Val Kilmer

I first saw him when my Dad took us to see Real Genius in 1985, and I was happy to watch his career take off in the following years.  RIP sir, you were a hell of an actor. 

Bob Uecker

 

Milwaukee native Bob Uecker, the voice of the Brewers, died today only a short while before his 91st birthday. 

Uecker was ubiquitous here in Milwaukee throughout my life. A former weak-hitting MLB catcher, he began calling games for the Brewers 3 years before I was born, and continued through 2024. He starred in a successful sitcom, Mr. Belevedere, in the '80's, was a standout in Miller Lite commercials, and brought his humor to the silver screen in the Major League movies.

He was genuinely, instinctively funny, and his love for Milwaukee, and the Brewers, knew no limits.. I'm sorry we didn't give him the chance to call a championship for the Crew.  

RIP

Linda Lavin

Linda Lavin, the Tony and Emmy  winning actress best known for the titular role in the sitcom Alice, has died.  She was 87.

I know her in part for her time on Barney Miller, but of course she's always been Alice to me.  That show ran from '76 to '85 - from when I was two to age eleven, so essentially the best chunk of my childhood - and while it was never a household favorite it got regular airplay all the same. 

RIP

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter,  the 39th President of the United States and the first to live to 100, died today after a long illness. 

Carter is the first President I personally remember, although my memories are largely negative and intertwined with his sucesssor: the Iran hostage crisis,  a 1980 Reagan commercial featuring an aircraft carrier, and watching Reagan's inauguration and hearing how Iran smited Carter by delaying the hostage release.

My Dad, a lifelong Democrat,  told me he abandoned Carter in 1980. Pop's opinion of Carter's Presidency was not kind. 

As with most of America, my own views of Carter softened with four decades of post-Presidental service.  I remember him here in Milwaukee,  building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and being protested by the local idiot Alderman, Michael McGee. 

I don't doubt Carter's worth as a human.

I do however, think history has reassessed his term too favorably,  just by nature of him being alive so long.  It was not,  by any objective measure, a successful four years for this country.

Even so, he was our President and gave this nation his all, and for that,  he deserves the respect of every American. 

RIP

Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson,  the all-time stolen base king and 2009 Cooperstown inductee,  has died of pneumonia.  He was 65.

It may be a controversial choice to some,  but if I was to manage a team of MLB's all-time greatest players,  I'd have Henderson at the top of the lineup. 

In my mind,  there was been no greater leadoff hitter in the long history of the sport. 1406 stolen bases. 3,055 hits and 2190 walks.  297 home runs and 510 doubles. 1,115 RBI's to go along with a record 2,295 runs. An OBP of .401 and more than 111 career WAR.

My word. 

I still remember the day in 1982 when he broke the record for most stolen bases in a season,  right here in Milwaukee.  I seem to remember my Dad thought Rickey came off as a pompous here that day,  and maybe he was; sometimes humility takes awhile to catch up with immense talent. 

RIP Rickey. You were spectacular. 

Chuck Woolery

When I was in grade school we were allowed to return home for lunch each day at 11:30, and with rare exceptions my sisters and I did. When we were younger we'd watch Seasame Street in that hour but in the later years we'd tune in to Love Connection,  the dating show hosted by Chuck Woolery.

A contestant would be shown three videos of prospective suitors (cashing in on the popularity of video dating at the time.) The in-studio audience would vote for which one was the best choice, with the result disclosed later,  and then the contestant

would reveal who he or she had chosen and actually gone out with on a date. Their choice would appear by video from backstage,  and the two would describe the date for Chuck, with the best ones being tales of awkward encounters. The audience poll was then revealed,  and the contestant was offered a date with the winner,  on the shows dime, or a second date with their original choice. If they chose their original connection,  he or she would be brought out to reunite with them on stage.

Silly,  but fun.  And Woolery, a veteran host of several other game shows, kept it light but with a modicum of class. He was great.

Chuck Woolery died today at the age of 83. 

RIP