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.
Today marks the exact 50 year anniversary of the epic first boxing bout, between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, which “Smokin Joe” won in a 15 round decision.
It was a great bout, between a magnificent pugilist and transcendent figure Ali and his best opponent, the “always at you,” hard working, tremendous Frazier.
Electricity was in the air at a great venue, Madison Square Garden that Monday night March 8, 1971. Frank Sinatra was taking photographs and the NBA Knicks who played there, had won the most recent and first of their two NBA titles, another Frazier (Walt) scoring 36 points in the ultimate game, but being denied MVP honors as it went to another great player, Willis Reed, who scored 4 points in that #7/NBA final in 1970.
Just as with the 50/50 Senate vote days back, which does not augur well nor say much about our system, the result 50 years ago tonight was at first and still not a good one for me. However, just as Ali overcame and came back to not only win the next 2 bouts vs again, a man I respect so much, (Joe Frazier) though his win 50 years ago tonight devastated me because I loved Ali, the 50/50 vote, still gets many people, including me, much needed help.
Yet Ali fought too long, took too many blows and both he and Frazier did not live long enough. If we continue to only see things our way and not at least consider the other side, an already bad situation in this “what might have been” country, will get worse.
Then Joe Frazier picked the “exiled” Ali (need I cite what injustice that was!!) up in his vehicle and they “wrapped” hilariously from I guess Philadelphia to New York. This was circa 1970 and they knew the good and bad that would manifest from a bout between the two of them, easily the two best in the world in their violent activity.
Now, perhaps at a designated cloud, part of the HEAVEN complex, a phenomenal vehicle goes through time, emotions and likely possibility, to yield Ali and Frazier’s love and respect for each other. They watch their descendants from above, the earth and despite some progress (some of it clearly no good–witness a blowhard (dis)like S.A. Smith getting the “keys to the kingdom.”) this country still full of the black vs white (God/G-d/force created each and why can they get along on a cookie, but too often, not as human beings?!!) that marketed Joe vs Muhammad. (Of course both Joe and Muhammad are/were Black but most marketing feasts on the every “Tom”/Dick and Harry approach that along with our indifference allows their “dumbing down” and methodically draws us to buy both their product and their “B.S.”)
In truth, as with all of us, each man had flaws. I will always love Ali and also love the deep down, largely hidden respect, if not love, he had for Frazier. I hope there are no impoverished/unfortunate in heaven, but if there are, Ali and Frazier will pay a visit and help a bit, just as I believe they did on that car ride, now so long ago.
Again a dream in which I need to get some place, however, am not able to do so. In this case it is too late and I am too tired to drive home.
Thus I ask “B.D.” if I can stay over, he retorts what do you mean “WE?” There is no we, that is one REAL problem, a major, seemingly timeless one (the loneliest #).
Somehow, I am in the elevator and among those there is the great player and basketball expert, Jerry West.
Though I have trouble getting a shoe or a sneaker on, I enter a small gathering, I guess of the Lakers. (In real life after I saw a less than 10 year old Jeannie Buss with her aunt, in the Forum parking lot, her dad Dr. Jerry Buss arriving soon after with a beautiful woman on his arm and in a limousine, said “come on in” to me as I was able to attend the Lakers’ title winning party that Sunday May 18, 1980).
Back to the dream, another Lakers’ great Michael Cooper is sitting at a far table, drinking soda, while I see no great place to sit. Once “Coop” said to Angela and me in an interview we did, that she and I would get married on the next May 18th. He actually evoked Pat Riley, adding a “guarantee.”
Somehow he was a BIT prescient as Angela married another on May 19th, two plus years later. Soon it will 30 years after that date.
Angela, who knows how angry my mother was in her dream after she died–betrayed by a half brother, his controlling, evil wife and a system that allowed a nursing home, Schnurmacher in White Plains, New York, coincidentally with the much admired by me, Mario Cuomo’s endorsement in view–(of Cuomos, both of whom this Andrew supports, and nursing homes. We can not afford to lose Andrew but a “dream” and even it would not make up for it, would be for Cuomo, the current and alive governor, to denounce Schnurmacher and the laws that abuse the elderly and help change them. Let some good come of this, but of course, I have no power and no real “forum,” not exactly a “fabulous” situation), espoused some views 180 degrees apart from mine days back. Sure it likely would not have “gone great distance,” however, she is still my friend.
On we go, a vaccine today, no return calls from some women I truly admire and in that vein, this “women would have done better/”no is no” evolved, so often rejected (by women) guy, calls for common sense in the current movement, in the hope of change for the better regarding all those less fortunate and victims of injustice (that surely includes me, owed 10 K’s by various people and shunned/rejected/ignored by some others).
Alas above the somewhat disjointed, raw thoughts and hopes of a dreamer, one who does so with some memory thereof while sleeping and so/too often, while awake!!
Today a classic episode of “What’s My Line?” which aired on December 20, 1953.
Kirk Douglas is the mystery guest.
Panelists are Dorothy Kilgallen, Peter Lind Hayes, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly is the host.
Enjoy watching.
A bit rough these days with certain realizations, however, I opt for the two vaccines, despite fear of feeling bad in the second one’s aftermath.
Earlier “That Girl” on Antenna T.V. (reduced to it, though it was a good show and I shut it right off) is about Marlo Thomas’ “Ann Marie,” (full name, not just her first) hiring a press agent, played by Jesse White, who was intro’d on and as one of the “100 stars” part 3 and for so long was the “Maytag repair man.”
Tonight all about a press agent and that world in the brilliant, written by Ernest Lehman, “Sweet Smell of Success.” It airs on TCM at 8 P.M. Eastern Time. Do not miss it, especially if you have not seen it.
Next, struggling and reading on this thing called a phone/internet, Jerry West is touched by and was close to Kobe Bryant, who of course died just over 13 months ago, a beginning to a very bad span.
Also dead in that crash, people named Altobelli. I was reminded of that fact after also reading that Joe Altobelli, who guided the Orioles to their last crown in ’83 and also as many as Earl Weaver did, died at age 88.
Push hard, stop eating, get out and walk, knowing it is a world in which people do not return calls and care about themselves.
One more and a cessation of complaining. In a Brian Aherne led “Twilight Zone” about an actor “Booth-an actor/assassin’s name if there ever was one–Templeton,” the young, firm director is an actor, who eventually turned great director, Sydney Pollack.
“That’s All Folks.”
The above, a little different than the “Bugs” opening theme video, posted weeks back.
Andy B Sports 