Tossing Batting Practice….like a demoted middle reliever wearing number 79 now plying my trade in a remote outpost like…well Rural Northeast Georgia…
It’s the baseball preview edition here, live from Deliverance. The college hoops regionals were thoroughly uninteresting, and we’ve kind of hit a brief lull in sports, thus the reason why it’s late Friday night and I am eagerly awaiting baseball season to start, so I can sit on my couch and watch games until 2am on a nightly basis.
I am going to attempt to successfully, and snidely preview each and every team briefly, while predicting their order of finish. The over/under on words is 3000.
We’ll start with the junior varsity, I mean the National League.
NL EAST Champion - NY Mets (the rest are in order of finish)
NY Mets – Honestly it wasn’t until the addition of Gary Sheffield did I feel confident of this pick, but let’s be honest, a volatile me-first over the hill aging superstar, adding to a team that has self destructed two years in a row under the weight of their own selfishness and fan expectations…I think this is a match made in heaven.
Biggest Question – Is David Wright fluent in Spanish?
PHILADELPHIA – I am not ready to live in a world where the phrase “defending champion Philadelphia” is a common recurrence, but alas such is the case. I can’t name three Phillies starters, nor a single middle reliever and I’m pretty sure Brad Lidge won’t be perfect again. (that’s the kind of in depth analysis you get here)
Burning Question – What is the statute of limitations before Philly Fans venom comes out in full force?
ATLANTA – The good news, bars aren’t open on Sunday’s here in Bible country, bad news, they’re open til 4am otherwise. Good luck with Derek Lowe guys, really. They’re an odd mix of young potential stars, and decrepit former stars a pretty good everyday lineup but no pitching at all.
Burning Question – At what age are you too old to be referred to as Chipper?
FLORIDA – Hanley Ramirez is awesome, Ricky Nolasco is pretty damn good, but there are 23 other guys on the roster, of whom cannot be described as either awesome, or pretty damn good.
Burning Question – Who ever thought this franchise was a good idea? South Florida, humidity, and constant threat of rain, doesn’t really equate to the fan experience.
WASHINGTON – If they hadn’t just built a new stadium I’d start to think they were pulling a Major League here, and trying to lose on purpose, though the addition of Adam Dunn reeks of the Jack Parkman addition in Major League II.
Burning Question - Is it possible the Lerner family is more inept at running a franchise than MLB was?
NL Central Champion – Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO – The rest of this division sucks, but so does this whole league. The Cubs have good starting pitching, a solid bullpen and a pretty good lineup. The craziness factor is upped a little with Milton Bradley being added.
Burning Question – When did Cubs fans become so miserable? They are really starting to become the standard bearer of the fellowship of the miserable, especially as Boston and Philly have become champions in this decade.
(At this point I put three names in a hat and pulled them out to determine order)
MILAWUKEE – After mortgaging their future, and going all in to extend their season a week and earn the right to play 166 games the Brewers will come back to earth a bit this year. The fact Jeff Suppan is their staff “ace” has a lot to do with that.
Burning Question – Is there a more dangerous combination to long term health than the food in Milwaukee, and Prince Fielder’s metabolism and appetite?
CINCINATTI – They seem to be the popular sleeper pick, but only if they drug Dusty Baker into a permanent sleep and run the team themselves. The Red have immense young talent in the lineup, and corpse of Ken Griffey is no longer stinking up the Center Field area. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto are the great white hopes for a city that could really use some good. However, I cannot root for a team that gave America Joe Morgan, professional baseball announcer extraordinaire.
Burning Question – Alex Gonzalez is really going to bat second for these guys? After double checking to make sure it was the same one (I mean its kind of like the Spanish John Smith) it is one and the same. Third place seems right.
ST. LOUIS – Had they spent the money and added Manny Ramirez a division title would be in the Cards (those are the kind of poor puns that show I have professional sports writing experience) instead they’ve got Pujols, and a whole lot of ifs. Rick Ankiel is exciting, and they have a guy named Skip leading off.
Burning Question –Most would think its “who will be the closer” but personally I wonder if Chris Carpenter or Bob Tewksbury has had the better career with the Cardinals for a starting pitcher born in New Hampshire.
HOUSTON – They were god awful in spring training, and Roy Oswalt did a terrific job of landing himself on a potential homegrown terrorist watch list with the way he disrespected his country in his performance in the WBC. In Japan he would have been asked to kill himself honorably.
Burning question – Do Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee have to stand on opposite ends of the field so it doesn’t tilt? Those two would be a great tackle/tight end combo to run behind for the Texans.
PITTSBURGH – There is nothing redeeming about even researching this team, though my brief review I learned that pitcher Paul Maholm is not the same former Twins prospect (that was Pat Mahomes). Good news Craig Hansen won’t be able to piss off an entire fan base unless he takes Ben Roethlisberger for a motorcycle ride.
Burning Question – How many home games will have a smaller attendance than the first day of Steelers training camp in Latrobe?
NL WEST Champion – LA Dodgers
LOS ANGELES – I’m contractually obligated to pick the Dodgers, so says my boss. The Dodgers have the best lineup in the division, and the best bullpen, but they’ll need better starting pitching Pedro Martinez is a natural fit, but for some strange reason Frank McCourt is cheaping out, perhaps he forgot Petey is an Ex-Red Sox, which he seems to collect like living baseball cards. It even extends to the minors, where former Sox John Valentin and Danny Darwin are managers in the system.
Burning Question – Will I watch more Dodger or Red Sox games this year courtesy of the baseball package? The Sox are the safer bet, but the Dodgers are on at a more convenient late night time.
ARIZONA – They have the best starting pitching, and potentially the best lineup if Justin Upton and Stephen Drew have breakout years, but they don’t hit for average well, and may struggle to score runs without leaving the ballpark. Their bullpen is also a big question mark at the moment. Regardless this could be the best race of the summer.
Burning Question – How is Tony Clark still employed in the big leagues? He was D-U-N done in 2002, yet he’s managed to survive seven more years, who does he have incriminating photos of?
SAN FRANCISCO – They have the best 1-2 punch in the league in Cain and Lincecum, but how the Giants will score runs is a bigger question then how did Seal nab Heidi Klum. The first team to score twice, might be the winner each time the Giants play.
Pablo Sandoval seems like a jovial fat baby Ortiz type figure to root for. Upon further review projected third hitter Fred Lewis is not a former Boston Bruins coach, and the rest of the lineup is pretty unknown too.
Burning Question – Is there a starker contrast between any two lefties in baseball history than Randy Johnson and Barry Zito?
COLORADO – Clearly Jesus-loving Clint Hurdle and the rest of the Pious Rockies sold their souls to someone to make the 2007 World Series, and the sudden repentance the Lord has forced the Rox to pay is life in baseball purgatory, not as bad as the Padres, but not good enough to play .500 ball all summer and stay in the race.
Burning Question – Boy those Troy Tulowitzki/Derek Jeter comparisons stopped pretty fast huh?
SAN DIEGO – By default they’ll win 60 games and lose 60 games, but the other 60 that determine a season, well the Padres could lose 55 of them. They have a worse offense than the Giants, and play in the Grand Canyon, but their pitching is atrocious too, and I’m pretty sure Alphabetically you’ll find Jake Peavey right after Oswalt on that potential home grown terrorist watch list thanks to the WBC.
Burning Question – This team isn’t interesting enough to have a burning question, and too many holes to limit things to just one. Perhaps the larger question, why doesn't everyone live in San Diego fits here?
AMERICAN LEAGUE (aka the Varsity)
The AL East is down the bottom so you either have to read the whole thing, or be inconvenienced enough to have to scroll down to the end.
AL CENTRAL CHAMPION – Cleveland Indians
CLEVELAND – I feel like the Devil Rays should be moved to this division, just to add a team that doesn’t suck completely. But the Indians will win it by default. Cliff Lee will not repeat last year, but the rest of their rotation is decent enough given the lineup they’ll trot out every night.
Burning Question – Will Carl Pavano exceed the number of Yankee starts he made by A) Mother’s Day B) Memorial Day C) Labor Day?
DETROIT – This team will make a run only because it will screw ownership. They’re banking on a poor start and then a fire sale of Marlins proportions, but they have the pitching and a decent enough lineup to stay in the race but their bullpen sucks, and will ultimately be their undoing, sometime in August after the deadline, where they’ll still be on the hook for all those big guns they didn’t trade.
Burning Question – Given Joel Zumaya’s injury history with Guitar Hero, is there a team policy banning use of the Wii?
MINNESOTA – Joe Mauer is hurt again, and thus they’ll be a middle of the pack team. They have a great bullpen, but not enough starting pitching and a thin lineup.
Burning Question – Honestly I got nothing here, I even waited until the end in hopes of coming up with something, but hey 29 out of 30 isnt bad right?
CHICAGO – Sorry Guiney, but this team will underachieve. They are aging slow and one dimensional in the middle of the lineup, and young and inexperienced at the top and bottom. Their bullpen could be good with the addition of Linebrink, but their rotation has some question marks mainly the age of Jose Contreras, and the weight of Bartolo Colon.
Burning Question – If Ozzie Guillen tips over the postgame spread in a tirade, would Bartolo Colon resort to cannibalism?
KANSAS CITY – It seems fitting that Kyle Farnsworth was jettisoned to baseball Siberia, but I feel for Coco Crisp. The rest of the Royals roster is interesting (ok, only mildly), could be good, could be awful. Alex Gordon is supposed to be on the verge of a breakout season, and allegedly Zach Greinke is a star in the making. I read more about the Royals in the last five minutes, than in the last 5 years, so take it for what its worth.
Burning Question – Why do people even attend their games? It’s hot as hell there, it’s a crappy stadium, and a worse product.
AL WEST Champion- California and Surrounding counties and territories Angels
LOS ANGELES/ANAHEIM/ORANGE COUNTY/ SOUTH CENTRAL/LONG BEACH
I don’t want to be accused of leaving something out. Anyway, the Angels are the favorite here because everyone else has more questions. Abreu is the steal of the offseason at his pricetag, but Guerrero is looking and walking like Earl Campbell more and more every day. The rotation is in shambles right now due to injury, and the bullpen has a few questions as well. The addition of Fuentes helps, anchor with Arredondo who was impressive last October.
Burning Question – “Will I…be able…to play….softball…tomorrow???” “No by tomorrow you’ll barely be able to breathe.”
Aside from the miraculous recovery from acute radiation poisoning suffered during a guest spot on the Simpsons, why does Mike Scoisia get so much love? He’s short tempered, whiny, and growing more ornery by the day while not having won anything important in years. Food for thought that’s all.
OAKLAND – I love them to maybe win the division, but then I honestly questioned whether or not the other four projected starters after Duchscherer were made up names. Plus if they stumble early they’ll also be selling like the Marlins after a world title. The A’s have good young pitching, and apparently focus on defense more now, but the offense is still a question. The additions of Giambi and Holiday are a step in the right direction, but Holliday may be a system (Coors Field) guy, and Giambi wont have the short porch in right to lean on.
Burning Question – Will the number of smiles Nomar cracks be less than or equal to the number of at-bats he gets a week. (please show your work in determining this calculation)
TEXAS – They’re playing out the string already. Offensively they are solid, but not what they have been in the past. They still have a bad rotation and even crappier bullpen so I wouldn’t expect much beyond the usual 11-8 slugfest, though they’d probably win the NL Central or West going away.
Burning Question – As Jason Varitek’s batting average drops lower than his weight, and Clay Bucholz’s ERA at Pawtucket, drops lower than Heidi Watney’s weight, how many days a week will the names of Saltalamachia, and Teagarden appear in the Globe and Herald?
SEATTLE – King Felix Hernandez, and Erik Bedard will make this team interesting to watch for the first 105 pitches of games when the Mariners are in the field twice a week, otherwise, the Moose (which never seemed to make sense as a mascot to me) becomes the most exciting aspect about the Mariners. The calcification and decaying of the corpse of Ken Griffey (who ceases to be “junior” when he turns 35) in center field might be a fun way to waste a summer if you’re a Mariner season ticket holder in the bleachers.
Burning Question – Did Ichiro’s ulcer come from the stress of representing Japan in the WBC or the impending doom of having to go back to the Mariners and get his ass kicked all season?
AL EAST Champion – Satan
NY YANKEES – There is no way this team doesn’t win the division. Joe Girardi sees the national unemployment rate of 8.5% and knows he doesn’t want to be calling the department of workforce development any time soon. Thus, he’ll have the pedal to the metal all season long, likely making life miserable for this team come late August, and into September. But I think they still win the Division by taking the shortsighted view of feeling as though they have to do everything to win every game, as opposed to playing for October, they’ll be playing to get to October.
There are legitimate lineup questions, and defensive issues, as well as bullpen queries. But I think the rotation is built for the regular season, and they’ll plenty of runs.
Burning Question – How will this team take ARod back? Since he left they were basically camp tranquility and quietly won the most games in Florida. How he assimilates back to the ballclub will go a long way toward how far they go into October.
BOSTON – The Sox have a ton of pitching on paper, but question marks within that. How will Penny, and Smoltz hold up, what kind of Wakefield are we getting, can Bucholz be the dominant force he’s shown flashes of? The Bullpen might be as good as its been in my lifetime, but its always a crapshoot. I just don’t think there’s enough offense right now. If Ellsbury shows improvement and Varitek can hit his weight, and Drew plays 135 games, and Ortiz hits for some power, and Lowell returns to some form all bets are off. But that’s a lot of ifs. Pedroia and Youkilis are the only sure things so to speak in the lineup, but I want to see a little more out of them before I’m a total believer. (the sudden downfall of Nomar, and the vast overrating of hometowners Troy O’Leary, and John Valentin leave me skeptical, along with the inherent Red Sox fan trait to always expect the other shoe to drop)
They are in great position to acquire someone in a fire sale, but where will they play? Center Field and Shortstop are the only place and neither Hanley Ramirez or Grady Sizemore are walking through that door. Fortunately I am a ploythiestic worshipper and while that makes me a heathen down south, "In Theo and Tito I trust" to make the right decisions and put this team in position to win.
Burning question – I think we covered all 13 of them above, and this team was so bland during spring training I don’t even have anything witty to snark at. Ok, how bout this one; am I the only 2009 baseball preview in America that featured two separate references to John Valentin? I vote yes.
TAMPA BAY – The Rays lineup is probably the best in the Division, at least with ARod out, but there are legitimate questions about their pitching. The pitching staff can go one of two ways. They can continue to make the leap and become the 1990s Braves, in which case we’re all playing for second and a wild card berth. Or they can fall back to earth a bit, as the toll last season took rears its ugly head the following season as it is often wont to do (see, Foulke, Keith; Beckett, Josh; Indians, 2007). I think the latter is the more likely scenario. They will score a ton of runs, but they Rays don’t have the depth to fill pitching holes if injuries, fatigue and poor execution set in. In an age of pitch counts and innings maximums for young pitchers, the Rays pitchers exceeded all of them last season, and I think it’s a reasonable prospect to expect them to plateau a little. In any other division they could get over this and probably still run away and hide, but not in the AL East.
Burning Question – Now that he’s making good money and a well respected Manager, what exactly is stopping Joe Maddon from getting laser eye surgery, those glasses send off more of a Kennedy Administration Cabinet member circa the Cuban Missile Crisis, than it does AL Manager of the year.
TORONTO – Any former manager who calls Roger Clemens an As**ole is ok in my book, score one for Cito Gaston. However, that might be the only thing Cito and his boys score this season. Once again the Jays could be a contender anywhere else, but will lose 90 games in the revamped AL East. They have one solid starter, two solid hitters, and one solid closer. A good core, but not enough in this Division.
Burning Question – Not so much for the Jays but about them, whoever struggles with this team will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
BALTIMORE – There is absolutely no redeeming quality about this team until they call up prized prospect Matt Wieters, who is some sort of catcher superhero by all accounts, but unless he can pitch, catch, and bat in all nine positions the O’s will still suck, they’ll just be intriguing to fantasy players who draft Wieters in a keeper league.
Burning Question – How many times will centerfielder Adam Jones be mistaken for miscreant pond scum unemployed punt returner Adam Jones?
And that’s my regular season predicted order of finish, I would love some comments about my baseball intellect (won’t hold my breath on that one) or idiocy, and your Division winners are also welcome.
Also if anyone is reading this is interest in putting together a fantasy baseball league shoot me an email (or a phone call if you have the bat phone number) and I’ll set something up.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tossing Batting Practice….while wondering how a country that produced the immortal Jin Ho Cho and Sun Wu Kim can be in the WBC final?
So much like the Little League World Series, the US lost to Japan (after all the Chinese Taipei guys were like 46) and our boys are going home. It’s good to see that Roy Oswalt, who got lit up in the final, will fit in well with the rest of the Astros, who are on track to make the ’03 Tigers look like the ’98 Yankees.
Had I still been in college while watching last night’s game, I think I would have enjoyed the Sadahara Oh drinking game. Basically if I took a drink every time the ESPN booth mentioned his name or the camera flashed to him, I would have had alcohol poisoning of epic proportions. Also known as the Jimmy Buffet edition.
(there I beat all of you who know me to the punch, so any comments will not get past the fictional ombudsman)
We get it, revered Japanese hero, they love him, hit lots of home runs. Alright enough already.
So Castro's son is apparently the trainer for Cuba? Does he also administer the beatings for potential defectors? Does he put players down like horses when they're too hurt to perform? I have lots of questions about this.
Is it like prison, do the Cuban hierarchy beat the hell out of one player to prevent mass defections? Or are there families held in a work commune together only to be released provided all players return?
Sticking with baseball momentarily, everyone knows Curt Schilling retired today, and it does start to mark the end of an era in my eyes.
The departure of Manny, and the instant aging of Varitek and Ortiz last year started the trend, but now the book is starting to close on the last team of my youth.
The group of idiots, and why not us, was the last team that featured all the players older than me, and was the last group I truly lived and died with every single day.
Schilling has been a polarizing figure here in new England the last couple years, but to me I love him. I don’t agree with his politics in the least, or many of his other opinions, but an athlete that candid about anything, and that thankful to be a ballplayer, and to the fans is ok in my book.
I still remember the chills I got as we cheered Schilling as he walked to the bullpen for the start of game 2 of the 04 World Series, for all you did Curt, I say thank you.
I tried today to explain the magnitude of what 2004 meant to me and everyone I know to a southerner today. The best equivalent I could come up with would be beating Florida in the BCS title game after trailing 28-0 after three quarters.
If you equate anything in life to college football…a southerner will understand you. I think that’s where Obama needs to go to garner support for his policies.
After driving to Myrtle Beach and back this week, I have to say, the state of South Carolina is a lot bigger than it looks on a map.
Myrtle Beach was nice, kinda looked like a cleaner Atlantic City, minus the drugs, hookers, Jersey trash and Casinos.
Which I guess makes it nothing like Atlantic City, oh well.
Most of my drunken ramblings about the NCAA tournament came and went, clearly I am more coherent and thoughtful sober, but I’m infinitely funnier drunk.
However, nothing sucks more than liking an upset and talking yourself out of it, only to see it come to fruition. I’m looking at you Cleveland St. And glancing with an evil eye at Wake Forest.
Overall it was kind of a dull first two rounds in my strictly for entertainment purposes bracket challenge against myself; I still have a pretty good shot to win, provided everything goes my way.
I was 13-16 in the Sweet 16, and frankly had I actually listened to some of my own research written below I might have been better. Instead I got drunk Wednesday night and put my picks in at 1am.
Like the good coach in me I'm more annoyed with the games I lost, particularly because they could have been prevented.
After spending the tournament in Vegas last year, I am forever ruined watching it on the CBS local feed, where you spend the entire time not watching your game, even if its a back and forth thriller, but watching the little scoreboard box, and getting excited or riled up over the slightest change in score.
As far as my theory goes, well it was 11-16 with teams ranking in four or more categories. Three of those teams that didn’t were Duke, Michigan St. and Villanova. All three of them got favorable draws against other middling teams but overall it seemed to hold up again.
In the end this year I’m surprised it held up as well as it did because there were so few mid-majors who excel under the radar.
I am definitely glad that I have grown up and kicked my NCAA gambling addiction, because Ball State over Tennessee absolutely would have ruined my women’s pool.
Stacey Dales, you are sorely missed on the women’s hoops analysis. Kara Lawson, you owe me 1,500 bucks from breaking my hd tv with your ugliness, and possibly burning my retinas beyond repair.
My all time Nemesis Boston University is the top overall seed in the NCAA hockey tournament, I cannot stress how hard I will be rooting for the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota to take them out. Especially since I always end up rooting for BC against UND, despite close family ties to the crew from Grand Forks. (population Quincy, Mass. Yet is the third largest city in ND)
For the first time in 15 years my honorary college is in the hockey tournament. The Northeastern Huskies are going to be the darlings of the tournament, or do like they always do in the Beanpot and choke in the end.
Let the chants of Sieve! and BU Sucks!!! begin. Go Huskies.
So much like the Little League World Series, the US lost to Japan (after all the Chinese Taipei guys were like 46) and our boys are going home. It’s good to see that Roy Oswalt, who got lit up in the final, will fit in well with the rest of the Astros, who are on track to make the ’03 Tigers look like the ’98 Yankees.
Had I still been in college while watching last night’s game, I think I would have enjoyed the Sadahara Oh drinking game. Basically if I took a drink every time the ESPN booth mentioned his name or the camera flashed to him, I would have had alcohol poisoning of epic proportions. Also known as the Jimmy Buffet edition.
(there I beat all of you who know me to the punch, so any comments will not get past the fictional ombudsman)
We get it, revered Japanese hero, they love him, hit lots of home runs. Alright enough already.
So Castro's son is apparently the trainer for Cuba? Does he also administer the beatings for potential defectors? Does he put players down like horses when they're too hurt to perform? I have lots of questions about this.
Is it like prison, do the Cuban hierarchy beat the hell out of one player to prevent mass defections? Or are there families held in a work commune together only to be released provided all players return?
Sticking with baseball momentarily, everyone knows Curt Schilling retired today, and it does start to mark the end of an era in my eyes.
The departure of Manny, and the instant aging of Varitek and Ortiz last year started the trend, but now the book is starting to close on the last team of my youth.
The group of idiots, and why not us, was the last team that featured all the players older than me, and was the last group I truly lived and died with every single day.
Schilling has been a polarizing figure here in new England the last couple years, but to me I love him. I don’t agree with his politics in the least, or many of his other opinions, but an athlete that candid about anything, and that thankful to be a ballplayer, and to the fans is ok in my book.
I still remember the chills I got as we cheered Schilling as he walked to the bullpen for the start of game 2 of the 04 World Series, for all you did Curt, I say thank you.
I tried today to explain the magnitude of what 2004 meant to me and everyone I know to a southerner today. The best equivalent I could come up with would be beating Florida in the BCS title game after trailing 28-0 after three quarters.
If you equate anything in life to college football…a southerner will understand you. I think that’s where Obama needs to go to garner support for his policies.
After driving to Myrtle Beach and back this week, I have to say, the state of South Carolina is a lot bigger than it looks on a map.
Myrtle Beach was nice, kinda looked like a cleaner Atlantic City, minus the drugs, hookers, Jersey trash and Casinos.
Which I guess makes it nothing like Atlantic City, oh well.
Most of my drunken ramblings about the NCAA tournament came and went, clearly I am more coherent and thoughtful sober, but I’m infinitely funnier drunk.
However, nothing sucks more than liking an upset and talking yourself out of it, only to see it come to fruition. I’m looking at you Cleveland St. And glancing with an evil eye at Wake Forest.
Overall it was kind of a dull first two rounds in my strictly for entertainment purposes bracket challenge against myself; I still have a pretty good shot to win, provided everything goes my way.
I was 13-16 in the Sweet 16, and frankly had I actually listened to some of my own research written below I might have been better. Instead I got drunk Wednesday night and put my picks in at 1am.
Like the good coach in me I'm more annoyed with the games I lost, particularly because they could have been prevented.
After spending the tournament in Vegas last year, I am forever ruined watching it on the CBS local feed, where you spend the entire time not watching your game, even if its a back and forth thriller, but watching the little scoreboard box, and getting excited or riled up over the slightest change in score.
As far as my theory goes, well it was 11-16 with teams ranking in four or more categories. Three of those teams that didn’t were Duke, Michigan St. and Villanova. All three of them got favorable draws against other middling teams but overall it seemed to hold up again.
In the end this year I’m surprised it held up as well as it did because there were so few mid-majors who excel under the radar.
I am definitely glad that I have grown up and kicked my NCAA gambling addiction, because Ball State over Tennessee absolutely would have ruined my women’s pool.
Stacey Dales, you are sorely missed on the women’s hoops analysis. Kara Lawson, you owe me 1,500 bucks from breaking my hd tv with your ugliness, and possibly burning my retinas beyond repair.
My all time Nemesis Boston University is the top overall seed in the NCAA hockey tournament, I cannot stress how hard I will be rooting for the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota to take them out. Especially since I always end up rooting for BC against UND, despite close family ties to the crew from Grand Forks. (population Quincy, Mass. Yet is the third largest city in ND)
For the first time in 15 years my honorary college is in the hockey tournament. The Northeastern Huskies are going to be the darlings of the tournament, or do like they always do in the Beanpot and choke in the end.
Let the chants of Sieve! and BU Sucks!!! begin. Go Huskies.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Tossing Batting Practice while wondering why you would ever cheer when the cameras come on you, and you’re announced as a 16 seed…
I’ve spent way too much time in my life, finding ways to cheat the system, and succeed in the NCAA “Brackets” (remember its not a pool, gambling is very very bad, shame on you!)
Perhaps I should devote more time to what DR. Emmett L. Brown once said was “the other great mystery in life, women.” But I digress.
The most productive, yet not completely scientific formula of that was spent on Gatehouse Media’s dime, and uses a little of the Bill Jamesian corollary.
Basketball is a largely difficult sport to quantify using just statistics however it can be done. I try to do it every year, as one of my basic tenets in filling out a bracket is finding teams that do a number of things well (novel concept I know) and in those tough games I compare the numbers against two teams.
What I discovered is that if you can successfully pick as many sweet 16 teams as possible, you’ll be in the running for your bracket championship. First round upsets are nice, but they’re only worth one or two points, and won’t leave much of a lasting impression.
As such I aim to get the sweet 16 right, and hope things take care of themselves from there.
What I look for is a team that ranks in the top 30 nationally in at least four categories and pinpoint them as a potential sweet 16 team. Sometimes the smaller conference teams rate highly in a bunch because they play poor competition, but sometimes they don’t and its up to you to determine what’s an important category and what isn’t.
I look are three point offense and defense, rebounding, turnovers, and free throws as most important but it’s subjective.
For perspective George Mason thrived in 5 statistical categories in 2006, there are other examples, and while it seems rather obvious, sometimes when you go back and look at teams that were allegedly “upset” they only did one thing well, like Duke last year upset in the second round, only did three things well.
This season the NCAA has added a couple new Categories, so I’m going to increase the number to five categories in the top 30 make a sweet 16 team. It’s not scientific, but if you know what teams do well and what they don’t you can help determine who’s going to win those games you usually flip a coin on.
One wrinkle I added last year was the adjusted rankings, because sometimes offensive and defensive scoring numbers are skewed because teams play fast or slow, thus efficiency on offense and defense are far more important.
Traditionally I have found between 8-13 teams per season, depending on the parity of the NCAA will excel in at least four (this year I’m trying 5 to experiment, but 4 might still be the working model) categories, as I look at the numbers sometimes a team may not excel, (i.e. top 30) but might do a lot above average (between 31-65) those are usually the teams that throw the wrinkle off.
I wrote 46 teams breakdowns out on who has a shot at the sweet 16, they were don before the brackets came out, I mean I’m not going to do all your work for you, and make the picks.
Below you will find the teams, the first 25 are the latest top 25 poll, after that they’re in no particular order. I shied away from a lot of 8 and 9 seeds because they almost never make the sweet 16 and it was kind of a waste of an hour of my life to research them. Some of them are done because I had them higher or lower earlier in the week.
The way it works is the team, and then how many categories they excel in, followed by their adjusted for pace rankings, and some notes.
I don’t expect anyone to read them all, but feel free to look for the teams you aren’t sure about and hopefully they help, unless you’re in the pool I am in. Then screw off.
Team – (Number of categories in top 30) Adj off/def…notes
North Carolina (9) 1/23...Is the best offensive team in the country, high FG%, doesn’t turn it over, defensive numbers are skewed by the fast pace they play. Real active on defense, forces a lot of turnovers, probably unbeatable in a track meet. Their rebounding margin, and A/TO ratio are incredible and debunk some of the myths about their lack of toughness.
Louisville (5) – 46/2…Slightly above average offense and defense numbers, tremendous FG% defense, shoots and defends the three well; unselfish (doesn’t rely on one scorer) Free throws are a problem.
Pittsburgh (6) 3/38…Offensively they’re a little stronger than Pitt teams of the past, defensively they’re weaker. Near the top in rebounding margin, so they can overpower weaker teams, but probably don’t shoot from outside well enough to beat a tougher team.
If Blair gets in foul trouble all bets are off. They don’t turn the ball over, and get a lot of easy buckets, but could struggle against a tough defensive team that can shoot from outside.
UConn (6) 22/3…Very strong and can over power teams, but struggle to make shots from outside, and not great from the line. If they end up at the Garden there’s no way they lose in the regionals. Defensively they wear you out, and can probably only be beaten by a Big East team, or UNC unless Thabeet gets in foul trouble early. However a superhuman effort from a guard could get them.
Memphis (7) 43/1…Numbers are skewed slightly because they play awful competition, but they defend like crazy inside and on the perimeter, they rebound and don’t turn the ball over too much. Offensively they struggle from the field, and at the line and suck from beyond the arc. A sound halfcourt team that executes on offense will give them the most trouble, provided they can defend a little bit.
Oklahoma (4) 7/47… Not as statistically sound as one would like. The things they excel in (FG% and rebound margin) are essentially because Griffin is the POY, he hasn’t been the same since the concussion and neither has OU. They are an average shooting team and average defensively; they turn it over too much and don’t force enough. It all hinges on Griffin and who they matchup with.
Wake Forest (6) 34/14…They score pretty easily, but are terrible beyond the arc; are actually sound defensively forcing steals and turnovers. They are the youngest team in the top 10 and it shows at times turning the ball over too much; a bad matchup against a team like Louisville or Memphis
Duke (3) 6/13…This is one of those anomalies sometimes because it doesn’t doing anything exceptionally well, but doesn’t do anything badly either. Their adjusted numbers make up for not hitting the magic number of 4. Only an average shooting team, so a tough perimeter defending team could be a problem. Probably a Sweet 16 team but no more, could be upset in the 2nd round against an athletically superior small conference opponent.
Michigan St. (2) 27/10…We’ll know after the first weekend if the big 10 was better than we thought or it sucked. They struggle at the foul line, and don’t force a lot of turnovers, but make scoring difficult, and rebound like crazy. If a more skilled team matches their toughness they’re done.
Villanova (1) 19/26…They are a guard oriented team that doesn’t shoot the three well, and turns it over more than it should the toughness of the Big East should help them. A team with some size that gets after it defensively would be a tough matchup.
Kansas (4) 20/16…I haven’t liked them all season, but the things they excel at are important, the shoot well, and defend on the perimeter well, rebounding they are solid, but much of that is Aldrich, who is foul prone. They turn it over a little too much, and don’t force many mistakes. A good shooting team that doesn’t turn it over will send them home. As could an athletically superior team.
Gonzaga – (8) 5/12…Their numbers are skewed as well because of poor competition, and they crapped the bed against Memphis at home, They can play fast or slow, and defend well inside. However a team that shoots the 3 well, or a big strong team inside like a Big 10 or Big East team will eventually send them home.
Washington (2) 33/11…They can score, but mainly because they play at a fast pace; they don’t force many turnovers, and give it away too much, and don’t shoot the three well What they do, do well is rebound, and score on offensive rebounds. A team that can match their rebounding, and shoot well eliminates them.
Missouri (6) 16/15…They play a frenetic pace, so they score a ton, and defend pretty well, they don’t turn it over much either; but they struggle to rebound, and make free throws, foul trouble is a problem too, so a good FT shooting team that gets into the bonus early could send them home.
But a legit sleeper pick, especially if they don’t win the Big 12 tourney.
UCLA (5) 2/45…One of the most efficient offensive teams in the country, but doesn’t defend well, compared to UCLA teams of the past, they do still force a lot of turnovers, but allow a lot of easy baskets, a team that shoots well and defends the interior will send them home, but could be a tough out for a lot of pretenders or teams without experience.
Butler (2) 59/46…The don’t allow easy baskets, and will likely win a first round game if they get another mid-major, but that’s as far as they’ll go. They don’t do anything else really well, and you can’t beat good teams that way.
Clemson (4) 9/51…They can score and shoot the ball well, but defensively they suck, and they don’t rebound very well either, they could be first round fodder for a good statistically sound mid-major.
Syracuse (6) 12/37…The orange have good scoring numbers, and defend the three well; they don’t shoot free throws well, and turn the ball over a little too much, but if they aren’t gassed from the Big East Tourney they could be a tough out.
They don’t foul much (UConn only shot 22 free throws in that 6ot epic) so they make teams earn their points, which could be a tough thing for an offensively challenged team to do to beat them.
Xavier (4) 40/24…They defend well and shoot the 3 at a high percentage, and they can rebound. What scares me is the turn the ball over a lot, struggle at the foul line, and don’t create a lot of turnovers either. A good shooting team that defends on the perimeter can send them packing.
LSU (3) 47/56…The SEC sucked this year, and these numbers prove it, I the Tigers don’t really do anything well except rebound , block shots, and shoot free throws. All nice things, and their athleticism might help over a mid-major, but they’ll fall to a more skilled team that can match the athleticism.
Marquette (4) 8/55…The things they do well, are all guard oriented but they only have half that tandem now with the injury to Domenic James. They are poor defensively in all facets, and will bow out to a superior offensive team that exploits those defensive deficiencies.
Florida State (2) 113/9…Defensively they’re strong in a conference not known for much defense, but are poor offensively. Couple that with no tournament experience, and you can pencil them out early. They turn the ball over a lot, and don’t shoot very well.
Arizona St. (7) 11/28… They’re in the top 30 in 7 categories, and top 35 in 10. So they are statistically strong almost everywhere. They are suspect rebounding, and while they’re efficient on offense, getting into a track meet probably doesn’t suit them. They are a strong sleeper, with two big time scorers, a solid defense, and good coaching in the tournament (remember those multiple sweet 16 trips Herb Sendek made at NC St.)
Arizona (2) 7/132…They shoot the ball well, but don’t defend very well from the field, or in forcing turnovers. If they get a bad defensive team they could last a game or two but anyone who can score and defend even a little sends them home.
USC (1) 62/19…They defend very well, and rebound and could steal a game with that combination, an efficient offensive team that forces turnovers is their bad matchup.
BC (1) 27/131…They are here on the strength of two wins, perhaps my BC bias is taking over but I just don’t believe in them at all to do much of anything.
Minnesota (2) 88/20….They defend pretty well, but struggle to score and shoot, they also turn it over too much.
Wisconsin (3) 24/60 Typical Wisconsin team, defends, doesn’t foul or turn it over, they’re pretty efficient on offense though, could make for a surprise.
Michigan (5) 41/67…Like his WVU teams of the past John Belien leads in a lot of seemingly random categories that add up to March success, three point shooting, few turnovers, very few fouls, the contrast is their efficiency numbers aren’t as high as I’d like. They struggle to rebound, and don’t shoot a high percentage, could be a first round winner, unlikely beyond that unless they are matched up with a team that hasn’t seen the 1-3-1 on defense before it’s tough to prepare for on short notice.
Texas (1) 46/27…They don’t do a lot very well, they don’t do a lot poorly either other than shooting threes, however if Abrams gets hot he could be a difference maker. They defend pretty well and rebound.
Dayton (1) 144/41…Don’t do much well, they defend pretty good, but they struggle to score, or shoot from anywhere, and they turn it over a little too much.
BYU (6) 24/17….Another intriguing option, they shoot the ball well, and defend very well. Obviously against inferior competition, but provided they don’t draw an ultra athletic team early they could stick around through the first weekend.
Purdue (5) 67/5…The only other Big 10 team I like besides Mich. St. Purdue’s offensive numbers aren’t good because their best player has been hurt all year. They don’t shoot that well, but if Hummel is healthy that’s an upgrade. Rebounding is an issue for them, which is odd given how well they defend/
Cleveland St. (3) 121/30…An intriguing team defensively, they get after you, force turnovers, and steals, and preotect the ball offensively, they don’t rebound well and aren’t a good shooting team, but getting into a track meet with them and they could upset you.
California (5) 10/87…They are the best 3 point shooting team in the country, but they only make about 6 a game, they shoot very well, and don’t turn it over, defensively they aren’t very good, so a team that struggles to score, or doesn’t defend well could kepp them alive, but teams that do defend will make it tough for them.
Akron (3) 153/50 Doesn’t shoot very well or rebound well, is pretty good defensively, but unless they get a big 10 team that struggles to score they’ll be going home early.
Illinois (6) 96/4…They are so efficient on defense and make it difficult to score, but some of that is a product of the big 10, some of it isn’t. On offense it’s the same story, The loss of their PG who may or may not be back will be an issue as well because they don’t turn it over and move the ball with him, but without him not so much.
Western Kentucky (0) 68/168 They shoot the three ok, and are decent on the glass, but I don’t see a duplicate of last year’s first round magic.
West Virginia (5) 16/7They defend the three, rebound, and don’t turn it over, however unlike WVU teams of the past they are a bad shooting team. They are efficient on offense and exceptionally so on defense, all in all a tough out for anyone.
Utah (4) 51/21…They are very tough defensively but they don’t force many turnovers, so matched up with a good shooting team and they’re going home. Offensively they can shoot the three at a high percentage and a terrific free throw shooting team.
Utah St. (7) 13/169…They are poor defensively especially against the three. They have a lot of good numbers because of an easy schedule, but they are very efficient offensively, they shoot very well, inside and from 3, they rebound well, don’t turn it over and stay out of foul trouble. They can win a slow down game, but not a track meet.
Texas A&M (0) 37/79….They will rebound the basketball, and that’s about it, pack lightly Aggie fans. They are an average team across the board, don’t do anything well, but nothing critically poor. Except maybe defending the three. Matched up against anyone who does anything well and they’ll be done, against another average team it’s a toss up.
Tennessee (3) 15/75 Typical UT team, they try to go up and down and play at a fast pace, they don’t shoot the three well though which is a problem because they like to chuck them up. If they can’t create turnovers on defense and score easy buckets they’re in trouble.
Siena (4) (49/89)…Everybody’s trendy pick which usually results in an early trip home. They play at a fast pace, so their defensive numbers are pretty low, but they aren’t as efficient as I would like; They don’t shoot threes well, and are poor at the line. They rely on getting easy baskets, either off the dribble, or in transition creating turnovers, which they do fairly well, almost 9 steals a game. Rebounding could be their eventual demise.
Miss. St. (2) 69/66 They shoot a ton of threes, at a decent percentage, but that’s about it. They block a ton of shots, but that’s because of Varnado. I don’t see them doing anything well enough to win in the tournament, unless they get a slow mid-major that gets into a track meet with them.
VCU (1) 75/49…Great FG% defense but doesn’t do anything else spectacular, played in a pretty tough mid-major conference; they shoot the 3 well, and are active forcing turnovers, they struggle to rebound, and foul often, so a strong rebounding and FT shooting team is their Achilles.
ND State (5) 32/139…A potential sleeper with the right matchup. Offensively they are very efficient, and shoot the ball very well, especially from three point land.
They are a pretty good rebounding team and don’t turnover it over much. Defensively they are porous, a plodding big 10 team is their ideal matchup, especially one that doesn’t shoot very well.
Maryland (2) 74/48 They shoot free throws well and don’t turn it over; they don’t shoot it that well, don’t rebound and don’t defend the three. An up and down game would be their best chance to succeed.
Northern Iowa (2) 57/127…Typical white kids, they shoot free throws well, and don’t turn it over, they aren’t strong defensively on the perimeter but if forced into a slow down game they could be knock a team off. The MVC probably wasn’t strong enough this year for them to make it to the second weekend.
I’ve spent way too much time in my life, finding ways to cheat the system, and succeed in the NCAA “Brackets” (remember its not a pool, gambling is very very bad, shame on you!)
Perhaps I should devote more time to what DR. Emmett L. Brown once said was “the other great mystery in life, women.” But I digress.
The most productive, yet not completely scientific formula of that was spent on Gatehouse Media’s dime, and uses a little of the Bill Jamesian corollary.
Basketball is a largely difficult sport to quantify using just statistics however it can be done. I try to do it every year, as one of my basic tenets in filling out a bracket is finding teams that do a number of things well (novel concept I know) and in those tough games I compare the numbers against two teams.
What I discovered is that if you can successfully pick as many sweet 16 teams as possible, you’ll be in the running for your bracket championship. First round upsets are nice, but they’re only worth one or two points, and won’t leave much of a lasting impression.
As such I aim to get the sweet 16 right, and hope things take care of themselves from there.
What I look for is a team that ranks in the top 30 nationally in at least four categories and pinpoint them as a potential sweet 16 team. Sometimes the smaller conference teams rate highly in a bunch because they play poor competition, but sometimes they don’t and its up to you to determine what’s an important category and what isn’t.
I look are three point offense and defense, rebounding, turnovers, and free throws as most important but it’s subjective.
For perspective George Mason thrived in 5 statistical categories in 2006, there are other examples, and while it seems rather obvious, sometimes when you go back and look at teams that were allegedly “upset” they only did one thing well, like Duke last year upset in the second round, only did three things well.
This season the NCAA has added a couple new Categories, so I’m going to increase the number to five categories in the top 30 make a sweet 16 team. It’s not scientific, but if you know what teams do well and what they don’t you can help determine who’s going to win those games you usually flip a coin on.
One wrinkle I added last year was the adjusted rankings, because sometimes offensive and defensive scoring numbers are skewed because teams play fast or slow, thus efficiency on offense and defense are far more important.
Traditionally I have found between 8-13 teams per season, depending on the parity of the NCAA will excel in at least four (this year I’m trying 5 to experiment, but 4 might still be the working model) categories, as I look at the numbers sometimes a team may not excel, (i.e. top 30) but might do a lot above average (between 31-65) those are usually the teams that throw the wrinkle off.
I wrote 46 teams breakdowns out on who has a shot at the sweet 16, they were don before the brackets came out, I mean I’m not going to do all your work for you, and make the picks.
Below you will find the teams, the first 25 are the latest top 25 poll, after that they’re in no particular order. I shied away from a lot of 8 and 9 seeds because they almost never make the sweet 16 and it was kind of a waste of an hour of my life to research them. Some of them are done because I had them higher or lower earlier in the week.
The way it works is the team, and then how many categories they excel in, followed by their adjusted for pace rankings, and some notes.
I don’t expect anyone to read them all, but feel free to look for the teams you aren’t sure about and hopefully they help, unless you’re in the pool I am in. Then screw off.
Team – (Number of categories in top 30) Adj off/def…notes
North Carolina (9) 1/23...Is the best offensive team in the country, high FG%, doesn’t turn it over, defensive numbers are skewed by the fast pace they play. Real active on defense, forces a lot of turnovers, probably unbeatable in a track meet. Their rebounding margin, and A/TO ratio are incredible and debunk some of the myths about their lack of toughness.
Louisville (5) – 46/2…Slightly above average offense and defense numbers, tremendous FG% defense, shoots and defends the three well; unselfish (doesn’t rely on one scorer) Free throws are a problem.
Pittsburgh (6) 3/38…Offensively they’re a little stronger than Pitt teams of the past, defensively they’re weaker. Near the top in rebounding margin, so they can overpower weaker teams, but probably don’t shoot from outside well enough to beat a tougher team.
If Blair gets in foul trouble all bets are off. They don’t turn the ball over, and get a lot of easy buckets, but could struggle against a tough defensive team that can shoot from outside.
UConn (6) 22/3…Very strong and can over power teams, but struggle to make shots from outside, and not great from the line. If they end up at the Garden there’s no way they lose in the regionals. Defensively they wear you out, and can probably only be beaten by a Big East team, or UNC unless Thabeet gets in foul trouble early. However a superhuman effort from a guard could get them.
Memphis (7) 43/1…Numbers are skewed slightly because they play awful competition, but they defend like crazy inside and on the perimeter, they rebound and don’t turn the ball over too much. Offensively they struggle from the field, and at the line and suck from beyond the arc. A sound halfcourt team that executes on offense will give them the most trouble, provided they can defend a little bit.
Oklahoma (4) 7/47… Not as statistically sound as one would like. The things they excel in (FG% and rebound margin) are essentially because Griffin is the POY, he hasn’t been the same since the concussion and neither has OU. They are an average shooting team and average defensively; they turn it over too much and don’t force enough. It all hinges on Griffin and who they matchup with.
Wake Forest (6) 34/14…They score pretty easily, but are terrible beyond the arc; are actually sound defensively forcing steals and turnovers. They are the youngest team in the top 10 and it shows at times turning the ball over too much; a bad matchup against a team like Louisville or Memphis
Duke (3) 6/13…This is one of those anomalies sometimes because it doesn’t doing anything exceptionally well, but doesn’t do anything badly either. Their adjusted numbers make up for not hitting the magic number of 4. Only an average shooting team, so a tough perimeter defending team could be a problem. Probably a Sweet 16 team but no more, could be upset in the 2nd round against an athletically superior small conference opponent.
Michigan St. (2) 27/10…We’ll know after the first weekend if the big 10 was better than we thought or it sucked. They struggle at the foul line, and don’t force a lot of turnovers, but make scoring difficult, and rebound like crazy. If a more skilled team matches their toughness they’re done.
Villanova (1) 19/26…They are a guard oriented team that doesn’t shoot the three well, and turns it over more than it should the toughness of the Big East should help them. A team with some size that gets after it defensively would be a tough matchup.
Kansas (4) 20/16…I haven’t liked them all season, but the things they excel at are important, the shoot well, and defend on the perimeter well, rebounding they are solid, but much of that is Aldrich, who is foul prone. They turn it over a little too much, and don’t force many mistakes. A good shooting team that doesn’t turn it over will send them home. As could an athletically superior team.
Gonzaga – (8) 5/12…Their numbers are skewed as well because of poor competition, and they crapped the bed against Memphis at home, They can play fast or slow, and defend well inside. However a team that shoots the 3 well, or a big strong team inside like a Big 10 or Big East team will eventually send them home.
Washington (2) 33/11…They can score, but mainly because they play at a fast pace; they don’t force many turnovers, and give it away too much, and don’t shoot the three well What they do, do well is rebound, and score on offensive rebounds. A team that can match their rebounding, and shoot well eliminates them.
Missouri (6) 16/15…They play a frenetic pace, so they score a ton, and defend pretty well, they don’t turn it over much either; but they struggle to rebound, and make free throws, foul trouble is a problem too, so a good FT shooting team that gets into the bonus early could send them home.
But a legit sleeper pick, especially if they don’t win the Big 12 tourney.
UCLA (5) 2/45…One of the most efficient offensive teams in the country, but doesn’t defend well, compared to UCLA teams of the past, they do still force a lot of turnovers, but allow a lot of easy baskets, a team that shoots well and defends the interior will send them home, but could be a tough out for a lot of pretenders or teams without experience.
Butler (2) 59/46…The don’t allow easy baskets, and will likely win a first round game if they get another mid-major, but that’s as far as they’ll go. They don’t do anything else really well, and you can’t beat good teams that way.
Clemson (4) 9/51…They can score and shoot the ball well, but defensively they suck, and they don’t rebound very well either, they could be first round fodder for a good statistically sound mid-major.
Syracuse (6) 12/37…The orange have good scoring numbers, and defend the three well; they don’t shoot free throws well, and turn the ball over a little too much, but if they aren’t gassed from the Big East Tourney they could be a tough out.
They don’t foul much (UConn only shot 22 free throws in that 6ot epic) so they make teams earn their points, which could be a tough thing for an offensively challenged team to do to beat them.
Xavier (4) 40/24…They defend well and shoot the 3 at a high percentage, and they can rebound. What scares me is the turn the ball over a lot, struggle at the foul line, and don’t create a lot of turnovers either. A good shooting team that defends on the perimeter can send them packing.
LSU (3) 47/56…The SEC sucked this year, and these numbers prove it, I the Tigers don’t really do anything well except rebound , block shots, and shoot free throws. All nice things, and their athleticism might help over a mid-major, but they’ll fall to a more skilled team that can match the athleticism.
Marquette (4) 8/55…The things they do well, are all guard oriented but they only have half that tandem now with the injury to Domenic James. They are poor defensively in all facets, and will bow out to a superior offensive team that exploits those defensive deficiencies.
Florida State (2) 113/9…Defensively they’re strong in a conference not known for much defense, but are poor offensively. Couple that with no tournament experience, and you can pencil them out early. They turn the ball over a lot, and don’t shoot very well.
Arizona St. (7) 11/28… They’re in the top 30 in 7 categories, and top 35 in 10. So they are statistically strong almost everywhere. They are suspect rebounding, and while they’re efficient on offense, getting into a track meet probably doesn’t suit them. They are a strong sleeper, with two big time scorers, a solid defense, and good coaching in the tournament (remember those multiple sweet 16 trips Herb Sendek made at NC St.)
Arizona (2) 7/132…They shoot the ball well, but don’t defend very well from the field, or in forcing turnovers. If they get a bad defensive team they could last a game or two but anyone who can score and defend even a little sends them home.
USC (1) 62/19…They defend very well, and rebound and could steal a game with that combination, an efficient offensive team that forces turnovers is their bad matchup.
BC (1) 27/131…They are here on the strength of two wins, perhaps my BC bias is taking over but I just don’t believe in them at all to do much of anything.
Minnesota (2) 88/20….They defend pretty well, but struggle to score and shoot, they also turn it over too much.
Wisconsin (3) 24/60 Typical Wisconsin team, defends, doesn’t foul or turn it over, they’re pretty efficient on offense though, could make for a surprise.
Michigan (5) 41/67…Like his WVU teams of the past John Belien leads in a lot of seemingly random categories that add up to March success, three point shooting, few turnovers, very few fouls, the contrast is their efficiency numbers aren’t as high as I’d like. They struggle to rebound, and don’t shoot a high percentage, could be a first round winner, unlikely beyond that unless they are matched up with a team that hasn’t seen the 1-3-1 on defense before it’s tough to prepare for on short notice.
Texas (1) 46/27…They don’t do a lot very well, they don’t do a lot poorly either other than shooting threes, however if Abrams gets hot he could be a difference maker. They defend pretty well and rebound.
Dayton (1) 144/41…Don’t do much well, they defend pretty good, but they struggle to score, or shoot from anywhere, and they turn it over a little too much.
BYU (6) 24/17….Another intriguing option, they shoot the ball well, and defend very well. Obviously against inferior competition, but provided they don’t draw an ultra athletic team early they could stick around through the first weekend.
Purdue (5) 67/5…The only other Big 10 team I like besides Mich. St. Purdue’s offensive numbers aren’t good because their best player has been hurt all year. They don’t shoot that well, but if Hummel is healthy that’s an upgrade. Rebounding is an issue for them, which is odd given how well they defend/
Cleveland St. (3) 121/30…An intriguing team defensively, they get after you, force turnovers, and steals, and preotect the ball offensively, they don’t rebound well and aren’t a good shooting team, but getting into a track meet with them and they could upset you.
California (5) 10/87…They are the best 3 point shooting team in the country, but they only make about 6 a game, they shoot very well, and don’t turn it over, defensively they aren’t very good, so a team that struggles to score, or doesn’t defend well could kepp them alive, but teams that do defend will make it tough for them.
Akron (3) 153/50 Doesn’t shoot very well or rebound well, is pretty good defensively, but unless they get a big 10 team that struggles to score they’ll be going home early.
Illinois (6) 96/4…They are so efficient on defense and make it difficult to score, but some of that is a product of the big 10, some of it isn’t. On offense it’s the same story, The loss of their PG who may or may not be back will be an issue as well because they don’t turn it over and move the ball with him, but without him not so much.
Western Kentucky (0) 68/168 They shoot the three ok, and are decent on the glass, but I don’t see a duplicate of last year’s first round magic.
West Virginia (5) 16/7They defend the three, rebound, and don’t turn it over, however unlike WVU teams of the past they are a bad shooting team. They are efficient on offense and exceptionally so on defense, all in all a tough out for anyone.
Utah (4) 51/21…They are very tough defensively but they don’t force many turnovers, so matched up with a good shooting team and they’re going home. Offensively they can shoot the three at a high percentage and a terrific free throw shooting team.
Utah St. (7) 13/169…They are poor defensively especially against the three. They have a lot of good numbers because of an easy schedule, but they are very efficient offensively, they shoot very well, inside and from 3, they rebound well, don’t turn it over and stay out of foul trouble. They can win a slow down game, but not a track meet.
Texas A&M (0) 37/79….They will rebound the basketball, and that’s about it, pack lightly Aggie fans. They are an average team across the board, don’t do anything well, but nothing critically poor. Except maybe defending the three. Matched up against anyone who does anything well and they’ll be done, against another average team it’s a toss up.
Tennessee (3) 15/75 Typical UT team, they try to go up and down and play at a fast pace, they don’t shoot the three well though which is a problem because they like to chuck them up. If they can’t create turnovers on defense and score easy buckets they’re in trouble.
Siena (4) (49/89)…Everybody’s trendy pick which usually results in an early trip home. They play at a fast pace, so their defensive numbers are pretty low, but they aren’t as efficient as I would like; They don’t shoot threes well, and are poor at the line. They rely on getting easy baskets, either off the dribble, or in transition creating turnovers, which they do fairly well, almost 9 steals a game. Rebounding could be their eventual demise.
Miss. St. (2) 69/66 They shoot a ton of threes, at a decent percentage, but that’s about it. They block a ton of shots, but that’s because of Varnado. I don’t see them doing anything well enough to win in the tournament, unless they get a slow mid-major that gets into a track meet with them.
VCU (1) 75/49…Great FG% defense but doesn’t do anything else spectacular, played in a pretty tough mid-major conference; they shoot the 3 well, and are active forcing turnovers, they struggle to rebound, and foul often, so a strong rebounding and FT shooting team is their Achilles.
ND State (5) 32/139…A potential sleeper with the right matchup. Offensively they are very efficient, and shoot the ball very well, especially from three point land.
They are a pretty good rebounding team and don’t turnover it over much. Defensively they are porous, a plodding big 10 team is their ideal matchup, especially one that doesn’t shoot very well.
Maryland (2) 74/48 They shoot free throws well and don’t turn it over; they don’t shoot it that well, don’t rebound and don’t defend the three. An up and down game would be their best chance to succeed.
Northern Iowa (2) 57/127…Typical white kids, they shoot free throws well, and don’t turn it over, they aren’t strong defensively on the perimeter but if forced into a slow down game they could be knock a team off. The MVC probably wasn’t strong enough this year for them to make it to the second weekend.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tossing batting practice…while wondering if Ted Sarandis kidnapped Sean McDonough during the first overtime, and announced the final 25 minutes of the game.
McDonough’s voice hit octaves last night that was previously unseen or heard in any experience I remember of him.
It never fails, if you wave off a buzzer beater at the end of regulation, you can prepare yourself for a very very long night. Let that be a lesson to you young officials out there. Overtime is not your friend, and your per diem doesn’t increase if it takes three days to determine a winner.
It doesn’t matter that they basically played a third fourth half, I’m pretty sure Jim Calhoun is berating his players for allowing 100 127 points.
The fourth fifth sixth (?!?!) overtime, was the stuff of dreams…for the walkons at the end of both benches. You know they sit in class day dreaming about getting inserted into the game after the first 10 guys have fouled out, got hurt, or become academically ineligible in the middle of a game that seemingly lasted two semesters.
The five six overtime thriller was made all the better when I caught this nugget of a story. Last week’s featured friend Ryan, actually went to the afternoon games, but sold his night session tickets. That accurately sums up Ryan, who right now is working on a self deprecating script of his own life, yet its far too pathetic to be real.
I think the stat “fast break points” should stop after a second overtime, and changed to “slow controlled jog points.”
If you’ve ever played and lasted deep into an AAU tournament (or been on a kick ass pickup team that won’t lose) you know how both teams must have felt by the end. UConn especially looked like an AAU team in OT no. 6 as they just wildly chucked threes and played no perimeter defense.
Calhoun probably had practice at Storrs, at 6am, and if its spring break at UConn he might have had double sessions.
He even stated in his postgame presser he wasn’t tired and could go to practice right away.
I love him because of his miserable ornery persona because its funny, particularly if you’ve played for someone like that, but I can see what it rubs the rest of America the wrong way.
I’m sure there’s No doubt he was wearing that miserable glare, asking rhetorically “how can I play you, if you won’t work hard on defense in the sixth overtime, after four hours of real time playing?” Now if Calhoun is anything like my college coach, which I think he is, the rest would play something along the lines of “shut up! Shut the f*#! Up!” if anybody actually tried to answer the rhetorical question.
So apparently the espn live blog update on the game allows people to vote whether or night they like this game. Beyond my initial question of why would anyone who is reading the in game boxscore vote negatively for any game, only 97.2% of people seem to like this six OT thriller. Seriously, those 2.8% of people have to be the most miserable group of people on earth, probably the folks who call into the Big Show and Mike Adams regularly.
McDonough’s voice hit octaves last night that was previously unseen or heard in any experience I remember of him.
It never fails, if you wave off a buzzer beater at the end of regulation, you can prepare yourself for a very very long night. Let that be a lesson to you young officials out there. Overtime is not your friend, and your per diem doesn’t increase if it takes three days to determine a winner.
It doesn’t matter that they basically played a third fourth half, I’m pretty sure Jim Calhoun is berating his players for allowing 100 127 points.
The fourth fifth sixth (?!?!) overtime, was the stuff of dreams…for the walkons at the end of both benches. You know they sit in class day dreaming about getting inserted into the game after the first 10 guys have fouled out, got hurt, or become academically ineligible in the middle of a game that seemingly lasted two semesters.
The five six overtime thriller was made all the better when I caught this nugget of a story. Last week’s featured friend Ryan, actually went to the afternoon games, but sold his night session tickets. That accurately sums up Ryan, who right now is working on a self deprecating script of his own life, yet its far too pathetic to be real.
I think the stat “fast break points” should stop after a second overtime, and changed to “slow controlled jog points.”
If you’ve ever played and lasted deep into an AAU tournament (or been on a kick ass pickup team that won’t lose) you know how both teams must have felt by the end. UConn especially looked like an AAU team in OT no. 6 as they just wildly chucked threes and played no perimeter defense.
Calhoun probably had practice at Storrs, at 6am, and if its spring break at UConn he might have had double sessions.
He even stated in his postgame presser he wasn’t tired and could go to practice right away.
I love him because of his miserable ornery persona because its funny, particularly if you’ve played for someone like that, but I can see what it rubs the rest of America the wrong way.
I’m sure there’s No doubt he was wearing that miserable glare, asking rhetorically “how can I play you, if you won’t work hard on defense in the sixth overtime, after four hours of real time playing?” Now if Calhoun is anything like my college coach, which I think he is, the rest would play something along the lines of “shut up! Shut the f*#! Up!” if anybody actually tried to answer the rhetorical question.
So apparently the espn live blog update on the game allows people to vote whether or night they like this game. Beyond my initial question of why would anyone who is reading the in game boxscore vote negatively for any game, only 97.2% of people seem to like this six OT thriller. Seriously, those 2.8% of people have to be the most miserable group of people on earth, probably the folks who call into the Big Show and Mike Adams regularly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tossing batting practice, while wondering who the fifth, sixth, and seventh teams are in and out of the NCAA tournament.
I have majored in bracketology since I was about 9, (thanks Dad) and completed my final core requirement to graduate last year by spending the opening weekend of the tourney in Vegas, “watching, just watching” games, so I think I have a pretty good grasp on the NCAAs. But it drives me nuts whenever I see the last four in and last four out column.
If you’re a fan of any other bubble (I promise not to use that word again in this blog) team do you feel better, worse, or unfulfilled after seeing that update?
Who has a cooler, but more useless job to society, Draft Exper Mel Kiper Jr. or Bracketologist Joe Lunardi?
With a 10 hour bus ride to Mississippi to look forward too this weekend I should have ample time to work on my fool proof Bill Jamesian pool strategy, that is almost guaranteed to have at least 12 sweet 16 teams correctly identified.
Who is the Dutch Al Michaels? and how do you say "doyou believe in miracles?" in Flemish?
See even teams ARod begs off of, can't win the big one. No matter what now though the US can't be the most disappointing team in the tournament. And the Sox get David Ortiz back a little earlier. A win win for all Amierican Sox fans involved.
Last week it was too cold, this week it’s damn hot, judging by the fact I look like a lobster from a weekend in Tennessee. But clearly my car has yet to understand the change in geography and with it climate.
I got into it the other day and the digital temperature said it was 39 degrees and had the snowflake icon.
It was in fact 77 degrees.
After a weekend in Volunteer country, I think my retinas are permanently tinted Creamsicle orange.
I finally saw the infamous Rabun county and the Tallulah Gorge this week. The scenery was incredible, but my god I thought the flux capacitor had been activated on the bus and sent me back 125 years.
That area of the world makes Vermont look like Manhattan.
So A-Rod’s having surgery huh, eh, he still sucks.
It was hard not to root for North Dakota St. in the Summitt league final the other night. They’re in their first year of Division 1 tournament eligibility, and they send out a full whitewash of five Caucasian starters.
They epitomize a Norman Dale coached team, rebounds below the rim, solid passing and screening etc.
Is it a stereotype to also announce that they lead the nation in three-point shooting? Is that kind of assumed, like Pitt leading the nation in rebound margin?
Were NDSU and Pitt matched up in the NCAAs there wouldn’t have been a more contrasting set of styles since the 1954 Indiana State high school title game.
I know I said it was hard to root against NDSU, but I did for two simple reasons.
1. I have family closely related to the University of North Dakota, and you’re only allowed to root for one, I think.
2. In writing the Summit league preview for Blue Ribbon a year ago, I picked Oakland to win it, and despite being a year late, I feel vindicated. Slightly.
There are plenty of good seats still available for the Braves home opener, and after seeing one of their commercials I know why. It was one of those fan interview deals, where they ask everyone what they love about the Braves, and you mostly got your standard answers of Derek Lowe, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, but there was one that stuck out.
The shapely blonde woman in her twenties who claims she loves watching Bobby Cox; After all there's nothing sexier than a 70 year old man waddling out to make 3 pitching changes a night
According to a recent study organized religion, in America, particularly those who identify themselves as Christian has dropped 11 percent in the last 15 years; meanwhile I'm praying before games, something doesn't quite add up
Driving to Tennessee though the mountains was like going through the Berkshires only for three hrs. It was basically every ride I ever took to Ludlow to visit a former significant other’s mother, minus the sense of impending doom and misery hanging ominously in the room.
So TO has been banished to Buffalo huh? That seems appropriate, there are only two reasons to go to Buffalo, one is if someone offers you millions of dollars and there are no offers anywhere else. The other is if a woman will willingly date, or have sex with you, and again you can't find anyone anywhere else.
TO has done one, and a friend of mine is the other.
I am glad we didn't have to spend countless days and weeks speculating that the Pats might swoop in. I would have eventually talked myself into it, but selling my soul like that would have only been worth it were we to finish what we started with that whole unbeaten business.
Now I can go back to hating him unequivocally; if Ralph Wilson has a sense of humor, or actually has gone into dementia (he is 137 years old and played before helmets) he'd sign Michael Vick too.
By request we’re adding more photos to the blog, and with that, is this week’s photo of my friend from college the immortal (only in his own world,) Ryan who hails from Rhode Island which he will immediately tell you upon introduction.
Ryan is the son of a town elected public official, and one of the great tacklers in the history of his High School football, from his safety position. I think the term yards after catch was invented to convince Ryan to play basketball in college. He also possesses a microscopic collegiate baseball era of 46.00 over 10 innings, in two separate seasons four years apart.
On the basketball court he was an excellent sixth offensive option for the EC Lions, right after blatantly kicking the ball out of bounds when the other four players couldn't score.
Professional (or for that matter collegiate) sports were obviously not his calling, but avoiding real work of any kind, certainly is. (After all he’s the son of an elected official) thus he is currently working as a Hollywood extra, albeit in the Northeast. While he is largely unfamous now, soon enough could be added to the favorite parlor game of citizens of Rhode Island.
I am talking of course, of the six degrees of __________ (insert semi famous, in the real world, but rock start status in RI, athlete, actor, singer or disgraced imprisoned Mayor) game.
If you meet almost anyone from Rhode Island, they can connect themselves to Rocco Baldelli, Chris Ianetta, James Woods (I’m running out now but you get the idea).
Ryan’s goal is to someday be in that game, and not for having played high school volleyball against Bishop Hendricken when Rocco was a senior.
Pictured here is Ryan in his familar blank stare "working" in a scene for a new movie about a NYC subway hijacker starring John Travolta as a lunatic. Here it is difficult to discern what Ryan is doing or thinking, but you the reader can help.
a) is he staring at Travolta’s ass
b) Not doing anything heroic, because he’s a coward
c) Biding his time until he’s a star beyond just his own dreams
d) Disappointing his father because he is not using his degree whatsoever
All other options or captions are welcome in the comments.
Lastly, a shout out to my beloved Green Wave hoop squad for winning the south sectional and earning a trip to the Garden for the EMass finals. Since its been 13 seasons since I went a whole year without seeing a game, I guess we know I was as big a curse to my high school basketball program as I have been to my parents.
I have majored in bracketology since I was about 9, (thanks Dad) and completed my final core requirement to graduate last year by spending the opening weekend of the tourney in Vegas, “watching, just watching” games, so I think I have a pretty good grasp on the NCAAs. But it drives me nuts whenever I see the last four in and last four out column.
If you’re a fan of any other bubble (I promise not to use that word again in this blog) team do you feel better, worse, or unfulfilled after seeing that update?
Who has a cooler, but more useless job to society, Draft Exper Mel Kiper Jr. or Bracketologist Joe Lunardi?
With a 10 hour bus ride to Mississippi to look forward too this weekend I should have ample time to work on my fool proof Bill Jamesian pool strategy, that is almost guaranteed to have at least 12 sweet 16 teams correctly identified.
Who is the Dutch Al Michaels? and how do you say "doyou believe in miracles?" in Flemish?
See even teams ARod begs off of, can't win the big one. No matter what now though the US can't be the most disappointing team in the tournament. And the Sox get David Ortiz back a little earlier. A win win for all Amierican Sox fans involved.
Last week it was too cold, this week it’s damn hot, judging by the fact I look like a lobster from a weekend in Tennessee. But clearly my car has yet to understand the change in geography and with it climate.
I got into it the other day and the digital temperature said it was 39 degrees and had the snowflake icon.
It was in fact 77 degrees.
After a weekend in Volunteer country, I think my retinas are permanently tinted Creamsicle orange.
I finally saw the infamous Rabun county and the Tallulah Gorge this week. The scenery was incredible, but my god I thought the flux capacitor had been activated on the bus and sent me back 125 years.
That area of the world makes Vermont look like Manhattan.
So A-Rod’s having surgery huh, eh, he still sucks.
It was hard not to root for North Dakota St. in the Summitt league final the other night. They’re in their first year of Division 1 tournament eligibility, and they send out a full whitewash of five Caucasian starters.
They epitomize a Norman Dale coached team, rebounds below the rim, solid passing and screening etc.
Is it a stereotype to also announce that they lead the nation in three-point shooting? Is that kind of assumed, like Pitt leading the nation in rebound margin?
Were NDSU and Pitt matched up in the NCAAs there wouldn’t have been a more contrasting set of styles since the 1954 Indiana State high school title game.
I know I said it was hard to root against NDSU, but I did for two simple reasons.
1. I have family closely related to the University of North Dakota, and you’re only allowed to root for one, I think.
2. In writing the Summit league preview for Blue Ribbon a year ago, I picked Oakland to win it, and despite being a year late, I feel vindicated. Slightly.
There are plenty of good seats still available for the Braves home opener, and after seeing one of their commercials I know why. It was one of those fan interview deals, where they ask everyone what they love about the Braves, and you mostly got your standard answers of Derek Lowe, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, but there was one that stuck out.
The shapely blonde woman in her twenties who claims she loves watching Bobby Cox; After all there's nothing sexier than a 70 year old man waddling out to make 3 pitching changes a night
According to a recent study organized religion, in America, particularly those who identify themselves as Christian has dropped 11 percent in the last 15 years; meanwhile I'm praying before games, something doesn't quite add up
Driving to Tennessee though the mountains was like going through the Berkshires only for three hrs. It was basically every ride I ever took to Ludlow to visit a former significant other’s mother, minus the sense of impending doom and misery hanging ominously in the room.
So TO has been banished to Buffalo huh? That seems appropriate, there are only two reasons to go to Buffalo, one is if someone offers you millions of dollars and there are no offers anywhere else. The other is if a woman will willingly date, or have sex with you, and again you can't find anyone anywhere else.
TO has done one, and a friend of mine is the other.
I am glad we didn't have to spend countless days and weeks speculating that the Pats might swoop in. I would have eventually talked myself into it, but selling my soul like that would have only been worth it were we to finish what we started with that whole unbeaten business.
Now I can go back to hating him unequivocally; if Ralph Wilson has a sense of humor, or actually has gone into dementia (he is 137 years old and played before helmets) he'd sign Michael Vick too.
By request we’re adding more photos to the blog, and with that, is this week’s photo of my friend from college the immortal (only in his own world,) Ryan who hails from Rhode Island which he will immediately tell you upon introduction.
Ryan is the son of a town elected public official, and one of the great tacklers in the history of his High School football, from his safety position. I think the term yards after catch was invented to convince Ryan to play basketball in college. He also possesses a microscopic collegiate baseball era of 46.00 over 10 innings, in two separate seasons four years apart.
On the basketball court he was an excellent sixth offensive option for the EC Lions, right after blatantly kicking the ball out of bounds when the other four players couldn't score.
Professional (or for that matter collegiate) sports were obviously not his calling, but avoiding real work of any kind, certainly is. (After all he’s the son of an elected official) thus he is currently working as a Hollywood extra, albeit in the Northeast. While he is largely unfamous now, soon enough could be added to the favorite parlor game of citizens of Rhode Island.
I am talking of course, of the six degrees of __________ (insert semi famous, in the real world, but rock start status in RI, athlete, actor, singer or disgraced imprisoned Mayor) game.
If you meet almost anyone from Rhode Island, they can connect themselves to Rocco Baldelli, Chris Ianetta, James Woods (I’m running out now but you get the idea).
Ryan’s goal is to someday be in that game, and not for having played high school volleyball against Bishop Hendricken when Rocco was a senior.
Pictured here is Ryan in his familar blank stare "working" in a scene for a new movie about a NYC subway hijacker starring John Travolta as a lunatic. Here it is difficult to discern what Ryan is doing or thinking, but you the reader can help.
a) is he staring at Travolta’s ass
b) Not doing anything heroic, because he’s a coward
c) Biding his time until he’s a star beyond just his own dreams
d) Disappointing his father because he is not using his degree whatsoever
All other options or captions are welcome in the comments.
Lastly, a shout out to my beloved Green Wave hoop squad for winning the south sectional and earning a trip to the Garden for the EMass finals. Since its been 13 seasons since I went a whole year without seeing a game, I guess we know I was as big a curse to my high school basketball program as I have been to my parents.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Tossing Batting practice…while wondering why no local news producers thought to pair REM’s “It’s the end of the world” with its coverage of today’s “snow storm”
Ok, seriously what the f*#$ is this? It’s March 1st, and I live in Georgia. Like the mob looking for a snitch, snow and cold just seems to find me during softball season.
There doesn't appear to be an Atlanta version of Shelby Scott. The Tv News folks seem to run the gamut from Token Black Guy, to Redneck homosexual, to bubbly blonde woman excited to make snow angels.
When the TV news stations aren't properly prepared for storm coverage, how can regular citizens be adequately ready.
I’m ok with the Stephon Marbury error, I mean era. We needed to do something, and him and Mikki Moore, though if there’s a roster spot available in April, I’d be open to Ainge inquiring about the availability of Maya Moore for the stretch run.
(Ok I promise no more women’s basketball references today).
I’m now resigned to the Celtics ending up as the two seed, and a seemingly more difficult road through the playoffs. I think we’ll look back and see that losing to the Clippers, and blowing that game to the Jazz will be our undoing.
When you give up 100 points to the Pistons, it might be just time to start working toward the playoffs, getting the new guys squared away and such.
I hope to god we don’t play anymore 1 p.m. games on Sundays the rest of the season, clearly the hangover isn’t quite worn off when we play at that time.
Let the Kevin O’Connell era begin!!!!
Matt Cassel, we hardly knew ye, but while I’m a little disappointed we couldn’t get more than a second round pick it’s better than $29 million at one position, and honestly we’ll see how much better Cassel is with Dwayne Bowe, and whoever else he has to throw to. (By the way, the Chiefs wideouts are so nondescript, I had to go to my fantasy football site to look up Bowe’s name. Despite the fact he was my leading receiver this year, and on my roster all season long. Now that’s some real live anonymity).
I am sad to see Mike Vrabel go, he as much as anybody was the heart and soul of a three time Super Bowl champion squad, and the very definition of a Patriot, playing end, and OLB, catching passes on offense, and playing Special Teams.
He’ll have a long career if he wants working tv and radio when he’s done in New England, while shilling for Giant Glass, and Ernie Boch.
I just hope he doesn’t undergo the full frontal lobotomy to remove common sense and decency that’s required currently of our local radio hosts.
Chad Finn’s article about the state of sports radio in Boston, wasn’t exactly groundbreaking news, but what was unique was he was the first person to tell it like it is from a major publication. I’ve been a fan of Chad’s for a long time, and I think much of his point was proven by the Big Show guys who just crapped all over him, and took things out of context to fit their own agenda in the aftermath of the story.
There was an article in SI recently about the Big East, and the author went out of his way to describe Jim Calhoun of being a product of his hard scrabble roots in….(wait for it)
Braintree????
I'm sorry I know I've been gone a couple months, but the home of the South Shore Plaza, and Archbishop Williams is still next to Milton, Holbrook and Weymouth right? It hasn't been moved to area between Dudley and Eggleston squares?
Ok just checking; I’m as big a Calhoun supporter as the next guy (which is to say more so than a Connecticut state legislator) but even though he did have it tough after his father died let’s not go nuts here; I'm pretty sure that had nothing to do with making him a miserable bastard at times.
Though I’m guessing his time spent at AIC (Almost In College) may have contributed to those hard scrabble roots. There is really nothing redeeming about Springfield.
I realize that the Commonwealth of Kentucky may not have Milton’s or a Men’s Warehouse there, but somebody please tell Rick Pitino to find a new tailor. And Ricky, if you’re going to rock with the Colonel Sanders look, you have to go all out, that means monocle and cane, sir.
If you’re KFC you can’t get much better advertising than that on a weekly basis, even I was in the mood for fried chicken and biscuits after the Louisville game today.
Walter McCarty is on staff at Louisville; I don’t really have a joke here, but here’s hoping his 6-9 frame is one day prowling a Division 1 sideline as a head coach. I’m thinking Holy Cross as the perfect fit, just so Tommy Heinsohn can profess his love on a daily basis on local TV and radio.
I miss Tommy Heinsohn, more than you can possibly imagine. The National announcers are just making me sick.
Mike Tirico is a jinx of the worst kind…every time he comments about a stat, the team immediately comes through.
The next two weeks feature trips to rural Tennessee and Mississippi, hopefully they provide as much humor as Georgia has so far.
It’s been 60 days in the south, and I still have yet to visit a Waffle House. Though yesterday I had softball in the morning, and I simply did not function properly without a sausage egg and cheese on a plain bagel from Dunks.
Ok, seriously what the f*#$ is this? It’s March 1st, and I live in Georgia. Like the mob looking for a snitch, snow and cold just seems to find me during softball season.
There doesn't appear to be an Atlanta version of Shelby Scott. The Tv News folks seem to run the gamut from Token Black Guy, to Redneck homosexual, to bubbly blonde woman excited to make snow angels.
When the TV news stations aren't properly prepared for storm coverage, how can regular citizens be adequately ready.
I’m ok with the Stephon Marbury error, I mean era. We needed to do something, and him and Mikki Moore, though if there’s a roster spot available in April, I’d be open to Ainge inquiring about the availability of Maya Moore for the stretch run.
(Ok I promise no more women’s basketball references today).
I’m now resigned to the Celtics ending up as the two seed, and a seemingly more difficult road through the playoffs. I think we’ll look back and see that losing to the Clippers, and blowing that game to the Jazz will be our undoing.
When you give up 100 points to the Pistons, it might be just time to start working toward the playoffs, getting the new guys squared away and such.
I hope to god we don’t play anymore 1 p.m. games on Sundays the rest of the season, clearly the hangover isn’t quite worn off when we play at that time.
Let the Kevin O’Connell era begin!!!!
Matt Cassel, we hardly knew ye, but while I’m a little disappointed we couldn’t get more than a second round pick it’s better than $29 million at one position, and honestly we’ll see how much better Cassel is with Dwayne Bowe, and whoever else he has to throw to. (By the way, the Chiefs wideouts are so nondescript, I had to go to my fantasy football site to look up Bowe’s name. Despite the fact he was my leading receiver this year, and on my roster all season long. Now that’s some real live anonymity).
I am sad to see Mike Vrabel go, he as much as anybody was the heart and soul of a three time Super Bowl champion squad, and the very definition of a Patriot, playing end, and OLB, catching passes on offense, and playing Special Teams.
He’ll have a long career if he wants working tv and radio when he’s done in New England, while shilling for Giant Glass, and Ernie Boch.
I just hope he doesn’t undergo the full frontal lobotomy to remove common sense and decency that’s required currently of our local radio hosts.
Chad Finn’s article about the state of sports radio in Boston, wasn’t exactly groundbreaking news, but what was unique was he was the first person to tell it like it is from a major publication. I’ve been a fan of Chad’s for a long time, and I think much of his point was proven by the Big Show guys who just crapped all over him, and took things out of context to fit their own agenda in the aftermath of the story.
There was an article in SI recently about the Big East, and the author went out of his way to describe Jim Calhoun of being a product of his hard scrabble roots in….(wait for it)
Braintree????
I'm sorry I know I've been gone a couple months, but the home of the South Shore Plaza, and Archbishop Williams is still next to Milton, Holbrook and Weymouth right? It hasn't been moved to area between Dudley and Eggleston squares?
Ok just checking; I’m as big a Calhoun supporter as the next guy (which is to say more so than a Connecticut state legislator) but even though he did have it tough after his father died let’s not go nuts here; I'm pretty sure that had nothing to do with making him a miserable bastard at times.
Though I’m guessing his time spent at AIC (Almost In College) may have contributed to those hard scrabble roots. There is really nothing redeeming about Springfield.
I realize that the Commonwealth of Kentucky may not have Milton’s or a Men’s Warehouse there, but somebody please tell Rick Pitino to find a new tailor. And Ricky, if you’re going to rock with the Colonel Sanders look, you have to go all out, that means monocle and cane, sir.
If you’re KFC you can’t get much better advertising than that on a weekly basis, even I was in the mood for fried chicken and biscuits after the Louisville game today.
Walter McCarty is on staff at Louisville; I don’t really have a joke here, but here’s hoping his 6-9 frame is one day prowling a Division 1 sideline as a head coach. I’m thinking Holy Cross as the perfect fit, just so Tommy Heinsohn can profess his love on a daily basis on local TV and radio.
I miss Tommy Heinsohn, more than you can possibly imagine. The National announcers are just making me sick.
Mike Tirico is a jinx of the worst kind…every time he comments about a stat, the team immediately comes through.
The next two weeks feature trips to rural Tennessee and Mississippi, hopefully they provide as much humor as Georgia has so far.
It’s been 60 days in the south, and I still have yet to visit a Waffle House. Though yesterday I had softball in the morning, and I simply did not function properly without a sausage egg and cheese on a plain bagel from Dunks.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tossing batting practice…which seems sort of oxymoronic tonight because that will be the only reference to baseball in this entire tome...
Emotional leader my a** I never liked that stiff Garnett, he’s wicked overrated anyway, just look at the stats they’ll tell you how successful they C’s are without him, stats never, ever lie.
Well the C’s certainly haven’t missed a beat (which is more than I can say for my own heart when I saw him come up limping) since KG went down, the schedule is a little friendly and having five games in hand is a good thing at this time of year)
The big news is the loss of Tony Allen…no really, really I’m not kidding, alright, if you’re a faithful reader you’re likely aware of my distaste for him.
What’s more surprising, the fact Tony Allen has 66 turnovers, or he actually has 52 assists this season? I’m not sure how we’ll replace that production. In the D’Antoni seven seconds or less system, how many Turnovers could he have? I think he’d rival the Maris-esque record of 366 in a season set by Artis Gilmore in 1977-78. Of course that’s assuming he’d ever stay healthy, he’s no Iron Horse (unless you count the iron he’s usually packing in Chicago restaurants).
In researching that stat, I discovered that Karl Malone is the all-time leader in career turnovers, somewhere the lone Jazz fan nods in understanding. I guess now the image of MJ stripping him in the finals, is a fitting description of his career.
But seriously, what’s more impressive, that he is the second leading scorer all time, or that John Stockton is the all time assists leader?
Is it safe to assume, after discovering these three factors, that Malone might have been the NBA’s all time leader in percentage of possessions In which he touched the ball?
While it will always be the Delta Center to me, the home of the Utah Jazz is apparently the Energy Solutions Center, at least according the brightly lit sign outside the arena that TNT showed.
This seems to be a curious use of resources, and a rather ironic moniker, for the “energy solutions” company.
The only thing I'll say about the Jazz game is that Dick Bavetta still sucks. Oh one more thing, usually when a game is that one sided, I'd yell something wise to a ref, like...
"hey which kid is yours out there?"
Well in the case of Thursday, I'd be afraid that Bavetta would point to Jerry Sloan.
Steve Nash could have a lucrative second career as a Mexican Bullfighter. His matador defense isn’t even funny anymore, it’s truly a sham that he’s a two-time MVP, and thus almost has to get into the Hall of Fame, if all offense, no defense point guards can get into the Hall, then Designated Hitters should too.
I think it would be funny if some NBA DJ played "ole, ole ole ole....ole, ole" (it's in your head now isn't it, well hopefully it replaces the Giant glass commercial from last week) every time a point guard scores on him.
Seeing the evolution of Herb Sendek at Arizona State makes me nervous as a hopeful future college head coach. That man has not aged well one bit. If you showed two side by side shots of him at NC State and him now, they wouldn’t even look like the same person.
While it appears unlikely, if Bob Knight gets the head coaching job at Georgia, I will do everything in my power to obtain season tickets behind the bench, I feel like that’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
However he would be missed as an analyst, he’s so awkward yet informative, probably what John Madden was 30 years ago.
I watched more of a women’s game than I ever would normally, simply because I was waiting for him to call them Broads.
Talk radio in Georgia can be hilarious at times, the sense of entitlement fans of UGA have is downright ridiculous. In listening to a show briefly in Athens the other day, the co-hosts had narrowed down the Bulldogs choices to Mark Few, Sean Miller, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari.
Apparently John Wooden has already rebuffed overtures. Their entire basis of argument was that all three are at mid-majors that would yearn for the spotlight. Well all three are at established programs that make regular NCAA tournament appearances and are often spotlighted in the second weekend of the tournament. Oh and hoops is a distant third here behind football and baseball. Yeah this is a coveted job.
The best part was the hosts claiming that there was no reason they couldn’t be perennial SEC East contenders within two years, despite Florida, Tennesee and a small little hoops school in Kentucky all above them. (not to mention Vanderbilt).
Perhaps Pete Sheppard’s retarded in-bred cousin is a flash-guy down here, I’ll listen closer for a name next time.
A somber nod tonight to Milt Palacios, who after seeing Devin Harris' incredible gamewinner from halfcourt tonight, now owns the second mist amazing gamewinner in the history of the Izod/Continentel Airlines/Brendan Byrne Arena.
Emotional leader my a** I never liked that stiff Garnett, he’s wicked overrated anyway, just look at the stats they’ll tell you how successful they C’s are without him, stats never, ever lie.
Well the C’s certainly haven’t missed a beat (which is more than I can say for my own heart when I saw him come up limping) since KG went down, the schedule is a little friendly and having five games in hand is a good thing at this time of year)
The big news is the loss of Tony Allen…no really, really I’m not kidding, alright, if you’re a faithful reader you’re likely aware of my distaste for him.
What’s more surprising, the fact Tony Allen has 66 turnovers, or he actually has 52 assists this season? I’m not sure how we’ll replace that production. In the D’Antoni seven seconds or less system, how many Turnovers could he have? I think he’d rival the Maris-esque record of 366 in a season set by Artis Gilmore in 1977-78. Of course that’s assuming he’d ever stay healthy, he’s no Iron Horse (unless you count the iron he’s usually packing in Chicago restaurants).
In researching that stat, I discovered that Karl Malone is the all-time leader in career turnovers, somewhere the lone Jazz fan nods in understanding. I guess now the image of MJ stripping him in the finals, is a fitting description of his career.
But seriously, what’s more impressive, that he is the second leading scorer all time, or that John Stockton is the all time assists leader?
Is it safe to assume, after discovering these three factors, that Malone might have been the NBA’s all time leader in percentage of possessions In which he touched the ball?
While it will always be the Delta Center to me, the home of the Utah Jazz is apparently the Energy Solutions Center, at least according the brightly lit sign outside the arena that TNT showed.
This seems to be a curious use of resources, and a rather ironic moniker, for the “energy solutions” company.
The only thing I'll say about the Jazz game is that Dick Bavetta still sucks. Oh one more thing, usually when a game is that one sided, I'd yell something wise to a ref, like...
"hey which kid is yours out there?"
Well in the case of Thursday, I'd be afraid that Bavetta would point to Jerry Sloan.
Steve Nash could have a lucrative second career as a Mexican Bullfighter. His matador defense isn’t even funny anymore, it’s truly a sham that he’s a two-time MVP, and thus almost has to get into the Hall of Fame, if all offense, no defense point guards can get into the Hall, then Designated Hitters should too.
I think it would be funny if some NBA DJ played "ole, ole ole ole....ole, ole" (it's in your head now isn't it, well hopefully it replaces the Giant glass commercial from last week) every time a point guard scores on him.
Seeing the evolution of Herb Sendek at Arizona State makes me nervous as a hopeful future college head coach. That man has not aged well one bit. If you showed two side by side shots of him at NC State and him now, they wouldn’t even look like the same person.
While it appears unlikely, if Bob Knight gets the head coaching job at Georgia, I will do everything in my power to obtain season tickets behind the bench, I feel like that’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
However he would be missed as an analyst, he’s so awkward yet informative, probably what John Madden was 30 years ago.
I watched more of a women’s game than I ever would normally, simply because I was waiting for him to call them Broads.
Talk radio in Georgia can be hilarious at times, the sense of entitlement fans of UGA have is downright ridiculous. In listening to a show briefly in Athens the other day, the co-hosts had narrowed down the Bulldogs choices to Mark Few, Sean Miller, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari.
Apparently John Wooden has already rebuffed overtures. Their entire basis of argument was that all three are at mid-majors that would yearn for the spotlight. Well all three are at established programs that make regular NCAA tournament appearances and are often spotlighted in the second weekend of the tournament. Oh and hoops is a distant third here behind football and baseball. Yeah this is a coveted job.
The best part was the hosts claiming that there was no reason they couldn’t be perennial SEC East contenders within two years, despite Florida, Tennesee and a small little hoops school in Kentucky all above them. (not to mention Vanderbilt).
Perhaps Pete Sheppard’s retarded in-bred cousin is a flash-guy down here, I’ll listen closer for a name next time.
A somber nod tonight to Milt Palacios, who after seeing Devin Harris' incredible gamewinner from halfcourt tonight, now owns the second mist amazing gamewinner in the history of the Izod/Continentel Airlines/Brendan Byrne Arena.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tossing batting practice...while wondering if Ty Law and A-Roid are distantly related and have the same idiot cousin...
I want to be upset about ARod using steroids, but then I remember that he's never beaten the Red Sox so thus I'm less annoyed. All those guys will get their comeuppance when (or in some cases IF) they hit their 40s anyway.
With that said, there are a couple things about the A-Roid stammer-fest.
When you commit a stupid mistake that lasts three years, you're either; an idiot, disingenuously lying, or trying to keep the marriage together for the children.
A-Rod is either a) or b) in this case
Didn't the Yanks spring training home use to be Legends field, now it's George Steinbrenner Field? I'm sure The Boss is a legend in his own mind, but first he tears down Yankee Stadium, then he renames the spring training field, I thought old people were supposed to be nostalgic.
Former Bruin/Whaler/Hurricane defenseman Glen Wesley had his number retired in Carolina the other night against the Bruins.
I hope the entire time that banner went to the rafters he saw that wide open net he missed against Edmonton in the marathon ot Stanley Cup final we lost.
No I swear I'm not bitter
PS: F**K You Petr Klima, and for the record if your parents weren’t illiterate communists you’d know there are two E’s in Peter.
If Bud Selig were commissioner of NASCAR the entire field would have been brought back to finish the race the race on Thursday.
And you know what, all joking aside, that’s what I would have rather seen done. The Daytona 379 just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
They couldn’t drive in the rain? Really? That automatically disqualifies you as being considered the best drivers in the world.
I would watch intently if there was an event at Loudon in February without snowplows, in fact I’d buy a ticket and tailgate to that.
The ability to drive successfully in foul weather should be one of the measures of driving skill on the Sprint Cup series.
I spent much of the UConn/Pitt game trying to come up with an all-time starting five of white guys from UConn; so far I’ve got Jake Voskuhl, Travis Knight, and Israeli national team point guard Doron Scheffer. (and no despite the fact Rip Hamilton acts like a weenie, wears a face mask and has a killer mid-range jumper he does not in fact count)
Does anyone know of any Pitt fans? Or for that matter a Pitt grad? I’ve come across fans of nearly every major college program, but rarely do you see Panther paraphernalia when out at a bar (and by rarely I mean never).
I applaud Sean McDonough for calling out the officials in the UConn/Pitt game, and more importantly calling out the officiating in the Big East as a whole this season. He’s seen more Big East games than I have, but the second half of that game was just brutally officiated. One minute it looked like a game at Rucker Park with no blodd no foul, then the next their calling touch fouls.
If I couldn’t have already accounted for his whereabouts I would have thought Ed Hightower was joined by two Jason Harringtons.
Speaking of officials, I think Hightower, and Ted Valentine may each get more TV face time than any five major college coaches combined.
I cannot name a third major college basketball official, but those two are at more games than Dick Vitale.
And after I wrote this, there he was on TV Tuesday night at Purdue, from Hartford, Conn. To West Lafayette, Indiana; that man needs a better travel agent.
I want to be upset about ARod using steroids, but then I remember that he's never beaten the Red Sox so thus I'm less annoyed. All those guys will get their comeuppance when (or in some cases IF) they hit their 40s anyway.
With that said, there are a couple things about the A-Roid stammer-fest.
When you commit a stupid mistake that lasts three years, you're either; an idiot, disingenuously lying, or trying to keep the marriage together for the children.
A-Rod is either a) or b) in this case
Didn't the Yanks spring training home use to be Legends field, now it's George Steinbrenner Field? I'm sure The Boss is a legend in his own mind, but first he tears down Yankee Stadium, then he renames the spring training field, I thought old people were supposed to be nostalgic.
Former Bruin/Whaler/Hurricane defenseman Glen Wesley had his number retired in Carolina the other night against the Bruins.
I hope the entire time that banner went to the rafters he saw that wide open net he missed against Edmonton in the marathon ot Stanley Cup final we lost.
No I swear I'm not bitter
PS: F**K You Petr Klima, and for the record if your parents weren’t illiterate communists you’d know there are two E’s in Peter.
If Bud Selig were commissioner of NASCAR the entire field would have been brought back to finish the race the race on Thursday.
And you know what, all joking aside, that’s what I would have rather seen done. The Daytona 379 just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
They couldn’t drive in the rain? Really? That automatically disqualifies you as being considered the best drivers in the world.
I would watch intently if there was an event at Loudon in February without snowplows, in fact I’d buy a ticket and tailgate to that.
The ability to drive successfully in foul weather should be one of the measures of driving skill on the Sprint Cup series.
I spent much of the UConn/Pitt game trying to come up with an all-time starting five of white guys from UConn; so far I’ve got Jake Voskuhl, Travis Knight, and Israeli national team point guard Doron Scheffer. (and no despite the fact Rip Hamilton acts like a weenie, wears a face mask and has a killer mid-range jumper he does not in fact count)
Does anyone know of any Pitt fans? Or for that matter a Pitt grad? I’ve come across fans of nearly every major college program, but rarely do you see Panther paraphernalia when out at a bar (and by rarely I mean never).
I applaud Sean McDonough for calling out the officials in the UConn/Pitt game, and more importantly calling out the officiating in the Big East as a whole this season. He’s seen more Big East games than I have, but the second half of that game was just brutally officiated. One minute it looked like a game at Rucker Park with no blodd no foul, then the next their calling touch fouls.
If I couldn’t have already accounted for his whereabouts I would have thought Ed Hightower was joined by two Jason Harringtons.
Speaking of officials, I think Hightower, and Ted Valentine may each get more TV face time than any five major college coaches combined.
I cannot name a third major college basketball official, but those two are at more games than Dick Vitale.
And after I wrote this, there he was on TV Tuesday night at Purdue, from Hartford, Conn. To West Lafayette, Indiana; that man needs a better travel agent.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Tossing Batting Practice….while wondering just how awkward the monthly sales chart of the Vermont Teddy bear Company must look like the other 11 months a year…
Listening to various sports radio stations around the country in the last week (thanks blackberry) I have noticed one trend, the amount of Valentines day related spots are just overwhelming. But it’s hilarious to hear a middle aged white guy like Dale Arnold try to sell me on buying sexy underwear, a Vermont Teddy Bear, or some sort of internet flower order.
However, now that we’re well into week two of these ads, I’m longing for a perpetual loop of 1-800-54-Giant ads. (Is it stuck in your head yet?)
“We’re there when you need us, Call giant Glass….wherever you are call number..” ok I’ll stop,
I'd like to thank Gov. Deval for reaffirming the claim of Taxachusetts with the proposed gas tax. After paying a whopping 7% in sales tax on everything including food and clothing I was getting a little worried the name wasn't warranted anymore, but hey good luck with that massive 27 cents a gallon tax folks.
Danny Ainge said earlier this week that everyone wants a 7 footer who can shoot and defend, well I'll settle for 6-10 who can rebound and make layups.
Make the damn move Danny, any damn move.
Nate Robinson just completed the same dunk the average 5-7 junior high student with a little athleticism completes. The step on the fat kid for a boost dunk, in this case the fat kid was a skinny NBA player either way I’m not particularly impressed.
With Lucky the Leprechaun now deposed as the timeout entertainment at the Garden, perhaps Nate Robinson has a career ahead of him, once the fact he's a bad defender, undersized, and an asshole for a teammate catches up to him and he's out of work.
It always seemed a little implausible that a white dwarf could complete all those flying trampoline aided dunks anyways.
Memo to Nate, when you’re 5-nothin and all dressed in green, you don’t look like Kryptonite, you look like a black Leprechaun. I would have rather seen him don the glasses, and walking stick and try to dunk a ball spinning on his finger.
When you’re Lebron James apparently you can wear a bright yellow Mr. Rogers sweater and sunglasses indoors.
I don’t understand how that can be fashionable, and yet if I wore it, I’d continue to be a dorky white guy.
Friday night was the always retarded NBA celebrity game, which has absolutely none of the fun of the old NBA rock and jock, and lacks the 100 point basket. But I caught myself watching some of it (it’s lonely here in Deliverance, seriously, just check the date and timestamp of this post).
Terrell Owens won the MVP for the second straight year, while playing like the guy at the park everyone hates. He put up a Kobe-esque line of 40 something points and no assists, which also included zero pass attempts.
Stuart Scott then gave the obligatory All-star interview with Amare Stoudamire. When asked who out there he would most like as a teammate, his answer was TO.
Note to potential suitors for Amare, now that he’s on the block, anyone who identifies with the worst possible teammate in the history of American team sports, probably isn’t someone you want to give up a truckload for.
Neither is someone who’s 6-11 and treats rebounding like an allergy and shows as much interest in defense, as TO does in downfield blocking in the running game.
The Finals MVP award is now being named for Bill Russell, it’s the right thing to do for the greatest winner in sports history, but how did it take so long?
The one thing I learned from the Rookie game last night. If Kevin Durant were still in college he’d be challenging Pistol Pete’s record for points per game average, and would probably get at least 40 per. The fighting Sam Presti’s have a future down there, if only they were on TV once in a while.
Both Michael Cooper and Bill Laimbeer coach in the WNBA…see kids what goes around does in fact come around. I am content with that poetic justice.
Some hatred you never get over…I was legitimately pissed that Laimbeer and his duo won that stupid shooting game.
As Larry told him before his first all-star game, as he tried to shake Legend’s hand…. “Fuck you Bill.”
Seriously the best way to make the skills competition more fun would be if a referee was there to call carrying whenever they dribbled. Or have their college coach screaming at them the entire time to go faster. I could have beat Tony Parker, who looked about as interested to be in the contest as he was at a Desperate Housewives bridal shower.
Pitchers and catchers started working out today, hopefully they’ve got that take the flip, touch the bag, don’t get hurt in a collision down pat, and Tito and Millsie can move on to the old fake to first check the runner at third play tomorrow.
I just don’t understand why spring training has to last almost two months. But I guess it gives all of you folks up north hope that snow, and cold are almost gone.
I’m here to remind you it’s not…now excuse me I’ve got to reserve a tee time for tomorrow.
Sundays are a great golf day down here cause everyone is in church all day smiting and repenting things.
Listening to various sports radio stations around the country in the last week (thanks blackberry) I have noticed one trend, the amount of Valentines day related spots are just overwhelming. But it’s hilarious to hear a middle aged white guy like Dale Arnold try to sell me on buying sexy underwear, a Vermont Teddy Bear, or some sort of internet flower order.
However, now that we’re well into week two of these ads, I’m longing for a perpetual loop of 1-800-54-Giant ads. (Is it stuck in your head yet?)
“We’re there when you need us, Call giant Glass….wherever you are call number..” ok I’ll stop,
I'd like to thank Gov. Deval for reaffirming the claim of Taxachusetts with the proposed gas tax. After paying a whopping 7% in sales tax on everything including food and clothing I was getting a little worried the name wasn't warranted anymore, but hey good luck with that massive 27 cents a gallon tax folks.
Danny Ainge said earlier this week that everyone wants a 7 footer who can shoot and defend, well I'll settle for 6-10 who can rebound and make layups.
Make the damn move Danny, any damn move.
Nate Robinson just completed the same dunk the average 5-7 junior high student with a little athleticism completes. The step on the fat kid for a boost dunk, in this case the fat kid was a skinny NBA player either way I’m not particularly impressed.
With Lucky the Leprechaun now deposed as the timeout entertainment at the Garden, perhaps Nate Robinson has a career ahead of him, once the fact he's a bad defender, undersized, and an asshole for a teammate catches up to him and he's out of work.
It always seemed a little implausible that a white dwarf could complete all those flying trampoline aided dunks anyways.
Memo to Nate, when you’re 5-nothin and all dressed in green, you don’t look like Kryptonite, you look like a black Leprechaun. I would have rather seen him don the glasses, and walking stick and try to dunk a ball spinning on his finger.
When you’re Lebron James apparently you can wear a bright yellow Mr. Rogers sweater and sunglasses indoors.
I don’t understand how that can be fashionable, and yet if I wore it, I’d continue to be a dorky white guy.
Friday night was the always retarded NBA celebrity game, which has absolutely none of the fun of the old NBA rock and jock, and lacks the 100 point basket. But I caught myself watching some of it (it’s lonely here in Deliverance, seriously, just check the date and timestamp of this post).
Terrell Owens won the MVP for the second straight year, while playing like the guy at the park everyone hates. He put up a Kobe-esque line of 40 something points and no assists, which also included zero pass attempts.
Stuart Scott then gave the obligatory All-star interview with Amare Stoudamire. When asked who out there he would most like as a teammate, his answer was TO.
Note to potential suitors for Amare, now that he’s on the block, anyone who identifies with the worst possible teammate in the history of American team sports, probably isn’t someone you want to give up a truckload for.
Neither is someone who’s 6-11 and treats rebounding like an allergy and shows as much interest in defense, as TO does in downfield blocking in the running game.
The Finals MVP award is now being named for Bill Russell, it’s the right thing to do for the greatest winner in sports history, but how did it take so long?
The one thing I learned from the Rookie game last night. If Kevin Durant were still in college he’d be challenging Pistol Pete’s record for points per game average, and would probably get at least 40 per. The fighting Sam Presti’s have a future down there, if only they were on TV once in a while.
Both Michael Cooper and Bill Laimbeer coach in the WNBA…see kids what goes around does in fact come around. I am content with that poetic justice.
Some hatred you never get over…I was legitimately pissed that Laimbeer and his duo won that stupid shooting game.
As Larry told him before his first all-star game, as he tried to shake Legend’s hand…. “Fuck you Bill.”
Seriously the best way to make the skills competition more fun would be if a referee was there to call carrying whenever they dribbled. Or have their college coach screaming at them the entire time to go faster. I could have beat Tony Parker, who looked about as interested to be in the contest as he was at a Desperate Housewives bridal shower.
Pitchers and catchers started working out today, hopefully they’ve got that take the flip, touch the bag, don’t get hurt in a collision down pat, and Tito and Millsie can move on to the old fake to first check the runner at third play tomorrow.
I just don’t understand why spring training has to last almost two months. But I guess it gives all of you folks up north hope that snow, and cold are almost gone.
I’m here to remind you it’s not…now excuse me I’ve got to reserve a tee time for tomorrow.
Sundays are a great golf day down here cause everyone is in church all day smiting and repenting things.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Tossing batting practice...because nobody down here has any idea the relative importance of owning a Beanpot in February
I completely and wholeheartedly miss the Beanpot. I can’t really explain it, especially since I didn’t attend any of the four schools, but I was always a fan growing up, and then in college I had some great memories.
Freshman year I was in the NU student section for the title game, and it was like being a Sox fan. Only instead of “1918”, Terrier fans taunted us with chants of “Safety School” while we were more simple and direct; BU SUCKS!!!! (which it does).
Every time the puck entered the Husky zone, people stopped breathing and an eerie silence came over that section of the arena. Finally the hated Terriers, tied the game, and went ahead with a minute left and the dream died, while the drought lived for NU.
Sophomore year, the result of a 5pm opening round game, was a 2pm pregame show live from Emerson College, and the old Charley Flynn’s.
The Beanpot: where Monday afternoon underage drinking happens.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to cover a Beanpot, that ended with my arch nemesis BU taking yet another title in overtime in what was a thrilling game with an unsatisfying outcome, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. and journalistic objectivity be damned.
I root for NU, because they never win. I try to root for Harvard, but quite frankly they just aren’t likable with the exception of Ted Donato coaching.
I like BC because Jerry York is a likable figure who was very accommodating to me when I went to write about some of his kids.
Jack Parker is the polar opposite of York, he was an a***** and thanks to an unfortunate November night in college I already detested BU, so I felt better that Parker was a jerk.
Overall, it sucks that I can’t watch it anywhere this week, especially knowing that Northeastern may actually have a shot to win the whole thing; I’d probably even attempt to go if I were back home, at least for the opening round.
The dejection of the Husky faithful was one that the other three schools in the tournament don’t understand. NU isn’t a hockey school, though that’s the sport its best known for. If you were born the last time they won a Beanpot, you could legally drink to celebrate a victory, or wallow in despair tonight. Either way, knowing that NU students rarely need an excuse to party I’m sure there will be libations a plenty. Let’s just hope the riot police aren’t required on Hemenway street tonight.
So wait, NU is no. 3 in the country in anything besides number of student arrests in one small concentrated neighborhood in which you wouldn’t normally expect to find anyone with a suburban upbringing making it their home?
(I’m allowed to make confusing long winded smarmy remarks like that because I lived on Mission Hill for three years. As far as I’m concerned that gives me street cred or at least the ability to disparage my ‘hood. But you Orchard Park, and Bromley Heath folks better recognize.)
But apparently yes, they are the third ranked hockey team in the country, excuse while I attempt to confirm whether or not I am living in a distorted universe in which me, Doc, and my nonexistent dog may have skewed off the space time continuum to an alternate 2009 that appears to be reality to everyone else.
Dunneski, you may be the only one who can confirm or deny this for me.
Mad props to Lebron for the fake triple double the other night, but honestly why do people compare MSG to the Boston Garden and the Forum? What exactly has made it the world’s most famous arena? Their greatest moment is a crippled guy limping on the floor burying two jumpers and calling it a day, and that happened 35 years ago. I’d argue even the old Chicago Stadium has more NBA history than MSG, at least for the home team.
Why do marginal professional athletes who hail from New England always save their best for us? Did Rocco Baldelli give Matt Bonner a pep talk before yesterday’s game?
.
So apparently there was a parade at Fenway last week when the spring training truck leaves? Really are you guys that desperate for spring to start? Why is this a big deal? And if they hired the same moving company I did to move here, well they can expect it to cost an extra $1.5 million (probably why they let Alex Cora go) and it will arrive sometime before St. Patrick’s day.
Earlier this week Maryland’s AD came out in support of Gary Williams the other day, and her quote scrolled across the ESPN bottom line. The woman’s last name is Yow
So the scroll read like this “Yow: ‘I really want to lay to rest any of these crazy rumors floating around…’”
Honest to god, I thought Kay Yow had spoken to us from beyond the grave, or she was claiming she didn’t die. There was a brief 10 seconds of confusion on my part; this is what happens when you only catch part of a scroll while watching a game.
So it took ESPN more than a decade to turn the NFL draft, and to a lesser degree all the other major drafts, into a giant spectacle. Now it appears as though they’ve turned their attention to signing day for high schoolers.
What’s next, national choose an AAU team? Or does ESPN just start trolling delivery rooms to announce the births of the next great athlete?
I completely and wholeheartedly miss the Beanpot. I can’t really explain it, especially since I didn’t attend any of the four schools, but I was always a fan growing up, and then in college I had some great memories.
Freshman year I was in the NU student section for the title game, and it was like being a Sox fan. Only instead of “1918”, Terrier fans taunted us with chants of “Safety School” while we were more simple and direct; BU SUCKS!!!! (which it does).
Every time the puck entered the Husky zone, people stopped breathing and an eerie silence came over that section of the arena. Finally the hated Terriers, tied the game, and went ahead with a minute left and the dream died, while the drought lived for NU.
Sophomore year, the result of a 5pm opening round game, was a 2pm pregame show live from Emerson College, and the old Charley Flynn’s.
The Beanpot: where Monday afternoon underage drinking happens.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to cover a Beanpot, that ended with my arch nemesis BU taking yet another title in overtime in what was a thrilling game with an unsatisfying outcome, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. and journalistic objectivity be damned.
I root for NU, because they never win. I try to root for Harvard, but quite frankly they just aren’t likable with the exception of Ted Donato coaching.
I like BC because Jerry York is a likable figure who was very accommodating to me when I went to write about some of his kids.
Jack Parker is the polar opposite of York, he was an a***** and thanks to an unfortunate November night in college I already detested BU, so I felt better that Parker was a jerk.
Overall, it sucks that I can’t watch it anywhere this week, especially knowing that Northeastern may actually have a shot to win the whole thing; I’d probably even attempt to go if I were back home, at least for the opening round.
The dejection of the Husky faithful was one that the other three schools in the tournament don’t understand. NU isn’t a hockey school, though that’s the sport its best known for. If you were born the last time they won a Beanpot, you could legally drink to celebrate a victory, or wallow in despair tonight. Either way, knowing that NU students rarely need an excuse to party I’m sure there will be libations a plenty. Let’s just hope the riot police aren’t required on Hemenway street tonight.
So wait, NU is no. 3 in the country in anything besides number of student arrests in one small concentrated neighborhood in which you wouldn’t normally expect to find anyone with a suburban upbringing making it their home?
(I’m allowed to make confusing long winded smarmy remarks like that because I lived on Mission Hill for three years. As far as I’m concerned that gives me street cred or at least the ability to disparage my ‘hood. But you Orchard Park, and Bromley Heath folks better recognize.)
But apparently yes, they are the third ranked hockey team in the country, excuse while I attempt to confirm whether or not I am living in a distorted universe in which me, Doc, and my nonexistent dog may have skewed off the space time continuum to an alternate 2009 that appears to be reality to everyone else.
Dunneski, you may be the only one who can confirm or deny this for me.
Mad props to Lebron for the fake triple double the other night, but honestly why do people compare MSG to the Boston Garden and the Forum? What exactly has made it the world’s most famous arena? Their greatest moment is a crippled guy limping on the floor burying two jumpers and calling it a day, and that happened 35 years ago. I’d argue even the old Chicago Stadium has more NBA history than MSG, at least for the home team.
Why do marginal professional athletes who hail from New England always save their best for us? Did Rocco Baldelli give Matt Bonner a pep talk before yesterday’s game?
.
So apparently there was a parade at Fenway last week when the spring training truck leaves? Really are you guys that desperate for spring to start? Why is this a big deal? And if they hired the same moving company I did to move here, well they can expect it to cost an extra $1.5 million (probably why they let Alex Cora go) and it will arrive sometime before St. Patrick’s day.
Earlier this week Maryland’s AD came out in support of Gary Williams the other day, and her quote scrolled across the ESPN bottom line. The woman’s last name is Yow
So the scroll read like this “Yow: ‘I really want to lay to rest any of these crazy rumors floating around…’”
Honest to god, I thought Kay Yow had spoken to us from beyond the grave, or she was claiming she didn’t die. There was a brief 10 seconds of confusion on my part; this is what happens when you only catch part of a scroll while watching a game.
So it took ESPN more than a decade to turn the NFL draft, and to a lesser degree all the other major drafts, into a giant spectacle. Now it appears as though they’ve turned their attention to signing day for high schoolers.
What’s next, national choose an AAU team? Or does ESPN just start trolling delivery rooms to announce the births of the next great athlete?
Friday, February 06, 2009
Tossing batting practice…while seriously wondering just how many I could score on the Knicks "defense"…
Well, that loss sucked last night. I hate the Lakers, but hopefully the good news is that Danny Ainge will realize he’s got to go out and get another big man; preferably at the expense of Big Baby Davis
I will admit to being far removed from the C’s on a daily basis now and only see a handful of games, but he’s just not doing it for me. He’s like a fatter Tony Allen, anytime they do anything good, you jump out of your chair in a mix of excitement and shock.
Not what you want out of your backup power forward.
The fears we all had about Doc last year were realized last night, not his best night on the sidelines with the rotation and such. I also wish Ray and Rondo had talked him out of the plays he drew up at the end of regulation and overtime.
I will say that the C’s didn’t lose because of the officials, but all three of them should be donating a game check to the Red Auerbach foundation for that effort last night. I know he’s never been known for his defense, but how does Pau Gasol only commit one foul in 46 minutes? He grabbed 14 rebounds too, so it’s not like he wasn’t doing anything at the defensive end.
The Celtics front line committed 18 fouls on the game, the Lakers 11, and the Lakers starters combined for six fouls, four of them coming from Odom.
Specific calls are always tough to point to and blame (except for one, see below) but the numbers as a whole at the end don’t lie, even free throw disparity can sometimes, but only Derek Fisher getting more touchy feely than Eddy Curry with his male personal assistant make the total foul numbers even.
(Thanks Jon, I was looking for the right comparison, that’s why you get the big bucks)
I felt even better this morning about the curious officiating when even Bob Ryan came out and asked, what the hell those three guys were doing on the floor for that game.
While I hate the way the NFL sometimes comes out and says, “oops, we screwed up” a few days later with seemingly no repercussions, at least they acknowledge human error. I wish all sports would allow officials to speak, or at least come out and say something to the effect of what the NFL does.
All four of the leagues have their own channels now, you could easily fill a half hour of television dissecting questionable calls.
Then there’d even be a forum to compliment correct calls.
Whoever called KG’s final foul, I’d like to have his finances investigated to determine if he likes to visit casinos, horse tracks, or legitimate Italian Businessman’s social clubs in his spare time. Because Gasol whacked KG twice to knock the ball loose, ok so that call was missed, but to call that ticky tack loose ball foul, well that raises a few eyebrows in a post Tim Donaghy world.
Should I be happy that Andrew Bynum is out 8-12 weeks, or disappointed he isn’t out 8-12 months?
Kurt Rambis without glasses just doesn’t look right, he should be the anti-spokesman for laser eye surgery.
I am disappointed with the crowd tonight too, they were not in playoff form. Loud at times but not nearly enough.
I guess when Chris Evans (???????) and one of the guys from New Edition are your celebrities TNT shows midgame, well that just tells you how unimportant this game really is in the long run.
Cleveland worries me….a lot. Especially now that it has been determined that Lebron can do no wrong; I’d like to think homecourt advantage isn’t that important and that the Celtics can find a way, but the evidence I garnered from my 11th grade science project tells me different.
The NBA had the highest percentage of homecourt wins of the four major sports. I’m not worried about having to go to LA, because we all know real LA fan(s?) will get shut out and thus the noise level won’t be as startling.
Mad props to Lebron for the triple double the other night, but honestly why do people compare MSG to the Boston Garden and the Forum? What exactly has made it the world’s most famous arena? Their greatest moment is a crippled guy limping on the floor burying two jumpers and calling it a day, and that happened 35 years ago. I’d argue even the old Chicago Stadium has more NBA history than MSG, at least for the home team.
Back this weekend with other weekly observations and hopefully positive analysis on a win over the Spurs.
Well, that loss sucked last night. I hate the Lakers, but hopefully the good news is that Danny Ainge will realize he’s got to go out and get another big man; preferably at the expense of Big Baby Davis
I will admit to being far removed from the C’s on a daily basis now and only see a handful of games, but he’s just not doing it for me. He’s like a fatter Tony Allen, anytime they do anything good, you jump out of your chair in a mix of excitement and shock.
Not what you want out of your backup power forward.
The fears we all had about Doc last year were realized last night, not his best night on the sidelines with the rotation and such. I also wish Ray and Rondo had talked him out of the plays he drew up at the end of regulation and overtime.
I will say that the C’s didn’t lose because of the officials, but all three of them should be donating a game check to the Red Auerbach foundation for that effort last night. I know he’s never been known for his defense, but how does Pau Gasol only commit one foul in 46 minutes? He grabbed 14 rebounds too, so it’s not like he wasn’t doing anything at the defensive end.
The Celtics front line committed 18 fouls on the game, the Lakers 11, and the Lakers starters combined for six fouls, four of them coming from Odom.
Specific calls are always tough to point to and blame (except for one, see below) but the numbers as a whole at the end don’t lie, even free throw disparity can sometimes, but only Derek Fisher getting more touchy feely than Eddy Curry with his male personal assistant make the total foul numbers even.
(Thanks Jon, I was looking for the right comparison, that’s why you get the big bucks)
I felt even better this morning about the curious officiating when even Bob Ryan came out and asked, what the hell those three guys were doing on the floor for that game.
While I hate the way the NFL sometimes comes out and says, “oops, we screwed up” a few days later with seemingly no repercussions, at least they acknowledge human error. I wish all sports would allow officials to speak, or at least come out and say something to the effect of what the NFL does.
All four of the leagues have their own channels now, you could easily fill a half hour of television dissecting questionable calls.
Then there’d even be a forum to compliment correct calls.
Whoever called KG’s final foul, I’d like to have his finances investigated to determine if he likes to visit casinos, horse tracks, or legitimate Italian Businessman’s social clubs in his spare time. Because Gasol whacked KG twice to knock the ball loose, ok so that call was missed, but to call that ticky tack loose ball foul, well that raises a few eyebrows in a post Tim Donaghy world.
Should I be happy that Andrew Bynum is out 8-12 weeks, or disappointed he isn’t out 8-12 months?
Kurt Rambis without glasses just doesn’t look right, he should be the anti-spokesman for laser eye surgery.
I am disappointed with the crowd tonight too, they were not in playoff form. Loud at times but not nearly enough.
I guess when Chris Evans (???????) and one of the guys from New Edition are your celebrities TNT shows midgame, well that just tells you how unimportant this game really is in the long run.
Cleveland worries me….a lot. Especially now that it has been determined that Lebron can do no wrong; I’d like to think homecourt advantage isn’t that important and that the Celtics can find a way, but the evidence I garnered from my 11th grade science project tells me different.
The NBA had the highest percentage of homecourt wins of the four major sports. I’m not worried about having to go to LA, because we all know real LA fan(s?) will get shut out and thus the noise level won’t be as startling.
Mad props to Lebron for the triple double the other night, but honestly why do people compare MSG to the Boston Garden and the Forum? What exactly has made it the world’s most famous arena? Their greatest moment is a crippled guy limping on the floor burying two jumpers and calling it a day, and that happened 35 years ago. I’d argue even the old Chicago Stadium has more NBA history than MSG, at least for the home team.
Back this weekend with other weekly observations and hopefully positive analysis on a win over the Spurs.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Tossing Batting Practice…while celebrating the fact Silvio Dante is out of a coma and apparently moonlighting as a rock star…
Not sure that’s the best career choice for the former underboss of New Jersey, but hey with Phil Leotardo out of the picture, the feud with New York should be over.
For the record I made it four plays before switching back to the Sopranos marathon on A&E that curbed my attempt to learn College Accounting. The rest of the first half was spent watching an engrossing CBS news special on Barack. (who has crossed over into “Ben” territory as far as first name only referencing)
The ghost of Bill Cowher is alive and well kicking a field goal in the first quarter on the one yard line and it cost me my damned cover. I hope the Major Crimes unit from the Wire turns its attention towards Mike Tomlin, and his point shaving ways.
Since he didn’t have to wear the big puffy jacket, I swear I won’t make an Avon Barksdale comparison ok Leon? (oops, guess I did, my bad).
Think Ken Whisenhunt regrets that decision to defer? Excellent call top gun to give Ben the ball and get him involved right away. On second thought, investigate his ass too.
Quick aside, I’m glad he will be out of my life for 10 months, because every time I heard his name I couldn’t help but think of the Whizzanator, and then I’d be forced to chuckle, even if it was inappropriate.
And since any episode of the Wire has to have multiple story lines, let’s make sure Terry Macauly and his officiating crew are under surveillance too.
Had it not been for that amazing fourth quarter this game would have been marred by flags. I mean Christ, someone from Macauley’s crew flagged Springsteen at halftime.
The Steelers finally got flagged four times in the final three minutes, but for the other 57, it was at one point Arizona 11/106 to Pitt. 4/35.
Only three times in Super Bowl history has a team been penalized for more than 100 yards. Let them play, or at least call it even, holding and illegal contact can be called anytime. So for the disparity to be so great was a travesty.
Santonio Holmes should have been flagged after his TD, and their should have been a review of the final play.
All in all, I wonder if there’s a Donaghy on that crew.
If football players are the best athletes in the world, why are they often so winded bordering on collapse when they run 90 yards. Even drunk I think I could run that far w/o collapsing to the ground after looking for oxygen and a defibrillator...score one for basketball players who are in fact the best athletes in the world.
If Bruce had a sense of humor he'd have played Jungleland last; it would have given James Harrison more time to rest at least.
Seriously nobody does a better live show than Bruce. I’ve been to four of his shows, and they’re all easily the best I’ve ever been too. (Please leave your Jimmy Buffet jokes below)
Why do people keep saying pressure and empty backfields are what Kurt Warner wants. I use Super Bowl XXXVI as evidence he does not thrive in that environment. The prosecution would like to call Ty Law to the stand.
Moments after I typed that thought down for later use, after yet another incompletion, Warner found James Harrison wide open over the middle for six the other way.
Say what you want about the man, and I’m sure Giants fans will; but he sure as hell plays entertaining Super Bowls.
Nice to see the Edge still dulled in big games, you can take the Colt out of Indy, but you can’t…well you know the rest.
The Cardinals got what they deserved by blitzing Roethlisberger on the final drive. I wouldn’t even rush him, just drop 11 guys into coverage and wait for him to make a mistake, which he is prone to when given time. He’s like the anti-Warner.
I do look forward to the year 2019 when Roethlisberger is finishing up his career in Chicago, leading his team to an 8-3 record, before collapsing late in the season and getting exposed for being a free wheeling selfish gunslinger. All while John Madden, (respirator, and drum stick in hand)and Joe Buck, and Jim Nantz proclaim he “loves the game” while fawning over him.
Overall it was a great fourth quarter in an otherwise boring game. I hesitate to say it was the greatest Super Bowl ever, I think the Pats/Panthers was actually a better fourth quarter but it was certainly a game that won’t be forgotten soon, and if Santonio Holmes can remove David Lousy Helmet Catch Bastard, from weekly highlights, and mention then it will be well worth it to deal with Steeler fans for the year.
At least I don’t live in Pittsburgh.
.
Not sure that’s the best career choice for the former underboss of New Jersey, but hey with Phil Leotardo out of the picture, the feud with New York should be over.
For the record I made it four plays before switching back to the Sopranos marathon on A&E that curbed my attempt to learn College Accounting. The rest of the first half was spent watching an engrossing CBS news special on Barack. (who has crossed over into “Ben” territory as far as first name only referencing)
The ghost of Bill Cowher is alive and well kicking a field goal in the first quarter on the one yard line and it cost me my damned cover. I hope the Major Crimes unit from the Wire turns its attention towards Mike Tomlin, and his point shaving ways.
Since he didn’t have to wear the big puffy jacket, I swear I won’t make an Avon Barksdale comparison ok Leon? (oops, guess I did, my bad).
Think Ken Whisenhunt regrets that decision to defer? Excellent call top gun to give Ben the ball and get him involved right away. On second thought, investigate his ass too.
Quick aside, I’m glad he will be out of my life for 10 months, because every time I heard his name I couldn’t help but think of the Whizzanator, and then I’d be forced to chuckle, even if it was inappropriate.
And since any episode of the Wire has to have multiple story lines, let’s make sure Terry Macauly and his officiating crew are under surveillance too.
Had it not been for that amazing fourth quarter this game would have been marred by flags. I mean Christ, someone from Macauley’s crew flagged Springsteen at halftime.
The Steelers finally got flagged four times in the final three minutes, but for the other 57, it was at one point Arizona 11/106 to Pitt. 4/35.
Only three times in Super Bowl history has a team been penalized for more than 100 yards. Let them play, or at least call it even, holding and illegal contact can be called anytime. So for the disparity to be so great was a travesty.
Santonio Holmes should have been flagged after his TD, and their should have been a review of the final play.
All in all, I wonder if there’s a Donaghy on that crew.
If football players are the best athletes in the world, why are they often so winded bordering on collapse when they run 90 yards. Even drunk I think I could run that far w/o collapsing to the ground after looking for oxygen and a defibrillator...score one for basketball players who are in fact the best athletes in the world.
If Bruce had a sense of humor he'd have played Jungleland last; it would have given James Harrison more time to rest at least.
Seriously nobody does a better live show than Bruce. I’ve been to four of his shows, and they’re all easily the best I’ve ever been too. (Please leave your Jimmy Buffet jokes below)
Why do people keep saying pressure and empty backfields are what Kurt Warner wants. I use Super Bowl XXXVI as evidence he does not thrive in that environment. The prosecution would like to call Ty Law to the stand.
Moments after I typed that thought down for later use, after yet another incompletion, Warner found James Harrison wide open over the middle for six the other way.
Say what you want about the man, and I’m sure Giants fans will; but he sure as hell plays entertaining Super Bowls.
Nice to see the Edge still dulled in big games, you can take the Colt out of Indy, but you can’t…well you know the rest.
The Cardinals got what they deserved by blitzing Roethlisberger on the final drive. I wouldn’t even rush him, just drop 11 guys into coverage and wait for him to make a mistake, which he is prone to when given time. He’s like the anti-Warner.
I do look forward to the year 2019 when Roethlisberger is finishing up his career in Chicago, leading his team to an 8-3 record, before collapsing late in the season and getting exposed for being a free wheeling selfish gunslinger. All while John Madden, (respirator, and drum stick in hand)and Joe Buck, and Jim Nantz proclaim he “loves the game” while fawning over him.
Overall it was a great fourth quarter in an otherwise boring game. I hesitate to say it was the greatest Super Bowl ever, I think the Pats/Panthers was actually a better fourth quarter but it was certainly a game that won’t be forgotten soon, and if Santonio Holmes can remove David Lousy Helmet Catch Bastard, from weekly highlights, and mention then it will be well worth it to deal with Steeler fans for the year.
At least I don’t live in Pittsburgh.
.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tossing batting practice…while finally over the bye ready to take on the crush of media scrutiny that is Pro bowl week…
It was somewhat evident back in November, but two months after the AI trade, the Pistons simply cannot cover Rajon Rondo anymore. Cleveland worries me greatly though. It does appear that Lebron isn’t quite getting every single call as of late.
So apparently Happy Gilmore was on Bravo the other night; however inside the Actors Studio with Carl Weathers did not follow the second funniest golf movie ever made. Apollo Creed, Chubs, and “the black guy from Predator” those three characters should be worthy of an hour of James Lipton’s time.
We can elect a black president, but I never thought I’d see the day a black chairman of the RNC was elected. I think the values and beliefs of many in my little corner of Jesusland have been turned upside down.
Our long national nightmare is over…the Mets have found a way to fill that gaping outfield hole, by signing World Series hero Bobby Kielty to a minor league deal.
This is the info you find on the MLB network while watching awkward announced highlights of the 1948 World Series.
Mercifully the Jason Varitek contract saga is over, however the “Fran-coma’s gotta pinch hit for Varitek with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of the back end of a doubleheader” saga should be starting up any day now. I look forward to the EEI yahoos now trying to sell the concept of Kevin Youkilis, late inning emergency catcher.
We all know Tito is loyal to his veterans who he’s gone to battle with, and I have no problem with that. We’ve seen it with the rotting corpse of Kevin Millar, and the human strikeout machine that was Mark Bellhorn. Eventually Tito pulled the plug on those guys late in their “difficult” seasons.
So Price is right style (meaning closest without going over) what’s the exact date we see Tito wave the white flag on Tek?
My early vote is July 20th but like the Tuna says, I reserve the right to change my mind once the season starts.
As many of you know my boss’ son was the Dodgers top draft pick last year, and earlier this week he was invited to big league training camp. Now more than ever I am praying for Manny to resign with them, just for the inside stories alone.
Hopefully he won’t end up with a full chapter in Joe Torre’s Dodger years sequel.
I can sort of understand and get used to "ya'll" being a prevalent term, but turning it into a plural ya'lls will never ever sound right under any circumstances. It's already a freakin plural for Christ sakes.
If you simply saw the score scroll down sometime Friday you’d have no doubt seen my
New college hoops obsession St. Mary’s drop a heartbreaker to Gonzaga. While it was on the road, keep in mind that the Gaels were up six when superstar African-Australian Patrick Mills went down with a sprained wrist. To that point Mills had 18 points in about 12 minutes of action, only to not return. He’ll likely be fine come tournament time, so be weary of the 10th seeded Gaels shocking some two-seed from the big east in the round of 32.
Now that enough time has passed and I can ignore the abomination of a 2005 season he had do you think its possible for Boston to begin construction on the Mark Bellhorn bronze statue, they could even put it in the spot previously earmarked for Dave Henderson that had to be scrapped thanks to the rest of his teammates.
***
Now for my long awaited Super Bowl pick…With the Over/Under set at three and a half, I will take the over….for number of e-trade baby commercials.
So I made a living in this postseason (not literally of course because gambling is illegal NCAA folks who may be monitoring this, and I have no tangible money to bet)
On taking the underdog, which led me to a 5-1 record the last two weekends. So while I despise the Steelers, and would love to see the Cards win, I have to go with Pittsburgh here, mainly because the Cards have become this trendy pick. This is what happens when you have two weeks to talk about a football game and you can talk yourself into any angle or possibility.
The surest bet of the night is Springsteen going over the allotted 12 minutes at halftime. And if you really like prop bets I think its +25,000 he gets hauled off the stage at the 17 minute mark with one of those 1920s vaudeville canes as he preaches to the world about stopping hunger, war, or republican domination.
It was somewhat evident back in November, but two months after the AI trade, the Pistons simply cannot cover Rajon Rondo anymore. Cleveland worries me greatly though. It does appear that Lebron isn’t quite getting every single call as of late.
So apparently Happy Gilmore was on Bravo the other night; however inside the Actors Studio with Carl Weathers did not follow the second funniest golf movie ever made. Apollo Creed, Chubs, and “the black guy from Predator” those three characters should be worthy of an hour of James Lipton’s time.
We can elect a black president, but I never thought I’d see the day a black chairman of the RNC was elected. I think the values and beliefs of many in my little corner of Jesusland have been turned upside down.
Our long national nightmare is over…the Mets have found a way to fill that gaping outfield hole, by signing World Series hero Bobby Kielty to a minor league deal.
This is the info you find on the MLB network while watching awkward announced highlights of the 1948 World Series.
Mercifully the Jason Varitek contract saga is over, however the “Fran-coma’s gotta pinch hit for Varitek with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of the back end of a doubleheader” saga should be starting up any day now. I look forward to the EEI yahoos now trying to sell the concept of Kevin Youkilis, late inning emergency catcher.
We all know Tito is loyal to his veterans who he’s gone to battle with, and I have no problem with that. We’ve seen it with the rotting corpse of Kevin Millar, and the human strikeout machine that was Mark Bellhorn. Eventually Tito pulled the plug on those guys late in their “difficult” seasons.
So Price is right style (meaning closest without going over) what’s the exact date we see Tito wave the white flag on Tek?
My early vote is July 20th but like the Tuna says, I reserve the right to change my mind once the season starts.
As many of you know my boss’ son was the Dodgers top draft pick last year, and earlier this week he was invited to big league training camp. Now more than ever I am praying for Manny to resign with them, just for the inside stories alone.
Hopefully he won’t end up with a full chapter in Joe Torre’s Dodger years sequel.
I can sort of understand and get used to "ya'll" being a prevalent term, but turning it into a plural ya'lls will never ever sound right under any circumstances. It's already a freakin plural for Christ sakes.
If you simply saw the score scroll down sometime Friday you’d have no doubt seen my
New college hoops obsession St. Mary’s drop a heartbreaker to Gonzaga. While it was on the road, keep in mind that the Gaels were up six when superstar African-Australian Patrick Mills went down with a sprained wrist. To that point Mills had 18 points in about 12 minutes of action, only to not return. He’ll likely be fine come tournament time, so be weary of the 10th seeded Gaels shocking some two-seed from the big east in the round of 32.
Now that enough time has passed and I can ignore the abomination of a 2005 season he had do you think its possible for Boston to begin construction on the Mark Bellhorn bronze statue, they could even put it in the spot previously earmarked for Dave Henderson that had to be scrapped thanks to the rest of his teammates.
***
Now for my long awaited Super Bowl pick…With the Over/Under set at three and a half, I will take the over….for number of e-trade baby commercials.
So I made a living in this postseason (not literally of course because gambling is illegal NCAA folks who may be monitoring this, and I have no tangible money to bet)
On taking the underdog, which led me to a 5-1 record the last two weekends. So while I despise the Steelers, and would love to see the Cards win, I have to go with Pittsburgh here, mainly because the Cards have become this trendy pick. This is what happens when you have two weeks to talk about a football game and you can talk yourself into any angle or possibility.
The surest bet of the night is Springsteen going over the allotted 12 minutes at halftime. And if you really like prop bets I think its +25,000 he gets hauled off the stage at the 17 minute mark with one of those 1920s vaudeville canes as he preaches to the world about stopping hunger, war, or republican domination.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tossing batting practice...while wondering if Vegas allows prop bets as to whether Sam Casell is dressed in uniform on a given night...
When I’m in charge of basic human common sense, I will decree there to be a cap on what you order at a drive thru, Like the 12 items or less line. I sat in a drive thru today after a single person ordered $24 worth of food from McDonalds. I mean really, unless its 2am and you’ve got the munchies, go inside
This will go along with my Death Penalty for double parking platform I intend to run for Mayor of Boston on someday.
You heard it here first This year’s Davidson potential, in the NCAA tournament. St. Mary’s. They may not even win their conference tournament because of Gonzaga, which makes them even more underrated. They’re the highest rated mid-major on the board statistically (in the stats I believe in) and I’ve now watched them annihilate San Diego on its home floor, and blasted Fresno St.
Update: or you possibly heard this spiel from Seth Davis who’s apparently touting the Gaels (I didn’t even have to look that up, that’s how good or pathetic I am)
So in reading the ESPN headlines the other day I see that “Billionaire” Tom Rickets, is about to buy the Cubs.
Is there a better word that could appear in front of your name on a headline, or on a scroll?
I know that the words, beleaguered, embattled and much maligned are the polar opposite of the spectrum and are three phrases I never want to see in front of my name in any circumstance.
At the only bar in town here in Gainesville there is in fact a framed Byron Dafoe Atlanta Thrashers jersey.
If I could find my Blaine Lacher autographed picture I got at the very brief height of his popularity I'd donate it.
When all you have for internet is a blackberry, I have to say coming across names like Lacher and Dafoe provide brief moments of entertainment courtesy of Wikipedia. Which was how I found out that Byron Dafoe played 35 games over two seasons with the Thrashers allowing 3.31 goals a game before retiring after the lockout.
As an aside there are no actual bars here in town, because a county ordinance states that a business must make more than 50% of its business from food in order to serve alcohol. I can’t believe the Puritans missed that one back home.
Reason # 4126 why Tom Brady is the quintesential American dream: the fact he traded up to a girlfriend who is worth more money than he is. He literally does everything right by the book.
So I visited the mall of Georgia the other day, which is allegedly the largest shopping center in the Southeast. It’s basically the South Shore Plaza if the town of Braintree annexed Holbrook and gave the land away to build acres upon acres of stores.
The only caveat was it was the empties mall I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it’s the economy, or the simple fact its so damn big it can’t help but look empty.
In the first sports store I saw was dedicated to all college stuff except for the display of a Sox jersey, Brady, and Favre replicas, see Carolina Panthers, that's what you call a nation.
Then I saw that apparently colleges down here print up tee-shirts dedicated to each and every game of the year. I found this to be absolutely hilarious, imagine if we did that for baseball or even NFL football? How many different catchy nicknames could enterprising entrepreneurs come up with for the Sox/Yanks rivalry? Would they get to 19?
But if you feel the need to commemorate that Labor Day weekend drubbing of Appalachian St. For just $12 you'll never forget it.
As I've gotten older I've struggled with the idea that the players I'm rooting for are my age and younger, I think its still ok to wear jerseys of your favorite player, provided they are in fact older than you, thus you'll never see me in a Papelbon or Ellsbury jersey.
Down here the obsession with college football throws a huge wrench into that, but I still firmly believe wearing a college players jersey anytime after you turn 18 makes you a huge dork...I'm looking across the bar at a guy in the Tim Tebow jersey trying to get it with a blonde way out of his league as proof of this theory.
Doesn't it basically say I'm unhappy with my life and aspire to be a 20 year old college quarterback?
I guess if you’re in your fifties and aspire to be young again, then I can understand. But if you’re 26 and rocking that jersey, then maybe just maybe you should give ITT Tech a call, or some other online university, at the very least get that GED, there’s still time to make something of yourself.
Now that I’ve got internet, and hopefully cable by tomorrow I’ll be able to comment more on sports again in addition to the occasional witty retort to life in the south.
When I’m in charge of basic human common sense, I will decree there to be a cap on what you order at a drive thru, Like the 12 items or less line. I sat in a drive thru today after a single person ordered $24 worth of food from McDonalds. I mean really, unless its 2am and you’ve got the munchies, go inside
This will go along with my Death Penalty for double parking platform I intend to run for Mayor of Boston on someday.
You heard it here first This year’s Davidson potential, in the NCAA tournament. St. Mary’s. They may not even win their conference tournament because of Gonzaga, which makes them even more underrated. They’re the highest rated mid-major on the board statistically (in the stats I believe in) and I’ve now watched them annihilate San Diego on its home floor, and blasted Fresno St.
Update: or you possibly heard this spiel from Seth Davis who’s apparently touting the Gaels (I didn’t even have to look that up, that’s how good or pathetic I am)
So in reading the ESPN headlines the other day I see that “Billionaire” Tom Rickets, is about to buy the Cubs.
Is there a better word that could appear in front of your name on a headline, or on a scroll?
I know that the words, beleaguered, embattled and much maligned are the polar opposite of the spectrum and are three phrases I never want to see in front of my name in any circumstance.
At the only bar in town here in Gainesville there is in fact a framed Byron Dafoe Atlanta Thrashers jersey.
If I could find my Blaine Lacher autographed picture I got at the very brief height of his popularity I'd donate it.
When all you have for internet is a blackberry, I have to say coming across names like Lacher and Dafoe provide brief moments of entertainment courtesy of Wikipedia. Which was how I found out that Byron Dafoe played 35 games over two seasons with the Thrashers allowing 3.31 goals a game before retiring after the lockout.
As an aside there are no actual bars here in town, because a county ordinance states that a business must make more than 50% of its business from food in order to serve alcohol. I can’t believe the Puritans missed that one back home.
Reason # 4126 why Tom Brady is the quintesential American dream: the fact he traded up to a girlfriend who is worth more money than he is. He literally does everything right by the book.
So I visited the mall of Georgia the other day, which is allegedly the largest shopping center in the Southeast. It’s basically the South Shore Plaza if the town of Braintree annexed Holbrook and gave the land away to build acres upon acres of stores.
The only caveat was it was the empties mall I’ve ever seen. Perhaps it’s the economy, or the simple fact its so damn big it can’t help but look empty.
In the first sports store I saw was dedicated to all college stuff except for the display of a Sox jersey, Brady, and Favre replicas, see Carolina Panthers, that's what you call a nation.
Then I saw that apparently colleges down here print up tee-shirts dedicated to each and every game of the year. I found this to be absolutely hilarious, imagine if we did that for baseball or even NFL football? How many different catchy nicknames could enterprising entrepreneurs come up with for the Sox/Yanks rivalry? Would they get to 19?
But if you feel the need to commemorate that Labor Day weekend drubbing of Appalachian St. For just $12 you'll never forget it.
As I've gotten older I've struggled with the idea that the players I'm rooting for are my age and younger, I think its still ok to wear jerseys of your favorite player, provided they are in fact older than you, thus you'll never see me in a Papelbon or Ellsbury jersey.
Down here the obsession with college football throws a huge wrench into that, but I still firmly believe wearing a college players jersey anytime after you turn 18 makes you a huge dork...I'm looking across the bar at a guy in the Tim Tebow jersey trying to get it with a blonde way out of his league as proof of this theory.
Doesn't it basically say I'm unhappy with my life and aspire to be a 20 year old college quarterback?
I guess if you’re in your fifties and aspire to be young again, then I can understand. But if you’re 26 and rocking that jersey, then maybe just maybe you should give ITT Tech a call, or some other online university, at the very least get that GED, there’s still time to make something of yourself.
Now that I’ve got internet, and hopefully cable by tomorrow I’ll be able to comment more on sports again in addition to the occasional witty retort to life in the south.
