Andy B Sports

The city of Houston has won four major North American sports league crowns.

Additionally two different teams, the “extinct” Houston Aeroes and the now Tennessee Titans, Houston Oilers won titles in leagues that no longer exist.

Three of the four teams won repeat titles.

George Blanda and Billy Cannon led the Houston Oilers to the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and 1961.

A true great, rarely talked about by a predominantly “no clue” sports media, Hakeem Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to NBA crowns in both 1994 and 1995.

Only the 2017 World Series winning Houston Astros did not repeat. They are current baseball champions and have made 6 straight ALCS and 4 of the last 6 World Series, splitting in those 4 entities.

It would be nice to call their manager Dusty Baker and congratulate him on last year’s title. Once I could reach him at the New York hotel at which his team was staying. That is no longer the case.

The Gord Howe led Houston Aeros won World Hockey Association crowns in 1974 and 1975 as did the Philadelphia Flyers. Neither has titled since then, the Aeros and WHA, no longer in existence and the Flyers’ bids for NHL titles going unfulfilled for 47 consecutive completed NHL seasons (1976-2023, with no NHL season in 2005).

Bobby Hull led Winnipeg Jets who dethroned the Aeros in the ’76 WHA final.

The great Hakeem Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to NBA crowns in both 1994 and 1995.

It is so much more bitter, than sweet.

Today there was a private room tribute to Jim Brown in Canton, Ohio.

Mike “Tiriiiiico” hosted.

Hopefully the dementia Chuck Howley has does not deter (too much) the fact he made the Hall.

It took far too long.

53 years ago, the Browns were (31-21) winners vs the Jets in the first NFL Monday Night “packaged” game.

Travis Williams, who ended up sleeping in his car, had a kickoff return TD in an earlier Monday night tilt.

Homer Jones, who also died this year, joining Jim Brown, Harry Belafonte, Pat Cooper, Vida Blue and others, returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown on that Monday September 21, 1970.

That was the first year of the AFC/NFC configuration and the teams that met that night and tonight, the Browns and Jets have nary a Supe appearance in the 53 completed seasons (’70-‘2022).

Chuck Howley, unfairly denied “Hall” entry for so long and suffering with dementia, is pictured above.

Seven pitchers have won exactly 31 games in a big leagues season. That number will remain the same for a long time, perhaps eternally.

Two times that pitchers won 31 were in presidential election years.

The first time was in 1920 when Jim Bagby Sr. of the eventual world champion, Cleveland Indians turned the trick.

48 years later (1948/forty eight was the only other Cleveland baseball title season) Dennis McLain won 31 games for the eventual world champion Detroit Tigers.

Certainly corruption surrounded the two men, (Warren Harding in 1920 and R.M. Nixon in 1968) that won those presidential elections.

Additionally, since most in life is relative, recent history has improved the historical rating of each.

Jim Bagby Sr. pictured above, won 31 and lost 12 for the title winning 1920 Indians.

His (10-1), 30th win of the season came against the Tigers, with whom McLain would also win 31 those aforementioned 48 years later, doing so with half (6) the number of losses Bagby accumulated.

Since Bagby won 31, only Lefty Grove also 31 (he lost 4 as the great Al “Grampa” Lewis often intoned on my cable tv show), Dizzy Dean (the last NL pitcher to do so, also likely to be that way for a long if not eternal period of time. Time eternal??) and McLain have won 30 or more games in a season.

A rare update on the “12 ‘offs teams/4 rounds,” diluted 2023 baseball, is mention of the (52-53) record of the Cleveland Guardians, nee Indians, who have a chance but are unlikely to title for the first time in 75 years.

Perhaps, Terry Francona, their manager should become a player manager and maybe next year in a presidential election year, Cleveland will triumph. (Of course Francona will not become a player manager nor will anyone else).

I cite such, as the only two Cleveland World Series crowns came in presidential election years and with player managers at the helm.

The great Tris Speaker managed the 1920 Indians, who overcame the tragic death of Ray Chapman, who died a day after he was hit by a pitch on August 16th,1920 (Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth, as noted here more than once, died on August 16th, 29 years apart in 1977 and 1948 respectively) while Lou Boudreau guided the title winning, the last such, Cleveland team in 1948.

Pictured as a Boston Red Sox player above, Lou Boudreau hit two home runs in Cleveland’s one game playoff (8-3) win at Boston that gave the then Indians the 1948 pennant.

In a game 6 at the Boston Braves, Cleveland last won a World Series crown in 1948.

Yesterday on a stifling, hot day, my spirits were lifted watching an episode of “Bonanza,” with Teresa Wright as the guest star.

I can “clean up” what the great Buddy Hackett said regarding lack of romantic success, on that epic show. I just did.

Ms. Wright’s character is slated to marry Lorne Greene’s “Ben Cartwright.”

Of course, she does not.

It is a compelling episode, made so much better with Teresa Wright, as the guest star.

Among her great performances, in epic films, was her turn in the William Wyler (he thought very highly of Teresa Wright) directed,”The Best Years Of Our Lives.”

Ray Teal, best known as “Sheriff Roy” on “Bonanza,” is linked to Wright (no bacon/Bacon please, though I like both Kevin and the food) appearing in both the Bonanza episode “My Son, My Son” that aired yesterday (originally airing on Sunday night January 19 (J-19), 1964– 3 weeks after the “Chi” Bears handed the New York Giants, a third straight NFL title game defeat), as well as in “Best Years,”

His character makes a bad, bigoted, anti-Semitic remark in “The Best Years Of Our Lives.”

I am proud to say I introduced Teresa Wright to the great Gordon Parks and the three of us posed in a picture.

It is not good, that I can not find that picture.!

There is no doubt, “shadow” or otherwise, that Teresa Wright, pictured above, was among the greats.

In addition, she was a classy, friendly person.

It turns out over 1900 people got the NPR puzzle. It is the first time I was able to do so. (Famous singer, 12 letters, add a “y” and something regarding a picnic manifests with spacing. Frank Sinatra, franks in a tray). As told yesterday Frank cited Tony Bennett as the best!!

Tonight on MeTV, (10 P.M. Eastern Time) a tribute to Mr. Bennett in the form of highlights from his appearances on the legendary Ed Sullivan Show.

His musical acumen is well known and far greater than my understanding or that of many .

Suffice to say his extraordinary career whether singing say “Rags To Riches” or his debut single, “Because Of You” in 1951, will live with us for all time.

The great song/hit “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” came out in 1962, a year the local team Giants won the pennant but left their hearts/Matty Alou/Willie Mays on base when Ralph Terry got Willie McCovey on a hard line drive to Bobby Richardson, giving the Yankees an incredible 20th title in forty seasons.

Bennett was even greater in his field, enduring and performing at such a high level, for so many years.

Go easy, Mr. Benedetto and condolences to your family and I cite wife Susan, who in such courteous fashion took the photo of Mr. Bennett and I that will be displayed below.

Tony Bennett and Andy B. some years back. I may not go to riches, but I am better, having heard your songs and meeting you.

Spoiler alert: I actually solved the NPR puzzle this week.

Tune back tomorrow, if you do not want it spoiled.

Frank Sinatra is the famed singer answer and he said Tony Bennett, who died yesterday at age 96, was the best of all.

If he was not, clearly it does not take long to call his name.

He was called home yesterday, leaving so many hearts in his songs, including doing so, in his immortal “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

An incredible career, keeping up with the times, a truly good man who served in the military, but was a pacifist.

Let’s end and post part 1, a rarity here, reserved for certain greats and Mr. Bennett qualifies even more so as a person, than for his great talent and accomplishments.

A little more tomorrow.

Now this, an all-timer that eased my “pain” when not only did I miss the Jeff and Laura Lovins wedding, but did so, to see my then L.A.– lose to Joe Morgan and San Francisco.

It, Tony’s great rendition played then and with a click below.

NEW YORK— Perhaps the most anticipated boxing match of the year, Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz, will take place from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on Saturday August 5th. Fight fans in New York can watch the bout at Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar on its giant Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs.

“It’s going be a very tough fight,” said Hoops girl Sophia. “But I’m rooting for Nate Diaz because he’s been here at Hoops and was great to all the girls!” 

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 (48 west 33 Street) 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!”   

HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar : Multiple Hi-Def TVs on all Three Floors, Super VIP “Man Cave,” Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC

Fifty-four years ago today, three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins were aboard the spacecraft Apollo 11, as it landed on the moon.

First Armstrong and then Aldrin walked on the moon’s surface while Collins, as noted on the NBC Television broadcast then and viewed by me days back,, stayed in the capsule and unlike say 60 million people, did not see the historic events of the day.

Of course, Collins, who was born in Rome and died in Naples (Florida that is) was a big part of those events.

Both Armstrong and Collins are deceased, while a half year ago, on his 93rd birthday (Karen also had a birthday. She was born on the day President Kennedy, who set the “land on the moon” goal was inaugurated and let’s hope brother Bill gets better, a wish for all of us!) Aldrin married for the fourth time.

I went “Cronkite” “copy/pasting,” in peace.