Now after a Fourth of July game loss to Maddon’s old team, the Rays, the defending champion Cubs are a game under .500.
I will not state regarding Maddon, ’08,’16, elections, nor another over rated Madden, having a game named for him.
Blow your firecrackers, the Cubs titled, please think what they are, what they represent and think how all of us, especially me can improve.
This “Chicago” endures, the Cubs and their fans were disgraceful toward Steve Bartman, never really came close since 1908 (Borowy blown out in ’45, just as similar Rick Sutcliffe, by the way a most abrasive announcer, was in ’84)
During this long weekend news came on Saturday about Jim Bouton’s health problems.
When I think of Bouton, unlike many who think of his famed book, “Ball Four,” I think first of his World Series exploits, winning two games in ’64 and losing gallantly (1-0) to Don Drysdale in #3, ’63. (of course the fact Jackie Brandt, I believe, ordered vanilla in 64? flavor Baskin Robbins, as detailed in “Ball Four,” has stayed with me.)
So I thought of “Big D,” (Drysdale) and the Saturday of this weekend, now 24 years ago, when news came he had died.
The #3, ’63, also a Saturday, I am “married” at 8, standing at a shopping cart and Drysdale and my then team, holds on, the great Yogi Berra, hitting the ball deep, but caught by Ron Fairly.
Saturday, Saturday, “Bulldog” Bouton and Don Drysdale, alliterative, sad, somber, “sands” as the hours, days and years turn.
As with the Joseph Cotten character in the classic, “Kane,” I remember, unlike him I do not smoke and do not have even that, to anticipate with some glee.
Maybe, perhaps likely, the defending A.L. East winning, Boston Red Sox are ahead to stay in the A.L. East
Certainly in my opinion, they are ahead of most teams with their veteran broadcaster, Joe Castiglione.
It was nice today to hear him, even in a (15-1) game, give information and credit the Blue Jays’ Kevin Pillar with a great effort and catch, despite the fact his team was down (15-1).
Joe Castiglione, pictured above.
So many rooted for the Chicago Cubs last year, I did not.
They did have the best record, so I take some solace in that, but despite some unbelievable, horrible managing by Joe Maddon, they won it. Why should he have been so lucky?!
Now, they sit one game away from the halfway point in the next season, at (40-40), this a team projected to win 96 and a fraction games.
They still loom this season, as they are but two games behind in a weak N.L. Central.
Since they won, who cares if they win again. I never win, so why should L.A. sans a title since 1988 or even Cleveland without one since 1948, win one?!
Surely, I have spent much misguided (to an exponential degree) regarding titles, but Maddon who irked me in #5ALCS in ’08, and managed the way he did last season, but won, is reason to be upset.
However, amidst the “heat” of the day, who really cares? Additionally, unlike the deceased Ernie Banks and Ron Santo, the great, once Cubs’ player, Billy Williams, lived to see them title.
Now that does not offset the likes of Bill Murray and John Cusack seeing it, and acting as fools, but into every cloud, some sunshine is disseminated.
Roll that “Strato,” “2 column,” Billy Williams and maybe we can go back 50 years, with my mother bringing in some hot dogs, for sometimes as many as 9 kids in my room, playing “Strato,” one a millionaire, I must pick up at the airport, on this hot day.
“Cheese” and all it entails. Suffice to say no “do overs.”
The Houston Astros, now in the A.L. West have baseball’s best record while the L.A. Dodgers, still in the N.L. West have the National League top mark.
The Astros and Dodgers staged memorable showdowns for the N.L. West title in both 1980 and 1981 when it was a legitimate one fourth title, though ’81 was a strike marred season, forcing an extra round of ‘offs which is sadly, now the case each year. Also there is a bogus one game round of 10/pre quarterfinals.
L.A.won 3 regular season home games to force a home one game playoff in 1980. Joe Niekro, for my money a better pitcher than his Hall of Fame brother, Phil, beat L.A. in that game.
In ’81 the Dodgers returned home having to win all 3 games which they did, the final one vs the extremely over rated Nolan Ryan.
Has it been mentioned anywhere else? The plethora of factual mistakes I hear or read make me want to volunteer as a fact checker, this regarding sports, but also I wonder as many do, regarding the accuracy of what is disseminated, minute by minute, to the public.
This year was the first time in 70 possibilities (1948-2017), that the basketball teams that lost in the final the year before, came back to “title” the following season.
Both North Carolina which won its sixth crown and third under Roy Williams and the Warriors, whose title was their fifth in franchise history, third as Golden State, second under Steve Kerr (help from Mike Brown) and Kerr’s seventh crown (three as a player with “Chi” and two as such with San Antonio) had suffered bitter final defeats the year before.
Kris Jenkins of Villanova sank a shot to beat “N.C.” while Adam Silver suspended Dray Green for game 5, with Golden State at home up (3-1), keying the lone Cleveland sports crown in over 50 years.
There is more to the above pictures. First I cited the “Curry” shirt and talked of the above note. Soon after I noticed the North Carolina shirt. All this yesterday while on line at a local Panera Bread.
Oh no, there may yet be a race for at least one of the two bogus wild card spots in the National League.
What appeared very unlikely, is now more than possible as the Colorado Rockies have lost 8 games in a row.
There is no “year off,” no insurance, no building, just the ever present wild card.
Add never ending telephone solicitation and Julie Andrews is singing in reverse, regarding favorite things.
There is much research to do, but the discrepancy in losses by the respective NBA and NHL title teams, the Golden State Warriors and Pittsburgh Penguins, likely is the largest in the 70 year history of each league crowning a champion (1947-2017 as the NBA, first as the B.A.A., began in 1947, and there was no NHL season nor champion in 2005).
Golden State started (15-0) went (16-1) in the recently completed ‘offs, while the Pens, eerily similar to last season when they also titled, won series in 5, 7, 7 and 6, going (16-9).
The year before “Pitts” won its “quarter,” (both times said “quarter” was vs top ranked Washington (Capitals), in 6 games and the other series in the same 5, 7 and 6, going (16-8).
A great discrepancy also manifested in 1971, when each champion needed to win 3 best of 7 series/12 ‘offs games.
Milwaukee (Bucks) the NBA winner went (12-2) while the NHL title team, the Montreal Canadiens were (12-8). Where oh where is my S.U.N.Y. Albany friend, Don Cole, who rooted for both of those ’71 title teams.
So much talk of Michael Jordan vs LeBron James as the game’s greatest player, first off James is not even close and considering college and pro and maybe even just pro, Kareem/Lew Alcindor, the latter for 3 college titles in 3 seasons at U.C.L.A. and the aforementioned ’71 Bucks, is the best.
I truly enjoyed watching some episodes, at least partially of the Mel Brooks/Buck Henry conceived 1960’s spy spoof show, “Get Smart” on Decades over the past weekend.
In addition, to the splendid comedic talents of Don Adams aided by Barb Feldon and Ed Platt, there was the “ahead of its time” shoe phone.
Alas at the show’s beginning Adams’ “Smart,” (maybe that is where they got the name for modern “shoe phones,” ducks into one of the now obsolete telephone booths.
One comment recalling a “Smart ism” “Would you believe” sports “reporter,” Kim Jones needed and had shown, her notes for a simple interview with Joe Girardi?
Would you believe today this “who is she,/ who does she know” “reporter” stumbled through a commercial on WFAN. Bad enough, but instead of continuing and just being bad, a la most of the WFAN commercial reads, Ms. Jones made excuses, as to it being a new read.
Try preparation Ms. Jones! Then again enabled as you are, why be prepared, why get better, why improve your craft?!
A week after the top heavy A.L. Central “faves,” the Cleveland Indians swept 4 tilts at Minnesota, the long shot Twins “returned the favor” winning all 3 games in Cleveland.
The Twins are back on top in the A.L. Central led by their manager, the former great player, Paul Molitor.
Few thought they would contend, even fewer after last weekend.
We shall see next weekend and beyond.
