TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1960, South African police killed 69 unarmed black protesters. In 1963, the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island closed. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter met with U.S. athletes and coaches to explain his decision to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games. In 1999, Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and English copilot Brian Jones became the first to circumnavigate the earth nonstop by balloon.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), composer; Benito Juarez (1806- 1872), Mexican president; Florenz Ziegfeld (1867-1932), theater producer; Timothy Dalton (1946- ), actor, is 62; Gary Oldman (1958- ), actor, is 50; Ayrton Senna (1960-94), Formula One racer; Rosie O'Donnell (1962- ), comedienne/actress, is 46; Matthew Broderick (1962- ), actor, is 46; Ronaldinho (1980- ), soccer player, is 28.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1946, UCLA running back Kenny Washington became the NFL's first black player since 1933.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Everyone hears only what he understands." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
TODAY'S FACT: Johann Sebastian Bach was not the only member of his family known as a composer; seven generations of Bachs achieved prominence in various musical fields from 1580 to 1800.
TODAY'S NUMBER: 14 - The number of escape attempts from Alcatraz recorded over the 29 years that the prison operated; none proved successful.
TODAY'S MOON: Full moon (March 21).
