October 17, 2013

SportsFilter: The Thursday 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 - 24 comments

Oregon Ducks to wear pink helmets on Saturday and I like it!

posted by BornIcon at 09:19 AM on October 17, 2013

Growing up, Michael Laudrup was one of my favourite players. I loved chevrons, he had great 80s hair, he was a sleeve tugger, (along with Jesper Olsen... maybe it's a Danish thing), oh, and he was quite good at football.

Appropriately named Youtube user "llaauuddrruupp" has posted an 83 minute video just of Laudrup passing the ball.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:35 AM on October 17, 2013

Came across this gem from an ESPN "Top Commenter" on an article about penalties called on the Patriots vs. the Jets:

"To many penalties can kill a drive or the defence so the fewer penalties the better."

posted by yerfatma at 09:54 AM on October 17, 2013

Oregon Ducks to wear pink helmets

Does Power Ranger Kimberly have any college eligibility left?

posted by beaverboard at 10:20 AM on October 17, 2013

"To many penalties can kill a drive or the defence so the fewer penalties the better."

To many, sure, but to some, no.

posted by NoMich at 10:26 AM on October 17, 2013

The Black and Pink look good together. Must be awesome to have alumni that run Nike. I saw somewhere that they have 384 uniform combos. That cant be right can it?

posted by Debo270 at 12:40 PM on October 17, 2013

The Black and Pink look good together.

The Hitman agrees

posted by BornIcon at 12:47 PM on October 17, 2013

posted by yerfatma at 12:59 PM on October 17, 2013

When I was a kid I wanted to work out so I could look just like Rick Rude. He was ripped. Never got there. But dude died at 40, so maybe all for the better.

posted by justgary at 01:36 PM on October 17, 2013

I saw somewhere that they have 384 uniform combos. That cant be right can it?

You could have something like:

6 helmets x 4 jerseys x 4 pants x 4 socks/gloves = 384 combinations

...not that they would necessarily wear the pink helmets with the green jerseys and the black pants and the yellow socks/gloves.

Ignoring for a minute that neither pink nor black are their colors, I would agree that those uniforms work.

posted by bender at 01:37 PM on October 17, 2013

The school I teach at just merged with another district 2 yrs ago. We had to pick a new name, new mascot and new colors. Black/pink was in the final 4. Was not my first pick, but they do look good.

posted by Debo270 at 02:00 PM on October 17, 2013

The Black and Pink look good together.

Penn State's original colors were black and pink (or pink and black, depending on whom you ask). They were changed to blue and white when the uniforms faded over time, the pink becoming white and the black looking more blue.

posted by Howard_T at 02:41 PM on October 17, 2013

Oregon Ducks to wear pink helmets on Saturday and I like it!

Downside to this: There is no chance the opposing QB WON'T see the defenders in the path of the potential pass.

Upside to this: The opposing QB will probably burn out his retinas seeing the pink helmets buzzing in and out of his field of view (sort of like the spots you get when you look at a bright light).

We had to pick a new name, new mascot and new colors.

Details, man. What was the final result of the team name/mascot?

posted by grum@work at 03:28 PM on October 17, 2013

When I was a kid I wanted to work out so I could look just like Rick Rude. He was ripped.

You and me both. Rick Rude was ahead of his time.

posted by BornIcon at 04:01 PM on October 17, 2013

Nolan Ryan would still be working for the Rangers if legal justification for homicide included "snotnose punk pissin' me the hell off."

posted by rcade at 05:50 PM on October 17, 2013

Grum
Center and Monaca became Central Valley

The Trojans and the Indians became the Warriors
and
Navy/silver and Maroon/White became
Navy and carolina blue

posted by Debo270 at 11:01 PM on October 17, 2013

What horrible positioning by the third base umpire during the 8th inning. He was close enough that he could have been playing third base himself.

There have been several very poor displays of umpiring in the ALCS. Thankfully they don't seem to have had an impact on any of the games.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:58 PM on October 17, 2013

Not to jinx anything, but *if* the Red Sox win this series, due to the dearth of hitting outside of Napoli, I gotta figure that Uehara is the best candidate on the Sox to be their MVP. These 4 and 5 out saves are so clutch in a crazy tight series like this. I think the last person to win an LCS MVP as a close was Rivera.

posted by hincandenza at 12:37 AM on October 18, 2013

Uehara . . . I just don't know what to say about the guy. I'd say he's like a machine, except he's a madman when he steps off the mound. Here's Chad Finn's take.

posted by yerfatma at 08:40 AM on October 18, 2013

What happens to all that used Oregon game gear? Like a Scarlett Johanssen gown, worn once to the Oscars and then never again?

Does it get given away as mementos to program boosters and friends of Phil Knight? Or are there kids in Uganda running around in lime green Ducks helmets and Chicago Bears Super Bowl XLI Champs T-shirts?

posted by beaverboard at 08:40 AM on October 18, 2013

There have been several very poor displays of umpiring in the ALCS

I can't recall watching a game where the home plate ball / strike calls were so inconsistent as last night's Sox - Tigers tilt. Normally if an ump either calls a tight or generous strike zone. Last night pitches hitting corners were called balls and pitches way off the plate strikes.

posted by cixelsyd at 09:58 AM on October 18, 2013

More on Koji: "Living and sleeping with the Sox".

posted by yerfatma at 10:39 AM on October 18, 2013

What horrible positioning by the third base umpire during the 8th inning

Agreed that he was too close. I was always taught to try to get far enough away from the play to see the entire play within my field of view, without having to move my eyes or head. In any case, had he not been there, I still think Midddlebrooks would have been safe. The throw was to the plate side of third, and Pena, because of his positioning, was forced to pivot. From what I saw, had he not contacted the umpire, he could not have gotten the tag on the runner in time.

I can't recall watching a game where the home plate ball / strike calls were so inconsistent as last night's Sox - Tigers tilt.

Dale Scott has one of the most consistent strike zones among MLB umpires. The problem is that it tends to move all over the place. It fits the book definition, but knees get higher and lower, letters get to different places on the jersey, and the plate keeps shifting from side to side. I was shifting between the Bruins and the Red Sox, and within 2 or 3 pitches I was screaming at Scott about his strike zone. He needs help, and is one of the more convincing arguments for umpire ratings and demotions for remedial work to the minor leagues.

posted by Howard_T at 04:34 PM on October 18, 2013

In any case, had he not been there, I still think Midddlebrooks would have been safe.

I agree. Pena screwed up by not hustling to his spot in the first place. Thankfully it didn't end up mattering in the end.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:37 AM on October 19, 2013

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