March 21: Pete Rose didn't see The Sign

March 21: today in history (from Wikipedia)

1844 – "The Bahá'í calendar begins. This is the first day of the first year of the Bahá'í calendar. It is annually celebrated by members of the Bahá'í Faith as the Bahá'í New Year or Náw-Rúz." Actually, March 21 makes a lot more sense to start a new year than an early winter date. I'm not advocating for a change, but it makes more sense.

1980 – "US President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan." What gave him the right? The USOC isn't even a government agency.

1989 – "Sports Illustrated reports allegations tying baseball player Pete Rose to baseball gambling." In the early 1960's, the NFL's Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were each suspended a year for gambling on NFL games. What MLB did to Rose after these revelations seems like overkill.

Notable quotes (from BrainyQuote unless otherwise sourced)

"When blithe to argument I come
Though armed with facts, and merry,
May Providence protect me from
The fool as adversary,
Whose mind to him a kingdom is
Where reason lacks dominion,
Who calls conviction prejudice
And prejudice opinion."

"Those wearing tolerance for a label call other views intolerable."

"Getting along with men isn't what's truly important. The vital knowledge is how to get along with a man, one man".

- Phyllis McGinley  (March 21, 1905 – February 22, 1978)

"They say Rome wasn't built in a day, but I wasn't on that particular job."

"Don't send me flowers when I'm dead. If you like me, send them while I'm alive."

"If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well."

- Brian Clough, English football manager (March 21, 1935 – 20 September 20, 2004)
[NOTE: See The Damn United for a fictionalized version of this character.]

"I just want the money and the fame and the adoration, and I don't want any of the other stuff."- Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962)

Song of the Day

Happy 47th, Jonas Berggren, who wrote this among other hits: