Eight Men Out (1988)

John Sayles: Ring Lardner - The Writers

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ring Lardner : [serenading White Sox after game 5, to the tune of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"]  I'm forever blowing ballgames, pretty ballgames in the air. I come from Chi, I hardly try, just go to bat and fade and die. Fortune's coming my way, that's why I hardly care. I'm forever blowing ballgames, and the gamblers treat us fair.

• Ring Lardner : Sports writers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your bar privileges.

• Ring Lardner : [referring to the owners]  If Landis wants to clean up the game; he should start with those birds on the steps with him.

• Ring Lardner : Three signed confessions, that's a tough hand to beat.

  Hugh Fullerton : This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen.

• [about the 1919 White Sox] 

  Ring Lardner : I think they're the best, Hughie. The best ever.

  Hugh Fullerton : Time will tell, Ring. Time will tell.

• Ring Lardner : How's the old soup bone feeling?

  Eddie Cicotte : Not bad.

  Ring Lardner : Hughie's bringing his nest egg down to lay it on you birds for the series.

  Eddie Cicotte : He shouldn't ought to do that. Anything can happen in baseball.

• Hugh Fullerton : Some very big money from New York went down on the Reds. Maybe they know something we don't.

  Ring Lardner : Think Cicotte's arm is sore?

  Hugh Fullerton : Eddie's had a sore arm for 10 years. Something's up.

• Kid Gleason : I heard the same thing, fellas. Every series I've been to there's some rumor about a fix just to shake up the odds. You hang out in bars, you hear a lot of screwy things.

  Ring Lardner : Doesn't mean they're not true.

• Ring Lardner : How long you think he'll go before he dumps it?

• Hugh Fullerton : There's Commie's lawyer. He's got counsel lined up for the boys.

  Ring Lardner : I thought Commie was testifying against them.

  Hugh Fullerton : Depends which way the ball rolls. If Commie says one thing that'll hurt him in the cash register, I'll eat my hat.