Inviting Marilyn Monroe Over

Inviting Marilyn Monroe Over

New Orleans Saints Quiz: Heck, this is a national, even

worldwide site, so why not? The Saints entered the NFL in

1967. (1) When was their first winning season? (2) Who has the

most rushing yards, career? (3) Most passing yards, season?

(4) Most receptions, career? Answers below.

Kenny Lofton

I keep forgetting to write about him. You may recall that the

Indians centerfielder slid into first base, headfirst, during a

playoff game this fall in an attempt to beat out a hit. Of course,

this has always been a major no-no. You don”t get to first any

faster and you risk injury. So last week Lofton found out that he

had actually torn his rotator cuff and is out until next summer, if

he”s lucky. I doubt you will ever see a player (at least a veteran)

try this again.

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”

My thought process was just interrupted by what is undoubtedly

the worst song ever recorded, the Tokens track with the above

title. If you ever want to ruin my week, and possibly my year,

play this song.

Marilyn Monroe.and the Guy Next Door

James McDermott, a magazine editor, wrote of his personal

experience with Monroe in the December issue of American

Heritage. I just have to pass this on and I apologize to AH for

quoting as much as I”m about to do.

It was the summer of 1960 and McDermott was living in a hovel

in The Village in New York City when a college buddy offered

him his parent”s apartment for the month of August. It turned

out to be a luxurious pad on 2 Sutton Place.

The day after moving in McDermott noticed the nameplate on

his neighbor”s door. “M. Monroe.” He thought, no way, but he

had to check it out and sure enough, the doorman confirmed that

the neighbor was The Marilyn Monroe.

“Do you ever see her?” asked McDermott.

“Not enough.”

After living in the apartment for all of a week, James decided to

throw himself a little party. He cooked up a steak on the terrace

barbecue when he told one of his guests that Monroe lived next

door. So one piped up, “Well then, why don”t you trot over and

ask her to join us?” McDermott thought, why not? Following is

the exact exchange as he relates it:

“I turned the care of the steak over to my guests and made my

way to Miss Monroe”s door. Ten seconds after I had pressed the

buzzer, it swung open.

“She was wearing an ankle-length terry cloth robe belted snugly

at the waist and slipper scuffs of the same material. Her hair

stood out a bit from her head; probably she had been brushing it.

It gave off an aura of shampoo and of course was very blond.

Her mouth was flawlessly lipsticked bright red, just like on the

posters. Her blue eyes peered into mine, calmly inquiring, and

her lips pursed into a bemused half-smile.

“I”m your neighbor for the month of August,” I blurted. “I”m

having a few friends over for a barbecue, and, I, uh.”

“Was just wondering.,” Marilyn Monroe supplied for me.

“If you would like to.”

“Join us!” She finished, smiling. “It”s very nice of you to think

of me, but I”m already late for something else. Thank you for the

invitation. Maybe another time. Good night.” Before she gently

swung her door closed, she offered a dazzling smile.

“My expression was enough to convince my guests that I had

indeed had a conversation with Marilyn Monroe.

“She said, ”Maybe another time,”” I told them. They greeted this

with howls.

“But she had said it.”

[My only problem with this story is what is McDermott doing

serving just one steak for clearly at least 5 people?]

AP Top 10 Golfers of the Century

[As selected by an “expert” panel]

1. Jack Nicklaus

2. Ben Hogan

3. Bobby Jones

4. Sam Snead

5. Byron Nelson

6. Arnold Palmer

7. Walter Hagan

8. Harry Vardon

9. Gary Player

10. Tom Watson

*No problems with this list. Glad to see Player acknowledged.

Woods would probably make it in another two years.

AP Top 5 Women”s Tennis Players of the Century

1. Steffi Graf

2. Martina Navratilova

3. Margaret Smith Court

4. Billie Jean King

5. Chris Evert

*Graf and Navratilova are so far ahead of the competition it isn”t

even funny. That”s also why I only listed 5. Men”s Top Ten on

Friday.

Barbara Nicklaus on Winnie Palmer

Arnie”s wife Winnie died about ten days ago. In the recent issue

of Sports Illustrated, Barbara writes that she and Winnie hit it off

immediately. “At tournaments Winnie and I never talked golf –

neither of us play – and sometimes got so caught up in

conversation that we missed a few shots. We knew that while

Arnold and Jack wanted to beat each other”s brains out, off the

course we were all friends.”

“Winnie sent me a beautiful teapot recently, and I will always

think of her when I see the words inscribed on it: ”A friend is the

loving gardener who inspires the soul to blossom.””

Top 3 songs for the week of 12/5/70: #1 “I Think I Love You”

(The Partridge Family) #2 “The Tears Of A Clown” (Smokey

Robinson & The Miracles) #3 “Gypsy Woman” (Brian Hyland).

Quiz Answers: (1) 1987 (2) George Rogers..4,267 (3) Jim

Everett..3,970 (4) Eric Martin..532.

Saints Tidbits: John Gilliam took the opening kickoff of the

Saints very first game for a touchdown. — Tom Dempsey”s

dramatic 63-yard field goal was against Detroit on 11/8/70. [I

still remember watching that. Boy, it”s depressing to see how

long ago it was…See, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” impacts

everything.]

Next Bar Chat, Friday.