Thanksgiving leftovers.

As the Sound of Music refrains, “these are one of my favorite things … and then I don’t feel so bad.”

Leftovers made you smile.

Initially, I had planned to write this column last Friday (day after Thanksgiving), but life sometimes gets in your way. Monday may be pushing it for leftovers, but I always tried.

Aside from the Thanksgiving Day leftovers, we can look back at some Philly and national sports scene “leftovers” events that we always liked to “pull out of the fridge” for another helping.

What legendary center and guard had some big Turkey Day games? What college game was labeled “The Game of the Century,” and what game began John Madden’s “Turkey Leg” award? And who was Tom Marsh?

Take Out the Stuffing ... The Thanksgiving Day tilt that I most remember is the Clint Longley game in 1974, in which the former Cowboys’ quarterback tossed a game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass. For a guy who played in only 17 games, Longley is a folk hero whose heroics are recalled every year.

Through the years, there have been a myriad of Lions’ games, and they began playing in 1934. Dallas began playing in 1966.

There’s also the “Butt Fumble (2012),” The Flubbed Coin Toss (1998),” and the Eagles 27-0 domination over the Cowboys in 1989 that began the “Turkey Leg” award.

You may recall the Eagles hosting the Cardinals in a 2008 home game in which they posted a 48-20 victory. Donovan McNabb threw four touchdowns, and the defense nabbed three interceptions.

One game that may slip through the cracks is O.J. Simpson’s 273-rushing effort, as the team gained only 310 total yards in a 27-14 loss to the Lions in 1976.

Finally, we can all recall the famed “Leon Lett” snow game between the Cowboys-Dolphins in 1993. Lett tried to scoop up a blocked field goal attempt, but the Dolphins then recovered the ball inside the 5-yard line. They proceeded to convert the game-winning field goal.

Wilt’s and Big O’s Thanksgiving Feast ... Some of you may recall, and it is a game that should be a leftover.

In a 1964 Thanksgiving Day matchup, San Francisco Warrior Wilt Chamberlain scored 63 points, grabbed 32 rebounds, and had three assists in a 128-117 loss to the Sixers. Hal Greer had 26 points, and Luke Jackson added 24 for the Sixers.

Four days earlier, Chamberlain scored 34 points and grabbed 55 rebounds against Boston.

A year earlier, Oscar Robertson, interestingly collected one of his 181 triple-doubles (38 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds) on Thanksgiving Day 1963 in a 125-110 win over the Sixers. Lee Shaffer (a name from the past) led the Sixers with 41 points.

In 1960 on Thanksgiving, Chamberlain scored 34 points and grabbed 55 rebounds as a Philadelphia Warrior in a 132-129 loss to the Celtics.

Pull It Out of the Freezer ... It was Thanksgiving Day in 1971, top-ranked and defending national champion Nebraska (winners of 20 straight) met second-ranked Oklahoma on ABC for a 3 p.m. kickoff. The game was billed as a national championship game, and it is still viewed as one of the best college games ever played. It is still seen as the “College Game of the 20th Century.”

This was a time when most of the familiar names were on both teams. There was Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers, Jerry Tagge and Jeff Kinney on offense, and Rich Glover and Willie Harper on defense.

Oklahoma featured running back Greg Pruitt and quarterback Jack Mildren. Do you remember fullback Leon Crosswhite? They also had a sophomore defensive end named Lucious Selmon.

The game had plenty of hype, including a Sports Illustrated cover of Pruitt nose-to-nose with Nebraska linebacker Bob Terrio with the headline, “Irresistible Oklahoma meets Immovable Nebraska.” (I did have it at one time).

Rodgers opened the game with an electric 72-yard punt return in which he literally came to a complete stop and changed direction — and headed in the opposite direction for the score.

The game lived up to its hype as it was tight until the end before Kinney scored on a 2-yard plunge that gave Nebraska a 35-31 victory in the closing two minutes. It was his fourth touchdown on the day.

Mildren also accounted for four touchdowns, two passing and two rushing.

This was a classic TV call from Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson along with Bill Flemming along the sidelines. They were an effective broadcast trio.

Ironically, only a few of the players made their mark in the NFL. Pruitt and Kinney had solid careers with the Browns and Chiefs, respectively. Glover was a first-round pick of the Giants in 1973, who flopped, and did spend a year with the Eagles in 1975.

Rodgers, nicknamed “The Jet,” was the top pick of the Chargers in 1973, but he shocked the league when he bolted for the Canadian Football League. He returned to the Chargers in 1977, but he had an uneventful two-year stop there.

Mildren was drafted as a defensive back by the Colts in 1972, and played two years with them and a year with the Patriots.

Tagge was the first-round pick of the Packers in 1972, but he only started 12 games over three years before he was out of the game.

Readers Write

Some Sixers’ Big Men

Hi Jeff!

The current saying of the day is: “As Embiid goes, so goes the Sixers.” When he and the others are healthy and in the lineup, the Sixers are definitely playoff contenders. When he’s no, they’re lucky to play .500 ball. This could be a wake-up call for management to at least start thinking ahead about another big man.

I liked your mention of the 1966-67 Sixers team and their magical season. That was the year when Wilt, who is the greatest NBA player of all time, scored less, but was enjoying it more. He showed everybody that he was a true multidimensional player in scoring, defense, rebounds and assists.

Wilt was backed up by a formidable starting lineup consisting of Hal Greer, Wally Jones, Luke Jackson and Chet “The Jet” Walker. Billy Cunningham was the sixth man off the bench.

If the team were to play in the present, they would be the most dominant team in the league, probably setting a record for scoring and most wins in a season. The NBA of today consists of players who probably wouldn’t make the cut back in the old days, when there were fewer teams.

I might add that the championship team led by Dr. J and Moses Malone was certainly not a slouch.

Now let’s see what the Phillies have in store with their quest for a left fielder who can hit for average, run, and possibly lead off.

Richard Ochs

Walnutport, PA

Another Classic Game ... In 1970, Ideal unveiled “Sure Shot Hockey,” which was a scaled-down version of the then hot classic rod/table-top game that we all treasured.

There was a rink with attached player control dials and goals, two red figures, two yellow figures and a black marble puck.

Didn’t we always play some game after dinner?

WWF/WWE Wrap ... Each week, I’ll recall a former wrestler from our past.

Do you remember Tito Santana? The Mission, Texas native — who was a notable high school football player — was known for the figure-four leg lock and the Mexican hammer. He also was known as “Tino Santana” and “Dino Santana.”

Santana made his debut in the WWDF in 1979, and he teamed with Ivan Putski to capture the WWF Tag-Team title from 1979-80. He later teamed with Rick Martel to claim another Tag-Team title in 1987-88.

He also was the WWF Intercontinental Champion, the ECW Heavyweight Champion, and the AWF Heavyweight Champion.

Overall, the current 71-year-old Santana posted a 1,839-846 record with 241 draws.

Memory Lane ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former player, coach, manager or media personality from our yesterday?

Do you remember Phillies’ outfielder Tom Marsh? He was the club’s 16th round pick in the 1988 draft.

Marsh had a good spring training in 1992 and made the parent club. But he struggled and hit just .200 in 42 games with two homers and 16 RBIs.

Marsh played parts of the 1994 and 1995 seasons with the Phillies, and he hit .246 overall in three seasons with five homers and 34 RBIs.

Final Thought ... Another leftover I miss is the old NFL Today show with Brent Musberger, Irv Cross, Phyllis George and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. Those 1970s graphics are iconic.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com.