Kickers
62% of of NYC Corona deaths have been male. The immune system of women seems more effective at fighting the disease. Some scientist theorize that the second x in female genetic makeup is responsible. For those who have forgotten, males carry x and y… I passed Coney Island Hospital on my morning walk, about 6:15 AM. The mini-shelter being built on the grounds is almost complete. A crew was already at work at that hour. I guess it is a forlorn hope that it won’t be needed. These next two weeks are supposed to be the apex in NYC.
RIP Tom Dempsey, 73, who succumbed to complications from Corona. He had an eleven year career as an NFL placekicker. His most memorable moment came in 1970 when he kicked a then record 63-yard field goal to lift the Saints, in only their fourth season, past the Lions. It broke the previous mark by an astonishing seven yards. Many of our dorm residents were from the Detroit area and knew it would be another disappointing season for their team. Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand, and wore a specially made shoe during his career. He was easy to root for. Awesome, sir. Five men have matched his standard. In 2013 Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos kicked a 64-yarder to surpass it.
Channel hopping last night, I returned several times to an episode of the 1990’s Columbo reboot. Rip Torn was the murderer, but my interest focused on one of the minor players, Penny Santon, who was one of Hollywood’s go-to actors for Italian-American roles. Born in NYC as Pierina Burlando, she has 154 titles under her name at IMDb, including multiple appearances on popular TV fare and a few series in which she was in a featured role that lasted less than a season. She played Laverne’s grandma in a couple of episodes of Laverne and Shirley, and Captain Furillo’s mom in two of Hill Street Blues. She also did stage work. To my surprise, she was in none of Godfather films. She was married to Bruno for many years until his death in 1968. She passed away in 1999 at 82. Molto bene, signora. Grazie. Here she is:
It also seemed Albert Salmi week. The well-respected actor of stage and screen popped up in a couple of movies and two TV series. He learned his craft at the famed Actors’ Studio and did some theater and a lot of live TV in the early ‘50’s. According to his bio, he turned down an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the epileptic Smerdyakov in The Brothers Karamazov (1958), his first film role. This week I saw him killed off in an episode of The Big Valley and one of Combat!. I found it amusing till I read his bio. In 1990 he was involved in a murder-suicide with his estranged wife of many years. He was only 63 and had been diagnosed clinically as depressed for some time. In his short stay on planet earth, he was prolific. There are 162 titles listed under his name, including multiple appearances on TV series. Born in Brooklyn, he was of Finnish, not Italian descent, but still deserves mention because he was so talented. His face should be familiar to baby boomers:
I wasn’t tempted to peek at my investment portfolios any more than usual. The two monthly statements arrived in my email account on back to back days and, as expected, it’s ugly. They’re down at least a combined total of $20,000. I also have an annuity, which I believe will not lose money, although the return on it may be less. C’est la vie.
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