Certainly, April 15 is a significant day in American history. Aside from simply being the day when we all have to make sure our taxes are paid up, hallmarks in all of our histories occurred on this day.
In 1865, Abraham Lincoln died at the Petersen House on 10th St. in Washington, D.C., just across the street from Ford's Theater where he had been shot the night before -- Good Friday, in fact -- by John Wilkes Booth. Ford's Theater and the Petersen House is located just around the corner from the bar where the "You had your chance" incident occurred in September, 2005.
In Boston in 1912, Fenway Park was set to host its very first game until news from the North Atlantic reached America's shores that the RMS Titanic had struck an iceberg and sunk during her maiden voyage near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The sinking of the ship helped us develop the world's largest metaphor as well as a perfect representation of man's hubris. It also killed over 1,500 people and was turned into a movie starring Kate Winslet, who was kind of hot in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
During the 1920s, anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti allegedy murdered two security guards while robbing a shoe store, insulin became generally available for diabetics, Rand McNally published its first maps, and Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Norma and Constance Talmadge become the first celebrities to leave their footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
In 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut and in 1955 the first McDonald's opened.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452), Henry James (1843), Bessie Smith (1894), Roy Clark (1933), Emma Thompson (1959), and Samantha Fox (1966) were all born on April 15.
In 1980, Jean-Paul Sartre (aurvoire, gopher) and in 1990 Ava Gardner and Greta Garbo died. Later, in 1998, Pol Pot died.
More significantly, the great and influential Joey Ramone died on April 15, 2001. Certainly the historical significance of Joey's band The Ramones can be debated, but the cultural importance cannot. There has been no decent rock band since 1977 that has not been influenced by The Ramones, and if they tell you otherwise, they're lying.
Yes, some of the songs are silly, especially "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," which was written when the group was really bored, looking for something to do and decided to sniff some glue, but others are remarkable and deft displays of songwriting, like "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg."
Anyway, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Rocket to Russia or the Ramones Mania collection.
Meanwhile, April 15 is also the birthday of Michael Benjamin Finger, who was born in Newark, Del. in 2004. This is a significant birth not only because he is my son, but also because he provides hard, scientific evidence complete with DNA and everything, to prove that I have, in fact, gotten laid.
Thanks to David Letterman for coming up with that joke.
Here's a little birthday tribute to Michael, Leonardo, Bessie and Samantha from Joey and the gang from an appearance on The Simpsons.
Want to know what else is important? How about a baseball team on a three-game winning streak? You know, like the Phillies.
Enough of the blathering, let's get to how the writers saw the local nine beat the Rockies in Denver.
For the Inquirer, Todd wrote about Chase Utley's second multi-homer game in a row powered the Phillies to a 10-8 victory even though he was hitting just .200 in the middle of last week. Todd also wrote about how Ryan Franklin is adjusting to his new role in the bullpen.
Before a night off in Denver, Marcus wrote about how the offense is starting to come around after the first week. He also mentioned Franklin's new role and Ryan Howard's three infield hits this season.
Scott Lauber made the trip to Colorado and chronicled how the Phillies held on during the ninth inning to beat the Rockies. Lauber also wrote about Franklin's difficulty in making the adjustment to the 'pen as well as about the team's trip to the thin air of Denver.
Dennis explained the Phillies wild finish in the win over the Rockies.
Meanwhile, Randy tells how Chase Utley found his stroke after a sub par first week of the season.
For Phillies.com, some guy (not Ken) wrote about Jimmy Rollins' streak that is no more, as well as Franklin's workload and Tom Gordon's congratulatory phone call from Mariano Rivera. The guy (not Ken), also wrote about Utley and the offense's big night in Denver.
Elsewhere, Curt Schilling, apparently, is better than ever. While Kevin Millwood picked up his first win as a Ranger. Also in Arlington, the Rangers are worried about "The Curse of Dellucci."
There it is... sorry this was so late today. If anything is missing, let me know and I'll add it. Just be careful with all of those skate punks on Larimer Street.