Detroit Tigers Quiz (1901-2003): 1) Last Tiger pitcher to lead
the A.L. in strikeouts? 2) Who was the last 20-game winner? 3)
Who was the last A.L. MVP? 4) Who was the last batting
champion? 5) Who was the last rookie of the year? 6) How
many World Series titles have the Tigers won? Answers below.
Ronald Reagan—the Early Years
In 1954, with his screen career fading, Ronald Reagan became
the host of “General Electric Theater,” a weekly television show
that he did the introduction for as well as star in a few episodes.
G.E. sent him around the country to promote the program but he
found himself giving increasingly political speeches as the years
went on, even though he was just supposed to be a PR
spokesman. His subject was often the wastefulness and
intrusiveness of government, as well as the bankruptcy of the
“welfare state.”
By 1961-62, his speeches were fervently anti-Communist as he
expressed the unhappiness of the Republican Party’s right-wing
with the bipartisan commitment to “containment” that had
influenced American foreign policy since 1948. [The
containment of George Kennan’s “Mr. X” speech.]
Reagan was actually still a registered Democrat until 1962, even
though he campaigned heavily for Eisenhower and Nixon. But
as he fine-tuned his G.E. speech, complete with conservative
values, Republican Party elders began to view him as a
tremendous asset. He was also great at connecting with the
business crowd, i.e., the big campaign contributors.
In 1964, as Barry Goldwater was about to suffer a crushing
defeat at the hands of LBJ, Goldwater himself picked Reagan to
give a national television address on October 27, just one week
before the election. Goldwater had been friends with Reagan and
saw how he could fire up the Republican base. And you can
picture Goldwater when he said, hell, I can’t give this speech as
well as you can. Why don’t you give it?
Called “A Time for Choosing,” Reagan proceeded to give a 30-
minute presentation that was described by veteran Washington
reporter David Broder as “the most successful national political
debut since William Jennings Bryan electrified the 1896
Democratic Convention with his ‘Cross of Gold’ speech.”
Goldwater called it “the best speech of the campaign.”
Reagan said, in part, “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.
We can preserve for our children this last best hope of man on
earth or we can sentence them to take the first step into a
thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children,
and our children’s children, say of us we justified our brief
moment here. We did all that could be done.” [If it sounds
familiar, well, that was the beauty of Ronald Reagan. He had an
idea of where he wanted to take us from early on and he didn’t
deviate from that path.]
So with that one speech, which raised oodles of cash for the
Republican Party, Reagan was on his way to being elected
governor of California in 1966.
Of course these were chaotic times for America. The days of
“Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” and Black
Panther H. Rap Brown saying, “Take up a gun and go shoot the
enemy.”
As governor, Reagan had an opportunity to confront the
protesters head on. The whole “Free Speech” movement
originated at Berkeley in 1964, after which it swept college
campuses across America. Reagan aide Dinesh D’Souza notes,
“Radicals saw themselves as apostles of civil rights, feminism,
and the sexual revolution…Students and radical professors
presented their cause as a moral crusade and portrayed their
opponents as bigots and warmongers.”
But Ronald Reagan saw these folks as ingrates “who wanted to
enjoy their country’s benefits but would not put themselves at
risk to defend its ideals.” [D’Souza]
Reagan had his well-established base, appealing to the middle
and lower-middle class electorate, many of whom were resentful
of the university students running wild. He was in the forefront
of the reaction against the counterculture…what would become
Nixon’s “Silent Majority.”
The president of the California University system was Clark
Kerr. When the whole “Free Speech” movement got started,
Kerr never once stood in its way. Take over a building, sure, go
right ahead. Disrupt classes for the kids who were there simply
to get an education, sure, go right ahead. In other words, Clark
Kerr undoubtedly would have been StocksandNews “Dirtball of
the Year” if I had had the opportunity to select him back then.
So when Reagan became governor, he attacked Kerr. Kerr, who
was lionized by the press, thought he was invincible. But at
Reagan’s first meeting with the Board of Regents, he told them
that if they fired Kerr, he would take the fallout. Kerr was fired.
Reagan’s critics always thought he was out of touch. Once he
was confronted by a group of hostile students who discounted
him for having grown up in “a different world.” Said one student
condescendingly, “Today we have a television, jet planes, space
travel, nuclear energy, and computers.” “You’re right,” replied
Reagan. “We didn’t have those things…we invented them.”
And the governor was never afraid to shy away from dialogue
with the dirty, unkempt kids who needed to take a bath. Or as he
used to put it upon meeting a typical student of those days, “He
had a haircut like Tarzan, walked like Jane, and smelled like
Cheetah.”
Once to a mob of protesters he remarked, “Their signs say make
love not war, but they didn’t look as if they could do either.”
And then to a bearded man who shouted, “We are the future,”
Reagan replied, “I’m selling my bonds.”
“Those bastards at Berkeley,” he would say, and their indulgence
in “sex, drugs and treason.”
Reagan abhorred the students and their contempt for the workers,
the middle class. And many of the radicals obviously despised
all American ideals. He was always siding with those he called
“the unpampered boys of the working class,” who responded to
the call when their nation needed them, yet encountered hostility
when they returned, as in the case of Vietnam.
As governor, Reagan used to hold receptions for returning POWs
at the mansion. They would thank him for his hospitality and he
would reply, “No, we’re here to thank you for all you’ve done
for us.”
[Sources: “Goldwater,” Barry Goldwater; “The Presidents,”
edited by Henry Graff; “American Heritage: The Presidents,”
Michael Beschloss; “A History of the American People,” Paul
Johnson; “America: A Narrative History,” Tindall and Shi;
“Ronald Reagan,” Dinesh D’Souza]
—
Stuff…catching up from last week.
–Jack Nicklaus made the cut at the PGA’s Memorial golf
tournament last weekend. Understand that Jack, 64, is the 2nd
oldest player in the history of the PGA to make the cut in a
regular tour event, the oldest being Sam Snead, who in 1969 at
the age of 67 made 4 cuts, including an authentic run at the PGA
Championship that year. Nicklaus shot 74-73-77-71.
Meanwhile, in this same tournament won by Ernie Els, his 14th
career PGA title, 50-year-old Jay Haas had another top ten, his
5th in 12 events this year, and Haas is now 10th in points for the
Ryder Cup. [The top ten automatically qualify.] Great stuff.
His son was college golfer of the year and finished 2nd at the
NCAA championships. Plus the kid graduated. [Wake Forest,
so the editor has to crow.]
Overall, Ernie Els is now 2nd in the official world golf rankings
to Tiger, trailing 12.99 to 10.71. Vijay Singh slipped to 3rd at
10.44. This coming U.S. Open promises to be fascinating with
these three battling it out along with Phil Mickelson.
Incidentally, I have a lot of readers in Columbus, Ohio and I just
have to tell you folks that back in the early 1980s I had the
opportunity to walk Muirfield (where the Memorial is held) and
thought that along with Shinnecock it was my favorite course in
the U.S.
–Sad but all too familiar tale in the Washington Post on
Wednesday. Mike Wise reports on how many NBA retirees are
struggling big time. According to the NBA’s Retired Players
Association, about 20% of the members need “real help.”
Executive director Mel Davis said he is trying to help three
players with “full-blown AIDS right now,” let alone the ones
with severe drug problems.
Of course the other sports have the same issue, such as baseball
which recently decided to grant pensions to 27 former Negro
League players who were excluded from playing in the majors.
The NBA has a respectable program for those who retired after
1965; an annual pension of $4,300 for each year played, up to 10
years, but it obviously could be far more. The great Walt Frazier
said, “Today’s players don’t care. Those guys aren’t likely to
give anything back (when the owners and players divvy up a new
$2.8 billion collective bargaining agreement). When I came into
the league I knew who George Yardley was. I knew who Guy
Rodgers, George Mikan and Bob Pettit were…When it comes to
NBA history with today’s players, a lot of them start with Dr. J
and go forward.”
But to be fair, many of the players really aren’t that bright and
their post-playing careers are a shambles. So if an established
pension plan is in place, just how much are today’s players really
responsible for the financial mistakes of those who came 20-30
years before? After reading Wise’s piece, those running the
Retired Players program, including Buck Williams (a class act)
are trying and some of the alumni are now receiving royalties on
the retro jersey craze. [Only 4%, but it’s a start.]
–Looks like sprinter Tim Montgomery will be banned from the
Summer Olympics for using steroids. Others now implicated
include sprinters Chryste Gaines, Michelle Collins and Alvin
Harrison; all world champions or Olympic medallists.
As reported in the L.A. Times, Montgomery has been accused of
using “multiple substances, including the designer steroid THG,
the blood-booster EPO and human growth hormone.” No word
on the fate of Marion Jones yet. The Olympic trials start on July
9 and all parties involved will have the hearing and appeal
process finished by then.
–In New York City, the luxury apartment market is defined as
$3 million and up. In April, 28 such units were sold and the new
TimeWarner Center has several under contract at $20 million.
Yes, $20 million. One went for $45 million.
–Follow-up to a past story: Former major league umpire Al
Clark was sentenced to 4 months in prison, plus 4 months house
arrest to go along with a $10,000 fine and $40,000 in restitution.
Clark is the fellow who sold bogus autographed baseballs from
classic games, such as Nolan Ryan’s 300th win, the day Cal
Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak, and the
1978 Yankees – Red Sox playoff game, all contests that Clark
umpired. He and an accomplice even rubbed up the balls in
authentic mud before passing them off as the real thing.
–But if you are looking for real baseball memorabilia, you may
want to check out www.memorabiliaroadshow.net, a new
company founded by one of my all time Mets favorites, Ed
Kranepool. USA Today had a piece the other day and you can
trust Kranepool to do it right. [Just checked it out myself, it’s got
some pretty cool stuff.]
–Well, it sure was depressing last Saturday after hearing of
Reagan’s passing and then watching Smarty Jones go up in
flames about two hours later. Smarty simply had to work too
hard at the start.
–The Baltimore Ravens currently have six players facing felony
charges, including superstar running back Jamal Lewis who was
arrested a few months ago for his role in a drug ring.
–Top dog names in New York City…Max, Lucky, Princess.
Now who would name their dog Lucky? Geezuz, that’s corny. I,
on the other hand, named my dog Ralph, after Mets broadcaster
and former baseball great Ralph Kiner. I also had two turtles at
one point that I named Bud and Ron, after Mets players Bud
Harrelson and Ron Swoboda, but then Ron ate Bud and it was
then I learned that turtles sucked as pets. [This was before we
also discovered they carried disease.]
–Rocker Ted Nugent, in his own words.
About women: I need to learn more about women. Women are
my Gods and drive me berserk more and more each and every
day.
About men: Men are pigs. I don’t even have to try to be a
gentleman. Compared to your average slug out there, they’re
making me look good.
About pop music: Look at Britney Spears. Her work ethic, her
dedication to her craft is perfect. Someone like Justin
Timberlake was put into a boys band because someone
auditioned him and figured this was a way to make money, but
the guy has got immense soul, immense talent. Britney will
never be a Christina Aguilera, because God has blessed Christina
with an amazing instrument in her voice. These are pop-culture
artists that could be easily and knee-jerkingly criticized, but I
have nothing but the greatest admiration for them.
[Source: American Thunder]
–Sixteen nations are vying for the coveted Euro 2004 football
title, with competition kicking off on Saturday in Portugal. My
projected winner is……………Czech Republic! [Others in the
tourney are Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Bulgaria, Denmark,
Sweden, Italy, France, England, Croatia, Switzerland, Portugal,
Spain, Russia and Greece.]
–Let’s see…who won the French Open? Why if it wasn’t
Russia’s Anastasia Myskina, the first Russian woman to win a
major title. The men’s champ was unseeded Gaston Gaudio of
Argentina. I guarantee 95% of you will forget these names by
tomorrow.
–Well, I have to admit I haven’t done much on hockey this year,
and with a large Canadian audience I owe you all an apology.
And here’s to the Tampa Bay Lightning!
Anyway, time for a hockey joke from Harry K.
Two guys from Toronto die and wake up in hell. The devil stops
in to check on them and sees them dressed in parkas, mittens and
toques warming themselves around the fire. The devil asks,
“Isn’t it hot enough for you?”
They reply, “Well, we’re from Canada, the land of snow and ice
and cold. We’re just happy for a chance to warm up a little bit,
eh.”
The devil decides they aren’t miserable enough and turns up the
heat. The next morning, there they are, still in parkas, toques and
mittens.
The devil asks again, “It’s awfully hot down here, can’t you guys
feel it?”
Again they reply, “Well, like we told ya, we’re from Canada,
land of ice and snow, and we’re just happy for a chance to warm
up a little, eh.”
This gets the devil steamed up. He cranks the heat up as high as
it will go. People are wailing and screaming. He finds the two
Canadians in light jackets, grilling sausages and drinking beer.
The devil is astonished. “Everyone down here is in misery, and
you two seem to be enjoying yourselves.”
The two Canadians reply, “We don’t get much warm weather in
Toronto. We’ve just got to have a cookout when the weather is
THIS nice.”
The devil is furious, and decides to turn all the heat off in hell.
The next morning, icicles are everywhere, people are unable to
do anything but wail, moan and gnash their teeth. The devil
smiles. He finds the two Canadians back in their parkas, toques
and mittens.
But now they are jumping up and down, cheering, yelling and
screaming like madmen! The devil is dumbfounded. “When I
turn up the heat you’re happy. Now it’s freezing and you’re still
happy. What is wrong with you two?”
The Torontonians look at the devil in surprise. “Don’t you know?
If Hell freezes over, it must mean the Leafs have won the Stanley
Cup!”
[Toronto hasn’t won since 1966-67; a rather lengthy drought for
these good folk who bring us some of the finest beer in the
world.]
–Dallas Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells said his team practices
“Jap plays,” referring to Pearl Harbor. He later apologized.
Idiot.
–The New York Times reports that if you’re a stripper, head to
Las Vegas, girl! [Actually, there are opportunities for guys, too,
but I choose not to think of this option.]
–Speaking of babes, when R.J. Reynolds exited NASCAR and
the Winston Cup, it also ended the reign of Miss Winston.
Frankly, some of us haven’t been the same since.
The first Miss Winston was Marilyn Green, 1971. Marilyn grew
up in Stokes County, N.C. and worked near RJR headquarters in
Winston-Salem.
[Back when I was in school at Wake Forest, there in Winston-
Salem, RJR used to ply the students with cigarettes when they
took the plant tour. But personally, I liked the Schlitz brewery
tour. On Fridays we used to cut……………….. Oops, better not
go there in case I need a reference from the school some day.]
Where were we? Oh yeah. Actually, Atlanta had a Miss Atlanta
International Speedway about 10 years earlier than the first Miss
Winston, an 18-year-old by the name of Linda Vaughn. As Bill
Baker writes in American Thunder, in a 1965 Esquire article on
stock car racing, Tom Wolfe wrote of Vaughn’s “big blonde hair
and blossomy breasts” and described her catcall-filled parade lap
prior to each race as “more of a ceremony by now than the
national anthem.”
Miss Winstons traveled the whole NASCAR circuit and they
were under strict rules not to date the drivers. Of course this was
broken more than a few times, such as most famously in the case
of Brooke Sealey marrying Jeff Gordon, which turned out to be a
big time disaster for Gordon, if you catch my drift.
Incidentally, many of the Miss Winstons spoke highly of the late
Dale Earnhardt, saying he was one of the nicest and most
gentlemanly of the group. A few of the girls have gone so far as
to refuse to watch a race since he was killed.
As for Marilyn Green, she ended up forming an agency that hired
all the future girls. By the way, your editor thinks Cielo Garcia,
Miss Winston 2002, was the best. Oh baby…………….
[New NASCAR sponsor Nextel hasn’t decided whether to
establish its own Miss Nextel. Why there is even a debate on
this is beyond me.]
–She shoots………….Scoorrrrres!
According to the New York Daily News, prosecutors are looking
into allegations that the wildly popular, upscale strip joint Scores
is pumping up credit card charges. I’m absolutely shocked!
One sap who sued the club said he was hit for $129,626 in
overcharges. You’re reading that right. A Scores spokesman
said a big part of the bill was the guy’s tips to 15 dancers who
partied with him until 4:00 AM.
“Each received $5,000 for their time, which is way more than
you have to give them,” the spokesman said. Plus the fellow
bought dinner and drinks for the playmates and generously
tipped others waiting on him.
Earlier this year, an insurance executive claimed he was given an
inflated bill of $28,000+ for champagne and lap dances. So I just
talked to my friend George and we decided………..oh, never
mind.
–Marc Anthony knocked up JLo, ergo the rushed wedding. We
give the marriage until March 13, 2005, though she’ll be
throwing china around by July 6.
–Uh oh……..according to my High Plains Journal, “Evidence of
rogue proteins associated with brain-wasting diseases has been
found in the leg muscles of sheep, the first such finding in
animals that enter the human food chain.” Also called prions,
they were never previously found in the muscle tissues of
animals whose meat is eaten by people. Scientists say not to
worry, though….which means we should be very worried.
Top 3 songs for the week of 6/11/66: #1 “Paint It, Black” (The
Rolling Stones) #2 “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your
Mind?” (The Lovin’ Spoonful) #3 “I Am A Rock” (Simon &
Garfunkel)
Detroit Tigers Quiz Answers: 1) Jack Morris is the last to lead
the A.L. in strikeouts, 232 in 1983. 2) Last 20-game winner: Bill
Gullickson, 20-9, 1991. 3) Last MVP? Willie Hernandez, 1984.
[Also won Cy Young that season.] 4) Last batting champ: Norm
Cash, .361, 1961. [Story was that Cash, a lifetime .271 hitter,
used a corked bat that year.] 5) Last rookie of the year: Lou
Whitaker, 2B, 1978. 6) The Tigers have won World Series titles
in 1935 (vs. Chicago), 1945 (vs. Chicago), 1968 (vs. St. Louis),
and 1984 (vs. San Diego).
Next Bar Chat, Tuesday.
