NFL Divisional Playoff preview

 To be technical, since the conference championships are next week, this week's games fall under "conference semi-finals" as well. 4 games, 4 networks, 2 days. By the time the NCAA's College Football Playoff final rolls around on Monday, it will be dessert for football fanatics, and worth the wait.

Because it's now more about television ratings, Saturday's opener will kick off just after 4:30 pm (ET). It's been that way the last few years, but, being an old school guy, I'd sooner have the first game at 1:30 (ET) at the earliest. That's just me. 

Digression over.

Saturday:

Houston @ Kansas City (4:30, ABC/ESPN).

A ways back, these two teams played an epic game in which the Chiefs mounted a 2nd half comeback to eliminate the Texans. This has the potential to be just as exciting. Kansas City begins its quest for a 3-peat, while 2nd year QB CJ Stroud & Houston look to spoil the party. This will be a tight one, despite what the oddsmakers think.

Pick: Kansas City.

Washington @ Detroit (8 pm, Fox).

Detroit has survived the loss of 2023 #1 draft pick Aidan Hutchinson, currently seen in a State Farm commercial, to an early season injury. Washington has been a nice story, with the development of rookie QB Jayden Daniels, who has shown veteran poise beyond his years, just like fellow LSU alum Joe Burrow of the Bengals. The Commanders need to make a statement early, because if Detroit gets out to a fast start, it could be over before halftime. Again, the oddsmakers overestimated the matchup.

Honestly, I think the league's media partners see money in a rematch between Detroit & Buffalo, rather than Detroit & Kansas City, but a fresh matchup in the Super Bowl makes more sense.

Pick: Detroit.

Sunday:

Los Angeles @ Philadelphia (3 pm, NBC/Peacock):

As Los Angeles itself has had to deal with out-of-season wildfires the last two weeks, the Rams have been a beacon of hope for the City of Angels. I thought the Chargers would do the same last week, but, nope.

But, how can the Rams defense contain Saquon Barkley? If they gave out separate MVP awards in each conference, Barkley, the ex-Giant, would've wrapped up the NFC MVP already. Let's not forget that the Eagles have a stout defense of their own, and former offensive lineman Jason Kelce, now with ESPN, will likely lend some moral support.

Pick: Philadelphia.

Baltimore @ Buffalo (CBS, 6:30 pm.).

These two teams are practically mirror images of each other with MVP candidates at QB in Lamar Jackson & Josh Allen. However, Baltimore also has Derrick Henry at running back. It will come down to Jackson & Allen, as the last man with the ball will end up winning.

Pick: Buffalo.

Of course, I could be wrong.

A Classic Reborn (again): Hollywood Squares (2025)

 The wait is over. Hollywood Squares is back on the air. But, this ain't your parents' Squares. Not even your grandparents.

Actress-talk show host Drew Barrymore serves as center square/co-executive producer for this iteration, which will shift to Wednesdays beginning January 29. Two half hour episodes fill a hour-long block, as that's the going rate these days. Nate Burleson (CBS Mornings, The NFL Today) hosts, and unlike his predecessors, he walks, or, as seen opening night, runs out to the stage when introduced. There is no set announcer, as a panelist, such as Julie Bowen (ex-Modern Family) fills that role for each episode. Where's Shadoe Stevens when you need him?

If we're lucky, they'll bring him in soon.

One week in, Burleson is a work in progress. He's more engaging with both contestants and panelists, which is a good sign. The bonus game looks similar to something from the Tom Bergeron era (1998-2004), and easier.

The first half hour included a tribute card to the original "Master of the Hollywood Squares", Peter Marshall, who passed away a few months back. In the 2nd half hour, Drew Carey (The Price is Right), who looks slimmer than ever, is on the panel, and is part of this excerpt.

Another preview airs Sunday, before the series settles into its Wednesday berth.

Rating: B.

Bob Uecker (1934-2025)

 He wasn't much of a player on the field, by his own admission, with a lifetime average of around .200, but Bob Uecker was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 as the winner of the Ford Frick Award for his work in broadcasting.

Uecker played 6 seasons (1962-7) with the Braves, Cardinals, & Phillies before swapping his catcher's mitt for an announcer's blazer. Uecker began his announcing career with his hometown Milwaukee Brewers in 1971, and continued through last season, 54 seasons in all. 

During this time, Uecker went national. An off-season gig as an opening act for jazz icon Al Hirt led to Uecker getting his first booking on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson after the 1971 season. In all, Uecker logged more than 100 appearances between 1971-92, when Carson retired. Uecker also called postseason games for ABC, and, I believe, NBC, and landed a role in the sitcom, Mr. Belvedere (1985-90), which led to the "Major League" movie series with Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen, et al, which began in 1989. Uecker played Cleveland announcer Harry Doyle in the trilogy.

Being part of Miller Lite's cast of athletes and actors led to his being tapped as a backstage reporter at Wrestlemania 4 in 1988 in Atlantic City, and an infamous confrontation with Andre The Giant.

Uecker passed away overnight from small cell cancer at 90.

Rest in peace.

Weasel of The Week: Tommy Tuberville

 It's been a week since the wildfires began in Los Angeles and surrounding areas in Southern California. Instead of pitching in, and trying to help, Republicans seem to have a problem, totally political in nature, that characterizes them as devoid of compassion.

This problem is embodied by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who went on Newsnacks the other night, and said that California "doesn't deserve" disaster relief. There are Republicans in Cali, too, but we haven't heard from them, just the attention seeking weasels outside of the state, like Tuberville, who says that because California is a blue state (Democrat controlled), they shouldn't get anything. 

Oh? Alabama & Florida got disaster relief after those hurricanes last fall, but you don't want California to get money for those wildfires? Hypocrisy, thy name is Tommy Tuberville.

Here's Farron Cousins with more.

All Tommy is doing is scoring brownie points with the Oldest Baby in America, incoming president Donald Trump. What Tuberville gets is a set of Weasel ears for broadcasting his hypocrisy.

Notes from around town

 With one week in the books, WROW's new lineup has some positives, as well as, unfortunately, some negatives, at least in the short term.

Gone, at least for now, are sports scores & lottery numbers. Ben Patten only reads the news at the top of each hour between 5 & 9 am (ET). Gone as well are daily discussions with WRGB AM meteorologist Alyssa Caroprese, and local businessman Mark Cifarelli, whose 2010 Auto Sales remains a sponsor of Magic 100.5 FM/AM 590, who was heard 3 times a week. I'm guessing those chats may have been moved to Patten's solo shift at 10 am. The daily birthday list is gone as well. Caroprese's pre-recorded forecasts begin playing around 10 am.

Jaime Roberts introduced two new features on January 6. The Social Media Dilemma is an interactive segment between 7 & 8 am. The One-Hit Wonder of The Day, at 6:45 am, features an artist who had that one shining moment of fame (i.e. Carl Douglas, Five Stairsteps) on the charts. The Social Media Dilemma replaces The Almost Impossible Question.

This morning, Roberts filled in (we think) for John Gabriel from 7-9 am. We don't know if that's permanent. Albany Street host Bill Williams' profile page was taken down from the website, likely for an update. However, the schedule page hasn't been updated in some time, since Madison Wealth Managers' weekly show now airs on Sundays as well as Saturdays.

Stay tuned. The changes may not be over yet.

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After more than 6 years, the Knickerbacker Ice Arena reopened in Lansingburgh on Friday night. Mayor Carmella Mantello & Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin were in attendance, but are not in the following video.

I'll have something further to say on this over at Tri-City SportsBeat tomorrow.

Musical Interlude: I Thank You (1968-9)

 Sam & Dave's final hit for Stax Records was 1968's "I Thank You", which landed them on The Ed Sullivan Show in May of 1969.

ZZ Top would cover "I Thank You" on their 1979 album, "Deguello", four years before their breakthrough with the "Eliminator" album.

In memory of Sam Moore, 89, who passed away on Friday. Rest in peace.

A primer on express banking (1973)

After getting adjusted and accustomed to cable in the mid-70's, I first encountered this next gem.

Manufacturers Hanover was introducing express banking, and brought in Paul Lynde to help sell the new service. Oh, did he ever!!

I must've seen this a dozen times on WOR back in the day, and I've waited years to post this.