Tomorrow the Detroit Lions (8-2) (or better) for the first time since 1962, are about 8 point favorites vs the Green Bay Packers, in the traditional (at Detroit) holiday game.
G.B. a great team then, (10-0) going in, and eventual (14-1) NFL repeat champions, were the Lions opponent in a famed (26-14) Detroit win in that 1962 game.
Earlier this season (no exact score try for me) the Lions, so fortunate to “comeback” the Chicago Bears last week, scored a (26-14) night game win vs the Raiders, one of so many “unders,” in a truly unbelievable diversion from the mean, this season.
Tomorrow, in a rare prediction here, look for overs, (I know the over as with the favorite are “square” bets)–say a close to the spread around 50 total points tilt in Detroit.–O.K. Lions 30 Pack 20
Click below to read my October 22, 2016 post remembering Gail Cogdill who caught 2 touchdown passes from Milt Plum in that Lions’ 1962 holiday win vs a great, eventual repeat champion, Green Bay Pacers’ team.
Remembering Gail Cogdill and “Coin Football” on October 22, 2016
Surely enlarged but deserving, the great broadcaster, Van Patrick, for so long the Lions’ broadcaster and very likely at that ’62 game, is pictured below.
Let’s contrast the fall, surely not unexpected, of the hyped Sanders coached Colorado team, (Bad one perhaps, but the media continually “buffaloes” us/The U.S.) with the $$ making, (not for me) play of Texas, which titled, a first in 63 seasons, 62 of which were completed and also that of two similar franchises, the Minnesota Vikings and New York Rangers.
On Sunday October 15th, the current (6-4) Minnesota Vikings, who still are, despite their nice run incredibly “long” to title, won on the road, the first of 5 straight wins, three away from home.
Minnesota, the state to which the original Washington Senators moved and became the Twins, similar to the Texas Rangers before their 2023 glory and originally the second incarnation of the Washington Senators with even less success, as the two franchises in all 4 major sports that had gone the longest sans even one title.
The Vikings, who like the Texas Rangers nee Washington Senators (the second) played their first season in same calendar 1961, have completed 62 seasons with no titles.
By the way, another Minne/Washington “notes link” : as twice both the Twins and Washington D.C. football team “titled” in the same year/season, that being 1987 and 1991, in each case a strike marred football season.
Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers triumph meant among many other things, none important, that the nickname Rangers had joined Giants and Cardinals as such with titles in 2 different major sports leagues. (Though I liked the AFL, I am not counting crowns won there, unless as was the case in its last two seasons, when respective AFL champions, the Jets (none since and what is this buying players, first the so annoying and once so good Rodgers and now rumors regarding Adams) and Chiefs won subsequent same season Supes. Thus no Oilers, despite the Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans, with Titans being the original nickname of the now Jets, winning the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and perhaps related 1961. Ditto “Jets/Jets” despite a number of WHA crowns for the Winnipeg Jets and Bobby Hull, he being one of a few truly sports greats to die in 2023).
The NHL Rangers have won 4 Stanley Cup crowns, but only one in 81 completed seasons from (1941-2022) with no NHL season in 1995, the year after the Rangers ended a 54 year/53 seasons title drought.
In fairness to both the Vikings and Rangers, there were some really good stretches of play manifesting in 4 final round losses for each team with the Rangers far more competitive (see 1950 vs Detroit when the circus forced hockey to “neutral” Toronto) than the “Vikes,” who never led in any of their Supe/final round losses.
This season’s Rangers, at the moment among the “faves” to win the title (note how little the “reg” means, see last year’s Bruins and only this year’s Bruins, they do not learn, have a better “showing” than the Rangers thus far) have gone (10-1) starting with a Saturday night road win in Seattle, vs the third year Kraken on October 21st.
They have amassed 21 of a possible 22 points and are 6 wins and 1 overtime loss (why not ties?!!) on the road during that period.
The similar franchises, the two Rangers and Vikings are (20-0-1) in road tilts, Texas, the one who has titled, (11-0) since a loss on the “reg’s” final day (October 1st) at Seattle (Mariners) dropped them from a “2” seed to a “5.”
Without meaning too much, save betting, the Vikes are (3-0) and the Rangers 13 of 14 possible points or an aforementioned (6-0-1) on the road.
Viking’s great, Jim Marshall, pictured below turns 86 on Dcember 30th, a birthday he shares with sports greats, Sandy Koufax, “Tiger” Woods and LeBron James.
Unlike my feelings regarding the unbelievable, annoying status afforded Leb James and especially some “no talent,” named Smith, I have nada vs Deion Sanders.
He was a superb player as is of course James, (Smith, how did this happen?!!), among the best pass defenders and a major contributor on offense, especially in his days as a Dallas Cowboys player on a title team.
His Colorado, as a huge “dog” upset a TCU team, destined for a big fall off that started after they held off Michigan in last year’s semi.
The hype for that and just one more win as a “fave” yielded a 60 Minutes piece. (Shame on them!!).
They “lucked” out vs Colorado State and since the (3-0) start are (1-7) and at (4-7) can not be in a bowl game.
In the heading above Sanders/Col (Col for Colorado, and an ode to “Col” Rader) it reads or could Colonel Sanders.
Thus “Colonel Sanders” pictured below.
The current NHL, NBA and Major league baseball title holders are first time champions.
The Denver Nuggets in their 47th NBA season, Las Vegas Golden Knights in just their sixth season and Texas Rangers in their 62nd completed season all won their first crown.
The only other time this occurred was in 2019 when the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Raptors and Washington Nationals all won their first title.
There have been 75 possibilities and two occurrences (1947-2023) as there was not a completed baseball season in 1994 and one in the NHL in 1995.
A couple of notes, (ditties but no music), about two of the minimum 5 or 6 greatest baseball players ever (cue John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane”), Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb.
The 1936 World Series, the first of four consecutive Yankees’ titles, ended when Lou Gehrig “took it to the bag” to wrap a (13-5) game 6 win, vs the New York Giants, and a 6 game W.S. triumph.
In 1937 the 5 game Yankees’ triumph again vs the Giants, ended when Gehrig flipped the ball to Vernon “Lefty” Gomez, the latter a true $$ pitcher, who stepped on first.
I believe that was the peak or at least, last year in which the great Gehrig mightily contributed, as tragedy in the form of a fateful disease, that now bears his name, would soon materialize.
Ty and the tie “captions/captures” what the not so mean, Mr. Cobb called his greatest baseball moment.
Ty (Ty Tyson was a famed Tigers’ broadcaster) and his Tigers were battling the Philadelphia A’s for the 1907 American League Pennant, when in what Cobb called the key game, he hit a game tying T9, 2RHR vs the great and “mucho out there,” pitcher Rube Waddel of the A’s.
Each team scored in the 11th and on they played through 17 innings, when darkness forced the game to end a tie.
The A’s used 4 pitchers, the Tigers just one, “Wild” Bill Donovan, and in the subsequent remaining games, the Tigers held their slim lead and won the first of their 3 straight pennants, all of which were followed by World Series losses.
“Wild” Bill Donovan hurled all 17 innings in that tie game played on September 30, 1907.
He yielded 9 runs, 21 hits, fanned 11 and only walked 3 (certainly not wild in that game and such is probably not the cause of the nickname.)
“Tens” are operative in this review type/notes on the NFL.
Ten of the 14 tilts were “good, two way, Ten point teasers” in week 10.
I sort of like and respect those on the Gill Alexander hosted “Megapod.” I listened as the Broncos/Bills had already started.
Two of the four “experts,” one being Alexander, lost their teaser selections (6 point variety) when (6-3) Cleveland (Browns), the #32 for the great Jim Brown, finally and prominently displayed on their uniforms, upset the “real” Browns franchise, the one displaced from Cleveland, despite a history that yielded 4 crowns in both the NFL and AAFC (All American Football Conference) and 5 losses in games for the NFL title, the Baltimore Ravens.
Cleveland did so, to trail the (7-3) Ravens by you can do “el” math, despite a 2 touchdown deficit in the tilt.
The other two touted Buffalo (Pk). I knew Denver, (TV Tiriiiico has Minne at Denver, each won and were aggregate 10 point ‘u/dogs), but already (3-0) Denver, I suffer the “slings and arrows” of a non bet winner.
I do this small and face withdrawal. (Rhyme).
Despite lines and a seeming need to do/eat/live and still breathe this, which has caused such misery, I will not bet lines to “cross the line” and risk financial ruin.
However, having started, I face withdrawal and non bet pain. Not fun.
If you do not bet, do not start!! Ignore those ads which are far worse, and make those “whoring” doing them, far worse than that wizard, behind the curtain.
As advised in “Oz” Ignore IT!!
So help me, the “Oz/ignore ” came to me as a reaction to the detestable (I prefer deplorable and truly fear those, as it easily could happen. I will go as high as 400, no higher, to stop it), ads promoting gambling especially those with celebrities (Kevin Hart, who I doubt could make me laugh) and big deal back up Ryan Fitzpatrick, to name two).
Now, I realize the Wizard of Odds play on words, and far more coincidental/”a sign” is this warning/reminder of what can happen in games/gambling as it involved, in an unbelievable gambling even game loss, a team called the Wizards.
Incredibly, the Wizards had a team total of 109 and a fraction in last night’s tilt vs Toronto (Raptors). They had 106 points in this the high scoring NBA, with over 7 minutes to play.
The “over guy” (or gal, just as it is annoying to see the plethora of untalented, useless (the men doing it are equally useless) female sideline “reporters,” women, in increasing #’s bet on this “drek.”) needed just 4 points, got 1 and lost!!!
That is why they call it gambling. I was not remotely involved, but it is a lesson.
If you do not gamble, do not start!!!
NEW YORK — Rick’s Cabaret New York, the adult club known for its beautiful entertainers, VIP treatment, and top-rated Rick’s Steakhouse, invites football fans to the three-story club’s Viewing Parties of college and pro games.
“Come watch the games while surrounded by lots of hot babes,” said Rick’s girl Camille. “And the fun never stops because the Rick’s post-game parties go all night!”
“Come be a baller, pop some bottles, make it rain, and party and play with us,” purred Rick’s girl Katina.
Rick’s girl Deanna said, “We are really excited here. We love football fans and we are anxious to show off our bodies. Don’t miss it!”
Located just one block from Madison Square Garden, Rick’s Cabaret New York (50 West 33 Street) features the hottest exotic dancers, discreet private suites, deluxe sky boxes, and a Roof Top VIP Lounge. The Rick’s Steakhouse under the direction of acclaimed chef Jayson Margulies offers daily lunch specials, dinner, and New York’s best late-night menu.
Rick’s Cabaret New York RICK: NASDAQ Listed
It is early Sunday morning and is my dental appointment 90 minutes or 150 away? Either way, get stuff done and write it down.
Ms. Dinich says/writes, (she is one of the very few I can tolerate) there are 9 teams that can still make the 4 team college football ‘off and by definition have a shot at the title.
I name 8, but clearly take her word for it.
One can get the ninth by subscribing to another way they make money. I would pay money to have them, ESPN, go away.
My eight, certainly obvious are two Big Ten (almost certainly Fox and the beyond annoying Johnson will get (11-0) Michigan, with or without its coach Harbaugh, (he the Jim–the Ravens have the John) hosting (11-0) Ohio State in the last truly important “reg” clash between the rivals, (That could not be the case, one way being both get in the ‘off as was the case last year), two Pac 12 (Wash and Oregon), two SEC (two time defending champion Georgia now (10-0) (3-7) and Alabama.
Add (10-0) Florida State and (9-1) Texas. The other?
Might be early to try to “jinx” Kirby Smart, pictured above, and Georgia.
First off, there are far worse potential champions this season and that is without the two Beano Cook “antis,” certainly no favorites of mine, Notre Dame and Penn State out of it.
Thus in a way I can accept “loss” and a Georgia title. I still say no to them winning a third straight crown, however that is why they play the games to find out and I add, no matter this is a great run under Mr. Smart.
I am not trying to mess with the NFL, especially in one of the rare times they are right and I am wrong.
Now neither legally or morally am I wrong to try and show not only, in this case Tom Dempsey’s great kick, but more relevant and meaningful to me, Al Wester’s great call.
Before I try to “link,” Errol Mann hit a short field goal to give Detroit (Lions) a (17-16) lead with just 11 seconds remaining in the game.
However, Bill Kilmer threw a completed pass to Al Dodd, who also had returned the kickoff and first game coach, J.D. Roberts brought on Dempsey, a man born with handicaps regarding his arm and foot.
The rest is history!!
I guess try it on YouTube. Again it is not to mess with the NFL especially when they are right (a rarity) but to display Dempsey, Wester and I note an equally great television call that day by Don Criqui.
Some football “redux” notes, after so much baseball.
There are five games this week, the first week of the NFL’s second half, aka “week 10,” involving “semis” or higher round reduxes.
Only one, (5-3) Pittsburgh (Steelers) hosting (3-5) Green Bay (Packers is a Supe or final round redux, as the lone Rodgers crown (he is so annoying and trust me will not be back this season but next year and his selfish egotistical views loom, minimum costing as his unwanted presence did this year) was a Packers’ Supe win in the 2010 season vs the Steelers.
One rematch “brings back” two semis clashes between the New England Patriots and their great quarterback, Tom Brady and the Indianapolis Colts, who were “steered,” so often poorly in big games, by the ever present, “aw shucks but a … inside,” Pey Manning.
N.E. shut down Manning and the Colts in the ’03 AFC Title game/”semi” in route to a second Supe triumph in 3 seasons.
Mr. Manning did win twice, neither in a great Supe performance, however, hail his showing when “Indy” on the (21-3) “comeback score,” took New England, in the “Pooh presided,” 2004 AFC Title game.
The Colts then won the Supe in rainy Miami, vs the Chicago Bears.
Another tilt this week, which has a “semis” redux, is the one with both the most years apart and the lone AFL Title game/semi. It matches the (4-4) Jets and (4-5) Raiders.
(’twas a semi as it preceded the third NFL/AFL Championship Game by then aka, The Super Bowl)
On December 29, 1968 (not shown in New York as was the case with (8-1) Philly Eagles (-3) (28-23) vs (5-3) Dallas last week), the New York Jets won (27-23) vs the Oakland Raiders in the penultimate AFL Championship Game.
A Joe Namath to Don Maynard touchdown pass provided the game’s last points (technically was a Jim Turner extra point).
It is noteworthy that the (2-7) Patriots (Belichick should write 500 times, the Colts not the Giants were favored in the famed ’58 title tilt and as for NFL Network Host, Rich Eisen having the job without knowing that invokes “abandon all hope …..— you know the rest–so do not “enter” there)– vs (4-5) Colts clash is in Frankfurt, Germany while the (4-4) Jets are visiting the (4-5) Raiders’ Las Vegas home, pleasing the much criticized Collinsworth and “given it” “Tiriiiiico,” when NBC could have “switched” to another game.
In 2009 the New Orleans Saints, who went on to a Supe win vs favored Indy and Pey, semi’d the Minnesota Vikings, whom they play this week. (Both teams are (5-4).)
In that ’09 season NFC Title game, another ex Packers “Q.B.” who would later play for the Jets, named Brett Favre, threw a key interception, the late key, as the Saints (have) won. (Cue Al Wester, when after Tom Dempsey’s 63 yard game winning field goal, which as it happens, was 53 years ago today on November 8, 1970, Wester’s “The Saints Have Won” resonated, as it still does.
The winners of those past “semis or better” tilts that have reduxes this week, went (5-1) in Supes. One is the “by definition” G.B. Supe triumph vs Pittsburgh. The Pats/Colts semis winner went (2-0) and add the Jets and Saints, each (1-0).
Only the Buffalo Bills, who semi’d/AFC Title Game’d the Denver Broncos in 1991, lost the subsequent “Supe,” doing so to a (17-2) superb (not the best ever, sorry Gill Alexander) Washington football team.
Again this week’s reduxes, none likely to involve even a title game participant, some definitely not to, others one never knows. The Bills (-7 plus) Monday night are (5-4), Denver is (3-5).
Oh well, no Al Wester call of the Dempsey Dramatics, now 53 years ago.
Andy B Sports 