18 Years Ago Today...

You may think this is a reference to the Twins triumphing over the Braves, but that was 18 years and 9 days ago, but I will probably write about that someday as that was the greatest Game 7 performance I have ever witnessed, speaking of course of Jack Morris. What this post is about is something that happened on this day… Eighteen years ago today, my life changed forever and the world changed as well. At 7:00 AM an 8 pound, 3-1/2 ounce baby boy entered the world and I became a Dad. I still remember it like it was yesterday and today, while my little boy is far away in college, I have the old pictures and scrapbook out and I’m not gonna lie, I am tearing up a bit. I had a pretty lengthy post written to commemorate today and explain what happened that day 18 years ago, but I think everyone has been in a hospital for the birth of a child and you probably understand the anxiety, excitement and pride I felt. Over the years I haven’t exactly been the father of the year, but with each year I am more and more proud of you son! Happy Birthday Zadeh! I am so proud of you son!
In celebration of his special day I was gonna point out some other famous folks who are blowing out the candles today, but as always, David from the ever awesome
Can’t Have Too Many Cards blog has already put up a great birthday post, so head over and read about Myron Floren, Peter Noone and Art Garfunkel-3 talented musicians like my son.
One man who isn’t blowing out any candles, but used to, who was born on this date 154 years ago was Eugene Victor Debs. Debs was an activist, a union leader, a socialist, a presidential candidate, an optimist and a revolutionary… I have a quote from Debs on my wall that says: “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” Hope that wasn’t too heavy for y’all this early in the morning…Back to sports…
With as many pro athletes as there out there, past and present, there isn’t a day during the year that someone isn’t celebrating a birthday… Since this is a sports cards site, I will shout out to some of those lucky folks born on this magical day.
The Atlanta Braves original great hitting catcher Javy Lopez turns 39 today. Javy was part of the Braves World Championship team in 1995 and was a part of their near miss dynasty. Javy was the NLCS MVP in 1996 and was a 3 time All Star and hit 260 homers over his career.
Another baseballer with a World Series ring got his second one as an early gift last night; Johnny Damon of the New York Yankees turns 36 today. 52 years ago today one of the greatest tight ends in NCAA and NFL history was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He is proud father just like me and his son Kellen Winslow II plays in the NFL for the Buccaneers. The elder Winslow was a 5-time Pro Bowler for the San Diego Chargers and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. This is one of the few times you will see a football on this page, but my father was a big fan of the Chargers teams of the 1980s which starred Winslow and Dan Fouts.
On to the bouncing roundball and the 3rd overall pick in the 1995 draft out of North Carolina., happy 35th birthday to 2X NBA All Star Jerry Stackhouse! Stacks was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan and his career wasn’t quite as fantastic, but during the early part of this decade he was an unstoppable scoring force! He wears number 42 in tribute to Jackie Robinson and he is a vegetarian…
My last happy birthday shout out goes to another star of the NBA, one of the best ever, Hall of Famer Bill Walton is 57 years young today. He was the first overall pick in the 1974 draft out of UCLA and brought the Trailblazers a Championship…So happy birthday first and foremost to my wonderfully amazing smart and talented son, Zadeh and also to all of these greats of music and sports. Later on today I might post some 1991 Topps cards which are 18 just like Zed is… Beaming with pride and not discussing the World Series… troll out.