In the world of fIlm, Michael Clarke Duncan (54) had a personality as large as his hulking frame. Since the blockbuster Armageddon, the likable actor appeared in a series of hits, including Planet of the Apes, The Whole Nine Yards, Daredevil, & Sin City. But he is best remembered for his Oscar-nominated turn as death row inmate John Coffey in The Green Mile. Nora Ephron (71) made her mark writing several genre-defining romantic comedies, most notably When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. Oscar winner Frank Pierson (87) wrote two of the most accomplished scripts of the past 50 years, Cool Hand Luke and Dog Day Afternoon.
Ben Gazzara (81) had a whopping 132 film and television credits, while Mel Stuart (83) directed the beloved original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Sage Stallone (36), the oldest son of Sylvester, won the same role on screen in Rocky V. Celeste Holm (95) starred in the classic All About Eve and won an Academy Award for her supporting work in Gentleman's Agreement (1947). And industry veteran Ernest Borgnine (95) won Best Actor in 1955 for his lead performance in Marty. Other credits included The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen, The Poseidon Adventure, and the popular TV series McHale's Navy. In 2010 Borgnine was honored with the Life Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild.
The sports world lost significant figures of all ages, colors, and backgrounds. Fortunately, one of those was not Peyton Manning, who bucked the odds like few athletes before him. Eagle's coach Andy Reid received a nice New Years present, getting the boot after 14 relatively successful seasons with Philadelphia's most revered franchise. Junior Seau (43) was one of the finest linebackers in football history and among the most respected athletes of his era. The San Diego icon spent his final four years with the Patriots. The mysterious details surrounding his death will likely be studied for years. Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter (57) was an 11 time All-Star and a hero for the 1986 New York Mets who rallied from behind against Boston in the World Series. Legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee (90) worked with the best of the best, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Emanuel Steward (68) did the same with champions Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis, and Oscar De La Hoya. Longtime Browns & Ravens owner Art Modell (87), Chicago Bulls star Orlando Woolridge (52), and University of Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus (64) were also among the departed.
On Yawkey Way, the Red Sox experienced more turnover than ever before, an uninspiring start for the next 100 years. Team pillars Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek retired, Kevin Youkilis was traded to Chicago, & the irascible Bobby Valentine was fired almost as quickly as he had been hired. Carl Beane (59), the warm, familiar voice of Fenway Park since 2003, died suddenly last May after a suffering a heart attack while driving. And Johnny Pesky was as devoted to Boston baseball as anyone. Over more than 60 years, Pesky was a player (lifetime .307 hitter), manager, and broadcaster for the club, who named the right-field foul pole after him in 2006. When the Sox celebrated the 100th anniversary of Fenway in April, the final ovations were for Bobby Doerr and Pesky, who had tears in his eyes, understanding better than most what that day had meant. He was 92.
Finally, happy trails to Bob Ryan. Following the Summer Olympics in London, he retired from regular duty after 44 years with the Boston Globe. Undoubtedly the best basketball writer of his era, I always looked forward to his Sunday articles, usually covering the Celtics or each weeks biggest sports story. He wrote intelligently and with purpose, his engaging personality shining through his words. Ryan can still be heard occasionally asserting his authority on both Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption, but it's not quite the same.
And in the end . . .
Tony Scott (68): The term "guilty pleasure" may have been created to describe the films of Ridley Scott's youngest brother. One of the most consistent commercial directors of his era, Tony Scott stunned Hollywood when he reportedly committed suicide last August. He left behind a legacy of fast-paced cheese, his filmography more dependent on adrenaline than subtlety. He always attracted A-list talent though, most notably with True Romance, which featured one of the best casts of the 90s. His many hits included Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, Days of Thunder, Enemy of the State, Spy Game, & Unstoppable. He also forged a close relationship with Denzel Washington, who played the lead in five of his films, including their best collaboration Crimson Tide.
Whitney Houston (48): With the exception of Michael Jackson, Houston's unexpected passing last February was probably the most significant celebrity death of the past decade. Reluctantly, I must now confess that the first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to The Bodyguard back in 1993. I had recently seen the mediocre Kevin Costner thriller and remembered the music being the best thing about the film. If you respect talent then you had to applaud Houston, whose voice truly was one in a million. The judges of American Idol routinely warned contestants not to sing her songs, because they would always falter by comparison. She had a number of hits known to virtually everyone, including "The Greatest Love of All," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," & her iconic version of "I Will Always Love You." Her performance of the national anthem before the 1991 Super Bowl in Tampa remains the best on record as far as I'm concerned. It captured Houston at her absolute peak and is worth seeking out on youtube.
Note: After purchasing The Bodyguard soundtrack, I quickly recovered with a series of manlier choices, including albums by Spin Doctors, Snow, & Ace of Base.
Charles Durning (89): When I was ten or eleven, my family went to visit my grandmother in Florida over February vacation. I was sitting in a Boca Raton frozen yogurt shop with my dad, rambling ad nauseum about Dick Tracy and the abundance of stars in the film, because this is what normal grade school kids do. I mentioned Durning, who played the police chief, when all of a sudden an attractive teenage girl whipped her head around from the next table. "Are you talking about Charles Durning?" When I confirmed, she excitedly announced, "He's my grandfather!" Unfortunately I was too shy to continue the conversation in a lucid manner, so I smiled and went back to my ice cream. But I still remember her reaction, so proud that someone knew who her grandfather was.
Anyone who's ever seen a movie probably knew his face. Durning may have been the preeminent "that guy" in all of cinema, with over 200 credits to his name. He received nine Emmy nominations over the years and back-to-back Oscar noms in the mid 80s for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas & To Be or Not to Be. You may remember him as the corrupt cop from The Sting or a very different cop trying to keep the peace in Dog Day Afternoon. He played Coach Johnson in North Dallas Forty and the certifiable Pappy O'Daniel in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Many will associate him with Tootsie as Jessica Lange's father, who unsuccessfully wooed Dustin Hoffman's alter ego Dorothy Michaels. For me he will always be the immoral Doc Hopper, who wanted to open a French Fried Frog Legs franchise and chased Kermit cross country in The Muppet Movie. Durning died on Christmas Eve.
Ray Allen: Ok, Allen isn't officially dead, at least to most fans. One of the most professional athletes in New England became a local pariah following his decision to ditch the Celtics for rival Miami back in July. He was indispensable to the 2008 championship team and a huge part of Boston's success in the modern era. In 2009 he was arguably the C's best player, and had a series for the ages against Chicago in the playoffs. But as he battled age and injury, his role became less crucial. Once Avery Bradley demonstrated superior athleticism and lockdown defense in Ray's absence, his status as a leader was minimized. He and Rajon Rondo had issues behind the scenes, and it seemed his name popped up in trade rumors every winter dating back four years. Eventually, he signed with the Heat for half the money the Celtics could've paid him, knowing full well that he wouldn't be a starter in his new tropical surroundings.
Truthfully, I feel for Allen now as I did when the news first broke. Did it suck that of all potential suitors he chose the one team who would surely be the biggest obstacle for our return to the promised land? Yes, it did. Was he probably sticking it to Celtic management a little bit? Yah, I think he was. But imagine being dangled like bait every February, never feeling your job was secure, despite consistently exceeding expectations and resisting complaint. I think it's fair to say Danny Ainge and company treated him unfairly in a lot of ways, taking a less tactful manner than was appropriate given the circumstances.
I won't be able to view Ray Allen quite the same way as I once did going forward, but that doesn't change the fact that my favorite team won a title with Allen drilling corner threes and ripping opposing hearts out. He goes down as one of the ten best shooting guards in NBA history and one of the clutch performers of his generation. And although Miami is the fourth and likely final stop for the 17-year vet (following stints in Milwaukee & Seattle), Allen will always be a Celtic to me.
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