Bill Walsh, the Hall of Fame coach who built an NFL dynasty with the San Francisco 49ers and introduced his West Coast offense to the NFL, recently told friends and colleagues at Stanford University that he is fighting leukemia. Walsh, 74, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, "I'm positive, but not evangelistic". Our best wishes and prayers go to Bill Walsh as he fights his biggest battle...
So obviously, Bill Walsh is everything that is good. For the "bad" we have Atlanta Falcon QB Michael Vick who gave heckling fans, the finger, in Sunday's game. The NFL has fined Vick $10,000 and in addition has told the quarterback to donate $10,000 to a charity of his choice which will give the ACLU something to do. Braylon Edwards of the Cleveland Browns was close to tying Vick for the Badboy award for grabbing his quarterback's jersey on the sidelines and for just being the charming Braylon Edwards, that he is, but Vick has now replaced Michael Richards for #1 in apologies and this story refuses to go away. To see a clip of one of his apologies and for a still of his gesture, click on today's video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_g0T1TVLMQ ...
The Ugly is grotesquely so. Former 25-year old Norwich (VT) University star hockey player, Michael Serba lies in a coma after being "sucker-punched" as he withdrew money from an ATM. Nicholas Crowdis, 22, an unknown assailant was arrested on an attempted murder charge. Crowdis followed Serba out of a bar to the ATM where he struck Serba with what police believe was a brick. There is no motive for the attack...
If you're wondering what the tie-in to the past might be, well wonder no more. Read our 1976 timeline memory for the Badboy of his generation and what he did on this date...
Timeline Memories...
- [1890] The 1st Army-Navy football game was played at West Point and won by the midshipmen of Navy 24-0...
- [1929] Navy Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd makes the 1st flight over the South Pole...
- [1934] The Detroit Lions begin an annual NFL Thanksgiving Day tradition (of losing), dropping a 19-16 decision to da Bearssss (it was the 1st NFL game on national radio, on the NBC Radio Network with Brent Mus-oops, sorry- Graham McNamee doing the play-by-play...
- [1975] Bill Gates names the company he and Paul Allen started as Microsoft (which was formed to write the BASIC computer language for the Altair)...
- [1976] They don't call him "The Killer" for no reason. Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shoots his bass player twice in the chest while aiming at a soda bottle (the bass player lives and Lewis is charged with shooting a firearm within city limits) Now we know where Dick Chaney took lessons...
- [1976] Free agent Reggie Jackson a.k.a. "the straw that stirs the drink", signs a 5-year deal with the Yankees (helping the Bombers win 3 AL pennants and 2 world series championships)...
- [1980] The Georgia Bulldogs end the season unbeaten and untied following a 38-20 win over Georgia Tech as Herschel Walker breaks a freshman record with 1,616 rushing yards (#1 Georgia beats #2 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl and Walker will win the Heisman Trophy 2 years later)...
- [1992] The Jets' Dennis Byrd is paralyzed after a neck injury in a game against Kansas City...
"Happy Trails": 1981] Natalie Wood drowns in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island (CA) at the age of 43 and the question remains, were husband RJ and Christopher Walken doing enough to save Natalie who could not swim??? 1986] Legendary leading man, Cary Grant dies of a stroke at 82...2001] George Harrison loses his battle with cancer at 58...
#1 on this date: 1964] "Ringo" - Lorne Greene...1969] "Come Together/Something" - Beatles...1972] "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" - Temptations...
"Record of the Year": 1959] Bobby Darin wins a Grammy for "Record of the Year". "Album of the Year": "Come Dance With Me" - Frank Sinatra...
Debuted on this date: 1948] "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" debuts on NBC-TV...1953] American Airlines begins the 1st regular commercial NY-LA air service...
[To ensure accuracy in dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Happy Trails to Casey Coleman, born Kenneth Coleman Jr. who died from pancreatic cancer yesterday in Cleveland (OH) where he followed in his father's footsteps, doing play-by-play for the Cleveland Browns for nearly 30 years. His dad, of course, did the Red Sox play-by-play for many years before passing away in 2003. Casey, only 55 was known for his famous sign off: "I'm rounding third and heading home". Indeed...R.I.P. Casey...
Much better and happier news from a native of New England, Ed Walsh who was recently a news anchor on WCBS after many years as morning host at WOR. Ed is going back home to anchor the morning news at WBZ, replacing the legendary Gary LaPierre, who retired. Ed has a home in Maine and is a former product of WRKO. Congratulations my friend...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Mariano Rivera (37), Don Cheadle (42), Kim Delaney (45), Howard (Hojo) Johnson (46), Howie Mandel (51), Gary Shandling (57), Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee (60), Felix Cavaliere (62), Denny Doherty (66), Chuck Mangione (66) and legendary play-by-play man and best in the business, Vin Scully (79)...
Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Chanukah, 26 days until Christmas, 32 days until 2007, 39 days until the NFL playoffs and 67 days until Super Bowl XLI in Miami.
...
