Once again the United States’ Men’s Olympic basketball team failed to cover the spread in its so called tune up game.
The actual lines/point spreads actually tell you all you need to know about this non competition.
Last night the U.S. team was favored by 48 plus points and won by 44 vs a team from Nigeria in a “game” played in Houston, Texas.
So far 4 games, of course 4 U.S. team “wins”, none covering the spread with 2 right near it, last night close, another not close.
Cover, no cover–in the vast reaches of space or even here in this above all, mercenary society, does it really matter? As many have asked, “what does it all mean?”
Tonight on Decades through the magic of reruns, we can watch Dick Cavett interview the great director, “The Master of Suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock.
Do not miss this insightful interview which is both funny and revealing.
It begins at 8 eastern time and can be seen again at 2 a.m.
I will have more comments regarding Mr. Cavett and “Hitch” tomorrow.
Another guest, in addition to the aforementioned Joan Rivers and Byron Allen on that April 3, 1980 show that aired 36 and a quarter years later last night, was Dick Van Patten.
Always kind and seemingly low key, Mr.Van Patten after marveling at Joan Rivers’ great appearance self deprecating humor, was so energetic, informative and vastly entertaining.
His son Vincent was in the quarterfinals of a reasonably big tennis event and sister Joyce was opening on Broadway all while Van Patten was taping the Tonight Show.
Mr. Van Patten recalled that many of his shows on Broadway were huge success stories, felt he had the record for appearing in the most shows, helped along by the fact he was a child actor and then cited the three shows he was in that closed after one day.
“Have I Got A Girl For You” was one but Mr. Carson and I agree it was the tragic circumstances and coincidence thereof that contributed mightily to the show’s one day only run on Broadway.
The scheduled opening according to Mr. Van Patten was November 22, 1963, of course the day President Kennedy was killed. Postponed two days the show did open (and close) on Sunday November 24th.
That day Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald and talk at the theater was “Ruby, Ruby” and Dick’s character’s name that he unsuccessfully lobbied to change was “Ruby.”
Last night on Antenna TV, another great episode of the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson aired.
A few weeks back in a show that aired in 1974, Carson and the great comedienne, Joan Rivers stated their great respect, if not love for each other.
Rivers, who acknowledged Carson’s contribution to her career despite the fact they stopped talking to each other, credited John for her start and Mr. Carson, in turn praised her work, “knowing she would be a star.”
The show that aired last night, from April 3, 1980 (I knew it was a Thursday before Carson cited that fact in a typical, “some jokes worked, others did not,” monologue) also included John reminiscing about Joan’s first appearance, even as Real People’s Byron Allen, surely one who did not reach Joan’s stratosphere, made his first Tonight Show appearance.
Coincidentally and perhaps eerily in a discussion of Joan’s fur, the words fox and Edgar, Joan’s husband were mentioned together.
Alas the dispute between the great talents, John and Joan concerned the Fox Network and perhaps now all three, John, Joan and Joan’s husband Edgar Rosenberg are communicating the sadness inherent in stopped friendships/associations caused by bitter anger and stubborn behavior.
While Mr. Allen did not come close to Ms. Rivers success as a performer (few have) he is enormously wealthy as a producer. I will trade bank accounts and kudos to you, another Allen, who made it in “show biz.”
It was/is 57 years apart that teams losing the baseball and NBA Finals the year before came back to title the next season.
Then it was the glory team, New York Yankees and Boston Celtics, now it is the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Cavaliers.
57 years from 1958 to 2015, as cited in part 1, the greatness of Bob Pettit beat the Celtics while pitcher Lou Burdette hurled shutouts in the 5th and 7th games of the 1957 World Series and won 3 W.S. games to beat the Yankees in 1957.
Only Sandy Koufax and Burdette ever hurled shutouts in games 5 and the decisive 7th of a World Series, the Milwaukee Braves winning it all behind Burdette in 1957.
Again an emphatic statement by an ESPN commentator and once again, at least short term it was beyond wrong.
It almost does not matter which comment other than it was extreme, and there is never accountability.
For the record 3 days ago in their seemingly always extreme “what we learned,” so and so stated the Houston Astros would overtake the Texas Rangers and win the A.L. West.
As an opinion this was fine, but the tone of it read and often always reads, as though it came down from Mt. Sinai.
Of course the Rangers, 2 and a half games ahead when the “ESPN tablets” appeared are now 5 games ahead. That is 5 for 5 against the extreme prediction with, (even up (7-0) I call a very likely (nada is definite) Tigers’ win vs the Astros today (Texas hosts the Royals starting in minutes).
The headline, author/commentator’s name and the date July 28, 2016 have been copied below.
Five things we learned Wednesday: The Astros will catch the Rangers
That sign sure is not pointing toward Bristol, Connecticut the home of almost never accountable, noise/heat/bluster and rarely if ever, light ESPN.
“Measuring” the major league baseball and NBA seasons as the year of baseball (example for now 2015) and the NBA as (example for now 2015-2016), this is just the second time in 68 possibilities (the NBA just completed its 70th season, meaning 69 times a team lost the previous year’s NBA final and the next season was completed while baseball had no World Series in 1994) that the previous year’s finals loser reigns as champion, in both baseball and the NBA.
In 2014 and 2014-2015 respectively, both current champions baseball’s Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in its league’s final series.
The only other time this occurred was 1958 and 1958-1959, when two great “dynasty ” franchises, the New York Yankees and Boston Celtics won crowns, after losing in the finals in the previous season.
The great player, Bob Pettit is pictured above. I usually do not cite records to build a “case” but so few people recognize or even know that Pettit’s 50 points in the game 6 1958 NBA finals clincher for the St. Louis Hawks vs the great Boston Celtics, are the most ever scored in an NBA title clinching game.
Relevant to this post with part 2 “arriving” later today, and further illustrating Pettit’s great game and overall playing greatness, is the fact the Celtics, after losing in the NBA finals in 1958, won the next 8 NBA crowns (1958-1959)-(1965-1966).
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.
Andy B Sports 