December 23, 2009

440 years ago
1569

Died on this date
Philip II, 62. Russian religious leader. Philip II, born Feodor Stepanovich Kolychev, was a Russian Orthodox monk who was appointed Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia by Czar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible in 1566). Metropolitan Philip publicly opposed Czar Ivan's policy of Oprichnina--the massacre of boyars--and refused to bless the Czar. Ivan had Philip deposed in 1568, and had his minion Malyuta Skuratov strangle Philip.

75 years ago
1934

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Today’s episode: The Case of the Poisoned Stick

70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Anthony Fokker, 49. Indonesian-born Dutch aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Fokker designed the Fokker Dr.I and Fokker D.VII, which were used by the German Luftstreitkräfte to great effect during World War I. He died of meningitis.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Grüezi wohl, Frau Stirnimaa--Die Minstrels (9th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The three-day Arab summit meeting in Rabat, Morocco ended when Egyptian President Gamal Nasser walked out after Kuwait and Saudi Arabia refused to hike war funds for Arab forces fighting Israel. Although Mr. Nasser returned for closing ceremonies, Syrian, Iraqi, and Southern Yemeni delegates boycotted it.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Jezebel--Jon Stevens (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Todesengel--Frank Duval

War
U.S.S.R. forces occupied the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Disasters
About 100 were reported killed when a bus went over a cliff near Yerevan, Soviet Armenia.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 @ Montreal 8
Boston 4 @ New York Rangers 3

At the end of the Bruins' win at Madison Square Garden, a spectator named John Kaptain hit Stan Jonathan of the Bruins with a rolled-up program and grabbed Mr. Jonathan's stick and hit him with it, prompting the entire Boston team except for goalie Gerry Cheevers to go into the stands after Mr. Kaptain.



Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Chicago 17 @ Philadelphia 27





AFC Wild Card Playoff
Denver 7 @ Houston 13



25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France (SNEP): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: When the Rain Begins to Fall--Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Joan Lindsay, 88. Australian writer and artist. Mrs. Lindsay wrote fiction and non-fiction in various genres, and was best known for her novel Picnic at Hanging Rock (1967). She painted in her later years, and died of stomach cancer.

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
New York Giants 16 @ Los Angeles Rams 13

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (13th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Lily was Here--David A. Stewart and Candy Dulfer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid II

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
8 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
9 This One's for the Children--New Kids on the Block
10 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Price of Love by Bad English (#68); Here and Now by Luther Vandross (#78); Room by the B-52s (#88); Too Hot by Loverboy (#90); and Right and Hype by Abstrac' (#93).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
8 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
9 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi
10 (It's Just) The Way that You Love Me--Paula Abdul

Singles entering the chart were Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (#70); Price of Love by Bad English (#72); Everything You Do (You’re Sexing Me) by Fiona with Kip Winger (#80); Going Home by Kenny G (#82); I Will Survive by Safire (#85); Roam by the B-52's (#88); Foolish Heart by Sharon Bryant (#90); and A Girl Like You by the Smithereens (#92).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
3 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
4 Angelia--Richard Marx
5 The Last Worthless Evening--Don Henley
6 When I See You Smile--Bad English
7 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
8 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
9 Love Shack--The B-52's
10 Rock and a Hard Place--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Expedition Sailor by Kim Mitchell (#80); Principal's Office by Young M.C. (#82); Move to Move by Kon Kan (#84); Here is Christmas by Ann and Nancy Wilson (#86); Dangerous by Roxette (#88); So Far Away by Mystery Romance (#90); and Hide Your Heart by Kiss (#92).

War
The U.S. Defense Department announced that secret radar-evading F-117A Stealth bombers had been used in combat for the first time in Panama, and had dropped two bombs near a barracks.

Football
NFL
Buffalo (9-7) 37 @ New York Jets (4-12) 0
Washington (10-6) 29 @ Seattle (7-9) 0

Only 21,148 fans were in attendance at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to see the Bills rout the Jets.

10 years ago
1999

Weather
It was warm enough in Edmonton for this blogger to wear shorts outside.