PGA Quiz: Pick the final 2001 leader in each category from
among the following list.
[John Daly, Joe Durant, David Duval, Ernie Els, Bob Estes,
David Frost, Fred Funk, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Scott Hoch,
Charles Howell III, Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Phil
Mickelson, Brett Quigley, Vijay Singh, Hal Sutton, David Toms,
Scott Verplank, Mike Weir, Tiger Woods]
1) Driving distance
2) Driving accuracy
3) Greens in regulation
4) Birdies
5) Eagles
6) Putting.
Note: #4 is birdies per round. #5 is fewest holes per eagle. For
example, the winner”s score is 73.8. Answers below.
Johnny Mac”s football. “Night Train”
One of the most feared men ever to strap on a helmet, Dick
“Night Train” Lane was an unlikely superstar, never having
played major college ball, although he did play some in junior
college. But Lane showed up anyway at the Rams training camp
in 1952 asking for a tryout. What the Rams saw was 200 pounds
of muscle on a 6” 1″ frame and they realized he at least looked
like a player. Well, they gave Lane a shot, a decision they never
regretted.
Getting basically on the job training, Night Train relied on his
instincts and athleticism to overcome his lack of experience and
in his rookie season he picked off 14 passes (returning two for
scores), a record for a single season that still stands (and it was in
just 12 games).
But as good as his ball-hawking skills were, it was as a tackler
where Lane earned his reputation. Nearly the size of most
linemen in those days, Lane mastered the clothesline tackle,
which he employed with evil glee. Receivers, battered and
bloodied from run-ins with him were often so wary as they lined
up for a play that they were beaten before the snap took place.
The league had to eventually outlaw his specialty, so numerous
were the complaints and injuries.
Lane”s physical style and size set the standard for years to come,
and his fearless play has had few equals since. No less an
authority than Vince Lombardi called him the greatest
cornerback ever, and he ended his 14-year career with 68
interceptions, still third all-time. There is no doubt Night Train
would fit in just fine in today”s game.
[Note: Lane had his 68 picks in 157 games. Compare that to
Paul Krause, the all-time interception leader with 81 in 226
games, while #2 Emlen Tunnell had 79 INT in 167 games.]
Johann Strauss Jr.
Alright, I have to admit that one of my favorite programs at
holiday time is watching PBS” New Year”s celebration from
Vienna. [I think it”s on at 2:30 and 8:00 PM ET on Jan.1st.]
Yes, a concert of Strauss waltzes, polkas and marches, with
Walter Cronkite hosting. [Actually, it could be the program from
ten years ago, for all we know.]
But to fully appreciate it, you should know your Strausses. Now
Johann Strauss I was born in Vienna in 1804 and became a
composer and conductor of some repute. Johann I studied and
played under Joseph Lanner, whose country dances were the first
real “waltzes.”
Meanwhile, Johann Strauss II (Jr.) was born in 1825 and by 1844
Johann II had formed his own orchestra. Johann I died in 1849
and at that time Johann II took many of his father”s musicians
and coupled them with his own to form a larger orchestra.
It was during the years 1863-72, however, that Johann II gained
his main reputation as the conductor of Austria”s court balls
during the height of the Hapsburg monarchy, and Strauss became
known as the “Waltz King.” Among his most famous titles are
the “Blue Danube,” “Emperor Waltz,” “Roses from the South,”
and “Tales from the Vienna Woods.” He also was responsible
for the opera “Die Fledermaus.”
Now Johann II”s brothers, Josef and Eduard Strauss, were also
major conductors in their own right. Johann II died in 1899.
But none of these lads are to be confused with Richard Strauss,
unrelated, who was born in 1864 and counts among his body of
work “Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001),” “Don
Quizote,” and the exquisite “Der Rosenkavalier.”
[The preceding meets StocksandNews” quarterly culture
requirement, as mandated by the International Web Site
Association.]
Bud Moore”s Peppered Pecans
Here”s another dish to add to your bacchanalia at New Year”s.
Bud Moore is a highly decorated World War II veteran who went
on to become one of NASCAR”s most respected mechanics and
car owners. What follows is a recipe I urge you all to try.
3 tablespoons butter or margarine (make it 6 of butter)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 and a half teaspoons TABASCO brand Pepper Sauce (make it
5)
Half teaspoon salt
3 cups pecan halves
Preheat oven to 250 F. Melt butter in a small skillet (you can
drink a Lone Star while melting the butter); add garlic,
TABASCO Sauce, and salt and cook 1 minute. Toss pecans with
butter mixture; spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 1
hour or until pecans are crisp, stirring occasionally. Pour
yourself a few more brewskies while waiting.
[Source: “NASCAR Cooks with TABASCO Brand Pepper
Sauce”]
Stuff
–Well, hopefully none of you are having a hip replacement
anytime soon. As you heard, legendary sportswriter Dick Schaap
died following complications from surgery on his own. Schaap
was best known for his book “Instant Replay” with the Packers
Jerry Kramer, the story of the “Ice Bowl” in 1967. Schaap also
seemed to know thousands of figures from both inside and
outside sports and the New York Times” George Vecsey wrote
that Schaap, like Jim Valvano, was a champion of humanity.
–The Ice Bowl: December 31, 1967. It was minus 13 degrees,
with a 15-mph wind as the Packers took on the Dallas Cowboys
for the NFL title in Green Bay. The Packers went up 14-0 on the
strength of two Bart Starr to Boyd Dowler TD passes of 8- and
46-yards. The Cowboys” Willie Townes then drilled Starr, who
fumbled and Dallas DE George Andrie rumbled in from 7 yards
out for the score to make it 14-7. Then Cowboy kicker Danny
Villanueva kicked a 21-yarder to cut the lead to 14-10, Green
Bay, at half.
As the weather got progressively worse in the second half, the
score remained 14-10 until the first play of the 4th quarter, when
Cowboy halfback Dan Reeves threw a 50-yard scoring pass on
the option to wide receiver Lance Rentzel. Dallas led 17-14.
Finally, Green Bay took over on their own 32-yard line with 4:50
left in the game. As they drove towards the historic winning
touchdown, Packer fullback Chuck Mercein* contributed two
huge plays, a 19-yard pickup on a short pass and an 8-yard run
inside the Cowboy five. Then, on 3rd down and goal from the
one-yard line, quarterback Starr snuck in over the blocking of
guard Jerry Kramer and center Ken Bowman with just 13
seconds left. The Packers won 21-17 in one of the great contests
of any sport. We can only hope that this year”s playoffs produce
a similar game.maybe in Pittsburgh? Or Chicago? After all,
winter is finally here.
*[By the way, Mercein had all of 56 yards rushing and just one
reception during the entire regular season for the Packers.]
–Foster Brooks passed away the other day at the age of 89. You
talk about a late bloomer, and an example of perseverance, boy
Brooks is it. Born in 1912 in Louisville, Kentucky, Foster
started his career as a disc jockey and newsman in Buffalo before
moving his family to Hollywood in 1960. What followed was a
decade of bit parts in movies and television, with Brooks having
to take on all manner of odd jobs just to support his family.
Then, in 1969 at the age of 57, Brooks was attending a charity
event when game show host Dennis James asked Foster to do
some jokes. Word spread that Brooks had a comedic routine
involving a lush and soon thereafter Perry Como enlisted him to
open for his act. Next followed a gig on “The Tonight Show”
and in the 1970s and 80s, Foster Brooks became a household
name, mainly through his appearances on the many “Dean
Martin Celebrity Roasts.” Brooks, by the way, had stopped
drinking in the 1960s.
[And if you are of a certain age you should purchase the
videotapes of those Martin roasts. It”s pretty good stuff.]
–Black Hawk Down: Yeah, I”ve been humping this flick, which
opens December 28 (January 18 nationally), so I thought I”d
share the following from a David Ansen review in Newsweek.
“Imagine if the Normandy-invasion sequence in ”Saving Private
Ryan” went on for a hundred minutes instead of 20, and you”ll
have some idea of the bloody, harrowing intensity of Ridley
Scott”s movie.
“.the relentless ferocity is punishing. You leave this long
movie feeling battered, drained – and thinking about the soldiers
in Afghanistan whose lives are on the line right now.”
See you there.
Top 3 songs for the week of 12/27/75: #1 “Let”s Do It Again”
(The Staple Singers) #2 “Saturday Night” (Bay City Rollers) #3
“That”s The Way (I Like It)” (K.C. & The Sunshine Band)
PGA Quiz Answers: 1) Driving distance: John Daly (306.7) 2)
Driving accuracy: Joe Durant 3) Greens in regulation: Tom
Lehman (74.5) 4) Birdies: Phil Mickelson (4.54) 5) Eagles:
Phil Mickelson 6) Putting: David Frost (1.708).
Coors acquired Interbrew”s Carling brand as well as Caffrey”s
Irish Ale, the latter being a pretty good brew, if you ask me.
Next Bar Chat, January 2nd.
