Grabbing the public's attention, similar in derivation to stealing the spotlight as the old technology of super-heating limestone with an oxyhydrogen flame was used in theatrical spotlights before the widespread use of electricity.
The Indians and Red Sox were in a heated battle for the pennant but instead we watched George Steinbrenner steal the limelight for the Yankees with his offer of a one-year manager's contract to Joe Torre that same day.
by Thomas A. Hennigan, Ph.D. October 18, 2007