Vince Lombardi
Bergen County Legends List Continues to Stir Controversy
Ervolino: Bergen County has long list of legends who couldn’t make the cut
AUGUST 20, 2014, 6:35 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014, 11:36 PM
BY BILL ERVOLINO
RECORD COLUMNIST
THE RECORD
Former President Richard Nixon didn’t make the cut. Actor James Gandolfini did.
Nixon opened trade to China, initiated detente with the Soviets, said “Sock it to me” on “Laugh-In” and insisted he wasn’t a crook.
As Tony Soprano, the character that made him a star, Gandolfini whacked Tony Blundetto, Ralphie Cifaretto and Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero and insisted he wasn’t a crook, either.
“I am,” he said, repeatedly, “a waste management consultant.”
Both men spent a significant part of their lives in Park Ridge. (It’s where Nixon underwent his so-called rehabilitation to respected elder statesman.) But, this week, only one of them — the one who wasn’t really a waste management consultant — was named an honest-to-gosh Bergen County Legend by the Bergen County Historical Society.
And for now, at least, Nixon fans will have to (ahem) resign themselves to wait on the sidelines, along with the supporters of such county stalwarts as poet William Carlos Williams, educator Elisabeth Morrow, silent film pioneer Alice Guy Blaché or Rock Hall of Fame members the Isley Brothers — among scores of others.
The 10 inductees who did make the cut will be celebrated at an awards gala Oct. 15 at the Venetian in Garfield — a fundraiser that the historical society’s past president Kevin Wright says will go toward creating a museum in New Bridge Landing to house the group’s vast collection of historic items.
It’s a collection that includes “over 4,000 pieces in all,” Wright said. “Everything from prehistoric artifacts found in the area, to the pickax used in the groundbreaking ceremony for the George Washington Bridge.”
Unfortunately, most of the 2014 legends will not be in attendance in October. Gandolfini died last year. Musician Les Paul died in 2009. Poet Joyce Kilmer died in 1918. And Hackinkasacky Indian chief Oratam died in 1666.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ervolino-bergen-county-has-long-list-of-legends-who-couldn-t-make-the-cut-1.1070249#sthash.tQlEqYb0.dpuf
Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize… so no surprise at this type of decision.
I’ve long ago stopped assigning any objectivitiy (and thus stopped assigning worth and value) to most of these types of “awards” organizations.
Where is Abdoo on this list ?
The Mayor is a legend in his own mind so he should be on the list
Neither Nixon or Gandolfini belong…..we can do better than that.
Pete Rose isn’t in baseball’s Hall of Fame because of his gambling. But, he is still a legend for his achievements.
Nixon belongs