THE HISTORY OF DECEMBER 8

THE HISTORY OF DECEMBER 8

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Chocolate Brownie Day

1765  Eli Whitney was born – invented the cotton gin

1792  The first cremation in the US took place – Henry Laurens

1854  Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception

1861  The American Bible Society announced it would distribute 7,000 Bibles per day to Union troops

1863  President Lincoln offered amnesty to Confederate deserters

1886  The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed in Columbus, Ohio

1911  Actor Lee J. Cobb was born

1925  Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. was born

1931  Coaxial cable was patented

1933  Comedian Flip Wilson was born

1941  The US entered WWII as Congress declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor

1941  Japan attacked the Philippines and occupied Hong Kong and Singapore

1943  Musician Jim Morrison was born – The Doors

1947  Singer Greg Allman was born

1953  Actress Kim Basinger was born

1962  A 114 day newspaper strike began in NYC

1964  Actress Terri Hatcher was born

1966  Singer Sinead O’Connor was born

1978  Jeweler to the stars Harry Winston died

1980  John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside of his apartment in NYC

1982  A man demanding an end to nuclear weapons held the Washington Monument hostage for 10 hours – he was killed by police

1993  President Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which went into effect starting in 1994

1995  The Grateful Dead announced the end of the group after 30 years

1997  LeAnn Rimes won the Artist of the Year award at the Billboard Music Awards

2003  President Bush signed into law the Medicaid Prescription Drug Act – largest expansion of the program since 1965

SPORTS HISTORY ON DECEMBER 8

2008  Greg Maddux announces his retirement – 355 wins, 3.16 ERA, 4 time Cy Young winner

2000  Shaquille O’ Neal of Lakers misses all 11 of his free throws – broke 40 year old record held by Wilt Chamberlain with 10

2000  Hakeem Olajuwon scores his 26,000^th point – only 5^th player to have 26,000 points and 13,000 rebounds ( Kareem, Wilt, Moses Malone, and Elvin Hayes)

1992  Dominique Wilkins goes 23 for 23 from free throw line (NBA record)

1989  Jack Sikma of Milwaukee is the 18^th NBA player to have 10,000 rebounds

1987  Cubs trade reliever Lee Smith to the Red Sox – will be 10-6 with 54 saves in the next 2 years with them

1977  Earl Campbell wins the 43^rd Heisman Award

1966  NYY trade Roger Maris to St. Louis

1940  The 1^st NFL Championship game to be broadcast on the radio – Bears beat Redskins 73-0

# 1 SONGS ON DECEMBER 8

1960  Are You Lonesome Tonight – Elvis Presley

1961  Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes

1962  Big Girls Don’t Cry – The Four Seasons

1964  Mr. Lonely – Bobby Vinton

1965  Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds

1966  Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

1967  Daydream Believer – The Monkees

1968  I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye

1969  Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye - Steam

1970  The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

1971  Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone

1972  I Am Women – Helen Reddy

1973  Top of the World – The Carpenters

1974  Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

1975  Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Connection

1976  Tonight’s the Night – Rod Stewart

1977  You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone

1980  Lady – Kenny Rogers

1981  Physical – Olivia Newton-John

1982  Mickey – Toni Basil

1983  Say, Say, Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson

1984  Out of Touch – Daryl Hall & John Oates

1987  Faith – George Michael

1989  We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel

1991  Black or White – Michael Jackson

1992  I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

1994  On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men

1995  One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

1996  Un-break My Heart – Toni Braxton

1997  Candle in the Wind (1997) – Elton John

1999  Smooth – Santana with Rob Thomas