R.I.P. Celebrities(Non Wrestlers) 2022

[jimsteel]

Rich Hart, a former defenseman in the WHA, passed away after a courageous battle against cancer at 69.

[jimsteel]

Joni James Dies: 1950s Pop Star Who Sang ‘Why Don’t You Believe Me?’ Was 91

Joni James, a popular singer in the 1950s who scored several pre-rock hits including “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” and “How Important Can It Be?” and continued to chart throughout the decade, has died. She was 91.

James’ son, Michael Acquaviva, told The Washington Post that she died February 20 of natural causes in West Palm Beach, FL.

Born Giavanna Carmello Babbo on September 22, 1930 in Chicago, James was working as a dancer by age 12 and toured in Canada in the late 1940s. She also was modeling by high school. After pivoting to music, she first recorded for Sharp Records before moving to MGM.

James was 22 when her first hit topped the U.S. chart. Her version of “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” spent three weeks at the summit in December 1952, starting a run of eight Top 20 singles in 1952-53 including the Top 10 hits “Almost Always” “Have You Heard?” and a cover of the Hank Williams classic “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Decades later, “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” was used in the 1981 raunchfest Porky’s.

Dubbed “the Queen of Hearts,” she scored her second-biggest pop hit just before rock ‘n’ roll began to dominate the airwaves. Backed by the Ray Charles Singers, “How Important Can It Be?” reached No. 2 and went gold. The song was used in Curtis Hanson’s 1997 film L.A. Confidential, and she re-recorded it for a 2009 compilation album.

James followed that song’s success with “You Are My Love,” which hit No. 6 in late 1955 and would be her last Top 10 single. She continued to chart throughout the 1950s, but only reached the Top 20 one other time with 1958’s “There Goes My Heart.” She also recorded several albums, but none made the Billboard 200 chart.

[WTIC]

Feb 25, 2022 16:48:40 GMT -5 jimsteel said:

And another athlete



Lionel James, a former running back in the NFL, passed away after a battle with a lengthy illness, at the age of 59. James was selected by the Chargers in the fifth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. James played college football for the Auburn Tigers, where he shared the backfield with Bo Jackson. James was part of the 1983 Southeast Conference champion and Sugar Bowl championship team. He spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Chargers from 1984-1988. His best year as a pro came during the 1985 season when he set the then-NFL season record for receiving yards with a running back and all-purpose yardage. He also led the AFC in receptions that year.

In 1985, James set an NFL record for all-purpose yards in a season with 2,535 yards. He also set the record for receiving yards by a running back with 1,027 yards, while also leading the AFC in receptions with 86. On November 10, 1985, he had his best day as a pro versus the Los Angeles Raiders. He gained 345 all-purpose yards, including a career-best 168 yards receiving, and scored the winning touchdown in a 40–34 overtime victory. The total yardage was second all-time to Billy Cannon in 1961 and remains a Chargers franchise record. He might have broken the record in an earlier game that season against the Cincinnati Bengals, except for a Chargers penalty that cost him 89 yards of a 100-yard kickoff return. James finished the game with 316 yards.

James' record for receiving yards by a running back was broken by Marshall Faulk (1,048) in 1999, and his all-purpose yardage record was eclipsed in 2000 by Derrick Mason (2,690 yards).

James was part of "Air Coryell" and a vital part of the offense!

I always liked James when he was on the Chargers! Too bad the Chargers usually got rid of their best backs then, but I'm glad he had a good career!

R.I.P., Lionel!

Thanks, Jim, for posting that!

Todd C
WTIC

[jimsteel]

Former college and NBA head coach Dick Versace passed away on February 25th at the age of 81. Versace became head coach at Bradley University in 1978 and remained at Bradley until 1986. In his second season at Bradley, the team finished first in the Missouri Valley Conference and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Losing in the first round to Texas A&M. In 1981-82 Bradley finished first in the MVC but lost in the semifinals of the MVC tournament. They were not selected to the NCAA tournament but won the NIT championship. In Versace’s final season at Bradley, they finished 32-3 for the season and 16-0 for the MVC. Losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament to eventual champion Louisville.

He later served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons under head coach Chuck Daly. Versace then became head coach of the Indiana Pacers for two years, from 1988 through 1990. After leaving the Pacers job, Versace became a sportscaster on TNT and on WMAQ TV in Chicago. Versace served as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1997-98 season.

In 1999, Versace was named President of Basketball Operations for the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. After Versace's first season in Vancouver, the Grizzlies relocated and became the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2002, the Grizzlies hired NBA legend Jerry West as president of basketball operations, and Versace assumed the role of general manager and remained with the team through the end of the 2004-2005 season. Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Versace worked for Michael Heisley's acquisition team as Versace oversaw Heisley's pursuit and ultimate purchase of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

[TTX]

RIP

[jimsteel]

Chris Eitzmann, a former NFL tight end who played for the New England Patriots in 2000.

The following is text from Eitzmann's obituary: "In high school, Chris emerged as a leader both intellectually and athletically. Chris was proud to graduate Valedictorian of his high school class in 1995. It was also in high school that he developed his love for sports. His natural athleticism helped him to excel in any sport he chose to play. From basketball, to football, to track, he was a leader on and off the field. However, Chris’s biggest love in sports was football. Though he started out playing only six-man football, he was gifted enough to catch the eye of college recruiters from across the country. During his senior year, he was faced with the tough decision to play either for Nebraska’s beloved Tom Osborne and the Huskers or following his adventurous heart to the east coast to attend Harvard and play for the Crimson.

In 1995, Chris made the 1600-mile trek to Boston to begin his journey at Harvard University, pursuing a degree in Psychology. While attending Harvard, Chris’s football career flourished. Not only did he letter all four years, but he was also nominated for the First Team All-Ivy League and All-American Farm Team, in his senior season. Also, during his senior year, he was nominated captain of the team which he viewed as an immense honor. These accomplishments on the football field did not, however, detract from his devotion to his degree as he graduated Cum Laude in 2000.

After college, Chris set his sights on the NFL and started his professional football career with the New England Patriots. He played several seasons with the Patriots, the Packers, the Browns, and the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe. Some of Chris’s most beloved memories from his college and professional football years did not necessarily have to do with games or practices, but instead with the many lifelong friendships he gained along the way.

[jimsteel]

Rapper Snootie Wild Dead at 36 After Being Shot

Snootie Wild succumbed to his injuries after being shot Friday in Houston. His death was announced Saturday night on his Instagram page ... "Gone in body, but your NAME & LEGACY will live forever! #TeamYayo4Life."

Wild was 36

[Bazzy]

Nicky Tesco lead singer of Surrey punk band "The Members" who had a famous hit (this is) The Sound Of The Suburbs . Passed away at 66

[neilybob]

RIP to Sally.

[jimsteel]

Ned Eisenberg, Law & Order: SVU Actor, Dies At 65

ed Eisenberg, best known for his work on Law & Order: SVU and Mare of Easttown, has died. A statement obtained by TMZ reveals Eisenberg passed away over the weekend due to complications with cancer. He was 65.

"As Ned would say, he was attacked by two very rare assassins — cholangiocarcinoma and ocular melanoma," Eisenberg's family said in a statement. "Over the course of two years, he bravely fought the cancers in private while continuing to work in show business to ensure that his medical coverage paid for himself and his family."

Eisenberg played attorney Roger Kressler in both Law & Order: SVU and NBC's initial Law & Order run. During his stints on the shows, he played a defense attorney, ensuring he had a regular supporting role as the shows moved along. In total, he appeared in two dozen episodes for Law & Order: SVU, seven Law & Order episodes, and a pair of episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

His most recent roles included that of Detective Hauser on HBO's critically-acclaimed Mare of Easttown. His last credit came during a one-episode appearance on The Blacklist.