Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Wednesday, July 11-Monday, July 16, 2007

The Good...The Bad...The Ugly of the Week...


The Good

Seattle All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki gave his league home-field advantage in the World Series and was chosen MVP of last night's game. This was the 10th consecutive All-Star game victory for the American League. For that Ichiro is a major contender for the 'Good Award of the Week' but he's not the lone contender. In winning the men's title at Wimbledon for the 5th consecutive year, Roger Federer tied Bjorn Borg, who also won 5 in a row. Roger also tied Borg in winning his 11th Grand Slam title overall and he's this week's Grand Slam winner of the 'Good' Award of the Week. Runner up is Venus Williams, winner of her 4th Wimbledon singles title and as big a performance as Ichiro had last night, Suzuki is second runner up...


The Bad

There are too many bad boys this week. We'll start with San Diego rookie linebacker Anthony Waters, charged with hitting the driver in front of him for throwing a rock at his car on a highway. Waters and a friend hit the 18-year old who threw the rock and both were jailed and then released. A trial is pending...BYU running back Manase Tonga was stopped for running a stop sign for the 3rd time this year. Tonga then used a fake name when police pulled him over...Missouri basketball player Kalen Grimes was accused of striking a man in the face with the butt of a shotgun (ouch). He faces charges of a second-degree assault, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike and his fiancee were arrested when a substance believed to be heroin was found in their SUV...Providence boxer Peter Manfredo Jr. was arrested for throwing a rock through someone's (not Anthony Waters') SUV...Detroit Tigers reserve infielder Neifi Perez was suspended 25 games for testing positive for a stimulant not approved by major league baseball...Oakland defensive end Bryant McNeal was arrested on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop in South Carolina...BC football co-captain Gosder Cherilus and State Police Sgt. Joseph Boike are suspects in the beating of a sports bar customer near North Station and Denver defensive end Kenny Peterson violated the NFL's steroid policy and will miss the first 4 games of the season without pay...Because the customer hit by the BC football player and State Police Sgt. was hospitalized with spinal injuries, Gosder Cherilus and Joseph Boike are this week's winners of the 'Bad Award of the Week'...

The Ugly

Football broadcaster Bill Maas, a former All-Pro defensive lineman was released from jail after his arrest on drug possession and weapons charges during a roadside check in Illinois. The SUV Maas and passenger Sarah Murphy were in contained a .22 caliber revolver, 5 grams of suspected marijuana, 6 grams of suspected cocaine and 28 pills of Ecstasy. Ugly, real bad ugly. Maas and Murphy were ordered to return to court August 21st. And then there's this horror story - former University of Florida defensive back Avery Atkins, 20, was found dead in his car in the garage of his aunt's home in Florida in what police call a suspicious death. The death of Atkins is the 'Ugly Award Winner of the Week' in what surely demands more details...


TGTBTU Update

The Michael Vick dog fighting mess investigation continues although Vick is not named in the documents, just his property. To be continued...The Tennessee charges against Adam "Pacman" Jones are on hold pending a decision in his Las Vegas case. Jones has more cases than Mark Geragos...Former Bears tackle Tank Johnson will not face charges connected to his arrest in Gilbert (AZ) on suspicion of drunken driving. That's one for the Tanker...Padres pitcher Chris Young dropped the appeal of his 5-game suspension for his part in a brawl... Troy Ellerman, the San Francisco attorney who leaked grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds are others investigated for steroid use has agreed to accept a 33-month sentence...The DUI charge against Ravens QB Steve McNair has been dropped and Al Unser Jr. will plead no contest for his DUI charge stemming from a January crash in Nevada...


10 Timeline Memories:


1. 1798] Semper Fi: The U.S. Marine Corps is created by an act of Congress...
2. 1804] A duel in the swamp: A pistol duel near Weehawken (NJ) between VP Aaron Burr and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton results in the death of Hamilton the following day. Hamilton was 49...
3. 1914] Debuted on this date: 19-year old Babe Ruth makes his major league debut as a pitcher for the Red Sox. The Bambino holds Cleveland to 8 hits in 7 innings in a game won by Boston 4-3. Ruth does not figure in the decision. In 1918 Ruth moves to the outfield...1936] The Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, opens to traffic...
4. 1951] From Big-Band to R&B: Alan Freed starts playing R&B music on WJW Cleveland. After 3 years in Cleveland, Freed moves to WINS New York and becomes the "King of Rock 'n Roll"...
5. 1979] Skylab: The U.S. space station returns to Earth burning up in the atmosphere and showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia...
6. 1982] An Italian trey and more, make it four: Italia wins its 3rd World Cup and first in 44 years by beating West Germany 3-1 in Madrid. Last year Italy won it's 4th World Cup by beating France...
7. 1985] The K King: Nolan Ryan of the Astros becomes the 1st major leaguer to earn 4,000 strikeouts in a career. Victim #4,000: Met Danny Heep...
8. 1989] "Happy Trails": Sir Laurence Olivier dies from cancer at 82...
9. 1999] Medical Mercy drop: An Air Force jet drops off emergency medical supplies in the Antarctic for Dr. Jerri Nelson after she discovers a lump in her breast. Dr. Nelson doctors herself back to good health...
10. 2004] CIA is MIA: CIA Director George Tenet leaves his position at the agency...


Music Memories:

  • 1959] #1 on this date: "Lonely Boy" - Paul Anka...1969] "In the year 2525" - Zager & Evans...1970] "Mama Told Me Not To Come" - Three Dog Night...1979] "Bad Girls" - Donna Summer: live from Divas 2000: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X8n-19c6UI ...1989] "If You Don't Know Me By Now" - Simply Red, simply great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRPzJWeICzY ...
  • 1967] Formed on this date: Kenny Rogers forms The First Edition...One of the 1st visits Kenny and the group made was to Boston...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Lisa Rinna (44), Suzanne Vega (48), Richie Sambora (48), Sela Ward (51), Leon Spinks (54), Bonnie Pointer (56), Jeff Hanna (60), Joe McCoy (64), Giorgio Armani (73) and Tab Hunter (80)...

Timeline Countdown: In 19 days all the NFL camps will be open...

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Thursday, July 12, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1862] Honored: Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor...

  2. 1901] 1st to 300: Boston's Cy Young wins the 300th game of his career in a Red Sox win over Philadelphia 5-3...

  3. 1960] Debuted on this date: The 1st Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale. What were those black metallic specks anyway??? 1990] "Northern Exposure" starts a 5-year run. Here's the infamous cow catapulting scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3xP7cbawlI&mode=related&search=...

  4. 1979] Disco Demolition Night: This promotion was the brainchild of WLUP in Chicago. This video clip used 3 years ago by Keith Olbermann features an interview with Steve Dahl and shows the demonstration between games of a double-header at Comiskey Park that caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game to Detroit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a_hBR9YuNw ...

  5. 1984] Fritz finds a running mate: Walter Mondale chooses U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as a running mate for his Democratic Presidential run. Ferraro from NY is the 1st woman to run for VP on a major party ticket...

  6. 1989] No more lightning left: Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry a.k.a. "Louisiana Lightning" retires after surgery at 39. He is now the pitching coach of the Yankees...

  7. 1996] "Happy Trails": NBC network news anchor John Chancellor dies from stomach cancer 2 days before his 69th birthday...

  8. 2001] Blood money: Abner Louima agrees to an $8.7 million settlement in a police brutality case in New York City...

  9. 2003] A presidential commissioning: The USS Ronald Reagan becomes the 1st carrier named for a living president when it's commissioned in Norfolk (VA)...

  10. 2005] Taking a seat on the throne: Prince Albert II of Monaco accedes to the throne of a 700-year old dynasty...

Music Memories:

  • 1954] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Elvis Presley quits his day job (truck driving) to sign his 1st recording contract with Sun Records in Memphis...

  • 1962] Live debut: The Rolling Stones make their 1st appearance at the Marquee Club in London...

  • 1979] "Happy Trails": Minnie Riperton who had the #1 hit "Lovin' You" dies of breast cancer at 31. Minnie's daughter Maya Rudolph of "Saturday Night Live" was just 5 when her mother died...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Topher Grace (29), Kristi Yamaguchi (36), Cheryl Ladd (56), Jay Thomas (59), Richard Simmons (59), Christy McVie (64), Bill Cosby (70) and pianist Van Cliburn (73)...

Timeline Countdown: In 18 days all NFL camps will be open...

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Friday, July 13, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1835] The first patent???: John Ruggles receives patent number one for a traction wheel used in locomotive steam engines. All previous patents numbering almost 10,000 were un-numbered...
  2. 1863] Street Fighting Men: Opponents of the Civil War draft begin 3 days of rioting in New York City, resulting in more than 1,000 casualties...
  3. 1966] Curtains: Cleveland running back Jim Brown retires from the NFL after a 9-year career to become an actor...
  4. 1972] Team Trade: The owners of the Baltimore Colts (Robert Irsay) and Los Angeles Rams (Carroll Rosenbloom) swap teams. The first and last trade of its kind...
  5. 1977] The lights go out: A 25-hour blackout hits the New York City area...
  6. 1982] All-Star Game North: The All-Star game is played outside the U.S. for the 1st time in Montreal, Canada...
  7. 1984] "Happy Trails": Philippe Wynne, former lead singer of the Spinners, dies from a heart attack while on stage in Oakland. Wynne was just 43...2006] Legendary comedian Red Buttons passes away at 87 from vascular disease...
  8. 1985] Retired numbers: The Yankees retire uniform #9 for Roger Maris and #32 for Elston Howard...
  9. 1994] Guilty as charged: Tonya Harding ex, Jeff Gillooly is sentenced to 2 years in prison for his role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan...
  10. 1999] 4 whiffs in a row: Pedro Martinez strikes out the 1st 4 batters of the All-Star game, played at Fenway Park, to earn MVP honors. At that game Ted Williams is honored as are the living players from the All-Century team...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Didi Conn (56), Cheech Marin (61), Roger McGuinn (65), Harrison Ford (65), Patrick Stewart (67) and Jack Kemp (72)...

Timeline Countdown: In 17 days all NFL camps will be open...



...

Saturday, July 14, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1868] Measuring up: Alvin J. Fellows patents the tape measure for those 'tape measure' home runs...
  2. 1921] Sacked: Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are convicted in Dedham (MA) of killing a shoe company paymaster and his guard. They would be executed in 1927 for the murders...
  3. 1946] And it's still selling: Dr. Benjamin Spock publishes "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care". It's sold well over 50 million copies and it's still selling...
  4. 1966] A killing spree: 25-year old Richard Speck goes on a rampage in a Chicago dormitory killing 8 student nurses. Speck will die of a heart attack in prison in December, 1991. No one claims his body which will be cremated...
  5. 1967] 500 Club: Braves slugger Eddie Mathews hits his 500th home run...1968] Mathews teammate Henry Aaron hits his 500th home run...
  6. 1970] All-Star highlight: In one of the most famous of all All-Star game plays, Pete Rose bowls over catcher Ray Fosse to score...
  7. 1976] Vote For Me: Georgia peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter wins the Democrat's Presidential nomination...
  8. 1992] Olivia diagnosis: Olivia Newton-John announces that she has breast cancer. Olivia recovers...
  9. 1992] Preggers on the cover: A very pregnant Demi Moore appears nude on the cover of Vanity Fair...
  10. 1999] Busing ends in Beantown: Race-based school busing in Boston ends after 25 years...

Music Memories:

  • 1950] #1 on this date: "Mona Lisa" - Nat "King" Cole. No one sang a better ballad than Nat "King" Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxEmnxiUz8w ...1960] "I'm Sorry" - Brenda Lee - here's Brenda with the Casuals and a medley of "I'm Sorry" and "All Alone Am I": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv1zcYgcEq8 ...

  • 1967] Opening for The Who: In a rather bizarre pairing, The Who opens for Herman's Hermits in New York City...

  • 1973] Breaking up is hard to do: The Everly Brothers break up on stage at the John Wayne Theatre in Buena Park (CA) as Phil slams down his guitar and storms off in the middle of a song...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Rosey Grier (75), Polly Bergen (77), Harry Dean Stanton (81), Dale Robertson (84) and Ingmar Bergman (89)...

Timeline Countdown: In 16 days all NFL training camps will be open...

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Sunday, July 15, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1916] Boeing, Boeing, Bon: In Seattle, Pacific Aero Products is incorporated by William Boeing. The company will later be renamed (everybody): "Boeing"...
  2. 1952] Debuted on this date: Patti Page makes her TV debut in a summer replacement series for Perry Como. Here's the "Singing Rage" in 1981 performing a medley of her many hits: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NuV_KVMoruI ...1968] The soap "One Life to Live" debuts...1996] MSNBC debuts. Originally a 50/50 partnership between NBC and Bill Gates, Gates sold 32% of his shares in 2005. NBC is now principal owner with 82%, Gates with 18%...
  3. 1964] Vote for me: Conservative Barry Goldwater is nominated for President at the Republican National Convention...
  4. 1965] Smile, you're on Candid Mariner: Mariner IV sends back the 1st closeup pictures of Mars but can't get the red eye out as hard as they try...
  5. 1968] Commack, home of the Amerinets: The New Jersey Americans move to Long Island and become the New York Nets. Then they move back to Jersey and they will soon move to Brooklyn. Have you been following along???
  6. 1973] Lending an ear: Paul Getty III (grandson of J.Paul), 16, is kidnapped. His parents receive a lock of hair and an ear in a box. Paul will be ransomed for $2 million with less hair and one ear...
  7. 1973] Oh no? Oh yes: Nolan Ryan becomes the 1st pitcher since Allie Reynolds in 1951 to pitch and win 2 no-hitters in one year. Ryan is the best pitcher I've ever seen in my lifetime...
  8. 1992] Taking care of T-C-B: Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton is nominated for the presidency at the Democrats National Convention at Madison Square Garden...
  9. 1997] In cold blood: Designer Gianni Versace is shot to death by Andrew Philip Cunanan outside his home in Miami Beach. Cunanan was found dead 8 days later...
  10. 2002] Turncoat gets his due: John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to 2 felonies: supplying services to Afghanistan's former Taliban government and for carrying explosives during the commission of a felony. Lindh agrees to spend 10 years in prison on each charge...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Brigitte Nielsen (44), Forest Whitaker (46), Kim Alexis (47), Terry O'Quinn (55), Linda Ronstadt (61), one of the top 5 best all-time female singers and the song that put her on the musical map, "Different Drum": http://youtube.com/watch?v=g5WmLbDZzzk , Millie Jackson (63), Alex Karras (72) and "One Life to Live" star Philip Carey (82)...

Timeline Countdown: In 15 days all NFL training camps will be open...

...

Monday, July 16, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1935] Time's up: The 1st parking meters are installed in Oklahoma City. Lovely Rita, meter maid, is hired...
  2. 1951] Debuted on this date: The J.D. Salinger novel "Catcher In The Rye" is published...
  3. 1966] Cream rises: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker form the group Cream...
  4. 1969] To the Moon Alice: Apollo 11 blasts off from Cape Kennedy to begin its journey to the moon and the 1st landing made by man on that surface...
  5. 1972] Breaking up is hard to do (1): After 18 years with The Miracles, Smokey Robinson makes his final appearance with the group in Washington, D.C...
  6. 1976] Breaking up is hard to do (2): Loggins and Messina go their separate ways. Here's a clip from them doing "Danny's Song" live in 2005: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oOkttmuB98M ...
  7. 1979] Are we having fun yet?: Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq after forcing Hasan al-Bakr to resign...
  8. 1981] LIE tragedy: Harry Chapin is killed on the Long Island Expressway on his way to a benefit concert. Chapin was 38...
  9. 1999] Vineyard tragedy: Another day ends in tragedy for the Kennedy's as John F. Kennedy Jr.'s plane crashes off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, John's wife and Carolyn's sister Lauren Bessette was also aboard. All the bodies are found on July 21. Here's a video tribute to JFK Jr.: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WKyvCSxu73w ...
  10. 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart is sentenced to 5 months in prison for lying about a stock sale...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Barry Sanders (39), Will Ferrell (40), Phoebe Cates (44), Jimmy Johnson (64) and Bess Myerson (83)...

Timeline Countdown: In 14 days all NFL training camps will be open...