The League Championship Series began in 1969. These are my Top 10 moments. So, nothing from 1969...
1. George Brett‘s homer off Goose Gossage: Game 3 (October 19, 1980): Kansas City could not beat the Yankees and lost several playoff series to the Yanks. Brett’s 3 run shot off the Goose finished off a sweep and sent KC to the World Series.
2. Milt Wilcox wins the “nail biter”: Game 3 (October 5, 1984): Wilcox and Willie Hernandez combine on a 3 hitter and the Tigers win the pennant 1-0. The most amazing play occurred when Darrell Evans beat Willie Wilson to first. It was the anti-Buckner play.
3. Steve Garvey breaks the Cubs: Game 4 (October 6, 1984): The Cubs were going to their first World Series since 1945. Oh no they aren’t. The Cubs would lose Game 5 and San Diego would lose to Detroit.
4. The Henderson Home Run: Game 5 (October 12, 1986): The Angels were one strike away from their first World Series. Dave Henderson homered to ruin that. California tied it in the bottom of the 9th. The Red Sox won it in the 11th. The Angels collapse had begun.
5. Mets and Astros play greatest LCS game ever: Game 6 (October 15, 1986): It went 16 innings. The Mets led in the 14th and Billy Hatcher tied it with a home run. The Mets scored 3 in the 16th. The Astros scored 2.
6. Cabrera’s Game Winner: Game 7 (October 14, 1992): Pirates lead 2-0 in the 9th. Braves score 3. Sid Bream was not a fast man…and he rumbled and stumbled into score the series winner.
7. Schilling spits at Braves: 1993: The Phils would not be intimidated. Schilling would dominate the Braves and Philadelphia went to the World Series.
8. The Grand Slam Single: Game 5 (October 17, 1999): Braves led the Mets 3-2 in the 15th. Robin Ventura hit a Grand Slam to win the game, but was mobbed before he could get to second. Luckily, two runs scored before he was called out.
9. Red Sox come back from 3-0: 2004: This was quite a series. David Ortiz with several big hits and Schilling’s bloody sock. Never thought anyone would ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
10. Maggs Pennant winner: Game 4 (October 14, 2006): Tigers trailed the whole game. Maggs hit a home run earlier in the game. It was tied 3-3 in the 9th. Maggs then hit a walk off pennant winner. Detroit’s greatest baseball moment since Gibson’s home run in the 1984 World Series.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Greatest Movie Scenes: #126-130
126. Zipper Scene: There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Ouch! Then came the ambulance.
127. The mine shaft gap: Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Peter Sellers calling the president "Mein Fuehrer" is priceless (especially since Nazi scientists helped the US after WWII). George C. Scott arguing that we can not allow a mineshaft gap is a dig at the fear over a missile gap with the Russians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEi8Mj6WDKM
128. The Inquisition: History of the World (1981)
How do you deal with torture and religious intolerance? With a song and dance number!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5McSEU48Y8
129. The bride vs. The Crazy 88s: Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)
Kill Bill is one the decade's highlights...Uma taking on the Crazy 88s in not very realistic, but it was fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjuS17DGlA
130. Frank vs. Bud and Lou and Wolfman vs. Dracula: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Lon Chaney and Bela Legosi throw down. Bud and Lou chased by Frankenstein's Monster. Vincent Price with a cameo as the Invisible Man. Does not get any better...
Ouch! Then came the ambulance.
127. The mine shaft gap: Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Peter Sellers calling the president "Mein Fuehrer" is priceless (especially since Nazi scientists helped the US after WWII). George C. Scott arguing that we can not allow a mineshaft gap is a dig at the fear over a missile gap with the Russians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEi8Mj6WDKM
128. The Inquisition: History of the World (1981)
How do you deal with torture and religious intolerance? With a song and dance number!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5McSEU48Y8
129. The bride vs. The Crazy 88s: Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)
Kill Bill is one the decade's highlights...Uma taking on the Crazy 88s in not very realistic, but it was fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjuS17DGlA
130. Frank vs. Bud and Lou and Wolfman vs. Dracula: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Lon Chaney and Bela Legosi throw down. Bud and Lou chased by Frankenstein's Monster. Vincent Price with a cameo as the Invisible Man. Does not get any better...
#8 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Bruce is part Woody Guthrie, part Bob Dylan, part John Lennon, and part Elvis. His brand of heartland rock combined themes of youth and Americana and made him a star. It took several years and albums for Bruce to break. It’s doubtful many artists would be given the chance by modern record companies that Bruce and the E Street Band got. Eventually, they broke with Born to Run in 1975. At the time, rock had drifted and disco was becoming a force. As a result, Bruce was hailed as rock’s savior. Meanwhile, the band itself became stars as it was full of colorful characters such as Little Steven Van Zandt, The Mighty Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren, Garry Tallent, Roy Bittain, Danny Federici, Patti Scialfa (as of 1984), Soozie Tyrell (as of 2002), and the Big Man, Clarence Clemons.
Bruce remained a star into the 1980s. In 1984, he achieved mega-stardom with Born in the USA. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were a phenomenon. Bruce changed it all up for the next album, Tunnel of Love. Then, Springsteen fired the band. He went into the wilderness. His next couple of albums faced mixed reviews In the mid-90s, he went folk.
The September 11 attacks motivated Springsteen to reunite the band. In 2002, they released their first album together in 18 years, The Rising. It was a return to his mid-80s form. Once again, Bruce experienced mainstream success. The band put out two more albums inspired by real world events and the zeitgeist. This 911 trilogy has been a commercial and critical success. In 2009, he played at a pre-inaugural concert for Barack Obama. Currently, he is on tour.
Rock n Roll Moment: In 1976, Bruce attempted to see Elvis by scaling the fence at Graceland. He was escorted off the premises while trying to explain who he was.
Essential Bruce:
Born to Run (1975)
The River (1980)
Nebraska (1982)
Born in the USA (1984)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)
The Rising (2002)
Magic (2007)
Bruce’s Top 10:
Rosalita
Born to Run
Thunder Road
Badlands
The River
Atlantic City
Born in the USA
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
The Rising
Bruce remained a star into the 1980s. In 1984, he achieved mega-stardom with Born in the USA. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were a phenomenon. Bruce changed it all up for the next album, Tunnel of Love. Then, Springsteen fired the band. He went into the wilderness. His next couple of albums faced mixed reviews In the mid-90s, he went folk.
The September 11 attacks motivated Springsteen to reunite the band. In 2002, they released their first album together in 18 years, The Rising. It was a return to his mid-80s form. Once again, Bruce experienced mainstream success. The band put out two more albums inspired by real world events and the zeitgeist. This 911 trilogy has been a commercial and critical success. In 2009, he played at a pre-inaugural concert for Barack Obama. Currently, he is on tour.
Rock n Roll Moment: In 1976, Bruce attempted to see Elvis by scaling the fence at Graceland. He was escorted off the premises while trying to explain who he was.
Essential Bruce:
Born to Run (1975)
The River (1980)
Nebraska (1982)
Born in the USA (1984)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)
The Rising (2002)
Magic (2007)
Bruce’s Top 10:
Rosalita
Born to Run
Thunder Road
Badlands
The River
Atlantic City
Born in the USA
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
The Rising
Sunday, October 11, 2009
#9 Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry may be the inventor of Rock n Roll as we know it. Berry is considered one of rock’s greatest songwriters and guitarists. He successfully merged country storytelling with rhythm and blues to create his own unique sound. After contacting Chess Records, Berry cut “Maybelline” and his career and rock n roll itself exploded. Berry continued to pump out hits like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock n Roll Music,” “Sweet Sixteen,” and many others. In 1959, Berry was on top of the world when scandal hit and derailed his career. After a stint in prison, he returned to witness British Invasion artists covering his songs. Berry scored some more hits and then faded. However, his innovation, songwriting, guitar playing, attitude, and duck walk made Berry the first king of Rock n Roll.
Rock n Roll Moment: Berry hired a 14 year old runaway to work at his club. After being fired, she was arrested for prostitution. They tied the white girl to Berry and he was sent to prison for 5 years.
Essential Chuck Berry:
The Great Twenty-Eight (1982)
Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll (1987)
Chuck Berry’s Top 10:
Maybellene
Roll Over Beethoven
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
School Days
Rock n Roll Music
Johnny B Goode
Back in the USA
My Ding-a-Ling
Thirty Days
Too Much Monkey Business
Rock n Roll Moment: Berry hired a 14 year old runaway to work at his club. After being fired, she was arrested for prostitution. They tied the white girl to Berry and he was sent to prison for 5 years.
Essential Chuck Berry:
The Great Twenty-Eight (1982)
Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll (1987)
Chuck Berry’s Top 10:
Maybellene
Roll Over Beethoven
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
School Days
Rock n Roll Music
Johnny B Goode
Back in the USA
My Ding-a-Ling
Thirty Days
Too Much Monkey Business
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Greatest League Division Series Moments
The League Division Series has existed from 1995-The Present. There was also NL and AL Division Series’ following the Strike-Shortened 1981 season.
Tony Pena HR in 13th: Game 1 (October 3, 1995): Tony Pena’s home run off Zane Smith in the 13th gave the Tribe a 5-4 win. It was one of the first real dramatic LDS moments.
On another note, Boston won Game 5 of the 1986 World Series and did not win another Post Season game until Game 1 of the 1998 ALDS. The streak hit 11 games.
Griffey’s mad dash: Game 5 (October 8, 1995): The greatest LDS ever was in 1995. The Yanks held a 2-0 series lead and blew it. In Game 5, they held a 4-2 lead in the 8th. The Mariners tied it. In the bottom of the 11th, Edgar Martinez doubled in Ken Griffey Jr and the M’s went wild. Randy Johnson came into the game in the 9th and got the win.
Pedro pitches in relief: Game 5 (October 11, 1999): Boston had not won a playoff series since 1986. After three innings, the Tribe led 8-7. Pedro Martinez came into the game in the 4th inning and finished the game out. The Red Sox won 12-8.
Jeter’s throw: Game 3 (October 13, 2001): The A’s beat the Yanks in the first two games of the ALDS. The Yankees led 1-0 into the bottom of the 7th. With 2 out, Jason Giambi singled. Torrence Long doubled to right. Shane Spencer missed the cutoff man. Jeter noticed and swiftly reacted. He ran down the line, grabbed the ball 20 feet from home, and whirled home. He had no time to set. Giambi was out. The Yankees won 1-0 and they would win the series in five.
Pudge holds the ball: Game 4 (October 4, 2003): The Marlins led the Giants 2-1 in the NLDS and 7-5 in the 9th of Game 4. The Giants rallied for one and the tying run, J.T. Snow, was thrown out at home. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez held onto the ball for the win.
Ortiz 10th inning HR ends series: (October 8, 2004): Boston has Anaheim’s number. Leading two games to none in the ‘04 LDS, the Sox were tied with Anaheim in the 10th. David Ortiz hit a 2 run shot to win the game and the series.
Chris Burke hits HR in 18th: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): The Braves and Astros went 18 innings. Chris Burke hit a walk-off home run and won the series…in the 18th inning.
Clemens comes in to pitch in relief: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): In the aforementioned 18 inning contest, Roger Clemens came into pitch in the 16th inning. He was the Astros last available pitcher and got the win.
Kenny Rogers handcuffs Yanks: Game 3 (October 6, 2006): Kenny Rogers was a terrible postseason pitcher. That changed in 2006 when he became the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in 1905 to have three scoreless postseason starts. This was the first of those three starts.
Bondo has perfecto through 5: Tigers beat Yanks: Game 4 (October 7, 2006): The Yankees were hitless until the 6th inning. Bonderman went 8 1/3 for the win and the Tigers wiped the Yankees out of the postseason.
Tony Pena HR in 13th: Game 1 (October 3, 1995): Tony Pena’s home run off Zane Smith in the 13th gave the Tribe a 5-4 win. It was one of the first real dramatic LDS moments.
On another note, Boston won Game 5 of the 1986 World Series and did not win another Post Season game until Game 1 of the 1998 ALDS. The streak hit 11 games.
Griffey’s mad dash: Game 5 (October 8, 1995): The greatest LDS ever was in 1995. The Yanks held a 2-0 series lead and blew it. In Game 5, they held a 4-2 lead in the 8th. The Mariners tied it. In the bottom of the 11th, Edgar Martinez doubled in Ken Griffey Jr and the M’s went wild. Randy Johnson came into the game in the 9th and got the win.
Pedro pitches in relief: Game 5 (October 11, 1999): Boston had not won a playoff series since 1986. After three innings, the Tribe led 8-7. Pedro Martinez came into the game in the 4th inning and finished the game out. The Red Sox won 12-8.
Jeter’s throw: Game 3 (October 13, 2001): The A’s beat the Yanks in the first two games of the ALDS. The Yankees led 1-0 into the bottom of the 7th. With 2 out, Jason Giambi singled. Torrence Long doubled to right. Shane Spencer missed the cutoff man. Jeter noticed and swiftly reacted. He ran down the line, grabbed the ball 20 feet from home, and whirled home. He had no time to set. Giambi was out. The Yankees won 1-0 and they would win the series in five.
Pudge holds the ball: Game 4 (October 4, 2003): The Marlins led the Giants 2-1 in the NLDS and 7-5 in the 9th of Game 4. The Giants rallied for one and the tying run, J.T. Snow, was thrown out at home. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez held onto the ball for the win.
Ortiz 10th inning HR ends series: (October 8, 2004): Boston has Anaheim’s number. Leading two games to none in the ‘04 LDS, the Sox were tied with Anaheim in the 10th. David Ortiz hit a 2 run shot to win the game and the series.
Chris Burke hits HR in 18th: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): The Braves and Astros went 18 innings. Chris Burke hit a walk-off home run and won the series…in the 18th inning.
Clemens comes in to pitch in relief: Game 4 (October 9, 2005): In the aforementioned 18 inning contest, Roger Clemens came into pitch in the 16th inning. He was the Astros last available pitcher and got the win.
Kenny Rogers handcuffs Yanks: Game 3 (October 6, 2006): Kenny Rogers was a terrible postseason pitcher. That changed in 2006 when he became the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in 1905 to have three scoreless postseason starts. This was the first of those three starts.
Bondo has perfecto through 5: Tigers beat Yanks: Game 4 (October 7, 2006): The Yankees were hitless until the 6th inning. Bonderman went 8 1/3 for the win and the Tigers wiped the Yankees out of the postseason.
#10 Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was a rock pioneer. He was one of the first professional singer/songwriters in rock n roll and one of the first to use advanced (for the time) recording techniques. One rock historian declared Holly the most “influential creative force in early Rock n Roll.” Holly’s influence on popular music can not be overstated. Although his success lasted 18 months, his songs and recording techniques influenced The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Beach Boys. Additionally, Holly’s clean cut image insulated him from the scandals surrounding other rock stars and probably would have made him a force in music well into the 60s. It would have been interesting to see if Beatlemania would have struck with the force it did with Buddy Holly entering his prime. Holly died in a plane crash at 23.
Rock n Roll Moment: Many rock stars have died in plane crashes. Buddy Holly was the first. He died along with Richie Valens (La Bamba) and The Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace).
Essential Buddy Holly:
The Chirping Crickets (1957)
Buddy Holly (1958)
Buddy Holly’s Top 10:
Oh Boy!
Not Fade Away
Maybe Baby
That’ll Be the Day
Peggy Sue
Words of Love
Rave On!
It’s So Easy
Peggy Sue Got Married
Raining in My Heart
Rock n Roll Moment: Many rock stars have died in plane crashes. Buddy Holly was the first. He died along with Richie Valens (La Bamba) and The Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace).
Essential Buddy Holly:
The Chirping Crickets (1957)
Buddy Holly (1958)
Buddy Holly’s Top 10:
Oh Boy!
Not Fade Away
Maybe Baby
That’ll Be the Day
Peggy Sue
Words of Love
Rave On!
It’s So Easy
Peggy Sue Got Married
Raining in My Heart
Monday, October 5, 2009
2009 All MLB Team
C- Joe Mauer- Twins
1b- Albert Pujols- Cardinals
2b- Aaron Hill - Blue Jays
3b- Evan Longoria-Rays
SS- Hanley Ramirez- Marlins
DH- Jason Kubel- Twins
OF- Ichiro- Mariners
OF- Ryan Braun- Brewers
OF- Matt Holliday- A’s/Cardinals
UT- Ben Zobrist- Rays
UT- Juan Pierre- Dodgers
RHP- Zach Greinke-Royals
LHP-C.C. Sabathia- Yankees
RP- Jeremy Affeldt- Giants
Closer- Mariano Rivera- Yankees
1b- Albert Pujols- Cardinals
2b- Aaron Hill - Blue Jays
3b- Evan Longoria-Rays
SS- Hanley Ramirez- Marlins
DH- Jason Kubel- Twins
OF- Ichiro- Mariners
OF- Ryan Braun- Brewers
OF- Matt Holliday- A’s/Cardinals
UT- Ben Zobrist- Rays
UT- Juan Pierre- Dodgers
RHP- Zach Greinke-Royals
LHP-C.C. Sabathia- Yankees
RP- Jeremy Affeldt- Giants
Closer- Mariano Rivera- Yankees
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)