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?
I did not know he was sick, thus news that a great player and someone I truly admired, Jo Jo White had died at age 71, came as a very unpleasant shock.
“Playing off” the epic Beatles song title, as would playing off the ball, next to his superb floor play, is not difficult. So often Jo Jo was THE man!
He played with two other greats (John Havlicek and Dave Cowens) and many very good ones (Don Nelson and Paul Silas, to name two) under coach Tommy Heinsohn, on 2 underappreciated Boston Celtics’ title teams in 1974 and 1976.
The Boston team of that era, underappreciated in Celtics’ and NBA lore, won 68 games in 1972-1973, but were denied the title.
Until the Warriors’ epic failure, despite a record breaking season, that team had the most “reg” wins in NBA annals, by a non champion.
One game more than any, defined that team, the nice era of play and The man, Jo Jo White.
It was a Friday night, game 5 of the 1976 NBA final, the Celts at home, now tied with the upstart Phoenix Suns at two games apiece, in what had been an all home team final.
In a triple overtime classic, likely greater, certainly longer and more important (the winner of the latter game did NOT title) than a Friday night Boston Garden, two overtime Celts/Bucks classic 2 years earlier (Kareem Abdul Jabbar and John Havlicek dueled in greatness, the former’s long baseline “sky” decisive, but series MVP Havlicek and Boston won a Sunday afternoon decisive tilt at Milwaukee, incredibly their third win in 4 road games there in that ’74 final) Jo Jo played all 60 minutes and led the Celtics to an all important victory.
Before game 6 back at Phoenix, Jo Jo was interviewed by CBS analyst, former league official Mendy Rudolph. “How could the much older Celtics win at Phoenix, where they had lost twice especially after a long Friday night game, a flight to the road, Boston to Phoenix?
Jo Jo seemed confident they would. “Coming off” the epic win, by definition epic Phoenix loss, I thought so as well.
Later, through the crackling static, I could hear legendary Celts’ broadcaster, Johnny Most invoke that the Celtics had won their 13th NBA crown and second in 3 seasons, two after the epic dynasty, that won 11 in 13 seasons.
Jo Jo was the MVP.
Jo Jo, who battled the disease that took his life with classy, upright dignity and always dressed and lived the part, WAS and Is the man!
Go easy,” The Man,” bet Red (Auerbach) is working on a contract for you to play next to “DJ” (Denis Johnson) in a heavenly back court.
Say hello, but be careful, you know Red!
Jo Jo White pictured above, helped put up two more title banners. After starring in #5/’76 final at home, Jo Jo was the man (not in Tuscon) but in Phoenix, Arizona, that title winning Sunday afternoon in 1976, “the year of “Ike’s” teams.”
Click below to view a stirring version of “Get Back” with appropriate Jo Jo/Jojo lyrics, by “The Beatles.”
The excellence of the New England Patriots can be illustrated in many forms and with many facts.
Here is one that shows their sustained great play, especially in the regular season. The great play in the “reg” has afforded New England major, well deserved playoffs advantages. Consider the following.
This Sunday’s earlier (AFC) title tilt, at New England will be the 16th time, N.E. is the host team in an AFC playoff game in their last 18 such games.
After just 6 home games in 11 AFC ‘offs games from (’01-’06 ), a period in which the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls and made 4 AFC title games/NFL semis, they have hosted one wild card game, 9 “slots”/division round games (’07,’10-’17) and counting this Sunday, 6 AFC Title/semi-final games (’07, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’16 and ’17).
The only New England road games in the referenced 18 playoff game span, were a pair of losses at Denver, in the ’13 and ’15 AFC Championship games.
An all time sports great, Tom Brady, pictured above.
In reflection, on this actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King 89 years ago, numbers and time come into my mind, regarding a truly great man and contributor to the cause of civil and human rights.
This is the first time Dr. King’s January 15th birthday has fallen on a Monday, the day it is celebrated, since 2007.
At that point nearly 39 years had passed since Martin’s death. He was only 39 years old, an assassin’s bullets ending his life in tragic fashion, no Jack Benny joke, regarding always being 39.
Now soon 50 years will have passed, and I pause this day, not talking “slots,” but, to remember a truly inspiring, great person in Dr. Martin Luther King.
The New England Patriots will be top heavy favorites, as they will host the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars, in what will be the Pats’ 7th straight appearance in the AFC Title Game/semi, next week.
“Jax” was the third underdog to win outright in these ‘offs, not the biggest upset, as Tenn was a bigger underdog vs K.C. but it sets up a likely, far from definite 8th Supe appearance for Brady, Belichick and the Pats.
It was not a “terrible towel,” but a terrible loss, with terrible decisions for the Tomlin coached, Roethlisberger “QB’d” Steelers.
The two home teams in the NFC portion of the “slots”/ NFL quarterfinals/division round of the NFL playoffs, have a significant association with the number 57 this season.
Philadelphia (Eagles), the NFC top seed, has gone 57 years since last winning an NFL crown, that one in 1960, vs Green Bay (Packers), handing legendary coach Vince Lombardi, his only ‘offs defeat.
Meanwhile the NFC second seed Vikings, who are the top odds choice by a fairly significant margin, to advance to the Supe (if they do, a team will play at home in that game, for the first time in 52 such games), are in their 57th season, having commenced play in 1961.
There is more but for now, I leave you with the following note.
When Philly won the ’60 crown, their quarterback was a great one, Norm Van Brocklin.
The next season, as stated 1961, the Vikings began play. Their coach was Norm Van Brocklin.
Norman aka “The Dutchman,” also won a title sharing quarterback duties with another great, Bob Waterfield with the ’51 L.A. Rams.
The Rams, in whose uniform Mr. Van Brocklin is shown in above, were also in this year’s offs having been ousted by the Eagles “Slot 1” opponent, the Atlanta Falcons.
Van Brocklin also coached the Falcons. There is no direct association between “The Dutchman,” and the only other ’17 season, NFC “slots” team, the Saints but 3 out of 4 is better than “ain’t bad” as “Meat “Loaf” sang regarding “two out of three.”
Only four of the eleven Alabama titles have come in undefeated seasons, while one of four times Notre Dame fairly and certainly not so, denied ‘Bama the crown, was after an undefeated Alabama season in 1966. (The one clear cut battle between the teams, involving the title was an Alabama rout win vs Notre Dame to claim the 2012 crown.)
Gene Stallings has as many unbeaten title seasons, as the great coach (he is) Nick Saban. This includes Saban’s 5 titles with Alabama and his shared crown as L.S.U. coach.
Only the ’09 Saban team completed the season unbeaten. Stallings’ ’92 team did so, while Mr. “Bear” Bryant’s first and last/fifth title teams (’61 and ’79) were unbeaten.
This 2017 Alabama title team had two running backs named Harris, a good name for that position (interestingly Franco Harris, a great running back, played on two unbeaten teams while at Penn State, which were not even considered for the crown. (See Central Florida this season.) Alas, perhaps, then Penn State coach Joe Paterno is “discussing” that occurrence with God, the devil or Beano Cook, maybe all three), one Nagee, the other Damien, each of whom contributed to the latest ‘Bama crown.
Let’s cite receiver Jerry Juedy, as is the case with title game winning play heroes Tua Tagovailoa and DeVonta Smith, a freshman, for a big reception on the tying Alabama touchdown drive.
Click below for a few different “versions” of Alabama’s title winning play.
The Philadelphia Eagles are apparently the first conference top seed to be underdogs, in a quarterfinal/division round game.
That is the case for their slot 1 game (with Al Michaels), on NBC vs the Atlanta Falcons. The tilt starts at 4:30 P.M.
“Philly” spread backers get three points, which seems a decent amount of “cream cheese.”
The Eagles are (6-6) in these tilts but (4-0) at home.
Philly will not “cream” the Falcons, but their backers will get the “cheese,” Eagles 19 Falcons 17.
Olivia Newton-John sang “Let’s Get Physical.” in her big hit “Physical.” Above I got “generic,” but you get it.
Click below to view Olivia Newton-John singing “Physical.”
Olivia Newton-John – Physical
The Alabama title won in the incredible championship game, Monday past, is the school’s eleventh Associated Press crown.
Some may have noted U.S. President, Donald Trump a Republican, was at the game, leaving at halftime and apparently missing another overtime thriller, in which a Georgia team was dealt a heartbreaking loss. (Mr. Trump stopped watching the most recent Supe, missing his buddy Robert Kraft’s New England team’s great comeback win, vs the Atlanta Falcons).
Perhaps Mr. Trump’s Republican presence helped the Alabama karma, as for the first time, the Tide have won it all with a Republican President in office. (Their 1992 title under Gene Stallings, Bear Bryant and current coach Nick Saban(o) have 5 titles each at ‘Bama, was gained on January 1, 1993, 19 days before Bill Clinton was inaugurated, thus G.H. Bush, a Republican, was in as a so called “lame duck” President.
Otherwise the other 9, really 10 Tide titles, were won with Democrats as U.S. President.
Leroy Jordan, Bear Bryant and John F. Kennedy in 1961, Joe Namath (1964), Steve Sloan (1965) with Lyndon Johnson both years.
Mr. Bryant’s ’78 and ’79 crowns were with Jimmy Carter in office, while as stated, the ’92 crown with Stallings and a player I saw have a great game and help beat DeMatteo (somewhere there is footage of me running along the sidelines in a white jacket, as the then Derrick Owens, Lassic at ‘Bama and now, scored a touchdown for coach Joe Casarella and North Rockland High School), Derrick Lassic was accomplished with W.J. Clinton, having been elected.
The previous 4 ‘Bama titles under coach Nick Saban were with Barack Obama (note the “bama” in his name) as the President.
There is one “big” difference between the 5 other presidents in office when Alabama won the title and Barack Obama. Can you guess the answer?
The answer is the other 5 presidents have a “J” “leading off” one of their names. A “breakdown” follows: (I hope to have an additional breakdown of the scintillating Alabama/Georgia title game) two first names, (“J”ohn F. Kennedy and “J”immy Carter), middle names for Clinton and Trump and a last name for Lyndon B.”J”ohnson.
Perhaps the proximity of the first letter of Mr. Obama’s middle name, “H” (for that matter the one in Mr. Bush’s, still in office for the ’92 crown, as stated above), a scant two letters from “J” in the alphabet, can serve as a reminder, this country so desperately needs, to become far more united, after all, it is The United States.
The great Alabama football coach, Nick Saban pictured above.
Click below to see Derrick Lassic, then Derrick Owens “wrap up” brilliant touchdown run. I believe it was 1987 not 1986 but kudos for digging up the video.
Maybe I am one of the people shown running on the field but I am not the man shown behind the end zone.
I ran on the field praised Derrick and invited Mr. Casarella on my television show. He accepted and was a great guest.
Roll Tide- Alabama Claims Their Eleventh Title, Fifth Under Nick Saban Tying “The Bear,” Paul Bryant
Tua Tagovailoa, an almost completely inexperienced reserve quarterback, threw 3 touchdown passes, after being inserted into the game in the second half, the final one 41 yards to an open DeVonta Smith, on a second and 26 yards to go play in overtime, lifting Alabama to their 11th crown, winning (26-23) over Georgia.
This was a truly incredible game and the heroics of Tagovailoa will be an enduring story.
‘Bama coach Nick Saban, who tied the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant with his 5th Associated Press crown at Alabama (he also won another version of the still mythical crown, while coaching LSU, sharing the ’03 crown with USC) put “Tua” into the tilt with Georgia leading (13-0) at halftime.
He threw touchdown passes to Henry Ruggs(The Third) and Calvin Ridley that respectively, cut the deficit to (13-7) and tied the game at twenty apiece.
There were so many twists and turns in this the second straight college title game, decided on the last real play of the game, this one the very last.
Tomorrow I will have more details, regarding those plays and some notes.
A truly big play, I am citing now, occurred after Georgia built a (20-7) lead and had intercepted Tagovailoa possessing the “pig” at the Alabama 39.
Likely they would go up at least 16 points, a 2td and 2 2 point conversion margin, maybe more, however, Fromm’s pass was deflected and intercepted by Raekwon Davis and returned into Georgia territory.
That play and a live bet, I knew the Tide were in it, they won it!!
Tua Tagovailoa (pictured above) is “an overnight sensation,” maybe through the boosters he “will drive a big expensive car.”
Sure it is a polluted culture, but, for now, hail Tua’s rescue effort, culminating in a 5th title in 9 seasons for Nick Saban and Alabama.
Andy B Sports 