When sportscaster Curt Gowdy died in 2006, ESPN, a big part of ABC/Disney that employed Gowdy for so many years, continuing his show “American Sportsman,” even after he signed as the top announcer at NBC, had a taped tribute.
Narrated by Jeremy Schaap, the piece started with Gowdy’s call of Hank Aaron’s record breaking 715th home run.
Next the end of O.J. Simpson’s 80 yard touchdown run in the 1/1/1969 Rose Bowl for USC, in a losing effort vs Ohio State.
Then a Mickey Mantle home run. Only problem is that I believe Jerry Coleman, and certainly not Curt Gowdy was the announcer.
Gowdy preached preparation, he was old, we all die, couldn’t ESPN with its sickening hype, often of bad behavior, been prepared by inserting the correct highlights (i.e. those involving Curt Gowdy) in their Gowdy tribute?!!
A doctor, who advised my father on medical matters, turns 61 years old today.
The movie “61” an effort of comedian, Billy Crystal about Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s single season home run record in 1961 was not very good, though Thomas Jane as “Mantle” surely was.
The doctor once took at least one of his children to a Billy Crystal book signing and the comedian/over stated baseball fan, barely looked up or acknowledged those purchasing his book with their money, going into his pockets.
ABC is still promoting exciting Oscar races, (that is a boldfaced lie) Crystal was a decent “Academy Awards” host, I prefer Bob Hope or Johnny Carson.
Actor Thomas Jane, pictured above, does some excellent work.
45 plus years later, a Super Bowl in the San Francisco area complete, it is a good time to remember the first 49ers team to win a division title.
That team is the 1970 team, with John Brodie at quarterback and Dick Nolan as head coach.
A pass to Bill Tucker helped clinch the playoff spot and one heard either of two great announcers, Lon Simmons on 49ers radio or Ray Scott on CBS television, call the plays.
Later Niners’ teams were far more prolific winning 5 Super Bowls and an earlier one in 1957, had dissipated a big lead to the Detroit Lions and Tom “The Bomb” Tracy, in the Western Conference playoff.
Yet it is the 1970 team that finally got the Niners to the promised land of a division title.
Playing for the eventual NFL champion Detroit Lions of 1957 (the last time the Lions even played for the crown), Tracy scored two second half touchdowns to help the Lions overcome a (27-7) deficit in the Western Conference playoff game, at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
A chilling note is that during the radio broadcast, Gordon McClendon referred to the injured status of Dodgers’ catcher Roy Campanella in the following way.
Stating that it was Walker, not Campanella ,as the Brooklyn catcher “Campanella is crippled” is how the status was stated.
Tragically, Campanella was paralyzed in an auto accident before the end of the decade of the 1950’s.
Also eery, not tragic and also a way to perspective was the fact just as announcer Gordon McClendon told the audience Ralph Branca was warming up in the bullpen, Bobby Thomson lashed a 1 out 5th inning double.
Later Thomson’s home run vs Branca would decide the 1951 National League Pennant winner.
Of course nearly 65 years later, the game and season are a highpoint as to what a pennant race could be.
Alas other elements of life far more important come into play as well.
A few notes gained from listening to some of Gordon McClendon’s broadcast of the decisive third game of the unscheduled best of three playoff between the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers after the teams were tied (96-58) after the regular season of 154 games was completed.
Both catchers in the game, later had managing or coaching roles with the New York Mets, a team that began play 11 years later.
Al “Rube” Walker, the Dodgers’ catcher that game went on to become the pitching coach for the 1969 World Series winning, Mets.
Wes Westrum a superb Giants’ defensive catcher was the second Mets’ manager replacing Casey Stengel during the 1965 season.
Brie Larson will almost certainly win the Best Actress Award for her performance in “Room.”
She is a 50 to 1 favorite to gain the “apples vs oranges” statuette.
I know I will be deeply offended not by the behind the scenes people that will be remembered but by the brevity of the presentation, often moving, but so short of those who died in the preceding year.
Not having Joan Rivers last year and beyond apology not having Andy Griffith as “a face in (that)” crowd is disgraceful. Yet they will get to the commercials and do it again this and every year.
Andy Griffith, pictured above, gave a brilliant performance in the film, “A Face In The Crowd”
Recently the great Jim Brown, activist, athlete and actor turned 80 years old.
So much accomplished, so many memories and though football greatness is not the accomplishment that gives him the most satisfaction, check his highlights/records and most of all his attitude as he just kept coming at the defense, despite in some cases, highly unfair tactics.
Twice this great man, who has worked with people in gangs, opening his beautiful home, for real discussions that have helped turn many lives the right way, invited me into that home.
On another occasion I will detail the second time which was in 2001 as it still is a blur, leaving the 1992 visit still fresh in my mind.
I conducted an interview, we talked, he took a business phone call and spoke so eloquently, firmly and passionately that I wished I could have bottled/marketed it for any executive/leader in just about any situation.
Yet what I most wish I could “bottle” was the incredible brain induced “HIGH,” first climbing the gorgeous L.A. area hills, nervous but excited. This was too much!
Leaving and going down those hills, I felt an even greater high and sense of accomplishment, I had spent time and received hospitality and wisdom from a truly great thinking man.
Likely, others had experienced such feelings ascending and then descending larger hills/mountains in other parts of the world.
Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns amidst 5 New York Giants as part of a great and I mean great NFL rivalry.
Now in the same division, the American League West, for the 5th season last year both Texas major league baseball teams made the playoffs.
The Texas Rangers won a one eighth/A.L. West title for the sixth time.
Meanwhile Houston (Astros) made the post-season as one of the two American League wild card teams.
When the Astros defeated the New York Yankees in the wild card round/”play in” game of baseball’s post-season they became a team that had beaten the Yankees but lost to the Mets (in the far more significant 1986 NLCS).
Leonardo DiCaprio will almost certainly win his first Academy Award this Sunday for his performance in “The Revenant,” a film I have yet to see.
He has done some superb work over the years, proving he is much more than a pretty face.
I loved him in “Catch Me If You Can,” particularly in a scene with a prostitute, who thinks she is getting the financial upper hand, but is not.
If one is so inclined to wager on Mr. DiCaprio to win the Best Actor Award, a risk of 60 dollars to win one dollar is required. Though almost surely he will win, that wager and any like it (if not all wagers) is not advisable.
My admiration for Tom Hanks is immense, but not because he has been awarded 2 Academy Awards.
It is the work he has done, in my case some of his earlier work, that especially hits home with me.
In the 1982 first Hanks’ Johnny Carson Tonight Show appearance referenced here this week, Hanks’ appearance at the San Francisco comedy club, “Punch Line” was promoted by Mr. Carson.
Subsequent to that appearance, Hanks and Sally Field were superb together in a movie called “Punchline.”
“Punch Line” in S.F. is still there. It is not exactly like being asked to sit down on Johnny Carson’s panel, but I am noting that comedian Brett Ernst is appearing there now.
Punch Line Comedy Club – San Francisco Tickets
Click above for ticket information for Mr. Ernst appearing February 25-27
Andy B Sports 