R.I.P John Chaney

John Chaney was well on his way to having a successful coaching career before he become the coach at Temple. Ten seasons at Division II Cheyney State and the Coach had put together a 225-59 record. He finished first in his conference nine out of ten years. He even garnered a National Championship at that level and was named Coach of the Year.

In basketball loving Philadelphia Chaney became the Coach of the Temple Owls. In a 24 year career at Temple he compiled a 516-253 record. He was named Coach of the Year in 1988. His teams won eight regular season conference titles and six conference tournament championships.

A 741-312 record as a head coach earned him inductions in the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Collee Basketball Hall of Fame. The great coach passed away January 29, 2021 at the age of 89.

He will be missed by his fans, friends and family.

R.I.P Cicely Tyson

 Cicely Tyson is a Kennedy Center Honoree actress who passed away at the age of 96. I don't know why I lead off with that statement. It was the one I chose but there are many choices to introduce this award winning actress. Television Hall of Fame Member,  Tony Award winning, Peabody Award winning, Academy Award winning, and three time Emmy Award winning actress would also work. 

Here she is being presented an honorary Oscar from Whoopi Goldberg...

Her award winning works include The Trip to Bountiful, The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Interesting trivia she was married to jazz great Miles Davis for about seven years.

Tyson will be missed by her friends, family and fans.

R.I.P Larry King

 Larry King was probably the best interviewer of my life time and haps all time. He won Peabody Awards for his radio and television shows. King was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the Broadcasters' Hall of Fame. 

Here he interviews Gaddafi 

His interview with Prince..

My examples of his interviews show the great contrast in guests he interviewed. The 87 year old entertainment icon passed away due to Covid-19. He will be missed by his fans, friends and family.

R.I.P Hank Aaron

 Hank Aaron's baseball career ended probably before I discovered baseball. He was the Home Run King most of my life. He earned that title, in a different time, and earning it meant something. He endured stuff he shouldn't have had to when he broke the record. His homerun record broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds. Looking back I don't think it meant as much as when  Hank set the bar. 

Hank Aaron was a 25 time All Star. He is still the all time leader in runs batted in, extra base hits, and total bases. Obviously a Hall of Fame player. A class act. 

                                               Home Run 715

A sports legend, a hero, who will be missed by his fans, family and friends. 

Battle of the Bands: Predictable Results on a Stairway to Heaven

I knew Heart's version of Stairway to Heaven would be hard to beat. As Birgit pointed out "They really belted it out in front of Robert Plant no less at the Kennedy Center Honors ."  I will add in front of Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones too! 

I'm not sure this version from the last time they reunited would have won?

I felt Mary J Blige had something. She didn't shorten the song to single length but she tweaked the arrangement to fit her with more of a pop sensitivity that Zeppelin wouldn't have cared about. She also brought in her all stars. 

In the end Heart prevailed 5 to 2, but Mary J Blige did challenge. I'm glad the voters returned for this Battle. 

Here Heart does their version of "Black Dog"

"Barracuda"

I'll be back on the 1st with a brand new Battle.  I have 10 days to think of something. 

Come back and vote on the new Battle and tell your friends! 

Phillips Rivers Calls it a Career

 Phillips Rivers just completed his 17 season in the NFL. 2020 was his first season with the Indianapolis Colts and his last in the NFL. His first 16 years in the National Football League he spent with the San Diego Chargers. He qualified for the playoffs seven times but never reached the Super Bowl.

Rivers has thrown the most touchdowns and for the most yards for a quarterback to never reach the big game. He was an eight time Pro Bowler and many consider a future Hall of Famer.

Below are some his highlights...

He will be missed by his fans. The Colts will look for a new quarterback, and time will tell when he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame.

R.I.P Don Sutton

Baseball Hall of Fame member and four time All-Star pitcher Don Sutton died yesterday at the age of 75 due to cancer.  He pitched for 23 seasons in the major leagues mostly with the Los Angeles Dodgers where his number 20 jersey is retired. Sutton also pitched for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and California Angels.

He was a 300 game winner pitching 324 wins in his career. He only had one 20 win season. However he pitched five no hitters and 58 shutouts. He also threw 3574 strikeouts during his successful career. In his post playing career Sutton was elected to the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame as a broadcaster.

                                                 His Hall of Fame induction speech...

A tribute from MLB Tonight...

Don Sutton will be missed by his family, friends, and fans. 

R.I.P Coach Tony Ingle

 If you are a BYU Cougar basketball fan you might have heard of Tony Ingle. He was an assistant coach from 1989 to 1996. He was an interim head coach for part of a season going 0-19. He started his coaching career at Gordon and then Alabama-Huntsville. 

Obviously 0-19 was not good for his career and he was replaced. His hoops career continued as a scout for the NBA Utah Jazz. He went on to coach Kennesaw State where he won an NCAA Division II Championship and finished his career at Dalton State where he won an NAIA Championship.

His death was related to complications with Covid-19. He will be missed by his family, friends and those he coached! 

R.I.P Tanya Roberts

 Actress Tanya Roberts passed away on January 4th at the age of 65. Her career she wen from model, to Charlie's Angel, to Bond girl, to housewife on "That 70s Show."

A clip from "A View to a Kill"

A clip from "That 70's Show"

She had a successful career starring in movies and television. She will be missed by her family, friends and fans.

Phil Spector has passed away

 Phil Specter has passed away at the age of 81 in prison for murder. His death was probably Covid-19 related. I hope the victim's family gets peace and comfort with his passing. 

He was a musician, songwriter, guitarists founder Teddy Bears who had a number one hit with  "To Know Him is to love Him." 

At 21 he became the youngest record label owner when he co-founded Philles Records. He wrote songs, co-wrote, produced for artists like Ike and Tina Turner and The Ronettes to name a few.

After a short retirement he came back to the music world in a big way. Producing The Beatles "Let it Be" album and solo efforts by George Harrison and John Lennon. 

He won a Grammy Award, he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and National Day of Service

 In times like these our Nation can use more Days of Service. I don't care what your skin color, religious belief, or political affiliation. I guarantee your community, neighboring community, state, region, country, world all could use a helping hand to make it better. Here is a day dedicated to it. If you have to work today maybe it will plant a seed for you to volunteer or find a way to give back. 

I have to work today but I have volunteered over 32 hours this month so far. I am planning to do more during the year. My point is if we all did a little we could make the world better for everyone. You could enjoy those improvements. Other people of different colors, religious beliefs, political affiliations could enjoy them too. I think Martin Luther King Jr would look down from heaven and smile at the changes.

R.I.P Siegfried Fischbacher

 Siegfried Fischbacher, better known as one half of the duo Siegfried &Roy. Siegfried lost his partner last year and this week lost his battle with cancer. He was an illusionist, magician, animal handler, and showman.

                                              A tribute from "People Magazine"

The couple were icons in Las Vegas. Masters of entertainment until an accidental attack by a tiger on Roy derailed their show. The world will miss the legend. However he is back with his partner may he rest in peace.  

Battle of the Bands: Stairway to Heaven

I most have lost my mind taking an epic, masterpiece like Stairway to Heaven and use it on a Battle of the Bands. It's worse than playing the song in a guitar store. What's worse is one of the cover versions I plan to use many regard as the best one. So this nut job of a blogger thinks he has a version that can compete! Well I think I have one. What I think and how the votes come in can be quite different. I've had nail biters, ties, blowouts, and shutouts so let's start this riot.

Since the song is pretty long I am not going to dig out the original. I'm pretty sure everyone has probably heard Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.  If you haven't go check out their fourth album.

Heart with Jason Bonham

Mary J Blige 

Mary like Heart has some help on this song. Mary has the guitars of Steve Vai and Orianthi.  

Heart or Mary. Let me know in the comments. I'll write about the winner in a week or so.

My Rankings After the 2020 NCAA Football Season

 I used to do rankings just for fun on this blog but it has been a while. I thought I would do so for this football season.

1) Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) they one the National Championship Game

2) Texas A&M Aggies  (9-1) won the Orange Bowl only loss to Alabama.

3) Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) lost the National Championship game.

4) Clemson Tigers (10-2) lost to Ohio State in the semi finals

5) Oklahoma Sooners (9-2) crushed Florida in the Orange Bowl

6) Georgia Bulldogs (8-2) beat Cincinnati in the Peach.

7) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2) lost to Alabama in the semi finals

8) Cincinnati Bearcats (9-1) lost to Georgia in the Peach

9) Iowa State Cyclones (9-3) beat Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl

10) BYU Cougars (11-1) beat up on Central Florida in the Boca Rotan Bowl

11) Northwestern Wildcats (7-2) beat Auburn in the Citrus Bowl

12) Liberty Flames (10-1) beat Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl in overtime

13) Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (11-1) lost to Liberty in the Cure Bowl

14) Florida Gators (8-4) lost to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl

15) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-1) won the First Responders Bowl

16) Indiana Hoosiers (6-2) lost Outback Bowl to Ole Miss

17) North Carolina Tar Heels (8-4) lost to Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl

18) Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) won last six

19) Texas Longhorns (7-3) won the Alamo Bowl over Colorado

20) Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-3) beat Miami in the Cheez It Bowl

21) Miami Hurricanes (8-3) lost to Oklahoma State in the Cheez It Bowl

22) USC Trojans (5-1) lost to Oregon in the PAC10 Championship game

23) Ball State Cardinals (7-1) beat San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl

24) Buffalo Bills (6-1) beat Marshall in the Camellia Bowl

25) San Jose State (7-1) lost to Ball State in the Arizona Bowl

It was a weird season with Covid-19. Teams usually play a 12 game season and that did not happen. 

Congrats to the Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide won the National Title Game dominating Ohio State 52-24. Ohio State was number three heading into the playoffs, Alabama beat number Four  Notre Dame the week before. The Crimson Tide's only close game was in the SEC Championship game where they beat Florida 52-46. 

Over the season they crushed ranked teams like Texas A&M and Georgia. Finishing the season with a 13-0 record. In a challenging year Nick Saban was able to keep his team focus, maximized his talent and earned another Championship. Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Highlights from the game....

R.I.P Tommy Lasorda

 Tommy Lasorda managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for 20 years. His teams won two World Series titles, four National League championships, and his teams won eight division titles. His number was retired by the Dodgers and he became a Hall of Fame inductee based on his success as a manager.

Here is his induction speech for the Hall of Fame...

Here he is on Conan O'Brien

At 93 he lived a long life most of it spent in baseball. Baseball lost a legend. He will be missed by his family, friends and fans. 

Battle of the Bands Results: These Days

 Between Nico's version and Gregg Allman's version Jackson Browne changed the arrangement of These Days. I am just amazed Jackson Browne wrote this song when he was 16.

Enough trivia lets get to the results. Gregg Allman won three votes to one. In a week I will be putting up a new battle. In the mean time we celebrate Gregg Allman.

   "Come and Go Blues"

"I'm No Angel"

and here Gregg performs "These Days" with Jackson Browne

I hope you enjoyed the Battle stay tuned for my next Battle on the 15th!

Farewell Mary Ann

 Dawn Wells passed away on December 30, 2021. She was best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the 60s sitcom Gilligan's Island. 

A clip from that show...

She was a beauty queen being named Miss Nevada in 1959.  She appeared in several shows before and after her years on the island. However nothing came close to the success, fame, or number of episodes that her role of being lost on the island would bring.  

She was a sex symbol too as "Mary Ann or Ginger" was a question many men pondered. 

She will be missed by her fans, friends and family may she rest in peace.

Battle of the Bands: These Days

 Happy New Year! I made it through December and 2020. I'm still doing the Battle of the Bands, Still doing it the old fashioned way and I'm still finding songs. I found this song probably in 2019, I may have heard it before but it stuck around with me.

                                                  The song is "These Days" written by Jackson Browne

The rules are simple, I pick a song in this case "These Days,"  then I select a couple of covers. You listen to the covers and tell me which one you like the best in the comments. I count out the votes and post a winner in a week or so in a new post.

Contestant One: Nico

Contestant Two: Gregg Allman

I hope you enjoyed the battle and I will see you again soon!

o