November 25, 2009

SportsFilter: The Wednesday 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 - 34 comments

The First Test starts in Brisbane tomorrow. However it wouldn't be a proper summer without a story about a new Mystery Ball.

posted by owlhouse at 06:44 AM on November 25, 2009

Anyone see or hear the story about pictures released of Tiger Woods cheating on his wife. I heard it real quick on the radio this morning but cannot find anything online. I would not cheat on her.

posted by Debo270 at 10:31 AM on November 25, 2009

It ain't over until the slim lady swings.

posted by beaverboard at 10:57 AM on November 25, 2009

Seriously?

If it's true, I don't care what your wife looks like. Don't cheat. If you need to move on, move on, but cheating on your partner?

Instant fail.

posted by tommybiden at 11:12 AM on November 25, 2009

I would not cheat on her

Reminds me of the old saying...no matter how good looking he/she is...there's somebody that is sick of their shit.

posted by bdaddy at 11:21 AM on November 25, 2009

Oh, please don't let SpoFi become a gossip rag!

posted by bperk at 11:47 AM on November 25, 2009

My mum has maintained that Tiger has looked "angry and upset on the course lately - beyond his usual petulance" for months now, like he's "carrying some burden or secret that's eating him up. He's not happy."

I really hope the rumours aren't true. Bad enough if the guy cheated on his wife (no matter who she is), but oh so much worse if that means I have to admit my mother was right about something.

I've told the story before, but I had a funny conversation with a guy in the locker room bar at Bay Hill in 2006: "There are some conversations in the history of the world where you just wish you'd been a fly on the wall to hear how they played out. The top of that list for me is the conversation Jesper Parnevik had with his wife where he convinced her that it was a good idea to hire Elin Nordegren to be their nanny. I mean, has the guy got a silver tongue or what? I think my wife'd divorce me on the spot if I even suggested it."

posted by JJ at 12:00 PM on November 25, 2009

Heard a bunch of people raggin' on Tony Romo for his play the other day. Problem I have with that is that his team is 7-3 and he led them to go-ahead leads against two of the first losses of the season only to see the defense surrender a game winning field goal to the NY Giants (last play of the game) and to Denver on a silly 51 yard pass play to Henry (Romo almost led them to score again and win but fell short).

Now, I realize that most people either love or hate the 'Boys and him especially. No he hasn't led them to a playoff win. No he hasn't won it all. But, if you tell me that here you can have this guy and in his first 50 games he will lead you to a record of 38-12, I say go with him. Maybe it is his "awe shucks" attitude. Maybe he doesn't seem remorseful enough. Even old timers like Tony Dorsett have thrown him under the bus. But, I saw three catchable balls by Roy Williams that were dropped and blamed on Romo (they did hit him in the hands, one on the forearm), he doesn't get the ball enough to this guy or that guy. But, his O-Coordinator is vanilla as can be, fumbles by receivers and RB's, and it is all his fault.

I realize that when they win he gets WAY too much credit, but when they loose, he also gets WAY too much credit. For only have started 3+ seasons, I say he will get better (especially without Jessica and the noose around his neck), without TO complaining, and if they could somehow protect him long enough to find his receivers. He gets hit as much as anyone except probably Aaron Rodgers.

"Come one Man"

posted by Mickster at 12:11 PM on November 25, 2009

The footballs that Romo throws to Roy Williams were manufactured at Three Mile Island.

At least that's what Williams thinks. He drops 'em like they were glowing in the dark.

posted by beaverboard at 12:46 PM on November 25, 2009

It's not the first time rumours have popped up, although they're about as reliable as John Daly's driver.

The woman linked to Woods in the rumours is Rachel Uchitel, who apparently has been busy. She was also recently linked to actor David Boreanaz from Bones and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

A little more info on Uchitel.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:22 PM on November 25, 2009

Heard a bunch of people raggin' on Tony Romo

Pretty simple ...

The media builds the guy up as some sort of superstar - he's certainly not deserving of this hype based on his current career accomplishments.

I may be dating myself, but the entire situation brings back memories of Danny White. With many of the greatest QBs of all time active during his tenure (Montana, Marino, etc.), White got more hype than any of them ... and that's all he got.

Cowboys have to be considered in the top 3 or 4 teams in the NFC once again this year, let's see if Romo can perform and shed the label.

posted by cixelsyd at 02:24 PM on November 25, 2009

Oh, please don't let SpoFi become a gossip rag!

I concur with this sentiment, bperk ... however, I will wade into this with a bit of either a devil's advocacy, or contextual ethics ...

As avid sportsfans, do we not realize that the sexual politics of celebrity (sport celebrity esp.) are vastly different from "normal" folk? Of course, we love to celebrate (rightfully so) those who can maintain fidelity in their marriages/relationships. But honestly, do we really expect these (mostly) guys to keep it in their pants 100% of the time? Maybe superman on the field/court/course, but the tests in the social world can be far greater.

Am I wrong?

posted by Spitztengle at 02:56 PM on November 25, 2009

Oh, please don't let SpoFi become a gossip rag!

And by that same measure please let's not let it become a never-ending compilation of statistics and arid conversation. Not that I am inferring that is what bperk is after. Perhaps a middle ground.

Intelligent titilation? Sometimes weird and wacky world of sports? Barry Bonds sells PED's to the Yankees (OK, that's not true as far as I can tell.)?

But I can't stop anyone from posting pictures of half-clothed women. That would just be wrong.

posted by THX-1138 at 03:29 PM on November 25, 2009

With many of the greatest QBs of all time active during his tenure (Montana, Marino, etc.), White got more hype than any of them ... and that's all he got.

Danny White got more hype than Montana and Marino? I was living in Dallas during his days as the starting quarterback, and that statement wasn't even true in that city. He was underappreciated because he never escaped Roger Staubach's shadow.

It would've been different for White if his comeback after The Catch had been successful. The Cowboys had 51 seconds left when they got the ball back. Drew Pearson was one Eric Wright tackle from a possible 75-yard touchdown and White fumbled on the next play.

As for Romo, he's played well enough for the Pokes to be 7-3. We'll know with upcoming games against the New York Giants, San Diego and New Orleans whether he's good enough to bring the Cowboys back to playoff caliber play.

posted by rcade at 03:34 PM on November 25, 2009

First Omar Vizquel, now Andruw Jones. Are the White Sox that desperate that their solution for improvement is the Texas Rangers' short-term backups?

posted by graymatters at 03:59 PM on November 25, 2009

I may be dating myself, but the entire situation brings back memories of Danny White. With many of the greatest QBs of all time active during his tenure (Montana, Marino, etc.), White got more hype than any of them ... and that's all he got.

Yeah, I'll have to disagree (and agree with rcade). I was a huge cowboy fan when I was a kid. Danny White was never mentioned with those other quarterbacks. He was a completely underrated quarterback that was on the verge of going to the superbowl 3 times.

I've always felt bad for Danny White. He was better than I ever expected him to be, was so close to having a fantastic career, and never escaped comparisons to Staubach.

posted by justgary at 05:00 PM on November 25, 2009

Oh, please don't let SpoFi become a gossip rag!

Does that mean that nobody will post the story when the three-headed space alien has TO's love child?

To the best of my knowledge, Weekly World News is still available on line. The print version provided many laughs while I stood in the supermarket checkout line.

posted by Howard_T at 05:06 PM on November 25, 2009

I was a kid when Danny White took the helm from Roger. The only remarkable thing I remember about him was that he was also the punter.

posted by THX-1138 at 05:07 PM on November 25, 2009

NFL's Jon Runyan to run for Congress in NJ -- because a career as an offensive lineman in the NFL prepares you to be a national politician. Perhaps if he declared as a Democrat I'd be less skeptical, though I doubt it as he has no track record of public involvement in politics until now.

posted by billsaysthis at 07:01 PM on November 25, 2009

Are the White Sox that desperate that their solution for improvement is the Texas Rangers' short-term backups?

They apparently also want Royals castoffs too.

posted by dfleming at 07:14 PM on November 25, 2009

NFL's Jon Runyan to run for Congress in NJ

Well that's foolish. Everyone knows that former football players have the best chance of getting elected in Oklahoma.

posted by Ufez Jones at 07:16 PM on November 25, 2009

So it looks like AI is retiring. What a sad end to a nearly brilliant career.

posted by tron7 at 07:30 PM on November 25, 2009

A shame that the nearly brilliant part of his career doesn't apply to his year with the Pistons.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:43 PM on November 25, 2009

What's wrong with Rugby Union? The view from the North, and the view from the South.

posted by owlhouse at 10:01 PM on November 25, 2009

White was never given anywhere near as much hype as Montana or Marino, not even close. As an avid non-Cowboy fan in Minnesota I almost liked White because he didn't seem to get the endless press that most Cowboys get.

Which brings me to my second point. Romo gets ragged on because he put himself out there with all the celebrity BS that involved his private life. Live large when things are good, you take the heat when things aren't so good.

As to Tiger, who am I to say we shouldn't discuss the lives of the professional athletes, and maybe share a few photos of half-clothed women?

As to this line: I may be dating myself... did that once, not much fun, but the dates are less expensive.

posted by dviking at 10:32 PM on November 25, 2009

Supreme Court and that Washington Team With the Unacceptable Name.

Based on so many of the responses and the spirited defense presented by this community on this subject, I would like to say that you made me very proud to be a SPOFIer. Wa-do hi-gi-ne-li-i. You may keep Manhatten.

posted by irunfromclones at 11:04 PM on November 25, 2009

From Owlie's South link, this is terrific prose:

"Rugby's reverence for rules has turned a wild and elemental game a cathartic medieval free-for-all into a constipated and bloodless dirge."

posted by billsaysthis at 11:20 PM on November 25, 2009

Agreed, bill - that'd make a good FPP, Owlie - interesting topic and well written analysis of it.

posted by JJ at 05:51 AM on November 26, 2009

Romo gets ragged on because he put himself out there with all the celebrity BS that involved his private life. Live large when things are good, you take the heat when things aren't so good.

That's true, but even if Romo was the shy retiring type, he was an undrafted free agent who became the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. It's only natural he'd be hyped for that, particularly with the way Bill Parcells talked about him when he won the job.

posted by rcade at 09:49 AM on November 26, 2009

NFL's Jon Runyan to run for Congress in NJ -- because a career as an offensive lineman in the NFL prepares you to be a national politician.

He will hold the line on spending.

posted by rcade at 09:51 AM on November 26, 2009

rcade, I agree that the media tends to whip up the attention on Romo just because he's on the Cowboys, but up until this year he seemed to relish it.

I mean, you can't be that much of a ham one year, and then not expect to take your dressing down the next year when you're a bit of a turkey.

posted by dviking at 10:34 AM on November 26, 2009

So if Romo keeps on being a celebrity, he's a ham. But if he stops being a celebrity, he's a turkey because he used to be a ham. He's damned if he does Jessica Simpson and damned if he doesn't.

posted by rcade at 10:39 AM on November 26, 2009

No, he was a ham when he was with Simpson, and quite often a turkey on the field.

I don't blame him one bit for doing Simpson, I'd have done the same if I was in his shoes. I just don't feel sorry for him when he gets hammered in the press.

BTW, is it just me, or is he wearing his baseball caps facing forward now? Seemed as if he always wore them backwards, but last week it was always facing forward. Anything to that, or was it just a one time change?

posted by dviking at 11:00 AM on November 26, 2009

the media tends to whip up the attention on Romo just because he's on the Cowboys

Nailed it, dviking.

My whole point, including the reference to the Danny White.

Don't apply the whipped cream until the pie has been baked.

posted by cixelsyd at 11:11 AM on November 26, 2009

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