Losing Legends

Frank Gifford was a legend in the NFL, a Hall of Fame player with the New York Giants and a longtime staple in the booth of ABC's Monday Night Football. Gifford still holds the record for the most touchdowns scored by a New York Giant.  In those years, Gifford was rivaled in the Big Apple by only New York Yankee Mickey Mantle.

By all accounts, Gifford was wonderful man who lived a storybook life in a game we all cherish.  But suddenly on Sunday, the nation learned Gifford died of natural causes at 84.

Gifford, who starred at Southern Cal before entering the NFL, had retired before I became a big fan of the game, but I was very familiar with him with his announcing career. Gifford was well known to many from his lovely wife, Kathie Lee, who rose to incredible fame due to her hosting, with Regis Philbin, of the daytime talk show Regis and Kathie Lee.

It was Gifford, in the ABC Monday Night Football booth with Howard Cosell, who pressed Cosell that they needed to convey to the country the horribly sad news that came their way via ABC News flash, the news that former Beatle John Lennon has been shot dead outside of his Manhattan apartment.

Prior to internet and in large measure cable television, it was how America learned of Lennon's death, which affected many of us deeply.  I saw and heard it live, for it was my Miami Dolphins in action hosting the New England Patriots on that evening, December 8, 1980, from Miami's Orange Bowl.

Gifford was a part of Americana, and the large impact he had on the American sporting landscape was invaluable and greatly appreciated.


We woke up this morning to learn that NASCAR legend Buddy Baker has passed away at 74.

It was shortly after the Coke Zero 500 when Baker, the 1980 Daytona 500 champion, announced he was stepping down from NASCAR broadcasts due to an inoperable tumor in his lung. Baker, at 6'6" and nicknamed the "Gentle Giant" due his stature coupled with friendly demeanor, will be greatly missed in the NASCAR community.

 

"Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name." Consider that done!

Sadly, we are starting to lose many of the legends we grew up with.  We need to keep their memories alive.

BAHL's Babes: Angie Harmon

For the second time in as many weeks, there is an addition to BAHL's Babes that was not originally on the list, and that is the lovely Angie Harmon.

Angie began her career as a model but is most known for her role on NBC's Law & Order. She is married to former USC Trojan and New York Giant Jason Sehorn and has three children.

Angie has been in the news recently for stating accurately that you can be at odds with the policies of President Barack Obama without being a racist. That someone felt compelled to comment on what should be obvious demonstrates where this country is on the Obama love train, including the credibility and ratings plummeting mainstream news media.












Harmon is finding "that if you say anything against him you're called a racist,", and she is annoyed at having to defend herself on this, as she should be. Another item on the list of grievances Harmon has is the double standard presented by the main stream media. "I think one of the greatest things about the Republican Party is the understanding, we don’t point fingers and we have class." Harmon is a open GOP member and was a strong supporter of John McCain in the 2008 election.

So in summary we have a beautiful, talented actress, active member of the GOP, college and NFL football fan, a risk taker by taking on Obama from Hollywood and a fan of NASCAR. No doubt, that rises above the qualifications and Angie Harmon is a BAHL's Babe.

The following video shows Angie dropping the green flag and cutting the good ole boys loose at the AutoClub 500 at California Motor Speedway this past February. Stand On It indeed!

Preserve the Dolphin history

In honor of the 1972 Miami Dophins, like most of the country, I will be hoping and praying the New York football Giants can defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl XLII.

It seems fitting to think of Larry Csonka on this day, since during his NFL career he played for two teams; the Fins and the Giants.

For all us Dolphins out there, Go Giants!