02/05/26
Recent Comments
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
The only games I cared about in the autumn of 1968 were the Southeast Asia Military Games. I was in a place called Con Thien, Republic of Vietnam. It's a few miles from the coast of the Tonkin Gulf, and right on the edge of what was then the DMZ. What worried us was avoiding being hit by a pitch that carried an explosive warhead. I was not in the military at the time. We were working on some experimental infrared equipment that was to detect the gunflash from artillery. The last systems I worked on in my career were based on the same principle. They became part of the missile warning systems on aircraft. What goes around comes around.
My eldest sister married a guy from Detroit, and she was living there in '68. She was a rabid baseball fan, but of the Braves. They were in Boston until just a few years before she married and moved. When I had a chance to talk to her after I got back from Nam, she had to tell me how great the series was and how Mickey Lolich won it. I do remember seeing him on TV pitching against the Red Sox. He was rather hard to hit, but most unathletic in appearance. RIP, Mickey Lolich.
posted by Howard_T at 03:46 PM on February 05
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
'68 was the 1st year I started really paying attention to baseball (6-7 years old).
Two of my favourite uniforms ever since, I rooted for the Tigers in the series that year.
I liked Mickey, and since my dad and mom were huge Bob Gibson fans, made for fun viewing!
Good long life, may he rest easy.
BTW, the song has a nice beat, I can dance to it.
posted by tommybiden at 01:07 PM on February 05
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
Roly Poly Mickey Lolich - a slappin slab of Detroit funk dedicated to the beer drinker's hero and the rest of that team.
posted by NoMich at 11:30 PM on February 04
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
RIP Mickey Lolich, unexpected star of the 1968 World Series.
That sporting event and the Apollo 8 mission brought hope and joy to the tail end of a wretched and riveting year. It was a titanic and historic hardball struggle that included everyday players and Olympic gods.
All seven of the games were day games, so following them in my high school was a challenge.
Someone snuck a small radio into study hall and secretly passed along updates.
It was billed as 30 game winner Denny McLain against Bob Gibson, but Lolich was the man of the hour in the end. And he didn't start Games 1, 4 and 7 to get his trifecta. It was games 2, 5 and 7. They were all complete games. The guy could throw innings until the cows came home and then went back out.
However, Gibson's magnificence musn't be lost in the telling of the tale. He was in his own realm at times, as he had been in the previous year's Series.
Lolich was part of a glorious tradition of #2 lefthanded starters becoming stalwarts, a role echoed by players like Boston's Bruce Hurst in the 1986 Series.
Sometimes, when you think back on moments in time like that, you run out of words and just sink into the memory of it.
If Howard was stateside at the time, he may have his own thoughts on the subject.
posted by beaverboard at 10:06 PM on February 04
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
I guess she has decided that this is her last hurrah--might as well put all of her cards and more than a few ligaments on the table.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:06 PM on February 04
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
A beast such as her needs no tiara and invisible plane.
I just hope she doesn't end up suffering an Alex Smith type of injury. His leg is messed up for life.
And people would never stop showing footage of her wiping out to end it all in an Olympic bib.
posted by beaverboard at 04:19 PM on February 03
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
And she already had a knee replacement not too terribly long ago, right?
posted by NoMich at 03:28 PM on February 03
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
Lindsey Vonn tore her ACL in a recent crash that required her to be airlifted to a hospital and says she's planning to compete in next week's Olympics.
Good Lord.
posted by beaverboard at 01:47 PM on February 03
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
That's right up there with the classic NY newspaper headline: Headless Body In Topless Bar
posted by beaverboard at 02:38 PM on February 02
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
If you subscribe to The Athletic, cool story about the Columbus Blue Jackets' cannon.
posted by tommybiden at 09:04 AM on February 02
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle
Boxer loses hairpiece in the ring and blames mother's shampoo
posted by tommybiden at 12:54 PM on February 01
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
Mike Tirico is generally excellent at whatever he does. The problem I have with sports play-by-play is announcers and especially commentators who go off on lengthy dissertations about one thing or another and forget that there's a game going on. It's annoying to see a play happen and to have no idea who was involved. My wife and I were watching the Patriots vs Texans game, and at one point as Mr. Collinsworth rattled on and on, she turned to me and asked, "Does he ever shut up?" If Mike Tirico has a fault, it's being unwilling to quiet these people.
posted by Howard_T at 03:36 PM on January 31
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
Patriots doing the smart thing as the designated home team in the Super Bowl but choosing to wear white road unis rather than their dark home sets.
When you are 9 - 0 on the road for this season, why would you want to do anything else. Since they are the home team, although not playing in Foxborough, a win might not officially count as a road win.
The real reason for the all white look is that ghosts are traditionally clothed in white robes. Sam Darnold has some experience with ghosts and the Patriots.
posted by Howard_T at 03:24 PM on January 31
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
Patriots doing the smart thing as the designated home team in the Super Bowl but choosing to wear white road unis rather than their dark home sets.
The Pats have had better title game success in white, plus choosing their road unis worked for Bill Cowher's Steelers and the Peyton Manning Broncos.
posted by beaverboard at 01:01 PM on January 31
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
I have never had an issue with Mike Tirico. Why does he get flack from people? But then again, I don't really pay attention to the guys calling the plays unless they stand out as really great or really horrible.
posted by NoMich at 05:42 PM on January 30
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle
I didn't realize that this Super Bowl will be the first one that Mike Tirico has worked. Since he seems to show up in a lot of different places, I had just assumed that the SB was one of those places.
Tirico and Collinsworth get a lot of grief from brave, bold, anonymous online comments section yakkers, but the more that new announcers like Tom Brady enter the picture, the more tolerant and appreciative of Tirico I become.
posted by beaverboard at 05:13 PM on January 30
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
Most total points put up by a pair of rookies in the same game since Tiny Nate vs Pistol Pete in the early '70s.
posted by NoMich at 10:43 AM on January 30
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
Just a couple of old bunkmates getting together and dropping 83. That was a really fun game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:11 AM on January 30
Bill Belichick Denied NFL Hall of Fame First Ballot
When he does get in, I wonder what his speech will be like.
Will he be voluble and gracious, or will it be like one of his post game pressers combined with a big F U?
The longer it takes him to get in, the less likelihood you're going to want to hear what he has to say.
posted by beaverboard at 10:30 PM on January 29
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
This Kneuppel (20 years old) v Flagg (19 years old) game is pretty entertaining. I believe that they both went to the University of New Jersey in Durham?
posted by NoMich at 10:27 PM on January 29
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
After clicking on news stories that the Buffalo Bills have promoted OC Joe Brady to HC, I get banner ads for men's boxer briefs and thongs made of bamboo.
The only conclusion I can draw is that the ad bots determined that I secretly enjoy misery and punishment.
posted by beaverboard at 12:41 PM on January 28
Bill Belichick Denied NFL Hall of Fame First Ballot
If it's about DeflateGate and SpyGate those controversies shouldn't have kept him off the first ballot. This is a huge embarrassment for the Hall of Fame.
posted by rcade at 11:03 AM on January 28
Bill Belichick Denied NFL Hall of Fame First Ballot
I think it's a matter of too many voters aren't convinced that he's done with the NFL.
posted by NoMich at 10:45 AM on January 28
NBA Pickem Week 14: NBA Every Day
My picks:
76ers by 9
Jazz by 11
Cavaliers by 8
Rockets by 13 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 10
Thunder by 13 (slam dunk)
Magic by 5
Pistons by 10 (slam dunk)
Spurs by 16 (slam dunk)
Rockets by 9
Celtics by 15 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 8
Nuggets by 6
posted by Howard_T at 07:50 PM on January 27
NBA Pickem Week 14: NBA Every Day
I'm good with whatever, but tbh I find myself enjoying (and therefore watching) Prime's coverage a lot more than ESPN's, and not just for Nowitzki-related reasons.
posted by Ufez Jones at 05:34 PM on January 27
NBA Pickem Week 14: NBA Every Day
My picks:
76ers by 9 (slam dunk)
Clippers by 16 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 7
Rockets by 4
Bucks by 6
Thunder by 11 (slam dunk)
Raptors by 8
Pistons by 10 (slam dunk)
Spurs by 8
Rockets by 12 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 15 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 6
Thunder by 7
posted by Ufez Jones at 05:32 PM on January 27
NBA Pickem Week 14: NBA Every Day
This is a lot of basketball. What do y'all think about a maximum of 8 games a week, giving preference to games in this order -- ABC and NBC first, ESPN second, Prime third?
posted by rcade at 11:04 AM on January 27
NBA Pickem Week 14: NBA Every Day
My picks:
76ers by 10 (slam dunk)
Clippers by 13 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 7 (slam dunk)
Spurs by 3
Wizards by 7
Thunder by 15 (slam dunk)
Raptors by 8
Pistons by 5
Spurs by 20 (slam dunk)
Rockets by 7 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 7 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 3
Thunder by 7
posted by rcade at 11:02 AM on January 27
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Broncos by 7 (lock)
Seahawks by 6 (lock)
Passer: M. Stafford (LAR)
Rusher: K. Walker III (SEA)
Receiver: P. Nacua (LAR)
Player with interception: C. Durant (LAR)
posted by NoMich at 02:31 PM on January 25
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 17 (lock)
Seahawks by 9 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Walker
Receiver: Smith-Njigba
Player with interception: Coby Bryant
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:14 AM on January 25
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 4
Rams by 8 (lock)
Passer: Matthew Stafford
Rusher: RJ Harvey
Receiver: Puka Nacua
Player with interception: Marcus Jones
posted by gridironarizona at 02:14 AM on January 25
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
Revised picks:
Seahawks by 13
Passer: Matthew Stafford
Rusher: Kenneth Walker III
Receiver: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Player with interception: Ernest Jones IV
posted by bender at 08:30 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Broncos by 7
Seahawks by 13 (lock)
posted by bender at 08:25 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 12 (lock)
Rams by 3
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Kenneth Walker III
Receiver: Puka Nacua
Player with interception: Carlton Davis III
posted by ic23b at 07:19 PM on January 24
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
Happy anniversary, rcade, 31 years shows a great relationship.
posted by Howard_T at 06:16 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 6 (lock)
Seahawks by 13 (lock)
Passer: Darnold
Rusher: Stephenson (NE)
Receiver: Boutte (NE)
Player with interception: Davis (NE)
Have to go with 'my' Patriots and Seattle to make it to the Super Bowl. If it turns out that way, Patriots will bring Malcom Butler out of retirement for a goal line stand interception.
posted by Howard_T at 06:09 PM on January 24
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
Looks like McDaniel will be the Steelers new head coach
posted by NoMich at 05:38 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Broncos by 5 (lock)
Seahawks by 17 (lock)
Passer: Darnold
Rusher: Walker
Receiver: Kupp
Player with interception: Jones
posted by tommybiden at 05:27 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
Revised picks:
Player with interception: Hawkins (NE)
posted by tahoemoj at 04:46 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 17 (lock)
Seahawks by 6 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Henderson
Receiver: Nacua
posted by tahoemoj at 04:45 PM on January 24
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
From what I can tell, a contingent from the Bills was getting ready to head to Florida to meet with HC candidate Mike McDaniel when he canceled the meeting.
Not sure if the plane was already in the air or not.
McDaniel might have kept the meeting with Buffalo if it had been scheduled before Pegula's fracked up press conference a few days ago.
If McDaniel wanted to find out what the Buffalo winters are like, he could have just gone to Lubbock or Amarillo TX. They're figuring to get a foot of snow or more with the storm.
posted by beaverboard at 04:39 PM on January 24
SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle
This week's NBA Pickem did not occur. I was out of town celebrating my 31st wedding anniversary. We were supposed to have one for our 30th last year but were flattened by the flu.
posted by rcade at 04:38 PM on January 24
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships
My picks:
Patriots by 14 (lock)
Seahawks by 7 (lock)
Passer: Sam Darnold
Rusher: Kenneth Walker
Receiver: Puka Nacua
Player with interception: Pat Surtain
Fans in Denver must have whiplash after going from victory euphoria to the Bo Nix news right after the game. I wish I could believe the Broncos had a shot tomorrow.
posted by rcade at 04:37 PM on January 24
Tim Kurkjian predicts MLB work stoppage is coming
The Dodgers are making the MLB a buzzkill with these crazy salaries. That used to be the Yankees' job.
A work stoppage would undo all the good they've done with the faster games.
posted by rcade at 04:22 PM on January 24
Tim Kurkjian predicts MLB work stoppage is coming
My money says a work stoppage, possibly the entire 2027 season.
It's like MLB cannot handle success.
posted by tommybiden at 01:11 PM on January 23
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
So the NBA is celebrating their "Rivalry Week" and tonight's headline ESPN games are Cleveland versus Charlotte, who have never met in the playoffs, and Milwaukee vs. OKC, who I guess had that one In-Season Tournament Finale.
Words used to mean things.
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:01 PM on January 21
Cheating in ski jumping
Team USA could use your expertise. Also, I have yet to see a Pablo Torre video on Youtube not worth watching.
posted by NoMich at 05:21 PM on January 21
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
...but the taint of performance enhancers persists, keeping out some whose numbers would merit their inclusion.
posted by Howard_T at 02:58 PM on January 21
Cheating in ski jumping
I now know far more than I really need to about ski jumping. Still, it was a most interesting and enjoyable half hour or so. I have some knowledge of the relationship of lift and drag from my former life as an engineer building weird electronic systems designed to keep things from knocking your aircraft out of the sky. The way that the mechanism for increasing lift was developed reflects to some extent the years-long development of the wing geometry on supersonic aircraft. More lift, less drag, and better control of the air flow. I did not know that FIS had such strict control over the suit, and the mechanism used to measure and enforce it was quite interesting. Many thanks for posting this, NoMich.
posted by Howard_T at 02:54 PM on January 21
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
Carlos Beltran, Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
posted by BornIcon at 02:29 PM on January 21
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
Mario Cristobal should be able to own south Florida recruiting coast to coast for the foreseeable future.
Bain, Fletcher and Toney are all Dade and Broward guys.
But important to leave no stone unturned. Past UM great Edgerrin James is from Immokalee in the middle of the Glades.
Cristobal will note that the winning QB was an overlooked Miami guy and his QB who ducked the post game handshake was originally from Duval. The Canes will pay closer attention to local area talent next time.
In all fairness, though, Carson Beck took a hell of a hit before he threw the game ending pick. He may not have known what stadium he was in.
posted by beaverboard at 12:26 PM on January 21
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle
Well, that was a national championship game worth watching. It will be interesting to see if either programs will be able to make the playoffs again next season. Not a big fan of Miami, but college football does kinda need the U to be The U again.
posted by NoMich at 11:34 AM on January 20
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
Still coming to terms with the fact that the Bills have fired McDermott.
And promoted Beane! Oy.
posted by beaverboard at 12:01 PM on January 19
NBA Pickem Week 13: MLK Day Edition
Revised picks:
Thunder by 8
Knicks by 9
Pistons by 6
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:00 PM on January 19
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
49ers by 3
Patriots by 10 (lock)
Rams by 7
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: McCaffrey
Receiver: Smith-Njigba
Player with interception: Danielle Hunter
posted by bender at 06:42 PM on January 17
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
Sack or two partial sacks.
Please unrevise my revised picks. My original picks should stand as written.
posted by Howard_T at 02:41 PM on January 17
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 6
49ers by 4
Texans by 7
Bears by 3
Passer: C. Williams
Rusher: J. Cook
Receiver: P. Nakua (LAR)
Player with interception: D. Hunter
posted by tahoemoj at 12:27 PM on January 17
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 3
Seahawks by 10 (lock)
Patriots by 7
Rams by 4
Passer: Matt Stafford
Rusher: Kenneth Walker III
Receiver: Courtland Sutton
Player with interception: Jarran Reed (SEA)
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:12 PM on January 17
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 11 (lock)
Seahawks by 13 (lock)
Patriots by 4
Rams by 8
Passer: Sam Darnold
Rusher: Kyren Williams
Receiver: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Player with interception: K'Lavon Chaisson
posted by gridironarizona at 02:07 AM on January 17
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 13
Seahawks by 3
Texans by 3
Rams by 7
Passer: Caleb Williams
Rusher: Cook
Receiver: Nacua
Player with interception: Will Anderson
posted by jagsnumberone at 10:56 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
Question: It's 'Player with a Sack', correct, not Interception?
Yes. Sack or two partial sacks. I have corrected the label.
posted by rcade at 06:08 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Broncos by 5
Seahawks by 7
Patriots by 7
Rams by 8
Passer: M. Stafford (LAR)
Rusher: J. Cook (BUF)
Receiver: P. Nacua (LAR)
Sacker: M. Williams (NEP)
posted by NoMich at 02:55 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
Revised picks:
Sacker: Jones (NE)
We do mean interception not sacks.
posted by Howard_T at 02:29 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Broncos by 4
Seahawks by 10
Patriots by 9
Bears by 11
Passer: Drake "Drake Maye" Maye
Rusher: Stephenson (NE)
Receiver: Nacua
Sacker: Williams (NE)
New England at Denver for the AFC title? If it happens, it will be at some history repeating.
posted by Howard_T at 02:26 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
Question: It's 'Player with a Sack', correct, not Interception?
posted by tommybiden at 02:12 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 8 (lock)
Seahawks by 9 (lock)
Texans by 10 (lock)
Rams by 11 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Cook III
Receiver: Nacua
Sacker: Williams (Seattle)
posted by tommybiden at 01:28 PM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Broncos by 3
Seahawks by 4
Patriots by 7
Rams by 6 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: W. Marks
Receiver: Nacua
Sacker: Hunter (Houston)
posted by ic23b at 11:36 AM on January 16
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Bills by 3
Seahawks by 3
Patriots by 10 (lock)
Rams by 3
Passer: Matthew Stafford
Rusher: James Cook
Receiver: Puka Nacua
Sacker: Danielle Hunter
posted by rcade at 10:49 AM on January 16
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
From yesterday's huddle:
I bet Howard was a huge deadhead
This guy spent quite of bit of summertime in 1987-1995 hanging out at various Dead shows, from Oakland to Deer Creek, IN to Atlanta, GA. While many made their spare change selling "kind veggie burritos" (beans in a tortilla), I found it more profitable to have a cooler full of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for sale (or barter for various mind-altering substances).
posted by tahoemoj at 02:02 PM on January 15
NBA Pickem Week 13: MLK Day Edition
Revised picks:
Magic by 6
Thunder by 6
Warriors by 6
posted by NoMich at 11:42 AM on January 15
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle
My picks:
Raptors by 16 (slam dunk)
Suns by 11
Pistons by 8
Kings by 9
Thunder by 12 (slam dunk)
Spurs by 10 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 7
Celtics by 6
Timberwolves by 8
Wait! Who's playing where now?