How humbled I feel today! I set about trying to change things and make a positive difference but surely I must give it more effort. Stay tuned!
Thus the immediacy but now more effort and issues being addressed is one goal.
While I stand by my opinions, albeit harsh ones about the many broadcasters I have criticized here, my efforts do speak the truth as I see it. Facts follow.
WFAN’s Mike Francesa went (3-0) on his NFL predictions yesterday.
Last week I knew was the week to “buck” him but instead I chose this week.
Throughout the years it is so hard to time “such things.” Many have always been in the parlance “a day late and sometimes many dollars short.” Please all beware!
2. Arizona Cardinals (11-2): The Cardinals claimed the NFC West title with Sunday night’s rout of Philadelphia and can lock up a first-round bye with a win next week at home against Green Bay. Arizona has now won eight in a row and looks like one of the most complete teams in the NFL, especially with rookieDavid Johnson more than ably stepping in for the injured Chris Johnson.
To add insult to injury, not only did an ESPN report on the NFL playoff possibilities give no real information (ie what constitutes the playoff tiebreakers) but the above mistake in the Arozona Cardinals’ record through 14 games. The correct record is (12-2). Shown above.
My Penance: Here’s to Mike Francesa (3-0) yesterday, (27-17) for the season.
Despite the hype which will be led by “The Emperor,” Joe Buck (he “pie pies” while the country is in an “orange burn”) today’s tilt between the (13-0) Carolina Panthers and the (6-7) “Hackensack/East Rutherford/ Jersey,” all right, New York Giants is not that important a game.
This is in sharp contrast with the New York Giants Yankee Stadium battle with the Los Angeles Rams (perhaps the St. Louis Rams are moving, Howard Cosell and Monday Night Football began in 1970 and while there is much to criticize regarding Cosell–he was on target with so much of his criticism including carpetbagger owners moving franchises and so much else.) exactly 45 years ago today.
The Giants had to win that game in the 14th and final game/week of the regular season. The Rams led by Pat Studstill among others, won the game denying the Giants playoff access but failing to qualify themselves, when later that day the San Francisco 49ers won their first NFL entity ever in a game vs the playoff bound Oakland Raiders.
The great Ray Scott (did he have a father in the business?!!) broadcast that SF/Oak tilt and it is this tilting at the “windmills” that Buck, the NFL and yes Donald Trump represent that I must modify, while still expressing opinions and facts as I am fortunate to have this forum to do so.
Of course Mr. Buck, Mr.Trump and others are all entitled to their opinions, alas so am I.
“pat” and “still” each with “stand” in front of it, “stud” and then a word “scramble” produces “tilt” all interesting, concepts from Pat Studstill’s name.
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
.
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
