Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. He had recently spent more than 80 days in the hospital and had surprised people by appearing at Easter services. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first to come from Latin America. He was truly the People's Pope, and he introduced some flexibility to the rules. We are going to miss him.
George Foreman died last month. My condolences to his family. When I first remember him, he seemed to be a giant thug. There was a lot of prejudice against him. Then he came years later and seemed like everyone's favorite uncle.
In 1973, George Foreman knocked Joe Frazier down six times and earned a TKO in the second round to stop Frazier's unbroken streak and take his heavyweight title. I think I heard it announced on the radio. It was a great shock to everyone. I admired Joe Frazier and I wanted him to fight Ali again, with the title on the line.
The documentary When We Were Kings told the story of The Rumble in the Jungle, Ali's 1974 fight in Zaire against giant George Foreman. No one expected Ali to win. Some people expected Ali to die. I still get the chant "Ali, boma ye!" stuck in my head.
Bob Uecker had a short and undistinguished career as a catcher. Then he turned making fun of himself into a fine art. He announced Brewers games until last year. People who are old enough remember his commercials for Miller Lite. Almost everyone I know says "Just outside" when they hear his name. We will miss him.
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David Lynch made a bunch of movies and one television show that were surreal and often violent. My favorite movie of his is The Straight Story, which was not surreal or violent.
Former President Jimmy Carter has died. I offer my condolences to the Carter family. Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter were married for 77 years. She advised Jimmy throughout his career. They had the best post-presidency marriage of all, doing work for Habitat for Humanity, for mental health and for equal rights. He was the first US President to reach the age of 100. I voted for him in 1980. His basic decency caused him to make some mistakes as president, but he was by far our greatest ex-president. He acted as an actual Christian. He helped to create peace agreements. The Carter Center promotes human rights. He worked steadily for Habitat for Humanity. He taught Sunday School until recently. I'll bet he was good at it.
Giants Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has died. We are losing our Hall of Famers. The Giants had two great hitters who were only suitable to play first base, Cepeda and Willie McCovey. I have been to many special games that were graced by the appearance of Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey. Now only Marichal is left.
This blow is made worse because it comes so soon after the death of Willie Mays.
I took the photo of the new statue of Orlando Cepeda, on King near Second Street, on 16-September-2008.
Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, 24-time National League All Star, Giants immortal, the greatest living baseball player, perhaps the greatest ever has died. He is the reason I am a Giants fan. Willie Mays was the greatest player I have seen in person.
A high school friend lived in his neighborhood and said that the Mays family gave the best Halloween candy.
I took the photo of the Willie Mays statue on 21-September-2007.
Françoise Hardy was a popular singer and composer, although I don't think I had heard of her before I was in college.
Françoise Hardy - Tous les garçons et les filles
Françoise Hardy - La fille avec toi
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I don't think I remember Jerry West playing for Lakers, but his name came up all the time. I do remember when he came to the Warriors and helped them build their championship team.
Dickey Betts, one of the founders of the Eagles, has died. He was a heck of a guitar player and composer.
The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man - 11/2/1972 - Hofstra University (Official)
The Allman Brothers Perform "Jessica" | Letterman
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Clarence "Frogman" Henry has died. He was born in New Orleans and lived most of his life in Algiers. His unique voice made him a novelty act, but he was a good one.
Ain't Got No Home
Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog died. He managed the Cardinals for many years. I remember how his teams emphasized speed.
Pitcher Carl Erskine has died. He was a Dodger, but I admire him. He had a son with Down Syndrome and decided to stay in his hometown to take the best care of him. He was strongly involved with Special Olympics and charities to help old ball players.
Pitcher Ken Holtzman has also died. I remember him playing for the Cubs and the Athletics. He was one of many Athletics who had salary conflicts with Charlie Finley.
I was sad to learn that Lou Conter, the last living survivor who had been aboard the USS Arizona during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, has died. Coulter went on to attend flight school and served during World War Two, Korea and Vietnam. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1967. I wish him fair winds and a following sea.
Singer/songwriter Melanie has died. She was pretty and she had a beautiful voice. She wrote and performed music that sticks in my head. "Lay Down" with the Edwin Hawkins Singers hits me in the heart every time. She sang at Woodstock.
LAY DOWN Melanie & The Edwin Hawkins Singers LIVE '70 (Candles In The Rain)
MELANIE Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma ('71)
Melanie - Brand New Key (Audio)
Give Peace A Chance MELANIE with JOHN LENNON ('72)
Tommy Smothers has died. My parents had a Smothers Brothers album and I just barely remember their television show. I remember when CBS canceled it, and I remember Mad Magazine calling them the "Smothered Brothers." I learned something about comic timing from them.
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to served on the Supreme Court of the US has died. I did not always agree with her opinions, but she was willing to work with all members of the court and she was the deciding vote on many cases. She spent much of her career, before, during and after her time on the Supreme Court working for equality for women.
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Denny Laine also died this month. He founded the Moody Blues and worked with Paul and Linda McCartney to form Wings.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has died. I offer my condolences to her family. Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter were married for 77 years. She advised Jimmy throughout his career. They had the best post-presidency marriage of all, doing work for Habitat for Humanity, for mental health and for equal rights.
Tony Bennett has died. My condolences to his family and his friends. Here is a sheet music cover for "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by George Cory and Douglass Cross. At one time I was very tired of this song, but I've always loved Tony Bennet.
I was sad to learn that Astrud Gilberto has died. Her album Getz/Gilberto is my favorite Bossa Nova. album. "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Corcovado" get me every time.
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"The Girl from Ipanema" Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
