Fifty years after performing at Woodstock, John Fogerty was magnificent in concert, at Radio City Music Hall, two nights ago.
John Fogerty talked of going on in the wee hours of the morning at Woodstock with his legendary group, Creedence Clearwater Revival and sounded great, singing so many great songs the group and John, as an individual performer, made so popular.
My heart and mind raced with delight, as such seminal songs as “Proud Mary,” “Who’ll Stop The Rain” and the late great, Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” were heard in the magnificent setting that is Radio City Music Hall.
Fogerty weaved in good stories and two of his sons (Shane in the band and Tyler, who sang) and his granddaughter were on stage. The show had an exciting, nostalgic opening and stayed strong throughout. It is well worth it to see this legendary performer.
Click below for schedule and ticket information.
John Fogerty 2019 Tour | Tickets On Sale | All Dates
John Fogerty, pictured above. Click below to see John perform “Down On The Corner” and “Centerfield.” Notice the guitar in “Centerfield.” What a show!
The most frequent World Series match up is the one between the New York Yankees and the Dodgers, whether in Brooklyn or Los Angeles.
They have clashed 11 times, the Yankees winning 8, however, the franchises have not met in a World Series since 1981.
In a 40 year/41 seasons period (1941-1981), all 11 World Series clashes between the teams took place.
L.A. has a big lead for the National League one seed, while the Yankees having gained 4 and a half games in the 6 days, since the American League favorites, the Houston Astros, ripped the Baltimore Orioles (23-2), now lead by 3 plus games, (Houston has the tiebreaker) in the race for the A.L. top seed.
Regarding the Orioles, after the (23-2) loss last Saturday, the O’s won Sunday vs Houston as one of the biggest game underdogs on record.
Subsequently, they lost all 4 games they played at Yankee Stadium, making them (2-17) vs the Yankees in ’19, losing the final 16 games. This is reminiscent of the vaunted Yankees dominance vs the Orioles ancestors, the St. Louis Browns. One day, talk will focus on the Bill Gullickson karma in this matter.
Bob Kuzava, pictured above, helped the Yankees win 3 straight titles from (1951-1953). Before Kuzava came to the team, the Yankees also won the World Series in 1949 and 1950.
Kuzava got the last out in both ’51 and ’52, getting help from fine defensive plays by Hank Bauer in ’51 vs the Giants and in ’52 from Billy Martin vs the Dodgers.
A year has passed since the great performer, Aretha Franklin died on August 16th. Babe Ruth, Margaret Mitchell, and Elvis Presley also died on that/this date.
They all inspired and here is a link as a remembrance.
It involves the city of Detroit, the hometown and a very important part of Ms. Franklin’s life.
Ernie Harwell, who did not die on August 16th, was a big part of Detroit, as a beloved radio voice of the baseball, Detroit Tigers for many years.
He grew up in or near Atlanta, Georgia and was Margaret Mitchell’s paper boy.
Babe Ruth hit his 700th home run at Detroit and his 60 home runs there, are the most by any visiting player. I have included a link to a story about what was perhaps “The Bambino’s” longest home run, below.
Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, 29 years after Ruth and 28 after Ms. Mitchell, performed in Detroit more often than any city, save his hometown, Memphis and show business hub, Las Vegas.
Maybe they are all making beautiful music and telling great stories where they might be.
Certainly they left us a legacy, in the form of great memories and performance.
Click below to read Richard Bak’s article.
Babe Ruth’s longest home run was launched in Detroit
Aretha Franklin, pictured above was born in Memphis, Elvis’ hometown.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will win their 7th straight N.L. West crown this season.
In all likelihood, they will get the top seed in the National League for the upcoming baseball tournament.
Perhaps this season, they will win their first World Series since 1988.
They lost in the last two World Series, losing to Houston (Astros) in 7 games in 2017 and to the Boston Red Sox in 5 games last season.
Both of those World Series ended with (5-1) Dodgers’ home losses.
Kirk Gibson, pictured above hit many big home runs in his career.
He put L.A. ahead to stay with an extra innings, road home run in game 4 of the ’88 NLCS at Shea Stadium vs the Mets. I “think” there was another big one one six days later.
Of course that one, won #1 vs the Oakland A’s, in the ’88 World Series.
As usual, there was quite an interesting twist in the plot of an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” which I viewed last night on MeTV.
The episode titled “Most Likely To Succeed” starred two actors far better known for comedy and they were outstanding, Jack Carter and Howard Morris.
Joanna Moore was excellent in the role of Carter’s character’s wife.
I like seeing Alfred Hitchcock, essentially “goof around” at the beginning and end of the episodes.
“Alfred Hitchcock Presents” airs two episodes each weeknight and Sunday, commencing at 1 A.M. and 1:30 A.M. Eastern Time.
The NFC South is in my opinion, a wide open race.
I will go out on the proverbial limb and pick the third choice, Carolina Panthers to win it.
Atlanta (Falcons) and Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) will improve.
Surely the defending division champion, New Orleans Saints have the talent to win it all, no less just another division title, however, I predict they will fall back a bit this season.
After Cam Newton (pictured above) and the Panthers ripped the Arizona Cardinals in the ’15 season, NFC Title tilt, it was deemed by many in the media, Cam Newton could “walk on water.”
That perception changed after Denver won the Super Bowl vs Carolina. Now with so many media types casting Cam in a negative light, I predict he will have an excellent season.
Let’s see.
Today another great episode of the classic television show, What’s My Line?
This one essentially had two mystery guests, June Taylor and the troupe she led, “The June Taylor Dancers,” from the “Jackie Gleason Show” and the superb actor, William Holden.
The panelists were Dorothy Kilgallen, Robert Q. Lewis, who had a nightly radio show at the time, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly was the show’s host.
Enjoy.
It is tempting to say the Philadelphia Eagles will not be as good as expected. I certainly think the world of Nick Foles, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who led the Eagles to the ’17 crown, their lone Super Bowl win and first title since 1960.
However, quarterback Carson Wentz and the team under fine coach Doug Pederson, who coached the 2017 title team, are my pick to win the NFC East. Philly is a pretty big favorite to do so.
Last year’s winner in the division, Dallas will finish with a (9-7) record.
I predict New York and Washington will improve.
Doug Pederson, pictured above.
Jim “Mudcat” Grant had a really nice playing career, which included one great season that in 1965 when he compiled a (21-7) regular season record and won 2 games for his Twins in the World Series.
In game 6, Grant also hit a three run home run, just the second hit by an American League pitcher. (Jim Bagby of the 1920 Cleveland Indians hit the first, in fact the first by a pitcher in either league. Another “J.B.” Joe Blanton of the ’08 Philadelphia Phillies, hit the last to date).
“Mudcat” is such a classy, personable individual, who is, among other talents, quite a singer.
Click below as Jim “Mudcat” Grant, accompanied by Ric Oliva, the great ’64 and ’65 A.L. batting champion, Tony Oliva’s son, sings “What A Wonderful World,” at ceremonies honoring the late, great Twins’ player Harmon Killebrew. This is truly moving and meaningful.
Last night TCM aired the movie that launched the career of two huge stars, Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, as part of a night of tribute to Ms. Gardner.
The film, “The Killers,” from 1946, loosely based on an Ernest Hemingway story directed by Robert Siodmak and produced by Mark Hellinger, was Lancaster’s debut and Ava Gardner’s first choice role.
Each excelled as did Edmond O’Brien, Albert Dekker and Sam Levine. The entire cast was excellent.
That coupled with a mystery type story, that weaves through time, makes “The Killers” a truly gripping film.
A truly great individual, ahead of his time, Burt Lancaster, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 