A lot to write about in this later-than-normal blog. Thank you to my editor, who has returned from a sabbatical but could not edit earlier due to a robust schedule involving grandchildren and other social obligations.
Before I get to the rapid fire review of the week and where sports is right now, it is time for another stroll down memory lane. When I first thought about this episode in my life, the beautiful theme song from the movie The Way We Were, sung by the incomparable Barbra Streisand, came to mind.
Picture a 21 year old Washington Semester student at American University/congressional intern (now unpaid, unlike my more lucrative summer gig for my Congressman) living in a sports-wild city where the sports editor of the prestigious paper in town, The Washington Post was a guy named Shirley. (You might have heard of his son, Maury Povich and Maury’s bride, Connie Chung) Which reminds me of the line in the movie Airplane, uttered by the late Peter Graves when called that name. I digress.
So the Congressman made it known earlier in the year that he had season tickets for the-then Washington Redskins. You might now know them as the Washington Football Team; so many supporters have been known to scream the team’s initials out loud in anger when the WFT sucks once more.
He approached me in the first week of November and asked me if I wanted his ticket for the home game against the Philadelphia Eagles at R.F.K. Stadium, a memorial to the slain U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate. As much as I had my adult friends in D.C. and the college guys in the Washington Semester, I still was starved for entertainment. There is only so much diversion that repeated trips to the Smithsonian, visits to the monuments, or walks around the city can provide.
No, D.C, Maryland (but not near Baltimore where the Colts were kings) and Virginia was Redskins territory. R.F.K. was packed to the brim, full of throaty fans cheering on their charges. After all, sports was really two teams—the Redskins and the Senators, and the latter had fled town after its September 30th game, which I chronicled in an earlier blog.
My lack of hesitation to the Congressman’s inquiry couldn’t have been too obvious. I was going to an NFL game. But not just any NFL game. To see the Washington Redskins play. Because the Redskins were quite good, playing in the NFC East.
Washington had come out of the gate with five wins in a row. They were derailed by the Kansas City Chiefs on October 24, losing 27-20 in KC at the old Municipal Stadium (I had actually seen Municipal Stadium the one time my father drove through Kansas City on one of our cross-country trips. It was green, small and didn’t compare to the temple I knew—the old Yankee Stadium.
The Redskins downed the New Orleans Saints the next week t raise their record to a very nice 6-1. A young QB from Mississippi named Archie Manning played unspectacular in that contest. You might have heard of his sons—they host an alternative version of Monday Night Football on ESPN2. Oh, and his grandson Arch is the hottest recruit in the country.
This set the stage for the game I was going to. The 2-5 Eagles were coming to town. Ed Khayat was the Philly coach at the time—I bet a handful of readers would recognize his name.
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame Head Coach George Allen was guiding the home team. Allen went 67-30-1 in his time at the helm of the team. This was a star-studded group, unlike the Eagles. NFL fans were quite familiar with the names Kilmer, Larry Brown, Dowler, Jefferson, Alston, Hauss, and Snowden on offense. The defense, the pride of D.C., included luminaries like Mc Dole, Sistrunk, Talbert, Biggs, Pardee, Pottios, Hanburger, Fischer; Bass, Petitbon and Owens.
But I will give Philadelphia credit for the kicker—at east in name. “Happy” Feller from the University of Texas. That made the Redskins kicker Curt Knight sound ordinary.
Up unit a few days before the game, the Washington fall weather was still warm. Then, with a swift burst of rain and wind, that was over in the overnight of November 7th.
The day dawned cold and windy. I was given access to the Stadium Club with the seats. I was also told that I needed to be in a blazer since I was in a Congressman’s seat.
I had done football statistics for F&M for three years. There was a game at Muhlenberg to end the season. It was cold. It was gray. And unlike our rickety old press box above Williamson Field at F&M which had some basic heaters inside, the Muhlenberg press box lacked any amenities. Especially heat.
So I hadn’t quite grasped the concept of layered socks, long johns, gloves or even hand warmers and a hat. Which led to a painful sunny day in the shade—I was seated in the baseball press box in the second tier, and the wind whipped through the stands, tossing aside wrappers like they were—-hot dog wrappers.
I recall the game time temperature being 42 degrees. There was plenty of sun. My research did show that the wind averaged 20 m.p.h. And the change in weather affected the outcome.
Billy Kilmer was the Washington QB. He was a good game manager, having come from the single wing offense his college team, UCLA, had employed. In the wind and the defense that the Eagles put on the field, Kilmer tossed 4 interceptions, to the utter disgust of the fanatics dressed in their Indian headdresses and other paraphernalia. He went 12-24 for 153 yards with 1 TD. His opposition at QB, Rick Arrington and then Pete Liske, threw for 124 yards and 1 TD along with 1 interception.
Bill Bradley and Tim Rossovich, defensive backs for the Eagles, were Kilmer’s tormentors . Bradley had two picks while Rossovich had one. The last Bradley interception sealed the fate for the Redskins. The game would end in a desultory 7-7 tie, with the Redskins scoring their TD in the middle of the final stanza. The tie was the only tie Coach Allen had in his time on the Washington sideline.
That would be the last NFL game I went to until my sister and I secured Jets tickets in 1977. I have thus learned how to dress in tons of layers for cold weather games—I have two upcoming with New Orleans and Jacksonville visiting Met Life Stadium. It may not have been the coldest game I have ever attended—the honors go to a 1978 game at Shea Stadium with Dallas and a 1985 game versus the Chicago Bears at Giants Stadium—both in December and both Jets losses. But I learned my lesson from this game—no more dressing chic and trying to warm up in the Stadium Club—my seats would not allow me that pleasure.
Let me continue with quick hitters. Speaking of the Jets—when overnight sensation QB Mike White went down with a wrist/hand injury, the Jets, despite a run with Josh Johnson under center, really had no answer on defense for the Indianapolis attack.
Is there a QB controversy with the Jets when Zack Wilson returns as soon as the Buffalo game on November 14? Will Head Coach Robert Saleh go back to the big investment with Wilson, or is he willing to risk his luck with White, who looks so comfortable with the Jets offense? With the defense that is on the field, now minus Marcus Male in the defensive backfield, whatever way he goes won’t be as wrong as it will be right. Remember—there are 4 QB’s in the fold—Wilson, White, Johnson and Joe Flacco, a panic pick up from the Eagles when there were doubts about the capacities of White and Johnson.
Sticking with the NFL—the Aaron Rodgers controversy is as stupid as it can be. Rodgers is demeaning to all intelligent people—and he counts himself among the elite intellects. He is costing his team, tarnishing his reputation and he will be punished as much as he will be applauded. Like I have heard repeatedly about Kyrie Irving—he made his decision and he has to live with the consequences.
Rodgers even belittled Irving with the “world is flat” comment. I know the man aspired to be the Jeopardy host. I know that Mayim Bialik is catching a ton of flack for her hosting the show—could Rodgers replace her? Wait-no!! You have to be vaccinated in California to be in that kind of environment. Which protects people who choose to attend.
Another miscreant—Ben Simmons—is back in the Sixers dog house. He has had psychological issues and he needs to see a professional. Except he won’t share that info with the team, see team doctors, or report to the team. So GM Darryl Morey is maintaining his stance and docking Simmons again—to the tune of $360,000 per game. The money goes into an account, potentially payable when he rejoins the team.
Simmons wants out. His leverage is weak. The team has gone 7-2 in its first nine games. This is proof that the Sixers are not in desperate need of his defense and ball handling.
I say let him sit. Let him sue for his release.
Let him bargain like Odell Beckham, Jr., the former star WR for the Giants and Cleveland Browns, whose father posted video of QB Baker Mayfield not throwing to him when Beckham was wide open.
Beckham is another WR with talent who thinks more of himself that his talent represents. Terrell Owens comes to mind—gifted but a wild erratic personality.
Whatever happens with Beckham will never be sufficient for him. I just don’t want him on the Jets. He would ruin the bruised ego of Wilson and affect White greatly.
I should point out that backup QB’s did quite well last week. In addition to White—Denver and New Orleans won without their starting QB’s.
And I must pay homage to Colts RB and emergency QB Tom Matte, who passed sway this week. The former Ohio State QB nearly won the NFL title when the great Johnny Unitas was injured. Matte was the first to wear a wristband with plus written on it—now commonplace int the NFL.
The Giants had a scare.. 11 positive COVID tests. A second round proved all but one to be false positives. Finally something right for the G-men.
This weekend, the NFL has arranged for teams which met previously in a Super Bowl to face each other. In addition to Jets-Colts, there is Green Bay-Kansas City; Dallas-Denver; Titans-Rams; and Patriots-Panthers. Good job, NFL.
By the way, the 45-30 score of the Jets-Colts game was another number that hadn’t happened before. The Jets have been involved in two of those new scores this season.
Some love for the Atlanta Braves. That would be the World Champion Atlanta Braves. Deservedly so, taking out the vaunted Houston Astors in six games. I watched some of their victory celebration. The teammates begged the GM, Alex Anthopoulos, who missed games when he contracted COVID despite being vaccinated, to sign now-free agent Freddie Freeman, the heart and soul of the club to a new deal. Which he should do.
Brett Gardner is a now a free agent. Is this the end of the line for Gardy—with the Yankees—or will he retire?
Buster Posey retired. The San Francisco catcher won 3 World Series crowns, a N.L. M.V.P. and N.L. Rookie of the Year. His name is mentioned with the greats at catcher—Bench, Berra, Campanella, Piazza, Fisk. A sure shot Hall of Fame inductee.
College football of note. Army owns the Commander-in-Chief Trophy with a triumph at Air Force. Rutgers squelched bowl talk for the moment when Wisconsin came to SHI Stadium and won 52-3.
Lehigh won its first game by a convincing score at Bucknell. There is hope for the Mountain Hawks in two weeks when they meet arch rival Lafayette, a big loser on the road at Holy Cross.
Princeton’s dream undefeated Ivy League season came crashing down in Hanover, New Hampshire on Friday night when the Dartmouth Big Green whomped the Tigers. Harvard rebounded from its oozing ways and demolished Columbia in New York. Yale outscored Brown.
Dartmouth and Princeton sit tied for the league lead with Yale. Dartmouth has Cornell and Brown left to play. That’s easy. Princeton has Yale at home then Penn on the road. Yale visits the Tigers then hosts Harvard in The Game. This is Dartmouth’s title to lose.
In the NESCAC, Williams handled Wesleyan at home. This sets up the chance for an unbeaten season when the Ephs travel to Amherst to face the Lord Jeffs. In a nice twist, Maine rivals Bowdoin and Bates played on Saturday evening at 5:30. There may be a bit more drunkenness in Brunswick this weekend as a result.
Ithaca, with a 14-11 loss to R.P.I. on its record and with a win over a ranked Union squad today, will face arch rival S.U.N.Y Cortland next week, hoping to drop the Red Dragons from the undefeated ranks. It’s always a match with something on the line when these two rivals meet.
I had a spy at the Johns Hopkins-Dickinson game in Baltimore. He gave me scores as I fed him F&M scores. I chose the word fed for a reason—he was duly impressed with the pre-and post-game spreads provided by the Hopkins football parents.
For the record, Hopkins won easily, F&M clung to a 14-10 victory at Moravian, and league-leading Muhlenberg disposed of would-be-title-pretender Susquehanna in Selingsgrove. I still see Hopkins and Muhlenberg making the NCAA playoffs if they win out.
A moose warning was sounded prior to the Dakota Marker game between South Dakota State and North Dakota State. I hope the moose behaved before caught, or there would be another marker for this game.
Lebron James is now out with an abdominal injury. Time seems to be catching up with him. Sadly. I miss his play and histrionics.
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, along with the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz are the only one loss teams left in the NBA. It’s early. I went to bed on Friday night with the warriors playing horrendously and ahead only by 4 at the half. The final result was a 41 point win. Jordan Peele has played outstanding ball; I hope that when Klay Thompson returns, Peele maintains this level of performance.
College hoops begins this week. Rutgers now has signage at the RAC. The building is now named Jersey Mike’s Arena. At last, some decent food in the joint. My wife still is mad at AD Pat Hobbs for banning outside food a couple of seasons ago.
“Misty watercolor memories…”
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