SZ707

BY JIM DAWSON

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

ERRATA

Last issue I mentioned that Dolly Parton wrote I Will Always Love You for her mentor and then partner Porter Wagoner. However I misspelled his last name as Wagner. Mea culpa. I corrected it for the print copies. Also, I neglected to give Bill LaPlante credit for getting the quiz answer, Dolly Parton, correct. Mea maxima culpa.

RAVENS FLY HIGH, LEAVE PATRIOTS LOW 37-20

Patriots fans were well aware that the Ravens would be a serious test of how good that NE defense really is. Well, not only the Defense, but the whole team flunked that test.

When your star QB contributes an interception at a crucial time and your star receiver coughs up a fumble that is returned for a touchdown, there’s a strong chance that your team is going to lose. And so it was.

The Patriots have jumped on their opponents in the 1^st quarter. Not this game as Baltimore held them to zero points while scoring a TD and FG both on 11 play drives. In fact, the Ravens were up 17-0 before NE scored.

Down 17-13 at Half, the Pats would make adjustments and come out strong with the 2^nd half kickoff. Well all of it was trending that way until Julian Edelman tried to gain more yards and fumbled on the Baltimore 30. Whereupon Marlon Humphrey took it for a TD.

The Patriots would then score a TD on their next possession to make it 24-20 and offer hope for a comeback. Alas, the Ravens would go on a 14 play drive that ended with a

TD pass to TE Nick Boyle. The uphill climb at 31-20 just got tougher.

It was now the 4^th quarter and the Pats had the ball with 14:54 on the clock. NE got the ball to the Ravens 48 when Tom Brady tried to hit Mohamed Sanu with a deep pass. Earl Thomas intercepted. The Ravens then used 14 plays, took 9:35 off the clock, and scored the back breaking TD to make it 37-20, and leave NE with barely 3 minutes left.

That last drive was helped twice by Pats’ penalties when Baltimore was stopped on 3^rd down. Dont’a Hightower was called for offsides, resulting in a 1^st down. Jason McCourty was whistled for hands to the face also giving the Ravens a 1^st down. The Patriots don’t usually contribute to their own demise but did so in this game.

LEFTOVERS

The Ravens ran for 210 yards (155 in the 1^st half!). The Pats entered Game # 9 ranked 9^th best in the NFL against the run. Allowing the speedy and elusive QB Lamar Jackson to get 61 yards was one thing. Letting running back Mark Ingram rumble for 115 (97 in the 1^st half) was not. The inability of NE to stop the run gave Baltimore a huge Time of Possession edge (37:01 to 22:59).

The Patriots gave the Ravens 1^st downs by penalty 4 times. On the very first Baltimore drive, they were about to kick a FG on 4^th down when DE Shilique Calhoun went offsides (neutral zone infraction). The Ravens then scored their first touchdown.

The Ravens were 4 for 4 in Red Zone Efficiency. The Pats were 2 for 4.

NE sacked Lamar Jackson only once (Lawrence Guy) and had 3 QB hits. The Ravens sacked Tom Brady twice, but hit him 10 times. Pats fans better hope that LT Isaiah Wynn makes it back for Game #12 versus the Cowboys. They need him protecting Brady’s blind side. Also Wynn may help with blocking on run plays which has suffered from his loss, that of center David Andrews and FB James Develin.

On a positive note, Mohamed Sanu had 10 catches on 14 targets. Julian Edelman had 10 catches on 11 targets. If N’Keal Harry can contribute after the bye week along with TE Ben Watson and the running back receivers, it’ll give Tom Brady more weapons.

This game was the sports equivalent of Sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill.

BULLETS

• Congratulations to St. Raphael Academy classmate Ray McGee who was inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame last Friday. Ray was inducted for his mentoring and coaching and directing numerous athletic programs. A well deserved recognition.

• Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on their World Series win. They are the first team in MLB history to win 4 games on the road. The Nationals got good pitching from their starters, especially WS MVP Stephen Strasburg, and timely hitting. It was a fun bunch who knew how to rally when the chips were down. Games 6 and 7 were great.

• The Bruins are off to a red hot start (10-1-2) and with 22 points have moved ahead of 2^nd place Buffalo (20 points) in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division . They are fueled by their fabulous first line: Pastrnak (13-14–27), Marchand (8-15–23) and Bergeron (6-8–14). Tuukka Rask has been stellar in goal (7-0-1). Go Bruins!

• The new look Celtics are also doing well and even knocked off the Bucks after trailing by double figures much of the game. They are 4-1 and 2^nd only to Philly in their division.

Go Green!

• Today JD Martinez decides whether to opt out of the last three years of his contract for which he’s owed $62.5 Mill (per the Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato - 11/3). It’s doubtful that he’d get more as basically a DH (back issues). If he does it helps Boston cut payroll.

The Boston Globe just reported that JD will not opt out of his contract.

• My daughter Cara texted me because she was curious about the Pats jettisoning of Josh Gordon. I sent her a link to a piece quoting Tom E. Curran that Gordon may have been late for meetings and was hard to find at times. Not a good sign. By cutting Gordon after the trade deadline (and having Seattle pick him up), the Pats were able to save the final 9 weeks of his $1.07 salary.

• I got a head start on the Christmas season by viewing Black Christmas (1974), a horror movie with Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Andrea Martin and John Saxon. IMDb gave it a 7.2. It has some unbelievably salty dialogue for the time and was directed by Bob Clark. While Clark is also known for directing the Porky’s movies, he also did A Christmas Story (with Darren McGavin), still one my favorite yule time films. IMDb gave it an 8.0.

EMAIL

Jim,

I'll take a crack at the music trivia a bit later. However, if you've never seen "The Hunger" with Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon, I'd say to give it a roll (Deneuve & Sarandon do in the film) as it is a pretty story of vampirism.

Woman protagonist. Well directed and cast. 

I just wish the Broncos would send John Elway away from headquarters, quarterbacks, and coaches. Ol' horse-teeth John is on every commercial that comes out of the Denver market. He'll shill anything to make a buck and I say that he needs to move into a full time job selling clog proof gutters or some sort of super adhesive tape for groin injuries.

How are you liking the Series, Jim? Was pulling for the Nats and I hope that they push it to game 7 with a win tomorrow night. Strasburg vs. Verlander, though all the great pitchers haven't been dominating the hitters. Big early innings for both teams.

I am enjoying the heck out of it because no Yankees anywhere in the mix.

Bill LaPlante

Hi Bill, I did see The Hunger some time back. Might be time to re-visit it.

I've been rooting for the Nats too. Let's see if tonight they can force a 7th game. Strasburg has been very good, but the Astros are hot.

As if the Broncos didn't have enough trouble, I see that Flacco is out. The Avalanche are doing well. Your Canadiens are doing OK. The Bruins are starting to get scoring from other players besides the 1st line but wow, what that 1st line has done already is amazing. Let's just hope everyone stays healthy.

Will await your trivia answer. - Z

Hey Jim,

I just remembered seeing the news that Scotty Bowers recently passed away on the 19th of October at the ripe old age of 96. It would seem that lots of sex is good for you....

CM

Hi CM, yeah old Scotty passed away recently. I read his book and saw his documentary. Had mixed feelings about the Hollywood Stars that he outed, but as a movie fan found it interesting. Brad and I had just watched Forbidden Planet and the first person Bowers mentioned in his book was Walter Pidgeon. - Z

Jimbo: As always, a great read, the 'zine, that is. I'll go with Tom Rush, for the trivia answer. I, too, saw him @ Salt, circa 1974-5.

Tom Wallis

Tom, good guess, but no, not Tom Rush. I love Rush and have seen him several times. He did one of the last shows at the old Leroy Theater in Pawtucket. He commented that the place was falling down when a piece of plaster fell from the roof onto his head. Besides Urge for Going, Circle Game, Rockport Sunday and No Regrets, another favorite is Lost My Driving Wheel. Thanks for emailing. - Z

Jim,

I'll go with James Burton for the trivia answer. Certainly a versatile performer on stage and in the studio. He just came to mind when you spoke of Memphis, he being associated with Elvis for many years as well.

"Big White" Bill LaPlante

Bill, good guess, but no, not James Burton.

JD,

Zine always a fun read - even if I'm humbled by most of the trivia questions. You're a fortunate man - with the colorful (and musically savvy) friends you mention in the Zine, and your sense of humor.

I'll do some additional research on this week's trivia question due to the Newport connection. Of course, I missed most of the 70's while "defending" our southern border stationed at USAF bases in Laredo, San Angelo and San Antonio. 

Bill Shea

Hi Bill, thanks for the kind words. We needed your defense of the Southern border during those '70's.

Usually there is some remnant regarding places that have gone under, disappeared, etc., like the Slater Park Zoo. However I couldn't find anything about Salt except a very limited set list for Muddy Waters from 1975. Nothing about the venue at all, like how long it was in existence, when it folded, etc.

One of my readers emailed about seeing his fave - Aztec Two Step - at Salt. I also liked that duo and saw them there multiple times. Then I listed some other performers that I saw there and the list, while not complete, was extensive (ED.: See Garry Gillett’s email below). Back then we didn't mind driving from Pawtucket to Newport and then back on any given night. Much more selective now. Will await your trivia answer. - Z

Jim,

The Trivia Q: After considering Prine, Sam the Sham, Randy Newman, I still only have a WAG --> Dr John. The timing of Dr John's career seems to fit a late 70's swing thru Newport, but Robbie Robertson as his first producer (?)

Bill Shea

Bill, nice try but it isn't Dr. John. Hint: most of the artists who appeared at Salt were folkies.

Hi Jim,

Great time of year for football and horror fans. I am both! I own over 3500 horror movies from all over the globe.

You mentioned “The Salt”, man I spent so many nights there. I am a big Aztec Two Step Fan and saw them there many times. Is the guy in the trivia question named Winchester? Haven’t had much luck with the questions lately.

Garry Gillett

Garry, yes a great time for football, especially if you are a Patriots fan.

I'm impressed that you have that many horror movies. I have a lot but nowhere near that amount. Am waiting for Parasite. I liked Snowpiercer which the same director did.

Glad to hear that you also frequented Salt in Newport. Aztec Two Step was also a favorite and I saw that duo multiple times there. Among others, I also saw Tom Paxton, Eric Anderson, Dave Van Ronk, Ian and Sylvia, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot and Tim Hardin there (if memory serves me correctly).

As for your trivia answer, yes it's a man named Winchester, Jesse Winchester, who did Yankee Lady, Biloxi and Brand New Tennessee Waltz. He fled to Canada rather than serve in the Vietnam War. Came back when Jimmy Carter pardoned those that refused to serve. Saw him upon his return to the US. Thanks for your email. - Z

Jim-I believe it's Jesse Winchester-I saw a Documentary recently and Winchester was one of the artists discussed-The Salt - saw Pearls Before Swine/Jim Kweskin/Maria Muldaur and others there.

Ken Forestal

Ken, you are absolutely correct - it's Jesse Winchester. Had to flee US and go to Canada because he got his draft papers and didn't want to go to Vietnam. That's probably why Canadian Robbie Robertson produced his first album. - Z

THE HOT CLUB

Was discussing Martin Scorsese’s newest movie The Irishman with Cap’t Jack, Dr, John, Making his Mark, Special K and Fleet Feet Pete. It’s long - about 3 hours and 29 minutes but getting great reviews. IMDb gave it an 8.5. The first info that I saw said it was only available on Netflix, but would then be released to movie theaters (to qualify for an Oscar). Well, that info was incorrect. The Irishman was released to theaters on November 1, and will be shown only during the month of November, and then will go to Netflix November 27 . Current update – The Irishman will only be shown on a limited basis in US theaters. I just looked and it is listed as playing Cinemaworld in Lincoln from Friday Nov. 22 – Tues. Nov. 26. That’s it! Blame Netflix. While they backed the movie financially, this is a travesty. A pox on Netflix.

The Bear said he and Mrs. Bear just saw Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. While he thought that it was the newly released one with added footage, I told him that I doubted that one was out yet (online look says it was released to some theaters Oct.25). The original movie is long. A check of Wikipedia shows that it is 2 hours and 41 minutes (161 minutes). The newest release is 10 minutes longer (so 171 minutes or 2 hours and 51 minutes), and includes 4 extra scenes that are bookened at the beginning and end as ‘commercials’. I’ve seen it already but would see it again, extra 10 minutes or not.

LAST ISSUE’S QUIZ ANSWER

So last time I asked you to name the singer/songwriter/guitarist and keyboardist who was more known for other people doing his songs and whose first LP was produced by Robbie Robertson and engineered by Todd Rundgren. Garry Gillett and Ken Forestal had the correct answer – Jesse Winchester. Rather than serve in the military during the Vietnam War, Winchester fled to Canada in 1967. He was given amnesty in 1977. Winchester was born in Louisiana and grew up in Mississippi. He was related to the Lee family of Virginia (Henry Lee II and Richard Henry Lee). While in Canada, he joined up with the Rhythm Aces. Winchester was the first to record Third Rate Romance. His highest charting song was Yankee Lady (#8 in Canada). Michael Martin Murphey recorded Winchester’s I’m Gonna Miss You Girl which went to #3 on Billboard’s Country chart.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

This woman was an American singer/songwriter/pianist. Her style was a hybrid of pop, jazz, R&B, show tunes, rock and soul. A number of artists had hits with her songs as she did also. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Name?