| Ernie Accorsi | Tue, Sep 1, 11:27 AM | ||
to me | |||
Hi Andy:
I miss Beano every day of my life. He left a void that can’t be filled because there has never been anyone like him
I must quote him at least five times a week.
I’m thankful for John Lukacs for the book which has all the good lines preserved
I hope you’re doing well. I’ve had some health challenges but I’m 85, I have to expect that.
Thank you for the kind words about GM. Tom Callahan is one of America’s great authors.
All the best. Hail Beano
Ernie
It was less than three weeks ago that the classy, friendly, so accomplished Ernie Accorsi wrote the above, as I had sent him my post on the 95 year anniversary of Beano Cook’s birth.
One can see regarding health challenges and 85 (actually 84), yet this is still, the fact, great NFL executive and Renaissance Man, Ernie Accorsi died, a not good, unexpected event.
I will go to something, appropriate to the near middle and now end/eternity question of Ernie’s extraordinary, accomplished life.
What a day— (41-0) Giants vs the Minnesota Vikings in the 2000 season NFC Title Game. Of course, Ernie was at the tilt and when he got home there was Beano’s message on the answering machine.
Simply and beyond emotionally put: “He Knows.” –I guess G-d (it is Yom Kippur), however, Beano was referencing Ernie’s late father and how proud he would have been, knowing.
Try reading “The G.M.” about Ernie, written by Tom Callahan, the latter cited with great praise in the above letter.
Tonight, exactly 56 years since the first “packaged” NFL Monday night game: the Giants at the Rams. Accorsi got Eli Manning to the Giants and retired as team general manager and addressed the team, after a late Sunday afternoon wild card round loss, at Philadelphia, vs the Eagles in ’06.
’07 and the ’11– certainly no “craps,” not the best team, but a pair of title teams, with a core of players Ernie Accorsi drafted.
There was much else he did. Ernie loved baseball had Mickey Mantle and John Unitas as his sports heroes, plus was public relations director for the ’70 title winning, then Baltimore Colts.
Last night, 8 days shy of the second packaged game, when the supposed to be “NFL team of the ’70’s” Kansas City Chiefs ripped those eventual champion Colts, ’twas K.C. by 3 at home vs the Indy Colts.
Oh the NFL then and people such as Ernie Accorsi.
Out to dinner, the night before the ’96 NCAA Basketball semis. Beano got tickets for those semis for Ernie. I went to the final. Ernie liked that I recalled Jim O’Brien winning the Colts first game, the one before K.C. on a field goal. His 32 yard field goal called on radio, by the great Ted Moore, for so long the Packers’ broadcaster, won the Super Bowl.
Read the book “The GM: The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares that Go with It’
by Tom Callahan, as it is chock full of both great tidbits and wisdom.
Just as Ernie hailed Beano, I hail both with memories flowing, including the precious letter/I guess e mail above. Imagine Ernie, Beano, Johnny U and Mickey telling stories!
Go easy Ernie, the plane landed, you got the luggage, that for a great career and a life so well lived, with kindness.
The magnificent Ernie Accorsi, pictured above.
Last night in a tilt so far removed in importance than the earlier one, Notre Dame a big “fave” won (27-10) at home vs Michigan State.
That earlier one was 60 years ago, a so called “game of the century” that produced Dan Jenkins great headline/story lead which was Notre Dame ties one for The Gipper.
Alas they were rewarded, something I disagree regarding, though then not now I favored Notre Dame.
Anyway 60 years and two names, each an eventual NFL great go round the memory bank, Alan Page of Notre Dame and Charles “Bubba” Smith of Michigan State.
That is Jackie Martling pictured above. The talented comedian did attend Michigan State. I believe he was at the famous tilt, very likely enjoying himself, win, lose or tie.
Nick Saban won 7 college football titles while Bill Belichick procured 6 head coaching Super Bowl/NFL crowns.
Only once, in 2003 when Saban at L.S.U. shared the title with U.S.C. did each win it all in the same season.
Today, Belichick guiding North Carolina hoping for a bounce back season after last year’s (4-8) record is at Clemson facing a coach Dabo Swinney whose 2 titles came in seasons Belichick and his New England Patriots took the crown (2016 and 2018).
Today those “Clem” fans who stuck it out (there was a long weather delay), were “rewarded” as their team down (20-15) mid 4th, rallied to win (28-20). Both teams are now (2-1).
The 1954 World Series produced a big upset as the heavy underdog New York Giants won 4 straight games from the 111 wins Cleveland Indians.
In #1, a game best remembered for Willie Mays’ incredible catch and throw on a drive hit by Vic Wertz to the cavernous center field of the Polo Grounds, Vic had 4 hits in his other at bats.
Another game 1 and eventual entire series hero, “Dusty” Rhodes, who hit a 3RHR to win game 1 caught Wertz’ fly ball in left field to end game 2.
John Antonelli, who finished on the mound in #4, got Wertz with “corners” two outs and the Giants leading (3-1) in game 2.
A truly great broadcaster, Jack Brickhouse is pictured above.
He is the play by play television voice one hears on the play in which Willie Mays makes a great catch and throw. Russ Hodges adds commentary.
If the Cleveland Guardians nee Indians (dare I cite “Wounded Knee), hold what is a significant late innings lead in today’s tilt vs the White Sox, they will lead “Chi” by a half game in the standings.
That lead would be in the win column and the White Sox have the tiebreaker.
“Cleve” with just 3 ‘offs appearances in their first ninety possibilities (1903-1993, no completed season in ’94), is bidding for a sixteenth ‘offs appearance, in double that many (32) seasons (’95-2026).
Orestes “Minnie” Minoso, a tremendous player, denied “Hall entry,” while alive, played for both above cited teams and is pictured above.
Playing in his third major tennis tournament final of 2026, Alexander Zverev scored his second win (also second lifetime win in a major tennis tournament) “four setting” upstart Ben Shelton, in yesterday’s U.S. Open final match.
Again Zverev, who has bravely battled diabetes with good care and shots, avoided both Sinner and Alcaraz in gaining the major tournament win.
Down the road, helped by the fact he has these two 2026 major title wins, Mr. Zverev will likely face one or both and maybe he will prevail.
This year my friends and I ably guided by an usher walked a good distance to watch eventual tournament winner and pictured below Alexander Zverev practice.
For now, kudos to him, 2 major crowns this year is a fine accomplishment.
Yesterday, I had the unique and most enjoyable experience of seeing “After All These Years,” about the life and career of the ultra talented Al Tapper.
He is seen via video tape, telling the stories behind his songs, which were wonderfully performed by four performers, live on stage.
Mr. Tapper was in attendance and we had a nice, brief chat after the show.
The performers, all in myriad costumes and different songs all splendid, are Lara Allison, Emily Taylor Kaufman, Daniel Olson and Nathan Pecchia. Brian Childers is the director.
There are numbers spoofing such as Joey Buttafuoco/Amy Fisher, Putin and heartfelt Tapper songs above love, lust, aging, God/G-d and commentary regarding Mickey Mantle.
I can not wait to speak with Al again.
He cited that he has written eleven shows, four movies, however, is best known for designing the lid/tab enabling easier drinking, so many of us use, while drinking coffee.
Baseball and Al go together akin to say the hot dog and mustard or more sophisticated, as he wrote a show about his childhood and still hero, Ted Williams.
Research and direct conversation revealed this incredible man who has done so much and in the show via words and song expressed gems about life, was at the one game A.L. East (no wild card) playoff in ’78 and Ted Williams’ last tilt, in which so dramatically, he homered off (another) Fisher, pitcher Jack, in his last at bat.
Go see “After All These Years” (now through October 10th) at the A.M.T. Theater (named for Al) located at 354 West 45th Street. It warmed my heart, combining humor, pathos and excellent performances on stage.
Click below for more information about this wonderful show including that, involving tickets purchases.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS | AMT Theater 2026
Soon, twenty days hence, will mark the 75th anniversary of the Giants, then in New York, rallying for four B9 runs, capped by Bobby Thomson’s 3RHR to (5-4) Brooklyn (Dodgers) and win the 1951 National League Pennant.
I know mucho regarding the tilt and will have notes regarding it in the coming weeks.
Looking for links as I listened to the beginning of the 1948 All-Star Game, then meaningful, but no longer–and noticed ’twas Ralph Branca, who famously yielded Thomson’s historic blow pitching for the N.L. stars.
At third base, not left field and a Cubs player not one with the Dodgers was Andy Pafko.
Thomson’s homer flew over Dodgers left fielder Pafko that historic October 3, 1951.
A fine book, great title–more so if you “rooted” Giants.
Already ranked as the top female tennis player, Elena Rybakina added to her laurels with a 3 set victory over 2 time champion Anna Sabalenka in today’s U.S. Open Women’s final match.
It is Rybakina’s third major title.
She now needs only a French Open crown for the so called “career grand slam.”
Elena Rybakina, pictured above.
It was according to the great “What’s My Line” host, John Charles Daly, a wretched February night in 1958, that spoken in thanks to the great Milton Berle for coming out and appearing as the mystery guest on What’s My Line.
Panelists, who engaged in some really entertaining banter with Berle, were Arlene Francis, Keenan Wynn, Dorothy Kilgallen and Martin Gabel.
As cited, John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Enjoy.
