La Esterella, Flemish singer died she was , 91.
La Esterella, born Esther Lambrechts was a Flemish singer died she was , 91.. She was best known for her classic “Oh Lieve Vrouwetoren”. She had a typical deep voice, causing her to be called sometimes the Belgian Zarah Leander. La Esterella was the first Flemish artist who achieved international success.
| (May 7, 1919 – Antwerp, April 11, 2011) |
Biography
La Esterella began her career as a seamstress. She occasionally sang at parties and was thus noticed by the conductor Jacques Kluger. But, when asked, she refused to sing in his band because she ddidn’t have parental permission. In 1940 she began participating in song contests in the music hall Oud-België in Antwerp. There she was discovered by her future husband and manager Charly Schleimovitz. She began her career as a singer of popular light classical and romantic songs in several languages. Her voice could span three and a half octaves. She had an immediate success with the public. Her husband didn’t just arrange the business agreements but also taught her how to become a professional singer, turning her into a perfectionist.
During World War II La Esterella was forced to perform in Germany where she was called “die Kanone”. After the war, she became a success with the general public and performed every year during six months from 1948 to 1954 in theatres of British seaside resorts. In 1948 La Esterella already sang in the television studio of the BBC. She was thus the first Flemish singer ever to appear on TV. In 1948 she also made it in other European countries such as France, Norway and Czechoslovakia, where she always sung at least one song in the local language.
In 1953 she was offered a recording contract with Philips Records. From that moment on, the record company advised her to sing in her native Dutch language. In that year, her song “Oh Lieve Vrouwetoren” became an immediate hit. She continued to scored hits, until 1959. In that year her husband became gravely ill and she decided to perform to a lesser degree. When her husband died in 1962, she stopped performing completely.
She accepted a job as secretary and remarried in 1970. Her second husband Victor Van Buel died in 1980. After her retirement in 1982, she agreed somewhat surprisingly to the radio presenter Jos Baudewijn to act in his show “Vragen staat vrij.” (Open questions). There she sang Frank Sinatra‘s song Ol’ Man River.[1] She got such good responses that she decided to resume her career. She rose in this second career to become a celebrated singer, cherished by the public at large. In 1988, she recorded her last album “Liedjes die ik graag zing” (My favourite songs)
In later years she sporadically recorded some songs, including in 1995 with Coco Jr. In 2000 she finally recorded the soundtrack of the film Shades with Alex Callier of Hooverphonic and Regi Penxten of Milk Inc.
During her career she appeared regularly in Flemish TV programmes (Klasgenoten, 20 jaar Gaston en Leo, Gaston 80) and TV movies (La Esterella, a diva; Steggerda plays Steggerda). In 2003 she had a last appearance in the short movie “A Piece of Cake”.
In 2001 she received the achievement award of Radio 2: Voor een Leven Vol Muziek (For a Life filled with Music) and was admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Flemish Song. She was also appointed to the rank of Officer in the Order of Leopold II.
In 2004 she presented together with the first Antwerp City poet (Tom Lanoye), the poem “De kathedraal antwoordt” (The cathedral replies). Although she began to have problems walking at her old age, she continued performing. Occasionally she was back on major stages and did some TV appearances. On January 5, 2007 she sang a duet with Paul Michiels in the TV show “Gala Gaston 80”, honouring the Flemish comedian Gaston Berghmans at his 80th birthday.
In 2008, she continued to struggle with health problems and had to spend three months in a hospital. She had then to retire to a nursing home, where the aged Flemish actress Yvonne Verbeeck also stayed.
On April 11, 2011 La Esterella died in a hospital in her native city Antwerp.[2] On April 16 her funeral ceremony in the cathedral of Antwerp was attended by a large crowd. On April 18, she got her last resting place, a place of honour in the Antwerp cemetery Schoonselhof.
Discography
Singles (incomplete)
- Und wieder geht ein schöner Tag zu Ende (1942/43)
- Alleen door jou (1952)
- Oh! Lieve Vrouwe toren (1953)
- Voor een kusje van jou (1953)
- Het lied van mijn hart (1953)
- Eeuwig (1953)
- Dank (1953)
- Alle moeders (1954)
- In je hart (1954)
- Kom bij mij (1954)
- ‘t Is zo goed (1954)
- Ave Maria (1955)
- Goedenacht… tot morgen (1955)
- Zachtjes, zachtjes (1955)
- Mandolino (1955)
- Heden en verleden (1955)
- Weldra komt de dag (1955)
- Zonneschijn voor iedereen (1955)
- Arrivederci Roma (1956)
- La luna (1956)
- Refrein (1956)
- Ga hand in hand (1956)
- Bij het open vuur (1956)
- Het lied van Lima (1957)
- Klimrozen bloeiden (1957)
- Verliefde ogen (1957)
- Steeds denk ik aan jou (1958)
- Maria’s kind (1958)
- Rozen vallen uit de hemel (1959)
- Liefdesvreugd, liefdesleed (1959)
- Het liedje zonder woorden (1959)
- De dag dat ons kindje komt (1959)
- Mexicaans liefdeslied (1959)
- Zeg de waarheid (1960)
- Vieni, vieni, qui (1960)
- Carnaval in Madrid (1962)
- Heimwee (1984)
- Do you know what it means (1999)
Albums
- De gouden stem van La Esterella (1, 2 en 3) (1969, 1970 en 1971)
- Het beste van La Esterella (1974)
- Liedjes die ik steeds graag zong (1988)
- De levende legende (1989)
- Het beste van La Esterella (1997)
- Oh Lieve Vrouwe toren (2002)
To see more of who died in 2010 click here
La Esterella, Flemish singer died she was , 91.
La Esterella, born Esther Lambrechts was a Flemish singer died she was , 91.. She was best known for her classic “Oh Lieve Vrouwetoren”. She had a typical deep voice, causing her to be called sometimes the Belgian Zarah Leander. La Esterella was the first Flemish artist who achieved international success.
| (May 7, 1919 – Antwerp, April 11, 2011) |
Biography
La Esterella began her career as a seamstress. She occasionally sang at parties and was thus noticed by the conductor Jacques Kluger. But, when asked, she refused to sing in his band because she ddidn’t have parental permission. In 1940 she began participating in song contests in the music hall Oud-België in Antwerp. There she was discovered by her future husband and manager Charly Schleimovitz. She began her career as a singer of popular light classical and romantic songs in several languages. Her voice could span three and a half octaves. She had an immediate success with the public. Her husband didn’t just arrange the business agreements but also taught her how to become a professional singer, turning her into a perfectionist.
During World War II La Esterella was forced to perform in Germany where she was called “die Kanone”. After the war, she became a success with the general public and performed every year during six months from 1948 to 1954 in theatres of British seaside resorts. In 1948 La Esterella already sang in the television studio of the BBC. She was thus the first Flemish singer ever to appear on TV. In 1948 she also made it in other European countries such as France, Norway and Czechoslovakia, where she always sung at least one song in the local language.
In 1953 she was offered a recording contract with Philips Records. From that moment on, the record company advised her to sing in her native Dutch language. In that year, her song “Oh Lieve Vrouwetoren” became an immediate hit. She continued to scored hits, until 1959. In that year her husband became gravely ill and she decided to perform to a lesser degree. When her husband died in 1962, she stopped performing completely.
She accepted a job as secretary and remarried in 1970. Her second husband Victor Van Buel died in 1980. After her retirement in 1982, she agreed somewhat surprisingly to the radio presenter Jos Baudewijn to act in his show “Vragen staat vrij.” (Open questions). There she sang Frank Sinatra‘s song Ol’ Man River.[1] She got such good responses that she decided to resume her career. She rose in this second career to become a celebrated singer, cherished by the public at large. In 1988, she recorded her last album “Liedjes die ik graag zing” (My favourite songs)
In later years she sporadically recorded some songs, including in 1995 with Coco Jr. In 2000 she finally recorded the soundtrack of the film Shades with Alex Callier of Hooverphonic and Regi Penxten of Milk Inc.
During her career she appeared regularly in Flemish TV programmes (Klasgenoten, 20 jaar Gaston en Leo, Gaston 80) and TV movies (La Esterella, a diva; Steggerda plays Steggerda). In 2003 she had a last appearance in the short movie “A Piece of Cake”.
In 2001 she received the achievement award of Radio 2: Voor een Leven Vol Muziek (For a Life filled with Music) and was admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Flemish Song. She was also appointed to the rank of Officer in the Order of Leopold II.
In 2004 she presented together with the first Antwerp City poet (Tom Lanoye), the poem “De kathedraal antwoordt” (The cathedral replies). Although she began to have problems walking at her old age, she continued performing. Occasionally she was back on major stages and did some TV appearances. On January 5, 2007 she sang a duet with Paul Michiels in the TV show “Gala Gaston 80”, honouring the Flemish comedian Gaston Berghmans at his 80th birthday.
In 2008, she continued to struggle with health problems and had to spend three months in a hospital. She had then to retire to a nursing home, where the aged Flemish actress Yvonne Verbeeck also stayed.
On April 11, 2011 La Esterella died in a hospital in her native city Antwerp.[2] On April 16 her funeral ceremony in the cathedral of Antwerp was attended by a large crowd. On April 18, she got her last resting place, a place of honour in the Antwerp cemetery Schoonselhof.
Discography
Singles (incomplete)
- Und wieder geht ein schöner Tag zu Ende (1942/43)
- Alleen door jou (1952)
- Oh! Lieve Vrouwe toren (1953)
- Voor een kusje van jou (1953)
- Het lied van mijn hart (1953)
- Eeuwig (1953)
- Dank (1953)
- Alle moeders (1954)
- In je hart (1954)
- Kom bij mij (1954)
- ‘t Is zo goed (1954)
- Ave Maria (1955)
- Goedenacht… tot morgen (1955)
- Zachtjes, zachtjes (1955)
- Mandolino (1955)
- Heden en verleden (1955)
- Weldra komt de dag (1955)
- Zonneschijn voor iedereen (1955)
- Arrivederci Roma (1956)
- La luna (1956)
- Refrein (1956)
- Ga hand in hand (1956)
- Bij het open vuur (1956)
- Het lied van Lima (1957)
- Klimrozen bloeiden (1957)
- Verliefde ogen (1957)
- Steeds denk ik aan jou (1958)
- Maria’s kind (1958)
- Rozen vallen uit de hemel (1959)
- Liefdesvreugd, liefdesleed (1959)
- Het liedje zonder woorden (1959)
- De dag dat ons kindje komt (1959)
- Mexicaans liefdeslied (1959)
- Zeg de waarheid (1960)
- Vieni, vieni, qui (1960)
- Carnaval in Madrid (1962)
- Heimwee (1984)
- Do you know what it means (1999)
Albums
- De gouden stem van La Esterella (1, 2 en 3) (1969, 1970 en 1971)
- Het beste van La Esterella (1974)
- Liedjes die ik steeds graag zong (1988)
- De levende legende (1989)
- Het beste van La Esterella (1997)
- Oh Lieve Vrouwe toren (2002)
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Peter Ruehl, American-born Australian columnist died he was , 64.
Vincent Peter Ruehl, known as Peter Ruehl was an American-born Australian newspaper columnist, best known for the humorous column he wrote thrice weekly for The Australian Financial Review, in which he offered an American view on life in Australia died he was , 64. During his career, he also contributed to The Australian and The Daily Telegraph.
(29 March 1947 – 11 April 2011)
Biography
Ruehl was born in New York City, the son of an FBI agent.[1] He was educated at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and later moved to Annapolis where he studied at the University of Maryland and worked as a court reporter for The Baltimore Sun.[1] In 1983, the paper asked him to provide coverage of the 1983 America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island, during which time he met his future wife, fellow journalist Jennifer Hewett, who had been assigned to the same event by The Sydney Morning Herald.[1] They got married and then moved to Australia in 1987.[1]
His first piece of journalism in Australia was his coverage of the 1987 America’s Cup for the Australian Financial Review, a paper for which he continued to write for most of his career.[1] It was his satirical column in this paper that brought him recognition, leading Roger Johnstone (chief executive of the Financial Review Group) to praise him as a ‘one of a kind in Australian journalism’.[1]
Family and personal life
At the time of his death, Ruehl lived in the eastern Sydney suburb of Clovelly, with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Mercedes, John and Tom.[1][2] According to colleague Colleen Ryan, Ruehl had a few close select friends and “could be quite introverted”, preferring to spend time with his family or writing.[1]
His sister is Academy Award-winning actress Mercedes Ruehl.
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Angela Scoular, British actress, died from suicide by poisoning she was , 65.
Angela Margaret Scoular was an English actress died from suicide by poisoning she was , 65..
(8 November 1945 – 11 April 2011)
Career
Scoular was among a small group of actors to have appeared in two James Bond films, made by different production companies. Scoular played Buttercup in the 1967 comedy Casino Royale and then two years later made an appearance in the EON Productions-produced Bond film series playing Ruby in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Her other film credits include A Countess from Hong Kong, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, Doctor in Trouble, Adventures of a Private Eye and Adventures of a Taxi Driver
Her television credits included playing Cathy in a 1967 BBC production of Wuthering Heights, Doctor in the House, The Avengers, Coronation Street, Penmarric, As Time Goes By and You Rang, M’Lord? in the recurring role of Lady Agatha Shawcross.
Personal life
Scoular was born in London[3] and was a niece of actress Margaret Johnston. She moved in with actor Leslie Phillips in 1977, at which time she was pregnant by another actor.[3] She raised her son with Phillips, and, following Phillips’ wife’s death in 1981, she married him in 1982.[1]
Illnesses and death
Scoular suffered from anorexia and depression.[1] It was revealed in March 2009 that she was suffering from colorectal cancer.[4] She died on 11 April 2011, in a suspected suicide.[2][5][6] She is survived by Phillips and her son Daniel.[1][7]
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Larry Sweeney, American professional wrestler and manager, died from suicide by hanging he was , 30
Alexander K. Whybrow was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney died from suicide by hanging he was , 30. He performed primarily on the American independent circuit, but also competed in Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe.
| (February 18, 1981 – April 11, 2011) |
Professional wrestling career
Sweeney’s first professional match took place at the Windy City Pro Wrestling Battle of the Belts 2000 on May 20, 2000, at the Hammond Civic Center in Hammond, Indiana. He wrestled under the ring name ‘El Zapatista’ and participated in a 3-ring, 120-man battle royale. He did not decide to pursue a career in professional wrestling until 2002, when he was living in India and training in amateur wrestling at the Sri Satpal Pehlewan Akhara at the Chattrasol Stadium in Model Town, Delhi, India. After returning to the states and completing his studies, he enrolled in the Chikara Wrestle Factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in September 2003, under head trainer Mike Quackenbush and co-instructors Chris Hero and Skayde. Sweeney also received training from Buddy Rose and Colonel DeBeers in Portland, Oregon, before debuting on May 1, 2004, in Ludlow, Massachusetts.
On June 16, 2005, he defeated veteran wrestler Glen Osbourne for the PWE Heavyweight Championship in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He went on to hold the title for 11 months before losing it to Mike Quackenbush in May 2006; in the meantime he had become a regular for many of the larger independent wrestling companies in the US. In July 2006, he represented Chikara at MXW‘s InterPromotional Incident. On July 31, 2006, Sweeney made an appearance on Raw, broadcast live from the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey, where he played an imposter Nick Hogan in a segment titled “Orton Knows Best”. Later that year, he was the subject of the ‘Introducing’ feature article in the national magazine The Wrestler.
2007 saw him go on to a feud with Bryan Alvarez over the ICW/ICWA Texarkana Television Championship. On May 11, 2007, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, he won the IWC Super Indy Title after defeating “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal, Azrieal, and Shima Xion in a one-night tournament. He has since gone on to feud for the title with “Fabulous” John McChesney, who defeated him for the title on July 7. After chasing McChesney for over six months, Sweeney regained the title on January 19, 2008, after winning a Texarkana Death Match. On July 20, 2007, Sweeney was crowned the first CWE Undisputed Champion after defeating Eddie Kingston and Chris Hero in separate matches in Youngstown, Ohio.
He competed in a War Games match for the NWA Upstate promotion in Rochester, New York, in April 2007, after successfully defending the ICW/ICWA title against Eddie Kingston in a strap match the night before at Colgate University. Sweeney made his debut with the Hawaii based promotion Action Zone Wrestling on January 7, 2008, CIMA at their event Battleclash III, a match billed on his ‘ain’t no doubt about it’ DVD as the 66th Pearl Harbor anniversary showdown. He also participated in a Boxer vs Wrestler match against Larry Barnes (44-3-0, 17 KO’s) on April 5, 2008, in New Rochelle, New York, at New Rochelle High School for the New York State Wrestling Federation.
In November 2008 he announced the formation of his own company, Bad Brothers of Wrestling (BBOW). Sweeney promoted two shows, in April 2007 and October 2008, at Colgate University and announced plans to run shows at schools and carnivals, primarily in the Midwest.
Chikara (2004–2009)
After being trained at the Chikara Wrestle Factory, Sweeney made his debut for the promotion on July 10, 2004, at the second annual Young Lions Cup, as the leader of Sweet ‘n’ Sour International, a stable of wrestlers who had been denied wildcard spots in the tournament.[7] Throughout the tournament Sweeney’s stable mates interfered in his matches and in the end he defeated Jigsaw to win the Chikara Young Lions Cup in only his seventh professional match.[7][8][9] Jigsaw was looking for a rematch with Sweeney, but he was more interested in the bigger Chikara names, such as Chris Hero and Mike Quackenbush.[7] On October 30, 2004, Sweeney’s stable met a group led by Jigsaw in an eight on eight torneo cibernetico match. Sweeney was pinned by Jigsaw, after his stable mate Spyrazul turned on him and then unmasked himself as Quackenbush.[10] On November 19 Sweeney lost the Young Lions Cup to Jigsaw in his first defense.[11]
Sweeney entered the 2005 Tag World Grand Prix with Share Cropper, but they were eliminated from the tournament in the first round by Shane Storm and Mister ZERO.[12] On May 20 Sweeney and Cropper were defeated by Jolly Roger and Lance Steel in a “Crybaby/Slave for a Month” match and as a result the entire Sweet ‘n’ Sour International were forced to wear diapers the following night.[13] Sweeney refused to do this and after Crossbones pulled off his towel to reveal the diaper, Sweeney fired all of his stable mates and disbanded Sweet ‘n’ Sour International.[14]
The following month Sweeney brought his ICW-ICWA Texarkana Television Championship to Chikara and debuted his new bodyguard, Mana the Polynesian Warrior.[7] On March 31 Sweeney lost the Texarkana Television title to Milano Collection A.T.[15] and after Sweeney and Mana were defeated on April 21 by Lance Steel and Lance Steel,[16] Mana turned on Sweeney.[7] The following month Sweeney debuted his new talk show segment, Winner’s Circle,[17] and then cleanly defeated Mana[18] before regaining the Texarkana title from Milano Collection A.T.[19] Sweeney then started a feud with Eddie Kingston, to whom he would lose the Texarkana title on July 22.[20] During the feud Sweeney and Kingston performed an angle, where Sweeney ran over Kingston with a car.[7] Sweeney recaptured the Texarkana title in Canada,[7] but on November 18, 2006, at Talent Borrows, Genius Steals Kingston defeated him in a “Yellow Belly Strap match” to win the feud.[21]
In 2007 Sweeney’s Ring of Honor relationship with Chris Hero entered Chikara, when on April 22 he helped Hero defeat Claudio Castagnoli and thus force him back into the Kings of Wrestling.[7] The following month Hero, Sweeney and Castagnoli joined forces with Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus, Gran Akuma and Chuck Taylor) to form the Kings of Wrestling superstable.[7] The stable was later joined by Mitch Ryder, Shayne Hawke and Max Boyer. On December 9 Castagnoli defeated Hero, who afterwards left Chikara for good, thus disbanding the Kings of Wrestling.[7] Sweeney continued to team with Mitch Ryder and Shayne Hawke as the Fabulous Three and together they made it to the quarter finals of the 2008 King of Trios tournament, before losing to the Golden Trio of Delirious, Hallowicked and Helios.[7] After a series of trios losses, Ryder fired Sweeney from the group on June 15, 2008, after which Sweeney turned tecnico for the first time in his Chikara career.[7] After months of trying to earn the trust of former Kings of Wrestling stable mate Claudio Castagnoli, he finally agreed to team with Sweeney on December 14.[7] However, in the match against the Fabulous Two Sweeney turned on Castagnoli by hitting him with brass knucks and re-joined Ryder and Hawke.[7]
On January 25, 2009, at Revelation X Sweeney called out Castagnoli, despite knowing that he was at the time wrestling in Japan for Pro Wrestling Noah.[7] Chikara Director of Fun Leonard F. Chikarason came out and announced that since Shayne Hawke was unable to make it to the show, the Fabulous Three were taken out of the 2009 King of Trios.[22] That same night Sweeney and Ryder defeated Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream and Ice Cream, Jr.), but this would end up being Sweeney’s for the moment final appearance for the company, as afterwards Ryder left the company and the Fabulous Three quietly disbanded.[7]
Ring of Honor (2006–2009)
On December 23, 2006, Sweeney made his debut in Ring of Honor (ROH), interfering on behalf of the Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) in their win against the Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe). The following night, Hero announced that Sweeney was in ROH as his new agent. Since then, Sweeney has gone on to form Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc., an agency consisting of Sweeney’s “clients” Chris Hero, Sara Del Rey, personal trainer Tank Toland, and Bobby Dempsey. Matt Sydal was briefly apart of Sweet & Sour Inc. during the summer of 2007, but left when Sweeney signed him to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Daniel Puder was also briefly part of the stable in January 2008 but later quietly departed ROH. In February 2008 he declared a hostile takeover attempt of ROH and signed Adam Pearce, Brent Albright and Shane Hagadorn in the wake of this declaration. That same month he perpetrated the simulated rape of Allison Danger by Bobby Dempsey on his interview segment “The Larry Sweeney show starring Larry Sweeney”. In November the segment earned Sweeney a ‘Turnbuckle Turkey’ award from the magazine “Inside Wrestling”. On April 11, 2008, he signed Eddie Edwards into the group as well.
On May 10, 2008, Brent Albright quit the group following a loss where he and Chris Hero dropped a Scramble Match to Delirious and Pelle Primeau (also included were Jack Evans and Ruckus). Sweeney ordered him to beat down Bobby Dempsey with the rest of the group but instead he delivered suplexes to every member aside from Sweeney who escaped from the ring. On June 6, Sweeney made an offer to No Remorse Corps leader Roderick Strong to join him in his stable. Strong declined as he had done in the past only to find himself attacked and beaten down by his NRC stable mate Davey Richards. Richards proceeded to tear away his NRC t-shirt to reveal he was wearing a Sweet N’Sour Inc. shirt underneath, joining the stable. On June 28, 2008, in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, Sweeney proudly welcomed the newest member of Sweet N’Sour Inc, Go Shiozaki, into the fold as well as welcome back returning member Tank Toland.
During his time in ROH, Sweeney wrestled only four matches for the promotion; he defeated Claudio Castagnoli in a singles match at Final Battle 2007, competed in a six-man tag in spring 2008, defeated Roderick Strong in a gauntlet match in August 2008 and wrestled in a tag team match with Davey Richards in December 2008. His largely non-wrestling role in ROH earned him the 2007 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Award for Best Non-Wrestler of the year, an award he won again for 2008.
On October 19, 2008, Sweeney made an appearance at Shimmer Women Athletes taping, the sister promotion of ROH. He cut a promo about how his client in ROH Sara Del Rey would get her Shimmer Championship rematch in ROH. Later in the evening he would pull Del Rey out of the ring to save her from MsChif and Serena Deeb. On April 20, 2009, Sweeney announced on his official MySpace page that he had quit ROH over monetary issues.[23] On December 19, 2009, at Final Battle 2009, ROH’s first live pay-per-view, Sweeney returned to the company as a color commentator, but did not make any appearances after that.[24]
Other promotions (2010)
On August 14, 2010, Sweeney wrestled his first match in 14 months, losing to Dan Lawrence at an All American Wrestling event.[25][26]
On August 21, 2010, Sweeney returned to the Pittsburgh-based International Wrestling Cartel and participated in a 3-on-3 War Games Steel Cage Match, which was the main even of the evening. After pinning radio personality Bubba the Bulldog, Sweeney was eliminated by his longtime nemesis ‘Fabulous’ John McChesney after absorbing four successive superkicks and sustaining blood loss. His team did go on to victory, though, when Dennis Gregory defeated McChesney.
Return to Chikara (2010)
On July 26, 2010, Sweeney returned to Chikara at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, where he, disguised as Vökoder, a cyborg, previously portrayed by Tim Donst, stared down his Bruderschaft des Kreuzes partner Pinkie Sanchez.[27] Vökoder made his next appearance on August 29, eliminating Sanchez from The Countdown Showdown battle royal.[28] While it was at this point still a mystery who was portraying Vökoder, Sweeney went public with his hatred for Sanchez on the In Your Head radio show.[29] On October 19 it was announced that Vökoder would take the final open spot on UltraMantis Black‘s Team Chikara in the torneo cibernetico match, where they would face BDK.[30] During the torneo cibernetico match on October 23, Vökoder was unmasked as Sweeney. He managed to eliminate Sanchez from the match, before being eliminated himself by Claudio Castagnoli.[1][31] Sweeney posted a blog entry on Chikara’s official site on December 29, 2010, where he announced he would return to the promotion in 2011, but would pass away before doing so.[32]
During the first night of Chikara’s 2011 King of Trios tournament on April 15, a memorial service was held in Sweeney’s memory before the show. Many of Sweeney’s fellow wrestlers also wrestled with a pink and purple armband, while Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw used his signature moves to win their match. Eddie Kingston also used the song “Highwayman” by The Highwaymen, which was one of Sweeney’s favorite songs, as his entrance theme on the second night.[33]
Personal life
Whybrow was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, with two siblings.[3] He graduated from New Trier High School and Oberlin College.[3] As a junior at Oberlin, he travelled to India for a study-abroad program, and became interested in wrestling after seeing it there.[3] He later moved to and resided in Pennsylvania.[3] Whybrow suffered from bipolar disorder and had a mental breakdown in 2009, which he called “the absolute worst event” of his life at the time.[5]
Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Whybrow worked as a house painter, blacksmith’s apprentice and Kaplan tutor.[34]
Death
Whybrow was found dead on the morning of April 11, 2011, at the age of 30, after committing suicide by hanging himself off a turnbuckle pole at a Lake Charles, Louisiana wrestling school. He was survived by his parents and his two siblings.[4][5][6]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- 12 Large Elbow[7] (Diving elbow drop)[2]
- ‘68 Comeback Special (Hangman’s neckbreaker followed into a DDT)[2]
- Boa Constrictor[7] (Seated dragon sleeper)
- Signature moves
- Wrestlers managed
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling Experience
- CWE Undisputed Championship (1 time)[7]
- International Wrestling Cartel
- Pro Wrestling Entertainment
- PWE Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[38]
- Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1
- WORLD-1/PWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with King Kaluha[39]
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[7]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Best Non-Wrestler (2007, 2008)[6]
- Other
- ICW-ICWA Texarkana Television Championship (27 times)[32]
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Did you know that Robert Horry is one of only three players to win consecutive NBA Championships with two different teams?
Did you know that Robert Horry collected his seventh championship as a member of the Spurs in 2007?
Did you know that Horry is one of only nine players to have won seven or more championships in the NBA and the only one who did not play on the 1960s Celtics?
Did you know that Robert Horry is one of only three players to win consecutive NBA Championships with two different teams?
Did you know that in 2005, Horry joined John Salleyas the only players to win NBA rings with three different teams?
Did you know that Horry is the all-time leader in playoff games played, having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the 2008 playoffs?
Did you know that Horry holds the record for three-pointers all-time in the NBA Finals with 53, having eclipsed Michael Jordan‘s previous record of 42?
Did you know that Horry holds the NBA Playoffs record for most three-point field goals made in a game without a miss (7), against the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals?
Who is Richard Preston Carlisle ?
Who is Richard Preston Carlisle? The Professional basketball world knows him as Rick Carlisle. Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA‘s Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA.[1][2][3][4]
Playing career
Carlisle was born October 27, 1959 raised in Lisbon, New York. He graduated from Worcester Academy and played two years of college basketball at the University of Maine from 1979 to 1981 before transferring to the University of Virginia in 1982, where he co-captained the Cavaliers of the coach Terry Holland to the Final Four in 1984. In his college years he averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
NBA
After graduating that same year, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics (23rd pick in the third round), where he played alongside Larry Bird. With the Celtics under coach K.C. Jones he won the NBA championship in 1986 against the Houston Rockets and lost in the NBA Finals in 1985 and 1987 to the Los Angeles Lakers. From 1984 to 1987 he averaged 2.2 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds per game in a limited reserve role. Carlisle then played for Bill Musselman‘s Albany Patroons, and was then signed as a free agent by the New York Knicks under coach Rick Pitino, where he played alongside future star Patrick Ewing. In 1989, Carlisle played in 5 games with the New Jersey Nets under Bill Fitch.
Coaching career
Later in 1989, he accepted an assistant coaching position with the Nets, where he spent five seasons under Bill Fitch and Chuck Daly. In 1994, Carlisle joined the assistant coaching staff with the Portland Trail Blazers under coach P. J. Carlesimo, where he spent three seasons.
In 1997, Rick Carlisle joined the Indiana Pacers organization as an assistant coach under his former teammate, Larry Bird. During his time as Pacers assistant coach, he helped the Pacers to two of their best seasons ever. First, in 1997-98, the Pacers stretched the Chicago Bulls to the limit, narrowly losing the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual NBA champion. Then, in 1999-2000, the Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time, ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird stepped down as coach, and pushed for Carlisle to be selected as his replacement, but Pacers team president Donnie Walsh gave the job to Isiah Thomas.
Detroit Pistons
For the 2001 season, Carlisle was recruited by the Detroit Pistons to be their new head coach. In two seasons as Pistons’ head coach with players like Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince, Carlisle led them to consecutive 50-32 records (.610) with Central Division titles and playoff appearances, and was named Coach of the Year in 2002. However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the 2002-03 season with a year remaining on his contract and hired Larry Brown. Friction between Carlisle and team ownership was cited as one of the primary reasons for the firing. Ironically, Carlisle’s Pistons had just dispatched Brown’s Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals.
Indiana Pacers
For the 2003-04 season, Carlisle was re-hired by the Indiana Pacers—but this time, as its head coach (Isiah Thomas had been fired, almost immediately after Larry Bird was brought back as the new President of Basketball Operations). In his first season, Carlisle led the Pacers to the Central Division title and NBA’s best regular-season record (61-21; 74.4%). In the playoffs, the team eliminated both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. In that year he was nominated coach for the All-Star Game. In 2005, the Pacers roster was decimated by injuries (most notably, those of Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley), and suspensions (due to the Pacers–Pistons brawl attributed to Ron Artest at the Palace of Auburn Hills). Carlisle was still able to rally the Pacers to the NBA Playoffs that season, though. As the sixth seed, they again defeated the Boston Celtics in the first round, before being defeated once again by the eventual Eastern Conference Champion, the Pistons.
After the Pacers finished the 2006-07 season with a 35-47 record (missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997), Carlisle’s tenure as head coach ended; it is unclear whether he voluntarily resigned, was fired, or was pushed to resign. In four seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Carlisle compiled a 181-147 record.[5] On June 12, 2007, Carlisle announced that he would also resign from his position as Executive Vice-president of the Pacers. After leaving Indiana, Carlisle worked as a studio analyst for ESPN before signing with the Dallas Mavericks as its new head coach.
Dallas Mavericks
On May 9, 2008 Carlisle signed a four-year deal with Mark Cuban‘s Dallas Mavericks, replacing Avery Johnson. He led them to a 50-32 record including a first round win against the San Antonio Spurs. They would lose to the Denver Nuggets 4-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals.[4][6] The next year he coached the Mavs to a 55-27 record, first in Southwest Division and second in the West, but lost in the first round to San Antonio. In 2010, Dallas won sixteen of its first twenty games in a competitive Western Conference.
On May 8, 2011, he coached the Mavericks to a sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
On May 25, 2011, he coached the Mavericks to a 4-1 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, the first conference finals victory of his coaching career.
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Who is Christopher Peter Meloni ?
Who is Christopher Peter Meloni? The entertainment and acting world knows him as Christopher Meloni. Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.
Early life
Meloni was born April 2, 1961 the youngest of three children in Washington, D.C., the son of Carol, a homemaker, and Robert Meloni, an endocrinologist.[1] His maternal ancestry is French Canadian and his paternal ancestry is Sardinian. Meloni is a typical and widely diffused Sardinian surname.[2] He attended St. Stephen’s School (now St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School) and the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he first studied acting, graduating with a degree in history in 1983. After graduation, Meloni went to New York where he continued his studies with Sanford Meisner at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse.
Acting career
Meloni worked as a construction worker prior to getting his acting break. He has also worked as a bouncer, bartender, and personal trainer. Meloni worked his way up the acting ladder with commercials,[3] short-lived TV series, and bit parts in a number of films. His first noticeable role was as the hotheaded son of a Mafia Don in the 1996 thriller Bound. He also appeared as Robbie Sinclair‘s friend Spike in Dinosaurs and Julia Roberts‘ fiance in Runaway Bride.
From 1998-2003, Meloni portrayed the bisexual criminal Chris Keller on the HBO series Oz; the role with its numerous full frontal nude scenes won him a great deal of media attention, particularly within the gay community in which he became considered a sex symbol. Meloni has publicly stated when asked that he “embraces being a gay icon” and that he finds it “flattering.” In 1999, he even jokingly kissed his onscreen partner Lee Tergesen (who played Tobias Beecher, Meloni’s on-screen boyfriend on Oz) at an awards dinner for GLAAD.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order producer Dick Wolf, impressed by Meloni’s acting abilities, signed him up for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999, where he has remained ever since. From 1999 to 2003, he appeared on both shows simultaneously.
Meloni wears a fake tattoo of the United States Marine Corps emblem (the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) on his arm for the role (as seen in Season 8, Episode 8, “Underbelly”).
On July 6, 2006, Meloni was nominated for his first Emmy Award, in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role as Elliot Stabler.
Christopher has announced that the 12th season of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit will be his last and he would be departing the cast.[4]
Other work
He returned to his comedic roots when he portrayed the character “Gene” in Wet Hot American Summer in 2001, and the character of “Freakshow” (albeit in heavy make-up) in the 2004 comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. He would make another cameo in its sequel, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, as “The Grand Wizard”.
In July 2009, Meloni portrayed renowned DC Comics character Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie Green Lantern: First Flight. He briefly appeared in the first episode of the Comedy Central series Michael & Michael Have Issues portraying himself for a fake movie starring Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter.
Public appearances
Meloni competed in the eighth series of Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown, finishing in second place, behind Robin Tunney, and ahead of Macy Gray, Joy Behar, and Andy Dick. He played for Feed the Children. He also appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! on November 10, 2006, defeating fellow Law & Order stars Sam Waterston and Kathryn Erbe. Meloni split his $50,000 charity prize between the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program and the Montefiore Advocacy Center.
Meloni was included in the 2006 edition of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive.
Personal life
Meloni is married to production designer Doris Meloni (née Williams) and they have two children, daughter Sophia Eva Meloni (b. March 23, 2000), and son Dante Meloni (b. January 2, 2004).[citation needed]
He has a real tattoo of a cubist representation of the crucifixion of Christ tattooed on his upper left arm. He also has two other tattoos, a butterfly on his left upper thigh and a Chinese astrological chart of his family on his right lower leg.[5] The edge of it can be seen in the L&O: SVU episode “Wildlife” when Elliot is sleeping on the couch.
Filmography
| 1994 | Clean Slate | Bodyguard | |
| 1994 | Junior | Mr. Lanzarotta | |
| 1995 | 12 Monkeys | Lt. Halperin | |
| 1996 | Bound | Johnnie Marzzone | |
| 1997 | The Small Hours | FL | |
| 1998 | Apt Pupil | Unnamed Homeless Man | Uncredited Role |
| 1998 | Brown’s Requiem | Sgt. Cavanah | Uncredited Role |
| 1998 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas | Sven, Clerk at Flamingo Hotel | |
| 1998 | The Souler Opposite | Barry Singer | |
| 1999 | Carlo’s Wake | Bennetto Torello | |
| 1999 | Runaway Bride | Bob Kelly | |
| 2001 | Wet Hot American Summer | Gene | |
| 2002 | That Brief Moment | Ken | Short film |
| 2004 | Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle | Freakshow | |
| 2008 | Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay | Grand Wizard | credited as “Reverend Clyde Stanky” |
| 2008 | Nights in Rodanthe | Jack Willis | |
| 2009 | Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | R / Subject #3 | |
| 2009 | Carriers | Frank | |
| 2010 | Green Lantern: First Flight | Hal Jordan/Green Lantern | Voice |
| 2011 | National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie | Producer Charlie LaRue | Direct to video |
| 2012 | The Lords of Salem | Whitey |
| 1989 -1990 |
1st & Ten | Vito Del Greco/Johnny Gunn | 11 episodes |
| 1990 | When Will I Be Loved? | Ron Weston | TV film on NBC |
| 1990 -1991 |
The Fanelli Boys | Frankie Fanelli | 17 episodes |
| 1991 | In a Child’s Name | Jerry Cimarelli | TV film on CBS |
| 1991 -1994 |
Dinosaurs | Spike | 11 episodes |
| 1992 | Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story | David | ABC television film |
| 1993 | Without a Kiss Goodbye | Ray Samuels | also known as Falsely Accused CBS television film |
| 1993 | The Boys | Doug Kirkfield | |
| 1993 | Golden Gate | Douglas ‘BW’ Carlino | Unsold pilot |
| 1995 | A Dangerous Affair | Tommy Moretti | ABC television film |
| 1995 | Hope and Gloria | Billy | Episode: “Love with an Improper Stranger” |
| 1995 | Misery Loves Company | Mitch | 8 episodes |
| 1996 -1997 |
NYPD Blue | Jimmy Liery | 5 episodes |
| 1997 | The Last Don | Boz Skannet | Miniseries |
| 1997 | Leaving L.A. | Reed Sims | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Every 9 Seconds | Richard Sutherland | NBC television film |
| 1997 | Brooklyn South | Joe | Episode: “Wild Irish Woes” Episode: “McMurder One” Episode: “Dublin or Nothin’ |
| 1998 | Target Earth | Det. Samuel ‘Sam’ Adams | ABC television film |
| 1998 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Bounty Hunter Dennis Knoll | Episode: “Wanted Dead or Alive 1” Episode: “Wanted Dead or Alive 2” |
| 1998 -2003 |
Oz | Chris Keller | 38 episodes |
| 1999 | Shift | Louis | Television film |
| 1999 -2011 |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Det. Elliot Stabler | Lead character |
| 2000 | Law & Order | Det. Elliot Stabler | Episode: “Entitled” Episode: “Fools For Love“ |
| 2002 | Murder in Greenwich | Mark Fuhrman | Television film |
| 2003 | Scrubs | Dr. Dave Norris | Episode: “My White Whale” |
| 2005 | Wonder Showzen | Cooties Spokesman | Episode: “Health” |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Det. Elliot Stabler | Episode: “Day“ |
| 2008 | Gym Teacher: The Movie | Dave Stewie | Nickelodeon television film |
| 2009 | Michael & Michael Have Issues | Episode: “Greg the Intern” |
Awards and nominations
- 2006: Nominated, “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series” – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2004: Nominated, “Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode” – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2008: Nominated, “Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode” – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
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