- 04:02 PM
- 02/22/25
RIP Mike Lange, creative, hilarious broadcast voice of the Penguins.
I used to live for Pens clips in the pre-internet days. There was a nugget from Lange in every one.
"Ooh, he beat Puppa like a rented mule!" That was the first time I ever heard that phrase.
I think that one time, a clip of his was cued up un-previewed on the Sports Machine and when it ran, it left George Michael momentarily speechless, which was almost impossible to do.
In later years, Lange may have started to think that listeners were waiting for the next big memorable bomb drop and his call began sounding a bit more forced, less spontaneous. Working it a bit too hard, perhaps.
But there were times when that guy left me so astounded at what I just heard that there was a 2 or 3 second time delay before the laughter kicked in.
Now that you've left the building, Mike, say hi to Elvis when you see him.
posted by beaverboard at 11:12 PM on February 19, 2025
The Athletic ran a story on Nico that most commenters scoffed at and some called a puff piece.
I read it like an Evelyn Wood graduate and moved on.
It would be fair if the Mavs tanked and somehow ended up getting Cooper Flagg, but the possibility that Flagg ends up on the Spurs can't be dismissed. Coach Pop seems to have some sort of control over the magnetic field of the draft.
posted by beaverboard at 09:50 PM on February 18, 2025
Since I didn't know that Preece had a daughter, when I saw how the car behaved in the air and the degree to which it maintained its inner structural integrity through the crash sequence, all I thought about was carbon fiber.
If today's composite technology had been in use 24 years ago, Dale Sr. might be alive today, enjoying a deified NASCAR elder's existence.
posted by beaverboard at 12:42 PM on February 18, 2025
Wish I had a dollar (Canadian or US) for every US family I can think of that has some Canadian connection and is getting passport paperwork in order ASAP. Due to things like a permanently disabled child whose Medicaid funding might be taken away, etc.
Not to run away from the fight for the soul of the US, but just to create a safety valve if needed so they can safeguard what basic human necessities and amenities they can.
It's illuminating to walk past small groups of people and overhearing casual conversation about how the southern latitudes of Ontario are much more tolerable in winter than many people think...
If I was a US farmer, I'd already be riding my heavy equipment to help blockade DC, hoping others were doing the same.
posted by beaverboard at 05:16 PM on February 16, 2025
The number of folks in the US who were saddened by the anthem thing but totally understood it far outstrips the number of Canadians who were embarrassed that the US anthem was booed.
posted by beaverboard at 03:54 PM on February 16, 2025
Not sure what feels more exhausting, the post-Super Bowl hangover or the post-Westminster Dog Show hangover.
Super Bowl, you get glimpses of Taylor Swift; Dog Show, you get glimpses of Heidi Gardner and Jenny Taft. Dog Show FTW.
I'm trying to work on an impersonation of Dog Show ring announcer Michael LaFave so I can redo my outgoing voice mail greeting messages, etc.
"The Great Pyrenees is a superb guardian, known for its ability to protect free ranging livestock from predators..."
To me, the dog show is a bit of an odd assignment for Fox Sports announcer Chris Myers, but I remain fond of his delivery. His voice reminds me of people I knew through local radio stations in the south back in the 70's. The comfort of familiarity.
I seek out his game highlight clips during the NFL season even if I don't care that much about the teams involved. You can hear the radio background in his TV game calls.
"And that's another Buccaneers touchdown!"
posted by beaverboard at 01:36 PM on February 12, 2025
Kellen Moore was perhaps fortunate not to get the job coaching the roster that Jerry Jones has assembled in Dallas, but he's far worse off agreeing to coach the mess that Mickey Loomis has concocted in New Orleans.
posted by beaverboard at 02:37 PM on February 11, 2025
Buffalo Bills mindset #1: We totally could have and should have beaten this Chiefs team.
Buffalo Bills mindset #2: Thank God we didn't beat the Chiefs to face this Eagles team in the Super Bowl and join the five losses club.
It took most of the game for the folks who like to crow about Spags' exotic blitzes to mention that the Eagles were wrecking the Chiefs offense without ever rushing more than 4.
I found Tom Brady to be a bit more tolerable on this broadcast, but his voice still doesn't have every down / four quarters stamina. He was losing it a bit at the end. I admire his restraint, though. He didn't take great pleasure in his nemesis Spagnuolo being humiliated and only later in the game did he refer to the whupping that his Bucs put on the Chiefs and their OL in Super Bowl LV.
As far as I can tell, the lampposts were greased in both Philly and NOLA. It will be a heady challenge for the SB host city, enduring a widespread shortage of lubricant with Fat Tuesday less than a month away.
posted by beaverboard at 12:17 PM on February 10, 2025
The dagger bomb that Hurts threw to DeVonta is the brother of the all timer that Tua threw to DeVonta to win the 2018 National Championship after Tua replaced Jalen at halftime.
Kellen Moore: face of a choirboy, heart of an assassin.
posted by beaverboard at 11:35 AM on February 10, 2025
Beautiful scene, beautiful moments.
I have lots of fond memories of unwinding after work watching Hubie's Atlanta Hawks with Skip Caray on the game call.
posted by beaverboard at 08:43 PM on February 09, 2025
Can A.I. temporarily mute the telecast of the Super Bowl every time it hears the voice of Tom Brady?
posted by beaverboard at 08:44 PM on February 07, 2025
This week, you're in luck. You can momentarily divert your attention from your sorrows. The new emperor of Oceanfront Gaza says he's attending the Super Bowl and Travis Kelce says he thinks it's cool.
If the emperor is in the same luxury box with Chiefs' WAGs and fam, I'd pay Taylor to show up in a burqa.
posted by beaverboard at 07:16 PM on February 06, 2025
Welcome back to the NFL, Chip Kelly.
The Raiders' ultimate goal may be to make Kelly walk the plank, since the other pro teams he coached both made the Super Bowl twice after they got rid of him.
posted by beaverboard at 07:28 PM on February 05, 2025
If Luka spent his money the way I spend mine, he could afford to say: Eff this, I'm off to the Upper Adriatic for a while to think things over. I'll let you know what my plans are in June.
posted by beaverboard at 09:02 PM on February 04, 2025
Charles is trying to balance out stuff he said about San Antonio.
He's got a ways to go.
posted by beaverboard at 11:18 AM on February 04, 2025
I'll be too old to watch fast moving sports on TV by the time the Mavs cash in that draft pick.
Even when Dallas trades someone that everyone wants gone (Aguirre), they have to watch him win 2 titles with Detroit.
Doncic Mavs gear is still readily available from the team merch sites and fans should all wear his jersey to games for the foreseeable future.
posted by beaverboard at 10:48 AM on February 03, 2025
Mavericks fans in Mexico will now be paying more...and getting less.
posted by beaverboard at 01:57 PM on February 02, 2025
My first thought when I heard the news was: hold on folks, you're getting ahead of yourselves, it's February 1st, not April 1st.
And the Lakers didn't tell LeBron about it. Wow.
posted by beaverboard at 11:22 AM on February 02, 2025
The Jack Morris look dominated
And why not? He looked like an all business badass who had put in the work.
They could have closed the Vegas books on the 1984 MLB season after Jack's no hitter in April.
That was as definitive a table setter for what was to come as anything I've seen.
posted by beaverboard at 07:51 PM on February 01, 2025
Jack saved his best for when it counted.
I guess Rick Ankiel did too. Some of his throws from the deep outfield are insane.
I've coached kids in soccer who decided they were goalkeepers around age 9. Off they went to position training, keeper camps, etc. In the end, some were good, some were OK, and some were floppy fish. Families are gonna do what they do. It wasn't my money.
posted by beaverboard at 03:53 PM on February 01, 2025
What a time of strange confluences.
The morning of the 29th, Tonya Harding resurfaces on social media after years away from the spotlight.
That night, the American Airlines flight with elite ice skaters, family members and coaches aboard crashes into the Potomac.
The following day, Dick Button dies.
posted by beaverboard at 10:05 PM on January 31, 2025
Go Eagles. Break some national pop culture hearts.
The officiating should be interesting. The league doesn't necessarily want the Chiefs to win.
If they do, Kelce might retire and then they would lose the mega Taylor windfall connection.
If Kelce promises the league office he'll keep playing no matter what, Philly has no chance.
posted by beaverboard at 03:40 PM on January 28, 2025
It's Earthquake Day here in New England. It was centered just off the New Hampshire seacoast, so Howard likely felt it way more strongly than I did.
You don't realize how much glassware you have until it all starts rattling.
posted by beaverboard at 10:50 AM on January 27, 2025
With the subzero overnights we've been having comes an almost bygone winter pleasure at my latitude: the sound of neighborhood kids of all ages playing backyard hockey in the late afternoon on rinks made of Visqueen and 2 x 12's.
posted by beaverboard at 06:32 PM on January 26, 2025
You get rid of Trent Baalke and think you've got a fresh start with a clean, tidy house, then the details of how you hired Liam Coen emerge, and the kitchen floor looks like your dog had a litter of puppies.
Ineptitude is contagious.
posted by beaverboard at 11:53 PM on January 23, 2025
I'm not on Bluesky yet, but all Jags fans should be on Cloud 9.
After having HC candidates decline interest in the Jacksonville job due to the front office situation, Shad Khan finally woke up late and "parted ways" with Trent Baalke.
Too bad it happened after other teams made their moves and took good coaches off the board.
I'm hoping that Putin puts Baalke in charge of the invasion of Ukraine.
posted by beaverboard at 04:33 PM on January 22, 2025
We look at their problems and shake our heads and they look at our problems and shake their heads.
posted by beaverboard at 12:54 PM on January 21, 2025
I was toying with the idea of applying for a job at The Onion so I knew I might have to come up with some catchy headlines.
See what you think of this one:
"Dictator Loving Mascot Handler Fired By Team For Posting Photos Of Prosthetic Penis"
posted by beaverboard at 11:09 AM on January 21, 2025
In yesterday's NFL games -
- Fumbles and dropped balls by sleeveless players: multiple
- Fumbles and dropped balls by players wearing sleeves: zero
posted by beaverboard at 03:32 PM on January 20, 2025
If you had told me a few weeks ago that two teams from the East would be playing in the NFC Championship game...
posted by beaverboard at 06:33 PM on January 19, 2025
I was hoping that the Buffalo Bills would make the most of a snow game and come out in white helmets, jerseys and pants. Make the Ravens wear the dark colors.
But the Bills will be in their standard blue jerseys with white helmets and pants. No color camo trick plays a la Boise State.
It turns out that the Bills are 8-0 this year in the blue jerseys, but only 1-2 in their all white sets. Going with what brung 'em.
posted by beaverboard at 09:00 PM on January 18, 2025
No Park City Michael Jordan pizza for me. I'm sticking with Detroit style pizza in honor of the playoffs and the return of the RB who can carry 5 men on his back, David Montgomery.
I got a proper Detroit pizza pan, have an old kitchen mixer with a bread hook to make the dough, but I need a 550 degree oven and mine only goes to 500.
I'll give it a try at 500. If it sucks, my Greek pals down the street said I can walk in with a pizza ready to cook in the pan and they'll bake it in their commercial pizza oven.
If that works, we'll stand there and sample it all the way down on the spot and if I want do it again, I'll have to make 2 pies, one for them, one for me.
Best scenario is: They love it, I show them how to do it, tell them where to get the pans and then just order Detroit style off their menu. It won't have the right kind of cheese on it, but it will be close.
posted by beaverboard at 08:22 PM on January 15, 2025
The Darnold thing has been coming for a little while. He was barely getting the ball out before being sacked in prior weeks. Bug eyes and happy feet. His OL must be gassed.
Last night there was a swell of chatter about the Cowboys poaching Belichick from UNC but folks close to Dallas said Jerry would never pay the $10 mil. buyout.
Belichick made $20 mil. a year as HC of the Pats. He could probably cover the buyout if he wanted to go to Dallas.
One more day in the life when content desperados like Eisen and McAfee don't have to worry about what they're going to fill up the time with.
posted by beaverboard at 01:59 PM on January 14, 2025
I just went back and checked the continuous post-game live stream from the Vikings-Rams game and Sam Darnold is still holding the ball.
posted by beaverboard at 09:05 AM on January 14, 2025
Bears ask Cowboys to speak to Mike McCarthy
Cowboys wait over 24 hours to respond, then say no
End of season coaching changes begin two Sundays ago
Cowboys wait till today to let McCarthy go
Here's Jerry Jones' approach to running the front office briskly and efficiently
posted by beaverboard at 09:05 PM on January 13, 2025
Looks like it's going to be (another) Lake Effect Snow Week in Western NY this week.
Game conditions at the Bills stadium could be interesting.
Both teams are capable of putting up 200 + yards of rushing.
The template of the Pats beating the Bills in a Buffalo maelstrom while throwing only three passes hasn't left the minds of game planners.
The Ravens are a bit deeper and deadlier in the run game. Two great OC's. Should be good.
posted by beaverboard at 07:17 PM on January 13, 2025
No disrespect to the Chiefs, but the Ravens and Bills meeting in the Divisional Round instead of the Conference Championship is almost criminal.
posted by beaverboard at 04:12 PM on January 13, 2025
That Commanders-Bucs game last night was physical. They could have played the whole game in the blue tent.
posted by beaverboard at 03:38 PM on January 13, 2025
Gagnant, gagnant, diner de poulet.
posted by beaverboard at 12:54 PM on January 13, 2025
His firing by that franchise is widely regarded as a major blunder.
The Titans hiring the one-two combo of Whisenhunt and Mularkey prior to Vrabel is the type of decision making that would make the Khan-Baalke juggernaut as we know it deeply envious.
I doubt Vrabel would have chosen the Jags, roster regardless, because the team has gone 62-144 in the post-Del Rio ownership tenure of Shad Khan, who is the sole owner. The team's consistent ineptitude falls squarely on him. There's no doubt that Khan wants to be competitive. He just doesn't know how. When you continue to retain a GM who has been through four coach firings and was previously fired himself, you're in the John Mara - Jerry Jones Clueless Owners Club.
However, Vrabel is not all that much better off going to the Pats, as the Krafts are also sole owners and their recent history is that of varsity bumblers. But the team has a legacy of glory that they're driven to recapture, which counts for something.
For those who think that sole ownership isn't a factor, note that when the Walton ownership group bought the Broncos, they made some hellacious initial mistakes due to having far more money than experience but have quickly recovered to become competitive despite massive cap hits, having to pay most of Russel Wilson's salary, etc. Sean Payton wouldn't have signed on with that group if he thought they were going to be terminally inept.
(In all fairness, John Mara is not a sole owner, but his name is always the one attached to the fortunes of the Giants franchise. Maybe the Tisch family needs to begin weighing in more. They know what success is supposed to look like. They've built a prodigious multi-generational family empire).
posted by beaverboard at 06:01 PM on January 12, 2025
Can't think of any right off.
Closest I could think of would be the Ripkens, but I think that's only continuous if you consider the entire organization and I don't know if Cal Ripken Sr. ever played for the big league club.
If LeBron James hadn't taken his skills to South Beach, this scenario might be playing out in Cleveland, but Bronny James would be way less likely to ever see the court with this year's Cavs than this year's Lakers.
posted by beaverboard at 11:55 AM on January 12, 2025
Will Howard made some throws into openings about the size of a cat door last night.
posted by beaverboard at 11:43 AM on January 11, 2025
I keep torturing NoMich. I may have to set him up with an emotional support biscuits and gravy voucher.
posted by beaverboard at 02:55 PM on January 10, 2025
I don't see Freeman going to OSU. Why go from being a saint to being a pinata?
Everyone in South Bend is just glad that Brian Kelly is off torturing residents of the Bayou State.
I like Notre Dame right now. Partly because I no longer have to listen to Brent Musburger ejaculating in his trousers every time the team does something remotely worthy on the football field. That guy was the King of Tilt. Tyrann Mathieu didn't have a life until Musburger finally got over his Honey Badger fixation.
What I couldn't stand watching last night were the throws that both QB's made. I didn't see any velocity to speak of. It was like watching Jamie Moyer pitch against Scott McGregor. The soft serves stayed in the air so long, I'm surprised there weren't several more picks.
Neither one of those QB's can throw anything close to a NFL pass. And when Riley Leonard tucks it and runs, he reminds me a bit of Tebow. Slo slo slo. I'll have to go back to film of Joe Milton's first start with the Pats this past Sunday to remind myself of what velocity looks like.
What was lacking in speed was made up for in toughness. Both of those defenses swarmed to the ball. There was some major contact happening.
Penn State will forever have an old school vibe. Every man on the team looked like a member of the late 1950's Baltimore Colts.
posted by beaverboard at 11:31 AM on January 10, 2025
Some folks just can't get enough:
"Anyone I've ever represented who was great was passionate."
- Drew Rosenhaus, agent for disgruntled Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill...and this guy
posted by beaverboard at 08:48 PM on January 09, 2025
From the soft corners department: Florida will host multiple outdoor NHL games in 2025-26.
Flooding a rink in Miami will be a breeze if they don't mind sea water.
Wish I had the Sunshine State refrigerant contract.
posted by beaverboard at 04:17 PM on January 08, 2025
It doesn't help that in the sports viewership world at large, there's a strong sentiment among guys that the women on air need to stay in their lane and can be replaced. Hard to establish a strong standing in the workplace under those circumstances.
posted by beaverboard at 04:08 PM on January 08, 2025
Only the Cowboys would deny the Bears' request to interview Mike McCarthy.
posted by beaverboard at 11:23 AM on January 08, 2025
Tom Brady never forgot that Antonio Pierce helped wreck the Patriots' undefeated season in the Super Bowl.
posted by beaverboard at 04:25 PM on January 07, 2025
There was a time when I thought Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk knew what she was doing.
But firing GM Ran Carthon now, a year after he helped do in Mike Vrabel, and keeping the new coach Carthon brought in to go 3-14 this season?
Sheila Ford Hamp she ain't.
I don't know what qualified soul would want to be the GM of that organization right now. First pick in the draft or not.
posted by beaverboard at 01:16 PM on January 07, 2025
Only the Bears would ask the Cowboys for permission to speak to Mike McCarthy.
If there's a Shad Khan golden showers tape, Trent Baalke has a copy.
posted by beaverboard at 09:43 PM on January 06, 2025
Kraft wants to get ahead of the game and beat Baalke to Tomsula or Chip Kelly.
posted by beaverboard at 02:19 PM on January 06, 2025
Ownership matters:
Jaguars fire HC Pederson but keep GM Trent Baalke. I wish Shad Khan had made his automotive fortune on control modules instead of truck bumpers.
After going through an arithmetic wins progression - from 9 to 6 to 3 - Giants retain both HC Daboll and GM Schoen. A John Mara (non) move if there ever was one.
Can't wait till Woody Johnson and Mark Davis have a turn.
posted by beaverboard at 11:47 AM on January 06, 2025
Mike Vrabel's new old team has the first pick in the draft.
posted by beaverboard at 06:57 PM on January 05, 2025
Depends on how deep the snow is.
posted by beaverboard at 10:33 PM on January 03, 2025
There's nothing like a wintertime Donner Pass tailgate.
First thing on the grill are the brats.
posted by beaverboard at 04:03 PM on January 03, 2025
Lane Kiffin is still pissed at Ole Miss being left out of the CFB playoffs and is taking out his anger by putting a whupping on poor old Duke.
NoMich may not be devastated by this. In fact, he may be hoisting a Sneaky Penguin or a Salty Turtle to cheer on the boys from Oxford.
posted by beaverboard at 11:05 PM on January 02, 2025
This Ohio State team is starting to feel like the one that marched to the title 10 years ago with third string QB Cardale Jones shocking the world when he was pressed into service due to injuries.
Including a stomping of Oregon at some point along the way (by almost identical scores).
Cardale's championship run reminded me a bit of John Daly's improbable "grip it and rip it" victory in the 1991 PGA tournament. In the zone and having fun. Nothing complicated.
Cardale was not surgically dissecting defenses with dinks and dunks. He had a group of stud WR's that were able to run under his prodigious long throws almost at will. It was fun to watch.
Then he had the wisdom and presence of mind not to get swooned by his sudden success and returned to OSU for another year instead of declaring for the draft as a media darling.
My impression was that Urban Meyer couldn't believe what was unfolding before his eyes but ran with the momentum and added a trophy to his resume. He was playing with house money - if OSU had lost, they would have been valiant in defeat, starting a third string QB who had hardly ever seen the field before.
posted by beaverboard at 12:30 PM on January 02, 2025
The clever bastard used a big EV so people wouldn't hear him coming.
If he or other members of his cadre planted numerous IED's around NOLA, it might be hard to track them all down, especially with the holiday crowds in town.
posted by beaverboard at 04:37 PM on January 01, 2025
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle
Great link and story, thanks.
Lange had a lot of fun with player's names during the game call. Especially Jagr and Recchi.