Among the many interesting facts I discovered after realizing the (31-27) scores in key 49ers vs Lions’ games, fourteen years apart in 1957 and 1971, is that the Pittsburgh Steelers and then Chicago, Cardinals, played a “meaningless” game on December 22, 1957, the same day Detroit’s Lions (31-27)’d the S.F. 49ers, to take the Western Conference crown, en route to their last NFL title, or even final game appearance.
For some reason, the Steelers and Cardinals did not play on November 17th of that year and the NFL deemed it necessary for them to play on December 22nd.
The Lions overcame a (27-7) deficit to beat the 49ers (31-27) in the ’57 Western Conference playoff that day, while “27” was the winning point total, as the Steelers won (27-2) at Comiskey Park in Chicago, vs the Cardinals.
I will have more notes on related NFL— including the 49ers turning the (31-27) score into their favor, to clinch the “one eighth,” not one half, as was the case in ’57, regular season entity vs the Lions in the 1971 finale, also played at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
The ticket above did not allow access, as the title game was held in Detroit, matching the hometown Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Today, a very special video from a special hosted by Tom Jones, in which Mary Hopkin sings her huge hit and meaningful song, “Those Were The Days.”
I “dared” to ask Janis to dance with me, as that song started, some years back. That and the song is so meaningful to me.
Mary’s rendition on the show is great and Tom Jones is classy both before and after the song.
Mr. Jones was very gracious to me, years later, when I met him at a “Songwriters Hall of Fame” event.
Enjoy Mary Hopkin singing “Those Were The Days,” by clicking below.
There is so much to the movie, “Joker” especially the award winning performance of Joaquin Phoenix.
Among other things, it is a prequel to the “Batman” story, as the reasons behind “arch criminal,” “Joker’s” emergence are explored.
Robert De Nero, in an almost opposite role as that of his in “The King of Comedy,” when his character “Rupert Pupkin” wreaks havoc on talk show host “Jerry Langford,” played by Jerry Lewis, is talk show host “Murray Franklin” in “Joker”
Frances Conroy, so fondly remembered from the television show, “Six Feet Under,” gives a memorable performance as “Joker/Arthur Fleck’s” mother.
The entire cast is very good with star, Joaquin Phoenix giving a performance of a man’s “descent with reasons,” that truly resonates and warns.
Joaquin Phoenix, pictured above and on Shakespeare Avenue/Anderson Avenue along 167th Street, in the Bronx, “steps,” gave a riveting performance in “Joker.”
A tremendous hitter and eventually a title winning general manager, Bob Watson, who died days back, made me look very good, one June night at Shea Stadium in 1977.
Bob, in my book, was one of the best hitters of his time, a time that preceded today’s “watered down pitching.”
The lone woman in Bob Wolff’s broadcasting class asked about keeping score that June night when Bob brought the class to Shea Stadium for Astros (then of course a National League team) vs Mets.
Bob Watson was up with the bases loaded and 2 out, T5 when I told the classy, beautiful Adrienne, mark down 2 rbi single (2r1b) for Mr. Watson, as he was about to take his turn at bat.
As if Mr. Watson could “hear me,” he delivered a 2 run single.
Art Howe followed with an rbi hit and now I hope the right entity “hears me,” as I hope Mr. Howe and so many others, recover from complications due to the coronavirus.
Bob Watson, pictured above
Forty years have passed since rookie Earvin “Magic” Johnson scored 42 points and Jamaal Wilkes had 37, to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their second L.A. crown, winning a delayed tape telecast, game 6, in Philadelphia vs the 76ers.
The Lakers were without their great center, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, but led by Johnson, who became an NBA great that night and eventually an all-time player, went to Philadelphia and won the crown.
Among the many Lakers’ contributors that night was reserve guard and rarely used, Brad Holland, who hit some big shots.
I was in room 302 of a Howard Johnson’s hotel, watching the game live as it was shown live in Los Angeles and Philadelphia and recall listening to the great Lakers’ broadcaster, Chick Hearn.
Hearn in calling the game with ex-Lakers player, Keith Erickson, intoned “the layup” properly raising his voice, as Mr. Wilkes shot. It was more than once and shots from twenty plus feet, but Chick called it, “the layup” and each time he did, Wilkes made the shot.
It looks like the great Jamaal Wilkes #52 is about to shoot. Greg Ballard, a member of the ’78 Bullets title team, is defending.
Yesterday I “battled” through the many commercial breaks to watch a fine 1955 film, “Illegal,” starring the immortal Edward G. Robinson, on Movies channel.
I was very impressed with the entire cast, especially two female performers, Nina Foch and an up and coming Jayne Mansfield.
The day before “The Diary of Anne Frank,” a superb movie about the extraordinary courage of Anne Frank and others, aired on TCM.
Research revealed that Nina Foch, so good in so many films, including the seminal, “An American In Paris,” was an assistant to director George Stevens on “The Diary Of Anne Frank.”
Foch born in Netherlands, part of the film that told Anne Frank’s story in that country was so much more.
Most notable, was Ms. Foch’s work, teaching, in a tremendous and inspiring life.
The inspiring, Nina Foch, pictured above.
The games were incredible, and watching the 1986 NLCS on SNY is definitely recommended.
It was a six game series and telecasts commence at 7:30 each night on SNY.
It was a thrilling series and I was fortunate to have attended the 3 games at Shea Stadium (games 3-5).
Treasured memories abound.
I have a nice memory of Frank Cashen, the ’86 Mets General Manager, coming into the ABC booth, all excited after Len Dykstra’s home run won game 3 of the ’86 NLCS.
Near the end of his long broadcasting career, which was almost entirely with the New York Mets (I had not known, he was part of the Chicago White Sox broadcasting contingent for one season), the great home run hitter, Ralph Kiner was seated at the same table as me, in the press room.
He, of course, was the center of attention and someone asked, against which pitcher did he get his first major league hit? The game was Ralph’s Pittsburgh Pirates vs the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946.
Ralph could not think of the “St. Loo” pitcher and I took an educated guess that is was (John) Beazley. I felt very good, when Ralph remembered it was Beazley.
John Beazley won the 2nd game of the ’42 World Series, with a big assist from Enos “Country” Slaughter.
Adding to yesterday’s post regarding that game which turned the ’42 World Series toward and inevitably for the Cardinals vs the Yankees, Mr. Slaughter had a “literal assist,” throwing out pinch runner George “Tuck” Stainback, who tried for third with none out T9, on John “Buddy” Hassett’s single to right.
As cited yesterday, Slaughter doubled with 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth, and scored the game’s last and decisive run on Stan Musial’s single.
One of Stan Musial’s biggest base hits, (further research may reveal it to be his biggest), was his game winning/decisive hit in game 2 of the 1942 World Series for his St. Louis Cardinals, vs the defending champion and vaunted New York Yankees.
It was the first of four straight Cards’ wins that gave them the ’42 title in 5 games.
St. Louis had dissipated a (3-0) lead when the Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the eighth inning, with Charlie Keller, who had delivered the key hit in the ’41 World Series, tying the game with a 2 run home run off still winning pitcher, rookie John Beazley.
However, in the bottom of that inning,Enos “Country” Slaughter doubled with 2 outs and Stan singled up the middle to “tune in” Slaughter.
If one tuned in, a “mad dash” by Slaughter was the description, one four years before a much heralded such “mad dash.” Stay “tuned” here, for more notes in and around #2/1942 World Series.
Today a very nice episode of the newer, “What’s My Line?” that aired in 1972.
Monty Hall of “Let’s Make A Deal” fame is the mystery guest.
One great panelist from the glory days of the show, the delightful Arlene Francis remains.
Others are Soupy Sales, Melba Tolliver and Jack Cassidy.
Wally Bruner is the show’s host. The legendary Johnny Olson is the show’s announcer. Enjoy watching.
