Our update begins in the AFC West where both the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos scored decisive victories. (4-1) “S.D.” shutout the (1-4) New York Jets. Meanwhile the (3-1) Denver Broncos knocked the now (3-1) Arizona Cardinals from the unbeaten ranks.
The (3-2) New England Patriots ripped the now (3-1) Cincinnati Bengals last night, leaving the NFL with no unbeaten teams just 5 weeks into the season.
Cincy still leads the tight AFC North with (3-2) teams Pittsburgh (Steelers) and Baltimore (Ravens) just behind. The (2-2) Cleveland Browns are one game back.
In their first game, the Browns were down by 24 points at Pittsburgh and tied the game, only to lose on a field on the game’s last play. Yesterday Cleveland was down (28-3) at one point, (28-10) at the half, but rallied for a (29-28) win at now (1-4) Tennessee (Titans).
The Thursday night game this coming week will be a battle of the two (3-2) teams that lead the AFC South. The Houston Texans, who lost by 3 points as 6 point underdogs at the now (4-1) Dallas Cowboys, will host the Indianapolis Colts, who have won and covered three straight games, the latest vs the Ravens.
There also will be a game between the two (3-2) teams that lead the AFC East this week. On Sunday, the (3-2) Buffalo Bills, who yesterday rode a 58 yard field from Dan Carpenter to a win at the now (3-2) Detroit Lions, will host the (3-2) New England Patriots, who as cited ripped Cincinnati last night. The Pats have won 20 of their 21 games vs the Bills.
The Miami Dolphins are (2-2), right there in the AFC East and I predict the (1-4) Jets with Michael Vick playing some at quarterback, will at least keep it close at home next week, vs the mighty Broncos.
Both the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles, though each were series underdogs, have taken two games to none leads in their best of five series vs the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Detroit Tigers respectively.
The Royals are writing an incredible story, playing in post season for the first time since winning it all in 1985. They staged a great comeback in winning the “play in” game vs the Oakland Athletics (9-8) in 12 innings. Twice in that game, they faced a potential final at bat and overcame the deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth and winning it in the twelfth inning.
The Royals have won the first two games at the top ranked Angels, each in extra innings. Mike Moustakas in game one, and Eric Hosmer in game two, struck home runs in an extra frame.
Meanwhile, the Orioles have had two huge eighth innings to take the first two games from the favored Tigers.
Playing at home, in this the first ever Baltimore/Detroit post season battle in any major league team sport, Baltimore scored eight runs in the eighth to wrap up game one and four in game two to overcome a (6-3) deficit and win (7-6).
Click here for Royals 1985 clip
Incredibly, the St. Louis Cardinals down (6-2) vs certain NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw in the 7th inning on the road, won (10-9) at Los Angeles vs the Dodgers in game one of their NLDS.
That result coupled with the San Francisco Giants’ win at Washington vs the NL top ranked Nationals earlier in the day, meant once again, the Giants won and the Dodgers lost in very important October 3rd games.
This was “only” game one of a best of five “quarterfinal series” also known as the NLDS, so the impact is nowhere as great as the Giants dramatic wins head to head vs the Dodgers on October 3rd in both 1951 and 1962.
Those Giants victories by the New York Giants on October 3rd, 1951 (Bobby Thomson’s one out three run home run was decisive) and the by then, relocated San Francisco Giants on October 3rd, 1962 (SF rallied for four runs in the top of the 9th inning to win 6-4) won the National League Pennant in decisive 3rd games of unscheduled playoffs.
However, the startling Dodgers loss and/or surprising Giants win (not to me) may lead to one advancing and the other not doing so.
Giants Win, Dodgers Lose, October 3, 1962
I truly do not watch much of the sports talk and preview shows that both proliferate and pollute the airwaves.
Tuning in for just a few minutes yesterday, I heard three factual mistakes.
First Israel Gutierrez on yesterday’s ESPN “Around the Horn” Show said in a 5 game series Giants top starter (Madison) Bumgarner would start twice. The trouble is he pitched Wednesday night and hence will not pitch until game three on Monday.
He will not make two starts but why should Gutierrez, who like the others on the panel is paid to give strong, often ridiculous opinions (you know what they say about opinions) get his facts correct?
Next, Pedro Gomez covering the Baseball divisional playoffs in California for ESPN’s “Olbermann” Show said game three of the St. Louis Cardinals/Los Angeles Dodgers series will be Sunday. Wrong. It is scheduled for Monday.
Later on the same show, Keith Olbermann himself said Rusty Kuntz is the Detroit Tigers’ first base coach. The problem is that he is the Kansas City Royals’ first base coach.
Israel Gutierrez–two starts?
Rusty Kuntz–Royal not Tiger
Pedro Gomez–Sunday? Monday?
Writer and broadcaster Ed Lucas exceeded my high expectations when he delivered an inspiring, informative, and at times humorous, talk about his remarkable life at the fabulous Bergino Clubhouse in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, Wednesday night.
It was another great program organized by Gary Mintz, the President of the New York Giants Preservation Society.
Ed lost his eyesight when he was hit by a line drive while pitching in a game when he was only twelve years old. That occurred on October 3, 1951, the day the New York Giants, Ed and his family’s favorite team, dramatically won the National League Pennant on Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard round the world.”
I sat mesmerized by Ed’s baseball knowledge, stories about players he has interviewed over the years, and the fact Ed, who does not have sight to see such beautiful things as rainbows, does see how beautiful it is to give to others.
In that vein, there is The Ed Lucas Foundation, which gives invaluable assistance to those without eyesight and those closest to them.
He will write a “must read’ book that likely will come under the auspices of someone named Derek Jeter, who will soon be in the publishing business.
There should have been a movie about this incredible individual, who does not so much shame me as to my complaining regarding certain things, but inspires me to perhaps do better. The movie may yet happen.
Both Ed’s wife Allison and his son Chris contributed to Ed’s talk. Each of them exude charm and were most friendly. Ed and Allison were married at home plate in Yankee Stadium, the only couple to do so.
The uplifting story of Ed’s life (with more to come both in Ed’s life and in posts here) is best summed up by Ed’s interaction with baseball.
Ed talked of how a game of baseball deprived him of his eyesight, but enriched his life.
He sat next to Joe Di Maggio whose great exploits were broadcast by some greats, Mel Allen to name one. At the first game in the new Yankee Stadium in April 1976, Mr. Di Maggio called the game, just for Ed Lucas in the press box.
I have reverence for Di Maggio’s greatness and his grace, and even more for the fact he felt he had a duty to try his best in any game, for someone might be “seeing him for the first time.” Ed “saw” that 1976 game, complete with the Twins’ Dan Ford’s home run in defeat, through Di Maggio’s eyes.
Ed Lucas hears more than most about baseball and far more important things. He truly “sees” when it comes to life. Thus that interaction with Joe “D,” and other good things to come to Ed are well deserved. That is a vast understatement.
This is so not just because of his effort or even his incredible bravery, though each is transcendent. Even greater to me, Ed Lucas has an incredible appreciation for all those good things.
Click here for the Ed Lucas Foundation
Tommy Lasorda with Ed Lucas
Is it possible that it has been 36 years since Russell “Bucky” Dent hit a two out, top of the seventh inning home run that put the New York Yankees ahead to stay in a one game playoff win at Boston vs the Red Sox?!
That win gave the Yankees their third straight AL East title and they would go on to win a second straight World Series and third straight American League Pennant.
The Red Sox who had such great or near great players as Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice suffered another horrible defeat in that game.
Even now, it is hard for me to express the disappointment of that loss nor how low I felt when Jim Woods’ call of Dent’s home run came crackling through on the radio.
Two things bring solace, one is my admiration for such Yankees organization members as Roy White, who was in the middle of so many big Yankees moments in 1978 and was on base when Dent homered, and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto who exhorted about his fellow shortstop, while interviewing Dent after the game.
The other good thing is that there was no “safety net” of being a wild card team for the losing team. As was the case in 1951, 1962 and other great pennant or divisional races before 1994 (the horror wild card was instituted but there were no playoffs due to a labor dispute that year) or 1995 (first playoffs with a wild card team), it was a true race with the drama of the winner moving ahead and the non winner sent home.
Last Sunday I had the incredible experience and pleasure to see Joan Shepard, who has logged over 70 years in show business, in “Confessions of Old Lady 2.”
Her songs were creative and sounded great, as she was accompanied by Michael Ferreri on the piano.
It was Ms. Shepard’s stories, told with a stage presence most actors could only dream to attain, that mesmerized me. Those recollections included so many entertainment greats, shown, not always in a great light.
For example, Joan has been happily married to Evan Thompson, with whom she has worked and created, (this includes two children) since 1959.
Just married, and with dignity, Joan lost her chance to be in a movie with Elvis Presley because as she stated “unlike most others vying for the part she refused to kneel for the king.” This despite being strongly admonished by those hiring, to do so.
Shepard started when she was 7 years old and worked with Laurence Olivier in “Romeo and Juliet” in her debut.
Along the way, on the “Great White Way, in television and in movies, she had great times and performances with such greats as Liza Minelli, Julie Harris, and Tallulah Bankhead (she lit a cigarette on Joan’s leg and “let” Joan take a scene from her, quite a double).
Joan also recalled working with a woman not well known by name, but involved in the classic “chicken salad” scene in “Five Easy Pieces,” namely Lorna Thayer.
I was riveted listening to the stories and songs. “Confessions of Old Lady 2,” directed by Margarett Perry proved to be a great experience provided by an extraordinary performer.
Tomorrow night, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the San Francisco Giants in a wild card playoff game, with the winner to face the Washington Nationals in one of two National League Division Series.
The potential division series matchups evoke some interesting World Series history.
No matter who wins the game tomorrow night, a Washington team will face one of the only two franchises a Washington team faced in a World Series.
The Washington team that participated in 3 World Series was the Senators, who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.
As the Washington Senators, the team played in 3 World Series, two vs the New York Giants (now in San Francisco) and one vs the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Senators split in two great World Series in consecutive years in 1924 and 1925. In the first, Washington won the title in the 12th inning of the decisive 7th game when a ball hit by Earl McNeely hit a pebble and went over the head of Hall of Famer, Freddy Lindstrom to score the Series winning run.
The next year, the Pirates battled back against the Senators to win game 7 by a (9-7) score with Kiki Cuyler delivering the big hit.
In 1933 the Giants gained some revenge for the 1924 heartbreaking loss, by beating the Senators in 5 games.
Rookie Harmon Killebrew as a Senator
There are some surprises at the top of the standings in all but one of the four AFC divisions.
In what seems like a weak AFC East there are three teams, the disappointing (so far), New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills tied with (2-2) records. The slow pace leaves the (1-3) New York Jets still in the race.
In the North, the slight pre season favorite, the Cincinnati Bengals lead with a (3-0) record with the Baltimore Ravens next with a (3-1) mark.
In the AFC South, the Houston Texans, scheduled for two national telecasts which is so unusual for a team that went (2-14) last season, lead with a (3-1) mark. The TV executives/NFL schedule maker was way ahead of the curve in assessing the Houston Texans’ progress.
In the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers lead with a (3-1) record with the defending AFC champion, Denver Broncos next at (2-1).
Two NFC teams, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys raised their records to (3-1) with victories, while the San Francisco 49ers, 5 point favorites, won by 5 points vs the now (3-1) Philadelphia Eagles.
The Detroit Lions, so talented yet frequently so disappointing, won on the road against the now (1-3) New York Jets.
In the Sunday night game, the Dallas Cowboys, torched for over 600 yards by the New Orleans Saints last year, built a (24-0) halftime lead and cruised at home vs the now (1-3) Saints.
The Eagles and Cowboys are now tied for the NFC East lead with the New York Giants, who are playing very well at (2-2).
I think those three NFC East teams are very evenly matched.
Andy B Sports 