Until Jim Joyce made his notorious safe sign last night, the poster boy for horrific umpiring at a crucial moment was Don Denkinger. As the ump whose call turned around the 1985 World Series, Denkinger perhaps is the only man who truly understands the anguish Joyce feels today, after costing Detroit's Armando Galarraga a perfect game.
Denkinger wasn't an advocate of replay in 1985, when his blown call at first base in Game 6 sustained the Royals' game-winning rally and set up Kansas City's Series victory. But he believes in replay now.
VOTE: Should MLB reverse Joyce's call?
"There are so many areas you can use instant replay," Denkinger told the New York Post from his Iowa home last night. "Maybe instant replay can clean things up. If a play is missed, it can be corrected. I didn't feel that way in '85, but I feel that way now."
Denkinger know Joyce well, having had him on his crew. "He's a very good umpire," Denkinger said. "I feel badly for the situation." He also knows that Joyce's blown call won't end Denkinger's infamy.
"I had 30 great years," he said, "and I had one call that's all anybody ever wants to talk about. It's not right. But it's the way the game's played, and that's what happens."
What do you say about replay? Is it time to use it for more than home run calls?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Stock Traders: 5 Ways That Options Can Make You a Better Stock Trader
Buying has continued today with stocks moving higher after a nice rally on Wednesday. Encouraging news from the ADP survey combined with pockets of strength from the retailing sector to keep the bulls in power, but barely. About 90 minutes into the trading session, the Dow is up 15 points, the Nasdaq Composite is higher by half a percent, and the S&P has barely topped the 1,100 area, up 2.3 points today.
Today’s top stories include:
* Same-store sales for May came out this morning, and the results were rather underwhelming , with nine of the 25 companies tracked by Briefing missing analysts’ expectations. Analysts were expecting overall same-store sales to rise 2.6% and the numbers fell just shy of this, at 2.5%. Notable are Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), which saw a 9% rise in sales (but failed to meet estimates of 9.4%) and JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), which saw sales slip 1.8% versus expectations for a 0.9% drop. On the positive front was Target (NYSE: TGT), posting a same-store sales gain of 1.3% versus estimates for a 0.9% increase. The Limited (NYSE: LTD) also saw sales jump, up 5% compared to expectations of 2%. Trade your favorite retail names for less with Click Here$2.95 stock trades.
* Automatic Data Processing’s monthly survey of employment trends in the private sector showed that companies hired 55,000 additional workers in May, the fourth-straight monthly increase. This positive news may bode well for tomorrow morning’s nonfarm payrolls report.
* Confirming previous speculation, Ford Motor (NYSE: F) will indeed drop the Mercury brand , ceasing all production in the fourth quarter. The automaker plans to allocate the resources to its eponymous brand and the Lincoln line. Yesterday, Ford said vehicle sales rose an impressive 23% in May.
* BP plc (NYSE: BP) has pledged to donate $360 million toward building six land barriers to protect the coast of Louisiana from the continuing oil spill. The company’s latest effort to stem the flow was ruined with a saw became stuck in a pipe below the surface. The efforts to contain this deepwater spill have drawn on for six weeks.
Try out your trading ideas before committing real capital – sign up for a free Click Herevirtual trading account.
* Maytag, part of the Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) family, has issued a recall of 1.7 million dishwashers under the Maytag, Amana, and Jenn-Air lines, due to fire hazards with the appliances’ heating elements. The affected dishwashers were sold nationwide between February 2006 through April 2009.
* And finally … if there is ever a case for instant reply in Major League Baseball, last night was it. Umpire Jim Joyce admits to a blown call at first base, but it doesn’t undo the fact that pitcher Armando Galarraga was denied the honor of pitching the 19th perfect game in the modern era of baseball. Tyler Kepner of The New York Times calls this “the most egregious blown call in baseball over the last 25 years.”
And that’s a look at some of today’s biggest market stories. Keep an eye on ONN.tv every day for more analysis and trading ideas to capitalize on the latest market developments.
Today’s top stories include:
* Same-store sales for May came out this morning, and the results were rather underwhelming , with nine of the 25 companies tracked by Briefing missing analysts’ expectations. Analysts were expecting overall same-store sales to rise 2.6% and the numbers fell just shy of this, at 2.5%. Notable are Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), which saw a 9% rise in sales (but failed to meet estimates of 9.4%) and JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), which saw sales slip 1.8% versus expectations for a 0.9% drop. On the positive front was Target (NYSE: TGT), posting a same-store sales gain of 1.3% versus estimates for a 0.9% increase. The Limited (NYSE: LTD) also saw sales jump, up 5% compared to expectations of 2%. Trade your favorite retail names for less with Click Here$2.95 stock trades.
* Automatic Data Processing’s monthly survey of employment trends in the private sector showed that companies hired 55,000 additional workers in May, the fourth-straight monthly increase. This positive news may bode well for tomorrow morning’s nonfarm payrolls report.
* Confirming previous speculation, Ford Motor (NYSE: F) will indeed drop the Mercury brand , ceasing all production in the fourth quarter. The automaker plans to allocate the resources to its eponymous brand and the Lincoln line. Yesterday, Ford said vehicle sales rose an impressive 23% in May.
* BP plc (NYSE: BP) has pledged to donate $360 million toward building six land barriers to protect the coast of Louisiana from the continuing oil spill. The company’s latest effort to stem the flow was ruined with a saw became stuck in a pipe below the surface. The efforts to contain this deepwater spill have drawn on for six weeks.
Try out your trading ideas before committing real capital – sign up for a free Click Herevirtual trading account.
* Maytag, part of the Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) family, has issued a recall of 1.7 million dishwashers under the Maytag, Amana, and Jenn-Air lines, due to fire hazards with the appliances’ heating elements. The affected dishwashers were sold nationwide between February 2006 through April 2009.
* And finally … if there is ever a case for instant reply in Major League Baseball, last night was it. Umpire Jim Joyce admits to a blown call at first base, but it doesn’t undo the fact that pitcher Armando Galarraga was denied the honor of pitching the 19th perfect game in the modern era of baseball. Tyler Kepner of The New York Times calls this “the most egregious blown call in baseball over the last 25 years.”
And that’s a look at some of today’s biggest market stories. Keep an eye on ONN.tv every day for more analysis and trading ideas to capitalize on the latest market developments.
Maytag dishwasher recall: What to do if yours is on the list
Maytag dishwasher recall: What to do if yours is on the list
The Maytag dishwasher recall, announced Thursday by Whirlpool Corp., involves some 1.7 million dishwashers that can overheat and cause fires.
Customers who own the affected models, sold under the Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, and Crosley brands, should stop using them immediately and either unplug them or shut off the circuit breaker controlling them, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission said in a statement.
All the dishwashers have plastic tubs and were sold nationwide at department, appliance, and home improvement stores, including Sears, Best Buy, Lowe's Home Improvement, Home Depot, hhgregg, and other certified Maytag dealers. They were sold from February 2006 through April 2010 for between $250 and $900.
Here's how to find if your dishwasher is on the list:
The models were sold with black, bisque, white, silver, or stainless steel front panels. Look for the dishwashers’ brand name printed on the front panel.
If it's one of the brands mentioned above, find the serial number, which is located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening.
Models affected by the recall will have serial numbers starting with one of these sequences: NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19.
Or they will have serial numbers ending with one of these sequences: JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR.
If your dishwasher's serial number has either of these sequences, you should contact Maytag at (800) 544-5513 anytime or visit the company’s website at www.repair.maytag.com.
The company is offering two options: you can either schedule a free in-home repair, or get a $150 or $250 rebate after purchasing certain new Maytag dishwashers with stainless steel front panels.
The rebate is $150 if you buy new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979. It is $250 if you purchase models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Customers do not need to bring the original purchase receipt to be eligible for the rebate.
Consumers should not take the recalled models back to the retailer where they were purchased.
Maytag received a dozen reports of heating element failures in the recalled dishwashers that resulted in fires and property damage.
Since announcing the recall Thursday, Whirlpool has been inundated by calls about the recalled dishwashers, said Pamela Jenkins, a Whirlpool customer service representative.
“Some people said they hadn’t had any problems," said Ms. Jenkins. "Some people called and said that they did smell a ‘funny smell’ [coming from the dishwasher] but didn’t think anything of it until the recall."
No injuries resulting from the overheating dishwashers have been reported. To report an injury or incident involving a Maytag dishwasher,visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.
The Maytag dishwasher recall, announced Thursday by Whirlpool Corp., involves some 1.7 million dishwashers that can overheat and cause fires.
Customers who own the affected models, sold under the Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, and Crosley brands, should stop using them immediately and either unplug them or shut off the circuit breaker controlling them, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission said in a statement.
All the dishwashers have plastic tubs and were sold nationwide at department, appliance, and home improvement stores, including Sears, Best Buy, Lowe's Home Improvement, Home Depot, hhgregg, and other certified Maytag dealers. They were sold from February 2006 through April 2010 for between $250 and $900.
Here's how to find if your dishwasher is on the list:
The models were sold with black, bisque, white, silver, or stainless steel front panels. Look for the dishwashers’ brand name printed on the front panel.
If it's one of the brands mentioned above, find the serial number, which is located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening.
Models affected by the recall will have serial numbers starting with one of these sequences: NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19.
Or they will have serial numbers ending with one of these sequences: JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR.
If your dishwasher's serial number has either of these sequences, you should contact Maytag at (800) 544-5513 anytime or visit the company’s website at www.repair.maytag.com.
The company is offering two options: you can either schedule a free in-home repair, or get a $150 or $250 rebate after purchasing certain new Maytag dishwashers with stainless steel front panels.
The rebate is $150 if you buy new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979. It is $250 if you purchase models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Customers do not need to bring the original purchase receipt to be eligible for the rebate.
Consumers should not take the recalled models back to the retailer where they were purchased.
Maytag received a dozen reports of heating element failures in the recalled dishwashers that resulted in fires and property damage.
Since announcing the recall Thursday, Whirlpool has been inundated by calls about the recalled dishwashers, said Pamela Jenkins, a Whirlpool customer service representative.
“Some people said they hadn’t had any problems," said Ms. Jenkins. "Some people called and said that they did smell a ‘funny smell’ [coming from the dishwasher] but didn’t think anything of it until the recall."
No injuries resulting from the overheating dishwashers have been reported. To report an injury or incident involving a Maytag dishwasher,visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day Quotes-What Is Memorial Day?
What is Memorial Day? In the United States, it is a national holiday that is set aside to honor, remember and celebrate Americans who serve or have served in our armed forces. We fly flags, say a few prayers and feel grateful that we live in a free country, which has been given to us by the men and women who have been willing to fight; especially those who have died.
Memorial Day Quotes:
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
-Joseph Campbell
For love of country they accepted death…
-James A. Garfield
And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
-Lee Greenwood
The brave die never, though they sleep in dust:
Their courage nerves a thousand living men.
-Minot J. Savage
Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.
-Martin Luther
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe
5lb sack of potatoes
6 eggs
2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped Vidalia onion
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup mayonnaise
Yellow mustard to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel and cube the potatoes, then boil in water until chewable, not too soft. Drain and rinse. Place the eggs in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then cover and remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes, then drain pan and fill with cold water until eggs are cool. Peel and chop eggs.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Allow to sit in the refrigerator as long as possible before eating, as the flavor improves with time.
Memorial Day Quotes:
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
-Joseph Campbell
For love of country they accepted death…
-James A. Garfield
And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
-Lee Greenwood
The brave die never, though they sleep in dust:
Their courage nerves a thousand living men.
-Minot J. Savage
Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.
-Martin Luther
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Potato Salad Recipe
5lb sack of potatoes
6 eggs
2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped Vidalia onion
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup mayonnaise
Yellow mustard to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel and cube the potatoes, then boil in water until chewable, not too soft. Drain and rinse. Place the eggs in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then cover and remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes, then drain pan and fill with cold water until eggs are cool. Peel and chop eggs.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Allow to sit in the refrigerator as long as possible before eating, as the flavor improves with time.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Dennis Hopper's 10 Best Movie Roles
Dennis Hopper, who passed away from prostate cancer on May 29, 2010, at 74, was one of our most recognizable stars who managed to turn a string of perennial outsiders, misfits, and deranged characters into the embodiment of our worst nightmares and sometimes even our own best hopes. Anytime he appeared on screen, he was an outright scene stealer, the visual equivalent of walking into a gas station with a lit match. His characters weren't always pleasant, but they never let us look away. Here are 10 roles that stood out.
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10. 'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955)
As one of the goons in the gang that torments James Dean, a very young, blond Hopper doesn't have that many lines. But he's a threatening presence all the same, especially in the famous knife fight scene at Griffith Park Observatory as he lies splayed on the roof of Dean's car, getting as close to the action as possible without actually committing the crime. Offscreen he made an even bigger mark, befriending Dean and getting in a car crash with Natalie Wood that managed to damage the reputation of America's sweetheart.
9. 'Giant' (1956)
Appearing once again with his buddy James Dean, Hopper plays Bick Benedict, the grown-up son of Rock Hudson's imperious cattle rancher. Of course, this was Dean's last film, as the actor was killed in September 1955 shortly after filming wrapped, an event which shattered Hopper.
8. 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967)
Another in a string of vaguely threatening roles, Hopper plays the bet-taker Babalugats in the epic Paul Newman prison drama. Just before Newman has to make good on his bet to eat 50 eggs, Hopper trails along behind Newman and George Kennedy clutching the cash, acting like the perfect sycophant in the shadow of greater men. His time would come.
7. 'Apocalypse Now' (1979)
As the nameless photojournalist, Hopper has a somewhat tender moment when he quotes a line from T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock.' Francis Ford Coppola's harrowing adaptation of 'Heart of Darkness' is yet another case of Hopper finding a way to attach himself to, and distinguish himself in, some of the era's most important films -- a talent that would never desert him.
6. 'True Grit' (1969)
Hopper plays an outlaw named Moon, one of the miscreants that John Wayne's Marshal Rooster Cogburn chases down. Off screen, they had similar chemistry: Wayne was seen chasing the obstreperous (and then left-leaning) Hopper around with a loaded gun while Hopper hid in Glen Campbell's trailer. Just another day on the set with a Hollywood wild child.
5. 'Speed' (1994)
Sure, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock were the nominal stars, but Hopper stole the show as disgruntled, hell, demented ex-cop Howard Payne, who uses his hi-tech know-how to wreak havoc in buildings and on buses. And it's certainly one of Hopper's more quotable movies, as in, "Nothing tricky now. You know I'm on top of you! DO NOT attempt to grow a brain!"
4. 'True Romance' (1993)
Hopper's greatest moment in this drug-and-mobster tale written by Quentin Tarantino is the famous "eggplant scene," where Christopher Walken tortures Hopper for information on Patricia Arquette and Christian Slater's whereabouts, only to have Hopper turn the tables and expound profanely (a Hopper specialty) on Walken's dubious Sicilian ancestry. It's six minutes of Hopper's finest work.
3. 'Hoosiers' (1986)
'Hoosiers' is not only one of the great sports movies of all time, but it also contains one of Hopper's most complex characters. As Shooter, the high school basketball hero turned town drunk, Hopper gives a heart-rending performance of uncanny subtlety. Between lurching onto the court in a drunken stupor (achieved by spinning for 10 seconds before the cameras rolled) and Shooter's finding redemption as an assistant coach, Hopper draws an unforgettable portrait of a man crawling back from the edge.
2. 'Easy Rider' (1969)
For a dramatized snapshot of the hippies of the late '60s, look no further. It's ironic that Hopper ended up a staunch Bush supporter, because to some fans he will always be remembered for his role as Billy, the ultimate counterculture character. With a buckskin coat and floppy hair modeled after David Crosby, Billy rode alongside Peter Fonda in a hallucinogenic haze, trying to become one with the universe while remaining totally oblivious to the fact that the gun-toting Moral Majority had guys like him squarely in their sights.
1. 'Blue Velvet' (1986)
Frank Booth. Just the name gives you chills. In David Lynch's nightmarish tale, Hopper's Booth is a vile, evil creation who snorts up copious amounts of amyl nitrate and has a propensity for violent, ritualistic rape. An indelibly disturbing character, Booth drops F-bombs with nearly every sentence, and serves as an example of the potential depths of man's depravity. If you have any friends who like to quote this character, run away. Very fast. It would be the ultimate tribute to Hopper, an actor of singular intensity the likes of whom we may never see again. Check out Hopper's famous Pabst Blue Ribbon scene here.
Share
270diggsdigg
10. 'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955)
As one of the goons in the gang that torments James Dean, a very young, blond Hopper doesn't have that many lines. But he's a threatening presence all the same, especially in the famous knife fight scene at Griffith Park Observatory as he lies splayed on the roof of Dean's car, getting as close to the action as possible without actually committing the crime. Offscreen he made an even bigger mark, befriending Dean and getting in a car crash with Natalie Wood that managed to damage the reputation of America's sweetheart.
9. 'Giant' (1956)
Appearing once again with his buddy James Dean, Hopper plays Bick Benedict, the grown-up son of Rock Hudson's imperious cattle rancher. Of course, this was Dean's last film, as the actor was killed in September 1955 shortly after filming wrapped, an event which shattered Hopper.
8. 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967)
Another in a string of vaguely threatening roles, Hopper plays the bet-taker Babalugats in the epic Paul Newman prison drama. Just before Newman has to make good on his bet to eat 50 eggs, Hopper trails along behind Newman and George Kennedy clutching the cash, acting like the perfect sycophant in the shadow of greater men. His time would come.
7. 'Apocalypse Now' (1979)
As the nameless photojournalist, Hopper has a somewhat tender moment when he quotes a line from T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock.' Francis Ford Coppola's harrowing adaptation of 'Heart of Darkness' is yet another case of Hopper finding a way to attach himself to, and distinguish himself in, some of the era's most important films -- a talent that would never desert him.
6. 'True Grit' (1969)
Hopper plays an outlaw named Moon, one of the miscreants that John Wayne's Marshal Rooster Cogburn chases down. Off screen, they had similar chemistry: Wayne was seen chasing the obstreperous (and then left-leaning) Hopper around with a loaded gun while Hopper hid in Glen Campbell's trailer. Just another day on the set with a Hollywood wild child.
5. 'Speed' (1994)
Sure, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock were the nominal stars, but Hopper stole the show as disgruntled, hell, demented ex-cop Howard Payne, who uses his hi-tech know-how to wreak havoc in buildings and on buses. And it's certainly one of Hopper's more quotable movies, as in, "Nothing tricky now. You know I'm on top of you! DO NOT attempt to grow a brain!"
4. 'True Romance' (1993)
Hopper's greatest moment in this drug-and-mobster tale written by Quentin Tarantino is the famous "eggplant scene," where Christopher Walken tortures Hopper for information on Patricia Arquette and Christian Slater's whereabouts, only to have Hopper turn the tables and expound profanely (a Hopper specialty) on Walken's dubious Sicilian ancestry. It's six minutes of Hopper's finest work.
3. 'Hoosiers' (1986)
'Hoosiers' is not only one of the great sports movies of all time, but it also contains one of Hopper's most complex characters. As Shooter, the high school basketball hero turned town drunk, Hopper gives a heart-rending performance of uncanny subtlety. Between lurching onto the court in a drunken stupor (achieved by spinning for 10 seconds before the cameras rolled) and Shooter's finding redemption as an assistant coach, Hopper draws an unforgettable portrait of a man crawling back from the edge.
2. 'Easy Rider' (1969)
For a dramatized snapshot of the hippies of the late '60s, look no further. It's ironic that Hopper ended up a staunch Bush supporter, because to some fans he will always be remembered for his role as Billy, the ultimate counterculture character. With a buckskin coat and floppy hair modeled after David Crosby, Billy rode alongside Peter Fonda in a hallucinogenic haze, trying to become one with the universe while remaining totally oblivious to the fact that the gun-toting Moral Majority had guys like him squarely in their sights.
1. 'Blue Velvet' (1986)
Frank Booth. Just the name gives you chills. In David Lynch's nightmarish tale, Hopper's Booth is a vile, evil creation who snorts up copious amounts of amyl nitrate and has a propensity for violent, ritualistic rape. An indelibly disturbing character, Booth drops F-bombs with nearly every sentence, and serves as an example of the potential depths of man's depravity. If you have any friends who like to quote this character, run away. Very fast. It would be the ultimate tribute to Hopper, an actor of singular intensity the likes of whom we may never see again. Check out Hopper's famous Pabst Blue Ribbon scene here.
Dennis Hopper's Wife Won't Move Out!
Dennis Hopper's Wife Won't Move Out!
According to court docs, Victoria must leave Dennis' compound on March 15. But in legal papers filed today and obtained by TMZ, Victoria claims the prenup she signed does require her to vacate one of the homes on the property, but she says she's living in a different, freestanding home on the property so she's allowed to stay.
Victoria Hopper: Click to watchVictoria also said in court she's broke and needs money, stat.
And, Victoria says in her legal docs, she believes Dennis is getting ready to die. She says, "I believe in contemplation of death [Dennis Hopper] may be intending to remove me as a beneficiary of any kind..."
According to court docs, Victoria must leave Dennis' compound on March 15. But in legal papers filed today and obtained by TMZ, Victoria claims the prenup she signed does require her to vacate one of the homes on the property, but she says she's living in a different, freestanding home on the property so she's allowed to stay.
Victoria Hopper: Click to watchVictoria also said in court she's broke and needs money, stat.
And, Victoria says in her legal docs, she believes Dennis is getting ready to die. She says, "I believe in contemplation of death [Dennis Hopper] may be intending to remove me as a beneficiary of any kind..."
Dennis Hopper's estate up for grabs by wife Victoria Duffy
Dennis Hopper, who died Saturday (May 29) from complications of prostate cancer, has been trying to divorce his wife of 12 years -- Victoria Hopper -- since January. But his death at age 74 -- before the divorce could be made final -- will now leave his estate up for grabs.
Under the prenup, Victoria stands to get 25% of Dennis' fortune and a $250,000 life insurance payout if they were still married and living together when Dennis died.
TMZ reports that Victoria has been living in a separate, although connected, house on Hopper's property, as allowed by the court. She will no doubt argue in the upcoming probate hearings that they were therefore legally living together. The couple has a daughter, Galen Grier Hopper, born in 2003.
It's sad that this marriage came to such a bitter end. When the Dish Rag talked with Dennis in 2001, when he had been sober for 18 years, he told me that it was Victoria who first spoke to him in 1992 at Rebecca's, a Venice restaurant Hopper frequented, where she was working as a hostess.
"I had been separated from my last wife for just a week and I was eating alone. She seated me and then came over and said, 'I don't want to bother you now but when you're finished, would you mind if I asked you about your art. I just saw your show at the James Corcoran Gallery and I'd like to discuss it with you.' We have been together ever since."
I asked Hopper if Victoria's horse sense (literally, she rides and trains high strung thoroughbred horses) is why their marriage worked so well.
He admitted: "Victoria just knows how to deal with me. If she sees me in a mood, she comes over, touches me and says, 'How are things going?' But if she needs to stay away, she stays away. She has an understanding. We just don't get into confrontations."
Like all good things, that apparently came to an end. Sad.
Under the prenup, Victoria stands to get 25% of Dennis' fortune and a $250,000 life insurance payout if they were still married and living together when Dennis died.
TMZ reports that Victoria has been living in a separate, although connected, house on Hopper's property, as allowed by the court. She will no doubt argue in the upcoming probate hearings that they were therefore legally living together. The couple has a daughter, Galen Grier Hopper, born in 2003.
It's sad that this marriage came to such a bitter end. When the Dish Rag talked with Dennis in 2001, when he had been sober for 18 years, he told me that it was Victoria who first spoke to him in 1992 at Rebecca's, a Venice restaurant Hopper frequented, where she was working as a hostess.
"I had been separated from my last wife for just a week and I was eating alone. She seated me and then came over and said, 'I don't want to bother you now but when you're finished, would you mind if I asked you about your art. I just saw your show at the James Corcoran Gallery and I'd like to discuss it with you.' We have been together ever since."
I asked Hopper if Victoria's horse sense (literally, she rides and trains high strung thoroughbred horses) is why their marriage worked so well.
He admitted: "Victoria just knows how to deal with me. If she sees me in a mood, she comes over, touches me and says, 'How are things going?' But if she needs to stay away, she stays away. She has an understanding. We just don't get into confrontations."
Like all good things, that apparently came to an end. Sad.
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