The memories and moments flow in my brain, recalling a superb broadcaster, Dick Enberg, who died yesterday, at the ago of 82.
Driving home, I place on a compact disc of “moments past,” and on it from the great show Enberg hosted, “Sports Challenge,” was Dick reading, maybe writing, a tribute to Jackie Robinson.
If nothing else, I will transpose it, but hope to give you access to Mr. Enberg’s voice on that show.
He had an incredible career that included broadcasting UCLA basketball during their dynasty and actually gaining national exposure, that helped propel him, by calling one of but 2 losses in I believe 90 (or so) games in the 3 seasons that the team was led by Lew Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
That game was played on January 20, 1968 and in it, Enberg working with I believe, the great player, Bob Pettit, called Houston’s (71-69) victory in a virtual home game, before 50 thousand plus fans, at The Houston Astrodome.
Elvin Hayes led the way with 39 points and Enberg, who would go on to work so many big events nationally, showed his broadcasting “chops” that night and for nearly 50 subsequent years.
Dick Enberg, pictured above, I believe resembled and reminded me of the great Jack Lemmon.
It is high, but also well deserved praise for Mr. Enberg.
There are no more Thursday night NFL tilts this season and despite mounting evidence these games played 3 days after a previous one often result in more injuries to the players, will continue in 2018.
There is just one tilt, in the season’s penultimate week matching teams controlling their “destiny” for divisional titles, with (10-4) New Orleans hosting (9-5) Atlanta in a game, I lament will not be “beamed” into the New York market.
Elsewhere, in games matching contenders of any kind, none with both teams controlling their “div destiny,” AFC one seed leader (11-3) New England is “eleven” vs (8-6) wild card entrant, contender Buffalo (Bills), while the very likely NFC West winning, (10-4) L.A. Rams visit (8-6) Tennessee.
In a tilt between (8-6) wild card entrant hopefuls each needing help even if they win their remaining games to secure said ‘offs berth, Dallas is a 5 point favorite, at home, vs Seattle.
48 years have passed since “con” the Mike Santasieris, I saw the out of the ‘offs, New York Giants win (31-21) vs “my” playoff bound Cleveland Browns, in the 1969 season regular season finale at Yankee Stadium.
The great Leroy Kelly, pictured above, the crowd chided slightly with song lyrics “Leroy your mother is calling” (all good fun, no malice and great respect for Mr. Kelly was shown as had been the case from Giants’ fans toward other running greats on the Browns, Marion Motley, Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell.
Joe Morrison led the Giants win and while my father and son friends and most others were on the field toward the Giants, I wished Gary Collins, of my team, good luck in the next week’s ‘offs game at Dallas. The Browns won that game, before losing to Joe Kapp, Gene Washington and the Vikings the next week in the last NFL title game, not called The Super Bowl.
In the end, ’twas K.C. with Len Dawson, Otis “Big play” Taylor and a superb defense (23-7) vs Minne in the last of four AFL/NFL Super Bowls.
I have a “consecutive number of letters thing,” to report as I watched an episode of the superb, over 50 year old show, “Perry Mason” this morning.
First and foremost, the show holds up, though obviously most times with unrealistic courtroom confessions, and the acting led by the intense Raymond Burr as “Perry” is superb.
Anyway, names of the performer, his or her character’s name and number of letters in each.
Using a mix and match, perhaps getting ready for column A/column B, “Jewish Christmas” tradition in 5 days, I got number of letters separated by one for each of the four leading performers/characters.
(Raymond) Burr with 4 and either “Perry” or “Mason” with 5. The lovely (Barbara) Hale with 4 and Della (Street) with 5 as well.
Next 4, 5, 6, and seven for character Paul Drake (played by Hedda’s son) Hopper, William or William Hopper.
Finally, seven and eight letters for first names William (Talman) as Hamilton (Burger).
Mr. Talman’s warning/public service, anti-smoking spot regarding the dangers of smoking cigarettes, is one of the most dramatic and best, so sad, but, hopefully able to help others.
Click below to see Mr. Talman’s public service spot.
William Talman, pictured above.
Aided and abetted by a rule that seems ridiculous, the (11-3) New England Patriots left Pittsburgh with an “on the number,” 3 point win, that has them with the inside track to an incredible sixth AFC one seed regular season finish, in the past eight seasons.
Pittsburgh, also (11-3), is still ahead for the very important 2 seed and its “perks” (a first round bye and a home slots game with the possibility of hosting the title game/semi, if the top seed is “slotted” out, which you heard it here first, will happen this season).
Even if (10-4) Jacksonville wins both its remaining tilts (at improving, with quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo S.F. and slumping, but in contention, (8-6) Tennessee) it would require at least one loss as a double digit plus favorite by either New England (they are minus 11 vs (8-6) Buffalo and will be well over 2 touchdown “faves” vs the Jets) or Pittsburgh (minus 10 at (4-8) Houston and likely near 3 touchdown, maybe even record setting “faves,” vs the currently (0-14) Cleveland) to keep either the Pats or Steelers, from hosting a “slots”/division round game.
Despite that I say the one seed will be “slotted out” i.e. lose in the “quarters” and feel even stronger, with better, but still underdog odds, that there will NOT be a New England vs Pittsburgh AFC title game. We shall see, as that is one reason they play the games.
I have no idea whether the current “climate” regarding such things helps or not. On paper the loss did not, but the intangibles are there. We shall see.
The movie team and friendship of Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas was so great.
This surged through me, as I watched Burt as Wyatt Earp and Kirk as “Doc” Holliday in “Gunfight At The OK Corral” on TCM.
The fact Burt Lancaster died in 1994 and that Kirk Douglas is 100 years old also was on my mind.
Not knowing and so help me, in the next scene, in character as Earp, Burt says to Kirk as Holiday, words to the effect, that one as you will live forever.
Of course nobody does, but these two movie icons do live on in our memories and in movies we can still see, often on the fabulous TCM.
Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster
Yesterday was frustrating, as once it was “nicely” on “dogs” and “overs” in bowl games, as 5 of 6 dogs “barked,” four outright, (two Boise State which has done this type thing before and Georgia State as touchdown underdogs). Additionally 4 of the 6 tilts were “overs.”
In the pros, with local Tirico presiding, it had to be the (8-6) Detroit Lions, staying in contention for one of the two NFC wild card spots, covering, but all teasing (4-8) Chi, which peaked or shall I say “beaked,” with its upset win, at Cincy last week.
The Lions will be favored to win at Cincy next week and if they do so, with a (9-6) record, likely, if not definitely, will at least be “alive” for ‘offs qualification, when the last day of the eighth year,of the second decade of the TWENTY FIRST century and 2017 NFL “reg,” commences on December 31st, two weeks hence.
All the positive talk regarding Chargers, the negative regarding the Chiefs, it had to be and was K.C. in a night, NFL Network Greg Gumbel tilt, leaving (8-6) K.C. with a magic number of 1, to clinch a second straight AFC West crown.
The Chargers, certain “faves” at the currently (5-8) Jets next week and at least slight ones vs (6-7) Oakland in the finale, certainly are still in contention.
Maybe the over rated, underachieving, religious zealot, Chargers quarterback, Phillip Rivers can “pray on it.” He is entitled to his beliefs, of course, but I am tired of having his and others jammed at me and less important, of Rivers’ continual failures in big games, such as last night.
The first of 5 loser/loser/underdog vs winner/winner/fave tilts lost when Denver covered Indy, in an otherwise meaningless tilt, also with Tirico last Thursday, but here are the four for today. I will not count them as predictions but along with Francesa’s final picks, will note them below.
Money before a concerted effort to get the facts correct, Francesa is (1-0) thus far, having picked his buddy, Andy Reed and K.C.
He also picked his “enemy” Bill Belichick and N.E. minus 3 at Pittsburgh and “total chalked it,” with the Saints minus 16 vs the Jets.
Houston plus 10 at Jax, Tenn plus one and a fraction at S.F. the Giants plus a fraction more than a touchdown vs Philly and Oak at night plus 3 vs Dallas are the loser/loser/dog teams.
My one pick remains Green Bay plus 3 at Carolina with The Emperor (Joe Buck) “talking at me/us.”
I lost with not only a loser/loser/dog in Indy, but one whose bettors were “burned” by an overtime touchdown by Buffalo.
Does one try Miami, a big upset winner vs N.E. with “McDonough last Monday night, plus 3 vs those Bills? I will not, but note as only I do, that next week, one day shy of 46 years later, the ‘Phins visit K.C.
On Christmas Day 1971, Miami won a thrilling 2 overtime, slot 2 tilt with Curt Gowdy, next week Miami, with a win today and at (7-7) would take the field at K.C. (I will say with K.C. good luck charm, “Mout” (Kevin Harlan), with playoff qualification hopes.
Yesterday in college was.
Before seeing the amazing show, “A Regular Little Houdini,” (at 59E59 through December 31st) I thought the physical prowess, in a show partially about Harry Houdini, would be good, (it was great!).
Meanwhile the story and the one man performance by Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, who also wrote the show, was amazing.
Seeing Mr. Williams perform “tricks” and talk of “amazements” right out of the Harry Houdini book, would have sufficed for great entertainment.
Add Williams intensity, humor and pathos, in telling a story concerning the tragic event in Newport, South Wales in 1909, and you are in for an incredible performance.
Williams in character, at times channels and talks as Houdini, expresses great emotion regarding family, especially pleasing his father and tells the story with amazing stage presence.
Josh Richards, who received critical acclaim for his one-man show portraying the great actor, Richard Burton, is in the director’s spot for this one, with Meg Cox as the composer.
Produced by Flying Bridge Theatre Limited, “A Regular Little Houdini” is a truly amazing show, well worth seeing.
Click below for more information about the show and how to purchase tickets.
A Regular Little Houdini – at 59E59 Theaters – 59e59.org
Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, pictured above, gives a brilliant performance in “A Regular Little Houdini” now through December 31 at 59E59.
Thus far my record on predictions is (1-1) this week, (17-5) in the last four weeks.
Today, one prediction, I hope is wrong, or ideally wins with the points, not outright.
Fox of course is sending “The Emperor” Joe Buck to Carolina for returning Rodgers and (7-6) Green Bay (plus three) against the (9-4) Panthers.
I could argue the slightly more important game is (9-4) L.A. Rams at (8-5) Seattle (Seahawks), but you know Rodgers has appeal, plus the GB/Car tilt is not opposite New England/Pittsburgh with Nantz.
The other lead announcer, Michaels, hopes G.B. prevails, as next for the Pack, only in it if they win, is hosting (10-3) Minnesota (Vikings) next Saturday night (December 23rd) with Mr. Michaels, I would think and hope, and on NBC.
They get what they want, Green Bay 24 Carolina 17.
If I followed AndyB’s picks, stop the “If I Were A Rich Man” music, do not go there. It or just about any form of “vs the “house” gambling, will NOT make you a rich man.
It IS a vast and eternal plan, as the great Zero Mostel’s, (pictured above), “Tevye” asked the question in the classic, “Fiddler On The Roof.”
For the fourth straight season, the major league baseball champion clinched its crown on the road.
The Astros joined the ’14 Giants and ’16 Cubs with decisive game 7 title clinching road wins, with the ’15 Royals 5th game road clincher, accounting for the 4 season skein.
It is the longest streak of road team W.S. clinchers since the record 6 from (1954-1959).
Book ending the road baseball title clinchers, one could say from “Martin to Maz” as there were no home team World Series clinchers from the time of Alfred “Billy” Martin’s series clinching, game ending hit in #6 of the 1953 W.S. until Bill Mazeroski broke a (9-9) B9 tie, with a home run that gave the Pittsburgh Pirates their first title in 35 years on October 12, 1960.
My Prediction: Pete Gogolak, pictured above, once played for the Bills. Last week in a storm, the Bills went touchdown in overtime to burn cover the Colts.
I usually take the team whose bettors got “burned,” tonight the Colts a 2 point underdog, will ride 4 Adam Vinatieri field goals to (19-17) the Denver Broncos.
I lived through the Giants having (1-12-1) and (2-12) seasons and were I a Giants’ fan, would clearly have this bad season in perspective.
The Giants are along with their namesake baseball counterparts an all time value team, in fact easily ranking first, after 5 title losses in 6 such games from (1958-1963).
They have 4 Super Bowl titles, never having lost a conference title tilt, have not all that many “slots/divisional round appearances, and most telling won at least 7 “win or be out” playoff games, they easily could have lost. Saying they were lucky (of course they were also good and matched up well especially vs New England, but not because Manning) is a vast understatement.
I’m going to feel sorry for this team, franchise or Eli Manning, not even considered one of the top 100 players by his peers. Oh and did he not have the audacity to say he was as good as Tom Brady?! Leb James said it and though he is far closer to Brady’s greatness (still well short of it), that really irked me. Eli Manning saying it was ridiculous.
I lament Y.A. Tittle, he not Phil Simms and certainly not Eli Manning, (maybe Charlie Connerly) as the team’s best quarterback, not winning a title (nary a title for Tittle, but did the sanctified Mr. Manning do all that much in the 2 Supe wins? Of course the fact he has them is a big reason, rightfully so, for the esteem in which he is held).
When the other Giants, then in New York, had a great victory winning the 1951 pennant, I believe a nuclear test was bumped from the headlines. It was considered positive that transpired.
Certainly the Giants winning the ’51 title and all that entailed was bigger news than a quarterback having a bad season, being benched.
I believe another nation had a nuclear test, but Eli Manning, with his millions and great life, being benched had hype, even given today’s culture, I can not believe.
He will be fine. The rest of us?
I waited a week and while Smith lost, certainly they were closer and at least threw the ball downfield. Not so with Manning!
Of course next year, in all likelihood the Giants will have neither Manning nor Smith at quarterback.
Pete Gogolak pictured above, a nice memory on a cold (maybe even my criticism of Manning was such, do not think he is worried) day.
Andy B Sports 