History Shorts: Mazikert (1071)

The Battle of Manzikert spelled the beginning of the end for the Byzantine Empire. The Seljuq Turks decisively defeated the Byzantines and captured the Emperor Romanos IV. It began Turkish consolidation of Anatolia and undermined the Byzantines in key army recruiting grounds. The battle opened the door for a Turkish invasion and the led to economic and civil disruptions within Constantinople. In 1453, the Ottoman Turks completed the conquest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnvFHjj7kQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO68tplwtFo

Tim Salmon: Timeline

Born: August 24, 1968

1986: Drafted by Atlanta Braves (did not sign)

1986-9: Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ)

1989: Drafted by California Angels

1989-92: Minor Leagues

1992: Minor League Player of the Year

Debut: August 21, 1992 (Angels)

1993: AL Rookie of the Year

1995: .330, 34 HR, 105 RBI, .429 OBP, .594 slugging, 1.024 OPS, 111 runs, 177 hits, 34 doubles, 319 TB

1995: First player to get a hit off Mariano Rivera

1995: Angels collapse down the stretch and lose AL West to Seattle

2002: Hutch Award

2002: AL Comeback Player of the Year

2002: Hit 2 home runs in Game 2 of the World Series

2002 World Series: .346, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 runs, 1.067 OPS (7 games)

2002: Angels win World Series

2006: Retired

2012: Dropped off HOF ballot (0.9% of vote)

2012-present: Analyst for Angels on Fox Sports West

Accomplishments:

2002 World Champion

1993 Rookie of the Year

2002 Comeback Player of the Year

1995 Silver Slugger

.282 average

299 home runs

1016 RBI

986 runs

1674 hits

.884 OPS

2958 TB

.498 slugging

.385 OBP

100+ runs: 2x

30+ doubles: 5x

20+ HR:  8x

30+ HR: 5x

100+ rbi: 2x

104 walks (2000)

.300+ average: 2x

.400+ OBP: 3x

.500+ slugging: 8x

300+ TB: 3x

Postseason: .288, 4 HR, 12 RBI, .908 OPS (3 series)

Sci Fi History: The Brotherhood of Mutants (1964)

Magneto formed the Brotherhood of Mutants in order to promote and permeate mutant superiority over humanity. The group’s goals have morphed from world domination to thugs to terrorism thereby matching the era. They have been continually thwarted by the X-Men. In a sense, they are the evil version of the civil rights movement.

History Shorts: The Battle of Hastings and fall of Anglo Saxon England (1066)

England’s King Harold faced two invasions in 1066. He defeated a Viking invasion force at Stamford Bridge and then turned to face William the Bastard’s Norman force. The Normans fielded about 10,000 men at Hastings against 7,000 Anglo Saxons. The battle stalemated until the Anglo Saxons fell for a Norman trick. William pretended to flee and swirled around to destroy Harold’s forces when they left their heavily defended positions to pursue. The battle, and Anglo Saxon England, ended with Harold’s death. The king took an arrow through the eye ending his reign.  The native English quickly became second class citizens in their homeland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD4EP3dpmes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_rAXH09qRY

Ezri Dax timeline

Born: 2354

2372-74: Starfleet Academy

2374: Asst. Counselor on USS Destiny

2374: Joined with Dax symbiont

2375: Assigned to Deep Space Nine-promoted to Lieutenant

2375: Relationship with Julian Bashir

2380: Promoted to Lt. Commander and Second officer aboard USS Aventine

2381: Promoted to Captain during Borg invasion

Jadzia Dax timeline

Born: 2341 (Jadzia)

2359: Entered Starfleet Academy

2363: Applied to Trill Symbiosis Commission

2364: Washed out of joining program, but reapplied and was completed the program

2367: Joined with Dax symbiont. She is the only Trill to wash out and successfully return and complete the program.

2369: Assigned to DS9

2370: Symbiont is kidnapped, but it later returned to Jadzia

2370: Joined Kang, Koloth, and Kor in a Blood Oath against the Albino

2371: Undergoes zhian’tara

2371: Transported to 21^st century Bell Riots

2371: Promoted to Lt. Commander

2373: Dominion War breaks out

2374: Given command of the USS Defiant

2374: Married Worf

2374: Killed by Gul Dukat

2375: Worf led an attack on a Dominion shipyard and dedicated it to Jadzia’s memory

Timeline Ancient Mesopotamia

5400 B.C.: City of Eridu founded

4300-3100 B.C.: Uruk Period

2334-2279 B.C.: Sargon the Great creates the world’s first empire

2100 B.C.: First known legal code

2000 B.C.: The Epic of Gilgamesh is written

1760 B.C.: The Code of Hammurabi

1595 B.C.: Babylon sacked

1350-1250 B.C.: The Hittite Empire peaks

750-700 B.C.: Assyrian Empire peaks

612 B.C.: Assyrian Empire collapses

605-562 B.C.: Nebuchadnezzar II reigns in Babylon

597-538 B.C.: The Babylonian Exile

539 B.C. Persia conquers Babylon

Sci Fi History: Dr. Who (1963)

Dr. Who is a British sci-fi series featuring a time traveler that explores the universe in a phone booth (or TARDIS). The doctor is a time lord that battles villains and helps those in need. The show is a major British phenomenon, but a cult classic elsewhere. The show has run 50 years, but 12 actors have portrayed Dr. Who. When it’s time for an actor to leave, the writers kill his version of the doctor. Then, the character is reincarnated into another body. Each body brings another personality keeping the character fresh and the series ongoing. The 12^th doctor begins his adventures in 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXCpY_3Sac8

George Scott: Baseball timeline

Born: March 23, 1944

1962: Signed by Boston Red Sox

Debut: April 12, 1966 (Red Sox)

1971: Traded to Brewers

1975: .285, 36 HR, 109 RBI, .857 OPS

1976: Traded to the Red Sox

1977: Homered in ASG

1979: Traded to the Royals

1979: Signed by Yankees

2013: Died from complications from diabetes

Accomplishments:

3x All Star

8x Gold Glove

Most games at 1b for Boston Red Sox

.268

271 HR

1051 RBI

.767 OPS

1992 hits

957 runs

103 runs (1977)

30+ doubles: 2x

20+ HR: 6x

30+ HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 2x

.300+ average: 2x

.500 slugging: 2x

318 TB (1975)

Led league HR (36): 1975

Led league RBI (109): 1975

Led league in TB: 2x

Postseason: .231, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .656 OPS (1967 World Series)

Sci-Fi History: Iron Man (1963)

Stan Lee wanted to create a quintessential capitalist character in the Cold War universe. He introduced Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963. Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, was a billionaire playboy that was captured and forced to create a weapon of mass destruction by his kidnappers. Instead, he created an iron suit and escaped. Stark was based on Howard Hughes without the mental issues. However, through the run, Stark suffered his own problems resulting in alcoholism. In 2008, Robert Downey Jr. brought the character to life and Iron Man’s popularity reached new levels.

1960s cartoon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EBar7BK8Mk

Downey Jr:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52Y4IorgDU

Tommy John: Baseball Timeline

Born: May 22, 1943

1961: Signed by Cleveland Indians

Debut: September 6, 1963 (Indians)

1965: Traded to the Chicago White Sox

1968: Injured in brawl with Tigers

1971: Traded to the Dodgers

1974: Suffered a major injury; had the surgery which now bears his name

1975: Missed the season due to injury

1976: NL Comeback Player of the Year

1977-8: Dodgers win Pennant

1977: 20-7, 2.78 ERA

1978: Signed with the New York Yankees

1979: 21-9, 2.96 ERA

1980: 22-9, 3.43 ERA

1980: Yankees win AL East

1981: Yankees win Pennant

1982: Traded to the Angels

1982: Angels win AL West

1985: Signed by the A’s

1986: Signed by the Yankees

1989: Retired

2006-09: Manager of Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League

2009: Dropped off Hall of Fame ballot (31.7%)

2013: ESPN released a 30 for 30 on Tommy John Surgery

 

2013: Added to Expansion Era Hall of Fame Ballot

Accomplishments:

4x All Star

1976 Hutch Award

1976 NL Comeback Player of the Year

1981: Lou Gehrig Award

Tommy John Surgery is named for him

288-231 record

3.34 ERA

.555 win %

760 games-700 starts

162 CG

46 SHO

4710.1 IP

2245 Strikeouts

1259 Walks

1.283 WHIP

Won 15+ Games: 4x

Won 20+ Games: 3x

Sub 3.50 ERA: 14x

Sub 3 ERA: 7x

Sub 2.50 ERA: 2x

1.98 ERA (1968)

10+ CG: 7x

15+ CG: 2x

200+ IP: 12x

250+ IP: 3x

Led league in Win %: 2x

Led league in SHO: 3x

Postseason: 6-3, 2.65 ERA, 88.1 IP, 1.200 WHIP, 48 strikeouts, 1 SHO (9 Series-14 games)

Sci-Fi History: The Outer Limits (1963)

The Outer Limits was like the Twilight Zone, but generally focused more on science fiction than the supernatural or strange. The show featured a now classic opening and had a wide ranging impact on the sci-fi genre. Some of the creatures on The Outer Limits appeared in Star Trek. James Cameron borrowed from The Outer Limits when he created The Terminator. The original show lasted two years from 1963-65, but an updated reboot ran from 1995-2002. In 1997, the episode, The Zanti Misfits, ranked #98 on TV Guide’s list of 100 greatest television episodes of all time. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCcdr4O-3gE

Ross Youngs: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972

Born: April 10, 1897

1914: Began professional career

1916: Purchased by New York Giants

Debut: September 25, 1917 (Giants)

1917: Giants win Pennant

1921: Became first player with 2 hits in one inning of a World Series game.

1921-22: Giants win World Series

1923-24: Giants win Pennant

1924: Implicated, but later cleared, of fixing games

1926: Diagnosed with Bright’s Disease, a kidney ailment; he became too ill to play and was sent home to rest by John McGraw

Died: 1927 (Bright’s Disease)

1972: Elected to Hall of Fame (Vet Committee)

1972: His election was highly controversial as the Veteran’s Committee was made up of his former teammates.

1981: Donald Honig considered him one the 100 greatest players of all time. He remains a controversial HOF pick.

Accomplishments:

2x World Champion

.322

42 HR

592 RBI

812 runs

1491 Hits

236 doubles

93 triples

153 SB

550 walks-390 strikeouts

.399 OBP

.441 SLG

.839 OPS

100+ Runs: 3x

200+ Hits: 2x

30+ doubles: 4x

10+ triples: 5x

102 RBI (1921)

20+ SB: 3x

.300: 8x

.350+: 2x

.400 OBP: 4x

.521 SLG (1924)

.900 OPS: 2x

Led league in runs (121): 121

Led League in doubles (31): 1919

Postseason: .286, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .763 OPS, 3 SB (4 World Series)

Early Wynn: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972

Born: January 6, 1920

1936: Suffered injury on punt return; Wynn turned to baseball

1937: Signed with Washington Senators

Debut: September 13, 1939 (Senators)

1948: Traded to the Indians

1954: Indians win Pennant

1957: Traded to the White Sox

1958: Became first pitcher to lead league in strikeouts in consecutive years for two teams

1959: White Sox win Pennant

1959: Won Cy Young Award

1963: Signed by Indians

1963: Earned 300^th win

1963: Retired

1964-66: Indians pitching coach

1967: Became Twins pitching coach

1972: Elected to Hall of Fame (76% of vote)

1977-83: Broadcaster

1999: Died

1999: All-Century Team

Accomplishments:

8x All Star

1959 Cy Young Award

300-244

3.54 ERA

691 games-612 starts

290 CG

49 SHO

4564 IP

2334 Strikeouts

1.329 WHIP

15+ wins: 12x

20+ wins: 5x

Led league in wins: 2x

Sub 3 ERA: 5x

Led league 3.20 ERA (1950)

Led league GS: 5x

10+ CG: 17x

15+ CG: 9x

20+ CG: 3x

200+ IP: 14x

250+ IP: 8x

Led league IP: 3x

Led league in saves (4): 1960

Led league in strikeouts: 2x

Lead league in WHIP (1.250): 1950

Postseason: 1-2, 4.95 ERA, 20 IP, 15 strikeouts, 1.450 WHIP, 4 GS (2 World Series)

Quotes of the Month: October 2013

Quote of the Month: "I was all for Obamacare until I found out I was paying for it."

-Young Woman quoted in an LA Times story that saw her premiums increase 50%

Dumb Quote of the Month: “Why would we want to help one kid with cancer?”

-Harry Reid

Lie of the Month: “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. Period.”

-Barack Obama

And the rest:

 “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”

-Park Ranger on his orders from the White House

“How can we tax people for not buying a product from a website that doesn't work?”

-John Boehner

"You know Obamacare is really I think the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery."

-Dr. Ben Carson

"Biggest mistake I've ever made. Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn't be in the White House."

-Mike Ditka on not challenging Obama in 2004.

You make the playoffs 11 times, and you’re out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the Star Wars numbers from Peyton and Marvin [Harrison] and Reggie [Wayne]. Mostly, you love [championships].”

-Colts Owner Jim Irsay on Peyton Manning

“I think the Borg exist on Earth in the guise of today’s liberal progressive socialists, i.e., the Democrat Party. As a matter of fact, we really should change the Democrat Party symbol from the donkey to the Borg. It’s far more meaningful. Or maybe not, after all donkeys and liberals make the same incessant noise.”

-Allen West

“Everybody else, including rich people, are willing to pay more. They want to pay more.”

-Harry Reid

"A socialist egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth, heavy taxation of corporations and massive responsibility for energy companies and any companies exploiting the environment. I think the very concept of profit should be hugely reduced. David Cameron says profit isn't a dirty word, well I say profit is a filthy word." 

-Russell Brand