This will be the tenth Super Bowl being telecast by what I call the “neutral network” i.e. not the AFL, AFC, NFL nor NFC network.
All but one of those telecasts including the upcoming one, the game matching the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, featured Al Michaels as the play by play announcer.
It took until the 1984 season and the 19th Super Bowl, before a “neutral network”– ABC, gained Super Bowl telecast rights.
The only previous “neutral network” game without Al Michaels, featured Frank Gifford as the play by play man in 1984. A former great running back named O.J. Simpson was assigned to the “loser’s lockeroom.” That was something I deemed appropriate at the time due to his team’s failures. In light of all, how childish on my part!
In eight of the nine previous “neutral network” telecasts, Al Michaels handled to play-by play. Michaels, I feel, epitomizes the “be careful what you wish for” bromide.
Surely Al, in his sleep was a better baseball announcer than Keith Jackson, whose skills were better suited for football, especially college. Thus I hoped Michaels would get more and more work. He did and his cup runneth over with success, even two Stanley Cups for his favorite hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings.
His success is an example of good happening to a not so good guy in my opinion. “References” are on file as I will not air it at this point.
Michaels’ phony, elongated play by play (the kick isssssssss good) is rank amateur. Few out there are any good, witness Kevin Harlan, as the big game’s radio voice.
Stay well Al and keep working. I will stop complaining for fear of whom will replace you when your inevitable retirement takes place.
This Sunday will be the 49th Super Bowl game. If Seattle wins, they will be the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since their opponent, the New England Patriots, did so 10 years ago.
The Seattle Seahawks attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions is the 12th time a team has reached the Super Bowl game in a bid to repeat as champions.
Eight of the eleven teams attempting to repeat as “Supe” winners, were successful in their bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Seattle is hoping to join the 1978 and 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers as the only teams to host consecutive conference championship games and win the Super Bowl in those two seasons.
An interesting note on the city of Seattle: When the NBA franchise now known and located as the Oklahoma City Thunder, were the Seattle SuperSonics, they also made consecutive finals, losing in 1978 and winning in 1979. Each of those series were against the Washington Bullets.
Will they repeat?
In this week before the Super Bowl, I want to talk about the great Miami Dolphins teams of the early 1970’s and specifically about their best team, the (12-2) 1973 team.
What? A (12-2) team better than the 1972 undefeated team?!!
In my opinion and to members of both the ’72 and ’73 teams, to the man, yes the 1973 team was better. Each was great but the 1973 team dominated in all of its three playoff games (a true barometer) was better.
The era itself (1970-1974) is one of the greatest in NFL history. In 1970 in their first year under Don Shula, whose 4 Super Bowl losses ties him with Bud Grant and Marv Levy for the most, Miami was the lone AFC wild card team.
In 1971 they made the Super Bowl, losing to the Dallas Cowboys (who finally won it all in their 6th straight playoffs appearance).
Then in 1972, the Dolphins went (17-0) and won it all, topping the Redskins in the Super Bowl. In the playoffs they struggled in all three games, which was not the case with the 1973 team.
That 1973 team lost but one meaningful game and were dominant in the playoffs, going on to beat the Vikings in the Super Bowl. That is why they get the nod as the best Dolphins team.
By the way, in 1974, the Dolphins showed me a great deal in defeat, when they lost at Oakland to the Raiders in the divisional round of the playoffs.
In conclusion, the Dolphins of the early 1970’s were one of the great teams in the NFL, and in all of sports history. Their undefeated team (1972) was great, and their next team (1973), though not undefeated, was better, making the era of Dolphins greatness very special.
Right about now, as the snow and the loneliness increase, I would ease the pain by calling a true great, both as the first TV late night talk show host and as a welcoming, caring man.
However, that no longer is possible, as the great man and host, Joe Franklin died Saturday night past at age 88.
His incredible body of work, stories and humor always put me in a better frame of mind. He knew so much, collected all and could talk of other greats he encountered and interviewed–Bing Crosby, perhaps his favorite.
Such stars as Al Pacino, Bill Cosby and perhaps Moses were given there first real exposure on his show. If there is not a “pill joke” there, surely there is one involving a tablet, as Joe joked he told a “sick” Moses to take two tablets.
It was the ease and composure of this man, whose office with its ever ringing phones made Grand Central Station in rush hour seem tame. He was always friendly, telling “Sidney” to call back at 6, no 5, as he was being interviewed by a “little show,” called Sixty Minutes.
This is a big blow to me, as I was privileged to know Joe and talked with him about all topics. Once, after I brought him a dvd of one of his incredible television shows, which ran in New York for over 40 years, he took me to the legendary Friars Club.
I will cherish that memory, but most of all the fact, I could always be myself and feel comfortable around Joe Franklin.
He thanked me for serving food to the less fortunate on a number of otherwise, lonely Thanksgiving holidays. “Did you have a good time serving the matzoh balls?” (there were no matzoh balls) he asked. Those days with his comedy, his care, his cause, how could I not?
On a cab ride somewhere, out of nowhere, he told me he never had his foot in the ocean. With the snow falling on Joe’s beloved New York, in another place, the great Joe Franklin Show opening musical theme is playing. Next Joe is greeting his new audience, standing in a beautiful ocean God has provided.
Just as after their 2010 and 2012 World Series victories, the San Francisco Giants honored their New York supporters by bringing the 2014 championship trophy to New York and among the events was a great breakfast at the Palace Hotel.
I was fortunate to attend, circumventing the early day foul weather and transportation issues and thank The New York Giants Preservation Society and its dedicated, accomplished president Gary Mintz profusely for this event and all that he and the organization does to enrich and remember the great New York Giants baseball history.
Kudos as well to the San Francisco Giants organization which recognizes the New York days and people, proudly adding the 5 New York Giant’s titles to the incredible 3 “S.F.” titles in the past 5 seasons, giving the Giants 8.
That ties them with the somewhat historically similar, Boston Red Sox for fourth place, trailing only the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia/Oakland Athletics in World Series triumphs.
Special praise to Staci Slaughter, Shana Daum and Albert Jaimes within the San Francisco organization. The man at the top, CEO Larry Baer, is beyond gracious and was in attendance.
The effort and achievement of those cited above is greatly appreciated by all the fans. A wonderful highlight: attending the event was one of baseball’s greatest players ever, Willie Mays–and it’s always a one of a kind thrill to see him in person. Representing current day players was the outstanding second baseman, Joe Panik.
A big thank you to all those involved for another superb event.
President Gary Mintz and family
As I prepare and hope to circumvent the inclement weather this early morning, news came that the great player, with that most positive attitude, Ernie Banks passed away at age 83.
He hit 512 career home runs and his back to back Most Valuable Player awards with Chicago Cubs teams that finished those two years near the bottom of the standings. It was his “sunshine” attitude that the baseball world will remember fondly. I can still hear him say his famous words “let’s play two!”
He started as a shortstop and overall was clearly one of the best ever at that position. Later he played first base and though he never played in a post season game, one of the greatest players never to do so, he promoted and loved the Chicago Cubs. He played his entire career with his beloved Cubbies.
Ernie would be optimistic today despite the weather and I treasure the one time I interviewed him at an awards event in 1992.
Mr. Banks was a good interview and when the great outfielder and baseball player rights pioneer Curt Flood joined us, they kidded each other and it was a thrill to witness the two Baseball greats having fun and being so candid with me. That was an interview I remember so fondly.
I am certain that they can now kid each other in a much better place. Meanwhile I will do my best to keep Ernie Banks’ great, positive attitude close to me.
Mr. Cub
What determined the results of last week’s NFL conference championship games are being discussed in a disproportionate and foolish manner as usual, by a mass media that is beyond the point of no return.
In the AFC game, whether footballs were properly inflated, or not, had no effect on the outcome, as New England (Patriots) routed the Indianapolis Colts.
Yet it is the tantamount concern of those who determine what is discussed and its priority. Talk of Deflate-Gate is almost non-stop.
In the NFC game, the horrible, beyond conservative coaching of Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy, combined with late game Green Bay collapse/Seattle Seahawks surge led to Seattle, not Green Bay, gaining Super Bowl entry. That should be discussed.
Sadly, only some form of improper bad behavior by one of the players or staff on either the Patriots or Seahawks, the two Super Bowl teams, will knock the ridiculous “footballs” story from the top of the list.
The 24 hour news cycle and its demand just gets worse. I virtually ignore it. Can or will you?!!
The Super Bowl meeting between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, will be the 17th time the two franchises have met. All 16 previous were regular season games.
Each team has won eight times. When Seattle was in the AFC, the teams met 13 times and have met three times since the Seahawks moved to the NFC.
It is interesting that the man who scored the first points ever in a Patriots vs Seahawks game was Tight End Don Hasselbeck, playing for New England in a (31-0) win over the second year Seahawks on October 9, 1977.
Don Hasselbeck is the father of two NFL quarterback sons. Tim, who had a brief NFL stint, and Matt, the longtime Seahawk QB, who is still active with the Indy Colts and was one round from facing “SEA” in this year’s “Supe.”
Matt played in more playoff games as the Seahawks quarterback (11) than any other Seattle quarterback. He also started in the Seahawks 2005 Super Bowl loss to to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Proud Father
The New England Patriots will be playing in their eighth Super Bowl, their sixth since 2001.
New England is (3-4) in its previous 7 Super Bowl appearances, (3-2) since 2001 with Tom Brady as the quarterback and Bill Belichick as coach.
This will be the first post season meeting between teams from Boston and Seattle in any round of post season play in any of the four major professional sports leagues.
Boston teams: the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins have all won championships in the past 10 years.
Other than the Red Sox, those teams have also lost in rounds or games for their league championship.
The Red Sox won their first 5 World Series, then lost the next four, before winning the last three.
The Patriots have lost their last two Super Bowl games after winning three straight. Prior to that, they lost in their first two Super Bowl appearances.
The vaunted Celtics once won in 14 straight NBA finals appearances, while the Bruins lost in 5 straight finals during a 39 year title drought from 1972 until they won the Stanley Cup again in 2011.
On October 8, 1972, both the New York Giants and New York Jets played at home at the same time. This was after the common schedule, AFC/NFC format started in 1970 and all these years later, a surprise to me.
Neither game was televised in the New York area but luckily each team had a superb radio broadcaster: the Giants with Marty Glickman, and the Jets with Merle Harmon. We are nowhere near that fortunate today.
The Dolphins on their way to a perfect season defeated the Jets that day.
The Giants on their way to mediocrity that season, which was an improvement, routed the New Orleans Saints. An obscure Giants’ running back named Charlie Evans scored 3 touchdowns for the Giants.
Archie Manning, a somewhat known Saints’ quarterback, threw three touchdowns, none of them with the score close.
Two fine receivers, Dave Parks and Dan Abromowitz, each of whom led the NFL in receiving at one point in their career, gathered in those touchdown passes.
The venues for those games were the original Yankee Stadium for Giants/Saints and Shea Stadium for Dolphins/Jets.
Later that day in Baseball, the eventual World Champion Oakland A’s took a (2-0) ALCS lead at home vs the Detroit Tigers in a game televised nationally.
The Cincinnati Reds’ NLCS squaring game 2 victory vs the Pirates at Pittsburgh, was not televised.
Years later I reflect and say I guess it is good that the games are televised but so often I must shut the sound off to avoid the horrible announcing.
The teams play in antiseptic, corporate named stadium now. Yankee Stadium was ideal for football and Shea Stadium, even with its swirling winds was a far better place than the one now.
Alas, it is a good thing to complain but would be a “far, far better thing,” if something could be done about it.
Andy B Sports 