Bottom of the Bird Cage 5/14
It’s the 134th of the year.
On May 14, 1607 the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia was settled. In 1804 on this day, Lewis & Clark left Camp Dubois in Hartford, Illinois on their first journey up the Missouri River.
In 1944, the man who created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, movie director George Lucas was born. In 1992, Lyle Alzado died from brain cancer at the age of 43. He believed his cancer was caused by his abuse of steroids.
It was on May 14, 1998 when the final original episode of Seinfeld aired on NBC. More than 76 million watched the show that has now been shown about 76 million times in syndication. And on that same day in 1998, Francis Albert Sinatra passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 82. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra became one of America’s iconic figures in the world of entertainment.
Sinatra lived his life very much in the public eye, and sometimes he punched back and the public eye was black and blue. He enjoyed women, whiskey and entertaining. Here are some of my favorite comments from the Sinatra quote book:
- I’m supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I’ve flunked more often than not. I’m very fond of women; I admire them. But, like all men, I don’t understand them.
- For years I’ve nursed a secret desire to spend the Fourth of July in a double hammock with a swingin’ redheaded broad … but I could never find me a double hammock.
- Fear is the enemy of logic.
- The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.
- I’m for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, benzedrine or a bottle of Jack Daniels.
From the Miami Herald: Aspiring actor Jason Taylor already has a penchant for drama. He returned to the Dolphins on Wednesday, a hero who turned down the temptations of more money and grander promises from those villainous New England Patriots and New York Jets.
He’s back home, where he belongs, because his family and his hometown are more important than the lure of Broadway’s lights or a Patriots-engraved Super Bowl ring. He returns humbled, motivated, underpaid and ready to help the team he loves. It’s a perfect scenario. If this were a TV show, rather than a real-life production, it would have a title: MiamiTwice.
Taylor accepted a bargain-rate contract to play for the Dolphins. He basically forced his way out of Washington this offseason and forfeited his $8.5 million salary in the process. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder flew to South Florida and met with Taylor at Joe’s Stone Crab to try to convince the player to stay with the Redskins
This story is a big one in the AFC East, because Taylor returned to the Dolphins and spurned a chance to play for the Patriots among others. It’s a big story in Miami, much as it would be if say Tony Gonzalez suddenly was available again after the 2009 season and the Chiefs had won the AFC West with a complete turnaround. Adding Taylor does nothing but help the Dolphins. They won’t view him as an every down player, but as a pass rusher. Right now that’s a role he can handle.
From the New York Times:
As reporters gathered earlier this month, Shawn Andrews, a two-time Eagles Pro Bowl offensive lineman who has battled depression, was told that he seemed again to be his familiar cheery self. He did seem playful. He wore a rust-colored cockscomb haircut. And he stood in front of a locker that contained a football-shaped likeness of SpongeBob SquarePants, along with a photograph of his young son, JaShawn.
But he did not fully agree with the upbeat assessment. “There’s some good and bad in there,” Andrews, 26, said of himself. “If you know the song ‘Tears of a Clown,’ that would kind of describe my past a little bit up to now.” He almost began to sing before catching himself.
Later, in an interview May 3 at the Eagles’ minicamp, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Andrews did something that athletes almost never do — especially offensive linemen in the N.F.L. who are shielded by helmets, pads and a macho culture that discourages any acknowledgment of vulnerability. He spoke at length about his struggles with depression, which he revealed last summer after holding out from training camp.
It wasn’t long ago that a player dealing with the types of problems of Shawn Andrews, or Zack Greinke, or Dontrelle Willis would not be talked about. They would be buried under whispers and rumor. Luckily, those days are gone and many of these issues are being addressed and no longer hidden. The more often that happens with guys like Andrews and Greinke, the easier it will make things for others suffering from depression or anxiety disorders.
From Chicago Tribune NFL columnist Dan Pompei: All the off-season talk in the NFC North has been Brett Favre this, Jay Cutler that. Matthew Stafford this, Percy Harvin that. But the man who could leave as big an imprint as any newcomer in the division is Dom Capers. The new Packers defensive coordinator is bringing a new flavor of defense to the division — the 3-4.
The defensive front is gaining popularity. There now are a dozen teams playing three-man fronts in the league, but the Packers will be one of only three doing it in the NFC. If you are one of the few, it becomes a little bit of an advantage,” Capers said. “There are only three days [each week] to prepare, and if [your opponents] go five or six weeks preparing for 4-3 teams, it helps.”
Capers speaks from experience, having been associated with the 3-4 in Pittsburgh, Carolina, Jacksonville, Houston, Miami and New England. This is the third time he will be converting a 4-3 team. Based on his history, the 20th-ranked Packers defense can count on a quick turnaround.
Like the Chiefs, the Packers are converting to a new defensive scheme, based on the 3-4 defense. Capers is one of the best around at coordinating that scheme, and yes, more than Favre, more than Cutler, Stafford and others, his ability to transition Green Bay to this new scheme will play a bigger part in the order of things in the NFC North than anything else.
Capers got a great jump on transitioning to a thirty four, when they drafted Raji.
Sinatra…was there any better singer? Or is it a matter the ineterpreter, or both in unison?
Perhaps the interpretation itself - ear appendage the listener - and pipes the crooner the measure?
Just as debating ‘best ever’ players, subjective bias reigns supreme.
Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole are right up there with Hoboken’s boy, just a notch below are the likes a Jerry Vale & Jack Jones. Haven’t heard any singer since the aforementioned who belong same discussion…to each their own.
Some embrace the stylings a Mel Torme…or, Mario Lanza anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Frye? Frye?
If it were put to vote Bennett v Cole v Sinatra, I’d take the latter surname- accompanying given first being ‘Nancy’.
Like drummers, Buddy Rich was the epitome said - techincally superior to any afore or aft- master showman/style. When you want to talk creativity, well…let the debate begin.
Come Rin told them pa rum pum pum pum…
Green Bay is young just like the chiefs. Very close in comparison, Raji was a good pickup, they still have Harrell as a wildcard to not be a first round bust(i liked him coming out)..Barnett is the ILB we need…
Regardless, I think people will become more and more upset over a lack of signings in the next few weeks…I just dont think they have this team evaluted well enough yet, this next minicamp may help.
Orpheus, Caruso, Dean Martin, Bill (Singer, former LA Dodger…)
Frank Sinatra… A True Legend… The man could and did “Swoon the Dress off” some of the most beautiful women on the planet.
Jason Taylor… Big Man on Campus… Quarterbacks always keep one eye on him “at all times”
Dom Capers…A Defensive Genius… A true master at teaching, implementing and most importantly “player retention” in a concise amount of time.
Bob, You have managed a response from me on a singer, a football player and a coach. Welcome myself back to bobgretz.com
Well done jimbo and welcome back. Dino Crocetti, an Ohio Valley product from Steubenville. Now that was a crooner.