“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
So began Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” on the afternoon of November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lincoln spoke for just over two minutes, but it’s regarded as one of the greatest speeches in the history of the country as Lincoln perfectly summarized what it meant to be a free and equal country. It clearly didn’t resonate with U.S. citizens, as “Lincoln” finished a distant third at the box office this past weekend, behind “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2,” and “Skyfall.”
“Well, as near as I can figure out, it’s ’cause I, uh, fight and fuck too much.” Well, it wasn’t the Gettysburg Address, but Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Randall McMurphy in, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was nearly as arresting. The movie, which hit screens today in 1975, was just the second to win the five main Academy Awards: Best Movie, Best Actor, (tell me you don’t see Tom Cruise at the 1:28 mark) Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Today in Pullman, Washington, in 1973, Steve Prefontaine won his third NCAA Cross Country title. Prefontaine had won it as a freshman and as a sophomore, but didn’t compete in 1972 because he’d trained for the Olympics instead.
U2 was at, for my money, their creative peak when they released, “Achtung Baby” today in 1991. The album was universally acclaimed by critics who praised the step forward for the band while also congratulating them on dropping some of their pretension. The album landed at #63 on Rolling Stones 2012 list of the 500 best albums of all-time. The album is full of single hits: “Mysterious Ways,” “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” “One,” “Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around the World,” “The Fly,” and “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?”
The Barenaked Ladies finally broke through in the United States with one of the best albums to ever come across the border, their live disc, “Rock Spectacle” hit shelves today in 1996. “Brian Wilson,” “Jane,” “What a Good Boy,” “The Old Apartment,” and “If I Had $1,000,000 were all hits.
Today in 1978 the Giants tried a hand off when they really shouldn’t have. The “Miracle at the Meadowlands” saw Herm Edwards scoop up a fumble and take it all the way on the game’s last play. You play to win the game, indeed.
Today in 1980 CBS banned the new Calvin Klein jeans ad starring Brooke Shields. On Klein’s 38th birthday nonetheless.
The Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons brawled tonight in 2004. It just so happened to be on my first month on the NBA beat at ESPN. It was a long night.
Birthday wishes to Meg Ryan (51) and Jodie Foster (50) and their five best:
Ryan:
1. When Harry Met Sally
2. Sleepless in Seattle
3. You’ve Got Mail
4. Top Gun
5. When a Man Loves a Woman
Foster:
1. Silence of the Lambs
2. Taxi Driver
3. The Accused
4. Nell
5. Foxes
— Bill Hubbell