#63

        The past year has been pure torture for most New Orleans Saints fans, myself included.  It all began with a heartbreaking loss to the 49ers in last year’s playoffs which saw the Saints stage an amazing comeback only to have it erased with seconds to go by our defensive backs’ inability to cover the 49er tight end. (I guess I have to note that the 6’3” 250 pound tight end did run a 4.38 40-yard dash, but I digress.) That was followed by an investigation by the Commissioner-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named which decimated the coaching staff and cost the team its defensive captain. This season’s 0-3 start has several NFL analysts ranking the Saints 32^nd out of 32 teams and is bringing back feelings that Saints fans everywhere thought they had moved past. Just 3 short years removed from the Saints’ Super Bowl victory which took them 43 seasons to accomplish, experts and football fans alike have written off the 2012 campaign as just another woeful performance by the NFL’s lovable losers. You see, after being formed in 1967, the Saints didn’t finish .500 until 1979 and didn’t finish with a winning record until 1993. Their 1^st playoff win was in 2000, followed 9 years later by their Super Bowl XLIV victory. But for all the losing seasons, the Saints always had 1 record which was theirs and theirs alone. And it stood alone for Saints fans to cherish for 28 years until it was tied, tied again, and then tied again. So now, at 0-3 and ranked at the bottom of many NFL rankings, I look back at our record and smile. So in honor of Tom Dempsey, his half-foot, and his mighty leg, I present our guest number of the day:

#63

Dempsey's half-shoe on display at the Hall of Fame

a.) It all started during the Saints 4^th season. In a November game against the Detroit Lions, the Saints were losing 17-16 with seconds to play. The previous record for the longest field goal which had stood for 17 years was 56 yards, and Tom Dempsey was lining up at the Saints own 37-yard line to kick a 63-yarder. (And in case you aren’t a student of Saints history, I guess I should mention that Tom Dempsey was born with only ½ a foot with which to kick. His flat-front kicking shoe can still be seen at the Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.) Dempsey made the kick and earned his spot in the record books. Dempsey’s record would stand for another 28 years before being tied by Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos. Three years later the record was tied again by Sebastian Janikowski of the Raiders, followed by David Akers of the 49ers a couple of weeks ago. But for Saints fans everywhere, until someone has the boot to send one 64 yards, our guy will always be the original record holder from 63.

b.) And speaking of football, or futbol, or whatever they call it in Japan, this video from a Japanese J. League Division 2 soccer team taken in November 2011 captures the world record for the longest header struck for a goal. It’s pretty amazing to see the thing go in, especially after watching it bounce over the keeper’s head. So congratulations to defender Ryujiro Ueda of the Fagiano Okayama team for heading a ball into the back of the net from 57 meters and 80 centimeters away—or as we say in America, 63 yards. I’m not sure which would be more difficult, kicking it with half a foot or bouncing it off your head.

c.) The 63^rd U.S. Open saw an 18-hole playoff decide the tournament for the 2^nd consecutive year. The previous year’s champion, Jack Nicklaus, didn’t even make the cut after finishing the second round +11 for the tournament. The 1962 runner-up, who lost to Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff, would rise to the top once again and find himself in another playoff. History would repeat itself, however, and Arnold Palmer would once again be forced to settle for the runner-up spot. Poor weather conditions wreaked havoc on the professionals and resulted in the highest winning score since WWII. It also crushed the dreams of the many amateur participants as no amateurs made the cut for the 1^st time in Open history. The 3-man playoff consisted of the ’52 Open winner Julius Boros, ’61 top ten finisher Jacky Cupit, and the 3-time Masters and ’60 Open champion Palmer. After bogeying the 2^nd playoff hole, Boros settled in and carried a 3 stroke lead onto the back nine. Palmer’s chance ended when he triple-bogeyed the 11^th hole and took himself out of contention. Boros would go on to finish the playoff -1, with Cupit posting a +2 and Palmer a +5. With the victory, Boros became the 2^nd oldest golfer to win the U.S. Open. And before you feel too sorry for Arnold Palmer, he would go on to win his 4^th Masters the next year to complete his list of 7 Majors wins. And when was the 63^rd U.S. Open played? It was played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, in June 1963.

d.) On August 20, 2008, Gene Upshaw died at the age of 63, bringing an end to his 41 years working with the NFL, as a player from 1967-1981 and as the Executive Director for the NFLPA from 1983 until the time of his death. During his time as Executive Director of the players’ association, Upshaw presided over the 1987 strike, as well as several lawsuits brought by the players against the league which ultimately ushered in the age of modern free-agency. During his 15 year Hall of Fame playing career, Upshaw only wore the uniform of one team: the Oakland Raiders. Before his retirement, Upshaw would play in 3 AFL title games, 7 AFC Championship games, and 6 NFL Pro Bowls. He would also play in 3 Super Bowls in 1967, 1976, and 1980, making him the only player to play for the same team in a Super Bowl in 3 different decades. (Jerry Rice is the only player to have played in the Super Bowl over 3 decades, but he played with the 49ers and the Raiders.) An imposing figure, “Uptown Gene” stood 6’5” and played at somewhere near 255 pounds. His health and endurance over his entire career led to Upshaw breaking the record for consecutive starts at left guard. From 1967-1981, Upshaw started 207 consecutive regular season games in addition to 24 playoff starts for a record total of 231 consecutive starts at left guard. And what was on that Oakland Raider jersey that played in 231 straight games?

#63

 

#26

Billy Williams

      As the temperatures continue to cool and September draws to a close, so too does my favorite season of the year.  No, it isn’t the Louisiana summer with its oppressive heat, overwhelming humidity, and mockingbird-sized mosquitoes.  It’s baseball season.  And a quick look at the late September standings shows an all too familiar sight as the Yankees sit in 1^st in the AL East, while the Cubs are only 33 games back in the NL Central and already hanging the “Maybe Next Year” signs up in Wrigleyville. So in honor of baseball, pennant chases, and Cubs great Billy Williams, I present to you our guest number of the day:

#26

a.) On September 21, 1986, 26 years ago today, the San Diego Padres defeated the Houston Astros 5-0 in front of 23,385 fans at the Houston Astrodome. The Astros were in 1^st place at the time while San Diego sat 12 games below .500. As most teams do late in a season with no playoffs to contend for, the Padres called up a young pitcher to make his 1^st Major League start. Jimmy Jones, born in Dallas and drafted 3^rd overall by the Padres in 1982, took the mound that day opposite 16-game winner Bob Knepper. While in high school, Jones made a name for himself by once striking out 28 batters on 251 total pitches in a 16-inning game. Jimmy Jones would once again make people take notice as he went on to pitch all 9 innings that afternoon in 1986, striking out 5 and giving up only 1 hit (a 3^rd inning triple to the opposing pitcher Knepper!)  Jimmy also logged his 1^st Major League base hit with a 2^nd inning single, and scored his 1^st run later that inning. By pitching a one-hitter in his 1^st Major League start, Jimmy Jones earned his spot in the record books that day right alongside Juan Marichal who had accomplished the same feat in 1960—26 years earlier.

A $1 bleacher seat ticket to the 1929
World Series @ Wrigley Field

b.) In 1929, the AL’s Philadelphia Athletics met the Chicago Cubs in the 26^th playing of baseball’s World Series. For the Cubs, it was their 6^th World Series appearance and marked the 1^st time the World Series would be played at Wrigley Field. In a World Series which featured 10 future Hall of Famers (8 players and both managers), the Athletics would prevail four games to one. The Cubs appeared a bit rusty right out of the gate as the Athletics’ 35-year-old pitcher Howard Ehmke struck out 13 batters, a record which would stand until 1953, en route to a 3-1 Game 1 victory. The Cubs and Athletics would then split Games 2 and 3 leading up to the pivotal Game 4 matchup in Philadelphia. Athletics’ manager Connie Mack had determined to use only right-handed pitchers in the Series to combat the Cubs right-heavy lineup. Because of this, he was forced to start 45-year-old Jack Quinn in the 4^th game. The Cubs had no problems targeting his pitches as they raced to an 8-0 lead after 6 ½ innings. And then the comeback to end all comebacks, the Mack Attack as it is known, began. In an inning which saw the Athletics plate 10 runs, including 3 on an inside the park homerun after a Cubs outfielder lost the ball in the sun, the Athletics overcame the largest deficit in baseball playoff history. The Athletics would then defeat the Cubs 3-2 in Game 5 to clinch the Series. The Cubs would play in 4 more World Series, winning none of course, with their last appearance coming in 1945. Maybe Next Year!

"The Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry

c.) What do Jim Fregosi, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, and Gene Autry have in common? They’ve all had a jersey number retired by the Anaheim California Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California…or whatever that team is called now. It seems that back in 1960 when Major League Baseball was looking for someone to start up the new franchise in Los Angeles, Gene Autry (AKA The Singing Cowboy) was the owner of several radio stations. Autry took the initiative and contacted MLB in an attempt to secure the rights to broadcast the new team’s games on his stations. Due to his persistence and obvious business sense, baseball executives were so impressed that they offered him first rights to ownership of the new franchise. Autry also served as Vice President of the American League from 1983 until his death in 1998. Because Major League rosters are generally limited to only 25 players and due to his unmatched devotion to both the Angels organization and baseball in general, the Angels retired jersey number 26 in honor of Autry and his role as the “26^th Man.”

d.) And speaking of jersey #26, it was actually worn in games by one of baseball’s greatest pitchers of all-time. Satchel Paige did not make his Major League debut until age 42 due to segregation, making him the oldest debuting rookie in baseball history, but his career in the Negro Leagues had begun 22 years earlier with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts. Paige was 58 years old when he threw his final Major League pitch in 1965 as a member of the Kansas City Athletics. During his 18 seasons prior to breaking into the Majors, Paige was phenomenal. He had an overall record of 100-50 with a 3.22 ERA and 1,170 strikeouts. Satchel Paige threw 89 complete games, 27 of which were shutouts. The 1934 season was arguably the best of Paige’s career in any league. To go along with his 2^nd career no-hitter, he finished that season with a 14-2 record and a 2.16 ERA, striking out 144 and walking only 26. Other than his age, Paige’s Major League numbers weren’t overly impressive but few could have even made a team at age 42. Satchel Paige finished up in the Majors with 28 wins and 31 losses, 288 strikeouts and a 3.29 ERA. And how many career starts did Satchel Paige tally during his 6 seasons in the Majors? You guessed it- 26.  

#37

       Ah, fall is nearly upon us. The mornings are crisper, the air is lighter, and football dominates Southern life from Thursday ‘til Monday. Of course, an 0-2 start by the New Orleans Saints as well as my fantasy team already has me wondering how the Cubs will do next spring. (As if we don’t all know the answer to that one already…) At least my Tigers, Neville and LSU, are 2-0 and ranked extremely high. While not watching or listening to football, I tend to read about it which is how I found an article this week about a high school kid from Florida that caught my eye and led to our magic number for today:
 

#37

a.) Senior running back Derrick Henry of Yulee High is one of the most prolific runners in Florida high school football history. His career total of 8,753 rushing yards places him in third place all-time in Florida, just behind NFL Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith and his 8,804 yards. But this past weekend, Derrick tied another impressive record by rushing for over 100 yards in his 37^th straight game. Derrick, all 6’3” and 240 pounds of him, ran over, around, and through the defense of South Lake High to finish with 41 carries for 303 yards and 5 touchdowns. And how many games has Yulee High played since Derrick’s career began? 37. Meaning Derrick Henry has never not rushed for over 100 yards in a game. A kid this good has to have a highlight reel, and here it is.

b.) During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, this year’s incarnation of the USA men’s basketball team claimed to be better than the original 1992 Dream Team which included Jordan, Magic, Bird, Ewing, Robinson, Barkley, Malone…basically the entire 2nd floor of the basketball Hall of Fame. After everyone threw in their own two cents on the matter, the 2012 team set out to destroy Olympic records. And they apparently decided to do it all in one game against the Nigerians. During that game, Carmelo Anthony took it upon himself to top the record for most individual points in a game, which he did in less than three quarters, finishing with 37 points on 10-12 3 point shooting. The rest of the team chipped in as well as the US broke the Olympic record for team points in a game with 156. (They had over 100 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.) The US broke the previous total points record of 138 with 4:37 still left to play in the game.  The team also broke the Olympic record for points in a half (78) as well as American records for 3-pointers (26), field goals (59), and shooting percentage (71%). Their dominant performances on the way to the gold medal podium left many still debating which of the two Dream Teams would have won in a head-to-head matchup.

Bronze Medalist Chanatip Sonkham of Thailand
makes the other girl look slightly uncomfortable.

c.) And speaking of the 2012 Summer Olympics, this past summer we witnessed 10,820 athletes representing 204 nations gather to compete in the XXX Olympiad. Of those 204 nations, Great Britain led the way with 541 representatives while 11 different nations sent only 2 athletes. (The US was second to Great Britain with 530.) Israel and Thailand both qualified 37 Olympians who participated in 17 Olympic sports. After sending 4 athletes to the finals in windsurfing, floor gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and swimming, Israel failed to earn a single medal for the 1^st time since the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Thailand fared slightly better by earning 3 total medals in women’s weightlifting, men’s boxing, and women’s taekwondo, although they failed to earn gold for the 1^st time since the 1992 Barcelona games.



Bobby Isaac and his #71 Dodge.

d.) NASCAR driver Bobby Isaac broke into the big time in 1963, seven years after he began full-time racing. It would be another five years before Bobby would win his first race, driving his #37 Dodge sponsored by K&K Insurance. Bobby would beat out 22 other racers in the 1968 Columbia 200 race, including LeeRoy Yarbrough and Richard Petty. His average speed over the 100 mile race that afternoon was a not-so-blistering 71.35 mph. To this day, Bobby Isaac remains the only NASCAR driver to win a race behind the wheel of a #37 car. He would later go on to win the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Championship. Bobby last raced in the 1976 World 600 in Charlotte, NC, and was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1979, as well as the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996. He was also named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers of All-Time in 1998. And how many wins did Bobby Isaac accumulate during his storied career? 37, of course.

#46

                My first foray into the world of blogging has been, like so many things in my life, inspired by my wife. You see, she has suffered more than anyone due to my obsessive love of sports-related statistics. We met fifteen years ago and have now been married for 9 ½ years. You can only imagine the amount of useless sports trivia that she has been forced to pretend to listen to. So last week when she suggested I choose a slightly more public, if not silent, medium to relay my love for statistical analyses I begrudgingly obliged her. So without further ado, here’s my plan. Each week, month, or whenever I have the time to type, I will be selecting a number at random and then telling statistical tales relating to it. I think it’ll be fun so here we go with Number 1…no wait, number Number 1……well that’s just confusing. Here we go with my first blog entry:

 #46

a.) The last “official” Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash was held in 1979. Better known to everyone as the Cannonball Run, the 1979 race included a record 46 entries. The cross-country race, which was run from NY and CT and finished across the country just outside of Los Angeles, inspired the 1981 blockbuster movie starring Burt Reynolds. While some racers may have only planned to use their speed to outrun any local or state police they encountered along the way, others decided to use brains to outsmart the boys in blue. Of the 46 entries in the 1979 race, several made their way into the film due to their creativity. These included three drivers posing as priests, three young ladies wearing skin-tight suits to distract the cops, a fake ambulance with two male drivers and a female “patient” in the back, and a fake HAZ-MAT truck which most police avoided harassing. Of the 46 racing teams, 42 finished the cross-country trip. The winners were Dave Heinz and Dave Yarborough driving their Jaguar XJ-S. They finished the race in 32 hours and 51 minutes, averaging 87 mph.  There was only one minor accident when a racer tapped an exit ramp guard rail and suffered a broken suspension. Police officers were able to pick off a more than a few racers, with over 50 speeding tickets written across the country during the race.

b.)  During the 2011 NFL season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw a total of 46 touchdown passes, just 4 short of New England quarterback Tom Brady’s record of 50. While completing all of those touchdowns during the season, Drew was also able to eclipse Dan Marino’s 27 year old record for passing yards in a season (5,084). Incredibly he accomplished this in game #15 and finished the season with an incredible 5476 passing yards. Another amazing feature of the 2011 New Orleans Saints was the depth of their pass-catchers. The Saints had 13 different receivers who logged a reception in 2011. Drew’s 46 touchdown passes were completed to 9 different receivers. Through Week 2 of the 2012 season, Drew has thrown only 4 touchdowns to go along with 4 interceptions, after throwing only 14 interceptions in all of 2011.

Eugenio Velez strikes out...again.

c.)  Beginning in August 2010, Eugenio Velez began a Major League streak of going 0-fer that lasted a record 46 games, eventually spilling over into the 2011 season. Because of a bad start with the San Francisco Giants that season, Velez was sent down to AAA in favor of a call-up for Pat Burrell. Velez was then called back up and played alongside Burrell that summer. On July 26^th, Pat Burrell lined a foul ball into the San Francisco dugout which struck Eugenio Velez in the head. After this incident, Velez did a stint on the disabled list before being re-activated later that season. Post-injury, Velez went 0-9 for the remainder of 2011 and then began the 2011 season with an 0-37 stretch leaving people wondering about his quick return to action. Velez wound up back in AAA Albuquerque in 2011 where he finished with a very respectable .339 batting average.

d.) Nolan Ryan. Not much more to be said, right? Over a career spanning four decades, from 1966-1993, Ryan notched a record seven no-hitters and 5,714 career strike outs as well as being an eight-time All-Star and a World Series Champion. Ryan retired at age 46 after his 1993 campaign, during which he started 13 games and finished with a 5-5 record and a 4.88 ERA. And how did baseball’s all-time strikeout leader fare in the season which saw him turn 46? Over 66 1/3 innings, Ryan struck out 46 batters. And while all of these statistics seem to tie so nicely together, perhaps the most memorable moment of Nolan Ryan’s career for both baseball fans and non-fans alike occurred during his final season. The now-President of the Texas Rangers organization squared off on the mound against the now-manager of the Chicago White Sox, Robin Ventura. At the time, Ryan had been pitching in the Major Leagues longer than the 26 year old Ventura had been alive. And when Ryan logged the only HBP of his final year in the Majors, history was made. (Click to enjoy!)