There is background (say a history) and “background,” as in movie extra work and I will skip most details save (please someone!!) the fact it was so disturbingly shocking and depressing, to hear the female NBC News “sub” anchor read, that a great talented actress, Diane Keaton, had died at age 79.
She was in so many great films, all 3 so called Godfather, “Annie Hall” and one I will cite as my favorite Keaton turn and first with the great Woody Allen–(he apparently was shocked and distraught at Keaton’s passing and oh that poem about death “finding” us), in Play It Again Sam.
Before it “found” Keaton– Keaton’s performance in a role evoking Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and even trigonometry (see it does come up in life, triangles– not carrying charges) in “Sam” touches me, in a deep profound way.
“So esteemed as a comedienne, Keaton’s dramatic work in such films as “Reds,” “Looking For Mr. Goodbar,” and Mrs. Soffel was just as impressive.”
Above, were the words of dear friend Chris MacLeod, with whom I heard the sad news and below she is in the “background” in a scene with Diane and Mr. Allen in the seminal film, “Annie Hall.”
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in the ground-breaking and trend/style setting (largely Diane’s doing) film, “Annie Hall.”
Ten seconds in, Ms. MacLeod appears.
After three more low scoring games in successive days, div round clinchers, the ’77 expansion teams (Toronto (Blue Jays) vs Seattle (Mariners) ALCS and the L.A. (Dodgers) vs Milwaukee (Brewers) NLCS are set.
L.A. made it 6 of 6 post series vs the Phils, either ending or standing (3-1), with Thursday afternoon’s shadowy and eerily similar to the ’78 NLCS, winning (2-1) in the 10 innings, clinching win in #4.
Next for the defending champion Dodgers, who as with some other storied sports teams, the St. Louis Cardinals, San Antonio Spurs and yes the New York football Giants, have never repeated as champions though the Cards (11), Spurs 4 in 16 seasons and Giants (7) copped multiple titles, is a third entity vs a Milwaukee team (’twas the Braves in ’59 in a needed playoff and the “Brew Crew” in ’18, both won by L.A.) with the N.L. title, the series winner’s prize.
Last night (all 4 runs on homers, low scoring, HR or nada and 3’s wild in the series) the Brewers prevailed (3-1), handing the Cubs a second maximum games/best of 5 series road loss in the last tilt. (Somewhat famously S.D. “Birched” the Cubs in a decisive #5 NLCS home game, while last week, these Cubs won a decisive 12/8 round third game, at home, to oust the Padres.
Seattle, which rode the great hitter and current team hitting instructor, Edgar Martinez’ series ending 2 run double to a deciding 5th game/div round win 30 years ago (first year of these div round games, entities, I have so long and continue to oppose being played) win vs the Yankees, won (3-2) in 15 innings in #5 vs the Detroit Tigers Friday night/1:15 A.M. or so in the Eastern time (do not mess with it!!) zone and next, will face the Toronto Blue Jays, the A.L. “1” seed in a 1/2 seed ALCS. (Milw is the N.L. “1” while L.A. which dispatched “2” seed Philly, is the N.L. “3” but pretty sized series favorites.
It was Bob Costas with superb TV play by play and briefly, fine analyst, Tony Kubek on the call. Both Toronto and L.A. series favorites then and now, these forty years later, took (2-0) series leads at home, but lost to the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals respectively.
It was the far better known for his defensive prowess as a catcher, Jim Sundberg who “rung” that 3R2B and slid home just safe in K.C.’s famed #6 World Series win 10 days later. They then eased to win it all in game 7 at home, vs the Cards.
The Las Vegas Aces swept a first best of seven WNBA final series, (wrapping it in Phoenix vs the Mercury last night) that hardly registered, even with me a WNBA backer.
First of all, kudos to the Aces who won their third crown in four seasons, and their superb player, A’ja Wilson the final round MVP and both a champion and reg MVP for a third time in 4 seasons, something only the great Bill Russell accomplished in either WNBA or NBA annals.
Yet going vs the all powerful NFL and even long faded baseball, who watched and it was a sweep which had the Aces opponent been the top seed Lynx, almost surely would not have manifested.
A’ja Wilson, pictured above.
This is the sixth post-season clash between the L.A. Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies and the first such in a “div” series.
However, this is the fourth best of five entity, as their ’77,’78 and ’83 NLCS series were best of five, as is this one, which defending champion L.A. leads 2 games to 1, after the Phils were one of three teams to win must games yesterday.
The Detroit Tigers at home vs “Sea” (the Mariners) forced a decisive Friday tilt while the Cubs, also at home, get another “at Wrigley” tilt tonight, trailing 2 games to 1, vs the team which had baseball’s best “reg,” a nowhere near great (97-65), the Milwaukee Brewers.
One series ended with the Toronto Blue Jays advancing to their first ALCS since 2016 and eighth all-time, (2-5) in such, winning game 4 at Yankee Stadium vs the Yankees, whose history will remain baseball’s best, perhaps, for as long as the great, but largely ruined game is played, now for the first time, have just one title in any 25 completed or seasons period, time frame.
27 time World champions with 60 post-season appearances, that has those #’s, 9 and 11 in its math.
Back to L.A./Phil–all six series the ’08 and ’09 NLCS being best of 7 and eventually Philly’s in 5, stood/stand (2-1). The Previous 5 ended or “stood” (3-1), an occurrence L.A. hopes manifests today, in game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
The best, by far most compelling Phils/Dodgers “clash for advance,” though others with names such as Manny Mota, Vic Davalillo, Bill Russell, Gary Matthews and others provided “moments,” was the “reg” finale when the Phils up 1 game in the standings, won (4-1) in 10 innings at the Brooklyn Dodgers, to clinch the ’50 N.L. Pennant.
Above, click to view and hear what seems real play by play and excellent such, from Phils broadcaster Gene Kelly.
First view Rich Ashburn, an excellent and actual Hall of Fame player, sans a good throwing arm, easily nab Cal Abrams at home to keep the game going.
Next T/10 and I recall Dodgers rooter “Hockey” Bob Loebman recounting his meeting with Dick Sisler whose 3RHR and subsequent completion of the 10 innings tilt by the great pitcher, Robin Roberts gave the Phils just their second pennant.
He described Sisler as a tall, good looking man, the son of the truly great player, George Sisler and said to Dick, the homer was not hit very far and perhaps said it in a more disparaging, yet not too rude manner (manners, rude, oh my recall, a curse Mr. Cotten?).
“You had to buy a ticket to catch it” was Mr. Sisler’s apt reply. It was such a great game when there were true pennant, even “had to finish first” division races.
Three of the four baseball, best of five, division series yielded (2-0) leads/deficits.
In the N.L. , a third entity with the league pennant at stake between L.A. and Milwaukee is very likely, as both the Dodgers (5-3 down (3-0) in game 1 and holding on barely up (4-0), (4-3) in #2) and Brewers (up (9-1) in a game 1 (9-3) “ease” and (7-3) down (3-0) in #2), have (2-0) series leads.
L.A. won the first two at Philadelphia vs the Phillies while “Milw” tamed the Cubs in 2 home games.
In 1959, a best of 3 playoff, (technically regular season games), after the teams finished the “reg” tied manifested, in the L.A. Dodgers (in their second year after moving from Brooklyn, New York), winning 2 straight from the then Milwaukee Braves, who moved to Atlanta and began play there seven years later.
In 2018, the Dodgers in an NLCS, not “over the air’d” by Fox Network, (same this year, no matter the opponents), won in 7 vs the Brewers.
Meanwhile in the A.L. , the Toronto Blue Jays, afforded home advantage by virtue of a tiebreaker (having won the season series) routed the Yankees (11-1) and (13-7), up (11-0) in games 1 and 2, but beware the Yankees, who twice in their glorious history (still very good, but not that glorious after winning 4 titles, #’s (23-26) under Joe Torre from (’96-2000)– overcame (2-0) best of 5 series deficits, once after 2 home losses vs the then Oakland A’s in 2001 and in another Francona won/lost, in that case lost, 3 straight within a series vs Cleveland (then Indians) in 2017.
They also lost 3 straight, up (2-0) vs the Seattle Mariners, the last 3 in “Sea,” as there was a 2-3 and not a 2-2-1 format in 1995.
Speaking of “Sea,” they lost #1 in a non Skubal start but won in such in #2 and are (1-1) with Detroit, as the series shifts to Detroit and I believe its threatening weather, late this afternoon.
The ’59 Dodgers, champions in their second L.A. year, juxtaposed with Brooklyn’s vesion, which needed 52, still had some glorious Brooklyn players on the roster, including Carl Furillo, pictured above, who entered the pennant clinching L.A. Coliseum game 2 vs the Milwaukee Braves (that ended a slightly underachieving 4 seasons for a pretty special Braves team that lost the pennant to a Brooklyn clincher vs the Pittsburgh Pirates, that was slightly referenced on the fine, but of course, canceled t.v. show, “Brooklyn Bridge,” in ’56– won it all in ’57 and dissipated a (3-1) W.S. lead, losing the last 2 at home vs the Yankees in ’58, (about 36 thousand attended in a still there edifice, which seats 90 thousand or so but oh how the Dodgers have “drawn” in their L.A. years) as a pinch hitter, went 2 for 2 including the pennant winning hit in the 12th inning, snapping a (5=5) tie.
The ’72 undefeated (17-0) Miami Dolphins (remember the (15-2), (15-1) in games that mattered, ’73 ‘Phins were in many people’s opinion, including many that great team’s players and mine, better) can, if they still do, get together and celebrate another season which will end with them the only undefeated NFL champion.
After (3-2) Denver (Broncos) “early gamed” the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles their first loss, at night, the New England Patriots, now (3-2) upset the Buffalo Bills, leaving no unbeaten NFL teams with still one game left in the 2025 NFL season’s fifth week.
By far it was the 2007 Patriots, who joined the ’72 Dolphins as “reg” season unbeatens, (Miami was (14-0), New England (16-0), that came closest to matching/surely topping the ’72 Phins, however, the New York Giants, a franchise that derailed one the two other NFL “reg” unbeatens, the 1934 Chicago Bears, ’34 Bears “reg’d” (13-0), another great Bears team the ’42 version and 2 time champions were (11-0) in the reg but denied by Wash in the title tilt) won the Super Bowl match, leaving “N.E.” (18-1) and in the third year of no crowns after winning 3 in 4 seasons.
The great Bronko Nagurski, a member of many great Chicago Bears teams, including title game winning ones in 1933 (year of the first NFL Title game, before that there were “reg” unbeatens, who did not have to play in a title game), and 1943 is pictured above.
Going “current,” next week it is Chi/Wash, with last season’s “Wash” “Hail Mary Game” win vs Chicago, a if not the key game in each team’s season–Wash being successful and not so ‘por’ Chi.
Evoking Diana Ross’ great “Touch Me In The Morning,” “Wasn’t it yesterday,” that I noted the sweeps past in the 3 previous years of a 12/8 baseball tournament round?!
Three of the four teams, down (1-0) first the Guardians at home vs the Tigers, next the Padres at Chi vs the Cubs and then the Yankees at home vs the Red Sox forced Yom Kippur day, decisive third games, the Yankees/Boston tilt on the 47 year anniversary of the Yankees 1 game playoff/163rd game win at Boston’s Fenway Park in 1978.
In yesterday’s final tilt, defending champion L.A. Dodgers trailed (2-0) but again doubled the Reds (10-5 in #1 and (8-4 ) last night and will now face the N.L. “2” seed, Philadelphia Phillies in what seems a compelling best of 5 “div” series, beginning in Philly on Saturday.
The “Francona thing” did manifest again as now 18 of his 20 post-season series resulted either in sweeps, some at most 3 in one game entities where such was assured or either his team or opponent winning at least 3 straight games within the series.
2 minutes in “Wasn’t It Yesterday (Bell?!!!) as all 3 “series squarers” never trailed in what were at least fairly competitive tilts.
Let’s start on this day of scheduled #2’s in the 12/8 baseball tournament round with the fact ten of the twelve such best of three/12/8 ‘offs series ended in 2 games with the game 1 winner advancing all twelve times.
Furthermore or “Furthermore to that”which Isabel Sanford’s character invoked to Sidney Poitier’s in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” all sixteen non covid year best of 3 series went to the #1 winner.
All four and then the last ‘off or technically an extra regular season game (just1when Houston beat L.A. in ’80) involved the Dodgers, two best of 3’s while in Brooklyn (losses to the Cards in ’46 and famously to Bobby Thomson’s game ending home run in ’51) and two in L.A. (a 2 straight win vs the Braves in ’59 but another excruciating last inning, this time at home in L.A. on another October 3rd, 11 years after Thomson or what might be “A.T.” now year 74).
Again the #1 winner won all four and 16 of 16 non covid years and (22-8) all-time counting 2020 ‘el’ Covid year.
Tito Francona, the Reds manager is in a twentieth post season entity and 17 of the previous 19 manifested either in sweeps-{some automatic as they were one game} or either a Francona team win or loss skein of at least 3 games within the series, one and the only in baseball annals, 4 straight.
Defending champion, L.A. (Dodgers) are a pretty big favorite to make it 18 of 20 on that esoteric note, having doubled Francona’s Reds (10-5) in #1.
Best 2’s of 3’s have been bad for the game 1 losing team as noted above.
Enjoy the great song.
Six teams entered Pro Football’s fourth week with undefeated, (3-0) marks and a mere two won, to raise their respective records to (4-0).
Only the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, who beat now (3-1) Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) and the (0-4) in Supes, Buffalo Bills, who won by less than the over 2 touchdown perceived margin, vs the (0-4) New Orleans Saints, are (4-0).
Three other games manifested in a (3-0) team losing, one being the Jax Dart debut/first TD/pretty good performance, as the (1-3) N.Y. Giants upset the L.A. Chargers.
Next Dart an Ole Miss player, goes to New Orleans, hoping his Giants can duplicate the (5-0) Ole Miss
(Ole Miss won last week)
home win vs New Orleans related, now (4-1) L.S. U. on Saturday past. (Remember 12 in the college football ‘offs).
The other 2: The Rams now (3-1) by 7 on a late Matthew Stafford to Tu Tu Atwell (you/”tu” did well, real well, for “certain”), 88 yard first play of the possession, in the last 3 minutes, vs the now (3-1) Indianapolis Colts and (3-1) “Jax” (the Jacksonville Jaguars) upsetting the now (3-1) 49ers.
Both the Rams and Niners, who clash in the next Thursday tilt played at home, while the Giants scored a home win vs the Chargers. Buffalo was at home, Philly won at T.B. and there was a rare NFL tie, surely the first in NFL annals with a forty/forty (ode to Chet Forte and always the “reminder”) score, between (2-1-1) Green Bay and (1-2-1) Dallas.
If that had manifested in either the ’66 or ’67 title tilts between the two teams–then overtime, otherwise why not ties and a rare one occurred last night.
Almost surely too late and certainly unfair he was not acclaimed while walking the earth, I still elicit praise for the brilliant, unrecognized Vincent van Gogh, as below, view a Van Gogh tie.
Andy B Sports 