Houston Astros Quiz (1962-present): 1) Only player selected as
N.L. MVP? 2) Only rookie of the year? 3) Who are the three
pitchers to lead the league in strikeouts? 4) Who has the most
career wins? 5) What was the first year in the Astrodome? 6)
Who am I? I am in the top ten in hits with 1,139 and my initials
are B.D. Answers below.
The Truth
Folks, this is a Bar Chat Exclusive. The shark deaths reported by
the University of Florida and its International Shark Attack File
(ISAF) are severely undercounting the number of shark fatalities.
And how can your editor make such a claim? Stick with me.
But first, let’s take a step back.
From 1925-2004, the ISAF says that of the fatalities around the
world, about half were a result of Great White attacks, with the
other half being victims primarily of Tiger and Bull sharks.
To cite a few examples of country death tolls, there were 134
fatal attacks during this time period in Australian waters and 25
fatal attacks in Papua New Guinea. That’s what the ISAF data
tells us.
But when it comes to Vanuatu, where the 7-year-old girl was
killed by a possible great white last week (Bar Chat 6/28), the
ISAF says there has been only one fatal attack here, until last
week’s, since 1925 and that one was in 1997.
So here’s what you won’t find anywhere else….putting two and
two together.
From the New Zealand Herald, 6/25/05:
“A teacher in Vanuatu says he twice warned the family of the
New Zealand girl (Alysha) killed by a shark not to get into the
water…
“Mr. Tilison had paddled out in a canoe to Alysha’s parents’
yacht just after it pulled into the attractive white, sandy bay
where he lived, shortly before lunchtime on Wednesday.
“ ‘They had just dropped the anchor and jumped in for a swim,’
he said. ‘I went out and introduced myself and told them it was
not safe to swim in the sea.’
“Mr. Tilison said he made it clear that fishing boats came into the
bay to wash down, and the strong smell attracted sharks…
“ ‘I told them not to swim because here we do not swim in the
salt water. We swim in the fresh water, not on the beach.’…
“(Tilison) said there were local children in the water but they
were close to shore where it was safe….
“(Tilison) heard Alysha ask her mother if she could go for a
swim.
“ ‘Her mummy said, “It’s not safe” ….but she went for a swim
…after 10 minutes the shark attacked.’….
“Mr. Tilison said just two days earlier locals saw a great white
shark in the area. ‘It was a very big one…they thought it was the
same one.’”
But here’s the clincher….Mr. Tilison told the New Zealand
Herald’s Angela Gregory, “this was the fourth death he
remembered, the last three years ago.”
What?! Go back to the ISAF data. I thought Vanuatu had only
one fatal attack since 1925 and it was in 1997!
You know what this means, folks….the international tourism
industry, in paying off the ISAF, is hiding the true facts. The
death toll is considerably higher. No one should be leaving their
home, let alone come within 10 miles of the water. If we were
told the truth, the coastal real estate market would collapse,
banks would go under, and the world would be plunged into
depression.
Yes, I’m on the case, sports fans. We will not let this issue die.
A few final thoughts; aside from wishing the lad who lost his leg
in Florida the other day well. [This second attack off the
Panhandle occurred after I posted the last column.]
When I told Trader George of the Papua New Guinea shark
figures, he reminded me “Shark deaths here are like miner deaths
in China.” A brilliant analysis.
Trader George also asked the rhetorical question:
“What’s worse…being killed by a lion, tiger, grizzly bear or bull
shark?”
Good question, Trader George. Everyone has their own opinion
when it comes to something like this. I think that most, though,
would probably prefer a quick hit to the neck from a lion or tiger,
as opposed to a bull shark ripping half your torso off, first. But
the worst would be a grizzly, because it would go for the face.
And for submitting the question, Trader George receives the
home edition of “Bar Chat: The Game,” as soon as we get around
to producing it.
[By the way, Harry K., my resident wildlife expert up in the
Great White North, is recommending an old book on the
American West, “Seven Rivers West” by Edward Hoagland.
Harry says the grizzly bear scenes are amazing. And back in
1986 it received a terrific review in the New York Times.]
Stuff
–We note the passing of the great Shelby Foote at 88. It’s
amazing he didn’t really become a household name until he was
73 with the airing of Ken Burns’s titanic Civil War documentary.
But in reading one of his obituaries, I loved the story of how he
was basically a recluse in his hometown of Memphis, with little
interest in parties and public gatherings.
“Most people, if truth be told, are gigantic bores. There’s no
need to subject yourself to that kind of thing.”
–I only have one comment about the NBA draft. ACC, baby. 7
of the top 22 picks were ACC players, including one that was
only 3rd team all conference, Rashad McCants, and one that was
merely honorable mention, Marvin Williams, the #2 player taken
overall.
–So I’m looking at the Live 8 concert lineup this Saturday and
two of the sites stand out. Hyde Park, London, which is slated to
have U2, Paul McCartney, a Pink Floyd reunion, The Who,
Madonna, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Sting, and Coldplay…and
…Barrie, Ontario, which will be showcasing Motley Crue,
Barenaked Ladies, Deep Purple, Bryan Adams, and, what got
me, the Bachman-Cummings Band. Bachman-Cummings?
Yup, remember that Randy Bachman was a founding member of
the Guess Who along with Burton Cummings (and others).
Bachman (and his brother, Robbie) then left Guess Who in 1970
because they couldn’t deal with their band mates’ partying ways
(the Bachmans being Mormons and such), and so by 1972 you
had Bachman-Turner Overdrive. So the new Bachman-
Cummings Band offers the possibility of one helluva set, playing
off the success of both.
From the Guess Who you have the following top tens while
Randy Bachman was still on board.
#6 “These Eyes”
#10 “Laughing”
#5 “No Time”
#1 “American Woman”
#10 “Share The Land”
Then you have BTO’s top twenty hits….
#12 “Takin’ Care Of Business”
#1 “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
#14 “Roll On Down The Highway”
Plus #23 “Let It Ride” (how could this not be top ten?) and #21
“Hey You”.
Back to Live 8….before my Philly readers get all ticked off, yes,
the Philadelphia lineup is darn good, too.
Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Destiny’s Child, Jay-
Z, P. Diddy, Rob Thomas, and Keith Urban.
Oh, what the heck….let me critique the rest.
The only reason to go to Versailles, Paris, is to see Shakira.
Circus Maximus, Rome…Duran Duran (gag), plus Faith Hill and
Tim McGraw. Hell, you can see these last two on CMT.
Johannesburg: Bunch of no-names…unless I’m supposed to
know who Jabu Khanyile and Bayete are.
Brandenberg Gate, Berlin: Green Day, Brian Wilson, Die Toten
Hosen….actually, that one could be OK, if Brian Wilson
remembers where to go.
Lastly, Edinburgh (July 6)….not even worth mentioning, unless
you’re an Annie Lennox fan.
But for my older readers out there, I came up with a lineup just
for you….we’ll stick them at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller
Center.
Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Jerry Vale, Al
Martino, Vic Damone, the surviving Ink Spot (assuming there is
one), Waylan and Madam, Senor Wences… sorry, getting carried
away here….plus half these folks are probably no longer with us.
–Chet Helms died the other day. Along with fellow rock
promoter Bill Graham (not to be confused with the Rev. Billy
Graham), Helms is credited with the Summer of Love, 1967, as
well as uniting Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding
Company. Said Barry Melton, lead guitarist for Country Joe and
the Fish, “Without Chet, there would be no Grateful Dead, no
Big Brother and the Holding Company, no Jefferson Airplane, no
Country Joe and the Fish, no Quicksilver Messenger
Service….He made the scene what it was.” Far out!
So when you think of the Summer of Love, which is mostly
associated with San Francisco, where Helms and Graham
smoked their dope, what were we listening to? For this I turn to
my Billboard Hot 100 charts….July 29, 1967…you know, to try
and hit the middle.
[It was such a good year I just realized I recently looked at
6/17/67. Oh well, it won’t hurt you to see some of these again.]
1. Light My Fire – Doors
2. I Was Made To Love Her – Stevie Wonder
3. Windy – Association
4. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli
5. A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
6. Little Bit O’ Soul – Music Explosion
7. Mercy Mercy Mercy – Buckinghams [These guys were
underrated….I don’t care what some of my friends say.]
8. White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
9. Up, Up And Away – 5th Dimension
10. C’mon Marianne – Four Seasons
11. San Francisco (‘Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair”) – Scott
McKenzie
13. Come On Down To My Boat – Every Mother’s Son
16. Carrie Ann – Hollies
19. A Girl Like You – Young Rascals
24. Pleasant Valley Sunday – Monkees
26. Society’s Child – Janis Ian
27. Don’t Sleep In The Subway – Petula Clark
29. All You Need Is Love – Beatles
38. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Terrell
40. Let’s Live For Today – Grass Roots
43. (I Wanna) Testify – Parliaments (George Clinton)
65. Gentle On My Mind – Glen Campbell
67. You Keep Me Hanging On – Vanilla Fudge
78. Brown-Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
83. Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie – Jay & The Techniques
95. The Look Of Love – Dusty Springfield…awesome (from
“Casino Royale”)
And at #130…Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix Experience
–The 2008 Summer Olympics are slated for August and since
Beijing cannot guarantee an “equine disease-free zone,” the
equestrian events may be moved to Hong Kong. So that has
experts there all in a tizzy because it is normally extremely warm
and humid that time of year. In other words, the horses could
die. Or as one fellow put it in the South China Morning Post:
“Will horses which come from cooler climes like Europe be able
to cope?”
So I’m thinking, start putting your money on the Arabians. Your
editor is checking to see if the betting windows are open yet.
–The New York Post’s Mark Cannizzaro had a good point about
last weekend’s U.S. Women’s Open. Sure, Birdie Kim’s
spectacular shot at the 72nd hole was a thrill and all, but the
LPGA has to be dying that 17-year-old sensation Morgan Pressel
didn’t capture the title, let alone 15-year-old Michelle Wie. But
at least these two should be fixtures on tour for decades to come.
[Wie, though, wants to play with the men.]
It’s Annika Sorenstam that came up short, big time. The
publicity that would have been generated if Annika had won the
third leg of the grand slam would have been tremendous.
Instead, no one is going to care about the last women’s major.
Personally, I’m hoping for a ca- ………oh, never mind.
–Arnold Palmer has a very talented grandson, Sam Saunders,
who is a rising senior in high school. Young Sam, Arnie assured
us Wake alums, was going to Wake Forest. But noooooooo…
the kid has already committed to Clemson. Boooooo Booooooo!
–Speaking of golf, am I the only one who noticed what Gary
Player did the other day…even as I myself forgot to note it last
time? In the final round of the Champions Tour event, Player,
age 69, shot a 68. Pretty awesome, in my book.
–Maria Sharapova’s grunting is bordering on obscene. We’ll
give her a pass through Wimbledon, however. Then we’ll have
to reevaluate.
–The Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Wilcox was arrested and
charged with carrying an unregistered gun in his car after a
traffic stop. There were spent shell casings in his vehicle. Ask
me why I’m not surprised?
Top 3 songs for the week of 7/2/77: #1 “Gonna Fly Now
(Theme From “Rocky”) (Bill Conti) #2 “Undercover Angel”
(Alan O’Day) #3 “Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1) (Marvin Gaye)
Houston Astros Quiz Answers: 1) Only MVP: Jeff Bagwell,
1994. 2) Only rookie of the year: Jeff Bagwell, 1991. 3)
Pitchers to lead league in strikeouts: J.R. Richard (1978, ‘79),
Mike Scott (1986), Nolan Ryan (1987, ‘88). 4) Wins, career: Joe
Niekro, 144. 5) The Astrodome opened for baseball in 1965.
Last season was 1999. 6) Bill Doran finished his career with
1,139 hits in an Astros uniform.
Astros tidbits:
This truly is a pitiful franchise. No World Series appearances, no
batting champs, the longest hitting streak is 24 (Tony Eusebio,
2000), and the record for RBI in a single game is just 7.
But strangely, Houston hurlers have thrown ten no-hitters (the
Mets, by contrast, are still looking for their first).
Next Bar Chat, Tuesday. [Posted Monday the 4th.] Enjoy the
holiday weekend, friends.
