Sarah Who?

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco

We've had about 24 hours now to pick our collective jaws up off the floor as a nation after John McCain announced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice President candidate.

First of all, if you are thinking in terms of her being the first woman VP candidate on the Republican side and you want an argument about that don't read any further. I'm not going there. That's because it is irrelevant.

Why do we get all excited about the fact that she is a woman and she may be a heartbeat from the president? Aren't we beyond that? England and India were way ahead of the curve on this. Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meier ran their respective countries pretty effectively. And that was a long time ago.

I question John McCain's motives. Is he trying to get Hillary Clinton's supporters vote? Does he really think that after the events in Denver this past week that the Clinton supporters, after hearing rousing endorsements from both Senator Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton and after listening to motivating pleas from Senator Obama and Senator Biden that they are going to jump ship and become Republicans all of a sudden? If that is his reasoning for choosing Governor Palin over Mitt Romney (who would have made a great economic advisor that we so desperately need) or Joe Lieberman (who would of brought us a moral compass) then he is off sides.

The other thing I didn't understand was McCain taking out a full page ad congratulating his opponent. Again for the wrong reason. He tried to tie in the fact that it was historic for a man of color to be the first nominee and how ironic it came on the date of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Again, the color of Barack Obama's skin is irrelevant. We're picking the leader of the free world. We need to pick the best person available. We don't care what the color of his skin is. Or we shouldn't. Not even Barack Obama highlighted the irony of Thursday night.

Let's talk about Governor Palin for a bit. I spent a lot of time in Alaska this past year. They have some extremely challenging issues that they face that the average American may not be aware of. First of all there is the issue of Oil Drilling and mining rights balanced against the preserving of easily the most wonderous and beautiful natural environment in America. Next, there are issues of Global Warming. Did you know some towns in Alaska are seriously considering moving and making plans to uproot to get out of the way of increased water levels? And we're not even touching on all the issues faced by Native Americans like the Inupaiqs and the Inuits.

Governor Sarah Palin has dealt with these complex issues every day starting from her time on the City Council in Wasilla, AK. On top of that, she had the courage to call Senator Stevens on easily the biggest political boondoggle of all time...the infamous "Bridge To Nowhere". So we would be getting at the very least an honest, hard working and knowledgable Vice President.

My concern is that she may be too young. Even with all these things Palin is handling, I would much rather see her (and I said the same thing about Barack Obama) come into a cabinet position and get the experience on the Executive level before taking the step of challenging for the Presidency or being considered for Vice President.

Coverage of the Republican National Convention starts on Monday September 1. Listen live via Bosco Radio: News and Information powered by C-SPAN starting at 10 AM PST/1 PM EST

Morrissey Becomes Eclectic

The influential, creative, and controversial recording artist Morrissey took over the Morning Becomes Eclectic Radio Program Fri. Aug. 29 as a guest DJ.

The ex-front man for The Smiths who has gone on to have a storied solo career played music that has had the most influence on him.

Morning Becomes Eclectic is hosted by Nic Harcourt and can be heard Monday-Friday in Los Angeles on KCRW-FM (89.9 on the FM dial). Listen in other places on KCRW.com and via Bosco Radio: Music every weekday starting at 9 AM PST/12 noon EST. The link is in the sidebar. The show featuring Morrisey has been archived and can be accessed through KCRW.com

Since this is a Public Radio program, please consider donating to your favorite Public Radio station.

Lynn Johnston Takes A Do-Over

By Allen Bacon
Editor, The Daily Bosco

I was thinking about Lynn Johnston this morning.

For the uninformed, Lynn Johnston is the creator, writer, and artist for the enormously successful and long-running comic strip For Better or Worse. Johnston, now 61, has decided to not take retirement and let us enjoy in Classic For Better or Worse strips. She has decided to do something very unique.

Starting on Monday, she will rewind and start the story of the family in the strip from the very beginning as it did in 1979. But with a twist. She will add to the strip...flesh out the storylines and explore characters and people she didn't have the time to do when she was younger and working under the pressure of a deadline. She is also expected to revert to her original style as an artist...a style she preferred.

The strip is already unique in the fact that it is one of the few comics where everything happens in real time. People age and mature and dogs and other pets pass. The only other strip that I can remember doing that is Gasoline Alley. Luann did it to a point but the kids now are stuck in high school.

This idea is just brilliant. How many times in your life do you wish that you could just with an erasure and pen recreate moments in your life just a little differently or maybe the same, possibly changing the outcome of your life? I do.

Best wishes to Ms. Johnston. And for the new generation that has missed this wonderful strip...Monday's the day to jump in.

A Historic Night In Denver

Bill Clinton addresses the Democratic Convention on Wednesday Night. 80,000 are expected at Invesco Field in Denver for Barack Obama's speech tonight.

By Allen Bacon
Editor, The Daily Bosco

That big noise you heard coming from the direction of the Rockie Mountains last night was a sigh. A huge sigh of relief. Former President Bill Clinton gave his blessing to the Barack Obama nomination for President. That coupled with Hillary Clinton's rousing endorsement the night before ended any drama that the Clintons might not give the nominee their fullest support.

But yet there they were...together...smiling..clapping hands as Presidential candidate Barack Obama took the stage at the Pepsi Center.

This ended the thought of any challenge from the Clinton camp. It was a historic night because it was the first time in history that somebody who wasn't a White Guy was officially nominated to run for President of the USA. It also ended any speculation that Al Gore would suddenly jump out and say he is the real candidate along with Hillary Clinton as his running mate. There's always 2012.

You don't think that the Democratic Party was a little nervous about Mr. Clinton's speech? Then why didn't they put easily the most eloquent and best speaker for the Dems on in prime time? Oh yeah...Joe Biden gave a pretty good speech...at least we think it was his speech. Hard to lift a speech against John McCain from the English Parliament.

Joe Biden and Lunch Counter Intelligence

Hillary Clinton Addresses the Delegates on Tuesday Night at the Democratic Convention in Denver.

By Allen Bacon
Editor, The Daily Bosco

You can tell a lot from a way a person orders and eats lunch at a restaurant.

There's the type of person who is decisive and knows exactly want they want. Like me. I go to the Chipolte Grill...I order a chicken, black bean, green salsa, silantro, and guac' burrito in a flour tortilla and I order an ice tea to wash it down. There is no wavering....There is no second guessing. I know this before I go to the person taking my order. And because I know what I want I eat every last bit of that burrito.

Then there are others that make up the order while the person is taking the order. As if the drive to the restaurant and fifteen minutes at the table with a menu wasn't enough to figure it out. Not mentioning any names but their initials are Nadia Bacon. These people, are also always the ones that have food left over at the end of the meal because again, they didn't know what they wanted and were not happy with their selection.

I bring this up because I heard about something that happened on Monday in Denver. A restaurant in town gets wind that Senator and Barack Obama running mate Joe Biden and his entourage are coming through for lunch. Biden orders a bunch of Turkey legs on top of everything else... Uh, Turkey legs? This isn't Thanksgiving time, is it? Who eats turkey legs for lunch? In August. Even I could tell you that those Turkey legs were going to be spared and not eaten...and sure enough they weren't.

Do we really want a guy that is a heartbeat from the President who isn't decisive enough to even know what he wants for lunch? Do we want a guy that wastes our tax dollars on food that is never going to be eaten? I think not...my fellow Americans.

We already know he can't write a speech on his own.

Hey Ho, Way To Go ... Pretenders

The Pretenders
Break Up the Concrete
Five Scoops of Bosco
Reviewed By Allen Bacon
Editor, The Daily Bosco

In a year that has already given us great return albums by rock and roll legends....folks like REM, B-52's, T-Bone Burnett, Walter Becker, and Sheryl Crowe...add another one for "The Year of the Comeback".

Break Up the Concrete is the ninth album by Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders...the first in six years... and is a return to the sound of the band from their start in the late 70's. The sound is raw and stripped down...rock and punk at it's very foundation. The recording was captured in just ten days adding to the honest sound.

The latest incarnation of the Pretenders is probably one of the best save for the original lineup. The only carry over from the last version of the Pretenders is guitarist Nick Wilkinson.

All the elements...why we have loved Hynde and her band for all this time are all there in this album. From the political in "Boots of Chinese Plastic" to the fun and the rockin' as in the title track (equipped with a very T-Bone Burnettish guitar rift by James Walbourne) to the love ballad and songs of heartbreak in "Last Ride".

Hynde is near the top of her game vocally here and has penned some of her best lyrics.

The songs on the album are being released through www.thepretenders.com (actually the very first official website for the band)..at a pace of one song a week as downloads until the complete set is done ending around the last week of September when the album hits the stores.

Rethinking The War On Terror

Four years ago, John Kerry was ridiculed for saying police action is more effective against terror than military action. A new study suggests he was right. Today, on the radio program To the Point, should the "war on terror" be replaced by strategies of a different kind? What would that mean in Iraq and Afghanistan?

To The Point is hosted by Veteran journalist Warren Olney and can be heard weekdays at 12 Noon PST/3 PM EST through KCRW.com. Listen locally in Los Angeles over KCRW 89.9 FM. Or link through Bosco Radio: News and Information.

Also today, over on Bosco Radio Sports listen and watch live coverage of the Olympics and four major league baseball games. The radio links are in the sidebar.

Pick A Vice President Candidate Already!

By Allen Bacon
Editor
The Daily Bosco

One of the things I am quickly getting annoyed with Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is how he is creating an event out of his choice of a Vice President candidate. He is supposedly going to announce this on the way to the Democratic convention in Denver at the same place he announced his run for President...in Illinois... this weekend. Or maybe it will before that. He's being coy.

The list of possibilities is believed to be down to Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who planned to campaign in his home state Thursday with Obama. Obama keeps using the "He" when he talks about his VP candidate. So it's probably not Kathleen Sebelius. But he says not to read too much into it. It could be a woman.

Did I miss something? What happened to Wesley Clark? Now that would be an interesting ticket. Or what about Bill Clinton? Let's put the "vice" back in the Vice Presidency.

And I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that McCain is acting the same way. He needs to pick a running mate too. McCain's top contenders are said to include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Other possible choices are former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. Yes.. Tom Ridge an Abortion Rights guy and Lieberman the ex-Democrat. What party is McCain running for again? And while I'm on the subject. I'm going to miss President, er Vice President Dick Cheney. What with the way he runs the government and shooting at his friends on hunting trips and all. Romney, Ridge, or Lieberman are going to have some big shoes to fill.

The Presidential race is probably going to be a close one. Once again we don't have the best that America has to offer running for President. It may come down to who is going to be a great Vice President. This is serious. Maybe both OBama and McCain are waiting to see who blinks first so the other can counter with a stronger VP candidate.

In the meantime, the suspense is killing me.

Wexler Left An Undeniable Mark on Music

By Allen Bacon
Editor
The Daily Bosco

I often wonder how music would have changed if it were not for certain events or certain people behind the scenes.

For instance, what would have happened if Buddy Holly had not died in a plane crash? He was innovative and was ahead of the curve for his time. Many people tried to imitate his sound. The biggest complement coming from arguably the most popular band of all time, The Beatles. I believe Buddy Holly would have come up with stuff that we can't even imagine if he had lived. He would not have ended up as a Vegas act that's for sure.

Then there is Jerry Wexler who died last week at the age of 91. He probably has had the greatest influence in Rock and Soul music in the last 50 years. The greatest music producer of all time? You can make a very strong case for that.

He started out a music journalist as an editor and reporter for Billboard magazine and quickly parlayed that into a career in producing. And if you don't think he was a major player in the music world just listen to this roster of the talent he worked with: Ray Charles, The Drifters, Ruth Brown, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield...Bob Dylan. Where would these people have been without Wexler? That is very hard to say. I would argue, with the possible exception of Dylan (who Wexler revived his career) they would not have made their mark without his guidance.

I think the music I loved the most that was influenced by Wexler is the wonderful music that came out of Staxx Records in Memphis in the 60's. Motown South. Motown with an edge and a lot more soul. Out of that studio in Memphis we got Wison Pickett, Aretha Franklin (who Wexler was credited for catapulting her career to a level way beyond what she was doing) and a wonderful bit of Blue-eyed soul in the Dusty Springfield in Memphis album that Wexler produced.

Wexler was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. His Musical Legacy will live on Forever.

Opening Up The Possibilities of Pandora.com

Enter Donald Fagen (left) of Steely Dan into Pandora.com and it's interesting what you get...Everything from Sting to Pablo Cruise.


By Allen Bacon
Editor
The Daily Bosco

So I'm playing around with Pandora.com, a website that picks music based on similiar attributes and puts together unique personal radio stations according to your tastes. I thought I would be a wise guy and put in Donald Fagen, front man for Steely Dan and see what happened. I thought, he's unique.... they can't possibly come up with that many similarities.

The result was interesting. Ok, the first song was a Donald Fagen song...then from there a Steely Dan tune from their latest album Everything Must Go. That's understandable. Then it threw out Sting's She Walks This Earth. That's interesting...not sure how it's similar but I like that song and I like Sting.

Next song that comes out...I have mixed emotions about. This is a Michael McDonald-era Doobie Brothers hit. I like the Doobie Brothers but I prefer the pre-Michael McDonald era Doobies. Then I realized that Michael McDonald used to sing with Steely Dan...so I guess that selection made sense. The next one really puzzled me...It was Pablo Cruise. What does Donald Fagen have to do with Pablo Cruise? Then I realized that I really liked Pablo Cruise back in the 70's. Apparently me and millions of others too. Pablo Cruise had a couple of number one hits and gold records. So I was OK with that.

Pandora.com is pretty neat. If you haven't tried it yet....give yourself a couple of hours because it's very cool and can be addictive.

Pandora.com is the website for the Music Genome Project.What is the Music Genome Project? In the year 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever.

They set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. They ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome. Taken together these genes capture the unique and magical musical identity of a song - everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It's not about what a band looks like, or what genre they supposedly belong to, or about who buys their records - it's about what each individual song sounds like.

Since they started back in 2000, the proprietors of the Music Genome Project have carefully listened to the songs of tens of thousands of different artists - ranging from popular to obscure - and analyzed the musical qualities of each song one attribute at a time. This work continues each and every day as they endeavor to include all the great new stuff coming out of studios, clubs and garages around the world.

Woody Allen's World Road Trip Continues

Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall try to talk things through in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed by Woody Allen
Weinstein Films
Now Playing
4 scoops of Bosco
Reviewed by Allen Bacon
The Daily Bosco

At this rate, Woody Allen may never get back home.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Allen's 42nd film as a Director, is set in Spain. So this is the fourth film in a row that he has been out of the country and not shot in his beloved New York City. This dates back to his England-based Matchpoint in 2005. His previous three films were all shot in England.

Allen does not act in this film. And this is a very good film. Which makes you wonder how great his already wonderful body of work would have been if he had taken himself as an actor out of a few more. Matchpoint was without him and it was a very good film. The next two with him...not so much. And this one is a good film too...without his acting. My theory is that when he is not acting he focuses his attention on his role as one of America's greatest directors and writing. And the results are amazing.

Because not only is he shooting in a beautiful romantic location...the cast of this movie which includes Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, and Scarlett Johannsen is one of the most gorgeous-looking set of people you are going to see in any film. Woody Allen also plays homage to some Spanish directors by his style of shooting. And his soundtrack of Classic music from Spain is the perfect backdrop for the film.

But Woody Allen is definitely there. You can hear it in the narration by Chris Evan Welch. You can hear it in the neurotic voice of Hall. And within that lies another slight problem of acting in so many of your films. We know how Woody Allen is and you can just see him acting these lines out...which to me is a little distracting.

As far as the writing is concerned...Woody Allen has written another gem. You are sucked into the story from the beginning and you don't want to let go. As in most Woody Allen films there are some interesting layers and dilemmas of modern relationships. It would be easy to say that the story is a love triangle. But it really is a multi-layered love quintangle...which I can't remember being pulled off before. This is between the Hall, Bardem, Johannsen, Cruz, and Chris Messina who plays Hall's fiance/husband.

There is no doubt about it. Penelope Cruz will get an Oscar nomination as Maria Elena. The film was already going well before she explodes on to the scene as Bardem's ex-wife about halfway in and she elevates the interest in the film way past the next level.

Quick Plot of Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Two friends, Vicky and Cristina travel to Spain. Both become involved with a Bohemian painter. And then his volatile ex-wife who he still loves comes back into the picture and all hell breaks loose.

Is Michael Phelps The Greatest Athlete?

I waited 36 years for this. Somebody has finally beaten Mark Spitz record for most gold medals in one Olympic games.

Not to take anything away from Mark Spitz and his wonderful accomplishment but I always found him to be a bit arrogant. I like Michael Phelps. I love his attitude and demeanor.

Will this make Michael Phelps the greatest athlete of all time? Does he have the star-power of a Mark Spitz, or a Bruce Jenner, or a Lance Armstrong or Tiger Woods?

The first question may be debatable. But he definitely has to be considered to be one of the greatest athletes. What Phelps and Spitz did is remarkable given the recovery time between each race. If mere mortals swam one of these races and tried to come back a few hours later and not only swim the event but actually be great enough to be the best in the field...that is really something. I had first hand knowledge of this because both of my kids were involved in competitive swimming for a couple years. Jenner and the legendary Bob Mathias in my mind is right there because they had to be great at ten events...not just one.

The star power question is something altogether different. Spitz knew how to play the media and he even managed to keep himself in the news all these years. Jenner took his great looks and capitalized as an actor and commentator. And Armstrong and Tiger? By the sheer fact that they were at it for several years kept them in the public consciousness. We see Tiger golfing practically every week. We saw Armstrong year after year at the Tour De France. We may not get interested in Phelps again for another four years.

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

Finally...Olympic Coverage Your Way

Right: Team USA's Water Polo phenom Natalie Golda. The Water Polo games can be seen live via the NBC website www.nbcolympics.com

This morning the talk around the water cooler will probably be about how great our gymnasts or how great Mr. Phelps is doing at the Olympics. And those have been great to watch...but I've been watching other coverage...on NBC's website www.nbcolympics.com (linked by Bosco Radio, by the way).

You see, I like gymnastics and swimming as much as the next person. But I really love baseball, softball, and water polo even more. I also like watching and listening to sports events live as they happen. That is the premise of Bosco Radio Sports, my little virtual radio station in the sidebar. All live, all the time.

So last night I was in Olympic sports heaven. Because I was going around to events live in progress. There was a very compelling baseball game between China and China Taipei which went extra. There was a great game between Cuba and the USA in baseball. The USA Softball team with one of our hometown ladies Jenny Topping was applying the mercy rule on Japan. And I was also able to watch live as the USA Women's Water Polo team took on Russia with our hometown lady Natalie Golda leading the charge. None of this, to my knowledge was on any of the network coverage on cable and broadcast television.

And the best thing....and I'm going to be thought of as a heretic because I am a part time PA announcer for baseball...there were no announcers. Just the sights and sounds of the game with the score and players shown on screen. And I didn't miss the announcers either.

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

Are The Clintons Stealing The Show?

The Democratic National Convention is two weeks away, and all eyes are on…Hillary Clinton? Thursday, on To the Point, as Barack Obama wraps up a vacation in Hawaii, some say Bill and Hillary Clinton are stealing the spotlight in Denver? What price is Obama willing to pay for party unity?

Listen to To The Point today at 12 Noon PST/3 PM EST via Bosco Radio News and Information. The link is in our sidebar.

The Texas Rangers Needed A Field Goal

The Fenway Park manual scoreboard operator was the busiest guy in Boston Tuesday night. The Boston Red Sox scored ten runs in the top of the first fueled by two three run homeruns from David Ortiz. It was almost not enough as Boston ended winning a slugfest over Texas in Boston, 19-17.

Catch more MLB action today including the follow-up game between the Rangers and Red Sox via the Bosco Radio Sports Links Network starting at 4:00 PM PST. Also on tap today is minor league baseball and the 2008 Olympics from Beijing starting at 1 AM PST and starting again at 10 PM PST. All Live. All the time. In the Sidebar.

Is The Cold War With Russia Heating Up?

The fighting in Georgia has pitted Russia against the west in a confrontation reminiscent of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Tuesday, on the To the Point radio program the following was discussed: what's the extent of US commitment to an emerging democracy? Is Russia testing American resolve? Does the United Nations have the resources to resolve the conflict?

Host Warren Olney, considered by many the dean of broadcast journalists, delves into those question and more on his daily program. Tune in daily via KCRW-FM 89.9 in the Los Angeles area, or www.kcrw.com or through Bosco Radio News and Entertainment in our sidebar. The show starts each day at 12 Noon PST/ 3 PM EST. An archive of the mentioned show can be found at www.kcrw.com

Beck & Danger Mouse's Magical Mystery Tour

Beck
Modern Guilt
Universal
5 tablespoons
of Bosco

By Allen Bacon
Editor
The Daily Bosco

Don't misunderstand me...Beck's twelth and latest Modern Guilt is a great album adding to the artist's already wonderful body of work...but I've heard this someplace before.

It's as if the Alt-rocker is playing homage to some late-60's bands in about half of the songs. Listen to track 9, Profanity Prayers and tell me it doesn't sound like Buffalo Springfield's Mr. Soul. Or listen to Gamma Ray (track 2) and tell me if it doesn't sound like a Beach Boys/Surfaris/T-Bone Burnett tune. Or listen to Modern Guilt and see if you hear Paul Revere and the Raiders in there. Chemtrails sounds like a cross between Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys and the Doors.

Of course, all of this makes perfect sense when you understand that Beck grew up in Southern California. Listen to a lot of music from this region and some of it is going to come out via Osmosis.

The rest of the album is very Beck-like. My favorite track is Soul Of A Man (track 8) Ironically, it's the song where Beck's producer Gnarls Barkley's Danger Mouse is involved the least save for some sounds. Beck does all the vocals, guitars, bass, piano and even a tambourine thrown in for good measure.

And don't get me wrong...Danger Mouse brings a lot to this album in a production role. I'm sure the sound wouldn't be the same without the influence.

From a lyric standpoint, Beck is one of our poets. Insightful and biting. His lyrics would stand alone as great poetry.

Live Olympic Coverage Through Internet

The USA Women Volleyball Team Get Ready For Action at the Beijing Olympics

Are you tired of watching the Olympics on television with it's prepackaged taped programming that is twelve hours old when you already know the outcome of the events? Do you enjoy getting up at 3 AM in the morning to watch an Olympic baseball game? Then you will enjoy the NBC Olympic website.

NBC has perfected their web presence with nbcolympics.com. You can see most of the action as it happens or get updates of all the results of all the events at the click of your mouse. And it's at no charge.

Here's another tip. Go to the Olympics page on ESPN.com and check out the schedule. They probably have the most comprehensive schedule page of all the websites for the Olympics. Use that schedule to plan your Olympic watching schedule.

You can also link to live Olympic events though Bosco Radio Sports. In the side bar.

How the Boys of Spring Became Men By Fall

In Fullerton, California baseball is king. But in 1942 with war breaking out in Europe and our democracy being challenged, even baseball took a back seat in Fullerton to the war.

Almost forgotten that year in the events of the day, was the fact that Fullerton High School was busy working on another baseball championship and on the field was probably the best team ever assembled in Fullerton baseball history. And that's saying a lot for a town that has produced the likes of hall of famers Walter Johnson, Arky Vaughan, Gary Carter, Willard Herhberger and a guy that should be in the hall of fame...Del Crandall.

During the backdrop of the war, the boys of Fullerton rolled on to a League championship and then were taking out opponents right and left in the post season. Anchored by a tall, lanky righthander Vaughan Jones and his battery mate Kenny Sullivan the team was virtually unstoppable. Except this story takes an unexpected turn.

In 1942 two things were happening. Number one, most of the interest was going toward the war effort and not on high school sports. In the CIF (California Intersholastic Federation) that year it was not like today with multiple divisions based on high school size, etc. There was only a major winner which was San Diego that year and a minor winner which was Fullerton. Fullerton was supposed to play San Diego that year to determine on the field which was the better team. That game never happened.

That's because all the Senior boys and the popular coach of Fullerton High all went down before the season ended and enlisted in the military to serve their country. Most of those boys were in the battlefields by Summer. Most of the boys never got back home. Vaughan Jones the righthander was one of the 1942 Championship team that was killed in action that year.

Ken Sullivan, story was somewhat of a tragedy too. When you consider the fact that he was ticketed for the major leagues and could have added his name to the Hall of Famers from Fullerton. Ken took shrapnel to his leg and could barely walk. His baseball career was over. He was decorated for his service in World War II. He was a war hero.

Ken would go on to mentor the great Del Crandall as a catcher.

I met Ken six years ago while I was organizing the annual Fullerton High School Baseball Alumni Game and Reunion. He was not bitter about his life. He couldn't be...he had a great family, great friends, a wonderful career, but one thing he told me was not setting well with him all these years. The CIF never recognized the 1942 team as CIF champions. The official winner that year for baseball was San Diego. I tried to get the school to at least have a banner up with the other CIF Champions for the 1942 baseball team. They wouldn't do it.

Ken died last week. It's strange how life is sometimes. I have started a community newspaper in Fullerton and one of the first stories I wanted to do was on Ken and the 1942 FUHS baseball team. I was going to make a phone call to interview Ken but before I made that call I decided to do some preliminary background research on the team and the year 1942. That's when I ran across Ken's obituary.

A good friend of Ken's, Tom Gregory, picked up the ball and ran with the CIF recoginition. Fortunately, with Tom's hard work, last year CIF, reversed their ruling and officially made Fullerton High 1942 baseball team CIF champions.

But because they were war heroes and great men, they were always our champions.

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

Palumbo Puts Hollywood on the Couch

Dennis Palumbo, Holly- wood screen- writer turned Psychologist, puts Hollywood on the couch to analyze the entertainment business and talks to Claude Brodesser Akner on The Business radio program this afternoon.

The weekly program looks deep into the business of entertainment in a half hour of thoughtful and irreverent dialogue with Hollywood's top decision-makers.

The program airs today at 2:30 PM PST/5:30 PM EST Listen live in the Los Angeles area on KCRW 89.9 FM or on the internet at KCRW.org. You can also link through Bosco Radio News and Entertainment each Monday.

On Bosco Radio Sports we have links to live Minor League, Major League, and Alaskan Collegiate Summer League baseball action. It's all in the sidebar