title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: Pomoy had discovered a talent of his while doing poultry work: singing in both a male tenor voice and a strikingly convincing female soprano voice. This paved the way for him to join different contests in both the amateur and professional leagues. He tried his luck in "Talentadong Pinoy", but regrettably did not make it.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: He later joined the second season of "Pilipinas Got Talent" ("PGT"), when he was 25 years old and by this time, made the cut. In the course of his "PGT" stint, he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream to reunite with his family.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: Pomoy makes regular appearances on "ASAP", and his first studio album, entitled "Duet Yourself", was released in 2011 under Star Records.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: In September 2018, he appeared on the Metro Manila radio station Wish 107.5, call sign DWNU performing Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's famous duet "The Prayer", a bilingual song in English and Italian. The station reinvited him to perform "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush, also made famous by Dion.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: The performance on the Manila station caught the attention of the American television host Ellen DeGeneres. She invited him and his wife to appear on her show "TheEllenShow". He performed two songs on the show, "The Prayer" and "Beauty and the Beast" gaining attention internationally because of the show. As Pomoy had picked both songs from Celine Dion mentioning that she was his favorite singer, Ellen arranged for Pomoy to go to Las Vegas to attend one of her concerts and meet her personally.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: In August 2019, he appeared at the ASOP (A Song of Praise) Music Festival in its 7th edition singing Joel Jabelosa's "Pagbabalik". The festival was broadcast on Philippine television.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: He auditioned with "The Prayer" in episode 2 that aired January 13, 2020. Being qualified to the next round, he followed with singing the main soundtrack of "Beauty and the Beast". In the semi-finals, he performed "Con te partirò" in Italian. In the final he sang "We Are the Champions" from Queen with additional participation by other finalist acts Boogie Storm, Duo Transcend and Hans and Russian Bar.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: On September 21, 2014, Pomoy married Joan Paraiso of Calauag, Quezon. They have one daughter, Marcella Janiah. Pomoy currently resides in his wife's hometown in Calauag together with his family.


title: Marcelito Pomoy

text: Pomoy, who has hardware stores in Calauag, makes philanthropic activities in town. He has built small houses for some residents and helps organize donation drives for education and other sectors.


title: Kerrang!

text: Kerrang! is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication "Mixmag"). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one-off supplement in the "Sounds" newspaper. Named after the onomatopoeic word that derives from the sound made when playing a power chord on a distorted electric guitar, "Kerrang!" was initially devoted to the new wave of British heavy metal and the rise of hard rock acts. In the early 2000s, it became the best-selling British music weekly.


title: Kerrang!

text: "Kerrang!" was founded in 1981. The editor of the weekly music magazine "Sounds", Alan Lewis, suggested that Geoff Barton edit a one-off special edition focusing on the new wave of British heavy metal phenomenon and on the rise of other hard rock acts. It was published on 6 June 1981. Angus Young of AC/DC appeared on "Kerrang!"s first cover. Launched as a monthly magazine, "Kerrang!" began to appear on a fortnightly basis later, and in 1987 it went weekly. The original owner was United Newspapers who then sold it to EMAP in 1991.


title: Kerrang!

text: During the 1980s and early 1990s the magazine placed many thrash and glam metal acts on the cover, including Tigertailz, Mötley Crüe, Slayer, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Poison, and Venom. The term "thrash metal" was first coined in the music press by "Kerrang!" journalist Malcolm Dome, in reference to the Anthrax song "Metal Thrashing Mad". Prior to this Metallica's James Hetfield had referred to their sound as "power metal". The magazine's emphasis would change during the 1990s once grunge acts such as Nirvana rose to fame. "Kerrang!" has at times faced criticism for repeating this process every time a new musical subgenre becomes popular.


title: Kerrang!

text: "Kerrang!"s popularity rose again with the hiring of editor Paul Rees circa 2000 when the nu metal genre, featuring bands including Limp Bizkit and Slipknot, was becoming more popular. Rees went on to edit "Q" magazine and former "Kerrang! " reviews editor Ashley Bird was appointed editor from 2003 to 2005. Following his departure, Paul Brannigan took over as editor in May 2005.


title: Kerrang!

text: With the emergence of emo and metalcore during the mid to late-2000s, the genre focus of "Kerrang!" shifted once more. The revamp was not welcomed by all readers and many complaints were received about "Kerrang!"s sudden emphasis on emo and metalcore music. However, following this change, Brannigan took the magazine into its most commercially successful period with a record ever ABC for the title of 80,186 copies. Furthermore, the magazine continued to occasionally feature more established bands such as Iron Maiden and Metallica on the cover, despite being criticised for doing otherwise.


title: Kerrang!

text: In 2008, EMAP sold its consumer magazines to Bauer Media Group. Brannigan left "Kerrang!" in 2009 and Nichola Browne was appointed editor. She later stepped down in April 2011. Former "NME" features editor and "GamesMaster" deputy editor James McMahon was appointed as editor on 6 June 2011.


title: Kerrang!

text: In April 2017, "Kerrang!" magazine, its website, and the "K!" Awards were purchased by Mixmag Media, publisher of dance monthly "Mixmag", along with assets related to defunct style magazine "The Face". Mixmag has since formed parent company Wasted Talent, which relaunched "Kerrang!" as a digital-first title, while continuing to publish a weekly print edition. Former Editor-in-Chief Phil Alexander was appointed Global Creative Director on 3 August 2017. Bauer retained ownership of "Kerrang!" Radio and the Box Plus Network will continue to operate Kerrang! TV as before. An updated "Kerrang!" logo was debuted in mid-2017 before the magazine received a complete redesign during 2018. This change saw several of the magazine's long-running features dropped, including the Ultimate Rockstar Test, while new features were added in their place.


title: Kerrang!

text: In March 2020, publication of the print edition of "Kerrang!" was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The website continued to run articles as normal, with a weekly 'cover story' long-form article being introduced later in the year. In late 2021, a one-off print edition of "Kerrang!" was published, celebrating the return of live music events in the UK. Sales of this magazine proved successful enough that a second stand-alone print magazine was published in April 2022.


title: Kerrang!

text: Emap launched "Kerrang! Australia" in the late 1990s. Unlike its weekly counterpart in the UK, the Australian edition was published monthly due to stiff competition from free local music publications. "Kerrang!" is also published in Spanish and German. Kerrang announced its aim to expand into the US in March 2018.


title: Kerrang!

text: In March 2018, following a magazine redesign, "Kerrang!" announced it would be expanding to the United States, with an office in New York run by Ethan Fixell. The goal would be to generate US-centric content, events, and brand partnerships.


title: Kerrang!

text: "Kerrang!"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s website, www.kerrang.com, was launched in summer 2001 by Dan Silver. "Kerrang!"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s parent company Emap acquired the domain name from a Norwegian cybersquatter by the name of Steingram Stegane for a token sum of £666.


title: Kerrang!

text: "Kerrang!"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s website features news and features on both contemporary and classic rock bands, as well as previewing upcoming events. The website hosts "Kerrang!"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s online shop, podcasts, message board, TV and radio segments ensuring more opportunities to sell associated merchandise and products. In 2001, "Kerrang!" launched its own online forum with the "rants and raves" section taking up most of the traffic. According to Alexa www.kerrang.com is ranked 83,545th globally, and 33,532nd in the U.S.


title: Kerrang!

text: Since 1993, the magazine has held an annual awards ceremony to mark the most successful bands in the interests of their readers. The awards became one of Britain's most recognised events by the now defunct "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums", often listing some of the winners in their annual round-up of the previous year. The event is presented by major music celebrities, with many others outside the industry who attend the event.


title: Kerrang!

text: After a year hiatus, the Awards were relaunched in 2018, with notable guests that included Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, Tony Iommi, Corey Taylor, and Dave Grohl, among others. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ceremony returned in June 2022, with the reader nominations period beginning in April 2022.


title: Kerrang!

text: In 2000, EMAP launched "Kerrang!" as a digital radio station, across the United Kingdom. This was principally a 'jukebox' station, playing a back-to-back sequence of rock and alternative music. On 10 June 2004, Kerrang! 105.2 was launched as a regional radio station in Birmingham with an advertising campaign by London-based creative agency ODD. The radio had a number of specialist programmes dedicated to the many subgenres of rock music. The radio output included interviews with those affecting popular culture and society as well as those involved with music. It stopped broadcasting on FM as of 14 June 2013 and once again became a digital station, with listeners able to tune in on DAB or the Kerrang! Radio app. With this broadcasting change came a move in Kerrang! Radio's offices from Birmingham to London. Absolute Radio is now broadcasting on its FM frequency.


title: Kerrang!

text: In 2001 EMAP launched Kerrang! TV. As with the radio station, the television channel covers the more mainstream side of the rock music as well as classic rock bands including Aerosmith, AC/DC and Guns N' Roses and classic heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Metallica. Kerrang! TV, along with its The Box Plus Network sister channels, is now fully owned by Channel Four Television Corporation.


title: Kerrang!

text: The Kerrang! Tour ran from 2006 to 2017. The line-up for each year was usually announced in October of the previous year and was held throughout January and February of the following year. Relentless Energy Drink sponsored the Kerrang! Tour for several years. It is currently unknown if the tour will ever be revived.


title: Kerrang!

text: The year after the final Kerrang! Tour, Kerrang! launched a new gig concept known as 'The K! Pit', where the magazine promotes a free gig for a popular band in a tiny London venue. Fans gain access by applying for tickets online and being selected at random in a competition-style draw. Artists featured so far include Parkway Drive, Mastodon, Fever 333, and Neck Deep, the latter performance coinciding with the 2018 Kerrang! Awards where Neck Deep would win 'Best Song'. The brand has since also launched the series in Brooklyn, New York, featuring artists such as Sum 41, Baroness, Knocked Loose, Daughters, Fit For An Autopsy. Performances are also streamed on the Kerrang! Facebook page before being uploaded to YouTube.


title: Kerrang!

text: During the 1980s, Kerrang! published weekly heavy metal charts for singles, albums and import albums. Each was compiled from sales data from fifty specialist stores across the United Kingdom.


title: Kerrang!

text: In March 2012, Kerrang! announced a new weekly rock singles chart for the UK based on upon airplay across Kerrang Radio, Kerrang TV, and specialist rock radio stations, as well as sales figures from the Official Charts Company. As of 2020, the chart continues to be printed in the magazine every week, contains 20 tracks, and often features accompanying facts or artist quotes. The official Kerrang Spotify profile also features a playlist of the tracks on the chart and is updated every Wednesday. The chart was announced on Saturday mornings on Kerrang! Radio and could be viewed online every Saturday at midday. The chart would also be shown on Kerrang! TV on Thursdays at 4 pm.


title: Kerrang!

text: Unlike the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart produced by the Official Charts Company, which is typically dominated by classic rock artists, the Kerrang! Rock Chart focuses primarily on new releases by contemporary rock artists.


title: Spite house

text: A spite house is a building constructed or substantially modified to irritate neighbors or any party with land stakes. Because long-term occupation is not the primary purpose of these houses, they frequently sport strange and impractical structures.


title: Spite house

text: Spite houses may create obstructions, such as blocking out light or blocking access to neighboring buildings, or they can be flagrant symbols of defiance. Although, in the US, homeowners generally have no right to views, light, or air, neighbors can sue for a negative easement. In instances regarding a spite build, courts are far more likely to side with the neighboring parties which may have been affected by that build. For example, the Coty v. Ramsey Associates, Inc. case of 1988 ruled that the defendant's spite farm constituted a nuisance, granting the neighboring landowner a negative easement.


title: Spite house

text: Spite houses, as well as spite farms, are considerably rarer than spite fences. This is partially attributable to the fact that modern building codes often prevent the construction of houses likely to impinge on neighbors' views or privacy, but mostly because fence construction is far cheaper, quicker, and easier than home construction. There are also similar structures known as spite walls or blinder walls.


title: Spite house

text: Construction of spite houses or spite fences is considered illegal in those countries which follow the civil law. It is considered as abuse of rights, and in some countries, like Finland, it is explicitly prohibited by law.


title: Spite house

text: Whenever a rich old hunks, or prodigal heir, or bankrupt corporation, gets into the notion of putting up a palace, there is no such thing in the world as stopping either of them, and this every intelligent person knows. The fact in question is indeed the basis of the Eye-Sore trade. As soon, therefore, as a building project is fairly afoot by one of these parties, we merchants secure a nice corner of the lot in contemplation, or a prime little situation just adjoining or tight in front. This done, we wait until the palace is half-way up, and then we pay some tasty architect to run us up an ornamental mud hovel, right against it; or a Down-East or Dutch Pagoda, or a pig-sty, or an ingenious little bit of fancy work, either Esquimau, Kickapoo, or Hottentot. Of course, we can't afford to take these structures down under a bonus of five hundred per cent upon the prime cost of our lot and plaster. Can we? I ask the question. I ask it of business men. It would be irrational to suppose that we can.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Surya Varuna Claudine Bonaly (born 15 December 1973) is a French-born retired competitive figure skater. She is a three-time World silver medalist (1993–1995), a five-time European champion (1991–1995), the 1991 World Junior Champion, and a nine-time French national champion (1989–1997).


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly is the only Olympic figure skater to land a backflip on one blade; she performed it at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Surya Varuna Claudine Bonaly was born in Nice, France, on 15 December 1973. She was initially named Claudine and placed in an orphanage by her birth mother. She was adopted at eight months by Suzanne and Georges Bonaly, who named her Surya, meaning "the sun" in Sanskrit. Suzanne worked as a physical education teacher and Georges as an architect.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In the late 1980s, journalists claimed that Surya Bonaly was born in Réunion, an island off the coast of Madagascar, and was found lying on a coconut-strewn beach. However, the skater's passport documented her birth in Nice. Bonaly believes that the media couldn't accept that a young black adoptee could have been born in France. Didier Gailhaguet, the first coach in her competitive skating career, later admitted fabricating this exotic backstory in order for her to gain more media attention and achieve better results in international competitions. Gailhaguet also told reporters that she had been raised on a macrobiotic diet, ate birdseed for breakfast, and that the 17-inch ponytail she wore in her first Olympic appearance had never been cut. When Surya began researching her birth history, she discovered that her biological mother was from Réunion and her biological father from Ivory Coast.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Two years after adopting her, the Bonalys bought a rural property, renovating a decrepit sheepfold to use as a house. Surya grew up here, 50 kilometers from Nice. The house never had running water or electricity. Her parents also kept 26 goats. Surya took part in the daily farmwork. The parents nicknamed their house Sannyasa, a Sanskrit term that refers to a stage in a person's life. It is a period of spiritual development during which one renounces material possessions to concentrate purely on spiritual matters. Surya had flute lessons at eight in the morning and English lessons. She also practiced fencing, ballet, horse riding, and diving.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Her mother was a physical education teacher and practiced many sports; she encouraged Surya to do the same. When Suzanne Bonaly took her students to the ice rink, she also took toddler Surya with her. At around two years of age, Surya began to skate on double blades, to keep busy while her mother was teaching. At age four, Surya developed a passion for gymnastics, training with Éric Hagard, who later coached Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos. Although she loved gymnastics as a teenager, Surya preferred figure skating and finally chose that. Nicole Erdos, her first childhood coach in that sport, has suggested that Bonaly's gymnastics practice had strengthened her and given her an advantage on the ice over other competitors.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In 1984, Surya Bonaly watched the Winter Olympic Games. Trying to perform a double Axel, she broke her ankle and had to wear a cast for nearly two months. When she returned to the ice rink, the French team trained by Didier Gailhaguet was taking every available space. Her mother asked Gailhaguet to give her daughter an hour on the ice, and the coach agreed. Bonaly tried again to do a double Axel with her newly healed ankle, which impressed Gailhaguet. He later said that "France had no hard fighters."


title: Surya Bonaly

text: He suggested to Bonaly's mother that her daughter come for his training sessions, each lasting three weeks. At the end of the course, Bonaly had progressed rapidly and almost reached the level of members of the French team. She had learned to land a double Axel and a triple jump. Seeing her athletic gifts, Gailhaguet recruited her parents to move with her to Paris so that she could train with him year-round.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: The Bonaly family moved to Paris with their daughter. For six months, while training in Champigny-sur-Marne, she was home-schooled and lived in a van with her parents. Philippe Candeloro described her mother as pushing the girl to train hard and closely monitoring her social life and hobbies.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: A year later, Surya joined the French National Team. She was often a center of media attention, encouraged in the spotlight by Gailhaguet. At age twelve, she learned to do a backflip on the ice. Gailhaguet said that he encouraged her to do on ice what she was already performing in gymnastics. She made her first backflip on ice and in public at a gala in Annecy in 1986. She also became a world junior tumbling champion that year. The same year, again in gymnastics, she was a world senior silver medalist in team at the 1986 World Championships with Sandrine Vacher, Corinne Robert and Isabelle Jagueux at the Palais omnisports of Paris-Bercy.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: During the 1987–1988 season, Surya Bonaly became the French junior figure-skating champion at Cherbourg. At the French Senior Championships in Grenoble, she placed fourth. She was sent as a junior to her first ISU Championship, the 1988 Junior Worlds in Brisbane, Australia. She finished 14th.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: During the summer of 1988, Bonaly watched the Summer Olympics and was inspired by American sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner, who dressed in a colorful running suit. She decided to adopt more original and colorful skating costumes, something unusual at the time.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly usually made eight to nine jumps during her programs, whereas conventional programs usually contain six.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: The following season, Bonaly won the bronze medal at 1989 World Junior Championships and her first senior national title. She began appearing regularly on the senior level, placing eighth at the 1989 European Championships and tenth at 1989 World Championships.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly was awarded the silver medal, behind Japan's Yuka Sato, at the 1990 World Junior Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She finished fourth at the 1990 European Championships and ninth at the 1990 World Championships.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly began the season with a pair of senior international medals – gold at the 1990 Grand Prix International de Paris and bronze at the 1990 Skate Electric. Making her final junior appearance, she won the 1991 World Junior Championships in Budapest, Hungary.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: After taking her third national title, Bonaly competed at the 1991 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was awarded the gold medal, placing ahead of two German skaters, Evelyn Großmann and Marina Kielmann. During the invasion of Kuwait, she designed a gala skating program that included a magic trick of a dove appearing, a symbol of peace.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly placed fifth at the 1991 World Championships in Munich, Germany. She nearly completed the first ratified quad by a female skater.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In January 1992, Bonaly outscored Kielmann and Patricia Neske for the gold medal at the European Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. In February 1992, she participated in the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. During a practice session, she landed a back flip close to Japan's Midori Ito. Officials told her to avoid that action, as they believed that other skaters might be intimidated in practice sessions. Her costumes were custom made by French designer Christian Lacroix.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly became the first woman to attempt a quadruple toe loop in competition but the jump was not fully rotated in the air and she had to complete the rotation on the ice. Due to the under rotation, the quad was downgraded under the ISU Judging System. Poised to win a medal after Ito and Harding had finished in 4th and 6th respectively in the short program, Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan both made major errors in the free skate before her. Bonaly placed 6th in the free skate and 5th overall.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: After the Olympics, Bonaly started working with a new coach, André Brunet, who coached her for one month. She concluded her season at the 1992 World Championships in Oakland, California. Ranked tenth in the short and 12th in the free, she finished 11th overall. She had made a number of jumping errors in both programs. She felt she was unfairly marked and later said that she had considered turning pro midway through the event.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: From April to September 1992, Bonaly was coached mainly by her mother. She made two-month-long visits, in June and September, to coach Frank Carroll in southern California. Although she wanted to stay to work with him, the French skating federation was opposed to its skaters training abroad. Alain Giletti became her coach, commuting four times a week by train from Tours to Paris, and her mother filled in during his absences.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: During the summer of 1992, Bonaly signed a contract to join Tom Collins' troop, Champions on Ice, two months a year. It enabled her to show her technical abilities without limitations, because she could perform somersaults and other actions that were prohibited in competition.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly won the 1993 European Championships in Helsinki, having placed first in both segments ahead of Ukraine's Oksana Baiul and Germany's Marina Kielmann. At the 1993 World Championships in Prague, she took silver behind Oksana Baiul, who had higher presentation scores. But Bonaly had significantly more technical content than the winner. Bonaly performed seven triples, a triple-triple combination, and two triple Lutzes, while Baiul performed five triples but did not attempt a jump combination.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In January 1994, Bonaly placed first in all segments on her way to her fourth consecutive continental title at the Europeans Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The other medalists were Baiul and Russia's Olga Markova. A month later, Bonaly competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Ranked third in the short program and fourth in the free skate, she finished fourth overall behind Baiul, American Nancy Kerrigan, and Chen Lu from China.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: The media criticized Surya's mother, Suzanne Bonaly, for allegedly being too strict with her daughter. Surya ran every morning, was forbidden to eat sugar, and had to be in bed by nine. Because Suzanne Bonaly was a physical education teacher, she stressed athletic prowess rather than the grace of a dancer in Surya’s skating routines. Suzanne Bonaly believes that she was criticized because of others' jealousy about Bonaly's abilities. Bonaly and her mother moved to Pralognan-la-Vanoise, where the skater could train out of the public eye.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: At the 1994 World Championships in Chiba, Japan, Bonaly's final overall score was equal to that of home country favorite Yuka Sato. Sato was awarded the gold medal after a 5–4 tiebreaker decision.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly had expected the judges to reward her for improving her gracefulness, having stopped trying to land quadruple jumps, and having improved from previous championships, where she also finished second. Bonaly also cut her thickly braided ponytail because the judges didn't like it. She claims to have made concessions to please the judges but did not believe she was sufficiently recognized or rewarded for them. Bonaly told the French podcast "Surya Bonaly, corps et lames": "I did everything I could, but I didn't paint myself white, that's for sure."


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Upset by the result in Chiba, Bonaly stood beside the medals platform rather than on it. She eventually was coaxed onto the platform but took off her silver medal after it was presented to her; the crowd booed her for this action. After the medals presentation, Bonaly's only statement to reporters was: "I'm just not lucky."


title: Surya Bonaly

text: The international judge Anne Hardy-Thomas, from France, who did not participate in this competition, commented on the judges' decision. She said that the judges are under great pressure, as their names are displayed opposite their notes. She said she had sometimes placed a French skater lower in order to avoid being accused of favoritism. American judges were thought to value a graceful skater who meets the beauty standards, such as Nancy Kerrigan, while European judges, particularly of the Eastern bloc, favored skaters who were strong athletes and creative in their programs, such as Bonaly.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: The international federation first thought of punishing Bonaly for her actions, but decided to let it go, understanding that she was severely disappointed by the results.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In 1995, Bonaly won the European Championships for the fifth time, overtaking short-program winner Markova. At the 1995 World Championships in Birmingham, England, she placed fourth in the short program but rose to second after the free skate. She was awarded her third World silver medal, behind Chen Lu of China. For the third consecutive year, she lost the gold medal by one-tenth of a point, the score of one judge. Her free skate had the most difficult technical content, with two triple Lutzes, two triple-triple combos, and seven triples.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In autumn 1995, Bonaly competed in the inaugural ISU Champions Series. She finished third and fourth at her assignments, which was not enough to qualify to the seven-woman final. Ranked first in the short program and second in the free skate, Bonaly took silver behind Russia's Irina Slutskaya at the 1996 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. She finished fifth at the 1996 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She had placed seventh in the short, where she fell on a triple Lutz, and fifth in the free.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In May 1996, Bonaly ruptured her achilles tendon while doing acrobatics. Due to the injury, she missed much of the following season. The French federation initially decided not to name her to the 1997 European Championships in Paris, believing that she lacked fitness, but Bonaly successfully appealed. She finished 9th overall after placing 6th in qualifying group B, 6th in the short program, and 10th in the free skate. She was not included in France's two-women team to the World Championships, passed over in favor of Vanessa Gusmeroli, the top French finisher at Europeans, and Laetitia Hubert, who placed behind Bonaly at the same event.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: During the season, Bonaly was coached by her mother Suzanne Bonaly and Tatiana Tarasova in Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States. Prior to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Bonaly ruptured her achilles tendon. She placed 6th in the short program. Unable to complete her planned routine or a successful triple Lutz due to injury, she decided to perform a backflip with a split landing on one blade during the free skate. (This move is now dubbed a "Bonaly"). Backflips had been banned since 1976 from competitions held under ISU rules. Having landed on one foot, Bonaly hoped to avoid a deduction but did have points deducted. She was still pleased to have performed it. Bonaly is the first and only Olympic figure skater to land a backflip on one blade.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: She turned her back to the judges when she completed her program. Anne Hardy-Thomas, the French judge of the event, was approached by the technical delegate, who told her that Bonaly was insolent and had behaved unacceptably. The judge replied, "She did well for all the past years". Bonaly finished tenth in Nagano and retired from amateur competition after the event.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly toured with the Champions on Ice skating show for several years; it went out of business after 2007. She also performed in shows in Russia with Evgeni Plushenko and was a guest skater at Ice Theatre of New York's December 2008 gala in NYC. She successfully performed her backflip there.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly was an off-screen character on the "Will on Ice" episode of NBC's "Will & Grace", which originally aired on 12 January 1999. In 2010, she was a finalist on "La Ferme Célébrités" season 3.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: She appeared in the Netflix documentary series "Losers", which explores the lives of individuals who bounced back from loss or perceived failure. Bonaly's episode, entitled "Judgement", focused on her defiance, "longevity" on the ice, and refusal to submit to conventions. In 2015, she underwent surgery after the discovery of numerous cysts along her spinal cord. This ended her performing career.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In an interview with the BBC, when asked if she ever felt that things were harder for her as one of the first black figure skaters, Bonaly said:


title: Surya Bonaly

text: "It was a mix of so many things. First, because I was black for sure and I didn't try to copy anyone. Second, because I came from a small country. Third, because I've had a different hairstyle and look and also because my mother made my skating costumes for so many years. All those things together was just too much for some people to handle."


title: Surya Bonaly

text: In an interview with "The Root", Bonaly said: "...Race matters for sure, because I know that if I'd been white, I would have had more [endorsement] contracts and been bigger."


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly elaborated on the matter when interviewed by Mathieu Méranville for his book "Sport, malédiction des Noirs?" (2007) :


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly takes part in numerous conferences and events directed to encourage the participation in sport of people of colour.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: She also became active in animal issues, participating in numerous PETA's campaigns against Canada's seal hunt and the fur trade.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly is also against bullfighting. She asked to meet with president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, who received her at the Élysée Palace on 26 September 2007, to address the abolition of bullfighting and to prohibit attendance at bullfighting by children under age 16.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly was a member of the federal council of the French Federation of Ice Sports from 2010 to 2014. She served as the cultural attaché for the Monaco consulate in Las Vegas.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: She was the ambassador of the association "France of talents and colors", which aims to fight against racism, violence, and discrimination in sport.


title: Surya Bonaly

text: Bonaly became an American citizen in January 2004. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bonaly became engaged to skating coach Peter Biver on 18 September 2016. She has no children.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Paul Martin Rodriguez Jr. (born December 31, 1984), also known by his nickname P-Rod, is an American professional street skateboarder, actor, rapper, and recording artist. Rodriguez has won a total of eight medals at the X Games, four of them gold, with the most recent first-place victory occurring in Los Angeles, California in July 2012.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez was born in Tarzana, California, U.S. His father is actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez, and his mother is Laura Martinez. He also has an older sister Nikole and a younger brother Lucas.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: As a child, Rodriguez occasionally got to meet celebrities through his father. In a later interview, he recounted one such memory:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: I'll tell you a good story about Mr. T. I believe it was 1988, every year there was a Christmas Day parade in Pasadena [California, US]; I was probably about three-and-a-half, four years-old—I loved Mr. T. He had the cartoon out at the time and all that. We were there at the banquet before the parade started 'cause my dad brought me to take me in the car to wave at the crowd, or whatever. And, ah, I had to go to the bathroom, my dad was getting interviewed, and, like, I tried to tell him; Mr. T was just standing there, chilling, 'cause they were just talking, and Mr. T goes, "I'll take you". And he throws me up on his shoulders, and I'm sitting up on top of all his gold chains. I remember it perfectly and he put me on top of his shoulders and walked me to the bathroom; like, just waited outside for me, and it was sick. Mr. T chauffeured me to [the bathroom].


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: When he was twelve, Rodriguez received his first skateboard as a Christmas gift from his parents. Rodriguez had seen a group of skateboarders at his new school and was immediately fascinated by "how they kept their board to their feet and how they could flip it." Rodriguez said in June 2014: "I got money, got myself a board, and it was game over."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez stated in a July 2013 interview that he slept with new skateboard products as a child due to his passion for skateboarding, and admitted that he slept with his first Street League Skateboarding (SLS) trophy.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez was initially recruited to the team of a local skateboard shop named "One Eighteen", managed by an Andy Netkin, who was 19 years old at the time, while Rodriguez had just become 14 years old. As he was too shy at the time, Rodriguez asked a friend to submit his "Sponsor me" video tape to Netkin, who was immediately impressed and asked the friend to bring Rodriguez into the store. Netkin then offered Rodriguez a place on the store team the following day at their first meeting—Netkin explained in 2014 that, at the time, he had a strong sense of Rodriguez's future as a "superstar." DNA Skateboards was Rodriguez's first company sponsor and he appeared in the 1999 video "Microanalysis". Former professional skateboarder Anthony Pappalardo stated in a June 24, 2014 online radio show—hosted by professional skateboarder Alex Olsen—that he encouraged Joe Castrucci, cofounder of the Habitat skateboard brand, to recruit Rodriguez before he was officially sponsored, but Castrucci declined.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: At age sixteen, Rodriguez then rode for City Stars, a company co-founded by professional skateboarder Kareem Campbell in Los Angeles, U.S. Despite being an amateur at the time, Rodriguez earned the last part in the video "Street Cinema", which is an honor typically bestowed to an esteemed professional of the team. Rodriguez explained in 2014 that he was initially opposed to Campbell's use of the Jackson 5 song "I Want You Back" for the first half of his part, as it had been used for Guy Mariano's part in the Blind Skateboards video "Video Days", but conceded that at the time he "was oblivious to the statement he [Campbell] was trying to make by choosing that song."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Alongside Mikey Taylor, Justin Case, Devine Calloway and Kevin "Spanky" Long, Rodriguez was an amateur team member, while the professional team included Lee Smith, Joey Suriel, Ryan Denman and Eric Pupecki. Rodriguez developed his interest in jewelry during this period, as Campbell was a collector and purchased Rodriguez a diamond bracelet. The period also influenced Rodriguez's musical taste, as he commenced listening to artists like Jay-Z and Nas due to the time spent with Campbell.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: City Stars had planned to release a signature skateboard deck design, featuring Rodriguez's name on the grill of a Mercedes Benz (Rodriguez's first car), but Rodriguez's departure from the company resulted in the product's cancellation. Rodriguez explained in February 2013: "I specifically remember that I knew I wanted to quit and I felt like I could at least show enough respect and tell them before they spent all that money to print up my boards. I didn't want to leave them with an inventory of boards they couldn't sell so I made sure to quit well before they went into production." In 2014 Rodriguez described his time at the brand as "the most magical," with a team that possessed "enthusiasm and passion" that was "contagious."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez was featured in Transworld Skateboarding's 2002 video, "In Bloom". This video showcased a segment of sponsored, talented skaters who were at the start of their respective careers. Following the video's release, Rodriguez commenced riding for Girl Skateboards and achieved professional status in September 2002. Rodriguez explained in a 2013 interview that he was asked to join the Girl team by Eric Koston, whom he called his all-time favorite skateboarder. Rodriguez said that it was the most significant event in his skateboarding career, as it was, "the moment that my dream happened."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez was sponsored by Girl from the age of seventeen to nineteen, and appears in the Girl Skateboards film "Yeah Right". During this period, he shared a house with professional skateboarder and rap artist Jereme Rogers.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In February 2013, Rodriguez identified his debut professional signature skateboard with Girl as his favorite deck graphic of all-time. The deck, released in 2002, featured the original Girl logo, Rodriguez's name (written in English), and the Spanish word "Muchachita", meaning "girl", instead of the usual "Girl" brand name. Rodriguez stated that "That was my first pro board and to have it on a company like Girl was awesome." In April 2013 Rodriguez explained that he "loved" his time with the Girl company and, prior to receiving contact from Danny Way—who asked him to join the relaunched Plan B company—he considered Girl a lifelong sponsor.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Following Girl, Rodriguez joined the relaunched Plan B skateboard deck brand that was under the ownership and guidance of original riders Danny Way and Colin McKay, who continue to own the brand as of March 2014.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez released a solo Plan B video part, entitled "Me, Myself, and I", in 2010. The inaugural Plan B full-length video has been a topic of discussion among the global skateboarding community for a prolonged duration of time, as promotional footage has been released and the company has been in existence for a significant period of time, with a renowned team established during this time period. A late November episode of the internet-based, weekly program, "Skateline", broadcast on the RIDE Channel, showed footage of company co-owner and team rider, Danny Way, stating that the video would be made according to a schedule determined by the company regardless of external pressure.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Seven out of Rodriguez's top ten skateboard graphics of all time are Plan B Rodriguez signature designs, according to an interview that was published in February 2013. A collaboration between Plan B and Nike SB is Rodriguez's second favorite graphic, while a Bruce Lee "Fury" deck ("Needless to say, Bruce Lee is my number one influence other than Jesus Christ ... it also shows the three scrapes he had on his face from "Enter The Dragon". I love this one.") and a Muhammad Ali deck were also included in the list.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In a July 2013 radio interview with Big Boi on Los Angeles' Power 106, Rodriguez confirmed his departure, which had already been widely speculated. During his winning performance at Stop 5 of the 2013 Street League Skateboarding contest in Portland, Oregon, U.S., Rodriguez rode a skateboard deck with the Plan B logo painted over and the company's logo was removed from his personal website as of July 16, 2013. Rodriguez explained in the interview that he is seeking to "own a little bit more of myself."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In June 2014, following the launch of his own skateboard deck company, Primitive Skateboarding, and his eighth signature shoe with Nike, Rodriguez explained his perspective on the future:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: It got to a point where I wanted to get my name on a board and did that, wanted my name on a shoe and did that, wanted other endorsements, awards, and to win certain competitions, and did those, too ... Now it's back to just wanting to get better. I want to keep improving my abilities.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The design for his Nike signature shoe was first leaked onto the Internet at the beginning of the year, leading to an intense degree of discussion among consumers, described by the Ripped Laces website as "hate/skepticism." The corresponding advertisement featured Nike SB team member, Theotis Beasley, and was produced by the Wieden + Kennedy agency.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In a promotional day-in-the-life photo diary for the Hypebeast website, published on December 16, 2014, Rodriguez revealed that his personal skateboarding park is scheduled for a remodeling process. He also stated that his daily caffeine fix brings "happiness," and that the only time his mind is clear is while he is skateboarding.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: At the beginning of 2015, Rodriguez joined the Glassy Sunhaters sunglasses brand, co-owned by fellow professional skateboarder Mike Mo Capaldi. His signature sunglasses model was released in February 2015.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: As of January 19, 2016, Rodriguez is sponsored by Primitive Skateboarding, Nike Skateboarding, Target, Nixon Watches, Incase Designs, Primitive Skateshop, Glassy Sunhaters, Markisa, Venture, Andalé Bearings As of June 2014, Rodriguez is managed by Circe Wallace.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez is a senior team rider for the Nike skateboarding division, having released his eighth skate shoe model in May 2014, and was responsible for welcoming Luan Oliviera to Nike in September 2012. Rodriguez released his first signature Nike shoe in 2005 following his departure from skate shoe brand, éS Footwear. Rodriguez explained in a 2012 interview for the "Footnotes" segment on the Berrics website:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The transition from éS to Nike was—after I got through making the phone call—I had to call Koston; I had to call, you know, Tony at éS; had to call a few people 'cause we were close; we were good family over there. So, after I got through that hard part, and I could just, and I was free of that burden, then when I got on Nike, it was just, like, the world was opened up—it was insane.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez was one of the early riders to be approached by Nike following its second attempt to succeed in the skateboarding market and sub-culture. Rodriguez has explained:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Um, my thoughts on Nike when they first approached me were cool. I mean, like, I did get some criticisms, selling out, this and that ... and I've never really been too worried 'bout that criticism. So my thoughts were just like, I look at it like this, like: My first pair of shoes were the baby Jordans [basketball player, Michael Jordan], you know what I mean, so, like, I had Nikes all my life growing up, and even at the time that I was on éS, any time that I was not skating, I wearing some white-on-white Air Force Ones, or Cortezs—I had a whole flock of Nike anyway ... the way I looked at it, was like, I've been a Nike supporter since birth. So me, I was just stoked, I was just hyped to get on Nike.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez released his seventh signature model shoe, entitled the "Paul Rodriguez 7," with Nike in mid-2013. It was designed with Shawn Carboy, who Rodriguez first started working with during the design of his fifth signature model. Rodriguez prioritized the functionality of the shoe, and impact protection is its primary feature.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The "P-ROD 8", Rodriguez's eighth signature shoe was released in May 2014. On May 25, 2014, Rodriguez, alongside fellow Nike team member and skateboarding veteran, Lance Mountain, promoted the model in a video interview, whereby the history of the Nike shoe in skateboarding culture forms the foundation of the segment—Mountain explained that prior to the official launch of the Nike brand onto the skateboarding market, skateboarders said, "This [Nike] is our shoe". Rodriguez described himself as a "Jordan baby", growing up during the peak of Michael Jordan's career, and explained that his eighth Nike shoe model is an "homage to all those things I grew up loving—even before I met skateboarding. And now it's intertwined." The P-ROD 8 features three of Nike's shoe technology developments: "Lunarlon", "Flywire" and "Hyperscreen". (Rodriguez explained in the video with Mountain that the Flywire grips around the foot in the event of a significant fall during the act of skateboarding.)


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Following the release of the P-ROD 8, Rodriguez was informed by a Nike executive that he is one of only four Nike athletes to have produced eight signature shoe models—the other being Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. In 2014, having been sponsored by Nike for ten years, Rodriguez stated: "it feels like I've also grown with them. I’ve become intertwined with Nike. Our stories are together — at least with Nike SB. The process of making a shoe, at this point, is like a well-oiled machine."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: On August 13, 2010, the Target corporation announced in a press release that Rodriguez had joined its sponsorship ranks. He became the second professional skateboarder to have a sponsorship deal with Target, the first being Shaun White, though White is better known for snowboarding. A Target representative stated in the press release, "Paul is an amazing competitor and is the perfect personality to add to our program. With so many accomplishments and a promising future ahead of him, Paul is a natural fit for Target and we’re proud to have our brand represented on his skateboard." Rodriguez was also quoted in the press release: "I grew up right across the street from a Target and have many memories of skating over to the store as a kid. I’ve always loved their brand and am excited about the relationship and potential of what we can do together."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In 2012 Rodriguez participated in a competition with AT&T that allowed the winner to participate in the filming of a promotional video featuring Rodriguez. The final video also featured professional skateboarder, Manny Santiago, and was directed by Nigel Alexander, a long-time friend of Rodriguez.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez owns a private skateboard park in the Canoga Park area of California, U.S. that features design elements from his sponsors, Mountain Dew, Nike SB, and Target. Rodriguez designed the park with skateboard park builder Mike Roebke, who used a computer program to blend his own ideas with drawings from Rodriguez. Rodriguez has stated, "I enjoy skating there and I'm blessed to have that type of place at my fingertips."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In collaboration with the Network A media company, Rodriguez is featured in a six-part internet-based series about himself entitled "LIFE". The series, produced and directed by professional skateboarder Steve Berra, was released on a weekly basis on the company's YouTube channel.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The first episode "Family First" follows Rodriguez as he revisits his grandmother's home following her cancer diagnosis (Rodriguez foregoes competing at the notable Tampa Pro contest to undertake the visit). Rodriguez explained in 2013 that Berra was the only other person to accompany him during his visit to his grandmother's home, as Rodriguez trusted Berra to be present. In the second episode, entitled "mASTA of disASTA", Rodriguez prepares to compete against Tom Asta in the Battle of the Berrics competition.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In the third episode, "Street League Matters", Rodriguez is filmed in Kansas City, U.S., as he prepares for the qualifying round of one of the stops of the Street League competition. The episode shows Rodriguez as he finishes in fourth place. The fourth episode of "LIFE" follows Rodriguez, together with close friends Heath Brinkley (photographer and filmer), Justine Schulte, and Carlos Zarazua, as he visits New Orleans, U.S. for the opening of hip hop artist Lil' Wayne's skate park in the wake of Hurricane Katrina—the skate park is called the "Truckstop" and is located in the Lower Ninth Ward area.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In "The Other Half", the fifth episode of "LIFE", the camera follows Rodriguez as he competes in the Dew Tour contest and discusses the role of contests in relation to the more fundamental aspects of a professional street skateboarder's life—video footage and street skateboarding.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: "Transworld SKATEboarding" selected Rodriguez for the thirtieth position of its "30 Most Influential Skaters of All Time" list, released in December 2011. In response to the selection, Rodriguez revealed that Koston and Andrew Reynolds are two professional skateboarders who he considers as influential in a career sense, due to their "longevity", "the impacts they've had", and the degree of respect they have garnered. In an April 2013 interview, Rodriguez added Tom Penny to his "most influential" list and stated, "Him [Penny], Koston and Reynolds. That's my combo right there.".


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: He is such a good dude, on and off the [skate]board. He's such a professional person. He's an amazing street skater, and just as good of a contest skater. So, he's a pretty ideal professional skateboarder, that's for sure.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: As of June 2014, Rodriguez is the owner of, or an investor in, the skateboard brands Primitive (retail outlet, apparel and skateboard deck company), Markisa (wallets and accessories) and Andale (skateboard bearings), the latter in partnership with fellow professional skateboarder Joey Brezinski. In relation to Andale, Brezinski explained:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Originally I was working on the idea and I went through all the legal stuff. I quit my bearing sponsor at the time and I started talking to Paul about it because he had recently quit Silver at that point. I didn't know if he had plans with FKD or not, but I presented Andale to him as something we could do together. He was down and I proceeded to move forward. It took about two years to get to this point, doing a lot of work and a lot of planning.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The Primitive company consists of a retail store in Los Angeles that specializes in footwear, an apparel line, and a skateboard deck brand. Rodriguez established the business in around 2005–2006 with three partners, including two friends whom he has known since childhood. In April 2014, Rodriguez was identified as the president of the company, while Netkin is the CEO and founder, and Jubal Jones is the creative director—Netkin and Jones were the original store employees and handled US$300 in sales on the opening day. Netkin describes the Primitive store, which officially opened on July 27, 2008, as a "cross-genre" retail outlet that also sells products, which skateboarders can relate to, outside of the skateboarding subculture.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Following the eventual success of the retail outlet, the company commenced its apparel brand, which was a part of the founders' original plan. The popularity of the apparel brand grew rapidly and in April 2014, Jones stated that he solely focuses on the brand, while new employees are constantly hired. In 2014 Primitive Apparel is available in 11 countries and the company consists of 25 people.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: The Primitive brand was expanded into a skateboard deck company called "Primitive Skateboarding" in April 2014.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Together with action sports filmmaker Josh Landon and professional US skateboarder Mikey Taylor, Rodriguez cofounded the Saint Archer Brewing Co., a microbrewery that is co-owned by people who are also the brand's "Ambassadors." The team of Ambassadors includes professional skateboarders Eric Koston, Brian "Slash" Hansen, and Bryan Herman; professional and non-professional surfers Josh Kerr, Taylor Knox, Dusty Payne, Laura Enever, and Jeff Johnson; former professional snowboarder Todd Richards; photographer Atiba Jefferson; and surfboard shaper Chris Christenson. Together with Saint Archer's other Ambassadors, Rodriguez has participated in "Tasting Room" nights that are held at the brewery, in which the Ambassadors pour and serve beers.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: In a June 2014 interview, Rodriguez asserted that he is a "young, beginning entrepreneur who's learning the ropes of the game," before revealing the philosophy that has benefited him over the course of his career: "find people that are just as passionate at what they do as you are about what you do."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: As of August 2010, his partner was Rainbow Alexander and the pair are the parents of daughter Heaven Love. They shared the parenting of Heaven Love before calling it quits in May 2020. In an April 2013 interview, Rodriguez described himself as a "certified workaholic", and stated that skateboarding and fatherhood are his primary concerns in life. In regard to his Mexican American heritage, Rodriguez has explained:


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: It's my roots. It's where I come from; it's my genetics, my DNA, my body, my build. All from my heritage. My ancestors all before me contributed to the blessings I'm living now. It's where you come from. You can never be ignorant to where you come from because they're responsible for what you are now.


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez has stated in an interview with the NetworkA media channel that he holds aspirations for a serious acting career following his time with professional skateboarding—he revealed that he admires the work of Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Edward Norton. In addition to Bruce Lee, Alexander the Great, and Jesus Christ, Rodriguez is also influenced by rapper Tupac Shakur, and revealed in February 2013 that a skateboard deck graphic featuring Shakur would be a worthwhile design: "I'd like to get that photo of Tupac standing on the wall with his shirt off and he's got the Thug Life tattoo and the glock in his waist band and a blunt in his hand. That would be sick."


title: Paul Rodriguez (skateboarder)

text: Rodriguez received the 2002 "Rookie of the Year" award from the "Transworld SKATEboarding" publication.


title: Emily Tosta

text: Emilia Gabriela Attias Tosta (born March 26, 1998), known professionally as Emily Tosta, is a Dominican actress, producer, dancer and singer. She is known for playing Lucia Acosta in the television series "Party of Five".


title: Emily Tosta

text: Tosta was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Her mother, Emilia Tosta, is Venezuelan and her father is Dominican. She moved to Miami when she was 12 to pursue a career in acting. In 2014, her family moved to Los Angeles.


title: Emily Tosta

text: She has a recurring role as Leticia Cruz in "Mayans M.C.". Her breakout role was as Lucia Acosta in the Freeform television series "Party of Five".


title: Emily Tosta

text: She starred in the 2021 film "Willy's Wonderland" with Nicolas Cage and is set to star in "Tito: Peace of Heaven".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Imperial Guard (French: "Garde Impériale") was originally a small group of elite soldiers of the French Army under the direct command of Napoleon I, but grew considerably over time. It acted as his bodyguard and tactical reserve, and he was careful of its use in battle. The Guard was divided into the staff, infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments, as well as battalions of sappers and marines. The guard itself as a whole distinguished between the experienced veterans and less experienced members by being separated into three sections: the Old Guard, Middle Guard and Young Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Guard had its origin in the Consular Guard ("Garde des consuls"), created November 28, 1799, by the union of the Guard of the Directory ("Garde du Directoire exécutif") and the Grenadiers of the Legislature ("Grenadiers près de la Représentation nationale"). These formations had for principal purpose the security of the executive and legislative branches of the French Republic and gathered a small number of soldiers, about a thousand. One may question their utility, as they did not oppose Napoleon's 18 Brumaire coup of 1799. The Consular Guard changed its name to the Imperial Guard on May 18, 1804. Its headquarters were located at the Pentemont Abbey in Paris.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Napoleon took great care of his Guard, particularly the Old Guard. The Grenadiers of the Old Guard were known to complain in the presence of the Emperor, giving them the nickname "Les Grognards", the Grumblers. The Guard received better pay, rations, quarters, and equipment, and all guardsmen ranked one grade higher than all non-Imperial Guard soldiers. Other French soldiers even referred to Napoleon's Imperial Guard as "the Immortals".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Guard played a major part in the climax of the Battle of Waterloo. It was thrown into the battle at the last minute to salvage a victory for Napoleon. Completely outnumbered, it faced terrible fire from the British lines, and began to retreat. For the first (and only) time in its history the Middle Guard retreated without orders. At the sight of this, Napoleon's army lost all hope of victory. The Middle Guard broke completely but the Old Guard (and some of the Young Guard) battalions held their formation and secured the retreat of the remainder of the French Army before being almost annihilated by British and Prussian artillery fire and cavalry charges.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The phrase ""La Garde meurt mais ne se rend pas!" ("The Guard dies but does not surrender!") is generally attributed to General Pierre Cambronne. It has been suggested that this was in fact said by another general of the Guard, Claude-Etienne Michel, during their last stand at the Battle of Waterloo. The retort to a request to surrender may have been ""La Garde meurt, elle ne se rend pas!" ("The Guard dies, it does not surrender!"). Letters published in "The Times" in June 1932 record that it may have been said by General Michel.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Old Guard regiments were assigned to the Guard's 3rd Division, while the remainder of the Guard's foot regiments were assigned to the 1st and 2nd Divisions.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: In 1804 the Guard numbered 8,000 men. By the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, it had swelled to just under 100,000 men. The Guard had its own artillery, infantry and cavalry components just like a normal army corps. The Old Guard was the elite within the wider Imperial Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Created soon after the creation of the Guard itself, the General Staff by 1806 included the four Colonel-Generals of the four divisions of the Guard, all Marshals of France in field rank. It also included an Inspector of Reviews, a Commissioner of War, 24 aides-de-camp, and other specialist officers, NCOs, and privates.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Old Guard regiments served in the 3rd Division of the Guard, while the rest of the foot regiments of the Guard served in the 1st and 2nd Divisions.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Old Guard regiments were allocated to the Guard's 3rd Division, while the remainder of the Guard's foot regiments were assigned to the 1st and 2nd Divisions.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The 1st Regiment of Foot Grenadiers (1er Régiment de Grenadiers-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale) was founded from the Consular Guard Grenadiers (Gardes des Consuls), which had been formed from the Guards of the Directory. The battalion was made up of the Imperial French Army's most experienced and tallest men. One of two Imperial Guard battalions carried the Imperial Eagle into battle.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: After Napoleon's failure in the Invasion of Russia, only a few troops from the initial force remained, and the army had to be rebuilt using Peninsular War veterans.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Raised in 1806 from veterans of the Grande Armée, the "2 Régiment de Grenadiers-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" was a unit within the Middle Guard of Napoléon's Imperial Guard. This particular unit was disbanded in 1810 and was replaced by the so called "Dutch Grenadiers" until in 1811, upon the upcoming Invasion of Russia, the 2nd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers was reraised with 1,500 veteran soldiers. By 1813, the unit was designated to join the Old Guard as a reward of their long service in both Spain and Russia.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Originally raised as part of the Dutch Royal Guard when Louis Bonaparte, brother to Napoleon, was made King of Holland. In 1810 the unit was incorporated into the Imperial Guard within the Middle Guard as the 2nd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers ("2 Régiment de Grenadiers-à-Pied de la Garde Imperiale"). It was disbanded 15 February 1813 after certain issues with staff and personnel, however was re-raised on 8 April 1815 to the replace the Fusilier-Grenadiers de la Garde Impériale. It was finally disbanded on 24 September 1815 after Napoléon's Second Abdication.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The "4 Régiment de Grenadiers-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" was the last grenadier guard regiment to be raised. Created on 9 May 1815, it saw action in Ligny and Waterloo. It was disbanded on 24 September 1815.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Being the second in seniority within the Imperial Guard Infantry, the "1 Régiment de Chasseurs-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" was one of the most venerated of regiments within Grande Armée; classed as part of the Old Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Raised in 1806, the "2 Régiment de Chasseurs-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" was disbanded in 1809 and re-raised in 1811 for the Invasion of Russia. As part of the Middle Guard, they engaged in numerous battles and by 1813 they were finally raised to be part of the Old Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The "3 Régiment de Chasseurs-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" briefly existed during the 100 days campaign after Napoleon's escape from Elba.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The "4 Régiment de Chasseurs-à-Pied de la Garde Impériale" was also raised during the 100 days campaign after Napoleon's escape from Elba.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Fusiliers-Grenadiers were the second regiment of Fusiliers created on December 15, 1806, from the 1st battalions of the Grenadier and Chasseur Vélites, forming a regiment that was to be 1,800 men strong. Conscripts and men from the Compagnies de Reserve brought the new regiment up to four battalions of four companies each, 120 men per company. They were disbanded on May 12, 1814.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Fusiliers-Chasseurs were created on October 19, 1806, from the 1st battalions of the Vélites of the Grenadiers and Chasseurs of the Guard; the regiment was to be 1,200 men strong. Men of the Compagnies de Reserve were added to bring the regiment up to four battalions of four companies each, 120 men to a company. In 1813 each battalion was enlarged by two more companies. They were killed on May 12, 1814.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The first regiment to become known as the Young Guard, Tirailleurs Grenadiers ("1 Régiment de Tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale") were raised in 1809 from conscripts, but they had to be able to read and write. A second regiment was formed later in the same year. In 1810 both were renamed "1e & 2 Regiments de Tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Two regiments of Tirailleurs-Chasseurs were formed at the same time as the Tirailleurs-Grenadiers, and were also included in the Young Guard. For the 1812 Campaign in Russia these were expanded to six regiments. Both became "5e & 6 Regiments de Tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale" in 1811.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: During the 1813–14 campaigns the number of "Regiments de Tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale" was increased to sixteen although they rarely equaled the regiments of the Young Guard of 1811.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The 7th, 8th and 9th were recruited from the 'Pupilles de la Garde', childsoldiers who were to become Napoleon's son's guard and who stayed in France during the Napoleon's invasion of Russia.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Created from the Tirailleurs-Chasseurs in late 1810, the "Regiments de Voltigeurs de la Garde Impériale" became one of the largest corps in the Guard, eventually absorbing the "Regiments de Conscrits-Chasseurs" to number sixteen regiments by 1814. The "14 Régiment de Voltigeurs de la Garde Impériale" was created from the Spanish volunteers that retreated with the French Army, and the "Régiment de Voltigeurs de la Garde Royale Espagnol".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Created in 1809, the two Conscripts-Grenadiers Regiments ("Régiment de Conscrit-Grenadiers"), though intended to provide a reserve for the Young Guard, were not included in the Guard, receiving line infantry pay. The regiments became "3e & 4e Régiment de Tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale" in 1810.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Created in 1809, the Conscripts Chasseurs Regiment though intended to provide a reserve for the Young Guard, was not included in the guard, receiving Line Infantry pay. After 1811, the Conscrits-Chasseurs formed the 3rd and 4th regiments of the Voltigeurs of the Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: This regiment was created from the National Guard companies of the Northern Departments of France. The regiment was organized according to the line infantry tables, and in 1813 was renamed the 7th Regiment of Voltigeurs.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: In preparation for the invasion of Russia, Napoleon ordered a further creation of units for the Guard that included "Régiment de Flanqueurs-Grenadiers de la Garde Impériale" and Flanqueur-Chasseurs Regiment ("Régiment de Flanqueurs-Chasseurs de la Garde Impériale").


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Imperial Guard cavalry constituted a corps in itself and had its own commander, with seasoned cavalrymen like Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières and generals Frédéric Henri Walther or Étienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty successively at its helm. Augustin Daniel Belliard was also interim commander for a few days in 1814, before giving command to Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta, who held it for a short while, until Napoleon's abdication in April 1814. During the Hundred Days, there was no overall commander of the Guard cavalry, with command divided between Charles, comte Lefebvre-Desnouettes (light cavalry division) and Claude-Étienne Guyot (heavy cavalry division).


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Horse Grenadiers was the senior cavalry regiment of the Guard, and originated from the Consular Guard. Classed as heavy cavalry, the regiment did not wear a cuirass, but was known for its distinctive bearskin head-dress and black horses. It was known by the nickname of "the Gods"; also as "the Big Heels".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Regiment of Chasseurs a Cheval ("1 Régiment de Chasseurs-a-Cheval de la Garde Impériale") was also created from the Consular Guard, and ranked second in seniority, although it was a light cavalry regiment. It was the Chasseurs that usually provided personal escort to Napoleon, and he often wore the uniform of the regiment in recognition of this service. The regiment was not only known for its lavish uniform, but its combat history, as well. A second regiment ("2 Régiment de Chasseurs-a-Cheval de la Garde Impériale") was created briefly from "Regiment d'Eclaireurs Lanciers" in 1815.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The dragoon regiments of the line distinguished themselves in the German Campaign of 1805, and so Napoleon decided (in a decree of April 15, 1806) to reorganize the cavalry of the Guard and create within it a regiment of dragoons ("Régiment de Dragons de la Garde Impériale"), made up of three squadrons, headed by 60 officers personally selected by Napoleon. The first squadron was to have 296 men, and be made up of "vélites", whilst the other two were regular squadrons of 476 horsemen. To complete this new unit, each of the 30 dragoon regiments of the line provided 12 men, each of whom had done 10 years of service, and the brigadier, chasseur, and dragoon line regiments provided the "sous-officiers". This regiment quickly became known as the "Régiment de dragons de l'Impératrice" (the Empress' Dragoons) in tribute to their patroness, Joséphine de Beauharnais, and up until its last member died, the Regiment marked the anniversary of her death.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The unit's numbers rose to 1269 in 1807 with the addition of two new squadrons, and on December 9, 1813, it was attached to the Guard's 3rd regiment of éclaireurs. The dragoons' uniform and weaponry was the same as those of the Guard's mounted grenadiers, only in green rather than blue, and (in place of the bonnet à poil) a copper helmet with a hanging mane in the Neo-Greek "Minerve" style, and a red plume.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: In the Russian campaign of 1812, the French Army had suffered badly from attacks by the Russian Cossack cavalry. About to fight on French soil for the first time since the French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon decided to reorganize the Imperial Guard. In Article 1 of a decree of December 4, 1813, he created three regiments of "Éclaireurs à Cheval de la Garde Impériale" (mounted scouts of the Guard) as counterparts to the Cossacks. They were also known as "Hussards Éclaireurs" within the Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: They joined the army on January 1, 1814, just in time to participate in the Six Days Campaign, and were disbanded after Napoleon's first abdication.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The "1 Regiment d'Éclaireurs à Cheval" was attached to the "Grenadiers à Cheval", and was thus named the regiment of "Éclaireurs-grenadiers".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The "2 Regiment d'Eclaireurs à Cheval" was attached to the "Dragons de L'Imperatrice" (Empress' Dragoons).


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The regiment called the "Régiment de Chevau-Légers Polonais de la Garde" was created in 1807 after the 1806 defeat of the Allies, and the French occupation of Poland. In 1811, with the raising of the Dutch Lancers of the Guard, the regiment was renamed "1 Régiment de Chevau-Legers-Lanciers de la Garde Impériale".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Raised in 1810 from former Dutch Army cavalry units as the "2 Régiment de chevau-légers lanciers de la Garde Impériale", the regiment became known as the Red Lancers from their uniform.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The regiment of Lithuanian Lancers was raised as the "3 Régiment de Chevau-Légers-Lanciers de la Garde Impériale" in Lithuania during the invasion of Russia in 1812, largely from the Lithuanian population in Poland, but was virtually destroyed in the retreat of the same year, and the survivors incorporated into "3 Régiment de Eclaireurs". Incorporated into the regiment was a squadron of Lithuanian Tatars as the "Escadron de Lithuanian Tartares".


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: A squadron of Mamelukes ("Escadron de Mamalukes") returned with Napoleon from the Egyptian Campaign in 1799. They were inducted into the Guard, and usually attached to the "Chasseurs à Cheval". The squadron was never increased to a regiment in strength. Over the years their casualties were replaced from French cavalry regiments, or from any vaguely Middle Eastern related nationalities.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Although technically classed as cavalry of the Guard, "Legion de Gendarmerie d'Elite" troops invariably served in detachments with the General Staff of the Guard, Napoleon's personal headquarters, and the Guard field camps. The Legion included mounted and dismounted troops, the mounted component being two squadrons.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: The Guards of Honour ("Régiment de Garde d'Honneur") were four regiments of light cavalry which Napoleon created in 1813 for his campaigns in Germany to reinforce his Guard cavalry decimated in Russia. The regiments were dressed in the fashion of the hussars. They served alongside the other Guard cavalry, but were not technically part of the Old, Middle or Young Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Artillery of the Guard included the Foot Artillery Regiment ("Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied de la Garde Impériale") batteries, Horse Artillery Regiment ("Regiment d'Artillerie à Cheval de la Garde Impériale") batteries, the Artillery Train of the Guard ("Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Consulaire") and the Artillery Park of the Guard ("Parc d'Artillerie de la Garde Impériale"), the latter two created in 1807. Despite shortages in artillery ordnance, in 1813 Napoleon created the "Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied de la Garde Impériale" of the Young Guard ("Jeune Garde"). The "Parc du materiel de la Garde Impériale" was created in 1813 to supplement the meager resources of the "Bataillon du Train des équipages militaires" after the losses of the 1812 campaign.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Although not deployed in combat as a unit, the Engineers ("Genie de la Garde Impériale") created in 1804 as the engineers of the Consular Guard, participated in combat more so than the combat units of the Guard which were usually held in reserve. By 1810 the Chief Engineer officer of the Guard had a company of "Sapeurs de la Garde" (140 sappers), all members of the Old Guard. In 1813 this was increased to two companies, and later one battalion of four companies totaling 400 sappers. The 1st and 2nd companies were classed as Old Guard, while the 3rd and 4th companies as the Young Guard.


title: Imperial Guard (Napoleon I)

text: Raised from sailors of the French navy who had distinguished themselves, the battalion of "Marins" wore a distinctive, elaborate uniform resembling that of the hussars. Their officers bore titles of rank derived from their seagoing compatriots, and the overall commander of the marines bore the rank of "Capitaine de Vaisseau". Their duties including manning boats and other watercraft used by the Emperor.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive officer of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the associated Minor League Baseball (MiLB) – a constellation of leagues and clubs known as "organized baseball". Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts. The commissioner is chosen by a vote of the owners of the teams. The incumbent MLB commissioner is Rob Manfred, who assumed office on January 25, 2015.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: The title "commissioner", which is a title that is now applied to the heads of several other major sports leagues as well as baseball, derives from its predecessor office, the National Baseball Commission, the ruling body of professional baseball starting with the National Agreement of 1903, which created unity between both the National League and the American League. The agreement consisted of three members: the two League presidents and a Commission chairman, whose primary responsibilities were to preside at meetings and to mediate disputes. Although the Commission chairman August Herrmann was the nominal head of major league baseball, it was the American League President Ban Johnson who dominated the commission.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: The event that would eventually lead to the appointment of a single Commissioner of Baseball was the Black Sox Scandal — perhaps the worst of a series of incidents in the late 1910s that jeopardized the integrity of the game of baseball. However, the desire to rebuild public relations was not the only motivation behind the creation of the Commissioner's office. The scandal had not only tarnished the image of baseball, but it had brought relations between team owners and American League President Johnson to a boiling point. In particular, Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey was piqued and incensed at what he perceived to be Johnson's indifference to his suspicions that the 1919 World Series had been thrown. As a result, the National League, whose owners had never been on good terms with Johnson, agreed to invite the White Sox along with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees to join their league. The National League also unveiled plans to put a twelfth team in Detroit.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: With the American League's status as a major league (and possibly its very existence) suddenly in jeopardy, the five American League owners loyal to Johnson sued for peace. Eventually, at the urging of Detroit Tigers owner and Johnson loyalist Frank Navin, a compromise was reached in late 1920 to reform the National Commission with a membership of non-baseball men.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Having agreed to appoint only non-baseball men to the National Commission, the owners tapped federal judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, an ardent baseball fan, to serve as the reformed commission's chairman. Landis responded by declaring that he would only accept an appointment as sole commissioner, with nearly unlimited authority to act in the "best interests of baseball" — in essence, serving as an arbitrator whose decisions could not be appealed. Finally, Landis insisted on a lifetime contract. The owners, still reeling from the perception that the sport was crooked, readily agreed.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Landis's first significant act was to deal with the Black Sox scandal. Following a trial, the eight players suspected of involvement in the fix were acquitted. Nevertheless, immediately following the players' acquittal, Landis banned them all from baseball for life. He famously declared, "Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player who throws a ballgame, no player that undertakes or promises to throw a ballgame, no player that sits in conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing a game are discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball." Landis explained that even though the players had all been acquitted in court, there was no dispute that they had broken the rules of baseball. Therefore, he maintained that none of them could be allowed back in the game if its image was to be restored with the public. Among those banned were Buck Weaver and superstar Shoeless Joe Jackson, who have generally been viewed to be far less culpable compared to the other six accused. Landis' position was that he had no doubt that Weaver and Jackson at the very least knew about the fix, and failed to report it, and that this alone was grounds for permanent banishment.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Over the years, he dealt harshly with others proven to have thrown individual games, consorted with gamblers, or engaged in actions that he felt tarnished the image of the game. Among the others he banned were New York Giants players Phil Douglas and Jimmy O'Connell, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Gene Paulette, Giants coach Cozy Dolan, and (in 1943) Phillies owner William D. Cox. He also formalized the unofficial banishments of Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman. In 1921, he banned Giants center fielder Benny Kauff even though he had been acquitted of involvement in a car theft ring. Nonetheless, Landis was convinced Kauff was guilty and argued that players of "undesirable reputation and character" had no place in baseball.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: The owners had initially assumed that Landis would deal with the Black Sox Scandal and then settle into a comfortable retirement as the titular head of baseball. Instead, Landis ruled baseball with an iron hand for the next 25 years. He established a fiercely independent Commissioner's Office that would go on to often make both players and owners miserable with decisions that he argued were in the best interests of the game. He worked to clean up the hooliganism that was tarnishing the reputation of players in the 1920s. Without a union to represent them, the players had no meaningful recourse to challenge Landis' virtually unchecked authority. On the other hand, Landis inserted his office into negotiations with players, where he deemed appropriate, to put an end to a few of the more egregious labor practices that had contributed to the players' discontent. He also personally approved broadcasters for the World Series.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Landis's only significant rival in the early years was longtime American League founder and president Ban Johnson, who had been reckoned as the most powerful man in the game before Landis's arrival. Johnson was as strong-willed as Landis, and a clash between the two was inevitable. It happened in the 1924 World Series. When several Giants were implicated in a plan to bribe players on the moribund Phillies late in the season, Johnson demanded that the Series be canceled, and loudly criticized Landis's handling of the affair, to which Landis responded by threatening to resign. The American League owners promised to throw Johnson out of office if he stepped out of line again. Two years later, when Johnson criticized Landis's decision to give Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker an amnesty after it surfaced they had bet on a fixed game in 1919, Landis told the American League owners to choose between him and Johnson. The owners promptly sent Johnson on a sabbatical from which he never really returned.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Landis perpetuated the color line and prolonged the segregation of organized baseball. His successor, Happy Chandler, said, "For twenty-four years Judge Landis wouldn't let a black man play. I had his records, and I read them, and for twenty-four years Landis consistently blocked any attempts to put blacks and whites together on a big league field." Bill Veeck claimed Landis prevented him from purchasing the Phillies when Landis learned of Veeck's plan to integrate the team. The signing of the first black ballplayer in the modern era, Jackie Robinson, came less than a year after Landis's death on Chandler's watch and was engineered by one of Landis's old nemeses, Branch Rickey. Eleven weeks after Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Veeck became the first American League owner to break the color line.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Landis tried to curb the growth of minor league farm systems by innovators such as Rickey, in the name of protecting the lower levels of professional ball. Landis argued that because a parent club could unilaterally call up players from teams that were involved in pennant races, the organization was unfairly interfering with the minor competitions. His position was that the championship of each minor league was of no less importance than the championships of the major leagues and that minor league fans and supporters had the right to see their teams competing as best they could.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: On the other hand, Landis prevented the formation of a powerful third major league when he stopped Pants Rowland from upgrading the Pacific Coast League in the 1940s. Furthermore, (and despite the fact that, insofar as he was accountable at all, it was strictly to major league owners) Landis did not hesitate to aggressively use the powers of his office to force the minor leagues and their clubs to submit to his authority in a number of ways. Most notably, he uncompromisingly held to a policy that dictated any minor league player who knowingly played with or against a player banned by Major League Baseball would himself be banned from MLB for life. This threat effectively compelled every minor league to rigidly honor and enforce suspensions handed down by Landis in their competitions as well. Nevertheless, some players banned by Landis are believed to have continued playing under assumed identities at the minor league or semi-professional level.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: One of the schemes Landis vigorously fought was the effort by major-league teams to "cover up" players they were hiding in their farm systems. The term, not used in formal communications by the league or team officials, referred to players clandestinely signed by a major-league team to a minor-league contract. Occasionally one team would serendipitously find such a player in the off-season draft, as in this occasion recorded in the book "Dodger Daze and Knights":


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: All the clubowners and managers, and Commissioner Landis, were assembled to conduct the draft. One team representative said he "claim[s] Player [Paul] Richards of Brooklyn".


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Whether his decisions were praised or criticized, he was satisfied with being respected and feared. Dubbed "the baseball tyrant" by journalists of the day, his rule was absolute. In the context of ensuring the integrity of the game itself, baseball historians generally regard him as the right man at the right time when appointed, but also as a man who perhaps held office too long.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1944, in a special election held one month after his death, and the Most Valuable Player Award in each league was officially known as the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Award in his honor until 2020, following complaints from past MVP winners about Landis's role in stonewalling racial integration.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: When Judge Landis died in 1944, an official in the War Department began campaigning for Senator Happy Chandler's election to the post. Despite being the last candidate put forth in the April 1945 meetings, he was elected by a unanimous vote of the team owners, and resigned his Senate seat in October of that year.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Chandler clashed with Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo "the Lip" Durocher over Durocher's association with gambling figures and his marriage to actress Laraine Day, which came amid allegations from Day's ex-husband that Durocher had stolen her away from him. Before the start of the 1947 season, Chandler suspended Durocher for the entire season, citing "conduct detrimental to baseball". The Dodgers went on to win the pennant that season under replacement manager Burt Shotton.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Chandler became known as "the players' commissioner" for his work on their behalf. During his service, he presided over the establishment of a pension fund for players and oversaw the initial steps toward integration of the major leagues, beginning with the debut of Jackie Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. This move was controversial with team owners, who voted 15–1 against integrating the sport in a secret January 1947 meeting. The Dodgers' Branch Rickey met with Chandler, who agreed to back the team's move. Chandler's stance was credited by many in the sports community with Chandler's failure to be selected for another term as Commissioner after the expiration of his first one in 1951.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Chandler was fully aware that he was jeopardizing his own commissionership by stewarding the integration process. Chandler's attitude was a simple one, which he conveyed to Branch Rickey, and later recounted in his autobiography:


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: In , National League President Ford Frick succeeded Happy Chandler as commissioner of baseball. Frick's critics accused him of favoring the National League in his rulings, such as how the 1960s expansion teams would be stocked.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Frick's most highly criticized statement as commissioner was made in 1961 when several players were on a pace to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. In a press conference, Frick stated that the single-season home run record should be separated into multiple lists, based on the length of a season. However, as MLB did not publish an official record book at the time, Frick had no control over how publishers presented MLB records, and within a few years after Roger Maris broke Ruth's record, all record books gave Maris sole credit as the single-season home run record holder.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Frick successfully prevented the Continental League, a proposed third major league, from ever playing, and introduced major league baseball to several markets in which the proposed league planned to play through expansion and relocation.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: More than 150 names appeared on the original list of nominees for the commissionership following Ford Frick's retirement. The club owners initially were unable to decide if the next commissioner should come from within the ranks of the game as Frick had, or from elsewhere like Frick's two predecessors had. They finally decided that the new commissioner should have a strong business background to deal with the problems that were confronting the game at the time.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Retired US Army LTG William Eckert became a serious candidate for the commissionership only after fellow general officer Curtis LeMay gave Major League Baseball a recommendation for him. On November 17, 1965, by a unanimous vote of the then, 20 major league club owners, William Eckert became the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: When he became commissioner, Eckert had not seen a game in person in over 10 years. He was a compromise choice for the job, previously being so obscure that sportswriters nicknamed him "the Unknown Soldier".


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: During the 1968 season, Eckert incurred the public's ire by refusing to cancel exhibition games after the April assassination of Martin Luther King nor regular-season games after the June assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, while also incurring team owners' disdain because he refused to deal forcefully with substantive business issues. Anticipating a players' strike and having no ownership confidence in his ability to handle the situation, Eckert was forced to resign at the end of the 1968 season, although he still had three years on his contract.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: In spite of his much-publicized failures and shortcomings, William Eckert also developed more effective committee actions, streamlined business methods, and helped stabilize franchises with bigger stadiums and long-term leases. In addition, Eckert worked hard toward promoting the game internationally, including a 1966 post-World Series tour of Japan by the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Bowie Kuhn's tenure was marked by labor strikes (most notably in 1981), owner disenchantment, and the end of baseball's reserve clause, yet baseball enjoyed unprecedented attendance gains (from 23 million in to 45.5 million in ) and television contracts during the same time frame.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Kuhn suspended numerous players for involvement with drugs and gambling, and took a strong stance against any activity that he perceived to be "not in the best interests of baseball".


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: In , he suspended star Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain indefinitely (the suspension was later set at 3 months) due to McLain's involvement in a bookmaking operation, and later suspended McLain for the rest of the season for carrying a gun. He barred both Willie Mays (in ) and Mickey Mantle (in ) from the sport due to their involvement in casino promotion; neither was directly involved in gambling, and both were reinstated by Kuhn's successor Peter Ueberroth in .


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: Also in 1970, Kuhn described Jim Bouton's "Ball Four" as "detrimental to baseball" and demanded that Bouton retract it. The book has been republished several times and is now considered a classic.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: On October 13, , the World Series held a night game for the first time. Kuhn, who thought that baseball could attract a larger audience by featuring a prime time telecast (as opposed to a mid-afternoon broadcast, when most fans either worked or attended school), pitched the idea to NBC. An estimated 61 million people watched Game 4 on NBC; TV ratings for a World Series game during the daytime hours would not have approached such a record number. Kuhn's vision in this instance has been fulfilled, as all the World Series games are now shown in prime time.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: On October 7, , the St. Louis Cardinals traded Curt Flood, catcher Tim McCarver, outfielder Byron Browne, and left-handed pitcher Joe Hoerner to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Dick Allen, second baseman Cookie Rojas, and right-handed ace relief pitcher Jerry Johnson.


title: Commissioner of Baseball

text: However, Flood refused to report to the moribund Phillies, citing the team's poor record and the fact that they played in dilapidated Connie Mack Stadium before belligerent and, Flood believed, racist fans. Flood forfeited a relatively lucrative US$100,000 (equivalent to $ in ) contract by his refusal to be traded to the Phillies.