Recent Comments by endorfin

Upon further review, He's out!!!

I agree wtih Howard T on the slippery slope / "what comes next?". But on face value, the proposal is to use video to verify fair / foul, over the fence. Why not simply make it available to the umpires if they want to double check before continuing the game on a call they are not sure about? It doesn't need to be a coaches challenge like football. It would level the playing field for what we have already seen happening. 1. clearly wrong call against home team 2. home team shows video on jumbo tron over and over while umps confer 3. one of the umps notices the video even though they aren't supposed to 4. play gets overturned If play / call was in favor of home team, it is never shown on the jumbotron creating an advantage.

posted by endorfin at 05:00 PM on June 14, 2008

An Instant Classic

Can someone please tell what Boston has done to earn all this amazing sports karma? A group of new owners who live by the words of Vince Lombardi, "first we will be best, then we will be first". Crafts bought Patriots, made winning it all a priority Werner, Henry, etc. bought Sox, made winning it all a priority Grosbek bought Celtics, made winning it all a priority Bruins? Umm, no. Same reasoning.

posted by endorfin at 10:41 PM on June 13, 2008

An Instant Classic

In the article Kobe said: "They were determined not to let me beat them tonight," he said. "I saw three, four bodies every time I touched the ball." Was he thinking about the half they were ahead? Looked to me that in the 2nd half, it was pretty much 1 on 1 with temporary help on picks and screens.

posted by endorfin at 06:52 AM on June 13, 2008

You got Rondo'd.

"Let's see how he plays when he doesn't have KG, Ray-Ray, and Pierce." You mean like this, this (both before Allen and KG) or this (rookie all star game - 18 Minutes 6 Points, 3 Rebounds 6 Assists 3 Steals). Looks pretty good to me. Which would laker fans rather see in the game, Rondo or Cassell?

posted by endorfin at 11:14 AM on June 09, 2008

You got Rondo'd.

shredder... maybe there was a premature coronation on some of the posts but it is interesting the contrast between Celtic fans and non-celtic fans(looks like from your postings you may be a Laker fan?). My original post was in response to the announcers saying that Celtics fans are up and down on Rondo which I don't think is true. Celtics fans would rather have Rondo over Telfair or Delonte West. Most of us were happy he was not included in the Allen or Garnett trades. He is just a pup - played just 2 years in college and then only 24 minutes per game last year. As for playoffs... Rondo: PPG 10.7 RPG 4.20 APG 6.6 Fisher: PPG 10.3 RPG 2.60 APG 2.4

posted by endorfin at 01:28 PM on June 07, 2008

NFL Owners Vote Unanimously to End Collective Bargaining Agreement

JMD beat me to it. Not being on top of this, why would the owners opt out? If the owners opt out, then the salary cap / threshold goes away. I would think most team gross salaries go up in this case. Plus it would be disruptive to league parity - the strong (rich) will get stronger. Why would the owners prefer going uncapped and why would the players oppose it? IMO - of all major pro sports leagues in the US, labor relations (owners vs. players), football seems to be more balanced than other sports.

posted by endorfin at 11:41 AM on May 20, 2008

Chris Berman provides good case for destroying video tape

By the way, the video is from 8 years ago. You can see in the backdrop it mentions 30 years from 1970 - 2000. But I still thought it was worth posting since it just recently surfaced. I think Arlen Specter is going to look into the cover up and why it took so long for the public to "be enlightened".

posted by endorfin at 12:06 AM on February 02, 2008

The Official Line vs. The Betting Line

knowssome, what do you expect them to do? You can disagree, but here is what the article said about your two points: “Bert Bell realized that gambling on football was not going to go away but he also understood the league had to be as transparent as possible in protecting the integrity of the game — that there could not be any rumor or innuendo that the fix was in, or it could kill the sport.” The next season, Bell announced that the league would publish before each game a report of the injuries of all players and their likelihood of participating. It evolved into the detailed midweek report that a remains a staple of the N.F.L. “It was intended to provide information that assured the public that the game was played honestly,” MacCambridge said. “But paradoxically, it gave bettors more information and greater confidence that they were betting on an honest game.”

posted by endorfin at 07:16 AM on February 01, 2008

Soccer Is As American As Apple Pie

for those who were saying it is just too boring to watch, I have a challenges. If you get the Fox Soccer Channel, check out the indoor soccer games on Friday nights Indoor Schedule. To the soccer purists, this may be the equivalent of arena football but at least maybe it will give you a chance to see the game in a more action oriented manner. The indoor game has more similarities to hockey - 6v6, boards and sub on the fly - all lead to more action and scoring. It took me a while before I really got into watching 11v11 on TV. It is definitely a sport that is better live where you can get the bigger picture. Plus I find the MLS teams play at a much more physical level in the playoffs (and unlike other sports, I can actually afford and find MLS playoff tickets). As far as overall popularity of soccer, we have an over-the-hill league in MA . There are literally hundreds of teams and there is even an Over 60 division. There are many indoor soccer options allowing us to play year round. I played American football in high school and college, and then touch football for 10 years after that. Soccer is a great froum for aerobic excercise and fun. I also find it much more physical than touch football and basketball.

posted by endorfin at 02:01 PM on January 19, 2008

New England By the Numbers

In one corner... Superbowl champs, 7-0 this season. Playing at home. 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games. 5.5 point underdog. vs. what kyrilmitch said. All adds up to... watch for an important announcement from A-rod during the 4th quarter

posted by endorfin at 07:05 AM on November 04, 2007

Bruins' Patrice Bergeron Leaves Game on Stretcher

Big over reaction here. Take a look at the video and also see Jones' response (comments) on the Flyers website. Even Bruin fans are saying they know it was unintentional. Flyer Fan As a Bruins fan (who was watching the game), my thoughts were: Hope he wakes up Hope he isn't paralyzed Hope he plays again Jones' statement on the website was released at the game before the second intermission. It was preemptive and I'm glad he released it. However, I don't believe the video supports it was unintentional. Sure, maybe it was out of character and a poor choice, ok. But it sure looks more like an intentional hit from behind into the boards of a defenseless player. At least to me, this looks like a better description than "he was checking up and it was accidental".

posted by endorfin at 07:07 AM on October 28, 2007

Top 50 Sporting Injuries

How about Drew Bledsoe's injury from Mo Lewis' hit. Led to 3 super bowls so far. Very big impact injury.

posted by endorfin at 07:17 AM on October 17, 2007

Most Popular NFL Teams (in Order): Cowboys, Colts, Steelers, Packers

Here is the correct link for 2007: click here Another part of the poll was who will win the superbowl this year: Indianapolis Colts 25 New England Patriots 23 San Diego Chargers 8 Dallas Cowboys 7 Pittsburgh Steelers 6 Texan_in_NY, the question was who are your favorite 2 (not rank them all best to worst). rcade, you must be happy to know the Jags were middle of the pack for the superbowl question.

posted by endorfin at 08:17 PM on October 02, 2007

And now come the lawyers ...

Hey, that's great! Probably the only thing that can make the rest of the country actually rally round the Pats. Patriots vs. the Sharks. What's the spread? I wonder if this is an undercover ploy by Patriots PR department to rehabilitate their public image?

posted by endorfin at 10:30 PM on September 30, 2007

Belichick's cheating could lead to dark days for NFL.

Couple of points... Other shoe to drop - I believe people are misinterpreting and spinning what Goodall said on TV Monday night. He said that there could be additional sanctions if Belichik did not come clean. Goodall said that he asked for the prior tapes and notes and expected Belichik to comply. Why on earth would he say this if there was no admission to prior tapes and notes existing? Yes, BB has prior tapes and notes and never denied it. Watergate comparison - give me a break. No laws were broken, only rules within the game. The cameraman was in plain sight, not breaking into a hotel after hours. I prefer to think this more like Bill Clinton getting a Lewinski. Extremely stupid, embarrassing and for marginal gain. Stonewalling - Belichik said pretty much the same thing after every victory or loss in the last 5 years - "we're putting that behind us and moving on to our opponent this week." Nothing new here - no stonewalling - just Bill being boring Bill. By the way, what credible source has come forward regarding the microphone in the pads theory that seems to be repeated with no basis? Does anyone think the Jets would not have had the pads confiscated if they suspected this was happening? Belichik violated the rules. And he is being penalized for it. It was stupid. Now the Pats are becoming just as hated as the old Steelers, Raiders, Cowboys and 49ers. Not because they are cheaters but because they are winners.

posted by endorfin at 08:27 PM on September 18, 2007

Chargers flushed, Peyton vs. Brady again

"The problem is that players train and practice to intercept the ball when it is near them. It's almost counter-intuitive to suddenly NOT attempt to catch the ball." grum... baseball players are trained to hit a baseball and yet somehow seem to know when the count is 3-0, they should take a pitch. This is the football equivalent. Players even in high school are expected to know the game situation. They are taught to knock it down on 4th down. Or should I say - team players are taught to knock it down - selfish players don't.

posted by endorfin at 10:42 PM on January 15, 2007

Chargers flushed, Peyton vs. Brady again

"The challenge" - Marty caved to an overzealous Philip Rivers who ran up to him after seeing the play on the jumbotron and insisted the player was down before the fumble. It may or may not come out, but it was witnessed and reported by a NE journalist right after the game. Notice that Marty wore his headset after that.

posted by endorfin at 05:29 AM on January 15, 2007

NHL Shootouts, Season 2: More Shots, Fewer Goals

Smaller pads? Maybe it just took a season for the goalies to adapt to the change in pad sizes? It could have been a 50/50 proposition before the rule changes.

posted by endorfin at 10:19 AM on December 06, 2006

TO survival guide.

I wonder what T.O. will be like when he retires? posted by timdawg T.O. will be like O..J. Still looking for others to blame

posted by endorfin at 10:49 AM on November 11, 2006

New England v. Bill Polian, Take 10

From what jerseygirl posted yesterday, new turf will be in place for the Nov 5th game. Hopefully it will be done. That field was in horrendous condition. Negative. The league told the Pats they can't do this during the season. So they are resodding the middle of the field.

posted by endorfin at 06:21 PM on October 20, 2006

Is Branch worth a number 1 pick?

Interesting observations. As a New England fan, I see the "Dione Branch" issue differently. Most of us (fans) have no problem with his attitude, it is his durability that is in question. He gets less passes per season because he is fragile. Even if he was in camp day one, he would not have played much in pre-season - just like last year. It's not that the coaches wouldn't love a healthy Branch, they just know he will break down if you use him. That's the reason his season production isn't higher. Fantasy football fans - take Dione for a few weeks then dump him once he gets injured. That is the only problem for Seattle - use him and they'll lose him.

posted by endorfin at 05:57 PM on September 12, 2006

Professional football has a new all-time passing leader.

I think Canton is pretty clearly intended for U.S. players and teams. "The Board consists of one media representative from each pro football city with two from New York, inasmuch as that city has two teams in the National Football League. A 33rd member is a representative of the Pro Football Writers of America and there are six at-large delegates." Question: know how many Yankees are enshrined in Canton? non-NFL HOFers.

posted by endorfin at 11:35 PM on September 04, 2006

Big-Name NFL Offensive Players Released.

rkyrilmitch_76 - maybe I exagerated a little though - over the last 3 years Vrabel's has 6TDs on 8 total yards. Not bad- a TD for every 1.3 yards.

posted by endorfin at 12:59 PM on September 03, 2006

Big-Name NFL Offensive Players Released.

Kendall, you kidding? Why would the Pats give up anything for a player with 1.3 touchdowns and 150 yards PER SEASON. Pat's get better production than that out of Mike Vrabel.

posted by endorfin at 11:27 PM on September 02, 2006

Stewart's aggressive side resurfaces at Daytona

It's one thing to bump or to drive agressively. Perhaps squeezing somebody into the apron is taking it a bit further. But by diving several car lengths into the infield just for good measure - kind of makes it clear to everyone who the asshole is. After all his talk pre-race, "somebody is going to get killed" he seemed hell bent on making his prediction come true. What a hypocrite.

posted by endorfin at 11:02 PM on February 19, 2006

"Newfangled pseudo-sports are our lifeblood."

as to the point 4 of creating sports nobody cares about... I guess that's what people thought when they added Biathlon and Curling - or luge for that matter. Or how about the summer games... is Beach Vollyball really any worse than Synchronized Swimming? I hear they might add Texas Holdem next go around.

posted by endorfin at 10:04 PM on February 10, 2006