Andy B Sports

The great Tom Brady will be playing in his tenth Super Bowl. In the previous nine, all with the New England Patriots, his record in such games is (6-3).

He is (1-0) with the upcoming game’s announcer, “Pooh” Nantz, Greg Gumbel and the great Pat “Super” Summerall, whose clutch long field goal for the Giants that set up all that was 1958, was recalled by Jesse last week.

In other Supes, Brady was (2-1) with Joe Buck, but just (1-2) with “Alfalfa” Michaels.

The other 7 losses dealt to Brady in post-season (he has won it all 6 times, lost in the ‘offs 11 times and failed to make the ‘offs twice, only once in a season in which he played more than one game) were “administered” in Nantz games. (wild card round losses, 10 years apart in ’09 and ’19, the 2 slots/div. round losses (Brady’s teams are 14-2 in such, (see the Yankees’ winning the pennant 14 of 16 seasons, (’49-’64), in ’05 and ’10 and 4 title tilts (’06, ’12, ’13 and ’15).

The Chiefs have beaten original AFL teams in the game that gave them entry to the Supe, all four times they made it. After topping the Raiders and Titans nee Oilers, 50 years apart in ’69 and 2019, they won it all. This is the second time K.C. has topped Buffalo to gain a Super Bowl berth.

In 1966, after beating the Bills by 24 points to gain a berth to the first Supe, Green Bay eased vs the Chiefs (35-10). Days back, they won by 14, allowing the Bills 24 points. The Chiefs/Bills “semi” winner also lost in the subsequent Super Bowl, when the Cowboys repeated their ’92 season Supe win vs the Bills in 1993.

Meanwhile the Buccaneers, in their two Supe appearances have respectively beaten an Andy Reid coached team (the ’02 Eagles) and now will face a Reid coached defending champion Chiefs’ team in the 55th Super Bowl.

I am one person who did not need the circumstances of a pandemic to know which workers are most/more important, adding that it is a ridiculous and horrible blight on this society, that athletes, even great ones like (I once did, do not now, but even w/o this season and certainly even if his team loses the 55th Supe, acknowledge Brady as an all-time top sports performer–“Pick his team and players”/just call him “choose up,” Leb James is not one I like. I do like his anti Trump sentiments and knowing, (as I am one of the world’s biggest losers, as I have talent that got me nowhere,–I appreciate that James, deep down a loser (white jackets would seem imminent, as this guy seems to have it all, but that MIRROR, part Jordan, part Kareem and part Wilt tell him the truth regarding picking his teams, imparting to him that he is nowhere near the “best of all,”) did not get too involved in the Biden campaign, as he did in the almost tragic Hillary Rodham loss) Brady and James are admired and paid what they are.

It is not important, but please consider just final round play and know James is nowhere near as great as Brady. First of all his teams are (4-6) in final round play (Brady goes into the 55th Supe (6-3), in two of the titles, clearly others hit the big shot. (Ray Allen’s tying “3” (I despise the “3’s” importance in today’s basketball. Do the math regarding that, as many did not do, regarding LaFleur’s idiocy, but alas the game was lost before then) saving Leb and Ky Irving’s vs GS, enabling him).

One could also make the case, that Anthony Davis and not James, was the top player in James’ incredibly cheap, in the bubble, did not face anyone, 4th title last season.

While kudos go out to him for ’12 and even the Allen saved ’13 crown, when Leb tied Tom Heinsohn, another great we lost recently, for the most #7/final round points on a winning team (Jerry had 42 in defeat in ’69) with 37 points in #7, harsh criticism and certainly less than Brady efforts in similar abound.

Start with ’07, vs the heavily favored Spurs. James did little and his team to paraphrase one who knew to jinx Rodgers, was “out the door in 4.”

Contrast that with Brady in his first final, who with his team a big “dog” vs the Rams, was far from great, but won in the ’01 season Supe.

By the way, I will cite the others during this seemingly interminable/hype filled 2 weeks until the Supe,  but time to take some “Teflon” off Madden, another fraud.

He failed so often as a coach, even with the better team. “N.E.” given the reverse benefit when they “tucked” Tom in,” 25 years later, will tell you Madden’s lone crown should never have happened. (Consult Elton John, whom I once 1 question interviewed at #7/’88 NBA Final, under “Sugar Bear,” and I admit ranting this c–p out, will not (Somebody) “Save My Life”

OK, of course too cryptic plus I ADD’D the point. They called a highly questionable roughing the passer penalty on Ray “Sugar Bear” –one word or two?— Hamilton, enabling Madden to eventually win his lone title.

In that ’01 Supe, Madden called for NE to run out the clock and play for overtime. That says it all, yet this, as Mr. Cosell called him (I call him worse, namely a close to absolute fraud) “overblown parody of himself,” is rich beyond words, selling a video game.

We fell as a mindless, lowest common denominator society, that made a fraud such as Madden rich, vegetating on his video game and others, long before the “Valley, more like below ground, of Trump.”

Did not Elton also write regarding a garden, a gardener regarding John Lennon. Joe Biden ain’t John Lennon. He ain’t that good, but thank G’d he got there, where there is so much “gardening” to do!!

I admit my failures. They killed my heroes, even my mother, who sadly was not one of them. Of my many mistakes, including the one above, being too negative, even vs a man (Biden), who just got there, not realizing what my mother did both good and bad, is likely the worst.

That I say to all of you, as I have, trying to help myriad homeless, asking for money people (unlike the fascist Giuliani, about time I knocked him, adding  again the fellow bigot Kay, whose wedding he performed, I believe though homeless, they are PEOPLE) you get only one mother.

As often the case, I retreat/am somewhat fair, in saying Kay knew it and prospered because he had love and true respect for his mother (give him credit), while among much for me to look in the mirror “re,” my own mother used to remind me, that Kay tried hard, while I did not!!

The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, who finally covered after an (0-8-1) ATS slump–(they won all 8 meaningful games in that streak, including the slot 3 win/no cover vs the Browns) have opened as 3 plus point(s) favorites, vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose 43 year old quarterback will be playing for the NFL crown for a mind boggling tenth time.

After the Bucs won (31-26) vs Green Bay, the Chiefs down early (9-0) ripped past the Buffalo Bills (38-24).

Thus the Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid, who lost to Brady and New England at the 3 highest playoff levels (first in the ’04 Supe though his Eagles covered. Next the ’15 slots and also in the AFC Title Game/”semis” in 2018) faces him again in the 55th Supe, in which an actual home team will be a participant for the first time.

Winners tell jokes (Brady, though he threw interceptions on 3 straight possessions, after the second and third, “The State Farm” fraud, Rodgers went 3 and out each time, must have his picture up at all the comedy clubs) and losers such as me say deal. I have been doing so my whole life.

However, that does not mean you should not heed what I am about to say, poison fingers about to go.

I was going to use death, Aarons and one title in the same sentence and maybe I just did, but I mean no disrespect to Henry’s greatness and while one more would have been nice, it is baseball.

It is a different story regarding the very talented, but ego driven, State Farm ad man. He is a quarterback and now he is a quarterback, who has lost 4 straight semis. Allowing long, inexcusable last play of the first half touchdowns as they did in the ’11 slot 4 loss to eventual champion, what (9-7) Giants does not help.

Far worse than Rodgers, LaFleur, a disgrace to Guy and the name, kicks a field goal down 8 with just over 2 minutes to play. Buck and Aikman let it go, at least, that is what Mr. Aprea told me. By the way the truly knowledgeable, Mr. Aprea forgot more football than lucky sperm, Buck will ever know. Alas, that is not saying much. Why buck it, Buck?!! People are idiots and why “Hughes Corporation?!) (rock the boat!!!). 

I will not watch the second tilt. I am no longer good looking and 21, but I ruined it then, running to an old bookie who was in his underwear, giving him cash, as to bet the later game.

Though it is too late for me, in a world of Buck and those with lucky sperm and bucks, I am right regarding LaFleur and certainly his decision.

Suffering, they say, builds character. I am one and must have mucho.

Both some of my money and a piece of the far greater sum that is El Bell’s plus I believe the greater onus to win (they have lost 3 straight such games, all on the road to Sea in ’14, Atlanta in ’16 and S.F. in ’19) are ON the Packers today.

In just the second ever ‘offs clash between the areas, (the other a slot 3 G.B. win, en route to an eventual Supe loss, to Denver in ’97) the Packers, whose highly regarded quarterback, Aaron Rodgers has been to just one Super Bowl, host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the earlier title game.

The “T.B.” QB es “T.B.” a man named Brady, who will be in his 14th title tilt/semi, in a bid to go to his 10th Super Bowl. All previous such were with the New England Patriots, with six seasons ended in Super Bowl triumph.

This is the fourth title game/”semi” appearance for Tampa Bay, a third on the road. They won their last en route to a 2002 title, while losing to the Rams 20 years apart in ’79 and ’99, in their other title game tilts, to this point.

TB’s victory came vs the second of four consecutive Andy Reid coached Eagles’ teams that made this round. Those teams lost the first three, two at home, before winning the fourth. They were denied the big prize, however, though covering in defeat, vs Brady and New England in ’04.

Of course Reid, whose glorified decision to go late in a second straight year slot 3 win, was no big deal in my opinion, guided the Chiefs to a second title, 50 years after their first, removing at least part (a big part), of a rather big monkey on coach Reid’s (more than) rather big back/frame.

The Chiefs are a possible Bucs’ Supe opponent for the first time. Only one team/franchise, that the Tennessee Titans nee Houston Oilers, have been a possible “start of title games day” Supe opponent for T.B. more than once in the 8 possibilities.. They were such as the Oilers in ’79 and as the Titans in ’99 and ’02, with nary a Bucs/Tenn or Houston franchise Supe matchup materializing.

Green Bay, somewhat surprisingly, only (5-5) in games with Supe bids on the line (they are (4-1) in Super Bowl games and lead the NFL with 10 championships won in games, all in years with a Democrat as U.S. President, which is the case this year, after 16 to 1 underdog to be nominated, J.R. Biden (J.R. and deals come to mind— however, I like Biden, certainly infinitely more than Trump, and for once the Democrats were smart in choosing him. How did I not see it, especially knowing he would win the South Carolina primary, which was all the powers that be asked, before dealing Joe the nomination. 

Although I not only did NOT cash it, but paid 400 dollars, “anti-ing”– something, I to my everlasting regret, did not do on 5 to 1 u/dog (really pig), Trump in ’16), I am glad Biden ascended to that office). 

Green Bay now has 22 possible “day of title tilts” Supe opponents.

New England, the matchup manifested once, but in ’96, aka 5BB (Before Brady, he is god like, however, G.B., I believe (actually I do, certainly more than in the past, in another, who evoked time measurements of before and after, certainly  in his deeds and along with other “possies” his omniscience.

(However, any who do not have every right to do so, and if there is a heaven, I do not believe will be judged “VS,” if they have that opinion. A good map to that hypothetical “there,” is to follow the tenets of Jesus, as I do, among other things– giving, helping and even though it does seem to help on this earth, often turning the other cheek.) 

(Back to the original in this run on) New England and Pittsburgh have been Packers’ “possibles” 4 times each, the Chiefs (it manifested in the first such game in ’66),thrice. “G.B.” beat Pitts in their lone Supe clash 10 years ago, while 1 possibility Denver and the Raiders were the other 2 “G.B.” Supe opponents.

The Bills, a possible for the second time, tying the Colts, have only twice, once pre AFC/NFC configuration, won on the same ‘offs day that G.B. won.

Once was last Saturday, the other time December 26, 1965 when after the Pack “controversial tying Don Chandler FG’d” the Colts a week before “title-ing” vs the Browns, in the great Jim Brown’s last game as a Browns player (a more important than now, but still not important Pro Bowl followed), the Bills won a second straight “all the way” AFL crown, topping the Chargers (one of 5 teams with one “day of the titles tilts,” possible GB Supe opponents).

The others and I will not do this, regarding the Chiefs and Bills, however, will offer predictions, being, as cited the Broncos and Raiders, as well as the Jaguars and Jets, the latter two, owning this year’s top 2 draft picks.

Green Bay 30 Tampa Bay 17

AFC, second time in 3 seasons “Pooh” Nantz and the absolutely unbearable Romo, get the last two (later title tilt and the Supe, this happening for the first time since ?? I will research it) and it is too close to call, completely unlike the most recent presidential election.

Sadly, (unless I bet it well), those clowns will get a thriller, I will even say one of the overtime variety.

Start (the first instruction word from Word Press) with Henry Louis Aaron, as is the case with Henry Louis Gehrig, clearly one of the six greatest baseball players yet to have played (Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and Willie Mays), is forever associated with the greatest (he was a star pitcher, vaulting him to the top spot, if not before without it), George Herman “Babe” Ruth.

I need not cite the numbers, do a “Casey Stengel” and look them up, but will note Henry Aaron drove in more runs than any player in baseball history.

Memories abound, accomplishments were great and as cited before here, I met Mr. Aaron on two occasions, one with his lovely wife Billye Williams, manifesting in each laughing when I said there were 1,181 home runs between them. ( Billy Williams, another baseball treasure from the state of Alabama and all that will forever entail in this country that moved away from an all time low in having J.R. Biden replace Trump in the top office days back, but brought chained human beings to pick cotton and enslaved them, hit 426 “taters” —hear “Old Man River” in all its versions!!).

My father wanted me to get interested in sports, especially baseball. He regretted creating a bit of a monster. Our enjoyment of the games together was limited by that and other factors. Yet I ought to be grateful that we had our moments together, a truly great one involving him calling my “non sports fan,” mother who he somehow got to marry him, though he courted her at the Polo Grounds.

He “IDA’d” twice regarding baseball, calling her to watch the immediacy of television, something the two of them realized more profoundly than me, having lived many years without its good and as it manifested, mostly bad.

The last time was in his last and baseball’s last TRUE game (You know how I feel about the wild card presence!) when Joe Carter’s 3RHR transformed a one run deficit into a second straight Toronto Blue Jays crown in game 6 of the 1993 World Series, when teams from Canada were “allowed” to win such seemingly important, but really not things. (Only the 2019 Toronto Raptors have won a major North American sports title since Carter’s historic home run, leaving among other notes, the fact Alex Trebek, the narrator of the NHL Stanley Cup film the last time Toronto’s Maple Leafs won it/The Cup, in 1967, who died in fateful 2020, as having done so, without being on earth for a subsequent Maple Leafs final round appearance, no less a title.

Dad called my mother’s name so excited, though he probably wanted the Babe’s 714 home runs to still top the list, when Henry connected vs another 44, Al Downing on Monday night April 8, 1974 in a game we were fortunate to see, as NBC with the great broadcaster Curt Gowdy, TV’d it to the nation.

As stated I met Henry and Billye and mentioned the 1,181 plus my great admiration.

It extends far beyond the baseball field as Mr. Aaron was an influence of good on so many younger players, notably Ralph Garr and a player I know pretty well, Dusty Baker as told in Howard Bryant’s fine book “The Last Hero,” about Henry, which I am so glad to have read.

He (Aaron) was a beacon of light in the civil rights movement and even though it ended tragically that day in Dallas, (another piece of history/fact that will forever haunt us and will do so even more if we do not improve our “LEVELS” regarding race, ethnicity, the poor, vs greed, compassion and overall giving), I admire Aaron’s vision in helping JFK win the Wisconsin Primary in 1960.

In no obituary, (I really can not afford newspapers and their plight which often “big mouth” me contributes to, clearly saddens me, but can I help the fact they/the system took my mother?!!) and honesty compels me to admit to not being able to read most (The Washington Post’s obituary regarding Henry, was superb) was mention made of the fact, Hank, he clearly preferred Henry, but I allow myself one Hank, homered to clinch the ’57 pennant, one en route to Aaron’s only title in the subsequent World Series win vs the vaunted Yankees, who reversed the 7 game result a year later, in a game vs the St. Louis Cardinals on September 23rd.

If I can trust the facts written/typed on this thing called the internet, Aaron’s pennant clinching blow was the only such occurrence via a game ending (I also abhor the term they now use for such a play, although Gross warned that when a home team falls behind in a potential last inning, they do not have to “4 letters, 3 letters” the field) home run in regular season/non playoffs, baseball annals.

Two memories before this tangential, emotional lover of “my time baseball” and certainly the great Henry Aaron, attempts to circumvent grief and regret by producing/doing, each involving old friends.

A Sunday in 1973, talking before “Braves at Mets,” with fellow Aaron fan, Brad Weiner and assessing Henry’s pursuit of the Babe’s hallowed record. It would be a good day in that regard, two home runs by “The Hammer,” one I vividly being called in such beautiful fashion, by Mets’ broadcaster, Bob Murphy. (Where oh where is the recording?).

The last one, it is “late September (1973) and “I really ought to have made a move/told Renee (how do you type the accent over and which e?) how I felt (mistakenly I told such to Christine “too soon” hence as seemingly always no “even part of the moon”).

Instead of, I am sleeping on the couch, the great Michael Santasieri and Ms. Renee watching television and news is transported that Henry homered that Saturday night and is within, I believe 2 home runs of Mr. Ruth.

I seemed to awaken just as that news was heard. Both find it funny and typical, especially Mr. Santasieri, who long knew of my sports involvement.

Much of that love, also a failed one (no job from it) probably germinated from a shy only child’s lack of romance and a strong appreciation of the day’s great players such as Henry and equally, if not more important (I knew I was not to be as they say Mickey Mantle, but I could have approached Marv Albert–the just as great Joe Tait said so–and surely topped just about any that permeate today—) the time’s great broadcasters.

Through it all, through the tears literal (fine) but the seemingly eternal figurative ones, I am glad I loved baseball then and greats such as Henry Aaron forever.

He was an incredible man, so tested by enduring racism, so propped up from love and less but still important an incredible ability to play what is still a great game.