Tomorrow, nearly 66 years after not so arguably pro football’s most important tilt, that matched a Baltimore football team, the Colts, now of course in Indianapolis, and the Giants in the New York area, there is another, so much less significant.
In it, 66 becomes operative as the (8-5) Baltimore Ravens are nearly 17 point(s) favorites at the (2-11) Giants, I believe the largest margin by which the Giants have been underdogs, since the then St. Louis Cardinals were 20 plus point faves (per NFL Reference) at home, vs the Giants, on October 9, 1966.
Some notes on that game and other tilts in both the NFL and AFL that day, in what was the first year, though still with NFL/AFL, after the merger.
The Cards did win but much like last week’s Eagles big faves/no cover, but it was close (24-19), after trailing (13-0). In that game some good Giants and Cards’ names produced– Ernie Koy, Aaron Thomas, Carl “Spider” Lockhart and Clarence Childs for the Giants, while Johnny Roland, who also ran for a TD threw what had to be an option pass TD to Bobby Joe Conrad for the Cardinals.
Elsewhere in pro football that day, in what was a preview of the first AFL title game, in which the winner gained Supe entry, the Bills went to K.C. and won (29-14) vs the Chiefs. Much like recent history and part of the history, ’twas Buffalo in the “reg,” but K.C. in the post-season game.
Meanwhile in the NFL, in what would eventually manifest in another second tilt reversal, the “real” Cleveland Browns ripped the Pittsburgh Steelers, but down the road, in the once glorious, played on Saturday night at Cleveland, the Steelers won (16-6) a key “Cleve” loss, as their 2 year reign in the NFL Eastern Conference ended.
Dallas a (56-7) winner that day, vs the Eagles won the conference, while 8 years later, 50 years ago in “same calendar” (just one again) 1974, Pittsburgh won (16-6) vs Minnesota (Vikings) in the Super Bowl, to win their first crown.
Don Meredith, pictured above, had a more than “dandy” game that day vs the Eagles throwing 5 touchdown passes, three to Bob Hayes and two to Dan Reeves.
Rocky Colavito, slugged 374 home runs including 4 in consecutive at bats in one game as a Tigers’ player at Baltimore in 1959, died days back and leaves some unique memories.
First let’s emphasize Rocky was a true slugging star and there is still big regret and anger among Indians, now the Guardians’ fans, that the slugger Rocky was dealt for the superb hitter-sans power– Harvey Kuenn and the title drought, the Curse of Rocky Colavito, remains part of the Guardians nee Indians fabric, as though the beautiful garb the “originals” have often made.
Next one you Yankees fans of a certain age remember. Mickey Mantle and Rocky, who combined to hit 910 home runs, all but 3 the American League, each played their last game,at venerable Fenway Park on Saturday September 28, 1968–each sitting out the Sunday last “reg” game, a scheduling occurrence that repeated this year.
One fine day (Sunday August 25, 1968) for a Yankees team going nowhere, Colavito came in to pitch, the Yankees trailing the eventual World Series winning and at that point run away A.L. leaders which for the last time granted a W.S. appearance, (5-0) in the first game of a doubleheader.
It was the 4th inning and Rocky retired Al Kaline and Willie Horton with runners on. He pitched a scoreless 5th and 6th inning and when the Yankees rallied for 5 runs, down (5-1) bottom 6 and held on, Colavito, who scored the game’s last and decisive run in that 6th, was credited with the win.
I will not cite names, however, I did meet a Rocky relative and she and I did date. One night I took her to “Hockey Bob,” whose Bronx Walton Avenue small apartment “showcased” some roaches running up the wall.
I doubt she was impressed and to add, “Bob” who probably lost a bet or two re Rocky, cited he doing his calestenics pre at bat (another nice memory for most) and then hitting a weak groundball out. It happens.
However, I would like to believe that somehow Bob and Rocky will meet in a better place and with Bob citing players such as Colavito, part of the reason that baseball then, was so glorious.
First of all there were no creepy last words!
In addition, say 2:52 into this, a female voice (so called A.I. ?) pronouncing “Tigs” great, Al Kaline, as though a battery brand, makes it sound as though his remarks, all positive regarding Rocky, happened this week when Rocky died.
That would be quite a trick as Al KAY LINE (Al Kaline), died some years back. Also Terry Francona is not the team’s current manager. “Anywho” some nice photos are present.
A much better video remembering Rocky and some great trivia from Wikipedia and me.
The great broadcaster, Curt Gowdy in his 15th and final season as a Red Sox broadcaster (maybe it is considered 14 as he missed 1957) is not too excited but still more than professional, calling Rocky’s HR off Red Sox hurler, Dave Morehead on May 22, 1965.
Later that season and I would love to contact Mr. Morehead (but how?) and others similar, on Thursday September 16th, in a day game at “Fenway,” Moorehead hurled a no hit game vs the Indians.
One week earlier Sandy Koufax in an incredible pitched game by both he and the Cubs’ Bob Hendley, had pitched a perfect game.
Moorehead’s only not perfect result was a walk to, you guessed it, Rocky Colavito!!
In February 2025, a game for the NFL crown that follows a presidential election will be played for a 24th time.
Some notes will follow.
Certainly 50 years after their first of six NFL crowns (all in Supes), in “same calendar” (only one of those I promise) 1974, the currently (10-3) Pittsburgh Steelers are a viable Super Bowl contender. They won the crown in 2008, their only such, in close proximity to a presidential election.
Baltimore (Ravens) at (8-5) still can catch “Pitts” in the AFC North as their schedule is favorable to that of the Steelers, with the remaining “head to head” (dangerous in football, a truly dangerous game, terms) tilt in Baltimore.
The only two Ravens’ crowns were won in presidential election years, clinched in Supes played within months, those being in 2000 and 2012. As the Browns, the once glorious Browns, which they really are but not according to the NFL, Cleveland (Browns) won the ’64 title on December 27, 1964, in the same calendar year as the Nov. ’64 presidential election.
(9-4) Green Bay (Packers) in it, but not for its “div” title and a first round home game, won NFL titles in presidential years thrice, doing so in 1936, 1944 and 1996.
No comment on what the election of Republican, D.J. Trump augurs for the world but it does not augur well for a Pack crown, at least regarding history. (Also they are a middle of the pack NFC team, albeit likely to have a better record than 2 div. winners).
“G.B.” has the most NFL titles and also the most won in a championship game (10) and a bit incredibly all 10 were won with a Democrat as U.S. President. (Roosevelt, F.D. in ’36,’39 and ’44), Kennedy, “Jack” (oh it hurts to be “stoned” but one more time who am I to call him “Jack?!”) in ’61 and ’62, Johnson, L.B. (’65-’67), Clinton, W.J. in ’96 and B.H. (you came too soon ) Obama in 2010.
Also with two previous titles in presidential election years are the (11-2) Philadelphia Eagles, who turned the trick in a Philly snowstorm or at least on a snow day in ’48 and on the day AFTER (no such NFL reverence now as they will “Netflix” “regs” on a WEDNESDAY Christmas) Christmas in ’60.
(12-1) Detroit (Lions) won the ’52 crown, their lone such in a presidential election year.
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, pictured above recovered a fumble, setting up the ’48 title tilt’s lone TD, scored by the great running back, Steve Van Buren (a Presidential name in this post regarding presidential elections) as the Eagles won (7-0) vs the then Chicago and defending champion, Cardinals.
Kilroy is/was a relative of Gene Kilroy, a true supporter and friend of Muhammad Ali.
Only Oregon went unbeaten, (13-0), during the ’24 college pig “reg”) and their “reward” in the half of 24/(12) teams, (far too many), playoff is a really tough path, in a bid for their first title.
Ten years ago they?Oregon were “faves” “going into the first 4 teams ‘off and reached the final, only to lose to an Ohio State team, led by Ez Elliott, that in my and many other’s opinions, did not belong in the ‘off.
Now Ohio State, beaten as a near 3 TD “fave” vs Michigan in its final “reg” game is over a TD favorite vs Tennessee in a home first round tilt, with the winner to face the Ducks (Oregon) in a playoffs “quarter.”
The winner of Ohio State/Tennessee vs Oregon would then, somewhat likely meet 5th seed, Texas, which is in a bracket first vs Clemson, and that winner faces 4th seed, Arizona State.
My point is Oregon likely will have two really tough opponents, as in this “tournament,” they do not re seed and you know who (hint in these times with Soto/Boras greed, a similar named Paris church has been refurbished) looms, especially if second seed Georgia, the ’21 and ’22 title winner and ’23 “reg” unbeaten but no playoff appearance, is sans injured quarterback, Beck in a likely “quarter” vs them.
All four home teams in the first round are at least TD favorites, enough said!!
85 years ago, known as the “Webfoots,” Oregon won the first NCAA Basketball Tournament, which to this point, is their lone basketball or football crown.
Maybe 10 years after losing in the first 4 team ‘off, they will finally win another crown but thanks to a ridiculous bracket, a tough task gets tougher for el Ducks, again the lone unbeaten team.
Oh and in that first hoops title tilt, Oregon faced, you guessed it, Ohio State.
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!!
Andy B Sports 