Will Smith was a semi-famous rapper who was about to go bankrupt for failing to pay enough taxes when he debuted on the sit-com “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” on this day in 1990. I don’t know what your list of accomplishments is in the 22 years since then, but I’m guessing it’s not quite as lengthy as Big Willie’s. Having said that, Smith, other than the blip of “Men In Black 3” this summer, hasn’t done anything in the last four years. He’s ramping up the activity though, with “After Earth,” and “Winter’s Tale” begun and “I Robot, 2,” “Hancock 2,” and “Bad Boys 3” all announced.
“Last Train to Clarksville,” in anybody’s top five Monkees songs, was released today in 1966.
Steffi Graf completed the Grand Slam on this day in 1988, winning the U.S. Open to go with her titles in the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Graf defeated Chris Evert, Natasha Zvereva, Martina Navratilova and Gabreila Sabatini on the way to the first Grand Slam since Margaret Court’s in 1970.
Happy 83rd birthday to Arnold Palmer, The King, winner of seven majors.
Happy 81st birthday to Phillip Baker Hall, a character actor who gives hope to all those out there who haven’t made it yet. Hall worked more after the age of 60 than most ever work. What Hall did with his spot on Seinfeld is in the character actor Hall of Fame.
Happy 66th to Jim Hines, the first human to ever break 10 seconds in the 100 meters. Hines set a new world record in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics that would stand for 15 years. The record hasn’t lasted longer than three years since then.
Birthdays are shared by these two, and believe it or not, they’re only a year apart. One turns 63, the other 62.
And finally, Happy Birthday to the guy that wrote this:
– Bill Hubbell