Let’s see 5 touchdown favorite Clemson went up by 20 points with less than 3 minutes to play and Dave LaMont on one of the “zillion” ESPN/ABC/Disney telecasts said “that MIGHT do it.”
Say nothing, if you “fear” the Red Sea parting and Boston College winning, but do not say “maybe.” It is insulting to the audience.
Last week, Mike Francesa went (3-0) on his NFL predictions, making him (5-1) on the season.
Add the strong possibility he will stay on at WFAN, perhaps due to the station’s so called problems.
I could accept him (as if I have a choice, save not listen, which is essentially what I do) because Pandora’s box is likely opened, with replacements.
However, Mike was not “on,” saying Texas is at Seattle this weekend when they are at Oakland. More telling, inexplicably he could not grasp the math of a tie possibility between Boston and the Yankees.
He looks to be right again with Indy vs the Browns, is in it with “Hack” only down 7, plus 6, at Philly and later says Green Bay will rip Cincy.
I hope the WNBA refers to its title series as the WNBA final and not finals as the NBA does.
Once again that final matches the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks.
Last year sans home advantage, L.A. won two games in “Minne” and took the crown with a win in the decisive 5th game.
I say not this time. Minnesota wins 3 games to 1.
I really like the television show, “Welcome Back Kotter” and am glad it is airing on Antenna T.V. nightly at 6:30 P.M. Eastern Time.
All of the cast members were excellent on the now forty plus years old show. The following post recalls series star, Gabe Kaplan and a good experience in my life with Mr. Kaplan
Once, I believe on one of those great “roasts” hosted by Dean Martin, the one and only Muhammad Ali said “everyone’s talking about Gabe Kaplan” as only he could, a tribute to Mr. Kaplan a rising and so talented comedian.
Having seen Gabe Kaplan, on one of the recently aired, marvelous “Tonight Shows,” with Johnny Carson shown each night on Antenna TV, I talk some more here about Kaplan’s great sense of humor, much of it recalling his days in Brooklyn, New York.
The show that aired recently was from May of 1974, before Kaplan starred in the television show “Welcome Back Kotter,” which also truly launched the career of John Travolta.
Coincidentally, Cindy Williams appeared on that Tonight Show, also a year before her big television show, “Laverne and Shirley” which also starred Penny Marshall.
I was fortunate to be a contestant on a Gabe Kaplan hosted “NFL Trivia” show. He was funny both on and off camera.
More telling to me, he was gracious even telling me the genesis of his making “that noise” in a great “Kotter” episode, in which he plays basketball with student “Fred Boom Boom Washington,” (played by Lawrence Hilton Jacobs), as each of us were getting “tv makeup” applied.
What a thrill for me then and to have seen this fine performer and others on the Tonight Show with Mr. Carson.
The cast of “Welcome Back Kotter” pictured above.
Eight NFL crowns have been gained in years ending in “7.”
Only the Washington Redskins have two such crowns, winning NFL title tilts quarterbacked by rookie and eventual all time great, Sammy Baugh in 1937 and Doug Williams in 1987.
News came on the day of the ’37 title tilt (28-21) Wash win vs the Chicago Bears that former pitcher Rube Benton had died in a car accident.
Benton pitched in two games in the World Series contested 100 years ago.
My readers know I more than “get it” regarding football especially the professionals.
Yet immortals such as Sammy Baugh, pictured above will and should endure, even if the violent, often corrupt game, neither should and perhaps will not.
Jake LaMotta, a terrific fighter/boxer, and flawed, complicated, humorous, friendly and ultimately good man, died at age 95.
I was fortunate to meet Mr. LaMotta on more than one occasion, including after his performance in “The Lady and the Champ.”
He was friendly and funny, one time joking about “striking out” with women, the next each of us lauding his “home run,” with his seventh wife, Denise Baker.
My late friend Joe Green and I spent many “diner” nights eating corn muffins and talking of sports’ greats.
Mr. La Motta was not the greatest, but because of his considerable talent, toughness and good, often great fights vs the greatest, Ray Robinson, Jake as Joe called him, was his hero.
Also Jake and Joe spent time together and Jake had class. I loved hearing the stories and told “Jake” so in our first meeting.
Left to right, Jake and Andy B after Jake’s performance in “The Lady and the Champ” in 2012.
The great actor, Robert DeNiro, who brilliantly portrayed LaMotta in director Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” wrote “Rest in peace champ.”
I add to that nice sentiment, by saying let the “friendly” checkers games with Ray commence.
You made each other greater, perhaps Ali and Joe Frazier, who did the same, will be seated next to you.
Eight cities have NFL teams that are (2-0), but only Denver has a likely baseball tournament participant, to go along with a (2-0) NFL team.
Additionally the Denver based Colorado Rockies at best will be the N.L. “5” seed and their lead for ‘offs qualification is but a game and a half over the Milwaukee Brewers.
While Carolina has no baseball team, the other (2-0) NFL cities, Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Kansas City and Oakland all have baseball teams that will not qualify for the ’17 baseball tournament.
Also the two (1-0) team’s cities, Tampa and Miami also house baseball teams that will not be in the ’17 ‘offs.
The Brewers managed by Craig Counsell, pictured above scoring the W.S. winning run nearly twenty years ago, are still in contention for an ‘offs spot.
In citing the fact tonight’s tilt between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants is a redux of the 1935 NFL title, the league’s third such game, the incredible, I believe and am virtually sure, unprecedented title success of Detroit teams in 1935 manifests.
During the still Depression times that hit the “Motor City” especially hard, Detroit’s three major league professional teams “titled” in and/or around 1935, each title clincher having a “G” named player either opening or closing the Detroit scoring.
The most important hit by a “G” man/player was Goose Goslin’s (a double “G”) World Series winning rbi in game 6 of the ’35 W.S. in game 6 vs the Chicago Cubs.
In the aforementioned ’35 NFL title game, a (26-7) Lions’ win vs the Giants, Ace “G”utowsky opened the game’s scoring, giving “Det” a lead they never relinquished.
The Red Wings gave Detroit a third simultaneous title, surely unprecedented, when they took Toronto (Maple Leafs) three games to one, in a best of five (1935-1936) Stanley Cup final.
In the decisive game, a (3-2) Wings’ win, Ebbie “G”oodfellow of Detroit scored a goal to tie the game an eventual (3-2) “Vogues” (a “G” name coined the term “Vogues” for the Wings) Cup clinching win.
1935 was the first time Detroit won the W.S. —Al Kaline, pictured above, led the Tigers to their third crown in the late/not so great (Detroit winning was) 1968.
Among the five NFL (in one case AFL/NFL) “semis” rematches on today’s slate, are the two from 1968. Additionally, three NFL/’all the way” (cue Eric Carmen and “The Raspberries”) and three other ‘offs past games make/made eleven of sixteen in the second week.
In 1968, the New York Jets won (27-23) at home vs the Oakland Raiders in the AFL title game. Later that day, although Jim Simpson “famously” said “it is already (10-0) Baltimore” on the NBC radio broadcast as there was overlap, the Baltimore Colts ripped the Cleveland Browns (34-0) on the shores of Lake Erie (Cleveland) to win the NFL title game.
Two weeks later, the Jets shocked most, not 13 year old me, who rooted for the Supe loser a third time in as many such tilts, beating the Colts.
Today it would be a big upset if the Jets prevailed at Oakland. The 1999 expansion team, Cleveland Browns are also big underdogs in their second week tilt at the Baltimore Ravens, the franchise that moved from Cleveland after the 1995 season.
Tonight a redux of last year’s NFC title tilt/NFL semi with Atlanta looking to win at home vs Green Bay as they did in that tilt. Same venue as well for a 2013 NFC title game rematch, with “Sea” a 2 touchdown “fave” to repeat its win vs SF, whose quarterback that day was Colin Kaepernick, a player that has been both vastly over rated as “the second coming” and now “flagged” as not among the best 64 QB’s out there. Each assessment a gross error in talent, if not overall judgment.
Finally, same venue, at least city, Jacksonville, where the home Jaguars hope to reverse the result of their 1999 AFC title tilt loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Supe repeats: (you get the past results) Dallas at Denver, Minnesota at Pittsburgh, both of those games were in New Orleans, where today the current Supe champions, the NE Patriots visit the Saints.
Tomorrow 82 years later, this time at least closer to New York and not in Detroit, where the home team, Lions prevailed so many years ago, it is Det at “Hack” in a 1935 NFL title game redux.
L.A. now has two NFL teams, for better and I think worse, both teams are home today in slots/divisional round rematches held at the other venue, (3 games, one each from ’81-’83) the Rams host the Redskins while the now L.A. Chargers host the Dolphins.
Rounding out this esoteric post, the other NFL round a fourth, the wild card round was the status of Houston/Cincinnati.
In looking through my television listings for tomorrow, it became evident, incredibly, though CBS has assigned top team (Jim)Nantz/(Tony)Romo to the game, the New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints game will NOT be shown on over the air television in the New York metropolitan area market.
Ah, a solution came to mind as I recently visited Hoops, a fabulous place, and one which will not only show New England/New Orleans, but any NFL game you want to see. What was written below, certainly applies to football, even more so, as it is a true happening at Hoops!
Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar in New York: Good Times!
Just one block from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, Hoops Cabaret (48 West 33rd Street NYC) combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club.
It’s a great place to watch the baseball or ANY FOOTBALL game, or any sporting event. There are so many Hi-Def TVs and giant screens—there is not a bad seat in the house.
Food and drink served by good looking waitresses in referee outfits, while beautiful entertainers in sports themed clothing perform on multiple stages.
Highly recommended.
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar
48 West 33rd Street, New York City
***Court-side, Mezzanine and VIP seating
***Multiple Hi-Def TVs on all Three Floors
***Super VIP “Man Cave”
***Full Menu, served late
***Full Service Premium Bar
***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
The defending champion Chicago Cubs have both left the door open and won when they had to in the subsequent nearly two months since I posted what is below.
They lead by three and a half, but did not run away with the NL Central but appear safe. I wrote the following on July 27th, fifty days ago. It seems safe to say the Cubs “measured” the rather weak NL Central field. There are still games left so let’s see, but I “see” the Cubs winning the Central and losing in the “quarters” vs Washington. Again below, from July 27th.
Do the Chicago Cubs have the N.L. Central lead to stay?
Despite so often wrong (a person on the phone said “wrong,” literally as I typed the word) and sure, WFAN’s Mike Francesa saying the Cubs would ease to the division title, I also believe they will win it, perhaps easily.
After that if it happens, they will be a viable contender in the baseball tournament.
Andy B Sports 