Relatively often on these posts, I have written about December 27, 1964, its meaning, all in the hope of that wonderful day when Dr. Frank Ryan, who died days back at age 87, threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins, leading the original Cleveland Browns to their last NFL crown, those memories do not fade away.
Ryan was a tremendous example of physical and intellectual excellence, being a mathematics standout and title winning NFL quarterback.
He contributed mightily on the campuses of Yale, Rice and Case Western. I wish I had talked with him.
Tributes from elsewhere come in and I know enough to cite his fine play in non-title, but mostly playoffs seasons for “my” Browns, including a conference crown/title tilt loss at Green Bay, in the great Jim Brown’s last Browns’ game, after the 1965 season.
Most of all and by far most meaningful and cherished regarding Dr. Frank, is that title winning day, as cited before, me sitting in an upholstered chair, with my parents and grandmother present–(Dad a N.Y. Giants fan and oh that Browns/Giants rivalry!!)–watching Cleveland win (27-0) vs the great quarterback, John Unitas and the Baltimore Colts on December 27, 1964.
I will “seek (it is hard to) and find” another Frank, the fine broadcaster, Messer’s broadcast calls, as Dr. Frank threw those 3 TD’s to Gary Collins, that wonderful day.
Perhaps faded with time, (think, I guess Mr. Tracy’s speech regarding passion/love in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,”) but not to be forgotten or measured less.
The NFL, for better or worse was built on the greats that played then, before and after.
That memory for me and others when their team won, requires a “higher calculation” that DR. Frank Ryan might, as he did the memory, produce.
Go easy Frank and I know Jim (Brown) loved catching your passes so that might now resume. Please be careful playing chess with him as I doubt his passion to win has faded. I hope this in any case.
Frank Ryan, pictured above, likely after the Browns’ ’64 Title Game win.
“Exact” 56 Year “Anniversary” Of The Browns’ Last Title on December 27, 2020
Above, a previous post about the ’64 Title Game, which includes Frank Ryan’s passes, Frank Messer’s call on the first highlight a Jim Brown run and a still needed opinion, that Gary Collins belongs in The Pro Football Hall of Fame.
NEW YORK— January 13, 14, and 15 is ‘Wild Card Weekend’ at Rick’s Cabaret New York, the world famous adult club known for its beautiful dancers, top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse, and the best in VIP treatment.
“Wow! There are games on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday,” said Rick’s girl Sonia. “Come watch the games while surrounded by the sexy Rick’s girls. And stay for the After Parties. It’s going to be awesome.”
The three-story club will be showing all of the football games and there are so many hot babes who will keep you entertained regardless of how your team is doing. Beautiful girls, great food, and football–it’s a sure bet!
“The champagne is always flowing and there are sexy girls everywhere you look at Rick’s,” gushed Rick’s girl Naomi. “We all love football, so come flex, and make it rain on all the hotties!”
Rick’s Cabaret New York is located in midtown Manhattan (50 West 33 Street) and has won many awards for its first-rate entertainment and warm hospitality. The Rick’s Steakhouse serves daily lunch specials, dinner, and the city’s best late-night menu. Highly recommended.
RICK: NASDAQ Listed
Beautiful Dancers
VIP Suites, Deluxe Sky Boxes
Rick’s Steakhouse, Open Late
One Block From Madison Square Garden
Perhaps I was waiting for the great musical theme of the iconic Smothers Brothers Show as my tribute to the great Tom Smothers, who died last week at age 86, was delayed until now.
Together with his slightly younger brother, Dick who was so gracious to me when I interviewed him at a charity tennis event roughly thirty years ago, Tom/Dick(not Harry),The Smothers Brothers were both humorous and poignant, not an easily attainable feat.
Theirs was an incredible show and Tom Smothers in the more comedic role teamed with “straight man” Dick to produce incredible comedy.
Without sticking out too far, the Smothers Brothers stance against what proved not only a ridiculous but ultimately disintegrating “policing action ” was one I need to hear and am so grateful to Tom and Dick, at a personal cost, for having done so.
Go easy Tom and so many of us “Moms” like you, relativity while almost always present, does not matter here. So many LOVED you both!!
Tom on the left, Dick to the right and eventually in the video above, the great talk show host, Jack Paar in the middle.
The 1/1/2024/2023 season last “4 in the college football ‘offs,” produced two scintillating semi-final games, manifesting in Michigan and Washington holding respective 7 and 6 point(s) leads, yielding a Wolverines vs Huskies title game a week hence.
After Michigan, which trailed (7-0), led (13-7) and eventually trailed (20-13) with about 4 minutes remaining, prevailed (27-20) in overtime vs Alabama, with Blake Corum’s 17 yard TD scamper decisive, Michael Penix Jr. threw for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns in Washington’s (37-31) win vs Texas.
Washington never trailed, having a 7 point lead thrice only to be tied before leading (28-21), (31-21), (34-21), (34-28), (37-28) and (37-31) with 45 seconds left and then needed to stop Texas, which had 4 “shots” from the “Wash” 12 or 13.
The two teams met in and split 4 Rose Bowls (Wash winning after the ’77 and ’91 seasons, Michigan winning after the ’80 and ’92 seasons).
Speaking of “split,” the last title for each team was a split one.
Washington’s lone post wire service crown was a shared one with Miami in ’91, as stated “claimed” after a Rose Bowl win vs Michigan.
Michigan won the ’97 season Rose Bowl vs Washington State and shared its first crown, shared or otherwise since 1948, with Miami Florida.
Tonight the (10-5) Dallas Cowboys, minimum an ‘offs team and needing 3 of 4 results to be Dallas wins or (11-4) Philly (Eagles) losses, to win their division, host the (11-4) Detroit Lions, who last week, clinched their first “div” crown in 30 years.
Detroit is a likely NFC “3” seed and just might face the currently (8-7) L.A. Rams, whose quarterback Matthew Stafford was at that position for many years, with the Lions, in a wild card round game, 2 weeks or 2 weeks and and one day day hence.
In their very likely wild card round game, (the Lions who are (0-9) in wild card round games have a very slight chance to avoid playing in one, but need 3 of 4 decisions to be their wins and both Philly and (11-4), current top seed, S.F. (49ers) losses), Detroit will be seeking to make just their fourth “slots”/division round appearance.
Their previous such tilts were in ’70 (the first year of such games as the AFC/NFC configuration began), ’83 and ’91.
The Lions won vs Dallas at home in ’91, but lost a Saturday “slots”/div round game, by the highly unusual score of (5-0), at Dallas, in the late afternoon, second ever such game in ’70.
In ’83, the usually reliable excellent kicker, Eddie Murray missed a potential game winning field goal and S.F. prevailed at home, vs Detroit, in that slot 2/later Saturday “div” round game.
Ten years later, Murray’s overtime field goal at the New York Giants in the “reg” finale, gave Dallas the NFC one seed, which they rode to a second straight Super Bowl crown, within a period of 3 titles in 4 seasons.
Dallas has not “titled” or even made a “semi” since, while the Lions have made but one semi in the 65 completed seasons, since they thumped the Cleveland Browns in the 1957 NFL Title Game.
Fifty nine years and one day after their last title, the Cleveland Browns (1999 expansion team version) are over a touchdown favorite in tonight’s last Thursday night and maybe Al MIchaels’ last game, vs the New York Jets, to clinch an ‘offs spot for just the third time in their 24 seasons.
It is noteworthy that the Browns and Jets met in the first “packaged” (i.e. there would be a full season of such and have been for 54 years and counting) Monday Night Football tilt, that juxtaposed with the fact tonights game is available only on something called Amazon.
The Browns are (10-5) with the great Jim Brown’s #32 proudly displayed on their uniforms.
Jim died earlier this year, in perhaps eery or maybe a symbolic situation, 60 years to the date, after another Syracuse University great, Ernie Davis, died tragically young at the age of 22.
Left to right, Ernie Davis and former Browns’ owner, Art Modell, who as with once Giants owner Well Mara, did much good and some not so, (Modell moved the great Browns to Baltimore where they play as the current best record Ravens).
Truly good: Modell helped Ernie Davis and his family.
In a too hyped game, however one in which the result might make it a bit more worthy of said hype, the (12-3) Baltimore Ravens won (33-19), at (11-4) San Francisco (49ers).
Both teams control their destiny to be their conference’s top seeds.
Yesterday, in the other two games, somewhat questionably played on Christmas Day, the (7-8) Las Vegas Raiders, a huge underdog won outright, at the (9-6) defending champion and still very likely “div” winning, Kansas City Chiefs.
Next the (11-4) Philadelphia Eagles maintained their NFC East advantage, winning (33-25), but as 2 TD favorites, vs the (5-10) New York Giants.
“Balti” would clinch the “div” and the AFC top seed with a win vs Miami, as an opening field goal home “fave.”
In an epic overtime game con Jim Simpson behind the television microphone, a Baltimore team, the Colts, rode a Toni Linhart overtime field goal to a div clinching win in 1975’s 13th, but also as this year, for ‘Phins/Balti, the penultimate NFL week, (now the 17th), vs the Dolphins.
Perspective on a day with Billy G, sure joy if as in the past, dogs not “dogging” but let’s (en)joy what we have while we have it!!
There are two Super Bowl rematches to be played today and tomorrow.
Last night in a redux of both the 1964 and 1965 A.F.L. Title games, each won by the Buffalo Bills, again it was the Bills who were victorious vs the Chargers but in a game far closer than expected.
“Buff” is now (9-6) and very much in the ‘offs race while the Chargers, despite a good effort under interim coach, Giff Smith (ode to Mr. Gifford), fell to a highly disappointing (5-10) record.
Today it is a redux of the sixth Supe (1971 season), in which, Dallas (Cowboys) finally won “The Big One” (24-3) vs the Miami Dolphins, as the pair of (10-4) teams meet in Miami.
Tomorrow night, in the last of 3 Christmas tilts, it is a rematch of the 2012 season Supe when the Baltimore Ravens barely held off Colin Kaepernick and S.F. (49ers), as the pair of (11-3) Conference leaders/likely “1” seeds, clash in “that city by the bay.”
The great Duane Thomas wore #33 and helped Dallas win their first Super Bowl in 1971.
Six years later, the even greater Tony Dorsett, wearing #33 helped Dallas win a second such crown.
On Saturday night the (8-7) Buffalo Bills, I believe rightly considered a viable title contender, visit the so disappointing (5-9) L.A. Chargers.
It is a redux of AFL Title tilts played in back to back years (1964 and 1965), each a Bills’ win, their only 2 “all the way” crowns and as with the Chargers (1963) and Oilers/Titans (1960 and 1961), were AFL and never NFL.
Also in a night tilt involving an AFC East team, this one on Christmas Eve, once reserved for at most “The Hawaii Bowl” and before that no games/no action, the (3-11) New England Patriots visit the (7-7) Denver Broncos.
The Broncos (an impressive (8-2) in AFC Title games/NFL “semis”) defeated the Patriots in both the 2013 and 2015 AFC Title games.
Nobody but Bill Groman played 6 seasons and was a title winner in as many as four.
Bill was on the ’60 and ’61 AFL Title winning, Houston Oilers, making mighty contributions and the ’64 and ’65 Buffalo Bills, for whom he saw limited action.
Groman gathered in a 7 yard George Blanda TD pass, putting the Oilers ahead to stay in that first AFL Title Game, played on January 1, 1961, the first time a major pro football league had an ‘offs game as late as January.
Now they play the Supe well into February.
Andy B Sports 