AUGUST 1, 1998

Full News Archive

• Headline: Randy Johnson Traded to Astros. Impact: Randy Johnson going to the Astros became a pivotal moment in baseball, creating a ripple effect where every trade deadline since has been filled with fans desperately Googling 'who's available?'. Fact: Did you know that Randy Johnson was so tall he could probably make a decent career as a streetlight? Just saying..
• Headline: Judith Albert, 59, Toy Designer Whose Doll Led to Buyer Frenzy. Impact: The Cabbage Patch doll craze created a frenzied buying culture that led to parents wrestling in toy aisles, thus laying the groundwork for Black Friday shopping rituals we all know and love (or dread).. Fact: Fun fact: The Cabbage Patch doll's original name was 'Cabbage Rage,' reflecting the fury it incited in parents during the holiday season..
• Headline: With Johnson There for the Taking, Yanks Balked. Impact: The Yankees' refusal to trade for Johnson led to a series of 'what if' scenarios that baseball fans still argue about today, fueling endless debates in sports bars across the country.. Fact: Did you know that in baseball, refusing a trade can lead to more drama than a reality TV show? Just ask any fan over a pint..
• Headline: Serbs Say Kosovo Drive Is Over, But Little Changes on the Ground. Impact: The declaration marked a temporary pause in conflict, but the unresolved tensions sparked decades of diplomatic discussions that have accomplished about as much as a cat trying to catch its tail.. Fact: Did you know that peace talks often resemble a game of chess? Too bad nobody can tell which piece is actually winning..
• Headline: Charles C. Tillinghast Jr., 87, Former Chairman of T.W.A.. Impact: Tillinghast's innovations in the airline industry helped pave the way for modern air travel, making it possible for people to complain about delayed flights in a whole new way.. Fact: Fun fact: T.W.A. once had a slogan, 'We Fly the World,' which was slightly more aspirational than 'We Fly the World—Eventually.'.
• Headline: Harvie Branscomb, a Shaper Of Vanderbilt U., Dies at 103. Impact: Branscomb's legacy at Vanderbilt University influenced countless students, leading to a future generation of scholars who still wonder if they should have just studied something easier, like basket weaving.. Fact: Did you know that being a chancellor at a university is a bit like being a parent? You guide them until they leave the nest—only to realize they might just return for laundry day..