National League Championship Series: Two Homers For Adrian Gonzalez Keep Dodgers In Series, Which Moves Now To St. Louis

At Los Angeles:

Adrian Gonzalez homered twice on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers held off the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 to cut the visitors' lead in the National League Championship Series to three games to two.  The Cardinals can still lock up the National League pennant with a game-six win back home in St. Louis on Friday.

National League Championship Series: Cardinals Double Up Dodgers; One Win Away From World Series

At Los Angeles:

Matt Holliday and pinch-hitter Shane Robinson hit the first home runs of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday as the St. Louis Cardinals doubled-up the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on the road in game four for a three-games-to-one series lead.  The Cardinals can wrap up the National League title with a game-five win in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

American League Championship Series: Red Sox Blank Tigers In Detroit, Take Two-Games-To-One Lead

At Detroit:

John Lackey pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit, eight-strikeout baseball as he out-dueled Justin Verlander (eight hits and ten strikeouts in eight innings), while Mike Napoli hit a solo home run in the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox blanked the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on the road in game three of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday.  The Red Sox now lead the series two games to one.

Scott Carpenter, Original Mercury Astronaut, Second American To Orbit Earth, R.I.P.

Scott Carpenter, the Mercury astronaut who, in 1962, became the second American to orbit the Earth, passed away at a Denver hospice last Thursday at age 88.

Mr. Carpenter had recently suffered a stroke.

Three months after John Glenn (who is now the last survivor of the Original 7 Mercury astronauts) became the first American to orbit the Earth, Donald K. ("Deke") Slayton was set to the next astronaut in orbit but was grounded by an irregular heartbeat, thus Mr. Carpenter (a Naval lieutenant commander at the time) got the call  to go aboard Aurora 7.

National League Championship Series: Dodgers Turn Tables On Cardinals, Blank St. Louis At Home, Cut Series Deficit To 2-1

At Los Angeles:

Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven innings of three-hit ball as he outgunned Adam Wainwright while Adrian Gonzalez delivered an RBI double as the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in game three of the National League Championship Series on Monday.  The Cardinals still lead the series two games to one.

American League Championship Series: Big Papi's Grand Slam Squares Game Two, Winning Run In Ninth Squares Series For BoSox At One Game Piece

At Boston:

David Ortiz hit a grand slam home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game, then, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox erased a five-run deficit at home and squared the American League Championship Series at one game apiece with their 6-5 game-two victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night.

The series will resume in Detroit on Tuesday.

Timbers Blank Visiting Sounders 1-0, Take Over Top Spot In Western Conference; On Cusp Of Playoff Berth; Whitecaps Win Cascadia Cup

At Portland, Oregon:

In Sunday lone Major League Soccer contest, Kalif Alhassan scored the only goal of the match in the 45th minute as the Portland Timbers took over top spot in the Western Conference by defeating the visiting, ten-man, Seattle Sounders 1-0 in a Cascadia Cup clash, enabling the Vancouver Whitecaps to win the coveted trophy for the first time since joining MLS in 2011.

The Timbers will play their final home game of the regular season this coming Saturday when they host Real Salt Lake.

Niners Top Cardinals For Third Straight Victory

At San Francisco:

Vernon Davis caught touchdown passes of 61 and 35 yards on a day in which he wound up with 180 receiving yards, a career high, as the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) defeated the visiting Arizona Cardinals (3-3) 32-20 in Sunday National Football League action.  Quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 252 and Frank Gore ran for 101 yards on 25 carries.

Ducks Remain #2 In Both Polls; Beavers Get Support In AP Poll, Pick Up More In Coaches' Rankings

This post is subject to updating.

The Oregon Ducks, following their Saturday road win over Washington, remained ranked second (behind Alabama) in both the latest Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls that were released on Sunday.  The Ducks had five first-place votes in the former, three in the latter.

After their fifth straight win, a blowout victory at Washington State, the Oregon State Beavers received some votes in the AP poll, where they would be ranked #31, while picking up more support in the Coaches' poll, where they would be ranked #30.

Beavers Bust Open Close Game, Smother Cougs On Road

At Pullman, Washington:

Sean Mannion threw for 493 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday night as the Oregon State Beavers (5-1 overall, 3-0 in Pac-12 play), who had trailed 24-17 in the third quarter, scored the last 35 points---28 of them in the fourth quarter----as they ended up manhandling the Washington State Cougars (4-3, 2-2) 52-24 on the road.

American League Champions Series: Five Pitchers Combine For One-Hit Shutout At Tigers Handcuff Red Sox In Series Opener

At Boston:

Five Pitchers----Anibal Sanchez (six innings of no-hit, six-walk, 12-strikeout ball who got the win), Al Albuquerque (one inning), Jose Varas (two batters in the eighth inning), Drew Smyly (one batter in the eight inning) and Joaquin Benoit, who got the save, combined for a one-hit (which came with one out in the ninth inning) shutout while Jhonny Peralta delivered an RBI single off Boston starter John Lester in the sixth inning for the only run of the game as the Detroit Tigers blanked the Red Sox 1-0 on the road in Saturday night's opening game of the American League Championship Series.

National League Championship Series: Michael Wacha Outduels Clayton Kershaw As Cardinals Take 2-0 Series Lead To LA

At St. Louis:

Michael Wacha pitched 6 2/3 innings of eight-strikeout shutout ball and John Jay's run-scoring fifth-inning sacrifice fly held up as the St. Louis Cardinals held off the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Saturday to take a two-games-to-none National League Championship Series lead.  The Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings and surrendered only two hits and one walk but still was tagged with the loss.  The series resumes in Los Angeles on Monday.

Riders Hold Off Stubborn Eskimos At Home

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Kory Sheets ran for 106 yards and scored a touchdown while the defense came through in the clutch on a goal-line stand on Saturday as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-5) held off the Edmonton Eskimos (3-12) 14-9 at home in Canadian Football League action.

Ducks, Despite Being Held Under 50 Points, Still Too Powerful For Huskies In Seattle

At Seattle:

Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for 366 touchdowns and three touchdowns and ran for an additional 88 yards and an additional TD as the #2 (both in the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls) Oregon Ducks (6-0 overall, 3-0 in Pac-12 play), again minus the injured De'Anthony Thomas,  defeated the Washington Huskies (#16 AP, #19 Coaches; 4-2, 1-2) 45-24 on the road on Saturday.  It was the Ducks' tenth consecutive victory over the Huskies.

National League Championship Series: Carlos Beltran Delivers All Three Runs As Cards Top Dodgers In Series-Opening 13-Inning Thriller

At St. Louis:

Carlos Beltran  hit a two-run RBI double in the third inning, then delivered the game-winning single in the 13th as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in Friday's opening game of the National League Championship Series.

MLB Playoffs (American League Divisional Playoff Series) Justin Verlander Pitches Eight Shutout Innings As Tigers Oust A's To Get Shot At Red Sox

At Oakland:

Justin Verlander pitched eight shutout innings (retiring the first sixteen batters he faced), surrendering only two base hits and one walk while striking out ten as the Detroit Tigers blanked the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on the road Thursday night in game five of their American League divisional playoff series as the Tigers took the series three games to two to advance to the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, which opens at Boston's Fenway Park this coming Saturday.  Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, which turned out to be the game and series-winning hit.

Remember, Folks, Keep It Refrigerated!

1958 commercial for Imperial Margerine.

MLB Playoffs (National League Divisional Playoff Series): Adam Wainwright Handcuffs Bucs As Cards Win Deciding Game; Get Dodgers Next

At St. Louis:

Adam Wainwright pitched a complete game on Wednesday, scattering eight hits as the St. Louis Cardinals, who got two-run homers from David Freese and Matt Adams, dominated the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 in game five of their National League divisional playoff series, enabling the hosts to end the Pirates' magical season.  The Cardinals will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the National League Championship Series on Friday.

MLB Playoffs (American League Divisional Playoff Series): Tigers Top Athletics To Force Game Five; Red Sox Finish Off Rays, Advance To ALCS

Both American League divisional playoff series continued on Tuesday.

At Detroit:

Pitcher Max Scherzer pitched out of a bases-loaded-with-nobody-out jam in the top half of the eighth inning (and got the win) while the Detroit Tigers scored twice in the seventh (on Victor Martinez's disputed home run) and three times in the eighth as they defeated the visiting Oakland Athletics 8-6 to deadlock their divisional playoff series at two games apiece, with the fifth and deciding game to be played in Oakland on Thursday.

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Shane Victorino's single in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and Craig Breslow came up huge out of the bullpen as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on the road and won their divisional playoff series three games to one.  The Red Sox will open their first American League Championship Series since 2008 at home on Saturday against the winner of Thursday's divisional playoff series decider between Detroit and Oakland.

Another Entry From The WTF File

Are you kidding?

?

MLB Playoffs (American League Divisional Playoff Series): A's Take 2-1 Series Win After Victory In Detroit; Ninth-Inning Heroics Keep Rays Alive Against BoSox

Both American League divisional playoff series continued on Monday.

At Detroit:

The Oakland Athletics, powered by home runs from Brandon Moss, Josh Reddick, and Seth Smith, topped the Detroit Tigers 6-3 in their divisional playoff series as the visitors took a two-games-to-one lead.  The Athletics can close out the series with a game-four road win on Tuesday.

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Jose Lobaton hit a solo home run with two out in the last half of the ninth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays staved off elimination by defeating the visiting Boston Red Sox 4-3 in game four of their divisional playoff series.  The Red Sox, who still lead the series two games to one, can still finish off the Rays in St. Petersburg with a game-four win on Tuesday.

MLB Playoffs (National League Divisional Playoff Series): Cards Handcuff Bucs' Bats, Force Game Five; Dodgers Finish Off Braves, Advance To First NLCS Since '09

Both National League divisional playoff series continued on Monday.

At Pittsburgh:

Pitcher Michael Wacha took a no-hitter into the eighth inning as he and relief pitching held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one base hit in the St. Louis Cardinals' 2-1 game-four road win, forcing the series back to St. Louis for the fifth and deciding game, which would be played on Wednesday.

At Los Angeles:

Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers came back to overcome the visiting Atlanta Braves 4-3 and win their divisional playoff series three games to one.  The Dodgers advanced to their first National League Championship Series since 2009.

Niners Smother Sagging Texans

At San Francisco:

Tramaine Brock intercepted Matt Schaub's first pass of the game and ran it back 18 yards for a touchdown as the San Francisco 49ers (3-2), with Colin Kaepernick throwing a 64-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis and Frank Gore running 17 times for 81 yards and another score, dominated the visiting Houston Texans (2-3) 34-3 in Sunday night National Football League action.

Timbers, Caps Battle To Wild 2-2 Cascadia Cup Draw In Vancouver

Camilo Sanvezzo scored twice during a two-minute span (76', 78') as the Vancouver Whitecaps came back to salvage a 2-2 Sunday Major League Soccer (and Cascadia Cup) home draw with the Portland Timbers.  Darlington Nagbe delivered Portland's first goal in the 41st minute while Will Johnson briefly put the Timbers back in front with his strike in the 77th minute-----------smack dab in between the two Camilo tallies.

The Timbers, who remained two points in back of Western Conference-leading Real Salt Lake, will host their arch-rivals, the Seattle Sounders next Sunday night at 6:00 PM (ESPN) in a nationally-televised Cascadia Cup clash.

MLB Playoffs (National League Divisional Playoff Series): Bucs, Dodgers One Way Away From NLCS

Both National League Divisional Playoff Series resumed on Sunday.

At Pittsburgh:

Pedro Alvarez delivered the tiebreaking single in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 in game three of their divisional playoff series, which they now lead two games to one.  The Pirates can advance to their fist National League Championship Series since 1992 with a game-four home win on Monday.

At Los Angeles:

Carl Crawford hit a three-run homer and Juan Uribe added a two-run shot as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 13-6 for a two-games-to-one divisional playoff series lead.  The Dodgers can finish off the Braves and advance to the National League Championship Series with a home win in game four on Monday.

Ducks Remain Second In Both Polls; Beavers Gain Support In Coaches' Poll

Following their road domination of Colorado, the Oregon Ducks remained ranked #2 in both the Associated Press (five first-place votes) and USA Today/Coaches (four first-place votes) polls that were released on Sunday.  Alabama, following their beatdown of Georgia State, still tops both polls.

Despite being idle, the Oregon State Beavers, riding a four-game winning streak, actually picked up some additional support in the coaches' poll, where they would be ranked tied for #32 with Rutgers.

No De'Anthony Thomas? No Problem As Ducks Buffalo Colorado At Boulder

At Boulder, Colorado:

Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for 355 yards and five touchdown (and ran for two more) as the #2-rated (in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls) Oregon Ducks (5-0 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play), minus the injured De'Anthony Thomas, made hamburger out of the home-standing Colorado Buffaloes (2-2, 0-2) 57-16 on Saturday.

MLB Playoffs (American League Divisional Series): Big Papi Helps BoSox Take 2-0 Series Lead; A's Win In Bottom Of 9th Inning, Square Series With Tigers

Baseball's American League divisional playoff series continued on Saturday with two games.

At Boston:

David Ortiz hit two home runs as the Boston Red Sox defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 7-4.  The Red Sox, who now lead the series two games to none (the only series in this round not deadlocked at a game apiece) can finish off the Rays with a game-three victory on Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

At Oakland:

Stephen Vogt delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning while Sonny Gray pitched eight innings of four-hit, nine-strikeout baseball as the Oakland Athletics squared their divisional playoff series a one game apiece with a 1-0 home win over the Detroit Tigers, whose Justin Verlander pitched seven innings of four-hit, eleven-strikeout ball.

Riders Snap Losing Skid, Top BC Lions In Vancouver, Clinch Playoff Berth

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

Quarterback Darian Durant threw for 234 yards and a touchdown while Kory Sheets ran for two other TDs as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5) snapped a four-game losing skid with a 31-17 road win over the British Columbia Lions (9-5) in Friday Canadian Football League action and locked up a berth in the Grey Cup Playoffs.

MLB Playoffs (American League Divisional Playoff Series): BoSox Destroy Visiting Rays; Tigers Seize Home-Field Advantage Against A's

Both American League best-of-five divisional playoff series opened on Friday.

At Boston:

John Lester pitched 7 2/3 innings of three-hit, three-walk baseball while Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox demolished the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 12-2 in the opening contest of their divisional playoff series.

At Oakland:

Max Scherzer struck out eleven batters over seven innings of pitching as the Detroit Tigers scored three runs in the first inning, just enough to edge the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on the road in their divisional playoff series opener.

MLB Playoffs (National League Divisional Playoff Series): Pirate Club Cards In St. Louis, Square Series; Braves Square Series With Dodgers After Home Win

The National League's two divisional playoff series both continued on Friday.

At St. Louis:

Gerrit Cole pitched six innings of two-hit ball (and had a run batted in in his postseason debut) while Pedro Alvarez, who provided one of the few highlights in Thursday's defeat, hit a home run as the Pittsburgh Pirates squared their divisional playoff series at one game apiece (and grabbed home-field advantage) with their 7-1 game-two home whupping of the St. Louis Cardinals.

At Atlanta:

In his first postseason appearance, Mike Minor six strong innings while Jason Heyward delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves squared their divisional playoff series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at one game apiece with their 4-3 game-two home victory.

Buck 'Em!

Here's the March 15th, 1966 telecast of the syndicated Buck Owens Ranch Show, with Buck and his Buckaroos (including the legendary Don Rich), Tommy Collins, and Kay Adams.

MLB Playoffs: Cardinals, Dodgers Easily Grab NL Divisional Series Openers

Both National League baseball divisional playoff best-of-three series opened on Thursday.

At St. Louis:

Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer during a seven-run third inning as the St. Louis Cardinals demolished the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 in game one of their divisional playoff series.  Adam Wainwright pitched seven stingy innings for the Redbirds.

At Atlanta:

Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters while Adrian Gonzalez belted a two-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers seized home-field advantage in their divisional playoff series after their 6-1 game-one road win over the Atlanta Braves.

MLB Playoffs: Rays Handcuff Indians In Cleveland To Get Crack At Red Sox

At Cleveland:

Delmon Young hit a home run in the third inning, then Desmond Jennings delivered a two-run double with two outs in the fourth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the home-standing Cleveland Indians 4-0 on Wednesday in the American League Wild-Card game.  Starting with starter Alex Cobb, who pitched 6 2/3 innings, five Rays pitchers scattered nine hits in the combined shutout.

The Rays will now travel to Boston for Friday's opening game of a best-of-five divisional playoff series against the Red Sox.

Tom Clancy, Best-Selling Military Novelist, R.I.P.

Tom Clancy, a novelist best remembered for such military epics as 1984's "The Hunt For Red October," passed away on Tuesday at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore at age 66 after a brief illness.

Fun With Ed

Here's the July 26, 1932 NBC Network broadcast of The Fire Chief, which starred with Ed Wynn with sidekick and straight man Graham McNamee, Don Voorhees and the "Fire Chief Band" and the Fire Chief Double Quartet, as well as announcer Louie A. Witten.

MLB Playoffs: Pirates Handcuff Reds, Advance To Divisional Playoffs; Get Cardinals Next

At Pittsburgh:

Russell Martin hit two home runs while Francisco Liriano pitched seven strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates (in postseason play for the first time since 1992), defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 on Tuesday night in the National League Wild Card Game as the 2013 Major League Baseball Playoffs got under way.  Marlon Byrd got the scoring started for the Pirates in his first postseason at bat (after 1,250 regular-season games) with a solo home run in the second inning.

The Pirates will travel to St. Louis for Thursday's opening game of a best-of-five divisional playoff series with the Cardinals.

L. C. Greenwood, Defensive Lineman Part Of "Steel Curtain" Defense That Helped Pittsburgh Steelers Win Four Super Bowls, R.I.P.

L. C. Greenwood, a six-time Pro-Bowl defensive end who was a member of the "Steel Curtain" defense that played a major part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' four Super Bowl championship teams of the 1970s, passed away on Sunday at a Pittsburgh hospital at age 67.

Mr. Greenwood passed away from natural causes.

L.C. played alongside Dwight White, Ernie Holmes, and Hall-of-Famer Mean Joe Greene on the Steelers' defensive line.

Another College Football Coach........

Gets the boot.

Anal Cavity

Heluva way to ruin a world-record marathon run.

Riders Fall Again

At Montreal:

Josh Neiswander completed 20 of 35 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown as the Montreal Alouettes (5-8) handed the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) their fourth straight Canadian Football League defeat on Sunday, 17-12.

Maxi's First Goal Carries Timbers To Victory At Galaxy's Expense

At Portland, Oregon:

Maximiliamo Urruti scored his first goal for his new team in the 52nd minute as the Portland Timbers defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in Sunday Major League Soccer action at home.

Robbie Keane's second-half stoppage-time equalizer for the Galaxy was disallowed as he was flagged for being offside.

The Timbers, who took a step closer to clinching their first-ever MLS era playoff berth by grabbing their franchise record 12th win of the season, tightened their hold on third place in the Western Conference standings.

Portland will travel to Vancouver for a Casacadia Cup clash against the Whitecaps next Sunday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (ROOT Sports Northwest).

Ducks Remain At # 2 In Both Polls; Some Support For Beavers In Coaches' Poll

Following their Saturday beatdown of visiting California, the Oregon Ducks remained ranked second in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls (with five first-place votes in the former, two in the latter), trailing only Alabama.

After their fourth straight win, a thorough clock-cleaning of visiting Colorado, the Oregon State Beavers finally regained some support in the Coaches' poll.  The Beavers would be ranked #35.

Trojans Can Coach

Now what's next?

Ducks Overcome De'Anthony Thomas Injury, Rout Bears

At Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for another on Saturday as the Oregon Ducks (ranked #2 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls; 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 conference play) overcame a leg injury suffered by De'Anthony Thomas who was returning the opening kickoff and blew out the visiting California Golden Bears (1-3, 0-1) 55-16 during a driving rain at Autzen Stadium.  It was the Pac-12 conference opener for both schools.

Big Day For Sean Mannion As Beavers Hammer Rusty Buffaloes

At Corvallis, Oregon:

Sean Mannion threw for 414 yards and a school-record six touchdowns on Saturday as the Oregon State Beavers (4-1 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play) manhandled the visiting Colorado Buffaloes (2-1, 0-1) 44-17.  The Buffaloes, who had their originally scheduled contest for two weeks ago against Fresno State postponed due to flooding, were coming off their scheduled bye week and played their first match in three weeks.  The Beavers have now won four straight games.

Time For A REALLY Old Kinescope

Here's a very early episode of Candid Camera as aired over the NBC Television Network in 1949.

Yes, kids, that's Allen Funt with hair on his noggin.

Niners Get Back On Winning Track; Dominate Rams In St. Louis

At St. Louis:

Colin Kaepernick threw two touchdown passed (20 yards to Anquan Boldin, 12 yards to Vernon Davis) while Frank Gore ran wild, carrying the ball 20 times for 153 yards and a touchdown (34 yards) as the San Francisco 49ers (2-2) bounced back on Thursday night by manhandling the St. Louis Rams (1-3) 35-11 in National Football League action.

Dag Nab It, Muskie!

Oops, excuse me.

It's Dippety-Do, NOT Deputy Dawg.

Late 1960s commercial for the hair-styling gel.

Are You Man Enough To Try It?

1965 commercial for Brylcreem.

I'm sort of a Groom n' Clean guy myself.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a commercial from the early 1960s for Cue Toothpaste, a Colgate-Palmolive product.

Who Wants Bud's Job?

The current commissioner plans to step down at the end of next season.

Enjoy A Ride In That '59 DeSoto, Rock!

Here's Rock Hudson starring in a commercial for the 1959 DeSoto.

Here's An Unforgettable Car

Here's a commercial for the 1975 American Motors Pacer.

Time For A Few Words

Here are some commercials for products that are currently not being made.

You Mean Los Angeles Still Wants An NFL Team???

There are still some obsticles.

Coffee, Tea, or Viceroy?

Early 1960s commercial for Viceroy Cigarettes.

Would You Rather Have Dirty Motor Oil?

Live 1951 commercial for Esso Motor Oil.

Gosh, Jimmy, That Motorola Actually Looks Bigger Than Your Nose!

Here's a live 1951 commercial for Motorola with Jimmy Durante.

Here's One From Out Of The Past

Here's a 1951 commercial for Gold Medal Flour.

Can't Sleep?

Here's a commercial for Sominex with Bob Sheppard.  This aired during a 1957 NBC Network telecast of Twenty One.  You'll briefly see host Jack Barry at the end.

Hey, They Are Outstanding! And They Are Mild!

Hell, you can light either end!

Here's a late 1950s commercial for Pall Mall Cigarettes with Lee Marvin, who starred in the TV series M Squad at the time.

The series was sponsored by American Tobacco Company, which made Pall Mall (as well as Lucky Strike), and Lee was there to promote the product.

And Now, A Word From Our Alternate Sponsor.......................

Here's a 1950 commercial for Camel Cigarettes.

What Are You Gonna Do, Popeye? Drink That Stuff Then Try To Beat Up Bluto (or Brutus)?

Here's a 1960s commercial for Start, and instant orange breakfast drink.

Starring Popeye (voiced by Allen Swift).

Riders Fall At Home To BC; Suffer Third Straight Defeat

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Quarterback Thomas DeMarco completed 18 of 33 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start while Paul McCallum kicked the game-winning field goal as the British Columbia Lions (8-4) came from behind to defeat the now-sagging Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) 24-22 on the road in Sunday Canadian Football League action as the Riders have now dropped three games in a row.

Triumphant Return To Bay Area For Andrew Luck; Colts Smother Sluggish Niners

At San Francisco:

Quarterback Andrew Luck completed 18 of 27 passes for 164 yards and ran six yards for a touchdown while Trent Richardson (in his first game since coming over in a controversial trade from Cleveland) and Ahmad Bradshaw (who ran for 95 yards) each ran for a score as the Indianapolis Colts (2-1) downed the San Francisco 49ers (1-2) 27-7 in Sunday National Football League action on the road.

Ducks Remain #2 In Both AP And Coaches Polls (And Pick Up Additional First-Place Votes); Still No Love For Beavers

Despite being idle this past weekend, the Oregon Ducks remained at #2 in both the Associated Press (with four first-place votes) and USA Today/Coaches (three first-place votes) Polls as released on Sunday, while Alabama remains on top on both polls.

With perhaps the residue from their season-opening home defeat against Eastern Washington still in evidence, the Oregon State Beavers, despite racking up their third straight win, an exciting comeback victory at San Diego State, still received no support in either poll.

Beavers Storm Back In 4th Quarter, Upend Aztecs In San Diego

At San Diego:

Quarterback Sean Mannion threw three touchdown passes, while cornerback Steve Nelson ran back an interception for the winning score with 2:38 remaining in the game as the Oregon State Beavers (3-1), who started the fourth quarter trailing by 13 points, roared back to knock off the San Diego State Aztecs (0-3) 34-30 on Saturday night on the road.

Wow! Ralph Bellamy! In Living Color?!

Here are a pair of commercial for products from the J. B. Williams Company:

In the opener, veteran movie and TV actor Ralph Bellamy extolls the virtues of Geritol tonic, in tablet and liquid form, of course.

This sequence ends with an animated commercial for Sominex.

Want Some Dream Whip Topping On Your Strawberries?

Here's a 1964 commercial from Dream Whip Dessert Topping Mix.

Let's Be Gladful That This Isn't For A Product Called Asleep

1964 commercial for a Birds-Eye frozen orange drink called Awake.

Diego Valeri Pulls Through For Timbers

At Portland, Oregon:

In the lone Friday Major League Soccer contest, Diego Valeri scored the game's only goal in the 13th minute and Donovan Ricketts hung on for the shutout as the Portland Timbers defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at home in a nationally-televised match.  The victory lifted Portland to third place in the Western Conference standings.

The next Timbers contest is on September 29 at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Ken Norton, Sr., Former Heavyweight Boxing Champ; Broke Muhammad Ali's Jaw In '73 Bout, R.I.P.

Ken Norton, Sr., a former heavyweight champion boxer best remembered for beating Muhammad Ali in a 1973 fight in which he broke Mr. Ali's jaw, passed away from heart failure on Wednesday at age 70.

Mr. Norton had been in ill health in recent years, as he had suffered a series of strokes.

It was in a 1973 bout in San Diego that Kenny broke Muhammad's jaw and handed the former (and future) champ only his second career defeat.

The twosome met again six months in a rematch that Mr. Ali won by split decision.

The third bout between Kenny and Muhammad, which took place at New York's Yankee Stadium in 1976, which Mr. Ali won by a narrow decision to keep his heavywight championship (which he had reclaimed two years earlier after he defeated George Foremen in Zaire).

After having won a heavyweight title elimination bout in 1977, Mr. Norton was declared World Boxing Council heavyweight champion in 1978 after Leon Spinks, who defeated Muhammad Ali early that year, wanted a rematch with Mr. Ali, instead of the WBC's mandatory challenger (Muhammad got the better of Leon in the rematch).  

Kenny's reign as WBC champ was brief before losing a brutal 15-round title bout to Larry Holmes on June 9, 1978 and never won the heavyweight title again.

Kenny's son, Ken Norton, Jr., was a talented collegiate linebacker at UCLA before embarking on a successful NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.  Ken, Jr. is now an assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks. 

How About A Ride In A "Swept Wing" '57 Dodge?

Here's a commercial for the 1957 Dodge that aired during an ABC Network telecast of Lawrence Welk's Monday night Top Tunes and New Talent, with announcer and commercial spokesman Lou Crosby (Cathy Lee's dad).

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a mid-1960s commercial for Bugles, a General Mills snack product.

Niners Blown Out In Rainy Seattle

At Seattle:

In a contest delayed late in the first quarter for an hour due to thunderstorms in the local area, Marshawn Lynch scored three touchdowns while gaining 135 total yards (including 98 yards rushing) as the Seattle Seahawks (2-0) dominated the visiting---and error and penalty-prone---San Francisco 49ers (1-1) 29-3 in Sunday night National Football League action, giving their head coach Pete Carroll  a big present on his 62nd birthday.

Ducks Remain Ranked Second In Both Polls

After their lopsided home win over Tennessee, the Oregon Ducks maintained their #2 position (after Alabama) in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls.  The Ducks received one first-place vote in each poll, the only vote going for someone other than the Crimson Tide.

Despite pulling out an exciting overtime road win over Utah, the Oregon State Beavers received no support in either poll.

Beavers Overcome Loss Of Storm Woods, Top Utes In OT In SLC

At Salt Lake City, Utah:

Despite a frightening neck injury to running back Storm Woods, the Oregon State Beavers (2-1 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 play), with Sean Mannion completing 27 of 44 passes for 443 yards and five touchdowns, the last of them from six yards to Brandin Cooks in overtime, defeated the home-standing Utah Runnin' Utes (2-1, 0-1; they would be tied for 43rd in the USA Today/Coaches poll) 51-48 on Saturday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.

Timbers Battle Back To Gain 1-1 Road Draw With Goats; Chivas USA Eliminated From Playoff Contention

At Carson, California:

Diego Valeri scored the equalizer in the 50th minute as the Portland Timbers gained a 1-1 Saturday Major League Soccer road draw with Chivas USA.  Bryan de la Fuente scored in the 23rd minute for the Goats, who were mathematically eliminated from MLS Cup playoff contention for the fourth straight year.

The Timbers host the Colorado Rapids this coming Friday in a nationally-televised match starting at 7:00 PM (NBCSN).

Riders Blow Lead, Fall To Argos At Home

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Zach Collaros completed 18 of 29 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown while running for another score as well as the Toronto Argonauts (7-4) outscored the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-3) 19-6 in the fourth quarter en route to a 31-29 Canadian Football League road win on Saturday night.

Another Dominating Win For The Ducks

At Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback Marcus Mariola threw for a career-high 456 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as the #2-ranked (in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls) Oregon Ducks (3-0) mauled the visiting Tennessee Volunteers (2-1; they would be ranked 39th in the AP poll, 44th in the Coaches' poll) 59-14 on Saturday.

Don Nelson, Ozzie's Younger Brother, Writer For "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet," R.I.P.

Don Nelson, the younger brother of Ozzie Nelson and a writer for the classic 1952-66 television sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, passed away on Tuesday of an aortic aneurysm on Tuesday at his Studio City, California home at age 86.

Mr. Nelson had Parkinson's disease.

A jazz saxophonist who, for a brief time, worked in Ozzie's orchestra, Don was co-writer on his brother's family's lone feature-length film, 1952's "Here Come The Nelsons." The movie helped set the stage for the ABC Network TV series (itself a video version of a successful radio show), which launched that fall.

Don wound up outliving all four principal cast members; brother Ozzie (who passed away from liver cancer in 1975), nephew Rick, whose trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy" was dreamed up by Uncle Don (plane crash, 1985), sister-in-law Harriet (1994), and older nephew David (2011).

What's This?

A sex-change operation?!

Naw, just a rebranding of an existing cable network.

Bombers Get Revenge On Riders In Banjo Bowl

At Winnipeg, Manitoba:

Will Ford ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown helped spark the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-8) to a 25-13 Sunday Canadian Football League home win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-2) in the inaugural edition of the Banjo Bowl played in front of a sellout crowd at Investors Group Field.

Big Numbers For Colin Kaepernick, Niners Hold Off Packers In Season Opener

At San Francisco:

In the National Football League regular-season opener for both teams, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, two to Vernon Davis and one to newcomer Anquan Boldin (who caught 13 passes for 412 yards) while Frank Gore ran for the game-winning TD with 5:47 remaining in regulation as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the visiting Green Bay Packers 34-28.

Ducks Stay At #2 In AP Poll, Climb Up A Spot In Coaches' Rankings

Following their lopsided Saturday victory at Virginia, the Oregon Ducks remained at #2 (with one first-place vote) in the Associated Press (media) poll while climbing up a spot to the same position in the USA Today/Coaches rankings (also with a first-place vote), trailing only Alabama in both polls.

Despite their home win over Hawaii, the Oregon State Beavers remained unranked with nary a vote for support in either poll.

Timbers Blast Feckless Reds; Get Back On Winning Track

At Portland, Oregon:

Kalif Alhassan (45'+1), Rodney Wallace (83'), Will Johnson (87'), and Diego Valeri (90'+3) provided the scoring as the Portland Timbers busted open a tight game and dominated visiting Toronto FC 4-0 in Saturday Major League Soccer play.  The victory, with goalkeeper Milos Kokic picking up the shutout in place of international-duty-bound Donovan Ricketts, was the Timbers first ever in four tries against the Reds.

Portland will visiting Chivas USA at the StubHub Center in Carson, California next Saturday.

Beavers Dominate Second Half, Down Rainbow Warriors

Quarterback Sean Mannion threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns----two of them to Brandin Cooks---as the Oregon State Beavers (1-1) bounced back from their upset defeat to Eastern Washington with a 33-14 Saturday home win over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-2).

Ducks Overrun Cavaliers In Charlottesville

At Charlottesville, Virginia:

De'Anthony Thomas ran fro 124 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for two scores and ran 71 yards for another on Saturday as the Oregon Ducks
(2-0; #2 in the Associated Press poll, #3 in the USA Today/Coaches rankings) manhandled the Virginia Cavaliers (1-1; they would be ranked #39 in the AP poll) 59-10 on the road.  The Ducks, one week after gaining a school-record 777 yards in their annihilation of Nicholls State, picked up 557 yards against the Cavaliers.

Drive Safely----Watch Out For The Other Guy

1950's-era PSA from the National Safety Council.

A Day At The Beach With Charlie And His Bloss, Mr. Magloo

Here's a made-for-television Mr. Magoo cartoon from UPA in 1960, "A Day At The Beach."  In this one, our nearsighted hero thinks he, his houseboy Charlie, and his cat Bowser (whom Quincy mistakes for a dog) are going to the beach.  This cartoon, in its' original undubbed version, was directed by Ray Patterson and written by ex-Disneyites Al Bertino and Dick Kinney.  Jim Backus, of course, stars as the voice of Mr. Quincy Magoo.

Rare Do-Wop

In this rare find from 1956, here are The Bop Chords with "When I Woke Up This Morning."



Lead vocal on this Holiday Records recording by Ernest Harriston.

Now, A Word From Out Sponsor

From circe 1958, a commercial featuring various brands of Nabisco snacks.

At Least Jim Backus Wasn't In This One

From the circa 1964, here are NFL players Don Meredith (Dallas Cowboys), Ron Kramer (Green Bay Packers), Charley Johnson (St. Louis Cardinals), and Roman Gabriel (Los Angeles Rams) in a commercial from Personna Razor Blades. 


One question:  Just what were Cuckoo Razor Blades?

Ducks Jump Buckeyes To Climb To #2 In AP Poll; Beavers Fall Out After Upset Defeat

In the newest Associated Press (media) poll, the Oregon Ducks, following their Saturday annihilation of Nicholls State, climbed past Ohio State into #2 in the rankings, trailing only Alabama.  The Ducks remained at #3 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.  As for Oregon State, following their upset home defeat at the hands of Eastern Washington, the Beavers, who were ranked 25th in both polls coming into this past weekend's action, wound up with no votes whatsoever in either poll.

Time For A Rare TV Treat

Here is the February 19, 1957 CBS Network telecast, Do You Trust Your Wife?, hosted by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.  Later that year, the show changed networks (to ABC) and hosts (Johnny Carson) and by 1958 was renamed Who Do You Trust? 

Would You Buy Cereal From This Man?

In a commercial shown originally during the closing moments of a 1963 CBS Network telecast of The New Phil Silvers Show, here's Phil with how to get Post Toasties out of an ear of corn.

Hell, Andy Griffith and Bugs Bunny did the same.

Charmin Paper Towels?!

Here's a 1957 commercial for Charmin Paper Towels, a Proctor and Gamble product.

Riders Dominate Visiting Bombers

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Kory Sheets, Taj Smith, and Geroy Simon each scored a pair of touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-1) reached the midway point of their Canadian Football League campaign with a 48-25 home domination of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-8) before a sellout crowd of 44,910 fans at Mosaic Stadium.

Sir David Frost, Best Remembered For Interviews With Dick Nixon, R.I.P.

Sir David Frost, the British television personality best remembered for his 1977 televised interviews with former President Richard M. Nixon, passed away on Saturday of an apparent heart attack at age 74, while aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, where he was scheduled to give a speech.

Mr. Frost was a regular on the BBC's satirical comedy series That Was The Week That Was.  After the BBC took the show of the air, Sir David came to America and became, first a regular, then the host, of NBC's version of TW3 (1964-65).

He later hosted a syndicated TV talk show.

It was in 1977 that Sir David conducted his interviews with former President Nixon.  When asked about his abuses of presidential power, Mr. Nixon came up with this answer, "Well, when the president does it, that means it is not illegal."

In his last years, Sir David conducted interviews with newsmakers for Al Jazeera English.