Browsing: Sports

A Brief History On February 13, 2022, ironically during Black History Month, the National Football League is making a mockery of American society by featuring ill-advised radical and divisive racial aspects to the sport they like to think of as our “National Pastime.”  We call upon all decent Americans to send a strong message to the NFL by boycotting this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. Digging Deeper A lot of the substance for our displeasure with the NFL stems from the “entertainment” scheduled for half-time and some of the ads to be aired during the game, one of which is…

A Brief History On December 31, 2021, we take a look back at the year that is just ending, with no particular reason for optimism.  The pandemic continued, political division in the United States remained high, (as always) many significant people died, and some of my favorite television shows were cancelled!  (Obviously we are only scratching the surface of our selected topics, so feel free to make your own comments and observations about 2021 to expand the “big picture.”)  Former President Trump got booted from Twitter!  Yes, and the weather sucked, too. Digging Deeper Late breaking bad news: Terrible wildfire…

A Brief History On May 3, 1952, the Kentucky Derby, probably the most famous and prestigious horse racing event in the United States, was first broadcast on television.  Today, we take a look at when significant events first made their television debut.  As always, feel free to nominate an event or events you believe belong on this list. Digging Deeper First Sporting Event, 1936 For this particular historic first, it is fitting that the Olympics takes the honors of being first.  In this case, we refer to the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany.  Since there were no privately…

A Brief History On March 22, 1978, Karl Wallenda of the famous “Flying Wallendas” family of risk takers and circus performers, tragically died during a daring high wire stunt, falling to his death from a high wire strung between 2 hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Digging Deeper Born into a circus family in Germany in 1905, Karl founded the troupe that became “The Great Wallendas,” a name that was changed in the 1940’s when the popular press kept referring to the family by the “Flying Wallendas” tag.  The original crew included Karl, his future wife, his brother Herman, and…

A Brief History On February 8, 1960, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was officially opened with the placement of the first 8 brass and terrazzo stars in the famous sidewalk.  The Walk of Fame would almost immediately become a tourist favorite and a treasured honor to have one’s name placed in the sidewalk at Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. in Hollywood, California.  Thus starts our previous article on the subject, and today we take a look back at the marvelous things we have today that we did not have when this author was born.  Imagine living without some of these…