Fifty years ago today, on Thursday September 20, 1973 (same calendar as 46 years earlier in 1927) news broke that a magnificent talent and performer, Jim Croce had perished in a plane crash.
That terrible news had a profound negative effect then and still does.
Today I choose to recall the wonderful, spiritual, insightful songs/work he left behind.
My dad and I could both relate, very favorably to Mr. Croce’s music.
Leaving Albany to I guess, “baby” it home, “I Got A Name” played.”
Unlike many I did not change my name!!
Many thoughts: highways, journeys, success, failure and most of all, still trying, I suppose.
The music speaks for me as the emptions and thoughts flow slowly.
Above view Jim performing “I Got A Name” on “The Midnight Special” television show.
NEW YORK— In a battle of undisputed champions, Canelo Alvarez puts his four super middleweight championships on the line against undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.
The blockbuster showdown will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, September 30th. Fight fans in New York can watch the bout at Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar on its giant Mega-Tron X-15 Video Wall and numerous HD TVs.
The fight is Alvarez’s third defense of his undisputed status and Charlo’s first trip up to the 168-pound division.“It’s going be an awesome night,” said Hoops girl Nadine. “Enjoy the boxing and also enjoy the Hoops girls who will strip on stage and up close and personal for you.”
Called the world’s sexiest sports bar, be sure to check out the club’s VIP Man Cave, and feast on menu items like fried Lobster Tails, Short-rib Sliders, Lemon Pepper Wings, and Kobe Beef Hot Dogs.
Hoops Cabaret combines the excitement of a gentlemen’s club with the fun of a sports bar. Hoops Cabaret girl Bianca proclaimed, “Hoops is the number one club for sports fans!”
48 West 33 Street, New York City
- ***Court-side, Mezzanine and VIP seating
- ***Multiple Hi-Def TVs on all Three Floors
- ***Super VIP “Man Cave”
- ***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
Quick into and out of the exponential slime that is football/gambling.
Maybe worse than McVay going field goal on the last play of (2-0) S.F. (30-23) at (with most S.F. fans) the (1-1)Rams, to cover (-7 plus), was no media member asking him why?
I wonder, (still I wonder ode to Credence) did the Giants get two plus in their (19-17) loss to Philly in ’78 when a fluke fumble yielded a Herman Edwards game winning touchdown.
Speaking of the spread, I said Georgia would not make it 3 straight crowns. Maybe they will, however, if they do so, it will be after an (0-3) start vs the spread. Michigan currently ranked second, is also (3-0) (0-3).
The play by play is by Don Criqui, a good one especially on television and since he said the Eagles were favored, I seem to remember 2 plus in that game in same calendar ’78, so maybe McVay, the McVay being John, who later was an integral part of a great title winning Niners era, and the Giants still covered.
A great quarterback Sonny Jurgensen is doing analysis, mucho can be said Niners/Rams history, the recent being a la the raceway ad, the Rams, like the guy who keeps losing at the track, who won the big one marrying his wife, won the most important vs S.F. tilt by far, that the 2021 season semi.
Yesterday in shaky, ? able fashion they lost but covered, in that semi they won but no covered.
It is slime indeed! Sorry and imagine a big bet on it!!
In the opening game/week of the 2023 NFL season, there was a clash between teams representing the cities that won the recent NHL and NBA crowns.
I wonder if that had ever transpired?!
Someone do the research, write in and win a “prize” of gratitude.
It was Las Vegas, the city housing the NHL champion, Golden Knights, defeating Denver, the home of the NBA title winning Nuggets.
The NFL teams are the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, long time rivals, each an original AFL team and thus in their 64th season.
I thought that Ted Cassidy, pictured above had played for the Oakland Raiders.
Apparently he did not. (Many interesting players did!)
Research revealed Ted was a Dallas area reporter and was on the tragic scene, that day, now almost 60 years ago.
Supposedly and I will reluctantly agree, a pretty big four game series commences tonight, between the pre-season long shot, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.
These two teams have the best records in the A.L. however, while the “div” winner (O’s by 2, 3 in the loss column going in) will extremely likely be the top A.L. seed, the second place team in the division will almost certainly be the league 4 seed, despite the second best record.
In ’83, the last time the O’s won or even made the World Series (they lost in all three ALCS since, going just (3-12) and a pitiful (1-7) at home) they opened a largely similar 4 game series at New York vs the Yankees.
“Balt” went in up 5 games, 6 in the loss column, and won the last three after dropping the opener to the Yankees’ excellent pitcher, Ron Guidry, who 5 years before went an incredible (25-3).
From that point, they cruised to the “div” crown a one quarter “div,” and eventually to their third title.
Joe Nolan, pictured above, had a big home run for the O’s in the first of their 3 victories in the aforementioned series at New York.
It came in the first game of a Saturday, I believe, twi-night doubleheader.
Yankees games were broadcast that year on WABC radio. Another Joe Nolan was that station’s traffic reporter.
Let’s say, the very likely will manifest and 5/10 year World Series participants, the Red Sox, Pirates, Tigers, A’s, Yankees (they were in ten, winning in ’23,’28, ’38,’43,’53,’58 before losing in ’63 only to win again in ’78 and ’98 before losing in ’03 up (2-1) after Michael Kay said the eventual winning Marlins did not belong on the same field with them. So they were (8-2) in such), Cardinals, Cleveland, Mets, Padres, Marlins, will not be in the event, which is so much less than in daytime glory days.
That leaves possible rematches of ’33,’83, ’93 and ’08 the three of four involving the Phillies, currently a likely ‘offs participant but to be no higher than a 4 seed.
One/me is reminded they made last year’s final (a better name for the so diminished World Series) as the N.L. 6 seed, a “joke” in itself. They deserved credit but the six in/each league ‘offs are an affront to people such as me, who once loved baseball.
In ’33 the then New York Giants 5’d the then Washington Senators, now the almost certain A.L. “3” seed, Minnesota Twins. The Giants now in S.F. are currently in a battle for ‘offs qualification and at best will be a wild card team.
The Phils’ ’83 World Series opponent, the Orioles 5’d them and lead the A.L.
In ’93 Toronto (Blue Jays) repeated as title winners when Joe Carter’s 1 out, bottom 9, 3RHR transformed a (5-4) Phils lead into game 6 clinched title.
Finally in ’08 the Phils 5’d the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently are and likely will be the A.L. 4 seed.
At this point, tennis was more compelling but alas I have notes and memories.
A 24 time winner (Novak Djokovic to tie Margaret Court’s record for most grand slam victories) and a first time winner, Coco Gauff took U.S. Open tennis crowns.
On Saturday, Gauff stormed back to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the maximum 3 sets, after dropping the first set (6-1).
Djokovic dispatched Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
U.S. Open venue, pictured above.
There will be two reasonably low odds final round matches in the 2023 U.S. Open Tennis event.
One is really considered a toss up (ode to game shows or show that had “toss up” questions, just can not quite remember which), that being today’s women’s final, with Aryna Sabalenka just (-130) vs Coco Gauff.
Tomorrow’s men’s final was expected to be about the same odds with Novak Djokovic a slight “fave” vs Carlos Alcaraz, however, it will be Daniil Medvedev, whose lone Grand Slam win was vs Djokovic, in the 23 time “Slam” winner’s last U.S. Open, in 2021.
That result denied Djokovic the “calendar” grand slam.
Djokovic, to be the world’s top ranked player, no matter tomorrow’s result, is over a 2 to 1 favorite.
Daniil Medvedev, pictured above.
1978, 1995 and this year 2023 have the same calendar.
Oh am I subjective concerning those previous baseball seasons, especially those of the Yankees.
I skip that, these 45 years later as on September 7, 1978, another Thursday, the Yankees began a 4 game series at Boston vs the first place Red Sox, trailing them by four games, in a win the one quarter division or go home situation that sadly is no longer and produced an incredible finish, one whose “pain” still resonates, but indeed a true, great baseball moment, as the Yankees held on (5-4) in a one game ‘off for the ’78 A.L. East title.
A 4 game sweep in the aforementioned 4 game series that began exactly 45 years ago tonight, catapulted the Yankees.
The Yankees went on to win a second straight and 22nd World Series crown.
Dare I write, Burleson 3rd, Remy first and Yaz up. If only he did what Edgar Martinez did 17 years and 6 days later in same calendar 1995 , namely “tune” runners Cora and Griffey Jr. to “last at bat,” the Yankees and advance to the ALCS, only to be 6’d by Cleveland.
That preceded 4 Yankees’ crowns in the next 5 seasons under their unappreciated manager Joe Torre.
2023’s Yankees story is they are but one game over .500, (going (8-1) in their last 9 games) behind 3 teams for one of 3 wild card spots (three too many!!), and six plus games from qualification.
Talk about not appreciated, Roy White, pictured above, was an integral part of the Yankees’ remarkable run to the ’78 crown.
He was a fine player and is a classy gentleman.
As the 2023 pro football season is about to commence and with still little to say about “12 teams in the ‘offs”/tournament, I will cite some baseball notes, largely concerning 3 players and their 1962 seasons.
A truly great player, Tommy Davis entered play on Saturday August 25,1962, a Saturday game at the Polo Grounds vs the Mets with an astounding 122 RBI’s.
Davis finished the 165 game season (the Giants won a playoff vs L.A. for the pennant) with 153 RBI’s, an even more astounding total.
Maury Wills started that day with 69 stolen bases. Ralph (I call him “King Kong”) Kiner imparted that Maury was 12 shy of Bob Bescher’s N.L. stolen base mark.
Wills swiped a record breaking 104 bases in 1962, breaking Ty Cobb’s record of 96.
Subsequently, both Lou Brock and then Rickey Henderson, set single season stolen base marks.
Finally, the Mets’ Frank Thomas had 29 home runs beginning that day.
He ended up swatting 34 in that inaugural Mets season.
The great player, Lou Brock, pictured above, had a memorable 1962 Polo Grounds day.
On June 17, 1962, he hit one of the longest homers in Polo Grounds history.
Andy B Sports 