On THIS Day in History

by Bob Sparrow

This week I was reminded, more than once, that it was still April not May. I’ve come to grips with that now and have decided that I owed it to you readers to let you know that I am now back from the future with some more little know facts about what happened in history this week.

Monday, April 25

I have chosen Miss Rhode Island as my April spokesperson this week, as I think she sums up this date like no one else could. Have a look . . .

Tuesday, April 26,

1933 – The Gestopo becomes the official secret police force of Nazi Germany and create a killer soup recipe that is made of raw vegetables and served cold . . . oh, that’s Gazpacho, never mind.

1934Donald Sterling, previous owner of the L.A. Clippers basketball team, is born. You’ll remember the magnanimous Mr. Sterling for telling his mistress, Stiviano: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. You can sleep with them, bring them in, you can do whatever you want, but the little I ask you is … not to bring them to my games”.  Shortly after the statement was made public the NAACP cancelled its plans for the following month to award Sterling for a second time with its lifetime achievement award. I’m not making that up!

Wednesday, April 27

1882 – As a follow up to the whereabouts of Ralph Waldo Emerson, he died on this day and was found on the remote island of Tierra del Fuego dressed in a red and white stripped nightcap and pajamas

1938 – A colored baseball was used for the first time in any baseball game. The ball was yellow and was used between Columbia and Fordham Universities in New York City.  A colored baseball player was not used until nine years later.

1983 – And speaking of baseball, strike out artist, Nolan Ryan broke a 55-year-old major league record when he was refused for a date by Cindy Stapleton; it was his 3,509th career strike out.

Thursday, April 28

1962 – In the Sahara Desert of Algeria, a team led by Red Adair used explosives to put out the well fire known as the Devil’s Cigarette Lighter. It was later determined that the fire was actually caused by Red when he was attempting to light one of his farts.

1967Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U. S. Army on religious grounds as a consciences objector who loathed violence. Ali went on to turn numerous opponent’s faces into hamburger, caused many concussions and ruptured spleens, all in the name of peace.

Friday, April 29

1997U.S. Astronaut Jerry Linenger and U.S.S.R. Cosmonaut Vasily Tsibliyev wentspace walkers on the first U.S.-Russian space walk. The couple was chosen as both of their profiles indicated that liked Barry Manilow music, rainy days and long walks in space.

Hope your weekend is less confusing now.