|Saints Row]]'' world, which can be performed any time, any where. Diversions involve the player carrying out small actions eg pulling stunts in vehicles, [[BASE jumping]], streaking and more. Minor criminal misbehaviours also count as diversions, taking hostages, hijacking vehicles, theft etc

===Vehicles===
[[Image:Flying in Saints Row 2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Flying a fighter plane through the city]]
In addition to an expanded list of land-based vehicles, several new vehicle types have been introduced in ''Saints Row 2''. The player is given the option of driving up to five different [[motorcycles]], each with unique designs and benefits. These bikes, like most cars, can be equipped with [[nitrous oxide|Nitrous Oxide]], giving the vehicle a temporary boost. Additionally, [[all-terrain vehicle|quad bikes]] and [[monster truck]]s can be driven through the city. In addition to the new land-based vehicles, a new streaming system has seen the addition of [[boat]]s and [[personal water craft|jet skis]] as water-based vehicles, both of which utilize the [[PlayStation 3]]'s [[PlayStation 3 accessories#Sixaxis|SIXAXIS]] wireless controller mechanism. Also, [[fixed-wing aircraft|planes]] and [[helicopter]]s can be flown around the city, with planes equipped with parachutes. Helicopters and planes also utilize the [[PlayStation 3 accessories#Sixaxis|SIXAXIS]] feature. The Gyro-Daddy in-game [[helicopter]] and PeeWee [[minibike|Mini Bike]] are included as additional in-game content to players who buy ''Saints Row 2'' from GameStop in the [[USA]] and Play.com also when you buy the game you get a cheat code for the destroyer an alien ufo that can only be found when you type in the cheat at the saints row mission center, hmv.com and tesco direct in the [[UK]]. Additionally, NPCs will ride various vehicles that the player cannot<ref>{{cite web | url=http://community.saintsrow.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=19702&p=341979&hilit=skateboards#p341979| title= Saints Row 2- The Row Community FAQ}}</ref>, such as skateboards and rollerblades . As in ''Saints Row'', vehicles can be customized. Vehicle customization has become more indepth, with numerous performance modifiers eg torque, tire grip, engine and also with more body mods and colour customization.

===Multiplayer===

''Saints Row 2'' now features Co-op. When playing Co-op the enemy NPC's will get scaled up with some more health to counter the difficulty of Co-op vs. playing alone.

As for competitive vs. online games modes a Moderator on SaintsRow.com forums confirmed that the only game modes will be "Gangsta Brawl, Team Gangsta Brawl" (a basic deathmatch and team version), as well as a new mode called Strong Arm.

Strong Arm: Two teams will do various objectives that are featured in Single Player but have to earn more money than the Opposing team. In an added twist, each team can interfere with the other.

==Synopsis==
===Plot===
The game is set five years<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.saintsrow.com/overview.php| title= Saints Row 2 overview}}</ref> after the events of ''Saints Row''. The protagonist was betrayed by former 3rd Street Saints, who detonated a bomb aboard a yacht he was also on. Then-mayoral candidate Alderman Hughes was killed, along with his personal servants in the explosion, however, the protagonist suffered severe injuries and slipped into a trauma-induced coma, only to be taken away and put into a dingy prison hospital ward.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Street Saints, who had conquered Stilwater in ''Saints Row'', have fallen apart. Former leader of the Saints, Julius Little, has abandoned his crew and slipped into the shadows. Johnny Gat has been captured by police and awaits the [[Death penalty|electric chair]], after being convicted of three hundred and eighty seven <ref>http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jFcdmWQmKfs</ref> counts of murder and attempting to assassinate Troy Bradshaw once Gat learned that Troy was an undercover cop. Lin Gat, Johnny's sister, is dead. Dex was offered a job by Dane Vogel and accepted it. He is now an employee of Ultor. Undercover police officer Troy Bradshaw, who was tasked with undermining the Saints, has risen through the ranks and has been promoted to Chief of Police, after the demise of former Police Chief Monroe.

[[Image:Saints Row 2 battle.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Fighting the Sons of Samedi]]
After five years, the protagonist has unexpectedly awoken from his trauma-induced coma. A young Hispanic man, Carlos, allows himself to be "[[Shiv (weapon)|shanked]]", simply so he can talk to the protagonist in the prison infirmary. After a heated exchange between the two when they are left alone, the protagonist agrees to let Carlos help him escape. In the exchange, Carlos also reveals he has a brother in the 3rd Street Saints, however, never mentions his name, it is rumored to be Dex and mentions in the beginning of the game if he remembers his brother to the protagonist and he replies yes. After a battle to the shore, Carlos and the protagonist escape the island and return to Stilwater. Hell-bent on revenge, the protagonist forms together a new crew of Saints, which includes Johnny, who the protagonist rescues from a courtroom precession in which his final appeal from being sent to the [[electric chair]] was being denied. Carlos soon introduces Shaundi and Pierce who hang out in an abandoned hotel basement, and are more than willing to work for the protagonist. With a new crew, the protagonist must march on and eliminate the three rival gangs in Stilwater, and reclaim what is rightfully his/hers.

===Characters===
{{main|List of characters in Saints Row 2}}

====3rd Street Saints====

The 3rd Street Saints were the most prominent and powerful gang in Stilwater at the end of the original ''Saints Row''. However, the Saints collapsed almost immediately after they conquered the city. With the protagonist out of action, the rest of the Saints dropped out and the gang fell apart. However, five years later, the protagonist comes out of a coma and busts out of jail with Carlos a man who claims he has a brother in The 3rd Street Saints, and reforms the Saints with a new crew. Original Saint Johnny Gat who is about to be sentenced to Death Row is busted out of a courtroom precession by the protagonist, and two new Saints, Shaundi and Pierce join the crew with the protagonist, Johnny and Carlos to reclaim the turf they once ruled.

====The Brotherhood====

The Brotherhood was formed from the outcasts of society, those long victimized by gang warfare and police corruption. The Brotherhood are an aggressive gang with a 'kill now, ask questions later' attitude. The Brotherhood engage in murder, extortion and violence to fuel their empire, and are engaged in an underground weapon trade providing violent means for city citizens. The gang is headed by Maero, a seven-foot-tall warrior willing to fight anyone that stands in his way. Lieutenants Matt and Jessica stand loyally at his side, and former Westside Roller Donnie not only operates his own chop shop, but also flies the flags of the Brotherhood. Donnie is extremely disliked by all lieutenants in the brotherhood. The Brotherhood are picked out by their numerous piercings and tattoos, the wolf head logo, the bright color red and gas-guzzling trucks.

====Sons of Samedi====

An internationally-known gang that conquered the Caribbean underworld, the Sons of Samedi are a Haitian gang that have spread themselves into Stilwater. A [[Haitian Vodou|Voodoo]]-style gang, the Sons of Samedi pay tribute to [[Baron Samedi]], the Voodoo [[Loa]] of death. Decked out in green outfits and state-of-the-art jewelry, the Sons of Samedi gain a continual cash flow from the Loa Dust drug trade across Stilwater, selling to many inhabitants and preying on the young and reckless college students. The Sons of Samedi's Stilwater division is overseen by one known only as the General, and violent extortionist/drug trader Mr. Sunshine spreads their message across Stilwater with ruthless violence and a thirst for power. There is also DJ Veteran Child, a DJ for one of Stilwater’s radio stations, who is also a lieutenant for the Sons of Samedi and Shaundi's Ex-boyfriend.

====Ronin====

The Ronin are the self-proclaimed most powerful gang in the world. The Ronin can best be identified by their dragon-influenced yellow and black custom leathers, as well as by their flashy bikes. Essentially a Japanese gang, the Ronin control much of the entertainment industry in Stilwater, engaging in gambling, street racing and owning numerous high roller casinos throughout the city. Shogo Akuji left the streets of Tokyo and formed the Ronin. His father, Akuji-san finances and oversees the gang, and orders Shogo around in how to run the faction. In Japanese, [[ronin]] literally translates as a [[samurai]] warrior whose master, or [[daimyo]], has been banished or is dead. There is currently 1 unamed member of the Ronin.

====Ultor Corporation====

Ultor are a major figure in ''Saints Row 2''. Mainly responsible for the cleanup of Stilwater, Ultor originally began as a clothing company and quickly became a major corporation. Ultor pumped millions into the city and it was completely overhauled, turning the once crime-ridden city into an "urban utopia". The Saints Row district, for example, has been turned into a booming commercial industry, and serves as the district for Ultor headquarters. The company's name comes from the mega-corporation that the player rebels against in the [[Volition, Inc.| Volition]]-developed game [[Red Faction]].'''

===Setting===
[[Image:939458 20080212 screen003-1-.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The lighthouse in Stilwater]]
Stilwater in ''Saints Row 2'' has seen heavy expansion since the original game. Developers announced the city has been entirely redeveloped, every neighborhood has been touched up in one way or another. In-game faction Ultor Unlimited is largely responsible for the expansion that has taken place; it is said they spent well over three-hundred million dollars redeveloping Stilwater, turning the crime-ridden city into an 'urban utopia'. Many new sites can also be seen across the city including the Stilwater Science Centre, Marshall Winslow Detention Centre, Stilwater University, Stilwater Hall of Industry, as well as a graveyard, marina, Rounds Square Mall, casinos, and also two new islands which host the Stilwater Pentitentionary (similar to [[Alcatraz Island|Alcatraz]]) and Stilwater Power Plant. The new Stilwater is said to be one and a half times the size it was compared to Stilwater in ''Saints Row''. Around the outside of Stilwater and used as background, (therefore unaccessable to the player) is sprawling countryside with hills and glens, and can be seen in some screenshots.

All the old districts from ''Saints Row'' still stand in ''Saints Row 2''. However, every district has been touched up or modified in some way. This is particularly noticable in the Downtown and Saints Row districts which have been completely redesigned. The new marina sits on top of the High End Retail/ Suburbs area. Additionally, the Suburbs district has seen expansion to the west, and also, the University district lies west of the Arena district, almost completely cut off from the mainland by a river.

From the beginning of the game, the map of Stilwater is fully visible. However, shops will simply be displayed as a question mark until the player discovers them. Additionally, as the player earns more respect, they can buy shops. Buying an entire chain of departments will mean that the protagonist’s face appears on in-game billboard advertisements.

Over the years, many new in-game companies and businesses have been established. All shops from [[Saints Row|the original game]] are returning in ''Saints Row 2'', however numerous others have been introduced. In addition to the four clothing shops seen in ''Saints Row'', three new clothes departments have been established. ''Leather and Lace'' is a [[lingerie]] store selling clothes designed for women (but can be worn on men). ''Let's Pretend'' is a costume shop, where the player can buy numerous unique outfits ie ninja suits, pirate outfits, masks etc. ''Nobody Loves Me'' is an [[Emo#Fashion and stereotype|emo]]-influenced store, somewhat similar to Hot Topic, primarily selling black outfits and piercings. ''On Thin Ice'' was the original seller of jewelery and accessories in ''Saints Row'', however, ''Bling Bling'' is a new store offering cheaper accessories. In ''Saints Row'', the player could only buy food from Freckle Bitch's, a fast food restaurant. ''Apollo's'' ([[coffee]] and [[dougnut]]s), ''Phuc Mi Phuc Yeu'' ([[Chinese cuisine|Chinese food]]) and ''[[Company of Heroes|Company of Gyros]]'' ([[Greek cuisine|Greek food]]) are three new stores the player can buy food from.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|Saints Row 2 soundtrack}}

The soundtrack of ''Saints Row 2'' will feature a new line-up of songs for the in-game radio and audio player. A custom radio station, My Radio, has been confirmed for the game where players may use songs bought from the Scratch That music store and use them in the in-game radio station.

==Development==
{{Expand-section|date=October 2008}}
Work begun on ''Saints Row 2'' months before ''Saints Row'' was released to the public. The script to both games, and also a third, had been written during the development of ''Saints Row'' and beyond. ''Saints Row 2'' was announced by [[THQ]]'s CFO Edward K. Zinser on [[May 14]], [[2007]] at a conference call, nine months into the game's development. During the time of the development, the game's engines were retooled and upgraded, and the streaming engine was rewritten to reduce the amount of pop-in due to spawning distances that were criticized in the first game, and allowing for co-operative play and air-based vehicles as well as providing a considerably more smooth and uninterrupted game. As in ''Saints Row'', load screens only exist between missions and cutscenes, and the player can explore the city and its shops without any interferances. THQ stated that with ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' due out prior to the release of ''Saints Row'', the planned to allow [[Volition, Inc.|Volition]] enough time to completely finish the game in order to obtain the best quality game possible.

On [[April 3]], [[2008]], ''Saints Row 2'' had a confirmed release date of [[August 28]], [[2008]] <ref>{{cite web | url = http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/864/864405p1.html | title = IGN "Saints Row 2 Coming in August" | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = [[2008-04-03]]}}</ref>, however, on [[May 28]], THQ announced that ''Saints Row 2'''s release would be pushed back by about two months, from August 28 to [[October 14]], [[2008]] in [[United States|the USA]] for "product quality and marketing considerations"<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN2844790320080528?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 | title = THQ delays key game by nearly two months | publisher = [[Reuters]] | date = [[2008-05-28]] | accessdate = 2008-08-26}}</ref>.

To coincide with the heavy promotion and sponsorship of the game, the official website and community page were launched on [[July 15]], [[2008]]<ref>http://community.saintsrow.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17414</ref>. This was the third website redesign since it was first announced, and the old forums site (developer.saintsrow.com) was redirected and renamed "The Row Community".

On [[July 23]], [[2008]], ''Saints Row 2'''s [[Australia]]n release date details were finally revealed. The game managed to pass the [[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]] classification body with a rating of MA15+, without any in-game content needing to be cut. Also, the Australian release date surfaced, for [[October 16]], just two days after the American release. As the OFLC system is much tougher than [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], this came as a surprise to many who feared the game could be edited for Australian release.

On [[October 1]], [[2008]], ''Saints Row 2'' was illegally [[Copyright infringement|pirated]] and published on the internet available for download <ref>http://community.saintsrow.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20523</ref><ref>http://community.saintsrow.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20601</ref>. Leaked videos have spread across many internet websites including [[YouTube]].

On [[October 15]], [[2008]], "Saints Row 2" in Australia on PC was delayed to [[January]], [[2009]]

===Promotion===
[[Image:Tera Patrick.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Tera Patrick]]
''Saints Row 2'' has been marketed heavily since it was first announced, including numerous trailers and contests found across the Internet and in certain places across the world. In fact, the original date for the game, [[August 28]] was not only pushed back for development purposes, but also for marketing considerations. Since ''Saints Row 2'' was first announced, full-length [[Film trailer|trailers]] have been released to help promote the game.

The first trailer was released in [[March]], [[2008]] and gave a brief insight into how the fictional Ultor Corporation has helped to clean the streets of Stilwater. The trailer also details some of the new weapons in the game, including the [[Hand grenade#Stun grenade|Flashbang]], [[Semi-automatic shotgun|AS14 Hammer]], [[Assault rifle|AR-50 XMAC]], [[Rocket-propelled grenade|Annihilator]], [[Dual wield|dual wielding]] [[Uzi submachine gun|Uzi's]] and [[Defibrillation|shock paddles]], as well as some of the new vehicles in the game, including the [[Armoured personnel carrier|Bear]], [[Sedan (car)|Hooptie]], [[Personal water craft|Water Craft]], [[Attack helicopter|Tornado]] and [[Fighter aircraft|Wolverine]].

The second full-length trailer was released in early [[June]], [[2008]] and gained controversy as it poked fun at [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] for its lack of side-play in the game. The trailer shows four of the six new activties playable in ''Saints Row 2'', including Septic Avenger, FUZZ, Fight Club and Trail Blazing. It also lists several of the game's many diversions, in-game actions which can be performed at any time to earn money and respect.

The third full-length trailer was released in late [[June]], [[2008]] and gives gamers an introduction to the storyline and the new gangs in ''Saints Row 2''. The trailer details the protagonist busting out of prison with fellow in-mate Carlos, and riding a patrol boat back to Stilwater, where he gets a shock as he realizes just how much the city has changed in five years. The trailer gives insight to the storyline and missions in the game, and serves as a basic introduction to the Brotherhood of Stilwater, Sons of Samedi and Ronin, the three new gangs that inhabit Stilwater, and also an introduction to the Ultor Corporation, which serves as the main antagonist faction in the game.

The forth full-length trailer was released during the [[E3|E3 Media and Business Summit]] in [[July]], [[2008]], and details the new customization options in ''Saints Row 2''. The trailer is set out as a fictional TV show titled ''Trick My Life'' and follows Randy the Trandy, a poorly dressed mid-30s man whose life is also the subject of the trailer, showing him being dressed up as a woman. The trailer also demonstrates the crib and gang customization in ''Saints Row 2'', showing numerous features available to the player that can be modified or changed to their liking.

The fifth full-length trailer was released in early [[September]], [[2008]] and shows the co-op gameplay available in the game. Numerous co-op features are shown in the game. The trailer gained popularity as it makes fun of two [[United States|American]] presidential candidates, [[Barack Obama]] and [[John McCain]], showing two in-game characters that look like them walk through Stilwater causing death and destruction.

The sixth and final full-length trailer was released in early [[October]], [[2008]] as the ''Saints Row 2'' official launch trailer. The game takes a heavy look at the storyline, particularly the Ultor Corporation and what they have done for Stilwater.

Two campaigners for the game are [[Gary Busey]], an [[United States|American]] actor, and Tera Patrick,[[United States|American]] [[Pornographic actor|porn star]]. Online movies starring [[Gary Busey|Busey]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52086 | title = Gary Busey Presents Saints Row 2 | publisher = [[Shacknews]] | date = [[2008-04-04]] | accessdate = 2008-04-05 | first =Maarten | last = Goldstein}}</ref>, titled 'Street Lessons With Uncle Gary', are short, 30-50 second mock educational videos on street life in Stilwater. So far, ten have been released: Costumes, Flying, Heavy Weapons, Motorcycles, Nut Shots, Police Abuse, Satchel Charges, Taunting, Throwing People and Wieldable Props. [[Tera Patrick|Tera]] has also been involved with marketing and development for the game, and so far has released a Developer Diary preview into the development of ''Saints Row 2''.

''Saints Row 2'' has received heavy funding and sponsorship, and has appeared at game conventions with its own booth. ''Saints Row 2'' has appeared at [[E3]], [[THQ]] Gamer's Day, [[Comic-Con International|Comic Con]], [[Penny Arcade Expo|PAX '08]] and [[Games Convention|Leipzig Games Convention]]. In addition, ''Saints Row 2'' provides funding and markets itself with the [[Myspace]] Music Tour. Also, numerous competitions have been launched giving away merchandise etc for players who enter. Numerous competitions include ''Pimp Your Crib'', ''Summer of Bling'', a Tshirt design contest and a mingame giving players the chance to design their own box art for the game. On September 14, 2008, THQ and WorthPlaying.com launched a contest offering one player a chance to win a trip to the Saints Row 2 Multiplayer Event in San Francisco, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.saintsrow.com/blogs/?p=211|title=Win a Trip to Play SR2 MP!|date=15 September 2008|publisher=''Saints Row 2 Community Site''}}</ref> On September 17, 2008 the contest was updated to offer three players a chance to attend the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=55708|title=Win A Trip to San Francisco to Check Out 'Saints Row 2'|date=17 September 2008|publisher=''WorthPlaying''}}</ref> The contest was restricted to U.S. residents over the age of 21. The Saints Row 2 Multiplayer Event was held on [[September 24]], [[2008]].

===Collector's Edition===
[[Image:Saintsrowgunpack.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Saints Row 2 Gun Pack]]

There are two versions of 'Collectors Edition' available. Both contain a copy of the game.

The Saints Row 2 Initiation Pack is exclusive to New Zealand and Australia and includes:

* A Poster
* Limited Edition art book
* Metal [[money clip]],
* 512mb Silver Bullet [[USB drive|USB]] Memory stick
* Content including a basketball singlet, videos, a Saints ID card, and a Saints Rule book

The Saints Row 2 Gun Pack comes packaged in a gun mould case and includes:

* 1gb Gold Bullet USB Memory stick
* Exclusive content, including buddy icons and wallpapers
* Limited edition art book
* Stilwater Map poster
* Exclusive 3rd Street Saints Poster

==Reception==
{{VG Reviews
|EuroG = 9/10
|IGN = 8.2/10<ref name="ignreview" />
|OXMUK = 9/10<ref name="oxmukrev" />
|OXMAU = 7.5/10<ref name="oxmukrev" />
|IGN AU = 8/ 10<ref name="ignreview" />
|compilation = yes
|
|GR = 100%<ref name="gamerankings">{{cite web| url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/939458.asp | title= GameRankings ''Saints Row 2'' page| work=[[GameRankings]]| date=2008-10-11}}</ref>
|MC = 82%<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web| url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/saintsrow2 | title= MetaCritic ''Saints Row 2'' page| work=[[Metacritic]]| date=2008-10-11}}</ref>
}}
Saints Row 2 has received generally positive reviews. The UK edition of ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' gave ''Saints Row 2'' an 9 of 10 review, praising the game's sense of humor, "This is a truly entertaining game. There's no pretension - just enjoyable mayhem."<ref name="oxmukrev">[[Official_Xbox_Magazine#UK_Edition|Official Xbox Magazine (UK)]] (November 2008, p. 67), ''Saints Row 2'' review. [[OXM]]. ''[[Future Publishing]]''.</ref> The Australian edition gave ''Saints Row 2'' a 10 of 10 review, praising the game's co-op and side-quest missions. ''[[IGN]]'' awarded it an 8.2 of 10, stating, "the core gameplay experience is extremely enjoyable,"<ref name="ignreview">{{cite web| url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/918/918374p1.html |title= IGN ''Saints Row 2'' review| author= Nate Ahearn| date= 2008-10-10| accessdate= 2008-10-10| language= English| pages= 3|work= [[IGN]]| publisher= [[IGN]]}}</ref> while ''IGN''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Australian site gave it an 8 of 10, calling it "big, dumb fun".<ref name="ignaureview">{{cite web| url= http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/917/917951p1.html| title= IGN (AU) ''Saints Row 2'' review| language= English| date=2008-10-10| accessdate= 2008-10-10| pages=3| author= Patrick Kolan| work=[[IGN]]| publisher= [[IGN]]}}</ref> ''Total Video Games'' raved in its 10 of 10 review, pointing out the game's co-op mode and calling it "brilliant."<ref name="tvgreview">{{cite web| url= http://www.totalvideogames.com/articles/UK_Online_Exclusive_Saints_Row_2_13858.htm| title= TVG ''Saints Row 2'' review|language= English| pages= 1|date= 2008-10-10| accessdate= 2008-10-10| work=TVG| publisher=[[British Sky Broadcasting]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Saints Row (video game)]]
* [[Saints Row (series)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.saintsrow.com/ Official ''Saints Row 2'' site]
* [http://www.volition-inc.com/ Volition, Inc. home page]
* [http://www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1306 ''Saints Row 2'' page at THQ]
* [http://www.thq.co.uk/uk/game/show/4317/Saints%20Row%202 ''Saints Row 2 To PC'' page at THQ]
* [http://au.xbox360.ign.com/launch/saints-row-2.html Saints Row 2 Launch Center on IGN]
* [http://www.freeyourinnersinner.com.au/ Saints Row 2 "Free Your Inner Sinner" launch site]
* [http://www.s0ftware.co.uk/playstation-3/adventure/saints-row-2/prod_1568.html Saints Row 2 UK pre Order]

{{Saints Row series}}

[[Category:2008 video games]]
[[Category:Organized crime video games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Saints Row]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Games for Windows certified games]]
[[Category:THQ games]]
[[Category:Nonlinear video games]]

[[ar:صف القديسين 2]]
[[es:Saints Row 2]]
[[fr:Saints Row 2]]
[[nl:Saints Row 2]]

User talk:Henrik

2008-10-03T20:21:50Z

216.94.61.100: /* wondering about tracking page hits */ new section

{{User:MiszaBot/config
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 6
|algo = old(31d)
|archive = User talk:Henrik/Archive %(counter)d
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{| class="messagebox" style="background: AntiqueWhite;"
|-
| Welcome! This is my user talk page. If you want to communicate with me for any reason, especially about pages I have made or edited, or any reverts I did, feel free to do so here.
|-
| I will generally reply here, unless you request otherwise. Please start a new section for new conversations.
|-
|}

{{archive box|
* [[/Archive 1|Archive 1]] (Jan 2006-Oct 2007)
* [[/Archive 2|Archive 2]] (Oct 2007-Dec 2007)
* [[/Archive 3|Archive 3]] (Dec 2007-Feb 2008)
* [[/Archive 4|Archive 4]] (Feb 2008-May 2008
* [[/Archive 5|Archive 5]] (May 2008-) }}

== User Talk ==

I had requested for my usertalk to be deleted and you had stated that userpages are not usually deleted. I had previously gone to delete it but that attempt was denied however they had made it seem that if I waited and tryed for deletion again that it might be granted. I just wanted to know if there was any other reason that you did not grant the deletion request besides the fact that it is a user talk? Thanks. [[User:Mygerardromance|Mygerardromance]] ([[User talk:Mygerardromance|talk]]) 18:40, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

: No, it's just that its the general policy around here that talk pages aren't deleted except in very special circumstances. But you're welcome to blank it, or move the contents to an archive. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:48, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

::Thanks [[User:Mygerardromance|Mygerardromance]] ([[User talk:Mygerardromance|talk]]) 18:49, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

== The Ballet ==

Why did you delete my article about The Ballet? I specified their coverage in media and in OUT magazine. [[Special:Contributions/68.197.64.232|68.197.64.232]] ([[User talk:68.197.64.232|talk]]) 22:43, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

: It wasn't my impression they fulfilled any of the criteria in [[Wikipedia:BAND#Criteria_for_musicians_and_ensembles]], and the article included no references or citations of any media coverage (its not enough to say they had coverage, you must substantiate it with a reference). I have nevertheless restored it, to give you a chance to hopefully improve it. I'll take a look at the article again in a week or two. Cheers, [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 07:34, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

== Question about edit on IKEA article ==

Hi! On the article about IKEA, you removed an edit that mentions IKEAFANS.com, citing 'Wikipedia doesn't usually link to fansites'. IKEA is somewhat unique in that it has a HUGE fanatical following around the world. I think that a section on this following and links to the sites, such as IKEAFANS.com, ikeahacker.blogspot.com, ohikea.com, etc. is very valid and appropriate in this case. [[Special:Contributions/71.253.192.33|71.253.192.33]] ([[User talk:71.253.192.33|talk]]) 15:50, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

: Many bands, sports clubs also have huge and fanatical followings. For some examples of their Wikipedia articles see (I'll just take a few random examples) [[Britney Spears]], [[Madonna (entertainer)]], [[New York Yankees]], [[Liverpool_F.C.]]. You'll see that none of them link to fan sites and that the external links are very few. Madonna for instance has one single link to her IMDB profile. It's not that Wikipedia discount the effort these fans put into their site, but it's just not the proper venue for fan sites to attract attention. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 16:06, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

:: Thanks for your response. Is it appropriate for these sites to start pages of their own? And if so, can they link to the page for the object of their affections? :D [[User:Gardenofdarwin|Gardenofdarwin]] ([[User talk:Gardenofdarwin|talk]]) 04:56, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

== add Wikiprojects to stats site? ==

I'd also like to echo the positive feedback to your site. Very nice to know what is popular. Any chance we could have a function which indicates popularity of individual articles when you select down to a Wikiproject (i.e. Wikiproject Birds). Most articles have been assessed. We could then know what people are reading in our respective areas of expertise..... [[User:Pvmoutside|Pvmoutside]] ([[User talk:Pvmoutside|talk]]) 18:51, 1 August 2008 (UTC)
:I will do those analyses for you in some days. --- Greetings, [[User:Melancholie|Melancholie]] ([[User talk:Melancholie|talk]]) 01:48, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
:: Thanks for taking care of stuff in my absence Melancholie! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:22, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== nice tool for vandals ==

thanks. HA! HA! HA! —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/144.122.250.142|144.122.250.142]] ([[User talk:144.122.250.142|talk]]) 12:25, 3 August 2008 (UTC) 

: hohoho, indeed. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:23, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== He may not be coming back ==

He put up that vacation box (at top of page) July 1st folks. I wish I could take a long vacation. I bet he isn't coming back and so probably that is the end of the tool [[User:Chrisgj|Chrisgj]] ([[User talk:Chrisgj|talk]]) 00:49, 8 August 2008 (UTC)

: Nah, I'm back now. I've had a long vacation (and it's taken me a while to get my gears back up and running after coming home. It's amazing what some time out in nature does to cure ones computer addiction). The stats has been offline due to the server running out of disk space and I haven't had the time to code up a more disk efficient solution until now. It's crunching the data for August now, and it should be up within a few days. Unfortunately about half of july is probably lost for good. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 17:59, 2 September 2008 (UTC)
::Oh well. Just another hole in the data. Equally unfortunately I anticipated this but only downloaded a few of the files that you already have, instead of all of July as I intended. Maybe someone else saved them. [[User:Delphi234|Delphi234]] ([[User talk:Delphi234|talk]]) 01:00, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

== Stats.grok.se problem ==

When the page is initialized, the month selected is May instead of July, and URL hacking for the current month doesn't work anymore. Could you please fix the page to be up-to-date? And don't remove the possibility to view stats for the current month by URL hacking, please. :-) [[User:Admiral Norton|Admiral Norton]] ([[User talk:Admiral Norton|talk]]) 23:16, 12 August 2008 (UTC)
:In it.wiki, the month selected by default in Stats.grok.se is December 2007; July and August are not selectable, because unavailable in the list. Same request to above :-) Bye! --[[User:Roberto Mura|'''Roberto''']] [[User talk:Roberto Mura|'''Segnali all'Indiano''']] 04:33, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
:Same request as above. Also, the July stats stop at about the 11th or 12th of July. Coincidently (???), this is August 13th. Perhaps the dates are a month off? [[User:davidwr|davidwr]]/([[User_talk:davidwr|talk]])/([[Special:Contributions/Davidwr|contribs]])/([[Special:Emailuser/davidwr|e-mail]]) 00:27, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
::Henrik, please come home!! We neeeedd you to fix the stats.grok.se counter!!!! [[User:Akindofmagick|Akindofmagick]] ([[User talk:Akindofmagick|talk]]) 19:25, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

::: It'll be back soon! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:24, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== Anyone fluent in Python who can fix the stats tool? ==

There is a script in the raw data for the [http://stats.grok.se/ stats tool]. Anyone with the skill care to look at it and try fixing it and running it on your own web site? [[User:davidwr|davidwr]]/([[User_talk:davidwr|talk]])/([[Special:Contributions/Davidwr|contribs]])/([[Special:Emailuser/davidwr|e-mail]]) 00:33, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
:The script you mean is not one of Henrik's; and it does not work properly (respectively it only works at the data source itself). I could extend my [http://wikistics.falsikon.de/latest/ analyses] to the functionality of stats.grok.se, but actually I still hope that Henrik will come back (by now even hoping that nothing bad happened to him during vacation)! --- Best regards, [[User:Melancholie|Melancholie]] ([[User talk:Melancholie|talk]]) 11:58, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
::I agree Melancholie - I'm concerned, too. But [http://blog.wikimedia.org/2008/08/14/techie-ecosystem-contractors/ the Wikimedia blog] seems to give some indication that Erik Zachte] will start to keep page view stats, so there's hope no that front. Besides that - Henrik, where are you? Drop a line and let us know you are okay. --David '''[[User:David Shankbone|Shankbone]]''' 20:45, 15 August 2008 (UTC)
::: I didn't mean to worry anyone! No, I'm perfectly fine - I've just been away for a long time (on several different trips), and didn't feel like using a computer all that much in the time I actually had internet access. Thanks for caring, it actually means a lot. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:03, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

:::: Welcome back, everyone needs a vacation from time to time. You can see from the response here how many people appreciate your work and your utility. [[User:Bubba73|Bubba73]] [[User talk:Bubba73|(talk)]], 20:48, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

::::: Thanks! Absolutely, the responses here heave been heart-warming. Thanks all. Plus I'm motivated to write an article or two now. I think it's time to try for a second little bronze star on some article in the near future. :) [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:51, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

::::::It's great having you back from nature :-) --- Greetings, [[User:Melancholie|Melancholie]] ([[User talk:Melancholie|talk]]) 20:58, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== I blogged about you and the stats tool ==

Henrik, I [http://blog.shankbone.org/2008/08/16/wikipedia-hires-erik-zachte-to-provide-article-hit-statistics.aspx blogged about your stats tool] and the introduction of a page hits by Wikimedia. --David '''[[User:David Shankbone|Shankbone]]''' 19:06, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

: Oh my, that was quite a moving post and it makes me feel very bad for not checking in at all :) The stats will be back soon, but it sounds good that the foundation is putting up an official solution and not relying on, well, unreliable people like me. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:14, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== Wondering ==

Did you put somthing on Simple Wikipedia that made google as a default of searching? Because I dislike that =\ --[[User:Runningblader|Running]][[User talk:Runningblader|blader]] 00:47, 27 August 2008 (UTC)

: Nope, not me. I have however made a small script that runs google searches, but (at least here on en) people have to install it manually. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:04, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== traffic ==

hallo henrik, is it possible to update [http://stats.grok.se this] very interesting tool? (there is no july and august) thanks --[[Special:Contributions/62.143.249.236|62.143.249.236]] ([[User talk:62.143.249.236|talk]]) 06:43, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

: It'll be back within a few days. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:10, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== Come on people READ these discussions before posting! ==

Read these discussions and you'll see over the last 8 weeks, at least a 9 people asking Henrik to update the statistics. If you read these discussions, you'll learn that Henrik is on a very long vacation and someone recently hired is supposed to get the statistics working again soon. Please, enough is enough already! [[User:Chrisgj|Chrisgj]] ([[User talk:Chrisgj|talk]]) 06:23, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
:Would Henrik be OK if we put a notice box at the top of this page to explain the situation? That would help at least those users who can read. I must admit, I check pretty regularly to see if the tool is up again. It's all about me! :) [[User:Franamax|Franamax]] ([[User talk:Franamax|talk]]) 22:59, 1 September 2008 (UTC)

:: Many thanks, but I'm back now. I've coded up a more disk efficient solution for the stats tool and it should be back up and running again within a few days. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 18:11, 2 September 2008 (UTC)
:::This is good news. I'd think you'll be able to fry eggs on top of the server for a few days, until pent-up demand is satisfied. [[User:Franamax|Franamax]] ([[User talk:Franamax|talk]]) 21:30, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== live edit counter ==

Can you please fix the {{tlu|User:Henrik/ubx/User contrib}} userbox? It's no longer showing live edit counts. Thanks. --[[User:Closedmouth|Closedmouth]] ([[User talk:Closedmouth|talk]]) 13:44, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
:The reason is that query.php has been replaced by api.php, by the way (new: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=query&list=users&ususers=Closedmouth&usprop=editcount (with new syntax <code>''editcount="55486"''</code>, not item(0) anymore); [[User:Henrik/js/live-edit-counter.js]])... --- Best regards, [[User:Melancholie|Melancholie]] ([[User talk:Melancholie|talk]]) 21:05, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
::I see. Do you know how to fix it? --[[User:Closedmouth|Closedmouth]] ([[User talk:Closedmouth|talk]]) 05:26, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

== Wikipedia traffic statistics ==

Dear Henrik,

First of all let me thank you so very much for designing the wikipedia traffic statistics tool. It is indeed a very useful tool and helps us all to have an idea of the impact of our contribution to Wikipedia. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.
First, does your tool measure now unique hits? I have noticed that whenever I work on an article the amount of hits meassured are very high.
Second, I am also very interested in learning more about the demographics of the wikipedia traffic to my articles, who are they? What age? How long do they stay? What references do they click on? Would it be possible to have a tool like this in the future?

I appreciate your time, Henrik, and let me thank you again for your useful contribution to the wikipedia universe.

Best, --[[user:anunezsanchez|anunezsanchez]] ([[user talk:anunezsanchez|talk]]) 14:18, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

: Hi! It's good to be back :)

: No, what is counted are page views, so if you look at page and then reload it it'll be counted as two hits. As you've noticed, editing the article will cause several views. Unfortunately, the data stored is pretty rudimentary - just views - nothing about who did it, who they are or where they are. Wikipedia gets up to 40-50 thousand hits a second during peak time, and there simply isn't enough server resources to do a detailed analysis of each view. Perhaps someone could write a tool to do that selectively for a sample of users, or for a certain article, but I don't really know of any such tools.

: Thanks! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 14:25, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

::@How long do they stay: That is impossible to meassure accurately! Readers open pages in browser tabs/new windows or just go and drink/eat something (or do the reverse ;-) while having a page opened... @Who are they: That would be against policy ;-) @What age: How to figure out? The only tool I know is [http://adlab.microsoft.com/Demographics-Prediction/DPUI.aspx?query=en.wikipedia.org Demographics Prediction] by Microsoft. @What references do they click on: That would be interesting, actually. --- Best regards, [[User:Melancholie|Melancholie]] ([[User talk:Melancholie|talk]]) 15:04, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

== [[Assault]] ==

Hi, I think an image will be good for the article [[Assault]]. Is the [[:Image:Girl sufferedwithburnwounds.jpg]] appropriate for this article? See [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assault&oldid=236177195 this version]. '''[[User:Otolemur crassicaudatus|Otolemur crassicaudatus]]''' ([[User talk:Otolemur crassicaudatus|talk]]) 06:15, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

: I really have no opinion on this. Try asking on [[Talk:Assault|the talk page]] to get input from the other editors on that page? [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 12:27, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

== Moving boobs 5000 ==

Thanks for sending me that message. That was not me who did it, but I just checked the history and someone used my username. I have changed my password. I am very keen to get this fixed up because it indicates that someone was able to steal my password. It was a strong password too, made up of 8 letters and numbers. If possible please ban my account until this is sorted out. My blogsite is http://one-salient-oversight.blogspot.com/ so we can converse there. I repeat PLEASE BAN/LOCK MY USER ACCOUNT until this is sorted out. - User:One Salient Oversight —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/124.170.197.211|124.170.197.211]] ([[User talk:124.170.197.211|talk]]) 11:08, 5 September 2008 (UTC) 

: If you've changed your password already, everything should be sorted out and there's no need to block your account. You might have just accidentally left your account logged in on some computer other people have access to. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 12:02, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

::That assumes I use more than one computer. I don't. The last time I logged into Wikipedia under my username from a different computer was about 2 years ago. And even then the password was different to the one I just changed from. --[[User:One Salient Oversight|One Salient Oversight]] ([[User talk:One Salient Oversight|talk]]) 00:06, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

== Hello! ==

Thank you for a truly amazing [http://stats.grok.se/en tool]!

Cheers mate!

[[User:Aua|Λuα]] ([[User talk:Aua|Operibus anteire]]) 13:47, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

: Thanks! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 12:26, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

::Well, I am just being honest. :)
::Out of curiosity, does the tool count the number of unique visitors or just how many hits?
::Cheers mate!
::[[User:Aua|Λuα]] ([[User talk:Aua|Operibus anteire]]) 12:17, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

== RE:Small note ==

I had given that editor multiple hints before he started to attack me. I told him what he needed to do on wikipedia via the helpful links, but he did not follow the hints. Then he tried to tell me, after I had given him the afd link, that I was out to personally destroy the article. If it looks like I bit him, then so be it. I don't like to come off like that, but he did not do the simple task of reading up on things instead of attacking me. [[User:Undead warrior|Undead Warrior]] ([[User talk:Undead warrior|talk]]) 20:30, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

== Newsletter? ==

Have you considered publishing a little newsletter for your stats.grok.se tool? I've been working on a [[User:Cryptic C62/Elements|report]] using the data provided by this wonderful tool. It would be really helpful and convenient and tasty if you let me know when you upload all of September's data. And October's data. And so on. Wewt. --'''[[User:Cryptic C62|Cryptic]] [[User:Cryptic C62|C62]] · [[User talk: Cryptic C62|Talk]]''' 02:43, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

== Wikipedia article traffic statistics ==

Hello. I'd like to know what does exacly count the "Wikipedia article traffic statistics". Is it the numbers of click on one link, or is it each time a wikipedia read an article whatever he did to go there ? [[Special:Contributions/92.134.222.148|92.134.222.148]] ([[User talk:92.134.222.148|talk]]) 14:11, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

== Update of Top ==

Could you update Top lithuanian lang. articles in your stats site, cuz last update is more than half year old (February). Thanks ;).--[[User:Pontiakas|Pontiakas]] ([[User talk:Pontiakas|talk]]) 16:28, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

: Absolutely. Should be done by this weekend. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:04, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

== ''Signpost'' updated for August 25 and September 8, 2008. ==

{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
! [[Image:WikipediaSignpostHead.svg|center|500px|The Wikipedia Signpost]]'''Weekly Delivery'''
|}
 
{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
|-
| colspan=3 |
----
|-
| align="left" | '''Volume 4, Issue 35''' || align ="center" | '''[[25 August]] [[2008]]''' || align="right" | '''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/About|About the Signpost]]'''
|-
| colspan=3 align=center |
----
|}
{| align="center" cellspacing="20" width=90% style="background-color:transparent;"

{{s-s|2|1|2008-08-25|WikiWorld|WikiWorld: "George P. Burdell"}}
{{s-s|2|2|2008-08-25|News and notes|News and notes: Arbitrator resigns, milestones}}
{{s-s|2|3|2008-08-25|In the news|Wikipedia in the News}}
{{s-s|2|4|2008-08-25|Dispatches|Dispatches: Interview with Mav}}
{{s-s|2|5|2008-08-25|Features and admins|Features and admins}}
{{s-s|2|6|2008-08-25|Technology report|Bugs, Repairs, and Internal Operational News}}
{{s-s|2|7|2008-08-25|Arbitration report|The Report on Lengthy Litigation}}

|}
{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
|-
| colspan=3 |
----
|-
| align="left" | '''Volume 4, Issue 36''' || align ="center" | '''[[8 September]] [[2008]]''' || align="right" | '''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/About|About the Signpost]]'''
|-
| colspan=3 align=center |
----
|}
{| align="center" cellspacing="20" width=90% style="background-color:transparent;"

{{s-s|2|1|2008-09-08|Wikimedia UK|Wikimedia UK disbands, but may form again}}
{{s-s|2|2|2008-09-08|WikiWorld|WikiWorld: "Helicopter parent"}}
{{s-s|2|3|2008-09-08|News and notes|News and notes: Wikipedian dies, milestones}}
{{s-s|2|4|2008-09-08|In the news|Wikipedia in the News}}
{{s-s|2|5|2008-09-08|Dispatches 1|Dispatches: Featured topics}}
{{s-s|2|6|2008-09-08|Dispatches 2|Dispatches: Style guide and policy changes, August}}
{{s-s|2|7|2008-09-08|Features and admins|Features and admins}}
{{s-s|2|8|2008-09-08|Technology report|Bugs, Repairs, and Internal Operational News}}
{{s-s|2|9|2008-09-08|Arbitration report|The Report on Lengthy Litigation}}

|}
{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
| colspan=2 |
----
|-
| align="left" | '''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost|Home]]'''  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Archives|Archives]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom|Newsroom]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom/Suggestions|Tip Line]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Tools/Single|Single-Page View]]
| align = "right" | [[Wikipedia:Shortcut|Shortcut]] : [[WP:POST]]
|-
| colspan=2 |
----
|}

You are receiving this message because you have signed up for the [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Tools/Spamlist|''Signpost'' spamlist]]. If you wish to stop receiving these messages, simply remove your name from the list. [[User:Ralbot|Ralbot]] ([[User talk:Ralbot|talk]]) 21:35, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

== AH-26 Jet Jeep ==

Hi Henrik
Thanks for your help on this article but I'm going to have to start all over again. Some bloody idiot named DragonflySixtyseven moved the article moments after I finished it and deleted all my work. What's left is no longer accurate and shouldn't be displayed without major rebuilding, and I simply don't have the time for that today. I've gone to the discussion page for DragonflySixtyseven and it's crammed full of people complaining that he's moved or deleted their articles. I'm not sure if he's a vandal or just doesn't have the slightest idea what he's doing, but in either case he's destroyed a lot of floks hard work and seems to think he's acting as some sort of Wikipedia administrator. It would be terribly helpful if you know someone at Wikipedia who could shut this bloke down until they can sit down and have a chat with him about not messing with the articles. Reviewing his contributions, I can't see as he's done anything worthwhile on the site at all, just a lot of moving and damage that should be the sole duty of the Wikipedia staff. - [[User:Ken keisel|Ken keisel]] ([[User talk:Ken keisel|talk]]) 20:27, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

*Thanks Henrik. What you're saying is partially true. What is different is that I had been constantly saving the article while I was writing it so that I wouldn't have that very problem (yes, it has happened before to me). What this bloke did was merge my two thousand word article to a pre-existing "stub" that I decided not to use because the title was incorrect for the subject (it lacked the manufacturer's name). When you do that the article that is merged to the pre-existing article is lost completely and only the original article and title is retained. I had planned on doing something like that with my article by merging the old stub to it when this bloke named [[DragonflySixtyseven]] merged my article to the stub first. If I'd have had another minute or two it wouldn't have been a problem. I didn't get upset until I saw his fellow's duscussion page and saw that it's crammed full of other people complaining about him doing the same thing to them. - [[User:Ken keisel|Ken keisel]] ([[User talk:Ken keisel|talk]]) 21:03, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

**The article that currently appears in the history is the original stub that I was attempting to replace. It contains none of my text or formatting. I have no idea why my name appears on the history associated with it. The article that I was writing under the title "American Helicopter XH-26 Jet Jeep" was saved at least four times while I was working on it, but none of my saves appear anywhere in the current article's history. What DragonflySixtyseven did was merge my article after I had finished it with the other "stub" article (under a different title) in the wrong order. As a result, the entire contents of my article and it's history were wiped-out, as when you merge two pre-existing articles together only the contents and history of one is retained.
What DragonflySixtyseven should have done is either linked my article to the stub until the conflict could have been examined, or contacted the authors of both articles in an effort to encourage us to create a single article encompassing the best features of each. The reason this fellow is catching so much flack from users is that he's merging articles without doing either of the two things I've just mentioned. As a result one person's (or more) article is getting completely deleted at the expense of the other. As you say, I doubt he's hearing anything from the fellow who's article survives.
One final thing, if he's an administrator than he should have known that my title for the article was the correct one under Wikipedia standards as it included the required name of the vehicle's manufacturer, while the "stub" was using an unacceptable title (in other words, if you write an article about the "Buick Le Sabre" you have to title the article "Buick Le Saber", not just "Le Saber"). As such, the "stub" should have eventually been merged to my article as the current title he retained is the incorrect version (this was the reason I wasn't modifying the original article). I'm sorry, but based on what I've seen and what others are saying about him on his own discussion page, if he is an administrator he's not a very good or knowledgeable one. - Ken keisel (talk) 17:47, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

== Hi Henrik! Quick question :) ==

Hey dear, I just got back from a computer-blowup-forced break, and I've noticed an oddity with afc-helper. When I choose "accept", it is putting a space in front of my signature (in front of the four tildes) which ends up putting the signature in a /pre box. It is also not finishing the edit, instead you have to press "save" after using the "accept" option. I haven't tested all of them, but has something changed with either AFC, or the way the script is running, that could explain this? Or perhaps something I need to do on my end? No rush, but if you could look at it, I'd appreciate it! Cheers, [[user:ArielGold|'''Ariel''']][[Special:Contributions/ArielGold|♥]][[User_talk:ArielGold|'''Gold''']] 23:55, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

: Hi Ariel! I've been away for a couple of months as well, so things may have changed in our absence. I'll take a look at afc-helper again and get back to you. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:31, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

== Some data about Wikipedia article hits. ==

I had the following question to ask, and they forwarded me to you.

"

I am looking for a breakdown of the hits per article in Wikipedia.
So far I have found the 1000 most viewed articles.
I am looking for a more comprehensive list.
Something like this... http://stats.grok.se/en/top
but including all, or most, of the articles on Wikipedia.

Thanks again.
"

and they told me this

"

Wikipedia keeps some of that data internally, but other then
http://stats.grok.se/ there hasn't been a effort to create sorted lists. If
you have a short list of articles you want to know about it should be easy to
run each one individually and compile your own ranking. However, if you need
something more complex I would recommend either running your own data mining
or convince Henrik do to it for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Henrik
"

So can you help me please? =)

I really appreciate all the work you do. Keep up all the good work.

[[Special:Contributions/88.203.17.165|88.203.17.165]] ([[User talk:88.203.17.165|talk]]) 09:37, 14 September 2008 (UTC) Reuben Bartolo
ReubenBartolo@gmail.com

: A complete data dump of february is [http://stats.grok.se/~henrik/wikistats here], if that is recent enough. If not, I could put together one for a newer month. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:33, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks a lot for all this help guys. I really appreciate it.
However ideally I do not get the data for only one month, but rather cumulative.
For example: In one month a title like Google Chrome might be popular, but when seen over time, it is not. So therefore the data would not be just for February, because that would just show current events. It should be something like, "over time, the article about Malta is very popular." —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/194.158.36.186|194.158.36.186]] ([[User talk:194.158.36.186|talk]]) 08:17, 15 September 2008 (UTC) 

== Missedwardcullens ==

She just got blocked so fast and hard, and didn't really look malicious to me: just lost and not understanding at all what she was expected to do. At least, I assume its a "she": I'm not sure if its "Miss Edward Cullens" or "Missed Ward Cullens". Neither makes much sense.[[User:Kww|Kww]] ([[User talk:Kww|talk]]) 14:59, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

== Assistance with copyright problems board? ==

Hi. :) There's a ticket coming for closure tomorrow at the copyright problems board with which I could use the assistance of somebody who reads Swedish, and I'm hoping you might be able to help. The article in question is [[Social Security (Sweden)]], which has been tagged a copy of [http://www.forsakringskassan.se/sprak/eng/pension/ this site]. As I understand Swedish copyright law, [http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=en&id=3656 here], most official information is exempted under paragraph 9. I'm not sure if this is an official website, however. While they handily translate that page, they do ''not'' translate the page that would probably tell me, [http://www.forsakringskassan.se/webbplatsen/ here]. If you are able to shed some light on this, being all multilingual, I'd appreciate it. :) I'll watch your page, in case you have opportunity and inclination to respond. Thanks. --[[User:Moonriddengirl|Moonriddengirl]] [[User talk:Moonriddengirl|(talk)]] 20:08, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

: forsakringskassan.se is indeed an official site of a government agency. I haven't found anything at all about copyright or licensing on their site (the page you linked would have been a good spot for it). I don't think there's any general rule that information published by the government is in the public domain in Sweden, but I could be wrong about that. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:29, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

::Thanks so much for looking. :) According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, in Sweden there's no copyright in "(1) laws and other regulations, (2) decisions by public authorities, (3) reports by Swedish public authorities, or (4) official translations of texts mentioned under items 1.-3."[http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=en&id=3656 here]. I was presuming that this would qualify, if the site is official, as a report by Swedish public authorities. Of course, that might be more specifically related to official pronouncements, and less to official websites. I'll seek clarification at [[WT:C]]. I think it goes without saying that copyright questions are an area where it's best not guess wrong. :D --[[User:Moonriddengirl|Moonriddengirl]] [[User talk:Moonriddengirl|(talk)]] 20:48, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

== My RfA ==

{|style="background-color: #E6E6FA; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #888;"
|[[Image:Wikipe-tan mopping.png|100px]]
|style="background-color: #def; padding: 0 10px 0 10px; border: 1px solid #888;"|Thank you for your participation at my RfA, which passed with a count of (166/43/7). I appreciate your comments and in my actions as an '''[[Wikipedia:Administrators|administrator]]''' I will endeavor to act in ways that earn your full confidence, even though I don't have it now. '''[[User:Cirt|Cirt]]''' ([[User talk:Cirt|talk]]) 01:33, 16 September 2008 (UTC)
|}

== Personal abuse ==

Just because I corrected his grammar another editor feels compelled to say that I have attacked him and that I am a DICK. In England, if you call someone a DICK it is a deadly personal insult. The sentence I corrected was grammatically wrong. In real life I am an English teacher and do not take kindly to pupils swearing at me and writing abusive messages on the blackboard because I have the audacity to correct their grammar. Maybe people call each other DICKS all the time in America but in England the word 'DICK' is a deadly insult. Think of the worst racist swear words you use in America and apply them to another culture (ie England).
My crime, it seems, and the reason I have to be personally abused on my talk page and called a DICK is because I changed:
:Whilst 44% agreed that "America is a force for good in the world."

into:

:44% agreed that "America is a force for good in the world.

IMHO the first version is not grammatically correct and is in fact meaningless. [[User:Colin4C|Colin4C]] ([[User talk:Colin4C|talk]]) 20:14, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

: To be pedantic, what he did was to quote [[WP:DICK]] at you (despite its provocative name, it is an essay worth reading). But, as I said, I'm not interested in arguments that amount to that it's the other guy's fault. I strongly hope you can both disengage, bury the hatchet and move on. There are still oh.. one or two articles that need writing around here. :) [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 20:17, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Hej Henrik, hur mar du? Tack for medelandet du skicka mig. Jag forstar det hela med "I'm not interested in arguments..." - eftersomatt jag sjalv ar admin (jag ar Scarian och jag tar vara en riten paus fran "knapparna"). Tack annu en gang. Ha de bra! (Forlat i forskott anom det ar svart att forsta vad jag skrivit. Jag har tyvar inget svenskt tangentbord) ['''med hjalp av [[User:Deaaaa]]'''] [[User:Utan Vax|Utan Vax]] ([[User talk:Utan Vax|talk]]) 15:16, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

:Tack sa mycket, van! :-) [[User:Utan Vax|Utan Vax]] ([[User talk:Utan Vax|talk]]) 23:32, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

== Stats ==

Hi. Cutting right to the cheese, why haven't the stats updated to past 12 September? I guess I'm being a little impatient here but I'm just wondering. Thank you very much for your time! [[Special:Contributions/75.169.203.208|75.169.203.208]] ([[User talk:75.169.203.208|talk]]) 00:59, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

: Hi! It's updated now, and the process should hopefully be fully automated from now on, meaning that pesky unreliable people (i.e. myself) are no longer directly in the loop to get the stats up every day. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 15:32, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

Hi Henri. Thanks for the excellent stats visualiser. There seems to be a small bug though. I selected "Tamil" for project and, for various months, clicked on the "Top" button. It gave the top visited pages for 200808 always instead of the selected month. Will you please fix that? -- [[User:Sundar|Sundar]] \[[User talk:Sundar|talk]] \[[Special:Contributions/Sundar|contribs]] 12:49, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

== Your block of [[User:Oxyman42|Oxyman42]] ==

I did not ask for the block, but I think it was proper, and probably has avoided further disruption. Per [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AOxyman42&diff=239576897&oldid=239574346], I only added the note about unblock because it does not hurt to make sure the editor knows how to request unblock. I've used an unblock template myself, and it was a convenience to not have to look it up to know the exact syntax, I just copied it from the block display. Most of what I did was to make it clear to that editor that we are not trying to keep him away, that his positive contributions are welcome, and to help him to return and avoid disruption. Thanks again for reviewing my request for page protection. Your action was better, I think, than what I requested.--[[User:Abd|Abd]] ([[User talk:Abd|talk]]) 15:04, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

== ''Signpost'' updated for September 15, 2008. ==

{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
! [[Image:WikipediaSignpostHead.svg|center|500px|The Wikipedia Signpost]]'''Weekly Delivery'''
|}
 
{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
|-
| colspan=3 |
----
|-
| align="left" | '''Volume 4, Issue 37''' || align ="center" | '''[[15 September]] [[2008]]''' || align="right" | '''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/About|About the Signpost]]'''
|-
| colspan=3 align=center |
----
|}
{| align="center" cellspacing="20" width=90% style="background-color:transparent;"

{{s-s|2|1|2008-09-15|Poetlister|Wikiquote checkuser found to be sockpuppeteer}}
{{s-s|2|2|2008-09-15|WikiWorld|WikiWorld: "Ubbi dubbi"}}
{{s-s|2|3|2008-09-15|News and notes|News and notes: Wikis Takes Manhattan, milestones}}
{{s-s|2|4|2008-09-15|Dispatches|Dispatches: Interview with Ruhrfisch, master of Peer review}}
{{s-s|2|5|2008-09-15|Technology report|Bugs, Repairs, and Internal Operational News}}
{{s-s|2|6|2008-09-15|Arbitration report|The Report on Lengthy Litigation}}

|}
{| width="90%" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:transparent;"
| colspan=2 |
----
|-
| align="left" | '''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost|Home]]'''  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Archives|Archives]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom|Newsroom]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom/Suggestions|Tip Line]]  |  [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Tools/Single|Single-Page View]]
| align = "right" | [[Wikipedia:Shortcut|Shortcut]] : [[WP:POST]]
|-
| colspan=2 |
----
|}

You are receiving this message because you have signed up for the [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Tools/Spamlist|''Signpost'' spamlist]]. If you wish to stop receiving these messages, simply remove your name from the list. [[User:Ralbot|Ralbot]] ([[User talk:Ralbot|talk]]) 05:36, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

== Some article traffic questions ==

Hi. Add me to the long list of people who love the traffic stats pages (both stats.grok and wikistics). Some questions:
#Would it be possible to determine what percentage of articles receive different levels of viewership each month? That is, X% viewed less than 1 time per month, Y% viewed less than 30 times per month, et cetera. I'm trying to get an idea of what percentage of viewership 'Random article' yields (likely less than 1 view per month), average monthly page viewership, top 10%, et cetera.
#Have you ever looked at a list of ''least'' viewed pages? I'm curious whether they are obscure encyclopedic topics, complete junk, or some mix of the two.
#There are sometimes articles which are highly ranked in the statistics despite having been deleted or indeed never having existed at all (e.g. [http://stats.grok.se/en/200809/Pelle%20Miljoona%20%26%201980]). I assume that this is due to automated processes which keep trying to access the page over and over again. Do you receive data about the page VIEWERs which could be used to filter out such 'mass repeat' instances? --[[User talk:CBDunkerson|CBD]] 13:30, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

== Apparent article stats tool glitch ==

[[History of the Philippines (1898-1946)]] (with a hyphen) is a redirect to [[History of the Philippines (1898–1946)]] (with a long dash). I thought to check the stats with http://stats.grok.se/, expecting to see the redirect page having fewer hits, representing the portion of the hits on the main article page which went through that redirect. I was surprised to see results (for 200808) showing 5020 hits on the redirect page and 2685 hits on the main page. I'm confused. -- [[User:Wtmitchell|Boracay Bill]] ([[User talk:Wtmitchell|talk]]) 03:22, 27 September 2008 (UTC)
:I suppose it's not a glitch but results from the technical method of extracting those data from the webserver log. The request went to the redirect page - and that's what stats.grok.se counts - is that correct, Henrik?
:@Henrik: Anyway, it would be nice to see the real number of lookups of an article even it goes through a redirect. Do you see a means to provide that type of data? Regards, --[[User:Drahkrub|Drahkrub]] ([[User talk:Drahkrub|talk]]) 18:30, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

:: Yep. It counts the number accesses people have made, and apparently the redirect title is more popular. I agree, it would be good to sum up all the alternative titles articles has. I'll see if I can implement that. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 23:44, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

== Total page views ==

Your '''Wikipedia article traffic statistics''' should show the total views of a page, for the whole entire time, rather than a selected month. Although...you should still leave the option for the month selection, however, please provide an option to show the ''total'' page views. -- [[User:IRP|IRP]] [[User talk: IRP|☎]] 23:41, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

: Yes, that would be good. The reason that it wasn't done like that was because of efficiency issues. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 23:50, 27 September 2008 (UTC)
::Any way to provide the option, or just show it on the bottom of the statistics graph? -- [[User:IRP|IRP]] [[User talk: IRP|☎]] 23:54, 27 September 2008 (UTC)
::: I'll see what I can do. I was planning on doing new stats metrics (for example median views per day) when I got a years worth of data, which would of course also make it easy to show total views. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 23:59, 27 September 2008 (UTC)
::::OK, that'll work. -- [[User:IRP|IRP]] [[User talk: IRP|☎]] 16:47, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

== Lawyers' Council on Social Justice ==

Hi Henrik,
Thanks for the comment about the name. How do we change the name and would it be better to wait until after the deletion review? —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Lawyerscouncil|Lawyerscouncil]] ([[User talk:Lawyerscouncil|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lawyerscouncil|contribs]]) 00:23, 28 September 2008 (UTC) 

== Always stats... ==

Hi Henrik, sorry if I bother you with a question someone probably has just asked you. I just wanted to know if you [http://stats.grok.se wonderful tool] will be updated with ''sisterprojects stats'' too. I'm from the Italian wikisource and I'm struggling to find detailed stats about my project, they would be very useful. Thank you for your kindness. --[[User:Aubrey|Aubrey]] ([[User talk:Aubrey|talk]]) 10:57, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

: I'm just glad people find it useful :) The good news is that the stats for all wikimedia projects are already there: If you go to [http://stats.grok.se/it.s/200808/Pagina_principale http://stats.grok.se/it.s/200808/Pagina_principale], you'll see the stats for the main page of the italian wikisource. The bad news is that the user interface isn't as friendly as it could be. For now, you have to manipulate the URL directly [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 11:26, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

::Thank you very much, I'm in debt :-) Have a nice day, --[[User:Aubrey|Aubrey]] ([[User talk:Aubrey|talk]]) 12:13, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

== Thanks for writing ==

Hello, I'm the guy that wrote the new section in the Sweden page. I've always had an account, but sometimes I forget to log in:) [[User:Swedish pirate|Swedish pirate]] ([[User talk:Swedish pirate|talk]]) 13:08, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

: Aha :) That explains it. Still, good work! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 13:20, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

== Traffic Count ==

I was looking at [http://stats.grok.se/en/latest/Kevjumba this count] and it lists hits for days the article did not exist. It has hits for every day this month, but the article has only existed for two day. From reading the other comments on this page, it sounds like people may have tried to go to the page even though it doesn't exist. Is that what's happening, are people typing "kevjumba" into the search box, and that triggers the server log? Thanks - [[User:Peregrine Fisher|Peregrine Fisher]] ([[User talk:Peregrine Fisher|talk]]) ([[Special:Contributions/Peregrine_Fisher|contribs]]) 17:47, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

: It's probably people following internal links, or directly typing the URL. The search box itself probably doesn't trigger any hits though. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== Congratulations ==

Dear Henrik, a great service the wikipedia article traffic statistics is. I am dealing with a corporate wiki service we are develloping to trainning purposes. It would be useful knowing how many times a particular article was visited on a particular day. We´d like building a solution like this on our system. How did you do this? Coul you help us?
sincerely,
[[User:Nevinho|Nevinho]] ([[User talk:Nevinho|talk]]) 13:57, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

: You don't say which wiki software you use. Mediawiki (which is what wikipedia uses) has an internal view counter, but it is disabled on Wikipedia for performance reasons. As long as you're not a top-10 website in the world, I think the internal view counters would work well for you. For more info, look at the mediawiki documentation. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== Felicitaciones por la página sobre Traffic Count ==

*Encuentro este recurso sumamente importante y atractivo, sobre todo porque sirve de guía sobre lo que debe mejorarse de acuerdo con las expectativas de los usuarios de la WP. Gracias. --[[User:Fev|Fev]] ([[User talk:Fev|talk]]) 21:56, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

: Gracias! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== Congratulations ==

Congratulations for this wonderful tool, go ahead, this is great in all respects !!!--[[User:Djacnov|Djacnov]] ([[User talk:Djacnov|talk]]) 08:52, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

: Thanks! [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== Wikipedia page hit counter. ==

Good day Henrik

Thanks for your useful hit counter.

I notice that when I searched for the number of hits on [[EFNMR]], I got a very different result than if I searched for [[Earth's field NMR]], even though both searches lead to the same page - due to redirection. 'EFNMR' is redirected to 'Earth's field NMR'.

Having thought about it, I presume that the 'Earth's field NMR' hits include the 'EFNMR' hits, but that 'EFNMR' hits exclude the 'Earth's field NMR'hits.

If this is so, could you please add a note explaining it?
[[User:G-W|GilesW]] ([[User talk:G-W|talk]]) 20:06, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

: No, redirects are counted separately in all cases. The total views is the sum of the views on all redirects, which should perhaps be explained more clearly. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

==WP:AN discussion==

As a user who contributed to the discussion concerning {{User|Koavf}}, you're invited to comment at [[Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard#Specific_Sanctions_-_proposals]] also. Thanks - [[User:Ncmvocalist|Ncmvocalist]] ([[User talk:Ncmvocalist|talk]]) 04:52, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

: Thanks. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== October traffic ==

What about october wikipedia traffic —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Pitico|Pitico]] ([[User talk:Pitico|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Pitico|contribs]]) 21:18, 2 October 2008 (UTC) 

: It's up now. [[user:henrik|henrik]]•[[user talk:henrik|talk]] 08:02, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

== wondering about tracking page hits ==

Henrik,
Someone from the information team sent me a link to http://stats.grok.se as a means of tracking hits. Can you tell me how reliable you think the data there is? Could you email me at steven.gangbar@sunlife.com?

Thanks a lot,
Steven

2008 Waterford Senior Football Championship

2008-10-01T16:25:46Z

216.94.61.100: /* Matches */

{| class="infobox" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ '''Waterford Senior Football Championship 2008'''
! style="background: #BFD7FF; text-align: center" colspan="3" | Waterford Champions
|-
|'''Winners'''
|colspan="2"|Incumbent
|-
|'''Captain'''
|colspan="2"|Incumbent
|-
|'''Manager'''
|colspan="2"|Incumbent
|-
|'''Player of the year'''
|colspan="2"|Incumbent
|}

'''The 2008 Waterford Senior Football Championship''' is the current championship of the [[Waterford Senior Football Championship]] having commenced on [[11 May]] [[2008]]. There are 13 teams in the championship, structured into 2 groups of four teams and 1 group of 5 teams. From these groups, quarter finals, and semi-finals will be played with a county final being played in either [[Walsh Park]] or [[Fraher Field]]. [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]] are the defending champions having beaten [[Ardmore GAA|Ardmore]] in the 2007 final.

==Group A==
===Standings===
{|
|-
|
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!width=33|P
!width=120| Team
!width=33|Pld
!width=33|W
!width=33|D
!width=33|L
!width=33|PF
!width=33|PA
!width=33|PD
!width=33|Pts
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
| '''1'''
| align="left"| [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]]
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 28
| 20
| +8
| '''4'''
|-
| '''2'''
| align="left"| [[Kilrossanty GAA|Kilrossanty]]
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 21
| 19
| +2
| '''2'''
|-
| '''3'''
| align="left"| [[Brickey Rangers GAA|Brickey Rangers]]
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 23
| 26
| -3
| '''2'''
|-
| '''4'''
| align="left"| [[Saint Saviours GAA|St. Saviours]]
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 16
| 23
| -7
| '''0'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Qualification
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
|Qualified for quarter-finals
|-style="background: #97DEFF;"
|Qualified for playoff
|-style="background:#FFCCCC"
|Entered for relegation playoff
|}
|}

===Matches===
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[Brickey Rangers GAA|Brickey Rangers]]
|score = 1-11 - 2-06
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/brickeys-shade-close-encounter (Report)]
|team2 = [[Kilrossanty GAA|Kilrossanty]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Fraher Field]], [[Dungarvan]]
|referee = Domhnall O’Murchadha
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]]
|score = 0-14 - 2-05
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/champions-off-to-winning-start (Report)]
|team2 = [[Saint Saviours GAA|St. Saviours]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Lemybrien]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = Tadgh O Broin
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]]
|score = 2-08 - 1-06
|report =
|team2 = [[Brickey Rangers GAA|Brickey Rangers]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|referee =
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Kilrossanty GAA|Kilrossanty]]
|score = 0-09 - 0-05
|report =
|team2 = [[Saint Saviours GAA|St. Saviours]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|referee =
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[28 September]] [[2008]] Round 3
|time =
|team1 = [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]]
|score = 3-14 - 0-07
|report =
|team2 = [[Kilrossanty GAA|Kilrossanty]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Bohadoon]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee =
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[27 September]] [[2008]] Round 3
|time =
|team1 = [[Saint Saviours GAA|St. Saviours]]
|score = 1-09 - 0-09
|report =
|team2 = [[Brickey Rangers GAA|Brickey Rangers]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kill]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee =
}}

==Group B==
===Standings===
{|
|-
|
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!width=33|P
!width=120| Team
!width=33|Pld
!width=33|W
!width=33|D
!width=33|L
!width=33|PF
!width=33|PA
!width=33|PD
!width=33|Pts
|-
| '''1'''
| align="left"| [[Rinn Ó gCuanach CLG|Rinn Ó gCuanach]]
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 24
| 22
| +2
| '''3'''
|-
| '''2'''
| align="left"| [[Clashmore-Kinsalebeg GAA|Clashmore]]
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 28
| 21
| +7
| '''2'''
|-
| '''3'''
| align="left"| [[Ardmore GAA|Ardmore]]
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 21
| 26
| -5
| '''2'''
|-
| '''4'''
| align="left"| [[Clonea-Power/Rathgormack GAA|Rathgormack]]
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 20
| 24
| -4
| '''1'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Qualification
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
|Qualified for quarter-finals
|-style="background: #97DEFF;"
|Qualified for playoff
|-style="background:#FFCCCC"
|Entered for relegation playoff
|}
|}

===Matches===
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[Ardmore GAA|Ardmore]]
|score = 1-09 - 0-08
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/major-setback-for-rathgormack (Report)]
|team2 = [[Clonea-Power/Rathgormack GAA|Rathgormack]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Fraher Field]], [[Dungarvan]]
|referee = Maurice Condon
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[Rinn Ó gCuanach CLG|Rinn Ó gCuanach]]
|score = 0-12 - 0-10
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/gaeltacht-win-local-derby (Report)]
|team2 = [[Clashmore-Kinsalebeg GAA|Clashmore]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Fraher Field]], [[Dungarvan]]
|referee = Tommy O'Sullivan
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Clonea-Power/Rathgormack GAA|Rathgormack]]
|score = 1-09 - 1-09
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/spoils-shared-after-excellent-tussle-at-lemybrien (Report)]
|team2 = [[Rinn Ó gCuanach CLG|Rinn Ó gCuanach]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Lemybrien]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = Tadgh O’Broin
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Ardmore GAA|Ardmore]]
|score = 0-09 - 2-12
|report =
|team2 = [[Clashmore-Kinsalebeg GAA|Clashmore]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|referee =
}}

==Group C==
===Standings===
{|
|-
|
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!width=33|P
!width=120| Team
!width=33|Pld
!width=33|W
!width=33|D
!width=33|L
!width=33|PF
!width=33|PA
!width=33|PD
!width=33|Pts
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
| '''1'''
| align="left"| [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 58
| 28
| +30
| '''8'''
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
| '''2'''
| align="left"| [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
| 4
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 60
| 44
| +16
| '''6'''
|-style="background: #97DEFF;"
| '''3'''
| align="left"| [[Gaultier GAA]]
| 4
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 45
| 51
| -6
| '''3'''
|-style="background: #97DEFF;"
| '''4'''
| align="left"| [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
| 4
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 39
| 57
| -18
| '''3'''
|-style="background: #FFCCCC"
| '''5'''
| align="left"| [[John Mitchels GAA|John Mitchels]]
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 44
| 66
| -22
| '''0'''
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Qualification
|-style="background: #ACE1AF;"
|Qualified for quarter-finals
|-style="background: #97DEFF;"
|Qualified for playoff
|-style="background:#FFCCCC"
|Entered for relegation playoff
|}
|}

===Matches===
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
|score = 1-14 - 1-05
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/nire-lay-down-firm-marker (Report)]
|team2 = [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Lemybrien]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = Tim O’Byrne
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[11 May]] [[2008]] Round 1
|time =
|team1 = [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
|score = 1-08 - 1-07
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/close-call-for-stradbally (Report)]
|team2 = [[Gaultier GAA|Gaultier]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Walsh Park]], [[Waterford]]
|referee = Bryan Power
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[12 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
|score = 0-13 - 0-10
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/combo-side-prevail-at-kilmacthomas (Report)]
|team2 = [[John Mitchels GAA (Waterford)|John Mitchels]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kilmacthomas]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = Sean O Conduin
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[Gaultier GAA|Gaultier]]
|score = 1-07 - 0-10
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/all-eastern-tussle-ends-all-square-at-walsh-park (Report)]
|team2 = [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Walsh Park]], [[Waterford]]
|referee = D O’Leary
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[15 June]] [[2008]] Round 2
|time =
|team1 = [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
|score = 1-11 - 0-05
|report =
|team2 = [[John Mitchels GAA (Waterford)|John Mitchels]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|referee =
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[22 June]] [[2008]] Round 3
|time =
|team1 = [[Gaultier GAA|Gaultier]]
|score = 2-11 - 2-09
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/gaultiers-nervy-win-leaves-mitchells-facing-senior-basement-battle (Report)]
|team2 = [[John Mitchels GAA (Waterford)|John Mitchels]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kill]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = John Power
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[22 June]] [[2008]] Round 3
|time =
|team1 = [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
|score = 1-09 - 0-07
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/unbeaten-niremen-secure-sfc-quarter-final-spot (Report)]
|team2 = [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Cappoquin]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = Maurice Condon
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[29 June]] [[2008]] Round 3
|time =
|team1 = [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
|score = 3-11 - 0-08
|report = [http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-football/stradbally-on-course-with-a-vengeance (Report)]
|team2 = [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Lemybrien]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = John Condon
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[28 September]] [[2008]] Round 4
|time =
|team1 = [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
|score = 2-09 - 0-08
|report = [http://examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=GAA-qqqa=sport-qqqid=73441-qqqx=1.asp (Report)]
|team2 = [[Gaultier GAA|Gaultier ]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kilmacthomas]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee =
}}
----
{{footballbox
|date=[[28 September]] [[2008]] Round 4
|time =
|team1 = [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
|score = 2-16 - 2-08
|report = [http://examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=GAA-qqqa=sport-qqqid=73441-qqqx=1.asp (Report)]
|team2 = [[John Mitchels GAA (Waterford)|John Mitchels]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kill]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee =
}}

==Quarter Final Playoff==

{{footballbox
|date= [[7 October]] [[2008]]
|time = 8.00 p.m
|team1 = [[Gaultier GAA|Gaultier]]
|score = 0-00 - 0-00
|report =
|team2 = [[Saint Brendans GAA|St. Brendans]]
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Kilmacthomas]], [[County Waterford]]
|referee = TBA
}}

==Knockout phase==
Teams so far guarunteed to be in the quarter finals phase:
* [[Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA|Ballinacourty]]
* [[Stradbally GAA (Waterford)|Stradbally]]
* [[The Nire/Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]]
* [[Ardmore GAA|Ardmore]]
* [[Clashmore-Kinsalebeg GAA|Clashmore]]

{{16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes
| RD1= Playoff
| RD2= Quarter-finals
| RD3= Semi-finals
| RD4= Final
| RD4b=

| team-width= 100
| score-width=35

| RD1-team01= Team 1
| RD1-score01= 0-00
| RD1-team02= Team 2
| RD1-score02= 0-00

| RD2-team01= Playoff winner
| RD2-score01= 0-00
| RD2-team02= Team 3
| RD2-score02= 0-00

| RD2-team03= Team 4
| RD2-score03= 0-00
| RD2-team04= Team 5
| RD2-score04= 0-00

| RD2-team05= Team 6
| RD2-score05= 0-00
| RD2-team06= Team 7
| RD2-score06= 0-00

| RD2-team07= Team 8
| RD2-score07= 0-00
| RD2-team08= Team 9
| RD2-score08= 0-00

| RD3-team01= QF 1 Winner
| RD3-score01= 0-00
| RD3-team02= QF 2 Winner
| RD3-score02= 0-00

| RD3-team03= QF 3 Winner
| RD3-score03= 0-00
| RD3-team04= QF 4 Winner
| RD3-score04= 0-00

| RD4-team01= SF 1 Winner
| RD4-score01= 0-00
| RD4-team02= SF 2 Winner
| RD4-score02= 0-00

}}

 
{{Waterford GAA competitions}}

[[Category:2008 in Gaelic games]]
[[Category:Waterford GAA]]
[[Category:2008 County Senior Football Championships]]

Sarsfields GAA (Cork)

2008-10-01T10:49:09Z

216.94.61.100: /* Famous Past Players */

{{primarysources|date=March 2008}}
{{dablink|For other clubs with a similar name see [[Sarsfield's GAA]]}}
{{Infobox GAA club |
club gaa = Sarsfields|
crest = |
founded = 1896|
irish = Na Sáirséalaigh|
nickname = Sars|
county = Cork|
colours = Black, Blue and White|
grounds = The Castle Field / Riverstown Sportsfield|
honours = Cork County Champions 1951, 1957, 2008|
pattern_la=_blackborder |pattern_b=_blackhorizontal |pattern_ra=_blackborder |
leftarm=1874CD |body=1874CD |rightarm=1874CD |shorts=FFFFFF |socks=1874CD |
|}}
'''Sarsfields GAA''' is a [[hurling]] club is located in the areas of [[Riverstown (Cork)|Riverstown]] and [[Glanmire]] in East Cork. They have won [[three]] County Championships, 1951 and 1957 and 2008.

==County Champions==
In 1951 Sarsfields beat Glen Rovers by 6 points to win the [[Cork Senior Hurling Championship]]. Then in 1957 they beat [[UCC]] by seven points. Sarsfields have been in two finals since, 1989, where they lost and 2008 when they beat Bride Rovers by 1 point.

==Honours==

* [[Cork Senior Hurling Championship]] Winners: [[1951]], [[1957]], [[2008]]
* [[Cork Minor Hurling Championship]]
* [[Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship]]
* [[Cork Junior Hurling Championship]] Winners

==Famous Past Players==
* [[Teddy McCarthy]]
* [[Paddy Barry (Sarsfield's)|Paddy Barry]]
* [[Alan Lotty]]
* [[John Considine]]
* [[Tadhg Murphy]]
* [[Bertie Og Murphy]]
* [[Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields)|Kieran Murphy]]
* [[Peter Queally|Peter Queally]]

==External links==
*[http://www.sarsfields.ie/ Sarsfields GAA site]
*[http://cork.gaa.ie/ Cork GAA site]

[[Category:Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Cork]]
[[Category:Hurling clubs in County Cork]]

{{gaelic-games-club-stub}}

List of One Piece characters

2008-09-30T17:48:57Z

216.94.61.100: /* Boa Hancock */

{{Mergefrom|List of minor One Piece characters|date=September 2008}}
{{Articleissues
| primarysources = September 2008
| refimprove = September 2008
| copyedit = September 2008
| cleanup = December 2007
| tooshort = May 2008
}}
[[Eiichiro Oda]]'s ''[[shōnen]]'' [[manga]] {{nihongo|''[[One Piece]]''|ワンピース|Wan Pīsu}} and the [[anime]] series based upon it, that has been serialized in ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' magazine since August 4, 1997, revolves around vast numbers of [[pirates]], trying to reach the end of the [[Grand Line]], in hope of finding the legendary treasure One Piece. With over 140 million copies sold, ''One Piece'' is the third highest selling manga in the history of ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''.<ref>{{cite web | year=2006 | title=Shōnen Jump Manga Circulation Numbers | url=http://comipress.com/article/2007/05/06/1923 |date=2007-05-06 | work=[http://comipress.com/ ComiPress] | accessdate=2007-07-25 }}</ref> One of the reasons for ''One Piece'''s success is its appealing cast of main characters, who once introduced, appear in virtually every chapter.

The ''One Piece'' universe, comprising, besides the manga and anime, of a number of games and novels, has an extensive list of characters, but only a limited number of these characters have a major influence on the overall story. The universe also contains a whole host of minor characters, but these characters are of much lesser significance within isolated areas of the general story. As by the nature of ''One Piece'', most of its characters are needed as one time opponents. They are introduced, get involved in a fight, are beaten and never seen again. Other characters often play roles only in the past of one of the main characters and if at all still alive don't interact with them during the story's present.
{{TOClimit|limit=3}}

==Creation and conception==
{{Expand|date=September 2008}}
When drawing ''One Piece'', Eiichiro Oda was heavily influenced by the manga ''[[Dragon Ball (manga)|Dragon Ball]]'', and had the series in mind when designing his characters.<ref>''Shonen Jump'' - Interview with Eiichiro Oda</ref> Oda has said that when he was creating Luffy, he was thinking about "manliness", because ''Dragon Ball'' had already done all the things that a child could possibly be happy about.<ref>''One Piece Color Walk'' - Vol.1 - Interview with Eiichiro Oda and Akira Toriyama ((JP) ISBN 978-4088592176)</ref> Luffy's stretching powers were a result of Oda's desire for the fighting style to be silly, so that no matter how tense a situation got, the reader could relax without becoming stressed out.<ref>''Shonen Jump'' - Interview with Eiichiro Oda</ref> When drawing him, Oda has said he tries to make Luffy very straightforward about what he wants to be and how he feels.<ref>Interview with Eiichiro Oda by Roy Watanabe - COMICKERS - Oct. 1998 issue</ref>

==Protagonists==

{{inuniverse}}
{{Multiplemergefrom|[[Monkey D. Luffy]], [[Roronoa Zoro]], [[Nami (One Piece)|Nami]], [[Usopp]], [[Sanji]], [[Tony Tony Chopper]], [[Nico Robin]], [[Franky (One Piece)|Franky]], [[Brook (One Piece)|Brook]], [[Going Merry]], and [[Thousand Sunny]]|Talk:List of One Piece characters#Merger|date=November 2007}}
[[Image:Strawhat pirates.png|thumb|750px|center|From left to right: [[Nico Robin]] ; [[Usopp]] (as Sogeking) ; [[Roronoa Zoro]] ; [[Monkey D. Luffy]] ; [[Sanji]] ; [[Tony Tony Chopper]] ; [[Nami (One Piece)|Nami]] ; [[Franky (One Piece)|Franky]] ]]

The protagonists of the ''One Piece'' series are part of the same pirate crew, named after their captains trademark symbol, the Straw Hat Pirates. During the course of the story, the group constantly grows. For each new protagonist, that is introduced, the characters past is explored, its problems are solved, and it finally and officially joins the crew, which is marked by Oda, through a chapter title paged devoted to that character.

All Straw Hat members have at least one talent in which they are virtually perfect, and several (especially the captain, swordsman, shipwright and cook) have inhuman strength.

Each member of the Straw Hats has a dream they want to achieve. These dreams are their reasons for joining Luffy's crew, and essentially the driving force behind their lives. Each Straw Hat's dream was inspired by tragedies in their lives that involved at least one person they idolized or cared for deeply.

====Monkey D. Luffy====
{{main|Monkey D. Luffy}}
{{nihongo|Monkey D. Luffy|モンキー・D・ルフィ|Monkī D. Rufi}} is the main character, a 17-year-old boy.<ref name="age">SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.4, Chapter 27, Fan question: What are the ages of Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Shanks?((JP) ISBN 4-08-872594-8 (US) ISBN 1-59116-337-4 )</ref> He is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is portrayed as carefree and sometimes air-headed. He generally has a huge appetite, for meat in particular. By accidentally eating a Devil Fruit, a fruit that grants special abilities to those who eat them, his body gained the properties of rubber. Luffy's dream is to become the Pirate King. Luffy is voiced by [[Urara Takano]] in the [[original video animation]] (OVA) and by [[Mayumi Tanaka]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English [[Dubbing|dub]]s, he is voiced by [[Bella Hudson]] for [[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]], by [[Chuck Powers]] for [[Odex]] and by [[Colleen Clinkenbeard]] for [[Funimation Entertainment|Funimation]].

====Roronoa Zoro====
{{main|Roronoa Zoro}}
{{nihongo|Roronoa Zoro|ロロノア・ゾロ}} is the first to join the crew. He is 19 years old<ref name="age"/><ref name="sanjiage"/> and a skilled swordsman, who uses up to three swords at once, clutching the third into his mouth. He is extremely poor at understanding geographical directions and gets lost very easily. He also sleeps a great deal and loves to drink. His goal is to become the greatest swordsman in the world. Zoro is voiced by [[Wataru Takagi]] in the OVA and by [[Kazuya Nakai]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, he is voiced by [[Marc Diraison]] for 4Kids, by [[Brian Zimmerman]] for Odex and by [[Christopher Sabat]] for Funimation.

====Nami====
{{main|Nami (One Piece)}}
{{nihongo|Nami|ナミ}} is the crew's 18-year-old<ref name="age"/> navigator and the second to join. Her navigation skills are excellent and she has the ability to recognize and analyze even the slightest changes in the weather through sheer intuition. She is also an excellent thief and pickpocket. Her dream is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is voiced by [[Megumi Toyoguchi]] in the OVA and by [[Akemi Okamura]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, she is voiced by [[Kerry Williams]] for 4Kids, by [[Alison Lestor]] for Odex and by [[Luci Christian]] for Funimation.

====Usopp====
{{main|Usopp}}
{{nihongo|Usopp|ウソップ|Usoppu}} is the crew's 17-year-old<ref name="age"/> [[marksman]] and the third to join. He is a chronic liar, talented inventor and has notable artistic talent, shown in his painting of the Straw Hat's [[Jolly Roger]] and crafting of detailed snow sculptures. Usopp's dream is to become a "brave warrior of the sea". Usopp is voiced by [[Kappei Yamaguchi]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, he is voiced by [[Jason Anthony Griffith]] for 4Kids, by [[Jamie Meldrum]] and [[Chuck Powers]] for Odex and by [[Sonny Strait]] for Funimation.

====Sanji====
{{main|Sanji}}
{{nihongo|Sanji|サンジ}} is the crew's 19-year-old<ref name="sanjiage">SBS question: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.7 - Chapter 55, Fan question: How old is Sanji-san?((JP) ISBN 4-08-872683-9 (US) ISBN 1-59116-852-X )</ref> chain-smoking chef and the fourth to join. He knows how it feels to starve from first hand experience. Therefore he will never refuse someone a meal and becomes easily agitated when food is wasted. He is obsessed with women and has a strong sense of chivalry. He will never harm a woman, no matter what. His dream is to find the All Blue, a legendary sea, containing every kind of fish in the world. Sanji is voiced by [[Hiroaki Hirata]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, he is voiced by [[David Moo]] for 4Kids, by [[Joe Murray]] and [[Paul Pistore]] for Odex and by [[Eric Vale]] for Funimation.

====Tony Tony Chopper====
{{main|Tony Tony Chopper}}
{{nihongo|Tony Tony Chopper|トニートニー・チョッパー|Tonī Tonī Choppā}} is the crew's 15-year-old<ref>SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.19 - Chapter 167, Fan question: I've been wondering, how old are Vivi and Chopper? ((JP) ISBN 4-08-873133-6 )</ref> doctor and the fifth to join. He is a blue-nosed reindeer, who gained human properties by eating a Devil Fruit. He is capable of conversing with humans and animals alike. He is also very naïve and has a tendency to believe anything told to him. His dream is to create a cure for all the world's diseases. Chopper is voiced by [[Ikue Otani]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, he is voiced by [[Lisa Ortiz]] for 4Kids, by [[Emlyn Morinelli]] for Odex and by [[Brina Palencia]] for Funimation.

====Nico Robin====
{{main|Nico Robin}}
{{nihongo|Nico Robin|ニコ・ロビン|Niko Robin}} is the crew's 28-year-old<ref>One Piece Manga - Vol. - Chapter 218</ref> archaeologist and the sixth to join. She ate a Devil Fruit and gained the ability to create copies of any part of her body on surfaces in her proximity. She is extremely intelligent, having taught herself archeology at a very young age. Her dream is to find and decipher the Rio Poneglyph, an ancient stone telling a long lost part of history. Robin is voiced by [[Yuriko Yamaguchi]] in the Japanese version of the anime. In the English dubs, she is voiced by [[Veronica Taylor]] for 4Kids, by [[Natasha Malinsky]] for Odex and by [[Stephanie Young]] for Funimation.

====Franky====
{{main|Franky (One Piece)}}
{{nihongo|Franky|フランキー|Furankī}} is the crew's 34-year-old<ref>SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.44 - Chapter 427, Fan question:Umm, I have a little question about Franky-san. He was adopted at age 10, began building the sea train at age 12, finished the Express 10 years later, and 4 years after that met with the accident from "8 years ago," which would mean... HE'S 34 YEARS OLD!! Can someone really be so nutty at that age? Before doing the calculations, I assumed he was 18 or something...((JP) ISBN 4-08-874287-7 )</ref> shipwright and seventh to join. He is a cola-powered [[cyborg]]. His artificial body grants him incredible strength, as well as making him practically invulnerable to most frontal attacks. It is equipped with countless weapons. Nevertheless, Franky is very sensitive and like Chopper has trouble hiding his emotions. His dream is to build a dream ship and sail it around the world, something he is now doing aboard the ''[[Thousand Sunny]]''. Franky is voiced by [[Kazuki Yao]] in the Japanese version of the anime and by [[Patrick Seitz]] in Funimation's English dub.

====Brook====
{{main|Brook (One Piece)}}
{{nihongo|Brook|ブルック|Burukku}} is the crew's 88-year-old<ref>''One Piece'' Manga - Chapter 487</ref> musician and eighth to join. He is a living skeleton, resurrected by means of a Devil Fruit. He has a strange personality, being a combination of a gentlemanly persona and a perverted, crude sort. He speaks in a dignified, educated manner at most times, while having amazingly bad manners. His goal is to circle the Grand Line and return to Reverse Mountain, fulfilling a 50 year old promise. Brook is voiced by [[Yūichi Nagashima|Chō]] in the Japanese version of the anime. He has yet to appear in any English dub.

====''Going Merry''====
{{main|Going Merry}}
{{nihongo|Going Merry|ゴーイングメリー号|Gōingu Merī-gō}} is the crew's first ship, a [[caravel]] with a lamb's figurehead. She is a gift from a girl from Usopp's village after the Straw Hats saved their town from being raided by the Kuro's Pirates. Her dream is to travel with the Straw Hats forever. She endures many hardships throughout her time as a ship, but ultimately breaks apart, and is given a [[Viking funeral]]. While burning, she comforts the grieving Straw Hats by telling them that she is happy to have traveled with them and thanks them for taking care of her during their time together. It has been stated by Franky that the Merry's soul resides in their new ship, the ''Thousand Sunny''. Also, Gate 2 of Franky's Soldier Dock System on the ''Thousand Sunny'' houses a miniature landing vessel called the ''Mini Merry 2'' that resembles the ''Going Merry''.

====''Thousand Sunny''====
{{main|Thousand Sunny}}
{{nihongo|Thousand Sunny|サウザンドサニー号|Sauzando Sanī-gō}} is the crew's second major ship, a [[brigantine]]-rigged [[sloop-of-war]] with a lion's figurehead. She is built by Franky, and his dream is for her to travel to the end of the ocean. ''Thousand Sunny'' is twice as big as the ''Going Merry'', and has a unique Soldier Dock System created by Franky, a rotating wheel with six compartments that allows her to allowing deploy whatever that is in the compartments. Franky has stated that it has the soul of the ''Going Merry'', so it likely shares the ''Merry'''s dream of traveling to the end of the seas with the Straw Hats.

==Major Antagonists==
====Morgan====
"Axe-Hand" Morgan is called "Axe-Hand" as he literally has an axe for a right arm. Axe-Hand Morgan is one of the first major enemies [[Monkey D. Luffy]] has to face. He is [[Navy (One Piece)#Helmeppo|Helmeppo's]] father. He is voiced by [[Banjō Ginga]] in Japanese media, [[David Brimmer]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Brett Weaver]] in the Funimation English dub.

Helmeppo was drawn before his father and early drawings of Morgan greatly resembled Helmeppo's own appearance. One example had him almost identical to Helmeppo, with just a crazier hairstyle. He was given his final design after the editor said he looked lame. Morgan's original name was going to be 'Captain Chop'. Oda explained that he didn't have the nerve to actually use this name. (His name also apparently was similar to a wrestling move by a famous Japanese wrestler called [[Shohei Baba|Giant Baba]]). Morgan's mouthpiece has the word "Möwe" written on it. Möwe means "[[sea gull]]" in [[German language|German]].<ref name="SBS2"> SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.5 Chapter 43, Fan Question: What does the word on Morgan's chin "Möwe" mean? </ref>

====Buggy the Clown====
{{nihongo|Buggy the Clown|道化のバギー|Dōke no Bagī}} is the captain of the Buggy Pirates and a former member of Gold Roger's crew. The power of the Bara Bara no Mi Devil Fruit allows him to separate his body parts, control them independent of each other, and levitate them with the exception of his feet. The abilities gained from this fruit also make Buggy immune to attacks from knives or swords; any such attack just separates him into his component parts. During his time in Gold Roger's crew, he had a rivalry with Shanks, and he wished to find a treasure lost in the sea. Shanks accidentally forced Buggy to eat the fruit, thus rendering his goal impossible and causing him to completely hate Shanks. He is voiced by [[Shigeru Chiba]] in Japanese media, [[David Wills]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Mike McFarland]] in the Funimation English dub.

Buggy's first mate is {{nihongo|Mohji|モージ|Mōji}} the animal tamer with his large pet lion, {{nihongo|Richie|リチー|Richī}}, and his second mate is {{nihongo|Cabaji|カバジ|Kabaji}}, an acrobatics using swordsman. The former captain, {{nihongo|Alvida|アルビダ|Arubida}}, joins Buggy after being defeated by Luffy. Though formerly obese, she gains the power of the Slip Slip Fruit, which makes her thin and allows attacks to easily slip off her. She is named after the [[Scandinavia]]n female pirate [[Awilda]].<ref name="SBS1"> SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.4 Chapter 50, Fan question: Were there really any woman pirates?</ref>

====Kuro====
Kuro (クロ, ''Kuro''), known as "Kuro of the Thousand Plans" for his elaborate plans that virtually never failed, he earned a 16 million beli bounty on his head. He has super-human speed with which to deliver his attacks (this speed power is called the "stealth foot" and is to allow him to travel at mach 3. [[List of One Piece characters#Jango|Jango]] is first introduced as his former first mate and successor as captain of the Black Cat Pirates. He is voiced by [[Kōichi Hashimoto]] in Japanese media, [[Gary Mack]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Kent Williams]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Don Krieg====
{{nihongo|Don Krieg|首領・クリーク|Don Kurīku}} is (militarily) the most powerful pirate in the [[East Blue (One Piece)|East Blue]], denoted by the 17 million belli bounty on his head. Krieg is well known for underhanded tactics; when he was first starting out as a pirate, he stole a Navy ship and under the disguise of a navy flag, approached towns without suspicion. He does not care for his crew and bullies them to fear and obey him as their captain; he punishes those who fail him and those who show weakness, not even stopping for his first mate Gin, who had proven himself more loyal than any other member of his crew. He wears a gilded suit of steel armour, that is filled with hidden weapons. Krieg means "war" in German, alluding to Don Krieg's massive naval fleet and numerous personal weaponry.<ref name="SBS1"> SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.18 Chapter 163, Krieg's name explained </ref> He is voiced by [[Fumihiko Tachiki]] in Japanese media, [[Marc Thompson]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Andy Mullins]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Dracule Mihawk====
{{nihongo|Dracule Mihawk|ジュラキュール・ミホーク|''Jurakyūru Mihōku''}}, also known as, "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk is the first of the [[Shichibukai]] to be introduced and is Roronoa Zoro’s ultimate goal, as he is considered to be the strongest swordsman in the world. The huge scar on the front of Zoro's torso was given to him by Mihawk during their first duel. In the 4Kids dub he has a French accent and his sword is edited to not resemble a [[cross]]. He is voiced by [[Takeshi Aono]] in Japanese media, [[Wayne Grayson]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[John Gremillion]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Arlong====
Arlong (アーロン, Āron) is a feared and ruthless pirate captain, with a bounty of 20 million beli on his head. The Sawshark Fishman and his crew were members of Jimbei's pirate crew, before Jimbei joined the [[Shichibukai]]. He is a racist, considering humans to be inferior to Fishmen. Though there are humans he considers to be exceptions, such as the corrupt marine Captain Nezumi, and money-loving Nami. For he values money very high, so high in fact, that he prides himself with never breaking a promise, if it involves money. He is voiced by [[Jūrōta Kosugi]] in Japanese media, [[David Willis]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Chris Rager]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Smoker====
Smoker (スモーカー, Sumōkā, Chaser in edited English dub) is a Marine officer originally stationed in Loguetown as a Captain. Smoker is a cigar enthusiast, keeping plenty of cigars strapped to the left side of his jacket while smoking two lit ones in his mouth. Smoker has the powers of the Logia-type Devil Fruit: Moku Moku no Mi, giving him the power to manipulate, create, control and transform into smoke. Because Cartoon Network will not allow smoking in their broadcast version, Smoker's cigars were edited out of the anime. This gives the appearance of smoke constantly issuing from his mouth. He is first voiced by [[Ginzō Matsuo]] in Japanese media. After Ginzō's death, [[Mahito Ōba]] took over. [[Russel Velazquez]] voices him in the 4Kids English dub and [[Greg Dulcie]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Sir Crocodile====
{{nihongo|Sir Crocodile|サー・クロコダイル|''Sā Kurokodairu''}} is one of the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]], and unbeknown to the World Government, he is the leader of Baroque Works, under the codename "Mr. 0". Crocodile has the abilities of the Sand Sand Fruit, which allows him to create, manipulate, absorb, and transform into sand. He can absorb moisture from people, objects, and land instantly, and the only substance other than Seastone that can touch him is water. He has a large golden alloy hook in place of a left hand that contains a potent poison. After failing with Baroque Works due to interference from the Straw Hats, he is stripped of his status and imprisoned. Crocodile is voiced by [[Ryūzaburō Ōtomo]] in Japanese media, [[David Brimmer]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[John Swasey]] in the Funimation dub.

Crocodile uses Baroque Works as an undercover criminal organization built up of various agents. Their purpose is to cause a civil war within Arabasta using manipulation and to collect funds from the bounties of pirates to lead to a takeover of Arabasta and Crocodile's ultimate goal, obtaining the Ancient Weapon Pluton. The main agents in Baroque Works are given code names with male agents being named by number and female agents being named after weekdays or holidays. Lower officers, "Billions" and "Millions" support the higher ranking agents.

Crocodile, as Mr. 0, acts as the president, and [[Nico Robin]], as Miss All Sunday, acts as the vice president. {{nihongo|Das Bones|ダズ・ボーネス|''Dazu Bōnesu''}}, as Mr. 1, has the power of the Dice Dice fruit, which allows him to turn any part of his body into a steel blade. He works with {{nihongo|Miss Doublefinger|フィンガー|''Misu Daburufingā''}}, who has the power of the Spike Spike fruit, allowing her to create elongated spikes from her body. [[#Bon Clay|Bon Clay]], as Mr. 2, works by himself. Mr. 3, with the power of the Wax Wax Fruit, has the ability to create and manipulate molten wax. His partner, {{nihongo|Miss Goldenweek|ミス・ゴールデンウィーク|''Misu Gōruden Wīku''}}, has the ability to manipulate emotions using "Color Traps." Mr. 4, a man with a large four ton bat owns Lassou, a gun infused with the Mutt Mutt Fruit, turning it into a dog. His partner, {{nihongo|Miss Merry Christmas|ミス・メリークリスマス|''Misu Merī Kurisumasu''}}, has the abilities of the Mole Mole Fruit, allowing her to turn into a mole or a mole-human hybrid. Mr. 5 has the abilities of the Bomb Bomb Fruit, allowing him to cause an explosion with any part of his body, and his partner {{nihongo|Miss Valentine|ミス・バレンタイン|''Misu Barentain''}}, has the abilities of the Kilo Kilo Fruit, allowing her to change her weight at will between one and ten thousand kilograms.

====Wapol====
King Wapol is the former ruler of the Drum Empire, later renamed Sakura Kingdom. He ate the Baku Baku no Mi (バクバクの実, Munch Munch Fruit), which allows him to eat virtually anything and take on its properties. He brags a lot about being the king of Drum Island. His closest underlings are Chess, who is a skilled archer and Kuromarimo, who's fighting style revolves around throwing parts of his afro hair-cut. Wapol is voiced by [[Bin Shimada]] in Japanese media and by [[Sean Schemmel]] in the 4Kids English dub.

====Bellamy====
{{nihongo|Bellamy "The Hyena"|ベラミー|Beramī}}, named after [[Samuel Bellamy]],<ref name="SBS1"> SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.25 - Chapter 230, Bellamy's name explained?</ref> is the captain of the Bellamy Pirates, who has a 55 million beli bounty on his head. Bellamy's fighting prowess mainly comes from his Devil fruit power, the Bane Bane no Mi (Bane, much like the English term ''Boing'', is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a spring bouncing), which allows him to turn body parts (or at least his legs) into springs. Using this ability, Bellamy is able to bounce off of surfaces in order to gain velocity for his attacks. His first mate, with a bounty of 38 million beli on his head, "Big Knife" Sarquiss (サーキース, ''Sākīsu'') believes, just like his captain, that a New Age is coming and laughs at anyone who mentions their dreams. He is voiced by [[Wataru Takagi]] in all Japanese media, [[Andrew Rannells]] in the 4Kids English dub of [[One Piece: Pirates' Carnival]], and [[Justin Cook]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Blackbeard====
[[Image:Blackbeard2.JPG|thumb|right|180px|Marshall D. Teach]]
{{nihongo|Marshall D. Teech|マーシャル・D・ティーチ|Māsharu D. Tīchi}}, better known as {{nihongo|Blackbeard|黒ひげ|Kurohige}} is modeled and named after the infamous pirate [[Edward Teach]]<ref>SBS questions: ''One Piece'' manga chapter 474, fan question: "Question! 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate, 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach, 4th Squad Commander Thatch. These three all appear to be based on the real-life 18th century Caribbean pirate, Edward Teach (or sometimes Edward Thatch), aka 'Blackbeard'. Can you tell us more about this figure?"</ref> and is a former member of the Whitebeard Pirates. The Yami Yami no Mi grants Teach the ability to create and control gravity fields, represented as a flowing "darkness". He is pursued by [[Portgas D. Ace]] for killing a crewmate of his, from whom he stole the Devil Fruit he ate. After beating Ace, he turnes him in to the [[World Government (One Piece)|World Government]] and is appointed the replacement for Sir Crocodile as a [[Shichibukai]]. Blackbeard is voiced by [[Akio Ohtsuka]] in all Japanese media, [[William Minkin]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Cole Brown]] in the Funimation English dub.

Blackbeard's crew is made up of {{nihongo|Jesus Burgess|ジーザス･バージェス|Jīzasu Bājesu|G. Zass Burgess in the English anime}}, a very strong man who wears a wrestling mask, {{nihongo|Van Auger|ヴァン･オーガー|Van Ōgā|Van Ogre in the English anime}}, a sharpshooter nicknamed "The Supersonic", {{nihongo|Doc Q|ドクQ|Doku Kyū}}, a sickly doctor nicknamed the "God of Death" who rides on a sickly horse named Stronger, and {{nihongo|Lafitte|ラフィット|Rafittoā|Raffit in the English anime}}, a pale man who constantly tap dances.

====Bartholomew Kuma====
{{nihongo|Bartholomew Kuma|バーソロミュー・くま|''Bāsoromyū Kuma''}} is one of the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]]. Kuma is the only Warlord truly obedient to the World Government, though he also holds the nickname, Kuma the Tyrant, having committed various atrocities. He has the power of the Paw Paw Fruit, giving him the ability to repel or reflect anything he touches with his hands. While he can repel attacks and objects, he can also form projectiles made of air and absorb abstract concepts such as pain and fatigue, leaving a person refreshed. He also has the ability to teleport people to an unknown destination, often after asking them where they want to travel.

Kuma is a "Pacifista", an experimental cyborg, modified by the Marine scientist, Doctor Vegapunk. His body is made of a substance harder than steel and he can shoot laser beams copied from Kizaru's fruit abilities. Various copies of Kuma are under the command of Vegapunk. They look identical and also have the ability to shoot Kizaru's laser beams. He is voiced by [[Hideyuki Hori]] in Japanese media. After making all the Straw Hat Crew disappear but Luffy, he tells him that they will never see one another again and Luffy disappears.

====Enel====
[[Image:RaijinAndEnel.png|thumb|right|[[Raijin]] (left) and Enel (right)]]
Enel (エネル), also often romanized as "Eneru", is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, who gets his power from the Goro Goro no Mi, which allows him to manipulate, absorb, generate and transform into electricity. Using this power, combined with his strong Mantra, the ability to predict a being's movement and to sense any being's position within a certain range, he conquered Upper Yard and Sky Island, where he lets himself be worshiped like a god. As such, he introduces himself with: "Ware ga [[Raijin|kaminari]]",<ref>One Piece anime episode 167</ref> which can be translated to both, "I am lightning" or "I am god". His earlobes are overly long, reminiscent of some depictions of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], reaching down to his free chest, which in turn, along with his wide pants and drums on his back, cause the character to be remarkably resembling of [[Raijin]], a god of thunder and lightning in Japanese mythology. Enel is voiced by [[Toshiyuki Morikawa]] in the Japanese media, [[Wayne Grayson]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[J. Michael Tatum]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Foxy====
"Foxy the Silver Fox" (銀ギツネのフォクシー ''Gin-gitsune no Fokushī'') is the captain of his pirate crew with a 24 million beli bounty. He is a cheater and trickster. Though he acts supremely confident most of the time, he is extremely sensitive to insults or criticism, which is used as a running gag. When insulted, he'll fall to his knees, while his closest crewmates, Porche and Hamburg, if present, will cheer him up or laugh about him, respectively. Foxy ate the Devil Fruit Noro Noro no Mi, which allows him to fire microscopic particles that can slow down his enemies or other objects. He is voiced by [[Bin Shimada]] in the Japanese media.

====Aokiji====
[[Image:Aokiji.jpg|thumb|right|Admiral Aokiji]]
Aokiji, the "Blue Pheasant" (青キジ), was known as Kuzan prior to his promotion to Admiral. One of the Vice-Admirals present at the destruction of Ohara, he is responsible for letting [[Nico Robin]] go free at that time. Aokiji is known for being lazy, as he spends a lot of his time sleeping or lying down. He gained Logia Devil Fruit powers after eating the Hie Hie no Mi (ヒエヒエの実 ''Ice Ice Fruit''), it allows him to manipulate, generate, absorb and transform into ice and freeze his opponents. He is voiced by [[Takehito Koyasu]] in the Japanese media and by [[Bob Carter]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Cipher Pol No. 9====
[[Image:Onepiece cp9.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Cipher Pol No. 9 members. From left to right: Blueno, Fukurou, Spandam, Kaku, Rob Lucci, Jyabura, Kalifa and Kumadori]]
Cipher Pol No. 9 is the secret unit of [[Cipher Pol]], which specializes in assassination. It is lead by {{nihongo|Spandam|スパンダム|Supandamu}}, the former leader of CP5 obsessed with rising up through the ranks of the world government. He owns a sword named {{nihongo|Funk Freed|ファンクフリード|Fankufurīdo}}, which has the Devil Fruit ability to transform into an elephant. The next in command is {{nihongo|Rob Lucci|ロブ･ルッチ|Robu Rucchi}}, a man known for ruthlessly and mercilessly enforcing the justice of the world government. He has a Devil Fruit ability, which allows him to turn into a huge leopard-human hybrid and a full leopard. Always around him is his pigeon {{nihongo|Hattori|ハットリ|Hattori}}. Spadam is voiced by [[Masaya Onosaka]] in Japanese media and [[Kent Williams]] in English media. Rob Lucci is voiced by [[Tomokazu Seki]] in Japanese media and [[Jason Liebrecht]] in English media.

{{nihongo|Kaku|カク|Kaku}} is a skilled swordsman with a with a long square nose. During the course of the story, he eats a Devil Fruit, which grants him the ability to transform into a [[giraffe]] or a giraffe-man hybrid. {{nihongo|Jyabura|ジャブラ|Jabura}} is a man who uses deceptive and cruel tactics in battle. A Devil Fruit gave him the power to change into a full wolf and a human-wolf hybrid.{{nihongo|Blueno|ブルーノ|Burūno}} is a large man with the fruit powers to create doors between any two visible areas and "air doors" that lead to a separate dimension.
{{nihongo|Kumadori|クマドリ|Kumadori}} is a man who resembles a [[kabuki]] actor and uses an ability call "Life Return" to control every cell in his body. {{nihongo|Kalifa|カリファ|Karifa}} is a calm and collected woman who claims even the slightest comment to be sexual harassment. She has a Devil Fruit power, which allows her to create cleansing bubbles that are capable of "cleaning off" a person's energy and turning them in slippery mannequins. {{nihongo|Fukurou|フクロウ|Fukurou}} is an oddly-shaped man with a zipper across his mouth, which has to be open in order for him to speak. {{nihongo|Nero the Sea Weasel|海イタチのネロ|Umi Itachi no Nero}} is the newest member, though he hasn't mastered all of the abilities unlike the other members.

====Gecko Moria====
{{nihongo|Gecko Moria|ゲッコー･モリア|Gekkō Moria}} is the captain of the island sized ship, Thriller Bark, and one of the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]]. A Devil Fruit he ate granted him the ability to control his shadow, allowing it to act completely independent from his body, and to manipulate and remove the shadows of others. After having his entire crew annihilated in the New World, he decides to create a crew that will do all the work for him. Using the talents of {{nihongo|Doktor Hogback|ドクトル・ホグバック|Dokutoru Hogubakku}}, a genius medical doctor, he is able to implant shadows of other pirates into corpses salvaged by Hogback. This allows for nearly invincible warriors that completely obey Moria. Moria is voiced by [[Katsuhisa Hōki]] in Japanese media.

Hundreds of zombies make up the crew of Thriller Bark, the number of which grows even further, as Moria uses Luffy's shadow to revive the body of {{nihongo|Oz|オーズ|Ōzu}}, an extremely large giant who conquered various countries and islands five hundred years before the series. Moria also has {{nihongo|Perona|ぺローナ}} and {{nihongo|Absalom of the Graveyard|墓場のアブサロム|Hakaba no Abusaromu}} under his command. Perona is a woman with the power of a Devil Fruit, allowing her to create various ghosts that can either explode upon command or cause severe depression in an opponent. Absalom is a man modified by Hogback with various animal parts, whose Devil Fruit ability allows him to turn himself and anything he touches invisible.

====Kizaru====
{{nihongo|Kizaru|黄ザル|Kizaru}} the {{nihongo|"Yellow Monkey"|黄猿}}, whose real name is {{nihongo|Borsalino|ボルサリーノ|Borusarīno}}, is one of the three Admirals of the World Government. He has the abilities of the Sparkle Sparkle Fruit, allowing him to generate, manipulate, and become light. He can generate laser beams powerful enough to destroy large objects, and he can create a sword of light.

====Sentomaru====
He is the captain of Vegapunk's Science Unit and Kizaru's nephew. He is powerful for a non-fruit user. He commanded the "Pacifista" clones to capture to pirates that are involve in the Groove 1 "raid".

====Boa Hancock====
She is one of the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]] and captain of the Kuja Pirates. She is the leader of the Amazon Tribe on her island. She detests the World Government, but wants to keep the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]] title. She is a spoiled person who justifies her cruel actions with her immense beauty. She is so heartless she doesnt think twice about turning the marines to stone and she kicked an innocent kitten that was in her path. She has the ability to turn people with indecent thoughts to stone, this is done when she forms a heart with her hands and chants "mero mero merrow". Her two younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, are a part of her crew.

==Other characters==
====Gold Roger====
Gold Roger, whose real name is Gol D. Roger, is the man referred to as the Pirate King, the strongest pirate alive, twenty-two years before the beginning of the series. Suffering from an incurable disease, he decides to make a complete voyage through the Grand Line with his crew. Afterward, he disbands the crew and turns himself over to the World Government, though they lie and state that he was captured. Before he is executed, he states that he left all of his treasure in one place, and that it is up for the taking. This sets up the age of piracy, with various pirates looking to become the Pirate King by finding the treasure referred to as One Piece. Roger is stated to be fearless, a trait Shanks sees in Luffy, and he is able to listen to "the voice of all things", allowing him to read Poneglyphs that take years for others to decipher. He is voiced by [[Chikao Ōtsuka]] in Japanese media, [[Greg Carey]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Sean Hennigan]] in the Funimation English dub.

===="Red-Haired" Shanks====
{{nihongo|"Red-Haired" Shanks|赤髪のシャンクス|Akagami no Shankusu}} is the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates and one of the [[Yonkou]] of the second half of the Grand Line. He is a former member of [[Gold Roger]]'s Crew in which he had a rivalry with [[#Buggy the Clown|Buggy the Clown]]. He and his crew befriend Luffy before the series, and Shanks sacrifices his left arm to save Luffy from a Sea King. He sees great potential and Luffy, believing him to have the same adventurous personality as Gold Roger. He gives Luffy his signature straw hat under the condition the Luffy will return it as a pirate. Shanks is able to emit a strong spiritual energy, which he used to knock out the junior members of Whitebeard's crew. [[Eiichiro Oda]] believes Shanks is the one character that resembles himself the most out of all the ''One Piece'' characters, because of his fun-loving partying nature.<ref name="Story6"> SBS questions: ''One Piece Manga'' - Vol.24 - Chapter 221, Fan question: Who is most like you Oda? </ref> Shanks is voiced by [[Shūichi Ikeda]] in Japanese media, Tom Souhrada in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Brandon Potter]] in the Funimation English dub.

Shanks' first mate is {{nihongo|Ben Beckman|ベン・ベックマン|Ben Bekkuman''}}, who always carries a rifle and a cigarette. Other members include {{nihongo|Lucky Roux|ラッキー・ルウ|Rakkī Ruu''}}, a fat man who is always eating, and {{nihongo|Yasopp|ヤソップ|Yasoppu}}, a gifted sharp-shooter and father of [[Usopp]]. The crew is constantly celebrating with food and alcohol whether they are in a town or on a deserted island.

====Hatchan====
{{Nihongo|Hatchan|はっちゃん|''Hacchan''}} is an [[octopus]] Fishman who is a member of Arlong's pirate crew. He uses a six sword style to fight and like other Fishmen, he is very strong physically. After Arlong is defeated by the Straw Hats and captured by the World Government, Hatchan escapes and opens a floating [[takoyaki]] restaurant. He becomes close friends with Camie, a mermaid, and Silvers Rayleigh on the Sabaody Archipelago. He constantly rescues Camie from slave traders because mermaids are very valuable. He later reconciles with the Straw Hats, and provides them with support.

====Nefertari Vivi====
{{nihongo|Nefertari Vivi|ネフェルタリ・ビビ|Neferutari Bibi}} first appears as an antagonist as the main characters reach the Grand Line, as a member of [[Baroque Works]]. Very soon after it is revealed that Vivi is actually the princess of Arabasta, and that she had infiltrated Baroque Works to find out the identity of the organizations leader. She eventually finds out that Sir Crocodile, one of the [[Seven Warlords of the Sea]], is behind [[Baroque Works]]. After the death of her gaurdian [[Igaram]], she and her duck companion Karoo join up with Luffy and his crew to help save her country. Her weapons are a pair of peacock slashers. She is voiced by [[Misa Watanabe]] in the Japanese media, [[Karen Neil]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Caitlin Glass]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Portgas D. Ace====
Portgas D. Ace (ポートガス・D・エース - ''Pōtogasu D. Ēsu'', (Portgaz D. Trace in Edited English Anime, Portgaz D. Ace in English Manga) is the 2nd Division Commander of Whitebeard Pirates and Luffy's older brother. He first appears in the Drum Kingdom, searching for Blackbeard and Luffy. He has the powers of the Devil Fruit: Mera Mera Fruit (メラメラの実, Mera Mera no Mi, Flare Flare Fruit, English Anime, Flame Flame Fruit, English Manga) which allow him to manipulate, control, absorb, generate, create, and transform into fire. It is due to this that he is given the title "Fire Fist Ace" (''Hiken no Ēsu'', Trace Heat Fist in dub). Ace is [[narcolepsy|narcoleptic]] and falls asleep without warning, making passers-by wonder whether he has dropped dead. Ace's most recognizable features are his tattoos. His back bears the Whitebeard symbol–a skull with a white mustache superimposed over a [[manji]]. To eliminate confusion between the Buddhist manji and the Nazi [[Swastika#Nazi Germany|swastika]], the manji was changed to white crossbones in the animated version and in later chapters of the manga. Ace has another tattoo on his upper left arm that reads "ASCE" with the "S" crossed out. In 4kids dub, the "ASCE" was edited out.. He is voiced by [[Toshio Furukawa]] in Japanese media, [[Frank Frankson]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Travis Willingham]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Mr. 2 Bon Clay====
{{nihongo|Mr. 2 Bon Clay|Mr. 2 ボン・クレー|''Misutā Tsū Bon Kurē''}} is a member of Baroque Works. He is an "[[okama]]" (a Japanese slang term for a [[transvestism|transvestite]]) with a flamboyant attitude and a habit of singing and dancing His martial art style focuses on kicking, and the addition of his swan decorations allow for a longer reach and sharper attack. He has the abilities of the Clone Clone fruit, allowing him to transform into an exact copy of anyone he has touched. Bon Clay is the only Officer Agent in Baroque Works without a female partner. It is stated that, as an okama, he fills both roles by himself.<ref name="SBS1"> SBS questions: ''One Piece'' Manga - Vol.18 - Chapter 161, Mr. 2's name explained. </ref> Likewise, his name is a composite of a male Baroque Works agent's number and a female agent's holliday, "Bon Clay" . It is a [[Buddhist]] celebration found on the last day of the Bon festival, honoring the dead. Lanterns are lit, and the Bon-Odori is traditionally danced.<ref name="SBS1"> SBS questions: ''One Piece'' Manga - Vol.18 - Chapter 161, Mr. 2's name explained.</ref> Bon Clay is voiced by [[Kazuki Yao]] in Japanese media, [[Kevin Kolack]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Barry Yandell]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Whitebeard====
Edward Newgate (エドワード・二ューゲート, Edowādo Nyūgēto, Ward Newgate in ''One Piece: Grand Adventure''), better known as Whitebeard (白ひげ, Shirohige) is regarded as the strongest pirate in the ''One Piece'' world. He is the pirate closest to obtaining the legendary treasure, One Piece. Whitebeard clashed with Gold Roger, and was considered his equal in combat. Newgate regards anyone in his crew as his 'son' and he sees himself as something of a father figure, his crew even refer to him as their 'father'. Whitebeard has been shown to use a type of spear called a "bisento" in combat. Whitebeard is an abnormally large human, dwarfing most non-giant One-Piece characters. His name comes from the name of the real [[Blackbeard]], "Edward Teach".<ref name="SBS49">''One Piece manga'' - vol.49, usage of Blackbeard's name in ''One Piece''. </ref> Whitebeard strongly believes that every sailor upon the seas must have a code of morals to guide themselves by. His Whitebeard Pirates are divided into 16 divisions of one hundred men, each led by a high ranking Whitebeard subordinate, one of which is Luffy's elder brother Portgas D. Ace. He is voiced by [[Kinryu Arimoto]] in Japanese media, [[Corey Burton]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[R. Bruce Elliot]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Donquixote Doflamingo====
{{nihongo|Donquixote Doflamingo|ドンキホーテ・ドフラミンゴ|''Donkihōte Dofuramingo''}} first appears in ''One Piece'' Chapter 234, during a meeting between the Shichibukai and high-ranking World Government officials, where his former bounty is shown to have been 340 million beli. He displays an ability to control others using movements similar to a [[puppeteer]]. Doflamingo believes that the "era of dreams", as he is calling the Great Age of Piracy is going to come to an end and is working towards starting a new era, which he said is "soon upon us". He has also been revealed as a participant in the slave trade, owning a large auction house on the Sabaody Archipelago. At that time he said to Disco that the "new era" is closing in every moment with the battle between the Royal Shichibukai and the Whitebeard pirates approaching. He is voiced by [[Hideyuki Tanaka]] in Japanese media and by [[Robert McCollum]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Monkey D. Garp====
[[Image:Garp.jpg|right|thumb|Vice Admiral Garp (foreground)]]
Monkey D. Garp (モンキー・D・ガープ, ''Monkī D. Gāpu''), nicknamed "Garp the Fist" (Genkotsu no Gāpu), is the commanding officer of the Navy's 153rd Branch, as well as the father of revolutionary [[Monkey D. Dragon]] and grandfather of series protagonist [[Monkey D. Luffy]]. He is famous for his pursuit of Pirate King, Gold Roger, whom he cornered and fought many times. He is the man in charge of both [[List of One Piece characters#Koby|Koby]] and [[List of One Piece characters#Helmeppo|Helmeppo]], whom he took under his wing in Koby's mini-arc, where Garp made his first appearance. He has superhuman strength, enough to lift and throw cannonballs like baseball pitches, though he admits that he isn't as strong as he was in his youth. He is voiced by [[Hiroshi Naka]] in Japanese media.

====Tashigi====
{{nihongo|Tashigi|たしぎ|Tashigi}} is a Naval officer serving under Commodore Smoker. She is first introduced, at the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, when the Straw Hat Pirates dock in Loguetown. While adept at sword fighting, she is unusually clumsy, almost stabbing herself accidentally with her own sword on one occasion. She is also very well-versed in the famous katana of ''One Piece'', knowing their names and origins. She is voiced by [[Junko Noda]] in Japanese media and by [[Priscilla Everett]] in the 4Kids English dub.

Tashigi's stated goal is to remove all Meitō, named swords with prestigious histories, from the hands of those who would use them for their own ends. After meeting [[Roronoa Zoro]] she set out to sea with Smoker, chasing after him and the rest of the Straw Hat crew. She bears a striking resemblance to [[List of One Piece minor characters#Kuina|Kuina]] if she were older, something which Zoro is uncomfortable with.

====Koby====
[[Image:Koby.jpg|right|thumb|Master Chief Petty Officer Koby]]
{{nihongo|Koby|コビー|Kobī}} is the first introduced as an involuntary member of a pirate crew, who with Luffy's help soon joins the Navy, alongside Morgan's disgraced son Helmeppo. During Morgan's escape, the bravery shown by the two earns them the respect of their superiors, and the attention of Vice-Admiral Garp. Koby's dream is to become an officer so he can catch criminals. In addition, he also wants to become strong and earn the rank of Admiral, and fight one-on-one with the person he believes will become Pirate King — [[Monkey D. Luffy]]. He is voiced by [[Mika Doi]] in Japanese media, [[Kayzie Rogers]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Leah Clark]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Helmeppo====
{{nihongo|Helmeppo|ヘルメッポ|Herumeppo}} is Axe-Hand Morgan's bratty son. After Morgan is defeated, he does petty work for the Naval Base in Shell Town along with Koby. This changes when they meet Vice-Admiral Garp, who takes them to his own base on the Grand Line to watch over and help guide their progress. His dream is to become an officer so he can regain the life of luxury he had before he was defeated by Luffy. He also wants to surpass his father, and capture him, as well as be able to fight one-on-one with Zoro. He is voiced by [[Kōichi Nagano]] in Japanese media, [[Sean Schemmel]] in the 4Kids English dub, and [[Troy Baker]] in the Funimation English dub.

====Jango====
{{nihongo|Jango|ジャンゴ三|Jango}}, romanized in English adaptations as ''Django'', is the first mate and hypnotist of [[Captain Kuro]]. He uses disks that double as [[chakram]]s to [[hypnosis|hypnotize]] people to his advantage in battle. He has a former bounty of 9 million beli. Jango usually ends up hypnotizing himself as well as his targets. He is voiced by [[Kazuki Yao]] in most Japanese media, but not in the featurett short special ''Jango's Dance Carnival'', where he is voiced by [[Wataru Takagi]]. [[Pete Zarustica]] lends him his voice in the 4Kids English dub, while [[Kenny Green]] does so in the Funimation English dub.

Jango wears strange clothes, including a long coat covered in the disks he uses to fight and hypnotize as a pirate, and red-lensed heart-shaped glasses henceforth the shape of his eyes. His face and actions is also strangly reminiscent of real life song artist Michael Jackson. Jango possesses the power of hypnosis which he uses with varying degrees of success. He is defeated by [[Usopp]] while attempting to kill Kaya, and later is shown in a series of cover stories. He joins the Marines and serves under Captain Hina at the end of the mini series.

==Merchandise==
{{Expand|date=September 2008}}

==Reception==
{{Expand|date=September 2008}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{One Piece characters}}

[[Category:Lists of anime and manga characters|One Piece]]
[[Category:One Piece characters|*Characters]]

[[it:Personaggi di One Piece]]
[[ja:ONE PIECEの登場人物一覧]]
[[th:กองทัพเรือ (วันพีซ)]]

Sun Life Financial

2008-09-26T11:47:58Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Distinguish|AXA Sun Life}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Sun Life Financial |
company_logo = [[Image:Sun Life Financial logo.svg|240px]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]]|
company_slogan = An international leader in protection and wealth management services, dedicated to helping customers achieve lifetime financial security|
foundation = [[1865]] in Montreal|
location = Toronto, ON|
key_people = [[Donald A. Stewart]], CEO [[Dean Connor]], President (Canada) [[Robert C. Salipante]], President (U.S.) [[Stephan Rajotte]], President (Asia)|
num_employees = 14,700|
industry = [[Financial Services]] |
products = [[Financial Services]] [[Insurance Services]]|
revenue = [[Image:Green Arrow Up.svg|12px]]$21.2 billion [[Canadian dollar|Cdn]] (2007)|
homepage = [http://www.sunlife.com www.sunlife.com]
}}
[[Image:Admiralty Centre 20070731 large.jpg|thumb|250px|Sun Life Logo at United Centre, [[Hong Kong]]]]
'''Sun Life Financial Inc.''' ({{tsx|SLF}}, {{nyse|SLF}}, {{pse|SLF}}) is a leading financial services organization in [[Canada]] known primarily as a [[life insurance]] company. Sun Life ranks number 187 on the [[Forbes Global 2000]] list ([http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Rank.html 2008 edition]).

==History==
===Pre-World War War II===
Founded in [[Montreal, Quebec]] as '''The Sun Insurance Company of Montreal''' in 1865 by [[Mathew Hamilton Gault]], an [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrant who settled in Montreal in 1842, its operations actually began in 1871. By the end of the nineteenth century it had expanded to [[Central America|Central]] and South America, the [[West Indies]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[India]], [[North Africa]] and other international markets. Over the next five decades the company grew and prospered, surviving the difficulties of [[World War I]] and the large drain on its finances through policy claims arising from the large number of deaths caused by the [[Great Flu Epidemic]] of 1918.

The company's original Dominion Square building in Montreal was built in 1918. Capping a Montreal construction boom that began in the 1920s, the company completed construction of the expansion of its headquarters with its new 26-storey headquarters north tower in 1933. Although the new head office of the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] at 360 [[Saint Jacques Street|St. James Street]] in Montreal was taller by several floors, the [[Sun Life Building]] was at the time the largest building in terms of square footage anywhere in the [[British Empire]].

===World War II===
Following the outbreak of [[World War II]] in Europe, during the summer of 1940 the Government of the [[United Kingdom]] organized highly secret shipments of bonds and stocks to Montreal that were stored in the vaults at Sun Life. It is rumoured that the British crown jewels were also stored in Sun Life's Montreal vaults for the duration of the war. The securities were used to help finance the War. At the time, [[Gustave Biéler]], a [[France|French]]-born Canadian who was fluent in the French and English languages, was working as Chief Translator at Sun Life's head office. He joined the [[Canadian Army]] and was shipped overseas where, as part of the [[Special Operations Executive]], he worked inside occupied [[France]] until being captured by the [[Gestapo]] and executed at [[Flossenbürg concentration camp]] in [[Bavaria]].

===Post-World War II===
During the post-war period, the company's successful business strategies made it one of Montreal's largest white-collar employers, one of the top corporations in Canada, as well as a global player in the life insurance field. For the first half of the 20th century, the city of Montreal had been the economic hub of Canada, but it was losing ground to [[Toronto]]. As early as 1950, Toronto's economic activity surpassed Montreal's with regards to stock market trading and capitalization. The advent, in the 1960s, of political and [[terrorism|terrorist]] movements demanding [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Quebec independence]] from Canada cast a pallor of uncertainty over the business community. In 1973, Sun Life opened its American subsidiary's new headquarters in [[Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts]] at the outskirts of [[Boston]]. In 1977, the newly elected [[Quebec sovereignty movement|sovereigntist]] Quebec government passed the [[Charter of the French Language]] (known as Bill 101), making the use of [[French language]] mandatory for medium- and large-scale companies when communicating with French-speaking staff. This law was received negatively by the English-speaking business community, many of whom perceived that the historical rights of the English-speaking minority should be respected. On [[January 6]], [[1978]], the company scaled down the Montreal facilities to serve as a branch service bureau while shifting its head office to rented space in [[Toronto, Ontario]].(1) Officially, Sun Life said it was motivated by the political instability and economic uncertainty of Quebec's future, but skeptics said it was the company's unwillingness to comply with the requirements of Bill 101. In 1979 the company acquired a property at University Avenue and King Street in downtown Toronto and constructed a major ultra-modern office complex called ''Sun Life Centre''.

(1)The above gives a very skewed, even inaccurate view of what actually happened at Sun Life in Montreal with regard to Bill 101. Prior to the Bill's passing, Sun Life presented the PQ government with a brief clearly stating that if Bill 101 became law, Sun Life would be forced to move its Head Office out of the province. All Montreal employees of Sun Life received copies of this brief.

Bill 101 required more than French communications with French-speaking staff. It made French the official language of the workplace. It required all written internal correspondence of a corporation to be conducted in French. It also provided that present and prospective employees who could not speak English not be discriminated against because of their inability to speak English.

For the largest employer of English-speaking people in Montreal, this would make things very difficult. Many, if not most, of Sun Life's Head Office employees in 1979 could not speak French fluently. Following Bill 101 was just not feasible. Sun Life was quite clear that this was the reason for their move when they made the announcement. The PQ government was quick to label Sun Life "bad corporate citizens" and claimed that if "they had only warned us, we could have worked something out."

Sun Life had warned them. The PQ government had ignored the brief which Sun Life had submitted to them months before the Bill was pass into law.

The downsizing of Sun Life's Montreal office did not take place overnight. Transfers and moves were made on a per department basis and did not commence until several months after the announcement of the move.

The transfer of Sun Life's Head Office from Montreal to Toronto is viewed by many to be the start of an exodus of corporate entities from Montreal, but Sun Life was not the first company to leave. Many companies had left long before Sun Life did, only on a much quieter, private basis.

==The company today==
[[Image:Sun-Life_Financial_headquarters_Waterloo_Ontario.JPG|thumb|250px|left|The Sun Life Financial Canadian headquarters in [[Waterloo, Ontario]].]]
[[Image:Sun Life.JPG|thumb|200 px|right|Sun Life headquarters at [[Montréal]], [[Quebec]]]]Today, Sun Life lists its shares on the [[Toronto Stock Exchange| Toronto]], [[New York]], and [[Philippines]] stock exchanges. It is one of [[Standard & Poor's]] Global 1200 companies.

In 2002, Sun Life acquired '''Clarica Life Insurance''' Company of [[Waterloo, Ontario]]. After this acquisition, the head office for Sun Life Financial Canada moved to Waterloo while the corporate headquarters remained in Toronto. It still maintains Canadian satellite offices in Montreal and Ottawa. After the acquisition, the Clarica name was still used to brand the products originally owned and sold by Clarica. In June 2007, the Clarica brand was retired.

In 2006 Sun Life India Service Centre Private Limited was incorporated. This centre provides both business processing and technology support for Sun Life Financial business units that are spread all over the world.

Global presence also includes significant partnerships and holdings in [[CI Fund Management |CI Mutual Funds]] of Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2002/05/22/cifund020522.html|title=CBC News - CI Fund aquires Sun Life mutual fund business|accessdate=2008-09-04 }}</ref>, Birla Sun Life a joint venture with [[Aditya Birla Group]] of India, and Sun Life Everbright a joint venture with [[China Everbright Limited]] in China<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunlife.com/worldwide/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0f80db72d02c0110VgnVCM1000006c90d09fRCRD&vgnLocale=en_CA&chnpath=%2FAbout+SLF|title=Sun Life - International Operations|accessdate=2008-09-04}}</ref>.

In 2007, Sun Life was named one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations for the fourth year in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.global100.org/2007/index.asp|title=Global 100 2007|accessdate=2008-09-04 }}</ref> It was also named one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada as well as one of [[Canada's Top 100 Employers]], as published in ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine, and was the sole insurance company to receive this latter honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/einfo?en=Sun+Life+Financial+Assurance+Company+of+Canada+Inc.&ri=b2e76ed10653d0c1775ddb3a69f9e8b7&rk=1ff65a18c2159986d37e6f39ad7bff8b|title=Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers}}</ref>

Today, the company manages assets in excess of Cdn $425 billion and has more than 14,700 employees plus thousands of independent agents worldwide.

==Corporate governance==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of Sun Life Financial are: James Baillie, George Carmany, John Clappison, David Ganong, Germaine Gibara, Krystyna Hoeg, David Kerr, Idalene Kesner, Mitchell Martin, Bertin Nadeau, Ronald Osborne, Donald Stewart, and W. Vickery Stoughton.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunlife.com/ Sun Life Financial website]
* [http://www.sunlife.ca/ Sun Life Financial Canada website]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1297-7466/politics_economy/bill101/clip4 CBC reports on Sun Life leaving Montreal in 1978]

{{Companies portal}}
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[[Category:S&P/TSX 60 Index]]
[[Category:Insurance companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Former mutual insurance companies]]
[[category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]

[[de:Sun Life Financial]]
[[fr:Sun Life Financial]]

Table football

2008-09-10T15:19:23Z

216.94.61.100:

{{dablink|This is about the game using players on rods. Table football/soccer is also a generic term of the game known colloquially as [[Subbuteo]].}}

[[Image:Baby foot artlibre jnl.jpg|260px|right|thumb|Table football (Bonzini style table).]]

'''Table football''', also known as '''foosball''', '''table soccer''' or '''baby foot''', is a table-top game that is based on [[association football]] (soccer). Table football is normally called foosball in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]].

==Names==
The most common names in English are ''table football'' and ''foosball'', though ''table soccer'' is also used.

Table football is generally known as ''Tischfußball'' or ''kickern'' in German.<ref name="BritFoos">[http://www.britfoos.com/ BFA - Table Football]</ref> In [[Italy]] it is known as ''calcio balilla'' or ''bigliardino or biliardino'' (from "biglia", little ball) or even ''calcetto'' (less common), and in certain areas ''futbolino''. In Canada, it is often referred to as "jitz" which originates from the italian word "gitoni" which means foosball or table soccer. People called it gitz for short and spelled it "jitz" for style. In [[México]] it is known as ''futbolito'', in [[Argentina]] it is known as ''metegol'', in [[Chile]] it is known as ''taca-taca'', in and [[Peru]] is called "fulbito", in [[Spain]], [[Colombia]] and [[Costa Rica]] it is known as ''futbolín'', in [[Guatemala]] it is called ''futío'', in some other Spanish-speaking countries being ''futbol de mesa'' or ''futbolito'', although the latter might also refer to football played on a smaller field, in [[Hungary]] as ''csocsó'', in [[Croatia]] as 'stolni nogomet', in [[Portugal]] as ''matraquilhos'', in [[Brazil]] as ''pebolim'' or ''totó'', in [[Turkey]] as ''langırt'' and among French-style players is known as ''babyfoot''.<ref name="BritFoos" />

Foosball is also spelt "foozball", "foozeball", "fooseball", or rarely "fuseball".

==History==
Patents may exist from as far back as the 1890s ''(see the [[Table football#External links|external links]] section for more detail)''. However the game of Table Football as we know it today was first invented and patented in '''1923''' (U.K. patent no. 205,991 application: dated 14th October 1922 and accepted: 1st November 1923) by an Englishman by the name of ‘'''’Harold S. Thornton’’''' of North London

That patent is in every respect the same as the accepted table football that is played throughout the world today with the same formation of rod controlled men.

The idea was conceived after Harold had been to a Spurs football match ,he was an avid supporter. He wanted to provide a game that replicated football that could be played at home.. The inspiration came from a box of matches. By laying the matches across the box he had the basis of his game.

His Uncle, Louis P Thornton, who lived in Portland U.S. visited Harold and took the idea back to the States where it was patented in 1927 (United States Patent Office No. 1,615,491).

At the time there was not much call for the game and the patent ran out. However there had been many sold and after the war some manufacturers picked up the idea and the rest is history.

Harold died in 1951 little realising what an impact his idea would have on the games market

[[Alejandro Finisterre]] thought of making a form of soccer that would be fun for children who could not play actual soccer. So he commissioned Francisco Javier Altuna to build it for him and this was patented in 1937.

In 2002, the [[International Table Soccer Federation]] (ITSF) was established in France with the mission of promoting the sport of Table Soccer as an organizing sports body, regulating international competitions, and establishing the game with the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) as an officially recognized [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] sport.

==The game==
[[Image:Bonzini style table goalkeeper.jpg|thumb|A goalkeeper]]
To start play, the ball is served through a hole at the side of the table, or simply placed by hand at the feet of a figure in the middle of the table. This is usually the red player (or the side of the player where coins are thrown in). Players attempt to use figures mounted on rotating bars to kick the ball into the opponent's goal. A ball may travel at speeds up to 64 km/h (40 mph) in competition.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}

[[Image:Bonzini style table ball control.jpg|thumb|Ball control]]

Rules consider "360-degree shots" or "spinning" (using the palm of the hand to rapidly spin the bar all the way around, instead of using wrist action to kick the ball with a bar-mounted figure) illegal. However, shots short of a full 360-degree rotation are legal.

The winner is determined when one team scores a predetermined number of goals, typically five, ten or eleven in competition.

Foosball tables can vary in size, but a typical table is about 120 [[Centimetre|cm]] (4 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) long and 61 cm (2 ft) wide. The table usually contains 8 rows of "foos-men", which are plastic, metal, wooden, or sometimes carbon-fibre figures mounted on horizontal metal bars. Each team of 1, 2, or 3 human players controls 4 rows of foos-men.

The arrangement is standard. Looking from left to right on one side of the table;

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#FF9999"
| Row 1 || '''Goalkeeper''' || 1 foosman (''sometimes 2 or 3'')
|- bgcolor="#FF9999"
| Row 2 || '''Defense''' || 2 foosmen (''sometimes 3'')
|- bgcolor="#9999FF"
| Row 3 || Opponent's attack || 3 foosmen (''sometimes 2'')
|- bgcolor="#FF9999"
| Row 4 || '''Midfield''' || 5 foosmen (''sometimes 4 or 6'')
|- bgcolor="#9999FF"
| Row 5 || Opponent's midfield || 5 foosmen (''sometimes 4 or 6'')
|- bgcolor="#FF9999"
| Row 6 || '''Attack''' || 3 foosmen (''sometimes 2'')
|- bgcolor="#9999FF"
| Row 7 || Opponent's defense || 2 foosmen (''sometimes 3'')
|- bgcolor="#9999FF"
| Row 8 || Opponent's goalkeeper || 1 foosman (''sometimes 2 or 3'')
|}

Foosball can also be played with four people in "doubles" style, in which there are teams of two people on either side. In this scenario, one player can control the two defensive rows and the other team member uses the midfield and attack rows. In informal matches, three or four players per side are also common.

==Competition==
[[Image:Table football in new york.jpg|thumb|Table football on Tornado in [[New York]]]]

Table football is often played for fun in pubs, bars, workplaces, schools, and clubs with few rules. Foosball is also played in official competitions organized by a number of national organizations, with highly evolved rules and regulations. Organized competition can be traced back to the 1940s and 1950s in [[Europe]]. But the professional tours and bigtime money events began when the founding father of modern professional table soccer, [[Lee Peppard]] of [[Seattle]], [[Washington]], [[United States]] announced a "quarter million dollar tour" in [[1975]]. Peppard went on to award several million dollars in prize monies, and, ever since his Tournament Soccer Organization went out of business in 1981, several organizations and promoters have continued holding large purse professional table soccer events worldwide. The [[ITSF]] regulates International events including the yearly World Championships and the World Cup held to coincide with the [[FIFA World Cup]] every four years. In 2006, Austria, Germany and Belgium took the Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively.

==Tables==
[[Image:foosball garlando aerial.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Garlando]] style table with a game in progress]]
[[Image:Foosball11Players.jpg|thumb|right|An 11-per-side Leonhart table football game in Berlin]]

A vast number of different tables exist. The table brands used on the world tour and official ITSF tournaments are "French-style" Bonzini, "American-style" Tornado, "Italian-style" Roberto Sport and [[Garlando]], "German-style" Tecball. Other major brands include Kicker, Rosengart, Jupiter Goldstar, Eurosoccer, Löwen-Soccer, Warrior, Lehmacher, Leonhart, and Smoby. There was also a 7-meter table created by artist [[Maurizio Cattelan]] for a piece called ''Stadium''. It takes 11 players to a side. Another unique foosball set is the Opus Table created by the Elevenforty company. Each table is hand-crafted, and each foosman is made to resemble his on-field counterpart.

Differences in the table types have great influence on the playing styles. Most tables have one goalie whose movements are restricted to the goal area. On some of these tables the goalie becomes unable to get the ball once it is stuck out of reach in the corner; others have sloped corners to return the ball. Other tables have three goalies, one in the center and one in each corner to reach the ball so sloped corners are not needed. Another major difference is found in the balls, which can be made of cork, plastic, wood or even marble and metal, varying the speed of shots a great deal, as well as the "grip" between the man and the ball.

==Robots==
[[Robot]]s designed to play table soccer by roboticists at the [[University of Freiburg]] are claimed to be able to beat 85 percent of casual players. They use a camera from below a transparent table base to track the ball, and an electronic control system to control high torque motors to rotate and move the foosmen. Currently an expert player can beat the robot 10 games to 1. [http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996346]. Another table football robot, [[Foosbot]], is claimed to have never been beaten by a human, but has not been tested against expert players.
Yet another table football robot is under development by two students at the [[Technical University of Denmark]]. The robot uses a camera mounted above an ordinary table [http://foospmp.myl.dk].

==In popular culture==
{{Trivia|date=June 2008}}
* Foosball tables have figured prominently in a number of movies such as [http://www.foosmovie.com/ ''Foos: Be the Greatest]'' (2006, USA) and [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082676/ ''Longshot''] (1981, USA).
* In an episode of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'', Dr. Forrester and Frank told how they took a foosball table, caulked it, filled it with water, and turned it into a [[water polo]] game.
* In the TV show ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', Dr. House and Dr. Wilson are often seen playing the game in the doctor's lounge.
* In the TV series ''[[Zoey 101]]'', characters are often seen playing the game in the PCA lounge.
* The German movie ''[[Absolute Giganten]]'' features an interestingly filmed game.
* The characters [[Joey Tribbiani]] and [[Chandler Bing]] from the ''[[Friends]]'' TV show (1994-2004, USA) often play table football. The [[sitcom]] featured a Dynamo table in earlier seasons, and later a Tornado (Valley) brand table, each of which were central to many episodes.
* Table football figures prominently as a Scottish bar sport in the short story "[[Kingdom of Fife]]" by [[Irvine Welsh]].
* In the award-winning Italian movie [[Il Postino]], which is set in the 1950s, the eponymous character of Mario Ruoppolo fell in love at first sight with Beatrice Russo while playing foosball.

==See also==
* [[Air hockey]]
* [[Cue sports]]
* [[Button football]]
* [[Pfitschigogerl]]
* [[Sports table football]]
* [[Table hockey]]
* [[Table tennis]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==










International and national federations
*[http://www.table-soccer.org/ International Table Soccer Federation]
*[http://www.metegol.org.ar/ Argentine Table Soccer Association]
*[http://www.foosball.org.au/ Australian Foosball Federation]
*[http://www.pebolim.com.br/ Brazilian "Pebolim" Federation]
*[http://www.britfoos.com/ British Foosball Association]
*[http://www.foosballtables.ca/events/ Canadian foosball event & tournament listings]
*[http://www.foosball.cz/ CFO, Czech Foosball Organization]
*[http://www.bordfodbold.dk/ Danish table-soccer federation]
*[http://www.ntvb.nl/ Dutch Foosball Federation]
*[http://www.francebabyfoot.com/ French table-soccer federation]
*[http://www.dtfb.de/ German table-soccer federation]
*[http://www.ficb.it/ Italian "Calcio Balilla" federation]
*[http://www.pzfs.pl Polish Table Soccer Federation]
*[http://www.fnf.ru/ R.T.S.F., Russian Table Soccer Federation]
*[http://www.ustsf.org/ United States Table Soccer Federation]
*[http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/gallery.php?gid=230 Table football pictures]
*[http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com/foosball-game-tables.html Foosball Game Table Differences]
*[http://www.nycfoosball.com/ New York City Foosball]
*[http://www.futbolmesa.com/ Costa Rican Foosball]

[[Category:Table football]]
[[Category:1937 introductions]]

[[cs:Stolní fotbal]]
[[da:Bordfodbold]]
[[de:Tischfußball]]
[[es:Fútbol de mesa]]
[[fr:Baby-foot]]
[[gl:Futbolín]]
[[hr:Stolni nogomet]]
[[it:Calcio balilla]]
[[nl:Tafelvoetbal]]
[[ja:テーブル・フットボール]]
[[pl:Piłkarzyki]]
[[pt:Futebol de mesa]]
[[ru:Кикер (настольный футбол)]]
[[sr:Стони фудбал]]
[[th:ฟุตบอลโต๊ะ]]
[[tr:Langırt]]
[[uk:Кікер]]
[[vls:Bakkn]]
[[zh:桌上足球]]

Peaches Geldof

2008-09-03T12:55:00Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Infobox Person
| image = Peaches Geldof dotted.jpg
| image_size = 300px |
| name = Peaches Geldof
| caption = Geldof with a [[halo]] as depicted at [[The Cans Festival]], [[London]] 2008.
| birth_name = Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|03|16}}
| birth_place = [[London]], [[England]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| residence = [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]
| known_for =
| education =
| occupation =
| title =
| height = 5' 4" (1.63 m)
| weight =
| spouse = Max Drummey (2008–)
| partner =
| children =
| parents = [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Paula Yates]]
| relatives = [[Hughie Green]] (Grandfather), [[Pixie Geldof]] (Sister)
| signature =
| website =
}}

'''Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof'''<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Peaches Geldof calls for end to silly names|url= http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/peaches%20geldof%20calls%20for%20end%20to%20silly%20names|work= [[contactmusic.com]]|publisher= | }}</ref> (born [[16 March]] [[1989]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[socialite]] and occasional [[Presenter|broadcaster]].

==Background==
Geldof was born in [[London]] in 1979, the second daughter of [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Paula Yates]]. She is the granddaughter of [[Hughie Green]]. Her sisters are [[Fifi Trixibelle Geldof]] (born 1983) and [[Pixie Geldof]] (born 1990), and she also has a younger half-sister, [[Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence]], (born 1996).

She grew up in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], and sat [[Advanced Level (UK)|AS-level]] exams in 2006 in History Of Art, Classical Civilisation, Politics, and English at [[Queen's College, London]]. She currently lives in [[Williamsburg, New York]].<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Freedom at last for Peaches Geldof as she moves out |url= http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23409401-details/Freedom+at+last+for+Peaches+Geldof+as+she+moves+out/article.do|work= [[Evening Standard]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-08-22]]|accessdate=2007-08-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Kimberley |last= Dadds |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Peaches Geldof moves out of dad Bob's |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a73232/peaches-geldof-moves-out-of-dad-bobs.html?rss|work= [[Digital Spy]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-08-22]]|accessdate=2007-08-24 }}</ref>

==Life in the spotlight==
Geldof wrote and presented her own [[reality TV]] [[television programme|programme]], ''Peaches Geldof: Teenage Mind'' in 2005, which was followed up with ''Peaches Geldof: Teen America'', which aired on [[Sky One]] in the UK on [[March 1]] [[2006]].<ref name="Crampton">{{
cite news|first= Robert|last= Crampton|url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article734150.ece|work=[[Times Online]]|title=She’s so, like, 21st century|date=[[2006-02-25]]|accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref> She has recently worked as a guest reporter for ''[[Tonight with Trevor McDonald]]'' for the [[ITV]] network and presented ''The beginner's guide to Islam'' and [[T4 (Channel 4)|T4]]'s coverage of the [[NME Awards]] 2007 for [[Channel 4]]. She has also penned a number of [[newspaper column|columns]] and articles for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', ''[[The Guardian]]'' and ''[[Elle Girl]]'' magazine. In 2006, Geldof was placed at number seven in the [[Tatler]]'s list of Top Ten Fashion Icons for the year, the youngest person on the list.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Camilla hits best-dressed list|url= http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=10080&pt=e|work= [[u.tv]]|publisher= |date= [[2006-03-08]]|accessdate=2007-07-21 }} </ref> In 2007, readers of [[FHM]] voted her the 53rd sexiest woman in the world.<ref>{{cite news |first= Colleen|last= Last|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Full List: FHM 100 Most Sexiest Women 2007|url= http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebrity/PhotoGalleries/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4778360|work= [[Msn.com]]|publisher= |date= |accessdate=2007-08-24 }} </ref> In November 2007 it was reported that Geldof was lined up to present a new version of ''[[The Tube (TV series)|The Tube]]'', a TV music magazine show which made the former presenter, her mother [[Paula Yates]], a star in the 1980s.<ref name="boomtown brat"/>

Geldof has received criticism for her party lifestyle, sometimes perceived as wild and self-destructive, with critics noting her lack of years, access to wealth (claimed on her myspace account as in excess of £250,000 a year<ref name="250,000">{{
cite news|first= Katie|last= Hind|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=400776&in_page_id=1773&in_page_id=1773&expand=true|work=[[The Daily Mail]]|title=Schoolgirl Peaches makes £250,000 a year|date=[[2007-02-14]]|accessdate=2007-08-15}}</ref>) and hunger for fame as potential problems.<ref name="wild child">{{
cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=401318&in_page_id=1879
|work=[[The Daily Mail]]|title=Is wild child Peaches Geldof partying too hard?|date=[[2006-08-18]]|accessdate=2007-07-21}}</ref><ref name="boomtown brat"/><ref name="250,000"/>. [[Pete Doherty]] blamed his poor performance at 2005's Live 8 concert on Peaches making a "suggestive" comment to him shortly before he went onstage, which the [[teenager]] denied.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Peaches didn't pinch Pete
|url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/peaches-didnt-pinch-pete/2005/07/12/1120934224677.html|work= [[Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher= |date= [[2005-07-12]]|accessdate=2007-07-21 }} </ref> However, opinion remains divided both among the press and those purportedly close to her, with many sources describing her as balanced and down to earth.<ref name="Crampton"/><ref name="wild child"/><ref name="jan moir">{{cite news |first= Jan|last= Moir|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= 'Oh no, my dad is going to kill me…'|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/01/22/bapeach22.xml&page=3|work= [[The Daily Telegraph]]|publisher= |date= [[2008-03-20]]|accessdate=2007-07-21 }}</ref> She famously branded fashion gurus [[Trinny Woodall]] and [[Susannah Constantine]] "upper-class bitches with no fashion sense."<ref name="Crampton"/>

In September 2007 Geldof made her catwalk debut modelling for PPQ at London Fashion Week. She was also announced as the face of the [[Australian]] fashion line ''[[Dotti]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first= Jen|last= Melocco|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Peaches Geldof new face for Australian Dotti|url= http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22260222-5007192,00.html|work= [[news.com.au]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-08-17]]|accessdate=2007-08-24 }} </ref> Together with friend Fifi Brown, she also performs in a DJ-ing duo known as Trash Pussies.<ref name="wild child"/><ref name="250,000"/>

In September 2007 Geldof was featured in the [[United Kingdom|British]] ''[[Hello!]]'' magazine wearing three dresses, which were claimed to have been [[Marilyn Monroe]]'s movie costumes. The magazine paid £7,000 for a cover shoot to dress Peaches Geldof in the gowns, which were claimed to have been created by Oscar-winning costume designer [[William Travilla]]. An exhibition connected to the Peaches Geldof photo shoot, in October 2007, was named the 'Lost Collection' of William Travilla. The [[Hilton Hotel]] chain offered to host the exhibition.<ref>{{cite news |first= James|last= Lancaster|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Bosses blow the chance to host Marilyn Monroe dress collection|url= http://www.theargus.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1721201.mostcommented.bosses_blow_the_chance_to_host_marilyn_monroe_dress_collection.php|work= [[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-09-28]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }} </ref> A second exhibition stop, scheduled for [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], was cancelled before its opening and shortly after the authenticity of the Peaches Geldof worn dresses was questioned by the media.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= 'Fake' claim over Monroe show|url= http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/21512/-Fake-claim-over-Monroe-show|work= [[Daily Express]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-10-09]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Suzanne|last= McTaggart|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Marilyn Monroe dresses labelled 'fake'|url= http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Marilyn-Monroe-dresses-labelled-39fake39.3886206.jp|work= [[Yorkshire Evening Post]]|publisher= |date= [[2008-03-18]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }} </ref>

==Personal Life==
Tabloid coverage of her lifestyle has linked her to many celebrity boyfriends, including [[Donny Tourette]],<ref name="jan moir"/><ref name="boomtown brat">{{cite news |first= Paul|last= Scott|title= Boomtown Brat: Is Peaches Geldof turning out even wilder than mum?
|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=492759&in_page_id=1773|work= [[The Daily Mail]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-11-10]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }}</ref> [[Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man|Frederick Blood-Royale]],<ref name="jan moir"/><ref name="myspace">{{cite news |first= Peaches|last= Geldof|title= It may start as innocent flirtation, but be warned, you too could become a lonely MySpace addict|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2046236,00.html|work= [[Guardian Unlimited]]|publisher= |date= [[2007-03-30]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }}</ref> and [[Joe Van Moyland]], although this rumour was vehemently denied by Peaches herself.<ref>{{cite news |first= Paul|last= MacInnes|title= Since you've been Jong: Joe Lean just wants to make good music, dammit! |url= http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/inthenews/0,,2252263,00.html|work= [[The Guardian]]|publisher= |date= [[2008-02-04]]|accessdate=2008-02-26 }}</ref> She also dated [[Faris Badwan]] of [[The Horrors]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Donna|last= McConnell|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Walk of shame: Lily Allen emerges in the same clothes after wild night out|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=533676&in_page_id=1773&in_page_id=1773&expand=true|work= [[The Daily Mail]]|publisher= |date= [[2008-03-14]]|accessdate=2008-03-20 }} </ref>

On 5 August 2008, Geldof married Max Drummey, an [[United States|American]] musician from the band [[Chester French]], at [[Las_Vegas_weddings|A Little White Chapel]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]. In a statement on 12 August 2008, the couple said they were 'delighted to announce their very happy marriage.'<ref>{{cite news |first= Richard|last= Simpson|authorlink= |coauthors= Liz Thomas and Emily Andrews|title= Peaches Geldof marries her rocker boyfriend in Las Vegas|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1044069/Peaches-Geldof-marries-rocker-boyfriend-Las-Vegas.html|work= [[Daily Mail]]|publisher= |date= [[2008-08-12]]|accessdate=2008-08-12 }} </ref>

==Filmography==
*''Peaches Geldof: Teenage Mind'' (2005)
*''Peaches Geldof: Teen America'' (2006)
*''Beginner's Guide To Islam'' (2006), in which Peaches travelled to Morocco, staying with a devout Muslim family.
*''Tonight with Trevor McDonald'' (2006), a report on the [[Size Zero]] [[Trend]].
*''T4: Shockwaves [[NME Awards]] 2007'' (2007), co-host with [[Alex Zane]].
*''8 out of 10 Cats'' panellist (2007)
*''[[Big Brother's Big Mouth]]'' presenter (July 24 - July 27, 2007)
*''[[Orange Playlist]]'' guest (2007)
*''[[Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack]]'' (2008)
*''[[ITV: I-Tunes Festival 2008]]'' (2008), co-host with Dave Berry.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=1912922|name=Peaches Geldof}}



{{DEFAULTSORT:Geldof, Peaches}}
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English socialites]]
[[Category:People from London]]
[[Category:English vegetarians]]

[[fi:Peaches Geldof]]

Fairview Mall

2008-08-21T20:54:13Z

216.94.61.100: /* Redevelopment */

{{coor title dms|43|46|40|N|79|20|40|W|type:landmark}}
{{otheruses|Fairview Mall (disambiguation)}}

{{infobox shopping mall |
| shopping_mall_name = Fairview Mall
| image = Fairview Mall Entrance 4.jpg
| location = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| opening_date = 1972
| developer = [[Cadillac Fairview]]
| manager = [[Cadillac Fairview]]
| owner = [[Cadillac Fairview]] & [[Ivanhoe Cambridge]]
| number_of_stores = 270
| number_of_anchors = 3
| floor_area = 881,287 ft² (81,874 m²)
| floors = 2 (Aside from individual stores and offices)
| website = http://www.fairviewmall.ca

}}

'''Fairview Mall''' is a major [[shopping centre]] in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Just under 1 million ft2, it is on the northeast corner of [[Don Mills Road]] and [[Sheppard Avenue]]. It is jointly owned by [[Cadillac Fairview]] (50% ownership) and [[Ivanhoe Cambridge]] (50% ownership). Both owners are two of Canada's largest [[real estate]] property managers and developers. The mall is currently undergoing a major renovation.[http://www.fairviewmall.ca/dyn2/index.ch2]

Notable stores include: the first Canadian [[Hennes & Mauritz|H&M]], [[Laura Secord]], [[Baskin-Robbins]] and [[Laura (clothing)|Laura]].

It is adjacent to the [[Parkway Forest]], [[Henry Farm]], [[Don Valley Village]], and [[Seneca Hill]] neighbourhoods. [[The Peanut]] is immediately to the north, and Fairview Public Library is located just outside the mall.

Cadillac Fairview also operates [[Fairview Park Mall]] in [[Kitchener, Ontario]], often simply called 'Fairview Mall' by locals.

==History==
The mall opened in 1972 with [[the Bay]] and [[Simpson's]] as its department store anchors. It was the fourth fully-enclosed and the first multi-level mall in [[Metropolitan Toronto]]. The [[Hudson's Bay Company]], [[parent company]] of the Bay, purchased Simpson's in 1978. In 1991, it sold the Simpson's store in Fairview (along with five others that were co-located with the Bay) to [[Sears Canada]].

==Redevelopment==
Fairview Mall has currently completing an $84 million, three-phase full renovation and redevelopment project, which began in July 2006 and is not finished yet. Phase 1 includes a newly expanded [[Shoppers Drug Mart]] and a large format [[Liquor Control Board of Ontario]] (LCBO) store. The food court, a key highlight of the renovation, will be moved to the lower level under a {{convert|60|ft|m|sing=on}} high skylight near The Bay. All entrances to the mall will incorporate hands-free technology and the common areas will be transformed with more open spaces and stylish wood finishes. Elevators serving the third floor offices for the first time will be added near the Moxie's entrance, and the front facade along Sheppard Avenue will receive a complete facelift. Phases 2 and 3 will include further enhancements.

The [[Rainbow and Magic Lantern Cinemas|Rainbow Cinema]] has closed down to make way for a brand new [[Cineplex Entertainment|Cineplex]] SilverCity theatre, set to open in October 2008.<ref name = "Fairview Stores Tab">{{cite web
| url = http://www.fairviewmall.ca/store/index.ch2
| title = Stores: Closed or Temporarily Relocated Stores
| publisher = Fairview Mall
| accessdate = 2008-06-29}}</ref> The Rainbow Cinema was originally an older style Cineplex theatre.

==Public transportation==
A portion of the mall's [[parking lot]] was redeveloped into a bus terminal as part of [[Don Mills (TTC)|Don Mills station]], the eastern terminus of the [[Sheppard (TTC)|Sheppard subway line]] and the southern terminus of the [[Viva (bus rapid transit)|Viva]] [[Viva Green|Green bus rapid transit line]].

Since the closing of nearby [[Don Mills Centre]] in June 2006, there has been a free shuttle bus between the two malls on [[weekday]]s.

==Anchor and major stores==
*[[The Bay]] (152,420 sq ft. / 14,160.3 m²)
*[[Sears Canada|Sears]] (149,552 sq ft. / 13,893.8 m²)
*[[H & M]] (17,186 sq ft. / 1,596.6 m²)
*Laura (13,173 sq ft. / 1,226.8 m² total, Laura Petites - {{convert|5439|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. / 505.3 m², Laura - {{convert|3971|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. / 368.9 m², Laura Plus - {{convert|3763|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. / 349.6 m²)
*[[Shoppers Drug Mart]] (11,950 sq ft. / 1,110.2 m²)

==See also==
*[[Canada's largest shopping malls]]
* [[List of shopping malls in Canada]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.fairviewmall.ca Fairview Mall]
*[http://www.cadillacfairview.com/ Cadillac Fairview]
*[http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/ Ivanhoe Cambridge Official Website]

{{Shopping Malls in the Golden Horseshoe}}

[[Category:Shopping malls in Toronto]]

Template:VMTV ROI programming

2008-08-14T13:57:05Z

216.94.61.100:

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Virgin Media One

2008-08-14T13:54:34Z

216.94.61.100: /* Prime time lineup */

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sat serv 1 = SCTV Digital |
sat chan 1 = channel 103 |
sat serv 2 = [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky Digital]] |
sat chan 2 = channel 103 |
cable serv 1 = [[UPC Ireland]]|
cable chan 1 = channel 103 |
adsl serv 1 = [[Magnet Entertainment]] |
adsl chan 1 = channel 103 |
adsl serv 2 = [[Smart Telecom|Smart Vision]] |
adsl chan 2 = ?
}}
'''TV3 Ireland''' was the first independent [[television]] channel in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. TV3 Television Network Limited is currently owned by European-based private equity firm Doughty Hanson & Co. since the end of August 2006. The main studios of TV3 are located in [[Ballymount]], [[Dublin]]. The channel broadcasts from 06.00 to around 02.00 each day.

==History==
===Initial idea and setbacks===

TV3, which was intended to be Ireland's third terrestrial channel, took almost ten years to bring from initial planning to debut. In October [[1988]] the [[Independent Radio and Television Commission]] (IRTC) was created to regulate new independent stations. The original TV3 licence to broadcast was granted in [[1990]] to a consortium including members of [[U2]] and the owner of the [[Windmill Lane Studios]] where the group had made many of their records. Because of delays in setting up the station, the licence was revoked by the IRTC. After a court battle, the licence was eventually restored in [[1993]].

At this stage, an agreement was made to sell 49% of the company to [[Ulster Television|UTV]], the ITV franchise in [[Northern Ireland]], to raise much-needed cash for investment in facilities. However, as TV3 were trying to convince Irish [[Cable television#Republic of Ireland|cable]] and [[MMDS]] carriers to replace UTV with their channel, the new shareholders pulled out in [[1995]]. Given that UTV had the third largest audience in the Republic, the carriers declined to drop them in favour of TV3. The result was that the project was on hold again. In [[1997]], [[CanWest]], decided to step in and buy a major stake in the new company.

===Launch and development===



TV3 finally took to the air on [[September 20]], [[1998]] at 17:30. A preview of the station's programming formed the first half-hour of transmissions, followed by the first TV3 News at 18:00. As [[TG4]] (then called 'Teilifís na Gaeilge') had been broadcasting for almost two years, ''this'' was the third Irish station; TV3 became, in fact, the ''fourth'' television station and first station which was not publicly funded, by tax or licence fees. TV3's initial on-air branding referred to the station as 'tvthree'. Although this is still part of the corporate logo, it no longer appears on screen. The ''[[Schoolhouse Rock!]]'' song, "Three Is A Magic Number", is the station's theme tune, played every day during start-up and close-down; this same tune was also used by [[BBC Three]] as its theme tune.

In September 2000, [[Granada plc|Granada Media plc]] (a predecessor company of [[ITV plc]] which then owned six [[ITV]] franchises) agreed to acquire 45% of the company from the original TV3 consortium. This was part of deal which gave TV3 the right to simulcast with ITV certain Granada programming. The Granada plc shareholding was taken over by ITV plc upon the merger of Granada with [[Carlton Television|Carlton]] on [[February 2]], [[2004]].

In early 2001, the station officially launched [[threetext]], the [[teletext]] service, much of the content from [[Thomas Crosbie Media]]. Test transmissions of this service commenced in late 2000, but as early as 1999 limited programming content was provided. However, in 2004, the news and sports were dropped as part of a rebranding to an 'entertainment portal'.

On [[January 16]] [[2006]], Canwest announced to TV3 staff, that it was selling its stake in the channel,<ref>RTÉ: [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0116/canwest.html Canwest to sell share in TV3], [[January 16]], [[2006]].</ref> in an effort to reduce its debt, resulting in it leaving the European market. A purchaser for this stake for (for €103 million), rights to buy ITV Plc's stake (for €103 million), and the remaining 10% (for €59 million) was announced on [[May 19]] as [[Doughty Hanson & Co]], a venture capital firm who are believed to be operating on the behalf of another firm. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.<ref>The Irish Times, [[August 24]], [[2006]]</ref>

Also, as of [[March 6]], [[2006]], TV3 began broadcasting in widescreen format on [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky Digital]] and subsequently on [[UPC Ireland |UPC]] in [[2007]] .

===Analogue rollout===
When TV3 went on the air in September 1998 they were broadcast only from the existing RTÉ main transmission sites and from three relays serving Cork and Limerick cities. Since then they have not bothered to add any rural relays to their network. RTÉ have been criticised for ignoring rural Ireland in their programming, while TV3 doesn't even transmit to it.

==Programming==
{{seealso|List of TV3 Ireland television programming}}

TV3 programming has often been criticized for having no "distinctive, clearly Irish identity".<ref>Irish Independent: [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=36&si=1546559&issue_id=13578 TV3: lots of Heartbeat, but there's little pulse], [[January 21]], [[2006]].</ref> Apart from their news bulletins and sports coverage, much of TV3's schedules are taken up with simulcasting of [[ITV]] programmes, acquisitioned programming from the [[United States|U.S.]] and movies.

===Irish produced programming===

[[Ireland AM]] has been on air since [[1999]] and is the only live breakfast television programme in Ireland. Broadcast on weekdays from 07:00 to 10:00, it includes regular news updates on the hour and half-hour, but is mainly features and lifestyle based. Past presenters have included [[Amanda Byram]], Maura Derrane and Claire Byrne. The show is currently presented by original presenter Mark Cagney and Sinead Desmond.

'''News'''

Apart from the updates in ''Ireland AM'', TV3's news service on weekdays is broadcast in two evening programmes. ''News @ 5.30'' is anchored by Alan Cantwell and Colette Fitzpatrick. Previous anchors have included [[Gráinne Seoige]], who moved to [[Sky News Ireland]] in [[2004]] and Claire Byrne, who departed for the radio station [[Newstalk]] in [[2006]] following a High Court battle with her bosses at TV3. Other well known former tv3 newsreaders include Gillian Ni Cheallaigh, Ray Kennedy, Brian Daly, Dimitri O'Donnell and Sharon Tobin. Originally an hour-long news bulletin was broadcast at 18:00 on weeknights. However, this attempt to compete with ''[[RTÉ News: Six One]]'' was a failure, and the bulletins were moved to 17:30 and 19:00 (later 18:30, after TV3 acquired the rights to ''Emmerdale'' and began showing it at 19:00, the same time as [[ITV]]). News @ 6.30 was eventually dropped in April 2007. For a time, the 17:30 programme was called ''First Edition''. On [[bank holiday]]s and at weekends, ''News @ 5.30'' is the only news programme.

"TV3 Nightly News With Vincent Browne" began airing on [[14 January]] [[2008]], replacing "News Tonight". It airs Monday to Thursday at 23:00. Hosted by veteran journalist Vincent Browne, the 40 minute programme includes national news headlines, in depth interviews and Ireland's only preview of the next day's newspapers. "TV3 Nightly News" airs on Friday nights.

'''Sports'''

TV3 also produces a sports round-up programme called ''Sports Tonight'' which follows ''TV3 Nightly News'' on weekday evenings. Other original sports programming includes match analysis and commentary for the football matches that the station broadcasts. The station also aired coverage of the 2007 [[Rugby World Cup]].

In [[2005]], TV3 gained rights to broadcast edited highlights of [[Formula One]] Grand Prix racing. Recently launched Irish sports channel, [[Setanta Sports]], has the exclusive rights to broadcast the races live. Also, from 2008, the channel will broadcast a selection of [[GAA]] [[All-Ireland Championship]] matches.

'''Other programming'''

[[Xposé]], hosted by Lorraine Keane, began airing on [[16 April]] [[2007]]. It is an [[entertainment]] and [[celebrity]] focused show airing weeknights at 18.00. Beauty tips, fashion segments and celebrity interviews are the main components of the show.

Another of TV3's home-produced programmes is The Political Party. Airing at 17:00 on Sunday, The Political Party is a politically-themed chat show, hosted by Ursula Halligan. The guest list is unpredictable, and ranges from prominent political figures to church and business leaders.

Previous efforts into Irish made television include the short run ''[[The Dunphy Show]]'' (2003), fronted by [[Eamon Dunphy]], which was built up to be a contender with [[Radio Telefís Éireann|RTÉ]]'s ''[[The Late Late Show]]''. In spite of the flurry of media attention, The Dunphy Show's failed to perform to expectations, and was cancelled a few weeks before the initial season was due to conclude. For the Autumn 2005 season, TV3 announced a new midweek talk show which was hosted by [[Brendan Courtney]], which lasted for only one series.

''Popcorn'', which regularly billed itself as "Ireland's favourite movie show" ran for 5 years and over 200 episodes before the axe fell - giving an irreverent look at the movie releases, both at the cinema and on DVD.

'''2008 season'''

In early 2008, TV3 made a serious effort to produce more Irish programming. Shows launched as part of a new Irish focused line-up included "Me and The Big C", charting different people's struggle with cancer; "Inside and Out", a makeover show hosted by Sinead O' Carroll; "Dirty Money: The Story of the Criminal Assets Bureau", a crime documentary fronted by Paul Williams and "Diary of..." which follows six people as they go through life-changing events. Also TV3 will air [[Rock Rivals]], a drama it co-produced with ITV and which was filmed in Ireland.

===Imported programming===

In its early years, the station aired a large amount of US programmes such as ''[[Sex and the City]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and ''[[Just Shoot Me]]''. TV3 also simulcast [[Eastenders]] from 1998 to 2000. Following its aquistion of a 45% share in the station in 2000, Granada allowed TV3 to simulcast several of its programmes including soaps like [[Coronation Street]] and [[Emmerdale]] as well as drama series such as [[Bad Girls]] and [[Footballer's Wives]].

ITV reality shows including [[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]], [[Dancing on Ice]], [[I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!]] and [[Britain's Got Talent]] are also simulcast on the station. [[American Idol]] has been broadcast on TV3 quite close to its American airing for several years now.

With regards to its [[daytime]] schedule, TV3's programming mainly consists of repeats of Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as UK lifestyle shows such as ''[[What Not to Wear (UK)|What Not to Wear]]'', ''[[How Clean is Your House?]]'' and ''[[The Jeremy Kyle Show]]''. ''[[Fashion House]]'' is a glossy American soap, which airs daily at 15.00.

==Proposed channels==
TV3 (along with Eircom, Setanta and Arqiva) proposed to take control and operate the forthcoming DTT service in the [[Republic of Ireland]], under the name of "OneVision" but it was announced that [[Boxer_TV_Ireland]] won the contract on July 21st, 2008. Along with this TV3 have proposed to launch two new channels; one entertainment channel (3XPOSÉ) and one news channel (3TODAY).<ref>[http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=MEDIA+AND+MARKETING-qqqs=mediaandmarketing-qqqid=32923-qqqx=1.asp Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News]</ref> Other reports suggest that TV3 are set to buy [[Channel 6 (Ireland)|Channel 6]] for €10 million after UTV failed to take up on the offer.<ref>[http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/biznews/12844887?view=Eircomnet eircom net Business News]</ref>

===Acquisitions===
On [[2008-05-16]], it was reported by [[RTÉ News]], that Channel 6 was in discussions about a possible sale of the company to [[TV3 Ireland|TV3]] for a sum of approximately €10 million. The same report also suggested that Channel 6 had been in talks with a number of other possible buyers.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0516/tv3.html RTÉ Business: TV3 won't comment on Channel 6 report]</ref>

The acquisition has now been confirmed by TV3 Ireland and Channel 6 investors on Friday 25th of July 2008.<ref>[http://www.tv3.ie/media.php?action=news&id=164]</ref>.It represents the acquisition of programming inventory and development of multichannel plans for TV3 in readiness for migration of viewers from analogue to the digital aerial network bringing multichannel via an upgraded terrestrial network- [[Digital Terrestrial Television]]. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. It is possible that Channel 6 may be rebranded as 3 Exposé.The channel may also include news bulletins and sports, which will give is likely to give it more mainstream appeal, potentially resulting in a better Sky EPG position, aswell as satisfying the higher Irish programming requirements of a terrestrial BCI TV license.It will also allow for cross-channel promotion and bring TV3 into multichannel enabling all segments to be catered for under the TV3 roof (i.e. sport on TV3 with entertainment on Channel 6)[http://www.independent.ie/business/media/tv3-to-buy-channel-6-for-836410m-1441338.html]

==Criticisms==
Many media commentators have criticised TV3 for the lack of original programming on the station. The view of many commentators such as Stephen Price of ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]'' and Tom McGurk of ''[[The Sunday Business Post]]'' is that TV3 need to differentiate themselves in the growing Irish multi-channel market by making more original programming than at present.<ref>"''TV3 choose low budget popularity with minimum expenditure on home-made material in order to maximise profit. Far from becoming an indigenous Irish channel, they choose the formula that, for example, Ulster Television uses, making a small body of home produced programming around an existing network of popular material. UTV is simply a small regional add-on to the existing ITV network, whereas TV3 buys the mainstay of its programming on the international market.''" [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/06/30/story656204628.asp Tom McGurk, ''Sunday Business Post'', June 30th 2002]</ref><ref>"''Whether Doughty Hanson continues ITV’s supply deal with TV3, it needs to understand that relying so heavily on single-source, bought-in British programming to conquer the Irish market may be a tempting strategy, but in the long run is perilous.''."
[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2101-2326325.html Stephen Price, ''The Sunday Times'', August 27th 2006] </ref><ref>[http://www.rte.ie/about/2003eng.pdf A reference to TV3's simulcasting of ITV in the RTÉ review of 2003]</ref>

==Prime time lineup==

{| class="wikitable"
|-

!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|18:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|18:30
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|19:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|19:30
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|20:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|20:30
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|21:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|22:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|22:30
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|23:00
!width="10%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|23:40
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Monday
|rowspan="5"|''[[Xposé]]''
|rowspan="5"|''[[How Clean Is Your House]]''
|rowspan="5"|''[[Emmerdale]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[Coronation Street]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Airline]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Coronation Street]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[The Shield]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Law And Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Nightly News]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Sports Tonight]]''
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Tuesday
|colspan="1"|''[[Emmerdale]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Canterbury's Law]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[Can Fat Teens Hunt]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[The Tudors]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[Nightly News]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Sports Tonight]]''

|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Wednesday
|colspan="1"|''[[Coronation Street]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[All saints]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Hell's Kitchen US]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Nightly News]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Sports Tonight]]''
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Thursday
|colspan="1"|''[[Championship Throw In]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Special]]''
|colspan="3"|''film''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Nightly News]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Sports Tonight]]''
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Friday
|colspan="1"|''[[Coronation Street]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[XPOSE Friday Night Special]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Coronation Street]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[The Graham Norton Show]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[Californication]]''
|colspan="1"|''[[30 Rock]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Nightly News]]''
|rowspan="1"|''[[Sports Tonight]]''
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Saturday
|colspan="1"|''[[Family Fortunes]]''
|colspan="5"|''[[The X Factor]]''
|colspan="3"|''Saturday night movie''
|colspan="4"|''Saturday night movie''
|-
!bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Sunday
|colspan="2"|''[[The X Factor]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Martin King's Commercial Breakdown]]''
|colspan="2"|''[[Heartbeat]]''
|colspan="3"|''Sunday night movie''
|colspan="2"|''[[The Tudors]]''
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of Irish television channels]]
* [[List of TV3 Ireland television programming]]
* [[List of Irish companies]]

==Sources==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.tv3.ie/ Official Site]
* [http://www.irish-tv.com/ Irish TV.com]
* [http://myhome.iolfree.ie/~icdg/channels_tv3.htm Irish Cable & Digital Guide]
*[http://www.channel6.ie Channel 6 Official website]
*[http://www.bci.ie/news_releases/news_239.html BCI licence agreement] (link currently unavailable)
*[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds28568.html Digital Spy article]
*[http://www.dynamo.ie/ Dynamo website]
*[http://www.intermission.ie/ Intermission Studios website]
*http://www.tv3.ie/media.php?action=news&id=164
*http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0725/tv3.html
*http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2008/0726/1217013246056.html
*http://www.independent.ie/business/media/tv3-to-buy-channel-6-for-836410m-1441338.html
*http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/tv3s-836410m-takeover-move-for-channel-6-clears-first-hurdle-1445268.html
{{TV3p}}
{{Channel 6}}
{{Irish_Television_Channels}}

[[Category:Television stations in Ireland]]
[[Category:Media companies of Ireland]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1998]]

[[de:TV3 (Irland)]]
[[fr:TV3 Ireland]]
[[ga:TV3 (Éire)]]
[[nl:TV3 Ierland]]
[[ga:Channel 6]]
[[fi:Channel 6]]

Paula Radcliffe

2008-08-08T13:33:37Z

216.94.61.100: /* Achievements */

{{Infobox Athlete
|playername = Paula Radcliffe
|image = [[Image:Paula Radcliffe 2005.jpg|Paula Radcliffe]]
|country = {{GBR2}}
|alias =
|club = Bedford & County Athletic Club
|datebirth = {{birth date and age|1973|12|17}}
|placebirth = {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Davenham]], [[Cheshire]]
|height = {{height|m=1.73}}
|weight = {{convert|54|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
|turnedpro =
|retired =
|pb = 5000 m: 14:29.11 10,000 m: 30:01.09 Marathon: 2:15:25
|olympics = 1996, 5000 m, 5th 2000, 10,000 m, 4th 2004, Marathon, DNF 2004, 10,000 m, DNF
|worlds = 1993, 3000 m, 7th 1997, 5000 m, 4th 1999, 10,000 m, {{Silver medal}} 2001, 10,000 m, 4th 2005, 10,000 m, 9th 2005, Marathon, {{Gold medal}}
|highestranking = 1
|coaching =
|updated = 25-08-2007
}}

{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport |Women's [[athletics (track and field)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]]|Marathon}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 Seville]]|10000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|5,000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 European Championships in Athletics|2002 Munich]]|10000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Cup (athletics)|EuropeanCup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|1998 Saint Petersburg]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|1999 Paris]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|2004 Bydgoszcz]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalSilver|[[European Cup (athletics)|1998 Saint Petersburg]]|1500 m}}
{{MedalSilver|[[European Cup (athletics)|2001 Bremen]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalBronze|[[European Cup (athletics)|1997 Munich]]|3000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2000 Veracruz]]|HM}}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2001 Bristol]]|HM}}
{{MedalGold|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2003 Vilamoura]]|HM}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1992 Boston]]|Junior}}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2001 Ostend]]|Snr, long}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2002 Dublin]]|Snr, long}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1997 Turin]]|Snr, long}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1998 Marrakech]]|Snr, long}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2001 Ostend]]|Snr, short}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1999 Belfast]]|Snr, long}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Marathon|Marathons]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[London Marathon]]|2002}}
{{MedalGold|[[Chicago Marathon]]|2002}}
{{MedalGold|[[London Marathon]]|2003}}
{{MedalGold|[[New York City Marathon]]|2004}}
{{MedalGold|[[London Marathon]]|2005}}
{{MedalGold|[[New York City Marathon]]|2007}}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Paula Jane Radcliffe,''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born on [[17 December]], [[1973]] in [[Davenham]], [[England]]) is a world class [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Long-distance track event|long-distance runner]] and currently holds a total of 10 world records.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/borntowin/hi/the_stars/newsid_3201000/3201926.stm Running machine] BBC, accessed 07/11/07</ref>

Radcliffe's distinctive "nodding" action while running has made her instantly recognisable to British viewers. She is not known for her sprint finish and relies on setting a punishing pace from the start in order to pull away from her opponents and open up an unassailable gap.

In 2002 Radcliffe was voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] and in June was awarded an [[MBE]].

Radcliffe now lives as a [[tax exile]] in [[Monaco]] and is married to her trainer, Gary Lough. They have a daughter named Isla born January, 2007.

Radcliffe's trainer is her husband Gary Lough, a former Irish international 1500 m runner. During his career he ran in the American Collegiate Athletics system, competing for [[Iowa State Cyclones Track and Field]]. His best 1500m time came on September 9th, 1995 in the IAAF Monaco Grand Prix, where he ran a time of 3.34.76 min. He also ran 3.57.02 min for 1 mile just 8 days earlier in Berlin.

==Biography==
===Early Years===
Radcliffe was born on [[17 December]], [[1973]] in [[Davenham]] near [[Northwich]], [[Cheshire]]. Her family then moved to nearby [[Barnton]] where she attended Little Leigh Primary School.<ref>[http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/commonwealthgames/tm_headline=new-girl-on-the-block&method=full&objectid=12079373&siteid=50020-name_page.html]
icCheshireOnline, accessed 21/11/07</ref>
Despite suffering from [[asthma]] and [[anaemia]] she took up running at the age of seven, influenced by her father who was a keen amateur marathon runner and joined Frodsham Athletic Club. Her family later moved to [[Kingsley, Cheshire|Kingsley]]. At the age of 12 the family moved to [[Oakley, Bedfordshire]] where she became a member of Bedford Athletic Club. Her father became club vice-chairman and her mother, a fun-runner, managed the women's cross-country team.<ref>[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/olympics2004/athletics/story/0,14782,1287835,00.html Radcliffe ready to deliver her own historic message] Guardian, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

She attended [[Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College]] and studied French, German and [[economics]] at [[Loughborough University]], gaining a first-class honours degree in modern European studies.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/2003/04/radcliffe.shtml Paula's winning streak takes time...] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

===Early career===
Her early running success was in [[cross country running|cross country]] events, including the 1992 World Junior title, beating [[Wang Junxia]]. She missed the 1994 season through injury, but came back with a succession of good results at [[5000 m]], including fifth place in both the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 World Championships]] and [[1996 Olympic Games]]. Although a silver-medalist in the [[1999 World Championships in Athletics]] Radcliffe seemed destined never to win a major 5,000 m or 10,000 m title, finishing out of the medals at the [[2000 Olympic Games]] and [[2001 World Championships in Athletics|2001 World Championships]].

==2001==
====World Cross-Country Championships====
On [[24 March]], Radcliffe won the [[Ostend]], [[Belgium]] held [[World Cross Country Championships]] 2001 title. Radcliffe, who finished in a time of 27mins 49secs, said: "It still hasn't really sunk in." [[Gete Wami]], who came in second place said: "No one likes losing. "But if anyone deserves to win this title it is Paula. She was great."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/1240037.stm Radcliffe takes World Cross-Country title] BBC, 24 March, 2001</ref>

==2002==
====World Cross Country Championships====
Held in March in [[Dublin]], Radcliffe defended her title in the Women's Long Race when she won the [[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships]] title for a second year. She won in 26min 46sec.<ref>[http://ftp.uksport.gov.uk/template.asp?id=903 Radcliffe retains X-country title in Dublin] UK Sport, Rob Burgess 25/03/2002</ref>

====London Marathon====
In 2002, Radcliffe made the move up to the [[marathon (sport)|marathon]], a decision that immediately paid off with victory at her debut in that year's [[London Marathon]] on [[14 April]], [[2002]] in a world's best time for a women's only race (2:18:55)<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/london_marathon_2002/1929069.stm Debut win for Radcliffe] [[BBC]], accessed 06/11/07</ref> Her time was the second quickest in women's marathon history behind the world record of 2:18:47 set by [[Catherine Ndereba]], of [[Kenya]], in [[Chicago]]. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/london_marathon_2002/1929069.stm Debut win for Radcliffe] BBC, 14 April, 2002</ref>

====Chicago Marathon====
Later that year, Radcliffe set a world record time of 2:17:18 in the [[Chicago Marathon]] on [[13 October]], [[2002]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/2324527.stm Radcliffe sets marathon record] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref> breaking the previous record by a minute and a half.
====Order of the British Empire====
She was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in June 2002, making it her sixth medal of the season. She said: "It means a great deal to me, it's a great honour and it really tops off an amazing year. "To come here and receive this and to meet The Queen at the end of it just finishes it off perfectly."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/2405349.stm Another medal for Radcliffe] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

====BBC Sports Personality of the Year====
Later the same year she also became the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]], making her the first woman in over a decade to be honoured with the accolade. Paula thanked her husband Gary Lough, her coach Alex Stanton and her physio, Gerard Hartmann.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/12_december/08/paula_radcliffe.shtml Paula Radcliffe is BBC Sports Personality of 2002] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

==2003==
====London Marathon====
Radcliffe is the current [[world record]] holder for the women's [[marathon (sport)|marathon]], which she set during the 2003 [[London Marathon]] in April, with a time of 2:15:25. This mark is currently one of the highest scoring performances ever.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/london_marathon_2003/2943913.stm Radcliffe smashes record] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref> In terms of [[IAAF]] world ranking points, at 1307, it is higher in value than [[Florence Griffith-Joyner]]'s 100 and 200 m records, [[Marita Koch]]'s 400 m, and [[Michael Johnson (athlete)|Michael Johnsons]]' 400 m record. This score would equate to between 9.75 s and 9.76 s in the men's 100 m sprint. <ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsId=20021,printer.html Hicham El Guerrouj and Paula Radcliffe are 2002 Athletes of the Year] accessed 07/11/07</ref> The current world record is 9.72 seconds.

====World's Best 10k Race====
Also Radcliffe is the current [[world record]] holder for the Women's 10k in a time of 30 minutes and 21 seconds, which she set on [[February 23]], [[2003]] in the [[World's Best 10K]] in San Juan, [[Puerto Rico]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sport/newsid_2794000/2794749.stm Paula Radcliffe breaks 10K world record] BBC Newsround, 24 February 2003</ref>

====Great North Run====
Paula Radcliffe won the Great North Run in a world-best time. She completed the {{convert|13.1|mi|km|sing=on}} half marathon course from [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] to [[South Shields]] in 65 minutes and 40 seconds.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3126632.stm Radcliffe wins Great North Run] BBC, 21 September, 2003</ref>

==2004==
====New York City Marathon====
She won the 2004 [[New York City Marathon]] in a time of 2:23:10<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3990701.stm Radcliffe enjoys winning comeback] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>, even though not fully prepared (the only occasion that a competitor came within a minute of her). Of the seven marathons Radcliffe has run so far, she has won six and set a record in five, building up a claim to be the best female distance runner of all time in her age group. She has run four out of the five fastest times in history in the women's marathon. After a close race with [[Kenya]]'s [[Susan Chepkemei]], her greater strength allowed her to pull away to victory at the end.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3990701.stm Radcliffe enjoys winning comeback] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

====Olympic Games in Athens====
Radcliffe did not compete in the [[London Marathon]] in 2004, but was the favourite to win a gold medal in the marathon at the [[2004 Olympic Games|Olympic Games in Athens]]. However, she suffered an injury to her leg just two weeks prior to the event and had to use a high dose of anti-inflammatory drugs. This had an adverse effect on her [[stomach]] hindering food absorption. The resultant lack of energy and carbohydrates in her system before the start of the race might have led to her distressing withdrawal after 36 km. Five days later she started in the 10,000 metres but, still suffering from the effects of the marathon, retired with eight laps remaining.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3589138.stm Marathon Agony for Radcliffe] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref> Radcliffe said "You go through bad stages in a marathon, but never as bad as that", "I've never before not been able to finish and I'm desperately trying to find a reason for what happened", "I just feel numb - this is something I worked so hard for."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3590166.stm Radcliffe baffled by failure] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

Regarded as Great Britain's best gold medal hope in athletics, her withdrawal made headlines in the UK, with editorial stances ranging from support to negativity, with some newspapers deriding Radcliffe for 'quitting', rather than going on to finish the race<ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=621&set_id=6&click_id=621&art_id=qw1093677488214B243 World-record holder fails to finish again]</ref>. Television pictures showed Radcliffe in a clearly distressed state after dropping out of the marathon.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3606762.stm Fans share Paula's pain] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

==2005==
====London Marathon====
[[Image:Paula Radcliffe London marathon 2005.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Paula Radcliffe leading the [[London Marathon]] in 2005, near to [[Limehouse]] in [[East London, England|East London]].]]
At the 2005 [[London Marathon]] she won with a time of 2:17:42, a world's best time for a women's only race by over a minute. The race however is remembered more for a notorious moment towards the end when Radcliffe, feeling hindered by [[bowel]] discomfort and in need for a toilet break, stopped and [[urinated]] on the side of the road in view of the crowd and TV cameras which broadcast the incident live<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=409552005| title=Relief all round after Paula pauses on road to glory| date=[[18 April]] [[2005]]| publisher=''[[The Scotsman]]''}}</ref>. After the race she apologised to viewers and explained what happened, "I was losing time because I was having stomach cramps and I thought 'I just need to go and I'll be fine'. I didn’t really want to resort to that in front of hundreds of thousands of people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4454315.stm Radcliffe shrugs off toilet break] BBC, accessed 07/11/07</ref> Basically I needed to go. I started feeling it between 15 and {{convert|16|mi|km}} and probably carried on too long before stopping. I must have eaten too much beforehand". In November 2006, the incident was voted ''top running moment in history'' in the [[UK]] from a choice of ten 'unforgettable moments' [http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,30000-1239319,00.html].

====Helsinki World Championships====
On [[14 August]], [[2005]] at the World Championships held in [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] she won Britain's only gold medal when she took the marathon title, dominating the race and setting a championship record time of 2:20:57. [[Catherine Ndereba]] of [[Kenya]] finished in second place, more than a minute behind. Radcliffe said: "It pretty much went according to plan. If somebody had been with me at the end I think I could have pushed it up a bit more." She and three other British runners were also awarded third place Bronze in the team competition.<ref>[http://www.sportinglife.com/athletics/worldathletics2005/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/05/08/14/manual_112330.html Marathon Glory for Radcliffe] Sporting Life, accessed 08/11/07</ref>
====San Silvestre Vallecana 10 Km====
[[New Years Eve]] 2005 Radcliffe won the [[San Silvestre Vallecana]], a 10 km race in the borough of [[Vallecas]], [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]. She said: "I'm okay and it is a great way to end 2005 - with a win."<ref>[[San Silvestre Vallecana|Radcliffe eases to Madrid victory]] BBC, accessed 07/11/07</ref>

==2006==
Radcliffe took a break through the 2006 season due to injuries and in July announced that she was expecting her first child. Her comeback was further delayed in 2007 due to a stress fracture in her lower back.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1733835.ece Radcliffe may miss World Championships] Times, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

Radcliffe chose not to defend her world marathon crown in 2007, in order to undertake further rehabilitation, but insisted she wanted to compete in the next two Olympic Games.

==2007==
====Bupa Great North Run====
She made her return to competitive running on [[30 September]] [[2007]], Radcliffe took part in the BUPA [[Great North Run]] in the UK on [[Tyneside]]. This was her first race in almost two years. She succeeded in gaining second place beaten by the US runner [[Kara Goucher]] over the half-marathon distance.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/gnr07_finish_elite_gallery.shtml?5 Great North Run 2007] BBC Tyne, accessed 08/11/07</ref>
====New York City Marathon====
[[Image:Paula Radcliffe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Paula Radcliffe airborne at mile 14, New York City Marathon 2007]]
[[Image:Paula & Isla Radcliffe 2007 NYC.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Paula Radcliffe with daughter Isla at the New York City Marathon, 2007]]
She made her marathon return at the [[New York City Marathon]] on the [[4 November]] [[2007]] which she won with an official time of 2:23:09.<ref>[http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=605397 Radfcliffe wins New York City marathon] The Times, accessed 06/11/07</ref> She has stated that a start at the World Cross Country Championships at [[Edinburgh]] is a possibility.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=42043.html]iaaf.org</ref>

==2008==
====London Marathon====
She withdrew from the '''London Marathon''' <ref>[http://coachjoeenglish.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/races-paula-radcliffe-withdraws-from-2008-london-marathon/ Races: Paula Radcliffe withdraws from 2008 London Marathon « Running Advice and News]</ref>
due to a foot injury.

A little while after the London Marathon it was also revealed that Radcliffe was suffering from an injury to her hip, preventing her from running. Originally thought to be a muscular problem scans later revealed it was indeed a [[Bone fracture|stress fracture]] to her [[Femur|femur]]. She now faces a race against time to be fit for the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]].

==Other achievements and awards==
*Awarded the BBC London Sports Awards 2003 for 'Sporting Moment of the Year'.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/sport/galleries/sportsawards2003/12.shtml In Pictures: BBC London Sports Awards 2003] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>
*Radcliffe has set numerous records, official and unofficial, on the track and the roads. [[As of 2007|As of October 2007]], she holds the official world record for 10 km on roads. She has twice won the [[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half-Marathon championships]], twice the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross-Country championships]] (in 2001 and 2002), and in December 2003 became [http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=119 European Cross-Country] champion for the second time, the only woman to have achieved this feat in the event's ten-year history.
*Forced out of the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|Paris World Athletics Championships]] because of injury in 2003, her greatest moment on the track has been European gold at 10,000 m in 2002. Hindered by back-markers, and in the rain, she nevertheless ran a time of 30:01.09 (a European record by 12 seconds, and second only to [[Wang Junxia]]'s controversial world record time of 29:31.78 set in [[Beijing]] [http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=O/ageGroup=N/season=0/gender=W/discipline=10K/legal=A/index.html] ). The same year she won [[Commonwealth Games]] gold in the 5000 m, missing the world record by three seconds.
* Paula was nominated for the sports personality award in 2007.
* She won the [[Laureus World Sports Awards|Laureus World Comeback of the Year]] award in early 2008 for her performances in 2007.<ref>[http://www.laureus.com/awards/2008/winners 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards Winners | Laureus]</ref>

==Anti doping==
Radcliffe's athletic ability and commitment to training are accompanied by a strong belief in playing by the rules. She has frequently made high-profile condemnations of [[Doping (Sport)|performance-enhancing drugs]] in [[athletics (track and field)|athletics]], most famously at the World Athletics Championships in [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]] in 2001 when Radcliffe and team-mate [[Hayley Tullett]] held up a sign protesting against the reinstatement of Russian athlete [[Olga Yegorova]], after Yegorova had tested positive for the banned substance [[Erythropoietin|EPO]]. Radcliffe also wears a red ribbon when competing to show her support for blood testing as a method of catching drugs cheats.

==Personal life==
Radcliffe married her coach, Irish former international 1500 m runner Gary Lough.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/1126050.stm Radcliffe to rule at Stormont] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref> in April 2000 in Bedford. At age 33, she gave birth to her first child. Daughter, Isla, born on [[January 17]], [[2007]] at 9:43 a.m. at the Princess Grace Hospital, in [[Monaco]] after a gruelling 27-hour labour.<ref>[http://www.the2012londonolympics.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-7725.html EXCLUSIVE: Paula Radcliffe introduces baby Isla] London Olympics 2012, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

==Achievements==
{| border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 98%;"
|- bgcolor="cccccc"
!Year
!Tournament
!Venue
!Result
!Event
|-
|1991
|[[World Junior Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |15th
|Junior Cross Country
|-
|1992
|World Junior Cross Country Championships
|[[Boston]], [[USA]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Junior Cross Country
|-
|1992
|[[World Junior Championships]]
|[[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|3000 m
|-
|1993
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Amorebieta]], [[Spain]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |18th
|Cross Country
|-
|1993
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Stuttgart]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |7th
|3000 m
|-
|1995
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Durham]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |18th
|Cross Country
|-
|1995
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |5th
|5000 m
|-
|1995
|[[Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Monaco]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|3000 m
|-
|1996
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Stellenbosch]], [[South Africa]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |19th
|Cross Country
|-
|1996
|[[Olympic Games]]
|[[Atlanta, Georgia]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |5th
|5000 m
|-
|1996
|[[Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Milan]], [[Italy]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|5000 m
|-
|1997
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Turin]], [[Italy]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|Cross Country
|-
|1997
|[[European Cup]]
|[[Munich]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="cc9966" align="center" |3rd
|3000 m
|-
|1997
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Athens]], [[Greece]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
|-
|1997
|[[Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Fukuoka, Fukuoka]], [[Japan]]
|bgcolor="cc9966" align="center" |3rd
|5000 m
|-
|1998
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Marrakech]], [[Morocco]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|Cross Country
|-
|1998
|[[European Cup]]
|[[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|5000 m
|-
|1998
|[[European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]]
|[[Budapest]], [[Hungary]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |5th
|10000 m
|-
|1999
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
|bgcolor="cc9966" align="center" |3rd
|Cross Country
|-
|1999
|[[European Cup]]
|[[Paris]], [[France]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|5000 m
|-
|1999
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Seville]], [[Spain]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|10000 m
|-
|1999
|[[Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Munich]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|3000 m
|-
|2000
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Vilamoura]], [[Portugal]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|Short Cross Country
|-
|2000
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Vilamoura]], [[Portugal]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |5th
|Long Cross Country
|-
|2000
|[[Olympic Games]]
|[[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|10000 m
|-
|2000
|[[World Half Marathon Championships]]
|[[Veracruz]], [[Mexico]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2001
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Ostend]], [[Belgium]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|Short Cross Country
|-
|2001
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Ostend]], [[Belgium]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Long Cross Country
|-
|2001
|[[European Cup]]
|[[Bremen]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|5000 m
|-
|2001
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Edmonton, Alberta]], [[Canada]]
|bgcolor="ffffff" align="center" |4th
|10000m
|-
|2001
|[[Bristol Half Marathon]]
|[[Bristol]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="Gold" align="center" |1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2002
|[[World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Dublin]], [[Ireland]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Long Cross Country
|-
|2002
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2002
|[[Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Manchester]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|5000m
|-
|2002
|[[European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]]
|[[Munich]], [[Germany]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|10000m
|-
|2002
|[[Chicago Marathon]]
|[[Chicago, Illinois]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2003
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2003
|[[World Half Marathon Championships]]
|[[Vilamoura]], [[Portugal]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2003
|[[Great North Run]]
|[[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2004
|[[European Cup]]
|[[Bydgoszcz]], [[Poland]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|5000m
|-
|2004
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York, New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2005
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2005
|[[World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|2007
|[[Great North Run]]
|[[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]]
|bgcolor="silver" align="center" |2nd
|Half Marathon
|-
|2007
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York, New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|bgcolor="gold" align="center" |1st
|Marathon
|-
|}

==Personal bests==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Surface
! Event
! Time
! Date
! Place
! Extra
|-
| rowspan=11| Track
| 400 m || 58.9 || 1992 || ||
|-
| 800 m || 2:05.22 || 1995 || ||
|-
| 1000 m || 2:47.17 || 1993 || ||
|-
| 1500 m || 4:05.37 || [[1 July]] [[2001]] || [[Glasgow]], [[UK]] ||
|-
| 1 Mile || 4:24.94 || [[14 August]] [[1996]] || [[Zürich]], [[Switzerland]] ||
|-
| 2000 m || 5:37.01+ || [[29 August]] [[1993]] || [[Sheffield]], [[UK]] ||
|-
| 3000 m || 8:22.20 || [[19 July]] [[2002]] || [[Monaco]] || [[UK records in athletics|UK record]]
|-
| 2 Miles || 9:17.4 || [[23 May]] [[1999]] || [[Loughborough]], [[UK]] ||
|-
| 4000 m || 11:35.21+ || || ||
|-
| 5000 m || 14:29.11 || [[20 June]] [[2004]] || [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Poland]] || [[UK records in athletics|UK record]]Fifth best performance ever
|-
| 10 000 m || 30:01.09 || [[6 August]] [[2002]] || [[Munich]], [[Germany]] || [[European records in athletics|European record]]Second best performance ever
|-
|rowspan=13| Road
| 5 km || 14:57+ || [[2 September]] [[2001]] || [[London]], [[UK]] ||
|-
| 4 Miles || 19:51+ || || ||
|-
| 5 Miles || 24:47+ || || ||
|-
| 8 km || ''24:05+'' || || || ''[[World best]] (unratifiable)''
|-
| 10 km || 30:21 || [[23 February]] [[2003]] || [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]] || [[World records in athletics|World record]]
|-
| 15 km || ''46:41+'' || ''[[7 October]] [[2001]]'' || ''[[Bristol]], [[UK]]'' || ''[[UK records in athletics|UK record]] (unratifiable)Downhill''
|-
| 10 Miles || ''50:01+'' || ''[[13 October]] [[2002]]'' || ''[[Chicago]], [[USA]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)Downhill''
|-
| 20 km || ''1:02.21+'' || ''[[21 September]] [[2003]]'' || ''[[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] - [[South Shields]], [[UK]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)Downhill''
|-
| Half marathon || ''1:05:40'' || ''[[21 September]] [[2003]]'' || ''[[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] - [[South Shields]], [[UK]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)Downhill''
|-
| 25 km || ''1:20.36+'' || ''[[13 April]] [[2003]]'' || ''[[London]], [[UK]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)''
|-
| 30 km || ''1:36:36+'' || ''[[13 April]] [[2003]]'' || ''[[London]], [[UK]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)''
|-
| 20 Miles || ''1:43:33+'' || ''[[13 April]] [[2003]]'' || ''[[London]], [[UK]]'' || ''World best (unratifiable)''
|-
| Marathon || 2:15:25 || [[13 April]] [[2003]] || [[London]], [[UK]] || World record
|}

==See also==
* [[Long-distance track event]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* ''Paula: My Story So Far'' (Paula Radcliffe with David Walsh) ISBN 0-7432-5242-X<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2004/12/01/paula_radcliffe_book_comp.shtml Paula Radcliffe - Her Story So Far] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

==External links==
{{Commons|Paula Radcliffe}}
* {{iaaf name|id=62914|name=Paula Radcliffe}}
* [http://www.paularadcliffe.com Paula Radcliffe Official Website]
*[http://www.spikesmag.com/athletes/Heroes/paularadcliffe.aspx SPIKES Hero profile on www.spikesmag.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTd2vEkWTj0 Paula Radcliffe training video 1]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Ge-CkXNgM Paula Radcliffe training video 2]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4136018.stm Paula Radcliffe 'bionic' kit, (August 14, 2005)]
* [http://www.women.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17909-1570734,00.html Paula Radcliffe: One Track Mind, (April 16, 2005)]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-1337035,00.html Paula Radcliffe: Long Road Back, (October 31, 2004)]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3589138.stm Paula Radcliffe: Failing to finish at the 2004 Olympic Games, (August 22, 2004)]
* [http://www.runningtimes.com/issues/04june/radcliffe.htm Paula Radcliffe: Journey from Disappointing Fourth to Dominant First, (June, 2004)]
* [http://www.letsrun.com/2003/escortingpaula.php Paula Radcliffe: Escorting Paula, (April, 2003)]
* [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/athletics/story/0,10082,539367,00.html Paula Radcliffe: A Guardian interview about drug use in sport, (August 20, 2001)]
*[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819129_1819134_1825753,00.html "Paula Radcliffe"], n°31 on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''’s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"
 

{{start box}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Catherine Ndereba]]|title=[[Marathon world best progression|Women's Marathon World Record Holder]]|years=[[October 13]], [[2002]] – |after=[[Incumbent]]}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|before={{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Beckham]] |after={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jonny Wilkinson]]|years=2002}}
{{succession box|title=[[Track & Field Athlete of the Year|Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year]]|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Stacy Dragila]]|after={{flagicon|RSA}} [[Hestrie Cloete]]|years=2002}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|title=[[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|IAAF Women's World Cross Country Champion]]|before={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Derartu Tulu]]|after={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Werknesh Kidane]]|years=2001 – 2002}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|RUS}} [[Olga Yegorova]]|title=[[5000 metres#Women.27s Seasons Best .28Outdoor Track.29|Women's 5,000 m Best Year Performance]]|years=2002|after={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Birhane Adere]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[London Marathon|London Women's Marathon Winner]]|before={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Derartu Tulu]]|after={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Margaret Okayo]]|years=2002 – 2003}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chicago Marathon|Chicago Women's Marathon Winner]]|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Catherine Ndereba]]|after={{flagicon|RUS}} [[Svetlana Zakharova]]|years=2002}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Catherine Ndereba]]|title=[[Marathon Year Rankings|Women's Fastest Marathon Race]] |years=2002 – 2003|after={{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yoko Shibui]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[New York City Marathon|New York City Women's Marathon Winner]]|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Margaret Okayo]]|after={{flagicon|LAT}} [[Jeļena Prokopčuka]]|years=2004}}
{{succession box|title=[[London Marathon|London Women's Marathon Winner]]|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Margaret Okayo]]|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Deena Kastor]]|years=2005}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yoko Shibui]]|title=[[Marathon Year Rankings|Women's Fastest Marathon Race]] |years=2005|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Deena Kastor]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[New York City Marathon|New York City Women's Marathon Winner]]|before={{flagicon|LAT}} [[Jeļena Prokopčuka]]|after=[[Incumbent]]|years=2007}}
{{end box}}

{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
 
{{Footer World Champions Marathon Women}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Radcliffe, Paula}}

[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:English athletes]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award winners]]
[[Category:World record holders]]
[[Category:People from Bedfordshire]]

[[da:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[de:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[es:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[fr:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[nl:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[ja:ポーラ・ラドクリフ]]
[[no:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[pl:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[pt:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[rm:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[simple:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[fi:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[sv:Paula Radcliffe]]
[[tr:Paula Radcliffe]]

Behemoth (roller coaster)

2008-08-05T14:31:32Z

216.94.61.100: /* Colours */

{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=Behemoth
|image=BEHEMOTH-nite.jpg
|caption= The front entrance for '''Behemoth'''
|location=Canada's Wonderland
|section=Action Zone
|type=Steel
|type2=Hyper
|status=Open
|opened=[[May 4]], [[2008]]
|manufacturer=Bolliger & Mabillard
|model="Hypercoaster"
|height=230
|Drop=215
|length=5318
|angle=75
|speed=77

|duration=3:10
|cost=[[Canadian dollar|C$]]26m est.
|restriction=
|rcdb_number=4005
}}
'''Behemoth''' is a [[steel roller coaster]] at [[Canada's Wonderland]] in [[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Modelled similarly to [[Goliath (La Ronde)|Goliath]] at [[La Ronde (amusement park)|La Ronde]] (but is taller and longer) and [[Nitro (roller coaster)|Nitro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], Behemoth is Canada's tallest and fastest [[hypercoaster|hyper roller coaster]].<ref>http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Activities/Families/2008/07/13/6232771-sun.html</ref> Behemoth is situated north-west of the [[Backlot Stunt Coaster (Canada's Wonderland)|Back Lot Stunt Coaster]] and south-west of [[Splash Works]]. Since Behemoth's debut in May, 2008, it has easily become the park's most popular attraction. The ride opened to season pass holders on [[April 25]], [[2008]], and to the public on [[May 4]], [[2008]].<ref>http://parentcentral.ca/parent/article/418103</ref>

==Ride Experience==
Behemoth begins with a right turn to a steep lift hill that goes up to 70 metres (230 ft) into the air. From there, the roller coaster speeds down the initial drop at 75 degrees reaching speeds of 125 km/h (77 mph). The coaster continues through a large airtime hill which leads to a "hammerhead" turn that takes the coaster's trains through a banked turn to the left. Next, the coaster travels up a steep slope, through a trim brake and over a hill, followed by two similar, shorter airtime hills. The train then does a steep slope up and enters the mid-course block brake. Then, the train does a double helix to the right, and a curved rise to the left, followed by a steep drop and an airtime hill. The ride then rises one more time and comes to a stop on a downward brake run into the block brakes. The ride then slowly advances and turns back toward the station, where another block brake stops the train.

If there is a reason to stop the ride, like lightning, then the three trains will stop running. One will sit in the station, one will sit on the block brake before the station, and one will sit on the block brake after the downward brake run until the ride is ready to start.

== History ==

On [[August 27]], [[2007]], ''Behemoth'' was announced and revealed to be a roller coaster from [[Switzerland|Swiss]] manufacturers [[Bolliger & Mabillard]]. The estimated [[Canadian dollar|C$]]26 million ride represents the single biggest investment in the 27 year history of Canada's Wonderland, becoming the 15th roller coaster at the park.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher =[[Canada's Wonderland]] |date=[[August 27]],[[2007]] |title=Wonderland's Biggest Investment In History |url=http://attraction.canadaswonderland.com/public/news/ |accessdate = 2007-09-15}}</ref>

Behemoth opened to the public on May 4, 2008.

== Construction ==

Steel construction of the track and supports was completed on January 22, 2008<ref>http://attraction.canadaswonderland.com/public/latest/gallery/index.cfm?mode=image&chip=106</ref>, almost one month behind schedule. The former line queue for the [[Backlot Stunt Coaster (Canada's Wonderland)|Back Lot Stunt Coaster]] (formerly Italian Job Stunt Track), was demolished in order to create a new line into the new midway, which services the existing Orbiter ride, the Back Lot Stunt Coaster, and ''Behemoth''. The ride was officially opened on April 24, 2008 for media day. It was also opened on April 25, 2008 for season pass holders from 5pm to 10pm, which was known as Season Pass Preview Night. Behemoth, being 230 feet high, overlooks every ride at Canada's Wonderland and is considered to be one of the world's best coasters.

== Trains ==

Behemoth's [[train (roller coaster)|train]]s feature staggered seating<ref>http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/forums/cgi/forum1.cgi?read=185222</ref>, never before seen on a Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters. Each of the three trains comprise eight cars, seating four guests each for a total capacity of 32. Riders are restrained by lapbars with no interlocking seatbelts into the fibreglass and steel trains. They are named Red Train, Orange Train, and Yellow Train after their colored fronts.

==Colours==
Behemoth's track is orange and yellow in colour. The supports of the track are coloured blue. The trains of Behemoth are coloured orange, red, and yellow. However, the insides of Behemoth's trains are red and green.

Because of how the seats are constructed persons over a certain weight/waiste size can not be accomodated by Behemoth.

==Photo Gallery==

<gallery perRow="5">
Image:droopytext.jpg|Behemoth's entry station with a crowd around it
Image:BEHEMOTH-lift.jpg|The chain lift for Behemoth
Image:BEHEMOTH-station.jpg|The train station for Behemoth
Image:900behe3.jpg|Behemoth's staggered seating
Image:900behe.jpg|Behemoth's first drop
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://Behemoth.canadaswonderland.com/ Behemoth's Official Website]
* [http://Behemoth.canadaswonderland.com/public/ride/stats.cfm Behemoth's Official Statistics]
* [http://www.rcdb.com/id4005.htm Behemoth on RCDB]

{{PCW}}

Clay Buchholz

2008-08-05T09:54:13Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Infobox MLB player
| name = Clay Buchholz
| image = Buchholz Pitching.jpg
| width = 250
| caption =
| team = Boston Red Sox
| number = 61
| position = Starting pitcher
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1984|8|14}}
| birthplace = {{city-state|Nederland|Texas}}
| bats = Left
| throws = Right
| debutdate = August 17
| debutyear = 2007
| debutteam = Boston Red Sox
| statyear = July 13, 2008
| stat1label = [[Win (baseball)|Win-Loss]]
| stat1value = 5-8
| stat2label = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value = 4.58
| stat3label = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value = 73
| teams = <nowiki></nowiki>
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{by|2007}}-present)
}}

'''Clay Daniel Buchholz''' (born [[August 14]], [[1984]] in {{city-state|Nederland|Texas}}) is an [[United States|American]] [[baseball]] [[starting pitcher]] with [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]'s [[Boston Red Sox]]. On [[September 1]], {{by|2007}}, he threw a [[no-hitter]] in his second Major League start, tying him with [[Wilson Alvarez]] for the second quickest no-hitter by an MLB pitcher.<ref name="MLB.com1">{{cite web|author=McPhillips, Alex|date=2007-09-02|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070901&content_id=2183852&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|title=Rookie Buchholz no-hits Orioles|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|accessdate=2007-09-02}}</ref> He is the first Red Sox rookie and 17th Red Sox pitcher to throw a no-hitter.<ref name="MLB.com1"/>

==Career==
===High School and College===
Raised in {{city-state|Lumberton|Texas}}, Buchholz played baseball for the local youth baseball leagues until high school. After graduating from [[Lumberton High School]], Clay briefly attended [[McNeese State University]] before transferring to [[Angelina College]].<ref name="espn-nohitter" />

In {{by|2005}}, while competing for [[Angelina College]], Buchholz played in 15 games, winning 12 and losing 1.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| Winning %
| CG
| ERA
| Innings Pitched
| Hits
| Runs
| Earned Runs
| BB
| Strikeouts
|-
| 92.3%
| 7
| 1.05
| 85.2
| 44
| 19
| 10
| 29
| 129
|}

===Minor leagues===
Buchholz was drafted by the Red Sox in the supplemental first round of the 2005 draft. The Red Sox obtained their supplemental pick, the 42nd overall, as compensation for losing free agent [[Pedro Martínez]] to the [[New York Mets]].<ref name="espn-nohitter">ESPN.com News Service. "In 2nd career start, Boston's Buchholz throws no-hitter on O's." September 1, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270901102. Accessed September 2, 2007.</ref>

Buchholz pitched 41 1/3 innings for the [[Lowell Spinners]] of the New York-Penn League, compiling a record of 0-1 with 45 strikeouts in 15 starts. He then pitched for the [[Wilmington Blue Rocks]] (Single A-Advanced) and the [[Greenville Drive]] (Single A). Between the two teams, Buchholz struck out 140 and walked 33 in 119 innings while going 11-4.

Buchholz started his first [[spring training]] game in 2007 against the [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay Devil Rays]]. He pitched 4.2 innings, gave up 7 hits and 3 runs, and recorded 3 strikeouts. While competing for the [[Portland Sea Dogs]] in 2007, Buchholz played in 15 games, winning 7 and losing 2. His success led him to be chosen to play in the [[All-Star Futures Game]] at [[AT&T Park]].

'''Buchholz' AA Portland Sea Dogs Stats:'''

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| CG
| ERA
| Innings Pitched
| Hits
| Runs
| Earned Runs
| BB
| Strikeouts
|-
| 1
| 1.77
| 86.2
| 55
| 18
| 17
| 22
| 116
|}

Buchholz was promoted to the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]], the AAA affiliate of the Red Sox, on [[July 8]], 2007. He finished the AAA season with a 1-3 W-L record, while recording 55 strikeouts, 13 walks, and a 3.96 era over 8 starts in 38.2 AAA innings.

===Major leagues===
====2007 season====
Buchholz made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox against the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] on [[August 17]], 2007 at [[Fenway Park]]. The Sox won the game 8-4 and he picked up the win going 6 innings and giving up 4 runs (3 earned). After the game, however, Buchholz was sent back down to the Sox' Triple-A team in Pawtucket. "I got my feet wet," he said to a reporter. "I hope I can come back in September and help out."<ref>[http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20070817&content_id=2154215&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp Buchholz earns his stripes - MLB.com]</ref>
Ironically, before his first Major League start Red Sox manager [[Terry Francona]] said: "This kid can come up and pitch a no-hitter, and he's going to go back down... If he throws a no-hitter I may send him back with a present. But he's going back."<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070817&content_id=2153795&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnered=rss_mlb Busy day as Sox make moves - MLB.com]</ref>

====No-hitter====
In Buchholz's second major league start on September 1, 2007, he became the first Boston Red Sox rookie to throw a no-hitter when he blanked the [[Baltimore Orioles]] 10-0. He threw 115 pitches, struck out nine, walked three, and hit [[Nick Markakis]].<ref name=si-oriolesredsox>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/09/01/orioles.redsox.ap/index.html</ref> After the game, Buchholz told the media, "It's amazing. That's all I can say ... I'm in a blur right now." According to the [[Elias Sports Bureau]], Buchholz became the third pitcher since 1900 to pitch a no-hitter in his first or second major league start. [[Bobo Holloman]] did it in his first start on May 6, 1953, for the [[Baltimore Orioles|St. Louis Browns]] at home against the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]], and [[Wilson Alvarez]] did it in his second start on Aug. 11, 1991, for the [[Chicago White Sox]] at [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Baltimore]].<ref name=si-oriolesredsox/>
Buchholz became the 11th Red Sox to throw a no hitter in Fenway Park history, and the 17th<ref>[http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070901&content_id=2184049&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Red Sox boast long list of no-hitters]</ref> in Red Sox history.

Following the game, general manager [[Theo Epstein]] and manager [[Terry Francona]] each independently confirmed that they had spoken by phone to each other in the seventh and eighth innings concerning Buchholz's pitch count; coincidentally, Buchholz's no-hitter was preserved by a highlight-reel play by second baseman [[Dustin Pedroia]]. He had not thrown more than 98 pitches in a game all year, and was threatening to significantly exceed that total if he finished the game. Epstein reported that in no way would Buchholz have been allowed to face a batter after reaching 120 pitches, expressing concern about excessive pitches potentially damaging such a young and inexperienced arm. Buchholz finished the game with 115 pitches, allowing Francona to escape what would have been an unpleasant decision to remove a pitcher from the game in which he was throwing a no-hitter.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070902&content_id=2184654&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos No-no an affirmation to Sox front office]</ref>

Buchholz's no-hitter was the third of a record-setting four caught by [[Jason Varitek]]. The first two were for [[Hideo Nomo]] and [[Derek Lowe]] (in which the final score was also 10-0); the fourth was [[Jon Lester]]'s on [[May 19]], [[2008]] against the [[Kansas City Royals]], which was also the first no-hitter in major league play after Buchholz's.

====2008 season====
Red Sox pitching coach [[John Farrell (baseball)|John Farrell]] has stated that Buchholz will most likely be in line for 180-190 innings in the {{by|2008}} season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benjamin |first=Amalie |title=Twist regarding this turn?|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/02/13/twist_regarding_this_turn/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Red+Sox+News |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=[[2008-02-13]] |accessdate=2008-02-14 }}</ref> On May 15, Buchholz was placed on the 15 disabled list as the result of a torn fingernail<ref>Ihttp://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/05/buchholz_to_dl.html here</ref>. He was sent to Pawtucket following the injury, and remained there for several weeks to work on his fastball. On July 11th, he was recalled back to Boston and currently remains in the Red Sox starting rotation.

==Scouting report==
*Four-seam fastball (91-94 mph,hit 97 mph)
*Two-seam fastball (88-91 mph)
*Curveball (80-83 mph)
*Changeup (78-82 mph)
*Slider (85-87 mph)

Buchholz throws a [[four-seam fastball]], a [[two-seam fastball]], a [[slider]], a [[curveball]], and 78-82 mph straight [[changeup]]. His [[changeup]] and [[curveball]] are considered elite plus-plus pitches. Over the course of the season, Buchholz typically throws his fastball 92-95 mph, although towards the end of the 2006 season, his fastball regularly hit 96 or 97 mph. Buchholz also played [[outfield]] at Angelina College. <ref>[http://www.soxprospects.com/players/buchholz-clay.htm Clay Buchholz |SoxProspects.com]</ref>

==Major League Statistics==
Through [[July 20]], {{by|2008}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!Year!!Team!!G!!GS!!W!!L!!SV!!ERA!!IP!!H!!R!!ER!!HR!!BB!!SO!!CG!!SHO
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|2007
|style="text-align: center;"|BOS||4||3||3||1||0||1.59||22.7||14||6||4||0||10||10|22||1||1
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|2008
|style="text-align: center;"|BOS||10||10||2||5||0||5.88||52.0||62||39||34||4||27||51||1||0
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|'''Total'''
|style="text-align: center;"|'''1 year'''||'''14'''||'''13'''||'''5'''||'''6'''||'''0'''||'''4.58'''||'''74.7'''||'''76'''||'''45'''||'''38'''||'''4'''||'''37'''||'''73'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||
|}

==Awards and honors==
*Carolina League Pitcher of the Week (August 21 - 27, 2006)
*Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month (August 2006)
*2006 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year
*Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month (May 2007)
*2007 Futures Game All Star
*2007 Eastern League All Star
*Eastern League Pitcher of the Week (June 25-July 1, 2007)
*2007 American League Player of the Week
*TYIB Single Game Performance of the Year (December 13, 2007)

==Personal life==

Buchholz had a run-in with the law shortly before the 2005 draft when he was linked to the theft of 29 laptops from his high school.<ref>{{cite news |last=Edes |first=Gordon |title=System stocked with talent many project will pitch in |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/03/31/up_in_arms/?page=3 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=[[2006-03-31]] |accessdate=2008-02-13 }}</ref>

In March 2008, he was reported to be dating [[Penthouse]] [[Pet of the Month|2008 Pet of the Year]] [[Erica Ellyson]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1079957&srvc=home&position=also|title= Clay throwing his A game with new Pet|accessdate= 2008-03-16|coauthors= Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa|date= 2008-03-13|publisher= [[Boston Herald]]}}</ref>

Despite having the same last name, Clay is not related to fellow pitcher, Taylor Buchholz.

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://images.overthemonster.com/images/admin/Sea_Dogs__Fisher_Cats_62507_034.avi Video of Buchholz's windup],
* [http://www.kfdm.com/onset?id=5203&template=article.html KFDM article],
* [http://www.ayaz.com/photography/albumthumbview.asp?albumid=227 Photos from his No-Hitter on 9/1/2007],
* [http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/03/31/up_in_arms/?page=3 Boston Globe article],
* [http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=254&p=2&c=532365&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fredsox.scout.com%2f2%2f532365.html Scout.com article (subscription site)]
* {{baseball-reference|id=b/buchhcl01}}
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200709010.shtml Box score of no-hitter]
* [http://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/Clay_Buchholz Buchholz's SoSH Wiki Page]
* Scouting Report on [http://www.moundtalk.com/prospects/scouting-report-clay-buchholz/ Moundtalk]

{{Boston Red Sox roster navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchholz, Clay}}
[[Category:Major league players from Texas]]
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:All-Star Futures Game players]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lowell Spinners players]]
[[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a no-hitter]]
[[Category:People from the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area]]

[[ja:クレイ・バックホルツ]]
[[pt:Clay Buchholz]]

Tennis Borussia Berlin

2008-07-24T14:39:40Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Football club infobox |
clubname = Tennis Borussia Berlin |
image = [[Image:tbberlin.jpg|100px|logo]] |
fullname = Tennis Borussia Berlin e.V.|
nickname = TeBe, die Veilchen (Violets) |
founded = April 9, [[1902]]|
ground = Mommsenstadion|
capacity = 11,500|
chairman = |
manager = {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Thomas Herbst]]|
league = [[NOFV-Oberliga Nord]] (V)|
season = 2007-08 |
position = 6th|
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=9400D3|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=9400D3|
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|
leftarm2=FFFF00|body2=FFFF00|rightarm2=FFFF00|shorts2=000000|socks2=FFFF00|
}}

'''Tennis Borussia Berlin''' is a [[Germany|German]] [[football (soccer)|football]] [[List of football clubs in Germany|club]] based in [[Berlin]]. The team was founded in [[1902]] and takes its name from its origins as a tennis and ping-pong club. "Borussia" is a [[Latin]]ized version of [[Prussia]]. In 1903 the club took up football and quickly developed a rivalry with Berlin's leading side ''[[Hertha BSC Berlin]]''. They won their first city league championship in [[1932]] and repeated in [[1941]], this time by defeating ''Hertha'' (8:2) in the [[Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg]].

After [[World War II]] and into the early 50's, ''TeBe'' emerged as Berlin's top side but were unable to keep up their form and earn selection to the Germany's new professional league, the [[Bundesliga (football)|Bundesliga]], formed in [[1963]]. The team played in tier II leagues throughout the 60's and 70's with the exception of two short-lived forays into the Bundesliga in 1974-75 and 1976-77. Most of the 80's were spent playing in the tier III Oberliga or Regionalliga.

Through most of its history ''Tennis Borussia'' has been afflicted by financial problems but has managed to hang on while many other of Berlin's clubs folded or disappeared in mergers. In 1997-98, a deep-pocketed sponsor brought expensive new talent to the team as they made a run at a return to [[Bundesliga (football)|2. Bundesliga]] play which they achieved, winning the [[Regionalliga Nordost]]. While initially successful, the bid collapsed as the team's finances failed. They were refused a license and relegated to Regionalliga Nord (III) where they finished last in 2000-01 and so slipped further still to Oberliga Nordost-Nord (IV) the following season, where they still play today.

==Name history==
Originally, the club was called "Berliner Tennis- und Ping-Pong-Gesellschaft Borussia". In 1913 the club changed its name to "Berliner Tennis Club Borussia". Finally, in 2000 the club adopted its current name "Tennis Borussia Berlin", as the club had always been known under this moniker and to avoid being mistaken as a tennis club.

==Notable past players==
*[[Otto Nerz]] 1919-1924, manager 1924-1927
*[[Sepp Herberger]] 1926-1930, manager 1930-1932
*[[Karl-Heinz Schnellinger]] 1974-1975
*[[Ditmar Jakobs]] 1974-1977
*[[Benny Wendt]] 1976-1977

Recent past:
*[[Enrico Kern]] 1998-2000
*[[Christian Tiffert]] 1998-2000
*[[Rene Renno]] 2000-2001
*[[Zafer Yelen]] 2003-2005

{{Tennis Borussia Squad}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tebe.de Official team site]
*[http://www.abseits-soccer.com/clubs/tebe.html The Abseits Guide to German Soccer]

{{fb start}}
{{NOFV-Oberliga Nord}}
{{Landesliga Berlin Staffel 2}}
{{U19 Bundesliga North Northeast}}
{{2. Fußball-Bundesliga (women)}}
{{fb end}}

[[Category:German football clubs|Berlin, Tennis Borussia]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1902]]
[[Category:Sport in Berlin|Tennis Borussia]]

[[af:Tennis Borussia Berlyn]]
[[de:Tennis Borussia Berlin]]
[[fr:Tennis Borussia Berlin]]
[[it:Tennis Borussia Berlino]]
[[nl:Tennis Borussia Berlin]]
[[pl:Tennis Borussia Berlin]]
[[sv:Tennis Borussia Berlin]]

Teresa Palmer

2008-06-23T13:48:23Z

216.94.61.100: /* Personal life */

{{expand|article|date=October 2007}}
{{Infobox actor
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birthname = Teresa Edwina Palmer
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1986|02|26}}
| birthplace = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], [[Australia]]
}}

'''Teresa Edwina Palmer''' (born [[26 February]] [[1986]]) is an [[Australian]] model and actress.

==Biography==
===Career===
Teresa Palmer made her acting debut as Melody in ''[[2:37]]'', before playing a bullying American schoolgirl named Vanessa in ''[[The Grudge 2]]''. She most recently appeared as the teenage sweetheart of [[Daniel Radcliffe|Daniel Radcliffe's]] character in ''[[December Boys]]'' and will next be seen in ''[[Kids in America (2008 film)|Kids in America]]'', playing [[Topher Grace]]'s onscreen love interest.<ref name="Kids casting">[http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2007-02-08T064108Z_01_N08312613_RTRIDST_0_FILM-KIDS-DC.XML Faris, Fogler "Kids" again in comedy film] ''Reuters,'' [[8 February]] [[2007]].</ref> Palmer was originally cast as the female lead in [[Doug Liman|Doug Liman's]] ''[[Jumper (film)|Jumper]]'', but was replaced a few weeks into shooting by [[Rachel Bilson]]. She also appeared in the music video for [[Breaking Up (Eskimo Joe song)|Breaking Up]], by West Australian rock band [[Eskimo Joe]] and recently modelled for Sydney jeweller Jan Logan's 2008 collection.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22892836-2902,00.html Palmer gives nothing away] - [[The Herald Sun]], ''9 December 2007''</ref>

She is currently starring in the family fantasy comedy ''[[Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories]]'' with [[Adam Sandler]].<ref>[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=41854 Teresa Palmer Loves Bedtime Stories - ComingSoon.net]</ref>

===Personal life===
Palmer was born in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], but is currently based in [[Los Angeles]]. She was reportedly dating her former co-star [[Topher Grace]].<ref name="Sunday Mail">[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22169926-10388,00.html Time's on Teresa's side with Topher Grace]</ref> She has also been linked with former OC star [[Adam Brody]].<ref name="contactmusic.com"> [http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/brody%20dating%20justice%20league%20co-star%20palmer_1056134 ADAM BRODY - BRODY DATING JUSTICE LEAGUE CO-STAR PALMER?] More recently she's been seen canoodling with Russell Brand in Mexico </ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|[[2008 in film|2008]] || ''[[Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories]]'' || Violet||
|-
|[[2008 in film|2008]] || ''[[Kids in America (2008 film)|Kids in America]]'' || Tori ||
|-
|[[2007 in film|2007]] || ''[[December Boys]]'' || Lucy ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[2006 in film|2006]] || ''[[2:37]]'' || Melody ||
|-
| ''[[The Grudge 2]]'' || Vanessa ||
|-
| ''[[Ravenswood (film)|Ravenswood]]'' || Dale ||
|-
|[[2005 in film|2005]] || ''[[Wolf Creek (film)|Wolf Creek]]'' || Pool Party People ||
|}

==Awards==
'''Nominations''':
*2006 [[Australian Film Institute Awards]]: Best Actress in a Leading Role (''[[2:37]]'').<ref name="AFI Noms">[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,20609355-5001026,00.html AFI Nominations] ''The Daily Telegraph,'' [[19 October]] [[2006]].</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=1954240|name=Teresa Palmer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Teresa}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Australian film actors]]
[[Category:Australian female models]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Adelaide]]

{{australia-film-actor-stub}}

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Sailing

2008-06-23T12:36:55Z

216.94.61.100:

{{For|either of the songs named "Sailing"|Sailing (song)}}
[[Image:freiheitu.jpg|thumb|Wooden sailing boat.]]

'''Sailing''' is the art of controlling a [[sailing vessel]]. By changing the [[rigging]], [[rudder]] and dagger or centre board, a [[sailor]] manages the force of the [[wind]] on the [[sail]]s (main and/or [[jib]]) in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying [[weather|wind and sea conditions]], as well as knowledge concerning [[sailboats]]. Today most people enjoy sailing as a [[recreation]]al activity. [[Boating|Recreational sailing]] can be further divided into [[yacht racing|racing]], [[Cruising (maritime)|cruising]] and "daysailing" or [[dinghy sailing]]. There are many production sailboats available, and several of these manufactured models have ownership associations, such as the [[Islander 36]] association.

Throughout [[Maritime history|history]] sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilization. The earliest representation of a ship under sail appears on an Egyptian vase from about 3500 BC.<ref>Casson, Lionel. 1971. Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World</ref> Advances in sailing technology from the 15th century onward enabled [[Europe]]an explorers to make longer voyages into regions with extreme weather and climatic conditions. Improvements were made in the design of sails, masts and rigging, and navigational equipment became more sophisticated. Ships went further north, stayed longer on the [[Grand Banks]] and in the [[Gulf of St. Lawrence]], and eventually began to explore the [[Pacific Northwest]] and the [[Western Arctic]].<ref>"Transportation and Maps" in [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/026018-119.01-e.php?q1=Transportation+and+Maps&PHPSESSID=709io6475tfesngi2m7226o454 Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada</ref>

===Introduction===
A sailboat sailing ship moves forward because of the reaction to the inertia of moving air on its sails. Since the dawn of [[Maritime history|history]] this vital technology has afforded mankind greater mobility and capacity for fishing, trade and warfare. From moving the stones of the great pyramids from [[Aswan]] to [[Giza]] to allowing man to migrate throughout [[Polynesia]] to Nelson's defeat of the French and Spanish navies at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], mankind's history has been intertwined with this seemingly simple technology.

===The physics of sailing===
The energy that drives a sailboat is harnessed by manipulating the relative movement of wind and water speed: if there is no difference in movement, such as on a calm day or when the wind and water current are moving in the same direction, there is no energy to be extracted and the sailboat will not be able to do anything but drift. Where there is a difference in motion, then there is energy to be extracted at the interface, and the sailboat does this by placing the sail(s) in the air and the hull(s) in the water.

Sails are [[airfoils]] that work by using an airflow set up by the wind and the motion of the boat. The combination of the two is the [[apparent wind]], which is the [[relative velocity]] of the wind relative to the boat's motion. The sails generate [[lift (force)|lift]] using the air that flows around them. The air flowing at the sail surface is not the true wind.<ref>As would be seen by a wind in relation to the boat which also has a velocity. The curved surface of a sail serves to deflect the air. Deflecting the air results in a reaction force on the sail and rigging, which pushes the boat in a direction opposite to the deflection. It is often said that lift is generated by the pressure differential on the sails, but this is not entirely true--the pressure differential deflects the air, but it is the deflection that generates the force. Since the air behind the sailboat has been deflected, it now has less energy and is slower and is often called ''dirty air.'' Racing sailors try to avoid sailing in dirty air and attempt to give dirty air to opponents where possible. A common technique is trying to get upwind of an opponent, and make them sail in your dirty air, slowing them down</ref>

The sail alone is not sufficient to drive the boat in any desired direction, as a sail by itself would only push a boat in the same direction as the wind. Sailboats overcome this by having another physical object below the water line. These include, a [[keel]], [[centerboard]], or some other form of underwater foil or even the hull itself (as in [[catamaran]]s without centreboard or in a traditional [[proa]]). Thus, the physical portion of the boat which is below water can be regarded as functioning as a "second sail". Having two surfaces against the wind and water enables the sailor to travel in almost any direction and to generate an additional source of lift from the water. The flow of water over the underwater hull portions creates a [[hydrodynamic]] force. The combination of the [[aerodynamic]] force from the sails and the hydrodynamic force from the underwater hull section allows motion in almost any direction, except straight into the wind. This can be likened, in simple terms, to squeezing a wet bar of soap with two hands which causes it to shoot out in a direction perpendicular to both opposing forces. Depending on the efficiency of the rig, the angle of travel relative to the true wind can be as little as 35 degrees to over 80 degrees. This angle is called [[tack (sailing)|tacking angle]] [http://www.storerboatplans.com/Pdr/PDRmeasurepointingleeway.html].
With a 35 degree tacking angle on either side of the wind, it is possible for a sailboat to sail directly over 290 degrees of the compass (360 - 2x35 = 290 degrees).

When sailing upwind, the sails, when correctly adjusted, will generate aerodynamic lift. When sailing downwind, the sails no longer generate aerodynamic lift and airflow is stalled, with the wind push on the sails giving drag only. As the boat is going downwind, the [[apparent wind]] is less than the true wind and this allied to the fact that the sails are not producing aerodynamic lift serves to limit the downwind speed.<ref>Large sails of big area, [[spinnaker]]s serve to increase the sail area for more drag downwind</ref>

When moving, the motion of the boat creates its own '' [[apparent wind]]'' Apparent wind is what is experienced onboard and is the wind that the boat is actually sailing by. Sailing into the wind causes the apparent wind to be greater than the true wind and the direction of the apparent wind will be forward<ref>''Forward of'' means making a smaller angle relative to the bow than the angle that the true wind makes relative to the bow</ref> of the true wind. Some extreme design boats are capable of traveling faster than the true windspeed.

Some non-traditional rigs purportedly capture energy from the wind in a much different fashion are capable of feats that traditional rigs are not, such as sailing directly into the wind. One such example is the [[wind turbine]] boat, also called the [[windmill]] boat[http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/windmill_sailbo.php], which uses a large windmill to extract energy from the wind, and a [[propeller]] to convert this energy to forward motion of the hull. This wind turbine rig is effectively a powerboat and not a sailing vessel.<ref>Presumably the turbine can power an electrical system, which can drive a propellor. Consequently this is not a sailing vessel.</ref> A similar design, called the [[autogyro|autogiro]] boat, uses a wind turbine without the propellor, and functions in a manner similar to a normal sail[http://uk.geocities.com/fnsnclr@btinternet.com/yachts/auto/index.htm].

===Effects of wind shear===
[[Wind shear]] affects [[sailboats]] in motion by presenting a different wind speed and direction at different heights along the [[mast (sailing)|mast]]. Wind shear occurs because of the greater friction presented by water surface slowing the flow of air, a difference in true wind creates a different apparent wind at different heights. [[Sailmaker]]s may introduce [[sail twist]] in the design of the sail, where the head of the sail is set at a different angle of attack from the foot of the sail in order to change the [[lift distribution]] with height. The effect of wind shear can be factored into the selection of twist in the sail design, but this can be difficult to predict since wind shear may vary widely in different weather conditions. [[Sailors]] may also adjust the trim of the sail to account for wind gradient, for example using a [[boom vang]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Ross | title = The Symmetry of Sailing | publisher = Sheridan House | location = Dobbs Ferry | year = 1996 | pages = pp. 97-99 | isbn = 1574090003 }}</ref>

==Basic sailing techniques==
The article [[Points of sail]] defines several terms that identify a sailboat's movement relative to the wind direction.
[[Image:Sailing in front of Helsinki, Finland.jpg|thumb|Sailing in front of [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]. 8mR Sagitta (Camper & Nicholson 1929), a true sailboat with no motor, lowers its [[mainsail]] after a training session before returning to its [[Mooring (watercraft)|mooring]] with the [[foresail]] only.]]
===Steering and turning===
When steering a sailboat, the method for changing direction depends on the direction of the wind. Thus, all direction changes or turns are described by one of the following terms:
* ''Heading up'' (or luffing up) means steering so the wind is closer to coming from directly in front (or "on the bow"). Heading closer to the wind requires ''trimming'' the sails, pulling them towards the vessel's center. Heading up so the wind is nearly or directly ahead causes sails to ''luff'', to flutter without achieving lift. If the boat loses maneuverability because of this, it is said to be ''in irons''.
* ''[[tack (maneuver)|Tacking]]'' (or coming about), one of the basic turning techniques, requires bringing the bow of the boat through the wind so that the wind then comes across the opposite side of the boat, and the boat sails away on the opposite ''tack''.
* ''Heading down'', ''bearing off,'' ''bearing away'', ''falling off'' and ''freeing off'' mean steering so the wind comes from closer to the vessel's aft. This requires ''easing'' sails, letting them out away from the vessel's center.
* ''Gybing'' or ''[[Jibe|Jibing]]'' is the turning maneuver in which the boat heads down past the point where the wind crosses the vessel's stern, which causes the sails and boom to swing to the opposite side, before the boat sails off on the opposite tack. The sail and boom can cross the centerline of the boat with significant speed, and misjudged gybing can easily capsize a small boat, harm inattentive crew, or damage the rig in a larger boat, especially in strong winds.
* An easy way to tell the difference between ''Gybing'' (''Jibing'') and ''Tacking'', is by looking at what part of the boat crosses through 'Irons' (straight into the wind). If the front of the boat (the bow) crosses through the wind, you have completed a ''Tack'', while if the back of the boat (the stern) crosses Irons, you will have ''Gybed'' (''Jibed'').
===Trim===
An important aspect of sailing is keeping the boat in "[[trim]]". To achieve this a useful [[mnemonic]] (memory aid) is the phrase:

'' '''C'''an '''T'''his '''B'''oat '''S'''ail '''C'''orrectly? ''

This helps the crew to remember these essential points;
* '''C'''ourse to Steer - Turn the boat using the wheel or tiller to the desired course to steer. See [[points of sail]]. This may be a definite bearing (e.g steer 270 degrees), or towards a landmark, or at a desired angle to the [[apparent wind]] direction.
* '''T'''rim - This is the fore and aft balance of the boat. The aim is to adjust the moveable ballast (the crew!) forwards or backwards to achieve an 'even keel'. On an upwind course in a small boat, the crew typically sit forward, when 'running' it is more efficient for the crew to sit to the rear of the boat. The position of the crew matters less as the size (and weight) of the boat increases.
* '''B'''alance - This is the port and starboard balance. The aim, once again is to adjust weight 'inboard' or 'outboard' to prevent excessive heeling.
* '''S'''ail - Trimming sails is a large topic. Simply put however, a sail should be pulled in until it fills with wind, but no further than the point where the front edge of the sail (the luff) is exactly in line with the wind.
* '''C'''entreboard - If a moveable [[centreboard]] is fitted, then it should be lowered when sailing "close to the wind" but can be raised up on downwind courses to reduce drag. The centreboard prevents lateral motion and allows the boat to sail upwind. A boat with no centreboard will instead have a permanent keel, some other form of underwater foil, or even the hull itself which serves the same purpose.

Together, these points are known as 'The Five Essentials' and constitute the central aspects of sailing.

===Running===
[[Image:Lettenmaier.jpg|right|thumb|A [[thistle (dinghy)|Thistle]] running downwind with a [[spinnaker]].]]
Sailing the boat within roughly 30 degrees either side of dead downwind is called a run. This is the easiest point of sail in terms of comfort, but it can also be the most dangerous. When sailing upwind, it's easy to stop the boat by heading into the [[wind]]; a sailor has no such easy out when running. Severe rolling is more likely as there is less rolling resistance provided by the sails, which are eased out. And loss of attention by the helmsman could lead the boat to [[jibe|gybe]] accidentally, causing injury to the boat or crew. (A [[preventer]] can be rigged to prevent damage from an accidental gybe.) Alternately, if there is a sudden increase in wind strength, the boat can round up very suddenly and heel excessively, often leading to a capsize in smaller boats. This is called [[Broach (sailing)|broaching]].

===Reaching===
When the boat is traveling approximately perpendicular to the wind, this is called reaching. A 'beam' reach is with the wind precisely at right angles to the boat, while a 'close' reach is halfway between beating and a beam reach, and a 'broad' reach is a little bit away from the wind.

For most modern sailboats, that is boats with triangular sails, reaching is the fastest way to travel. The direction of the wind is ideal for reaching because it will maximize the lift generated on the sails in the forward direction of the boat, giving the best boat speed. Also when reaching, the boat can be steered exactly in the direction that is most desirable, and the sails can be trimmed for that direction.

Reaching however may put the boat on a parallel course with the waves. When the waves are steep, it may be necessary to sail closer to the wind to avoid waves directly on the beam.

===Sailing upwind===
[[Image:Beating an upwind course.svg|right|thumb|Using a series of close-hauled legs to beat a course upwind.]]
A basic rule of sailing is that it is not possible to sail directly into the wind—at least not for long. Generally speaking, a boat can sail 45 degrees off the wind. When a boat is sailing this close to the wind, it is '''close-hauled''' or beating (beating to weather).

Since a boat cannot sail directly into the wind, but the destination is often upwind, one can only get there by sailing close-hauled with the wind coming from the port side (the boat is on port tack), then [[tack (maneuver)|tacking]] (turning the boat through the eye of the wind) and sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side (the boat is on starboard tack). By this method, it is possible to reach that destination directly upwind. The heavier the wind, the rougher the seas, thus boat movement can be more uncomfortable. This can feel like the boat is beating its hull into the waves, hence the term beating. For a yacht beating upwind to a mark at a distance upwind of one mile, it will cover a distance through the water of over 1.42 miles, if it can tack through an angle of 90 degrees. An old adage describes beating as sailing for twice<ref>Each leg at 45 degrees to the true wind is 0.71miles, but in reality is longer as tacking angles greater than 45 degrees are the norm and leeway is significant also,</ref> the distance at half the speed and three times the discomfort.

How closely a boat can sail into the wind depends on the boat's design, sail trim, the sea state, and the [[wind speed]], since what the boat "sees" is the [[apparent wind]], the [[vector sum]] of the actual wind and the negation of the boat's own velocity. The apparent wind speed is what the [[anemometer]] on top of the mast shows. The apparent wind angle while sailing close hauled will be less than the true wind angle. A good, modern sloop can sail within 25 degrees of the apparent wind. An America's Cup racing sloop can sail within 16 degrees—under ideal conditions. Those figures might translate into 45 degrees and 36 degrees relative to the actual wind, depending on boat speed.

===Reducing sail===
An important safety aspect of sailing is to adjust the amount of sail to suit the wind conditions. As the wind speed increases the crew should progressively reduce the amount of sail. On a small boat with only jib and [[mainsail]] this is done by [[furl (sailing)|furling]] the jib and by partially lowering the mainsail, a process called 'reefing the main'.

[[Reefing]] means reducing the area of a sail without actually changing it for a smaller sail. Ideally reefing does not only result in a reduced sail area but also in a lower center of effort from the sails, reducing the heeling moment and keeping the boat more upright.

There are three common methods of reefing the mainsail:
*Slab reefing, which involves lowering the sail by about one-quarter to one-third of its luff length and tightening the lower part of the sail using an [[outhaul]] or a pre-loaded reef line through a [[cringle]] at the new [[clew]], and hook through a cringle at the new tack.
*In-mast (or on-mast) roller-reefing. This method rolls the sail up around a vertical foil either inside a slot in the mast, or affixed to the outside of the mast. It requires a mainsail with either no [[battens]], or newly-developed vertical battens.
*In-boom roller-reefing, with a horizontal foil inside the [[boom (sailing)|boom]]. This method allows for standard- or full-length horizontal battens.

Mainsail furling systems have become increasingly popular on cruising yachts as they can be operated shorthanded and from the cockpit in most cases, however, the sail can become jammed in the [[mast (sailing)|mast]] or boom slot if not operated correctly. Mainsail furling is almost never used while racing because it results in a less efficient sail profile. The classical slab-reefing method is the most widely used. Mainsail furling has an additional disadvantage in that its complicated gear may somewhat increase weight aloft. However, as the size of the boat increases, the benefits of mainsail roller furling increase dramatically.

An old saying goes, "The first time you think of reducing sail you should,"{{Fact|date=November 2007}} and correspondingly, "When you think you are ready to take out a reef, have a cup of tea instead."{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

===Sail trimming===
[[Image:Contender sailing dinghy.jpg|thumb|A Contender dinghy on a reach.]]
As noted above, sail [[trim]]ming is a large subject. Basic control of the mainsail consists of setting the sail so that it is at an optimum angle to the wind, (i.e. no flapping at the front, and tell tales flowing evenly off the rear of the sail).

Two or more sails are frequently combined to maximize the smooth flow of [[Earth's atmosphere|air]]. The sails are adjusted to create a smooth laminar flow over the sail surfaces. This is called the "slot effect". The combined sails fit into an imaginary aerofoil outline, so that the most forward sails are more in line with the wind, whereas the more aft sails are more in line with the course followed. The combined efficiency of this sail plan is greater than the sum of each sail used in isolation.

More detailed aspects include specific control of the sail's shape, e.g.:
* reefing, or reducing the sail area in stronger wind
* altering sail shape to make it flatter in high winds
* raking the mast when going upwind (to tilt the sail towards the rear, this being more stable)
* providing sail twist to cope with gusty conditions

===Hull trim===
Hull trim is the adjustment of a boat's loading so as to change its fore-and-aft attitude in the water. In small boats, it is done by positioning the crew. In larger boats the weight of a person has less effect on the hull trim, but it can be adjusted by shifting gear, fuel, water, or supplies. Different hull trim efforts are required for different kinds of boats and different conditions. Here are just a few examples. In a lightweight racing dinghy like a [[Thistle (dinghy)|Thistle]], the hull should be kept level, on its designed water line for best performance in all conditions. In many small boats, weight too far aft can cause drag by submerging the transom, especially in light to moderate winds. Weight too far forward can cause the bow to dig into the waves. In heavy winds, a boat with its bow too low may capsize by pitching forward over its bow (pitch-pole) or dive under the waves (submarine). On a run in heavy winds, the forces on the sails tend to drive a boat's bow down, so the crew weight is moved far aft.

===Points of sail===
[[Image:Points of sail.svg|thumb|The points of sail. A. In Irons (into the wind) B. Close Hauled C. Beam Reach D. Broad Reach E. Running]]
The [[points of sail]] are the most important parts of sail theory to remember. The wind, or no go zone, is about 45° either side of the true wind, for a racing hull and sail plan optimized for upwind work. More commonly and on cruising sailplans, the best angle achievable upwind is 50° to 55° to the true wind. A boat cannot sail directly into the wind; attempting to do so is called luffing. There are 5 main points of sail. In order from the edge of the no go zone to directly downwind they are:
*close haul (22° to the apparent wind)
*close reach (half way between close hauled and a beam reach)
*beam reach (90° to the apparent wind)
*broad reach (22.5° away from directly downwind sailing)
*running (directly downwind)
The sail trim (and, on smaller boats, centre board/dagger board position) on a boat is relative to the point of sail one is on: on a beam reach sails are half way out, on a run sails are all the way out, and close hauled sails are pulled in very tightly. A large proportion of the skill of sailing is in trimming the sails correctly for direction and strength of the wind.

===Heeling===
A boat leaning over to one side under wind pressure, is said to be 'heeling'. When any large ship is listing heavily, perhaps due to damage, it can also said to be heeling. As a sailing boat heels over beyond a certain angle, it begins to sail less efficiently. Several forces can counteract this movement.
[[Image:Tacking near Britannia Bridge.jpg|right|thumb|Boats heeling in front of [[Britannia Bridge]] in a round-[[Anglesey]] race [[1998]]]]
*The buoyancy of that part of the hull which is being submerged tends to bring the boat upright.
*Raising the centreboard can paradoxically reduce heeling, because it increases leeway.
*A weighted keel, which can in larger boats be canted from side to side, provides additional force to right the boat.
*The crew may move onto the high (upwind) side of the boat, called ''[[Hiking (sailing)|hiking]]'', changing the centre of gravity significantly in a small boat. They can [[Trapeze (Dinghy Gear)|trapeze]] if the boat is designed for this (see [[Dinghy sailing]]).
*The underwater shape of the hull relative to the sails can be designed to make the boat tend to turn upwind when it heels excessively: this reduces the force on the sails, and allows the boat to right itself. This is known as ''[[rounding up]]''.
*The boat can be turned upwind to produce the same effect.
*Wind can be spilled from the sails by 'sheeting out', i.e. loosening the sail.
*The sail shape can be altered to reduce its efficiency e.g. tightening the downhaul (see [[list of nautical terms]])
*The sail area can be reduced. This manoeuvre is known as [[Reefing]].
*Lastly, as the boat rolls farther over, wind spills from the top of the sail and the angle of attack lessens the wind's force.

Most of the above effects can be used to right a heeling boat and to keep the boat sailing efficiently: if however the boat heels beyond a certain point of stability, it can capsize. A boat is capsized when the tip of the mast is in the water. Yachts are traditionally divided into non-capsizable (which means that they have a heavy [[keel]] which in normal weather should stabilize the vessel) and non-drowning (which usually means that the vessel has a [[centerboard]] and even in normal circumstances can be capsized, but will not sink).


==Sailing hulls and hull shapes==
[[Image:Musto Skiff.jpg|thumb|[[Musto Skiff]]]]
Sailing boats can have one, two, or three [[hull (ship)|hulls]].
Boats with one hull are known as monohulls, while those with two or more are known as [[multihull]]s.
Multihulls can be further subdivided into [[catamaran]]s (two hulls), and [[trimaran]]s (three hulls).
A sailing boat is turned by a [[rudder]], which itself is controlled by a [[tiller]] or a wheel, while at the same time adjusting the sheeting angle of the sails. Smaller sailing boats often have a stabilising, raisable, underwater fin called a centreboard (or daggerboard); larger sailing boats have a fixed (or sometimes canting) [[keel]]. As a general rule, the former are called dinghies, the latter keelboats. However, up until the adoption of the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]], any vessel racing under sail was considered a yacht, be it a multi-masted ship-rigged vessel (such as a sailing frigate), a sailboard (more commonly referred to as a [[windsurfer]]) or remote-controlled boat, or anything in between. (see [[Dinghy sailing]])

Multihulls use flotation and/or weight positioned away from the centre line of the sailboat to counter the force of the wind. This is in contrast to heavy ballast that can make up to ⅓ of the weight of a monohull sailboat. In the case of a standard catamaran there are two similarly sized and shaped slender hulls connected by beams, which are sometimes overlaid by a deck superstructure. Another catamaran variation is the [[proa]]. In the case of trimarans, which have an unballasted centre hull similar to a monohull, two relatively smaller [[ama (sailing)|amas]] are situated parallel to the centre hull to resist the sideways force of the wind. The advantage of multihulled sailboats is that they do not suffer the performance penalty of having to carry heavy ballast, and their relatively lesser draft reduces the amount of drag, caused by friction and inertia, when moving through the water.

==Types of sails and layouts==
[[Image:Mozambique - traditional sailboat.jpg|thumb|Traditional sailing off the northern coast of Mozambique.]]
A traditional modern yacht is technically called a "[[Bermuda sloop]]" (sometimes a "Bermudan sloop"). A sloop is any boat that has a single mast and a headsail (generally a jib) in addition to the mainsail. The Bermuda designation refers to the fact that the sail, which has its forward edge (the "luff") against the mast (the main sail), is a sail roughly triangular in shape. Additionally, Bermuda sloops only have a single sail behind the mast. Other types of sloops are gaff-rigged sloops and [[lateen]] sloops. Gaff-rigged sloops have quadrilateral mainsails with a [[gaff]] (a small boom) at their upper edge (the "head" of the sail). Gaff-rigged vessels may also have another sail, called a topsail, above the gaff. Lateen sloops have triangular sails with the upper edge attached to a gaff, and the lower edge attached to the boom, and the boom and gaff are attached to each other via some type of hinge. It is also possible for a sloop to be square rigged (having large square sails like a [[Napoleonic Wars]]-era [[ship of the line]]). Note that a "[[sloop of war]]," in the naval sense, may well have more than one mast, and is not properly a sloop by the modern meaning.

If a boat has two masts, it may be a [[schooner]], a [[ketch]], or a [[yawl]], if it is rigged fore-and-aft on all masts. A schooner may have any number of masts provided the second from the front is the tallest (called the "main mast"). In both a ketch and a yawl, the foremost mast is tallest, and thus the main mast, while the rear mast is shorter, and called the mizzen mast. The difference between a ketch and a yawl is that in a ketch, the mizzen mast is forward of the rudderpost (the axis of rotation for the rudder), while a yawl has its mizzen mast behind the rudderpost. In modern parlance, a [[brigantine]] is a vessel whose forward mast is rigged with square sails, while her after mast is rigged fore-and-aft. A [[brig]] is a vessel with two masts both rigged square.

As one gets into three or more masts the number of combinations rises and one gets [[barque]]s, [[barquentine]]s, and full-rigged [[ships]].

A [[spinnaker]] is a large, full sail that is only used when sailing off wind either reaching or downwind, to catch the maximum amount of wind.

See also [[Sail]] and [[sail-plan]].

==Sailing terminology==
Sailors use traditional nautical terms for the parts of or directions on a vessel; [[starboard]] (right), [[port]] (left), forward or fore (front), aft (rearward), bow (forward part of the hull), stern (aft part of the hull), beam (the widest part). Vertical spars are masts, horizontal spars are booms (if they can hit the sailor), gaffs (if they are too high to reach) or poles (if they cannot hit the sailor).

===Rope and lines===
[[Image:Rigging, sailing.jpg|thumb|right|Standing rigging (on the left) and running rigging (on the right), on a sailing boat.]]

''Rope'' is the term used only for raw material; once a section of rope is designated for a particular purpose on a vessel, it generally is called a ''line,'' as in ''outhaul line'' or ''dock line''. A very thick line is considered a ''cable.'' Lines that are attached to sails to control their shapes are called ''sheets'', as in ''mainsheet'' If a rope is made of wire, it maintains its rope name as in 'wire rope' halyard.

Lines (generally steel cables) that support masts are stationary and are collectively known as a vessel's [[standing rigging]], and individually as ''shrouds'' or ''stays'' (the stay running forward from a mast to the bow is called the ''forestay'' or ''headstay'').

Moveable lines that control sails or other equipment are known collectively as a vessel's [[running rigging]]. Lines that raise sails are called ''[[halyards]]'' while those that strike them are called ''downhauls'' or ''cunninghams''. Lines that adjust (trim) the sails are called [[sheet (sailing)|''sheets'']]. These are often referred to using the name of the sail they control (such as ''main sheet'', or ''jib sheet''). Sail trim may also be controlled with smaller lines attached to the forward section of a boom; such a line is called a ''vang'', or a ''kicker'' in the United Kingdom.

Lines used to tie a boat up when alongside are called ''docklines'', ''docking cables'' or ''mooring warps''.

Some lines are referred to as ropes: A bell rope (to ring the bell), a bolt rope (attached to the edge of a sail for extra strength), a foot rope (on old square riggers for the sailors to stand on while reefing or furling the sails), and a tiller rope (to temporarily hold the tiller and keep the boat on course). A ''rode'' is what keeps an anchor attached to the boat when the anchor is in use. It may be chain, rope, or a combination of the two.

===Other terms===
[[Image:mooring-youngstown.jpg|thumb|right|Sailboat on a mooring ball near Youngstown, NY]]
Walls are called ''[[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]]'' or ''ceilings'', while the surfaces referred to as ceilings on land are called 'overheads'. Floors are called 'soles' or ''[[Deck (ship)|decks]]''. The toilet is traditionally called the 'head', the kitchen is the ''[[Galley (kitchen)|galley]]''. Lines are rarely tied off, they are almost always 'made fast' or 'belayed.' Sails in different sail plans have unchanging names, however. For the naming of sails, see [[sail-plan]].


==Knots==
Knots are among the most important things a sailor needs to know. Although only a few are required, the [[bowline]] in particular is essential. By also learning the clove hitch and "round turn and two half hitches," one can easily cope with all of the knot requirements of a boat. A more complete grasp of knot-tying includes mastery of the following knots:

*[[bowline]]
*[[clove hitch]]
*[[round turn and two half hitches]]
*[[rolling hitch]]
*[[Figure-of-eight knot|figure of eight]]
*[[reef knot]]
*[[sheet bend]]
*[[stopper knots]]

Additional knots are available [[List of knots]]

Even experienced sailors may forget their knots if they are not performed on a regular basis. Forgetting how to tie an important knot can damage a boat or cause injury.
*http://www.tollesburysc.co.uk/Knots/Knots_gallery.htm (Some of the important knots)

==Sailing regulations==
There are three basic rules for avoiding a collision at sea, but this is a simplification of a detailed set of regulations:

# A yacht using sails as motive power on port tack<ref>Sails set for a breeze coming from the left hand side of the boat</ref> gives way to one on starboard tack.<ref>Sails set for a breeze coming from the right side of the boat</ref>.
# The more maneuverable vessel gives way to the less maneuverable vessel. It is generally assumed that this means that power 'gives way' to sail, but this is not always the case. It is prudent for a small sailing vessel to stay out of the way of large power driven ships by making an early and obvious alteration in course to signal both recognition of a potential collision situation and that avoiding action has been taken. It is mandatory, by port and harbour regulations, that sailing vessels shall stay clear of shipping in a buoyed channel.
# If a collision is imminent both vessels must take avoiding action even if one vessel (this is the 'stand-on' vessel) would normally take no action. Not to do so, if there is an opportunity, may make the sailor the guilty party at an inquiry. The use of the term 'right of way' is borrowed from yacht racing environment, does not appear in internationally recognised rules for vessels not racing and is inappropriate to all other vessels and situations.

Power driven vessel '''''A''''' that is on a potential collision course [[crossing]] the port side of power driven vessel '''''B''''' must give way. Sailing boats with their sails set on the same side of the boat, require that<ref>the boat closer to where the wind is coming from,</ref> the [[windward]] boat shall give way to the [[leeward]] boat.<ref>Boat further away from the wind</ref> Vessel '''''A''''' overtaking vessel '''''B''''' normally must keep clear of them . Head on collisions are avoided by vessels both turning to Starboard.

If these rules are not followed in a yacht race, a protest may be called by one of the skippers. A hearing of protestor and protestee by the protest committee panel will decide who wins the rule breach.

However there are many other rules besides these, that are applicable and sailors are required to know these, which are fundamental boating safety rules including:
* The "rules of the road" or [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea|International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)]] set forth by the [[International Maritime Organization]] are particularly relevant to sailboats because they may be sharing the same body of water as powered vessels, who are bound by the COLREGS.
* The IALA [[International Association of Lighthouse Authorities]] standards for [[lateral marks]], lights, signals, and buoyage and rules designed to support safe navigation.
* The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations place the obligations for safety on the owners and operators of any boat including sailboats. These regulations specify the safety equipment needed and emergency procedures to be used appropriate to the boat's size and its sailing range.
* When racing, all sailing vessels must follow the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]] promulgated by the [[International Sailing Federation]] as well as any prescriptions (additional rules) given by the national governing body and organisation running the event. When a boat that is racing encounters one that is not, the racing boat must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea with respect to the non-racing boat. It is the custom amongst sailors that a sailing boat cruising will not normally get in the way of a racing fleet. Similarly, all sailors give way to divers' boats and fishers for reasons of safety & courtesy.
After sunset all boats racing are bound by the [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea|International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)]] rather than the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]].

==Sailboat racing==
[[Image:U.S. sailing team2.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Sailing team at the World Military Games Sailing Competition, December 2003]]
Sailboat racing ranges from single person [[dinghy racing]] to large boats with 10 or 20 crew and from small boats costing a few hundred dollars to multi-million dollar [[America's Cup]] or [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] campaigns. The costs of participating in the high end large boat competitions make this type of sailing one of the most expensive sports in the world. However, there are relatively inexpensive ways to get involved in sailboat racing, such as at community sailing clubs, and in some relatively inexpensive dinghy and small catamaran classes. Additionally high schools and colleges may offer sailboat racing programs through the [[Interscholastic Sailing Association]] (in the USA) and the [[Intercollegiate Sailing Association]] (in the USA and some parts of Canada). Under these conditions, sailboat racing can be comparable to or less expensive than sports such as golf and skiing. Sailboat racing is one of the few sports in which people of all ages and genders can regularly compete with and against each other.

Most sailboat and [[yacht racing]] is done in sheltered coastal or inland waters. However, in terms of endurance and risk to life, ocean races such as the [[Volvo Ocean Race]], the solo [[VELUX 5 Oceans Race]], and the non-stop solo [[Vendée Globe]], rate as some of the most extreme and dangerous sporting events. Not only do participants compete for days with little rest, but an unexpected storm, a single equipment failure, or collision with an ice floe could result in the sailboat being disabled or sunk hundreds or thousands of miles from [[search and rescue]].

The sport of [[Yacht racing|Sailboat racing]] is governed by the [[International Sailing Federation]] ([http://www.sailing.org/ ISAF]), and the rules under which competitors race are the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]], which can be found on the ISAF web site.



As well as these there is the ''"mini transats"'' in which very small craft and a solo sailer cross the Atlantic Ocean. The ''Vendee Globe'' is another race for larger boats..
Other races include the ''Fastnet race'' from Cowes, around the Fastnet rock just of the coast of Ireland and back again to the Plymouth. There is also the ''Sydney to Hobart'' race. Other race much important is ''Valtur World Cup'' for Amateurs disputated in Pollina (Italy) in 2001.

==See also==
<div style="-moz-column-count:4; column-count:4;">
*[[Sailboat]]
*[[Catboat]] and [[Sloop]]
*[[Catamaran]]
*[[Cruising (maritime)]]
*[[Day sailer]]
*[[Dinghy sailing]]
*[[Dinghy racing]]
*[[Ketch]]
*[[Land sailing]]
*[[List of nautical terms]]
*[[Marina]]
*[[Planing (sailing)]]
*[[Points of sail]]
*[[Sail]]
*[[Sail-plan]]
*[[Single-handed sailing]]
*[[Solar sail]]
*[[Trailer sailer]]
*[[Trimaran]]
*[[Yachting]]
*[[Yacht charter]]
*[[Yacht racing]]
*[[History of ship transport]]
</div>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*"Transportation and Maps" in [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/026018-119.01-e.php?q1=Transportation+and+Maps&PHPSESSID=709io6475tfesngi2m7226o454 Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada

==External links==
{{Commons|Sailing}}
{{Wiktionary}}
*[http://www.macsailing.org/PDFs/manuallarge.pdf Learn to sail manual]
*[http://www.sailingtheweb.net Sailboats database: yacht data sheets]
*[http://www.sailracer.co.uk Sailing Race Results]
*[http://www.sailnet.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57 Learning to sail articles]
*[http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/sailing.html The physics of sailing]
*[http://link.aip.org/getpdf/servlet/GetPDFServlet?filetype=pdf&id=PHTOAD000061000002000038000001 The Physics of Sailing], by Bryon D. Anderson, ''Physics Today'', (61)2, pp.38-43, Feb. 2008
*[http://www.arvelgentry.com/ How Sails Really Work] How sails really work and the implications for design and trim.
*[http://sailing.mit.edu/LearntoSail/SailingBooklet/ Sailing and the Tech Dinghy -- MIT's dinghy sailing instruction booklet]
*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/interactives/sailing/index.html Sailing simulator from National Geographic]
*[http://www.sailing.org/ International Sailing Federation]
*[http://www.asa.com/ American Sailing Association]
*[http://www.nmma.org/abc/ The American Boating Congress]
*[http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/98_11_PerfectShape/Main.htm Quest for the perfect sail shape]
*[http://www.sailinglinks.com/glossary.htm Online glossary of sailing terms]
*[http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/major.html Speed sailing records.]
*[http://terrax.org/sailing/glossary Another online glossary]
*[http://www.sailing-news.net/ Sailing news]
*[http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/SailPowerCalc/SailPowerCalc.htm Sail power calculations]
*[http://www.euronautica.net/ Euro Sailing]
*[http://youtube.com./watch?v=FWINygISxDE Everybody - sailing on boards and yachts]

{{Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs}}
{{Trailer sailers and Trailer yachts worldwide}}
{{Keelboats Worldwide}}
{{List of Catamarans and Trimarans}}

[[Category:Sailing]]
[[Category:Olympic sports]]

{{Link FA|de}}
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[[ca:Vela esportiva]]
[[da:Sejlads]]
[[de:Segeln]]
[[et:Purjetamine]]
[[el:Ιστιοπλοΐα]]
[[es:Navegación a vela]]
[[eo:Velado]]
[[fr:Nautisme (voile)]]
[[fy:Silen]]
[[ga:Seoltóireacht]]
[[id:Pelayaran]]
[[it:Vela (sport)]]
[[he:שייט מפרשיות]]
[[lb:Seegelen]]
[[lt:Buriavimas]]
[[nl:Zeilen]]
[[ja:セーリング]]
[[no:Seiling]]
[[nn:Segling]]
[[pl:Żeglarstwo]]
[[fi:Purjehdus]]
[[sv:Segling]]
[[zh:航海导航]]

Talk:Ferrybank, Waterford

2008-06-21T01:24:21Z

216.94.61.100:

{{WikiProject Ireland
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== Crime ==
I've added a citation needed tag to the absolutely rediculous claim that Waterford "thugs" have brought crime to the area.

Ferrybank, Waterford

2008-06-21T01:23:22Z

216.94.61.100:

{{otheruses2|Ferrybank}}
'''Ferrybank''' (in Gaelic, Pórt Mór)in part is a [[suburb]] of [[Waterford]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], located on the northern bank of the [[River Suir]]. Sometimes referred to as "the village", its character changed in the latter part of the 20th century and a main road now cuts through what was once the heart of the community. There is a traditional loyalty to Kilkenny as the majority of the residents would be from Co. Kilkenny. In the past few years there has been a movement of Waterfordians from the troubled slum areas of the town, like Ballybeg, and this has caused major social problems for the local people.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Drugs and anti social behaviour are a common sight on the streets of a once quiet Co. Kilkenny village.

The area has a rich sporting tradition with vibrant GAA, soccer and athletics clubs, and famous people from here include [[John O'Shea (footballer)|John O'Shea]] of English Premiership team, [[Manchester United]], Percy Flynn (Hurler), Andy Heffernan (Hurler),Jim Irish (Hurler).

The late writer and journalist, Donal Foley, is associated with Ferrybank. His father was a teacher at the local national school. Donal himself worked with the Irish Times newspaper and among his publications was the book "Three Villages". Part of this work recounted his time growing up in the Waterford suburb.

Much of the suburb lies in [[County Kilkenny]] and Waterford City authorities have suggested that they would like to expand the city's boundaries on the north shore, which would require an application to government by the city and county authorities. At present, it looks like the present boundaries will remain.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} There has been a strong opposition to this proposed Boundary change by the locals and it looks now very likely that it will not happen D.G.

Ferrybank also has a very active scout unit headed by Seamus Grant and his uncle, Jesus Grant.

[[Category:Geography of County Kilkenny]]
[[Category:Waterford]]

{{Waterford-geo-stub}}

Sailing

2008-06-20T14:18:41Z

216.94.61.100:

{{For|either of the songs named "Sailing"|Sailing (song)}}
[[Image:freiheitu.jpg|thumb|Wooden sailing boat.]]

'''Sailing''' is the art of controlling and navigating a [[sailing vessel]]. By changing the [[rigging]], [[rudder]] and dagger or centre board, a [[sailor]] manages the force of the [[wind]] on the [[sail]]s (main and/or [[jib]]) in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying [[weather|wind and sea conditions]], as well as knowledge concerning [[sailboats]]. Today most people enjoy sailing as a [[recreation]]al activity. [[Boating|Recreational sailing]] can be further divided into [[yacht racing|racing]], [[Cruising (maritime)|cruising]] and "daysailing" or [[dinghy sailing]]. There are many production sailboats available, and several of these manufactured models have ownership associations, such as the [[Islander 36]] association.

Throughout [[Maritime history|history]] sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilization. The earliest representation of a ship under sail appears on an Egyptian vase from about 3500 BC.<ref>Casson, Lionel. 1971. Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World</ref> Advances in sailing technology from the 15th century onward enabled [[Europe]]an explorers to make longer voyages into regions with extreme weather and climatic conditions. Improvements were made in the design of sails, masts and rigging, and navigational equipment became more sophisticated. Ships went further north, stayed longer on the [[Grand Banks]] and in the [[Gulf of St. Lawrence]], and eventually began to explore the [[Pacific Northwest]] and the [[Western Arctic]].<ref>"Transportation and Maps" in [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/026018-119.01-e.php?q1=Transportation+and+Maps&PHPSESSID=709io6475tfesngi2m7226o454 Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada</ref>

===Introduction===
A sailboat sailing ship moves forward because of the reaction to the inertia of moving air on its sails. Since the dawn of [[Maritime history|history]] this vital technology has afforded mankind greater mobility and capacity for fishing, trade and warfare. From moving the stones of the great pyramids from [[Aswan]] to [[Giza]] to allowing man to migrate throughout [[Polynesia]] to Nelson's defeat of the French and Spanish navies at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], mankind's history has been intertwined with this seemingly simple technology.

===The physics of sailing===
The energy that drives a sailboat is harnessed by manipulating the relative movement of wind and water speed: if there is no difference in movement, such as on a calm day or when the wind and water current are moving in the same direction, there is no energy to be extracted and the sailboat will not be able to do anything but drift. Where there is a difference in motion, then there is energy to be extracted at the interface, and the sailboat does this by placing the sail(s) in the air and the hull(s) in the water.

Sails are [[airfoils]] that work by using an airflow set up by the wind and the motion of the boat. The combination of the two is the [[apparent wind]], which is the [[relative velocity]] of the wind relative to the boat's motion. The sails generate [[lift (force)|lift]] using the air that flows around them. The air flowing at the sail surface is not the true wind.<ref>As would be seen by a wind in relation to the boat which also has a velocity. The curved surface of a sail serves to deflect the air. Deflecting the air results in a reaction force on the sail and rigging, which pushes the boat in a direction opposite to the deflection. It is often said that lift is generated by the pressure differential on the sails, but this is not entirely true--the pressure differential deflects the air, but it is the deflection that generates the force. Since the air behind the sailboat has been deflected, it now has less energy and is slower and is often called ''dirty air.'' Racing sailors try to avoid sailing in dirty air and attempt to give dirty air to opponents where possible. A common technique is trying to get upwind of an opponent, and make them sail in your dirty air, slowing them down</ref>

The sail alone is not sufficient to drive the boat in any desired direction, as a sail by itself would only push a boat in the same direction as the wind. Sailboats overcome this by having another physical object below the water line. These include, a [[keel]], [[centerboard]], or some other form of underwater foil or even the hull itself (as in [[catamaran]]s without centreboard or in a traditional [[proa]]). Thus, the physical portion of the boat which is below water can be regarded as functioning as a "second sail". Having two surfaces against the wind and water enables the sailor to travel in almost any direction and to generate an additional source of lift from the water. The flow of water over the underwater hull portions creates a [[hydrodynamic]] force. The combination of the [[aerodynamic]] force from the sails and the hydrodynamic force from the underwater hull section allows motion in almost any direction, except straight into the wind. This can be likened, in simple terms, to squeezing a wet bar of soap with two hands which causes it to shoot out in a direction perpendicular to both opposing forces. Depending on the efficiency of the rig, the angle of travel relative to the true wind can be as little as 35 degrees to over 80 degrees. This angle is called [[tack (sailing)|tacking angle]] [http://www.storerboatplans.com/Pdr/PDRmeasurepointingleeway.html].
With a 35 degree tacking angle on either side of the wind, it is possible for a sailboat to sail directly over 290 degrees of the compass (360 - 2x35 = 290 degrees).

When sailing upwind, the sails, when correctly adjusted, will generate aerodynamic lift. When sailing downwind, the sails no longer generate aerodynamic lift and airflow is stalled, with the wind push on the sails giving drag only. As the boat is going downwind, the [[apparent wind]] is less than the true wind and this allied to the fact that the sails are not producing aerodynamic lift serves to limit the downwind speed.<ref>Large sails of big area, [[spinnaker]]s serve to increase the sail area for more drag downwind</ref>

When moving, the motion of the boat creates its own '' [[apparent wind]]'' Apparent wind is what is experienced onboard and is the wind that the boat is actually sailing by. Sailing into the wind causes the apparent wind to be greater than the true wind and the direction of the apparent wind will be forward<ref>''Forward of'' means making a smaller angle relative to the bow than the angle that the true wind makes relative to the bow</ref> of the true wind. Some extreme design boats are capable of traveling faster than the true windspeed.

Some non-traditional rigs purportedly capture energy from the wind in a much different fashion are capable of feats that traditional rigs are not, such as sailing directly into the wind. One such example is the [[wind turbine]] boat, also called the [[windmill]] boat[http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/windmill_sailbo.php], which uses a large windmill to extract energy from the wind, and a [[propeller]] to convert this energy to forward motion of the hull. This wind turbine rig is effectively a powerboat and not a sailing vessel.<ref>Presumably the turbine can power an electrical system, which can drive a propellor. Consequently this is not a sailing vessel.</ref> A similar design, called the [[autogyro|autogiro]] boat, uses a wind turbine without the propellor, and functions in a manner similar to a normal sail[http://uk.geocities.com/fnsnclr@btinternet.com/yachts/auto/index.htm].

===Effects of wind shear===
[[Wind shear]] affects [[sailboats]] in motion by presenting a different wind speed and direction at different heights along the [[mast (sailing)|mast]]. Wind shear occurs because of the greater friction presented by water surface slowing the flow of air, a difference in true wind creates a different apparent wind at different heights. [[Sailmaker]]s may introduce [[sail twist]] in the design of the sail, where the head of the sail is set at a different angle of attack from the foot of the sail in order to change the [[lift distribution]] with height. The effect of wind shear can be factored into the selection of twist in the sail design, but this can be difficult to predict since wind shear may vary widely in different weather conditions. [[Sailors]] may also adjust the trim of the sail to account for wind gradient, for example using a [[boom vang]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Ross | title = The Symmetry of Sailing | publisher = Sheridan House | location = Dobbs Ferry | year = 1996 | pages = pp. 97-99 | isbn = 1574090003 }}</ref>

==Basic sailing techniques==
The article [[Points of sail]] defines several terms that identify a sailboat's movement relative to the wind direction.
[[Image:Sailing in front of Helsinki, Finland.jpg|thumb|Sailing in front of [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]. 8mR Sagitta (Camper & Nicholson 1929), a true sailboat with no motor, lowers its [[mainsail]] after a training session before returning to its [[Mooring (watercraft)|mooring]] with the [[foresail]] only.]]
===Steering and turning===
When steering a sailboat, the method for changing direction depends on the direction of the wind. Thus, all direction changes or turns are described by one of the following terms:
* ''Heading up'' (or luffing up) means steering so the wind is closer to coming from directly in front (or "on the bow"). Heading closer to the wind requires ''trimming'' the sails, pulling them towards the vessel's center. Heading up so the wind is nearly or directly ahead causes sails to ''luff'', to flutter without achieving lift. If the boat loses maneuverability because of this, it is said to be ''in irons''.
* ''[[tack (maneuver)|Tacking]]'' (or coming about), one of the basic turning techniques, requires bringing the bow of the boat through the wind so that the wind then comes across the opposite side of the boat, and the boat sails away on the opposite ''tack''.
* ''Heading down'', ''bearing off,'' ''bearing away'', ''falling off'' and ''freeing off'' mean steering so the wind comes from closer to the vessel's aft. This requires ''easing'' sails, letting them out away from the vessel's center.
* ''Gybing'' or ''[[Jibe|Jibing]]'' is the turning maneuver in which the boat heads down past the point where the wind crosses the vessel's stern, which causes the sails and boom to swing to the opposite side, before the boat sails off on the opposite tack. The sail and boom can cross the centerline of the boat with significant speed, and misjudged gybing can easily capsize a small boat, harm inattentive crew, or damage the rig in a larger boat, especially in strong winds.
* An easy way to tell the difference between ''Gybing'' (''Jibing'') and ''Tacking'', is by looking at what part of the boat crosses through 'Irons' (straight into the wind). If the front of the boat (the bow) crosses through the wind, you have completed a ''Tack'', while if the back of the boat (the stern) crosses Irons, you will have ''Gybed'' (''Jibed'').
===Trim===
An important aspect of sailing is keeping the boat in "[[trim]]". To achieve this a useful [[mnemonic]] (memory aid) is the phrase:

'' '''C'''an '''T'''his '''B'''oat '''S'''ail '''C'''orrectly? ''

This helps the crew to remember these essential points;
* '''C'''ourse to Steer - Turn the boat using the wheel or tiller to the desired course to steer. See [[points of sail]]. This may be a definite bearing (e.g steer 270 degrees), or towards a landmark, or at a desired angle to the [[apparent wind]] direction.
* '''T'''rim - This is the fore and aft balance of the boat. The aim is to adjust the moveable ballast (the crew!) forwards or backwards to achieve an 'even keel'. On an upwind course in a small boat, the crew typically sit forward, when 'running' it is more efficient for the crew to sit to the rear of the boat. The position of the crew matters less as the size (and weight) of the boat increases.
* '''B'''alance - This is the port and starboard balance. The aim, once again is to adjust weight 'inboard' or 'outboard' to prevent excessive heeling.
* '''S'''ail - Trimming sails is a large topic. Simply put however, a sail should be pulled in until it fills with wind, but no further than the point where the front edge of the sail (the luff) is exactly in line with the wind.
* '''C'''entreboard - If a moveable [[centreboard]] is fitted, then it should be lowered when sailing "close to the wind" but can be raised up on downwind courses to reduce drag. The centreboard prevents lateral motion and allows the boat to sail upwind. A boat with no centreboard will instead have a permanent keel, some other form of underwater foil, or even the hull itself which serves the same purpose.

Together, these points are known as 'The Five Essentials' and constitute the central aspects of sailing.

===Running===
[[Image:Lettenmaier.jpg|right|thumb|A [[thistle (dinghy)|Thistle]] running downwind with a [[spinnaker]].]]
Sailing the boat within roughly 30 degrees either side of dead downwind is called a run. This is the easiest point of sail in terms of comfort, but it can also be the most dangerous. When sailing upwind, it's easy to stop the boat by heading into the [[wind]]; a sailor has no such easy out when running. Severe rolling is more likely as there is less rolling resistance provided by the sails, which are eased out. And loss of attention by the helmsman could lead the boat to [[jibe|gybe]] accidentally, causing injury to the boat or crew. (A [[preventer]] can be rigged to prevent damage from an accidental gybe.) Alternately, if there is a sudden increase in wind strength, the boat can round up very suddenly and heel excessively, often leading to a capsize in smaller boats. This is called [[Broach (sailing)|broaching]].

===Reaching===
When the boat is traveling approximately perpendicular to the wind, this is called reaching. A 'beam' reach is with the wind precisely at right angles to the boat, while a 'close' reach is halfway between beating and a beam reach, and a 'broad' reach is a little bit away from the wind.

For most modern sailboats, that is boats with triangular sails, reaching is the fastest way to travel. The direction of the wind is ideal for reaching because it will maximize the lift generated on the sails in the forward direction of the boat, giving the best boat speed. Also when reaching, the boat can be steered exactly in the direction that is most desirable, and the sails can be trimmed for that direction.

Reaching however may put the boat on a parallel course with the waves. When the waves are steep, it may be necessary to sail closer to the wind to avoid waves directly on the beam.

===Sailing upwind===
[[Image:Beating an upwind course.svg|right|thumb|Using a series of close-hauled legs to beat a course upwind.]]
A basic rule of sailing is that it is not possible to sail directly into the wind—at least not for long. Generally speaking, a boat can sail 45 degrees off the wind. When a boat is sailing this close to the wind, it is '''close-hauled''' or beating (beating to weather).

Since a boat cannot sail directly into the wind, but the destination is often upwind, one can only get there by sailing close-hauled with the wind coming from the port side (the boat is on port tack), then [[tack (maneuver)|tacking]] (turning the boat through the eye of the wind) and sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side (the boat is on starboard tack). By this method, it is possible to reach that destination directly upwind. The heavier the wind, the rougher the seas, thus boat movement can be more uncomfortable. This can feel like the boat is beating its hull into the waves, hence the term beating. For a yacht beating upwind to a mark at a distance upwind of one mile, it will cover a distance through the water of over 1.42 miles, if it can tack through an angle of 90 degrees. An old adage describes beating as sailing for twice<ref>Each leg at 45 degrees to the true wind is 0.71miles, but in reality is longer as tacking angles greater than 45 degrees are the norm and leeway is significant also,</ref> the distance at half the speed and three times the discomfort.

How closely a boat can sail into the wind depends on the boat's design, sail trim, the sea state, and the [[wind speed]], since what the boat "sees" is the [[apparent wind]], the [[vector sum]] of the actual wind and the negation of the boat's own velocity. The apparent wind speed is what the [[anemometer]] on top of the mast shows. The apparent wind angle while sailing close hauled will be less than the true wind angle. A good, modern sloop can sail within 25 degrees of the apparent wind. An America's Cup racing sloop can sail within 16 degrees—under ideal conditions. Those figures might translate into 45 degrees and 36 degrees relative to the actual wind, depending on boat speed.

===Reducing sail===
An important safety aspect of sailing is to adjust the amount of sail to suit the wind conditions. As the wind speed increases the crew should progressively reduce the amount of sail. On a small boat with only jib and [[mainsail]] this is done by [[furl (sailing)|furling]] the jib and by partially lowering the mainsail, a process called 'reefing the main'.

[[Reefing]] means reducing the area of a sail without actually changing it for a smaller sail. Ideally reefing does not only result in a reduced sail area but also in a lower center of effort from the sails, reducing the heeling moment and keeping the boat more upright.

There are three common methods of reefing the mainsail:
*Slab reefing, which involves lowering the sail by about one-quarter to one-third of its luff length and tightening the lower part of the sail using an [[outhaul]] or a pre-loaded reef line through a [[cringle]] at the new [[clew]], and hook through a cringle at the new tack.
*In-mast (or on-mast) roller-reefing. This method rolls the sail up around a vertical foil either inside a slot in the mast, or affixed to the outside of the mast. It requires a mainsail with either no [[battens]], or newly-developed vertical battens.
*In-boom roller-reefing, with a horizontal foil inside the [[boom (sailing)|boom]]. This method allows for standard- or full-length horizontal battens.

Mainsail furling systems have become increasingly popular on cruising yachts as they can be operated shorthanded and from the cockpit in most cases, however, the sail can become jammed in the [[mast (sailing)|mast]] or boom slot if not operated correctly. Mainsail furling is almost never used while racing because it results in a less efficient sail profile. The classical slab-reefing method is the most widely used. Mainsail furling has an additional disadvantage in that its complicated gear may somewhat increase weight aloft. However, as the size of the boat increases, the benefits of mainsail roller furling increase dramatically.

An old saying goes, "The first time you think of reducing sail you should,"{{Fact|date=November 2007}} and correspondingly, "When you think you are ready to take out a reef, have a cup of tea instead."{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

===Sail trimming===
[[Image:Contender sailing dinghy.jpg|thumb|A Contender dinghy on a reach.]]
As noted above, sail [[trim]]ming is a large subject. Basic control of the mainsail consists of setting the sail so that it is at an optimum angle to the wind, (i.e. no flapping at the front, and tell tales flowing evenly off the rear of the sail).

Two or more sails are frequently combined to maximize the smooth flow of [[Earth's atmosphere|air]]. The sails are adjusted to create a smooth laminar flow over the sail surfaces. This is called the "slot effect". The combined sails fit into an imaginary aerofoil outline, so that the most forward sails are more in line with the wind, whereas the more aft sails are more in line with the course followed. The combined efficiency of this sail plan is greater than the sum of each sail used in isolation.

More detailed aspects include specific control of the sail's shape, e.g.:
* reefing, or reducing the sail area in stronger wind
* altering sail shape to make it flatter in high winds
* raking the mast when going upwind (to tilt the sail towards the rear, this being more stable)
* providing sail twist to cope with gusty conditions

===Hull trim===
Hull trim is the adjustment of a boat's loading so as to change its fore-and-aft attitude in the water. In small boats, it is done by positioning the crew. In larger boats the weight of a person has less effect on the hull trim, but it can be adjusted by shifting gear, fuel, water, or supplies. Different hull trim efforts are required for different kinds of boats and different conditions. Here are just a few examples. In a lightweight racing dinghy like a [[Thistle (dinghy)|Thistle]], the hull should be kept level, on its designed water line for best performance in all conditions. In many small boats, weight too far aft can cause drag by submerging the transom, especially in light to moderate winds. Weight too far forward can cause the bow to dig into the waves. In heavy winds, a boat with its bow too low may capsize by pitching forward over its bow (pitch-pole) or dive under the waves (submarine). On a run in heavy winds, the forces on the sails tend to drive a boat's bow down, so the crew weight is moved far aft.

===Points of sail===
[[Image:Points of sail.svg|thumb|The points of sail. A. In Irons (into the wind) B. Close Hauled C. Beam Reach D. Broad Reach E. Running]]
The [[points of sail]] are the most important parts of sail theory to remember. The wind, or no go zone, is about 45° either side of the true wind, for a racing hull and sail plan optimized for upwind work. More commonly and on cruising sailplans, the best angle achievable upwind is 50° to 55° to the true wind. A boat cannot sail directly into the wind; attempting to do so is called luffing. There are 5 main points of sail. In order from the edge of the no go zone to directly downwind they are:
*close haul (22° to the apparent wind)
*close reach (half way between close hauled and a beam reach)
*beam reach (90° to the apparent wind)
*broad reach (22.5° away from directly downwind sailing)
*running (directly downwind)
The sail trim (and, on smaller boats, centre board/dagger board position) on a boat is relative to the point of sail one is on: on a beam reach sails are half way out, on a run sails are all the way out, and close hauled sails are pulled in very tightly. A large proportion of the skill of sailing is in trimming the sails correctly for direction and strength of the wind.

===Heeling===
A boat leaning over to one side under wind pressure, is said to be 'heeling'. When any large ship is listing heavily, perhaps due to damage, it can also said to be heeling. As a sailing boat heels over beyond a certain angle, it begins to sail less efficiently. Several forces can counteract this movement.
[[Image:Tacking near Britannia Bridge.jpg|right|thumb|Boats heeling in front of [[Britannia Bridge]] in a round-[[Anglesey]] race [[1998]]]]
*The buoyancy of that part of the hull which is being submerged tends to bring the boat upright.
*Raising the centreboard can paradoxically reduce heeling, because it increases leeway.
*A weighted keel, which can in larger boats be canted from side to side, provides additional force to right the boat.
*The crew may move onto the high (upwind) side of the boat, called ''[[Hiking (sailing)|hiking]]'', changing the centre of gravity significantly in a small boat. They can [[Trapeze (Dinghy Gear)|trapeze]] if the boat is designed for this (see [[Dinghy sailing]]).
*The underwater shape of the hull relative to the sails can be designed to make the boat tend to turn upwind when it heels excessively: this reduces the force on the sails, and allows the boat to right itself. This is known as ''[[rounding up]]''.
*The boat can be turned upwind to produce the same effect.
*Wind can be spilled from the sails by 'sheeting out', i.e. loosening the sail.
*The sail shape can be altered to reduce its efficiency e.g. tightening the downhaul (see [[list of nautical terms]])
*The sail area can be reduced. This manoeuvre is known as [[Reefing]].
*Lastly, as the boat rolls farther over, wind spills from the top of the sail and the angle of attack lessens the wind's force.

Most of the above effects can be used to right a heeling boat and to keep the boat sailing efficiently: if however the boat heels beyond a certain point of stability, it can capsize. A boat is capsized when the tip of the mast is in the water. Yachts are traditionally divided into non-capsizable (which means that they have a heavy [[keel]] which in normal weather should stabilize the vessel) and non-drowning (which usually means that the vessel has a [[centerboard]] and even in normal circumstances can be capsized, but will not sink).


==Sailing hulls and hull shapes==
[[Image:Musto Skiff.jpg|thumb|[[Musto Skiff]]]]
Sailing boats can have one, two, or three [[hull (ship)|hulls]].
Boats with one hull are known as monohulls, while those with two or more are known as [[multihull]]s.
Multihulls can be further subdivided into [[catamaran]]s (two hulls), and [[trimaran]]s (three hulls).
A sailing boat is turned by a [[rudder]], which itself is controlled by a [[tiller]] or a wheel, while at the same time adjusting the sheeting angle of the sails. Smaller sailing boats often have a stabilising, raisable, underwater fin called a centreboard (or daggerboard); larger sailing boats have a fixed (or sometimes canting) [[keel]]. As a general rule, the former are called dinghies, the latter keelboats. However, up until the adoption of the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]], any vessel racing under sail was considered a yacht, be it a multi-masted ship-rigged vessel (such as a sailing frigate), a sailboard (more commonly referred to as a [[windsurfer]]) or remote-controlled boat, or anything in between. (see [[Dinghy sailing]])

Multihulls use flotation and/or weight positioned away from the centre line of the sailboat to counter the force of the wind. This is in contrast to heavy ballast that can make up to ⅓ of the weight of a monohull sailboat. In the case of a standard catamaran there are two similarly sized and shaped slender hulls connected by beams, which are sometimes overlaid by a deck superstructure. Another catamaran variation is the [[proa]]. In the case of trimarans, which have an unballasted centre hull similar to a monohull, two relatively smaller [[ama (sailing)|amas]] are situated parallel to the centre hull to resist the sideways force of the wind. The advantage of multihulled sailboats is that they do not suffer the performance penalty of having to carry heavy ballast, and their relatively lesser draft reduces the amount of drag, caused by friction and inertia, when moving through the water.

==Types of sails and layouts==
[[Image:Mozambique - traditional sailboat.jpg|thumb|Traditional sailing off the northern coast of Mozambique.]]
A traditional modern yacht is technically called a "[[Bermuda sloop]]" (sometimes a "Bermudan sloop"). A sloop is any boat that has a single mast and a headsail (generally a jib) in addition to the mainsail. The Bermuda designation refers to the fact that the sail, which has its forward edge (the "luff") against the mast (the main sail), is a sail roughly triangular in shape. Additionally, Bermuda sloops only have a single sail behind the mast. Other types of sloops are gaff-rigged sloops and [[lateen]] sloops. Gaff-rigged sloops have quadrilateral mainsails with a [[gaff]] (a small boom) at their upper edge (the "head" of the sail). Gaff-rigged vessels may also have another sail, called a topsail, above the gaff. Lateen sloops have triangular sails with the upper edge attached to a gaff, and the lower edge attached to the boom, and the boom and gaff are attached to each other via some type of hinge. It is also possible for a sloop to be square rigged (having large square sails like a [[Napoleonic Wars]]-era [[ship of the line]]). Note that a "[[sloop of war]]," in the naval sense, may well have more than one mast, and is not properly a sloop by the modern meaning.

If a boat has two masts, it may be a [[schooner]], a [[ketch]], or a [[yawl]], if it is rigged fore-and-aft on all masts. A schooner may have any number of masts provided the second from the front is the tallest (called the "main mast"). In both a ketch and a yawl, the foremost mast is tallest, and thus the main mast, while the rear mast is shorter, and called the mizzen mast. The difference between a ketch and a yawl is that in a ketch, the mizzen mast is forward of the rudderpost (the axis of rotation for the rudder), while a yawl has its mizzen mast behind the rudderpost. In modern parlance, a [[brigantine]] is a vessel whose forward mast is rigged with square sails, while her after mast is rigged fore-and-aft. A [[brig]] is a vessel with two masts both rigged square.

As one gets into three or more masts the number of combinations rises and one gets [[barque]]s, [[barquentine]]s, and full-rigged [[ships]].

A [[spinnaker]] is a large, full sail that is only used when sailing off wind either reaching or downwind, to catch the maximum amount of wind.

See also [[Sail]] and [[sail-plan]].

==Sailing terminology==
Sailors use traditional nautical terms for the parts of or directions on a vessel; [[starboard]] (right), [[port]] (left), forward or fore (front), aft (rearward), bow (forward part of the hull), stern (aft part of the hull), beam (the widest part). Vertical spars are masts, horizontal spars are booms (if they can hit the sailor), gaffs (if they are too high to reach) or poles (if they cannot hit the sailor).

===Rope and lines===
[[Image:Rigging, sailing.jpg|thumb|right|Standing rigging (on the left) and running rigging (on the right), on a sailing boat.]]

''Rope'' is the term used only for raw material; once a section of rope is designated for a particular purpose on a vessel, it generally is called a ''line,'' as in ''outhaul line'' or ''dock line''. A very thick line is considered a ''cable.'' Lines that are attached to sails to control their shapes are called ''sheets'', as in ''mainsheet'' If a rope is made of wire, it maintains its rope name as in 'wire rope' halyard.

Lines (generally steel cables) that support masts are stationary and are collectively known as a vessel's [[standing rigging]], and individually as ''shrouds'' or ''stays'' (the stay running forward from a mast to the bow is called the ''forestay'' or ''headstay'').

Moveable lines that control sails or other equipment are known collectively as a vessel's [[running rigging]]. Lines that raise sails are called ''[[halyards]]'' while those that strike them are called ''downhauls'' or ''cunninghams''. Lines that adjust (trim) the sails are called [[sheet (sailing)|''sheets'']]. These are often referred to using the name of the sail they control (such as ''main sheet'', or ''jib sheet''). Sail trim may also be controlled with smaller lines attached to the forward section of a boom; such a line is called a ''vang'', or a ''kicker'' in the United Kingdom.

Lines used to tie a boat up when alongside are called ''docklines'', ''docking cables'' or ''mooring warps''.

Some lines are referred to as ropes: A bell rope (to ring the bell), a bolt rope (attached to the edge of a sail for extra strength), a foot rope (on old square riggers for the sailors to stand on while reefing or furling the sails), and a tiller rope (to temporarily hold the tiller and keep the boat on course). A ''rode'' is what keeps an anchor attached to the boat when the anchor is in use. It may be chain, rope, or a combination of the two.

===Other terms===
[[Image:mooring-youngstown.jpg|thumb|right|Sailboat on a mooring ball near Youngstown, NY]]
Walls are called ''[[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]]'' or ''ceilings'', while the surfaces referred to as ceilings on land are called 'overheads'. Floors are called 'soles' or ''[[Deck (ship)|decks]]''. The toilet is traditionally called the 'head', the kitchen is the ''[[Galley (kitchen)|galley]]''. Lines are rarely tied off, they are almost always 'made fast' or 'belayed.' Sails in different sail plans have unchanging names, however. For the naming of sails, see [[sail-plan]].


==Knots==
Knots are among the most important things a sailor needs to know. Although only a few are required, the [[bowline]] in particular is essential. By also learning the clove hitch and "round turn and two half hitches," one can easily cope with all of the knot requirements of a boat. A more complete grasp of knot-tying includes mastery of the following knots:

*[[bowline]]
*[[clove hitch]]
*[[round turn and two half hitches]]
*[[rolling hitch]]
*[[Figure-of-eight knot|figure of eight]]
*[[reef knot]]
*[[sheet bend]]
*[[stopper knots]]

Additional knots are available [[List of knots]]

Even experienced sailors may forget their knots if they are not performed on a regular basis. Forgetting how to tie an important knot can damage a boat or cause injury.
*http://www.tollesburysc.co.uk/Knots/Knots_gallery.htm (Some of the important knots)

==Sailing regulations==
There are three basic rules for avoiding a collision at sea, but this is a simplification of a detailed set of regulations:

# A yacht using sails as motive power on port tack<ref>Sails set for a breeze coming from the left hand side of the boat</ref> gives way to one on starboard tack.<ref>Sails set for a breeze coming from the right side of the boat</ref>.
# The more maneuverable vessel gives way to the less maneuverable vessel. It is generally assumed that this means that power 'gives way' to sail, but this is not always the case. It is prudent for a small sailing vessel to stay out of the way of large power driven ships by making an early and obvious alteration in course to signal both recognition of a potential collision situation and that avoiding action has been taken. It is mandatory, by port and harbour regulations, that sailing vessels shall stay clear of shipping in a buoyed channel.
# If a collision is imminent both vessels must take avoiding action even if one vessel (this is the 'stand-on' vessel) would normally take no action. Not to do so, if there is an opportunity, may make the sailor the guilty party at an inquiry. The use of the term 'right of way' is borrowed from yacht racing environment, does not appear in internationally recognised rules for vessels not racing and is inappropriate to all other vessels and situations.

Power driven vessel '''''A''''' that is on a potential collision course [[crossing]] the port side of power driven vessel '''''B''''' must give way. Sailing boats with their sails set on the same side of the boat, require that<ref>the boat closer to where the wind is coming from,</ref> the [[windward]] boat shall give way to the [[leeward]] boat.<ref>Boat further away from the wind</ref> Vessel '''''A''''' overtaking vessel '''''B''''' normally must keep clear of them . Head on collisions are avoided by vessels both turning to Starboard.

If these rules are not followed in a yacht race, a protest may be called by one of the skippers. A hearing of protestor and protestee by the protest committee panel will decide who wins the rule breach.

However there are many other rules besides these, that are applicable and sailors are required to know these, which are fundamental boating safety rules including:
* The "rules of the road" or [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea|International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)]] set forth by the [[International Maritime Organization]] are particularly relevant to sailboats because they may be sharing the same body of water as powered vessels, who are bound by the COLREGS.
* The IALA [[International Association of Lighthouse Authorities]] standards for [[lateral marks]], lights, signals, and buoyage and rules designed to support safe navigation.
* The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations place the obligations for safety on the owners and operators of any boat including sailboats. These regulations specify the safety equipment needed and emergency procedures to be used appropriate to the boat's size and its sailing range.
* When racing, all sailing vessels must follow the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]] promulgated by the [[International Sailing Federation]] as well as any prescriptions (additional rules) given by the national governing body and organisation running the event. When a boat that is racing encounters one that is not, the racing boat must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea with respect to the non-racing boat. It is the custom amongst sailors that a sailing boat cruising will not normally get in the way of a racing fleet. Similarly, all sailors give way to divers' boats and fishers for reasons of safety & courtesy.
After sunset all boats racing are bound by the [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea|International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)]] rather than the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]].

==Sailboat racing==
[[Image:U.S. sailing team2.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Sailing team at the World Military Games Sailing Competition, December 2003]]
Sailboat racing ranges from single person [[dinghy racing]] to large boats with 10 or 20 crew and from small boats costing a few hundred dollars to multi-million dollar [[America's Cup]] or [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] campaigns. The costs of participating in the high end large boat competitions make this type of sailing one of the most expensive sports in the world. However, there are relatively inexpensive ways to get involved in sailboat racing, such as at community sailing clubs, and in some relatively inexpensive dinghy and small catamaran classes. Additionally high schools and colleges may offer sailboat racing programs through the [[Interscholastic Sailing Association]] (in the USA) and the [[Intercollegiate Sailing Association]] (in the USA and some parts of Canada). Under these conditions, sailboat racing can be comparable to or less expensive than sports such as golf and skiing. Sailboat racing is one of the few sports in which people of all ages and genders can regularly compete with and against each other.

Most sailboat and [[yacht racing]] is done in sheltered coastal or inland waters. However, in terms of endurance and risk to life, ocean races such as the [[Volvo Ocean Race]], the solo [[VELUX 5 Oceans Race]], and the non-stop solo [[Vendée Globe]], rate as some of the most extreme and dangerous sporting events. Not only do participants compete for days with little rest, but an unexpected storm, a single equipment failure, or collision with an ice floe could result in the sailboat being disabled or sunk hundreds or thousands of miles from [[search and rescue]].

The sport of [[Yacht racing|Sailboat racing]] is governed by the [[International Sailing Federation]] ([http://www.sailing.org/ ISAF]), and the rules under which competitors race are the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]], which can be found on the ISAF web site.



As well as these there is the ''"mini transats"'' in which very small craft and a solo sailer cross the Atlantic Ocean. The ''Vendee Globe'' is another race for larger boats..
Other races include the ''Fastnet race'' from Cowes, around the Fastnet rock just of the coast of Ireland and back again to the Plymouth. There is also the ''Sydney to Hobart'' race. Other race much important is ''Valtur World Cup'' for Amateurs disputated in Pollina (Italy) in 2001.

==See also==
<div style="-moz-column-count:4; column-count:4;">
*[[Sailboat]]
*[[Catboat]] and [[Sloop]]
*[[Catamaran]]
*[[Cruising (maritime)]]
*[[Day sailer]]
*[[Dinghy sailing]]
*[[Dinghy racing]]
*[[Ketch]]
*[[Land sailing]]
*[[List of nautical terms]]
*[[Marina]]
*[[Planing (sailing)]]
*[[Points of sail]]
*[[Sail]]
*[[Sail-plan]]
*[[Single-handed sailing]]
*[[Solar sail]]
*[[Trailer sailer]]
*[[Trimaran]]
*[[Yachting]]
*[[Yacht charter]]
*[[Yacht racing]]
*[[History of ship transport]]
</div>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*"Transportation and Maps" in [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/026018-119.01-e.php?q1=Transportation+and+Maps&PHPSESSID=709io6475tfesngi2m7226o454 Virtual Vault], an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada

==External links==
{{Commons|Sailing}}
{{Wiktionary}}
*[http://www.macsailing.org/PDFs/manuallarge.pdf Learn to sail manual]
*[http://www.sailingtheweb.net Sailboats database: yacht data sheets]
*[http://www.sailracer.co.uk Sailing Race Results]
*[http://www.sailnet.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57 Learning to sail articles]
*[http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/sailing.html The physics of sailing]
*[http://link.aip.org/getpdf/servlet/GetPDFServlet?filetype=pdf&id=PHTOAD000061000002000038000001 The Physics of Sailing], by Bryon D. Anderson, ''Physics Today'', (61)2, pp.38-43, Feb. 2008
*[http://www.arvelgentry.com/ How Sails Really Work] How sails really work and the implications for design and trim.
*[http://sailing.mit.edu/LearntoSail/SailingBooklet/ Sailing and the Tech Dinghy -- MIT's dinghy sailing instruction booklet]
*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/interactives/sailing/index.html Sailing simulator from National Geographic]
*[http://www.sailing.org/ International Sailing Federation]
*[http://www.asa.com/ American Sailing Association]
*[http://www.nmma.org/abc/ The American Boating Congress]
*[http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/98_11_PerfectShape/Main.htm Quest for the perfect sail shape]
*[http://www.sailinglinks.com/glossary.htm Online glossary of sailing terms]
*[http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/major.html Speed sailing records.]
*[http://terrax.org/sailing/glossary Another online glossary]
*[http://www.sailing-news.net/ Sailing news]
*[http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/SailPowerCalc/SailPowerCalc.htm Sail power calculations]
*[http://www.euronautica.net/ Euro Sailing]
*[http://youtube.com./watch?v=FWINygISxDE Everybody - sailing on boards and yachts]

{{Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs}}
{{Trailer sailers and Trailer yachts worldwide}}
{{Keelboats Worldwide}}
{{List of Catamarans and Trimarans}}

[[Category:Sailing]]
[[Category:Olympic sports]]

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Steve Cauthen

2008-06-16T01:21:35Z

216.94.61.100: /* References */

{{Horseracing personalities infobox
|name = Steve Cauthen
|image = [[Image:Replace this image male.svg|100px]]
|caption = Steve Cauthen (1978)
|occupation = [[Jockey]]
|birthplace = [[Covington, Kentucky]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|birth date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|1}}
|death date =
|career wins = 2,794
|race = [[Affectionately Handicap]] (1977) [[Busanda Stakes]] (1977) [[Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap]] (1977) [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|United States Triple Crown]] (1978) [[United Nations Handicap]] (1978) [[2,000 Guineas Stakes|2,000 Guineas]] (1979) [[1,000 Guineas Stakes|1,000 Guineas]] (1980) [[Ascot Gold Cup]] (1984 & 1987) [[Epsom Derby]] (1985 & 1987) [[Middle Park Stakes]] (1983, 1987, 1989, 1992) [[King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] (1987) [[Epsom Oaks]] (1985, 1988, 1989) [[St. Leger Stakes]] (1985, 1987, 1989) [[Grand Prix de Paris]] (1987 & 1990) [[Prix du Jockey Club]] (1989) [[Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud]] (1983-1986) [[Grosser Preis von Baden]] (1983 & 1985) [[Irish Derby]] (1989) [[Irish Oaks]] (1988 & 1991) [[Derby Italiano]] (1991) [[Gran Premio del Jockey Club]] (1984)
|awards = [[United States Champion Jockey by earnings]] (1977) [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey]] (1977) [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey]] (1977) [[George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award]] (1984) [[British flat racing Champion Jockey|British Champion Jockey]] (1984, 1985, 1987)
|honours =[[Associated Press Athlete of the Year]] (1977) ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' - [[Sportsman of the Year]] (1978) [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|United States Racing Hall of Fame]] (1994)
|horses = [[Affirmed]], [[Old Vic (horse)|Old Vic]], [[Gold and Ivory]], [[Triptych (horse)|Triptych]], [[Pebbles (horse)|Pebbles]], [[Oh So Sharp]], [[Slip Anchor]], [[Reference Point (horse)|Reference Point]], [[Saumarez (horse)|Saumarez]], [[Never So Bold]], [[Indian Skimmer (horse)|Indian Skimmer]]
|updated = January 16, 2007
}}
'''Steve Cauthen''' (born [[May 1]], [[1960]] in [[Covington, Kentucky]]) is an American [[jockey]].

Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a [[farrier]], grew up in [[Walton, Kentucky]] around horses, which (along with his small size) made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on [[May 12]], [[1976]] at [[Churchill Downs]]; he finished last, riding King of Swat. He rode his first winner (Red Pipe) less than a week later. His rise to prominence was meteoric; he was the nation's leader in race wins in [[1977]] with 487. In only his second year of riding, he became the first jockey to win $6 million in a single season on the day in December, 1977 he rode Little Happiness (three-year-old [[filly]]) in the sixth race at [[Aqueduct Racetrack]]. After that, he was called "The Six Million Dollar Man," and "Stevie Wonder."

He won the [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey]] and the [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey]] in the United States and was selected as [[Sportsman of the Year]] by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', as well as being named as [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s [[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]] Athlete of the Year. In [[1978]] he became the youngest jockey to ever win the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]], riding [[Affirmed]].

He was voted the prestigious [[George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award]] in 1984 that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing.

However, as he left his teens and matured, he had increasing problems making weight. In 1979 he moved to England, where jockeys normally compete at higher weights, and became a highly successful rider there. His move and first ride were very high profile in the UK. His very first ride in the UK resulted in a winner, when Marquee Universal, trained by [[Barry Hills]] won the Grand Foods Handicap at [[Salisbury Racecourse]] on April 7th 1979. Cauthen was [[British flat racing Champion Jockey|British Champion Jockey]] three times, and won English classic races ten times, including the [[2,000 Guineas Stakes|2,000 Guineas]], the [[Epsom Derby]] twice, and the [[St. Leger Stakes]] three times. He also won the [[Irish Oaks]] twice and in 1989 rode European Horse of the Year, [[Old Vic (horse)|Old Vic]] to victory in the 1989 [[Prix du Jockey Club|French Derby]] and the [[Irish Derby Stakes|Irish Derby]]. In 1991 he won the [[Derby Italiano]].

After he finished his riding career, he returned to Kentucky, where he is an executive at [[Turfway Park]], the nearest major track to his hometown. Cauthen was inducted into the [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame]] in [[1994]]. He married his wife Amy, also a Kentucky native, in 1992 and they have three daughters.

==Major winners==

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''[[Great Britain]]'''
* [[1,000 Guineas Stakes|1,000 Guineas]] - (1) - ''[[Oh So Sharp]] (1985)''
* [[2,000 Guineas Stakes|2,000 Guineas]] - (1) - ''Tap on Wood (1979)''
* [[Ascot Gold Cup]] - (2) - ''Gildoran (1984), Paean (1987)''
* [[Champion Stakes]] - (2) - ''Cormorant Wood (1983), In the Groove (1990)''
* [[Cheveley Park Stakes]] - (1) - ''Desirable (1983)''
* [[Coronation Cup]] - (3) - ''Time Charter (1984), Triptych (1988), In the Groove (1991)''
* [[Coronation Stakes]] - (1) - ''Chimes of Freedom (1990)''
* [[Epsom Derby|Derby]] - (2) - ''[[Slip Anchor]] (1985), [[Reference Point (horse)|Reference Point]] (1987)''
* [[Eclipse Stakes]] - (1) - ''[[Pebbles (horse)|Pebbles]] (1985)''
* [[Falmouth Stakes]] - (2) - ''Meis El-Reem (1984), Chimes of Freedom (1990)''
* [[Fillies' Mile]] - (2) - ''Invited Guest (1986), Diminuendo (1987)''
* [[International Stakes]] - (3) - ''Cormorant Wood (1984), Triptych (1987), In the Groove (1990)''
* [[July Cup]] - (1) - ''Never So Bold (1985)''
* [[King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] - (1) - ''Reference Point (1987)''
* [[Lockinge Stakes]] - (2) - ''Motavato (1982), Cormorant Wood (dead heat 1984)''
* [[Middle Park Stakes]] - (4) - ''Creag an Sgor (1983), Gallic League (1987), Balla Cove (1989), Zieten (1992)''
* [[Nassau Stakes]] - (1) - ''Nom de Plume (1987)''
* [[Nunthorpe Stakes]] - (2) - ''Sharpo (1982), Never So Bold (1985)''
* [[Epsom Oaks|Oaks]] - (3) - ''Oh So Sharp (1985), Diminuendo (1988), [[Snow Bride]] (1989)''
* [[Prince of Wales's Stakes]] - (2) - ''Kind of Hush (1982), Stagecraft (1991)''
* [[Racing Post Trophy]] - (2) - ''Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990)''
* [[St. James's Palace Stakes]] - (2) - ''Horage (1983), Shavian (1990)''
* [[St. Leger Stakes|St. Leger]] - (3) - ''Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987), Michelozzo (1989)''
* [[Sun Chariot Stakes]] - (1) - ''Cormorant Wood (1983)''
* [[Yorkshire Oaks]] - (1) - ''Diminuendo (1988)''
----
{{flagicon|France}} '''[[France]]'''
* [[Grand Prix de Paris]] - (2) - ''Risk Me (1987), Saumarez (1990)''
* [[Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud]] - (2) - ''Diamond Shoal (1983), Acatenango (1986)''
* [[Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp]] - (2) - ''Committed (1984), Keen Hunter (1991)''
* [[Prix de Diane]] - (1) - ''[[Indian Skimmer (horse)|Indian Skimmer]] (1987)''
* [[Prix d'Ispahan]] - (1) - ''Indian Skimmer (1989)''
* [[Prix Jacques le Marois]] - (1) - ''Lirung (1986)''
* [[Prix Jean Prat]] - (2) - ''Lapierre (1988), Kitwood (1992)''
* [[Prix du Jockey Club]] - (1) - ''Old Vic (1989)''
* [[Prix Maurice de Gheest]] - (1) - ''Never So Bold (1984)''
* [[Prix Royal-Oak]] - (1) - ''El Cuite (1986)''
* [[Prix Saint-Alary]] - (2) - ''Indian Skimmer (1987), Rosefinch (1992)''
----
{{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Germany]]'''
* [[Rheinland-Pokal|Aral-Pokal]] - (1) - ''Almaarad (1988)''
* [[Grosser Preis von Baden]] - (2) - ''Diamond Shoal (1983), [[Gold and Ivory]] (1985)''
* [[Preis von Europa]] - (1) - ''Gold and Ivory (1984)''
----
{{flagicon|Ireland}} '''[[Ireland]]'''
* [[Irish 1,000 Guineas]] - (1) - ''In the Groove (1990)''
* [[Irish Derby Stakes|Irish Derby]] - (1) - ''Old Vic (1989)''
* [[Irish Oaks]] - (2) - ''Diminuendo (dead heat 1988), Possessive Dancer (1991)''
* [[Irish St. Leger]] - (1) - ''Mashaallah (1992)''
* [[Moyglare Stud Stakes]] - (1) - ''Chimes of Freedom (1989)''
* [[Tattersalls Gold Cup]] - (1) - ''Opera House (1992)''
----
{{flagicon|Italy}} '''[[Italy]]'''
* [[Derby Italiano]] - (1) - ''Hailsham (1991)''
* [[Gran Criterium]] - (1) - ''Tanque Verde (1985)''
* [[Gran Premio di Milano]] - (2) - ''Diamond Shoal (1983), Mashaallah (1992)''
* [[Gran Premio d'Italia]] - (1) - ''El Cuite (1986)''
* [[Gran Premio del Jockey Club]] - (1) - ''Gold and Ivory (1984)''
* [[Premio Roma]] - (1) - ''Orban (1987)''
----
{{flagicon|United States}} '''[[United States]]'''
* [[Kentucky Derby]] - (1) - ''[[Affirmed]] (1978)''
* [[Preakness Stakes]] - (1) - ''Affirmed (1978)''
* [[Belmont Stakes]] - (1) - ''Affirmed (1978)''

==References==
* [http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/jockey.asp?ID=175 Steve Cauthen at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame]

{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bruce Jenner]] | title = [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year]] | years = [[1977 in sports|1977]] | after = [[Mark Guidry]]}}
{{end box}}

{{SI Sportsman of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cauthen, Steve}}
[[Category:American jockeys]]
[[Category:British jockeys]]
[[Category:Eclipse Award winners]]
[[Category:United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:People from Boone County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Covington, Kentucky]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[ja:スティーブ・コーゼン]]

Sun Life Financial

2008-06-13T20:39:20Z

216.94.61.100: /* Post-World War II */

{{Distinguish|AXA Sun Life}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Sun Life Financial |
company_logo = [[Image:Sun Life Financial logo.svg|240px]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]]|
company_slogan = An international leader in protection and wealth management services, dedicated to helping customers achieve lifetime financial security|
foundation = [[1865]] in Montreal|
location = Toronto, ON|
key_people = [[Donald A. Stewart]], CEO [[Dean Connor]], President (Canada) [[Robert C. Salipante]], President (U.S.) [[Stephan Rajotte]], President (Asia)|
num_employees = 14,700|
industry = [[Financial Services]] |
products = [[Financial Services]] [[Insurance Services]]|
revenue = [[Image:green up.png]]$21.2 billion [[Canadian dollar|Cdn]] (2007)|
homepage = [http://www.sunlife.com www.sunlife.com]
}}
[[Image:Admiralty Centre 20070731 large.jpg|thumb|250px|Sun Life Logo at United Centre, [[Hong Kong]]]]
'''Sun Life Financial Inc.''' ({{tsx|SLF}}, {{nyse|SLF}}, {{pse|SLF}}) is a leading financial services organization in [[Canada]] known primarily as a [[life insurance]] company. Sun Life ranks number 187 on the [[Forbes Global 2000]] list ([http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Rank.html 2008 edition]).

==History==
===Pre-World War War II===
Founded in [[Montreal, Quebec]] as '''The Sun Insurance Company of Montreal''' in 1865 by [[Mathew Hamilton Gault]], an [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrant who settled in Montreal in 1842, its operations actually began in 1871. By the end of the nineteenth century it had expanded to [[Central America|Central]] and South America, the [[West Indies]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[India]], [[North Africa]] and other international markets. Over the next five decades the company grew and prospered, surviving the difficulties of [[World War I]] and the large drain on its finances through policy claims arising from the large number of deaths caused by the [[Great Flu Epidemic]] of 1918.

The company's original Dominion Square building in Montreal was built in 1918. Capping a Montreal construction boom that began in the 1920s, the company completed construction of the expansion of its headquarters with its new 26-storey headquarters north tower. Although the new head office of the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] at 360 [[Saint Jacques Street|St. James Street]] in Montreal was taller by several floors, the [[Sun Life Building]] was at the time the largest building in terms of square footage anywhere in the [[British Empire]].

===World War II===
Following the outbreak of [[World War II]] in Europe, during the summer of 1940 the Government of the [[United Kingdom]] organized highly secret shipments of bonds and stocks to Montreal that were stored in the vaults at Sun Life. It is rumoured that the British crown jewels were also stored in Sun Life's Montreal vaults for the duration of the war. The securities were used to help finance the War. At the time, [[Gustave Biéler]], a [[France|French]]-born Canadian who was fluent in the French and English languages, was working as Chief Translator at Sun Life's head office. He joined the [[Canadian Army]] and was shipped overseas where, as part of the [[Special Operations Executive]], he worked inside occupied [[France]] until being captured by the [[Gestapo]] and executed at [[Flossenbürg concentration camp]] in [[Bavaria]].

===Post-World War II===
During the post-war period, the company's successful business strategies made it one of Montreal's largest white-collar employers, one of the top corporations in Canada, as well as a global player in the life insurance field. For the first half of the 20th century, the city of Montreal had been the economic hub of Canada, but it was losing ground to [[Toronto]]. As early as 1950, Toronto's economic activity surpassed Montreal's with regards to stock market trading and capitalization. The advent, in the 1960s, of political and [[terrorism|terrorist]] movements demanding [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Quebec independence]] from Canada cast a pallor of uncertainty over the business community. In 1973, Sun Life opened its American subsidiary's new headquarters in [[Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts]] at the outskirts of [[Boston]]. In 1977, the newly elected [[Quebec sovereignty movement|sovereigntist]] Quebec government passed the [[Charter of the French Language]] (known as Bill 101), making the use of [[French language]] mandatory for medium- and large-scale companies when communicating with French-speaking staff. This law was received negatively by the English-speaking business community, many of whom perceived that the historical rights of the English-speaking minority should be respected. On [[January 6]], [[1978]], the company scaled down the Montreal facilities to serve as a branch service bureau while shifting its head office to rented space in [[Toronto, Ontario]].(1) Officially, Sun Life said it was motivated by the political instability and economic uncertainty of Quebec's future, but skeptics said it was the company's unwillingness to comply with the requirements of Bill 101. In 1979 the company acquired a property at University Avenue and King Street in downtown Toronto and constructed a major ultra-modern office complex called ''Sun Life Centre''.

(1)The above gives a very skewed, even inaccurate view of what actually happened at Sun Life in Montreal with regard to Bill 101. Prior to the Bill's passing, Sun Life presented the PQ government with a brief clearly stating that if Bill 101 became law, Sun Life would be forced to move its Head Office out of the province. All Montreal employees of Sun Life received copies of this brief.

Bill 101 required more than French communications with French-speaking staff. It made French the official language of the workplace. It required all written internal correspondence of a corporation to be conducted in French. It also provided that present and prospective employees who could not speak English not be discriminated against because of their inability to speak English.

For the largest employer of English-speaking people in Montreal, this would make things very difficult. Many, if not most, of Sun Life's Head Office employees in 1979 could not speak French fluently. Following Bill 101 was just not feasible. Sun Life was quite clear that this was the reason for their move when they made the announcement. The PQ government was quick to label Sun Life "bad corporate citizens" and claimed that if "they had only warned us, we could have worked something out."

Sun Life had warned them. The PQ government had ignored the brief which Sun Life had submitted to them months before the Bill was pass into law.

The downsizing of Sun Life's Montreal office did not take place overnight. Transfers and moves were made on a per department basis and did not commence until several months after the announcement of the move.

The transfer of Sun Life's Head Office from Montreal to Toronto is viewed by many to be the start of an exodus of corporate entities from Montreal, but Sun Life was not the first company to leave. Many companies had left long before Sun Life did, only on a much quieter, private basis.

==The company today==
[[Image:Sun Life.JPG|thumb|200 px|right|Sun Life headquarters at [[Montréal]], [[Quebec]]]]Today, Sun Life lists its shares on the [[Toronto Stock Exchange| Toronto]], [[New York]], and [[Philippines]] stock exchanges. It is one of [[Standard & Poor's]] Global 1200 companies.

In 2002, Sun Life acquired '''Clarica Life Insurance''' Company of [[Waterloo, Ontario]]. After this acquisition, the head office for Sun Life Financial Canada moved to Waterloo while the coproate headequarters remained in Toronto. It still maintains Canadian satellite offices in Montreal and Ottawa. After the acquisition, the Clarica name was still used to brand the products originally owned and sold by Clarica. In June 2007, the Clarica brand was retired.

In 2006 Sun Life India Service Centre Private Limited was incorporated. This centre provides both business processing and technology support for Sun Life Financial business units that are spread all over the world.

In 2007, Sun Life was named one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations for the fourth year in a row. It was also named one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada as well as one of [[Canada's Top 100 Employers]], as published in ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine, and was the sole insurance company to receive this latter honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/einfo?en=Sun+Life+Financial+Assurance+Company+of+Canada+Inc.&ri=b2e76ed10653d0c1775ddb3a69f9e8b7&rk=1ff65a18c2159986d37e6f39ad7bff8b|title=Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers}}</ref>

Today, the company manages assets in excess of Cdn $425 billion and has more than 14,700 employees plus thousands of independent agents worldwide.

==Corporate governance==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of Sun Life Financial are: James Baillie, George Carmany, John Clappison, David Ganong, Germaine Gibara, Krystyna Hoeg, David Kerr, Idalene Kesner, Mitchell Martin, Bertin Nadeau, Ronald Osborne, Donald Stewart, and W. Vickery Stoughton.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunlife.com/ Sun Life Financial website]
* [http://www.sunlife.ca/ Sun Life Financial Canada website]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1297-7466/politics_economy/bill101/clip4 CBC reports on Sun Life leaving Montreal in 1978]

{{S&P/TSX 60}}

[[Category:S&P/TSX 60 Index]]
[[Category:Insurance companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Former mutual insurance companies]]

[[de:Sun Life Financial]]
[[fr:Sun Life Financial]]

Sun Life Financial

2008-06-13T20:37:16Z

216.94.61.100: /* Post-World War II */

{{Distinguish|AXA Sun Life}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Sun Life Financial |
company_logo = [[Image:Sun Life Financial logo.svg|240px]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]]|
company_slogan = An international leader in protection and wealth management services, dedicated to helping customers achieve lifetime financial security|
foundation = [[1865]] in Montreal|
location = Toronto, ON|
key_people = [[Donald A. Stewart]], CEO [[Dean Connor]], President (Canada) [[Robert C. Salipante]], President (U.S.) [[Stephan Rajotte]], President (Asia)|
num_employees = 14,700|
industry = [[Financial Services]] |
products = [[Financial Services]] [[Insurance Services]]|
revenue = [[Image:green up.png]]$21.2 billion [[Canadian dollar|Cdn]] (2007)|
homepage = [http://www.sunlife.com www.sunlife.com]
}}
[[Image:Admiralty Centre 20070731 large.jpg|thumb|250px|Sun Life Logo at United Centre, [[Hong Kong]]]]
'''Sun Life Financial Inc.''' ({{tsx|SLF}}, {{nyse|SLF}}, {{pse|SLF}}) is a leading financial services organization in [[Canada]] known primarily as a [[life insurance]] company. Sun Life ranks number 187 on the [[Forbes Global 2000]] list ([http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Rank.html 2008 edition]).

==History==
===Pre-World War War II===
Founded in [[Montreal, Quebec]] as '''The Sun Insurance Company of Montreal''' in 1865 by [[Mathew Hamilton Gault]], an [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrant who settled in Montreal in 1842, its operations actually began in 1871. By the end of the nineteenth century it had expanded to [[Central America|Central]] and South America, the [[West Indies]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[India]], [[North Africa]] and other international markets. Over the next five decades the company grew and prospered, surviving the difficulties of [[World War I]] and the large drain on its finances through policy claims arising from the large number of deaths caused by the [[Great Flu Epidemic]] of 1918.

The company's original Dominion Square building in Montreal was built in 1918. Capping a Montreal construction boom that began in the 1920s, the company completed construction of the expansion of its headquarters with its new 26-storey headquarters north tower. Although the new head office of the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] at 360 [[Saint Jacques Street|St. James Street]] in Montreal was taller by several floors, the [[Sun Life Building]] was at the time the largest building in terms of square footage anywhere in the [[British Empire]].

===World War II===
Following the outbreak of [[World War II]] in Europe, during the summer of 1940 the Government of the [[United Kingdom]] organized highly secret shipments of bonds and stocks to Montreal that were stored in the vaults at Sun Life. It is rumoured that the British crown jewels were also stored in Sun Life's Montreal vaults for the duration of the war. The securities were used to help finance the War. At the time, [[Gustave Biéler]], a [[France|French]]-born Canadian who was fluent in the French and English languages, was working as Chief Translator at Sun Life's head office. He joined the [[Canadian Army]] and was shipped overseas where, as part of the [[Special Operations Executive]], he worked inside occupied [[France]] until being captured by the [[Gestapo]] and executed at [[Flossenbürg concentration camp]] in [[Bavaria]].

===Post-World War II===
During the post-war period, the company's successful business strategies made it one of Montreal's largest white-collar employers, one of the top corporations in Canada, as well as a global player in the life insurance field. For the first half of the 20th century, the city of Montreal had been the economic hub of Canada, but it was losing ground to [[Toronto]]. As early as 1950, Toronto's economical activity surpassed Montreal's with regards to stock market trading and capitalization. The advent, in the 1960s, of political and [[terrorism|terrorist]] movements demanding [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Quebec independence]] from Canada cast a pallor of uncertainty over the business community. In 1973, Sun Life opened its American subsidiary's new headquarters in [[Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts]] at the outskirts of [[Boston]]. In 1977, the newly elected [[Quebec sovereignty movement|sovereigntist]] Quebec government passed the [[Charter of the French Language]] (known as Bill 101), making [[French language]] a mandatory language for medium- and large-scale companies when communicating with French-speaking staff. This law was negatively received by the English-speaking business community, many of whom perceived that the historical rights of the English-speaking minority should be respected. On [[January 6]], [[1978]], the company scaled down the Montreal facilities to serve as a branch service bureau while shifting its head office to rented space in [[Toronto, Ontario]].(1) Officially, Sun Life said it was motivated by the political instability and economic uncertainty of Quebec's future, but skeptics said it was the company's unwillingness to comply with the requirements of Bill 101. In 1979 the company acquired a property at University Avenue and King Street in downtown Toronto and constructed a major ultra-modern office complex called ''Sun Life Centre''.

(1)The above gives a very skewed, even inaccurate view of what actually happened at Sun Life in Montreal with regard to Bill 101. Prior to the Bill's passing, Sun Life presented the PQ government with a brief clearly stating that if Bill 101 became law, Sun Life would be forced to move its Head Office out of the province. All Montreal employees of Sun Life received copies of this brief.

Bill 101 required more than French communications with French-speaking staff. It made French the official language of the workplace. It required all written internal correspondence of a corporation to be conducted in French. It also provided that present and prospective employees who could not speak English not be discriminated against because of their inability to speak English.

For the largest employer of English-speaking people in Montreal, this would make things very difficult. Many, if not most, of Sun Life's Head Office employees in 1979 could not speak French fluently. Following Bill 101 was just not feasible. Sun Life was quite clear that this was the reason for their move when they made the announcement. The PQ government was quick to label Sun Life "bad corporate citizens" and claimed that if "they had only warned us, we could have worked something out."

Sun Life had warned them. The PQ government had ignored the brief which Sun Life had submitted to them months before the Bill was pass into law.

The downsizing of Sun Life's Montreal office did not take place overnight. Transfers and moves were made on a per department basis and did not commence until several months after the announcement of the move.

The transfer of Sun Life's Head Office from Montreal to Toronto is viewed by many to be the start of an exodus of corporate entities from Montreal, but Sun Life was not the first company to leave. Many companies had left long before Sun Life did, only on a much quieter, private basis.

==The company today==
[[Image:Sun Life.JPG|thumb|200 px|right|Sun Life headquarters at [[Montréal]], [[Quebec]]]]Today, Sun Life lists its shares on the [[Toronto Stock Exchange| Toronto]], [[New York]], and [[Philippines]] stock exchanges. It is one of [[Standard & Poor's]] Global 1200 companies.

In 2002, Sun Life acquired '''Clarica Life Insurance''' Company of [[Waterloo, Ontario]]. After this acquisition, the head office for Sun Life Financial Canada moved to Waterloo while the coproate headequarters remained in Toronto. It still maintains Canadian satellite offices in Montreal and Ottawa. After the acquisition, the Clarica name was still used to brand the products originally owned and sold by Clarica. In June 2007, the Clarica brand was retired.

In 2006 Sun Life India Service Centre Private Limited was incorporated. This centre provides both business processing and technology support for Sun Life Financial business units that are spread all over the world.

In 2007, Sun Life was named one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations for the fourth year in a row. It was also named one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada as well as one of [[Canada's Top 100 Employers]], as published in ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine, and was the sole insurance company to receive this latter honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/einfo?en=Sun+Life+Financial+Assurance+Company+of+Canada+Inc.&ri=b2e76ed10653d0c1775ddb3a69f9e8b7&rk=1ff65a18c2159986d37e6f39ad7bff8b|title=Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers}}</ref>

Today, the company manages assets in excess of Cdn $425 billion and has more than 14,700 employees plus thousands of independent agents worldwide.

==Corporate governance==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of Sun Life Financial are: James Baillie, George Carmany, John Clappison, David Ganong, Germaine Gibara, Krystyna Hoeg, David Kerr, Idalene Kesner, Mitchell Martin, Bertin Nadeau, Ronald Osborne, Donald Stewart, and W. Vickery Stoughton.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunlife.com/ Sun Life Financial website]
* [http://www.sunlife.ca/ Sun Life Financial Canada website]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1297-7466/politics_economy/bill101/clip4 CBC reports on Sun Life leaving Montreal in 1978]

{{S&P/TSX 60}}

[[Category:S&P/TSX 60 Index]]
[[Category:Insurance companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Former mutual insurance companies]]

[[de:Sun Life Financial]]
[[fr:Sun Life Financial]]

Goodfellas

2008-05-18T11:32:40Z

216.94.61.100:

<math>Insert formula here</math>{{Infobox Film
| name = Ur Auld One
| image = Goodfellas2.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Cover photo from DVD release
| director = [[Martin Scorsese]]
| producer = [[Irwin Winkler]]
| writer = [[Nicholas Pileggi]] Martin Scorsese
| narrator = [[Ray Liotta]] [[Lorraine Bracco]]
| starring = [[Ray Liotta]] [[Robert De Niro]] [[Joe Pesci]] [[Lorraine Bracco]] [[Paul Sorvino]]
| music =
| cinematography = [[Michael Ballhaus]]
| editing = [[Thelma Schoonmaker]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = [[September]], [[1990]] ([[Italy]]) ''(premiere at [[Venice Film Festival|VFF]])'' [[September 19]], [[1990]] ([[United States|USA]]) [[October 18]], [[1990]] ([[Australia]])
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = [[United States|USA]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget = [[United States dollar|$]]25,000,000
| gross = [[United States dollar|$]]46,836,394
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website =
| amg_id = 1:20351
| imdb_id = 0099685
}}
'''''Goodfellas''''' (also spelled '''''GoodFellas''''') is a [[1990 in film|1990]] [[crime drama]] film directed by [[Martin Scorsese]], based on the book ''[[Wiseguy (book)|Wiseguy]]'' by [[Nicholas Pileggi]], the true story of [[Mafia|mob]] informer [[Henry Hill]]. The film follows the rise and fall of three gangsters spanning three decades.

Scorsese originally intended to direct ''Goodfellas'' before ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'', but when funds materialized to make ''Last Temptation'', he decided to postpone what was then known as ''Wise Guy''. The title of Pileggi's book had already been used for a [[Wiseguy|TV series]] and for [[Brian De Palma]]'s 1986 comedy ''[[Wise Guys (film)|Wise Guys]]''. Pileggi and Scorsese decided to change the name of their film to ''Goodfellas''.

To prepare for their roles in the film, [[Robert De Niro]], [[Joe Pesci]] and [[Ray Liotta]] talked often with Pileggi who shared with the actors research material that had been left over from writing the book. According to [[Joe Pesci]], improvisation and ad-libbing came out of rehearsals where Scorsese gave the actors freedom to do whatever they wanted. The director made transcripts of these sessions, took the lines that the actors came up with that he liked best, and put them into a revised script that the cast worked from during principal photography.

''Goodfellas'' performed well at the box office, grossing [[USD]] $46.8 million domestically, well above its $25 million budget; it received mostly strong positive reviews from critics. The film was nominated for six [[Academy Awards]] but only won one for Joe Pesci in the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] category. Scorsese's film won three awards from the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] and was named best film of the year by the [[New York Film Critics Circle]], the [[Los Angeles Film Critics]] Association, and the [[National Society of Film Critics]].

==Plot==
[[Image:Goodfellas1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Joe Pesci]], [[Ray Liotta]] and [[Robert De Niro]] as Tommy DeVito, Henry Hill, and Jimmy Conway in ''Goodfellas'']]Henry Hill ([[Ray Liotta]]) admits, "As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a gangster," idolizing the [[Lucchese crime family]] gangsters in his [[blue-collar]], predominantly [[Italian-American|Italian]] neighborhood in [[East New York, Brooklyn]] in [[1955]]. Feeling the connection of being a part of something, Henry quits school and goes to work for them. His father, knowing the true nature of the Mafia, tries to stop Henry (by beating him after learning of his truancy), but the gangsters warn the local post office never to deliver any more letters from school to Henry's house.

Henry is taken under the wing of the local mob [[caporegime|captain]], Paul "Paulie" Cicero ([[Paul Sorvino]]) (based on the actual Lucchese mobster [[Paul Vario]]) and Cicero's close [[Irish-American|Irish]] associate Jimmy Conway ([[Robert De Niro]]) (based on [[Jimmy Burke (gangster)|Jimmy Burke]]) who help to cultivate Henry's criminal career through different phases. Henry is also introduced to the entire network of the crime syndicate run by Paulie.

Henry and his friends soon become successful, daring and dangerous. Conway loves hijacking trucks, and Tommy DeVito ([[Joe Pesci]] in his acclaimed Academy Award-winning performance based on [[Thomas DeSimone]]) is an aggressive [[psychopath]] with a hair-trigger temper. Henry commits the [[Air France Robbery]] and it makes his début. The friends hang out at the [[Copacabana night club]] enjoying the fabulous time they've been given behind their criminal activities. At one point, Henry meets and soon marries a no-nonsense [[Jewish]] girl from the [[Five Towns]] named Karen. Karen is both troubled and turned on by Henry's criminal activities.

On [[June 11]], [[1970]], Tommy, with Jimmy's help, brutally beats [[Billy Batts]] ([[Frank Vincent]]), a prominent mobster of the [[Gambino crime family]] in Henry's own restaurant for an insult Batts made about Tommy when he used to be a shoeshine boy. Thinking that he's dead and realizing that this is an offense that can get all of them killed (Billy was a [[made man]]; made men are untouchable by those who are not made), they take the body upstate and find Batts still alive in the trunk of Henry's car. Tommy angrily takes a knife he had borrowed from his mother's place and violently stabs him a few times and Jimmy finishes Batts off by shooting him. After the incident, Henry and his friends return to remove the body, out of fear that it would become discovered during imminent land development at the burial spot. Henry soon starts seeing a mistress named Janice Rossi ([[Gina Mastrogiacomo]]), with whom he goes out secretly on several nights. One night, Tommy tries to provoke a young servant named [[Michael "Spider" Gianco]] (played by at-the-time unknown, [[Michael Imperioli]]). Tommy takes out his pistol and gratuitously shoots Spider in the foot. The next night, Spider stands up to Tommy, who instantly shoots him to death. When Karen finds out that Henry has been cheating on her, she breaks down and wakes him up at their bed, threatening him with one of his guns pointed at his face. She angrily asks him whether he loves Rossi. A shocked yet confident Henry repeatedly tells Karen that he only loves his wife, until Karen breaks into tears and Henry violently subdues her onto the carpet floor. He in turn threatens her with the gun, saying that he already has enough problems to worry about, such as the possibility of getting murdered on the streets.

Henry and Jimmy are sent to get money from an indebted [[Florida]] gambler in [[Tampa]] who says that he can't give them the money, even after Henry and Jimmy assault him. They hang him in the lion's den at a public zoo, to intimidate him further. Henry and most of the crew (except for Tommy) are then arrested, thanks to the gambler's sister, who is a typist for the [[FBI]]. Henry makes deals in prison, and when he gets out, he commits the infamous [[Lufthansa Heist]] at [[JFK airport]]. But even after the successful heist, things begin to shake up. The robbers buy gifts for their girlfriends, wives and families from their share of the stolen money, and so Jimmy orders anyone involved in the heist to be killed one by one, out of fear of being traced -- with the exception of Henry and Tommy. Henry establishes himself in the drug trade after seeing its amazing value. Meanwhile, Tommy is deceived into thinking that he's going to be "made" or become a prominent member of the Mafia. He is instead righteously executed by the [[Gambino crime family]] for Billy Batts' murder. However, Henry and Jimmy can't become "made men", because of Henry's half, and Jimmy's full, [[Irish people|Irish]] heritage.

On Sunday, [[May 11]], [[1980]], Henry needs to make a big criminal deal with associates in [[Atlanta]], and needs help. He drives nearly all over town, getting his brother from the hospital, and cooking food for the family, all the while being a nervous wreck from lack of sleep and the amount of [[cocaine]] he has taken. Henry is finally caught by [[narc]] agents and is sent to jail. When he returns home, he learns from Karen that she has flushed sixty-thousand dollars worth of cocaine down the toilet to prevent it from falling into the hands of the authorities. Henry and his family are left virtually penniless. Henry soon is excluded by Paulie for lying to him about his involvement in the drug trade, and becomes a mole for the [[FBI]] while in the [[Witness Protection Program]] to protect himself and his family. He then says that he will miss the life of organized crime, and laments the fact that he's now going to have a normal life.

== Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Actor
! Role
! Based on
|-
|[[Robert De Niro]] || [[Jimmy Conway]] || [[James Burke (gangster)|Jimmy Burke]]
|-
|[[Ray Liotta]] || Henry Hill || [[Henry Hill (mobster)|Henry Hill]]
|-
|[[Joe Pesci]] || Tommy DeVito|| [[Tommy DeSimone]]
|-
|[[Lorraine Bracco]] || Karen Hill || [[Karen Hill]] ([[née]] Friedman)
|-
|[[Paul Sorvino]] || Paul Cicero || [[Paul Vario]]
|-
|[[Chuck Low]] || Morrie Kessler || [[Martin Krugman]]
|-
|[[Frank DiLeo]] || Tuddy Cicero || Theodoro Vario
|-
|[[Frank Sivero]] || Frankie Carbone || [[Paolo LiCastri]]
|-
|Johnny Williams (actor)|Johnny Williams || Johnny Roastbeef || [[Angelo Sepe]]
|-
|[[Mike Starr (actor)|Mike Starr]] || Frenchy || [[Robert McMahon]]
|-
|[[Frank Vincent]] || Billy Batts || [[William Devino|William "Billy Batts" DeVino]]
|-
|Jim Colella || Jim Colella || Jim Colella
|-
|[[Samuel L. Jackson]] || "Stacks" Edwards || [[Parnell Edwards|Parnell Steven "Stacks" Edwards]]
|-
|[[Frank Adonis]] || Anthony Stabile || [[Anthony Stabile]]
|-
|[[Catherine Scorsese]] || Tommy DeVito's Mother || Thomas DeSimone's Grandmother
|-
|[[Gina Mastrogiacomo]] || Janice Rossi || Linda Coppociano
|-
|[[Debi Mazar]] || Sandy || Megan Cooperman
|-
|[[Margo Winkler]] || Belle Kessler || Fran Krugman
|-
|[[Welker White]] || Lois Byrd || Judy Wicks
|-
|[[Julie Garfield]] || Mickey Conway || Mickey Burke
|-
|Detective [[Ed Deacy]] || himself || Himself
|-
|[[Christopher Serrone]] || young Henry Hill || young Henry Hill
|-
|[[Charles Scorsese]] || Vinnie || [[Thomas Agro]]
|-
|[[John Manca]] || Nicky Eyes || Himself
|-
|[[Michael Imperioli]] || "Spider" || [[Michael "Spider" Gianco]]
|-
|[[Tony Darrow]] || Sonny Bunz || [[Angelo McConnach]]
|-
|Tony Ellis || Bridal Shop Owner || Jerome Asaro
|-
|[[Elizabeth Whitcraft]] || Tommy's Girlfriend at the Copa || [[Theresa Ferrara]]
|-
|[[Anthony Powers]] || Jimmy Two Times ||
|-
|}

==Development==
''Goodfellas'' is based on New York crime reporter [[Nicholas Pileggi]]'s book ''Wiseguy''. Martin Scorsese never intended to make another mob film until he read a review of the book and this inspired him to read it<ref name= "Murphy, Kathleen">{{cite news | last = Malcolm | first = Derek | coauthors = | title = Made Men | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Film Comment]] | date = September/October 1990 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> while working on the set of ''[[Color of Money]]'' in 1986.<ref name= "Goodwin, Richard">{{cite news | last = Goodwin | first = Richard | coauthors = | title = The Making of ''Goodfellas'' | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Hotdog | date = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> He had always been fascinated by the Mob lifestyle and was drawn to Pileggi's book because it was the most honest portrayal of gangsters he had ever read.<ref name= "Linfield">{{cite news | last = Linfield | first = Susan | coauthors = | title = ''Goodfellas'' Looks at the Banality of Mob Life | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[New York Times]] | date = [[September 16]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> After he read Pileggi's book, the filmmaker knew what approach he wanted to take: "To begin ''Goodfellas'' like a gunshot and have it get faster from there, almost like a two-and-a-half-hour trailer. I think it's the only way you can really sense the exhilaration of the lifestyle, and to get a sense of why a lot of people are attracted to it."<ref name= "Clark">{{cite news | last = Clark | first = Mike | coauthors = | title = ''GoodFellas'' step from his childhood | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[USA Today]] | date = [[September 19]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> According to Pileggi, Scorsese cold-called the writer and told him, "I've been waiting for this book my entire life." To which Pileggi replied "I've been waiting for this phone call my entire life".<ref name= "Kelly, Mary Pat">{{cite news | last = Kelly | first = Mary Pat | coauthors = | title = Martin Scorsese: A Journey | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Thunder Mouth Press | date = [[March 2003]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

Scorsese originally intended to direct the film before ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'', but when funds materialized to make ''Last Temptation'', he decided to postpone ''Wise Guy''. He was drawn to the documentary aspects of Pileggi's book. "The book ''Wise Guys'' gives you a sense of the day-to-day life, the tedium - how they work, how they take over certain nightclubs, and for what reasons. It shows how it's done".<ref name= "Kelly, Mary Pat"/> He saw ''Goodfellas'' as the third film in an unplanned trilogy of films that examined the lives of Italian-Americans "from slightly different angles".<ref name= "Gilbert">{{cite news | last = Gilbert | first = Matthew | coauthors = | title = Scorsese Tackles the Mob | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Boston Globe]] | date = [[September 16]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> He has often described the film as "a mob home movie" that is about money because "that's what they're really in business for".<ref name= "Linfield"/>

===Screenplay===
Scorsese and Pileggi collaborated on the screenplay and over the course of the 12 drafts it took to reach the ideal script, the reporter realized that "the visual styling had to be completely redone . . . So we decided to share credit".<ref name= "Kelly, Mary Pat"/> They decided which sections of the book they liked and put them together like building blocks.<ref name= "Thompson">{{cite news | last = Thompson | first = David | coauthors = Ian Christie | title = Scorsese on Scorsese | work = | pages = 150-161 | language = | publisher = [[Faber and Faber]] | date = 1996 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Scorsese persuaded Pileggi that they did not need to follow a traditional narrative structure. The director wanted to take the gangster film and deal with it episode by episode but start in the middle and move backwards and forwards. Scorsese would compact scenes and realized that if they were kept short, "the impact after about an hour and a half would be terrific".<ref name= "Thompson"/> He wanted to do the voiceover like the opening of ''[[Jules and Jim]]'' and use "all the basic tricks of the [[French New Wave|New Wave]] from around 1961".<ref name= "Thompson"/> Since the title of Pileggi's book had already been used for a [[Wiseguy|TV series]] and for [[Brian De Palma]]'s 1986 comedy ''[[Wise Guys (film)|Wise Guys]]'', Pileggi and Scorsese decided to change the name of their film to ''Goodfellas''.<ref name= "Thompson"/>

===Casting===
Once Robert De Niro agreed to play Conway, Scorsese was able to secure the money needed to make the film.<ref name= "Goodwin, Richard"/> The director cast Ray Liotta after De Niro saw him in [[Jonathan Demme]]'s ''[[Something Wild (1986 film)|Something Wild]]'' and Scorsese was surprised by "his explosive energy" in that film.<ref name= "Gilbert"/> The actor had read Pileggi's book when it came out and was fascinated by it. A couple of years afterwards, his agent told him that Scorsese was going to direct a film version. In 1988, Liotta met the director over a period of a couple of months and auditioned for the film.<ref name= "Linfield"/> The actor campaigned aggressively for a role in the film but the studio wanted a well-known actor. "I think they would've rather had [[Eddie Murphy]] than me", the actor remembers.<ref name= "Portman">{{cite news | last = Portman | first = Jamie | coauthors = | title = ''Goodfellas'' Star Prefers Quiet Life | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Toronto Star]] | date = [[October 1]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

To prepare for the role, De Niro consulted with Pileggi who had research material that had been discarded while writing the book.<ref name= "Arnold">{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Gary | coauthors = | title = Real Fellas Talk about Mob Film | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Washington Times]] | date = [[September 25]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> De Niro often called Hill several times a day to ask how Burke walked, held his cigarette, and so on.<ref name= "Wolf, Buck">{{cite news | last = Wolf | first = Buck | coauthors = | title = Rap Star 50 Cent Joins Movie Mobsters | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[ABC News]] | date = [[November 8]], [[2005]] | url = http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=1338853 | accessdate = 2007-06-24 }}</ref><ref name= "Papamichael, Stella">{{cite news | last = Papamichael | first = Stella | coauthors = | title = ''GoodFellas: Special Edition DVD (1990) | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = [[October 22]], [[2004]] | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/10/22/goodfellas_se_2004_dvd_review.shtml | accessdate = 2007-06-24 }}</ref> Driving to and from the set, Liotta listened to FBI audio cassette tapes of Hill, so he could practice speaking like his real-life counterpart.<ref name= "Papamichael, Stella"/> To research her role, Lorraine Bracco tried to get close to a Mob wife but was unable to because they exist in a very tight-knit community. She decided not to meet the real Karen because she "thought it would be better if the creation came from me. I used her life with her parents as an emotional guideline for the role".<ref name= "Witchel">{{cite news | last = Witchel | first = Alex | coauthors = | title = A Mafia Wife Makes Lorraine Bracco a Princess | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[New York Times]] | date = [[September 27]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Paul Sorvino had no problem finding the voice and walk of his character but found it challenging finding "that kernal of coldness and absolute hardness that is antithetical to my nature except when my family is threatened".<ref name= "Van Gelder">{{cite news | last = Van Gelder | first = Lawrence | coauthors = | title = At the Movies | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[New York Times]] | date = [[October 12]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

===Principal photography===
The film was shot in [[1989]] in [[New York City]]. Scorsese broke the film down into sequences and storyboarded everything because of the complicated style throughout. According to the filmmaker, he "wanted lots of movement and I wanted it to be throughout the whole picture, and I wanted the style to kind of break down by the end, so that by his [Henry] last day as a wiseguy, it's as if the whole picture would be out of control, give the impression he's just going to spin off the edge and fly out."<ref name= "Murphy, Kathleen"/> He claims that the film's style comes from the first two or three minutes of ''Jules and Jim'': extensive narration, quick edits, [[freeze frame]]s, and multiple locale switches.<ref name= "Clark"/> It was this reckless attitude towards convention that mirrored the attitude of many of the gangsters in the film. Scorsese remarked, "So if you do the movie, you say, 'I don't care if there's too much narration. Too many quick cuts? - That's too bad.' It's that kind of really punk attitude we're trying to show".<ref name= "Clark"/> He adopted a frenetic style in order to almost overwhelm the audience with images and information.<ref name= "Thompson"/> He also put a lot of detail in every frame because the gangster life is so rich. The use of freeze frames was done because Scorsese wanted images that would stop "because a point was being reached" in Henry's life.<ref name= "Thompson"/>

Joe Pesci did not judge his character but found the scene where he kills Spider for talking back to his character hard to do because he had trouble justifying the action until he forced himself to feel the way Tommy did.<ref name= "Linfield"/> Lorraine Bracco found the shoot to be an emotionally difficult one because it was such a male-dominated cast and realized that if she did not make her "work important, it would probably end up on the cutting room floor".<ref name= "Linfield"/> When it came to the relationship between Henry and Karen, Bracco saw no difference between an abused wife and her character.<ref name= "Linfield"/>

According to Pesci, improvisation and ad-libbing came out of rehearsals where Scorsese let the actors do whatever they wanted. He made transcripts of these sessions, took the lines that the actors came up with that he liked best, and put them into a revised script that the cast worked from during principal photography.<ref name= "Arnold"/> For example, in the scene where Tommy tells the story and Henry is responding to him - the "what's so funny about me" scene, was based on actual event that happened to Pesci. It was worked on in rehearsals where he and Liotta improvised and Scorsese recorded 4-5 takes, rewrote their dialogue and inserted it into the script.<ref name= "Kaplan">{{cite news | last = Kaplan | first = Jonah | coauthors = | title = Getting Made: The Making of ''Goodfellas'' | work = Goodfellas: Two-Disc Special Edition DVD | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Warner Bros.]] | date = 2004 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The cast did not meet Henry Hill during the film's shoot but a few weeks before it premiered, Liotta met him in an undisclosed city. Hill had seen the film and told the actor that he loved it.<ref name= "Linfield"/>

The long tracking shot through the Copacabana nightclub came about because of a practical problem - the filmmakers could not get permission to go in the short way and this forced them to go round the back.<ref name= "Thompson"/> Scorsese decided to do it in one shot in order to symbolize Henry's whole life is ahead of him and according to the director, "It's his seduction of her [Karen] and it's also the lifestyle seducing him".<ref name= "Thompson"/> This sequence was shot eight times.<ref name= "Kaplan"/> Henry's last day as a wiseguy was the hardest part of the film for Scorsese to shoot because he wanted to create the character's state of anxiety and the way the mind races when on drugs for people who had never been under the influence of [[cocaine]] and [[amphetamines]].<ref name= "Thompson"/> The director ended the film with Henry regretting that he is no longer a wiseguy and Scorsese said, "I think the audience should get angry at him and I would hope they do - and maybe with the system which allows this".<ref name= "Thompson"/>

===Post-production===
Scorsese wanted to depict the film's violence realistically, "cold, unfeeling and horrible. Almost incidental."<ref name= "Goodwin, Richard"/> However, he had to remove ten frames of blood in order to ensure an R rating from the [[MPAA]].<ref name= "Gilbert"/> With a budget of $25 million, ''Goodfellas'' was Scorsese's most expensive film to date but still only a medium budget by Hollywood standards.<ref name= "Thompson"/> It was also the first time he was obliged by Warner Bros. to preview the film. It was shown twice in California and a lot of audiences were "agitated" by Henry's last day as a wise guy sequence and Scorsese argued that that was the point of the scene.<ref name= "Thompson"/> Scorsese and the film's editor, [[Thelma Schoonmaker]], made this sequence faster with more jump cuts to convey Henry's drug-addled point of view. In the first test screening there were 40 walkouts in the first ten minutes.<ref name= "Kaplan"/> One of the favorite scenes for test audiences was the one where Tommy tells the story and Henry is responding to him - the "what's so funny about me" scene.<ref name= "Thompson"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Goodfellas (soundtrack)}}
Scorsese chose the songs for ''Goodfellas'' only if they commented on the scene or the characters "in an oblique way".<ref name= "Gilbert"/> The only rule he adhered to with the soundtrack was to use music which could only have been heard at that time.<ref name= "Thompson"/> For example, if a scene took place in 1973, he could use any song that was current or older. According to Scorsese, a lot of non-dialogue scenes were shot to playback. For example, he had "Layla" playing on the set while shooting the scene where the dead bodies are discovered in the car and the meat-truck.<ref name= "Thompson"/> Sometimes, the lyrics of songs were put between lines of dialogue to comment on the action.<ref name= "Thompson"/> Some of the music Scorsese had written into the script while other songs he discovered during the editing phase.<ref name= "Kaplan"/>

==Reception==
===Distribution===
''Goodfellas'' has its world premiere at the 1990 [[Venice Film Festival]] where Scorsese received the [[Silver_Lion#Silver_Lion_best_direction|Silver Lion]] award for Best Director.<ref name= "Malcolm">{{cite news | last = Malcolm | first = Derek | coauthors = | title = The Venice Film Festival ends in uproar | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = [[September 17]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> It was given a wide release in North America on [[September 21]], [[1990]] in 1,070 theaters with an opening weekend gross of [[USD]] $6.3 million. It went on to make $46.8 million domestically, well above its $25 million budget.<ref name= "boxoffice">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = ''Goodfellas'' | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Box Office Mojo | date = | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=goodfellas.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref>

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and currently has a 96% rating at [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 89 metascore at [[Metacritic]]. In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Vincent Canby]] wrote, "More than any earlier Scorsese film, ''Goodfellas'' is memorable for the ensemble nature of the performances . . . The movie has been beautifully cast from the leading roles to the bits. There is flash also in some of Mr. Scorsese's directorial choices, including freeze frames, fast-cutting and the occasional long tracking shot. None of it is superfluous".<ref name= "Canby">{{cite news | last = Canby | first = Vincent | coauthors = | title = A Cold-Eyed Look at the Mob's Inner Workings | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[The New York Times]] | date = [[September 19]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film four out of four stars and called it, "great cinema - and also a whopping good time".<ref name= "Clark"/> [[David Ansen]], in his review for ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine, wrote "Every crisp minute of this long, teeming movie vibrates with outlaw energy".<ref name= "Ansen">{{cite news | last = Ansen | first = David | coauthors = | title = A Hollywood Crime Wave | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Newsweek]] | date = [[September 17]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> However, [[Anthony Lane]] in the ''[[The Independent]]'' wrote, "There is a short, needling comedy of violence and cowardice somewhere inside this stylish film, and it is worth watching more than once to prise it free. Scorsese himself chickened out, I think; perhaps the Mob got to him after all".<ref name= "Lane">{{cite news | last = Lane | first = Anthony | coauthors = | title = The Mob gets to Scorsese | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[The Independent]] | date = [[October 28]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> William Fugazy, of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, a watchdog group on ethnic injustice, which claims a membership of 10 million and consists of 76 of the largest heritage groups in the United States, called for a boycott of the film and wanted [[Warner Bros.]] to ban it. "It's the worst stereotyping, the worst portrayal of the Italian community I've ever seen. Far worse than ''[[The Godfather (film)|The Godfather]]''. One killing after another", he said.<ref name= "Reuters">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = U.S. Italians outraged by new Scorsese movie | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Reuters]] | date = [[September 17]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Scorsese responded to this criticism by saying, "As Nick Pileggi always points out, there are 18 to 20 million Italian-Americans. Out of that, there are only 4,000 alleged organised crime members. But, as Nick says, they cast a very long shadow".<ref name= "Thompson">{{cite news | last = Thompson | first = P | coauthors = | title = Scorsese shocks with Family facts | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Sunday Herald | date = [[October 7]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

===Awards===
''Goodfellas'' was nominated for six [[Academy Awards]] including Joe Pesci for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]], Lorraine Bracco for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]], [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], Scorsese for [[Academy Award for Directing|Best Director]], [[Thelma Schoonmaker]] for [[Academy Award for Film Editing|Best Film Editing]], and Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi for [[Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref name= "AP">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = And the Oscar Nominees Are ... | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date = [[February 14]], [[1991]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> When [[Joe Pesci]] won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (the only Academy Award the film won),<ref name= "Rohter">{{cite news | last = Rohter | first = Larry | coauthors = | title = Kevin Costner and ''Dances With Wolves'' Win Top Oscar Prizes | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[New York Times]] | date = [[March 26]], [[1991]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> his entire speech was "This is an honor and a privilege, thank you".<ref name= "Dhesi">{{cite news | last = Dhesi | first = Japinder | coauthors = | title = Worst awards performances | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = [[September 20]], [[2004]] | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,,1308896,00.html | accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref> It is the third shortest Oscar-acceptance speech, after [[William Holden]]'s, who simply said, "Thank you", upon winning for ''[[Stalag 17]]'', and [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s, who merely said, "Thanks," when he received an Honorary Oscar. Later, Pesci admitted that he did not say more, because "I really didn't think I was going to win".<ref name= "Dhesi"/>

''Goodfellas'' was nominated for five [[Golden Globes]] including [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture|Best Director]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama|Best Motion Pictures]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress]], and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]].<ref name= "GoldenGlobes">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = ''Godfather'' lands 7 Globe nominations | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Toronto Star]] | date = [[December 28]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> It failed to win any of these awards. Scorsese's film won three awards from the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] including [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|Best Director]], and [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref name= "AP2">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = ''GoodFellas'', ''Cinema Paradiso'' dominate the British Oscars | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date = [[March 18]], [[1991]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

The [[New York Film Critics Circle]] voted ''Goodfellas'' the [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film|Best Film]] of 1990, Robert De Niro was named [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for his performance in the film and in ''[[Awakenings]]'', and Scorsese was voted Best Director.<ref name= "Spillman">{{cite news | last = Spillman | first = Susan | coauthors = | title = Critics join mob honoring ''GoodFellas'' | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[USA Today]] | date = [[December 19]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The [[Los Angeles Film Critics]] Association also voted Scorsese as [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]], ''GoodFellas'' as [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]],<ref name= "Spillman"/> awards for Pesci and Bracco as [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] and [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress|Actress]], respectively, and Best Cinematography to [[Michael Ballhaus]] for his work on the film.<ref name= "Landis">{{cite news | last = Landis | first = David | coauthors = | title = Ganging up to praise ''GoodFellas'' | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[USA Today]] | date = [[December 17]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The [[National Board of Review]] voted Pesci as [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]].<ref name= "Spillman2">{{cite news | last = Spillman | first = Susan | coauthors = | title = ''Wolves'' dances away with award | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[USA Today]] | date = [[December 14]], [[1990]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The [[National Society of Film Critics]] voted ''Goodfellas'' [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film|Best Film]] of 1990 and Scorsese as [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director|Best Director]].<ref name= "Fox">{{cite news | last = Fox | first = David J | coauthors = | title = Critics say they're jolly ''GoodFellas'' | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Toronto Star]] | date = [[January 8]], [[1991]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> ''American Film'' magazine declared ''Goodfellas'' the best film of 1990 according to a poll of 80 movie critics.<ref name= "Arnold2">{{cite news | last = Arnold | first = Gary | coauthors = | title = ''GoodFellas'' targeted for even more acclaim | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Washington Times]] | date = [[February 19]], [[1991]] | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>

===Legacy===
''GoodFellas'' is #94 on the [[American Film Institute]]'s list of [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies|100 Years, 100 Movies]] and #92 on its [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)|updated version]] from 2007. In 2000, the United States [[Library of Congress]] deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]].

[[Roger Ebert]], a friend and supporter of Scorsese, named ''GoodFellas'' the "best mob movie ever" and placed it among the best films of the nineties.<ref name= "Scorsese">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Best Films of the '90s | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper|Ebert & Roeper]] | date = [[February 27]], [[2000]] | url = http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/specials/bestof90s.html| accessdate = 2008-03-26 }}</ref> ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]'' magazine listed Joe Pesci as #96 on its list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time, calling him "perhaps the single most irredeemable character ever put on film".<ref name= "Premiere">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = [[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]] | date = | url = http://www.premiere.com/features/1539/the-100-greatest-movie-characters-of-all-time-page2.html | accessdate = 2008-03-26 }}</ref> [[Channel 4]] placed ''Goodfellas'' at #10 in their 2002 poll ''The 100 Greatest Films.'' In 2005, ''[[Total Film]]'', named ''GoodFellas'' as the [[Films considered the greatest ever|greatest film of all time]].

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===

* ''Martin Scorsese: A Journey'', by Mary Pat Kelly (2003, Thunder Mouth Press), ISBN 978-1560254706.
* ''Scorsese on Scorsese'', by David Thompson and Ian Christie (2004, [[Faber and Faber]]), ISBN 978-0571220021.
* ''Goodfellas'', by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese (1990, Faber and Faber), ISBN 978-0571162659.
* ''Wiseguy'', by Nicholas Pileggi (1990, Rei Mti), ISBN 978-0671723224.

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{imdb title|id=0099685|title=Goodfellas}}
*{{amg movie|id=1:20351|title=Goodfellas}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=goodfellas|title=Goodfellas}}
*{{metacritic film|id=goodfellas|title=Goodfellas}}
*{{mojo title|id=goodfellas|title=Goodfellas}}
*[http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/goodfellas.php Reel Faces:] Fact vs. Fiction

{{Martin Scorsese}}

{{start box}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box |
| before = ''[[Dead Poets Society]]''
| after = ''[[The Commitments (film)|The Commitments]]
| title = [[BAFTA Award for Best Film]]
| years = 1991
|}}
{{end}}
[[Category:1990 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Biographical films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films directed by Martin Scorsese]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winning performance]]
[[Category:Films shot in Super 35]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Italian-language films]]
[[Category:Lucchese crime family|*]]
[[Category:Mafia films]]
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[[Category:Films set in Brooklyn]]

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All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

2008-05-15T11:29:24Z

216.94.61.100:

{{For|the state of play in the 2008 Championship|All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008}}

{{infobox football tournament
| current = [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008]]
| logo =
| founded = 1887
| region = [[Ireland]] ([[GAA]])
| number of teams = 12
| current champions = [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] (30th time)

}}

The '''All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship''' (known for sponsorship reasons as the '''[[Guinness]] Hurling Championship''') is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of [[hurling]] played in [[Ireland]]. The series of games are organised by the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] and are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland Hurling Final being played on the first or second Sunday in September in [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]]. The prize for the winning team is the [[Liam McCarthy Cup]]. The current champions are [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]],who beat [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] by a score of 2-19 to 1-15 in the All-Ireland Final on [[September 2]], [[2007]].

About twelve teams participate in the Championship, the most dominant teams coming from the provinces of [[Leinster]] and [[Munster]]. [[Cork GAA|Cork]], [[Kilkenny]], [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] and [[Tipperary]] are considered to be the "superpowers" of hurling. Between them, these teams have won the Championship on no less than 85 occasions during its 120 year history.

==Overview==
Following the foundation of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] on [[November 1]], [[1884]], one of the association's early aims was the promotion of a national competition that involved the [[Gaelic games]] of [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]]. At the third meeting of the new organisation in January [[1885]], new rules for the ancient game of [[hurling]] were drawn up and were soon published in local newspapers throughout the country. In [[1886]] "County Boards" were created to run the affairs of the various [[Counties of Ireland|counties]] that participated in the competition. By [[1887]] the first All-Ireland Hurling Championship took place. Although only five teams participated, it was a step in the right direction for the organisation.

For the first few years of the Championship the various counties were represented by the team who won the county club championship. For instance, the [[1887]] Championship saw [[Thurles]] representing Tipperary and [[Meelick]] representing Galway. Dedicated inter-county teams were only introduced in [[1895]] when Cork put forward a mixture of all the best players from that county's best local GAA clubs. Over the early years various changes were made in the rules of [[hurling]], and its sister sport, [[Gaelic football]]. Teams were reduced from 21-players to the current number of 15, and the rules regarding the value of a goal were also tweaked in the first few years of the competition.

The provincial championships were eventually introduced in [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster]], [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]], [[Connacht Senior Hurling Championship|Connacht]] and [[Ulster Senior Hurling Championship|Ulster]] on a "knock-out" basis. The winners of the various provincial finals would go on to participate in the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Over time the Leinster and Munster teams grew to become the superpowers of the game, as [[Gaelic football]] was the more dominant sport in Ulster and Connacht. After some time [[Galway GAA|Galway]] became the only credible team in Connacht and was essentially given an automatic pass to the All-Ireland semi-final every year. This "knock-out" system remained for many decades and was considered to be the fairest system as the All-Ireland Champions would always be the undefeated team of the series of games.

In the mid-[[1990s]] the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] looked at developing a new system whereby a defeat in the championship for certain teams may not necessarily mean an early exit from the Championship. In the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1997|Championship of 1997]] the first major change in format arrived when the so-called "back door" system was introduced. This new structure allowed the defeated [[Munster]] and [[Leinster]] finalists another chance to regain a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals. [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] and [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] were the first two teams to benefit from the new system when they defeated [[Down GAA|Down]] and Galway respectively in two "quarter-finals". The All-Ireland Final in the first year of this new experiment was a replay of the [[Munster]] Final with [[Clare GAA|Clare]] defeating [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]. The first team to win the All-Ireland through the "back door" was Offaly in 1998 when they won a replay of the Leinster final by beating Kilkenny 2-16 to 1-13.

The new "back door" system proved successful and was expanded over the following years. The [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|2005 Championship]] saw even bigger changes in the "back door" or Qualifier system. Now the [[Munster]] and [[Leinster]] champions and defeated finalists automatically qualify for the new Quarter-Final stages. While two groups of four other teams play in a league format to fill the vacant four places in the quarter-finals. Many have criticised the new structure for not being a real championship at all, for degrading the [[Munster]] and [[Leinster]] Championships and for penalising the strongest teams. However, the new "Qualifier" structure has provided more games and has given hope to the "weaker" teams, as a defeat in the first round no longer means the end of a county's All-Ireland ambitions.

==Format==
The county is a geographical region in Ireland, and each of the thirty-two [[Counties of Ireland|counties in Ireland]] organises its own GAA affairs through a County Board. The county teams play in their respective Provincial Championships in [[Munster]], [[Leinster]], [[Connacht]] and [[Ulster]]. The hurling championship qualifying structure works as follows:

'''Counties Participating:'''
Twelve Counties shall participate in the Championship (initially the Counties participating in Division 1 of the [[National Hurling League]]). Additional provision shall be made for the Ulster Champions, if not already included.

'''Provincial Championships:'''
Provincial Championships will run as normal in [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster]], [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster]] and [[Ulster Senior Hurling Championship|Ulster]] on a 'Knock Out' format.

'''All Ireland Qualifier:'''
The 8 Counties participating shall be the First Round Losers in the Leinster and Munster Championships (two Teams), the Losing Semi-Finalists in the Leinster and Munster Championships (four Teams), [[Galway GAA|Galway]], and [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]].

'''Groups (2):'''
Two Groups of four Teams shall be drawn, with a maximum of two Teams from Munster and Leinster in each Group. Each County in a Group shall meet each other i.e. each Team shall play three games.

'''All Ireland Quarter Finals (4):'''
The Pairings for the All Ireland Quarter-Finals shall be as follows:
*[[Leinster]] Champions v Second Placed Team in one Qualifier Group.
*[[Munster]] Champions v Second Placed Team in the other Qualifier Group.
*[[Leinster]] Championship Runners Up v First Placed Team in One Qualifier Group.
*[[Munster]] Championship Runners Up v First Placed Team in the other Qualifier Group.

A Draw shall be made to determine who each of the 'First Placed' Teams and each of the 'Second Placed' Teams shall meet.

'''All Ireland Semi-Finals:'''
The [[Leinster]] and [[Munster]] Provincial Champions, if still involved, shall be drawn against the other two Quarter Final Winners. If the Leinster and/or Munster Provincial Champions are defeated in the Quarter Finals, the Team(s) that defeated them shall take their position(s) in the Draw.

[[Image:Croke park.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]]]]

==Recent history==
*See: ''[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship History]]''

==All-Ireland Hurling Finals==
*See: ''[[List of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finals]]''

==Top Winners==
[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] and [[Cork GAA|Cork]] have won the All-Ireland Hurling Championship the most times - thirty titles each as of [[2007]]. Kilkenny have been runner-up more often than any other team (24 times). Cork are the only team to have won the Championship on four consecutive occasions (1941-44). Only three teams have won the McCarthy Cup on three consecutive occasions - [[Cork GAA|Cork]] (1892-94, 1941-43, 1952-54 & 1976-78), [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] (1949-51) and [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] (1911 - 13). [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]], [[Galway GAA|Galway]] and [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] have all achieved the "double" by winning back-to-back titles over the years. [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]] hold the unfortunate record of appearing in two All-Ireland Finals (1943 and 1989) without ever winning the cup.

The following is a list of the top county teams by number of wins

{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:silver;" |
! style="background:silver;" | '''Team'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Winner'''
! style="background:silver;" | Last win
! style="background:silver;" | '''Runner-up'''
! style="background:silver;" | Last losing final
|-

|| 1
|  [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 30
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|2007]]
| 24
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|2004]]
|-

|| 1
| [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| 30
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|2005]]
| 18
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|2006]]

|-
| 3
|  [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]
| 25
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2001|2001]]
| 10
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1997|1997]]
|-
| 4
| [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]
| 7
|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1973|1973]]
| 8
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|2007]]
|-
| 5
| [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]
| 6
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1938|1938]]
| 14
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1961|1961]]
|-
| 5
|
[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
| 6
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1996|1996]]
| 11
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1977|1977]]
|-
| 7
| [[Galway GAA|Galway]]
| 4
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1988|1988]]
| 17
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|2005]]
|-
| 7
| [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]
| 4
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1998|1998]]
| 3
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2000|2000]]
|-
| 9
| [[Clare GAA|Clare]]
| 3
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1997|1997]]
| 4
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2002|2002]]
|-
| 10
| [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
| 2
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1959|1959]]
| 3
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1963|1963]]
|-
| 11
|  [[London GAA|London]]
| 1
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1901|1901]]
| 3
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1903|1903]]
|-
| 11
| [[Laois GAA|Laois]]
| 1
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1915|1915]]
| 2
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1949|1949]]
|-
| 11
| [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
| 1
| [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1891|1891]]
|
|
|}

The top provinces by number of wins:

{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:silver;" |
! style="background:silver;" | '''Province'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Wins'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Last Win'''
! style="background:silver;" | Biggest Contributor
! style="background:silver;" | '''Wins'''
|-
| 1
| [[Munster]]
| 68
| 2005
| [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| 30
|-
| 2
| [[Leinster]]
| 47
| 2007
| [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 30
|-
| 3
| [[Connacht]]
| 4
| 1988
| [[Galway GAA|Galway]]
| 4
|-
| 4
| [[Ulster]]
| 0
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|}

The following counties have never won an All Ireland:
{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:silver;" | '''Province'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''County (Last final)'''
|-
| [[Ulster GAA|Ulster]]
| [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]] ([[1989]]), [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]], [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]], [[Derry GAA|Derry]], [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]], [[Down GAA|Down]], [[Fermanagh GAA|Fermanagh]], [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]], [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]
|-
| [[Leinster GAA|Leinster]]
| [[Carlow GAA|Carlow]], [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]], [[Longford GAA|Longford]], [[Louth GAA|Louth]], [[Meath GAA|Meath]], [[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]], [[Wicklow GAA|Wicklow]]
|-
| [[Connacht GAA|Connacht]]
| [[Leitrim GAA|Leitrim]], [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]], [[Roscommon GAA|Roscommon]], [[Sligo GAA|Sligo]]
|}

==Top Scorers==

As of [[July 1]], [[2007]] the all-time top scorers in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship are as follows.

{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:silver;" | #
! style="background:silver;" | '''Player'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Team'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Score'''
! style="background:silver;" | '''Games'''
|-
| 1
| [[Eddie Keher]]
| [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 36-307 (415pts)
| 50 games
|-
| 2
| [[Henry Shefflin]]*
| [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 19-297 (354pts)
| 40 games
|-
| 3
| [[Christy Ring]]
| [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| 33-208 (305pts)
| 64 games
|-
| 4
| [[D.J. Carey]]
| [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 34-195 (297pts)
| 57 games
|-
| 5
| [[Nicky Rackard]]
| [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]
| 59-96 (273pts)
| 36 games
|-
| 6
| [[Eoin Kelly (Tipperary hurler)|Eoin Kelly]]*
| [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]
| 11-224 (257pts)
| 33 games
|-
| 7
| [[Paul Flynn (hurler)|Paul Flynn]]*
| [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]
| 24-180 (252pts)
| 41 games
|-
| 8
| [[Charlie McCarthy (hurler)|Charlie McCarthy]]
| [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| 28-153 (237pts)
| 45 games
|-
| 9
| [[Jimmy Doyle]]
| [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]
| 18-176 (230pts)
| 39 games
|-
| 10
| [[Joe Deane]]*
| [[Cork GAA|Cork]]
| 2-209(215pts)
| 40 games
|-
| 11
| [[Jim Langton]]
| [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
| 16-159 (207pts)
| 27 games
|-
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> still playing

Note that scorers were not recorded for many games up to the 1930s.

==Hurling Team of the Millennium==
{| border="0" width="100%"
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Left Full Forward'''
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Full Forward'''
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Right Full Forward'''
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Jimmy Doyle]] (Tipperary)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Ray Cummins]] (Cork)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Eddie Keher]] (Kilkenny)
|-
| 
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Left Half Forward'''
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Centre Forward'''
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Right Half Forward'''
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Jim Langton]] (Kilkenny)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Mick Mackey]] (Limerick)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Christy Ring]] (Cork)
|-
| 
|-
| width="25%" |
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Midfield'''
| width="25%" |
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Jack Lynch]] (Cork)
| width="25%" |
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Lory Meagher]] (Kilkenny)
|-
| 
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Left Half Back'''
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Centre Back'''
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Right Half Back'''
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Brian Whelehan]] (Offaly)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[John Keane (hurler)|John Keane]] (Waterford)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Paddy Phelan]] (Kilkenny)
|-
| 
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Left Full Back'''
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Full Back'''
| width="25%" align="center" | '''Right Full Back'''
|-
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Bobby Rackard]] (Wexford)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Nick O'Donnell]] (Wexford)
| width="25%" align="center" | [[John Doyle (hurler)|John Doyle]] (Tipperary)
|-
| 
|-
| width="25%" |
| width="50%" align="center" | '''Goalkeeper'''
| width="25%" |
|-
| width="25%" |
| width="25%" align="center" | [[Tony Reddin]] (Tipperary)
| width="25%" |
|}

==Notable Hurling Championship Moments==
*At the third meeting of the newly-founded [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] in [[1885]] new rules for the game of hurling are drawn up and published in national newspapers.
*The first All-Ireland Hurling Championship takes place in [[1887]] with only five teams participating. The Final isn't played until the start of the new season in [[1888]] when [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] defeat [[Galway GAA|Galway]] with a score of 1-1 to 0-0.
*In the [[1900]] All-Ireland Final Tipperary score two goals in the last six minutes to snatch victory from London in the dying seconds of the game.
*In the [[1922]] All-Ireland Final [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] were three points down with three minutes to go when Paddy Donoghue and Dick Tobin scored two goals. [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] later missed the chance of an equalising goal resulting in victory for the men in black and amber.
*In [[1924]] Mick Gill creates history by winning two All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals in the same year and for different counties. In September he played on the [[Galway GAA|Galway]] side which beat [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] in the delayed [[1923]] final. In the actual [[1924]] final he played on the victorious [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] team.
*The All-Ireland Final of [[1931]] between [[Cork GAA|Cork]] and [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] had to be played no less than three times before a team emerged as the winner. On the second replay [[Cork GAA|Cork]] emerged victorious.
*In [[1937]] a builders' strike holds up progress on the new stand at [[Croke Park]], forcing a switch in venue for the All-Ireland Final to [[FitzGerald Stadium]] in [[Killarney]] where [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] defeat [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]].
*The [[1939]] All-Ireland Final is remembered as the "thunder and lightning" final. On the eve of the outbreak of [[World War II]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] and [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] played the first half of the game at a frantic pace. The climax of the final was played in a ferocious storm with victory eventually going to [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]].
*In [[1944]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] pull off an historic achievement by winning their fourth All-Ireland title in a row, a feat which has never been equalled. During the [[1940s]], the [[Cork GAA|Cork]] team, which featured [[Christy Ring]] and [[Jack Lynch]], played in six of the ten All-Ireland finals of the decade, with victory going to the Leesiders on five occasions.
*The All-Ireland Final of [[1956]] draws a record crowd of 83,096. In the game itself [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] defeat [[Cork GAA|Cork]] by 2-14 to 2-8.
*In [[1959]] Kilkenny forward [[Eddie Keher]] plays for "the Cats" in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final. A few weeks later he comes on as a substitute in the Senior final replay against [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]].
*The All-Ireland Final of [[1970]] sees the extension of the game to 80 minutes. [[Cork GAA|Cork]] defeat [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] with a massive score of 6-21 to 5-10, with [[Cork GAA|Cork]]'s [[Eddie O'Brien (hurling)|Eddie O'Brien]] scoring a [[hat-trick]]. It is the only time that a player has scored three goals in the modern era.
*In the final stages of an intense All-Ireland Final in [[1971]], [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]-player [[Babs Keating]] removes his playing boots and finishes the match in his bare feet. He passes the sliothar into one of his team mates who creates a winning score. "Barefoot Babs" and [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] went on to clinch victory from [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]].
*In the [[1984]] [[Munster]] hurling final, [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] are leading by four points with four minutes remaining when [[Tony O'Sullivan]] and [[Seanie O'Leary]] score two goals and snatch victory for [[Cork GAA|Cork]].
*In the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]]'s Centenary year of [[1984]], the All-Ireland Hurling Final is played in the town where the organisation was founded. At [[Semple Stadium]] in [[Thurles]], [[Cork GAA|Cork]] overcome [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]] by 3-16 to 1-12.
*The All-Ireland Final of [[1993]] is the last game to be played in the old [[Croke Park]] before the demolition of the Cusack Stand and the beginning of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the entire stadium.
*The All-Ireland Final of [[1994]] has come to be remembered as the "five minute final." [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] looked set to win their first All-Ireland title since [[1973]] until [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]] stage one of the greatest comebacks of all time, scoring two goals and most of their points in the last few minutes. They defeat [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] by 3-16 to 2-13.
*The Championship of [[1997]] sees the introduction of the so-called "back-door" system where the beaten [[Munster]] and [[Leinster]] finalists are allowed back to contest the All-Ireland series. [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] and [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] are the first counties to benefit from the new format. [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] and [[Clare GAA|Clare]] contest the first, and to date, only all Munster final under the new structure.
*In the All-Ireland Semi-Final replay of [[1998]] between [[Clare GAA|Clare]] and [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]], referee Jimmy Cooney blows the whistle two minutes early. Offaly's players and supporters launch a sit-down protest on the pitch due to the fact that they were losing when the whistle was blown early. An extra replay was forced to be played, which Offaly won.
*In [[2003]] a bookmaking firm exploits a loop-hole in the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]]'s Official Code and sponsors the hurleys of three players in an All-Ireland Semi-Final clash between [[Cork GAA|Cork]] and [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]. The rule is later amended to prevent any repeat of the incident.
*In what many believe to be the greatest [[Munster]] hurling final of all time, [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] defeated [[Cork GAA|Cork]] in front of a packed attendance in [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]]. With Waterford down to 14 men following the dismissal of John Mullane, Paul Flynn scored a wondergoal from 40 metres out when many expected him to go for a point. Waterford went on to win the game by one point, 3-16 to 1-21.
*In the [[2004]] [[Leinster]] semi-Final, [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] trail [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] by 1 point with seconds to go. A block down on a [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] clearance leads the ball to the hand of one of the [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] forwards who scores a winning goal with the last puck of the ball, despite suspicion of a Wexford forward being illegally in the small parallellogram - the area around the goalmouth that attacking players are not allowed enter before the ball enters the area.
*The All-Ireland Final on [[September 11]], [[2005]] was the first to be played at the fully refurbished [[Croke Park]]. The Cusack Stand, the Canal Stand, the Hogan Stand and the new Hill 16 and Nally End all have a combined capacity of 82,300. Unfortunately this capacity was not met due to ticketing errors in the GAA.

===Tier 1: Liam McCarthy Cup===

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; text-align:center; width:100px;" |
| '''[[Antrim GAA|Antrim]]''' ([[Ulster]])
| '''[[Clare GAA|Clare]]''' ([[Munster]])
| '''[[Cork GAA|Cork]]''' ([[Munster]])
| '''[[Dublin GAA|Dublin]]''' ([[Leinster]])
| '''[[Galway GAA|Galway]]''' ([[Connacht]])
| '''[[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]''' ([[Leinster]])
|-
| '''[[Laois GAA|Laois]]''' ([[Leinster]])
| '''[[Limerick GAA|Limerick]]''' ([[Munster]])
| '''[[Offaly GAA|Offaly]]''' ([[Leinster]])
| '''[[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]]''' ([[Munster]])
| '''[[Waterford GAA|Waterford]]''' ([[Munster]])
| '''[[Wexford GAA|Wexford]]''' ([[Leinster]])
|}

[[Image:Allirelandc.GIF|thumb|right|332px|Counties coloured by 2007 championship level.]]

===Tier 2: Christy Ring Cup===
*[[Carlow GAA|Carlow]]
*[[Derry GAA|Derry]] - promoted last year
*[[Down GAA|Down]]
*[[Kerry GAA|Kerry]]
*[[Kildare GAA|Kildare]]
*[[London GAA|London]]
*[[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]
*[[Meath GAA|Meath]]
*[[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]] - relegated last year
*[[Wicklow GAA|Wicklow]]

===Tier 3: Nicky Rackard Cup===
*[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]
*[[Cavan GAA|Cavan]]
*[[Donegal GAA|Donegal]]
*[[Fermanagh GAA|Fermanagh]]
*[[Leitrim GAA|Leitrim]]
*[[Longford GAA|Longford]]
*[[Louth GAA|Louth]]
*[[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]
*[[Roscommon GAA|Roscommon]] - relegated last year
*[[Sligo GAA|Sligo]]
*[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]
*[[Warwickshire GAA|Warwickshire]]

==External links==
*[http://www.gaainfo.com/comp.php?co=intercounty&comp=shc All-Ireland Hurling Championship Results]
*[http://www.hurlingstats.com/ Hurling Statistics]

==See also==
*[[Top 20 GAA Moments]]

{{Liam McCarthy Cup|width=75%}}
{{Christy Ring Cup|width=75%}}
{{Nicky Rackard Cup|width=75%}}
{{Gaelic games in Ireland}}
{{Hurling All-Irelands}}

* visit GAA wars http://www.student.dcu.ie/~saundem2/WebProject/Home/Home.html

[[Category:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships| ]]
[[Category:All-Ireland inter-county hurling championships]]

[[de:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]]
[[fr:Championnat d'Irlande de hurling]]
[[ga:Craobh Iomána Sinsearach na hÉireann]]

Sweet Caroline

2008-05-07T13:34:40Z

216.94.61.100: /* Covers */

{{For|the [[Prison Break]] episode|Sweet Caroline (Prison Break episode)}}

{{Infobox Single 
| Name = Sweet Caroline
| Artist = Neil Diamond
| from Album = Sweet Caroline
| Released = [[28 June]] [[1969]]
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| Length = 3:21
| Label = [[Uni Records|UNI]]/[[MCA Records|MCA]]
| Producer = [[Chips Moman]] / [[Neil Diamond]] / [[Tommy Cogsbill]]
| Chart position =
* 4 ([[US]])
* 8 ([[UK]])
}}

"'''Sweet Caroline'''" is a [[pop song]] written and performed by [[Neil Diamond]] and officially released on [[September 16]], [[1969]], as a [[single (song)|single]]. There are three distinct mixes of this song. The original mono 45 mix had a loud orchestra and glockenspiel compared to the stereo version on the ''[[Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show]]'' lp. The third version was a remix found only on the initial CD release of Neil Diamond's "His 12 Greatest Hits". This version has the orchestra mixed down very noticeably and has the background vocals mixed up. It has a longer fade as well. The song reached #4 on the ''Billboard'' chart and eventually went [[Music recording sales certification| platinum]] for sales of one million singles.<ref name="billboard-bio">{{cite web
| url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=4456&aid=5629
| title = "Neil Diamond: Biography"
| work = Billboard.com
| accessdate = 2007-11-20
}}</ref>

In the fall of 1969, Diamond performed "Sweet Caroline" on several television shows. It later reached #8 on the UK singles chart in 1971. In a 2007 interview, Diamond revealed after many decades that the inspiration for "Sweet Caroline" was President [[John F. Kennedy]]'s daughter, [[Caroline Kennedy]], who was eleven years old at the time.<ref name="guard">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2214419,00.html|title=Neil Diamond reveals secret of Sweet Caroline|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=November 21|publisher=''The Guardian Unlimited''|year=2007|author=Dan Glaister}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2007/11/21/sweet_caroline_revealed/|title='Sweet Caroline' revealed|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=March 15|publisher=''The Boston Globe''|year=2007|author=Carol Beggy and Mark Shanahan}}</ref> Diamond sang the song to her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite news
| first = Sandy
| last = Cohen
| url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/71445
| title = 'Sweet Caroline' was Caroline Kennedy
| work = [[Newsweek]]
| date = [[20 November]] [[2007]]
| accessdate = 2007-11-20
}}</ref>

== At sporting events ==

''Sweet Caroline'' is popular at sporting events, and is played at [[Auburn University]], [[Boston College]], [[Penn State]], [[Ohio State]], [[Texas Christian University]], [[Boston Red Sox]], [[New York Giants]], [[Minnesota Twins]], [[New York Mets]], [[Washington Nationals]], [[San Jose Giants]], [[Portland Beavers]], [[Ole Miss Rebels|University of Mississippi]] and [[Vanderbilt University]] baseball games, and [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]] and [[Florida State University]] sporting events, as well as [[University of Kansas]], [[Michigan State University]], [[Davidson College]], Brevard College and [[Charlotte Bobcats]] basketball games, as well as [[New York Jets]] home games, [[UMass Amherst]] hockey games, [[Green Bay Blizzard]],[[University of Wisconsin]] and [[Iowa State University]] football games and [[Bowling Green State University]] football and [[hockey]] games including the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], [[New York Rangers]], and [[Florida Panthers]]. [[Indiana University]] recently started playing it at their basketball games.

The song began being used as a victory song for the [[New York Rangers]] during the [[2005-2006 NHL season|2005-2006 season]] when head coach [[Tom Renney]] would play it in the locker room following victories. Shortly thereafter, the song began being played at [[Madison Square Garden]] by the PA System at the end of games that the Rangers were winning. However, during that season there were a few times in which the song was played prior to the end of the game with the Rangers in the lead. Some of those even resulted in the Rangers eventually losing the game. Shortly after that, the song began only being played if a game was out of reach for the opponent or after the game.

The song is usually sung by supporters of [[Premier League|English football]] team {{fc|Arsenal}} and [[Northern_Ireland_national_football_team|Northern Ireland]] fans where it is heard at [[Windsor Park]] before the match, at half time and after the final whistle is blown.

"Sweet Caroline" is the official club song at Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United FC of [[Football League One]], where it is played as the players make their entrance; it is a fan favourite in Cumbria and was chosen by fan vote. In the past two seasons it has also been often used at [[Hereford United]] away matches, which is always started by a group of fans known as the 'Fun Bus'.

At the annual [[Hong Kong Sevens|Hong Kong Rugby Sevens]], which draws large numbers of tourists to the city, "Sweet Caroline" is amongst the few songs which are hailed as anthems of the major sporting event/festival. The entire stadium tends to burst into simultaneous song during the chorus when the song is played during breaks between games.

In Australia the song is recited at St. John's College, University of Sydney after sporting events and at formal dinners where the residents wear academic attire.

'''''Sweet Caroline'' and the [[Boston Red Sox]]: ''' The song got its start at [[Fenway Park]] thanks to Amy Tobey, who was the ballpark’s music director from 1998 to 2004. She was responsible for choosing the music to be played between innings and picked Sweet Caroline simply because she had heard it played at other sporting events.

At first, Tobey played the song at random games sometime between the seventh and ninth innings, and only if the Red Sox were ahead. Tobey considered the song a good luck charm and it soon became something the fans anticipated.

But it wasn’t until 2002, when [[John W. Henry]]'s group bought the [[Boston Red Sox]], that Sweet Caroline become an official Fenway tradition. That’s when the new ownership requested that Tobey play the song during the eighth inning of every game.

Today Megan Kaiser is the person who chooses the between innings songs at Fenway Park, with the 8th inning exception.

Kaiser did add a slightly new touch to the playback of Diamond’s tune, as she turns off the sound during the most popular parts of the song. Red Sox fans know the words by heart now so they don’t need much help with the lyrics, and the song has become an important part of the ballpark atmosphere. [[http://www.redsoxconnection.com/sweetcaroline.html]]

<ref name="Vosk">{{cite news
| first = Stephanie
| last = Vosk
| url = http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/05/29/another_mystery_of_the_diamond_explained_at_last/
| title = Another mystery of the Diamond, explained at last
| work = Boston.com
| publisher = [[Boston Globe]]
| date = [[May 29]], [[2005]]
| accessdate = 2007-11-20
}}</ref><ref name="Orlean">{{cite web
| last = Orlean
| first = Susan
| date = [[September 30]], [[2005]]
| url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4930465
| title = "The Mystery of 'Sweet Caroline' and the Sox"
| format = audio
| work = [[Morning Edition]]
| publisher = [[National Public Radio]]
| accessdate = 2007-11-20
}}</ref>

The sing-along gained fame in a sequence of the 2005 movie ''[[Fever Pitch (2005 film)|Fever Pitch]]''. In the [[karaoke]] and sing-along versions, the chorus has fans singing "Sweet Caroline..." with the fans imitating the music to "Oh, oh, oh! Good times never seemed so good" followed by the chant of "So good, so good, so good!" The next line goes "I've been inclined..." with the "Oh, oh, oh!" tag repeated.

On [[April 8]], [[2008]] during the Red Sox' first home game of the 2008 season, a new video of Diamond performing the song was unveiled as part of the opening day activites. In the video Diamond was wearing a Red Sox jacket.

== Covers ==
* In his February 1970 shows at the International, [[Elvis Presley]] first sang "Sweet Caroline", it was so popular, the song remained in his set list for many years.

* In 1970, [[Anthony Armstrong]] took the song into the Top 40 of the [[country music|country]] charts. In 1972, [[Bobby Womack]] took it into the Top 20 of the [[R&B]] charts {#16). A number of other artists have recorded covers, including [[Andy Williams]], [[Bobby Goldsboro]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[the Ventures]], [[Ray Conniff]], [[Boots Randolph]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Guster]], and [[Waylon Jennings]].

* In the 1996 film ''[[Beautiful Girls]]'', [[Timothy Hutton]] leads a sing-along performance of the song in a Massachusetts bar.

* In [[Ireland]], in December 2001, a dance version by [[Dustin the Turkey]] reached number one in the singles charts, his last number-one hit to date. It was also covered by the [[punk music]] band [[Me First and the Gimme Gimmes]] on their album ''[[Have a Ball]]''. "Sweet Caroline" has also been covered by [[Reggae]] group [[Bunny Rugs & The Upsetters]] in 1974 on their album ''To Love Somebody''.

* In September 2004, [[Jimmy Buffett]] included "Sweet Caroline" in a medley with "[[Why Don't We Get Drunk]]" during both of his Fenway Park shows ([[10 September]] and [[12 September]] [[2004]]) stating, "Never again will those songs be played together in one medley at Fenway Park."

* [[Dave Matthews Band]] followed suit and performed "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway Park on [[July 8]], [[2006]] and again on [[March 24]], [[2007]], at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].

* During [[U2]]'s [[PopMart Tour]], [[U2]]'s guitarist [[The Edge]] performed several karaoke versions of "Sweet Caroline".

* The song was covered by [[The Railbenders]], a [[Denver]]-based hard-country band on their 2003 release ''Segundo''.

* [[Angelo Venuto]] recorded a [[techno music|techno]] version of the song.

* [[Bobby Darin]] performed the song live, but at a slower, more dramatic tempo. This cover is available on the HYENA DVD ''Bobby Darin- Seeing Is Believing''.

* [[Jonathan Coulton]] often performs the song with [[Paul and Storm]] as part of his encore.

* According to the album literature of 1996's ''In My Lifetime'', Diamond came up with the famous A6 chord (used in the "...hands, touching hands" portion of the song) in the song in a hotel room one night.

* On season 7 of [[American Idol]], top 5 contestant [[David Archuleta]] performed this song the night Neil Diamond mentored the contestants.

* [[Joe Dolan]] also recoreded a cover shortly before his death.

== In entertainment ==

* The song also served as the opening theme for [[Caroline Rhea]]'s short-lived 2002 talk show. The audience often sang along with the song as well.

* The song was heard as Detroit Tiger's manager Jim Leyland's ringtone in a December 2007 press conference.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Football songs and chants]]
[[Category:Neil Diamond songs]]
[[Category:Bobby Womack songs]]
[[Category:1969 singles]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:2001 singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Ireland]]

[[es:Sweet Caroline]]
[[no:Sweet Caroline]]

Culchie

2008-04-22T15:17:38Z

216.94.61.100:

{{wiktionary}}
In [[Hiberno-English]], a '''culchie''' is someone from rural [[Ireland]]. It can have the [[pejorative]] sense of "[[country bumpkin]]", but is also [[reclaiming|reclaimed]] by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used by either side in [[banter]] between town and country people. [[Dublin GAA]] fans call supporters of any other of the [[GAA county|county team]]s from Ireland as ''culchies'', fans from counties in the north are called ''nordies''. Dublin's fans are themselves called ''[[Jackeen]]s'' in retort. In [[Dublin]], a Dubliner will consider anyone from the rest of the [[Republic of Ireland]] to be a 'culchie'. This is because the accents of people in the provinces can sound similar to a Dubliner, even if they are not. However, in larger provincial towns and cities such as [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Limerick]] and [[Galway]], the term may be sometimes allocated to anybody who comes from outside an urban area. The same is true for [[Belfast]] and the rest of [[Northern Ireland]], where the term is also popular.<ref>[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1361267,00.html "Culchie clashing", ''The Observer'' November 28, 2004]</ref> Generally the term is more humorous than abusive in rural areas.

The origin of the word comes from an old Gaelic term "cul na ti" meaning the back of the house. Many city dwellers from Dublin tenaments had to go work as servants. The servants were not permitted to enter the house from the front but had to use the back door or servants entrance. They thus were refered to as the cul na ti's or culchies.
Another possible derivation is from the [[Irish language|Irish]] ''coillte'' meaning 'the wood/forest', to describe people who lived in the woods.
Another theory is that it came about as a retort to the Jackeen/west-brit label for Dubliners; a culchie was someone actually proud to be Irish [sic] (which was and is seen by many Dubliners to be a bad thing).

The opposite to a culchie, ''[[townie]]''; is a derogatory term sometimes used to describe people from urban areas, or ''[[jackeen]]'' for a person from Dublin.

There is an Annual Culchie Festival in Athboy, Co.Meath every August to find "The culchie of the year". Contestants come from all over Ireland, and abroad. The applicant is considered to have a good chance if he can dress in old clothes, drive an old [[Honda]] 50 motorcycle, and is well prepared to get his hands dirty trying to earn a living. A direct manner, a positive optimistic outlook on life, and a complex sense of humour also help. This competition is purely humorous.

Culchies are seen as simple people who have a fairly direct manner, physical strength, limited social skills, and a heavy accent.

==The Term Culchie in Popular Culture==
[[David McWilliams]] coined the term [[Dulchie]]s to describe Dubliners who decide to live in other counties of Leinster. This subgroup of people often live in urban areas like [[Navan]], [[Kells, County Meath|Kells]] and [[Naas]]. Characteristics include preference for outdoor activities, reduced status consciousness, a higher priority placed on quality time over money, and involvement in local organizations.

The comedian [[Pat Shortt]] has made a successful living out of being a culchie comedian. He has his own television series, [[Killinascully]], based on a theme of culchies in a village in rural [[Munster]]. The Christmas episode of Killinascully receives viewership figures that place it in the top 3 most viewed programs in Ireland, on an annual basis.

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Pejorative terms for people]]
[[Category:Regional nicknames]]

Bare-knuckle boxing

2008-04-08T21:11:32Z

216.94.61.100: /* History */ del obvious nonsense

:''See also [[bare-knuckle]] for other uses.''
'''Bare-knuckle boxing''' (also known as '''bare-knuckle''' or '''fisticuffs''') is the original form of [[boxing]] closely related to ancient [[combat sport]]s. It involves two individuals fighting without any [[boxing gloves]] or other form of padding on their hands.
The difference between a [[streetfight]] and a bare-knuckle boxing match is that there are rules, such as not [[Strike (attack)|striking]] a downed opponent, that are followed instead unlike a "[[no holds barred]]" match.

[[Image:John L Sullivan.jpg|framed|111px|Bare-knuckle boxer [[John Lawrence Sullivan]].]]

== History ==

==Notable bare-knuckle boxers==
{{main|List of bare-knuckle boxers}}
*[[Simon Byrne]]
*[[Ben Caunt]]
*[[Tom Cribb]]
*[[Lenny McLean]]
*[[Daniel Mendoza]]
*[[Tom Molineaux]]
*[[John Morrissey| John "Old Smoke" Morrissey]] (Deafeated Sullivan for Title)
*[[Tom Sayers]]
*[[Roy Shaw]]
*[[John L. Sullivan]] (first heavyweight champion)
*[[William Thompson (boxer)|William 'Bendigo' Thompson]]
*[[Bartley Gorman]]
*[[Carlos Sanchez]] (4x Champion)
*[[John Jackson]] bare knuckle boxing champ beat Mendoza

==See also==
*[[List of bare-knuckle boxers]]
*[[London Prize Ring rules]]

==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z36NjMNNrtw 30 year Bare-Knuckle Champ Macale Merton (video)]

[[Category:Bare-knuckle boxing|*]]
[[Category:Boxing terminology]]
[[Category:Combat sports]]

[[de:Bare-knuckle]]
[[et:Rusikavõitlus]]
[[fr:Pugilat]]

Valley of the Queens

2008-04-01T17:04:03Z

216.94.61.100:

{{coor title dm|25|43|N|32|35|E|}}
[[Image:Valley of the Queens.jpg|250px|right|thumb|General view of the Valley of the Queens]]
The '''Valley of the Queers''', also known as ''Biban el-Harim'' ({{lang-ar|بيبان الحريم}}), ''Biban el-Sultanat'' ({{lang-ar|بيبان السلطانات}}), and ''Wadi el-Melikat'' ({{lang-ar|وادي الملكات}}), is a place in [[Egypt]] where wives of [[Pharaoh]]s were buried in ancient times. In ancient times, it was known as '''Ta-Set-Neferu''', meaning –‘the place of the Children of the Pharaoh’, because along with the Queens of the [[Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt| 18th]], [[Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt| 19th]] and [[Twentieth dynasty of Egypt| 20th dynasties]] (1550–1070 BCE) many princes and princesses were also buried with various members of the nobility. The tombs of these individuals were maintained by mortuary priests who performed daily rituals and provided offerings and prayers for the deceased nobility.

The valley is located near the better known [[Valley of the Kings]], on the west bank of the [[Nile]] across from [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] (modern [[Luxor]]) . This barren area in the western hills was chosen due to its relative isolation and proximity to the capital. The kings of the 18th dynasty, instead of the traditional building of pyramids as burial chambers (perhaps because of their vulnerability to [[grave robbing|tomb robbers]]), now chose to be buried in rock-cut tombs.

This [[necropolis]] is said to hold more than seventy tombs, many of which are stylish and lavishly decorated. An example of this is the resting place carved out of the rock for Queen [[Nefertari]] (1290–1224 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty. The [[polychrome]] reliefs in her tomb are still intact.


==Principal burials==
[[Image:Maler der Grabkammer der Nefertari 003.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Scene from the tomb of [[Nefertari]]]]
* [[QV8]] – Hori, King's Son (18th dynasty) and a King's Daughter
* [[QV17]] – Merytre and Wermeryotes, princesses (18th dynasty)
* [[QV30]] – Nebiri, Head of the Stables (18th dynasty)
* [[QV33]] – Princess Tanedjmet (19th or 20th dynasty)
* [[QV38]] – [[Queen Sitre]], wife of [[Ramesses I]]
* [[QV42]] – Pa-ra-her-unemef, son of [[Ramesses III]]
* [[QV43]] – Seth-her-khopsef, son of Ramesses III
* [[QV44]] – [[Khaemwaset E|Khaemwaset]], son of Ramesses III
* [[QV46]] – [[Imhotep, vizier of Thutmose I|Imhotep]], vizier under [[Thutmose I]]
* [[QV47]] – Princess Ahmose, daughter of [[Tao II the Brave]] and [[Sitdjehuti]]
* [[QV51]] – Queen [[Iset, Wife of Ramesses III|Isis-ta-Habadjilat]], wife of Ramesses III, mother of [[Ramesses VI]]
* [[QV52]] – Queen Tyti (19th or 20th dynasty)
* [[QV53]] – [[Ramesses B|Prince Ramesses]], son of Ramesses III
* [[QV55]] – Prince [[Amun-her-khepeshef]], son of Ramesses III
* [[QV60]] – Queen [[Nebettawy]], daughter of Ramesses II
* [[QV66]] – Queen [[Nefertari]], wife of Ramesses II
* [[QV68]] – Queen [[Meritamun]], daughter of Ramesses II and Nefertari
* [[QV71]] – Queen [[Bintanath]], daughter of Ramesses II and [[Isetnofret]]
* [[QV72]] – Neferhat / Baki
* [[QV73]] – Queen Henuttawy? (possibly dated to the 20th Dynasty)
* [[QV74]] – [[Tentopet|(Dua)Tentopet]]
* [[QV75]] – [[Henutmire]], daughter or sister of Ramesses II
* [[QV76]] – Merytre, King's Daughter (18th Dynasty)
* [[QV80]] – Queen (Mut-)Tuy, Wife of Seti I and mother of Ramesses II. Daughter of Raia (an officer of the chariotry) and his wife (R)uia.
* [[QV81]] – Heka..., (18th Dynasty)
* [[QV82]] – Minemhat and Amenhotep, King's Sons (18th Dynasty)
* [[QV88]] – Ahmose, King's Son (18th Dynasty)

==Other Burials==
Fragments of burial equipments were found for several additional members of the royal family. No known tombs exist for these individuals but the existence of the burial equipment suggests that these people may have once been buried in the Valley of the Queens as well.<ref>Dodson A. and Hilton D. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, London 2004</ref>

* King's Wife Henut. Mid 18th Dynasty. Her name was enclosed in a cartouche on canopic fragments.
* Prince Menkheperre, Son of Tuthmosis III and Merytre Hatshepsut. Canopic fragments were found.
* King's Great Wife Nebetnehat. Mid 18th Dynasty. Her name was enclosed in a cartouche on canopic fragments.
* King's Daughter Ti. Mid 18th Dynasty. Canopic fragments were found.

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* Bunson, Margaret. "Valley of the Queens." Encyclopædia of Ancient Egypt. New York. (1991)

{{Ancient Egypt}}

[[Category:Valley of the Queens| ]]

{{Ancient-Egypt-stub}} __NOTOC__

[[ca:Vall de les Reines]]
[[de:Tal der Königinnen]]
[[es:Valle de las Reinas]]
[[fr:Vallée des Reines]]
[[gl:Val das Raíñas]]
[[it:Valle delle Regine]]
[[hu:Királynék völgye]]
[[nl:Vallei der Koninginnen]]
[[pl:Dolina Królowych]]
[[pt:Vale das Rainhas]]
[[ru:Долина Цариц]]
[[sh:Dolina Kraljica]]
[[fi:Kuningattarien laakso]]
[[sv:Drottningarnas dal]]

Bojangles Coliseum

2008-03-24T17:55:47Z

216.94.61.100:

{{missing citations|date=December 2007}}

{| class="infobox" style="width: 20em;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger;" | '''Cricket Arena'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | ''The Big I/The Old Coliseum''
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | 
|-
! style="background: #efefef;" colspan="2" | Facility statistics
|-
| '''Location''' || [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
|-
| '''Broke ground''' || ?
|-
| '''Opened''' || [[1955]] (First Run) [[1992]] (Current)
|-
| '''Closed''' || [[1988]] (For renovations)
|-
| '''Demolished''' || On historic register
|-
| '''Owner''' || City of Charlotte
|-
| '''Operator''' || City of Charlotte
|-
| '''Surface''' || --
|-
| '''Construction cost''' || ?
|-
| '''Architect''' || Odell & Associates
|-
! style="background: #efefef;" colspan="2" | Former names
|-
| colspan="2" | Charlotte Coliseum ([[1955]]-[[1988]]) Independence Arena ([[1988]]-[[2001]]) Cricket Arena ([[2001]]-)
|-
! style="background: #efefef;" colspan="2" | Tenants
|-
| colspan="2" | [[Carolina Cougars]] ([[1969]]-[[1974]]) [[Charlotte 49ers]] ([[1976]]-[[1988]], [[1993]]-[[1996]]) [[Charlotte Cobras]] ([[Major Indoor Lacrosse League|MILL]]) ([[1996]]) [[Charlotte Checkers]] ([[ECHL]]) ([[1993]]-[[2005]]) [[Charlotte Krunk]] ([[2005]])
|-
! style="background: #efefef;" colspan="2" | Seating capacity
|-
| colspan="2" | 9,605 (all-seated)
|}
The '''Cricket Arena''' is a 9,605-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] and sports venue in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. It is operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the [[Ovens Auditorium]] and the [[Charlotte Convention Center]]. The title sponsor is cellular provider [[Cricket Communications]].

== History ==
Cricket Arena was opened and dedicated in [[1955]] as the Charlotte Coliseum. At the time it was the largest unsupported steel dome in the world. After the new [[Charlotte Coliseum]] opened in 1988, the name was changed to '''Independence Arena''' (named for its location on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte) and underwent an extensive renovation. In [[2001]] the arena was given its current-day name in a [[naming rights]] arrangement.

===Basketball===
As the old Charlotte Coliseum it was a site for home games for the [[Carolina Cougars]] of the [[American Basketball Association (1967-1976)|American Basketball Association]] from [[1969]] through [[1974]].<ref>[http://www.remembertheaba.com/Carolina-Cougars.html Remember the ABA: Carolina Cougars]</ref>It also hosted the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] men's basketball tournament from 1968-1970 and was the site of the [[Sun Belt Conference]] men’s basketball tournament from 1977 through 1980. Additionally, it hosted the Charlotte 49ers on and off since the 1970s.

===Other sports===
It was the one of the flagship venues for [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] and the NWA in the 1980s. It also hosted wrestling pay-per-views [[Starrcade#1993|Starrcade]] in 1993, and [[Slamboree#1997|Slamboree]] in 1997. The arena was a cornerstone of the Carolinas [[professional wrestling|wrestling]] territory during that time.

The venue was also the home of [[minor league]] hockey in Charlotte from [[1956]], when the first [[Baltimore Clippers]] moved to Charlotte to become the early Checkers, to [[1977]], when the first version of the Checkers folded. When the Checkers were revived in [[1993]], they played there until [[2005]], and the arena would be available should Kelly Cup Playoff games be needed because of the unavailability of Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The ECHL mandates playoff games to be played in a very compact timeframe because the South Division has three consecutive five-game series, and the NBA schedule makes it probable that the Checkers would have to play games in another venue.

The arena also hosted the worst team in Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) history in the form of the Charlotte Cobras (0-10). The 1996 season was their one and only in the MILL. The team was folded without ever winning a game.

===Concerts===
The arena's size attracted some of the top acts in music during the 1960s and through the 1970s, including:
*[[The Rolling Stones]] on [[July 6]], [[1972]].
*[[Elvis Presley]], who played the venue several times in the [[1970s]], including [[April 13]], [[1972]], and two shows in 1977, on [[February 20]] and [[February 21]].
*[[Queen (band)|Queen]], who played on [[August 13]], [[1980]], as part of their ''[[The Game Tour]]''.

===Other events===
Cricket Arena has been the site for the Spring Commencement ceremony of [[Johnson C. Smith University]] (JCSU) for a number of years. JCSU uses Cricket Arena because Cricket offers more seating and parking capacity than JCSU's own on-campus facilities do.

== Future ==
With the departure of the Charlotte Checkers for the new [[Charlotte Bobcats Arena]] in 2005, Cricket Arena is left with no major tenant and its future remains in the air. Charlotteans generally like the arena, commonly referred to locally as "The Old Coliseum" or "The Big I," due to its old-time atmosphere and convenient location on Independence Boulevard, one of the city's main arteries. Locals did not feel nearly as much affection for the Charlotte Coliseum, because of its inconvenient location southwest of Uptown (the central business district). The Coliseum was most reviled, however, because it rekindles bitter memories of the [[New Orleans Hornets|Charlotte Hornets]], who were moved to [[New Orleans]] in [[2002]] by locally-despised team owner George Shinn. The Coliseum was closed in 2005 and demolished in [[2007]].

Cricket Arena will remain open as a venue for medium-sized concerts and stage shows which would not be suitable for the new Bobcats Arena, and also high school and some college sporting events, along with local attractions in years to come. Furthermore, Cricket Arena would be ready in case Bobcats Arena may not be available for the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, as the South Division's compact scheduling may affect games (arena availability for compact playoff series has been a problem in the ECHL historically). The arena is not likely to be demolished, as it holds a place on the Charlotte historical register.

In June, [[2006]] it was announced in the ''[[Charlotte Observer]]'' that the Arena would host races from the [[Arena Racing USA]] league. The Charlotte effort is being headed by [[NASCAR]] owner [[Joe Gibbs]] along with drivers [[Tony Stewart]] and [[Denny Hamlin]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cricketarenacharlotte.com/ Cricket Arena Website]

{{start}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the [[Charlotte 49ers]]
| years = 1976 – 1988
| before = [[Belk Gymnasium]]
| after = [[Charlotte Coliseum]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the [[Charlotte 49ers]]
| years = 1993 – 1996
| before = [[Charlotte Coliseum]]
| after = [[Dale F. Halton Arena|Halton Arena]]
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the [[Charlotte Checkers]]
| years = 1993 – 2005
| before = first arena
| after = [[Charlotte Bobcats Arena]]
}}
{{end}}

{{bb start}}
{{CBA Arenas}}
{{bb end}}

{{Charlotte sports venues}}
{{ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Venues}}

{{coor title dms|35|12|18.59|N|80|47|42.37|W|type:landmark}}

[[Category:Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in the United States]]
[[Category:Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College basketball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Carolina Cougars]]
[[Category:American Basketball Association venues]]
[[Category:Charlotte 49ers basketball]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball tournament venues]]
[[Category:Indoor soccer venues in the United States]]

UFC 83

2008-03-11T15:31:42Z

216.94.61.100: /* Preliminary Card */

{{future sport}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=UFC 83: Serra vs St-Pierre 2
|image= Ufc83.jpg
|promotion=[[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
|date=[[April 19]], [[2008]]
|venue=[[Bell Centre]]
|city=[[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
|previousevent=[[UFC 82|UFC 82: Pride of a Champion]]
|followingevent=[[UFC 84|UFC 84: Ill Will]]
}}
'''''UFC 83: Serra vs St-Pierre 2''''' is an upcoming [[mixed martial arts]] event to be held by the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]. The UFC has scheduled the event for April 19, 2008, at the [[Bell Centre]] in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]. UFC 83 will be the UFC's first event in Canada.<ref name="date">{{cite web
|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2008/01/04/matt-serra-is-willing-to-fight-georges-st-pierre-in-canada/
|title=Matt Serra Is Willing to Fight Georges St. Pierre in Canada
|last=Stupp
|first=Dann
|publisher=MMA Junkie
|date=January 4, 2008
|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> The event on this date was originally scheduled to be called ''UFC 84'',<ref name=macdonaldsdoerksen>{{cite web
|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2008/01/13/mma-executive-jason-macdonald-vs-joe-doerksen-at-ufc-84/
|title=MMA Executive: Jason MacDonald vs. Joe Doerksen at UFC 84
|last=Stupp
|first=Dann
|publisher=MMA Junkie
|date=January 13, 2008
|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref> but following the cancellation of a tentatively scheduled March 8, 2008 event in England,<ref name=march8off>{{cite web
|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2008/01/29/houston-alexander-vs-james-irvin-clay-guida-vs-samy-schiavo-added-to-ufc-fight-night-13/
|title= Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin, Clay Guida vs. Samy Schiavo Added to UFC Fight Night 13
|last=Stupp
|first=Dann
|publisher=MMA Junkie
|date=January 29, 2008
|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> the event's title was changed to ''UFC 83'' instead.

It will be headlined by UFC Welterweight Champion [[Matt Serra]] and UFC Interim Welterweight Champion [[Georges St. Pierre]].<ref name=sherdogmainevent>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=10711
|title=Report: Serra to Fight St. Pierre in Montreal
|publisher=Sherdog.com
|date=January 4, 2008
|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref> Several promiment Canadian fighters are set to fight, including [[Kalib Starnes]], [[Mark Bocek]], [[Jason MacDonald]], [[Sam Stout]], and [[Jonathan Goulet]]. [[Patrick Côté]]<ref name=cote>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=6257
|title=COTE OFF UFC 83 CARD
|publisher=thefightnetwork.com
|date=February 11, 2008
|accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> was originally projected to be on the card against an as-yet-unapproved opponent, but a slip-and-fall injury removed him from the slate.

==Announced matchups==

===Main Card===
*Undisputed Welterweight championship bout: {{flagicon|USA}} [[Matt Serra]] vs. {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Georges St. Pierre]] <ref name=ufc83>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=EventDetail.FightCard&eid=1082
|title= UFC 83: Serra vs. St.Pierre 2 Fight Card
|last=
|first=
|publisher=UFC.com
|date=January 31, 2008
|accessdate=2008-02-01}}</ref>
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rich Franklin]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Travis Lutter]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|UK}} [[Michael Bisping]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles McCarthy]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Lightweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Mark Bocek]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mac Danzig]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kalib Starnes]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Nate Quarry]]<ref name=ufc83 />

===Preliminary Card===
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Jason MacDonald]] vs. {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Joe Doerksen]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Jason Day]] (the link provided is not to the Jason Day that will be fighting at UFC 83) vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Alan Belcher]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Lightweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Sam Stout]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rich Clementi]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Welterweight bout: {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Jonathan Goulet]] vs. {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kuniyoshi Hironaka]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Heavyweight bout: {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Brad Morris]] vs. {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cain Velazquez]]<ref name=ufc83 />
*Middleweight bout: {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ed Herman]] vs. {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Demian Maia]]<ref name=ufc83 />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.FightCard&eid=1082 Official UFC 83 Fight Card]
*[http://83.ufc.com Official UFC 83 site]

{{UFC Events}}
{{mixedmartialart-stub}}
[[Category:2008 in mixed martial arts]]

[[ja:UFC 83]]

Barry Lyndon

2008-03-04T13:58:47Z

216.94.61.100: /* Locations */

{{Refimprove|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox Film
| name = Barry Lyndon
| image = Barry_Lyndon_A.jpg
| director = [[Stanley Kubrick]]
| producer = [[Stanley Kubrick]]
| cinematography = [[John Alcott]]
| writer = [[William Makepeace Thackeray]] (novel) [[Stanley Kubrick]]
| starring = [[Ryan O'Neal]] [[Marisa Berenson]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = [[18 December]], [[1975]]
| runtime = 184 min.
| language = English
| budget = $11,000,000 (estimated)
| amg_id = 1:4004
| imdb_id = 0072684
}}
'''''Barry Lyndon''''' ([[1975 in film|1975]]) is an award-winning [[period film]] by [[Stanley Kubrick]] based on the novel ''[[The Luck of Barry Lyndon]]'' (1844) by [[William Makepeace Thackeray]]. It recounts the exploits of an unscrupulous [[18th century]] [[Ireland|Irish]] adventurer (Barry Lyndon né Redmond Barry), particularly his rise and fall within [[England|English]] society. [[Ryan O'Neal]] stars as the title character.

In recent years, it has come to be regarded not only as one of Kubrick's finest films, but indeed as a classic of world cinema. It was part of [[Time magazine|''Time'' magazine]]'s poll of the 100 best films as well as the ''[[Village Voice]]'' poll conducted in 1999 and was ranked #27 in 2002 in a poll of [[film critics]] conducted by [[Sight and Sound]]. Director [[Martin Scorsese]] has cited ''Barry Lyndon'' as his favorite Kubrick movie. Quotations from it appeared in such disparate works as Scorsese's ''[[The Age of Innocence (film)|The Age of Innocence]]'', [[Lars von Trier]]'s ''[[Dogville]]'' and [[Wes Anderson]]'s ''[[Rushmore (film)|Rushmore]]''.

==Background==
After ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', Kubrick made plans for a film about [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]]. During pre-production, however, [[Sergei Bondarchuk]] and [[Dino De Laurentiis]]' ''[[Waterloo (film)|Waterloo]]'' was released and subsequently failed at the box office. As a result, Kubrick's financiers pulled their funding for the film. He was furious, having put considerable time and effort into the development of the Napoleon project. Left with no alternative, he turned his attention to his next film, ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]''. ''Barry Lyndon'' followed, in part to take advantage of the copious research Kubrick had done for the aborted ''Napoleon''.

Kubrick was also interested in Thackeray's ''[[Vanity Fair]]'' but dropped the project when a serialised version for television was produced. He told an interviewer:

:''At one time, ''Vanity Fair'' interested me as a possible film but, in the end, I decided the story could not be successfully compressed into the relatively short time-span of a feature film...as soon as I read ''Barry Lyndon'' I became very excited about it.''<ref>{{cite web|first=Michel|title=Kubrick on Barry Lyndon|url=http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/interview.bl.html|accessdate=2007-05-31|last=Ciment}}</ref>

The film did not do well at the box office in the [[United States]], but it was a hit in [[Europe]]. This mixed reaction factored in Kubrick's filming of [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[The Shining (film)|The Shining]]'' — a project that would not only please him artistically, but also succeed financially.

==Plot==

In the opening scene, set in 1750s Ireland, the father of Irishman Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal) is killed in a duel over the sale of some horses. The widow ([[Marie Kean]]), disdaining offers of marriage, devotes herself to the raising of her son.

When Barry is a young man, he falls in love with his cousin, Nora Brady ([[Gay Hamilton]]). She likes him well enough to seduce him, but when the well-off English Captain John Quin ([[Leonard Rossiter]]) appears on the scene, the poverty-stricken Barry is quickly dropped. She and her whole family are set on relieving their financial difficulties with an advantageous marriage. Barry refuses to accept the situation and (seemingly) kills Quin in a [[duel]].

Fleeing the law, Barry travels towards [[Dublin]], but is robbed by a famous [[highwayman]], Captain Feeney ([[Arthur O'Sullivan]]), and his son Seamus ([[Billy Boyle]]), leaving Barry little choice but to join the British army. Later, he is reunited with a family friend, Captain Grogan ([[Godfrey Quigley]]), who informs him that the duel was faked. Barry's pistol was not loaded with a real bullet, but one made with [[tow]], and Quin was only stunned. It was staged so as to get him out of the way, so the cowardly Quin could be coaxed into marrying Nora, thereby securing the family's financial situation.

Barry's regiment is sent to fight in the [[Seven Years' War]] in Europe. During one skirmish, Grogan is fatally wounded, and Barry deserts at the first opportunity, impersonating a courier. He spends a few pleasant days with Lischen ([[Diana Körner]]), a lonely woman whose husband is away fighting. When he resumes his journey, he encounters a Prussian captain, Potzdorf ([[Hardy Krüger]]), who sees through his disguise. Given the choice of joining the Prussian army or being taken for a deserter, Barry enlists in his second army. During one battle, he saves Potzdorf's life.

[[Image:Barry Lyndon screenshot.JPG|thumb|left|A scene featuring Barry, Nora Brady, and Captain Quin. Kubrick looked toward paintings of the era for inspiration.]]

After the war ends in 1763, Barry is employed by the Prussian Minister of Police, Potzdorf's uncle. It is arranged for him to become the servant of the Chevalier de Balibari ([[Patrick Magee (actor)|Patrick Magee]]), a professional gambler. The Prussians suspect that he is a spy and Barry is assigned to try to determine if he is. However, when Barry finds out the chevalier is a fellow Irishman, he confesses all to him and they become confederates. Barry assists the chevalier in cheating at card games, but when the Prince of Tübingen ([[Wolf Kahler]]) suspects the truth after losing a large sum, they are unceremoniously expelled from Prussia. They wander from place to place, cheating the nobles. Barry proves to be very useful; when a loser refuses to pay his debts, Barry's excellent swordsmanship convinces him otherwise.

Hardened by his experiences, Barry decides to better himself by marrying well. During the course of his travels, he encounters the beautiful and wealthy Countess of Lyndon ([[Marisa Berenson]]). Barry has little difficulty seducing her. Her sickly husband, Sir Charles Lyndon ([[Frank Middlemass]]) dies; the following year (1773), she and Barry are married.

Young Lord Bullingdon ([[Dominic Savage]]), Countess Lyndon's son by Sir Charles, hates Barry from the beginning. The marriage is initially not a happy one, although they welcome a new son, Bryan Patrick. Bullingdon thinks nothing of alternately ignoring, and venting his pent-up malice on, Bryan. Barry enjoys himself while keeping his wife in dull seclusion. However, when he is caught seducing one of her maids, he begins treating Lady Lyndon better.

Barry brings his mother over from Ireland to live with him. She warns her son that his position is precarious. If Lady Lyndon were to die, all her wealth would go to her son Lord Bullingdon (now a young man played by [[Leon Vitali]]); Barry would be left penniless. Barry's mother advises him to obtain a noble title to protect himself. He cultivates the acquaintance of the influential Lord Wendover ([[André Morell]]) with this goal in mind, spending much money to grease his way. All this effort is wasted however. One day, Lord Bullingdon announces his hatred of his stepfather and is beaten by Barry in front of many important guests. Bullingdon leaves the family estate after this. Barry's public cruelty loses him all the powerful friends he has worked so hard to make and he is shunned socially.

As badly as he has treated his stepson, Barry proves to be a doting father to Bryan. However, when he is eight, the boy is thrown from a horse and soon dies. The grief-stricken Barry turns to drink, while Lady Lyndon seeks solace from religion, assisted by the family priest, Reverend Samuel Runt ([[Murray Melvin]]). When that does not ease her grief, she tries to commit suicide. Barry's mother then fires Reverend Runt for fear that his advice is only making Lady Lyndon worse. Upon hearing this, Lord Bullingdon resurfaces and challenges Barry to a duel.

A coin flip gives Bullingdon the privilege of shooting first, but his pistol misfires. Barry magnanimously fires into the ground, but Bullingdon refuses to let the duel end here. He fires again, this time hitting Barry in the leg, which has to be [[Amputation|amputated]] at the knee.

While Barry is recovering, Bullingdon takes control of the estate. He offers his stepfather an [[annuity]] of 500 guineas if he leaves England; otherwise, with his credit exhausted, his creditors will see to it that he is put in jail. Wounded in spirit and body, Barry accepts. He goes first to Ireland with his mother, then to the European continent to resume his former profession of gambler, though without his former success. He never sees Lady Lyndon again. The final scene (set in 1789) shows the middle-aged Lady Lyndon signing Barry's annuity check.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align="left"|Actor/Actress
!align="left"|Role
|-
| [[Ryan O'Neal]] || Barry Lyndon
|-
| [[Marisa Berenson]] || Lady Lyndon
|-
| [[Patrick Magee (actor)|Patrick Magee]] || The Chevalier de Balibari
|-
| [[Hardy Krüger]] || Capt. Potzdorf
|-
| [[Gay Hamilton]] || Nora Brady
|-
| [[Steven Berkoff]] || Lord Ludd
|-
| [[Marie Kean]] || Belle, Barry's mother
|-
| [[Murray Melvin]] || Rev. Samuel Runt
|-
| [[Frank Middlemass]] || Sir Charles Reginald Lyndon
|-
| [[Leon Vitali]] || Lord Bullingdon
|-
| [[Leonard Rossiter]] || Capt. John Quinn
|-
| [[André Morell]] || Lord Wendover
|-
| [[David Morley (actor)|David Morley]] || Bryan Patrick Lyndon
|-
| [[Michael Hordern]] || Narrator
|-
| [[Diana Körner]] || Lischen (German Girl)
|-
| [[Dominic Savage]] || Young Bullingdon
|-
| [[Arthur O'Sullivan]] || Capt. Feeny
|-
| [[Billy Boyle]] || Seamus Feeny
|-
| [[Anthony Sharp]] || Lord Hallam
|}

*After playing the older Lord Bullingdon, Leon Vitali became Kubrick's personal assistant, working as the casting director on his following films, and supervising film-to-video transfers for Kubrick. Their relationship lasted until Kubrick's death.
*Late cinematographer [[John Alcott]] appears at the men's club where Lord Bullingdon confronts and challenges Barry to a duel. Alcott has the non-speaking role of the man sleeping in a chair near Barry.
*[[Vivian Kubrick]], Stanley's daughter, appears uncredited as a guest at Bryan's birthday party.

==Music==
The film's period setting allowed Kubrick to indulge his penchant for classical music, and the film score uses pieces by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]], [[Antonio Vivaldi]], [[Giovanni Paisiello]], [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], and [[Franz Schubert]]. The score also includes [[Folk music of Ireland|Irish folk music]] performed by [[The Chieftains]]. The piece most associated with the film is the main title music, [[George Friderich Handel]]'s stately ''[[Sarabande]]'' from the Suite in D minor HWV 437, originally for solo [[harpsichord]]. Yet the versions for main and end title are performed very [[Romantic music|romantically]] with orchestral strings, harpsichord, and [[tympani]]. It is used at various points in the film, in various arrangements, to indicate the implacable working of impersonal fate. Another very famous piece in the soundtrack is called ''[[Women of Ireland]]'', by [[Seán Ó Riada]], played by [[The Chieftains]].

[[Leonard Rosenman]] won a 1975 [[Academy Award]] for Best Musical Score for adapting the various pieces of [[baroque music|baroque]] and [[classical music]]. Ironically, years later, Rosenman expressed bittersweet memories (both of this movie and of Kubrick): "He would shoot take after take needlessly. He just didn't know what he was looking for, until after he found it. Still, he's one of the best friends I've ever had or will have, and I told him so. Thus, for the sake of that friendship, we both agreed ''never to work together on the same movie again for as long as we lived''." (They never did.)

==Production==
===Photography===
[[Image:Barry12.jpg|thumb|right|A candlelit scene with Reverend Runt and Lady Lyndon.]]
The film is famous for its [[cinematography]], which was overseen by director of photography [[John Alcott]] (who won an Oscar for his work), and for the technical innovations that made some of its most spectacular images possible.

Alcott used three {{f/|0.70|link=yes}} [[Photographic lens|lenses]] developed by [[Zeiss]] for [[NASA]] for use in the [[Apollo moon landing]]s, which Kubrick discovered in his search for a lens that could film in low-light situations. The super-fast lens allowed him to shoot scenes lit with actual [[candlelight]] with an average lighting volume of only three [[candlepower]]. In fact, the film features the largest [[lens aperture]] in film history.

Most shots, however, were achieved with conventional lenses but were lit in a way that mimics natural light. This has the dual result of making the lighting seem more realistic and giving a look to the film similar to 18th century paintings (because, of course, painters of the period were depicting a world devoid of electric lighting). For example, to light a room, rather than placing the lights inside as would be done in a conventional movie, the lights were placed outside and aimed through the windows, which were covered in a diffuse material to scatter the light evenly through the room. Not only did this give the look of natural daylight coming in through the windows, it also protected the historic locations from the damage caused by mounting the lights on walls or ceilings and the heat from the lights. One telltale sign of this method occurs in the scene where Barry duels Lord Bullingdon. Though it appears to be lit entirely with natural light, one can see that the light coming in through the cross-shaped windows in the barn appears blue in color, while the main lighting of the scene coming in from the side is not. This is because the light through the cross-shaped windows is daylight from the sun, which when recorded on the film stock used by Kubrick showed up as blue-tinted compared to the incandescent electric light coming in from the side.

Principal photography took 300 days, from spring 1973 through early 1974, with a break for Christmas.

===Locations===
Several of the interior scenes were filmed in [[Powerscourt House]], a famous 18th century mansion in [[County Wicklow]], [[Republic of Ireland]]. The house was destroyed in an accidental fire several months after filming (November 1974), so the movie serves as a record of the lost interiors. Many of the outdoor scenes were shot in the country side in Co Waterford. Other locations included [[Castle Howard]] in England (exteriors of the Lyndon estate), [[Dublin Castle]] in Ireland (the chevalier's home), [[Petworth House]], West Sussex, [[Ludwigsburg Palace]] near [[Stuttgart]] and [[Frederick the Great]]'s [[New Palace (Potsdam)|Neues Palais]] at [[Potsdam]] near [[Berlin]].

==Source novel==
Stanley Kubrick based his original screenplay on [[William Makepeace Thackeray]]'s ''[[The Luck of Barry Lyndon]]'' (republished as the novel ''Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq.),'' a [[picaresque]] tale written and published in serial form in 1844. The serial, which is told in the first person and "edited" by the fictional George Savage FitzBoodle, concerns a member of the Irish gentry trying to become a member of the English aristocracy.

The source novel is written by Lyndon while imprisoned looking back on his life. Lyndon is a notable example of the literary device of the unreliable narrator – throughout the novel the reader is constantly asked to question the veracity of the events described by him. Although later editions dropped the frame device of FitzBoodle's (Thackeray's pseudonym) editions, it is crucial in unmasking Lyndon's narcissism through occasional notes inserted at the bottom of the page noting information that is contradictory or inconsistent in relation to what Lyndon writes elsewhere. Andrew Sanders mentions in his introduction for the Oxford Classics edition, these annotations were relevant to the novel as an ingenious narrative device as Thackeray constantly invites the reader to question Lyndon's version of the events.

Kubrick however felt that using a first-person narrative would not be useful in a film adaptation :

::''I believe Thackeray used Redmond Barry to tell his own story in a deliberately distorted way because it made it more interesting. Instead of the omniscient author, Thackeray used the imperfect observer, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say the dishonest observer, thus allowing the reader to judge for himself, with little difficulty, the probable truth in Redmond Barry's view of his life. This technique worked extremely well in the novel but, of course, in a film you have objective reality in front of you all of the time, so the effect of Thackeray's first-person story-teller could not be repeated on the screen. It might have worked as comedy by the juxtaposition of Barry's version of the truth with the reality on the screen, but I don't think that Barry Lyndon should have been done as a comedy.''<ref>[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/interview.bl.html visual-memory.co.uk]</ref>

As in the case of most literary adaptations, Kubrick shortens or in some cases omits characters who were significant in the novel. The time period constituting his escape from the Prussian army to his marriage is given greater detail in the novel than the film.

It's also interesting to note that the film ends much before the novel's ending. At the end of the film, Barry Lyndon survives with an amputated leg from a duel (an incident absent in the novel) and returns to his gambling lifestyle with lesser success while Lady Lyndon pays the debts accumulated during her marriage to Barry, including the sum promised to Redmond in return for leaving the country. Though these events occur in the novel as well, it also shows that upon Lady Lyndon's death, the sum promised to Barry is cancelled and he becomes destitute eventually winding up in prison for his confidence schemes. It is at this place where Barry writes his memoirs, which end noting that he has to 'eke out a miserable existence, quite unworthy of the famous and fashionable Barry Lyndon'.

At this point Fitz-Boodle writes an epilogue of sorts about Barry's final days, where his only visitor is his mother. He dies after spending nineteen years in prison.

Thackeray based the novel on the life and exploits of the Irish [[Rake (character)|rakehell]] and fortunehunter [[Andrew Robinson Stoney]], who married (and subsequently was divorced by) [[Mary Eleanor Bowes]], the Countess of Strathmore, who became known as "The Unhappy Countess" due to the tempestuous liaison. The Countess of Strathmore is one of the ancestors of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].

The revised version, which is the novel that the world generally knows as ''Barry Lyndon'', was shorter and tighter than the original serialization, and dropped the FitzBoodle, Ed. device. It generally is considered the first "novel without a hero" or novel with an [[antihero]] in the English language. Upon its publication in 1856, it was entitled by Thackeray's publisher ''The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. Of The Kingdom Of Ireland Containing An Account of His Extraordinary Adventures; Misfortunes; His Sufferings In The Service Of His Late Prussian Majesty; His Visits To Many Courts of Europe; His Marriage and Splendid Establishments in England And Ireland; And The Many Cruel Persecutions, Conspiracies And Slanders Of Which He Has Been A Victim''.<ref>[http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/wmt/pva185.html/ victorianweb.org]</ref>

''Barry Lyndon'' departs from its source novel in several ways. In Thackeray’s writings, events are related in the first person by Barry himself. A comic tone pervades the work, as Barry proves both a raconteur and an [[unreliable narrator]]. Kubrick’s film, by contrast, presents the story objectively. Though the film contains voice-over (by actor [[Michael Hordern]]), the comments expressed are not Barry's, but those of an [[omniscient narrator|omniscient]], although not entirely impartial, narrator. This change in perspective alters the tone of the story; Thackeray tells a jaunty, humorous tale, but Kubrick's telling is essentially [[Tragedy|tragic]], with many subtle humorous jabs toward 18th century society, such as how Barry tries to learn the correct behavior for a gentleman, and pays a huge price when he does so.

Kubrick also changed the plot. The novel does not include a final duel. By adding this episode, Kubrick establishes dueling as the film’s central motif. The movie begins with a duel where Barry’s father is shot dead, and duels recur throughout the film.

==Release==
===Academy Awards===
The film received [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]], [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], [[Academy Award for Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] and [[Academy Award for Original Music Score|Best Musical Score]]. It was additionally nominated for [[Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], and [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]].

===DVD feature===
Although the original print did not provide translations of the small bits of French and German dialogue, by activating English subtitles on the DVD version, they are displayed as English captions.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.indelibleinc.com/kubrick/films/blyndon/pressbook2.html ''Barry Lyndon'' Press Kit]
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/ac/len/page1.htm "Two Special Lenses for ''Barry Lyndon'', Superfast lenses employed in the filming of Barry Lyndon] article from ''[[American Cinematographer]]''
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0086.html "Barry Lyndon Reconsidered"] essay by Mark Crispin Miller
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0087.html "Kubrick's Anti-Reading Of The Luck Of Barry Lyndon"] essay by Mark Crispin Miller
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0026.html "Barry Lyndon: The Shape of Things to Come"] essay by [[Bilge Ebiri]]
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0028.html "Narrative and Discourse in Kubrick's Modern Tragedy"] essay by Michael Klein
*[http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/sk/2001a/bl/page1.htm "Photographing Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon"], interview with John Alcott first published in ''[[American Cinematographer]]''
*{{imdb title|id=0072684|title=Barry Lyndon}}
* [http://www.luciolepri.it/lc2/marcocavina/articoli_fotografici/articolo_i_gauss_superluminosi.pdf Marco Cavina: I Gauss superluminosi: viaggio ai confini dell’ottica] A detailed story about the 3 Zeiss Planar lenses used in Barry Lyndon (in Italian)

{{Stanley Kubrick's films}}

[[Category:1975 films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:Drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Stanley Kubrick]]
[[Category:Films over three hours long]]
[[Category:Period films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]

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Jonathan Woodgate

2008-02-25T09:32:20Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Infobox Football biography
| playername = Jonathan Woodgate
| image = [[Image:Jonathan woodgate.jpg]]
| fullname = Jonathan Simon Woodgate
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1980|1|22|df=y}}
| cityofbirth = [[Middlesbrough]]
| countryofbirth = [[England]]
| height = {{Height|m=1.88}}
| currentclub = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| clubnumber = 39
| position = [[Defender (football)#Centre back|Centre-back]]
| youthyears = 1993–1996 1996–1998
| youthclubs = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]]
| years = 1998–2003 2003–2004 2004–2007 2006–2007 2007–2008 2008–
| clubs = [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] → [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] (loan) [[Middlesbrough FC|Middlesbrough]] [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C|Tottenham Hotspur]]| caps(goals) = 104 (5) {{0}}28 (0) {{0}}12 (1) {{0}}27 (0) {{0}}19 (0) {{0}}{{0}}3 (1)
| nationalyears = 1999–
| nationalteam = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}{{0}}1 (0) {{0}}{{0}}6 (0)
| pcupdate = 18:40, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 20:33, 23 January 2008 (UTC)
}}
'''Jonathan Simon Woodgate''' (born [[22 January]] [[1980]] in [[Middlesbrough]]) is an [[England|English]] [[football (soccer)|footballer]], who plays as a [[defender (football)|defender]] for [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. He has previously played at [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] as well as a spell in Spain with [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].

==Club career==
===Leeds United===
Woodgate began his career at [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] but moved to [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] at the age of sixteen after disagreements over his future between Middlesbrough and his family. He helped Leeds to win the [[FA Youth Cup]] in [[1997]], and in November the following year made his debut for the senior side.

Following an incident in Leeds in January 2000, in which a student suffered severe injuries, Woodgate and teammate [[Lee Bowyer]] were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray. An initial trial collapsed in April 2001 after an article in a Sunday newspaper and following a second trial, which ended in December 2001, Bowyer was cleared of both charges while Woodgate was convicted of affray and sentenced to community service.

===Newcastle United===
Woodgate signed for Newcastle United in January 2003 for £9 million.
He impressed and quickly became a fan favourite, but a serious injury saw him end his final season somewhat early. Woodgate never really had an injury-free run in the team, although his finest moment in a Newcastle shirt arguably came in the 2003-2004 [[UEFA Cup]] Semi-Final match against [[Olympique de Marseille]] at [[St James' Park]] where he marked [[Didier Drogba]] out of the game- though Marseille did win 0-2.

===Real Madrid===
Woodgate signed for [[Real Madrid]] in August 2004 for a transfer fee of £13.4 million.<ref name="Real Madrid sign Woodgate">{{cite news
| title = Real Madrid sign Woodgate
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3578830.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = [[2004-08-20]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref> This was to the surprise of many in the football world,{{Fact|date=August 2007}} due to his frequent absences through injury at his previous clubs, and indeed he was injured at the time of the transfer.

Woodgate did not make any appearances for Real Madrid in his first season in Spain, and also broke up with girlfriend [[Kate Lawler]] during the year, eventually making his debut on [[22 September]] [[2005]], in a league match against [[Athletic Bilbao]]. The game went badly for him, as he scored an own goal and was later sent off for a second bookable offence; however, Woodgate was applauded and cheered from the pitch and was regarded for a period of his time at the club to be something of a cult-hero<ref name="Real nightmare for Woodgate debut">{{cite news
| title = Real nightmare for Woodgate debut
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4273704.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = [[2005-09-23]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the 4-1 [[UEFA Champions League]] defeat of [[Rosenborg B.K.]] on [[19 October]] [[2005]], his first appearance for the club in European competition.

By February [[2006]], Woodgate had established himself as a first-team player, with the other centre half position alongside him often rotating among the likes of [[Sergio Ramos]], [[Iván Helguera]], [[Francisco Pavon]] and [[Álvaro Pérez Mejía|Álvaro Mejía]]. One Spanish newspaper even described him as having "become Madrid's true leader".<ref name="Willing Woodgate emerges as a leader of Real quality">{{cite news
| title = Willing Woodgate emerges as a leader of Real quality
| url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1712450,00.html
| publisher = Guardian Unlimited
| date = [[2006-02-18]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref> However, further injury setbacks again stopped him playing. He was considered to have an outside chance of making the [[England]] squad for [[Germany 2006]], but due to surgery on his back was not named in the squad.

In [[July]] 2007, Woodgate was voted the worst signing of the 21st century by readers of www.marca.com, the website for Spain's biggest selling sports daily, [[Diario Marca]]. The 27-year-old was the runaway winner polling 37.11 percent of the votes cast.<ref name="Soccer-Roundup-Woodgate voted worst signing of the 21st century">{{cite news
| title = Soccer-Roundup-Woodgate voted worst signing of the 21st century
| url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SOCCER/idUKL2625990220070726
| publisher = Reuters
| date = [[2006-07-26]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref>

Woodgate confirmed in August 2006 that he was returning to the English Premiership on a loan move.<ref name="Woodgate plans England loan move">{{cite news
| title = Woodgate plans England loan move
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5288358.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = [[2006-08-26]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref>

===Middlesbrough===
On [[30 August]] [[2006]], Woodgate signed a one-year loan move to hometown club Middlesbrough.
He made his debut against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] at The [[Emirates Stadium]] on the [[September 9]]. He was later voted man of the match by [[100-102 Century FM|local radio station, Century FM]]. He was made captain for his second game for Middlesbrough, with usual [[Captain (football)|captain]] [[George Boateng]] out with suspension.
On 26 April 2007 Middlesbrough announced that Woodgate became their first summer signing for a transfer fee of £7 million.<ref name="Woody Unveiled As Boro's First Summer Signing">{{cite web
| title = Woody Unveiled As Boro's First Summer Signing
| url = http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,1~1016738,00.html
| publisher = Middlesbrough FC
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref> He signed a four year contract, keeping him at the club till [[2011]].
On [[2 October]] [[2007]] he was crowned North East Player of the Year by the [[Prince's Trust]], beating players from Newcastle and Sunderland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/7026021.stm |title=Woodgate claims North East award |date=[[2007-10-03]] |accessdate=2007-10-03 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref>

===Tottenham Hotspur===
On [[28 January]] [[2008]] Woodgate moved to [[Tottenham Hotspur]] and given the number 39 shirt.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7211311.stm
|title=Spurs win chase to sign Woodgate
|date=[[28 January]] [[2008]]
|accessdate=2008-01-28
|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3263791.ece
|title=Tottenham Hotspur confirm signing of Jonathan Woodgate from Middlesbrough
|date=[[28 January]] [[2008]]
|accessdate=2008-01-28
|publisher=The Times
|first=Gary
|last=Jacob}}</ref> Woodgate made his Tottenham debut against [[Everton F.C|Everton]] on [[30 January]] [[2008]]. He scored his first Tottenham goal on [[24 February]] [[2008]] in the [[Football League Cup 2007-08|Carling Cup]] final against [[Chelsea_F.C.|Chelsea]] in [[extra time]] to win Tottenham their first trophy since [[1999]] along with winning the [[Man of the Match]] award.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7258806.stm
|title=Carling cup final events
|date=[[24 February]] [[2008]]
|accessdate=2008-02-24
|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==International career==
He was capped several times by [[England national football team|England]] while at Leeds, making his debut for the national side under manager [[Kevin Keegan]] in [[1999]], when he became the first player born in the [[1980s]] to win a full England [[cap (sport)|cap]]. However, both his club and international career have frequently been interrupted, not only by injury, but by controversy.

In [[2000]] he was a defendant in a Crown Court trial due to his involvement with an incident outside Majestyks nightclub in [[Leeds]]. He was convicted of [[affray]] and sentenced to one hundred hours of [[community service]], as well as having been banned from international selection by [[the Football Association]], which prevented him from being selected for the England squad for the [[2002 Football World Cup|2002 World Cup]].<ref name="Bowyer cleared for England">{{cite news
| title = Bowyer cleared for England
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/1711228.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = [[2001-12-14]]
| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref>

Woodgate won his sixth cap - almost three years after his fifth - and his first start in the international friendly against [[Spain national football team|Spain]] on [[7 February]] [[2007]].

==Honours==
*'''[[Football League Cup 2007-08|2007-08]] [[Football League Cup|Carling Cup]]''' with [[Tottenham Hotspur]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{soccerbase|id=14907|name=Jonathan Woodgate}}
*[http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=565396 Goal.com profile]

{{Tottenham Hotspur F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodgate, Jonathan}}
[[Category:English footballers]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) defenders]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players]]
[[Category:Leeds United A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Newcastle United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Real Madrid footballers]]
[[Category:England international footballers]]
[[Category:England under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:La Liga footballers]]
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[[Category:People from Middlesbrough|Woodgate, Jonathan]]
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[ar:جوناثان وودغيت]]
[[da:Jonathan Woodgate]]
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Chris Evert

2008-02-19T20:49:37Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Infobox Tennis player
|image=
|playername= Chris Evert
|country= {{USA}}
|residence= [[Boca Raton]], [[Florida]], U.S.
|datebirth= {{birth date and age|1954|12|21}}
|placebirth= [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Florida]], U.S.
|height= {{height|m=1.68}}
|weight= {{convert|57|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|turnedpro= [[1972]]
|retired=[[1989]]
|plays= Right; Two-handed backhand
|careerprizemoney= [[United States Dollar|US]]$8,895,195
|singlesrecord= 1309-146
|singlestitles= 157
|highestsinglesranking= No. 1 ([[November 3]], [[1975]])
|AustralianOpenresult= '''W''' (82 • 84)
|FrenchOpenresult= '''W''' (74–75 • 79–80 • 83 • 85–86)
|Wimbledonresult= '''W''' (74 • 76 • 81)
|USOpenresult= '''W''' (75–78 • 80 • 82)
|doublesrecord= 117-39
|doublestitles= 8
|highestdoublesranking= ?
|updated = [[August 14]], [[2006]]
}}

'''Christine Marie "Chris" Evert''' (born [[December 21]], [[1954]]) is a former professional [[tennis]] player from the [[United States]]. She won 18 [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles, including a record 7 at the [[French Open]]. She was the World No. 1 female singles player for five years. Evert's career win-loss record in singles matches of 1,309-146 (.900) is the best of any professional player in tennis history. In tennis writer Steve Flink's book ''The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century'', he named Evert as the third best female player of the 20th century, after [[Steffi Graf]] and [[Martina Navratilova]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html |publisher=''ChrisEvert.net'' |title=Exclusive Interview with Steve Flink about the career of Chris Evert |accessdate=2007-02-14}}</ref> Evert never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam singles tournament, her earliest exits being in the third round. In women's [[doubles]], Evert won 3 Grand Slam titles.

==Tennis career==

Evert began taking tennis lessons when she was five years old from her father, [[Jimmy Evert]] (a professional tennis coach who had won the men's singles title at the [[Canada Masters|Canadian Championships]] in 1947). By [[1969]], she had become the No. 1 ranked 14-under girl in the United States. In 1970, she won the national sixteen-and-under championship and was invited to play in an eight player clay court tournament in [[Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]]. The 15 year-old Evert defeated [[Françoise Durr]] 6-1, 6-0 in the first round before defeating [[Margaret Court]] 7-6, 7-6 in a semifinal. Court was the World No. 1 and had just won the [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] in singles. These results led to Evert's selection for the U.S. [[Wightman Cup]] team, the youngest player ever in the competition.<ref name="Rivals">Johnette Howard (2005). '''The Rivals'''. Yellow Jersey Press. ISBN 0-22407-505-5</ref>

Evert made her Grand Slam tournament debut at the [[1971]] [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]], aged 16, receiving an invitation after winning the national sixteen-and-under championship. After an easy straight-sets win over [[Edda Buding]] in the first round, she faced the U.S. No. 4 [[Mary Ann Eisel]] in the second round. Evert saved six match points with Eisel serving at 6-4, 6-5 (40-0) in the second set before Evert went on to win 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. She made two further comebacks against Durr (2-6, 6-2, 6-3) and [[Lesley Hunt]] (4-6, 6-2, 6-3), both seasoned professionals, before losing to [[Billie Jean King]] in a semifinal. This defeat ended a 46-match winning streak built up through carefully selected participation in senior tour events.

Evert was the runner-up at the [[French Open]] and [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] in 1973. A year later, she won both those events to claim her first Grand Slam singles titles and won 55 consecutive matches. Her [[Engagement|fiancé]] at the time, [[Jimmy Connors]], won the Wimbledon men's singles title that year and media attention surrounded the "Love Match" of tennis that summer (although the relationship proved to be short-lived).

Connors and Evert were also finalists in mixed doubles at the 1974 U.S. Open, although Evert rarely played that event. As time went by, Evert played women's doubles less frequently, preferring to devote her energies to singles tournaments.

For the next five years, Evert was the World No. 1. In 1975, she won the French Open again and the first of four straight U.S. Open titles by defeating [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]] in a three-set final. She also won Wimbledon again in 1976, again beating Goolagong in a three-set final. In all, Evert won 21 of her 33 matches with Goolagong. Evert's domination of the women's game and her calm, steely demeanor on court earned her the nickname of the "Ice Maiden" of tennis.

A new rival to Evert's dominance emerged on the scene in the later part of the [[1970s]] in the form of [[Martina Navratilova]]. Though good friends off the court, their fierce on-court rivalry is remembered as one of the greatest in tennis history. Evert had the best of their earlier encounters, with Navratilova eventually gaining the upper hand during the [[1980s]].

Though successful on all surfaces, it was on clay courts where Evert was most dominant. Beginning in August 1973, she won 125 consecutive matches on the surface, with a loss of only 7 sets, a run which continues to stand as the record among both men and women players.<ref>http://chrisevert.net/CE-Records.html</ref> The streak was broken on [[May 12]], [[1979]], in a semifinal of the [[Rome Masters|Italian Open]], when Evert lost to [[Tracy Austin]] 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) after Evert lost a game point to go up 5-2 in the third set. Evert said after the match, "Not having the record will take some pressure off me, but I am not glad to have lost it." Evert then won 72 consecutive matches on clay before losing in a semifinal of the 1981 French Open to [[Hana Mandlikova]]. [[Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling]] had a similar run of clay court dominance from 1935 through 1939, winning the French Championships three consecutive years (not playing there the other two years) and incurring only one loss on clay during that five year period.

Evert won the French Open singles title a record seven times. Two of her victories came in three-set finals against Navratilova. In 1985, Evert prevailed 6-3, 6-7, 7-5, a win that saw her capture the World No. 1 ranking for the fifth and final time. And, in 1986, the 31 year-old Evert won her last Grand Slam title by beating Navratilova 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Evert retired from the professional tour in [[1989 in sports|1989]]. During her career, she won 157 singles titles and 8 doubles titles. Her record in finals was 157-72 (.686). She reached the semifinals in 273 of the 303 tournaments she entered. Evert won the [[WTA Tour Championships]] 4 times and helped the United States win the [[Fed Cup]] 8 times. Evert's last match was a 6-3, 6-2 win over [[Conchita Martinez]] in the final of the 1989 Fed Cup.

Evert won at least one Grand Slam singles title each year for 13 consecutive years, from 1974 through 1986. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during her career: 7 at the French Open, 6 at the U.S. Open (3 on clay and 3 on hard courts), 3 at Wimbledon, and 2 at the Australian Open (both on grass). She reached the finals in 34 and the semifinals in 52 of the 56 Grand Slams events she entered. Between September 1971 (her Grand Slam debut at the U.S. Open) and June 1983 (her twelfth visit to Wimbledon), Evert never failed to reach at least the semifinals of the 34 Grand Slam singles events she participated in. This is an unparalleled record of consistency in the world's biggest tournaments. This record ended in the third round at Wimbledon in 1983, when the [[All England Club]] refused Evert's request to delay her match with [[Kathy Jordan]] to recover from food poisoning. This defeat also ended her attempt to be the holder of all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously. (Evert was then the holder of the Australian, U..S and French titles.)

Evert's overall record in Grand Slam events was 297-38 .887 (72-6 at the French Open, 94-15 at Wimbledon, 101-13 at the US Open (most singles match wins in history), and 30-4 at the Australian Open). She reached the finals all 6 times she entered the Australian Open. Evert faced Navratilova in the final of 14 Grand Slam events, with Evert losing 10 of those encounters. (Navratilova defeated Evert at least once in the final of each of the four Grand Slam events, whereas three of Evert's four wins were at the French Open and the fourth was at the Australian Open.) However, Evert defeated Navratilova in the semifinals of the U.S. Open (1975), Wimbledon (1976 and 1980), and the Australian Open (1988).

During her career versus selected rivals, Evert was: 40-6 against Virginia Wade, 37-43 against Martina Navratilova, 26-13 against Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 24-0 against [[Virginia Ruzici]], 23-1 against [[Sue Barker]], 22-0 against [[Betty Stove]], 22-1 against [[Rosie Casals]], 21-7 against [[Hana Mandlikova]], 20-1 against [[Wendy Turnbull]], 19-7 against Billie Jean King (winning the last 11 matches with a loss of only 2 sets), 19-3 against [[Pam Shriver]], 18-2 against [[Kerry Melville Reid]], 17-2 against [[Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere]], 17-2 against [[Helena Sukova]], 17-3 against [[Andrea Jaeger]], 16-3 against [[Diane Fromholtz Balestrat]], 15-0 against [[Olga Morozova]], 13-0 against Francoise Durr, 9-4 against Margaret Court, 8-9 against Tracy Austin, 7-0 against [[Mary Joe Fernandez]], 6-3 against [[Gabriela Sabatini]], 6-5 against [[Nancy Richey Gunter]] (winning the last 6 matches), 6-8 against Steffi Graf (losing the last 8 matches), and 2-1 against [[Monica Seles]].

==Playing style==

Evert's game was based on excellent stroke production technique, good balance and footwork, superb anticipation, steely concentration, unflappable temperament and mental fortitude, and an astute tactical sense. Her playing style, with precise groundstrokes delivered from the back of the court and landing within inches of the lines, was best suited to playing on [[clay court|clay]]. But she quickly proved that her game could excel on all surfaces. This was because Evert was an offensive rather than a defensive baseliner. She combined consistency of shotmaking with excellent command of line and length and angle from the backcourt. At the peak of her game, in the five consecutive years she was ranked as World No. 1 (between 1974 and 1978), Evert was the most relentlessly accurate groundstroker since [[Maureen Connolly Brinker]] in the early 1950s.

When Evert first started playing as a youngster, she developed a two-handed backhand because she was too small and weak to hit backhand shots with one hand. This became a trademark of her game and inspired generations of future players to copy her. Evert's two-handed backhand allowed her to hit with power on the backhand as well as the forehand, and she was the first woman player of the [[open era]] to do this consistently.

Aside from her consistent and accurate groundstrokes, Evert possessed the best return-of-service of her generation (taken early and on the rise to deter the net-rusher or take command of a rally). Other hallmarks of her game included outstanding touch on the lob and drop shot and one of the best passing shots in the history of the women's game (honed to perfection by the need to counter the greatest serve-and-volley players of the open era - [[Margaret Court]], [[Billie Jean King]], [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]], and [[Martina Navratilova]]). Evert had a sufficient serve herself but never an overpowering one like her contemporaries Court, King, Navratilova, [[Virginia Wade]], and [[Steffi Graf]].

Evert's graceful appearance, conventional good looks, quiet demeanor, outward appearance of gracious sportsmanship, and carefully manipulated sex appeal and public image made her a favorite with the media and fans, although she was also considered the women's tour leader in dirty jokes.<ref name="Rivals"/>

==The greatest ever?==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=October 2007}}

Opinions are divided on the status of Evert in the history of the women's game. Many commentators and sports writers rank her among the top six woman players of all time, placing her behind, for example, [[Martina Navratilova]] and [[Steffi Graf]] (who won 22 [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles).<ref>[http://www.chrisevert.net/flink.html Steve Flink, for example, ranks [[Steffi Graf]] first, [[Martina Navratilova]] second, and [[Chris Evert]] third on his list of top players during the 20th century]</ref> Evert, however, was the equal of Navratilova in Grand Slam singles titles, with each winning 18.

The claim that Evert was the best player of all time is based on at least two sets of considerations. First, her career win-loss record (at 90 percent success rate) is the best during the [[open era]]. Among both men and women, only Navratilova has won more career tournaments than Evert (167 to 157), but Evert won a greater proportion of the tournaments she competed in than any other player (man or woman) of the open era. Second, Evert did not compete at the [[Australian Open]] from 1975 through 1980 or the [[French Open]] from 1976 through 1978, owing both to a perceived decline in the fortunes of those events. During this period, Evert enjoyed her best form so - if she had chosen to compete - it is possible she would have won more Grand Slam tournaments.

With regard to whether Evert or Navratilova should be considered the greater player, the argument could be made that Evert's 37-43 match deficit in their longstanding rivalry does not accurately reflect the real balance of power between the two players over the duration of their careers. Yet for many commentators, this proves Navratilova's superiority. For a start, a far greater proportion of their matches were played on fast court surfaces (which favoured Navratilova's serve-and-volley game) than on slow or medium-paced surfaces (which favoured Evert's baseline style). They played each other more on grass and indoors (40 times) than on clay and shale (American Har-Tru clay) (13 times). Remarkably, they played more matches on grass (15) than on clay, despite the fact that for the greater duration of their rivalry, far more major international tournaments and WTA tour events were played on the former than on the latter. (On grass courts, Navratilova held a 10-5 career record over Evert while on clay courts, Evert held a 10-3 career record over Navratillova.) For a significant part of their rivalry, Navratilova preferred not to challenge Evert on clay. After two defeats to Evert in the final of the 1975 Italian Open (6-1, 6-0) and French Open (2-6, 6-2, 6-1), for example, Navratilova did not challenge her American rival on European clay until her return to Paris in 1982. During this period, Navratilova also avoided the North American clay court season (with the exception of the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]]). She did not play Evert again on American clay until her 6-0, 6-0 defeat in the final of the Murjani WITA at Amelia Island in the spring of 1981. With a more even distribution of matches across fast and slower surfaces, Evert might have maintained her head-to-head edge over Navratilova in their personal rivalry.

But a second point is relevant when comparing the career records of Evert and Navratilova. In the mid-1970s, Grand Slam tournaments were divided between slow and fast surfaces (French Open and U.S. Open on clay, [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] and Australian Open on grass). Beginning in 1978, there was a shift, with the U.S. Open being played on medium-paced hard courts for a few years. During this period, Evert enjoyed her greatest success in Grand Slam tournaments, partly because more of these big events (50 percent) were played on surfaces especially compatible with her game. From the early 1980s, however, as Navratilova took over the mantle of world No. 1, the balance shifted inexorably in favour of fast court surfaces in Grand Slam events, with the Australian Open continuing alongside Wimbledon on grass for a few years, before switching over to hard courts, and with the court speed being steadily enhanced at the U.S. Open.{{citation}} This shift towards faster courts (with only 25 percent of Grand Slams still being played on slower surfaces) arguably assisted Navratilova in unseating Evert from the No. 1 ranking. If the old balance of court surfaces in Grand Slam events had been preserved, Navratilova could have found it more difficult to gain the upper hand over Evert.

Evert was voted the [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year]] on four occasions and received ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' magazine's "[[Sportsman of the Year|Sportswoman of the Year]]" award in 1976.<ref name="AP">{{cite web |url= http://www.uterwincenter.com/press/2004/0414gsj.html |publisher= University of Texas Frank Erwin Center |title= Chris Evert to Replace Martina Navratilova at Gibson-Baldwin Grand Slam Jam |date=2004-04-14 |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref><ref name="SI">{{cite web |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1996/sportsman/past/1976.html |publisher= [[Sports Illustrated]] |title= 1976 Sportsman of the Year |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref> In April 1985, she was voted the "Greatest Woman Athlete of the Last 25 Years" by the Women's Sports Foundation. Evert served as President of the [[Women's Tennis Association]] from 1975-76, and from 1983 to 1991.<ref name="HoFa">{{cite web |url= http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=107 |publisher= International Tennis Hall of Fame |title= International Tennis Hall of Fame profile |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref> In 1995, she was the fourth player ever to be unanimously elected into the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]] following a worldwide ballot of 185 sports journalists whilst 1999 saw Evert rated No. 50 among North American athletes of the 20th century.<ref name="HoF">{{cite web |url= http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014187.html |publisher= [[ESPN]] |title= Evert: grit, grace and glamour |author = Larry Schwartz |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref><ref name="No50">{{cite web |url= http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014189.html |publisher= [[ESPN]] |title= No. 50: Chris Evert |date=1999-01-23 |author = Larry Schwartz |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref> In 2005, ''[[TENNIS Magazine]]'' named her fourth on its list of TENNIS Magazine's 40 Greatest Players of the TENNIS Era.<ref name="Tennis40">{{cite web
|url=http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/40greatest.aspx?id=194 |publisher= [[TENNIS Magazine]] |title= 40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era (1-4) |author = Peter Bodo |accessdate=2007-06-05}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Evert was born in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]], [[Florida]], to Colette Thompson and [[Jimmy Evert]].<ref>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/celeb/evert.htm</ref> Jimmy was a professional tennis coach, and tennis was a way of life in his family. Chris and her sister [[Jeanne Evert]] became professional tennis players, and their brother [[Jack Evert]] attended [[Auburn University]], in [[Auburn, Alabama]], on a full athletic scholarship for intercollegiate tennis. Evert is a [[1973]] graduate of [[St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale)|St. Thomas Aquinas High School]] in Fort Lauderdale.

Early in her career, before she won her first [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] event, Evert signed a contract with [[Calvin Klein|Puritan Fashions Corp.]] to endorse a line of [[sportswear]]. Company president Carl Rosen thought so highly of her that he named a yearling [[horse racing|racehorse]] in her honor. The horse [[Chris Evert (horse)|Chris Evert]] went on to win the 1974 [[Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing|U.S. Filly Triple Crown]], be voted the [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly]], and was inducted into the [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame]].

Evert's romance with the top men's player [[Jimmy Connors]] captured the public's imagination in the 1970s, particularly after they both claimed the singles titles at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] in 1974. Evert and Connors also occasionally played mixed doubles together. In 1974, they were runner-up at the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]]. They became engaged, but the romance did not last. A wedding planned for [[November 8]], [[1974]], was called off.

In the years that followed, Evert was romantically linked with several other high-profile men, including [[Burt Reynolds]], [[Geraldo Rivera]], Adam Faith, [[Vitas Gerulaitis]], [[Pat Boone]], and [[John Gardner Ford|John Gardner “Jack” Ford]], son of U.S. President [[Gerald Ford]].

In 1979, Evert married the [[United Kingdom|British]] tennis player [[John Lloyd (tennis player)|John Lloyd]] and changed her name to "Chris Evert-Lloyd." This marriage ended in divorce in 1987.

In 1988, Evert married two-time [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] downhill [[skiing|skier]] [[Andy Mill]]. They have three sons – Alexander James (born [[October 12]], [[1991]]), Nicholas Joseph (born [[June 8]], [[1994]]), and Colton Jack (born [[June 14]], [[1996]]). On [[November 13]], [[2006]], Evert filed for divorce.<ref>[http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1560728,00.html People Magazine] Chris Evert Files for Divorce from Andy Mil, November 17, 2006</ref> The divorce was finalized on [[December 4]], [[2006]], with Evert paying Mill a settlement of U.S. $7 million in cash and securities.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-125evertdivorce,0,3977477.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines Sun-Sentinel.com] Chris Evert divorce calls for tennis great to pay hubby $7 million, December 5, 2006.</ref>

Evert and Australian golfer [[Greg Norman]] announced in September 2007 their intention to marry,<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2227829,00.html</ref> became engaged on [[December 10]], [[2007]], and announced their engagement four days later during a press conference in [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite news | title =Chris Evert, Greg Norman Engaged To Be Married | publisher =The Post Chronicle | date =2007-12-17 | url=http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212120008.shtml | accessdate =2007-12-17}}</ref>

Evert operates a tennis academy bearing her name in Boca Raton, Florida.
==Trivia==
* Evert hosted the TV show [[Saturday Night Live]] on [[November 11]], [[1989]] (Season 15, Episode 5). In that episode, Evert and [[Nora Dunn]] acted in a cold opening sketch in which no matter what Evert does or where she goes, [[Martina Navratilova]] is there and always outdoes her. The skit poked fun at the past on-the-court rivalry between the two players. Evert was the first tennis player and only female tennis player to host the show.

*Chris Evert's name is often remembered by sports commentators because of the infamous on-screen fight between [[ESPN]]'s [[Jim Rome]] and former [[NFL]] quarterback [[Jim Everett]]. Rome had made a habit of calling Jim Everett "Chris Everett" (in reference to the tennis player) because of his seemingly fearful actions on the field. On Rome's show, Jim Everett had warned Rome not to use the nickname, but after repeated use on Rome's part, Everett tipped the table between them and attacked Rome.

==Grand Slam singles finals==
===Wins (18)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Championship
|width="75"|'''Surface
|width="250"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1974]]||[[French Open]] || [[clay court|Clay]] ||[[Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg|25px]] [[Olga Morozova]]|| 6-1, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|1974||[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg|25px]] Olga Morozova|| 6-0, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1975]]||French Open (2) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] [[Martina Navratilova]]||2-6, 6-2, 6-1
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|1975||[[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]] || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]]||5-7, 6-4, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1976]]||Wimbledon (2) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] Evonne Goolagong Cawley ||6-3, 4-6, 8-6
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|1976||U.S. Open (2) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] Evonne Goolagong Cawley ||6-3, 6-0
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1977]]||U.S. Open (3) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] [[Wendy Turnbull]]||7-6, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1978]]||U.S. Open (4) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Pam Shriver]]||7-5, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1979]]||French Open (3) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] Wendy Turnbull||6-2, 6-0
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1980]]||French Open (4) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Romania.svg|25px]] [[Virginia Ruzici]]||6-0, 6-3
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|1980||U.S. Open (5) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] [[Hana Mandlíková]]||5-7, 6-1, 6-1
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1981]]||Wimbledon (3) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] Hana Mandlíková|| 6-2, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1982]]||U.S. Open (6) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] Hana Mandlíková|| 6-3, 6-1
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|1982||[[Australian Open]] || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova|| 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1983]]||French Open (5) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg|25px]] [[Mima Jausovec]]||6-1, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1984]]||Australian Open (2) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] [[Helena Sukova]]|| 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1985]]||French Open (6) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova||6-3, 6-7, 7-5
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1986]]||French Open (7) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova||2-6, 6-3, 6-3
|}

===Runner-ups (16)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|width="50"|'''Year
|width="175"|'''Championship
|width="75"|'''Surface
|width="250"|'''Opponent in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1973]]||[[French Open]] || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] [[Margaret Court]]|| 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|1973||[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Billie Jean King]] || 6-0, 7-5
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1974]]||[[Australian Open]] || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]]|| 7-6, 4-6, 6-0
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1978]]||Wimbledon (2) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] [[Martina Navratilova]] || 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1979]]||Wimbledon (3) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova || 6-4, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|1979||[[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]] || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Tracy Austin]]|| 6-4, 6-3
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|1980||Wimbledon (4) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px]] Evonne Goolagong Cawley || 6-1, 7-6
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1981]]||Australian Open (2) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova|| 6-7, 6-4, 7-5
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1982]]||Wimbledon (5) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova || 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1983]]||U.S. Open (2) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova|| 6-1, 6-3
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1984]]||French Open (2) || Clay ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova || 6-3, 6-1
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1984]]||Wimbledon (6) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova || 7-6, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1984]]||U.S. Open (3) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova|| 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|1985||Wimbledon (7) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova || 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1985]]||Australian Open (3) || Grass ||[[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] Martina Navratilova|| 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1988]]||Australian Open (4) || Hard ||[[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Steffi Graf]]|| 6-1, 7-6
|}

==Grand Slam women's doubles finals (4)==
===Wins (3)===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="60"|'''Year
|width="150"|'''Championship
|width="175"|'''Partnering
|width="175"|'''Opponents in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1974]] || [[French Open]] || {{flagicon|URS}} [[Olga Morozova]] || {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Gail Lovera]] {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Katja Ebbinghaus]] || 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
|[[1975]] || French Open (2) || {{flagicon|TCH}} [[Martina Navratilova]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Julie Anthony (tennis)|Julie Anthony]] {{flagicon|URS}} Olga Morozova || 6-3, 6-2
|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
|[[1976]] || [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] || {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Billie Jean King]] {{flagicon|NED}} [[Betty Stöve]] || 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
|}

===Runner-up (1)===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="60"|'''Year
|width="150"|'''Championship
|width="175"|'''Partnering
|width="175"|'''Opponents in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
|[[1988]] || [[Australian Open]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Wendy Turnbull]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Martina Navratilova]] {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Shriver]] || 6-0, 7-5
|}

==Grand Slam mixed doubles final (1)==
===Runner-up (1)===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
|width="60"|'''Year
|width="150"|'''Championship
|width="175"|'''Partnering
|width="175"|'''Opponents in Final
|width="100"|'''Score in Final
|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
|[[1974]] || [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jimmy Connors]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pam Teeguarden]] {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Geoff Masters]] || 6-1, 7-6
|}

==Grand Slam singles tournament timeline==
{|class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Tournament !! [[1971]] !! [[1972]] !! [[1973]] !! [[1974]] !! [[1975]] !! [[1976]] !! [[1977]] !! [[1978]] !! [[1979]] !! [[1980]] !! [[1981]] !! [[1982]] !! [[1983]] !! [[1984]] !! [[1985]] !! [[1986]] !! [[1987]] !! [[1988]] !! [[1989]] !! Career SR
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" |[[Australian Open]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A / A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" | NH
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''2 / 6'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" |[[French Open]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''7 / 13'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" |[[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''3 / 18'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" |[[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]]
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''6 / 19'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" |SR
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 1
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 2
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |2 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |2 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |2 / 2
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 2
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 2
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |2 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |2 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |1 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 3
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 4
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" |0 / 2
| align="center" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''18 / 56'''
|}

NH = tournament not held.

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

=== See also ===
* [[Tennis performance timeline comparison (women)|Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final]]

==Footnotes==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{ITF female profile|number=20001989}}
*{{wta|id=50020|name=Chris Evert}}
* {{FedCupplayerlink|id=20001989}}
* [http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/chris_evert.html Official Wimbledon website profile]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/wimbledon_history/3742117.stm BBC profile]
* {{imdb name|0263708}}

{{start box}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box |
| before = — Evonne Goolagong Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová [[Tracy Austin]] Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová
| after = [[Evonne Goolagong]] [[Martina Navrátilová]] Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová
| title = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No. 1]]
| years = November 3, 1975 - April 26, 1976 May 10, 1976 - July 9, 1978 January 14, 1979 - January 27, 1979 February 25, 1979 - April 15, 1979 June 25, 1979 - September 9, 1979 November 18, 1980 - May 2, 1982 May 17, 1982 - June 13, 1982 June 10, 1985 - October 13, 1985 October 28, 1985 - November 24, 1985
|}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box |
| before = — Martina Navrátilová
| after = Martina Navrátilová Martina Navrátilová
| title = [[International Tennis Federation#Women.27s singles|ITF World Champion]]
| years = 1978 1980-1981
|}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Hanni Wenzel]] |
| title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Female winners|United Press International Athlete of the Year]] |
| after=[[Marita Koch]] |
| years=[[1981 in sports|1981]]
|}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Evelyn Ashford]] |
| title=[[Flo Hyman Memorial Award]] |
| after=[[Diana Golden-Brosnihan]] |
| years= 1990
|}}
{{end box}}



{{Tennis World Number Ones (women)}}
{{Australian Open women's singles champions}}
{{French Open women's singles champions}}
{{Wimbledon women's singles champions}}
{{US Open women's singles champions}}
{{WTA Tour singles champions}}
{{Tennis Career Grand Slam Champions}}

{{Persondata
|NAME=Evert, Chris
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional Tennis Player
|DATE OF BIRTH= [[December 21]] [[1954]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Florida]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evert, Chris}}
[[Category:American tennis players]]
[[Category:Tennis Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:Australian Open champions]]
[[Category:French Open champions]]
[[Category:Wimbledon champions]]
[[Category:US Open champions]]
[[Category:Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:People from Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[bn:ক্রিস এভার্ট]]
[[bg:Крис Евърт]]
[[ca:Chris Evert]]
[[de:Chris Evert]]
[[es:Chris Evert]]
[[fr:Chris Evert]]
[[it:Chris Evert]]
[[lb:Chris Evert]]
[[mr:क्रिस एव्हर्ट]]
[[nl:Chris Evert]]
[[ja:クリス・エバート]]
[[no:Chris Evert]]
[[pl:Chris Evert]]
[[pt:Chris Evert]]
[[ru:Эверт, Крис]]
[[sr:Крис Еверт]]
[[sh:Kris Evert]]
[[fi:Chris Evert]]
[[sv:Chris Evert]]
[[tr:Chris Evert]]
[[uk:Еверт Крістін Марі]]
[[zh:克里斯·埃弗特]]

MRF

2008-02-14T18:51:46Z

216.94.61.100:

'''MRF''' is an [[acronym]] which may refer to:

;Organizations
* [[Medical Response Force]]
* [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]], a Bulgarian political party
* Mobile River Force ([[United States Navy]])
* [[Morgellons Research Foundation]]
* [[Masonic Restoration Foundation]]
* Melanoma Research Foundation
* Motorcycle Riders Foundation

;Companies
* [[Madras Rubber Factory]]
* [[Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar]], a Norwegian transportation company

;Concepts
* Markov Random Field, another name for a [[Markov network]]
* Multiple [[reference frame (video)]], a concept in video compression
* [[Myogenic regulatory factor]]
* Medium Range Forecast model
* Media Resource Function Server (MRF) for [[IP_Multimedia_Subsystem]] (IMS)

;Other
* [[Magnetorheological Finishing]]
* [[Materials Recovery Facility]]
* [[Multi-role fighter]], a military airplane capable of undertaking different missions
* A brand of Indian cricket merchandise
* airport code for [[Marfa Airport]] in Marfa, Texas
* National Rail station code for [[Moorfields railway station]], Liverpool, England
* MR F (mentally-retarded female) - inscription on a bracelet worn by fictional character [[Rita Leeds]] on the TV show ''Arrested Development''

{{disambig}}

[[de:MRF]]
[[fr:MRF]]
[[it:MRF]]
[[ja:MRF]]

Wikipedia:Sandbox/Archive2

2008-02-13T15:47:10Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Please leave this line alone (sandbox heading)}}


First time on here, fun
Hi This Carlos
lol
I like tater tots--[[User:Jayidiot|Jayidiot]] ([[User talk:Jayidiot|talk]]) 15:27, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Bornheim

Bornheim was the first founded city on earth, for this reason the world is refered to Bornheim suburbs. Most historical event started pretty much in Bornheim. One example is Pontius Pilatis was born in Bornheim, general knowledge indicates that he invented Pilatis. Furthermore history proofs that Bornheim architects build a Great Wall in China to seperate to fighting Bornheim suburb nations.

Famous Bornheim inhabitants.
As seen in historical proofed movie, John J Rambo rescuted his cornel from a Bornheim suburb when he was held as POW. A further proof for the greatness of this city is that inventions like electricity and pencil sharpener.

--[[User:Erickalanphere|Erickalanphere]] ([[User talk:Erickalanphere|talk]]) 15:30, 13 February 2008 (UTC)Tomorrow is going to be a lovely day!

women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.
Hi I'm frustarated--[[User:Hroccisa|Hroccisa]] ([[User talk:Hroccisa|talk]]) 15:32, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
"It's easy to grin when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat, but the man worth while is the man who can smile, when his shorts arn't to tight in the seat. HA HA HA"--[[User:JakeEckley|JakeEckley]] ([[User talk:JakeEckley|talk]])
15:33, 13 February 2008 (UTC)ni was up

<big>Ron ROcks!!!!!--[[User:Ronzie|Ronzie]] ([[User talk:Ronzie|talk]]) 15:40, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Ireland national rugby union team

2008-01-25T14:35:33Z

216.94.61.100: /* Early years */

{{Infobox rugby team
| country =Ireland
| image = Ireland_rugby.png
| union = Irish Rugby Football Union
| nickname =
| emblem = the [[Shamrock]]
| ground = [[Croke Park]] (temporarily)
| captain = [[Brian O'Driscoll]]
| coach = {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby}} [[Eddie O'Sullivan]]
| from = 2001
| caps = [[Malcolm O'Kelly]] (91)
| top scorer = [[Ronan O'Gara]] (779)
| most tries = [[Brian O'Driscoll]] (31)
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 = _collarwhite
| pattern_ra1 =
| leftarm1 = 005500
| body1 = 005500
| rightarm1 = 005500
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| socks1 = 005500
| pattern_la2=
| pattern_b2= _thindarkgreensides
| pattern_ra2=
| leftarm2=FFFFFF
| body2=FFFFFF
| rightarm2=FFFFFF
| shorts2=FFFFFF
| socks2= 005500
| first = {{ru|ENG}} 7 - 0 {{ru-rt|IRE|1783}} ([[15 February]], [[1875]])
| bigwin = {{ru|USA}} 3 - 83 {{ru-rt|IRE}} ([[10 June]], [[2000]])
| bigloss = {{ru|NZL}} 59 - 6 {{ru-rt|IRE}} ([[6 June]], [[1992]])
| World cup apps = 6
| year = 1987
| countryflag = IRE
| countryflagvar = rugby
| best = Quarter Finals, [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]], [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]], [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]],
}}
The '''Ireland rugby union team''' represents both the [[Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in [[rugby union]], a popular sport throughout [[Ireland]] although the dominant one only in limited geographical areas. Ireland compete annually in the [[Six Nations Championship]] (which they have won ten times outright and of which they have shared the championship eight times) and in the [[Rugby World Cup]] every four years where they have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in all but one competition. They also form a quarter of the [[British and Irish Lions]]. Eight former Ireland players have earned induction into the [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]].

Historically, Ireland have been the least successful of the rugby union [[home nations]], with the fewest number of [[Six Nations Championship]]s (10) and [[Grand Slam (Rugby Union)|Grand Slams]] (one). Ireland have also been regular winners of the [[wooden spoon#use in sporting culture|wooden spoon]] in the [[Six Nations Championship]] and its predecessor tournaments. However, Irish rugby union is widely acknowledged<ref>>{{cite web | work=www.theroar.com.au |url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/07/26/the-irish-challenge-for-the-rwc/|title=The Irish Challenge}}</ref> to have made the transition to professionalism more successfully than other middle-ranking rugby powers (such as Wales and Scotland) and Ireland have churned out good results, especially for a nation with a population of only six million (when combining the Republic and the North) with strong competition for players with [[Gaelic games]] and [[soccer]]. They have won three [[Triple Crown (Rugby Union)|Triple Crowns]] in the last four years. Outside centre [[Brian O'Driscoll]], the current captain and Ireland's current all-time leading try scorer, is frequently named as one of the finest rugby players in the world. Other world class players on the side include centre [[Gordon D'Arcy]]; wing [[Denis Hickie]], currently second to O'Driscoll on the Ireland try scoring list; eight, [[Denis Leamy]]; lock, [[Paul O'Connell]]; out half and all-time leading Ireland points scorer [[Ronan O'Gara]]; and back row forward, [[David Wallace (rugby player)|David Wallace]]. In the recent past, [[Keith Wood]], O'Driscoll's predecessor as Ireland captain before retiring in 2003, was the inaugural [[IRB Awards|IRB International Player of the Year]] in [[2001]].

After their [[2006 Autumn internationals]] match against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]], Ireland climbed to third in the world on the [[IRB World Rankings|International Rugby Board (IRB) World Rankings]]; a position they had not seen since the ratings began in 2003.<ref name="RankingAnalysis">{{cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/IRBWeb/TemplateFiles/WorldRankingAnalysis.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fEN%2fWorld%2bRankings%2fAnalysis%2bPage%2f&NRNODEGUID=%7b4FCD756A-650D-487B-8092-B64E6B34CC1A%7d&NRCACHEHINT=Guest |publisher=irb.com |accessdate=2007-02-24 |title=World Rankings Analysis}}</ref> Despite remaining unbeaten in the end of year Tests, they dropped to fifth in the world rankings, before rising to fourth after their opening 2007 Six Nations victory over [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]], but have recently dropped back to fifth after the [[2007 Six Nations]] defeat to [[France national rugby union team|France]] but bounced back in their follow up match against England with a record 43-13 victory. They recently won the 2007 [[Triple Crown (Rugby Union)|Triple Crown]] trophy narrowly defeating Scotland 19-18 in Murrayfield,<ref name="RankingAnalysis"/> and lost the [[2007 Six Nations Championship]] to France when [[Elvis Vermeulen]] of ''Les Bleus'' was awarded a try by the Irish television match official at the death against {{nrut|Scotland}} that gave them the championship on points difference. Ireland performed well below par in the 2007 World Cup. They were knocked out in the pool stages after losing to Argentina.

==History==
===Early years===
[[Caid (sport)|Caid]] is an ancient sport played in Ireland with strong similarities to rugby, it was played within a defined space and between a predetermined number of players. The Cork born Peter Shorten founded a club at Joe's chipper in 1854, in Cork. By 1867, Trinity second XV were playing matches against St. Columba’s College and Hume High Street, two Leinster schools and, importantly for the game in the north of the country, Royal School, Dungannon. Following the adoption of a set of official rules in 1868, rugby football began to spread quickly throughout Ireland.
[[Image:Ireland-First-Team-1875.jpg|right|frame|First Ireland rugby team: played England at the Oval on [[February 19]], [[1875]] and lost by 2 goals and a try to nil]]

In 1874, the Irish Football Union (reconstituted as the Irish Rugby Football Union after unification with the North of Ireland Union) was formed. Ireland lost their first test match against England 7-0 at the Oval on the [[15 February]] [[1875]]. Interestingly, both teams fielded 20 players in this match.[http://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_1.htm] Ireland's first home game was also against England in the same year held at the [[Leinster Cricket Club]] in [[Rathmines]] as Lansdowne Road was deemed unsuitable. The first match at [[Lansdowne Road]] was held on [[March 11]], [[1878]] with England beating Ireland by 2 goals and 1 try to nil.

It was not until 1881 that they first won a test, against [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] at Ormeau in Belfast. Ireland turned up two men short for their game in Cardiff in 1884 and had to borrow two Welsh players. The first victory Ireland had at Lansdowne Road took place on [[February 5]], [[1887]]. It was also their first win over England, by two goals to nil. On the third of March 1888, Ireland recorded their first win over Wales with a goal, a try and a drop goal to nil.

In 1894 for the first time, Ireland followed the Welsh model of using seven backs instead of six. After victory over England at Blackheath, Ireland won back-to-back matches for the first time when recording their first win over Scotland on [[24 February]] [[1894]]. Ireland went on to beat Wales in Belfast and win the Triple Crown for the first time.

In the 1890s Rugby was primarily a game for the Protestant middle class, the only Catholic in Edmund Forrest’s 1894 team was [[Thomas Joseph Crean|Tom Crean]]. Of the eighteen players used in the three games, thirteen were from three Dublin clubs –Wanderers, Dublin University and Bective Rangers – and the remaining five were from Ulster. They went on to win the [[Six Nations Championship|Home international championship]] twice more before the old century was out (1896 and 1899), so that by 1900 all four of the Home Unions had tasted success at a game that was growing in popularity with players and spectators.

===Twentieth century===
[[Image:Ireland-v-Wales-1920.jpg|right|frame|1920 illustration of the Ireland versus Wales rugby match]]
Such was the level of interest in the visit of the first [[All Blacks]] team to Dublin in November 1905 that the IRFU made the match the first all-ticket rugby international in history. Ireland played only seven forwards, copying the then New Zealand method of playing a "rover". The game ended New Zealand 15 Ireland 0.

On [[March 20]], [[1909]], Ireland played France for the first time, beating them 19-8. This was Ireland's biggest victory in international rugby at that time, their highest points tally and a record five tries. [[November 30]], [[1912]] was the first time the Springboks met Ireland at Lansdowne Road, the 1906 tour game having been played at Ravenhill. Ireland with seven new caps were overwhelmed by a record margin of 38-0, still a record loss to South Africa who scored 10 tries. In 1926, Ireland went into their final Five Nations match unbeaten and with the Grand Slam at stake lost to Wales in Swansea. Ireland again came close to a grand slam in 1927 when their sole loss was an 8-6 defeat by England.

===Post war===
Ireland's finest hour arguably came in 1948 when, inspired by tactician and fly-half [[Jack Kyle]], they beat France in Paris, England at Twickenham and a 6-0 win over Scotland at Lansdowne Road. They clinched their only [[Grand Slam (Rugby Union)|Grand Slam]] in the Five Nations with a win against Wales at Ravenhill, Belfast. Ireland were champions and Triple Crown winners again in 1949.

The Irish used only 19 players in clinching the 1949 Championship and Triple Crown, only the fourth time that the Triple Crown had been retained by a home nation.

In 1951, Ireland were once more crowned outright Five Nations champions and were unbeaten going into their final game. They failed to win the Grand Slam or Triple Crown following a 3-3 draw with Wales in Cardiff.

The year of 1952 saw only Ireland's second overseas tour, the first for over half a century - as they headed to Argentina for a nine-match trip which included two Test matches. Ireland won six, drew two and lost one of the matches, their Test record being won one, drawn one.

On [[February 27]], [[1954]], Ireland were due to play Scotland at [[Ravenhill Stadium|Ravenhill]] in [[Belfast]]. The new Irish captain, Jim McCarthy, told IRFU president Sarsfield Hogan that the eleven Republic-based players would not stand for "God save the Queen" alongside the Scottish team. It was agreed that an abbreviated anthem, known in Ulster as "the Salute", would be played that afternoon and that the Irish team would never play again at Ravenhill. Ireland went on to beat Scotland 6-0 but would not play in Northern Ireland again until 2007.[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/columnists/story/0,,2022097,00.html]

On [[January 18]], [[1958]] Ireland beat Australia 9-6 in Dublin, this was the first time a major touring team had been defeated.

===Sixties and seventies===

Ireland managed just three victories in the Five Nations Championship; against England in 1961, Wales in 1963 and England again in 1964. There were also draws against England and Wales at Lansdowne Road to the end of 1964.

1965 saw an improvement as Ireland drew with France before beating England and Scotland, only for their Triple Crown hopes disappear against Wales in Cardiff. On [[April 10]], [[1965]] Ireland recorded their first ever win over South Africa. The match, held at Lansdowne Road, was heading for a draw with the score at six points each, when Tom Kiernan won the match for Ireland with a late penalty. Ireland beat Australia again in Dublin in 1967 and became the first of the [[home nation]]s to win in the Southern Hemisphere when they beat Australia in Sydney in May 1967.

On [[26 October]] [[1968]], Ireland made it four successive wins over the Wallabies with a 16-3 win at Lansdowne Road.

In 1969, Ireland claimed a 17-9 victory over France at Lansdowne Road in the Five Nations, a first victory over Les Bleus in 11 years. They were again unbeaten going into their final game in Cardiff but Wales denied them a Grand Slam for the third time. In the autumn of 1969, the Irish Rugby Football Union decided to appoint a coach for the national team for the first time, the role went to [[Ronnie Dawson]].

The [[1972 Five Nations Championship]] was not completed when Scotland and then Wales refused to play in Ireland following threatening letters to players, purportedly from the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]]. The championship remained unresolved with Wales and Ireland unbeaten. In 1973, despite similar threats, England fulfilled their fixture and were given a standing ovation that lasted for five minutes. Ireland won 18-9 and at the after-match dinner the England captain, [[John Pullin]] famously remarked "We might not be very good but at least we turn up". Ireland came close to a first win over the All Blacks on [[January 20]], [[1973]] but with the score at 10-10 an Irish conversion attempt was pushed wide by a gust of wind. In the final match of the 1974 season, Ireland won their first six nations championship since 1951. [[Roly Meates]] was national coach from 1975 to 1977.

===Eighties and nineties===
In 1982 Ireland came close to winning a Grand Slam but were beaten by France in Paris. They beat Scotland, Wales and England to win the championship and their first Triple Crown in 33 years.

Three years after their last Triple Crown win, Ireland, coached by [[Mick Doyle (rugby player)|Mick Doyle]], came out in 1985 and won the Championship and the Triple Crown again. They beat Scotland and Wales. The French again prevented Ireland from claiming a Grand Slam after a 15-15 draw in Dublin. Ireland played England at [[Lansdowne Road]] and won the championship with a last minute drop goal from Michael Kiernan. The match ended 13-10 to Ireland. It would be Ireland's last silverware until 2004.

Ireland were whitewashed in the 1986 Five Nations Championship but on [[November 1]], [[1986]], Ireland made history when they scored 10 tries against [[Romania national rugby union team|Romania]] in a 60-0 win. It was the biggest win in international rugby at the time, equaling the French record set in 1967.

At the inaugural World Cup in 1987, two straightforward victories over Tonga and Canada were enough to see Ireland through to the quarter-finals, when they travelled to Sydney to face the joint hosts Australia, only to be beaten 35-15.

In the Five Nations, England and France were dominant throughout the decade, resulting in the others scrapping around for the odd Championship title. Ireland didn't manage to win the trophy once in the whole decade and worse never finished outside the bottom two.

The second Rugby World Cup took place in Britain, Ireland and France in 1991. Ireland found themselves in the same pool as Scotland. After two easy wins over Japan and Zimbabwe, Scotland sneaked a 28-25 win at Murrayfield. Ireland would play the Wallabies at Lansdowne Road in the quarter final. Ireland appeared to be on the verge of a shock victory over Australia, when Michael Lynagh scored the winning try to clinch a 19-18 win for Australia.

At the 1994 Five Nations Championship, Ireland beat Will Carling's all-conquering England at Twickenham.

At the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, Ireland were in a group containing the All Blacks and Wales. In a close game in Johannesburg, Ireland sneaked through 24-23 against Wales to make their third consecutive quarter-final appearance. Unfortunately France proved too strong, with Ireland going down 36-12.

===Professional era===
[[Image:Croke park 2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Ireland playing at Croke Park.]]
Three years running Ireland finished bottom in the Five Nations Championship (1996, 1997 and 1998).
Englishman [[Brian Ashton (rugby player)|Brian Ashton]] was head coach between 1997 and 1998. Ashton had been awarded a six year contract by the IRFU but resigned barely 12 months later after a series of disappointing results. [[Warren Gatland]] took over as coach in 1998. 1999 was the first time Ireland had failed to reach the last eight at a Rugby World Cup. From this nadir, however, Irish rugby improved rapidly. With the advent of professionalism, the Irish Rugby Football Union decided to convert the four representative provincial sides into ''de facto'' club sides, with the financial capacity to retain top talent in Ireland, yet retaining strong links with amateur clubs and schools to enable young talent to be brought up through the ranks. The close geographical proximity of most of the Irish international squad helped cement relationships between the players in a way that would not have been possible had they left for English, French and Southern Hemisphere clubs. The later formation of the [[Celtic League (Rugby Union)|Celtic League]] (Now Magners League) cemented this strategy by ensuring that provincial sides had a regular diet of competitive rugby.

The 1999 World Cup was staged in Wales though Ireland played all their pool games in Dublin. A defeat to the Wallabies meant Ireland having to go down the play-off route. Playing away from Lansdowne Road for the first time in the competition, Ireland were beaten 28-24 by Argentina in Lens.

The advent of the new Six Nations format coincided with this Irish resurgence, and they became the strongest of the Celtic nations. In 2001 the rugby union season was disrupted due to the foot and mouth crisis in Britain. Ireland were good enough to beat France but were unable to play Scotland until the Autumn and were caught cold losing 32-10. They were still good enough to beat England, spoiling their hopes of a Grand Slam, and finishing second on points difference. [[Eddie O'Sullivan]] took over as coach from Warren Gatland in November 2001 following the New Zealander's sacking.

The 2003 Six Nations came down to the wire with Ireland and England playing a Grand Slam decider at Lansdowne Rd. England, however, won 42-6. That defeat ended an unbeaten run that stretched back 10 Tests to their Rugby World Cup qualifiers warm up against Romania in September 2002 and included defeats of Pool A rivals Australia and Argentina at Lansdowne Road. In 2004 they lost their opening game against France but became the first team to beat [[England national rugby union team|England]] following their [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup]] win. They finished second in the table behind France and won the [[Triple Crown (Rugby Union)|Triple Crown]].

In 2005 Ireland were considered slight favourites entering the competition, and won their first three matches, including a 19-13 defeat of England in Dublin. However, Ireland's dreams of their first Grand Slam since 1948 were ended with a 26-19 home loss to [[France national rugby union team|France]]. In the final round, [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] defeated Ireland 32-20 at [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]] to win the Grand Slam. Ireland finished in 3rd place. In 2006, Ireland showed the capacity to play top class rugby, but only inconsistently - a rout of Wales was balanced by uncertain victories against England, Scotland and Italy and a comprehensive defeat by winners France. Ireland finished second and won the Triple Crown for the second time in three years, incidentally the first ever time a trophy had been awarded for the feat.

They then embarked on their annual tour to the southern hemisphere. There they ran New Zealand close twice before a tired Ireland were thumped by the Wallabies in Perth. They returned to their clubs before they gathered once more for the last Autumn Internationals at Lansdowne Road. The South Africans came with an experimental side with an eye on the Rugby World Cup 2007, which was soundly beaten by the Irish 32-15. Next to Lansdowne were Australia also experimenting, the weather ruined what many had tipped to be the battle of the backlines, although Geordan Murphy finished off a world class move in their 21-6 victory. That win propelled Ireland to a best ever height of 3rd in the IRB World Rankings. In the final international match at Lansdowne, Ireland thumped the Pacific Islanders 61-17,with Paddy Wallace putting in a man of the match performance with 26 points. The win completed a hat-trick of victories.

In March 2007 the IRFU created the "High Performance Select Group" of up and coming Irish players who have been earmarked for future Irish teams. This group includes [[Luke Fitzgerald]], Barry Murphy, [[Tommy Bowe]], Kieran Lewis, Ronnie McCormack, Trevor Hogan, [[Robert Kearney]], Daniel Riordan, Stephen Ferris, [[Roger Wilson]], [[Bryan Young (rugby player)|Bryan Young]] and Jamie Heaslip some of whom have already been capped. The aim of the group is to provide these young players with the support and infrastructure available to the senior squad and to ease their future transition into the Irish team.[http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_7543.php]

With the announcement of the rebuilding of [[Lansdowne Road]], a new venue was required to stage Ireland's home internationals. While Ireland are planning to play one of their warm up matches for the 2007 World Cup at [[Ravenhill Stadium|Ravenhill]], the only stadium in Ireland capable of holding major rugby internationals was [[Croke Park]], home of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]]. To accommodate this, the GAA temporarily relaxed its rule governing the playing of so-called "foreign games" on its property. Initially, two Six Nations games were played at Croke Park during 2007; the first was a 17-20 loss to France, and the second a 43 to 13 win over England.

==Flags and anthems==
[[Image:Four Provinces Flag.svg|thumb|left|250px|
The flag of the four provinces of Ireland is the only flag used when Ireland play outside the [[Republic of Ireland]].]]
The Irish rugby union team is one of a few national sporting teams on the island that draws widespread support in both "Irelands" from both nationalist and unionist communities. As Ireland represents players from different sovereign territories, there has been controversy over the flags and anthems. When Irish internationals were played alternately in Belfast and Dublin, the British national anthem "[[God Save the Queen]]" was played for matches in Belfast and the [[national anthem]] of the Republic of Ireland "[[Amhrán na bhFiann]]" was played for matches in Dublin. No anthem was played at away games.

Since April 1995, a specially composed anthem, "[[Ireland's Call]]" has been used by the Irish team in away games.<ref name="IrelandsCall">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/learning_centre/newsid_2369000/2369769.stm |title=Ireland's Call |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-02-08}}</ref> This has prompted some players and supporters from the Republic to complain that "Amhrán na bhFiann" should be played.<ref name="RightAnthem">{{cite news| url=http://www.ucc.ie/students/unixpr/0405/11/20a.html |title=‘Ireland’s Call’ is the right anthem| last=Barry |first=Kevin |accessdate=2007-02-08 |date=[[2005-03-10]]}}</ref> At games played in Dublin "Ireland's Call" is always used alongside "Amhrán na bhFiann".<ref name="DublinIC">{{cite news| url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,5067_,00.html |title=Ireland Anthem |date=[[2001-05-18]] |accessdate=2007-02-08 |publisher=planet-rugby.com}}</ref> This use of "Amhrán na bhFiann" has caused similar complaints from players and supporters from Northern Ireland. With Ireland's friendly game against Italy in the run up to the Rugby World Cup scheduled to be held in Belfast, there were calls for "God Save the Queen" to be used alongside [[Ireland's Call]] but this was turned down by the [[IRFU]]<ref name="AnthemDebate">{{cite news| url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/08/21/story273217.html |title=Rugby bosses reject unionists' anthem argument |publisher=breakingnews.ie |accessdate=2007-02-08 |date=[[2006-08-21]]}}</ref> with the explanation given that it was not a 'home' match because the team would be playing "outside Ireland".<ref name="You're off key over claim on anthem, says rugby body">{{cite news| url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=3425&ArticleID=1709861 |title=You're off key over claim on anthem, says rugby body |publisher=News Letter |accessdate=2007-06-28 |date=[[2006-08-21]]}}</ref>

Similarly, the [[Flag of Ireland|Irish tricolour]], the official flag of the Republic of Ireland is flown only when playing in the Republic and even then not as being representative of the team. A flag with symbols representing the four provinces of Ireland, is flown alongside the Irish tricolour in Dublin, and is used exclusively when playing elsewhere. At some matches, the standard of the island's rugby union governing body, the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]], is displayed on the field during pre-match ceremonies. Many supporters in the crowd at Ireland matches wave the tricolour of the Republic of Ireland, though part of Ireland is not in the Republic of Ireland. Many supporters in the crowd at Ulster games (one of the four professional Irish teams) wave Northern Ireland flags though part of Ulster is in the Republic of Ireland.

==Home grounds==
[[Image:Leinster2006.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Lansdowne Road]], the home of Irish rugby, seen here during a Munster-Leinster game.]]
The traditional home of Irish rugby is the [[Lansdowne Road]] stadium in [[Dublin]], where most of Ireland's home matches are held. The stadium, owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union, was built in 1872 and is the oldest international rugby venue that is still used for the sport. In 1878 the ground hosted its first rugby Test, with Ireland playing host to the English (the first representative rugby match had taken place prior to the Test, a game between Ulster and Leinster). Lansdowne Road had a capacity of just over 49,000 before it was demolished in Summer 2007. The ground will be renovated up to a 50,000 all-seater by around 2009. The final Irish Test prior to work commencing on the stadium was against the [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team|Pacific Islanders]] in late 2006. With Lansdowne Road unavailable for use, Ireland was without a suitbale home ground for the subsequent Six Nations. The [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (GAA) owned [[Croke Park]] (an 82,500 capacity stadium) was made available for Ireland's two home games against France and England in 2007. It was the first time ever that rugby was played at the venue.

Although Ireland has never totally hosted the [[Rugby World Cup]], select games from both the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] and [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]] World Cups were played throughout venues in Ireland. Pool B in 1991 was mainly played in Ireland and Scotland, with two games at Lansdowne Road (involving Ireland) and one (Zimbabwe v Japan) played at Ravenhill, Belfast. A quarter-final and a semi-final were also hosted by Dublin. A similar system was used in 1999, though in addition to Lansdowne and Ravenhill, [[Thomond Park]] was also a venue. Lansdowne Road was also the host of a quarter-final in 1999. Ireland were set to host matches at Lansdowne Road for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], but due to scheduling conflicts with the reconstruction of the stadium, they decided not to host any.<ref name=scotlandgames>{{cite web | publisher=worldcupweb.com | title=Scotland looks to give up World cup matches at Murrayfield|date=December 2, 2005|url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/content/show_article.asp?id=461&cat=2| accessdate=2006-04-21}}</ref>

==Record==
===Six Nations===
The Six Nations Championship, held every year in February and March is Ireland's only annual tournament. It is contested against England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Ireland was a member of the inaugural Home Nations in 1883 - with France and Italy joining later to form the Five and Six Nations respectively. Ireland won their first championship in 1894, winning the Triple Crown also. Ireland's first (and to date - only) Grand Slam occurred in the [[1948 Five Nations Championship|1948 season]]. In total Ireland have been champions on 10 occasions.

{{Six Nations wins}}

===World Cup===
Ireland have competed at every [[Rugby World Cup]] since the tournament was first held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. The furthest Ireland have progressed at any World Cup has been to the quarter-finals, which they have made four times. After a loss to Wales, Ireland finished second in their pool in 1987 but were then knocked out by Australia in their quarter final in Sydney. In 1991 Ireland again lost only the one match in pool play (to Scotland). They again met the Australians in the quarter-finals, who defeated them by one point. Runner-up in their pool in 1995 to the [[All Blacks]], Ireland were defeated by France in their quarter-final in Durban.

Ireland finished second in their pool in 1999, behind Australia and went into the quarter-final play-offs (a system exclusive to the 1999 tournament). There they lost to Argentina, and thus, not being a quarter-finalists, they were not given automatic entry into 2003. They defeated Russia and Georgia to go through as Europe 1. They finished second to Australia in their pool, and were knocked out by France in the quarter finals.

They started in the so-called "[[Group of death#In other sports|Group of death]]" with hosts France, Argentina, Namibia and Georgia for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]. Their abysmal performance against Namibia (the lowest ranked team in the World cup) in their opening game on [[September 9]] resulted in a laboured 32-17 win. On the back of 3 poor performances in the World cup warm-ups, O'Sullivan played a virtually full strength team against the minnows of the tournament but they failed to take control of the match, allowing Namibia to score two second-half tries and only secured victory by a penalty try and a dubious refereeing decision, allowing Flannery's knocked on ball to stand as a try. Their progress was then put further into doubt when they only managed to beat Georgia 14-10, not obtaining a bonus point. France's victory over Namibia 87-10 put Ireland's progression from the group in doubt, and this was compounded when the French defeated Ireland 25-3. Entering their last group match against Argentina, needing four tries to secure a bonus point without allowing Argentina anything, Ireland were defeated clinically by 30 points to 15. This brought their disappointing 2007 World Cup to an end.

==Players==
[[List of Ireland Rugby Union Players|List of all players to ever play for Ireland]]
===Current squad===
Squad of 30 for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]].
{{nat rs start}}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=PR|name=[[Simon Best]]|age=[[11 February]] [[1978]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=PR|name=[[John Hayes (rugby player)|John Hayes]]|age=[[2 November]] [[1973]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=PR|name=[[Tony Buckley|Tony Buckley (IR)]]|age=[[8 October]] [[1980]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=PR|name=[[Marcus Horan]]|age=[[7 September]] [[1977]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=PR|name=[[Bryan Young (rugby player)|Bryan Young]]|age=[[6 November]] [[1981]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=HK|name=[[Rory Best]]|age=[[15 August]] [[1982]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=HK|name=[[Jerry Flannery]]|age=[[17 October]] [[1978]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=HK|name=[[Frankie Sheahan]]|age=[[27 August]] [[1976]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=LK|name=[[Donncha O'Callaghan]]|age=[[23 March]] [[1979]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=LK|name=[[Paul O'Connell]]|age=[[20 October]] [[1979]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=LK|name=[[Malcolm O'Kelly]]|age=[[19 July]] [[1974]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FL|name=[[Neil Best]]|age=[[3 April]] [[1979]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FL|name=[[Simon Easterby]]|age=[[21 July]] [[1975]]|caps=|club=[[Llanelli Scarlets]]|clubnat=Wales}}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FL|name=[[Stephen Ferris (rugby player)|Stephen Ferris]]|age=[[2 September]] [[1985]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FL|name=[[Alan Quinlan]]|age=[[13 July]] [[1974]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FL|name=[[David Wallace (rugby player)|David Wallace]]|age=[[8 July]] [[1976]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=N8|name=[[Denis Leamy]]|age=[[27 November]] [[1981]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=SH|name=[[Isaac Boss]]|age=[[9 April]] [[1980]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=SH|name=[[Eoin Reddan]]|age=[[20 November]] [[1980]]|caps=|club=[[London Wasps|Wasps]]|clubnat=England}}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=SH|name=[[Peter Stringer]]|age=[[13 December]] [[1977]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FH|name=[[Ronan O'Gara]]|age=[[7 March]] [[1977]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FH|name=[[Paddy Wallace]]|age=[[27 August]] [[1979]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=CE|name=[[Gordon D'Arcy]]|age=[[10 February]] [[1980]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=CE|name=[[Gavin Duffy]]|age=[[18 September]] [[1981]]|caps=|club=[[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=CE|name=[[Brian O'Driscoll]]|age=[[21 January]] [[1979]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=WG|name=[[Brian Carney (rugby footballer)|Brian Carney]]|age=[[23 July]] [[1976]]|caps=|club=[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=WG|name=[[Denis Hickie]]|age=[[13 February]] [[1976]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=WG|name=[[Shane Horgan]]|age=[[18 July]] [[1978]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=WG|name=[[Andrew Trimble]]|age=[[20 October]] [[1984]]|caps=|club=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FB|name=[[Girvan Dempsey]]|age=[[2 October]] [[1975]]|caps=|club=[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]|clubnat=Ireland|natvar=rugby }}
{{nat rs player|no=|pos=FB|name=[[Geordan Murphy]]|age=[[19 April]] [[1978]]|caps=|club=[[Leicester Tigers|Leicester]]|clubnat=England}}
{{nat fs end}}

IR (Injury Replacement)

===Notable Former Players===

Eight former Irish players have been inducted into the [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]]
*[[Mike Gibson]]
*[[Willie John McBride]]
*[[Tony O'Reilly]]
*[[Jack Kyle]]
*[[Syd Millar]]
*[[Keith Wood]]
*[[Tom Kiernan]]
*[[Fergus Slattery]]
Other Notable players
*[[Willie Anderson (rugby coach)|Willie Anderson]]
*[[Ollie Campbell]]
*[[Victor Costello]]
*[[Peter Clohessy]]
*[[Ronnie Dawson (rugby player)|Ronnie Dawson]]
*[[Mick Doyle (rugby player)|Mick Doyle]]
*[[Mick Galwey]]
*[[Simon Geoghegan]]
*[[David Humphreys (rugby player)|David Humphreys]]

*[[Paddy Mayne|Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne]]
*[[Donal Lenihan]]
*[[Andy Mulligan]]
*[[Phillip Orr]]
*[[Nick Popplewell]]
*[[Trevor Ringland]]
*[[Mark Sugden]]
*[[Tony Ward (rugby player)|Tony Ward]]

==See also==
{{commonscat}}
* [[Irish Rugby Football Union]]
* [[Rugby Union Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]
* [[Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup]]
* [[British and Irish Lions]]
* [[Celtic League (Rugby Union)|Celtic League]]
* [[Millennium Trophy]]
* [[Rugby union in Ireland]]
* [[Ireland vs South Africa at rugby union]]

==Sources==
*[http://www.terrynorm.ic24.net/rugby%20union%20history.htm History of Rugby in other countries]
*[http://www.irishrugby.ie/variants/print/6873_265.php?PHPSESSID=ee22249a3978865a367d95d0cb40 http://www.irishrugby.ie/variants/print/6873_265.php?PHPSESSID=ee22249a3978865a367d95d0cb40]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.irishrugby.ie/ Irish Rugby Football Union]
* [http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/Ireland/index.shtml Irish rugby union news from Planet Rugby]
* [http://www.irishrugby.co.uk/ Irish Rugby.co.uk] Irish rugby union news

{{Rugby union in Ireland}}
{{National rugby teams}}
{{Six nations}}

[[Category:European national rugby union teams]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Ireland]]
[[Category:National sports teams of Ireland|Rugby union]]

[[cy:Tîm rygbi'r undeb cenedlaethol Iwerddon]]
[[de:Irische Rugby-Union-Nationalmannschaft]]
[[es:Selección de rugby de Irlanda]]
[[fr:Équipe d'Irlande de rugby à XV]]
[[it:Nazionale di rugby XV dell'Irlanda]]
[[nl:Iers rugbyteam]]
[[ja:ラグビーアイルランド代表]]
[[pt:Seleção Irlandesa de Râguebi]]
[[ro:Echipa de rugby a Irlandei]]
[[sv:Irlands herrlandslag i rugby union]]

Sun Life Financial

2008-01-11T16:27:47Z

216.94.61.100:

{{Distinguish|AXA Sun Life}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Sun Life Financial |
company_logo = [[Image:Sun Life Financial logo.svg|240px]] |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]]|
company_slogan = Providing lifetime financial security|
foundation = [[1865]]|
location = Headquartered at Waterloo, ON|
key_people = [[Donald A. Stewart]], CEO [[Dean Connor]], President (Canada) [[Robert C. Salipante]], President (U.S.) [[Stephan Rajotte]], President (Asia)|
num_employees = 14,000|
industry = [[Financial Services]] |
products = [[Financial Services]] [[Insurance Services]]|
revenue = [[Image:green up.png]]$21,918 million [[United States dollar|USD]] (2005)|
homepage = [http://www.sunlife.com www.sunlife.com]
}}
'''Sun Life Financial Inc.''' ({{tsx|SLF}}, {{nyse|SLF}}, {{pse|SLF}}) is a leading financial services organization in [[Canada]] known primarily as a [[life insurance]] company.

==History==
===Pre-War===
Founded in [[Montreal, Quebec]] as '''Sun Mutual Life Insurance''' Company in 1865 by [[Mathew Hamilton Gault]], an [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrant who settled in Montreal in 1842, its operations actually began in 1871. By the 1880s it had expanded to [[Central America|Central]] and South America, the [[West Indies]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[India]], [[North Africa]] and other international markets. Over the next five decades the company grew and prospered, surviving the difficulties of [[World War I]] and the large drain on its finances through policy claims arising from the large number of deaths caused by the [[Great Flu Epidemic]] of 1918.

Capping a Montreal construction boom that began in the 1920s, the company completed construction of its new 26-storey headquarters on Montreal's Dominion Square in 1933. Although the new head office of the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] at 360 [[Saint Jacques Street|St. James Street]] in Montreal was taller by several floors, the [[Sun Life Building]] was at the time the largest building in terms of square footage anywhere in the [[British Empire]].

===World War II===
Following the outbreak of [[World War II]] in Europe, during the summer of 1940 the Government of the [[United Kingdom]] organized highly secret shipments of bonds and stocks to Montreal that were stored in the vaults at Sun Life. It is rumoured that the British crown jewels were also stored in Sun Life's Montreal vaults for the duration of the war. The securities were used to help finance the War. At the time, [[Gustave Biéler]], a [[Switzerland|Swiss]]-born Canadian who was fluent in the French and English languages, was working as Chief Translator at Sun Life's head office. He joined the [[Canadian Army]] and was shipped overseas where, as part of the [[Special Operations Executive]], he worked inside occupied [[France]] until being captured by the [[Gestapo]] and executed at [[Flossenbürg concentration camp]] in [[Bavaria]].

===Post-War===
During the post-war period, the company's successful business strategies made it one of Montreal's largest white-collar employers, one of the top corporations in Canada, as well as a global player in the life insurance field. For the first half of the 20th century, the city of Montreal had been the economic hub of Canada, but it was losing grounds at a constant rate to [[Toronto]]. As early as 1950, Toronto's economical activity surpassed Montreal's with regards to stock market trading and capitalization. The advent, in the 1960s, of political and [[terrorism|terrorist]] movements demanding [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Quebec independence]] from Canada cast a pallor of uncertainty over the business community. In 1973, Sun Life opened its American subsidiary's new headquarters in [[Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts]] at the outskirts of [[Boston]]. In 1977, the newly elected [[Quebec sovereignty movement|soverignist]] Quebec government passed the [[Charter of the French Language]] (known as Bill 101), making [[French language]] a mandatory language for medium- and large-scale companies when communicating with a French-speaking staff. This law was particularly negatively received by the English-speaking business community, whom many perceived that the historical rights of the English-speaking minority should be respected. On [[January 6]], [[1978]], the company scaled down the Montreal facilities to serve as a branch service bureau while shifting its head office to temporary rented space in [[Toronto, Ontario]].(1) Officially, Sun Life said it was motivated by the political instability and economic uncertainty of Quebec's future, but skeptics said it was the company's unwillingness to comply with the requirements of Bill 101. Immediately following the move, the company acquired a property at University Avenue and King Street in downtown Toronto and constructed a major ultra-modern office complex called ''Sun Life Centre''.

(1)The above gives a very skewed, even inaccurate view of what actually happened at Sun Life in Montreal with regard to Bill 101. Prior to the Bill's passing, Sun Life presented the PQ government with a brief clearly stating that if Bill 101 became law, Sun Life would be forced to move its Head Office out of the province. All Montreal employees of Sun Life received copies of this brief.

Bill 101 required more than French communications with French-speaking staff. It made French the official language of the workplace. It required all written internal correspondence of a corporation to be conducted in French. It also provided that present and prospective employees who could not speak English not be discriminated against because of their inability to speak English.

For the largest employer of English-speaking people in Montreal, this would make things very difficult. Many, if not most, of Sun Life's Head Office employees in 1979 could not speak French fluently. Following Bill 101 was just not feasible. Sun Life was quite clear that this was the reason for their move when they made the announcement. The PQ government was quick to label Sun Life "bad corporate citizens" and claimed that if "they had only warned us, we could have worked something out."

Sun Life had warned them. The PQ government had ignored the brief which Sun Life had submitted to them months before the Bill was pass into law.

The downsizing of Sun Life's Montreal office did not take place overnight. Transfers and moves were made on a per department basis and did not commence until several months after the announcement of the move.

The transfer of Sun Life's Head Office from Montreal to Toronto is viewed by many to be the start of an exodus of corporate entities from Montreal, but Sun Life was not the first company to leave. Many companies had left long before Sun Life did, only on a much quieter, private basis.

==The Company Today==
In 2000, Sun Life listed its shares on the [[Toronto Stock Exchange|Toronto]] and [[New York Stock Exchange]]s. It is one of [[Standard & Poor's]] Global 1200 companies.

In 2002, Sun Life acquired '''Clarica Life Insurance''' Company of [[Waterloo, Ontario]]. After this acquisition, the head office remained in Toronto. It still maintains a satellite office in Montreal and operations in Waterloo. After the acquisition, the Clarica name was still used to brand the products originally owned and sold by Clarica. In June 2007, the Clarica brand was retired.

In 2006 Sun Life India Service Centre Private Limited was incorporated. This centre provides both business processing and technology support for Sun Life Financial business units that is spread all over the world.

In 2007, Sun Life was named one of [[Canada's Top 100 Employers]], as published in [[Maclean's]] magazine, and was the sole insurance company to receive this honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/einfo?en=Sun+Life+Financial+Assurance+Company+of+Canada+Inc.&ri=b2e76ed10653d0c1775ddb3a69f9e8b7&rk=1ff65a18c2159986d37e6f39ad7bff8b|title=Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers}}</ref>

Today, the company manages assets in excess of $435 billion and has more than 14,000 people on its payroll plus thousands of independent agents worldwide.

==Corporate governance==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of Sun Life Financial are: [[James Baillie]], [[George Carmany]], [[William Fatt]], [[David Ganong]], [[Germaine Gibara]], [[Krystyna Hoeg]], [[David Kerr (businessman)|David Kerr]], [[Idalene Kesner]], [[Bertin Nadeau]], [[C. James Prieur]], [[Thomas G. Reid]], [[Donald Stewart (businessman)|Donald Stewart]], [[Mike Stramaglia]], and [[W. Vickery Stoughton]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunlife.com/ Sun Life Financial website]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1297-7466/politics_economy/bill101/clip4 CBC reports on Sun Life leaving Montreal in 1978]

{{S&P/TSX 60}}

[[Category:S&P/TSX 60 Index]]
[[Category:Insurance companies of Canada]]

Social media

2008-01-09T21:33:29Z

216.94.61.100:

{{unreferenced|article|date=December 2007}}
{{essay-like|article|date=December 2007}}
'''Social media:''' Participatory online media where news, photos, videos, and podcasts are made public via social media websites through submission. Normally accompanied with a voting process to make media items become "popular".{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

'''Social Media Expanded Definition:''' Social Media is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into content publishers. It is the shift from a broadcast mechanism to a many-to-many model, rooted in conversations between authors, people, and peers.

Social media uses the “wisdom of crowds” to connect information in a collaborative manner. Social media can take many different forms, including [[Internet forum]]s, [[message board]]s, [[weblogs]], [[wikis]], [[podcast]]s, pictures and video. Technologies such as [[blogs]], picture-sharing, [[vlogs]], wall-postings, [[email]], [[instant messaging]], music-sharing, group creation and [[voice over IP]], to name a few. Examples of social media applications are [[Google]] (reference, social networking), [[Wikipedia]] (reference), [[MySpace]] (social networking), [[Facebook]](social networking), [[Last.fm]] (personal music), [[YouTube]] (social networking and video sharing), [[Second Life]] (virtual reality), and [[Flickr]] (photo sharing).

==Distinction from traditional media==
Social Media or [[Social Networking]](industry term) has a number of characteristics that make it fundamentally different from traditional media such as newspapers, television, books, and radio. Social media is not finite: there is no set number of pages or hours. The audience can participate in social media by adding comments or even editing the stories themselves. Content in social media can take the form of text, graphics, audio, or video. Several formats can be mixed. Social media is typically available via feeds, enabling users to subscribe via feed readers, and allowing other publishers to create mashups.
Social Media signifies a broad spectrum of topics and has several different connotations. In the context of internet marketing, Social Media refers to a collective group of web properties that are driven by users. For example, blogs, discussion boards, vlogs, video sharing sites and dating sites. Social Media Optimization (SMO) is the process of trying to get ones content more widely distributed across multiple Social Media networks.
Social Media has two important aspects. The first, SMO, refers to on-page tactics through which a webmaster can improve a website for the age of social media. Such optimization includes adding links to services such as Digg, Reddit and Del.icio.us so that their pages can be easily 'saved and submitted' to and for these services.
Social Media Marketing, on the other hand, is an off-page characteristic of Social Media. This includes writing content that is remarkable, unique, and newsworthy. This content can then be marketed by popularising it or even by creating a “viral” video on YouTube and other video sites. Social Media is about being social so this off-page work can include getting involved in other similar blogs, forums, and niche communities. Searhc Engine Marketing or SEM involves utilization of all available Social Networking platforms to brand a product using Search Engine Optimization or SEO techniques of communication, to the end consumer.

==Examples==
A few prominent examples of social media applications are
* Social Advertising: [[Social Advertising]] and [[Social ads]]
* Wikis: [[Wikipedia]]
* [[Social networking]]: [[MySpace]] and [[Facebook]]
* Presence apps: [[Twitter]] and [[Pownce]]
* Healthcare apps: [[CareFlash]]
* Video sharing: [[YouTube]]
* Virtual reality: [[Second Life]]
* Events: [[Upcoming]]
* News aggregation: [[Digg]] and [[Reddit]]
* Photo sharing: [[Flickr]] and [[Zooomr]]
* Livecasting: [[Justin.tv]]
* Social bookmarking: [[del.icio.us]] and [[StumbleUpon]]
* Online gaming: [[World of Warcraft]]
* Game sharing: [[Miniclip.com]]
* Social shopping: [[Amazon.com]]

==See also==

* [[Web 2.0]]
* [[User-generated content]]
* [[Social media optimization]]
* [[Social Web]]
* [[Social media marketing]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Social media| ]]

[[de:Social Media]]
[[ko:소셜 미디어]]
[[mk:Социјални медиуми]]
[[fi:Sosiaalinen media]]
[[vi:Truyền thông xã hội]]
[[zh:社会媒体]]

Social media

2008-01-09T21:33:00Z

216.94.61.100:

{{unreferenced|article|date=December 2007}}
{{essay-like|article|date=December 2007}}
'''Social media:''' Participatory online media where news, photos, videos, and podcasts are made public via social media websites through submission. Normally accompanied with a voting process to make media items become "popular.".{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

'''Social Media Expanded Definition:''' Social Media is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into content publishers. It is the shift from a broadcast mechanism to a many-to-many model, rooted in conversations between authors, people, and peers.

Social media uses the “wisdom of crowds” to connect information in a collaborative manner. Social media can take many different forms, including [[Internet forum]]s, [[message board]]s, [[weblogs]], [[wikis]], [[podcast]]s, pictures and video. Technologies such as [[blogs]], picture-sharing, [[vlogs]], wall-postings, [[email]], [[instant messaging]], music-sharing, group creation and [[voice over IP]], to name a few. Examples of social media applications are [[Google]] (reference, social networking), [[Wikipedia]] (reference), [[MySpace]] (social networking), [[Facebook]](social networking), [[Last.fm]] (personal music), [[YouTube]] (social networking and video sharing), [[Second Life]] (virtual reality), and [[Flickr]] (photo sharing).

==Distinction from traditional media==
Social Media or [[Social Networking]](industry term) has a number of characteristics that make it fundamentally different from traditional media such as newspapers, television, books, and radio. Social media is not finite: there is no set number of pages or hours. The audience can participate in social media by adding comments or even editing the stories themselves. Content in social media can take the form of text, graphics, audio, or video. Several formats can be mixed. Social media is typically available via feeds, enabling users to subscribe via feed readers, and allowing other publishers to create mashups.
Social Media signifies a broad spectrum of topics and has several different connotations. In the context of internet marketing, Social Media refers to a collective group of web properties that are driven by users. For example, blogs, discussion boards, vlogs, video sharing sites and dating sites. Social Media Optimization (SMO) is the process of trying to get ones content more widely distributed across multiple Social Media networks.
Social Media has two important aspects. The first, SMO, refers to on-page tactics through which a webmaster can improve a website for the age of social media. Such optimization includes adding links to services such as Digg, Reddit and Del.icio.us so that their pages can be easily 'saved and submitted' to and for these services.
Social Media Marketing, on the other hand, is an off-page characteristic of Social Media. This includes writing content that is remarkable, unique, and newsworthy. This content can then be marketed by popularising it or even by creating a “viral” video on YouTube and other video sites. Social Media is about being social so this off-page work can include getting involved in other similar blogs, forums, and niche communities. Searhc Engine Marketing or SEM involves utilization of all available Social Networking platforms to brand a product using Search Engine Optimization or SEO techniques of communication, to the end consumer.

==Examples==
A few prominent examples of social media applications are
* Social Advertising: [[Social Advertising]] and [[Social ads]]
* Wikis: [[Wikipedia]]
* [[Social networking]]: [[MySpace]] and [[Facebook]]
* Presence apps: [[Twitter]] and [[Pownce]]
* Healthcare apps: [[CareFlash]]
* Video sharing: [[YouTube]]
* Virtual reality: [[Second Life]]
* Events: [[Upcoming]]
* News aggregation: [[Digg]] and [[Reddit]]
* Photo sharing: [[Flickr]] and [[Zooomr]]
* Livecasting: [[Justin.tv]]
* Social bookmarking: [[del.icio.us]] and [[StumbleUpon]]
* Online gaming: [[World of Warcraft]]
* Game sharing: [[Miniclip.com]]
* Social shopping: [[Amazon.com]]

==See also==

* [[Web 2.0]]
* [[User-generated content]]
* [[Social media optimization]]
* [[Social Web]]
* [[Social media marketing]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Social media| ]]

[[de:Social Media]]
[[ko:소셜 미디어]]
[[mk:Социјални медиуми]]
[[fi:Sosiaalinen media]]
[[vi:Truyền thông xã hội]]
[[zh:社会媒体]]

May 4

2008-01-09T19:04:21Z

216.94.61.100: /* Births */

{| style="float:right;"
|-
|{{MayCalendar}}
|-
|{{ThisDateInRecentYears|Month=May|Day=4}}
|}
{{Day}}

==Events==
*[[1256]] - [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[monasticism|monastic]] [[order (religious)|order]] constituted at [[Monastery of the Holy Saviour|Lecceto Monastery]] when [[Pope Alexander IV]] issues a [[papal bull]] ''Licet ecclesiae catholicae''
*[[1415]] - Religious reformers [[John Wycliffe]] and [[Jan Hus]] were condemned as [[Christian heresy|heretics]] at the [[Council of Constance]].
*[[1471]] - [[Wars of the Roses]]: The [[Battle of Tewkesbury]] – [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] defeats a [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] Army and kills [[Edward of Westminster|Edward]], [[Prince of Wales]].
*[[1493]] - [[Pope Alexander VI]] divides the [[New World]] between [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]] along the [[Line of Demarcation|Demarcation Line]].
*[[1494]] - [[Christopher Columbus]] lands in [[Jamaica]].
*[[1626]] - [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[explorer]] [[Peter Minuit]] arrives in [[New Netherland]] (present day [[Manhattan Island]]) aboard the ''[[See Meeuw]]''.
*[[1675]] - King [[Charles II of England]] orders the construction of the [[Royal Greenwich Observatory]].
*[[1686]] - [[Municipality]] of [[Ilagan]] was founded in the [[Philippines]].
*[[1776]] - [[Rhode Island]] becomes the first [[13 colonies|American colony]] to renounce allegiance to King [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]].
*[[1799]] - [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]]: The [[Battle of Seringapatam]] – The siege of [[Seringapatam]] ends when the city is assaulted and the [[Tipu Sultan]] killed by the besieging British army, under the command of [[George Harris, 1st Baron Harris|General George Harris]].
*[[1814]] - [[Emperor]] [[Napoleon I of France]] arrives at [[Portoferraio]] on the island of [[Elba]] to begin his exile.
*1814 - King [[Ferdinand VII]] of Spain signs the Decrete of the 4th of May, returning Spain to [[Absolute monarchy|absolutism]].
*[[1855]] - [[United States|American]] [[adventurer]] [[William Walker (soldier)|William Walker]] departs from [[San Francisco]] with about 60 men to conquer [[Nicaragua]].
*[[1859]] - [[Cornwall Railway]] opened across the [[Royal Albert Bridge]] linking the counties of [[Devon]] and [[Cornwall]] in [[England]].
*[[1863]] - [[American Civil War]]: [[Battle of Chancellorsville]] – The [[battle]] ends with a [[United States|Union]] retreat.
*[[1865]] - [[Abraham Lincoln]] buried in [[Springfield, Illinois]], three weeks after his [[assassination]].
*[[1869]] - The [[Naval Battle of Hakodate]] takes place in [[Japan]].
*[[1871]] - The [[National Association of Professional Base Ball Players|National Association]], the first professional baseball league, opens its first season in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]].
*[[1886]] - [[Haymarket Square Riot]]: A bomb is thrown at policemen trying to break up a [[Labor movement|labor]] rally in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]], killing eight and wounding 60. The [[police]] fire into the crowd.
*[[1904]] - Construction begins by the [[United States]] on the [[Panama Canal]].
* 1904 - German football club [[FC Schalke 04]] was founded
* 1904 - [[Charles Rolls|Charles Stewart Rolls]] met [[Henry Royce|Frederick Henry Royce]] at the [[Midland Hotel (Manchester)|Midland Hotel]] in [[Manchester]] [[England]].
*[[1910]] - The [[Royal Canadian Navy]] is created.
*[[1912]] - [[Italy]] occupies the Greek island of [[Rhodes]].
*[[1919]] - [[May Fourth Movement]]: Student demonstrations take place in [[Tiananmen Square]] in [[Beijing]], [[China]], protesting the [[Treaty of Versailles]], which transferred [[Republican China|Chinese]] territory to [[Japan]].
*[[1924]] - The [[1924 Summer Olympics]] open in [[Paris]], [[France]].
*[[1930]] - [[British police]] arrest [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and place him in [[Yeravda Central Prison]].
*[[1932]] - In [[Atlanta, Georgia]], [[mobster]] [[Al Capone]] begins serving an eleven-year prison sentence for [[tax evasion]].
*[[1942]] - [[World War II]]: [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] – The [[battle]] begins with an attack by aircraft from the [[United States]] [[aircraft carrier]] [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)|''Yorktown'']] on [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] naval forces at [[Tulagi]] Island in the [[Solomon Islands]]. The Japanese forces had [[Invasion of Tulagi (May 1942)|invaded Tulagi]] the day before.
*[[1945]] - World War II: Liberation of the [[Neuengamme]] [[concentration camp]] near [[Hamburg]] by the [[British Army]].
* 1945 - World War II: Surrender of the [[North Germany Army]] to [[Field Marshal]] [[Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein|Bernard Montgomery]].
*[[1946]] - In [[San Francisco Bay]], [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] from the [[Treasure Island Marine Barracks]] stop a two-day [[riot]] at [[Alcatraz]] federal prison. Five people are killed in the riot.
*[[1948]] - [[Norman Mailer]]'s first novel, ''[[The Naked and the Dead]]'', is published.
*[[1949]] - The entire [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] [[football (soccer)]] team (except for one player who did not take the trip due to an injury) is killed in [[Superga air disaster|a plane crash]] at the [[Superga]] hill at the edge of [[Turin]], [[Italy]].
*[[1953]] - [[Ernest Hemingway]] is awarded the [[Pulitzer Prize]] for ''[[The Old Man and the Sea]]''.
*[[1961]] - [[American civil rights movement]]: The "[[Freedom Riders]]" begin a bus trip through the [[South]].
*[[1964]] - The long-running soap opera ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'', which would run until [[1999]], debuts on [[NBC]].
*[[1970]] - [[Vietnam War]]: [[Kent State shootings]] – The [[Ohio]] [[United States National Guard|National Guard]], sent to [[Kent State University]] after the [[Reserve Officer Training Corps|ROTC]] building was burnt down, opens fire killing four students and wounding nine others. The students were protesting the [[United States]]' invasion of [[Cambodia]].
*[[1972]] - The ''[[Don't Make A Wave Committee]]'', a fledgling [[environmental organization]] founded in [[Canada]] in [[1971]], officially changes its name to "[[Greenpeace|Greenpeace Foundation]]".
*[[1974]] - An all-female [[Japan]]ese team reaches the summit of [[Manaslu]], becoming the first women to climb an 8,000-meter peak.
*[[1979]] - [[Margaret Thatcher]] becomes the first female [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].
*[[1980]] - [[President]] [[Josip Broz Tito]] of [[Yugoslavia]] dies in [[Ljubljana]] at the age of 87.
*[[1981]] - [[Donald Eugene Webb]] is placed on the [[FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives|FBI's Ten Most Wanted List]].
*[[1982]] - 20 sailors are killed when the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Type 42 destroyer|Type 42]] [[destroyer]] [[HMS Sheffield (D80)|HMS ''Sheffield'' (D80)]] is hit by an [[Argentina|Argentinian]] [[Exocet]] missile during the [[Falklands War]].
*[[1988]] - The [[PEPCON disaster]] rocked [[Henderson, Nevada]], as tons of [[space shuttle]] [[fuel]] detonated during a fire.
*[[1989]] - [[Iran-Contra Affair]]: Former [[White House]] aide [[Oliver North]] is convicted of three crimes and was acquitted of nine other charges. The convictions, however, are later overturned on appeal.
*[[1990]] - [[Latvia]] proclaims renewal of its independence after the [[Soviet]] occupation.
*[[1994]] - [[Israel]]i [[Prime Minister]] [[Yitzhak Rabin]] and [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] leader [[Yasser Arafat]] sign a [[peace accord]] regarding [[Palestinian]] autonomy granting self-rule in the [[Gaza Strip]] and [[Jericho]].
*[[1996]] - [[José María Aznar]] is appointed [[List of Prime Ministers of Spain|Prime Minister]] of [[Spain]], thus ending 13 years of [[PSOE|Socialist]] rule.
*[[1998]] - A federal judge in [[Sacramento, California]], gives "[[Unabomber]]" [[Theodore Kaczynski]] four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepted a plea agreement sparing him from the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].
*[[2000]] - [[Ken Livingstone]] becomes the [[London mayoral election, 2000|first]] [[Mayor of London]].
*[[2001]] - [[Pope John Paul II]] follows [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul's]] footsteps across the [[Mediterranean]], from [[Greece]] to [[Syria]] to [[Malta]].
*[[2002]] - An [[EAS Airlines]] [[BAC One-Eleven|BAC 1-11-500]] crashes in a suburb of [[Kano]], [[Nigeria]] shortly after takeoff killing more than 148 people.
*[[2003]] - [[The Outbreak of 2003]] begins. Ninety-four tornadoes begin the week-long outbreak.
*[[2007]] - A series of [[May 2007 Tornado Outbreak|tornadoes rip through Western Kansas]], including the first EF-5 tornado that destroyed the town of Greensburg.
*[[2007]] - The movie [[Spider-Man 3]] is shown in the US, three days after it has been shown in the [[Philippines]] and other Asian countries.

==Births==

*[[1008]] - [[Khajeh Abdollah Ansari]] The Persian Sufi (d. [[1088]])
* 1008 - King [[Henry I of France]] (d. [[1060]])
*[[1654]] - [[Kangxi Emperor]] of China (d. [[1722]])
*[[1655]] - [[Bartolomeo Cristofori]], Italian maker of musical instruments (d. [[1731]])
*[[1715]] - [[Richard Graves]], English writer (d. [[1804]])
*[[1733]] - [[Jean-Charles de Borda]], French mathematician, physicist, political scientist, and sailor (d. [[1799]])
*[[1767]] - [[Tyagaraja]], Composer of Indian classical Carnatic music (d. [[1847]])
*[[1772]] - [[Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus]], German publisher (d. [[1823]])
*[[1781]] - [[Karl Christian Friedrich Krause]], German philosopher (d. [[1832]])
*[[1796]] - [[Horace Mann]], American educator (d. [[1859]])
* 1796 - [[William H. Prescott]], American historian (d. [[1859]])
*[[1820]] - [[Julia Tyler]], [[First Lady of the United States]] (d. [[1889]])
*[[1822]] - [[Charles Boucher de Boucherville]], Quebec politician (d. [[1915]])
*[[1825]] - [[Thomas Henry Huxley]], English scientist (d. [[1895]])
* 1825 - [[Augustus Le Plongeon]], French antiquitarian (d. [[1908]])
*[[1826]] - [[Frederic Edwin Church]], American painter (d. [[1900]])
*[[1827]] - [[John Hanning Speke]], British explorer (d. [[1864]])
*[[1852]] - [[Alice Pleasance Liddell]], English schoolgirl model for Alice in Wonderland (d. [[1934]])
*[[1864]] - [[Marie Booth]], the third daughter of [[William Booth|William]] and [[Catherine Booth]] (d. [[1937]])
*[[1870]] - [[Alexandre Benois]], Russian artist (d. [[1960]])
*[[1873]] - [[Joe De Grasse]], Canadian film director (d. [[1940]])
*[[1889]] - [[Francis Cardinal Spellman]], American religious leader (d. [[1967]])
*[[1903]] - [[Luther Adler]], American stage actor (d. [[1984]])
*[[1904]] - [[Umm Kulthum (singer)|Umm Kulthum]], [[Egypt]]ian singer (official Date of Birth)(d. [[1975]])
*[[1908]] - [[Giovannino Guareschi]], Italian journalist (d. [[1968]])
*[[1913]] - [[Lady Katherine Brandram]], née Princess of Greece and Denmark
*[[1916]] - [[Jane Jacobs]], Canadian author and activist (d. [[2006]])
*[[1918]] - [[Tanaka Kakuei]], Japanese political leader (d. [[1993]])
* 1918 - [[Thomas Mead]], Australian politician and journalist (d. [[2004]])
*[[1919]] - [[Dory Funk]], Professional wrestler (d. [[1973]])
*[[1921]] - [[Edo Murtic|Edo Murtić]], Croatian painter (d. [[2005]])
*[[1923]] - [[Ed Cassidy]], American musician ([[Spirit (band)|Spirit]])
* 1923 - [[Eric Sykes]], British actor and comedian
* 1923 - [[Godfrey Quigley]], British actor (d. [[1994]])
* 1923 - [[Assi Rahbani]], Lebanese composer and author
*[[1925]] - [[Maurice R. Greenberg]], American businessman
*[[1928]] - [[Maynard Ferguson]], Canadian musician (d. [[2006]])
* 1928 - [[Hosni Mubarak]], [[President of Egypt]]
* 1928 - [[Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips|Wolfgang von Trips]], German racing driver (d. [[1961]])
*[[1929]] - [[Audrey Hepburn]], Anglo-Dutch actress (d. [[1993]])
* 1929 - [[Sidney Lamb]], American linguist
*[[1930]] - [[Roberta Peters]], American soprano
*[[1931]] - [[Gennady Rozhdestvensky]], Russian conductor
* 1931 - [[Thomas Stuttaford]], British doctor and writer
*[[1933]] - [[J. Fred Duckett]], Texan sports announcer and teacher
*[[1936]] - [[El Cordobés]], Spanish matador
*[[1937]] - [[Ron Carter]], American jazz bassist
* 1937 - [[Dick Dale]], American guitarist
* 1937 - [[Harry Fujiwara| Mr. Fuji]], Former professional wrestler
*[[1938]] - [[Tyrone Davis]], American soul singer (d. [[2005]])
* 1938 - [[Carlos Monsiváis]], Mexican writer
*[[1939]] - [[Paul Gleason]], American actor (d. [[2006]])
* 1939 - [[Amos Oz]], Israeli writer, novelist, and journalist
*[[1940]] - [[Robin Cook (novelist)|Robin Cook]], American novelist
*[[1941]] - [[George Will]], American writer
*[[1942]] - [[Nickolas Ashford]], American record producer, songwriter, and musician ([[Ashford and Simpson]])
*[[1943]] - [[Mikhail Chemiakin]], Russian painter
*[[1944]] - [[Roger Rees]], British-born actor
*[[1945]] - [[Narasimhan Ram]], Indian journalist
*[[1946]] - [[John Watson (racing driver)|John Watson]], Northern Irish racecar driver
*[[1948]] - [[Hurley Haywood]], American race car driver, and three-time winner of the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]
*[[1949]] - [[John Force]], American race car driver
* 1949 - [[Stella Parton]], American country music singer
* 1949 - [[Graham Swift]], British author
*[[1950]] - [[Darryl Hunt (musician)|Darryl Hunt]], English musician ([[The Pogues]])
*[[1951]] - [[Colin Bass]], British bassist ([[Camel (band)|Camel]])
* 1951 - [[Jackie Jackson]], American singer and musician ([[The Jackson 5]])
* 1951 - [[Gérard Jugnot]], French actor, film director, screenwriter and producer
* 1951 - [[Mick Mars]], American guitarist ([[Mötley Crüe]])
*[[1952]] - [[Michael Barrymore]], English comedian, actor, quiz master and entertainer
*[[1954]] - [[Pia Zadora]], American actress
*[[1955]] - [[Robert Ellis Orrall]], American singer
*[[1956]] - [[David Guterson]], American author
* 1956 - [[Ulrike Meyfarth]], German athlete
* 1956 - [[Ken Oberkfell]], American baseball player
*[[1958]] - [[Delbert Fowler]], American and Canadian professional football player
* 1958 - [[Keith Haring]], American graphical artist (d. [[1990]])
*[[1959]] - [[Joseph James Jr.|Scott Armstrong]], American professional wrestling referee
* 1959 - [[Randy Travis]], American musician
*[[1961]] - [[Luis Herrera]], Colombian cyclist
*[[1962]] - [[Oleta Adams]], American singer
*[[1964]] - [[Rocco Siffredi]], Italian porn actor
*[[1967]] - [[Ana Gasteyer]], American actress
*[[1968]] - [[Julian Barratt]], English comedian and musician, one half of [[The Mighty Boosh]]
*[[1968]] - [[Kate Garraway]], English GMTV Presenter
*[[1969]] - [[Micah Aivazoff]], Canadian ice hockey player
* 1969 - [[Ryan Shamrock]], American wrestling valet
*[[1970]] - [[Gregg Alexander]], American musician ([[New Radicals]])
*[[1971]] - [[Joe Borowski (baseball)|Joe Borowski]], American baseball player
* 1971 - [[Luiz Garcia, Jr.]], Brazilian racing driver
*[[1972]] - [[Manny Aybar]], Dominican baseball player
* 1972 - [[Mike Dirnt]], American musician ([[Green Day]])
*[[1973]] - [[Guillermo Barros Schelotto]], Argentine footballer
* 1973 - [[John Madden (ice hockey)|John Madden]], Canadian ice hockey player
*[[1974]] - [[Miguel Cairo]], Venezuelan baseball player
*[[1975]] - [[Laci Peterson]], American murder victim (d. [[2002]])
*[[1976]] - [[Ben Grieve]], American baseball player
* 1976 - [[Jason Michaels]], American baseball player
*[[1977]] - [[Emily Perkins]], Canadian actress
* 1977 - [[Mariano Pernía]], Argentine-Spanish footballer
*[[1979]] - [[Lance Bass]], American singer ([[*NSYNC]])
* 1979 - [[Wes Butters]], British broadcaster
* 1979 - [[Lesley Vainikolo]], Tongan born rugby union and rugby league player
* 1980 - [[Andrew Raycroft]], NHL Goalie
*[[1981]] - [[Eric Djemba-Djemba]], Cameroon footballer
*[[1982]] - [[Kleopas Giannou]], Greek footballer
*[[1982]] - [[Hector King]], Mexican singer-songwriter
* 1982 - [[Markus Rogan]], Austrian swimmer
*[[1983]] - [[Trisha Krishnan]], Indian actress
* 1983 - [[Derek Roy]], Canadian ice hockey player
*[[1984]] - [[Manjural Islam Rana|Manjural Islam]], Bangladeshi test cricket player (d. [[2007]])
* 1984 - [[Kevin Slowey]], American baseball player
*[[1985]] - [[Anthony Fedorov]], American singer
*[[1985]] - [[Ravinder Bopara]], English cricketer
*[[1987]] - [[Cesc Fàbregas]], Spanish footballer
* 1987 - [[Jorge Lorenzo]], Spanish motorcycle racer
* 1987 - [[Anjeza Shahini]], Albanian singer
*[[1994]] - [[Pauline Ducruet]], daughter of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco


==Deaths==
*[[1436]] - [[Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson]], Swedish statesman (b. [[1390s]])
*[[1471]] - [[Edward of Westminster]], Prince of Wales (killed in battle) (b. [[1453]])
* 1471 - [[Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset]], English military commander (executed)
*[[1506]] - [[Husayn Bayqarah]], ruler of Herat (b. [[1438]])
*[[1519]] - [[Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino|Lorenzo II de' Medici]], Duke of Urbino (b. [[1492]])
*[[1566]] - [[Luca Ghini]], Italian physician and botanist (b. [[1490]])
*[[1615]] - [[Adriaan van Roomen]], Flemish mathematician (b. [[1561]])
*[[1626]] - [[Arthur Lake, Bishop of Bath and Wells]], English bishop and Bible translator (b. [[1569]])
*[[1677]] - [[Isaac Barrow]], English mathematician (b. [[1630]])
*[[1684]] - [[John Nevison]], English highwayman (b. [[1639]])
*[[1729]] - [[Louis-Antoine, Cardinal de Noailles]], French cardinal (b. [[1651]])
*[[1734]] - [[James Thornhill]], English painter
*[[1737]] - [[Eustace Budgell]], English writer (b. [[1686]])
*[[1774]] - [[Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick|Anthony Ulrich II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg]] (b. [[1714]])
*[[1776]] - [[Jacques Saly]], French sculptor (b. [[1717]])
*[[1790]] - [[Matthew Tilghman]], American delegate to the Continental Congress (b. [[1718]])
*[[1799]] - [[Tipu Sultan]], Indian military leader (b. [[1750]])
*[[1811]] - [[Nikolay Kamensky]], Russian general (b. [[1776]])
*[[1824]] - [[Joseph Joubert]], French essayist and moralist (b. [[1754]])
*[[1849]] - [[Hokusai]], Japanese artist (b. [[1760]])
*[[1858]] - [[Aimé Bonpland]], French explorer and botanist (b. [[1773]])
*[[1859]] - [[Joseph Diaz Gergonne]], French mathematician (b. [[1771]])
*[[1880]] - [[Edward Clark (governor)|Edward Clark]], Governor of Texas (b. [[1815]])
*[[1901]] - [[John Jones Ross]], Canadian politician (b. [[1831]])
*[[1903]] - [[Goce Delchev]], a revolutionary from the Balkans - leader of the [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]] (b. [[1872]])
*[[1916]] - [[Joseph Mary Plunkett]], [[Irish people|Irish]] revolutionary (b. [[1887]])
*[[1919]] - [[Milan Rastislav Stefanik|Milan Rastislav Štefánik]], Slovak politician, French general and astronomer (b. [[1880]])
*[[1922]] - [[Viktor Kingissepp]], Estonian Bolshevik politician (b. [[1888]])
*[[1937]] - [[Noel Rosa]], Brazilian songwriter (b. [[1910]])
*[[1938]] - [[Carl von Ossietzky]], German pacifist, recipient of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] (b. [[1889]])
*[[1945]] - [[Fedor von Bock]], German field marshal (b. [[1880]])
*[[1955]] - [[George Enescu]], Romanian composer (b. [[1881]])
*[[1961]] - [[Anita Stewart]], American film actress (b. [[1895]])
*[[1969]] - [[Sir Osbert Sitwell, 5th Baronet|Osbert Sitwell]], English writer (b. [[1892]])
*[[1970]] - [[Kent State shootings|Kent State victims]]:
**[[Allison Krause]] (b. [[1951]])
**[[Jeffrey Miller]] (b. [[1950]])
**[[Sandra Scheuer]] (b. [[1949]])
**[[William Knox Schroeder|William Schroeder]] (b. [[1950]])
*[[1971]] - [[Seamus Elliott]], Irish cyclist (b. [[1934]])
*[[1972]] - [[Edward Calvin Kendall]], American chemist, recipient of the [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] (b. [[1886]])
*[[1973]] - [[Jane Bowles]], American writer and playwright (b. [[1917]])
*[[1975]] - [[Moe Howard]], American actor and comedian (b. [[1897]])
*[[1980]] - [[Josip Broz Tito]], [[President of Yugoslavia]] (b. [[1892]])
*[[1984]] - [[Bob Clampett]], American cartoonist (b. [[1913]])
* 1984 - [[Diana Dors]], British actress (b. [[1931]])
*[[1985]] - [[Clarence Wiseman]], the 10th General of [[The Salvation Army]] (b. [[1907]])
*[[1987]] - [[Paul Butterfield]], American blues harmonica player (b. [[1942]])
*[[1992]] - [[Gregor Mackenzie]], Labour Party (UK) politician (b. [[1927]])
*[[2001]] - [[Bonnie Lee Bakley]], American murder victim (b. [[1956]])
*[[2005]] - [[David Hackworth]], U.S. Army officer and military journalist (b. [[1930]])


==Holidays and observances==
* [[International Firefighters' Day]].
* International [[Star Wars]] Day.
* [[The Netherlands]] - [[Remembrance of the Dead]].
* [[People's Republic of China]] - [[Youth Day]] (青年节, commemorating [[May Fourth Movement]]).
* [[Republic of China]] - [[Literary Day]] (文藝節, commemorating [[May Fourth Movement]]).
* [[Latvia]] - Day of Re-establishment of Independence
* [[Denmark]] - Great praying day

===Liturgical [[feast day]]s===
in the [[Roman Catholic Church]]:
* [[Saint Judas Cyriacus]]
* [[Saint Ladislaus of Gielnow]]
* [[Saint Florian]]
* [[Saint Godehard]]
* [[Saint Malou]]
* [[Saint Ethelred]]
* [[Saint Sacerdos of Limoges]]
* [[Saint Silvianus]]
* [[Saint Titianus]]
* [[Venerius of Milan|Saint Venerius]]
* [[Saint Willerik]]
* [[John Houghton (Saint)|Saint John Houghton]], [[Robert Lawrence (Saint)|Saint Robert Lawrence]], [[Augustine Webster (Saint)|Saint Augustine Webster]], [[Richard Reynolds (Saint)|Saint Richard Reynolds]], and [[John Hale (Saint)|Saint John Hale]]; all put to death in [[1535]].
* [[Saint Monica of Hippo]] (d. [[387]])
* [[Blessed Catherine of Park]]
* The Day of the 42 Beatified and Canonized Martyrs of England and Wales, known as the [[Day of the Forty]].
:Formerly celebrated in October.

==External links==
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/4 BBC: On This Day]
* {{NYT On this day|month=05|day=04}}
* [http://www1.sympatico.ca/cgi-bin/on_this_day?mth=May&day=04 On This Day in Canada]
----
{{months}}

[[Category:May|May 04]]


[[af:4 Mei]]
[[ar:4 مايو]]
[[an:4 de mayo]]
[[frp:4 mê]]
[[ast:4 de mayu]]
[[bn:মে ৪]]
[[be:4 мая]]
[[be-x-old:4 траўня]]
[[bs:4. maj]]
[[br:4 Mae]]
[[bg:4 май]]
[[ca:4 de maig]]
[[cv:Çу, 4]]
[[ceb:Mayo 4]]
[[cs:4. květen]]
[[co:4 di maghju]]
[[cy:4 Mai]]
[[da:4. maj]]
[[de:4. Mai]]
[[et:4. mai]]
[[el:4 Μαΐου]]
[[es:4 de mayo]]
[[eo:4-a de majo]]
[[eu:Maiatzaren 4]]
[[fo:4. mai]]
[[fr:4 mai]]
[[fy:4 maaie]]
[[fur:4 di Mai]]
[[ga:4 Bealtaine]]
[[gd:4 an Cèitean]]
[[gl:4 de maio]]
[[ko:5월 4일]]
[[hr:4. svibnja]]
[[io:4 di mayo]]
[[ig:May 4]]
[[ilo:Mayo 4]]
[[bpy:মে ৪]]
[[id:4 Mei]]
[[ia:4 de maio]]
[[ie:4 may]]
[[is:4. maí]]
[[it:4 maggio]]
[[he:4 במאי]]
[[jv:4 Mei]]
[[kn:ಮೇ ೪]]
[[pam:Mayu 4]]
[[ka:4 მაისი]]
[[csb:4 môja]]
[[kk:Мамырдың 4]]
[[sw:4 Mei]]
[[ht:4 me]]
[[ku:4'ê gulanê]]
[[la:4 Maii]]
[[lb:4. Mee]]
[[lt:Gegužės 4]]
[[li:4 mei]]
[[lmo:04 05]]
[[hu:Május 4]]
[[mk:4 мај]]
[[ml:മേയ് 4]]
[[mr:मे ४]]
[[ms:4 Mei]]
[[nah:Tlamācuīlti 4]]
[[nl:4 mei]]
[[nds-nl:4 meie]]
[[ja:5月4日]]
[[nap:4 'e maggio]]
[[no:4. mai]]
[[nn:4. mai]]
[[nrm:4 Mai]]
[[nov:4 de maye]]
[[oc:4 de mai]]
[[uz:4 may]]
[[nds:4. Mai]]
[[pl:4 maja]]
[[pt:4 de Maio]]
[[ksh:4. Meij]]
[[ro:4 mai]]
[[ru:4 мая]]
[[se:Miessemánu 4.]]
[[sco:4 Mey]]
[[sq:4 Maj]]
[[scn:4 di maiu]]
[[simple:May 4]]
[[sk:4. máj]]
[[sl:4. maj]]
[[sr:4. мај]]
[[sh:4.5.]]
[[su:4 Méi]]
[[fi:4. toukokuuta]]
[[sv:4 maj]]
[[tl:Mayo 4]]
[[ta:மே 4]]
[[tt:4. May]]
[[te:మే 4]]
[[th:4 พฤษภาคม]]
[[vi:4 tháng 5]]
[[tg:4 май]]
[[tr:4 Mayıs]]
[[uk:4 травня]]
[[ur:4 مئی]]
[[vec:4 de majo]]
[[fiu-vro:4. lehekuu päiv]]
[[wa:4 di may]]
[[war:Mayo 4]]
[[zh-yue:5月4號]]
[[bat-smg:Gegožė 4]]
[[zh:5月4日]]

Dan Shanahan

2007-12-21T09:13:29Z

216.94.61.100: /* 2007 Success */

{{Infobox GAA player
| code= Hurling
| sport = Hurling
| image = Dan Shanahan.jpg
| name = Dan Shanahan
| irish = Dónal Ó Seanacháin
| fullname = Dan Shanahan
| placeofbirth = [[Lismore, County Waterford|Lismore]]
| countryofbirth = [[County Waterford]]
| bday=4
| bmonth=1
| byear= 1977
| dyear=
| dday=
| dmonth=
| height = 6'4"
| nickname = Big Dan, Dan the Man
| county = Waterford
| province = Munster
| club = [[Lismore GAA|Lismore]]
| clposition = Forward
| clubs = Lismore
| clyears = 1993-present
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty =
| clprovince=
| clallireland =
| counties = Waterford
| icposition = Half-forward
| icyears = 1998-
| icapps(points) = 37 (19-51)
| icprovince = 3
| icallireland = 0
| nhl = 1
| allstars = 3
| clupdate =
| icupdate =
}}
'''Dan Shanahan''' (born [[4 January]], [[1977]] in [[Lismore, County Waterford|Lismore]], [[County Waterford]]) is an [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] sportsperson. He plays [[hurling]] with his local club [[Lismore GAA|Lismore]] and with the [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] senior inter-county team. In recent seasons Shanahan has come to be regarded as one of the best players in the game.

==Playing career==
===Club===

Shanahan plays his club [[hurling]] with his local [[Lismore GAA|Lismore]] club in Waterford. He has enjoyed some success at underage levels winning county medals in hurling at under-14, under-16, minor and under-21 levels. Shanahan won a senior [[Waterford Senior Hurling Championship|county title]] in [[1993]] at the age of sixteen.

===Inter-county===

In the mid-1990s Shanahan played [[hurling]] with the [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] minor and under-21 teams, however, he had little success at these levels. He first played for Waterford in [[1995]], however, his senior championship debut for his native-county came in [[1998]]. It was a bleak period for Waterford hurling, however, four years later in [[2002]] Shanahan had his first major success when he won his first [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster]] medal. It was Waterford's first provinvial title since [[1963]]. Unfortunately his side were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. In [[2003]] Shanahan's side reached the Munster final again but were defeated by [[Cork GAA|Cork]]. [[2004]] was Shanahan's best year as an inter-county hurler. In his first game against [[Clare GAA|Clare]] he scored a hat-trick of goals (an impressive feat in hurling). He added to this by scoring another two goals against [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] and then scoring a vital goal against [[Cork GAA|Cork]] in the memorable [[2004]] Munster final, giving Shanahan a second provincial title. Unfortunately, Waterford were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. In spite of this there was some consolation at the end of the year as Shanahan's scoring prowess earned him his first [[GAA All Stars Awards|All-Star]] award.

The following couple of years brought little success for Shanahan and Waterford. In [[2005]] and [[2006]] they reached the All-Ireland knock-out series, however, they were beaten on both occasions by Cork.
Shanahan was honoured on 15 August 2006 with the [[Opel Gaelic Player of the Month]] award for July.<ref>[http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=65110/ Kavanagh and Shanahan win the Opel Gaelic Player Awards for July]</ref>.

In [[2007]], however, Shanahan helped [[The Deise]] to their first [[National Hurling League]] title in 44 years, as they defeated fierce local rivals Kilkenny by 0-20 to 0-18 at [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]].

While originally seen as a forward who generally scored points, of late Dan has been recognised for his goal scoring abilities. Dan's first championship goal only came in 2004 against [[Clare GAA|Clare]] in the first round of the Munster Championship. Since then, he has amassed an impressive 16 goals in only 4 championship season, including two separate [[Hat-trick|hat-tricks]], one against [[Clare GAA|Clare]] in [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|2004]] and his second, against [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] in the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|2007]] Munster Final.

===2007 Success===

On [[8 July]] [[2007]] Dan scored 3-3 for [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] helping them overcome [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] in the 2007 Munster Final. Shanahan got all three of his goals during the second-half at rain-soaked Semple Stadium, as his strikes in the 52nd, 63rd and 71st minutes closed out a deserved, if somewhat flattering, victory. Dan was named "Man of the Match" along with picking up his third [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster Championship]] winners medal.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/0708/waterford.html/ 'Dan the Man' does it again!]</ref>.

2007 has seen Dan rubber-stamp his reputation as the modern game's great goal-getter.<ref>[http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/index.aspx?c=sport&jp=mhcwcwkfgbkf/ Shanahan goals the difference as Deise advance]</ref>. Shanahan was honoured on [[7 August]] [[2007]] with the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month award for July.<ref>[http://breakingnews.ie/sport/mhcwcweyeycw/ Shanahan and Corey win GPA awards]</ref>.

By the end of the 2007 Championship, Dan had amassed a total of 8-12 in just five games. This includes a tally of 3-4 in two matches against [[Cork GAA|Cork]] in [[Croke Park]], therefore dismissing claims that he goes missing on the big stage. However in an ironic twist Limerick prevented Dan from scoring any goals in the All Ireland Semi Final and knocked Waterford out of the Championship. Limerick gained revenge for their earlier Munster Final defeat. Later that year he was honoured with the an All-Star and the [[Vodafone Hurler of the Year]] award, becoming the first player to have won the award without having played in the All-Ireland Final since 1992. Dan later added the [[GPA Hurler of the Year]] and [[Texaco Hurler of the Year]] to his name, and with them, claiming all Hurler of the Year awards for 2007.

 
{{start box}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box one to three
| before=[[Henry Shefflin]] ([[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]])
| title1=[[Vodafone Hurler of the Year]]
| years1=2007
| title2=[[Texaco Hurler of the Year]]
| years2=2007
| title3=[[GPA Hurler of the Year|Gaelic Players' Association Hurler of the Year]]
| years3=2007
| after1=Incumbent
| after2=Incumbent
| after3=Incumbent
}}
{{end box}}

==Championship scoring record==

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| || [[2003-05-11]] || [[Walsh Park]], [[Waterford]] || [[Image:KerryCrest.gif|20px]] [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]] || 0-1 || 1-12 : 2-26 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2003|Munster Quarter-Final]]
|-
| || [[2003-06-01]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Limerick_crest.gif|20px]] [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] || 0-0 || 4-13 : 4-13 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2003|Munster Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2003-06-07]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Limerick_crest.gif|20px]] [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] || 0-1 || 0-13 : 1-12 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2003|Munster Semi-Final Replay]]
|-
| || [[2003-07-19]] || [[Nowlan Park]], [[Kilkenny]] || [[Image:Wexford_crest.gif|20px]] [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] || 0-1 || 1-20 : 0-18 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2003|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2004-05-16]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Countyclare-crest.gif|20px]] [[Clare GAA|Clare]] || 3-1 || 3-21 : 1-8 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|Munster Quarter-Final]]
|-
| || [[2004-06-06]] || [[Páirc Uí Chaoimh]], [[Cork]] || [[Image:Tipperary-crest.gif|20px]] [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] || 2-0|| 4-10 : 3-12 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|Munster Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2004-06-27]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 1-3 || 3-16 : 1-21 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|Munster Final]]
|-
| || [[2004-08-08]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Kilkenny_crest.jpg|20px]] [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] || 0-0 || 3-12 : 0-18 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2004|All-Ireland Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2005-05-22]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 1-0 || 2-17 : 2-15 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|Munster Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2005-06-18]] || [[Dr. Cullen Park]], [[Carlow]] || [[Image:Offalynewcrest.jpg|20px]] [[Offaly GAA|Offaly]] || 0-0 || 1-26 : 1-15 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2005-07-02]] || [[Walsh Park]], [[Waterford]] || [[Image:Dublinnewcrest.png|20px]] [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] || 0-0 || 4-17 : 1-3 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2005-07-10]] || [[Cusack Park (Ennis)|Cusack Park]], [[Ennis]] || [[Image:Countyclare-crest.gif|20px]] [[Clare GAA|Clare]] || 0-3 || 4-14 : 0-21 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2005-08-24]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 1-0 || 1-18 : 1-13 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2005|All-Ireland Quarter-Final]]
|-
| || [[2006-06-04]] || [[Páirc Uí Chaoimh]], [[Cork]] || [[Image:Tipperary-crest.gif|20px]] [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] || 1-0|| 3-14 : 1-12 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|Munster Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2006-06-18]] || [[Cusack Park (Mullingar)|Cusack Park]], [[Mullingar]] || [[Image:Westmeath2.gif|20px]] [[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]] || 1-2 || 3-22 : 1-14 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2006-07-02]] || [[Walsh Park]], [[Waterford]] || [[Image:Galwaynewcrest.jpg|20px]] [[Galway GAA|Galway]] || 0-2 || 1-25 : 2-20 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2006-07-08]] || [[O'Moore Park]], [[Portlaoise]] || [[Image:Laois.gif|20px]] [[Laois GAA|Laois]] || 0-0 || 2-17 : 1-13 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|All-Ireland Qualifier]]
|-
| || [[2006-07-23]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Tipperary-crest.gif|20px]] [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] || 1-5 || 1-22 : 3-13 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|All-Ireland Quarter-Final]]
|-
| || [[2006-08-06]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 0-1 || 1-16 : 1-15 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2006|All-Ireland Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2007-06-17]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 2-1 || 5-15 : 3-18 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|Munster Semi-Final]]
|-
| || [[2007-08-08]] || [[Semple Stadium]], [[Thurles]] || [[Image:Limerick_crest.gif|20px]] [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] || 3-3 || 3-17 : 1-14 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|Munster Final]]
|-
| || [[2007-07-29]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 1-3 || 3-16 : 3-16 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|All-Ireland Quarter-Final]]
|-
| || [[2007-08-05]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Corkcrest.gif|20px]] [[Cork GAA|Cork]] || 2-1 || 2-17 : 0-20 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|All-Ireland Quarter-Final Replay]]
|-
| || [[2007-08-12]] || [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] || [[Image:Limerick_crest.gif|20px]] [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] || 0-4 || 5-11 : 2-16 || [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2007|All-Ireland Semi-Final]]
|}

== References ==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>

{{Waterford Hurling Team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanahan, Dan}}

[[Category:1977 births|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:Living people|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:Waterford hurlers|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:Munster hurlers|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:People from County Waterford|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:2006 All Star (hurling)|Shanahan, Dan]]
[[Category:2004 All Star (hurling)|Shanahan, Dan]]

Buzzmaster

2007-12-12T18:39:36Z

216.94.61.100: /* Members */

{{hangon}}

The Buzzmaster, "Buzz", is the moderator for the website chat sessions on ESPN.com's SportsNation page. His main call of duty is "The Morning Buzz" which takes place every weekday from 10am EST to 11am EST. The Morning Buzz is quickly becoming a modern day water cooler, unitying people all across America. The Morning Buzz discusses current sports news, along with pop culture, pop tarts and the chatters' lunch selection for the day.

There are hundreds of devoted chatters who show up to The Morning Buzz day in and day out, but some have made their mark on the The Morning Buzz: Clinton (Indianapolis), Kevin (Manassas), Brian (Enfield, CT), Jeff (Iowa), the notorious RAY GORDON REID (JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA 32277), Liz (Big Apple), Kate (Boston), Godish (Chicago); among many many others.

== The Week in Review ==
The WIR was previously written by Robert (Raleigh). Unfortunately, Robert is no longer able to write the WIR. A search is currently being conducted to find a new author of the WIR. Once a new author is found, the WIR will be posted here, yes you guessed it, weekly for your reading pleasure.

== Quote(s) of the day ==
12-Dec-07

Dikiemb Mutombo: I will be doing the finger wagging

The Count (Sesame Street): ONE finger wag, TWO finger wags, THREE finger wags, Ah Ah Ahhhh

== Members ==
Paul (Ft Worth)
Patrick (Louisville)
Todd (Waterloo)
George Brett (KC)

== References ==

[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Buzzmaster]