Did I watch the entire movie this time? No, but I have many times including once on the big screen. Each time I see any or all of the classic “Gone With The Wind,” I feel enriched in some manner.
“GWTW” aired on TCM last night as part of the “Summer Under the Stars” August feature on the fabulous Turner Classic Movies channel.
Yesterday’s star was the incredible Hattie Mc Daniel, “Mammy,” in “Gone With the Wind,” for which she became the first black actor/actress to be both nominated for and win an Academy Award.
The fabulous TCM host Robert Osborne set the scene for “Gone With the Wind” with his usual array of great facts and tidbits.
So well spoken, precise and classy, Osborne is so great in his role as host, that I can almost forget the other drek (an Italian word, “ha ha”—no “LOL” for me just as certainly no “w–k –f,” for a game ending baseball play) that permeates the airwaves. The operative word is almost as even Osborne is not that great as to do the impossible.
Knowing the Academy Awards are “apples and oranges” but with a reverence for movie history, I repeat the five nominated films out of the ten nominated, cited by Osborne for the great movie year of 1939.
“Gone With The Wind” won the award. “Goodbye Mr. Chips,” whose Robert Donat won the best actor award, “The Wizard of Oz,” “Stagecoach” and “Ninotchka” were the nominated films cited by Osborne.
In the movie (GWTW), Olivia de Havilland’s “Melanie Hamilton Wilkes” tells Leslie Howard’s “Ashley Wilkes” she will love him until her death.
In real life not reel life, (a truly “reaching for” phrase by me–sorry–), Mr. Howard died 70 years ago when a plane he was in was shot down during World War Two. He was a superb actor.
Ms. de Havilland is 97 years old and on some level great work like “Gone With The Wind” is loved for all time.
By the way, time, that most precious of commodities, is recognized in “Gone With The Wind.” I noticed a sign warning not to waste it while watching “Gone With The Wind” last night. Again, I was enriched watching this classic.
While informing the audience of the day’s scores last Friday, New York Mets broadcaster Josh Lewin said the Cardinals lost. The proper “etiquette” if you will, is to say this afternoon the Cubs defeated the Cardinals.
Later, Lewin said the Kansas City Royals have not made the playoffs in 27 years. It was 1985, 28 years ago, that K.C. last made the post season, winning their only world title.
In reporting that the Royals won a doubleheader at Detroit (of course it was separate admissions as “Force” or Deity forbid the fans, who keep on “taking it,” should get a break and have a one admission doubleheader), Lewin authoritatively stated that “the Royals are not going away.” They lost the next two games at Detroit and more important are 6 games out for playoff qualification.
Even more brash and at least equally mistake prone, was Evan Roberts, this morning on an all sports talk radio station.
In talking about a Roger Clemens ALCS masterpiece for the Yankees vs the Seattle Mariners, he said it was in game 5 of a (2-2) series, making the game much more important than the actual facts.
It was game four, (the Yankees ahead two games to one) which Roberts eventually noted as his producer looked it up.
Why couldn’t Roberts, who knew he was going to talk about that game this morning have looked it up? The least he could have done was have his producer look it up before he went on the air.
Later while talking to Toronto Blue Jays’ outfielder, Jose Bautista, Roberts talked of Bautista’s big year (54 home runs) in 2010, saying it was four years ago. Did he and Lewin have the same math teacher? No, Lewin’s taught to be one less than correct, Roberts one more.
Alas, countless hosts and broadcasters rip into the player’s performances. A host named Russo would actually say certain big league players “stunk.” This though they were of elite caliber by definition, in making the big leagues.
So often these announcers do not as much as get their facts correct. Unlike the players who do face opposition in their quests, no one is trying to stop them.
Some thoughts about Football.
Last night, the Buffalo Bills won by four points vs the Minnesota Vikings. Each of those franchises lost in the four Super Bowls in which they appeared. Neither team has been to the “Supe” since the Bills lost their fourth Super Bowl in four straight seasons after the 1993 season.
The Vikings last appeared in the Super Bowl after the 1976 season, suffering a fourth Super Bowl loss in seven seasons. Minnesota never led in any of their four Super Bowl appearances.
A more positive Super Bowl history concerning the number “four” manifests concerning the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
First of all, last night the Patriots won by four points vs the Buccaneers. From (2001-2004), the Patriots and Buccaneers combined to win all four Super Bowls in that time span. The Patriots won in 2001, 2003 and 2004 but have not won one since that time.
The 2002 title season for the Buccaneers occurred in their only Super Bowl appearance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have played tremendous baseball since the All Star break going (23-3). Last night, they completed a three game sweep of the New York Mets getting the key, tying, two run home run from pinch hitter, Andre Ethier in the bottom of the ninth inning before winning in 12 innings.
The Dodgers have won 40 of 48 games and lead the second place Arizona Diamondbacks by seven and a half games in the NL West.
With this hot streak, the city of Los Angeles is really responding to the Dodgers, whose popularity and performance had waned in recent years.
The Dodgers are one of the great franchises in all of sports. As one of their owners, the former NBA great Earvin “Magic” Johnson said when buying in, they are a great “brand.”
Their history is rich with production especially within the National League and peaked from (1947-1966) when the Dodgers, in Brooklyn until 1958, and then in Los Angeles, won half the pennants contested in those 20 seasons.
The Dodgers have not won the National League Pennant since 1988 which was also the last year that they won the World Series. They are currently experiencing the longest pennant drought in Dodgers’ history, certainly since the advent of World Series play in 1903.
Current major league managers, Kirk Gibson, coincidentally with the Diamondbacks, and Mike Scioscia, with the other LA team, the highly disappointing Angels, each hit huge, even epic home runs in that 1988 Dodgers’ title run.
Much has happened since and there is a long way to go this season. Certainly, who knows about post season?
At this point, however, the Dodgers great run of 40 wins in 48 games deserves much credit.
Click here to see Gibson’s epic home run
Click here to see Scioscia’s epic home run
1988 Dodgers
Raiders will be the visiting team in the annual Thanksgiving Day tilt at Dallas vs the Cowboys.
This will be the first time that the Raiders will be in that game. While the Raiders are perceived to win about six games and Dallas about nine, there is no diminishing these two teams’ national appeal.
The Cowboys, whom I believe first played on Thanksgiving in 1966, certainly had their first big season in 1966. From 1966-1983, the Cowboys made the playoffs an incredible 17 of 18 times. In none of those seasons, were there even 5 teams per conference or league making the post season, no less the six from each conference that qualify today.
The Raiders began their great run a year later in 1967, going to the second Super Bowl. In their rout win vs the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in the AFL Title game, the Raiders had a touchdown off a faked field goal attempt, with veteran Dave Kocourek scoring.
From 1967-1985, the Raiders made the playoffs 14 of 18 seasons with the same tougher qualification standards than are in place today.
Though in the playoffs together 13 times during those 20 seasons (1966-1985), the two teams never met in the Super Bowl.
The Raiders have won three Super Bowls but their last was in the season that began 30 years ago.
The Cowboys have won 5 Super Bowls but none since the 1995 season. This year, who knows? It’s nice to reflect on each team’s past glory and look forward to their Thanksgiving Day clash.
Oakland vs Houston 1967
Many pro athletes, particularly Baseball players, frequent Rick’s Cabaret, the famous gentlemen’s club in midtown Manhattan. I had the opportunity to meet some of the lovely Rick’s Cabaret Girls, and yes, we talked Baseball.
Over the years I have enjoyed interviewing some of the biggest names in the sport, and it is always rewarding. Alas, the Rick’s Girls didn’t have any shocking sports related news to break, but they are nice to look at. And not a bad assignment for your humble sports writer.
Click here to watch the video featuring Rick’s Cabaret Girls Kelsey, Sade and Shay.
Last night, the Atlanta Braves’ 14 game winning streak ended when they lost (1-0) at home to the Miami Marlins. Not to worry as the Braves have a 14 and a half game lead in the NL East.
In each of the past two seasons, the Braves were denied a spot in the division series by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2011, the Cardinals, who made an amazing run to win their 11th World Series (second only to the New York Yankees) beat out the Braves on the season’s final day to become the NL wild card team.
Last year in the first year with two wild card teams, the Cardinals beat the Braves in Atlanta to advance to the division series.
It is safe to say the Braves will not be denied a berth in the division series this season. How they will fare from that point on is pure speculation.
Seemingly they are hurt by the loss of their fine starting pitcher, Tim Hudson. They do have an incredible and deep bullpen. Surely that is a big asset as they seek their first NLCS appearance since 2001.
The Braves made a record 8 straight League Championship Series from 1991-1999, with of course no post season in 1994. They won in the division series to qualify for the NLCS in the last five appearances (1995-1999).
Click to see some Braves 2013 highlights
An “alchemist” got it right when he mixed hard work, an incredible penchant for preparation, and some good fortune in “creating” the great sportscaster Bob Wolff’s career.
Another “creation” brought Wolff, a truly caring, good man into this often angst ridden world. Bob Wolff, who has been a sportscaster for over 70 years and continues to work (at News 12 on Long Island, New York) at past 90 years old, treasures his wonderful family. He is “complete,” recalling their deeds, and stays spry looking to their future.
His wife Jane has exceeded any analyst, stat person or producer in helping Bob’s career. Jane has always been there with transportation and good thoughts both to and from Bob’s innumerable and incredible treks in an unbelievable career.
Without actually saying the words no hitter, as to not offend the many superstitious people in the radio audience and baseball world, Bob Wolff let us know Don Larsen was working on a perfect game. That was as he broadcast the second half of game five of the 1956 World Series.
When Dale Mitchell was called out on strikes by umpire Babe Pinelli, (working his last game ever as a home plate umpire) Bob intoned “strike three, a no hitter, a perfect game for Don Larsen!”
It is part of history and Bob’s call brings that moment to life. That accomplishment is a dream of many and Wolff with hard work, fierce determination and fortune lived it more than once. Each time he rose to the occasion including the next game of the ’56 World Series when Bob called Jackie Robinson’s game ending hit. It was Jackie’s last base hit.
On an unusually warm December 28th, 1958, Bob heard Baltimore writer John Steadman predict an overtime game before the start of the NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants. There had never been an overtime game in NFL annals.
Bob did not need that great bit of forecasting to be prepared. Again he rose to the occasion in the overtime: (John) Unitas gives to (Alan) Ameche and the Colts are the world’s champions.
Bob’s broadcast of the historic play is succinct and “right on the play.” It it a broadcasting “call” that will play eternally. This is both achievement and well deserved reward for Bob Wolff.
Recently, Bob Wolff donated priceless interviews he conducted with such baseball greats as Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams to the Library of Congress.
This incredible gesture illustrates so much about Bob Wolff. He certainly is generous. Beyond that, organized and prepared, having archived this piece of baseball history. The interviews are both treasure and thanks to Bob to be treasured.
Bob Wolff is an incredible interviewer and with great creativity can improvise with the best of performers.
In 1977 the Mets traded Tom Seaver, their great pitcher to the Cincinnati Reds. It was the “topic of the day” for weeks and still resonates in New York baseball history. People certainly had their opinions.
I was privileged to be in Bob Wolff’s Pace University sports broadcasting class at that time. Days after the trade, he showed us all about preparation and creativity. Incredibly, he took both sides of the Seaver trade discussion. Exhibiting great articulation and just the right amount of enthusiasm and intensity, he reeled off both sides of the argument, without “batting a proverbial eyelash.” Having witnessed that still provides a great memory.
Whether setting the “winter holidays” scene for the ECAC Basketball Holiday Festival, picking the huge underdog Cincinnati Reds to not only win, but sweep the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series (they did), calling Clyde “The Glide” Austin’s winning shot in an NIT game, or more famously, another “Clyde,” (Walt “Clyde” Frazier) and the New York Knicks setting a then NBA record for consecutive wins, Bob has broadcast many great sports moments. He did so in great fashion.
Only Bob has broadcast in the championship round of all four major team sports leagues. That is just the tip of a “titanic iceberg” that also includes the 1962 National League playoff and Jerry West’s incredible shot that sent game three of the 1970 NBA finals into overtime.
Another great teacher, Harry Goder, was trying to help his 11th grade math class with the task of multiplying positive and negative numbers. He made the comparison with positive and negative people.
His first example stated a positive number multiplied by a positive number yields a positive number. “Think of good things happening to a good person.”
That certainly is the case with Bob Wolff, except change the word good to great.
click to hear Bob Wolff Perfect Game call
It was nice to see Curley Culp, who once was an NCAA wrestling champion in the heavyweight division, be inducted in The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
He was an outstanding defensive tackle paired with Buck Buchanan on the great Kansas Chiefs’ defensive unit. That unit led the way, as the Chiefs won the last NFL vs AFL Super Bowl after the 1969 season. The Chiefs were an original AFL team, first as the Dallas Texans.
Once an attractive woman told me she liked the Kansas City Chiefs. I named the entire defensive unit of the Super Bowl winning Chiefs and duly impressed, she jumped on my lap.
Alas, she and I went “no further” but that defensive unit helped the Chiefs go all the way.
Their colorful coach Hank Stram was wired for sound during the Super Bowl by NFL Films. It is always a treat to hear that when the fourth Super Bowl is reviewed.
There has been nary a Super Bowl appearance for the Chiefs since they won the Super Bowl. That is also true of the New York Jets, who won the Super Bowl the year before the Chiefs.
However, each provided an indelible memory and seeing Culp as part of that great defensive unit (Len Dawson, Otis Taylor and Jan Stenerud on offense also helped) be honored brought back some great memories.
Click to watch a brief tribute: Curley Culp video
There were five Interleague series this past weekend. Two were relatively recent World Series rematches. Meanwhile the other three also had some World Series history in them, albeit a little harder to find.
In a 1997 World Series redux, the Cleveland Indians, a contender this season, won 2 of 3 vs the Miami Marlins. The Marlins won the 1997 World Series vs Cleveland in the eleventh inning of the decisive seventh game. They are out of contention this season.
The New York Yankees swept the San Diego Padres in the 1998 World Series. This past weekend in San Diego, the Padres won two of three games.
The 1985 World Series winning Kansas City Royals have won 11 of their last 12 games after winning 2 of 3 road games vs the 1986 World Series winners, the New York Mets. Neither team has won a world title since that time. The Royals have not even made a playoff appearance. They are in contention this season.
The Boston Red Sox won 2 of 3 at home vs the Arizona Diamondbacks. Boston leads by one game in the AL East while the D/Backs have fallen five and a half games behind the torrid LA Dodgers. The teams combined to win the World Series every three years from 2001-2007. Arizona in just their 4th season won it all in 2001. The Red Sox ended an 86 year title drought in 2004 and won the World Series again in 2007.
Finally, the Tampa Rays, who are comfortably ahead for playoff qualification, won 2 of 3 games vs the defending champion San Francisco Giants. It is very unlikely the Giants will get back into contention this season but alas they have won the last two even year World Series (2010 and 2012). In the “even year” before that, (2008) the Rays made the World Series but lost in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Click to watch video: 1997 World Series
Andy B Sports 