Hello, gang! Some sports celebrations and two of my favorite people pass on. Shall we begin?

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CONGRATS
To the Anaheim Angels, winner of this year's World Series. Not only do they deserve to win because of their team first attitude, but the fact they won means that crybaby Barry Bonds doesn't get the World Series ring he so badly wanted. Adding to my joy is the fact that Bond's error in game 6 let the winning runs score, so, basically, HE LOST THE SERIES FOR THE GIANTS! Way to go Barry.......I knew you could do it. To Emmit Smith. Yes, I know he's a Cowboy, but even I have been known to put aside my petty hatred just because a great and respected player plays for the club often referred to as "Satan's Team." This past Sunday, Smith passed the late, great Walter Payton and is now the all time leading yardage gainer in the NFL. Way to go Emmit. Now, please, make this your last year. Don't do what Tony Dorsett (another great back doomed to be a Cowboy) and try to hang on another year with another team. Tony D. looked pretty pathetic in the orange and blue of the Broncos!

MUCH THANKS
To all of the law enforcement agents who brought the two suspected DC Snipers to justice. No sooner had I filed my piece then word came across that they had been captured. Although I'm pretty pissed to find out that the INS had John Malvo in their custody and, rather then deport him and his mother as they were ordered to do, they let him go. However, the agent who cut him free at least had the foresight enough to take his fingerprints, and it's those prints that helped identify him. I was doubly shocked to hear that John Mohammed was once a body guard to Louis Farrakaan and his lunatic fringe. I'm still waiting to hear what the Nation of Islam has to say on that matter! (Mike, I couldn't agree more, and I thank you for your continued commentary on this matter as I just couldn't find the words to cover this crime on the PCR homepage. I even had a stand-by headline I never used: "The Real Monsters Among us at Halloween". You've done a superb job describing them. Thanks.---Nolan

PASSING ON
A few years ago, when I was accepting the applause of a grateful karaoke audience for my winning rendition of "Oh, Pretty Woman," I thought back to the man who gave me the courage to hit the stage. And believe me, once you heard Richard Harris's version of the Jimmy Webb penned, "MacArthur Park," you knew that pretty much anyone can sing if they put their mind to it!
   Mr. Harris passed away this past Friday in London, where he was receiving treatment for Hodgkin's disease. He was 72. Harris rose to fame after appearing as King Arthur in the Broadway musical, "Camelot." He won a Golden Globe award in 1967 for his performance in the film version of the show. I believe the first time I saw him on screen was at a drive in showing of "A Man Called Horse." He received two Oscar nominations in his career, one in 1963 for "This Sporting Life," and again in 1990 for "The Field." He had a million selling hit single when his version of "MacArthur Park" hit radio in 1968. He had major roles in two Best Picture winning films over the last decade, "Unforgiven" in 1992 and 2000's "Gladiator." He gained a new generation of fans with his role of Professor Dumbledore in last year's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He will again play Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," which hits screens November 15th.
   Adolph Green, who, with his wife Betty Comden, helped create such great musicals as "On the Town," "Wonderful Town" and the classic film, "Singing in the Rain," died last week in New York at the age of 87. On Broadway, Comden and Green worked with the biggest composers of their time, including Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne and Cy Coleman. The duo would write the lyrics and occasionally the books of the shows they were working on. They won five Tony Awards, with three of their shows, "Wonderful Town," "Hallelujah, Baby!" and "Applause" winning the award for Best Musical. Their last Tony was awarded in 1991 for their book for "The Will Rogers Follies." They followed their screenplay for "Singing in the Rain" with another hit film, "The Bandwagon," starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. A performer as well, my favorite Green role was as television producer Leo Silver in the classic comedy, "My Favorite Year." I have a very special memory of Mr. Green. While waiting for the curtain to rise for a performance of "Grand Hotel" on Broadway, I heard from behind me a murmur in the crowd. Turning, I saw Mr. Green making his way down the aisle toward his seat. It was almost like Moses had parted the Red Sea the way the audience reacted to his presence. Truly a legend had graced us that night!

Well, that's it for now. Have a great week! See ya!