Recently I attended a baseball game at the beautiful, venerable, 103 year old Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a great experience.
The atmosphere there is incredible; the field so lush and green, not to mention the famed “Green Monster,” the high wall, so close in left field.
I thought about the colors, the passionate fans, the bad Red Sox record this season, offset exponentially by their three 21st century titles, after an 86 year drought.
One need only walk around the park to see the great players who wore a Red Sox uniform, among them Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski for their entire major league careers.
Such greats as Cy Young and Babe Ruth, the most famous pitcher and batter in baseball history are remembered with flags carrying their names, along with Lefty Grove, Jimmy Foxx and others. Incredibly, Ruth was great hitting and pitching: the lesser known pitching aspect with the Red Sox, much of it in Fenway Park, which opened in 1912.
The game I saw was a (5-1) Detroit Tigers win against the Red Sox became an afterthought, the fact they clashed in a 6 game ALCS won by the Red Sox just two years back, en route to that third 21st century title, is far more important.
Memories: one game playoffs for an entity, 30 years apart (for the 1948 pennant and 1978 AL East) each a Red Sox loss, featuring an opposing shortstop’s home run exploits (Cleveland Indians’Lou Boudreau then NY Yankees’ Bucky Dent thirty years later).
One great player from all three Red Sox 21st century crowns, David Ortiz remains. I cheered his at bats, recalling his clutch exploits in 2004 keying the end to the 86 year Red Sox title drought.
I wish there were more players to hail and that those things so beautiful in baseball, illustrated so well at a place such as Fenway Park, could be more evident today.
At the very least, for one day some of that good feeling about baseball came back. Thank you, Fenway Park.
Indoors or outdoors, the gorgeous dancers at world famous gentlemen’s club Rick’s Cabaret New York put on a great show. The club’s all-girl softball team has a record of 3-1 so far, and is excited about taking on all challengers.
“We’ve been playing teams from around the city,” purred Rick’s Cabaret Girl Alison, who plays third base. “It’s so much fun. We get so many onlookers, and everyone has a great time.”
“A bunch of Wall Street guys sneaked away from work to cheer us on at our last game,” cooed Rick’s Cabaret Girl Amber. “After we won, we all went back to the club to celebrate. We hung out on the Roof Deck drinking champagne and enjoying a special tasting menu prepared by Executive Chef Franklin Edwards.
Howard Stern Show character “Ronnie the Limo Driver” joined the team as a guest hitting coach. “He’s a lot of fun,” explained Rick’s Cabaret Girl Joanna, the team’s catcher. “He gave me batting instructions and they worked!”
Rick’s Cabaret is the club of choice for an upscale clientele drawn by its warm hospitality, beautiful exotic dancers and well-appointed setting. The club is conveniently located across the street from the Empire State Building and just one block from Madison Square Garden.
Howard Stern Show character “Ronnie the Limo Driver” with Rick’s Cabaret NYC softball players
Last season the Denver Broncos were eliminated in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs by the Indianapolis Colts, despite Colt quarterback Peyton Manning again having a poor playoffs game.
The loss cost John Fox his head coaching job with Denver and was replaced by one time Broncos quarterback Gary Kubiak.
Denver is almost a 2 to 1 favorite to win a 5th straight AFC West crown. I think they will with a good (11-5) record.
The Kansas City Chiefs, whom I predict will finally win vs Denver in one of their two games this season, will contend and likely be a wild card team.
San Diego will go (8-8). The Oakland Raiders will win but 4 games.
The Broncos are still the team in the AFC West.
Yesterday the San Diego Padres overcame a (7-1) deficit and beat the New York Mets at the Mets’ home Citi Field.
Justin Upton’s three run home run transformed a (7-5) Mets’ lead into an (8-7) “S.D.” lead and eventual victory.
Gary Cohen, who passes my difficult test for broadcasting excellence with flying colors, told the audience it was just the third time in Mets’ franchise history they lost a home game in which they led by as many as six runs, the last time being in 1970. It was also only the second time that they have lost after ahead by six runs in the seventh inning or later.
As with shows going to the next one with credits flashed too fast and small, it was infuriating to me that Cohen did not tell us about the 1970 game, at least.
A wise man once talked of this type thing being easy to research on the all encompassing internet. True for TV shows, this a bit more difficult, but I found the 1970 game in which the Mets led by 6 runs or more and lost was on August 26th of that year vs the Atlanta Braves.
Some notes: Both yesterday and in 1970, the Mets dissipated a (7-1) lead and an opposition 9th inning homer put the road team ahead to stay. Each time the opposing relief pitcher hurled a perfect bottom of the ninth to preserve the win.
A good player, Justin Upton beat the Mets yesterday with a ninth inning home run but it was an all time great, Hank Aaron whose two run home run off Gary Gentry, normally a starter, who was hurling in relief, that put Atlanta ahead to stay in 1970. Craig Kimbrel a renowned relief specialist pitched for San Diego yesterday, far less known Bob Priddy pitched the ninth inning for Atlanta in 1970.
As for the other such Mets’ loss; I will play the part of my parents, “you look it up.”
Hank Aaron 1970 Baseball Card
The Indianapolis Colts lost in the division round in 2013 at New England and in a game you may have heard about, the AFC Title Game at New England vs the Patriots, last year.
This year with improvement and no worry about the opposing team’s “equipment,” I certainly can see the Colts playing in a CBS/AFC network Super Bowl.
Certainly they are big favorites to win the AFC South.
The Houston Texans will stay about the same.
While I see improvement for the Tennessee Titans and perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars, it is the Colts in the AFC South.
However they do have to play the games as nothing is conceded.
While of the opinion, as expressed here yesterday, that both Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter were over rated, they along with Bernie Williams are three outstanding players, who helped the Yankees win 4 World titles in 5 seasons under manager Joe Torre, the latter, another reason the Yankees became more palatable.
The bigger reason for liking these players and even the highly over rated Jorge Posada, was that they were “home grown,” not bought and paid for by George Steinbrenner’s $$.
Jeter went out on the town, (most of you would too if you could), but unlike others was protected from intense media scrutiny. He is an admirable, non “trouble maker” but sitting home (on nights not out on the town) ordering Chinese food and staying “football fields” away from controversy, is not going to change things for the better.
He was a clutch player who delivered big hits for Yankees’ title teams but let’s not confuse him with Reggie Jackson, Tommy Henrich nor Thurman Munson in that department.
Yet, I went along with it, not even battling him in the early years, but then watching intensely as he stood in, stepped out in his “think walk first” “wait for the pitch” style, preached correctly, but to the detriment of the once great game, by Yankees and Red Sox coaches alike.
In subsequent short series, save 2009 which was Alex Rodriguez’ redemption, the Yankees facing too many playoffs were stopped, which puts their 4 titles in 5 seasons in a brighter light.
It is one similar to great New York Islanders’ teams in hockey, a team that won so many series in a row to reach 5 straight Stanley Cup finals, winning four.
The Islanders were not hockey’s greatest team ever, but rank closer in their sport, than the so called “Jeter/Rivera” Yankees.
Concerning the latter, I never would have put them “there” (baseball’s greatest, or close to it) anyway, but since Mr. Rivera failed on those aforementioned 3 post season occasions, the numbers did not put them there either.
Jeter and Rivera
It is not the 21 runs they scored in last night’s victory on the road vs the Texas Rangers (though quite impressive) nor even their stellar play that makes me reasonably “sure” (few things are sure) the New York Yankees will win their first A.L. East title since 2012.
At this point, it is their seven game lead, but all year it has been the nature of the division, which is very weak.
The Yankees “ran with the weak pack” but now have exploded as they did last night, winning 9 of 11 since the All Star break and 13 of 16 overall to take a nice divisional lead.
Alex Rodriguez, disliked by so many including a talented, hard working “non record buyer,” who might want to look at his incredible RECORD, has been a big factor for the Yankees.
However, the race in the division is not over and winning it really only “buys” the Yankees a “one eighth division.”
This year the Yankees did not have media favorites like the “teflon” Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, a “deity,” who thrice blew playoff games in series lost by the Yankees, and it makes them so much more palatable.
My not so subtle “knocks” above are not so much to denigrate either Jeter or Rivera, each deserving of Hall of Fame status, but to build Mr. Rodriguez, whom as with Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and the “current” Tom Brady “suffers,” unfairly via the media and in public perception. All are among the greats in the “not worth the aggravation” sports world.
Continuing our early look or reads on the six NFL divisions, today a look at the NFC South.
Last year, the Carolina Panthers became the first repeat champions in the 13 year history of the NFC South.
Of course they did it with a less than .500 record beating the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta in a CBS televised “cross over” (normally Fox would cover NFC games but last year exceptions were allowed) game to win it.
The Panthers, Falcons and Saints are more or less considered evenly matched. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had the first draft pick, selecting Jameis Winston of Florida State are a real long shot even in a weak division.
My only “early read” is that the division will improve overall, hard not to, and that all three top teams, the Panthers, Falcons and Saints are actual contenders to win the NFC. The Buccaneers will improve as well, again hard not to from whence they came.
This past week I was fortunate enough to see the great Neil Young perform at The Jones Beach Theater.
Amidst beautiful surroundings on a beautiful summer evening, Neil Young just kept going, as they say, “cranking out” song after song, so many beyond meaningful, all performed in great fashion by the iconic performer.
He opened the show with the mesmerizing hit “After the Gold Rush” from his legendary 1970 album of the same name, and highlighted it “jamming” about 10 minutes on the fabulous “Down By The River.”
Young who was part of “Buffalo Springfield” and of course “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young,” also has had and continues an incredible solo career.
Seeing him perform this show with the band “Crazy Horse,” is certainly a must do/bucket list item for many music lovers.
I am so glad the great “item” Neil Young is checked but I surely hope to “check” him and his fabulous music out again and again.
No matter what the length, if any, of brilliant quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension, the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will probably win the AFC East.
However, with what I see as nice improvement regarding the three other AFC East teams, the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, do not “mortgage your house” on the Pats winning a seventh straight AFC East crown.
I think the Bills are ready to improve significantly this season and with new coach Rex Ryan, who like his father Buddy Ryan, is at least a good “short term” coach. I see the Bills winning say 9 games.
Both Miami and last year’s last place team, the Jets, will also improve. It is still the Pats, but even with Brady for all the games, nowhere near certain and with say 10 wins.
