Do not look now, but the Cleveland Browns–their last title was 50 years ago in 1964–are in first place in the AFC North.
The (6-3) Browns’ lead is scant over the (5-3-1) Cincinnati Bengals, whom they defeated last Thursday. All four teams in the division are within a half game. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have (6-4) records.
Elsewhere the idle Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, who clash next Sunday night (maybe it will be a good game, unlike the incredible rash of “blowouts” thus far on the NBC package) each have at least a one and a fraction game lead in their divisions, the AFC South and East respectively.
Both the (7-2) Denver Broncos and the (6-3) Kansas City Chiefs won this past week. Denver ripped Oakland in a rematch of the 1977 AFC Title game also won by the Broncos. The Chiefs went to Buffalo and won as they did in the 1966 AFL title game to gain entry into the first Super Bowl.
Few things in sports move me in a positive way at this point in time and my life. One exception is the fact the Montreal Canadiens retired the number of their great defenseman, Guy Lapointe, last Saturday night.
One can argue which was the greatest hockey team–and I opt for the Canadiens from 1956-1960, as they won five straight Stanley Cup titles.
Not far behind are the (1976-1979) Canadiens, who won four straight Stanley Cup crowns. What really is not open for debate, is that the three great defenseman on those (’76-’79) teams, Guy Lapointe, Larry Robinson and Serge Savard were the greatest such trio in history.
Now Lapointe has joined Robinson and Savard as a Canadiens’ player whose number is retired. I sure wish I was there to see it.
One personal note, I rode a bus overnight to Montreal in March 1996 (my butt is just now recovering) because I “had” to see a game at The Montreal Forum, before it closed.
Arriving early in the morning before checking into a hotel I went to a coffee shop. Incredibly, Guy Lapointe walked in and we chatted.
The conversation turned to his big goal vs the Flyers in game one of the 1976 finals and of course about the defensive trio. However, as “cool” as that was, seeing Guy exude charm and kindness for those assembled in the coffee shop is the highlight I will not forget. Congrats Guy!
Once again, in the Southeastern Conference West none of the top four teams covered the spread.
While Alabama, a touchdown favorite, won by that margin in overtime at LSU, (never easy to win there especially on a Saturday night), Texas AM, more than a three touchdown underdog, won at Auburn, handing the Tigers a second loss.
Meanwhile both Mississippi teams won, still unbeaten Miss State vs Tennessee-Martin and Ole Miss vs Presbyterian. Neither team covered the point spread, and yes there are spreads on games against lower, other division level opponents.
Next week, Mississippi State visits Alabama, which certainly is an attractive game for CBS in its 3:30 pm time slot.
Away from the SEC West, such teams as Texas Christian University, Arizona State and Ohio State scored victories that put them in the wild race for entrance into the first college football playoff.
As cited above there were big victories for TCU (vs Kansas State), Arizona State (vs Notre Dame) and Ohio State (as an underdog at Michigan State) which puts them in the playoffs race.
Two other top teams, defending champion Florida State which “no covered” Virginia and Oregon, which ripped Utah, are certainly in the race.
Undefeated Florida State will be in the playoff if it goes unbeaten and perhaps, but not likely, with one loss. Oregon, I believe, would also get in if they win their remaining games.
It is a wild race. Stay tuned.
As the song says “two out of three ain’t bad” so after that record last week, my NFL week 10 predictions follow.
I predict the disappointing San Francisco 49ers will play very well and maybe even win outright at New Orleans against the Saints. New Orleans is nearly a 6 point favorite.
The Buffalo Bills will do their part to “set up” the next Jim Nantz, I mean NFL network tilt. I predict the 1 point underdog Bills to win at home vs the Kansas City Chiefs. The next Thursday night game (Nantz presiding on NFL Network), sends the Bills to Miami vs the Dolphins.
Last week I was correct in predicting a “no cover” victory for the Seattle Seahawks. I was wrong in taking the New York Giants, as the Indianapolis Colts routed them.
I guess I do not learn but will take the Giants plus 8 points at Seattle vs the Seahawks.
My predictions are the 49ers, Bills, and Giants: three of the four teams involved in the 1990 Conference title games. The other one, the Oakland Raiders are still without a victory.
“Happy Karaoke Fun Time,” a great improvisational “show of song,” had its final performance at The Davenport Theater last night.
However, at the end of the splendid performance came equally splendid news as creator and cast member Philip Markle announced the show would begin again at the People’s Improv Theater (24th and Park Avenue South) beginning Friday night November 14th at 11 p.m.
Taking familiar songs and changing the words to fit the show’s theme is one way to describe “Happy Karaoke Fun Time.”
Another, is that it is great fun and I for one, marvel at the cast’s incredible improvisational skills.
An example was the great song by “The Temptations” with the word “fire” strategically substituted.
In addition to Mr. Markle, the cast includes Kathleen Armenti, Nikita Burdein, Maya Deshmukh, Ali Reed, Jennifer Connor, Kiki Mikkelsen, Christopher Simpson, and Douglas Widick.
It is very annoying how ESPN gets away with its policies, but if you are held captive by sports, as so many are, you learn to deal with it. Their incessant talk about things that are meaningless goes on and on.
We are fed non stop hype about that most over rated player of our time, LeBron James. He is a great player, but he is not the Messiah or the second coming of Christ.
Currently, ESPN is making such a big deal about the fact that James’ “new, old team,” the Cleveland Cavaliers, are (1-3). This makes no sense.
I think so little of James compared to his hype, but to criticize his team after four games is as bad as telling us how great he is. He is great, just not that great!
The Cavaliers are in the incredibly weak Eastern Conference, as James did not have the courage to play in the West. Unfortunately, and really why does it matter, but James and the Cavaliers will have a good season and are still the favorites to win the incredibly weak NBA East.
The San Francisco Giants’ remarkable 3 titles in 5 seasons, and the recent Boston Red Sox run of titles (not as pronounced with 3 in 10 seasons) is cause for asking the baseball gods, why these teams and not some of their predecessors?!
First of all, both the Giants and Red Sox beat the teams they had to in achieving those titles. Yet, especially with one title each as a wild card team, I can not help but wonder and lament that these Giants of Buster Posey and even Madison Bumgarner have three titles and such Giants’ greats as Willie Mc Covey and Juan Marichal have none.
Similarly, why such fortune for David Ortiz of the Red Sox, who in my book is great, but why three titles for him and none for say, Carl Yastrzemski of Boston Red Sox fame?
Sticking with the Giants of the 1960’s, who at one time had 5 future Hall of Famers on their roster (Willie Mays, Mc Covey, Marichal, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry), they finished second in the National League from (1965-1968), and also in the first year of divisional play in 1969.
There was no wild card team and the National League, especially in that period, was really stacked with tremendous teams.
The (7-2) New England Patriots made it 5 straight convincing wins by routing the (6-2) Denver Broncos last week. The Pats lead the AFC East over the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, each of whom is (5-3).
Andrew Luck and the (6-3) Indianapolis Colts again have a very safe, two plus game lead over the (4-5) Houston Texans in the AFC South. The Colts won earlier in the season at Houston.
While the (5-2-1) Cincinnati Bengals lead the AFC North, Ben Roethlisberger and the (6-3) Pittsburgh Steelers have three straight convincing wins. It makes me wonder why the Steelers are only 4 point favorites for this week’s game vs the (1-8) New York Jets.
The Broncos still lead the AFC West with their (6-2) record. The Kansas City Chiefs are next with a (5-3) mark.
Recently I had a chance to see Alice Cooper speak at the 92nd Street Y. He is incredible and more on him, specifically, in a post very soon.
When he was speaking I realized two teams that are “Alice Cooper related,” are currently the top two in the NFC standings.
Those teams are the (7-1) Arizona Cardinals and the (6-2) Detroit Lions, who rank ahead of the also (6-2) Philadelphia Eagles due to a better conference record at this point.
Alice Cooper grew up in Detroit and cited the home town Lions as part of his being a “regular guy” before his shows, when as Cooper fans know, another type guy emerges.
He also lives in Arizona, the home of the top ranked Cardinals, whose (7-1) record is currently the best in the NFL, not just the NFC.
Since we are just past the halfway point in the NFL season it is not exactly “school’s out” for the rest of the NFC, but right now an “Alice Cooper related,” Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals NFC title game is much more likely than anyone thought going into the season.
Alice Cooper
Four of the Top Five teams from the Southeastern Conference are from the Western Division. Yesterday, none of the four covered the spread in a game that was not against the other.
This is stretching the point as one team, Alabama, was idle and Auburn won as a slight underdog at Mississippi, handing “Ole Miss,” a second straight loss.
The other game was a real “no cover” as top ranked Mississippi State, likely looking ahead to their next game in two weeks at Alabama, struggled to beat Arkansas University.
Elsewhere, Oregon, derailed by Stanford two years ago, eased vs “The Cardinal” (Stanford) this time.
T.C.U. (Texas Christian University, where the great Sammy Baugh played) survived with a (31-30) win at West Virginia.
Andy B Sports 