Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Headlines---

Alert---Quantum Computer and Software
    Classified ads----Senior Management
        CIT weathers the storm
Foreclosures slowing down?
    Top Stories --- January 7--January 11
        Cartoon---Sydney Harris
    Classified Ads---Help Wanted
“Combating Margin Compression”
    Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
    "The effect of residuals"
        Financial Lobbyists Support Hillary over Obama?
Sovereign to book $1.6B in 4Q charges
    John Deer Capital et. al. larges issuances
        Airbus kicks off '08 w/massive 75-plane order
            Greenwich to give refund to overtaxed GE
        Tax Breaks Sweeten Countrywide Purchase
    News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
    Sports Briefs---
        "Gimme that Wine"
Calendar Events
    Snapple Real Facts
        Today's Top Event in History
    This Day in American History
Football Poem
    SuDoku
        Daily Puzzle
    GasBuddy
News on Line---Internet Newspapers
Morris, Illinois

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”

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Alert---Quantum Computer and Software

Looking for information, background, any experience with this company:

Quantum Computer and Software
3660 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1140 Los Angeles, Ca. 90010
Phone # 213-388-1116

If you don’t have any information, please keep the name handy. Any information will be held in confidence as we are working on a story.
Please contact: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

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Classified ads----Senior Management

Atlanta, GA
Strong sales and leadership skills; demonstrated with sales training and sales performance. Lead team in both regional and national operations and developed marking programs.
Email: mll1946@comcast.net

Europe
25+ yrs exper. management roles Chase, AT&T Capital, Heller Financial, SFS. Develop biz from “scratch to success”. Looking for challenging & pioneering job.
Email: frans@alliedproperty.net

Northern California
CLP - Director of Customer Finance for Fortune 500 manufacturer. Program development, credit, closing, sales training, portfolio mgt.
email: drdawkins@mac.com"

Philadelphia, PA
27 yrs. exp. sales, ops., credit, strategy, P&L mngmet. Most recently created & executed the biz plans for 2 highly successful Bank-owned small ticket leasing subsidiaries.
email: mccarthy2020@comcast.net

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

To place a free “job wanted” ad here, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

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CIT weathers the storm

by Christopher Menkin

(Yahoo chart)

Despite the bad news about the write-offs, the CIT Group is weathering the stock exchange, opening at 24.10 and closing at 23.60, despite JPMorgan Securities lackluster report and Moody's Investors Service on Monday lowering the ratings outlook, saying the company's profits could be severely pressured in upcoming quarters.

Moody's believes the company is now susceptible to increasing credit charges and higher funding costs. Furthermore, the company's decision to establish a loss reserve of $300 million points to its exposure to "further mortgage deterioration." This is a smart move, not a reason not to sell CIT stock.

"As a consequence of general market conditions and its difficulties in the mortgage finance arena, CIT's cost of borrowing to support all of its activities has increased and shown greater volatility, putting future returns at risk," Moody's said.

Don't listen to Wall Street guru's, who have their own problems, some a lot worse than CIT. Commissions drive too many of their opinions.

CIT Group is a stock to buy as the company is strong; has been through many tough times since it started. It is diverse, well-managed, and morale is very good. It has been changing direction for over a year, changing personnel where needed, strong in a branding program, and diversifying. Management, and as important, middle-management has a lot of experience in the finance and equipment leasing business. They are more on top of it than many, if not all their competitors.

This is a ship you want to jump on.

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Foreclosures slowing down?

California state foreclosures Default Research believes have hit their peak, although in Southern California, the firm is reporting Notice of Defaults in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties are up a dramatic 148 percent and 216 percent respectively in 2007.

According to Default Research (www.defaultresearch.com), 5.18 percent and 4.01 percent of the households in Riverside and San Bernardino respectively entered some phase of the foreclosure process in the last 12 months. Even though it was a devastating year for Southern California foreclosures, they believe an end in sight.

“Throughout 2007, Southern California has been a hot bed of foreclosed homes,” said Serdar Bankaci, President/CEO of Default Research. “I think we will continue to see some increases, but the foreclosure crisis could be winding down. The market is even showing positive signs, such as a decrease in housing inventories.”

(www.defaultresearch.com chart)

In Northern California Notice of Defaults and Notice of Trustee Sale recordings in that part of the state are up 165 percent in 2007.

(www.defaultresearch.com chart)

According to Default Research (www.defaultresearch.com), 4.22 percent and 3.34 percent of the households in Sacramento and Contra Costa respectively entered the foreclosure process in the last 12 months. For 2007, those families in financial trouble meant that there was a significant 135 percent increase in foreclosures in Sacramento and a dramatic 242 percent rise in Contra Costa.

“After weathering the foreclosure storm in 2006, Northern California was not as fortunate in 2007,” said Serdar Bankaci, President/CEO of Default Research. “As we have seen in other parts of the country, traditionally low income areas tend to go into foreclosure first, and Sacramento was no different with more than four percent of its households trapped in that financial crisis.”

Other cities and services may be found at: www.defaultresearch.com

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Top Stories --- January 7--January 11

Here are the top ten stories most “opened” by readers last week:

(1) Marlin Stock hits historic low-LEAF involved?
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-09-08.htm#marlin

(2) LEAF says “No” to Marlin rumor?
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-11-08.htm#leaf

(3) FTC proceeds against IFC Credit
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-09-08.htm#ftc

(4) Classified Ad--One ex-Wildwood Employee
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-07-08.htm#ad

(5) Textron Financial Announces Vendor Finance Div.
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-11-08.htm#txtf

(6) State of LeasePolice.com
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-07-08.htm#lpc

(7) Leasing Person of the Year for 2007
Randall H. Brook
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-07-08.htm#lpy

(8) A first for Ron Mitchell: Banclease Acceptance
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-11-08.htm#blac

(9) Cartoon—Leasing salesman wins award
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-09-08.htm#toon

(10) Sales makes it Happen—by Adrian Miller
“The Art of the Soft Sell”
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-09-08.htm#sales

Leasing News Extra (not counted due to technical differences)
CIT loss, BofA to buy Countrywide
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202008/01-11-08a.htm

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Documentation / Funding Manager

Documentation / Funding Manager Austin, Texas Great opportunity with well-respected company, working in the best part of the world. Click here for more information. Affiliated Investment Group has 22 years experience serving the broker community.

www.affiliatedinvestment.com

EFD Marketing Officer

Lease Officer

LEASE OFFICER SMALL TICKET LESSOR, providing superior service for 35+years Transactions- $10Kto $1MM, Seeks seasoned sales professionals To learn more: sandyspringbank.tms or contact Scott Wheeler at SWheeler@SandySpringBank.com

www.sandyspringbank.com

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****Announcement ***********************************

“Combating Margin Compression”

March 5-7, 2008
The Alta Group’s third annual
information technology conference
Marriott Oakbrook Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

Very popular and with the latest information from the experts with independent analysis and information.

In addition, “Combating Margin Compression,” speakers will represent industry consultancies, technology providers and equipment leasing and finance companies on “Combating Margin Compression,”.

Discussion and system exploration will provide a range of information from broad business and strategic viewpoints to technical nuts and bolts.

The conference is designed for COOs, CFOs, CIOs, IT managers, risk managers, portfolio/equipment managers, conversion specialists, auditors and quality teams.

Contact Kaye Reeder at 801-322-4499, or email kreeder@thealtagroup.com.

*****Announcement*********************************

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Leasing 102

by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

“The effect of residuals”

Taking a residual on a piece of equipment and expecting to obtain compensation equal to the residual amount at lease termination allows the lessees lease payment to be reduced during the term. It is the purchase option that determines the proper classification for accounting, income tax, and the uniform commercial code. While the definition of a bargain option is different for each of these rules and therefore the type of lease is different it does not subtract from the fact that a residual reduces the lessee’s payment. Therefore the question of the day is why take a residual and how much risk are you willing to take.

If you assume a residual and have it covered by a mandatory balloon payment upon termination called a “PUT” (purchase upon termination)it is clearly not a lease but instead is “a lease intended as a security” for legal purposes, and a “disguised conditional sales agreement” for income tax purposes, but still has some appeal to the lessee. The time value of money means that anything paid with future dollars is cheaper than dollars paid today; so, if the payment is lower because of the residual and the upfront sales tax, required on a purchase, can be spread over the term on the lease then the lower cash flow and the lack of upfront capital will be a strong selling point for the lease even though the lease is non cancelable. If the residual can be assumed close to the trade-in value of the equipment then the PUT may be paid by the vendor and you obtain a new transaction by controlling the trade-in negotiations.

When all you do is offer $1 purchase options your control of the relationship is reduced and future business requires a constant selling effort. A residual is not much of a risk if it is covered by a PUT payment.

Lessor’s that offer leases with purchase options that are not considered a bargain so they qualify as true leases are not required to assume a residual but many do so to reduce the lessee’s payment. These residuals need to be evaluated so as not to pose too much of a risk. However I have seen aggressive residuals backed up by “restocking fees” if the lessee chooses to return the equipment upon termination. For instance a 7% restocking fee is required if the lessee returns the equipment but not required if they release or purchase the equipment upon termination. The fee, when paid reduces the risk of the residual by the amount of the fee but because of the high residual the rental payments were greatly reduced during the term. Please be advised that restocking fees may appear to the rule makers as a penalty that creates onerous return conditions causing the lease to fail the Federal Income Tax and Legal Rules.

Residuals need to be backed up by good return conditions however you cannot require them to return it to” like new condition”. This is where the normal wear and tear provisions of the UCC require you to understand that the equipment will come back in used condition. A good paragraph to add to your return conditions is one that requires the equipment “to be able to perform the function to which it was originally designed without any hindrance, missing parts or malfunctioning parts, and having been properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s suggested standards”. This requires the equipment to be functional and not returned in pieces.

True lease residuals are booked as a capital asset which means when they are sold it is a “gain” or a “loss” on the sale of a capital asset. This is a bucket account and that means that at the end of the year you may have sold a few assets at a loss but if the ones that were sold with a gain are greater than the ones sold at a loss so only the reduced gain is reported. Therefore no loss exists. So the fear of taking residuals should be mitigated by good research on equipment values in the beginning backed up by good return language and unless there is a total meltdown of the economy you should never show a loss from taking residual risk.

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-327-8666.
He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

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Financial Lobbyists Support Hillary over Obama?

ELFA eNews Daily

Assessing Obama's Bank-Issue 'Blank Slate'
American Banker (01/09/08)

"Some banking industry lobbyists have been taken off guard by Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) popularity and are unsure of how he will approach banking issues. Many lobbyists feel more comfortable with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) because they know her stance on many banking issues, and they feel confident about who some of her political appointees might be. Many of them would likely be luminaries from Bill Clinton's administration; Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Robert Altman, and Eugene Ludwig have been cited.

"Obama is a little bit more of a blank slate when it comes to his view of the financial markets," says Equipment Leasing and Finance Association President Ken Bentsen. "As he moves in that ... position in the Democratic primary, there will be a greater focus on where does he stand on these and other issues."

Bentsen notes that an Obama administration would likely draw on some of the same people Clinton might choose, although it also might have more of an academic or Chicago cast to it.

Still, Obama "has garnered a lot of support from Wall Street, as well," Bentsen notes."

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News Briefs----

Sovereign to book $1.6B in 4Q charges
(“...conditions have led to a tightening credit environment, as lenders become stricter about borrower qualifications. Sovereign also stopped issuing auto loans in seven out of 15 states — Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas — as defaults mounted.”)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_bi_ge/sovereign_outlook_8

John Deer Capital Corp, the Asian Development Bank, Xcel Energy, Target, and Harrah's Entertainment turn to the debt markets with large issuances.
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/10522936/c_10519651?f=home_todayinfinance

Airbus kicks off '08 with massive 75-plane order
http://network.nationalpost.com:80/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2008/01/09/
airbus-kicks-off-08-with-75-plane-order.aspx

Greenwich, Conn. to give refund to overtaxed GE
http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1refundjan14,0,3021718.story?
coll=green-news-local-headlines

Tax Breaks Sweeten Countrywide Purchase
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011402584.html

San Diego housing prices down 13.1% from year ago
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080114-1229-bn14homes.html

Americans Cut Back Sharply on Spending
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/business/14spend.html?ref=business

New Merger Rules May Spark Cash Deals
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/10522704/c_10519651?f=home_todayinfinance
(“...buyers must value the amount paid for a target company on the day the transaction closes, rather than the day of the deal announcement, which is current practice. That includes recording the value of stock the buyer may use to pay for all or part of an acquisition.”)

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You May have Missed---

Design Flaw Said to Have Caused Minn. Bridge to Collapse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/
AR2008011402782.html

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Sports Briefs----

Scheduling makes NFL playoffs unparalleled
http://www.examiner.com/a-1158141~Dickey__Scheduling_makes_NFL_playoffs_unparalleled.html

Schottenheimer won't return
http://www.examiner.com/a-1156191~_In_all_likelihood__I_m_not_going_to_be_back_.html

Dungy avoids jumping to a conclusion
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/SPORTS03/801140373

Sources: Garrett brought in for 2nd interview
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-garrett0114,0,4266825.story

Jerry Jones takes Dallas Cowboys' loss hard
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/
011408dnspocowsider2.283c7f0.html

Seahawks Notebook: Holmgren to take time to decide on future
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/347179_hbok13.html

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“Gimme that Wine”

Zagat Family Is Putting Guide Empire on Market
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/business/14deal.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

The Sipping News: 'Meritage' turns 20
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/11/WI58UBK7T.DTL&hw=
wine&sn=008&sc=256

Job cuts coming at Beam Wine Estates
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080114/NEWS/304191498/1033/NEWS01

Lebanon's new generation of winemakers
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/11/WIIDST3AC.DTL

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/
Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas
Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm
The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/

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Calendar Events This Day

Basketball Day

Hat Day
http://holidayinsights.com/other/hatday.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/unitssubjhol/qt/jan15a.htm

Humanitarian Day
One of the three Emancipation Days of Respect that highlight the three key principles of the American Civil Rights renaissance of the 1960’s.
Unity, Respect, Remembrance. Wearing white shows visible respect for all the unsung humanitarians, regardless of their race, who challenged and changed the US System of white supremacy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
(see “This Day in American History” for more information:
In 1983 the Congress approved HR 3706, "A bill to amend Title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday." Signed by the president on Nov 2, 1983, it became Public Law 98-144. The law sets the third Monday in January for observance of King's birthday. First observance was Jan 20, 1986.)

Moliere Day: Baptism Anniversary
Most celebrated of French authors and dramatists.

Pongal
Four day festival holiday in certain parts of India, primarily the South.
http://www.alaivani.com/Blog/tabid/56/EntryID/198/Default.aspx
http://www.indianvisit.com/ivnew/fairsandfestivals/festivalsofindia/pongal.htm
http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/pongal.htm

Strawberry Ice Cream Day
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/unitssubjhol/qt/jan15b.htm

Quarterly Estimated Federal Income Tax Payers Due Date
(Estimated payment dates to follow are April 15, June 16, and September 15,2008).

Saint feast Days

• St. Bonitus
• St. Ita
• Bl. Arnold Jansen
• St. Blaithmaic
• St. Tarsicia
• St. Teath
• St. Sawl
• St. Secundina
• St. Ceolwulf
• St. Emebert
• St. Ephysius
• St. Eugyppius
• Bl. Frances de Capillas
• St. John Calabytes
• St. Liewellyn & Gwrnerth
• St. Lleudadd
• St. Macarius the Great
• St. Malard
• St. Maura & Britta
• St. Maximus of Nola
• St. Paul the Hermit
• Bl. Peter of Castelnau
• St. Abeluzius

http://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/jan.php

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“Q” is the only letter in the alphabet not appearing in any of the names of any U.S. state.

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Today's Top Event in History

1962 - Asked at a news conference if U.S. troops are fighting in Vietnam, President Kennedy answers "No." He was technically correct, but U.S. soldiers were serving as combat advisers with the South Vietnamese army, and U.S. pilots were flying missions with the South Vietnamese Air Force. While acting in this advisory capacity, some soldiers invariably got wounded, and press correspondents based in Saigon were beginning to see casualties from the "support" missions and ask questions.

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This Day in American History

    1697- The citizens of Massachusetts spent a day of fasting and repentance for their roles in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Judge Samuel Sewall, who had presided over many of those 20 capital judgments, published a written confession acknowledging his own "blame and shame."
    1716- Birthday of Phillip Livingston, merchant and signer of the Declaration of Independence, born at Albany, NY. Die
http://www.philiplivingston.com/
d at York, PA, June 12, 1778. 1762- Fraunces Tavern opens in New York City NY, owned by “Black Sam,” one of the most prominent Blacks involved in the American Revolution ( thought to be born in the West Indies). The tavern was a prominent place with George Washington, and main meeting place for the Sons of Liberty.
http://www.nyfreedom.com/Frauncestavern.htm
http://www.fieldtrip.com/ny/24251778.htm
http://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/
    1776 – The British Crown contracts with the German state of Hesse-Cassel for the services of 12,000 mercenaries to assist British forces in the rebellious colonies.
    1777 - Vermont declared its independence from Britain and established a republic, which lasted until the state joined the Union in 1791.
    1781 - A British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, Virginia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold
    1811 - In a secret session, Congress planned to annex Spanish East Florida.
    1825- The first tax enacted by a state to support public schools was “an act providing for the establishment of free schools” by Illinois. It provided for a common school in each county, open to every class of white citizens between the ages of 5 and 21 years and supported by a tax of $2 of every $100 and five-sixth of the interest from the school fund. 1852, the first hospital under Jewish auspices was Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, organized as the Jews’ Hospital in New York City for “benevolent, charitable and scientific purposes.”
    1844- The University of Notre Dame was chartered under Roman Catholic auspices in Indiana.
http://www.nd.edu/
    1852 -Mt. Sinai Hospital was incorporated by Sampson Simson and eight associates in NY City. It was the first Jewish hospital in the U.S.
http://www.mountsinaihospital.org/msh/msh-home.jsp
    1862- the first ironclad naval vessels were the Benton and the Essex, 1,000 tons each, and seven others of 512 ton s each, delivered at St. Louis, MO, where they were accepted fro the government by Captain Andrew Hull Foote and made part of the Western Flotilla, also known as the Gunboat Flotilla on Eastern Waters, or the Mississippi Squadron.
    1863 - In the United States, "The Boston Morning Journal" became the first paper in the country published on wood pulp paper.
    1865- Fort Fisher in North Carolina falls to Union forces, and Wilmington, the Confederacy's most important blockade-running port, is closed. When President Lincoln declared a blockade of southern ports in 1861, Rebel engineers began construction on a fortress at the mouth of New Inlet, which provided access to Wilmington. Fort Fisher was constructed of timber and sand, and it posed a formidable challenge for the Yankees. The walls were more than 20 feet high and they bristled with large cannon. Land mines and palisades made from sharpened logs created even more obstacles for potential attackers. Union leadership did not make Fort Fisher a high priority until the last year of the war. After the Federals closed Mobile Bay in August 1864, attention turned to shutting down Wilmington. Union ships moved into place in December and began a massive bombardment on Christmas Eve. The next day, a small force failed to capture the fort but the attempt was renewed in January. On January 13, a massive three-day bombardment began. On the third day, 9,000 Yankee infantry commanded by General Alfred Terry hit the beach and attacked Fort Fisher. The Confederates could not repulse the attack. The damage was heavy on both sides: the Union suffered more than 900 Army casualties and 380 Navy casualties, and the Confederates suffered 500 killed or wounded and over 1,000 captured. After the loss of this last major Confederate port, it was only three months before the war concluded.
    1870 - A Thomas Nast cartoon titled, "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion", was printed in "Harper's Weekly". The cartoon symbolized the Democratic Party with a donkey, a concept still in use today.
    1885- Tenor Henry Burr, the most prolific recording artist of his day, was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. He began his recording career for Columbia in 1902, and is estimated to have recorded an astounding 12,000 titles for dozens of companies. From 1910 to 1928, Burr also managed a vocal group which recorded for Columbia as the Columbia Male Quartet and for Victor as the Peerless Quartet. After his recording career waned, he was a great favorite singing old-time ballads on the "National Barn Dance" from radio station WLS in Chicago. Henry Burr died in New York City in 1941.
    1888- Birthday of folksinger Huddie William Ludbetter (Lead Belly ),Shiloh, LA Died Dec. 6, 1949.
http://leadbelly.lanl.gov/leadbelly.html
http://www.malaspina.com/site/person_748.asp
    1899-Birthday of Goodman Ace, radio and TV writer, actor, columnist and humorist. With his wife, Jane, created and acted in the popular series of radio programs (1928-45) “Easy Aces, “ Called “America’s greatest wit” by Fred Allen, Born at Kansas City, MO, died at New York, NY. March 25, 1982, soon after asking that his tombstone be inscribed, “ No flowers, please, I’m allergic.”
    1907- William H. Taggart, a Chicago dentist, invented dental inlay made of gold, and presented the technique to the New York Odontological Society; a method of casting gold inlays by the inverted pattern procedure, using the ancient principle of “disappearing core.”
    1907-Dr. Lee De Forest, widely regarded as the "father of radio and the grandfather of television," patented the Audion radio tube, which turned radio into a practical transmission device for voice and music. Previously, wireless technology was primarily used for telegraph signals. Unfortunately, De Forest's business partners were prone to fraud: The De Forest Radio Telephone Company began to collapse in 1909, leading to De Forest's indictment for promoting a "worthless device"--the Audion tube. De Forest was later acquitted. Several years later, De Forest devised a way to connect a series of Audion tubes in order to amplify radio signals far beyond what a single tube could do. This process was essential in the development of radio and long-distance telephone. De Forest, despairing of business success, sold his patents at bargain-basement prices to several companies, including American Telephone and Telegraph, which used the repeating Audion tube as a key component in long-distance telephone technology.
    1908- the first sorority for African-American students was Alpha Kappa Alpha, founded at Howard University, Washington, DC by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. The first president was Lucy Slowe.
    1909-- Gene Krupa birthday, the premier drummer of the big band era, was born in Chicago. Besides leading his own band, he is best known for his work with Benny Goodman. After most of the big bands disbanded, Krupa led small jazz groups through most of the 1950's and '60s. A film loosely based on his life, "The Gene Krupa Story," starring Sal Mineo, was released in 1959. Gene Krupa died of leukemia in 1973.
http://www.redhotjazz.com/krupa.html
http://www.gkrp.net/genebio.html
http://www.harlem.org/people/krupa.html
    1915-Brithday of folk music collector Alan Lomax.
    1920 -- The Dry Law goes into effect in the United States. Selling liquor and beer becomes illegal.
    1927 --- The Dumbarton Bridge opens in San Francisco carrying the first auto traffic across the bay.
    1929- birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Black civil rights leader, minister, advocate of nonviolence and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1964). Born at Atlanta, GA, he was assassinated at Memphis, TN, Apr 4, 1968. After his death many states and territories observed his birthday as a holiday. I remember interviewing Dr. King in the early 1960's at KFRC radio when a group Harold Light introduced me to who had brought Dr. King to the Bay Area, which I assumed was more public relations than a fund raiser. He was a shy man, the first time I met him. The second time, he was more vocal, and after the Selma march, there were press conferences, not single radio interviews. He was a excellent dresser, very articulate, very attractive, very handsome in person, and grew into a statesman for freedom for all and equal opportunity for all. In 1983 the Congress approved HR 3706, "A bill to amend Title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday." Signed by the president on Nov 2, 1983, it became Public Law 98-144. The law sets the third Monday in January for observance of King's birthday. First observance was Jan 20, 1986
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jan15.html
http://www.thekingcenter.com/
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/hum/mlk/
    1933- After nearly a century of cooperative living, the utopian Amana colonists of Iowa begin using U.S. currency for the first time. The wide-open spaces of the West have always appealed to visionary reformers attempting to start new societies. Among others, the Mormons in Utah, the Hutterites in South Dakota and Montana, and the Swedenborgians in California all moved west for the same reason: cheap land and freedom from interference. Most reformers moved west after the Civil War, when travel became easier and the threat of Indian resistance was declining. As with the Mormons, the Amana colonial movement began in New York. Christian Metz, taking his cue from the writings of 18th century German mystics, established the group in 1842 on 5,000 acres near Buffalo, New York. Metz and his followers were similar to the Mormons in their rejection of the selfish individualism and dog-eat-dog competition of capitalism in favor of a more cooperative economic system. They isolated themselves from national and global markets and built a largely self-sufficient means of meeting their agricultural and material needs. Barter within the community helped them avoid using American currency. The community's agricultural and craft operations grew so quickly that the members soon found they needed more land than was cheaply available in New York. Like many of other land-hungry Americans, they looked westward. In 1855, the first members began setting up a new colony in Iowa called Amana, purchasing 30,000 acres of contiguous land as a base for their agricultural and craft operations. Amana (located near modern-day Iowa City) flourished in the decades to come. By the turn of the century, the colonists had built seven largely self-sufficient villages with farms, stores, bakeries, woolen mills, wineries, furniture shops, and the other necessities of independent living. The Amana community thrived for nearly 80 years, but its isolation from the rest of the world inevitably began to wane during the 20th century. In the early 1930s, the colony experienced severe economic problems, in part due to the Great Depression. The people voted to abandon their communal life in 1932, and they reorganized the colony on a capitalist basis with each member receiving stock in a new community corporation. The people of Amana began using American currency in January 1933. Although it violated the original precepts of their founders, the decision to bring Amana into the national marketplace actually saved the community. Today, the Amana colony is the center of a thriving business empire of woolen mills, meat shops, bakeries, and wineries. Though its original vision is no longer the same, visitors to the colony will still find a communal society dedicated to preserving many elements of Old World life and craftsmanship.
http://www.amanasociety.com/
http://www.iowa-city.com/amanas/historical/index.html
http://www.jeonet.com/amanas/welcome/index.html
    1936- Owens Illinois Glass of Toledo, HO completed the first all-glass windowless structure, using eight thousand translucent water-clear hollow glass blocks wearing about 150 ton for a two-story building, which had 39 rooms and an aggregate floor area of 20,000 square feet. Do not know if the building is still standing.
    1937 - 1.77 inches of rain fell at Washington, DC, making it the wettest inaugural day of record. Temperatures were only in the 30s as Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in for his second term.
    1937 -The record low temperature for the state of California was set at Boca when the thermometer dropped to 45 degrees below zero.
    1942- Benny Goodman Band records “Jersey Bounce.”
    1942--The Glen Gray Orchestra records their hit "It’s the Talk of the Town"
    1943 - Captain Joe Foss bagged three Japanese planes for a record total of 26 kills.
    1943- Pentagon completed: the world's largest office building with 6.5 million square feet of usable space, the Pentagon is located in Virginia across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, and serves as headquarters for the Department of Defense.
    1943 - Famous temperature antics occurred in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The temperature was 52 degrees above zero at Lead and 16 degrees below zero degrees at Deadwood simultaneously. The places are only 1.5 miles apart, but there is an elevation difference of 600 feet.
    1947-Birthday of trumpet player/composer Baikida Carroll, St. Louis. MO
http://www.baikida.com/bio.html
http://www.omnitone.com/marionettes/carroll-bio.htm
    1947—Black Dahlia Murder: Anniversary. On this day, the body of Elizabeth Short was found in an emty lot in Los Angeles, CA. Short, nicked named the Black Dahlia for her striking looks, had been murdered and mutilated, and her body’s discovery sparked a media frenzt. Although dozens of men ( and women) confessed to the crime, those confessions were all discounted. The murder remains LA’s most famous unsolved murder and one that evokes the “noirish aura” of Postwar LA’s corruption and crime problems.
    1949—Birthday of Ronnie Van Zandt, lead singer of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, born in Jacksonville, Florida. The band built a loyal following, beginning in the American South in 1973. Their best known songs were "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird," a tribute to Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. Lynyrd Skynyrd seemed on the verge of superstardom in 1977 when a plane crash in Mississippi killed Ronnie Van Zandt and five others, including Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines.
    1950---Birthday of American composer Stuart Diamond,New York City.Mr. Diamond is best known as a composer, musician and librettist, where he has created a vision of new art that fuses electronic media and words with classical music. He has composed well over 100 works in all medium including symphonic and chamber music, theater, dance, film and video. Mr. Diamond was one of the first musicians to perform with the Lyricon, the original wind synthesizer. The Lyricon is an instrument that transforms a performer’s wind and embouchure pressures into electrical voltages that in turn control the dynamics parameters of a synthesizer. As a result the synthesizer is turned into an instrument of remarkable expression and power. Many of his seminal works incorporated the use of live performance electronic instruments, creating huge soundscapes that were a synergy of contemporary sound with classical musical forms.
    1951---Top Hits
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
The Thing - Phil Harris
My Heart Cries for You - Guy Mitchell
The Golden Rocket - Hank Snow
    1954-the coldest temperature ever recorded in the 48 contiguous states was recorded at Rogers Pass, MT. The temperature dropped to 69.7 degrees below zero.
    1954-Joe DiMaggio marries Marilyn Monroe in San Francisco at City Hall.
http://leasingnews.org/photos/mm_dimaggioJan.gif
    1955--Birthday of American composer Peter Coukis, Waterbury, MA. Composer Peter Coukis has recently completed his most recent work, "Nymphet Serenade", a 62 minute keyboard work consisting of six movements, written in a modern style and incorporating several American influences such as ragtime.
    1955---A young singer named Elvis Presley performs at the Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA, performing "Hearts Of Stone," "That's All Right, Mama" and "Tweedle Dee." In the audience is "Colonel" Tom Parker, who was witnessing Elvis for the first time.
    1958--Elvis Presley records "Hard Headed Woman," "Trouble," "New Orleans," "King Creole," "Crawfish"
    1959—Top
The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters
My Happiness - Connie Francis
City Lights - Ray Price
    1960--Birthday of American composer Aaron Jay Kernis, Philadelphia, PA.
    1961 - The "Kennedy Inaugural snowstorm" belted the mid Atlantic area and New England. Up to 29 inches of snow fell in northern New Jersey and southeastern New York. Areas north and west of Boston, MA received over two feet. This was the second of three major snowstorms during the 1960-61 winter season in the northeastern U.S.
    1962 - Asked at a news conference if U.S. troops are fighting in Vietnam, President Kennedy answers "No." He was technically correct, but U.S. soldiers were serving as combat advisers with the South Vietnamese army, and U.S. pilots were flying missions with the South Vietnamese Air Force. While acting in this advisory capacity, some soldiers invariably got wounded, and press correspondents based in Saigon were beginning to see casualties from the "support" missions and ask questions.
    1964-- Giant outfielder Willie Mays, the highest paid player in baseball, signs for $105,000.
    1965- The NFL teams pledged not to sign college seniors until completion of all their games, including bowl games.
    1966-- The Supremes' "My World is Empty Without You" enters the pop charts.
    1966-The Rolling Stones receive their third gold record for the album "December's Children." It features the tunes "Get off My Cloud," "Route 66," "As Tears go By" and "I'm Free."
    1967--The film The Fastest Guitar Alive, starring Roy Orbison and Sheb Wooley, premieres in New York City.
    1967--Ed Sullivan refuses to let the Rolling Stones sing their big hit "Let’s Spend the Night Together" on his CBS show of the same name unless they change the title and lyrics to "Let's Spend Some Time Together." The band does as it's told, but lead singer Mick Jagger mocks the censorship by making faces at the camera while he sings the cleaned-up line.
    1967-considered the “First Super Bowl:”*** the Green Bay Packers won the first NFL-AFL World Championship Game, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Packers quarterback Bart Starr completed 16 out of 25 passes and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Pro football's title game later became known as the Super Bowl and is now played on the last Sunday in January.
    1967---Top Hits
I’m a Believer - The Monkees
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
Good Thing - Paul Revere & The Raiders
There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene
    1967 - Ed Sullivan told the Rolling Stones to either alter the lyrics and the title of the song, "Let's Spend the Night Together", or not perform on his show. The Stones actually agreed, and changed the tune to "Let's Spend Some Time Together".
    1968- Elvis Presley records "Too Much Monkey Business"
    1968--JOHNSON, DWIGHT H. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Dak To, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 January 1968. Entered service at: Detriot, Mich. Born: 7 May 1947, Detroit, Mich. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. Johnson, a tank driver with Company B, was a member of a reaction force moving to aid other elements of his platoon, which was in heavy contact with a battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. Johnson's tank, upon reaching the point of contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing that he could do no more as a driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45 caliber pistol. Despite intense hostile fire, Sp5c. Johnson killed several enemy soldiers before he had expended his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of antitank rocket, small arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a sub-machine gun with which to continue his fight against the advancing enemy. Armed with this weapon, Sp5c. Johnson again braved deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he courageously eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when the last of his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of his submachine gun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. Johnson ignored the enemy fire around him, climbed into his platoon sergeant's tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing the main gun until it jammed. In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. Johnson exited the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely and skillfully engaged them with the tank's externally-mounted .50 caliber machine gun; where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. Johnson's profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
    1969- Elvis Presley records--"A Little Bit of Green," "Gentle on My Mind"
    1971-George Harrison releases "My Sweet Lord".
    1972 - Elvis Presley, was censored from the waist down by Ed Sullivan, but still reportedly brought in largest audience for a single television show, to that time, in a live worldwide concert from Honolulu, Hawaii.
    1972 - Don McLean's classic single, American Pie, jumped to Number 1 on Billboard's popular record charts, and stayed there for 4 weeks.
    1973-Citing "progress" in the Paris peace negotiations between National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam, President Richard Nixon halts the most concentrated bombing of the war, as well as mining, shelling, and all other offensive action against North Vietnam. The cessation of direct attacks against North Vietnam did not extend to South Vietnam, where the fighting continued as both sides jockeyed for control of territory before the anticipated cease-fire.
    1974 -- During the Watergate affair, an expert testifies before the House Judiciary Committee that an 18-1/2-minute gap discovered during a critical subpoenaed recording of a White House conversation between President Richard M. Nixon & White House staff member H. R. Haldemen caused by “deliberate & repeated erasures. The White House fails to satisfactorily explain the long silence during the key conversation between Nixon & Haldeman.
    1974- “Happy Days” premiered on TV. This nostalgic comedy set in Milwaukee in the 1950s starred Ron Howard as teenager Richie Cunningham with Anson Williams as his best friend "Potsie" Weber and Don Most as his best friend Ralph Malph. Tom Bosley and Marion Ross played Richie's parents and his sister, Joanie, was played by Erin Moran. The most memorable character was The Fonz--Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli--played by Henry Winkler. In 1977, it remained number 1 in the Neilsen ratings for the season. "Happy Days" remained on the air until July 12, 1984, and has been in syndication ever since. The comedy launched two spin-offs: Laverne and Shirley and Joanie Loves Chachi. Happy Days originated as a 1972 skit on Love, American Style.
    1974-Expert testifies on gap in Watergate tape.
During the Watergate affair, an expert testifies before the House Judiciary Committee that an 18½-minute gap discovered during a critical subpoenaed recording of a White House conversation between President Richard M. Nixon and White House staff member H. R. Haldeman was caused by 5 deliberate separate erasures. The Watergate affair began after a break-in to the Watergate Hotel by White House officials was uncovered by journalists and the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, and then escalated when President Nixon attempted to use executive privilege and national security as reasons to suppress the subsequent investigation. On July 16, 1973, former White House aide Alexander P. Butterfield brought the existence of official recordings of Nixon's White House conversations to the attention of the Senate committee investigating Watergate, and on July 26, the Senate subpoenaed the nine Watergate tapes. Nixon failed to comply with the subpoena, and on August 9, the Senate committee filed suit against the president. Finally, on October 23, Nixon agreed to turn over the tapes, but when the tapes finally arrive at the Capitol, two of the nine are missing, and an eighteen-and-a-half-minute gap on one of the tapes is discovered. The White House fails to satisfactorily explain the long silence during the key conversation between Nixon and Haldeman, although an expert determined that the gap had been deliberately erased. Nixon's failure to comply in a timely fashion to the subpoena for the Watergate tapes contributed to the articles of impeachment voted against him on July 30, 1974, and helped force his resignation one week later.
    1974 - The first group of women ever enlisted as "regulars" in the U.S. Coast Guard began their 10-weeks of basic training at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May. Thirty-two women were in the initial group and formed Recruit Company Sierra-89.
    1975---Top Hits
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
You’re the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White
Junior’s Farm/Sally G - Paul McCartney & Wings
Ruby, Baby - Billy "Crash" Craddock
    1975- "I've got bad news and I don't expect any applause," President Gerald Ford warned Congress before launching into his very first state of the union address. During the ensuing speech, Ford painted a grim portrait of America's economic woes. The state of the union, he confessed, was "not good. Millions of Americans are out of work. Recession and inflation are eroding the money of millions more. Prices are too high and sales are too low." Along with these problems, Ford offered an ominous budget estimate that showed the government running increasingly in the red over the next few fiscal years. However, Ford, who had recently been installed as the President after Richard Nixon's scandal-ridden resignation, attempted to balance the bad news by offering a remedy for the America's fiscal ailments. He unveiled a relief package that featured a few rounds of tax cuts for individuals and corporations, as well as an energy program that promised to raise money, albeit through raising costs and taxes on oil for consumers and businesses. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr was elected president of the United States in 1976 with 297 electoral votes to outgoing president Ford 240.
    1977-- Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" hits #1
    1977-- The Eagles' Hotel California album hits #1
    1978 - Super Bowl XII (at New Orleans): Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10. The first Super Bowl played without a sky. This one opened the Louisiana Superdome. Tom Landry was the Cowboys’ coach, Roger Staubach was their quarterback. Co-MVPs: DT Randy White and DE Harvey Martin (only co-MVPs in Super Bowl history). Tickets: $30.00.
    1978 - snowblitz! -- a paralyzing nor'easter blasted New England and the mid Atlantic states. Boston, MA recorded 21 inches in 24 hours to set a new record 24 hour snowfall amount -- only to have it broken 2 weeks later. Snowfall was under forecast since a predicted changeover from snow to rain did not occur.
    1981--Minutes after the presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan, Iran releases 52 Americans held 444 days in exchange for the release of $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets seized by the U.S. Later, it's revealed that the release was delayed until the first hours of the administration by Reagan's transition team, in order to make him look good.
    1981- “Hill Street Blues” premiered on TV. This Immensely popular NBC police series created by Stephen Bochco and Michael Kozoll that focused more on police officers than on crime. The show was very realistic and highly praised by real policemen. Hill Street Blues was set in an anonymous northern city (the exteriors were actually filmed in Chicago) and was the first real attempt by television to portray police officers as fallible human beings. Each episode began with the 7 a.m. roll call led by Sergeant Ezterhaus. He closed the roll call with his trademark refrain, "Let's be careful out there." Hill Street Blues not only changed the way that Americans viewed police officers, it also revolutionized the television drama itself. The show resisted formula and introduced the ensemble cast. Whereas early cop shows like Dragnet and Adam-12 were centered around a couple of officers who always got their man by the end of the hour, the full squad house of regulars on Hill Street Blues rarely resolved cases in one episode.
It won a slew of Emmys and ran for seven seasons. Cast: Daniel J. Travanti as Captain Frank Furillo, Veronica Hamel as public defender Joyce Davenport, Michael Conrad as Sergeant Phil "Let's be careful out there" Esterhaus, Barbara Bosson as Fay Furillo, and as the wonderfully drawn cops, Bruce Weitz (Mick Belker), Taurean Blacque (Neal Washington), Kiel Martin (Johnny LaRue), Joe Spano (Henry Goldblume), James B. Sikking (Howard Hunter), René Enríquez (Ray Calletano), Michael Warren (Bobby Hill), Betty Thomas (Lucy Bates), Ed Marinaro (Joe Coffey) and Charles Haid (Andy Renko).
The last telecast was on May 19, 1987.
http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/shows/hill.htm
    1983---Top Hits
Down Under - Men at Work
The Girl is Mine - Michael Jackson /Paul McCartney
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley
I Can’t Even Get the Blues - Reba McEntire
    1985 - At Carnegie Hall, in New York, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored 79 year old actress, Myrna Loy, who never received an Academy nomination although she appeared in 120 films.
    1987 - Paramount Home Video said, for the first time, it would put a commercial at the start of one of its video releases. The movie "Top Gun" had a 30-second Diet Pepsi ad tacked on to its beginning. The idea behind adding something else to be fast forwarded through was to reduce the price of the video by $3. The difference to Paramount would be made up by Pepsi money. It was also thought more consumers would buy the Tom Cruise picture rather than paying more for videos without the commercial.
    1988 -Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder makes racist remarks about black athletes. He is fired.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment050200d.html
    1988--Shirley Goodman, half of the 1950's duo of Shirley and Lee, won the right to collect half the royalties from their 1956 million-seller "Let the Good Times Roll." A jury in New Orleans made the decision after hearing Goodman sing the song from the witness chair. Her one-time singing partner, Leonard Lee, had previously been credited as sole author of "Let the Good Times Roll."
    1990 - ‘Big’ George Foreman, on the comeback-trail at 42 years of age, knocked out Gerry Cooney in the second round at Atlantic City, NJ. (Foreman became the oldest [age 45] ever to win the heavyweight title when he knocked out Michael Moorer on Nov 5, 1994.)
    1991---Top Hits
Justify My Love - Madonna
High Enough - Damn Yankees
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson
Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
    1992-- The Seventh Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held in New York City. Inductees include Bobby "Blue" Bland, Booker T. and the MGs, Johnny Cash, The Isley Brothers, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sam and Dave, and The Yardbirds.
  1992- Tim Berners Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, released a simple line-mode Web browser on the Internet. Berners Lee had first proposed the Web in 1990 and had presented early versions of Web clients, servers, and browsers to his colleagues throughout 1991.
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/berners-lee.htm.
Until then you needed the actual address or had to rely on Archer or Gopher to search for a website which basically was cumbersome and very slow.
http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/
http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/ShortHistory.html
    1993 - In the southern U.S., train echo thunderstorms drenched Lafayette and Baton Rouge, LA with 10.83 and 9.02 inches of rain in 24 hours, respectively.
    1994 - Frigid conditions persisted over the northeastern U.S. Rangeley, ME reported 45 degrees below zero for a morning low for the cold spot in the nation. First Connecticut Lake, NH dropped to a frigid 44 degrees below zero. Both Pittsburgh, PA and Cleveland, OH completed their longest stretch of subzero readings on record, with 52 and 56 consecutive hours, respectively.
    1994- "Dazzey Duks" by Duice was on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 54th consecutive week, the longest run ever on any of the magazine's charts. Also on the Hot 100 that week, Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" was in the top-ten for the 24th week - another record.
    1995 - The San Francisco 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-28 in the NFC championship game and the San Diego Chargers edged the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13 in the AFC title game. (The 49ers beat the Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX.)
    1995 - The Golf Channel began on some U.S. cable systems. Four years later, the world’s first 24-hour golf network was seen in over 30,000,000 homes.
    1997 - During a heated Chicago vs. Minneapolis basketball game, Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman brazenly kicked a courtside cameraman in the groin. Rodman later claimed it was an accident, but the incident was captured from several angles by other cameramen, and was seen by millions of people across the country. Eugene Amos, the cameraman, was treated at a hospital and then released - the extent of his injuries were not released. Prosecutors told the press later that they were considering assault charges against Rodman. If suspended, it would be the second of the season for the temperamental, flamboyant athlete. Rodman was later suspended from 23 games and heavily fined; the suspension was the second-longest in NBA history. A few days later, a financial settlement between Amos and Rodman was reached; Amos received $200,000 from Rodman.

Super bowl Champions This Day

    1967 Green Bay Packers
    1978 Dallas Cowboys

**** Super Bowl

The year was 1966, and war was raging in professional football. It was a bidding war for talent and it had been going on since the American Football League came onto the scene in 1960 to challenge the National Football League, 40 years it’s senior.
At first, the battles were for college players, and the AFL scored an early victory when a court ruled in favor of the Houston Oilers over the NFL's Los Angeles Rams after both clubs had signed Billy Cannon, the Heisman Trophy winning halfback at Louisiana State.
Although the leagues agreed to a "no tampering" rule on existing player contracts, the stakes became high for college talent. Bonuses went sky-high. The AFL's New York Jets signed Alabama quarterback Joe Namath in 1965 to a $400,000 contract, the largest amount ever for a collegian. In 1966, the NFL's Atlanta Falcons gave Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis a $600,000 package and the Green Bay Packers forked over $711,000 to Texas Tech running back Donny Anderson.
Meanwhile, veteran players were settling for small raises on relatively small salaries. For example, John Brodie, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, received $35,000 in 1965 and was asking for a raise to $65,000 after leading the NFL in completions, completion percentage, yardage and touchdown passes.
Then came a back-breaker. Buffalo place-kicker Pete Gogolak, who had played out his option in 1965, signed with the NFL's New York Giants. The "no tampering" code had been broken. The conflict was in the open, and it was time for action.
On April 7, 1966, peacemaker Joe Foss resigned as AFL commissioner and the next day Al Davis, general manager of the Oakland Raiders, took over. Davis was a hawk in regard to the NFL, and he had a plan.
Davis organized an AFL war chest and urged owners to start talking to established NFL stars. The NFL had bragged of its superiority because of the caliber of its quarterbacks. Davis wanted to sign those quarterbacks for the AFL.
The Raiders quickly signed Los Angeles quarterback Roman Gabriel to a commitment starting in '67. Houston offered the 49ers' Brodie $75,000, spread over 10 years, to sign a five-year deal with the Oilers. Reportedly, eight of the NFL's starting quarterbacks were dickering with the AFL.
The NFL had no choice. On June 8, 1966, two months after Davis became the AFL commissioner, a merger agreement was announced. There would be a common draft starting in 1967, interleague preseason games starting in '67 and regular-season play combining the leagues in 1970. Territorial indemnification of $18 million was to be paid to the 49ers and Giants over a 20-year period.
Most important, from the standpoint of football fans, was the immediate establishment of a championship game between the leagues. This was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game -- which was popularized as the Super Bowl from its inception.
Gabriel never went to the Raiders and Brodie never left the 49ers, but Brodie collected a million dollars on the agreement he had made in his talks with Houston.
Davis resigned as AFL commissioner a month after the merger. He clearly had won his battle.

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Football Poem

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EISCHCUBE
MENASHA Wisconsin 54952
USA
~mailto:eischcube@sbcglobal.net

http://maxpages.com/packers4u
(more Packer Poems at this page)

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