littleLebowski's profile

littleLebowski
2981
Name: Eric Young
Location: Columbus, OH
Gender: Male
Member since: September 19, 2005
Last visit: January 25, 2016

littleLebowski has posted 4 links and 303 comments to SportsFilter and 1 link and 19 comments to the Locker Room.

Sports Bio

Most memorable sporting event: Either the last time I saw Payne Stewart play - at The Memorial ... or ... A-Deck at the Horseshoe for Ohio St v Michigan
Favorite teams:
Ohio State, Columbus BlueJackets, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds

Recent Links

What are SpoFites' favorite books?: "I get no respect. I was crossing the street. I got hit by a mobile library. I was lying there in pain, screaming. The guy looked at me. He went, 'Shhhh.'" (Rodney Dangerfield)

posted by littleLebowski to navel gazing at 10:50 PM on April 24, 2007 - 104 comments

Lions' Roy Williams says "score means nothing": ... even though those wacky NFL rules suggest otherwise.

posted by littleLebowski to football at 02:02 PM on September 18, 2006 - 34 comments

The Decline of Civilization - Bambino #3? ... Ease up: I don't read this columnist consistently enough to have a global opinion of his work, but I thought this was a very well-written article on a piece of this topic that gets irresponsibly blown up (as in the case of the LSU professor) but not often talked about from what I've seen on SpoFi.

posted by littleLebowski to baseball at 07:57 AM on April 13, 2006 - 58 comments

Would you rather run laps or ... ?: Nottingham Forest manager Gary Megson came up with a novel way of punishing his under-performing soccer players over the weekend when he made them face disgruntled fans in the changing rooms.

posted by littleLebowski to general at 03:11 PM on October 26, 2005 - 11 comments

Is Daly back?! Hopefully, for the game's sake, but his putter and Tiger weigh in - : In the midst of mediocre football and incredible baseball, the two most arguably polarizing PGA pros provided high drama. Plus, interested in agreement or disgust with the notion that Tirico, Faldo, Azinger make the most genuine, insightful, and quality golf broadcast team in recent memory.

posted by littleLebowski to golf at 12:27 PM on October 10, 2005 - 10 comments

Recent Comments

NFL Pick 'Em, Week 4: First-Place Jacksonville Edition

Not participating the first 3 weeks guarantees me a spot at the bottom, so if you don't want to take the time to analyze someone who's irrelevant, I wouldn't complain.
Otherwise, for kicks :
Pittsburgh by 1
Miami by 3
Atlanta by 4
Buffalo by 8
Oakland by 1
Cincinnati by 6
Indianapolis by 20
Carolina by 7
Philadelphia by 16
San Diego by 9
Denver by 7
Arizona by 10
Green Bay by 13
New Orleans by 11
Seattle by 17 - LOCK

posted by littleLebowski at 12:40 PM on October 01, 2015

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

2011 : 90-72 2012 : 69-93 2013 : 97-65 2014 : 39-50

I wonder if there's ever been another team so wildly up-and-down as the Red Sox over the last 3+ years. (I could probably be more vague if I tried, but I'm willing to say "grum" 3 times in the mirror, if that'll help)

posted by littleLebowski at 01:18 PM on July 08, 2014

Josh Gordon Failed Drug Test, Faces Year-Long Suspension

And, it's beautiful how they admit/brag that the Gordon situation didn't affect their draft plans ... problem is, the team needed a #2 receiver behind him anyway, and then tack this on ... they still passed on several quality receivers. Ah, it's so fun being a Browns fan.

posted by littleLebowski at 12:08 PM on May 12, 2014

MLB Admits Error in Calling Gwynn Out at Home

Mathis' left leg is clearly in the base line before the catch.

There's just too much gray area for this. How long before "true interference" must the catcher vacate that area of the plate/baseline? The catcher is standing in order to get a good view of the developing play - does he have to be concerned about the runner just starting to approach/round 3rd base? If the goal is truly reduce injuries, then why isn't this rule applied to 2nd and 3rd bases? To my knowledge, there's no rule that says if a shortstop's body part ever enters the plane between 1st and 2nd, then the runner is safe. But, I admittedly might be wrong.

The point, to me, is that Mathis' leg being where it was had no role in the development or outcome of the play. Now, had Gwynn come into contact with the leg before Mathis had the ball, then yes, he should be safe, no matter whether the leg blocked him from the plate before being tagged. But, Mathis was in a reasonable position to complete the play and his body position before the ball arriving didn't impact anything. That said, I didn't say you (rcade) or grum or MLB was wrong in how you're saying the rule, as written, should've been applied. Nor do I have a problem with the ultimate intent. But, this situation is just the poster child for why this rule, as is, is just dumb.

posted by littleLebowski at 03:38 PM on April 15, 2014

MLB Admits Error in Calling Gwynn Out at Home

If this is a violation, that just reinforces how insane the rule is. Part of the problem is how you define "as he is attempting to score". Gwynn does not alter his path as he heads into home plate ... plus the ball beats him there. Yes, Mathis' leg is in the baseline before the ball gets to him, but it's while he's in the process of making the catch. What is the expectation of the catcher in this situation, especially on an excellent throw that is heading directly at the plate? You want the catcher standing upright in the grass, be out of position to take the throw, then make a falling catch and try to apply the tag. To me, the rule is ridiculous, as written, regardless. But it's slightly better if the definition of "score" is "touch home plate". If that's the case, then I don't give a crud where the catcher is while the runner is rounding third (nice little non-chalant dance there, btw, Gwynn), as long as the runner isn't yet upon the catcher, then the catcher should be able to be whereever he needs to be, in order to make the catch.

posted by littleLebowski at 01:36 PM on April 15, 2014

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Congrats, grum!

posted by littleLebowski at 01:22 PM on May 22, 2013

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Former referee Mike Pereira clarified that while it is not allowable in the rules, there is no penalty.

That's precious. So, do it and you're only on the receiving end of a finger-wag? When I questioned dyams, it was purely out of curiosity. As a Brown's fan, I long ago swore in blood to forever hate the Ravens, and the practice kick "felt" wrong. So, I agree - that should be sured up in the offseason.

But, I don't have a problem at all with the "practice kick" after a late icing timeout - within reason. Like others have said, anything that discourages that childish practice is fine by me. But, maybe a solution is to have an official stand between the snapper and holder and then leave the "pocket" after the line is set. That way, the rule could be "you can still be an asshat and call a timeout whenever you want, but if you call it after the official steps away, the kicking team gets to take that practice shot." but at the same time, the kicker can't abuse the situation if the timeout is called in undeniably plenty of time.

posted by littleLebowski at 01:34 PM on January 14, 2013

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

The Ravens kicker ... isn't legal and should have been penalized.

It felt weird to me, too, but I'm not aware of any rule explicitly forbidding it. I could be un-lazy and look this up myself, but since you're the one calling shenanigans - do you have a source for the claim that it's illegal?

posted by littleLebowski at 01:08 PM on January 14, 2013

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, World Series Edition

Detroit in 7
Verlander
5 IBB
3:38

posted by littleLebowski at 03:18 PM on October 24, 2012

Penn State Fined $60 Million, Paterno Wins Vacated Since 1998

I wouldn't consider myself "invested" but I definitely think the punishment is appropriate ... but, I'd honestly almost rather see the team perform admirably and even win throughout this. I hold no ill will toward the current staff and certainly not the players. While I feel punishment had to be levied, as a reminder of the athletic program's proper "place" in the grand scheme of things and what is "right", the most severe penalites against the most applicable offenders have or are going to be assessed directly to those individuals. Heck, if the university and the football team approach this in a humanly decent way, they could use "football wins" to bring even more positive light to the healing process, moreso than they'd probably have a pulpit to do, if they were losing.

posted by littleLebowski at 01:56 PM on July 23, 2012

Too Much Penn State?

"this be the last thread on the front page"

With much respect, scully, I don't "get" this stance. Why avoid SpoFi for a period of time or beseech the rest of the site, when you essentially have the ability to "change the channel"? Simply don't open these threads and focus on the other commentary here that you seem to value.

And claiming that this isn't relevant to a sports site reminds me of the critics saying that the NCAA shouldn't have been involved in punishment because this situation wasn't football-related. That latter sentiment is utter horseshit. The coverup was purely to maintain the perceived prestige of Paterno, the football program, and the university, with the end-goals being to keep Penn St football a desirable destination for recruits and continue to win football games. The lack of morals and the desire and ability to cover something like this up represents a "competitive advantage" because I can't fathom many other programs or universities being willing to guarantee their spot in hell, just in the hopes of not losing a couple recruits. This isn't JUST a football thing (lord, I wish it was), but it sure as hell is AT LEAST a football thing. This inability to recognize the full scope of the issue is exactly the reason the NCAA HAD to step in.

"just seems to create an untenable position for a school"

Untenable, really? Difficult, maybe. Yes, the police and prosecutors let everyone down in 1998. That doesn't eliminate Penn St. from doing what is "right". And I don't think "right" smells like granting someone who you're pretty damn sure is a child predator with a sweet retirement package and continued access to your university. Couldn't the appropriate actions taken by Penn St be conversations such as a) "Police and prosecutors, you might think you're doing Penn St a favor be sweeping this away, but please don't go soft on this guy on our account." and b) "Sandusky, we can't take criminal law into our own hands, but there is the gate leading out of this university. Walk through it, never look back, never set foot on these grounds again, and by god, if we even catch a whiff of you being up to no good ..."

Certainly not a fun situation to find yourself in as a university, but to say you can't do anything about it ... BS.

posted by littleLebowski at 10:54 AM on July 23, 2012

Penn State Fined $60 Million, Paterno Wins Vacated Since 1998

"just seems to create an untenable position for a school"

Untenable, really? Difficult, maybe. Yes, the police and prosecutors let everyone down in 1998. That doesn't eliminate Penn St. from doing what is "right". And I don't think "right" smells like granting someone who you're pretty damn sure is a child predator with a sweet retirement package and continued access to your university. Couldn't the appropriate actions taken by Penn St be conversations such as a) "Police and prosecutors, you might think you're doing Penn St a favor be sweeping this away, but please don't go soft on this guy on our account." and b) "Sandusky, we can't take criminal law into our own hands, but there is the gate leading out of this university. Walk through it, never look back, never set foot on these grounds again, and by god, if we even catch a whiff of you being up to no good ..."

Certainly not a fun situation to find yourself in as a university, but to say you can't do anything about it ... BS.

posted by littleLebowski at 10:54 AM on July 23, 2012

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

That's likely the most appropriate response any of the original Dream Team-ers could've offered. Well done, Mr. Bird.

posted by littleLebowski at 07:22 PM on July 12, 2012

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

there's a legitimate point to be made about someone being both judge and jury.

That might be a fun discussion ,but then they should've made that point before agreeing to it in the CBA. Your judge-and-jury stance is fair, in a vacuum, but that's not what this grievance is about - not just my opinion, but look at the details of the grievance. So, turns out out to be simply "even thought we allowed it in the CBA, we don't like anything-Goodell, plus we have to stand up for our players, who feel they got the shaft (even though what they participated in is afront to other players), so we're throwing a couple loopholes against the wall and hope they stick." That's why, despite an acknowledgement of the union's purpose, some folks might have a foul taste from this kind of gamesmanship.

posted by littleLebowski at 12:40 PM on May 04, 2012

MLB prediction thread!

AL East : NY
AL Central : Detroit
AL West : Texas
AL WC 1 : Anaheim
AL WC 2 : Tampa

NL East : Philly
NL Central : Cinci
NL West : Arizona
NL WC 1 : Miami
NL WC 2 : LA

posted by littleLebowski at 01:52 PM on April 04, 2012