Loyal and ingenious Batgirl reader Dave writes:
I was recently having a conversation with a fellow fan and the topic of the famous Gladden vs Lombo fight on the lawn in 88 came up. I remembered the details as follows:
- Gladden made some reference to Lombo being a......wimp (I think he used a different word but one that I would not use in your presence)
- Lombo went to Dan's house to express his displeasure with said comment
- Dan was playing in his front yard with his daughter
- Dan was wearing earrings applied by said daughter
- Lombo confronted Gladden on the front lawn
- Dan's fist met Steve's face
- Steve's face met Dan's yard
That, however, is as much as I recall. I can't remember what precipitated the whole affair, what became of the rift or if either suffered any consequences. Do you remember any details?
Batgirl, of course, does not condone violence of any kind, and certainly would have blocked any Twin-on-Twin violence out of her mind. All she can do is offer a reenactment of what might have happened, below. Does anyone remember more details?
Dan "the Dazzle Man" Gladden enjoys a nice game of catch with his daughter on his front lawn.
Dazzle is wearing earrings! (Obscured by helmet.)
Look! It's Steve Lombardozzi! He looks...angry.
"Mr. Lombo, you are a poltroon."
"Mr. Gladden, sir, you have impeached my honour! Now I must fight you!"
"Take that, you scoundrel!"
"Oh, I am slain!"
Where is the daughter?
Posted by: SSJPabs at May 28, 2004 01:50 AMOk, I had to look it up. (And I'm the one with a minor in English....) Here's saving you the trouble:
poltroon
\Pol*troon"\, n. [F. poltron, from It. poltrone an idle fellow, sluggard, coward, poltro idle, lazy, also, bed, fr. OHG. polstar, bolstar, cushion, G. polster, akin to E. bolster. See Bolster.] An arrant coward; a dastard; a craven; a mean-spirited wretch. --Shak.
I may be mistaken, but I thought there were allegations of marital infidelity involved, but don't quote me on that
Posted by: TheGrimSleeper at May 28, 2004 08:07 AM"...there were allegations of marital infidelity involved." - TheGrimSleeper
::sigh:: Love is a battlefield. A heavily-trademarked green one with lots of cylindrical protuberances.
Posted by: kw at May 28, 2004 10:28 AMAnother linguistic note:
Although Lego Lombo's use of the word "impeach" (as in "to cast doubt on; especially : to challenge the credibility or validity of") is technically acceptable, I believe a more accurate word, and the one Lego Lombo probably meant to use, would be "impugn" (meaning "to assail by words or arguments : oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity").
As in:
"Mr. Gladden, sir, you have impugned my honour! Now I must fight you!"
"Bring it on, you big pussy."
"Leave Giant BatKitty out of it, scoundrel!"
Better, would you agree?
Posted by: School Marm at May 28, 2004 02:57 PMDear "Miss Marm,"
Horrified, Batgirl sent her intern scurrying to the OED (special Bat-edition), who climbed the Bat-library to pull down the 6000 page Ik-Imr volume, and suffered a mightly hernia doing so, though really he should quit whining. The BatIntern pulled out this for "Impeach":
2. To hinder the action, progress, or well-being of; to affect detrimentally or prejudicially; to hurt, harm, injure, endamage, impair. Obs.
1563 BP. SANDYS in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. I. II. 195 To preserve my honestie from malice whiche mynded to impeache yt. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. II. 391 They did empeche the honor of the kinges person. 1604 T. WRIGHT Passions I. iii. 12 The coldnesse of the water, earth, and ayre much impeacheth the vertue of his heate. 1691 E. TAYLOR Behmen's Theos. Philos. xvii. 25 Anything that might tend to impeach his perfection.
3. To challenge, call in question, cast an imputation upon, attack; to discredit, disparage.
1590 SHAKES. Mids. N. II. i. 214 You doe impeach your modesty too much To leave the Citty, and commit your selfe Into the hands of one that loues you not. 1600 J. PORY tr. Leo's Africa II. 42 Neither am I ignorant, how much mine owne credit is impeached. 1612 T. TAYLOR Comm. Titus i. 6 Because their name and honour was impeached. 1743 FIELDING Conversation Wks. 1784 IX. 364 It would by no means impeach the general rule. 1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. xxx. 444 A contract for any valuable consideration, as for marriage, for money, for work done,..can never be impeached at law. 1888 A. K. GREEN Behind Closed Doors iv, My daughter's happiness is threatened and her character impeached.
What thinkest thou?
Sincerely,
Batgirl
I thinkest BatMom should referee the rematch!
Posted by: RonDavis at May 28, 2004 05:39 PMBloody flippin' limey dictionary....
What does it say about the etymology of "impugn"?
My meagre resources tell me that "impeach" originates from the Latin word "impedicare," meaning ‘entangle,’ which developed into the Old French "empecher," meaning ‘impede.’
"Impugn" originates from the Latin "impugnare," meaning ‘assail.’
I leave it to Lady Batgirl to choose which word conveys the perfect nuance for the scene.
There YOU are, Butt-head.
Posted by: Beavis at May 28, 2004 11:06 PM