NFL Quiz: Entering the 1999 season, who was the #2 all time
scorer behind George Blanda? Who has the record for most
rushing attempts in a single game? Answers below.
Sportswomen of the Year
By now you know that the U.S. World Cup-winning women”s
soccer team was chosen by Sports Illustrated as their
Sportswomen of the Year. At first, I have to admit, I was upset
with this selection. Brian K. and I felt that Lance Armstrong
should have received it for his Tour de Force in the Tour de
France. Or John Elway. Or any number of folks. [However,
those complaining that Pedro Martinez deserved it are nuts.
Yeah, he had a great year but what did the team win?] And what
of Tiger Woods? But I understand that SI has a rule that no
athlete can receive it more than once and Woods already has it.
Anyway, when you really analyze it, there was a dearth of major,
major athletic achievements this year so what the hell. Give it to
the babes. But my buddy Johnny Mac and I couldn”t believe how
SI played it up. Senior Editor Hank Hersch said the following:
“It was their ability to create a moment that will last in a lot of
people”s memories for a lifetime – in a sport that gets little
attention, by a gender that gets little attention for sports. That
women soccer players could produce this transcendent an event is
amazing.”
Geezuz…I saw that game. It was decided on a freakin” penalty
kick. We”re not talking Giorgio Chinaglia booting one in from
forty yards out with 20 seconds to go in the game (OK girls, who
am I talking about?)
Dutch Brothel
J Mac passed on a story concerning a Dutch brothel chain
opening a branch at Amsterdam”s Schiphol Airport. As Reuters
reports, a spokesman for the Yab Yum brothels said, “Passengers
will be treated to a luxury welcome with champagne and caviar
and can opt for a relaxing massage.” Yab Yum would target
those in transit with time between planes or early arrivals looking
to unwind after a stressful flight. The spokesman, Theo Heuft,
added, “They could pop in before going home to the lady wife.”
The Dutch Senate approved a law making this all legal last
October. Seriously, this is disgusting.
Olympic Moment
Allen Barra writes sports articles for the Wall Street Journal and
other publications. Last Friday he compiled a list of overrated
and underrated moments, teams or athletes in various sports.
He said the U.S. hockey team”s victory over the Russians in 1980
was overrated. “There is nothing sillier than associating the
fortunes of a sports team with the rise and tide of politics, but
somehow America”s outburst of chauvinism for its boys” hockey
team – a display that was the very antithesis of what the Olympic
spirit is about – was supposed to signify the ascendancy of the
Ronald Reagan era. So what did it mean four years later when
the U.S. team got creamed – er, iced?” To which I”d reply to Mr.
Barra, Oh, shut up!! And also, get your politics and dates right.
When the Olympics were held in the winter of 1980, there was no
guarantee that Ronald Reagan was going to be the Republican
nominee, let alone -president. As for the Olympic spirit, hell, as a
fan, I always wanted our men and women to beat the crap out of
the Commies. Next week I will be writing a story on how
Communism was responsible for 100 million deaths in this
century. That”s 100 freakin” million, you jerk…sorry, folks.
Anyway, Barra also writes of the most underrated Olympic
moment, that being in 1956 in Melbourne. “Someone thought to
have all the athletes join hands and sing ”Waltzing Matilda” during
the closing ceremony. That”s the one Olympic moment we”d
have loved to have been present for.” Now this I don”t disagree
with. And I bring it up because the comment reminds me of the
powerful anti-war movie, “On the Beach.” Actually, this is
perhaps the most depressing movie of all time, but it”s a must see.
And at the end (as they realize the fallout from a catastrophic
nuclear war is about to invade their idyllic lifestyle in Australia),
the characters sing “Waltzing Matilda.” Don”t…repeat, don”t…
watch this movie on New Year”s Eve (unless you have stocked
up on Kleenex).
The Trumbore Brothers Favorite Christmas Tune
“I Wonder As I Wander” (the orchestral version, preferably
Eugene Ormandy”s). You have a terrific image of a lone man
walking through a field in a blinding snowstorm at night, when
suddenly he is struck by a vision. At least that”s my version, and
I”m sticking to it.
A Gift to the Magi
Was the star of Bethlehem a true miracle – a divine beacon sent to
guide the gift-bearing wise men to the scene of the Nativity? Or
was it a natural phenomenon – a comet, perhaps? In an article by
Jeffery Sheler in the December 20 issue of U.S. News, he writes
that two astronomers have two very different but plausible
versions that support the story of the Bethlehem star. In new
books, both contend something appeared in the night sky over the
Judean countryside that signaled to ancient astrologers, the Magi
of Matthew”s gospel, that a ruler of cosmic importance had been
born.
One of the astronomers, Michael Molnar argues that it was an
astrological – rather than an astronomical – event that the Bible
records. It was not a moving star or a comet, but rather an
alignment of stars and planets that ancient astrologers would have
recognized as significant. Molnar says it may have been a lunar
eclipse of Jupiter in the constellation Aries, which according to
Molnar was an ancient symbol of Judea to Greek and Roman
astrologers. And sophisticated calculations reveal that such an
eclipse did occur on April 17 in the year 6 B.C., thus Molnar fixes
this as the celestial event that signaled the Christ child”s birth.
Meanwhile, Mark Kidger, argues that the Bethlehem star was
indeed a real star that can still be seen by telescope today: a now
rather dim star known as DO Aquilae. Back at the time of
Christ”s birth, this star was a bright nova and probably the
phenomenon described by ancient Chinese astronomers as an
unusually bright star that appeared in the eastern sky for 70 days
in 5 B.C., the year many scholars believe Jesus was born. Of
course we will never know for certain what the Star of Bethlehem
was but now we have two fresh theories providing new scientific
support for the biblical story.
More on Handel
Last week I wrote of Handel”s “Messiah.” My good friend Paul
J. just wanted to add the following (and Paul knows his
Handel…as well as my insurance policies).
“After Jennings presented Handel with the libretto taken entirely
from the Bible, Handel basically locked himself in his room for
three weeks and put together the early version of the final
product. One of his biographers, Sir Newman Flowers, has said,
”Considering the immensity of the work, and the short time
involved, it will remain, perhaps forever, the greatest feat in the
whole history of music composition.” Handel, quoting St. Paul,
was to have described the experience by saying, ”Whether I was
in the body or out of my body when I wrote it, I know not.””
Top 3 songs for the week of 12/20/75: #1 “That”s The Way (I
Like It)” (KC & the Sunshine Band) #2 “Let”s Do It Again” (The
Staple Singers) #3 “Fly, Robin, Fly” (Silver Convention).
Quiz Answers: (1) Gary Anderson (2) James Wilder, 48, Tampa
Bay 10/30/83. I couldn”t find out how many yards he had that
day but I want to say it wasn”t spectacular, something like 165.
If someone can get the answer, feel free to write me.
Next Bar Chat, Wednesday.
