Friday, July 27, 2007

Friday-Sunday, July 27-29, 2007


Friday Morning at the water cooler...

Does anyone really meet at the water cooler anymore? It's more likely the coffee wagon, Starbucks or in someones office. Wherever you meet you're likely to be talking about a variety of things like when A-Rod hits his 500th home run will it really be his 500th or his 493rd and will his 499th really be his 500th? The Yankees play the rest of a suspended game with the Orioles tonight in the 8th inning. Should he hit a home run before the end of that suspended game it will count as his 493rd since a suspended game is as Yogi would say, "Not over until it's over". I for one hope it happens just so there's controversy with Alex Rodriguez even when he hits his 500th home run. Can you imagine the headlines???

You might be talking about the two astronauts who according to an independent panel, were involved in "heavy use of alcohol" before launch although their drinking was within the standard 12-hour "bottle-to-throttle" rule. How would you like to be on that flight? If that wasn't a big enough blow to NASA, word came that a worker had sabotaged a computer set for delivery to the international space station. What's going on here???

56-year old Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser went for a jog yesterday and suffered a sudden massive heart attack. Poof. Gone. A real tragedy involving a young and very good coach who will be missed. There's another health issue involving a famous person. 69-year old singer Etta James is in stable condition after suffering complications during abdominal surgery (in June) in Los Angeles. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to a great singer of the blues and R&B...

There's plenty of talk and mostly good revues about "The Simpsons Movie" which premieres today. One movie critic actually called it "almost apologetically funny". We'll end our "water cooler" talk there on a high note. After more than 400 episodes of "The Simpsons" ranging from 'good to spectacular' how bad can this movie be? The only thing you'll be missing is your couch...

10 Timeline Memories:


  1. 1940] Debuted on this date: Bugs Bunny makes his 1st appearance on the silver screen in "A Wild Hare". Bugs was the would-be dinner for frustrated hunter Elmer Fudd. The voice of Bugs Bunny was supplied by Mel Blanc who also created the voices or sounds of: Road Runner, Sylvester and Tweety Bird and many other cartoon characters...
  2. 1959] A league of his own: Attorney William Shea announces the formation of the Continental League and the promise of bringing a baseball team to New York in 1961 (Major League Baseball did not want competition from another baseball league and decided to allow New York a new franchise in 1962). The New York Mets were born thanks to Branch Rickey, Shea and others. This was Rickey's goal all along...
  3. 1960] Nixon's the One...VP Richard Nixon is nominated for President at the Republican national convention in Chicago (one of the funniest signs seen at the convention was a pregnant Republican delegate with a "Nixon's The One" sign on her belly)...
  4. 1965] Now you've been warned: The Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was signed into law. The law requires health warnings on all cigarette packages...
  5. 1976] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Tina Turner files for divorce from Ike Turner (Tina, what took you so long ?). They were married 18 years...
  6. 1976] Home Sweet Home: John Lennon is granted permanent residency in the U.S...
  7. 1986] Tour de winners: Greg Lemond is the 1st American to win the Tour de France...2003] Lance Armstrong becomes the 2nd cyclist in history to win the Tour de France 5 times in a row...
  8. 1992] A Celtic Tragedy: Reggie Lewis dies after collapsing on a Brandeis University basketball court during practice. He was 27 years old...
  9. 1996] Dropping a bomb: A homemade bomb explodes in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta (GA), killing one person and injuring over 100. The games continued and a suspect (Richard Jewell) was charged in the case in 2003...
  10. 2003] "Happy Trails": Legendary comedian Bob Hope dies at the age of 100...

Music Memories:

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Alex Rodriguez (32), Maya Rudolph of SNL (35), Maureen McGovern (58), Peggy Fleming (59), Bobbie Gentry (63), Ron Alexenburg (65), Jerry Van Dyke (75) and Harvey Fuqua (Moonglows)(78) Here's Harvey with the Moonglows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPob6Bh6_uQ&mode=related&search= ...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until BB HOF induction, 3 days until all NFL training camps are open and 8 days until NFL HOF induction...


Saturday, July 28, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1945] Empire is hit: A U.S. bomber crashes into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building, killing 14 and injuring 26. The building only sustained minor damage...
  2. 1973] Wedding Bells: Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett tie the knot (and in time will tie each other's neck in a knot). The couple separates in 1979 in an "on-again, off-again" relationship...
  3. 1978] Heeeeeeee's back: At Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium it's announced that Billy Martin will return as Yankee manager in 1979 (I remember being at this game. My jaw didn't shut for a week after this bizarre announcement)...
  4. 1987] So Sue me: The remaining members of the Beatles and Yoko Ono sue Nike from using "Revolution" in one of its sneaker ads without permission or paying for it. An out-of-court settlement is made at an undisclosed amount...1995] A settlement returns the rights to Jimi Hendrix's estate to his father. The ruling includes all unmastered tapes, concert recordings, photographs and other personal possessions...
  5. 1991] A pair of perfectos: Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers pitches a perfect game against California, 4-0...1994] Three years to the date in 1994, the next perfect game is pitched by Montreal's Dennis Martinez against the Dodgers...
  6. 1995] A life sentence: A jury in Union (SC) rejects the death penalty for Susan Smith, sentencing her instead to life in prison for drowning her 2 young sons...
  7. 1998] Blanket immunity: Monica Lewinsky is given blanket immunity from prosecution in exchange for grand jury testimony in the investigation of her, er, relationship with President Bill Clinton...
  8. 1999] Curtains: Detroit running back Barry Sanders, in the prime of his career, retires after 10 years at the age of 31 (a lot of teams would sign him today if they could)...2000] Kathie Lee Gifford makes her final appearance as co-host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (it's hard to believe but the world is still surviving without Kathie Lee)...
  9. 2002] Tour de Lance: Lance Armstrong wins his 4th consecutive Tour de France...
  10. 2004] Kerry's the one: The Democratic National Convention in Boston nominates Massachusetts Senator John Kerry for president (Vietnam veterans drop what they're doing and call information for the number of the White House)...

Music Memories:

  • 1957] TV debut: Jerry Lee Lewis makes his TV debut on "The Steve Allen Show" singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" - Jerry Lee Lewis...
  • 1956] #1 on this date: "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" - Elvis Presley...Here's Elvis singing it live in 1956 on "The Steve Allen Show": http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kj-3VP6f29A...
  • 1973] Released on this date: "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk Railroad...Watch this great live version: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_RGnNWmsWIs ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Sally Struthers (59), Georgia Engel (59), Jonathan Edwards (61) Here's Jonathan doing "Sunshine" live in 2006: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nbHBLh1uImQ , "Garfield" cartoonist Jim Davis (62) and Bill Bradley (61)...

Timeline Countdown: One day until the induction of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn at the Baseball Hall of Fame, 2 days until all NFL training camps are open and 7 days until the NFL HOF induction...

Sunday, July 29, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1957] Paar for the course: Jack Paar becomes the new host of the "Tonight Show". Paar will host until 1962 and the arrival of Johnny Carson...In this video clip Paar visits with his replacement Johnny Carson: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OKIyWMR9rz8 ...
  2. 1966] Rock and Roll Wreck: Bob Dylan crashes his motorcycle near his home in Woodstock, breaking his neck. He remains in critical condition for a week. When he recovers he becomes a recluse for months...
  3. 1974] "Happy Trails": Mama Cass Elliot dies from heart failure in London at the age of 32 (reports that circulated for years about her choking on a ham sandwich were bogus according to the coroner)...Mama Cass singing "Dream A Little Dream of Me" on "The Smothers Brothers Show": http://youtube.com/watch?v=vZPmZ64m3_4 ...
  4. 1981] Royal Wedding Bells: England's Prince Charles, 32 and Lady Diana Spencer, 20, tie the royal knot at St. Paul's Cathedral in London (the royals will divorce in 1996)...
  5. 1987] Life is just a bowl of cherries: Ben & Jerry introduce a new flavor in honor of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia: "Cherry Garcia", still their #1 best-selling flavor. Many assume that they created the flavor after Garcia died...not true...
  6. 1989] "Worst Trade": Texas Rangers' owner George W. Bush makes what he describes as his "worst trade": Sammy Sosa and 2 lesser players for Harold Baines (a pretty good hitter) and the immortal Fred Manrique. Sosa will only hit about 400 home runs after the trade. (Best butchering of Sosa's name was made by Teddy Kennedy who called him "Sammy Sowsa" and then corrected it to "Sammy Soosa")...
  7. 1993] Ivan the Free: The Israeli Supreme Court acquits retired Ohio autoworker John ("Ivan the terrible") Demjanjuk as a Nazi death camp guard...
  8. 1998] Right you are: Miramax buys the rights to the Beatles film, "A Hard Day's Night"...
  9. 1999] Blood Bath: A day trader opens fire in 2 Atlanta brokerage offices, killing 9 and wounding 13. He then turns the gun on himself. Earlier in the day he had killed his wife and 2 children...
  10. 2003] Two Salami's, no waiting: Bill Mueller of the Red Sox becomes the 1st player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a single game which the Sawx win 14-7 over Texas...

Music Memories:

  • 1959] Recorded on this date: "Shout" - Isley Brothers...
  • 1961] On the road again: Dick Clark premieres his "Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" at Atlantic City's Steel Pier. The show goes on the road with Chubby Checker, Duane Eddy, Bo Diddley and others and becomes a summer staple...
  • 1978] Released on this date: 1978] "Whenever I Call You Friend" - Kenny Loggins/Stevie Nicks...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":


Martina McBride (41), Patti Scialfa Springsteen (51), Ken Burns (54), Gary Busey (63), Sen. Elizabeth Dole (71) and Robert Horton (83)...


Timeline Countdown: One day until all NFL training camps are open and 6 days until the NFL Hall of Fame induction...
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