Uecker. Ichiro. The NFL.

 

Before I get going on the NFL results and other miscellaneous items related to pro football, I have some baseball items I neglected. They relate to two former players—both having something to do with the Hall of Fame, with one of them recently voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The pair I refer to are the late Bob Uecker and Japanese-born star Ichiro Suzuki. 

Bob Uecker passed away earlier this month at the age of 90. If ever there was a man whose life was blessed with good fortune, kindness and joy, it was Uecker. 

Forget that his statistics were not really very good. It gave him a reason to be funny with self-deprecating wit that others came to recognize as wonderful. 

Yes, he actually won a World Series title as a member of the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a backup catcher. Uecker signed with his hometown Milwaukee Braves, where he first tasted the major leagues after nearly six years in the minors. He also spent time with Philadelphia and ended his playing career in 1967 with the Atlanta Braves in a not-quite-full circle moment, emblematic of Bob Uecker. 

Uecker never really strayed from his Wisconsin roots, returning home and embarking on a career as an announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers, a position he held through this past season. It was there he was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003 to recognize his marvelous broadcasting career, which also included stints with the networks and being paired with the nearly-indomitable Howard Cosell, who Uecker somehow managed to get the upper hand over on a few occasions. 

America got to know him as “Mr. Baseball,” a title facetiously given to him by the late Tonight Show host, Johnny Carson, who loved Uecker’s stories, humor and timing. Moreover, he actually was the lead in a TV series, Mr. Belvedere. 

But his most iconic roles were two things which personified how we got to know this man. First, as announcer Harry Doyle in the classic movie Major League. We still get to hear his description of the wildness of Charlie Sheen’s character Rickey Vaughn. Uecker would sound like himself but call Vaughn’s pitches nowhere near the strike zone as “just a little bit outside.”

And of course, there were the Miller Lite beer commercials. Uecker would act like he was sitting near the field in great seats. “ I must be in the front row!!”  he would articulate. Only to be removed and sent to the uppermost region of the ballpark. There is a statue of him in Section 422 of the Brewers home field, now known as American Family Field. It is an obstructed view. 

For his humor and tireless devotion to the ball club, there is also a statue outside the stadium, with the luminaries who played in Milwaukee. Deservedly so.

Bob Uecker lost his battle to cancer. His memories will last forever. 

Ichiro Suzuki. Or just plain Ichiro to so many baseball fans. Talk about the exquisite hitters of all time, he deserves to be in the midst of the discussion. Ted Williams; Pete Rose; Tony Gwynn; and Rod Carew. He didn’t hit for power; that wasn’t his thing. But with a grace and flair coupled with tremendous speed, he could make a five hop grounder up the middle into a base hit.

Ichiiro was an accomplished player when he arrived in the United States, a true star in Japan. He showed us how good he was in his rookie year by winning the American League batting title with a .350 average from 272 hits. That translated into both the AL Rookie of the Year and M.V.P. awards. 

Ichiro won 10 Gold Gloves for fielding excellence in the outfield. He accumulated 3 Silver Slugger awards as the best hitter at his position. And Ichiro appeared in 10 All Star games, winning the 2007 M.V.P. for that game. 

Known mostly as a Seattle Mariner, Ichiro played for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. He bonded with Derek Jeter, the Yankees captain, who he will join in Cooperstown. The guy was cerebral, uber talented and a pleasure to watch. 

The Japanese star shared another thing with Jeter. Both were voted into the Hall of Fame in their first try. Both were not unanimous selections—there was one holdout for each.

To which I once more vent my outrage, as I did with Jeter’s voting. How could anyone not think this guy was not worthy of enshrinement? It boggles my mind. Then again, in the world we live in, much seems to boggle my mind. 

Nonetheless, Ichiro is now a Hall of Famer. As he should be. Despite some idiot not seeing fit to vote for him.

Now time for some football. My New York Jets did the right thing in signing Aaron Glenn, former defensive star for the team, to become the new head coach. He wanted to come back and he wants to turn the franchise around. We agree on that. 

In more of a small surprise, Darren Mougey was selected as the next General Manager. Experienced as a talent guru with Denver, he is tasked with getting the right players on the roster for 2025. We will find out if Aaron Rodgers returns for one more season or if the rebuilding or reenforcing starts anew. I am pulling for this duo to succeed. By the time I have had season tickets for 50 years—in 2026. It’s been way too long for the mediocrity to continue. 

Just about every head coaching vacancy has been filled. I am stunned that the Las Vegas Raiders picked 73 year old Pete Carroll to lead the team on the field. No matter how much energy he has—he’s not there for the long term. Just like Bill Belichick at North Carolina. 

We have our Super Bowl set. Philadelphia and Kansas City. A reprise of two years ago when the Chiefs won the Kelce Bowl (or was and still is the Andy Reid Bowl, as he is the winningest coach for both franchises). There will be one less Kelce playing as Jason is now retired and a media celebrity. He is replaced by his brother Travis’ girlfriend, Taylor Swift, or Tay as Travis affectionately called the rock star. 

Philadelphia blew out a game and overachieving Washington team. I don’t think the Commanders were quite ready for this game while the Eagles were primed and acted like it. Jalen Hurts directed and Saquon Barkley danced through the Washington defense, essentially putting the game away early. 

Barkley is averaging an astounding 7.9 yards per carry in the playoffs, thanks to his ripping off long runs against both the Rams and Commanders. He is not likely to win the 2024 NFL M.V.P. award, as quarterbacks tend to bring home the hardware. I am willing to bet that some of those voters might be second guessing themselves for not choosing Barkley as their top choice. 

In the heavyweight battle, Kansas City prevailed by 3 points over Buffalo. Many people, including two in my household, wanted the Bills to finally overcome the Chiefs and make it to a Super Bowl. 

I know that there is a belief that the NFL and its referees want KC to go for the unprecedented three-peat. I sure want that. Big audience appeal for FOX. 

Let’s be real. The Chiefs have a dynamic team. They are the defending champions and they played like they were on a mission for the entire season. And they profited from two reviewable calls—one in the opening week against Baltimore by a wayward toe and the fourth down stop  of Bills QB Josh Allen by inches. 

Yes, Buffalo is a really good team. Maybe the second or third best team in the NFL. They handled KC in Western New York earlier in the season. And the Bills, led by Allen, nearly got to the Super Bowl despite not playing their best game of the season. On a desperate heave, Allen almost miraculously connected with his tight end Dalton Kincaid deep in KC territory. (If you recall, the Bills Mafia donated to Baltimore TE Mark Andrews’ charity after he dropped two passes in the loss to Buffalo; Ravens fans are doing the same for Kincaid’s charity.)

We haven’t seen the end of the Bills as a top flight team. I think that no matter what happens in less than two weeks, this Chiefs team won’t get this far next year. 

Get ready for the unending hype and shifting betting lines. Stories within stories. Coaching comparisons. New Orleans as a Super Bowl site after the tragedy to start the New Year. It’s going to be fun.

Uecker. Ichiro. The NFL. Pretty darn good subjects for a blog.