Thankfully the hype surrounding the not so important (even in a baseball sense) weekend series between Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees has subsided a bit as “Bost” enters the moved Yankee Stadium, having moved four and a half ahead–(winning 8 straight games) in the one eighth division.
Though the Yankees, once half a game ahead, prompting another talking head/know it all Frank Isola to say they would win the division, have lost ground to “Bost,” they are still ahead in a bid to be the home team, in that most bogus of games, in which the winner becomes one of eight teams remaining in the baseball tournament.
Recently, I watched a great, albeit “edited” episode of “The Big Valley” that originally aired in 1967, in which emerging actresses Ellen Burstyn, who became a great, and Karen Black, eventually very good, showed signs of their eventual success.
Lee Major’s “Heath” is brought up on “trumped” (Optimum, the cable system used that word in the program description) up charges, as Black’s character “Carla” lies, while Ms. Burstyn playing a nun, (“Sister Jacob”) once in love with Major’s “Heath,” does much to defend him.
As usual, Richard Long, whose life was the opposite of his surname, cutting far too short a fine career, stood out with intensity as “Jarrod.”
Mr. Long was in the film, “The Stranger” helping Edward G. Robinson’s character bring to justice, a former and turns out current Nazi murderer, played by Orson Welles. Mr.Long more than “held his own” in support of those two acting greats.
The “Big Valley’ episode ended with the great Barbara Stanwyck’s “Victoria” talking with Burstyn’s character, surely a scene with “passing of the torch” implications.
Ms. Black was also “no slouch” also playing a key scene with Ms. Stanwyck, in the beautiful episode, titled “A Fall From Grace.”
It would not hurt.
In thinking back to the somewhat glorious sports of the 1960’s, I recall players named Willie and Tommy Davis in baseball and Willie and Tommy Davis in football.
Baseball’s Tommy Davis, a personal favorite, had a year for the ages in 1962 playing for the L.A. Dodgers. He drove in 153 runs!
Football’s Tommy Davis did both the punting and place kicking for the San Francisco 49ers. He also did the same for the 1958 college champion, Louisiana State Tigers.
Staying in football, the Packers’ Willie Davis is a member of the Pro Football of Hall of Fame. As a great defensive end, he played on five NFL championship teams with “G.B.”
Baseball’s Willie Davis was considered the fastest man in baseball in his time. He played on two World Series winners with the L.A. Dodgers.
Some Television Notes
In an attempt to get away from the mistakes and any sports, some brief notes while watching some old and older television shows.
A detective on “Murder She Wrote,” an terrific approximately 35 year old show starring the great Angela Lansbury, is named Gerard, in fact Lieutenant Gerard, I believe. This is homage to the great 50 plus year old show, “The Fugitive,” which starred David Janssen, and featured Barry Morse as “Lieutenant Gerard.”
A great actor, George Macready, turned in a fine performance maybe 55 or more years ago, as a vengeful judge on “The Rifleman,” which starred former Brooklyn Dodgers’ player, Chuck Connors.
A newer still current show “Ray Donovan” is fascinating, not as great as in earlier seasons but still great.
I watched the very first episode, usually a good idea when possible and I can see how the story arc and characters were building. I have the 20 20 hindsight, credit the writer, Ann Biderman, for great foresight.
Nearly fifty years later, I will try to keep “running” for justice but do so without Mr. Janssen’s strength.
Click below to view Mike Phelp’s (my favorite Mike Phelps) site and comments concerning Mr. Janssen.
Both David Stern and Adam Silver, two all-time mercenary people favor legalized gambling on NBA and by extension WNBA games. I do not know about that.
Yesterday a “parlay” of the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever, each at home vs the top two teams, the best record and often champion, Minnesota Lynx and defending champion/second best record L.A. Sparks paid off at 23 and a half to one, as each scored victories vs clearly superior teams, but ones, who had little motivation, at least regarding the standings.
It seems this happened last season and I posted regarding it then.
Plenty of “cheese” once a year going vs the top two WNBA teams.
Click below to read regarding the opportunity lost from last season.
- WNBA Returns With Two Big Upsets on August 27, 2016
ESPN.com posted the wrong date as to when the 1912 New York Giants began the 50 game span in which they won 43 games, an incredible feat matched yesterday by L.A. (Dodgers).
The 1912 streak began on May 4th not May 14th, not a big deal but they couldn’t get it right?! Cue Lou Jacobi’s voice.
No pickle nor, or is it or(R) (Bobby was so great and is so kind and modest) deli sandwich can help now.
Springsteen sang “no retreat, no surrender” but since DeMatteo and Trump were non bet winners and L.A./others loom— I do both, at least for now.
Click below to hear Karen sing “Rainy Days And Mondays.”
A Chance Meeting Inspires Thoughts About Morris Crute
The name on the man’s badge was familiar and somewhat unusual.
It was Crute and I asked the man if he was related to Morris Crute.
Morris Crute led Yonkers High School to a basketball crown in 1973.
Mr. Crute also hit a “Jerry West” type, long, desperation shot to tie a post-season game.
In West’s case it was in the third game of the 1970 NBA Finals but his team lost both the game and the series.
Crute’s shot was in a must win game for Yonkers High and they went on to stop a great high school player, college title winner with Marquette and NBA finalist, Bernard Toone, in their title win.
Coffee, tea, bakery items, sandwiches or specials, my suggestion for a truly great place is Panera Bread. There are so many delicious options there and this is less a review, than telling about a true personal favorite. There are many good reasons to try Panera Bread.
I now frequent the Panera Bread stores in both Yonkers and Scarsdale, New York each offering a great atmosphere and a truly personable staff.
Breakfast is my favorite and having experienced all the “franchise” establishments, I find Panera Bread to be the best. I like tea but am one of the many people who “must” have coffee; and at “Panera” one can choose from hazelnut (my choice), light and dark roast.
The price is reasonable as I usually get a medium coffee and a bagel with butter for about four dollars. At times, I order a delicious cinnamon chip with my coffee for an additional dollar. A “must” for coffee drinkers, free refills are available.
I have tried the soup and sandwich and other specials for lunch. They are excellent. Often included with the meal are delicious potato chips. Whether for lunch or dinner and in my case breakfast, one can choose items from the bakery.
My friend orders a cheese danish for breakfast the two time a week I join him at the wonderful Panera Bread in Scarsdale, New York. He does two things that I should do. He exercises at a nearby gym and he goes to Panera Bread each weekday.
Atmosphere, a friendly, efficient staff and great food. I wish I could be at Panera Bread each day and now come close to doing so.
“You WASN’T listening,” those were the words and disgraceful grammar (he is not the only one with such a malady, yet speaks over the airwaves with great financial compensation) of Stephen A. Smith, as he ridiculed a caller.
There is SO much wrong with all of it, few things illustrating it in sharper focus, than Stephen A. Smith.
When future sociologists, historians, archaeologists sort out what went wrong here, the fact those in charge sensing profit, put one as blatantly, arrogant and wrong as Stephen A. Smith in a position of power, will be among the exhibits of our failure as a society.
The Dodgers faced the Indians in the 1920 World Series.
Cleveland won the series, a best of nine, five games to two.
Stan Coveleski won three games in the series.
Speaking of three, the Cleveland Indians Bill Wambsgnass recorded an unassisted triple play.
