On January 26 the sports and television world lost one of its true champions. Known as "the James Joyce of the airwaves," sportscaster Al McGuire passed away in his Milwaukee home surrounded by his loved ones. McGuire's renown as former coach of the Marquette Warriors basketball team, and later NBC then CBS commentator for the NCAA basketball tournament, was matched only by … [Read more...] about Those We Lost: Al McGuire
Film and Television
Jordan to Film Ned Kelly
Irish director Neil Jordan, currently filming The Gambler with Nick Nolte, in France, recently beat off stiff competition for the film rights to Peter Carey's best-seller The True Story of the Kelly Gang. In the novel, Carey, an Australian who won the Booker Prize for Oscar and Lucinda, gives a first person account of his country'y most powerful legend, Ned Kelly, the son of … [Read more...] about Jordan to Film Ned Kelly
Steve Allen (1921 – 2000)
If the stars are twinkling a bit more lately, it's because one of Earth's brightest has taken his place in their midst. On November 1, Steve Allen passed away in his sleep and into the realm of legend. His wife, actress Jayne Meadows, once described him as "a good Irish Catholic boy. One of the true, clean wits around." He was that, and much more -- a comic genius, musician, … [Read more...] about Steve Allen (1921 – 2000)
The Fighting Fitzgeralds
Brian Dennehy stars in The Fighting Fitzgeralds, premiering this month on NBC. He plays a retired firefighter and widower with three grown sons who just wants to left alone to paint. Unfortunately, Jim, the eldest son (Justin Louis), and his pregnant wife, Sophie (Connie Britton), still live at "home." Youngest son, Patrick (Jon Patrick Walker), quits his job, comes to a … [Read more...] about The Fighting Fitzgeralds
Reclining With Kevin
Kevin Kline is seriously funny. Blame it on his Irish side. Settling back into a plush maroon velvet banquette in the restaurant of the Mark Hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Kline sips his cappuccino, then leans forward in a conspiratorial fashion and smiles. "She was definitely in charge." Agnes Kline, his mother, was of Irish descent and a Catholic, and … [Read more...] about Reclining With Kevin