Recent Comments by pivo

The State of Mixed Martial Arts in 2007

Drood, while that may have been true a few years ago about PRIDE and UFC, as you say, I too am surprised it's still around. UFC is far from all Americans now with a great rise in the number of foreign born fighters due to the popularity of the UFC in general and the return of the lightweights. Two of the belts are on foreign born fighters (Brazil and French-Canadian) at the moment. Also, as the rumour mill and the recent/next few UFC cards show, a lot of PRIDE's best talent is coming to the UFC lately. Personally I don't love/hate any of the productions over another, but the influx of all these fighters to the UFC is good, in my opinion, as the UFC is most readily available to me.

posted by pivo at 10:06 AM on January 23, 2007

The State of Mixed Martial Arts in 2007

Pride is tough to find. Fox Sports is showing more and more of it, but just a highlight style show. Other than that all I know of is the PPVs. They do have a lot of PPv shows, I have just never seen them hyped much. I only ever get them when I stumble across them in my channel guide.

posted by pivo at 08:34 PM on January 22, 2007

Test Catch Cricket.

You are Satan incarnate for showing me Stick Cricket. That is all.

posted by pivo at 02:36 AM on December 01, 2006

Its been a long time.

Woohoo Tigers! It's been forever since they were worth cheering for. I have been keeping it on the down low all year not wanting to jinx a playoff berth. grum: As a Tigers fan, I damn Doyle Alexander more than any Jays fan could. Tigers have gotten plenty of bad kharma payback for the Alexander deal...he was aquired from the Braves for some prospect named Smoltz. I hear the Smoltz kid has had a pretty OK career.

posted by pivo at 12:00 AM on September 25, 2006

Fights so bad...

I think Ortiz is overdue for a creaming... You need to see if you can find the Chuck Lidell fight from UFC 47 (I think). He got one. Tito still is an ass kicker How so? He hasn't beaten anybody with a name in 4-5 years, other than Shamrock (who as we know is well past the sell by date). Randy beat him, Liddell crushed him and he barely eeked out split decisions against Cote and Forrest Griffin. I didn't see the Cote fight but his name got him the Griffin decision, IMO. But OP is correct, overall UFC 61 was disappointing, but we knew it would be. All of the good fights are any weight but heavyweight and only Ken Shamrock was in doubt about who would win the rematch. On the plus side the rebirth of the lightweight class has some promise to it. Those are usually entertaining fights.

posted by pivo at 06:17 PM on July 14, 2006

Lawyer said Grimsley was asked to wear wire in Bonds' probe

I hope Pujols is named. I'm curious to see if all the media and fans will rail him the way they have bonds. You already know they won't. Pujols is (basically) universally liked, a good guy, and media friendly. Bonds would be pretty much the polar opposite to all of that. Nobody I know wants the Pujols connection to amount to anything (though deep down we know it probably will). Bonds elicits anger, with Pujols it will largely be disappointment.

posted by pivo at 01:50 PM on June 09, 2006

Balls to this!

I'm a bit confused: Isn't the ball in HATER's image the Telstar which is the iconic soccer ball and the Santiago was horizontal panels looking more like a volleyball? Did I misread the article or is the article incorrect?

posted by pivo at 05:37 PM on May 31, 2006

Different Strokes for Different Folks

How funny is it that spazs are spazzing out over spaz? If I recall, it was one of those enlightened folks from abroad who feared the watermelon and fried chicken dinner after Tiger's Masters win, so touche.

posted by pivo at 02:10 PM on April 11, 2006

You Can Call Them Rays, or You Can Call Them Sting Rays, or You Can Call Them Sun Rays, or You Can Call Them ...

But ya doesn't has to call me Johnson!

posted by pivo at 12:15 AM on April 07, 2006

Lewis wants to cut Bengal who leaked outburst

I guess Orwell was right, some animals really are more equal then other animals. I wouldn't quite say that. I would say that, to someone like Lewis, airing private dirty laundry in public is a bigger transgression than a halftime locker room blow up. I would probably agree with that sentiment. On preview: yeah, what terrapin said.

posted by pivo at 02:43 PM on February 25, 2006

Last call for HTH

Would being in both leagues be greedy? I would like to try the HtH but don't want to gank someone's spot. Should I sign up and give up a spot if someone wanted it or just wait and see?

posted by pivo at 01:52 PM on February 25, 2006

The long awaited Yahoo Roto Baseball League

I'm in as Ahwatukee Alestorm...new name and 3rd times a charm.

posted by pivo at 09:40 PM on February 15, 2006

Fighting Artichokes?

UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. 'Nuff said.

posted by pivo at 01:32 AM on February 15, 2006

There's no excuse for teams to pass on black coaches

rcade has it. In the pool of assistants and coordinators that all this new blood came from this year is where the lack of black coaches were. The railing about the lack of black head coaches is really misguided, I have always thought. The effort should be toward getting more young black coaches on staffs. If they were in those ranks to choose from the number of black head coaches would probably go up greatly without a word from anyone.

posted by pivo at 05:06 PM on February 04, 2006

Crisp FINALLY dealt

As has been said, Crisp and Damon have been very comparable the last two year. Put that with the 6 year age difference, the fact he's gotten better every year in the league, his upside and that he makes $364K versus the $13M Damon is getting for this year and that is quite the deal for the BoSox.

posted by pivo at 11:57 AM on January 28, 2006

Kobe drops 81 for 2nd most in a game in history of NBA.

incorrect, cybermac. Hijinks could be one upped by the likes of hullabaloo, tomfoolery, or the trump card: shenanigans, but not fellated. Not even the same league.

posted by pivo at 10:56 PM on January 24, 2006

Kobe drops 81 for 2nd most in a game in history of NBA.

yerfatma's reply gets full marks...and extra credit for the use of "hijinks".

posted by pivo at 02:31 PM on January 24, 2006

Kobe drops 81 for 2nd most in a game in history of NBA.

Please with all the Kobe bashing. To the travelling argument...someone show me film of Jordan dribbling, ever. Kobe took all the shots in the second half because nobody else could hit water falling out of a boat. If anyone BUT Kobe did this all the naysayers would be gushing about how he refused to lose the game, put the team on his back, and pulled out the win. I agree he should be in MVP consideration, and if the Lakers actually make the playoffs it should be a lock. Outside of Kobe, that team stinks on ice. Anyone who said they would have kept Shaq over Kobe (it was a two way street, plenty of blame to go around on why he left) at this point in their careers is insane. The real reason the Lakers are going nowhere is not Kobe but the (mentioned by jonson) fact they let go of The Logo.

posted by pivo at 04:48 PM on January 23, 2006

Gigantic elk!

Hey! He was my neighbor for about 3 years. Funky.

posted by pivo at 02:15 AM on January 18, 2006

Martz Leaves Rams-

I'm with fade, I would say their chances are now improved.

posted by pivo at 06:40 PM on October 10, 2005

Is it time?

I would go with A-Rod. The offensive stats between the two are very close to being the same so the tipper would have to be that A-Rod got the offensive stats and will probably win a gold glove at his (relatively) new position. Personally, it really would have to be a year with no other viable candidates for me to feel comfortable with a DH getting MVP.

posted by pivo at 03:42 PM on September 24, 2005

Its official...

Joker: The problem is Payton can't play that kind of defense anymore. He hasn't been "The Glove" for quite a while now, even before his uni no longer had "Sonics" on it.

posted by pivo at 08:10 PM on September 22, 2005

Royal Crown:

Or are you just suddenly the dictator of what we all have to care about and what is just silly and beneath you? But he's an ass for not thinking the WNBA is the greatest thing to hit pro sports since the forward pass? Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, pot. Please. You know WNBA is the Spofi equivalent of a religious or political thread. You are free to like it all you want chico, but methinks you should lighten up a bit and toughen up the hide. It is most definitely a niche sport. Personally I could also care less about it, but I am glad it is there as an option for female athletes and people who like that sort of game. Just ease up on the "fuck you"s because others don't enjoy it.

posted by pivo at 02:04 AM on September 22, 2005

washington/dallas

We could discuss the fact that no matter the outcome of the game, we would be left with the absolute worst 2-0 team in the NFL.

posted by pivo at 03:22 AM on September 20, 2005

Will The Phoenix Suns Be Any Good?

Short version: Suns are built better for the playoffs than they were last year, but won't put up the same crazy regular season record. This is the NBA which, much like hockey, doesn't start until June. They still probably can't get past the Spurs (who really could right now) but they are better equipped to try. YMMV.

posted by pivo at 03:13 PM on August 26, 2005

Ah, Yankees fans...

anymore doubts about cutting off alcohol after a certain time? Moot point, as he is 18. Never, melcarek69?

posted by pivo at 05:57 PM on August 10, 2005

Shaq signs with the Heat for the next five years.

I too was wondering why a 5 year deal. I will honestly be surprised if Shaq is playing well in 5 years. Maybe they will just dust him off for the playoffs by that time.

posted by pivo at 12:45 PM on August 03, 2005

Palmeiro took powerful steroid

It is rare, but I have to agree with rcade. There is absolutely no need for whatever they tested positive for to be a secret. The only thing that it allows them is to get away with saying "I didn't know" or "it was in my OTC cold medicine". The leak was technically wrong but overall not so bad. Personally I hope they leak every positives actual drug, as it is the first thing I want to know every time I hear of one. Like what was Ryan Franklin on? A 6-11 record and a 4.16 ERA could help wipe that juice outta the market if we knew what it was.

posted by pivo at 12:42 PM on August 03, 2005

Chris Chelios,

Whether "get the gas" is a common euphemism for being fired, in the context he used it that is certainly what he meant. Please disperse...nothing to see here.

posted by pivo at 05:37 PM on July 12, 2005

Queen of the green.

The only thing now is to see what Richard says to screw up the celebration for Venus.

posted by pivo at 03:05 PM on July 02, 2005

Arturo Gatti drops his gloves.

chico, what did Mayweather say that riled you so? I heard on the radio Mayweather was "classy" after the fight and there is this from the article:

Mayweather was gracious in victory after a trash-talking buildup. "Gatti was tough, strong and came to fight. I respect Arturo for giving me the chance to win the title," he said. "He's a great champion and I'm a great champion. Everything I said about him before the fight was just to hype the fight."
Seems OK to me, is there a Mayweather interview out there with the nasty stuff?

posted by pivo at 06:58 PM on June 27, 2005

Dallas Maverick's center Shawn Bradley to retire after 12 years in the game.

I would wager Shawn Bradley is on more NBA posters and highlight reels than any other player ever. ESPN must be deeply saddened by this news.

posted by pivo at 12:42 PM on June 23, 2005

Rafael Nadal the new tennis king?

Not a huge tennis fan here, but doesn't winning the French just mean he's good on clay? Don't the clay players usually get eaten up on the faster surfaces? Doesn't the French Open winner often disappear until the next French Open? Just wondering.

posted by pivo at 07:51 PM on June 06, 2005

Why can't anyone throw a baseball faster than 100 mph?

That makes what guys like Bob Feller and Bob Gibson look even more impressive. You have it backwards there. The mound was lowered in 1968 to its current height. From 15" to 10 ". Gibson and Feller had the advantage, not today's pitchers.

posted by pivo at 07:57 PM on April 13, 2005

38 Minor Leaguers Suspended

Funny how it's 38 minor leaguers and one minor major leaguer in the same timeframe...

posted by pivo at 06:48 PM on April 06, 2005

American Cyclist Must Save Face

As has been noted: It is far worse he has the tatoo without any respect or knowledge of its signifigance than that his sponsors are put off by it.

posted by pivo at 04:17 PM on March 22, 2005

Bonds May Miss 2005 Season

he wasn't too clear on why though. But you do know why, right?

posted by pivo at 04:11 PM on March 22, 2005

Bonds May Miss 2005 Season

6 months should probably be something like 3-ish there.

posted by pivo at 04:04 PM on March 22, 2005

Bonds May Miss 2005 Season

Damn handy timing this. I read this as: "I'ma lay low 'til this steroids thing blows over. I'll test the waters in 6 mos and see if I am 'ready to play' or need more 'rehab'. As and added bonus I have a built-in excuse for my impending weight loss." Perhaps I am too cynical and reading between too many lines, but the timing is a little too convenient for my liking. I say there is no way he retires without at least catching Ruth, even if he sits the whole year.

posted by pivo at 04:01 PM on March 22, 2005

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball League 2005

I know I'm late but some food for thought on 3 bench players: I would say stay with five. With baseball's pitchers schedules, off days, and especially the non-DL injuries, bench spots are pretty important to fill those daily changing roster holes. The bench is what gives value to the light hitting utility infielder who is qualed at three positions in a roto league. In a 20 team league the waiver wire probably isn't going to be an issue either way, as anything with two legs and a pulse will be picked up already. I would also question the need for more waiver wire activity in a league. More trading I am all for but the waiver wire, meh. As always YMMV.

posted by pivo at 01:46 PM on March 02, 2005

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball League 2005

I'll snag a spot if open still

posted by pivo at 12:32 PM on March 01, 2005

Moss to be traded to Oakland

One problem with Moss pulling a TO. TO got a huge upgrade in running game and QB. Moss is going in quite the other direction in both regards.

posted by pivo at 09:57 PM on February 23, 2005

Silver anniversary for 'Miracle on Ice'.

Remember it like it was yesterday. Also, damn I'm getting old :)

posted by pivo at 12:01 PM on February 22, 2005

Closure.

garfield, what the fuck? Did I enjoy myself? I didn't even think it came off as a rant. Contrary to what you may believe, you are not the one true hockey fan or arbiter of all things hockey (though I will concede you may very well be President and Founder of the Bettman is Satan Club). I stated my opinion on the situation which had been done 99 times previously. Just because you don't agree doesn't make it a rant or even wrong. If you feel you must, by all means correct away. Though I will say the only arguable point is whether or not the league survives this. I honestly don't see how it can. As I mentioned, the league needed casual fans by the boatload and this is the kind of thing that really will keep them away in droves. Baseball had a much larger core fanbase and many more casual and fringe fans when they went on strike and look what it did to them. The NHL started on tenuos ground and went downhill with the labor strife. So tell me how they can bounce back, I would really like to hear.

posted by pivo at 03:02 PM on February 17, 2005

Closure.

How could they cancel the season already? I thought Hockey started in June. ;) But I had hoped savvy fans would be able to see through this ruse. The NHL didn't need saavy fans, they needed fringe fans, casual fans. This was the problem (other than salaries/spending) before the lockout. This is why they had a TV contract with what 5 games on at random times. The way it was going the NHL would have to start paying for airtime soon. Whose to blame? Owners are to blame for spending themselves into trouble. Players are to blame for refusing (until WAYYYY too late) to give in on salaries while simultaneoulsy playing for relative (even under the owner's cap) peanuts in various other leagues. All sides are to blame for not even thinking about negotiating until training camps were to open, and then not even talking for months on end. Everyone involved is culpable. Goodenow and Bettman are the same damn guy, just on opposite sides of the fence. The NHL was in serious trouble without the labor strife and lockout. Now it is dead. Get rid of/keep ties? Open up the ice? Get rid of the traps and holds? Contract teams? All moot at this point without a league. Have fun in Lower Slobovia and East Freedonia fellas, it's your full time gig now.

posted by pivo at 01:59 PM on February 17, 2005

Scoreboard, Freddie...Scoreboard

Hey look, Freddie got a SpoFi account. Cool! Seriously, that could have been a pull quote from the interview.

posted by pivo at 05:35 PM on February 11, 2005

Gary Bettman

Replace Bettman in the joke with Goodenow or Roenick and it is just as apropos.

posted by pivo at 04:44 PM on February 10, 2005

"American football is, in short, a made-up sport."

It's so warm under this blanket statement. But that really isn't the statement he made. I read the original comment as a sort of tongue-in-cheek jab at the whole "made-up" thing in the article (and by inference, "naturalness" or "purity" of all things European/British). Of course, the cherry-picked, out of context snippet replied to is indeed a blanket statement. Gotta reply to the comments as a whole - definitely unfair! You may now proceed with your regulary scheduled "America Sucks" jingoism. Man, I wish I was cool and hip and hated all things American too.

posted by pivo at 05:53 PM on February 08, 2005

"American football is, in short, a made-up sport."

Put me in the "all sports are made-up, aren't they?" camp as well. If this article were posted here I believe it would get filed under T. And who is "Crib Collingworth"? Is that a jab of some sort or just a serendiptous reflection of the quality of this article as a whole?

posted by pivo at 02:17 PM on February 08, 2005

Emmitt Smith will be retiring today

I'll lay it out for you all :) Jim Brown is not only the greatest RB of all time, he's arguably the greatest football player ever. He did in 9 years of 12 and 14 game seasons what took the rest of them over 10 years of 16 game seasons to pass. 9 years, 9 pro bowls, led the league 8 times. 9 years of being the entire team, the focus of every defensive player and cheap shot in the league...never missed a play. On the Barry v. Emmit front I have to go with Barry. The man rushed for 2000 one season playing for the Lions. The LIONS! He got the Lions to the playoffs. These are Herculean feats in and of themselves. In case you didn't know, the Lions haven't been what you'd call a good team since Bobby Layne was under center. Emmitt, while a great back, was also on one of the best teams in NFL history. He was part of the triplets. He had a great O-Line and Daryl Johnston. He also had some nice career longevity to help him out. And please, with the rings argument. It doesn't really hold in most sports, but definitely not for football. What is this, a Jeter thread? ;)

posted by pivo at 06:42 PM on February 01, 2005

"How did Jacksonville get the Super Bowl?"

Do something. You have 1 week! Like build enough infrastructure to support a Super Bowl. I hear they are bringing in cruise ships in lieu of hotel rooms. That doesn't really get it done on the "impressing the NFL enough to come back" front. I'll take your challenge mayerkl. 32 teams so I need 8 cities better to live in/visit than Jacksonville. Go! (in no particualr order): Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, Miami, Houston, New York. 8 easy! I could probably go 20+ deep if you like :)

posted by pivo at 03:22 PM on January 28, 2005

New MLB steroid-testing agreement

It certainly has more teeth than the 5 failed tests, which you knew were coming, and then you get the first time suspension. This iteration of it could be harsher, but it's miles better than the previous deal. The players really had to give in on this one. or the PR would have killled them. Garfield, it might indeed bring players to the public conscience, but that may not be so good. I would imagine endorsement deals getting dropped left and right for even the first time offender. The athletic apparel and equipment companies probably would not want to be associated with known steroid users.

posted by pivo at 12:57 PM on January 13, 2005

Stephen A. Smith = Football Expert

HOWEVAH!!!! The rule as it pertained to the particular situation at hand and whatnot should exist! The fact that it does not is a TRAVESTY!

posted by pivo at 11:57 AM on January 11, 2005

Start spreadin' the news.

20-25 wins and 2 more each in the ALDS, ALCS, and WS (with a save on short rest thrown in somewhere in the playoffs) from now and no one will give a shit about a nosy f'n camera crew. Though the irony of a media recluse, who thought the Phoenix media was mean, going to NY will crack me up every day of his big fat contract.

posted by pivo at 11:57 PM on January 10, 2005

Big Unit to the Big Apple

After all these off-season moves, it will be even funnier than usual if the Yankees don't win it all. Johnson is the most dominating pitcher on the planet right now, but all you folks worried about his back are on the wrong track. His knee is rapidly going Mo Vaughn (bone on bone). Hope you have a healthy supply of cortisone on hand in the training. As to the dislike between Johnson and Schilling, from a Phoenix perspective I don't really see it. They played golf together regularly when they were both here. Only real issue was Randy didn;t seem to dig on sharing the spotlight after the WS win.

posted by pivo at 03:01 AM on January 01, 2005

Ray suing NHLPA

So what he may or may not be retired but is only technically active? So what he "betrayed" his union (no moreso than the scabs in Europe, IMO)? Is he a current due paying member of the NHLPA? If yes, pay him. The union has little to gain and much to lose by not doing so.

posted by pivo at 04:04 PM on December 29, 2004

We had our say about

A pretty good back and forth there. They seemed to agree on too many points though, needs a muckraker in there. They definitely have a point on the guys you saw having a bigger impact on your thinking. Growing up a Tigers fan in the '80's it is unthinkable to me that anyone could NOT vote Jack Morris and to a lesser extent Alan Trammell in. In this age of the highlight and 24-hour media we forget not everyone saw what you did back in the day. I like the fact these guys are voters but open minded. They aren't speaking in terms of "I would never vote for that guy" but rather that they haven't been convinced or swayed on a guy.

posted by pivo at 02:06 PM on December 27, 2004

T.O. O.U.T.

So is Andy Reid breathing a sigh of relief or sweating not having him in the early playoff rounds? The NFC is so unbelievably weak the Eagles probably have nothing much to worry about, assuming he's back and healthy for the NFC Champpionship game.

posted by pivo at 07:30 PM on December 20, 2004

Boston wraps up Renteria just in time for Christmas.

I was thinking lineups instead of park differences, but fair enough on that point. 69 RBI a year for Montreal has to be tougher than 71 for St. Louis, no matter where they play :)

posted by pivo at 12:31 AM on December 16, 2004

Boston wraps up Renteria just in time for Christmas.

I still say they are very similar players. I agree Renteria is a better hitter than Cabrera (though Cabrera probably has slightly better power). My point was the gain on Renteria over Cabrera just doesn't seem worth $2-5M/yr (whatever Cabrera may sign for) to me. Throw some gravy on a big name pitcher contract or grab a couple good utility guys with that cash. Comparison time: 162 game career averages (BA/OBP/SLG - BB/K - RBI/HR) Cabrera: .268/.316/.409 - 41/54 - 12/69 Renteria: .289/.346/.400 - 54/84 - 10/71 I think many of the career differences in their stats can be attributed to Cabrera being in Montreal and Renteria's way outside the curve '02 and '03 seasons.

posted by pivo at 07:31 PM on December 15, 2004