My friend Beano Cook died yesterday at the age of 81. Though I spoke to him each day and knew he was “not well” his death came as a shock and is yet another horrible blow.
Beano Cook was a man from a different time, a better time but a better time for some horrible reasons. One day maybe I or more important the societies of this country and the world will address those reasons. One thing great about that time and something Mr.Cook embodied was craft, specialized craft. He had great knowledge of many things but specialized in college football and the audience gained from that specialization. Disney, which employed Mr. Cook from 1986 until his death, is about fluff, so called style and vulgar, violent, mistake prone, nonsense. Beano circumvented that deterioration and still managed great humor while disseminating information.
I met Beano while working on the ABC College Football Scoreboard Show and let’s just say “a fisherman can always spot another fisherman.” He was an encyclopedia of information and when a score of an old game was needed he knew it. As was the case with my mother who was a Latin major (remember Latin?) and was always correct regarding a word’s definition, Beano, likewise, was always correct but always said “look it up.” Accuracy, accuracy back to that respect for craft and a job well done.
Many tributes to Beano are out there including some humorous ones. This loss is so painful I ask respectfully that you, the reader, come back another day and I promise Beano stories you will not find elsewhere. I will keep his name alive, a man from another time. I will do so citing his wit, knowledge and yes, his flaws. The calls yesterday from people who knew him, knew I was his friend, or both, stated he is in a “better place.” Speaking of that place, God himself welcomed one of his or her (if it is the latter Beano has a better teacher for his “evolving”) more incredible creations by saying “do not worry, your bags arrived safely and you are getting seven and a half points and we are in overtime.” Beano corrected God and not so politely; my quote is “the two safest feelings are when the plane lands,(baggage arrived et al) and getting six and a half points in overtime.” God responded saying those bleeps (God does not curse) changed the overtime rules and since I really want you here for stories, insight, scheduling (Beano had the great Roone Arledge’s ear for college football scheduling) and yes “evolving” we are giving you the seven and one half points.” It is not the first and will not be the last time, a wonderful man, named Beano Cook gets extra credit.
PS Beano, do you need last night’s scores?
I was going to review “Looper” and actually thought it was not a bad movie. However, rather than saying I would not go out of my way to see it, I instead pay tribute to Alex Karras, the actor, who died at age 77.
Praise to his beloved wife, actress Susan Clark who stuck with Karras during his horrible illness. I think they fell in love on screen during the filming of the television “biopic” “Babe” about the great Babe Didrikson Zaharias and I sensed then and know now, it was real, true, “stick it out” love.
Karras played the wrestler George Zaharias and Alex was both a college and professional wrestler. In Blazing Saddles, Karras famously punches a horse, says in a gruff voice Mongo (his character) is “straight” and admits Cleavon Little, as the sheriff, did what no other man had, “beat Mongo.” He truly added to the hilarious Mel Brooks classic. Karras and Clark played the parents of Webster (played by Emmanuel Lewis) a little boy they adopted in the hit television show, “Webster.”
I have been too bitter lately but I have to say it. The great Jerry Kramer, the Green Bay Packers’ guard, called Alex Karras the toughest foe he faced. Neither Karras nor Kramer is in the Football Hall of Fame. Maybe writers resent their “K” starting names. I say these two greats not being in the Football Hall of Fame is “K”razy. My mistake is nowhere near as egregious as their mistake in not voting either player into the ”Hall.”
“When will I learn?” asked The Spinners in their 1975 hit “Games People Play.” I might have known not to indicate the series were not very “mysterious” as things and series have a way of changing. The Giants, Tigers, Yankees and Nationals are still favorites but a win apiece by the four trailing teams makes the four games today all interesting in the best of five extra playoffs.
Three of the four wins were by home teams. The St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles pulled even. However, any remaining games for them in this round will be on the road. Meanwhile the Oakland A’s won at home to stay alive. The Tigers still lead the A’s two games to one.
The team that won on the road was the San Francisco Giants, who scored without a hit in the top of the third inning to pull even at (1-1) and won the game on Reds’ third sacker, Scott Rolen’s error in the 10th inning by a (2-1) score. From (1969-1984) both league championship series had the same format as these division series namely two games at one team’s home and the potential last three at the other team’s home.The division series also had that format for either three or four seasons starting with the first “wild card induced” playoff in 1995. Such a series was mandated because of the baseball strike in 1981. In those twenty or twenty one seasons, no team has ever lost the first two games at home and won the series with that format. The Giants hope to make history and become the first team to win in such a way in the two games, three games format.
Finally, the Reds are in a (2-0) best of five series for the seventh time and yesterday was the first time that the trailing team avoided a three game sweep. Twice before, the Reds completed three game sweeps on a Tuesday en route to eventual World Titles in 1975 and 1976. Of course that was a great team. (Unbelievable that “dull as dishwater” Brian Anderson actually talked of there being hope that this Reds’ team would be a second coming of the Big Red Machine. Anderson has little excitement in his calls, rarely identifies the batter before the first pitch and shows little perspective regarding history. At the very least, he should have said becoming another version of that great team is a tall task. Sadly, there are far worse announcers than Anderson.)
Yesterday, the Giants won despite their batters being struck out 16 times. Oddly, in one of those three game Reds’ sweeps referenced above, Pirates rookie pitcher John Candelaria fanned 14 Reds’ batters in seven and two thirds innings but the Reds won the game, pennant and eventually the World Title. By the way, Pete Rose, a non home run hitter, hit a two run home run to put Cincinnati ahead in that game. Alas, Rose, who belongs in a special pantheon of Hall of Fame greats is still not in the “Hall” while baseball czar Bud Selig and his brass, who help keep him out, get extra rounds, and extended series. Frankly I have enough misery in my life. Thus I can’t fight this injustice any longer. I will end paraphrasing another hit song asking a profound question. Where have you gone Bob Costas? I await your “return.”
Dull as Dishwater
Only the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans are undefeated, each with (5-0) records. The Falcons won at Washington vs the Redskins by seven points. They were favored by three points. The Texans a ten point road favorite vs the New York Jets, won (24-17), the first time that Houston has failed to exceed the “perception” in a game this season. The Texans will host the Green Bay Packers, who fell to (2-3) when they lost at (the) Indianapolis Colts last week, in the Sunday night game. “Luck” has been against the Pack so far in this 2012 season as first a bad call by replacement officials cost them a victory at Seattle and last week inspired play by top draft pick, quarterback, Andrew Luck helped beat them.
A great football record set in far different times was broken last week when Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, who finally won a game and stand at (1-4), threw a touchdown pass for the 48th consecutive game breaking the record held for over 40 years by the great John Unitas. Brees is unquestionably a great passer but the rules and amount of passing is far different than in Unitas’ time. The Unitas record was truly amazing, not so Brees’ mark at this point.
Finally, a team record held by Unitas’ favorite receiver was nearly broken in the Colts’ win, referred to above. Raymond Berry still holds the single game Colts’ pass receiving yardage mark but Reggie Wayne, a long time Colts’ receiving standout nearly broke it catching 13 passes for 212 yards, including a four yard touchdown to put “Indy” ahead to stay in the last minute of play.
Who has the intangibles in the Giants at 49ers tilt in San Francisco this week? The Niners won the regular season game but lost the all important NFC Title tilt vs the Giants. All three games in San Francisco, SF a four plus point favorite (can say eighth, quarter and of course half but the relevant point, no pun intended, is that it is greater than four.)
Johnny Unitas
- Drew Brees
Much of the mystery is gone from this extra round of baseball playoffs that the lords of baseball love almost as much as their money. Of course they love it because it makes them more money. Two teams are up two games to none, while two others won best of five openers on the road and have the potential last three games at home. Three of the teams that have these big advantages were higher ranked teams.
The Cincinnati Reds managed by Dusty Baker, (I think he is coming to NY for a fourth time this year and a fourth World Series vs the Yankees) dominated the San Francisco Giants winning both games in the “city by the bay.” This is the ninth post-season series for a Baker team either as a player or manager, with exactly two road games for his team. On all nine occasions one team won both of those games. This is the fourth time Baker’s team won both games. Seven of the eight teams that won both road games won the series with the lone exception being when Baker’s lone title team, the 1981 Dodgers, won all three at home to take a best of five series from the Houston Astros. By the way, that Houston team included Nolan Ryan, the losing pitcher in the decisive game. The year before Ryan stood on the mound at home in the top of the eighth inning with a three run lead in the decisive game. Ryan and his team failed to hold the lead and lost the game. Ryan has suffered similar heartbreak as a Texas Rangers’ executive notably in last year’s World Series and with the team’s collapse this year. Also in strike marred 1981, Ryan retired Baker for the last out as he broke the no hit record he had shared with Sandy Koufax. However, Baker and the Dodgers went on to win their first title since 1965, when Sandy Koufax, pitching on two days rest pitched a three hit shutout in the seventh game of the World Series at Minnesota. (The only home World Series loss in 12 games for the Twins, who are 0-9 in road World Series games but won titles in 1987 and 1991.)
The Washington Nationals gave the D.C. area its first post-season win since 1933 winning (3-2) at St. Louis vs the world champion Cardinals. Tyler Moore delivered a two out, two rbi single in the top of the eighth and there was no more scoring after that hit. The Cardinals failed to score despite having the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Odds wise, the Cardinals will be deemed the team with the best chance of the four “disadvantaged” teams but with the potential last three games in Washington, will be over two to one underdogs.
The Detroit Tigers won both home games from the Oakland A’s, whom I picked to win this best of five series. The Tigers have now won six straight post-season games and eight of nine vs the Athletics, who also are likely to lose a post-season series for the eighth time in their last nine such events. These A’s are one of three teams in baseball history to trail in its entity by 13 or more games and win it. The previous two, the 1951 New York Giants, who lost the World Series to the Yankees and the 2006 Minnesota Twins, who were swept by the A’s (their last post season wins to this point) lost in its first post season round.
Finally the Yankees and their former manager, Buck Showalter, who just can not seem to beat them. He was fired as Yankees manager after an excruciating division series loss to the Seattle Mariners in 1995. Joe Torre took the Yankees’ reins and won four titles in five seasons. Now since then the Yankees have won but one title in eleven seasons and were denied in excruciating fashion by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ only world title in 2001. The D/Backs fired Showalter before that season. This year, Showalter’s long shot Orioles never went ahead of the Yankees down the stretch and had to play in a one game “play in” game. Odds wise, the Orioles and “dutiful” Showalter did the Yankees a favor by beating the Texas Rangers. The Yankees were over two to one favorites when the series began and now are overwhelming favorites after their game one rain delayed win at Baltimore. The Yankees are (4–0) in post-season games at Baltimore.
Clearly I am exaggerating the advantage of the four teams. After all, this is baseball and anything can happen. Also I picked the A’s to win their series vs the Tigers and they are down two games to none. Yet the Reds, Tigers, Yankees and Nationals in decreasing order of quantity all have nice advantages in this extra round of baseball post-season play.
Dusty Baker
On the season’s final day, the 30 to 1 underdog Oakland Athletics overcame an early (5-1) deficit and went on to a (12-5) win over the Texas Rangers to capture the AL West crown. It is the 15th divisional title for the A’s, eight being “one quarter” titles. This is the 6th of the “one eighth” variety while another was won in a strike marred extra round of playoffs in 1981. Beware of the A’s in years ending in “2” of late as they won divisional titles in 1972, 1992, 2002 and now 2012. They will face the Detroit Tigers in a best of five division series beginning in Detroit on Saturday. On their way to the first of three straight World Series wins, the A’s defeated the Tigers in a great five game, best of five ALCS in 1972. Oakland then captured the franchise’s first title since 1930 when they were the Philadelphia A’s and managed by Connie Mack. The Tigers swept the A’s in four straight in the 2006 ALCS but bowed to the St.Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Only one American League franchise has more titles than the A’s and of course that is the New York Yankees. The Yankees won their 13th “one eighth” division title in 17 seasons when they completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox and actually finished two games ahead of the 100 to 1 underdog Baltimore Orioles, who lost two of three games in Tampa vs the Rays. The Yankees are the AL one seed and await the winner of the Baltimore at Texas “play in” game. That game’s winner will host the Yankees in the best of five divisional series beginning on Sunday.
So the favored Yankees, longshot A’s, and heavily favored Tigers won divisional titles. Meanwhile the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles gained wild card spots. The Angels and Rays had too many slumps and lost out to teams that were not as highly regarded. Both Mike Scioscia and Joe Maddon are good managers but also vastly overrated ones. Scioscia was the manager and Maddon served as bench coach when the Angels won it all in 2002. Since then but 2 ALCS appearances, both losses to the eventual World Champions with the Angels winning but three games in the two series.
“The Master” which has a trio of tremendous actors, top billed Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Laura Dern was a powerful and truly good movie. The reason for this is that the cast includes a truly great actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I have seen them “come and go” and while Mr.Hoffman still has a ways to go to be an all-time actor, his work including this role as “Lancaster Dodd,” the charismatic leader of a new “religion,” is fantastic.
The film was written and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. Much has been made of this movie being about L.Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Surely that is a part but Anderson also based the story on the life of John Steinbeck. Additionally, and very interesting to me, is that Anderson recounted stories of “Navy Days” drinking told to him by the late, great actor, Jason Robards.
Hoffman’s performance as a charismatic man with the first name “Lancaster,” evoked memories of Burt Lancaster’s Academy Award performance as another charismatic “religion” promoter, in “Elmer Gantry.” The movie soundtrack was excellent. It includes “Changing Partners” which certainly was a big song in Patti Page’s career. Past memories, great music (Patti Page was in the cast of Elmer Gantry) an most of all great acting, especially by Hoffman, make “The Master” really worth seeing and yes, discussing.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
- Burt Lancaster
- Patti Page
The three teams that were unbeaten through three games made it to four this past weekend. While the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons pulled out dramatic victories to stay unbeaten, the Houston Texans eased to their fourth straight win, all of them by more than the expected margin.
Seven teams have (3-1) records which means more than two thirds of the NFL’s 32 teams are no better than .500 after four weeks of play. The (3-1) teams are the Chicago Bears, the surprising Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC. Teams successful in three quarters of their games thus far in 2012 from the AFC are the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens.
Last week both the Colts and Steelers, each with (1-2) records had a bye. This week the Steelers are three point home favorites vs the (3-1) Eagles, whose three wins have been by a total of four points. While I do not think it is necessarily the game to go against Pittsburgh, I honestly felt and feel pretty strongly this is not the Steelers’ year. Seeing that Jason Whitlock picked them to make the Super Bowl makes me that much more confident that they will not make it.
Finally, last week the Baltimore Ravens honored former running back Jamal Lewis who was a member of their 2000 season title team. In 2003 he threatened to break the NFL single season rushing mark held by Eric Dickerson but fell short. The number 2,003 reminds me this is the 40th season inclusive since Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson broke Jim Brown’s single season rushing mark when the former ran for 2,003 yards.
The Detroit Tigers, top heavy favorites to win the AL Central when the season began almost certainly will end up winning it. The Tigers had a (6-1) week while the White Sox continued a collapse that has seen them lose 10 of 12 games (2-5 this week at home) leaving Detroit with a magic number of 1 to clinch a second straight Central Title. The Tigers have three games in Kansas City vs the Royals while the White Sox go to Cleveland to face the Indians.
The Texas Rangers got two home runs and six rbis from catcher Mike Napoli in a big (8-7) win over the Angels in the second game of a home day/night doubleheader. The big win leaves Texas two games ahead of the Oakland A’s in the AL West. The teams play a three game series in Oakland. Thus the A’s can still win the division but only if they win all three games vs the Rangers.
The closest divisional or playoff race is in the AL East where the New York Yankees and the 100 to 1 shot, Baltimore Orioles are tied with three games left. On Sunday, it appeared the Orioles under Buck Showalter would finally go ahead of the Yankees when they led big vs the Red Sox, whom they would go on to sweep while the Toronto Blue Jays had a (5-1) lead after five innings vs the Yankees. However, the Yankees rallied for a (9-6) win and the seeming advantage as the Bombers host the Boston Red Sox while the Orioles go to Tampa to face the Rays in the season’s final three games. When Showalter managed the 1993 Yankees, his team, despite numerous opportunities, never went ahead in the AL East and so far, now managing against the Yankees, the same thing has happened.
The win by Texas in the Sunday nightcap clinched playoff berths for the Yankees (their fourth straight and 17th in the 18 seasons since failing in 1993, as stated above), the Rangers (a third straight) and Orioles who will be making their first post season appearance since 1997. The Tigers and A’s, who clashed in a great ALCS 40 years ago, each have magic numbers of one to gain entry into the post-season. Both the Rays and Angels need to win all three of their games while the A’s would have to lose all three of their games just to get into a one game playoff for a chance at another one game playoff.
Summing up, the Tigers almost certainly will be the three seed. The Rangers need one win to win the division and have a magic number of three vs the Yankees to be the A.L. one seed. Their magic number vs the Orioles to be the one seed is two. The Yankees have the tie breaker vs Texas. Stay tuned.
Andy B Sports 