March 19, 2008

160 years ago
1848

Born on this date
Wyatt Earp. U.S. lawman. He was a police officer in Wichita and Dodge City, Kansas, before making his way (with his older brothers Jim and Virgil) to Tombstone, Arizona in December 1879, where he became an armed guard for Wells Fargo and Company. Younger brothers Morgan and Warren arrived in Tombstone the following summer. Wyatt Earp is best remembered for his participation in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which took place on October 26, 1881, and pitted Marshals Virgil and Morgan Earp, along with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (deputized by Virgil for the occasion) against Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne. The McLaurys and Bill Clanton were killed, while Morgan and Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday were wounded. The Earps and Holliday were charged with murder, but all were acquitted. Over the next several decades, Mr. Earp moved on to various jobs and adventures, eventually settling in Hollywood. He died in Los Angeles on January 13, 1929.

125 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Joseph Stilwell. U.S. military officer. General Stilwell, nicknamed "Vinegar Joe" because of his personality, was a United States Army officer mainly known for commanding Allied forces in the China-Burma-India theatre during World War II, where he preferred ground troops to air power. He had difficult relationships with British commanders, and had an especially poor relationship with Nationalist Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, which eventually led to Gen. Stilwell's recall from command in October 1944. Gen. Stilwell continued to serve the Army in other capacities until his death on October 12, 1946 at the age of 63, after an operation for stomach cancer.

80 years ago
1928

Americana
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh was presented with the Woodrow Wilson medal and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation’s $25,000 peace award at a dinner in New York City.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Music Vendor)
1 Tequila--The Champs
--Eddie Platt and his Orchestra
2 Who's Sorry Now--Connie Francis
3 26 Miles--The Four Preps
4 Sweet Little Sixteen--Chuck Berry
5 Are You Sincere--Andy Williams
6 Lollipop--The Chordettes
--Ronald & Ruby
--Vince Edwards
7 Catch a Falling Star--Perry Como
8 It's Too Soon to Know--Pat Boone
9 Sugartime--The McGuire Sisters
10 Don't--Elvis Presley

At the movies
South Pacific, directed by Joshua Logan and starring Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, and France Nuyen, opened in theatres.



Asiatica
The Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan was formally proclaimed, with King Faisal of Iraq as head of the new state and commander of its united armed forces.

Politics and government
Representatives of six European nations met in Strasbourg for the opening session of the European Parliamentary Assembly, governing organ of the European Economic Community and Euratom.

Law
General Hernando Hernandez, criticized for dealing too softly with rebels, was replaced as Cuba's national police chief by General Pilar Garcia.

Economics and finance
The Nationalist Chinese government broke off trade relations with Japan and cancelled all Japanese contracts in protest against the recent Japanese trade agreement with the People's Republic of China.

Disasters
A blaze at the Monarch Underwear Company, an old loft building in New York City, left 24 dead and 15 injured.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Division Finals
Philadelphia 98 @ Boston 107 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Division Finals
Detroit 111 @ St. Louis 114 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)

30 years ago
1978

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council voted 12-0 to adopt a United States-sponsored resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, and establishing a 4,000-man U.N. force to enforce a ceasefire in the area.

Terrorism
The Italian government decided to continue the trial in Turin of 15 Red Brigade terrorists, despite the vow of the kidnappers of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro to kill him if the guerrillas weren't freed.

Politics and government
The government centre-right coalition defeated the socialists and Communists in national elections in France. The government emerged with a 90-seat majority in the 491-seat Chamber of Deputies.

Scandal
Former United States Budget Director Bert Lance made a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding charges that he and nine others, including four wealthy Arabs, had violated federal law in failing to disclose their attempted takeover of Financial Bankshares, Inc., Washington's second-largest bank-holding company.

Golf
Jack Nicklaus won the Tournament Players Championship in Pointe Vedra Beach, Florida with a score of 289. First prize money was $60,000.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 @ Boston 6

Six different players scored for the Bruins as they defeated the Maple Leafs at Boston Garden.



CIAU
Men's Championship
Final @ Varsity Arena, Edmonton
Alberta 6 Toronto 5

The Golden Bears took an early 3-0 lead as they avenged their loss to the Varsity Blues in the 1977 championship final.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Chante--Les Forbans (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler

#1 single in the U.K.: Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
3 You Are--Lionel Richie
4 Hungry Like the Wolf--Duran Duran
5 Stray Cat Strut--Stray Cats
6 Back on the Chain Gang--Pretenders
7 Down Under--Men at Work
8 Shame on the Moon--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
9 One on One--Daryl Hall & John Oates
10 We've Got Tonight--Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton

Singles entering the chart were Solitaire by Laura Branigan (#71); So Wrong by Patrick Simmons (#74); Photograph by Def Leppard (#80); Every Home Should Have One by Patti Austin (#84); Mornin' by Jarreau (#85); Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel (#87); Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo (#88); Carrie's Gone by Le Roux (#89); and Don't Run (Come Back to Me) by KC & the Sunshine Band (Duet with Teri DeSario) (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hungry Like the Wolf--Duran Duran
2 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
3 Stray Cat Strut--Stray Cats
4 We've Got Tonight--Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
5 Billie Jean--Michael Jackson
6 Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye
7 Shy Boy--Bananarama
8 When I'm with You--Sheriff
9 You Are--Lionel Richie
10 Baby, Come to Me--Patti Austin (with James Ingram)

Singles entering the chart were Midnight Blue by Louise Tucker (#42); Little Red Corvette by Prince (#43); Poison Arrow by ABC (#47); Human Race by Red Rider (#48); and It Might Be You by Stephen Bishop (#49). Midnight Blue, based on Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique, featured accompanying vocals by Charlie Skarbek, although he was credited only on the picture sleeve of the 45.

Football
USFL
The hometown Arizona Wranglers defeated the Los Angeles Express 21-14 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The loss was the first for the Express after two wins to start the season, and the first as a head coach for Hugh Campbell in 13 games, going back to 1982 when he was coaching the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Perdere l'Amore--Massimo Ranieri (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (9th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Feet on the Ground--Hothouse Flowers

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Together Forever--Rick Astley

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
2 Father Figure--George Michael
3 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
4 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
5 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
6 Out of the Blue--Debbie Gibson
7 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
8 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth
9 I Want Her--Keith Sweat
10 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)

Singles entering the chart were Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz (#70); I Don't Want to Live Without You by Foreigner (#76); Say it Again by Jermaine Stewart (#83); One Good Reason by Paul Carrack (#85); Ritual by the Dan Reed Network (#86); Hot Hot Hot!!! by the Cure (#87); Play that Funky Music by Roxanne (#88); and My Girl by Suave (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
2 Father Figure--George Michael
3 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S
4 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
5 Hungry Eyes--Eric Carmen
6 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)
7 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
8 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Sway
9 Could've Been--Tiffany
10 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth

Singles entering the chart were Rocket 2 U by the Jets (#73); Love Overboard by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#86); You Don't Know by Scarlet and Black (#89); Walk on the Wire by Diamond in the Rough (#93); I Want You So Bad by Heart (#94); Say This to Me by NEO A4 (#96); and Lake of Fire by Jale (#97).

Died on this date
Bun Cook, 83. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Cook was a left wing with the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League (1924-25); Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Hockey League (1925-26); New York Rangers (1926-36) and Boston Bruins (1936-37) of the National Hockey League; and Providence Reds of the International-American (later American) Hockey League (1937-43). In 473 NHL games, he scored 158 goals and 144 assists. Mr. Cook, his brother Bill, and Frank Boucher comprised the "Bread Line" with the Rangers, leading the team to their first two Stanley Cup championships in 1927-28 and 1932-33. In the AHL, Mr. Cook coached the Reds for 6 seasons and then coached the Cleveland Barons through 1955-56, winning a record seven Calder Cup championships--2 with the Reds and 5 with the Barons. His 636 wins as a head coach remains the AHL record. Mr. Cook was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

Politics and government
In the race for the 1988 U.S. Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis won the Kansas caucuses.

10 years ago
1998

Politics and government
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a Hindu nationalist, was sworn in as Prime Minister of India, an event that alarmed Muslims and moderate Hindus.

Economics and finance
Zhu Rongji, the new premier of China, outlined a sweeping 3-year program for changes to make state-owned industries solvent, overhaul the banking system, and redesign the government.