Odds and Sods

Two more icons from my youth are gone: Soupy Sales and Bill "The Big Whistle" Chadwick.

In Soupy's case, he was one of the first comedians who appealed to both children and their parents. As was mentioned on this video tribute, there would have been no "Laugh In," Pee Wee Herman or "Saturday Night Live" without Soupy, Black Tooth, White Fang and Pookie. Soupy Sales worked without a net, and made brilliant, unscripted memories; he would do anything for a laugh, and he got tons of them.

As far as "The Big Whistle" goes, I remember him more for his announcing style than his refereeing skills (which, were quite good, I'm told -- especially for someone with only one eye). He was obviously encyclopedic about hockey, but I will always remember the night in Buffalo, when the camera panned the crowd during a timeout and a beautiful young woman was shown descending the stairs. Chadwick simply said, "Help me Millie," referring to his wife.

And I included that photo, because I think it harkens back to a time when referees and umpires looked dignified, asking for and getting respect. Look at that sweater and tie......

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And I'm not the only one who thinks those pilots who were "missing" were really doing something they really weren't supposed to be doing.