SZ695

BY JIM DAWSON

DECEMBER 10, 2018

A DAY WIN TURNS TO A NIGHTMARE LOSS – MIAMI OVER NE 34-33

Driller Killer and I have seen many Patriots games, having attended home games since the ’70’s. There were 1-15 and 2-14 teams that found various ways to lose games. Not even those teams lost as excruciatingly as did the Patriots yesterday in Miami. NE is now 1-5 in their last 6 in Miami.

OK, it’s obvious, but must be mentioned, that the Patriots offense (421 net yards) left a possible 7 points on the field. Gostkowski’s missed extra point and missed 42-yard FG hurt. Tom Brady’s bone-headed taking of a sack allowing the clock to run out without even a field goal try was the piece de resistance in how to lose in Miami. Brady says he thought they had a time out left. Maybe the heat got to him.

The maddening part of this game (well the ending mostly) is that while the offense was able to score touchdowns in the 1^st half often and using various players, the Pats defense gave up those touchdown leads almost as easily. And with a missed extra point, every time Miami scored a touchdown, they went back ahead.

Especially galling was the inability of the run defense to corral a guy who is about to call it a career, Frank Gore (35), who had 92 yards on 12 carries (7.7 yard avg.). Gore did not score any touchdowns though. That was left to ex-Patriot Brandon Bolden, who according to the announcers had had one carry for the season. Bolden, always a standout special teams player, stood out on this afternoon as he had carries of 54 yards and 6 yards for touchdowns. They were his only two carries on the day! An outsider might say that the Dolphins Brain Trust has been misusing Brandon Bolden.

Bolden’s scores offset touchdown catches by Cordarrelle Patterson (wow! finger tips!) and Julian Edelman. Yet the Patriots were up by 6 just before half when Albert McClellan blocked his 2^nd punt of the day. After a pass to Gronk, the ball was on the two with 21 seconds left. The Pats took their last time out after Gronk’s catch. What followed was two incomplete passes and a sack of Brady by Robert Quinn who beat LT Trent Brown. The loss of possible points there would be crucial.

The Patriots have had trouble scoring in the first and 3^rd quarters. The Pats had Develin’s 2 yard score in the 1^st quarter, but then the missed extra point. The Pats were held scoreless in the 3^rd quarter (missed FG) and had just two FGs in the 4^th. Credit has to go to Miami’s D.

Seven seconds. Miami has no timeouts. They are on their 31. A completed pass and 2 laterals. Patriots players, like JC Jackson, didn’t seem to know whether to cover a man for another lateral or tackle the ball carrier. Gronk was the last line of defense, but a stumble and bad tackling angle kept him from stopping Kenyan Drake’s TD run. 69 yards. Game over. Arrghh! Miami remains the Pats’ House of Horrors. 4 road losses!

The Pats need to beat the Steelers next week in Pittsburgh. One home field playoff game is probably lost. They don’t need to lose the bye and have to play a wild card team.

LEFTOVERS

The Patriots run defense had looked promising against the Vikings (95 yards, though they went away from the run), and the Jets (74 yards). A true barometer might have been the 150 yards they gave up to Tennessee, the week before their bye.

Frank Gore fumbles on the first play of the 2^nd half. Trey Flowers knocked it out. DL Lawrence Guy ended up sitting on the ball which was pulled away by a Dolphin.

The Patriots pass rush has been evolving. Sunday they sacked Ryan Tannehill 5 times, and hit him a total of 9 times. Tannehill still went 14 of 19. Trey Flowers sacked Tannehill twice. Just before the half, John Simon and Alan Butler combined to sack Tannehill whose RT stepped on his right ankle. Tannehill came back in the 2^nd half to hurt the Patriots.

The Dolphins had two sacks but they were costly. One was Quinn’s as time ran out in the 1^st half, and the other was by Bobby McCain, which came just before the end of the 3^rd quarter on a 3^rd and 3 from the Miami 47. Marcus Cannon, who mostly blocked well against Cameron Wake, took a bad false start penalty which made it 2^nd and 15. So Edelman’s 12 yard catch wasn’t a 1^st down. McCain’s sack followed.

LB Albert McClellan, recently added, had 2 blocked punts. One led to Edelman’s TD catch. The other should have resulted in points before the half, but Brady took the sack.

Just before Gostkowski’s missed 42-yard FG, Edelman dropped a flanker screen on 3rd and 8 that would have been a 1^st down.

On Miami’s 2^nd game possession, Stephon Gilmore missed an INT and probable TD.

Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com thanks to Buffalo Steve Lenz

BULLETS

• Sorry Navy fans like Richard Flinn and Buffalo Steve Lenz. Army was too strong. A good game if you liked defense. I was impressed with Navy’s linebackers. Belichick has drafted Navy grads before. Long snapper Joe Cardona is one of them.

• After a disastrous road trip, the Bruins returned home and mulched the Leafs 6-3 (per Jack Edwards) and Ottawa 2-1 in OT. They just got D Charlie McAvoy back from a concussion and he gets a cheap shot from Toronto’s Zach Hyman. Hopefully McAvoy has no ill effects. He did play regular minutes vs Ottawa. McAvoy is very good at getting the puck out of his own end, and is effective on the power play and penalty kill.

• Meanwhile the Celtics have started to find all their gears. Coach Brad Stevens has Jaylen Brown coming off the bench now. They beat the Chicago Bulls by 56 points and that was without Al Horford and Aron Baynes.

• The other night NESN used a different camera angle at times in the Bruins game. The camera angle was from behind the goalie so the action is coming right at the viewer. They can then switch back to the normal view.

• Kevin Draper and Ken Belson of The New York Times (12/7) had a story on the NFL and KC RB Kareem Hunt. The article mentions that while the NFL questioned Hunt about an episode in June at a resort in Ohio (Put-in-Bay) where he supposedly punched a man, they never asked Hunt about the February incident in Cleveland (in which he reportedly shoved and kicked a woman). NFL – Not Fully Looking.

In the same article, it is mentioned that in the Ray Rice incident which the NFL badly mishandled, Robert Mueller was brought in to investigate the NFL’s conduct. Mueller’s report stated: “the NFL should have done more with the information it had, and should have taken additional steps to obtain all available information.”

•PC does the hard part beating BC at Conte Forum, but then loses at home to UMass. A learning experience.

• In Sunday’s Globe (12/9), Peter Abraham notes that in the playoffs, Craig Kimbrel allowed 7 earned runs on 9 hits and 8 walks in 10 2/3 innings.

• Abraham also added that the Red Sox still owe Pedro Sandoval about $19 Million which ends after the 2019 season. Interestingly Boston.com’s Mark Dunphy (3/6/18) had the numbers as $18,455,000 in 2019 and a $5 million buyout in 2020. Bad trade. Lost $.

• Per the Globe’s Ben Volin (12/9), ESPN has the Patriots 32^nd in the NFL (that’s last) in ‘third and medium’ offense. That’s defined as 3^rd and between 3-6 yards to go. The Pats convert 35.4% of the time. Stats Inc has them at 34.2% for 3^rd and between 4-6 yards.

EMAIL

Yesterday’s Pats game very Shakespearean " A Comedy Of Errors".

Trivia got me - the Sax part was not computing - well win some lose some.

Ken Forestal

Ken, that Comedy of Errors became a Tragedy for the Patriots and their fans. - Z

James, believe Boz Scaggs is the artist on your music quiz. A great blues guy, and Silk Degrees, as we’ve discussed before is a classic. Peace brother.

Mike Curtis

Mike, good guess but incorrect. - Z

What!!! Is this the perfect example that there can be two right answers???

Mike Curtis

Mike, no, because the key is that Boz was never in a band that had a Top 30 hit in the '60's and a #10 song on his own. In 1967-1968, Boz played in the Steve Miller Band which did not have a Top 30 hit from Children of the Future or Sailor. That band did have a couple charting songs on the third album Brave New World which had Space Cowboy, but Boz had left the band by then. Plus Boz didn't have a #10 song on his own in the '60's. Try again. - Z

At your request, how about Van Morrison?

Mike Curtis

Mike, your 2nd guess is right on. It's Van the Man. I knew you could do it. - Z

Boz Scaggs.... I do believe... Special K Special K - good guess but no. - K

Ok....now I have a brain cramp....before I answered incorrectly...my issue was with the clue "he played saxophone", harmonica and guitar....well doesn't everyone? This is what made me choose Boz....

So I fall back on my best Jeopardy advice...first answer that pops into your head....which was Van Morrison but I have no knowledge of him playing sax...also I have only heard him referred as Blue-eyed Soul...not White Soul. Special K Special K, yes, always go with the first answer that comes to mind. Van Morrison is correct. Sometimes there will be a reference to blue-eyed soul (like Hall and Oates). I didn’t know if the Belfast Cowboy has blue eyes. He does. - Z

THE HOT CLUB

Amanda read the paragraph in the Hot Club section of last issue’s Sportzine in which I mentioned her. She corrected me that her ring is made of just one fork. I admitted that that made sense because that led to the Bear talking about cork and the things people in Portugal make out of cork. Suddenly a voice from across the bar said ‘Cork Soakers’. This was in reference to a Saturday Night Live sketch about a family of cork soakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Deqx-Xb-yHY

I was telling Britt that I had seen 3 great movies in the span of a month: Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born (twice) and Green Book, the other day. Britt agreed that she wanted to see the latter and likes Viggo Mortenson. I told her Viggo was great as was his co-star whose last name was Ali, someone I hadn’t seen before. Britt said that the actor, Mahershala Ali, starred in Moonlight which I have not seen. She recalled that Moonlight wasn’t initially given the Oscar for Best Picture due to a snafu. A check of IMDb shows that Ali won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Oh and I told Britt that one thing that surprised me about Green Book is that the director is Peter Farrelly, Rhode Island’s own (and Cumberland’s) Farrelly Brothers who are more known for comedies. Britt knew Peter Farrelly directed it, of course.

LAST ISSUE’S TRIVIA ANSWER So last issue I asked you to name a white singer of soul who can play guitar, sax and harmonica, had a hit song with a group in the ’60’s, a #10 on his own in the ’60’s, had a platinum album in the ’70’s and wrote a song with which Rod Stewart had a #5 hit. My Air Force buddy Mike Curtis had the answer as did Special K, albeit on their second guesses – Van Morrison. Sir George Ivan Morrison’s group Them had a Top 30 hit with Here Comes the Night. Morrison had a hit in 1967 with Brown-Eyed Girl. The ’70’s platinum album was Moondance. Rod Stewart’s version of Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately was #5 in 1993.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

What is the best selling movie soundtrack of all time? For extra credit, what was the soundtrack that it pushed to #2? My thanks to Pal Al for the trivia suggestion.

SZ694

BY JIM DAWSON

DECEMBER 3, 2018

A QUESTION OF BALANCE – PATS RUN AND PASS TO BEAT VIKES 24-10

The Patriots showed the Vikings how to use both the run and the pass to overcome a tough adversary. It just took longer than Pats fans wanted. On the day, the Patriots would rush for 11 first downs and pass for 14. They used 7 different runners to gain 160 yards: Michel led the way (17 carries for 63 yards). Edelman (2/35), White (6/26), Burkhead 7/20), Cordarrelle (1/6), Develin (4/5 and 2 TDs!) and Brady 2/5 helped out. Yes, Tom Brady, feeling his oats, ran 5 yards for a 1^st down on 3^rd and 3 on their 2^nd possession.

As I mentioned last issue, the Patriots need to run to offset the opposition’s pass rush. Sunday, Brady wasn’t sacked at all and the Vikings had only 1 QB hit. On the D side, the Pats had 2 sacks (Flowers and Butler) and 6 QB hits (Lawrence Guy had 2). NE put good pressure on Vikings QB Kirk Cousins all game and he threw 2 INTs, one right after Brady threw his only INT.

Brady (24 of 32 for 311 yds.) often had all day to throw, and he passed the ball around to 8 different receivers, none named Phillip Dorsett! He had a plethora of riches with Rex Burkhead (2 for 2, 21 yards) and Gronk (3 for 4, 26 yards) in, though still shaking off a balky back. At one point Gronk was a yard from the 1^st down, but couldn’t drag the one defender for the 1^st. That’s not the Gronk we know, but we’ll take him any way we can.

The Patriots outplayed Minnesota the whole first half, and were up 10-0 when the D let down just before half. Before that last drive, Cousins was 9 of 13 for 32 yards! He was 6 for 6 for 69 yards and a 5 yard TD to Adam Thielen, his only catch of the half, as the Pats D clamped down well on him (10 targets, 5 catches for only 28 yards).

So, as a Pats fans, I was miffed that after controlling the game, the Pats let down and were only up 10-7 at half. I was even more peeved when the Vikings tied the game 10-10 (sorry, my Minnesota amigos, your defense at least played well). But the stronger team prevailed. On their 2^nd possession of the 2^nd half, the Pats had a chance for a 48-yard FG but Gostkowski had a rare miss. It didn’t help that on the ‘drive’, NE had 3 penalties on the offense. On their 3^rd possession the team went 75 yards on 4 plays. Josh

Gordon did the honors with a 24 yard TD catch. On the Pats 4^th possession at the start of the 4th quarter, Julius Edelman returned a punt 23 yards to the 50. Set up with that good field position, the Pats used a pass interference penalty drawn by Gordon, some runs and a 10 yard catch by Gordon to the 2 that resulted in James Develin’s 2 yard TD run. Aaaah! With a 2 touchdown lead, Pats fans could now relax a little. On to Miami.

LEFTOVERS (ALL STATS VIA GAMEBOOK)

Amazingly, Josh Gordon did not have a 1^st half pass thrown his way. His 3 for 3 and 58 yards and a TD in the 2^nd half made up for it.

Oddly, the Vikings went away from their run game. In the 1^st half, Dalvin Cook had 5 carries for 62 yards (12.4 avg.). He would end up with 9 carries for 84 yards (9.3 avg.). Cook was much more effective than Latavius Murray (4 for 11 yards). But Minnesota only ran the ball 13 times in the whole game. The Patriots ran it 39 times.

Penalties continue to be a bugaboo. The Pats had 7 for 60 yards. One (Brandon King) negated an Edelman return off 22 yards to the Minny 44. Surprisingly, Gronk had 3 of the penalties.

The Patriots have been looking for someone to be a goal line force capable of getting a yard or two for a TD ever since LeGarrette Blount left. They may have found that force in James Develin, who scored from 1 yard out and 2 yards out. This against the best NFL red zone defense in the Vikings. Develin started the game listed as the tight end.

Minny was 3 for 12 on 3^rd down. NE was 7 for 14.

Noticed #22, Obi Melifonwu, who is a safety. Obi is 6’4” and 224 lbs. He was added when the Raiders cut him. NE has used Chung, who is 5’11”, to guard TEs. Look to see if Obi is groomed to take that role. Melifonwu had a tackle on special teams Sunday.

BULLETS

• The NFL still doesn’t get it. The domestic abuse by KC RB Kareem Hunt is a case in point as the NFL only put him on the ‘exemption list’. When video surfaced, KC cut Hunt who had lied to them about the incident. Before you congratulate the Chiefs, be aware that they drafted WR Tyreek Hill despite knowing that he had been charged with punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach. The NFL doesn’t want to know.

• Saturday was a sports fan’s smorgasbord. There were NCAA football championships: Oklahoma over Texas 39-27 for the Big 12. Alabama over Georgia 38-35 for the SEC. Oklahoma’s QB Kyler Murray got them into the playoffs (CFP). However, Murray, who was drafted with the 9^th overall pick in June by the Oakland A’s, will play baseball next year. Murray, an outfielder for the Sooners, is 5’10 which is probably why no NFL.

Georgia blew a 2 TD lead against ’Bama. The Bulldogs coach, Kirby Smart, tried a fake punt at midfield with the game tied. The Tide then scored the go ahead TD. Not Smart!

• A strange side story in the Alabama-Georgia game was the revelation that the Tide’s QB Tua Tagovailoa admitted to being disciplined by his father, Galu, who would hit him with a belt if he didn’t do well academically or when playing football.

• The Bruins, doing their best despite injuries, got into a 2^nd period brawl with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Even Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask wanted to fight Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard. After the fight ended, the Bruins PA system played Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance.

• Saturday was also NCAA basketball. Creighton gave the #1 team Gonzaga a tough fight before succumbing 103-92. Gonzaga gave Duke its first loss. The PC Friars used their inside game and good mix of youth and veterans to handle the URI Rams 59-50.

• Also on Saturday the Boston Celtics beat the Minnesota Wild 118-109 in Minneapolis. The Green won over the Wild whose lime green uniforms looked like popsicles.

EMAIL

I knew it was Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” but I had to look up Willie Dixon.

Matthew Dawson

Matt, so you get partial credit. - Z

Jim - read Zine all the way thru today - I think I might just know answer to Trivia - I just put Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon "Live at the Village Gate" on turntable - with Spirit recently going thru litigation with Led Zeppelin, I seem to remember Dixon also sued Zeppelin for plagiarism - the song-I have nary a clue.

Ken Forestal

You are right, Ken. Willie Dixon. It was Whole Lotta Love. - Z

Howdy Jim. My guess is Willie Dixon who wrote a ton of great blues numbers recorded by other artists. Also, he sued Led Zeppelin for basically using his "You Need Love" (recorded by Muddy Waters) song, juicing it up and calling it "Whole Lotta Love".

Bobby Sisto

Bob, yes the answer is Willie Dixon, one of the greats who doesn't get enough credit for his songwriting and band work.

And you knew he sued and won in his lawsuit against Led Zep for Whole Lotta Love. - Z

Sportzine was written while listening to The Saw Doctors’ Sing a Powerful Song.

Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com thanks to Buffalo Steve Lenz

THE HOT CLUB

Things were a little slow so I told Foot Joy, the Bear and Beth that I had learned that a wombat’s poop is cube shaped. Within seconds, Beth showed us visual confirmation of that on her cell phone.

In a conversation with the usual cast of characters, including Special K, I mentioned that one of the only words in the English language that does not have a rhyme is ‘orange’. Shortly thereafter, Foot Joy held up his cell phone and showed us ‘sporange’. Sporange, per the Oxford Dictionary site, is a very rare alternative form of sporangium, which is a botanical term for a part of a fern. So I told Foot Joy that this was such a rare term that I refused to accept it as a rhyme for orange.

Amanda was wearing a bracelet made of bent forks. I thought she said the bracelet was made of cork. The Bear said that in Portugal a lot of things are made with cork. I told them both that we used to have spoon rings. They were made out of bent spoons.

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

Last time, I asked you to name the bluesman who wrote many hits that were recorded by others, played in a house band that backed many other great blues men, and who sued a major rock group over not getting credit for writing one of their big hits. Only Ken Forestal and Bob Sisto had the complete answer – Willie Dixon and the song was Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love. Matt Dawson knew the song but not the artist.

Willie Dixon wrote Hoochie Coochie Man, You Shook Me, I Just Want to Make Love to You, Little Red Rooster, Spoonful, Back Door Man, My Babe, I Ain’t Superstitious and I Can’t Quit You Baby among others. Per the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Dixon sold many of his songs for $30 each so he never got the royalties.

While at Chess Records, Dixon produced, arranged and played bass on sessions for Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson.

(Source – rockhall.com). Wikipedia noted that in 1987 Dixon won a settlement vs. Led Zeppelin for use of his music in Bring It On Home and the lyrics from You Need Love on Whole Lotta Love. Willie Dixon is in the Blues and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

This singer has a voice for white soul. He can play guitar, sax, and harmonica. In the ’60’s he had a top 30 hit with a group and a #10 song on his own. In the ’70’s he had a platinum album. In the ’90’s, Rod Stewart had a #5 US hit with this man’s song. Name?

SZ693

BY JIM DAWSON

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

PATRIOTS GROUND AND POUND JETS 27-13

When Patriots fans quizzed me on how the Tennessee Titans could whip NE by 24, part of my answer was the following. The Offensive Line was beaten up. I saw LaAdrian Waddle sub in for both LT Trent Brown (who was ill during the week), and RT Marcus Cannon. Not good. Ted Karras played RG vs. the Titans. Hard to run without an intact O Line. It’s obvious that the Patriots need to run to win. It gives pause to pass rushers, and we all know that a heavy rush gets Tom Brady unsetttled.

The Titans game saw the return of Sony Michel, who had 11 carries (31 yards). James White had one carry all game. Part of the meager running numbers (19 carries for 40 yards) had to do with the Pats getting down by 2 TDs in the 1^st Half.

On Sunday, the Patriots had their Offensive Line intact. LT Brown, RT Cannon and RG Shaq Mason were all in on Sunday. Waddle was seen once as a TE next to LT Brown. La Adrian immediately caved to the pass rush. No matter. That Offensive Line paved the way for Sony Michel, who had a career high 133 yards on 21 carries, and James White who added 73 yards on 9 carries. And let’s give a shout out to Cordarrelle Patterson who bulled his 6’2”, 228 pound frame for a big 1^st down.

The Patriots started slowly and looked logy from the layoff. Yes, Tom Brady did lead them to a TD and FG, but the D gave those points back. However the intact Offensive Line was protecting Brady. It wasn’t until the 3^rd quarter that the Pats offense seemed to get in sync, scoring a FG (at 8:34), and then Edelman’s 21 yard TD (at 1:52). And the next Patriot possession resulted in Michel’s 1-yard TD run that grounded the Jets.

It helped too that in the 2^nd Half, the defense took over in stopping the run and chasing Josh McCown (2 sacks, 13 QB hits total per Gamebook). Trey Flowers had a sack and 4 QB hits. Deatrich Wise Jr. had the other sack and 3 QB hits.

Tom Brady was not sacked though he took some hits (5). He was happy to have Gronk back and targeted him a team leading 7 times (3 catches, one a 34-yard TD). Gronk also came to Brady’s rescue as he knocked away a sure interception by CB Jamal Adams.

Brady threw to 8 different receivers. Josh Gordon and Julius Edelman were both targeted 5 times. Gordon caught all 5. Edelman, who looked to have hurt his right elbow in the 1^st Half, had 4 receptions and the big 3^rd quarter TD. Gordon had a high catch on 3^rd down that got the Pats a 1^st down and led to Gostkowski’s 1^st half 34-yard FG. Gordon also had a sensational diving catch on 3^rd an 10 for a 1^st down that was unbelievable. It led to Michel’s clinching 4^th quarter TD run.

Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan, who had disappeared of late, each had 2 targets and 2 catches. Strangely, James White was targeted 5 times but had only 1 catch.

The Patriots will need to have all their weapons Sunday next when they play the Vikings

LEFTOVERS

Bill Belichick will not be happy with his team’s 11 penalties (105 yards), 7 of them in the 1^st Half. Of those 7 in the first half, three were on receivers (White, Gordon and Patterson). LT Trent Brown had 2 holding calls, but one was declined as the Jets took the one on David Andrews for a chop block. Rustiness? Hopefully only that.

The CBS guys had this early stat: the Patriots at home convert 3^rd downs 47.6% of the time, but 31.7% on the road. Sunday NE was 5 for 12 (42%). Not great, but...

Jets head coach Todd Bowles had a curious call in the 1^st half. On a NE 3^rd down play, the pass was incomplete. A penalty was called on White. Bowles, instead of going with 4^th and 2, took the penalty that made it 3^rd and 12. Next play Brady hit Gronk for a TD.

Early in the 2^nd Half, Sony Michel was hurt as he was bent backwards by two tacklers. He came back, fortunately, and ran great. The Pats had 66 yards rushing in the 1^st Half, 215 for the game. So they had 149 yards rushing in the 2^nd Half. Ground and pound.

BULLETS

• In Sunday’s Steelers – Broncos game, analyst Tony Romo opined that Pittsburgh was the best balanced team in the NFL. Then Jim Nantz reminded Romo of the New Orleans Saints. That best balanced Steeler team then went on to lose to Denver.

• Nice to see the Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 Saturday. Jake DeBrusk scored a goal and now has 7 in the last 9 games. Sadly, the Bruins play Montreal ony 4 times.

• The Celtics are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The NY Times’ Sopan Deb (11/25) had this: the Celts are shooting under 35% on catch and shoot 3 pointers. The Green are also near the bottom of the league in drives to the rim per game.

• The PC Friars basketball team looks to provide pleasure to their fans this year as Ed Cooley molds them into a team. In a Kevin McNamara article about the win over Iona, I learned that getting open is now called ‘relocating’.

• Per Bill Chuck (Cafardo quotes his stats every Sunday in the Globe), David Price had the most starts vs the AL East, and went 9-4 with a 3.70 ERA (Boston Globe – 11/25).

• Just found out that Lady Gaga performed at Half Time of Super Bowl LI (51). That’s the one where the Patriots came back from 28-3 to beat the Falcons. Maybe Lady Gaga will be in Atlanta for this year’s Super Bowl.

EMAIL

Jim,

Trivia, first thought was Jefferson Airplane? They were bay area. Maybe I’m stuck on obvious?

Garry Gillett

Garry, good guess but no, not the Jefferson Airplane. - Z

Jim - enjoy your time off - Let us not forget Celtics - they are in a bit of spin at moment-

Last week’s Trivia - good one - I was thinking Cooder - but he doesn't play fiddle - I even remember John Hartford played with Garcia - but not with other Dead - you stumped brother - now Bromberg played with Jerry Jeff Walker and he said in an interview that after shows they would do "nasty" things to Bojangles.

In your answer to this week’s Trivia - I just put QuickSilver’s "Happy Trails" on the turn table 

Ken Forestal

Ken, yes, last week’s answer was David Bromberg and only Professor Peter got it. Have you ever heard Bromberg's Sharon? It's a hoot. Look for the You Tube from the LP Demons in Disguise. It's better than the live version.

Celtics are still sorting out lineup and bench. Brad Stevens will fix their problems.

As for Quicksilver Messenger Service, a favorite is Pride of Man. 'Oh God, pride of man, broken in the dust again.'

I love that it was Dale Evans who wrote Happy Trails. I still use that as a close to my emails some times. - Z

Kimbrel - moving on!

Kelly - staying could be closer (Kelly told Jim Rome he likes Boston as does his wife)

Quicksilver song - "Shady Grove" – Nicky Hopkins piano opening haunting.

Ken Forestal

Ken, yeah pretty cool that a Brit like Nicky Hopkins could contribute to a San Francisco Sound band.

Just saw Bohemian Rhapsody. It's as good as A Star is Born. Saw prevue of Rocketman, a new pic about Elton John. - Z

THE HOT CLUB

In talking to the Bear, Foot Joy and Fleet Feet Pete, I noted that with the Red Sox winning the World Series, it made me wonder whether any city had won all 4 major professional championships in the same season. The Patriots have a chance to win another Super Bowl. The Celtics could win the NBA Championship. The Bruins, with their youth (‘utes’) and injuries, are unlikely to win the Stanley Cup. Foot Joy, of course, immediately reminded me that tha Patriots play in Foxboro. I researched it to see if any city/area had done it. Answer at the bottom just before the Trivia.

The night after Thanksgiving, the Hot Club was graced by PC basketball coach Ed Cooley. There were many requests for cell phone selfies with Coach Cooley. And it was only fitting that PC fan and employee Charlie Clancy had his pic snapped with Coach Cooley. Remarkably, Charlie, who bleeds black and white, wasn’t wearing his PC cap.

I was lamenting Alex Cora not getting Manager of the Year despite leading the team to the best regular season record with 108 wins. Foot Joy felt that Oakland Manager Doug? Melvin deserved it and pointed out that the voting is done before the playoffs. I told Foot Joy that as a Red Sox fan I wanted Cora to win it. FootJoy said that Melvin would probably rather have the World Series trophy instead of the one for Manager of the Year.

Answer to winning 4 major pro championships in the same season: No one has ever won all 4. But one team did win 3. In 1935, Detroit won the MLB, NFL and NHL championships. There was no NBA in 1935. The NBA was formed in 1946. CHECK

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

The question was to name the San Francisco Sound band that had albums in the Top 30, played at Monterey Pop and recorded a Dale Evans song. Ken Forestal and Professor Peter got it. Special K had it but admitted she looked it up. Making his Mark had part of it (Quicksilver). Quicksilver Messenger Service had a few hits including Fresh Air, Pride of Man, and their cover of Happy Trails.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

This great bluesman wrote many hits that were recorded by other people, yet his own career was less than successful. He played in a house band that backed many great black musicians. He was revered in Europe. He sued a major rock group (and won) over not receiving credit for writing a song that was a major hit. Name? The disputed song?

SZ692

BY JIM DAWSON

NOVEMBER 12, 2018

TURKEYS IN TENNESSEE – TITANS FEAST ON PATRIOTS 34-10

Well, Thanksgiving came early for Mike Vrabel and his Tennessee Titans. They invited the Patriots to dinner in Nashville, and then feasted on them. First three Tennessee possessions – TD, TD, FG. While the Patriots fought back with 10 points, they had a chance to score before the half. But with poor field position at their 9, NE was cautious (and knew they had the ball in the 2^nd half). Tennessee held. With 4 minutes to half, and a 3^rd and 14 on NE’s 41, Marcus Mariota hit Corey Davis, who beat Stephon Gilmore for a 20 yard completion. Not long after Derrick Henry ran it in and the TD made it 24-10.

Vrabel had his team playing smash mouth football, not only on the O and D lines, but every hit on a ball carrier or receiver. James White was hit hard early, possibly a shot to the ribs. White had only one run in the whole game.

Julius Edelman paid for his performance (12 targets, 9 catches, 104 yards), and took hard hits every time he touched the ball. Edelman left with an ankle/foot injury.

Tom Brady, when he wasn’t under pressure, still had a poor day throwing the ball. He was sacked 3 times and the Titans had 6 QB hits. It didn’t help that his offensive line had some injury/illness problems. LT Trent Brown, who missed practice with an illness, went out and La Adrian Waddle went in at LT. When Brown returned, he gave up a sack.

RT Marcus Cannon also went out for a bit and Waddle switched to RT. As it was, Ted Karras was playing RG in place of Shaq Mason. That didn’t help Brady’s composure.

The coup de grace was when Josh McDaniels called a trick play and Edelman threw the ball to Brady on 3^rd and 7. Brady caught the pass but stumbled and hit one of his legs with the other falling 1 yard short of the first down. On 4^th an 1, Marcus Cannon did the inexcusable and was offsides. The 4^th and 6 never had a chance. The Titans added some dessert when they completed a pass to Mariota (see, this is how you do it), and the drive was completed with another Henry score, making it 34-10.

It ended Brady’s day with 7:06 left in the 4^th quarter. Patriots fans do no want to see Brian Hoyer in the game at QB unless it’s a kneel down with the game in hand. The Patriots, like turkeys, had their heads chopped off. No Tennessee Waltz on this trip.

LEFTOVERS

Josh Gordon was targeted 12 times but only had 4 catches. One pass went through both his hands. Gordon dislocated a finger last week, and you wonder if that had an effect.

The Patriots had two sacks, but those were their only QB hits on the day. NE has had trouble with mobile QBs (even Blake Bortles!), and Mariota was at his elusive best. He only ran twice (20 yards), but kept plays alive. This was the best that I’ve seen him throw the ball, and on this day WR Corey Davis tortured CB Stephon Gilmore. Davis caught 7 passes on 10 targets for 125 yards and a TD. Adding insult to injury, Gilmore was flagged for interference twice on Davis (one accepted), and a 3^rd was on an uncatchable ball.

This was a total team loss. Special teams allowed a 58 yard return on the opening kickoff. The offensive and defensive lines were beaten badly in the trenches. The Titans were more physical than the Patriots. Vrabel outcoached the master, Bill Belichick. Good thing that the bye week is here. There’s lots to work on.

EMAIL

Gonna take a stab in naming Rusty Young as the artist described. Don't know if he ever recorded with the members of the Dead, but all the aforementioned command of those instruments certainly apply to his talent.

Bill LaPlante

Good guess, Bill, but incorrect. - Z

David Grisman? Grateful Dawg is one of my favorite music films.

Glenn Dewell

Good try, Glenn, but that's not the answer. -Z

Hi Jim,

It was a great week for Boston sports - Celtics aren't getting out of the gate in the same manner as the BoSox, but I remain optimistic. 

You referenced The Dead in your trivia quiz, so I feel compelled to respond. Still a guess though... David Grisman - a multi stringed instrument guy who's been in and out of Dead world since the 80's. I know he recorded with Jerry Garcia (Old, and in the Way), but I can't find any larger 'Dead' collaborations.

Bill Shea

Glad you ventured a guess even if it's wrong. You're the 2nd person to guess David Grisman. It's a more well known artist. - Z

Thx Jim. When I read ‘more well known artist’ it occurred to me that Spencer Davis played with the Dead. I recall Bob Weir thanking Spencer Davis after joining them for “So Glad you made it.”

An encore guess...

Bill Shea

No not Spencer Davis, Bill. Isn't he a Brit? - Z

Hey Jim good job as always. I’m taking a stab at this trivia question….could it be Ry Cooder? He played a lot of instruments and styles, I’m just not sure if he played with the Dead guys backing him.

Cheers,

Tom Robinson

Tom, great guess, but no, not Ry Cooder. Into the Purple Valley was one of my favorite LPs by him. Saw Cooder open for Randy Newman in Boston many years ago. Fabulous concert. Thanks for giving the trivia a try. - Z

Jim,

I noticed you left out Kinsler in Gold Glove recognition?

Kimbrel-they offered -but hopefully he moves on-I saw Kelly get interviewed-1 question was him as closer-he seemed quite ready and OK with it.

Kinsler will not be back-Petey? James Harrison (Pirates) is available if insurance needed-Phillips??

Pomeranz-Triple A at best velocity ??

Pearce/Eovaldi- Yes

If I had a vote:

Rookie-Andujar/Buehler

Manager-Cash/Counsell

Pitching-Verlander/DeGrom

MVP-Betts/Yelich

Talk Soon

Ken Forestal

Just wanted to highlight the 3 amigos in the OF. I knew that Kinsler was up for a Gold Glove, and he got it. Some said Moreland was up for one too. Not sure if he had enough games.

Doubt Kinsler will be back. Pedroia's knee 'reconstructive' surgery did not go well. He might be done. Steven Wright had same surgery! Not sure if same doctor.

Phillips is gone as is Pomeranz. Hope that Eovaldi is back and Pearce too.

As for 2B, they have options in the minors. Right now it's still Nunez and Holt. But Chavis and Dalbec aren't far away.

Alex Cora should win Manager of the Year. Even with the highest payroll, he connected with each member of his team and created a real team. All the $ doesn't translate to World Series championships.

Definitely Mookie for MVP. But what an insult to JD Martinez not to be a finalist. Over Trout who played far fewer games? What morons are in charge of this? - Z

Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com thanks to Buffalo Steve Lenz

THE HOT CLUB

Having just seen A Star Is Born, I was raving about it to everyone. The music is great. Lady Gaga’s voice is wonderful and actor and director Bradley Cooper’s singing is better than expected. The writing credits for the music go for the most part to Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Jason Isbell (of Alabama) and Lukas Nelson, Willie’s son. IMDb gives it an 8.3, which is outstanding, and revealed that Lukas Nelson taught Bradley Cooper how to play guitar. In a first for me, I bought the soundtrack before seeing the movie and hearing the music.

In discussing A Star Is Born with Bianca, she said that she had just seen Bohemian Rhapsody and liked that better. I told her that IMDb gave it an 8.4. She mentioned that there are some historical inaccuracies but it’s still worth seeing. And she knew that Rami Malek, who plays Freddie Mercury, was not the original choice. That would be Sasha Baron Cohen, but the band, especially Brian May and Roger Taylor didn’t want Cohen. Bianca didn’t know that director Bryan Singer was removed before finishing the film.

So that will be my next movie choice. Ernesto and his friend Jenn ‘Double N Jenn’, who have seen Bohemian Rhapsody, strongly suggested that I see it at IMAX.

Fleet Feet Pete told me that Jason Gay, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, calls Patriots head coach Bill Belichick a ‘grumpy lobster boat captain.’

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

The question was to name the multi-instrumentalist who’s played bluegrass, rock, blues, jazz, C&W and had two songs on which 5 members of the Grateful Dead (including Jerry Garcia) played. Only Peter of the Professors got it – David Bromberg. On his LP Demons in Disguise, the Dead played on the title track and on Sharon, which is a personal favorite of AF buddy Mike Curtis and me. Listen to it, but just the LP version.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

Recently we had Ken Forestal’s question about a performer who came out of the Bosstown Sound. This trivia question is about one of the San Francisco Sound bands. This band had some success with several of their albums in the Top 30 of the Billboard charts. They performed at Monterey Pop. They even recorded a song by Dale Evans. Yes, that Dale Evans. Name the band. Extra credit for the song by Dale Evans.