Again I feel a need to thank all of those who encouraged me to go to the library and in turn I do the same for all of you.
It is a great place to be maybe especially so on the many very hot, humid afternoons many of us are experiencing.
I am actually reading Stephen King’s great novel 11/22/63 at a pretty good pace. This is unusual for me but it is a long book and it always good to return library books on time.
Excuse me now, having the library book and remember other items available there as well (cd’s, dvd’s to name two) affords me the chance to keep reading. Turn off the television and do so as well, even better do so with books from the library.
The Cleveland Indians bounced back from their tough Monday afternoon loss to the Boston Red Sox and gained a game in the A.L. Central yesterday.
Again they received help from the “last gasp,” defending World champion, Kansas City Royals, who again were victorious in Detroit vs the second place Tigers.
Starting play today, the Indians, winners at home last night vs the last place Minnesota Twins and a team that never won a legitimate one quarter division title in the 25 years such a possibility existed (1969-1993), are big favorites to grab a division title of the one eighth variety for the eighth time.
The following is an early “read” on the NFC North Division.
The Green Bay Packers are pretty big favorites to take back the crown, they lost at home, in the last regular season Sunday night game, to the Minnesota Vikings.
However, recall the next Sunday, this time Al Michaels and the NBC crew a good luck charm for the Vikings, the previous two Sundays, were not when Seattle (Seahawks) “wild carded” Minne out of the playoffs.
Meanwhile Green Bay won that same day, as a wild card team in Washington, before their season ended in front of Michaels and NBC, in a divisional round game, at Arizona (Cardinals).
It looks to me and many others that “G.B.” will finish not only ahead of Minnesota but the rest of the division which includes the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.
In addition to Bruce Bochy and Terry Francona, four current big league managers have guided World Series winners.
One such manager is the current Boston skipper, John Farrell, the only manager other than Francona, to lead the Boston Red Sox to a title in the past 98 years.
in addition there are Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees, Ned Yost of the current world champion, Kansas City Royals and Mike Scioscia of the Angels.
Other than Francona, all the other managers are still in tenures with the teams they managed to World Series wins.
Despite a tough loss at home vs the Boston Red Sox yesterday, the Cleveland Indians maintained their 5 game lead in the A.L. Central.
This is due to the fact, the all but out of contention, World champion and two time defending American League champion, Kansas City Royals handed the second place Detroit Tigers a home loss last night.
Watching Indians manager, Terry Francona in the dugout yesterday in the game vs the Red Sox, his former team evoked some thoughts and facts.
One is that Francona, who guided the Red Sox to two titles, including their first in 86 years, is one of only six current managers to guide a World Series winner.
Francona and Bruce Bochy the current San Francisco Giants manager, who has three, are the only current managers with more than one World Series win as a manager. More in the next post.
it was exactly 39 years ago today, on Tuesday August 16, 1977 that the great Elvis Presley died far too young at the age of 42.
Mr. Presley aka “The King,” was so great for so long a period of time, another record breaker, basketball’s Wilt Chamberlain, who also died on a Tuesday, commented that those criticizing, largely out of fear, his “outrageous” style in the 1950’s, were standing on line to buy tickets to see Elvis perform in Las Vegas and other places in the 1970’s.
Time marches on inexorably, so many greats gone, today remembering as great a performer as ever was, while wondering where 39 years disappeared.
The “King” may be dead, but oh how long he has and will live.
Click below to view Elvis sing “Jailhouse Rock” from the 1957 movie of the same name.
Elvis Presley. Jailhouse Rock.( From the movie Jailhouse Rock.1957.)
Today in a game with some meaning, the Boston Red Sox edged the Cleveland Indians (3-2) in Cleveland withstanding a first and second none out situation in the bottom of the ninth inning.
That is not what I will remember, however.
Not citing his name largely because I do not know it, but the analyst for the Indians telecast, declared the winning RUNS, yes plural, were on base for Cleveland in the “B9.” (bottom of the ninth.)
These men and woman analysts almost never shut up, their “spew” is almost always worthless and in this case pathetic and wrong!
Alas I almost did not add almost(s) above.
The “Decades Binge,” on the fine newer channel, Decades, featured “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” this past weekend.
I watched a number of episodes of the series which followed the series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” after that series went off the air.
Most notable to me in watching some episodes, yes they allowed us to see the credits after the show, was seeing the episode entitled “The Black Curtain” was directed by a young director, who though not quite in Mr. Hitchcock’s realm, would go on to greatness in the field.
His name: Sydney Pollack, by most accounts a truly nice man that made some great films. Think about it director Hitchcock’s name on the show and a director as great as Sydney Pollack had an early directorial credit.
Also to Decades and those responsible, thank you for showing the credits.
The great director, Sydney Pollack, pictured above.
In his brilliant novel, 11/22/63, author Stephen King remarks how baseball once was as it should be, played during the day.
I totally agree and note today on a Monday afternoon, two American League contenders, the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians are meeting in Cleveland.
Ah Monday afternoon, Cleveland vs Boston!
This evokes thoughts of a one game playoff for the American League pennant in 1948 won by the Indians at Boston vs the Red Sox. The game was played on Monday AFTERNOON October 4th.
Cleveland stayed in Boston, split the first two games of the 1948 World Series vs the Braves (then in Boston), before returning there to title in game 6, the last time the Indians accomplished that feat.
I believe the United States Olympic basketball team, which won Group A, (big deal!!) played nine games and won all nine to do so.
They failed to cover the spread in 8 of those games and barely escaped with victories, in two games, in which a loss, maybe even losses in both, would have eliminated them.
If there was any real competition involved here, I would say that did not augur well for these minimum underachievers, if not “dumpers,” actually “shavers” for the NBC cameras.
However, and oh do I hope that I am wrong, it is not likely any of the competition has what it takes to really put the proper criticism on this sham that is NBA involved Olympic basketball. That would only happen, if they are denied the top prize.
They will steal my idea, but shaving paraphernalia in their Olympic “swag ” would be appropriate.
Andy B Sports 