On this day
Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column contends that Michael Jordan's final sendoff is dampened by his inability to relate to and accept younger generation of basketball players, including his Washington Wizards teammates, who seem relieved he is retiring; photo (M)
Partisan Review, quarterly journal of culture and politics that emerged from ideological ferment of 1930's to become house organ for generation of brilliant American intellectuals and writers, is ceasing publication after 66 years; circulation has dwindled to about 3,200; co-founder and editor in chief William Phillips died last year, after which ownership of journal reverted to Boston Univ, its major financial backer; Chancellor John Silber makes decision to close it down (M)
World Business
Baghdad's cultural elite rage about destruction of city's art treasures, first by American bombs and then by looters; Amal al-Khedairy, whose home is in one of Baghdad's wealthier enclaves, walks amid rubble and shattered windows and ransacked remains of her home and cultural center she ran; war has dragged her from comfortable way of life under Saddam Hussein; she does not speak of compromises involved in running Baghdad's most luminous artistic center that flourished during Hussein's reign; her rage seems emblematic of whole class of people who might be expected to be more sympathetic to American cause; all they can see now is ruins; photo (M)
Music on My Birthday
The Top 50 albums for the chart week of April 16, 2003, covering April 17, 2003.
Linkin Park
50 Cent
Various Artists
Celine Dion
Norah Jones
2003Robert Atkins, American physician and cardiologist, created the Atkins diet (born 1930)[†]
Robert Coleman Atkins was an American physician and cardiologist, best known for the Atkins Diet, which requires close control of carbohydrate consumption and emphasizes protein and fat as the primary sources of dietary calories in addition to a controlled number of carbohydrates from vegetables.
2003H. B. Bailey, American race car driver (born 1936)[†]
Herring Burl "H. B." Bailey was a NASCAR driver. He raced his No. 36 Pontiac part-time as an independent driver in the Grand National/Winston Cup series from 1962 to 1993, making 85 races over his career.
2003John Paul Getty Jr., American-English philanthropist (born 1932)[†]
Sir Paul Getty, known widely as John Paul Getty Jr., was a British-American philanthropist and book collector. He was the third of five sons born to J. Paul Getty (1892–1976), one of the richest men in the world at the time. His mother was J. Paul Getty's fourth wife, Ann Rork. The Getty family's wealth was the result of the oil business founded by George Franklin Getty. One of his sons, Mark Getty, co-founded the visual media company Getty Images.
2003Earl King, American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (born 1934)[†]
Earl Silas Johnson IV, known as Earl King, was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, most active in blues music. A composer of blues standards such as "Come On" and "Big Chief", he was an important figure in New Orleans R&B.
2003Yiannis Latsis, Greek businessman (born 1910)[†]
Ioannis "Yiannis" Latsis, also known as John Spyridon Latsis, was a Greek shipping multi-billionaire business magnate notable for his great wealth, influential friends, and charitable activities.
2003Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland.[†]
Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki is a Finnish politician who was the first female and 39th prime minister of Finland from 17 April 2003 to 24 June 2003. From 2004 until 2019, she served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Finland.
In 2003, the world population was approximately 6,420,361,634 people[†]