Recent Comments by rcade

NBA Pickem Week 20: Crunch Time Edition

My picks:

Clippers by 4
Nuggets by 9
Bucks by 10 (slam dunk)
Pacers by 4
Mavericks by 6 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 13
Bucks by 5

The Kings don't have a beaming record at home this season. Didn't expect that.

posted by rcade at 11:21 AM on March 27, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 20: Crunch Time Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 11:16 AM on March 27, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Clay Travis and a bunch of other dopes think Mulkey is doing something new here.

Attacking the media ahead of the publication of a negative story is as old as the printing press. She dodged the Washington Post for two years and now wants to bitch because she got a dozen questions with two days to respond?

Looking forward to her date with accountability.

posted by rcade at 03:47 PM on March 25, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 19: Little Penny Edition

My picks:

Knicks by 7
Clippers by 12 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 10 (slam dunk)
Kings by 5
Celtics by 8 (slam dunk)
Mavericks by 3
Lakers by 3
Bucks by 9 (slam dunk)
Mavericks by 5
Heat by 8
Warriors by 9 (slam dunk)

Going with a Mavericks upset over the Thunder even though Okie from Muscogee is still a banger.

posted by rcade at 12:25 PM on March 12, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 19: Little Penny Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 11:58 AM on March 12, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 18: Don't Miss Tipoff Edition

Might want to check the URL for the current standings link

Fixed.

posted by rcade at 11:18 AM on March 06, 2024

Russell Wilson to be released by Denver Broncos

I thought Sean Payton would turn Russell Wilson into another Drew Brees. Instead I find myself wondering if Wilson will start anywhere in 2024.

Elway turning down that offer is amazing. How could he not see the value of an NFL ownership stake that huge?

posted by rcade at 12:27 PM on March 05, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 18: Don't Miss Tipoff Edition

My picks:

Celtics by 9
Nuggets by 8
Rockets by 6
Bucks by 10 (slam dunk)
Mavericks by 8
Nuggets by 3
Cavaliers by 7
Bucks by 7 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 13 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 5
Lakers by 5

The Rockets last five games: Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Phoenix.

posted by rcade at 11:57 AM on March 05, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 18: Don't Miss Tipoff Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 11:47 AM on March 05, 2024

Max Strus Sinks Mavericks with 59-Foot Buzzer Beater

That was a crusher but I keep watching the replays because it was also, in point of fact, objectively awesome. The last 5 minutes of the game are worth seeing again.

posted by rcade at 12:14 PM on March 01, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

ESPN wrote a magnum opus on that Clippers redesign. A lot of it looks good but I sideeye the excitement over the new L with the A sitting in its lap.

posted by rcade at 09:56 PM on February 26, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 17: Enough Basketball For You Edition

My picks:

Celtics by 20 (slam dunk)
Thunder by 9 (slam dunk)
Pacers by 7
Clippers by 14 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 3
Heat by 7
Celtics by 8 (slam dunk)
Bulls by 5
Nuggets by 8
Mavericks by 14 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 11 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 6
Thunder by 6

We love that ba .... sket .... ball.

posted by rcade at 09:52 PM on February 26, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 17: Enough Basketball For You Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 09:36 PM on February 26, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

American Ice Football.

posted by rcade at 01:13 PM on February 25, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

It is a shame to see the ACC looking like the next Pac-12. I watched the final football games of that conference in disbelief.

The ESPN/Fox/SEC/Big 10 fatberg are conspiring to turn college football into two superconferences that are like the NFL.

posted by rcade at 01:54 PM on February 20, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

It's not easily broken, but after just one month in litigation the ACC is already talking about a buyout. FSU has a lot of good vectors of attack where the ACC decided things to protect itself against the interest of its member schools.

One is adding SMU, Cal and Stanford, which was done to ensure the ACC didn't fall under 15 schools and trigger a clause where ESPN could renegotiate the TV deal. These schools bring down the average TV viewership of ACC games, which won't help the big schools get closer to financial parity with the SEC and Big 10.

Another is the former ACC commissioner selling the TV rights in a way that gave ESPN subsidiary rights for nothing that it could resell to Raycom Sports. His son was a top executive trying to save that network at the time.

I talk to SMU fans who are telling themselves FSU won't be able to leave short of paying over $500 million. It seems like wishful thinking to me. Every time a big football power decides to leave a conference it succeeds.

posted by rcade at 12:59 PM on February 20, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

The original grant of rights that was supposed to be an ironclad lock against schools leaving the ACC is only four pages long:

theathletic.com

I've signed longer contracts to write a book.

posted by rcade at 10:28 AM on February 20, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Here's the winning play calls from Super Bowl broadcasts.

How did some announcers not know that overtime would've extended to a second quarter? On the Chris Fowler call they talked about the Chiefs having two timeouts to use in the final 10 seconds.

posted by rcade at 08:44 AM on February 14, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 16: Ufez Gets Results Edition

Current Standings

My picks:

Magic by 3
Suns by 10 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 21 (slam dunk)
Clippers by 5
Bucks by 9 (slam dunk)

posted by rcade at 03:22 PM on February 12, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Super Bowl 0x3A

So, on the tiebreaker. Does this mean we might not have a winner for quite a while?

If he's a Joe Alwyn, yes. If he's a Joe Jonas, no.

I've come up with tiebreakers in the past that were a bad idea, including one that created an unresolvable logical paradox.

I feel that this one honors the 2023 season by focusing on what matters most.

posted by rcade at 08:30 PM on February 10, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Super Bowl 0x3A

My picks:

Chiefs by 3 (lock)
Passer: Patrick Mahomes
Rusher: Christian McCaffery
Receiver: Travis Kelce
Player with interception: Deon Bush
Player with sack: Nick Bosa
Player with first turnover: Patrick Mahomes
Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Tiebreaker: 04/24/2024

The Chiefs will draft their tight end of the future on the same day that Travis becomes the tight end of Taylor's past.

posted by rcade at 09:22 PM on February 09, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 15: Blown Locks Edition

Revised picks:

Mavericks by 9 (slam dunk)

posted by rcade at 12:34 PM on February 06, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 15: Blown Locks Edition

Clearly it should. We will put your influence to the test.

Have fun at the game!

posted by rcade at 12:34 PM on February 06, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Just catching up to this news. Sorry to hear it -- a great member and friend here. His user page has his contributions. I think he was the reason we have an NHL Playoff Pickem.

posted by rcade at 11:29 AM on February 06, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 15: Blown Locks Edition

My picks:

Mavericks by 3
Suns by 8
Warriors by 4
Clippers by 10 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 9 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 3
Warriors by 5
Celtics by 14 (slam dunk)

Locking Dallas to take home an L from New York hurts. Why did it have to be this way, Jalen?

posted by rcade at 09:58 AM on February 06, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 15: Blown Locks Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 09:43 AM on February 06, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 14: Luka Puts Up 73 Edition

My picks:

Celtics by 13 (slam dunk)
76ers by 3
Suns by 10 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 12 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 13 (slam dunk)
76ers by 4
Knicks by 12 (slam dunk)
Clippers by 9 (slam dunk)

posted by rcade at 04:30 PM on January 29, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 14: Luka Puts Up 73 Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 04:02 PM on January 29, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

I've fixed the prop scores for the NFL Playoff Pickem divisional round. I didn't see Will Anderson Jr. credited with a sack in the ESPN box score. Here are the updated standings before the championship games are added.

posted by rcade at 03:02 PM on January 29, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Conference Championship Round

Some players aren't being credited for the Aidan Hutchinson sack. Will fix.

posted by rcade at 08:27 AM on January 27, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Conference Championship Round

My picks:

Ravens by 3 (lock)
Lions by 3 (lock)
Passer: Jared Goff
Rusher: Isaiah Pacheco
Receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Player with interception: Geno Stone

Rooting for the city of Detroit.

posted by rcade at 08:26 AM on January 27, 2024

Jurgen Klopp Leaving Liverpool

I'm going to miss Klopp in the Premier League. He had to wait around to do a live spot with Rebecca Lowe and the rest after the season opener, then was still in good spirits cracking jokes and answering questions seriously.

His exhaustion makes me wonder what a coach at his level could do differently to avoid it. The EPL asks a lot.

posted by rcade at 07:46 AM on January 27, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 13: Saturday Tripleheader Edition

My picks:

Mavericks by 6
Thunder by 16 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 13 (slam dunk)
Kings by 9
Knicks by 4
Nuggets by 3
Lakers by 8

posted by rcade at 10:04 AM on January 24, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 13: Saturday Tripleheader Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 10:01 AM on January 24, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

The NBA Pickem will be posted tonight with games starting tomorrow.

posted by rcade at 02:08 PM on January 23, 2024

Bills Lose Another Epic to the Chiefs

These are the best playoff games. Last night made me wish the NFL Playoffs ignored conferences so those teams could meet in the Super Bowl.

Blaming Tyler Bass is difficult when you don't believe Mahomes could've been stopped from moving Kansas City into field goal range in the waning moments.

posted by rcade at 03:11 PM on January 22, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Divisional Round

My picks:

Ravens by 7 (lock)
49ers by 10 (lock)
Lions by 3
Bills by 3
Passer: Brock Purdy
Rusher: Christian McCaffery
Receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Player with interception: Calijah Kancey

posted by rcade at 10:18 AM on January 19, 2024

NFL Playoff Pickem: Divisional Round

Current Standings

The props are missing from the standings (and possibly the score). I'm working on that.

posted by rcade at 10:16 AM on January 19, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 12: Jimmy Buckets Edition

Revised picks:

Warriors by 7

posted by rcade at 09:57 AM on January 16, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 12: Jimmy Buckets Edition

My picks:

76ers by 6
Clippers by 10 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 3
Mavericks by 8
Raptors by 7
Timberwolves by 25 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 9

Does it seem to anyone else that home court advantage matters a lot more than in the past? Even top teams on the road are often expected to lose.

posted by rcade at 09:56 AM on January 16, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 12: Jimmy Buckets Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 09:50 AM on January 16, 2024

Pat McAfee: MLK Day Reminds Me I Was Cancelled

The only clutter done well in the sportstalk world is Men With Blazers. Especially that sweet George Michael Sports Machine neon sign.

posted by rcade at 09:42 AM on January 16, 2024

Pat McAfee: MLK Day Reminds Me I Was Cancelled

First he attacks a longtime ESPN exec and now this.

I'll be surprised if McAfee is still on ESPN a year from now. His early ratings aren't blowing the doors off the network and he seems too dumb to play the political game in Bristol.

posted by rcade at 04:20 PM on January 15, 2024

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

I've opened the Bills/Steelers game for edits since it still had the old start date and time.

I'm getting murdered out there. Three out of four misses.

posted by rcade at 10:44 AM on January 15, 2024

SportsFilter NFL Pickem Champion: Truthhurts

Congrats, Truth!

posted by rcade at 04:48 PM on January 12, 2024

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

I'm rooting for the Lions too. They've been in the postseason wilderness for so long!

posted by rcade at 04:02 PM on January 12, 2024

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

Working on it now.

posted by rcade at 12:34 PM on January 12, 2024

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

My picks:

Browns by 7
Dolphins by 3
Bills by 10 (lock)
Cowboys by 10 (lock)
Lions by 3
Eagles by 3
Passer: Dak Prescott
Rusher: James Cook
Receiver: CeeDee Lamb
Player with interception: DaRon Bland

Picking Miami to beat Kansas City at Arrowhead is crazy. But it's so crazy it just might work.

(I love it when people say that on TV shows.)

posted by rcade at 11:45 AM on January 12, 2024

Der Kaiser ist tot

I hadn't heard about the slap in the face that made Beckenbauer decide to join Bayern Munich instead of 1960 Munchen. Wild.

posted by rcade at 06:43 PM on January 09, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 11: MLK Day Edition

My picks:

Pelicans by 5
Nuggets by 13 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 8
Suns by 2
76ers by 14 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 3
Hawks by 10 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 30 (slam dunk)

Wanted to pick the Pelicans to steal one from the Nuggets on the road. Might still do that later.

That Warriors/Grizzlies matchup on TNT was a lot more exciting a few days ago.

posted by rcade at 01:09 PM on January 09, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 11: MLK Day Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 01:02 PM on January 09, 2024

NFL Pickem Week 18: All the Marbles Edition

My picks:

Bengals by 7 (lock)
Lions by 3 (lock)
Packers by 3 (lock)
Jaguars by 14 (lock)
Colts by 3 (lock)
Raiders by 7 (lock)
Dolphins by 3 (lock)
Patriots by 3 (lock)
Saints by 3 (lock)
Eagles by 10 (lock)
Seahawks by 7 (lock)
Chargers by 3 (lock)
49ers by 7 (lock)
Cowboys by 17 (lock)
Buccaneers by 14 (lock)
Steelers by 7 (lock)

If all three Florida teams win, they win their divisions and host a playoff game. That's never happened before.

posted by rcade at 10:05 PM on January 05, 2024

NFL Pickem Week 18: All the Marbles Edition

Current Standings

The games Sunday are not in chronological order. The NFL moved some of their times around.

posted by rcade at 09:58 PM on January 05, 2024

Alternative Sports Awards 2023

These are fantastic. I now know that "wireless" is an adjective that can modify "anal beads."

The dog stealing the ball in Mexico and the Spurs kid are my favorites.

posted by rcade at 01:00 PM on January 03, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 10: American Broadcasting Corporation Edition

My picks:

Knicks by 12 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 3
Bucks by 31 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 7
76ers by 13 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 2

I wonder if anyone keeps track of how NBA teams play on national games. I have a hunch that LeBron and the Lakers will play better tonight because it's on ESPN than they would otherwise.

posted by rcade at 12:27 PM on January 03, 2024

NBA Pickem Week 10: American Broadcasting Corporation Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 12:23 PM on January 03, 2024

NFL Pickem Week 17: Chief Concerns Edition

My picks:

Browns by 13 (lock)
Cowboys by 7 (lock)
Bills by 14 (lock)
Falcons by 3 (lock)
Raiders by 7 (lock)
Rams by 7 (lock)
Eagles by 17 (lock)
Saints by 3 (lock)
49ers by 17 (lock)
Jaguars by 14 (lock)
Ravens by 3 (lock)
Texans by 10 (lock)
Seahawks by 3 (lock)
Broncos by 7 (lock)
Chiefs by 3 (lock)
Packers by 3 (lock)

So many backup quarterbacks playing! Some are even backups of backups.

posted by rcade at 10:34 AM on December 28, 2023

NFL Pickem Week 17: Chief Concerns Edition

Current Standings

posted by rcade at 10:28 AM on December 28, 2023

NBA Pickem Week 9: NBA TV Edition

My picks:

Rockets by 7
Clippers by 27 (slam dunk)
Raptors by 3
Celtics by 30 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 3
Bucks by 9 (slam dunk)
Grizzlies by 3

The ESPN Matchup Predictor for Pistons/Celtics has the largest win prediction for one team I've ever seen: Boston 97%.

posted by rcade at 09:38 AM on December 26, 2023

NBA Pickem Week 9: NBA TV Edition

Current Standings

I completely overlooked the Christmas Day slate in last week's pickem schedule. Sorry for that lump of coal.

posted by rcade at 09:22 AM on December 26, 2023