(The unofficial Newfie induction ceremony!)
Posted on 11/29/2009 3:59:56 AM PST by canuck_conservative
When Bill Cosby arrives in Newfoundland in a few days, it will be a return of sorts for the famous comedian.
Cosby was stationed at the U.S. military base in Argentia, about 120 kilometres from St. John's, N.L., as an American military corpsman in 1959.
While there was work to be done at the naval base and air station that was home to thousands of military personnel, it's the play that seems to stick out in the now-72-year-old comedian's memory.
"These guys had their own bar and they drank better than movie stars," he says. "You could get a litre of the best brand of bourbons and scotches and gins and things for, I think, $3."
Cosby will perform at Mile One Centre in St. John's on Dec. 4.
Sharing his recollections recently, he said softball was a popular pastime when he was stationed in the province. He recalled one game where he was playing at second base. The experience was true Newfoundland.
"The fog was 10 feet from the ground all the way around," he says. "So the guy hit the ball and it went up into the fog. And the outfielder would put the glove on top of his head. People were in the fetal position. And the batter was running around the bases and then all of a sudden you'd hear the ball drop (you couldn't see it until then). We'd get the ball, start throwing it to each other to catch the guy out. And that's the way we played. It was the craziest. . . . And 'tap'- up in the air again and everyone in the fetal position and there's the ball again."
The weather also plays a role in another memory ...
(Excerpt) Read more at theprovince.com ...
Pinger, eh?
Newfoundland - fog yes, snow yes, but also beautiful rugged scenery and some of the friendliest people in the world.
That man can Still make me laugh!
Was in Newfoundland earlier this year. Just an amazing place....whether its the small outports on the coast, or, the mountains further inland.
And, Moose EVERYWHERE!
I don’t get the reference to Argentina???
Argentia....not Argentina. I made the same mistake originally, too.
Very near Placentia Bay, where Churchill and FDR met secretly in August 1941 - the so-called Atlantic Charter resulting.
I LAU-AU-AUVE him!!!!!
NOT Argentina
Argentia - no N
I ditto that! My Mom is from Bay Roberts NFLD; my Dad and Mom met while he was stationed at Pepperill AFB (no longer there of course)...I was born in St. John’s. It is so beautiful where my Mom is from...right along the eastern coast; she grew up in an area called French’s Cove...originally settled by bans of pirates (I take no pride in that of course); but lots of truly nice, caring, giving, warm, kind folks from those parts!
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