Yoko Ono is an incredible woman who offered a glimpse into her life when she was interviewed by Michael Kimmelman as part of the wonderful “Times Talks” series. Ms. Ono has a new book called “An Invisible Flower,” written years before she met her future husband John Lennon.
The interview was supplemented by some incredible footage and “home movies” of Yoko’s life. Insight was gained into what makes this peace loving woman tick. The home movies showed Yoko as a child while she talked of her family members and their place in society as long standing members in the banking field. But there was art in the dreams of her family and of course Yoko circumvented the dynamic of family/established work vs art and made her way as an internationally recognized, versatile artist.
Yoko showed some of her work and at one point asked audience members to come up and “wrap” her as she sat in a chair. Other examples of her performance art were shown on the screen throughout the interview. There was great material shown of Yoko’s appearances over the years. She was ahead of her time on many key issues, not the least of which, her stand against the hypocrisy regarding women in this society.
Kimmelman conducted the interview in a nice low key manner and Yoko was forthcoming. While nothing earth shattering was revealed, Yoko clearly touched on some of the points that have made her a controversial figure, but did so in a precise way. She called the music her late husband John Lennon was making “a nice sound.” There were adjustments made by both “free spirits” to sustain the wonderful marriage Yoko and John enjoyed.
Tragically, that marriage ended and the world suffered a horrible loss when John Lennon was killed on December 8,1980. At that point and sadly to this day, I feel outrage, shame and sadness that in this country the lives of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lennon were snuffed out in violence. I believe all stood for peace: the late President was headed that way and the other three epitomized it. Yoko practices it and has always offered insight into living on a higher plane. I never doubted her but through much deeper understanding realize the beauty in her ways. Those of you married or in a relationship learn and study the tenets of her unique ways of love. Do it and that thing about peace and maybe there is a chance. Peace and chance, you know the rest.
“Times Talks” events take place at The Times Center, 242 W 41st Street, NYC. For additional information on upcoming events visit http://www.TimesTalks.com
When the Detroit Tigers held on for a (2-1) win vs the New York Yankees in game three of the ALCS, three was the operative number.
It was game three of course and the Tigers raised their Game three ALCS record to (6-0). The win gives the Tigers a commanding three games to none lead in a bid for their third ALCS triumph, one which would even their ALCS record at (3-3). Finally, if the Tigers win the series they would become the first team ever to win three consecutive post-season series vs the Yankees, having won division series vs them in 2006 and 2011.
Justin Verlander continued Detroit’s outstanding pitching going eight and one third innings, allowing just one run and three hits. Phil Coke pitched two thirds of an inning, allowing two hits, one to Robinson Cano, which snapped his 0 for 29 streak before striking out Raul Ibanez to end the game. For the third consecutive game, Delmon Young put Detroit ahead to stay this time with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Justin Verlander
Only the Atlanta Falcons are unbeaten after six weeks of play in the National Football League. For the second time this year, Atlanta pulled a game out late, this one (23-20) vs the Oakland Raiders. Atlanta was a ten point favorite in the game. Earlier this season, Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan threw the ball up and Roddy White came down with it (the pass defense in the league and college football is terrible) eventually setting up a game winning field goal vs the Panthers.
Elsewhere, only the Baltimore Ravens won to go to (5-1) while the last two Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers were mighty impressive in respectively winning at (4-2) San Francisco (49ers) and dropping the Houston Texans to (5-1) with a win at Houston. This week those two (5-1) teams clash at Houston in a game that quite possibly could go a long way in deciding the AFC top seed especially, in my opinion, if Houston wins. Incredibly, no other AFC team is better than (3-3) and the entire AFC East is (3-3) after last week’s results which included the NFC West, Seattle Seahawks going to (4-2) with a late win vs the New England Patriots. On Monday night the San Diego Chargers appeared to be headed to a (4-2) mark when they led the Denver Broncos (24-0) at half time. However, the Broncos stormed back to win (35-24) leaving both teams, you guessed it, (3-3).
In the NFC, the (4-1) Chicago Bears had a bye. The Giants won to be (4-2) while losses by the 49ers (as mentioned vs the Giants), Arizona Cardinals (to the Buffalo Bills in overtime) and Minnesota Vikings (at the Washington Redskins) left each team (4-2). As mentioned above, the Seattle Seahawks are also (4-2). Late in the Bills win at Arizona, Cardinals’ kicker Jay Feely made a 61 yard field goal to tie the game. Then a 38 yard field goal attempt by Feely on the last play of regulation time was tipped by the Bills’ Alex Carrington (remember Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington on tv’s Dynasty), keeping the Bills in the game. While late NFL commissioner, Pete Rozelle’s “dream” of every team being (8-8) will never happen, the “topsy turvy” nature of football is evident. Certainly there are no dynasties.
On the exact 28 year anniversary of their last World Series win on Sunday, October 14, 1984, the Detroit Tigers took a two games to none lead in the ALCS vs the New York Yankees. As I recall, that title clincher like Sunday’s Tigers’ win was a late afternoon game. In game one, the Tigers won despite dissipating a four run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning when incredibly, Raul Ibanez hit his fourth game tying, “down to the last inning” home run in three weeks. Detroit managed to win the game (6-4) in 12 innings and again benefited from a quick “turn around” after a Saturday night win (same happened vs the A’s in the division series), winning (3-0) in game two.
This is the Tigers’ sixth ALCS and in all of them one team has grabbed a two games to none series lead. This is the third time Detroit has the (2-0) advantage. This is only the second time in 15 ALCS that the Yankees trail two games to none. Jim Leyland, in his 13th post-season series, gets a (2-0) advantage for the fourth time. Delmon Young delivered the game winning hits in both games, a huge go ahead double in the 12th inning of game one and a fielder’s choice rbi in game two. The Tigers’ starting pitching has been magnificent thus far in post-season, allowing just five earned runs in 49 and one third innings.
Leyland and the Tigers are up two games to none thus the “prevailing wind” media (most of the media took the Claude Rains “Casablanca” character course in taking the easy way) did not take Leyland to task for letting struggling closer Jose Valverde pitch to Raul Ibanez (game one) when he had a lefthander, Drew Smyly ,the eventual winning pitcher, available. This was after Valvarde “sinned” and walked Mark Teixeira with two out, no one on, ahead by two runs. Ibanez, on an historical game tying home run tear, was allowed to bat vs a right handed pitcher, a struggling one at that.
Beano’s death hurts even more today. These are the first few days in a long time that I can not call him. Surely, it is a long distance call to him now. That reminds me of something he once wrote to me regarding my quite frequent calls to him in Pittsburgh from my New York residence. He quipped that his phone stock must double because of my calls. Regarding the phone company, he said on the air “it was the only thing that worked in this country and now they are breaking it up.”
Beano did not realize all that he accomplished and would be astounded at all the tributes to him upon his death. At times, I would call him and without saying anything play one of his on air comments. I found one recently; Nebraska is a juggernaut, unbeaten and playing at Oklahoma in their regular season finale. The year is 1983 and though I am a part of the Scoreboard Show I am not there that day. On that show, Beano picks Nebraska to win (28-21). Late in the game Nebraska leads (28-21) but Oklahoma has the ball first and goal around the Nebraska five. The game has “mythical national championship” implications but someone wagered the total points in the game would exceed fifty and that is “more important.” At that point, “that someone” remembers Beano’s pick and though he likes Beano and knows an “exact pick” will help him, “that someone” wants Oklahoma to score. When the game ends (28-21) Nebraska and two days later Beano’s “exact pick” is hailed in USA Today “that someone” laments, why did Beano have to be that good! He surely was that good and not just at picking games.
It is early morning and there will be more Beano stories in the days to come. I truly regret not doing a “Beano you are dead” tape that he would have balked at but loved to have completed. My first year with the show another great, Jack Whitaker (you think he had a father in the business as with these “nepotism” cases who flood the airwaves today!) was on air with Beano and host, Jim Lampley. After one of the shows, Whitaker asked me if I knew what Beano would like to happen on his last day on earth? I do not and he tells me. One “thing” is he loves Stefanie Powers and years later, ESPN (They had some nice tributes to Beano after his death) had Ms.Powers call Beano and flirt with him on the air.
Another involves the success of his picks; wanting wins in the east and then the west. So help me, the following happened: For some reason, the after work establishment the ABC people were in allowed a number of dogs to run within its confines that day. The next day, NFL Sunday, all five or so underdogs (called dogs in betting parlance) picked by Beano won their games, minimum within the “bettors point spread” as Lampley called it and some had outright victories. The dogs running about were a “sign.”
Followup on Stefanie Powers, who was gracious when I interviewed her some years back. She really “perked up” when I told her that I was Beano’s friend. She declared her “love” for him playing it for all it was worth and then some. The next day I played the tape for Beano. Usually, Beano was not impressed by tapes or more concerned with his Sunday morning news shows. On this occasion he was impressed, surprised and delighted.
- Stefanie Powers
Beano Cook
The Tigers victory in five games vs the Oakland A’s (I predicted an A’s series victory) reversed the ALCS result 40 years ago, when the A’s won in five games. Both series resulted in the home team winning the first four games and the road team taking the decisive fifth game. Bask then, the A’s, en route to their first Oakland title, won a tense (2-1) game, losing Reggie Jackson to injury in the process. This time, the Tigers eased in Game Five on the road over the A’s behind the pitching of Justin Verlander. He will not pitch until game three of the ALCS.
The San Francisco Giants became the first team in big league history to win a best of five series with the two/three format by winning the last three games on the road, after losing the first two games at home. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker has suffered three terrible post season series defeats and still never won a World Series as a manager. Twice Baker’s teams, this Reds team and the 2003 Chicago Cubs, needed one win out of three to advance but failed losing three straight games both times. Five of the six losses were at home. Worse, because victory meant the World Title, Baker’s Giants dissipated a five run lead in the sixth game of the 2002 World Series with the Giants up three games to two. They led by five runs in the seventh inning at Anaheim. The Angels won that game and game seven the next night for their only title.
The New York Yankees never let Buck Showalter and the Orioles end a day ahead of them down the stretch of the regular season nor in the post season. The result was that Raul Ibanez, a big reason the Yankees won the AL East, and C.C. Sabathia, led the Yankees to their 49th post-season series win dispatching the Orioles in five games. The Yankees, surprisingly considering their incredible winning history, are just (8-8) in decisive games of a series, but (5-6) at home. They open the ALCS vs the Detroit Tigers at home beginning Saturday night. No team has ever beaten the Yankees in three consecutive post season series. The Tigers will be underdogs in their bid to become the first team to accomplish that feat.
The Cardinals won their fourth decisive game in the past two seasons (they are (6-0) facing elimination in those years) staging an incredible four run rally in the top of the ninth inning to eliminate the Washington Nationals, winning (9-7). Daniel Descalso, who also delivered a big hit in the Cardinals’ incredible Game 6 2011 triumph, delivered a two out, two run single to tie the game at seven. Shortstop Pete Kozma followed with a two run single and the Cardinals were on their way to San Francisco where they will begin NLCS rematches of both 25 and 10 years ago vs the San Francisco Giants.
The Washington Senators won Washington’s only World Series in 1924, beating the New York Giants. The great Walter Johnson was the winning pitcher in relief. The next year, the Pirates overcame a (3-1) series deficit, overcoming a three run Washington lead with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win (9-7). They beat Walter Johnson in the process. Now, 87 years later, the Washington D.C. area loses another deciding game by the same (9-7) score.
The Seattle “Washington state” Mariners have never even made the World Series. The once Seattle Pilots, now the Milwaukee Brewers have never won one, losing in their only one.
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
