Quotables

"I can only hope it was overcast and he got the weather he wanted."

Filmmaker Woody Allen, on the death of Ingmar Bergman July 29 at age 89. Regarded as one of the greatest film artists in motion picture history, the Swedish director excelled at etching black-and-white footage to explore dark, difficult themes. Bergman once told Allen he was afraid to die on a sunny day.

"Today is definitely the happiest day for Iraqis in years."

Blogger Omar Fadhil, after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win the Asian Cup soccer championship for the first time ever. Iraq entered the tournament an underdog, its players repeatedly held in airports for security and locked out of hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur-but managed to beat three-time champ Saudi after scoring in the 71st minute of the game. In Baghdad gas prices soared 30 percent ahead of the July 29 final, as residents rushed to fill generators before the televised match. But the electricity came on just five minutes before game time, a "gift," according to Fadhil.

"You have to have your head on a swivel in those kinds of situations."

Veteran news pilot Keith McCutchen, after a July 28 helicopter crash in Phoenix where two helicopters covering a police chase collided and all four pilots and news crew members died.

"What should be a march is a trudge. What should be a celebration feels like a wake. There is no guest of honor, only an enemy of the people."

Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke after fans booed steroid abusing but record-breaking Giants outfielder Barry Bonds.