Clearly ahead of his time and a truly classy basketball great, Elgin Baylor, who died at age 86, was one of the sports greatest players, arguably the best forward of all-time.
He was so much more than a still record 61 points in an NBA final round game or the 71 points, he scored in one game, attended by a young then Lew Alcindor, vs the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
I will post what I wrote and read again recently, when Jim McMillian, who replaced Elgin in the Lakers’ starting lineup, died in May 2016.
Elgin made the greatest of his many great moves then, as he retired, opening the door for “Jimmy Mac.”
Despite the great play of Elgin and Jerry West, the Lakers were denied so many times by great Boston Celtics’ teams in NBA final round play.
After Elgin retired, the Lakers reeled off a still major North American sports league record 33 straight wins and eventually won their first L.A. crown.
I loved that Lakers’ team (I stopped rooting for them, or any team, 30 plus years ago) and bought “The Fabulous Lakers,” a fine book, written by Merv Harris.
In it I read that after the title clinching win, Elgin was in the Lakers’ locker room, but not actively participating in the long awaited celebration.
Someone, perhaps, even probably, coach Bill Sharman approached Elgin, reminding him, “you were a part of this also!”
He was and so much more of basketball history. The pendulum has swung so far in favor of the gifted, but who really needs them, players.
I hope they are grateful to the previous greats, such as Elgin Baylor, who again was a big part of what made basketball great, at least back in long ago, “then.”
I cite Elgin’s greatest, of many great “moves” in my tribute to Jim McMillian.
- Remembering Jim McMillian on May 20, 2016
Pictured left to right above, Jamaal Wilkes, who two days earlier hit for 37 points (Earvin “Magic” had 42) as the Lakers won their second L.A. NBA crown, Andy B. and Elgin at the “Victory Party”
Informed I had come from New York and that I “loved” the Lakers, their owner, Dr. Jerry Buss said “sure come on in” to that party.
In life and certainly broadcasting, I was not “let in.” Elgin never quite won a title, but seeing him that day and recalling his greatness and kindness, leaves me a lot better, than if I had not met him.
Somewhat succinct, I start with the up and coming Oakland A’s (Jackson, Rudi, Bando and Campaneris among others are in the lineup) at Boston vs the Red Sox, on June 15, 1969. A human walk on the moon (Had “Blue Moon” Odom arrived on the A’s scene yet?) was 5 weeks away.
Here’s the “STICK IT,” On the superb podcast “Renegades” with Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, Bruce asks how a country that sent a human to the moon could be so deep in and guilty of systemic racism?!!
A superb broadcaster, Ken Coleman asks Johnny Pesky, known more as the Red Sox shortstop, about an aspect of playing third base, which Pesky did and in fact did so in the fateful last two games of the 1949 season when the Yankees won both to win their 15th A.L. Pennant, the first of 5 straight, 14 in 16 seasons with the first 5 also culminating with subsequent World Series wins.
After the third base reference, I think of my interview with Phil Rizzuto, a great and certainly key member of those Yankees’ teams, that I conducted at his charity golf event, not long after the Red Sox ended an 86 year title drought.
Phil assured me he was “cool” with the likes of John Pesky, who was on the field, that title clinching night in St. Louis at age 85, and the Red Sox, finally winning it all.
It was not long after on the referenced June 1969 telecast, that Mr. Pesky cited his old teammate Billy Goodman, Phil Rizzuto and the White Sox’ Nelson Fox, as being superb bat manipulators.
It was also the day of the Father/Son Game that June day at Fenway and Dick “Ducky” Schofield, who was in the 17th of his 19 big league seasons and the Bo Sox shortstop, has a son who impressed in the game.
He is Dick Schofield, who went on to a 13 year big league career, that included a one out hit to right that sent Rob Wilfong (how easily Mr. Wilfong could have been an Angels’ hero that fateful game 5 Sunday afternoon in 1986 at Anaheim!!) to third, as the potential pennant winning run, this after the much discussed and to me Shakespearian/Tragic “all it encompasses,” Dave Henderson 2RHR off Donnie Moore, that transformed the Red Sox situation from being one strike away from a 5 game ALCS loss into a 1 run top, of the 9th lead.
Finally Ken informs the audience that Carl Yastrzemski Jr. who was known as Mike, told him that the man called “Yaz,” his father, the great player, Carl Yastrzemski, was his favorite.
Pesky and Ken Coleman praise his swing. He played in the minor leagues and sadly died at age 43. His son Mike is currently playing for the San Francisco Giants.
Imagine, it is Saturday into Sunday, the coincidences and no children. Those of you who do have children, please, despite any angst or worse, appreciate that you do have them. That goes double regarding parents!!
John Pesky, often called “Mr. Red Sox,” pictured above
There are or will be other notes, other “calendar notes.” However, let’s focus on the positive aspect of Western Kentucky’s regional final win vs Ohio State exactly 50 years ago today and one day after Oral Roberts, with its first (NCAA) “tournie” win in 47 years, eliminated a second seed, Ohio State team.
I made the huge emotional mistake of taking games and their results far too seriously. Another mistake was rooting for Ohio State, more on that another time.
Actually praise is in order for that ’71 Ohio State team which upset an undefeated Marquette team, probably the team with the best if not only chance to topple UCLA, even though it was the second of the two “in between” years at Westwood–after Lew Alcindor, soon to be Kareem Abdul Jabbar and before Bill Walton.
On that Saturday, exactly 50 years ago, I watched I believe Curt Gowdy and maybe Tom Hawkins, call the thrilling Western Kentucky win vs Ohio State.
The very good article below adds great perspective to the accomplishments of that Western Kentucky team.
John Oldham the Western Kentucky coach started his 5 best players. Their skin color did not sway Coach Oldham’s decision. Maybe not a big deal now, but then and in Kentucky!!
Jim McDaniels, pictured above, led that Western Kentucky team.
Click below to read Elliott Pratt’s fine article.
Standing Alone: WKU’s 1971 Final Four team remains in a
Goodness, it is exactly 39 years since a group of us were disqualified on, or out of, a 2355 dollar daily double, on Friday March 19, 1982.
“Animal Schtunk,” one of many who mistreated, then “ghosted” me, is right regarding people being disappointed when told, we did hit for 1200 dollars on that double.
His conversation with my mother is a classic, my mother saying we should have been happy plus 1200, which thanks to him became 800. I correctly wanted to leave, when we got DQ’d.
The worst part is we, my mother and me, were worried about an eventual, very evil aunt, who more than any other is responsible for my mother’s death.
Fifteen years later my mother prayed at my father’s grave, for an uncaring uncle.
Quoting and paraphrasing Bruce Springsteen, shakily confident in karma, wishing me well and that they will see their wrong—“They’re still here, my parents and in many ways me, are all gone!!”
It is an honor to be liked and praised by some great sites, including Thom Hickey’s “The Immortal Jukebox,” others and now noting, “Hilltop Cooking.”
I will check out the highly entertaining and determined, excellent umpire, Perry Barber, who happens to be female, on a Zoom chat in the afternoon.
At night, “zooming” Carl Erskine, a Dodgers’ star pitcher and 94 years old, as The New York Giants Preservation Society keeps the “hits” coming, with “Oisk,” a 2 time, no hit pitcher.
Hilltop Cooking has this picture below. It is tempting to “get personal” with the screen.
Chocolate Crepes With Spiced Pumpkin Butter Filling And Maple Pecan Syrup.
Check out these great sites.
The Immortal Jukebox | A Blog about Music and Popular Culture
New York Giants Preservation Society
The Yankees, having clinched their 25th pennant (it was the first of 5 straight pennants) a week or so earlier in Boston, have won 12 straight games and are opening the final series, a 3 game entity, at home, on September 30, 1960.
33 years earlier on a Sunday Sept 30, the ’60 “version” was on a Friday, Babe Ruth connected off Tom Zachary for his 60th home run, breaking his own record of 59.
A year later in ’61, (the September calendar was shown on a “Twilight Zone” episode last night on MeTV), Roger Maris, who had 39 home runs on that Sept 30 and for the ’60 season, connected off Tracy Stallard, for his 61st home run, breaking the Babe’s record, though notated with an infamous asterisk.
That night in ’60, the great Henry Aaron, who we lost recently (yesterday news the under rated, personable actor, Yaphet Koto passed away) hit his 39th home run vs the eventual ’60 champion, Pittsburgh Pirates, who had already clinched the N.L. Pennant.
Less than 14 years later, as with fellow 39 home runs on Sept. 30, 1960, Roger Maris, Aaron connected vs Al Downing, for his 715th home run, breaking another of Babe Ruth’s great records.
While Ernie Banks led a tight “bigs” Home Run race with 41 in 1960, Mickey Mantle, (pictured above), who would hit 54 such in ’61 (Babe also hit 54 in one season) led the A.L. with 40 in 1960.
Mr. Aaron, praised a great deal by Mickey on a Dick Cavett Show, had 40 HR’s in ’60, teammate Ed Mathews like Maris had 39 while Jim Lemon of the A.L. Senators hit 38 out.
Leave it to the “Bruce Man” to get the last Andrew Cuomo book, regarding his leadership during the now year plus old Covid pandemic and I hope people consider that as the N.Y. Governor is under attack.
I truly liked both his parents, he is OK in my book, but again, sadly since a General “landslided” a progressive intellectual and especially since the (he led us to our own “evil empire,” one of bigotry, rich yess/poor no and other bad, yet unlike the worse Trump, survives, even flourishes in history. What an ACT!) Actor/violator of human rights (see the Blacklist and all its evil), Reegan (as called in “Anne Hall” This country denies Woody Allen but “Teflon” Reagan goes on and on. That alone makes me sick!!)–we of progressive beliefs are playing defense/lesser of evils.
Andrew Cuomo is minimum, “a lesser of evils,” surely Al Franken is/was and neither “grabbed,” nor advocated doing so, at least not in that most private area, unlike, the disgusting Trump.
Enough, except greedy major league baseball under the not so eloquent (see his speech when Henry died), Rob Manfred, wants to cut minor league baseball.
I say boycott “reg” baseball until at least July, in protest. You will not!
That is why the wild card stays, Pete is not in the Hall and you care if your team wins in a season that can never produce the drama that historic home runs in true entity races (no wild card, no safety net!!) by Bobby Thomson, Russell “Bucky” Dent, Gabby Hartnett (a rhyme to calm me) and Dick Sisler among others, produced.
True, I had no real way to again contact the greatest of the great pure play by play broadcasters, Joe Tait, who died yesterday at age 83, but again that horrible feeling of waiting too long and being stuck in the “nowheresville,” that is my life, has sounded another grim reminder.
On another day, I will fight back against the so much that is wrong–today let me try to express what listening to a master like Joe Tait BROADCAST a game (never anybody better on basketball play by play and he was tremendous doing baseball as well) meant/means to me. Maybe those thoughts can take me to a better place.
Before that, perhaps I could add that Joe Tait, while unable and perhaps rightfully unwilling to push a button for me to give me a chance, was always kind and willing to take the time to speak with me.
After he heard my tape of a game I “play by played” from the “stands” at Madison Square Garden, he remarked how I was very good, but of course had to start some place distant or at least other than MSG, unless I had some very good connections.
It is/was the lack of connections and the fact, the cold hard one, I did not NEED broadcasting and so often did nothing that leaves me so empty and unfulfilled in sharp juxtaposition to so many less talented and often bad people, who flourish today.
Yet and rightfully so let this be about Joe and while I liked the Cavs and Indians, I loved Joe Tait’s broadcasts so much that I tuned in to the often virtually meaningless games each team played.
The last time I spoke to Joe, I played a bit of he and Herb Score, another wonderful man, who just might be greeting Joe right now, broadcasting an Indians/Tigers tilt and Mr. Tait truly enjoyed listening. He mentioned that his daughter could help him navigate the internet and enable him to listen.
If that manifested then I did something important in helping another and in that last conversation Joe Tait talked of how many things and deeds were more meaningful than being a broadcaster, even a great one.
Joe Tait was certainly way more than a great broadcaster, however that tangible if I can find them, of his broadcasts much like great art of any kind, will help with the intangibles of feelings as I suffer the loss of a remarkable man.
I sure as hell am no Beethoven, but this tribute surely is “UNFINISHED.”
A year later, I suppose it is good that there will be an NCAA Basketball Tournament. Of course, last year, it was cancelled.
This time around, perennial power, Duke was relegated to a first round, Tuesday game in the ACC Tournament. The 24 year streak of Notre Dame making the tournament is in jeopardy while Gonzaga, going undefeated in its regular season and conference tournament games is impressive, it does augur well for them in the upcoming tournament.
It will all be played in and around Indianapolis and the first big day of 16 games will be Friday March 19th and the following Monday will have 8 games, meaning 3 not 2 weekdays full of action.
Alas it once was glorious, now at best it is “action,” and it is not even that.
Andy B Sports 