Michael O'Hare (born May 6, 1952) is an American actor, best known for playing Jeffrey Sinclair in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.

Biography[link]

Michael O'Hare was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Harvard University (where he majored in English literature) and studied at the prestigious Juilliard School of Drama, as well as with Sanford Meisner.

Career[link]

Michael O'Hare appeared in a number of theatrical productions on Broadway and in the New York area, including an acclaimed revival of Shaw's Man and Superman with Philip Bosco and the role of Col. Jessup in the original stage version of A Few Good Men (the role played by Jack Nicholson in the film version).

He was the first white actor nominated by the black theater community of New York for the AUDELCO Award for the Best Actor for his performance in the play "Shades of Brown" which examined the effects of apartheid in South Africa.^[1]

In 1992, he was cast in the lead role of Commander Jeffrey Sinclair in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. O'Hare remained with the series for one full season; both he and series producer J. Michael Straczynski said the decision for the character to depart was mutual and amicable.^[2][3] O'Hare subsequently reprised the character in season two as well as in a two-episode guest appearance in season three, enabling the show to complete the character arc.

He has appeared on a range of television shows, including Kate & Allie, The Equalizer, Tales from the Darkside, The Cosby Mysteries, and Law & Order.

Hiatus[link]

On July 12, 2011, Straczynski posted on his Facebook Fanpage “Fans of J. Michael Straczynski”^[4] the results of a search for Michael O'Hare's whereabouts he initiated days earlier by stating^[5][6] "Michael's situation has been determined, and he's still among the living, which is the good news, but the things that concerned me enough to begin the search have been borne out. I realize that that's a "what the hell?" kind of statement, but that's all I can say about it for the time being. That said, everyone can stand down now that we've reached this point. My thanks to everyone who helped with this process." It is not known if this statement reflects health issues or others. Responses on the page were generally of well-wishes and concern for O'Hare, being respectful of his privacy.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Michael O'Hare at the Internet Broadway Database
• Michael O'Hare at the Internet Movie Database

O'Hare may refer to:

• O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago, Illinois, US
• O'Hare (surname), a surname (and list of people with the name)
• O'Hare, Chicago, a US community area
• USS O'Hare (DD-889), a US Navy destroyer

See also[link]

• Collingwood O'Hare, animation studio
• O'Hara (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

The Shore is an American rock group founded in Silver Lake, CA by frontman Ben Ashley. The Shore are heavily influenced by psychedelic bands like The Byrds, The Beatles, Coldplay,^[1] and The Beach Boys as well as Britpop groups Oasis and The Verve.

Biography[link]

In the spring of 2002, Ashley wrote a series of songs with producer Rick Parker. Parker assembled a group of local musicians, including Kyle Mullarky (bass), Cliff Magreta (guitar), and John Wilmer (drums), to record a series of demos. The demos came to Scott Austin, a Maverick A&R Executive, and the band was given a major contract only a few months after their initial recordings. The Shore returned to the studio with Parker to record their first album. The Shore recorded the album over a period of three months. The Shore EP was released on New Year's Day of 2003. Their full length album, The Shore, was released in August 2004.^[2] After guitarist Wayne Faler toured with the band, he was added as a permanent member in December 2005. It was about this time that The Shore parted ways with Maverick Records to pursue a better record deal.

The Shore released their second album, "Light Years," in October 2009 initially as a digital-only release on outlets such as Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody and a few other sites. A CD version was released the following year.

The band has also recently resumed touring, playing San Francisco and LA, most notably with another psych outfit, The Parties.

The Shore's song "Coming Down" was featured on the Long Way Round soundtrack, a documentary detailing the journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles.

Style[link]

Filter magazine describes the band as having "rock solid songwriting" and credits it with a "passionate commitment to music."^[1] According to Spartan Daily, "the band portrays a very neo-psychedelic pop sound and mixes it up with lush keyboards to have a modern sound."^[3]

Discography[link]

Singles and EPs[link]

• 2003 - The Shore EP (Maverick)

Albums[link]

• 2004 - The Shore (Maverick)
• 2011 - Light Years (The New Black Records)

References[link]

External links[link]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it.

External links[link]

• Official website
• Facebook page
• Myspace page

Mike Sweeney
First baseman / Designated hitter
Born: (1973-07-22) July 22, 1973 (age 38) Orange, California
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 14, 1995 for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 2010 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics
Batting average	.297
Home runs	215
Runs batted in	909
Teams
Kansas City Royals (1995–2007) Oakland Athletics (2008) Seattle Mariners (2009–2010) Philadelphia Phillies (2010)
Career highlights and awards
5× All-Star (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005) 2007 Hutch Award

Michael John "Mike" Sweeney (born July 22, 1973 in Orange, California) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, originally as a catcher and then moving to first base. Sweeney also played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Philadelphia Phillies. On March 25, 2011, Sweeney retired from baseball. He now works as a studio analyst on the MLB Network.

Major league career[link]

Career With Royals[link]

1995-97[link]

Sweeney made his major league debut on September 14, 1995 as a catcher. He got his first major league base hit against Cleveland Indians' pitcher Paul Assenmacher at Jacobs Field in the final game of the season. While his ability with the bat impressed the Royals, they were less than enamored with his skills behind the plate.

He hit his first home run off Seattle Mariners' pitcher Jamie Moyer on August 12, 1996. It was a three-run shot.

Sweeney split catching duties with Mike Macfarlane in 1997. He belted a two-run ninth inning game-winning home run off then Detroit Tigers's pitcher Doug Brocail on May 15, 1997.

1998[link]

In 1998, Sweeney played in his first Opening Day game. He tied a club record with two hits in an inning versus the Oakland A's on May 31, 1998. He missed hitting for the cycle by about 40 feet, when he retreated to second base on what appeared to be a sure triple in the eighth inning with the Kansas City Royals leading by a 12-6 score.

1999-2001[link]

His big break came in 1999, when the Royals tried unsuccessfully to trade him during spring training. Riddled with injuries and with no other viable options, the Royals started using Sweeney as their regular designated hitter. After the sudden retirement of Jeff King, the Royals offered the first base job to rookie Jeremy Giambi. When Giambi showed reluctance, they gave the job to Sweeney, who responded by posting the highest fielding percentage by a regular first baseman in more than 20 years. His .322 batting average led the team and his 22 home runs and 102 RBI were second and third on the team, respectively. From July 18 to August 13, Sweeney had a hit in 25 consecutive games, collecting 42 hits total. The 25-game hitting streak is tied for third longest in Royals history with George Brett's 25-game streak in 1983, trailing only Brett's 30-game streak in 1980 and José Offerman's 27-game streak in 1998.

In 2000, Sweeney was selected to his first of five All-Star games. He joined Jermaine Dye to become the first pair of Royals to go to the Mid-Summer Classic since 1989 (Bo Jackson and Mark Gubicza). He passed the 100 RBI mark for the second straight year on August 13, 2000, reaching the century mark faster than any player in Royals history. He finished second in the league with a club record 144 RBI, behind only Seattle's Edgar Martínez's 145 RBI, and breaking Hal McRae's 1982 team mark of 133.

In June 2001, Sweeney hit .392 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI with a .794 slugging percentage and was named the American League Player of the Month for the only time in his career.

Sweeney vs. Weaver[link]

Sweeney was ejected in a game versus the Detroit Tigers on August 10 (1st career ejection) after charging pitcher Jeff Weaver in the sixth inning. Weaver, who was a member of the Tigers at the time, was pitching to Sweeney. In between pitches, Sweeney asked the home plate umpire if Weaver could be asked to move the rosin bag from the top of the mound. After that, Weaver put his glove over his mouth and appeared to say something "Webster never put in his dictionary"^[1] to Sweeney. Sweeney was offended and launched his batting helmet at Weaver while charging the pitcher's mound. He eventually tackled Weaver, igniting a bench-clearing brawl. Sweeney said afterwards that Weaver had been criticizing the Royals' younger players and Sweeney's faith. Sweeney's teammates did not deny his comments. Paul Byrd was one of the first to aid Sweeney as he held back the Tigers catcher so that Sweeney could reach Weaver. Sweeney missed the next 15 games, five due to a "bruised hand" and the next ten to serve a suspension, his first career suspension (prior to that, he had played in 171 consecutive games).

2002-2004[link]

Sweeney had one of the best, if not the best, seasons of his career in 2002, hitting .340 for the second-highest batting average in the American League and the 2nd-highest in club history only to George Brett's .390 in 1980. He was in the hunt for the A.L. batting crown through the season's final weekend, before falling short of Boston's Manny Ramírez who hit a league-best .349. Sweeney was hitting .347 on September 24 before going 2-for-16 in his final four games.

He became the fifth Royal in club history to record a straight steal of home and the first since Fred Patek versus Minnesota on June 18, 1977, with a stolen base off the New York Yankee's Andy Pettitte on August 14. His stolen base came on a 1-2 count with left-hander Aaron Guiel at the plate and gave the Royals a 2-1 lead, but KC lost the game 3-2 in 14 innings.

He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on July 26 (retroactive to July 14) with a lower back and hip strain.

He was named to his fourth consecutive Major League All-Star Game, joining closer Mike MacDougal at the Mid-Summer Classic, marking the first time since 2000 (Sweeney and Jermaine Dye) that KC had two representatives and just the second time since 1989 (Bo Jackson and Mark Gubicza).

He was placed on the disabled list on June 26 with nerve irritation in his neck/back. He was reinstated on August 8, but he would have continual problems with his back through the 2006 season.

On July 22, 2004, Sweeney hit a grand slam and later hit an insurance three-run home run in a 13-7 Kansas City win. The seven RBI are a career-high for Sweeney.

Through the 2004 season, Sweeney compiled a .305 average with 161 home runs and 683 RBI in 1026 games.

2005-2007[link]

In 2005, Sweeney was named the Royals player of the year for the third time in his career. He led the team in average (.300) for the 6th time in his career, doubles (39) and home runs (21), despite playing in just 122 games. He was named the Players Choice Marvin Miller Man of the Year. He was named to the All-Star team for the fifth time in six seasons.

Sweeney was restricted to designated hitter and was able to play just 60 games because of back problems in 2006. After returning from the disabled list on August 8, Sweeney hit .293 with six homers and 26 RBI, but missed another five games with a sore side.

On September 1, his first day back off the DL, Sweeney pinch-hit in the bottom of the 9th and hit a bloop base hit that broke up Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Scott Baker's no-hitter. Baker had gone eight perfect innings before he walked Royals catcher John Buck at the beginning of the ninth. With two outs to go, Royals manager Buddy Bell pinch-hit Sweeney for Tony Pena Jr. and Sweeney ended the no-hitter.^[2] Sweeney won the Hutch Award, which honors players who exemplify a fighting spirit, honoring Fred Hutchinson, who died of cancer in 1964. It is awarded annually in Seattle in January.^[3]

Career Since: Athletics, Mariners, and Phillies[link]

2008[link]

On February 10, 2008, Sweeney signed a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training, with the Oakland Athletics.^[4]

After a strong spring in which he hit .308 with a home run, Sweeney's contract was purchased on March 25, 2008. Sweeney underwent arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome left knee on June 11, and was expected to miss four to six weeks. After a brief return from the disabled list, Sweeney was released by the A's on September 9.

After considering retirement, Sweeney said he would like to play one more year before retiring.^[5]

2009[link]

On January 29, 2009, Sweeney signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners,^[6] citing his desire to play for Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu who was Sweeney's bench coach in Oakland.^[7] Sweeney made the major-league club Opening Day roster as a bench player. On April 22, 2009, Sweeney left the game during his first at-bat due to back spasms.

On May 3, 2009, Sweeney hit his first home run as a Mariner and 200th of his career in the 4th inning at Safeco Field against the Oakland Athletics.^[8] On August 6, in a return to Kansas City, Sweeney hit his 100th home run in Kauffman Stadium in an 8-2 loss to the Royals.^[9]

On November 5, 2009, Sweeney declared free agency.^[10]

2010[link]

On February 12, 2010, Sweeney re-signed with the Mariners to a minor league deal.^[11]

On March 30 the Mariners placed reserve 1st baseman/corner outfielder Ryan Garko on waivers, clearing room on the 25 man roster for Sweeney. Sweeney was not expected to make the team at the start of spring training but hit over .500 in exhibition games to beat out Garko.

On August 4, Sweeney was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies to replace injured first baseman Ryan Howard for a player to be named later and/or cash considerations.

Sweeney hit his first home run as a Phillie on August 29, 2010 in a 5 to 0 win over the San Diego Padres. With the Phillies, he also made the first postseason appearance of his career, going one for one at the plate in the NLDS.

Sweeney signed a one day contract with the Kansas City Royals and retired on March 25, 2011.^[12]

Sweeney threw out the first pitch of the 2011 season for the Kansas City Royals on opening day.

MLB Network[link]

In March of 2012, Sweeney joined the MLB Network as a studio analyst.^[13]

All-Star Games[link]

Sweeney has made the American League All-Star team five times, from 2000–2003, and in 2005.

Last days as a Royal[link]

On September 29, 2007, the day before his final game, Sweeney took out a full page ad in the sports section of The Kansas City Star^{[citation needed]}

The following day, September 30, Sweeney took the field against the Cleveland Indians in front of 19,104 fans at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Sweeney's first at bat was interrupted by a standing ovation. His second at bat was delayed as well due to applause. Sweeney was removed from first base in the 7th inning and was given a third standing ovation. Sweeney entered the dugout, and upon still hearing fans roaring, he exited the dugout towards the field and bowed, waved, and said "Thank you." After the game, Sweeney and his two children rounded the bases as part of a Sunday home game tradition at Kauffman Stadium called "Sunday Fan Fun Run." Then he spent time talking to reporters, and as always, signed autographs for fans before he left the parking lot.

Personal[link]

On November 9, 2002, Mike married Shara Nettles, the daughter of former major leaguer Jim Nettles, younger brother of Graig Nettles. They have two sons and a daughter, Michael James, Donovan John, and McKara Lynn.^[5]

Due to the recent fires in San Diego and the surrounding areas, Sweeney's family was forced to evacuate their home in Rancho Santa Fe and stay with his parents, who live in Ontario. He stated in a report on MLB.com that the few possessions that they took for safekeeping were their marriage certificate, three wedding photographs, birth certificates, and two pictures of his children with Pope Benedict, taken while they were in Rome last year. It was later reported that their house was still standing, although damaged by smoke and water.

Community involvement[link]

A fluent speaker of Spanish,^[14] Sweeney was very active in the K.C. community while a member of the Royals. He has been a nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, and has continued to support the community through various programs, including the Kansas City FCA chapter, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City.

Sweeney has also purchased a dirt field in a poorer section of downtown Kansas City. The baseball field, once used to sell drugs, is now called Sweeney Family Field.^[15]

He was named the 2003 and 2004 Good Guy in Sports by the Sporting News. He teams up annually with former Kansas City Chiefs' running back Tony Richardson to host the Sweeney-Richardson Golf Classic, which benefits a faith-based outreach program and invites area charity and non-profit groups to attend Royals games as part of the "Sween Team".^[16]

Sweeney is known all around Kansas City for being very polite and friendly towards all fans. He always signs autographs for all the fans who ask for one before and after games whether on the field or in the parking lot.^[17][18]

Before the 2009 season, the Royals organization created the Mike Sweeney Award which recognizes a player best representing the organization on and off the field.^[5]

Sweeney was presented with the Mr. Baseball Award—the top honor at the Royals Awards dinner in January 2009. The award is named for Ewing Kauffman, founder of the Royals and the team for which Sweeney played 13 years and served as captain.

Religion and activism[link]

Sweeney is a devout Catholic and has appeared on EWTN's Life on the Rock, a program targeted towards young Christians. On October 24, 2006, he was featured in a political advertisement opposing an embryonic stem cell research bill in Missouri. It was in response to a pro-embryonic research advertisement featuring actor Michael J. Fox. Sweeney appeared with James Caviezel, Patricia Heaton, Jeff Suppan, and Kurt Warner.

Sweeney is also the advisory chairman of the Catholic Athletes for Christ and spokesman for Life Teen, the largest Catholic youth ministry program in the United States.

On June 13, 2007, Mike and his wife Shara hosted the Lunch for Life^[19] and raised $60,000 for the crisis pregnancy centers throughout Kansas City. They also honored a 19-year-old mother who was going to have an abortion but instead chose to have her baby. The Sweeneys gave the girl the first Life Award, which included gift certificates to salons and massage parlors and a grocery store, a baby stroller, a baby crib and clothes for the baby. She also received a $5,000 check to purchase a new automobile.

In 2010, Sweeney spoke to the National Catholic Register about his Catholic Faith: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/mass-going_mariner_suits_up/

Sweeney has "Lose My Soul" by Toby Mac played over the stadium sound system at Citizens Bank Park when he comes up to bat. Mac is formerly of the group DC Talk.

See also[link]

• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• The Mike and Shara Sweeney Family Foundation

Paddy O'Hare was a journalist and Irish nationalist politician.

O'Hare became the editor of the Fermanagh Herald. In 1945, he established a branch of the Irish Anti-Partition League in County Fermanagh. He became a Nationalist Party member of the Senate of Northern Ireland in 1949, and remained a Senator until the proroguement of the Senate in 1972. In 1965, he served as the party's Chief Whip.^[1]

References[link]

1. ^ Brendan Lynn, Holding the Ground: The Nationalist Party in Northern Ireland, 1945 - 72 (1997), ISBN 1-85521-980-8