Some notes likely not anywhere else, regarding early NBA season battles between “fine records” Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers’ teams, 48 years apart.
Last night, in a battle of (24-4) teams, each of whom having lost their most recent tilt (Dallas even without budding star, Luka Doncic and on the road, ended the Bucks’ 18 game win skein, one only exceeded in franchise annals by their then NBA record win skein, set in their lone title season in ’70-’71–while Indiana ended the Lakers’ 14 game road winning streak), the 5 point, home favorite Bucks, won (111-104) vs the Lakers.
It was just over 48 years ago, with a future great NBA center, Bill Walton, then a sophomore about to lead UCLA to the college crown, happily watching Kareem Abdul Jabbar vs Wilt Chamberlain, the same franchises each took (17-3) records, into a Lakers’ home (112-105) victory.
Some pretty startling similarities, likely not noted elsewhere.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar scored 39 points in the loss and 39 again, 7 weeks later, when the Bucks’ home win ended the Lakers’ remarkable 33 game winning streak.
In the Lakers’ November 21, 1971 win, Pat Riley, who played vs the then Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) in high school and coached him on 4 Lakers’ title teams in the 1980’s, hit on 7 of 11 shots in a strong game.
John Block made his only shot in the November 1971 game and really helped Milwaukee end the Lakers’ win skein, shooting 7 of 11 (the Bucks’ Lucius Allen went 9 of 13), in the January 9, 1972 game.
Mr. Block as a Houston Rockets player. The Rockets played games on the same day as all 3 Bucks/Lakers games cited above, splitting vs the Warriors 48 or so years ago and winning vs the L.A. Clippers, in L.A. last night.
Last night, returning via subway and bus on a cold night warmed by an excellent taping of a future “Inside The Actor’s Studio” (Treat Williams was interviewed by Alec Baldwin), I did a really good deed.
I am not stating this for credit, but to encourage others to do the same. It is a great feeling to give, help and at least care about others, despite our own problems and situation.
So thank you Phyllis, someone I did not know, for asking me to help her walk up the hill. It yielded a nice feeling inside me.
When giving/helping others, you will not experience stomach problems, as depicted in the classic Alka-Seltzer ad, shown above. It is a good feeling all the way.
Some research revealed Jack Aaron, as the actor in the ad.
I was fortunate to meet the tremendous performer, Danny Aiello, who died days back at the age of 86, on a few occasions.
He was personable and it was always nice to talk with him.
The work he did was astounding (I recall seeing and talking with him and former heavyweight boxing champion, Larry Holmes, after Danny’s moving performance in “Knockout,” forty years ago), my recollections also include “Radio Days” and a benefit not so long ago, where he spoke from his heart, about the great joy he experienced, receiving a pair of boxing gloves at an early age. It was truly moving.
On the day of the New York Yankees title parade in 1999, I had the pleasure of interviewing him at another event.
He liked my memory, as I recalled myriad tidbits and I said that, as with a character in one of his movies, I had a penchant for retaining “useless information.”
Mr. Aiello asked in which movie his character stated that? I did not know the answer. We both laughed, as he said it was “29th Street.”
Later in the evening, introducing an oldies music show, he predicted a “Subway Series”/ Yankees vs Mets in 2000, which came to fruition.
There’s some “useless information,” regarding a man the polar opposite, one who did so much and did so warmly, in his life.
Danny Aiello, pictured above.
“Anything Can Happen In The Theater” (presented by The York Theatre Company), is a rollicking, thoughtful and thoroughly entertaining show, featuring the songs of Tony Award winning lyricist, Maury Yeston.
The show was conceived and is directed by Gerard Alessandrini. There is brilliant piano playing by Greg Jarrett throughout the show. Danny Percefull will be doing so at select performances.
Five cast members, singing together and solo, turn in wonderful performances.
They are Benjamin Eakeley, Jovan E’Sean, Alex Getlin, Justin Keyes and Mamie Parris.
Click below for more information, including that regarding purchasing tickets.
Anything Can Happen in the Theater – yorktheatrecompany
Today, a truly wonderful episode of the iconic television show, “What’s My Line?”
Jackie Gleason is the mystery guest. Need I say more?!
Dorothy Kilgallen, Steve Allen, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf are the panelists.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host. This episode aired on March 8, 1953.
Enjoy.
Today’s very likely, meaningless, as far as the upcoming playoffs, Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland (Raiders) game, will be the last home game in Oakland for the Raiders, as they will play in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting in the 2020 season.
Oh the memories of the storied Raiders’ franchise, just in games at the Oakland Coliseum, where once the Raiders’ shield adorned the yard lines.
Oakland won games there that punched Super Bowl tickets, before losses in the S. Bowl to Green Bay in 1967 and current coach Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in ’02.
Most glorious, they won such games before Super Bowl victories, the games that gained the Raiders Super Bowl entry, vs the two time and great champion, Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974 and Seattle Seahawks in 1983.
The magnificent, exciting and denied Hall of Fame entry while alive, Raiders’ quarterback, Ken Stabler threw the winning touchdown to Clarence Davis in a classic division round win, vs another great two time champion, Miami Dolphins team in 1974.
However, Raiders’ coach John Madden and many thought they had won it all, that was not the case.
The next week in the AFC Title game also at The Coliseum, Chuck Noll’s Steelers made them and as I recall, me pay, winning the Coliseum title tilt the following week.
Many recall Tom Brady and the Patriots, obviously another great team, getting their start with another chance, in a snowy division round game in New England vs the Raiders, in 2001.
Twenty five years earlier, it was ruled Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton roughed Stabler and eventually Mr. Stabler rolled in for a dramatic touchdown and win vs the Patriots, in another classic late Saturday afternoon, Curt Gowdy broadcast, division round game.
That year, the Raiders won it all for the first of three times, none since 1983.
Again the memories flash, late games piped into television markets with Curt Gowdy and Charlie Jones broadcasting, Fred Belitnikoff, Art Shell and Jim Plunkett, (he was the quarterback on 2 Raiders’ title teams coached by Tom Flores) among so many others, playing. Al Davis the maverick owner. (“Commissioner” to Mr. Rozelle, accepting Super Bowl trophies–perhaps they are watching today).
It WAS great!
Ken Stabler scores the winning touchdown in what I think was the most important moment, among many exciting ones, in the 1976 division round win vs the New England Patriots.
That season, Oakland ended years of frustration and won their first Super Bowl.
There are 58 NFL games remaining, eleven in the playoffs and the Baltimore Ravens have the best chance at playing in 3 playoff games.
Baltimore, with a (12-2) record and winners of 10 straight games, almost certainly will be the AFC one seed for the first time. (Though the NFL “says” no, the Ravens moved to Baltimore after 46 years as the Cleveland Browns. The Browns were the AFC one seed only once (1986).
They are led by quarterback, Lamar Jackson, the presumptive NFL most valuable player.
The Ravens will seek just their second home divisional round playoff win on either Saturday January 11th or Sunday January 12th, in 2020.
Lamar Jackson, pictured above.
It took way too long, however, the amount was less than (it appears there is no “less than” symbol on keyboards) never, to put Marvin Miller, whose IMPACT on baseball was/is undeniably huge, into its Hall of Fame.
Mr. Miller is a posthumous selection, having died at age 95 in 2012.
In his tenure as baseball player’s union head, salaries increased ten times. Before that, the players were on a truly unjust side of fairness.
This week’s signings of three stars, none, in my book, anywhere near as great and certainly not as proven, as say a Mickey Mantle, who had to take a salary cut, though he hit .365, illustrate it went too far the other way.
However, initially it was even more unfair against the players and Marvin Miller, more than anyone, changed that. His place in baseball history demanded much earlier entry to the Hall of Fame.
On a positive note, he is finally there, even this week’s signings do not deny the justice in that. Better late, even very late, than never, indeed.
Let’s see, a powerful Baltimore team, a big favorite vs the New York Jets.
That is the case in tonight’s Thursday night game in Baltimore, with the Ravens a two touchdown favorite vs the Jets.
Of course, the situation evokes memories of the third Super Bowl, when the 18 point(s) underdog Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, giving the AFL its first Super Bowl win in three tries.
Tonight: Baltimore wins, does not cover the spread: (23-14).
Matt Snell stood out in the Jets’ (16-7) win in that third Super Bowl. He scored their lone touchdown.
The (11-2) Baltimore Ravens are very likely to be the AFC top seed for the first time.
Baltimore, which has won games vs current AFC “5” seed (9-4) Buffalo, current NFC “1” seed (11-2) San Francisco and current AFC “2” seed and defending champion, (10-3) New England, all in the last 5 weeks, has a magic number of two (either Baltimore wins or New England losses) to gain the top seed.
This week both Baltimore and New England are top heavy favorites, the Ravens a 14 point “fave” vs the (5-8) New York Jets on Thursday night, while “N.E.” is roughly a 10 point favorite at (1-12) Cincinnati (Bengals).
Above are insignias for the 16 AFC teams.
Perhaps noteworthy, second row, left to right: Patriots, Browns (to me, not the NFL, the Ravens are the original Browns’ franchise) and the Ravens.
Andy B Sports 