A couple of tributes

Liam Clancy, Irish folk singer and last remaining brother and member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, passed away this past Thursday at the age of 74. Bob Dylan in 1984 said "“I never heard a singer as good as Liam ever. He was just the best ballad singer I’d ever heard in my life. Still is, probably.”

Torrie Zito, pianist, bandleader and music arranger, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 76. That's Torrie up there playing piano and leading the band for Tony Bennett in that video. One of the things that Torrie was well-known for was working with John Lennon on his Imagine album arranging the strings. One of the things that Torrie was less-known for is that he was one of Gia's uncles.

Rest in Peace, Liam and Torrie.

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

The End of an Era

Last night was the final game ever to be played at Yankee Stadium.

Oh sure, yeah there will be another Yankee Stadium next year. And purists will argue that the current stadium isn't really the same one that Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle played in because of the mid-70's renovations. But I don't remember the old stadium. I became a fan of the Yankees in 1972 when I was 6 and my memory is pretty strong, but not strong enough to remember the old stadium except for old highlight reels. Especially since I never visited the stadium until after the 1975 season.

So watching the final game played at my personal baseball shrine was a sad event indeed. Especially considering how disappointing of a year that they (and we) have had to endure. I've been to the stadium hundreds of times over the years. When they were great and when they were not-so great. It was almost always a wonderful time.

I'll remember Reggie Jackson and Willie Randolph and Thurman Munson. Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield and Dave Righetti. Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams and David Wells. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. Six glorious championships in my lifetime and endless moments of exciting baseball sprinkled throughout.

I'm gonna miss it.

That is all.

Tomorrow: Back to dick and fart jokes.