June 8: Comings and Goings

Birthdays are a wonderful daily occurrence in our lives. It is rare to weave through one's day without becoming privy to an announcement or celebration of a birthday or two, whether they belong to family, friends, or other eminent figures. Remembering those who have passed each day is, perhaps, just as noteworthy an endeavor, for if their memories are kept alive, one might argue, so too are their spirits.

Here is a sampling of June 8 honorees:

Birthdays

Kanye West - Bursting onto the music scene in 2004, Mr. West has become enormously popular as a rapper, record producer, and author. His first three albums, "The College Dropout," "Late Registration," and "Heartbreak," have all been critically acclaimed and received numerous awards. Born in Atlanta in 1977, he gained fame by producing for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he was recognized for his work on Jay-Z's classic album, "The Blueprint," as well as hit singles for Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson.

Lindsay Davenport - She is one of the great tennis players of our time, but has largely been overshadowed in her career by bigger names. Born on this day in 1976 in Palos Verdes, California, she has been the top ranked player in 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2005, and has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles.

Keenen Ivory Wayans - He made his mark as the host and creator of the sketch comedy series, "In Living Color," which, among other distinctions, helped launch the careers of Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Keenan's brothers, the other talented Wayans, Damon and Marlon among them. Born in New York City on this day in 1958, he is also the director of Scary Movie, one of the highest grossing movies ever directed by an African-American.

Deaths

Satchel Paige - He was one of the great pitchers of any generation, one that Joe DiMaggio called one of the fastest and greatest he had seen. Paige pitched in five decades, and was pronounced the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues. Consider some of his feats...he threw 64 consecutive scoreless innings, had a stretch of 21 straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. He finally came to the major leagues in 1948, when he joined the Cleveland Indians. Eventually, he also played for St. Louis and Kansas City. Satchel Paige passed away on this day in 1982 at the age of 75.

Mary Bacon - All deaths are sad, but some sadder, more tragic, than others. Mary Bacon, Bacon was a member of the first class of female jockeys when thoroughbred racing became accessible to women for the first time in the late 1960s. As such, she was a pioneer who helped revolutionize a sport and a culture. On this day in 1991, suffering from cervical cancer, she became completely compromised physically and emotionally and ended her own life with a gunshot.