Recent Comments by fabulon7

Cole: Football Should Eliminate the PAT

Lots of rule changes make differences to games. I would guess the change to the force-out rule probably has influenced the outcome of more games than getting rid of the PAT would.

Is the potential to change the outcome of a few games worth the lack of entertainment value and risk of Gronk's broken forearm? I don't think so. PATs are boring, and almost anti-climatic.

I always liked the automatic-1, option to forgo the 1 and try for 2 concept.

posted by fabulon7 at 08:46 AM on November 23, 2012

Seattle Wins on What-the-Hell Mary

From the linked thread of Packers tweets, Tom Crabtree says:

Imagine you make a painting. It isn't perfect by others' standards, but it's your painting. You are proud. Then someone takes a shit on it.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:17 AM on September 25, 2012

Greg LeMond smiles

A Fatty Arbuckle reference? Amazing.

posted by fabulon7 at 09:10 PM on August 27, 2012

Hockey HoF Selects 4

Sundin scored his 500th goal shorthanded, in overtime, to complete a hat trick.

That alone should get him into the hall of fame.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:24 AM on June 28, 2012

Saints' bounty system via Taiwanese animation

Harsh, but true.

posted by fabulon7 at 09:50 AM on March 10, 2012

Four Nights in Indianapolis for Just $16,000

Cue the annual articles about the rising price of hookers, who are travelling from all over the country to make superbowl sex money.

posted by fabulon7 at 01:36 PM on February 03, 2012

Giants, Patriots in Super Rematch

Why is it that Evans didn't have to "make a football move"? Or why is it that Calvin Johnson did? What differentiates catches in the end zone where you do or don't? I don't get it.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:43 PM on January 23, 2012

Giants Send Green Bay Packing

I wonder that too - home field might not be much of an advantage to them, given their style.

And you have to wonder about the bye week, plus having nothing to play for the week before. Does having your starters wait three (or more) weeks between games cause enough rust to screw up your plans against a team like the Giants, who have absolutely needed to win every game they have played since November or something.

Also - Ryan Grant just isn't that good. That fumble at the end of the game was the definitive moment the Packers lost. Until then, it was close enough with enough time that they could have won if that usually crazy offense had been able to get it together.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:08 PM on January 16, 2012

Giants Send Green Bay Packing

I don't think I can remember seeing a team that good play a game that bad.

Don't get me wrong - I thought the Giants had a shot going in. They almost beat the Packers in December, and they were on a roll. But the Packers really didn't give the Packers a chance.

posted by fabulon7 at 07:53 AM on January 16, 2012

John Parr Remakes 'St. Elmos Fire' as 'Tim Tebow's Fire'

Hopefully this works out as well for Tebow as Prince's effort did for Fav-er-uh.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:13 PM on January 13, 2012

Reid, Turner, Smith Not Fired

He could have coached Cutler to not tackle with his thumbs extended.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:03 PM on January 04, 2012

Bears Receiver Charged with Cocaine Distribution

You mean the Rams?

posted by fabulon7 at 02:34 PM on December 16, 2011

Green Bay Packers Climb to 12-0

Can't we wait to debate whether or not Tebow is any good until he plays a couple of competent teams?

posted by fabulon7 at 12:04 PM on December 06, 2011

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

You could claim the Cleveland Browns' helmet bears the logo of a magnified portion of their own helmet.

posted by fabulon7 at 01:17 PM on November 16, 2011

1961 Larry Merchant Would Kick Floyd Mayweather's Ass

I stated facts, people are talking more about Mayweather knocking Ortiz out and how "unsportsmanlike" that was but in all actuality it was in fact Ortiz that displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour.

It's not an exclusive choice. Ortiz can have displayed unsportsmanlike behaviour, and this can have been followed by Mayweather displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour.

In fact, I would suggest that this is pretty much how the scenario played out. And anyone who has a basic understanding of moral behaviour should know that your opponent's breaking of a rule or convention doesn't give you free license to do whatever the hell you want.

posted by fabulon7 at 07:58 AM on September 19, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Is Rex Grossman around?

posted by fabulon7 at 10:50 PM on August 17, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

When you compare Eli's stats to all the other QBs playing today, and you compare Joe Namath's stats to all the other QBs playing then, what does it look like?

posted by fabulon7 at 12:43 PM on August 17, 2011

Michael Irvin Champions Equality

Michael Irvin and Sean Avery should get together and talk in schools or something. Just so I can't believe that's happening.

posted by fabulon7 at 05:33 PM on July 14, 2011

Bruins' Horton Out for Finals

According to folklore that's what, 75 regular-season games?

I get that being out for the rest of the final is a big deal, but regardless, 4 games is not enough. Not if they seriously want to stop this from happening again.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:01 PM on June 07, 2011

NHL hockey returns to the 'Peg!

No, wait, I can't count. The next one will be attempt #4, I think.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:40 PM on June 01, 2011

NHL hockey returns to the 'Peg!

I don't know whether Bettman can count to three.

Jim Balsillie is hoping not.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:37 PM on June 01, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

No, no, no.

Letting "weak" hooking calls go is what led us down the torpid path to obstructive trap hockey. Remember how BORING hockey could be when every forward had to learn to skate with a 6'5" defenseman on his back?

I agree diving should be removed from the game. But the solution isn't to let players hook each other more. The solution is to penalize diving, or make the players believe it is an embarassing thing to be doing.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:23 PM on May 05, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

After elbowing Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer behind the play and giving him a concussion during an Eastern Conference semifinal game on May 3, 2001, Domi, playing for the Maple Leafs at the time, was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs.

And cost the Leafs the series. Good move, Tie. Good move.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:29 PM on April 13, 2011

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

If someone can tell me why Pierre still has a job, I would be most grateful. I may have many years of education behind me, I may work all day solving problems, but I just can't figure this shit out.

posted by fabulon7 at 09:32 PM on April 04, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

The horrible precedent this decision (to not punish Chara) makes is, players can reasonably expect to get away with seriously injuring one another if they can use the geometry of the rink as an excuse.

Screw that. It is Chara's responsibility to make sure he doesn't murder anyone. That responsibility extends to knowing the location of the upright pole that could break someone's neck, and backing off on a hit because of that knowledge.

By punishing him, the league would have told the players they were responsible for not doing this, ever again.

posted by fabulon7 at 08:56 AM on March 10, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Holy crap, Chara.

posted by fabulon7 at 08:07 AM on March 09, 2011

The Toll of Fighting on Hockey Enforcers

Hockey (at least in North America; I don't know about other countries) seems to almost need fighting to survive.

Bettman seems to think so. There was a poll in the Globe and Mail, I think, not too long ago, and anecdotal evidence backs it up, that most Canadians would be happy to see fighting removed from the game.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:49 PM on March 05, 2011

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Leafs deal Kaberle to Bruins

And so the Leafs move one step closer to fielding a team consisting of, uhh, nobody.

posted by fabulon7 at 04:17 PM on February 18, 2011

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

I didn't see it, thanks to CTV deciding I needed to watch those stupid idiot in motorcycle helmets and shoulder pads run past Union Station over and over again.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:06 PM on February 07, 2011

Hard Times for William 'Refrigerator' Perry

Yeah, I had no reason to think he wasn't out lounging by his pool, having weekly barbecue parties with his friends and family.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:03 PM on February 07, 2011

Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl champions

Go Pack Go!

posted by fabulon7 at 11:08 PM on February 06, 2011

The Guardian Project

This is the worst shit I have ever seen.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:52 PM on February 04, 2011

'Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie'

I'm not saying that lifting heavy things and doing free weight exercise isn't good for you. Just that it's not THE ONLY SOLUTION.

Anytime someone tells me some specific exercise is THE ONLY THING I'LL EVER NEED, I don't believe them.

posted by fabulon7 at 08:25 AM on January 31, 2011

'Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie'

This article reeks of "Ignore all advice about fitness. Except mine." Why should this guy's anecdotal observations mean more to me than anyone else's? You could find any number of articles arguing the opposite point of view.

Maybe there isn't only one correct way to exercise...

posted by fabulon7 at 02:05 PM on January 29, 2011

Jeff Fisher Out in Tennessee

I wish I could take a year off and re-energize.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:25 AM on January 28, 2011

Cutler tore MCL vs. Packers

I read something about that walking up the stairs bit. Apparently he and 11 friends went to some steakhouse, he walked up the stairs and didn't limp. The writer was amazed not that Cutler could make it up the stairs with barely a limp, but that he had 11 friends in Chicago.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:45 AM on January 27, 2011

Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl

I guess so. Maybe just some crutches would have worked?

Just maybe the guy's focus was on his team winning the game, not about how much facetime he could steal.

I'm not suggesting he acts like a princess. Just that if he had have known the ridiculous reaction he would get to standing upright, he might have wanted to do things a little differently.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:37 PM on January 24, 2011

Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl

If I'm Cutler and I can't play, I'm telling the trainers to strap on the biggest, ugliest Soviet-era knee brace they can find, so I look really hurt while I'm standing on the sidelines. I'd make one of them come over and pretend to work on it every now and again too.

posted by fabulon7 at 01:37 PM on January 24, 2011

Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl

That Sam Shields guy is having a monster playoff.

posted by fabulon7 at 08:26 AM on January 24, 2011

Kim Clijsters Gives TV Commentator a Tennis Lesson

Talking about the size of a woman's boobs in the context and tone they were discussing it was not in any way remotely sexual. Kids talk about boobs and butts and genitals all the time. They aren't being sexual. It's normal. It won't hurt them. Pretending certain parts of adult bodies are shameful things that cannot ever be mentioned or thought about however, that will hurt them.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:56 AM on January 22, 2011

8% of Fans Leave Sporting Events Legally Drunk

At Ralph Wilson Stadium after a Bills game, I'm thinking the number of fans who leave a game legally sober is around 8 percent

I once followed a car out of the parking lot whose roof was stacked two cases high with empties. The police were kind enough to wave them into the flow of traffic.

posted by fabulon7 at 05:36 PM on January 19, 2011

New York Jets Back Up Big Talk by Beating Patriots

I was surprised that the Pats didn't go to a hurry-up earlier (in the 2nd or 3rd quarter). It was clear that the Jets D was playing them solidly and that the Pats needed to break their rhythm.

I'm not a Patriots fan, so this isn't griping, but every time the Patriots seemed to get into some kind of hurried up rhythm, a Jet seemed to hurt himself and have to sit out one play...

I don't know if that would hold up to a thorough analysis, but I got that impression a few times in the game.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:45 AM on January 18, 2011

LeBron James Taunts Cavs Over Historic Loss

Don Cherry probably approves of her. Because he's sick of the elites and artsy people running politics.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:50 PM on January 14, 2011

LeBron James Taunts Cavs Over Historic Loss

I've yet to meet an everyday person who doesn't count LeBron and Sarah among the assholes of the earth. I can't speak for the elitists and media types. I don't hang out with them.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:36 PM on January 14, 2011

Packers Hold Off Eagles for 21-16 Win

That game was pretty devoid of Jennings and Driver. I hope they're saving it up for Atlanta.

posted by fabulon7 at 07:35 PM on January 10, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

That was a collapse of massive proportions, Canada.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:00 PM on January 05, 2011

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Didn't they say the Giants were the first 10-win team to not make the playoffs? If that's true, it would be pretty rough to fire a coach for that.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:45 PM on January 03, 2011

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

After watching that game last night, I'd be surprised if either the Seahawks or the Rams could manage a win over the Maple Leafs in a first round playoff game.

posted by fabulon7 at 11:09 AM on January 03, 2011

Excessive Celebration Flag Decides Bowl Game

Maybe they should just put a time limit on celebrations and mark the excessive line that way. You've got 5 seconds from the time the ref puts his arms up - do what you gotta do. After 5 seconds, penalty.

You can do a pretty entertaining dance in 5 seconds.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:30 PM on December 31, 2010

2011 Pro Bowl rosters announced

I think Rivers over Matt Cassel is a sham.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:21 AM on December 29, 2010

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I don't think Joe Webb would be too put out by Frazier letting Favre start his last game ever. But I'm guessing Tavaris Jackson isn't very happy about any of this.

posted by fabulon7 at 10:20 AM on December 29, 2010

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Is Mike Shanahan starting to look crazy? Like Childress-style crazy?

posted by fabulon7 at 01:38 PM on December 17, 2010

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

A-ha: Players were now allowed forward passing in the offensive zone, instead of only in the defensive and neutral zones. This led to abuse: players sat in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass. The rule was changed again mid-season in December 1929, and players were no longer allowed to enter the offensive zone before the puck.

So he spent half a season parked in front of the opposite goal, waiting for a pass. He lived Brett Hull's dream!

posted by fabulon7 at 06:18 PM on December 09, 2010

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

In (Cooney Weiland's) second season during 192930, he scored 43 goals and 73 points in 44 games aided by a rule change that season only. It shattered the NHL's single-season points record of 51 which had been set two years earlier by Montreal Canadiens legend Howie Morenz.

What the hell was this one-season rule change? He never cracked 38 pts in any subsequent season.

posted by fabulon7 at 06:14 PM on December 09, 2010

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I've been asking for at least a decade, but it still remains a mystery to me why anyone pays Don Cherry to do anything. Is it because the pinko communists at the CBC feel bad about firing an old guy?

posted by fabulon7 at 01:22 PM on December 08, 2010

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

That call against Suh was horrendous. In my humble opinion, the Bears have three-ish wins that were close to the direct result of bad officiating. You take those victories away, and does anyone think they are the best team in that division?

posted by fabulon7 at 10:32 AM on December 06, 2010

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Rogers will find a way to make this cost too much and deliver too little. They are very, very good at that.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:47 PM on December 01, 2010

Bills Receiver Blames God After Loss

Athlete blaming God for defeat actually was an Onion headline some time ago. It does have a certain degree of internal logic.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:31 PM on November 29, 2010

Sidney Crosby: The Most Underrated Player in the NHL

Mario was the only player on a lousy team for most of his career and still managed amazing numbers.

Like those Jagr/Francis years?

posted by fabulon7 at 03:39 PM on November 22, 2010

Vikings Fire Brad Childress

To be fair, Favre did look like the answer to all of their problems not too many months ago. It's simplistic and unrealistic to blame the total collapse of the Vikings on him alone. He's been crap, sure, that's undeniable.

But find one player on that team who has played as well as well as last year. Maybe Longwell. When a team is that systematically terrible, I have to believe coaching has something to do with it.

Plus, I've been telling everyone Childress is an idiot for years, so I feel vindicated.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:36 PM on November 22, 2010