1998 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• The OIG visited embassy Paris for an inspection in January.  I remember meeting OIG Inspectors Al Berenson, Anita Schroeder, Ed Linhart and Mazar Ahsan which piqued my interest in perhaps joining the OIG in the future.   Other OIG inspectors used to stop by Regional Administrative Management Center (RAMC)/Paris on their way to posts being inspected.  That's how I met a lot of inspectors like Georgine Bednar and Rick Jones.  I also used to get taskings for responding to OIG inspection reports on payroll issues.   

• In my position as Chief of FSN Payroll it was a big responsibility for payrolling 5,000 Locally Employed (LE) Staff at 109 embassies in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.  Each country with different compensation plans, wage increases, currency and various allowances and benefits that were subject to change from time to time.   My other responsibility was implementing a training program, not only for classes and instructors, but the logistics of setting up the training center classrooms, computers and projector for PowerPoint.  Classes included Basic Cashier, American and LE Staff Payroll and Travel Manager.  I had help from FSI Susan Caparoso, Janet Bueschel and Tom Quinzio and FSC Charleston Payroll folks  Shelia Madden and Mike Bodle.   

• Home leave July 2 to August 16, 1998.  

• Meeting Management Officers and other FMOs on consultations in route to their post of assignment.  Also meeting with OIG Inspectors going out to embassies for inspections. Bob Reilly was the FMO at the embassy and we had similar backgrounds with both of us being volunteers and PC staff.  Bob ended up being the Management Counselor in Jakarta and went on to become the Ambassador to Micronesia. 

• Setting up classroom for training with PCs, Overheads and projectors.  Developing training materials for FSN Payroll.  Administration of financial management classes including coordination with instructors, arranging training materials and managing class participant lists for other courses besides payroll including Basic Cashiering, Voucher Examiner and Travel Manager.  

• August 7, 1998 tragic Al-Qaida bombings of embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam killing 224 people including 12 Americans, of whom 44 were Embassy Nairobi staff. My office was responsible for processing payments to the families of the employees that died in the attacks.  I had consultations in October with the FMO in Nairobi Charlie Slater.  Charlie ended up being my neighbor in Bangkok where he was FMC Director.   

• TDY to Amman in November 1998.

• Visit of the new Department of State CFO, Bert Edwards January 1999 who came to the Department from Arthur Anderson.

Favorite Memories:

• Moving into our apartment in the 16th arrondissement, Avenue Colonel Bonet, in the Passy neighborhood.  Shopping at the covered our local market, Boulangerie, Boucherie, Patisserie, Fromagerie and Poissonnerie.

• New Year's January 9, 1998.  Walking home at 2:00 a.m. in the morning from the embassy party at the Talleyrand building.

• We didn't need much of an excuse for a party at RFC/Paris to celebrate holidays even Halloween.
   

• Attended FMO conference in Charleston in March.  Remember celebrating St. Patrick's Day at Tommy Condon's Irish pub with my boss Rob McAnenny.  Green beer and Irish music.

• Weekend bike rides ( about 50 miles round trip) outside Paris along Canals St. Martin and  L'Ourcq to one of the regional forests, (Parc de Sevran) stopping in a little town for a coffee and checking out the Saturday markets.

• Train to visit to Futurescope in Poitiers.

• Playing tennis with Laurent Potash at the tennis courts near the Porte Dauphine.  Laurent worked at the LandRover dealership owned by his father.  He ended up working for Cartier.   

• May 1-2 Bike trip from Paris to Chateaudun with Greg Adams, Colette Marceline's husband who worked with USAID.   We took the train from Paris to Versailles and then biked from there to Chartres (50 miles).   We stayed at the Hotel du Boeuf Couronne and visited the 13th century gothic cathedral and then biked to Chateaudun (29 miles) and took the train back to Paris.  Cycling France described entering Chartres "you see the greatest of all Gothic cathedrals seeming to rise out of a sea of wheat fields and float on top of the wheat."   All along the trip with passed quaint villages and fields covered in sunflowers.  Before leaving Chateaudun we had lunch at the L'Arnaudiere bistro.    

• I attended some of the 1998 French Open Tennis tournament at Roland Garros which started the end of May through the first week in June.   Carlos Moya won the Men's singles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario won the women's defeating Monica Seles. 

• Celine Dion and Johnny Holiday concerts at Stade de France.  

• I had a great, dedicated staff in FSN Payroll some of whom I still maintain contact in my job with OIG.  In Payroll fond memories of Diane Nelson-Lorenzo, Bernard Lefevre, Antonia Neyrins, Djamila, Delphine, Hai-Can Tran, and Alain Bouguan who travelled with me to the Loire Valley and Bordeau on a wine buying trip.  I won't forget the FSN payroll chief Rachid Razwouan, from Tunisia, who used so much sick leave I'm sure he was overdrawn.  I continue to work with Cashier Monitors Khadija Ramach, Catherine Blevin and Gabriel Vancolster.  Not forgetting to mention Mr. Balou, Administrative Assistant,  who was key in setting up training classes and who recently retired and regrettably was very ill.    

• My office was recognized for the emergemcy response to the horrific bombings of our embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Sar es Salaam, Tanzania.  We had the tragic responsibility to process benefit payments for the local staff that were killed.  Of the 224 people killed 56 were employee employees or contractors.

Secretary's Award

U.S. Events:

• Matthew Shepard, gay Wyoming student, fatally beaten in hate crime; two arrested.
• House impeaches President Clinton along party lines on two charges, perjury and obstruction of justice. 
• President accused in White House sex scandal; denies allegations of affair with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.
• President outlines first balanced budget
• Report by independent counsel outlines case for impeachment proceedings against President.in 30 years.
• US Supreme Court rules line-item veto unconstitutional.
• Unabomber sentenced to four life terms.
• Life sentence meted out to Terry Nichols, convicted in Oklahoma City bombing fatal to 168. 

World Events:

• Serbs battle ethnic Albanians in Kosovo (March 5 et seq.). Serbs renew attack on Kosovo rebels (June 1). NATO, on verge of air strikes, reaches settlement with Milosevic on Kosovo (Oct. 12).
• Good Friday Accord is reached in Northern Ireland (April 10). Irish Parliament backs peace agreement (April 22). Background: N. Ireland Peace Negotiations
• Europeans agree on single currency, the euro (May 3).
• India conducts three atomic tests despite worldwide disapproval (May 11, 13). Pakistan stages five nuclear tests in response (May 29, 30).
• Indonesian dictator Suharto steps down after 32 years in power (May 21).
• US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed (Aug. 7). US cruise missiles hit suspected terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan (Aug. 20).
• Russia fights to avert financial collapse (Aug. 17).
• Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet arrested in London (Oct. 16).
• Wye Mills Agreement between Netanyahu and Arafat moves Middle East peace talks forward (Oct. 23). Background: Middle East Peace Negotiations
• Iraq ends cooperation with UN arms inspectors (Aug. 5). Clinton orders air strikes (Dec. 16–19).

Movies:

Best picture was "Titanic".  Best Actor was Jack Nicholson in "As good as it gets".  Best actress was Helen Hunt in "As good as it gets".  Best supporting actor went to Robin Williams "Goodwill Hunting" and best supporting actress was Jill Basinger "LA Confidential".  Director James Cameron "Titanic".   

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl XXXII pitted the Green Bay Packers against the Denver Broncos.  The Broncos defeated the Packers by the score of 31–24. This was Denver's first league championship after suffering four previous Super Bowl losses, and snapped a 13-game losing streak for AFC teams in the Super Bowl (the previous being the Los Angeles Raiders' win in Super Bowl XVIII after the 1983 season). The game was close throughout much of the contest. The Broncos converted two turnovers to take a 17–7 lead in the second quarter before the Packers cut the score to 17–14 at halftime. Green Bay kept pace with Denver in the second half, before tying the game with 13:31 remaining. Both defenses stiffened until Broncos running back Terrell Davis scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:45 left. Despite suffering a migraine headache that caused him to miss most of the second quarter, Davis (a San Diego native) was named Super Bowl MVP. He ran for 157 yards, caught two passes for 8 yards, and scored a Super Bowl record three rushing touchdowns.

World Series:

The 1998 World Series saw the Yankees sweep the Padres in four games to win their second World Series championship in three years and their 24th overall and San Diego’s second World Series appearance overall since losing in 1984.  Yankee third baseman Scott Brosius was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.   This was officially the first World Series that Bud Selig presided over as Commissioner of Baseball.  For the first time, the same city—San Diego—hosted both the final World Series game and the Super Bowl the same year; in the same venue, Qualcomm Stadium.

1997 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Last year in Athens.

• Attended a FMO conference in Charleston March 17-21 and then to Washington D.C. for the weekend.  Birthday must have been spent at Tommy Condon's Irish pub.    

• Assigned to the Regional Administrative Management Center (RAMC) as Director, FSN Payroll and Training Coordinator.  

• I distinctly remember seeing the news that Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31st.  I was in temporary quarters having just relocated to Paris for an assignment as the Regional Finance Center.   

• September 2 moved into our apartment on Avenue Col Bonnet in the 16th. 

• My boss, Rob McAnneny, I had met when he was Management Officer in Nicosia, Cyprus and I visited him from Amman when the Beirut Support was there.  Rob was very social and cared a lot about his staff.  We had good times drinking at the embassy American Club and playing tennis.   We had  a lot of great parties at the RAMC building which was located on Rue la Boetie in the 8th arrondisement.  I found out recently that he was stricken with dementia.    

• Quick trip out to San Francisco December 5-9

• Annual leave December 22-30

U.S. Events:

·         US shuttle joins Russian space station (Jan. 17).

·         O. J. Simpson found liable in civil suit (Feb. 5).

·         Heaven's Gate cult members commit mass suicide in California (March 27).

·         US Appeals Court upholds California ban on affirmative action (April 8).

·         Clinton exercises new line-item veto (Aug. 11).

·         Timothy J. McVeigh sentenced to death for Oklahoma City bombing (Aug. 14).

·         Two convicted in New York Trade Center bombing (Nov. 12).

World Events:

·         Hebron agreement signed; Israel gives up large part of West Bank city of Hebron (Jan. 16).

·         Israeli government approves establishment of Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem, a setback in   Middle East peace process (Feb. 26). Background: Middle East Peace Negotiations

·         US, UK, and France agree to freeze Nazis' gold loot (Feb. 3).

·         Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule (June 30).

·         Khmer Rouge hold trial of longtime leader Pol Pot (July 25).

·         Swiss plan first payment to Holocaust victims (Sept. 17).

·         European Union plans to admit six nations (Dec. 13). 

Movies:

The best picture was "The English Patient".  Best actor went to Geoffrey Rush in "Shine".  Best actress was Frances McDormand for "Fargo".  Best supporting actor was Cuba Gooding Jr. in "Jerry Maguire".  Best supporting actress was Juliette Binoche for "The English Patient".  Best director was Anthony Minghella "English Patient".   

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl XXXI saw the Packers defeat the Patriots by the score of 35–21, earning their third overall Super Bowl victory, and their first since Super Bowl II.   After four losing seasons, the Patriots' rise began in 1993 when Bill Parcells was hired as head coach, and the team drafted quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The game began with the teams combining for 24 first-quarter points, the most in Super Bowl history. The Packers then scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter, including Favre's then-Super Bowl record 81-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Freeman. In the third quarter, the Patriots cut the lead to 27–21 off of running back Curtis Martin's 18-yard rushing touchdown. But on the ensuing kickoff, Desmond Howard returned the ball a then-Super Bowl record 99 yards for a touchdown. The score proved to be the last one, as both teams' defenses took over the rest of the game. Howard became the first special teams player ever to be named Super Bowl MVP. He gained a total of 154 kickoff return yards, and also recorded a then-Super Bowl record 90 punt return yards, thus tying the then-Super Bowl records of total return yards (244) and combined net yards gained (244).

World Series:

The 1997 World Series had the Cleveland Indians facing the Florida Marlins.  The underdog Marlins defeated the Indians, four games to three, to win their first World Series championship. Game 7 was decided in extra innings on a walk-off single hit by Édgar Rentería.  Marlins pitcher Liván Hernández was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.

The Marlins advanced to the World Series by defeating the San Francisco Giants in the NL Division Series, three games to none. This was the fourth time in World Series history a Game 7 went into extra innings, and was the most recent occasion until the 2016 World Series, in which the Indians also lost in extra innings. The Marlins' championship made them the first wild card team to ever win the World Series. 

1994-1997 Athens

 Highlights:

• Hiking Mt. Athos with Costas Abatzidis and Don Booth.

• Road Trip to Peloponese and towns of Corinth, Epidaurus, Sparta and Monemvasia    

• Basketball tournaments and playing with Aires (Greek God of War).

• Poker group trip to Kefalonia July 6-9, 1995.

• CODELS Kennedy and Rogers in August 

• Walking the original route of the Marathon 26 miles in six hours and 15 minutes November 5, 1995.

• Attended the Indian Wells ATP/WTA Tennis Tournament March 8-17 including some tennis lessons from a pro.  Michael Chang won the men's singles and Steffi Graff the women's.  I remember driving back direct to San Francisco in 12 hours.  

• Trips to the island of Spetses and a one day three island cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina during the visit of my nephew Bryan in July 1996.  Also, road trip to the cliffs of Meteora and the monasteries with the boys.  The plane he flew from Athens to JFK was the same as TWA flight 800 that took off for Paris and crashed 12 minutes after departure. 

• Jeffrey graduates from elementary school.  

• Cruise to Santorini, Crete and Mykonos with the Chavera's.

• ICASS Conference in London September 22-25, 1996.              

• Weekend ferry trip to Corfu in November 1996.  

• Supporting numerous CODELs and visits by Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke.  

• Transition from FAAS to ICASS and conference in London September 1996.

• Travel to CGFS Charleston for FMO conference in March 17-25, 1997.  

• Vacation in Rome with Jeffrey to Rome and Vatican with church group May 25-31, 1997. 

Above Rome

At Trevi Fountain

At the Vatican for Mass
by Pope John Paul II

       












    

• Hiking Mt. Olympus June 6-8, 1997 Trip to the island of Paros July 4-6, 1997Packout and prepare for transfer to Paris July 14, 1997

Favorite Memories

• We had a group that played poker at least once every two weeks and rotated houses.  Besides DCM Tom Miller,  there was Bill Rooney, Mike McLaughlin and a couple of other embassy staff, Stelios, a local businessman who owned is own pool company, John Priamou and a couple of other expatriates in our group.   The most memorable was a weekend trip to Stelios' house on the island of Kefalonia in June 1996 with our poker group.

• Playing tennis and squash at the Politia Tennis Club and being invited to lunches and dinners at the club on weekends..  Playing against Tom Miller and Nick Smith.  Also, playing squash with Robert Wood and Andreas.  Also, on occasion our Politia club members played against a group of visiting British sailors from their ship docked in Piraeus.  After each tournament we had a fun dinner to celebrate.    

• The Management Counselor, Mike McLaughlin was an avid sportsman.  He had a basketball court constructed on the embassy compound as well as a bar and restaurant named "The Upper Deck".  I headed up a basketball league with different teams within the embassy but was terrible as a referee.  I played with the Management team Aires "God of War" staring Mike and our Voucher Examiner George Hatziioannidis.  I also had a bad experience trying to coach a high school basketball team.  We played softball on the weekends out at the American school on a hard dirt field. 

• Mike left the summer of 1995 and was replaced by Anita Booth.  I was Acting Senior staff and Country Team meetings. 

• Boy scout camping trips with Patrick and other activities like field trips and Pinewood Derby.

• Slouvaki dinners at local restaurants in Politia and Kafissia

One of regular parties to celebrate different holidays and occasions with Evelina, Olga, Irene, Flora, Xenia, and Toni, 

In Paris attending conference and in a bar in the Latin quarter having drinks with colleagues Costas, Litta, Steve Hartwell and Dave Zarisky, my replacement. 

I guess it was meant to be but Steve was actually promoted to the Senior Foreign Service before me however, his name was removed from the promotion list and I was next in line. 

Visit to Stelios' place in Kefalonia for a weekend of fun travelling

around the island, eating and playing poker. 

The Poker group with regulars Stelios, Tom Miller and Bill Rooney.

Prior to walking the Athens Marathon with

Cindy and Rebecca Gonzales. 

I walked the 26 miles in 6 and a half hours.

Medal for Completing the Marathon

Certificate 

Twentuy Years of Government Service

Farewell Gift

1996 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Trips out of Athens (See also Blog Athens 1994-97)

• Home Leave in the U.S. beginning February 26, 1996.

• Attended the Indian Wells ATP/WTA Tennis Tournament March 8-17 including some tennis lessons from a pro.  Michael Chang won the men's singles and Steffi Graff the women's.  I remember driving back direct to San Francisco in 12 hours.  

• Boy scout camping trips  and Pinewood Derby with Patrick.

• Tennis tournament May 11, 1996.

• ODELS Bereuter, Naa and Roth May/June 1996.

• Jeffrey graduates from elementary school.

• Patrick's field trip to Olympus.

U.S. Events

·         US budget crisis in fourth month (Jan 3).

·         Clinton approves resumption of many government operations (Jan. 6).

·         Bob Dole sweeps primaries (March 5).

·         F.B.I. arrests suspected Unabomber (April 3).

·         Clinton signs line-item veto bill (April 9).

·         President blocks ban on late-term abortions (April 10).

·         ValuJet crashes in Everglades; all 110 aboard killed (May 11).

·         747 airliner crashes in Atlantic off Long Island, N.Y.; all 230 aboard perish (July 17).

·         Congress passes welfare reform bill (Aug. 2); approved by Clinton Aug. 22.

·         Republican convention nominates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp (Aug. 14); Democratic convention   nominates incumbents Clinton and Gore, who win the national election (Nov. 5).

·         Clinton appoints Madeleine Albright as first female US secretary of state (Dec. 5               

World Events:

·         Chechens capture 2,000 Russians (Jan. 9). Chechnya peace treaty signed (May 27).

·         France agrees to end nuclear testing (Jan. 29). Background: nuclear disarmament

·         Britain alarmed by an outbreak of "mad cow" disease (March 20 et seq.).

·         UN tribunal charges war crimes by Bosnian Muslims and Croats (March 22). Nations pledge $1.23 billion in aid to rebuild Bosnia (April 22).

·         South Africa gets new constitution (May 8).

·         Israel elects Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister (May 31).

·         Militant Taliban leaders seize Afghan capital of Kabul (Sept. 27).

·         Iraqis strike at Kurdish enclave (Aug. 31); after warning, US attacks Iraq's southern air defenses (Sept. 2–3).

·         Ethnic violence breaks out in Zairian refugee camps (Oct. 13); Clinton approves plan for UN-   backed relief mission for 1.2 million Hutu refugees starving in eastern Zaire (Nov. 13).

•  Hundreds of thousands return to Rwanda (Nov. 15–18).

Movies:

Best Picture "Braveheart"; Best Actor Nicolas Cage "Leaving Las Vegas"; Best actress Susan Sarandan "Dead Man Walking";  Best supporting actor was Kevin Spacey "The Usual Suspects"; Best supporting actress Mira Sorvino "Mighty Aphrodite".  Director Mel Gibson "Braveheart"

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl XXX was between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Cowboys defeated the Steelers by the score of 27–17.  Both teams entered the game trying to tie the San Francisco 49ers for the record for most Super Bowl wins by a franchise (5). The Cowboys, who posted a 12–4 regular season record, were making their eighth Super Bowl appearance, while the Steelers, who recorded an 11–5 regular season record, were making their fifth appearance. This game was also the fifth rematch between Super Bowl teams. Moreover, it was the third meeting between the two longtime rivals in a Super Bowl (after Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII), the most between any two NFL teams.  Dallas became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four years, while Pittsburgh's defeat was their first Super Bowl loss in team history.   Dallas' Larry Brown, a 12th-round draft pick, became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP by recording two interceptions in the second half, which the Cowboys converted into two touchdowns to prevent a Steelers comeback.  The NBC television broadcast broke the then-record for most watched sporting event ever on American television, and the second-most watched program of all time, trailing only the final episode of M*A*S*H.  The half time show featured Diana Ross who arrived in a helicopter.

World Series:

The 1996 World Series had the Yankees defeat the Braves four games to two.  Yankees relief pitcher John Wetteland was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for saving all four Yankee wins.  The Yankees lost the first two games at home, being outscored by the Braves, 16–1. However, they rebounded to win the next four games, the last three in close fashion, including a dramatic comeback win in Game 4 to tie the series. They became the third team to win a World Series after losing Games 1 and 2 at their home stadium, following the Kansas City Royals in 1985 and the New York Mets in 1986. They also became the first team since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 to win four consecutive games in a World Series after losing the first two.  Game 5 was the final game to be played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, as the Braves moved into Turner Field the following season. Atlanta became the only city to host the World Series and the Olympics in the same year and Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium became the only stadium to host baseball in an Olympics and the World Series in the same year.

1995 Year in Review

Highlights:

• See Athens 1994-97 Blog)

U.S. Events

·         Criminal trial of O. J. Simpson opens in California (Jan. 24).

·         Scores killed as terrorist's car bomb blows up block-long Oklahoma City federal building (April 19); Timothy McVeigh, 27, arrested as suspect (April 21); authorities seek second suspect, link right-wing paramilitary groups to bombing (April 22).

·         Los Angeles jury finds O. J. Simpson not guilty of murder charges (Oct. 3).

·         Pope John Paul II visits US on whirlwind tour (Oct. 4-8).

·         Million Man March draws hundreds of thousands of black men to capital (Oct. 16).

World Events:

·         US rescues Mexico's economy with $20-billion aid program (Feb. 21).

·         Russian space station Mir greets first Americans (March 14). US shuttle docks with station (June 27).

·         Nerve gas attack in Tokyo subway kills eight and injures thousands. The Aum Shinrikyo ("Supreme Truth") cult is to blame (March 20). Background: International Terrorism

·         Death toll 2,000 in Rwanda massacre (April 22).

·         Fighting escalates in Bosnia and Croatia (May 1). Warring parties agree on cease-fire (Oct. 5);   sign peace treaty (Dec. 14).

·         France explodes nuclear device in Pacific; wide protests ensue (Sept. 5). Background: nuclear weapons

·         Israelis and Palestinians agree on transferring West Bank to Arabs (Sept. 24). Israeli Prime   Minister Yitzhak Rabin slain by Jewish extremist at peace rally (Nov. 4).

Movies:

Best Picture "Forrest Gump";  Best Actor Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump"; Best actress Jessica Lang "Blue Sky"; Best supporting actor Ed Landau in "Ed Wood"; Best supporting actress Dianne West in "Bullets over Broadway".  Director Robert Zemeckis "Forrest Gump". Music "The Lion King" 

Super Bowl

In Super Bowl XXIX the 49ers defeated the Chargers by the score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The game was played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida (now part of the suburb of Miami Gardens, which became a separate city in 2003).  This game is regarded as 49ers quarterback Steve Young's final leap out of the shadow of his predecessor, Joe Montana, who had won four Super Bowls with the 49ers (in 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1989), two with Young as the backup quarterback. With Young at the helm, and a defense consisting of several veteran free agents who joined the team during the previous offseason, San Francisco finished the regular season with a league-best 13–3 record, and led the league in total points scored (505). The Chargers, on the other hand, were regarded as a "Cinderella" team, and advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting an 11–5 regular-season record and overcoming halftime deficits in both of their playoff wins.

This was the first Super Bowl in which both teams scored in all four quarters. The combined aggregate score of 75 points and the ten total touchdowns both remain Super Bowl records. Still, the 49ers controlled most of the game, with Young completing touchdown passes in each of the 49ers' first two drives. The Chargers were able to cut the deficit late in the first quarter, 14–7, on a 13-play, 78-yard drive, but could not slow down San Francisco afterwards. Young was named the Super Bowl MVP, throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes, and completing 24 out of 36 passes for 325 yards. This was the first Super Bowl of the 1990s to not feature the Buffalo Bills.

World Series

In the 1995 World Series the Braves defeated the Indians in six games to capture their third World Series championship in franchise history (along with 1914 in Boston and 1957 in Milwaukee), making them the first team to win at least one crown in three different cities. This was also Cleveland's first Series appearance in 41 years and marked the resumption of the Fall Classic after the previous year's Series was canceled due to a players' strike. The Series was also remarkable in that five of the six games were won by one run, including the clinching sixth game, a 1–0 combined one-hitter by Tom Glavine (MVP) and Mark Wohlers.   

1994 Year in Review

 Highlights:

• Departure from Morocco, home leave in the U.S. and arrival in Athens early September just in time to close out the fiscal year. 
• Prior to leaving Morocco I visited the south of Spain.  Driving up to Tangier and taking the ferry to Algeciras, Spain.  Visits to Ronda, Granada (The Alhambra) and Costa del Sol including Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella. (See separate Blog
• Tennis tournament November 5, 1994.  Enjoyed tennis at the American school and Politia Tennis club and squash Politia as well.

Politia Tennis Club

                    

                                                       Dining at the club            

• Numerous CODELS including Shelby in December and Sarbanes in January.

U.S. Events:

·         Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan attacked (Jan. 6); three arrested in attack (Jan. 13).

·         Aldrich Ames, high C.I.A. official, charged with spying for Soviets (Feb. 22).

·         Four convicted in World Trade Center bombing (March 4).

·         Clinton accused of sexual harassment while Governor of Arkansas (May 6).

·         O. J. Simpson arrested in killings of wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend, Ronald Goldman   (June 18).

·         US Supreme Court approves limit on abortion protests (June 30).

·         Senate confirms Stephen G. Breyer for Supreme Court (July 29).

·         Major league baseball players strike (Aug. 13).

·         Newt Gingrich named House Speaker (Dec. 5).

World Events:

·         Serbs' heavy weapons pound Sarajevo (Jan. 5-6).  Thousands dead in Rwanda massacre (April 6).

·         South Africa holds first interracial national election (April 29); Nelson Mandela elected   President.

·         Israel signs accord with Palestinians (May 4), peace treaty with Jordan (Oct. 17).

·         IRA declares cease-fire in Northern Ireland (Aug. 31). Ulster Protestants declare cease-fire (Oct. 13).

·         Aristide returns to Haiti (Oct. 4), forms Government with Prime Minister and Cabinet (Nov.   9).

·         US sends forces to Persian Gulf (Oct. 7).

·         Russians attack secessionist Republic of Chechnya (Dec. 11 et seq.).

Movies:

Best Picture "Schindler's List".  Best Actor Tom Hanks "Philadelphia".  Best actress Holly Hunter "The Piano"; Best supporting actor Tommy Lee Jones "The Fugitive"; Best supporting actress Anna Paquin, "The Piano.  Best Director Steven Spielberg "Schlinder's List".  Best Foreign Film "Belle Epoch".  

Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVIII was between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.. The Cowboys defeated the Bills for the second straight year by the score of 30–13, winning their fourth Super Bowl in team history, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers for most Super Bowl wins. This is the only time that the same two teams have met in consecutive Super Bowls. The defending Super Bowl XXVII champion Cowboys finished with a 12–4 regular season record, despite key players missing games due to injuries. The Bills were making their fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance, but still seeking their first title, after also finishing with a 12–4 regular season record, largely through the strength of their no-huddle offense.

After trailing 13–6 at halftime, the Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. The Bills had built their lead off of running back Thurman Thomas' 4-yard touchdown run. But just 45 seconds into the third quarter, Thomas was stripped of the ball, and Dallas safety James Washington returned the fumble 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. From there, Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, largely took over the game. On Dallas' next possession, Smith was handed the ball seven times on an eight-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off with his 15-yard touchdown run. He later scored on a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Overall, Smith had 30 carries for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also catching 4 passes for 26 yards.

World Series

The 1994 World Series was canceled on September 14 of that year due to a strike by the MLB Players Association that started on August 12. It was only the second time in MLB history that a World Series was not played in a given season (the first being in 1904).  This was to have been the first year of a regularly scheduled three-tier playoff system, with the National League and American League divided into three divisions (East, Central, and West) at the start of the 1994 season. (An unscheduled three-tier system was used in 1981 due to the shortening of the season by a mid-season labor dispute.) The new playoff system (involving a wild card team in each league) did not go into effect until the 1995 postseason.