30 years ago today ... John Lennon

[Jersey Yankee]

December 8th, 1980.

A very brilliant and peaceful man, a very sad tragedy.

R-I-P, eternally.

[Barb51850]

Gone too soon. RIP John, and thanks for the music.

[Yankeesfan924]

[jlw1980]

[jlw1980]

[JL25and3]

I was at a friend's house for our weekly card game, and for some reason we were listening to the rarely-played Side 4 of the White Album. This was the last song we heard, then we turned on the TV and heard the news.

[wexy]

was watching Monday Night Football when Howard Cosell broke the news.

[Yankee Tripper]

was watching Monday Night Football when Howard Cosell broke the news.

They played that clip on the radio this moring. They also played a seldom heard clip of Cosell & Gifford discussing whether or not they should even announce it durring the game given the game situation. Gifford was like "we have to, this is big news" kind of thing and Cosell is like OK, after we call this play then. It was kind of neat to hear that perspective.

Anyway, tragedy that he was shot but no more so than many random and senesless murders that take place.

[35Knucklecurve]

They played that clip on the radio this moring. They also played a seldom heard clip of Cosell & Gifford discussing whether or not they should even announce it durring the game given the game situation. Gifford was like "we have to, this is big news" kind of thing and Cosell is like OK, after we call this play then. It was kind of neat to hear that perspective.

Anyway, tragedy that he was shot but no more so than many random and senesless murders that take place.

I heard that clip on Mike & Mike this morning. It's the first time I was ever even aware that there was a discussion about it. I was watching that game - I could not believe what I was hearing. I can still hear Cosell's voice - very deliberate and almost detached..... "Dead on arrival".

Another interesting note - the guy who was a producer at ABC (I cannot recall his name right now) was in a motorcylce accident that night and ended up at the same hospital as Lennon. He was the one who learned of his death and contacted the studio.

[Barb51850]

I saw excerpts of a CNN documentary on their web site. They were intereviewing the police officers who responded to the scene. The memory is still vivid for them.

One of them said that the killer apologized to him for ruining his night. The officer said to him "You're apologizing to me for ruining my NIGHT? Do you know you just ruined your whole LIFE?"

[NJ Fan]

My favorite Lennon song. Excellent photo montage....

[Hitman23]

[MunsonNY15]

Hard to believe that it's been 30 years. Gone too soon, may he RIP.

Heidi

[MunsonNY15]

Nice touch, Jenn, posting the tribute songs, but you forgot one of the best: Empty Garden by Elton John. Just great lyrics by Bernie Taupin.

What happened here
As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain

And what's it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace

And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play

And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear
Who lived there
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name

Johnny can't you come out to play in your empty garden

[pjfan]

Talking about this today over a beer with a friend. I was only 4 years old at the time, but certainly understand the effect that it had on the public. We were trying to come up with a musician/entertainer in today's world that would have this same type of effect on the public.

Not that you would ever hear the news from announcers at a sporting event, with cell phones, twitter, facebook and all that stuff. But who would it be that would cause people to react the way people did back in 1980 with Lennon?

Sorry if this is a bit rambling. I guess I had more then "a" beer.

[Octoberbaby]

Rest in Peace, Johnny.

[bobbymagee]

As the years proceed, I am stunned even more and sadness grow. My only consolation is listening to his music, especially the newer and last songs: Grow Old (Along with Me). Help Me to Help Myself, Gone From this Place, Free As A Bird, Real Love, Sally and Billy, Now and Then, Dear World , India, Don't Be Crazy, and Life Begins at Forty.

At fifteen, it was the beginning of high school, finished school work and turned on Monday night football to hear the awful news from Howard Cosel.

Thanks all for posting the relevant videos:
All those years ago, etc.

Peace

[bobbymagee]

Splendid, thanks for posting...

[bobbymagee]

I heard that clip on Mike & Mike this morning. It's the first time I was ever even aware that there was a discussion about it. I was watching that game - I could not believe what I was hearing. I can still hear Cosell's voice - very deliberate and almost detached..... "Dead on arrival".

Another interesting note - the guy who was a producer at ABC (I cannot recall his name right now) was in a motorcylce accident that night and ended up at the same hospital as Lennon. He was the one who learned of his death and contacted the studio.

Please, can you post a link or let know the web page.
Thanks,

[NJ Fan]

I saw the reporter interviewed yesterday and they played the clip, which was during the commercial break of the MNF game.

Here is an article and the whole clip.....11 minutes long but an excellent account....

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/john-l...ootball-video/

[Jersey Yankee]

I saw excerpts of a CNN documentary on their web site. They were intereviewing the police officers who responded to the scene. The memory is still vivid for them.

One of them said that the killer apologized to him for ruining his night. The officer said to him "You're apologizing to me for ruining my NIGHT? Do you know you just ruined your whole LIFE?"

I remember hearing the news when I was at home with my family. I don't remember whether it was on the TV or the radio, but I just didn't believe that this had happened.

The next day, on the front page of the NY Daily News, someone had snapped a picture of John Lennon in front of The Dakota where he'd lived. He'd also stopped to give a fan an autograph. It's no surprise now (but totally shocking back then) who that "fan" was. Thankfully, 30 years later, he's no more famous than the one he's killed, and won't see freedom anytime soon.

[35Knucklecurve]

Please, can you post a link or let know the web page.
Thanks,

I heard it on Mike & Mike during their show on Wednesday. You may be able to catch it if you want to listen to the Podcast:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/...ive?id=2445552