Flashback: May 1987

The feeling of anticipation is in the air as graduation is fast approaching. Meanwhile, here's some stuff that happened while we were all making plans to party like it was...uh...8 years ago.

• U.S. Senator Gary Hart withdraws from the Democrat Party presidential primary amidst reports that he had an extra-marital affair with a 29 year old model named Donna Rice.
• Film director John Landis is acquitted of all criminal charges for the deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two children during the filming of "The Twilight Zone" movie.
• Tom Cruise, age 24, marries Mimi Rogers, age 31.
  
• Edith Stein aka Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a Jewish born Catholic nun who died in the Nazi gas chambers at Auschwitz, is beatified by Pope John Paul II.

WTF?!

I wonder if 1987 was the first time SI ever chose a Sportsman of the Year for non-sports related achievements. I'd also be curious to know if '87 was the first time SI ever used a name other than "Sportsman of the Year" for its award. Inquiring minds want to know!

Flashback: April 1987

Ah, yes, spring was in the air, and we were in the home stretch toward the prom and graduation.

Outside in the real world 20 years ago, the following significant things occurred this month:

• China and Portugal signed an agreement in which political control of Macao would be handed back to China in 1999.
• The last wild condor is captured on a California wildlife reserve.
• Legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich dies.
• April 15, 1987 marked the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
• Al Campanis resigns as L.A. Dodgers general manager after making controversial statements in a nationally televised interview about how blacks may not be equipped to be in baseball management.

A Tree Falling in a Forest with Nobody Around

Lots of demand for the Class of '87 yearbook. (Not)

Flashback: March 1987

This month 20 years ago, the late President Ronald Reagan addressed the American people on the Iran-Contra Affair and conceded that the matter had devolved into a situation where arms were traded for hostages.

Also in this month, Wrestlemania III was held at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, MI. At the time, this event set an attendance record for indoor sporting events. As you can probably imagine, though, this record has been disputed given the uncertainty as to whether professional wrestling can be rightly regarded as a sport.

Wife of a Cobra Kai Member

That would be Class of '87 alum Shari Tomei whose husband, Christopher Paul Ford, was in the movie The Karate Kid Part III. Ford played one of the members of the eeevil Cobra Kai group who wanted to beat the snot out of the main character played by Ralph Macchio. The movie sucked, but hey...

According to an entry on the North High School Alumni forum, Shari is a part owner of a Hawaiian food restaurant (more like a food court stand) in Gardena, CA called Back Home, Jr.

Sorry for the Infrequent Posting

Not that I'm sure there's a lot of people hitting this site, but nevertheless, I just haven't been much motivated lately to blog. I'll hopefully get motivated soon, but in the meantime, if there's anything you'd like to contribute, feel free to leave a comment.