Friday, May 11, 2007

Friday-Sunday, May 11-13, 2007

The Jekyll and Hyde of XM Radio...

XM Radio made the kind of headlines that will have Mel Karmazin spitting up his Maalox at a time when the big debate in the Senate over the proposed Sirius/XM merger is hot and heavy. You tell me if timing isn't everything. By now the world knows about the comments made by "Homeless Charlie" on the Opie and Anthony Show, not worth repeating here. What remains to be seen is what kind of reaction this will have on the merger talks. Whatever it is, it can't be good...

XM is also in the news but to a much lesser degree, for a good thing they're doing today from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. For those 5 hours, XM's "Sonic Sound Salutes" will take listeners back to the 60's to re-create the magic of KQV during that era. There will be air checks of DJs, commercials, jingles, contests, local news and references to what was going on in Pittsburgh during that decade. You'll hear "Colorful KQV", "Fun Lovin' KQV" and "Groovy KQV". You'll also hear snippets of jocks like Chuck Brinkman, Jim Quinn (still in Pittsburgh) and a guy I had the good fortune of working with, Jeff Christie a.k.a. Rush Limbaugh. Since Rush worked there in the 70s, I would imagine there might be some overlap into that decade...

My friend Jeff Roteman who knows more about Pittsburgh than any other person alive except maybe the descendants of Andrew Carnegie or Andrew W. Mellon has provided XM with tons of Steel City radio information. If you're looking for additional Pittsburgh radio information, Jeff has an excellent website devoted to KQV, click on http://14kqv.cjb.net/ . If you'd enjoy hearing this tribute to the legendary KQV and do not subscribe to XM, go to http://listen.xmradio.com/ for a free trial of their service...

10 Timeline Memories...


  1. 1949] For you, a bargain: The 1st Polaroid Camera sells for $89.95 in New York City ('it's 89.95 but for you because I know you're leaving tonight - $88.95')...
  2. 1972] Say Hey says Hi: Returning to the city he started in, Willie Mays comes back to New York to play for the Mets. He's traded for the immortal Charlie Williams and $50,000 cash...
  3. 1972] Boston beats New York: The Boston Bruins beat the Rangers to win their second Stanley Cup in 3 years. Bobby (#4) Orr is the MVP of the series...
  4. 1976] The curtain comes down: "Marcus Welby, M.D." ends after 8 years. The series starred Robert Young, James Brolin, Elena Verdugo, Anne Baxter and Sharon Gless...1989] The final episode of "Dynasty" airs. The show started in January of 1981...
  5. 1977] No Turnerround: Braves owner Ted Turner puts on a uniform and manages his team for one game in an attempt to stop Atlanta's 16-game losing streak. After the game they had a 17-game losing streak...
  6. 1981] Happy Trails: Reggae musician Bob Marley dies at 36 from cancer in a Miami hospital...2006] Former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson passes at 71 from Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer...
  7. 1984] Hold that Tiger: 1984] Sparky Anderson's Detroit Tigers beat California to lift their record to 26-4, the best start in major league history before or since. The Tigers breeze to an AL title and then beat San Diego in the World Series. Last year was a carbon copy of '84 only the Tigers would lose the WS to the Cardinals...
  8. 1988] The Century mark: A star-studded Carnegie Hall concert is held to honor the 100th birthday of legendary song writer Irving Berlin. Performers include: Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Marilyn Horne and more. Berlin was too feeble to attend but watched the festivities on TV...
  9. 2004] Something you don't want to watch: A video on an al-Qaida linked website shows the beheading of American hostage Nicholas Berg...
  10. 2004] Bling for the Mrs: The Lakers' Kobe Bryant pleads 'not guilty' in a Colorado court to rape. Prosecutors later drop the case but look at Mrs. Bryant's ring - ooooie...

Music Memories:

  • 1957] Buddy Holly and the Crickets fail an audition for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts"...
  • 1968] Released on this date: "MacArthur Park" - Richard Harris...1974] "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" - Steely Dan...
  • 1964] #1 on this date: "My Guy" - Mary Wells. This is Mary singing the song live on "Shindig": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1M5eEJeT38 ...1981] "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes and here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-RdAzkKlXY ...1985] "Crazy For You" - Madonna...
  • 1965] TV Debut: The Byrds sing "Mr. Tambourine Man" on "Hullabaloo"...
  • 1972] On Dick Cavett: John Lennon talks about the FBI tapping his phone...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Natasha Richardson (44), Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn (48), Mike Lupica (55), Dr. Robert Jarvik (artificial heart) (61), Eric Burdon (66) and Mort Sahl (still cranky after all these years) (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Memorial Day...

Saturday, May 12, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories...

  1. 1926] Baseball Elite: Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators joins Cy Young as the only 400-game winners in baseball history with a win over the St. Louis Browns. No pitcher has ever reached that number again and never will - book it...1970] The Cubs 'Mr. Baseball', Ernie ("Let's play two") Banks becomes the 9th major leaguer to hit 500 (or more) home runs...
  2. 1932] Baby found: The body of kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh is found in a wooded area near Hopewell (NJ)...
  3. 1948] Fenway First: WBZ-TV televises the 1st game at Fenway Park. Not many people had TV then...
  4. 1956] Oisk: The Dodgers' Carl Erskine pitches a no-hitter against the cross-town rival Giants. The 2-0 shutout is Erskine's second no-no...
  5. 1959] Wedding Bells: Liz Taylor takes victim #4, Eddie Fisher. The two will remain married until March, 1964...1971] Mick Jagger and Bianca Perez-Mora rock down the aisle in St. Tropez. This marriage lasts until 1979...
  6. 1985] Was this a tainted drawing?: The New York Knicks win the rights to Patrick Ewing in a special drawing. Okay, raise of hands for those that thought the drawing was fixed. Thank you...
  7. 1990] Girlcott: Even though SNL producers vow to use a time delay for Andrew Dice Clay's appearance, Nora Dunn and Sinead O'Connor (music guest) girlcott the show...
  8. 1991] Teddy Way: With Ted Williams in attendance, Lansdowne Street is renamed "Ted Williams Way" on the 50th anniversary of his great 1941 season when he was the last .400 hitter in baseball history...
  9. 2001] "Happy Trails": Perry Como passes away in his sleep at his home in Florida after a lengthy bout with Alzheimer's disease. Perry, one of the nicest people I ever met, was 87...
  10. 2002] Busted: Dionne Warwick is arrested at Miami International Airport when baggage screeners find 11 marijuana joints inside her lipstick container. She's charged with possession of less than 5 grams of the stuff, signs an affidavit promising to appear in court and then asks security: "do you know the way to San Jose"...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Emilio Estevez (45), Ving Rhames (46), Steve Winwood (59), Billy Swan (65), George Carlin (70), Tom Snyder (71), Burt Bacharach (78) and Yogi Berra (82) (the toughest interview I've ever done. Yogi is stingy with sharing his thoughts but a great guy)...

Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Memorial Day...

Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007...

Mother's Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks in honor of Rhea (not Perlman), just Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In the U.S. Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (writer of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic") as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston each year. In 1907 Ana Jarvis of Philadelphia began a campaign to establish a national day of celebration and Grafton (WV) along with Philadelphia celebrated Mom the following year. Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held yearly on the second Sunday of May. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms reading this...

10 Timeline Memories...

  1. 1607] What's next, Boston???: The English colony at Jamestown (VA) is settled...
  2. 1846] War is Hell: The U.S. declares that a state of war exists against Mexico. There goes 'Cinco de Mayo'...
  3. 1929] There goes number 48: When the Indians beat the Yankees 4-3 in Cleveland, it marked the 1st game to feature numbers on both teams' uni's...
  4. 1940] Churchillian: Winston Churchill tells the British House of Commons: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" in his 1st speech as Prime Minister". So how come the group was not called Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat???. Just asking...
  5. 1976] Last ABA game: Led by Dr. J, the New York Nets win their 2nd ABA title with a thrilling come from behind victory (they were down 22 pts. with 17 minutes left) over Denver at the Nassau Coliseum in the last ABA game. After this game the ABA became part of the NBA...
  6. 1981] The Pope is shot but survives: Pope John II is shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter's Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca...
  7. 1985] Wedding Bells: Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips rock down the aisle. They will separate in 1989 and then divorce...
  8. 1993] Joining the 300/3,000 club: One day before his 40th birthday, George Brett becomes only the 6th player with 300 (or more) home runs and 3,000 hits. The historic ball is picked up by a fan on a veteran's hospital outing. The fan was blind. True!!!
  9. 2000] Please release me: The Mets release Rickey Henderson after he fails to hustle and turns a double into a single. He was also hitting .219 with no home runs at the time. He's a special spring training coach for the Mets now...
  10. 2006] "Happy Trails": Founder and lead singer of Heatwave, Johnnie Wilder Jr. dies in his sleep at 56. Johnnie was paralyzed below the neck from a 1979 car crash. His spirit remained high even after he was paralyzed all those years...

Music Memories:

  • 1966] Recorded on this date: "Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks. This was the video of that hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h1oRP7FfBw&mode=related&search= ...1970] Badfinger begins recording "No Matter What" and here's a video on the group doing it on tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsVPThOPlX4 ...
  • 1970] Debuted on this date: The Beatles movie "Let It Be" premieres in New York...1977] Dolly Parton makes her New York City debut at The Bottom Line...
  • 1977] Mira Que Linda: Linda Ronstadt denies reports that she was offered $1 million to be photographed nude for a Hustler centerfold...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Darius (Hootie) Rucker (41), Julianne Phillips (45), Dennis Rodman (46), Bobby Valentine (57), Stevie Wonder (57), Harvey Keitel (68), Clive Barnes (80) and Bea Arthur (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 15 days until Memorial Day...

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