Another football great, Jake Scott an integral defensive, super clutch play standout on back to back Miami Dolphins’ title teams (the (17-0) ’72 team and the even more dominant ’73 team) died days back at age75.
“75” worn by Manny Fernandez (a viable Supe 7 MVP candidate, the award went to Scott, who had 2 interceptions), and in our games by Brad Weiner, evokes memories of the superb Miami defense, nicknamed the “No Name Defense.”
Jake also made big plays the following season, as Miami repeated as NFL champions in a Supe win, vs the Minnesota Vikings.
Below watch Dick Anderson’s interception return touchdown vs the Colts in the 1971 AFC Title Game. Jake Scott (#13) is the first to greet Anderson after the touchdown.
Trying to relax with the excellent interviewer Terri Gross doing so with the astute, eloquent Barack Obama.
There is very little I feel I know better than the former President. One is sports, specifically that ESPN is a monster/bad, not good.
Checking in on Ohio State vs Indiana and the monolith’s page read “Ohio State holds a COMMANDING lead over Indiana.
The lead was cut to (42-35) with ten minutes to play in “reg.”
I truly can not stand such ineptitude, more so the fact they ESPN are unstoppable.
A few notes, no opinions today.
Rutherford B. Hayes is a hero in Paraguay.
In recent weeks, I saw three alive (in their 80’s) and hopefully, well actors, give fine performances on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” “rees” (reruns) on MeTV.
They are Bruce Dern opposite Felicia Farr, the latter so alluring, in a so modest by today’s standards, two piece bathing suit and the also beautiful Jessica Walter.
Farr later married the great actor, Jack Lemmon. Walter is the widow of Ron Liebman, who stood out with Sally Field, in the great film, “Norma Rae.”
Dern has done so much great work and is the father of another fine actor, Laura Dern. Her mother, also in her 80’s is Diane Ladd.
Bruce Dern’s godfather was the “so ahead of his time” (I know I wrote no opinions, but that is virtual fact!) Adlai Stevenson II.
In the “Presents” episode referenced above Jessica Walter’s Aunt Adelaide is played by Patricia Collinge, a favorite of “The Master of Suspense.”
I did not do too bad in my first prediction in a long time yesterday as I wrote Seattle by say 7 points and they won (28-21) vs Arizona and now lead in the NFC West.
Alas, in a free/have to get the exact score correct to win, I “educated guess” (27-20) Sea and you know close only counts in the old days of dancing or horseshoes. (Get grenades and the ridiculous over hype for the military away from me. I credit those who “served” (so do waiters!), but why do I have to bow to that fact?!!) Read Howard Bryant on that subject.
Now a reference to a fictional shooting: Tonight is the 40 year anniversary to the day, (tomorrow it is to the date, Friday November 21, 1980) of the “Who shot J.R.” episode on the seminal show, “Dallas.”
By the way, treat the veterans well and my feelings have always been let’s have peace and stop killing each other.
I might, (emphasize might) watch tonight’s (6-3) Arizona (way too much hype for the Murray to Hopkins “Hail Mary” TD, as great a play as each made, it is still a worse play by the three “would be” (a Marty Glickman term) Buffalo defenders) at (6-3) Seattle tilt. I do not lay (points that is, not doing too well in that other use/jargon either), but I will pick 3 point favorite, Seattle to win by say 7 points. The very hot Owen will likely “tease up” (plus 10 or more con Arizona).
Anyone of the four teams (Philadelphia, Dallas, the Giants or the Washington football team) can win, the far less than average NFC East. Noting the Giants have either won or covered the spread in 8 of their 10 tilts, that with a (3-7) record.
The Green Bay Packers are going to be (I substitute NFC North champions for NFL champions, from the great Ted Moore call, after Bart Starr “snuck” G.B. to the ’67 NFL title) NFC North champions.
They also have as good a chance as any team to win it all, with the possible exception, of the defending champion K.C. Chiefs.
New Orleans has a one and a fraction game, loss column lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.
Out (NFC)West, the L.A. Rams also enter the week with a (6-3) record.
I do not like the night games, (the NFL is overexposed) however, tonight Sunday night’s K.C. vs Las Vegas (of course I almost wrote Oakland and memories of Fred Biletnikoff and Otis Taylor flash, Otis can not walk and I wonder if the NFL or K.C. has done enough to help Otis and others like him. I did not wonder long. The answer is a disgraceful NO. Bob Costas, I believe “backpedaled” a bit, as his once beloved baseball gets more and more prostituted, however, he clearly will be on the right side of history, as he walked away from football, citing its inherent dangers) and Monday’s redux of two “9” year (’79 and ’99) NFC title tilts, matching the Rams and Buccaneers are games that are tempting to watch. I MIGHT just do so.
Maybe you can tell I once loved this stuff.
The photo above, depicting what I would guess to be a great catch by Fred Biletnikoff in the 1964 season Gator Bowl, played on Saturday January 2, 1965 (I have a nice memory of watching that game with my father as Fred’s name and especially his great performance stood out) is small but meaningful.
Notice the Gator Bowl banner in the distance.
The NFL, the least prostituted, but still heavily so regarding its ‘offs system, now has 7 ‘offs teams from each conference.
If the Covid19 situation cancels games, there likely will be 8 from each conference and no byes. As is, only the top seed gets a bye, but alas no real home advantage.
The (9-0) Steelers and (8-1) defending champion Chiefs will almost certainly qualify.
Buffalo, despite a hail mary loss at (6-3) Arizona (maybe an NFC update this week) is in good shape with a (7-3) record.
Six teams are (6-3) (playing off Teddy Pendergrass “if you do not know the divisions by now), Cleveland, Baltimore, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Las Vegas Raiders and the Miami Dolphins. Bill Belichick, who erroneously, said the Giants were ’58 title game faves vs the Colts, and his Pats are (4-5).
The subject, the great football player and later a concise, quality analyst, Paul Hornung, who died days back at age 84, and my tangential mind, are “off the charts,” in combination, with memories provided by “The Golden Boy,” #5, Paul Hornung.
Since Paul’s statistics, on some level, do not translate into an indicator of his all-time type greatness, I will start with “Stone” meeting Paul, at a racetrack in Florida.
As Paul walked in with the fine quarterback, Bill Kilmer, “Stone” said to Mr. Hornung, “excuse me for staring, but it is not every day I see someone who scored 176 points in a football season.
Hornung did just that in the 12 game, 1960 season and as a record, it stood until 2006, when LaDainian Tomlinson broke it.
In big games, Hornung was at his best, scoring a touchdown in the ’61 title tilt, setting up the lone Packers touchdown in ’62 and the one I remember most, going around left end, following his great offensive linemen, in this case, I believe Forrest Gregg and Jerry Kramer for a 13 yard score, that all but sealed (Vince Lombardi regarding “a seal, here and a seal there,” football jargon, but also the devout, happily married Lombardi to Paul, a definite single “player” of another variety. Coach warned of a 5 thousand dollar fine for breaking curfew and doubting any woman would be worth that loss. As a caveat, Lombardi added, if there is such, knock on my door, I will go with you”) the ’65 title game win vs “my” Cleveland Browns, in the great Jim Brown’s last NFL game. (He did play in the much more important than now, but still an anti-climax, Pro Bowl, after that.)
So many greats have died this year, 4 (the number of title teams Paul played on with the Green Bay Packers) from the legendary Packers of the 1960’s, who won 5 titles in 7 seasons and a still unmatched 3 consecutive titles won in title games. (A much earlier version of the Packers coached by “Curly” Lambeau as in Lambeau Field, won 3 straight from (1929-1931), but before the advent of title game(s) play.
The other three Packers’ greats we lost this fateful year, being “Willies” Wood and Davis, as well as Herb Adderley.
Lombardi had a friend named John F. Kennedy and the then President, excused Paul Hornung for “Reserve” duty to “start” in the 1961 NFL title game, an eventual (37-0) Pack win, vs an excellent New York Giants’ team.
Perhaps now, Mr. Kennedy and his famed touch football game team has a “ringer” in heavenly or some such play, in the great, funny, amazing Paul Hornung.
I, Andy B. (pictured on the right) was so happy to meet Paul Hornung, pictured above and on the left, at a college football event, I attended in the mid 1990’s.
Another truly great sports figure, Tommy Heinsohn died suddenly last week at the age of 86 (of the ’86 Celtics, but one title since, Lakers also with 17 but read on).
Heinsohn played 9 seasons, all with the (Boston) Celts and the team won 8 NBA titles.
He and Bill Russell were rookies on the first title team in 1957, the great winner Russell and Tommy a.k.a. “Tommy Gun” (he liked to shoot), putting Boston over the top.
In an incredible game 7 vs a very good St. Louis Hawks team led by Bob Pettit and coached by Alex Hanumm, it was Heinsohn who scored 37 points in the Celts overtime victory.
LeBron James, now with half the 8 titles Heinsohn has tied that still record number of points in a game 7 of the NBA final for a player on the winning team. The great Jerry West had 42 in defeat vs the Celtics in 1969.
I interviewed Mr. Heinsohn at a B’nai B’rith sports dinner in 1988 and he talked about an incredible play, in which, Hanumm, a player coach, threw the ball the length of the court and off the backboard, I believe setting up a shot to win the game.
It would be great to have video or audio of that and other classic games.
In one that does exist, with Bob Wolff, a man who put my “student call” of a Tom Veryzer started 6-3 play, of a game at Yankee Stadium in 1977, into the Smithsonian Institute, along with his great interviews, Heinsohn came up big, down the stretch, as the Celtics clinched the 1963 title at L.A. in game 6. He grabbed a huge offensive rebound and converted 2 free throws to put the Celts up 3, in a time when there was no 3 point shot. He added 2 more free throws, accounting for the last 4 Boston points in a (112-109) win.
It was Bob Cousy’s last game and he threw the ball straight up in the air as the game ended.
Up there, Tommy, who also guided the Celtics to titles number 12 and 13 as coach in 1974 and 1976 and was still a very biased Johnny Most type Celts broadcaster, be careful with the angels/referees, as instead of issuing technical fouls, they might take your cigarettes.
The great Bill Russell on the left with Tommy Heinsohn.
One day, I hope it will not be necessary, to say he or she is black, white, green (think Celtics) or of a certain faith, however, the Celtics with a great team of both black and white players, with a coach (Red Auerbach) of the Jewish faith, back in “lesser when,” IS WORTH NOTING.
Even before a certain someone used something called “tweets,” to express his anger/ego/ evil coated views, I did not like the idea of “tweets,” certainly not the plethora thereof.
However, the brief heartfelt one below from Bill Russell about Tom Heinsohn, is worth putting out there.
Even though he helped Ian Eagle, which certainly is a double slap in the face to me (see Eagle is not my “cup of tea” and he really did not help me), Marty Glickman was a great broadcaster and more important, a great, principled man.
Maybe I would not have measured up to his standards, but certainly Eagle and others far worse (Michael Kay, who did not recognize Marty’s voice when it played through a box at ABC in the mid 1980’s, and those even worse than him, for example) do not.
This little, maybe big bit of vitriol (also “Bill Klem” it, as sour grapes, adding as my mother often said “Kay tried” as did Eagle and the others, while clearly I did not try, nor want it enough), as this Sunday, marks the 50th anniversary of the Giants great comeback win vs no, not the Eagles, but the Washington football team.
Editor Doug Ingber, frequent pool winner or co winner (last week with a (9-4) mark, what kind of pool is that?!) “Ethan Stone” and I hope to have a “conference call” this Sunday, regarding our memories of that game.
We did so when I hosted a “Tribute To Marty Glickman Show” (edited beautifully by Mr. Ingber) upon the occasion of Marty’s last broadcast in December of 1992. Mr. Glickman called in, having truly enjoyed the show.
On that Sunday November 15th, 1970, Ingber was with his father, having travelled to Connecticut, thus circumventing the blackout and could see what turned into a fabulous tilt, with such great players as Fran Tarkenton, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor and Ron Johnson participating.
“Stone” was at the game, hearing about the tragic plane crash that took the lives of the Marshall football team the night before, on the way to Yankee Stadium, with his father.
They bought two New York Times, not only to read, but for a cushion “against” the hard seats.
I believe I was the most fortunate of all, as I was home and got to listen to Marty Glickman. My dad was out, probably listening and it was he, who introduced me to Marty’s greatness, listening in the car, on so many Sunday afternoons.
On the occasion of the immortal Jackie Robinson’s 50th anniversary season of his 1947 debut, which of course was long overdue, to integrate baseball and I always cite Larry Doby, who later that year, became the first Black player in the American League—-I drove Marty to a symposium, regarding that event at Long Island University.
As he got in my car, I told Mr. Glickman that I was not that good with directions. My father often cited the fact I did not pay enough attention, as I always put the radio on first, as to hear Marty’s broadcasts. He laughed.
Hopefully, I can post more on the anniversary this Sunday, but speaking of driving, Marty Glickman, in the heat of the battle, as the Giants climbed closer in an eventual (35-33) win, suggested that those listening but also driving, pull over to the side of the road.
Marty told me, then Yankees executive/president? Mike Burke did just that. What a memory, what a game, what a broadcaster!!!
Today, a truly classic episode of “What’s My Line?” that first aired in August, 1953.
A superb announcer, I wish I knew who, cites Stopette a great product from cosmetic chemist, Jules Montenier and company, as the show’s sponsor and then introduces the first panelist, Dorothy Kilgallen, who is seated.
Deborah Kerr (as in STAR) a true great is the mystery guest.
The other panelists all seated and introduced right to left are Steve Allen, who has a new television show, Arlene Francis, about to open in a play in Westport, Connecticut and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Andy B Sports 