It's the holiday season as Andy Williams reminds us at least a dozen times a day. Time to look for the 'good'. In scanning this morning's headlines, there's not a whole lot of good: 'Train derails in Pakistan, killing 58', 'Britney's sister is pregnant at 16', 'Bail is denied in 5th Ave. killing', 'Green tea may have prostate cancer risk'. Eeenough, let's look at the sports headlines: 'Clemens denies using banned substances', 'Academic scandal snags Florida State'. Let's see, what about Health? 'Addicted doctors allowed to practice', 'Bacteria-tainted syringes sicken dozens'. Get the picture? Nothing good. But there's got to be something at least amusing. Ah, here it is. 'Bride to tie knot in toilet paper dress'. The second line of that story made me give up. She's getting married in a restroom. Who's performing the ceremony, Senator Craig???
Whether you're writing or reading a column, you're looking for something good during this holiday season but it's a tough task. There is one story that's highly controversial - the FCC vote allowing newspaper companies to own broadcast television and radio stations in the top 20 markets. Those on the left, hate it while the righties love it. I'll offer my first-hand account of working for one of those conglomerates later on in my Commentary...
Here's one non-story headline, 'Parcells is offered VP job with Falcons'. I call it a non-story because it's one we encounter after every retirement by the 'Big Tuna'. I won't even get into politics because that changes every day prior to the primaries. I like this one, 'Giant rat discovered in Indonesia jungle'. That doesn't seem like an imminent threat as long as the rat stays in Indonesia. All I can say is that if you're looking for a 'good' story to write or read today, good luck...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1903] The Willie B: The Willamsburg Bridge, connecting lower Manhattan to Brooklyn becomes the first major suspension bridge in America...
- 1917] Dropping the puck: The first games of the new NHL are played. The original 5 teams played in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec and 2 in Montreal. This is the way the Canadian Gods decreed it should be, eh?...
- 1918] Premiered on this date: Robert Ripley begins his "Believe It Or Not" column in the New York Globe...1957] Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" opens at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway for an initial run of 1,375 performances...1961] "Judgement At Nuremberg" premieres in Manhattan...1971] Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" opens in New York City...1980] "9 To 5" starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin debuts and here's the movie opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jiHYzPuq0KI ...
- 1984] Chief Cheech: Buffalo beats Chicago 6-1 and Sabres' coach Scotty Bowman becomes the NHL leader in wins with 691...
- 1987] All Paul Simon all the time: Presidential candidate Paul Simon introduces singer Paul Simon on 'Saturday Night Live'. Will the real Paul Simon please stand up...
- 1989] Charge!: The U.S. invades Panama to overthrow the regime of General Noriega who lands in a Miami prison...
- 1990] Bo knows: Bo Jackson becomes the first athlete to be chosen for All-Star games in two sports (baseball and football) when he's selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. Had he not gotten hurt he would of been one of the all-time greats. This video tribute shows how dynamic he was: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EjO_QfFYV78 ...
- 1996] Ebonics 101: The school board of Oakland votes to recognize black English. Ebonics be born. English dies...
- 2000] 'Happy Trails': Former New York City Mayor John Lindsay dies from Parkinson's disease and pneumonia at 79...2005] Mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante dies in a Springfield (MO) federal prison at 77...
- 2002] This is justice?: Citing new DNA evidence, a judge throws out the convictions of 5 young men for the 1989 attack on the 'Central Park Jogger' who was raped and left for dead. Miraculously she survives...
Music Memories:
- 1958] Number One on this date: "The Chipmunk Song" - David Seville a.k.a. Ross Bagdasarian, one of the first records I played (along with "Tom Dooley" in Radio): http://youtube.com/watch?v=2dnrosVyamY&feature=related ...1979] "Escape (Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes (the last #1 hit of the 70s)...
- 1960] Released on this date: "Calendar Girl" - Neil Sedaka. Great timing on the release. It was played for months. Here's a recent live version by Neil: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rb-9PNgIeo0&feature=related ...
- 1975] Gathering new moss: Ron Wood joins the Rolling Stones...
Commentary:
My experience with Triple-Media (newspaper, TV and Radio) ownership was pretty benign. The station was WFLA Tampa, owned by the Tampa Tribune when I was a jock there in the mid-60s. As I think my friends Dick Eller, a fellow jock who would enjoy a successful career in San Diego and Ed Pyle, a newsman at the time who would eventually become news director at 2 prestigious stations in LA, would attest, we had no contact with people at the Tribune, a totally separate operation. The AM radio station was top 40, FM was automated MOR instrumental music (all the AM jocks had to do was rewind the tapes and panic if you were on the air when the alarm indicating dead air, went off), the television station was an NBC affiliate and there was some cross-promotion between the two. We got the two TV weather guys (Gordon Barnes and Al Duckworth) to do radio weather and the jocks got a Saturday dance show called 'Hi-Time' of all things. The jocks were called the WFLA Pussycats (as in 'What's New') and we wore our sweat shirts promoting the station on each show. Each jock took turns in co-hosting the show with the two regular hosts, a pretty blonde and a young guy who would wind up becoming an actor in Hollywood. The co-hosting jock would have the lead lip-synch on whatever hit was played and the rest of the Pussycats played air instruments. That was fun and a great cross-promotion for the station. The triple ownership presented no problem at all. It was uneventful at worst. With a struggling economy I understand the opposition to it today as radio fears still another intrusion by a big bullying media but maybe it won't be so bad after all...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jake Gyllenhall (27), Jennifer Beals (44), Kevin McHale (50), Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) (66), Baseball HOFer Al Kaline (73), Cicely Tyson (74) and Little Jimmy Dickens (87)...
Timeline Countdown: 4 days until winter, 5 days until Festivus, 6 shopping days until Christmas, 7 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 12 nights until New Year's Eve, 14 down and 2 to go for the Patriots and 17 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...
