The opening round came to a close last night.
THE SUN ADVANCE – The CONNECTICUT SUN played host to the INDIANA FEVER in this game.
By Halftime the Sun were out in front of Indiana by a score of 41-34. That turned into a 61-52 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter, and ultimately an 87-81 triumph for Connecticut. The Sun win the series 2 games to none and advance to the next round. Alyssa Thomas led the way for Connecticut with her Double Double of 19 points and 13 assists. Continue reading
Filed under WNBA
HEADMASTER (1970) – Andy Griffith had left the streets of Mayberry behind him to take on a new leading role in this short-lived comedy-drama. Griffith played Andy Thompson, Headmaster of the Concord School, a top-tier private academy in California.
The star had expressed his pleasure at getting to play an urbane academic rather than a country bumpkin for once. Headmaster was shooting for the same appeal boasted by Room 222, another half-hour series that mixed high school comedy with drama.
Ready for the “with-it” and “relevant” – maybe even “groovy” – advertising blurb for Headmaster? Here it is – “At last! A series that’s really into today’s teen-age world. A co-ed prep school is where it’s at.”
Griffith’s supporting cast included Jerry Van Dyke as Coach Jerry Brownell and Claudette Nevins as Andy’s English teacher wife Margaret. LINDA RONSTADT sang the show’s theme song Only a Man. Continue reading
Filed under Forgotten Television
Last night’s pair of games saw two teams advance to Round Two.
ACES WILD – The LAS VEGAS ACES took the court against the visiting SEATTLE STORM.
The Aces grabbed a quick 30-20 advantage in the 1st Quarter but then saw Seattle nibble into that lead as the game went on. By Halftime Las Vegas was on top by just 45-38, and the 3rd Quarter ended with the Storm deficit cut to 62-57. In the 4th the Aces eked out a bit more separation to win the game 83-76 and the series 2 games to none. Kelsey Plum led Vegas with 29 points, while teammate A’ja Wilson logged a Double Double of 24 points and 13 rebounds. Continue reading
Filed under WNBA
THE FALLEN RACE (1892) – Written by Austyn Granville. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “How come nobody ever combined science fiction, H. Rider Haggard-style Lost Race tales AND kangaroo-human hybrids” then THIS is the story for you.
This novel is presented as if it is the real-life journal of the adventures of Dr Paul Gifford in the Great Australian Desert from 1874-1888. An ill-fated expedition into Australia’s desert is nearly wiped out by dysentery, thirst and spoiled food. The only two survivors are the aforementioned Dr Gifford and Jacky-Jacky, which may sound like the name of a Hip-Hop Artist but is really the name of an Australian Aborigine member of the expedition. Continue reading
Filed under Ancient Science Fiction
Four series are underway in the 2024 WNBA postseason. Each have one game in the books.
LYNX VS MERCURY: GAME ONE – The MINNESOTA LYNX faced the visiting PHOENIX MERCURY in this game.
A 32-19 1st Quarter lead for the Lynx became 56-42 by Halftime. After the break, the Mercury outscored Minnesota 53-46 but still lost to them by a Century Club score of 102-95. Napheesa Collier led the triumphant Minnesota team with her THIRTY-EIGHT points. Continue reading
Filed under WNBA
Here at Balladeer’s Blog people who can make me laugh are my favorite kind of people! YT reviewer Snarky Jay, as she calls herself, is entertaining, engaging and hilarious with her reviews.
She not only delivers concise positive or negative takes on films and streaming shows, but she also punctures the pomposity of the privileged one percenters of Hollywood.
You can subscribe to Snarky Jay’s channel HERE. For an eight-and-a-half-minute example of this woman’s approach click below. Continue reading
Filed under Bad and weird movies, humor, opinion
HEADLINES
TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS visited the division’s 3rd ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Crusaders grabbed a quick 21-0 1st Quarter lead and kept up the pressure after the break, ultimately winning by a score of 35-17.
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – Staying in D3 for a moment, the 22nd ranked SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS traveled to take on the country’s number 8 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The Blue Jays held a 13-10 edge at the Half, but were shut out from there. The Sea Gulls put up 10 points in the 3rd Quarter and 21 in the 4th for a 41-13 smackdown.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER NINE – Up in the NAIA the 20th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be Sea Gulls) hosted the number 9 team in the land – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. By Halftime Southern Oregon was on top 21-6, and after the break they squeezed out a bit more separation from the Yotes for a 45-27 Upset victory. Continue reading
Filed under college football
This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here on Balladeer’s Blog looks at the further adventures of Marvel’s Captain Britain when he was still published ONLY in the U.K.
CAPTAIN BRITAIN Vol 1 #37 (June 22nd, 1977)
Title: … And the Highwayman Came Riding, Riding
Villain: The Highwayman
Synopsis: Having returned to Earth after his adventures in the Otherworld, Captain Britain turns back into Brian Braddock. The next day he goes to the hospital to visit his girlfriend Courtney Ross. She was injured during Captain Britain’s battle with Lord Hawk a few issues back.
Brian, a graduate student in physics at Thames University, heads to see how Courtney is doing alongside his uni friend Jacko Tanner. On their way they come across a Silver Jubilee event for Queen Elizabeth II.
The event is crashed by a new supervillain called the Highwayman, who rides a high-tech motorcycle which uses laser cannons and other weaponry. The villain also wears a monocle that shoots energy blasts and wields a battle chain.
The Highwayman easily overcomes S.T.R.I.K.E. (the British version of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and its leader Lance Fortune in addition to all other security people. Meanwhile, Brian slips away to become Captain Britain, then starts battling the Highwayman himself with his new weapon the Star Sceptre. Continue reading
Filed under Superheroes
GRIFF (1973-1974) – The one and only Lorne Greene starred as Wade “Griff” Griffin, a former police captain who becomes a private investigator. Ben Murphy played Mike Murdoch, who was McCormick to Greene’s Hardcastle.
The Pittsburgh Press called Griff a “disaster” in their review’s headline, but the body of their review really just criticized the show as a routine, formulaic detective program that offered nothing new. I guess the headline was a 1973 forerunner of the clickbait concept.
To me and presumably any other trivia buffs Griff is must-see tv. The guest stars and behind the scenes figures were a virtual Who’s Who of American television’s past and present. Before I get to that, let’s look at the fate of the program’s TWO pilot movies.
MAN ON THE OUTSIDE – This first pilot for Griff was not aired until 1975, the year AFTER the cancellation of the show it was launching. In my opinion this was a big mistake because this 2-hour telefilm excellently established Wade Griffin’s character. The thirty-year police veteran quit to personally look into his son’s murder and his grandson’s abduction. Continue reading
Filed under Forgotten Television
With the WNBA regular season ending tomorrow night, here are some of the latest results. The playoffs begin on Sunday.
CENTURY CLUB CLASSIC – The INDIANA FEVER (20-19) hosted the DALLAS WINGS (9-30).
Dallas led 34-26 to end the 1st Quarter, but the Fever cut that lead to just 59-57 by Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter Indiana went on top of the Wings 84-83, and the 4th saw each team add 26 points as the Fever won the game 110-109. Caitlin Clark led the victors with her THIRTY-FIVE points and 8 assists.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DREAMING – Up next the ATLANTA DREAM (14-25) took it on the road against the WASHINGTON MYSTICS (13-26).
At the Half, the Dream were on top of Washington 39-32. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Mystics trailing by just 54-53. The 4th ended in a 70-70 tie, and in Overtime Atlanta managed a 76-73 triumph. Tina Charles led the way for the Dream with her Double Double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Continue reading
Filed under WNBA
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