I believe 13 of the 16 NFL tilts in this the second week of the 2024 season, the league’s 105th involve clashes between teams that met in previous season playoff games.
One the Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots tilt is a redux of the famed 2014 season Supe when Mal Butler’s interception saved New England and gave Brady/Belichick and “N.E.” a 4th crown, first after 10 years and 9 seasons sans one.
Seattle had won the ’13 title ripping Peyton Manning and Denver (Broncos).
Seven other tilts this week are “semis” rematches, 4 recalling conference title games in the NFC/AFC configuration that started in ’70 and the other with the Colts sojourning to Green Bay, in a redux of the unscheduled NFL “semi”/Western Conference playoff tilt of 1965, when “G.B.” prevailed in surely fortunate fashion, (13-10) in overtime en route to the first of three consecutive NFL crowns, a feat no team has ever matched by winning title tilts, a game first played in 1933.
The other 6: Buffalo ripped Miami thursday night past, Monday Atlanta at Philadelphia, and today Pittsburgh at Denver, N.Y./Jersey Giants at “Wash” D.C. team, Would you believe they are the Las Vegas Raiders and they visit the Baltimore Ravens and in the “Jim Nantz feature” (likely to be Cincy as a “dog,” but be careful) Cincinnati (Bengals) visits the two time defending champion K.C. Chiefs.
In ’97, ’86, and 2000 Pitts, the Giants and Ravens won those “semis”/conference title games and subsequently won the Super Bowl.
The Bengals (0-3) in Supes, losing by 3, 4 and 5 points not in that chronological order, lost to the Rams in the 2021 season Supe.
An already cited Supe winner in ’86, the Giants (4-1) in such games (they were (3-11) in NFL title games, which were played from ’33-’69), lost to the Ravens in the 2000 season game while the Broncos who won the ’97 semi at Pittsburgh and then upset the defending champion Packers (as cited the ’65 champions as they beat the team/franchise that really is the ancestor of the 2000 champion Ravens, namely the Cleveland Browns) were blitzed (39-20) by the Giants in the ’86 season Super Bowl.
Above depicts wind. The Giants “had the wind”in their favor and largely rode it and their great defense to a (17-0) win(d) in that ’86 “semi”/NFC Title tilt, enabling them to continue on a path to their first crown in 30 years.
The letter “S,” in quantity and certainly quality, comes to mind in recalling the “s”uperb middle linebacker, Joe Schmidt, who died days back at age 92.
There is his name, nicknames (Our dominant athlete and eventual far better person, Santasieri, a sweatshirt, as “Schmidt/Schmo,” also Silly) and comparisons with another great at the position, named “S”am (Huff).
Joe Schmidt played his entire career with the Detroit Lions and managed in ’53 and ’57 to be on their last two title teams, representing half of the four they have won.
In Joe’s case as a way to attest to his greatness, more than the usual about voted awards as in ten consecutive years (’54-’63), he was voted both all league and to the Pro Bowl, the latter, once a fairly meaningful game and even now still an honor.
The pitchers hitting great day/night and incredible Dodgers “in and around September 9th” notes, if not a post each are coming.
Today some notes on baseball, still such a great game and though 12 ‘offs teams are at least 4 to 8 too many, which is stirring some good feelings in me, a good thing.
It is very likely that the two Central Division winners, the almost certain N.L. such, Milwaukee Brewers (up 8 plus games) and the likely A.L. counterpart, Houston Astros (up 3 plus) will be the league “3” seeds and thus must contend with an all home games, best of 3 round of 12 to 8 series.
The closest one eighth “div” race stands with the Yankees one plus games (2 in the loss column) ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the A.L. East.
Next for the Yankees is a 4 game series with the Boston Red Sox, considered their biggest rival (it was nice to see Yankees/Royals in fairly meaningful games, evoking their once great rivalry which manifested in ALCS clashes 4 times in 5 seasons (’76-’80), evoking memories but not close in importance to the Yankees 4 game (also Thurs-Sunday) September (7-10) sweep at Boston which put them even in the had to finish first, 1978 A.L. East race.
Boston still in it, but barely for ‘offs qualification, has helped the Yankees bid for a first place finish, winning 4 of 6 vs the O’s in the last month.
The “above” as an additional tribute to J.E. Jones as this speech in “Field of Dreams,” especially that beginning around 1:22 in, along with, as cited above a fairly stirring “reg,” reminds one, that despite the many bad changes in its rules, baseball remains such a great game.
James Earl Jones, an iconic performer, who, back when, performed and trained to play one in tribute to Jack Johnson, a man who was overwhelmed not just by racial prejudice, but also by laws supporting it, and gained fame, even universal acceptance his father Robert Jones (loved him as “Luther Coleman” in the great film, “The Sting”) never could (Jim Croce in “I’ve Got A Name” ode) never could, died days back at age 93.
Mr. Jones was a tremendous presence and that is what many even most will cite today.
My greatest appreciation for the incredibly talented and achieving Mr. Jones, was his work in the above referenced “The Great White Hope,” as Johnson, in “Fences,” which as was the case with “The Great White Hope,” earned Jones a Tony Award and then as a J.D. Salinger type who then goes “oppo”/public and talks of baseball’s great meaning to so many (brilliantly enunciating BASEball emphasizing its first syllable and again its meaning, in “Field of Dreams.”
Jones and his great career made more impressive by his overcoming a stuttering tendency, sprouting incredible eloquence surely would make his dad Robert proud as James Earl Jones, in so many ways and with such grace and eloquence, lived the life he could not.
James Earl Jones, I believe in “Field of Dreams,” pictured above.
Yesterday on the 59th anniversary of Sandy Koufax pitching a perfect game vs the Cubs, whose pitcher that night, Bob Hendley allowed but one hit and two baserunners in his 8 innings pitched, as the Dodgers won (1-0), with the game’s only run scoring in an inning, sans an L.A. hit, again the Cubs were in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers.
Only I can come up with the incredible notes that I will post regarding Dodgers vs Cubs September 9th or darn close to clashes, in eventual Dodgers’ title seasons.
For now, click below to read my post 3 years back.
56 Years Since Sandy’s Perfect Game In Same Calendar 1965
Left to right, Bob Hendley and Sandy Koufax, who 59 years and one day ago, pitched in one of the greatest pitched games by 2 pitchers in big league annals.
“S’o much for the two U.S. players in the Open final round, as both Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner eased in straight sets vs Pegula and Fritz respectively.
Both Sinner and Sabalenka won the Australian Open as well as the one just completed.
It is called the U.S. Open but I opine the rooting for the U.S. players exhibited by Fowler, McEnroe and one I admire, Evert was at least, again in my opinion, a bit much.
Aryna Sabalenka is pictured above.
Pro football moves into full gear with 13 tilts today.
I take some time to remember quarterback, Eddie LeBaron and a famous play.
Eddie LeBaron was an exciting quarterback for the Redskins and the Cowboys, who later became Executive of the Year” as the Atlanta Falcons general manager (1980). He passed away in 2015 at age 85. I recall his unusual NFL record: the shortest (two inch) touchdown pass!
It happened on Sunday, October 9, 1960, as LeBaron, the Dallas quarterback, in the Cowboys first season, was credited with a two inch touchdown pass to Dick Bielski.
Accounts stated the NFL’s smallest quarterback (Le Baron was 5 feet 7 inches and 160 pounds) threw the NFL’s shortest touchdown pass.
The previous record for the shortest touchdown pass was held by the great Green Bay Packers’ NFL passing combination of Cecil Isbell to all time great receiver, Don Hutson. Their pass was a whopping 4 inches.
All of the sports with major titles (major?) have expanded the playoffs road to such, in a “far too many teams in,” irritating manner.
There is no worse offender than college pig, with that word after college operative.
Last season “mighty” Michigan finally won its first undisputed title since 1948 (when if ever and ever is a long time, will the Cleveland Guardians nee Indians make that claim?!) going (15-0) and claiming it, actually winning it, in a 4 team playoff.
Their coach was Jim Harbaugh, now with the Chargers, whose opener at home, really it will be the road as the Raiders will have the crowd, will be “cast” nationally with Nantz vs Fox’s serving of Cowboys at Browns, with a man named Brady.
Today in a feature game, but with so much less luster since 12 teams will qualify for the college football ‘offs, (that’s triple the #, unprecedented sports greed), Texas is a TD road “fave” vs Michigan.
The Wolverines have won 29 consecutive regular season games.
Bennie Oosterbaan, pictured above, guided Michigan to the ’48 mythical title.
There will be a player from (“from” said as) the United States in both the Women’s and Men’s final at the U.S. Open, ridiculously expensive, tennis event.
On the women’s side Aryna Sabalenka is close to a 3 to 1 favorite vs U.S. player, Jessica Pegula in tomorrow’s final.
Today in one semi, two (from) U.S. players, Frances Tiafoe and 2 and a fraction “fave,” Taylor Fritz (doubt he is related to Mel) clash.
Ergo, there will be a U.S. player in the men’s final, vs the winner of today’s Jannik Sinner vs Jack Draper semi.
In that semi, Sinner is a massive 5 to 1 favorite.
Recently some memorable World Series past had rematches.
Two were completed yesterday and last night. Notes follow.
The 1993 Toronto Blue Jays repeated as World Seies champions, clinching such on Joe Carter’s dramatic 3 run home run, in not only the last game my father witnessed but also the last one before the presence of the bogus (teams need not finish first in their entity) wild card, vs the Philadelphia Phillies.
Those teams clashed Tuesday night past and yesterday afternoon, with the Phils, who will be in the ‘offs winning both games at Toronto vs the Jays, who will not be in post-season play and thus will miss the World Series for the 30th consecutive completed season.
In ’93, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the latter by a (15-14) score in a game I attended with Brien McDonald then of HBO Sports, “Tor” won games 3 and 4 at Philly to take (3-1) “Series command” toward a 6 game triumph.
Last night the Mets, a half game behind the Braves for playoffs qualification completed a 3 game sweep at home vs the Boston Red Sox.
In 1986 another famed World Series matched those 2 teams, with the Mets prevailing in 7 games.
Boston had not won a crown in 68 seasons at that point, a drought that would reach 86, as in 1986.
The Red Sox have won 4 titles since while the Mets have none.
In the ’86 World Series, the Mets won Tuesday and Wednesday night games 3 and 4 to square that series.
The scene after the Jays won the ’93 W.S. as stated above, clinching it on Joe Carter’s 3RHR.
Only one other W.S. ended on a home run, that in 1960 when Bill Mazeroski’s “solo” lifted Pittsburgh (Pirates) (10-9) vs the Yankees in game 7. (Please never forget as almost all so called media does that Hal Smith’s 3RHR with 2 outs bottom 8th, that transformed a (7-6) Buccos deficit into a (9-7) lead was arguably more important.
Each certainly was and along with Carter’s “blow” are indelible and great baseball moments and memories.
Andy B Sports 