I often listened to Tom Brady on Monday mornings, especially after the rare New England loss and knew of his dedication. Adding Mr. Brady and his winning a 7th crown, one more than the # of children in the TV sitcom, blended, Brady family, and his 5th Supe MVP (Devin White and the Todd Bowles coordinated Bucs defense anyone? They held the mighty Mahomes and K.C. without a touchdown!!) Tampa Bay (2-0) in Supes and plus 50 points in the 2, (Green Bay was plus 44 in the first two Supes) ripped the defending champion, Chiefs, (31-9) in a home, (of sorts), Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
They were helped by penalties, but truly dominated the tilt. Brady threw 3 touchdown passes, the first two to his former New England teammate, Rob Gronkowski.
Two excellent players, denied by Brady and New England in AFC title tilts past, Antonio Brown, who gathered in Brady’s short TD pass in the waning seconds of the first half after Reid foolishly called a timeout and Leonard Fournette, scored the other Bucs’ TD.
“Toe” Succop (first name, Ryan and get this, the final pick of the entire 2009 NFL Draft, having been selected by the Chiefs) added a 52 yard field to make it (31-9) T.B. The Bucs trailed (3-0) led (14-3), (14-6) (21-6) at half, (21-9) and cruised (31-9).
A title for 68 year old Bruce Arians, the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl.
What a run by Tampa Bay, as they join the ’05 Steelers, ’07 Giants and 2010Packers as Supe winners, after3 road playoff wins. The Buccaneers won their last 8 games, covering 7. By contrast K.C. covered in just one of their last 11 games.
Brady is among the three to five greatest in any sport, but the MVP could have/ought to have gone to White or just the Bucs’ defense. Hail Tom and I am fine with it.
Tom Brady, THE Winner and he HAS it all!
“The hills,” which as nature, endure long before and after us, seem disproportionately not “alive,” but of significant people’s deaths of late, Christopher Plummer, a superb actor, certainly fitting that category, having died days back, at age 92.
Mr. Plummer was certainly not enamored of his “hills are alive” Sound of Music,” iconic role, but if nothing else, he was aware of its help in his “vault,” as though it were some great (fiber glass?) pole.
Thank goodness, he not only entertained us in “Sound” with the fabulous Julie Andrews, his friend, but that he went on to give so many great performances on stage and screen.
He epitomized class and eloquence. Where has it gone?!
Roles in the Ron Howard directed “A Beautiful Mind” and not long ago, “Knives Out” helped round out a tremendous career in film.
On stage, so many and so many from history.
I close with this from the obituary written by Nardine Saad in the Los Angeles Times newspaper. (Remember them?) This concerns his role as John Barrymore and sums his brilliance, rather well.
“Back on stage, Plummer continued his tour de force performance as actor John Barrymore in William Luce’s 1998 biographical play. Barrymore’s widow came to see the play twice and said she “closed her eyes and heard him.”
“That was the nicest thing anyone could possibly say,” Plummer recalled in a Times interview.”
The superb actor, Christopher Plummer, pictured above.
Joe Buck, who has been the lead television announcer on every World Series this century, accounting for his record breaking 21 consecutive “such,” is not the only “son of a” (do not like either, but the words are) FAMOUS FATHER, to succeed wildly beyond, what I opine, as remotely fair, witness Kevin Harlan.
In fact just listen today as Harlan the son of “Pack” long time executive, Bob Harlan, calls his record breaking 12th consecutive Supe on radio (Westwood One) breaking a record, if today he is breaking it, that he shared with Joe’s entree, his father Jack Buck. (I know Jack Buck had a long streak of radio-ing Supes, (he also TV’d the Chiefs first Supe win, with Joe doing the same 50 years later, last year, when K.C. won a second. “They” replaced Buck, with the arrogant, but far more competent than either Buck and certainly Harlan, Howard David, when among other things, Jack “had” tight end Jay Novacek going back to pass and not Joe Buck’s future analyst, Troy Aikman.)
Anyway, this is to finally “rain” on Harlan, (don’t worry he will live) who last year “had his cake and ate it,” calling a Chiefs’ AFC Title Game win and Supe triumph. He admits the Chiefs are special to him and his family. I know they have a phenomenal record in games I know about, both winning and covering so many.
I can live (still can not stand him. Mr. Aprea deemed him “Elephant Mouth”) with him on television. However, on radio, he, as was the case with Dave Sims who talked with buddy James “Stairwell” Lofton, rather than play by play, and that on radio, when he is “our eyes,” (Harlan) does not delineate yardage. He tells us such as “inside the hashes,” but not yardage, until after his nonsense. Many times he fails to tell us at all.
So let’s hope and even pray, those involved in the car accident involving another “son of,” K.C. assistant coach Britt Reid are ok.
I call for the beer companies and the car companies, who have so much “loot” to install the equivalent of a “boot,” so people intoxicated, do NOT drive. They can throw in limo passes, perhaps putting the much hyped Eldrick Woods on such, as a reminder.
Yes I have vitriol (here’s more Bob Papa, who unlike his mentor, the great Marty Glickman who “gave us” every 3 yards, does NOT delineate yardage, called David TYREE, as “wide open,” (again the opposite was beyond clearly evident, yet Papa was rewarded with NFL Network gigs at the time). That was vs Brady, TYREE at best did little before or after. Today Brady is vs an established great receiver, TYREE(k) Hill of K.C.) largely due to the fact I ate it/slept it/breathed it regarding sports and have NADA to show for it.
However, minimum I have rights as a fan and when especially on radio those such as Papa and especially the highly acclaimed Harlan do not RADIO properly, that is “Call” for protest vs their non calls and incredible status.
Why the ’36 Red Wings at this time?
Quickly, Tampa joins (perhaps among others, it is noteworthy that within just over a half year all 4 Philadelphia teams made the final starting in May 1980, winning one but not having the fall/winter “deal”) 2018-2019 Boston, 1970-1971 Baltimore and 1935-1936 Detroit (Detroit is the only one to win all 3 titles) as having ALL 3 of its area teams in the final in the same fall/winter span.
Of course, it happened this year due to the pandemic, as the 2020 NHL ‘offs commenced in the late summer and the 3 Tampa final entities, will have been played in a span of just over five months.
In looking up the 1936 Red Wings, who, as was the case, with Detroit’s other major professional league teams at the time (the NBA and the Pistons, who first were in Fort Wayne were over a decade away), won their first title in that ’35-’36 span, I noticed three names that were repeated in some great Red Wings’ lore.
One I knew, a great player named Syd Howe, a “Vogue”/Red Wings player for 11 seasons, who played on 2 title teams and retired the season before the legendary Gord Howe, began his incredible 25 year career.
Thus a Howe was on 36 consecutive Red Wings’ teams. The teams won 6 titles, the first in 1936.
Another player on the ’35-’36 Red Wings’ was Pete Kelly. He played on the consecutive Red Wings’ Cup winners in ’36 and ’37.
Years later, the fabulous Leonard “Red” Kelly, who wore #4 and also won 4 titles as a player wearing #4 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, preceded his Leafs’ feats, playing on the four Cup winners with Gordie Howe (’50,’52,’54 and ’55), and others with Detroit.
Finally consider Ralph Bowman, also on those first two Detroit NHL champions in 1936 and 1937.
Sixty years after that ’37 title, Detroit ended a 42 year title drought, winning the first of three crowns under the great, great coach and as told to me by my friend, the late Beano Cook, a great guy–Scotty Bowman.
Mr. Bowman passed his idol Hector “Toe” Blake for the most coaching NHL titles, when he won his 9th and final title with Detroit in 2002.
Leonard “Red” Kelly, pictured above.
I was going to comment on the horrific horror of that elected official’s (I know her name, but will not cite it “wrong” now) comments nor showing I am not all liberal, but “Bill Klem,” (call them as I see them and far from always correct and that includes politically correct, though usually I suppose I am) the fact two highly ego driven, but largely brilliant, talented figures Jonathan Schwartz and Leonard Lopate have virtually disappeared from the scene due to a far too punitive aspect of “The Me Too Movement”
I guess I just did and will put up a link of a Fred Guttenberg reaction at the end here.
Quickly regarding it, I “lead the league,” in getting no’s from women, often asking, before even trying to kiss one and that after spending “tough” money on a dinner, knowing my mother would criticize me for that.
Yet “No means No,” and I ALWAYS respected that, NEVER not doing so! So without Lopate and especially Schwartz, I strike out yet again, not on a date, but being denied their work, even past work.
So in honor of Mr. Schwartz’ once “A Salute To Baseball,” which aired on what is now PIGfest Sunday, a moment from what he would call “an ordinary game.”
The great Lindsey Nelson is brilliantly flying solo behind the microphone, the Mets in Jarry Park where there was a power failure earlier in the day, have the bases loaded none out, T1 in a Mc Anally vs Mac Andrew pitching matchup this July 3rd, in 1973.
Daniel “Rusty” Staub, always loved in Montreal, is the Mets’ batter. He was a tremendous hitter, but not this time, as he hits into a 4-6-3 double play, a run scoring, no RBI and with great inflexion Lindsey intones “The Mets are out in front (1-0).”
The second baseman who fielded and threw to shortstop, Tim Foli, was Ron Hunt, the Mets’ first All-Star starter.
Foli and Mike Jorgensen the Expos’ first sacker that game, were dealt to Montreal along with Kenny “Key” Singleton, the Mtl. RF that game, in exchange for Staub.
A moment, a great broadcaster and a memory that reveals.
MSNBC – Gun safety activist and Parkland father Fred
Jim “Pooh” Nantz, a week after all the hedge fund “news,” (see needles, rich people and heaven) will be on his 6th Supe, second in 3 seasons (the first to have that many in such a span, since the far better Dick Enberg did so in ’97, which also was his 4th in 6 seasons).
Nantz is better luck for his conference/league as “his” AFC is (4-1) straight up and ATS, in his 5 previous Supes. The AFC team went (1-3) in those 4 Enberg Supes and won just 2 of his 8 Super Bowls overall.
I believe the home network conference is (24-18) straight up and (29-13) ATS in past Super Bowls. Eleven were “neutral network” telecasts, the first game was TV’d by both the NFL and AFL networks.
Two of the “other network” wins were in the two Chiefs’ Supe wins, each with a Buck (Jack in ’69, Joe “talking at us” 50 years later) as the lead announcer. This time, the Chiefs, losers in the first Supe/both networks game, are on their conference’s network.
Brady in 9 New England Super Bowls was (2-0) on his conference’s network (CBS), (3-1) on the other/NFC network, Fox and (1-2) on “neutral” NBC. N.E. won in its only previous Nantz Supe, however Nantz was the lead announcer in all 8, non Super Bowl Brady/N.E. playoffs losses.
It was while watching an excellent 1936 movie, “San Francisco,” which has the other seminal/official song (“San Francisco”), about that great city, that news came regarding the great singer and pacifist (showing how advanced he is) yet (one who fought in World War 2), Tony Bennett having the dreaded Alzheimer’s Disease.
How terribly sad, that Mr. Bennett can not remember all that he accomplished, all the while being a classy, great man.
More sad news as a great actor, Hal Holbrook, as with Mr. Bennett at a point over 90 years old, died.
He was magnificent in many, diverse roles, including both a stage and television recreation as Mark Twain plus the role of “Deep Throat,” in “All The President’s Men.”
Another sad coincidence was that the night before I read the news (cue The Beatles) regarding Mr. Holbrook dying, I had the rare occasion to again watch the excellent television show, “Designing Women,” which starred among others, Dixie Carter, Holbrook’s wife.
Ms. Carter, also a tremendous singer, had died 10 or so years before and while sad, one hopes Mr. Bennett and his caregivers will not suffer and so many of us can cherish, the great memories.
The same goes for Mr. Holbrook, a truly great actor.
The great actor, Hal Holbrook pictured above.
That “other” seminal, official song about San Francisco, as performed by Tony Bennett.
I believe this was just the second time in 45 possibilities (T.B. entered the NFL in ’76), that both the K.C. Chiefs and T.B. Buccaneers made the NFL ‘offs in the same season.
In all 3 possibilities in those two seasons, the teams played separate games on the same day, each squad with the same result. The fourth same day ‘offs game will match the two teams in Supe 55, obviously to produce a different result for the two teams.
On Sunday January 4, 1998 in the ’97 season slots 3 and 4, both Tampa Bay at Green Bay (of course they “title tilted” the Packers there to make this Supe) and K.C. as the AFC “1” to eventual champion, Denver (Broncos) lost.
This season each won the Sunday slots and title games on the same day.
Recall the (’81-’83) Washington football team. They won their last 3 under first year, and eventual 3 time Supe winning coach, Joe Gibbs in 1981. In the strike marred ’82 NFL season (Wash won two strike year NFL crowns and also 2 following baseball crowns won by the Minnesota Twins nee Washington Senators, first in strike marred ’87 and again in ’91), the team went (12-1) (4-0) in the ‘offs, winning it all.
They were superb in ’83, going (14-2) in the “reg” (K.C.’s record this season) and won 2 more in the ‘offs, thus going into the Supe vs the Raiders, that season the L.A. Raiders, having won 31 of its last 34 games.
I recall the Raiders so loose on the sideline as they were routing Sea Seahawks in the AFC title game, mocking the “Fun Bunch/Wash team.”
As 3 plus point underdogs, (same margin K.C. is favored by this time) the Raiders ripped “Wash” (38-9). Thus Wash was a “Lefty Grove/1931” (31-4) in its last 35 and as was the case with Grove’s 2 time champion Philly A’s in 1931, a final round non winner. Wash had one title in the (31-4) run.
K.C. enters the Supe having won an incredible 25 of its last 27 games, (25-1) in Mahomes games.
Realistically, nobody, no matter how great transcends “a” to “THE,” however it would not be that long a process, for the magnificent actress/actor, Cicely Tyson, who died days back, after an incredible life, so powerfully and brilliantly, playing many great roles.
In such great films as true favorite of mine, “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter,” with Alan Arkin and Percy Rodriguez and “Sounder,” with Paul Winfield, Ms. Tyson glows in powerful regret and resolve respectively, riveting me to gratefully watch again and again, alliterative tribute, just a bit of thanks, to this great lady.
I was fortunate enough to see her in relatively recent years on stage in both “The Trip to Bountiful” and “The Gin Game,” the latter with James Earl Jones. The experience was well worth any parking ordeal/waiting in the cold, the snow falling hard now a reminder.
On television Cicely Tyson knocked it out, regarding slavery, sorry but it is a stain we hope to, but really can not overcome, (as one Superman said to the other, “we must try”) as the long living woman in “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and followed it up as millions “rated in” to watch the great mini-series Roots, in the winter as the calendar moved to 1977, three years after Cicely’s magnificence as “Miss Jane.”
There was so much else in a full life including romantic love, no matter how difficult, with the suffering genius, jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis.
I hope they can be together now in some form of unabashed happiness. Each left brilliance behind here, so well appreciated, as I look out literally and figuratively as the snow falls.
A and close to “THE” great, Cicely Tyson, pictured above.
Six of Tom Brady’s ten Super Bowl appearances came after wins by his then (that then is a bit out of ratio, as Brady was with “N.E.” for 19 seasons and this is his first, (perhaps last if his team wins but alas $$$ and he has a contract) season with the Buccaneers) New England team in slot 2/later Saturday/Saturday night, division round games.
In the six subsequent Super Bowls, Brady’s “N.E.” teams were (3-3), accounting for half his Supe wins and all 3 such losses. In the latter category, two NFC East teams, the Giants twice and Eagles once, were victorious.
This will be the first second appearance in the Supe for a Brady team, eminating from a slot other than number 2. In Two Thousand FOUR, Brady and N.E. beat the Colts in slot 4 and then the Andy Reid (of course with a title under his belt and such offensive stalwarts as Trav Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Patrick Mahomes, the Brady team, next opponent, Chiefs’ coach) coached Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Brady and New England are also (1-0) after a Slot 1 win in 2014 and one in slot 3 in 2018.
Brady is bidding for his fourth straight even year crown and first in the same season as the concurrent Alabama also great title period.
He and current Bama coach, Nick Saban did each “title” in 2003, Saban’s with LSU and one shared with U.S.C.
Among title streaks in consecutive even or odd years, I have “top of my head-ed” UCLA college basketball at the top, with an incredible six, all under John Wooden (’65, ’67,’69,’71,’73,and ’75).
The Boston Celtics won 5 straight “odds” (also 4 “evens”–shall I “put out” a 1 or 2?!), doing so in (’57,’59,’61,’63 and ’65), while the Yankees won 4 straight “odd year” World Series (’47,’49,’51 and ’53) before John Podres and company finally got Brooklyn and its Dodgers a crown in 1955.
Montreal’s Canadiens (watch out for them or the Toronto Maple Leafs this year, as I think sans Emrick, NBC will allow Canada (just a hunch), a la Brady and the Pats won 3 straight “even year” crowns, doing so in ’56,’58 and ’60.
Anyone with additional or “such that corrects,” research, please comment.
Andy B Sports 