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.”
As stated I did not want to be right (now my Saints to win the NFC South “prediction” is less likely to manifest) but of course (lately my default phrase as noted by Mike W.) ’twas another exact margin Falcons by 3 and just 4 points off an exact score.
Even with the Henry spread covering run that snatched (14-3), I am (14-4) with 5 exact margins, one exact score and some near misses on other “exact scores.”
The Saints still lead the “div” and the other “vs Atlanta” game is in New Orleans, on the day before Christmas.
A win last night would have virtually assured a Saints “div” title now though still favored, the (9-4) Saints are in a battle for NFC South honors with (8-4) Carolina, whom they defeated twice and hence own the tiebreaker and (8-5) Atlanta.
Why George Springer of the champion Astros? First of all, they won it, why not?
Why in a football post? The ‘Stros won their first title in their 56th season! The San Francisco Giants won their first Bay Area crown 56 years after their last one in New York (1954-2010). I do not have to tell you how long the San Francisco Bay Area’s Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak was (FIFTY SIX games)!
Things end at 56, sadly Abraham Lincoln’s and my grandfather’s (also an Abraham, for whom I am named) life.
Maybe, after 56 seasons sans a title, either the Philadelphia Eagles or Minnesota Vikings, currently the teams with the top 2 NFC records, will win one this season.
Again there was incredible betting line movement on an NFL game.
The (7-5) Falcons, once 2 point underdogs, are 2 point favorites vs the (9-3) New Orleans Saints.
It is a big game for New Orleans, bigger for Atlanta. I really hope I am wrong here.
Falcons 24 Saints 21
Tom Dempsey Pictured Above.
I had watched long time Syracuse coach, Jim Boeheim’s press conference after a game at Madison Square Garden, honoring the memory and cause of Jim Valvano.
My mind flashed to memories, most prominent of which was the fact Boeheim played guard at Syracuse University, along with the great Dave Bing.
A “play” on an historical speech by President Roosevelt on December 8, 1941—-tomorrow December 7th, is the 5th anniversary of a post I wrote concerning Dave Bing.
Click below to read that post.
- Dave Bing: A Life of Challenge on December 7, 2012
I will not get to see the end, but you will be able to do so.
There is a great movie on TCM, titled “Clash By Night,” which has Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan and 26 year old (her character says she is 20) Marilyn Monroe in its cast.
Watch it or look for it again, as I will do. It will be well worth it.
Paul Douglas in a baseball movie, “Angels in the Outfield,” is excellent in the film, while more baseball/Marilyn romance as she is with a “Joe” in the film, played by a then newcomer, Keith Andes.
That is why they call it gambling! It would not have been Houston outright, (even that was more than possible, when after 3 “procedure” penalties cost them 15 yards, they converted on 4th and 19 to be first and ten around the “Tenn” 30, with less than 2 minutes left, but was almost certain to be a “Hous” cover to make me (14-3) in the past three weeks, as Houston was to lose (17-13), as 7 point underdogs.
However, in an all-time type horror loss, a man named Henry “O’d” me for cash and pride, scooting 75 yards for a “Tenn” cover.
Again that is why they call it gambling! Thank goodness, the amount was small and so what if I go (30-3) or to honor Robert Moses “Lefty” Grove (31-4) on this site, yet it hurts as good and bad lessons so often do.
The great short story writer, O Henry pictured above.
It is truly “mind blowing” what can happen, when one does NOT back one’s predictions with real bets.
I believe I am (13-3) (Ohio State was more than a six point favorite when I made the prediction) vs the spread, with some exact picks in the last 3 weeks.
WFAN’s Mike Francesa whose reading of “copy” is a another example of our society’s fall, has been doing well on his predictions.
This week he “touts” (Cosell wrote of him being one, but look at him now as soon he will drive a Brink’s Truck into his personal sunset, only to return, I am sure) two” faves,” Atlanta minus 3 and New Orleans minus 5 and two underdogs Seattle plus 5 (now 4) when he predicted and Cincy plus 5 on Monday night.
One prediction for me, this I will bet for some real money, so watch it lose.
I say Houston, a touchdown underdog will win outright, with “underdog” and actually decent announcer, Greg Gumbel “presiding” at Tennessee.
Going from the insidious subculture of gambling, to AFL/AFC history, the Houston Texans’ opponent is Tennessee (Titans).
Once the Titans were the Houston Oilers and once the New York Jets were the New York Titans.
Far better to “What’s My Line” than to speculate about the betting LINE!!
A superb play, “Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone” (playing at The Workshop Theater 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor through December 17th) began with David Gow as “Tommy” citing the names of the people who made him what he is.
This evoked one of my all time favorite scenes the one in “Save The Tiger” in which Jack Lemmon’s (he won the Academy Award for his performance in “Tiger”)character insists that his younger companion cite “names/names.”
At that point I hoped “Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone” could even approach “Tiger” one of the great works this society has produced in multiple decades.
The play surely succeeded as not only the expected brilliance of Terrence McNally manifested, but did so in a great production led by Gow’s performance as “Tommy Flowers.”
Kudos to the other members of the cast, all of whom gave moving performances.
They are Sam Garber, Daniel O’Shea, Emma Geer, Al Fallick, Emily Kitchens and Noelle Franco.
This was a truly inspirational performance, beyond the amazing names. Providing both humor and pathos “Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?” looks intensely at the internals and externals that shape an individual.
David Gow pictured above.
Click below for more information.
Terrence McNally’s WHERE HAS TOMMY FLOWERS GONE? Opens …
Concerning tomorrow’s relevant playoff qualification games I will offer some predictions.
I preface this by saying these are really tough games to call.
Oklahoma, a seven point favorite, will repeat its victory over TCU three weeks back, and make the four team ‘off. Sooners 34 TCU 24
Next, I think Georgia, a current 1 loss team will qualify by avenging a loss to 2 loss Auburn, which also occurred three weeks ago. Georgia (a 2 or so point underdog) 21 Auburn 17.
At night, 2 loss, Ohio State wins but does not cover as a 7 point favorite vs an unbeaten Wisconsin team. Let’s try Ohio State 27 Wisconsin 24.
All these are for no money, or small change as pictured above.
Tomorrow night in a game of some magnitude, USC is a 4 point favorite vs Stanford, in the Pac 12 Title Game.
USC will keep their faint chances of appearing in the 4 team playoff, with a not so impressive (33-30) win.
I believe USC, as is the case with TCU, has little, if any chance, to make the 4 team playoff, even with a victory.
We shall see. However, as stated, it is SEC winner, ACC winner, Wisconsin, if they win, and Oklahoma if they win. I believe the spot likely is between Alabama and Ohio State, if Ohio State wins vs Wisconsin in the Big 10 Title game. TCU is ahead of USC, but appear locked out, by Alabama and or Ohio State, even if they “bark,” i.e. win outright), as 7 point underdogs, vs Oklahoma, in the Big 12 Title Game.
Andy B Sports 