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Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar Marks its One Year Anniversary With Four Nights of Celebration

Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar (48 West 33rd Street, New York City) has been receiving rave reviews for combining the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. It will celebrate its one year anniversary on November 8th through November 11th with dozens of beautiful exotic dancers stripping out of sports themed outfits; food and drink specials; “Happy Hour” extended until 11pm; and no cover charge until midnight.

Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, just one block from Madison Square Garden, and next door to world famous Rick’s Cabaret, Hoops Cabaret has been called “the sexiest sports bar ever!”

The three story club is noted for its “Super VIP Man Cave,” mezzanine and balcony seating, deluxe private boxes, and multiple H-Def TVs and Big Screens throughout the club.

Everyone is a VIP at Hoops Cabaret, as there is not a bad seat in the house. Highly Recommended.

NFL Notes

Both 1949 NFL Title Game participants, the (8-1) Philadelphia Eagles and the (6-2) Los Angeles Rams, scored 51 points two days ago, in resounding victories against the fading (3-5) Denver Broncos and the (1-7), all time “value team,” the (1-7), New York Giants.

Since the Eagles led by Steve Van Buren defeated the Rams in that ’49 title tilt, both the Eagles and the Rams as the Los Angeles Rams, (they started in Cleveland and won the ’45 crown and won it all as a before season tremendous long shot, soon to be prohibitive favorite, as the St. Louis Rams in ’99) have each  won but one NFL title.

“Philly” did not exactly “cream” the team most associated with “cheese,” the Green Bay Packers, winning (17-13) on the Monday after Christmas Day in 1960 to win the crown (Vince Lombardi’s lone ‘offs loss as he won the next 9 and 5 NFL crowns).

Meanwhile 51, perhaps is operative, as the lone Rams’ L.A. title was won in 1951.

 

Why no criticism of Bill O’Brien’s cowardly coaching for Houston vs Seattle?

The Houston Astros of course titled and that makes the year for Houston sports.

Again any Houston fan will take it and should not complain.

However, the coaching of Bill O’Brien, a good coach, but what a lousy, cowardly decision in the Texans’ loss to the “Sea” Seahawks (they may finally be out to seas, themselves) just hours before Astros 13 Dodgers 12 in the pivotal 5th game of the World Series has not been properly scrutinized.

You had DeShaun Watson (had the operative word as now Watson is out) a fine quarterback and you run thrice, on a day your offense scored and scored.

Bill O’Brien blew it, Watson got hurt, now “low win,” Indy probably ended Houston’s chances and O’Brien avoided criticism amidst the Astros title.

 

Burt Mustin Recalling The First Modern World Series On The Tonight Show 71 Years Later In 1974

Last night, Antenna TV showed a John Carson Tonight Show from Friday night October 18, 1974, the day after the Oakland Athletics clinched their third straight World Series title “5’ing” the Dodgers, who were eliminated in W.S. play on Oct 17th twice (in ’74 and ’78) and Oct 18th once (1977), in losing 3 of their 4 st. W.S. losses, from ’66-’78.

Mr. Carson talked of the plane his parents were on the night before, being diverted because of fog, but the highlight to me, was the then 90 year old actor, Burt Mustin, talking about the very first World Series in 1903.

In that first W.S. Boston defeated Pittsburgh 5 games to 3 and Mr. Mustin recalled the “Tessie song” or just “Tessie” being sung by the Boston fans, even in his hometown of Pittsburgh.

By the way, Bill Dinneen (over a year later, I checked and Dinneen is the correct spelling with Dineen cited as an alternate one) (3) and “True” Young better known as Cy Young, yes that Cy Young, combined for all 5 Boston pitching victories. Deacon Phillippe, a distant ancestor of actor Ryan Phillippe, notched all 3 Pittsburgh victories.

 

Burt Mustin on the right (you would have thought “Archie Bunker”) with the great Carroll O’Connor, on the seminal show, “All In The Family,” pictured above.

World Series Notes

Only one previous World Series had the same win/lose/home/road configuration as the just completed fine 2017 World Series which manifested in the Houston Astros’ 7 game triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That was one of the few better World Series that I saw that was not so arguably better than this one, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds’ 7 game victory over the Boston Red Sox.

In both the 1975 and 2017 World Series and in no other one, did the following configuration manifest: home team/eventual losing team won game 1, road team/eventual winning team won game 2, home team/eventual winning team won game 3, road team/eventual losing team won game 4, home team/eventual winning team won game 5 (in each of those tilts, first baseman for the game and eventual Series winning team, who were from Cuba, hit home runs–the Astros’ Yuli Gurriel, hit the first of two Astros’ game tying 3 run homers 42 plus years after the great Tony Perez of the Reds hit two home runs in #5/’75), home team/eventual losing team won game 6 and the road team/by definition Series winning team won game seven.

For the third time in as many situations where at the least post-season qualification was on the line the Astros and Dodgers took a cue from the great musical group, “The Eagles,” and “took it to the limit.”

In ’80 L.A. had to win the last 3 games of the then so much more meaningful regular season to force a playoff with the Astros for the ’80 N.L. West title.

Playing at home, L.A. did so, the first game on a Friday night I listened to on “Armed Forces Radio,” I believe with Gene Elston, on a Grundig radio. The next two were on NBC, followed by ABC.

However, as was the case in the decisive games, an L.A. win en route to a strike marred 1981 season title and the Astros’ first title clincher in their 56 year history (Russo “Christophered,” yet another factual mistake saying their first SINCE 1962, NO they had never won one. Say that, NOT “SINCE”), one team, in ’80 and as cited ’17, (the Astros), won easily.

I will have more notes, but before this post ends, I must cite John Smoltz saying two consecutive World Series were played on his daughter’s birthday.

Was she born on 2 straight days? If it was a natural birth, not always the case these days and for some time, that must have been rough, to say the least, on the child’s mother.

Of course that was not the case. Last year when the Cubs “titled” for the first time in 108 years, that #7 was played on Wednesday November 2nd. This year #7 was on Wednesday November 1st.

I prefer listening to Smoltz over the equivalent pain of giving birth, something as a man I can not fathom, but have learned the hard way, there is nobody like your mother as I heard Al McGuire, now there was a rarity, a good television sports analyst, say so long ago, but it is CLOSE!!

 

A Grundig radio

Kellyann Chippendale’s “Meisnered” To Be Screened in West Los Angeles Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow night in West Los Angeles, an extraordinary film about the life of the wonderful, talented, compassionate performer, Kellyann Chippendale will be shown at 6 P.M. at The Revive L.A. Theater located at 12420 Santa Monica Blvd.

The film is being screened as part of the PTAFF Film Festival.

Ms. Chippendale told me, that “at its core, the film is about the positive effect one teacher can and does have on a student’s life.”

We will keep you posted on other screenings of this film, all around this spinning world.

 

The Astros Spring(ered) to a (5-0) 2nd inning lead and won their first World Series, winning (5-1) in game seven

The Houston Astros, about whom I have fond memories when they entered the National League as the Colt 45’s in 1962, won their first title, in what was their 56th season (the great DiMaggio referenced by Mr. Hemingway, who would not like these tangents in my writing, but loved Joe, saw his hitting streak end at 56 and the “value” S.F. Giants ended their title drought after 56 years) winning (5-1) at Dodger Stadium, in game 7 of the ’17 World Series last night.

George Springer, who hit 5 home runs in the 2017 World Series, tying a record for a player on the Series winning team, set by Reggie (you know what the obstinate “Can” “can” do with his Reggie criticism and the fact his ways hurt so) 40 years ago, also vs the Dodgers, doubled and scored in the 7th game’s first inning, the latter part occurring when Cody Bellinger (a far worse than Reggie 16 strikeouts in this series) threw the ball behind starter and losing pitcher Yu Darvish–(the acqired Dodger pitcher getting routed in both his W.S. starts).

A “Springer/ 2 run “rhymes with Springer,” with 2 out, T3, made it (5-0). Astros pitching, no pun “dodged” L.A. threats, with Charlie Morton, perhaps the first to win #7 of an LCS and W.S. in the same season.

This is the third major professional sports league crown for the city of Houston, the first in the city’s only other “winner take all game” in a major sports league, that #7 of the ’94 NBA final, when the Rockets beat the New York Knicks.

Coincidentally, last night when the Astros “titled,” the Rockets easily defeated, you guessed it, the Knicks.

Stranger/coincidentally, the night before when the Dodgers, hoping to join the ’88 and ’10 Lakers, who came home to L.A. and won games 6 and 7 to “title,” won to make them over 3 to 2 faves to accomplish that feat, the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons, you guessed it, the team, they the Lakers overcame to win the ’88 crown.

 

2017 World Series MVP, George Springer pictured above.

Dodgers and The Fox Network Get a 7th Game

The Los Angeles Dodgers/Fox Network won (3-1) in game 6 to force a seventh and deciding game vs the Houston Astros, as the 2017 World Series, the first since 1970 with two 100 wins plus teams (that one in glorious daylight with Curt Gowdy, Chuck Thompson, Jim McIntyre and Tony Kubek only went 5 games as the great Brooks Robinson and the Orioles “picked” the Cincinnati Reds) goes to the first ever home L.A. Dodgers seventh game of a World Series.

Chris Taylor, who solo’d in the L.A. team’s (L.A. won its only other #7 World Series game behind Sandy Koufax, shown last night and while I do not root vs L.A. with anywhere close to the ferocity with which I “loved” them far too long (’63-’85, surprising my father, who came home from work and said “I heard that before” when after Tom LaSorda pitched to Jack Clark, I said I would no longer root for the Dodgers and have kept my word) first W.S. at bat and tied the insane #5 game at 12, with a 2 out T9 single, delivered a 1R2B, that scored Austin Barnes and sent Chase Utley (believe me, Utley batting left handed “scared” me, but losing pitcher “Just” very good NOT great, you know how I feel re Kershaw, but oh do I “fear” him tonight, Verlander, now (0-4) in W.S. tilts, “SINNED” and hit Utley in the foot on a (1-2) pitch no less) to third, whence he scored on Seager’s long fly out to right (speaking of right, Fox execs could celebrate then, as I knew ’twas to be L.A. in #6 and a big $$$ 7th for Fox).

Houston “tried to win (1-0)” but Verlander as is the case with all of them, I say since Lefty Grove are not Sandy (I still “love” Sandy, not so Vin Scully or even Earvin Johnson, each also shown, though I once did.)

The Astros had a (1-0) lead (I had my 4’s note, recall my Snider post yesterday, as Springer, Dykstra and Snider all had/have 4 HR’s in one W.S. and all wear or wore the #4 when doing so, I believe) on Springer’s 2 out, T3 homer but failed 2nd and 3rd none out T5, “lowlighted” by Josh Reddick, being fanned by starter/no decision Rich Hill. Alas could not Verlander squeeze, as Hous needed 1 run there but did not get it!)

Thus #7 tonight, I will watch, my money on L.A. my heart and quixotic sickness vs them. Each team is very good, not great and I am guilty of thinking it is title or failure. The team that scores less runs tonight may be denied the ’17 crown, but they are NOT losers.

 

When I feel down, such as thinking about Joe Buck, in his 20th world Series getting his 5th seventh game and this year getting a 7 game LCS and World Series for the first time, I recall Jim McIntyre’s call of the last out of the ’70 W.S.

I can’t get his voice here, but in honor of his call and Brooks Robinson, tonight’s tilt will end on a ground out, third to first, it will not be “Robinson to Powell, the Orioles win,” but it is nice to recall that moment.

 

 

 

 

Duke Snider on “What’s My Line”

At an event commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the great 1951 pennant race won by the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers, I interviewed the outstanding Dodgers’ player Edwin “Duke” Snider.

He was so modest, when I mentioned he hit a “multitude” (my word) of home runs in the 1955 World Series, the lone Fall Classic won by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“A multitude?” he said being modest. I said few hit more, he said “Reggie (Jackson) did, but I believe nobody else has ever hit more in one World Series.

Enjoy “The Duke of Flatbush” on this classic episode of “What’s My Line” by clicking the link below.

Whats My Line Duke Snider

 

 

 

Astros Classic 1″3″ to 1″2″ Win in #5, gives them a “3” games to “2” W.S. lead

Last night, for the second time in what has admittedly been a fabulous World Series, albeit one playing out far too late into the night and morning,  I marveled at the incredible (13-12) Houston Astros’ win that gave them a three games to two World Series lead, vs the Dodgers.

The teams now travel to Los Angeles, where they will play game six tomorrow night and a seventh game, if necessary, on Wednesday night.

Alex Bregman’s run scoring single in the bottom of the tenth inning ended the five hour, seventeen minutes game, which featured Houston coming back from 4, 3 and one run deficits, only to dissipate a 3 run lead, they took to the ninth inning.

For the second time in this World Series a Dodgers’ player delivered in my book, THE clutch hit, knocking in the tying run, down to their last out, with a runner in scoring position, but in an eventual loss. Kike Hernandez did so in game 2 at home, but Houston won, while despite Chris Taylor accomplishing the great feat in game 5 last night, in the end it was in a loss.

Houston got three runs or more batted in performances from Yuri Gurriel, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, with Gurriel and then Altuve smacking game tying 3 run home runs, to tie the mind blowing tilt, in the 4th and 5th innings.

Additionally, George Springer was on base 5 straight times and as was the case with Brian McCann, both homered in the tilt and also reached base before Bregman, who has also played so well defensively in this post-season, delivered pinch runner Derek Fisher with an historic hit.

The irony of the name Derek Fisher (a namesake played on 5 Los Angeles Lakers’ title teams and remember L.A. has 20 major North American sports league crowns while Houston has but 2) and great efforts by Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (4 runs batted in) and the aforementioned Chris Taylor are cited, deservedly so here.

A truly great game, I missed “(3-0) L.A,” but am so glad I watched it. It was well worth, though it should not be necessary, staying up past 2 in the morning, having seen something great and winding down afterward.

 

I’ll say it was an over!