On the night of the Disney/ABC/ESPN ratings bonanza (June 19th) on which the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first title in their 46 year existence, the Chicago Cubs won on the same “family” (more like a witch’s coven of greed) of networks in a regular season game, vs the Pittsburgh Pirates.
At that point, the Cubs, sans a world title in 108 years and a pennant in 71, stood at (47-20).
Even at that point, so what, they would at best be one of eight teams, likely with the N.L. top seed.
Now after a (5-12) slump with 4 of the wins vs the Cincinnati Reds, against whom they just lost two of three at home, the Cubs still have a big lead in the N.L. Central.
I do not know how good they are other than they sure are not great. Likely they will at least win the division and easily could be the N.L. one seed but a big part of me would like the slump to continue and expose Joe Maddon, surely over rated, and maybe too happy go lucky, media friendly to really win.
Unfortunately that is not likely to happen.
The Los Angeles Sparks continue their great play in the WNBA. They won a really good game last night vs the Connecticut Sun.
After the win last night, they sport a great (17-1) record.
L.A. has a 2 game lead over the defending champion, Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA West.
Meanwhile the New York Liberty continue to lead in the WNBA East. They have a three and a half game lead over the Atlanta Dream.
Remember teams are seeded, with no regard to conference in the WNBA. A great and fair way. It is too bad that was not the case in the NBA as likely the Cavs would not have titled or at least they would have TRULY earned it.
Tonight at Citi Field, in the last series before the All-Star Game next Tuesday in San Diego, two teams concerned with that All-Star Game result, the Washington Nationals and New York Mets begin a 4 game series.
Four is an operative number here as the Nationals, whose lead easily could have been greater, lead the Mets by 4 games, just 3 in the loss column in the N.L. East
Of course with the presence of the wild card teams, finishing first in the division is not even close to as important as in the “win it or go home days.”
There will be upcoming posts about some of the sport’s greats, especially baseball beginning next week.
There will be more about my favorite Yankees player and clearly one of baseball’s five greatest players, Lou Gehrig.
It is now 77 plus years since Mr. Gehrig’s famous speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, when despite his horrible illness, he declared that he was “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Lou Gehrig, of course a left handed batter, pictured above. At least Gary Cooper portraying Mr. Gehrig in “Pride of the Yankees” batted from the left side. I believe that was not the case when William Bendix portrayed Babe Ruth.
After their 14 game winning streak and 2 losses, the Cleveland Indians have won the first two games of I guess, an important series vs the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland goes for the series sweep this afternoon.
While I credit the rest of the A.L. Central save the Twins for staying reasonably close to the Indians, and I know this likely will change a bit, but it looks like the Indians in the A.L. Central, certainly until further notice.
In a Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson from 1984 (comedian Rich Hall, apparently not asked to sit down with Carson, talked of the Olympics coming to town, which they did to L.A. that year), Robert Blake’s candor stole the show.
It aired last night on Antenna T.V. as Mr. Blake, at one point talked of what he would tell a date in terms of who he is. “At least she would know” and he then talked of how important the roles of wife, mother, husband and father are not to be hidden in the glamour of being in front of the camera.
It was a truly enjoyable show. Mr. Carson thanked Mr. Blake, who stayed, and said “you are fun.”
Robert Blake, pictured above.
I like watching the western genre whether it is television shows or movies.
Tonight an epic western, “Stagecoach” directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor among others airs on TCM.
Thomas Mitchell, Scarlett’s father in Gone With The Wind is also in the cast.
Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur as Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane respectively are in one now. Let me get back to watching TCM, these are good!
Among my future posts will be thoughts on the great 7th game of the 1960 World Series.
Two topics to be discussed are Bob Costas and that classic game and the fact Gino Cimoli started the fateful 5 run Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8th inning with a single.
There will be comments on Bill Mazeroski’s World Series winning home run of course but I have long advocated about the incredible importance of Hal Smith’s 2 out, 3 run, 8th inning home run.
Stay tuned for upcoming posts on only a bit arguably the best game in baseball history (certainly others are in the discussion).
Gino Cimoli, pictured above began the historic 5 run “Bucco” 8th in game 7, 1960 World Series
While the Chicago Cubs won yesterday, it was just their fifth win in 15 games, four coming vs the 24 games under .500, Cincinnati Reds.
Speaking of four, last year the New York Mets after being swept in a 4 game, meaningless regular season series at Chicago vs the Cubs, swept the Cubs in 4 straight in the NLCS.
This past weekend, again the Mets won all four vs the Cubs. Chicago had won 9 straight regular season games vs the Mets until last weekend’s 4 straight wins by the New York team.
Elie Wiesel, an incredible man, who dedicated his life to helping people move forward while never forgetting the horror of a Holocaust in Europe that killed 12 million people, half of them Jewish, including Mr.Wiesel’s family, died in the past week at age 87.
There are no words even remotely close to powerful enough to describe the atrocities of that event and of the courage and sheer will of Mr. Wiesel to carry on a productive, meaningful, life after enduring what he experienced as a young boy. Even the Nobel Prize given to him pales in significance as to what he did enduring and helping.
Yet he did so and in my opinion, God, as was often the case with “Lucy Ricardo,” on “I love Lucy” has some “splaining” to do when he greets Elie Wiesel, concerning how such terror could have happened and still does.
My words to Elie Wiesel are those of thanks for a lifetime of work and inspiration and I will try in my little way, to carry on a life devoid of prejudice and perhaps of some help to others.
Elie Wiesel, an extraordinary human being, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 