Some updates: Last night was not a good sports night in Oklahoma, as Alabama down (17-0) rallied to become the first “road” winner in what was the fifth 12 teams/’offs game (all 4 home teams prevailed last year, all at least fairly sizable “faves”), (34-24) as a slight underdog.
In the NBA, (no alarm but I warn Ok City, taken to 7 by both Denver and Indiana before winning the title after a superb (68-14) reg, is not unbeatable and they play in the so much tougher Western Conference), Minnesota Timberwolves 5’d out by the Thunder in last year’s semis won at home leaving the Thunder with a still great (25-3) record.
In all likelihood they will not break the Warriors’ (73-9) record and are better off not doing so. Recall those Warriors were denied in a 7 game final by the Cleveland Cavaliers, speaking of whom, these 9 years later, as top East odds choice, are a pretty bad (15-14) and have lost 8 of their last 11 tilts.
Below– read an account of the first ever Alabama/Oklahoma clash, which took place on 1/1/1963 the 1962 season Orange Bowl, attended by John F. Kennedy and in many ways introducing Joe Namath. Two charismatic figures to say the least.
Kennedy was at midfield for the coin toss in front of 73,380 in the stadium, while millions more watched on television. In the first quarter, Namath directed the Tide 61 yards in ten plays, and from the Oklahoma 25, he faked a handoff and a short pass, whirled, and sailed a long pass into end Richard Williamson’s hands in the end zone. Tim Davis kicked the extra point, and Alabama had a quick 7-0 lead.
The Sooners came right back and worked the ball down the field against the vaunted Tide defense, thanks in no part to a 56-yard pass play from Ron Fletcher to Allen Bumgardner. With the ball sitting at the Alabama seven-yard line, they had their best scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, Grisham fumbled, and Oklahoma was turned away.
Jordan was all over the field as a defensive battle began to take shape. But the Tide struck again in the second period. In the second period, Alabama’s Billy Piper returned a Looney punt to the Oklahoma 34. First, Namath threw a pass to Williamson that was good for 20 yards, and then two plays later, a pitchout to halfback Cotton Clark resulted in a 15-yard scoring sprint, his 16th of the season. Davis again converted the extra point, and Alabama had a 14-0 lead, which is how the teams headed to the locker rooms.
After intermission, the Tide was again presented with another opportunity. This one arose when Looney, the nation’s leading punter with a 43.4 yard average, was hurried by ‘Bama guard Frankie McClendon’s rush and got off a kick of only seven yards. Namath moved the offense from the Oklahoma’s 33 to the two-yard line, where they faced a fourth down. Bryant opted for a field goal attempt, and Davis’ 19-yarder made it 17-0. It closed out the scoring.
Both teams compiled exactly 260 yards of total offense, but Oklahoma was unable to get into the end zone. Despite his fumble, Grisham earned 107 tough yards on the ground for the Sooners, but it was too much Jordan, as he almost single-handedly turned Oklahoma away, and finished the game with an Alabama bowl record of 31 tackles. Namath completed nine of 17 passes for 86 yards and picked up another 24 yards rushing. The Alabama seniors finished with a school-best 29-2-2 three-year record, and once again, it was Bryant who had beaten Wilkinson.
In the Alabama dressing room after the game, a photographer asked Bryant to spell the name of a player whose picture he had just taken. “That’s Namath, so – N-A-M-A-T-H,” he said. “But don’t worry about it. You’ll learn how to spell it in the next couple of years.
Left to right Joe Namath and legendary coach, especially with Alabama, where he won 5 A.P. mythical titles, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
The “Jordan” cited above is Leroy Jordan, who went on to a great career with the Dallas Cowboys.
I thought of Rob Reiner, while watching the classic film, “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the first time yesterday. What a treat to watch it on the big screen (I try to “Jim Valvano” it (laugh–which is difficult in these times, especially with a U.S. “leader” that issued a beyond shameful statement, regarding Reiner, that actually ought not be a surprise, certainly not a shock—, think and cry) and cry my eyes out.
Crying manifests for me with happy endings, so much needed in real, not so much in reel life!!
The Frank Capra directed film was a Reiner favorite and being succinct, he joins Capra among the directing greats.
Rob Reiner and his wife, were savagely murdered, as ’twas not a happy, but a tragic ending. They helped people, an even greater calling.
This one hurts beyond words, its stark, horrible reality, involving addictions, rage and the seemingly at best “absentee landlord,” indifference of whom or whatever decrees, minimum “allows” such things.
My favorite Reiner entity or characteristic, other than helping others, was as “Mike Stivic” on “All In The Family.” What resonated so intensely with me was any interaction with his father-in-law, Archie Bunker, played by the great Carroll O’Connor.
Click above to view a scene illustrating such.
It appears the powers that be will allow 4 Sunday games into most, if not all markets, this 15th of 18 NFL weeks.
Checking in the New York metropolitan area such, after games involving the woeful records locals, the (2-11) Giants and (3-10) Jets with only the latter’s opponent, AFC South leading (9-4) Jacksonville (Jaguars) in contention, each main Sunday telecaster network Fox ((8-5) Lions at (10-3) Rams) and CBS ((9-3-1)Packers at (11-2) Broncos, a ’97 season Supe, redux by the way) are “piping” in, at least somewhat meaningful tilts, as remember, 14 teams out of 30 make the NFL ‘offs.
“Further more to that” (The classy Isabel Sanford’s preface, to a comment to the great Sidney Poitier’s character in “Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner”) 5 games, 3 on Christmas Day (the NFL once “promised” no games that day) and two on December 27, 2 weeks hence can only be viewed on television, that most dog wagging of entities, in exchange for currency.
Many will, I certainly will not and if you are smart, in this rare case, doing what I do is the correct choice. However, one must add it is a choice!!
The more recent or only winner of a title game/NFL “semis” clash won 4 of the six such situation games last week.
In games that mattered, the (9-3-1) Packers, who held off the (9-4) Bears and covered in doing so, repeated their 2010 title tilt win at “Chi” and as illustrated above, lead the NFC North by a fraction of a game. (As noted last week, the Bears prevailed in an unscheduled NFL Western ‘off, played one week shy of 84 years earlier, on their way to the 1941 crown. “G.B.” also “titled” after that 2010 “semis” victory.
Elsewhere, the underdog (7-6) Pittsburgh Steelers held off the (6-7) Baltimore Ravens, repeating a 2008 AFC title game/NFL “semi” win on their way to the title and again as illustrated lead “Balti” by 1 game, however who/whom would have ‘el’ tiebreaker?
Denver (Broncos) tied the idle New England Patriots for the NFL and more important AFC top mark (10-2) with a repeat of their 1977 AFC title game win vs the then Oakland Raiders. Dallas denied Denver’s ’77 “out of nowhere” (in 17 combined AFL and NFL seasons, in fairness far less available ‘offs spots then but essentially save in ’73 they never came close) title bid, winning (27-10) in a Pat Summerall broadcast Super Bowl.
For a second time, in a game “piped” into the N.Y. market, a Buffalo win (this a no cover vs now seemingly out of it (5-8) Cincy (Bengals) was the day’s highest scoring game and the Bills go into New England with a chance to win a 5th straight “div” crown, however that would still be a bit unlikely. A N.E. win would clinch, what at the season’s beginning was deemed a so unlikely “div” crown.
Back to rematch repeats, this was one of the two, in which the “semis” losing team (Cincy title gamed “Buff” in ’88) won last week’s redux, the other being Minne (Vikings) in a meaningless tilt vs “Wash.”
In a game that might eventually matter, last week (6-7) Miami (Dolphins) won their 5th straight, repeating a strike season/1982 AFC title game win vs the New York Jets.
Golden Richards, pictured above, gathered in a Robert Newhouse running back option pass for a touchdown in the above cited Dallas ’77 season Super Bowl win vs the Denver Broncos.
The NFL’s 14th week, which began with the (8-5) Detroit Lions’ (44-30) home triumph vs the (6-6-1) Dallas Cowboys, has a same #,14 (ode to Y.A. Tittle) games on its slate, just one interconference and no Super Bowl rematches.
However, only 2 of the 14 games match teams that never faced each other in playoffs competition and there are six conference title tilt/NFL semi-final round rematches.
(9-3) “Chi” (Bears) the current NFC top seed ventures to Green bay to face the (8-3-1) Packers in the annual first of two tilts between the teams that have faced each other more often (210 times) than any other 2 teams, in NFL annals.
This includes 2 NFL semi-final games, first an unscheduled ” ‘off” for the 1941 NFL Western crown and the NFC title game in 2010.
Chicago won the ’41 ‘off at home (Wrigley Field), a week after the events of 12/7/1941, while the Packers prevailed at Chi’s venerable Soldier Field in the 2010 NFC title tilt. Both teams went on to win games for the NFL title.
Elsewhere in another battle (war starting ought to be remembered this Sunday, on the exact 84 year “ann” of events that manifested in F.D. Roosevelt’s “yesterday December 7th 1941”) for a “div” lead, two (6-6) teams, the host Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers clash. It is a redux of the 2008 AFC Title Game won by the Steelers, in route to their 6th and to this point, last Supe or NFL crown.
42 year old Aaron Rodgers, a talented, but with just one Supe win, quarterback, won that Supe vs his current team, the Steelers, in the above referenced 2010 season Super Bowl.
The other four NFL semis redux games were all in scheduled conference title games and none of them this Sunday, involve both opponents with even a break even record. Denver/Raiders, Bills/Bengals, Dolphins/Jets and Vikings/Wash are those tilts, noting Denver is (10-2), Buffalo (8-4) and the other 6 teams are under .500.
Denver, Cincinnati and the Miami Dolphins (Todd Wishnev, denied access on his prowess, bucked the other 3 and won with “Det” last night and often sings the Miami Dolphins song. His criticism of the latest Lane Kiffin hypocrisy, with a couple too many expletives, is justified) won those title tilts (’77,’88 and ’82 respectively) but lost in the subsequent Super Bowl.
“Wash” which was the team that “Suped” the ‘Phins in ’82, 10 years after the reverse result vs the undefeated Dolphins, won the ’87 season Super Bowl vs Denver, the second of 4 losses in each of Denver’s first Supes. (They are (3-1) in such games since.
“Chi” won in 3 straight, “must win,” in Chicago (2 at Wrigley, one at Comiskey the then Chicago Cardinals home) games, something the ’58 Giants could not quite match, to win the ’41 NFL crown.
The toughest test, by far was vs the “spoiler” Cardinals who took (14-0) and (24-21) leads.
However, a great player, George McAfee, pictured above scored 2 4th quarter TD’s, the second on a 70 yard run on that fateful December 7, 1941, now so many, (to be 84), “yesterdays” ago.
They clashed in the first AFL game on a Friday night over 65 years ago (September 9, 1960) and at the moment, the (12-2) New England Patriots, who reversed two Supe losses, hammering the opposite record (2-12) New York Giants (their record in ’64 after achieving 6 title tilt appearances in 8 seasons, winning just one) and (11-2) Denver Broncos, who reversed a Supe loss, but did so by only 1 point, enabling more “pool prowess,” at (3-9) Washington, a conference runner up a year back, have wide open pro football top records.
Elsewhere all 8 “divs” have races, the defending champion Eagles, one of the four “faves” to lose outright last Thursday and Friday, helping “pool man” and not usual dog backer “B,” have the NFC’s slimmest lead, that one and a fraction over Dallas. Denver’s 2 or less considering ‘el” t/breaker is the NFL’s such.
Surprising (9-3) Chi (Bears), which upset (8-4) “Phil” in a fog bowl/’88 slot 1, div game redux, are near TD u/dogs at (8-3-1) Green Bay, which “Thursday holidayed,” now (7-5) Det, (a “slots” loser to Wash last year, when they were the NFC “1” seed), in a late Sunday afternoon national Fox telecast this week.
Other big tilts involving top 2 at the moment div leaders include mediocre (6-6) teams, Baltimore (Ravens) about a TD “choice” vs same record “Pitts,” and (8-4) Indy (Colts) a slight, slight (who said slightly I mean sliiiightly on TV years back?!) “fave,” at also (8-4) Jacksonville (Jaguars).
Denver won (13-10) that night.
Neither the Broncos or Patriots ever won an AFL crown, the then San Diego Chargers led by Keith Lincoln ripped the Pats (51-10) (“Zid” had young Hadl in and chucking perhaps cursing the franchise that lost in its only game for the NFL crown and was just (1-4) in games for the AFL “such”) in the then Boston Patriots only AFL title tilt, (Denver never played in one).
After losing a combined 6 Supes/games for the NFL crown (Denver in ’77, ’86,’87, and ’89 –New England by then in ’85 (routed by the Bears, a redux these 40 years later also on NBC but with Tiriiiico, not Enberg?!!) and ’96) the two teams went a combined (9-4) (6 N.E. crowns, 3 for Denver), in subsequent such games.
This year?!!
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UFC 323 PPV Main Card
125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van
125 lbs.: Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
135 lbs.: Henry Cejudo vs. Payton Talbott
205 lbs.: Jan Błachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov
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Let tangential me get to the point, next week’s clash between the only two college football unbeatens (Ohio State, which ended a 4 game loss skein vs (9-3) Michigan and Indiana, for so long a Big Ten doormat, which ripped Purdue) is an exhibition game and means next to nothing, even in a football/playoffs sense.
This is in sharp contrast, almost the 180 degree kind, with a 1 vs 2 “reg” game, set back to December by ABC, on the advice of my late friend and college football immortal, Beano Cook, exactly 56 years earlier when Texas in route to the title, won a thrilling game vs Arkansas.
So much more to this and I am tired of fighting the money windmills, a 12 team(s) ‘off a prime (as in prime time television, The “wagger” still in this society) so let’s talk then and not now, at least for now.
It was not great all those years that college football only had a mythical national champion. (1998 when Tennessee, beaten decisively by Vanderbilt yesterday, won/”claimed” it, beating Florida State was the first more or less title game).
That mythical aspect, dependent entirely on voting, manifested in one familiar with votes, R.M. Nixon, to arrive in Fayetteville, Arkansa and eventually proclaim Texas as #1, severely irking coach Joe Paterno of also unbeaten, but in ‘el East and certainly without a win, a road one no less, vs a team as good as Arkansas.
At a point, say 1986/1987 after a Jerry Sandusky designed defense “yoked” Vin “turnovers” Testaverde and Miami, adding to Paterno’s “halo status” while conversely less than 5 years after Nixon’s “Texas proclamation,” his status was say 110 degrees lower and apart (110 evoking shade, now a slang for criticism).
Texas still had to beat Notre Dame in the “Cotton” and a diving catch by a “Cotton,” Speyrer, an all-time clutch one keyed themdoing so and claiming the ’69 mythical crown.
Now negative perceptions and relative comparisons have trended Mr. Nixon upward and Paterno, one I saw through before and see as a “Postman Always Rings Twice” type, surely has dropped.
Back to point, so difficult for me as thoughts and history repeats notes fly around, veritable electrons near the atom, next week’s means nada, a shame, a 1 vs 2 while on December 6, 1969, thanks to Beano, “we” saw a classic game that was one of two great Texas wins that gave them the ’69 crown, backed by Nixon and disputed with some but ultimately little justification, by Paterno.
Two things among many in this great memory, (I think I was rooting for Arkansas, but what does that matter?), one is the (male) cheerleader doing a cartwheel on the playing field after Street’s long/must completion to Randy Peschel and the handshakes, not so common then, between some of the opposing players.
Trust me, it was Beano Cook who so often looked at schedule and could think out of the box, that strongly suggested to ABC sports head, Roone Arledge, that the Texas at Arkansas tilt, be moved to December 6th.
Below, Beano is quoted as part of a fine article about the game on its fiftieth anniversary in 2019.
“I never thought we would have such a dramatic game,” said Beano Cook, an ABC producer, in 2009. “It was a perfect game for us.”
Billy Graham prayed before the game and U.S. President Richard Nixon landed in Marine One just after kickoff to watch in person.
Andy B Sports 