Forty five years ago, after a November 9th loss to Levi Jackson and Michigan State, Ohio State fell from the number one ranking, not to return there that season.
This year, though the Buckeyes (Ohio State) routed Maryland, this a year after a narrow escape vs them last season, they will fall from the top spot, as that will go to LSU, after their Joe Burrow led (46-41) win at Alabama.
Unlike 1974, if Ohio State wins its remaining games and perhaps even with just one loss in the three remaining regular season games and potential Big Ten title tilt, they will have a shot at the only important, even in a football sense, number one ranking and that is the one at the end of all the games.
Click below to view the end of that November 9, 1974 game.
Ron Fairly, a fine player on 3 Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series winning teams, who died recently at the age of 81, contributed mightily to one of my best days/times ever, the team’s 1965 World Series triumph.
Obituaries for Mr. Fairly have noted his hitting prowess (.379 batting average, 6 rbis) in that excellent Fall Classic between the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, but not the specific in game 7.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when, somewhat incredibly, on 3 consecutive pitches, the Dodgers had the game’s only 2 runs and an eventual title, behind a Sandy Koufax shutout, pitching with just 2 days rest.
After Lou Johnson, as was the case with Howie Kendrick these 54 years later in the ’19 World Series, hit a go ahead to stay, home run in THE game (#7/World Series), that hit the foul pole, Ron Fairly doubled. Wes Parker’s single scored Fairly.
I recall a nice article about Fairly, by Maury Allen, when as a member of the 1977 expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays, Ron made the All Star team, for the game played that year in Yankee Stadium.
Fairly was on Dodgers’ World Series winners in 1959, 1963 and 1965 and the pennant winning team, that lost 4 straight games to the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
He was part of great baseball on “my” then team, at a very different, dare I say better time. Fond memories regarding Mr. Fairly abound!
Willie Davis (#3) and Ron Fairly (#6) congratulate Sandy Koufax after his perfect game vs the Chicago Cubs, whose pitcher Bob Hendley was brilliant in defeat, on September 9, 1965. (I really would like to know the other 3 that are pictured. Anyone?)
Certainly today’s L.S.U. at Alabama (CBS at 3:30 P.M.) tilt is a big game.
However, one does not know that the game’s winner will be in the 4 team college football playoff, nor that the losing team will not.
8 years ago LSU won at “Bama” by a (9-6) score in a dull CBS night game. The teams were matched in the title game and Alabama claimed the crown, winning an even less exciting game, (21-0).
Today’s game with a total (perception of points that will be scored) exceeding 60, is expected to be more exciting. That is not saying much, however, I will tune in and do expect a fine, even meaningful, game.
Dont’a Hightower, pictured above with the New England Patriots, was on 2 title teams with Alabama, (he was injured and missed most of the ’09 season) including the aforementioned 2011 team.
He has played on 3 Super Bowl winners with the Patriots. The Patriots and Alabama, despite a plethora of recent titles, have never won titles in the same season.
Today a truly great episode of the iconic television show, “What’s My Line?”
The guest stars are Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, the two were married to each other, however briefly.
Panelists are Phyllis Newman, Mark Goodson, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
There was some history repeating itself, as the Nationals gave Washington D.C. its first baseball crown in 95 years.
Patrick Corbin, who lost game 4 at home as a starting pitcher, in the recently completed, unprecedented, all road team victories, World Series, notched the game 7 win in relief, hurling 3 scoreless frames.
This echoes the great Walter Johnson, doing similar in 1924, when last before ’19, a D.C. baseball team “titled.”
The “Big Train,” as Johnson was known, lost 2 games as a starter in that series (in game 1, he fanned 12 batters pitching all 12 innings but lost).
However, in game 7, he pitched 4 scoreless innings (9-12) with the game tied and got the win when his Washington Senators won (4-3) in 12 innings, reversing the game 1 loss to win the crown.
The great Walter Johnson, pictured above.
“The Godfather Part II” is not so arguably, the greatest movie sequel ever made. Along with “The Godfather,” it is one of the great films and the book written by Mario Puzo, also ranks very high.
In commemoration of the sequel’s 45th anniversary, Fathom Events will present the film at selected theaters nation wide, on November 10th, 12th and 13th.
TCM will be part of the presentation with before and after comments, by one of its fine hosts, Ben Mankiewicz.
Al Pacino as “Michael Corleone,” pictured above.
The Washington Nationals’ (6-2) World Series clinching win marked the third straight season the title was clinched by a four run margin. (Houston in ’17 and the Boston REd Sox in ’18 won the title at L.A. vs the Dodgers with (5-1) victories).
In 2005, the Chicago White Sox ended an 88 year title drought by sweeping the Houston Astros in 4 straight games. This season, Washington D.C. got its first baseball crown in 95 years when its Nationals beat the Astros in a maximum number, 7 game World Series.
It also was the first title in Nationals nee Expos history, occurring in the franchise’s 50th completed season.
The Nationals joined the NHL St. Louis Blues and the NBA Toronto Raptors as first time champions, all of whom clinched their titles with road victories.
From the World Series, to a beautiful, talented, stood up for her beliefs, Ingrid Bergman, pictured above.
The World Series victory by the Washington Nationals (let’s not forget the Astros’ 107 win season but, (Astros manager) Mr. Hinch, better to “pinch,” not give away outs and the decision to bunt bottom 2/game 7 W.S. was NOT good) left the Washington D.C. teams’ final round record at (9-11), those numbers, yet again.
In baseball the Senators were (1-2), losing in ’25 and ’33 and winning in ’24 and the Nationals are (1-0). In football, “Wash” is (5-5).
They went (2-3) in the old NFL title tilts, losing (73-0) to the Chicago Bears in 1940 and also losing in ’43 and ’45. “Wash” won title games in ’37 and ’42. In Super Bowls, an opposite (3-2) record, winning thrice under Joe Gibbs, each with a different quarterback (’82, ’87 and ’91) while losing under George Allen in ’72 and with Gibbs in ’83.
The hockey Capitals are (1-1), losing in ’98 and winning it all 30 years later in 2018.
Meanwhile the “Wash” basketball teams are (1-3), the first loss to the old Washington Capitols (notice the spelling), one of two final round losses “suffered” by the great coach, Arnold “Red” Auerbach, who compiled a sensational (9-2), that is 9 of 11, record, in such entities. The Bullets now the Wizards, are (1-2), losing in ’75 and ’79 while winning the title in ’78.
It was quite a managerial job by Dave Martinez, pictured above, although I questioned his decisions to bunt in the just completed World Series as well, guiding the Nationals, to the title, after a (19-31) start to the season.
Yesterday, in both day and night, I enjoyed episodes on MeTV.
On “The Rifleman,” which airs consecutive episodes starting at 3 P.M. Eastern Time each weekday, it was fun to see Dan Blocker, later Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on Bonanza in a guest role (“The Sister” from 1958).
At night I was able to see the end of a Perry Mason episode, (also from 1958, “The Case of the Prodigal Parent”) whose guest stars included the one and only Fay Wray of “King Kong” fame, Nancy Kulp, later “Jane Hathaway” on “The Beverly Hillbillies” and as the guilty one, Herbert Rudley, later to be Eve Arden’s character’s husband on “The Mothers- In- Law.”
Of course the star of the iconic television show, “Perry Mason” was Raymond Burr, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 