While it is still likely that the top ranked Washington Mystics will cop their first WNBA crown, they certainly are far from certain title winners, after the Connecticut Sun won game 2 in “Wash,” to even the best of 5 title round series last night.
It was a night the baseball Nationals won a “must” 10 to 8 game, rallying to beat the Brewers, also in the nation’s capital, however, the Mystics, 8 point game favorites and highly inflated 10 or more to 1 series favorites after winning game 1, failed.
Now also highly inflated, is the wait for the “long” trip Washington D.C. to Connecticut that manifests in 4 days off (even the NBA is not that bad, usually Tuesday to Saturday), before game 3 Sunday afternoon, in Connecticut.
Today, quite an episode of the great show, “What’s My Line?”
It is from August, 1954 and has two mystery guests. One is Ivy Baker Priest, then treasurer of the United States, the other, the one and only Debbie Reynolds.
Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis and Steve Allen are the panelists.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Enjoy.
Six (3-0) NFL teams (two vs each other) played lat week, four lost and two, the defending champion, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs won, but did not cover the spread.
10 point underdog Tampa Bay (Bucs) won at the now (3-1) Rams, in the day’s big upset.
The (3-0) 49ers had a bye, while Detroit (Lions) fell to (2-1-1) after a tough loss vs the Chiefs.
Washington, Denver and Miami all lost and fell to (0-4.
I will channel Ronald Colman/”Sydney Carton” from the classic Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Tail of Two Cities” and use two “fars” to convey that this is far, far less dramatic than a similar St. Louis Cardinals’ bid to win a baseball entity 55 years ago.
Today, on baseball’s last day of the regular season, there are two meaningful games going in, the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Cubs and the Brewers visiting Colorado.
The Cardinals, who also lost Friday and Saturday games in unexpected results, in a dramatic race for the National League Pennant and World Series entry those 55 years ago, lead “Milw” by a game.
If the Brewers gain today, the teams meet tomorrow in St. Louis, with the winner into the “quarters” vs Atlanta and the loser to Washington for a 10 to 8 game, Tuesday.
If the Cards win or if Milwaukee loses or both, the Cards will be the N.L. “3” seed and face Atlanta in playoffs action for the fifth time.
Al Jackson, who/(whom?) sadly, passed on in August of this year, out dueled the great Cards’ pitcher, Bob Gibson in the Friday night opening game of the ’64 series finale, winning (1-0).
Today a fantastic episode of “What’s My Line?” from July 31, 1960, a time just after the presidential political conventions, to which panelist Bennett Cerf refers.
The mystery guest is the beautiful, great actress, Myrna Loy. Other “challengers” are also quite interesting.
Dorothy Kilgallen, Dirk Bogarde and Arlene Francis join Mr. Cerf on the panel. John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
Enjoy.
In all likelihood, the ten teams that will enter the 2019 baseball tournament are known, as play in the final three games commences today.
Only the two American League wild card spots are not completely set. However, the Oakland Athletics with a 3 game lead over disappointing Cleveland (Indians) need but one of at least 7 decisions (3 A’s games at Seattle (Mariners), 3 Indians games at Washington (Nationals) and a very unlikely playoff vs Cleveland and maybe more, if there is a 3 way tie) are and dare I say, will be in.
So very likely is Tampa Bay (Rays) which enjoys a 2 game lead over Cleveland and trail the A’s by a game, in a bid to host their almost certain clash, next Wednesday in the A.L. “10 to 8” game.
Over in the National League, an incredible (18-2) run by the Milwaukee Brewers, (11-2) since star player, Christian Yelich was in injured, has them in while the “Chi” Cubs under manager, Joe Maddon, incredibly, have lost 9 straight games and are out.
Anything can happen, often does, however it certainly appears the Indians for a baseball current high 71st consecutive season (1949-2019) will be denied a title, this year without even making the playoffs.
Last night, a second straight White Sox home win virtually ended the Indians’ chances of being one of 10 playoffs qualifiers.
Sixty years earlier, the White Sox, 40 years after their 1919 pennant, clinched their first one since, winning a game at Cleveland vs the Indians.
Click above to listen to the great announcer Jack Brickhouse call the action as the White Sox clinched the pennant.
Around the 15 minute mark in, get ready for Jack’s great call as the White Sox clinched one of two post-season spots, that in the World Series.
I highly recommend the documentary film, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice.”
Directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman did a fabulous job taking us down memory lane and also into Linda Ronstadt’s thoughts, feelings, and dedication.
There is great footage of Ms. Ronstadt and other performers over the years.
Linda speaks about her career and close knit family. Also many other great performers are interviewed.
The film tells and shows much about the fabulous Ms. Ronstadt and also generous portions of other great artists performing.
Those include Jackson Browne, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt.
Many others, great performances and a well deserved tribute to Linda Ronstadt.
It took the top two WNBA teams, (Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun) just one game over the minimum, to win their best of five, semi-final series.
The top ranked Mystics struggled, losing one game and gaining close victories in the first and last games of their series, vs the Las Vegas Aces.
Connecticut pretty much eased in a 3 game sweep vs the L.A. Sparks, the only semi-final entrant that had won a previous WNBA crown. They have three.
‘Wash” will host games 1 and 2 this Sunday September 29th and next Tuesday October 1st. Then the teams must wait until Sunday October 6th, to play game 3 in Connecticut.
Seven NFL teams (the Pats, Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys, Packers, Rams and 49ers) are (3-0), while the surprising Detroit Lions are (2-0-1).
Two of the 7, the defending champion New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills meet for the 60th consecutive year in regular season play (‘1960-1969 in the AFL East and 1970-2019 in the AFC East) this Sunday in Buffalo.
New England, a touchdown favorite this week, is (74-43-1) vs Buffalo and (32-4) in the 18 seasons (’01-’18), of essentially sustained greatness, under coach Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady at the all important, quarterback position.
Recently, original Boston Patriots’ player and AFL all star running back, Larry Garron passed away at age 82.
In 1961, vs the Bills, Larry went 85 yards for a touchdown, which is still the longest touchdown run in Pats’ history.
Today a truly revealing, great episode of “What’s My Line?” from August, 1960 in which the immortal Arnold Palmer is “Mr. X,” but the panelists are not blindfolded.
Arnie, who around that time led the golf boom in this country had already won a Masters and U.S. Open crown and that day won The Hartford Open.
Watching the show with 20-20 hindsight is a real treat as the panelists, host and other challengers all had great class and presence.
The beautiful, talented actress, Dina Merrill was the actual mystery guest. Arlene Francis, Martin Gabel, Dorothy Kilgallen and Bennett Cerf were the panelists.
John Charles Daly was the show’s host. Enjoy.
Andy B Sports 