Joan Sutherland, R. I. P.

Dame Joan Sutherland, the Australian native who became one of the most acclaimed sopranos of the 20th Century, passed away on Monday morning in Switzerland at age 83, according to published reports.

Here is Miss Sutherland singing "Casta Diva" from "Norma" composed by Vincenzo Bellini.

Joan Sutherland-soprano

The Elizabethan Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Richard Bonynge
from the Sydney Opera House

This seemed to be from the 1970s

Solomon Burke, R. I. P.

Solomon Burke, the Grammy Award-winning rhythm and blues singer whose early recordings defined the soul music genre, passed away on Sunday on an airplane at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport at the age of 70.

Mr. Burke had traveled to Amsterdam for a sold-out performance accompanied by a local band.  The cause of his passing was not reported.

"King Solomon," who was also a Pentecostal preacher, was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Here's a recording of King Solomon's 1962 hit, "Cry To Me."



Here's another one, "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)" which was a big R & B hit (that also crossed over into the Pop charts) in 1961.

Another Gut-Wretching Setback For Niners

At San Francisco:

Kevin Kolb completed 21 of 31 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, Lesean McCoy ran for 92 yards, including 29 for a score, and Quintin Mikell ran back an Alex Smith fumble 52 yards for one other touchdown as the Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) held off the San Francisco 49ers (0-5) 27-24 on the road in the Sunday night National Football League contest. 

MLB Playoffs: Cole Hamels Handcuffs Reds, Seals Series Sweep For Phillies

At Cincinnati:

Cole Hammels pitched a five-hit, nine-strikeout complete game shutout, while Chase Utley hit a home run as the Philadelphia Phillies blanked the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of their National League divisional playoff series.  The Phils will take part in their third consecutive National League championship series, which will start this coming Saturday in Philadelphia. 

MLB Playoffs: Late Rally Lifts Giants Past Braves For 2-1 Series Lead

At Atlanta:

The San Francisco Giants rallied for two runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on the road in game three of their National League divisional playoff series on Sunday to take a two-games-to-one lead.  In the Giants' two-run ninth, Buster Posey's grounder skidded under the glove of second baseman Brooks Conrad, who committed his third error of the game, allowing Andres Torres to score the winning run from second base. 

MLB Playoffs: Rays Top Rangers To Force Game Five Back In St. Petersburg

At Arlington, Texas:

Evan Longoria hit a homer and two doubles to snap out of his postseason slump, while Carlos Pena had a pair of extra-base hits as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Texas Rangers 5-2 on the road to square their American League divisional playoff series at two games apiece and force a fifth and deciding game back in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday night. 

AP Poll: Ducks Inch Up To #2; Beavers Back In Top 25

In the aftermath of their 43-23 road win at Washington State, coupled with South Carolina knocking off Alabama 35-21, the Oregon Ducks climbed up one spot to #2 in the new Associated Press media poll.  The Ducks received 15 first-place votes (Ohio State is the new number-one ranked team).  With their win over previously unbeaten Arizona at Tucson, the Oregon State Beavers re-entered the poll at #24.

Beavers Knock Off Wildcats In Tucson

At Tucson, Arizona:

Quarterback Ryan Katz threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns and sneaked in for another as the Oregon State Beavers (3-2, 2-0) knocked off the previously-undefeated #9 (AP) Arizona Wildcats (4-1, 1-1) 29-27 on Saturday. 

Ducks Shake Off Cougs To Ring Up Another Win

At Pullman, Washington:

LaMichael James scored three touchdowns, one on an 84-yard reception, as the #2 (AP) Oregon Ducks (6-0, 3-0) shook off the Washington State Cougars (1-5, 0-3) 43-23 on the road on Saturday.  Whether this was enough to lift the Ducks to second place in the upcoming media poll remains to be seen. 

MLB Playoffs: Yanks Blast Twins To Complete Series Sweep

At New York:

Phil Hughes pitched seven shutout innings, while Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher delivered home runs as the New York Yankees dominated the visiting Minnesota Twins 6-1 Saturday night to complete a three-game sweep of their American League divisional playoff series.  The loss was Minnesota's 12th straight in postseason play. 

MLB Playoffs: Rays Bats Come To Life As Tampa Bay Avoids Sweep

At Arlington, Texas:

The Tampa Bay Rays, five outs away from elimination, scored twice in the eighth inning and thrice more in the ninth as they defeated the Texas Rangers 6-3 in game three of their American League divisional playoff series on Saturday to force a fourth game, to be played on Sunday.  The Rangers still lead the series two games to one.  John Jaso lined a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning after Carlos Pena had already delivered a clutch hit for the Rays.  The Rangers still have not yet won a home playoff game. 

Argos Hand Riders First Home Setback

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Jermaine Copeland caught a 28-yard touchdown pass on Saturday as the Toronto Argonauts (7-7) handed the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5) their first home defeat of the season 24-19 in Canadian Football League play. 

MLB Playoffs: Braves Come Back From Four-Run Deficit To Square Series With Giants

At San Francisco:

The Atlanta Braves, thanks to Rick Ankiel's tiebreaking home run in the 11th inning, overcame a four-run deficit Friday night to top the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in 11 innings to even their National League divisional playoff series at one game apiece. 

MLB Playoffs: Phils Erase Four-Run Deficit To Take 2-0 Series Lead

At Philadelphia:

The Philadelphia Phillies came back from a four-run deficit after 4 1/2 innings and defeated the Cincinnati Reds, whose relief pitching and defense failed them,  7-4 in game two of their National League divisional playoff series.  The Phils can finish off the Reds with a win on Sunday night in Cincinnati.  With Cincy leading 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Reds' rookie relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman hit Chase Utley with a 101-mile-per-hour fastball.  With runners at first and second with one out, Jimmy Rollins hit a line drive that right fielder Jay Bruce turned into a two-base error.  Chase Utley scored the tying run from second base.  Next, the right fielder threw to second baseman Brandon Phillips, who dropped the ball for another error, allowing Jayson Werth to score what proved to be the winning run for the Phillies.   

MLB Playoffs: Tim Lincecum Stirkes Out 14 In Two-Hit Shutout As Giants Take Series Opener

At San Francisco:

Tim Lincecum pitched a brilliant two-hit, 14-strikeout (a club single-game postseason record) shutout in his playoff debut as the San Francisco Giants blanked the visiting Atlanta Braves 1-0 Thursday in the opening game of their National League divisional playoff series. Cody Ross singled in Buster Posey from second base in the fourth inning for the game's lone run.

MLB Playoffs: Home Field Advantage Does Twins No Good As Yanks Ride Andy Pettitte's Smooth Pitching and Lance Berkman's Timely Hits To Take 2-0 Advantage

At Minneapolis:

Andy Pettitte pitched seven smooth innings while Lance Berkman delivered a pair of big hits as the New York Yankees took a two-games-to-none lead in their American League divisional playoff series Thursday with a 4-2 road win over the Minnesota Twins.

MLS Playoffs: Rays' Bats Handcuffed Again

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

C. J. Wilson pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball while Michael Young blasted a three-run homer a pitch following a disputed check-swing as the Texas Rangers blanked the Tampa Bay Rays 6-0 on Thursday to take a two-games-to-none lead in their American League divisional playoff series.  The Rangers, who posted their first-ever postseason shutout, can lock up their first-ever playoff series victory with a win over the Rays back home in Arlington, Texas on Saturday.

Good God, Brent!

You can bet there will be some college coaches who are  going to pressure ESPN/ABC to take him off the air.

Here's More Classic Kids TV

Here's a kinescope of the March 16, 1952 CBS Network telecast of  Mr. I. Magination, which starred Paul Tripp in the title role.  The name of this episode is "Annie Oakley."  The series ran from 1949 to 1952.

Here's Something From Before My Time

From the 1950s, here's a kinescope of a CBS Network telecast of Winky Dink and You.  The show, hosted by Jack Barry (of Twenty-One fame---or infamy), featured a cartoon character named Winky Dink (voiced by Mae Questel, who at the time, was still voicing Popeye's girlfriend Olive Oyl at Famous/Paramount Cartoon Studios).  Crumb-crunching viewers at home used a green plastic that stuck to the television screen via static electricity.  These Winky Dink home kits also included a set of crayons for the kids to draw on these "magic drawing screens" primarily for connect-the-dots pictures.  Winky would prompt the youngsters to complete the picture at home.  Once the kids are finished with this assignment, then Winky would continue with the story.  The series ran on CBS on Saturday mornings from 1953 to 1957.  There have incidents of the little kids not bothering with the plastic vinyl and deciding to use their crayons directly on the TV screen.  There were also incidents of the yinyl left on the TV screen after the show was over with.

There was also a syndicated version that aired from 1969 to 1973.

Enjoy.