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All-Star Game Notes

The (5-3) win by the American League All-Stars made the A.L. record in such games, hosted by the defending world champion, (3-0).

One such was held 90 years earlier, at the fabled Polo Grounds, the home of the 1933 champion New York Giants.

Five years later, the A.L. again prevailed in the ’39 game at Yankee Stadium, the home of the then 3 time champion, Yankees, who would make it 4 straight crowns under “Marse” Joe McCarthy that season.

While the American League did win the ’34 All-Star tilt, the game will always be remembered for the great Giants’ pitcher, Carl Hubbell striking out 5 greats, in succession, in innings one and two.

Those greats were/are Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.

The ’39 Yankees were the first of 3 teams in the 94 previous years of All-Star tilts to host that game and win that year’s World Series.

The L.A. Dodgers did so twenty years later in 1959 and the Yankees did so in 1977.

Baseball Viewing Parties at Vivid Cabaret

The New York Mets will play the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 23 and Wednesday, July 24. Vivid Cabaret New York, the high-energy adult club known for its beautiful dancers and party atmosphere, will host baseball viewing (and post-game) parties on those days/nights. 

“We really know how to throw a party,” said Vivid girl Carly. “No matter what the score of the games, it’s sure to be exciting at Vivid, and there will be drink specials all night.” 

Providing warm hospitality and the best in VIP treatment, Vivid Cabaret New York’s vibrancy is enhanced by cutting edge decor and the latest in high-tech sound and lighting. Vivid Cabaret is the sister club to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC.

Vivid Cabaret New York 

61 West 37 Street

VIP Ultra Lounge  

Roof Deck Cigar Lounge

Remembering And Perspective Regarding Jacoby Jones

Above, one sees recent Wimbledon title winner Barbora Krejcikova and the superb hitter, Bill Buckner.

Much can be deciphered and perhaps put in perspective, regarding sports, winning, losing and true analysis.

Jacoby Jones, who very sadly, died at age 40, scored two touchdowns (one on a kickoff return, remember those?!) in the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl win (John Harbaugh winning vs opposite team/the 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh, his brother, now finally a title winner, that with Michigan last year, and back into the professionals with the Chargers) in 2012.

My post after that tilt with comments about Jacoby Jones is below.

Hail the Ravens

Jacoby Jones is pictured above.

He caught the winning touchdown, a virtual miracle play from Joe Flacco in the Ravens’ divisional round win at Denver vs the Broncos in that 2012 Supe winning season.

Krejcikova And Alcaraz Win At Wimbledon

Slight favorites Barbora Krejcikova and Carlos Alcaraz, the latter easily, won Wimbledon crowns, vs Jasmine Paolini and Novak Djokovic respectively.

It was shameful, that when Djokovic, again denied by Alcaraz, fought off numerous break points and went up (2-1) third set, however, down 2 sets, and “showed emotion,” the 4 letter word crew implied it might be a match.

No, as Alcaraz eased.

Yesterday Krejcikova over Jasmine Paolini went the maximum 3 sets.

Barbora Krejcikova, pictured above.

Alcaraz A Slight “Fave” vs Djokovic In The Men’s Final

It shapes up as quite a final on the men’s side as 2 days hence, Novak Djokovic bidding to add to his record 24 major crowns, is a slight underdog vs Carlos Alcaraz, in a redux of last year’s final won by Alcaraz.

Today, Alcaraz prevailed in 4 sets vs Daniil Medvedev, which was followed by Djokovic’s straight sets, but no cover, semis win vs Lorenzo Musetti.

Alcaraz is about a 3 to 2 fave.

I will go with Djokovic, vs Alcaraz, who won the French Open not long ago, in 4 sets.

Wimbledon Update

It will be Barbora Krejcikova vs Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon Women’s final match on Saturday.

Barbora won as about a 5 to 1 underdog vs Elena Rybakina, while Paolini won (7-6), in the decisive third set, against Donna Vekic.

On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic, seeking to add to his record number of major tournament wins, having benefitted from Alex DiMinear having to withdraw from their scheduled “quarters” clash, is now a huge say 7 to 1 “fave,” vs Lorenzo Musetti in tomorrow’s semi. Musetti won in the maximum 5 sets, vs Taylor Fritz, the bell tolling for the latter, as a near 4 to 1 favorite.

In the other semi, tomorrow, Carlos Alcaraz is about a 3 plus to 1 “fave” vs Daniil Medvedev.

(5-3) Tilts, 82 Friday Night Years Apart

In listening to part of the 1942 All-Star baseball game as broadcast by Mutual, with “The Commander,” Bob Elson, Mel Allen and Jim Britt, I realized a “history repeats” note had manifested.

Spurgeon “Spud” Chandler, one of the great Yankees’ pitchers, is Joe McCarthy’s choice to start the tilt, apparently on 2 days rest, but with a maximum 3 innings pitched allowed.

Broadcaster Elson, who 10 months before and 2 months before events at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor, had been behind the microphone for the Yankees great game 4/1941 World Series win, that was the key to their 5 game triumph vs Leo Durocher’s Brooklyn Dodgers, informed that in a Friday night Yankees/Red Sox game on July 3, 1942, Chandler had emerged victorious by a (5-3) score.

Though I follow baseball nowhere near as I once did, somehow I knew that last Friday in another Red Sox/Yankees game, a (5-3) score manifested, this time in favor of the Red Sox.

From Wikipedia, more below. I add Spud Chandler, pictured above had a great career, spending all 11 of his seasons with the vaunted Yankees who won the title 6 times and did not only 5 times, as part of their great era of baseball that manifested in crowns in half their 40 seasons from 1923-1962.

He was named the American League‘s Most Valuable Player in 1943 after anchoring the team’s pitching staff with 20 wins and only 4 losses as New York won its third consecutive pennant; his 1.64 earned run average in that season was the lowest by any major league pitcher between 1920 and 1967, and remains a Yankees team record. In eleven seasons, he never suffered a losing record; with a total of 109 wins and 43 losses, his career winning percentage of .717 is the highest of any pitcher with at least 100 victories since 1876.

“Whitehead” TV Tie Ins

I realized a decent fact concerning a link between the television shows, each a great one, “All In The Family” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”

In “Hitch” Presents, Martin Balsam starred in “Final Arrangements,” meeting with a funeral director played by O.Z. Whitehead.

“O.Z.” stands for Oothout Zabriskie, but it is the Whitehead that is relevant here.

In a great “All In The Family” episode, “Archie” played by the great Carroll O’Connor, is pressured to give a good funeral for his cousin “Oscar,” though Archie never liked him.

The funeral director is named “Whitehead,” played by Jack Grimes.

O.Z. Whitehead, pictured above, as “Al Joad” in the film, “The Grapes Of Wrath” based on John Steinbeck’s immortal novel.

Nice Tribute To The Great Screenwriter, Robert Towne

Oh to express and in both instances, that of the great career and contributions of Robert Towne (“Chinatown” “The Godfather” and specifically the Polanski insisted– ” Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown,” to Jack Nicholson’s “Jake, ” among so much else) and this morning’s tribute to Mr. Towne, who died days back at age 89, by Scott Simon–beautiful expression manifests.

I share Mr. Simon’s tribute and laud and thank Mr. Towne for so much meaningful, entertaining, often humorous writing.

Enjoy.

Opinion: Remembering the star screenwriter Robert Towne

Click below to view, as Joe Mantell speaks the iconic line to Jack/”Jake” as the Roman Polanski, directed “Chinatown” ends.

Mr. Sheppard, perhaps “intro-ing” Mr. Towne in a better place, and for a needed “rewrite.”

Recalling Ted Williams Death, Announced At Yankee Stadium, 22 Years Ago Today

I happened to be at Yankee Stadium on another Friday July 5th, that in 2002 when the venerable and legendary Yankee Stadium public address announcer, Bob Sheppard,

certainly a diehard Yankees’ supporter, announced the death of a great Yankees’ rival player, Ted Williams.

Sheppard certainly spoke briefly, eloquently and in high praise of Williams, whose efforts, most times fell short in key games at Yankee Stadium, I suppose part of the lore of the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry.

That so over rated rivalry, (it is a good one but …,) resumes tonight as the Yankees and Red Sox open a 3 game series at Yankee Stadium, no longer on its hallowed ground.

I need not look, as surely the series will culminate, in yet another ESPN Sunday night game between the two teams.

Their emergence into this rivalry and the always Sunday night game has turned me off, however memories of Sheppard’s class, Williams’ hitting and such greats as Vic Raschi and David Ortiz continue to resonate in a quite positive way.

The legendary Bob Sheppard, who also was the public address announcer at New York Giants’ football games for many years, is pictured above.