The Good
Previous weekly winners and current candidates include: Tiger Woods (voted America's favorite athlete), Ichiro Suzuki (All-Star game MVP) and Troy Brown who signed for his 15th season with the New England Patriots. Ah but we have some newcomers, like Lawrence Frank of the Nets, signed to a multiyear contract extension for guiding his team to the playoffs each of the four years he's coached them. Mets broadcaster and Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner who was honored at Shea Stadium over the weekend. Kiner was part of the original three-member team of broadcasters dating back to 1962. 48-year old Julio Franco found a new job with his old team, the Atlanta Braves after being released by the Mets. A good thing. Islander coach Al Arbour re-surfaced. The winningest coach in franchise history will get to coach the team one more time. Arbour signed a one-day contract and will coach the Isles against Pittsburgh on November 3. Hey maybe Mario will lace 'em up again one more time that day. And finally major league players voted George Steinbrenner the best owner in baseball in a Sports Illustrated poll. Coincidentally they voted Kansas City owner David Glass the worst owner. Or to put it into perspective, guess the names of the highest and lowest paying teams in baseball. You got it - the Yankees and the Royals. So much for the credibility of that poll. I'm going with the guy who has spent the last 45 years of his life describing some really bad games like that 120 loss season back in '62 but with some good seasons sprinkled in too, especially 1969, 1973, 1986, 2000 and a few others: Ralph Kiner is our "Good Award Winner of the Month"...
The Bad
Previous weekly winners and current candidates include Toledo pitcher Roman Colon (for punching a teammate), Gosder Cherilus and Mass. State trooper Joseph Boike for beating up a sportsbar customer near North Station and former NBA player Lonny Baxter (arrested for shipping guns out of state). What's the charge for shipping guns in state? Let's start with steroids. Former pro-golfer Gary Player rocked his sport by saying he knows at least one player taking steroids and following with "I know there are golfers doing it, whether it's HGH, creatine or steroids." Player, of course refused to rat out the player(s). Then there's Oakland safety Jarrod Cooper who's being suspended for 4 games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on using the stuff. Then there were non-steroid related offenses, like a DUI charge against Montana's J.D. Quinn who transferred from Oklahoma after getting kicked off that team, a marijuana charge against Atlanta Falcon Jimmy Williams and a domestic violence arrest for former NFL player Chad Eaton. This is very close but I will go with ex-Boston Eagle player Gordon Cherilus and Mass. State trooper Joseph Boike for putting that sportsbar customer in the hospital. Cherilus is 6'7" and Boike is, well, a state trooper. He also is co-owner of a bar to stay away from: The Greatest Bar...
The Ugly
I won't even bother to name the previous weekly winners because this competition was over before it started. The "Ugly Award Winner of the Month" is NBA referee Tim Donaghy. Unless you've been hanging out with Lindsay Lohan you know what Donaghy did. He bet on any game he could find action on including the games he was officiating. What he should really do is wonder what the odds are that he'll ever work again or better yet join Lindsay in rehab. Gambling is a problem, after all. The latest installation in this horrible mess is the press conference held yesterday by NBA Commissioner David ("I'll never smile again") Stern. I've seen happier eulogies. Congratulations Tim. You made Pete Rose look good overnight. Do I have to say there will be more on this story???
TGTBTU Update
The sons of Eagle Coach Andy Reid are back in the news. Garrett, 24 and Britt, 22, are due in court today for a status hearing on their 'James Brothers' rampage and word is they could plead guilty on a lesser charge which currently involve drugs, assault and traffic charges...Those four U of Minn. players investigated in a sexual assault case were kicked off the team...Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen is at it again. He was arrested on a DUI, tried to run away until cops used a stun gun on him...then there's Michael (woof woof) Vick and the dog-fighting on-going investigation. The NFL told him to stay away from Falcons training camp until, oh I don't know, he stops raising dogs to fight and perhaps strangling and electrocuting some. Is that too much to ask? The Barry Bonds investigation continues while he chases Hank Aaron. I liked Bud Selig's Jon Lovitz impersonation explaining whether or not he will attend the record breaking game and finally Dolphin linebacker Joey Porter will lose about $150,000 but not be suspended for popping Bengals tackle Levi Jones at a Las Vegas casino back in March...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1871] On a carousel: Wilhelm Schneider of Davenport (IA) patents the carousel and the Hollies serenade him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHCcA1pG35I ...
- 1946] Debuted on this date: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis make their debut as a comedy act at Club 500 in Atlantic City...
- 1952] There's no substitute for doing it yourself: Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S...
- 1956] Tragedy at sea: The Stockholm collides with the Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket. 1,660 survive but 51, including the crew, goes down with the ship. The Andrea Doria lies in 200 feet of water, 45 miles south of Nantucket. Divers continue to brave the depth and sharks in order to salvage valuables that still remain...
- 1966] Going to Hall: Casey Stengel is inducted into the Baseball's Hall of Fame. Ted Williams also goes in. This weekend it's Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn's turn...
- 1978] The Yankees pick a lemon: One day after Billy Martin's tearful "resignation", Bob Lemon is chosen to replace him as Yankee manager...
- 1978] Tubular Belle: Louise Joy Brown, the 1st test-tube baby is born. Louise is a happily married postal employee with an 18-month old daughter who was born naturally. Today Louise celebrates her 29th birthday at her home in Bristol, England...
- 1990] Rosanne Boo: Rosanne Barr gets booed in San Diego for her disgraceful singing of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Following her mangling of the song she grabs her crotch and spits on the ground...
- 1999] Tour de une: Lance Armstrong wins his 1st Tour de France...2004] Lance wins his 6th consecutive Tour...
- 2003] Riding shotgun: President George W. Bush picks Dick Cheney to be his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket...
Music Memories:
- 1965] Electrifying: Bob Dylan goes electric in his first non-acoustic set at the Newport Jazz Festival and here's a video clip of that performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMxJFsyR85o ...
- 1966] Released on this date: "You Can't Hurry Love" - Supremes...1970] "25 or 6 to 4" - Chicago: Here's a great live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmPVxyr185A ...1971] "Surf's Up" LP - Beach Boys...
- 1969] Adding the 'Y': With Neil Young now a member, Crosby, Stills and Nash make their debut at the Fillmore East in Manhattan...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Billy Wagner (36), Matt LeBlanc (40), Iman (52), Earth, Wind and Fire's Verdine White (56) and Estelle Getty (83)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until BB HOF induction for Ripken, Jr. and Gwynn, 6 days until all NFL training camps are open and 11 days until the NFL HOF induction...
