The divisional round of the NFL playoffs opens in New England with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots hosting the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Pats are (7-0) in home Saturday post-season games, all in the incredible quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick era, which began in 2001.
New England won Saturday night divisional round home games en route to the title in 2001 and 2003.
They won Saturday divisional round home night games in 2007, 2011 and 2013.
The Pats won a Saturday home wild card round game in 2005 and last year opened the divisional round playoffs with a late Saturday afternoon win en route to their 4th Super Bowl crown.
Bill Belichick, pictured above has won 4 Super Bowls as New England Patriots’ coach. Additionally the New York Giants’ 4 Supe crowns all involved coach Belichick. He was the defensive coordinator for the first two Giants’ titles and was the losing coach vs them in their last two titles.
What an extraordinary life Monte Irvin, who died this week at age 96, lived!
I did not see him play but remember him from Mets’ Old Timer’s Day introductions and my love of baseball history.
The biggest and best recollections came from those who saw him play and the great appreciation even love they had for his play.
Then in 2001 at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Monte and the New York Giants winning an incredible National League pennant, I met and interviewed the classy Mr. Irvin.
He is in the Baseball Hall of Fame and helped the New York Giants win their last World Series in 1954, among other feats delivering a big 2 run single vs the great pitcher, Hal Newhouser.
As great as his achievements were on the field and even the fact he transcended sports as he was just the fourth black player in the major leagues after the ban of such players which was a shameful act that sadly, will always resonate, it is the gracious class and courtesy Monte always showed that I will remember most.
1954 World Series Game 4: Giants vs Indians
Click above to view an account of the New York Giants’ last World Series clinching game. Monte Irvin was a big part of the game and as the play that championship season.
When the Kansas City Chiefs continue their quest for at least a first Super Bowl appearance if not title since winning Supe 4 after the 1969 season, there will be at least one historical similarity with 1969.
Then and now the Chiefs faced or will face the defending Super Bowl champion in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Their opponent, this Saturday, the New England Patriots won the crown last season.
When they began the playoffs run of three victories that yielded their last title in their last Super Bowl appearance after the 1969 season, they won an AFL semi-final game at New York vs the defending Super Bowl champion New York Jets.
Neither the Jets nor Chiefs have made the Super Bowl since the AFC/NFC configuration began in the 1970 season.
Len “The Cool” Dawson, pictured above was the Chiefs’ quarterback during the 1969 playoffs which culminated in a Super Bowl 4 victory. Backup quarterback, Mike Livingston contributed mightily during the regular season.
Twenty years ago a great Nebraska team repeated as national champions ripping Florida University to clinch the title.
The team had a star running back named Lawrence Phillips.
Twenty years later and 2 days after another national title game, Lawrence Phillips is found dead in his jail cell.
Some sobering reality for all and perspective for those of us who remember the hype and talk of the great future of Lawrence Phillips by so many covering that game.
Sadly Ernie Davis died within 3 years of leading Syracuse University to the 1959 college football title.
When I think about Alabama football, I think back to some great quarterbacks that played at the school.
This season Alabama won another title under Nick Saban featuring Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry at running back.
Quarterback Jake Coker played splendidly in the title game win vs Clemson.
Oh those old quarterbacks.
Sadly one Ken Stabler died in 2015.
Another Bart Starr does not remember his glory at Alabama nor his 5 NFL titles under Vince Lombardi with the Green Bay Packers.
Yesterday was the 47th anniversary of another former Alabama quarterback Joe Namath and the New York Jets winning the third Super Bowl vs a Baltimore Colts’ team that was favored by nearly three touchdowns.
The New England Patriots will host the opening game of the divisional round for the second straight season when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs in a game to begin at 4 thirty or so Eastern time on Saturday.
The games this year and last are the only times New England has hosted the first game of the divisional round which began in 1970.
The CBS announcer for the game will be Ian Eagle. He is the son of Jack Eagle and I believe the brother of Joby Eagle.
This will be his first NFL playoff game on television.
Once I had lunch with the great Marty Glickman and at the time he had been assigned to help the career of Ian Eagle.
He asked me what I thought of Eagle. I did not answer.
I wanted to ask him why he was helping Eagle?!
I did not, but knew the reason.
It is so damn true, even in this “land of opportunity,” it is not what you know but who(m) you know.
By comparison, Marty Glickman, who had more broadcasting ability in his little toe than Eagle will ever have, never broadcast a divisional round game on television.
Jack Eagle was a funny guy, appearing on the Konica ads as some kind of friar, but sadly to me it evokes a Red Buttons classic, as Ian Eagle gets to broadcast a divisional round game evoking all those who never were granted the chance to do so.
Andy’s Note: As was the case with Humphrey Bogart’s character in Casablanca regarding waters, I was MISINFORMED, as Ian Eagle had no real connections and his success is a result of hard work and a willingness to do the behind the scenes, off air stuff (producing, learning the technical) that often is necessary.
My opinion of Vin Scully as a broadcaster is essentially the same as the consensus one.
He is an all-time great as good as any, likely better in setting the scene and for the most part in game preparation (even in this he has either been over rated for a long time or at 80 years old plus, is slipping as I watched a game that included two heroes of the 2014 title winning S.F. Giants and Scully, who digs up facts that even the king of tangents (me) find beyond incidental, did not cite their heroics).
Wow I knocked a man more untouchable and inherently far better, albeit in an infinitely less important field of endeavor, than his buddy, Ronald Reagan, yet again.
More telling to me, I dare criticize a man I defended beyond rational thought in younger days while discussing and comparing announcers.
Then and now it is ultimately an opinion.
I cringed at the criticism heaped on Scully, by those I felt were uninformed and still believe/know it was to get my “goat” as a Scully fan.
What I can offer with reasonable objectivity and as one whom (who?) though will never announce on air, have been told by many including most that truly dislike me, that I have professional ability as a broadcaster.
Whether that is true, this is. Hearing a well done broadcast, especially one on the radio, (in that situation the broadcaster is the listener’s eyes), is most beautiful music to me.
Maybe it is crazy, but hearing greats like Mel Allen, Joe Tait or Harry Kalas, to name three of the best ever at following the play in an exciting clear cut manner, is one of my favorite things.
It is in my blood and I know what is good and what is great!
For my money Scully and his storytelling is more than good.
Once announcing Don Drysdale’s record tying 5th shutout in 1968, his call of Jack Hiatt’s “high pop fly, he’s 60 feet from the record Parker’s (Wes) GOT IT” is better than the greatest meal.
Yet and I think I heard him explain why once between games of a Mets/Dodgers doubleheader (remember those!), Scully too often took the “safe, wait and see” approach to broadcasting.
Apparently he had called a ball hit by Frank Howard a home run or not, too soon, and was wrong concerning the result.
In my not so humble opinion, better that and an occasional mistake, even a big one, than the “too long wait” to make a call.
Clearly again at least in my not so humble, but dare say informed opinion, Al Michaels, also once great (I have played or “linked” his greatest call, (no not that contrived nonsense during Olympic hockey, Michaels though a hockey fan is not a hockey broadcaster as he is far more familiar with the ice for his scotch than the kind in a rink, but the one when Johnny Bench hit the tying home run in the decisive 5th game of the 1972 NLCS), does far too often.
Give me “rat tat tat”, give me “ON ThE PLAY.”
Famed poet, Jack Kerouac waxed poetic about one of the greatest broadcasters, Marty Glickman doing so. That and not the “wait and see” of a still great like Scully and accomplished veteran such as Michaels, is what is great to me.
It a post that cites and gives perhaps somewhat out of context opinions about such broadcasting greats as Vin Scully and Marty Glickman.
Additionally, 40th United States president, Ronald Reagan, Don Drysdale and Jack Kerouac are also cited.
So of course it is Jack E. Hiatt, known I believe only as Jack Hiatt, who is pictured above. Why? because (no not an Abbott and Costello classic) one could follow singer Sheryl Crow’s mantra and “soak up the sun” (if there was the “soakable” variety) “and LIGHTEN UP.”
Here’s to all of them, as with all of us, figures/performers on the stage, that is life.
Click above to view Sheryl Crow’s big hit as I put my venom away and “lighten up.”
I truly do not want to make things worse for Minnesota Vikings’ kicker Blair Walsh, who missed on a crucial field goal attempt, manifesting in a Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Vikings in their wild card round game.
Some points light and perhaps heavy.
I was sickened when NBC broadcaster Al Michaels not only mentioned Scott Norwood, by name, as having missed the “win or lose” (the) Super Bowl winning kick for the Buffalo Bills vs the New York Giants, but did so without offering the fact that it was a difficult field goal to make, to say the least.
The criticism of Ralph Branca in a sports sense is somewhat justified, he threw a pitch on which Bobby Thomson connected for a home run that transformed a 2 run New York Giants’ deficit into a pennant victory which capped an incredible comeback. I can add more, but will not.
I will not cite a certain Red Sox first baseman by name, but will state he was a near great hitter and his error on a fairly tough play, did not end the team’s chances in that 1986 World Series.
The abuse he has endured just from lazy, uninformed sportscasters, who do not give anywhere near the full story of the game and series, is unconscionable!
Norwood truly deserves almost no blame even in a sports sense. Sure it would have been nice to have made that sports sense “crucial” field goal, but it was a 48 or so yard attempt, on grass. Not Easy!
Michaels, who only has to call and not kick these field goals uses the Vin Scully method (yes the great, untouchable Vin Scully, who never is criticized is so far behind on his crucial calls using a “safety first” method that is not what sportscasters are there to do) of “safety first” and is far too late on his indications.
Lighter note: The name Blair Walsh evokes the fictional name, “Beverly Hills 90210” character Brandon Walsh.
“Brandon” was originally from Minnesota and a Vikings’ fan.
My heart goes out to Vikings’ fans, real and fictional, those who sat in the cold Sunday only to lose on Walsh’s miss and do not forget over rated Adrian Peterson’s fumble and those who did not.
Heavy or more important thought: Heartfelt empathy, not just sympathy, to those who “thought” the Vikings would win outright and not just cover the point spread.
The wonderful Arnold Wexler and people at Gambler’s Anonymous are always available, even more so when things like this happen!
Actor Jason Priestley above portrayed “Brandon Walsh” on the television show “Beverly Hills 90210” That Los Angeles area zip code would include so many fans of the great, but not beyond criticism, broadcaster of Dodgers’ baseball, Vin Scully.
Let me get out my clicker (umpires have them to check the balls and strike “count” on the batter) and give my view or my count concerning national titles in the wake of Nick Saban’s 5th BCS or college playoff title.
First off, it is an incredible feat as Saban (namesake Lou Saban, who once gave a speech that included “what’s more you’ve gotta get it done” which has obvious good applications in life, won 2 AFL, pre Super Bowl crowns with the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965) won the title with L.S.U. (Louisiana State University) in 2003 and with the Crimson Tide in 2009, 2011, 2012 and now 2015.
The 2003 title though won in a playoff game, called the BCS title game, was however, shared with another 3 letter school, USC (University of Southern California) which was coached by Pete Carroll. The Associated Press voted USC the winners that season.
Hence Saban has 4 Associated Press titles which is one less than Paul “Bear” Bryant, the legendary Alabama coach.
Certainly Saban with 4 Alabama titles has one less than Bryant’s 5 with the school.
Nick Saban, pictured above is (5-0) in games that were played for at least part of the college football title.
The University of Alabama claimed its 4th title of the Barack O”BAMA” tenure as United States president with a (45-40) victory OVER (what an over 50 points!) previously unbeaten, Clemson University in last night’s college football title tilt.
I am proud of two things concerning the game.
First I predicted a 5 point Alabama victory.
More important, due to the horrible ESPN hype and announcers, I watched none!
The late, great Beano Cook praised at ESPN, and THE authority on college football, for the most part, did not watch these games. He got disgusted with them, as I have!
Barack Obama, before his ascent to U.S. President, pictured above, will still technically be in office when the 2016 college football champion is crowned next January. Somehow I do not think it will be Alabama, but they will be in the mix.
Andy B Sports 