WFAN Radio Mike Francesa went (0-3) with his three chalk/favorites predictions last week. His record is (24-17).
Three more “chalk” picks from him this week.
He picks the Minnesota Vikings minus five and a half points vs the Chicago Bears.
He picks the New England Patriots minus 14 points vs the Tennessee Titans.
The third pick is the Cincinnati Bengals minus 5 points at San Francisco, vs the 49ers.
Recalling the fact that the 49ers beat the Bengals and then fine receiver Cris Collinsworth in both Super Bowl meetings. The Niners did not cover the second on the NBC network that Collinsworth now works on.
Wait it is well past 1 a.m. and maybe Collinsworth has finally stopped talking
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SF 49ers great, Joe Montana in action vs the Cincinnati Bengals in the 16th Super Bowl in January 1982
Tonight in a semi-final playoff game of sorts, Richmond University is the choice.
They will battle North Dakota State in a close game.
North Dakota State 29 Richmond 23.
Tomorrow in their backyard, New Mexico University is the choice.
8 point favorite Arizona will be fortunate to win.
Arizona 34 New Mexico 31.
Too close to call regarding the two touchdown spread as I predict the favored New England Patriots will win by between 10 and at most 17 points vs the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Will call it New England 30 Tennessee 17 for the record.
Once these franchises with the Titans, once the Houston Oilers, were division round playoff opponents in games at New England in 1978 and 2003. Additionally each is an original AFL franchise.
The Houston Oilers with George Blanda as their quarterback won the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and 1961. They have managed just one AFC crown since that in 1999 which preceded a tough loss to the St. Louis Rams. A bid for a third straight AFL crown was denied by the Dallas Texans in a 6 quarter AFL title tilt in 1962. The Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs.
Three of the four current major North American sports league champions won their current crowns in “round year” anniversaries of their last one.
First the New england Patriots, who for all their sustained excellence including a (16-0) pre Super Bowl record seven years earlier, won what was their first title in 10 years.
Next the Golden State Warriors, sans an NBA crown for 40 years and true contender status for 39, won it all.
Then on the first day of November, 30 years and 5 days after another Sunday title clincher, the Kansas City Royals gained their second crown. (World Series and not royal as in royalty or soda. “RC,” as in Royal Crown soda was out there in 1969 when the Royals were born and the franchise they beat in the most recent World Series, the Mets became 100 to 1 World Series winners and their Tom Seaver did Royal Crown soda ads, I do believe.)
Oh time! On a fine show about the Royals’ titles 30 years apart, narrated by Bob Costas, who else today when something is good?!– (with some but far too little of his play by play of the 1985 ALCS, like the 2015 version won by the Royals vs the Toronto Blue Jays) the 1985 World Series is also shown.
If you do not blink after game 5, there I appear to “guide” the great player George Brett to the great player Reggie Jackson for an ABC network interview. It lasts one second and perhaps time went by that fast. Oh and I had hair, a moustache and much more hope. Ah but be grateful for that and other nice moments, past, present and hopefully future.
The decision by the latest baseball commissioner, who upholds the WILD CARD PRESENCE AND ADVERTISING FOR FANTASY BETTING ON BASEBALL, Rob Manfred to keep the great PLAYER, (nothing else matters in this issue) Pete Rose out of baseball’s Hall of Fame is hypocritical, beyond wrong and so upsetting to me.
See, I once loved baseball and believed in hard work and the so called “American dream.” Pete Rose embodied both as he made himself a great player and was compensated beyond his wildest dreams.
Now baseball is prostituted by a wild card presence and a string of hypocritical commissioners who lack the courage and integrity to put Pete Rose, a truly great player and ambassador for the once great game, into the Hall of Fame.
I need not list some of the people in various sports Halls of Fame and some of their bad deeds. If baseball wants to sanction Mr. Rose, do so by indicating on his Cooperstown plaque that he bet on baseball. Make it the first paragraph if need be, but put the 74 year old man in the place of honor.
I will not cite other issues (use of steroids for one) and tell you I do not believe in sports heroes. It is essentially a vast wasteland. Once there was a player who brought home other lessons by trying his best and beyond, making himself great. As one who did not, that quality in Pete Rose is to me, transcendent. There is much more to be said stay tuned!
The New England Patriots once again are ahead in the race for the AFC one seed. Apparently they have clinched another AFC East crown, their seventh consecutive one.
In the 15 Tom Brady/Bill Belichick seasons, (2001-2015) New England has won its division in all but one season in which Tom Brady played more than one game. He missed all but the first game of the 2008 season.
They failed to win the division title but once (2002) in the first seven football seasons coinciding with George W. Bush’s presidency (2001-2007).
“N.E.” failed in the football season in which Barack Obama was elected (Brady’s injury a scant day or two before the financial collapse, that virtually assured Mr. Obama’s election in 2008), but have won the AFC East in his seven full years as president (2009-2015).
Some say conspiracy as the PATRIOTS won the first three titles in their history, in the first four seasons after the events of September 11, 2001.
While still a regular season juggernaut, a (16-0) version in 2007, they have won just one Super Bowl crown since that time, losing twice to underdog New York Giants’ teams with mediocre records.
Last year in a “toss up” (College Bowl, anyone with Robert Q. Lewis, as in here is your toss up question) game, the Patriots prevailed vs the Seattle Seahawks, whose coach Pete Carroll’s end of game strategy will still be discussed, when perhaps a robot, a metal one, will be president twenty years hence.
Oh what a spot to have possibly “backed up the Brink’s trucks,” but alas nothing is sure.
Close to it in my book, is hearing WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa saying he won all four games of which I was not aware, then going against his three “chalk” picks the following week.
As documented here, he lost all three predictions and continues to gall me, doing little if any homework in explaining, or giving an overview of the playoffs situation as was the case earlier today.
Yet he goes on and I suffer, knowing I would have done all I could to explain the playoff possibilities in sharp contrast to his flubbing it.
It does not seem to matter this man’s competence, but it does cause pain. Why him? Why not me? but clearly why him?
Howard Cosell warned of him, as a tout but believe it or not, Phil Mushnick of the New York Post, now Francesa’s most public critic, once backed him.
Both Beano Cook and I tried to tell Mr.Mushnick, the error of his opinion that Francesa was any good.
Cue Don Mc Lean’s “Vincent,” (Starry Starry Night), coincidentally and tragically about a never recognized in his lifetime, great– artist Vincent van Gogh—-“Phil did not listen (but too late) he sees what Francesa is now.”
I add in a message to me and others expecting some quality in the sports broadcasting landscape—” not meant for those with reasonable standards like you (me). It hurts and (seemingly) always will.
Mr. van Gogh’s “Starry Night” above. Francesa and almost all the other sportscasters make me feel beyond blue. I will not be extreme and cut off my ear, but I must shut them, by not listening to those sportscasters.
Click below to watch and hear Don McLean’s “Vincent” (Starry Starry Night) which is wonderful and on some level “softens” the blow.
Vincent (Starry Starry Night) Don McLean
I will go against WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa on two of his predictions.
The Kansas City Chiefs, who somehow will face the Indianapolis Colts in a redux of their 2014 wild card round game, will win, but not cover the spread vs the San Diego Chargers today.
Chiefs 19 Chargers 10
If “never shuts up,” ESPN analyst and one Super Bowl win coach (he can live off that for the rest of his life) Jon Gruden “suffered” a bit (that should be the worst suffering he or anyone should face but alas that is not the case) with his brother Jay’s Redskins loss Monday, that is good.
Away from Jon Gruden, the Redskins, who won playoff games in Chicago vs the Bears in 1986 and 1987, will improve their chances to qualify for them with a mediocre record this season.
Redskins 21 Bears 16.
I did not keep track of WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa’s predictions the last two weeks.
To the best of my knowledge, his record was (20-14) without his claim of (2-0) last week and his other picks the week before.
He claims to be (24-14), meaning he picked four winners in the four games, not corroborated.
This week I have his predictions.
Chalk to the “max,” Francesa touts three favorites.
They are the Kansas City Chiefs minus 10 points vs the San Diego Chargers.
The Chicago Bears minus 3 (the line is three plus and probably was when he made the pick which speaks volumes about this) at home vs the Washington Redskins.
Last he ranted about how big a game it is for the Cincinnati Bengals, whom he touts at home, minus two plus points vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.
j
Last night, as was the case a year to the day earlier, the Arizona Cardinals were victorious in the Thursday night game, improving upon an already impressive record.
Similarities largely end there. Last year was the 14th game for Arizona (their record stood at (11-3) after the Thursday night win), but having lost quarterback Carson Palmer to injury, were underdogs in that Thursday victory vs the St. Louis Rams.
Without Palmer and the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks close in the NFC West standings, most felt Arizona would be no more than a wild card team.
That turned out to be the case and despite a stellar (12-4) record, Arizona had to trek to Carolina where they lost a wild card round game to the (7-9) but NFC South champion, Panthers.
This year the Cards are (11-2) after beating the now (8-5) Minnesota Vikings by a field goal as 10 point favorites.
With Palmer healthy and a nice lead, not only over the now defending NFC champion Seahawks, but over all teams, but the (12-0) Panthers, Arizona is a viable contender to win it all.
If form holds and it rarely does, again the Cardinals would journey to Carolina for a post-season game.
This time instead of a “you can miss it” wild card round tilt between two non contenders, it would be for a Super Bowl berth from the NFC, in that conference’s title game.
For now, it is fairly safe to say the Panthers and Cardinals will earn first round byes and host divisional round games.
Last night I was truly fortunate to see the superb opening night performance of “Two Across” at St. Luke’s Theatre (308 West 46th Street).
The play stars Andrea McArdle and Kip Gilman. Their chemistry, delivering the crackling, highly humorous dialogue of playwright Jerry Mayer is something to behold.
Both performers are superb in their roles as “Janet” and “Josh.”
Ms. McArdle as a detrmined to “finish the task,” therapist and so much more, really hits the mark and home, as her transformation into vulnerability and being more open, is acted in beautiful fashion.
Alas, she is beautiful, likely, inside as well, as she graciously took time to pose for pictures after the performance.
Mr. Gilman completes the performance. He is funny and likable as a “Peter Pan” male, surely something to which I can relate. His sense of comedic timing is impeccable. He also was gracious and posed for pictures.
The performers truly bring out some of the best words and concepts as written by Mr. Mayer, that is present in today’s productions.
Crossword puzzles, metaphors, true humor and pathos abound. New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz and the great Eva Marie Saint are cited, as the beautiful verbal volley of the characters, like the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train they occupy, rolls on inexorably to its destination.
Major kudos go out to director Evelyn Rudie for “conducting” the great “ride.”
No real details concerning the story needed save this one. In the progression of talk between the characters a choice of “or not,” concerning certain events is given.
As far as seeing this play, it is my strong opinion an “or not” is out of the question. I strongly suggest seeing it. It was a great experience for me.
Kip Gilman and Andrea McArdle pictured above, each give fabulous performances in “2 Across.”
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