[headlines]
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Major Executive and Financial Changes
Reported at Currency, Los Angeles, California

This company appeals primarily to vendors and other sellers of equipment. It states they are a "FinTech" company. Leasing News has the company listed as an “Aggregate Funder.” (1)

Currency Capital is licensed as CFL (Lender and Broker). They are a growth from IMCA Capital, originally located in San Francesco but Google states they are "out of business."

Several sources report, off the record, Currency, Los Angeles, California, is about to undergo another major executive change and changes in underwriters. In March, Charles Anderson, CEO & Co-Founder, former President of IMC Capital, Logan Murphy, Chief Investment Officer was released and it was learned Kote Fosse, CFO & COO, resigned (2)

Again, the information about major changes comes from very reliable sources, which Leasing News is seeking to find confirm. Leasing News is told an announcement is coming soon.

This company appeals primarily to vendors and other sellers of equipment, providing sponsorship, working capital, and several types of financing. (3).

(1)  Aggregate Funding Sources
(On Line: connects lessees, lessors, and vendors)
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2020/02_12.htm#agg

(2) Kote Flosse Twitter: Correction, He Resigned
Three Executives No Longer at Currency
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2020/03_13.htm#flosse

(3)  Website
 https://www.gocurrency.com/resources/about-us/

 

[headlines]
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Top Ten Leasing News
January 19 to January 21

(Stories most opened by readers)

(1)  Special Ripoff Offer
    Reputation Defenders
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_19.htm#special

(2) Pictures from the Past---
    Featured on Leasing News
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_19.htm#pictures

(3)  Commercial Financing Disclosures CA & NY
    Today, Thursday - Everything You Need to Know to Prepare
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_21.htm#comm

(4) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
    and Related Industries
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_21.htm#hires

(5)  Corrections - Pictures from the Past---
    Missing Caption
       Featured on Leasing News
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_21.htm#corrections

(6) Wells Fargo targets $8 billion in cuts
    confirms asset-management among units on chopping block
https://www.pionline.com/money-management/wells-fargo-targets-8-billion-cuts

(7) The World's Largest Cities
    By Population Size
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_21.htm#cities

(8) Commercial Financing Disclosures CA & NY
    Everything You Need to Know to Prepare
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_19.htm#comm

(9) Alliance Funding Group (AFG) Announces
    New Domain and Brand Identity
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_21.htm#alliance

(10)  Changes Unknown to Media re: New York State Bill
    on APR and Other Disclosures
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2021/01_19.htm#changes

 

Leasing News
Help Wanted Ads

[headlines]
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Major Breakthrough: Financial Services
through tech platform by California Cannabis Industry Association

By Mark Anderson
– Staff Writer, Sacramento Business Journal

The California Cannabis Industry Association is offering its members access to banking services through North Bay Credit Union with the help of a Sacramento financial technology company.

The access to banking is supported by a software platform developed by Sacramento-based NatureTrak LLC, which helps financial institutions provide a full audit trail for every transaction from cannabis grower to inventory, supply chain and sale.

“The banking situation for banking legal cannabis businesses has been untenable,” said Lindsay Robinson, executive director for the Sacramento-based nonprofit industry trade association. It represents over 400 businesses with about 15,000 employees statewide. The association estimates that the industry employs around 40,000 people at some 7,400 cannabis businesses just in California.

Lack of access to banking services is the biggest difficulty in the business, Robinson said, adding that her association, which doesn’t touch or have any cannabis directly linked to it, has had its payroll and banking services rejected by numerous financial institutions because of its association with the industry.

Many banks and credit unions are leery of banking legitimate cannabis operations because while they are legal businesses under California law, banking them can be construed as illegal under federal law, and so most banks and credit unions, which are connected directly to the federal payments systems, won’t touch them.

NatureTrak creates a precise and detailed audit trail, which allows its customer financial institutions to track their cannabis clients’ inventory and sales, allowing the financial institution to find anomalies which could potentially look like money laundering. The software creates receipts for every transaction. It is the concern about potential money laundering that dissuades most financial institutions from banking the industry, said Jontae James, CEO of NatureTrak.

The benefit of the NatureTrak platform is that it automates many of the audit requirements, including searching for required licenses, which would be a paperwork nightmare for the credit union to do on its own for all customers for every transaction.

NatureTrak is seeing more business as the association has been pushing the service.

“There is going to be a lot of business going through it,” James said. “It is going to be exciting.”

NatureTrak has 14 employees, all of whom are working remotely because of Covid-19.

"We want everyone to be compliant," James said, adding that open banking for the industry will help the legal operators put money in the bank and get rid of the black market.

The California Cannabis Industry Association continues to advocate for regulatory reform for banking cannabis at both the state and federal level, Robinson said.

California legalized adult-use recreational marijuana in 2018. However, under federal law, marijuana is still illegal, so banks, credit unions and brokerages — all of which have federal oversight — are at risk of losing their licenses to operate if they take money associated with cannabis.

North Bay Credit Union, which is based in Santa Rosa, was founded in 1948 as a credit union for farmers. It has a community charter to serve the Bay Area, and it can serve members of the cannabis association statewide.

The association estimates the cannabis market in California generates annual revenue of $5.6 billion.

Alliance Commercial Capital
Cannabis Equipment Leasing
International Financial Services (IFS)
Number One Enterprise
Prime Commercial Lending
Slim Capital
Vertical Companies
XS Equipment Leasing Solutions

  

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

Slim Capital Joins
Financing Cannabis Funding Sources

CANNABIS: This is an industry that has seen tremendous activity and interest this year! The Cannabis space has the highest year over year growth. SLIM is fortunate to have the opportunity to invest in these businesses and be a part of a growing market.

For more information, please contact us at: deals@slimcapital.com or visit Slim Capital website at www.slimcapital.com

SLIM Capital, LLC
Shervin Rashti, CLFP, CEO
shervin@slimcapital.com
(310) 499-2506
Main:  (310) 499-2562 x108
www.slimcapital.com

http://leasingnews.org/Pages/cannabis_financing.html

##### Press Release ############################

Arvest Equipment Finance Breaks
Production Record in 2020

Division of Arvest Bank Enjoys Fourth Consecutive Year
of Double-Digit Growth

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.) – Arvest Equipment Finance (AEF) closed more than $279 million in new production in 2020, a record total for the division of Arvest Bank. That represents a 13.4 percent increase in gross production year-over-year.

Arvest President Eric Bunnell, CLFP, said, “I am so proud of our AEF team and its resilience. Like many companies, we were faced with a lot of challenges in 2020, but our team remained flexible and kept its focus on providing excellent customer service in spite of whatever challenges arose.‘

“The result, in addition to a lot of satisfied customers, was another year of record production and a very rewarding year for all our team members.”
 
Additionally, AEF’s total portfolio jumped more than 21 percent year-over-year, from $421.8 million in 2019 to $513.7 million in 2020.

AEF also announced two personnel moves. John Bradford now serves as director of sales and John Raymond Pitre as regional sales manager.

“With our continued growth, we had a need to separate our sales associates into bank and vendor production teams,” Bunnell said.

“Bradford has more than 20 years of industry experience, including more than six years with AEF, and most recently served as sales manager. Bradford earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, with a minor in accounting, from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Tulsa. He received the Certified Lease & Finance Professional designation in 2015.”

“John Bradford has done an amazing job overseeing the production growth and will continue to lead all bank sales activities in this new role,” he concluded.

John Pitre has 10 years of industry experience and has been an AEF team member since 2015, focusing largely on developing vendor relationships. Also a Certified Lease & Finance Professional, Pitre earned a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned a master’s in business administration and a master’s in management.

“John Raymond will lead our vendor team and continue to look for new relationships in that regard as we continue to expand our footprint,” Bunnell said.

AEF is headquartered in Fort Smith, Ark., with locations in Little Rock, Kansas City and Tulsa, and does business throughout Arvest’s four-state footprint.

About Arvest
Arvest Bank operates more than 270 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 14 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 135 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest also is one of a select few banks in the nation to have its mobile app – Arvest Go – certified by J.D. Power for providing an outstanding mobile banking experience. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

About Arvest Wealth Management
Arvest Wealth Management offers wealth management, trust services and insurance products. Investments and Insurance Products: Not a Deposit, Not Guaranteed by the Bank or its Affiliates, Not FDIC Insured, Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency, May Go Down in Value. Trust services provided by Arvest Bank.

### Press Release ############################

[headlines]
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### Press Release ############################

Tandem Finance marks 210% growth Y/Y
and adds Transportation Finance Team

FORT COLLINS, COLO. – Tandem Finance is one of the industry’s fastest-growing small-ticket, independent, equipment finance and lease companies. Powered by the efforts of a great team and its valued vendor partners, Tandem continued its rapid national expansion in 2020 despite the challenges introduced by COVID in the springtime. The company overcame a challenging year by growing a remarkable 210% over the prior year.
 

Tandem President, Michael Sheehan stated, “While a great deal of resources and energy went to providing the necessary support to our customers, significant attention was also directed to our continued quest to expand and support our vendor program partners across a wide range of strategic vertical markets. I’m confident it’s that level of engagement and mutual support that has delivered results at this elevated level.”
 
Last year Tandem launched a Tandem Transportation Finance Team. Led by industry veteran Mike Bardwell, the new team has identified marketplace opportunities, is engaging new accounts and is already delivering a solid contribution to Tandem’s journey.
 
Additionally, Sheehan has increased personnel in business development, sales and vendor services. He recapped by saying, “We look forward to 2021 and the future as Tandem Finance grows and expands its targeted vertical markets and national sales organization. We are always looking to add quality sales team members, vertical market specialists and possibly small teams of producers.”
 
Tandem Finance Inc. provides equipment financing to SMBs in the U.S. through the equipment vendor channel. Tandem Finance is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesswood Group Limited. Chesswood Group Limited, publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CHW), is a financial services company operating in the specialty finance industry in North America.

### Press Release ############################

[headlines]
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### Press Release ############################

North Mill Equipment Finance Announces
Ten Employee Promotions

NORWALK, CT – North Mill Equipment Finance LLC (“North Mill”), a leading independent commercial equipment lessor located in Norwalk, Connecticut, announced today the promotion of ten employees representing several departments across the organization.  They include:

•       James Cavallaro, Vice President, Contract Administration
•       Ellen Miller, Vice President, Legal
•       Jeff Schick, Vice President, Operational Controller
•       Michael Deck, Assistant Vice President, Credit
•       Ben Tishelman, Assistant Vice President, Operations
•       Griffin Dulligan, Manager, Credit
•       Pierina Silvestre, Manager, Insurance & Asset Management
•       Douglas Jackson, Manager, Contract Administration
•       Sabrina Walker, Manager, Contract Administration
•       Evan Worley, Manager, Credit

David C. Lee, Chairman and CEO, North Mill, said, “I’m proud and excited to recognize so many people for their outstanding performance, There are a number of factors that have contributed to North Mill’s vigorous growth over the last few years.  But nothing is more meaningful to the long-term success of this company than our employees. The level of passion and dedication that emanates from the team is inspirational.”

---------------------

James Cavallaro, a 15-year North Mill veteran, was promoted to Vice President, Contract Administration. Working as a liaison between brokers and internal staff, Cavallaro will govern the funding process from wing to wing, ensuring transactions are compliant and processed accurately.  He will focus on new programs that expand and diversify North Mill’s portfolio.

Ellen Miller was promoted to Vice President, Legal. Celebrating her twentieth year at the company this month, she will manage outside counsel and negotiate settlements. Additionally, she will supervise the company’s collections team, focusing on reducing losses and implementing measures that deliver first-rate customer service.

Jeff Schick, who recently joined North Mill, was promoted to Vice President, Operational Controller.  Schick will manage a $300 million lease and loan portfolio and direct a team of four portfolio accountants.  He will oversee cash application and balancing, new originations and modifications, contract maintenance, and efficiency initiatives.

Michael Deck was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Credit.  Unlike other lenders, North Mill assigns a team of experts to review each deal.  Deck will help administer this process and the underwriting of the nearly 20,000 applications per annum North Mill receives. He will be responsible for the larger-sized, more complex submissions.

Ben Tishelman was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Operations, where he will develop internal processes designed to boost productivity and operational efficiency. He will manage technology-related programs such as the company’s customer portal and phone system.

Griffin Dulligan was promoted to Manager, Credit, where he will join the group that underwrites North Mill’s transaction flow.  He will manage more intricate transactions and cross-train other members of the team. 

Pierina Silvestre was promoted to Manager, Insurance & Asset Management, where she will oversee all insurance-related issues.  In addition, she will manage the company’s GPS initiative and streamline department processes.

Douglas Jackson and Sabrina Walker were each promoted to Manager, Contract Administration. They will review new deals to ensure company guidelines are met and prepare funding packages for transactions ready to close. 

Evan Worley was promoted to Manager, Credit where he will assess risk and make recommendations regarding the decisioning of applications.  He will also present larger-sized “Application Plus” deals to management.

About North Mill Equipment Finance
Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, North Mill Equipment Finance originates and services small-ticket equipment leases and loans, ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 in value.   A broker-centric private lender, the company handles A – C credit qualities and finances transactions for numerous asset categories including construction, transportation, vocational, health care, manufacturing, printing, and material handling equipment. North Mill is majority owned by an affiliate of Wafra Capital Partners, Inc. (WCP).  For more information, visit www.nmef.com.

### Press Release ############################

### Press Release ############################

Board of Directors and Executive Committee Selected by
The Certified Leasing and Finance Professional Foundation

The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation is very pleased to announce the 2021 CLFP Board of Directors, including those who have been selected to serve on the Executive Committee as Officers.  They are:

Officers:

• President: Nathan Gibbons, CLFP – Innovation Finance
• Vice President: Jenny Wood, CLFP – Orion First Financial
• Secretary: Lia Wax, CLFP – Financial Pacific Leasing
• Treasurer: Todd Buzard, CPA, CLFP – First American Equipment Finance
• Immediate Past President: Kevin Prykull, CLFP

Directors:

• Craig Colling, CLFP – Ascentium Capital LLC
• Theresa Kabot, CLFP – K2 Funding
• Larry LaChance, CLFP – Bankers Capital
• Joe Leonard, CLFP – Oakmont Capital Services, LLC
• Mike McDonald, CLFP – Stryker
• Daniel Nelson, CLFP – Tamarack Consulting
• Kathy Nordendahl, CLFP – Dedicated Funding, LLC
• Candace Reinhart, CLFP – CoreTech Leasing
• Deborah Reuben, CLFP - TomorrowZone
• Jason Seitz, CLFP – BMO Harris Equipment Finance
•  

Incoming President, Mr. Gibbons, Chief Operating Office at Innovation Finance, stated, "I strongly believe that personal and professional fulfillment lie in the causes that help others reach their potential. The CLFP program inspires us to advance such a cause, and I've been fortunate to work alongside others who share this belief. I couldn't be more excited about the new Board of Directors, and about the impact the CLFP movement will have on our industry in 2021!”

The CLFP designation identifies an individual as a knowledgeable professional to employers, clients, customers, and peers in the equipment finance industry. There are currently 978 Certified Lease & Finance Professionals and Associates throughout the world. For more information, call Executive Director Reid Raykovich, CLFP at (206) 535-6281 or visit www.CLFPfoundation.org.

#### Press Release #############################

[headlines]
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#### Press Release #############################

Equipment Broker School Releases
Groundbreaking New CRM, Equipment Broker Platform

 

Equipment Broker School, the fastest-growing online training course for the Equipment Finance & Leasing industry, has released Equipment Broker Platform (CRM) a system for not only Equipment Finance & Leasing brokers, but Short-Term Working Capital brokers as well!

ROCHESTER, N.H.  Equipment Broker School, the fastest-growing online training course for the Equipment Finance & Leasing industry, has released Equipment Broker Platform (CRM) a system for not only Equipment Finance & Leasing brokers, but Short-Term Working Capital brokers as well!

Josh Feinberg Co-Founder of Equipment Broker School says, "Equipment Broker School has always been an elite, enterprise level training company, but today we can proudly say that we have the best CRM in the industry for brokers," says Feinberg. "We listen to our members, and the brokers in our industry. We are all about continuous improvement, and we are excited to deliver a next-generation platform that increases the revenue potential for brokers. We put a lot of resources into Equipment Broker Platform, and our commitment to innovation further positions Equipment Broker School as the best Equipment Financing & Leasing Training Course in the country."

Equipment Broker Platform delivers customized lead management automations, application tracking & notifications, communications and contact management features, and the ability to run enhanced marketing campaigns to help close more leads and improve the overall customer, vendor, ISO experience. The powerful revenue generating features that work with the Equipment Broker School vision, the CRM offers a customizable, intuitive dashboard that highlights important key performance indicators. In addition to these core features, the software also includes improvements to the user interface. This is a fully built out CRM built for brokers, with minimal set up, brokers will see the value almost immediately.

An integrated phone system with Twilio allows for instant views of client and owner profiles, providing users valuable information that can improve conversions and owner relations. Call recordings give users the ability to review and critique sales calls, and add-ons that improve efficiency and saves valuable time when communicating to prospects, current customers, vendors, and ISO’s.

Equipment Broker Platform’s drive to create a new, more user-friendly CRM was fueled by feedback from current members, and colleagues in the Equipment Finance & Cash Advance industry. The desire to provide brokers with the most powerful tools available. More than a year of design, development, quality assurance, and implementation went into the CRM project.

Visit www.equipmentbrokerplatform.com for more information!

#### Press Release #############################

German Shepherd
Los Angeles, California   Adopt-a-Dog

Bonny is an 9 year old German Shepherd.  She’s a loving and well behaved dog who deserves the best forever home! She loves people, is good with kids, and is so gentile. Bonny is good with other dogs, though she needs a slow introduction.  She does have leash aggression, so she needs someone strong enough to handle this big girl, and also needs someone willing to work with her on this. She is a very fast learner – keeps impressing us with how quickly she learns commands.  She is unbelievably smart and learned “sit” in about 15 minutes!  She is house trained and crate trained. Bonny has medium energy – she mainly likes to follow you around and hang out with you, but also can be found playing in the yard/

Pacific Pup Rescue
Mailing Address:
6709 La Tijera Blvd,#504
Los Angeles, Ca 90045

Contact Number:
845-742-3924

WE ARE INSTEAD DOING 1-ON-1 MEET AND GREETS BY APPOINTMENT**

Adoption Fee: $300

If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs or cats, please fill out the Adoption Application below. We will contact you shortly. Once your application is approved, we will conduct a home check before finalizing the adoption.

Application:
https://pacificpupsrescue.com/dog-adoption-application/

[headlines]
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Leasing News Advisor
Steve Crane, CLFP

Steve Crane, CLFP, is an original member of the Leasing News Advisory Board from July 2000. He is Executive Vice President and the Sales Manager for BSB Leasing, which is funding source/syndicator in Colorado. Steve enjoys working remotely from his home in the San Francisco, East Bay Area.

Prior to joining BSB in September of 2014, Steve was Vice President and Marketing Manager for the Indirect Equipment Financing Group at Bank of the West where he worked for nearly 20 years.  He graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and has held positions with numerous companies in his career, including Westinghouse Credit, Ingersoll-Rand Financial, CIT and Taylor Financial. Steve has been an active volunteer in the Leasing and Financing community over the years, holding various positions, including President and Treasurer of the Certified Leasing and Finance Professional Foundation, board member of the former Eastern Association of Equipment Leasing, and conference chairs for The National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers and National Equipment Finance Association.

Steve enjoys outdoor activities including traveling, hiking, running, gardening, and sailing.  He is an avid triathlete, having completed many races, including 10 half and two full Ironman events.

Steve Crane, CLFP
Executive Vice President  & Sales Manager
BSB Leasing, Inc.
7921 Southpark Plaza, Suite 208
Littleton, CO  80120
scrane@bsbleasing.com   
303-376-4668
Fax: 303-329-0240
www.bsbleasing.com

Steve has been married to his wife Cheryl for 37 years and they have two sons, Ryan and Alex. Ryan is a firefighter in Northern California and Alex is am MD in Southern California working on a sports medicine residency.

Son Ryan and girlfriend Brooke, daughter-in-law Jess, son Alex, wife Cheryl and Steve.

News Briefs---

New York lost 1 million jobs in 2020
   due to COVID-19
https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/new-york-lost-1-million-jobs-in-2020-due-to-covid-19/

For brick and mortar retailers in the Boston area,
    it’s boom or bust, depending on where you look
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/23/business/brick-mortar-retailers-its-boom-or-bust-depending-where-you-look/

‘Worst thing we’ve ever seen’:
    Thousands of evictions loom in St. Louis
https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/worst-thing-we-ve-ever-seen-thousands-of-evictions-loom-in-st-louis/article_eae68b98-afca-59d8-b411-f83296d2e236.html

Most US home sales in 14 years:
    6.5 million existing homes changed hands in 2020
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-us-home-sales-2020-20210122-jwbsw7bqnbdjfj2qhf4vjwra7e-story.html

Federal Reserve Board announces that the public comment     
  period for the application by First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
   to acquire CIT Group, Inc. is extended through Feb. 22, 2021
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/files/orders20210122a.pdf

The Alta Group's 2021 Insights
    for Equipment Finance (7 pages)
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/alta_2021.pdf

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

Sac City schools paid $6 million for costly
    air cleaners with unnecessary features
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article248431190.html?ac_cid=DM370907&ac_bid=-762559621

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

Sports Briefs---

First look at Super Bowl match-up
   Tampa vs Kansas City

Amid cancellation talk,
     Tokyo Olympics ‘focused on hosting’
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/tokyo-olympics-focused-on-hosting-despite-cancellation-talk/’

Washington Foot Ball Team hires former cornerbacks
   Martin Mayhew as general manager
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/washington-hires-martin-mayhew-as-general-manager/?sba=AAS

Jaguars hire ex-49ers executive Trent Baalke
    as GM, removing interim tag
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/jaguars-hire-ex-49ers-executive-trent-baalke-as-gm-removing-interim-tag/

Source: Watson wants out of Houston
    no matter who the coach is
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/85828/Source--Watson-wants-out-of-Houston-no-matter-who-the-coach-is

Tiger Woods has fifth back surgery,
    to miss Torrey Pines and Riviera
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/tiger-woods-has-fifth-back-surgery-to-miss-torrey-pines-and-riviera/

Steph Curry passes Reggie Miller on the NBA’s
    all-time 3-point list
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/23/warriors-steph-curry-passes-reggie-miller-on-the-nbas-all-time-3-point-list/?

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

California Nuts Briefs---

A year of COVID-19: A sobering look at how California,
    U.S. compare to the rest of the world
www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/23/a-year-of-covid-19-a-sobering-look-at-how-california-u-s-compare-to-the-rest-of-the-world/?

San Francisco taxi drivers lose dream,
    face foreclosures as pandemic jolts business
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/San-Francisco-taxi-drivers-lose-dream-face-15891334.php

[headlines]
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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Wine of the week: Crux, 2018 Catie’s Corner Vineyard,
    Russian River Valley Grenache Blanc
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/wine-of-the-week-crux-2018-caties-corner-vineyard-russian-river-valley/

How are Wineries Doing?
    Are They Interested in Selling?
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=240652

Cocktails To-Go Legislation Filed in 13 States,
    More Expected in Effort to Help Struggling Hospitality Businesses
https://www.distilledspirits.org/news/cocktails-to-go-legislation-filed-in-13-states-more-expected-in-effort-to-help-struggling-hospitality-businesses/

Wine Shipping State of the Union, 2021 Edition
https://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2021/01/wine-shipping-state-of-the-union-2021-edition.html

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

This Day in History

    1704 - The Battle of Ayubale destroyed most of the Spanish missions in Florida.  In 1703, ex-Governor Moore presented to the Carolina assembly a plan for an expedition against the Spanish towns in Apalachee Province, near present-day Tallahassee.  After recruiting 50 colonists, he traveled to the upper waters of the Ocmulgee River, where he recruited 1,000 Creek Indians to join the expedition against their traditional enemies.  On January 25, 1704, Moore's force arrived at Ayubale, one of the larger mission towns in Apalachee. While most of the Creeks raided the surrounding villages, Moore took most of the whites and 15 Creek into Ayubale itself around 7:00 am. The only resistance was organized by Father Angel Miranda, who retreated into the town's church compound, which was surrounded by a mud wall. With 26 men he successfully held the English at bay for nine hours, and only surrendered himself, his men, and 58 women and children after they ran out of arrows.  According to one Spanish account, Miranda threw himself and his followers on Moore's mercy. He was, according to this account (but apparently not others), then summarily slain in cold blood by Moore's Indian allies, and some of his followers were then tortured and killed. 
    1775 – Americans dragged cannon up a hill to fight the British at Gun Hill Road, The Bronx. When the British navy landed on Staten Island in 1775, New York City Patriots feared an imminent invasion. They did not want the precious cannon at the Battery to fall into enemy hands. Thus, in December, 1775, they took the cannon to the mainland and scattered them roughly along present-day Gun Hill Road from today’s Jerome Avenue across the Bronx River to modern White Plains Road.
    1783 – Birthday of William Colgate (d. 1857), Kent, England.  He founded what became the Colgate Toothpaste Company in 1806, a starch, soap and candle business in Manhattan, on Dutch Street. In 1820, he started a starch factory across the Hudson in Jersey City, leading to a long and current involvement of the company in Jersey City. 
    1787 – Small farmers in Springfield, Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays continued their revolt against tax laws. Federal troops broke up the protesters of what became known as Shays’ Rebellion. Shays’ Rebellion suffered a setback when debt-ridden farmers led by Capt. Daniel Shays failed to capture an arsenal at Springfield, Mass.     
    1821 – The Hudson River was frozen solid during the midst of the coldest winter in forty-one years. Thousands of persons crossed the ice from New York City to New Jersey, and refreshment taverns were set up in the middle of the river to warm pedestrians.
    1825 – The first engineering college in the US opened, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
    1825 – CSA Gen. George Pickett (d. 1875) was born in Richmond, VA.  He is best remembered for his participation in the futile and bloody assault at Gettysburg that bears his name, Pickett’s Charge. Pickett's division arrived at the battle after guarding the Confederate lines of communication through Chambersburg, PA.  Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, which had initially driven the Union Army of the Potomac to the high ground south of Gettysburg, had been unable to dislodge the Union soldiers from their position. Lee's plan for July 3 called for a massive assault on the center of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge, calculating that attacks on either flank the previous two days had drawn troops from the center. He directed General Longstreet to assemble a force of three divisions for the attack—two exhausted divisions and Pickett's fresh division from Longstreet's own corps.  The three divisions stepped off across open fields almost a mile from Cemetery Ridge. Pickett's division was on the right flank of the assault. It received punishing artillery fire, and then volleys of massed musket fire as it approached its objective. Pickett's Charge was a bloodbath. While the Union lost about 1,500 killed and wounded, the Confederate casualties were several times that. Over 50% of the men sent across the fields were killed or wounded. Pickett's three brigade commanders and all thirteen of his regimental commanders were casualties.
    1831 – Birthday of Jane Goodwin Austin (d. 1894), Worcester, MA.  Novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Most of her novels were authentically accurate depictions of the Pilgrims which she carefully researched.
    1837 – At 7 PM, a display of the Northern Lights danced above Burlington, VT. Its light was equal to the full moon. Snow and other objects reflecting the light were deeply tinged with a blood red hue. Blue, yellow and white streamers were also noted.
    1840 – US naval expedition under Charles Wilkes became the first to identify Antarctica as a new continent.  European maps showed a hypothesized land at the bottom of the Southern hemisphere until Captain James cook’s ships, crossed the Antarctic Circle on 17 January 1773, in December 1773 and again in January 1774.  Cook came within about 75 miles of the Antarctic coast before retreating in the face of field ice in January 1773.  The first confirmed sighting of Antarctica can be narrowed down to the crews of ships captained by three individuals:  von Bellingshausen (a captain in the Imperial Russian Navy, Edward Bransfield, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Nathaniel Palmer of Stonington, CT. The first documented landing on Antarctica was by the American sealer John Davis on 7 February 1821, although some historians dispute this claim.  The first recorded and confirmed landing was at Cape Adair in 1895.  In December 1839, as part of the US Exploring Expedition of 1838–42 conducted by the US Navy (sometimes called the "Ex. Ex.", or "the Wilkes Expedition"), the expedition reported the discovery "of an Antarctic continent west of the Balleny Islands" on 25 January 1840. That part of Antarctica was later named "Wilkes Land", a name it retains to this day.
    1856 – Marines and seamen from the U.S. sloop DECATUR went ashore at the village of Seattle, Washington, to protect settlers from Indian raids. The Indians launched a seven-hour attack but were driven off later that day after suffering severe losses. Incredibly, only two civilian volunteers were killed and no Marines or sailors were lost.
    1871 – Unveiled in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Vinnie Ream’s statue of Abraham Lincoln that was authorized by Congress.
    1871 – Birthday of Maud Wood Park (d. 1955), Boston.  Directed congressional lobbying and was one of the key women implementing Carrie Chapman Catt’s winning strategy to get women’s suffrage passed. Instrumental in getting congressional approval for many child labor, maternity, and child health reforms as well as the Cable Act of 1922 which granted married women US citizenship independent of their husband’s status. Before the Cable Act, an American-born woman AUTOMATICALLY lost her citizenship when she married a non-American citizen.
    1879 – The Arrears of Pensions Act is passed by Congress. It authorizes back-payment of military pensions beginning from the day of discharge. If the veteran is dead, payments will be made to the family.
    1890 – Nellie Bly circled the world in 72 days, stepping into history. Newspaper reported Nellie Bly, the pen name used by Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, set off from Hoboken, NJ on Nov. 14, 1889, to attempt to break Jules Verne's imaginary hero Phileas Foggs’ record of voyaging around the world in 80 days. She did beat Fogg's record, taking 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds to make the trip, arriving back in New Jersey on January 25, 1890.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-in/query/D?amtoday:1:./temp/~ammem_Kaeh ::
    1896 - Birthday of the leading black American singer and dancer of the Jazz Age, and the Harlem Renaissance, Florence Winfree (d. 1927), Washington, DC. She appeared in Langston Hughes's “Shuffle Along”in 1921 and “Plantation Review” on Broadway in 1922, then at the London Pavilion in “Dover Street to Dixie” in 1923. Offered a spot in the “Ziegfeld Follies,” she turned it down and joined in creating a rival show with an all-black cast. Winfree was the first black woman to appear as a headliner at the Palace Theatre. She was so revered for her efforts to create opportunities for black entertainers and to bring the unique culture of blacks to Broadway that more than 150,000 people filled the streets of Harlem to mourn her when she died at New York City, Nov 1, 1927, at age 31.
    1900 - Birthday of tenor sax player Captain John Handy (d. 1971), Pass Christian, MS.
    1903 - (Sleepy) John Estes (d. 1977), an important early bluesman, was born in Ripley, Tennessee. He played on the streets of Memphis in the 1920's, supporting himself by working the night shift at a train yard. His tendency to doze off on the job earned him his nickname. He returned to Brownsville, Tennessee, in the 1940's, where he remained in obscurity for more than 15 years. Estes was rediscovered by a documentary filmmaker. He signed a recording contract and appeared at folk festivals in the US and Europe. One of Estes's LPs included a guest spot by guitarist Mike Bloomfield, and Estes later appeared on an LP by Ray Cooder. The rock group Joy of Cooking had a minor hit in 1971 with a song written by Estes, "Going to Brownsville."
    1915 - Alexander Bell in New York calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco, inaugurating transcontinental telephone service.
    1918 – Broadcaster Ernie Harwell, (d. 2010) was born in Washington, GA.  For 55 seasons, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or TV. In January 2009, the American Sportscasters Association ranked Harwell 16th on its list of Top 50 Sportscasters of All Time.
    1919 - The League of Nations, forerunner of the United Nations, was founded.
    1924 - The first Winter Olympic, opened in Chamonix, France, with athletes representing 16 nations. The ski jump, previously unknown, thrilled spectators.  The Olympics offered a boost to skiing, which would make enormous strides in the next decade.
    1937 - Trumpeter Buck Clayton cuts his first record, accompanying Billie Holiday, on “Why Was I Born?”
    1937 – “The Guiding Light” debuted on NBC radio from Chicago. In 1952, it moved to CBS television, where it remained until September 18, 2009.
    1938 - Etta James (d. 2013) was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles.  James is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll and was the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. In early 1961, James released what was to become her signature song, "At Last," which reached number two on the R&B chart and number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though the song was not as successful as expected, it has become the most remembered version of the song. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008.  “Rolling Stone” ranked James number 22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists.
http://www.forgetmenotantiques.com/CD/jamesback.htm
http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/Etta-James.htm
    1939 – The first nuclear fission experiment, splitting the uranium atom, in the US occurred in the basement of Pupin Hall at Columbia University.  The team was led by Enrico Fermi. 
    1940 - The biggest snowstorm on record for Richmond, Virginia came to an end. 21.6 inches of snow fell over a 3-day period.
    1940 - Mary Martin, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy"
    1941 – Pope Pius XII elevates the Apostolic Vicariate of the Hawaiian Islands to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.
    1944 - The character of Beulah, a black maid who was played by a white man, Marlin Hunt, first aired on radio's "Fibber McGee and Molly." In 1945, the spin-off, "Beulah," became a radio series.
    1945 - In New York, Richard Tucker debuted at the Metropolitan Opera House in "La Gioconda." As a note of trivia, I went to the summer camp with his son in New Hampshire, who we became fast friends during this time period.
    1945 - The first water supply to be fluoridated in order to reduce tooth decay was the water system of Grand Rapids, MI. Fluoridation started with the addition of one part of fluoride ion to each million parts of water passing through the water treatment plant.
    1945 - Top Hits
“Don't Fence Me In” - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“There Goes that Song Again” - Russ Morgan
“I'm Making Believe” - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
“I'm Wastin' My Tears on You” - Tex Ritter
    1945 - VALDEZ, JOSE F., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Rosenkrantz, France, 25 January 1945. Entered service at: Pleasant Grove, Utah. Birth: Governador, N. Mex. G. O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946. Citation: He was on outpost duty with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked with overwhelming strength. From his position near some woods 500 yards beyond the American lines he observed a hostile tank about 75 yards away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire until it withdrew. Soon afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily approaching through the woods. Scorning cover as the enemy soldiers opened up with heavy automatic weapons fire from a range of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with the attackers until he had killed all 3. The enemy quickly launched an attack with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting the patrol with murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and beginning an encircling movement which forced the patrol leader to order a withdrawal. Despite the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez immediately volunteered to cover the maneuver, and as the patrol 1 by 1 plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American lines, he fired burst after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were wounded in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet that entered his stomach and, passing through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming agonizing pain, he regained control of himself and resumed his firing position, delivering a protective screen of bullets until all others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called for artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range until he had shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For 15 minutes he refused to be dislodged by more than 200 of the enemy; then, seeing that the barrage had broken the counter attack, he dragged himself back to his own lines. He died later as a result of his wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, Pfc. Valdez made it possible for his comrades to escape, and was directly responsible for repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces.
    1945 – Larry MacPhail, Dan Topping and Del Webb purchased the New York Yankees for $2.8 million from the heirs of previous owner Jacob Ruppert. The new owners announced that Ed Barrow will remain in place as general manager but a month later, they installed MacPhail as GM.  Under this ownership team, until 1964, the Yankees would achieve their greatest success:  16 World Series appearances with 12 championships.
    1946 – The United Mine Workers rejoined the American Federation of Labor.
    1947 – Thomas Goldsmith, Jr. filed a patent for a "Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device," the first ever electronic game.  A television pioneer, after graduating from Cornell, became director of research for DuMont Laboratories in NJ, and (after 1953) vice president.  He chaired the Synchronization Panel of the National Television System Committee and the Radio Manufacturers Association Committee on Cathode-Ray Tubes.  He also became the chief engineer for the DuMont Television Network.
    1947 – Al Capone (b. 1899) died in Florida at age 48.  After a seven-year reign of terror as the head of Chicago’s organized crime gangs, he was finally convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to prison from which he was paroled in 1939.  By then, the deterioration from syphilis and gonorrhea deepened.  He spent his final years in his Palm Island, FL mansion with what doctors described as the mind of a 12-year old.
    1949 – At the Hollywood Athletic Club, the first Emmy awards were presented.
    1950 - Birthday of Gloria Naylor, author of “The Women of Brewster Place” (1982) and “Bailey's Café” (1992).
    1950 - Highest January temperature ever recorded in Cleveland, Ohio:
73ºF (23ºC).
    1951 - Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontaine (d. 1975), long distance runner, born at Coos Bay, OR. Prefontaine was an outstanding athlete whose grit, determination, and activism personified Americans' growing interest in physical fitness, jogging, and running. Although never an Olympic Champion or world record holder, he set 14 US records during his career cut short by a fatal automobile accident on a road where he often trained.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Why Don't You Believe Me” - Joni James
“Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” - Perry Como
“Keep It a Secret” - Jo Stafford
“I'll Go On Alone” - Marty Robbins
    1953 - The Cincinnati Mohawks and the Troy (OH) Bruins played the only doubleheader in the history of the International Hockey League, with one game being played in each team's home city. The Bruins won the first game in Troy, 3-0. The Mohawks won the nightcap in Cincinnati, 2-1.
    1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" becomes the first single ever to enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One
    1959 - American Airlines opened the jet age in the US with the first scheduled transcontinental flight on a Boeing 707 nonstop from California to New York.
    1960 - Sam Cooke recorded "Chain Gang" at the RCA Studios in NYC.  The song became one of Cooke's most successful singles, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.  
    1960 - The National Association of Broadcasters reacted to the "payola" scandal by threatening fines for any disc jockeys who accept money for playing particular records.
    1961 - Beginning a tradition that survives to this day, John F. Kennedy held the first televised presidential news conference five days after being inaugurated as the 35th president.
    1961 - President John F. Kennedy appointed the first female presidential physician, Dr. Janet Graeme Travell of New York City. Several previous Presidents had received treatment from a female medical practitioner.  The one of most note was Dr. Susan Ann Edison, who graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College and who treated President James Garfield from July 2, 1881, the day he was shot by an assassin, to September 19, 1881, when he died.
    1961 - The Disney animated cartoon classic, “101 Dalmatians,” was released to theaters. It took an animation staff of three hundred to complete the film in three years, at a cost of $4 million. It was a huge success at the box office.
    1961 - Top Hits
“Wonderland by Night” - Bert Kaempfert
“Exodus” - Ferrante & Teicher
“Calcutta” - Lawrence Welk
“North to Alaska” - Johnny Horton
    1962 - Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away," later done by Rod Stewart, is released on RCA Records. It will make it up to #9 on the pop chart.
    1964 - The Beatles reached #1 on the music charts for the first time, with their single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" which took the top position not only in "Cash Box" magazine, but also on the hit lists of radio stations. "Billboard" magazine listed the song at #1 on February 1. The group's second #1 hit, "She Loves You" was released on Swan Records, and not Capitol. Other Beatles songs were released on Vee Jay ("Please, Please Me"), M-G-M ("My Bonnie" with Tony Sheridan), Tollie ("Twist and Shout"), Atco ("Ain't She Sweet") and the group's own label, Apple Records, as well as Capitol.
    1965 - Alta, UT, was in the midst of a storm that left the town buried under 105 inches of snow establishing a record for the state.
    1969 - Top Hits
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells
Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash
    1969 - The Beatles release "Two Of Us," "For You Blue," "Let It Be"
    1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" enters the pop charts
    1971 - Charles Manson was found guilty of masterminding the killings of actress Sharon Tate and six others. He and three female members of his "family" were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit murder and seven counts of murder in the first degree and are sentenced to life imprisonment. During one of the most sensational trials in history, it was revealed that Manson regarded the Beatles as angels who communicated to him through their music. In particular, "Helter Skelter," "Piggies," "Revolution 9" and other songs on the "The White Album. He remains in jail today, although he asks for parole each year.
    1975 - The Cars win the Rolling Stone magazine annual readers' poll as the best new band of the year.
    1975 - The Carpenters' "Please Mr. Postman" hits #1
    1977 - Top Hits
“I Wish” - Stevie Wonder
“Car Wash” - Rose Royce
“Dazz” - Brick
“I Can't Believe She Give It All to Me” - Conway Twitty
    1981 - Super Bowl XV:  Oakland Raiders beat Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10 in New Orleans; Super Bowl MVP: Jim Plunkett, Oakland QB.  Plunkett won another Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1983 and he is the only two-time Super Bowl-winning QB NOT in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    1981 – Singer Alicia Keys was born in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC.
    1984 - Apple's Macintosh computer went on sale this day for $2,495. It wasn't until mid-1985, however, that sales began to take off and this computer began to replace the Apple II model.
    1985 - Top Hits
“Like a Virgin” - Madonna
“All I Need” - Jack Wagner
“You're the Inspiration” - Chicago
“How Blue” - Reba McEntire
    1986 - Dionne Warwick's single "That's What Friends Are For" topped the R-P-M magazine singles chart in Canada. Profits from the sale of the disc were donated to AIDS research.
    1986 - Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" peaks at #6 on the chart.
    1987 - The New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, to win Super Bowl XXI. The victory gave New York its first NFL title in 30 years. Giants quarterback Phil Simms completed 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns to win the game's Most Valuable Player Award. Neil Diamond performs the US national anthem.
    1987 - The second major storm in three days hit the Eastern Seaboard producing up to 15 inches of snow in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Up to 30 inches of snow covered the ground in Virginia following the two storms
    1988 - Guard Rickey Green of the Utah Jazz scored the 5,000,000 point in NBA history to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green made a three-point shot at the buzzer ending the third quarter. The Jazz won, 119-96.
    1988 - Vice President George H.W. Bush and Dan Rather clashed on "The CBS Evening News" as the anchorman attempted to question the Republican presidential candidate about his role in the Iran-Contra affair.
    1990 - Low pressure developed explosively over east central Missouri and moved into Lower Michigan producing high winds and heavy snow across parts of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Wind gusts to 60 mph and up to a foot of snow created near blizzard conditions in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Wind gusts in Indiana reached 76 mph at Wabash. Thunderstorms associated with the storm produced wind gusts to 54 mph at Fort Madison, IA.
    1993 - A gunman shot and killed two CIA employees outside agency headquarters in Virginia. A Pakistani national was later convicted and was executed in 2002.
    1995 - Top Hits
“Creep” - TLC
“On Bended Knee” - Boyz II Men
“Another Night” - Real McCoy
“Always” - Bon Jovi
    1998 - Denver beats Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII at San Diego behind Terrell Davis' 157 yards rushing and a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns. A record worldwide audience of 800 million in 147 countries views the game on television.
    1999 - The Rolling Stones open their “No Security Tour” in Oakland, CA. It is the band's first arena tour in more than two decades. Sue and I were there, four rows from the stage, center right, in the aisle as the usher could not find my site as noted on my ticket. The band was never better, full of energy, spirit, and showmanship. Afterwards, on BART going back to our car, I noted that the tickets I had shown to the usher to find our seats were from the Barry Manilow Show the previous week where we had up-front seats. They were the same color tickets and same style printing. In the dark, the usher using a small flashlight, neither of us had noticed they were not the Rolling Stone tickets (that I had placed in my other pocket after the last ticket check and drawn the Manilow tickets out in error, basically only showing the seating numbers.)
    2015 – Rob Manfred assumed the title of Commissioner of MLB from the retired Bud Selig.

Super Bowl Champions:
    1981 - Oakland Raiders
    1987 - New York Giants
    1998 - Denver Broncos