Names and associations “float” via my brain, as objects in a sea of thoughts.
In my limited recap of the non “over the aired”/watched by me, college semis I cited T.C.U. great Davey O’Brien.
Another great from T.C.U, one who also achieved such in the professional game (alas no opinions), is Sammy Baugh.
Baugh went on to play quarterback on two NFL title Washington D.C. football teams and played in 4 such games, winning as a rookie in 1937 (vs the Bears) and again in 1942 vs an undefeated Chicago Bears team.
His team lost title tilts to the Bears in 1940 and 1943, the former by a (73-0) score. Early in that tilt, a “Wash” player dropped a “sure” T.D. pass from Baugh. Asked after the game about the difference that play made and what the score would have been had the “would be” (ode to Marty Glickman) “Wash” player gathered in that pass for a score, Baugh remarked (73-7).
So TCU the school of “Baugh” handed Michigan and its coach, Jim Har”Baugh” a second straight semis defeat, this as a touchdown plus favorite. Harbaugh still sans a title as a player or coach lost a “semi” for the fourth time and after his lone “semi” win Harbaugh’s 49ers were denied in the 2012 season NFL final/Super Bowl by a Baltimore Ravens team coached by his brother, John Harbaugh.
The great Sid Luckman, pictured above shared a November21st birthday with another sports great, Stan Musial.
From (1940-1946) the two combined to play on 7 title teams, (Sid with the Bears in (’40, ’41 ’43 and’46) Stan with the St. Louis Cardinals (’42, ’44 and ’46), with one or the other winning in 6 of the 7 years (’40-’46, with each man and his team taking their sport’s 1946 “big prize.”
The defending college football champion and top ranked Georgia Bulldogs are roughly 13 point favorites vs T.C.U. (Texas Christian University) in the 2022 season title game to be played on Monday night January 9th. (Will ABC “over the air” it, they did not regarding the “semis” and I did not watch and slept as the clock literally and figuratively struck midnight for Ohio State in the later semis tilt).
While each Big Ten losing team in the “semis,” actually showed something in defeat, a long history of being denied in title bids affects, even disproportionately.
However, despite the fact Ohio State’s many 1 win from the title losses when I rooted so hard for them (’69-’75, they did “title” in ’68, winning the Rose Bowl vs U.S.C. despite a brilliant 80 yard touchdown run by one Orenthal James Simpson), still haunts and that Michigan has only the ’97 season share (Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost, out as their coach these 25 years later, led on the field and in a campaign there for a share and got it!) to “show” since winning “it” in ’48 (also the last year the Cleveland baseball team, known as the Indians until 2022, won the World Series), perspective ought to be gained and is progressing.
For the record T.C.U. built a “comeback score” (21-3) lead and never were caught in a (51-45) win (well) over Michigan. At night, Georgia down 2 touchdowns at least twice got a Stetson Bennett (A “Stead,” namely, Steadman Shealy QB’d Alabama to a repeat title, legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant’s 5th and last in ’79, however unlike Bennett, who led the first of what is now a probable 2 straight titles, but that is why they play the games, did not QB the ’78/first of two straight titles team) to Adonai Mitchell touchdown to tie, an extra point and a subsequent 50 yard field goal miss by Ohio State, to (42-41) Ohio State and move into their second straight title game and third in six seasons, having split in the other two such games.
In same calendar 1938, Davey O’Brien, pictured above led T.C.U. to their lone national crown.
He capped a Heisman Trophy winning season with I believe, a touchdown pass and 4 kicking points in the January 2, 1939 bowl (Sugar) win vs Carnegie Tech.
Today’s virtual full NFL “card” (on Thursday past, in a likely virtually meaningless game, Dallas won at Tennessee while tomorrow night, in a game certainly with seedings meaning and maybe mucho more, (12-3) Buffalo (Bills) visits (11-4) Cincinnati (Bengals)– of 14 games is the fourth such occurrence on New Year’s Day in NFL annals. (’05 final week while ’11, ’16 and now the ’22 “reg” play penultimate week tilts.)
There have been 12 previous “same calendar” NFL seasons with a championship game, be it an NFL Title Game (’38, ’49,’55,’60,and ’66 which was also the season (The Supe, then the NFL/AFL Championship Game was played on January 15, 1967, 2 weeks after Green Bay survived at Dallas in the 1966 season NFL Title/Pro Football “semis” game) or a Super Bowl (’77,’83,’88,’94,’05,’11 and ’16).
Either all twelve or 11 of the champions in those seasons (I know the NFL gave the records of the great, old Cleveland Browns, who sadly did move and become the Baltimore Ravens, to the “still never having achieved”/1999 season expansion, Cleveland Browns, however I at least note the ’55 title winning Browns are the direct “ancestors” of the Ravens) are still alive or have already qualified for the 14 team NFL “tournament,” which will commence in less than two weeks.
The “same calendar” title winners were the Giants (’38 and 2011), Eagles (’49 and ’60) and 49ers (’88 and ’94) twice each, with the Packers (’66), Cowboys (’77), Raiders(’83) Steelers (’05) and Patriots (’16) having “same calendar titled” once and are still in contention, albeit in some cases as monumental long shots, in 2022-2023. (By the way, Happy New Year).
Referenced above, I note the same calendar 1955 NFL champion Cleveland Browns, who were led by Otto Graham’s brilliant play in that game and so many others, with that ’55 title tilt being Otto’s last, became the already in the 2022 season ‘offs-Baltimore Ravens.
The great Jerry Rice, pictured above, was a tremendous contributor to Niners’ title winning teams in both “same calendar” 1988 and 1994.
Barbara Walters, one of many largely positive “pioneers,” who happened to be women and did so much on the small screen, died yesterday at age 93.
Lou’s daughter did so much, be it anchoring the news not so successfully, but scoring big with much sought interviews and her created show with Bill Geddie, called “The View.”
Still running, it capped Ms. Walters extraordinary television doings.
Ms. Walters did her homework or at least her researchers did as I recall best, the back round information before the at times, annoying questions to her interview subjects.
The great, creative successful Roone Arledge moved Barbara to those type shows and she delivered for the network.
I met her once and she made me feel good with nice conversation.
Maybe her dad Lou Walters has another club up there and if so, Barbara will enjoy hanging out there as in similar on earth. Maybe Gilda Radner will entertain and Joseph Kennedy Sr. will “supply.”
Andy B. and Barbara Walters pictured above.
“Pelé is one of the few who contradicted my theory,” Andy Warhol once said. “Instead of 15 minutes of fame, he will have 15 centuries.”
The above is included in Pele’s obituary in The New York Times and truly is appropriate as his greatness and allure will endure.
In my post from April 2014, (a link is in this post) I cited Mr. Pele’s unbelievable, great accomplishments, including those in World Cup play.
Pele played on 3 World Cup champions with his country, Brazil.
I met him once and he was charming, vivacious and truly courteous to all.
A picture with him is one I treasure. Down the long road, I will show it.
So many greats, now another, gone from the earth. Certainly Pele pictured above, was one of the greatest of them all!
Book Review: “Pele Why Soccer Matters” on April 23, 2014
Click below to view (I think on YouTube) 5 of Pele’s greatest goals in World Cup competition. Three are from 1970 and two took place in 1958, each years that Brazil won The World Cup.
A tilt that is a redux of the “same calendar” 1988 AFC Title game won by Cincy, before their second Supe loss to the S.F. 49ers, will match the (12-3), current top seed, Buffalo Bills and the (11-4), current “3” seed, Cincinnati Bengals in a key, “seedings determining,” game Monday night.
The Kansas City Chiefs also (12-3) (however, “Buff” won at “K.C.”-where they lost in the “semis” in ’20 and in an unforgettable heartbreaker in the “quarters” last season, earlier in the year and ergo have the tiebreaker vs the Chiefs, at least in a 2 way tie), are the current “2” seed,but also lost at Cincy, to whom they lost in their home 2021 title tilt, earlier this season.
In unfortunate similarity with the South in the NFC, the South “div” in the A.F.C. is extremely weak.
The winner and AFC “4” seed will be the winner of the “reg” finale, in which current (7-8) teams Tennessee (Titans) and Jacksonville (Jaguars) clash in “Jax,” next week.
It is quite possible it will be the “flexed”/NBC/alliterative “T”irico “t”ilt (Syracuse is a big underdog vs Minnesota at Yankee Stadium today in a game, almost with polar opposite importance, to the ’58 title game played just south of there at another Yankee Stadium site, 64 years ago yesterday.– The Giants, who lost that classic game to the Colts, can wrap up an unexpected ‘offs berth, likely going off as a touchdown “fave,” vs the Colts in their “Jersey” corporate named stadium on Sunday).
Elsewhere, regarding the A.F. C. the Ravens, who play where the ’58 Colts once did, namely Baltimore, are in the ‘offs with a (10-5) record and can win the AFC North if they win their “flexed” home tilt vs barely alive (7-8) Pittsburgh Sunday night and at Cincy in the “reg” finale. They also would win the “div” and likely be the AFC “3” seed, if both they and Cincy lose this week and “Balt” prevails at Cincy (the two cities met in the ’70 World Series that was referenced by the fine author Evan Weiner in his talk about the 1919 World Series) in the regular season finale.
Last season the L.A. once San Diego and in their first season which resulted in an AFL runner-up finish L.A. as well, Chargers were denied ‘offs entry (Pittsburgh got in via the rival Raiders’ help, all part of the say 51 seasons inclusive Steelers/Raiders “stuff” highlighted and intensified by two things Franco last week, namely his unfortunate death and remembrance of the team’s Slot 1 clash in ’72) when the Raiders playing not for the “safe” tie, kicked a field goal to eliminate the Chargers in an overtime/last NBC “reg” for Al Michaels (so glad Amazon, the stock down, hurting me, but Bezos(es) do not lose, has bad games in their “Alfalfa” led, pay extra streams).
This year, the (9-6) Chargers are in the ‘offs, likely to be a 5 or 6 seed, with wild card round sojourns to Cincy, Balti,? Buffalo, K.C. Jax and Tennessee possible.
Only one ‘offs spot is up for grabs with Miami at (8-7) but needing 2 wins to assure a berth that appeared so likely weeks back.
A trio of (7-8) teams, the Pats (in with 2 wins-they host Mia and are (-2 plus) and visit Buffalo (look ahead is Bills (-9 plus), Jets (in with wins at (7-8)/still in the NFC ‘offs race/Seattle (Seahawks) and at Miami if New England loses either remaining game and Pittsburgh (Steelers) needing not quite the miracle/gift from the Raiders they got last season, (they need wins at “Balti” and vs (6-9) Cleveland (expansion of 1999 Browns) plus a Jets loss to Seattle, a Jets win vs Miami and New England to beat Miami and then lose to Buffalo.
Click above to view Alan Ameche’s title winning touchdown in ’58, with Bill McColgan, calling the final play in excellent fasion.
The NFL seedings are “still the same” (cue Bob Seger) with the and forgive this “stretch,” the (13-2) Philly Eagles “still the one” seed, with a game vs New Orleans (Orleans scored with “You’re Still The One”) this week, in which a Philly win as a current, near TD “fave” vs the still in it, but needing mucho to go their way (7-8) Saints, would clinch the top spot.
It is “still” (12-3) Minne (Vikings), (they won for at least the 6th time on a last play positive, in this case a 61 yard field goal by Curtis Joseph, his 5th game winning field goal (see Philly’s 60 plus “job” vs the Giants in their ’17/57 year/56 seasons title drought ending season), as the NFC “2,” up a fraction of a game, on (11-4) S.F. (49ers), the current “3”
TB/TB despite poor play, remain the likely “4” after “a never bet/it was Christmas night/no other game why not try even 10 cents?!! on “Tie/Tie”) win (-7 plus)– (19-16) in overtime, vs Arizona.
Dallas (Cowboys would be fav’d at “4” T.B. or any other from the woeful NFC South)) bet (plus 1 to menos 6 to close -4 plus) won by 6 vs Philly, and is the very likely “5” seed.
Carolina and aforementioned “Orleans” are the other teams from that “div” still with ‘offs qualification hopes.
Despite the tough loss at Minne, the (8-6-1) Giants are very likely NFC “6” seeds. (7-7-1) Wash is in and at least also likely the “7” seed,if they win their remaining tilts, each at home, first vs (6-9) Cleveland and then somewhat likely vs a “locked into the “5” seed,” Dallas team.
Green Bay’s comeback win on Christmas Day, if nothing else gets Nantz, by far the best of the lead announcers, a good game going in after enduring a rout involving 2 out of contention teams on Christmas Day (I noted the two day after Christmas Monday title tilts and the two losing teams in those games, the Packers in ’60 and the Rams (who titled in ’51 and scored 51, as an “out of it” team last week, in a the above referenced Nantz Christmas Day game), in ’55 won last week on Christmas Day), when Minne visits Green Bay in a late afternoon game on New Year’s Day/Sunday.
Green Bay, Detroit and Seattle are all (7-8), the Pack host the Lions in the “reg” finale on January 8th and if they win both remaining tilts and Wash loses at least 1, I believe “despite all that—) Rodgers and G.B. get in the ‘offs.
Later this week our first look at the AFC in a while.
Click above to hear Bob Seger’s “Still The Same.”
Twice in NFL annals, their title game was played on a Monday December 26th as deference to the Christmas holiday.
There is no such deference today as 3 games, all involving teams, entering today with 3 “reg” games remaining, are to be played.
In 1955, on the day after Christmas, Monday December 26th, the great Otto Graham, a man really overlooked in the often ridiculous who is the greatest discussion, played brilliantly in his last game, throwing for and running in 2 touchdowns each, as the Cleveland Browns eased (38-14) at the still active, now venerable Los Angeles Coliseum vs the Rams, to repeat as NFL champions.
The other Monday/day after Christmas title game was played at Franklin Field in Philadelphia in 1960.
In that game the home team, Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers (17-13) in what was Pack coach’ Vince Lombardi’s lone playoff loss in what was his first such game. His teams won the other 9, manifesting in Green Bay titles in ’61,’62 and the unprecedented 3 straight from (’65-’67.)
Philly’s quarterback in the ’60 title tilt win was Norm Van Brocklin. He was on the quarterback on the team with less points scored in the other Monday December 26th, title game.
An iconic photo of three greats that played in the ’60 title tilt.
In it, the Eagles’ great Chuck Bednarik, who played both offense and defense, is flanked by running greats #5 Paul Hornung and #31 Jim Taylor.
Today on the 50th anniversary of the incredible touchdown play that gave the long “suffering,” Pittsburgh Steelers their first ‘offs win, I remember the far greater contributions of the man who scored that famed touchdown, Franco Harris.
Franco, so sadly, died days back at age 72.
A comparison, as a way to heap “mucho” praise on both Franco Harris and one, Reginald Martinez Jackson.
Each great, Harris was a better player and his superb clutch play that was an integral part of 4 Steelers’ title teams (’74,’75, ’78 and ’79) nearly matches that of Reggie, who did so much, especially as a clutch hitter on 5 championship teams (The Oakland Athletics (1972-1974) and the New York Yankees (1977 and 1978).
A play recalled by the Steelers’ great quarterback, Terry Bradshaw was Harris’ 22 yard touchdown run that put “Pitts” up by 11, soon they led by 18, in an eventual “bad/even horrible for the books,” “on the #” 4 point win, vs Dallas in the 13th Supe.
Of course, “Schtunk” had 4 and a half, while I, who got the lucky “push,” not before throwing something against the wall with ferocity, but nowhere near that of the positive such and determination by Franco, on that run, as he scored.
There is so much else to add, the sad coincidences and criticism of the NFL playing on Christmas Eve can wait (guess it did not).
So, it is often said, can heaven.
However, we, Roberto Clemente that New Year’s Eve 50 years ago and now Franco days before the Slot 1 ’72 game anniversary and the so far over due number retirement (Only Ernie Stautner and Joe Greene were honored with their Steelers’ numbers retired. My man “Stall,” John Stallworth, Lynn Swann , Bradshaw, and “Jacks” Ham and Lambert, all superb players, wait– but “it” does not wait) go there.
If, unlike Oakland, at least according to Gertrude Stein, Oakland, (now Vegas in the never ending “Roman Empire” aspect of the NFL, Oakland was a great Pittsburgh rival and as “L.V.” and also at (6-8), faces “Pitts” in that Christmas Eve tilt), there is a there, there–Franco will join Roberto and probably help, as they did in non sports efforts while on earth.
Two ways to close this, one with my overwhelming feeling of praise for Franco being the main and first “close.”
Next, my friend the late Beano Cook talked of two guys riding in a car approaching the tunnel in Pittsburgh, who had Oakland plus 2 and a half, that December 23rd, 50 years ago today.
Going through the tunnel, two things transpired–one they lost the radio reception (Jack Fleming’s immortal “caught out of the air”call, not aired in the tunnel) and Mr. Harris scored a touchdown yielding (13-7) Steelers, on an incredible play, to essentially give the Steelers in their 40th season with such a possibility, a first playoffs game victory.
As their car exited the tunnel, the crowd noise on the radio and maybe even sans radio was deafening.
One said to the other, “maybe it was a field goal and we still won the bet.” The other said “No, too much noise it was a touchdown!”
It was! One of the most incredible ever and scored by one of the greatest players ever, Franco, who did so much more than that in his great career.
The two bettors, each distraught, left the car and looked up at those heavens and asked Why?!!” In a larger sense we all do, however, somehow with memories and the great examples set by Harris and Clemente, we go on–a mural near that tunnel, reminding us of them and others, with another day, albeit one with gloomy weather, ahead.
The great Franco Harris, pictured above.
Try viewing the video below even if you must go elsewhere as instructed. On it Franco scores an above referenced touchdown vs the Dallas Cowboys in an eventual (35-31) win for the Steelers in Supe 13.
Additionally in the 10th paragraph of a post below from October 2016, I note comedian Marty Allen being so glad to meet Franco, when the former was being honored.
A Fantastic show With Husband And Wife Team Marty Allen And Karon Kate Blackwell
Believe me, I am aware of two more important, depressing developments that I will address (at least one), in the days ahead.
Evoking Karen and The Carpenters, “for now this is my (not song-though as in the relevant to me, “Goodbye to Love” it applies to a life sans it) post.”
Philadelphia (Eagles) sporting a so impressive (13-1) record has a magic number of 1 to clinch the NFC top seed. As usual, day short/unaware me, even though aware that if Philly (opened pk, to Plil -1, up to Dallas -6 now 4 half as Hurts is hurt, but who knows status) beats Dallas they get a “mo” (of Cheeks, the same calendar ’83 Sixers title and I will stop the tangents with that) of no meaningful action.
Being succinct, I did not “jump” on Dallas say “Pk,” thinking they would win as Philly may be better off if that would occur. (Past history in such situations available for researchers).
Both S.F. (49ers) and the Minne Vikings clinched div crowns and almost certain 2 or 3 seeds (I believe Minne leads by a fraction game for the “2”) with non Sunday game wins.
(10-4) SF covered, but in an “all tease” vs (7-7) Seattle (Seahawks) Thursday night tilt, while Minne “scored” the NFL’s greatest game comeback, winning down (33-0) by a (39-36) count as a 4 point or so “fave” in a (3rd generation, also follow not the $ but perhaps the “Jobe”) Noah Eagle/NFL Network, first of 3 this past Saturday.
Do not attempt with the horizontal, vertical or the last paragraph, a license plate as I scrambled for parking in oh so “crowded Cross County shopping Center,” clearly had “NOAH” as its last 4 letters.
Elsewhere, despite a disgraceful, especially for a “div” leader, (6-8) T.B. still leads the other three (5-9) teams in the woeful NFC South.
Dallas, already having clinched an ‘offs spot, so likely will be a wild card team, pretty likely as the “5” and a visitor/fave vs Brady and T.B. in one of three NFC wild card round games.
Meanwhile the (8-5-1) N.Y. Giants have a magic # of 2 vs (7-6-1) Washington and a pair of (7-7) teams, Detroit (Lions), and Seattle (Seahawks) to secure an ‘offs berth. They need to do so “vs” 2 of the 3 cited teams to do so.
Andy B Sports 