Hoops Cabaret in New York City (48 West 33rd Street), featuring dozens of sexy Hoops exotic dancers, and hailed as “the world’s sexiest sports bar,” will show the much anticipated boxing match between Juan Francisco Estrada and Chocolatito Gonzalez.
The duo headline the boxing pay-per-view card broadcast by DAZN on Saturday, December 3. At Hoops Cabaret, fans can view the exciting bouts on the club’s giant X-15Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs and flat screens, giving every seat a clear view of all the action.
Estrada (43-3, 28 KO) and Chocolatito (51-3, 41 KO) first met way back in 2012, when both were in the 108 lb division. Gonzalez won a decision to retain his WBA title that night, and as he went up the weight classes, Estrada chased behind him, hoping for an eventual rematch.
That rematch didn’t come for over eight years, but the two met again in early 2021. In that one, Estrada got a debated split decision nod, retaining the WBA and WBC titles at 115 lbs.
Since then, Estrada has given up both belts, though he does have the WBC’s “Franchise” belt, and is also still Ring Magazine champion.
Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. The beautiful Hoops Girls perform on stage and up close and personal. And be sure to check out the club’s VIP Man Cave.
***Beautiful Entertainers
***Food and Drink Specials
***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
On a cold New York day of bus and subway transportation, walking and the ever present loneliness, a performance of “Candida,” with its excellent cast, so well directed by David Staller gave and gives me insight if not hope in these rather trying times.
Clearly Mr. Staller, whose brilliant well written program notes were read after the production has brought the great Mr. Shaw’s work, insight and humanitarian efforts to light.
That truly inspires me and Mr. Shaw who “asked why not,” “put his money where his mouth was,” and helped others.
The performance, the setting, humor, pathos and Shaw’s intent to help those whose rung was for no good reason considered less came across so well.
Cast members were R.J. Foster, Peter Romano, David Ryan Smith, Avanthika Srinivasan, Avery Whitted, and Amber Reauchean Williams.
Click below for more information about “Candida,” and The Gingold Theatrical Group.
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While none of the 4 unbeaten teams “covered,” or even came close to doing so and two, T.C.U. and Michigan needed last play field goals to “survive,” they all won in what was an incredible penultimate week of the college “pig” “reg.”
Ohio State trailed at the half and won (43-30) (-27) vs Maryland, while top ranked, defending champion, Georgia a huge “fave,” was never in danger, but only won by 10 points, (16-6) at Kentucky.
Meanwhile, while (10-1) USC, a 2 point favorite, won (48-45) vs U.C.L.A. to keep their now increased ‘offs qualification hopes alive, a pair of 10 to 1 payout, meaning 15 to 1 or so, legitimate odds “dogs,” Georgia Tech (next week’s Georgia opponent) and South Carolina “barked” outright, vs now 2 loss teams, North Carolina and Tennessee respectively.
More as the week progresses. I think Georgia is almost certainly in while the Mich/Ohio State winner is very likely (that winner will be a big “fave” in the Big Ten title tilt and may not even have to win that game) in, TCU is probably going to make it and will with 2 wins.
If there are three (13-0) teams, which is the maximum, as Michigan and Ohio State clash next week, would it be a 1 loss USC, a 1 loss Mich/Ohio State losing team or a 2 loss LSU team as the 4th ‘offs team if that scenario manifests?
Even if somehow the truly unlikely happens and USC “titles” the clash yesterday will not be in the same stratosphere of title implications importance as the tilt between USC and UCLA in 1967.
However, last night’s game was certainly important, entertaining and did have ‘offs qualifications implications.
In ’67 a (21-20) win by USC, with Orenthal James Simpson’s 64 yard TD run shown above and Rikki Aldridge’s subsequent extra point decisive, was the key to their mythical title.
Last night (21-20) manifested as the UCLA lead at the half.
On Simpson’s classic TD run, Chris Schenkel is on play by play and the great college coach Bud Wilkinson adds commentary.
I will get to the headline and the sad fact Notre Dame was rewarded, not penalized, for playing to tie, late in the tilt.
It is the amazing, inexorable passage of time that I both marvel at and regret, that has accumulated 56 years since another Saturday November 19th, that in ’66. Along that “route” I recall and opine.
Then, I actually rooted for Notre Dame and though on my show in December 1991, the late, great college football expert, Beano Cook thought Alabama, denied both years by Notre Dame in a vote, (to Notre Dame’s credit, they denied ‘Bama on the field to “claim” in ’73 and as a spoiler in ’74), had a bigger claim in ’66 than ’77–I think ’77 was worse, maybe because by then, I rooted vs Notre Dame.
Alas there were so many great players on the field that day 56 years ago in East Lansing, Alan Page of Notre Dame and Charles “Bubba” Smith of “Mich” State, to name just one, from each excellent squad.
The game ended (10-10), no overtime then and it was Dan Jenkins, the only one Beano said who knew more regarding college “pig” than he, who wrote that Notre Dame “tied one for The Gipper.”
After a rout of U.S.C. (John McKay never forgot it and USC did very well vs Notre Dame after that for a good amount of time) and despite Ken Stabler and Alabama routing Nebraska in “The Sugar,” A.P. voted Notre Dame #1.
Alas, “the old man”/Beano would have kicked a certain “b.M.’s” toosh, with Notre Dame over “reg” season wins bets, since his death during the ’12 season.
Despite losses to Marshall and Stanford, Notre Dame, which will be a nice “dog” at USC, and barring an upset loss vs Boston College today (B.C. did it to them, spoiling their title hopes in ’93, the last time I “stood up” and yielding incredible Beano happy “screams,” I so wish I can find and play) can attain another “over” (’twas 8 and a half), if it upsets USC, at the L.A. Coliseum, next Saturday, likely at night.
Surely I have been hard on Notre Dame and maybe worse, inattentive to Michigan State.
Thus I cite; even the hype and certainly the atmosphere, players and even the result of that famed tilt (# of years “Abrahams,” Lincoln and Freigenberg lived) ago, will continue to resonate with me and many others, as time continues its inexorable march on.
I will always marvel at the bravery and performance of Notre Dame reserve quarterback, Coley O’Brien, who came into the famed tie/tilt and helped Notre Dame get a comeback tie and deserved or not, a “Mythical” (all back then and to a degree still were “mythical”) title.
Certainly I offer all due respect to the Astros pitchers who combined to pitch a World Series turnaround/combined no hit game in #4, weeks back.
Roy Halladay, who sadly died while flying a non commercial plane 7 years later, hurled a post-season individual no hit game for the Phillies, vs the Dusty Baker managed, Cincinnati Reds in their “div” series opener in 2010.
However, neither comes close (obviously Halladay’s effort comes closer individually, but the team effort and subsequent ‘Stros crown, juxtaposed with the Phils’ eventual LCS loss to the first of three big time value, S.F. Giants’ title teams, makes the Houston effort better to me) to Don Larsen pitching a perfect game, in the pivotal 5th game of the 1956 World Series.
It was a (2-0) win and his Yankees eventually prevailed in 7 games, vs the Brooklyn Dodgers, completing a (6-1) Yankees’ W.S. record vs Brooklyn in their 7 “Subway” Series clashes.
Notes and thoughts abound: A legendary broadcaster, Bob Wolff, who put my “play by play” tape from the broadcasting class he taught at Pace University in Westchester, now so many years back, in the Smithsonian Institute along with such treasures as Mr. Wolff’s interviews with Babe Ruth (sorry HBO, N.Y. Giants Preservation Society and any who said it, but Babe Ruth and NOT Willie Mays is baseball’s greatest player. I loved Willie as a player but ….) and Ted (he and Willie combined for 1 World Series win, (Willie and the N.Y. Giants in ’54) and NO World Series home runs) Williams, told the audience that the subway fare a nickel in 1941 when the first Subway Series between the Yankees and Dodgers was played, had risen to 15 cents, those 15 years later in 1956.
There were no right or left field umpires in the ’56 W.S.– thus game 1 home plate umpire, Babe Pinelli, would rotate and be behind the plate, where his right hand would go up, perhaps incorrectly, signaling Don Larsen had caught Dale Mitchell “looking,” to complete a masterpiece.
Sal Maglie started both Pinelli home plate umpiring games in the ’56 World Series, facing the great Edward “Whitey” Ford, then (3-1) in World Series play, eventually to be (10-4) at one point and finish (10-7) in such tilts, in the “opener” (have to tangent another Ford opener that the first of his 3 losses in his final 3 W.S. decisions to Sandy and L.A. which was evoked in “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” when Mr. Nicholson’s “Randall” asks “who do you like in the opener?”) before his fateful encounter with Mr. Larsen in #5.
Finally on the more than one occasion I asked/interviewed the great Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra about his heroics in #7, (he had jumped into Larsen’s arms after game 5 ended, an indelible baseball moment!), he talked of pitcher, Johnny Kucks shutout win in that decisive game.
In #1, Kucks is warming up, described as tall by Bob Neal, President Dwight David Eisenhower, who saw two Yankees’ wins at “Wash” that season is in attendance, the great Jackie Robinson who previously played first and second base as well as left field in previous World Series all vs the Yankees, is at third base and throws out Hank Bauer to start the World Series.
Enos Slaughter, whose teams won 4 of the 5 World Series in which he played–winning in ’42 and ’46 the latter featuring his “mad dash” home for the decisive 8th inning run in #7 with the Cardinals and in ’56 and ’58 with the Yankees. The Braves, then in Milwaukee were the Yankees’ opponent in both the ’57 and ’58 World Series and won in ’57. Slaughter ended his big league career, playing briefly at the end of the ’59 season for the Braves, who finished in a tie, bidding for a third straight pennant. However L.A. beat them in 2 straight playoff games en route to the ’59 crown. I would think “Country” (Slaughter) was INELIGIBLE for play in that ‘off. Slaughter did not play, though on the roster for the Yankees in the ’55 W.S. and was in military service when the Cardinals split in the ’43 and ’44 World Series.
50 years after a team (the ’72 Miami Dolphins) went unbeaten, for a 49th time in the subsequent 50 seasons, no team will go through the “reg” (regular season) unbeaten.
After (5-5) “Wash” handed (8-1) Philly their first loss, it is the Eagles title winners 5 years ago as were the Astros, by a fraction of a game, over the (8-1) Minnesota Vikings, who hope to replicate a “61-61” of sorts accomplished by Aaron Judge last month, namely win their first “title” 61 years after their first season, which was in 1961.
While the ’19 champion, ’20 runners up and ’21 AFC runners up, the (7-2) K.C. Chiefs lead the AFC, the (7-3) Dolphins, these 50 years later, lead the tight AFC East with a pair of (6-3) teams, the Bills, who have lost 2 straight close games and surprising Jets just a fraction of a game behind.
Also in the AFC, another pair of (6-3) teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans have respective one and two plus game “div” leads.
Back in the NFC, the team that derailed that unbeaten regular season team (the ’07 Patriots), doing so to title in the Supe, (more deserving, better record Y.A. Tittle teams never did “title”), the New York Giants are (7-2) while Dallas (Cowboys) are (6-3) in the tough NFC East.
“Minne,” if nothing else, would SEEM to have a “div” title all but wrapped up as Green Bay’s (4-6) record is the next best in the NFC North.
Do not look now, but 2 straight T.B. wins and 2 straight losses by both Atlanta and New Orleans has “T.B.” and “T.B.” even at (5-5) ahead in its “div.”
Alas T.B. is Tom BRADY, the presumptive next Fox NFL lead analyst to replace the “evoking the “Bunch” in this time of no “BUNdchen” for Tom, Greg Olsen. “Greg” was a “Bunch” character and Olsen (Susan) was a cast member.
After that I still “drop in” Sea is (6-4), SF (5-4), Arizona (4-6) and the lucky to win one last year, as his Rams benefitted from a holding call that more than any one play decided last year’s Supe, Matthew Stafford and his “pizza/pizza” Rams are (3-6).
Write in with a reason or two in addition to his greatness in a better if not more popular time for pro “pig,” Roger Staubach is pictured above.
Think slot 3 ’75 and the Dallas road game opponent in that game.
Three more ‘offs qualification related weeks remain in college “pig,” with 4 unbeaten teams, two very likely, another having won as a TD underdog to highly increase their chances and even a 4th, as one at least will have at least one loss, might still make the 4 team playoff.
At the top, is defending champion and top ranked Georgia, which as is the case with the other 3 unbeatens, Ohio State, T.C.U. and Michigan stands at (10-0) with 2 “regs” and in their case an SEC title clash with current (8-2) L.S.U. ahead. Barring the un foreseen, Georgia will be in the ‘off for a second straight year and a third time in the last 6. They failed to qualify for the first three playoffs held from (2014-2016).
The team that “barked” outright as a 7 point underdog, doing so in an ABC/Fowler tilt was T.C.U. It was their defense that stood out in a (17-10) win in Austin vs Texas University.
On 11-26-2022, likely to both be (11-0), Ohio State and Michigan clash in Columbus, which in the superb film, ” The Manchurian Candidate,” Frank Sinatra’s character cites as (at least) “a good football town.”
The winner of that tilt will almost certainly be in the college ‘off and possibly the team that scores less points in the 11-26 tilt, will join them.
Stetson Bennett, the excellent Georgia University quarterback, is pictured above.
First, esoteric me gets personal, citing that I have known Astros’ title winning manager, Dusty Baker for over 50 years. He praised my broadcasting, asked about my father’s bypass operation, left tickets and did interviews, all with grace. Once he called me while ordering lunch before a Saturday afternoon tilt and he confirmed that cornbread was part of his order.
I think the game 4 winner is (18-5) all-time in Dusty Baker post-season series. Such a game winner, won all 8 of Dusty’s post-season series as a player, (4 NLCS, 3 World Series and an extra round in the lone player title for Baker, that in strike marred ’81, vs the Astros).
Unlike, at least according to Gertrude Stein, regarding Oakland, California–much is “there,” just mine for it, in Baker’s 55 years in professional baseball.
Regarding ’81 and vs Houston, Nolan Ryan retired Dusty to end his record breaking 5th no hit game, which broke the record he shared with Sandy Koufax.
2 weeks and a day later, L.A. beat Ryan in the decisive 5th game of that extra series on a Sunday afternoon.
There are 4 completed and one “in progress” instances of 2 losses then a win, in Baker and Phillies World Series annals.
Philly now (2-6) in World Series play (1-6) in Saturday games), (no Saturday game, probably due to rain in 1950), lost their first two World Series going (1-8)–all losses after Grover Cleveland Alexander’s game 1 win in 1915) before winning the ’80 title despite a Saturday game 4 loss.
They lost their next 2 World Series, 10 years apart in ’83 and ’93, getting eliminated on a Saturday in ’93 in a very similar, (eerily so and the fact I, unlike anyone else, cite it) decisive inning as 2022.
Next, the Phils won the ’08 World Series with their lone Saturday World Series win in game 3, a part of it. However, in ’09 and days back they lost in 2 straight W.S. appearances. It remains to be seen what the result will be in their next World Series.
Meanwhile Baker and L.A. lost in his first two World Series, each vs the Yankees ( ’77 and ’78), before winning vs them in the ’81 World Series.
In his first two World Series as a manager in ’02 and 2021 his teams lost before winning in 2022.
In 2022, Baker and Houston won both Saturday tilts, including the #6 clincher.
In ’02, after Baker’s San Francisco Giants won the Saturday night opening World Series game, they dissipated a 5 run lead as late as the Angels’ 7th inning, in a potential Series clincher in #6 on a Saturday night.
In ’77,’78,’81 and 2021 there was only one Saturday game and in all 4 cases, it was a game 4 and said winner won a “Dusty involved” World Series.
I add to the “Saturday games notes,” as in his only W.S. as a coach, that with the Giants in the so called 1989 “Earthquake Series,” the Oakland A’s (Gertrude died well before some great A’s teams surfaced “there” in Oakland) swept the Giants, winning games 1 and 4, two weeks apart.
Yordan Alvarez, he of ups and downs in post-season play and pictured above, had gone 5 for 42, before blasting a mammoth 3 run homer B6 of #6, to all but wrap up the 2022 title for the Astros.
Now the similar innings that beat the Phils, in Saturday night game 6, World Series ending games 29 years apart.
For Toronto in ’93, all-time type and this is a negative, “walk guy” Mitch Williams, BB’d (walked) all-time (a positive), “walk guy” Rickey (Henderson) to start B9.
After Devon White’s fly ball failed to advance Rickey, eventual World Series MVP, Paul Molitor singled, (I believe toward center with Henderson “Rickey-ing” only to second).
Joe Carter followed with one of sport’s most dramatic moments, a World Series ending, 3 run home run.
Last Saturday, Martin Maldonado in a “What in the name of Harry Wendelstedt?” –(write in, if you get the reference), was hit by a pitch, he did not lean into, but also made no effort to avoid.
Next, credit Altuve for avoiding the double play, but a la White in ’93 (need I cite Altuve’s contributions and in White’s case, he got the big hit in a rousing (15-14) Jays win in #4 at Philly in ’93 and both White and Altuve have 2 titles), he did not advance the runner.
As was the result 29 years earlier, the eventual World Series MVP, (Jeremy Pena) singled (to center, by the way), this, sending Altuve to third.
Alvarez homered on Jose Alvarado’s (2-1) pitch. That, a 3RHR that again, essentially beat the Phils in a Saturday night game 6 World Series clinching game.
I cite current Phils manager Rob Thomson, best known as a Giants’ player, Robby Thompson (he hit a big home run in #3 ’89 NLCS on the night news came that the great Bette Davis died) and the man who hit the legendary 1951 N.L. pennant winning home run, Bobby Thomson all have been involved in one World Series and was on the losing end.
Dusty Baker now with victories in his 3rd World Series after losses in his first two as both a manager and player, was a coach on that ’89 Giants’ pennant winner that included Robby Thompson.
In both his losing World Series as a manager, Dusty faced “S” named managers, his teammate on his lone player title with the ’81 Dodgers, Mike “S”cioscia and last year’s title winning manager Brian “S”nitker of the Braves.
Baker wins vs a manager whose name starts one “down” the alphabet from “S,” in “T”homson and as a player split in 2 “L” vs “L” World Series, the opposing manager being Bob “L”emon and “L”asorda his manager in both the ’78 loss and ’81 win.
The ’77 World Series loss was to a manager whose name started one letter “down” the alphabet from “L,” namely Alfred “Billy” “M”artin.
All 4 Dusty Baker vs the Phillies LCS or World Series ended on Saturdays, three of them with (3-1) NLCS victories, 2 for Dusty and L.A. (Dodgers) in ’77 and ’78 and one for the Phils led by “Dusty pal,” “The Sarg,” Gary Mathews in ’83. The just completed World Series went 6 games.
Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis, pictured above, died on October 6, 1989, a Friday, however I believe news of the great star’s death was not made public until Saturday October 7th.
It has to be osmosis, karma and certainly an homage to the impeccably timed, hilarious performances of Josh Mostel and Richard Masur in “Two Jews Talking” ( The Theatre at St. Clements 46th Street in New York City) that manifested in both me laughing out loud and remembering/telling a great joke, (two rarities in my history), from the incredibly well written show.
Starting there, regarding the writing, as the brilliant Ed. Weinberger helmed this masterpiece, in which Masur and Mostel performed with impeccable timing.
In the first of two scenes, they were “Lou” and “Bud,” evoking memories of greats Lou Costello and Bud Abbott, in rounding out Weinberger’s wit and seichel (beyond common sense, to battle some of life’s ridiculous and even tragic events) in a way that produced both great humor and pathos.
Dan Wackerman, who also had a friendly, live introduction, directed “Two Jews Talking,” which on a beautiful weather day of some tumult (the NYC Marathon, President Joe Biden speaking in my and Mr. Masur’s hometown of Yonkers/Bronxville) highlighted a personal big plus.
Mr. Mostel, is “looking forward to having his right hip replaced in January used a cane that belonged to his father in loving memory.” Josh is the son of the great Zero Mostel.
The above from the program, which I had not read before I had the great fortune to speak with Josh Mostel, as he waited for and tracked his imminent uber ride.
He is a kind man, who like his co star Mr. Masur, has performed so well, so often, in a distinguished career.
In a couple of references to his father Zero, who was a brave, truly good man, with exponential talent, I could feel the love and despite all that has happened and the fear of what might, I feel so grateful that Josh Mostel helped me think of my father.
Though I am not running inside to read the phonetic English of the Yizkor prayer, my father hoped others would recite, I think of him, the great memory of Zero playing on “The Fiddler on the Roof” album in better days, and salute Josh, one more time, for being the kind of son we all ought to aspire to be.
Click below for more on this great show including access to ticket purchases.
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Andy B Sports 