Last week Bobby Cox was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His record of getting into the playoffs is incredible and though his teams could claim but one world title, I can accept his choice though he was not exactly Joe McCarthy or Casey Stengel in the “alchemy” of converting post season appearances into World titles.
I met Mr. Cox once at Citi Field and conducted a TV interview with him as batting practice ended.
Cox won 4 true, “one quarter of the pie” divisional titles and I asked about his first one, the lone one not managing the Atlanta Braves, when he was with the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays.
Playing on the final weekend of the season in a Friday night game, Cox and the Jays were one out away from the divisional title.
However, Butch Wynegar of the New York Yankees hit a game tying solo home run and the Yankees eventually won the game.
I said to Bobby a few years back how that must have caused a sleepless night but also recalled his calling the ABC studio where I worked that Saturday, confident in his team.
Then in 1985 and in the interview with me Cox talked of “letting it go” and the fact “no one is going to feel sorry for you and do it yourself.”
Those words still resonate with me and can with all of us. “Congrats” Bobby on a stellar managerial career and imagine how proud your 1968 Yankees’ teammate, friend, and fellow Oklahoman, Mickey Mantle is of your achievements.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox play their third Sunday game against each other and all three were made night games so ESPN could televise them nationally.
This has been the case involving the two teams for well over half the 25 years that the all powerful Disney entity (owner of ESPN) has shown Sunday night baseball.
It truly irks me that these games have been given such high status. Tonight’s game pits the third place Yankees, 5 games out of first place vs the Red Sox, who have given up on the season.
There are so many more meaningful games including the Brewers/Cardinals, two of three NL Central teams separated by one game in the loss column.
It is too bad the far less important Yankees/Red Sox game will be piped into all those subscriber’s homes tonight.
Last year, the Boston Red Sox clinched a World Series title at home for the first time in 95 years. The winning pitcher in the game was John Lackey.
Nine months later, John Lackey has been dealt away from the Red Sox. Another reality of today’s sports and baseball in particular–fans are rooting for laundry.
Not even one completed season later, and the pitching star of that historic Red Sox victory is no longer with the team.
The so called experts analyze the trades as if they have an idea about the future, especially the prospects. The arrogant, continual, virtually useless, never accounted for “hot air” of these talking heads continues.
With all this “business stuff,” I often curse the fact, and genius, of 90 feet from home to first base and baseball’s inherent beauty because that makes it hard to get completely away from it.
Sadly, I do get further away from baseball and its beauty each day.
John Lackey
Despite a loss to the team with the league’s second best record (The Minnesota Lynx), the Phoenix Mercury have been red hot all season.
Their record stands at (22-4) one and a half games ahead of the Lynx in the WNBA West. Before last night’s loss Phoenix had won 15 straight games.
The Lynx have now won eight straight games and will finish no worse than second in the WNBA Western Conference.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Dream who lost their first three games without coach Michael Cooper, have now won two straight and lead by a comfortable margin in the standings.
Without any real scouting, I will give an early reading on the NFC West.
Both the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the runners-up San Francisco 49ers, call the NFC West home.
The Arizona Cardinals battled for the playoffs until the final week of the season and the St. Louis Rams were improved: both NFC teams.
It’s a tough division, and the additional “first place schedule” has made the projected wins total for the so called dynasty in the making Seattle Seahawks, only “ten and a half.”
Will they win 11 games or more? That is why they play: to answer those and other questions.
My late friend, the football expert Beano Cook, would have predicted that Seattle will win less than 11 games. I can hear him now saying “they are very good, but that schedule is BRUTAL.” My early feeling, is that Seattle will be very good, but they will struggle to reach a (10-6) record.
Beano Cook: his philosophy and wisdom lives on
“Piece Of My Heart” is an extraordinary musical play telling the story of Bert Berns, an equally extraordinary songwriter, who died so young and whose accomplishments, incredibly and unjustly, are little known.
This play, which weaves the story and music brilliantly and in an entertaining manner (think Jersey Boys, it is that good!) hopefully will change the recognition factor involving Mr. Berns, who died at age 38 in 1967.
The entire cast is wonderful with Zak Resnick shining throughout as Bert Berns. Linda Hart of “Hairspray” fame also stands out playing Bert’s widow Ilene in the later years.
After seeing the play, I now have incredible fascination and curiosity about Bert Berns, who was given great talent but a short time to live.
It was his determination and motivation to do, knowing he had a weak heart and a short time to live, that should be incredible motivation to all of us.
This great work, directed and choreographed by Denis Jones and with Jack Thomas as executive producer, will tell about Berns and help correct the injustice of his lack of recognition.
As always you can look it up and see Berns wrote or co wrote so many great songs and big hits. “Twist and Shout” and “Piece Of My Heart” are two among the many.
The play tells the story of why Berns’ recognition factor is so low; doing so in flashing episodes (with his great songs) of Berns’ life.
The great Jewish scholar Hillel’s name is evoked, as are some of his sayings. One truly applies to seeing this tremendous work: “If not now, when?”
The where is “The Pershing Square Signature Center at 480 West 42nd Street with performances (Tuesday-Friday) at 7:30, two shows Saturday (2 and 8) and a 2 o’clock performance on Sunday afternoons.
Last week, the Calgary Stampeders won the battle of the last two unbeaten teams in the Canadian Football League, winning in Edmonton vs the Eskimos.
Also in the far better CFL Western Conference, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, over a one touchdown underdog, moved to (4-1) with an upset win vs the disappointing British Columbia Lions, who fell to (2-3).
In the East, three teams are (1-3) and the other is (1-4). The East is (2-11) in games vs the West.
This week look for British Columbia to play well and be very competitive vs undefeated Calgary which is a 6 point favorite.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
I guess I feel good for the players and managers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday. However, it is virtually impossible for me to feel good about a place that keeps out one of the greatest players ever, namely Pete Rose.
Joe Torre apparently felt bad about his paucity of comments regarding George Steinbrenner ( to me, the less said about him the better) and always remember Joe, if you lost the 1996 playoff series to the Texas Rangers, Steinbrenner would have fired you. (By the way maybe you should have thanked Johnny Oates the Texas manager, who managed horrendously vs you, as well).
Instead Joe should feel bad he failed to plead the case for the great Rose, a contemporary in the great National League of their time.
Simply put, Rose belongs in the “Hall” and Torre, who rushed to congratulate Rose after Pete scored the winning run in the 1970 All Star Game, could have done something to help Pete.
Someone better do so, hopefully ending the Hall’s injustice toward Pete, and countless people like me, who feel terrible that he is not there.
In recalling the 1965 All Star telecast, one marvels at the players introduced as the National League’s starting nine.
With Torre’s induction, six of those nine starters are in the “Hall.” Two not in, Richie Allen and Maury Wills, are far more deserving of enshrinement than some already in.
The other is Pete Rose and maybe next year with Bud Selig no longer commissioner, Rose will take his proper place in Cooperstown.
Until that happens, the “Hall,” with all its good, carves a hollow place in my heart, which if nothing else, writhes in pain when injustice, as is so often the norm, manifests.
NY YANKEE SUPERSTAR PITCHER MASAHIRO TANAKA MIGHT NOT RETURN THIS YEAR FROM INJURY
RICK’S CABARET NYC STRIPPERS OFFER TO HELP WITH HIS REHAB
“I love Tanaka,” proclaimed Emma, a busty blonde beauty who dances at the famous Rick’s Cabaret gentlemen’s club in New York City. “I hope he gets well soon.”
Tanaka was originally projected to be out six weeks, but now there is doubt that he will return this season.
“I read Andy B Sports everyday–that’s why I am so knowledgeable,” explained Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girl Rebekka.
“I’m his biggest fan and I will help him with his rehab,” promised the sexy stripper. “A lot of the Rick’s Cabaret Girls are big Yankee fans too–maybe he can rehab here at the club. I know we can make him feel much better, haha!”
Rick’s Cabaret NYC Girl Paige also offered her services. “You need to sit in our super comfortable VIP lounge, and watch me and dozens of the other hot Rick’s Girls take off their clothes. It will make you happy and help speed up your recovery–I think.”
Rick’s Cabaret was named “the #1 strip club in New York City” by Playboy. It is the club of choice for an upscale clientele including Wall Street businessmen, numerous celebrities, and pro athletes from all the major sports. The staff’s warm hospitality is matched only by the beauty of the Rick’s Cabaret Girls.
Rick’s Cabaret New York
50 West 33rd Street
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Joe Torre, who guided the NY Yankees to an incredible 4 World Series wins in 5 seasons from (1996-2000) as manager, is being inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday.
When the Yankees won their first title in 1996, Joe’s brother Frank, a good player on some near great Milwaukee Braves’ teams, suggested the managing plus Joe’s stellar playing career would get him into the “Hall.”
Three more titles as a manager cemented Torre’s place.
I remember him as a great hitter (Joe hit .363 in 1971 even though he had no running speed) and a near great, perhaps great player.
He was part of the great National League of the 1960’s and early 1970’s and played on many winning All Star teams.
Torre never played in a post season game but then came his managing career which included 16 post season appearances, 12 with the Yankees.
Andy B Sports 