- 08:27 AM
- 11/22/09
If the Packers lose to the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, that Wisconsin guard detail will never hear the end of it from the detainees.
posted by beaverboard at 12:09 PM on November 21
Glad to see that the Syracuse hoops team took care of business against North Carolina last night. It's good for the sake of humankind for the Carolina program to be brought back to earth every once in a while.
Upstate Orange and Carolina Blue makes for a sharp looking TV broadcast.
Syracuse has a nice family legacy thing going on in their backcourt with Andy Rautins (son of Leo) and Brandon Triche (nephew of Howard). One a freshman, the other a senior. Both from the same area and the same high school.
That lends a certain warm, small town wholesomeness and continuity to the experience of playing in the cozy embrace of the Carrier Dome.
posted by beaverboard at 07:10 AM on November 21
Agreed, that is not a wise move, especially featuring three guys who are at least five continents and two oceans away from getting a casting call for the upcoming Three Stooges movie.
posted by beaverboard at 12:35 PM on November 20
Did they rent hardened limos and re-enact Ray Lewis leaving the murder scene?
posted by beaverboard at 04:34 PM on November 19
I really hate to say this, but Matt Millen is an acceptable and competent broadcaster. I haven't objected to listening to him this fall.
But I also haven't been able to shake my mind loose from what he did to the Lions, so just knowing where he is and what he's doing on a given gameday still boils my blood to a certain extent.
If only he had never left the booth to begin with.
The moments where I have to leave the room are when his broadcast partner starts talking about the talent on the field and asks Millen whether or not he would have drafted a certain player. Any linking of Millen to player personnel discussions far exceeds the limits of human tolerance.
posted by beaverboard at 08:25 AM on November 19
The NFL does not care if people watch the games on Thanksgiving Day or not.
Not sure whose bright idea it was to schedule Oakland for a prime time broadcast. Isn't knowing that Detroit is always going to be on and hasn't turned the corner yet punishment enough?
The Giants and Broncos could both lose this week and then would be bringing near state of collapse mindsets to their holiday matchup.
The league should truly help the Lions improve. It is in the league's best interest. Not only because the Lions are a Thanksgiving Day tradition and have been bad for an entire adult lifetime, but also because they are probably the most telegenic team in the league. The blue and silver unis indoors on the bright green rug are totally made for TV.
I think I'll forget the TV and turkey and just follow the first unit of Grey Goose that flies by.
posted by beaverboard at 08:16 AM on November 19
It's interesting that they said Brady had a strong arm back in high school. One of the most noticeable things about Brady when he got to the Pats was his unimpressive arm strength.
If you look at film of preseason games from his first two summers, his throws are full body motions requiring a lot of visible effort, where he has to really step into the throw and rotate his shoulders to get something on the ball. Even for passes under 20 yards.
Comparing Brady's full windup to Bledsoe's relaxed, natural cannon arm flick was like night and day.
Now, Brady has a much more efficient, controlled and powerful throwing motion. He wasn't born with it - he had to work hard to develop it. If Moss had come to the Pats back in 2001, Brady might not have been able to get him the ball quickly and deeply enough on go routes.
posted by beaverboard at 11:20 PM on November 18
I went looking, and it turns out that Charlie Weis apparently overate on numerous occasions.
posted by beaverboard at 03:38 PM on November 18
Attention, football television viewers - Jerry Glanville has resigned as head coach of Portland State, and could be headed back to a broadcast booth near you.
Jerry is firmly from the Tyler/Plano "I done wet my breeches" school of broadcasting. Bland, colorless, and balanced game calling is not his thing.
If you like folksy charm and off the cuff remarks that would make Goober leap out of the chair at Floyd's barber shop, you may be in luck.
posted by beaverboard at 11:45 AM on November 18
It should be noted that David Carr lost the locks, went for the Camp Lejeune buzz look, and earlier this year played pretty well for the Giants.
In fact, with the way the Giants are going at the moment, if Bill Belichick were the head coach, he might well give Eli the Kosar/Bledsoe treatment and make Carr the starter.
Yes, THAT Bill Belichick. (We're not done with him yet. It's only Tuesday.)
Also it should be noted that all hope should probably not be given up on Brady Quinn, because no less an authority than Charlie Weis is totally convinced that Quinn is a bona fide NFL QB. He is totally sure of it. Totally.
After the chopper that Quinn put on Suggs last night, I think Lyle Lovett has some choice words to sing to ol' Brady:
And if you go to Baltimore,
Then I'll see you in heaven,
For if you go to Baltimore,
Then you shall surely die.
posted by beaverboard at 02:11 PM on November 17
Gruden just got re-upped by ESPN, so no coaching job for him next year.
Gruden has really improved over the course of the season. He'll have to start dialing back his excitement level and verbal emphasis a bit though, or he's going to turn in to another Lou Holtz spitting machine.
It's getting to the point where Jaws is becoming the third fiddle in that booth. They may put someone else in there instead next year.
posted by beaverboard at 07:35 AM on November 17
At age 86, Adams has proven can make both his middle fingers stand straight at attention, for as long as he needs them to, which is pretty good.
Maybe he'll get called to be in a Cialis ad featuring side-by-side his-and-hers lavatory basins.
He also looks twice as good as Al Davis does condition-wise, age regardless.
But he's a fool for giving the salute, especially with Goodell in his box at the game.
Being a Texan, of course he's going to show 'em his matching pair, pulled straight out of their rhinestone holsters.
Even in a blowout, there just ain't no such thing as an ordinary Bills - Titans (Oilers) game.
posted by beaverboard at 07:29 PM on November 16
As mentioned before, not only was the Pats' defense shot, but specifically, their run defense was really shot. On the other hand, Addai was fairly fresh, having been held out of most of the game.
Manning was in a position where he could throw to holes in the soft defense, or let Addai rip off sizeable gains.
If the Pats had punted away, Peyton could have used a lot more of the playbook to get down the field, provided that they mixed in some running plays that were designed to go out of bounds for clock stoppage if needed.
Somewhere in the Pats' sideline state of mind, the memory of their second half collapse on the road against Indy in the AFC title game a few years back had to be a factor one way or another. After last night, that factor is now twice as big a deal.
posted by beaverboard at 12:20 PM on November 16
Tarkenton is certainly entitled to his opinion, and he doesn't come off as crotchety as Chuck Bednarik, although Chuck would probably let Tark join his grumpy old men's club.
But I spent a good deal of my formative years watching Tarkenton run for his life with that deer on the interstate look in his eyes, both with the Giants and the Vikings. He was not one to stand in the pocket and hold the ball until a receiver came open at the last possible moment and then make the throw, knowing he was going to get hit.
The announcers always described Tarkenton's scrambling in wholly positive terms, and made it sound as though Tarkenton was in full control of the moment on each play, which was hardly the case. They always said he was driving the defense crazy without mentioning that he was also driving his own offensive line nuts as well, trying to figure out how to block for him and keep plays alive as he roamed around as though he were playing flag football.
So I'm not entirely convinced that Tarkenton is in a legitimate position to say who is a worthy man and who ain't. Even though I largely agree with him on Favre and Cutler.
posted by beaverboard at 01:17 PM on November 15
I was thinking that might happen, except for the bad blood that Harbaugh stirred up a while back with his comments on the athletic academics at Michigan. I don't think they'd want him at this point. He done dissed the memory of the almighty Bo.
Harbaugh never misses an opportunity to speak his mind - or - can't keep from running his mouth, depending on which way you look at it.
But Ann Arbor has become accustomed to having a jerk run the football program over the last couple of years. Maybe they could stomach the idea of bringing in a different jerk if he gave them a better chance of winning 80% of their games.
posted by beaverboard at 10:15 AM on November 15
After what Stanford did to USC yesterday, Jim Harbaugh is going to be even tougher to live with now than he was before. And he already knows full well how to be insufferable.
The Cardinal going for two after a TD in the 4th quarter when they were running away with the game was bush.
I'm glad that Stanford is doing well and competitive again in that league, and I hope Harbaugh stays there a while and builds the program and maybe grows up a little bit himself along the way. If you're at or near the top of the PAC, you're going to be nationally ranked and you can stay put.
posted by beaverboard at 08:25 AM on November 15
Someday we are going to have to be able to see the film of that game.
I saw him throw a one-hitter one time, but he looked pretty straight that day.
So many amazing connections - Mazeroski was still in the lineup for the LSD game, a seeming lifetime after his Series winning shot, and Ellis was still pitching for the Pirates when they won the Series in 79.
There was just nothing ever commonplace or ordinary about Dock Ellis. All these current era clowns in all sports working so hard to be memorable and call attention to themselves in any way they can think of - they're idiot nobodies. Chest pounding, jersey tugging, screaming pretenders with felt tip pen, cell phone and one dollar bill vaudeville tricks. Self made fools.
Clean or high, Dock was a walking, talking natural happening, and he owns all the latter day suckas forever.
posted by beaverboard at 07:57 PM on November 13
Jay Cutler is looking into a trade to the Panthers.
In Carolina, no matter how many picks you throw, you'll still be their guy.
posted by beaverboard at 09:21 AM on November 13
So what was Janet Jackson pitching during the Super Bowl halftime show? Vicks Vap-O-Rub?
posted by beaverboard at 08:02 PM on November 12
Bills-Titans game a must-watch sporting event?
If you like paranormal football activity it is. Something wild and unpredictable almost always happens when those two teams get together.
posted by beaverboard at 05:50 PM on November 12
Maybe the Steelers will take a page out of the Belichick/Troy Brown playbook and use Hines Ward as a DB in a nickle or dime package. Just to cover Ocho. Best use of Ward's physical "talents" I can think of.
I wish Ocho would gain two hundred pounds and move to guard or tackle so we could rename him Soixante Neuf.
posted by beaverboard at 11:01 AM on November 12
The Washington franchise is going to be renamed the Senate Pages, and from what I hear, a few current and former members of Congress are pushing to have them take the field in lederhosen.
posted by beaverboard at 12:14 PM on November 11
The thing that would worry me would be the head hitting the field surface. The players are so much more athletic now. When they go airborne, they can't keep their head from hitting the deck when they land hard.
Wish Bill Walsh were still around. I bet he'd love to have a chance to coach a helmet-free version of football. And no doubt he'd develop the best techniques and strategies for it.
posted by beaverboard at 11:59 AM on November 11
Brady Quinn is back under center for the Browns.
Call it the Vince Young / Josh Freeman effect, perhaps.
(Honorable mention: Alex Smith)
Stick 'em in, get a win.
Or at least get better trying.
Should someone call Brodie Croyle and tell him to get ready?
posted by beaverboard at 11:48 AM on November 11
One of my favorite Bucs tales of old: when the interceptions started piling up for Testaverde, he finally came out with an explanation and told the press that he had trouble distinguishing between the colors of the uniforms of his team and the opposing team.
Vinnie! What the heck? There were only three other orange teams in the league back then. None of them in the same division, and all of them in the AFC.
Plus, he'd been togged out in orange with a white helmet his whole time at Miami, so uniform colors should have been the least of his issues when he went pro.
And then when he leaves Tampa Bay, he goes to orange (and brown) Cleveland.
I guess when Vinnie went to the Jets, his agent put language in his contract stating that he wouldn't have to suit up if they played Michigan State.
posted by beaverboard at 08:31 AM on November 10
Demo, people my age grew up in a simpler, more hopeful time I guess, without Mortal Kombat, Transformers, Darth Vader football helmet visors and mean looking unis that you can't tell if they're getting dirty during a game or not.
A belt serves two time-honored and useful functions.
I would say that it has done heroic duty as a public butt crack preventative.
My daddy would say that a good belt should be smooth so you can slip it off easily in case you have to impart some sense to a young 'un.
I can see where a belt would be a bad thing today, because we have become muffin top nation, evidently. My toppin' is mostly age and gravity-related, so I'm keeping my belt right where it is.
posted by beaverboard at 04:01 PM on November 09
I never thought the Bucs looked bad in their original unis. Maybe the helmet could have used a little redesign, but in general, they looked sharp. Obviously, some people disagree, because there has been a lot of criticism of the orange.
The thing I thought was weird was them being in the old Central Division and having to go play way up north every year. Seeing a warm weather team skating around on the frozen turf at Lambeau and Soldier Field late in the year always looked hopeless and surreal.
Good on the Bucs for bringing back the look first made famous by an 0-14 team and then getting their first win of the year.
posted by beaverboard at 03:18 PM on November 09
It would be great if a qualified female coach got a shot at coaching an NBA team.
As long as they themselves had never been coached by Laimbeer and Mahorn (just kidding).
I can think of a handful of knuckleheads on various NBA teams right now that I'd love to put on one squad and let Pat Summit go straighten 'em out. I'm guessing she would know how to do that. I know I wouldn't want to mess with her.
When she gets that look in her eyes during a game, I have to turn my head away and cut off the TV before the producer calls for a closeup shot and I get caught staring and turn into ashes.
posted by beaverboard at 12:37 PM on November 07
I wouldn't test Lincecum, I'd test Zito.
To make sure he was getting at least a dip out of the same bag as Lince.
Be like Tim. Roll up better numbers. Earn your green a bit more.
posted by beaverboard at 01:33 PM on November 06
The Malloy comments attempting to link the Yankees to larger issues are clueless and insulting.
A more accurate link would have been between the Yankees' payroll and the bailout money issued to the financial services sector.
The Yankees spend large and roll on, in step with continuing excesses and outrages at firms that accepted government funding.
There is nothing rewarding or redeeming in any of it.
The everyday people she's referring to that have to find a way to struggle on despite all odds? That's not the Yankees, for god's sake.
If anything, it's the Royals or the Pirates.
In an economic situation like the current one, anyone who draws comparisons between any aspect of MLB and the difficulties of average Americans is giving themselves a cranial colonic.
posted by beaverboard at 08:32 AM on November 05
Florida State Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews has announced his retirement.
That is most likely the beginning of the end.
The wheels on Coach Bowden's coal car should henceforth be viewed as officially greazed.
posted by beaverboard at 01:08 PM on November 04
Football being such a team sport, I mainly object to celebrations where a player is attempting to elevate himself or call attention to himself individually.
I've noticed with more frequency these days, that when a player gets in the end zone, his teammates will gather around him pretty quickly before he has a chance to get deep into a solo routine.
If they quit showing the celebrations in such prolonged, exquisite close-up detail on TV, that would help.
posted by beaverboard at 12:52 PM on November 04
With all the second guessing of Charlie Manuel's Series rotation, if the Phils can get to a game 7, there's a 50% chance of rain for Thursday. If they get a rainout, Lee can go on Friday with another day of rest.
Between Lidge's loss of magic and Hamels' mental state, there's a city-wide fingernail shortage in Philadelphia. Folks have chewed 'em down as far as they'll go.
posted by beaverboard at 07:37 AM on November 03
He had to fight for his job throughout his college career. But whenever he got on the field, all he did was win. He hasn't put on pads and a helmet in a long time and certainly isn't going to play again now that he's a successful coach. And he's not anyone's idea of a true NFL specimen by any means. But Major Applewhite has got to be a better QB than some of the stiffs that are currently suiting up around the NFL.
posted by beaverboard at 09:50 AM on November 02
After yesterday's action, Al Groh is definitely on the hot seat at Virginia, and it's not unreasonable to suggest that Rich Rodriguez is now firmly perched on a warm plank at Michigan.
With every week that goes by, the early season Boise State win over Oregon looks larger and larger. The win itself, not the post-game incident.
posted by beaverboard at 08:47 AM on November 01
I thought mullets just sort of happened over time as various people in the neighborhood who fancied themselves as budding stylists took a whack at your head o' hair.
I had no idea there was such a thing as an elective mullet.
I had no idea that Agassi had any sort of rug to begin with.
My mind is less burdened with factual effluence than I thought it was.
I am grateful.
Please tell me that there are no upper torso hair weaves on the men's tour.
Or the women's tour.
posted by beaverboard at 12:46 PM on October 31
I think the whole deal of going for two in the first quarter is a bit much to begin with.
Unless the team didn't have confidence in their kicking game, which is not unheard of at the HS level.
The play itself is not too bad from a sportsmanship standpoint. They obviously practiced it to get it to that level of execution. I think the crowd made more out of it than the team that scored did.
Bucs Bills and Browns QB's, please do not try this on Sunday.
posted by beaverboard at 07:50 PM on October 30
Lee has gotten inside the Yankees heads already, too. Girardi said something post-game like, "well, he doesn't pitch every day".
Sometimes big Game 1 moments can provide a real tone setter for a team in the playoffs. Lee might have provided those type of moments last night.
posted by beaverboard at 11:53 AM on October 29
Can the man who once Eye-Racked his way through saying "El Doo-Kway" on air a million times handle a song like Bay-Sa-Me Mucho?
Part of me wants to find out and part of me doesn't.
Watch out, McCarver haters, if this thing takes off, he'll end up doing 50 weeks a year in Vegas and Fox will hire Buck Martinez to replace him.
posted by beaverboard at 11:45 AM on October 29
I wonder if any sports consultants are doing uniform-related performance optimization studies for major US sports leagues.
Watching Sabathia pitch last night, I can't believe his uniform wasn't hindering his delivery in some way. With his pants dragging on his legs like that, he can't be achieving optimum fluidity and range of motion. As good as he is, wouldn't he be even better if he made a few changes to his togs?
Same deal goes for the excessively large, swishy basketball shorts. It's got to have an effect on the athlete one way or another. Even if you're only gaining incremental improvements or advantages, at an elite level, those increments are significant.
At some point, performance has to win out over "style" (I'll be generous and call it that).
In other sports, every aspect of the uniform's impact on performance is studied carefully.
I'm not looking to see futuristic outer space baseball uniforms, god forbid. Just smarter tailoring to start with. Sabathia looks like a teddy bear in borrowed pajamas.
Someday, a football team (Oregon, perhaps) is going to tweak the structural design of their pads and unis and start outplaying their opponents when they gain some ease of movement and ROM.
posted by beaverboard at 07:47 AM on October 29
It could always be worse, Titans fans. You could be Panthers fans. It was just announced that Delhomme would remain their starter.
posted by beaverboard at 05:27 PM on October 28
Gerald Ball wrote a piece on Young here.
posted by beaverboard at 02:17 PM on October 28
Hugh Grant is in line behind Steve Phillips.
Steve was overheard saying something about ringing a Liberated Belle from Philly that had a cr.... never mind, it's not appropriate.
But what this diamondatrix doesn't know is that Phillips can't score comp tickets any more, so he can't really get her into the games.
When she finds that out after the fact, the previously newsworthy identifying characteristics of Phillips' groin area may well undergo a significant alteration.
posted by beaverboard at 11:22 AM on October 28
Sorry, Chiefs fans, the Tony Dungy intervention office is booked full. No new patients are being seen at this time.
Due to that development, KC has decided to go to a Plan B:
Option One: have Christian Okoye mentor (or attempt to mentor) Johnson.
Option Two: have Christian Okoye reach for a two by four.
posted by beaverboard at 02:38 PM on October 27
Note to Eli Manning: better shave before your next prime time game. Trying to channel your inner Kyle Orton isn't working.
posted by beaverboard at 10:17 AM on October 26
Posting from the New England region:
What the Pats did to their opponents in 2007 was shock-and-awe-inspiring, but it was also clinical, ruthless, and joyless. It was not heart-warming and fulfilling to behold.
By comparison, what the Saints are doing to their opponents this year is just plain fun to watch. Even if fans have to suffer through watching Shockey enjoying himself.
The icing on the entertainment cake: who better to coach a team named the Saints than a guy who is the spitting image of the Saturday Night Live Church Lady?
posted by beaverboard at 10:55 AM on October 25
My version of fulfillment:
Rams back to LA
Cardinals back to St. Louis
New Browns to Arizona (becoming the...uh, Tostitos?)
Ravens back to Cleveland as old Browns
Colts back to Baltimore
Hey, what about the Indy fans and their new stadium?
Tough luck. Ask Ball State and Notre Dame to play their home games on Sundays. That's what you get for loving a team that loaded up the moving vans in the middle of the night and sneaked out of Baltimore under cover of darkness.
posted by beaverboard at 10:34 AM on October 25
Rolle is a very admirable individual.
Given what we're learning about the athletic scholastic environment at FSU, and about the academic culture there in general from T.K. on down, how a guy of Rolle's caliber even chose to set foot on that campus is not easily comprehended.
posted by beaverboard at 05:18 PM on October 24
Go Mississippi State. It is highly improbable, but still...
posted by beaverboard at 12:12 PM on October 24
If I were Commissioner Goodell looking at the Bills possible future plans and what options the ownership has been exploring, I would quickly approve the relocation of Terrell Owens to Canada.
As long as the rest of the team stayed in Buffalo.
posted by beaverboard at 12:08 PM on October 24
When I babelfished the hollered language from Tagalog to NBA Arena English, it came up as follows:
"Do fries come with that shake?"
posted by beaverboard at 04:10 PM on October 23
I need to get a coach's job application sheet from this league for Isaiah.
posted by beaverboard at 10:46 AM on October 23
Is Daniel Snyder married?
posted by beaverboard at 07:29 AM on October 23
As bperk says, Snyder has now guaranteed that no top caliber coach is going to want the Washington job. Snyder has given wide authority to previous coaches, and they couldn't get it done because the overall environment is bad. No smart coaching prospect is going to want to get involved with this franchise.
Snyder has condemned himself to interviewing leftovers and castoffs for his next hire.
Tom Cable might be available on a league supervised work-release deal next year. He wouldn't be able to work any night games though. Daytime only.
For Zorn's sake, I hope he gets a chance to land as an OC somewhere in a better environment and work his way back up to a head job from there.
posted by beaverboard at 12:59 PM on October 22
It's interesting that, rather than being touted as oncoming juggernauts prior to their arrival on the scene, this Phillie team has moved to the front of the stage and assumed excellence in conjunction with monumental collapses by the Mets. The Phillies didn't totally seize the hilltop by sheer blinding brute force - the Mets did their fair share of yielding ground and giving way.
But now that they're at the summit, these Phillies obviously know what to do and how to do it.
I think Phil Sheridan has gotten a bit overexcited about all this. I would take exception to his "best town team of all time" claim.
The 1983 Sixers were a force of nature. Sure, they only won one title and should have won more, but what they did to people that one year in terms of sheer dominance is on a par with teams like the 1985 Bears.
Also, Wilt's 1965 Sixers probably deserve some credit as well.
So do the 1960 Eagles.
posted by beaverboard at 12:48 PM on October 22
Does all this mean that something similar is going to happen to Matt Millen?
posted by beaverboard at 03:48 PM on October 21
Steve's just the wrong guy for this gal. She's everything an Ice Road Trucker could want in a woman.
"Hey Jim, how the hell are you keeping your windshield de-iced up there? My defroster unit is about ready to pack it in."
"Pete, you ought to hear what I've got coming over the radio from back at the house".
posted by beaverboard at 02:18 PM on October 21
I've never liked A-Rod (and especially not his representative), but his sweated up and dirty uniform from last night's game -- after what he did, I don't know that I would let anyone wash that thing.
posted by beaverboard at 09:10 AM on October 21
I had to stop listening to the TBS broadcast of the Dodgers - Phillies game. I can't take it anymore.
Ron Darling sounds like the love child of Bill Walton and Inspector Clouseau and Buck Martinez sounds like a farting cow playing a mail order banjo.
posted by beaverboard at 07:21 AM on October 19
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
I don't know what Gruden's getting paid to be in the booth, but if he's invested wisely from prior salary years, his airtime pay is likely more than enough to get by on, and he's enjoying himself and having a ton of fun. And does not have to work the insane hours that he did when he was in coaching.
Plus, Gruden already knows what it's like to come up short in the snow, from having gotten jobbed in the Raiders - Pats playoff game. Once is enough.