Lede of the (no longer young) year

My usual instinct on this sort of lede is "quit while you're ahead":

FONTANA, Calif. -- You couldn't re-imagine the climactic IZOD IndyCar Series season finale any more than you could re-imagine the Battle of Iwo Jima without the Marines planting the flag.
 
... but I'm not sure that really applies here. If you quit after "Iwo Jima," so you're just likening an automobile race to, you know, the battle of Iwo Jima, you're not technically ahead. But at least you're not as far behind as when you throw in the Marines and the flag.

Thanks, in the sense of "thanks for the reminder that beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade," to the Arkansas bureau for sharing.