Thursday Time Travel

1974 was an interesting, controversial and wacky year for national sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl 42-21 versus Southern Cal after an undefeated 1973 season. The Bucks finished 10-0-1. The out-of-sync and colorful mix of Oakland A’s beat the business-like LA Dodgers in 5 games for the World Series title. I wish I was there to see both sporting events.
The lively Ohio State head coach, Woody Hayes, was full of character and quite the character if you ask me. I am learning a great deal about what his players endured with Hayes as their father figure. The sideline showoff Woody had multiple encounters with cameramen and players during his tenure at Ohio State. It is quite hysterical and humorous to read about all the crazy behavior he displayed. In 1973, a controversial Big 10 vote sent Ohio State to the 1974 Rose Bowl instead of rival, Michigan. Hayes got his way, so to say. But it wasn’t always the case for the antsy coach. He tore up sideline markers, barked and cursed out referees and received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Hayes was even put on probation by the Big 10 conference and ejected from two Rose Bowl games.
In 1974, Hayes’ hot temper seemed to only motivate and inspire his promising, talented football team, landing them in the bowl game in California. Hayes was stubborn, but his players responded with grit and great effort on the field. The two-time Heismann trophy winning running back, Archie Griffin, was undoubtedly the best player on Hayes’ 1974 squad. Hayes recruited the homegrown back, who ran for 149 yards on 22 carries that New Years’ Day. The 60th Rose Bowl pitted two legendary coaches against each other in USC’s John McKay and Woody Hayes. Ohio State dominated the game. Hayes never liked to pass the ball because he figured it resulted in careless plays and turnovers. He usually opted to let Archie carry the load and use his legs to create points. But this game, Hayes allowed his QB Cornelius Greene to unleash an aerial attack against the mighty Trojans. Greene won the MVP and passed for 129 yards. Pete Johnson scores three touchdowns and Fred Pagtack factored into the pass plays to break the game open. Neal Colzie contributed runs, along with Archie’s 47-yard score. I think I would have been amused and gotten a kick out of Woody’s revenge on USC. The year before, USC demolished the Buckeyes 42-17 in the 1973 Rose Bowl. Without a doubt, it would have been nifty to see Griffin plow his way through top college defense all year.
The 1974 Oakland Athletics were laughable for their theatrics in the locker room and dramatic meltdowns throughout the season. The roster was filled with wacky ballplayers who acted like a dysfunctional family. Owner, Charles O. Finley, was a character himself and his team was a microcosm of his odd style.
Alvin Dark managed the team somehow in light of all the wackiness on display. Rollie Fingers earned series MVP honors and Jim “Catfish” Hunter was awarded AL Cy Young that season. The A’s fielded six all-stars in Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, Fingers, Hunter, Joe Rudi and Bert Campaneris. Interestingly, a “designated runner” named Herb Washington was also a 1974 Oakland Athletic. Finley coined the phrase, in what probably would be considered simply a pinch runner today. Bando lead the ‘74 A’s in RBIs with 103 and Jackson clubbed 29 shots for homeruns. The 90-72 team saw Ray Fosse behind the plate, Manny Trillo in the infield and Blue Moon Odom on the mound.
For Los Angeles, pitcher Andy Messersmith won 20 games and Don Sutton 19. AL Downing, Jim Brewer and Mike Marshall were other arms on this loaded LA team. The rich pitching couldn’t provide enough for the Dodgers to prevail in the World Series however strange their meeting with Oakland was. Walt Alston’s team boasted the best NL ERA an had enough power in hitters Steve Garvey, Bill Buckner, and Jimmy Wynn. Speedster, Davey Lopes stole 59 bases during the 1974 season and Bill Russell and Ron Cey represented part of the team’s infield core. LA seemed to have it all, with speed, defense and quality pitching. They also had the famous announcer, Vin Scully. Scully’s voice is one of baseball’s most recognizable. I would have liked hearing him call the first all-California clash.
Ken Holtzman hit a solo shot in Game 4. That was his first base hit all season. The 1974 A’s were the first team in 20 years to win three straight World Series.

Parting points: I really think the Dodgers and A’s have a chance to meet in the World Series this year. That is my early prediction. And, it would be so great to see a OSU-USC matchup for the next Rose Bowl.

Blue Breakdown

The National League divisional round is a stimulating series. Whether you bleed Dodger blue in L.A. or wave your cyan Cubs cap at Wrigley, an awesome week of baseball lies in wait. A nickel’s worth of games gets underway Wednesday when Ryan Dempster winds up for Chicago. The Cubs’ game one starter thrives tossing on his home turf. The Windy City has been quite kind to the BC native. The thirty-one year old ended 2008 with an envious 14-3 home record. I anticipate another Cub crushing.
Derek (Lowe) from Dearborn (Michigan) delivers for the Dodgers tomorrow. Lowe is no slacker, slewing his slick slider and posting 14 wins himself for L.A. The former Red Sox champion might be helped by the league’s best bullpen. The Dodgers are backed by a barrage of effective ERA efficiency leaders. Since Lowe can be lethargic on occasion, Clayton Kershaw and Takashi Saito need to be ready to provide a reliable relief core. Kershaw is a kid with a devastating fastball, resembling that of Sandy Koufax. I can’t wait to see Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee step into the batter’s box if Clayton gets the call. Chicago’s bullpen has perhaps just as much depth as the Dodgers. I think the game will come down to the late inning pitching. Jeff Samardzija, Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol will seal the win for the Cubs. They’ve been right on all year long and there is no reason they cannot come through again in this series.
Look for Manny Ramirez to make another playoff impact though. The clutch hitter and rapid run producer is L.A.’s toughest out. Dempster’s battery-mate, Geovany Soto, is another player to keep your peeps on. The likable Soto only sports a .285 batting average but he can sting with just one swing.
Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano are a solid one-two punch on the mound. Think Michael and Sonny Corleone, respectively. Harden is quietly lethal like Michael and Big Z is the flamboyant hot-head Sonny. Both are equally operational when they are on. Should this series go the distance, it will be interesting to see if Joe Torre uses his veteran, Greg Maddux. Maddux isn’t scheduled to start this series, but it’s curious to consider a contest opposite his former Cubs club. The Dodgers are less experienced, except for former all-star, Jeff Kent. And Torre has sniffed many a post-season. The 2008 Cubs are just the better, more complete team. They are hungry to break the 1908 hex and Lou Pinella is one of the NL’s best at managing a team.

Fun with the number 8:
Last time these teams were in the World Series:
Cubs: 1908
Dodgers: 1988
_____:2008?

Parting points: Rashard Mendenhall is probably out for the year for the Steelers. He was injured during Monday night’s win against Baltimore. I said before the key to the Steelers season was having a solid RB. With Parker already on the sidelines, the former Fighting Illini star was going to have to be special. So it’s disappointing he is out too and now the issue needs to be addressed in order for Pittsburgh to win that division.

Congrats to Brad Lidge on the comeback player of the year for the NL. He deserves it.

Jimmy Connors Saved My Life by Joel Drucker is a great read. Check it out.