From July 19, 2016
Yesterday, I saw the last half of a “Leave It To Beaver” episode in which Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver’s bicycle was stolen.
Seemingly never wrong wrong, “Ward Cleaver,” played by Hugh Beaumont, who also directed the episode, was a bit humbled as having forgotten to register and insure the bicycle.
Wife June, played by Barbara Billingsley, who famously talked “jive,” in one of many hilarious scenes in the 1980 movie “Airplane,” had to comfort him.
Tangental department: The great Muhammad Ali, whom we lost 6 weeks ago and in a large sense 3 decades ago from boxing’s brutality, started boxing after his bicycle was stolen from him.
A policeman named Joe Martin began the process. I do not care about, nor usually note a person’s skin color, but in this case a white officer (Martin) helped a young black male (Ali, bless his soul would joke “who are you calling boy?!” if I inserted that word instead of male) and that turned out well (maybe boxing and I detest it, largely due to what happened to Ali and others, caused heartbreak but it did “key” Ali’s road to being a world figure).
If only police and black males, for that matter, all people could start helping each other again! Minimum, stop hurting, and tragically in far too many cases, killing each other.
My green Raleigh bicycle was not as fancy as the one above, but would not it be great to be riding it again? “Look Ma, no hands!”
Tomorrow’s World Cup final match in New Jersey will be contested between defending champion Argentina and slight favorite, Spain.
Argentina, trailing (1-0) late (< 5 minutes left in “reg”), rallied to (2-1) England, getting the winning tally from substitute player, Lauturo Martinez in extra time.
Meanwhile Spain, as was Argentina a match underdog, won (2-0) vs France.
Spain has allowed but one goal in its 7 matches thus far.
It will commence at 3 P.M. Eastern Time.
Enzo Fernandez, pictured above, scored the so important tying tally for Argentina in its semi win vs England.
It was Jannik Sinner on the men’s side and Linda Naskova on the women’s, who captured the 2026 Wimbledon tennis crowns.
Sinner won his fifth major tournament, first this year, after failing to do so in either the French or Australian events.
Carlos Alcaraz (Australian) and Alexander Zverev, who Sinner (3-1’d) in the Wimbledon final and still has not beaten a top player in a major tournament final, won his first ever “major” in the French Open.
Meanwhile Naskova won her first major tournament title, needing three sets after failing in five match points situations in set 2, vs Karolina Muchova.
Left to right, Jannik Sinner and Linda Noskova.
Oh how nice (ode to Gallery’s 1972 hit “It’s So Nice To Be With You”), to recall via that great medium, radio, a Mets at Reds June 24, 1968 tilt.
Noteworthy is the Reds superb starting lineup with non “Machine” (i.e. Big Red, and I do not mean the gum), players Vada Pinson, Alex Johnson and that year’s N.L. All-Star second sacker (already having been determined for the game over two weeks later), Tommy Helms.
Add “The Bopper,” (reserving Big for the three, father, son and holy ghost if you will) a part of a (70-30) ’70 start when most tilts were at hitter friendly, Crosley Field.
The Mets had that year’s starting catcher, Jerry Grote and surely Jerry Koosman, that night’s starter and (11-2) going in, made the squad.
It is noteworthy that on that Monday night, Dennis McLain (12-2) pitched for eventual ’68 title winning, Detroit (Tigers).
He would finish (31-6) in the last completely pure “reg” (the 25 years of “had to finish first in the division” were fine) and (1-2) in the World Series.
The next season Jerry Koosman was (2-0) in the World series, including the clinching World Series win in a Thursday afternoon game 5.
A year earlier, the great Mickey Lolich, who just might be discussing a certain game with John Costas, in hopefully a better place, won a #7 Thursday afternoon game, his third win of the ’68 World Series, yielding the “Tigs,” a first crown in 23 “Willie Horton” years.
Willie Horton is pictured above.
NEW YORK — Rick’s Cabaret New York, the multi-level adult club known for its beautiful entertainers, the best in VIP treatment, and its celebrity clientele, invites all soccer fans to watch the World Cup matches at the viewing parties hosted by the gorgeous Rick’s Cabaret girls, and stay for the famous Rick’s Cabaret post-game parties.
- Field of Four Semfinals
- France vs Spain (Tuesday 3PM)
- England vs Argentina (Wednesday 3PM)
- Third Place Play-off (Saturday 5PM)
- World Cup Final Match (Sunday 3PM)
“It’s time for the final few games so why not enjoy them while surrounded by the gorgeous Rick’s girls who love to perform and party and play,” said Rick’s girl Fiona.
“Come be an international baller, flex, pop some bottles, and make it rain on the stunning and seductive dancers,” said Rick’s girl Ivy.
Rick’s Cabaret New York, located in midtown Manhattan at 50 West 33 Street (between Fifth Avenue and Broadway) features VIP suites, luxury skyboxes, and a Roof Top Cigar Lounge.
The top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse under the direction of chef Jayson Margulies offers daily three-course lunch specials, dinner, and the city’s best late-night menu, served all the way until 3AM.
Rick’s Cabaret New York
RICK: NASDAQ Listed
Beautiful Entertainers
VIP Suites, Deluxe Skyboxes
Rick’s Steakhouse, Open Late
The World Cup (futbol/soccer) semi-final matches are set as first on Tuesday 7/14 (you know Bastille Day will be cited) as France is a slight favorite vs Spain.
On Wednesday, defending champion Argentina faces England, the latter a slight “fave” as they are attempting to repeat the magic of their title winning team, now sixty years ago.
After a scoreless “quarters” first half, France prevailed (2-0) vs Morocco as the great Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring while Mikel Merino again had the game winning goal as Spain, which allowed a goal for the first time in six 2026 World Cup tilts, edged Portugal (2-1).
Yesterday Mr. Bellingham (look up pitcher Jack Billingham in post-season play some time, as he excelled) had both goals as England won (2-1) vs Norway.
At night, defending champion Argentina prevailed (3-1) vs Switzerland.
Both England and Argentina won in extra periods (ergo draws) with Bellingham as cited, and Julian Alvarez for Argentina putting their teams ahead to stay.
Each is a compelling semi-final round match.
England’s Jude Bellingham is pictured above.
Regarding= Mr. O’Connor, All In The Family Vs The Rest
I realized a decent fact concerning a link between the television shows, each a great one, “All In The Family” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
In “Hitch” Presents, Martin Balsam starred in “Final Arrangements,” meeting with a funeral director played by O.Z. Whitehead.
“O.Z.” stands for Oothout Zabriskie, but it is the Whitehead that is relevant here.
In a great “All In The Family” episode, “Archie” played by the great Carroll O’Connor, is pressured to give a good funeral for his cousin “Oscar,” though Archie never liked him.
The funeral director is named “Whitehead,” played by Jack Grimes.
O.Z. Whitehead, pictured above, as “Al Joad” in the film, “The Grapes Of Wrath” based on John Steinbeck’s immortal novel.
The World Cup (Soccer/futbol) event has reached its “quarters”, after defending champion Argentina, led by the extraordinary player, Lionel Messi, overcame/survived (not in 40 years, but in the last 15 or so possible minutes) Egypt and will face Switzerland, which won on penalty kicks, vs Columbia, both matches played yesterday.
Spain, a late (1-nill) winner against Portugal, will meet Belgium, a (4-1) Monday night victor, vs the U.S.
France, the 2022 runner-up, (see my post after that below) advanced as did England. France (1-0) vs Paraguay meets Morocco, which took out Canada 3-0, that match to be contested tomorrow.
Meanwhile England which won (3-2) vs Mexico, meets Norway, a Sunday past winner vs Brazil.
I truly vibed that result, seeing so much Brazil garb, as I walked that day, in New York City.
A very young Lionel Messi is pictured above.
The aforementioned post after the 2022 World Cup had concluded, is below if you click the link.
“Zone Marathon” On Icons And Heroes Channel Concludes Today
Quite a contributor to society.
Best known as “Scout” In “Mockingbird”
Mary Badham, best known for her iconic role as “Scout” in the seminal film,”To Kill A Mockingbird,” played “Sport” in “The Bewitchin’ Pool,” the last episode of the original Twilight Zone.
I suppose it was at a “Twilight Zone” retrospective at which I met Ms. Badham, who was so courteous and informative in talking of her love toward “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Earl Hamner Jr., who later created “The Waltons,” wrote the Bewitchin’ Pool episode, that aired originally on June 19, 1964.
Georgia Simmons, having turned 80 days before the episode aired, was outstanding in her role as “Aunt T.”
Another excellent show, “Bewitched” debuted 90 days later on September 17, 1964.
The classy, Mary Badham, pictured above, as “Sport” in the Twilight Zone’s last episode, “The Bewitchin’Pool,” about 2 years after her immortal turn as “Scout,” in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
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1971’s eventual World Series winning, Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1978 repeat title, winning New York Yankees each went (5-0) at home, first in best of 5 LCS and then World Series for the top, “undefeated at home mark,” in the sixteen years of best of five League Championship Series (’69-’84). Each of those eventual champions were (2-0) in home LCS and (3-0) in such World Series tilts.
The so called “Miracle Mets, ” an excellent, 100 wins, “platoon players” team with superb pitching, are one of three other teams to go unbeaten at home, in both a best of 5 LCS and World Series, going (4-0) (1-0) in the LCS and (3-0) in the World Series).
In 1984, the Tigers “Orwell’d,” (“The Cheese” read another great George Orwell book, “Down And Out In London” recently, I will try, regarding Lauren Bacall’s autobiography, on yet another brutally hot day) to a (35-5) start and went (4-0) at home, (7-1) overall in ‘offs play, as did the ’69 Mets, and copped their fourth and most recent title, all within 50 seasons (1935-1984).
Perhaps the greatest of all baseball teams, certainly one of them, the 1976 repeat title winning Cincinnati Reds are the only baseball or basketball team to go unbeaten in the ‘offs (a number of NHL teams have done so and of course 1 loss in the football ‘offs means elimination, ergo all the title winning teams whether (1-0), (2-0), (3-0) or (4-0) had to go unbeaten in the playoffs), compiling a (7-0) record, (3-0) at home.
Somehow, I reached Bob Costas in the L.A. hotel in which he was staying, late Sunday morning of game 2/’88 W.S. to impart that the even more dramatic, discernibly so, (however, the homer shown above with the great radio call by Ernie Harwell, was/is not “chopped liver” (that food item happens to be very good) as it all but clinched the ’84 Tigers title), Gibson pinch homer in game 1 the night before, was his second straight World Series at bat, with a home run, the first in #5/’84 W.S. shown above.
Bob recalled the ’84 homer, another example of his excellence.
Andy B Sports 