We received feedback regarding the piece on the 1968 Detroit Tigers WS championship. Incarnation Elementary school is where Yard delinquents listened to the 1968 game on the radio. Several of the 1971 Incarnation alumni subscribe to the Yard. They promptly reminded staff that it was not 5th grade Mrs. Dawson’s class, but 6th grade with Sister Leona. Leona was a Yard favorite who spent countless hours in parent-teacher conferences with Yard parents. Leona was a lifelong family friend who even attended a Dodger game with her three T’s of trouble: Tim, Tom and Tony.
We also were called out for citing hall of famers who never played in the Super Bowl. Dan Marino’s name was mentioned. I was notified by many that Dandy did play in SB XIX. In just his second year in the league, Marino’s legacy was etched when he became the youngest starting QB in SB history. He still owns that record. The game was played in the old Stanford stadium for some reason. Joe Montana and the SF 49’ers bulldozed the Dolphins 38-16. Marino would pass for over 300 and 1 TD but two picks. Marino would play 17 years for Miami. He would never play in another SB.
Yard beginnings in career work life began with a southern firm called Lanier Business Products. LBP was led by the irascible Gene Milner. Lanier offered sales training to neophytes to learn how to sell dictation equipment. Lanier bought the technology from Thomas Edison, so it goes back a bit. Dictation was an archaic business product that is buried alongside 8-track tapes. Lanier is where Jim Rome got his start after UCSB. The sales training was in Atlanta, GA at a converted Ramada Inn off I-85 in an area that preceded gentrification. Tattletale Gentleman’s Lounge was a stumble away. Sales newbies and sales trainers made the clandestine trek to the Tale. Atlanta has a legendary strip club history. The Gold Club raised the bar in 2001 luring in NBA superstars like Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. Special favors were provided to their famous clientele and profits soared. The Gambino Crime family was thrilled until the FBI got involved and started deposing NBA players. Gold Club closure and jail for the owners came next.
Twenty-five years later, the Atlanta Hawks will be hosting Magic City Night at State Farm Arena on Monday March 16. The event pays tribute to Magic City which the Hawks contend is a cultural institution. Magic City advertises itself as the Premier Atlanta Strip Club on their website. We don’t think there will be table dances at the arena, but we are advised to bring some small bills. Not sure if the “like a good neighbor” State Farm guys are thrilled with this promotion. The backlash has just started, and the Hawks marketing department is on LinkedIn update alert.
The Ides of March are upon us. In 44 BC, it was when Julius Caesar was dramatically removed from the Roman Senate. Leaders of state seemed to be getting removed a bit of late. In 2026, March 15 is when the NCAA March Madness selection show is scheduled. The Yard has always pledged our allegiance to the NCAA basketball tournament. It is a national event that links communities small and large on either side of the political spectrum. It can be pure joy until Bryce Drew hits a 23-foot runner at the buzzer to eliminate your team. Unless of course, your pool had Valparaiso that afternoon. The first two days of the tourney are the most exciting 48 hours in sports. April 6, there will be an NCAA Champion and Notre Dame will probably still be pissed at the NCAA. Let the Madness carry us through the insanity.
Senior night can be a special night in an NCAA basketball player's life. Graduating and graduation adjacent, these seniors are recognized by the university, family and friends celebrating their journey. It was a real big deal before the one and done era. Kobe and Lebron were none and done and don’t think they missed it. Patrick Ewing had a senior night and so did Reggie Miller. The UCLA greats from John Wooden’s ten championship teams all had epic senior nights including Lew Alcindor, Marques Johnson and Gail Goodrich. Today’s elite programs have few graduating seniors who play. The “players” are usually in the NBA prior to their senior night. It was the only night seniors at Kentucky got on the floor. In 2026, senior night is farcical at times. With NIL, players are staying in college longer. Not to get an education but to get paid for playing college sports. The Yard supports that. Athletes are going to court to get years five and six of their college eligibility. Athletes claim lost seasons to Covid seasons or other injuries. Bluto Blutarsky could barely get away with this rationale.
RIP: Pittsburgh Pirate HOF Bill Mazeroski died last week at the age of 89. Maz will always be known for his dramatic walk off Game 7 bottom of the 9th homerun to win the 1960 World Series over the Yankees. His HOF career batting average was .260. He hit 138 HR’s and 853 RBI’s. It was pedestrian stats for the Hall. He is still the only Game 7, bottom of 9 walk off HR to win the WS. Everyone saw Joe Carter’s but that was Game 6. Yard youth loved the pugnacious 2nd basemen called Maz and Glove. He did win 8 Gold Gloves. He won another title with the Pirates in 1971. The Baltimore Orioles were heavily favored to repeat as WS. Maz was coming off the bench, but Roberto Clemente was at the height of his powers and carried the day. Yard Youth got to see those Pirates on June 16, 1970. Maz went 0-4 with four assists. Matty Alou went 0-4 leading off and Willie Stargell 0-4 batting cleanup. Dodger Don Sutton pitched a 4-hit shutout and the Blue won 1-0. The Pirates would win the WS the following season. Mazeroski played his entire 17-year career for Pittsburgh. Good speed Glove, they might need you for spring ball upstairs.
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