News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
When the Irish Ruled the Ring By Joe Guzzardi The date; Sept. 7, 1892; the place, New Orleans, the event, the World Heavy Weight title battle; the challenger, John J. Corbett; the champion, John L. Sullivan No Super Bowl has so captivated the nation’s attention and aroused its passion more than the bout between Gentleman … Continue reading “When the Irish Ruled the Ring”
Ted Williams Rescues Bush 41 Campaign By Joe Guzzardi Baseball fans recognize Ted Williams as one of the sport’s all-time Cooperstown Hall of Fame legends, a fearless pilot who served in the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps during World War II and in Korea. Less well-known is that Ted is also a … Continue reading “Ted Williams Rescues Bush 41 Campaign”
The Disease That Killed Roger Maris; September Is Lymphoma Awarness Month By Joe Guzzardi During the waning weeks of September 1961, New York Yankees right fielder Roger Maris pulled away from teammate Mickey Mantle in the summer-long race to win the American League home run title. The tension surrounding their pursuit to break Babe Ruth’s … Continue reading “The Disease That Killed Roger Maris; September Is Lymphoma Awarness Month”
Mickey Mantle’s Regrets By Joe Guzzardi In 1994, a year before his death from alcohol-induced cirrhosis, hepatitis C and inoperable liver cancer, Mickey Mantle gave a remorseful interview to Sports Illustrated. The New York Yankees superstar center fielder and first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee recounted his life as an alcoholic with brutal candor. Mantle admitted that … Continue reading “Mickey Mantle’s Regrets”
Opening Day 1923 In The House That Ruth Built By Joe Guzzardi Opening Day, 1923, a century ago, dawned cloudy and cold. Babe Ruth woke up in his plush Upper West Side Ansonia Hotel apartment and prepared to play the first-ever game in the brand-new edifice that would become known as the “House that Ruth … Continue reading “Opening Day 1923 In The House That Ruth Built”
Don Zimmer Married At Home Plate By Joe Guzzardi During Don Zimmer’s 66-year career in professional baseball, the scrappy infielder shook Babe Ruth’s hand, posed for pictures with Clark Gable and Lana Turner, played with Brooklyn Dodgers’ Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella, played as a New York Mets for Casey Stengel, managed … Continue reading “Don Zimmer Married At Home Plate”
Cotton Bowl QB Set Unbreakable Record By Joe Guzzardi Sports’ fans love to compile lists of accomplishments that are unlikely to be equaled. Here’s a sampling. On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain, then playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, scored 100 points against the New York Knicks. In 1946, the Cincinnati Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer tossed … Continue reading “Cotton Bowl QB Set Unbreakable Record”
Minor League Victory Was Major Labor Win By Joe Guzzardi Midway during the Major League Baseball owners’ lockout of its players, I promised myself that I was done. No more universal DH, ghost runner, launch angles, tender limbs, watered down Hall of Fame standards and – most of all – no more haggling between the … Continue reading “Minor League Victory Was Major Labor Win”
John Philip Sousa Baseball Ace, Happy 4th Of July By Joe Guzzardi In the mid-19th century, John Philip Sousa was one of America’s biggest “base ball” bugs, as fans were then called. In his autobiography, “Marching Along,” Sousa, born in 1854, described the joy baseball had imparted to him since way back to the Civil War. Abner Doubleday, … Continue reading “John Philip Sousa Baseball Ace, Happy 4th Of July”
Tom Seaver Returned To New York A Winner By Joe Guzzardi When Washington Nationals’ 23-year-old Juan Soto rejected a 13-year, $350 million contract, he unwittingly exposed why MLB fans have had enough. By today’s ludicrous payroll standards, $350 million isn’t enough money for a kid who grew up in the Dominican Republic where the per capital income … Continue reading “Tom Seaver Returned To New York A Winner”