Here is a “tie in” likely nobody but me is getting.
Yesterday one day after actor and former UCLA quarterback Mark Harmon turned 65 (we all should look like him at that age or younger), for the first time in 35 years as many as two of the top 5 teams in the opening Associated Press college football poll fell in the first week.
First Houston upset third ranked Oklahoma and then Wisconsin did the same to fifth ranked LSU.
That event (2 of the top 5 losing in the first week) also happened 44 years earlier, then 4th ranked Arkansas lost to USC which was eighth in the opening poll. The Trojans proved more than “99 and three quarters percent effective,” as that team was arguably the best in college football history and won the title that season.
In a night game that opening week, Mark Harmon was the quarterback as UCLA shocked two time defending champion and opening poll, top ranked Nebraska, certainly one of the great 3 year teams in college annals.
Tomorrow a post on a superb show, “One Funny Mother.”
Mark Harmon pictured above.
What follows was written by ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach, concerning which team was the favorite in the CBS telecast of a Texas AM vs UCLA college football game yesterday.
It was Texas A&M, not UCLA, that was a three plus point favorite in the game. The favored Aggies dissipated a 15 point lead, but won and covered, in overtime, by a (31-24) count.
The error regarding which team was the favorite, by Schlabach is below.
“It wasn’t all bad for the SEC, though. Texas A&M upset No. 16 UCLA 31-24 in overtime, after the Aggies blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. No. 18 Georgia came from behind to beat No. 22 North Carolina 33-24 in Atlanta”
The truth is often stranger than fiction. The only horse to ever win a race in which the great horse Man o War participated was named Upset, as pictured above.
The Cleveland Indians have won all 5 games since returning home, after losing three of four games to the top ranked Texas Rangers, last weekend in Arlington, Texas.
Meanwhile, the second place Detroit Tigers lost at Kansas City last night, which snapped their winning streak at 4 games. The Indians’ division lead is five and a half games.
When one thinks of streaks and Cleveland, the great 56 game hitting streak of Joe DiMaggio comes to mind.
It was in Cleveland that Indians’ third baseman, Ken Keltner made two excellent plays in the game, that ended the streak.
“The Great DiMaggio” as he was referenced in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea,” went on to hit in 16 consecutive games after the 56 game hitting streak ended.
Ken Keltner and Joe DiMaggio pictured, left to right, above.
In 1978, much of what happened regarding USC and Alabama the year before was reversed.
First of all, USC played at Alabama, was the underdog and led by running back Charles White’s brilliance (so many great backs played at USC, Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson and Anthony Davis to name two) won the game.
USC lost a game at Arizona State while Alabama also had just one loss (of course it was vs USC) but they had the shot vs unbeaten, top ranked Penn State, a team coached by Joe Paterno.
While both Alabama (vs Penn State in the Sugar Bowl) and USC (vs Michigan in the Rose Bowl) won on January 1st (it was January 1st in 1979), the more recognized Associated Press poll voted Alabama its winner while the United Press International poll chose USC.
Tonight I “choose” Alabama, but not to cover: Alabama 29 USC 21.
Charles White was on the Sports Illustrated Cover after leading USC to victory at Alabama in 1978, The teams shared the mythical national title that season.
Oh they just keep winning and against one wild card contender after the other!
“They” are the (87-47), Chicago Cubs and as they keep mowing down these wild card contenders in games not all that important to the Cubs, just how ridiculous it will be that the Cubs will have to beat one of these teams, in a must win best of five division series.
You think Manfred or any of the league brass cares?! Of course not! They sold it out, when they allowed wild card teams.
More in the days and weeks ahead, for now the facts: The Cubs just swept the Pirates of Pittsburgh and now have won the first two vs the S.F. Giants.
By the way, I am not saying the Giants will beat the Cubs if they clash in the division series or NLCS. However, if you think they are one bit scared of the Cubs, no matter how many games they win, think again!
The Giants have three recent crowns, the Cubs—, well you know!
Do you think the pressure would be on the Giants, think again. It is a horrible joke!
To their credit and also as evidence of the mediocre play of the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs have an incredible 16 and one half game lead in the N.L. Central two days before Labor Day.
Oh this is so ominous for the Cubs, a team that once won 116 games but not the World Series! That was a truly great team and they won titles the next two seasons in 1907 and 1908.
You know about 1908 don’t you? If not not only here but just about everywhere the upcoming baseball tournament is discussed, you will be immersed in 1908, of course that being the last season in which the Cubs won the World Series.
Tonight defending college football national champion, Alabama is a 12 point favorite in its opening game vs the University of Southern California (USC).
I recall games between the schools/teams in 1977 and 1978, that definitely had or should have had title implications.
In fact, in my opinion and more telling, in that of the late great college football expert, Beano Cook the one that had title implications should not have.
In 1977, Alabama having been dealt an early season loss at Nebraska (no slouch team), was an underdog, but won at USC.
However, though Alabama’s loss was to Nebraska and the fact they entered bowl day (then, in a far better situation the bigger bowl games were all played on one day, most years January 1st, that year January 2nd) ranked third and rolled over a good Ohio State team, they were denied the title.
It went to a Notre Dame team that vaulted from fifth to first, despite its loss being to a Mississippi team, certainly inferior to Nebraska.
Beano went to his grave unhappy about that result and sadly, I am destined to do the same. It really is not important, but unjust just the same.
In one of four posts today, a look at the 1978 game and season. A prediction on tonight’s tilt as well.
Beano Cook, pictured above, praised my “note,” when I pointed out to him that the (unjust in both Beano’s and my opinion) trophy or game ball, displayed at Notre Dame, signifying that 1977 season title had the wrong date (January 1st) and not January 2, 1978 inscribed upon it.
In fairness, I must indicate that Notre Dame did rip top ranked Texas that day (January 2nd) however, Alabama was ranked third and rolled Ohio State. Why should they have been penalized? Also it was not the first time (see 1966), that Notre Dame and not Alabama “claimed” the “unofficial” crown.
I saw an elderly gentleman in Kansas City Chiefs’ garb the other day. The sighting was not in Kansas City.
He resembled another older man, who last year won a “rooting” title with the Denver Broncos. That is if the man was still alive.
All this leads up to the “your guess is as good as mine” prediction that the Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC West.
The other three teams, the defending champion not only of the AFC West but the NFL, Broncos, San Diego Chargers and supposedly much improved Oakland Raiders will fall short this season.
That is my feeling unless an elderly man is spotted wearing S.D. , Oakland or Denver uniforms.
In watching the Johnny Carson show, I feel it is time to praise the so called “second banana” (being second banana to Mr. Carson is no disgrace) on the Carson Tonight Show, Ed McMahon.
The show that aired last night on Antenna T.V. illustrated Ed’s talent to play off Carson.
He joked regarding not seeing Carson when each took a vacation, however, the show that aired last night covered a period when they did meet during their concurrent vacations.
McMahon was a big part of why the Tonight Show hosted by Carson was so good.
Ed McMahon, pictured above, did not have to bring prize money to my abode to entertain me. He was classy and played his role so well.
There are six possible opponents for the N.L. top ranked Chicago Cubs in the divisional/quarterfinal round playoffs.
Those six, two from each of the 3 National League divisions all could play in (I think “play in” that is what this ridiculous game is called), and win a game to gain entry to Wrigley Field (Garagiola in the Tonight Show appearance in our previous and next posts, called it “Cubs Park”) for game one of that series.
TBS and their affiliated stations have the telecast rights to all division series games, but not the NLCS.
You think TBS would not be happy to see the Cubs lose and deny competitor Fox, the larger publicity that would accompany a Cubs’ NLCS appearance.
Last season TBS had the NLCS with the Cubs, but the New York Mets swept them in 4 games, significantly less air/commercial time than TBS wished.
Speaking of the Mets, they join the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins as possible opponents of the Cubs in the upcoming division series.
Another excellent Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson aired last night on Antenna T.V.
Mr. Carson’s guests, in the early 1980’s show were the great playwright, Neil Simon, Joe Garagiola and in his first Tonight Show appearance a young comedian named Bill Maher.
Garagiola, a former catcher and then a television personality and baseball broadcaster, talked of how Hall of Fame pitcher, Gaylord Perry essentially succeeded at hiding the machinations of throwing the “illegal” spitball pitch.
There will be more on the above referenced, Tonight Show in a future post.
Andy B Sports 