November 6, 2013

125 years ago
1888

Politics and government
Former United States Senator Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, the candidate of the Republican Party, defeated President Grover Cleveland, the Democratic Party nominee, in the U.S. Presidential election, 233 electoral votes to 168. Mr. Cleveland and his vice-presidential running mate, Allen G.Thurman, outpolled Mr. Harrison and his running mate, Levi P. Morton, 5,534,488 (48.6%) to 5,443,892 (47.8%) in the popular vote.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Edsel Ford. U.S. automobile executive. Mr. Ford, the son of Henry Ford, was president of the Ford Motor Company from 1919 until his death. He founded and named the Mercury division of automobiles, introduced the Ford Model A, and purchased the Lincoln Motor Company. Mr. Ford died of brucellosis on May 26, 1943 at the age of 49, after an operation for stomach cancer. The car known as the Edsel, (model years 1958-1960) was named after him.

Died on this date
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 53. Russian composer. Mr. Tchaikovsky, one of the greatest composers of the 19th century, died nine days after conducting the premiere performance of his 6th Symphony (Pathétique) in St. Petersburg. His death was attributed to cholera after drinking contaminated water, but some believe it was suicide.

100 years ago
1913

Protest
Mohandas Gandhi was arrested as he led a march of Indian miners in South Africa.

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox continued their post-season exhibition tour, with the Giants winning 14-5 in Douglas, Arizona.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Paper Doll--The Mills Brothers

War
The Soviet Red Army recaptured Kiev, which had been under German occupation since September 19, 1941; before withdrawing, the Germans destroyed most of the city's ancient buildings. British forces in Italy swept across the Trigno River on a 20-mile front from the Adriatic coast, taking nine towns. Japanese troops made a general advance along a 90-mile front from the Yangtze River to Tungting Lake in central China.

Communications
An Argentine government decree placed all of the country's wire and radio communications services under the control of the War Ministry for reasons of national defense.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed that all government contracts must carry a clause against racial discrimination.

U.S. War Mobilization Director James Byrnes announced the appointment of Bernard Baruch to head a new unit within the Office of War Mobilization to deal with war and postwar adjustment problems.

Football
WCASRFL
Regina 0 @ Winnipeg RCAF 1 (First game of 2-game total points series)

Ches McCance scored a single on a missed field goal for the game's only point at Osborne Stadium.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Answer Me--David Whitfield

50 years ago
1963

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Studios in Hollywood to record the song I Do, which wasn't released until it was included as a bonus track on the Capitol Records "twofer" CD Surfer Girl/Shut Down Volume 2.

40 years ago
1973

Football
CFL
Jim Spavital was fired after four seasons as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers had finished first in the Western Football Conference in 1972 with a 10-6 record, but had lost the Western Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-24 on the last play, and had finished fifth and last in the WFC in 1973 with a record of 4-11-1. The team had released stars Mack Herron and Jim Thorpe before the 1973 season because of off-field behaviour, but the Blue Bombers' management thought the team should still have posted a better record than it did. Mr. Spavital, who had been an assistant coach with the Roughriders before joining the Blue Bombers, posted a record of 23-41-2 from 1970-1973.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Karma Chameleon--Culture Club (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Pushkin Papers

Football
CFL
Hamilton (5-10-1) 21 @ Montreal (5-10-1) 21
Saskatchewan (5-11) 27 @ Calgary (8-8) 23

Bernie Ruoff's 39-yard field goal with 45 seconds remaining in the game gave the Tiger-Cats the tie in the game and the third and final playoff spot in the Eastern Division before 41,157 fans at Olympic Stadium. The Tiger-Cats won the playoff spot on the basis of the better record in games between the teams, having defeated the Concordes 35-30 in Hamilton on September 5. Lester Brown, who rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries, scored both Montreal touchdowns on 8-yard runs in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Hamilton quarterback Dieter Brock, who completed 23 of 38 passes for 307 yards, completed touchdown passes of 2 yards to Mark Bragagnolo in the 1st quarter and 30 yards to Scott Collie in the 3rd quarter. Montreal quarterback Kevin Starkey completed just 10 of 22 passes for 124 passes and 3 interceptions while rushing 10 times for 23 yards in his final CFL game. It was the first game in a Montreal uniform for former Edmonton Eskimo and B.C. Lion safety Pete Lavorato, and the only game in a Montreal uniform for former Winnipeg Blue Bomber linebacker James Reed.

Mike Washington rushed 2 yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds remaining to give the Roughriders their win before 28,260 fans at McMahon Stadium and eliminate the Stampeders from playoff contention. They had finished with the same record as the Edmonton Eskimos and had split the two games between them, with each team scoring 46 points, and both teams had posted 3-5 records within the Western Division, but the Eskimos were awarded the third and final playoff spot on the basis of a better points for-and-against ratio within the division. The touchdown was set up on a bad snap from centre Ted Milian--who had been acquired by the Stampeders in a trade with the Eskimos early in the season--to punter Mike McTague with 1:20 remaining, and Rusty Olsen's fumble recovery gave the Roughriders possession of the ball on the Calgary 42-yard line. Calgary led 12-0 after the 1st quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bernard Quarles to Waymon Alridge, a convert and field goal by J.T. Hay, and 2 singles by Mr. McTague. The Roughriders, with the wind advantage in the 2nd quarter, came back with 11 points on a 12-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Homer Jordan, and a convert, single, and field goal by Dave Ridgway, but Mr. Quarles rushed 5 yards for a touchdown with 1:02 remaining in the 1st half, and Mr. Hay's convert gave the Stampeders a 19-11 lead. Saskatchewan had the wind behind them in the 3rd quarter, and after an exchange of singles, John Park rushed 1 yard for a touchdown, and Mr. Ridgway's convert and single on a wide field goal attempt tied the game 20-20 after 3 quarters. Calgary took the wind in the 4th quarter and scored 3 single points on a missed field goal by Mr. Hay and punts of 61 and 78 yards by Mr. McTague, the last coming with 2:45 left to give the Stampeders a 23-20 lead. Calgary slotback Tom Forzani, playing the last game of his 11-year CFL career, caught 8 passes for 195 yards, the best single-game yardage total of his career. The game also marked the end of the 6-year CFL career of Mr. Milian. It was the last game in a Calgary uniform for rookie running back Ray Crouse, who rushed 14 times for only 20 yards. The defeat marked the end of the line for Jack Gotta after 7 seasons as general manager and 5 seasons as head coach of the Stampeders. For the Eskimos, it was their 12th straight season in the playoffs.



25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Desire--U2 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: A Groovy Kind of Love--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

Disasters
730 people were killed when an earthquake struck southwestern China, near the Burmese border.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (9-9) 9 @ Toronto (14-4) 49
Ottawa (2-16) 11 @ Saskatchewan (11-7) 45
Calgary (6-12) 19 @ Edmonton (11-7) 20

The Argonauts amassed 442 yards net offense and restricted the Hamilton offense to 194 net yards as they routed the Tiger-Cats before 24,503 fans in the last regular season game at Exhibition Stadium. It was the final game in the four-year CFL career of Hamilton receiver Ron Ingram, who had returned to the Tiger-Cats after spending most of the season with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Jeff Fairholm scored 2 touchdowns and Dave Ridgway set league single-season records for field goals (55) and points (215) as the Roughriders routed the Rough Riders before 25,615 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. It was the last game for Bob Weber as Ottawa's head coach; he posted a record of 2-13 after replacing his brother-in-law, the fired Fred Glick, on an interim basis. Among the players whose careers ended with this game was Ottawa quarterback Roy Dewalt, who played just 4 games in an Ottawa uniform to conclude his 9-year CFL career.

Jerry Kauric's 25-yard field goal with 9 seconds remaining in regulation time gave the Eskimos their win over the Stampeders before 27,499 fans at Commonwealth Stadium, clinching first place in the West Division despite committing 6 turnovers. The Eskimos and Roughriders had split the two games between them, with the Eskimos outscoring the Roughriders 58-53. Henry "Gizmo" Williams scored both Edmonton touchdowns on passes from quarterback Tracy Ham. Edmonton offensive tackle Blake Dermott suffered a season-endng knee injury. It was the final CFL game for Calgary offensive lineman Rudy Phillips, as well as for quarterback Erik Kramer, who missed all of the following season with a knee injury before moving to the National Football League.



20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): All that She Wants--Ace of Base

#1 single in Italy: Living on My Own--Freddie Mercury (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Boom! Shake the Room--DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Got to Get It--Culture Beat

#1 single in France (SNEP): Living on My Own (1993)--Freddie Mercury (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
2 Just Kickin' It--Xscape
3 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
4 Again--Janet Jackson
5 Hey Mr. D.J.--Zhane
6 All That She Wants--Ace of Base
7 Anniversary--Tony Toni Tone
8 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
9 What is Love--Haddaway
10 If--Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Sex Me (Parts 1 and 2) by R. Kelly (#54); Linger by the Cranberries (#74); What's it to You by Clay Walker (#75); and Slow and Easy by Zapp & Roger (#81).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (2nd week at #1)
2 No Rain--Blind Melon
3 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
4 Human Wheels--John Mellencamp
5 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
6 When There's Time (For Love)--Lawrence Gowan
7 Two Steps Behind--Def Leppard
8 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
9 Everybody Hurts--R.E.M.
10 Hopelessly--Rick Astley

Singles entering the chart were I'm Alive by Jackson Browne (#58); Remedy by The Band (#59); Hero by Mariah Carey (#64); I Said I Loved You...But I Lied by Michael Bolton (#72); Change (Is Never a Waste of Time) by Alanis (#75); I Wanna Shelter You by Bachman (#76); Black on Black II by Heart (#80); 5 Days in May by Blue Rodeo (#81); Cadillac Baby by Colin James (#83); Dreams by Gabriele (#84); Higher Ground by UB40 (#85); All About Soul by Billy Joel (#86); Without a Trace by Soul Asylum (#88); and Voice in My Heart by April Wine (#89).

Died on this date
Jack Hennemier, 80 (?). U.S.-born football player and coach. Mr. Hennemier played center and guard at Duke University (1933-1935), and achieved success as a defensive assistant coach with the University of Maryland (1948-1954, 1957-1958), helping the Terrapins win the national championship in 1953. He was the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders (1955-1956), with little success; the Stampeders finished fifth and last in the Western Interprovincial Football Union with a 4-12 record in 1955, and were 2-6 in 1956 when he was fired. Mr. Hennemier held various assistant coaching and scouting positions in later years.

Academia
The downtown campus of Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton officially opened.

Politics and government
Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced that he would serve out his term until 1996, reversing an earlier statement that presidential elections would be held in June 1994.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (10-8) 27 @ Sacramento (6-12) 64

David Archer passed for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Gold Miners ended their first CFL season by routing the Lions before 18,748 fans at Hornet Field. Mr. Archer, who became the third quarterback in CFL history-after Doug Flutie of the Calgary Stampeders and Kent Austin of the Saskatchewan Roughriders--to pass for over 6,000 yards in a season--completed 3 of his TD passes to Carl Parker. Mr. Archer handed off to Mike Pringle for 2 touchdown runs--including one of 44 yards--and Mike Oliphant for another, and scored a TD of his own on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Greg Joelson returned a fumble 31 yards for another Sacramento touchdown. Gold Miners' kicker Jim Crouch tied a CFL single-game record with 9 converts, and added a single on a missed field goal. B.C. quarterback Danny Barrett completed touchdown passes to Ray Alexander and Darren Flutie in the 3rd quarter and handed off to Sean Millington for a TD in the 4th quarter. Lui Passaglia added 3 converts and 2 field goals. The Gold Miners led 29-6 at halftime.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Lubor Zink, 83. Czechoslovakian-born Canadian journalist. Mr. Zink was this blogger's favourite columnist. A native of Klapý and a member of the Czech underground during World War II, Mr. Zink was on death lists of Nazis and Communists, and came to Canada in 1958, joining the Brandon Sun as editorial page editor before moving to the Toronto Telegram and Toronto Sun. His books included Under the Mushroom Cloud (1962); The Uprooted (1962); Trudeaucracy (1972); Viva Chairman Pierre (1977); and What Price Freedom? (1981). He wrote several books in Czech, including the well-received novel Unor. Anyone wanting a quick course on where and when Canada went wrong just needs to read Mr. Zink's columns in the Telegram from the first four months of 1968, or the first two chapters of Trudeaucracy. Mr. Zink was one of the few media people in Canada in my time to publicly criticize Communism and recognize the evil of the beliefs and policies of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Mr. Zink was kind enough to autograph copies of his books for me, and I enjoyed the privilege of having lunch with him in Ottawa in 1995, a couple of years after his retirement. He died after a long battle with kidney disease, and is greatly missed.

Crime
Quebec police raided four Hell's Angels cells and arrested 31 people, including prominent Montreal lawyer Benoit Cliche, who was charged with running the criminal operations of one of his clients.