2024 is the tenth year ending in four/”4″ in which a game for the NFL crown will be contested.
In the previous 9, three franchises won two titles in consecutive years ending in four/”4.”
The first of games with that result were in ’54 and ’64 with the Browns winning the title first with a team led by “Automatic” Otto Graham and ten years by one with Jim Brown.
In both ’84 and ’94 the San Francisco 49ers took the NFL crown while in both 2004 and 2014 it was the New England Patriots winning it all.
Three teams, all high on the list of most NFL crowns and certainly Super Bowl titles have one, four year crown each.
Those teams are the New York Giants who “Sneaker Gamed” an unbeaten defending champion Chicago Bears team in 1934, the Green Bay Packers the ’44 champions and fifty years ago in ’74, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the first of their 6 Super Bowl titles, which is tied for the most such wins with the New England Patriots.
Each team has six.
After Giants assistant on the sidelines, Abe Cohen, (a la Mike Jones in the ’70’s via Pace University), got the team sneakers, at the half, Ken Strong pictured above, had 2 second half touchdown gallops (I like the terminology) as the New York Giants, trailing (13-3) entering “el” fourth quarter, stormed to a (30-13) win over the undefeated, defending champion Bears.
73 years passed and in 2007, the Giants again defeated an NFL unbeaten, this time an (18-0) New England Patriots’ team, in a game for the NFL crown.
Maybe this is not quite a “who but me?!–however, in watching the excellent documentary “Wise Guy David Chase and The Sopranos” (thanks to Al Brown for recording it), I “discovered” what manifests into a “Rossi/Lorraine Bracco” note.
Ms. Bracco played “Karen Hill” in “Goodfellas” and in it, her character flips out a bit, memorably ringing every bell in the apartment building of a woman named “Rossi,” who is having an affair with Karen’s husband, the somewhat, infamous real life, Henry Hill, played by the relatively recently departed, Ray Liotta.
A far more dire, violent enemy truly hurts a Bracco played character, Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the largely Chase, brilliant series, “The Sopranos.”
In an episode titled “Employee of the Month,” said “employee” is Jesus ROSSI, who rapes the Dr. Melfi character. I noticed that all these years later, again watching the excellent documentary about Mr. Chase.
Citing Mario Polit, pictured above, is a real life, New York City firefighter and actor.
Mr. Polit in a role 180 degrees from polite, played “Jesus Rossi” on the seminal TV series, “The Sopranos.”
Six NFL “semis”/Conference title tilts, encompassing 8 previous such games are to be played today, which is the exact 56 year anniversary of the so called “Heidi” game, when the Raiders, after NBC switched to “Heidi,” not only rallied to win, but also I believe the second of their “post switch to “Heidi” TD’s covered “el” spread, vs the Jets.
However, the Jets, who as cited here yesterday face the Colts in one of three Supe rematches today, avenged the “Heidi” loss to the Raiders in the penultimate AFL title game, before (plus 18 ing) the Colts to win the crown.
Once in a scheduled semi/NFC title game and one time in the unscheduled Western Conference playoff of 1941, the Bears and Packers, who meet today in “Chi,” played NFL “semi” games.
A scant one week after events in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Bears won at home in an unscheduled ‘offs tilt vs the “Pack” before beating the Giants to repeat as NFL champions.
In 2010 “G.B.” “semi’d” Chi, also at “Chi,” en route to the Supe crown.
Elsewhere today, think cold as this time, “at the Chargers” and now that means L.A. not San Diego, it is an ’81 AFC title tilt redux, the Cincy Bengals having scored a win in that game.
In ’08, at Pittsburgh where today’s tilt will play out, the home team Steelers beat the Ravens in that year’s AFC title game.
In ’66 with a bid to the first Supe, then called the NFL/AFL Championship Game on the line and at Buffalo 54 years later, amidst a pandemic, with the game at K.C.–the Chiefs of K.C. won both times.
The Chiefs have 4 Super Bowl crowns, the Bills are (0-4) in Supes.
A great, great Miami Dolphins team, better than the previous year’s lone undefeated NFL championship team, I opine, defeated the then Oakland Raiders in the ’73 AFC title game.
The “six pack” of games (9 of the 12 tilts today are either “semis” or Supe rematches) list ends with a redux of the 2013 season NFC title game rematch with the Seattle Seahawks, home victors then and near TD “dogs” today, visiting the S.F. 49ers. That ’13 season tilt was also in “Sea” (oh do I recall either Jan or Marcia’s friend’s different pronunciation of Seattle on a “Brady Bunch” episode).
The great and so under rated, a la Bart Starr, who was even greater, Bob Griese is pictured above.
Griese in methodical fashion guided the ’73 ‘Phins down the field for opening drive TD’s in all 3 playoffs tilts.
This is a good week to cite both Super Bowl and Conference title tilts/NFL “semis” rematches as there are 3 Supe reduxes and 6 conference title tilts/NFL semis rematches.
One of football’s most famous games was the third Supe, the 18 point underdog New York Jets upsetting the then Baltimore Colts. In an almost meaningless tilt the (4-6) Indianapolis Colts visit the (3-7) Jets tomorrow.
Twice the Patriots and Rams met in Super Bowl competition with the New England Patriots, who have won the most Supes,(7) winning both their first as a big underdog in 2001 (a team called the Patriots winning the crown in a year whose September 11th events certainly made and make major news) and their 6th and most recent in a “toss up” perception game in 2018.
Another “not so hottie,” the (4-5) Rams visit (3-7) New England tomorrow.
Finally, among Supe rematches, the ’98 season game, (Denver won a second straight crown, pretty much easing vs the Falcons), is recalled with the Atlanta Falcons visiting the Denver Broncos. This is a pretty good one, going in as (6-4) Atlanta, the likely NFC South winner and (5-5) “in ‘offs contention,” Denver certainly is one between ‘offs contenders.
Tomorrow I will cite the six “semis” rematches on tomorrow’s NFL schedule.
Watch on YouTube and I note at 36 seconds of the short video, Curt Gowdy calls the lone Jets’ TD in the win, a 4 yard run by Matt Snell.
After a Chiefs team, unlike this one, I truly regard fondly, won the ’69 season Supe, they were known as the “Super Chiefs” and were to be the team of the ’70’s.
It is a vast understatement to say that did not manifest, with it all turning vs them, when they lost in a slot 2 classic, to the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day 1971. (They had 2 NFL ‘offs games then, correctly decided no more Christmas Day tilts but their greed prevailed– and such games have and will be played–a new low this year as 2 Wednesday Christmas Day tilts will be watched, by those who stream a certain entity).
These Chiefs of K.C. (one good thing about them is they can count Melissa Etheridge as a long time, “legit” fan ) had “banked” 2 crowns under Andy Reid and with the brilliant Patrick Mahomes, “at the station”/QB position, when they lost last Christmas Day and looked so bad, at home, vs the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, a superb Chris Jones led defense and breaks, some so fortunate, eventually put them in Las Vegas and there– to a victory in the Supe, a second such vs the 49ers (the other in ’19) and third, all under Reid in 5 seasons. Quite a feat!
This season, (9-0) only (4-4-1) ATS thus 15 straight wins.
The Kansas City Chiefs have certainly prospered in this “window” with the aforementioned 3 titles and a (9-0) start this season.
Certainly no spoilers here, instead a bit of a running “Dr. Ike” praise, as they appeared, for some of the great actors, in what is a superb film, “Conclave,” which I saw on my 11/10 b/day (same, albeit with a different calendar then, as Martin Luther).
“Conclave” is mysterious and surely digs into some evil politics (most is), hypocrisy and great character studies, all boosted exponentially, by some, not all cited here, performances.
“So” we get there a bit “into,” Ike’s wife and eldest daughter maneuver the “dark” (theater and backdrop for most of the movie) and sit rows ahead.
He/Ike cites, as they come on, no preview what face recognition he has, and first it is Isabella Rossellini. Next Stanley Tucci and after one memorable scene, his past and present collate into praise from each of us.
In between Ike is interrogative, regarding John Lithgow– and I am not sure, but it is he and as always, Lithgow is superb.
Guiding, anchoring and brilliant is Ralph Fiennes. All are tremendous in “Conclave” and in their distinguished careers. Add among others not cited, Lucian Msamati, Sergio Castellitto and Carlos Diehz.
I was truly overwhelmed positively by this Edward Berger directed great piece, which is fiction but …….
Go see “Conclave,” it might just help (bit of a spoiler) regarding certainty and other matters as the earth, I say randomly, revolves around the sun (Carly’s (Simon) total eclipse of the sun plays “as”– I swear!!!).
A superb actor, Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, is pictured above.
Replace “Hey Jude” with “Hey Book,” and this follows out of tune but cathartic as I do not cross, in a bad way–the line, no matter which form.
Hey book you are so fine, you took 3 of 4 bad weeks plus player wins on Trump and made it better.
“Dogs” barked ATS in 11 of 14, as I include, yet did not bet, tonight after the suckers, I mean fave betting players won 3 of 4 weeks and they won big on Trump also.
I knew but did not do! So what, I spent mi b/day with a long time friend and his family, among other things, seeing the superbly acted film, “Conclave.”
Another good option: Read a book.
This year marked the first time in 4 such instances that a Yankees’ Presidential election year World Series loss, was followed by a Republican presidential election win.
Thrice before in 1960, 1964, and 1976, the Yankees lost the World Series and a Democrat ascended to or was elected for the first time (L.B. Johnson in ’64), to what was to be their lone presidential election victory.
In chronological order— an assassination, an “I shall not seek” and decisive election defeat were the reasons.
Call it a “best of 7/Mickey Mantle,” and the Republicans win (they are doing mucho winning this week, people speaking words such as “mucho” switching over, which is their right, operative word) (4-3) the 7 times, the Yankees prevailed in presidential election year World Series, winning such in ’28,’52 and ’56 with “Ike” and again in 2000.
Democrats or a Democrat, twice F.D. Roosevelt (I actually read Conrad Black’s excellent 1100 pages or so biography of Mr. Roosevelt taking here is that word, “mucho” time) won in ’32 and ’36 and then again in ’96.
Overall, The Democrats/ “shoot themselves in the foot Democrats, (hey Mr. Biden “PPPP” –yes “Papa Pardon” your son, who would want their son in jail, however, do so, while simultaneously pardoning Peltier, as in Leonard Peltier, who has tragically rotted there, often mistreated for 50 years) are (6-5) in Yankees Presidential election year W.S.
Ted Williams “El Thumper,” is pictured above.
My highest or even less than that amount, praise for artistic greats does not usually begin with awards, yet somehow, this time with recitation of the fact Quincy Jones, who died days back at age 91, won so many, citing it in the “Rickey Henderson position,” is not a bad way to begin, remembering the extraordinary Mr. Jones.
He was a producer, songwriter, and composer, among much else.
Memories and the actual, beautifully stir memories: “It’s My Party” with Leslie Gore and no crying here, I would, if I wanted to, but Mr. Jones’ life yields happy thoughts.
Add music from two great, serious films, two years apart, the too powerful still to be shown often, “The Pawnbroker” in 1965 and “In The Heat Of The Night” two years later.
Below will be a video of Quincy Jones leading a group of greats singing “We Are The World.”
Money and awards have to be cited as Jones won 28 Grammy Awards and he produced the so successful “Thriller” album, with Michael Jackson.
More on awards in two cited above Jones music/films. I loved/love “Cat Ballou” and Lee Marvin’s performance. However it and I know it is apples and oranges, but I will say it this way, few if any performances top the one Rod Steiger gave in “The Pawnbroker.” Two years later, excellent, but … Steiger won for “In The Heat of the Night.”
Tonight watch “Quincy Jones in Paris” on PBS Channel 13, in New York. What a prolific great Mr. Jones was.
What an honor to have met Quincy Jones a good number of years back.
Left to right, Andy B. and Quincy Jones
NEW YORK — You are invited to Hoops Cabaret New York, the sexiest sports bar, to watch highly controversial Youtuber turned professional boxer Jake Paul step into the ring to take on Mike Tyson, a former two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, on Friday night, Nov. 15.
Jake Paul, one of the biggest social media influencers in the world will face Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers to ever grace the sport, live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyson, now 58, is returning to the ring after nearly 20 years – he retired in 2005 following a loss to Kevin McBride. Despite the age differential of over 30 years, which is the most in any pro boxing fight ever, this bout is one of the most intriguing contests ever.
The fan-favorite Hoops Cabaret with multiple giant screens, numerous HD TVs, and its gigantic Mega-Tron Video Wall is the ideal place to watch this event.
Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. Hoops girls perform on stage and up close and personal for you all through the night. And the club is famous for very exciting after-parties following every sporting event.
Hoops Cabaret for the ultimate fan experience. Check out the VIP Man Cave, pop some bottles, and make it rain!
48 West 33rd Street, New York City
Andy B Sports 