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.
The only previous Niners/Eagles post-season game was a 1996 season/wild card round game, resulting in a San Francisco (49ers) victory.
Green Bay, en route to its first title in 29 years, “slotted” out the Niners in a “div” round game, the following week.
In 2010, the one previous SF/Philly “semi” manifested in the Giants, en route to a first title in 56 years, just under double the years Green Bay waited, (56 also being the #, at which, SF’er Joe DiMaggio’s great hitting streak ended and of course the streak “Stephen Bishop’s” i.e. “goes on and on”) beating the Philadelphia Phillies, who were seeking a third straight pennant, in a 6 game NLCS/baseball “semi.”
The lone SF/Phil final was in 1967, when a great Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, 6’d the then San Francisco Warriors, giving the Sixers’ great player, Wilt Chamberlain, the first of two NBA titles.
All 3 previous SF/Phil ‘offs clashes were followed or resulted in, the team winning such, being its league champion (1 each baseball, football and basketball).
The Sixers won a final, the Packers followed their win over the Niners with two more and the crown, while the Giants 5’d the Texas Rangers in the subsequent World Series.
I note the manager, Bruce Bochy, who guided the Giants to that 2010 World Series win vs Texas and two subsequent, consecutive, “even year” crowns, now manages the Texas Rangers.
I will likely always say the Cincinnati Reds, certainly of 1975 and 1976 vintage were the best baseball team at least since if not beyond the 1961 New York Yankees, the latter just before my time. Yet one must more than consider the quantifiable Oakland Athletics (3 straight titles 1972-1974), who sadly lost their captain and classy, great player Sal Bando last week.
Mr. Bando with his smart play, leadership amidst what was often derision among the A’s players off the field and not cited by others in his obituaries–great clutch play/hitting/drawing walks–epitomized the A’s, who while not with the great,great that was the Reds and perhaps other teams, won more titles, doing so winning tense, so often one run games.
I cite 4 great instances for Sal, in one run Oakland wins, all in title seasons, the first below in #7/’72 World Series against a not quite “there” Reds’ team (of the A’s establishing a “there” in Oakland and Mr. Bando, as relayed by Curt Gowdy during #1/’74 World Series advised where to eat “there”) and the other three in the ’74 ALCS vs the Baltimore Orioles.
Clearly Fury “Gene” Tenace was the star as the A’s franchise which left Philadelphia for Kansas City before landing in Oakland won its first crown in 41 years, the last being a 5th in Philly (5’s abound and Sal might ? this in his tribute, but do so with great admiration for Sal, his etic, his class and his teams, as the football Eagles hope for a “5th”, 5 years later in this year in which the Astros titled 5 years later and if it manifests, it will be the first time the baseball and football champions each won it all 5 years apart).
Tenace whose sister is named Sandi (Sal’s wife is also a “Sandi”), doubled home another superb contributor to the 3 A’s title teams, Bert Campaneris, to put the Athletics ahead to stay in #7/’72 World Series. Bando followed with another double, which scored pinch runner, Allan Lewis and “Oak” needed that as they held on, winning (3-2).
Among, likely other big offensive plays, in addition to his defensive and leadership acumen, Bando homered off the great Jim Palmer, who cited such when Sal died, for the only run in a (1-0) Oakland win in #3 of the ’74 ALCS. Vida Blue pitched a 2 hit complete game shutout in that game.
Additionally, Sal scored both runs, each, after drawing a walk in a (2-1) A’s pennant clincher the next day in game 4.
Sal Bando, pictured above.
The Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers, both won for the 5th time (each team is (6-1) on those days) in 7 possibilities, on days each team had an ‘offs game. (Each team won a Sunday “div” game in ’81 and a Saturday “such” last season. Both won title tilts in ’81 and ’88).
S.F. is (7-0) ATS (against the spread) playing an ‘offs game on the same day, as the Bengals, winning a wild card game at Green Bay after the Chargers won such a game at Cincinnati in ’13 and losing by 3 as 3 plus point(s) dogs at the Rams last year. That 3 point loss, followed Cincy, “barking” as a 7 point or so, underdog at K.C. in the AFC Title game.
Next, each team is less than a field goal underdog, as the visiting team in title games/NFL “semis,” 5 days hence.
“Cincy” will travel to play at Kansas City, in the AFC Title Game for the second straight season. It marks just the third time teams are playing for a Super Bowl berth in the same place, a second straight season. (All 3 involve AFC Title games, the previous such being the Steelers beating the Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh in both ’78 and ’79 and after New England won at home, no covering the Baltimore Ravens in ’11–the Ravens won at New England in ’12).
That note “covers” (each title tilt this week has a low line, K.C. with a ? Mahomes at “the station,” is just (-1) and home standing Philly is less than 3) 104 possibilities. (’71-2022). (It was not possible for the 37 NFL (’33-’69) and 10 AFL (’60-’69) title games to be held in the same locale for two straight seasons as the leagues, a la baseball alternated by entity, the game sites each season).
Why it bothered me so much I do know, but realization sets in and into my account that I “paid” for the emotions, as I did not want “Hamlin hype Buffalo.” 5 letters/6 letters, but again and for hopefully the last time and let Hamlin be well, not Jesus Christ, was there as Cincy ripped Buffalo, handing them just their second NFL playoffs home loss.
S.F. got 4 Robbie Gould field goals and Dak Prescott was awful in the Niners’ (19-12) win vs Dallas, “avenging” a heartbreaking loss 50 years ago, in the two team’s only other “slots” game.
It was a record tying 9th time (Dallas/Rams and S.F./Green Bay) that S.F. and Dallas met in the ‘offs.
Now the Niners and Philadelphia Eagles will meet in the playoffs for only the second time. (S.F. won a home wild card round game vs the Eagles in ’96).
Later this week some Philly/S.F. and Cincy/K.C. playoffs history in the major North American sports leagues.
Joe Mixon, pictured above, was a big factor in the Bengals’ (27-10) win at Buffalo.
Unlucky 13, a scant 8 days after a Friday the 13th?
As stated the Bills were (13-1) in home NFL playoff games. The Packers were (13-0) in such games, before being “wild card rounded” by the Atlanta Falcons on a Saturday night in ’02.
In the 209th and 210th “slots” tilts played yesterday (after today 212 such games will have been played and on 2/12, 214 years after Mr. Lincoln’s birth a Roman Empire event, the 57th Supe will “unite” millions in the union as viewers), subsequent to the Kansas City Chiefs (-9) (27-20) win vs Jacksonville (Jaguars), the Philly Eagles dropped the Giants to (0-4) in Saturday ‘offs tilts,(they are (25-22) on Sundays, their last 2 Saturday “slots”/div round losses were by a combined (82-10) score), winning (38-7) as 7 plus points favorites.
Thus the Eagles will play a home title game/NFL “semi” for the second time in 5 years/6 seasons, hoping to continue on a path to a second title in 5 years, which if it occurs, would mark the first time in 88 possibilities (first NFL title game was in 1933, thus it is (1934-2022) but no World Series in ’94, yielding 88 possibilities) that the same baseball and football teams, won titles, the significant #, 5/FIVE years apart, the Houston Astros already having won it it all in ’17 and ’22.
Philly advanced to what will be their 8th NFC Title Game and 6th at home. (They are (3-4) in the previous, (3-2) at home).
Four of those Eagles’ title tilts, three being losses, (2001-2003 before a win in 2004) were under current K.C. Chiefs coach, Andy Reid, who yesterday guided his team to a 5th straight title game.
The previous 4 were home title games for Reid’s Chiefs and this still might and no matter what ought to have been a fifth, but when “Jesus Christ,” I mean “DAM”ar Hamlin (glad he is ok and wish I had bought toys stock) fell, the league eventually “screwing” the Bengals also (you check the details and recall Cincy led (7-3) with the pig, when Hamlin fell) and now possibly K.C. by “Decreeing”-(cue the Roman Emperor) that K.C/Buffalo would be at neutral Atlanta.
Oddly and to be fair, Buffalo did win at K.C. in the “reg,” and would have been the “1” if a win in that cancelled “at Cincy” tilt had manifested, I feel Buffalo would have gone into K.C. and “avenged” a horrible slots loss there last season. (Memo to Mc Dermott, who messed up kicking deep in that just referenced loss, giving Mr. Mahomes, (with “Henne Help” got the Chiefs through yesterday, despite a sprained ankle), enough time, you did same near the half’s end vs “Mia” last week.. Stop doing it!!
In “slot 4,” which for a 5th straight year and the foreseeable future has a 6:30 or later Eastern Time start, Dallas is a 4 point dog in a record tying 9th ‘offs clash vs the S.F. 49ers (Dallas vs Rams and Niners vs Packers also have 9 ‘offs occurrences).
If the end game view is of a happy Jerry Jones, (not either a pretty and certainly not a necessary sight), it will be the Cowboys’ first “slots or better” win, since Barry Switzer guided a no cover, ’95 season, Supe win vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Love the Switzerland neutrality. That is not the case regarding a “neutral” AFC title tilt, a week hence.
Today I look out and get out, missing some of Slot 1, and pass the tribute torch, to those and that which would recall and illustrate far better, the greatness of David Crosby, who died days back at age 81.
He was a big part of and co founder of two seminal groups, The Byrds and Crosby Stills and Nash, the latter later adding Neil Young to David, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.
Again, so much of my passion and expertise was misguided into sports, which had its moments. Regrettably, and I hope to “turn/turn” into it, more and great music is a goal.
Certainly David Crosby was a man, who helped yield many examples of what I seek.
The great David Crosby, pictured above.
Click below to hear “The Byrds” with Mr. Crosby perform “Turn, Turn Turn.”
The “slots” begin in Tirico’s first “slots or better,” with the Kansas City Chiefs playing a 12th straight non Supe home tilt. They are 9, quite possibly to be bet to 10 point “faves,” vs Jacksonville in that tilt.
This juxtaposed with the beginning of the Chiefs, once the Dallas Texans ‘offs AFL and beginning home/road, ‘offs history.
All 5 AFL playoff games involving the Chiefs’ franchise, the first being a 2 overtime 1962 AFL Title win, as the Dallas Texans, at Houston (Oilers), now the Tennessee Titans, and 12 of their first 15 were road games for the Chiefs.
Saturday night’s game at the TD plus “fave” Philadelphia Eagles, will be the Giants’ first such ‘offs game.
It will be just the 4th time in 51 ‘offs games (the Giants are (25-25) going in) that the Giants will play a Saturday ‘offs game.
They lost the previous three, at San Francisco (49ers) in both the ’84 and ’93 div round/slots and also a heartbreaker to the Vikings, the team they beat last week, to become (3-1) vs in the ‘offs, in a home ’97 wild card round game.
Jack Buck, pictured above, presided on the Chiefs’ Supe 4 win and did interviews on the 1962 AFL Title Game.
Joe Buck “talked at us” when K.C. won a second Supe, 50 years after the first.
Give me Joe Buck rather than Davis or Burkhardt this weekend.
Andy B Sports 