I noticed Bing Russell’s name on the credits for Bonanza, not realizing he was actor Kurt Russell’s father and was a minor league team owner in Portland, Oregon.
He also was a fine actor, best known for being a deputy on “Bonanza” and for a role in the great film, “The Magnificent Seven.”
I put together something related to sports and that plus other Bing Russell sports tidbits, will be the subject of a future post. Stay “tuned.” (Of tunes, that great “Bonanza” opening).
Bing Russell, pictured above.
“The Height Of The Storm ” (Manhattan Theatre Club At The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre 148 West 47th Street) is a deeply moving, at times, humorous play.
Stars, Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins augment their brilliant careers, each turning in a great performance.
Amanda Drew, Lisa O’Hare, Lucy Cohu and James Hillier complete the very solid cast.
Florian Zeller is the playwright while Jonathan Kent directs.
The play truly moved me even before I realized Andre and Madeleine are/could be Andy/Mandy and all that entails across time, reality and yes the dream of romantic, but also “stay with it” love, as the two characters have spent a half century together.
The play’s last performance is the upcoming Sunday November 24th.
Click below for ticket information.
The Height of the Storm 2019 – Samuel J Friedman Theatre
Left to right, Eileen Atkins as Madeleine and Jonathan Pryce as Andre in “The Height Of The Storm.”
History repeated 51 years later, when as was the case in the famed “Heidi Game,” on November 17, 1968, the winning “Bay Area” team scored 2 touchdowns in the last minute of play, in overcoming a deficit.
Two days back, the now (9-1) S.F. 49ers scored two touchdowns in the last forty seconds, the second on a ridiculous, backwards lateral attempt, by Arizona (Cardinals), to win (36-26).
In ’68, the game went off NBC television for “Heidi.” The Oakland Raiders, currently, with a surprising (6-5) record and playing simultaneously (to the S.F. game) at home, in this their last year in Oakland, scored twice in the last minute to (43-32) the New York Jets.
In both November 17th games, the second touchdown in the last minute had point spread overtones.
The Jets beat the Raiders in the subsequent 1968 AFL Title game, before upsetting the Baltimore Colts in the third Super Bowl.
The great receiver, Don Maynard, pictured above 45 years later, caught the decisive touchdown pass from Joe Namath, in the Jets’ (27-23) home victory vs the Raiders in the ’68 AFL Title Game, played 6 weeks after the so called “Heidi Game.”
Renee Stennett with two e’, two n’s and two t’s, was an excellent hitting player with the 1970’s Pittsburgh Pirates, themselves a superb hitting team nicknamed “The Lumber Company.”
Stennett once got 7 hits in one game which tied a major league record that still stands. I recall that game at Wrigley Field on September 16, 1975.
The next night he got three hits in a game at Philadelphia vs the Phillies and those 10 hits in 2 games is still a record.
Renee Stennett was a player I recall fondly and was a member of a team I truly liked and respected the Willie Stargell led, 1979 World Series champion, Pittsburgh Pirates.
Today in a rematch of the 52nd Super Bowl won by the Philadelphia Eagles vs the winners of the 49th, 51st and most recent Supes, the (8-1) New England Patriots are 4 plus point(s) favorites.
I predict the (5-4) home team Eagles will play well and in a close game: New England 23 Philadelphia 21.
One more, in a low key Greg Gumbel tilt, surprising (5-4) Oakland (Raiders) are 10 point favorites vs the (0-9) Cincinnati Bengals.
Prediction: Raiders 20 Bengals 13.
Speaking of the Raiders, 51 years ago, NBC ended its coverage of Raiders/Jets, with the Jets leading to air “Heidi.”
The Raiders won, view and hear Curt Gowdy describing the action, but to whom?
There are five major college football unbeaten teams with three weeks remaining in the regular season and conference title tilts awaiting any of the unbeaten teams.
The top three in any order, Ohio State, defending champion Clemson and L.S.U. all are given very good chances of making the 4 team playoff.
That is not the case for the other two, Minnesota, which had a big upset win vs Penn State last week and Baylor.
In fact, each team is an underdog today. Iowa is a 3 point home favorite vs Minnesota in a 4 P.M. Easter Time, Fox tilt while Oklahoma is a 10 plus point(s) “fave” at Baylor in the “Fowler”/ABC night game.
The scene after Minnesota’s win vs Penn State last week.
The Canadian Football League semi-final games are this week.
In the 1 P.M. Eastern Time opener, top ranked Hamilton (Tiger-Cats), the lone Eastern Conference team remaining, are close to a one touchdown, home favorite vs the Edmonton Eskimos.
The nightcap in Saskatchewan, matches the Rough Riders, a field goal favorite, vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The two winning teams will meet for The Grey Cup a week hence (Sunday November 24th, beginning about 6 P.M. Eastern Time) in Calgary.
The defending champion Calgary Stampeders were ousted at home last week, by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
An incarnation of the great television show, “Match Game” aired from (1973-1982.)
Today, what turned out to be the last episode in that 10 year run.
Gene Rayburn is the host.
Charles Nelson Reilly, Skip Stephenson, Mac Lean Stevenson, Brett Somers, Melinda O. Fee and Betty White are the panelists. (click below for a note regarding the one and only, Betty White.)
Enjoy.
A good note from Tim Glende:
“Betty White was on the pilot (test episode) for this particular incarnation in 1973. Who knew she would be on the last one almost 9 years later?”
Howie Kendrick’s World Series game seven/7th inning, go ahead to stay, home run weeks back, was the latest (in game) such blow and only the second in game 7/World Series annals.
The other was hit by the great Wilver Stargell, 40 years earlier for the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving them a (2-1) lead, (top of the 6th inning), they did not relinquish in a victory at Baltimore, vs the Orioles.
In game 7 of the 1960 World Series, also won by the Pirates (10-9, vs the Yankees), both Yogi Berra of the Yankees (a 3 run home run T5, that put the Yankees ahead (5-4) and Hal Smith of the Pirates, (an historic, so often forgotten, 3 run homer that put Pittsburgh ahead 9-7 with 2 out in the bottom of the eighth) hit the other two game7/World Series home runs, that transformed a deficit into a lead.
A major reason Smith’s home run is often forgotten, is the fact the Yankees tied the game with two runs in the top of the 9th, only to lose the Series when Bill Mazeroski homered, on the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning.
The great Willie Stargell, pictured above.
Early on in the excellent show, “Derrin Brown’s Secret,” Mr. Brown asked that both the audience and any reviews not give details about the show’s content.
I will heed Mr. Brown’s request and add, go see this amazing show at The Cort Theater (138 West 48th Street).
Derrin Brown is a great talent and his charming personality and sense of humor enhances the already amazing feats he performs.
Click below for more information including that, regarding purchasing tickets.
Derren Brown Secret – New York – Cort Theater Tickets Available
Master illusionist and charming, witty performer, Derrin Brown, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 