Linesman Dick Wertheim Killed by Tennis Ball Served by Stefan Edberg While Officiating Match

On Saturday, September 10, 1983, linesman Dick Wertheim was struck and killed by a tennis ball while he was officiating the junior boys title match between Stefan Edberg and Simon Youl at the U.S. Open.

Wertheim was seated in a folding chair serving as the center service linesman in the match, when Stefan Edberg served an ace that struck Wertheim in the groin with such force it toppled him backward in his chair. Wertheim's head slammed with great force onto the hard court surface at the U.S. Open at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, New York.

The blow to the head from hitting the hard court surface knocked Dick Wertheim unconscious, and caused bleeding inside his brain. Wertheim was carried from the court on a stretcher and rushed to the Flushing Hospital and Medical Center, where he was placed on a respirator.

Dick Wertheim Died Five Days After Being Hit by Tennis Ball

On Thursday, September 15, 1983, Dick Wertheim died from his head injuries, having never regained consciousness. Dick Wertheim is believed to be the only person ever killed by a tennis ball at a tennis match.

Technically, Dick Wertheim did not die from the direct blow of the tennis ball. However, the blow from the tennis ball caused Wertheim to fall backwards where he suffered a fatal head injury.

Not only is this one of the most bizarre incidents in tennis, it's one of the most bizarre incidents to ever occur in a professional sporting match of any kind.

Wertheim Himself was an Avid Tennis Player for Many Years

Dick Wertheim was 60 years old when he died. He lived in Lexington, Massachusetts, and was an avid tennis player himself. Dick Wertheim played for Lexington in a Sunday morning Weekend Tennis League for many years prior to his death, playing against towns in the Route 128 area in Massachusetts, stretching from Wakefield to Lexington.

Dick Wertheim certainly knew his way around a tennis court which makes the incident such a complete fluke. The odds of something like this happening were probably just slightly better than the odds of someone getting struck by lightning.

Dick Wertheim's Family Sued the United States Tennis Association

On September 5, 1984, Dick Wertheim's family filed a $2.25 million dollar lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The lawsuit claimed the association acted with gross negligence and did not provide adequate safety measures for officials working matches at the U.S. Open.

Jury Verdict Overturned on Appeal

A jury found the USTA to be 25% responsible for Dick Wertheim's death. The USTA appealed, and the appeals court reversed the ruling in 1989, saying the plaintiff had failed to show that the USTA acted with gross negligence.

Again, this incident was just a complete fluke. Nothing like this had ever happened in the history of tennis and nothing like it has happened since.

Stefan Edberg Will Always Be Remembered for Hitting Ace that Killed Dick Wertheim

Stefan Edbreg, despite being upset about striking the linesman with an ace, won the match, which completed a Junior Grand Slam for him in 1983. He is the only player to ever win a Junior Grand Slam. Edberg went on to have a great tennis career, winning six Grand Slam singles titles, including two U.S. Opens.

As time has gone by though, Stefan Edberg is starting to be remembered more and more as the tennis player who's serve killed linesman Dick Wertheim at the U.S. Open in 1983. Stefan Edberg did nothing wrong, but his tennis shot still caused the death of linesman Richard Wertheim in what was just a bizarre tennis accident.

Which Four NHL Hockey Teams Have Never Been to the Stanley Cup Finals?

Entering the 2021 NHL season there are four teams or franchises which have never been to the Stanley Cup Finals. Can you name the four teams?

There are currently 31 teams in the NHL. Out of the 31 teams, 12 have never won the Stanley Cup, but eight of the 12 teams have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals were they lost.

These are the four NHL teams that have yet to even make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The teams are listed below based upon how long they have been playing in the NHL.

Three of the teams on the list have each gone 20 years in the NHL without making the Stanley Cup. That might not sound too bad, but the Vegas Golden Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in the very first year they started playing in the NHL in 2017-18.

The only way the Vegas Golden Knights could have bettered that record was by winning the Stanley Cup, but they were defeated by the Washington Capitals in five games. The Washington Capitals themselves erased years of futility by winning their first Stanley Cup that year.

One team in the NHL has gone over 40 years without making a single Stanley Cup Finals. Can you name that team? As a big hint, the franchise moved to its current location in 1996.

Despite not ever making the Stanley Cup Finals, the first team listed below has made the NHL Playoffs many times, they have just never advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

When the Seattle Kraken make their NHL debut during the 2021-22 season, they will also make this list by default.

Which Four NHL Hockey Teams Have Never Been to the Stanley Cup Finals?

1. Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes originally joined the NHL in 1979 as the Winnipeg Jets when the NHL absorbed four WHA teams. In 1996, the team moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes and were renamed the Arizona Coyotes in 2014.

The Arizona Coyotes franchise has yet to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. While playing in Winnipeg, the team made the playoffs 11 times but never advanced to the Conference Finals.

Since moving to Arizona, the team has made the playoffs eight times and did make the Conference Finals in 2012 were they lost in five games. So this franchise has made the playoffs plenty of times they just never advance far enough to get off this list.

T-2. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2000. The Blue Jackets made their first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in 2009 but they lost in the first round.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have also made the playoffs in 2014, 2017 and 2018, but have also lost in the first round each time. The Blue Jackets are the only NHL franchise that has never won a playoff series.

T-2. Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2000. The team has had a ton of success making the playoffs but the Wild have yet to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Wild made the playoffs for the first time in their third year in 2003 and they advanced all the way to the Conference Finals were they lost. The franchise has made the playoffs eight more times since then but have yet to make it back to the Conference Finals.

4. Winnipeg Jets

The current Winnipeg Jets team started out playing in the NHL in 2000 as the Atlanta Thrashers. The team relocated to Winnipeg in 2011.

As the Atlanta Thrashers, this franchise made the NHL Playoffs just once in 2007 were they lost in the first round. Since moving to Winnipeg, the teams has made the playoffs two more times including making the Conference Finals in 2018, were they lost to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Biggest Prize Money Purse in Golf in 2021

Presented here is a list of the biggest prize money purses in golf in 2021. At the top of the list is the largest-ever payout to one golfer for one tournament in the history of golf.

In this day and age, golfers can make incredible amounts of money for winning just one tournament. Some golfers can make incredible amounts of money even if they do not win a tournament.

Generally speaking, the highest-paying tournaments in golf are the four majors, but in 2021, it is a non-major that ties the record for the highest-ever payout for a golf tournament to the winner. Also, in general, the highest-paying tournaments in the world are on the PGA Tour, but the record-breaking highest payout golf tournament is not a PGA Tour event.

I hope you enjoy the list.

1. DP World Tour Championship—$3 million

The winner of the 2021 DP World Tour Championship will take home a golf record: $3 million for the win. That is the highest payout ever for a golfer for one tournament.

The DP World Tour Championship is the season-ending event on the European Tour. The tournament has had a $8 million total purse payout since 2012, and from 2012 to 2018 the winner earned $1.3 million. But in 2019, the winner's share was raised to a record $3 million.

So far, Jon Rahm (2019) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2020) have each earned the record highest payout for one golfer in one tournament of $3 million.

Only the top 50 players in points on the European Tour can compete in the DP World Tour Championship. The total purse for the event is still $8 million, and it is scheduled to take place from November 18-21, 2021, at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAB.

2. Nedbank Golf Challenge—$2.5 million

The second highest payout to a golfer in 2021, and in the history of golf, is the $2.5 million that the winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge will take home one week prior to the DP World Tour Championship. The Nedbank Golf Challenge is the second of the three European Tour playoff events in 2021.

It will be played November 11-14, 2021, at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa. Only the top 60 European Tour players can compete. Tommy Fleetwood took home the $2.5 million top prize in 2019. The tournament was not played in 2020.

3. Players Championship—$2.7 million

The Players Championship will pay out a PGA Tour and United States record $2.7 million to the winner of this flagship event scheduled to take place March 11-14, 2021. The event is always played at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

4. US Open—$2.25 million

The U.S. Open paid out what was a record $2.25 million to winner Gary Woodland, on June 16, 2019. Bryson DeChambeau earned the same amount in 2020. The U.S. Open is scheduled to take place June 17-20, 2021, at Torrey Pines which is owned by the city of San Diego.

5. Masters—$2.07 million

The Masters paid out $2.07 million to winner Tiger Woods, on April 14, 2019 and winner Dustin Johnson on November 15, 2020. The Masters is played at Augusta National and is scheduled for April 8-11, 2021.

7. PGA Championship—$1.98 million

Brooks Koepka earned $1.98 million each for winning the 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship and Colin Morikawa earned the same amount for winning the 2020 edition. The 2021 PGA Championship is scheduled to be played May 20-23 on the South Course at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.

The fact that the PGA pays out more money to the Players Championship winner than the PGA Championship says to the golfing world that the PGA does not respect its owns golf major. Why should anyone else?

8. British Open—$1.935

Called The Open in England, this golf major paid out $1.935 to winner Shane Lowry, on July 21, 2019. It was played at the Royal Portrush Golf Club. This major was not played in 2020, but is scheduled to take place July 15-18, 2021, at Royal St. George's in Sandwich, Kent, England.

Has Seattle Had More Below Zero Weather Temperature Days or 100 Degree Days?

Do you know if the city of Seattle, Washington has had more below zero weather temperature days or 100 degree temperature days? 

This is a fascinating weather trivia question that many people living in the Seattle area will love.

For those of you living in the Seattle area, do you know the answer? Official weather temperatures have been collected in Seattle since 1894, so the answers below are from 1894 to the present day.

If you do live in the Seattle area you should already know the answer to this weather trivia question. Especially since the answer is not even close. Seattle has seen three times as many of the correct answer than it has the incorrect answer. A huge difference that those living in Seattle should already know.

Before we get to the answer, keep in mind that Seattle is the northernmost city in the United States among cities with at least 500,000 in population. Not only is Seattle the largest northern city in the United States, it's also father north than the Canadian cities of Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

That is shocking to many people but despite that fact Seattle has much milder winters than Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto have. That's because Seattle is much closer to the ocean which helps moderate temperatures.

Has Seattle Had More Below Zero Weather Temperature Days or 100 Degree Days?

Total Number of 100 Degree Temperature Days in Seattle History is

3

Since 1894, Seattle has only had three days when the weather temperature reached 100 degrees or hotter. The record hottest temperature in Seattle history is 103 degrees which the city reached on July 29, 2009.

It was also 100 degrees exactly on both July 20, 1994 and July 16, 1941. Those are the only three times Seattle has reached 100 degrees. Due to its northern location and its proximity to the Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Pacific Ocean, the city of Seattle rarely gets any notable heat waves.

Since Seattle is the northernmost city in the United States with a population of over half a million people, it's not that surprising that temperatures rarely reach the century mark in the city. Since Seattle is so far north one might think the answer to the weather trivia question has Seattle had more below zero weather temperature days or 100 degree days is a slam dunk dunk in favor of below zero days but that is not the case.

Total Number of Below Zero Weather Temperature Days in Seattle History is

0

The city of Seattle, Washington, despite its northern location, has never had a below zero weather temperature reading. The record coldest temperature ever recorded in Seattle is exactly zero degrees which occurred on January 31, 1950. The second coldest temperature in Seattle's history is 1 degree which occurred on February 1, 1950, one day after the record of 0 was set.

Even though Seattle is located north of Toronto (record low of -27 degrees), Montreal (record low of -36 degrees) and Ottawa (record low of -38 degrees), the city has never had a below zero weather temperature day. The reason again, just like why Seattle has had so few 100 degree days, is because of its location near the moderating influences of the Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Pacific Ocean.

So the answer to the weather trivia question has Seattle had more below zero weather temperature days or 100 degree temperature days?, is that Seattle has had more 100 degree days by a factor of three. Who would have guessed that?

What is the Absolute Coldest Place in California?

California is known for its beautiful, sunny and warm year-round weather but some parts of California can get ridiculously cold in the winter. 

But what is the absolute coldest place in California that pretty much stays cold all year round?

After an exhaustive search that place has been found. It is such a cold place that zero degree weather temperatures have been recorded in nine out of the 12 months of the year and the lowest temperature ever recorded there in June is a scalding 2 (yes that's 2) degrees.

Even in July and August the record low temperatures are 12 and 13 degrees respectively. It's so cold here that the average daily temperature for the entire year is just 27.5 degrees which is 4.5 degrees below the freezing mark.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in this absolute coldest place in California is -35 degrees which occurred on March 10, 1964. While that is a full 10 degrees warmer than the record coldest temperature of -45 degrees for California which was set on January 20, 1937 in Boca, the Boca area does not stay cold all year round.

In fact, the record high in Boca, California is 103 degrees set on July 1, 1976. The record hottest temperature for the absolute coldest place in California is just 73 degrees set on August 19, 1976. That's a full 30 degrees colder than the record high in Boca.

It's so cold at this place in California that the place averages over 1" of snowfall in both July and August. The place averages over 160" of yearly snowfall which is a lot less than in places like Truckee, but it never snows in Truckee in July or August and barely snows at all from June through October. The coldest place in California averages 7" of snow in June, 3.5" in September and 10.9" of snow in October.

Here a quick chart showing the record lowest temperatures for the 9 months in the coldest place in California when it has been below zero and the average daily temperatures for each of the 9 months

January -25 degrees with an average daily temperature of 15.2 degrees

February -21 degrees with average daily temperature of 14.8 degrees

March -35 degrees with average daily temp of 15.6 degrees

April -30 degrees with average daily temp of 19.1 degrees

May -15 degrees with average daily temp of 27.7 degrees

September -7 degrees with average daily temp of 38.8 degrees

October -20 degrees with average daily temp of 31.4 degrees

November -28 degrees with average daily temp of 22.8 degrees

December -30 degrees with average daily temp of 17.4 degrees

It's hard to believe that all those cold temperature numbers are from a place in California. The numbers look more like a place in the Arctic or Greenland or Northern Alaska but the place in California is real and it's called White Mountain Peak.

White Mountain Peak is the 3rd tallest mountain in California at 14,252 feet. It is located off Route 6 in Western California near the Nevada border about 20 miles east of Mammoth Lakes. Ironically, White Mountain Peak is located only about 100 miles northwest of Death Valley, California, where the hottest temperature in the world was recorded in 1913.

There is a a research station on top of White Mountain Peak that is run the by the University of California. That's a good thing not only for the weather information but because there is a dirt road that goes to the summit which makes the summit easy to reach for hikers and mountain climbers.

So the answer to the question what is the absolute coldest place in California is White Mountain Peak.

What is the Coldest Year in United States Weather History?

For anyone interested in the climate, do you know what is the coldest year in United States weather history? 

By coldest year I mean the year in which the most record coldest weather temperatures were set in states and cities across the United States.

One year does stand out among all the others in which record coldest weather temperatures were set across the country. The year is not as cut and dry and as the hottest year in United States weather history but it does stand out among all other years.

The second year listed also stands out as many coldest weather temperatures set during the first year listed were broken in the second year. But the scope and breadth of the records in the first year overwhelms the second year on the list.

For the coldest years in United States weather history I'm listing all the states and major cities which saw record coldest temperatures occur during that year. I'm also listing a few other notable coldest weather years in USA history too along with states and cities that set record coldest temperatures in those years.

Some cities may appear more than once in different years because those cities have had the same record coldest weather temperature in multiple years. Interestingly, four states (Maine, Illinois, Hawaii and Oklahoma) have set their record coldest temperatures in the last 10 years but only one state (South Carolina) has set its record hottest temperature over the last 20 years.

What is the Coldest Year in United States Weather History?

1. 1899 - 4 states and at least 21 cities set record coldest temperatures still standing

States - Florida (-2 degrees), Louisiana (-16), Nebraska (-47), Ohio (-39)

Cities - Amarillo (-16), Atlanta (-9), Baltimore (-7), Baton Rouge (2), Birmingham (-10), Brownsville (12), Charlotte (-5), Chattanooga (-10), Columbia MO (-26), Columbia SC (-2), Corpus Christi (11), Dallas (-8), Gainesville (6), Galveston (8), Little Rock (-12), Montgomery (-5), Oklahoma City (-17), Shreveport (-5), Sioux Falls (-42), Tallahassee (-2), Washington DC (-15).

Most but not all of the records for 1899 were set during the Great Blizzard of 1899 which lasted from February 10-14. During the Great Blizzard of 1899, Florida recorded its only below zero weather temperature, the port of New Orleans iced over and ice floes flowed out of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico and the annual Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was delayed while snow was shoveled from the roads.

The photo at the top of this article shows a snowball fight taking place on the state capitol steps of Florida in Tallahassee just after the blizzard. Snow flurries were seen as far south as Fort Myers during the Great Blizzard of 1899.

2. 1985 - 5 states and at least 16 cities set record coldest temperatures still standing

States - Colorado (-61), North Carolina (-34), South Carolina (-19), Utah (-69) and Virginia (-30)

Cities - Asheville (-15), Augusta GA (-1), Baltimore (-7), Charleston SC (6), Charlotte (-5), Columbia SC (-2), Daytona Beach (15), Jacksonville (7), Knoxville (-24), Myrtle Beach (4), Nashville (-17), Norfolk (-3), Pensacola (5), Raleigh (-9), Savannah (3), Spartanburg (-5).

Practically all of the records set by the cities listed above in 1985 broke the previous records that were set in 1899. There is no doubt that 1985, especially around January 21, was exceedingly cold but as you can see most of the record cold temperatures in the cities took place primarily in the southeast. The record cold in 1899 was far more widespread across the country.

3. 1934 - one state and 8 major cities set record coldest temperatures still standing

State - Michigan (-51)

Cities - Baltimore (-7), Boston (-18), Buffalo (-20), New York City (-15), Newark NJ (-14), Philadelphia (-11), Providence (-17), Rochester (-22).

The year 1934 was a mighty cold one primarily in the northeast. Most of the major cities in the northeast set their record coldest temperatures in 1934. In northern New England the coldest year on record would be 1943 when places like Nashua, New Hampshire and Augusta and Portland Maine set their record coldest temperatures.

Other Notable Coldest Years in the United States

1888

No states set their record coldest weather temperature in 1888, but cities like Boise, Eureka, Spokane and Minneapolis did. Plus the massive Blizzard of 1888 struck the northeast paralyzing the entire area with enormous snow totals ranging as high as 58" in Saratoga, New York.

The Blizzard of 1888 lasted three days from March 11 to 13. Over 400 people died as a result of the blizzard including 200 in New York City alone. Many died in New York City when the snow caused power lines to fall. There were way too many power lines in cities back in those days.

You can see the results of the Blizzard of 1888 in the photos shown.

1913

The year 1913 was an extremely cold one in the American Southwest. Death Valley recorded its record lowest temperature record of 15 degrees in 1913 and then would set the world record for hottest temperature just six months later.

Cities like Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego in California and Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona recorded their record coldest temperatures in 1913. This was primarily a southwest phenomenon.

2019

A massive cold front plunged down into the United States at the end of January in 2019. The state of Illinois set a new all-time coldest ever temperature record of -38 degrees which was recorded in Mount Carroll.

Cities and places like Moline and Rockford in Illinois, Cedar Rapids in Iowa and Cotton in Minnesota all set new coldest ever temperature records. Over 340 daily record coldest ever temperature records were broken mainly in the Midwest but also as far east as Pittsburgh.

Many major and minor cities in the Midwest set new all-time daily coldest temperature records during this frigid Polar Vortex event in late January of 2019. The state of Hawaii also set a new all-time coldest ever temperature record in February of 2019.

Hottest Temperature Record for Each Month of the Year for Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester is one of the most populated and most visited cities in the New England. 

For all the people living in the Worcester area and all the tourists thinking of visiting the city, here is a list of the hottest temperature records for each month of the year.

The list can be very useful for tourists visiting Worcester at any time of the year. Also listed for each month are great places to visit in Worcester during that time of the year.

In addition to the record hottest temperature and places to visit for each month, I'm also listing the date and year in which the record occurred. If you are not familiar with Worcester, you might be pretty surprised at some of the record hottest temperatures for each month.

The temperature records below date back to 1892. All the data is from the National Weather Service.

January – 67 degrees

The record high temperature for January in Worcester is 67 degrees and it's happened twice. The first time was on January 15, 1932, and the second time was on January 26, 1950.

Since the weather can be cold and unpredictable in January, a great place to visit in Worcester during the first month of the year is the Worcester Art Museum, which contains over 38,000 works of art.

February – 71 degrees

The record high temperature for February in Worcester is 71 degrees, which occurred on February 21, 2018.

February is another month with unpredictable weather in the city. Another great indoor place to visit is the historic Salisbury Mansion and Store located at 40 Highland Street.

March – 84 degrees

The record high temperature for March is 84 degrees, which occurred on both March 29, 1946 and March 31, 1998.

The best place to visit in Worcester in March is the EcoTarium, which used to be called the New England Science Center. 

April – 91 degrees

The record high temperature for April in Worcester is 91 degrees, which occurred on both April 20, 1946 and April 19, 1976. To date, it's been 90 degrees or hotter only four times in Worcester in April.

April is a great month to head over to either Mechanics Hall at 321 Main Street or Tuckerman Hall at 10 Tuckerman Street to see a symphony concert. Both venues are historic and quite impressive to see.

May – 94 degrees

The record high temperature for May in Worcester is 94 degrees, which occurred on May 26, 2010.

Two great places to visit in May in Worcester as the weather turns nice are Hadwen Arboretum located at 950 Main Street and the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in nearby Boylston.

June – 98 degrees

The record high temperature for June in Worcester is 98 degrees, which has occurred on June 26, 1952.

As the weather gets nice in Worcester in June, it's a great time to visit the Cascades Park and hike the Cascade Falls Loop Trail.

July – 102 degrees

The record high temperature for July in Worcester is 102 degrees which occurred on July 4, 1911. The 102 degrees is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Worcester and the only 100 degree day dating back to 1892.

July is a fun time in Worcester to go and walk or run through lovely Quinsigamond State Park located along the shores of Lake Quinsigamond.

August – 99 degrees

The record high temperature for August in Worcester is 99 degrees, which occurred on August 12, 1944.

August is a great month in Worcester to visit Green Hill Park, which is home to the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

September – 99 degrees

The record high temperature for September in Worcester is 99 degrees. That record high occurred on September 2, 1953.

The weather is still pretty good in September and it's a great time to take a walk around and over the pond on two iconic footbridges in Elm Park.

October – 91 degrees

The record high temperature for October in Worcester is 91 degrees, which occurred on October 1, 1898.

As the leaves change over, October is a great time to visit the unique and historic Bancroft Tower castle located in Salisbury Park.

November – 81 degrees

The record high temperature for November in Worcester is 79 degrees, which occurred on November 2, 1950.

A great historical site in Worcester to visit in November is the Worcester City Hall and Common. Be sure to check out the Soldiers Monument Statue on the Common.

December – 72 degrees

The record high temperature for December in Worcester is 72 degrees, which occurred on December 7, 1998.

Have fun in December in Worcester by visiting the historic Cathedral of Saint Paul, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. This Victorian Gothic architecture style stone church is pretty impressive.