At this point, I probably need not react all that adversely to statements and opinions heard on the air. One might want to let it go, lest one burst a blood vessel.
Yet these two should be pointed out. A “Professor Leakey of the future,” might use them as evidence of the continual “on air” decline.
Last week CBS/NFL Network analyst Phil Simms said he “was looking forward” to tonight’s game between a pair of (2-11) teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
Everybody wants to watch two woefully bad teams–don’t they? Also, Simms game commentary is of the “goody goody” type–he rarely offers any criticism.
Up the dial on PBS, commentator Tavis Smiley interviewied Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and stated 1993 as the year of Bill Clinton’s Presidential campaign/election, which of course is incorrect. The year was 1992.
Presidential elections occur every FOUR years.
Tavis Smiley
In watching some of game one of the 1973 World Series on “You Tube,” I took interest in the post game interview which included Oakland A’s manager, Dick Williams and the volatile, I feel progressive, A’s owner Charles Finley.
NBC’s Tony Kubek conducted the interview after the A’s held on for a (2-1) win vs the New York Mets, in a World Series the A’s would eventually win in seven games.
Williams proved prescient in saying the World Series would likely go seven games. Mr. Finley dropped by briefly. Some time later, manager Williams and owner Finley would be at odds with each other. That was not evident during the interview.
It was nice during football season to think about past baseball, especially a great team like the Oakland A’s.
Their manager Dick Williams, a baseball Hall of Famer, was a great one. The team’s owner, Charles Finley, a man ahead of his time, should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Williams won two World Series and managed four pennant winners. Finley’s A’s won three straight World Series (1972-1974) and many of his ideas thought too radical are in place today.
Dick WIlliams
The current leader in the race for the NFC one seed, the (11-3) Arizona Cardinals, are not expected to achieve that status.
The defending champion and (10-4) Seattle Seahawks go into Arizona this Sunday night and are over one touchdown favorites in the game. At least there is mercy for the fans there in warm weather Arizona, but that will not be the case the following week when the Detroit Lions play the Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin in a game which was moved to nighttime upon NBC’s whim.
That contest almost certainly will decide the NFC West title and likely the NFC top seed as well.
The NFC North crown almost certainly will be decided in the game between a pair of (10-4) teams, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions at night on December 28th.
The (10-4) Dallas Cowboys have a fraction of a game lead in the NFC East. The Cowboys led (21-0), trailed (24-21), but won (38-27) at Philadelphia vs the (9-5) Eagles.
In the woeful NFC South, a (6-8) record has the New Orleans Saints in control of their own destiny to win the crown.
As expected, three teams clinched their divisions for at least the second year in a row.
The likely one seed, (11-3) New England (Patriots) clinched a 6th straight AFC East crown ripping the (7-7) Miami Dolphins. It is the 11th straight divisional crown for New England in a season in which Tom Brady played more than one game. He was injured in the first game of the 2008 season.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos won their 4th straight AFC West title, beating the (8-6) San Diego Chargers at San Diego. The Broncos have won the divisional crown in all three seasons with Peyton Manning at quarterback.
The (10-4) Indianapolis Colts, a touchdown favorite, won by that margin vs the Houston Texans to clinch a second straight AFC South title.
With two weeks left to play, the (9-4-1) Cincinnati Bengals shut down the Cleveland Browns (7-7) and their most hyped (and for little reason) QB Johnny Manziel, 30-0. The Browns lead the AFC North by a fraction of a game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won yesterday at the (5-8-1) Atlanta Falcons. The Baltimore Ravens at home defeated the (2-12) Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers and the Ravens both now have (9-5) records. That record puts both teams tied for the lead for the Wild Card by at least a fraction of a game.
The Golden State Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr who was a many time NBA champion as a player, are off to an incredible (20-2) start.
It is a long season, and the Warriors, a 6th seed and first round loser in the playoffs last season, will have a tough time winning the very tough NBA West.
I wish they were in the Eastern Conference as they would be a third title threat in that far weaker conference.
The great start by the Warriors evokes memories of the miracle 1975 Warriors’ championship team. They failed to qualify for the eight team playoff field in 1973-1974, but won it all in 1974-1975.
Golden State was led by two great players: Rick Barry, who was the undisputed star of the team, and a rookie, who would become great, Keith (later to be Jamaal) Wilkes.
Click here for Warriors 1974-75 Playoffs Highlights
I have three NFL predictions this week, and two of the games involved are rematches of games I incorrectly forecast on Thanksgiving.
In the late afternoon, with the “Emperor” Joe Buck presiding, the highly disappointing San Francisco 49ers will play well at Seattle vs the defending champion Seahawks. The roughly 10 point favorite Seahawks will win, say (20-13).
In another “Turkey Day redux,” the three plus point underdog Dallas Cowboys are my “pick” at Philadelphia vs the Eagles.
My final prediction is that the Houston Texans will play well at Indianapolis vs the Colts. Near one touchdown underdog, Houston may win outright, but I will say Colts (27-24).
After their “ho hum,” (12-6), all field goal game win in St. Louis vs the (6-8) Rams, the (11-3) Arizona Cardinals, once the St. Louis Cardinals, and before that, the Chicago Cardinals, have all but clinched at least a playoff berth.
The Cardinals game next Sunday night (lucky for NBC to have it in its telecast package) at home vs the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, will likely decide the NFC West title.
The Cardinals are the NFL franchise that has gone the longest without a title. They last won the title in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals. That was their only title game victory. They never won a title in St.Louis and have not done so in Arizona.
That 1947 Cardinals’ team had a great offensive backfield. Names like Charley Trippi, Elmer Angsman, Paul Christman, Pat Harder and Marshall Goldberg are part of NFL history, part of that Cardinals’ team that prevailed (28-21) vs the Philadelphia Eagles, to win the 1947 NFL crown.
1947 Chicago Cardinals
Of course, in the end, neither the selection process nor the move to a playoff among four teams produced a clear cut four deserving teams.
As usual, the late Beano Cook who knew just a “little more ” (try the length and breadth of Hoover Dam, as a fraction of the margin) about college football than Condoleezza Rice (a Selection committee member) was right both about wanting no playoff in college football, and probably about the ineptitude that permeates a lot of things all around us.
Sticking to college football, “stick it” is what the selection committee did to both Big 12 contenders, Baylor and especially TCU, the latter “teased” into the third spot in the penultimate week and then left out after a (55-3) victory.
The two semi-final games are both considered one sided and I hope they will be. Warning: do not bet that they will be. The rankings and the process/obsession of having a #1 or college football champion has and always will be a perversion of an already perverted system.
This week’s Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills game will almost certainly not be a preview of this year’s Super Bowl.
While the Packers are clear favorites in the NFC, they are still considered 7 to 5 underdogs to make it.
The Bills who have already exceeded their projected six and a half wins total, are a nice surprise, but 150 to 1 shots to make the Super Bowl.
The Packers on the road and Bills at home rekindles a nice, funny memory.
In the league championship games for the 1966 NFL and AFL seasons which would set the first Super Bowl, the Bills were at home vs the Kansas City Chiefs while “GB” visited the Cowboys, in Dallas.
The NFL was considered far superior thus the recollection of a sign held up in Buffalo shown during the Bills’ loss to the Chiefs in the 1966 AFL championship game remains funny, as it said Super Bowl 1– Bills 80 Packers 0.
It turned out Packers 35 Chiefs 10.
After their (43-37) win as 13 point favorites vs the Atlanta Falcons, the (10-3) Green Bay Packers continue to be huge favorites to win a third straight NFC North crown.
“G.B.” has a fraction of a game lead over the (9-4) Detroit Lions, whom the “Pack” host in a game that likely will decide the division title on a cold, perhaps frigid night in Green Bay on December 28th.
In all likelihood, NBC will telecast that game at night with no regard for the fans, who will have to endure the frigid conditions.
Meanwhile, despite the loss and only a (5-8) record, the Falcons are tied for first place in the woeful NFC South with the New Orleans Saints.
The Carolina Panthers, who handed the Saints a fourth straight home loss, all occurring after I heard WFAN Radio and Fox Sports 1 host Mike Francesa say they NEVER lose at home, are just a half game behind with a (4-8-1) record.
Whoever wins the division will be the NFC “4” seed and host a wild card round game. Meanwhile a team with a very good record will not qualify for the playoffs in the NFC.
Andy B Sports 