Feel Good Stories...
As a follow up to yesterday's MPR featuring "The Good...The Bad...The Ugly", today we focus on stories that are all good:
Feel Good Story #1
The Mets reward manager Willie Randolph with a new 3-year contract with a team option for the 4th year. The package could be worth more than $8 million over 4 years. The new contract starts immediately and will double Randolph's current $700,000 contract. Willie is being rewarded for turning the team around and taking them to their 1st division title since 1988 and one swing of the bat away from the World Series. Willie who was raised on discipline growing up in Brooklyn, instills that discipline with his players for every pitch, at-bat and game. No one is more deserving of a raise. Congratulations Willie...
Feel Good Story #2
The NFL will be instituting more extensive testing for the blood-boosting substance EPO to its list of banned substances. For the first time, players suspended after testing positive will forfeit a portion of their signing bonuses in addition to the salary they will lose during their time away. Anything that punishes players more for illegal drug use should be applauded but all professional sports must be more thorough in their background checks before drafting and/or signing new players. Make the team more responsible for the character of the players they sign. Having 9 players arrested in one year as the Cincinnati Bengals had, cannot be accepted nor tolerated. It's time to start fining the teams too...
Feel Good Story #3
| After talking with a co-owner of the Penguins, Governor Ed Rendell is optimistic that a new arena agreement can be reached to keep the team in Pittsburgh. Rendell and co-owner Ron Burkle discussed some of the arena issues that needed to be clarified and agreed to work on them. Let's hope Pittsburgh keeps its hockey team, in business since awarded an NHL franchise 40 years ago... Feed Good Story #4 On this past Tuesday night "American Idol" aired their Memphis auditions and one of the contestants who was accepted for the shows tryouts in Hollywood was the son of Roy Head whose "Treat Her Right" went to #2 on the Billboard charts in 1965. Jason Sundance Head sounds like a sure finalist for the competition and his performance is today's video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJoqpQVsqw0 ... Timeline Memories... "Happy Trails": 1947] Gangster Al Capone dies at 48 of cardiac arrest possibly associated with 3rd stage syphilis...1997] Astrologer Jeane Dixon passes away at 93 of cardiopulmonary arrest... Super Wins: 1987] The Giants win their 1st Super Bowl, over Denver 39-20. QB Phil Simms is the games' MVP. Neil Diamond sings the national anthem and the Beach Boys are featured in a halftime salute to Hollywood's 100th anniversary. Thirty-second commercials sold for $60,000...1998] After a career of trying, John Elway leads Denver to the 1st of 2 consecutive Super Bowl wins with a 31-24 victory over Green Bay... "Can you hear me now?": 1915] In New York, Alexander Graham Bell speaks to an assistant in San Francisco inaugurating the 1st transcontinental phone service. Long distance is born... There's gold in the Alps: 1924] The 1st Winter Olympics are held in Chamonix in the French Alps... Wedding Bells: 1927] Jack Benny marries Sadye Marks who changes her name to Mary Livingstone. The famous comedy couple will be married 47 years, until Benny's death... Soap Survivor: 1937] NBC Radio presents the 1st broadcast of "The Guiding Light". The soap stays on radio until 1956 when it moves to CBS-TV in 1952. The show celebrates its 70th year on the air... Boeing, Boeing, Gone: 1959] American Airlines flies the 1st scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707... "Live from Washington": 1961] John F. Kennedy presents the 1st live presidential news conference from Washington (D.C.). Coverage includes Radio and TV... Released on this date: 1962] "Twistin' The Night Away" - Sam Cooke... #1 on this date: 1973] "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder...1982] "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" - Hall & Oates... "Guilty as Charged": 1971] Charles Manson and 3 female "family" members are sentenced to life in prison for their brutal 1969 murders of 7, including actress Sharon Tate... "Free At Last": 1981] The 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days arrive in the U.S. to reunite with their families... "Out of Court": 1994] Michael Jackson settles a child molestation lawsuit out of court. One source puts the settlement at $10 million... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]... Commentary... Rich Appel (Hz So Good) comments on our video link of "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway: "Boy do I feel old watching that clip. I haven't been to "Friendly" since the days of John Kiley and Sherm Feller. Still have my popcorn megaphones (please tell me they still make those). I worked at WITS when it was the flagship and the studios/offices were in the building attached to Fenway. The night staff showed me the secret passageway that led right to the bleachers. That was 1982. Sure wish it could've been '86. Great stuff as always. Oh, and I still love Neil Diamond. He's 66 and "I'm a Believer" is 40". I'm not sure Rich wanted it known that he likes Neil or not but does anyone know if they still sell the popcorn megaphones??? There's another update on the KDND story that's picking up steam. FCC chairman Kevin Martin has announced that the Commission will be launching its own investigation into the events that led to the death of Jennifer Strange. The Sacramento Bee reports early this morning that the probe comes about as a result of a letter sent by attorney Roger Dreyer earlier this week that called for the termination of the station's license. Dreyer is expected to officially file a wrongful death lawsuit against the station later today. Stand by for further updates on this case... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Alicia Keys (26), Etta James (69), Corazon "Shoes" Aquino (76), Dean Jones (76), Edwin Newman (88) and Ernie Harwell (89)... Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Super Bowl XLI, 21 days until 'pitchers and catchers' and 55 days until spring... ... |
