Profound

This week has been rough. Hence the lack of posts. So here are some words to live by, courtesy of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer.

© Nick Turchiaro/Icon SMI

On This Day in History

c/o Rutgers University

The first one all year. . .

1777 — Henry Clay was born in Hanover County, Virginia. Both a Senator and three-time Speaker of the House of Representatives, Clay was a strong proponent of the “American System” that benefited industry to a great extent. Styled “The Great Compromiser” and “The Western Star,” a Congressional panel in 1957 named Clay as one of the five all-time greatest Senators (along with John C. Calhoun, Robert La Follette, Robert Taft and Daniel Webster).

He died of tuberculosis in Washington, D.C. in 1852. Clay was 75-years-old. Subsequently he was the first person to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

1861 — Beginning at 4:30 a.m., Confederate forces commenced their bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina. Although the Union garrison returned fire, they were significantly outgunned and, after 34 hours, Major Robert Anderson agreed to evacuate.

Amazingly there was no loss of life on either side during the engagement, although a gun explosion during the surrender ceremonies two days later resulted in two Union deaths. The War Between the States had officially begun.

1908 — Robert Lee Scott, Jr. was born in Waynesboro, Georgia. He is best known for his book God is My Co-Pilot, a memoir about his time as a member of the 1st American Volunteer Group (“The Flying Tigers”) during World War II.

Scott shot down down 13 Japanese aircraft en route to becoming one of our earliest fighter aces of the War. He served in the United States Army Air Forces for 25 years and retired a Brigadier General in 1957. He died in his native Georgia in 2006. General Scott was 97-years-old.

1934 — The strongest surface wind gust ever recorded (to that point in history) is measured at 231 mph on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. The record stood for 62 years until a 253 mph gust was recorded at Australia's Barrow Island during Cyclone Olivia in 1996.

1945 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt died just months after winning an unprecedented fourth term. Our 32nd President, and perhaps the last liberal Democrat for whom I may ever hold a modicum of lasting respect, was a relatively young 63-years-old.

1961 — Russian (Soviet) cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to perform a manned orbital flight. His time in space lasted just under two hours.

1981 — The Space Shuttle Columbia launches in NASA’s first shuttle mission (STS-1) from the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. The shuttle itself suffered an untimely demise shortly before the conclusion of its 28th mission (STS-107) on February 1, 2003.

1987 — The lovely and vivacious Brooklyn Decker was born in Kettering, Ohio. But the Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl is a Carolina girl at heart.

1989 — Sugar Ray Robinson, the undisputed best pound-for-pound boxer of all-time, died in Culver City, California. He compiled a 173-19-6 (108 KO, 2 NC) record over a career that spanned a quarter-century, including an almost unbelievable tally at one point of 128-1-2. He was 67-years-old.

1999 — President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving “intentionally false statements” in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit. Scandalous, impeached, and ultimately disbarred, good ol’ Bill sure was fun.

2002 — Religion of Peace: Just seven months after 9/11, a female suicide bomber from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade detonated a bomb at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open-air market, killing seven and wounding 104.


Information initially obtained from Wikipedia; confirmed and revised (when necessary) through various sources.

I am SO buying this

A sizable book about the greatest year in Memphis area rasslin’ history was just released. Stories about Jerry Lawler’s feuds with AWA champ Nick Bockwinkel and NWA champ Ric Flair – along with Lawler’s legendary battle, as it were, with Andy Kaufman – are meticulously illustrated over 434 pages. Anecdotes about numerous fan favorites such as Austin Idol, “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, “Superstar” Bill Dundee, and perhaps the most underrated tag team ever, The Fabulous Ones are also included.

You may not understand why any of this matters. If you weren’t there, I wouldn’t expect you to.

Iconic Shot: Magic & Bird

Original source is indeterminable

The NBA lockout is now in its 100th day with no end in sight. As players and owners haggle over the details of a 50/50 split in the diminishing revenue of a corporate franchise that continues to lose nine-figure sums each year, longtime fans often reminisce back to the good ol' days when two guys from opposite ends of the spectrum essentially saved the league.

Different in background, position and style, it was their similarities – and resulting mass appeal – that endure the most. Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson first met when Michigan State and Indiana State met in the 1979 NCAA national title game. Magic's Spartans were victorious, but both would make their mark on the next level in a way that only Michael Jordan would ever equal.

Magic's career numbers through his 13 seasons are impressive: 17,707 points (19.5 PPG), 10,141 assists (11.2 APG), 6,559 rebounds (7.2 RPG) and 1,724 steals (1.9 SPG). A 12-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP, Johnson also led his Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships en route to being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times.

Larry Legend's stats over his 13 years are equally notable: 21,791 points (24.3 PPG), 8,974 rebounds (10.0 RPG), 5,695 assists (6.3 APG) and 1,556 steals (1.7 SPG). Also a 12-time All-Star, Bird also led his Boston Celtics to three NBA titles en route to being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times.

These men typified the game in every way. Unfortunately for the NBA, their impact may never be duplicated.

Guilty Pleasures/Sunday's Quote: A different kind of fantasy

c/o Fantasy Sports Counselor

I have a confession of which I am neither proud nor ashamed: I play fantasy football.

This year marks my twelfth season in a league that's been around with the same core group of guys since 1998.  During our annual draft yesterday, I began to ponder why this otherwise trivial little event has become so important to so many millions (and growing by the year).  Perhaps the quote below offers a reason why:

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"Baseball is what we were.  Football is what we have become."

– Mary McGrory (1918–2004), a liberal journalist and columnist for The Washington Post who probably wasn’t paying homage to the game which, arguably, has replaced baseball as our new American pastime

On the fashion tip

c/o The San Francisco Examiner

Better known for his trademark beard, San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson showed off his fashion sense with a spandex "tuxedo" at the 19th annual ESPY awards in Los Angeles six days ago.

On This Day in History

1456 – Better late than never (I guess): A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after she was unjustly burned at the stake.  She was finally canonized by the Catholic church 453 years later in 1909.

1928 – Sliced bread is sold for the first time by the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri.  So when someone says you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, they're really saying that you're the best thing to come along in the past 83 years.

1940 – Richard Starkey – better known as Ringo Starr, or as I prefer it, the luckiest man who ever lived – was born in Liverpool, England.

1954 – Elvis Presley made his radio debut when WHBQ in Memphis played "That's Alright Mama," his first recording for Sun Records.  Formerly an R&B station, WHBQ became a sports-themed station in the late '80s that currently boasts one of the worst morning rush hour shows among any of the major radio markets.  Believe me on that one.

1985 – Boris Becker, at age 17, became the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon.  He did it again the following year en route to six career major championships along with an impressive 38-3 record in Davis Cup competition.  He remains one of my all-time favorites.

Information obtained via Wikipedia and confirmed, with revisions, through various sources. 

Sunday's Quote: The power of her posterior

Your first impression of Kim Kardashian was probably the same as mine:

Pretty face.

Why is she famous?

Whoa, that booty can’t be real.

Think whatever you want about the most prominent of the Kardashian offspring, but Kim's mojo is undeniable.  Known as much for her socialite exploits as her gravity defying rear-end, the legend of "reality" television's highest paid star has reached a magnitude that now expands well beyond the arena that ultimately made her fodder for tabloid headlines.

Once modestly recognized as both the daughter of attorney Robert Kardashian (part of the O.J. Simpson defense team) and the stepdaughter of Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, Kim transitioned seamlessly into becoming an impresario of sorts whose success is only surpassed by her status as perhaps America's most amicable sex symbol.  And bearing in mind her string of past romances with equally famous athletes and entertainers, her recent engagement to Kris Humphries (pictured) should also come as no surprise.

Life with Kim has been good for Mr. Humphries.  A member of four teams in his eight-year NBA career, the formerly obscure journeyman averaged 10.0 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game (a "double double") for the New Jersey Nets en route to his best statistical season thus far – an accomplishment he clearly attributed to Kim with the purchase a 20.5-karat diamond behemoth for his now-fiancé that's reportedly worth $2 million.

True love has a place in the conversation.  But(t) make no mistake, it all starts with that unbelievably awe-inspiring caboose.  If you think a woman of Kim's considerable enormity can't make an average man leap tall buildings in a single bound, think again.  Indeed, so commanding is Kim's allure that it even caused another no-name pro athlete – NFL defensive back Bret Lockett in this case – to openly lie about Kim cheating with him, only to later confess than he had never even met her.

It's almost hard to blame the poor guy.  Heck, I'd marry Kim without even thinking about it.

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"Cultivate your curves.  They may be dangerous but they won't be avoided."

– Mae West (1893-1980), American actress and icon in her own right

Those were the days

Despite being recognized today as much for dramaturgy as the choreographed (albeit, highly skilled) action for which this distinctive brand of showbiz was originally known, it remains difficult to call professional wrestling "fake" considering the plethora of injuries and premature deaths these combatants of the squared circle have braved for generations.

Yet there was a time, not that long ago, when questioning the validity of the acrimonious rivalries and blood-stained storylines was all but inconceivable.  That's why it was different then, which is what makes this impromptu little discovery from over 20 years ago so riveting:

c/o Professional Wrestling @ Tumblr.com

Did You Know (or Care): Athletes and their families

Former University of Nebraska cornerback and New York Giants first round selection Prince Amukamara has five sisters.  They are named Passionate, Peace, Precious, Princess, and Promise.

Also, a recent feature about Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko – a dead ringer for Ivan Drago – and his unbelievable back tattoo (pictured) led me to an ESPN magazine story from 2006 about Andrei’s wife Masha, who allows her husband to have sex with another woman once per year.  Says Masha, "Male athletes in this country are extremely attractive.  They get chased by women.  It's hard to resist.  It's the way men are by nature."

Fascinating, I suppose.

Sunday's Quote: Tiger

The re-emergence of Tiger Woods, and his longer-than-expected return to dominance, has been almost as well documented as the War on Terrorism itself.  Whatever the reason(s) for his on-course woes -- the kind of struggles, as it were, that most golfers never come close to achieving -- one of our better commentators believes the public has moved past the initial shock of a fall that's nearly as phenomenal as Tiger's legendary rise.

Marche's perspective is debatable indeed, but it is notable and equally thought-provoking nevertheless:

"We like to judge people for the pleasure of judging them.  We'll hunt out the most squalid details of people's sex lives not because we believe their actions are wrong but just because we like seeing the wreckage of their suddenly human, blemished, relatably imperfect lives. ...

"Tiger will be redeemed; his story has already been written.  As he enters Augusta, he is simultaneously and underdog and one of the greatest athletes the world has ever known.  And when he returns to dominance -- whether this month in Augusta, at the U.S. Open in June, or the British Open in July -- he will be transfigured into a nearly perfect icon of irresistible sympathy: the supernatural specimen made human by sin who rises again.  At which point Gillette and Golf Digest and Gatorade will learn the cost of taking our hypocrisy seriously."

-- from "Tiger Woods Will Be Redeemed" by Stephen Marche; Esquire, April 2011

A whole lot of bounce

Anyone measuring 5-foot-11 is considered small by college and pro basketball standards.  It's also considered a largely unspoken disadvantage if the player happens to be of the Caucasian persuasion.  It's no big deal; that's just the way it is.

Thus imagine my surprise when the footage of a sub-six-foot White guy from a small Division III school who recently dominated a college dunk contest was brought to my attention.  So kick back for about three minutes and enjoy this "little" man's uncommon talent.  It may be a while before we see anything this rare again:

Just Thinking Out Loud: When "juice" gets loose

© NY Daily News

The trial for baseball icon(oclast) Barry Bonds began on Monday.  Charged with obstruction of justice and four counts of perjury regarding his involvement with performance enhancing drugs, it's clear that Bonds is up to his neck in trouble, as federal guidelines mandate a sentence of anywhere from six to 50 years if convicted on all counts.
 

No matter the final outcome, purists will never view Bonds as baseball's all-time home run leader.  That distinction still belongs to Hank Aaron.  Although he had the advantage of over 2,000 more at-bats than Babe Ruth, the authenticity of Aaron's record achievement has never been mired by an abundance of controversy and damning evidence.  So let the nay-sayers claim what they want, but there will never be an asterisk next to 755 in the record book.

Did You Know (or Care): MMA done right

Photo by Scott Petersen via mmaweekly.com

Dana White runs the Ultimate Fighting Championship perfectly, which is why the UFC has remained the gold standard of the mixed martial arts world for over a decade.  Thus, in keeping with some of the intriguing match-ups for tonight's UFC 128, I found this rather interesting...

Last December during the UFC's Ultimate Fighter 12 finale, multi-black belt stylist Nam Phan connected on nearly twice as many strikes (122-to-66) as his fellow featherweight opponent, Leonard Garcia.  But to this dismay of virtually everyone who saw the fight, the judges awarded Garcia the split decision victory.  Unmoved by the result, Dana White gave Phan the $8,000 "win bonus" anyway.

Additionally the match itself was named "Robbery of the Year" by Sherdog.com, the industry's most authoritative and well-established website.

Source: Fighters Only, March 2011 (p. 24)

Just Thinking Out Loud: An unprecedented screw job

Both pictures © New York Post

Though I didn't have a dog in the hunt, I found myself nonetheless glued to the final moments of Wednesday's Big East tournament match-up between Rutgers and St. John's, the final half-minute of which is unequal to anything I've ever seen in sports.

While most media outlets have fixated on the two blown non-calls in the final six seconds of the game, which center primarily on St. John's Justin Brownlee (pictured), the two non-calls that preceded this travesty with about 30 seconds remaining almost certainly cost the Scarlet Knights the game.

The end result mattered little in the end.  St. John's (22-10, ranked #18 nationally by ESPN & USA Today) hung tough but lost earlier today in their quarterfinal game against traditional powerhouse Syracuse (26-6, #11), which is a more favorable result than lowly Rutgers (15-17) could have realistically hoped.

But given the chance -- one they probably deserved -- the Scarlet Knights would have loved the opportunity.

That's how they roll

I'm pretty sure this is requisite posing for all football players at Berkeley (except Aaron Rodgers).  Stanford, of course, would never allow for such a thing:

© University of California
Sandy Barbour, Athletic Director