I am waiting for 11 P.M. Eastern Time to watch “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Decades.
Among other performers, singers Dinah Shore with a good “info” introduction by Ed and comedian Dick Capri.
Tune in to see some other fine performers, ok “surprise, (no) surprise” to hear Jim Nabors sing.
Only Arizona Diamondbacks’ manager Torey Lovullo, among the six N.L. managers in or with the best chances to be in the baseball tournament, has neither played on or managed a W.S. winning team.
Only Joe Maddon of the current champion Cubs has managed a title team while the others L.A.’s Dave Roberts, Washington’s Dusty Baker, Colorado’s Bud Black, and Milaukee’s Craig Counsell all played on title teams.
Previous Titles As Either a Player or Manager for most of the ’17 baseball tournament team skippers.
There are only two teams among the eleven most probable or certain baseball ‘offs teams, whose manager did NOT either play on or manage a World Series inning team.
Today a look at the A.L. whose 5 participants in its part of the tournament are set.
Cleveland’s Terry Francona, Boston’s John Farrell (those two have combined for the three Red Sox crowns after 1918) and the Yankees’ Joe Girardi, who also played on at least two or three title teams as a player have all managed World Series.
The great player and current Minnesota Twins manager, Paul Molitor was a member of the last non Yankees team to repeat as World champions, the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays.
Only Houston (Astros) skipper AJ Hinch has not won a title as either a player or manager.
Only two NFL teams are unbeaten after three even to games as only the K.C. Chiefs, among the eight unbeaten teams that did not face another unbeaten team, won to raise their record to (3-0).
The Atlanta Falcons also are (3-0) after a (30-26) in at the now (2-1) Detroit Lions.
Next week, both the Chiefs and Falcons face teams that won vs (2-0) AFC West teams yesterday.
K.C. hopes to win vs non stop talking, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden’s brother Jay’s, (2-1) Washington Redskins.
Yesterday Wash won on Sunday night vs Oakland, last Monday Jon Gruden called a first half field goal, the most dramatic he had ever seen.
The Falcons face the Buffalo Bills, who won at home vs now (2-1) Denver (Broncos) yesterday.
There were 9 NFL unbeaten teams before yesterday. Now there are only two.
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.
Andy B Sports 