Slobodan Milošević was the President of Serbia from 1989-1997 and President of Yugoslavia from 1997-2000. His presidency was marked by the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Yugoslav Wars. In the midst of the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Milošević was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the wars in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. He was born on this day in 1941 and died in prison in 2006.
Florence Griffith-Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete. She is the fastest woman of all time, still holding the world record in the 100 meters (10.49 seconds) and 200 meters (21.34 seconds)—both set in 1988 and never seriously challenged. She was also known for her trademark one-legged track suits and her long, colorful fingernails that matched her outfits. She died of epilepsy in 1998 at the age of 38.
Note: Flo-Jo was the wife of Olympic champion triple jumper Al Joyner and the sister-in-law of heptathlete and long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a retired American athlete, ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women’s heptathlon and the women’s long jump. She won three gold, one silver and two bronze Olympic medals at four different Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996). Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century.
Note: Jackie was the sister-in-law of the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, the “fastest woman of all time.” Flo-Jo married Jackie’s brother Al Joyner, an Olympic champion triple jumper.
Carl Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals, including nine gold. His career spanned from 1979 to 1996, when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired. Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump events frequently.
Tony Gwynn is a retired American Major League Baseball player who played 20 seasons (1982-2001) for the San Diego Padres. He won eight batting titles, seven Silver Slugger Awards and is considered one of the best hitters in baseball history. He was also a 15-time All-Star and won five Gold Glove Awards. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Note: The early 1980s San Diego Padres uniforms were some of the ugliest of all time. Behold the brown, yellow and orange combo in 8-bit glory.
Nolan Ryan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers. During a major league record 27-year baseball career (1966-1993), he pitched for four different teams: the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Note: The 1980s Houston Astros wore “tequila sunrise” uniforms (AKA “rainbow guts” uniforms), which are famously ugly. Naturally, I chose this uniform style for 8-bit Nolan Ryan.
Bill Cosby is an American comedian, actor and television producer. During the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in The Cosby Show (1984-1992), which is considered one of the decade’s defining sitcoms. He is also known for The Electric Company, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids and A Different World. Cosby is a notable spokesman for Jell-O and other products. He was born on this day in 1937.
Note: The Cosby Sweater Project is great.
Boris Becker is a German former tennis player who won six Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal in doubles between 1985 and 1996. He is the youngest-ever winner of the men’s singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #3 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Stefan Edberg is a Swedish former tennis player who won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men’s doubles titles between 1985 and 1996. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player (in both singles and doubles). He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #2 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Mats Wilander is a Swedish former tennis player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles from 1982 through 1988. He won three of the four Grand Slam singles events in 1988 and finished that year ranked No. 1 in the world. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #1 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Bert is a Muppet on the children’s television show Sesame Street. He and his roommate Ernie form a comic duo that is one of the program’s centerpieces. While clearly adults who share an apartment, Ernie and Bert have no visible means of support and no reference is made to any form of employment, income or attempts to find work. Bert has made appearances within the Muppets franchise, including The Muppet Show.
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson’s most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over the years.
Moses Malone is a former ABA/NBA player who played from 1974-1995, with the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and several other teams. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship in 1983. He played the center/power forward position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit character #13 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
George H. W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States. During his presidency, the U.S. started the Persian Gulf War (codenamed Operation Desert Storm) in 1991 response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Bush was born on this day in 1924. His eldest son served as the 43rd President of the United States.
Note: This is 8-bit U.S. president #13 of 43.
Martina Navratilova is a former tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 41 Grand Slam doubles titles during her career. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Navratilova became a U.S. citizen in 1981. She holds the Open Era record for most singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177). Navratilova is one of the greatest women’s tennis players of all time, if not the greatest.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #5 of 5 for French Open week.
Chris Evert is an American former tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during her career in the 1970s and 1980s. Her career win-loss record in singles matches of 1,309-146 (89.96%) is the best of any professional player, man or woman, in the Open Era. She is one of the greatest women’s tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #4 of 5 for French Open week.
Indira Gandhi was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms (1966-77) and a fourth term (1980-84). Gandhi was the second female head of government in the world. She was the first woman to become prime minister in India. She was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 in retaliation for ordering Operation Blue Star.
Note: “I am here today, I may not be here tomorrow. I shall continue to serve till my last breath, and when I die every drop of my blood will strengthen India and keep a united India alive.” – Indira Gandhi’s last speech
Hakeem the Dream was an NBA player with the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors, from 1984-2002. Born in Nigeria, he became a naturalized American citizen in 1993. Olajuwon played the center position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. During Michael Jordan’s retirement, he led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
Note: This is 8-bit character #9 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
Admiral Ackbar is a character in the Star Wars franchise. As the Mon Calamari rebel leader, he played a supporting role in the 1983 film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Admiral Ackbar’s “It’s a trap!” line is one of the most popular lines from the Star Wars films and is a popular Internet meme.
This week I am attending WebVisions 2012 in Portland, Oregon.
Ernie (Sesame Street) – No. 446
Ernie is a Muppet on the children’s television show Sesame Street. He and his roommate Bert form a comic duo that is one of the program’s centerpieces. Ernie is known for his fondness for baths with his Rubber Duckie, learning to play the saxophone and keeping Bert awake at night. Ernie has made appearances within the Muppets franchise, including The Muppet Show.
I am in Boston for the HOW Design Conference 2012 this week.