Maybe the way to stand up vs the U.S. basketball hype and ridiculous lack of competition is to just take the points vs them.
Who knows? If one had done so in the three tune up games, he or she (Dick Benjamin and Paula Prentiss have been married 55 years, the first six before playing a couple on “He and She,” the short lived television show), would be “off to the races” at (3-0).
Do not gamble, if you do bet small amounts of disposable money and for the record the U.S. team of pros failed to cover the 46 point spread, winning by 35 points last night in Chicago vs the Olympic basketball team from Venezuela.
Paula Prentiss and Dick Benjamin pictured above.
Today, all day there is a tribute to the late, great performer Lou Reed with free concerts and programs at Lincoln Center.
So take a “walk on the wild side” perhaps, (actually recommended) with an umbrella and see as much of this celebration of a truly great performer.
He touched so many lives and this will be a fitting tribute. All events are free of charge.
Click below for more information.
Free Daylong Lou Reed Celebration at Lincoln Center
Lou Reed pictured above.
On the day before the All-Star game, my post on the even year San Francisco Giants appeared on the fine MLB.com website.
While the Giants had the best record in baseball, I warned that at even money, playing off the fact the Giants have won the last three “even year” crowns, I would bet they would not “title” this season.
That point is obvious, as any team would get some odds to win the title, at this point.
Now it is possible the Giants, (2-11) in the 2 week period since beginning play after the All-Star break, may not win the N.L. West, they now lead by just one game over the L.A. Dodgers.
The Chicago Cubs have 60 likely, not all that meaningful regular season games to play, before they bid for at least their first pennant in 71 years, if not their first title in 108 annums.
Chi, which started (37-14), is (62-40), which is the best record in baseball.
They can go (122-40) and still not have home field in the World Series as that goes to the American League pennant winner, as determined by an exhibition game, the All-Star Game.
One of the 60 games is tomorrow vs the Seattle Mariners and Wrigley Field will not, but I do salute birthday girl Joan, whom I know is in “The Windy City.”
On another occasion, (guess this one), I will tell you how much I oppose the pro players being on the U.S. Olympic basketball team (I know other countries do so but when the U.S. does so it essentially eliminates competition, which along with the occasional comradery among Olympians from different bordered (there is that word!) entities, is one of the few good things about the Olympics in my not so humble and perhaps not so informed opinion).
For now in two tune up games vs China, which face it wins a more meaningful contest regarding education and disciplined motivation still though without our freedoms, the big winners were the sports books.
Of course the U.S. team can name the score and instead of Jane, Joe or Kardashian (think other countries waste time on the latter and countless other similar mind numbing stuff) it named 49 and 50 points in the two “wins” vs China.
Odd(s) that the line was 49 and a half and 50 and a half in the two games. For the record and now that “record” is not hard to find, the U.S. team is minus 46 vs Venezuela tonight.
In my opinion the whole “sham” which in an exponentially less harmful way, smacks of Reagan’s “war” vs Granada, is minus much more than that.
Joe Louis fought at times opponents called the “bum of the month”—I believe the basketball is less competitive, after all there could always be a “lucky punch.”
Recently another basketball great from another era, Nate Thurmond passed away.
Though never on a title team, Mr. Thurmond was an all-time great that I believe both Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain cited as their toughest defensive opponent.
As the hot summer continues and reflections continue regarding the Cavaliers, and not the Warriors winning it all in the recent NBA playoffs, I do recall Nate being a part of the 1976 Cavaliers, until this season the most beloved Cavs team in Cleveland, (for me “still the one”–cue Orleans).
Oh imagine those games above, Wilt and Nate once teammates perhaps playing a few games together. Two greats and even God would pay to see that except hopefully there is no money in heaven as surely it causes enough “hell” on earth.
Nate Thurmond with the basketball and the great “The City” uniform, vs Wilt Chamberlain already with the Lakers but before donning (a San Francisco basketball flavor as the S.F. University Dons won 2 titles with the great Bill Russell, another who cited Thurmond’s greatness) a headband.
I would never have read Mark Saxon’s story on last night’s St. Louis Cardinals win at New York vs the Mets, were it not for a misleading headline. It follows next as a link to Saxon’s game story on ESPN.com
St. Louis Cardinals lose season’s best showdown, but gain in .
The Cardinals won the game. That matters most, not a 7th inning “showdown” that temporarily gave the eventual losing team the lead. The headline puts the confrontation first.
Worse, Mr. Saxon so intent on his idea of a “showdown,” made a horrible factual error saying the Cardinals were down to their last out. That was never the case. He wrote what is next. It is incorrect as Gyorko batted with one out.
“With the Cardinals down to their last out, Jedd Gyorko worked a walk.”
From the Cardinals website the correct information follows:
“Long a thorn in the Mets’ side, catcher Yadier Molina erased a one-run lead in the ninth inning with a one-out RBI double off Familia, who had converted 52 consecutive regular-season save opportunities — the third-longest streak in Major League history.”
If Molina drove home the tying run with one out, obviously the Cards were never down to their final out.
As for ESPN.com, a truly misleading headline and a factual error in Mark Saxon’s report on the game. Editors anyone?
As promised yesterday what follows is another anecdote from a book I am currently reading, “The Eternal Party Understanding My Dad, Larry Hagman, The T.V. Star America Loved To Hate,” by daughter Kristina Hagman with Elizabeth Kaye, which involves the 34th U.S. President, Dwight David Eisenhower.
Being Larry Hagman’s daughter, Kristina is also the granddaughter of the iconic star, Mary Martin, known for many roles but probably most famously for that of “Peter Pan.”
Kristina Hagman was in Washington D.C. for her first birthday in the late 1950’s and while her dad Larry Hagman was rehearsing, Kristina’s mom, Mai and she were on line for a tour of the White House.
Kristina’s words follow: “As the story goes, word got out, all the way to President Eisenhower, that Mary Martin’s granddaughter was in the building.”
They were brought into Ike’s office and Mai was nervous and could not say a word. finally Mai “blurted out that we were in the White House to celebrate my first birthday.
Mr. Eisenhower said “he was amazed to see us because he did not believe that Peter Pan could be a grandma.”
After a horrible loss the night before in which they blew a two run ninth inning lead, it is nice to have a Stephen Strasburg pitching the next day.
That was the case for the Washington Nationals, as they bounced back from the devastating loss the night before in Cleveland, and won (4-1) behind Strasburg, who is now (14-1).
“Wash” got out of Cleveland with a split in 2 games and like the Indians have a four and a half game division lead, which in both cases is certainly less than it was in recent weeks.
I am reading a number of books slowly, but concurrently (thank you great Library people, Linda, Rivkah and Jarrid for the encouraging words and education about the great things libraries offer) and will share an anecdote in each, involving Dwight David Eisenhower.
Each book is superb and reviews will follow. One is “The Steamer” “Bud Furillo And The Golden Age Of L.A. Sports,” by Bud’s son, Andy Furillo.
The other with an “Ike” story is “The Eternal Party” “understanding My Dad, Larry Hagman, The T.V. Star America Loved To Hate” by Larry’s daughter, Kristina Hagman with Elizabeth Kaye.
Before the two stories, read the same day, a third great book “We’re All in this Together” by Abe J. Sass is so good and inspiring, it need not cite (nor even like) Ike.
Andy Furillo using Bud’s notes, cites a 1961 intra-squad game involving the first year, Los Angeles Angels and Mr. Eisenhower, in just the second month after his presidency, is sitting in the Angels’ dugout, the game in Palm Springs, California.
Bud Furillo is munching a snow cone and surprised to see “Ike,” drops the snow cone, which splatters at Eisenhower’s feet.
Tomorrow another anecdote, involving Eisenhower, from Kristina Hagman.
Why a picture regarding the show “Happy Days?” In one episode son Richie (Ron Howard) will work for Adlai Stevenson and vs Dad (Tom Bosley) and Ike because the girls working for Adlai are more attractive.
Andy B Sports 