What a story R.A. Dickey was for the Mets in 2012. His story is an inspirational one for any time and any team.
Oddly, I first learned of Dickey’s odyssey as a player and his personal pain of being sexually abused when I read a Sports Illustrated article. At that point, I followed Dickey’s games closer and he pitched incredible baseball in the first half or so of the 2012 season. He finished with 20 wins and won the NL Cy Young Award.
Recently, I again read about Dickey in Sports Illustrated as he was one of the inspirational figures of 2012 as chosen by the magazine. The next day he is on his way to another team and another league, the Toronto Blue Jays and the American League.
The odds are high it will be tougher for this aging knuckleball pitcher in the tougher hitting American League as he showed signs of slowing down at the end of last season. What really matters, however, is that he never gave up and achieved a great deal. “Deal did someone say deal,” maybe the Jays’ end of the deal will work out fine as well.
Three is the operative number concerning some history in two of this week’s more meaningful games. Also concerning three, the AFC North can still end in a three way tie. If that happens, the Pittsburgh Steelers would win the division. It also means that no matter the result of the earlier Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers game, the Baltimore Ravens will not have clinched the division when they play the New York Giants in a late Sunday afternoon game in Baltimore. However, the Ravens have clinched a playoff spot while the Giants, unlikely but far from impossible division winners, control their destiny for a wild card spot.
That game is one of the “three/history” games as three times a team from the city of Baltimore has beaten the New York Giants for the NFL Championship. Twice the Baltimore Colts topped the Giants in the NFL Title Game, doing so in consecutive years 1958 and 1959. The Baltimore Ravens handed the Giants their only Super Bowl loss, winning the 2000 season Super Bowl. The Giants were just (3-11) in NFL Title tilts but are (4-1) in Supes. One other note, there was a fourth time that the cities of Baltimore and New York met for the NFL title. That was when the New York Jets upset the heavily favored Colts in the third Super Bowl.
Three times the Denver Broncos beat the old Cleveland Browns to win the AFC Championship. All three times, the Broncos lost in the Super Bowl which followed. The years were 1986, 1987 and 1989.Those Browns became the Baltimore Ravens, whom the Broncos beat last week. Now this week Denver hosts the Cleveland Browns, the new Browns if you will, having joined the NFL in 1999. I think Denver will struggle a bit this week and I also predict we will see the Ravens hosting the Indianapolis, nee Baltimore Colts in a wild card round game. My “Supe” matchup prediction is still Atlanta Falcons vs the Denver Broncos. Oh and rumors of Cris Collinsworth finally ceasing talking, were greatly exaggerated.
Both leaders in the race for the conference “one seed” now have magic numbers of one to clinch the top spot. Both the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans are (12-2) and very likely “one seeds.”
The horrible coverage by NBC (they were late coming back from a replay and missed the start of a Brady TD play; and could not keep up with the no huddle offense throughout the game) not withstanding, the SF 49ers won at New England and lead the Green Bay Packers in the race for the NFC two seed.
The Denver Broncos with help from San Francisco, now are very likely to be the AFC “two seed.” The Baltimore Ravens still lead the AFC North while the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants each with an (8-6) record are in a three way tie at the top of the NFC East.
I believe the Ravens clinch the division title if in an earlier game this Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing at home, beat the Cincinnati Bengals. If that is the case, the Ravens would have little to play for vs the New York Giants. Even if the Bengals lose, I predict Baltimore will play with intensity but lose to the Giants. The defending Super Bowl champion Giants, though not in control of their own destiny to win the division, I believe control it as far as making the playoffs as one of two wild card teams.
For parts of the last two days, I was able to see first hand and learn about the horrible situation involving Leonard Peltier. He is a Native American who has been in prison for 37 years for supposedly having killed two FBI agents. The prosecuting “team” admitted then and now that there was no real proof that Peltier did the fatal shootings. The horror of the conviction is far greater: Mr.Peltier has been treated horribly and I urge you to read about the situation and case.
Rather than specify about this case, I will tell you I know the pain of being falsely accused. Luckily, it was nowhere close to a legal matter but to know one did not do what others accused/”convicted” one of doing is truly horrible. I truly can not deal with an innocent person being confined and in some cases being executed by the state.
On Friday night there was a concert to help free Leonard Peltier. It was supposed to be a benefit concert but Peltier, mind you in prison and needing any help he could get, declined asking for money and asked only for awareness in his case. In short, because of the devastation of the recent storm, Peltier asked to raise consciousness and not money.
I ask President Barack Obama to grant this man clemency. It need not be, as I said at the next day’s press conference, what it could be. That is the President could evoke President Lincoln, in this year of an extraordinary film about that great man, and look to history. That would be great, meaningful, and perhaps a start to a daring, accomplishment filled, second term for Barack Obama. This should not be, however, likely will be “too much to ask,” with other issues on the President’s “plate.”
Thus simply send Leonard Peltier, a man who is no risk, in poor health, and essential to his people, home. Do this, and somewhere Mr. Lincoln might think that at least some little bit of government goodness did not “perish” in these highly disappointing times.
Yesterday was the exact 39 year anniversary of Orenthal James Simpson breaking Jim Brown’s single season rushing mark, and then going over 2000 rushing yards for the season in a game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. The game was played in the snow at Shea Stadium in the regular season finale.
Think of all that has changed concerning Simpson and the NFL. Now there are 12 teams in the playoffs and still two weeks to play. Then only eight made post season and December 16, 1973 was the last day of the regular season. Simpson was revered by most of America (Not me–he was a great running back but I preferred Jim Brown on the field and off) and now that is not the “case,” no pun intended. I suppose Simpson “let us down” but many of you who did “revere” him, did so because you perceived him as a “harmless” black man running through airports and being ejected into a famous rent a car company’s vehicle. That exacerbated your disappointment when Simpson “let you down.”
A final comparison; yesterday, thirty nine years later, as in a great Dan Fogelberg song, “The Snow Turned Into Rain.” Figuratively, it did so long before.
Dan Fogelberg
It was quite an entertaining and informative evening at the Bergino Clubhouse yesterday as Vernona Gomez, the author of “LEFTY An American Odyssey,” about her father, Hall of Fame pitcher Vernon “Lefty” Gomez, talked about the book and her father’s life. The book is published by Ballantine Books. (Right there is a good association of a great Yankees’ pitcher and thoughts of Ballantine beer, a long time sponsor on Yankees’ broadcasts.)
Ms. Gomez, herself a concert pianist and the daughter of Broadway headliner June O’Dea, has amazing recall and used it in choosing the information and stories gathered in over 350 interviews conducted with Lefty Gomez’ friends, teammates and opposing players. Gomez played on Yankees’ teams with the three greatest Yankees and arguably the three greatest players ever in Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Di Maggio. Ms. Gomez bounced on The Babe’s knee, her dad helped console Gehrig when he finally missed a game due to the illness that soon would take his life, and was a confidant to Di Maggio, at times dining out with Joe and his second wife, Marilyn Monroe.
Vernona Gomez is a personable, striking looking woman who took the audience through history, not just baseball history, in talking about her father. Lefty Gomez saw his first game when he made the big leagues. He made it there and eventually to the baseball “Hall” with determination, ability and yes luck. He once said “I would rather be lucky than good” and he was the “Yankee quipper” juxtaposed with his roomate, Joe Di Maggio, known as the “Yankee Clipper.”
Ms. Gomez’s show business background so impressed an audience member that he asked if the fact Lefty had married into a show business family and had produced Vernona, a concert pianist who performed at age seven, if that was the reason Di Maggio married actress, Marilyn Monroe. Vernona replied “You have seen what Marilyn Monroe looked like? I think that and Marilyn’s charm persuaded Joe without thinking about Lefty and his situation.” It was quite an evening and Vernona Gomez is quite a lady. I look forward to reading the book, “LEFTY An American Odyssey” by Vernona Gomez and award winning writer, Lawrence Goldstone.
Some people are actually saying that in the long run, the Giants are better off losing to the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday. I see that in the sense that it will be hard for the Giants to beat Atlanta this Sunday and again in the playoffs. However, the Giants are in a battle not only for the NFC East crown but also for playoff qualification so this game at Atlanta certainly has great importance.
The Falcons can certainly afford a loss and I feel that they would be better off avoiding the Giants in the playoffs especially if Atlanta wins on Sunday. At their best, the Giants are as good as any team. Intangibles are against them, so I feel somewhere they will lose and not repeat as Super Bowl champions. Yet, do not rule them out, and Gary Myers, is in my opinion, way off base saying they will be inferior to Robert Griffin and the Washington Redskins in the near future.
At this moment, the Giants are discernibly better than Washington and my pick is that the Dallas Cowboys will beat the Redskins in the season finale. Then again there is a reason they play the games.
I was surprised and a bit disappointed that Greg McElroy was not the quarterback for the now (6-7) Jets against the now (2-11) Jacksonville Jaguars last week. After all, he had just come in the previous game and helped the Jets beat the Arizona Cardinals, another down team which now has lost nine straight games after winning their first four.
The Jets have a schedule that gives them a chance to be a wild card team. However, even if the Jets win all three remaining games (at Tennessee which is a 2 point favorite, home vs Miami a game in which the Jets will not be a big favorite and at Buffalo which also will be considered a close game by odds makers), they still need the Pittsburgh Steelers to lose twice and the Steelers will be favored in all three remaining games.
I do not think the Jets will win all three and I do not think the Steelers will lose two, but again, there is a reason they play the games. Now it will be, and I go along with Sanchez as the starting quarterback.
The Jets and Sanchez are clearly capable of winning these games (I still say they will not) and “percentages” say Sanchez is their best option. “Percentages” do not mean that much and this is a close call. Given that Sanchez and not McElroy was selected last week, I would stay with Sanchez this week. The coach, Rex Ryan, will start Sanchez.
Perhaps a need for Mc Elroy will manifest during this not so enticing Monday Night tilt; Jets at Titans. This is not the old New York Titans, who became the Jets, but the Tennessee Titans, nee Houston Oilers. Bring back Don Manyard and Charlie “The Horse” Hennigan, not to mention Joe Namath and George Blanda.
Don Maynard
Charlie Hennigan
Despite being trounced by the (10-3) New England Patriots, who were six point favorites, the Houston Texans with an (11-2) record still lead in the race for the AFC one seed. Now the Texans will be big favorites at home vs the wild card leading (9-4) Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. If Houston wins they clinch the AFC South, but a loss likely would cause the division race to be decided when the two clubs meet again, this time in Indianapolis on the season’s final day, December 30th.
The Patriots now have a realistic shot at being the AFC one seed but perhaps more important is staying ahead of (10-3) Denver (Broncos) for the two seed. Right now, by virtue of the Pats’ early season home win vs Denver, New England has a half game lead over Denver. Each team faces a big test this week, New England hosting San Francisco while Denver travels to Baltimore. Each team will be big favorites in their final two games. New England goes to (2-11) Jacksonville and hosts (5-8) Miami. Meanwhile Denver hosts teams with those same records, first (5-8) Cleveland (Browns) and then (2-11) Kansas City (Chiefs.) History has shown anything can happen especially since playoff seeding and not playoff qualification is on the line as each team clinched divisional titles on December 2nd. However, the team ahead after this Sunday figures to stay there.
Though dissipating a late lead and losing in Washington vs the Redskins last Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens with a (9-4) record still lead both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals by two games in the AFC North. All three AFC North contenders lost on Sunday past. The Ravens, who have games left at home vs division leaders, the Broncos and New York Giants before going to Cincinnati in the regular season finale could blow the divisional title and certainly hurt their chances in the “seeding” race.
Despite a loss to the Carolina Panthers, the (11-2) Atlanta Falcons still have a one and any fraction you choose, game lead in their bid to be the NFC one seed for the second time in three seasons. They almost certainly will host a divisional/”slots” game. Comment: Some time during the Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins Sunday night finale, Bob Costas will tell us the divisional round schedule and if the NFL keeps its usual policy of alternating which conference gets the first and last games of the “div” round, that the Falcons will host the early Sunday game. If that happens, it will mark the first time that the Falcons host the early Sunday game in the divisional round and just their second Sunday divisional round game.
The Green Bay Packers fought back from an early (14-0) deficit and beat the Detroit Lions at home for the 22nd straight time, (that includes a wild card round game in the 1994 season), easily the most consecutive wins for one team vs another at home in NFL history. The win coupled with the (7-6) Vikings’ win vs (8-5) Chicago (Bears) gives the Pack the lead in the NFC North. Green Bay can clinch a second straight divisional title with a win at Chicago next week. Failing that, the Pack still have the tiebreaker advantage for the time being anyway, and would still win the division, for example, by winning their last two games.
The San Francisco 49ers still lead the Seattle Seahawks by a game and a half with three games left after both teams won yesterday. SF has a half game lead over the Packers in the race for the “two seed” which means a bye in the wild card round and a home game during the divisional round. The Niners have their work cut out for them having games in New England and Seattle in the next two weeks. The Seahawks lead in the wild card race and have a shot at the division title if they beat SF on December 23rd.
The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants have now routed the two teams to win the title before them. Rookie David Wilson amassed 327 total yards, including a kickoff return touchdown, as the 2011 champion Giants won (52-27) vs the 2009 champion, New Orleans Saints. Two weeks earlier, the Giants ripped the 2010 champion Green Bay Packers. Three weeks before that, the 2008 champion, Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Giants. All three were Giants’ home games. Both the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys kept pace with victories so the Giants, who likely will not have the tiebreaker vs either team, have essentially a half game lead over both teams.
David Wilson
My admiration for Dave Bing goes back a long way. I felt that I knew about him. After reading Drew Sharp’s fine book, “Dave Bing: A Life of Challenge,” and having learned more about this incredibly, determined man, both my admiration and knowledge regarding Dave increased greatly.
Of course Dave was a great basketball player both in college where he played in the backcourt with long time Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and in the NBA where his best years were with the Detroit Pistons. The fact Washington D.C. born Bing was traded from Detroit to the Washington Bullets and ultimately David would head Bing Steel and become Detroit’s current mayor is truly remarkable.
Sharp does a good job in revealing Bing’s background, citing his father Hasker’s credo about “doing” and his mother Juanita’s “old fashioned” devotion to family, both of which have always stayed with Bing.
Dave was denied a loan to help purchase a home early in his basketball career. So what did Bing do? He worked in the bank, learning all he could about the loan process. This is just one instance when this man’s incredible determination and logic helped him. There are many other instances and Sharp takes us to them. He also adds historical background and gets better insight into past events with current interviews. One such instance, was Bing’s contract problem with the Pistons before the 1974-1975 season. Then Pistons’ coach Ray Scott gives his changed perspective, all these years later.
In addition to all Dave Bing has accomplished and all he will do in the future, let me add this story. It was the day of the 1976 NCAA Final Four and I called Dave Bing, by then with the Bullets, in his hotel room. One could do that in those days before “assumed names” for athletes in their hotel stays. Dave talked to me for nearly twenty minutes, asking about me as well as answering some of my questions regarding his career and the state of the NBA. I know we both made predictions about that day’s Final Four (yes the games were at least started during the day back then). I do not recall whether Dave’s picks were right. However, not only does it not matter, but not many did a better job of looking ahead. Planning, setting goals and working hard Dave Bing looked ahead at far more important things than basketball games. Sure one never knows, a little luck is needed but for the most part, and Dave Bing made his own luck.
