Heeeere's Tony!!!

Here's a closeup of Tony the Lhasa Apso.

Sam And The Wonderful World Of Football

Here's Sam the Chihuahua with a pair of different types of footballs: an Adidas rugby ball that I bought recently at a liquidation sale in Medford, Oregon, and a ball used for Australian Rules football purchased on eBay several years ago, from a seller in, I believe, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Sam And Tony Enjoy Each Other's Beds

A sister of mine has come up from Reno, Nevada with her two dogs, Tony the Lhasa Apso and Sam the Chihuahua. Here they are, laying in each other's beds.

Bulls Gore Chiefs To Claim Super 14 Title

At Pretoria, South Africa:

Fourie Du Preez and Brian Habana each scored two tries as the Bulls (based in Pretoria, South Africa) routed the Chiefs (Hamilton, New Zealand) 61-17 to win the Super 14 Rugby Union club championship on Saturday. It was the Pretoria-based club's second such title. They are the only South African club to win the championship of the Southern Hemisphere's most prestigious Rugby Union club tournament. Here are the happy Bulls with the championship trophy.

Hey Phil, Let's See You Wear That Suit In the Big House

Well, it looks like one record producer will get to work on FOUR walls of sound. For a long time.

Irish Club Wins First Heineken Cup Title

At Edinburgh, Scotland:

Jamie Heaslip scored a try (five points in Rugby Union), Brian O'Driscoll (who's pictured here) added a drop goal (three points) and Jonathan Sexton had three three-point goals (two penalty and one drop) as Leinster captured the Heineken Cup final 19-16 over Leicester Tigers of England on Saturday. It marked the Irish club's first championship in European Club Rugby Union's biggest tournament, sort of their equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. That's Brian holding the big prize.

Reuters Photo (of Brian O'Driscoll Holding Heineken Cup) By Russell Cheyne

Saints Use Five Penalty Goals To Capture European Challenge Cup Crown

At London:

Five penalty kicks (three points apiece) from fly-half Stephen Myler (whose pictured here) lifted Northampton of England to a 15-3 win over France's Bourgoin-Jallieu to win the European Challenge Cup title on Friday. Also pictured are happy Saints players with the prize.




Both Photos © Getty Images

Bowler Pops Sister In Match

Well, I hate to brag...........BUT,

I had one of my best bowling games ever today, beating my sister 150-86 at Lava Lanes in Medford, Oregon!

Leicester Tigers Cop Guiness Premiership Crown

At London:

Jordan Crane scored the only try of the contest as Leicester Tigers defeated London Irish 10-9 to win the Guiness Premiership title on Saturday.

What's Next: G.I. Joe TV?

What in Sam Hill is next?

Talk About Taking Their Football Seriously

If only the USFL (1983-85) had crowds like this in the spring.

Once Again, No Pro Football In The City Of Angels

Even when the Arena Football League is on hiatus, with the 2009 season having already been canceled, it can't remain intact.

End Of An Era

After some 30 years as an analyst for all of the big four broadcast networks, former Oakland Raiders hall of fame coach John Madden has called it a career.

Cris Collinsworth has been tapped to suceed coach Madden as Al Michaels' Sunday night broadcast partner on NBC.

Obituaries

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster and voice of NFL Films Harry Kalas passed away on Monday at age 73. He was discovered unconcious in the broadcasters' booth at Washington's Nationals Park and later pronounced dead.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark (The Bird) Fidrych was found dead in an apparent accident on his farm in Massachusetts at age 54.

Former Utah State, California, and Arizona State head football coach Bruce Snyder lost his 10-month battle with cancer at age 69.

Dominating Heels

At Detroit:

Ty Lawson dropped in 21 points, Wayne Ellington 19, and Tyler Hansbrough 18, as North Carolina dominated Michigan State 89-72 Monday night to lay claim to their fifth NCAA men's national basketball championship.

Time For A Viennese Waltz, Boys and Girls!

From the ABC Network premiere of The Lawrence Welk Show, which aired on July 2, 1955, here is the meistro and his Champagne Music Makers performing "Tres Jolie."





Yes, that's Lawrence dancing with Champagne Lady Alice Lon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UMA!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is the birthday of America's Sweetheart, Fox News Channel anchorwoman Uma Pemmaraju.

Happy 29th Birthday, Uma!!!

It's Rock 'N' Roll, Champagne Style!

Several weeks back, I embeded a YouTube video of a 1955 ABC telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show that originated from Chicago. Here's another clip from this episode as the Champagne Music Makers perform Chuck Berry's "Maybelline."



Key Personnel:

Buddy Merrill, electric guitar (Let's see him try Chuck's duck walk!)

Myron Floren, accordion

Johnny Klein, drums

Buddy Hayes, bass

Pete Lofthouse, trombone

Bill Page, clarinet

George Aubry, saxophone

Rocky Rockwell, trumpet

Oh Boy! Redux

Here is the only other reported surviving episode of the British TV series Oh Boy!

This is the series finale from May 30, 1959.

Segment One:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- TV Hop (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Bill Forbes & Dickie Pride)
Rip It Up (2 Vernons Girls)
Lonesome Traveller (4 of Lord Rockingham's XI + Cliff et al)

-- Rah Rah Rockingham (Lord Rockingham's XI)

-- Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good (Cuddly Dudley)

-- Don't Knock Upon My Door (Billy Fury)

-- Looby Doo (Cherry Wainer)

-- All American Boy (Marty Wilde)



Segment Two:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Slippin 'n' Slidin' (Dickie Pride)

-- When I Grow Too Old To Dream (Peter Elliott)

-- When the Saints Go Marching In (Complete cast for close of first half)

-- I Had A Dream (Start of 2nd half with Vernons Girls & Dallas Boys)

-- Woman From Liberia (Bill Forbes)

-- Dirty Old Town (Mike Preston)





Segment Three:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Turn Me Loose (Cliff Richard)

-- Good Cat (Neville Taylor & The Cutters)

-- Percy Green (Don Lang)

-- Three Cool Cats (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Dickie Pride)

-- Early in the Morning (Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard)

Oh, Boy!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear.  Those of you in Great Britain (or who lived there during the late 1950s)  who are old enough to remember, may remember a show entitled Oh, Boy! that aired on ITV, a commercial television network during 1958 and 1959.  Kinescopes of eight episodes aired here in the US on ABC during the summer of 1959.  Here is the episode from April 4. 1959.

Segment One:

Compered by Tony Hall (a Jazz critic)

1. It's Late (Dean Webb) 
He's My Own (2 Vernons Girls) 
Good Rockin' Tonight (The Cutters & Entire Cast.) 

2. Long Gone (Lord Rockingham's XI) 

3. Charlie Brown (Neville Taylor & The Cutters)

4. Oh Wait For It Baby (Cherry Wainer) 

Segment Two:

Compered by Tony Hall

1. I Like Love (Tony Sheridan and his Wreckers) 

2. Don't Look Now (The Vernons Girls) 

3. Red Planet Rock (Don Lang - with Red Price on sax solo)

4. Slippin' n' Slidin' (Dickie Pride) 

5. This is Our First Anniversary (Lorie Mann)

Segment Three:

Compered by Tony Hall

1. Move It! (Chris Andrews) 

2. Dirty Old Town (Mike Preston) 

Tony Hall introduces Brenda Lee's first UK TV appearance;

3. Humming The Blues Over You (Brenda Lee) 

4. Wont You Come Home Bill Bailey (Brenda Lee & Lord Rockingham's XI)

This series was produced by Jack Good, who formerly produced 6:5 Special for the BBC,  and who also produced Shindig! here in the States on ABC  from 1964 to 1966.  38 episodes of this show were produced, but only two of them are reported to be still in existance.