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General Discussion / Re: Question for Red Sox fans: Alex Verdugo

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 09, 2024, 06:53:23 PM »

The fact that 20 years later they made a documentary about it proves what an epic fail it was. Sorry, Joe. It totally erased 1978 in my mind.

What a season 1978 was, though. And other than 2 (that I know of) highlights of the season shows, THE GREATEST COMEBACK EVER, and IT DON'T COME EASY, no other docs were made about it. And those 2 weren't really docs -- they were both made right after the 1978 season, and the latter one used to be shown a lot during Yankee rain delays. I remember renting the VHS tape of THE GREATEST COMEBACK EVER a few years later. They were both basically clips of of the season. I don't think there were any interviews made especially for it -- just interviews that had been made during the season for other purposes.

I'm probably preaching to the choir here -- but as a fan, the worst losses are the ones where you really think you have it wrapped up. The Red Sox in 1978 for the division win, and the Yankees in that dreadful 2004 ALCS.

They're kinda redundant -- they both start with the same Steinbrenner intro! One is narrated by Phil Rizzuto, the other by Bill White (partners on Yankee broadcasts on WPIX back then.)

Perhaps they were produced for different distibution? Like I said, one was only available to rent on VHS, the other was shown a lot on TV.

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Random Comedy Reviews / Re: A TOUGH WINTER (1930) Our Gang

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 09, 2024, 06:45:15 PM »

Yes.

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Random Comedy Reviews / Re: A TOUGH WINTER (1930) Our Gang

« Last post by HomokHarcos on November 09, 2024, 06:22:14 AM »

Is this the one with Stepin Fetchit?

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Random Comedy Reviews / A TOUGH WINTER (1930) Our Gang

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 08, 2024, 05:34:07 PM »

This one really sucks. 'Nuff said.

What I wanted to point out was the brief scene where the pipes are all hooked up wrong, causing water to come out of appliances, etc., is similar to scenes in A-PLUMBING WE WILL GO. I wonder if the latter film got the ideas from this short.

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General Discussion / Re: Question for Red Sox fans: Alex Verdugo

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 08, 2024, 05:20:03 PM »

Well, the greatest collapse in the history of playoff baseball can't be ignored. Yankee fans wanted Torre fired back then -- and he never made it to another World Series after 2003. He made some blunders in the playoffs a few years later -- like not taking his players off the field when the mosquitoes attacked Joba Chamberlain on the mound in yet another playoff game they should have won.

I'm with many Yankee fans who can still feel the pain of 2004. That was the worst Yankees post-season loss in my life-time. 2nd worse would be losing to the Dodgers in the 1981 WS 4 - 2 after being up 2-0.

With 30 teams, an average team should make it to the WS once every 15 years. That was exactly how long it took for the Yankees to get to another WS until this year. So what do the Yankees do today -- the pick up the option on Boone's contract. And Brian Cashman is still the GM -- and has been since 1998!!!

And back to Verdugo -- I still can't fathom how such a poor hitter in a position that usually requires more offense over defense can remain an everyday player. I just don't get it. Although in fairness hitting is way down from several years ago, but when I was much younger, someone that bad on offense was usually the shortstop and batting 9th -- and often platooning with another shortstop who also sucked at hitting. Like Bucky Dent -- but we all know what he eventually did, lol!

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General Discussion / Re: Question for Red Sox fans: Alex Verdugo

« Last post by metaldams on November 07, 2024, 06:50:58 PM »

Joe Torre won four championships in five years and made two additional World Series.  As bad as 2004 was for him, I think his legacy is safe.

Some sad irony, though knowing the person who died, he probably would have found humor in it.  I was a Red Sox fan kid/teen in the 80’s and 90’s.  Had to hear about curses, 1918, Ruth, ghosts, being perennial losers, etc. ad nauseam.  The guy who was the absolute most obnoxious was a Yankee fan friend of my Dad’s.  Passes away of a heart attack the afternoon of October 20, 2004 - the afternoon before game 7.  Over his dead body indeed.

…and yes, THE COMEBACK documentary was indeed awesome.

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General Discussion / Re: Question for Red Sox fans: Alex Verdugo

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 07, 2024, 12:59:14 PM »

2004 was an embarassment for the Yankees. To me, it hurts the legacy of Joe Torre, but I've never heard anyone mention it.

I'm not sure if I should watch it or not!

I thought the Yankees were gonna do it to the Dodgers, then they imploded in game 5. Once you win 2 games after being down 3-0, it starts to put a lot of pressure on the other side. I would rather that the Yankees had lost game 5 in a blowout than being up 5-0 mid-way through the game with their ace throwing a no-hitter.

In 2004, after losing game 4, I knew the Yankees would lose the series. I walked into the office the next day and told my colleagues that, and they thought I was crazy. When it finally happened, everyone said -- "Wow, you were right!" We were all Yankee fans.

Regarding Verdugo, my guess is he will get a one-year deal somewhere for a relatively low amount. He just can't hit. This isn't a change-of-scenery thing -- he got along well with his team mates and he loved playing for the Yankees.

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General Discussion / Re: Question for Red Sox fans: Alex Verdugo

« Last post by HomokHarcos on November 07, 2024, 11:38:56 AM »

I've been watching the Netflix Comeback series about the 2004 Red Sox that just came out on Netflix.

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Youtube and Google Videos / Re: Hal Roach (at age 90) on Letterman (1982)

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 07, 2024, 11:11:25 AM »

He certainly got a lot of mileage out of that false story about BIG BUSINESS.

There's a taped phone conversation with Stan Laurel that refutes it. He says something about Roach like: "What did he think we were nuts!?"

Since Stan died in 1965, that gives you a rough idea of how long Roach was telling that story. You have to take everything Roach says with a grain of salt because of that.

BTW, Roach seems to know as much about L&H before their Roach days as Jerry Lewis does!!!

That was a generous clip from SCHOOL'S OUT that they showed. Of course, it is PD so no wonder they chose that one. Not sure why they showed the girls on the stage giving the title, though. You would think they did that so Letterman could ask a question about it, but he didn't.

Also interesting that L&H were mentioned way down the line during Letterman's intro. Our Gang was mentioned first, which is fine, but L&H should have been mentioned second. In 1982, and probably today, both Our Gang and L&H are probably the most known of the Roach Stars. In 1982, Will Rogers was mostly known for those annoying ads in movie theaters for the Will Rogers Institute, after which they came around with a tin can to put coins in as a donation. You heard very few clinks when that happened, I might add!

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Youtube and Google Videos / Re: Jimmy Finlayson Lives!

« Last post by NoahYoung on November 06, 2024, 11:14:15 PM »

You're welcome. He's actually a professional magician. Lots of videos of him on youtube. I've seen his stuff over the last few years there.

He does look like Fin, though, doesn't he?

The trick he does is a simple one, though. Wouldn't fool a magician, like Penn and Teller. The first part where he guessed the guy was thinking of the ace of spades was a 1 in 52 chance. In other videos, he says, "I've not only found your card but I've changed it into the ace of spades!" It was supposed to be a joke -- he got lucky -- and on TV! Or the celebrity judge was a stooge. (Not Moe, Larry, or Curly, but meaning he was in on it.)

Go to 2:30.

Here's the other trick he did on that TV show above -- but when he was much younger. You'll see kinda how he gets the spectator to "choose" the right card of the 5 on the table. (After he controlled it and made it look like all of the cards were wrong.) Again, he got very lucky on that TV show above. Either that or they edited it to make it look like the first card she pointed to was correct. I kinda detected an edit.

Got to 8:18

I've been a magic hobbyist for over 50 years myself. Started when I was a kid.

Anyway, Mark Lewis is a very experienced professional magician, and the routine he did on TV, he's been doing for many, many years. And now he looks just like Jimmy Finlayson!