Before last Saturday, I believe the only other time 3 of the top 4 teams lost on the same day in regular season college pig was in 1985.
Then as was the case Saturday past, Iowa won at home on a last play field goal vs Michigan, with the latter one of the top ranked teams.
Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan coach is both very annoying and very good though still sans a title was on the losing end in both games.
He was the Michigan quarterback in 1985 and their current coach. Their hopes of making the bogus 4 team playoff (Barack Obama need not be modest about what he accomplished, but I disagree with his push for a college football playoff) likely would have and now almost certainly depend on the result of their tilt at Ohio State on November 24th.
I visited an old friend in a nursing home, spent over four hours with him and on the day, saw maybe 6 plays in the NFL.
This gives me a great deal of pride.
However, in addition to the overall sadness filling the room which we did a decent job of overcoming, the fact I messed with time, could not be hidden.
Surely it “trumped’ (remember to the victor, goes the thesaurus) what each of felt were horrible election results, as he bravely faces a lack of mobility and I know the time wasted, likely will haunt me for all time.
Yet armed with two coincidences, a determination to help the friend visited and another facing other issues, and the fact both an elderly lady/stranger and I took a “leap of faith” (not recommended to pick up a stranger, but there she stood at the end of the driveway of home, darkness evident, needing and asking for a ride to the bus) she getting into my car, me allowing it (one time only), I will keep going.
There is a woman I know who fervently believes the faith she has will make things right (I could invoke a pun, but will not).
One reason not to, other than respect for people’s opinions and beliefs even if they differ greatly from one’s own, is that I am not all that far from that mind set.
Yet I must remind all, I do not believe life to be a “Perry Mason” episode (she loves that show and I truly like it) where all is made right at the end.
However, with faith and I believe more important kindness, we can/must try. (Anyone remember one Superman saying that to the other, when there were two, each with not enough “super power” to assure justice.)
An example below of shoddy, sloppy reporting, where else, but on ESPN.com
Of course it was a and the key play, but if New Orleans had successfully kicked the extra point to take a (24-23) lead as noted below by the reporter (Jeff Legwold) “guilty” of sloppy reporting, the Broncos still had one minutes and thirty seconds left, needing a field goal.
A Saints extra point conversion would NOT have WON the game as Mr. Legwold wrote. The mistake is below.
“With Drew Brees having thrown a 32-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks with 1 minute, 30 seconds to play to tie the game at 23-23, the Saints simply needed the extra point to get the win.”
As of 9 A.M. Eastern Time, the mistake is still there. Click the link below to see it.
Broncos return blocked PAT for win over Saints
I am looking forward to seeing “Terms Of Endearment” now being performed at 59E59 Theaters. I will post a review later this week.
Left to right Hannah Dunne and Molly Ringwald in “Terms Of Endearment” playing at 59E59 Theaters.
Click below for ticket information.
Terms Of Endearment at 59E59 Theaters
The incredible upset week continued as the second, third and fourth ranked college football teams lost on the same day of the regular season for only the second time in history.
While top ranked, defending champion Alabama “rolled” as in “Roll Tide,” at home vs Mississippi State, the next three ranked teams lost, two (Clemson and Michigan) as 3 or more touchdown favorites, another Washington U. as over a touchdown home favorite vs U.S.C.
Remember yesterday I cited Beano Cook. He became a presence as “Stone” noted, perhaps reaching down and helping Chris Blewitt’s game winning field goal attempt of 48 yards “get there” for a shocking win for Beano’s school, Pittsburgh University.
Of course on a day I spoke with the legendary Iowan, Mandy Corliss, The Hawkeyes (Iowa U.) would go out, say two hours later and win as a 3 touchdown plus home underdog, at home, vs Michigan. In between, USC outright at Washington.
Imagine a “buy” of these three upsets on one day. Way more on this later in the week. God and my father are giving me signs, Beano and though I called her, Mandy. Yet as seemingly is always the case, I was not paying attention.
Three predictions, the first two, taking the loser/loser/underdog vs the winner/winner/favorite which as with just about everything in my life and now many others is not working out very well.
With Jim Nantz presiding (any truth regarding my speculation that Mr. Nantz, no longer would I dare call this most powerful individual “Pooh,” will be selected to a new position in the Trump administration, that of keeping all or as many country clubs, let’s nicely say, “status quo”) I will take Denver, the team Nantz “orchestrated” to the Supe title last season, plus three at New Orleans.
Perhaps before the game Nantz and Saints quarterback, Drew Brees two opponents to the few players who did not stand for the national anthem, can revel in Mr. Trump’s victory.
Add Tampa Bay plus two vs Chicago.
Throw in Seattle vs New England getting 7 plus points.
At times, perhaps for a greater good, it is appropriate to say things about a person that are NOT nice.
Remember the fruit salad price, it is well known the cost to park a car (no big, vision blocking, air polluting larger vehicles for me) in NYC is exorbitant.
Perhaps I am crazy, but I wait in my car, often freezing or at least quite cold, as was the case last night, for the parking spot to be legal and “hoof it,” the distance needed to reach my destination.
Last night that destination, “crossed paths” with the demonstrations protesting the upset victory of Donald Trump.
Another Beano saying was “you can’t have it both ways” and since I of course, believe in their right to protest, my “re routing,” on a cold night adding to an already long walk, was? not to be complained about.
I heard a recorded, even keeled voice, (not even with a New York accent, he, while not John Gielgud, sounded better than me), state in a non threatening way, the “need” for the protesters, not to block the street and stay in a designated area.
Maybe I missed my call as a diplomat, as I without fail have always made it a point to directly praise at least one, or a group of NYC officers, for their diligence, when faced with these assignments, at times offering either a hot or cold drink (they graciously do not accept), depending on the weather.
Kudos to their decision and recorded announcement, and if you think it is easy for me to admit, think again!
Hillary Clinton certainly provided myself and others, with an example of “great sportsmanship,” in this volatile, to say the least, week.
Oh it is complicated and there is a long way to go, but as I a lone figure with strong feelings far beyond the past election, walked on a cold night, the macro world in upheaval rivaling my micro, it was nice to see the police and hear their well meaning, recorded message.
Those who read my words and thoughts know they often are of a tangential nature. That word “tangential” alone evokes thoughts.
I believe for a good reason, a certain sexual act is again relevant this week.
My “tangent” which will lead to “man bites dog,” me praising The New York City Police Department, (though “we” have always known their job is thankless and unlike the later law breaking officer in Yonkers, New York, who treated my friend and I so harshly in 1977, perhaps forever damaging my (a completely law abiding citizen, who helps others) opinion of police officers (so much more to say but as the song says I have both said too much and not enough), begins with Beano Cook, who would have cheered the defeat of Hillary Clinton, if not the election of Donald Trump.
We all have levels, be those regarding prejudice (this must be lowered by at least 30 percent and I have ideas, but I digress), sexual talk or stereotyping, but I feel this quip by Beano to not be offensive. I will change the key word(s).
Once I visited him at an expensive New York City hotel, I believe where he was staying for NFL draft coverage. I arrived at his door, at the same time room service had finished delivering a fruit salad order to the room next door.
Beano was never afraid to ask, nor comment. He asked the cost of the fruit salad, this at least 25 years ago. 17 dollars was the answer. Without batting an eyelash, Beano inquired and I changed the word(s) remember, does that include a sexual favor?!!
Now that is a post, but I have “buried the lead” I suppose. My next one will pick up the story and again praise The New York City Police Department, for what I saw and more specifically heard.
Whether they win the national title or not, I believe it is safe to say the great University of Alabama football team will not cover the spread in all of its remaining games, (famous last words, right), which with varying degrees of probability could include one or at most two playoff games.
Today in their 10th game of the regular season, Alabama (9-0) and (7-2) vs the spread, is a 29 point, home favorite, vs Mississippi State.
On 4 previous occasions this season I have predicted Alabama not to cover the spread. All four times they DID cover the spread.
Let’s go for 5, Alabama 39 Mississippi State 15.
Feel free to SYMBOLICALLY throw tomatoes after I am wrong again. Ah Mr. Caan’s character in “The Gambler” expressed a similar comment regarding his teaching, not his gambling.
The character got it wrong as he so often did his bets. The teaching was stellar, not so his gambling. In fact the very dangerous opposite.
I was fortunate enough to have met both Phil Rizzuto and Bob Feller, each a truly good man, both Republican voters, by the way, in my time.
Phil talked of “poor Bob Feller” never winning a World Series game.
He came close, pitched very well, but the great baseball contributor and pitcher, John Sain outdueled Mr. Feller in the Boston Braves’ (1-0) win over the Cleveland Indians in game 1 of the 1948 World Series.
A pick off play by the Indians was ruled unsuccessful and Tommy Holmes, another baseball great in a better day, drove in the game’s only run soon after.
Apparently in Bob Lemon’s victory in game 2 at Boston, vs the Braves, the Indians pulled off a successful pick off play.
This year in their heartbreaking game 7 loss, an Indians’ player (why embarrass him, has not there been enough?!!) was picked off first base.
Tomorrow a college football prediction.
Below is a well written caption from a CBS website concerning the play.
Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau (and shortstop) disagrees with the umpire Bill Stewart that Phil Masi, who was pinch running for Bill Salkeld, is safe, October 6, 1948. Masi scored on the next play when Tommy Holmes singled to left field, enabling the Braves to beat the Indians, 1-0.
The play was considered one of the most controversial in World Series history. Masi admitted in his will that he was out.
CREDIT: John Lindsay/AP
Andy B Sports 