The Kansas City Chiefs prevailed (25-22) vs the San Francisco 49ers in just the third NFL Championship Game in the 91 game(s) history of such to go into overtime.
They did so driving 75 yards for a repeat Supe winning touchdown pass from the magical Pat Mahomes to (Carey) Mecole Hardman, the latter whose credentials include “magic show” type bits on television and who now has both won and lost, the latter in college when Alabama beat his Georgia team, championship games that ended on touchdown passes.
The Chiefs, three point(s) winners in both are the first team in 19 years (N.E. in ’03 and ’04 seasons) to repeat as NFL champions and have won three of the last five NFL crowns, making the AFC Title Game/NFL “semis” in six straight seasons.
Meanwhile the 49ers fell in the Supe, in a truly tough loss for a third straight time, this after being victorious in their first 5 such games.
Oy vey regarding S.F. coach Kyle Shanahan, who has now lost in all 3 of his Super Bowl appearances, one as an assistant coach, despite having 10 point(s) or more leads.
Apparently, he did not “school” his team regarding the overtime rule change for post-season tilts and I am not “resulting” his team’s choice to receive rather than defer to start overtime, in opining it was the wrong one!!
If the players did not know the rule, this combined with other, (mucho such),– it paints a bad, certainly lower portrait of the innovative, hard luck, however, “you made bad luck with poor decisions,” Kyle Shanahan.
Far from perfect, but Andy Reid with his third title is climbing higher and higher on any list of top coaches.
I cite three great K.C. players: Chris Jones for the defense (ode to Judd), Harrison Butker (kicker) and that Mr. Kelse (really Kels and not Mr. Kelso on Superman and Taylor will never be Mrs. Kels, but I doubt Travis will be either Elvis or Mr. Taylor Swift), a truly great tight end.
Chris Jones, pictured above is a brilliant defensive player, evoking memories of the many great K.C. defensive players on their long ago ’69 season title team.
That team deemed to be the “Team of the 70’s” certainly failed in that but remain a great “era” team, say from ’66-’71 and certainly such in ’69 and to a lesser extent but with post-season games in ’66, ’68, and ’71.
Any way you slice it and I had both hot and cold “sliced” food at the “Baba,” where the downstairs feed was way ahead of the upstairs one I was viewing, these Chiefs have already ascended to be one of the NFL’s great teams.
This day, one day before the 215th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, in Las Vegas, Nevada of all places, the 91st game (1933-2023), for the NFL crown will be contested between the 1950 NFL entry San Francisco 49ers and the 1960 AFL and 1970 NFL entry, Kansas City Chiefs.
5, 29, 4, 45, and 23 points were the margins of the 5 Niners’ Supe wins, the defeats by just 4 and a misleading 11 (that vs K,C, in a game they had a 10 point, 4th quarter lead and possession of the “pig”).
K.C. (Chiefs) won by 16, 11 and 3 (luckily last year), while losing by 25 and 22 point(s) margins in their 5 previous Super Bowl appearances.
Noting there were six “all the way” AFL title tilts from (1960-1965).
Three of the 4 title winners in those 6 seasons, have not won a crown in the (at least) 58 subsequent seasons, all of which ending or will end in an entity called the Super Bowl. (The Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans ’60 and ’61, the Chargers as San Diego now again as in ’60 when they lost to the Oilers in the first AFL Title Game, in L.A. doing so in ’63 and the Buffalo Bills (’64 and ’65) are those teams/franchises.
The other pre Supe, AFL Title game winner, doing so in ’62 and then known as the Dallas Texans were/are the K.C. Chiefs, who today in a second such bid, hope to join the ’97 and ’98 Denver Broncos and ’03 and ’04 New England Patriots, as the only original AFL teams to win successive NFL/Super Bowl crowns.
Now, neither, after 24 seasons with that not the case, Bill Belichick or Tom Brady is with New England.
Today’s K.C. opponent, the S.F. 49ers are coached by the son of the ’97 and ’98 Broncos’ coach, Mike Shanahan and have a star running back, who is the son of Ed McCaffrey whose distinctions include titles with those ’97 and ’98 Broncos and also the last/most recent Niners’ Supe winner in ’94.
The sons Kyle and Christian, respectively have been part of teams that dissipated big Supe leads and is deemed a prohibitive favorite to, if “nada” else, score at least one touchdown in today’s game for the NFL crown.
Joe Montana, pictured above, won 4 crowns in as many Supe appearances with the Niners and was the ’93 Chiefs “QB,” in a season they lost at Buffalo, vs the Bills in the AFC Title/NFL “semis” game.
Sixty years have gone by (not “Let It Be,” but can it be?!!) since the legendary Beatles’ first United States appearance, that on the seminal Ed Sullivan Show, on this February 9th date in 1964.
I am pretty sure I did not see their performance, perhaps older female Leslie was there and ’twas Jack Rosenberg, he who subsequently warned me that Sandy Koufax would retire due to an arthritic elbow, that told me The Beatles would be on the Sullivan Show that February 9th.
The Beatles were incredible, on the Sullivan Show the next two weeks as well, and endure, resonating exponentially, all these years later.
Click below for brief glances at The Beatles performing and Mr. Sullivan’s historic introduction.
The San Francisco 49ers were victorious in their first five final round entities, all Super Bowls, three in routs and in two, certainly one (Montana to John Taylor for a last minute, game winning touchdown) truly close wins vs the Cincinnati Bengals (Cincy is (0-3) in Supes losing by 5, 4 and 3 points in chronological order), however, have lost their last two, each a very close tilt.
Some historical similarities emerge.
Two other franchises won their first 5 final round entities before “suffering” well known final round loss skeins and eventually more crowns.
Most famous are the Boston Red Sox, I guess also or just the Pilgrims (Mr. O’Connor, brilliant as “Archie” regarding the Pilgrims on an Archie Bunker’s Place, I viewed last night) for some of the 5 World Series wins, sans defeat, accomplished in 1903 (the first modern W.S.), 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918.
They would endure 86 years and 84 completed seasons (1919-2003 with no completed season in ’94) without a crown, losing 4 hard fought, maximum 7 games World Series in ’46,’67,’75, and ’86–the last two of those with among other facts of closeness, with (3-0) mid innings/game 7 leads.
The Red Sox have won in their last 4 World Series appearances, doing so in 4 game sweeps in 2004 and 2007 and going (8-3) for two more titles in 2013 and 2018..
Playing in Minneapolis, the Lakers were victorious in their first 5 final rounds, winning titles in ’49,’50 and (’52-54).
However, 8 final round losses (7 to the Boston Celtics, the first while still a “Minne” team and the next 6 as L.A. and one to the New York Knicks) followed.
Since that point, L.A. has a (12-7), (11-7) “non bubble” final round record with two 3 final round win skeins , those (2000-2002) and a current one that includes 2009, 2010 and the fairly tainted 2020 “bubble” crown.
Eventually to You Tube (below) and a nice video recalling the Niners’ Supe winning drive to win the ’88 season crown.
At about “2:10” a confluence of three greats, as Joe Montana passed to Jerry Rice and Lon Simmons is the broadcaster!!
‘Twas a Sunday and I will list the nine starters (the designated hitter was 8 years away and in fact, it was in a Yankees at Red Sox tilt that Ron Blomberg of the Yankees became the first), none in the Baseball Hall, two that were/are, Mickey Mantle and Carl Yastrzemski, not in or at least starting that day, ditto regarding Roger Maris, who now even 38 plus years after his death, is denied entry.
The position players and pitchers, visiting Yankees then home, Red Sox: First base: Joe Pepitone and Tony Horton (think beyond baseball for these two fine players), second base: Bobby Richardson and Chuck Schilling, shortstop Tony Kubek (is he in as a broadcaster?) and Ed Bressoud (as Jerry Coleman “relayed” Bressoud’s length of remaining time as Boston SS depended on the development of one Americo “Rico” Petrocelli, who certainly did “develop,” third base an all time great fielder, Clete Boyer and Dalton Jones, who 2 plus years later was a platoon starter on the 1967 “Impossible Dream” A.L. Champion, Red Sox.
To the outfield and left to right for the Yankees, Tom Tresh (he of the many big World Series home runs), Roger Repoz and Hector Lopez, who caught a Vada Pinson fly ball for the clinching last out as the ’61 Yankees, among baseball’s greatest teams clinched the crown.
The Red Sox outfield left to right was Lee Thomas, who at least on first batter Kubek’s hit off the famed wall in left, was “Yaz like” and held Tony to a single, Felix Mantilla (Felix was days earlier voted the A.L. starting second baseman in the July 13th at Minnesota All Star Game) and just 20, already with impressive HR figures, Tony Conigliaro.
The batteries: Jim “Bulldog” Bouton and 2 years later a big help to the ’67 Red Sox, an under rated excellent catcher, Elston Howard while Bill Monbouquette and the “ever ready–forgive it, please) Bob Tillman behind the plate, completing the Bo Sox battery.
I have stories, I recall “what might have beens,” however choose a positive regarding Tony Conigliaro’s (pictured above) sad story (essentially, being hit by a pitch curtailed a potentially great career).
Al Davis, the late maverick Raiders’ owner, paid Tony C’s hospital bills and gave great time and effort to their friendship.
The second Super Bowl clash between Kansas City and San Francisco will be the third major North American sports league final round entity, contested between the cities of Kansas City (Missouri) and San Francisco.
In 2014, the San Francisco Giants won in 7 games with pitcher, Madison Bumgarner starring vs the Kansas City Royals.
I do not know of too many, (any?) other cities with as many as 3 final round entity clashes in baseball and Super Bowl football in such proximity.
Research? If you do it or know, please comment.
Madison Bumgarner, pictured above.
It’s the Chiefs vs the 49ers! A great place to watch the game is midtown Manhattan’s Rick’s Cabaret New York, home of the world’s most beautiful dancers.
The three-level club is known for providing the best in VIP treatment, warm hospitality, and delicious food from its own top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse. Watch the game while surrounded by the sexy Rick’s girls who love to entice you with their bodies. And don’t miss the After-Party featuring bottle specials that is sure to go all night long!
“Its the biggest contest in all of sports and this year’s match-up of the Chiefs vs 49ers will be exciting,” said Rick’s girl Nadia. “Football and the hot Rick’s girls—it’s going to be an awesome fun time. Come flex, be a baller, and make it rain!”
Rick’s Cabaret New York 50 West 33rd Street
“The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, meeting in the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons/four years, have each lost 2 Super Bowl games and after the upcoming tilt, one of the teams will be (0-2) in “CBS as the AFC network” (although there are numerous cross over telecasts, denying the old rules of visiting team/that conference network, “getting”/telecasting said game), Super Bowl telecasts. “T
This will be Jim Nantz’ sixth Supe as lead broadcaster.
Both the Chiefs (vs and actually at TB/TB–Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) with Tom Brady, winning a record seventh Super Bowl crown) and 49ers (to the John Harbaugh coached Ravens, an entity still in tact that K.C. beat to gain 2023 season, Supe entry) are (0-1) in such games.
The Chiefs are (3-2) in previous Supes, with all three wins coming on the NFL/NFC network, including the ’69 crown on CBS, when it was the NFL, as opposed to AFL network.
K.C. also won the crown on NFC network, Fox in both ’19 and ’22, the former vs the Niners and last year against the Philadelphia Eagles.
S.F. won it all in their first 5 Supe appearances but have lost in the last two, one under current national champion coach with Michigan but also new L.A. Chargers’ coach, Jim Harbaugh vs (as cited above) to brother John’s Baltimore Ravens in ’12 and as also cited above, to the Chiefs in ’19.
Their Supe wins were in ’81 on CBS when it was NFC, neutral ABC in ’84 and ’94, on AFC/NBC in ’88 and again on NFC/CBS in ’89.
Click below as I posted this video as tribute to greats, Willie Mays (upcoming Mays’ 2/24/24 day) and broadcaster Lon Simmons.
It is Lon’s call of Willie’s 600th home run. He also broadcast 49ers games in good, bad and great S.F. seasons.
Last Sunday, the underdog and defending champion, Kansas City Chiefs came to Baltimore for a second straight week and second ever road ‘offs tilt with their great quarterback, Patrick Mahomes and in relatively “swift” fashion, scored touchdowns on their first two possessions, albeit on long drives, en route to a (17-10) win at the Ravens, moving them into a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.
Travis Kelce, another great offensive player on the Chiefs, whose much publicized “significant other,” has a first name, Taylor, evoking such football greats with that surname as Jim, Lawrence, Charlie and another Chiefs’ great receiver, Otis, hauled in the game’s first score and made three, 3rd or 4th down conversion catches, on the two K.C. touchdown drives.
Ms. Swift, who ought to be back from her musical tour in Tokyo, Japan the day before and is so likely to attend the Supe, to be played in Las Vegas, Nevada, also has a football connection, that of a player with her name, Swift, that was on another team, that defeated a Baltimore based team, in an AFC Title game.
That player is Dr. Doug Swift, a member of the 1971 Miami Dolphins, who won at home vs the then Baltimore Colts, in that season’s AFC Title game, just the second of what is now 54 such games.
Those ’71 Dolphins lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the subsequent Super Bowl, however, Dr. Swift, an anesthesiologist, played on 2 truly great Miami title teams the next two seasons.
Swift graduated from Nottingham High School in Syracuse, New York.
Don Nottingham was a member of the ’71 Colts and later a teammate of Swift, as he was traded to Miami during that season, on the ’73 Super Bowl winning team.
Sunday past’s title tilts are over and for the second time in 5 seasons/4 years on the calendar a low spread Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl matchup has manifested (S.F. is a very slight “fave”).
After the Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions, none after, just a field goal, however held off the Baltimore Ravens to advance to a 4th Supe in 5 seasons (17-10), the 49ers all but “reversed ’57” when they dissipated a (27-7) halftime lead and lost to the Detroit Lions in another “at S.F. NFL “semi,” by overcoming a (24-7) halftime deficit to (34-31) Detroit and advance to their 8th Super Bowl (5-2 in previous but they lost in their last two, one to K.C. in ’19).
Travis Kelce had 9 receptions for 109 yards and scored the game’s first TD in the K.C. win while I cite Brock Purdy’s two big scramble runs, first a 21 yard “such” to the Detroit 4 before McCaffrey plowed in to essentially tie the tilt at 24 (S.F. did not quite love Mr. Mays the way they ought to have, however ceremonies for Willie on 2/4/24, a week before the Supe) and another big one on the drive that culminated in the go ahead to stay field goal.
Andy Reid is now (5-6) in title tilts, (1-2) on the road, the Ravens lost in their first home title game, while the Lions sans a road ‘offs game win since the aforementioned Western Conference playoff game at S.F. have now lost a record 11 straight road playoff games.
Brock Purdy is #13 and pictured above.
Andy B Sports 