Malcom (X), regarding the bubbling injustice and subsequent tragic day in Dallas, Texas nearly 59 years ago when John F. Kennedy was killed, perhaps inappropriately, however, surely with grains and strains of undeniable truth, said that “the chickens have come home to roost.”
This is not in the same stratosphere as far as importance, but as with the enduring John F. Kennedy, baseball once was something to be proud of and hopeful, regarding this country. No longer! (regarding baseball).
It started in ’95 with the wild card presence and now in the first year of extra teams/extra rounds, the N.L. has a 5 seed vs 6 seed LCS.
The 111 wins Dodgers and 101 wins “div” and defending world champion, Braves each were (3-1’d) in the “div” series by “P” teams, the Padres and Phillies respectively (they start “sloshing” tomorrow night in S.Diego–as I typed Youmans said San Diego and Pauly Howard– tonight’s 5th Cleve at the Yankees is a decisive, not pivotal game, with the “P” Pads,” roughly 6 and a fraction to 5, series “faves.”
22 years after his last, Bob Costas is broadcasting his 12th full post-season series, one as stated above that has gone to a decisive 5th game, contested between the Cleveland Guardians (1-7, all of course as the Indians in decisive games) and New York Yankees (15-15 in such and few if any could do what I did, albeit with some struggle on the infinitely less glorious extra round ‘offs tilts, namely cite all 36 of the two teams decisive games. The reason it is 36 and not 38 games, is that the two teams split in a pair of decisive games, Cleve winning in ’97 and the Yankees doing so 20 years later. “Cleve” has a chance to win a series vs the Yankees on a Monday night as was the case 3 previous times, in wins 25 and 15 years ago, as well as in a loss, 5 years ago.).
Once assigned, the 9-11 #’s regarding a decisive game in a Costas full series, (9 of 11 had Not gone the distance) was to end.
The Yankees are (4-0) in “full Costas post-season series,” (16-5) in NBC Costas full series games and (6-1) in NBC Costas “drop in” games (his good phrase, also the Yankees won a # of Costas “drop in” MLB Network tilts)
The fine player, Edgar Renteria, pictured above, had the World Series winning/game ending hit for the wild card Florida Marlins vs Cleveland in one of the 7 franchise “decisive game” losses, that in #7/’97 World Series.
I can recall to you related Costas, Penas, Cleveland and other Renteria and for that matter, “Edgar notes.”
As the great Jim Brown said to me when I asked if I could help his programs that are so helpful to troubled young people on my cable show, “I choose not to at this particular time.”
One of the greatest and quite near the last of those performers from a “Golden Age,” the fantastic performer Angela Lansbury, died days back at age 96, 5 days shy of birthday # 97.
I need not cite her many awards or the fact in this year Queen Elizabeth died, that Ms. Lansbury is Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury, however I just did, to attest to her greatness.
She had memorable roles in such classic films as “Gaslight,” “National Velvet,” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
Among so many great roles on Broadway and yes I cite she won 6 Tony Awards, including one of lifetime achievement, was that of “Auntie Mame” in 1966’s “Mame.”
Ms./Dame Angela Lansbury was near, if not at the top of my father’s favorites and I recall walking after Sunday, likely USFL work with Lisa Liberty now McPartland and she looking forward to the great show, “Murder She Wrote,” in which Lansbury starred.
Alas on gambling ViSN’s “No Hyperbole,” Angela was recalled as Mike Palm simply said “60 Minutes followed by Murder She Wrote,” something we surely heard “Super” (the great Pat Summerall) say so many times as late game CBS “pig”/pro football ran on.
It was in ” The Manchurian Candidate,” now 60 years ago and yet so relevant, as recent events are not just recent but in eery fashion, so relevant, that the acting chops of Angela Lansbury shined brightest!
That unforgettable, brilliant performance and so many others made Angela Lansbury one of a kind. Bless and thank you, Angela, as you “march” on (ode to another Angela).
Midtown Manhattan’s high-energy gentlemen’s club Vivid Cabaret New York is home of the city’s tallest stripper pole, and is a great place for football fans to watch all the games, and then stay for the post-game after parties!
The games are shown on numerous HD-TVs throughout the three-level club and on the giant theater style screen on the club’s main level.
Vivid Cabaret girl Liz said, “The girls and I will make sure you have a good time, no matter what the score. Come make it rain!”
Providing the ultimate in VIP treatment, Vivid Cabaret New York (61 West 37th St.) features an exclusive Ultra Lounge, five stages, private suites, and a Roof Top Cigar Bar. The party atmosphere is enhanced by cutting edge decor and the latest in high-tech sound and lighting. It is the sister club to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC.
Highly recommended.
There will be two more “2” year NFL or NFC title tilt rematches this week. Down the road there are “2” more and altogether the AFC/AFL yielded 6 of 6 and the NFC/NFL 5 of 8, thus 11 of 14 in “2”0″22.”
80 years after meeting in the 1942 NFL Title Game won by the Washington franchise (2 years earlier the “Chi” Bears won (73-0) at “Wash”) the (2-3) Bears host the (1-4) “Wash” team tonight.
On Sunday a redux of the 2012 NFC title clash, this one in the same locale, as the (2-3) but (5-0) vs the spread Atlanta Falcons host the (3-2) San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners 5 or so point(s) favorites this week won that ’12 title clash before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the subsequent Super Bowl.
That Supe was a clash of brothers with Balti’s John Har”baugh” (still there) winning vs SF’s Jim Har”baugh,” who is in at Michigan, which faces Penn State in a battle of college unbeatens on Fox (there will be 4 baseball games Saturday, none on over the air television) starting at noon (can’t say I am “high” about this).
Finally early in the aforementioned (73-0) Chi win (they had the great quarterback, Sid Luckman, Wash had the also superb Sammy Baugh at that key position) a “Wash” player dropped a potential touchdown pass.
Baugh was asked after the tilt what the final score would have been had the early td been scored. He famously answered (73-7).
In the ’42 title tilt, Chi led (6-0).
Wilbur Moore, pictured above, gathered in a Baugh TD pass, giving Washington the lead to stay in that ’42 title tilt.
As was the case 8 years earlier vs the New York Giants, an undefeated Bears team lost in the NFL final/title game, in ’34 at the famed Polo Grounds and at Griffith Stadium, where the (73-0) game also took place in ’40, in ’42.
Alas the only other time an NFL regular season unbeaten fell in its quest to “title” (all 3 were in the final) 42 is operative as in the 42nd Supe the Giants again spoiled an unbeaten, beating the (18-0) New England Patriots.
A truly gifted performer, who left an indelible impression on me and others, riding off as “Clay,” while kissing Jane’s (Fonda) title character as 1965’s “Cat Ballou,” happily ended, Michael Callan– died days back at age 88.
Mr. Callan was the original “Riff” in West Side Story on Broadway and had a great role on an episode of “Murder She Wrote.”
He was one of those good guys, but Mary had to stay single, on the fabulous Mary Tyler Moore Show, opposite its beautiful star.
It is with another “crush,” (somehow my arm is not around her in a photo I have but she has been so nice each time I interviewed her or met)) the inimitable Jane Fonda, and his kissing her, riding off as “Cat Ballou” ends, that I remember so fond(a)ly.
Add Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye (the spelling makes a difference, as juxtaposed with a nightmare and no “e”) sing.
It was so different, a sunny day, in same calendar as ’22–’66, my parents, my grandmother, Michael Santasieri together,seeing “Cat Ballou.”
Soon after Dad’s car radio informed Tony Cloninger, a pitcher, had hit two grand slam home runs in the same game!
Never again, but a great memory!
Perhaps now Michael Callan rides off and I wish him only the best, adding my thanks for contributing mightily to that great time.
Left to right, Jane Fonda and Michael Callan, pictured above.
It was at least 10 minutes after Mr. Alvarez (Yordan) hit a game ending 3RHR lifting Houston (Astros) (8-7) in game 1, before ESPN.com took off “Mariners retain lead in division series opener.”
All of which after 2 minutes, was under the score given that Houston, which won 16 more games to easily outdistance “Sea” in their “div,” had won the tilt (8-7).
Two of the 8 div series participants, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners (Sea is the only one of the 30 major league teams to have never qualified for the World Series) have never won the World Series. Two original teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians have only 2 titles, while 1962 expansion team, Houston (Astros) has only the 2017 title.
The other 3 teams the Yankees (27), Dodgers (7) and Braves (4) have 38 of the 43 crowns, however the Dodgers have only the somewhat bogus 50 game season, 2020 title since ’88.
The Braves, who by the way lost their series opener vs the Phillies by one run as they did in the ’93 NLCS opener at Philly in the only other post-season clash between the teams, are defending champions but have only 2 Atlanta titles despite years of excellence.
Meanwhile, even the mighty Yankees have just one title since winning 4 in 5 seasons under the great Joe Torre (1996-2000) and only in that ’09 title season have they won a pennant since 2003.
Of course U.S. presidential elections are held every 4 years. This is not one of those years.
All 4 Cleveland and Phillies titles were in presidential election years, Cleveland in 1920 and 1948, the Phillies in 1980 and 2008. The Yankees won 7 of their 27 titles in presidential election years (’28,’32,’36, ’52,’56,’96 and 2000).
The Dodgers first 5 titles were in odd years hence not presidential election years. A pair of B’s, G.W. Bush and current president Joe Biden won presidential elections in the last 2 L.A. title years of 1988 and 2020.
None of the 4 Braves and lone ‘Stros crowns, respectively in 1914, 1957, 1995 and 2021 and 2017 were attained in U.S. presidential election years.
After this year these 8 teams will have won 44 titles, 13, which is 2 more than one quarter (presidential elections are held every 4 years), in U.S. presidential election years.
Del Unser, pictured above delivered at least 3 crucial hits as the Phillies won dramatic games and the ’80 crown, their first.
Somehow I cited and connect the bad headlines of ESPN.com and MSN.com (MSN.com, which unlike ESPN or ESPN.com I think is good) was worse today. “Dow surges 350 points left up long after it fell into the negative, before ending barely ahead and still in a Gil Hodges 1952 World Series slump) with the most famous false headline and do so having cited presidential election year baseball title winners.
Hope you all know that in ’48 when “Cleve” last won, “Dewey (did not) defeat Truman.”
“Powerhouse,” which just opened (Jeffrey And Paula Gural Theatre At The A.R.T./New York Theatre 103 West 53rd Street–New York City playing through October 30th) jumps into the power dynamics of “big law” and in doing so, skillfully addresses overall issues regarding appropriate (or not) relationships, specifically at work.
On a day talk of nuclear war sent me back, emotionally “under my desk” (alas, do not worry there is no $ in the end of the world), it was stirring to see “Powerhouse,” written by David Harms and directed by Ken Wolf, with its excellent cast illustrate and put some perspective on hypocrisy, power dynamics and the need for and hope of having someone to trust.
Laura Shoop is truly magnificent both lecturing and being the lawyer in and “into,” so called “big law” an entity with heavy perks, but “Pandora’s box” aspects.
Dominick Laruffa Jr., Jennifer Pierro, Kate Levy in for Jana Robbins and Jeorge Bennett Watson are also members of what is a great cast.
I highly recommend seeing “Powerhouse,” as it offers a revealing look and gauge of our seemingly always to be “Victorian past/hypocritical present,” society.
Click below for more information about this fine play including access to ticket purchases.
Two weeks back it was cited here that there were three “2” year, AFC Conference title game rematches played.
In those tilts, Miami (Dolphins) a ’92 title tilt home losing team won at home vs the Bills and the Titans also the losing team, albeit at the Raiders in the ’02 AFC Title game, won at home vs the now Las Vegas Raiders.
Playing again at New England and again Belichick has slipped well out of Lombardi range with some terrible coaching strategy, Baltimore (Ravens) repeated their 2012 AFC title game win vs the then defending AFC champion, Patriots.
Last week Dallas (Cowboys) the losing team in consecutive “2” year NFC title tilts in ’72 and ’82, each at Washington D.C.–won at home vs “Wash” last week.
On Sunday, another “2” year AFC title game redux, this from the ’82 game won by Miami (Dolphins) on a ?-able home field, with A.J. Duhe starring in that strike season AFC title tilt vs the New York Jets. Two days hence (3-1) Miami visits the (2-2) Jets, who are (2-0) on the road and thus (0-2) at home.
Early on Sunday, a 196″2″ NFL title game redux, not only not at venerable Yankee Stadium where it was played that bitter cold day, but also not at City Field, now Lambeau Field in Green Bay. It is not even at Milwaukee where the Packers played more than one ‘offs game nor at either “New Jersey” Giants’ home stadium.
No, it is in London, England, a pair of (3-1) teams, the Pack(-8) vs the Giants.
Of course it is another “2” year title tilt redux, this of an all the way NFL title game. In that ’62 game “G.B.” prevailed (16-7) and click below to view Ray Nitschke of the Pack on “What’s My Line” that Sunday night.
It is hard to see, my tears “burning” in my eyes, as I was unaware Vaughn Meader was the mystery guest that night.
Oh we all are to be “was,” but WHY so soon regarding the so talented Mr. Meader and of course the man he “most sincere form of “flattery’d,” John F. Kennedy.
On this Yom Kippur, with all of “W”ball set, (thus each game played on this holiday has been rendered meaningless–so much for 12 teams in), I cite that creature of “lost Eden,” (Barbara Eden is certainly a great creation), the snake, specifically the “rattler,” cited three times as I “tv-remoted”/”You Tubed” yesterday.
On “The Rifleman,” 3 P.M. Eastern Time on MeTV, Chuck Connors’ Lucas is stuck with a rattlesnake in his “bedroll,” I guess sleeping bag.
Later in the fine 1985 film, “La Bamba,” Lou Diamond Phillips/Los Lobos/Ritchie Valens/Ritchie Valenzuela (of Fernando) introduces the song “La Bomba” as a Rattlesnake.
Finally as greats Orson Welles and John Carson discussed the glory and vastness of older radio, Mr. Welles imparted regarding a time that a rattlesnake was “loose” in the studio.
Now 91, Barbara Eden is pictured above.
The alliterative above, (somewhere in my watch limited television, a female character declared strong opposition to alliteration in the last week) refers to the 5 Conference title rematches played on Sunday.
In each one, the team that lost the title tilt between those teams won Sunday’s 4th game of the season, obviously a far less meaningful result.
For the record and this is unofficial as I may have erred (please note it as I do care, separating me from so many others), the (2-2) Jets lost the ’10 AFC title tilt but rallied to win yesterday at now (1-3) Pittsburgh (Steelers).
In the ’15 NFC title game, Carolina (Panthers) eased vs the Arizona Cardinals, yesterday, however, ’twas (2-2) ‘Zona winning at (1-3) Carolina.
The Denver Broncos won an M and M (I guess I can have them (M and M’s–on “my” yogurt) same calendar 1977,home AFC title game vs the then defending champion Oakland Raiders (Miller “Red M and M ing Madden (John). Yesterday in “Sin City” the L.V. Raiders went to (1-3) topping (2-2) Denver.
Early yesterday in London, England in the first ever NFL tilt there sans Queen Elizabeth on this earth, the (3-1) Minne Vikings survived vs the (1-3) Saints, winning on that so important “3.” (Later in a non title tilt redux, (3-1) Buffalo (Bills) did the same at (2-2) Baltimore (Ravens) and by the way if the Jets had not rallied, in some places it would have been a third on the “3,” as someone is getting rich but that will never be me. Cue “Fiddler’s” (a version is playing in New York) “If I Were A Rich Man.”
Anyway the Saints in route to the ’09 title beat Minne by, you guessed it 3 in the NFC title tilt.
Finally, in two, “2” year NFC title tilts in both ’72 and strike marred ’82, Washington took the Dallas Cowboys. Yesterday (3-1) Dallas, (3-0) sans Prescott, beat disappointing (1-3) Wash. (The 5/10 is off to this point regarding “Wash” as that franchise titled 85, 80, 40 and 35 years ago).
Tonight is a redux of two past NFC title tilts the Niners winning at home vs the Rams in ’89 and the Rams doing so also at home vs S.F. last year.
Andy B Sports 