Tonight, when the Indians host the Chicago Cubs in game 1 of the 2016 World Series, it will be the first time in nine major sports league final series, a Cleveland team will open such a series at home.
Cleveland teams, the Indians (1-4) and the NBA Cavaliers (0-3), coincidentally, whose 2016 title is being honored tonight, are a collective (1-7) in finals series openers, having lost seven straight.
The teams are a combined (3-5) in those finals series, the Indians (2-3) with 3 straight losses and the Cavs (1-2), having won the last one.
Cleveland (Indians) won both the W.S. opener and the best of 9 series vs Brooklyn in 1920 but the Indians and Cavs (at both Boston and Atlanta vs the Braves, at the Golden State Warriors twice and once each at New York vs the Giants, at Florida vs the Marlins and at San Antonio vs the Spurs) have combined to lose 7 straight finals openers, the last three by the Cavs.
The football Browns led by two of the greatest players ever, a case can be made for the two greatest ever, first Otto Graham and then Jim Brown played in a one game “final” for the NFL crown, nine times going (4-5).
Incredibly, the Browns led by quarterback Graham were in the NFL title tilt in their first 6 NFL seasons, after winning the crown all four seasons, in the All American Football Conference. Cleveland split those 6 games, winning at home in 1950 and 1954, losing at home in 1952.
They lost on the road in both 1951 and 1953, winning in Graham’s last game in 1955.
Led by Jim Brown, Cleveland played in 3 title games, the home team winning all of them. They lost at Detroit (Lions), the team they faced from (1952-1954), ending Jim Brown’s first season in 1957. Green Bay won the first of what still is an unprecedented 3 straight NFL finals games, at home, vs the Browns in what was Jim Brown’s last game of a great career, played after the 1965 season.
Eleven Green Bay defenders keyed on and contained Brown on a muddy, call it dirty field that day at Lambeau Field. Soon after, Brown teamed with 11 others to form “The Dirty Dozen,” in a superb movie with the same name.
Until the Cavs’ title a scant 4 monthes ago, the home 1964 title game win by the Browns vs the John Unitas led Baltimore Colts, was the last Cleveland title.
For the record, the Indians also won the World Series in 1948 vs the Boston Braves before losing to the Giants in ’54, the Atlanta Braves in ’95 and the Marlins in ’97. The Cavs split vs Golden State, winning in 2016, having lost the year before. In LeBron James’ first stint as a Cavaliers’ player, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Cavs in the 2007 NBA finals.
The three other Browns’ title tilts were vs the L.A. Rams, coincidentally back in Tinseltown, as of this season. Cleveland won at home in 1950 as Lou Groza’s short field goal was decisive and at L.A. in 1955. A Norm Van Brocklin 73 yard touchdown strike to Tom Fears was decisive as the Rams won at L.A. in 1951. Another coincidence, the lone St. Louis Rams’ title, that in the 1999 season, also featured a 73 yard touchdown pass that produced the Rams’ last points and victory margin. It went from Kurt Warner to Isaac Bruce.
Tonight on the 30th anniversary of the New York Mets’ incredible victory in game 6 of the 1986 World Series, a surely “related” World Series to be contested between two franchises with long World Series winning droughts, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians commences in Cleveland.
It is the first time in nine major sports league finals series involving Cleveland teams, that said series is beginning on the city’s Lake Erie shores.
Today after a long, “tough to sleep” night, as the blood begins to circulate, I hope to bring some perspective and notes to the World Series, an historic one I hope to embrace though one of, if not the biggest reason for my deprived sleep, is sports.
That is especially so regarding baseball, the best of them, as for many reasons it has become a symbol of betrayal to me.
However, I will take both you the reader and myself back with some notes and connections that rattled in my brain as I “tossed and I guess turned.” One last knock, you think Joe Buck would know what I will impart in posts later this day?!
Also this in fairness, yesterday I called Jack Buck over rated and in my opinion he was. That does not mean he was not at least good, if not very good. He approached excellence with a rooting interest, locally as the St. Louis Cardinals’ lead announcer.
Not in Seattle, but sleepless, I turned to a recording of some moments from the great decisive game of the 1980 NLCS won by the Philadelphia Phillies vs the Houston Astros.
Among them were two excellent on the play, “swing and a base hit” calls of home team Houston players Denny Walling and Jose Cruz run scoring base hits, by Jack Buck, one of the CBS Network announcers.
God works in mysterious ways especially so when access to past recordings are available and one pops them on in an effort to induce sleep.
Paraphrasing the “Edward G.” (Robinson) character in “The Cincinnati Kid” as my opinion of the relative merits of two similar themed films, “Sleepless in Seattle” was good, but “An Affair To Remember” with Deborah Kerr (pronounced Car as in star) and Cary Grant pictured above in a scene from that film, was better.
Fox with Joe Buck has telecast five “even year” LCS in “competition” with TBS.
Those were in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and this season.
Three times, 2012, 2014 and this season the Fox/Buck LCS has gone more games than its counterpart on TBS.
Both LCS in 2010 were decided in six games while the aforementioned Maddon over Francona 2008 (Tampa Bay Rays over Boston) ALCS telecast by TBS is the only one of the ten in the competition to have lasted more games than its Fox/Buck counterpart.
Meanwhile the Fox/Buck LCS winner (8-1) in the previous nine subsequent World Series, included the three S.F. Giants’ titles 2010 S,F. Giants vs Texas (Rangers), 2012 Giants vs the Tigers, and 2014 version vs the Royals.
Perhaps there will be another TBS win, if so this time Francona’s team will have to beat Maddon’s to provide a second such win in this the 10th year of the “competition.”
Are you ready to overdose on “AndyB” statistics and notes? Some are here, but amidst harsh criticism of two highly successful broadcasters, one “off the charts,” in terms of opportunities and while I acknowledge my frustration at the juxtaposition with me, I truly believe, as a great follower of sports and broadcasting greats, it is important to write. After that, “play ball,” in an interesting World Series.
I will also editorialize, surely big part “sour grapes,” to say in any sane realm, Joe Buck, whom I do not think of as more than average in ability, about to broadcast his 19th World Series is an example of “the lucky sperm club” gone wild.
Who is this guy, to be afforded such broadcasting riches?
The gods like this guy.
For example, in 10 years of “competition” vs TBS, Buck and Fox are the resounding winners in two categories and the “lesser of two evils,” in another.
The Fox/Buck LCS has gone longer than its TBS counterpart, 6 times including this season. The two series were the same length, six games on three occasions. Only once, in 2008, when current Chicago Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon’s Tampa Bay Rays won in 7 games, vs current Cleveland Indians’ manager Terry Francona’s Boston Red Sox, did the TBS LCS go longer, than the Buck/Fox series.
Additionally, the winner of the Buck/Fox series is (8-1) vs the winner of the TBS series in the subsequent “Joe Buck” World Series. The lone exception, the team “lucky sperm” Buck grew up watching his dad, the vastly over rated, Jack Buck broadcast, the St. Louis Cardinals’ incredible 2011 W.S. win, vs the hard luck Texas Rangers.
Now you know why I call him “the emperor.” He “rules,” but not in any good sense.
However, compared to another “lucky spermer,” Ernie Johnson Jr., whose dad Ernie Johnson was a terrific announcer, Buck is the lesser of two evils.
Forgive the crude terminology (I am worried about “sperm” being crude, given what is said on television and radio, never mind the internet) but some sperm travels better and further than others. I wish from a “keep my sanity and some standards of broadcasting acumen alive,” point of view, that Mr. and Mrs. Buck, and Mr. and Mrs Johnson, and others never met.
One more thing. Is this classy on my part? Probably not.
However, let me have called one World Series, never mind 19 and trust me I would at least attempt real play by play, something Johnson can not do at all and “The Emperor” can fake a bit, and I will take the criticism and maybe even, unlike Buck or Johnson, learn from it.
A better thought. Joe Buck has been the lead announcer on 19 World Series, as of the start of the upcoming one. Proven, excellent broadcasters, Bob Costas and Sean McDonough have called two and a half and two respectively.
Maybe I did in a not very “cute” version above. I wish peace, especially for myself!
This is for fun and you may prefer harsh opinions to these esoteric facts, but here goes. Alas I once loved baseball so much and the World Series played in the glorious daylight complete with radios, earplugs and variables concerning after public school, Hebrew school were a big part of it. Now I must draw on those memories to continue to weave the baseball fabric, embodied by World Series events and memories.
Buck and Fox did the ALCS in the 5 odd years of the ten since TBS gained LCS rights in 2007. Those series went 7, 6, 6, 6, and 6 games respectively. The winners were (you check the losing teams), the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox (2013 as a marker, more on “markers,” actually lack thereof, when I tell you about looking for a grave, in a recent sojourn to a cemetery) and Kansas City Royals. Only Texas failed to win the subsequent World Series broadcast by Fox with Buck as the lead announcer.
TBS bringing in the NLCS had series of 4 games, 5 games, 6 games, 6 games and 4 games. The Colorado Rockies (’07), Philadelphia Phillies (’09), St. Louis Cardinals (’13) and the New York Mets (’15) all lost the subsequent World Series. Only the 2011 Cardinals, in miraculous fashion and surely with Buck rooting for them, won it.
In a future, pre World Series post, a look at the 5 even years thus far.
The Chicago Cubs eased to a (5-0) victory vs Clayton Kershaw (the losing pitcher in three of the four games in which L.A. sans a pennant for 28 years, has been eliminated in, having made the post-season 4 straight years) and the Dodgers in game 6, to win their first pennant in 71 years.
Incredibly, Cubs’ pitchers Kyle Hendricks (0 runs, 2 hits, no walks allowed in 7 and one third innings) and Aroldis Chapman (an “almost anybody could have done it,” 1 and two thirds scoreless, o hits, 1 walk allowed innings), faced the minimum 27 batters.
The Cubs, who jumped (2-0) in the first inning, (the team scoring first not only won all 11 LCS games in the two leagues but never trailed in any of those 11 games which spells not ROLAIDS but BORING) turned 3 double plays.
When they turned the last one, 6-4-3, they were on their way to the World Series, an event they have not won since 1908.
The double plays, especially the last evoked the immortal Cubs’ double play combination of (Joe) Tinker to (Johnny) Evers to (Frank) Chance which was an integral part of great Cubs’ teams from (1906-1910.) Those teams won titles in 1907 and 1908 and pennants in 1906 and 1910.
Likely you “don’t give a darn,” but the third baseman on those Cubs’ teams was Harry Steinfeldt, handy to know for a “bar bet,” if you go back in time.
I truly do not have an NFL prediction this week.
Last week’s picks were (3-3), leaving me at (14-8-1).
This week I will not watch football!
The system games are with Oakland plus one at Jacksonville, Pittsburgh plus 7 vs New England and the Eagles plus 3 vs the Vikings.
Two others with teams that lost, pushed and are underdogs are with the Colts at Tennessee, and the Rams vs the Giants in London, England.
Again no predictions, no football today.
My lament is not looking at the NFL “Turkey Day” schedule before the season. Guess who’s “having dinner” in the traditional holiday football venues of Detroit and Dallas this season.
Try (5-0) Minnesota at (3-3) Detroit and (4-2) Washington at (5-1) Dallas. What the NFL wants, the NFL gets, no matter how much violence on and off the field it generates.
Unlike the fictional “Fonz,” played brilliantly by Henry Winkler, on the television show, “Happy Days,” I have no trouble admitting I was wrong.
My prediction of Texas A&M plus 18 points lost by one point, my over prediction by a decent amount more. I was wrong.
Yet as a viewer, I have the right to point out what is so annoying.
Next year I will wish Verne Lundquist, not “my cup of tea,” but certainly a distinguished veteran broadcaster, was still calling SEC games, when some abrasive newcomer takes his place.
However, Verne topped himself, intoning he goes deep more than once when it was far from the case. This was epitomized by saying “he goes deep,” on a 2 point conversion attempt.
Far worse, Gary Danielson, who knows the reality, started “boning” bettors (it was not the first time), when with the spread and certainly not the game on the line, he talked of how “good it would be,” for A&M, trailing by 19 points to get a touchdown. That is absurd as it would have been a lucky, “backdoor’ cover and the Aggies, no disgrace, were shown they could not move way up in class at Alabama. A touchdown meant nothing other than the spread!
Either have the “b—s,” to cite the spread, which is a big deal anywhere, but of colossal importance at schools in the South (a penalty vs Alabama with the game in the bag on the above referenced drive drew loud boos) or keep your mouth shut.
One, maybe two plays later, Danielson really made me sick talking of how the new rules, where a player is penalized for hitting an exposed receiver with his helmet has made “our game safer.”
I guess I deserve that for having the sound on and picking vs Alabama. Really do I? Do the viewers?!!
In all of our lives, there is a long and winding road and thus The Beatles’ iconic hit song of the same name resonates, often exponentially, enhancing our memories both good and bad.
There was a great one for me, two nights back when as his lovely and talented wife Karon Kate Blackwell was singing “The Long and Winding Road” as part of a great show at Metropolitan Room in New York City, I looked in the “wings” (there is a Beatles, at least a Paul McCartney association there) and waiting to come back on stage, was the incredibly funny, comedic legend Marty Allen.
He is 94 years old and still able to dance a bit, tell a great joke and collaborate with Karon his wife of 32 years, to put on a great show at a great venue, Metropolitan Room in New York City.
Nostalgia was in the air and on the screen, as a priceless video of Mr. Allen with Martha Raye from the television show, “The Hollywood Palace” had the crowd laughing continually for the approximate 5 minute duration.
There were stories about legendary singers Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole, the latter the man who introduced Allen (and vice versa), to his superb partner, Steve Rossi.
I felt so good watching this incredible couple and was floored by Karon’s voice, range and song selections, including one in which her niece Molly, joined her on stage.
There were great “still” pictures showcasing Marty’s great career and one more video, resulting in Marty telling a great story about Dean Martin’s reaction to what happened in said video.
Marty met the Beatles, “cracking up” John Lennon, telling him they looked alike. Karon brought it close to full circle, with a Beatles’ medley.
That is where we came in, “the long and winding road,” that included Marty’s beyond brave efforts in global conflict, for which he was awarded The Soldier’s Medal, honoring extreme bravery.
Both Caron and Marty greeted the patrons warmly, posing for pictures and signing autographs. I asked Marty, who was born in Pittsburgh, if he perhaps recalled the Pirates and Paul Waner. He said Steelers and told of how when he was honored at his high school, someone wanted to meet him. It was the great Steelers’ player Franco Harris.
That great story capped an incredible evening.
Click below for information on events at Metropolitan Room
Metropolitan Room Manhattan, NYC, music, jazz, jazz club ..
Click below to view a performance by the fabulous team of Marty Allen and Steve Rossi
Both Karon Kate Blackwell and Marty Allen are warm, friendly people in addition to being very talented performers.
Somehow the coin we used found a clear place on his football card, maybe because he was such a fine receiver with the Detroit Lions.
On a day I thought of the one and only Michael Santasieri Jr. for other reasons, word came that Gail Cogdill, a star with the Lions and the absolute best at our coin/football card game (we had imagination and no video games to deter us) had died at the age of 79.
I certainly have distant recall of the Lions’ upset win vs the eventual 1962 NFL champion Green Bay Packers, in fact the only loss dealt the “Pack” that season.
Mr. Cogdill had a great game, catching two touchdown passes from Milt Plum. It seems he made a great finger tip catch in that tilt, as though the coin were coming to his card.
Whether in the reality of the NFL games, or in “our” coin-football card games, Gail Cogdill excelled.
Now after his death, and speaking to a harsh reality of football, Mr. Cogdill’s brain and brain stem will be examined, as part of a concussion study at Boston University.
I just realized that when Cogdill is asked by God how “he” kept making those catches, of all those coins for touchdowns in a great activity, he will not know to which God is referring.
Click below for more about Gail Cogdill.
Gail Cogdill, one of the all-time great Detroit Lions WRs, dies at 79
It was a card like, but not the one above, that somehow, defied the odds, as far too often for me vs Mr. Santasieri, the coin landed completely within the boundaries of Mr. Cogdill’s card for a touchdown.
I would not trade those memories for a football card or even much more.
Additionally I have good memories of Gail Cogdill in the NFL.
Andy B Sports 