Recent Comments by thewittyname

Judge Tells NFL to End Lockout

Howard_T, I'm going to assume you're not a lawyer because determining whether granting a preliminary injunction is in the public's interest is part of the four-factor test judges use for issuing injunctions.

In case you're interested, that four factor test is: 1) the person seeking the injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits [i.e. win at trial], 2) that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, 3) that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and 4) that an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 129 S. Ct. 365, 375 (2008)

posted by thewittyname at 03:16 PM on April 27, 2011

Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl champions

I am in favor of a Constitutional Amendment that requires The Star Spangled Banner to be sung in less than 1:45. Anything more is unnecessary and usually results in a poorly sung version. The offense would be a felony, and the minimum sentence would be at least a ban of one year from using a microphone for anything.

All sporting events should be required to use a recording of Marvin Gaye's rendition at the 1983 NBA all-star game.

posted by thewittyname at 05:07 PM on February 07, 2011

Having done well on the field

I think the school's pathetic, craven response to Declan Sullivan's death (i.e. not firing anyone) showed more than enough about the character of the football coaches and the AD. This is just more evidence of the same.

Although I doubt this case will change anything at the school, I am hoping that both this girl's and Mr. Sullivan's parents can take the school for all it's worth in a wrongful death suit.

posted by thewittyname at 12:08 PM on December 17, 2010

Black, Gardenhire Win Manager of Year Awards

Don't forget that Wash was distracted for a large part of the season by the Ranger's bankruptcy. Not only was he severely restricted money-wise (I think the team had to borrow money from MLB at one point to make payroll), he had to go to court to testify about the effects the bankruptcy was having on the team!

posted by thewittyname at 03:51 PM on November 18, 2010

Michael Vick Lights Up Washington for 6 TDs, 413 Yards

So, if you make one mistake in your life witty, we never have to let you forget it even after you have satisfied all of the legal requirements. We still get to see you as guilty the rest of your life according to our own moral judgment standards.

Uh, yeah, people can have different opinions as to whether they will forgive and/or forget the sins of a person accused of terrible crimes. People get to judge others based on their own moral code, and the person judged really can't do much about it. Is this really controversial?

And, I'm not implying that others condone dog killing - I am implying that some can look past it while others won't when judging Michael Vick as an athlete.

posted by thewittyname at 10:47 AM on November 18, 2010

Michael Vick Lights Up Washington for 6 TDs, 413 Yards

What is this "paid his debt to society" excuse? That only explains why he's no longer in prison - it has nothing to do with moral judgement. Vick may never commit another crime ever again in his life, and he might even never sin again, but he still killed dogs.

And he didn't just kill them - he tortured them to death in a variety of ways. If that doesn't bother you, that's fine. He did "pay his debt," and I don't think he should have had a longer prison sentence, but Vick cannot ever change what he did in the past, and lots of people will always remember him as a dog killer.

He played one hell of a game though.

posted by thewittyname at 05:25 PM on November 17, 2010

Steve Nash Announces Birth, Divorce

Why are people assuming that he's the one that wanted the divorce and/or chose the timing of the announcement? It seems a bit premature to call him a bad father or classless if it was the mother who wanted to separate.

posted by thewittyname at 03:47 PM on November 15, 2010

The Million Dollar Kick

It looks like this kid might actually play in the CFL after all

posted by thewittyname at 07:57 PM on October 29, 2005

2 Eagles players condemed because they love the Lord

Nothing wrong with a man being honest about where he's coming from. However, there is something wrong about a evangelical organization leveraging an athlete's celebrity to sway impressionable children. This needs to be said over, and over, and over....

posted by thewittyname at 12:23 PM on October 28, 2005

Albert Pujols.

Houston is an evil dirty nasty city. Jesus, like St. Louis isn't?

posted by thewittyname at 11:07 AM on October 18, 2005

Chewbacca brings the heat.

Big League Chew

posted by thewittyname at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2005

8 Ways To Improve The NFL

Nobody would watch baseball if, after nine innings, a coin was tossed and the winning team started the inning with a guy on third base...and yet, this is how its done in the NFL. Something needs to change. My preference would simply to have another 15 minute quarter...and keep having them until someone is ahead at the end. I also like Ricardo's idea for a bifurcated pass interference.

posted by thewittyname at 03:21 PM on May 07, 2005

The Almost Palpable Presence of the Past

I didn't even have to click on the "garishly colored" link in the uniforms section to know that they were talking about the 1980s Astros.

posted by thewittyname at 06:12 PM on May 04, 2005

Mean Joe Greene, Meet Mean Daunte Culpepper

I have to agree with grum, Weedy and Sam

posted by thewittyname at 05:31 PM on February 03, 2005

A unique stadium-share

It says right in the article that FedEx field is too suburban, and hard for their mainly urban-based fans to access. Hell, it's hard for anyone to access.

posted by thewittyname at 09:48 AM on January 30, 2005

Swann tests gubernatorial waters

It's sad that we have a political culture that allows someone to offset a complete lack of public service experience with sports acheivement. It's scary that he might actually have a chance at winning. This isn't school board he's running for, it's to head the fifth biggest state of the Union!

posted by thewittyname at 09:12 PM on December 11, 2004

This is it

It's comments like those that exemplify why I wish both AL teams could lose tonight.

posted by thewittyname at 06:24 PM on October 20, 2004

"I'm black. They don't build stuff for blacks."

Granted, I only lived in Boston for two years, but I feel comfortable stating that it is the most racist big town I have ever visited. My girlfriend isn't white like me, and together, we've visited cities on both coasts and even in the South, and we both agree that the level of causal racism in Beantown is higher than anywhere else. People would unabashedly stare at the two of us whenever we were out on the town, and while some places, like Cambridge were totally cool, other places, like Arlington made us feel completely unwelcome. Sad to say, even towns like Houston were more progressive.

posted by thewittyname at 06:44 PM on June 18, 2004

John Madden explores Monday Night Football Booth Job

Dennis Miller was the only reason I watched MNF games that didn't involve one of the three or so NFL teams I truly care about.

His commentary was brilliant and funny, and just because it was over most people's heads doesn't make it any less so.

I loved it when I understood an obscure reference, it made the game interesting. Perhaps this is because I know more worthless non-sports trivia than is altogether sane, yet still don't know how many players are allowed on the field at one time. (I just watch for the action).

Anyway, I agree with aacheson, Miller got canned for mis-directed intelligence, which is a shame.

As for John Madden.

Retire.

For the love of God get in your bus and head straight for your Florida beach-house (or wherever he lives).

Do not pass ABC Sports HQ, do not collect a $15 million, four-year contract.

On a final note, I would like to say that the only way for ABC to now redem themselves is to cancel Madden's contract next year, and replace him with Tom Servo and Crow.

posted by thewittyname at 03:00 PM on February 28, 2002