Molly Oerin is the least offensive of the trio that inhabits the very dangerous and “lower than low” standards territory of the ESPN show, “First Take.”
When one as arrogant and opinionated as retread Max Kellerman, is completely dwarfed in that department by Steven A. Smith, (trust me in the not too distant future, when scientists look back trying to determine what destroyed this society’s integrity, setting it spiraling backwards, Mr. Smith will be among the “exhibit A’s”), one knows they are in dangerous territory.
However, facts are facts, it was Ms. Oerin messing up 2 for 2 on Thursday’s show. First, she could not read the copy correctly or some such thing, thinking Sunday’s NFL games were being previewed. Instead it was last night’s Seattle vs Los Angeles game.
Note Seattle VS Los Angeles, meaning the game was IN Seattle. One would have thought the tilt, a mismatch, boring game worthy of Mike Tirico (why is he getting to “broadcast” any games?) was in L.A. Why?
Ms. Oerin read, (heaven forbid she do any homework), the Rams are HOSTING the Seahawks.
Tonight there is a Saturday night NFL tilt, matching the wild card contending Miami Dolphins, against the (4-10) New York Jets.
One would think it would be difficult, even highly unlikely, for the Dolphins to make the playoffs, if they do not win tonight’s game, in which they are two plus point favorites.
Miami is (8-5), right now tied in the standings (I think Denver has the current tiebreaker, it is hard to determine which team would have it under certain circumstances at season’s end) with the defending Supe champion, Denver Broncos.
Denver hosts the current AFC leading, (11-2) New England Patriots, before journeying to now (10-3) K,C, (Chiefs) on Christmas night.
They complete the trio of games, against the teams with the top 3 records in the AFC, when they host the now (10-3) Oakland Raiders in the regular season finale on the first day of 2017 (can you believe it will soon be the year 2017?!).
The “‘Phins” of Miami visit now (6-7) Buffalo next week (by the way the NFL will have a virtually full “card” next Saturday, not Sunday Christmas Day) on December 24th, before hosting “N.E.” on Jan.1, 2017.
Certainly other things can and likely will happen (the team not winning the AFC North, right now likely (7-6) Baltimore Ravens, a team that ripped the Dolphins 2 weeks back, could easily gain the second wild card spot/6th seed), however, I would say it is likely that 6th spot will go to either Miami or Denver.
Be careful how you do so. Three posts today as the snow falls. Next I “rip” into some on air people and in my opinion, a ridiculous show.
However, my third post will recall memories in and around another Dolphins at Jets Saturday night tilt involving two pretty good people.
On a sports update report earlier this week, WFAN’s John Minko, for so many years a “give the losing team first,” etiquette violator to fans and bettors alike, uttered a “doozy,” regarding a report on Michigan’s arrogant coach, Jim Harbaugh’s future plans.
Harbaugh had stated he will stay at Michigan. Minko cited that adding he said he would not go to the NFL OR the Los Angeles Rams.
L.A. is not a good team, but they ARE part of the NFL.
Imagine a kid, this is not about gambling, say 13 years old, having to miss his beloved Chicago Bulls, still seeking a first NBA Finals appearance, 7th game at defending champion and favorite Detroit (Pistons) in the 1989 NBA semi-finals.
Then there were no mobile phones and WFAN sports updates “told the story” to many who listened. From the start, and likely to this day, those giving the scores, so important to so many people (they should not be but are, additionally even in not important sports, information should be diseminted correctly) have done so with little regard to etiquette (winning or leading team stated first) and at times, accuracy.
Minko, on that fateful Sunday “tortured” some poor Bulls’ fan, going to a break, saying “Bulls advance.” The Pistons advanced and covered that day in 1990.
Together Mr. Jordan (Michael) and Mr. Pippen (Scottie), the latter a virtual no show in that 7th, and the Bulls never lost an ‘offs series again, (after a Jordan “full season,”), winning 6 titles. Yet even that can not dispel the pain, that kid suffered that day due to Minko’s ineptitude, a status so often continued when he gives scores.
With no scores to give, as offensive as Minko’s “apple polishing” of Mike Francesa is, it is really not harmful, but why is he allowed to “give the scores,” in the manner he does?
On this a cold, windy day, please indulge some personal reflections that abound, as on this date exactly 67 years ago, yes on a Thursday, my parents were married.
“The place” I sit is the same since 1967, a period of 49 years. “The folks” married in 1949, conceiving me in 1955.
My father was a New York Giants’ fan, my mother put up with being courted at The Polo Grounds and the insanity of two men, especially me, first loving and then seeing that love for baseball, deteriorate on my part.
Certainly on the occasions, the great broadcaster, Bob Costas returned calls (he and I lamented greatly about the wild card presence in baseball), my mother’s spirits (Costas’ big break was in broadcasting St. Louis Spirits’ games, beginning at age 22) were lifted, even if my love for baseball was waning.
I once called the great basketball player and current insightful author, Kareem Abdul Jabbar at a New York City hotel, circa 1980, on another of those lonely Saturday nights.
Kareem was polite and his laugh was clearly discernible, when I told him I was in my mother’s womb “rooting” for his beloved, 1955 title winning (at long last) Brooklyn Dodgers.
“Research” of sorts, plus what I already knew yields that both the first and last of the 54 outs in the famed 7th and deciding game in which Brooklyn’s “next year” finally arrived at/vs the great New York Yankees, were shortstop to first sacker, ground outs.
Playing in left field, Jim Gilliam, famously moved from “there” to second base to start the fateful bottom of the sixth, moving Sandy Amoros soon after toward “the left field line of destiny,” grounded out Phil Rizzuto to Bill “Moose” Skowron to start the game.
Pitching hero John Podres threw a change up pitch, on which Elston Howard grounded out Pee Wee Reese to Gil Hodges (Gil drove in both Brooklyn runs in their great (2-0) win) and Brooklyn celebrated and celebrated.
Through the sadness of life and the ambivalence on my part toward baseball, I know it is through moments such as the lone Brooklyn title, won vs such a great team/era of New York Yankees’ baseball, that I loved/love the unique game.
52 years after the first World Series, the Brooklyn Dodgers won their first and only such event. Johnny Podres was awarded “Sportsman of the Year” honors by Sports Illustrated.
A period of roughly 52 years “without,” ended this year when the Cleveland Cavaliers ended the city of Cleveland’s title drought.
LeBron James of the Cavaliers was named this year’s “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated.
A mention of another 52 ending, the fine Dallas Cowboys’ #52, Dave Edwards passing away, cited in New York Times’ obituaries, that also reported John Glenn and Greg Lake had died. Hear the music and recall the public service!
Last night the fabulous store, Brooks Brothers in New York City, was the scene for a fabulous “Holiday Party,” with some of the day’s proceeds going to benefit the great charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
There was so much to do, as I “buzzed” around the store, seeing its incredible merchandise, stopping for some incredible hot chocolate and taking a picture with a superb “Santa Claus” aka, Henry William Oelkers, actor and model.
All these years later, after also enjoying time and conversation with Rob” at the “Santa Station,” where young and old posed with and sat on Santa’s lap (I could have, “Santa” said, but I sat on the arm of the chair), I learned “Santa” took the subway, in full regalia, but no reindeer in sight.
Additionally, Rob, (“Santa Station’) was not only friendly and truly interesting, but also very helpful and accommodating.
The wonderful actress and humanitarian, Marlo Thomas spoke, of course on behalf of St.Jude, a cause so close to her family, inspired by her mom and dad, the latter being the legendary entertainer, Danny Thomas.
It was at least the second straight year the Brooks Brothers crowd was treated to Wynton Marsalis and orchestra really entertaining, with great music.
As stated, I buzzed, renewing old acquaintances, including with those who supported Donald Trump. One such person, a beautiful, actual delegate said “I could have told you he (Mr. Trump) would win.” I wish she had done so earlier, as even a great night at Brooks Brothers, can not top a 5 to 1 payout.
However, it was a great night and I am grateful to have been there.
Thinking of Santa and the great gift, then a bicycle, now a realization that giving to others is a great gift to one self.
The New England Patriots are (11-2) and though they face a test at Denver, where their season ended last year amidst the at least somewhat “fixed” (use the word destined) Denver title run, led by its defense, and not the exponentially commercialized retiring Peyton Manning, are favorites to be the AFC one seed, a position they failed to achieve last season, due to losses at the Jets and Miami, in their last two tilts.
“N.E.” faces the same two opponents in their last two games this season, this time vs the Jets at home.
Almost surely, those losses and the subsequent “At Denver” and not “Vs” Denver at home, cost them a 7th Supe appearance in the Brady/Belichick era, which will almost certainly, minimum, produce not only a 14th “div” title in 16 seasons, but an 11th first round bye/home slots/div game in 16 seasons.
New England has a one game lead over both K.C. and Oak., each of whom would likely have the tiebreaker (this NFL scenario is hard to determine, but at least I try, unlike WFAN’s Mike Francesa, who failed to do the minimum research involving NFL scenarios and it showed. On Monday past, he made mistakes and needed his “staff” for “ON THE AIR” answers. It was another shameful example of this blowhard’s lack of work and preparation, while being rewarded with disproportionate, ridiculous compensation) for the AFC one seed.
The Pats have a magic number of one to clinch both the “div” ( Div rival, Miami and AFC North leader, Pittsburgh are both (8-5) and an incredible 11th first round bye in 16 seasons.
3 weeks left in the season, could not Francesa research who won games this season and the remaining schedule for teams involved in playoff scenarios? There is no possible “doctor’s/parent’s note” to excuse this man’s lack of research.
Some baseball notes, and as is often the case, coincidences, coursed through me, as I watched “Meet Me In St. Louis” the film on which greats, Judy Garland and eventual husband director, Vincent Minelli met and collaborated, on TCM last night.
First of all, the movie was set on the precipice of 1904, as St.Louis was the center of the world, for that year’s fair.
“Meet Me In St. Louis” was released in 1944 and again St.Louis was the “center of the world,” at least the baseball world, as both their teams, the Cardinals for the 8th time of what is now 18, and the Browns for the first and only time in their St.Louis history, made and met in an all St. Louis World Series.
Additionally the father of the Smith family played so well by Leon Ames, conjures two more baseball links/coincidences.
He jokes of leaving his law practice circa 1904 to play for the (original) Baltimore Orioles. Fifty years later, and ten years after the film’s release, there would be “job movement” from St.Louis to Baltimore (Orioles), as the Browns became the Baltimore Orioles, playing their first season along Chesapeake Bay in 1954.
Finally Ames is not just Smith, but Lon, short for Alonzo, but also called Lonnie (Smith), certainly a name in St. Louis baseball history.
The film was made 40 years after the time it was set in. 38 years later, Lonnie Smith already once a member of a title team, (the Philadelphia Phillies’ first ever and one of two to this date, in 1980), playing for the Cardinals, helped them raise their W.S. record to (9-4) (at that time a better winning percentage than the vaunted Yankees (22-11) mark in such yielded), as St. Louis prevailed in 7 games vs the Milwaukee Brewers to win the 1982 World Series.
Click below to view “Judy,” (her talent manifests in first name identification), an undeniable great performer, who suffered despite great success, sing “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas” to actress Margaret O’Brien in the film, “Meet Me In St. Louis.”
JUDY GARLAND: ‘MEET ME IN ST LOUIS’. ‘HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS’ WITH SNOWMAN CLIP.
I will have more on the fine movie “A Letter To Three Wives” which I watched yesterday on TCM, tuning out of the Packers’ “automatic” vs Seattle (Seahawks).
For now a couple of things/people from fiction that showed up later on in our culture.
The fact there was a fictional “Linda Gray” as at least a radio program, if not person in the movie gives me the pleasure of citing the beautiful, talented Linda Gray, best known for her role as “Sue Ellen” on the great show, “Dallas.”
In the movie which was written and directed by the great Joseph Mankiewicz and introduced by his talented grand nephew, Ben there is a car dealer known as “Crazy Eddie.”
No longer in business, but a force say in the ’80’s, “Crazy Eddie” was a great place to go for electronic items.
The incredible Mr. Joe Mankiewicz won Academy Awards in consecutive years for screenwriting and directing, first for “A Letter To Three Wives,” and the following year for “All About Eve.”
As Ben Mankiewicz noted, it is beyond doubtful and almost certain nobody will match that feat for a long time if ever.
NBC got what it wanted, with the (10-7) victory by the (9-4) New York Giants vs the (11-2) Dallas Cowboys.
Now next week’s tilt, already very important to (8-5) Tampa Bay (Buccaneers), a team tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South lead, but likely sans the tiebreaker advantage, has more meaning to the Cowboys, whose two losses have been to the Giants, in the season’s first game and the last to date, by a combined four points.
Dallas has a magic number of 2 to clinch the NFC one seed. Both the Cowboys and Giants have remaining tilts, at home vs (9-4) Detroit (Lions), the team currently ahead for the NFC “2” seed and at (5-8) Philadelphia.
The Giants visit (7-5-1) Washington (Redskins) the team currently ahead for the 6th and final ‘offs spot in the NFC, on the NFL regular season final day, which is the first day of 2017.
The Giants win also helps ESPN, as Dallas, no matter what next week’s results are, will have some “seeding” still in play, when they host Detroit, the Monday night after Christmas.
Even if Dallas wins next Sunday night, and I believe they will be at least 6 point favorites to do so, the winner of next Sunday’s Detroit at the New York Giants tilt, will still have a chance to finish ahead of Dallas.
All this said, Dallas is still a very likely NFC one seed and the loss last night was/is a blessing in disguise, as they were not likely to win 16 games in a row to win the Supe.
Now, one can easily say, to have won last night, which would have clinched at least a “2” seed and set up the “get it out of the way” loss, say at Philly, in a meaningless finale, a la what the (14-2) eventual champion, “Wash” team did in 1991.
No the networks and NFL, as with “Lola” in “Damn Yankees,” usually get what they want!
The good news for Dallas is ‘they’ still want them, as they are so called “America’s team,” an overblown comment both within the United States, but also the other countries (yes there are others in North, South and Central) America.
A “clue” above.
Please excuse the somewhat shoddy writing and the overstated opinions.
I just want to get the three posts out there today.
Two more loser/loser/underdog system games are the Texans plus six and a half at Indy and the Saints plus one and a half at Tampa Bay.
I am not crazy about either underdog, but I am citing the “system.”
Two more predictions: Seattle (minus 3) 18 Green Bay 17, will it snow at “G.B.?”
Dallas and the Giants, too close to call, thus “Hack” plus three plus is the choice.
Essentially it is “dogs.”
Andy B Sports 