In the upcoming third week of the NFL season, an unprecedented, at least as far as most if not all can remember, two games have teams that are favored by more than 21 points/3 touchdowns.
Those tilts are the defending champion New England Patriots favored by 23 points at home vs the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys “minus” 21 plus also at home, taking on Miami in a 6th Super Bowl redux.
That day Dallas eased to their first crown (24-3) vs the Dolphins, who would win the next two titles.
Just think, if that same decisive score or any 3 touchdown/21 points Dallas win manifests again, it would be Miami bettors, who would win.
Best advice: bet little, if at all, and take the points in both games, in a likely “split.”
The great photo taken by Neil Leifer above, shows the Baltimore Colts’ quarterback, John Unitas (#19) calling signals in a December-1964 game vs Washington, whose #70, Sam Huff, as a New York Giants’ player, also played vs Unitas and the Colts, in the famed/”made the NFL,” 1958 championship game.
Tomorrow night, in an otherwise meaningless game between the host Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants, Mike Yastrzemski gets to play with his grandfather, the great Carl Yastrzemski in attendance at Fenway Park.
Neither team will be in the post-season and Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy, who guided the Giants to 3 titles in 5 seasons after a 56 year title drought, is retiring after this season.
Carl Yastrzemski, as was the case with Ted Williams before him and such players as Dwight Evans and Jim Rice after him, had great years with the Red Sox and only the Red Sox, however, was there during an 86 year title drought and never played on a title team.
The Red Sox have won 4 titles since the drought ended, but fired general manager Dave Dombrowski, showing little “Faith” and gratitude for last year’s incredible 119 win (11 in post-season) title season.
Tonight and in the upcoming three games, think 1961 when Carl came to Boston, the first season after Ted Williams retired and all that has transpired since, including the grandson of “Yaz,” in the outfield, albeit in right, not left, for the National League Giants.
The great player, Carl Yastrzemski, pictured above.
Form held in the four single elimination games and now the 2019 W.N.B.A. playoffs are into the best of 5, semi-final round, with the top four seeded teams involved.
The top ranked Washington Mystics will meet the four seed, Las Vegas Aces while the second seed, Connecticut Sun face the third seed, Los Angeles Sparks. Only the Sparks, who have 3 titles, have won a previous WNBA crown.
The Aces got a long, not practical, 38 foot, three point shot from Dearica Hamby that transformed a two point deficit into a one point lead with 6 seconds remaining. It was an eventual victory vs the Chicago Sky.
Las Vegas Aces player, Dearica Hamby, pictured above.
Last week, ESPN Radio talk show host Michael Kay was (3-0) regarding his NFL predictions.
Already this week, Kay missed on his “Carolina giving points,” Thursday night game pick. I wish I had known his pick, as I feel it “pays” to go vs his picks this week.
Toward that end, I will take the Washington team plus 6 points vs Dallas and the Cincinnati Bengals in an evenly rated game vs the S.F. 49ers.
Two’s are operative, as we note only two Kay predictions (Dallas and San Francisco), it is the second week of NFL play and the 49ers won two/both Super Bowl clashes vs the Bengals, led by the great Joe Montana in both (’81 and ’88) and Jerry Rice, another great in ’88.
One other “two” note. In week 2 of the eventually strike marred, 1987 NFL season, Bengals’ coach Sam Wyche eschewed a 4th down punt at his own 30, manifesting in giving S.F. one play from the Cincy 25.
Montana to Rice, 25 yards touchdown! “S.F.” and their bettors won, Cincy and their bettors suffering a crushing defeat!
The great broadcaster, Lon Simmons makes the calls, in the aforementioned week 2 Niners/Bengals game in 1987.
Tonight, defending college football champion and top ranked Clemson is a huge favorite in its ABC tilt at Syracuse.
Recall that last year, by far, Clemson’s biggest scare en route to their third national crown and second under coach Dabo Swinney, was in a home game, also as a huge favorite vs Syracuse.
In that one, Clemson needed a 4th down/must have completion from forgotten quarterback, Chase Brice to Tee Higgins.
Most likely, Clemson will win and it will not be that close tonight.
Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney pictured above.
This week is one of palindrome numbers, as one writes out the dates, in the following format (m/dd/yy).
The unique situation started on September 10th and ends September 19th, next week.
For example September 10, 2019 written in the format is (9 10 19 which backwards, is also 9 10 19).
Today, the famed or infamous, “Friday the Thirteenth” is 9 13 19 and writing it out, backwards it is also 9 13 19.
Click the link for a nice article on the subject of palindrome dates.
Palindrome Week 2019 explained – wfft.com
Monday, as I headed for an appointment on 7th Avenue, around 35th Street, I walked toward a slight crowd that had gathered as the (retired? former?) great tight end, Rob Gronkowski was standing eating a slice, a big slice, of pizza.
Leave it to the man called “Gronk,” to be doing just that and also to be a part of speculation, he might return to football.
He may, however, I say he will not.
I did get a question out even as the crowd increased. It was regarding his big catch that set up the Sony Michel short touchdown run, the game’s only touchdown, as the Patriots won their 6th Super Bowl title.
After a delay, Rob answered calling it a great catch and one of the biggest in his career which likely? is over, but alas …..
Mr. Gronkowski, enjoying a slice of pizza, Kudos to him, for taking a big “slice” out of life.
Pete Richert, a fine left handed relief pitcher played on 3 straight pennant winning teams with the Baltimore Orioles from (1969-1971).
He also was on L.A. Dodgers’ teams that first lost an unscheduled playoff for the N.L. crown in 1962 and then a World Series winner the next season.
In his first game, Richert set a record striking out the first six batters he faced over three different innings. One of the hitters in that ’62 Dodgers vs Reds game was future teammate on the ’70 World Series winning Baltimore Orioles, the great Frank Robinson.
Andy B Sports 