August 09, 2013

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 21 comments

In baseball, as in life, what goes up must come down.

posted by yerfatma at 08:35 AM on August 09, 2013

And now introducing your Mr. Paul Aints!

posted by bender at 08:47 AM on August 09, 2013

my father and my mother closed the machine —Pele

posted by kokaku at 01:19 PM on August 09, 2013

Not to brag or anything, but if not for the rain in Bristol, CT my nephew would have already made his ESPN debut today.

Okay, maybe I'm bragging a little bit.

posted by MrFrisby at 01:26 PM on August 09, 2013

...my nephew would have already made his ESPN debut today.

So he goes by the surname of Frisby? Friz, what's the name so we can watch and root for him?

posted by Howard_T at 01:45 PM on August 09, 2013

Big Papi

posted by ursus_comiter at 02:21 PM on August 09, 2013

Fixed link for UC: Big Papi

posted by grum@work at 02:36 PM on August 09, 2013

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Are Remarkably Similar

posted by BornIcon at 02:50 PM on August 09, 2013

I don't know if I should give out that info, so just root for Delaware. The game has been postponed until tomorrow at 11:00 am ET. Will air on ESPNU.

posted by MrFrisby at 03:39 PM on August 09, 2013

This world has gotten WAY out of control with being "PC". The next thing will be the garment industry will be offended by the "RED SOX" or WHITE SOX. Then PETA will throw in their 2 cents about the "TIGERS, LIONS & BEARS Oh my! It's only a name. GET AHOLD OF YOURSEL & GET A LIFE!!

posted by grampab at 04:05 PM on August 09, 2013

Say, grampab, are you sure you're in the right thread?

posted by Hugh Janus at 05:00 PM on August 09, 2013

Or on the right website? I think you might be looking for ignorantangrycurmudgeons.net or trolling.com

posted by tahoemoj at 05:37 PM on August 09, 2013

Hey GrampaB! Welcome to Sportsfilter. I think you meant to post that comment here. Chances are, your comment (and this reply) will be moved to that thread soon.

We've had a regular discussion here about the Washington Football Team's nickname for several years. Since you're new, I won't respond with the traditional SpoFi level of snark.

The "PC gone amuck" argument regarding the name of the Washington Football Team has popped up before. I'll come back to that part in a minute, but I want to address the second part of your statement first:

The next thing will be the garment industry will be offended by the "RED SOX" or WHITE SOX. Then PETA will throw in their 2 cents about the "TIGERS, LIONS & BEARS Oh my! It's only a name. GET AHOLD OF YOURSEL & GET A LIFE!!
None of those team mascots are a racial slur. If you use the "could I get punched for saying it" test, you could yell any of those things at a garment maker or a PETA supporter and they wouldn't have any reason to get upset. If you yelled the name of the Washington football team's name at a person who was Native American, you should not be surprised if you got a punch to the jaw for saying it.

We make choices regarding what words we use and what we name products all the time based on whether they are appropriate or not. You'll note that there aren't any professional sports teams with names like The Duluth Bad Mother Fuckers or The Brisbane Pee-holes. We also don't give new teams and products names that are racially offensive - you can probably think of hundreds of racial slurs that would make lousy team names.

Furthermore, as a society, we've often seen offensive product names or designs changed to suit the changing beliefs of the times. Indeed, many teams have changed their names over the years for a wide variety of reasons of perceive offense - I'd point to the Washington Bullets changed their name to the Wizards.

So, the name of the Washington Football team is a word that is patently offensive to many people of native American descent. We wouldn't pick a racially charged name for a team in this century. Another Washington team has changed its name quite easily within living memory.

Regarding the idea of "PC run amuck," presumably you aren't somebody who strongly believes that walking up to people of various ethnic groups and shouting ethnic slurs at them would be a polite thing to do. Surely you, as a grandfather (I'm assuming from your user name), raised your children and grandchildren to be respectful of people of all ethnic backgrounds - just as you would ask for people to respect your ethnic background. This is not a "PC" issue - its an issue of basic human respect and dignity.

Anyhow, welcome to Sportsfilter.

posted by Joey Michaels at 07:39 PM on August 09, 2013

And now introducing your Mr. Paul Aints!

That's awesome...

posted by MeatSaber at 09:16 PM on August 09, 2013

Watching the Dolphins-Jaguars tonight gives me the first opportunity to see Jacksonville's new uniforms and my first impression is that the new gold-black helmet may be the worst thing I've ever seen. And I've seen Gigli.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:58 PM on August 09, 2013

Joey Michaels, you are awesome. Well done, sir.

posted by Scottymac at 10:48 PM on August 09, 2013

the new gold-black helmet may be the worst thing I've ever seen

It's a tough town. If you want to compete with the Sharks, you need to come up with something that gets people's attention. That was apparently the best they could do.

posted by beaverboard at 12:45 AM on August 10, 2013

Great story on basketball in Afghanistan, and the "golden age" of that country.

posted by owlhouse at 04:18 AM on August 10, 2013

I watched all four quarters of that Jags game, preoccupied with that uniform more than the team's performance. Perhaps that's by design.

posted by rcade at 09:07 AM on August 10, 2013

I had the pleasure of watching it on the Jacksonville television network, which is apparently staffed by absolutely massive homers. They spent three hours talking about how happy the coaching staff would be because of two early plays where the Jags got pressure and then gave the game MVP to Denard Robinson, (9 carries, 32 yards), and called him "The Offensive Weapon" frequently enough that it sounded like a trademark.

At the end of the game they talked about the Jags offence finally getting moving when Jacksonville's final drive went 37 yards. 30 of which came on roughing the passer penalties.

The best part of the game was where Justin Blackmon - who is both injured and suspended - got into a verbal slanging match with Dolphin defenders who were actually playing and had to be taken to the locker room.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:23 AM on August 10, 2013

The unfounded optimism in that Jags broadcast was spectacular. At one point Blaine Gabbert threw a short pass twice the height of the receiver and Mark Brunell said in the booth that it was "probably too high." Probably?

From the broadcast of the 27-3 loss, which had as much hope in actual play for the hometown faithful as the lowest level of Dante's Inferno, I've learned the Jags are happy with every player in camp and they're all impressing the coaches.

posted by rcade at 09:40 AM on August 10, 2013

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