Harry Belafonte’s “My Song: A Memoir,” written with Michael Shnayerson, is a riveting account of one of the most incredible people of recent times. Belafonte is honest, forthright and thinking ahead in giving us perspective on so much meaningful history. Add to that, Mr.Belafonte’s incredible entertainment career and personal life and you gain access to someone so extraordinary. His activism came first and this memoir adds so much to our knowledge of historic figures like Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. The events were seminal and this man was a big part of it. Now to be able to read his accounts, in a truly revealing manner, moved me beyond words. Eleanor Roosevelt dinner parties, Frank Sinatra shooting dice and the ways of Las Vegas hotels, are addressed. Belafonte is honest about his therapy, issues regarding his upbringing, race in America, and that American “essential:” money.
More than anything, he talks of his involvement in the civil rights movement. He is far too modest as to how much he contributed in time, money, and bringing the stars to some of the great demonstrations and events in our history. He talks of the Kennedys and how he talked with them in many a private setting. Talk about access, this extraordinary man had it with some of the greatest people of recent history. In this memoir he brings us to the incredible talks and events. Few have done so much and to read about it is not nearly doing the same, but still truly inspirational.
Harry Belafonte
There are some historic rematches in the Regional semi finals of the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Cincinnati and Ohio State, who are meeting in the East Region semi finals, met in a game for the NCAA Title 50 years ago. Cincinnati won that game as well as the 1961 Final when Ohio State came into the game as defending national champions.
Cincinnati was denied a 3rd straight title when Loyola of Chicago upset them in the 1963 Final in a great game. Vic Rouse’s offensive rebound basket was decisive. Those Bearcats of Cincinnati came the closest by far of any team to win 3 straight titles, other than, of course, the famed John Wooden coached the UCLA Bruins, who won seven straight titles from 1967-1973.
Oddly, Cincinnati began that great 3 year run, that produced two titles and a second place finish, after their greatest player Oscar Robertson graduated and began his career with the Cincinnati Royals–who now are the Sacramento Kings. That franchise started in Rochester as the Royals where they won their only Title in 1950-1951. Subsequent to playing in Rochester the team moved to Cincinnati and then became the Kansas City Omaha Kings. The Rochester Royals, by the way, kept the Minneapolis Lakers from winning a third straight NBA Title and the 1950-1951 season was the only season in which Minneapolis did not win the crown from (1949-1954).
Another historic rematch is also a clash between two great basketball schools from two great basketball states. Of course that is the Kentucky vs Indiana South Regional semi final matchup. Kentucky is the favorite to win its 8th NCAA Title and they are second only to UCLA which has the most titles with eleven. Meanwhile, Indiana has won 5 Titles which ties them with North Carolina for third place, the Tar Heels being the current 2nd choice in this tournament. Kentucky beat an undefeated Indiana team in the 1975 Regional Finals in a game whose TV announcers were Marv Albert and Jerry Lucas. Albert, a magnificent basketball broadcaster, is working his second straight NCAA tournament after a 30 year absence from the event. Lucas was the star of the Ohio State NCAA winner in 1960 and the 2nd place teams of 1961 and 1962. His teammates for all or part of that period of excellence included John Havlicek, Larry Seigfried and one Bob Knight, the latter best known as a volatile basketball coach. Knight was the Indiana coach whose undefeated team lost that 1975 Regional Final to Kentucky.
Oscar Robertson
“Enter Your Sleep ” is a very well done play in which the two characters, longtime friends, who have not seen each other in years, enter each other’s dreams. It stars Jonathan Hooks as P.K.Whylde and Lauren Sowa as Glory Zico. They are the only actors on stage with each playing more than one role. The play really makes one think about opportunities and explores a wonderful concept; dreams with feedback. “Enter Your Sleep” was written by Christina Quintana and directed by Jonathan McCrory. Both Hooks and Sowa were excited about the project. Each is worth following as they are truly talented actors.
Jonathan Hooks and Lauren Sowa have known each other for some time. Their chemistry really comes across to the audience. At one point in the play, the two get up together, from a prone position keeping their heads touching at all times. Try that some time. I, for one, would be lucky to just get up from the floor.
Hooks plays Sowa’s/Glory’s character’s mother in one scene and does it with excellent comedic timing and quite a good version of a feminine voice. Hooks, like P.K., is from Oklahoma where he studied at The University of Oklahoma Drama School. His previous work includes the films “Where Truth Lies” and “Sadie Clove,” on which Jonathan also contributed special effects. Sowa, who keeps a blog to motivate her to read a play each day, is about to begin filming “Stalled,” a short film whose topic is revenge. She also recently worked with Kevin Spacey at Brooklyn Academy of Music on no less a project than “Richard III.”
Author Christina Quintana is hoping for a March 2013 revival of “Enter Your Sleep.” She says the play is about the “kooky and undefinable” relationship of P.K. and Glory. I say her dream, making a viable play about dreams and possibilities should, and hopefully will come to fruition. Watching “Enter Your Sleep” was a transforming experience that made me think and sadly caused regrets about my missed opportunities. But overall, it left me inspired and others will learn lessons about seeking one’s dreams. I left the performance truly feeling great. Here’s hoping “Enter Your Sleep” is back, bigger and better, very soon…
I will concentrate on the 4 seasons in which Wilt Chamberlain’s teams had a better regular season record than Bill Russell’s teams. Those seasons were 1965-1966, 1966-1967 and 1967-1968 when Wilt was with the Philadelphia 76ers and 1968-1969, which was Chamberlain’s first season with the Lakers. 1965-1966 under former NBA great Dolph Schayes, the Sixers claimed the best record in the East on the last day of the regular season, surely a Sunday, as I recall watching the end as a 10 year old in the “Mountains” (Wilt of course was a bellhop in those “Mountains”). But Boston was really just as good and disposed of the Sixers in 5 games in the playoffs.
1966-1967 was the one season in which Chamberlain’s team defeated Russell’s Celtics in the playoffs. Philadelphia was dominant that season with a then NBA record (68-13) mark. They beat the San Francisco Warriors in six games to win the Title. What hurt, and still hurts, is that the Sixers failed to clinch the title on national television in the home, Sunday 5th game. The Sixers had beaten Boston in 5 games winning the finale (140 -116) after failing to clinch in a nationally televised 4th game. At least that game was in Boston and I believe tape exists of that contest. Oddly, due to a strike the announcers were director Chet Forte and producer Chuck Howard. Maybe they were director and producer but give me them over most of the so called, never quiet, “so called “announcers of today.
So Wilt finally had won a title but there was no television as it was clinched in a late game at San Francisco. In 1967-1968, the no television association would really hurt. The Sixers again were the better team, easily outdistancing the aging Celtics in the regular season. When “Philly” won in Boston to go up 3 games to 1 on national television, things seemed fine. But these were the Celtics and this was a time of no national television or radio for the NBA. The Celtics needed to win 3 straight games, two in Philadelphia and that is what they did. None of the games were on television, two not even on static filled WCAU in Philadelphia.
Finally 1968-1969, the Celtics finish 4th, the lowest playoff qualifying position, in the East. Wilt had been traded to the Lakers, who had the best record in the West. Sure enough they met in the finals, the home team winning each of the first six games. Game 7 was in LA but these were the Celtics! We knew it was the great Sam Jones’ last game. It would be Russell’s last game as well. Mr. Russell, the greatest winner in sports and his great team made it 11 titles in 13 seasons winning (108-106). The Lakers had the lead and the ball with less than 24 seconds left in game 4 but could not get the ball inbounds. Sam Jones made them pay with one of the many big shots in his career.
Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as great a rivalry and story as any in sports. Russell the greatest winner , but Wilt, no slouch with 2 titles playing on record setting teams. Wilt’s teams, minimum, should have won two more titles maybe 4 or 5. In the early years, his incredible play made it close vs deep, great Boston teams that were so much better than Wilt’s Philadelphia Warriors’ teams. As a Wilt rooter, who has nothing but awe for the greatness of the Celtics, 1968’s loss hurts the most. (Celts’ announcer was Johnny Most and I think he has announced the most titles, maybe Mel Allen?). 1968, a turbulent, tragic year in history, whose long range consequences I did not realize as a 12 to 13 year old. I did, however, feel the pain of those 3 straight non televised Boston wins. Sadly, I still do.
It was nice to hear all the nice things the great Bill Russell said about his rival Wilt Chamberlain as he narrated “Wilt 100,” a halfway decent piece about Wilt and his 100 point game. Russell and Chamberlain were friends, but for a long time did not speak to each other. Maybe that fact should have been noted along with a warning about the consequences of such actions. Of course it was not mentioned.
Alas, Russell was too modest concerning the incredible fact his teams won 11 titles in 13 seasons. Surely most years his teams were better than Chamberlain’s teams but that was not always the case. Yet only once in the 10 seasons they were in the league together did Wilt’s team win the Title. The other 9 titles went to Russell and the Celtics.
The right question in the eternal Russell vs Chamberlain argument was asked by Bob Costas at a 1997 event honoring the so called 50 greatest players in NBA history. He asked both men, seated together, how many times did Wilt have the better team and not win vs Russell and the Celtics in the playoffs? The question was asked once and not answered. I will give my opinion along with some more facts next week.
Numbers such as 1, 10, 25, 50 and 100 stand out in our culture. So do sports records, especially those that last a long time and perhaps stand for all time. One such record: Wilton Norman Chamberlain’s 100 point game, was set exactly 50 years ago this Friday, on Friday March 2, 1962 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The greater feat was Chamberlain averaging over 50 points per game for the entire 1961-1962 season. However, you can read all this in a record book where Chamberlain’s name still and likely always will be all over the scoring record’s page. I want to address the issue of Wilt not getting enough credit for being on 2 NBA championship teams ( the 1966-1967 Philadelphia 76ers and the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers) that for well over 20 years had the two greatest records in NBA history. That fact, and others, were never cited in the piece by Disney’s “Entertainment and Sports Programming Network” when Wilt was named one of the top athletes of the twentieth century. Then again, you know what they say about opinions.
The great John Unitas had a distant ranking in that show but he noted “at least I finished ahead of a horse.” Put horse’s in front of what opinions are compared to and you get what people are who deny Wilt his place in sport’s history. Sure that is my opinion, but there are substantial facts behind that opinion. Oops, did I say “behind. ” Oh well, that is the word often linked with opinions.
Wilt Chamberlain
I did not watch the Academy Awards and feel some regret. Earlier on Sunday, I saw part of a “Between Movies” feature Turner Classic Movies aired about the Academy Awards for 1939, which not so arguably was the greatest year in movie history. A certain great New York publicist would find it odd and perhaps amusing that I have such regret about not recording it.
The feature showed Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel (both of “Gone with the Wind”) accepting their awards and making brief speeches. Robert Donat, who won that year for “Goodbye Mr.Chips,” was shown in the movie but not at the presentation which was held at The Coconut Grove. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and the great David O. Selznick were shown receiving awards, the former remembering his father and the latter winning the Irving Thalberg Award. Spencer Tracy was shown reading the 5 nominees in both best actor categories. It is truly a collector’s item but I should not regret being unable to record it. That same great New York publicist would remind me of the internet and all that is available on it.
Finally, random personal experiences with just the “Jack Webb” (ie: facts involved). I did get a picture with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. but the one time I met Meryl Streep (“Best Actress” award winner in 2011 as the second favorite going in) she was “too busy” going into an event at the 92nd Street Y to take a photo. She is a brilliant actress, was not rude, drove her own vehicle and paid to park it in a garage but alas, 30 seconds of her time to produce a precious memory for me was a bit much for her to manage.
When Al Pacino finally won an Academy Award for “Best Actor,” in “Scent of a Woman,” a future best actor winner had a fair sized role in the film. Then virtually unknown, his name was Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Phillip S. Hoffman in the credits). You do stay for the credits and the equivalent here is Meryl Streep took such good care of a dying John Cazale that she need not have stopped to pose for a picture with me.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
When I think of Gary Carter, one can’t help but remember all the big hits he got in the 1986 post season as the Mets won the World Series. I was working in the broadcast booth for ABC Sports in game 5 of the NLCS (Mets vs Houston) and the game went into extra innings. A graphic revealed the longest NLCS game to that point was the Reds (2-1) win vs the Mets in game 4 of the 1973 NLCS. I told the people Pete Rose’s home run won that game and the note was cited on air. That game went 12 innings. Soon after, Carter lined a hit to win Game 5 for the Mets also in the 12th inning.
In the World Series against the Red Sox, Carter had a big home run in game 4 to help the Mets even the series. In game 6, Carter batted in the bottom of the 8th inning, the bases were loaded and the Red Sox were ahead 3 to 2 in both the game and the series. The count was 3 balls, no strikes, when Carter swung and hit a sacrifice fly to left field. He batted next with the Red Sox ahead (5-3) and one out away from their first World Series win in 68 years. It was the bottom of the 10th inning and no one was on base. He singled to start the incredible 3 run rally that gave the Mets a 6-5 win. I know 50,000 people were there and 5 million claim they were there but I was at Shea Stadium that night.
Now, Carter is gone, the Mets have not won a Title since, and I question my “intensity” that October 25, 1986. Yet it remains one of the most incredible events I ever witnessed.
Gary Carter
“A Weekend with Oscar” provided awe inspiring screenings of all five nominated documentaries for the Academy Award. Nominated short subject-animated and short subject-live action films were shown as well. I was fortunate to see 15 efforts of creativity, humor and pathos that were truly outstanding.
Host, Patrick Harrison, a great one both in introducing the work and in informal chats with audience members, talked of how our emotions would go up and down while watching the documentaries. He was so accurate as all five nominated works tugged at one’s heart. A beautiful “Hart,” Dolores, was the subject of “God is the Bigger Elvis” about her decision to become a cloistered nun and end her movie career and engagement. “The Barber of Birmingham,” “Incident in New Baghdad,” “Saving Face,” and “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom,” all tell compelling stories. I often lament my own misfortunes but after watching the horror and courage depicted in the five documentaries, I hope to continue to seek the “higher ground” in life. Who will win? The Awards are apples and oranges–but cherry blossoms and the work of those who died, are there to inspire us.
Oscar
Some miscellaneous comments and reviews: We lost a true great in Ben Gazzara. His work was stellar and oh what great times there were producing inspiration that will help us moving forward. Gas was much cheaper, McDonalds had served considerably less people and the Rams were still in Los Angeles. All of this flashed through my mind as I watched “Mother, Jugs and Speed ” at a recent screening of Racquel Welch films at Lincoln Center. “Myra Breckinridge,” the other film I saw at the Welch screenings, was really entertaining and actually insightful.
Another of the many breaks the “Supe” Champion Giants got was when division contender Dallas failed to kick a potential game winning field goal at Arizona. Arizona won the game in overtime. Thus the Giants were able to control their destiny despite a 2nd loss to the (5-11) Washington Redskins, this one at home. The Giants have twice won Super Bowls, four years apart; going (27 -5) in winning Titles in 1986 and 1990 going just (19-13) in winning the last two. In 48 seasons spanning from 1964-2011, the Giants have won 4 championships but only made it as far as the semi -finals one other time. Just before that span, the Giants lost all 5 “Finals” or NFL Title tilts in a six year span, losing in 1958, 1959 and 1961-1963. Their records in those 5 seasons were (9-3), (10-2), (10-3-1), (12-2) and (11-3).
Raquel Welch
Ben Gazzara
Andy B Sports 