The low point for the Red Sox came in a Saturday night game 3/2004 ALCS (19-8) loss to the Yankees, that put them down (3-0) in the series.
Boston then did what no big league baseball team has done before or since, namely win 4 straight games, down (3-0) to take the series.
They won 8 consecutive games in all to win it all in ’04.
In future posts more Red Sox notes as they rallied to win titles after Saturday night post-season losses in 2007 and 2013.
In all four of their their title seasons, the only Red Sox titles in 100 years, but all four occurred in the last 14 years/15 seasons the Boston team played very well, sometimes great after a Saturday night post-season loss.
This just completed season the Bo Sox went an astounding (8-1) to claim the crown after losing a Saturday night home game 1 to the Houston Astros in the ALCS.
Tomorrow more notes on the Red Sox after Saturday night post-season losses, those in 2004, 2007 and 2013, all title seasons for the Red Sox.
Babe Ruth, pictured above won only one more crown with the Yankees than he did with the Red Sox. He never would have cursed the Red Sox.
One would not know it reading the New York Giants website today nor gazing at their “Ring of Honor,” but one of their best players ever, Ron Johnson passed away at age 71.
Many Giants fans rank their near miss 1970 season ahead of some of the Supe winning seasons and Ron Johnson’s brilliance that season, led the way.
He was a star at Michigan University, where in 1968, he set a single game rushing record, that still stands, with over 340 yards vs Wisconsin.
“My” Cleveland Browns drafted him and I recall a “Strat-O-Matic” football card of him, but after “we” traded him to the Giants.
The Browns also traded the even greater Paul Warfield, setting the stage for Miami Dolphins’ greatness and causing my best friend, Michael Santasieri, to refer to Browns’ owner Art Modell, as “The Santa Claus of the NFL.”
Though I was not a Giants’ fan, my memories of their 1970 and 1972 seasons are cherished ones.
Ron Johnson, more than anyone, stood out in those two seasons.
In ’72 while Johnson ran great in those “radio only” home games, with a real announcer, (in fact the best ever for radio/football–Marty Glickman) Marty who always appreciated excellence, whether from his team or the opposition, lauded the efforts of such stars as Denver’s Floyd Little and Washington’s Larry Brown.
He talked of Larry Brown evoking memories of the great Jim Brown, a player Ron Johnson grew up idolizing.
Meanwhile Johnson dazzled us when the Giants had the ball.
Finally there was November 15, 1970 -Doug Ingber was 10 years old and in a Connecticut hotel room with his dad, watching Washington at the Giants in Yankee Stadium. 22 years later, Doug a superb editor with D.C. Video edited my tribute show to an appreciative Marty Glickman, which aired on the day of his last broadcast.
“Stone,” through all the combined mental illness and events, has recounted that day, that game he attended as a 13 year old with his father “D.R.” as arguably, the best in his life.
There was perspective from the tragic plane crash of the Marshall football team the night before and the excitement when as he said “had there been a roof on Yankee Stadium, it would have blown off,” such was the noise when Ron Johnson, holding the ball aloft (no cell phones, no cell phone “celebrations” then) crossed the Washington goal for “the go ahead to stay,” final score. Down (33-14), the Giants won (35-33).
I was home, radio only but with Marty. As the game was headed for its thrilling climax, Marty suggested to those in the radio audience that were driving to “pull over to the side of the road.” Yankees’ head Mike Burke actually did so and told Marty so.
If I do nothing else with my tangents, I try to delve into what happened, unlike so much of the sports media, that for example, still cites one play without placing said play, in perspective.
I conclude my tribute to Ron Johnson, with Ethan “Stone’s” recollection of his father wanting to beat the traffic after Ron scored.
Yet Sonny (Jurgensen) and “Wash” did not give up, (they watched from the lower stands before leaving) nor should we.
Ron Johnson was a great, as good, I say better talent wise and at his best, than any Giants’ runner. Now he runs above and Doug, “Stone” Marty Glickman (up there with him) and I remember!
Sadly, in reading about Ron Johnson of the Giants and Michigan–I learned that Ron Johnson, a defensive back on 2 consecutive Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl winners (’78 and ’79), teams in my book in a close “contest,” the best teams I ever saw play, had also passed away in this year 2018.
Click below for a brief recollection of Ron Johnson–Steelers
Former Steelers defensive back Ron Johnson dies at 62
In gambling casinos, there are “slots hosts.”
The NFL, an entity that “owes” (an interesting word in this case) much of its great commercial success to its tie with gambling, a veritable “marriage made in (some failed) mortgage,” has division round games, I have long called “slots” games.
Three one loss teams are likely “slots hosts,” though remember 7 weeks of regular season NFL play remains.
Two of those teams, the AFC Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Los Angeles Rams are (9-1) and meet next Monday night in Mexico City, while the other, the (8-1) New Orleans Saints are perhaps the most impressive team to date.
In consecutive weeks, they won games at Baltimore and Minnesota, vs the Rams at home and yesterday annihilated the Bengals at Cincinnati. The first three were in games that were “rated” close to even while the Saints, winners of eight straight tilts after a season opening loss vs Tampa Bay (Bucs), were 6 point road “faves” yesterday.
In Kevin Seifert’s NFL review, he contradicts himself or at least errs as the (9-1) K.C. lead over New England and for that matter (6-2-1) Pittsburgh is certainly NOT 2 games. It is one and a fraction!
Below is from Seifert’s column:
The New England Patriots‘ loss in Tennessee effectively gives the Chiefs a two-game lead for the No. 1 overall seed. The Patriots hold the head-to-head tiebreaker between the teams, but Sunday’s action means they’ll need to make up two games over their final six to wrestle away the top seed.
Today, the exploits of the military will be front and center on NFL coverage all day long.
Please remember today the 100th anniversary of The Armistice ending the bloody, first World War, was supposed to mean the beginning of peace.
One hundred years later, despite a great general’s warning (Dwight D. Eisenhower) regarding the military, industrial complex, we still are only hoping, regarding peace!
The time has come to throw out some of the newspaper articles I have saved over the years.
One thing is an interesting column by Maury Allen in 1979 as the 10th anniversary of the New York Mets’ “miracle” title was about to be celebrated.
Joe Torre, referenced in the article as having made the last out in the Mets’ division clincher eventually managed the rival Yankees to 4 titles in 5 seasons and also managed the Mets with almost no success.
Soon, before the next spring arrived we anticipated the new cards for “Strat O.”
Of course the networks, as they so often do, “guessed” wrong in thinking the Giants and 49ers would be worthy of prime time games this season.
However, it is interesting to note that this Monday night’s tilt between the Giants (at) Niners is taking place, one year to the date after last season’s Niners’ (31-21) win on Sunday November 12, 2017.
It is a footnote to a game that the network powers wish they could take back.
In reviewing a tape from 1994 or 1995, I noticed some coincidences or perhaps interesting notes.
A CNN reporter covering the famed Orenthal James (better known as O.J.) Simpson trial, had the surname Vito. (Robert?)
The judge in the case was named Ito (Lance).
Also just before the trial commenced, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at age 104.
The CNN reporter imparting that news was named Kennedy (Kathleen, also the name of Rose’s granddaughter, a current elected official.
Tomorrow night there is a good tilt as the (6-2) Carolina Panthers visit the (5-2-1) Pittsburgh Steelers.
Each team is a viable threat to make the Supe, however at the moment “Pitts” is only third in the AFC and Carolina, behind (7-1) New Orleans in the NFC South is only fifth.
The Steelers are 4 point favorites at home tomorrow night, in a rare night game I will consider watching. Sound off of course!
After tragic events in each area, one caused by nature, the other not–we can do more than hope, certainly not hate.
Of course this scenario discounts the (7-2) and great New England team (among others), but what if the eventual Super Bowl entrants are current 1 loss teams.
Those teams are (8-1) Kansas City from the AFC and the (8-1) Rams and (7-1) Saints, the latter having 45-35’d the former last week.
If it is K.C. vs the Rams then it will be two teams once coached by Dick Vermeil.
If it is K.C. vs the Saints, then the Supe would match two teams, once coached by Henry “Hank” Stram.
Andy B Sports 