Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--Another Belgian Cookie/Biscuit

      As regular readers may have already noticed, I try to switch up the topics of the things I cover in this blog, to try to keep it interesting.  So, for the odd food and beverage posts I attempt to not do, say, two alcoholic drinks in a row, or two products from the same country in only a short amount of time.  Anyway, it's been an appropriately long enough time since I talked about a cookie or biscuit, and since I featured something from Belgium.  So here we are.  Today's focus is from the Belgian Delacre company--their Marquisette cookie.

     Delacre was started by a man named, not shockingly, Charles Delacre.  Delacre was a pharmacist by trade.  However, he decided to specialize in making chocolates, going so far as to open a "chocolate laboratory" in 1873.  The business was successful very quickly--by 1879 Delacre was named an official supplier to the Royal Palace of Belgium, which it has maintained up through the present.  In 1891 Charles decided to diversify a bit by starting to make and market pastries, starting with the Pacha Delacre biscuit.  I wasn't able to find out much about the company's size or current staff.  One business website named only a Alberto Cavalleris, but I couldn't confirm elsewhere if he's the CEO, or President, or something else.  The total number of employees is estimated at being between 500-999.  I also was kind of amused to read on the official company website that Delacre products are distributed to "about 12 countries."  I understand some vagueness when your company is available in like 100 or more nations, but they can't figure out the exact number when it's only around 12?  (For the record, another business website listed some of these countries where you can buy Delacre wares--Canada, the U.S., Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the U.K., and China.  Plus I'm assuming Belgium, since it would be weird if a Belgian company with a Royal supplier contract didn't otherwise sell their stuff in their home country.)  Looking at the available products on the Delacre website, the majority of them are biscuits/cookies, and not chocolate candies.  Although most of their cookies have chocolate in them, so there is that.  Aside from the type I tried, other popular selections include their Roule d'Or, Nordica, White Heart, Belize, and Biarritz, to name a few.  Also, for chocolate purists, the Delacre chocolate used conforms to Belgian law, which mandates that the percentage of cocoa used must be at least 35%.  Finally, I figured "marquisette" was a common type of Belgian cookie, but apparently not.  Yet another online source claimed that this name is trademarked by the Delacre company.  I also assumed that "marquisette" meant something like "a little marquis," as in the rank of royalty, but that's apparently false.  The definition I read was that it's a type of fine, gauzy fabric, made from cotton, used to make clothing, curtains, and mosquito nets.  I guess the cookies are also seen as being fine and delicate, and/or perhaps the wavy shape is supposed to evoke a piece of this fabric.

Delacre Marquisettes:  These were kind of barbell or oval shaped, about 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches (or about 6.5 cm. by 4 cm.).   Their color was brownish-yellow, with a dark brown chocolate coating on the two ends.  The texture was crunchy.  The biscuit itself was nicely sweet, and the chocolate was good, too.  The box said it was dark chocolate, but I didn't find it to be unpleasantly bitter, as I often do with this kind of chocolate.  I often criticize European cookies/biscuits for being too bland and boring, but these were a happy exception.  I enjoyed the Marquisettes, and would recommend them.

Details About the April Issue of "InD'tale"

 

     Once again, I'm a little behind on this, but I'm happy to announce that the April issue of "InD'tale" is up and ready to be read.  This issue contains article from S.L. Carpenter, Tamara Cribley, Sarah McEachron, and TJ Mackay.  And one from me, which is about some of the odd, disturbing, and wacky guidelines I've encountered while trying to find homes for my various stories over the years.  Additionally, there are interviews with author Susan Stoker (related to Bram?  I hope so) and rising star writer Ryan Jo Summers.  As well as the next chapter of "Pathway to the Gods" from its creator, Julie L. York.  Accompanied by the usual slate of book reviews.  As always, I'm grateful to Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Founder TJ Mackay, and the rest of the magazine's staff.  The magazine's address is below, and remember, it's free!

                                            http://www.indtale.com

   Finally, as a preview, look for more movie trivia quizzes in the coming months.  The next few will be a famous action movie, and a couple of sci fi/action films, not necessarily in that order.  Stay tuned!

Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--An Austrian/American Water

      I haven't discussed a water in quite some time, so let's get to it.  This was a find at my alternate Shop-Rite, in the soft drink/water aisle (obviously).  It was the Liquid Death brand, which is bottled in Frankenmarkt, Austria.

     When I checked into this online, Liquid Death had an odd imprint.  The website was down, but there was quite a bit of information on Instragram and TikTok.  But I'm basing a lot of this post on a longish (about 12-13 minutes) video from Business Axiom.  Moving on, co-founder and current CEO Mike Cessario (who's a Delaware native) noticed in about 2008 or 2009 that many concert goers would refill energy drink containers with water, to both stay hydrated but still seem "cool."  It got Cessario to thinking about how water is advertised.  Essentially, he decided to market a water like it was an energy drink, in a funny and edgy way.  He borrowed some of the dangerous imagery from his punk and metal band background, for example.  Skulls and demons and such are often used in Liquid Death's advertisements.  Along with an atypical product name, and motto ("murder your thirst").  Even the container is different--it's sold in 500 mL/16.9 ounce cans, which resemble beer "tallboy" cans.  The brand also responds to negative comments and reviews in an unusual manner.  They create death metal songs incorporating these criticisms as lyrics.  Liquid Death also took a page from the band Kiss's playbook, by having one of their celebrity investors, Tony Hawk, donate blood, which was mixed into paint that was put on branded Liquid Death skateboards.  The video I watched was quite complimentary of Liquid Death's marketing, claiming it's successful because they're exploiting the "Von Restorff Effect" (aka the Isolation Effect), which basically means that consumers remember products that are unique, and are different from their peers.  Whatever the reason, Liquid Death has flourished.  Despite only having started in January of 2019, it's expected to have an annual revenue of $130,000,000, and an expected company value of $700,000,000.  Liquid Death has also expanded their choices a bit.  It's introduced some flavored carbonated drinks, with appropriate menacing names such as Mango Chainsaw, Severed Lime, and Berry It Alive, and some teas (Armless Palmer, Grim Leafer, and Rest in Peach).  The company does have a softer side, at least on one issue--they proudly don't use plastic for any of their containers, citing the waste and ecological problems with this substance.  Additionally, 10% of their profits are donated to fight plastic pollution.

Liquid Death mountain water:  I tend to like drinking out of a glass rather than from a metal can, so I did this with the Liquid Death.  Its color was clear, as water should be.  It also had no discernable odor, again, as water should be.  The taste was....off somehow.  Perhaps a tad bitter, in a bad way, and maybe a little metallic-y, again, a bad thing.  I didn't do this double blind style versus a water I like, but I think I would have been able to tell the difference.  Which is weird, since with rare exceptions water is basically water.  I didn't like this, will not buy it again, and would not recommend it.

     So, in conclusion, Liquid Death has a cool name, a neat motto, fun morbid imagery, entertaining advertisements, and they seem to have a nice progressive eco-friendly stance.  But, alas, the actual product, the water in the can, was disappointing.  It's hard to mess up a water, but somehow they did.  (If anyone's thinking that maybe I got a bad individual can, I would counter with the detail that my can was well within its freshness date--it wouldn't have expired until June of 2025.  I will try one of their flavored drinks or teas if I see any offered, though, just to see if their other wares are good or not.  One final point about their environmental, anti-plastic stance.  From what I read, it's true that aluminum is recycled more than plastic, which is good, but that the manufacture of these cans actually produces more CO2 than plastic, which is clearly bad.  Many environmentalists recommend that instead of buying any one-use, disposable container, that people should instead fill eco-friendly containers with tap water (filtered if necessary).  Finally, I do have to admit that part of me wants to come up with macabre/whimsical names for Liquid Death's teas and flavored carbonated drinks.  Such as WaterHellion, Grapes of Wrath, and Busted Cherry.

Extremely Difficult Trivia About "The Terminator" (1984)

      This movie is one of my very favorites.  I can recall one evening as a teen when a similarly obsessed friend and I watched it, took a brief break, and then decided to watch it all over again.  And its first sequel, "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" beat the odds and was an extremely worthy follow up.  (Alas, the same can't be said for the, to date, 4 sequels that followed, but that's another story.)  Anyway, I'll follow my usual format of asking the questions first, and then put the answers at the end.  Also as always, these are very detailed questions, probably of interest only to hardcore fans of the movie.   SPOILERS abound, too, clearly.  

Questions:

1)    Where, and in what year does the movie open?

2)    What is the number of the police car that first investigates Reese?

3)    The police cars in that time have a motto written on them.  What is it?

4)    According to the cop that Reese first encounters, what is the current day, month, and day of the week?

5)    Over the course of the movie, we see several characters look up "Sarah Connor" in the phone book.  What are the full names of the three women listed under that name?

6)    And according to the phone books, what are the addresses of these three Sarah Connors?

7)    What is the name of the restaurant where Sarah works?

8)    Where does the Terminator acquire his guns?

9)    At the store, we hear the Terminator asking for a 12 gauge auto loader (shotgun), a.45 Long Slide with laser sighting, and an Uzi 9 millimeter.  What gun does he ask for that he's told the store doesn't carry?

10)   According to the gun store owner, how long is the waiting period for handguns?

11)   We see the Terminator shooting one of the "other" Sarah Connors to death, presumably in her house.  What is the number over the door?

12)   Before she gets ready for her date, we see Sarah wearing a t-shirt featuring the characters of a well known cartoon.  What is it?

13)   Sarah has a roommate, Ginger.  We later see Ginger's boyfriend.  What is his name?

14)   Sarah's date for Friday night cancels, leaving a message on the apartment answering machine.  What is this man's name?

15)   What is the number on Sarah and Ginger's apartment door?

16)   We see Sarah and Ginger's answering machine several times.  What brand is it?

17)   Sarah goes into a bar to hide from Reese.  What is the name of this place?

18)   And on what street is this bar located?

19)   What is the cover charge at the bar?  (Sarah pays it, the Terminator does NOT.)

20)   Just as the Terminator approaches Sarah and Ginger's apartment, the observing police car is called away on its radio.  By what?

21)   We see two Keebler brand foods atop Sarah and Ginger's refrigerator.  What are they?

22)   What is the name of Sarah's pet iguana?  (Apparently the only survivor of the Terminator's rampage.)

23)   What is the bar's phone number?

24)   After the shootout at the bar, the Terminator steals a police car.  What number is it?

25)   After subduing the cop to get this car, the Terminator later perfectly mimics the cop's voice.  What is this police officer's callsign?

26)   According to Reese, what is his military rank?

27)   And what is Reese's serial number?

28)   The Terminator chasing Sarah and Reese is a Cyberdyne System Model 101.  We later learn he's in the 800 series.  What Terminator series number had rubber skin, making identification easy?

29)   Reese and Sarah switch cars, but are caught by the police.  What make and model is this final car?

30)   What is Dr. Silberman's job title?

31)   Reese goes over his actions in the future.  Before serving under John Connor from 2027-29, he spent the years 2021-27 serving under a different military commander.  Who was this, and in what military unit?

32)   While watching Silberman and Reese talk, Vukovitch (played by Lance Henriksen) briefly tells Traxler about an earlier Silberman interview that amused Vukovitch.  What was it?

33)   What brand of sunglasses does the Terminator wear?

34)   How do the police explain how the Terminator broke through the windshield of the car with a single punch?

35)   According to Lt. Traxler, how many cops are in the police building?

36)   Sarah and Reese briefly hear a radio news break.  What station is it?

37)   What make and model of car do Sarah and Reese escape the police station in?

38)   According to Sarah's address book, what is the address of her mom's cabin?

39)   And what is this cabin's phone number?

40)   What is the name of the motel where Reese and Sarah stay?

41)   What is the phone number of this establishment?

42)   What room number are Sarah and Reese staying in?

43)   What three ingredients does Reese buy to make the homemade nitroglycerin for the pipe bombs?

44)   How many pipe bombs do Reese and Sarah make?

45)   The Terminator steals a tanker truck during the final chase.  What business owns the truck?

46)   What damage does the final pipe bomb do to the Terminator?

47)   In the movie's final scene, set in Mexico, what is the date?

48)   How much does the Mexican gas station charge per liter of gasoline?

49)   We see a beer sign at this gas station, too.  For what brand?

50)   How many American dollars does the young kid ask Sarah for in exchange for the photograph, and how much does he eventually settle for?

51)   We see three punks during the opening scene at Griffith Observatory.  How many does the Terminator kill?

52)  With that out of the way, how many people does the Terminator kill in total during the movie?

53)   What is Sarah's educational status in this movie?  

54)   Which real life sci fi/fantasy writer is credited at the end of the movie?

55)   What would have happened if Sarah had an unlisted phone number?

Answers:

1)    Los Angeles, California (or its ruins, anyway), in the year 2029.

2)    #2361.

3)   "To care and to protect."

4)    May 12th, Thursday.  He doesn't give a year, but we know it's 1984.  (Incidentally, this may be a mistake.  Considering much of the action takes place on a Friday, and the Terminator and Reese were in a hurry, I think the cop accidentally said it was Thursday, but it was actually early Friday morning, presumably May 13th.)

5)    In order, there's Sarah Connor, who we later learn is Sarah Louise Connor, then Sarah Ann Connor, and then our heroine, Sarah J. Connor.  (We don't learn what the "J" is for.)

6)    They're partially cut off or obscured, but Sarah Louise Connor's address is 1823 Doncaster, Sarah Anne Connor's is 2816 Easth--, and Sarah J. Connor's is 309 Calder C--.

7)    Big Jeff's.

8)    The Alamo Sports Shop.

9)    The fictional "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range."

10)   15 days.  Legally he can take the rifles immediately.

11)   14239.  Which doesn't match either of the addresses shown in the phone books for the first two Sarah Connors, so evidently this is a mistake. 

12)   The futuristic "The Jetsons."

13)   Matt, who really likes phone sex, as we see.

14)   Dan Moorski.  Who apparently owns a Porsche, and who really got lucky that he had to cancel!

15)   #225.  Which doesn't correspond to the address seen earlier in the phone books.  Maybe 309 Calder C. is the building address, and #225 is the apartment number, which maybe wasn't in the phone book.  Or it's another mistake by the filmmakers.

16)   An Execu Sect.  Which appears to have been a real model from Toshiba.

17)   Tech Noir.

18)   On Pico Boulevard.

19)   $4.50.  Kind of steep for 1984, I think.

20)   There's a 211 in progress on 3rd and Cameron.  (Since the latter is the writer/director's name, I think this is probably a jokey reference.)  Also, a 211 in police code is an armed robbery.

21)   Their Harvest Wheats, and their Honey Grahams.

22)   Pugsley.

23)   555-9175.

24)   #1874.

25)   1L 19, played by William Wisher, who wrote additional dialogue for this movie, and co-wrote "Terminator 2" and made another acting cameo.

26)   He's a Sergeant Techcom.  (Technological communications?  Technological commander?)

27)   BN38416.

28)   The 600 Series.

29)   A Cadillac El Dorado, a 1977 model.

30)   He's a criminal psychologist.

31)   He was in the 132nd, under Perry.

32)   A guy screwed his Afghan, and then set it on fire.  Presumably the breed of dog and not the blanket or rug, but either way, pretty disturbing.

33)   Gargoyles.  Also seen worn by Dirty Harry in the last 2 movies in that series.

34)   Vukovitch theorizes that the man was on PCP, and probably broke every bone in his hand, although he wouldn't know it until later.

35)   30.

36)   KFLB.

37)   A 1972 AMC Gremlin.

38)   181 Spruce Lane, Big Bear.  I'm not encouraging any trespassing or anything, but according to Google Maps this might be a real address.

39)   555-9861.

40)   The Tiki Motel.

41)   408-555-1439.  Probably another mistake by the filmmakers, since the 408 area code is over 300 mile north of Los Angeles, in the San Jose area.

42)   9.

43)   Mothballs, Karo corn syrup, and ammonia.  From light online research these things don't appear to really make plastique, but for obvious reasons I didn't want to look into this in detail.

44)   7.

45)   J + G Oil Co.

46)   It blasts off his legs, and his left hand.

47)   November 10th, 1984.

48)   40.3.  Presumably pesos.

49)   Tecate.

50)   $5, but he settles for $4.

51)   At least one.  The blonde guy on the right gets some organ (his heart?) pulled out of his torso, and falls down looking extremely dead.  Of the other two, Bill Paxton's spiky haired character gets shoved against the metal fence, and falls down.  (Perhaps concussed?  We don't see him anymore.  But it seems unlikely that the push was fatal.)  The third guy gets trapped and starts disrobing, and the Terminator is later seen wearing this punk's clothes.  It's possible that the Terminator killed the remaining two just to tie up loose ends, but in other situations he usually doesn't kill people unnecessarily.  So I'm guessing the two others survived, but it's clearly unknown.

52)   At least 27.  In order, he kills at least one punk, then Dick Miller's gun store owner, the two other Sarah Connors, Matt and Ginger, at least 3 club goers in Tech Noir, 17 police officers (as revealed in Terminator 2, so 13 cops survived their gun shot wounds), and Sarah's mother.  As I covered in the previous question, it's possible the two other punks were also killed.  And the truck driver at the end is clearly attacked by the Terminator, but it's unknown if fatally so.  Reese's death is caused by his own pipe bomb, so I'm not counting that.

53)   We see the Terminator find Sarah's university ID card, saying it's for the spring of 1984.  Since it's May 13th at the time, that indicates she's probably nearing the end of a semester, or just finished her spring semester.  It's also possible she just graduated.  In the movie we don't see which college she's attending, but other sources indicate it's Western University in Pomona.  And sadly, after the events of the movie, it doesn't appear that Sarah finished up her education, alas, assuming she didn't graduate before.

54)   Harlan Ellison.  Evidently Ellison was threatening a lawsuit, since "The Terminator" was arguably very similar to Ellison's "Soldier" and possibly "Demon with a Glass Hand."

55)   Okay, I'm kind of joking here, but it does lead to an important point.  Mainly, if her phone number (and thus address) wasn't in the phone book, how would the Terminator have located her?  Since it only knew her name, and that she was a resident of the huge Los Angeles metro area.  In the pre-internet days of 1984, the Terminator could have gone to the DMV, and tracked her by her driver's license, or gone to the court house and tracked her birth certificate, I suppose.  But what if she was born in another city, and didn't have a driver's license?  Also, the Terminator might have stopped after killing the 2 wrong Sarahs.  And maybe Reese doesn't find her either, and thus John doesn't get conceived, and....I've gone off the rails here, but you get what I mean.

Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--Two More Unusual Preserves/Jams/Butters/Spreads

      A little background.  I've discussed odd jams/jellies/preserves/spreads/butters several times before.  Specifically, on May 22, 2015 (apple, pumpkin, mixed berry, jalapeno), on November 23, 2016 (rose hips, plum), on January 20, 2018 (almond, cashew, sunflower), and on February 15, 2020 (English marmalade, apricot, prune, mango).  But the appropriate section of my local Shop-Rite came through yet again.  Recently I beheld two more kinds--fig preserves and sweet potato butter.  From the Braswell's line, out of Statesboro, Georgia, in the U.S.A.

     According to online information, including the official Braswell's website, in 1946 a man named Albert Braswell returned home to Georgia after serving during World War II.  He received help from the GI Bill, which provides American military personnel with financial help for college.  But he had no job.  Therefore, he started making preserves, starting with a steam kettle and a bushel of local pears.  Braswell's Food Company was thus born.  But it's not just preserves--in the over 75 years since being started Braswell's now makes jellies, dressings, sauces, seasonings, mustards, pickles and relishes, seafood sauces and seasonings, salsas and dips, syrups and honey.  Just looking through their selections, the company seems like it's a major fan of Vidalia onions, for one.  Anyway, the business has flourished.  Currently it's reportedly the 7th largest jam/jelly/preserve manufacturer in the country, and is the Number 1 seller of pepper jelly, fig preserves, and pear preserves in the U.S.

     Switching to figs, I was amazed to learn that they are one of the first plants cultivated by humans.  Remains of them have been found in archaeology sites as old as 9400-9200 B.C. (In what is now Jordan).  Which is before such staples as barley, wheat, and legumes were domesticated.  This fruit is native to the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of South and Western Asia.  Figs were hugely popular in both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.  (As well as in modern Greece and modern Rome, obviously.)  For those interested in reading about a more adult version of figs, consult my post about a booze made from them on September 3, 2022.  Finally, on the downside, the milky sap of the fig plant is a skin irritant for humans, so be careful if you decide to start growing them yourself.

Braswell's fig preserves:  Not much of an odor.  Brownish color, shiny, with visible seeds in it.  I tried some plain, and then on a roll.  The texture was a fairly soft and gooey gel, but there was some crunch from the seeds.  The flavor was nice--sweet, and well, figgy.  It was decent plain, but better on the roll.  Overall a nice spread.  If you like figs in general, you'll probably enjoy this.

Braswell's sweet potato butter:  This one was brownish-orange in color, and had a stronger, pumpkin-y smell.  The texture was more liquid-y, so much so that I could pour it out.  Once again, I tried some plain on a spoon, and then on a roll.  The taste was very good.  I like sweet potatoes in general, and whipped up into a butter was fine, too.  On a roll was almost like a quick and dirty pumpkin pie.  Really enjoyed, and strongly recommend it.  Also, for some of Braswell's offerings they put the product in a more elaborate glass jar, as a collectable.  So now my household has a neat little scalloped drinking glass as well.

The March Issue of "InD'tale" is Available, and a Preview of an Upcoming Post

 

     Apologies, I've been remiss on this.  But that's okay.  Even if you're reading this in April, or later, back issues of  InD'tale are also easy to access on their website.  With that said, here's what you get in the March issue.  There are two author interviews--one with CJ Archer, and the other with the writing team of Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey.  Also, there are articles from S.L. Carpenter, Tamara Cribley, Jason Hamilton, and Sarah McEachron.  Plus, one about screenwriters and the Academy Awards from yours truly.  Along with the next chapter of "The Path of the Gods" from Julie L. York.  Finally, there are the usual slew of book reviews.  As always, I'm grateful to the staff of InD'tale, such as Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Founder TJ Mackay, and Executive Editor Katy Nielsen.  So head on over!  Here's the address:

                                                 http://www.indtale.com

     For those that enjoy my in depth trivia quizzes of popular horror/sci fi/action movies, you're in luck.  In the next few weeks I'll be doing another one, about a classic 1980's film.  This one spawned a series of movies, but I'll be focusing on the original, first one.  Stay tuned!

Guys Who Played in More Than One Top Pro Sports League

      I've long been interested in people who played more than one professional sport in their careers.  I've touched on this before, on February 19, 2012, and then again on August 10, 2016.  But I'd like to get into it in more detail today.  Specifically, people who played in at least two leagues, covering the NFL, MLB, and NBA.  Given the NBA's somewhat convoluted history, the NBA recognizes two precursor leagues, the BAA and NBL.  Basically, the BAA absorbed the NBL in the late 1940's, and these became the NBA.  So, for each of these players, I'll give some info on when they played, with what teams, and provide some relevant statistics.  Let's begin.

By far, the most common two sport players competed in both the NFL and MLB, with over 70 examples.  To cut this back a little, let's focus on the seven guys who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and also played in Major League Baseball.  And bear in mind that stats in the early days of football were not detailed at all.

1)  Red Badgro.  Badgro played end and defensive end from 1927-8, and 1930-36 with the New York Yankees (football team), New York Giants, etc.  He started 76 out of 94 total games, accumulating 35 receptions, 560 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns.  In baseball he played right field and pinch hitter for the St. Louis Browns in 1929-30.  In 143 total games he slashed .257/.307/.366 for a lifetime adjusted OPS of 69.  He also had 2 homers, 45 rbi, and a career WAR of -1.0.

2)  Paddy Driscoll.  Driscoll played halfback/quarterback/blocking back from 1920-29 with the Chicago Cardinals and Chicago Bears.  He started 103 of 118 total games.  The only remaining stats indicate that he scored 31 touchdowns, and kicked 51 field goals and 63 extra points.  He was also named All Pro 6 times, and won an NFL title.  In MLB he played second base/shortstop/third base in 13 games for the St. Louis Browns in 1917.  He slashed .107/.167/.143, for an adjusted OPS of -7, and a -.5 WAR.

3)  George Halas.  Halas started as an end in 85 out of 104 total games for the Chicago Bears from 1920-28.  He had 1 rushing touchdown, 6 receiving touchdowns, 2 fumble return touchdowns, and 1 interception return touchdown.  But, he's in the Hall of Fame because of his coaching.  His lifetime record, on and off from 1920-67 included a won-loss-tie record of 324-151-31 (playoffs included), with 6 NFL titles.  He played baseball briefly, as a right fielder/pinch hitter with the 1919 New York Yankees.  In 12 games he batted .091/.091/.091 for a adjusted OPS of -49, and a WAR of -0.4.  (He only had 2 lifetime hits.)

4)  Ernie Nevers.  Fullback Nevers played from 1926-27, and 1929-31 with the Duluth Eskimos and Chicago Cardinals.  He started 49 of 54 games, and accumulated 38 rushing touchdowns, 7 field goals, and 52 extra points.  He was also named All Pro all five years he played.  Otherwise, he pitched for the St. Louis Browns in 1926-28.  His lifetime record was 6-12, with a 4.64 ERA.  In 178.1 innings his adjusted ERA was 93, and his WAR was 1.1.

5)  Ace Parker.  Parker played tailback/defensive back/quarterback from 1937-41, and 1945-46 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, etc.  In all he started 49 of 68 games, and completed 46.7% of his passes for 4698 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions, for a rating of 53.1.  He also accumulated 1292 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 229 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, and 7 interceptions (he led the league in interceptions and return yards in 1940).  He was also named to 2 All Pro teams.  Additionally, he played infield in 1937-38 for the Philadelphia A's, slashing .179/.231/.242, for an adjusted OPS of 20, and a lifetime WAR of -1.9.

6)  Jim Thorpe.  Thorpe is often regarded as being one of the very best athletes ever, since he played pro baseball, pro football, and won 2 Olympic gold medals.  He played tailback/end/fullback in 1920-26, and 1928 for the Canton Bulldogs, Oorang Indians, etc.  In 52 games (37 starts) he rushed for 6 touchdowns, kicked 4 field goals and 3 extra points and was named to 1 All Pro team.  Otherwise, he played baseball in 1913-15, and 1917-19 for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, etc., slashing .252/.286/.362 for an adjusted OPS of 99, and a lifetime WAR of -0.2 in 289 games.

7)  Deion Sanders.  Sanders played defensive back/wide receiver from 1989-2000, and 2004-05 for the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, etc.  In 188 total games (157 starts), he intercepted 53 passes for 1331 yards and 9 touchdowns.  He also recovered 13 fumbles for another touchdown, and returned 6 punts for a touchdown, and 3 kickoffs for a touchdown.  As well as totaling 784 receiving yards, and 3 more touchdowns.  For this he was named to 8 Pro Bows, and 6 All Pro teams, had an AV of 163, and won 2 Super Bowls.  Finally, he played center field from 1989-95, 1997, and 2001 for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, etc., slashing .263/.319/.392, for an adjusted OPS of 89, and a lifetime WAR of 5.5.

     Let's move to people who played major league baseball and pro basketball.  This wasn't as common, so there are only 15 people who did this.   As I mentioned, 3 leagues (BAA, NBL, and the NBA) qualify for the top leagues for basketball.   And as so often happens, the stats for the 1940's and 50's especially aren't as detailed as they would become later.

1)   Johnny Gee.  In MLB Gee was a pitcher in 1939, 1941, and 1943-46 with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates.  He compiled a 7-12 won loss record, with a 4.41 ERA (82 adjusted ERA), and a lifetime WAR of -1.9.  On the court he played center/forward for the Syracuse Nationals in 1946-47.  In 24 games he averaged 6.5 points per game, and shot 38-60 on free throws.

2)   Hank Biasatti.  Biasatti played baseball with the Philadelphia A's in 1949, as a pinch hitter/first baseman.  He slashed a miserable .083/.301`/.167, for an adjusted OPS of 30, and a lifetime WAR of -0.3.  (He only had 2 hits, lifetime.)  Biasatti played basketball with the Toronto Huskies in 1946-47, playing guard.  In 6 games he averaged 1.0 points per game, on 40% field goal shooting, 50% free throw shooting, 0 assists, and a lifetime Win Shares of 0.1.

3)   Irv Noren.  Noren played baseball from 1950-60 as a first basesman/outfielder, with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, etc.  In 1093 games he slashed .275/.348/.410, for an adjusted OPS of 105, and a lifetime WAR of 15.1.  He was named to 1 All Star team, and was part of 2 World Series winning teams.  He also played forward for the Chicago Americans in 1946-47.  In 3 games he shot 1 of 2 free throws.  This team won the NBL title, but Noren did not appear in any playoff games.

4)   Danny Ainge.  Ainge played baseball as an infielder with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1979-81.  His lifetime slash was .220/.264/.269, for an adjusted OPS of 47, and a total WAR of -2.0.  He was much better on the court, playing guard for the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, etc. from 1981-95.  He started 508 of 1042 total games, and averaged 11.5 points, 0.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.  He shot .464 on field goals, and .846 on free throws, and had a career Win Shares of 71.5.  He also was named an All Star once, and was part of 2 NBA title winning teams.

5)   Frank Baumholtz.  On the field Baumholtz played from 1947-57, as an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, etc., slashing .290/.342/.389, for an adjusted OPS of 95, and a career WAR of 8.1.  For basketball he played guard for the Cleveland Rebels in 1946-47.  In 45 games he averaged 14.0 points and 1.2 assists per game, on .298 shooting for field goals, and .776 on free throws.

6)   Gene Conley.  I mentioned Conley in a previous article, so this is a bit repetitive.  Anyway, Conley was a pitcher in1952 and 1954-63, with the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox.  His won-loss record was 91-96, his ERA was 3.82, and his adjusted ERA was 101.  He was named to 3 All Star teams, won a World Series title, and had a lifetime WAR of 16.9.  He also played for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in 1952-53, 1958-61, and 1962-64.  Per game he averaged 5.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, on field goal shooting of .371, and free throw shooting of .657.  His lifetime Win Shares number was 5.1, and he played on 3 NBA title-winning teams.

7)   Dave DeBusschere.  DeBusschere was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-63, finishing with a won-loss record of 3-4, with an ERA of 2.90 (124 adjusted ERA) and a WAR of 0.7.  On the court he was great, being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame.  He suited up for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks from 1962-74, playing forward.  Per game he averaged 16.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, on field goal shooting of .432 and free throw shooting of .699.  DeBusschere was named to 8 All Star teams, 6 All Defensive teams, accumulated 60.8 Win Shares, and was part of 2 NBA title-winning teams.

8)   Chuck Connors.  I also covered Connors before, so forgive the repeat.  Connors was a first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 and 1951.  He slashed .238/280/.302, for an adjusted OPS of 55, and a WAR of -0.8.  He also played forward/center for the Boston Celtics in 1946-48.  Per game he averaged 4.5 points and 0.8 assists, on field goal shooting of .252, and free throw shooting of .471.  He accumulated -0.3 Win Shares.

9)   Dick Groat.  Groat played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, etc. from 1952, and 1955-67.  He slashed .286/.330/.366, for an adjusted OPS of 89, and a career WAR of 36.9.  He was also an All Star 8 times,  was the league MVP once, and was part of 2 World Series winning teams.  Additionally, in 1952-53 he played point guard for the Fort Wayne Pistons.  Per game he averaged 11.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, on field goal shooting of .368 and free throw shooting of .790.  He accumulated 2.0 Win Shares.

10)   Steve Hamilton.  Hamilton pitched for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, etc. from 1961-72.  His lifetime won-loss record was 40-31, his ERA was 3.05 (115 adjusted), and his career WAR was 11.1.  In the sport of basketball he played small forward for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1958-60.  Per game he averaged 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, on field goal shooting of .372 and free throw shooting of .697.  His lifetime Win Shares amount was 0.9.  He also lost 2 World Series, and lost an NBA title to the Celtics team which featured Gene Conley.

11)   Mark Hendrickson.  Hendrickson pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Baltimore Orioles from 2002-11.  His career won-loss record was 58-74,  his ERA was 5.03 (89 adjusted), and his WAR was 4.2.  Before this he played in the NBA, as a power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, and Boston Celtics.  He started 8 of 114 total games.  His per game averages were 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks.  His lifetime Win Shares total was 2.1.

12)   Cotton Nash.  Nash was a first baseman/outfielder for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins in 1967 and 1969-70.  In his 13 games he slashed .188/.316/.188, for an adjusted OPS of 44 and a WAR of 0.0.  On the court he played in the NBA and ABA in 1964-65, and 1967-68 with the Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Warriors, etc. and had career per game averages of 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, on .340 field goal shooting, and .766 free throw shooting.  He also finished with a Win Shares total of 0.9.

13)   Ron Reed.  Reed pitched from 1966-84, with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, etc. and had a lifetime won-loss record of 146-140, and an ERA of 3.46 (108 adjusted).  He was named to 1 All Star team, won a World Series, and had a career WAR of 24.9.  Otherwise, he played basketball with the Detroit Pistons from 1965-67.  His career per game averages were 8.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with a field goal shooting percentage of .364, and a free throw shooting average of .571.  Reed's Win Shares total was -1.0.

14)   Dick Ricketts.  In 1959 Ricketts pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing with a won-loss record of 1-6, and an ERA of 5.82 (73 adjusted).  His WAR was -0.6.  On the hardwood Ricketts played for the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals, St. Louis Hawks, etc. from 1955-58.  In 212 games his per game averages were 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, for a Win Shares total of 2.1.

15)   Howie Schultz.  From 1943-48 Schultz played first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, etc., and slashed .241/.281/.349, for an adjusted OPS of 75, and a WAR of -2.2.  He also played power forward for the Minneapolis Lakers and Fort Wayne Pistons in 1949-50, and 1951-53.  His per game averages were 5.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 3.1 rebounds (although these stats are incomplete).  He shot .271 on field goals, and .711 on free throws, and his Win Shares total was 5.6.  He was also part of an NBA title-winning team.

     Finally, let's get to the men who played in the NFL and in the NBA or NBL.  It's a much shorter list, as you'll see.

1)   Bud Grant.  Grant played as a defensive end and end for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951-52.  He started 23 of 24 games, and caught 56 passes for 997 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Alas, he had a contract dispute, and left to play in the Canadian Football League for the rest of his career.  However, before all of this he played forward for the Minneapolis Lakers.  In 96 total games he averaged 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds (incomplete stat), and 0.9 assists, on .318 field goal shooting, and .590 free throw shooting.  His lifetime Win Shares total was 1.1.  But, he did play on the Lakers 1950 title-winning team.  Following this, he went on to become a football head coach.  Quite a good one, too--he helmed the Minnesota Vikings for 18 years, finishing with a won-loss-tie total of 168-108-5 (including playoffs).  He went to 4 Super Bowls, although his team lost all 4.  He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2)   Otto Graham.  Graham played quarterback and defensive back for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-55.  The first four years were when the Browns were part of the AAFC, and the final 6 when the Browns were an NFL team.  Graham started 114 of 126 games, completing 55.8% of his passes for 23,584 yards, 174 touchdowns, 135 interceptions and a rating of 86.6.  Graham also rushed for 882 yards and 44 touchdowns, and intercepted 7 passes for 102 yards and another touchdown.  He was named to 5 Pro Bowls, and 7 All Pro teams, and won 7 titles (4 AAFC, 3 NFL).  Obviously, he's a Hall of Famer as well.  On the court Graham played forward/guard for the Rochester Royals in 1945-46.  In 32 games he averaged 5.2 points per game.  He was also part of the Royals title-winning team.  Meaning he and Gene Conley are the only two men to win titles in 2 sports, for the sports of MLB, pro football, and pro basketball.