#ThrowbackThursday – 11 April
It’s 11 April, and that means it’s time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today, we’re taking a look back at three prominent events that went down on this day in history:
1900 – US Navy Acquires “Holland”
When it comes to modern submarines, the very first of its kind was created by an Irish immigrant and sold to the US Navy.
In 1898, John Philip Holland completed his run of the 54-feet-long “Holland VI” submarine off Staten Island in New York City, New York. According to a newspaper report at the time, those on board “had a good time … for they went down and sailed about twenty feet under water and then, best of all, came up as well and safe as they went down.”
On 11 April 1900 – little more than two years after its completion – the sub was sold to the American government. Renamed the “USS Holland”, it saw national service for five years, mainly used for naval training and experimental purposes as other Holland-type subs were being developed.
In 1905, the “USS Holland” was decommissioned, and was scrapped altogether in 1932.
2000 – Cronje Gets the Sack
He was the golden boy of South African cricket, a hero among his countrymen for his heroics on the field – unfortunately, it was a mighty fall from grace for Hansie Cronje when it was revealed that he had been involved in match-fixing.
On this day 24 years ago, Cronje – the skipper of the South African national cricket team – was removed from his position. Four days before (7 April), he had been charged by the police authorities in Delhi for fixing the one-day matches played against India in March, which India won 3-2.
In his place, Shaun Pollock would serve as captain of the squad that was to face Australia in an upcoming one-day series.
According to the confession that he made at the King Commission of Inquiry later that year, Cronje took bribes from an Indian bookmaker named Sanjay Chawla in exchange for match information. He then conspired with team-mates Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams (both of whom accepted $15 000) to underperform during the ODIs against India.
Cronje kept in contact with Chawla, whose calls were recorded and monitored by the Delhi police force. These calls formed the basis for the cricketer’s charge; he initially denied his involvement in match-fixing, but he later confessed his wrongdoings which dated all the way back to 1996.
Cronje was banned from playing cricket for life in October 2000; he tried to challenge the ban, but it was unsuccessful. Two years later, he would die in a plane crash at the age of 32.
In spite of the underhanded dealings that were committed while he was alive, Cronje was – and still is – regarded as a hero in the minds of many South Africans and cricketing fans around the world.
2012 – Avengers, Assemble!
What kickstarted a popular cinematic franchise (besides the first “Thor” and “Captain America” flicks, of course) began when “The Avengers” made its theatrical debut on 11 April 2012.
Written and directed by Joss Whedon, “The Avengers” promised to be a fun romp from start to finish: with the aid of a mysterious alien race, Thor’s brother, Loki, tries to conquer Earth. In response, Nick Fury recruits a band of super-powered individuals – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow and the Hulk – to stop him.
As a result, plenty of drama and epic action (and witty humour) ensues!
The premiere of “The Avengers” was a star-studded affair held at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Fans got to see the celebs behind the superheroes: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johannson, Mark Ruffalo, and Samuel L. Jackson among others walked the red carpet, all excited about the flick and looking chummy.
And, judging what Ruffalo told a reporter at the premiere, they all ended up becoming chums.
“It’s just a really great, fun, mercurial group of people,” he said. “They are really witty, they got a great sense of humour. We were laughing all the time and that carried out. We hung out all the time offset, as well as onset. It’s a really good group.”
Luckily for him (and the fans), this “really good group” were destined to hang out even more for the next 12 years – and counting!
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