Sports Sunday

I referenced watching Brian's Song recently. The movie is in part based on Gale Sayers' first autobiography. Decades later, in 2007, he co-wrote another. The book is down to earth, plain spoken, and in various cases inspirational.  There is a chapter on Brian Piccolo. We also learn he divorced his first wife (seen in the film). 

It is not "deep" or anything, but something an average fan (including a teenager) would be able to read.  He at one note flags the football skills of O.J. Simpson, but says his guilty is between him and God.  I would think it would be a good inspirational book to give to young people, especially with its support of family, hard work, and the promises of success if that is done.  The book also has a section on the importance of taking care of older players, from the era when they made very little money. 

The book shows how after a few years in football, he thrived in the business world (while spending some time in academics. The book uses a good technique of quoting choice comments throughout the book on the margins.  The last section is formation of an All Stars Bears team, which includes detailed discussion of the biographies of the people involved. 

ETA: One thing he discusses a bit is how his business took advantage of benefits for minority firms.  This detail shows how the book has a lot of stuff packed in there.  

There was some hope that the Giants and the Jets would have decent seasons, if at least in one case being something of a rebuilding effort.  The Jets QB started off hurt though back-up boy led them into a rather remarkable late game comeback that involved an onside kick.  

The teams are starting to look for real, especially the 5-1 Giants, who now defeated the Packers and Ravens in back to back games.  The Ravens aren't quite clicking, but that is still impressive. The Packers would seem to be impressive but then the Jets beat them 27-10 today, though it was 3-3 at the Half.  The Jets managed to beat Miami without their QB (or really their back-up), but this was a signature win for them.  

Both teams use their defense to keep games close and find a way to have a chance at the end.  The Giants seem more banged up, but their new head coach and defensive coordinator (and ex-Ravens guy) are showing the league something.  In both cases, it is careful not to be too cocky.  The Jets won once dominantly and the Giants repeatedly play close games.  

But, it starting to get fun.  The Jets would be tied with first if the Bills lost to Kansas City today.   The Bills won though.  I don't think the Jets will win the division or something so really am not chasing that.  I still fear somehow the Pats (on their back-up now but still winning) will jump ahead, so I'll root for each New York team, including the one that actually plays in the state. 

The one baseball game left from the division round was a possible Yankee elimination game, after them blew a lead of more than one run in a playoff game after 167 chances (this is rather remarkable, since it isn't too hard to score two, and it is not like even Mariano was perfect).  Looking at the box score, the Guardians had a lot of hits. But, it took until the ninth to secure a victory. 

I am not watching these games. My thought was still "be nice if they can finish off the upsets and beat the Astros."  The Yanks actually have not been as dominant of a playoff team as some others though they have a reputation as an "evil empire" for some.  I basically want to give others a chance, so do appreciate the Padres (who seem to have reached their potential with all those pick-ups) and Phils (well more since the Braves were knocked off) -- the second and third wild card teams -- advanced.    

Astros would seem to be favored, but it took something to beat Seattle. Seattle had a multiple run lead in the first game until the 9th and held them scoreless until the 18th in the third.  So, it was not that easy of a sweep.  We will see how it goes though the NL championship race is easier since I have no strong feeling against either team really.  

The Padres beat the Mets, but that was the Mets doing for not getting that extra win to avoid them. The Padres played the Mets tough during the regular season too, even without two of the three Mets top starters doing so badly two weekends in a row. Oh well.  See ya next season. I think the Padres have the better shot in the World Series too.  The Phils do have enough pitching and hitting that they won't embarrass themselves.  

As to the Yankees, it's a sweep for New York teams,  The series will go to a final fifth game.