It will be the New England Patriots seeking their 5th Super Bowl crown against the Atlanta Falcons, seeking their first, in this their 51st season, in the 51st Super Bowl on February 5th in Houston, Texas.
N.E. will be favored, I said originally by 4, now say 5 plus, (the line opened at 3–what are they telling us, but remember NE won 3 of their 4 Supe crowns by 3 points, the other by 4. Additionally their 2 Supe losses in the Belichick/Brady era, both to “Hack” teams with inferior records, (alas the “Pieman” had “Hack” and I fear that well healed “Ghlub” had “the odds” with Trump, whom he once met on a plane) were by 3 and 4 points in ’07 and ’11 respectively) in their 51st ‘offs game and 34th starting in ’01, all with Bill Belichick as coach and Tom Brady as their quarterback.
Atlanta built a (31-0) lead and ripped the Green Bay Packers. Matt Ryan, the one time Boston College quarterback who will be facing the New England Patriots for all the marbles, threw 4 touchdown passes and ran for another score as Atlanta reached their second Supe, squaring their title game/NFL semis record at (2-2), (1-1) home and away, winning (44-21).
The Pats made the faves (8-2) (8-2) in these ‘offs in a 6th over, riding Tom Brady’s 3 touchdown tosses in a (36-17) win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Julio Jones of Atlanta and Chris Hogan of “N.E.” were the receiving stars, each with a pair of touchdown grabs.
The two underdog victories even vs the spread were last Sunday, by the Packers and Steelers, however, yesterday as the home teams won both title tilts for the fourth straight season matching (’81-84), for the first time in nine occasions when “Pitts” and “GB” played post-season tilts on the same day, both lost.
Today for the 51st time and for the 50th time with both games on Sunday (in ’82 the NFC game was on a Saturday), the NFL stages two games to determine Super Bowl entrants.
If both home team favorites which is just over an even money proposition, it would mark just the second time, home teams won both title/NFL semis tilts in four straight seasons and the first with all four double home team wins on a Sunday.
Seattle (Seahawks) going (2-0) at home and New England (Patriots), of course involved today as 6 point home “faves” vs Pittsburgh (Steelers), whose 3 such games went to the home team, two to Denver (Broncos) combined in 5 of the 6 results (’13-’15) that manifested in home team title game wins.
The other Carolina (Panthers) at home vs Arizona (Cardinals) last season after for just the third time, both road teams won the title tilts of the 2012 season. One of those tilts was an Atlanta (Falcons) home loss vs “Col” Kaepernick and S.F. (49ers). The Falcons get another chance today as 5 plus point “faves” vs the Green Bay Packers in just their second home title tilt.
Altogether the home team has won both title tilts with Supe berths on the line 20 times, which is forty percent of the fifty seasons. (in six seasons of “never the twain shall meet, NFL and AFL title games, the home team won both both 3 times, (’61,’63 and ’64) splitting in two seasons,(’60 and ’65), with the road team winning both in 1962, field goals as was the case in Sunday slots games last week providing the winning margin.)
In the AFL that year, it was Tom Brooker’s field goal in the 6th quarter/second overtime period, that lifted the then Dallas Texans (the next season they moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs) over the Houston Oilers.
1962’s NL title tilt was won by Green Bay in bitter cold Yankee Stadium vs the N.Y. Giants, (16-7), Jerry Kramer, as cited yesterday snubbed by the NFL “Hall,” booting 3 field goals that accounted for the winning margin.
Last week playing on the exact 50th anniversary of their clash in the first Supe, the Packers and Chiefs were on different sides of the “field goal gods.”
“G.B.” again rode the field goals to victory, as Mason Crosby had two huge ones to put the Pack in their ninth scheduled NFL semi and seventh NFC title tilt. However Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell booted an NFL playoff game record 6 as Pitts handed the Chiefs a 5th home slots loss in as many such games.
As cited above both road teams have won title tilts/NFL semis but thrice, the eventual champion Baltimore Ravens and 49ers, (each coached by a vastly over rated Harbaugh brother), in ’12, the eventual champion Cowboys and Buffalo Bills in ’92 and the aforementioned as first Supe opponents, eventual champion Packers and Chiefs in 1966.
The home/road teams have split the two “semi” games twenty seven times.
After the only run of four straight both home team wins in the title tilts of (’81-84), there were just nine such occurrences in the twenty eight seasons (’85-2012) before the current run of three (2013-2015).
As you might have noticed, Republican Donald Trump was inaugurated as United States President yesterday. Many fear that is bad news, for now let’s say, it is a historical “bad sign” for Green Bay Packers’ title hopes.
No NFL team has won more titles than the Packers’ TEN but ALL TEN occurred with Democrats in this nation’s highest office.
Already in “football 2016,” Alabama whose ten titles leads the way in college football was denied an eleventh, losing as near touchdown “faves” in the title tilt vs Clemson.
The Tides’ (Alabama) Democrat and title correlation is eerily similar, as all 10 were also won with a “Dem” either in office as President (nine times, ’61,’64.’65, ’78, ’79. ’09, ’10, ’12 and ’15 seasons) or after a Democrat, W.J. Clinton (what must have gone through his wife Hillary Rodham’s mind yesterday, as it would not be a stretch to say I lost as a 7:1 favorite—and you thought I would impugn Trump—-) had been elected, but not inaugurated in the ’92 season.
By the way, the Tide’s ’92 national title win was called on national radio with the great Harry Kalas as the announcer.
That man, and certainly not the adored Republican/Reagan loving, Vin Scully, was the best baseball play by play man of this time.
Kalas died in Washington D.C. at the near start of the next season after getting to call “his” Phillies winning the ’08 title. So much of what Washington D.C. should stand for, died both before and certainly yesterday, as any violence is wrong and evokes Lincoln and Ford.
Maybe I will write a song regarding it, not a Saturday Night sketch ridiculing/making them money and solving nothing.
Incredibly, all ten Packers’ crowns were with Democrats in office, three with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, those won in 1936, 1939 and 1944, two with John F. Kennedy in ’61 and ’62, the earlier when “Jack” helped his friend Vince Lombardi’s Pack by granting a weekend pass, allowing U.S. “Reserve” Paul Hornung to play in that year’s title tilt, ’65-’67 with Lyndon Johnson, whose advice relayed yesterday by the venerable Bob Schiffer (meanwhile the CBS host, Scott Pelley was mistake prone, a veritable “turnover”/mistake machine as the U.S. government was “turned over,”) of never telling anyone to go to hell, unless you can send him there, (hopefully) already discarded by “DJ” Trump, will “bite” him you know where.
In the interest of avoiding “Guinness” for the longest run on sentence, the two less distinguished Pack titles won with the exponentially publicized Brett Favre in ’96, and the great, but “hold off on the key to Fort Knox,” Aaron Rodgers in ’10, were with the also less distinguished Presidents, certainly Bill “The Centrist” Clinton (’96) and the “blocked” Barack Obama in ’10.
Using Packers’ lore, Mr. Obama, unfortunately for him and I believe most of us, had instead of say Jerry Kramer (he is still not in the NFL Hall and that is a disgrace, no matter what your politics are and it is politics and utter morons who vote for such things that caused it) blocking for him, a slew of Republicans doing what they do best, BLOCKING his/our progress.
It once was great, such as above with Jerry Kramer (#64) blocking for Paul Hornung, on a muddy field, likely vs “my” Cleveland Browns in the ’65 title tilt, in which “GB” prevailed (23-12).
As a result of their close win at Dallas in the “slots” last week, the Green Bay Packers not only reached their 9th game in which a Supe entrant is determined (G.B. played in NFL title tilts in ’66 and ’67 that determined such, while subsequently appearing in 6 NFC title games before a 7th tomorrow in Atlanta), but also raised their ‘offs record vs the Dallas Cowboys to (4-4).
I believe the close wins in all four of their victories by the Packers, juxtaposed with the four easy wins by the Cowboys vs “G.B,” is unprecedented in football annals.
Perhaps this situation is only rivaled by the 1960 World Series, when the Pittsburgh Pirates “7’d” the New York Yankees, winning game 7 with key home runs by Rocky Nelson, Hal Smith and Bill Mazeroski, despite truly being routed in their 3 losses and winning the 4 closer games.
The Packers held off the Cowboys to win a thrilling 1966 NFL title tilt before “traversing” (the NFL Films narrator, not John Facenda, for just about the only time concerning title tilts, used the verb and great phrasing, which will always resonate), “68 yards over a polar ice cap” culminating in the great Bart Starr’s touchdown, to win the ’67 title tilt.
Two years ago, in the third slot at Green Bay, a call resulting in no catch for Dallas’ Dez Bryant was the key as the Pack again “close gamed” Dallas.
Last Sunday, after Dak Prescott and Bryant combined for 8 points to tie the tilt, GB, with Mason Crosby getting 2 field goals to Dallas’ Dan Bailey’s one, had another close win in the ‘offs vs Dallas.
In the strike marred 1982 season “slots,” as well as those in ’93 and ’94, Dallas eased at home vs the Packers. “Ditto” regarding the ’95 NFC title game/NFL semi.
Evoking the 1960 World Series again, in bringing up a 4 out of 7, that is the record of GB/Dallas ‘offs games winners in winning it all. Green Bay did so in ’66 and ’67, not 2014 while Dallas went on to the crown in ’93 and ’95 not so in ’82 and ’94.
The great Bart Starr, pictured above.
The Atlanta Falcons (1-2) in the previous three, will be in their fourth NFC Title Game, when they host the Green Bay Packers, in the earlier of the two title tilts/NFL “semis,” slated for Sunday.
In the book “The Godfather,” by Mario Puzo, it is explained how back then, just after the second numbered war, (God help us, this country involved itself in many after that one, still glorifying its military, something surely to be on “display” Sunday in the military game of football) that “bookmakers” “slated” the odds and pitchers on baseball games.
At the racetrack, the Maras, eventual and still owning family of the New York NFL franchise, made their money doing so at the track, before parimutuel wagering.
Anyway the “slate” for Sunday has Atlanta “minus five.” All four Falcons’ title tilts (they are in their 50th anniversary season, 51st season) have been in the earlier of the two title tilts, two at home.
The Falcons started in 1966, the Packers won it all that year, winning a “semi” in Dallas, and getting a key, if not the key play from a number 89 in a victory in which they scored 34 points, an occurrence repeated in the same venue, in the “slots,” last week.
Atlanta’s lone NFC Title game win was at Minnesota in 1998, the penultimate of Pat “Super” Summerall’s many such games (another post for more on that) now most (not Johnny) “everyone talking at me” is awful, epitomized by Joe Buck, at his amateurish worst during GB/Dallas last Sunday as written by critic “M.L.” in multiple texts as he “muted” the volume, and “on” his 15th straight NFC title tilt Sunday.
They started as bookmakers, moved their team to a swamp, if they had their way “the above” would be back, as they put out an anti-choice video— those are the “wonderful” Maras, (“Well” did well in sharing television revenue, helping the league tremendously, but even that hurts me, as I truly despise what the league has become).
After the NFC Title Game was played later than the AFC such tilt for eight consecutive seasons (1988-1995), thus not alternating with the other conference for the last seven of those seasons, the title tilts will have alternated 21 straight times (’96-2016) after Sunday, when the AFC game is the later one.
I do add that the streak will not reach “21,” if the greedy NFL, which shamefully changed last week’s (Pitts/K.C.) time for ratings, decides it can hit figurative “Blackjack,” by moving the times yet again. That will not happen, but disgracefully, did last week in a 5th home “slots” loss for K.C., in as many possibilities.
This is the 51st season in which an AFL/AFC team will meet an NFL/NFC team for the crown, the 47th with the AFC/NFC configuration.
The leagues (AFL and NFL) alternated early/late starts in all four such seasons (1966-1969), the NFL playing later in 1966 and 1968.
It should be noted that at least one of those four seasons, 1968, the tilts had significant overlap time as I recall Jim Simpson saying “Baltimore is leading Cleveland,” as he effectively “painted” the blacked out in New York, Jets/Raiders AFL title game.
Exceptions in the 49 “alternating” possibilities (in ’82 the NFC title tilt was on a Saturday), regarding what are NFL semi-final games number 10.
They are the aforementioned 7, (’89-95), as the NFC had the “late show,” from (’88-95), ’74 (AFC later in ’73 and ’74), and ’78 and ’79 (NFC later ’77-79).
Speaking of “time,” the great band, Chicago celebrated their 50th year, (’67-2016) while this season marks the 50th anniversary of games to determine Super Bowl opponents.
During the course of the ongoing 2016 NFL season, Chicago (Cubs) won it all, while the NFL Bears, involved in five NFL semis during the referenced period (losing late at S.F. in ’84, winning early vs the Rams in ’85, losing at home to S.F. in ’88, winning at home vs the Saints in ’06 and losing to the Packers in ‘2010–among those 5 “semi” winners, only the ’06 Bears did not win the Supe), failed to make the ‘offs.
Click below to view Chicago perform “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is.”
Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – 7/21/1970 – Tanglewood (Official)
Simply put concerning the not so important Hall vote, today was not Prince Spaghetti day as Wednesdays were/are in Boston advertising past but evoking a “Meat Loaf” song refrain, “two out of three ain’t bad.”
That is surprising as I do not feel too many recent players worthy of Hall status and while Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez deserve the honor in my clearly not so humble opinion, they were not exactly Frank Robinson and Yogi Berra.
Bagwell as with his teammate and fellow never won anything Craig Biggio, is not a good choice. How many damn playoff non factor moments for this compiler?
It is a business, they want people to attend so every year lesser and lesser careers are rewarded.
Raines and Rodriguez were sans titles for most of their careers but “Rock” con Joe Torre’s Yankees, the two fine players finally winning as player and mgr together and Ivan taking out the Cubs (go ahead blame Bartman), before that an all-time type game vs SF (each franchise subsequently broke long title droughts) and after the Cubs, Torre’s (no longer Raines’) Yankees in ’03.
YESTERDAY, a scant three days from the transition of power, Michelle Obama, nee Michelle Robinson the only black “first lady” in United States history turned 53, Betty White an indomitable talent no matter her name or skin color, bless her, crossed into her 95th year on earth, speaking of which for the first time since FDR talked of another “yesterday,” the earth spun on a January 17th, without Muhammad Ali on it.
I may or may not “publish” posts in which I “rage,” (perhaps I have done too many, perhaps too few (think the “REM” song, “Losing My Religion” which “90210’s” “Brenda” once played incessantly, and was “played” by Republican (her right) Shannen Doherty, whom I wish better and ultimately good health.
Alas health, all it entails, the complications of history, regarding Russia, a second numbered war, Barack Obama’s legacy, today are to be left to those far more qualified, on either side, than me.
In a picture below, Muhammad Ali, 4 years into his brave battle with Parkinson’s Disease has his eyes closed. Symbolically, I close mine and recall and perhaps extrapolate what I saw in his eyes and perhaps what his saw when viewing, hearing and however briefly conversing with me, on the four times I remember (there were other meetings) meeting him.
The second of the four, pictured below was when Ali signed pictures at an airport hotel. I waited on line and just before my turn, stood behind him and started speaking out loud in appreciation of a man, who meant so much to me. (I need not say why).
Somewhere a video reveals he looked up from signing, as I was talking, a look in his eyes saying this guy is crazy, but sincere! I ‘ll take it.
Later that year, Ali sitting with one of his beautiful daughters, posed for another picture which not only included the great man, who stood against an unjust war, entertained so often, and wanting no publicity donated the still significant sum of 50 thousand dollars, to help save a home that happened to house mostly, if not all people born into the Jewish faith, but also in addition to myself, the above referenced daughter (another day I will post that picture and sorry for not knowing her name) and the as yet unnamed ” Marching Girl,” the coat I famously and against my parent’s wishes bought her courtesy of Mike Scioscia’s home run, still a week away.
I think Ali approved, surely as I told Earvin “Magic” Johnson a month or so later (when you have someone, opposing election results such as the one then elevating George H.W. Bush, do not sting as much—think “Bogie”, Ingrid and Dooley Wilson drinking the good stuff in “Casablanca”) I could not have “done it” without them.
The first and last meetings (I hope there will be an eternal one, but not too soon and more important not without me really trying, if not accomplishing while here) are without pictures. (hopefully I can find and preserve audio from the first, the only one in which, as was promoted with Gretta Garbo, in which “ALI SPEAKS,” how important that I do so, how shameful that so much has been lost due to bad luck but also laziness/depression).
It is May 25, 1977 (Ali says 1975). I wait at Sam Goody’s in Manhattan and in one of two years and I know and learned, perhaps the hard way what my mother often quoted that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” (a Rod Serling “Twilight Zone” con Donna Douglas is a good reminder) I look “beautiful,” as a man, perhaps better to say great. I am in a white suit, never all that athletic, but tall, reasonably thin and with hair.
Ali, of course, makes me or most others look less, he is in a light gray suit, seated, signing copies of the record album from his movie “The Greatest.” Oh how many times I played George Benson singing “The Greatest Love Of All,” that contentious summer, how often I reflect on a charming, warm Whitney Houston calling me Andy the same 4 times and her also stirring version of the same song.
I had a big radio/tape recorder, not quite a “boombox” in power. I put in on the table in front of Ali, sitting next to a beautiful woman and began. “I said “Hey Champ say a few words into here.” Some of my pain tied to all the bad that has transpired since, goes away, thinking he actually said into my recorder, “My name is Muhammad Ali, I am the greatest fighter of all -time (as great as he was, Ali knew that honor by consensus anyway, goes to Ray Robinson). “You tell all those kids in Yonkers”, I add. Then I almost implored him to retire.
A security guard (for the record, and it should not matter, a black man) interrupts, he is not rude but firm, saying to me wanting me to move the line, “you want to have a love affair with him?” Trust me this was light, humorous, “guess you had to be there” stuff among the three of us, as Ali said to the guard “You’re not scared, “I’m gonna go upside your head.” I add “this guy does not realize what you (Ali) mean. (to people such as me).
A man on the surface even more likely to have to “give up his lunch” than most, unknowingly causes the lighthearted, beautiful “back and forth” among us (Brad Nessler would have incorrectly said “between”) conversation to cease.
Whether and I doubt it, Ali knew or cared, the album was worth more sans “to the recipient” he emphatically called for the man (actually, and if we can’t laugh at the fact Ali said “Hey BOY come back up here” in what trust me, was a moment so rich in both humor and pathos, then we really have problems the other way as well.
Now think of the overtones of Ali, as stated here regarding he and any other human being, a less than perfect individual, who perhaps “did” too much to two boxers, regarding Ali’s actual name, saying to this dazed, but truly excited kid, saying in his great voice, the one essentially silenced for 32 years, (my #, my disgrace, 32 Winchester, Sandy, Jim Brown, Earvin “Magic,” “O.J.,” Elston Howard and ’63 MVP’s-others) “WHAT”S THE NAME?!!!” In an excited, high voice the kid, so happy the album is to be personalized, so grateful this man he admired so much was the eraser to his pencil’s mistake, responds emphatically, with authority, with that all important ingredient, called confidence— “DONALD, TO DONALD!!”
Less important, but funny and telling: I say “Hi Veronica,” (thinking it is Veronica Porsche, Ali’s third wife) to the beautiful woman seated next to Ali. The champ hearing me, says “Who’s Veronica” and realizing continues “this is Charmane” (spelling?, I do recall she being a radio personality named Foster). “She’s pretty, all my ladies are pretty.” Ali loved women, they loved him and his fourth wife Lonnie looked after him as no other. (Albeit, in far different circumstances, is not it coincidental, the name of one, who helped both Ali and yours truly, after misfortune?!)
I think Ali’s eyes saw potential in me, mine saw greatness and beauty in him, but fear of his continued boxing scared me, ever so sadly with good reason. My potential remained just that. Each of us running an obstacle course, Ali having completed his with so much grace and dignity. I need to do the same.
The last time Ali was alone coming out of a restaurant, I, so often walking this earth alone, was entering same. He could not really talk, but uttered some words indicating recognition. He did not have to as I could see in his eyes, that it not only was recognition, but a positive one.
There is nothing wrong with crying (Jim Valvano talked of laughing, crying and thinking each day), but today my eyes are dry, but often they are not, as they cry tears of joy/sorrow/regret, but also of life, as I think in life, one as great, giving and helpful as Muhammad Ali, was helped just a bit by me.
Have to find and preserve that tape and live!!
With Muhammad Ali, at an airport hotel in 1988.
Click below to view “The Beatles” perform “Yesterday.”
The Beatles HD – Yesterday Live in Germany (Remastered)
One more, a beautiful compilation video by “Elena Beatles 4Ever” of a famed, priceless photo shoot of The Beatles with Ali, then known as Cassius Clay. Click.
♫ The Beatles with boxer Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali),
Now to paraphrase, I guess Bullwinkle, from “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” “now here’s something really” light, as I will take time in the next few days to reflect.
It is the first day of July, 1962. The defending World Champion Yankees, on their way to an incredible 20th title in just double that number seasons (they won 20 W.S. in 40 seasons 1923-1962) are hosting the second year team, Los Angeles Angels. That second year team was a contending team, which is quite remarkable.
Sandy Koufax, Red Barber reminds or informs, as the game was in L.A. the night before and this is say 1 P.M. the next day, a Sunday, had pitched his first no hit game, the night before in L.A.
It is relayed that Bo Belinsky, technically as with Sandy, of the Jewish faith as Bo’s mother was Jewish, who had preceded Sandy, in pitching the first no hitter at Chavez Ravine/Dodger Stadium, would not pitch in the doubleheader, having “pulled a muscle” in his hotel room. Since it is 1962, though Belinsky was quite a “playboy,” no speculation then or now on how. (I do not mean Gordie).
Later as the “on the scoreboard” segments commence, we are informed Earl Wilson, who no hit the Angels, beating Belinsky (2-0) 4 days earlier, is pitching that day, for the Boston Red Sox.
In glorious dialogue and informative, announcing greats, Red Barber and Phil Rizzuto “dialogue.”
Hey Red says Phil “I was just sitting there reminiscing. There are 3 kids playing in this game, whose dads I played against when I was with the Yankees.”
Phil cites in order Tom Tresh of the Yankees and dad Mike of the White Sox, Earl Averill Jr. and his dad Earl Averill of the Cleveland Indians, (then only 14 years into a title drought that is now 68 and counting), and Angels’ pitcher Don Lee, his father Thornton, having been a Chi Sox hurler (less than a year old Barack Obama was not yet a White Sox fan this day, but now has honored the cross town Chicago Cubs as an outgoing U.S. President. The Cubs ended a 108 year title drought, extending Cleveland’s).
Phil laments or jokes “I am getting old.”
Red quips “Phil it happens to all of us.” Also “consider the alternative.”
All these years later, I will as they say “chill” (at least try–why cry) with laughter and tears, hearing/knowing baseball 1962 style.
Who knew?! I chose Averill for the picture and find out this Hall of Fame player, largely built on his career with the still of drought Indians was as actually listed above, (that seems unusual) a “utility player,” with the Cubs, the team that ended its title drought at the expense of the Indians, whose drought continues.
It really bothered me when Stuart Scott’s death got mentioned by President Barack Obama. About the time of Scott’s death, Senator Edward Brooke, truly worthy of mention had died and was mentioned by Mr. Obama. As with the Hall of Fame, the “standards” for honors have truly dropped.
Yet that pales in comparison to the after and frankly, before death notices for Craig Sager. (By the way need I add I wish each (Scott and Sager) were still alive, but then again would either have or should have cared about me? Also I add that I truly was offended by Scott’s brazen, arrogant, “typical of ESPN” ways. Sager was in my opinion, a “no talent.” Could he do play by play? No! He wore colorful jackets, asked inane questions, DURING NBA games, never showed me anything in the way of knowledge and frankly had that “you can not enter this club” attitude that Al Michaels and Tim McCarver displayed, without their accomplishments, when I naively tried to talk with him at the ’85 W.S. and other times. Sager was never rude, but I can still feel the “quick rejection,” on a dinner line all these years later.)
However, while surely if I had “made it,” I would be towing the “political line,” and not criticize, after all, the great Bob Costas, whom I am pretty certain must be appalled at the decreased standards, perhaps wisely, perhaps not, I feel, looks the other way, (Please check Mike Tomlin’s history of NOT “going for it,” something someone Costas defends, Cris Collinsworth, obviously did not do, per his remarks 1st quarter Pitts/KC one and a half days back. Details on file! Sorry Bob, your greatness does not extend to what I feel is a myopic choice, in your high regard of the ever so rude to me, typical athlete enabled Collinsworth), this is about perspective.
First in watching CBS Sunday Morning’s “Hail and Farewell” segment a tribute to some who died in 2016, narrated well (she is no Charles Osgood, then again few are) by Jane Pauley, only two sports figures were cited. The two most important, Muhammad Ali and Arnold Palmer were, but Gordie Howe was not, relegated to the same box as Craig Sager.
Next in reading an older Sports Illustrated, at the top, Ali (yes), Palmer listed as Arnie (fine), Summitt (for Pat Summitt, fine but not ahead of Howe, who was next) Then at the top with 4 incredible figures in their sports of boxing, golf, hockey, (debate it in heaven as both belong but Gordie Howe belongs ahead of Pat Summitt and believe me the great Pat Summitt belongs) and women’s basketball, but then in my opinion, an exponentially relative nobody such as Sager.
I would not have dared to put the near great Nate Thurmond, Rick MacLeish, or how about Joe Garagiola, to name just three, with those others. Putting Craig Sager there has to be a cosmic joke.
This shows our eroding standards, and by the way will not prevent future premature deaths. Maybe if there was less spent on the almighty military (good luck with that!) and more on medical research, there would be a chance.
However, in lowering our standards and lauding the at best, “entertaining” Sager and Scott and in the former’s case extend ridiculous status, we have sunk even lower than I thought possible.
Trust me as Jack Paar warned so many years ago, that is pretty low!!!
Of course I agree with what Malcom said regarding black people’s status in this country, “We did not land at Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on us.”
I add that something akin to “Plymouth Rock” has landed on our standards, crushing them, leaving the dumbed down, vacuous, sit/eat/drink, indifferent out front, while good, dreaming, no “Rabbi,” at times misplaced rage with good reason, souls such as I, am swallowed in an unproductive, wallowing misery.
Time that could be spent laughing, even loving is instead wasted with deep bitterness, always asking how and why it happened?!
