Living in the media capital of the world is a blessing. The on-going information gathering process is overwhelming. Case in point - when that steam pipe burst on Lexington Avenue and 41st Street recently it took 20 minutes from the time the local media first started covering it, to become the lead story in the world on the Internet. The lead story! If there's anything worth finding out about you'll usually find out about it in New York first where many stories originate but this Imus-Esiason thing is driving me nuts...
Within the last 10 days there's been a glut of stories circulating about the imminent return to radio by Don Imus. There's also been a glut of items about former star quarterback Boomer Esiason replacing Imus on WFAN. If Esiason replaces Imus on WFAN then where does Imus go? Satellite is a good guess which would mean Sirius, based in New York. XM with Washington studios is out of the question because the I-man would never leave New York. So what's the real story???
Two places you won't find out are the websites of both Imus and Esiason. http://www.boomeresiason.com/ is a great website filled with terrific pictures of Boomer in action and anything and everything Boomer except whether or not he's going to WFAN. Going to http://www.donimus.org/ the "website dedicated to the good works of Don & Deirdre Imus" won't tell you anything either with most of it dealing with the "charity and philanthropy" involved in the Imus Ranch and other groups they're involved with. What I did find interesting were the following headlines included in the Imus home page: Boomer Esiason close to replacing Imus on WFAN, Imus Talks with CBS Continue and CBS, Imus Agree to Buyout Settlement. I love it. Nothing on Boomer's website and rumours in headlines on the Imus website...
I know we'll find out eventually where Imus lands but if anyone knows the real story, drop me an e-mail so I'll be able to sleep tonight. Thank you...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1928] I am Leo hear me roar: MGM's Leo the Lion roars for the st time when he's introduced to the big screen for "White Shadows on the South Seas" and here's the original Leo used at the open of that movie: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2pgLJKFiTuE&mode=related&search= ...
- 1948] Idlewild about Harry: President Harry S. Truman helps dedicate Idlewild International Airport (later changed to JFK) with New York Governor (and soon to be opponent in the presidential election) Thomas E. Dewey and Mayor William O'Dwyer in attendance with live radio and TV coverage...
- 1964] Say "cheese": American space probe Ranger 7 transmits pictures of the moon's surface back to earth...
- 1964] "Happy Trails": Country singer Jim Reeves dies when the single-engine Beechcraft he was piloting goes down during a violent thunderstorm near his home in Nashville. His business partner and manager Dean Manuel is also killed. "Gentleman Jim" was just 40. Just 4 months earlier he performed in Norway and here's a clip of Jim singing "I Love You Because": http://youtube.com/watch?v=nECoA-uVGfw ...
- 1972] McGovern picks Eagleton as running mate: Of course the rest of the story involves Sargent Shriver replacing Eagleton because of his fragile mental health...
- 1976] Real Golden Gloves: The U.S. picks up 5 gold medals in boxing at the Montreal Olympics. Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, Howard Davis and Leo Randolph are the winners of the gold awards. Sugar Ray and Leon Spinks will become pro-boxing champions...
- 1981] Back to work: The 7-week baseball players strike comes to an end when the players and owners agree on the issue of free agent compensation...
- 1990] Joining the 300 club: Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games as his Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3. The Mets Tom Glavine hopes to join that club tonight in Milwaukee...
- 1995] ABC sprouts mouse ears: The Walt Disney Company agrees to buy Capital Cities-ABC Inc. for $15 billion...
- 1997] Busted: New York City police seize 5 bombs believed bound for terrorists attacks on subways...
Music Memories:
- 1968] Recording finished on this date: "Hey Jude" is completed by the Beatles at Trident Studios in London...
- 1979] Live in Central Park: James Taylor plays a free concert to help the city's campaign to restore the parks' Sheep Meadow...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
We begin with "Happy Trails" to former 49ers genius coach Bill Walsh who lost his battle with leukemia at the age of 75. Walsh is credited with the West Coast offense which features short, pin-point, high-percentage passes. During his Hall of Fame career he won 3 Super Bowls even though his coaching career didn't start until he was 47. Walsh, a father figure for many players including HOF QB Joe Montana also coached Stanford University...Many of you commented on the passing of Tom Snyder. Thank you for your thoughts. Rather than run all your comments, I've chosen one e-mail to post, from Norm N. Nite: "I really remember Tom Snyder, for not only was I a guest on his show on four different occasions but I threw a birthday party for him on May 12, 1978 with about 200 guests including Earl Wilson. I hung out with his producers Bruce McKay and Andy Friendly a lot at the time. Some great memories. One of Tom's other producers is Debbie Vickers, who now produces Jay Leno's show. All the best and "Rock On!", Norm N. Nite...Thank you Norm...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Dean Cain (41), J.K. Rowling (42), Wesley Snipes (45), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (56), Gary Lewis (62) Gary does "Sure Gonna Miss Her" on a show hosted by Gene Weed: http://youtube.com/watch?v=QIv7Zq88cfQ , William Weld (62), Sherry Lansing (63), Geraldine Chaplin (63), Lobo a.k.a. Roland Kent Lavoie (64) and Robert Morgenthau (88)...
Timeline Countdown: 4 days until the Pro Football HOF induction, 34 days until Labor Day and 37 days until the NFL opener...
