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Ike Turner dies

Ike Turner had it all. He was big with hits in the 50’s. He really hit it big when joined up with Tina Turner (her really name was Anna Mae Bullock). The hits just kept on rolling. Unfortunately, the HITS did keep on coming. Ike Turner will be known as one of the most controlling wife beaters in show business. That’s his legacy. Sad but true.

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From RS:

Music legend Ike Turner, best remembered for his successful musical partnership and stormy marriage to singer Tina Turner, has died at home in California, his manager said Wednesday. He was 76.

Turner, often credited by music historians with writing the first Rock and Roll record, 1951’s “Rocket 88,” died at his home in San Marcos, manager Scott Hanover confirmed to AFP.

“He passed away this morning,” Hanover, of Thrill Entertainment Group, said from his office in Florida. (more…)

By ecthompsonmd|2007-12-12T23:09:26-04:00December 12th, 2007|Music|Comments Off

NFL Hall of famer Bill Willis dies

Bill Willis

Everyone who knows sports knows . Few people know Bill Willis. Bill Willis played for the Cleveland Browns before Jackie Robinson stepped into a MLB uniform. He played Guard on offense and middle guard (nose tackle) on defense. Mr. Willis helped Ohio State win a championship under a coach called Paul Brown. Brown helped start the Cleveland Browns in 1946. One of his first players was Bill Willis. Willis played for ’46 thru ’53. Paul Brown wrote that Willis was the forerunner of the modern middle linebacker. Bill Willis was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

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From NYT:

Bill Willis, the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame guard who played a major role in breaking professional football’s racial barrier in the decade after World War II, died Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. He was 86.

The cause was complications of a stroke, said the current Browns franchise, the successor in Cleveland to the original Browns.

In the autumn of 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson broke the racial barrier in major league baseball, Willis joined the newly formed Browns of the fledgling All-America Football Conference, playing guard on offense and middle guard — akin to today’s noseguard — on defense. (more…)

By ecthompsonmd|2007-11-30T18:44:45-04:00November 30th, 2007|Sports|Comments Off

Dick Nolan dies

Dick Nolan was a great San Francisco 49er coach. He single-handedly turned around what was a dog of a franchise. He was always classy. I admired him and I beleive that his success in the early 70’s made it possible for the great Bill Walsh to follow him.

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From AP:

Dick Nolan, the former coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the father of current 49ers coach Mike Nolan, died Sunday, the 49ers said. He was 75.

Dick Nolan, a former NFL defensive back who also coached the New Orleans Saints, had been in declining health with Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer for several years. He spent the last few months at an assisted-care facility in the Dallas area, near his longtime home with his wife, Ann.

Mike Nolan missed practice with the 49ers on Friday and Saturday, traveling back to Texas to be with his father. Team spokesman Aaron Salkin said Nolan would coach the 49ers on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. (more…)

By ecthompsonmd|2007-11-12T00:30:43-04:00November 12th, 2007|Sports|Comments Off