Last week and in at least two cases for the season, the teams with “state” and not “city” names are the story and/or likely will win NFC divisional races.
Start with the (9-0) Carolina Panthers, who pulled away from an AFC “state” named team, Tennessee (Titans), who though far from certain, are likely to be the NFC top seed and almost certainly will win the NFC South, for a second straight season.
Last year Carolina won it with an under .500 record, this year they will likely win it with a near great to great record.
The Arizona Cardinals went into Seattle as three point underdogs and beat the two time NFC champion Seatttle Seahawks.
The (7-2) Cardinals, the NFL franchise that has gone the longest (68 years since 1947) and through time in two cities, (Chicago and St. Louis) since last winning a title (as the Chicago Cardinals) are a state named team almost certain to “state” its claim as NFC West champion.
The (7-2) Minnesota Vikings, as is the case with the above mentioned “state” teams have never won a Super Bowl. They lead the (6-3) Green Bay Packers by one game in the NFC North, after “Minne” won as a 3 point underdog in Oakland vs the Raiders and the (2-7) Detroit Lions handed the “Pack” a third straight defeat.
This Sunday, the Vikings can take a major step toward their first NFC North crown since 2009 with a victory at home vs the Packers. The fact that the Vikings are one point favorites says a great deal.
The other state team is a non city? or “district” team and like the the others are a surprise.
Washington D.C. is the Redskins’ home and they have won 3 Supes, the last after the 1991 season and only they among the 4 NFC East teams won last week. “Wash” improved its record to (4-5), routing the New Orleans Saints in the “district,” leaving the Redskins a half game behind the New York (is that the city, the state or I usually at least allude Hackensack, New Jersey) Giants. The Philadelphia Eagles are also (4-5).
Minnesota Vikings’ helmet pictured above
Recently there was another great event at the Bergino Clubhouse (a fabulous place with great baseball items and a truly good man, Jay Goldberg as its owner) as the highlight of the final 2015 meeting of The New York Giants Preservation Society, which is led by another truly good and hard working man, Gary Mintz.
The guests were creative producer, director (A Century in the Bleachers) Jon Leonoudakis and the 93 years “young,” “Babe Ruth of baseball writers,” Arnold Hano. Mr. Hano’s wife of 63 years, together for 67, (Mr. Hano quipped 4 years of “spring training” preceded the marriage), Bonnie was also a great, friendly informative presence.
The night with Mr. Hano talking about his extraordinary life, having met and talked with Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy, being part of a United States Supreme Court decision and of course talking about baseball could have gone on all night and remained captivating.
Mr. Hano is the subject of what is an extraordinary documentary produced by Mr. Leonoudakis called “A Century in the Bleachers.” It tells the Hano story as a great writer, husband and father.
One of three children, Stephen whom I also met and shared memories was also in attendance. Additionally he asked his dad about interviewing the great player, Roberto Clemente one of many greats Hano interviewed while at Sport Magazine. It was pat of a rousing question and answer session in which Hano flexed “baseball muscles” that entertained and informed in spectacular fashion.
Watching some of the documentary “A Century in the Bleachers,” that night and subsequently all of it, I attest to the work as a great record of Arnold Hano, who is a treasure.
Imagine being at Don Larsen’s perfect game in the pivotal 5th game of the 1956 World Series and not only dwarfing what permeates the media today, but having a beautiful, neat scorecard to match Larsen’s perfection that day.
His stories are incredible including encounters with the great Giants’ pitcher Carl Hubbell about facing Babe Ruth.
Each is a great story with the key line/question from one “H’ to the other (Hano, who by the way could and did play and knows the game as few if any ever did–we have written regarding the greatness of the book “A Day in the Bleachers”) to Hubbell being how far did he (The Babe) hit it?!!
The documentary “A Century in the Bleachers” with Mr. Leonoudakis’ extraordinary visuals complimenting Mr. Hano’s story each step of the way was also hit “out of sight.”
Alas, this post just glosses over some of Mr. Hano’s life and writings. There will be another part covering his work as a true giving man. He is blessed by talent, a great wife and family, but most of all by knowing and believing in giving and helping.
Soon more about that giving, for now surely go out and get “A Century in the Bleachers” a great work about an amazing man.
Click below for more information and how to purchase this incredible work.
HANO! A Century In The Bleachers
Above 93 Years young, Arnold Hano showing and eventually throwing a “Carl Hubbell”
screwball to producer Jon Leonoudakis
Once upon a time a female broadcaster, Gayle Gardner at NBC in New York, got caught when a power failure during the network’s telecast of an Orange Bowl left her having to improvise live on television, something co host Paul Maguire did no better than she.
Precious few in the field could have. Gardner was soon no longer with NBC, no great loss, but surely those who came after, especially Hannah Storm, really Storen, proved so much worse.
Yesterday in similar, but not as prolonged circumstances, ESPN had the wrong highlights, showing Colorado/Stanford and not Oklahoma/Baylor as Storm thought.
After botching and confusing the highlights, she finally was made aware. Too late in my book, get rid of her please.
Yet I know the cause is hopeless. Storm is in “raining/reigning” over our intelligence. Once at a Frank Sinatra performance he said you need not stand. Going from an undeniable talent (Sinatra) to a needless example of no progress for anyone, (Storm), you need not ask why.
Worse is the case of loud, abrasive, downright no “play by play acumen,” Kevin Harlan, who actually is the lead radio voice of the NFL as he has “broadcast” at least the last 3 Super Bowls on radio.
Once the glorious Marty Glickman delineated every two or three yards on radio broadcasts. Now WFAN’s Bob Papa talks of two things the runner does before telling the RADIO audience how many yards were gained or lost.
Harlan, the son of big NFL executive Bob Harlan, takes that to a higher even more insulting level with a greater armor of teflon than Ronald Reagan and Frank Gifford, two of the biggest, combined.
Yesterday, fortunately on television and not radio, but still inexcusable Harlan given the nickname “Elephant Mouth” as he NEVER stops talking, clearly stated Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Darren Sproles was TACKLED behind the line of scrimmage on a key 4th down play in the Miami Dolphins game vs the Eagles.
Problem: Harlan then added with no apology he (Sproles) made the first down.
Exactly 45 years earlier on November 15, 1970 during a classic radio broadcast of a great game between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, Marty Glickman in the excitement, suggested “those driving might pull over to the side of the road.” It was a great comment from a person who made me want to be a broadcaster.
Now in the case of Harlan, years after my career never started, I fear crashes from those too involved in games forced to listen to him on the radio. Try it from home and see/hear why my rage is justified.
You do not have to be John Fogerty to know the “storm,” (Hannah, Kevin Harlan and others) will get worse. Also certain: the copycat, cowardly, no talent producers in charge will not “stop the rain” nor the reign of ineptitude in sports broadcasting.
My NFL predictions for the tenth week of play will follow.
I predict the Miami Dolphins, nearly a touchdown underdog, will play well at Philadelphia vs the Eagles.
Eagles 20 Dolphins 17
The Carolina Panthers will struggle as 5 point favorites at Tennessee vs the Titans.
This is a shaky nod to the Titans with the points.
Panthers 24 Titans 20.
On Monday night, the somewhat powerful Mike Tirico will “broadcast,” a ho hum Cincinnati Bengals victory vs the Houston Texans. My advice is to take the Texans in a “teaser” bet. My better advice is not to bet and recall what Beano Cook said regarding teaser bettors–“only idiots bet teasers.”
Bengals (an 11 point favorite and it is increasing in margin), 31, Texans 21.
In conclusion a strong feeling for Miami and shaky nods to Tennessee and Houston, oddly the two cities that housed the Houston Oilers’ franchise. The game involving the expansion Houston franchise takes place just shy of 37 years after a great Houston Oilers/Miami Dolphins game on “Monday Night Football.”
Twenty years ago I saw the great Oilers’ running back Earl Campbell and noticed he had real trouble walking. Here is remembering Earl’s great Monday night performance vs Miami and for a bit, forgetting football is a violent spectacle in a truly unruly world.
Maybe I was too hard on current ESPN reporter, Hannah Storm, (really Storen as in former ABA head Mike Storen’s daughter), when she got the year wrong as to when the U.S. hockey team won the gold medal.
Yet when I put together the hypocrisy involving Notre Dame football and its tie in with NBC Sports with Storm’s husband Dan Hicks, a golf broadcaster at best, attempting football play by play, it is too much to take.
A few weeks back Hicks hinted that Notre Dame could get back in the playoff race. That should not be the case but after big school and television attraction, Ohio State got a bid they did not deserve last year, I am “worried” about the same thing happening involving ratings darling, Notre Dame this year, or any year.
As stated in the post regarding Storm’s glaring factual error (giving her the benefit of the doubt, call it a slip of the tongue error and hence where were her producers or researchers—when I worked at ABC we would have corrected the error!!!) Ms. Storen campaigned for her alma mater Notre Dame to be declared national champions after Florida State’s win vs Nebraska in the January first, 1994 Orange Bowl.
Dick Ebersol and NBC made a deal with “worse than the devil” in giving Notre Dame its own network. I wish I could recall the late Beano Cook’s outrage regarding this matter. These people Storm, Hicks, NBC, Ebersol when he was there, have no shame.
My little voice says and urges the committee which messed up last year to not make the same mistake and even consider Notre Dame this year.
ESPN televised Notre Dame at Temple, they of course the ultimate hypocrites and prostitutes. The emotional toll of this is staggering. There are financial consequences as well.
Only Beano would have understood but even he said that would not have been the case, if he could not afford it
Click below to view this iconic scene.
It is perhaps healthy to have rage and there is much wrong in the country and world. Peaceful protest and some respect for those with opposing views is vital, especially in light of violent attacks that often take place.
Last week, WFAN radio Mike Francesa’s predictions were posted on this site.
His record going into the week was a stellar (16-6-2).
Now it is (16-9-2).
It appeared the record would go to (18-6-2) late in his two earlier games. I looked up and noticed I was nearing the intersection of 18th Street and 7th Avenue.
This was a “sign” Francesa would be wrong on his late game prediction and be (18-7).
Avoiding the games for the most part, I checked a good hour later to see his late game prediction would likely be wrong. It ended up being so.
Then lo and behold I saw both his leads, one more than a touchdown vs the spread, disappeared in the early games. Francesa went (0-3).
At this time I will indulge in my penchant for looking back and seeing “things” that likely will interest some and be decried far too trivial by others. For better or borderline boring, as President John F. Kennedy once said regarding the infinitely more important goal of peace or at least understanding, “let us begin.”
Ninety years ago in the 1925 World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their second World Series title, beating a team (the Washington Senators and that 1924 title is the only one in Washington baseball history and that includes Seattle, Washington), that had won the previous year’s World Series in seven games.
That World Series ended on a called third strike, “Red” Oldham striking out future Hall of Fame player, Goose Goslin, who by chance was born on October 16, 1900, exactly 69 years before the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series.
Ninety years later, the Kansas City Royals won their second title, dispatching the New York Mets in 5 games, having lost the World Series in seven games the year before. The 2015 World Series also ended on a called third strike.
The Big 12 Conference has four teams worth considering for a spot in the 4 team college football playoff, which will be in place for the second year.
Quite possibly, the conference could be denied a team in that playoff for the second straight year.
Last year, I do not believe Ohio State deserved the fourth playoff spot over either TCU or Baylor, from the Big 12 Conference.
However, the glamour, better known Ohio State, was chosen over both teams, made the playoff and then to their credit, won the title.
Now a fear is that an even more glamorous team, Notre Dame, one with its own network and incredibly, to me most annoying, a series on the Showtime Network, will be chosen is a real possibilty, especially given the first two weeks of the playoff standings.
Nobody knows what will happen in the next few weeks, but I clearly believe an unbeaten or even a certain one loss Big 12 team should be in the four team playoff.
I was so glad to avoid pro football almost entirely this past Sunday.
My decision to get out and the eventual sightings did relate to the two NFL games in which teams joined the Cincinnati Bengals at (8-0), halfway through the 16 game schedule.
The Carolina Panthers went to (8-0), beating the (6-2), 3 point favorite, Green Bay Packers, surely disappointing the throng of obvious Packers’ fans lined up outside a place to watch the game. They waited at least a half hour to ENTER(think “The Sunshine Boys”) the premises while the “Pack” waited way too long to play well, the game not as close as the (37-29) score might indicate.
Meanwhile the New England Patriots also are (8-0) after a 17 point win, as 2 touchdown favorites vs the (3-5) Washington Redskins.
In walking to my car, I saw some young people including a lady clad in a Tom Brady jersey throwing the “pig” around. Having just commented to a friend that Mr. Brady may have some connection to the area, a look at some of the younger faces made that assertion, while far from certain, plausible, if not probable.
On Saturday past, after foolishly allowing myself exponential annoyance regarding the efforts by the likes of CBS analyst Aaron Taylor, Fox network’s Gus Johnson and ESPN/ABC’s Chris Fowler, I watched no college football Saturday night.
Taylor, in addition to the sadly prevalent use of “between” and NOT “among” for three or more, “topped” that by uttering “they are halfway more closer to the goal line” moments later. This from a Notre Dame University person offended less than his complete lack of understanding regarding game situations.
Johnson so often too loud and abrasive screamed so loud, sounding out a receiver named Doctson’s name on a second quarter incomplete pass that he a) awoke some of the dead and b) was clearly very late in stating the pass was incomplete.
Fowler with an aptitude for being a studio host does not have one for play by play, no less as “top banana.” Toward that opinion, check the second quarter play where Clemson quarterback Watson needs a great move to make the first down. Fowler gave a “has plenty of room” read it no worry for the first down call.
As stated, I watched no college football Saturday night.
Instead I watched the great film, “Norma Rae” some 36 years after seeing it the one other time and marveled at the performances of Sally Field, Ron Leibman and others– (Pat Hingle as Sally/”Norma’s” father to add one.)
The movie was shown as part of “The Essentials” series on Turner Classic Movies.
The fact Ms. Field is a co host along with the magnificent Robert Osborne on the series always enhances the viewing.
In this case, Ms. Field commenting on her award winning performance as “Norma Rae” made the presentation even more special.
In the movie as lighter, but really still serious matter, Norma’s encounter with Ron Leibman’s “Reuben Marshasky” is her first one with a member of the Jewish faith.
When she remarks “kvetch-kvetch-kvetch” to Reuben in this 1979 film, it moved me on many levels, not the least of which being humor.
Speaking of “kvetch” (complain continually) I do much more than that, with often intense rage regarding the announcers, this for better or worse.
That is why doing other things than watching sports, which sadly and largely as waste, I “ate, slept and breathed,” puts me in a better place, no matter the genre of non sports endeavor.
In the case of a wonderful movie and presentation on TCM such as Norma Rae, I soared almost to an Inca type place, floating above the ridiculous fray.
Ron Leibman and Sally Field in the wonderful 1979 film, “Norma Rae.”
Andy B Sports 