Recent Comments by beaverboard

Rickey Henderson, Hall of Famer and MLB’s all-time stolen bases leader, dead at 65

RIP massive greatness.

posted by beaverboard at 02:25 AM on December 22, 2024

Hartford Whalers: From Heartbeat to Heartbreak

Damn, sorry tommy. I'll see if there's a workaround.

Also, some of the comments are worth checking out. They give a broader, more generous view of the transition of the franchise, so it's not all about the pain of loss to central New England.

posted by beaverboard at 03:17 PM on December 21, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

The way the Atlanta Falcons rostered the quarterback position for 2024 is having an impact on celebrity lifestyles.

posted by beaverboard at 08:59 AM on December 21, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

The buzz around this year's Army-Navy Game has been unrivaled in recent memory.

A collision of two very good teams.

I thought Navy had a chance, but I did not see this domination coming.

What great scouting, film study and defensive game planning by The Midshipmen.

And commendable quickness and foot speed on both squads.

Howard must be on Cloud 10. He is going to float into the sanctuary tomorrow morning.

posted by beaverboard at 08:20 PM on December 14, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Wouldn't it be a scene if Ashton Jeanty was awarded the Heisman.

The howling that would ensue if Travis Hunter got bypassed would melt all the snow at Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs.

posted by beaverboard at 05:38 PM on December 14, 2024

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Howard, the scrip pain meds they gave you can do double duty as Bruins buffers.

Take the edge off the woe and get you through the stress of the pre-holiday season.

My goal with pain management is to simulate a near level ground bobsled run with long, gradual turns.

Push off and glide...give the car keys to the bride.

posted by beaverboard at 07:20 PM on December 13, 2024

RichRod back at West Virginia

Can't believe he's been gone from the place that long. Where has the time gone.

I kind of miss the Holgorsen days when the Mountaineers would either win or lose by a score of 45-42 or something close to that.

Middle school boys basketball scores.

posted by beaverboard at 03:25 PM on December 13, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I made my annual run for seasonal Belgian dubbels and tripels and found out that the stores began pricing their overseas goods on a "tariffs are coming" basis a month ago.

And their usual holiday sales on select items? Not happening, no way.

I wish the distillers Richard and Craig Landry lived nearby. I would help subsidize those guys.

posted by beaverboard at 03:18 PM on December 11, 2024

Juan Soto does what he said he was going to do

Soto will face strong expectations that he can propel the Mets to the next level, so it's appropriate that his name anagrams to JATO Onus.

posted by beaverboard at 11:51 AM on December 10, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

People who support the fugitive health care CEO gunman are holding lookalike contests in NYC and as far as I can tell, Joe Flacco has not entered the competition.

posted by beaverboard at 09:05 PM on December 08, 2024

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

NFC North heavyweight fight last night make this a mandatory biscuit combo morning after.

posted by beaverboard at 10:07 AM on December 06, 2024

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Hope NoMich and all other Lions fans saw the feature on Penei Sewell in the Athletic.

Don't have to be a Lions fan to like it, though.

posted by beaverboard at 12:03 PM on December 05, 2024

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Ryan Leaf has done the most remarkable 180 in life. He is extremely real and listenable.

I hope he gets more gigs of his own in due course, although he's a great sub.

Sometimes when he subs on the Eisen show, I'll see a clip of it pop up on YT and watch it in disbelief.

I say to my self: Dis Be Leaf.

posted by beaverboard at 11:54 AM on December 05, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I thought the fans were supposed to be great but Tom Brady said the hotel rooms were no good.

Guess we have to revise that line of thinking.

I sincerely hope that the Bills or Ravens win the Super Bowl this year so we can get all that pent up fan frustration out of the way.

No, I take that back, I really want the Lions to win.

I would enjoy a Vikings - Bills Super Bowl though. Someone would finally be winning the big one after four fails. As long as they don't bring Tarkenton into it.

posted by beaverboard at 04:18 PM on December 04, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

When you're an 8 year old cancer patient at your first NFL game, being pushed down the stairs by a drunk Bills fan is painful enough.

Then, as your story goes viral, Antonio Brown weighs in and offers to help raise awareness.

posted by beaverboard at 11:15 AM on December 04, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

I stopped going to the gym when the trainer said I would end up with awesome pick six abs.

posted by beaverboard at 05:35 PM on December 03, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

I don't think there is a greater living embodiment of the first two lines of "A Tale Of Two Cities" than Jameis Winston.

Yardage, savvy decisions, TD's, WTF's, devastating team killing picks.

As Stefon from Saturday Night Live would say, he's got everything.

He even tossed in one of his patented backward puppet falls when he got trucked during the runback of the second pick six.

If you want entertainment value combined with Lord-help-us-all moments in the current post-election period, Jameis is the man of the moment.

posted by beaverboard at 01:40 PM on December 03, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

If you'd quit calling yourselves THE Ohio State University, maybe you wouldn't lose to a bitter rival with a greenhorn coach that's barely bowl eligible.

posted by beaverboard at 05:38 PM on November 30, 2024

Chicago Bears Fire Coach Matt Eberflus After Turkey Day Debacle

Chronic ineptitude can always be tied directly to ownership.

No accident the the Lions finally escaped from purgatory when Sheila Ford Hamp took over.

Then there are the Commanders. Much better already without Snyder.

The league is probably OK with some teams languishing in mediocrity as part of the eagerness for parity.

The actress Rooney Mara is probably a bit conflicted. Half of her ownership heritage has kept the Steelers competitive year in and year out and the other half has kept the Giants' heads up their asses more often than not.

But at least the Giants don't have the Jets' Woody Johnson up their asses.

posted by beaverboard at 07:44 PM on November 29, 2024

Chicago Bears Fire Coach Matt Eberflus After Turkey Day Debacle

The Lions have won Thanksgiving Day games in different ways over the years. Put this one in the same basket as the 1998 game against the Steelers when Phil Luckett fucked up the OT coin toss, giving the Lions an avenue to win the game under the OT rules of the day.

If you can't abide ineptitude, you're in for a long day.

Or a short day if you work in the Bears front office.

posted by beaverboard at 05:55 PM on November 29, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Remember now, tomorrow you need to stall the turkey until 3:30 Eastern time so everyone can watch the early game.

Then chow down on the vittles so everyone can sleep during the second game.

Whether anyone wants to wake up for the late game is an individual decision. Miami going to Lambeau in late November to play at night with snow showers in the forecast...

...does anyone remember the Dolphins - Cowboys Thanksgiving game in 1993?

posted by beaverboard at 12:40 PM on November 27, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Items belonging to Red Sox boss Larry Lucchino, who died earlier this year, are being auctioned off.

Including the 2018 World Series Championship Trophy.

Why doesn't that trophy belong to the team, and why isn't it on permanent display at Fenway Park or at the Red Sox offices?

posted by beaverboard at 10:47 PM on November 25, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Can't help but wonder if Vikings kicker John Parker Romo is a mashup of John Parker Wilson and Tony Romo.

Also can't help but wonder if Will Levis and Anthony Richardson have a week to week agreement where if one of them has a good game, the other will suck.

Also, shout out to beleaguered first overall picks Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, valiant in closely contested defeats to superior teams.

posted by beaverboard at 05:35 PM on November 24, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

So great that Florida beat Ole Miss when multitudes were hollering for Lane Kiffin* to come to Gainesville as the Gator Savior.

The roasting Kiffin is getting for his team losing like they did and crashing out of the CFP...lordy. It is deep.

* Lane Effin' Kiffin

posted by beaverboard at 05:49 PM on November 23, 2024

NFL Pickem Week 12: Jerryworld is Falling Apart

I've always thought of the AT&T jumbotron as a punters' pinata.

Someday, someone with a big leg is going to exceed the big board's threshold of integrity and spill all the goodies out.

posted by beaverboard at 07:58 PM on November 19, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

If the Jaguars fire Pederson and keep Baalke, it would be very Shad.

posted by beaverboard at 09:13 PM on November 17, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

What a quote, and I have a vivid memory of when De'Von came into the league, had a breakout game, and no one knew how to pronounce his name correctly.

The announcers were all over it: "A-Chain!, A-Chain!".

I know he wants people to say his name correctly, but the branding possibilities of "A-Chain" are limitless.

I would totally go into business with an athlete who could lend strong, catchy name recognition to a venture.

Like the NASCAR racing team I always wanted to form with Tie Rod Taylor.

But I decided to pass on the Shedeur line of men's fragrances. And the McCaffrey fast food coffee.

posted by beaverboard at 10:14 PM on November 13, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Problems with Texas glare:

- In Dallas, it's the sun.

- In Houston, it's the uniforms.

posted by beaverboard at 10:34 PM on November 11, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Someone who doesn't follow the NHL probably wouldn't know what to make of the trade headline: "Sprong To Kraken".

posted by beaverboard at 03:40 PM on November 09, 2024

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

LOL, your post-election backwoods absinthe is even stronger than mine.

You're going to give an aspiring cartoonist big ideas and they'll try to replace Hagar the Horrible with Howard the Hedonist.

Which is just so wrong.

posted by beaverboard at 05:48 PM on November 08, 2024

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

I know there are way more photos of Matt Leinart at hot tub parties than leading a NFL team, but how can he already have a son old enough to be a Division 1 college QB commit?

posted by beaverboard at 12:02 PM on November 08, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Mr. Pickens is 5 years in the grave and can't help fund a transition.

posted by beaverboard at 06:52 PM on November 05, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

The Mike Gundy buyout is over $25 million.

posted by beaverboard at 12:23 PM on November 05, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Wondering if there'll be a knock on rcade's door after the election asking for help funding a Mike Norvell buyout.

FSU has to get its fecal matter collated ASAP if there's even a hint of Lane Kiffin coming to Gainesville. U Miami is already a Top 5 program.

posted by beaverboard at 02:40 PM on November 04, 2024

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen

You think of guys like Jim Fassel and Brian Billick and have to wonder why people like Dennis Allen, Whisenhunt or Mularkey got more head coaching opportunities.

posted by beaverboard at 02:29 PM on November 04, 2024

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen

The success the Falcons are having now is with a roster build that began during the prior coaching regime. Cousins aside, the guys they bet on are producing.

One big thing is that the Falcons were very top heavy in front office hierarchy and they cleared some of that clutter out of the way. Rich McKay is doing less football related stuff and the GM now reports directly to ownership.

The division is theirs for the taking with all the injuries the Bucs have had.

posted by beaverboard at 02:23 PM on November 04, 2024

Saints Fire Head Coach Dennis Allen

No Mich needs a lemonade. Check out the NCSU, UNC and Lions scores from the past couple of days.

Domin-effin-ation.

Add to that the Panthers win over a Saints team that looked like it would take over the league after the first 2 games.

Sometimes, you just have to appreciate the goodness in the moment, while it's happening.

I'll bet that Bryce Young has a better chance of being a solid pro QB than Anthony Richardson.
AR does two things: he either leaves you in disbelief...or he leaves you in disbelief.

posted by beaverboard at 02:09 PM on November 04, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Both Yankees players involved in Mookie Betts' Game 5 fifth inning grounder to first are off the books, at least for now.

The Yanks declined to pick up Rizzo's option and Cole opted out of his contract.

Waiting to see if Volpe, Chisholm and Judge get bundled off to the White Sox to complete the memory cleansing.

They can't demote Aaron Boone to the Instructional League. Those players need to work on their fundamentals.

posted by beaverboard at 05:13 PM on November 02, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Probably a couple of my distant cousins in a pub trying to do whatever they could to help make Colorado bowl eligible.

posted by beaverboard at 03:00 PM on October 29, 2024

Fernando Valenzuela Dead at 63

Very sad. What would the 81 strike season have been without his magic?

Younger people who follow the game today gawk when they see how many innings some of the stalwarts from bygone days were called upon to pitch. At his peak usage, Fernando was averaging almost 8 innings a game.

The late 60's / early 70's Tigers were relentless. McLain and Lolich both went well over 300 innings a season. Right up there with the knuckleballers, who were tireless.

posted by beaverboard at 02:41 PM on October 23, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Finally, the early game on Thanksgiving Day is gonna be the one to watch.

The late afternoon game will suck. Sorry, Jerry.

posted by beaverboard at 03:38 PM on October 22, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

When you're Chris Christie and you already have enough problems

Which include being close personal friends with Jerry Jones

And then the Lions come to town

posted by beaverboard at 03:33 PM on October 22, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Arnold Palmer's schlong maybe the Atlanta Braves?

posted by beaverboard at 02:39 PM on October 20, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

If you had 15 million dollars to spend:

- You could raise Mahomes' salary so that he would make what Dak Prescott is making

- Or you could pay Dave Aranda to stop coaching

posted by beaverboard at 11:38 PM on October 19, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

If you had 45 million dollars to spend:

- You could pay Patrick Mahomes to play football for one year

- Or you could pay Brent Venables to stop coaching

posted by beaverboard at 11:22 PM on October 19, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Watch David Tepper trade Jaycee, Chuba and eight draft choices for Deshaun Watson.

posted by beaverboard at 11:14 PM on October 15, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Text from agent to Amari: "Working on a deal to get you out of Cleveland".

Amari: "Praise God, I'm done with all that snow off the lake".

posted by beaverboard at 11:01 PM on October 15, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Vikings without Mike Zimmer: 5-0

Cowboys with Mike Zimmer yesterday: Lions 47, Dallas 9

Jerry Jones, 9/10/24: "I give Mike Zimmer credit for exuding the kind of confidence and putting schemes in that guys can go all out on."

Jerry Jones, 9/17/24, two days after Saints 44, Dallas 19: "We can improve. This is something we can correct."

Jerry Jones, 9/22/24: "My confidence in defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to fix the issues is very high. I'm glad we have him."

Herschel Walker in a corner by himself: Heh, heh.

posted by beaverboard at 01:08 PM on October 14, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

In the years that Trent Baalke has been in the front office of a NFL franchise in one capacity or another, the record of those teams is an aggregate 101-130.

If you take out the most competitive 49ers years under Jim Harbaugh, the overall record is 65-119.

The coaches Baalke has hired include Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and Urban Meyer who each lasted one year (or less) and went a combined 9-36.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan has hung on to Baalke through coaching and front office transitions. If Khan fires Pederson and keeps Baalke, he has only himself to blame.

Which he should anyway. In the years that Khan has owned the Jags, the team has gone 66-151. A trend like that goes beyond front office and indicates ownership. Can't spend your way out of cluelessness with stadium improvements.

posted by beaverboard at 03:48 PM on October 13, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

College powerhouse football moments that Bill Belichick will love:

Yesterday, a Penn State tight end served as a long snapper* and today, a former Notre Dame tight end is serving as a long snapper**.

*And caught a touchdown on the same play

**And is dominating with multiple TD's

posted by beaverboard at 12:05 PM on October 13, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Nothing against Georgia Tech, I'm glad they're competitive again, but is this about it for Mack Brown?

posted by beaverboard at 04:26 PM on October 12, 2024

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Despite the post-Milton conditions in the Sunshine State, I've asked members of the media to be on the lookout for a rcade sighting at today's UNT-FAU game.

posted by beaverboard at 03:00 PM on October 12, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Loved that guy, even though any time I got to see him pitch, it never seemed like an easy day. Always seemed like the score was close, there were guys on base and the tension was palpable. No breezing through lineups without a care in the world that I ever remember seeing. It was always compelling. That dude knew how to pitch his way out of some significant jams.

I seem to remember him being able to hit the ball pretty well. Had a couple of seasons where he was making good contact.

Bugs me when they mention that his early years were spent with the Guardians. No they weren't. Either tell it like it was in the context of the times or just say Cleveland. Adding a short explanatory clause about the team name change (if needed) isn't going to overwhelm the editorial well.

posted by beaverboard at 08:29 PM on October 08, 2024

New York Jets Fire Robert Saleh

Damn. There are several good coordinators masquerading as not so good head coaches, but I thought Saleh was one who had a chance to succeed.

At one point, I actually thought Saleh had a better chance of succeeding than DeMeco Ryans, but I was so wrong on that. Maybe Woody Johnson pulled a David Tepper and got mad when he saw that the guy he hired wasn't a DeMeco.

If they ditch Saleh, then they have to go all out (or is it all in) and clear out the whole failed Aaron Rodgers experiment, the teammates he requested and everything, and start with a really painful, expensive clean slate. They should be drafting high enough in 2025 to get one of the QB's in what looks to be a pretty good draft class.

They don't need Shedeur Sanders and his heavily branded image conscious poppa. Plus, Deion wants his players to go to warm weather teams.

If the Jets hire Belichick, they forfeit whatever remnant of pity anyone still has for them. That would be the ultimate idiocy. And they are the franchise that is capable of exactly that.

I'm already so tired of Rich Eisen's voice. With all this, I don't even want to know.

posted by beaverboard at 02:10 PM on October 08, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

I'm petitioning the NFL home office to put in a new rule change requiring teams that score a winning TD in OT to kick a PAT, so that geniuses like tommybiden who predicted (and locked) that the Falcons would win by 7 are given their full due.

posted by beaverboard at 12:26 PM on October 06, 2024

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

I almost wanted the Astros to win today to necessitate a deciding rubber maid game in the Houston-Hinch series.

posted by beaverboard at 06:01 PM on October 02, 2024

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

And after this past Sunday night's NFL game, Ravens fans are glad to tell everyone that a group of crows is called a murder.

A group of Royals is...a palace. Yawn.

But a group of Padres is a mission.

"Pie Jesu domine, dona eis requiem..."

posted by beaverboard at 12:29 AM on October 02, 2024

MLB hit king Pete Rose dead at 83

I wish Ray Fosse had outlived him.

posted by beaverboard at 05:04 PM on October 01, 2024

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

A tremendous loss. Thank you for posting.

posted by beaverboard at 12:06 AM on October 01, 2024

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Yesterday was National Good Neighbor Day and National North Carolina Day.

So after being down 20-0 halfway through the third quarter, Duke came back and beat UNC 21-20.

Fortunately for NoMich, yesterday was also National Drink Beer Day.

How did games even get played after the storm? Flooding looked cataclysmic.

posted by beaverboard at 10:40 AM on September 29, 2024