Kansas City Chiefs Quiz: 1) Who replaced Hank Stram as coach
in 1975? 2) What two Penn State alums were 1st-round picks of
the Chiefs? 3) Receiving yards, career? 4) Interceptions, career?
5) Who is the only Chief to rush for 200 yards in a game?
Answers below.
Oct. 15, 1917
[From the San Francisco Examiner, Oct. 16…all spelling and
punctuation is correct]
WHITE SOX WIN THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP
New York Giants Go Down to Defeat in Final Game of Great
Baseball Series by Score of 4 to 2
Reporter James J. Corbett:
“Heine Zimmerman elected to run a foot race with Eddie Collins
this afternoon and chased the White Sox into the baseball
championship of the world.
“The blue ribbon diamond struggle of 1917 is over, and the white
hose warriors from Chicago are the victors. They deserved to
win, they were the better team. In mechanical powers they didn’t
outclass their Giant rivals but in brains and gameness – the
deciding factor in every contest – they rose up supreme.
“In all world series history no team has shown more gameness or
fighting spirit than the Sox. In two games they came from
behind and battered their way to triumph.
“They foozled afield at different times, played poorly in two
games, but whenever they were backed against the wall they
played the game in a sensational fashion….
“The game practically ended in the ‘fatal fourth’ when
Zimmerman [ed. the Giants’ third baseman], who had played a
great game in all the other games of the series, executed two
errors – one of hand the other of head. Rarely has a ‘boner’ been
made that was as weird as ‘Heine’s’: never was a worse one
pulled in so critical a combat….
“(Chicago second baseman Eddie) Collins shot an easy bounder
at Zimmerman, who fielded it beautifully. Heinie had plenty of
time to make the throw, and he took it. Then he let loose as he
saw Eddie whizzing like an express train to first. The heave was
low – very low, and bounded past Holke while Eddie ambled on
to second amid the groans of the crowd. Joe Jackson then lifted
a fly in short right. Robertson trotted in for it, set himself for the
catch and then executed a ‘Snodgrass.’ The ball trickled his
finger while Collins hiked to third and Jackson anchored on
first.”
Well, what happened next is that Happy Felsch tapped weakly to
the pitcher Benton who then had Collins trapped in a rundown
off third. Benton then threw to Zimmerman, covering third, after
which Zimmerman, instead of throwing to the catcher, Rariden,
decided he would race Collins home. Collins scored.
Damon Runyon wrote the following in the same issue of the San
Francisco Examiner.
“Heine Zimmerman thought he could outrun Eddie Collins.
Now a close up of the figures 4 to 2, the score by which the New
York Giants lost the championship of the baseball world to the
Chicago White Sox…
“Now a panoramic view entitled Horrid Silence, depleting that
sector of the Polo Grounds back of third base, where all this
season the loyal citizens of the Bronx have congregated,
booming their baseball battle cry for the favorite son of the
region beyond the Harlem;
“ ‘Heine, this is ALL for you.’
“Finally, an interior scene:
“The living-room of the goatery of baseball, showing a number
of gentlemen of familiar aspect – all members of this club. Here
cut in close ups of John Anderson and Fred Merkle and Fred
Snodgrass watching the door in attitudes of expectancy; a
committee on reception –
“ ‘Heine, this is ALL for you!’
“A TOUGH TEUTONIC ERA.
“Well, it has been a tough era for Teutonic thought, one way and
another.
“Von Kluck thought he was going to eat a dinner in Paris. The
Kaiser thought he could lick the world. Heine Zim thought he
could outrun Eddie Collins. It has certainly been tough!
“Heine’s thought bubbled in his brain today until he had chased
Eddie Collins across the plate with what proved to be one of the
winning runs in the sixth and last game of the world’s series of
1917 while 33,000 fans lay back in their seats and gasped, like
landed trout, in astonishment.”
[Source: “Baseball Extra,” from the Eric C. Caren Collection]
Stuff
–College Football Review
And then there were six undefeateds…
USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, and UCLA
Texas beat the other unbeaten squad, Texas Tech, 52-17; which
also happened to be one of my three picks on the week as I had
Tech and 15 ½. I also lost my Virginia +1 against North
Carolina as the Cavaliers lost 7-5. Pitiful. But I did win on the
Michigan contest, one that had the Wolverines receiving 3 as they
ended up beating Iowa.
So I’m now 3-5 and I promise to low-key it the rest of the
season. Too many children, I’ve discovered, are betting their
savings and college fund accounts on my selections. Yes, I do
bear some responsibility, I suppose.
But wait until you see my picks next time! Guaranteed to pay for
that new home addition you’ve been wanting!
–Division III powerhouse Mount Union (Ohio) lost its first
regular-season game since 1994, falling 21-14 to Ohio Northern.
They had won a staggering 110 in a row, as well as seven NCAA
titles in that time frame.
–Missouri’s Brad Smith became just the sixth quarterback in
NCAA history to rush and throw for 200 yards in the same game.
Smith had 246 yards rushing on 28 carries and completed 21 for
36 and 234 yards in Mizzou’s 41-24 victory over Nebraska.
[Sorry, Ken S.]
[Speaking of Ken S., I’m going to wrap up his bike trip next
time, for those of you who may be plotting a journey such as his
in the future.]
–Congrats to Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn for setting another
school record, this time with his 6 TD passes against BYU.
And congrats are in order for Rutgers, suddenly the possessors of
a 5-2, 3-1 Big East mark. The longtime doormats may finally…
finally…be turning the program around. If they could just hold
onto more of the state-grown talent.
Lastly, my Wake Forest Demon Deacons upped their mark to 3-5
with a 27-19 win over NC State. At worst they should be 5-3,
but that’s the history of this place.
–In catching up with events of the past few days, we note the
sentencing of Victor Conte to four months in prison with four
months’ home confinement. Conte is the key figure in the
BALCO steroids scandal. Barry Bonds’ trainer, Greg Anderson,
was sentenced to three months behind bars with three months
home confinement after pleading guilty to money laundering and
a steroid distribution charge. The investigation continues but it is
unlikely any athletes will be indicted, which is really quite a
shame. So we have to fall back once again on flesh-eating
disease and hope it ravages Barry’s body. Then again, a little
avian flu might do the trick these days.
–Nice win for the football Giants and Eli Manning yesterday
against Denver.
And in the Eagles dramatic win over San Diego (which those of
us in the New York television audience missed because they cut
to the Giants), Terrell Owens became the 7th to hit the 100 TD
reception mark.
Jerry Rice, 197
Cris Carter, 130
Marvin Harrison, 103
Steve Largent, 100
Tim Brown, 100
T.O., 100
Owens has done it in the second fewest games, 141, to Rice’s
120. [Fewest to 100, that is.]
–San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson was stopped in his quest for
the NFL record for most consecutive games with a touchdown,
19. Instead he ended up with 18, a mark he now shares with
Baltimore’s great Lenny Moore. The Eagles incredibly held
Tomlinson to 7 yards on 17 carries.
–My Super Bowl pick, Indianapolis, is 7-0. You can concede to
me now.
–Tiger Woods missed his second cut of the season this week.
Dramatic win for Clemson’s Lucas Glover, who holed a sand
shot on the 72nd hole.
–Dramatic win for Jeff Gordon in the NASCAR race at
Martinsville. It was just one year ago that Hendrick Motorsports,
whom Gordon drives for, lost ten executives, family members
and friends in a plane crash, including the son of team owner
Rick Hendrick.
But I caught the post-race celebration and there was a funny
moment involving Tony Stewart who finished 2nd. Stewart,
known for his temper, had had a dustup with Greg Biffle and
when asked about it said, “He’s an idiot….if he walked by now
I’d have to strangle him.” Yes, it’s been an interesting year in
this sport. Lots of guys really can’t stand each other.
As for the Chase for the Nextel Cup, with four races to go:
1. Tony Stewart
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Ryan Newman
4. Greg Biffle
5. Carl Edwards
–Thanks to my brother for passing along the latest on crocodile
attacks in Australia, courtesy of Breitbart.com and Agence
France Presse.
“An Australian review of unprovoked crocodile attacks on
humans between 1971 and 2004 found that 29 percent of the 62
attacks had involved some alcohol consumption by the victim.”
But all fatal attacks occurred while the victim was in the water,
not as they were sidled up to a bar.
By the way, there are now more than 75,000 saltwater crocs in
the Northern Territory, while at the same time the average size is
increasing with a large portion of these beasts measuring out at
12 feet. Last month a fellow was killed by a 15-footer.
–A rat was radio tagged in New Zealand as scientists sought to
observe its movements. Turns out this rat made out like Johnny
Weissmuller and swam from the uninhabited island of
Motuhoropapa to nearby Otata Island…a swim of 400 meters.
From BBC News:
“James Russell, from the University of Auckland, and colleagues
think this may be the longest distance recorded for a rat
swimming across open sea.
“ ‘Norway rats can supposedly swim up to 600m but, to our
knowledge, this is the first record of a rat swimming hundreds of
meters across open water,’ they write.”
But here’s the payoff.
“In total, the rat was free for 18 weeks. It was eventually killed
in a trap baited with penguin meat.”
This is scandalous! Our heroic rat, who should have been feted
around the world, instead was murdered in cold blood. And
where did the researchers get the penguin meat, for cryin’ out
loud? Whose kid or parent was it?
I blame the Bush administration………………….that was for
Trader George.
–Thanks to Bob S. for relaying the best account of the latest
shark attack in California waters. A young girl was bitten on her
thigh and calf, down to the bone, while on her surfboard off the
Sonoma County coast. She survived, and looked great on
television the other day, but doctors said the laceration came
within a centimeter of severing a major artery.
20-year-old Megan Halavais, her boyfriend and about a half-
dozen other surfers “were about 100 yards off the south end of
Salmon Creek Beach – the site of several past shark attacks –
when they heard a loud splash and Halavais’ screams,” as
reported by Bob Norberg of The Press Democrat.
“Witnesses said they saw a dorsal fin about three feet tall circling
Halavais, apparently bumping her, as she sat on her board. They
estimated the shark was 12 to 18 feet long.
“(Boyfriend John) Henry was maybe 30 feet away and already
paddling toward her. He and another surfer, David Bryant,
began yelling and slapping the water, hoping to scare the shark
away.
“Then, as they got close, Halavais and her board, tethered by a 6-
or 8-foot line, disappeared, going deep below the surface…
“Both men said they feared the worst.
“ ‘I definitely thought she was gone,’ Henry said.”
The two nonetheless charged toward the shark. Suddenly Megan
popped back to the surface, “either holding the tail or beating on
it as she and the shark continued to thrash in the water, witnesses
said.”
There was little actual blood, “but Bryant said he could see that
the flesh was displaced beneath Halavais’ wet suit.”
Incredibly, Halavais suffered no major nerve damage.
–So who would win a fight between a 15-foot croc and a 15-foot
great white shark? Give the shark a running start and it would
pound the crap out of the croc. But if the croc snuck up on the
shark, already feasting on a surfer, it’s all over for the shark.
This croc-shark exclusive just another feature of Bar Chat.
–Monday’s USA Today has a story on cougars. There was
another sighting in the Midwest! And remember when I told you
I was in Lincoln, Nebraska, walking alone in the 9-mile Prairie
refuge? Turns out mountain lions have been spotted in this area,
so I was right to get the hell out of there, especially because I had
failed to bring my Swiss Army knife with the corkscrew.
–In case you care, Sports Illustrated has selected the San
Antonio Spurs to defeat the Miami Heat for the NBA title this
season. I will be mildly interested in how the New Jersey Nets
do, but here’s your official Bar Chat prediction.
San Antonio
You’d be an idiot not to pick ‘em. They’re loaded.
–Of course the biggest story these days in the NBA is the new
dress code instituted by Commissioner David Stern. Indiana
Pacers guard Stephen Jackson said the league ban on chains
worn over clothing is “a racist statement…because a lot of the
guys who are wearing chains are my age and are black.”
[Jackson at least agreed the players should wear suits.]
Denver’s Marcus Camby, who earns something like $8 million a
half season (Camby’s always hurt, you understand), said:
“I don’t see it happening unless every NBA player is given a
stipend to buy clothes.”
As Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg News wrote, “Camby’s stipend
stump is the dumbest bit of basketball babble since the
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Latrell Sprewell last season said that
he might have trouble feeding his family on $10 million a year.”
Clifford Robinson, a New Jersey Nets veteran, struck back at the
jerks in his sport.
“The least you can do is look decent,” he said.
The New York Post’s Peter Vecsey said of Camby’s comment:
“There’s a quote so lame, I immediately order Marcus to the
nearest Big and Tall Shop, size extra stupid.”
And where there’s controversy you can always count on Charles
Barkley to chip in.
“Young black kids dress like NBA players. Unfortunately, they
don’t get paid like NBA players. So when they go out in the real
world, what they wear is held against them….
“If a well-dressed white kid and a black kid wearing a do-rag and
throwback jersey came to me in a job interview, I’d hire the
white kid. That’s reality. That’s the No. 1 reason I support the
dress code….
“Dr. J. told me years ago that we, the players, are the caretakers
of the game. I think too many players today have lost sight of
that.”
[Los Angeles Times]
Ironically, the worst dresser in the game just may well be
superstar Tim Duncan. No bling bling, mind you, but he’s a
slob. So it’s going to be interesting to see how he handles this.
He should know enough to keep his mouth shut and comply.
–Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck commented on fellow writer
Michael Bamberger, who turned Michelle Wie in two weekends
ago for an infraction.
“The situation has stirred emotions because of Bamberger’s role.
There is widespread precedent for onlookers reporting penalties.
Every week the PGA Tour receives multiple phone calls from
TV viewers who think they have spotted infractions. To some,
spectators who report violations are busybodies. In fact, third
parties – even reporters – who point out rules infractions are
protecting the field and preserving the integrity of the
competition.
“Last week Bamberger picked up an unlikely supporter in B.J.
Wie, Michelle’s fiercely loyal, protective father. He knows that
his daughter, for all her prodigious physical talents, is still a
teenager with much to learn. No doubt, now she will be more
careful in applying the rules. On Sunday evening B.J. saw
Bamberger in the press room and said, ‘Good job, Michael.’
Then he shook his hand.”
Well whaddya know? What a classy move from a man I’ve
often criticized in the past. To paraphrase Pig Pen, kind of
makes you want to treat the man with a little more respect.
–The PGA Tour, looking ahead to the 2007 season, is probably
going to revamp the schedule to generate more interest following
mid-August’s PGA Championship, which for many fans of the
sport is basically the unofficial end of the season, the PGA being
the last major. Looking at the success of NASCAR’s “Chase to
the Championship,” with the top ten drivers competing for the
Nextel Cup over the final ten races, the PGA may institute a new,
big money schedule leading up to the Tour Championship in
mid-September, instead of its current November date where the
event has been buried because you’re in the heart of the NFL
season.
But at the same time, the PGA is renegotiating its television
packages and ABC, NBC and CBS are estimated to have lost a
collective $50 million on their golf contracts this year. A big
reason for this was Tiger Woods’s “slump” in 2003 and 2004
that had ratings skidding. What the networks will thus demand
for any new packages commencing in 2007 is a schedule that
players like Woods and Mickelson will want to participate in.
Then the superstars can take extended vacations after the Tour
Championship while the others battle it out for their tour cards in
a reduced fall schedule.
–For the first time runners in this year’s New York City
Marathon are being warned about the dangers of drinking too
much water in a participant handbook; a topic we’ve discussed
often in the past in this space. Specifically, the medical director
for the race is advising that distance runners drink no more than
8 ounces of water every 20 minutes.
“There are no reported cases of dehydration causing death in the
history of world running,” said Dr. Lewis G. Maharam. “But
there are plenty of cases of people dying of hyponatremia.”
Hyponatremia is the condition that results from too much water
diluting the blood. “Water rushes into cells, including cells of
the brain. The swollen brain cells press against the skull, and the
result can be fatal.” [Gina Kolata / New York Times]
But I found this staggering. A full one percent of the 35,000
runners in last year’s New York City Marathon were hospitalized
for hyponatremia, which Dr. Maharam actually says is less than
other big marathons. That’s still a lot of folks, sports fans.
–For you golf junkies out there, this coming weekend check out
the Nationwide Tour Championship. As a result of Hurricane
Wilma, this past weekend’s event in Florida was cancelled,
leaving the Tour Championship as the final Nationwide event of
the year. The top 60 on the money list qualify and then the top
20 in the final money-winning standings qualify for their PGA
Tour cards next year.
Since I’ve written much about Bill Haas in the past I have to
clarify that while he currently stands #21, because of the fact
Jason Gore was earlier promoted to the PGA Tour the next 20
will still earn their card. Ergo, if Haas held his spot, he’s in.
From a pressure standpoint, you can’t beat this. Basically,
anyone in the entire field of 60 can get into the top 20 by
catching lightning in a bottle.
–Much is being made of the gorilla at the Dian Fossey sanctuary
in Congo that is able to use a rock to hammer open a palm nut.
As the AP’s Anjan Sundaram writes:
“It had been thought that the premeditated use of stones and
sticks to accomplish a task like cracking nuts was restricted to
humans and the smaller, more agile chimpanzees.”
I have to tell you I’m not impressed. Now if they start canning
the nuts and hawking them at sporting events or school
fundraisers, then you’d have a scoop.
–Michael Jordan, who’s hawking a new book, admits he was
“stupid” in his gambling in an interview on “60 Minutes.”
Otherwise, the interview sucked, except for Jordan’s comments
on parents being the real role models, not athletes.
But the Ed Bradley interview with Jordan took place at Jordan’s
Las Vegas fantasy camp for guys who shell out $15,000 to play
with Mike. What, are you nuts? Do these guys think Michael
Jordan will ever be their friend and they’ll get to hang with His
Airness? What a freakin’ waste of money.
–You have to love New Orleans’ attempt to keep the Saints in
town. Mayor Ray Nagin is worried the Saints will take San
Antonio up on its offer to give them a permanent home. Nagin,
in blasting Saints owner Tom Benson, as well as San Antonio,
said:
“For them to be openly talking to other cities about moving is
disrespectful to the citizens of New Orleans, and disrespectful to
the Saints fans who have hung in with this franchise through 30-
something years under very trying times.”
True, over the years the state of Louisiana has built all kinds of
facilities for Benson, including improvements to the Superdome.
But does anyone really believe the stories that have the
Superdome being ready by late 2006? Who would ever want to
step foot in that place? I sure as hell wouldn’t. Are you going to
trust that it is truly cleaned up?
In the meantime, the Saints play four games at LSU in Baton
Rouge. If they sell them all out, then the NFL can come down
hard on Benson to keep the Saints in the state. Otherwise,
Benson should be able to do what he wants, especially knowing
that his market, New Orleans, could have a greatly reduced
population base from which to draw on in the coming years.
[I do have to note, however, that Benson himself is one primo
jerk.]
–I seldom read the letters to the editor in the Wall Street Journal
but this one from Bob Tufts in New York caught my attention.
“I was very surprised to see your ‘Boss Talk’ article on Atlanta
Braves’ General Manager John Schuerholz…and his comment
that the Braves’ 14-year-run of division titles ‘is the most
remarkable thing that’s ever been achieved in the history of
professional sports.’
“Has Mr. Schuerholz heard of teams that actually won numerous
consecutive world championships: the Boston Celtics of the late
1950s and early 1960s, or the New York Yankee teams that won
five in a row from 1949 to 1953? Is he seriously putting the
Braves in the same class as the Green Bay Packers and Montreal
Canadiens?
“As a general manager in Kansas City, his Royals teams won one
World Series (in 1985, due to a blown call at first base by umpire
Don Denkinger) in 10 seasons. His ‘dynasty’ in Atlanta has won
one World Series in 14 years (in 1995, when they beat the
Cleveland Indians).
“As a general manager, Mr. Schuerholz is more Mr. May than
Mr. October. At the end of the season, it don’t mean a thing if
you ain’t got that ring!”
Good for you, Mr. Tufts. A copy of the home version of “Bar
Chat: The Game” is headed your way; once I get around to
developing it.
–We note the passing of Gordon Lee, 71, who played Spanky’s
little brother Porky in the “Little Rascals.” Porky was the first to
use the expression “O-tay!,” which Buckwheat then employed,
let alone Eddie Murphy. And who played Buckwheat? ……..
……………..Billie Thomas.
–Savvis Communications CEO Robert McCormick allegedly
charged $241,000 worth of lap dances and such at Manhattan’s
Scores strip club. McCormick has stiffed American Express –
claiming the bill was padded and that he hadn’t spent more than
$20,000. Of course you’ll recall from past Bar Chats that this
fellow isn’t the first to have problems keeping his card in his
pants at Scores.
The people who run the joint are no fools and take all kinds of
precautions when someone is running up a tab of this kind,
including checking ID to make sure it’s not a stolen card. Scores
also supposedly makes hourly calls to receive credit
authorization once a customer charges more than $10,000.
And as New York’s Daily News reported on Saturday,
McCormick had a reputation for being “an insatiable customer
who hired a virtual harem of lap dancers.”
“In the mirrored room, popular with high rollers and celebrities,
the stripper enthusiast demanded 10 dancers lavish him with
attention at the eye-popping cost of $4,000 an hour.
“When their time was up, McCormick insisted club managers
bring more girls – and keep them coming.
“ ‘I need 10 more,’ he would say…waving his arms like he was
motioning a jumbo jet in for a landing, according to the source.”
For their part, Amex has filed suit against both McCormick and
Scores in the event the charges were fake.
–Boy, this is sad. A 20-year-old University of Minnesota-Morris
student was killed this weekend when he was struck by a
goalpost that was torn down in a post-game celebration following
the school’s homecoming win in overtime against Crown
College. The guy was also a member of the basketball team.
–As a big fan of the comics, Oct. 26 marks the 35th anniversary
of the introduction of “Doonesbury,” which debuted in about two
dozen newspapers on that day back in 1970. Many on the right
can’t stand it, but this is one conservative who still finds it
brilliant, while recognizing Garry Trudeau does often cross the
line.
–Sports Illustrated’s “Sign of the Apocalypse:
“A Maryland high school band stopped playing ‘The Devil Went
Down to Georgia’ at football games after local residents
complained the song ‘violated the separation of church and
state.’”
Top 3 songs for the week of 10/27/73: #1 “Midnight Train To
Georgia” (Gladys Knight & The Pips) #2 “Angie” (The Rolling
Stones) #3 “Half-Breed” (Cher)…and…#4 “Ramblin’ Man”
(The Allman Brothers Band) #6 “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin
Gaye) #8 “Heartbeat – It’s A Lovebeat” (The DeFranco Family
…for LT) #9 “That Lady” (Isley Brothers)
–In the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, Burt
Bacharach was asked to pick five songs that showcase some of
his favorite vocal performances.
Whitney Houston – “Greatest Love of All”
Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
The Temptations – “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”
Philip Bailey and Maurice White / Earth, Wind & Fire – “After
the Love Has Gone”
Michael McDonald / The Doobie Brothers – “What a Fool
Believes”
I was fired up to see EWF on this list.
Bacharach, incidentally, is coming out with his first solo album
since 1979, titled “At This Time” and slated for release Nov. 1.
Kansas City Chiefs Quiz Answers: 1) Paul Wiggin (11-24-0)
replaced Hank Stram. 2) Penn State 1st-rounders: Todd
Blackledge, QB, 1983 and Larry Johnson, RB, 2003. 3) Otis
Taylor is the career leader in receiving yards with 7,306. As of
10/16, Tony Gonzalez was up to 7,114. 4) Interceptions, career:
Emmitt Thomas, 58, 1966-78. 5) Barry Word is the only Chief
to rush for 200 in a game…exactly 200 in Oct. ’90.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday….overrated / underrated.
