The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are almost certain to have the home field advantage in any post season series in which they play in 2014. They will win the A.L. West title.
Another great regular season performance has been accomplished by the Baltimore Orioles, who will win their first divisional title since 1997 and just their second since 1983, when they last played in or won a World Series title.
Baltimore almost certainly will be the American League “2” seed in the playoffs and will open the division series at home, likely vs the Detroit Tigers, on Thursday October 2nd.
The Tigers, as usual, have shown signs of brilliance but also have struggled at times. They are likely, but far from definite, to be the winners in the A.L. Central. If Detroit holds on, it will be their fourth straight divisional crown.
Once the Athletics franchise played in Kansas City, now in their current carnation as the Oakland Athletics, they likely, but far from definitely, will face another Kansas City based team, the Royals, in the American League “play in” game.
Though the situation and the stakes will be so different, it is almost certain that the baseball Giants franchise, in San Francisco after moving from New York in 1957, will face “baseball elimination” in a Wednesday game in early October as was the case in both 1951 and 1962.
I can share the facts and my intensity both for the game and the fact that the presence of wild card teams, negating the need to finish in first place, helped ruin the game of baseball, which I loved.
Then I realized that the night of the game a man named Ed Lucas will address the “New York Giants Preservation Society” at the Bergino Clubhouse in New York City.
Ed is a passionate baseball fan, more important a writer, even more important a man who has overcome adversity and most important of all, one who helps others.
He is related to baseball history and his story is both inspiring and an important lesson.
Ed was a big Giants baseball fan and at age 12 experienced the euphoria of seeing Bobby Thomson’s pennant winning home run in person at the Polo Grounds on Wednesday October 3,1951.
On that same day, an accident playing the game Ed still loves, took away his eyesight.
His story and life is extraordinary and I look forward to seeing and hearing Ed Lucas speak this coming October 1st.
The game that day, likely, but not definitely, to be played in SF will be on the minds of many in attendance.
However, I know Ed has inspired and helped me as I realize it is just a game. People like Ed Lucas, and not athletic exploits should inspire us to do, not necessarily the extraordinary, but at least the ordinary and not dwell on baseball’s loss as regrettable as it might be.
My “PS” is there will be an upcoming post specifically about Ed Lucas and his inspirational life.
Ed Lucas with Gene Michael
With two weeks left to play, the Washington Nationals are certain division winners while the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals are very likely division winners in the National League.
The Nationals will finish first for the second time in three seasons but also only the second time in a non strike season, (they made the playoffs in strike marred 1981) in this the franchise’s 46th season. They originally were the Montreal Expos.
The Dodgers head into the final 2 weeks with a 3 game lead over the San Francisco Giants. In turn, S.F. has a 3 game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top wild card and a 4 and a half game lead for playoff qualification.
The Cardinals lead the Pirates by 3 and a half games in the NL Central and likely will win a second straight divisional title. They almost certainly will at least make their 4th straight playoffs appearance.
There were some big upsets in college football yesterday but the top four teams either won or were idle.
Top ranked Florida State was idle. Second ranked Oregon University and third choice University of Alabama each won big but did not exceed the huge point spread in its game. Fourth ranked Oklahoma University did exceed the point spread in its national telecast vs Tennessee University. Fifth ranked Auburn University was idle.
The upsets included East Carolina beating Virginia Tech, Virginia University founded by Thomas Jefferson, taking Louisville University, where the great quarterback John Unitas once played, and Boston College, a six to one underdog, winning vs the University of Southern California.
The University of South Carolina beat the highest ranked team to lose yesterday. In a home game, South Carolina, coached by Steve Spurrier won (38-35) against sixth ranked Georgia University.
Steve Spurrier
As predicted here, the Phoenix Mercury swept the Chicago Sky in three straight games and captured the franchise’s third WNBA title.
By contrast, the NBA Phoenix Suns and NFL Arizona Cardinals have never won a league title in 72 combined years in Arizona. The baseball Diamondbacks have won one World Series.
Series MVP Diana Taurasi led the Mercury with 24 points in the clincher. Phoenix went (7-1) in the playoffs and was dominant in 5 of those wins.
Congratulations to coach Sandy Brondello and the entire Mercury organization. A different coach has guided the Mercury to their three titles: Corey Gaines coached the 2009 champions, while Paul Westhead coached the 2007 winners.
Westhead is the only coach to win both NBA and WNBA titles, having coached the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title.
Coach Brondello
The second week of the NFL season began with the now (1-1) Baltimore Ravens defeating the now (1-1) Pittsburgh Steelers. In my first NFL game predictions of the year, I believe the week one loser defeating the week one winner trend will continue. The predictions follow.
The New York Giants, are almost a field goal underdogs vs the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants, who lost last Monday night, will win vs the Cardinals, who edged the San Diego Chargers also last Monday night.
Speaking of the Chargers, they are 6 point underdogs vs what now must be considered a great Seattle Seahawks team. However, “S.D.” will at least keep it close vs Seattle. It will be a field goal game either way.
Finally on Monday night, the Indianapolis Colts will even their record at home vs the Philadelphia Eagles. Last week, the Eagles down (17-0) and 10 plus point favorites, won by 17 vs the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last night I had a fabulous time at the NBC hit television show, “America’s Got Talent” at the one and only Radio City Music Hall.
It was great fun to watch the performers and the process of doing the live broadcast. The drama of the competition was stirring and watching up close I felt joy for those who advanced and compassion for those “sent home.”
Howard is remarkable as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.” He is the most honest judge ever on these types of shows, and of course, hilariously funny at just the right moments.
My seats were incredible thanks to Ronnie Mund, aka “Ronnie the Limo Driver,” who appears on the Howard Stern Radio Show, and also does security for Howard Stern.
It was interesting watching Ronnie as he worked security. His radio on-air character is very entertaining and he is sometimes the subject of abuse–although always in good fun. After seeing the “real” Ronnie working, I also know that he has a very serious side, and is a true professional.
Mr. Mund, who gave me a great thrill asking if I was Mr. B, was also kind and made my guest and I feel good. I have seen the three sides of Ronnie–he’s a fascinating guy!
As if seeing the wonderful show and meeting Ronnie was not enough, I also had a chance to talk to the beautiful (inside and out) Beth Ostrosky Stern.
So what does one say upon approaching a beautiful woman? I related a quick story from my late, great friend Beano Cook, who was the sports information director at Pittsburgh University. He once told me that Beth’s dad, Robert Ostrosky, was a good football player at Pittsburgh University. Beth thought that was “cool.”
The evening with all the nice people and great surroundings was “beyond cool” for me. Thanks again Ronnie and the entire NBC staff.
Ronnie Mund
Marin Cilic’s performance in the semi-finals and finals, both of which he won in three straight sets to win the US Open, was one of the greatest in a long time.
I did predict Cilic to win in 4 sets but might have said three, had I spoken with “tennis expert,” Mike Weiner earlier. He was adamant in stating the wrong man (Kei Nishikori) was favored in the final match. His analysis, as was the case with the NBA San Antonio Spurs, was tremendous.
Another great performance is that of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury, who have completely dominated the Chicago Sky in each of the first two games of the best of five, WNBA finals.
I predicted the Mercury to win in three straight games and we shall see what transpires in game 3 at Chicago tomorrow night. At this point, I see little likelihood that the Mercury will not complete the sweep in that game.
Marin Cilic
The Washington Nationals enjoy an 8 game lead in the N.L. East and very likely will win a second divisional title in three seasons.
The team once known as the Montreal Expos, will most likely be making just their third post season appearance in this, their 46th season.
One appearance was in the strike marred 1981 baseball season, while the franchise was likely denied an appearance in 1994, when there was no post season played.
Last year’s NLCS opponents, and teams with rich post season experience, the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers, are the other division leaders in the National League.
St. Louis has a four and a half game lead in the N.L. Central while L.A. leads by three and a half games in the N.L. West.
With her U.S. Open final victory vs Carol Wozniacki yesterday, Serena Williams moved into a three way tie for third place in women’s grand slam titles.
It was Williams’ 18th grand slam title tying her with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, behind only Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22).
Williams earned 4 million dollars for her victory. As the prize amount was being announced, the telecast showed Evert talking with Navratilova, perhaps lamenting the fact that in their day, the prize money was not as great.
When referencing the fact that the THREE players (Evert, Navratilova and Williams) had 54 combined grand slam titles, CBS’ Bill Macatee said “54 titles BETWEEN them.”
“Between you and me,” the correct phrase for more than two, is “AMONG them.”
Serena Williams
Andy B Sports 