Recent Comments by wfrazerjr

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

I don't think I commented originally, but while I admire Bill's guts, I would have punted. That's a pretty clear vote of no confidence in your defense, and even if they deserve it, I don't think that's the message I want to send if I DON'T make it, much less for the remainder of the season.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:33 PM on November 21

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

The Buffalo Bills offered their head coaching job to Jon Gruden, and he responded by signing a three-year extension with ESPN.

*flips double bird and walks away*

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:52 AM on November 21

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Most idiotic trick play ever ... but it worked.

Again, the two-point conversion is the time to roll this stuff out. Now opposing defenses have to consider this for the rest of the season when they gameplan for Bethel.

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:05 PM on November 20

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week 10

Mediocre week so far, but we hit our Lock and that brightens up everything. 7-7 against the spread and 8-6 straight up, but we're up for the week, despite the Raiders sinking our Trifecta. Maybe they are smart enough to lose on purpose.

We sure hope Jim Zorn designed this fake field goal/punt hybrid. That's a job saver right there, folks.

Pull for the Quinn tonight!

Lock of the Week: San Diego

Trifecta: San Diego, Oakland, Tennessee

2009 Week 10 Hoser Picks (pending Monday night):
Straight Up: 8-6
Against The Spread: 7-7
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $330

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 99-42
Against The Spread: 79-63-1
Lock of the Week: 5-5
Trifecta: 3-7
Money: $1,820

2009 Week 10 Money Spent: $0
2009 Week 10 Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $185
2009 Season Money Made: $200
2009 Total: $15

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:59 AM on November 16

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Mediocre week so far, but we hit our Lock and that brightens up everything. 7-7 against the spread and 8-6 straight up, but we're up for the week, despite the Raiders sinking our Trifecta. Maybe they are smart enough to lose on purpose.

We sure hope Jim Zorn designed this fake field goal/punt hybrid. That's a job saver right there, folks.

Pull for the Quinn tonight!

Lock of the Week: San Diego

Trifecta: San Diego, Oakland, Tennessee

2009 Week 10 Hoser Picks (pending Monday night):
Straight Up: 8-6
Against The Spread: 7-7
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $330

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 99-42
Against The Spread: 79-63-1
Lock of the Week: 5-5
Trifecta: 3-7
Money: $1,820

2009 Week 10 Money Spent: $0
2009 Week 10 Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $185
2009 Season Money Made: $200
2009 Total: $15

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:58 AM on November 16

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week 10

1-0, although not at all how I thought the game would go.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:41 PM on November 12

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week 10

Don't knock the Quinn.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:33 PM on November 12

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week 10

I meant this atrocity, which it kills me to dislike as I'm such a fan of Family Guy and American Dad.

As for the Raiders and drafts, every time I hear their name announced, I think of Major League:

Board Member 1: I've never heard of half of these guys and the ones I do know are way past their prime.
Charlie Donovan: Most of these guys never had a prime.
Rachel Phelps: The fact is we lost our two best players to free agency. We haven't won a pennant in over thirty-five years, we haven't placed higher than fourth in the last fifteen. Obviously it's time for some changes.
Board Member 2: This guy here is dead!
Rachel Phelps: Cross him off, then!

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:23 PM on November 12

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Man, that Trebek mash-up is the shit.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:55 PM on November 11

F-bomb gets dropped at end of Richmond vs. Villanova telecast

I thought the same thing.

Having done play-by-play and colour commentary on hundreds of game myself, it sounded to me like it came from the truck. The clarity and differential in audio quality was very much like what comes through your headphones.

That said, if this is the feed that went out over the air, I'm guessing someone might be in the bread line this morning.

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:52 PM on November 09

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

God bless you for that pick six, Matthew Stafford.

Lock of the Week: San Diego
Trifecta: San Diego, Seattle, Carolina

2009 Week Nine Hoser Picks (pending Monday night)
Straight Up: 8-4
Against The Spread: 8-4
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
Money: $1,460

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 90-36
Against The Spread: 72-55-1
Lock of the Week: 4-5
Trifecta: 3-6
Money: $1,600

2009 Week Eight Money Spent: $25
2009 Week Eight Money Made: $50
2009 Season Money Spent: $185
2009 Season Money Made: $200
2009 Total: $15

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:18 PM on November 09

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week Nine -- Haiku Edition

Still concerned about your Chargers?

Hit both the Lock and the Trifecta. Thus far this week we are 8-3 both against the spread and straight up and my bets are done for the week.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:06 PM on November 08

Women's Soccer Playoff Turns Ugly

It is a little strange ESPN was so hot and heavy on this. Maybe it was all staged and the network got the tipoff beforehand -- "Hey, bring out the good cameras and we'll put on a show!"

Also ... it was kinda hot.

Rashomon ... they make those little boilable noodle packs, right?

posted by wfrazerjr at 03:59 PM on November 06

Doctor Who Struck Cyclists Guilty in LA Road Rage Trial

And fraze, I humbly submit that if you frequently get middle fingers, then you are in fact causing cyclists to feel threatened.

They should feel threatened -- not by me, but by the two-ton missile I'm driving legally and safely.

And I'd humbly submit that you have no idea what you're talking about. As I described, I'm talking about cyclists riding in a pack on a four-lane road with an extra turn lane in the middle, and they are spread out into the passing lane and sometimes riding up the middle in the turn lane.

As Weedy said, it seems as if the cyclists have a hard-on for anyone driving a car, recklessly or not, and are courting confrontation. It's much worse in the GTA than here because it's much more open in my area, but it's still noticeable.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:22 AM on November 05

Doctor Who Struck Cyclists Guilty in LA Road Rage Trial

BikeNut, that was extremely well said.

I'm certainly not advocating the injury of cyclists. I even used to take my big butt on the occasional ride, and I saw my fair share of morons behind the wheel.

But the cyclists I see on the news in Toronto talking about bike/car incidents don't seem to want to shoulder the blame for the number of riders who ignore traffic signals, weave in and out of traffic and generally ignore the laws which they seem to want to protect them from vehicles.

It reminds me of the lawyer joke -- the crooked lawyers are ruining the good names of the 1% who are honest. Until cyclist-rights advocacy groups do more to police the idiots in their own houses, I don't see the issue gaining much traction with those of us behind the wheel.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:59 PM on November 03

Doctor Who Struck Cyclists Guilty in LA Road Rage Trial

Okay, so here's the part where I make people hate me.

Thompson deserves to be punished for this. Given that he told a traffic investigator that he "wanted to them a lesson," there's not much question of intent.

But if you read more of the testimony, you also find that Thompson says bicyclists taking up much of the road he lives on was a frequent occurrence. He also says the three riders in this instance were riding three-wide and when he honked and told them to ride single-file, they flipped him off and said, "Fuck you, asshole."

Of course, you also find Thompson has apparently been involved in other incidents, which leads me to believe this was intentional and deserves punishment.

The four-lane road I drive to get to my store in the morning is a popular one for cyclists, sometimes singles, sometimes large packs of 20 or more. At least half the time they are riding out across the slow lane and into the passing lane, or sometimes even in the turn lane up the middle of the road.

I couldn't count the number of times cyclists have veered into my path, cut in front of me to make a turn or flipped me off as I passed. I've never honked, never swerved my car toward them, never done anything threatening -- and yet I'm the bad guy.

I feel badly for the cyclists hurt in this incident. But I also recognize that they are experienced riders who should know that the law seems to generally be two abreast is the widest you can go. Given that they decided a nice middle finger and insults were the best way to handle someone pointing out that they needed to share the road, it doesn't surprise me in the least this happened.

In fact, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:11 AM on November 03

Behind The Back Pass

If there was any purpose to it other than hotdogging, then they would have tried it during a drive and not on an essentially meaningless two-point conversion.

Really? So the other team, if a defensive back had gotten lucky, he could pick it off and run it back for a touchdown? Because high-school rules declare the ball dead on an intercepted conversion attempt, which to me makes it the perfect time to try out a new wrinkle.

posted by wfrazerjr at 02:45 PM on October 31

Behind The Back Pass

Given that defensive backs are taught to read the quarterback's eyes and adjust, I think this is a brilliant play. If you watch the video, the entire defense is shifting toward the near side of the field, watching Briscoe obviously telegraphing the play.

That allows the backside receiver to slip out completely uncovered and rather than give the defense to adjust by turning to throw in a conventional motion, you get the "WTF?!?" factor of the behind-the-back pass.

There's an added bonus to this. I'm going to assume by the whupping administered by Baton Rouge Central they are a relatively good team, one that could make the playoffs. Don't you think every team they play from here on out is going to have to gameplan for this? Any time BRCHS is in close to the goalline, the opposing coaches will be yelling, "Watch the behind-the-back pass to the weak side!"

That means not only will they possibly be sending coverage to the area where Briscoe is least likely to throw, but the remainder of the defense will have in the back of its mind, "Got to be ready to go back the other direction, just in case!"

Brilliant, brilliant play.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:52 PM on October 31

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week Eight -- Halloween Edition

I tried it keeping them once, but it was so depressing I was forced to watch old John Madden broadcasts and pretend I was Brett Favre.

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:39 PM on October 30

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week Eight -- Halloween Edition

Awww, you found the trick.

Actually the trick was I didn't want to have to pick that game. It's now fixed.

posted by wfrazerjr at 09:21 AM on October 30

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Would you give up a World Series ticket for sex with this woman?

Hugh Grant would.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:09 AM on October 28

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Hugh Grant's career as a romantic leading man in movies easily could have been over if he didn't handle his skeevy hooker incident well.

My point was that Grant had to come out and say something or his career might have been over. His livelihood is directly dependent on his acceptance by the public. Of course, as I pointed out, Hollywood avoided him like Grant avoided attractive prostitutes for three or four years after that.

McGwire had no such pressing need. His career was done, and he is apparently a private man. I think it unfair to club him over the head with this because he wasn't willing to be the sacrificial lamb.

You also seem to think McGwire is hated. He's not, at least not among the people I know who were fans of his before. They seem to see the whole Congressional fiasco as unfortunate but understandable, and think, as I do, that maybe we would have treated it the same way.

I think there is a group of people who now have an intense dislike for McGwire which thinks he should have thrown himself on the steroids hand grenade for the good of baseball, no matter his own inclination or well-being. It's nice to assign that sort of bravery and selflessness to someone else, but I also think it's a little unfair to expect it -- unless you're absolutely certain you would have taken the bullet when everyone else around you (including a guy who outright lied to Congress) was ducking and dodging like crazy.

Again, do I believe he took steroids? Yes, I do. Do I think he was under institutional pressure to do so? Yes, I do. Do I think baseball knew exactly what was going on and gave its tacit approval until it became clear the public was unhappy about it? Yes, I do.

Do I fault the guy for not bowing to the pressure of a ridiculous Congressional circus and fearing being the only guy out there (aside from our grandstanding friend Jose Canseco) making himself available to be the punching bag for the press and public?

Not one bit.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:52 AM on October 28

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Sorry for my absence -- I'm trying to help set up the flow of NASCAR products into Canada for next year.

David Letterman played his audience like a fiddle when revealing his affairs. It became a blackmail story, not a smarmy boss story. The ones who seem to be hiding something are like chum for sharks.

If McGwire was smart, he could've put on a whole show before the Congressional hearing, complete with a sympathetic 60 Minutes interview and the like.

You've used David Letterman and Hugh Grant as models for what McGwire should have done. However, both of them -- as would be true for all "celebrity" examples -- were:

a) In the middle of lucrative careers, not done with them; b) Dependent on the public and media to provide them with fame and attention to continue those careers.

McGwire was finished in baseball and didn't need the publicity or the money. In face, as has been pointed out, he is a very private man who didn't seek the spotlight when he was playing the game.

If he was smart, he would have laid his soul bare to the American public? I don't see that as necessarily smart given how stupid and vindictive much of that public is, and (perhaps the bigger issue) perhaps he just doesn't give a fuck what everyone else thinks.

I don't know why you would make that connection, which falsely assumes that I don't think he was worth the money. I can't recall ever expressing such a thought on SportsFilter over an athlete's compensation.

I mentioned his salary because he profited handsomely in a career that put him in the spotlight. Turning the spotlight off now -- the "none of your business" notion -- is a little late in the game. He made it our business by becoming a multimillionaire pro athlete.

I wasn't saying I thought that. I was saying that I could see someone thinking that if this was his or her first time reading your thoughts, and that you were giving a very specific number to say, "Look exactly how much money this ungrateful jerk made!"

As for making it our business, you make it sound as if you didn't know at the time. Did you ignore baseball during this stretch? Did you shut off games where McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, et al, were playing? If you didn't, why do you need McGwire to put himself on the cross? It sounds like you need someone to die for our baseball sins.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:31 PM on October 27

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Hello, Monster Week.

2009 Week Seven Hoser Results

Straight Up: 10-3
Against The Spread: 9-3-1
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
Money: $1,670

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 75-28
Against The Spread: 56-46-1
Lock of the Week: 3-4
Trifecta: 2-5
Money: $490

2009 Week Seven Money Spent: $20
2009 Week Seven Money Made: $50
2009 Season Money Spent: $135
2009 Season Money Made: $150
2009 Total: $15

posted by wfrazerjr at 07:47 AM on October 27

Croatian Striker Makes Incredible Shot

I still say the Stefan thing was because the puck hit some ice shavings in front of the net. If he'd tried to flip it in from farther out and missed, he would have been an even bigger goat.

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:37 PM on October 26

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Hugh Grant cheats on one of the most beautiful actresses in the world to get a $60 blowjob from a scary street hooker. One act of honest contrition on Jay Leno later, and he's still got a career as a leading man in romantic films.

You are aware Hugh Grant didn't make a movie for three or four years after that came out?

Look, I'm not arguing about the "manning up" part. I wish he'd blasted the pants off baseball also. But I agree more with what the good Doc just said -- I don't think, given the climate and all the faux outrage at the time, that I would have wanted to have been the one to jump out and take the bullet for baseball.

And to say this ...

If McGwire had manned up and said exactly what drugs he took and why, he'd be an adored public figure and media darling.

You have no proof of that whatsoever. You think that -- and I think he would have been plastered on every front page from here to Scranton under the headline, "HE CHEATED!" How's that better than people thinking what they do now?

Maybe he will come out and say something now -- now that he's had timet o reflect, now that he can drive the message (and not a bunch of asshat politicians trying to divert attention from their own failings), now that the country seems less likely to pick up their pitchforks.

But if he doesn't, I'm still fine with him.

This "none of your business" stuff is silly. He was the single-season home run king, the holder of one of the most revered records in American sports. He was paid $74 million dollars in his career. His conduct in the game is hardly a private matter.

The guy didn't break any rules, he didn't break any laws and was generally well-liked by his teammates (this from a teammate of his I know). Maybe you can make a case for knowing because of the sanctity of the game, but what he was paid? That sounds like you'd wish the hate on him out of jealousy.

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:17 PM on October 26

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Your deference to star athletes is breathtaking sometimes.

Really? In my eyes it tends to be about just this subject.

While I wish steroid use had never happened, it did, and it did so under the watchful eye of the baseball establishment and the fans. The amount of hypocritical and ridiculous horseshit spread by people who were more than willing to pony up their dollars and look the other way while it was happening is a little sickening.

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:35 PM on October 26

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Let's pretend you're Mark McGwire.

You're being singled out on national television by the government of the United Fucking States of America as Public Enemy No. 1 for something that wasn't illegal and even against the rules in your own sport. And, the sport you helped lift back up after its own stupid greed and pig-headedness nearly sank it, they have no interest in coming clean themselves, right?

So you should be the guy to shoulder all of that? Why? What possible good does it do you when in your heart, you're most likely thinking you did what you needed to succeed, what the baseball establishment was telling you do and what the fans wanted?

If an athlete like McGwire had admitted everything and challenged the league and the fans to own up to the role they played in it, who knows what would have happened?

I'm sure as soon as he admitted to everything, baseball's owners and management would have come rushing into the halls of Congress to embrace him. They're all stand-up guys, right?

And all the others hundreds or thousands of guys who cheated, they would have all come out of the woodwork to support him. They would have all said, "By golly, that Mark McGwire has shamed us -- we should get up there ourselves."

And fans would have immediately forgiven him, because we all know how rational and understanding fans are. They wouldn't have turned on him even after being the ones cheering him on to break the record.

Nope, he wouldn't have been hung out in the wind, not a chance.

Let me ask you -- do you think Mark McGwire is better off being disliked by you for not answering questions from Congress, or better off taking the chance (at the time) being known as the one guy from his era who absolutely and unequivocally juiced? Where's the benefit of that?

A Rod certainly seems to have neutralized the issue by coming clean. Or at least clean enough for people to believe him.

Of course ARod came clean -- it certainly appears he can't stand not having the approval and attention of everyone around him. Maybe McGwire doesn't need the blessing of you, I or the Congress to get on with his life.

Or maybe he just thinks it's none of your business.

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:32 PM on October 26

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

Maybe he just didn't see the point in answering questions from self-serving, grandstanding assholes?

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:00 PM on October 26

Mark McGwire to rejoin Cardinals?

I still fail to see why McGuire is pilloried for not spilling his guts to a bunch of Congressmen. What business was it of theirs?

I really wish he had said, "Well, I had to show up since you subpoenaed me, but here's what I think of this travesty," then hopped up on the table, dropped his pants and taken a big dump.

If he was juicing, it wasn't illegal, it wasn't against the rules of baseball and the league played the results up for all they were worth.

Yeah, that's all Mark McGwire's fault, all right.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:41 PM on October 26

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Lock and Trifecta hits, 7-3-1 against the spread and 9-2 straight up.

Hell, we might even be back to positive money.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:16 PM on October 25

Sean Salisbury Sues Deadspin for Defamation

J, if you don't know what Deadspin is, I'm not sure you've been on the interwub much.

I don't know the veracity of the stuff printed by Deadspin, but if it comes out none of it is true, I hope they get their smug balls nailed to the fucking wall.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:08 PM on October 25

Sources: Shanahan turned down Redskins coaching job

Or maybe Shanahan just has no real desire to work for a tyrannical midget?

posted by wfrazerjr at 09:21 AM on October 20

The Hoser's NFL Pick 2009, Week Six

The Chicago River has a long tradition of catching fire, which sort of makes it the anti-Cub waterway.

Upton Sinclair wrote about it in The Jungle.

How in the world are the Eagles (or every Raiders opponent) not at least in the Trifecta???

Because the spread is two touchdowns, and it's too difficult to guess when coaches are going to pull their starters for the game. Yes, Oakland is awful, but even a 23-0 game at the half can be 30-17 at the end of the game when the Raiders are playing their first team against the opposition's third team.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:48 AM on October 17

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Anything little thing I can do to help, KC. :)

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:58 PM on October 16

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Three NFL quarterbacks are killed in a plane crash.

God asks Peyton Manning first: "What do you believe?"

Peyton thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye and says, "I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans."

God can't help but see the essential goodness of Manning and offers him a seat to his left.

Then God turns to Aaron Rodgers and says, "What do you believe?"

Aaron says, "I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I've always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields."

God is greatly moved by Aaron's sincere eloquence and offers him a seat to his right.

Finally, God turns to Brett Favre and says, "And you, Brett, what do you believe?"

Brett replies, "I believe you're in my seat."

posted by wfrazerjr at 03:36 PM on October 16

Opponent: Playing Raiders Was Like a Scrimmage

The final in that game was actually 44-7.

Not to make things worse, although in the case of the Raiders, I'm not sure that's possible.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:46 PM on October 16

NASCAR reveals names of first Hall of Fame class

Demophon, thanks for the post. I'm pretty sure this is going to get edited by the Pantheon to remove the editorializing. Oddly enough, I was going to point you to the SportsFilter guidelines, but I don't see anything about it there. Didn't that used to be there? It's on the Wiki.

I agree about France Jr. Deserves to get in -- just not in front of Pearson.

posted by wfrazerjr at 07:07 PM on October 14

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Hater, this set will only cover the first three seasons of the show. We're still building the checklist right now, but the base set will have 15 or so main character cards and then a couple cards per episode for the first 28 episodes.

The insert cards will feature locations, children and other stuff we haven't determined yet.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:58 PM on October 14

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Final stats for Week Five -- oof:

2009 Week Five Hoser Picks Straight Up: 8-6 Against The Spread: 6-8 Lock of the Week: 0-1 Trifecta: 0-1 Money: $-880

2009 Season Hoser Picks Straight Up: 56-20 Against The Spread: 42-34 Lock of the Week: 1-4 Trifecta: 1-4 Money: $-1,140

2009 Week Five Money Spent: $25 2009 Week Five Money Made: $0 2009 Season Money Spent: $86 2009 Season Money Made: $100 2009 Total: $15

This week may just be picks. I'm in the middle of writing the trading card set for "The Tudors" and I'm a little pressed for time.

Maybe a haiku week is in order?

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:44 AM on October 14

The Hoser's NFL Pick 2009, Week Five

I just didn't see another team I believed in as much as the Pats, although Fred Taylor's injury woes aren't going to help. Good thing Bill has about 58 running backs stockpiled.

And the Broncos? They just aren't that good.

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:53 PM on October 10

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

"You talk about a painful error for Matt Holliday!"

I've never been able to decide if I preferred Scully or Jack Buck. You just can't go wrong with either.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:06 AM on October 10

United Football League Begins Play in Las Vegas

Tuskers?

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:00 PM on October 09

Young Fan Gets Back Ryan Howard's 200th Career Home Run Ball

Exactly, rcade -- and if you read the comments below the linked story about the terrible parenting and bad example being set, what do you think those same parents would have done had their child been put in the same situation? Just said, "Well, kid, you got taken advantage of. Next time maybe you'll be smarter."

I'd like to think had it been my child, we would have returned the ball to Howard, but the negotiating sure as hell wouldn't have been done without me present.

Where is the evidence of that?

Check out any auction site and do a search for game-used baseballs. Considering I'm on the mailing list for the Detroit Tigers and they sell random GU balls for $35-75 and any home run ball for more than $200, this kid got jobbed.

posted by wfrazerjr at 02:49 PM on October 08

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Oops. That total for the season should read:

2009 Season Hoser Picks Straight Up: 48-14 Against The Spread: 36-26 Lock of the Week: 1-3 Trifecta: 1-3 Money: $-260

When you said I was making money, I knew that couldn't be true. :P

I am up in real money, though, almost enough to pay for a large soda at Wendy's? How the fuck can a large root beer be $2.49?!?

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:14 AM on October 07

Browns agree to send Edwards to Jets

I am not sure how much Trent Edwards will play with Eli Manning already there at quarterback, but I guess we'll see. Not sure how this makes sense for Buffalo, though.

Huh?

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:37 AM on October 07

Browns agree to send Edwards to Jets

Apparently, you get on Lebron's bad side and out you go.

I just dropped Chansi Stuckey last night in my dynasty league and I have no idea whether to be upset about it or not.

Stuckey has a shot to be the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland, but that's like being the ... uhhh ... that's not good.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:36 AM on October 07

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Curse you, old man!

Final stats for Week Four:

2009 Week Four Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 11-3
Against The Spread: 7-7
Lock of the Week: 0-1
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $-670

2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 48-14
Against The Spread: 36-26
Lock of the Week: 1-3
Trifecta: 1-3
Money: $1,080

2009 Week Three Money Spent: $15
2009 Week Three Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $70
2009 Season Money Made: $100
2009 Total: $30

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:31 AM on October 07

Limbaugh, Blues Owner Make Bid to Buy St. Louis Rams

Read #4 in my list and then think about the McNabb comment.

Hmmmm ...

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:07 PM on October 06

Limbaugh, Blues Owner Make Bid to Buy St. Louis Rams

Top 10 Reasons To Hope Rush Limbaugh Lands The Rams

10. Chants of "Rush! Rush!" might get the Rams to give Steven Jackson the ball 30 times like they should be doing.

9. Concession sales of nachos and chili cheese dogs guaranteed to skyrocket.

8. Ready-made promotion: "Husky Narrow-Minded Bigot" Night.

7. Might drive Al Franken to buy the Chiefs.

6. He can't be any worse at owning a sports franchise than George W. Bush.

5. Leftover Green Bay Cheeseheads easily convertible to Dittoheads.

4. Budweiser theme song replaced on PA system by "Barack The Magic Negro."

3. Offensive linemen won't feel so fat around him.

2. Players will have access to OxyContin right in the owner's box.

1. Maybe it will get him off the radio.

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:58 PM on October 06

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Not the best week so far at 7-6 ATS, but if the Packers come through tonight, I'll be laughing all the way to the pay window for the third week in four tries. Plus it would be nice to be .500 on Locks. *rolls eyes*

I had someone ask about that discrepancy (as my record on my blog shows 1-2 for Trifectas), and it comes from legally betting ProLine through the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission. The lines come out on Wednesday or Thursday for the weekend action and sometimes can be up to a field goal off the Vegas lines. When another pick presents itself as a better choice for the three-play, I substitute it for my least certain pick in The Hoser Trifecta.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:57 AM on October 05

The Hoser's NFL Picks 2009, Week Four

I looked at all the home teams and there wasn't a game I saw where I was as sure the home team would cover as I am the Packers can handle Minnesota. I didn't see a single spread this week where I thought, "Man, that is WAY off."

It certainly is going to be a great week, though -- I'm stoked for the Ravens and Pats.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:46 AM on October 02

Celtics Hang Blank Championship Banner

Or, as would be pertinent to the NBA:

There is no "I" in team, but there are a couple in "PATERNITY SUIT."

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:22 AM on October 02

Report: Nike Reaches Endorsement Deal with Michael Vick

I'm reading exactly what you wrote:

"Why all the Favre hate?"

I fail to see how that doesn't involve people, which would then mean that people were Favre haters.

Who are you saying hates Favre? Kittens?

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:36 PM on October 01

Crazy Good Jump Rope

WOW.

I couldn't walk through that routine, and I used to actually a pretty damn ... errr ... rope jumper.

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:44 PM on September 30

High School Game Ends with YouTube Moment

I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to the notion of putting children in a bubble that protects them from all pain, physical or emotional. Life is hard, better to learn that lesson early than to be thrust into it without any experience. I don't disinfect every surface in my house my kids might come in contact with...I don't censor my language, video games, TV, music or movies...I tell my kids when they're bad at something, and laugh at them when they screw up. But I also do anything I can to help them get better and learn from their mistakes. But I guess in today's world that makes me a bad parent, not isolating them from all the evils of the world...

Talk about your overreactions.

I asked rcade because he has a background in newspapering. It's a decision I would have had to consider were I the editor at the local TV station, although I think I would have come to the same decision.

I get using it locally, as I think WCAX figures most people would either know or easily find out who he is. I've decided I also would have used his name in the local paper, as the same rules apply.

But as for the Chicago Sun-Times, I don't know. I'm hoping Kyle Koster will come over and join in the debate here (although I was a bit of a douche in my initial comment there and have apologized for that). Of the five sources I can find who have written about this story (including us), only he used the name. Kyle responded on his blog that the name was right in the broadcast, and I have responded that I don't think leaving the kid's name out diminishes the story in any way.

As for putting kids in a bubble, MeatSaber, I'm not sure how not putting the kid's name out there for possible national ridicule is the same. This is not your kid tripping and falling into the pool at your neighbor's house and you catching it on your cell phone. This is his name being put out there in conjunction with Leon Lett and Bill Buckner -- two professional athletes who probably didn't deserve the crap they caught.

posted by wfrazerjr at 06:29 PM on September 30

High School Game Ends with YouTube Moment

By the way, Deadspin and Fanhouse didn't use the kid's name. Only a staffer from the Chicago Sun-Times did, and I've left him a note to see if he thought about not using it.

posted by wfrazerjr at 03:00 PM on September 30

High School Game Ends with YouTube Moment

Because the kid's possibly 14 or 15 years old, and he's going to catch enough hell from his teammates and classmates for the rest of the season, and possibly the rest of his existence.

It's really not necessary to put the kid's name out there as a joke on the internet (which rcade wisely didn't do), but the local TV station has to realize also it'll be picked up off the broadcast and off YouTube. It would have been just as easy to say, "An Otter Valley player unfortunately spiked the ball," wouldn't it?

As a former newspaper publisher and broadcaster, I'm normally pretty hard-assed about this kind of stuff, but I just don't know what the positive side is to naming names in this instance.

posted by wfrazerjr at 02:46 PM on September 30

High School Game Ends with YouTube Moment

Maybe so, Bo, but they should have been told to stay the hell away from the ball. As deep and close together as they were, though, I kinda think they were sent out to catch the kick.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:02 PM on September 30

High School Game Ends with YouTube Moment

Mount Mansfield? I bet James Dean did that several times. (click here for rimshot)

I can't decide whether I would have named the kid or not, rcade. I shouldn't be protecting him, but I'm not sure what his identity adds to the story. As you said, the coach is the dumbass who sent him out there (and even if you wanted to do that, he could have been instructed to take a knee).

I'm waffling.

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:52 PM on September 30