07/28/26
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UNC football GM Michael Lombardi placed on paid administrative leave
This is going to get interesting. It isn't standard procedure to prohibit students from talking about a school leadership change.
posted by rcade at 11:29 AM on July 27
Rookie wins PGA tournament in third start
Scottie Scheffler was the runner up for the 13th time in his career. Five of those have been this year alone.
In his career, Jack Nicklaus finished in second place 58 times.
To Jack, that was as important as his victories. He said it showed that you had put yourself in a position to win, which to him was the critical measure of tournament play.
Scottie is 30. I don't think he's going to break Nicklaus' runner up record.
I wish they would take Mickelson's name off of that college trophy. Only half of what is known about him has been published due to tireless and vigorous threats of legal action.
posted by beaverboard at 10:10 PM on July 26
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
The Sixers only got one title out of the Moses Malone - Dr. J team.
That one title was a corker, though.
The Celtics were lucky to get swept by the Bucks in the 1983 playoffs, which led to the resignation of Bill Fitch.
The Bucks then got trampled by the Sixers. However, they were the only team to win a playoff game against Philly that year.
Part of Malone's synergy with the Sixers was that they had been released from their futility by trading Darryl Dawkins.
Part of KC Jones' synergy with the Celtics the following season was that they had been released from the iron grip of Fitch.
posted by beaverboard at 11:49 AM on July 26
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
My son and I have the same opinion. There's a couple of different scenarios. First, LeBron acts as the mature and honored veteran who stabilizes the team, gets them working harmoniously, and the 76ers absolutely crush the East. Second, after initial success, one or more of the 4 principals becomes dissatisfied with his role, and he begins playing for himself rather than within the overall scheme. This causes some slippage in the standings, and the 76ers begin the playoffs as a top 4 team but not as the overall leader. Good coaching from LeBron straightens things out in time for a strong playoff run. Third, scenario 2 happens and neither Nick Nurse nor LeBron can stop the damage. The result is an early exit from the playoffs.
One thing about Jaylen Brown is that he wants to be the number 1 on the team. That doesn't mean the best on the court, rather he wants to be the "featured" player. In Boston, a pecking order of sorts was established among the starters by the order of their pre-game introduction. The top of the order was established by whomever was introduced last. When Tatum was playing, he was the one. It didn't matter how anyone else was playing, nor did Tatum's performance matter. Tatum was the Lone Ranger, and Jaylen Brown was his Tonto. Indispensable but not the top. Now Brown is free of Tatum's shadow, but now it's LeBron. How will the 2 of them handle it? Will it affect the play of Maxey, Embid, or Edgecomb? Hang on, Philadelphia, it's going to be a fun ride.
posted by Howard_T at 01:51 PM on July 25
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
I was glad to see Iverson gone from Philly, never cared to watch him try to do that much stuff by himself.
I enjoyed the Miller-Dalembert-Iguodala Sixers that followed. That was a fun bunch to watch.
Time will tell how much fun this new group will be.
posted by beaverboard at 12:03 AM on July 25
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
In two years, LeBron will be gone, Embiid will be gone or on fumes, Paul George will be gone, and someone will owe Jaylen Brown over 65 million dollars guaranteed.
The Sixers will rest LeBron and Embiid during the regular season to the maximum extent that the league will allow.
posted by beaverboard at 10:27 PM on July 24
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
If it wasn't going to be one of the more obvious three of GSW/CLE/MIA, I was kind of hoping he'd land in Minnesota (ANT and LaMelo were reportedly campaigning). That would've been fun.
But here we are! If Kawhi actually winds up playing meaningful basketball in Toronto this season the Atlantic Division is going to be pretty fascinating.
Edit: It almost certainly won't happen, but I'm selfishly wondering if this opens up the idea of a Kyrie for VJ Edgecombe trade.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:59 PM on July 24
LeBron Chooses the 76ers
I was expecting him to become a Golden State Warrior. The additions of Brown and LeBron make them a fun team to watch this season, but I won't be expecting a credible championship run.
posted by rcade at 02:46 PM on July 24
Why Raptors' Kawhi Leonard Trade May Not Be Resolved Before Training Camp
Sam Presti doesn't want the league to force Ballmer to sell the Clippers. He's too much fun to do business with.
But Ballmer is an idiot and the league would be better off without him.
He'd make good money out the door selling the team as Donald Sterling did when he sold to Ballmer.
posted by beaverboard at 09:40 PM on July 22
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
I wish Uruguay currently had a national team that played at the level of Argentina.
It's a much better country, despite the presence of Count Soccula Luis Suarez.
By rights, Suarez should have been born across the river. He'd be a natural Argentine player.
posted by beaverboard at 05:18 PM on July 21
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
posted by NoMich at 10:08 PM on July 20
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
Half of the players who have ever been given a red card in the World Cup final have been from Argentina.
posted by beaverboard at 05:55 PM on July 20
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
Former Blue Jays setup man, then closer, Duane Ward (Wardo) passed away (62) this weekend.
The club had the '92-'93 teams back in Toronto to celebrate the unveiling of a statue at the park, of Joe Carter.
Duane was in town, but did not make the celebration yesterday.
As Toronto fans, we knew that the game was about over after 7 with Ward and Henke looking after the 8th and 9th.
posted by tommybiden at 04:28 PM on July 19
USA Red Card Overturned: New Information
What amazes me is that FIFA is the most corrupt sports organization in the world and Trump found a way to make it more corrupt. I didn't think that possible.
My homerism made me happy Balogun was playing but the decision will forever be a mark of shame on the U.S. role in this World Cup.
posted by rcade at 11:04 AM on July 17
USA Red Card Overturned: New Information
Well, I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.
Well, maybe not that shocked.
posted by tommybiden at 05:26 PM on July 15
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
With knockout victories over Portugal and France in this World Cup, the Spanish National Football Team now has more playoff wins at JerryWorld (2) than the Dallas Cowboys do (1).
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:58 PM on July 15
USA Red Card Overturned: New Information
No need to worry, the IOC is investigating. If anyone can clear up a corruption scandal, it's the masters themselves.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:33 PM on July 15
USA Red Card Overturned: New Information
Holy shit. And damn it to hell.
People who have reported on this should think twice before accepting any invitations for lunch at the UAE embassy.
Anyone can buy a bonesaw at Surgical Supply.
posted by beaverboard at 10:43 PM on July 14
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players
I recall when Peter Pocklington had his father's name put on the Cup when the Oilers won.
Basil Pocklington had no connection to the club.
The NHL had his dad's name X'd out.
Chicago's strength coach Brad Aldrich had his name X'd out as well.
That Bobby Gorman's name, among others was not listed is deplorable, at best.
Joel Nystrom's name is not there, he played 38 games with the team this season.
Players are automatic inclusions at 41 games (or 1 game in the Final).
Other staff who should be there rather than his progeny would include Jesper Fast (conditioning coach) and Kristin Pirigyi (team nutritionist).
I would like to see those names X'd out a few years down the line.
It would not surprise me if rules are put in place to have teams submit proposed names to the NHL prior to the playoffs should they happen to win the Cup.
posted by tommybiden at 05:55 PM on July 13
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players
I think this is a no-class move by a man without respect for what the Cup represents. Every player whose name is on the Cup has poured heart, soul, and likely some blood into ring to earn it. Players who have not won a Cup won't touch it because they have not earned the right. But some snot nosed kindergartener gets his name on the Cup because daddy's billions bought the team? Fuck that.
And to omit Bobby Gorman's (the equipment manager since they were the Whalers) name in lieu of his wife and kids'? When we start eating the billionaires, I want a bite of this asshole.
posted by tahoemoj at 03:45 PM on July 13
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players
Not approved. I would have thought there would be a prohibition against stuff like this.
This is like a developer building a new subdivision and all the streets are named after an excavator's wife or daughter.
I have a long standing refusal to live on a street with a name like Patti Lane or Tiffany Court.
I'm not helping some dude immortalize his family and I have to go through life with the name of his meemaw on my driver's license.
Except that doing this sort of thing to the Cup is far worse. There should be a stewardship committee that prevents this sort of cheap shit from happening. The Cup is not only a magnificent object, it has a regal heritage that dates back long before anyone ever thought there would be a hockey team within 100 miles of Pedro's South of the Border.
I hope that fixing the Cup is easier than getting Trump's name off the Kennedy Center.
posted by beaverboard at 09:03 PM on July 12
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players
Under Peter Karmanos, the team was floundering, missing the playoffs, hiring incompetent coaches, taking no chances, and seemingly fine with losing. Us Caniacs were ready for new ownership and we got it. Yeah, Dundon makes crazy decisions that we don't always like, but he wants what us fans want: a winning hockey team that is capable of earning the Cup every season. The Dundon-led Hurricanes are the complete opposite of the Karmanos era. They've taken chances on a rookie head coach, a rookie GM, bold choices in the free agent market and trade market, and some of those chances worked out magically and some haven't. So what? Find guys that do work out and keep moving forward.
When you read stories like this Cup story, always keep in mind: this is the same organization that when called a bunch of jerks by a very popular hockey commentator, they made a t-shirt out of it on the very next day and have made a mint from it. When the Canes win the Cup next year, Dundon can put his dog's name on for all I care.
posted by NoMich at 10:40 AM on July 12
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
England, France and Spain once again vying for supremacy in the New World, with the first arrival Norse determined not to be relegated as historical footnotes.
Meanwhile, a contest awaits between a principal sanctuary for post-war Germans and the place where all their money went.
posted by beaverboard at 04:46 PM on July 11
New York Knicks Are NBA Champions
What year did the New York Knicks last win the NBA championship?
posted by drivemad at 05:13 AM on July 07
UNC football GM Michael Lombardi placed on paid administrative leave
Especially at a public university, which isn't going to be able to keep things under wraps indefinitely.
I'm counting on NoMich to be our eyes and ears on the scene as things develop.
After a few rounds of biscuit combos begin appearing on the desks of athletic department administrative staffers, we'll get to the bottom of this.
"Sir, he sat on Wanda's lap without permission and wouldn't get off. Miss Hudson finally showed up and escorted him from the premises. In this heat, I can understand why she wasn't wearing any underwear, but she must have been sweatin' a pail in those knee high boots".