Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Saying goodbye is never easy...

After seeing the ovation and heroes welcome given Mike Piazza last night in his first return to Shea Stadium after signing with San Diego, if you flash back 32 years to August 9th, 1974 you'll remember seeing nothing of the kind for the departing President of the United States, Richard Milhous Nixon. It was sad to watch Nixon leave as a disgraced leader despite the circumstances that put him in this position...

After saying goodbye to his staff, Nixon and wife Pat walked to a waiting helicopter on the lawn of the White House along with new President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty. Our 37th president saluted and waved goodbye to the White House forever...

Many historians believe Nixon had one of the best foreign policies of any president in recent history but there's always Watergate, the blank tape, the cover-up and all that followed, that led to this date. Whatever you felt about the job Nixon did as president or the man himself, it was still a sad day for America...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1678] Native Americans sell the Bronx to Jonas Bronck for 400 beads and box seats to Yankee Stadium. The least Bronck could have thrown in were a dozen "everything" bagels...

1854] Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden" which describes his experiences of living near Walden Pond in Massachusetts...

1930] Betty Boop flashes those peepers for the 1st time in "Dizzy Dishes", created by Max Fleischer...

1945] The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, 3 days after Hiroshima. About 74,000 are killed. Japan will surrender on August 14th...

1969] Sharon Tate and 4 others are found murdered at Tate's residence in Los Angeles. Charles Manson and several members of his cult are later convicted of the horrific murders...

1975] The New Orleans Superdome opens with an NFL pre-season game. 72,000 root for the home team Saints but watch their team lose to Houston 13-7...

1985] Arthur J. Walker, a retired Navy officer is found guilty on seven counts of spying for Russia...

1997] Haitian immigrant Abner Louima is brutalized by New York City police officers when he's arrested after a brawl outside a Brooklyn nightclub (eventually the city settles with Louima for $8.75 million in the largest police brutality settlement in New York City history)...

2002] Barry Bonds hits his 600th homer, becoming the 4th major leaguer to reach that mark...

2004] Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols is sentenced to life without parole by a local judge (he had already been sentenced to life without parole on federal charges)...

People we lost too soon: 1995] Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, of a heart attack at 53...2003] Gregory Hines, of liver cancer at 57...

#1 on this date: 1965] "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher...1978] "Three Times A Lady" - Lionel Richie...

Released on this date: 1969] "Hot Fun In The Summertime" - Sly and the Family Stone..."Easy To Be Hard" - Three Dog Night...

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

"Happy Birthday, happy birthday"...

Gillian ("The X Files") Anderson (38), Whitney Houston (43), Melanie Griffith (49), Barbara Mason (59), Ken Norton (63), David Steinberg (64), Billy (The Spinners) Henderson (67), Rod Laver (68), Bob Cousy (78) and Ralph Houk (87)...

[Timeline Countdown: 27 days until Labor Day, 31 days until NFL Kickoff, 56 days until MLB playoffs and 144 days remaining in 2006]

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Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Setting a bad precedent...

Well they're at it again this year - only the names have changed. Jordan, Bird and Johnson have been replaced by LeBron, Carmelo and Yao ("Yo"). It's not the Olympics this year, it's the world championship, to be won by the U, S of A in Japan later this month. In my view we set a bad precedent when we loaded the 1992 Olympics with an All-Star team of NBA stars and beat the mighty Croatians to win gold on August 8th, 1992. In a move that smacked of Steinbrennerism, the Dream Team, which the New York Times described as a "boorish pack of prima donnas" was assembled to crush any country's team standing in the way, like a grape. Mission accomplished but at what cost ?

Look, I'm as patriotic as the next guy when it comes to seeing our country beat the pants off of other countries, especially France, but for Pete's sake and mine, can't we go back to the original concept of world wide events like the Olympics, contested entirely by, guess what ? Amateurs. And if your answer is, but every other country does the same thing, I say to you, the following. In the future, any country using a professional athlete is disqualified from competition, period, exclamation point, end of story. If we can only find a handful of countries willing to conform to these standards, that's okay. Not enough countries to compete ? Cancel the damn thing until we reach a point that we can get back to the original intent of the Olympics which is competition featuring international athletic contests using amateur contestants. Most college teams can beat a team composed of professional NBA players, like, let's say, oh I don't know... the Knicks, anyway...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1876] Thomas Edison receives a patent for the mimeograph, "a method of preparing autographic stencils for printing" (TAE, you show off !)...

1899] The refrigerator is patented by A.T. Marshall (geez and all along I thought it was William "Refrigerator" Perry)...

1942] Six Nazi saboteurs are executed in Washington after conviction. Two others are cooperative and receive life sentences in prison...

1966] Surgeon Michael DeBakey installs the first artificial heart (unfortunately blood clotting leads to failure)...

1968] Richard M. Nixon and Spiro T. Agnew are chosen as running mates at the Republican National Convention (a good day for Nixon)...

1970] The Yankees retire Casey Stengel's #37 uniform in a ceremony at Yankee Stadium...

1974] President Richard Milhous Nixon announces that he will resign the following day (not such a good day for Nixon)...

1976] Bill Veeck (as in "wreck") introduces shorts to the Chicago White Sox wardrobe (seeing Bucky Dent's hairy legs is worth the price of admission alone...what a treat !)...

1988] After 4 years of renovation work, the Central Park Zoo reopens (with seals now wearing formal wear)...

1988] A high of 88 degrees is recorded in New York City on 8/8/88...

#1 on this date: 1987] "With Or Without You" - U2...

Released on this date: 1963] "Louie, Louie" - Kingsmen...1970] "Looking Out My Back Door" - Creedence Clearwater Revival...

Remembering: 2001] Maureen Reagan (the President's daughter from his first marriage with Jane Wyman) died at 60 from melanoma...

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

Commentary...

An interesting e-mail from Paul Power who notes that Richard Barrett, the late singer/producer, "had a screenplay that he was trying to get Martin Scorsese interested in about his life but it never happened. Richard was truly the original super producer and never got his due, unfortunately". I agree Paul. This would make a great movie. The soundtrack could feature the Teenagers, Little Anthony, the Valentines, Three Degrees and any other act (and there were many) that Barrett helped to mold...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Kool Moe Dee (44), Deborah Norville (48), The Stylistics' Airrion Love (57), Keith Carradine (57), Connie Stevens (68), Dustin Hoffman (69), Esther Williams (85)...

[Timeline countdown: 28 days remaining until Labor Day, 32 days left until NFL kickoff, 57 days until MLB playoffs and 145 days remaining in 2006]

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Monday, August 7, 2006

A Hall of a weekend...

The sports spotlight fell on Canton, Ohio over the weekend as the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted 6 new members (Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, Warren Moon, the late Reggie White, Rayfield Wright and John Madden). Fittingly NBC-TV debuted their new Sunday Night football package as Madden worked his way from being honored on the field to the TV booth for the Hall of Fame game between Philadelphia and Oakland...

The Pro Football Hall of Fame had its first induction in 1963 with a charter class of 17 enshrinees including Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski, George Halas, Red Grange, Sammy Baugh and other greats of the game. Let's take a look at the numbers that form the profile of the pigskin heroes that reside in the Hall:

• The state with the most members: Pennsylvania with 26...
• The college representing the most members: Notre Dame and USC, tied with 10...
• Number of Heisman Trophy winners: 8...
• The pro team with the most members: Chicago with 26...
• Uniform number most represented: 16 and 44, tied with 9...
• Position most represented: Offensive Lineman with 30...
• Position least represented: Place kicker with 1 (Jan Stenerud)...

[These numbers are reflective of the Pre-Modern Era which is defined as post-1946]...

Congratulations to Lesley Visser who became the first female member of the Hall of Fame when she entered via the radio-tv section of the Hall and was paid tribute along with the 6 new members...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1782] George Washington creates the Order of the Purple Heart, a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and noncommissioned officers...

1947] The balsa-wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried a six-man crew across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago (Is this where "LOST" got the idea ?)...

1970] Christine McVie joins Fleetwood Mac...

1974] Yogi Berra and Sandy Koufax enter Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (NY)...

1990] "Desert Storm" begins as President George H. W. Bush orders U.S. troops and warplanes into Saudi Arabia to guard the oil-rich desert kingdom against a possible invasion by Iraq...

1998] Al Qaida sets off bombs at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224, including 12 Americans and injuring more than 5,5000...

1999] The Giants' Lawrence Taylor enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame...

1999] Wade Boggs becomes the 1st major leaguer to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit. On the same date, Tony Gwynn of San Diego gets his 3,000th hit...

2000] Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore picks Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman to be the 1st Jewish vice-presidential candidate of a major party ticket (today Lieberman is fighting for his political life in the Ct. Senatorial race for endorsing the war in Iraq)...

2004] Greg Maddux becomes the 22nd pitcher in major league history to record 300 victories as he leads the Cubs to an 8-4 win over San Francisco...

Wedding Bells: 1974] Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band) and Faye Dunaway (they will divorce in 1979)...

Released on this date: 1965] "It Ain't Me Babe" - Turtles...

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

Commentary...

Rest assured that Tour de Testosterone champ Floyd Landis goes to the top of our HP-Top 10 list and will stay there unless: 1) He can take one test that artificial testosterone doesn't show up in and so far he's 0 for 2 and 2) We believe him...

Our good friend Norm N. Nite ("Mr. Music") has started his own website. Click on and enjoy: www.rockonforever.com. Norm's knowledge of music is legendary. Author of the "Rock On" series of books, Norm does a live show from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once a week on Sirius. It looks great Norm. Good Luck...

"Happy Trails"...

Richard Barrett who passed away from pancreatic cancer in Philadelphia on Thursday, August 3rd. Barrett was not only lead singer of the Valentines, who were staples on Alan Freed shows in the 50's but he also played an important part in the discovery of the Teenagers, The Chantels, Little Anthony and the Imperials and later, The Three Degrees. His work with George Goldner and his rocky relationship with Morris Levy, 2 veteran record moguls was widely known in the industry as he supplied both with some of the biggest artists of the 50's and 60's. Barrett was 70, although it's believed he may have been 72 or 73 at the time of his death. "Happy Trails" Richard...

August 7th Birthdays...

Charlize Theron (31), David Duchovny (46), Wayne ("Newman") Knight (51), B.J. Thomas (64), Garrison Keillor (64), Don ("perfect game") Larsen (77), Herb (The Platters) Reed (78) and Stan Freberg (80)...

[Timeline countdown: 29 days until Labor Day, 33 days until NFL kickoff, 58 days until MLB playoffs and 146 days remaining in 2006]

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Friday-Sunday, August 4, 2006

"We're goin' hoppin', we're goin' hoppin' today, where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way" - the opening of the "American Bandstand" theme song, written by Barry Manilow...

August 5th marks the 49th anniversary of the network debut of "American Bandstand". I remember it well because it was one of the first mailings I did after starting my first full-time job in the ABC mailroom. Dick Clark, who I would later work for at United Stations, had replaced Bob Horn in Philadelphia in October of '52. 'Bandstand' was a local show then but on August 5th, 1957, the world would be introduced to a TV dance show that would become one of the most popular shows in TV history and expose more new artists, music and dances to the landscape than any other show had done previously or since...

At the beginning and in glorious black and white, the show was on daily. It would move to Saturdays in 1963 and from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in February, 1964. Color started in 1967, syndication in '87 and cable in '89. In 2004 Dick Clark announced plans to revive the show in time for 2005 but his stroke ensued and that plan was tabled...

While artists did a lip-synch to their hit records, there were two exceptions. B.B. King and Jerry Lee Lewis were the only recording artists to actually sing on the show. Feeling uncomfortable with lip-synching they requested live performances. "American Bandstand" was formatted like a good top 40 radio station with special features like the "spotlight dance", "ladie's choice" and "rate the record" ("it has a good beat and you can dance to it"). The first song played on the network version of the show was "Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis. The first guests were Billy Williams and the Chordettes. The announcer on "American Bandstand" was Charlie O'Donnell who was one of the original jocks on WOR-FM...

"American Bandstand" was such a phenomenon that the podium that Dick Clark stood at now resides in the Smithsonian...

"Ten Timeline Memories"...

1735] Freedom of the press was established with the acquittal of John Peter Zenger. The writer of the New York Weekly Journal was charged with seditious libel by the royal governor of New York. The jury ruled that "the truth is not libelous"...

1790] The Revenue Cutter Service is formed. This U.S. naval task force was the beginning of the U.S. Coast Guard...

1821] "The Saturday Evening Post" is published for the 1st time as a weekly...

1892] Andrew and Abby Borden are axed to death in their home in Fall River (MA) by Andrew's daughter from a previous marriage who was accused of the killings but later acquitted ("Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother 40 whacks and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41")...

1958] Billboard Magazine introduces the Hot 100. The 1st #1 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson (Tommy Noonan was the 1st person to do the charts at Billboard)...

1964] The bodies of Michael H. Schwerner, James E. Chaney and Andrew Goodman are found in an earthen dam in Mississippi. The three were civil rights workers who had disappeared on June 21...

1983] Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield throws a ball during warm-ups and accidentally kills a seagul on the field in Toronto. Winfield is arrested by the police but later released...

1985] In a game I attended, Tom Seaver, pitching for the White Sox, wins his 300th game against the Yankees on "Phil Rizzuto Day" ("Holy Cow"). They gave Rizzuto a cow on the field..Same date - different game: Rod Carew picks up his 3,000th hit (3 Hall of Famers in the waiting: Seaver, Carew and Rizzuto. The cow didn't have enough votes to get it)...

1987] The FCC rescinds the "Fairness Doctrine" requiring "balanced reporting on controversial issues and political campaigns" (equal time)...

2004] Staten Island ferry boat pilot, Richard Smith, pleads quilty to manslaughter charges in a crash that killed 11 commuters the previous October...

#1 on this date: [1974]"Feel Like Makin' Love" - Roberta Flack...

Released on this date: [1974] "Love Me Like A Rock" - Paul Simon...[1987] "Dirty Dancing" LP...

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

Commentary...

Bob Sherwood wonders where Fort Wayne was in the listing of the original NBA teams created by the merger of the BAA and NBL. Believe it or not, it was the NBA website that omitted Ft. Wayne. Further research shows that the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (can you imagine the New York Steinbrenner Yankees ? Actually I kinda can) played in the NBL for the last time in the 1947/48 season and did play in the NBA following the merger in 1949. Right you are, Bob. Bob, as well as Harvey Mednick mentioned the poker hand that Wild Bill Hickock had when he was shot and killed: 'Aces and eights", which became known as the "Dead Man's Hand". But most importantly, Mr. Sherwood mentioned that today is the birthday of the better half of the Sherwoods, Carol Bork Sherwood. Happy birthday Carol...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Race car driver Jeff Gordon (35), Roger Clemens (44), "Live with Regis and Kelly" producer Michael Gelman (45), Democratic Illinois Senator and party "darling" Barak Obama (45), Billy Bob Thornton (51), Richard Belzer (62), Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford (67) and ancient White House reporter Helen Thomas (86)...

[Timeline countdown: 32 days until Labor Day, 36 days until NFL kickoff, 61 days until MLB playoffs amd 149 days remaining in 2006]

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Saturday, August 5, 2006...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1861] The federal government levies its first income tax (3% of all incomes over $800). The wartime measure is rescinded in 1872...

1864] Union Admiral David G. Farragut gives his famous order: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" as he leads his fleet in an attack on Mobile Bay (AL)...

1884] The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor...

1921] The first play-by-play broadcast of a baseball game is done by Harold Arlin on KDKA (Pittsburgh) as he describes the action between the hometown Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies...

1924] "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray debuts in the New York Daily News...

1957] "American Bandstand" goes network (ABC-TV)...

1962] The body of 36-year old blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe is discovered in her Los Angeles home. Death was ruled as a probable suicide from an overdose of sleeping pills but to this day, controversy remains as to the reasons for her death...

1966] John Lennon makes his famous pronouncement that "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus"...

1979] Willie Mays enters Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (NY). The "Say Hey Kid" got 95% of the vote...

1985] The establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced...

Wedding Bells: 1964] Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft...

Released on this date: 1967] "Ode To Billy Joe" - Bobbie Gentry...1972] "Nights in White Satin" - Moody Blues...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Patrick Ewing (44), Maureen ("Marsha Brady") McCormick (50), Samantha ("Emotion") Sang (53), Rick Derringer (59), Songwriter Jimmy Webb (60), Loni Anderson (60), veteran actor John Saxon (he went to my high school - okay ?) (70), The first man to step on the moon Neil Armstrong (76)...

[Timeline countdown: 31 days until Labor Day, 35 days until NFL kickoff, 60 days until MLB playoffs and 148 days remaining in 2006]

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Sunday, August 6, 2006...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1890] Convicted murderer William Kemmler becomes the 1st person to be executed in the electric chair (at Auburn State Prison in New York)...

1926] Gertrude Ederle becomes the 1st American woman to swim the English Channel. The 19-year old does the swim in 14 1/2 hours...

1945] The Enola Gay, an American B-29 bomber drops the 1st atomic bomb. The bomb named "Little Boy" is dropped over the center of Hiroshima, Japan. An estimated 140,000 people are killed (the enormity of it all still is staggering)...

1960] A monumental day on "American Bandstand" as Chubby Checker lip-synchs "The Twist" and a new dance sensation is born...

1965] President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the "Voting Rights Act" giving every American the right to vote (with no exceptions) by law...

1970] Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Steppenwolf and Johnny Winters perform in an anti-war festival at Shea Stadium...

1973] Stevie Wonder is seriously injured in a car accident, slipping into a 4-day coma before recovering (Stevie was not driving)...

1986] William J. Schroeder dies after living 620 days with the Jarvik-7 man-made heart. He was the world's longest surviving recipient of a permanent artificial heart. Schroeder was 54...

1989] The Red Sox retire Carl Yastrzemski's #8 uniform number at Fenway Park (to this day, his 1967 "Triple Crown" season was the greatest performance of any player I've ever seen)...

1997] Apple Computer and Microsoft agree to share technology in a deal giving Microsoft a stake in Apple's survival (say what you will about Bill Gates but he's a mensch)...

Released on this date: 1965] The LP "Help!" - Beatles...

Person we lost today: 1991] "60 Minutes" mainstay Harry Reasoner, from a blood clot in his brain, at 68 in Westport (CT)...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple references are used in the timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Soleil ("Punky Brewster") Moon (30), "Ginger Spice" Geri Halliwell (34), M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense", "The Village", "Lady in the Water") (36), David (The Admiral) Robinson (41) and the wacky dentist on "Bob Newhart" Peter Bonerz (68)...

[Timeline countdown:30 days until Labor Day, 34 days until NFL kickoff, 59 days until MLB playoffs and 147 days remaining in 2006]

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Thursday, August 3, 2006

Mary Lou Retton, an "Olympian for the ages"...

Speaking of ages, Mary Lou was only 16 when she scored a perfect 10, becoming the first American gymnast, male or female, to win a gold medal. The scene was the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The date was August 3rd, 1984 and Mary Lou Retton had only one thought on her mind as she approached the vault: "I was thinking, 'stick, stick'. I like the added pressure, it makes me fight harder". "Stick it" is a term that means landing after a flip as if you had a foot-long spike on the sole of each foot. Kind of like walking a few miles on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan in 100 degree heat but you don't win a gold medal for that. One backward somersault in a laid-out position with a full 360 degree twist later and Mary Lou had her perfect 10. Mary Lou performed her heroic act despite an arthritic knee that was operated on just two months earlier...

The tiny athlete with the big smile would become an overnight sensation with her perfect 10 and would grace the cover of every major magazine in America. Her face was on a Wheaties box and she would charm TV audiences with her appearances and become America's sweetheart. This was a feel-good, perfect 10 as a sports story. No steroid scandals, no attitude, no controversary, no arrogrance and for once Wheaties had a true champion to go along with their "breakfast of champions"...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1933] Walt Disney, approached by a manufacturer who wanted to base some toys on the Mickey Mouse character, takes him up on the offer and the first Mickey Mouse Watch is born. The watch is introduced at a department store in Chicago. It sold for a dollar. Thousands of these watches were sold in the 30's and this provided Disney the dividends he needed to stay in business until the release of his first feature film - "Snow White", released toward the end of the decade...

1949] The Basketball Association of America (BAA) merges with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA with the following franchises: Boston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (later the Atlanta Hawks)...

1956] The name of the island housing the Statue of Liberty is changed from Bedloe's Island to Liberty Island...

1963] The Beatles make their final appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool almost 2 years to the date (Aug. 2, 1961) they started there...

1966] Controversial (but brilliant) comic Lenny Bruce is found dead at 40 in the bathroom of his Hollywood Hills home. Official cause of death: acute morphine poisoning caused by an accidental overdose. (Although I never saw Lenny Bruce perform, I'll never forget the album, recorded at a live performance that I had on United Artists. I had never heard comedy like that before. The guy was truly brilliant in his own wacky, tormented way.)...

1971] Paul McCartney announces the formation of his new band - Wings...

1975] After seeing the Astrodome in Houston, Louisiana Governor John J. McKeithen says "I want one of these, only bigger". He gets one. The Superdome opens on August 3rd, 1975. The renovated (following Katrina) in-door arena expects to reopen for a Saints game on September 25th...

1981] The PATCO traffic controllers union pulls its trafic controllers out on strike. After being warned they would be replaced, they are as President Ronald Reagan says "See ya, see ya. Wouldn't want to be ya"...

2001] A grand jury indicts "Soprano's" actor Robert Iler on charges that he and two teen-aged pals robbed 2 other teen-aged boys (in this neighborhood just a few blocks from here) of $40 (I hope his father, Tony, knocked the crap out of him and grounded him)...

2004] The Statue of Liberty reopens to the public for the first time since 911...

Released on this date...1963] "Surfer Girl" - Beach Boys..."Hello Muddah, Hello Fadda" - Allan Sherman...

Recorded on this date...1966] "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby" - Rolling Stones...

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

Commentary...

Word out of Corpus Christi is that Freddy ("Before The Next Teardrop Falls") Fender has incurable cancer and his wife, Vangie Huerta says "we are hoping for a miracle". We are as well. The singer with 3 Grammy Awards is resting at home and does not want to know how long doctors give him: "I'm one year away from 70 and I've had a good run. I really believe I'm OK. In my mind and in my heart, I feel OK. I cannot complain that I haven't lived long enough but I'd like to live longer". Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with you Freddy...

August 3rd Birthdays...

Tom Brady (29), Jay ("Dennis the Menace") North (55), Martha Stewart (65), Beverly Lee (who owns the "Shirelles" trademark) (65), Martin Sheen (66), Tony Bennett (80) NFL Football Hall of Famer and current Buffalo guru Marv Levy (81) and the Jordanaires' Gordon Stoker (82)...

[Timeline countdown: 33 days until Labor Day, 37 days until NFL kickoff, 62 days until MLB playoffs and 150 days remaining in 2006]

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006

"I always said that New Yorkers got Thurman. They understood him" - Diana Munson...

The tragic plane crash that occurred 27 years ago today taking the life of Yankee catcher Thurman Munson, left his wife Diana a widow at 31. It also left behind Tracy Lynn, Kelly and Michael Munson, the three children of Thurman and Diana. New Yorkers were stunned when they heard about it, I know I was when my son Robert called with the news. I mean Thurman was only 32, too young to die. He was also the heart and soul of that Yankee team. That's why they made him captain...

Munson was piloting his own jet, practicing take-offs and landings near his home in Canton (OH) during an off-day for the Yankees, when he crashed. Trapped in the plane and unable to get out he would die as the plane caught fire. Lou Piniella did an article for the New York Post the following day, paying tribute to Thurman: "People sometimes get the wrong impression of Thurman, that he was grumpy, that he was a tough guy. He wasn't like that at all. To me he was friendly, witty, charming, a real good friend. We were teammates since 1974. He was my closest friend on the team". Diana recalls her favorite memory of Thurman on the field: "It was running from first to third, chugging along with that body"...

The Yankees retired Munson's number 15 uniform and have a memorial plaque in centerfield at Yankee Stadium for their captain. His locker remains empty, serving as a small, silent tribute to the fallen catcher. Two years ago 30-year old Michael Munson proposed to his girlfriend, kneeling down in front of his dad's plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. It was on the 25th anniversary of his father's death...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1824] Manhattan's Fifth Avenue is opened (is there a more famous street in the world ?)...

1876] "Wild Bill" Hickock is killed when he's shot from behind while playing poker in Deadwood (SD). Jack McCall was later hanged for the shooting (Ya gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em)...

1921] A jury in Chicago acquits several former members of the Chicago White Sox (referred to as the Black Sox) and two others of conspiring to defraud the public by throwing the World Series...

1943] PT-109, commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy, sinks after being sheared in two by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands. Kennedy is credited with saving members of the crew...

1961] The Beatles begin their engagement as regular headliners at Liverpool's Cavern Club. They performed about 300 shows over the next 2 years...

1962] Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan...

1987] "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is re-released (the film is 50 years old at the time of its re-release)...

1990] Iraq invades the oil-rich country of Kuwait. Iraq claims that Kuwait had driven the price of oil down by exceeding production quotas set by OPEC (as good a reason as any to invade right ?)...

1992] Under a hot, blistering sun (sound familiar ?), "The Franchise", George Thomas Seaver of the Mets, enters the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown (NY) with the highest percentage (98.84%) of votes in history...

2000] Republicans nominate Texas Governor George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice president...

#1 on this date: 1960] "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Brian Hyland...1971] "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" - Bee Gees...1981] "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield...

Wedding Bells...1992] Kevin Bacon's relationship with Kyra Sedgwick sizzles (sorry but I had to use that) as the couple exchange marriage vows, putting only 1-degree of separation between Kyra and Kevin...

In Memory...2005] It's hard to believe but the legendary Rock writer (and introducer of the Beatles to Bob Dylan) Al Aronowitz passed away one year ago on August 1st...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Pete Sampras (35), Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (40), SNL former dizzy blonde Victoria Jackson (47), Butch (Eddie Munster) Patrick (53), Infamous O.J. judge Lance Ito (56), Joanna Cassidy (61), Kathy Lennon (63), Hollywood Director Wes Craven (67), The Band's Garth Hudson (69) and Peter O'Toole (74)...

[Timeline countdown: 34 days until Labor Day, 38 days until NFL kickoff, 63 days until MLB playoffs and 151 days remaining in 2006]

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006

MTV downplays 25th birthday...

You would too if you're now older than much of your target demographic which is basically the cradle to puberty. A 19-year old when MTV debuted in 1981 is now 44 - oops. Even a 12-year old skirts the network's prized demographic at 37. At 12:01 a.m. August 1st, 1981 MTV debuted with "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles and while "Music Television" (sound familiar, WABC MusicRadio fans ?) didn't kill radio, it was a major influence in breaking acts and selling music...

MTV even had disc jockeys who were called veejays. Sirius Satellite Radio will be featuring original veejays Nina Blackwood, Mark "Noodles" Goodman, Alan Hunter and Martha Quinn as they mark MTV's anniversary today at 10 a.m. on their '80s channel. Veejay J.J. Jackson died of a heart attack at 62 in 2004. Digital sister cable network (of MTV) VH1 Classic will also pay tribute to the anniversary but not MTV... I recommend reading David Hinckley's Radio column in today's New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/439615p-370363c) for more on MTV and it's effect on radio. Regular blog reader Sean Ross of Edison Media Research offers his views... Ten Timeline Memories... 1790] The 1st U.S. census shows a population of nearly 4 million people (3.9 million lived in New York)... 1960] Chubby Checker releases "The Twist" (the Chubster's version will top the charts for one week on September 19th. Two years later, when it's re-released, it tops the charts again on January 13th, 1962 for 2 weeks)... 1966] Charles Joseph Whitman, 25, climbs the University of Texas 27-story tower and starts shooting. Whitman will kill 15 and wound 31 before he was gunned down by police in Austin... 1969] 110,000 attend the 3-day Atlantic City Pop Festival at AC Race Course. How's this for a star-studded lineup: Janis Joplin, CSNY, Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, the Moody Blues, 3 Dog Night, Canned Heat and others... 1971] Speaking of lineups, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Badfinger and more, appear at "The Concert for Bangladesh" at Madison Square Garden... 1971] "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" debuts as a summer replacement but will become part of CBS-TV's regular lineup and last until 1974 when 1 show becomes 2 (with Sonny and Cher hosting separate shows)... 1973] The war between Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk begins in a wild free-for-all after a collision at home plate in a Yankee-Red Sox game. There will be more between the 2 but this decision went to Munson (he landed more punches)... 1973] Where were you in '62 ? Better yet - where were you on August 1, 1973 when "American Graffiti" premiered ? The movie makes stars of Harrison Ford and Richard Dreyfuss, enhances the careers of Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Wolfman Jack and Suzanne Somers debuted as "the blonde in the Thunderbird". The soundtrack included "Little Darlin", "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and other classics... 1978] Pete Rose's 44-game hitting streak ends as he's held hitless in 4 at-bats. He ties the National League record set by Wee Willie Keeler... 1995] Westinghouse buys CBS for $5.4 billion (ya wanna talk about confusion, wait till Infinity gets involved)... Wedding Bells... 1986] John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal touch gloves in the ring (divorced in 1992, the couple have 3 children together)...1994] Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie announce they were married 11 weeks earlier in the Dominican Republic (Somewhere Elvis spins like a Whirling Dervish)... Deaths... 2001] Vikings Pro Bowl tackle, Korey Stringer dies of a heat stroke at training camp. Stringer was 27... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... Commentary... David Hinckley mentions that CBS AM and FM and other CBS stations have sold a few recent hours to Boston-based TD Banknorth as a sole sponsor. This is what Sirius and XM needs to do to survive. Running a billboard once an hour will help defray talent expenses and will not be an intrusion to their listeners. I belive both satellite networks have begun to do this... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday"... Tempestt (with the double "T") Bledsoe (33), North Carolina coach Roy Williams (56), Former NY Senator Alfonse D'Amato (69), Yves Saint Laurent (70), Dom DeLuise (73), "Ziggy" cartoonist Tom Wilson (75) and Geoffrey Holder (76)... [Timeline countdown: 35 days remain until Labor Day, 39 days until NFL kickoff, 64 days until MLB playoffs and 152 days remain in 2006] ...

Monday, July 31, 2006

The heat is on...

Proving the old adage, "politics make strange bedfellows" George McGovern chose Thomas Eagleton as his running mate in his quest for the presidency in 1972 despite Eagleton's mental health problems. I mean, no one accused Eagleton of being as nutty as, say, a fruitcake or even an O'Henry bar but McGovern's running mate nevertheless had seen a shrink or two. With this knowledge in hand, Eagleton was forced to withdraw from the race and Kennedy in-law, Sargent Shriver replaced him. Frankly, I really think that listening to McGovern's impersonation of Liberace every day on the campaign trail would have done him in anyway. The date was July 31, 1972...

Let's flash ahead to July 31, 2006, which happens to be today and in a totally unrelated way present to you (thanks to those of you who supplied us with your picks) our "Hate Parade" list. Because of the names you've provided, the list has grown to a top 10 list which we will continue to update:

1) Barry Bonds (01) 65% polled by the New York Daily News want the government to continue to investigate Bonds for steroid usage...

2) Alex Rodriguez (02) A-Rod stays in the top 5 unless the Yankees win the world series...

3) Terrell Owens (05) Up 2 notches from #5 because training camp has started. Let's see how long the love-fest lasts between Bill Parcells and the most famous initials in America...

4) Floyd Landis (--) Debuts on our HP list. 62.5% believe the testosterone results in an ESPN poll...

5) Tiger Woods (03) Tiger drops 2 positions for winning the British Open and not whining and for winning one for dad...

6) Lance Armstrong (04) Drops 2 positions even though he backs Landis. 71.8% don't believe the allegations against Lance in an ESPN poll...

7) Jose Canseco (--) He should have been on the original list. How could I forget him ?

8) Mike Tyson (--) Ditto...

9) Ron Artest (--) Ditto #2...

10) Pete Rose (--) Back in the spotlight after another Hall of Fame induction - something he'll never see...

Bumbling under: Venus and Serena Williams, Latrell Sprewell, Kobe Bryant, Charles Barkley, Rafael Palmeiro and Reggie Jackson...

For your future votes: No deceased people or folks who have been out of the spotlight and not likely to return to it, will be used...Thank you for voting and when you exit the ballpark, drive home safely...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1928] MGM's Leo the lion roars for the 1st time when he's introduced to the big screen for "White Shadows on the South Seas" (Leo was more famous than anyone in the movie)...

1948] President Harry S. Truman helps dedicate Idlewild International Airport (later changed to JFK) with N.Y. Governor (and his upcoming opponent in the Presidential election) Thomas Dewey and Mayor William O'Dwyer in attendance. There was coverage on both radio & TV...

1964] The American space probe, Ranger 7 transmits pictures of the moon's surface back to earth...

1964] Country singer Jim Reeves dies when the single-engine Beechcraft that 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...

1968] The Beatles recording of "Hey Jude" is completed at Trident Studios in London...

1976] The U.S. picks up 5 gold medals in boxing at the Montreal Olympics. Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael and Leon Spinks, Howard Davis and Leo Randolph are the winners (Sugar Ray, Michael and Leon Spinks will make their mark in professional boxing)...

1979] James Taylor plays a free concert in Central Park to help the city's campaign to restore the park's Sheep Meadow...

1981] The 7-week baseball players strike comes to an end when the players and owners agree on the issue of free agent compensation...

1990] Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games as his Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3...

1995] The Walt Disney Company agrees to buy Capital Cities-ABC Inc. for $19 billion (the rich get richer)...

Released on this date: 1976] "Still The One" - Orleans..."Don't Fear The Reaper" - Blue Oyster Cult...

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

"E-mails"...

Got a nice note from the "Morning Mayor" of New York City, Harry Harrison who's enjoying life. Harry's note pad includes his signature, "Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift"...We miss you Harry...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Dean Cain (40), J.K. Rowling (41), Wesley Snipes (44), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (55), Gary Lewis (60), William Weld (61), Sherry Lansing (62), Geraldine Chaplin (62), Ahmet Ertegun (83)...

[Timeline countdown: 36 days until Labor Day, 40 days until NFL kickoff, 65 days until MLB playoffs and 153 days remaining in 2006]

...

Friday-Sunday, July 28-30, 2006

The money keeps rolling in beyond the grave...

Benjamin Franklin would have amended his most famous line if he were alive today to "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes but the money doesn't stop after death". Ask Robert FX Sillerman (what the devil does FX stand for ?) who smiles every time an Elvis record goes to #1 in England and with every velvet matted portrait of The King sold. Sillerman owns the Elvis Presley estate legally, at the request of Lisa Marie Presley, who will never need a hit single to get rich. But what about the people who made money off of Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and many countless others illegally? They would pay for it by getting smacked with law suits by the heirs of these legendary comedians. July 28th marks the anniversary of 2 such famous cases...

In 1987 you might say The Beatles and Yoko Ono were fit to be tied. On July 28th, the remaining members of the Fab Four and John Lennon's wife, sued Nike from using "Revolution" in one of their sneaker ads. While no official record of the conclusion of this lawsuit was made public you can be sure that a hefty out-of-court payment to the litigants was made. On the same July 28th date in 1995 a settlement returned the rights to Jimi Hendrix's estate to his father. The ruling included all unmastered tapes, concert recordings, photographs and other personal possessions...

There also have been suits brought involving the legal use of group names in recent years by artists suing for the right to use those names as is the case with The Doors, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Shangri-las, Marvelettes, Drifters, Platters and Creedence Clearwater Revival. It is common today to see an act with some ridiculous name like, oh I don't know - Sammy & the guys who sang along at home with all the hits of the Songbirds who sounded exactly like the Drifters. It could happen...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1945] 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...

1957] Jerry Lee Lewis makes his TV debut on "The Steve Allen Show". "The Killer" sings "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (which would not, in any way, hurt record sales)...

1973] Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett tie the knot (and in time will tie each other's neck in a knot). The couple (of what ?) would separate in 1979 in an "on-again, off-again" relationship (which will only be matched by Farrah and Ryan O'Neal)...

1973] A throng of 600,000 gathers at Watkins Glen (NY) for "The Summer Jam" festival starring the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead (I can smell it now)...

1978] 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)...

1991/1994] Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers pitches a perfect game against California, 4-0. Three years to the date in 1994, the next perfect game is pitched by Montreal's Dennis Martinez against the Dodgers...

1995] 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. We just had a similar ruling yesterday for Andrea Yates who drowned her 5 kids (have mercy)...

1999] 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" (if Kathie Lee walked into the receptionist at the show, he/she would ask: "and you arrrrreeee ?")...

2004] 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)...

#1 on this date: 1956] "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" - Elvis Presley...

Released on this date: 1973] "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk Railroad...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Sally (Gloria Stivic on "All In The Family") Struthers (58), Georgia (Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") Engel (58), Jonathan ("Sunshine") Edwards (60), "Garfield" cartoonist Jim Davis (61), Bill Bradley (63)...

[Timeline countdown: 39 days until Labor Day, 43 days until NFL kickoff, 68 days until MLB playoffs and 156 days remaining in 2006]

...

Saturday, July 29, 2006...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1957] Jack Paar becomes the new host of the "Tonight Show". Paar will host until 1962 and the arrival of Johnny Carson...

1961] Dick Clark premieres his "Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" stage show. First stop: 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...

1966] 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...

1974] 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)...

1981] 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)...

1987] Ben & Jerry introduce a new flavor in honor of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia: "Cherry Garcia" (their #1 best-selling flavor in 2006. Many assume that they created the flavor after Garcia died...not true)...

1989] 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 Sousa" and then corrected it to "Sammy Soosa")...

1993] The Israeli Supreme Court acquits retired Ohio autoworker John ("Ivan the terrible") Demjanjuk as a Nazi death camp guard but then throws out the death sentence...(Why ???)...

1998] Miramax buys the rights to the Beatles film, "A Hard Day's Night"...

2003] 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...

Recorded on this date: 1959] "Shout" - Isley Brothers...

Released on this date: 1978] "Whenever I Call You Friend" - Kenny Loggins/Stevie Nicks...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Martina McBride (40), Patti Scialfa Springsteen (50), Ken Burns (53), Gary Busey (62), Senator Elizabeth Dole (70), Robert Horton (82)...

[Timeline countdown: 38 days until Labor Day, 42 days until NFL kickoff, 67 days until MLB playoffs and 155 days remaining in 2006]

...

Sunday, July 30, 2006...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1942] FDR signs a bill creating a women's auxiliary agency in the Navy a.k.a. Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services but you can call it The WAVES...

1956] By order of Congress and approved by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, "In God We Trust" becomes our national motto...

1960] In the 1st American Football League (AFL) pre-season game, the Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 28-7...

1965] President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law, the Social Security Act, establishing Medicare and Medicaid...

1970] The Rolling Stones fire Allen Klein as their business manager...

1975] Former Teamster union president Jimmy Hoffa disappears in suburban Detroit. Although presumed dead, his remains have never been found (which includes a recent attempt to find them)...

1990] George Steinbrenner, principal owner of the Yankees is ordered (by the commissioner) to resign for hiring a private detective (Howie Spira) to spy on outfielder Dave Winfield. Although banned for life, he is reinstated in 1993...

1998] Buffalo Bob Smith, Howdy Doody's daddy, dies of lung cancer at 80 (I had a picture taken with him and Howdy when they visited CBS-FM shortly before his death and he looked like the picture of health)...

2000] Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walk down the aisle (you know the rest). They were divorced in 2005...

2003] Sun Records founder Sam Phillips (no relation but I did meet him) who discovered Elvis Presley, dies of respiratory failure in Memphis at 80...

#1 on this date: 1966] "Yesterday...and Today" LP - Beatles...

Released on this date: 1971] "Bangledesh" - George Harrison...

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

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Jaime Pressley (My Name is Earl") (29), Lisa Kudrow (43), Laurence Fishburne (45), Anita Hill (50), Delta Burke (50), Cahleeforneeuh Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (59), Paul Anka (65), Peter Bogdanovich (67), Edd "Kookie" Byrnes (73)...

[Timeline countdown: 37 days until Labor Day, 41 days until NFL kickoff, 66 days until MLB playoffs and 154 days remaining in 2006]

...

Thursday, July 27, 2006

John Lennon has a home...

Three years and four months earlier, U.S. immigration ordered the former Beatle to pack his bags and head back to Liverpool. He was no longer wanted on these U.S.A. shores. It would've been no surprise for John to answer his door and find luggage and a one-way plane ticket wrapped up in a tidy union jack bow. Heavy support from the record and radio business, supported by lots of telegrams and letters (no cell phones or e-mails yet) to the White House may have swayed Richard Nixon to ask immigration to back off. I mean, even Howard Cosell campaigned for John, though there were those who were willing to swap Lennon for Cosell - even up. John Lennon was granted permanent residency in the U.S. on this date in 1976...

Now it's well documented that Lennon mis-used drugs, something not to be condoned but the greater good he contributed to society, far out-weighed his self-abuse. He did not deserve to be deported. He would remain in the land he adopted, the land that he loved - America, until that fateful day in 1980...

Lots of people were part of the cause that kept John Lennon in America. In my commentary you'll read about the Beatle promotion man who played a major part in that cause...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1940] 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...

1959] 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...

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)...

1965] The Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was signed into law. The law requires health warnings on all cigarette packages...

1976] Tina Turner files for divorce from Ike Turner (Tina, what took you so long ?)...

1986] Greg Lemond is the 1st American to win Tour de France (guess who was the second American 7 times in a row ?)...

1992] Tragedy strikes the Celtics when Reggie Lewis dies after collapsing on a Brandeis University basketball court during practice. He was 27 years old...

1996] 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...

2003] Lance Armstrong becomes the 2nd cyclist in history to win the Tour de France 5 times in a row (he goes on to capture 7 in a row after his victory in 2005)...

2003] Legendary comedian Bob Hope dies at the age of 100...

Released on this date: 1959] "Sleepwalk" - Santo and Johnny...1974] "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd...

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

Commentary...

Beatle promotion man Pete Bennett was the biggest influence at radio stations in the successful effort to keep John Lennon in America. Not only did Pete know every major radio station program director, he had ties at the White House, as well. Pete came to Boston for a front page story in Rolling Stone titled "A Day In The Life of a Beatle Promotion Man". Most of the interview took place in a Boston seafood restaurant which I attended with Pete and the writer from Rolling Stone. This article is on Pete's website at: www.petebennett.com. This is an interesting article that's worth reading...

Thanks to Joe McCoy for alerting me to this item: Veteran radio programmer Mike Phillips has serious health problems and has asked those who know him to pray for him. He has moved in with his brother in Portland (OR) and I have his e-mail address for those who know Mike. You may e-mail me for it...

July 27th birthdays:

The much-maligned Alex Rodriguez (31), Maya Rudolph (daughter of Minnie Riperton) of "Saturday Night Live" (34), Maureen McGovern (57), Peggy Fleming (58), Bobbie Gentry (62), Jerry Van Dyke (75), Harvey (of The Moonglows) Fuqua (77) and Norman Lear (84)...

[ Timeline Countdown: 40 days until Labor Day, 44 days until NFL kickoff, 69 days until MLB playoffs and 157 days left in the year]

...

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

"I started with the idea 'Hey Jules', which was Julian, 'don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better" - Paul McCartney...

The song, of couse was "Hey Jude", one of the most enduring of all Beatle hits. Julian Lennon didn't know that the song was written for him until 20 or so years later. "Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit, more than dad and I did". The song was completed at Paul's home with finishing touches by John Lennon on July 26th, 1968...

"Hey Jude" was recorded at Trident Studios in London on July 31st. Released in the U.S. on August 26th, the single entered the charts on September 14th and went to #1 two weeks later for a period of 9 weeks. It was the longest number of weeks at #1 for any Beatles single. The original version was over 7 minutes but an edit was made for radio...

"Hey Jude" has become Paul McCartney's signature song and he closes every show with it. The song will go down as one of the all-time top 3 "Battle of the Bands" tunes in the history of radio. At WRKO it was usually in this order: 1) "Hey Jude", 2) "A Day In The Life" and 3) "Colour My World". Enduring ? You bet. Our children's, children's children will know the song...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1775] A postal system is established by the 2nd Continental Congress. The 1st Postmaster General is Benjamin Franklin...

1908] Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issues an order creating an investigative agency that will become the FBI...

1948] Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time, attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story" in Manhattan...

1953] Fidel Castro begins his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba (Castro eventually ousts Batista 6 years later)...

1981] New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on food at a Chinese restaurant. It saved his life (this is one time he will not ask "How'm I doin")...

1984] Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession (Blue explained that he thought it was talcum powder)...

1984] Prince's movie "Purple Rain" premieres in Hollywood (I would've loved to see the people at that opening)...

1987] Inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame: Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge (from the Negro Leagues)...

1992] Mary Wells, Motown's 1st Diva, dies of cancer of the larynx, diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49...

1997] Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula are inducted into the football Hall of Fame in Canton (OH)...

Released on this date: 1963] "Mickey's Monkey" - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, 1969] "Beggar's Banquet" LP - Rolling Stones...

#1 on this date: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan...

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

Commentary...

Thanks for your response to my request for your own "Hate Parade" top 5. Once all the votes are in I'll post your all-time top 10 list. Stand by for that next week...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Kate Beckinsale (33), Jeremy Piven (41), Sandra Bullock (42), Kevin Spacey (47). Dorothy Hamill (50), Mick Jagger (63), Dobie Gray (64), Brenton Wood (65), Darlene Love (65) and Blake Edwards (84)...

[timeline dateline: 41 days until Labor Day, 45 days until the NFL kickoff, 70 days until the MLB playoffs and 158 days left in 2006]

...

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

July 25th - Another day at the office for Lance Armstrong...

Everyone has a lucky day. For most of us it's a day of the week like Friday. It's the end of the week and for most and most importantly, it's pay day. Lance Armstrong has a favorite date - July 25th. The day of the week doesn't matter as long as it falls in July and is on the 25th. Case in point - July 25, 1999. That's the year the cancer surviving Texan won his 1st Tour de France. Same date, different year (2004) Armstrong outdistanced the field on the steepest portions of the course to win his 6th consecutive Tour. Last year was an aberration. He won his 7th consecutive race on July 24th, 2005...

This year Armstrong tutored winner Floyd Landis and is still celebrating. As he puts it: "I'm glad that a guy who came through our program has won. We can take a small bit of credit for helping develop Floyd". Now you can take that quote a couple of different ways. Lance is happy for Landis' success or he's taking a bow for his victory. Armstrong, who has his detractors is often taken the wrong way. To have survived the cancer that had spread through his body is beyond heroic. Not many people could survive what he went through. That is a given. But (and isn't there always a but ?) there's a whole bunch of questions people have about whether or not Lance has taken any performance enhancing drugs (although he's never failed a drug test). Then there's leaving his wife and kids for Sheryl Crow and then finally, questions linger about why he's no longer with Crow...

The controversy surrounding Lance Armstrong has given me an idea. Lance is one of several athletes who has to be included in what I will call my Hate Parade list. These athletes are known by not only sports fans - but those who don't know the difference between a grand slam and a touchdown. It's a list of athletes that are either loved or hated or whose motives and demeanor are mostly questioned and in many cases, maligned. All of these athletes are lightning rods for controversy. They are magnets for those who blame them for everything, from starvation in Uganda to the war in Iraq and perhaps even for the poor folks in Queens who still are power-less. So here we go with my 1st Hate Parade top 5:

5) Terrell Owens

T.O. has quickly outlived his welcomed wherever he's played. Now he's Big Tuna's problem. Once the NFL season begins he will be moving up this list... 4) Lance Armstrong The answer my friend is not "Blowin' in the Wind". It's in my feature story... 3) Tiger Woods It doesn't matter what he does or does not achieve, he will stay on this list forever... 2) Alex Rodriguez Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani has thrown his hat in the ring. Not for the Presidency but behind A-Rod. He's told Yankee fans to lay off the booing. Like Tiger, he will stay on this list forever and will surely be #1 before the end of the baseball season. By the way, A-Rod is now comparing himself to Tiger Woods. Like Tiger, it doesn't matter what he does or does not achieve. I mean he could be the league MVP, pick up his 2,000th hit at 30 or hit 450 home runs and he would still be booed. Oh wait, he has done all of those things... 1) And.....#1 on my Hate Parade Top 5 list...(tymp roll and under) Who else ? Barry Bonds If you don't know why he's #1 now...you never will...Your own HP-Top 5's are welcome... Ten Timeline Memories... 1871] The Carousel is patented by Wilhelm Schneider of Davenport, Iowa... 1946] Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis make their debut as an act at Club 500 in Atlantic City (as you read yesterday, they broke up one day earlier (July 24) 10 years later)... 1952] Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S... 1956] The Stockholm collides with the Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket. 1,660 survive but 51 (including the crew) are lost at sea (the ship lies in over 200 feet of water, 45 miles south of Nantucket yet divers continue to brave the depth and sharks to salvage valuables that still remain)... 1965] Bob Dylan goes electric and gets booed doing his 1st non-acoustic set (behind the Paul Butterfield Blues Band) at the Newport Jazz Festival. The song Dylan sang was "Maggie's Farm"... 1966] Casey Stengel is inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. Also at the Cooperstown ceremony was the great Ted Williams, inducted on the same day... 1969] With Neil Young now a member, he and Crosby, Stills and Nash make their debut at the Fillmore East in Manhattan... 1978] One day after Billy Martin's "one is a born liar (Reggie Jackson), the other (George Steinbrenner) a convict" speech, he's replaced as Yankee manager by Bob Lemon (what took so long ?)... 1978] Louise Joy Brown, the 1st test-tube baby is born in England (Louise is a postal worker who is happily married with a 6 month-old daughter who was born naturally and lives in Bristol, England)... 1990] Rosanne Barr gets booed off the field in San Diego for her screeching and totally tacky (cleverly acting like a baseball player, she spits on the field and grabs her crotch) version of the National Anthem (she would not be invited back)... Released on this date: 1966] "You Can't Hurry Love" - The Supremes 1970] "25 or 6 to 4" - Chicago 1971] "Surf's Up" LP - The Beach Boys [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... Still "Twistin'"... Paul Power adds: "I bought that 45 (Hank Ballad's "The Twist" (and still have it on King) back, I believe in '58 or '59. It was originally the "B" side of "Teardrops On Your Letter", a ballad that charted big R&B but not pop. I also remember Don Parker playing it on WMEX and always liked it better. I think Bob Sherwood was right about hearing it pre-1960)... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday"... Mets relief pitcher Billy Wagner (35), Matt LeBlanc ("Joey") (39), Iman (51), Earth, Wind and Fire's Verdine White (55), Estelle ("Golden Girls") Getty (82)... "Timeline Countdown": 42 days until Labor Day, 46 days until NFL kickoff, 71 days until MLB playoffs and 159 days remaining in 2006. ...

Monday, July 24, 2006

The Pine Tar game - July 24, 1983...

If you weren't watching this game on TV or in person as I and 16-year Robert Phillips a.k.a. my son, were, then there is no way you could explain it to anyone, but I'll try. KC's George Brett had done what he always did when facing Goose Gossage - hit a home run. This gave the Royals a 5-4 lead in the 9th inning. After Brett crosses the plate, Yankee manager Billy Martin comes on the field for a pow-wow with the umpires at home plate. Martin points to Brett's bat and home plate umpire Tim McClelland examines it and gives the bat and Brett a thumbs-up gesture which did not indicate a good movie review. It did indicate that Brett was out, his home run erased. What followed next was pure theater...

George Brett came charging out of the KC dugout hoping to aply some pine tar to McClelland's neck with his bare hands. He would have had he not been restrained by his coaches and the other umpires who had to fear for their own lives as well. In all my years of watching games I have never seen a player get thisclose to killing an umpire. The score reverted back to what it was (4-3 Yankees), minus Brett's 2-run home run and the game was completed after the Royals 3rd and final out of the 9th inning or was it ???

Brett's bat had so much pine tar on it that if someone shook a pillow out of one of the Bronx tenement windows surrounding Yankee Stadium, Brett's gender would have been seriously challenged. Not only would his home run have been disallowed, he would've been arrested for impersonating Phyllis Diller. His home run was taken away because the bat handle exceeded the legal amount of pine tar (17") but AL President Lee MacPhail overruled the umpires saying the rule needed to be rewritten and clarified. The home run stands and the game was resumed from that point (5-4 KC with 2 outs in the Royals half of the 9th inning) on August 18th...

The conclusion of the game on August 18th was played in just 12 minutes and was witnessed by 1,245 as in one thousand, two-hundred and forty-five in a cavernous and empty Yankee Stadium. The final score stayed at 5-4 in Kansas City's favor. It was the only game played that day and the game ended as oddly as it left off with lefty Don Mattingly playing second base and pitcher Ron Guidry in center field. Can you imagine Desi asking Lucy to 'splain this game to him ???

Ten Timeline Memories...

1847] Richard M. Hoe patents the rotary-type printing press (and not a minute too soon)...

1956] Following a performance at the Copacabana, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis split up after a partnership that began 10 years earlier on July 25th, 1946. Their 1st appearance as a team was at Atlantic City's infamous 500 Club...

1965] At the age of 75 and nursing a broken hip, Casey Stengel calls it quits as manager of the New York Mets...

1969] The Apollo 11 astronauts (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins) splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean after their historic walk on the moon...

1974] The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules that Richard Nixon must turn over subpoenaed White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor...

1978] The movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" premieres in New York City...

1978] A tearful Billy Martin gives his famous "One is a born liar, the other, a convict" speech. The "Liar" was Reggie Jackson, the "convict" - George Steinbrenner. With that statement made, Billy Martin "retires" as Yankee manager...

1987] "La Bamba", the movie biography of Richie Valens premieres...

1995] Frank Sinatra celebrates his 80th year with 3 nights at Carnegie Hall...

2003] The U.S. releases pictures of Odai and Qusai Hussein to prove that they now sleep with the fishes...

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

E-mails, we get e-mails. We get lots and lots of e-mails...

Corinne Baldassano, Senior VP, Programming & Marketing of "The Dr. Laura Program" remembers being at the July 21st, 1983 Diana Ross downpour performance at Central Park: "I distinctly remember all of the celebrities scrambling for cover and I think we all dodged under one tent. What I do remember is as I was wringing out the clothes that were still on me, I realized I was standing next to a very drenched Calvin Klein, who did not look terribly fashionable in his rain-soaked garb. I was just glad to get home, turn on the TV and see what was going on that I didn't see first-hand"...

Bob Sherwood who thought he remembered hearing "The Twist" by Hank Ballard prior to it's release in 1960, tracked down the answer to that by going to Tom Noonan, Dave Williams and Barry Salberg (who supplied a music survey from KWBR, circa 1959) for the information. Follow along folks. Tommy who did the Billboard charts from 1954 to 1965, comments: "The Twist" might have been released prior to debuting on the pop chart on 7/18/60 and while it had gotten a lot of R&B airplay, I doubt it happened in 1958 (as Sherwood believed). Hank Ballad's "The Twist" made it to peak position 24 and was on the (pop) chart for 16 weeks". Sherwood noticed on the KWBR music survey, a jock by the name of Big Don Barksdale who was not only a jock but played for the Boston Celtics and became the 1st black player to make the NBA All-Star Game in 1953. Barksdale died in 1993. Thanks for all the good information Bob...

And thanks to an alum of WRKO, Frank Santos for the kind words. Frank, as long as you keep reading - I'll keep writing...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Kristin Chenoweth (36), Jennifer Lopez (37), Barry Bonds (42), "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter (55), Michael ("Kramer") Richards (57), Dan Hedaya (66) and Ruth Buzzi (70)...

"Happy Trails"...

Character actor Jack Warden who had been suffering from medical problems, at 85. Warden appeared in "Shampoo", "Heaven Can Wait", "Brian's Song" and "Twelve Angry Men" and had a prolific TV career in the 60's...

Timeline Countown: 43 days until Labor Day, 47 days until the NFL kickoff, 72 days until the MLB playoffs and 160 days left in 2006...

...

Friday-Sunday, July 21-23, 2006

Don't Rain On My Parade...

Our headline is the title of the song that Diana Ross should have been singing on the night of July 21st, 1983 when the heavens opened up on Central Park. There stood Diana, soaking wet but still managing to perform some of her classic Motown hits during the torrential summer rains that drenched her and those brave enough to weather her free concert. After 40 minutes the show was cancelled as over a quarter of a million fans rushed for the park exits while soaked to the bone. By dawn some 6 inches of rain had fallen. The weather cleared for the make-up date but what followed was ugly, real ugly...

In the closing minutes of the diva's appearance, gangs of unruly kids snatched chains, grabbed pocketbooks and romped on a rampage that spilled from Central Park to as far south as Times Square, over a mile away. Hundreds were beaten, some were stabbed and there were over 100 arrests made by New York's Finest in what was decidely not New York's finest hour.

Mayor Ed ("Hey, how'm I doin' "?) Koch and the New York City Council considered ending all free concerts in the aftermath but perhaps sensing this and in a spirit of good will, Diana Ross would make her atonement by donating a generous amount of t-shirt and merchandise sales money from the concert to the city. The city used the money for "The Diana Ross Playground", located at West 81st Street and Central Park West... Ten Timeline Memories... 1861] The 1st Battle of Bull Run is fought at Manassas (VA). The Confederates draw 1st blood in this one... 1925] The "Monkey Trial" ends in Dayton (TN) with John T. Scopes convicted of violating the state law for teaching "Darwin's theory of evolution". The conviction was later overturned (Scopes was heard muttering "that judge is an ape" as he leaves the courtroom)... 1957] Althea Gibson becomes the 1st black woman to win a major U.S. tennis title when she wins the Women's National Clay-Court singles competition... 1961] Gus Grissom becomes the 2nd American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth on the Liberty Bell 7 (Alan Shepard was the 1st)... 1969] Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin blast off from the moon aboard the lunar module... 1975] Here's something Joe Torre never talks about: As a member of the Mets, Torre hits into 4 doubleplays, each time he follows a hit by Felix Millan (who was heard muttering, "you better do something else man, like become a manager or somethin")... 1976] The 1st outbreak of "Legionnaire's Disease" is reported in the city of Philadelphia... 1987] Mary Hart of "Entertainment Tonight" has her legs insured by Lloyd's of London for $2 million (her liver for $500,000, her kidneys for $250,000 and her earrings for $100,000)... 1998] Our 3rd timeline headline about astronauts but a sad one: 74 year-old Alan Shepard dies from leukemia... 1999] Navy divers find the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette in the wreckage of Kennedy's plane in the Atlantic Ocean off the shore of Martha's Vineyard... #1's on this date... 1970] "(They Long To Be) Close To You" - Carpenters, 1975] "The Hustle" - Van McCoy, 1985] "Everytime You Go Away" - Paul Young... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... "E-mails, we get e-mails. We get lots and lots of e-mails"... Frank Kingston Smith a.k.a. Bobby Mitchell at WRKO comments on the moonwalk: "and who was on the air when they launched ? I was on for the touchdown. Do you remember that when they lifted off I played "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" ? And guess who got home in time to watch Neil Armstrong climb down the ladder a couple of hours later ? I got to meet Armstrong and Aldrin not that long ago. Armstrong detests all the publicity and Mike Collins became a curator at the Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian. My dad became close friends with Collins"... Harvey Mednick remembers that Armstrong's "That's one small step for man", etc. line was garbled and some people thought that Neil may have said "for a man", referring to himself. I could have sworn that he said "Paul is dead" but hey, I might be wrong... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday"... U.S. Soccer star (who took her shirt off after the U.S. won gold) Brandi Chastain (38), Robin Williams (55), Cat Stevens a.k.a. Yusuf Islam (58), Jon Lovitz (59), Edward Herrmann (63), Janet Reno (68) and 50's favorite Kay Starr (84)... Timeline Countdown: 46 days until Labor Day, 50 days until NFL kickoff, 75 days until MLB playoffs and 163 days remaining in 2006... ... Saturday, July 22, 2006... Ten Timeline Memories... 1916] A bomb goes off during a Preparedness Day parade in San Francisco, killing 10 (who apparently were not prepared)... 1963] Sonny Liston defends his heavyweight title by KOing Floyd Patterson (for the second time) in one round. The fight in Las Vegas was a rematch of the 1st fight in 1960... 1967] The rock group Vanilla Fudge make their concert debut in New York City... 1977] Tony Orlando surprises everyone (including Dawn) when he announces on stage in Cohasset (MA) they he was retiring from performing... 1979] The Reverend Richard Penniman a.k.a. Little Richard, warns his North Richmond (CA) congregation against the evils of rock and roll music... 1991] Police arrest Jeffrey Dahmer after finding the remains of 11 victims in his apartment in Milwaukee. Dahmer confesses to 17 murders and is sentenced to life in prison... 1994] O.J. Simpson pleads innocent to the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman... 1995] Susan Smith is convicted by a jury in Union (SC) of first-degree murder for drowning her 2 sons... 2003] Months after her P.O.W. ordeal, Pvt. 1st Class Jessica Lynch returns home to a hero's welcome in Elizabeth (WV)... 2003] Saddam Hussein's sons Odai and Qusai are killed when U.S. forces storm their villa in Mosul, Iraq... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday"... David Spade (42), Albert Brooks (59), Don Henley (59), Danny Glover (59), Estelle (Ronettes) Bennett (62), Bobby Sherman (63), Secretariat jockey Ron Turcotte (65), Alex Trebek (66), Louise Fletcher (72), Oscar de la Renta (74), Orson Bean (78), Margaret Whiting (82) and Bob Dole (83)... Timeline Countdown: 45 days until Labor Day, 49 days until NFL kickoff, 74 days until MLB playoffs and 162 days left in 2006... ... Sunday, July 23, 2006... Ten Timeline Memories... 1715] The 1st lighthouse in America is authorized for construction at Little Brewster Island (MA)... 1827] The 1st swimming school in the U.S. opens in Boston... 1886] Saloonkeeper Steve Brodie must have been sampling his brew. He jumps from the Brooklyn Bridge into the East River and survives... 1904] The ice cream cone is invented by Charles E. Menches during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis (MO)... 1950] "The Gene Autry Show" premieres on CBS-TV and runs for 6 years. If you guessed that the "Singin' Cowboy" used "Back in the Saddle Again" as his theme song, you would be right... 1986] Britain's Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in London (they will divorce in 1996)... 1997] Police find the body of Andrew Cunanan, the suspected killer of designer Gianni Versace, on a houseboat in Miami Beach (FL). Cunanan is believed to be a suicide... 2000] Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to complete a career Grand Slam when he wins the British Open at 24... 2000] Lance Armstrong wins his second Tour de France... 2003] The Massachusett's attorney general issues a report citing that members of the clergy and others in the Boston Archdiocese probably sexually abused more than 1,000 people over a period of 6 decades... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday"... Omar ("Dr. Foreman" of "House") Epps (33), Philip Seymour Hoffman (39), Slash (Guns 'n' Roses) (41), Woody Harrelson (45), David Essex (59), Tony Joe White (63), Don Imus (66), Calvert ("Larry 'Bud' Melman) DeForest (78) and Gloria DeHaven (81)... Timeline Countdown: 44 days until Labor Day, 48 days until NFL countdown, 73 days until MLB playoffs and 161 days remaining in 2006 ...