The NHL playoffs started with a post Preakness/NBC, (in that network’s last NHL season in its second stint as U.S. carrier (remember Peter Puck), tilt last night and on this, the exact 50th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens’ comeback win vs “Chi” (Blackhawks) in #6/’71final on CBS, continues with 3 games today and a big streak of consecutive days with ‘offs games ahead. Additionally, teams with no chance at the “for days” CLOSED ‘offs, Calgary and Vancouver will “contest” three meaningless games, in the days ahead.
Meanwhile today is the last day of the NBA regular season. Seven of the 16 cities/regions with 2021 NHL playoffs qualifiers have corresponding NBA teams. Five of those cities/regions’ NBA teams at least qualified for the NBA playoff round. Toronto and Minnesota basketball teams failed, while Boston and Washington (they are NHL first round opponents) face NBA play in round game(s).
Three cities/regions Denver with the President’s Trophy winning Avalanche and the either NBA West 3 or 4 seed Nuggets, New York with the NHL Islanders, 2 or 3 NBA East seed Nets and 5 or 6 East seed Knicks and Miami with the first round home advantage team, Panthers and the Heat have a situation, where they will have both an NHL and NBA team at least as far as the round of 16/prelims in both leagues.
Nowhere else will you see/read that this is the first time in NHL history, in which the three oldest current NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins qualified for the NHL ‘offs while the next three oldest/other 3 “original 6” teams, the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings failed to do so.
One gauge of such is that there is evidence of one of the three 2021 non qualifiers in the NHL playoffs in the years before the “original six” commenced play with 4 playoffs qualifiers in 1941-1942 and continuing with 4 qualifiers as “automatics” (Rabbi/Mr. Harry Goder called the quadratic equation an “automatic” 10 points on the New York Trigonometry Regents, “insisting,” we at least got those points) through 1974.
In the 45 seasons (from 1975-2020 with no NHL season in 2005), with such a possibility, it never manifested that the Habs, Leafs and Bruins qualified for Cup play while the Rangers, Blackhawks and Red Wings did not.
Notably, toward that end, the Red Wings “took care” of 25 consecutive such seasons with playoff appearances from (1991-2016).
I am trying hard not to criticize or to get aggravated by what passes for talent on the airwaves. It is not important, save the fact I failed to do so or anything else .
Yet, I must object strongly to the selection of Mike Breen and Michael Wilbon to The Basketball Hall of Fame.
Each either started (in Breen’s case with Don Imus) or continues to give strong, ridiculous, often factually incorrect opinions (Wilbon is on some show on the monolith, ESPN).
That does not make them Hall of Fame people. I feel it and especially, their at best, mediocre work keeps them far from greatness.
So help me, the great broadcaster, Marty Glickman kept out of the Basketball Hall for so long, despite being along with Hilliard Gates, the pioneer of basketball broadcasting, thought Breen was adequate as a basketball broadcaster.
Adequate in the Hall of Fame??!1 It is not really important, however consider it another “windmill” going around and each time, it takes more and more dignity away.
Of course, both the excellent actor/producer, Norman Lloyd, who reached 106, 26 more years than another Norman born in 1914 (my father) and Lloyd Price a superb singer/entertainer (he died at age 88) deserve their “own” remembrance, however, in linking the “Lloyds,” I will add the NPR obituaries and if it stays up, a picture of Mr. Price, (he of the friendly, classy “PERSONALITY”) and me.
Maybe as in films and imagination, Mr. Lloyd who had to deal with the horrible blacklist but worked with such as Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, is falling, as he did as the horrible criminal in Hitch’s “The Saboteur,” into paradise, where perhaps, Lloyd Price is singing “Personality,” one of his great hits.
Lloyd, on my mind each time I view his name on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” credits, also had a long running role on the critically acclaimed “St. Elsewhere,” among so many other endeavors.
Price knew the score regarding race and opportunities, as you will read in a link below, but as Brook Benton intoned in “A Rainy Night in Georgia” knew “it’s life and you have to play the game.” He did it, ahead of his time, even the great Frank Sinatra, in gaining records rights.
Each man/Lloyd left a great legacy. More details on each man’s extraordinary life and career follow in the links below.
Norman Lloyd Dies At 106: The Acting Legend Began His Career
Lloyd Price, Singer And Early Rock Influence, Dies … – npr.org
The great Norman Lloyd, pictured above.
Left to right, the great Lloyd Price and Andy B.
It is now official, the Toronto Maple Leafs will meet the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the upcoming NHL playoffs.
This will be the 16th post-season clash between the teams. Incredibly, the winner of the previous 15 post-season clashes between the NHL’s two oldest franchises, won the title.
Two of the meetings were so long ago that the winner was determined by “most goals scored.” Toronto won that type in 1918, Montreal doing so in 1925.
7 of the previous 15 playoffs meetings between the teams were in the final (the two cited above, as well as, ’47, ’51 ’59, ’60 and ’67), ergo, the winner automatically won the title.
Yet, the stat is still incredible, as in the other 8 previous Tor/MTL ‘offs clashes, (all but the ’79 quarter, being in the semis. Remember the NHL was a great 6 team league for many years, (’42-’67), the winner took the Stanley Cup crown.
Montreal won the semi vs Toronto and the title in ’44, ’65, ’66 and ’78. They also won the crown after a quarterfinal series win vs Toronto, in 1979. That was the most recent Montreal/Toronto playoffs battle.
Toronto won the semi-final vs Montreal and the title in ’45, ’49, ’63 and ’64.
The Leafs have a (3-2) edge in best of 7 final round play vs the Habs and a (4-3) all-time final round advantage.
Toronto won the final vs Montreal in ’47, ’51 and in ’67. The Leafs’ title in ’67, came in their most recent final round appearance.
This will be a round of 16 matchup.
The great Leafs’ broadcaster, Foster Hewitt pictured above. Do not worry, we will give “equal time,” to the Canadiens’ great in that field, Danny Gallivan.
The great broadcaster, Bob Murphy (how fortunate we were to have Lindsey Nelson and Bob, now?) informs the radio audience that Gene Mauch’s Phils got 2 runs/b9 to beat the Houston Colt-45’s. (Mauch, a cast member in the Monte Stratton Story, starring Jimmy Stewart).
Murphy added, while broadcasting the first of 2 between the Giants and Mets on May 5, 1963, that the year before, the expansion Colt-45’s first, the Phillies won 17 of the 18 games played.
I add 18, the Jewish “Chai,” as operative, since 18 years after the Phillies’ dominance vs Houston in ’62, they also prevailed, vs Houston, by then the Astros, but in an NLCS, that ranks among the best, in any sport’s post-season annals.
Philadelphia won that ’80 NLCS, in the maximum 5 games, and went on to win the franchise’s first title.
Meanwhile on May 31, 1977, the superb hitting, once Pittsburgh Pirates catcher, Manny Sanguillen, is the Oakland A’s right fielder, for the 1972 ALCS redux, between the A’s and Detroit Tigers.
Both LCS in ’72 went the maximum 5 games and were decided by one run. Sanguillen was the Pirates’ catcher and speaking of Manny and right field, he, maybe more than anyone beyond family, mourned, when the great Pittsburgh “RF” Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash. That game 5 of the ’72 NLCS was, tragically, Roberto Clemente’s last.
Back to A’s/Tigers in ’77 and more important the ’72 ALCS. On May 31, 1977 the A’s start Vida Blue while Detroit counters with John Hiller, better known as a relief pitcher.
Blue had a number of relief appearances for the A’s in post-season action as that great team, won 3 consecutive World Series from (1972-1974).
The most notable one, was Blue getting the save in the A’s (2-1) win in the decisive 5th game vs Detroit, in that ’72 ALCS.
In game 4, the Tigers staged a 3 run, bottom 10 rally to (4-3) Oakland in game 4, forcing that decisive 5th game. John Hiller was in that game as a relief pitcher and became the winning pitcher after the Tigers’ rally.
Manny Sanguillen, pictured above.
I add that Tony Taylor got the big hit as the Phils rallied to win that doubleheader opener on May5, 1963.
Nine years later Vida got Tony to fly to George Hendrick in center field to clinch the A’s franchise’s first pennant in 41 years, when another great A’s team won its third straight, mind you beating out the Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig/other greats New York Yankees.
Starting with the 1941 NHL playoffs, there were 16 such with increments of 5 contested and all but one (the 1961 title won by the Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall led Blackhawks) were captured by a team, that will be in the 2021 ‘offs, 80 years later.
The Montreal Canadiens, who once won an incredible 15 titles in 24 seasons (’56-’79), but have only 2 such victories in the 40 completed NHL seasons since (’80-2020, with no NHL season in 2005), won titles/The Stanley Cup in 1946, 1956, 1966, 1971, 1976, and 1986. (The Yankees in “8” years, ’28,’38,’58,’78 and ’98 and Lakers in “0” years, ’50,’80, 2000, 2010, and 2020) match the Habs’ 5 crowns in years ending in 6.
Regarding the other 9 titles in years ending in 1 or 6, thus making them the popular, often cited, multiples of 5 years later, won by 2021 ‘offs participants–the Bruins (the aforementioned ’41 title and one in 2011, 70 years later. They won it on Mr. Orr’s overtime goal in a 4 game sweep in ’70 and that was as is today, (Happy) Mother’s Day to those to whom it applies), Penguins (’91 and 2016) and Avalanche (’96 and 2001) have won 2 each while the Maple Leafs (in ’51 on Bill Barilko’s heroics), Islanders (’81 which was the second of 4 straight titles, which are the only such for the franchise now in its to be 48th completed season) and Hurricanes (’06) have one each.
Bill Barilko, pictured above was a member of all 4 Toronto Maple Leafs’ Cup winning teams in a 5 season period (’47-’51, failing to do so only in ’50).
He scored the title clinching goal in overtime in game 5 vs Montreal.
Tragically, he died in an off season plane crash.
Among other sports results last night, Wade Miley of the Cincinnati Reds “authored”–ode to Bob Murphy) the relatively young baseball season’s 4th no-hitter, the Angels handed the Bill Plaschke proclaimed (I did not need, this, totally “dogged” by me, L.A. slump, to know what a foolish, ridiculous claim he had written. It is sadly, par for the course, in the disgusting, “say anything, see if it sticks,” world of 24 hour news and hype. One such as me, fighting those windmills, in the “glorious quest” for perspective, SUFFERS) “greatest team ever” Dodgers a 14th loss in 18 tilts, while their fellow L.A. defending champion in a cheap, shortened, pandemic influenced season, the Lakers, fell, though covering IN defeat at now 6th place, Portland, to 7th in the NBA West (Oh “little Jeanie” (Buss), how can you not cite Jerry WEST as one of the 5 most important Lakers?!) and at this point, facing the prospect of having to win one of a possible 2 play-in games, just to qualify, in a bid to repeat for a 5th time in franchise history and pass the Celtics for the most NBA crowns.
Miley’s no hitter was the 4th of the last 5 by a Reds’ pitcher to have been hurled on a Friday night (George “Thomas” Seaver, who thrice lost no-hitters in the 9th inning as a Mets’ pitcher, hurled his only no-hitter in ’78, his first full season as a Reds pitcher, Tom Browning “perfect gamed” the Dodgers in ’88, the only full season in which the Dodgers “titled” since Sandy Koufax pitched them to the crown with a Game 7 shutout at Minnesota vs the Twins in the 1965 World Series. On another Thursday 5 weeks earlier, Sandy had pitched a perfect game vs the Cubs, whose starter, Bob Hendley, lost despite a brilliant one hit allowed performance, Homer Bailey’s first of the major league’s 2 consecutive no hitters was also on a Friday in 2012, his second in 2013 was not).
As you read elsewhere and not here, the three previous no-hit games in baseball 2021, all had but one play that kept it from being a perfect game.
The most recent was just 2 days before Miley’s gem, when the Orioles’ John Means’ wild pitch on a strikeout, was the only play to prevent perfection. He did notch the first O’s first one pitcher no-hitter since the great Jim Palmer hurled one in 1969.
Earlier in the season both Joe Musgrove (see my post on 4/10 after his first ever Padres no-hitter on 4/9) and Carlos Rondon (as with Miley, it occurred vs the Cleveland Indians) hit a batter (Rondon in the 9th inning) to mar perfection.
Once (13-2), the Dodgers have lost as cited 14 of 18 (so much for VsIN’s Gill Alexander touting them in general and certainly for suggesting “doubling up,” each game after a loss) tilts, however, they are still the plurality favorites to win it all. They certainly can, but one who went vs the unreal hype, epitomized, frankly, in disgraceful fashion by Plaschke, could have won big.
As for the Lakers, (elsewhere on the L.A. sports scene, the NHL Kings will not be in the ‘offs and by the way all but one of the 16 NHL ‘offs participants are known, yet the season lingers on. UCLA fought gallantly, losing a heartbreaking national semi to Gonzaga, who were then beaten decisively by Baylor in the final. See the “B’s” winning and you will in an upcoming post), they have been hurt by injuries and I believe, will still make the ‘offs (not much of a prediction) and actually, I still think are plurality favorites, to make the NBA Final.
Count out neither the Lakers or Dodgers, but each is considerably lucky to have “partial season titled,” (the Lakers’ title in a far longer “reg,”), but alas, their road to a 17th franchise crown was “paved,” when both Milwaukee and the fellow L.A. team, Clippers, lost before they would have faced the Lakers.
The past 2 months, I have been so entertained and informed each Thursday night, “zooming” into the New York Giants Preservation Society meetings.
Tonight they outdid themselves, as alluded to in an earlier post, we got to sing happy birthday to Willie Mays, as Steve Rothschild made his second such call to Willie and #24 truly enjoyed it.
Leader, a la James Brown of “hard,” (but to him, beyond enjoyable) “work,” Gary Mintz, set the group up with yet another wonderful guest, this one David Krell, a fountain of knowledge and perspective and the author of “1962: Baseball and America in the Time of JFK.”
I can not wait to read this book and will have more regarding it in the days to follow.
It is in the words of Mr. Krell, split between baseball and the rest of what was occurring in this country, in that seminal year.
Interviews with Mary Early, Maury Wills, Don’s daughter Kelly Drysdale and another daughter, Kiki, her father being Buddy Ebsen.
A tip of the veritable iceberg; the book details “Romper Room” sadness, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” an appreciation of “Failsafe” (I have cited Mr. Fonda’s praise of Larry Hagman in that film) and details about 5 baseball teams, the eventual champion Yankees, the N.L. champion Giants, the team that again lost a gut wrenching playoff to the Giants, namely the Dodgers, as well as the first year (40-120) Mets and the Houston Colt-45’s.
As you can see President Kennedy is on the cover and Mr. Krell has true perspective about the juxtaposition of then and now. He proved an articulate, incredibly informative speaker. That and Willie Mays! It was a truly nice day.
![1962: Baseball and America in the Time of JFK by [David Krell]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jsxvHA6jL.jpg)
Click the link below for more information about the book as well, as how to purchase it.
The great, great baseball player, Willie Mays turns 90 years old today.
Certainly Willie is in any discussion as to the greatest player and is pretty clearly the best living player.
The years of 100 rbis and 100 runs scored, the catch, throw, walk and stolen base in the all important NY Giants (I hope to be a part of the fine organization New York Giants Preservation Society singing happy birthday to Willie later today) game 1 win in the ’54 World Series vs the 111 wins Cleveland Indians.
New York (Giants) went on to sweep the favored Indians extending Cleveland’s title drought to 6 years on its way to the current 73 and counting.
It was Willie’s only team title, (1-3) in World Series, sans a home run–one reason Babe Ruth and perhaps others rate ahead of him, however, just about any “eye test,” i.e. watching him hit, run, field, throw and think baseball puts Willie in discussion with any other than Ruth, who remember was also a great pitcher.
Two memories, among many of Willie, one relatively the other totally personal and thus completely obscure.
Galen Cisco starts the first game of a doubleheader, on May 5, 1963 (the day before Willie turned 32, remember the #) and walks Harvey Kuenn (playing third base, what a lineup SF had–as Kuenn, Felipe Alou and Hall of Fame players McCovey, Mays and Cepeda all were at least excellent, if not better in the hitting department) and then Alou before getting “Willie Mc” to pop out to “Choo Choo” Coleman in foul ground.
The great broadcaster Lindsey Nelson notes a “mixed” reception for Mays (he also noted 50, 000 plus turned out 2 days earlier to honor him) and then on a (1-1) pitch, Nelson as brilliant as Michael Kay is bad (“bad” was said on “Follow The Money” as I typed so maybe God/force agrees, yet Kay has most of it, even if his “guy,” fellow bad human being, Guiliani goes down and I have nada) calls Willie’s 373rd career home run, into the Polo Ground’s upper deck.
Last, it was either Stan Gardner or Gerry (sp?) Weinberg, each of whom died far too young within a year (late 1980 and mid 1981) who connected a Spalding rubber ball with the point of the “32” “stoop” of the garden apartment in which I lived in better days, so many years ago.
The ball really GOES, when that happens, however, I raced back, facing the other way, toward the street and grabbed the ball.
Those guys Gerry (sp?) and Stan were adults and we were kids, they always won. They were good to us in any case, and after my catch, each remarked to my dad, sitting and watching, that it evoked memories of Willie in #1/’54 World Series.
It was a great moment! Sadly, repeats of such, have been few and far between.
Happy 90th birthday to the great Willie Mays.
Not only Willie Mays, who is prominently displayed, but note the now unfortunately all gone, Roberto Clemente, Henry Aaron and Mickey Mantle, all such great players, above.
Andy B Sports 