NFL Conference Championship Picks and NFL Dumpster Dive - by Brian Phillips

I hope you haven’t been betting my picks. Jesus, what a mess.

1. I forgot to never fade the Patriots at home…. especially when they have two weeks to prepare. It was over but quick. How great did Tom Brady look! Grrrr.

2. The Colts’ performance baffled me. That said I think we’re learning that the Chiefs are improving on defense and especially at home.

3. I was on the right side for the Saints and Rams, but I missed how those games went by a long shot.

Oh well, to hell with all that. My role here is to mine some great YouTube videos involving our combatants for this weekend’s conference title games.

Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints

Sunday January 20, 2019

This may seem like a dull Rams/Saints game on a random Sunday in 1978 and you would be right. The gold is in the commercial content I found picking up in the third quarter tied at 3-3.

Right off the jump we get the end of a Ford commercial. Before you buy a 1979 Pinto you should see this.

Fuck yeah! I want one too! Not so fast. That $3700 sticker price advertised in’ 78 is over $14,000 bucks today. I did however locate one for $850. It may have been sitting in a field for a minute.

Here’s the broadcast.

Hank Stram was on the color for CBS. Such a character, and not long from his final coaching gig at the helm of these same hapless Saints. (Hapless was a popular sports term for bad teams in my youth.) This will give you a great overview into the man and it will cost you no “coin of the realm.”

Not long after the Pinto spot we find a promo for a Kristy McNichol CBS TV movie called “Like Mom, Like Me.” Near as I can figure they’re both learning about their touchie feelies, and mom is probably screwing the not as good looking guy from the show Emergency. They used to make TV movies that would air once or twice and disappear forever. Anyway, this is a football game. Seems like they’re missing their target audience.

Okay fuck this game. At the 4:55 mark they reminded me my Seahawks were beating the snot out of the Raiders 24-0 and look at this! The late great Charlie Jones and Len Dawson were on the call from the Kingdome. You remember Len Dawson don’t you!

We pick it up just before the second half kick off with the Hawks up 21-0.

We think of the Raiders of that era as a machine, but they were merely pretty good in 78. The Hawks meanwhile were on their way to a 9-7 mark and the franchise’s first ever winning season.

Ok gotta move along. I’ll enjoy more of this one later. Always fun to kick Raider ass back in the day.

My pick: Saints 31 Rams 27

New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday January 20, 2019

My search for meaningful Patriots/Chiefs TV footage from back in the day has been fruitless so I’m going to go in a different direction.

The Chiefs have been so good this season it’s easy to forget they haven’t been in this position in a generation. January 23, 1994…. It did not go well.

Man I miss Dick Enberg. Chiefs fan does not miss Marty Schottenheimer.

To find Kansas City’s last win in this spot we have to go all the way back to the 10th and final AFL Championship game on January 4, 1970.

This is pretty amazing stuff. Posted last fall is the radio broadcast married with whatever game footage they could find.

The Chiefs would prevail that day 17-7 and go on to easily defeat the Vikings in the Super Bowl.

It’s easy to forget that the New England Patriots were not always an automatic entrant into the title game. After winning an AFL playoff game in 1963 (see last week’s post) the Pats wouldn’t find post season success again until 1985. They beat the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins to qualify for Super Bowl 20 only to get swamped by the suffocating 1985 Bears 46-10. What do we remember about that game?

At any rate it was a good run for that Pats team led by quarterback Tony Eason and a with a great offensive line . As big a dick as he is Craig James was a really good back.

(Bonus at the 20 minute mark below. A VCR commercial. We’ve come a long way. And thank God for obsessive home recorders. There’s so much outstanding content floating around in the ether. Great for a long winter’s night.)

My Pick: Patriots 35 Chiefs 32

Brian and Greg Answer My Two World Cup Questions - by Colin Gawel

Gents,  How did your previous predictions turn out and what were the biggest surprises leading to the semi finals? How do you see it playing out from here? 

Greg - BriPhi looks a lot smarter than I do to this point...we were both on France, and he called the full-on EuroFinal. I'm amazed by the Year of the Underdog...not completely, but the teams that have gone home so far...wouldn't have guessed (as I've proven in this very space). I'm seeing a France-England final...France dominates theirs, and England in a close one. As far as the final, my heart says England, but my head says France. The Battle of the Channel!

The plus for England is that while Harry Kane had an off-night in the scoring column, his mates picked up for him. I do think the Golden Boot goes home with Kane.

Brian P. - I'll stick with France and agree with Greg that I like England to get through on the other end. France/Belgium will be wildly entertaining. For France's sake they need to be prepared for the Belgium counter attack way better than Brazil was. Brazil did a terrible job there.

My main surprise at this point was how well Russia did. They were at a serious talent disadvantage versus most of the field. It's been fun! Entertaining World Cup to be sure.

Greg - The X factor for France is Mbappe's speed. I don't think the Belgian defenders have anyone who has the wheels to stay with him.

Brian and Greg Answer Colin's World Cup Questions

Brian Phillips and Greg Bartram answer my simple minded World Cup questions entering the knockout stage of the tournament. - Colin G.

1) After group stage, whose stock is rising and who is falling?

Brian - To me the knock out stage (16 remaining teams, single elimination) is all about match-ups. We're seeing parity in this year's field. No one's stock is falling faster than host Russia. Uruguay exposed them 3-0 in the group finale. Spain will make quick work of them. I'm certainly more intrigued by Sweden after what they did to Mexico.

Greg - Agreed with Sweden, but I also thing El Tri still has a trick or two up their sleeve. This is a team that made the US look disinterested at home here in Columbus, so I think there's more here. Russia made out like bandits umping out to an 8-1 goal differential, but I think that was the adrenaline of being at home. I expect them to crater. Speaking of stock falling...Argentina? They barely made it, and out of a perennial powerhouse like that with a player the caliber of Messi to stink up the joint that badly...

What games are you most looking forward to in the first knockout round?

Brian - Brazil/Mexico for me. Can Mexico return to the form they showed against Germany? Can Brazil stand up to the physical game they'll see from El Tri? A not 100% Neymar should expect to be knocked around again. Will the center ref offer any protection or let them play? I am also very curious about England/Columbia. Heavy expectations again on the Brits. Does Harry Kane have another goal or two in him?

Greg - Brazil/Mexico, as Brian says, but also and especially France/Argentina. I think France dominates this. Uruguay/Portugal...Sorry, Suarez...you go home sad, methinks.

Do you feel the use of replay has been a success?

Brian - I have loved the replay. The ones I've seen they've gotten correct, and in important spots. And they've been efficient in the process.

Greg - I think VAR has been effective. I haven't seen one that they got wrong. The goal against Germany would've been a crime to let slip away. Not too much to break up the flow, but keeping the game legal...I'm all about it.

What teams would you put your money on at this point?

Brian- I'm liking France right now., but I'm glad I don't have money on this. Expect some surprises. The final four will be all Europeans.

Greg - I was all about the Sons and 'Ssons of Iceland, and sorry they didn't advance. Portugal's an interesting story, underdoggy because of the country's size, but turning out some of the word's best...Ronaldo has been a machine. And here's your Michigan debate...you have Michigan, but you root for the B1G, right? Same thing for El Tri. The US looks better the deeper Mexico moves...maybe their defense should Build a Wall?  I'm feeling Portugal

Reelin' and Rockin' @ The Gateway Schedule is LOADED - Elliot Smith, Mekons, Devo and more.

Hola, fellow rock n roll/movie fans. Brian Phillips and myself would like to thank all of you for supporting the Reelin' and Rockin' @ the Gateway Film Center film series, which is still going strong three years after we hatched this crazy plan in a bar somewhere.

To get you up to speed, a rock n roll movie is shown the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the fabulous Gateway Film Center. Drinks at 7 pm, movie starts at 8pm. Tickets are only $5, and all profits benefit CD1025 for the kids. 

Check out these upcoming movies:

March 18th : Turn it Up! A Celebration of the Electric Guitar.

April 15: Revenge Of The Mekons.

May 20: Heaven Adores You (New Elliot Smith doc).

June 17th: Devo Hardcore Live. 

Hope you can join Brian and myself for one of these great flicks - Colin G.

Click here for a story of the first twenty two Reelin and Rockin movies.    

Click here for the Reelin' and Rockin' Facebook Page.

Your Life Is Closer To Over: The Week That Was by Brian Phillips

I missed last week, but for good reason. Friday it was the Mariners and Tribe with my brother in Cleveland. The M's are, including that night, 1-8 since. I feel privileged to have witnessed the beginning of the end of their season.

Saturday and Sunday I was taking in my youngest's soccer tournament in Hilliard. The Dragons successfully defended their MOSSL title and Izzy successfully passed her first concussion test. (The final was a rough affair to say the least). ​I was actually quite calm through the whole thing. I didn't think it would help to flip out, run on the field and push down the kid who crunched my daughter's head into the turf. Being a grown up is hard.

Sunday was weird in that I attended Rock On The Range with my 15 year old. I didn't embarrass her too much. I'm pretty sure I was way more into Soundgarden than she. On the way to Crew Stadium "Flower" came on my Ipod and I commented that there was no way they'd play this late 80's obscurity. Not only was a I wrong, but they opened with it!​

News

​It's Memorial Day and all across America we remember those who gave all, and thank those who serve or served.... as it should be. Unfortunately it's not enough. We have a growing epidemic of men and women suffering in silence, behind a facade of post traumatic stress syndrome and severe head trauma. Our military health system is woefully inadequate to treat the scores who used to die in such circumstances. Today improved emergency care and better protective equipment keep them alive only to be returned state side to indifference and neglect. Read this piece and get really angry. Is the military drumming young people out so they don't have to pay for their treatment? Draw your own conclusions. 

Meanwhile the Boston Bombing case continues to generate the weird on many fronts. A friend of the dead bomber was about to confess to role in a 2011 triple murder when he attacked law enforcement and was shot dead they say. It's been theorized that dead bomber was involved in the unsolved crime. 

Last week two FBI agents involved in the shoot out with the Boston Bombers fell out of a helicopter and died, and Alex Jones just shit his pants. ​

Speaking of Jones, he says the Oklahoma tornadoes could have been steered toward their target by the government. Of course they were Alex duh... 

This article on a Facebook page dedicated to reuniting tornado victims with lost mementos will restore some faith in humanity unless you're completely dead inside. Some pictures were found about 100 miles away. ​

When you read this remember that banks have been gently reminded to end such practices. "Oh well' says the government, 'we did all we could.' ​

Anyone living in Western Washington will tell you that losing this bridge really sucks. Welcome to America's crumbling infrastructure. ​Fortunately no one was killed. 

If you haven't been following the story, the singer for Christian metal band As I Lay Dying is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his estranged wife. Now we have his defense: Roid Rage. Perhaps it would work better if he attempted the crime himself, but 'steroids caused my client to methodically seek out and hire a professional killer' doesn't have the same ring to it. Good luck with that. (By the way the hired gun was actually an undercover cop. I know big surprise there.)

The death of Doors founding member Ray Manzarek reminds that all those guys are going fast now. Mazarek was a guest on the morning show I produced in Seattle back in the day. I remember him smoking in our lunch room and talking a lot about the Doors. I've always been more impressed by the fact that he produced their first four X albums. ​

​Sports

​​This is why many stadiums and arenas have you pour your beer in a cup. Orioles outfielder Nate McClouth was nearly killed by fan hurling full can out of upper deck. By the way check out the catch. 

A favorite pass time of mine since the NBA stole the Sonics from Seattle has been bashing the league. I'd like to thank Charles Barkley for this ammunition. 

And Finally Tonight​

A Minute Maid Park snow cone vendor has been fired. This after a fan captured the man on his cellphone enter a bathroom stall, set his snow cones on the floor, and take a dump. That's awesome!​

​And you can't go without reading this. Man runs out of gas, sets up drum set on freeway berm.