Today I received what is a nice honor, certainly a “pick me up” amidst the conditions. as my post “Onlooker” which cites the great Rodney Dangerfield was posted on WILDsound Festival.
Below is the link, enjoy their fine site and if so inclined, read my original post from months back.
WILDsound Festival.
“Onlooker:” The Great Rodney Dangerfield — Andy B Sports
More in the days ahead.
Today a really nice, special episode of “What’s My Line?” from May, 1953, with the great Sid Caesar as the mystery guest.
Host John Charles Daly states with great prescience that television will always owe a great debt to Mr. Caesar for his contributions.
Panelists are Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf and husband and wife, Martin Gabel and Arlene Francis.
Enjoy the episode.
They really are going to play abbreviated seasons, (essentially playoffs) in the NHL (not that bad), baseball (horrible and ridiculous, think of past teams ahead after roughly three eighths of the season) and NBA (worst of all–no fans, no gain from regular season prowess).
This pales compared to other obvious problems, but look no further than the leadership in these sports and of course “the king/pro football,” to easily see evidence of this not having the glory of ancient Athens, alas nowhere near, despite the potential and natural advantages afforded us.
There is not only no Socrates or Plato, alas Pete is not to be in the “Hall” and they will play a 60 game baseball season.
The Acropolis of Athens as seen from the Hill of the Muses.
Tomorrow, my “muses” will take me to a more optimistic form, with a post revealing an episode of “What’s My Line?”
A few notes on that Mets/Braves game played July 9, 1967 and others that Sunday, before the All-Star Game and break.
In Pittsburgh, the great Pirates’ player, Willie Stargell homered off Jim Maloney, pitching in relief, (Maloney was an excellent starter, used in relief that day, as the All-Star break was next) tied (1-1) B9, lifting the “Buccos” (2-1), vs the Cincinnati Reds.
Frank Howard increased his major league home run lead with two that day as his Washington Senators won the first game at Cleveland (Indians).
Finally, in the Mets (5-4) win vs the Braves, the biggest moment was a 2 out, game tying, solo home run by pinch hitter, Jerry Buchek, in the two run Mets ninth inning.
A bases loaded walk to Ron Swoboda ended the tilt, one noteworthy for Mets manager Wes Westrum sending up Buchek to hit for Bud Harrelson, who as noted yesterday was 4 for 4.
The Mets needed a home run, thus no Harrelson, and Buchek delivered with a drive over right fielder and great home run hitter, Henry Aaron.
Jerry Buchek, pictured as a St. Louis Cardinals player, pictured above.
This on a day I remember my Mom, gone 19 years, and among the memories, she “enduring” the ball games, my Dad and I sought.
So here’s one, maybe we heard and a juxtaposition with one we watched and heard.
On September 24, 1969, Joe Torre playing in his first season as a St. Louis Cardinal, hit into a shortstop Bud Harrelson started 6-4-3 (to Al Weis, then Donn Clendenon) double play, that clinched the N.L. East crown for the (Miracle) New York Mets.
Two years and two plus months earlier on July 9, 1967, 9 days before (was with the Atlanta Braves) Torre, that year’s National League All Star starting catcher turned 27, he and Harrelson were a combined 7 for 7, in an eventual (5-4) Mets’ win, 2 days before that year’s All Star Game, in the new Anaheim Stadium.
Tomorrow more notes in and around Mets/Braves, Torre and Bud Harrelson.
Joe Torre, who turns 80 years old, two weeks from yesterday, pictured above.
Today, there really is that confluence imagined/perceived, in the great “Chicago” song, “Saturday in the Park.”
In its opening lines it is Saturday, “I think it is the Fourth of July.”
At age 244, the U.S. may tell two versions of a not so hot, .244 hitter in its clear great gift to the rest, baseball.
It is not a good average, but with the disproportionate money boom, roughly and appropriately 44 years old, players hitting such or below, make huge money.
Alas, enjoy the video of Chicago performing “Saturday in the Park” in 1973 and perhaps reflect on these lyrics– if we want it, really want it.”
That applies to so much, one such is the perpetual good of reflection and subsequent improvement.
“If we want it, really want it,” indeed!
I was in Inwood, New York yesterday and a nice day was made better, when I saw there is a street (Matty Alou Way, located at Isham and Seaman) at least partially named for the fine baseball player, Matty Alou.
He won the 1966 National League batting title, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a .342 batting average and played on pennant winners with the western “Bay Area” teams, the (S.F.) Giants and (Oakland) A’s ten years apart in 1962 and 1972 respectively.
Matty started all 12 (1972) A’s post-season tilts in right field, as they won the requisite 7 games and the title. The ’62 Giants were denied the title, losing to the Yankees incredible 20th crown in 40 seasons, in game 7 of that year’s World Series.
A big part of THE ERA, that of LIVE Television, but also spanning the eras with his comedic greatness, Carl Reiner, who died this week at age 98, is an iconic figure, whose work and contributions are timeless.
There were so many great efforts by Mr. Reiner. Those include his play and memoir, “Enter Laughing,” his role in “Call Me Mister” (Buddy Hackett was a cast member) and as cited yesterday, directing “Oh God.”
That title (Oh God, as in look at this incredible body of work)) applies, as one recalls so much else.
Start with his role as head writer and performer on the amazing ” Your Show of Shows,” which starred Sid Caesar.
Reiner was an integral part of “The Murderer’s Row” (think ’27 Yankees, a great lineup!) of great writers, that roamed the NBC corridors, yielding some of comedy’s all time classics.
Carl created “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” a compelling, humorous, yet compassionate show, that has held up as well as any, in television history. (CBS will air two great episodes of the show, with Mr. Reiner in a prominent role, tomorrow night beginning at 8 P.M. Eastern Time).
He was “Alan Brady” an ode/reminder of Sid Caesar and subliminally that name, entered my world of created names for a personal sports league. Such was the influence.
Among the other great writers on “Your Show of Shows,” was Mel Brooks. He and Carl became lifelong best friends. Their “The Two Thousand Year Old Man” is another top of the list, all-time comedy masterpiece.
Reiner excelled, directing Steve Martin (“The Jerk” was one movie with Martin), playing an old con man in the “Oceans 11,12 and 13” movies and in various television roles.
It was his class and knowledge, the willingness to talk about his beloved work that resonated so much with me.
Thankfully, so much of his work can be seen, be sure to check talk shows, as he was a deadpan funny, and most informative guest.
Hopefully, next for this kind and caring man, is time with his wife Estelle, with whom he can in a large sense “have what she is having” and vice versa, all the while “sending” some help for us on the planet earth.
Carl Reiner, pictured above.
Among so much classic work, click below to view an incredible one, with Mr. Reiner as the show’s host. Howard Morris, another comedic great is “Uncle Goofy.” Sid Caesar is “Al,” as was the case with Carl Reiner, born in 1922.
Likely they will play (I fervently hope they do not or at least let them acknowledge, it is just an exhibition with no real title) and a bogus champion will be a result.
This one will/would make the split season ’81 Dodgers, seem like the ’27 Yankees, or close to it, by comparison.
Sorry, current commissioners and far too many fans, their heads so deep into fantasy/not the real team competition, but your attitude is disgraceful to me.
They will some day attempt “all teams into the playoffs,” I hope not, but it is not all that far fetched, a 60 game season a compelling example.
In “Oh, God,” (written by Avery Corman, starring George Burns and directed by Carl Reiner–tomorrow this bitterness goes and I look back in tribute to Mr. Reiner) Burns/”God” cites the ’69 Mets winning it all, as his last miracle.
I feel confident God loved baseball, helped inspire it and would oppose the wild card presence and a 60 game season.
Today a really special episode of “What’s My Line?” that first aired in 1954.
The mystery guest is the fabulous Doris Day. The episode below is shown with its original commercials.
In a variation, the panelists were introduced from right to left and I do the same. Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Steve Allen and Dorothy Kilgallen.
Ms. Kilgallen, in turn, introduced host John Charles Daly.
Enjoy.
