04/26/24
October 03, 2014
SportsFilter: The Friday 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.
The 15th is the last thing you ever see.
posted by Bonkers at 09:47 AM on October 03, 2014
Another day, another visualization of fandom based on Facebook likes, this one of college teams. Zoom in to see breakouts by county and ZIP code.
posted by Etrigan at 12:35 PM on October 03, 2014
Really enjoying the Maddux piece, but I have to take exception to a part I just came across:
"Maddux had a cadre of entirely forgettable catchers: Damon Berryhill, Charlie O'Brien, Eddie Perez, Paul Bako, Henry Blanco. "I haven't forgotten any of them and I can see 4 of them in my mind's eye right now. Paul Bako's a bit hazy.
posted by yerfatma at 01:31 PM on October 03, 2014
That's a fantastic visualization. The blending of the colours and shaping the colour edges based on the colours around them and the percentages is amazing.
The most "collegiately pure" county I could find was Hayes County Nebraska - 88.4% Nebraska Cornhuskers. The state of Wisconsin, however, should get special note for having dozens of counties with over 80% support for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Hyland County Virginia has to be the most divided county in the country, as it has three schools (West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia) all polling over 20% each.
Rutherford County North Carolina might be the most contentious, as they have three schools (Clemson, Duke, South Carolina) within 4.5 points of each other (17.6%, 13.4%, 13.1%).
posted by grum@work at 01:37 PM on October 03, 2014
I'm really, really surprised by the Duke numbers, since I know very, very, few Duke football fans (it's a tiny, private, rich, elite school that historically hasn't been all that good at football, though they've done better recently). There are lots of Duke basketball fans, to be sure. And somehow, I didn't even see UNC in there.
posted by Bonkers at 01:56 PM on October 03, 2014
And somehow, I didn't even see UNC in there.
I'm dubious, as well. In Hamilton County, Ohio, home of the City of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats weren't even in the top 3. And in Butler County, Ohio, Miami University wasn't listed, either, despite the fact that there isn't much in Butler County, Ohio, besides Miami U.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:21 PM on October 03, 2014
Thirteen Ways of Looking at Greg Maddux
Can't recommend this piece enough. Fantastic read.
posted by yerfatma at 02:57 PM on October 03, 2014
Yes, that Maddux piece was excellent.
Makes me not want to want crack wise about the last thing you see with Maddux is the inside of your scrotum as he sews your detached eyeballs into it.
posted by holden at 03:34 PM on October 03, 2014
Joba Chamberlain is not having a good post-season.
posted by yerfatma at 03:40 PM on October 03, 2014
Brad Ausmus took Anibal Sanchez out after two innings for no discernible reason. One day after taking Max Scherzer out of the game before he had reached 100 pitches. Put Joba in both times despite Joba having an awful second half of the season.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:57 PM on October 03, 2014
I'm really, really surprised by the Duke numbers, since I know very, very, few Duke football fans (it's a tiny, private, rich, elite school that historically hasn't been all that good at football, though they've done better recently). There are lots of Duke basketball fans, to be sure. And somehow, I didn't even see UNC in there.
The graphic has been updated with a note saying that Facebook screwed up North Carolina.
I'm dubious, as well. In Hamilton County, Ohio, home of the City of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats weren't even in the top 3. And in Butler County, Ohio, Miami University wasn't listed, either, despite the fact that there isn't much in Butler County, Ohio, besides Miami U.
I think the issue there is that Cincinnati and Miami don't have substantial football rivalries with the Buckeyes, so it's more acceptable to be a fan of both than of, say, Michigan and Michigan State. So you get a fair number of people who like both on Facebook, and there are a lot more people who really like Ohio State and refuse to like Cincy or Miami than vice versa.
Also, given that Ohio State is half again the size of Cincy and three times the size of Miami, the proportion of Ohio State alumni outside of Columbus is probably outsized as well (I mean, shit, they're the second-most-liked team in places as far away as Colorado).
posted by Etrigan at 04:33 PM on October 03, 2014
I mean, shit, they're the second-most-liked team in places as far away as Colorado
Yeah, they made the top 3 here in Washoe County, Nevada as well. But I thought that Miami would crack the top 3 in its home county. I mean shit, they won a game not more than 2 years ago.
posted by tahoemoj at 05:12 PM on October 03, 2014
Joba Chamberlain is not having a good post-season.
The guy looks like shit. Total slob. Doesn't even look like he can walk comfortably.
On another note, Kershaw parlayed his amazing regular season into a piss-poor playoff showing.
posted by dyams at 10:16 PM on October 03, 2014
Thirteen Ways of Looking at Greg Maddux
The fourteenth way is with silent fear and dread of the impending horror and carnage.