So, I only got 19/20 because I thought recording the radio was utterly stupid. However, in 1987 I went on a school trip to Europe and one of my friends had a tape he had made just before we left off of 91X in San Diego. He puts it on and it was awesome because I had actually been listening that day he recorded it while washing my car, so maybe I get 19.5.
As for the WBC, I'm not really interested. If I were the Tigers I'd rather have him risk getting injured for me than in that event.
Does anybody remember "Almost Anything Goes" from this era? I wonder if it was part of the "Superstars" franchise. Similar sporting-type contests between teams from small towns with a mixed roster of all ages. "Join us tonight as Mingo Junction, Ohio matches up with Soddy Daisy, Tennessee... Live... Tonight right here on ABC TV!"
Man, I loved Superstars. It was much-watch weekend viewing as a kid.
As for Battle of the Network Stars, there's 3 things I remember. First, Cosell called it like an actual sporting event. Lent it a certain gravitas. Second, Robert Conrad took it REALLY seriously. For you younger guys, think White Goodman in "Dodgeball" seriously. He was there to WIN, not have fun. Third, and this is what pubescent me remembers, many of the actresses did not wear bras. In a time of only 3 channels on TV (we didnt get cable til my older sister got a FT job and told Mom and Dad she'd pay for it, around 1985) and no internet, it was the raciest stuff 14 year old me could lay his eyes on.
Funny that you mention Robert Conrad and Battle of the Network Stars. If I remember correctly, I think he almost came to blows with Gabe Kaplan (aka "Mr. Kotter") because he accused him of cheating or something. While Kaplan was laughing it off because nobody could believe Robert Conrad was serious, Conrad was raging like a lunatic, as fuming mad as George Brett was on his pine tar dash at the umpires. The guy was THAT competitive!
I'm a little older than Joe. In my first job after college I remember the entire staff meeting in the main lobby to watch our secretary use the brand new fax machine for the first time and we were all enthralled by this futuristic technology.
I now work with a crew comprised mostly of people who have never ever even used a fax machine.
I have been on both ends of that spectrum... When the fax machine was the technology of the future, and now that it's a thing of the past.
I think I can only claim 19 for 20, don’t remember ever sending a postcard. Kind of funny because I now have a collection of hundreds of postcards chronicling our family history going back to the early 1900’s. Some of them from my dad’s older sister to her cousin confirmed that middle school girls have been a lil mean for well over a hundred years.
Let’s see, in the small town (10,000) I lived in 1985- 2005, there were movie VHS tape rentals in 2 smaller chains, in the lobby of the movie theater, in both major grocery stores, in at least one gas/mini mart store- plus checkout rentals at the local library. They were the most ubiquitous business around.. I did rent from Blockbuster a few times so I was an easy 20 for 20.
Bob Cousy is still alive and giving occasional interviews to the Boston Globe. He made a public appearance in February when Holy Cross named the court after him.
We really need to get to the bottom of his involvement in this scandal.
Such great memories. How could you leave out "Simon Says?" But the all-time highlight was when one of Hollywood's greatest tough guys, Robert Conrad, aka James West & WWII Hero Pappy Boyington, gets smoked in the 200 on a dirt track, by Gabe Kaplan, aka Mr. Kotter, who earlier in his career performed in burlesque clubs, includingone owned by a Mr. Jack Ruby. (I just had a Joe Rabbit hole moment.) https://www.reddit.com/r/1970s/comments/1jwuogg/there_was_no_sporting_event_more_70s_than_the/
Yes, yes, it is a great clip. However, it really shouldn't have been a surprise. Kaplan was a track star in HS. Conrad probably smoked a couple packs/day.
And actually the Best part of the clip is after Kaplan wins and not only do you have lovely Wonder Woman herself jumping up and down for joy (be still my heart) but if you watch closely A List Directors Ron Howard and Penny Marshall are celebrating like their high school team just won Homecoming.
The WBC should be a much bigger deal than it is. Solution: once every four years, cancel the All-Star game and put a three week hiatus in the middle of the season. Lower the regular season to 154 games for that year. Make the WBC a global jamboree of baseball, with the best players in midseason form playing as though their lives depended on it. It would be the best baseball experience ever.
I once had a car break down on the coldest night in our local history, and had to walk about a mile and a half in that weather to get to a pay phone. I was telling the story to a teen niece about 10 years ago while driving in that area (which were mostly fields then and now has Lowe's and Walmarts etc)
She seemed to be enjoying the story and I was able to show her exactly how far I had to walk. When it was done she was quiet for a minute and then said "I don't understand? Did you forget your cell phone or was it out of battery?"
You take this situation, Tarik Skubal wanting to pitch again in the WBC, and 75% of sportswriters will write about patriotism, and maybe a few will write about how fun it is having a team of All-Stars backing you up, and maybe the rest will write about the competitive nature of the professional athlete. And maybe some of this last small group will come up with previous examples of competitive nature.
But only one will write about the 75-minute tug-of-war between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Royals on ABC-TV in 1978. And that's why we're all here.
I am delighted that MLB isn't ignoring the WBC quite so hard as it used to. It is great to have an actual "World Series." Can the ethnocentric US handle it? Will the ethnocentric US handle it? Go Skub. After having taken that ridiculous position in Skub's arbitration, and getting drubbed, will the Tigers relent? They ought to.
First, we think of Keith Jackson as the voice of college football. At ABC in those days, the announcers did a lot of stuff we don't associate with them. Al Michaels recalled doing a segment on motorcycles on ice, for example.
Second, the Patek-Martin sprint reminds me of a story I read years ago that has special resonance given that Bruce Froemming died recently. The obituaries didn't mention that he started the tradition of the umpires doffing their caps to Vin at Dodger games. I also recall the tale that he and his crew chief, John Kibler, were knocking down ribs and beer in Cincinnati and some young guys at the next table recognized them and got on them about their dietary choices. After some good-natured exchanges, Kibler said something like, "He could beat any of you in a 100-foot dash." Oh, REALLY? They exchanged bets, went outside, and Froemming, all 5'6" and 190 pounds of him, buried the kid. Because umpires never had to run more than 100 feet, so they could do THAT.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, old enough to remember that tug of war, especially as a Royals fan. Also, loved Battle of the Network Stars. I guess it makes sense I love the WBC too.
+1 on the awsomeness of Danica McKellar
So, I only got 19/20 because I thought recording the radio was utterly stupid. However, in 1987 I went on a school trip to Europe and one of my friends had a tape he had made just before we left off of 91X in San Diego. He puts it on and it was awesome because I had actually been listening that day he recorded it while washing my car, so maybe I get 19.5.
As for the WBC, I'm not really interested. If I were the Tigers I'd rather have him risk getting injured for me than in that event.
Does anybody remember "Almost Anything Goes" from this era? I wonder if it was part of the "Superstars" franchise. Similar sporting-type contests between teams from small towns with a mixed roster of all ages. "Join us tonight as Mingo Junction, Ohio matches up with Soddy Daisy, Tennessee... Live... Tonight right here on ABC TV!"
Man, I loved Superstars. It was much-watch weekend viewing as a kid.
As for Battle of the Network Stars, there's 3 things I remember. First, Cosell called it like an actual sporting event. Lent it a certain gravitas. Second, Robert Conrad took it REALLY seriously. For you younger guys, think White Goodman in "Dodgeball" seriously. He was there to WIN, not have fun. Third, and this is what pubescent me remembers, many of the actresses did not wear bras. In a time of only 3 channels on TV (we didnt get cable til my older sister got a FT job and told Mom and Dad she'd pay for it, around 1985) and no internet, it was the raciest stuff 14 year old me could lay his eyes on.
Funny that you mention Robert Conrad and Battle of the Network Stars. If I remember correctly, I think he almost came to blows with Gabe Kaplan (aka "Mr. Kotter") because he accused him of cheating or something. While Kaplan was laughing it off because nobody could believe Robert Conrad was serious, Conrad was raging like a lunatic, as fuming mad as George Brett was on his pine tar dash at the umpires. The guy was THAT competitive!
I'm sure it's gotta be on Youtube somewhere.
He wasn't kidding when he said, "I dare you to knock it off."
I'm a little older than Joe. In my first job after college I remember the entire staff meeting in the main lobby to watch our secretary use the brand new fax machine for the first time and we were all enthralled by this futuristic technology.
I now work with a crew comprised mostly of people who have never ever even used a fax machine.
I have been on both ends of that spectrum... When the fax machine was the technology of the future, and now that it's a thing of the past.
Does that make me 21-for-20?
I would be 20 for 20 except I never lived near a blockbuster store. But I did the same thing from the independent video store.
I think I can only claim 19 for 20, don’t remember ever sending a postcard. Kind of funny because I now have a collection of hundreds of postcards chronicling our family history going back to the early 1900’s. Some of them from my dad’s older sister to her cousin confirmed that middle school girls have been a lil mean for well over a hundred years.
Let’s see, in the small town (10,000) I lived in 1985- 2005, there were movie VHS tape rentals in 2 smaller chains, in the lobby of the movie theater, in both major grocery stores, in at least one gas/mini mart store- plus checkout rentals at the local library. They were the most ubiquitous business around.. I did rent from Blockbuster a few times so I was an easy 20 for 20.
Bob Cousy is still alive and giving occasional interviews to the Boston Globe. He made a public appearance in February when Holy Cross named the court after him.
We really need to get to the bottom of his involvement in this scandal.
It took 75 years for Holy Cross to name the court after Bob Cousy?
The Jesuits are quite methodical.
Such great memories. How could you leave out "Simon Says?" But the all-time highlight was when one of Hollywood's greatest tough guys, Robert Conrad, aka James West & WWII Hero Pappy Boyington, gets smoked in the 200 on a dirt track, by Gabe Kaplan, aka Mr. Kotter, who earlier in his career performed in burlesque clubs, includingone owned by a Mr. Jack Ruby. (I just had a Joe Rabbit hole moment.) https://www.reddit.com/r/1970s/comments/1jwuogg/there_was_no_sporting_event_more_70s_than_the/
Yes, yes, it is a great clip. However, it really shouldn't have been a surprise. Kaplan was a track star in HS. Conrad probably smoked a couple packs/day.
And actually the Best part of the clip is after Kaplan wins and not only do you have lovely Wonder Woman herself jumping up and down for joy (be still my heart) but if you watch closely A List Directors Ron Howard and Penny Marshall are celebrating like their high school team just won Homecoming.
The WBC should be a much bigger deal than it is. Solution: once every four years, cancel the All-Star game and put a three week hiatus in the middle of the season. Lower the regular season to 154 games for that year. Make the WBC a global jamboree of baseball, with the best players in midseason form playing as though their lives depended on it. It would be the best baseball experience ever.
I have made phone calls from a phone booth that had a seat in it. Long, long gone. I can think of maybe one pay phone at present.
I once had a car break down on the coldest night in our local history, and had to walk about a mile and a half in that weather to get to a pay phone. I was telling the story to a teen niece about 10 years ago while driving in that area (which were mostly fields then and now has Lowe's and Walmarts etc)
She seemed to be enjoying the story and I was able to show her exactly how far I had to walk. When it was done she was quiet for a minute and then said "I don't understand? Did you forget your cell phone or was it out of battery?"
Kids! 😂😂
This is why I love Joe.
You take this situation, Tarik Skubal wanting to pitch again in the WBC, and 75% of sportswriters will write about patriotism, and maybe a few will write about how fun it is having a team of All-Stars backing you up, and maybe the rest will write about the competitive nature of the professional athlete. And maybe some of this last small group will come up with previous examples of competitive nature.
But only one will write about the 75-minute tug-of-war between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Royals on ABC-TV in 1978. And that's why we're all here.
The Superteams '76 video is awesome. Joe Morgan and Doug Flynn on a tandem bike! Ken Griffey Sr (a staggering athlete) in the obstacle course.
"Doug, I play all the innings during the year, so I expect you to pull your weight by doing most of the work on this damn bike"
I am delighted that MLB isn't ignoring the WBC quite so hard as it used to. It is great to have an actual "World Series." Can the ethnocentric US handle it? Will the ethnocentric US handle it? Go Skub. After having taken that ridiculous position in Skub's arbitration, and getting drubbed, will the Tigers relent? They ought to.
I think the Tigers will relent. Then will Skubal want another three innings?
I remember those programs, and a thought or two.
First, we think of Keith Jackson as the voice of college football. At ABC in those days, the announcers did a lot of stuff we don't associate with them. Al Michaels recalled doing a segment on motorcycles on ice, for example.
Second, the Patek-Martin sprint reminds me of a story I read years ago that has special resonance given that Bruce Froemming died recently. The obituaries didn't mention that he started the tradition of the umpires doffing their caps to Vin at Dodger games. I also recall the tale that he and his crew chief, John Kibler, were knocking down ribs and beer in Cincinnati and some young guys at the next table recognized them and got on them about their dietary choices. After some good-natured exchanges, Kibler said something like, "He could beat any of you in a 100-foot dash." Oh, REALLY? They exchanged bets, went outside, and Froemming, all 5'6" and 190 pounds of him, buried the kid. Because umpires never had to run more than 100 feet, so they could do THAT.
That is an awesome story!
Fortunately, or unfortunately, old enough to remember that tug of war, especially as a Royals fan. Also, loved Battle of the Network Stars. I guess it makes sense I love the WBC too.