The Boston Celtics have now won 18 NBA crowns.
In 9 of those seasons, the NHL crown, decided in near proximity with the NBA crowning its, went to the Montreal Canadiens.
Baseball in years after the Celtics “titled,” notes:
The New York Yankees have won 27 titles, one and half times as many as the Celtics.
Yet both the Yankees (up a half game in their one eighth “div”) and the Mets with 2 crowns, each have that many in years the Celtics titled.
The team with the most baseball titles in years following the Celts having “sprung” to the crown (pun intended) are the Dodgers who have won 4 of their 7 total titles (that is counting the bogus one in pandemic affected 2020) in years (’59,’63,’65 and ’81) after Boston won in the NBA.
In addition to the New York teams, the Yankees (’61 and ’62) and the Mets (’69 and ’86) with 2 same year as the Celts’ titles, the Detroit Tigers having done so in ’68 and ’84 also have 2 such crowns.
Seven teams have one (such) each, in chronological order, the Braves then in Milwaukee in ’57, the Pirates (’60), Cardinals (’64), Orioles (’66), Athletics (’74), Reds (’76) and Phillies (2008).
Now add 2024 and who will join them as champions from big league baseball?!
Barring the truly unforseen, the Milwaukee Brewers in this their 55th completed season, (54th in Milwaukee–the Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee in 1954—their first season was as the Seattle Pilots in 1969) will finish first in an entity for the seventh time.
They lead their one eighth N.L. Central division by 10 games, starting play, this day before Labor Day/September 1st.
Thrice an LCS has ended on the Brewers’ home field, in a win in the decisive 5th game vs the Gene Mauch managed Angels in ’82, in a game 6 loss to the eventual title winning Cardinals in 2011 and in a decisive 7th game vs L.A. (Dodgers) that Fox did not “over the air” in 2018.
The Brewers are (0-1) in World Series play, having lost in 7 to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.
Harvey Kuenn, a superb hitter in his playing days, guided the Brewers to the 1982 A.L. Pennant.
They were known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers” and lost in #7 of the W.S. at St. Louis.
Twenty years earlier Kuenn was on the ’62 S.F. Giants, who lost (1-0) to Ralph Terry and the Yankees in a home 7th game of the World Series.
Twenty nine years ago, Penn State under a coach named Joe Paterno, threw the ball for a late touchdown (last minute and change, yielding a 59-21 score)that might have affected “el spread,” vs a Rutgers team, on which current “R.U.” coach Greg Schiano was on the staff (coaching that is, not the one Moses carried).
Rutgers head coach Doug Graber expressed his distaste for the “rub it in ” TD pass to Paterno, who (I knew what he was, long before his assistant violated boys with Paterno’s apparent knowledge/looking the other way) responded with an audible, over the monolith/ESPN “Bulls–t.” Hopefully linked below.
This becomes even more relevant after Schiano, in something not as blatant, as it was a running play is at the Rutgers helm and in its opener Rutgers, instead of falling on the ball ran another play, an 11 yard td run, that I believe properly irked Howard University coach, Larry Scott.
Schiano defended the decision, perhaps forgetting how he felt 30 years earlier.
NEW YORK — It’s time for Football Kickoff parties at Rick’s Cabaret New York, the famous three-story pleasure palace known for its warm hospitality and an abundance of beautiful exotic dancers who never fail to delight with their seductive charm.
The club will welcome the NFL season with Football Kickoff Parties on Thursday, September 5th, through Monday, September 9th, promising gorgeous girls, great food, and excitement.
The 2024 NFL season opens Thursday night Sept. 5 with the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. The New York Giants open against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Sept. 8 and the New York Jets open against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night Sept. 9.
“There’s always something great going on at the club,” said Ricks girl Charlotte. “We love to party and play. Visit the club and you will see why Rick’s is Number One.”
Rick’s Cabaret New York, located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at 50 West 33 Street, is the club of choice for a diverse clientele including Wall Streeters, tech types, celebrities, pro athletes, and couples. The club features VIP Suites, Luxury Skyboxes, and its own Rick’s Steakhouse, serving daily lunch specials and dinner. For night owls, the steakhouse offers a special late-night menu, ensuring that great food is available whenever the mood strikes.
Alan Ameche crashed over from 1 yard away giving the Baltimore Colts a (23-17) overtime win vs the New York Giants to claim the 1958 NFL crown, in not so arguably pro football’s most important game.
I cite here that he also scored their next touchdown and it was in a win in what was a repeat title season in 1959. It occurred vs the Detroit Lions with the Colts down (10-0).
Baltimore played both the Lions and Bears twice each in their first four tilts in 1959.
The superb Lenny Moore now 90 years old was an integral part of the Baltimore Colts’ back to back title teams in 1958 and 1959.
While the Phillies and Brewers (6 and 9 games respectively), seem to have comfortable one eighth “div” leads, the other 4 such entities have close, in some cases surprisingly close races.
L.A. (Dodgers) has not pulled away in the N.L. West as both the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are only 3 games behind.
Ditto the Yankees, whose A.L. East lead is one game and certainly Cleveland, as the K.C. Royals have gone to “Cleve” and won the first 3 to pull even in the A.L. Central.
I guess the Houston Astros, a team that has made the ALCS 7 straight seasons have a fairly comfortable lead. Currently they are 3 and a fraction games ahead of the Seattle Mariners (the only one of the 30 big league teams to have never made the World Series, no less win it) in the A.L. West.
In a future post, I will detail an all-time type baseball day, in which pitcher’s ‘hitting exploits were incredible.
Game 2 of the ’55 World Series was both a decisive victory, though the tilt was (6-0) Yankees, in the eventual (13-8) (Brooklyn) Dodgers’ win and an aberration type game, as the Yankees stormed back, as the Dodgers had vs them the year before, to win their lone “Brooklyn crown” (everyone in Brooklyn drank for free that October 4, 1955 and it was not Royal Crown soda, they were consuming) to win 4 of the next 5 games, after the #2 Brooklyn win gave them a (2-0) W.S. lead.
In #2 with none of the hits really important and certainly not decisive, all 4 pitchers, who batted (6 did not) Don Larsen (his next start was immortal), Tom Morgan, and Mickey McDermott of the Yankees and winning pitcher with 7 strong relief innings, Don Bessent of the Dodgers, delivered hits.
The Yankees manager is Casey Stengel, who share the record for most W.S. wins (7) with Joe McCarthy. Walter Alston the Dodgers’ manager won 4.
Each is pictured in the ’56 World Series program.
Often, I have truly enjoyed watching movies based on the work of the late, great author Pat Conroy on TCM and other outlets.
“Conrack,” starring Jon Voight and “The Great Santini” starring Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner are two truly impressive films.
Certainly, another great one to watch is “Prince of Tides,” based on Conroy’s book and a 1991 film, starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. based film, 1991’s “The Prince of Tides.”
Recollections of meeting Blythe Danner, a co star in “Santini” and part of the “Tides” cast, resonated with me as I thought back. The same can be said about Mr. Nolte’s gracious actions at a subsequent event
Ms. Danner’s work and her gracious ways that night of the “Tides” premiere are nice memories.
Pat Conroy, pictured above.
This weekend I cite some baseball “semis” or final round/World Series rematches, as I have and will do regarding such in (big time) pro football.
There are 3 World Series repeats going on now.
One is the Phillies vs Royals, Philly vs K.C. as was the case in the 2022 season Supe and K,C, (0-3)(0-3) in “Pre,” is not going to get #3 in a row, but first off again I was “away,” and next who knows for sure?! Certainly not I (me).
In the ’80 World Series, the last between two teams that had never won one (now each franchise has 2 crowns), it was the Phillies in 6 games.
The Minnesota Twins won their first “Minne” crown and second franchise crown (the original Washington Senators, the Twins’ “ancestors,” won it all 100 years ago in 1924), 7 ing the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987.
Finally among W.S. encores, the B.S. bubble L.A. Dodgers 7th franchise crown was won in 6 games vs the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 when a pandemic was in evidence all over this fragile world.
LCS or “semis” rematches this weekend are a redux of 2003 when the Florida Marlins, down 3 games to 1, 7’d the Cubs and of the 5 such between those ’70’s great hitting, even great teams, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cincy won in ’70,’72, and ’75 while the Pirates on their way to their last crown won in ’79.
Thus far, in what are all 3 game series, the team that lost more often in the previous, won 4 of the 5 series openers, as only the Dodgers, among the previous entity winners, won last night.
The Reds tie #5/’72 NLCS on John Bench’s “solo” and then win it on a wild pitch, each called brilliantly (this and certainly not his much publicized US Olympic hockey semi win in ’80, is his finest moment/hour (ode to Mr. Churchill), by Al Michaels.
Al Attles, linked to great players, Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry, and an NBA legend as part of the Warriors’ organization for over 60 years, dating back to their days in Philadelphia, died days back at age 87.
What a competitor, a force, a protector and as the highlight, coach of the pre season and final round longshot, title winning, 1974-1975 NBA champion, Golden State Warriors, led by Rick Barry.
Truly admirable to me, however, probably a bit foolish (don’t worry Al lived a great life, was part of all 5 Warriors’ titles and truly loved and was loved) is Mr. Attles’ regret, at the fact a great G.S. team was “semi’d” out by the Phoenix Suns in a “dark match” #7 (i.e. the NBA which has all its ‘offs tilts on now, did not “tv” that one), that loss, one major example of why no NBA team repeated as champion from ’70-’87.
Attles had quick hands and was a “protector,” most notably getting ejected from the ’75 title clincher (what memories, not at the shore that weekend or ever, but the call to ecstatic Warriors fan Guy DiRenzo (is it Di Rienzo?)as congratulations afterward) when Mike Riordan and Barry “engaged.”
Wilt was best man at Al’s wedding to Wilhemina and both Al and Wilt started their playing careers, Wilt in ’59-’60, Al the next season as members of the Philadelphia Warriors.
A joke “Hot Rod” Hundley told was that he and Elgin (Baylor) once combined for say, 76 points, with Elgin getting 74 and Hundley 2.
Al talked of he and Wilt combining for 117 that great night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when Wilt hit 100. Attles shot a “worthy of compliment” 8 of 8 from the field that night.
What a distinguished career, classy Al Attles produced.
Al Attles, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 