The fact that Don Sutton, who died too early at age 75 days back, never played on a title team (his teams lost in all 4 of his World Series “apps” and in one of his 5 LCS) and though the best of them, was a “compiler,” ought not take too much away from his baseball accomplishments.

He also was a very good man, one I encountered both on the phone when as a much younger still Dodgers fan, I told him how proud I was of his progress, and when I interviewed the so personable Sutton in Vero Beach (my camera person was Amy McQuillin and why oh why did I not “try” with her then?!!) in 1989.

On an essentially gambling show with football always the biggest topic, especially now before the title tilts, sportsbook director Chris Andrews told the tale (why is the great movie, “The Sting” not on any more?) of Sutton setting up he and two family members for a great day in the L.A. dugout, after seeing his uncle, who lost both legs, out and about, relishing life despite a horrible blow.

Do not get me wrong he was a helluva pitcher and he was in agreement when I called his game 1, 1974 NLCS performance, a brilliant/no sweat 4 hit win vs a hard hitting Pittsburgh Pirates’ team as his best game. With a lineup that included Willie Stargell, Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillen among other hard hitters (were not they “The Lumber Company?!), Don remarked to me that 3 of the hits were by Paul Popovich, who was on the field for a good chunk of Don Drysdale’s scoreless innings in ’68, but certainly was never confused with Rogers Hornsby (lifetime average of .358) as a hitter.

I think more so than the fictional character in “Kane” who had “a rare privilege” reading at the rich broker’s library, when I got to interview Sandy Koufax (I better find the tape/DVD), Don Drysdale, John Podres, Claude Osteen, and Burt Hooton (what a pitching staff and in ’66 when the Dodgers won the pennant and even/despite in a swept out losing World Series to the Orioles, had excellent pitching with Sandy, Don, John and Mr. Sutton all on the team).

Referencing football, Sutton, recognizing my great recall (alas what was said regarding a great memory in the seminal “Kane,” told of his day on the last day of the ’80 “reg” when in those great no wild card days the season was on the line.

L.A. had to win vs the Astros, who somehow had Sutton the next season (he did not pitch in the ’81 extra round in which L.A. down (2-0) won in 5 en route to a shortened season title. Two of their 3 titles since Sandy shutout the Twins in #7/’65 W.S. were in such seasons, including following the 50 game debacle last season) and Don having pitched well in a no decision must L.A. win 2 days earlier, surely was not going to pitch.

He hung out watching NFL games, chicken perhaps dripping on his warm up stuff, though he was told he might be needed to get a batter out.

It manifested and Don in the interview said sans an “athletic supporter,” (that’s ok you can call me Jock, was the old joke. Surely I was no jock, but was far from terrible), got a good hitter, Denny Walling and there was to be a 1 game ‘off for the N.L. West that Houston won behind Joe Niekro (Recently we lost his brother Phil and with Sutton’s death–8 Hall of Fame players have died in 9 months, a period of time usually associated with the opposite.)

One more really big game win for Don Sutton was in a winner in/non winner out, 1982 “reg” finale for the A.L. east crown. Selig knows. He chain smoked as the Brewers’ owner, knowing there was no bogus wild card “safety net.”

Sutton evokes both good and bad memories, more good including his “me managed” Strat-O-Matic baseball prowess, I relayed to a very receptive Don Sutton, in that aforementioned phone call in not so glorious, but far better days.

“T”ampa Bay will be playing in their 4th Conference Title Game, a third on the road. Four is operative as if they score more points than the Pack Sunday (they are 4 point underdogs) they would become the first team to play a home Super Bowl, albeit with the circumstances involving a pandemic inherent in the matter.

That pandemic caused much including NHL and NBA ‘offs in the late summer and early fall and 4 rounds of baseball ‘offs (the other leagues also had or added to make only the NFL Conference 1 seeds IMMUNE to having to win 4 rounds/games to title).

Los Angeles is in the veritable “clubhouse” ahead with 10 rounds played, 9 rounds won

and 2 titles. (The Lakers tied the Celtics with their 17th, the Dodgers as was the case with the Lakers, won a crown 32 years later, giving them 7, while the Rams won a round and lost in their second).

Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers’ fate yet to be determined, will play in its eleventh round, having won 9 (those #’s) with one title, that the second in franchise history for the NHL Lightning. The baseball Rays lost the World Series played in neutral? Texas to L.A.

Mr. Brady is “Robert Reeding” in his 14th semi, half on the road. His teams are an incredible (12-2) in the slots/quarters/divisional round to get to those 14 title tilts, in which they are (9-4) in previous such games.

Quickly (Mike Quick did analysis for the ’17 champion Eagles) Andy Reid is the only coach to guide his team to 3 straight home conference or for that matter any semi round or title round in NFL annals (off the top of my head, clearly the great Celtics teams had “home” in 10 straight title rounds, winning 9 from (’57-’66, losing only in ’58 to the Bob Pettit led St. Louis Hawks and the also great Montreal Canadiens had “home” in the NHL final round in all 5 Cup winning years (’56-’60). They also appeared in the final round 10 straight seasons from (’51-’60, winning 6 times. In baseball where title round home advantage was certainly not based on best record from 1903 until I think 2019, no team had home advantage in the title round/World Series in 3 straight seasons and with maybe one or two exceptions even 2. The same certainly goes for football with its neutral field Supes (maybe not this season, but certainly next season will not have a Bucs home Supe) and alternating conference hosting in the old NFL and also AFL title rounds).

Reid has now done so twice. His Eagles (I did say quickly, referenced Mike Quick and rambled on) went (1-2) in such losing to Tampa Bay (the Bucs are (1-2) in title tilts going into their 4th at G.B. on Sunday) in ’02 and Carolina in ’03.His Eagles defeated Atlanta in ’04. The Reid coached Chiefs split the title tilts in ’18 and ’19, losing the latter in overtime to Brady and N.E. in the former and repeating an “AFL all the way–cue Eric Carmen and “The Raspberries”–1962 triumph when they were the Dallas Texans vs the Tennessee Titans nee Houston Oilers (the Oilers they were in ’62).

First of all, alive, the great Martin Luther King Jr. whose birthday 91 years and 3 days ago, this torn nation honors today, in my opinion (you know what they say about opinions, especially those by a frustrated well meaning, but likely drawn to the at least somewhat warped, me) he would view his dream as manifesting in nightmare.

I truly believe this great man of letters and eloquence would have expected more (some degree of competence would better what they are now) from the “GIVEN” that being the ilk of James Brown, Curt Menefee and especially be disgusted, by S.A. Smith as a god, an arrogant one at that.

Once and for all, I am not a Black man, but having endured mucho “s t,” in all, including much for being Jewish, I am and have been appalled to an exponential power, at the countless racist remarks and attitudes I have endured.

I am human and why oh why (right “Dorothy”) does it matter what color one’s skin is or what religion or ethnicity starts our path in this finite life. (Another, John F. Kennedy, killed by bullets, said “we are all mortal” but we never learn!)

I am more proud of the late HBO boxing authority, Arthur Curry telling me “you don’t see color” (Larry Brown said that regarding Vince Lombardi) than almost anything else in my well intentioned, but largely failed life, (to this point, I add in a rare show of optimism).

Martin Luther King moves and moved me on so many levels. A man with flaws, but the highest marks in caring, eloquence and figuring it out. He knew regarding Viet Nam, Muhammad Ali and the fact the rich get and the poor get shafted, always have and seemingly always will.

Of course he fought for civil rights and we have come a long way, with as they say correctly, a long way to go.

We need to get to the point where one’s skin color does not matter.

Toward that never to be reached ideal, why must we endure the skin color/white Romo, the black Smith and the woman Storen, she uses Storm, to hide that daddy Storen helped (oh throw in the arrogant Harlan “daddy’d” in as well (bad).

After the game Brady threw the ball to Brees’ sons, (if Brees had won, he would not have done so though he has 6 crowns–Brees, Rodgers and Mahomes (he is in just his third year) have one and that is the difference) maybe they can think about their attitudes about players kneeling, backing Trump and wonder about their children’s world in the years ahead.

Brees and more so his coach Payton were pretty big, playoffs failures though a la Tomlin, McCarthy and to lesser degrees, John Harbaugh and even Pete Carroll, they won one and to this point only one title, and made egregious coaching decisions either in the Supe win (Tomlin FG’ing at the goal line in his ’08 Supe win and John Harbaugh did something big time wrong, in his ’12 season Supe win) or in a subsequent playoff tilt (Payton, who had the guts to “onside” in his winning Supe, made the utterly horrible decision to “down 7, late FG inside the 10 vs a (7-9) SEA team, of course coached by Carroll- need I remind you of the Supe vs New England).

McCarthy in a category all his own, after a horrible first season as Dallas coach, went FG at the Sea 1, in an eventual loss, in the ’14 title game.

Through it all, Brady wins. He heads to his 14th title tilt, half on the road. He joins the great John Unitas in playing in title games in 3 different decades (Unitas did so in “all the way” title games in ’58, ’59, ’64, some of it in ’68 and some in ’70).

I am no big fan of Rodgers, but even without the money involved, say “enough of Brady.” What is scary is he did not do all that much in the T.B. (30-20) Slot 4 win at New Orleans (3 straight years, Saints’ ‘offs losses at home at the 3 different possible levels–semis in ’18, w/cd in ’19 and quarters yesterday which reminds me of Erving and Philly who regressed, losing in the final in ’77, semis to Bobby Dandridge and “Wash” in ’78 and the quarters in ’79 before losing in final round play twice vs L.A.(’80 and ’82) and the Celts in ’81 before because they stole the late, great Moses Malone and won it in ’83. By the way, Erving ALWAYS given a “pass” by the warped media said “mail in the stats.” If a more vocal, non butt kissing Black athlete did that, the media would have excoriated him) but they won. Rodgers and G.B. will likely have to be at their best to beat the best, Tom Brady and an excellent T.B. team.

So let’s beat Brady next week, but first realize his utter greatness. By the way Belichick got another game favorite incorrect. In a review of the Pats 2001 slot 2/”tuck rule”/other big plays win vs Oakland, his N.E. team was favored and won on the powerful 3. Belichick called his team the underdog. WRONG, not as bad as saying the Giants were favored in the ’58 title game but very bad!!

Certainly not eloquent and in tangential “run ons” I “REM” “I think I have said too much, I think I have not said enough.”

“S–ew” the title tilts, let’s be better human beings regardless of color, religion, ethnicity or financial standing.

Other than Trump, who ascended to this nation’s highest office and S.A. Smith, a blowhard of blowhards, nobody embodies the “given the kingdom, despite ineptitude and arrogance,” more than Tony Romo.

He screeched that (Chad) Henne had taken K.C. to the title tilt, he had not. Nantz was no better saying they had a clinching first down when we could see they were short.

Next Romo, who never even made a title game as a player said look at the body language, there would be no play.

Seconds later, Henne threw to Hill, now they are in the title tilt, K.C. opening a 3 point favorite, they have no covered 9 straight and I think it is a Mahomes will play #. We shall see.

Please get rid of Romo, the biggest incompetent I have heard and there have been so many!!!

Yesterday, both and first, the Green Bay Packers (once (13-0) in home ‘offs games and now (20-5) and Buffalo Bills, now the winning team in 11 of their last 12 home such games, won their “slots” tilts by 14 points to advance to their respective conference title tilts.

I think Aaron Rodgers is tremendous and also “plurality favor” the Pack to title, however the “too much emotion” and also the “in game kibbitzing” with members of the other team by the cerebral, future Jeopardy host, quarterback, is annoying.

Beating the 7 point underdog Rams by a (32-18) count (ever such a score in an NFL ‘offs game, any NFL game? certainly never in Pack or Rams’ playoff annals), is not even the bare minimum for this G.B. team.

Having lost three straight and four of their last 5 NFC title tilts, the Pack, 10 time “won a title game,” NFL champions, all with a Democrat in office as U.S. President, which will be the case this year, need to at least make the 55th Supe, which will be played in Tampa, Florida, 3 weeks hence.

Rodgers, in this the week the widow of Fred “Mr.” Rogers passed on, threw 2 TD passes and non bet by me, ran for another. It was the first run touchdown by a G.B. quarterback, since the greatest Pack and maybe any team’s quarterback, Bart Starr’s dramatic game winning one vs Dallas, in the ’67 NFL Title Game/”The Ice Bowl.”

Now to the Bills, (11-2) in NFL related home ‘offs tilts and (12-3) counting AFL related (only) such games.

They sputtered and had way too many conservative calls and were tied (3-3) at the half, with the vastly over rated Ravens’ kicker “Just” Tucker missing 2 field goals, making it a total of 3 in these ‘offs. He is not, or anywhere near the greatest kicker ever, but that does not stop the “hype machine.”

Buffalo ought not do that next week, especially if there is a redux of the first AFL or AFC game with a Supe bid on the line, some 54 years later at K.C. vs the defending champion but, “no coverers” of 8 straight (0-7-1 ATS, (7-1) straight up in those), Chiefs. 

That also applies if “Buff” gets to host “near by,” but never a big rival, Cleveland and any opponent for that matter.

Certainly out of shape, sit under the blanket, me does realize the conditions were bad last night but …..

After the Bills finally got in the end zone to lead (10-3), it was from his own end zone, that Lamon Johnson took off and ran 101 yards for an interception of a Lamar Jackson pass (talk about over rated, Jackson’s picture is among those next to the phrase in the dictionary–I know it was cold but again …..)  score, that with the extra point (GB failed on 2, one a “2,” while the Rams converted on a “2” but what does that mean?!—Alas what does nice odds on FG for first score in both tilts and 15 to 1 draw/Bills mean? As “War” sang regarding any good about war, something the military controlled U.S. often forgets, “absolutely,” or let’s just say “nothing.”)  accounted for the final points in a (17-3) Bills win, in a “blanket under,” vs the Ravens.

In the NFL quarterfinal round/divisional round/slots, opening game, the 7 point favorite Green Bay Packers and the Rams (I write Rams as the ’01 clash was in St. Louis where the Rams played at the time) meet in the ‘offs for the third time, having split the first two tilts, a Pack home win in ’67 and a victorious Rams result, in the aforementioned 2001 tilt.

Both previous clashes were also quarterfinal round games, the ’01 clash in Slot 3 and the 1967 game as the NFL Western Conference, first scheduled playoff also on a Saturday in Green Bay. Then it began earlier, say 1 P.M. local time and today the game will start roughly three and a half hours later.

G.B. is in the first “slot,” i.e. the first game of the AFC/NFC configuration division round, now in its 51st incarnation (’70-2020) and 20th with the late afternoon start first tilt and subsequent night game (2001-2020).

The Packers won in Slot 1 vs the San Francisco 49ers en route to their first crown in 29 years in 1996 and also won vs Seattle in such a game in ’07. However, the eventual champion New York Giants, who 7-11’d titles with 4 ‘offs wins each season (an incredible 5 on the road), in both 2007 and 2011, “OT’d” the Packers in the following week’s NFC title tilt.

Los Angeles (Rams) will be playing in “Slot 1,” for just the second time in 16 AFC/NFC “div” round games, encompassing their time as first L.A. the St. Louis and now L.A. (already 2020 has “seen” LA basketball and baseball abbreviated season crowns for the Lakers and Dodgers respectively) again.

In 2 of the 3 seasons the NFL, before the AFC/NFC configuration began in ’70, had “quarters,” the Rams then in L.A. which of course is far from a cold weather city, sojourned to cold weather cities (Green Bay, actually the tilt was at the Packers’ sometime home, Milwaukee in ’67 and Minneapolis/St. Paul in ’69, and lost such games.

To my knowledge, there have been 6 non Saturday or Sunday ‘offs games, all on a Monday with the Rams involved in 4 of the 6. One in which the Rams did not play, involved the Packers.

In 1955, Christmas fell on a Sunday so the title tilt, a resounding Cleveland Browns’ win in their great quarterback Otto Graham’s last game was played on a Monday at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where until this season, the Rams still played home games. They also played such games in St. Louis and Anaheim.

The other Monday NFL Title Game also resulted in a loss for one of today’s Slot 1 participants. It proved to be legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s only ‘offs loss, as after the home team, Philadelphia Eagles (17-13’d) G.B. that Monday December 26, 1960, the “Pack” under Lombardi, won 5 titles in 7 seasons, compiling a (9-0) ‘offs record.

Closing, (always be, but not me) citing the four other Monday NFL ‘offs tilts (possibly there have been others), three of which involved the Rams.

They lost a slots home game in the mud to Minnesota in ’77 and a wild card game on another Monday in the next double digit year, ’88 also vs the Vikings, this time at “Minne.”

Their lone win in 4 Monday ‘offs games was at Dallas vs the Favored Cowboys in a 1983 wild-card round game.

Dallas won the other Monday ‘offs tilts, played before but on the same day as Vikings/Rams in ’77, that vs the Chicago Bears, en route to the second of 5 Supe crowns, however, sans even a semis appearance since their last title 25 years into the “rear view mirror.”

The 51st edition of the AFC/NFC slots/division round begins at Green Bay late Saturday afternoon in a redux of what actually was this round’s first ever game in 1967, when “G.B.” with a (9-4-1) record but at home defeated the (11-1-2) L.A. Rams (28-7).

I doubt very seriously another of those spoon fed, “given all” announcers with no sense of history, or for that matter, talent, Kevin Burkhardt, who gets to announce this “Sat,” would know that.

Maybe that is harsh criticism and though I truly believe it, only an opinion. However, how did Burkhardt become the #2 team lead announcer for Fox, without having done any and certainly not many games. He stood around and chimed in nonsense as essentially a side reporter on local telecasts of baseball and then he is in 4th slots telecast Saturday. In a world of problems for me, this situation does NOT help.  

The first AFC/NFC configuration “slots”/”div” round game matched a Baltimore team, the Colts and the Paul Brown coached Cincinnati Bengals.

Saturday night, a day shy of the exact 50 year anniversary of the Baltimore Colts’ Supe 5 win, another Baltimore team visits the Buffalo Bills in slot 2.

Last week, I and only I/me, cited the Bills had played the earlier or earliest playoff game 26 times in 28 possibilities. Make it 26of 29 as the Bills/Ravens is the later Saturday game.

On Sunday the whore league pushes the Sunday slot games back and the latter with 40 plus QB’s Brady and Brees into prime time. That makes me sick. Good night.

Next morning it is Cleveland/K.C. then T.B. vs New Orleans on Sunday. Among the 4 slots tilts, only G.B. vs the Rams have any playoffs history.

The Pack won the aforementioned 1967 NFL Western Conference playoff game, as cited above, the NFL’s first “quarter,” and went on to two more ‘offs wins and “titled” for the 5th time in 7 seasons, claiming such in Supe 2, their coach Vince Lombardi’s last game as Packers’ coach.

As the St. Louis Rams, they won a Sunday slots game, I believe the later one, in Pat Summerall’s last slots game (once we had “Super” (Pat Summerall), now it is Burkhardt and last week such as Levy, Tirico, and Eagle (I think twice, once on Nickolodeon, heaven help us), in 2001.

The Alabama Crimson Tide claimed their twelfth clear college football title, putting forth an epic offensive effort, in ripping Ohio State (52-24) in a third straight lopsided title tilt.

Quarterback Mac Jones completed eighty percent of his 45 passing attempts, throwing 5 touchdown passes, three to Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith, who played less than a half, amassing 214 yards on his 12 receptions.

Najee Harris, the third member of the great offensive triumpharate (Smith and Jones, neither is an “alias,” being the others) ran for three scores, including a 1 yard run, that opened the scoring.

In winning Nick Saban’s 7th title, (6 with ‘Bama and a shared one with LSU) the Tide led (7-0), (14-7), (21-14), (21-17), (35-17) at the half, (38-17) and cruised by 28 over (the game total was 75 and a fraction, think those that make the lines are not sharp, obviously think again), over Ohio State, a 6th loss at least in a game in which victory would have meant an Ohio State crown since Rex Kern and Company beat Orenthal Simpson and USC to claim the ’68 title. (Clearly a “reg” win in the season finale vs Michigan in ’69, a Rose Bowl win vs Jim Plunkett and Stanford in ’70, the same Rose Bowl scenario vs UCLA in ’75 in what unfairly to Ohio State was a “reg” redux–still they were big faves–, and title game losses as the underdog and a pretty decisive one vs Florida in ’06, LSU in ’07 and last night vs ‘Bama).

To their credit Ohio State claimed/won the ’02 and ’14 crowns, as at least a one touchdown underdog, vs Miami Florida and Oregon respectively.

In tonight’s college football title tilt, Alabama, whose coach Nick Saban is bidding to pass the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant with a 6th ‘Bama crown (“they” list Bryant as having 6 crowns but even though I dislike Notre Dame intensely, largely because they were voted titles they did not deserve, ’73 was a season which culminated with Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson and Mr. Cosell in tuxedoes and Notre Dame 24 ‘Bama 23, thus one can not say ‘Bama won the ’73 crown. Bryant can be credited with and is with Associated Press titles in ’61, ’64, ’65, ’78 and ’79) is an eight point “fave” (as “Hockey Bob” said “eight, you get it, eight) vs Ohio State.

The teams are meeting for the 5th time, the most recent and only Ohio State win being the ’14 semi win, with Meyer “Urban’ing” a 3rd crown at Saban(o)’s expense (where is Gross,others and time gone by, having been wasted).

Alabama won the other three, it being the operative #, as 3rd ranked Alabama, under Bryant, (Joe Namath calls him “Coach Bryant”) (35-6)’d the Buckeyes (Ohio State), only to be vaulted by Notre Dame in the final polls, that in those days “determined” the mythical national title), whose quarterback was Joe Montana.

Alabama has 11 titles, 5 under both Bryant and Saban and one under Gene Stallings in ’92. All but the ’17 title won when Tua Tagovailoa threw a game ending, overtime touchdown to 2020 Heisman winner, DeVonta Smith (Sean “McDog” McDonough’s voice crackling call, followed mine and now I do not record.) just after which, Sean intoned “one freshman to another,” was won by Bama with either a Democrat in office as U.S. President (’61,’64,’65, ’78,’79 Kennedy first then Johnson and Carter twice each all 5 with “The Bear” as ‘Bama coach, then playing off “‘Bama,” four with the O”bama”/Saban(o) link in ’09,’11, ’12 and ’15) or with one having been elected and just days away from being inaugurated.

That ONE previous such instance was with a Democrat having been elected President, defeating a Republican incumbent, as is of course the case now, that in ’92, (W.J.Clinton elected and Gene Stallings, the Alabama coach).

The ’17 title, referenced above, is the only one of the 11 thus far and if Alabama, again an 8 point favorite, wins tonight, it will be the only one of 12, without a Democrat as either President or President Elect, as a Republican who does not deserve his name cited and actually deserves much worse, was in a shameful reality, yet another in this country’s annals, in office as U.S. President.

Ohio State’s three “clear” crowns were gained under three different coaches, Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes in ’68, Jim Tressel with the virtually forgotten Maurice Clarett, in ’02 and  in ’14, when the Meyer coached Buckeyes followed their semi win vs ‘Bama, with another upset win, that vs Oregon in the first playoffs/title tilt.

Yesterday, a three of three underdogs cover and two clear overs day (in doing Bills’ research, I read about the fine player, Tom Day, who died a day after his 65th birthday, after a life that included helping NFL players who “fell” and  transcending racial barriers), the Tom Brady (his teams are now (31-11) in ‘offs games, (9-1)when played on Saturday night–all but last night’s with New England, including the first Saturday night ‘offs game, in which Brady and Company both “tuck-ruled” and “Viniatieri’d” the Raiders en route to the first of 6 crowns, some 25 years after the Raiders, en route to the first of what was to be 3 titles in 8 seasons and none since,j “roughed the passer’d and Stabler’d them) led, 5 seed, visiting Bucs and field goal/dog, outright winning, Rams joined the Bills as game winners. Neither the Bills vs the Colts or the Bucs vs the “Wash” football team, covered the respective touchdown and “more than td,” point spreads.

Thus, if the 10 point fave Saints (the bettors are cashing those big fave teasers, one wonders for how long, although if “dumping the “whole game” occurs at all, surely it is less frequent in the ‘offs) prevail today vs the Bears (who but me, would cite they are playing around 4 P.M. Eastern Time on a Sunday, in the first year of an expanded (I call it prostituted, get me yet–I know this, lived it, but no longer love it, in fact, on some level, especially that involving the announcers, the concussions, the replays, the lack of proper ball location by defensive backs and plethora of military is good propoganda, despise it, wild card round, after doing so 30 years ago) then in next week’s slots/division round, Brady and the Bucs would visit New Orleans while the Rams would go to Green Bay. (If it manifests, even if it does not, my opinion on Brady’s intangibles and recall of the ’67 Western Conference ‘off, will be cited in the upcoming pre slots week).

How’s this one?!! In 28 possibilities, the Buffalo Bills have played the earlier and in yesterday’s, again in my opinion, prostituted case, earliest, of the weekend’s playoff tilts, an incredible 26 times. Some details follow.

Three such instances were the day before and involved 2 games, while the other 25 were same day comparisons of starting times, again all but yesterday’s, also involving 2 games.

In ’63, the Pats made the AFL Title tilt, winning the Eastern Conference, unscheduled ‘off, as the two teams finished tied in the “reg” standings, on Saturday December 28, 1963. It was the next day, in the other football tilt that weekend, that the Chicago Bears (14-10)’d the New York Giants, to win the NFL crown.

1964’s final weekend included the Bills winning at home vs the defending champion Chargers (then and for most of their largely futile seasons they were the San Diego Chargers, and they had whomped the Pats in the ’63 AFL title tilt, led by Keith Lincoln. In the ’64 game, football is violent, but even pacifist, perhaps coward, but not because I would not have gone to fight in a war, me decries some of the new rules which penalize even “breathing” on the opposing quarterback–Mike Stratton delivered a blow that knocked Mr. Lincoln out of the game. A few years later Lincoln was dealt to Buffalo for the aforementioned Tom Day. I noted some of Mr. Day’s off field contributions and “tangential/run on sentence” me, feels I would be remiss not reminding and never forgetting another Lincoln and in that case TRAGIC VIOLENCE are associated) the day before the Browns won their last crown, (27-0) vs the then Baltimore Colts, the franchise Buffalo “no covered”and “all teased” ( that includes the total that “fell” 51, with 50 and a fraction and 52 out there, but of course not me, NEVER me) yesterday.

One of the two times that the Bills played the later of the two ‘offs tilts on the same day, was their Billy Joe (not quite Billy Joel) led victory on another December 26th, that one in 1965.

Earlier that day, the Green Bay Packers (in a rare foray into the present, I think the upcoming Supe will match Green Bay and Buffalo and thought so for 5 dollars at 45 to 1, the fact it is so little and though this clearly could have been more without crossing a danger line and of course would have yielded “hedge” possibilities, it is more important to “control” regarding this now totally out there, no longer “sub” but culture (this is U.S. culture and we have the nerve to knock France, other than if they are rude or hateful) won (13-10) vs the Baltimore Colts, again the franchise now in Indianapolis, the Bills (27-24’d) yesterday as touchdown “faves,” en route to the first of what still is an unprecedented 3 straight NFL crowns gained with title game victories.

The last pre AFC/NFC configuration occurrence was in the first “merger season” of 1966. Then before Green Bay (34-27’d) Dallas in the so under rated ’66 NFL title tilt, this because the ’67 version is legendary (of course that fact did not preclude Joe Buck from saying the ’67 version was played in 1969. Exacerbating that ignominious for a sportscaster–face it the top assignment one- was it happened at a dinner honoring one of that ’67 game announcers, his father Jack. Maybe he was confused by the fact his namesake, a “Midnight Cowboy” character walked, as lyrics sung by Harry Neilson (“Everybody’s talking at me”) and that superb film, not the ’67 NFL title tilt, aka “The Ice Bowl” was in 1969), K.C. (Chiefs), the current NFL champions and the only team that would be favored vs either the Packers or Bills in a “within the conference” tilt in the upcoming week(s), gained entry to the first Supe, beating the Bills.

So pre AFC/NFC configuration, 3 of 4 Bills’ ‘offs tilts were earlier. After eventual Supe champion, Pittsburgh (Steelers), 6 or so point faves today vs Cleveland in a bid to visit Buffalo in next week’s “slots,” won at home vs Hertz “pitchman” Orenthal Simpson and the Bills in the earlier Sunday “div” game in ’74, the next Bills’ ‘offs tilt “produced” the second and only other “later day” start.

In it, Dan Fouts, “went to” Ron Smith, Fouts he of the beard and no Supe “apps,” though I do like him and surely he was among the great passers, if not quarterbacks–the likely to retire and religious zealot, ex Charger player, Phillip Rivers, the Colts QB yesterday, is good, but nowhere near in that great category, and S.D. took out the Bills.

Since then and to wrap up this “run on/run on and worse,” the Bills have played in the earlier or earliest tilt of the day, (often weekend), 22 straight times.

Adding and almost done, in ’81, Buffalo won a Saturday wild card game at the Jets’ then Shea Stadium home, the day before Rob Carpenter led a Giants’ victory at Philly (imagine their 2 tilts next season, trust me by then other will headline and not the QB substitution perpetrated by the Eagles, though surely it will be publicized. Hopefully the teams will and it is not a stretch to say, will be part of a (much) better NFC East), in that weekend’s other wild card game.

As a vindictive father of a vanquished plagiaristic sportswriter,  (yet the latter lives in luxury, while said father’s actions contributed mightily to my plight, not vow, of “below the line” living), said– “if only I had put the effort into “other,” what I put into this c–p.

Therein lies a, if not the rub, as what was stated by Shakespeare to another Cassius (I love and admire Muhammad Ali and that, not Cassius is his name. Lighter note: Cassius Clay is also a pretty cool, surely alliterative name) is largely applicable, regarding me–something about fault, stars and ourselves.

Maybe I can implement the use of footnotes.