Celebrating Pride Month: Carl Nassib, first active NFL player to come out

Carl Nassib, April 12, 1993 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.  Nassib played football at Pennsylvania State University where he was voted All-American in 2015.  

He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 NFL draft in the third round, as the 65th pick.  He was waived by the Browns in 2018. 

In September 2018, he was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played two seasons.  He signed a three-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2020. 

During the 2021 season opener, the Raiders defeated the Ravens on Monday Night Football and became the first openly gay player in the NFL.  He was released by the Raiders in March 2022.

He signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers and in September 2023, announced his retirement.

"Jurassic Park" released 1993

Steven Spielberg's blockbuster Jurassic Park was released in US theaters June 11, 1993 and set box-office records across the world. Based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, the movie follows a billionaire's attempt to regenerate dinosaurs on an isolated island.  

What could possibly go wrong?

Jurassic Park starred Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeff Goldblum.  It became the highest grossing film at that time.  It reached $100M in a record nine days. It was the first film to gross over $500M overseas.

Jurassic Park won three Academy Awards: Bet Sound, Best Sound Effects, and Best Visual Effects.  Since it was a mix of science fiction and horror, it could not be nominated for Best Picture or any of the acting awards.  Spielberg won Best Directing but for Schindler's List, a drama film.  

Jurassic Park did not receive any Golden Globe awards because the science fiction adventure did not align "with the types of films that were often nominated" for Golden Globes.

It won four Saturn Awards: Steven Spielberg for Best Direction, Best Science Fiction Film, Best Special Effects, and Best Writing.  Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Wayne Knight, Joseph Mazzello, and Arian Richards were nominated for their work.  John Williams was nominated for Best Music, and Jurassic Park received a nomination for Best Costumes. 

John Williams was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his original score. 

"Babylon 5: The Gathering" airs 1993

The television movie, Babylon 5: The Gathering, the episode that started it all, aired February 22, 1993. The series would start the following year in 1994, with some changes.  Written by J. Michael Straczynski, it starred Michael O'Hare (Commander Jeffrey Sinclair), Jerry Doyle (Michael Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari), Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar), and Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander). Tamlyn Tomita appeared as Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takashima, but was replaced by Claudia Christian (Lt. Commander Ivanova) in the series.  Andrea Thompson was a character added in the series as PsiCorps telepath Talia Winters.

It was a great look into a non-Roddenberry vision of space exploration and space travel.  The series lasted 5 seasons, and spawned a few spin-offs and television movies.

Celebrating Pride Month: "Angels in America" wins 4 Tony Awards 1993

Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, a play by Tony Kushner, won four Tony Awards at the 47th annual ceremony, held June 6, 1993. The play focuses on homosexuality and AIDS in the US during the 1980s.  It premiered on Broadway in 1993.  

The play received much controversy due to the blunt treatment of AIDS, homosexuality, and male nudity, leading to funding cuts for art funding in some cities. But Angels in America was received well by critics and it won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

It took home honors for Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Ron Leibman, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for Stephen Spinella, and Best Direction of a Play for George C. Wolfe.  Angels was also nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for Joe Mantello, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Kathleen Chalfant, and Best Scenic Design.  

Also that night, Madeline Kahn won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance in The Sisters Rosenweig.  Andrea Martin won Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in My Favorite Year.

Garth Brooks sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXVII after some controversy 1993

Less than an hour before he was scheduled to sing he National Anthem at Super Bowl XXVII January 31, 1993, Garth Brooks left the stadium, since NBC was not going to air his song/video for We Shall Be Free.  NBC said it was too "controversial" and weren't going to air it.  Finally, NBC came to their senses and played the song.  Garth performed the National Anthem with actress Marlee Matlin.

Michael Jackson performed the halftime show.

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17 that day.

Endeavour (STS-61) launched 1993

STS-61 crew

Front row (L-R): Ken Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Story Musgrave, Claude Nicollier

Back row (L-R): Richard Covey, Jeffrey Hoffman, Thomas Akers

STS-61 mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-61), launched December 2, 1993, was the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.  Its crew consisted of Commander Richard Covey, Pilot Ken Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Claude Nicollier (ESA), Jeffrey Hoffman, Story Musgrave, and Thomas Akers. The crew conducted 5 EVAs during the mission.  Musgrave and Hoffman conducted three EVAs for a total of around 22 hours.  Thornton and Akers performed two spacewalks for about 13 hours.  

They returned to Earth December 13, after spending almost 11 days in space. 

"Aladdin" wins 2 Golden Globes 1993

Disney's animated take on Aladdin garnered two Golden Globes at the 50th celebration held January 23, 1993.  Alan Menken won for Best Original Score and A Whole New World won Best Original Song, as performed by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle.  

Aladdin was nominated for three more awards.  It was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.  Two other songs from the soundtrack, Friend Like Me and Prince Ali, both sung by Robin Williams were nominated for Best Original Song.

I like those two songs much better than Whole New World, but I wasn't asked.  

Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Santa Claus" airs 1993

Mike and the bots were subjected to the campy, Spanish movie Santa Claus, December 24, 1993 on Mystery Science Theater 3000.  In this film, Santa Claus must deal with an imp from the devil who tries to brainwash Earth's children.  Viewers can really feel their pain!

Fortunately, Kevin Murphy appears briefly as the real Santa Claus!

One of the best lines: 

Narrator: [in film] Children from the USA...

Crow T. Robot: ...are too spoiled and lazy to help Santa!

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wins 3 Primetime Emmys 1993

For its first season, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine racked up three Primetime Emmy wins and four more nominations at the 45th ceremony held September 19, 1993.  The program was hosted by Angela Lansbury.  Actually, the creative awards were handed out the day before. 

Deep Space Nine won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music. 

The first episode Emissary won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Special Visual Effects, and was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series. 

Captive Pursuits won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series, beating Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Inner Light.

Emissary Part II was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series with Next Generation's Time's Arrow, Part 2, but both lost to The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Move Along Home, which has been panned by fans as being one of the worst episodes of the series was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling, but lost to the Next Generation's Time's Arrow, Part II.

Discovery (STS-51) launched 1993

STS-51 crew (L-R): Frank Culbertson, Daniel Bursch, Carl Walz, William Readdy, James Newman

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51), launched September 12, 1993, featured a spacewalk to evaluate tools and techniques for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, which was to be performed later in the year.  Her crew consisted of Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot William Readdy, Mission Specialist James Newman, Mission Specialist Daniel Bursch, and Mission Specialist Carl Walz. 

After liftoff, a communications loss between the crew and Mission Control last about 45 minutes, delaying the deployment of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS).  Once communications were re-established, the ACTS was deployed successfully.

On September 16, Newman and Walz performed an EVA to evaluate plans to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, and concluded that preparations were sound.

The crew returned to Earth September 22, 1993 after completing 157 orbits.

Janet Jackson's "That's The Way Love Goes" reaches #1 1993

Janet Jackson's That's the Way Love Goes, a single released from her fifth album Janet, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 May 15, 1993.  It stayed at #1 for eight weeks, the most of any song from the Jackson clan.

The single won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Bride of the Monster" airs 1993

Joel and the bots roasted Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster on the 23rd episode of the 5th season of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  First they had to suffer through a short film, Hired! where a guy tries to sell Chevrolets door-to-door.

They notice the front door of Bela Lugosi's house changing colors.  From the outside it's dark, but when it is opened, it turns white!

The obviously fake octopus attacks.  

Lobo got back!

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Necessary Evil" airs 1993

The eighth episode of the second season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Necessary Evil, aired November 14, 1993.  

Odo (Rene Auberjonois) has to reopen a murder case that occurred five years earlier on Deep Space Nine, when it was under Cardassian control and known as Terok Nor.  Major Kira (Nana Visitor) was part of the Bajoran resistance and was implicated in the murder.

The episode plays like whodunit or a detective novel.  It is listed as one of "Ten Essential Episodes" of Deep Space Nine. 

Rule of Acquisition #139: "Wives serve, brothers inherit."

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" released 1993

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, released across the US October 29, 1993, is a stop-motion animated dark fantasy film about Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, who becomes obsessed with Christmas.  

Tim Burton wrote a poem while working as an animator for Walt Disney Productions and it eventually became The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Disney released it through its stepchild studio Touchstone Pictures.  

It was a critical and financial success and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.  It won Saturn Awards for Best Fantasy Film and Best Music.  

Soyuz TM-17 launched 1993

Soyuz TM-17 crew (L-R): Vasili Tsibliyev, Aleksandr Serebrov, Jean-Pierre Haignere

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-17, launched July 1, 1993, was the seventeenth mission to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Vasili Tsibliyev, Aleksandr Serebrov, and Jean-Pierre Haignere (ESA).  The spacecraft struck the station twice about 2 seconds apart, but fortunately neither the Soyuz capsule nor Mir were seriously damaged.

Janet Jackson's "That's The Way Love Goes" reaches #1 1993

Janet Jackson's single That's The Way Love Goes reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 May 15, 1993 and stayed for 8 weeks.  It was the longest reign of any Jackson family song, including Michael.  It was released April 20, from her studio album Janet, which wasn't released until May 18.

It won a Grammy in 1994 for Best R&B Song.

Garth Brooks " We Shall Be Free" wins Video of the Year 1993

Garth Brooks video from his single We Shall Be Free won Video of the Year, May 11, 1993 at the 28th Academy of Country Music Awards.  It rose to #12 on the Billboard Country charts, making it his first single to miss the top ten, due to being banned from some radio stations.  I guess its message of love, forgiveness and tolerance was too much for the good, ol' white boy establishment.

Way to go, Garth!!

I could not find a clip of the actual video to post, but the song's words are powerful enough.  You can view it on-line, but here is his performance of We Shall Be Free on the Muppet Show.

Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Starship Mine" airs 1993

Another favorite episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation of mine, Starship Mine, aired March 27, 1993.  Many fans thought it should have been named Die Hard, Picard.  I thought it should have been titled Indiana Picard and the Enteprise of Doom.

The Enterprise is docked at space station for a routine sweep to remove accumulated baryon particles, which can be dangerous.  The process for removing baryon particles requires anything with living tissue must be removed.

Picard soon realizes that terrorists are aboard and confronts them with the lethal baryon sweep is approaching. 

Tim Russ, who played Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, and Patricia Tallman, who played Lyta Alexander on Babylon 5, both appeared in guest roles.

Sting releases "Ten Summoner's Tales" 1993

Sting released his fourth studio album Ten Summoner's Tales March 9, 1993, the title of which is a play on his name of Sumner and the summoner from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Cantebury Tales.  It generated two hit singles, If I Ever Lose My Faith In You and Fields of Gold.

In 1994, the album won two Grammys: Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; and Best Music Video, Long Form.  It was nominated for Album of the Year.  If I Ever Lose My Faith In You won Best Pop V ocal Performance, Male and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

The X-Files episode "Eve" airs 1993

One of the creepier episodes of the X-Files, Eve, aired December 10, 1993.  It was more psychological thriller than anything.  I like actress Harriet Harris, who is extremely versatile, playing a hilariously psychotic agent on the television show Frasier to a psycho on the X-Files. 

Mulder and Scully are called to investigate to identical murders that happened at the exact same time, but on different coasts.  While investigating, they realize the two victims each had a daughter and the girls are identical.  Things get stranger from there, and takes the concept of "evil twin" to a new level.

David Duchovny starred as Mulder and Gillian Anderson as Scully.