When you watch or listen to the Super Bowl on Sunday, remember the key factor in determining the winner may well be the number of turnovers by each team. Continue Reading

Dear Ross,

Now that Arizona and New Orleans have made it the last two years, what NFL teams are left which have never played in the Super Bowl?

Richard Kaufman
Encino, Ca.

Ross:

That list, Richard, is down to four teams. They are Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, and Jacksonville.

• DETROIT——-The Lions began play in 1934 and while it is true they nabbed four NFL championships, they have not earned a Super Bowl trophy, but hosted one.
• CLEVELAND——The original Browns never won a Super Bowl, then became the Baltimore Ravens as an expansion team in 1999 and captured the 2001 game.
• HOUSTON——– The Texans came into the NFL as an expansion franchise in 2002 and have never made the playoffs.
• JACKSONVILLE—- The Jaguars became an expansion club in 1995.

Cleveland’s new Browns started as an expansion team in 1999, and is the only NFL city to have neither hosted nor sent a squad to the Super Bowl.

Ross:

Could you tell me if Bobby Richardson ever lived in Olean, New York in 1954 or 1955? I vaguely remember my parents telling me a story about him living at my godmother’s boarding house on Fulton Street here in Olean—and that he may have taken me for buggy rides in my carriage when I was a baby. I’m not real sure about that, but would be interested to know if he did live here during those years.

Denise Kelly
Olean, New York

Ross:

Denise, it may well be true. Bobby was 17 years old when he played 32 games for the Yankees’ farm team at Olean in 1953. Richardson was sent to Norfolk later that summer where he was in 27 games. He continued to rise in the organization, joined the Yanks late in 1955, and became their regular second baseman in 1957 after Billy Martin got into a nightclub fight and was traded to Kansas City. Bobby was the MVP of the 1960 World Series even though the Pirates won in seven games. Richardson collected a record 12 hits.

Hi, Ross,

I’m so glad the kids and I had a chance to meet you and your precious wife, Linda. Thank you for taking the time to share with us and take a photo with the boys. We will further look at your website.

Blessings to both of you!

Kimberly Wallace
Huntington Beach, Ca.

Last week we posted a story on how athletes are continuing to get behind the effort to help the earthquake-devastated Caribbean nation of Haiti. We want to cover a few of the many more reports. Continue Reading

For the first time in the 44 years they have staged the Super Bowl, a team which plays its home games in a domed stadium will finally be crowned the champion of the National Football League. Continue Reading

by Art Hershey
(Former senior manager for 15 years with the Los Angeles Turf Club, operator of Santa Anita Park.)

In the spring of l979, a strike called against all Thoroughbred racing facilities in California imperiled the very future of the sport in the Golden State.  The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who represented the pari-mutuel wagering tellers, and still do, initiated the walkout.  There were no off-track wagering sites in those days.  Racing locally was scheduled at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Continue Reading

Linda,

I just read the write ups in your Table Tennis series and I don’t know how to thank you. The world of Table Tennis also thanks you. This was amazing and so well done. I liked the photo of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. They do like the sport. I will pass this on to others in my network.

Tell Ross I loved his OU comments about being at the game with Notre Dame. My wife, being a big OU fan, also loved it as she said she was only nine, but the whole state of Oklahoma was in shock when the 47-game winning streak was snapped.

God bless.

Steve Aloia
Temecula, Ca.

Ross

Thanks, Steve, for alerting us to your project to have Table Tennis become more popular in schools and organizations which could help youngsters in many areas. Keep up the good work!

Ross:

A friend of mine from Wisconsin told me that Fran Tarkenton had some harsh words for Brett Favre. I would think Tarkenton would be happy Favre has had such success in his first year with Fran’s old team, the Vikings. What is that all about?

Curt Shaw
Boise, Idaho

Ross:

Tarkenton, who quarterbacked Minnesota to three Super Bowl berths in 13 years, has been angry for over four months, Curt. He says it was wrong for Favre to sign with the Vikings after playing for 16 seasons with their division opponent, the Packers. Fran, who is 69, says he has nothing against the 40-year-old Favre as a person or as a player. In fact, Tarkenton says Brett has had a “remarkable” season, the best he has ever played, and he’s amazed.

Ross,

I want to recommend a book to you, Lin, and your website readers. It’s “Born To Play,” written by Robert Martinez, who works for the Fresno, California County Sheriff’s Department, and is the father of pitcher Brandon Martinez, the Dodgers seventh pick in the 2009 draft. Brandon first threw a baseball when he was eight months old, grew to be 6-4, and hits 94 on the speed gun. But the kid has Tourette Syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is the story of a young man who needed special understanding.

Tot Holmes
Gothenburg, Nebraska

Ross:

Thanks for the tip, Tot.

“This Haitian emergency is the most serious humanitarian crisis faced by the United Nations in decades.” Continue Reading

For the first time both conference championship games in the NFL will be played in a domed stadium in the same season. Continue Reading

Ross,

I want to thank you for placing No Experience Required on the recommended reading section of your website. We hope our book reinforces the message that anyone can make a difference if they believe in themselves and work for something larger than themselves and have just one person believe in them, even when others do not.

I am a former 12th Man walk on player for Coach Jackie Sherrill at Texas A&M. My teammates and I established the 12MKOT Foundation to provide scholarships for kids who wish to attend Texas A&M University. To this end, with the assistance of Coach Sherrill and Caleb Pirtle, the author, the former 12th Man kickoff team players conceived, funded and developed No Experience Required. All the profits from the sale of No Experience Required go to the 12MKOT Foundation. Neither Coach Sherrill nor any of the former 12th Man Players have or will receive any of the proceeds from No Experience Required.

Our completely volunteer Foundation has evolved with Coach Sherrill and the 12th Man players appearing at fundraisers for local A&M clubs who fund scholarships for kids. Approximately a year and a half ago, we were called upon by an old Aggie to visit the family of one of his employees whose son, an Aggie fan, was tragically killed in an auto accident. Since that time Coach Sherrill and the former 12th Man players periodically visit children in hospitals across Texas.

Individually, no one will remember the names of the 12th Men who played for Coach Sherrill. We were a little too slow or a little too short to make a difference. But collectively, the 12th Man Kickoff Team somehow made a difference. Our Foundation is committed to making a difference in the future.

Sean Page
San Antonio, Texas

Ross:

In the spring of 1983, Texas A&M coach Sherrill implemented a 12th man kickoff team, comprised solely of all-volunteer, non-scholarship, former highschool athletes from the Aggie student body. The idea was to connect the student body with the football team. Sherrill had tryouts for the team. Those who made it had one mission: Keep the opposing team’s kickoff returner inside his 20-yard line. They played only in home games because NCAA rules limited the travel squad. In the years of the 12th man kickoff team ( 1983-1989), no rival ever returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and the unit annually ranked among the national leaders in fewest return yards allowed.

Thanks, Sean, for your letter, and continued success for your Foundation.

Ross:

I was sorry to hear of Rory Markas’ death, and sorry that you lost a friend. We love your site and are glad you’re still doing what you love—-telling us all about sports. I wish you were back broadcasting the UNLV Rebels, not to mention in certain other locales. My mother grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and went to her grave thinking of Vin as what Red Barber would call him on the air: Young Scully. I hope you and your family are well.

Best,

Michael Green
Las Vegas

Ross:

It is always good to hear from you, Mike. Thank you for taking the time to write.