...while wondering what ever happened to Blackie Sherrod

As we settle in for Christmas, our favorite holiday and continue the tweaking of our End-of-the-Year Spectacular, a quick rundown of those about whom we wondered this past year. Here’s a recap of our 2007 Scattershot targets and their current whereabouts: Earl Cureton, former NBA baller (Sixers 1982-83 championship team, Pistons, Bulls, Clippers, Hornets, Rockets and Raptors), found working in Michigan for FSN Detroit, handling post-game duties for the Pistons; J. Fred Muggs, former Today Show host Dave Garroway’s sidekick from 1953-57, found living in sin with his girlfriend Phoebe B. Beebe, in Citrus Park, Florida; Doug Williams, former pro football quarterback, (Buccaneers, USFL Oklahoma Outlaws, Super Bowl XXII MVP with the Redskins), found working in the Personnel department for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Donna Dixon, supporting actress on Bosom Buddies, Dr. Detroit and many a masturbatory fantasy of your teen aged scribe, found living in Kingston, Ontario with husband Dan Akroyd and their three children; Wendy Jo Spreber, also a co-star in Bosom Buddies and the aforementioned fantasies, found taking the dirt nap in suburban Los Angeles. At the time of her 2005 death from breast cancer, she was 47; Roberto Duran, retired pro boxer (103 [70] – 16 [4]), found living in Panama City, working as a promoter; Craig Ehlo, former Rocket, Cavalier and SuperSonic, and most famous Michael Jordan Poster Child, found working for the Versus network, as lead basketball analyst for the Mountain West Conference; Mike Evans, best-known as Lionel on The Jeffersons was also found dirt napping it too, in Twentynine Palms, California. He was 57 at the time of his 2006 death from throat cancer; The Baha Men, one-and-done’rs with Who Let the Dogs Out, are completely untraceable. Dude -- these cats have fallen off the planet. Apparently they did some Disney work after "Dogs", which, interestingly, was actually a remake. But after that, nothing. So we assume they are still alive in the Bahamas. If anything had happened to them, it would have shown up somewhere; Danny Manning, former roundballer (Clippers, Hawks, Suns, Bucks, Jazz, Mavs, Pistons and the University of Kansas’ 1988 “Danny and the Miracles” National Championship team), found riding the pine as an assistant coach at his Alma Mater, splitting time between that job and his gig as coach of his son’s 7th grade team, the Kansas City Jayhawks; Dennis Johnson, former SuperSonic, Sun and Celtic, and perhaps the ugliest guy to ever play in the Association, found six feet under Gardenia, California. At the time of his death in February of this year, the result of a heart attack, Johnson was 52; LaWanda Page, best known as Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son also found to be taking the Big Sleep, in Inglewood California. When she passed due to complications from diabetes, in 2002, she was 69; Shawn “Big Daddy” Kemp, former NBA star, (SuperSonics [6 kids, 4 moms], Cavs [4 kids, 4 moms], JailBlazers [3 kids, 2 moms], Magic [1 kid, 1 mom]), found in New Jersey last week, trying out for the Nets. His chances of landing a contract are about 25%, or significantly lower than the chance he knocked up an usher on the way out of the workout; Mitch Williams, former Major League Baseball pitcher, (Cubs, Phillies, Astros, Angels), found working for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, as a Phillies post’game analyst; Santa Claus found damned near everywhere and we mean ev er y where...In new news, congratulations to the University of Kansas football team being the latest manifestation of U-F'er, as we predicted on these pages just a few months ago. Their new duds have scored them their first-ever BCS bowl appearance...And in the vein of being fair, W was right on stem cells. We don't hesitate to rip him when he screws something up, but his prudence in limiting research to the existing stem cells ended up being the right move. Research has proceeded to a point where it appears as though embryonic stem cells are not needed at all to accomplish the goals of the medical community. And given the rapidity with which this became a reality, very little time was lost while the science caught up. Take the number of people that may have died of their respective diseases in the interim, subtract the unborn lives that would have been terminated in the name of research and we probably end up with a wash. The man is very flawed, but occasionally he gets one right...Are we the only ones who think that he looks an awful lot like his illegitimate love child?...And finally, we wish you a Merry Christmas. If you don't celebrate Christmas, accept the sentiment with which it is offered and be joyous. If you do, try to remember why. And be joyous. And as we begin to cast our gaze backward, we leave you with another's look back upon 2007, here.
Until next time,
Paz