I am so moved by all that the Shriner’s Hospitals do.
Once, there were North/South and certainly East/West Shrine games.
I recall the great announcer Lindsey Nelson broadcasting them.
Today was the Senior Bowl. It is usually The South and today, incredibly plus five plus, they put the dogs on an insane (13-1) run, ripping the North squad.
Please GIVE to charities, but especially of late, TAKE the points.
There are many great causes, The Shriner’s Hospital is certainly one of them.
The cities of Boston and Philadelphia have a tremendous history of post-season clashes, however, their final round/game meetings are few and far between.
They met in consecutive World Series, with different teams from each league,the only time it has happened and also something extremely unlikely to happen again, as evidenced by the fact it happened 102 years ago.
In 1914, the miracle Boston Braves, since departed for first Milwaukee and currently in Atlanta, swept the powerful two time World Champion Philadelphia Athletics, since departed for Kansas City and currently in Oakland.
The following season, again 102 years in the past, the Boston Red Sox took the Philadelphia Phillies in 5 games.
Thus 102 years ago, in their only baseball final clashes, Boston won both vs Philadelphia.
Before the Supe, 9 days hence, a look at other Boston/Philadelphia final round/game meetings and “separate but better,” the great postseason basketball history between the city’s teams, none of it, in the final round/game.
Hank Gowdy, pictured above, led the Braves to a stunning World Series sweep over Connie Mack’s great Philadelphia Athletics.
Curt Gowdy was a long time Red Sox broadcaster, before going national, leading the announcing in two Red Sox 7 game defeats, in which they played so well, vs tremendous teams, the ’67 Cardinals and beyond great, 108 win, 1975 Cincinnati Reds.
The MVP of the ’75 W.S. Pete Rose, is still not in the Baseball Hall. I probably should face the fact, he likely never will gain entry there.
Shouldn’t and will Bob Costas, who knows the injustice therein, cite it, when making his speech this summer?
Click below to view the 1974 “Hues Corporation” hit.
Rock The Boat 1974 Hues Corporation – YouTube
I am so glad to have met the immensely talented, truly caring and giving, Vince Pacimeo, before last Sunday’s NFL title games began.
He wants to get the message out that “we must give each other the proverbial hug.” His engaging manner as well as that of his wife, Vicki and friend Gloria illustrated to me, there are people, successful people, who want to give and help us get together.
Certainly a renowned musician and actor, looking twenty plus years younger, a veritable Richard Corey, Vince wants to get his message out there.
No time too soon, as Hillel said,” if not now, when,” and “Mr. P,” who “wowed” me with great stories, including some regarding Frank Sinatra’s kindness, is doing so with a compact disc out now called “Tug of Hearts.”
In future days, I will have more on this accomplished “Renaissance Man.”
For now, I plan to listen to his music, knowing he talks courteously to all people and his determination through song, will “move the needle,” toward better understanding.
That alone, a marvelous career, he gives back. I am so glad he and Vicki have been rewarded with each other, a good thing happening to good people.
Click below for more information and how to purchase Vince Pacimeo’s “Tug of Hearts.”
Vince Pacimeo | Tug of Hearts | CD Baby Music Store
Today, I will cite a coincidence below, in this the first of at least two posts, that will not involve football, a topic that has been dominant in number, of late here.
Tomorrow’s subject will be a on a one of a kind, caring, extremely talented human being, named Vince Pacimeo.
The coincidence is that today’s episode, airing on ME TV, so many years (49 or so), after doing so originally, on CBS, was titled “Waco.”
Tonight at the Paley Center, a great venue for broadcasting past and present, and named for long time CBS head, William S. Paley, a screening and discussion regarding a new series called “Waco,” will take place at 6:30
It matters NOT, that the “Gunsmoke” episode was named for a character “Waco Thompson” and the current series is named for the city in the state of Texas.
The coincidence is there, made so much more intense to me, by my knowledge of Mrs. Paley’s love of the show “Gunsmoke,” her likely “nudge” to Mr. Paley to keep it on, and most of all, my pressing the wrong floor button on a Paley Center elevator.
On the floor, on which I accidentally arrived, there were reminders, many, many of the show, the Saturday and then Monday nights, the CBS ratings glory and star James Arness.
Cue the great announcer, George Walsh —- “GUNSMOKE!!”
Victor French, pictured above, as “Waco” in the 1968 Gunsmoke episode of the same name.
Click below for more information on tonight’s screening and discussion of the new series, “Waco” at The Paley Center.
Waco: World Premiere Screening and Discussion | The Paley Center
The wins by the home team, Patriots and Eagles set a record as the home teams have won both title tilts for 5 straight seasons. This breaks the record of 4 straight seasons the home team prevailed in the semi round from (’81-’84).
This comprises a streak of 10 straight wins by the home team in the title tilts/semis, also a record.
Philadelphia (Eagles) and New England have played on the same day in the ‘offs 8 times (this does not count the N.E. “no cover” Supe win vs the Eagles after the ’04 season, a third such win for the Pats in the first four Brady/Belichick seasons, a feat they hope to duplicate, again vs Philly in this the 17th Brady/Belichick season), and New England is (8-0) on those days, while the Eagles have a very good (6-2) record.
In the slots, (’01 Saturday, ’04 Sunday and ’17 Saturday) both teams won thrice, in the wild card round, each beat a New York team on a Sunday in ’06 and this is the second time each won title games in the same season, as cited the other occasion was in ’04.
The Eagles lost title games after Patriots title game wins in ’01 and ’03.
Tom Brady, pictured above, headed to his 8th Super Bowl in the 16 seasons in which he played more than one game.
The great “Automatic Otto” Mr. Otto Graham of the original and great Cleveland Browns, played in the league’s equivalent game, the one for the “all the way” NFL crown, in all six of his seasons in the league (’50-55), he and the Browns splitting the six tilts.
Brady and N.E. go into this final/Supe vs the Eagles, with a (5-2) record in such games.
Both Tom Brady, who rightfully gets acclaim as at least “an,” if not THE, all time quarterback and Nick Foles, who was unfairly disrespected by most of the media, threw multiple touchdown passes as their respective one seed, home teams, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, won title games yesterday.
Thus, the teams will meet in the 52nd Supe, 2 weeks from yesterday in Minneapolis. “N.E.” has opened as a 5 plus point “fave,” a bit low, but dogs, not mine (plus I never had one!) have barked an incredible 9 of ten times, in these ‘offs, after doing so just twice in 11 such tilts last season, including a mind blowing favored Pats’ cover in the Supe.
Mr. Brady again showed his greatness, his Pats down 10 points early in the fourth quarter, Rob Gronkowski out (he did not play in last year’s ‘offs) and facing a third and 18 at his own 25, yet overcoming and leading N.E. to their 10th Supe, 8th with Brady and the great coach Bill Belichick, at the helm.
Danny Amendola hauled in the third and eighteen pass, then two touchdown passes, the latter one preceded by his fine punt return, giving Brady a “short field” of thirty yards to traverse, which he/N.E. did, on the decisive drive.
Stephon Gilmore made an outstanding defensive play for N.E. to all but seal the win, deflecting a last ditch Blake Bortles pass.
Meanwhile Nick Foles threw 3 touchdown passes as the underdog Eagles, who are now (4-0) vs the Vikings in ‘offs play, scored 38 straight points and routed Minne, once (4-0), now (4-6), in title tilts/semis, (38-7).
In ’00, the Giants scored all 41 points in shutting out Minne, in the same round.
Alshon Jeffery had two touchdown catches, while LeGarrette Blount, Torrey Smith and most of all, Patrick Robinson, whose interception return turned the game around, were the Philly” touchdown makers.”
Chris Long, (my cousin said “long” in a different context, as I typed the word) as is the case with Blount, a member of last year’s New England title team, put pressure on Minne QB, Case Keenum on Robinson’s interception and recovered a fumble with Phil up (14-7) and the Vikings deep in Eagles’ territory.
Derrick Barnett forced the Keenum fumble, on which Long, made the key recovery.
Apparently, Mr. Amendola pictured above with Olivia Culpo, makes other seemingly great catch(es.)
The home team has won both title tilts four consecutive seasons, tying a record set from (1981-1985,)
Then one of the eight games, the only time in what will be 96 AFC or NFC title games after today, was played on a Saturday.
In the strike marred 1982 NFL season, Washington got a home, Saturday, NFC Title game win vs Dallas.
When Chicago defeated Los Angeles at “Chi,” in the ’85 NFC title tilt, the home win skein in title tilts reached 9.
The team that opened a 9 point favorite, now 8, (vs the Jacksonville Jaguars), in a bid to give the home team a record tying 9 straight home title game wins, New England, coincidentally, was the team that ended the title game, home team 9 game win skein, by posting a win in the later title tilt, 32 years ago (1985 season,) with a win at Miami in the AFC title game.
That win snapped an 18 game Pats’ losing streak at Miami’s famed Orange Bowl. For the record, the Pats, then known as the Boston Patriots of the AFL, won at the Orange Bowl vs the expansion Dolphins in 1966 and not again at that venue, until the aforementioned title tilt (1967, 1968 and (1970-1985), but did win the 1969 “at the Dolphins game,” however, they did so at Tampa Stadium.
Certainly television and gambling helped the NFL, however one game on television and with some interesting point spread “doings” (oh Joe Buck–these things, for better or worse, matter), the 1958 NFL Title Game, helped boom football, more than any other.
When I think of John Unitas to Raymond Berry in that great game, with all those great players, on two great teams, cynicism is put aside.
Mr. Berry was the Pats’ coach when they roared to 3 road wins to make the 20th Supe. A great Bears’ team “clawed” them (ode to Killer Kowalski) in that Supe, winning decisively.
Last week’s dramatic play which transformed an extremely likely Minnesota Vikings’ ‘offs defeat into a dramatic victory, extended a streak of the Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers not BOTH losing, when they played on the same playoffs day.
That streak is 6 or technically seven, as an “automatic” concerning both not losing, occurred when Pittsburgh defeated the Vikings, in the ’74 season Super Bowl.
The six times they have played on the same ‘offs day and not vs each other were the Saturday ’73 “slots” (Minne won, Pitts lost), the ’74 title games (both won), the ’76 title games (as was the case in the ’73 “slots,” Minne played earlier at home while Pittsburgh lost at Oakland, vs the Raiders), the ’97 Saturday slots when Pitts won the earlier game at home and Minnesota lost the later tilt, as with the ’73 and ’76 Steelers in the California Bay Area, but at San Francisco.
Continuing, before last week, the two teams played on the same wild card round day only in the strike marred, extra wild card round games season of 1982, when on a Sunday, perhaps playing simultaneously (I know the game at Pittsburgh, was an earlier game), the Vikings won at home while the Chargers ended a 7 game Steelers’ home ‘offs games win skein, all the wins coming in title seasons (’74, ’75,’78 and ’79).
Then there was last week, “Jax,” a similar td underdog tomorrow at New England in the AFC Title Game, had “barked” outright as a 7 point “dog,” dropping the Steelers’ home slots record to (12-2), when Minnesota trailing got the Keenum/Diggs/Horrible New Orleans defense play to make it 6 for 6, that playing on the same ‘offs day, the Vikings and Steelers both do not lose.
This was the fourth time in those six, Minne won and Pittsburgh lost, while once each, Pitts won and Minne lost and both won.
Of course, it is not even close as to which team has the better postseason history.
The Steelers have won 7 games for every 5 losses (not counting 1947) compiling a (35-25) ‘offs mark, while the Vikings have the opposite (maybe that numbers karma got in the way of the Saints defense, causing an all-time bad play) ratio, losing 7 ‘offs games for every 5 they have won, a (20-28) record.
Two important additions, the Vikings are still playing this season as Mike Tomlin’s awful play calling lowlighted a shocking Steelers’ loss, but to this point and maybe for a long time, more compelling, the Steelers won their first 4 Super Bowl games, their first vs the Vikings, and are (6-2) in such tilts, while Minne is (0-4), having never even led at any point in those 4 Super Bowl losses.
I do not know how, nor why, the CBS broadcast of the Pats’ win vs the Steelers, in which an apparent and called touchdown catch by Jesse James of “Pitts” was nullified by replay, made no reference to the fact the same happened regarding an apparent touchdown pass to James, in last year’s title tilt between the teams.
In last week’s slot 1 game at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, matching the homestanding Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, there was a richochet type play, in some way similar to the Franco Harris game winning touchdown in the Steelers’ first ever slots/division round/NFL quarterfinal, 45 years earlier also in slot 1.
Reference was made to the play being in the same state (actually commonwealth). How about citing the fact that the two Pennsylvania home teams, the Eagles (4-0) and Steelers (12-1), entered the slots weekend in which each would host such a game, with an incredible combined record of (16-1) in such/home slots games?!
In slots/NFL divisional round/”quarters,” the Pennsylvania teams home record rose to (17-1) after the Eagles win vs Atlanta.
The big upset by win by “Jax” at Pitts lowered that still incredible record to (17-2). It was in an “Eagle” Ian)game, that the great Eagles/Steelers home “div round” record took a bit of a hit, likely but far from definitely, continuing the “paving” job for another New England “Supe” appearance.
The Minnesota Vikings’ miracle win vs the New Orleans Saints put them in their tenth NFL semi-final game (this Sunday at Philadelphia, in the later/late game), (9th NFC title tilt, their ’69 NFL crown was gained in a semi, after which they lost the Supe to K.C. whose coach Hank Stram talked of teams getting “out of the soup,” when backed up deep in their own territory).
“Minne,” so unfortunate to advance as the Saints’ Marcus Williams flubbed the play on which Case Keenum threw the game ending 61 yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs, won their first 4 NFL semis, only to never lead in any of the four subsequent Super Bowls and since have lost 5 straight semis/NFC title tilts.
They are 3 point faves at Philly in a bid to avoid a 6th straight title tilt/”semis” loss all within a 40 year, 41 season span with 3 of the losses coming in years ending in “7” (they lost at Dallas in ’77 and at Wash in ’87). 2017?
Andy B Sports 