Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The People's Champion... Why did Barbaro capture the hearts of so many people? There are those that are moved more by an animal's passing than a human inhabitant of this planet. Such was the case with the love affair with this handsome four-year old bay colt that had battled for his life since breaking down in the Preakness Stakes last May. "Grief is the price we all pay for love" is the way Gretchen Jackson put it. Gretchen and husband Roy were the owners of Barbaro. Barbaro fought hard since losing his only race after winning his 6th and biggest - the Kentucky Derby. When that dangling right hind hoof was seen by millions in his attempt to win the second leg of racing's "Triple Crown", the love affair began but so did the pain and heartache. Nine months of therapy followed and everyone watched, hoping and praying for Barbaro to survive. A flare-up of the painful hoof disease laminitis put an end to the prayers and the Jacksons in consultation with chief veterinarian surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson decided to end Barbaro's painful battle to survive yesterday... What followed was an outpouring of grief and more e-mails, cards, flowers and religious items to add to the already thousands received since last May. Barbaro co-owner Roy Jackson said "I just can't explain why everyone is so caught up with this horse. Everything is so negative now in the world, people love animals and I think they just happened to latch on to him". While final plans haven't been made yet, Barbaro will probably be buried on the Jackson farm in Pennsylvania... Barbaro earned $2,302,200 with his 6 wins in 7 starts. We've linked his Kentucky Derby win so we can all take a look, not at that dangling hoof but of Barbaro's biggest win: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6PacUirYuQ Timeline Memories... The Final Curtain: 1969] For the last time anywhere, the Beatles perform their infamous rooftop concert in London doing "Get Back". John Lennon closes the performance by saying "I'd like to thank you very much on behalf of the group and myself and I hope we passed the audition". The so-called "audition" is filmed for the movie "Let It Be"... "Hi-yo Silver - Away": 1933] "The Lone Ranger" is heard on Radio for the 1st time and will air for 2,956 episodes, ending in 1955 (and beyond that in films and specials)... "Sunday, Bloody Sunday": 1972] British soldiers shoot and kill 13 Roman Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland. The day is known as "Bloody Sunday" and U2 will memorialize it in their hit... "In Cold Blood": 1948] Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi is murdered by a Hindu extremist... "Debuted on this date": 1950] "Robert Montgomery Presents", a drama series debuts on NBC-TV where it will be seen for 7 seasons, ending in the summer of 1957 (Robert Montgomery was the father of Elizabeth Montgomery of "Bewitched")... "Recorded on this date": 1956] Elvis Presley records his version of "Blue Suede Shoes"...1968] Bobby Goldsboro records "Honey" in a studio filled with wall-to-wall Kleenex boxes... #1 on this date: 1985] "I Want To Know What Love Is" - Foreigner... "High flying tragedy": 1962] Two members of the "Flying Wallendas" high-wire act are killed when their 7-person pyramid collapses during a performance in Detroit... "Kiss me, I'm Gene Simmons": 1973] Kiss debuts their live act at the Coventry Club in Queens... Super Bowl Sunday: 1983] The Washington Redskins beat the Miami Dolphins 21-17 in Super Bowl XVII as RB John Riggins picks up 166 yards on 38 carries...1994] Natalie Cole sings the national anthem before Super Bowl XXVIII and then Dallas beats Buffalo 30-13...2000] Kurt Warner hits Isaac Bruce for the winning touchdown with 2 minutes remaining as the St. Louis Rams pull off a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV... "Knight time is the right time": 1998] Elton John receives a knighthood in British Prime Minister Tony Blair's 1st New Year's Eve Honours List... Going to Hall: 1999] Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor is elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the 1st ballot... "Guilty as Charged": 2003] Richard Reid, the British citizen and al-Qaida follower who had a bomb in his shoe on a trans-Atlantic flight is sentenced in Boston to life in prison... "Vote for Me": 2005] Iraqi's vote in their country's first free election in a half-century... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]... Commentary... "Happy Trails" to the controversial Reverend Robert Drinan who passed away on Sunday from pneumonia and congestive heart failure at 86. A vocal activist for various causes, Drinan was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of Congress, having been elected to the House of Representatives in 1971 and re-elected four times, serving until 1981. He was a member of the House from Massachusetts 3rd district and for many years was a fixture in Boston politics... And "Happy Trails" to former Yankee pitching coach and drinking buddy of Billy Martin, Art Fowler who died at his home yesterday at 84. Fowler who never stayed in shape had this to say about running when coaches asked him to: "If running is so important, Jesse Owens would be a twenty-game winner. The only reason I don't like to run is that it makes me tired"... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Wilmer Valderrama (27), comedienne Brett Butler (49), Phil Collins (56), Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin (65), Dick Cheney (66), Vanessa Redgrave (70), Tammy Grimes (73), Gene Hackman (77), Hal Prince (79), Dorothy Malone (82) and Laugh-In co-host Dick Martin (85)... Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Super Bowl XLI, 16 days until 'pitchers and catchers' and 50 days until spring... ...