Jo Ann Van Fleet is one of the great, so called supporting actors/ actresses of all annals.
Among her great performances were turns as the mother of characters played by brooding, troubled, obviously attractive characters,
played by James Dean and Paul Newman, roughly a dozen years apart first in “East of Eden,” (Dean) and then in “Cool Hand Luke” with Newman.”
My “play” on hands down links Ms. Van Fleet and concerns about her hands, famously “con” gloves when Dean’s “Cal” is in her office in “East of Eden” and wanting so much to improve her hands and nails in a fine episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” (“Reward to Finder”) opposite Oscar Homolka.
A truly great performer, Jo Van Fleet, is pictured above.
The pitchers that Sunday May 2, 1965, Dave McNally for the Baltimore Orioles and Mel Stottlemyre for the Yankees would amass a combined and quite impressive seven 20 or more wins seasons.
Jerry Adair had set an ongoing record for consecutive fielding chances sans an error the day before. Walter “Red” Barber informed us that a great player, Tommy Davis of the Los “ANGLE-es” (as Red pronounced L.A. which is an acceptable if not the correct pronunciation) broke his ankle the night before, while just after Barber talked of how Yankee Stadium was certainly conducive to Curt Blefary’s left handed power strokes, the then rookie hit a long 2 run home run T2 that scored former Yankees player, Norm Siebern ahead of him.
A pair of true greats, Mickey Mantle of the Yankees and Brooks Robinson of the Orioles were involved in consecutive plays that “retired” the other, Mick grounding out Brooks at third to Norm Siebern at first to end the Yankees’ first, followed by “Robi” flying out to Mickey in left field.
The Orioles had battled the Yankees in the 1964 pennant race (remember those?) before the “Pinstripers” grabbed an incredible 14th pennant in 16 seasons.
Roger Maris, Elston Howard and Clete Boyer were out of the Yankees lineup, however despite both the O’s coming close in ’64 and the injuries limiting new Yankees manager, Johnny Keane’s choices–one would have been very unlikely to predict the Yankees precipitous drop that manifested in 6th and last place seasons in ’65 and ’66 seasons.
Conversely Baltimore rose to the top of the baseball world in 1966, sweeping the defending champion Dodgers.
Yes it was the Dodgers, that despite losing the aforementioned Tommy Davis (sadly the earth “lost” Tommy in 2022), who won the ’65 title. (In the victorious dressing room, after Sandy Koufax had pitched a 3 hit shutout in #7 at Minnesota (Twins) to yield a Dodgers’ title, he told interviewer Vin Scully (you can see Scully was a Barber disciple, listening to “Red”), people picked us for 6th and 8th after Tommy Davis broke his ankle.
Finally, that 1966 World Series ended when Dave McNally, the above cited pitcher that May day the year before, got Lou Johnson (in ’65 W.S. #7, Lou homered to give L.A. a lead they did not relinquish) to fly out to Paul Blair, a second year player, referenced by Barber as not saying “nice to meet you” but “this is a big ballpark” upon Red’s introduction to him. Tommy Davis, never to bat in a Dodgers uniform, but eventually to hit so well for and against the Orioles was on deck as the ’66 World Series ended.
Al Lopez, pictured above, managed both teams, (the ’54 then known as the Indians and ’59 White Sox) that denied the Yankees pennants during their incredible 16 year run.
Similarly but better, Alex Hannum coached both teams that denied the incredibly great Boston Celtics NBA titles during their great 11 titles in 13 seasons display of winning.
While Lopez and his teams were denied in the subsequent World Series by the Giants and then the Dodgers, the Hannum coached St. Louis Hawks won, what is still the franchise’s, (located in Atlanta starting in 1968-1969) lone title “6’ing” the Celtics in the ’58 final.
Nine years later Mr. Hannum’s Philadelphia 76ers ended Boston’s 8 straight titles run, doing so convincingly, winning (140-116) in the clinching 5th game of the “semis.”
Subsequently, Philly beat a San Francisco Warriors team that included greats, Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond and coach Bill Sharman in 6 games to win it all.
Yesterday, I watched a great episode of “Gunsmoke,” with guest star Carroll O’Connor, that aired on October 30, 1967, three plus years before Mr. O’Connor and the seminal show, “All In The Family” debuted.
Both “Gunsmoke,” and “All In The Family” aired on CBS with each ranking as one of the network’s all-time most popular, if not great shows. Certainly “All In The Family” led by the superb O’Connor, a great cast all under the leadership of now 100 year old and “treasure,” Norman Lear was among television’s greatest and most important shows.
“Gunsmoke,” certainly had great episodes, “Major Glory,” which originally aired on Monday night October 30, 1967, was one of them with guest star O’Connor leading the way.
Victor French in a guest role and series regular Ken Curtis, who played “Festus Haggen,” stood out in the episode.
Here’s one that “returned” to me and only me, although in certifying the facts (whatever happened to that in far too many instances of dissemination?!) I came across a fine retrospective and discovered information about a new book, each through the efforts of writer Bob Fox.
I recalled a Halloween (or close to) Monday night tilt, involving the Packers in which Travis Williams had a kickoff return touchdown. Sure enough, it was on October 30, 1967 (Packers 31 Cardinals then in St. Louis where the game was played that night, 23) airing on CBS after “Gunsmoke.”
Only I link touchdown returns, the aforementioned one by Travis “The Roadrunner” Williams, the first of four in that unprecedented 3rd straight title, via a title game win, season by the Packers that aired after Mr. O’Connor in “Gunsmoke” and another.
The other being, a “real life,” (I believe) punt return touchdown by Alvin Hammond, that as “Archie Bunker,” Mr. O’Connor once referenced on “All In The Family.”
The great Carroll O’Connor, pictured above in a role on “Gunsmoke.”
Click below to read an outstanding and helpful article about the October 30, 1967 Pack/Cards (I guess one would say “deck,” not or at least before “pack” of cards, maybe not as in pack of baseball cards) game written by Bob Fox.
Mr. Fox also has written a soon to be out book about the great Jerry Kramer.
Halloween Eve in 1967: The Green Bay Packers Get a Return on Investment
It is less than 4 weeks to the next to last day of the third year of the third decade of the 21st century and on that New Year’s Day and night, it will be defending champion and top ranked Georgia facing Ohio State.
That tilt will be preceded by a “semi” contested between Michigan and T.C.U.
Georgia has opened as just less than a touchdown favorite while Michigan is a 9 or so point(s) favorite vs T.C.U.
Both Georgia and Michigan completed (13-0) seasons by covering/”all teasing” L.S.U. and Purdue (rhyme), respectively as big favorites.
T.C.U.– denied ‘offs entry as was fellow Big 12 Conference team, Baylor in 2014, when Ohio State “backdoored” into the first 4 team ‘off and eventually won it, went (12-1) this season, as they lost by 3 in overtime, Saturday past, to Kansas State.
In ’14, T.C.U. was denied ‘offs entry despite an (11-1) record. I think they or Baylor were denied such unfairly.
(11-1) Ohio State, despite a last game, home loss vs Michigan was the proper 4th choice, as all the other contenders had at least 2 losses, including so often successful Alabama which finished 5th and hence will be out of the 4 team ‘off for just the second time in its 9 year existence.
“Ez” Elliott, better known as “Zeke,” real name, Ezekiel, pictured above, led Ohio State to the aforementioned 2014 college football crown.
Once again, a Pac 12 team has been or almost certainly will be denied a 4 team ‘offs berth, as they could not get through the conference, in particular, the Conference Title Game.
Utah, I believe once a team that had its ‘offs hopes dashed in the conference title tilt, spoiled the U.S.C. ‘offs hopes, winning (47-24) last night.
It seems the four college playoffs teams are known.
That remains to be seen, however, it is very likely that Georgia, Michigan, T.C.U. and Ohio State will be the four ‘offs teams.
I will update the situation on Monday.
For now, how about Georgia, say a 6 point favorite vs Ohio State in one New Year’s Eve Day semi with Michigan just over a touchdown favorite vs T.C.U. in what the great public address announcer Dave Zinkoff often said regarding free throws, “another” or the other.
The legendary Philadelphia basketball public address announcer Dave Zinkoff, pictured above.
Hopefully Hal is hitting them evoking “Greeeers,” from the Zink above.
The one time I met the superb pitcher, Gaylord Perry, who died today at age 84, was at a signing event in White Plains, New York in 1996.
He sat virtually alone as did the great, great Jean Beliveau, while the crowd around another great, Dennis Rodman swelled.
Gaylord, in his big hat was cool, friendly and not concerned with the paucity of people around him. A la a never forgotten by me, moment in the great film, “The Sting,” Mr. Perry was afforded a “flat rate.”
In conversation, I told Gaylord that while it is the flair of Rodman one notices first, indeed he was a great, unselfish player. Mr. Perry appreciated my information.
I suppose Perry’s eventual greatness first surfaced in a memorable second game of a S.F. Giants (Perry’s team in his first 10 seasons, ’62-’71 the first and last were first place finishes, most of the others second place) and the New York Mets, that went 23 innings.
The game featured all 3 big league Alou brothers in the same outfield as the great Willie Mays played shortstop. Gaylord hurled 10 scoreless innings in relief.
He won 20 or more games 5 times and was just the second pitcher to win 20 or more in both the National and American Leagues.
Perry was the first to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues.
I will skip that about his type of pitches and even the strong opinion Gaylord with other “Famers,” “Willies” (Mays and McCovey), Orlando Cepeda and Juan Marichal played on far more deserving of a title teams, than any of the 3 even year Giants World Series winners (2010-2014). However, they won nary a one, playing in a great National League.
My favorite moment regarding Gaylord Perry, other than meeting him and enjoying his friendly easygoing manner, was when he induced Willie Randolph to ground out 2nd to 1st, (Julio Cruz to Jim Maler), early in the 1982 season, to clinch his 300th major league win.
Gaylord Perry pictured above.
The current Philly Eagles are (10-1) and have a one and a fraction game(s) lead for the NFC “1,” (Minne (Vikings) are (9-2)-and at least that much of a lead over the (8-3) Dallas Cowboys in the (32-13), so far excellent NFC East.
In this post, I will juxtapose the 1981 NFC season with this one and more “leaks” (ode to Roosevelt Leaks, a fine running back) regarding 2022 will manifest.
1981 was the 4th season in which both the NFC and AFC had 2 wild card teams, who met in the wild card round. That year the New York Giants won at Philly vs the Eagles in such a game. This season the Eagles almost certainly will be among the 7 NFC ‘offs teams, somewhat likely as the top seed. The Giants, once (7-2) now (7-4) are in ‘offs qualifying position, with 6 games remaining.
One NFC slots game in ’81 matched the Dallas Cowboys and then 6th year Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams currently ( (5-6) “T.B.”, with the slipping, but still an all-time great, “T.B.” there is a significant “Brady” character based on William Jennings Bryan in Stanley Kramer’s directed “Inherit The Wind,” leads (5-7) Atlanta by a half game in the woeful (18-29) NFC South) are in ‘offs qualifying position.
San Francisco (I can still “hear” Jack Buck accenting each syllable of that city’s name when a Jim Stuckey fumble recovery, NOT the key Joe Montana to Dwight Clark touchdown pass, clinched the S.F. 49ers NFC Title tilt win vs Dallas) won it all in ’81, the first of 4 crowns they won in the numerically/team name lined 9 seasons (’81-’89), and 5 overall, none since that 5th one in 1994.
This season as is the situation with the other 4 1981 NFC ‘offs participants, the 49ers are ahead in a bid for ‘offs qualification. They are (7-4), Seattle is next in that (NFC West) “div,” with a (6-5) mark.
Left to right, the unfortunately now deceased Dwight Clark, a great receiver whose TD catch was the key to SF’s ’81 title game win and Jim Stuckey, whose aforementioned fumble recovery clinched the game, are pictured above.
The Niners went on to (26-21) the Cincinnati Bengals in the Pontiac, Michigan cold weather outside/played in the Silver Dome 16th (Joe Montana’s, #(still in the conversation along with Brady and maybe others as to who is the best quarterback) Super Bowl game.
Long ago, Wayne “Woody” Hayes, with his Ohio State team up (50-14) minimum in the last 2 minutes if not later, went for 2 vs Michigan in that 1968 game.
Michigan players remembered, karma kicked in and the next year, Michigan a near 3 touchdown, home underdog, won (24-12) costing a truly excellent, but eventually underachieving, Ohio State team, a repeat crown.
Earlier this season, Ohio State, whose coach Ryan Day still sans a title, (dealt a big blow yesterday, but not quite out of ‘offs qualification possibility), said it was his punter’s decision to run for a first down ahead 39 points in the 4th quarter vs Rutgers.
That was Not good, in fact bad. It evokes a memory of someone named Paterno (Joe), throwing a spread covering late/even last play touchdown pass, well ahead of Rutgers in Greg Schiano’s first stint there and clearly saying “B.S.” when called on it by the then and current Rutgers coach.
Yesterday, Michigan an 8 plus point(s) underdog, completed a (12-0) regular season, outscoring the Buckeyes (Ohio State), (28-3) in the second half, en route to a (45-23) win.
“Mich” is about a 17 point favorite vs Purdue (on Friday 10 point underdog, Nebraska outrighted Iowa, giving Purdue a chance and after “Oak and Bucketing” Indiana, they won the Big Ten West) in next Saturday night’s Big Ten Title Tilt. If they win and maybe, even if in a chaos inducing situation, they lose, Michigan would be in the ‘offs for a second straight season.
Last season Georgia, to evoke “Orleans” “still the one,” as defending champion and as a (12-0), top ranked team this season, after a second straight “no cover” this vs Georgia Tech, ripped Michigan in a playoff semi-final game, one of many routs in such games, in the first 8 seasons of the 4 team ‘off.”
This season, Georgia, a 2 touchdown plus “fave” vs L.S.U. whose ‘offs hopes went out the window yesterday, as Texas A&M handed them a third loss, would be the top seed and if Michigan prevails, also, as stated, in a big favorite’s conference title game “role,” the teams would not meet in the semis.
A third team is (12-0), that being Texas Christian University, which ripped Iowa State, however, is less than a field goal “fave,” in what likely will be a McDonough game at noon Eastern Time and 11 A.M. “Central” Saturday, vs Kansas State.
If T.C.U. wins, they are in the ‘off, almost certainly they would be out, if they lose.
Finally, into the 4th spot will go another 3 letter abbreviation team, U.S.C.
They were (4-8) last year, but under Lincoln Riley and with now Heisman favorite, quarterback, Caleb Williams running for 3 touchdowns in a (38-27) win over Notre Dame (they went under 8 plus, Beano would have “money line hedged,” though USC was a 5 point fave) the Trojans, as is the case with TCU, 2 plus point(s) favorites in their title tilt, (their opponent is Utah, which stormed back to hand the Trojans their lone regular season loss) so likely would be “in” with a win and out should they lose a second time this season to Utah.
Donovan Edwards, pictured above had 2 long touchdown runs in Michigan’s win at Ohio State.
Last night, into the early morning, I watched an excellent episode of “Mannix,” titled “Picture of a Shadow.”
Guest star Rosemary Forsyth, who in a show rarity had a kissing scene with Mike Connors’ “Joe Mannix” in the 1974 show, is 79 years old now and was great to see.
Ms. Forsyth (“Ann McFadden,” on the seminal show, “Dallas”) played a less known “Laura Spencer” (“Horton”) on “Days of Our Lives” from ’76-’80 preceding the better known portrayal of a “Laura Spencer” by Genie Francis, on another soap opera,”General Hospital.”
Ms. Forsyth exuded beauty, class and chemistry with Mr. Connors, a nice look at nearly 3 A.M.
Rosemary Forsyth and Mike Connors in “Picture of a Shadow” on “Mannix.”
The first of three games on tomorrow’s holiday is the usual “Detroit hosts” tilt that in this alternate year brings Jim Nantz and the AFC Buffalo Bills to Detroit.
Buffalo with a (7-3) record is a 10 point “fave” vs (4-6) Detroit (Lions), which has won 3 straight games while the Bills broke a 2 game loss skein last week.
Neither team has ever won a Super Bowl. The Bills are (0-4) in such games, the Lions, who won NFL crowns in 1935 (the year of Detroit teams and hometown hero, Joe Louis, pronounced Looie on a great British version of “This is Your Life” Muhammad Ali, when Mr. Louis paid tribute), 1952, 1953 and last in 1957 have never been in a Supe and only in 1991 (one of the Super Bowl loss seasons for the Bills, they were in 4 straight seasons, (1990-1993), went as far as an NFC title game/NFL semi-final game.
In the middle game, a pair of (7-3) teams with a combined 9 Super Bowl wins, the Giants (4-1) in “such” visit the Dallas Cowboys (5-3) in Supes. The Cowboys, as is the case with the Bills, the team they beat decisively in both the ’92 and ’93 season Supes, are 10 point “faves” in the tilt tomorrow.
Only in the 1990 season Supe loss, a heartbreaking one to the Giants, were the Bills competitive in their 4 Super Bowl defeats.
Both the ’92 and ’93 season Supes were on one network (unprecedented, the first two were on CBS but NBC also telecast the first and its Charlie Jones said we will be ok/not nervous after the “first verb”), NBC.
That network “has” New England (6-4) this season and (6-5) all-time in Supes, (all 6 wins under current coach Bill Belichick) at (8-2) and the very likely/current NFC “2” but alas the “2” no longer is afforded a wild-card round bye, Minnesota (Vikings).
As is the situation with Buffalo, the Vikings are (0-4) in Supes and did not have the lead in any of those games.
So much slimmer than in his great playing days, Roger Brown, is pictured above.
He had a great game in the most famous of Detroit “holiday” games, now so long (60 years) ago.
Oh time and seeing Brown played high school football in Nyack, New York brings a regret that coincidental?/serendipity brought the fact David Goldstein, one I knew well before ’62, had died in June 2022.
Andy B Sports 