All Things in Moderation

1989 – 42-year old Nolan Ryan, playing for the Texas Rangers, strikes out Rickey Henderson on a 96-MPH fastball, becoming the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to strike out 5,000 batters. Ryan, probably the greatest pitcher ever to live, finishes his Hall of Fame career with 5,714 strikeout, 7 no-hitters, and 12 one hitters. Unparalleled.

1971 – Monty Python’s Flying Circus hits the big screen in the US, as And Now For Something Completely Different, the film version of their British sketch comedy show, debuts in the US. The film sees limited success in its initial release, but it performs well upon its re-release in 1974, after PBS begins broadcasting the original TV series. (Best MP film: Life of Brian….discuss.) Below, a sketch that would seem appropriate for ATiM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

1864 – The Geneva Convention of 1864, which calls for nonpartisan care of the sick and wounded in war, is adopted by 12 nations meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. In honor of Jean-Henri Dunant, Swiss humanitarian and strong advocate of the proposal, a red cross on a white background, the inverse of the Swiss flag, is chosen as the emblem to mark medical supplies and personnel during war. The International Red Cross was founded.

1851 – The yacht America of the New York Yacht Club wins the Hundred Guinea Cup by defeating 14 British ships in a regatta around the Isle of Wight. The race was a blowout, with America beating second place by a full 22 minutes. In 1857 the owners of the yacht deed the Cup, which will come to be known as the America’s Cup, to the New York Yacht Club on the condition that the Cup be put up as a prize in a regular international racing competition. The first America’s Cup race,takes place in 1870 and continues to this day, making it the world’s oldest and longest running sporting competition. (Question: what makes a sport a sport, and does boat racing actually qualify?)

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