Nadal Ends Federer’s Wimbledon Streak
The streak is over. Roger Federer had won five straight Wimbledon championships… until today, when Rafael Nadal beat him in a five-set thriller to claim the 2008 men’s singles title.
The Who2 Blog
Rush Limbaugh in the New York Times
“My father expected me to be a professional man. The problem was, I hated school. I hated being told what to do. In the Boy Scouts I never got a single merit badge. In school my grades were terrible. I just didn’t want to be there. I just wanted to be on the radio.”–Rush Limbaugh, in a detailed new profile from The New York Times Magazine.
George Bush Loves Birth-Mate Sylvester Stallone
Turns out George W. Bush and Sylvester Stallone were born on the exact same day: 6 July 1946.Stallone was born in New York City, Bush in Connecticut.The Internet Movie Database claims that Stallone is one of Bush’s two favorite actors. The other? Chuck Norris.
Joey Chestnut Is Your ‘Sudden Death’ Hot Dog Champ
Eating expert Joey Chestnut won the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest in extra-horrifying fashion on Friday, beating former champ Takeru Kobayashi in a five dog eat-off.Both men finished the regular 10-minute competition with a total of 59 dogs. That led to extra franks, with Chestnut barely beating Kobayashi to the gullet.
Thurgood Marshall +100
Happy 100th birthday to Thurgood Marshall. The first black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court was born on this day in 1908.(Why is he not on the Maryland state quarter?)
Did Josephus Mention Jesus?
Religion and Romans editor Paul Hehn has posted a new profile of Flavius Josephus, the Jewish leader who was conquered by the Roman general Vespasian but then became pals with him anyway. (Conquerors were open-minded in those days.)
Here’s the ‘Quantum of Solace’ Trailer
The trailer is out for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.[July update: The trailer was available on YouTube, but it’s been taken down. Now you can find it on the film’s official site.]
Aykroyd and Bucky
Comedian Dan Aykroyd turns 56 today, and it’s been 25 years since philosopher Buckminster Fuller died.
McCain’s Sweet Ride!
John McCain has a new campaign plane.
Tim McGraw Boots Rowdy Fan
Country singer Tim McGraw threw a drunk fan out of a concert last week, and footage of McGraw rousting the guy is now a hit on YouTube. McGraw was singing “Indian Outlaw” at a concert in Washington state when he paused mid-song, called security to “get rid of this guy,” and then helped haul the cowboy-hatted fan onstage by his belt.
Bob Crane’s Death, 30 Years Later
Good grief: It’s been three full decades since Hogan’s Heroes star Bob Crane was killed. (Others who died that same year: artist Norman Rockwell and Pope John Paul I.)
Weekend Reading: ‘Enchanted’ Music
“It’s always good to be able to use the word ‘vermin’ in a song.”Apropos of nothing, here’s a wonderful interview with Alan Mencken and Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist for the 2007 Amy Adams film Enchanted.
Bill Gates Rides Halfway Into the Sunset
Microsoft co-founder and longtime chairman Bill Gates formally steps down from the company’s day-to-day operations today. He gave up his CEO post in 2000 in favor of Steve Ballmer, but has remained chief software architect. Gates will still be chairman of the board, but will devote most of his time to the Gates Foundation, his charitable group.
Patrick Swayze Is Acting Again
15 weeks have passed since the tabloids gave actor Patrick Swayze five weeks to live.Rumors of his death, etc.
Did Big Brown Have a Shoe Loose?
Bloodhorse.com has a new photograph showing a loose shoe on Big Brown early in the Belmont Stakes. The shot, taken by Russ Melton, seems to show the shoe unhinged or bent downward on the horse’s right rear hoof.
Grover Cleveland Died 100 Years Ago
President Grover Cleveland died 100 years ago today in Princeton, New Jersey.In a very modest coincidence, he and the late George Carlin both died at age 71, of heart failure, 100 years apart. And they shared the initials GC. (Lincoln-Kennedy it’s not, but still.)
Obituary First Lines: George Carlin
Comedian George Carlin has died at age 71. Here’s how some news outlets began their Carlin obits.”At the end of his rackety and eventful life, George Carlin, the US comedian and hero of the counter-culture, has been best remembered for seven words.” -The Independent
“Return of the ’70s Weirdos”
That’s the title Newsweek gives to its before-and-after photos of the original Microsoft team, from 1978 to today. Included, natch, are moguls Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Heart Failure Kills George Carlin
Comedian George Carlin is dead at age 71. The New York Daily News reports that he died of heart failure on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Flimflam Ham and the Birthday Babe
Perhaps you’ve been wondering what skinny old Federalist Alexander Hamliton and skinny old golf champ Babe Zaharias had in common. Besides height, that is. (Both were 5’7″.) The answer: Both may have lied about their ages to seem like prodigies in their respective fields.