May 1st

Today is the birthday

… of Chuck Bednarik, 84. The hall-of-famer played for the Eagles. Bednarik is the last NFL player who routinely played both offense (center) and defense (linebacker). Bednarik’s most famous play was a tackle of Frank Gifford that put Gifford out of action for a year-and-a-half (and ultimately shortened his career).

… of singer Sonny James, 80. James’s big hit was “Young Love” in 1956.

… of the amazingly graceful Judy Collins. She is 70 today.

… of Rita Coolidge, 64. Some say Coolidge is the reason for the 1970 dissolution of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, when she left Stills for Nash, but it was Kris Kristofferson she married in 1973. Miss Coolidge is part Cherokee.

… of Dann Florek of “Law and Order.” Florek is 58.

… of Tim McGraw. Tug McGraw’s boy is 42.

Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22, was born on May 1st in 1923. Heller died in 1999.

And God Bless Kate Smith, born 102 years ago today.