Charlie, Billy and Tommy take the ice in honor of their grandfather Stan Mikita. #OneMoreShift
There is no doubt that Brooks Koepka will be the golfer of the year.
He won the just completed PGA Tournament, his second major tournament victory of this year, having won the U.S. Open.
Koepka copped (say that three times fast!) last year’s U.S. Open crown, giving him victories in three of the last seven major tournaments and of course two of the last three.
Quite impressive!
Brooks Koepka, pictured above.
While it is still likely that the defending World Champion, Houston Astros will still be the American League “two seed,” they are making things a little bit too interesting in the A.L. West race.
Houston’s lead is down to just two and a half games over very surprising Oakland (A’s) for the division lead.
Surprising Seattle (Mariners) just won all 4 games at Houston, joining the way below .500, Texas Rangers as teams to sweep the ‘Stros in the last two “at Houston” weekend series. Texas won all three there two weeks ago.
Houston, which is 11 and a half games behind (85-35) Boston (Red Sox) for the A.L. one seed, still leads their probable division series opponent Cleveland (Indians) by 6 games in the “2” seed battle, which will determine home field advantage if and again, likely, when the two teams meet.
An incredible difference to this point as Houston is (41-18) on the road actually a better percentage than (43-20) Boston.
However, they are just (32-28) at home.
Last Sunday was the exact 56 year anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death on Sunday August 5, 1962.
Ms. Monroe, such an underrated actress, especially regarding her comedic skills, was at one time married to Joe DiMaggio, whose 56 game hitting streak is among and arguably is baseball’s greatest record.
Another great record (I realized this listening to Ben Mankiewicz’ introduction of “The Pride of the Yankees” on TCM last night), Lou Gehrig’s 2130 consecutive games played lasted 56 years from the time of Lou’s last game in 1939 until Cal Ripken Jr. eclipsed the mark, with DiMaggio in attendance in 1995.
Again thus far and likely for the season, the Western Conference of the Canadian Football League has the teams with better records, as has been the case for a couple of seasons, at least.
The Calgary Stampeders, idle this week, lead the way with a (7-0) record while two other West teams, Winnipeg (Blue Bombers) and Edmonton (Eskimos) sit at (5-3).
In the East, the Ottawa Redblacks, who rode the weaker Eastern Conference route to a second season Grey Cup appearance in 2015 and a shocking title in 2016, lead the way with a (4-3) record.
In each of the last two seasons, a team from the CFL East won the Grey Cup, previously cited Ottawa in ’16 and the Toronto Argonauts last season.
Both times, the Calgary Stampeders lost as pretty big favorites, in highly competitive tilts.
Stan Mikita, one of hockey’s greatest players passed on this week at the age of 78.
He spent his entire NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, contributing mightily to their 1961 title team.
“Stash” who was born in what is now The Slovak Republic, is still the only player to win the scoring title, league MVP and the Lady Byng Award for sportsmanship in the same season for two straight years, doing so in 1967 and 1968.
The Blackhawks once were my favorite team, providing me with nice moments and pride, one being that a cool hockey game, was named for my favorite player and long time Mikita teammate, the great Bobby Hull.
However ’61 was before me and while the allegiance also included Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and the Bruins (I was a hockey “front runner”/2 team fan), only my reverence for Jean Beliveau, who as was the case with Mr. Bill Russell and Mr. Joe DiMaggio (remember Woody Allen’s “Mr. Milton Berle,” in I believe ” Broadway Danny Rose”) had to go out with a crown, enabled me to decrease my heartbreak, regarding the Canadiens denying the ’71 Blackhawks the title.
Somewhere Stan, who forgot his glory, victimized by Alzheimer’s Disease, is being greeted by Jean Beliveau and Stan’s memory is returning.
Mr. Beliveau and so many players and fans know of Stan Mikita, as an all time hockey great and by all accounts a truly good man.
Click below to view Stan’s three grandsons skate around the Chicago ice in tribute, something I originally posted on April 9 of this year.
Chicago Blackhawks
✔@NHLBlackhawks
I thoroughly enjoyed “Less Than 50%,” which is being performed at 59E59 through Sunday September 1.
Gianmarco Soresi gives us humor and pathos, imparting a unique, heartfelt and somewhat cynical view of romantic relationships, especially marriage.
Hannah Hale gives a fine performance as the woman, “Laura Catalano” involved with Soresi both personally and professionally.
Homage is paid to Woody Allen among others while there are twists and surprises.
The need for a post performance bow is debated as part of the show within the show. However, no debate regarding “Less Than 50%,” as the cheers rightfully abounded and will continue for this excellent work.
“Less Than 50%” is directed by Jen Wineman.
Robin Milling in association with James Brent White, Todd and Elizabeth Donovan, Joann Farda, Jesse Kearney and New Light Theater Project are the producers.
Click below for ticket information. The performance schedule is Tuesday-Friday at 7:30 PM: Saturday at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM.
What’s On at 59E59
Gianmarco Soresi, pictured above, teams with Hannah Hale in this wonderful show.
In a seemingly shocking and certainly highly emotional eighth episode of the Showtime series, “The Affair,” the character “Alison Bailey,” played by Ruth Wilson has died.
I like the show and look forward to the remaining two episodes of this season.
A “sports stretch” referencing the show as the next night, Monday August 6th, the Mets in a game won by Noah Syndergaard (there is a main character on “The Affair” named Noah Solloway, pretty close) defeated the Cincinnati Reds and their starting pitcher, Homer Bailey took the loss.
There is loss, there is real loss. There is fiction and reality, truth and lies.
Dominic West as “Noah Solloway” and Ruth Wilson as “Alison Bailey” pictured above.
The defending NFL champion, Philadelphia Eagles open their exhibition season with a game vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Once the franchises combined briefly and were known as the “Steagles.”
They have never met in a Super Bowl.
This season, each team is considered a major threat to win its conference, however,of course, the odds are against a “Steagles” Supe.
The Boston Red Sox deserve much credit for sweeping the second place Yankees and even more credit for a (79-34) (.699 winning percentage) record.
However, all it does is likely give the Red Sox home advantage in any series they might play, in the upcoming baseball tournament.
Boston, famous or infamous for an 86 season title drought from (1919-2003) did win 5 early titles, all in a 15 “played seasons” span (there was no World Series in 1904, just as there was none, 90 years later in 1994) from (1903-1918).
This season’s likely top mark and at this point it is a great record (look for the team to slow its pace and that would be a good idea, although there is still “mucho,” seemingly meaningless “reg” baseball remaining) makes Boston the top choice to win a 4th title in 15 seasons, having won it all in ’04, ’07 and ’13.
Yet the odds are against them and if I were them I would not want to play the Yankees in the “quarters,” but at this point, that is likely and also likely is that the Red Sox would not be big favorites.
That series certainly would figure to be much closer than the one just played.
It is nice to watch “The Lucy Show” with Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance and directed by Desi Arnaz, on the “Decades binge” this weekend.
In an episode in which the comic genius, Ms. Ball is a football referee, she references three football players of some vintage.
One is John Unitas, “whoever that is” Lucy remarks, as his football card has been lost.
Now looking at football cards, she cites that Jim Brown led the NFL with 942 rushing yards in his rookie season.
Of course Unitas and Brown are two of (some might say the two greatest NFL players ever (clearly two true greats) the greatest players and I was glad to hear a third player, Red Phillips cited.
He led the NFL in receptions in 1962 and the episode/Lucy cited that fact. Way to go Red!
Jim “Red” Phillips led the NFL with 78 receptions in 1962.
’62 was the only year in Jim Brown’s 9 season career, in which he did not lead the NFL in rushing.
Another great Jim, Taylor of the NFL champion Packers, took rushing honors with 1,474 yards that season.
Andy B Sports 