December 01
1824-In the 1824 presidential election no candidate received an electoral majority. John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts received 84 votes: Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, 99: Secretary of State William H. Crawford, who had suffered a stroke and was effectively out of the running, 41: Henry Clay, 37: John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was elected vice president. On February 9, 1825, John Quincy Adams was chosen as president by the House of Representatives.
1831 - The coldest December of record in the northeastern U.S. commenced. Temperatures in New York City averaged 22 degrees, with just four days above freezing, and at Burlington VT the temperature never did get above freezing. The Erie Canal was closed the first day of December, and remained closed the entire month.
1842-Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of the Secretary of War, was hanged from the yardarm of the U.S.S. Somers, a brig of war, while at sea in West Indian waters. Boatswain Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small were hanged at the same time. They were convicted, at a court-martial held on shipboard, of inspiring to organize a mutiny, murder the officers, and turn the ship into a pirate cruiser. The commander of the Somers was Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, who was exonerated by a court of inquiry. It was quite a “scandal” upon their return. There were questions as to whether a mutiny even actually occurred or if this was just paranoia on the part of the captain, Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie, who over the course of the 6-month training cruise is purported to have ordered 2,265 lashings. This incident inspired Herman Melville to write “Billy Budd,” and is commonly held to be the major factor that precipitated the establishment of the Naval Academy. Somers was in the Gulf of Mexico off Vera Cruz at the opening of the Mexican War in the spring of 1846; and, but for runs to Pensacola for logistics, she remained in that area on blockade duty until winter. On the evening of 26 November, the brig, commanded by Rahael Semmes [later commanding officer of CSS Alabama], was blockading Vera Cruz when Mexican schooner Criolla slipped into that port. Somers launched a boat party which boarded and captured the schooner. However, a calm prevented the Americans from getting their prize out to sea so they set fire to the vessel and returned through gunfire from the shore to Somers, bringing back seven prisoners. Unfortunately, Criolla proved to be an American spy ship operating for Commodore Conner. On December 8, 1846, while chasing a blockade-runner, Somers capsized in a squall and sank with the loss of 32 of her 76 crew. In 1986, her remains were found in 110 feet of water about a mile off Isla Verde.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/somers2.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s/somers.htm
1847-Birthday of Julia Moore, known as the "Sweet Singer of Michigan," was born in a log cabin at Plainfield, MI. A writer of homely verse and ballads, Moore enjoyed remarkable popularity and gave many public readings before realizing that her public appearances were occasions for laughter and ridicule. Her poems were said to be "so bad, her subjects so morbid and her naiveté so genuine" that they were actually gems of humorous genius. At her final public appearance she told her audience: "You people paid 50 cents to see a fool, but I got $50 to look at a house full of fools." Moore died June 17, 1920, near Manton, MI.
http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/about/programs/jmoore/bio.html
http://www.wmich.edu/english/txt/Moore/
1878- Birthday of Arthur Spingarn, an American Jew, one of the original founders of NAACP, chairman in 1914, and the prestigious NACCP Springarn medal is named after him.” The purpose of this medal is twofold — first to call the attention of the American people to the existence of distinguished merit and achievement among American Negroes, and secondly, to serve as a reward for such achievement, and as a stimulus to the ambition of colored youth. This prestigious award is in the form of a gold medal that is valued at one hundred dollars. To make certain that this award is continued on an indefinite basis, Joel E. Spingarn bequeathed in his will twenty thousand dollars to the NAACP “to perpetuate the lifelong interest of my brother, Arthur B. Spingarn, of my wife, Amy E. Spingarn, and of myself in the achievements of the American Negro.” If this organization fails to continue, the Spingarn Medal is to be managed by the president of Howard or Fisk University.”
http://www.thurgoodmarshall.com/gallery/tm19.htm
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1349/
MoorlandSpingarn_Collection_a_great_experience
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?faid/faid:@field(TITLE+@band
(spingarn+arthur+b+++))
1891-Basketball created: James Naismith was a teacher of physical education at the International YMCA Training School at Springfield, MA. To create an indoor sport that could be played during the winter months, he nailed up peach baskets at opposite ends of the gym and gave students soccer balls to toss into them. Thus was born the game of basketball.
http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Naismith.htm
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/naismith/
1892-Birthday of African-American painter Minnie Evans, born Long Creek, North Carolina, considered one of America's great unique visionary folk artists.
http://www.outsider-folk-art.org/education/Minnie_Evans.asp
http://www.lyonsdenbooks.com/html/dreams.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/evans_minnie.html
1894-Canada, Yukon Order of the Pioneers: The Yukon Order of Pioneers held its founding meeting on this date at Forty mile, Yukon. It began as a vigilante police force to deter claim jumping and later inaugurated Discovery Day (Aug 17), a statutory Yukon holiday commemorating the discovery of gold on Bonanza Creek in 1896.
1896-Frank Broaker of New York City became the first “Certified Public Accountant, receiving Certificate Number One from the New York State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners. Broaker became the first secretary of the New York Board of CPA Examiners. He organized a school to prepare individuals to sit for the CPA examination. Broaker was criticized for publishing a book in 1897 entitled The American Accountants Manual, which contained questions and answers from the first CPA exam. He kept the proceeds from the sale of the book. He also was charged with forming a society of accountants with himself as president. It was alleged that Broaker had led prospective members of the society to believe that the Board of Regents might be willing to waive the CPA exam for those who were members. The Board of Regents responded to these complaints by appointing James T. Anyon to replace Broaker.
http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/1996/1096/newsviews/CPAcen.htm
1909-The first payment to a Christmas savings club at a bank was made this day. It was started by the Carlisle Trust Company, Carlisle, PA. The idea originated with Merkel Landis, the bank’s treasurer. When I was younger all kids had such a “savings account.” Today most money is spent to make monthly payments to credit cards and kids are not encouraged to save. Do you have a Christmas savings account, or even a vacation savings account?
1911-Birthday of Walter Alston, baseball player and baseball Hall of Fame manager, born at Venice, OH. Alston struck out in his only major league at-bat, but he became one of the game’s most successful managers. Working under a series of one-year contracts with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 through 1976, Alston won seven National League pennants and four World Series. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. Died at Oxford, OH, October 1, 1984.
1912-Harry Arthur “Cookie” Lavagetto, baseball player and manager born at Oakland, CA. Lavagetto was the first manager of the Minnesota Twins, but he is best remembered for breaking up Floyd Bevan’s bid for a no hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. Lavagetto doubled with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, spoiling Bevan’s effort and wining the game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Died at Orinda, CA, August 10,1990.
1914 - Following the outbreak of World War I, the nation's markets temporarily shut down to safeguard against a debilitating bear run. But, this day, traders were back at it again, at least on the West Coast, where the San Francisco Stock & Bond Exchange became the first U.S. exchange to re-open its doors for business.
1913-The first drive-in gas station was opened by Gulf Refining Company at the intersection of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street, Pittsburgh, PA. The station remained open all night and provided free crankcase service. Thirty gallons of gasoline were sold the first day. Frank McLaughlin was the first manager.
1913 - a 6 day Front Range snowstorm began, ultimately producing 45.7 inches of snow at Denver, CO, the biggest single snowstorm on record for that city.
1921-The first airship filled with helium gas was the semi rigid cigar-shaped Navy dirigible C-7. It contained 181,000 cubic feet of gas and was powered by two motors. It was tested at Hampton Roads Base, Hampton Roads, VA, and on December 4 made a round trip from Hampton Roads to Washington, DC. Lieutenant Commander R.F. Wood was the pilot.
1929 –Bingo invented and manufactured by Edwin S. Lowe. Bingo has grown into a five-billion-dollar-a-year charitable fund-raiser. He got the idea from “Beano” played at carnivals for
several centuries. Here is the story:
http://www.starlightonlinebingo.com/history.html
1933-Birthday of alto sax player Jimmy Lyons, Jersey City, NJ
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,461272,00.html?artist=Jimmy+Lyons
1934-First “Let’s Dance” broadcast on NBC with Benny Goodman Band.
1934-- Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio was born in Hilo, Hawaii. The trio was credited with starting the folk craze of the late 1950's and early '60s with their hit recording of "Tom Dooley" in 1958. The Kingston Trio had a clean-cut collegiate image which helped them win acceptance among the trendy college crowd. The trio broke up in 1968.
1934 - Singer Billy Paul is born in Philadelphia. His biggest hit is the million-selling No. 1 song "Me and Mrs. Jones."
1935—Woody Allen ( Allen Stewart Konisberg) born Brooklyn, NY.: actor, writer, producer (Oscar for Annie Hall; Sleeper, Manhattan, Bullets over Broadway.)
http://torp.priv.no/woody/
1935-Birthday of blues singer/actor Lou Rawls ("A Natural Man," "You've Made Me So Very Happy"), born Chicago, IL.
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0712675/
http://www.lourawls.com/
http://www.barberusa.com/adult/rawls_lou.html
1937---- Don Everly of the Everly Brothers was born in Brownie, Kentucky. The brothers were one of the most important acts of early rock 'n' roll. Their music, a mixture of close country harmonies over a rocking beat, resulted in two dozen chart entries, including such number-one records as "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Cathy's Clown." The brothers broke up in 1973, reunited in 1983 and again in 1985. They had a big return touring with Simon and Garfunkle, who said
they were trying to imitate the Everly Brother when they began singing.
1938-Birthday of drummer Sandy Nelson, born Santa Monica, CA. He was the drummer in my dance band along with Frank Cook, played rock’n’roll, had a hit record later called “Teen Beat” in 1959, but in 1963 a motorcycle accident cost him a leg. I introduced him to Jan and Dean as well as Bruce Johnson who were at University High School. I think I met Nelson there in my first year, and at the time, he wanted to be a disc jockey as my other high school friend is today, Chuck Southcott, who later drove me back and forth to school in his 1956 Chevy. Nelson learned the sound from going to many burlesque shows, where he told us he watched the drummer and listened to the rhythm as it was very unique. We also took him to see Ben Pollock, as I remember, who was the first “boom-chick-a-boom drummer.”
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Sandy_Nelson.html
http://www.tsimon.com/snelson.htm
http://www.spaceagepop.com/nelson.htm
http://gemm.com/q.cgi?rb=SPACEAGEPOP&wild=Sandy+Nelson
http://www.cdlagoon.com/8911207.html
1939-Birthday of Lee Buck Trevino, golfer, born Dallas, TX.
http://www.asiangolfmonthly.com/highlights/greatest/14.htm
http://www.golfdigest.com/features/index.ssf?/features/gd200205myshot.html
1939--Birthday ofjazz pianist Joe Sample, co-founder of the Crusaders.
1940-Birthday of Richard Pryor, actor, comedian (Blue Collar, Stir Crazy, "The Richard Pryor Show"), born Peoria, IL.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/marktwain/pryor_bio.html
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/pryorrichar/pryorrichar.htm
1941-Formation of the Civil Air Patrol: The Director of Civilian Defense, former New York Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, signed a formal order creating the Civil Air Patrol, a US Air Force Auxiliary. The CAP has a three-part mission: to provide an aerospace education program, a CAP cadet program and an emergency services program.
http://cap.gov/about/history.html
1944-Duke Ellington records “I’m Beginning to See the light,” ( Victor 20-1618)
1945- - Bette Midler is born in Paterson, N.J. She is named after actress Bette Davis. She wins a best new artist Grammy in 1974. Her biggest hits are the million-sellers "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance." She is nominated for an Oscar in 1979 for "The Rose" and appears in such films as "Outrageous Fortune," "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "Beaches."
http://delveintothedivine.cjb.net/
http://www.betteontheboards.com/boards/index.html
1945 - The New York premier of Paramount's The Lost Weekend, starring Ray Milland in a brilliant performance, was on this date. The film earned Oscars and Golden Globe awards for Best Picture, Best Actor for Milland, and Best Director for Billy Wilde. Milland and the film were also honored at the Cannes Film Festival.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000549B1/lksmsubsite-sub-dv-asin-20
/104-3191958-8595946
http://www.flickfilosopher.com/oscars/bestpix/lostweekend.shtml
http://www.dvdmg.com/lostweekend.shtml
1945-Lionel Hampton cuts, “Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop,” (Decca 18754)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IB1N/steinede-20/
104-3191958-8595946
1949-- RCA Victor introduced the 45 rpm record. It was designed as a rival to Columbia's 33 1/3 rpm long-playing disc, introduced the previous year. The two systems directly competed with each other to replace 78 rpm records, bewildering consumers and causing a drop in record sales. By the end of 1949, all the major companies, except RCA, had committed themselves to the LP record, seemingly putting an end to the 45. Even RCA itself announced it would issue its classical library on 33 1/3 rpm discs. But RCA was not ready to admit the demise of the 45 rpm record. The company spent $5-million publicizing 45 rpm as the preferred speed for popular music. The campaign worked. Buyers of non-classical records turned increasingly to the 45 rpm record, so that by 1954, more than 200-million of them had been sold. And all the major companies now were producing both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm records.
1950 - Eighth Army and X Corps began withdrawing in the face of the massive Chinese offensive. The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, the British 27th Brigade and the Turkish Brigade, began to fight their way south from the Kunu-ri area through the bloody Gauntlet, under continuous fire from Chinese forces occupying the terrain commanding the route to safety. The 2nd Infantry Division was virtually destroyed during the Battle of Kunu-ri where over 4,000 men were lost. The division's overall combat capability was rated equivalent to a single regimental combat team by the end of the action. The ROK Capitol Division withdrew under heavy pressure to Pukchong.
1950 - Task Force MacLean/Faith, composed of elements of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division's 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments, was annihilated east of the Chosin/Changjin Reservoir. Only 385 soldiers of its 3,200-man force were able-bodied following their withdrawal.
1950 *WINDRICH, WILLIAM G. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company I, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Vicinity of Yudam-ni, Korea, 1 December 1950. Entered service at: Hammond, Ind. Born: 14 May 1921, Chicago, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon sergeant of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces the night of 1 December 1950. Promptly organizing a squad of men when the enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack against the forward elements of his company's position, rendering it untenable, S/Sgt. Windrich, armed with a carbine, spearheaded the assault to the top of the knoll immediately confronting the overwhelming forces and, under shattering hostile automatic-weapons, mortar, and grenade fire, directed effective fire to hold back the attackers and cover the withdrawal of our troops to commanding ground. With 7 of his men struck down during the furious action and himself wounded in the head by a bursting grenade, he made his way to his company's position and, organizing a small group of volunteers, returned with them to evacuate the wounded and dying from the frozen hillside, staunchly refusing medical attention himself. Immediately redeploying the remainder of his troops, S/Sgt. Windrich placed them on the left flank of the defensive sector before the enemy again attacked in force. Wounded in the leg during the bitter fight that followed, he bravely fought on with his men, shouting words of encouragement and directing their fire until the attack was repelled. Refusing evacuation although unable to stand, he still continued to direct his platoon in setting up defensive positions until weakened by the bitter cold, excessive loss of blood, and severe pain, he lapsed into unconsciousness and died. His valiant leadership, fortitude, and courageous fighting spirit against tremendous odds served to inspire others to heroic endeavor in holding the objective and reflect the highest credit upon S/Sgt. Windrich and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
1954-Senator Joe McCarthy silenced by the US Senate: Joseph McCarthy, a relatively obscure senator from Wisconsin , announced during a speech in Wheeling, WV, that he had a list of Communists in the State Department. Over the next two years, he mad increasingly sensational charges and in 1953 McCarthyism reached its height as he held Senate hearings in which he bullied defendants. In 1954 McCarthy’s tyranny was exposed in televised hearings during which he took on the Army ( at twelve years old I remember watching them and not understanding how they could take him serious as he looked like he was drunk,) during which he took on the Army and on December 1,1954, the Senate voted to silence him. McCarthy died May 2, 1957.
http://mccarthy.cjb.net/
http://www.webcorp.com/mccarthy/wcmmlv2b.gif
1954—Top Hits
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Teach Me Tonight - The De Castro Sisters
The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - The Ames Brothers
More and More - Webb Pierce
1955- African-American seamstress Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person as required by law; the action triggers a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr., changes history in the United States. Her arrest triggered a yearlong boycott of the city bus system and led to legal actions which ended racial segregation on municipal buses throughout the southern US. The event has been called the birth of the modern civil rights movement. Historians consider this the first longest and largest mass boycott by civil rights protestors. It lasted from 1955 to 1956, 381 days. The protest was led by a young minister, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Eventually the city agreed to treat all riders equally and to hire African-Americans as bus drivers. Interstate buses and other transportation still had restrictions on where African-Americans sat. Rosa McCauley Parks was born at Tuskegee, AL, Feb 4, 1913.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec01.html
http://www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html
http://www.tsum.edu/museum/
1957- Ed Sullivan presents three rock and roll acts, each making its national television debut, on his Sunday evening show: Buddy Holly & the Crickets, playing "That'll Be the Day," Sam Cooke, singing "You Send Me" and the Rays perform their hit "Silhouettes."
1958--he Phil Spector written "To Know Him Is To Love Him" was the number one song in the US for The Teddy Bears. The trio consisted of Spector, along with two friends, Marshall Leib and Annette Kleinbard.
1960-Bobby Darin took time out from his busy recording schedule to marry actress Sandra Dee. Bobby had put four songs on the singles chart that year, including "Beyond the Sea", "Clementine", "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" and "Artificial Flowers". The couple would divorce in early 1967.
1960-A San Diego, California quintet called Rosie And The Originals reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a crudely recorded ballad called "Angel Baby". Written by the group's 14 year old singer, Rosie Hamlin, the song held the position for six weeks and stayed on the chart for three months.
1960 - Teen idol Bobby Darin marries actress Sandra Dee.
1966-California folk-pop vocal group, the Mamas and the Papas earn their fourth gold record for their album, "Cass, John, Michelle & Denny."
1967-Birthday of Reggie Sanders, baseball player, born Florence, SC.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4737
1962—Top Hits
Big Girls Don’t Cry - The 4 Seasons
Return to Sender - Elvis Presley
Bobby’s Girl - Marcie Blane
Mama Sang a Song - Bill Anderson
1969-The first US Air Force chief master sergeant who was African-America was Thomas N. Barnes of Chester, PA, who entered the Air Force in April, 1949. He became a master sergeant this day and chief master sergeant of the Air Force on October 1, 1973, for a two year terms. He retired July 31, 1977. He died 17, 2003.
http://www.chiefsgroup.org/barnes.htm
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio_4609.shtml
1968 - Janis Joplin makes a final appearance with Big Brother & the Holding Company.
1970—Top Hits
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom
Endlessly - Sonny James
1971-Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. of the US Navy became the first astronaut to become an admiral. He also was the first American astronaut to be launched into space. During his Apollo 14 walk on the Moon in 1971, Shepard took two golf balls that he had smuggled in his spacesuit and used an implement from the tool cart to execute what he called a "sand-trap shot," the only golf shot ever made on the Moon. He died at the age of 74, July 22, 1998, after a long battle with leukemia.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/01/shepard.memorial/
1972-Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" is released in the US where it will reach #1. The tune causes much speculation about who Carly was singing about, with popular guesses that included Mick Jagger (who sang uncredited backing vocals on the song), Cat Stevens, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson (with whom she had had brief relationships), her unfaithful fiancé William Donaldson, and her ex-husband, James Taylor.
1977-Billy Joel's fifth album, "The Stranger," becomes his vehicle to stardom, making it to #2 and containing the hits "Just the Way You Are," "She's Always a Woman," "Movin' Out" and "Only the Good Die Young."
1978—Top Hits
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
Sweet Desire - The Kendalls
1980 - IBM delivered its 1st prototype PC to Microsoft. IBM selected Microsoft to create MS-DOS, the operating system for its first PC. Steve Ballmer arrived from Proctor & Gamble as an assistant to Gates. Paul Allen bought the QDOS operating system (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from a rival company for $50,000. It was renamed MS-DOS and licensed to IBM. The IBM 5150 PC standardized the marketplace.
1982 - Epic Records releases "Thriller," Michael Jackson's first solo album in three years. It will yield four smash singles "This Girl is Mine" (a duet with Paul McCartney), "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billy Jean" and "Beat It." It is the best-selling album of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 40 million copies.
1982-Michael Jackson's milestone album "Thriller" is released. For a time, it becomes the best selling album in Rock history.
1986—Top Hits
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
The Next Time I Fall - Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
Hip to Be Square - Huey Lewis & The News
Touch Me When We’re Dancing – Alabama
1988 - Squalls in the Great Lakes Region produced up to a foot of snow in Ashtabula County OH, up to ten inches in Erie County PA, and up to a foot of snow in western New York State.
1989-Zamboini Medical Alert!!! The Center for Disease Control revealed in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” that the fumes from a Zamboini ice machine could make fans at a hockey game sick if the rink is not properly ventilated.
1989--a Spokane, Washington, funeral director revealed that jazz saxophonist and pianist Billy Tipton, who had lived his life as a man, was a woman. Tipton played for years in the US northwest after a career with several big bands. He appeared to have a wife and adopted three sons.
1991 -- Miami quarterback Dan Marino sets an NFL record when he goes over 3,000 yards passing for the eighth time in his career in Miami's 33-14 win over Tampa Bay.
1993-Jack Nicklaus won the Disney World Open to become the first golfer to earn more than $2 million in career winnings.
1994-US Congress passed the GATT Treaty: Fallowing the lead of the House of Representatives, the US Senate voted 76-24 to approve the Uruguay Round provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The worldwide trade pack is intended to reduce tariffs by a third, eliminate trade quotas and protect intellectual property. The GATT agreement is expend to add $300-500 billion to the global economy through the year 2005. In January, 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) became the successor to GATT.
1997-Kenny G, whose real name is Kenny Gorelick, set a world record when he held a note on his saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds. That record has since been broken by Geovanny Escalante, who held a sax note for 1 hour, 30 minutes and 45 seconds, using a technique that allows him to blow and breathe at the same time.
1997-Sprewell Chokes Coach: Basketball player Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors, provoked, he said, “by a lot of verbal abuse,” choked his coach, P.J. Carlesimo at practice and threatened to kill him. The Warriors suspended Sprewell for 10 games, and the terminated the remaining three years of Sprewell’s $32 million, 4-year contract, and then the NBA suspended him for a year. The NBA Players Association filed a grievance on Sprewell’s behalf, and on March 4, 1998, arbitrator John Feerick reinstated the contract and reduced the suspension to five months. Two weeks before the season, the New York Knicks acquired Latrell Sprewell from Golden State for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings. In 2004, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/latrell_sprewell/index.html?nav=page
2005-- The Red Sox have petitioned a judge to keep the ball used to record the last out of 2004 World Series making the team World Champs for the first time in 86 years. Former first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who caught the ball after being thrown by Keith Foulke, loaned it to Boston but continues to claim ownership of the sensational sphere.
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