Thanks for merging these Lou, just as I was going to do that my door bell rang and it was a friend I hadn't seen in about six years and we fell to talking. Forgot all about doing the merge myself. So thanks again.
Yesterday, or some days passed, a death occurred of Great Renown. The Greatest entertainers in their field in their hayday, now, sadly deceased. What died in the past two days was more a legend than Arthur, more brilliant than Elizabeth the First. Does anyone know who or what I'm referring to? R.I.P. ENGLISH FOOTBALL Not only did they go down, they went down to a country known to have the most boring and corrupt football in Europe. A side who will happily take the lead 1 to nil, and then muck about in their own half for the next 80 minutes. Italian Football is well known for match fixing, and I am ashamed to say they managed to pull down England in the first round. Incredulous. So, may English football lie down and die. The glittering promise they show before every world cup lies undisturbed by brilliance of performance. We should resurrect Bobby Charlton's Hairpiece as a talisman, and take it to every game, prominently out front of the team for the national anthem to give us any chance in the future. Lets see these overpaid bums give back some of their high salaries now, for disappointing the general majority. Useless lot. British soldiery did not shrink before Italian attacks at El Alemain! Get Rid of the team en-mass! Give 90% of your salaries to charities that have nothing to do with promoting bloody football! USELESS ENGLAND!!!!!
In an era of egotistic bombast the Sports World lost an icon. Rare is the celebrity who willingly took the time to sign an autograph, never ask to be paid for it and espoused others to treat the fans as equals. Arnold Palmer passed away at the age of 87. Rest In Peace.
Arnold Palmer reportedly took great pride in the fact that his autograph had little monetary value on the sports memorabilia circuit as there were so many of them out there.
Australian cricketer Max Walker died today aged 68, long battle with cancer. He bowled in 34 tests taking 138 wickets. Affectionately known as "Tangles" (a bowling reference) Walker was much loved in the community...a larakin Australian and a champ RIP
One of my idols growing up...Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers at 85. Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers legend, dies at age 85
Just a couple of weeks ago we lost Diego, and now we hear Paolo Rossi has died. The stars of WC soccer -82 and -86 are gone. R.I.P Diego! R.I.P. Paolo!
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died at the age of 73. The Frenchman managed the Reds from 1998-2004 and led them to five major trophies, including the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup treble in 2000-01. Prior to Liverpool, Houllier managed Lens, Paris St-Germain and the French national team, and after leaving the Reds won two Ligue 1 titles at Lyon. R:I: Gerard!
Hannu Mikkola is dead... Rallying great Mikkola dies aged 78 Finland's rallying great Hannu Mikkola has died at the age of 78. He won the world title in 1983 at the wheel of an Audi Quattro and was runner-up in the championship three times. Mikkola also claimed his home 1,000 Lakes event on a record seven occasions. "We lost my father Hannu to cancer this weekend. Most knew him as a rallying great who ushered in the golden years of the sport," said his son Vesa. The 2003 world champion Petter Solberg was among those to pay tribute. "Really sad to hear the news about Hannu Mikkola - he was a legend, a proper gentleman, a real champion, and a great father to great kids. Sending all my condolences to his family and friends. RIP," he said on Twitter. R.I.P. Hannu!
This last year has been a dreadful one for England's 1966 World Cup champions. Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, and reserve Norman Hunter have all died and Jack's brother Bobby has been diagnosed with dementia, the fifth member of the squad to come down with that condition. Just awful.
Since the beginning of 2020, eight members of the Baseball Hall of Fame have died: Whitey Ford, Al Kaline, Lou Brock, Joe Morgan, Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, Tommy Lasorda, and Tom Seaver. Of them all, I think Lasorda and Seaver meant the most to me personally and as a fan. Lasorda was an old Brooklyn Dodger and a Pennsylvanian from the Philly area. I have family from that area and Lasorda had all the best characteristics of his native region. He was tough, sharp-tongued, honest, unpretentious, emotional, sentimental, and a whole lot smarter than anyone ever gave him credit for. Too many people regarded him as a clown and while he was that he was also an outstanding manager and a great motivator of his players. During the 1980s, the great era of baseball parity, the Dodgers were the only team in either league to win two world championships, each time beating more heavily favored AL opposition. Lasorda was also a master of profanity and a natural performer who was funny as hell. He was, in short, a gas, and I miss him. Tom Seaver...well, I wasn't a baseball fan when I was a little kid in New York (I was too deep into WWII comic books) but even I knew who Tom Seaver was. You couldn't be a New Yorker then and not know who and what he was. He was a symbol, a beacon of light in a city which was going through the darkest time in its history. I know people who knew Tom's family, and the amazing (or amazin') thing is that the symbol and the man were not different. Seaver really was Mister Perfect, a life-long high achiever who did not know how to be anything else because everyone in his family was the same way. He was one of the most intelligent and articulate people in baseball and the epitome of class. There were no bad stories about Tom Seaver, no drug or sex or crime or cheating scandals. Yet he was never starchy or stiff or self-righteous, quite the contrary. He was relaxed, human, approachable, with a great little-kid laugh. Between them, Seaver and Lasorda exemplified for me all the best things about baseball and some of the best things about the human race.
'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler : Former undisputed middleweight world champion dies aged 66 https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/56390270 Former undisputed middleweight world champion 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler has died at the age of 66. The American dominated the middleweight division from 1979 until his controversial defeat by Sugar Ray Leonard in April 1987. "Today, unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire," his wife Kay Hagler said. Hagler fought 67 times during his 14-year professional career, winning 62. He triumphed on 52 occasions by knockout, while he drew two and lost three times. In September 1980, Hagler fought Britain's Alan Minter at Wembley Stadium to claim his first world titles, winning the WBA and WBC belts. His most famous fight came in April 1985 when he fought Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns over three brutal rounds - a classic known as 'The War'. Hagler made 12 successful title defences until his defeat by Leonard by a split decision and he retired a year later. ------------------- R.I.P. Marvin!
Jean-Pierre Adams: Former France international dies after 39 years in coma Ex-France player dies after 39-year coma Adams was admitted to hospital for knee surgery in March 1982 but never regained consciousness after an error with his supply of anaesthetic. Born in Senegal, the defender made more than 140 appearances for Nice and also played for Paris St-Germain.