Bob Hoskins, star...

...of The Long Good Friday and other films, died at age 71. (That movie has a really good ending, by the way.) From his obit in the Times:

One of the more widely circulated and humorous anecdotes about Mr. Hoskins involved a film he wasn’t in at all: Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables” (1987).

During preparation for filming, Mr. Hoskins had been asked to come to Los Angeles to talk about playing Al Capone, a part that eventually went to Robert De Niro. In fact, as Mr. Hoskins told the story, Mr. De Palma was quite straightforward about the fact that he really wanted Mr. De Niro, but that Mr. De Niro’s price was creating consternation at Paramount. Mr. Hoskins was engaged as a backup, in the event the studio could not come to terms with Mr. De Niro.

Sometime afterward, Mr. Hoskins received a check for £20,000 and a thank-you note from Mr. De Palma. “I phoned him up,” Mr. Hoskins recalled, “and I said, ‘Brian, if you’ve ever got any other films you don’t want me in, son, you just give me a call.’ ”

Al Feldstein, longtime editor...

...of Mad Magazine, died at age 88. From his obit in the Times:

In his second issue, Mr. Feldstein seized on a character who had appeared only marginally in the magazine — a freckled, gaptoothed, big-eared, glazed-looking young man — and put his image on the cover, identifying him as a write-in candidate for president campaigning under the slogan “What — me worry?”

At first he went by Mel Haney, Melvin Cowznofski and other names. But when the December 1956 issue, No. 30, identified him as Alfred E. Neuman, the name stuck. He became the magazine’s perennial cover boy, appearing in dozens of guises, including as a joker on a playing card, an ice-skating barrel jumper, a totem on a totem pole, a football player, a yogi, a construction worker, King Kong atop the Empire State Building, Rosemary’s baby, Uncle Sam, General Patton and Barbra Streisand.

Neuman became the symbol of Mad, his goofy countenance often intruding, Zelig-like, into scenes from the political landscape and from popular television shows and movies. He signaled the magazine’s editorial attitude, which fell somewhere between juvenile nose-thumbing at contemporary culture and sophisticated spoofing.

In case you think...

...I've been slacking off lately, I want you all to know I spent an hour and a half yesterday talking with John Hoerster, the coach of Oak Park and River Forest. A very personable man, Hoerster just finished leading the Huskies' to their best season (9-2) in recent memory. The Oak Park resident is the son of legendary Loyola coach John Hoerster and a nine-year veteran of Frank Lenti's staff at Mount Carmel.

Look for my piece in the Oak Leaves just as soon as I transcribe the interview from my iPhone. I think you'll enjoy it.

More bad news for Republicans.

From NBC News:

Though California and Texas still have the largest number of Hispanics, the five states with the fastest growing Latino populations from 2000 to 2012 were: Tennessee (up 163 percent); South Carolina (161 percent); Alabama (157 percent); Kentucky (135 percent) and South Dakota (132 percent).

Those five are all red states.

The quote of the day...

...is from Chris Hayes: “Much of movement conservatism is a con and the base are the marks.”

Your fun fact of the day:

In New York City, there are now more students enrolled in Jewish schools than in Catholic schools. From COLlive:

Looking at state data, the city's Independent Budget Office found that 10 years ago, there were 134,948 Catholic school students compared to 73,254 Jewish school students. Now the number in Catholic schools has dropped to 87,301, significantly fewer than the 94,589 in Jewish schools.

That's a 35 percent drop in Catholic school enrollment since 2004.

Earl Morrall, longtime NFL...

Earl Morrall, Don Shula and Bob Griese.

...quarterback, died at age 79. From his obit in the Times (my emphasis):

In April 1972 the Dolphins claimed him on $100 waivers and reunited him with their head coach, Don Shula, who had been the Colts’ coach.

When Morrall reported to the Dolphins’ training camp at age 38, his teammates called him Old Man, he said. But when Griese, the Dolphins’ No. 1 quarterback, sustained leg and ankle injuries in the fifth game of the season, against the San Diego Chargers, Morrall took over.

He helped the Dolphins to a 14-0 regular season, throwing for 11 touchdowns, although they were primarily a running team behind Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris.

Asked long afterward who he thought was the most valuable player for that Dolphins team, Morrall answered, “Bob Griese for breaking his ankle so I could play.”

And then this:

Morrall was later the quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami, where he tutored Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar and Jim Kelly.

Nice work!