As “Carter,” “we hear Frank and Jim Nabor’s and are grateful.
In “Marty”
I really enjoyed actor Frank Sutton’s performance, as a man happy in his own place in life, on the legendary television show, “Gunsmoke.”
The episode has been shown on MeTV, which is a television channel that I thoroughly enjoy.
Sutton is best known for his role as “Sergeant Carter,” on the television show, “Gomer Pyle,” which starred Jim Nabors.
In 1955, Ernest Borgnine played against type and was brilliant in the Paddy Chayefsky written, “Marty.” Mr. Borgnine won the best actor Academy Award.
Frank Sutton was among a great supporting cast in the film, playing one of Borgnine/”Marty’s” pals.
Frank Sutton, pictured above.
Florida University copped their third national basketball title and first since winning consecutive ones in ’06 and ’07, edging Houston (now sans the prize in all 7 national semis “apps”) (65-63) in the title game.
Florida held that (65-63) when Houston got the ball with :19 left but el Cougars (Houston) failed to get a shot attempt and that along with turnovers “vs” left them out, as was the case, with Duke, after Houston’s victory/Duke loss, in the national semi.
Walter Clayton Jr. was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, though he had only 11 points in the title game. He had made the big plays for Florida throughout the event, including such vs Connecticut and Auburn (a 3 point play up 3), the latter in the semi-final game, that I actually saw.
I did see Florida’s Aberdeen only split the pair and then the season’s final possession. That is thanks to a bus driver who exhibited kindness and opened the door for my entry late last night, though the vehicle was just past the stop at a light.
My effort yes, (one must try) is commended, however, mostly I praise his kindness and that is my indelible memory attached to the tournament.
Oh do we need kindness now and I thank him for it.
Above, the great Jackie Gleason, is pictured, as the fictional but most famous bus driver, “Ralph Kramden,” from the seminal “Honeymooners” television show.
The Connecticut women’s basketball team eased by South Carolina to win their 12th tournament crown, doing so with a (12-1) final game record and handing South Carolina its first title tilt loss (3-1).
Azzi Fudd was named the outstanding player of the tournament, as the Lady Huskies, with double the so impressive 6 titles the Connecticut men have won, won their first title since 2016.
They are just (13-11) in “semis,” but this incredible period, all under Luigi “Geno” Auriemma is one of the great ones in any sport at any time.
Luigi “Geno” Auriemma is pictured above.
The no longer prestigious NIT, now in Indiana, having abandoned New York, produced a below par basketball final game, with the manifestation, less free throw missing Tennessee Chattanooga, winning by one point, as a 3 plus point(s) underdog vs California Irvine.
Garrison Keeslar (not quite Garrison Keillor) hit the decisive basket, yielding the game’s last points, as 5 double letters “Chatt,” missed 2 free throws to go along with an Irvine turnover and missed layup as time expired.
It did not exactly bring back memories of past N.I.T. stars such as George Mikan, Pete Maravich, Larry Bird and others.
All four regional top seeds made the national semi-finals (Saturday, commencing around 6:10 with Florida a 2 or so point(s) “fave” vs Auburn, followed by Duke with 5 crowns and a plurality “choice” for a sixth, favored by 5 vs Houston, which is in its 7th national “semi” and still seeking a first basketball or football title), as on Sunday past, Houston ripped Tennessee while Auburn “covered/all teased” Michigan State (still just the one Izzo title, Jud Heathcote won as many, that Izzo such 25 years into the “rear view” (ode to Jimmy Stewart–picture will be of the same name baseball player).
Tomorrow night’s, once prestigious, but no longer (Dad used to ask any good teams left for the N.I.T. which he saw in its glory days), National Invitational Tournament, now no longer in New York but at Hinkel Field House (ode to Gene Hackman and the movie, “Hoosiers”) matches Cal Irvine and Tennessee Chattanooga.
The Anteaters (Irvine) is/are a 3 plus point(s) favorite.
Oh do I recall Jimmy Stewart, pictured above, hitting a 3RHR in a Reds’ second game of a doubleheader, (5-2) win at Shea Stadium, vs the Mets in an “indicative” 1970 tilt.
It has been 50 years since U.C.L.A. coached by the great John Wooden won its incredible 10th title in 12 seasons in the coach’s last game.
The fact Wooden announced his retirement after Richard Washington’s shot was decisive in the team’s one point win vs Louisville in the national semis, definitely helped the Bruins (U.C.L.A.) and to this day some Kentucky players call it a, if not the key, to U.C.L.A.’s title tilt win vs them.
I recall my father who did root for U.C.L.A. (I did not but surely acknowledge their greatness) clapping as the game ended and Wooden walked off the floor triumphant in his last game.
An article by John Maffei in the San Diego Tribune indicates the great coach (what sour grapes by Bob Knight for disputing Wooden’s greatness, just as despite what I think of the “chair thrower,” I salute Knight as a great coach as well) received an ovation when he entered the press room after the tilt something, not seen before or since.
Finally, the one time I interviewed John Wooden a day before Arkansas denied Duke a third crown in 4 seasons (they have won 3 since and are a decent sized plurality choice to add one week from tonight), he offered a low key, beautifully inflected “sorry,” (no I’m, a la no “i” in team) after being informed by me that my father, an aforementioned Wooden supporter, had recently died.
Oh 50 years!
East and South top seeds Duke and Florida secured national semis berths, with very different regional final victories yesterday.
Florida made an amazing (no phone, no title —rent–ode to Roger Miller) comeback, down 9 points in the last 4 minutes to “by 5” Texas Tech, as about a 7 point “fave.”
After that one, Duke also about a 7 point(s) favorite, eased (85-65) vs Alabama, denying the Tide a second straight national “semis” appearance.
Today’s first tilt in the Midwest final matches Houston, which squeaked by Purdue in a near home game for the Boilmakers (Purdue) and Tennessee, a winner vs Kentucky, after 2 losses in the near meaningless “reg.”
In the later South Region Final, Auburn is (-5) vs Michigan State, after they covered and all teased Michigan, while a shot I thought I saw, be under the rim, went in, enabling a Mich. State by 3 not 6 (on el numero) vs Mississippi (that state, so seeped in south, yields a song to spell it or counting before rushing (or not), the quarterback in touch football.
Notice the light drum work.
60 years and still so good.
Roger Miller– “King Of The Road.”
Last night, both Duke and Alabama scored or exceeded 100 points and now will face each other in the East Regional final to be played tomorrow, in Newark, New Jersey.
Duke won 5 titles under Mike Krzyzewski from 1991-2017 while ‘Bama seeking just its second national semi appearance but second in a row, won 6 titles just under Nick Saban (2008-2017), to go along with 5 under the legendary Paul”Bear” Bryant and one under Gene Stallings, that with Derrick Lassic in 1992.
Elsewhere, Texas Tech, a hard luck national final game losing team vs Virginia in 2019 (the Bell rung but no “returns’), survived Arkansas in overtime, and will meet so highly regarded, Florida in the West Region Final, also tomorrow and in the city in which Tony Bennett (the great singer, not the 2019, title winning Virginia coach) “left his heart” (credit “Ark” which also did), San Francisco, California in tomorrow’s earlier regional final.
Both Duke and Florida, certainly on a possible “collision course” toward a title game clash, are 6 plus points favorites tomorrow.
Among today’s essentially (defending champion L.A. won both “in Tokyo, Japan”) season opening baseball tilts are Detroit (Tigers) at L.A. (Dodgers), and New York Mets at Houston Astros.
Twenty years apart in 1935 and 1955 the Tigers and Dodgers (then in Brooklyn, however for only 2 more seasons before moving to Los Angeles), respectively won their first titles.
Both the Mets and Astros (then known as the Colt-45’s) entered the National League in 1962.
Houston is now an American League team, having won their two titles as such, in 2017 and 2022.
Julio Gotay, pictured above as a Cardinals’ player (he was in the Cards’ starting lineup vs the Mets in the latter’s first game ever in 1962), played 4 seasons for the ‘Stros (’66-’69).
Andy B Sports 