Though I favor the performance and certainly the film, “A Raisin In The Sun,” above the so many great works of art given us by Louis Gossett Jr. , who died days back at age 87, it is he as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, uttering, to a new bunch of recruits, the same insults he did to the star Richard Gere’s such, juxtaposed with Gere walking on, that resonates with “it is nothing personal” message from which often much can be gained.
Mr. Gossett did so much (it has to be noted this day after the 56 year anniversary of L.B. Johnson, announcing he would not “seek” and with the mistake of that war involvement, so much of him and us/U.S.–that Louis wrote with Richie Havens, the Havens recorded antiwar song, “Handsome Johnny”) and I start with Mr. Gossett in “Raisin,” as “assimilated” George Murchison, in both the show and film, each adapted from Lorraine Hansberry’s epic book.
Next, I cite his role, as “Fiddler” in “Roots,” (for once the public got it right, as it was a highly rated television mini-series), one Mr. Gossett originally did not like (think aunt and —–), however, realized the character, a slave, was to be admired, doing what he had to do in what was a horrible reality and shameful period, one among many, in this country’s history.
“An Officer And A Gentleman” certainly had a happy ending and the Gossett Jr., Gere and Debra “no flash photography,” Winger, (Ms. Winger is a truly deep, highly intelligent person) trio, gave superb. performances.
Again, it was/is nice to see “boy carries off girl,” after his realizations, however Gossett’s “same routine” juxtaposed with Gere/Gone and much else (so much more) that Mr. Gossett brought and leaves, yields great admiration for Louis Gossett Jr.’s incredible acting “chops.”
The great Louis Gossett Jr. pictured above.
Yesterday, after Purdue advanced to their third national semi, denying Tennessee its first, incredible upstart, North Carolina State reached its fourth, winning its 9th straight “must” game, upsetting heavy favorite, Duke.
The national semis have two games (also on a 9/11, Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill began their historic communications) with even larger favorites, Purdue by 9 plus vs N.C. State and defending champion, Connecticut (-11 plus) vs Alabama.
Purdue was “bumped” by U.C.L.A. in both their previous national semis appearances, the last of 3 Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar) teams “final rounding” Rick Mount and Purdue in ’69 and the Kiki Vandeweghe led, eventual tournie runner-up to Darrell Griffith and Louisville , team “semi-ing” them in ’80.
N.C. State in its fourth national semi, won the title in both ’74 and ’83 and under Everett Case were semi-d out of the 8 team, 1950 tournament, eventually won by The City College Of New York.
Zach Edey, the 7 foot-4 inch Purdue center, pictured above, hit for 40 points in the Purdue win vs Tennessee yesterday.
The N.C. State ’74 title team had a 7 foot 4 inch center, named Tom Burleson, who played very well in the tournament.
After the incredible tournament run by Connecticut continued and actually intensified, with a (30-0) run in their rout win vs Illinois, Alabama advanced to their first national semi, denying Clemson their first, setting up a Connecticut vs Alabama national “semi” next Saturday.
Defending champion, Connecticut an incredible (10-0) (10-0) in the last two NCAA Tournaments, has 5 NCAA basketball titles all won in the last 25 seasons, (’99-2023) while Alabama, with 11 A.P. football crowns total, won 5 of them, all under Nick Saban, doing so in ’09,’11,’12, ’15 and ’17.
Both Connecticut’s surprising 2014 title (their 4th), and third such in ’11 preceded, respectively a 4th Saban coached ‘Bama crown as well as a second, later that year/season. Their other titles were in ’99,’04, and last year.
Kevin Ollie, pictured above, guided U.Conn to a very surprising 2014 national crown.
Last night, in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, one region’s game results yielded a pair of upset wins by A,C.C. teams, first North Carolina State and then Duke.
Thus after those Good Friday results settled, the two teams will meet in the later Sunday tilt, after the two favorites, first Purdue and then Tennessee, which won Midwest regional semis last night, clash on CBS, beginning at 2:30 Eastern Time.
Today in the East final, Connecticut faces Illinois, which will be followed by the West Region final game matching football or once and now at least seemingly declining football powers, Alabama and Clemson.
Today on TBS the tilts are scheduled for approximately 6 P.M. and 8:40 Eastern Daylight Time.
Clemson, Alabama and Tennessee, the latter a once great football power are all seeking their first appearance in the national semi-final round.
Hunter Renfrow, pictured above, gathered in “De” Watson’s short, but decisive touchdown pass, that lifted Clemson to a win, in a scintillating 2015 season, college football national title tilt win over Alabama.
While defending champion and now even money tournament favorite, Connecticut won their 9th straight tournie game by “enough,” the other 3 regional semis tilts last night manifested in outright underdog victories.
In the early L.A. game where attendance ‘battled” that city’s notorious traffic in a 4 P.M. local start, Clemson, which has trailed for less than a minute in the tournament, advanced to just their second ever regional final game, defeating West region “2” seed, Arizona. (The other was in 1980).
3 times, football schools Alabama and Clemson met for the college football crown with a semi-final clash thrown in to boot (boot a football term).
Tomorrow, in the later regional final tilt, one will advance to their first national semi, as last night, Alabama also in L.A. , took out the West region “1” seed, North Carolina.
Finally last night, slight underdog Illinois, as is the case with two thirds of the remaining dozen teams (U.Conn and Duke have 5 crowns), which has never won a title, took out Iowa State, and now is a pretty big underdog vs the Danny Hurley coached, Connecticut juggernaut in the earlier Saturday tilt.
Only North Carolina State (2) and Marquette (1) who meet tonight in a ’77 final round redux, other than U.Conn and Duke, among the dozen remaining teams has won a previous title.
Purdue, Houston, Creighton, Gonzaga, Tennessee, playing in tonight’s round of 16 and Illinois, Alabama and Clemson as cited above, already in the regional finals, have also never won a crown.
I recall Alabama with Leon Douglas, pictured above, upsetting North Carolina as they did last night and 48 years later, in the first round of the ’76 tournament.
Victories in the respective CBI and CIT College basketball events by Seattle University and Norfolk State evoke memories of a great player from each school.
Elgin Baylor was the key and great player, leading Seattle to the NCAA Tournament final in 1958 before they lost to Kentucky.
Bob Dandridge was a standout player at Norfolk State before going on to a great NBA career that included playing on title teams with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971 (they swept the Bullets in the final) and then with the Bullets in 1978.
Seattle beat High Point in the CBI final while Norfolk playing at home and as a slight underdog, defeated Purdue Fort Wayne.
The N.I.T. has reached the semi-final round to be played next week, not in New York but in Indianapolis with local New York area Seton Hall, Indiana State, Utah (cited here yesterday) and Georgia advancing that far.
The great player, Bob Dandridge, pictured while playing for Norfolk State.
In the first “4” year NCAA Tournament held in 1944, Utah, given a chance to play in the event when tragic losses struck the Arkansas team, won the crown with future NBA star, Arnie Ferrin leading the way.
Utah, tonight playing its third straight NIT home game won the ’44 NCAA crown at Madison Square Garden. Eighty years ago they lost an NIT game, but as cited above won the NCAA title, after the events involving Arkansas gave Utah its chance.
There will be no return to New York, 80 years later for the Utes even if they win tonight’s “quarter” vs Virginia Commonwealth, as for the second straight season there are no Madison Square Garden NIT games.
Iowa State, still going in the ’24 tournie, was a semi-final round losing team in ’44.
Utah, as “The Utes,” brings to mind Messrs Pesci and Gwynne (Joe and Fred) in a nice scene from “My Cousin Vinny,” visible with a click of the link below.
The NCAA Tournament Round Of Sixteen commences with 4 tilts Thursday and ends with four on Friday.
“4” is a # worth citing, as in the “4” year, this being the ninth such with NCAA Tournament play (’44-‘2024).
It also tilts toward citing defending champion Connecticut, the plurality tournie favorite and “4” year title winners both 10 and 20 years ago (’14 and ’04).
Both Connecticut and Duke have won 5 crowns, Duke, doing so in the last 34 events, all in the 34 final rounds with Jim Nantz as the lead announcer, which no longer is the case.
Connecticut also won all of its 5 in the “Nantz years,” not winning one until beating Duke in the ’99 final.
Twice, Duke made and lost the tournament final in a “4” year as the first of their 8 national semis sans a crown was in ’64, when U.C.L.A. which has 11 titles, won its first and in ’94, when a tremendous 4 year run that included titles in ’91 and ’92, ended with a final loss to Arkansas.
Continuing with “4” years as Houston a round of sixteen team in ’24 lost in the ’84 final.
N.C. State, cited a few times here, made it to the regional semis/round of 16 with an overtime win vs upstart Oakland on the exact 50 year anniversary of their classic semi-final win vs U.C.L.A.
Now they face Marquette, tonight being the exact 50 year anniversary of State’s final round win vs Marquette.
Then known as Walt Hazzard, later Abdul Rahman, he was the star UCLA player as they won their first crown sixty years ago.
Baseball Opening Day Parties at Rick’s Cabaret New York!
The 2024 Baseball Season Opens on Thursday, March 28. Rick’s Cabaret New York, the three-story adult club known for its beautiful dancers, VIP treatment, and top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse, is the best place to watch the New York Mets vs Milwaukee Brewers (1pm start) and the New York Yankees vs Houston Astros (4pm start).
Come watch the games with a lovely Rick’s girl sitting on your lap cheering on your team! Enjoy daily lunch specials, happy hour cocktails, and of course, the lovely Rick’s Cabaret girls showing off their latest moves and sexy bodies.
Rick’s girl Deanna said, “We are expecting big things from the Yankees and the Mets this season. And following every game the girls and I host After-Parties that are off-the-hook. Come flex, pop some bottles, and make it rain. Don’t miss it!”
Rick’s Cabaret New York (50 West 33 Street) features the hottest exotic dancers, discreet VIP suites, deluxe sky boxes, and a Roof Top Lounge. The Rick’s Steakhouse offers daily lunch specials, dinner, and New York’s best late-night menu.
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The rain falls and as it does, memories flow of an all-time great college basketball game, N.C. State’s 2 overtime win vs 7 time NCAA champion, U.C.L.A. played exactly 50 years ago today, on Saturday March 23, 1974.
Incredibly, the “Wolfpack”/North Carolina State overcame a 7 point deficit in the second overtime to win that classic “semi,” before prevailing vs Marquette in the championship game.
The truly great David Thompson put “State” ahead to stay with a bank shot field goal and then his two free throws put them up by 3 in the last half minute or so in those better days of no 3 point shot.
It is a great memory for me as I did root hard for the Wolfpack.
However, it must be pointed out that U.C.L.A. had won 7 straight titles and with a title in ’75 won an incredible 10th crown in 12 seasons.
Certainly, a game for the ages and where have you gone 50 years?!!
Andy B Sports 