- 07:29 PM
- 11/21/09
Saw this article the other day and just shook my head. How does anyone squander $110 million dollars? Then I read the comments made by his mother.
posted by MW12 at 07:35 PM on October 28
Also interesting, McGuire's lifetime batting average is exactly the same as the Cards team average in 2009 at .263. See here
So what exactly makes this an upgrade for the team?
posted by MW12 at 07:45 PM on October 26
At the end of McGwire's career, he was an all or nothing pull hitter. McRae struck out less than half as much (779 vs 1596) as McGwire while playing 100+ more games. That stat alone is the smart, patient hitter that I would want to employ for my teams instruction.
This. Which begs the question in my mind, do the Cards only care about the long ball (since after all, chicks dig it!), or is LaRussa doing this more as a publicity stunt/bid to help McGuire attract renewed interest in an effort to get him into the Hall of Fame.
Granted, after the Congress debacle McGwire slid under a rock and failed to appear anywhere but whatever took place before MLB instituted a drug policy should stay in the past so that we can move forward.
This too. Course that means Bonds is a sure thing first ballot Hall of Famer also, right?
But what's most interesting to me is the part of the article which noted that Connie Mack had a career losing percentage. (3731 wins, 3948 losses) I did not know this!
That and the fact that some of our premier SpoFi experts are also big Hugh Grant fans! ;-)
posted by MW12 at 07:32 PM on October 26
It's easier to make all those consecutive starts when you lie on the injury report and play to the detriment of your team.
Since when does the quarterback write the injury report, not to mention have final say over both the head coach and GM?
All the hating is getting old. Favre has proven he can still play. He's proven his holdout has not been a detriment to the team. And to call attention to stats like Favre's playoff record since 1998 is all well and good but when he's killing himself for your team people tend to think differently (scroll down to comment number eight, cjets).
Why all the Favre hate.
I can only speak for myself. I don't hate him.
Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, pot.
posted by MW12 at 07:39 PM on September 28
I would think that some sort of equal punishment is in order.
Completely agreed. I think the teacher should have to wear a Yankees jersey for at least one full day. That is, after serving a brief suspension.
posted by MW12 at 09:59 AM on September 27
Facts: Man brings illegal handgun to a nightclub. Man doesn't have safety on said handgun, nor is it holstered or otherwise secured. Man shoots someone with said handgun.
Sure the person the dumbass shot was himself. Poetic justice. Doesn't change the facts.
20 months is a steep penalty? I don't agree.
Anytime a person takes a loaded gun out in public, the message he is sending is he is prepared to use deadly force. And when he fires said gun - accidentally or on purpose - he should be prepared to accept the consequences of his actions.
Fortunately for him, Plaxico had the good sense (or paid people with the good sense) to do just that. Otherwise he would have received a longer sentence, which would have been equally well deserved.
posted by MW12 at 09:13 PM on September 22
What dviking said. And I'm neither a Vikes fan nor a steadfast Favre fan. But the bottom line is the O line seems to be doing their job just fine (which was my point), and Favre's holdout doesn't preclude him from knowing the Vikes playbook.
How many points will it cost them in the first month? Heck it could cost them hundreds of points over the course of the season, but as long as they outscore their opponents by a grand total of 16 they have the chance to run the table, whether those plays are drawn up on Favre's hand or otherwise.
posted by MW12 at 07:46 PM on September 22
As I recall he very narrowly missed someone else. 20 months seems steep for stupidity, but an involuntary/ criminally negligent manslaughter conviction could have been a whole lot worse.
Why was he carrying a loaded gun in his waist band to begin with? To fend off the ladies at the club?
posted by MW12 at 07:19 PM on September 22
I disagree that he owes anything to others beyond being the best he can be on game day. 271 consecutive starts in the NFL and playing at a high level at age 40 should allow him some leeway in how he chooses to get ready for the season. Just like any employee negotiating an employment contract he has the right to state his terms and conditions as to what he will and won't do for the paycheck. Potential employers can either accept, pass or try to negotiate the points they feel are important. If some of the other players can't understand why after 20 years in the league, 271 consecutive starts, a hall of fame career, almost every passing record, and Super Bowls, he might have earned the right to skip some training camp, well then they are just unreasonable.
For sake of devil's advocacy, I'm going to go ahead and agree with this. I've been on the fence about Favre's on again off again bull, but this rings true to me. It's like the sign on wall in the Pat's clubhouse says (recently stolen and repeated by Josh McDaniels and the Broncos): "Do your job." It may be a team game but it's the responsibility of each individual to do his job to the best of his ability. So if the members of the team have the skills, the stamina, the knowledge, and the discipline, then it shouldn't matter if Favre shows up weeks late. They may have a few timing issues to work through but professionals at this level should become competitive quickly.
That being the case, Favre deserves all the credit he gets, with no strings attached IMO. And to the comparison w Cal Ripkin, I seem to recall games where Cal started then came out quickly at the streak dragged on, signifying the start was little more than a symbolic gesture. Whereas Favre continues to play until he is dragged off the field, every down of every game.
posted by MW12 at 08:30 PM on September 21
First Celebrity Apprentice, now MMA. Perhaps he's having financial troubles...?
posted by MW12 at 04:54 PM on September 21
Pats/Bills game over. 25, 24 Pats.
Moral of the story: losers will always find a way.
posted by MW12 at 10:15 PM on September 14
As a primary offender in the Serena debacle (with respect to SpoFi), I apologize and am with you, BoKnows.
Saw this headline earlier today and was most impressed/intrigued. Ichiro is one of the most under appreciated players in the game IMO. Not sure if it's because he was already a vet when he joined the MLB, whether there is a hint of racism involved being the first superstar Asian player in the MLB, or the fact that he doesn't play in New York or Boston, but he has never received his due.
I too wonder about the lack of immediate accolades on SpoFi.
posted by MW12 at 09:07 PM on September 14
What would make your opinion right is some kind of sensible argument to support the idea Serena Williams got screwed by the loss of one point (and not even a point, a whatever the hell you call it that makes up a point in tennis) in a match she was about to lose badly anyway.
Pretty confident I've done just as requested: the foot fault call was horrible by all accounts, and at a critical juncture in a VERY CLOSE MATCH, it's more than a big deal.
Lose badly you say? I wouldn't assume but have to suspect you don't know tennis. Serving while down 4-6, 5-6 is the opposite of losing badly: it's as close as a match can possibly be. Odds are Serena would have held serve and forced a tiebreak. What happens next is anyone's guess.
As bperk is correctly suggesting, the tennis world was deprived of a potentially exciting ending - two points at the very least, and possibly an entire additional set - and that sucks for everyone: the players, the fans, the tournament officials, the sponsors - everyone lost on account of that call.
I wonder if it is safe to say that by throwing a vulgar threating tantrum, and causing play to stop, it might be slightly unfair to her opponent and possibly taken Kim Clijsters off her game.
Not nearly as unfair as if an "unconscionable call" had been made against her at such a critical juncture, as it was Serena.
posted by MW12 at 07:01 PM on September 14
First off, I'll take the blame (credit?) for being the one who said Serena was the victim here AND that the lines judge is a coward. I also stand behind my suggestion that Serena should sit out a match (not a tourney, but a match) if she discovers that this particular lines judge is working the court that day.
We're not (or at least we weren't) talking about how big of a foot fault Serena committed, or whether it's a penalty that should be stricken from the books - those are just things people here say to manipulate an argument in their favor. We're talking about the timing of a particular call that evidence coincidentally proves was not a violation at all.
And it wasn't just any match - it was the semifinals of a major championship. I've been racking my brain for an analogy that would work in another sport, but I've got nothing that comes remotely close. Serena was taking off her game at a critical moment in one of her biggest matches of this year, and the loss cost her millions of dollars. Now I'm not saying she should or would have necessarily won - but if she won that point, it'd have been deuce (30-30, same thing) and if she'd held serve she'd have forced a tiebreaker, and who knows how things would play out from there.
Costly mistake for Serena to blow up the way she did? Absolutely.
Costly mistake for that line judge to make? 1000%
posted by MW12 at 05:10 PM on September 14
So, let's take a reckoning: you claimed that no-one could hear, when the on-court microphones and cameras made it very clear, and put CBS's editors to extra work.
Very clear? Really? With pain staking effort we now know part of what was said - which, as it turns out, is not exactly what the lines judge thought she heard in the first place. You've claimed that abusing the officials without punishment is standard practice.
I have said no such thing. What I've said is that athletes in a lot of sports yell, and to that I think we should all agree the punishment for yelling is entirely subjective, and in this case the crux of my argument is that the circumstances are such that Serena was wronged here.
Oh, and you've basically said that enforcement of the rules should be dictated by the demands of top-ranking players.
Just as they are in every other sport. Yes, that I agree with. The Jordan Rules apply in this instance.
I still say Serena is the victim here
And you would be wrong.
Says you. And I'm sure others with agree with your opinion. But that doesn't make my opinion wrong. Just different.
posted by MW12 at 03:11 PM on September 14
Ok, 18 seconds, and she says she'll shove the ball down the judges throat (how very theatrical but not really a death threat). Was anything else audible/readable?
It's damning, and justifies the fine. But under the circumstances, I still say Serena is the victim here.
posted by MW12 at 02:05 PM on September 14
Again, we have no idea what was said. We are led to believe it was threatening because the lines judge says so - but she was a good fifteen to twenty feet away from Serena and the crowd noise was such that no one else in the stadium, nor any of the mics on the court, could hear it. I'm starting to wonder why Serena wasn't given the benefit of the doubt. Extenuating circumstances? Absolutely - on many levels.
In MLB, you get thrown when you abuse the ref. In NHL, the players skate over to the ref and talk calmly (with the exception of the occasional Royesque moment of ballistic anger). In NFL, it's a mass of players pointing it's the other team's fault, not yelling they're going to shove a football down the ref's throat.
Serena's tirade lasted a grand total of three seconds. She did not get in the face of the lines judge, as happens in MLB, NHL, and NFL. The only time Serena got close to anybody is when she said to the tournament director that she had not said what she was accused of saying.
posted by MW12 at 01:34 PM on September 14
Figured out how to link something. Here is one of the articles referencing the call as "ridiculous," "terrible," and "unconscionable," with a link within the link that shows the whole incident transpire.
Doesn't look like a foot fault, but it does look like Serena's tirade has been overblown (IMO). And I maintain my belief that the line judge is a coward. Players in all sports yell at refs, umps, judges all the time. A typical response is to ignore it, or dismiss it. She should have told the chair person it was no big deal and to let the match play. But instead she compounded the matter by telling the tournament director Serena made threats that Serena denies. I consider that cowardly.
And the incident earlier in the match had nothing to do with anyone else. Serena was mad at herself and broke a racket. No harm done, no threats made to anyone else. Actions unbecoming? Sure. But to end a semifinal in a major tournament this way? Completely inexcusable by all parties involved. Breaking a racket is the equivalent of knocking over a water cooler by a football player. Whoop de doo. The outburst at the end was the first time in the match when Serena said anything to anyone else, and to end a match so significant for that reason is insane.
posted by MW12 at 11:26 AM on September 14
Series of important points to be made here:
* Serena did not foot fault. Neither did I see it, nor did the commentators, nor did any of the multiple other sources I've read this evening (sorry - I don't know how to link but I've ready three other sources which all say it wasn't even close) * Serena was out of line but did not threaten the line judge's life * In both basketball and football it is common that in crunch time, tickey tack fouls are not called. "Let them play" is the common phrase. Same thing applies here. Yes, it's a double standard. Get over it. * Serena more than likely would have lost. * Serena was gracious in walking to Clijsters and shaking her hand. No poor sports(wo)manship there. * If Serena really wants to make a point, she should refuse to play a future match in which the woman who fucked her works the lines. I'm with Serena on this: she may have herself to blame for letting it get to her, but she was thrown off her game over a bullshit call that should never have been made. If she stands up for herself, and literally sits out a significant match if the officials refuse to remove this cowardly lines judge, then I am certain the message will come down from the league and it's sponsors: Serena is more important than any lines judge. That lines judge is gone. No more bullshit. Yes, the top players are in charge. They are the ones who draw the attention which makes the money that allows everyone else to have a job.
posted by MW12 at 08:24 PM on September 13
The question in my mind is: did she or did she not know? And if not, what a horrible way to find out...
posted by MW12 at 07:12 AM on September 11
I don't get the big deal about the Fielder "incident." I thought it was funny. I would like to see more creative ways of expressing excitement when someone hits a walk off homer. Why not? Of course, I always enjoyed a good touchdown celebration too.
Celebrating a homer when you are blowing out the other team is disrespectful. Celebrating a walk off is not. It means the game was close and you pulled it out. Enjoy it.
Lame is hitting a batter as a form of retaliation. You want redemption - how bout striking the guy out? How bout handing him a line of 0-5 on the day? Can't do that? Then shut the fuck up already.
posted by MW12 at 08:33 PM on September 08
More disgraceful than the beliefs of this one particular loser is the cowardly statement by his promotor that they "do NOT in any way support the views of any individual in particular" - emphasizing the NOT when what struck me was the lumping him into the category of ANY INDIVIDUAL IN PARTICULAR.
Am I to assume that they are trying to protect themselves against backlash from their white brethren fanbase?
posted by MW12 at 08:17 PM on September 01
Bruschi is and always was a class act. Hopefully he remains a presence in the locker room and on the sidelines.
posted by MW12 at 06:13 PM on August 31
god , i can t beleive we are finally rid of that arrogant sob! i hope the vikings know how much money they saved by him staying away. he couldn t win another superbowl no matter what team he would have been on. good riddance!
Saved? They'd have paid his salary in jersey sales alone. They could go 0fer and he still would have been the best investment the Vikes made in years.
But more importantly, it'd have been fun to watch...
posted by MW12 at 09:32 PM on July 28
Purely ignorant question: is there evidence to suggest Rose ever bet against his own team?
Seems to me if that's the case then maybe the lifetime ban should stick. But if not, then it's time to let bygones be bygones.
If members of the Hall Board of Directors are requesting Rose's reinstatement, what more evidence does Selig need than the support of the HoF membership (should they be given the opportunity to voice it in the form of a vote)? And if this were any other major corporation how many people would stand back and accept a decision if the CEO rationalized it by saying, "this is what was decided by the predecessor to my predecessor when he ran this company twenty years ago..."?
posted by MW12 at 07:24 PM on July 27
I thought the most interesting quote in the article was when Donovan whateverhisnameis - you know: the team's leading scorer who couldn't sell a ticket to his own mother - had the nerve to say "That's beyond my control" in response to a question about the fan reaction.
Oh really? Aren't you the guy who fueled this fire? The former and again team captain who cried to the media when he lost his tiara?
As for whatever Beckham was doing when he summoned that fan - it's all supposition and hearsay. Who knows his motivation. But there were no claims of hostility, aggression, or derision by him. He probably found it humorous, cuz US crowds are all puppies dogs and ice cream compared to the things international players are accustomed to seeing.
posted by MW12 at 04:31 PM on July 20
Tragic. But what amazes me is that this doesn't happen more often given the access onlookers are permitted.
posted by MW12 at 08:52 AM on July 19
I'm confused. By kissing does he mean that he licked the inside of a strange woman's nostril?
posted by MW12 at 09:34 PM on July 16
Evidently, Tiger's decision to avoid talking about race, in an effort to keep others from fixating on it, has had the opposite effect of late, thanks in part to Jim Brown (though this is not the first time this line of questioning has arisen).
Sadly, there are those who perpetuate racism under the guise of stating what appearances suggest to be facts.
Perception may equal reality, but that doesn't mean that we as individuals are required to perpetuate stereotypes - let alone give in to the notion that you are who others say you are.
posted by MW12 at 08:18 PM on July 08
Beckham isn't without fault here, but when he was healthy he was the best precision passer in the MLS, according to Donovan's own account, and his only flaw on the field appears to be that he was trying too hard to do too much. And by all accounts, during his time in England and Milan, he was a a model teammate who earned his reputation every step of the way. So maybe he over-estimated the quality of the players in the MLS. And maybe he tried to cut a deal to avoid coming back. But two wrongs doesn't make a right, and if Donovan had any real interest in his team (not to mention his league) he would never have said any of the things that are coming to light. So clearly his only motivation was selfish, and that makes him no better - in fact it makes him worse, because he knows the deal w the MLS and went out of his way to destroy his team in the press.
posted by MW12 at 08:34 PM on July 02
So now Donovan is wearing the armband again, and he's the one being the bad teammate?
If this is the way to attach your wagon to Becks' shining star, in a pathetic attempt to prolong your fifteen minutes, then well played, Donovan. You loser.
posted by MW12 at 12:27 PM on July 01
Shaq may be slow in transition, but he knows how to clear the lane, take a defender with him, then move into position for the easy outlet pass and dunk underneath. This is a no brainer, and immediately elevates the Cavs back to being the team to beat in the east, much more so than Orlando.
posted by MW12 at 02:28 PM on June 25
Reminds me of the old adage "You can't teach height."
posted by MW12 at 08:28 AM on May 30
Much like in rock n roll, my field, the people who make it in sports are the ones who want it the most. When you can't take anything for granted, and you don't have a high quality of life to fall back on, it stands to reason that you will do everything in your power to rise above. Same as the Kenyan in Dusted's example.
On the other hand, the upper crust still have a way of buying top talent with whom to associate. Just think about all the top athlete's who attend prep school on basketball scholarships - Lebron James, for example. When those within your social strata don't possess the skills to attract attention in sport, you find ways to associate with them. Thus, boosters.
posted by MW12 at 09:25 PM on May 21
Seems to me there are indeed a number of questions here. In my mind, the bottom line is the coach of the winning squad should have spoke up at the half, given that his squad was already up by 59 points, and suggested they consider alternatives to playing the second half straight up. On the other hand, I have to wonder why did no one from the opposing team, or the officiating crew, or anyone else in attendance, spoke up then either.
Yes, the Covenant team could have, and without question should have, taken it easy; considered their alternatives. But basketball is not like football, so comparing a shut out in one to another is not reasonable in my mind. How a basketball team at any level could not score a single point against another squad at the (relative) same level is baffling to me. When I was in college I played intramural ball and when facing a team composed of much bigger guys that played other varsity sports (ie the skill position players on the football team put together a basketball team for kicks and giggles) my friends & I got creamed. But we wouldn't go scoreless. Not even close.
Point being: the playing field isn't always going to be level. But when it's so far off that one varsity squad can score 100 points and the other can't score any (ZERO!), the problem extends well beyond the two teams themselves.
posted by MW12 at 07:56 PM on January 25
Was it their participation in a team sport that made people believe they were more likely to be guilty, or the fact that the sport in question is/was Lacrosse?
posted by MW12 at 04:09 PM on June 18
Damn - there go my hopes for early retirement... At least I got the walk down memory lane - thanks for that!
posted by MW12 at 10:56 AM on July 25
Maybe Tiger's woes are more indicative of the way the course is playing than where his head is at. Finally someone has designed a course that really requires accuracy over distance. And I'm not saying that I don't feel for the guy, or that his mindset shouldn't impact his game at this time - but let's be honest: even when he's at his peak he still tends to have difficulty keeping the ball on the fairway. And this time around the roughs are so deep that Tiger's ability to pull off the incredible chips shots from the high grass, giving himself a chance to win even when he can't buy a fairway, is simply not enough to get it done...
posted by MW12 at 02:40 PM on June 16
Shaq did indeed jump to his feet and laugh off the fact that he was tackled. But I believe you'll agree the hit is not going to be taken lightly by the league if you'll check this out.
posted by MW12 at 12:38 PM on June 16
Anyone see the hit Stack put on Shaq? If the league stays true to form, he's gonna miss a game or two (were this the regular season I'd say they give him a five game suspension at the least). Stack made zero effort to even make it look like he was going for the ball. He just clubbed Shaq in the head with a forearm to the side of his face. Streetballers are rarely so agressive- it was that bad. And the effect on the team chemistry could go either way (I'd say it would harm them but then look what happened to Phoenix when that "kid" Raja Bell clothselined Kobe).
posted by MW12 at 11:38 AM on June 16
How does that song in Office Space go? The one when they kick the crap out of the fax machine...?
posted by MW12 at 10:28 AM on June 15
When did Trampolines become a recognized sport? And, what wingnut said.
posted by MW12 at 10:22 AM on June 15
Maybe it's more similar to smoking or not smoking? Some people like to smoke even though they know the risks. I like this comparison - goes well with whomever made the natural selection comment above. Reducing the number of stupid people in the world would certainly have a greater, more positive impact on government spending, which ultimately benefits the people (though admittedly not as much as a Super Bowl title - but then, the Steelers just got one of those, so perhaps the big guy upstairs was just doing the folks in the Pitts a solid before taking care of business).
posted by MW12 at 03:10 PM on June 13
Prefers not to wear a helmet? Terry Bradshaw admonishes him for potentially damaging his career? Does he not recognize his responsibility to his team and the city of Pittsburgh? I am not a Steelers fan - but I am a fan of loyalty, responsibility and respect: three qualities Big Ben apparently has forgotten (assuming he knew them to begin with). I'm glad to hear he's conscious and feel for Steelers fans everywhere.
posted by MW12 at 11:58 AM on June 12
Ditto what tieguy said. How pathetic must two teams be that not one camera crew - local, national, or otherwise - is broadcasting the game? Even Babe Ruth League games are carried on local access television, and very few of those kids are multimillionaires.
posted by MW12 at 09:23 AM on June 08
All I know is win or lose I'll be telling people I'm Canadian when I go to Italy later this month... Interesting article, eh?
posted by MW12 at 09:57 AM on June 06
If the Heat play the way they did against Detroit, spreading the floor and crashing the boards, feeding Shaq the ball when he's in position and keeping him off the foul line (fewer than 8 free throws per game), then I say Miami in 7.
posted by MW12 at 08:32 PM on June 05
Suing L'Equipe only keeps the story alive. I gotta wonder how much money that is worth to Lance, as he could get bit in the ass if he pursues the matter - not just as a result of the continued association between he and EPO (regardless of the fact that he was vindicated) but also due to the naysayers and their continued accusations, which certainly would not go away...
posted by MW12 at 01:24 PM on May 31
Back to what BullpenPro said at the top, I'd love to see stats on Clemens' weight gain and performance in the latter stages of his career. I'm thinking there is a solid case here for a conspiracy theorist. Nonetheless, if the BoSox had got him I'd be ecstatic right now- and who cares about the monopoly money anyhow?
posted by MW12 at 09:06 PM on May 30
Hartford is the front line of the battle indeed... While there last fall at the convention center downtown there was a shooting in broad daylight right out front. And I don't know if the victim was wearing a Jeter jersey but to quote Chris Rock, "Now I'm not saying he should have killed (him)- but I understand."
posted by MW12 at 01:45 PM on May 30
This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Yanks fans are definitely higher than murderers on the list of most hated in Boston. And going old school is weak...
posted by MW12 at 11:50 AM on May 30
puerile meatheadedness That's tremendous! I've known a few Stiflers myself... Wish I could argue but this guy is spot on (at least in my limited experience).
posted by MW12 at 11:28 AM on May 30
I have a couple questions that I don't believe has entered any discussions and I would like to understand why: What percentage of known steroid users are pitchers? And either way, shouldn't the possibility that pitchers are juiced have some kind of adverse effect on homerun hitting totals? I would really appreciate it if someone could answer back, because it seems to me the on going steroid discussions are very one sided...
posted by MW12 at 10:05 AM on May 30
I think the fact that he concedes his players aren't perfect but believes they are genuinely good kids is an appropriate way to acknowledge the pink elephant without overstating the matter, all the while keeping the focus where it belongs: on his team and their accomplishments. And like Chico says, you don't get many opportunities to address the nation in college lacrosse.
posted by MW12 at 09:07 AM on May 30
Semantics are a funny thing - but I'm pretty sure the saying remains "Innocent until proven guilty." Now, me and OJ and Barry Bonds (F*#!) - we're with Balki Bartokomous.
posted by MW12 at 08:50 PM on May 25
Is it me or is it possible that the article was actually an indictment on MLB and not on Bonds himself? That F*#! next to his name is the Onion's way of saying that MBL should admit that they F*#!ed up by allowing this to happen. Just a thought.
posted by MW12 at 03:40 PM on May 25
Brett Favre Mic'd Up
It's good to be that guy. Anybody know if he was mic'd up for either of the games against Green Bay?