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.
Last night’s (6-7) Miami win which snapped New England’s 14 game road win skein and 8 game such streak this season, likely will not matter in the seeding race.
The winner of this week’s tilt at Pittsburgh, between the (11-2) Steelers, who have high wired 3 straight win/no covers, the latest (39-38) vs the still likely in the ‘offs (7-6) Baltimore Ravens, in which Pitts quarterback Ben Roethlisberger became the first NFL quarterback to thrice throw for over 500 yards in a game, and (10-3) New England (Patriots) will lead the one seed race and very likely win it.
Jacksonville (Jaguars) is (9-4) a game ahead of the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South race. If “Jax” wins out (they host Houston, visit improving San Francisco before a trip to Tennessee for a game that might decide the AFC South if not have more ‘offs implications. Then again that tilt might mean little).
On Saturday night, NFL Network beams us likely the game that will decide the AFC West as the (7-6) now L.A. Chargers, winners of 7 of their last 9 games visit Kansas City (Chiefs), a team that had lost 6 of 7 games before a (26-15) home win vs now (7-6) Oakland with their “good luck” and once team announcer, Kevin “Mout” Harlan presiding.
The Titans did win the earlier game at Jacksonville so if they win the season finale vs “Jax” and tie in the standings, the AFC South would go to them.
If K.C. prevails Saturday night, they would have a very likely insurmountable one game and a fraction lead over the Chargers, having won the earlier tilt.
Now Ben and the Steelers can all but wrap up the AFC one seed with a win vs New England on Sunday. They can not clinch the one seed even with a victory, unless Jacksonville loses.
Earlier today, doing the “kid around” news that has marked WFAN even as WNBC with Mike Breen, Chris Lopresti ERRED saying Pittsburgh could clinch the AFC one seed, with a victory.
It is truly amazing what can happen, when I do not back my predictions with “coin of the realm.”
Two more wins, making my predictions (16-4), a cool 80 percent and with the help of massive snow, I nearly was correct saying that there would be a tie.
For the record, now (6-7) Arizona my main pick, won outright vs (8-5) Tennessee, not needing the plus 3.
Also in a late game, (4-9) Denver eased vs the (5-8) Jets.
True there was a storm, but I nearly called the first tie game of the NFL season, as it looked as though now (7-6) Buffalo and (3-10) Indy would tie, but LeSean McCoy broke loose late in the maximum 10 minute overtime period, for a spread covering touchdown, as “Buff” won (13-7).
Tomorrow an AFC update, later in the week one in the NFC and I will talk “slots”/divisional round as only I can.
I lived it, ate it, still (can’t) sleep it, but IT amounts to nothing.
Last week as I often do, I rolled up the dispensed paper towel after drying my hands, said “Silk” (for the great Jamaal Wilkes, who had 37, the night Earvin had 42 to lead an L.A. title) and shot the towel into the garbage opening. Nobody saw me do so.
If a man has undeniable talent, but gains nada–is not that a waste, but surely it is not garbage.
Stick with me, not so much for my picks, but for great notes as the NFL season has 3 weeks plus tonight’s tilt (I will say 11 point favorite New England wins, but no covers (31-23) at Miami), remaining and then the ‘offs.
Over 37 years have passed since Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes scored 37 (far better known: Earvin had 42) points, as the Lakers won their second L.A. title on May 16, 1980.
I watched in room 302 of a Howard Johnson’s? hotel in L.A. and in those days before Janet Jackson’s boob was exposed (big deal and I looked the other day, there was something covering her nipple. Of course gratuitous violence can be shown!) and the events of 9-11-2001–the radio and television were in sync.
Hence, I fondly recall that when “Silk” shot, the great Lakers’ broadcaster, Chick Hearn, called all his 20 foot shots, “the layup,” and often it manifested, 37 points being the proof!
Last Sunday, as stated here more than once since this one, now upon us, Derrick Henry turned left end and raced 75 yards for a touchdown, that covered the spread for Tennessee vs Houston.
The result was a rare loss on one of my football predictions here.
Usually, a team that so called “burn covers,” especially in that manner, (theoretically once Henry had the first down, the only chance of his Titans losing the game were if he kept running) does not the following week.
I say that happens this week. (8-4)Tennessee a 3 point favorite, just gets by (5-7) Arizona, by a (17-16) score.
Mike Francesa again was (3-1) on his “picks” last week. This week he “gives out” the (9-3) Rams minus say 2 vs (10-2) Philadelphia, in the Fox tilt beginning around 4:25 Eastern Time, the (6-6) Packers minus 3 vs the (0-12) Browns (for some seemingly inexplicable reason, “Cleve” retained Hue Jackson as head coach) and at night, the (10-2) Steelers minus 5, vs the (7-5) Baltimore Ravens.
Now (8-5) Atlanta was a last week loser/loser and originally an underdog vs a last week winner/winner (the latter in the back to back words vs the spread in each case. I could have saved words explaining that), but were bet to favorite status, before covering (9-4) New Orleans.
I will give a slight nod to one of the three loser/loser/underdogs playing this week. The team is (3-9) Denver, which started the season (3-1), plus one and a fraction vs a (5-7) New York Jets team, that was perceived to win at most 3 games and has been highly competitive in most of their games this season.
The other two are Cleveland and Philly, both vs the also hot Francesa.
I do not think Green Bay, even with a returning, great but Not as Tom Brady, (Joe Buck seriously implied he was after GB took Dallas, the week before Rodgers was injured), will make the ‘offs.
However, ‘they’ may want a still in contention Pack team for a Saturday night December 23rd tilt, vs currently (10-2) Minnesota. Hence no prediction favoring Cleveland, which could always lose by one or two points, backing both “theories.”
Before the season, a “proposition bet” on whether there would be a tie game in the NFL this season, favored, fairly strongly as I recall, that there would be at least one such outcome.
The overtime period had been decreased from 15 minutes to ten, obviously making a tie, more likely. Thus far, no NFL ties, but I, so hot with no money involved, say there will be one, dare I say today.
The great Leroy Kelly, pictured above, led the “real” Browns to a home victory vs the Packers essentially, 48 years ago on Sunday December 7th (relevant numbers 28 and now 76 since “a day that will live in infamy.”).
If only “Super,” (the great Pat Summerall) and the very talented Charlie Jones, were still hosting “This Week In The NFL.”
“Super”/Summerall cited the fact that Browns’ win vs the Packers in ’69 was their first in 13 years.
Oh let me vent, but in a mostly “above the belt” way.
Brian Cashman of Connecticut and his descendants can not resist more. They want it, they get it!
As another from Connecticut, Carly Simon sang “I haven’t got time for the pain.”
Just over 40 years after affecting sports balance by annexing Reggie Jackson, (another went under 18 points in a loss to similar and in a 5 man sport, Golden State last night) the Yankees have done similar, regarding Giancarlo Stanton, with help from their “chosen one,” new Marlins’ co owner, Derek Jeter.
Yet other than the name “Stanton,” surely no relation–though we and all things are “related,” it does not bother me.
Odd that the player most responsible in turning their “buy all, disliked Steinbrenner mantra into one of seeking “home grown,” far more palatable, even for anti-Yankees fans, Mr. Jeter, is part of a decided return to buy, buy, buy even if it was a so called “trade.”
Neither Jeter, (so good, perhaps great as a player) and recently revered disproportionally by fans of another “Holy Trinity team” (I read it “hardass,” see Richard Kiley’s great portrayal of a Notre Dame football fan in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar”) the New York Giants, Eli Manning, (surely NOT a great), are heroes.
They get paid beyond words and transparently represent to these type fans, something pure, something to wash away sport’s bad taste.
Sorry you have lowered your standards.
Some worship Mike Francesa, who in shameful fashion, will be honored by being able to “do” his penultimate show at the Paley Center this week.
This is not Joe DiMaggio and certainly not Walter Cronkite and why oh why, as the snow falls, did our standards have to fall so precipitously as well?!
Expect “Jacob Marley” from Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” (pictured above) soon— Messers Cashman, Jeter, and Stanton.
To think, Frank Messer was such a good announcer (he “radio’d” in fine fashion, the ’64 NFL Title tilt, for the Baltimore audience).
The actor portraying “Jacob Marley” pictured above is the great Leo G. Carroll, who also played the title role (not a ghost) in another ghost themed movie, “Topper.”
Andy B Sports 