1.   And he would have earned it with the legitimacy of his speed, not the garishness of his wardrobe.

2.   And there was the respectability earned with gifts to friends and an everpresent eagerness to be helpful.

3.   Bush should simply give it to McCain, saying that McCain has earned it with his success during the primaries.

4.   Championships are earned with passion and tears, not with marketing expertise, revenue streams, arena sightlines or snappy dance-team routines.

5.   Coates said he was going to fly home to North Carolina during the three-day break the Patriots earned with the win.

6.   Few were earned with such a narrow margin of error.

7.   For whatever credit he might earn with his new team, others wait for the opportunity to assign blame.

8.   Granted, a little-finger injury is less trendy than a fiberglass cast earned with the help of in-line skates or a ski vacation.

9.   He certainly earned it with his inspiring, history-making performance at the MGM Grand.

10.   He earned it with his talent.