Midtown...
Where the action is!
|
World News
Participate in the Forum @
for Midtown concerns.
|
Atlanta's Weekly E-Magazine
Dec 28th - Jan4th, 2002
|
Let it snow, let it snow, let it...
World News
Market News
Our thanks to gotlaughs.com for sharing this classic with the WORLD.
|
Historians will record 2001 as an extraordinary year. It started peacefully, with the exception of the escalating conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, with a new President in the White House and with full of optimism for a global unity. Until September 11th when the tragic events have changed life all over the world.
A month later, the United States in a coalition with 26 other nations, declared war against not a nation, but an enemy spread over a few countries. Our airforce, navy, special forces and marines were deployed to destroy terrorism.
The year of 2002 is inheriting the headaches of 2001. But have faith. It will be the year that will solve most of the problems with decisive victories. Not one. But a series of victories. It will serve our enemies well to listen and learn from New York Mayor Giuliani's farewell address where he quoted from President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address: "... this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth."
PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
|
|
|
Editor's Corner
ROBERT EDWARD "TED" TURNER, III
A Brilliant Entrepreneurial Mind
|
During this past week, some of you might have heard that Ted Turner has accepted the offer to continue as the Vice Chairman of AOL Time Warner and that Turner Broadcasting has elected to cease producing the Goodwill Games. Although both events are totally separate, nevertheless they represent two monumental accomplishments by this genius. Yet, they are only a minority in his list of achievements during the past 30 years.
Born on November 19, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio and following his graduation from Brown University, Ted joined his father's business as account executive, Turner Advertising Company, selling roadside billboards.
In 1963, upon his father's death, he became President and Chief Operating Officer of the firm. His first acquisition came in 1970 when he purchased the Atlanta TV station. That was followed by the purchase of the Atlanta Braves professional baseball team in 1976, followed by the purchase of the Atlanta Hawks professional basketball team in 1977.
At the age of 39, Ted received national recognition when he won America's Cup Yacht race in 1977 with "Courageous". He had now made a permanent mark in the world of sports as the owner of two professional teams and the proud owner of America's Cup. Ironically enough, the best was yet to come. Three years later, he founded CNN. The year was 1980. Jimmy Carter was the President.
In 1980 President Carter decided to boycott the 1980 Olympic Games taking place in Moscow. Our athletes could not participate in the Olympics. In retaliation, the Soviet Union snubbed the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and their athletes could not participate in the Olympics. Ted Turner felt this was the time to intervene. He took it upon himself to bring the two superpowers together. He created the Goodwill Games which were supposed to alternate between the United States and Soviet Union. This was Ted's unique and private footprint in the world of sports. The first games were held in Moscow in 1986 where more than 3,000 athletes from 79 countries participated. Six world records and 91 national records were broken. The success of the games had exceeded every expectation. American Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first woman to win more than 7,000 points in the heptathlon.
The next games were held in Seattle, WA in 1990. More than 2,300 athletes from 54 countries participated.
Several world records were broken. American Kristi Yamaguchi won her first major figure skating championship. The Games switched to St. Petersburg, Russia in 1994 where again more than 2,000 athletes from 74 countries participated. Dennis Mitchell won the men's 100 meters and Mel Stewart won his 3rd swimming gold medal in the 200 butterfly. Unfortunately, the first three games generated a staggering loss of
109 million dollars. Ted Turner shifted his focus from peace to philanthropy. He donated some proceeds after the 1998 New York Games to charity. Ted Turner also donated 1 billion dollars to the United Nations. Kofi Annan called Ted a "world citizen extraordinaire".
In December of 1991 Ted married for the third time to Oscar winner actress Jane Fonda. Their marriage lasted 8 years and in January of 2000 they announced their separation. In 1991, the TIME Magazine named Ted
The Man Of The Year. In 1996, Ted became Vice Chairman of Time Warner with the merger of Time Warner and Turner Broadcating System. He became Vice Chairman again of AOL Time Warner following AOL's purchase of Time Warner this year.
There is no doubt that Ted Turner has reached the pinnacle of being recognized as one of the prime residents
of this world. Undoubtedly, he is a the prime resident of the State of Georgia. All Atlantans should be proud of having him as a neighbor.
James C. Stathis
Associate Editor
|
Judy
|
|
make us your homepage
