I lived it, I ate it, I breathed and was at times all consumed by it, but today I have already turned down a Super Bowl gathering and plan to not watch closely, and even miss parts of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
This achievement, if I am able to perform it, would mean something to me, a small ripple of protest vs the monolith NFL and NBC.
In showing how misguided and deep my passion for the Super Bowl once was, I give you these arcane facts as an example of the intensity: this is the 5th “Supe” between teams with 8 letters in its nickname. The Dolphins (Miami) and Redskins (Washington D.C.) split in games 10 years apart, Miami winning in 1972 and Washington in 1982.
Other previous Super Bowl contests between 8 letter teams were a Patriots win vs the also 8 letter (Carolina) Panthers and a Seahawks loss to the also 8 letter (Pittsburgh) Steelers.
Still addicted to data that no one else writes about, consider this regarding Boston/Seattle sports history: The NBA Boston Celtics made that league’s playoffs 37 of 39 years from (1955-1993).
Only in 1978 and 1979 did the Boston team fail to qualify. In each of those years, the Seattle NBA team at the time, the SuperSonics went to the NBA finals, losing in 1978 and winning in 1979 vs the Washington Bullets.
Now the Seattle franchise is in Oklahoma City (nickname, Thunder) and the Bullets were renamed the Wizards in an inane, misguided attempt to curtail violence (how about not selling guns?)
Withdrawal, discipline and taking a stand all are tough tasks. An honest account of my day and perspective on the game here tomorrow.
The inane hype involving this Super Bowl, which has gained a lot of “steam” or dare I say “weight,’ not from the high football quality of each team, but for other reasons, has considerably waned my interest. Yet there is no denying these are two high quality football teams that will play for the title tomorrow.
Super Bowl XLIX will result in some interesting history, whether the defending champion Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots win tomorrow’s contest.
If the Seahawks win, they will be the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the Patriots did so ten years ago.
A New England victory would mean a fourth title for its coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady and would come ten years after their last one.
Better late than never, I am reading “A Day in the Bleachers,” by Arnold Hano. It recounts in extraordinary detail Mr. Hano’s day sitting in the bleachers at the Polo Grounds, a quaint old ballpark that no longer exists–I believe Mr. Sinatra’s “There Used to Be a Ballpark” was about it.
The book is written about the game Hano attended on September 29, 1954 which happened to be game one of the World Series. Nowadays the World Series starts late in October and likely will end in November next season.
The game in 1954 is best remembered for New York Giants Willie Mays’ extraordinary catch in the 8th inning and was won by the Giants on pinch hitter Dusty Rhodes’ home run.
The San Francisco Giants celebrated this year’s World Series victory, their third in five seasons, by bringing the championship trophy to New York last week, honoring the team’s roots. Willie Mays was there and it was a positive, contemporary event.
Back to the book: its details, which includes Bob Feller of the opposing Cleveland Indians warming up at an advanced pitching age, and the interaction of the fans, not all of whom were rooting for the hometown Giants, makes incredible reading.
I am looking forward to finishing this great work rather soon. It will be my weekend highlight, the Super Bowl notwithstanding.
Where to watch the game? Hardcore fans may stay home glued to the TV. But following the game, an annual tradition for guys is the decidedly unofficial after-party at Rick’s Cabaret New York, the upscale gentlemen’s club known for its beautiful entertainers, luxurious setting, and warm hospitality.
Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girl Bella explained, “Sunday night is gonna be so awesome! I don’t care what team you like. Win or lose, Rick’s Cabaret is the place to be! If your team wins, we do the sexiest victory dances you’ve ever seen. If they lose, we’ll make you forget all about the game. Haha!”
“Nobody throws a party like Rick’s Cabaret,” purred Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girl Alison.
Named “The #1 Strip Club in New York” by Playboy, Rick’s Cabaret is the club of choice for an upscale clientele including Wall Street bankers and brokers, numerous celebrities, and pro athletes from all the major sports. It features a gourmet steakhouse and balcony seating on its second floor, deluxe Sky Boxes on its third floor, and a Roof Top Cigar Lounge and Garden.
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
Andy B Sports 