- 10:07 PM
- 07/06/08
Judge Hits Andy Reid Out of Bounds A county judge called the home of the Philadelphia Eagles' coach a "drug emporium" when sentencing his adult sons Garrett and Britt to jail time for drug- and weapon-related offenses Thursday, questioning why so many prescription drugs were around a house with two known abusers. Both have been living with Reid, who took a five-week leave when they were arrested on the same day in January, but their parents have not been implicated in their crimes. "This is a family in crisis," Judge Steven O'Neill said.
posted to Football at 10:58 AM CDT
Hockey Sweater Showdown! #1 Montreal Canadians vs. #2 Chicago Blackhawks The voting ends November 1st. In true Chicago tradition I urge you to vote early and vote often as these Finalist Square for NHL Bragging Rights. See how your squad's threads did in comparison to these Timeless Classics.
posted to Hockey at 8:32 PM CDT
The chicks comments on the Flyers' logo are pretty funny actually...
I don't even know what that symbol is. It's not flying, it's not a P; it's a meaningless circle. It's a circle with a mullet.
Fitting. Very fitting.
posted at 2:44 PM CDT on October 30
Bruins' Patrice Bergeron Leaves Game on Stretcher In tonight's game, the Boston forward was knocked out after being driven from behind into the glass by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones. "Patrice has regained consciousness and has been taken to Massachusetts General Hospital," said team physician Dr. Bertram Zarins. (See the video)
posted to Hockey at 8:39 PM CDT
Thuggery? Seriously? Get over it. Hoepfully Bergeron is okay. Jones should be suspended, but let's get real.
This play happens at least 15 times a game. It's just unfortunate that Bergeron stopped short of the glass and Jones continued with his check. Yes, it's wrong but it happens all the time. Bergeron gets against the glass and play continues.
But a player on your team would never do such a thing. Bullshit, watch any time a puck gets dumped.
As for Boulerice and Downie, there's no place for that crap and they deserve to be cut.
posted at 1:49 PM CDT on October 28
Yes, Randy Jones is a buffoonery-filled goon. He's just hidden it his whole career but decided now was the time to show it. You're all right. And no one ever gets hit from behind on a dump-in. And if they did, SDD's league would hold a hearing and they'd never be allowed to play in his adult league again. And they'd be devastated, I'm sure.
posted at 8:38 PM CDT on October 28
I just read that Darrien Hatcher said this type of play happens 15 times a game. I want to make it clear that I made that statement before he did. In fact, maybe he reads sportsfilter and stole it from me.
...the Flyers have let go or reassigned...
In all fairness, they've only "reassigned" them to the AHL so they don't have to pay them. They've been bringing both of them up for scheduled NHL games so they can serve their suspensions then sending them back down.
I'll give Downie one more chance to get his head on straight because the kid can play if he decides he doesn't want to be an idiot. But Boulerice should be gone. He's going to get Danny Briere or Simon Gagne killed for the crap he pulls. Plus, because of Boulerice, Randy Jones has become the whipping-boy for all that is wrong with the NHL.
posted at 10:12 AM CDT on October 29
Oh get real, sdd, watch something other than amateur hockey and you'll see this was an accident: A poorly timed collision in a sport that moves fast, and a skater who put himself in a vulnerable position. Seriously, you are not being honest with yourself if you don't think that this play doesn't happen regularly. Next time you watch a pro game, watch when a puck goes in the corner. Watch the guy play the puck and watch another guy hit him from behind. Whether or not you like it, or think it's right, it's part of the game. Watch how the first player puts himself up against the glass so he absorbs the hit. It's the first thing you're taught when you play check-hockey: Don't stop and bend over two feet from the glass.
I'm repeating myself, and just getting frustrated by people who won't take off their team-colored glasses. If Bergeron goes all the way to the glass it is a routine play. Jones may have been over-eager, but he wasn't trying to be dirty. No one is more apologetic than he is.
He isn't a dirty player, he wasn't trying to be dirty, he was just trying make a routine play -- whether it's right or not it happens every period of every game -- where a defender stands an opposing player up against the glass.
If you can't admit that doesn't happen regularly, you are not being honest with yourself and are just piling on.
Hockey is so fast-paced you say you play so you have an idea just how incredibly fast things develop. So you really think Stevens said to Jones on the bench, "Hey, when Bergeron gets near the boards, bend him over and shove him head first into the boards."?
And I think Julien might be a bit biased. Just a guess. Colin Campbell will suspend Jones and he will go overboard with the suspension, because he's a puppet scared to death of the Globe and Mail and TSN. Two games would be the correct call. Anything over 5 games is ridiculous.
I can't say I would be against fining the team, again, because of what Boulerice did. As previously stated, I don't want to see him back in the NHL. They put him on the ice and have to live with the consequences.
I do, however, hate to see Jones taking the bulk of the blame.
posted at 11:27 AM CDT on October 29
Good debating skills. Way to play the body and not the puck. Well done.
Savagery doesn't belong in the game, but if you're going to compare Randy Jones to Jesse Boulerice you obviously have no clue what you're talking about in this situation.
I could say say a lot of things here, but I'll keep it above the belt. You prove my point -- and show your own true colors -- by going after me in such a shallow manner.
posted at 11:52 AM CDT on October 29
I've always argued in favor of the hitter. But I guess whatever I say will still be taken as a statement from a fan. I suppose that's fair. When people were defending Belichick, I felt the same way about them. (No, I did not just compare the crimes, just our reactions, so don't even go down that road.) I will say more often than not, I've argued in favor of the hitter.
I don't want to sound like the head of the Randy Jones defense team, but I also hate seeing a player -- any player -- getting fingered as the posterboy for a play that happens regularly because, in his case, a player was injured. Checks from behind are bad, no argument. Jones should not have done what he did, again no argument. He should have been suspended for two games. The league should examine hits from behind because they do happen a lot. That doesn't mean I think they're okay. I just don't think you can string a guy up because of the outcome. But we are talking about a league that bases the length of a particular penalty on blood or no blood, so I suppose reactionary is part of the M.O.
Here's what I think happened. As has been earlier stated, no one was in Jones' head. For all I know Bergeron could have molested his dog. this is just an attempt at a recreation. (CSI SpoFi)
If you watch Bergeron as he comes across the blueline, he looks at the defender to his left. As he goes into the corner, he's expecting that defender to follow the play and likely deliver the hit. He did not expect Jones, who is coming from across the ice to send the hit. So Bergeron is bracing for a hit coming from his left, so he stops and sort of spins a bit to the right which would get him out of the line of the other defender. But Jones is coming for a hit from behind, by the letter of the law illegal, but still a routine play. He's not expecting Bergeron to stop. Bergeron's stop is quick, hence the snow from his skate. Jones is guilty of not adjusting, perhaps not paying attention as he had every intention of hitting Bergeron from behind. But he did not expect Bergeron to stop as he did. If you picture Bergeron up against the glass as Jones finishes his check, it isn't a brutal hit. But Bergeron stopped and Jones didn't
The league needs to address this. The league needs to both make players aware that they can't hit from behind and they also need to be aware when their back is to the play. They need to be aware of what's going on at all times.
Expecting a hit from behind is sort of like crossing the street in a crosswalk. If I'm walking and you're driving, it's you're fault if you hit me. But that doesn't mean I'm going to cross just assuming you'll stop and I have o plan accordingly. Likewise, players should be ready for a hit from behind near the boards, and coaches should teach them as such. Doesn't mean the hitter isn't at fault, just means everyone would be safer. The whole ounce-of-prevention thing. I've read before that some high school and college coaches actually teach their kids to turn their backs at the glass to protect the puck. That's a horrible idea. But I digress.
the accusation that I only watch amateur hockey
SDD, I didn't mean to imply you only watch amateur hockey. I know you do a lot with amateur hockey, and the rules interpretations are different in pro as compared to high school and college. That is why I said watch anything other than amateur hockey.
posted at 10:49 AM CDT on October 30
I'm sure you thought that McAmmond deserves some of the blame for the Downie hit, and that Kesler shouldn't have put his face in the way of Boulerice's stick. After all, if they had learned their lessons properly, McAmmond would have known to, uh, never go behind the net and Kesler would have known to, um, f*ck, I don't know what he could have done to avoid getting the crosscheck in the face.
I think everyone has made it perfectly clear that those hits were shit. Yet you continue to group them all together. I suppose it's just surprising coming from someone like you. Kind of like:
I don't know. You're supposedly a Flyers fan. Why don't you ask these guys some time.
But in the exact same post you say:
Domi hasn't played for the Leafs since 2005/06 season, so you might want to catch up with the times.
So if someone should get with the times because a player is 1 season removed from a team, what does that say to someone who brings up a team from two generations ago?
Your obviously entitled to your opinion, and I will always respect it. I'm just surprised by some of your comments in this thread.
posted at 9:18 AM CDT on November 1
Leafs offer Tavares contract in effort to circumvent NHL draft With the Toronto Sun calling for JFJ's head this morning, could this be a ploy to save his job, or might it actually work out?
posted to Hockey at 12:30 PM CDT
So the Marlies would need a majority of the other teams voting "Yes, we want to play against John Tavares." Good luck with that.
Not to mention I can't imagine anyone looking out for this kid could possibly think this is a good idea.
posted at 2:00 PM CDT on October 25
The Curse Of Curtis Leskanic Is this the year the Red Sox break the agonizing 36-month-long curse?
posted to Baseball at 10:23 AM CDT
Wait, the Onion is satire? So Blockbuster didn't really cancel their rental fees? And all those people didn't die when Delta cancelled a flight in mid-air?
posted at 2:08 PM CDT on October 25
The Extortionist: an interesting, lengthy profile of high-profile baseball agent Scott Boras.
posted to Baseball at 7:03 PM CDT
[H]e mailed a letter to Commissioner Selig, in which he outlined a proposal to alter the format of the ... World Series. Why not make it nine games, instead of seven ... “It’s a fact that our game needs a forum that’s akin to the Super Bowl ... People don’t go to the Super Bowl for the game. Most Super Bowl games are not competitive, or good games. They go there for the event. They go there for the three-day weekend.” He described a vision of “corporate hospitality,” including a “gala, like the Oscars,” during which the M.V.P. and Cy Young awards, among others, would be announced, with all the finalists present and on view, and presumably walking the red carpet in sponsored menswear. Who could argue against such a change? It would mean more money for the owners, more “marketable content” for the media to broadcast, more attention for the stars—more everything.
Yup, more everything for everyone. Except the baseball fan. You know, the guy that really gives a damn. But with the nine-day event you can squeeze a couple extra billion into the pot, you know, from the advertisers and the other people who are there because their publicist told them to go (and to wear their pink hat with the team logo).
I say fuck that. I say screw the "MLB, not Boras, is to blame" bullshit. While I appreciate the point you're making, Holden, I also say that's just too easy a defense. I mean Halliburton's only dancing on the floor we built them. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't hold their feet to the fire just as much as the folks writing the rules.
But I suppose I'm just too idealistic.
posted at 12:19 AM CDT on October 25
Gippetto?
posted at 2:04 PM CDT on October 27
Rockies Place Their Faith in God, and One Another. Players on the Colorado Rockies, once described as an organization that adhered to a "Christian-based code of conduct," say that faith is not a requirement for peer approval.
posted to Culture at 11:09 AM CDT
Does this mean they don't do Irish jigs in their underwear?
Seriously, it seems to me that the headline writer at the NYT didn't bother to read the story. They're just a group of decent guys who get along and don't rent whores. O'Dowd points out it has little to do with religion. The main reference to religion pointed out they're not much different than other clubs and was brought up mainly to discount a USA Today story that made them sound like uber-Christians.
posted at 12:24 PM CDT on October 23
Indians Pitcher Byrd Ordered 1,000 Vials of Human Growth Hormone From 2002 to 2005, Cleveland Indians starter Paul Byrd dropped $25,000 on human growth hormone and syringes from a Florida anti-aging clinic, Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada report in today's San Francisco Chronicle. He made his last order one week before Major League Baseball formally banned the drug on Jan. 13, 2005. An article in Slate from March explains why athletes take HGH, which doesn't have the severe side effects or muscle-mass enhancing traits of steroids.
posted to Baseball at 10:21 AM CDT
I personally don't think that the "sanctity of the record book" is sufficient justification for drawing blood.
Cut them with a rusty knife and make them fill a bucket. That'll teach 'em.
posted at 1:08 PM CDT on October 22
Torre Leaving New York After Turning Down Incentive-Linked Contract New York Yankees manager Joe Torre rejected a contract that would cut his base salary from $7.5 million to $5 million and add $1 million for reaching the playoffs, $1 million for reaching the ALCS and $1 million for a World Series berth. "It's now time for the New York Yankees to move forward," said team president Randy Levine.
posted to Baseball at 4:11 PM CDT
I think this pretty much sums up Torre and all he's done:
Torre's was the longest uninterrupted term for a Yankees manager since Casey Stengel held the job from 12 years from 1949-60.
I haven't followed this very closely but (assuming Torre was even considering coming back) it seems to me it may be the one-year deal that would be the deal-breaker rather than the money.
posted at 9:45 PM CDT on October 18
A dark day as National Lacrosse League cancels 2008 season. The NLL yesterday canceled the season after it failed to reach a new collective agreement with its players by its long-standing midnight Monday deadline..
posted to Other at 12:44 PM CDT
Sad for Philadelphia since the Wings could actually win championships (unlike the four major teams in town).
posted at 4:49 PM CDT on October 18
Former Dallas Cowboy Ron Springs has "no hope" of surviving. Last Saturday, during a routine operation to remove a cyst from one of his arms, Springs fell into a coma. This happened seven months after Ron received a kidney from former teammate Everson Walls.
posted to Football at 7:50 PM CDT
It's also super-tough for Walls. When you donate, they make you talk to someone about dealing with potential emotions in case the kidney is rejected or something happens to the recipient.
posted at 4:57 PM CDT on October 18
Tony Gonzalez breaks tight end touchdown record. Gonzalez caught number 63 on a three yard catch in the first quarter, and then caught 64 in the fourth on a 26-yard pass, both from QB Damon Huard.
posted to Baseball at 9:14 AM CDT
Dammit, it's hard to find good tight ends
There's a joke there somewhere...
posted at 12:33 PM CDT on October 15
Morality and soccer 2: Catholic church takes over Italian pro team AC Ancona. "Our aim is not to save football, but to give a valid witness. We hope that witness gets picked up by other clubs and used as a sort of template. What is needed is to bring the true values of sport back into the professional game."
posted to Soccer at 5:55 PM CDT
And I hear they're working on a new movie... "Bend it like Benedict".
posted at 11:53 AM CDT on October 15
The Hoser's NFL Picks, Week Six NFL picks wearing just a kimono, thank you. Sportsfilter member wfrazerjr is back with his weekly NFL picks.
posted to Football at 5:36 PM CDT
Tune in next week for Shakespearean Sonnets, couplets and all.
posted at 12:51 PM CDT on October 13
The answer to the only obvious question is. The man has two ex-wives, eleven children (thats right 11), and the IRS to take care of. However, those could be the least of his concerns.
posted to Boxing at 2:18 AM CDT
posted at 1:56 AM CDT on October 14
Yankees Broadcaster Suzyn Waldman Cries on the Air There's no crying in baseball? The Yankees radio broadcaster fought through tears during the postgame show after the series- and potentially era-ending loss. "This is rough," said Waldman, describing Manager Joe Torre's press conference. "I was OK actually 'til I went into the clubhouse -- and the coaches are sitting in Torre's office and they are watching this. The tears you hear in my voice are coming down the faces of the coaches." Hear the audio.
posted to Baseball at 2:28 PM CDT
This is the problem with journalists/commentators getting too close to those they cover. Allowing personal feelings into what should otherwise be objective reporting shows a lack of professionalism that results in much bigger problems than crying in a post-game report.
I don't know this woman so I can't defend her, but commentators and play-by-play voices are employed by the team. They fly on the team planes, stay in the team hotels, and often ride on the team buses. They're supposed to allow their personal feelings to a point.
It's the reporters on TV (wearing a team's jersey waving a rally towel) that are supposed to be impartial that piss me off.
posted at 10:58 AM CDT on October 10
Some commentators and play-by-play voices are employed by the team, some are employed by the radio station or TV station for whom they work.
Not to beat a dead horse, but you'd be hard pressed to find a broadcast team that isn't employed by the team these days. Years ago, the broadcasters may have worked for the local stations, but not anymore. Teams know that that's the best way to brand and present their team so they're going to make sure they control it.
Here's Waldman's bio on Yankees.com. I'm with justgary on this one, though I do find it amusing to hear her sobs in the background. However, there is a part of me that cringes, thinking "way to perpetuate the stereotype."
posted at 9:09 AM CDT on October 11
Nick of Time: Folk's 53-Yard Field Goal Caps Dramatic Comeback While there seems to be different versions of the story, there is a theory that Wade Phillips was eventually fired in Buffalo because of the Music City Miracle some seven years ago. So it was only fitting that is in his first trip back to Buffalo as a head coach, Phillips and the Cowboys pulled out a miracle of their own
posted to Football at 8:22 AM CDT
It's just sneaky and weaselly...
Totally agree. And it really wouldn't be too hard to change the rule while still allowing teams to call a timeout if they legitimately need one. Just say on a field goal attempt in the final minute of a half, only a player on the field can call a timeout. You could even designate which player that has to be. At least then other players on the field would likely see it.
I like the idea of no timeouts on a field goal if the clock's already stopped. It's more drastic and could actually punish a defensive team, but it would be a lot better for viewers.
posted at 2:06 PM CDT on October 9
Nate DiMeo's Plan to Save the NHL The NHL should be more like pro soccer. No, I'm not crazy.
A nice fit with chico's column, too.
posted to Hockey at 8:34 AM CDT
Hypothetical situation: You drop down the Caps and and bring up the Bears. Nice, you just dropped a franchise and brought up it's minor league affiliate.
Seriously, who could possibly think the Bears be a better option than the Caps? Or the Phantoms than the Flyers? Or the Icehogs over the Blackhawks? They're the feeder team so if the NHL team doesn't have the talent what makes anyone think the minor league team (typically run by the big-league team) would or could?
Most, if not all, top-level minor league teams (oxymoron?) are affiliated with an NHL team so if the talent were ready or able to compete, said talent would already be in the NHL.
posted at 1:03 AM CDT on October 7
The Playoffs, As We Know Them, Are Bunk My (quixotic, admittedly) proposal for overhauling the playoff and regular season system for all of American sports. A sportsfilter column by our own chicobangs.
posted to General at 7:14 AM CDT
I went into that column thinking it was going to be a bunch of poo. But I came out totally agreeing with you. (except I like "that horrible contraption". Assuming we're talking about the one on the right in the picture you linked to.)
Never thought of any of this, I've only really followed North American sports -- an Amish sports fan, I suppose. But this would be wonderful. If I were charge I'd work to implement these changes.
posted at 10:39 AM CDT on October 5
Post. Of. The. Week! :)
That was good, but this one is tough to beat.
posted at 1:19 PM CDT on October 6
Here's what I was thinking when I read this -- not knowing much of anything about European sport -- using the NHL as an example.
Play the regular season, but knock it down from 82 games to say 60 (or any necessary number to make things jive). Instead of an all-star break have a round-robin inter-divisional tournament mid-season. The winner gets a trophy and all kinds of accolades, parades and chocolates. The games would be regional so people would probably get pretty interested in the inherent rivalries. Plus, if your team's in the toilet at least there's something to cheer for.
After the tournament, finish the regular season, but only take the top teams, or top two teams in each conference. Obviously you would need to balance the schedule, but you could since the divisional thing would be so necessary since you have that tournament.
You have the playoff revenue built into the middle of the season, you can make it a similar number of games as there are now, and every team could get even more games of relevance.
posted at 2:18 PM CDT on October 6
In his defense, he did say nuff.
posted at 11:09 AM CDT on October 7
Do you know the NUFF-in man?
posted at 11:30 AM CDT on October 8
Had Enough Steroids Yet? Marion Jones, You're Next! Multiple Olympic medalist Marion Jones has admitted using the steroid known as "the clear" for two years beginning in 1999. Jones, once considered the best female athlete in the world, says her former coach Trevor Graham gave her the steroid, telling her it was flaxseed oil.
posted to Olympics at 5:41 PM CDT
I have some doubts about you really doing either task on a 80 degree hill.
They wore suction cups on their feet. You ever carry someone while wearing suction cups on your feet? Didn't think so.
posted at 1:16 PM CDT on October 6
Leave Steve Bartman Alone! Now that the Chicago Cubs have returned to the playoffs, Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti thinks the scorn heaped on Steve Bartman for the foul ball grab has made the infamous fan darker, sadder and lonelier. "I'm sorry," Mariotti writes. "And, really, Cubdom should be sorry, too. Without knowing his identity, I scolded him in print for acting like a dummy fan who should have known better. Next thing you knew, crazy message boards on Major League Baseball's Web site were outing his name, turning an ugly scene at Wrigley -- who can forget Bartman burying his head in his jacket while beer and obscenities were hurled? -- into the beginning of his new, unfortunate life."
posted to Baseball at 1:42 PM CDT
No, scratch that. Mariotti makes Stephen A. Smith look like, if not a genius, at least a functioning and insightful sports columnist.
Woah, slow down. That's just crazy talk there. No one could pull off that magic.
posted at 10:26 AM CDT on October 4
Stephen A. : Mariotti :: K-Fed : Spears
posted at 12:16 PM CDT on October 4
Karma is the key for Rockies play-in to playoffs The gods smiled on this one. The Rockies had to win 13 out of 14 just to get to this game. They won it in the bottom of the 13th by scoring three runs against the most successful closer in the history of the game. The winning run came on a controversial play at the plate. Of course it was scored by Matt Holliday, who just moments before got RBI #137, allowing him to claim the RBI title from Ryan Howard. Some think he's the MVP, and if he wasn't in that game (and the whole month of September), when the team needed him most, then the term has no meaning. Holliday could've been the goat after misplaying a fly ball that allowed the Pads to tie it up in the 8th. Pads fans no doubt are unhappy with how the play at the plate was called, but maybe it makes up the for home-run-no-it's-a-double that was taken from Brad Hawpe, the third time THIS MONTH(!) the Rox were robbed of a home run by a bad call.
posted to Baseball at 11:30 AM CDT
If you're still rooting for a change in the financial structure of baseball -- like a salary cap -- you can pretty much forget it.
And that's sad, b/c there are two teams that buy their way in each year. I guess the other six can just rotate through each year.
As for MVP, Holliday is extremely deserving, but Jimmy Rollins is definitely in the running. He started all 162 games at shortstop, (only three NL players started every game this year), and he still only had only 10 errors all season. That's pretty impressive at shortstop. He also became the 4th player ever to get 20-20-20-20 thing and he carried the team when Howard and Utley were injured.
I'd vote for Holliday, but if Rollins gets it, it's not like the "term has no meaning."
As for the game last night, I like Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus' take. It's subscription, but you get the gist from the free part.
posted at 12:01 PM CDT on October 2
You're right, and I shouldn't have made my comment either, especially w/o backing it up or explaining it. Not the time nor place. Withdrawn.
Let's talk MVP.
posted at 12:58 PM CDT on October 2
Back to the NL for a moment: I watched at least 140 Phillies games this year and I can assure you Rollins was by far the most dominant player. Utley was good, Howard was good (way too many K's), Rowand was extremely under-rated, and Burrell had a huge turn-around. But without Jimmy Rollins this is an average team that probably finishes third behind the Mets and Braves.
Not that it should figure into the MVP debate, but Rollins is possibly the number one person responsible for the Phillies being good again. As a rookie, he came into a clubhouse with a toxic atmosphere and a "who cares?" attitude and started turning it around. Not only did he never lose his enthusiasm but he began lighting fires under his teammates.
His numbers this year are impressive, and he has a great glove. He routinely gets to balls he has no rights getting.
As for his offensive stats, the sub-.300 hurts, as does the sub-100 RBI total, but there are lot of "first-ever's" and "first-since's" when you hear people talk about him... SI.com:
The switch-hitting leadoff man finished with a .296 batting average, 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, 41 steals, 94 RBIs and scored an NL-best 139 runs. He became the first player in major league history to have 30 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers and 30 steals in one season - one of many accomplishments.
No shortstop in the NL ever had more extra-bases hits (88) and only Alex Rodriguez had more (91) in 1996 with Seattle. And, while it seemed everyone around him was getting hurt, the durable Rollins played every game, becoming the first NL shortstop in 34 years to do so.
I didn't get to see much of Holliday, but .340 with 36 homers and 137 RBI's is pretty amazing. Though I do see his home-away stats are drastically different. Rollins was very consistent home and away.
I said above I'd vote for Holliday, today I'm leaning towards Rollins. I guess the case is there for both of them. Should be an intersting series.
posted at 10:21 AM CDT on October 3
Not even going to try the stats v. reality thing with you guys because I'll lose. And I don't want to sound like the president of the Jimmy Rollins fan club. But I will stand by what I said. If you watched the games, you wouldn't think my statement is as odd as it sounds.
This column kind of sucks -- especially the if the Rollins doesn't win part at the top -- but these quotes sum up how other players talk about him:
When the infielders gathered on the mound, Rollins used to either say nothing or keep it light. These days, Phillies pitchers say, Rollins is more businesslike.
"He gives you a scouting report, and I don't think he's been wrong yet," Kyle Lohse said.
He's not above a stern lecture or two when it's needed. One pitcher who Rollins felt wasn't challenging hitters enough turned around to find the shortstop glaring at him, and Rollins said: Are you trying to walk him?
"Look, we're trying to win," Rollins said. "We're trying to help the team win. I know what the hitter is thinking, what he's expecting. If I don't speak up, I'm not doing all I can to help us win."
Just an example. Maybe I'm wrong, I just don't like going it on stats alone.
posted at 11:55 AM CDT on October 3
What's the NL Scenario? According to Baseball Prospectus, there's only a 1-in-3 chance that a team will win the NL wildcard outright. There's a 1-in-20 chance of a four-way tie. A five-way tie is still possible. Worst (or best) case scenario, tiebreaker games could take until Thursday.
posted to Baseball at 2:49 PM CDT
I've been checking that BP page every morning the last few weeks. I'm just waiting for the day when their computer just spits out "42". Here are the scenarios from MLB, but that ESPN link explains them better.
The MLB link does point out a bit of drama in the AL: The team with the best winning percentage in the league gets the option of starting its first-round series on Wednesday or Thursday. The teams that start Wednesday get an extra day off, thereby ensuring that each team's top two starters will be available twice.
posted at 3:02 PM CDT on September 27
Dude, you just said GM three times in the same post. You're so in trouble.
This graph is neat.
posted at 1:58 PM CDT on September 28
NHL Tournament of Logos I just thought y'all would like this. That's all...
posted to Hockey at 9:16 PM CDT
What a shame. I blame the Habs fans. You really can't trust them, you know.
posted at 10:05 AM CDT on September 27
Electric skates to hit the hockey rink! Therma Blade uses battery-powered electricity to heat skate blades and lessen the friction between blade and ice surface. While it sounds slightly quirky, they have Wayne Gretzky on board as an endorser.
posted to Hockey at 10:11 AM CDT
If you wear these and stand in the same place too long, do you leave divots or melt through the ice?
Brings new meaning to "Keep your feet moving."
posted at 8:54 PM CDT on September 26
HGH + The Clear = HR(50%) A Tufts physicist and baseball fan will publish an article in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Physics detailing how a small increase in muscle mass could increase the amount of home runs a professional-baseball-level player would hit by over 50 percent.
posted to Baseball at 9:38 AM CDT
Pretty slick.
Not funny. You twit.
Also, how does one batten a hatch? And does HGH help you batten?
posted at 12:10 PM CDT on September 27
Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy: Leave My Quarterback Alone! At a press conference after his team defeated Texas Tech Saturday, Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy launched into a three-minute tirade against a Daily Oklahoman columnist over an article that called benched quarterback Bobby Reid a momma's boy who plays scared. "That article had to have been written by a person who doesn't have a child," Gundy said. "Here's all that kid did: He goes to class; he's respectful to the media; he's respectful to the public; and he's a good kid. He's not a professional athlete, and he doesn't deserve to be kicked when he's down."
posted to Football at 12:45 PM CDT
I don't think there was that much wrong with the column other than it was poorly written. For example, using his previous quote about his gameday emotions in this context. I'm guessing that quote was made in a relaxed atmosphere such as a media day event, and it was more of light-hearted off-the-cuff comment. Using it directly against him undercuts credibility. Probably would have better served to just say something along the lines of, "He has said in the past he has trouble controlling gameday nerves..." or something.
Interesting point made by Slezak. I bet he never called out a male writer for not having any kids.
posted at 10:06 AM CDT on September 25
I really don't see where she is "hiding behind her gender." In fact, I don't know many adults that would solve anything by going "out behind the stadium." Really? People still do that? Adults do that? Most people I know stopped doing that in, mmm, about 8th grade.
Perhaps someone ought to go through MS Carlson's entire career...
Except for the minor detail that in 20 minutes no one will gave a poo about Ms. Carlson.
posted at 12:23 PM CDT on September 25
For The Love of Sport: Welcome to the New Big East To steal a line from Mark Twain, rumors of the Big East’s death have been greatly exaggerated. A continuing series by sportsfilter's own kyrilmitch_76.
posted to Football at 8:18 PM CDT
Somehow I can't take too seriously any conference that has UConn and Buffalo as members
Buffalo is in the MAC not the Big East.
As for the Big East, they have some good teams but, I think they to add more teams or they're status as a BCS conference should probably be re-visited.
In case anyone missed it, UConn beat Pitt this week (one week after they stole one from Temple).
posted at 11:31 AM CDT on September 24
Floyd Landis loses arbitration: by a 2-1 vote, an arbitration panel voted to "uphold the results of Landis's positive test" in the 2006 Tour de France. If Landis does not appeal, he will be stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title and be suspended from racing for two years. Full text of the decision here.
posted to Other at 3:22 PM CDT
HE CHEATED. He had to.
The prosecution rests, your honor.
posted at 9:54 AM CDT on September 21
Oh SNAP! Real name and everything!
You better watch it there, tough guy. We know all about you and your bookwriting.
posted at 11:04 AM CDT on September 27
I apparently am something that Jesus sleeps in. Or slept in. Or at least was "away in".
posted at 12:15 PM CDT on September 27
The Last Play of (Almost) Every World Series Sure it's just a spreadsheet, but if baseball was made for radio, some of these rows of numbers will either bring back heartache or joy.
posted to Baseball at 8:59 AM CDT
Joe Carter's '93 home run is missing
Good.
posted at 11:44 AM CDT on September 19
Belichick's cheating could lead to dark days for NFL. Gregg Easterbrook: "It would not surprise me in the slightest if, before the season ends, Belichick resigns, or is suspended, or is fired by Kraft, or even is permanently barred from the league."
posted to Football at 1:12 PM CDT
On line with TBH said, Many NFL coaches sort of bring it on themselves. Many of these guys constantly stonewall reporters on simple questions, or say the same thing over and over, eventually creating a tense relationship. Reporters' questions get more adversarial, and then the answers get more adversarial, and it becomes a downward spiral. I suppose it's a case of "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" but the folks who treat reporters with respect seem to be treated the same, Dungy comes to mind.
Same goes for other sports, but the NFL seems to try to control information more than the other sports. Maybe because of the massive popularity. But my point is when something like this happens -- no matter how insignificant it may seem to the New Englanders in the group -- there's a feeding frenzy of reporters.
posted at 12:54 PM CDT on September 19
Yanks' Shelley Duncan Crushes Poor Child's Hopes, Dreams, Future, Then Laughs And Sacrifices A Black Goat To The Dark Lords Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad.
posted to Baseball at 5:07 PM CDT
That's my sandbox. I'm not allowed to go in the deep end.
posted at 9:26 AM CDT on September 21
For The Record... The guy who bought 756 for $752,467 (Marc Ecko the clothing designer) has put up an on-line voting booth to decide the fate of the ball.
posted to Baseball at 4:24 PM CDT
I vote we brand Marc Ecko then put him on a rocket ship and send him out to space.
posted at 9:33 AM CDT on September 18
The numbers are out and the Nike swoosh pays just over eleven grand per appearance. At least, that's what Ohio State's new equipment deal with Nike: ...if more than five football players tape over or otherwise block out the Nike logo on their shoes, Nike can take back $11,880 for each shoe, up to a maximum of $59,400.
posted to Culture at 10:40 AM CDT
...bonuses for the publicity that comes with success -- including $10,000 for a national championship in football...
Does anyone know how that figure compares to the numbers Tressel offers the recruits?
posted at 12:54 PM CDT on September 17
10 large? I'd do it for 10 dollars.
posted at 2:36 PM CDT on September 18
Man catches historic home run ball and...does what?!
He does what we always lie to ourselves that we'd do if in the same circumstance.
posted to Baseball at 9:36 PM CDT
This guy's not the saint we think he his. I hear he's been following the Sox the last couple weeks, and there are rumors he had a camera often aimed in the dugout.
posted at 11:07 AM CDT on September 17
Match wits against Peyton Manning and try out this addictive NFL trivia game. Caution: according to the "rulebook", side effects may include shattered ego, mind-numbing syndrome, the destruction of computer keyboard and/or loss of appetite.
posted to Football at 4:43 PM CDT
I beat Manning 35-6. Thus redeeming four thumpings of South Carolina while I was down there*. The opposite of Mr_Hand.
Now pardon me while I google mangina. I think I'm going to regret this.
*Yeah, it really doesn't redeem those thumpings. Manning's such a likable guy, but I just can't get over the asskickin's he handed my Cocks. Cocks and manginas in the same post. Yikes.
posted at 1:26 AM CDT on September 16
you didn't really have to look up mangina did you?
Never knew that's what it was called. And I wish I still didn't. Whenever I see Mangini I'm going to picture him dancing naked to "Goodbye Horses". Not good. Not good at all.
posted at 2:41 PM CDT on September 16
When Mascots Attack: Oregon Duck Assaults Houston Cougar The Oregon Duck has been suspended for one game after getting into a fight with the Houston Cougar during their Sept. 1 football game. The brawl included punches, a takedown, and a move that appears to be hot duck-on-cougar action (fan video). Witness Bob Welch: "From my vantage point in Row 36 a few sections away, the Duck appeared to kick the Cougar in the side, then strut away toward the stands. The Cougar tackled the Duck from behind. What followed -- the footage that made YouTube -- was a 20-second pummeling of the Cougar by the Duck." The Daily Kansan has more mascot violence.
posted to Football at 11:50 AM CDT
Several years ago the St Joe's Hawk and the Temple Owl got in a fight at a basketball game. The Hawk mascot has to keep flapping its wings during the entire game (or it loses its scholarship). So it was flapping one wing and punching with the other. Meanwhile, the Owl's head got spun around so it was just flailing wildly.
posted at 8:47 PM CDT on September 13
Patriots Caught Taping Jets Defensive Signals, May Lose Draft Picks ESPN is reporting with some confidence that the Patriots have been found guilty of videotaping the Jets' defensive signals during Sunday's game. Commissioner Goodell, who never misses an opportunity to make an example of a transgressor, is said to be ready to strip the Patriots of draft picks as punishment, although the team will first be allowed to present a defense at a closed hearing. What repercussions might this cheating incident have on the Patriots and the league as a whole?
posted to Football at 7:19 AM CDT
So have your defensive captain wear a wristband (like a QB's). Have the plays with corresponding numbers. Flash the numbers from the sideline, check the wristband, get the play. Have a couple wristbands for each game, and no one will be able to get your plays no matter how many cameras they have.
A TV news station here in Philly is wondering if maybe the Eagles (or as they put it, "we") were robbed in the Super Bowl. God, we're so desperate for a winner.
Aside from a silly rule being broken, the only thing really wrong with this is the Patriots being dumb enough to (allegedly) get caught. Seriously, you could have a guy in the stands use a cell phone.
Punishment: They should have to play a year in the CFL.
posted at 10:14 PM CDT on September 12
Damn media. They got Mike Vick and now they got Belichick. Who's next? Is no one safe? The horrors. The horrors.
posted at 1:00 PM CDT on September 14
The comment was made with a tongue planted in a cheek... But now that we are on equal footing, me with fair amounts of adult beverage comfortably stowed in my liver, please allow me to respond.
I am not comparing the acts of the two. I am comparing the reaction of the public that support one of the two by pointing the finger at the nasty media.
posted at 1:58 AM CDT on September 15
I can't wait for the generation of baby boomers who saw All the President's Men (but then realized sports were easier to cover) retire.
Cheers to that. "Starring Hal Holbrook as Eric Mangini."
posted at 12:52 AM CDT on September 16
The NHL's new, edgy marketing campaing? Inspired by the Dallas Stars controversial billboard advertisment.
posted to Hockey at 12:15 AM CDT
posted at 10:48 PM CDT on September 4
Toronto Maple Leafs win championship! .....years of playoff frustration ended for the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.
posted to Baseball at 5:33 PM CDT
In my American upbringing, I was taught the Leafs are hosers.
posted at 12:22 PM CDT on September 1
Richard Jewell, 1962 - 2007 Hailed as the hero of the Atlanta Olympic bombing, then smeared as a suspect, Jewell's life was never the same after the controversy. When he passed away yesterday at the age of 44, he still had lawsuits pending against several media outlets, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, linked above.
posted to Olympics at 7:16 AM CDT
TBH just put me in charge of a major newspaper. Sweet.
I can promise that no one would be remotely interested in news of any sort if reporters didn't have a flair for drama. If folks did want news minus drama, Jim Lehrer would be in Katie Couric's seat.
That said, there is a tendency to over-do things, and TV news has been given enough rope to hang itself. They're tying the knot as we type.
Similar to what TBH said, AJC might be a shitty paper -- or they may have made a bad decision in this case, I don't read it enough to know either way -- but as a whole our media aren't as horrible as we like to think. There are definite shortcomings but most of the cliches in this thread are seriously over-cooked.
A lot of the problem right now (not so much in TV but in other media) is executives have unrealistic profit expectations. And some of that profit is being recouped at the expense of reporter positions. So reporters are expected to do too many stories at the same time. The result is the stories end up being shit.
My hope is that the profitability gets sucked out, the big names jump ship and the mom-and-pop owners come back in to save the day.
Also, it's not about reporters trying to increase circulation, that's so 1970. It's about reporters trying to keep their heads above water while their bosses expect more and more out of them.
What concerns me is the shift towards blogs to get news. If we rely totally on blogs to give us the news we're all fucked. People already see and hear what they want to see and hear, sadly the interweb makes that worse. We have all this info at our fingertips, but so many of us only want to read what we agree with. So we go to buzzflash.com or newsmax.com and get our news fill. My fear is that no one's going to read a blog that doesn't fit into their political (or other) spectrum, so they only get one sde of the story further convincing themselves how right they are. There are very few blogs that are actually balanced.
And I'm not talking about a slight slant to one side or another (like every paper is perceived to have) I'm talking about full-blown bias.
I'm preaching to the choir here because most of us are well-informed, but you certainly can think of two or three people you know that fit the above mold. At least reading the paper or listening to a balanced newscast would give them some info from the other side.
So save the newspaper, bring back radio news including -- and especially -- on music formats. Renew your subscription to the Atlantic and the Economist, and ... well... CNN and the rest of them can go to hell for all I care.
All done. Happy Labor Day.
posted at 12:55 PM CDT on September 1
Justin Gimelstob Leaves Tennis as One of the Greatest (Interviews) At the end of his final U.S. Open match, a three-set defeat at the hands of buddy Andy Roddick Tuesday night, retiring journeyman Justin Gimelstob, 30, grabbed a microphone and interviewed Roddick at center court in front of the crowd. "What do you think was the key to the match," he asked Roddick, pausing for effect, "besides you being way better than me?" The match also featured a Gimelstob rant in which he called the chair ump "unpatriotic" and was rewarded with four successive first serves.
posted to Tennis at 1:21 PM CDT
Watched this the other night, it was hilarious. Roddick even tried to toss in a couple jokes while being interviewed by Gimelstob. Then he finally gave up, grabbed the mic so he could ask the questions saying "No one wants to hear me they want to hear you."
Apparently the two are good friends and talk often, and Roddick joked about how hard it was so hard to ignore Gimelstob for several days and also be the tough guy in the lockerroom. Quite a moment.
posted at 7:36 PM CDT on August 30
Pencilneck, this is your last chance! Tired of having sand kicked in your virtual face? We all are. Why not do something about it? Stop sitting around waiting for your franchise to catch fire. Get off your butt and sit on the couch with the Virtual Madden Playbook. Based on the user testimonials, it's $27 well spent.
posted to Culture at 12:06 PM CDT
"I'm so wet right now."
"Yeah, they said that would happen in health class."
posted at 7:42 PM CDT on August 30
Texas 30 - Baltimore 3 ... wasn't an NFL preseason matchup but the rather the Rangers posting the highest major league run total in 110 years. I guess there is no mercy rule in the MLB.
posted to Baseball at 8:09 PM CDT
"You don't want to be the one to make the out. You feel like you have to get a hit every time up," [Marlon] Byrd said.
Knowing it's a double-header, you would think the Rangers would also eventually want to get the game over with. At what point do you purposely swing and miss just to get the hell out of there?
An old roommate is from Baltimore. I was going to call him, but the Phils lost 15-3.
posted at 8:12 PM CDT on August 23
"Ninety percent of putts that are short don't go in." A collection of the dumb sport quotes.
posted to General at 11:32 AM CDT
Phils manager Charlie Manuel recently said something along the lines of, "The best thing about this homestand is that we're playing at home."
Nothing worse than those homestands on the road.
posted at 8:30 PM CDT on August 23
The Fat Lady Ain't Singin', But the Bat Boy Is... Former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski recently told former United States Senator George Mitchell the names of players who purchased performance-enhancing drugs from him. According to Scott Schools, the U.S. attorney in San Francisco, Radomski admitted selling anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and amphetamines to "dozens of current and former major-league baseball players and associates, on teams throughout baseball."
posted to Baseball at 9:46 AM CDT
Players come and go, but team culture and how it faciltates getting an edge no matter what will remain.
It's that damn Mr. Met. It's so obvious, I mean just look at the size of his head.
posted at 3:54 PM CDT on August 22
No gay old time in Brazil Judge in hot water after stating in ruling that homosexuals don't belong in soccer.
posted to Culture at 3:16 PM CDT
But how do you explain the eyesight?
Has something to do with gaydar. Very complicated to explain.
posted at 10:35 AM CDT on August 18
Baseball's Particle Accelerator The new technology that will change statistical analysis forever.
posted to Baseball at 1:08 PM CDT
To hell with the statgeeks, this is fun for no other reason than it's fun. It's just neat. Innocent and mindless -- like baseball stats used to be before OPS and VORP and GHTDUFGRT and FlibbleWOP.
That crap's so bad it's apparently clogging the tubes of the internet. Enough is enough (EE), I say. Free the internet (FTI) from the clogginess of statgeeks (CoSG).
I'd ask for the pitchforks and torches to go after the SG's, but last check Grum had them. So that probably wouldn't go over to well.
posted at 10:52 AM CDT on August 17
The Last Go Round "I think we’re lucky as Pirates fans that we got to witness that Bonds, up close and personal for more than six years, three of them coming with him at the height of his prowess. And while it would have been nice if he’d stuck around a little longer, we’ll never have to live with the legacy of doubt that surrounded him in his later years."
posted to Baseball at 12:46 PM CDT
Sid Bream's on line one.
posted at 4:56 PM CDT on August 14
Ballplayer , poet, musician, pitchman [youtube], quotable broadcaster, Phil Rizzuto passed today. He was the oldest living Hall of Famer whose Induction speech was unforgettable. He was also the baseball voice for generations of Yankees fans, and he will be sorely missed.
posted to Baseball at 12:00 PM CDT
My favorite Rizzuto story is in the Newsday obit:
Former National League president Bill White, Rizzuto's broadcaster partner and friend for years ... asked to look at Rizzuto's scoreboard and saw the notation WW. "I asked him what does that mean and he said, 'Wasn't watching.'"
posted at 5:05 PM CDT on August 14
Who's Now Pissed -- ESPN Viewers Hammer Network Over 'Buzz' Competition "This is a command performance column -- the command having been issued by the hundreds of viewers who asked me to say something about the Who's Now segments that ran on SportsCenter throughout July. No single topic has ever drawn the volume and intensity of unsolicited complaints to either my or my predecessor's mailbox that this sports popularity contest has." -- ESPN ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber
posted to General at 2:45 PM CDT
I wish ESPN would consider adding to its lineup a crisp, half-hour, nightly news version of SportsCenter -- just news and highlights, without gimmicks or sponsored segments or recaps, without self- or cross-promotion, with a consistent anchor team accountable for a consistent tone, with spare to no use of instant commentary. A prime-time island of clean, clear, straightforward news on which ESPN's journalistic credibility could securely rest.
Well fucking duh.
Beyond Who's Now, (Which, by the way, was run into the ground by radio talk show hosts in 1994.) I wonder if they think we actully want to hear these windbags blabber mindlessly about whether they would buy or sell Peyton Manning.
Or did they realize they can have the babblemouths ramble on about nothing for hardly any money, very limited production and zero thought?
posted at 4:11 PM CDT on August 13
Old, but still relevant. And it just about covers everything we're bitching about: 52 reasons to hate ESPN from Every Day Should Be Saturday.
posted at 4:43 PM CDT on August 14
Also, Olberman and company delivered sports news in an entertaining way. They communicated the info while finding ways to be funny. Big difference when compared to the clowns on there now who think they are comedians and/or athletes.
posted at 4:47 PM CDT on August 14
Beijing 2008: Bring a mask.
posted to Olympics at 9:31 AM CDT
Wilber and his team at the USOC's Performance Services Division are recommending an unusual addition to US athletes' bag of competitive tricks: activated-charcoal face masks, both on the field and off. They've also put out a handy booklet of 2008 Olympic survival tips, such as using over-the-counter ibuprofen or indomethacin to partially block pollution's lung-searing effects.
I wonder if it's really this bad or if this is from the "Beat up on the host of the next Olympics" file. Reference: Athens, construction.
posted at 9:35 AM CDT on August 13
Owning a hockey team is not good business -- or is it? With the recent change of ownership in Nashville and Tampa Bay one has to scratch his head over the amount of money those franchises commanded (Bill Davis doubled his investment by selling the Lighting). Here's an excellent analysis by Wes Goldstein of CBS Sportsline explaining why even with most teams bleeding money buyers are lining up for a chance to own a NHL Franchise.
posted to Hockey at 7:37 AM CDT
Never, ever underestimate the power of a tax deduction.
posted at 10:00 AM CDT on August 13
Dalembert welcomed to Team Canada Every new Canadian brings a set of skills with them when they gain citizenship, but it's not too often those skills revolve around shot blocking, rebounding, and the ability to run a basketball floor like a 7 foot gazelle.
posted to Basketball at 8:23 PM CDT
Canada can have him.
It would have been like South Africa suddenly granting Randy Johnson citizenship just before the World Baseball Classic.
No, it would have been like South Africa suddenly granting Shawn Chacon citizenship.
posted at 7:43 PM CDT on August 9
Mets Fan Emerges with Bonds Home Run Ball "They were pushing grandmothers to the floor," said Susan Kitchens, sitting near the place Barry Bonds' historic home run landed Tuesday night and ignited a mad scramble of pushing, shoving and other bad sportsmanship. When it was over, Matt Murphy, a 26-year-old visiting Mets fan who bought his ticket that day, walked away with a ball worth an estimated half-million.
posted to Baseball at 9:15 AM CDT
The clowns that piled on should be mocked harshly. Especially the one in the orange 22 jersey that you could see from the field angle. We should make fun of him until he cries.
posted at 6:22 PM CDT on August 8
posted to Baseball at 11:05 PM CDT
I can't imagine Bonds going to Pittsburgh. If I'm not mistaken, he's wasn't much liked when he played there even though the team was good... And he's hated even more now for leaving while they were good. Plus the question is less 'who would want Barry?' and more 'who would Barry play for?' I'd think no where else.
As for last night: Putting opinions aside, it was a neat moment to watch. Bringing opinions back in, it seemed almost like Bonds was forcing it, acting like someone who knew he cheated, and put on a show he felt he needed to put on. But that's my bias I suppose.
Listening to ESPN drove me nuts. Crediting the Nationals for not pitching around Bonds is a joke. The Nationals haven't played a meaningful game since last May.
posted at 1:21 PM CDT on August 8
NFL Sets Limits on Web Content: The camel attempts to stick his nose into the tent. After MLB tried to limit the use of statistics in fantasy leagues, now the NFL wants to limit the content that newspapers may use on their web sports coverage. Will they get away with it? How far will this go? (Posted to "football" only because there's no category for "media".)
posted to Football at 12:33 PM CDT
News sites also are barred from running advertisements alongside the NFL content.
That is absolutely nuts. They have to provide links to NFL.com and to the team's webpage. But they can't put any ads near it.
I'm now rooting for the NFL to collapse. Greedy little assbrains.
posted at 9:44 AM CDT on August 6
Politically correct baseball - the first, second and third basemen became "base persons," the batboy was the "bat person" for the night and the shortstop turned into the "vertically challenged stop."
posted to Baseball at 1:50 PM CDT
I don't know a single person who has ever taken issue with being called the shortstop.
Isn't that why A-Rod moved to third?
posted at 12:27 PM CDT on August 3
Eric Staal's bachelor party nets fourteen arrests. Sure, it ain't no refs on the take from the mafia, marquee quarterback in dog fighting imbroglio, or steroid (?) icon taking over one of the marquee records in the game, but, man, the NHL is MESSED UP.
posted to Hockey at 8:58 PM CDT
I thought it was a paradise.
Different place?
posted at 10:44 PM CDT on July 25
Falcons QB Michael Vick Indicted on Federal Charges; somewhat of a surprise, given that two weeks ago, most legal pundits familiar with the case said it was unlikely that Vick would face charges. Vick and three others are charged with violating federal laws against competitive dog fighting, procuring and training pit bulls for it and conducting the enterprise across state lines. The indictment alleges that Vick and his co-defendants began dog fighting in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.
posted to Football at 5:13 PM CDT
You have to be one (allegedly) sick s.o.b. to enjoy this shit. Whether or not Vick is involved, what the hell is wrong with people? How can you sit there and watch this and enjoy it?
And electrocuting the losing dog? They actually wet it down and electrocute it? How twisted do you have to be to do something like that?
Sorry, I know it isn't really bringing anything new to the discussion, but I'm just so sickened and so pissed off reading about this.
Whoever actually is involved should be put in a ring with a pitbull.
posted at 6:12 PM CDT on July 17
The ham sandwich was obviously guilty.
posted at 8:23 PM CDT on July 17
A Day in the Life of Curt Schilling
posted to Baseball at 3:01 PM CDT
The Schilling thing is cute. The Danny Ainge resemblance is uncanny.
posted at 8:28 PM CDT on July 17
Women want Cow-Runs for equality in Spain's San Fermin bull festival Is this a legitimate beef?
posted to Extreme at 8:11 PM CDT
It would be awesome if they opened the gates and the cows just stood there and stared at everyone. And then the bulls found the cows and they did it right there on the street.
posted at 7:25 AM CDT on July 11
Phils Handle Tarp and Rockies. 10,000th loss will have to wait Authorities have released no statement on the whereabouts or condition of Vince Coleman.
posted to Baseball at 10:48 PM CDT
When the Phillies march to the World Series we'll look back on this game and say, "That's when they really came together as a team."
No? ... Okay, then how 'bout this:
When the Phillies finish the season 81-81, we'll look back on this and say, "Well, at least there was that funny highlight of them helping with the tarp in Denver."
posted at 7:28 AM CDT on July 11
Did the wrong team leave town? Eric Wilbur included a link to this gem from the Boston Phoenix in his Boston Globe blog this morning (5/14). It is a lengthy read, but is one that any Braves fan, regardless of city, will find worth the time. There were a number of "I didn't know that" moments, even for this old Boston Braves fan.
posted to Baseball at 9:48 AM CDT
Being a Phillies I fan, I wonder if maybe the A's should have stuck around...
posted at 6:32 PM CDT on May 14
Best footballing nations per capita International sides ranked by their FIFA points per head of population.
posted to Soccer at 2:50 AM CDT
"jiggery pokery"
That some kind of British porn?
posted at 1:19 PM CDT on May 10
'Thought Your Future was Great; You Played Like Trung Canidate' In honor of all the can't-miss prospects from this year's NFL Draft, the parody song "Mr. Upside" remembers the did-miss prospects of years past, including Tony Mandarich, the "best offensive line prospect ever."
posted to Football at 4:10 PM CDT
Why is Andre Ware about to give The Shocker to the Heisman Trophy?
posted at 6:06 AM CDT on May 3
Federer and Nadal to go toe-to-toe in an exhibition match on a $1.63 million dollar custom half grass/half clay court. Federer hasn't lost on grass in four years, a 48-match run that includes four straight titles at Wimbledon. Nadal has won a record 72 straight clay-court matches, including two consecutive titles at Roland Garros in Paris.
posted to Tennis at 10:18 AM CDT
It would actually be more interesting to see the half clay, half grass configuration vertically rather than horizontally.
It would be really funny watching someone slide on the clay, then hit the grass and go head-over-heels. Especially someone as incredibly graceful as Federer or Nadal.
posted at 8:14 AM CDT on May 3
Study shows racial bias by NBA referees “Basically, it suggests that if you spray-painted one of your starters white, you’d win a few more games,” Mr. Wolfers said.
posted to Basketball at 7:31 AM CDT
Oops. Maybe the powers-that-be-could fix that for us. Or just read the ending.
Here's the link to his paper and stats and stuff.
posted at 7:41 AM CDT on May 2
Here's their executive summary (pdf).
Hits on many of the topics that have been brought up.
If you have time, here's the paper (pdf).
posted at 1:28 PM CDT on May 2
And that's Bob Ryan, who's actually a good columnist.
Let's wipe out 10 years of research because Wade went to the line a lot in a six game period. And thats just the tip of the silly iceberg. But at least he can explain his argument.
Screamin' A, on the other hand, can't even do that.
posted at 10:01 AM CDT on May 3
The bigger point here is that the findings of the study don't expose the NBA as a racist insitution, but rather examine the idea of bias in decision-making. The fact that they used the NBA as part of the study is not the point of the study. ... It is not a study of racism, nor a condemation of the NBA.
Exactly. Everyone needs to understand that. This isn't just a critique of the NBA, which is why Stevie A.'s column is so goofy. He's completely missed the point.
I probably should have worded the original post differently but I went for dramatics instead.
posted at 5:30 PM CDT on May 3
"The Worst Beating of Your Life" Very funny article about extreme marathoning. Competitors have 60 hours to go 100 miles (and that's the good news). Or you can compete in the 60 mile version, dubbed "The Fun Run".
posted to Extreme at 3:41 PM CDT
Or the best.
posted at 7:30 AM CDT on April 30
I recently decided I was done here, deciding that this site had outlived it's usefulness. In fact I sent an email to a former regular praising him for his exit, stating that mine wold be more like sneaking out the back door.
But then I read a couple threads similar to this one, and I just got irritated. When did sportsfilter become the "Extra" of sports news? If it's sports news and it bleeds it'll be tops on sportsfilter.
One final post, I supppose, before I sneak out said back door.
Andy Reid is dealing with two of his children who are addicts. If anyone has dealt with that, let them step forward. Otherwise shut the fuck up.
I quit a tobacco addiction and it was brutal. I can only imagine what this must be like. Especially when you have your own brother enabling you ... or when you have to deal with losing both your sons, depending on what side of the fence your on.
I'll just hope I never have to deal with what Reid is dealing with. And I guess I'll just envy those of you who have all the answers.
I am from the Philadelphia area and, he is the coach of the hometown team. But you have to guess how I feel about him, and there's a 50-50 chance you're wrong.
Addiction is a nasty beast. If you're so sure you can cure it, patent your idea. You'll be a billionaire.
As for this site, take it back or you risk losing it. Yes, I'm talking to you. And you know who "you" are.