I met the brilliant Robin Williams once. It was the day Rod Steiger, another of the brilliant vintage, (once we had Ray Scott, yet another great as lead Supe announcer) had died.
Williams talked of Steiger being his friend. Some day “bitter old me” will write a book and add what else he said. I wish I knew how depressed Robin was as I hope I would have offered hope and my friendship though he was a proven great and I a forever dreamer.
In honor of Robin, let’s get tangential (think the repeat a la Olivia’s “Physical”).
The lone previous Phil vs K.C. ‘offs clash was also a final, a Phils 6 game triumph in the ’80 World Series.
You get “last out” credit knowing Frank “Tug” McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end it. It was a (4-1) Phils win and lead when Pete Rose snagged a deflection off catcher Bob Boone’s glove as he (Pete, who exemplified playing the game right yet is denied you know what…) backed up the play.
Boone got a title. Neither son Aaron or Brett had one. Eagles’ coach Nick Sirianni met his wife Brett (an appropriate K.C. name as the Royals great star George has “Brett” as a surname) while coaching in K.C. with the Chiefs.
Back to the ’80 World Series and its key moment, among many such, but when #5 of a (2-2) series is on the line with the trailing by one run, home team up with 2 outs and runners at second and third facing #’s 6 and potential #7 on the road, I will say that is key!
Enter a fine player named Jose Cardenal, who would be involved in an eerily similar game situation 16 years later as a Yankees coach under the great Joe Torre.
In ’80 Tug fanned Cardenal the batter, Philly went home up (3-2) and titled.
16 years later, the Yankees with Wettland (John) not Rivera on with a (1-0) lead in a (2-2) World Series that was to shift to “Yankee Land” for the 6th and potential 7th, Luis Polonia, who 4 years later again helped the Yankees “title” with a big hit in game 1 of their World Series vs the New York Mets, was up, 2 outs, runners at second and third.
Mr. Cardenal positioned the long lanky, so annoying if you rooted vs him, thus he was a tremendous player, Paul O’Neill perfectly.
O’Neill made a fine catch on Polonia’s fly ball, the Yankees went home up (3-2), in what was all road team wins through 5 games, and they “homed” a first crown in 18 years in #6.
Left to right, Rod Steiger and Marlin Brando. For some reason the fates said it IS you, Burkhardt.
As he and the fates tell jokes, I say “deal.”
Oh is there a game this Sunday and did James break Kareem’s scoring mark, nearly 37 years after Kareem broke that of Wilt?!
Better thoughts concern the ’61Yankees and ’76 Reds.
Johnny Blanchard hit a critical game tying home run, with 2 out, none on, and the great 1961 Yankees trailing the Cincinnati Reds (2-1) in game 3 at Cincinnati.
At that point, the World Series was tied at (1-1).
Roger Maris, who set a record with 61 home runs that ’61 season homered in the top of the 9th to essentially give the Yankees a (2-1) World Series lead and from that point, their greatness manifested (7-0) behind “Scoreless innings record breaker,” Ed “Whitey” Ford in #4 and a (13-5) cruise in #5,to claim the crown.
Think about these numbers, these baseball 9’s!
Blanchard and Driessen, Skowron and “Doggy” Perez, Morgan and Richardson, Concepcion and Kubek, Pete Rose and Clete Boyer, Foster and Berra, Mantle and Geronimo, Maris and Griffey Sr., Ellie Howard and John Bench!!
For a bit, that gets me off the other stuff!
Wilt Chamberlain averaged over 50 points per game in the 1961-1962 NBA season.
Sorry “King,” but his L.A. crown was after a (69-13) record that included 33 straight wins and was NOT in a Bubble!!
Mary Badham, best known for her iconic role as “Scout” in the seminal film,”To Kill A Mockingbird,” played “Sport” in “The Bewitchin’ Pool,” the last episode of the original Twilight Zone.
I suppose it was at a “Twilight Zone” retrospective at which I met Ms. Badham, who was so courteous and informative in talking of her love toward “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Earl Hamner Jr., who later created “The Waltons,” wrote the Bewitchin’ Pool episode, that aired originally on June 19, 1964.
Georgia Simmons, having turned 80 days before the episode aired, was outstanding in her role as “Aunt T.”
Another excellent show, “Bewitched” debuted 90 days later on September 17, 1964.
The classy, Mary Badham, pictured above, as “Sport” in the Twilight Zone’s last episode, “The Bewitchin’Pool,” about 2 years after her immortal turn as “Scout,” in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
The city of Philadelphia has won 17 major sports league crowns, a total of 10 by its current teams and seven by two franchises located in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area.
As stated in a previous post, three of the four current Philadelphia teams and both teams representing its Super Bowl city opponent, Kansas City, have amassed two titles each. (Philly Sixers in ’67 and ’83, Flyers in ’74 and ’75 and Phillies in ’80 and 2008-each a year the Eagles, who won it all in ’48,’49,’60 and 2017, made the NFC Title Game/semis, losing the Supe in ’80 and at Arizona, where the 57th Supe will be played, to the Cardinals in the 2008 NFC Title game/NFL “semi”.
By the way, the Eagles split two NFL “all the way” pre Supe Title games vs the then Chicago Cardinals (in between “Chi” and “Az” they played in St. Louis), losing in ’47 (the Cardinals’ franchise only crown) and winning in ’48.
Former Philly teams, the Athletics, now in Oakland where they have won 4 additional titles and the Warriors, more or less, as S.F. but still Golden State and with 5 additional titles, to rank the franchise’s 7, third behind only the Celtics and Lakers among NBA teams, won 5 and 2 titles respectively while in Philly.
The Athletics under the legendary Connie Mack won it all in 1910, 1911 and 1913. A team time forgot and one of the greatest ever baseball eras/teams, the A’s won titles in 1929 and 1930 and A.L. pennants (’29-’31) denying among others, great Yankees’ teams with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig among their roster greats.
Philadelphia (Warriors) won titles in 1947 and 1956.
Many more notes to follow, as the 57th Supe approaches.
The great Jimmie Foxx, pictured above. He was part of those great Philadelphia Athletics’ teams.
X is the first
Of two x’s in Foxx
Who was right behind Ruth
With his powerful soxx.
—Ogden Nash, Sport magazine (January 1949)[48]
For so long as I grew up (not that I ever really did) it was Ruth 714, Foxx 534 on the all-time home run list.
NEW YORK — Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. The Hoops Girls perform on the club’s stages while sporting events play on dozens of HD TVs and on the huge x2500 Video Wall. For the Big Game on Feb 12th, you can enjoy it all plus food and drink specials.
The club’s waitresses will model team outfits as they serve from the very popular food menu, which features “snacks and small bites,” “flat bread pizzas,” and “build your own burgers.”
“At Hoops Cabaret, you can enjoy the game and you won’t be bored during those long time-outs, commercial interruptions, and unnecessary instant replays, because the girls will keep you entertained,” explained Hoops Cabaret Girl Kendra.
Located just one block from Madison Square Garden and next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret, the club’s second floor “Man Cave” has been described as “the ultimate VIP experience for sports fans.”
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar
48 West 33rd Street, New York City
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***Court-side, Mezzanine and VIP seating
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Yesterday, a day after the “infamy” of lopsided attacks on Bobby Hull by so many, (one day I will reveal, but again take the higher road), some notes came to mind watching MeTV.
In an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, David White later a pretty unfair boss but still a reasonable human on Bewitched played a sinister win at all cost boss.
It was just over 5 years before her turn on “The Munsters” began in September 1964, that the beautiful Yvonne DeCarlo portrayed 19th century actress “Lotta” Crabtree on the first episode of “Bonanza.”
Ms. DeCarlo was actually a year older than my late friend, the iconic Al Lewis who played her grandfather. Lewis was told he was too old to play a 300 year old man when denied sequel opportunities.
Yvonne DeCarlo, as “Lotta” Crabtree on the first episode of “Bonanza” that aired on a Saturday not the so often later on Sunday, September 12, 1959.
Let them take the low road, I will take the minimum higher, if not high one, in declaring my love and admiration for the great hockey player and true friend of the fans, Bobby Hull.
Bobby knew what so many celebrities do not, that without the fans, he and so many who got and get so much more, would not have gained such rich, likely undeserved rewards.
They, part of a vicious 24 hour news cycle and its bitter, negative mentality want to cite Hull deficiencies, which even if true, which largely I do not doubt, are to me, more than offset by the fact, nobody, anywhere near as great, took the time with the fans, the great way Bobby Hull did.
The fact so many obituaries of the undeniably great (even by them) hockey player omitted that, is disgraceful and beckons me to as Eve Ensler, now “V,” calls for, give it all a “reckoning.”
However, I will refrain and stay positive, something that has rich soil concerning Hull, the player and rancher, a human with flaws as we all have, (except if you believe the media, Damar Hamlin, that hype and subsequent “anti-ing” still hurts (Jalen and another in the Supe), named Bobby Hull.
The obvious: he scored 610 NHL goals, 300 plus more in the WHA, and was the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season. (Before Bobby, greats-Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion had tallied 50. “Good samaratarian-ing” at a store, I will not cite, and my heart and brain filled with thoughts of Bobby–the so much fun “Bobby Hull Hockey Game” included, I noticed “Boom Boom” meatballs, perhaps Bobby’s slap shot heading my way as a reminder).
I will show it below and hope it stays here as tribute, the marvelous moment and those just after, including an interview with the “there for the moments” Bob Wolff. my broadcasting teacher. (Mr. Wolff, who put my tape in the Smithsonian Institute was “there” to call Larsen’s “perfecto” and Ameche’s OT title clincher, among other great sports moments).
That, plus game winning goals in #’s 5 and 7 of a great cross over “semi” Hull and his Chicago Blackhawks won in 7 vs the Rangers in ’71, only to be denied in #7 vs Henri Richard and Montreal, in the great, classy, no blemishes, Jean Beliveau’s last game.
I have written before and gone over and over, that the “pain” of that (my team) Chicago loss, has been offset by the fact, one as great, as Mr. Beliveau deserved to go out as a champion.
Hull did “title” with the Blackhawks in 1961, a little before my time.
I never met Bobby nor “titled” with him. It broke my heart when he went to the WHA and amidst Dr. Ike, he who immitated Mr. Dryden’s immortal save on Jim Pappin to save/at least avoid a late, late tie score and almost certain overtime in ’71, winning ’76 crowns, I claimed, amidst my drought, an “offbeat” WHA Winnipeg Jets crown, citing Bobby Hull one of my original sports heroes (Ali, Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain being the others, later I added Bobby Orr and Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Jerry West as others) was on the team, 1976 crown.
That evokes both laughter, long gone comradery and sadness for many reasons, most relevant the ridiculous importance I and so many others place on sports.
In closing this a long and not enough of a tribute to Bobby, whose strides along the ice and incredible combination of speed and power matched only by Mickey Mantle, another hero whose greatness far outweighed his flaws, save the fact his attitude with fans bothers me more than was noted when he died, now nearly 28 years ago, made fans stand literally and figuratively in awe.
Oh to be young again and playing the levered, so much better than video games, Bobby Hull Hockey, with my friends again.
The judgment on Hull, is clearly not for the many who knocked him, “mainlining” his flaws not FACING(off) #’s 5 and 7 of that great ’71 semi and also not noting what came to me regarding Bobby Hull and the fans.
Mr. Hull waited and stood, delaying the “Chi” team bus outside the old Garden (Madison Square Garden and surely other venues around the glorious old, 6 team NHL) until EVERY fan had an autograph and meaningful interaction with him.
Finally, once during a Bobby Hull Hockey Game, two played vs each other, one Dr. Ike and the whether or not, the yes and no at one apiece and I abstained, God or G-d (see I do “cover” myself a bit hope for better but …. wonder regarding much on this earth and in my life) exists.
Their game ended in a tie. (Remember ties, getting rid of them for a reg season shootout is another mistake based on sell out).
Nobody, certainly not me, knows, but I feel God and final judgment regarding Bobby Hull will be as a marvelous creation of speed, power and patience with the fans.
By the way, those inclined, take a walk around the block!!
The great Bobby Hull pictured above.
So great! Bruce Martyn, now 93, called Hull’s 50th, likely Lloyd Pettit on Hull’s record breaking 51st that ’65-’66 season. The subsequent Bob Wolff interview with Bobby.
Go easy Bobby and again to offset some of my so pro Bobby, those inclined, take a walk around the block.
The two Super Bowl participant cities, Philadelphia and Kansas City have a combined 6 major sports league teams, four in Philadelphia.
All 6 have an even number of league titles, which of course will change when either the Eagles a current 2 point favorite–(“it” opened K.C. “2”), win a 5th NFL crown or the Chiefs of K.C. win a third.
The other teams, as is the above cited case with the Chiefs, have 2 crowns apiece in their current cities.
Philly’s other 3 teams, the baseball Phillies, in 118 possibilities I believe and by the way, basketball 76ers (in Philly, Dolph Schayes led them to the ’55 NBA crown when the franchise was the Syracuse Nationals) and NHL Flyers have two apiece.
Both Kansas City teams, the above cited Chiefs, whose titles were 50 years apart in 1969 and 2019 and baseball Royals, their titles being 30 years apart in ’85 and 2015, also have two titles apiece.
In the lone Philly vs K.C. previous post-season meeting, ’twas a final round entity as well, the Phils with the great and still not in the Hall, Pete Rose a key member, 6’d the Royals to win the 1980 World Series.
The great Pete Rose, still shamefully denied entry into the so tarnished baseball “Hall,” is pictured above.
His father Pete played for an earlier and lower level Cincinnati Bengals team.
Injustice again must be noted, as some very poor and unfortunate circumstances and mistakes again denied a hard luck Bengals franchise, still sans title and again on the wrong end of a close and questionable, ‘offs loss.
Pete’s mom was named LaVerne, spelled differently than the fictional “Laverne,” played on the television show, “Laverne and Shirley,” by Penny Marshall.
In citing Laverne/Penny, sadly, news came that Cindy Williams, who played “Shirley,” has died.
Hopefully Penny and Cindy are doing things “their way” in a better place, one with grace, a “land” with such and not the disGRACE again perpetuated, this time in Memphis, Tennessee by uniformed officials.
After the Philadelphia Eagles (bet -1 to -3) ripped the S.F. 49ers (31-7), the Chiefs edged the Cincy Bengals (23-20), thus yielding an (K.C. coach) Andy Reid vs his former team, Super Bowl.
Philly is now (4-4) in NFC title games and the team is (1-2) in previous Super Bowls.
K.C. (2-2) in previous Supes was involved in a 5th straight home title tilt, an 8th such in Reid’s 10 title tilts. (His teams are (4-6) in title tilts, (4-4) at home. His teams are (1-2) in Supes, (0-1) with the Eagles.
Har Butker’s field goal with 3 seconds to play lifted K.C. by 3, the same margin, by which they were OT’d by Cincy in last year’s AFC Title Game.
Miles Sanders had two touchdown runs for Philadelphia.
Ed Podolak is pictured above. I choose to cite Podolak’s great game, albeit in defeat in slot 2 on Christmas Day in 1971.
His kick return had K.C. set up to win, but a great kicker Jan Stenerud missed.
Yesterday Skyy Moore’s 29 yard punt return helped set up Harrison Butker’s game winning field, severely aided and abetted by another call that rung out a hard luck Bengals franchise. Enough said for now!!
Tomorrow’s second straight season Bengals at Chiefs, A.F.C. Title Game represents the only two Cincy vs K.C. ‘offs action in any major sports league.
In ’76, the great Reds had won the NLCS and after another great, George Brett had hit a 3RHR off Grant Jackson (among others we lost Grant Jackson, the winning pitcher in #7/1979 World Series within the last year) to tie the decisive 5th game of the K.C. Royals/Yankees ALCS and it was tied (6-6) B9 in New York.
Bottles were thrown and Mark Littell’s (we lost Mr. LIttell within the last year and good hitting, excellent pitcher, Gary Peters in the last few days) first “throw”/pitch was hit for a pennant winning home run by Chris Chambliss. Thus there was no KC vs Cincy post-season play until last year’s title tilt.
A Cincy/K.C. sports link is the fact that the NBA Cincinnati Royals moved to K.C./Omaha and became the Kansas City Omaha Kings.
They now reside in Sacramento and I have 1/200 on them winning their “div.” I wish I could hedge, but how?
Alas, I was second out of 426 (pretty darn good) in an NFL Handicapping Contest, however, I know that I know “nada.”
Please either do not bet or do so carefully. Perhaps, somewhat talented me, does so, too carefully, but realize the pain of losing is far greater than any “high” from winning.
The Niners are the 8th different NFC Title tilt opponent for the Eagles in that many such games. Any other such situations that are even close. If you do the research, write in and let us know.
Chris Chambliss, who delivered so many big hits for the Yankees, is pictured above.
Andy B Sports 