- 06:11 PM
- 11/21/09
Larry Johnson will be released today.
posted by cl at 11:07 AM on November 09
Some drivers have this false belief that cyclists have absolutely no right to the road. It comes from a lack of driver education, is exaggerated with less experience among cyclists, and is supported by a generally poor infrastructure that all but ignores the fact that cyclists not only can but will utilize the roads. Even if these drivers are in the minority, the fact that so many do believe it and tend to be vocal about it can leave cyclists with a palpable feeling of being under constant attack. Even a simple honk of the horn can be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as a signal that the driver wants you off HIS road, to paraphrase steelergirl. It is mostly in response to this, I believe, that so many cyclists feel that the rules of traffic do not apply to them, because hell, it's war out there and the other guys have the weapons.
I guess I would urge the reasonable majority of drivers among us to consider what cyclists face when they encounter those less-reasonable drivers. Consider that cyclists get honks (and worse) even when they are doing everything right.
And fraze, I humbly submit that if you frequently get middle fingers, then you are in fact causing cyclists to feel threatened.
posted by cl at 04:39 PM on November 04
That infighting report is being debunked by Myers and witnesses.
posted by cl at 02:01 PM on November 03
Plus, I tend to think that an umpire shouldn't use the players' reactions as the basis for a call.
posted by cl at 02:05 PM on October 30
Maybe he knew it was close enough to go either way, so he tried to throw to second to get the lead runner just in case it was ruled a trap. As long as he doesn't throw the ball away (which is what he almost did), the double play is still on if it's ruled a catch, so why not cover all his bases?
Of course, due to the bad throw, he wouldn't have gotten even one out if it were ruled a trap. He should have kept running to the bag for the guaranteed out regardless of the catch/trap call.
posted by cl at 02:01 PM on October 30
I think Howard got it on the hop, but even in the replay it's hard to tell with total confidence. Could it have hopped on leather, rather than dirt? I think so. If the NFL's replay standards were applied, I'm not sure that the cameras showed irrefutable evidence that the call on the field was wrong.
posted by cl at 01:44 PM on October 30
Uhh, Yankee Stadium v1.5b is the most famous bandbox in baseball. The bandbox in Philly played closer to neutral than any other stadium in 2009, ranking 16th in HR factor. I'm just sayin'.
posted by cl at 11:21 AM on October 30
I'm no fan of Deadspin, but getting Sean Salisbury off the air was a public service.
posted by cl at 11:00 PM on October 25
That could have easily been written about the Phillies.
posted by cl at 11:41 AM on October 21
I take it your friend is not much of a bowler.
posted by cl at 11:45 PM on October 14
Yeah, I happened to catch most of John Stockton's speech and was impressed with how genuinely gracious and down to earth he seems. He spoke individually about each of his children and pointed out each one's strongest personality characteristic and what they bring to the family. It was nice. I'm glad I missed the finale.
posted by cl at 05:50 PM on September 12
I feel for the remaining few Pirates fans. I really am optimistic though. They did what was necessary all along in trading away almost every veteran, even the locally popular ones, while getting in return oodles of young talent. There were no senseless trades or signings a la Derek Bell and Matt Morris. If ever there was a franchise that needed 100% commitment to rebuilding, it is this one, and they've finally got that. Yinzers are understandably sick of hearing that word, but the Pirates in the past have only paid lip service to rebuilding, using it as an excuse for sucking. Now, finally, they are putting it in action. Now it just has to work...
posted by cl at 12:04 PM on September 08
Should be a fun match to watch against Wozniacki.
posted by cl at 10:37 PM on September 07
I think that was a double play, where he fielded a bunt and tagged the batter and a runner trying to score. Sounds like a squeeze.
posted by cl at 01:43 PM on August 25
Flyers over Sixers, recently at least. That's a fair number, probably close to half of the cities that have both NHL and NBA teams.
posted by cl at 01:38 PM on August 25
It's funny is how truly unassisted this one was. Bruntlett booted the two previous ground balls, resulting in the ill-fated baserunners. He also had three hits in the game, and had a fourth hit overturned (correctly) to end the top of the 9th.
posted by cl at 01:13 AM on August 24
Hey, over there! Sports!
Apologies for the provocative comment.
posted by cl at 10:21 PM on August 14
Does the animal know of this huge difference, or care?
posted by cl at 09:22 PM on August 14
Well this puts that vomit and pee in a new light, doesn't it?
posted by cl at 07:28 PM on August 14
Here is the scenario, McNabb has a couple of crappy games, the fans start yelling for Vick. Here is another, McNabb gets hurt AGAIN, out for one or two games and Vick comes in and looks good. BYE BYE McNabb. In either scenario I fail to see how this does not undermine McNabbs play, confidence or morale.
But here's the thing: all of this has happened repeatedly in the recent past, but McNabb and the Eagles are still going strong. A certain idiotic and vocal subset of Eagle fans have been calling for McNabb's backup, whomever it is at the time, since the Super Bowl loss. When McNabb tore his ACL in 2006 and Garcia lit it up, plenty of fans wanted the team to resign him. Fortunately, the front office has pretty much ignored the fans' idiocy 100%.
Sure he says he supported the aquisition of Vick but frankly what else can he say.
He didn't only say he supported it, he said basically that he requested it. It was not a boilerplate "I'll support X if it's good for the team" kind of response.
There is very long history of Philly not expressing full confidence in McNabb's security as the starter.
Fans, yes. Team, no.
He has been pulled before for very little.
He was benched once, last year, after the horrible tie in Cincy and looking bad in the subsequent game in Baltimore. I mean c'mon, Reid has shown pretty conclusively that McNabb has nothing to worry about as long as he's able to play. Reid's ass has been on the fire as long as McNabb's, so it's not like he's sensitive to fan criticism either.
McNabb has had a lot of practice putting on a happy face while inside he must be really pissed and upset.
Psychoanalysis from afar.
posted by cl at 04:47 PM on August 14
By McNabb's account, he's the one who lobbied for Vick to join the team. He's known Vick since he was a senior in high school and says he's been a mentor to him. Say what you will about how Eagles fans treat their perennial playoff quarterback, but I don't see any scenario where Vick threatens to start while McNabb is able to play. But don't let any of that get in the way of a good ol' media-generated controversy.
posted by cl at 11:57 AM on August 14
You know who's second in line (behind Shane) for an apology from this jagoff? The fall guy. This guy not only let him take the hit and get thrown out, but actively pointed him out to Cubs security. You know, the "just an impulse" excuse is almost believable, but a respectable human being would have done the right thing when the poor sap next to him was being dragged off.
posted by cl at 09:31 AM on August 14
Did anyone see this coming? My mind had not even explored the possibility that Vick would join my Eagles...
posted by cl at 09:26 PM on August 13
And the advertisers rejoice!
posted by cl at 10:28 AM on July 27
Cadel Evans, one racer who rode by after the accident, tweeted thusly.
posted by cl at 02:16 AM on July 19
It seems to me that there should be someone on each ballclub who can check as whether or not a prescribed medication is OK for a player to take. It seems that the ballplayers are not "smart" enough to figure it out.
There are, reeserl: team doctors. The players are not expected to determine what's in their medications and supplements. All they need to do is pick up a freaking phone and ask about it. In Manny's case, that was a $7 million phone call, which is why I'm not inclined to believe his excuse.
posted by cl at 02:22 PM on May 07
In 1988, I got Billy's autograph outside Memorial Stadium after a tough loss to the Twins. Billy had tripled and driven in a run from the 9 spot. Cal had gone 0-4. A small group formed, and some guy asked him where his brother was. I don't remember Billy's exact phrasing, but he sure did include at least one of the words inscribed on his infamous bat.
posted by cl at 01:33 PM on December 18
I can't even put into words how much we want this, beaverboard. Have a look on YouTube or Flickr for how happy this city was when we won the NL last week.
posted by cl at 11:50 AM on October 22
The first major league game I ever attended happened to be Biggio's 15th as a pro, so I've always liked him for that silly reason. It's amazing that he was able to play with oldies like Terry Puhl, Bill Doran, and Buddy Bell (whose son, he outlasted), and fresh faces like Hunter Pence.
posted by cl at 12:03 PM on February 26
I would love to see the same prank played on Milton Bradley.
posted by cl at 11:22 PM on February 19
The look on Kendrick's face while sitting in Manuel's office is pure gold. Manuel played it well, as did Amaro and his agent. Myers and Burrell though, horrible actors.
posted by cl at 02:47 PM on February 19
If he'd have said, "Fuck _____'s," refering inappropriately to any race, this entire thread would have had to be shut down... I'd be offended at the hypothetical person's misuse of the apostrophe, that's for sure. I don't really get what disrespecting a historical individual has to do with disrespecting an entire ethnic group. As for Tiger Woods being more respected than Jesus (this is getting pretty ridiculous), I would just say that Tiger's PR people must know better than to do all sorts of heinous things in his name.
posted by cl at 12:07 PM on January 29
...goes to show what a high-opinion sports tends to have of itself in relation to the universe. If you want to talk about an entity with a high opinion of itself, look no further than the church.
posted by cl at 11:55 AM on January 29
Mattingly was great for a short period of time. He didn't have a really good season after 1989. Considering that he wasn't a full-timer until 1984, that's just not a long enough streak of dominance for the HoF.
posted by cl at 02:48 PM on January 09
Correct, l_b_b, and that is one of the reasons you wouldn't find a steak on my plate. (Just so you don't think I'm being a total hypocrite.)
posted by cl at 06:45 PM on December 11
Key difference between dog fighting and UFC: consent. Secondary but also important difference: rewards for the fighters.
posted by cl at 04:28 PM on December 11
this country doesn't care about human beings much less animals ... sink or swim ... you're on your own ... What's your point? The dogs that Vick killed "sank" and it sucked to be them? Thanks for the insight. p.s. ... hampton, VA is rough ... Dog fighting isn't problem #1. Granted, but irrelevant. This was federal case, meaning little to no Hampton, VA resources were used in the prosecution (and besides, Vick grew up in nearby Newport News, and the house was in Smithfield). Hampton Roads, like so many American cities, has deep rooted crime problems. No doubt, it has bigger issues than Michael Vick. But none of that has anything to do with the fact that Michael Vick ran a dog fighting ring, which a great many people consider a pretty inhumane business, and that he did so in a place with laws that forbid such things. Sucks to be him.
posted by cl at 11:13 PM on December 10
I disagree, chico. This is a step towards closure -- whatever form that happens to take.
posted by cl at 05:48 PM on November 15
If the series had been more exciting, I imagine FOX would have held off on the announcement. Can't imagine that at all. I'm just surprised that FOX managed to fit the A-Rod announcement in between its exhaustive coverage of a fast food promotion and reminding us about a car company's love affair with the game.
posted by cl at 02:46 PM on October 30
... and now for 11 months of Tim McCarver detox.
posted by cl at 11:29 PM on October 28
The timing of this announcement -- during the 8th inning of the would-be World Series finale -- is pretty ridiculous. And to FOX for interrupting game coverage for a good 5 minutes of Ken Rosenthal: Fuck you.
posted by cl at 11:25 PM on October 28
jg - It's in the original SF Chronicle article too.
Two of Byrd's prescriptions for growth hormones were not written by a physician, according to a law enforcement source. Instead, the prescriptions were written by a Florida dentist, said the source, who asked not to be quoted by name because he was not authorized to comment. The dentist's license was suspended in 2003 for fraud and incompetence, state records show.
posted by cl at 06:26 PM on October 21
bofdtrain - He bought 6 boxes of HGH one week before MLB banned it. Maybe he decided to go crazy with the needles that week. Is it possible to overdose on this stuff? Or maybe he just bought it for a friend? While I agree with holden that the timing of these stories is incredibly suspect, I am amazed at how many people are so quick to trip over themselves coming to the defense of these guys. How long does this list of outed players have to get for some of you to start believing that, yes, plenty of athletes inject themselves with plenty of banned substances? Not that I really care if Paul Byrd, or anyone else, uses HGH.
posted by cl at 01:51 PM on October 21
Isn't it just a little bit hard to believe that a legitimate doctor would be OK with a patient getting shipments of vials and syringes from an illegal anti-aging clinic in Florida? I can't imagine such a prescription. That Byrd did not hide his activities seems more an indicator of his intelligence. He should have asked McGwire how well that excuse worked.
posted by cl at 11:58 AM on October 21
As good as Holliday was yesterday, let's not forget that Rollins came up huge in his team's final game as well. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, an RBI. His hit in the first inning, followed by steals of both second and third, put that first run on the board. His 20th triple came in his final at-bat -- a record-setting 716th of the season -- and the RBI on the play made it a 4-run game, sealing the victory and the Phillies playoff berth. Also: no totally awful plays in the field! I could entertain the idea that Holliday had the better year, but not because of game 163. Rollins' 162nd beat it.
posted by cl at 05:24 PM on October 02
brickman - That's really what Winters said, says Bradley.
posted by cl at 10:09 AM on September 27
From what I gather, he called him a "fucking piece of shit."
posted by cl at 04:56 PM on September 26
I don't know about retiring Ruth's "3" across baseball, but I think Robinson's "42" should be retired across not only baseball, but all American sports. That's how important he was.
posted by cl at 04:10 PM on July 23
Ruth also rarely faced Latino pitchers, and of course, never faced a black pitcher. He rarely if ever had to hit a slider, sinker, split-finger fastball, cut fastball, or forkball. He got to hit tired starting pitchers in the later innings rather than fresh late-inning specialists. There are so many ways that Ruth's game was different. It's a big old cherry pick to say he would have hit a thousand if X and Y, while failing to recognize that he might have only hit 500 if A and B. Edit: I missed it the first time reading, but Jenkinson does address that:
"Listen, I can't prove that Babe did not play in conditions that were not more benign as the current player does. I can only invite the thought. But if we're talking about who hit the ball harder and farther [in history] more often, there is no question who that was. It's obvious."
posted by cl at 01:49 PM on July 23
As for this "Bad publicity to the league" thing, I don't see an end to that. Goodell would have to start suspending two or three players a week. ... Which is, of course, Goodell's own damn fault. He set the precedent.
posted by cl at 09:38 AM on July 20
50 homers in two consecutive years, you mean, for a total of 100 in 2*162=324 games? Yep, that's what Howard has done.
posted by cl at 12:29 PM on June 28
Good story, but it's from last year. This year, he was picked up by the Reds in the rule 5 draft, which is interesting because it means they're going to try to keep him on the 40-man roster all year. I wish him luck.
posted by cl at 01:08 PM on February 23
And predictably, there's some controversy to go with it. Ugh.
posted by cl at 01:25 AM on January 27
Whatever happened to kicking someone's ass in the locker room? It's been tried.
posted by cl at 01:13 PM on January 24
"The bottle's label concealed a seam that separated it into halves. The top and bottom portions held clear liquid, while the suspicious substance was found in a middle compartment, according to a police description." And from which half did this middle compartment come? Thirds, people. Thirds! - Rocco Qatar Who'd a thunk a guy like Rocco Qatar would be so anal retentive?
posted by cl at 03:39 PM on January 18
No need for that, rcade. I think frazer has erected his very own Judith Light monument.
posted by cl at 03:50 PM on January 13
The bottom line is, it is what it is. End of story. PERIOD.
posted by cl at 06:13 PM on January 02
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
It's gone extra-huddle.