there's an old house that was once a mansion
Week 14!
If it wasn’t so long, I’d paste this whole article from the New York Times:
Behind the Scenes of the Most Spectacular Show on TV: Months of preparation, hundreds of staff, convoys of cutting-edge gear: inside the machine that crafts prime time’s most popular entertainment.
(Even without a subscription to the Times, that link should work. If for whatever reason it doesn’t and you want to read it, shoot me a note and I’ll get you a copy. )
One interesting tidbit that I think people forget is how the Sunday Night Football mystique once belonged to ABC’s “Monday Night Football,” the prime-time showcase that started in 1970.
By 2005, N.F.L. executives had concluded that Sunday was a better spot for marquee matchups and NBC paid a reported $3.6 billion for a six-year contract.
I wasn’t born yet, but I’ve always been intrigued how if you talk to people of a certain age about the Beatles or John Lennon, a high percentage will tell you they found out about his murder during Monday Night Football, December 8, 1980. (Almost exactly 43 years ago.)
The announcement was made with three seconds left in regulation, with the Patriots and Dolphins tied at 13. New England kicker John Smith was preparing for a game-winning field-goal attempt as the background for Cosell’s narration.
Miami blocked Smith’s kick, and the Dolphins won on a first-possession field goal in overtime, 16-13.
The decision to announce Lennon's death during the game was not taken lightly. Cosell and his fellow announcer, Frank Gifford, had an off-air discussion about whether to share the news during the game. Gifford was of the opinion that the news was significant enough to warrant an interruption of the game
Just six years earlier, Howard Cosell interviewed Lennon during halftime and Lennon remarked about the madness of football crowds, saying, "it makes rock concerts look like tea parties.”
Lennon was shot outside his residence, The Dakota Building, located at 72nd Street and Central Park West in Manhattan, New York City.
The Dakota has a reputation for rejecting rich and famous applicants.
Some of the celebrities who have had their applications denied include Carly Simon, Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Cher, Billy Joel, Alex Rodriguez, Judd Apatow, Téa Leoni, and Madonna.
John Madden and Joe Namath both resided in The Dakota
Madden purchased his two-bedroom apartment in 1985 from comedian Gilda Radner for $625,000 and sold it in 2013 for $3.9 million.
In 2019, Namath he put his two-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op in the building on the market for $1.19 million.
If you’re interested, Zillow shows Unit 45 for sale for $4.75m.
Numbers with Bet Openly
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7: The Steelers were 7-4 last Sunday morning. Then, they lost to the 2-10 Arizona Cardinals at home. Then, they lost to the 2-10 New England Patriots at home. They are now 7-6.
3: Bailey Zappe is the first Patriot with 3 passing TDs in a 1st half since Tom Brady in 2018.
2018: The 2018 Steelers ranked 4th in total offense. Since…
2019: 30th
2020: 25th
2021: 23rd
2022: 23rd
2023: 26th
155.8 [TRIVIA]: Which player has a 155.8 passer rating when targeted in man coverage? (First in the NFL this season.)
Quotes
“I don’t want to pay for all those tickets. I’m still on a rookie contract. It’s expensive.”
Asked if his friends/family were in Pittsbrugh, Bailey Zappe said no
"We put the blueprint out there ... Hopefully, the Cowboys watch the tape."
Nick Bosa believes Jalen Hurts has been figured out
“That’s just soft. He’s a well respected guy around the league for whatever reason. Now he suddenly has a voice because he’s on his brother’s podcast.”
Bills DT Jordan Phillips claps back at Jason Kelce calling him out for trying to injure Cam Jurgens
"This guy has been battle-tested."
Nathaniel Hackett on Zach Wilson
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Picks
Sunday, 12/10 @ 1pm
Texans (-3) at Jets U32.5
Texans have 72% of the bets and 73% of the money: +1% differential
The Under has 85% of the bets and 92% of the money: +7% differential
Rams at Ravens U39.5
Sunday, 12/10 @ 4:05pm
Vikings at Raiders (+3)
Raiders have 49% of the bets and 74% of the money: +25% differential
Seahawks at 49ers (-13.5) O45.5
Sunday, 12/10 @ 4:25pm
Broncos (+3) at Chargers O44
Bills (+1.5) at Chiefs U49
The Under has 33% of the bets and 51% of the money: +18% differential
Sunday, 12/10 @ 8:20pm
Eagles at Cowboys (-3)
Record
ATS: 35-34-4 (-2.15u)
O/U: 27-23-3 (+1.57u)
Highlights
Bailey Zappe one ups himself with an even more perfect lofted pass to Hunter Henry for another Touchdown
Zappe finds Elliott for the Patriots touchdown
Miles Killebrew blocks the punt to set the Steelers up with another short field
Mitch Trubisky floats a ball off his back foot to Diontae Johnson who makes the extended catch for the Touchdown