The two other instances when a team raised its World Series record to (3-8) with a title both manifested after a Dodgers’ win vs the Yankees.
Obviously most times a Dodgers’ win was the exception.
Also how could the Dodgers have raised their World Series record to (3-8) more than once?
In 1963, after the Dodgers swept the Yankees in 4 straight games, (Bill “Moose” Skowron so often a World Series participant and winner with the Yankees, really helped his Dodgers turn the tables), their World Series record was (3-8). They had lost in 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, and 1956, the last 6 of the losses, to the vaunted Yankees.
After losing again to the Yankees in both the 1977 and 1978 World Series, (Reggie Jackson, as he did with Oakland in 1974 playing a big role in beating the dodgers in the World Series), the Dodgers’ record vs the Yankees in World Series play stood at (2-8).
The victories for the Dodgers were the lone Brooklyn title in 1955 and the aforementioned L.A. Dodgers’ 4 game sweep in 1963.
Thus after L.A. won in 6 vs Reggie and the Yankees in the 1981 World Series which followed a strike marred regular season, their record vs the Yankees in World Series play stood and still stands at (3-8).
Another note on the recent World Series.
For the third time, I am pretty certain in three World Series possibilities a (2-8) World Series record rose to (3-8) with the Cubs, first title in 108 years which denied the Indians first in 68.
The Cubs won the World Series with great teams in 1907 and 1908 part of a great run that manifested in 4 N.L. pennants in 5 seasons (1906-1910).
Two of those pennants, if you paid attention and deduce, 1906 and 1910 were followed by World Series losses.
This also was the case following Cubs’ pennants in 1918, 1929, 1932,1935,1938 and 1945.
Thus they took a (2-8) World Series record into the 2016 version.
“Chi” emerged victorious and raised their World Series mark to (3-8).
The two other W.S. examples (again I believe the only other two) in my next post.
There were four other games yesterday in which the teams scheduled to play this Thursday won and covered the spread.
Surprisingly and due to Nantz getting a normally Fox/Buck Seattle/Philly tilt, “The Emperor”Joe Buck and the officially annoying Troy Aikman (the former quarterback went on and on about a penalty on a defensive linemen late in the tilt. I would have said so what down 6, the crowd roaring, 50 seconds left it was not going to matter), were in “Minne” as the now (6-4) Vikings ended a 4 game loss skein, (minus 2 or so) (30-24) vs the (4-5-1) Arizona Cardinals. Minne is at Detroit in the traditional game Thursday. Of course there are now two other “traditional” games in the overexposed NFL.
Detroit also is (6-4) tied with “Minne” for the NFC North lead after covering late vs (2-8) Jacksonville. Was their 43 yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining that cov’d, necessary?
(5-5) Indy will host Pittsburgh, also (5-5) at night. The Colts of Indy won by 7, as 3 point faves vs Tennessee. Meanwhile Pitts won (24-9), as 8 point favorites vs the (0-10) Browns.
I am truly sorry about the predictions post going up late, not for the (1-1) or (2-3) record, though I was sloppy regarding Seattle/Philadelphia, as the latter had won vs Atlanta, the week before.
It is important you know, I noted the NFL wanting the teams to be playing on “Turkey Day,” to win the week before. Essentially I did so, warning “it does not always work out that way.”
No it does not always work out that way, but boy did it ever yesterday, as all six teams to be involved in Turkey day tilts, won and covered the spread.
For the record, Dallas minus 7, went to (9-1) winning by 10 points vs Baltimore, which is now (5-5).
“Wash” is (6-3-1) after ripping disappointing (4-6) Green Bay, (the Pack the only one of the 13 weekend underdogs to be “KO’d” in its “teaser.”).
Wash minus three won (42-24). For that matter only the day’s big upset, Tampa Bay going to (5-5) plus 7, by 2 at now (7-3) K.C. (Chiefs) produced another game in which a “teaser” was KO’d. Also that was one of only two games in which the underdog won outright, the other was the (5-5) Bills, a scant 2 point “dog” winning at (3-6-1) Cincy, whose coach Marvin Lewis, will finally be fired after the season. It is not all his fault, but you can not fire the team as the old saying goes. (Does the saying travel?).
More results and details in a later post.
Last week the predictions were (3-0) but one game Seattle vs New England was not a complete loser/loser/ underdog game, as Seattle had won, but not covered in its previous game, that vs Buffalo.
Three such games this week, but not as predictions.
The loser/loser/underdog vs winner/winner/favorite games are below.
Chicago plus six and a fraction points, vs the Giants.
Jacksonville plus 6 vs Detroit. you know the NFL wants as attractive a Detroit/Minnesota tilt as possible for Thursday. It does not always work that way!
Green Bay which knocked the Redskins from the playoffs last season, is getting 3 points at Washington. Remember it is “Wash” at Dallas on Thursday.
By the way, I know I knock Al Michaels, but please do not let Mike Tirico “broadcast” even one prime time game. Lay off the scotch, Al, stay healthy. Your guy, at least your ideology is back in the White House, so relax.
Why would I care so much about a man who is both a micro and macro disappointment? I can not deal with Tirico, who probably has my political ideology, but should never have ascended to the broadcasting heights, he has achieved.
This one is a prediction. The Eagles plus six and a half points at Seattle. I think they will win outright.
One more pick is the Vikings minus one and a half, vs the Arizona Cardinals.
It can never be solved in 28 minutes as was portrayed in “Leave It To Beaver” pictured above.
Nor can it be solved by hatred, bigotry and exclusion!
P.S. On my honor I thought this was posted before the early games. It is “up” as of 4:39 P.M.
I searched “high and low” for a betting line on yesterday’s Alabama vs Tennessee Chattanooga game, but could not find one.
Of course, there is no way Alabama, which won (31-3) in a tune up for Auburn next week, covered any spread, real or hypothetical, in that mismatch.
Thus I have picked vs Alabama 5 times and lost all 5 times.
The Tide, the only major unbeaten team and defending champion should be and dare I say will be in the 4 team playoff, even if they lose vs Auburn or in the SEC title tilt.
As stated the other day, there are no “locks” especially when touted by WFAN’s Mike Francesa.
Yet, more powerful than Francesa’s arrogance often being wrong, is my liking a game, not “predicting” it and then it wins. On the subway last night, the “phone” showed the Alabama score and the frustration grew.
If you do not bet, DO NOT START!
P.S. I am fine with it, but must note it to stay that way.
You want more proof how pathetic the media, especially the sports media has become.
Last week, Seattle coach Pete Carroll, you remember him from a Super Bowl vs New England, decided to go for a 2 point conversion, with his team ahead by 7 points and 4 minutes and twenty four second left in the game/regulation time.
I will not waste my “figurative breath,” explaining how that decision, is one of a fool.
Yet since “Sea” won the game, there is very little about said decision.
Carroll’s well documented Supe decision in ’15 was bad, this was worse! I truly give up and can not fight it any longer.
Today is the exact 50 year anniversary of one of college football’s most ballyhooed games.
On November 19, 1966, the top two ranked teams Notre Dame and Michigan State played to a (10-10) tie in East Lansing, Michigan.
The hype for the game was unbelievable, but back then it did not bother me.
The very successful Dave Reichberg, who helped out as a little league football coach, (not mine, by the way) canceled practice that day, telling his team, (of course him) to watch the tilt.
So many great players adorned the field that day, Alan Page of Notre Dame and Charles “Bubba” Smith of the Michigan State Spartans, to name two.
After Notre Dame’s starting quarterback Terry Hanratty was hurt, Coley O’Brien his backup helped Notre Dame overcome a (10-0) deficit, famously playing for the tie late and then being rewarded at Alabama’s expense, with the mythical national title, after thumping U.S.C. the following week.
George Gipp, aka “The Gipper,” pictured above, famously talked of “WINNING one for the Gipper” as he lay on his death bed.
Dan Jenkins in Sports Illustrated, after the (10-10) tie, wrote Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian “tied one for the Gipper”
Click below to see Ronald Reagan as George Gipp, recreate the moment in the film “Knute Rockne All American,” about the legendary Notre Dame coach.
Exactly 50 years ago, on November 18, 1966, I was playing some kind of sports game with dice. Imaginative and statistically oriented, I was ahead of my time.
My father came home and warned I would not like the headline I was about to read in The New York Post, late afternoon edition.
I truly prayed each time Sandy Koufax pitched from say (1964-1966), that he both win and pitch a low run game.
How often those prayers were answered is a tribute to Sandy’s greatness as a pitcher.
The headline this day 50 years ago, conveyed it would happen no more, the manifestations of that acute hurt, still felt today.
Sandy did the right thing in retiring on more than one level, both saving his arm, and in not taking the high salary he would have been offered, based on a 27 win season.
My hero carried on and continues to in exemplary, low key, modest fashion.
Yet though I know what he did was right, I think of all the records, all the comparisons I could have avoided hearing and frankly the time wasted rooting vs any, or all pitchers considered comparable, (none were and I felt my intensity had something to do with it), after say 1970.
An intensity and ferocity without a positive place to go!
I chose well in picking Sandy as a hero. I wish the complicated story that is my or anybody’s life had been or will be a better tribute to the great pitcher and person, who announced his retirement from baseball, exactly 50 years ago today.
Sandy Koufax pitching in The 1965 World Series
On the day of the presidential election, WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa stated that Hillary Clinton was a “lock” (i.e. absolutely certain to win).
Oh, for that one flight coming in from Mars that had no communication with the earth, she did NOT win!
I am severely punished for standing up for a belief that Mike Francesa, as with all the sports talk show hosts, is not worth my time and hence do not listen.
Ah, but long ago, I realized “God” would let me win a few “coins of the realm,” by listening/enduring the most arrogant Francesa, and wager vs his predictions, especially his “locks.” Small consolation, but I am fond of eating.
The fact I did not do so, and won nothing as consolation for a candidate, the antithesis of my beliefs, gaining the presidency, is “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Does not that violate the United States Constitution’s 8th amendment?
Alas let’s hope that “violation” is not a portent of very real violations that so many people fear based on some of Mr. Trump’s campaign words.
