Wednesday, December 08, 2010
It Was 30 Years Ago Today...
Forgive the musical mixed allusion (and a borrowed title). But December 8th, 1980 is burned into my memory -- as it is for millions of others. I was one of many watching Monday Night Football -- and working on some long-forgotten report -- when Howard Cosell interrupted the telecast shortly before midnight with news that John Lennon had been shot and killed.
While I had heard before how ABC got the information (a newsdesk guy had been in a motorcycle accident and was in the same hospital when Lennon was brought in), I only just learned how close it was to not getting relayed to the MNF.
Go to the OTL link and click on the "Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell" segment. Amazingly, Cosell was the guy with the sports journalism background and Cosell was the "jock," Cosell didn't want to break in with the news!! During a commercial break, after getting the information from a producer, Cosell tells his colleagues off-air, "Fellas, I don't know. I'd like your opinion. I can't see this game situation [Miami and New England tied going into overtime.] allowing for this newsflash. Can you?" Gifford was the one with the right instincts and tells Cosell to go for it: "Don't hang on it. It's a tragic moment and this is going to shake up the whole world."
No kidding. One of the top musical voices of a generation had died in a shockingly violent manner -- in a manner as opposite from the philosophy he tried to convey through his life. That evening was in the winter of my senior year in high school. It was one of those moments when you start realizing how unpredictable and unfair life can be at times.
RIP
Labels: John Lennon, Monday Night Football
Friday, January 26, 2007
Any Sense, Abroad?
Yes, friends, our intrepid Speaker-of-the-House and the Man Who Wouldn't be King are braving afternoon teas and socials in the Southwest Asian desert so that they can "convey to our troops the appreciation of the American people for what they're doing ..."
Howzabout just sending a telegram?
I personally get sick of all these stupid politicos that put unnecessary strain on the security operations of our troops so that they can get their "Adventure Vacation" jollies on. There are MORE than enough military Public Affairs and Intelligence personnel to inform our Congressmen of anything they need to know. After all, what the heck will Pelosi and Murtha learn in pre-planned meetings with impotent Iraqi "leaders"? This Sunday on Meet The Press, we'll be treated to another dog-and-pony show on how the Democrats "feel the pain" of our troops (but not enough to bring them home). Murtha, at least, has some prior experience with Arabs ... well, faux Arabs.
Hey, Madame Speaker, if you really want to do a "Jane Byrne," why not stick around for a tour (seven months) and join our brave young Recon Marines on some daily convoys to Ramadi? THEN, I'll be impressed. Until then, stop wasting our tax money and go eat some bon-bons with Rosie and Babs on The View.
Which brings us to this week's other Retro Record Moment. A fitting song for what's really going on in Pelosi's head:
Labels: Democrats, Global War on Terror, John Lennon, John Murtha, Nancy Pelosi
