May 11, 1965 a Tuesday then and this year, a Cards at Mets (I almost yielded to the overwhelming technology and typed “@”) game, matched two of the great pitchers of all-time, albeit neither in their prime.
Certainly Warren Spahn, 42 years old and with the fourth year Mets was not, as he and his 358 career victories (62, more than vs any other team, (29 losses) against the Cardinals), with defending World Champion St. Louis, starting Bob Gibson.
Now Gibson, an alumnus of Creighton University (it was around talk by others, regarding Bob’s basketball exploits there, that I finally achieved a picture/”nice Bob Gibson,” however, it and his great pitching/determination is treasured, even if he was not close to always being nice about it) as Lindsey Nelson intoned, was nearing his prime and that night received the Babe Ruth Award from the Baseball Writer’s Of America, from N.Y. chapter president, Leonard Koppett, for his outstanding (2-1) including the #5 and 7 wins pitching, in the most recent World Series, as Nelson eloquently stated, “in competition with the New York Yankees.”
Gibson entered the 5-11-1965 tilt with a (5-0) record and 3 shutouts, for a Cards’ team, that was off to a disappointing start, in what would be a disappointing season. Their “MacArthur vow,” if they took one, manifested, as they “returned” to pennant winning glory in both ’67 and ’68 and title winning such in 1967.
At that point, Gibson had a (7-2) lifetime record vs the Mets, the same as his eventual career World Series mark. (Bob lost his first and last World Series starts with Mel Stottlemyre and Mickey Lolich, the latter in #7/’68 W.S. gaining victories) but in between, won 7 straight World Series starts/decisions, as one of the Fall Classic’s all-time great performers.
Both his losses to the Mets, at that May 11, 1965 “point in time,” were by (1-0) scores, each to Al Jackson.
The great, great pitcher Warren Spahn, pictured above, and I once discussed the relative greatness of he and Sandy Koufax.
He was standing near a wall at an event and first I remarked that it was a disgrace that people did not know him.
Less diplomatic but politely and clearly extolling Mr. Spahn’s greatness, I told him that my favorite Sandy Koufax was better.
I knew what he would say and I said it first. Spahn won 363 games, sadly for all of us as Sandy’s career was cut short, 198 more than Sandy won.
Next a “reporter,” (likely no worse than those who succeed today) “Sam” Marciano, approached Mr. Spahn and clearly knew “nada” about him.
Both Mr. Spahn and I knew it was so typically sad of current media and society, so far removed and opposite (virtually polar) of the greatness demonstrated by the likes of Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax, among a select group of others.
The dust, however, not the disappointment of the recently completed, “hot, same calendar shoe but not you/Andy,” NHL and NBA ‘offs, has cleared. Some predominantly “nowhere else’ notes will follow.
I forgot the great “Roy’s” birthday and also I believe late, is the Taco Bell prize (a free taco) afforded by “Suns led at half/Bucks win,” which also paid 5 to1, in the Milwaukee title clincher, on “Human on the Moon” Day.
This is the first time in 74 possibilities (1947-2021 with no NHL season in ’05 that the NHL final ended in 5 games, the NBA such entity in 6 games, with both titles being clinched by the home team.
Five previous times, the NHL final ended in 5 and the NBA in 6, however, not with both titles being clinched by home teams.
For the record it last happened in “same calendar/Suns also lose the final in 6 ’93” (sadly, a difference from that year is that the Canadiens won the final then and of course were 5’d by repeat champion Tampa Bay (Lightning) this time) when the Habs won at home in 5 but it was the road Bulls, riding Mr. Jordan’s “push off?/certainly ought to have been “sign off and out” shot, prevailing in 6 at Phoenix.
Before that it was in ’86 when the still glory teams, the Canadiens in a road 5th and a great, 1 loss at home all year “reg” and none in the ‘offs, Celtics teams won, to this point, their penultimate titles. Boston did so in a home 6th game.
The year before and also in ’81 and ’63, respectively, while the Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders and yes the Toronto Maple Leafs (thinking 54 years would be, as it was for the New York Rangers in ’94, their magic and also that their last Cup winning team captain, George Armstrong had died. Also Alex Trebek, better known by an exponential margin, for something else, the Cup film narrator in that ’67 season also had died, all led to “too much” on Toronto and no Habs as a playoffs winning “appetizer” and eventually a “bitter meal’) each won their second straight NHL crown in a home 5th, however the ’85 Lakers, and ’81 and ’63 Celtics won their titles in road 6th games.
Finally, at least for now, this was the first time since 2013 when both the Chicago Blackhawks and Miami Heat also went (16-7) to title, that both the NHL and NBA champion had the same ‘offs records. (Both the Lightning and Bucks went (16-7).
Recently I had a thoroughly enjoyable “streaming” experience, viewing the “over the top,” humorous and also poignant reminders of redemption, expressed in “Judgment Day,” written by Rob Ulin.
Jason Alexander as “Sammy Campo,” an exponential George Costanza, (Jason makes it happen with range that reveals “Sammy,”) heads a great cast, which includes Patti LuPone, Santino Fontana and Michael McKean.
This presentation, again another superb one, my “night before” foray into Ayn Rand with “The Disciple” and my own “sentimentality,” has made my head spin, but also expanded my horizons.
“Judgment Day” (see link below) gave me humorous pleasure and some life lessons, in a most entertaining fashion.
The entire cast was excellent. Matthew Penn is the director.
I should not have to remind you as one ought to always “stay” for the credits (in streaming, there really is no excuse, not to) but here’s one, as this presentation “rewards” you for doing so!
Clockwise, starting in the upper left Jason Alexander, Patti LuPone, Michael McKean (lower right) and Santino Fontana are pictured.
I highly recommend seeing “Judgment Day.” Click below to purchase tickets.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT WWW.STELLARTICKETS.COM
“The Disciple,” brilliantly written and directed by Rachel Carey (Ayn Rand’s guide to love and relationships) and playing at “The Wild Project,” (195 East Third Street), is a thoroughly entertaining, humorous and also eye opening look, at Rand’s thoughts.
Maja Wampuszyc as Ayn Rand and Cameron Darwin Bossert as Nathaniel Brandon, “light it up,” as they so effectively portray the complicated intellectual, emotional and sexual relationship between the two.
A seduction scene, thought out and written so well by Rachel Carey, includes a classic retort, as the two are in the midst of passion.
Both the scene and play are unforgettable and as I told Mr. Bossert, who I saw both before and after, well worth the wait, with on and off air conditioning, in my car, on the dangerously hot, humid yesterday.
Maja Wampuszyc, pictured above.
For more information on The Wild Project, please click below. “The Disciple” will be staged through Sunday July 25th and I strongly recommend purchasing tickets to this wonderful performance.
The wild project – thewildproject
Giannis Antetokounmpo tied Bob Pettit’s record, hitting for 50 points in a title clinching, (105-98) Bucks’ game 6 home win, “undering,” covering and all spread teasing, the Phoenix Suns, now (0-3 in final round play, all 6 game series losses), lifting the Bucks to their second NBA crown, 50 years after their first.
The B’s include the two time NHL champion “B”ay Lightning, (Tom) “B”rady and the “B”ay “B”uccaneers, “B”ama in college pig, “B”aylor in college hoop, 16 to 1 just to be nominated Joe “B”iden and now the “B”ucks.
Add “B”AD “B”reen research yet that Mike gets the mike. He read off the 50 point final scorers but did not know/research and yet gets away with not knowing Bob Pettit had 50 in the Hawks of St. Louis’ #6 series clincher vs the great Boston Celtics 63 years ago.
Milwaukee had never won a title series with a home clinching win as the two previous titles, the Braves, now in Atlanta and there since ’66, winning at the Yankees in ’57 and the Bucks completing their title round sweep at the Baltimore Bullets in ’71. That series ended on April 30th, this 10 days shy of 3 months later on July 20th.
Milwaukee teams are now (3-7) with a chance to clinch a title series while Arizona teams slip to (1-3) in final series and were down (3-2) in all four, winning the Diamondbacks did in the ’01 W.S. but losing a road 6th for the first time in as many possibilities.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, pictured above.
Tonight in game 6 at Milwaukee, the home team Bucks will attempt to win their second crown and first in 50 years.
This is the NBA’s 75th season and its 75th best of 7 final round entity.
In 47 previous game 6’s, the team leading (3-2) won the title in game 6, 28 times, doing so 14 times vs just 4 losses at home. The (3-2) leader also claimed a 6 game series title 13 times on the road and once, last year in an Orlando, Florida, “bubble.”
The NBA final has gone to a 7th game 19 times, 15 after a home team win. In ’69, ’78, and ’16 the Celts, Bullets and Cavs followed a #6 home win with a game 7 road win.
Five times in the 30 or so seasons of a 2-3-2 final round format, (clearly ’85-2013 and ’55, maybe a # of others?) a team trailing the series (3-2) won both games 6 and 7 at home to win the crown (’55 Syracuse Nationals, in the lone all home 7 game NBA final, ’88 and ’10 Lakers, ’94 Rockets and ’13 Heat doing so).
No road team ever won in the 7 game 7’s, in the 2-3-2 format, two 5 time champion franchise and location champions prevailing in #7 after a home #6 loss, the ’54 Minneapolis Lakers to win a third straight and 5th title in 6 seasons and the ’05 Spurs (their 3rd crown in 7seasons in what would be 4 in 9 and 5 in 15 seasons).
Only the ’62 Celtics accomplished what the (3-2) trailing Phoenix Suns hope to, namely win #6 on the road and #7 of the final at home. The ’74 Celtics won #7 vs the Bucks, who had won a road 6th game.
JRUE HOLIDAY hit for 27 points and made the key play stealing the ball from Devon Booker (he had a second straight 40 or more points game in defeat) and feeding Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 points, however 3 free throw misses in as many attempts, which easily, in the fine line world period and especially sports, could have made him a big negative) for a dunk, that put the Bucks up (122-119) in an eventual (123-119) win (WAY) “over” Phoenix (Suns) in game 5, that gives them a (3-2) final round advantage.
Milwaukee is a 5 point favorite in game 6, in which a win would give them a second title, 50 years after the only one, to this point.
Khris Middleton had 29 points, in what I believe and am almost certain, was the first NBA Final Saturday night game since at least 1964.
Again, without certainty, however, to my knowledge and in all likelihood, only two teams, the 1962 Celtics, who went on to “7” the Lakers and win the fourth of what was to be eight straight crowns and the ’74 Bucks (the last Bucks’ final “app” before this one), who won that game on Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s long baseline hook shot, but lost the Mother’s Day 7th to the Celts, have accomplished what the Suns seek to do this upcoming Tuesday, namely win a road 6th game, to force a home 7th, something impossible to do in the 2-3-2 format (I always of think of the great K.C. Jones, regarding his distaste for that format, which was in effect from ’85- 2014). It also was used a number of times before then.
Jrue Holiday, pictured above, while still a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Dick Tidrow, who died in the past week at only 74, deserved both a better fate and more praise for his baseball accomplishments.
I will both cite his achievements and in this perhaps inappropriate place, RAIL vs the media, that is so bad as to not credit nor know history and continually “blowhard” what is not only nonsensical, but also truly offensive.
Mr. Tidrow, a fine essentially relief pitcher, helped the New York Yankees win 3 consecutive pennants and 2 consecutive titles from (’76-’78).
Later, he was instrumental in securing for the eventual 3 straight alternate/even year, title winning, San Francisco Giants (’10,’12, ’14) incredible pitching, as that of Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and I believe Tim Lincecum (also others).
In disgraceful fashion, Mike Greenberg, another of the opinionated, knows little, organisms that the monolith/ESPN allows to run wild amidst the polluted (as is the earth because of such as ESPN) “jungle” of sports, did not know it was the great Oscar Robertson, sitting next to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, during #4, of the current, ridiculously, drawn out, NBA final.
Next, Stephen A. Smith, properly ripped to shreds, by Phil Mushnick, in a) a column per Phil’s right, but “RIGHT,” before Smith’s subsequent remarks and b) a blight on society, second only to Trump among the many recent “candidates,” put down Mr. Ohtani.
Rather than repeat or comment on it, I once again channel and evoke, of course with “license,” but willing to bet he would agree, Dr. Martin Luther King.
I believe that great man aware of 2021 and that since his death 53 years earlier, while assessing the still too slow “progress,” regarding those persecuted, would say “NOT dream, but NIGHTMARE, as Smith, who thinks the fact he endured eating tuna sandwiches before he attained sickening wealth, qualifies as suffering, fueled the fire, against already persecuted people.
The shame of what ESPN and face it, many if not all the others do in the name of 24 hour “news,” is something, as Mr. Mushnick once brilliantly wrote concerning Lou Holtz, (he always an unhinged lunatic and now right wing zealot), when he had “rubbed it in” vs Boston College,” the year before, that the “big guy” (I add the possibility of the “big guy”/ force being a woman or force) is taking “notes” and will eventually act regarding it.
Maybe a veritable David Gordon, instead of booting a field goal that so gloriously, sunk top ranked Notre Dame, a result that among other things manifested in another ESPN disgrace, Hannah Storen (Storm to most of you, a terrenchial downpour of welcome back to America West Arena in Phoenix during the Suns’ last NBA final “app” with the problem being, the game was in Chicago ineptitude, to me, which began ‘cauz daddy was/is Mike Storen. Alas, let’s throw in (I wish away) Rachel Nichols, the daughter in law of the late, great Mike Nichols, as a winy, spoiled, no talent (tell me what does she add?!!) as another ESPN “blight” the Taylor battle (who needs any sideline reporters?!!) an example) clamoring for her Notre Dame as #1, using a national forum in utter cheerleading lack of objectivity, that fortunately went for naught, will “BOOT” out Smith and some, if not all of the pollution.
Do not hold your breath, for at least two reasons. One, maybe we can rid ourselves some day of Smith, as the combination of his throw it against the wall/foot in mouth (lack of) “style” might get him, alas only when the bean counters say, but the hopelessness and real pollution/sick heat/global warming, makes each breath, so precious.
Toward that sentiment, I will try not to let this stuff get me. I look in the mirror, know and acknowledge what I did and did not do. I take responsibility.
However, I do such, adding I would have known and do love “The BIG O,” (Oscar Robertson), but G-d, as cited in the superb, Paul Schrader directed film, “First Reformed,” which features a brilliant Ethan Hawke performance, “is more creative than any of us” and has apparently given me another type, “BIG O,” as in ZERO, at least as far as enjoyment, from my once loved sports and its disseminators of information.
In a tale of two Khris/Chris (es), (Khris Middleton had 40, including the two field goals that broke a 99 all tie, while Chris Paul, still the fave to win the series MVP, had a bad game) the Milwaukee Bucks (menos 5) (109-103) “undering” the Suns, to get ABC/ESPN/Disney a (2-2) final that will go until at least July 20th, the 52nd anniversary of the first man on the moon landing. It seems that journey took less time to complete, than this spread out NBA final (next game Saturday).
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points for the Bucks, while Devon Booker, who had none of those ridiculous valued “3’s,” joined Antetokounmpo (#2 in this) and Jerry (West) (#7/’69), as 42 point scorers, in a losing NBA final tilt.
I tuned in 99 all, Middleton had hit to yield that score and he hit after a Booker miss, giving “Milw” a (101-99) lead. “A”n “A”ntetokounmpo block on “Aaton” “a”fter “a”n “a”lley-oop, two Middleton misses (no quotes for alliteration), then a horrible turnover by Paul, manifesting in a Middleton lay in, SERIES EVEN.
Despite the close game, ’twas another in which the spread did not matter and a 4th straight fave cover. Again so few win/no covers in NBA final entities for a good number of years.
The Suns were in both a (5-1) and (1-5) home team record final, while “Milw” was in both a (2-2) and (2-5) home team final. Thus the 4 home team wins in as many tilts in this final, put the home team over .500 (14-13) in the five Bucks or Suns’ final rounds.
Phoenix is a 4 point home fave in the Saturday night (when if ever was there a Saturday night NBA final game ?!!) pivotal game 5.
Andy B Sports 