Bulletin Board Complaint
New Leaf Funding Corporation, Maitland, Florida

"I am having a hard time getting my $10,000.00 deposit back from a company called New Leaf Funding. They cannot get me the lease they promised and are not willing to give me back my deposit."

Bjavesh "Bobby" Patel
America's Best Value Inn
Martinez, California.

The proposal expired December 13, 2011 with the stipulation that $495 Documentation fee will be retained wither or not financing is provided (1)

After several emails, telephone calls, and communication, the president of New Leaf Funding Corporation,

Debby Brandenburg made this statement:

"New Leaf Funding Corporation has offered to provide the originally requested financing for this customer and will apply their deposit toward that financing as originally proposed. We have been forthright with our communications with this customer, even with their exercise of misrepresentation and will continue to do so."

Mr. Patel responded:

"I don’t want to get into ‘she said, he said,’ but I told New Leaf Funding all of the information. There would be no reason for me to lie because all the information was in front of them and they can clearly see everything because they were given tax returns, personal financial statements, etc, etc. Because they cannot to the deal they are saying that I never told them it was a start up company. I did and they told me they will try to do it the best way they can.

"Since they cannot do the deal they told me new can finance $200,000 but in segments. $35,000 today, maybe another $15,000 next week, etc, etc. I asked them if I ordered part of my FF&E now, what’s the guarantee that I will get the rest. They said most likely they will have it asap but they will not put that in writing. Kit, I can’t order part of the FF&E and have it sit there in my parking lot hoping the rest will come. I need to completely renovate my rooms and ordering part of it does not do me any good. We are renovating to a Quality Inn and they required us to change all of the FF&E?"

Who is Debby Brandenburg?

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debby-brandenburg/3b/ba0/722

The mailing address is a mail-drop:
465 S. Orlando Ave. #404
Maitland, FL 32751
http://www.mailpackagestation.com/

Corporation filings shows incorporated November 3, 2009 in Virginia (2) with Debra Brandenburg as president, but filed January 18, 2011 (3) with the address changed 2/04/2012 to 761 Crestbrook Loop, Longwood, Florida, which appears to be a residence: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/636-Woodridge-Dr-Fern-Park-FL-32730/47685111_zpid/

BBB Rating is "F"

http://www.bbb.org/central-florida/business-reviews/contractors-equipment-and-supplies-rent-and-lease/new-leaf-funding-corporation-in-maitland-fl-90139081

A description of the company in LinkedIn:

"New Leaf Funding provides equipment leasing solutions as well as other financing options for the hotel industry. New Leaf Funding understands the particular challenges of our esteemed clients in the hospitality industry when paying for upgrades, flag changes, improvements, new properties, etc. We consider ourselves partners with our clients, offering low rates, fast approvals, and a particular dedication to even the transactions that don't look easy to do at first glance, or have been refused by other lenders or banks."

The company appears active in the Linkedin.com groups:

American Hotel and Lodging Association
Asian American Hotel Owners Association - AAHOA
Business Capital for Start Up and Expansion
Hotel Industry Professionals Worldwide
Hotels Association
Lodging Hospitality
---among others.

(1) America's Best Inn Proposal:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/AmericasBestValueInnproposal.pdf

(2) Virginia Corporation Filing:
https://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/07155948

(3) Florida Corporate Filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/NewLeafFundingCorpfiling.pdf

John Kenny Receivables Management • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigations • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167| www.jkrmdirect.com

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigations
and background information provided by John Kenny)

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Classified Ads---Controller

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment or looking
to improve their position)

Chicago, IL experienced in lease accounting, operations, management, and Sarbanes-Oxley. Seeking position with equipment lessor. Would consider contract assignments or relocating.  Email: leasecontroller@comcast.net

Southeastern, MI Controller & Management experience w/ equip lessors &broker. MBA, CPA w/ extensive accounting, management, securitization experience with public and private companies. Willing to relocate.  Email: Leasebusiness@aol.com

Southern CA 20 years exp. as hands-on leasing CFO, managing accounting, treasury, FP&A, including securitizations, Great Plains/FRx, budgets, risk management.  MBA.  Also available as interim Controller/CFO, consultant.  Email: leasecfo@gmail.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

 

Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services We accept file exports and integrate personal property tax information with all lease management or accounting software. No other firm offers the combination of individual attention, software capabilities expertise, "full disclosure" and web port accessibility to information more than we do. Click here to learn what our clients say about our service Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sheldon Player: Where is He?

(Sheldon Player in Wyoming)

The above photo is the most recent, and the first one Leasing News has published that is bona fide; sent by a reader and confirmed by three other readers who have met with him during the course of their business, as well as it matches the photo's (difficult to see, but you can see the resemblance) in the proof of subpoena (1)

In the last installment, the founder of Equipment Acquisition Resources, Palatine, Illinois, Sheldon Player, had a judgment against him from the bankruptcy trustee in the amount of $18,323,404 plus costs of $275.00 against for his failure to appear and to file responsive pleading to Plaintiff's Complaint, and for any additional relief this Court deems necessary. (2)

The bankruptcy court continues it settlements with creditors, and the IRS matter appears open, and the FBI has no comment regarding Equipment Acquisition Resources or Sheldon Player. This matter is over three years old.

(1) Subpoena with photo's as proof of service:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/ServiceonSheldonPlayer.pdf

(2) Plaintiff is granted default judgment
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/MotionGranted42012.pdf

Sheldon Player Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Sheldon_Player.htm

ELLEN MICHELE STERN, ATTORNEY Southern California Free initial consultation Nationwide network of providers and client base. Twenty-six years of leasing expertise, ranging from front-end transactional through collections, equipment & judgment recovery. Results-oriented Phone: 951.443.4000 or email:leaselaw@msn.com California Finance Lenders’ License specialist

 

Which Came First: Fear or Reality of the Economy?
by Christopher Menkin

Indicators since April have pointed to an economic slowdown. Much of this comes from fear in the European as well as Asian economy involving imports, exports, and investments both here and overseas. The indicators came from the National Association of Credit Managers, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association as well as the confidence reports from its foundation.

Dan Geller, Ph.D.
Chief Research Officer
Money Anxiety Index

“Even without external factors, such as the sovereign-debt crisis in the Euro Zone, the U.S. economy is going to deteriorate between now and the end of the year” said Dan Geller, Ph.D. Chief Research Officer at Money Anxiety Index, “expect to see less job creation, slow down in consumer spending, and above all, gradual increase in consumers’ level of financial anxiety.”

The Money Anxiety Index (moneyanxiety.com), which measures the level of consumers’ financial worry and stress based on economic indicators, rose 0.4 in June to 91.1. June is the second consecutive month of increasing consumer financial anxiety, which started in April of this year. Prior to April of this year, the Money Anxiety Index was trending downwards since its post-recession peak 0f 99.5 in June of 2011.

Ironically banks, savings and loans, even consumers and most of all large corporations, have plenty of cash, but are unwilling to spend it, blaming it all on "uncertainty."

Dr. Geller told Leasing News, “the MAI measures actual economic indicators - not how consumers feel like the other indices."

A neighbor of mine, is the CFO of a major company here in Silicon Valley. He told me they have a tremendous amount of cash (I can’t repeat the number). I said wouldn't it be better to invest it than earn a small amount of interest. He said he didn't want to waste the cash and would rather sit on it to see how the economy was going.

I have another neighbor who is chairman of a very large company, worldwide, and he recently had a person in his company made CEO so he could spend more time at home(s)---he has one in Pebble Beach and elsewhere---anyway, I told him about my conversation with our neighbor (I walk my dog everyday and run into people often doing the same or just walking). He said his company was in the same position, and not as active in introducing more products, thus he didn't need to be CEO, as it was smarter to sit and wait than to spend now. He was coming home earlier, not working longer, and enjoying it, he added.

I asked Dr. Geller that it seemed to me the attitude was running the economy.

"Well Kit, you hit on the central and eternal question about the US economy - what comes first, the chicken or the egg?! " he responded. “There is no simple answer to this question, there are too many variables involved. But the bottom line is this - people react intuitively to their environment (it's in our DNA since we lived in caves), when they feel economic danger (high unemployment, stress at work, higher gas prices etc._, they go into defensive mood."

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

Disguised Sale/Leasebacks---Another Teachable Moment
by Bernie Boettigheimer, CLP
President, Lease Police

A rash of sale/leaseback deals disguised as new equipment has hit our industry again and this highlights that we need to review.

LeasePolice recently re-affirmed Database Developers, Inc.’s “High Risk” vendor designation and our investigation found over $1 million in recent disguised sale leaseback transactions from just this one vendor.

Lease Police has also seen computer vendors pop up in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, California and Michigan who all have the same business model. These vendors are selling clone computer servers costing roughly $15,000 for amounts ranging between $50,000 to 75,000. They then kick-back 70-80% of the net proceeds to the lessee – but of course Mr. Lessee, “let’s keep this side agreement to ourselves.”

Our investigation of Database Developers, Inc. is an excellent case of how working capital schemes work.

In the almost 3 & half years of Database Developers, Inc.’s existence we can not determine or care to estimate its total leasing activity or the number and transactions with side agreements such as above. However, we are aware of a least 14 recent leases ranging from $50, 000.-75,000.each and 4 already have delinquency problems. The problem is that disguised sale lease/back transactions are stealthy, and collection problems occur in about 40% of the cases between 12 & 18 months after their origination

Incorporated in Florida on January 21, 2009, Database Developers, Inc. was placed on “Alert” after barely 4 months on our May 20, 2009 first alert. Their owner Daryl Honowitz called Lease Police complaining that our High-Risk rating on another company he was associated with was unfair. He was acting as its sales wing and he tried to justify the very high price of their computer servers. His promise to send proof to justify this high pricing never materialized. Just recently and before our May 8, 2012 request to our subscribers for information regarding Database, Honowitz again called and we revisited why his company’s had a High Risk score. We promised to re-investigate his firm and requested that he supply us with more info on his high-priced servers. No information came forward.

The results of the new investigation were even more damaging to Database Developers, Inc. than our first investigation. We uncovered 3 “side agreements” signed by lessees with Daryl Honowitz’s other firm, United Tech Holdings, Inc. and found that recent lessees of Database Developers were agreeing to an “ADVANCE LEASE BACK” which gave a cash back sum of 70% of all invoiced dollar amounts to the GUARANTOR by affiliates or vendors of United Tech Holding”. On May 11, 2012 we confronted Daryl Honowitz with these facts and he acknowledged that these documents exist, but that they are actual unrelated agreements with outside brokers and undisclosed funding sources. We demanded to have names and proof of his statements. Nothing has been heard from him since.

The 14 deals mentioned were done through several brokers with 3 funding sources. Two of them were Lease Police subscribers in the past but they decided that saving roughly $3 per report was worth the risk, so they never made an inquiry. The third firm has never been a subscriber. Why they approved a vendor selling a high price clone server located across the country is something they will have to sort out. As for the lessee, doesn’t a prudent businessman judge a vendor’s ability to handle customer service on such a technical product as a server? Where is help on installation and software compatibility? Does a prudent businessman run the risk of his entire operation shutting down because his vendor is 1000 miles away and the manufacturer is in Taiwan or China?

COULD THIS BE ANOTHER TEACHABLE MOMENT?

We still are a long way from understanding the dynamics of a sale. These disguised sale lease/backs make no economic sense and when questioned many are easily exposed. This vendor had been questioned four months after it was formed by Lease Police, Inc and was subsequently exposed as a vendor that needed to be avoided. That fact that they continued to operate for almost four years shows that there are some funders still feel they are smarter and more experienced than any perpetrator.

The need for working capital has entered the minds of small businessmen/owners as well as those flim-flam operators interested in a fast-buck. If you recall in the previously published article “A Teachable Moment“(1), Lease Police was started on the theory that a finance/leasing transaction is like a three-legged stool. If one or two legs are broken, the stool won’t stand. One leg is the lessee himself, the second the vendor and the third is the equipment. Just like a stool, a finance/leasing agreement needs all three strong legs to stand upright.”

They fail to understand my THREE-LEGGED STOOL theory: use every resource to investigate the vendor, understand the equipment, and understand the need for the equipment by the lessee. Now with these recent revelations we can add one more tenant of avoiding costly and embarrassing losses – simply like making an inquiry to Lease Police.

Sounds like an advertisement? Certainly, some further inspection on the vendor and equipment legs are in order. It’ so simply to make an inquiry.

Bernie Boettigheimer, CLP
President
Lease Police, Inc.
1400 Preston Rd.
Suite 400
Plano, Texas 75093
www.leasepolice.com
(214) 549-3426
(972) 665-9915

1. Teachable Moment
   http://leasingnews.org/archives/Aug2010/8_20.htm#teachable

((Please Click on Bulletin Board to learn more information))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

CLP Spotlight

Bob Teichman, CLP
Teichman Financial Training

What is your favorite thing about the equipment finance industry?
After almost 50 years in the equipment leasing and finance business, I still greet every day with interest and curiosity. One of the best things about our business is the variety; there is always something new to learn and something new to do.

Can you tell us a little about your background in the industry?
I started in car leasing in the early 1960's and moved into equipment leasing about seven years later. It wasn't really my choice; the sales manager told me I couldn't do both equipment and car leasing. I chose equipment leasing. It was the best business decision I ever made.

In my career there are few tasks I haven't performed. I started and ran several leasing companies. Then about 14 years ago I plucked up my courage and went out on my own as a trainer, teacher and consultant. There is nothing quite as scary as a completely empty desktop, but business was quick to come and it turned out to be a very rewarding decision. Now I provide training for brokers, lessors, lessees, banks and international agencies. I help brokers and lessors structure transactions, and I am a registered consultant to the World Bank and a senior advisor to the US Agency for International Development. Recently an associate and I completed the Global Leasing Toolkit on behalf of the International Finance Corporation, an affiliate of the World Bank.

Bob, you served as CLP Foundation President from 2007-2008. Can you tell us about your experience with CLP?
In the early 1980's I was present at the start of the CLP program, and in 1994 I was chairman of the Education Committee at UAEL when the CLP Program was folded into that committee. Within a year we produced the first edition of the CLP Handbook and started to see a resurgence of interest in the Program.

In the following years I worked on many aspects of the CLP program. I was part of the group that created the Mentor program; I wrote additional materials for the Handbook and served on the Test Committee. I served on the Board of Directors for six years and I was an officer for five years.

In 2006 my associate and I created the Certified Leasing Specialist Program in Ukraine. This program trains people new to the leasing business and is administered by a licensee of the CLP Foundation. The CLS training consists of three weeks of classes and three exams. Successful candidates are awarded the CLS designation. To date several hundred people have taken the training. The program has since been extended to other neighboring countries.

The CLP Program has been and continues to be a major part of my business life. I am proud of my service to the Foundation as a Director and Officer, and I continue to promote the Program in various ways; volunteering, mentoring, serving on committees and introducing the Program to the international community.

What was the last book you read?
Yeah, I relax sometimes. I was a professional musician in my early life, and played piano in dance bands at summer resorts in the Catskill Mountains of New York. I still play a bit and I have sung in a local chorus for over 25 years. I always have several books open at the same time. Currently I am wading through George R.R. Martin's massive works, and I recently finished John Jean's book on Jersey Sailing Ships. I have also started to re-read the Canterbury Tales.

If you won 50 million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
The first thing I'd do with part of what would remain after taxes would be to make a donation to the CLP Foundation. As far as the rest, well, there are a few repairs I could make to my home, and I sure would like a little place by the sea. Someplace to relax, if I ever quit this business. Maybe after my 50th anniversary next year.

Bob at his cabin in Northern California

CLP Spring, 2012 Newsletter:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/CLPSpotlight_62012.pdf

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Facebook "caveat emptor"
Online Publisher's Association

Now Facebook faces a civil lawsuit and federal regulator scrutiny, and its shares continue to drop. So what went wrong? Industry watchers pointed to a slew of factors, from Mark Zuckerman donning his signature hoodie at the company IPO road show to underwriters allegedly warning top investors that Facebook’s financial forecasts had been overestimated. “By the time Facebook’s stock started trading on the public market, insiders—the company’s founders, employees and venture-capitalist backers—had bagged most, if not all, of the company’s value for themselves,” the New Yorker’s John Cassidy explained.

But not everyone agreed that it was a flop. “Overlooked is that Facebook decided to make its entrance into a U.S. IPO market in the dumps,” wrote the Wall Street Journal’s David Weidner. “When it comes to the U.S. market for initial public offerings … Facebook was just a high-profile flop in a series of lesser-known flops.” Still others said that the IPO could even be called a success. The IPO wasn’t mispriced—it maximized benefit to the company, argued Slate’s Eliot Spitzer. “That is, of course, the purpose of the IPO. That is what Facebook did,” he wrote. Forbes contributor Tim Worstall agreed. “Morgan Stanley’s done just what they were being paid to do: so why is everyone shouting at them?” he asked. “The entirety of capitalism is, after all, based on the idea of caveat emptor, is it not?” (Let the buyer beware!) But the company’s primary task at hand will be how it can build and maintain a profitable business. “Although Wall Street may see it differently, Facebook’s main task is not about making a quick buck,” wrote San Jose Mercury News’ Larry Magid. “It’s about slowly and methodically building a sustainable business that’s financially profitable and socially useful, long into the future.”

Welburn Receives Inaugural Award LeMay-America's Museum

(l to r) Nicola Bulgari, Ed Welburn and David Madeira, president
and CEO of LeMay - America's Car Museum. (Photo credit: Bob Gassen/ACM).)

In conjunction with its grand opening, LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM), Tacoma, Washington, presented its “Nicola Bulgari Award” to Ed Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors. Welburn was honored t a gala celebrating the opening of the four-level, 165,000 square foot museum. The award named for jewelry magnate Nicola Bulgari, Vice Chairman of the Bulgari Group and an avid collector of American cars.

The Bulgari award is to be annually presented to individuals who make outstanding contributions to preserving America’s automotive heritage through education, restoration or collecting classic cars.

“I firmly believe that in order for our designers to create great new vehicles, they need to understand the rich history of our brands,” said Welburn. “Our own collection – the GM Heritage Center – maintains a rich history of GM concept and production vehicles. Furthermore, we have a special staff and facility at GM Design dedicated to the restoration and maintenance of our historic concept cars. These include vehicles like the Y-Job, Stingray Racer, Mako Shark, and Firebirds I, II and III, to name just a few.

“The GM Heritage Center opened in 2005 to retain the company’s historical and concept cars, instead of allowing such vehicles to be sold or scrapped. During the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the GM Heritage Center was maintained by the company, and it continues to operate today with more than 400 vehicles in its collection.”

In addition, Welburn continues to maintain strong ties to the enthusiast community, overseeing stellar displays of heritage vehicles, concept cars and modern cars at the Amelia Island and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. He also served on the board of America’s Car Museum for six years.

Like many car enthusiasts, Welburn’s passion started in childhood. Growing up in Philadelphia, he loved the Cadillac Cyclone concept and Chevrolet Corvettes of the late 1950s. He wrote to GM when he was 11 years old, saying he wanted to be a car designer. GM wrote back with steps for achieving his dream. It worked: he was hired by GM in 1972, and in 2003 he was named vice president of GM Design North America, assuming the mantle once worn by Harley Earl, father of American automotive design. In 2005, Welburn became the company’s first vice president of global design, and today he oversees more than 1,900 individuals in ten Global Design Centers in seven countries.

www.lemaymuseum.org

 

 

Terrier Mix
Downtown Los Angeles, California Adopt-a-Dog

Danny

Sex: Male
Breed: Terrier (Unknown Type, Small)
Color: Brown/Chocolate - With Tan
Age: Six Months
Size: 10 pounds
Sex: Male

"I am already neutered, housetrained, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats."

Danny's Story...

Courtesy Listing! Please contact Terrell at: 323-385-8993 or tc2806@hotmail.com and not the rescue group connected to this page!

"Danny is a 6-month old, 10 pound Terrier mix. Danny and his mommy (Carrie) were left behind by their owners when they were evicted from their house. He is very playful and affectionate. He is good with dogs, children, and he loves to chase his foster daddy's cats. Danny is neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed, a fecal test was done, front-lined, and micro-chipped. Please call Terrell at 323-385-8993 or tc2806@hotmail.com"

Rescue Group: Downtown Dog Rescue
Contact: Lori Weise
Phone: (818) 407-4145
E-mail: lori@modernica.net
Fax: (213) 683-1312
Website: http://www.downtowndogrescue.org
Address: Downtown Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/ 

 

News Briefs----

Fleet Car Leasing in the US Industry Market Research Report
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/06/05/prweb9572212.DTL

Global Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing Industry
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/global-medical-equipment-rental-and-leasing-industry-2012-06-04

CIT Announces Order for 3,500 Railcars
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cit-announces-order-3-500-123000469.html;_ylt=A2KJjagh285PNRQAEgjQtDMD

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

You May Have Missed---

Where have all the Drive-in Theaters Gone?
http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/31/vanishing-america-the-drive-in-theater/?ncid=webmail1

Mr. Terry Winders available as a consultant regarding assisting attorneys in resolving disputes or explaining procedures or reviewing documents as utilized in the finance and leasing industry. He is the author of several books, including DVD's, as well as weekly columnist to Leasing News. He also performs audits of leasing companies as an expert on documentation, and has acted as an expert witness on leasing for litigation in legal and tax disputes, including before the IRS. He also has taught the senior bank examiners, how to review a bank leasing department, for the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. and has trained the examiners for the FDIC on how to prepare a lease portfolio for sale. 502.649.0488/Leaseconsulting@msn.com

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

The Thrill of the Grill
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=452

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

Sports Briefs----

Celtics one game from ousting Heat
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/sports/basketball/nba-playoffs-game-5-miami-heat-vs-boston-celtics.html?_r=1&ref=sports

Flush with excitement, LA ready to crown these Kings
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0605-plaschke-kings-20120605,0,3257189.column

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

Baseball Poem

 

This day in 1888 the famous comic baseball ballad “Casey at the Bat” was printed in the Sunday San Francisco Examiner.  Appearing anonymously, it was written by Ernest L. Thayer, Recitation of “Casey at the Bat” became part of the repertoire of actor William Dwalt Hopper. The recitation took five minutes and 40 seconds.  Hopper claimed to have recited it more than 10,000 times, the first being at Wallack’s Theater at New York, NY, in 1888.

 

The Story Behind the Poem Casey at the Bat

By R. J. Brown 

When George Hearst decided to run for senator from California in 1885 he realized the need of an influential organ, and bought the San Francisco Examiner to promote his political ambitions. When the campaign was over, he presented it to his son, William Randolph Hearst who had just graduated from Harvard College. While in college the younger Hearst had been editor of the Harvard Lampoon.

When he went to California to edit the Examiner he took along with him three members of the Lampoon staff; Eugene Lent, F. H. Briggs, and Ernest L. Thayer. Each had nicknames -- Thayer's was "Phin." He wrote a humorous column on a regular basis for the Examiner and signed his columns with his nickname.

In the spring of 1888, Thayer wrote Caseyand submitted it for publication. It appeared in the Examiner in the June 3, 1888 edition and was signed "Phin" as usual.

When Casey made its first appearance, nobody hailed it with shouts of joy or suspected that it would become immortal. A few weeks later, (exact date unknown) the New York Sun published the last 8 stanzas of the poem -- but signed its author as "Anon." Other than the Sun, it was just plain ignored by the public.

To become immortal, everyone (or thing) needs a press agent. Archibald Clavering Gunter, an author of novels, was "Casey's" press agent. Always on the look out for incidents to base some of his novels on, Gunter, living in New York, sought and actively read newspapers from around the country on a regular basis. When he read Casey for the first time, he clipped it out to save. He wasn't sure just what he would do with it, but he clipped and saved it anyway.

Many weeks later, in August of 1888, Gunter read that both the New York and Chicago baseball clubs would be attending the performance of the comedian De Wolf Hopper at the Wallack Theater in New York. Upon reading the announcement, Gunter instantly knew what he wanted to do with the clipping of Casey he had saved.

Gunter approached Hopper, a good friend, and offered the poem for him to recite as he felt the baseball teams would enjoy a comic baseball recitation. Hopper agreed and recited it that night. The rest, as they say, is history. From that point forward in time, Casey become immortal -- while a good poem to begin with, it took a recital before a group of "famous" baseball players by a professional comedian to bring it to life.

After reviews for Hopper's performance were published, three people came forward to claim authorship and demanded Hopper pay a royalty to use "their" poem. None could prove authorship, so Hopper kept it in his repertory.

Four or five years later, Thayer, living in Worcester, Massachusetts at the time, attended a performance of Hopper in Worcester. After the show, Thayer sent a note backstage requesting to meet Hopper. Thayer gave him the rights to perform it without paying any royalties.

Newspaper collectors should check their issues of New York papers for August, 1888 (exact day unknown) for reviews of Mr. Hopper's performance of Casey -- You may have an issue almost as important as the first printing of the poem in the June 3, 1888 San Francisco Examiner.

Casey at the Bat
By R. J. Brown
NCSA Member #3

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.
The rest cling to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that--
We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn - hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt;
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped--
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one in the stand;
And it's likely they'd had killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said "Strike two!"

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered "Fraud!"
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer has fled from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville-- great Casey has struck out.

— Ernest L. Thayer

 

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Mayor thanks San Jose voters as early returns show huge lead for pension reform
http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_20790991/early-returns-san-jose-voters-approving-pension-reform

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Washington ends liquor monopoly
http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/530037/washington-ends-liquor-monopoly

Sheraton Launches Premium Wine Tasting Social Hours
http://www.cnbc.com/id/47677066

E. & J. Gallo Makes Big Washington State Wine Purchases
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2012/E-J-Gallo-Makes-Big-Washington-State-Wine-Purchases/

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

   1498 - Christopher Columbus left on his third voyage of exploration.
   1712 - The Pennsylvania Assembly banned the importation of slaves.
   1755- Birthday of Nathan Hale. The American Patriot was caught behind lines gathering troop movements by General William Howe, who ordered him to be hung in the morning, as he was a spy. His alleged last words have become a symbol of American Patriotism: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." They were attributed to a news story printed in the 19 th century, and were not heard by contemporaries of his time, nor commented upon. A 1777 newspaper article reported Hale as saying that ``if he had ten thousand lives, he would lay them all down, if called to it, in defense of his injured, bleeding country.'' Four years later another newspaper story quoted Hale's last words as: ``. . . my only regret is, that I have not more lives than one to offer in its service.'' Hull's 1848 memoirs give us the pithier version we know today: ``I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.'' According to Captain Frederick Mackenzie, a British officer who witnessed Hale's death, he may have been young and courageous, but he never said these words. According to Mackenzie's diary, he wrote that Hale's last words were: “ It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief” James A. Barnes,” Myths of the Bryan Campaign,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review (1947). Also see: 
http://www.lihistory.com/4/hs413a.htm
    1756-birthday of American painter John Turnbull, Lebanon, Conn. lower half of:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun06.html
    1769 - Daniel Boone first began to explore the present-day Kentucky.
    1775 - The United Colonies changed their name to United States.
    1776 - Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed to the Continental Congress the resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence: that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States..." Congress delayed the vote on the resolution until July 1
    1816 - The temperature reached 92 degrees at Salem MA during an early heat wave, but then plunged 49 degrees in 24 hours to commence the famous "year without a summer".
    1828 - A party led by Jebediah Smith completed a journey down the Klamath River and were on the verge of starvation when they were visited by Indians who brought food. Smith's party proceeded north to Oregon and most of the party was killed by Umpqua Indians. Smith was killed in 1831 by Comanches on the Cimarron River. Smith’s party was the 1st white people to see Lake Earl, the biggest lagoon on the West Coast.
    1831- “People of Color” Convention held for the first time.
    1862-Confederate gunboats engaged a Union flotilla near Memphis, TN. As crowds of spectators watched from the riverbanks, the outgunned Confederates were defeated. The city of Memphis surrendered shortly before noon of that day, effectively opening up the Mississippi region. . The war would rage on as the Union Army through shear source of "numbers of soldiers" would prevail.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/tn004.htm
http://www.americancivilwar.com/statepic/tn/tn004.html
    1872- Susan B. Anthony tests the rights of women and black males to vote under the 14th and 15th amendment, registering and voting in Rochester, New York. She would be arrested, tired, and sentenced to pay a fine. She refused. The judge backed down, fearing she would take this to the Supreme Court for appeal, but nevertheless, the votes were all disqualified and both women and blacks would not be allowed to vote in this century.
    1877--Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller - Afro- American sculptor. After success in Paris, she faced race and sex prejudice on her return to the U.S. In 1913 she began using Afro-Americans as models and for the next 50 years she produced major pieces that are part of the permanent collections at a number of museums and universities. Died March 18, 1968.
http://dsc.gc.cuny.edu/part/part6/articles/swilli.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~jah/teaching/2003_03/article.shtml
http://www.askart.com/artist/F/meta_vaux_warrick_fuller.asp?ID=80614
    1889 -- Great Fire in Seattle, Washington destroys 25 downtown blocks.
    1892-birthday of bandleader Ted Lewis, Circleville,OH
http://www.redhotjazz.com/tedlewis.html
    1894 - One of the greatest floods in U.S. history occurred as the Williamette River overflowed to inundate half of the business district of Portland OR.
    1899-birthday of pianist William “Fats” Jefferson, Waco, TX
    1889-- Bryn Mawr College awarded the first graduate fellowship to a woman in the history of the United States. It went to Emily Greene Balch (B. 01-08- 1867) for "prosecuting sociological studies." Balch went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946.
    1889--- Bryn Mawr College awarded the first graduate fellowship to a woman in the history of the United States. It went to Emily Greene Balch (B. 01-08- 1867) for "prosecuting sociological studies." Balch went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946. Half the human race is a terrible thing to waste... Bryn Mawr was under the direction of M. Carey Thomas who developed the college to an academic par with Harvard University.
    1902—Birthday of band leader Jimmy Lunceford 
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_lunceford_jimmie.htm 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-3603723-3237564
    1904 -- Helen McCloy (1904-1993) American mystery writer, first woman to serve as president of Mystery Writers of America. In 1953 she received Edgar for her criticism.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/hmccloy.htm
    1918-Casey Stengel returned to Ebbets Field for the first time since being traded from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates over the winter. Stengel celebrated the occasion by striding to the plate for his first at-bat, calling time, doffing his cap and letting a live bird fly out. Fans broke into laughter. He was giving them the bird.
    1925-birthday of trombonist Al Grey, Aldie, VA, died March 24,2000
http://www.jazzcanadiana.on.ca/_GREY.htm
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/algrey-tribute.asp
    1930-Dillard University charged in New Orleans, LA 
http://www.dillard.edu/
    1931-birthday of guitarist Grant Green, St. Louis, Mo.
http://website.lineone.net/~johnharris/grant_green.htm
http://members.tripod.com/vermontreview/CD%20Reviews/gamut.htm
    1933-Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. opened America's first drive-in movie theater in Camden, NJ. At the height of their popularity in 1958, there were more than 4,000 drive-ins across America. In the 1990s, fewer than 600 remained opened.
    1934- President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Securities Exchange Act that established the SEC. Wall Street had operated almost unfettered since the end of the eighteenth century. However, the stock market crash of 1929 necessitated regulation of the exchanges. The Securities and Exchange Commission is composed of five members appointed by the president of the US.
    1939-- Singer Gary (US) Bonds, whose real name is Gary Anderson, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Bonds had a string of energetic dance records in the early 1960's, the biggest of which was "Quarter to Three," which reached number one in 1961. Bonds' career was revived in 1981 by Bruce Springsteen. "The Boss" wrote "This Little Girl of Mine," which became Gary (US) Bonds' first hit in nearly 20 years. Bonds' comeback album, "Dedication," also made the charts.
    1942-Congress on Racial Equality founded.
http://www.core-online.org/
    1942-birthday of Marian Wright Edelman, activist and found of the Children's Defense Fund.
http://cdfweb.vwh.net/mwe.html
http://bss.sfsu.edu/edelman/aboutmwe.htm
    1942 - The Battle of Midway--one of the most decisive U.S. victories in its war against Japan--comes to an end. In the four-day sea and air battle, the outnumbered U.S. Pacific Fleet succeeded in destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers with the loss of only one of its own, the Yorktown, thus reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy.
    1943 - The worst of the L.A. Zoot Suit Riot violence occurs as soldiers, sailors, and marines from as far away as San Diego travel to Los Angeles to join in the fighting. Taxi drivers offer free rides to servicemen and civilians to the riot areas. Approximately 5,000 civilians and military men gather downtown. The riot spreads into the predominantly African American section of Watts.
    1944- In the early-morning hours Allied forces landed in Normandy on the north coast of France. In an operation that took months of planning, a fleet of 2,727 ships of every description converged from British ports from Wales to the North Sea. Operation Overlord involved 2,000,000 tons of war materials, including more than 50,000 tanks, armored cars, jeeps, trucks and half-tracks. The US alone sent 1,700,000 fighting men. The Germans believed the invasion would not take place under the adverse weather conditions of this early June day, especially with their number one General George S. Patton employed elsewhere. But as the sun came up the village of Saint Mèere Eglise was liberated by American parachutists, and by nightfall the landing of 155,000 Allies attested to the success of D-Day. The long-awaited second front had at last materialized. 
General Patton joined the war with his tank brigade, pushing toward the Rhine River before the other generals told him he couldn't do that.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun06.html
    1944-birthday of pianist Monty Alexander, Kingston, Jamaica
http://www.montyalexander.com
    1945--McTUREOUS, ROBERT MILLER, JR. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 26 March 1924, Altoona, Fla. Accredited to: Florida. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 3d Battalion, 29th Marines, 6th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Chain, 7 June 1945. Alert and ready for any hostile counteraction following his company's seizure of an important hill objective, Pvt. McTureous was quick to observe the plight of company stretcher bearers who were suddenly assailed by slashing machinegun fire as they attempted to evacuate wounded at the rear of the newly won position. Determined to prevent further casualties, he quickly filled his jacket with hand grenades and charged the enemy-occupied caves from which the concentrated barrage was emanating. Coolly disregarding all personal danger as he waged his furious 1-man assault, he smashed grenades into the cave entrances, thereby diverting the heaviest fire from the stretcher bearers to his own person and, resolutely returning to his own lines under a blanketing hail of rifle and machinegun fire to replenish his supply of grenades, dauntlessly continued his systematic reduction of Japanese strength until he himself sustained serious wounds after silencing a large number of the hostile guns. Aware of his own critical condition and unwilling to further endanger the lives of his comrades, he stoically crawled a distance of 200 yards to a sheltered position within friendly lines before calling for aid. By his fearless initiative and bold tactics, Pvt. McTureous had succeeded in neutralizing the enemy fire, killing 6 Japanese troops and effectively disorganizing the remainder of the savagely defending garrison. His outstanding valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice during a critical stage of operations reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1946 –Birthday of Janet Lennon Culver City CA, singer (Lennon Sisters)
http://www.singers.com/jazz/vintage/lennonsisters.html
http://www.dead-or-alive.org/dead.nsf/lnames-nf/Lennon+Janet
    1946-The Basketball Association of America was founded at a New York meeting of hockey team owners and arena managers interested in having their buildings used on open dates. The BAA played three seasons (1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49), after which it merged with the National Basketball League, founded in 1937, to form the National Basketball Association. Three original BAA teams remain: The Boston Celtics, The Golden State Warriors (originally the Philadelphia Warriors) and the New York Knicks.
    1949---Top Hits
Riders in the Sky - Vaughn Monroe
Again - Doris Day
Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como
Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams
   1951-HANSON, JACK G. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Pachi-dong, Korea, 7 June 1951. Entered service at: Galveston, Tex. Born: 18 September 1930, Escaptawpa, Miss. G.O. No.: 15, 1 February 1952. Citation: Pfc. Hanson, a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. The company, in defensive positions on two strategic hills separated by a wide saddle, was ruthlessly attacked at approximately 0300 hours, the brunt of which centered on the approach to the divide within range of Pfc. Hanson's machine gun. In the initial phase of the action, 4 riflemen were wounded and evacuated and the numerically superior enemy, advancing under cover of darkness, infiltrated and posed an imminent threat to the security of the command post and weapons platoon. Upon orders to move to key terrain above and to the right of Pfc. Hanson's position, he voluntarily remained to provide protective fire for the withdrawal. Subsequent to the retiring elements fighting a rearguard action to the new location, it was learned that Pfc. Hanson's assistant gunner and 3 riflemen had been wounded and had crawled to safety, and that he was maintaining a lone-man defense. After the 1st Platoon reorganized, counterattacked, and rescued its original positions at approximately 0530 hours, Pfc. Hanson's body was found lying in front of his emplacement, his machine gun ammunition expended, his empty pistol in his right hand, and a machete with blood on the blade in his left hand, and approximately 22 enemy dead lay in the wake of his action. Pfc. Hanson's consummate valor, inspirational conduct, and willing self-sacrifice enabled the company to contain the enemy and regain the commanding ground, and reflect lasting glory on himself and the noble traditions of the military service.
    1955--- Bill Haley & Comets, "Rock Around the Clock" hits #1
    1956 - Gogi Grant (born Audrey Brown) reached the top spot on the "Billboard" singles chart for the first and only time in her career. Her hit, "The Wayward Wind", stayed at the top of the top-tune tabulation for eight weeks and on the music charts for 22 weeks. It was her second record release. The first, in October, 1955, was "Suddenly There's a Valley" which climbed to number nine.
http://www.gpproductions.com/acts/grant.html
http://art.staviator.com/G/Gogi_Grant.html
    1956--Gene Vincent's recording of "Be Bop A Lula" was released. The song was co-written by Vincent and (Sheriff) Tex Davis, a deejay at a Norfolk, Virginia radio station. "Be Bop a Lula" was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, selling a million copies. Vincent never was able to match the success of his initial hit. He died in 1971 of a seizure brought on by a bleeding ulcer.
    1957---Top Hits
Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone
A Teenager's Romance/I'm Walkin' - Ricky Nelson
A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation) - Marty Robbins
Four Walls - Jim Reeves
    1960-- Tony Williams of the Platters left the group for a solo career. Williams was the lead singer on the Platters' big hits in the '50s - "Only You," "The Great Pretender" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," among others. In the 1970's, Williams and Buck Ram, manager of the Platters, battled in court over who had the right to use the group's name. Ram won the case, but both later toured with groups billed as the Platters.
    1960-- Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely" was released. It would reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspire Bruce Springsteen to write "Born to Run."
    1960-- The RIAA presents Bing Crosby with a special platinum record honoring the sale of his 200 millionth record, a total which includes not only 125 albums but 2,600 singles!
    1962--- The Beatles audition for EMI, recording four demos, the first material the band ever recorded at Abbey Road: three original compositions called "Love Me Do," "Ask Me Why," and "P.S. I Love You," and a cover of the standard "Besame Mucho." Producer George Martin is not at the session, but is called in by engineer Norman "Hurricane" Smith when he hears something he likes in "Love Me Do." Martin is not impressed with the group's songwriting, scruffy outfits, and even scruffier equipment (one of the band's amps blows during the audition), and he tells them so, finishing, "Look, I've laid into you for quite a time, you haven't responded. Is there anything you don't like?" To which George quips, "I don't like your tie!" The tension is broken, and Martin, charmed by the group's personality, agrees to work with them. (Though he later says, "They were pretty awful. I understand why other record companies turned them down.") The band members are paid US $12 each for the session; drummer Pete Best, whose skills Martin remains unimpressed with, would soon be sacked from the group.
    1964-- The Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" hits #1
    1965 - General Westmoreland requests a total of 35 battalions of combat troops, with another nine in reserve. This gave rise to the "44 battalion" debate within the Johnson administration, a discussion of how many U.S. combat troops to commit to the war. Westmoreland felt that the South Vietnamese could not defeat the communists alone and he wanted U.S. combat troops to go on the offensive against the enemy. His plan was to secure the coastlines, block infiltration of North Vietnamese troops into the south, and then wage a war of attrition with "search and destroy" missions into the countryside, using helicopters for rapid deployment and evacuation. Westmoreland had some supporters in the Johnson administration, but others of the president's advisers did not support Westmoreland's request for more troops, because they disagreed with what would be a fundamental change in the U.S. role in Vietnam. In the end, Johnson acquiesced to Westmoreland's request; eventually there would be over 500,000 U.S. troops in South Vietnam.
    1965---Top Hits
Help Me, Rhonda - The Beach Boys
Wooly Bully - Sam The Sham and The Pharoahs
Crying in the Chapel - Elvis Presley
What's He Doing in My World - Eddy Arnold
    1966-civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael launches “Black Power” Movement. Died Nov 15,1998.
http://www.blackhistory.eb.com/micro/727/78.html
    1966 -- Author Truman Capote holds famous "Black & White Ball" — widely regarded as most glittering bas of the decade.
    1966 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Paint It Black," The Rolling Stones.
    1966- The Turtles and Oxford Circle at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
    1966--- The Beatles record "Eleanor Rigby"
    1968-McDONALD, PHILL G. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place and date: Near Kontum City, Republic of Vietnam, 7 June 1968. Entered service at: Beckley, W. Va. Born: 13 September 1941. Avondale, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. McDonald distinguished himself while serving as a team leader with the 1st platoon of Company A. While on a combat mission his platoon came under heavy barrage of automatic weapons fire from a well concealed company-size enemy force. Volunteering to escort 2 wounded comrades to an evacuation point, Pfc. McDonald crawled through intense fire to destroy with a grenade an enemy automatic weapon threatening the safety of the evacuation. Returning to his platoon, he again volunteered to provide covering fire for the maneuver of the platoon from its exposed position. Realizing the threat he posed, enemy gunners concentrated their fire on Pfc. McDonald's position, seriously wounding him. Despite his painful wounds, Pfc. McDonald recovered the weapon of a wounded machine gunner to provide accurate covering fire for the gunner's evacuation. When other soldiers were pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from a hostile machine gun to his front, Pfc. McDonald crawled toward the enemy position to destroy it with grenades. He was mortally wounded in this intrepid action. Pfc. McDonald's gallantry at the risk of his life which resulted in the saving of the lives of his comrades is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1970---MURRAY, ROBERT C. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, 23d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near the village of Hiep Duc, Republic of Vietnam, 7 June 1970. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 10 December 1946, Bronx, N.Y. Citation: S/Sgt. Murray distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company B. S/Sgt. Murray's squad was searching for an enemy mortar that had been threatening friendly positions when a member of the squad tripped an enemy grenade rigged as a booby trap. Realizing that he had activated the enemy booby trap, the soldier shouted for everybody to take cover. Instantly assessing the danger to the men of his squad, S/Sgt. Murray unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, threw himself on the grenade absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action and self sacrifice, he prevented the death or injury of the other members of his squad. S/Sgt. Murray's extraordinary courage and gallantry, at the cost 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 on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1968-New York Senator Robert Francis Kennedy dies after being shot while campaigning for president. There are many who believe this was a conspiracy, and there are many sites on the internet making all kinds of noise, but history is full of loners who manage to assassinate famous people, including American presidents.
    1986-Manager Steve Boros of the San Diego Padres was ejected before the first pitch of a game with the Atlanta Braves when he attempted to give umpire Charlie Williams a videotape of a disputed play in the previous night's game, a 4-2 Braves victory.
    1971 – Ed Sullivan said goodbye. He reportedly lived in my home time of Port Chester, New York, married to a Jewish lady who reportedly rule the roost at home. As a newspaper columnist, he was very popular and it was told a mention in his column was very important for your career. When his variety shows appeared on television, with him as the host, due to his fame as a columnist, he was able to attract the top stars that were originally afraid of the medium. He also brought in new talent and had a real circus from Polish dancing bears, a little mouse named Topo Gigio, and “discovered” Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, the comedy of Jackie Mason, John Byner, Rich Little, Allen King, Richard Pryor and so many more, as "The Ed Sullivan Show" left CBS-TV. Gladys Knight and The Pips and singer Jerry Vale appeared on the final show. "The Ed Sullivan Show" had been a showcase for more than 20 years for artists who ranged from Ethel Merman to Ella Fitzgerald, from Steve and Eydie to the Beatles. "The Ed Sullivan Show" was the longest running variety show on TV
    1973 - Barry White was awarded a gold record for "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby". It was his first hit and his first of five number one million-sellers. White began recording in 1960. He formed the group, Love Unlimited, in 1969 and married one of the group's singers, Glodean James. He also formed the 40-piece Love Unlimited Orchestra which had the number-one hit, "Love's Theme" in 1973.
    1973---Top Hits
My Love - Paul McCartney & Wings
Daniel - Elton John
Pillow Talk - Sylvia
Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett
http://members.rott.chello.nl/p.klein6/bwindex.htm
    1974-- Billy Swan, "I Can Help"
    1977 - Severe thunderstorms with large hail and winds to 100 mph caused one million dollars damage around Norfolk, VA. A forty-two foot fishing boat capsized near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel drowning 13 of the 27 persons on board.
    1977--- Stevie Wonder appears, sponsored by Billboard, as a guest music lecturer at a UCLA symposium, talking about his early Motown days and illustrating his points with performances.
    1978 - Proposition 13 passed in California. Voters joined Senator Howard Jarvis in cutting property taxes by 57 percent. This was seen as the birth of a taxpayer's revolt against high taxes and excessive government spending. It also spelled the end of the higher education system in California, and brought the secondary schools from number one to number thirty and lower in score testing today.
    1978-“20/20” premiered on TV. An hourly news magazine developed by ABC to compete with CBS's “Sixty Minutes”. Its original hosts, Harold Hayes and Robert Hughes, were cut after the first show and replaced by Hugh Downs.
Barbara Walters became co-anchor in 1984. the show consisted of investigative and background reports. Contributors to the show have included Tom Jarriel, Sylvia Chase, Gerald Rivera, Thomas Hoving, John Stossel, Lynn Sher and Stone Phillips.
    1981---Top Hits
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Being with You - Smokey Robinson
Stars on 45 medley - Stars on 45
Friends - Razzy Bailey
    1988 - Seventeen cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Williston ND with a reading of 104 degrees. Thunderstorms in Florida produced wind gusts to 65 mph which damaged two mobile homes northwest of Melbourne injuring six people.
    1989---Top Hits
Rock On - Michael Damian
Soldier of Love - Donny Osmond
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Where Did I Go Wrong - Steve Wariner
    1996 -San Francisco became the first city in the nation to sue the tobacco industry.
    1998 - "The Boy is Mine", by Brandy and Monica, zoomed to number 1 on the "Billboard" pop chart. It ruled the Hot 100 roost for 13 weeks -- putting it in the top ten of longest-running #1 singles in the modern rock era.
    2000-- Thanks to the Angels' video crew playing a clip from the 1994 movie "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective" on the JumboTron, the Rally Monkey is born. With the words "Rally Monkey" superimposed over a monkey jumping up and down in the Jim Carrey movie, the crowd goes wild as Anaheim scores two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Giants, 6-5.
http://imagesource.allposters.com:80/images/pic/PHOTOFILE/AADT038~
Anaheim-Angels-Rally-Monkey--Photofile.jpg
    2003-- Insisting the corked bat, designed to put on home run displays during batting practice, was accidentally used in the Devil Rays' game, Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa is suspended for eight games by major League baseball. Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations, agreed the Chicago's outfielder use of an illegal bat was an "isolated incident," but one that still deserved a penalty.

NBA Finals Champions This Date

    1976 Boston Celtics