February 4th - 5th
Saturday February 4th
Today marks the 65th anniversary of the USO, the United Service Organizations. Formed in 1941 at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, six charities that helped entertain and cheer servicemen overseas united as one entity, the USO. Most famous for the Bob Hope tours of the 1940’s (which continued until the 1990’s) the USO still provides a valuable service and cure for homesickness to the military during war or peacetime. A few years ago, I had the honor of working with the USO on a project here in the New York area. They were amazing, from the USO Girls who performed, to the entertainers who signed on to the project to help. Even today, the USO attracts big names to give generously of their time and travel halfway around the world to cheer up the troops. I’m going to write to some of the more notable ones.
Ann Jillian
A staple of the Bob Hope USO shows from the 1980’s and 1990’s, Ms. Jillian is perhaps best known for her starring role in the TV sitcom “It’s A Living” (later renamed “Making A Living”.) She also gained international attention for her well publicized battle against breast cancer. Her life was turned into a highly rated TV movie, “The Ann Jillian Story” where she played herself and won many awards for it. Ms. Jillian is also a very busy motivational speaker.
Wayne Newton
“Mr. Las Vegas” Wayne Newton has been performing to sellout crowds in that desert playground for forty years. He was discovered by Jackie Gleason in the 1950’s and appeared on his show numerous times. Always a supporter of the military, Newton was named “Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle” after Bob Hope’s death. He is one of only four people to be named an honorary Green Beret.
Drew Carey
A former marine himself, Carey is an enthusiastic supporter of the USO. His trademark flattop crew cut and horn rim glasses are a remnant of his time in the military. After getting out of the Marines, he went to the local library, checked out books on how to be a comedian, and was a headlining comic within a few years. In the 1990’s he was given his own eponymous TV show, which was a top rated hit for ABC. In addition to touring with the USO, Drew currently produces the US version of the British improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway.”
Gary Sinise
An Emmy winner and Tony and Academy Award nominee, Gary Sinise is most famous for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the Oscar winning film “Forrest Gump.” In 1974, he and a few other high school buddies started the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, in a Catholic-school basement. It’s now an institution housed in an $8 million theater. In 2003 he formed a cover band called “The Lt. Dan Band” and now tours military sites on behalf of the USO.
Lee Greenwood
Francis Scott Key‘s “The Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem for the United States, and Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” is played just as often. In recent times, however, a song written in the 1980’s has joined the pantheon. Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” has brought people together singing “I’m proud to be an American.” It’s author, Lee Greenwood has been a successful recording artist since the 1970’s and continues to tour (sometimes doing three shows a day) with the USO. Watching him sing his most famous song to soldiers always elicits Goosebumps.
Sunday February 5th
Today is Super Bowl Sunday, the unofficial US national holiday. Even if you’re not a football fan it’s hard to escape the big game. Parties are held even if your team is not playing in it. (This year is the 40th anniversary and the two teams playing are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.) Since I am an avid NFL fan (I started out rooting for the Washington Redskins, and then switched over to the Buffalo Bills when Jim Kelly joined them.) so I’m going to write to some of my favorite football people.
Paul Tagliabue
Commissioner of the NFL since 1989, Tagliabue has led the league to incredible success and unprecedented prosperity. He originally started as a lawyer for the NFL, and grew up in my hometown of Jersey City, NJ..
Jim Kelly
For a decade, Jim Kelly was the quarterback and star of the Buffalo Bills, leading them to four consecutive Super Bowls (something no other NFL quarterback has ever done.) Unfortunately, he lost all four Super Bowls. Deservedly, he was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2002. His son Hunter was born with a rare medical condition and passed away at the age of eight. Kelly established an organization called Hunter’s Hope www.huntershope.org to raise awareness of and to help eradicate the disease that took his son’s life. For many reasons, he remains my all-time favorite NFL player and someone that I look up to as an inspiration.
Mark Rypien
An unlikely Super Bowl hero, Rypien quarterbacked the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl 26 (1992.) He was named MVP of that game. That was in his third NFL season, but his career went downhill after that. By 1996 he was out of football, but still lives on in history for his achievements in that magic season.
Joe Gibbs
A Hall of Fame coach, Gibbs led the Redskins to four Super bowls (winning three of them) in the 1980’s/early 1990’s. After retiring from football in 1992, he became successful in another sport, NASCAR, with Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2004, Gibbs returned to coach the Redskins. Amazingly, he brought them back to the playoffs in 2005 after a six year drought. Though they didn’t get to the Super Bowl, Gibbs has made the Redskins a team to be feared in the league.
Marv Levy
Like Joe Gibbs, Marv Levy is a football Hall of Famer who retired from the game and then returned after more than a decade. As coach of the Bills during the 1990‘s, he led them to four consecutive Super Bowls and was 11-8 in the playoffs. In 2005, he was named General Manager and Vice President of the Buffalo Bills, in the hopes of leading them back to football dominance.
Joe Theismann
Before Jim Kelly came along, Joe Theismann was my favorite NFL player. As quarterback of the Redskins, number 7 led them to the Super Bowl twice, winning in 1983. He was also the NFL’s MVP that year. He’s most famous for wearing an “old school” helmet with just a single bar protecting his face. His career came to an inglorious end on national television when NY Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor tackled him and snapped his leg in several places. Theismann is now a popular broadcaster covering the NFL on ESPN and is owner of a successful restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. Even though I have no athletic ability, his book, “Quarterbacking by Joe Theismann” was one of my favorite books as a teenager. (I still have it on my bookshelf.)
Jim McMahon
I never rooted for the Chicago Bears, except for 1985. That year featured at Bears team that dominated the NFL. Most importantly, they were quarterbacked by a guy who, like me, was born in Jersey City, Jim McMahon. More than just a QB, he was also a certified nutcase, drawing national attention for mooning cameras, drinking before game nights, and wearing headbands with messages during games. (I wore sweatbands and headbands through my high school years to honor him.) The 1985 Bears were so self confident and cocky, they even recorded a video called “The Super Bowl Shuffle” He’s also known for constantly wearing sunglasses, as a result of a childhood accident that injured his eyes. There’s never been a more free spirit in the NFL. I identify with him in many, many ways.
Today marks the 65th anniversary of the USO, the United Service Organizations. Formed in 1941 at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, six charities that helped entertain and cheer servicemen overseas united as one entity, the USO. Most famous for the Bob Hope tours of the 1940’s (which continued until the 1990’s) the USO still provides a valuable service and cure for homesickness to the military during war or peacetime. A few years ago, I had the honor of working with the USO on a project here in the New York area. They were amazing, from the USO Girls who performed, to the entertainers who signed on to the project to help. Even today, the USO attracts big names to give generously of their time and travel halfway around the world to cheer up the troops. I’m going to write to some of the more notable ones.
Ann Jillian
A staple of the Bob Hope USO shows from the 1980’s and 1990’s, Ms. Jillian is perhaps best known for her starring role in the TV sitcom “It’s A Living” (later renamed “Making A Living”.) She also gained international attention for her well publicized battle against breast cancer. Her life was turned into a highly rated TV movie, “The Ann Jillian Story” where she played herself and won many awards for it. Ms. Jillian is also a very busy motivational speaker.
Wayne Newton
“Mr. Las Vegas” Wayne Newton has been performing to sellout crowds in that desert playground for forty years. He was discovered by Jackie Gleason in the 1950’s and appeared on his show numerous times. Always a supporter of the military, Newton was named “Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle” after Bob Hope’s death. He is one of only four people to be named an honorary Green Beret.
Drew Carey
A former marine himself, Carey is an enthusiastic supporter of the USO. His trademark flattop crew cut and horn rim glasses are a remnant of his time in the military. After getting out of the Marines, he went to the local library, checked out books on how to be a comedian, and was a headlining comic within a few years. In the 1990’s he was given his own eponymous TV show, which was a top rated hit for ABC. In addition to touring with the USO, Drew currently produces the US version of the British improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway.”
Gary Sinise
An Emmy winner and Tony and Academy Award nominee, Gary Sinise is most famous for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the Oscar winning film “Forrest Gump.” In 1974, he and a few other high school buddies started the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, in a Catholic-school basement. It’s now an institution housed in an $8 million theater. In 2003 he formed a cover band called “The Lt. Dan Band” and now tours military sites on behalf of the USO.
Lee Greenwood
Francis Scott Key‘s “The Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem for the United States, and Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” is played just as often. In recent times, however, a song written in the 1980’s has joined the pantheon. Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” has brought people together singing “I’m proud to be an American.” It’s author, Lee Greenwood has been a successful recording artist since the 1970’s and continues to tour (sometimes doing three shows a day) with the USO. Watching him sing his most famous song to soldiers always elicits Goosebumps.
Sunday February 5th
Today is Super Bowl Sunday, the unofficial US national holiday. Even if you’re not a football fan it’s hard to escape the big game. Parties are held even if your team is not playing in it. (This year is the 40th anniversary and the two teams playing are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.) Since I am an avid NFL fan (I started out rooting for the Washington Redskins, and then switched over to the Buffalo Bills when Jim Kelly joined them.) so I’m going to write to some of my favorite football people.
Paul Tagliabue
Commissioner of the NFL since 1989, Tagliabue has led the league to incredible success and unprecedented prosperity. He originally started as a lawyer for the NFL, and grew up in my hometown of Jersey City, NJ..
Jim Kelly
For a decade, Jim Kelly was the quarterback and star of the Buffalo Bills, leading them to four consecutive Super Bowls (something no other NFL quarterback has ever done.) Unfortunately, he lost all four Super Bowls. Deservedly, he was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2002. His son Hunter was born with a rare medical condition and passed away at the age of eight. Kelly established an organization called Hunter’s Hope www.huntershope.org to raise awareness of and to help eradicate the disease that took his son’s life. For many reasons, he remains my all-time favorite NFL player and someone that I look up to as an inspiration.
Mark Rypien
An unlikely Super Bowl hero, Rypien quarterbacked the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl 26 (1992.) He was named MVP of that game. That was in his third NFL season, but his career went downhill after that. By 1996 he was out of football, but still lives on in history for his achievements in that magic season.
Joe Gibbs
A Hall of Fame coach, Gibbs led the Redskins to four Super bowls (winning three of them) in the 1980’s/early 1990’s. After retiring from football in 1992, he became successful in another sport, NASCAR, with Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2004, Gibbs returned to coach the Redskins. Amazingly, he brought them back to the playoffs in 2005 after a six year drought. Though they didn’t get to the Super Bowl, Gibbs has made the Redskins a team to be feared in the league.
Marv Levy
Like Joe Gibbs, Marv Levy is a football Hall of Famer who retired from the game and then returned after more than a decade. As coach of the Bills during the 1990‘s, he led them to four consecutive Super Bowls and was 11-8 in the playoffs. In 2005, he was named General Manager and Vice President of the Buffalo Bills, in the hopes of leading them back to football dominance.
Joe Theismann
Before Jim Kelly came along, Joe Theismann was my favorite NFL player. As quarterback of the Redskins, number 7 led them to the Super Bowl twice, winning in 1983. He was also the NFL’s MVP that year. He’s most famous for wearing an “old school” helmet with just a single bar protecting his face. His career came to an inglorious end on national television when NY Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor tackled him and snapped his leg in several places. Theismann is now a popular broadcaster covering the NFL on ESPN and is owner of a successful restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. Even though I have no athletic ability, his book, “Quarterbacking by Joe Theismann” was one of my favorite books as a teenager. (I still have it on my bookshelf.)
Jim McMahon
I never rooted for the Chicago Bears, except for 1985. That year featured at Bears team that dominated the NFL. Most importantly, they were quarterbacked by a guy who, like me, was born in Jersey City, Jim McMahon. More than just a QB, he was also a certified nutcase, drawing national attention for mooning cameras, drinking before game nights, and wearing headbands with messages during games. (I wore sweatbands and headbands through my high school years to honor him.) The 1985 Bears were so self confident and cocky, they even recorded a video called “The Super Bowl Shuffle” He’s also known for constantly wearing sunglasses, as a result of a childhood accident that injured his eyes. There’s never been a more free spirit in the NFL. I identify with him in many, many ways.
posted by Chris Lucas | 2:44 AM
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