- 11:30 AM
- 11/05/24
Great Article Qatarian. Ever since the Rodriguez announcement I have been wondering to myself why some guys are vilified (Petrino) while others like Rodriguez get a pass. To me Rodriguez is just as bad as he abandoned a team right before a BCS bowl game. The Falcons can suck just as easily without Petrino. Under the radar is Navy's Paul Johhnson who also abandoned his kids right before their bowl game to take the Georgia Tech job.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:44 AM on December 21, 2007
The other day a pregame show was throwing Cowher's name around as a head coaching possibility in Atlanta. To be honest with you if you were a really big established name like Cowher or Parcells would you want to get involved with a team like the Falcons now?
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 08:09 PM on December 19, 2007
If you look at some of the classic examples of rival start-up leagues AL / NL, NFL / AFL, NFL / USFL the more organized and well-funded (and historically older) league usually wins. In this case though the NHL has been on thin ice (sorry couldn't help myself) for years and is ripe for the picking. I would love to see a Euro / N.A. elite league of say 16 teams with the rest of the teams in sort of a relegation league a la European soccer. Its definately a story to watch.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:11 PM on December 15, 2007
I guess I just got caught up in the US bias of the article. Sue me. Guilty as charged. I can only apologize to the international audience. Its kind of a catch-22, I could write at great length about international sports but then most of the comments would then take a distinct "wow this guy knows absolutely nothing about futball, rugby, cricket etc." the continuing crisis of doping in athletics (e.g. Marion Jones) and in the Tour de France Owlhouse is right. It also turns out that I am just as guilty as the media in making Barry Bonds the personification of the doping scandals that have plagued sports for the last several years when the problem is really institutional.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:47 PM on December 15, 2007
We get cable internet, a low-end digital package (NFL network, ESPNU, Horse Racing TV It goes down hill from there) and Internet Phone for about $150 a month with taxes and everything. We futball fans don't even have use for most cable providers. We must have satellite to watch ($65 basic HD), pay for a "premium" sports package ($25), and we still need Setanta (14 clams for one channel) to be able to watch the Pool stomp the shite out of ManU this weekend. I am not even sure what r8rh8r said but it sounds expensive.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:55 PM on December 12, 2007
For the record my wife and I didn't upgrade to the digital package until our cable company started offering Internet phone so the overall package upgrade doesn't cost us any more than what we previously were paying to verizon and the cable company seperately. Only now we get unlimited local and long distance calling and a handful of digital channels, one of which to my good fortune is the NFL Network. Without the phone company savings we didn't feel that the package for digital was worth it.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 11:54 AM on December 12, 2007
Honestly a lot of the match-ups this year have turned out to be a little less than spectacular but I subscribe to the theory a bad day of football beats a good day of reruns, must-see TV, American Idol you get the idea. As far as Thursday being inconvenient to the players I am really not sympathetic to the plight of the athlete who has to play on Thursday instead of Sunday or Monday. As with a lot of salaried employees you work when your boss tells you to. I did get an email pointing out that Owen Daniel is a TE and not a wideout as I said in the article and they also pointed out that Andre Johnson is really their leading receiver but he has been hampered by injuries limiting his stats so I apologize for some errors (more proofreading this week) also my parents (who are weekly readers) say that I really need to learn the difference between to and too.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 11:49 AM on December 12, 2007
How about proving your value by subtraction. I submit as evidence for the Dennis Dixon campaign. Oregon with Dennis Dixon: Oregon scoring 38 ppg, ranked #2, BCS berth likely, talk of Heisman. Oregon without Dixon: 18.3 ppg, unranked, 3 game losing streak, 4th in the PAC-10 (Brut Sun Bowl).
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 03:48 PM on December 09, 2007
On the one hand millions of people are more interested in what he has to say than what I have to say. I do think it is moderately intersting to get more in-depth comments from a player. On the other hand the way he switches fonts and size I kept waiting for him to ask me for a million dollars like he was writing some kind of damned ransom note.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 08:37 PM on December 06, 2007
I am all for a 16-team playoff (for like the hundredeth time) but at this point I would even settle for the "plus one" format where at least four teams would have a legitimate shot at the title. Hell four is better than two. Something like 1 versus 4 and 2 versus 3 using existing bowls and then the winners advance to a title game. And more importantly the idea may have a chance with the draconian selection committee as they could keep 99% of their ridiculous existing format. And I would love to get in on that Hawaii bandwagon, you gotta love the one guy who voted them first place whether they deserve it or not.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:53 PM on December 02, 2007
Jack- There are two things that I am not a big fan of people who wrap their opinions in an expansive vocabulary and try and sell them as truth and people who can't spell my name. I am not going to argue with you or your dictionary. Kyril
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 10:15 PM on December 01, 2007
While everyone is entitled to an opinion and the vast majority of your comments seem to be dead on, I would be curious what scientific evidence you have to support the claim that people of lower social standing are a. unathletic and b. stupid. rendering the source of participants almost entirely from the lowest socially deprived classes ... rendering the sport to be far less competitive with a related [a] dramatic drop in the level of athletic talent and [b]brainpower amongst its US participants.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:51 PM on December 01, 2007
My favorite part was actually a link within the article talking about statistical research on point shaving in the NBA but I liked the Caltech article too.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:34 PM on November 30, 2007
I will check it out thanks, definately no offense taken.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:22 PM on November 30, 2007
Bills fans know all this evil can be traced to benching Flutie for Johnson. -Truer words were never written. I would like to nominate wfrazerjr for a pulitzer prize for this line alone. I always thought Flutie got screwed pretty much everywhere he went. Also it seems like you have to go into the column section to read your full article. This link only seemed to show the Dallas / Green Bay short version
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:09 PM on November 30, 2007
Mr. Bismark maybe what I should have said is very casual boxing fan. One of the fun things about writing these articles is that I have learned a lot of things that I didn't know both from researching the articles and from the feedback I get. I didn't know for example that you could could find a lot of fights on Youtube, I may not buy the fight after all. Thanks for the comments.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:57 PM on November 30, 2007
I was actually reading Wetzel's article this morning and I can say it is exactly the way that I would do it (if I had any authority at all) with one exception. I would only guarantee the smaller conferences a seat at the table if they were either undefeated or ranked higher than one of the Big 6 champions. This year that would mean Hawaii as a guaranteed invite but in some years you could have a 1-loss Boise St type possibly as an at-large. Or guaranteed if a weaker UConn or Tennesee slipped in to a major conference title. I do not need to see a 3-loss Troy team in the playoffs. I also like the higher seed at home through at least the first two rounds. Why give all of that revenue to someone else? Now I'll just sit back and wait for the next 80 years or so for the NCAA to agree with me.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 11:17 AM on November 28, 2007
Well put Howard, and a Happy Holidays to you and yours. There is something to be said for a game every once in a while where a heisman, national title, BCS standings and million dollar contracts are not on the line.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 07:09 AM on November 24, 2007
Great link. It was neat to hear the greatest hockey player ever as a kid talking about the game like a kid. I was impressed (as you have to be whenever hearing Gretzky stats) with the 178 goals and only a little disheartened to hear that he had already played in 70 games that year. I guess they become that great in part because they get serious at such a young age.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 07:42 AM on November 23, 2007
I would hope that if either of these guys goes on to the NFL they are treated better than Flutie was. It should be a great game.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 03:14 PM on November 22, 2007
Love the title and I think jmd82 is on to something. What the Knicks need is just one more wide receiver and they are set.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:01 PM on November 21, 2007
Thanks for the suggestions. As sad as it may seem it took me a minute to figure out how to modify my profile. I added the URL there so I don't have to throw it in every article. People can check it out (very modest website) but I don't want to feel like I am dragging them there week after week. I will shoot for Thursday morning. Again thanks.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:58 PM on November 19, 2007
Clearly MAGGG-LEEEE-YO! (and I do that is how it should be spelled) was robbed. Two obvious reasons: 1. Never let facts get in the way of your opinion. 2. Its obvious that the Curtis Granderson contingent had a negative impact on MAGGG-LEEEE-YO's! chances.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:48 PM on November 19, 2007
Not a problem, I can try for maybe a Thursday morning deadline so it is available to people to read on the weekend. Or would it be trashy to link it directly from my own website where I am already posting it?
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:42 PM on November 19, 2007
You can obviously add an awful lot of owners, media moguls, season ticket holders etc. to my earlier comment as well. I don't want it to sound like I am specifically complaining about wealthy players. I am specifically complaining about people in general who sit by while others suffer.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:05 PM on November 17, 2007
If I had $2 million I could retire tomorrow and live a middle class life indefinately. Any player in any sport making $10-20 million per year in salary, endorsements, etc. and isn't doing anything for the betterment of mankind is simply put a shitbag. My religous beliefs compel me to try and do the best that I can for others whether it is smile for someone having a bad day, or trying to help a customer balance their checkbook. If a millionare athlete can sleep at night (and I'm sure that there are many who can) knowing that he did the best he could than more power to him. Two little things that I can do today is that I will add the Gridiron Great link to my website in case anyone wants to donate and I will write to my team (Patriots) and ask what they are doing to help. I am just a fan but there is strength in numbers. To whom much is given, much is expected Luke 12:48.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 03:30 PM on November 17, 2007
Steven A. Smith is going off on ESPN right now, and he just played the race card
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:49 PM on November 15, 2007
A sad day as Chico said. It means that the rain cloud will hang over the most important record in sports probably until someone else breaks it and ESPN just said the trainer (Anderson) is to be released. I am guessing that this isn't a coincidence.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:47 PM on November 15, 2007
I read the first portion of the article but every time I tried to link through to the rest of the article I became trapped in an ad. I will say that when I used to do a little distance running it was always about trying to improve my own personal performance. I never really cared who else was out there as long as they weren't underfoot. I would imagine that if you are a world class runner you may be concerned with the performance of your elite peers but in a lot of those big races all of the elite runners get to start in front of the pack so they wouldn't really even have to deal with the cattle.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:46 AM on November 15, 2007
I am all for a 16 team playoff system that will decide the national champion. there will always be an argument about why the 16th team was selected over other choices I couldn't agree more and I would only add that I wouldn't have a lot of sympathy when the #17 8-4 Big Sate U cries about missing the playoffs, whereas now multiple undefeated teams could have no shot at the national title.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:02 AM on November 15, 2007
I honestly was more disappointed with the Charger's performance. The Colt's played just about the worst game humanly possible and the Chargers (supposed preseason contender) barely scraped out a win.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:02 PM on November 12, 2007
Holden is dead on, I don't know how else to say it: Playoffs, Playoffs, Playoffs, Playoffs. Maybe if its written another ten thousand times they will do away with this broke system.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:55 PM on November 12, 2007
I have stopped guessing, but I am still curious as to who is actually going to be in the title game.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:46 PM on November 11, 2007
I have to say I was pretty surprised by the Ohio State loss. I kept waiting for Ohio State to unload on the "lowly" Illini but it just never happened. Michigan on the other hand is a team that really hasn't lived up to potential since last year's OSU game. It should be a great game.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 12:15 PM on November 11, 2007
I have to say THX-1138 you are funny but I have to tell you your finest work The last time I was arrested for picking up a classic double combo whilst driving with THX-1138 1/2 exposed for all to see, I kind of expected to be made fun of by my co-workers. even had my wife in hysterics.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 07:01 PM on November 08, 2007
When Lindros was a young man people thought that he would do great things. I am glad that turned out to be true.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:51 PM on November 08, 2007
Belichick is a pre-cognizant troll using his magical powers for evil.- This is guarenteed to be the funniest thing that I hear all day and I am glad that the troll works his magic for my team and I will continue to be grateful that my team is good enough to inspire so much hate (no one cares when you are 1-15).
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:44 AM on November 08, 2007
by the way great post holden, obviously people had a lot of good thoughts that they wanted to get out.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:52 AM on November 07, 2007
Questech has no visible impact on the game but to know that the umpire is being directly graded on his abilty to conform to what the computer "sees" has to have an impact on a strike zone. An umpire spends his working career trying to get to the highest level of his profession and when he gets there we tell him that we no longer trust his fundamental judgement in something as basic as calling balls and strikes and the media, fans and ultimately the league will slow down and micro-analyze ever judgement call he makes (safe/out fair/foul etc.). How is it we can accept that David Ortiz struck out 103 times in 549 at bats without question and yet we expect the umpire to be perfect every time? Baseball to me is a historic game reminiscant of a simpler time. The game has certainly changed over the years but instant replay takes just a little bit more of that history away.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:48 AM on November 07, 2007
I am opposed to instant replay in any capacity in baseball. For all of the definitive resolution that instant replay is supposed to provide all that it does is remove the judgement from the on-field view and give it to the television camera's view and ultimately the final arbitar is the same guy who should have been watching the play in the first place he just does it ten minutes later. People have allowed robots and computers (as I sit here typing away) to control entirely to much of our lives. Can't we just let one guy do his job without a computer and a robot looking over his shoulder. I also hate for the record: Challenge Flags in the NFL Questech (sp?) the DH rule 8pm start times and Tim McCarver (althought that has nothing to do with technology).
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 07:31 PM on November 06, 2007
It seems as if you could take one of two points from the article first that you don't nescessarily need to spend a ton of money to have a great bullpen (I agree completely) or two you don't need a great bullpen to win the World Series (completely absurd). You have to have 3 solid starters and you have to have a quality bullpen, look at the Sox in 2003 with their patented bullpen by commitee.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:55 PM on November 05, 2007
Two thoughts: New England did fail to cover the spread, and a win in November is in no way a guarantee of a win in January. It was a great game though.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:03 AM on November 05, 2007
Turnovers are always a huge factor in the game and I think that the Pats won several of these match-ups because Manning didn't protect the ball well. One of the things I mentioned in the article was the importance of Addai on the outcome of the game. RB's are always a source of stability and ball control until they cough up the ball (Addai, however, has only 2 lost fumbles in 349 career carries and none this year). I also agree with dviking's point about sitting Brady in the 4th. The drop in talent and experience is so great at that position I don't think the Pats make a serious run at anything without Brady.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:26 AM on November 04, 2007
This should be another epic battle and I really look forward to watching just as a fan. Its nice to blow the other guy out once in a while but the greatest games are the ones that go down to the wire with the outcome unknown until the very end. by the way the name of the article was chasing perfection and I meant to imply both teams.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 10:26 PM on November 03, 2007
Remind me to look at the schedule before I open my mouth, but I will still contend that the Pats are not in for any cake-walk this week.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 10:19 PM on November 03, 2007
What a great finish. I am always glad to see one of the military schools have a shot at a bowl. The deck is really stacked against their chances of being successful at the 1-a level.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 10:16 PM on November 03, 2007
I am the biggest Pats homer ever but I would be more comfortable picking the Rams to lose than the Pats to win on the road against the defending champs who I am sure got wind of the fact that they are projected to lose.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 02:04 PM on November 03, 2007
Violence is never the answer, unless the question happens to be what is never the answer.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:56 PM on October 31, 2007
I live in the heart of Patriots country and I had a customer come in with a dolphins hat on yesterday and I really had to fight not to say something (what loyalty you must have to stand by a team that terrible, etc.).
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 12:57 PM on October 26, 2007
It may be across the pond, but the Dolphins will still play like spotted dick. Is that some kind of British thing that an ignorant American wouldn't get?
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:12 AM on October 26, 2007
First, to say that one proven incident discredits an entire franchise and three Super Bowls is kind of silly in my opinion. And second you have to be good to run up the score, and I grew up watching a lot of bad football teams. The Patriots' worst season in franchise history — a 1-15 record — came under Rust in 1990. During the season, the Patriots were thrown into the middle of a sexual harassment scandal when Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson was sexually and verbally assaulted by several Patriots players in the team's locker room and was later labeled a "classic bitch" by Kiam.-wikipedia Does the ends justify the means? No, but the bitter pill of scandal goes down a lot easier when followed by champagne.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 09:59 PM on October 23, 2007
I always felt (and feel free to shout me down) that Ortiz wasn't really that bad a first baseman. Some days I get a really strong impression that Ramirez is a bigger liability in the field. But then he goes and makes a phenominal catch or one of those ricochets off the wall. Anyway I wouldn't expect it to bother the Sox all that much. It will actually give them Youk as a really strong pinch hitting option off the bench when they go to NL rules in Colorado. Lowell hits for better avg and power against both LHP and RHP so I can only assume he will start at 3B.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:27 PM on October 22, 2007
Reportedly, the next morning he told Dowler: "I hope you don't get hurt. I'm not in very good shape." Dowler went down with a separated shoulder on the Packers' second drive, and McGee had to borrow a helmet because he left his in the locker room. A few plays later, McGee made a one-handed reception of a pass from Bart Starr and ran 37 yards to score. Max McGee's story is the exactly the sort of reason why I watch sports. Just as you never know for sure who will win, you never know who the hero will.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 01:45 PM on October 21, 2007
I hate the yankees, a lot. The day that the Sox completed The Comeback is hands down the greatest sports event I will ever witness if I live to be 170 years old. That being said, Torre is a classy guy and to offer any employee a 33% pay cut (even with incentives that could put them slightly ahead of the game) is a flat-out insult. I would walk out on those discussions and I have a mortgage to pay. However, for all of the hate being thrown at Steinbrenner you may also be interested to know that even though the Yankees are the Evil Empire that doesn't make Steinbrenner the Devil (read the second paragraph).
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 07:06 PM on October 18, 2007
Yeah who would have thought that having people in the field of play during a javelin event could be dangerous?
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:12 PM on October 17, 2007
I would move that Dravecky story up quite a bit. The guy broke his arm twice and ultimately had it amputated. I am sure Beckham's boo-boo was pretty serious but come on. #2 Malarchuck gets his jugular vein slit with ice skate. #1 I'm sorry, Beckham gets hit in the head with a shoe requiring two stitches? I respectfully disagree with the author but a great read. Thanks JJ.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:56 AM on October 17, 2007
I guess I didn't really articulate my point well, and I don't mean to degrade Petty for a good part of his career he was a full time world class driver running against primarily amatuers and maybe a handful of pros. Whereas now they are all world class full time drivers. If Gordon, Earnhardt, or even Earnhardt Jr had run back then with the support team, sponsorship and the ability to devote full-time effort to the cause anyone one of them would have had the chance to approach 200 wins. Conversely, if Petty ran today with the level of competition and very closely matched abilities of the automobiles being what they are then I would speculate that he would be respected as a great driver, a consistent front-runner with a half dozen titles and maybe 120 or so wins. The beauty of these discussions is its all speculation anyway. By the way what do you mean "The Natural" wasn't a true story? Next thing you know you'll try and tell me Santa Claus isn't real either.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:46 AM on October 17, 2007
If you have ever seen the movie "The Natural", in a sense that is the difference between sports 40 or 50 years ago and now. Its so much more about money and sponsorships these days and athletes in any sport are so specialized. Lost are the Babe Ruths and the Richard Pettys of the world, the guys who came out of nowhere to absolutely dominate and revolutionize a proffession. Sadder than that to me is the loss of the Alan Kulwicki character. Kulwicki arrived in Charlotte in a borrowed pickup truck. He was the owner, driver and chief mechanic. He is also, according to NASCAR's own video, the only NASCAR Nextel/Winston Cup champion (1992) with a college degree (mechanical engineering). Here's to the little guy who made good.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:27 PM on October 16, 2007
I grew up in and live in Laconia but I went to Bishop Brady in Concord. My senior class graduated 53 students so the competition wasn't exactly overwhelming. The nice thing was that pretty much anyone who wanted to could play.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 05:53 AM on October 16, 2007
When Is It OK To Go?
I didn't realize that Johnson was coaching out the season, if he is than that is the classy way to go in my book. Bo Pelini has accepted the Nebraska head coaching job but he will continue to coach the LSU defense through the title game. I have no problem with guys leaving for greener pastures. There was a post a while back where someone's point was more or less, "Haven't you ever changed jobs?" I just feel that leaving a school, or the Falcons for that matter, during the season is more like quitting in the middle of your shift rather than giving two weeks notice. You leave the people that depend on you hanging, and I think you should finish the season even if the job is a lucrative step up. I personally wouldn't hire an employee if I knew that they had just walked out on a job without notice, its unproffessional.