.11.•■•■■141•,01104......•
Last Call
• gh
2005 JCC MACCABI GAMES®
INFORMATION
The Greatest
psychologist
calculated
that Jan. 24
is the most depress-
ing day of the year,
she probably missed
it by a day.
Johnny Carson's
passing came as a
HARRY
shock when I awoke
KI RS BAUM
on Jan. 23.
Columnist
I skipped the
Sunday morning
talk shows and spent a few hours
watching cable television's nonstop
coverage of old
clips and remem-
brances by what-
ever celebrity the
talking heads
could reach by
phone.
In each case,
the outpouring of
sadness and fond
memories were
genuine.
I became a bar
mitzvah in 1968,
but I didn't con-
sider myself
grown up until a
few years later
when I was
allowed to stay up
Here's Johnny!
until 1 a.m. to
watch his show.
I loved his mono-
logues, especially when they weren't
going well — and I loved the way he
got the most out of his guests.
He made it all look so easy.
He introduced me to comedians
David Letterman, Jay Leno, David
Brenner, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld
and Billy Crystal.
He introduced me to real authors,
too. Not the celebrities pushing a new
book.
He gave me characters like Aunt
Blabby, Art Fern, Floyd R. Turbo and
Carnac the Magnificent.
When he came out with his own
clothing line, I bought a Johnny
Carson suit: a white, brown and
orange plaid highly flammable double-
knit polyester number with lapels
wide enough to send me flying in a
strong breeze.
When I wore it with that maroon
shirt and a tie that looked like some-
one threw up on it, I felt almost as
A
funny as I looked.
When the show's 90-minute format
ended in 1980, the pace quickened
and the interviews didn't have time to
develop, but there were still enough
memorable moments to keep me
hooked.
He walked away in 1992, after 30
years. Leno took over, and Letterman
moved to CBS.
Leno stinks, by the way.
He won't acknowledge a monologue
gone badly, and his Jay-Walking seg-
ment is one of the most mean-spirited
things on television. How many peo-
ple do they have
to interview on
the street before
they can find
someone who
doesn't know
how many U.S.
Senators there
are?
I was happy to
read the news in
recent weeks
that Carson had
been writing
jokes for
Letterman.
Johnny had
been out of the
news for so
long, in retro-
spect, it was
probably a bad
omen.
When Letterman came into town
last week to receive the BorgWarner
trophy for his car that won the Indy
500, a local sports anchor asked
Letterman about the jokes.
Johnny's been sending us some jokes
for a while and we're thrilled about it,
Letterman said.
"Do you use any of them?" asked
the reporter, playing the perfect
straight man.
"No," Letterman said, laughing.
"We try to break his heart as much as
possible."
A celebrity's death usually gets no
more than a "That's too bad, pass the
chips" from me.
It's sad in one way, but good in
another.
The only way I've ever known him
is through the glow of the television
screen. If I watch the specials on tele-
vision and buy the commemorative
DVD, he'll still be alive. ❑
■ 11111111/
MEM
JEW
Vf
The 2005 JCC Maccabi Games® will be held August 7-12 in
St. Paul, Minn., and August 14-19 in Richmond, VA for the
following sports: boys' baseball, boys' basketball, girls' basket-
ball, girls' soccer, girls' softball, girls' volleyball, in-line hockey,
bowling, dance, golf, table tennis, tennis, track and field, and
swimming. The games are for Jewish teens who will be age 13-
16 as of August 1, 2005.
MANDATORY INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Parents AND athletes should attend. Introduction of coaches,
site information, try-out schedule and other important informa-
tion will be discussed.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
4:30 PM
Marion and David Handleman Hall
Jewish Community Center
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
In addition to the meeting, the following sports will have tryouts as indicated
SPORT
DATE
TIME
PLACE
Boys' Baseball
Feb. 10 & Feb. 24
8:15 - 10:00 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Girls' Softball
Jan. 31 & Feb. 7
8:15 - 10:00 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Girls' Soccer
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23
4:00 - 6:00 PM
In-Line Hockey Ctr.
Girls' Volleyball
Feb. 5, 12, 19
8:00 - 10:00 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Boys' Basketball 13-14
Feb. 5, 12, 19
6:45 - 8:45 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Boys' Basketball 15-16
Feb. 5, 12, 19
6:45 - 8:45 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Girls' Basketball
Feb. 14 & 21
8:15 -10:00 PM
Kahn JCC Gym
Table Tennis
Feb. 3
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Kahn JCC Room
In-line Hockey
To Be Discussed at Meeting
Dance
Feb. 6
In-Line Hockey Ctr.
3:00-5:00 PM
Annette & Co.
Orchard Lake-13 Mile
For more information please email Maccabidetroit@twmi.rr.com
or call 248-432-5500 or visit our website Maccabidetroit.org
930570
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248-721-6964
931150
1/27
2005
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