Clearly, it was a pair of “M” named players, the Chiefs Patrick “M”ahomes and the 49ers Raheem Mostert that led their respective team’s semi-final/Conference title tilts victories.
This is the ninth time either of the teams has made the Super Bowl (6 previous by S.F. 49ers, 2 by the K.C. Chiefs) and in the first 6, a player whose first or last name started with “M” either scored or threw the first touchdown and in one case opened the scoring with a field goal.
In the first Supe, “M”ax “M”c Gee gathered in the first scoring play in the game’s history taking a touchdown pass from Bart Starr, in an eventual Green Bay Packers’ rout of the Chiefs.
Three years later, the Chiefs won with “M”ike Garrett scoring the game’s first touchdown.
In 49ers’ wins vs the Bengals in ’81, Dolphins in ’84 and Broncos in ’89, the great quarterback Joe “M”ontana figured in the first touchdown.
He snuck in from 1 yard out in ’81, threw to another “M” named player Carl “M’onroe, as I sat watching in pretty cold Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California (my only time at a Super Bowl game) in ’84 and “went touchdown” to the great receiver, Jerry Rice in ’89.
In ’88, the Niners also won and their kicker, “M”ike Cofer opened the scoring, with a field goal.
No “M” named players were involved in the first touchdown or points in either the Niners’ win vs the Chargers in ’94 or their lone Supe loss to date, vs the Ravens in 2012.
The great quarterback, Joe Montana, pictured above led the 49ers to 4 Super Bowl wins in as many appearances.
He was the Chiefs’ quarterback when they made and lost the 1993 AFC title game at Buffalo, vs the Bills.
While Montana was, as stated, (4-0) in Super Bowls, the Bills suffered their 4th Super Bowl loss all in consecutive years (’90-’93), after beating the Chiefs in the above referenced ’93 AFC title game.
It is the middle of the hype period for the upcoming 54th Super Bowl.
I feel this is a good time to recall a good baseball memory and a fine player, Willie Horton of the Detroit Tigers.
Horton was a member of the 1968 World championship team and made a great throw to nab Lou Brock at home plate in game 5 of that year’s World Series vs the defending champion, St. Louis Cardinals.
Though I did not experience his handshake, Willie Horton is known to have one of the firmest on record. A sign of character? Certainly Willie Horton, a tremendous player, brings back good memories.
Willie Horton, pictured above.
Entering Sunday’s 54th Super Bowl, teams from the exclusive televising conference or league network of said Super Bowl are (24-17).
This will be the ninth Super Bowl telecast by NFC/Fox Network. The AFC team is (5-3) in the previous 8 such games.
The first Super Bowl, as with the 54th involving the Kansas City Chiefs, was telecast by both CBS, the NFL network and NBC, the AFL carrier.
It was NBC’s Charlie Jones, who, before the first such game before it was known as The Super Bowl, famously stated the broadcasters would be relieved of the tension, after the “first verb.”
Elijah Pitts, pictured above, carrying the ball for the Green Bay Packers’ in their (35-10) win vs the Kansas City Chiefs, in the first of these games.
Kobe Bryant was among the greatest NBA players ever, playing on 5 title teams with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Al “Grampa” Lewis, a basketball expert, once nicely “painted”a picture of most players NOT wanting the ball when the game was on the line. Kobe Bryant was one of the few who wanted it, so often producing victories.
That is a symbol of his going for it and taking a big bite out of life!
The helicopter crash also took 8 other lives, including that of Bryant’s 13 year old daughter Gianna.
Right to left, Kobe Bryant and his father also an NBA player, Joe Bryant.
Words can’t describe the the pain we all share.
The beautiful entertainers who dance at Rick’s Cabaret New York, the upscale gentlemen’s club famous for its warm hospitality and celebrity clientele, are predicting that the San Francisco 49ers will beat the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday.
Rick’s Cabaret girl Kennedy explained, “I did a quick survey of the girls and it was close, but a slight majority think the 49ers will win.”
“I love the 49ers and especially QB Jimmy Garoppolo,” purred Rick’s Cabaret girl Danielle. “Actually, I like Patrick Mahomes, too. It’s going to be a good game.”
“The 49ers are the underdogs against the Chiefs,” said Rick’s Cabaret girl Kristina. “But I think San Fran will come out on top.”
Rick’s Cabaret girl Fiona said, “look, both teams are winners—that’s how they got there. It’s going to be close, but I think the 49ers get the Lombardi trophy.”
Located across the street from the Empire State Building and just one block from Madison Square Garden, the three-story Rick’s Cabaret provides the best in VIP treatment and is proud to have earned a number of awards reflecting the finest in world class entertainment. The top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse on the second floor is under the direction of acclaimed Chef Jayson Margulies and features late-night dining.
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It is Wednesday night August 17, 1966 and earlier in the day, Willie Mays cracked the 535th home run of his career, moving past Jimmy Foxx, into second place on the all time home run list, trailing only Babe Ruth, but by a wide, 179 home run margin.
Another great home run hitting Willie (there was also McCovey, in what was a great National League), the pennant contending and at the time league leading Pittsburgh Pirates’ Stargell, hits a two run, first inning home run at Shea Stadium, vs the Mets.
“On the scoreboard,” the Cubs and Phillies are clashing, the pitchers are Ken Holtzman for the Chicago Cubs and Jim Bunning for the Philadelphia Phillies.
In their careers, each pitched 2 no hit games, one of Bunning’s being a perfect game, that on Father’s Day at Shea Stadium, vs the Mets in 1964.
The great Jimmie Foxx, pictured above.
It was a great experience watching the 1975 version of the film, “Farewell My Lovely,” starring the indomitable Robert Mitchum on TCM, this past Friday night.
Mitchum is great as “Phillip Marlowe,” from the Raymond Chandler novels.
There are numerous references to Joe DiMaggio’s famed hitting streak, as the story unfolds across the year it manifested,1941.
The cast is great with Sylvia Miles, turning in an Academy Award nominated performance.
Another nice night with TCM.
The Chiefs’ appearance in next week’s 54th Super Bowl will be the seventh final round/game appearance by a Kansas City team, in a major North American Sports league.
K.C. teams are (3-3) in the six previous such entities.
Football’s Chiefs are (1-1), losing to the Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl (called the NFL/AFL Championship Game, in those, better in my opinion, pre hype days) and winning vs the Minnesota Vikings, 50 years ago, in the 4th Supe and last one matching the AFL and NFL.
The baseball Royals are (2-2), winning World Series 30 years apart in 1985 and 2015, while losing in 1980 and 2014.
In 2014, the only previous San Francisco vs Kansas City post-season action took place, with the Madison Bumgarner led San Francisco Giants, winning the final round/World Series in 7 games, vs the Royals.
After 5 more seasons with the Giants, Bumgarner is now with Arizona (Diamondbacks) and it is S.F. vs K.C. for the ’19 football crown next week.
Madison Bumgarner started and won 2 games and then pitched brilliantly in relief, in the decisive 7th game, leading the Giants to the ’14 title vs the Royals.
Last night, I enjoyed attending Friday night/Shabbat services, with the great added dimension of performances by members of the cast of “Fiddler On The Roof in Yiddish,” at Temple Emanu-El 1 East 65th Street.
It was a full house in the sprawling edifice and I thought back to when I did attend services and also to the great show, “Fiddler On The Roof.” That experience was truly moving.
Among the songs performed in Yiddish (I do not speak or even understand it, however I learned some matching the words, as I knew the songs) were “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Do You Love Me?” It was quite a treat, part of a great night.
On Friday February 7th, another fantastic event at Temple Emanu-El:
“Blessings From Broadway” with Broadway star, Laurie Akers and Temple Emanu-El Cantor, Mo Glazman.
Of course, memories abounded concerning the great Zero Mostel, pictured above, as he starred in the original “Fiddler On The Roof.”
It is early in the 1966 season and the Cincinnati Reds are at Shea Stadium playing the New York Mets.
Each long shot team would eventually fade, however, the fifth year Houston Astros and woebegone Cleveland Indians are in early season contention in 10 team leagues, with no wild card presence.
Three years away, three eventual world title winning 1969 Mets (Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones and Ed Kranepool) are in their ’66 starting lineup, while a fourth future ’69 Mets player, Art Shamsky, is the Cincy right fielder.
Oh was there Hall of Fame voting this week?! Alas with one out top 1st, Reds’ second baseman, Pete Rose walked on a (3-2) pitch, threw his helmet off and ran to first base. Need I say more?!
I will, however, in reference to Reds/Mets in 1966 and the baseball of the day in a near future post, as some baseball shines in, along with Super Bowl notes.
Deron Johnson, pictured above as a Boston Red Sox player, was in left for the Reds.
He led the National League with 130 runs batted in (1965) while 10 years later, the Reds and Red Sox helped propel baseball, engaging in a classic World Series.
