MILESTONES: September 18, birthdays for Lance Armstrong, Jada Pinkett Smith, Serge Ibaka

September 18, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Lance Armstrong. AP Photo/Brett Davis

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include retired cyclist LANCE ARMSTRONG, who was born in 1971; singer and actor FRANKIE AVALON, who was born in 1939; actor ROBERT BLAKE, who was born in 1938; Hall of Fame hockey coach SCOTTY BOWMAN, who was born in 1933; basketball player SERGE IBAKA, who was born in 1989; Hall of Fame baseball player RYNE SANDBERG, who was born in 1959; actress JADA PINKETT SMITH, who was born in 1971; and actress AISHA TYLER, who was born in 1970.

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GRETA GARBO WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1905. The international film star worked in the industry for 19 years and acted in 27 films. Her on-screen roles were characterized by an image of a seductress involved in tragic love affairs. She died in New York City in April 1990.

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JIMI HENDRIX DIED ON THIS DAY IN 1970. The pyrotechnic rock guitarist died in his sleep of a drug overdose in London, stunning the music world. In an interview the year before his death, Hendrix said, “When I die I want people to play my music, go wild and freak out an’ do anything they want to do.”

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SAMUEL JOHNSON WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1709. The English lexicographer and literary lion was the creator of the first great dictionary of the English language (published in 1755). He also authored poems, novels and essays. Johnson died in London in 1784.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THIS DAY IN 1851. The paper debuted as the New-York Daily Times. The name was changed to the current one in 1857.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” — Samuel Johnson, who was born on this day in 1709