Winners & Losers of 1990

By DAVID ELLIS/

Father of His Country Germany's Helmut Kohl, derided by political rivals as a colorless dolt, surprised nearly everyone by how skillfully he managed the blitz of political changes in his country. Just 328 days after the first hammerblows fell on the Berlin Wall, Kohl presided over unification, and later saw his leadership affirmed in the new nation's elections.

Desert Warrior Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, became America's most saluted soldier as he guided the swift deployment of 280,000 U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. His tough-guy image and smooth deskside manner have pundits speculating that Powell would be the perfect running mate for Bush in 1992.

Solid-Gold Mogul Music-and-movie hitmaker David Geffen made a shrewd move in April when he sold his record label to MCA for about $550 million of that company's stock. Just seven months later, when Japanese giant Matsushita bought MCA, the value of Geffen's holdings zoomed to $700 million. It's all in the timing.

A Major Difference John Major, 47, Britain's new Prime Minister, is far younger than Margaret Thatcher, but he's more cautious and a lot less tart of tongue. Major borrowed strategy from the "kinder, gentler" playbook, identifying with the Iron Lady's successes while promising to clean up her excesses.

Kickin' A's The Cincinnati Reds owned first place in their National League division from opening day, but nearly everyone expected they'd lose the World Series to Oakland's high-priced powerhouse club. Then the Reds displayed their blue-collar grit by beating the "better" team in four straight games, pulling off baseball's biggest upset since the Miracle Mets of 1969.

A Dog's Life Millie, the White House's resident English springer spaniel, earned more advances than any other member of the Bush clan. The First Pooch released her "autobiography," as dictated to Barbara Bush, and then pawed her way past such rival authors as Ronald Reagan toward the top of the best-seller lists. Arf, arf.

Sorry, No Cigar Doesn't anyone return Fidel Castro's phone calls these days? The aging dictator saw most of his communist soul mates get tossed onto the dustheap of history, and the cash-strapped Soviets may be close to ending their $5 billion annual subsidy. Castro's efforts to expand tourism won't make up the difference.

From Champ to Chump Buster Douglas sucker-punched the boxing world by knocking out heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Tokyo last February. But success went to his stomach -- he became more interested in the banquet table than the boxing ring. Eight months later in Las Vegas, in his only title defense, the 246-lb. Douglas lasted less than three rounds against a leaner and hungrier Evander Holyfield.

Buried by His Own Mud In the midst of a close re-election campaign against Paul Wellstone, Minnesota Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz issued a letter reminding the state's Jewish community that he was "the better Jew." He , attacked Wellstone for having "no connection" with Judaism and stated that his children "were brought up as non-Jews." At the polls, voters retired the "Rabbi of the Senate."

Banned Box The foam "clambox" is dead -- long live recyclable paper! Environmentalists urged restaurants to stop using polystyrene-foam packaging, calling the product a toxic hazard and a landfill-clogging waste. In 1990 someone listened: McDonald's promised to phase out its familiar hamburger containers.

Out in the Cold Former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, who is appealing a six-month prison sentence for his role in Iran-contra, is soliciting donations to help fight his "liberal accusers." He has attached to each letter a dead leaf symbolizing the "winter that . . . freezes my spirit and numbs my heart. As time slips away . . . I desperately need your $35."

The Happy-Hour Defense Northwest Airlines Captain Norman Prouse offered a woozy excuse when he and two colleagues faced criminal charges for flying a jet while drunk. His lawyer claimed that because Prouse is an alcoholic, the 15 or so rum-and-colas he downed before flying did not impair him as much as they would a moderate drinker. But the judge served up a 16-month sentence.

With reporting by Linda Williams