I can't say that I remember where I was when Lenny Bias died, but I can say that my dad used to talk an awful lot about how sad it was, and preventable. I don't remember hearing that much about how the revelations of his poor academic performance changed things at Maryland, but it seems it was a big deal, and still is. I can only hope that the 20th anniversary of his death will remind kids about the lessons that many people learned following this tragedy.
Posted by Mike at June 19, 2006 09:14 AMI was a heartbroken 7 year old with 65,000 questions about why my favorite basketball player was dead...devastating.
Lots of articles today. This one is interesting. Just a different take on the whole thing.
Posted by: Pat at June 19, 2006 01:13 PMOther reasons today sucks balls:
- Stephen King survuved his hit-and-run car accident on this day in 1999, meaning in a year or two we'll actually get that book about an evil killer lamp.
- Garfield was first published on this day in 1978. It was also first funny on this day in 2004.
- The first sanctioned NASCAR race was run. The first entertaining race is slated for March 2028. It will be all-hovercar.
- In a remarkable coincidence, Lou Gherig caught a termianl sickness from a guy with his exact same name on this day in '39.
- The eight-hour work day was established on this day in 1912. That sounds awful, but I believe the work day was 26 hours during the Industrial Revolution, so maybe we came out on top with this one.
- The first-ever "modern rules" baseball game was played in Hoboken today, 1846. I believe it's currently 6-4 in the top of the 7th.
- Neils Bohr was born, and thereafter schoolchildren everywhere are desined to a miserable life of circles and half-pieces of styrofoam balls.
- Sam Giancana died on this day. He is currently alive and well in a suburb of Weehauken, Wisconsin.
Posted by: Chris at June 19, 2006 01:33 PMIt has come to my attention that Weehauken is in New Jersey. And it's spelled Weehawken. Whatever, like Wisconsin, Jersey, or Sam Giancanna are important anyway. I can live without cheddar, pollution, and two points above the vig.
Posted by: Chris at June 22, 2006 03:29 PM