Six NFL teams have the week off, leaving 13 tilts, including 1 Super Bowl rematch (Tampa Bay beat the Raiders in the ’02 season Supe) and 5 semis/conference title games repeats.
Those 5 are Tennessee/Jacksonville, Miami vs the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears at the S.F. 49ers.
Four out of 5 applies twice regarding these rematches.
Only the at Tennessee tilt today is at a different venue than the title game site while only the ’84 49ers went on to triumph in the subsequent Super Bowl.
Tennessee in ’99, Miami in ’82, the Falcons in ’98, and Panthers in ’03 all lost in the subsequent Super Bowl games.
I remember reading in Terry O’Neil’s fine book “The Game Behind The Game,” that he in CBS meetings with the S.F. staff knew Bubba Paris, pictured above would have a big game vs “the one year away,” Chicago Bears, in that ’84 NFC title tilt.
Next Sunday, the one nine not two days hence has two “really big” (cue Mr. Sullivan) games on its docket.
One matches two franchises that merged during the 1943 season as so many players from each roster were “called,” (three time NFL Eastern Conference winning coach, Allie Sherman was on that team), and were called the Steagles, as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philly Eagles combined.
Currently the Eagles are (10-2), almost certain to be at least the NFC “2,” and trailing only (12-1) Detroit (Lions) (-3 or 3 and a “slice”–(34-31) vs (9-4) Green Bay, as Amazon got another “prime cut”/tilt last night) in a bid for the top seed.
Pittsburgh is a surprising (9-3) more than a game ahead of (8-5) Baltimore (Ravens) in the AFC North. The Eagles will be the home team next week vs “Pitts.”
The other, with an even better combined record match, is Detroit, aforementioned (12-1) at (10-2) Buffalo (Bills).
VSiN, the so called sports betting network, (another “come on” being Brent apologize to John and Tommie before it is too late) was, maybe still is, a natural for the albeit now much wiser, but still vulnerable me.
I refrain from criticism but they do not. Largely they are right in doing so, especially regarding the far too often, cowardly, “bonehead” coaching decisions– that I and many like me, have known and been adversely affected by, for so much of that most precious commodity, TIME.
Thus, speaking of time, imagine if the game “$$$$’d” out to something called Amazon, and advertised on ViSN as tonight had a live betting line!! Oh it is tonight can I guess an exact score say Chiefs 19 , Raiders 17. (Tonight it is Lions vs Packers as they are still running an ad saying Chiefs/Raiders on something called “Black Friday.”)
Mike Palm, a talented reviewer and scathing critic of so many who deserve such, (only one more game this season, I hope, for Gus Johnson, whose screeching makes chalk on a blackboard seem like say filet mignon, a prime example), said yesterday it was Tuesday and cited Will McDonough’s comment last Saturday.
That would be a great trick for the deceased McDonough, of course it was Wednesday and no college basketball in the regular season is worth anywhere near the praise Palm, Howard and Moss, all knowledgeable talents gave it.
There are other examples, but having said the above ViSN is akin to the “B or say B minus” student who needs a pep talk from a good teacher (in my life Mr. and Rabbi Harry Goder and June Drusin) saying you can do better!!
The great personality of legendary basketball coach, Lou Carnesecca, who died days back, not far from his 100th birthday, was clearly on display when I interviewed him as part of my Sports Plus Show, I co-hosted with the beautiful Sunshine Chance (Smith).
Mr. Carnesecca was on a line with Olympians Judy Blumberg, Michael Seibert and Scott Hamilton at the 1987 March of Dimes luncheon and talked with his usual passion, as I broached his largely forgotten great coaching job, when his then New York Nets, led by the incomparable Rick Barry, reached the 1972 ABA final round, before losing to the second of three, Indiana Pacers’ ABA title teams, in 6 games.
The coach, so long a part of the local college basketball scene in New York, first as an assistant to the great Joe Lapchick (his picture is in the Yonkers Grinton I. Will Library as a famous resident of that city) and then in his two stints as St. John’s head basketball coach, talked of facing Virginia (Squires) with superb players, Julius Erving, and a budding George “Ice Man” Gervin, the latter one of my favorites and also I can hear “el” coach–adding in his inimitable style, “three arenas.”
What a career, what a personality, and now to be fitted with a sweater (remember his during a 1985 run to the national semis with St. John’s) that is marked heaven and oh the stories when (I hope), he meets some fellow coaches.
The legendary coach, so personable and Basketball Hall of Fame member, Lou Carnesecca, with sweater, is pictured above.
It is nice there are views of a seemingly published past post “i,” that has only a picture or three, of a Cubs starter, probably Arietta.
The actual post with some text on the proverbial bone, can be accessed via the link below.
Here is hoping you enjoy both and that maybe Brad Nessler, will be aware the next day, far less than 24 hours later, that a game with definite playoff implications, going 8 overtimes, might be remembered as such and not 5.
Then if you do err due to your incredible indifference, please Bradley, do not make excuses!
- Astros and Cubs are Viable Title Threats on October 8, 2015
Four of this holiday weekend’s twelve NFL tilts have been played and after “no cover” victories, (a 6th straight such by the Chiefs), both they and the Detroit Lions, who ended a 7 game “this holiday” loss skein, will still lead in the conference standings, in a bid to get the top seed, which comes with a wild card round bye.
Each team is a stellar (11-1), the Lions far more impressive, though more or less equally fortunate to escape (23-20) vs (4-8) Chi, which has lost 3 straight really close games and 4 of 6 such in their 6 game loss skein, the first being the result, of allowing a “Hail Mary” touchdown pass.
What can I add regarding the Chiefs, save citing their streaks, both in straight up and cover/mostly no cover, wins.
The two time Supe champions have won 17 of their last 18 games, including 6 in a row, all of which they covered–4 in the ‘offs and 2 on the road, in an impressive jaunt to a second consecutive crown last season.
This season, they started (6-0) and (4-1-1) ATS, but now are (11-1) (4-7-1) after another holiday tilt, vs their once great rival, the now (2-10) Las Vegas (of all things) Raiders.
The referenced “other holiday game” was last Christmas, when the Raiders handed K.C. their last loss before those 15 straight wins. Now it is 6 straight no covers for this historic team, bidding to be the first to win 3 straight Super Bowl titles.
Only the Vince Lombardi coached Green Bay Packers (1965-1967, the last two in what were Super Bowls, but not named such yet, with the first one vs the Chiefs) have ever won 3 straight NFL crowns by winning a title game.
I believe Coach Lombardi is up there “lobbying,” not so much that K.C. fail to match his Pack and in one way top them, with 3 straight Supe wins, but that they get a little less “mazel,” (luck), something the fine Andy Reid coached team has had in abundance.
Yesterday, Mahomes broke Len Dawson’s (pictured above), Chiefs’ franchise TD passes record (they were the Dallas Texans from ’60-’62, winning the AFL crown with Len The Cool in ’62.
The “Cool” in ’62–think car ad and I know a better time!!
Oh to have a skill and for such to be hitting a baseball, one so far from my lane/pay grade, but ’twas endowed to Rico Carty, who died days back at the age of 85.
The New York Times obituary of Carty written by Victor Mather: “Through the injuries and the setbacks, one thing was always true: When he was healthy, Carty could hit a baseball.”
Asked by Forbes in 2019 about the faster pitching in the modern game, Carty replied: “You think Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Dick Allen, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda couldn’t hit this pitching?
“I’d kill it.”
That in many ways sums it up, humbled, I will skip my defense of Rico, in matters involving conflicts including his reacting to racial epithets from Atlanta’s “finest” (some are, but many, including those who uttered such are not). Guess I did “react.”
I add .366 for a batting title and part of the ’69 Braves “Wild Wild West” legit 1/4 div. crown.
Finally a past post “Oh could Rico Carty hit!!”
Note what the truly great, personable, but “Yankees (’41-’96) if not longer in his heart,” Phil Rizzuto said. Somewhere, perhaps, as they recall that after Carty’s homer and Phil’s “oh can he hit” praise, the Yankees were still up 1 run, Phil might admit he would not have been so happy to praise Rico, if that HR tied or won the tilt.
See the post, one of three before this, I “sent,” regarding the great hitter, Rico Carty, below.
Oh Could Rico Carty Hit! on December 30, 2018
Left to right, Willie Mays, “Doggy,” the great Tony Perez, who shamefully was denied “Hall” entry far too long and Rico Carty.
Last alliteration is add Freeman to Freddie as Freddie Freeman, a la Fury Gene Tenace, had one of the greatest World Series ever, each contributing mightily in almost every game, including in at least 3 victories of the 4 needed, as Tenace’s 1972 Oakland A’s won the franchise’s first crown in 41 years, while Freeman’s Dodgers won that team’s first full season such in 36 and just its second in 59 years.
Refresher on Tenace, who played on 4 title teams in his career (’72-’74 with the A’s and in ’82–he had a key walk in #7 of that year’s W.S. for his Cardinals vs the Brewers).
Gene HR’d in his first two World Series at bats in game 1, a day a superb high school running back named Junior Thompson was awesome leading White Plains over my high school (never at the right lunch table, Ike, Neil and I, in attendance and missing Fury’s 2 blasts, rooted, relatively quietly, for White Plains) Roosevelt/Yonkers. (For the record, later that year Neil and I rooted for the Roosevelt basketball team vs White Plains in a hard fought victory).
He had a big hit to start the famed “3 M” A’s 2 run B9, lifting them to a (3-2) win and (3-1) series lead vs a not quite there Cincy Reds’ team. (They became truly great when team player Pete Rose, moved to third base getting slugger George Foster into the lineup in ’75).
In game 7 he and “Captain” Sal Bando had back to back doubles in a 2 run Oakland 6th that put them up (3-1), in an eventual (3-2) title clinching win.
Freeman, on his second title team (he was a major contributor as the Atlanta Braves took the 2021 title) had THE hit, a game ending “slam” lifting “Brooklyn,” I mean L.A. (6-3) in the opener, a homer to make it (4-1) in a (4-2) next night game 2 win and a “set the tone” 2RHR in #3 at Yankee Stadium.
These were two incredible W.S. performances 52 years apart.
Click below to view and hear (the great Curt Gowdy) “call” Tenace’s go ahead to stay RBI double in #7/’72 W.S.
Let’s sort the 12 team ‘off both next week and two weeks hence when the field is made official.
At this point, 3 Big Ten’ers (Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State) and now SEC, Texas are the top 4.
Due to the history involved, the fact that after 3 “antis,” they loom, as at this point, a likely 5 seed, which if they are (5-8) would yield a ratings bonanza, Notre Dame at home in a college ‘offs tilt, I cite them.
Never one to deny great history, yesterday’s rout win vs now (9-1) Army at Yankee Stadium (the Army vs Tulane December 5th tilt is for the AAC crown), occurred 100 plus years after the famed Notre Dame win vs Army at the Polo Grounds, which yielded writer Grantland Rice’s generally regarded, sports’ greatest “lead.”
Also in the New York metropolitan area yesterday, a team mucho closer to my heart, Columbia won and ended the 2024 season in a 3 way tie with Dartmouth, which won yesterday and Harvard which these “exact” 56 years after tying/beating Yale (29-29), lost to them.
It is the first time Columbia has won or shared the “Ivy” crown since 1961, 63 years ago, it manifesting a day after the 61st anniversary of an event in Dallas, Texas and at a time the juxtaposition of “fate’s choice” surely is ?’d by me.
If only I could approach Mr. Rice’s prose, the great, great “lead” written over 100 years ago, shown below.
Outlined against a blue-gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below.[3]
— Grantland Rice, October 18, 1924[3]
Days back, I thoroughly enjoyed a 92Y presentation in which Josh Brolin was interviewed by Griffin Dunne.
Mr. Brolin was more than forthright and candid, talking about his life and read more than once, from what seems a fascinating book, ” From Under The Truck” which details the fine actor’s life to this point.
Clearly it has been an interesting one and without giving too much, if any away–Brolin talked of dad James’ cryptic texts as evidence he is reading the book, the more than one use for a pillow and insight regarding some of Brolin’s roles.
He and Mr. Dunne combined to present a most entertaining and informative interview/presentation.
Josh Brolin is pictured below.
From Under the Truck: A Memoir: Brolin, Josh
Click above for more information on the book including some ways to purchase it.
Andy B Sports 