dfleming's profile

dfleming
1000
Member since: January 12, 2004
Last visit: November 21, 2009

dfleming has posted 14 links and 611 comments to SportsFilter and 3 links and 142 comments to the Locker Room and 1 column.

Recent Links

Nadal and Roddick speak out against the 11 month tennis season.: After injuries force Nadal, Roddick, Federer and Andy Murray out this season, some of the top players are outwardly expressing their distaste for a lack of offseason. "It's ridiculous to think that you have a professional sport that doesn't have a legitimate off-season to rest, get healthy, and then train," Roddick said. "I just feel sooner or later that common sense has to prevail."

posted by dfleming to tennis at 10:58 AM on October 12 - 10 comments

Report: Nike Reaches Endorsement Deal with Michael Vick: It took two incomplete passes and seven yards on the ground but apparently Nike has reached an endorsement deal with Michael Vick, his representative announced at a marketing conference Wednesday in New York. Nike denies the report of an endorsement deal.

posted by dfleming to football at 08:23 PM on September 30 - 54 comments

Phil Kessel is finally traded to the Maple Leafs: A high price to pay for the sniper they desperately needed; first and second round picks in 2010 and a first round pick in 2011.

posted by dfleming to hockey at 09:33 PM on September 18 - 16 comments

Patriots Trade Richard Seymour to Raiders: The New England Patriots have traded five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders for a first-round pick in 2011.

posted by dfleming to football at 12:06 PM on September 07 - 13 comments

Dany Heatley: wants out of Ottawa. With 5 years @ 7.5 Million a season left and complete control over his destination with a no-movement clause, it's hard to imagine Bryan Murray's feeling good about his job right now.

posted by dfleming to hockey at 02:38 PM on June 09 - 2 comments

Recent Comments

Iraqi Detainees Have Become Vikings Fans

(who's Brent?)

A great t-shirt.

posted by dfleming at 04:19 PM on November 21

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Gut check 1 (admittedly, we'll never know if punting would have won the game) Math geeks and Bill Belichick 0

and

But, since Belichick failed this time, the numbers are now surely in his favor the next time, I mean, that'd be logical wouldn't it?

No, it wouldn't be. Individual results cannot be predicted by probability. People who think this way end up playing slot machines until they lose their house.

Math geeks weren't proven wrong by what happened; probability has to do with aggregates, not individual results or guaranteed predictions. If the play was run 1000 times, it's likely work out around 700/1000. Which 700 times? We have no idea.

posted by dfleming at 01:54 PM on November 21

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

It's painful to see him reject logic so brazenly.

Football is a folksy game, and it's no wonder that so many within it have a tough time adjusting to the number of math geeks trumping traditional assumptions.

posted by dfleming at 09:54 AM on November 21

AP Columnist: 'Soccer Players Can't Be Trusted'

If what Henry did was cheating, then pretty much every player in team sports cheats.

Agreed. I mean, if people were completely honest, we'd need a referee only once in a blue moon.

posted by dfleming at 02:11 PM on November 20

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

I guarantee you if Doug Flutie was still playing, you'd see the same play this week.

posted by dfleming at 11:30 AM on November 20

CFL Pick 'Em, Division Finals Edition

Montreal by 9 Saskatchewan by 3 Anthony Calvillo Montreal

posted by dfleming at 09:05 AM on November 20

Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young

Wainright gets the largest number of first place votes but still loses; weird stuff, this 5-3-1 system. Congrats to Tim, he is a stud starter for years to come.

posted by dfleming at 01:11 AM on November 20

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Fudge Platini with the rough end of a baguette.

New favorite phrase. Thanks!

posted by dfleming at 07:49 AM on November 19

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

By what method do you determine who's being more aggressive?

Check for froth around the mouth.

The method is a little flawed; they used only first half fouls to eliminate the end of game fouls which occur when a team is leading late. That notwithstanding, it's a little problematic to leave half a game's worth of data out.

posted by dfleming at 06:57 PM on November 18

Scioscia, Tracy Win Manager of the Year Awards

The Jim Tracy award was a good one; who would've thought the Rockies would be such a stud team for half the season?

posted by dfleming at 04:14 PM on November 18

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Interesting study on refereeing in basketball; if you're the team with fewer fouls, away from home and leading, watch the foul calls pile up.

posted by dfleming at 03:09 PM on November 18

Zack Greinke Wins American League Cy Young

Two votes to Felix Hernandez and one to Justin Verlander.

posted by dfleming at 03:05 PM on November 18

Zack Greinke Wins American League Cy Young

I would've been more than happy to do that but I would much rather just answer the question that was given to me honestly.

Here's a timeline:

Mkultra said that Greinke deserved the award, which is in line with the definition of the word deserve. He has had a season of merit.

You questioned whether or not he deserved it, based on the fact that other people may deserve it as well. That is when your personal definition comes into play and is wrong for the first time; multiple people may be deserving of the award, according to the definition.

Justgary, I'm assuming out of some state of bewilderment, inquires as to what it means to you. You respond with something that's contrary to the definition of the word again.

You were wrong before you formally declared it. There were multiple deserving people of the award and Greinke, statistically, is the most deserving, hence him being robbed if he didn't get it. Others are less deserving, but still deserving to some extent.

Fuck semantics tire me.

posted by dfleming at 02:23 PM on November 18

Zack Greinke Wins American League Cy Young

That no one but Grienke was in contention of winning the award.

I'm happy you have a personal definition of the word but for everyone's sake, consult a dictionary.

posted by dfleming at 01:55 PM on November 18

Titans Owner Bud Adams Flips Off the Bills

I'll tell them, and I'll expect a free pass.

If by free pass, you mean huge fine, then sure.

posted by dfleming at 12:08 PM on November 17