Superstar Passes

RIP pro wrestling legend Superstar Billy Graham, 79. Born Eldridge Wayne Coleman in Phoenix, he was a dominant figure as a heel beginning in 1969. His interview shtick reminded me of Muhammad Ali. In 1977 he was elevated to the top of the WWWF, WWE these days, “defeating” Bruno Sammartino. He held the title for less than a year, losing to babyface Bob Backlund. Allegedly, unlike today, Vince McMahon Sr. was uncomfortable with the popularity of a bad guy. Decades later Junior embraced the dark side. Graham wrestled until age 44 and held titles from other organizations. From then on he served, on and off, as a sort of ambassador. Accusations of steroid use always followed him. He was rumored dead as far back as 1980. He had many surgeries, including a liver transplant. He was a dad of two. He was one of a kind. Thank you, Sir. Facts from Wiki, photo from Google Images:

As if there isn’t enough to worry about, headline from nypost.com: “Sinking feeling: NYC is sinking under the weight of its buildings, geologists warn.” Maybe we should adopt the philosophy of this guy:

Since many blame the gun and not the shooter for violence, the following NYP headline is not surprising: “Driving us nuts: Baltimore blames Kia and Hyundai for ‘vehicular crime wave’ as suit claims cars are too easy to steal.”

From NYP: “Montana becomes 1st state to ban TikTok as battle over free speech looms.” I’ve never used the site. How is it different from other social media venues? I distrust such bans.

Is NYC pro-criminal? From NYP: “MTA reveals farebeating cost $690M last year as it rolls out plan to cut losses.”

Another new term, from NYP: “I got divorced — and decided to raise my kid in a ‘mommune’.” At least it’s easy to figure out.

Retired Staff Sgt. Nicholas Maimer, 45, of Boise, Idaho, a former Green Beret, has been killed in action in Ukraine. He is at least the seventh American warrior to lose his life there. RIP, unsung superstar.

The incoming dwarfed the outgoing for the first time this week at the floating book shop on this surprisingly cool and windy day. My thanks to the donors and swappers, and to Jay, who bought three Reggae party CDs; and to the young man who parked his bike and purchased The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) on DVD; and to my Constant Benefactress, who insisted on paying for From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy by Nellie Connally and Mickey Herskowitz, and A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel
by Ronald Radosh and Allis Radosh. I shared my favorite Truman quote: “My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.” My CB laughed and said he “was so down to earth.” Indeed he was.

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