*Like I said, St. Louis 63 New England 6…ahem…cough cough.
Congratulations to the long-suffering fans of New England.
NBA Quiz: Jason Kidd now has 43 triple-doubles (points,
rebounds and assists), placing him 5th all-time. Who are the four
ahead of him? Answer below.
Athletes Losing Money
The current issue of U.S. News has a story written by Edward
Pound and Douglas Paternak detailing the amount of money that
pro athletes, particularly NFLers, have been defrauded out of.
One adviser, Donald Dayton Lukens, allegedly stole some $25
million. When he recently filed for bankruptcy, he declared
debts of $47 million and assets of $1 million. Simeon Rice, for
example, lost about $2.4 million through Lukens”s pyramid
schemes. Eric Dickerson lost $1.8 million, Steve Atwater some
$1.2 million.
Players Association president Gene Upshaw estimates that at
least 78 players have been defrauded of $42 million in just the
past 3 years, with many others too embarrassed to report it.
One adviser, Luigi DiFonzo, claimed he was an Italian count,
took the players for $millions and then committed suicide in
August 2000.
Another, former NFL tight end Terry Orr defrauded 3 former
Redskins” teammates, including Art Monk, and has been
sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Of course the ballplayers sometimes didn”t use simple common
sense. One adviser promised some 200 investors (not all
athletes) a 300% return within 7 days on a scam called the
United Nations Trade Honduras Project. The adviser is now
serving 12 years.
As for Lukens, he had already spent a month in a Las Vegas jail
for bouncing $240,000 in checks in casinos. More time is
coming. Lastly, one agent I have written of in the past, William
“Tank” Black (see archives) was convicted of fraud and
conspiracy last week and faces up to 25 years.
The Old Farmer”s Almanac
So I picked up the 2002 edition to see how badly they got the
January weather forecast in the New York area and, yes, they
really blew it, calling for temps to be 2 degrees below normal for
the month. But here”s some other assorted stuff you may not
know.
–The all-time low in the U.S. is -80 F. in Prospect Creek,
Alaska.
–Mount Baker in Washington State holds the all-time record for
snow, 1,140 inches, during the winter of 1998-99.
–Phoenix has received one inch of snow, twice, both times on
January 20 in the 1930s.
–The Almanac is projecting this February as the “warmest in
history” for the U.S…ahem.
–Next June through August will be hotter than normal along the
California coast. A new energy crisis for Gray Davis?
–The top names for dogs in the U.S. are “Lady” or “King.” In
Canada the top name for a male is “Buddy.” #4 in Canada is
“Bear,” which makes you wonder whether the folks realize what
they really have. [“Bear” doesn”t make the top ten in the U.S.]
–The smartest breed of dog is the border collie. #2 is the
poodle, but the German Shepherd is #3 and I would look for it to
move up in the ranks, know what I”m sayin”?
–Elephants are smarter than pigs.
–2002 names for Atlantic hurricanes: Arthur, Bertha (Oh, don”t
you know. “Big Bertha” is too easy for headline makers),
Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav (look out for this one),
Hanna, Isidore.and if we have 15 named storms, #15 is Omar.
Uh oh.
–When it comes to freshwater fishing, bass is the most popular
target with 35%. Crappies, 6%.
–If you”re between age 40 and 45, the life expectancy for men is
76 and women 81.
Other Stuff
–Winston Churchill”s Day during wartime:
8:30 AM – Wake up, breakfast, cigar, newspapers in bed, read
overnight report.
9:30 AM – Meetings with military advisers.
12:30 PM – Lunch, with champagne.
3:00 PM – Nap, in pajamas, in bed.
4:00 PM – Bath.
5:00 PM – Resume work. War Cabinet meeting.
8:00 PM – Dinner, with champagne, wine, etc.
More meetings, drafting speeches, working in private map room,
speaking to President Roosevelt from transatlantic telephone
room.
4 AM – Sleep
[Reuters]
–It certainly looks like the Austrian men will be romping in the
upcoming Olympic ski events. At this week”s Downhill in St.
Moritz, Austrians took the first five places and 7 of the top 8.
–I went to an art exhibit this weekend so I have to bore you with
this fact. Albert Bierstadt (“Hudson River School”) sold his
1863 work, “The Rocky Mountains,” for a then record price for
an American painting of $25,000 in 1866.
–Congratulations to Pittsburgh Steelers” all-time great John
Stallworth for his election into the Hall of Fame.
–Harry K. passed along the story of a British man who died in
Australia after being stung by an Irukandji jellyfish, which is all
of the size of a thumbnail. True, the man did have an existing
heart condition, but researchers are particularly interested in that
this would be the first confirmed victim, ever, from this species.
Top 3 week of 2/2/74: #1 “The Way We Were” (Barbra
Streisand) #2 “You”re Sixteen” (Ringo Starr) #3 “Love”s
Theme” (Love Unlimited Orchestra)
*Good job.Paul McCartney and U2.
NBA Quiz Answer: Triple-Doubles – Oscar Robertson, 178;
Magic Johnson, 138; Wilt Chamberlain, 74; Larry Bird, 59;
Jason Kidd, 43.
Next Bar Chat…Wednesday.
