- 09:34 AM
- 11/05/24
This should solve all of baseball's problems.
posted by srboisvert at 07:01 AM on September 22, 2002
These guys blow my mind. I bust my gut daily mountain biking on a gravel trail riding 27k at about 25km/h in and out of the Credit River valley (hills but not very big at all) then I tune into the tour and see guys doubling my speed going up mountains! Also what is up with the lack of crowd control? Several times in the last few stages fans were interfering and once actually threw stuff at the peloton. I found it gripping and look forward to seeing a more produced version of the race in the future (something more like NFL films?).
posted by srboisvert at 12:00 PM on July 28, 2002
Some of my favorite memories: -Stampeding for seats in the bleachers at the old Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Tickets were $1! -Joe Carter's home run off of the Wild Thing. -Playing third base and catching a line drive that was hit right at my chest with my throwing hand. Then not being able to use the hand for much for the rest of that week. -Playing catcher and having my pants split right up the crotch seam when I squated down. The ump's laugh is now what I hear in my head everytime I do something foolish.
posted by srboisvert at 12:54 PM on July 27, 2002
From DiMaggio: An Illustrated Life, by Dick Johnson and Glenn Stout Daniel's role in extending the streak in games 30 and 31 has since been the subject of much criticism. While it is true that Daniel was DiMaggio's friend and that both hits could have gone either way, had DiMaggio not run his streak to the eventual 56 games, Daniel's calls would never have been questioned. Only DiMaggio's later accomplishments brought the calls under scrutiny
posted by srboisvert at 01:34 PM on June 24, 2002
It's because GM's are mainlining the drug known as 'potential'. I am just waiting for them to get to the point where they start drafting guys who have never played organized basketball. Then I'm declaring.
posted by srboisvert at 09:04 AM on June 23, 2002
I can think of about 17.5 million reasons not to feel sorry for him.
posted by srboisvert at 10:31 AM on June 09, 2002
The only problem with 'letting them play' is that the better cheater ends up winning. I actually think hockey needs to really tighten up its rule enforcement. The kind of stick work that is routine today, slashing the wrists and legs and rampent hooking, were all penalties 15 years ago. The game had speed and grace then that is completely lacking now. Enforce the actual rules and start at the beginning of the season. The teams will adapt and the fans will be happy (unless they have a team of plodding slash and grab players).
posted by srboisvert at 10:28 AM on June 09, 2002
I for one, would love to the read the book. Particularly if it had some how to sections. I could use a quick 10-15lbs of muscle. I suspect that the majority of the guys in MLB are juiced. In fact, I think about half the guys at my gym are pin-cushions as well. I am curious if the negatives of steroid use outweight the benifits. With obesity and heart disease being a major health problem I suspect judicious use of a muscle building steroid programs could far outweigh the harm.
posted by srboisvert at 10:25 AM on June 09, 2002
I wouldn't write of the Eastern Conference so quickly. Before the season people had already given the Lakers a trophy. Now it's OT in game 7 of the Western Conference Championship. So they might not even make the finals. If it is the Kings they had a one point win and a 34 point loss to the Nets.
posted by srboisvert at 09:29 PM on June 02, 2002
Baseball has been signing players out of high school -- or even younger -- for years. I don't think it's any worse now that the NBA is doing it, especially if the league has CBA teams or other places where the young player can develop for a few years. The problem is that the NBA has nowhere to put these kids so they can develop. If a team wants to keep a drafted players rights he has to be on their roster. The NBDL isn't even a farm league since the NBDL players can't be signed to a NBA team. If there is one thing that recent sports history, with its Doug Fluties and Kurt Warners, has taught the sports world is that is better to play in any league than to rot on a bench. An NBA Europe developmental farm league would be a huge help and probably a financial winner as well IMHO.
posted by srboisvert at 09:40 AM on March 10, 2002
Who cares that Nolan had a zero percent graduation rate? At least none of his players were truely evil and traded a car in or went to the NBA all-star game with gift tickets. Lets all try and keep things in perspective!
posted by srboisvert at 02:13 PM on March 03, 2002
Zeke is a freak. As a huge Raptor fan I have followed his post NBA career fairly closely and I can't say that I have ever found anything redeeming about his conduct. When the going gets tough you will see his vapid smile and then his backside as he hightails it out of there. He bankrupted the CBA, ripped-off people he worked with left-right-and center and could have been a motivational speaker for Enron. He couldn't find a way to work with Jalen Rose. Left a big mess in Toronto and is still trying to take credit for the Raptors improvement. He can't even figure out a starting lineup for the Pacers. The only thing you can count on with Isaiah is that he will see himself in any semi-talented PG that comes along and then in a fit of self-love he will make them the focal point of the team regardless of whether they have the tools (see ..Damon Stoudomire and Tinsley). That said, I would be more than willing to do a straight up trade of Lenny Wilkens for Zeke. Ten straight losses and counting by the Raptors. What channel is the figure skating?
posted by srboisvert at 02:21 PM on March 02, 2002
Samsonov14 said: srboisvert, I don't think his nationality matters here. The fact is, he used the regular season as a chance to get into the Olympics, and then just abandoned his team immediately afterward. At least an American would have had the decency to lie about it.
Of course you think nationality has nothing to do with it. He didn't play for your country!
Every player in the Olympics, whatever country they played for, made essentially the same choice as Lemieux did.
The only difference is that he went in somewhat hurt.
Lindros also played despite the fact that his career could end at any moment. Any player can go down at any time.
Besides, if the Olympics were enough to take him out of action, how long would he have lasted in the remainder of the NHL season? Would the Pens have made the playoffs anyway?
Probably not.
posted by srboisvert at 08:44 PM on March 01, 2002
Would your statements be different if Mario was an American playing for, and owning, an American team? My guess is yes.
posted by srboisvert at 10:35 AM on March 01, 2002
It is more than failure. Both Thom-ass and Lame-beer left a swath of destruction behind them. People must get gulled by NBA credentials and fame and turn their brains off when dealing with these guys
posted by srboisvert at 10:42 PM on February 26, 2002
There is life in the NBA outside of the New York area. Cancelling the Knicks and switching to the Nets is probably what will happen but as an NBA fan I wish they would spread the nationally telivised games around a bit more. If you only watched NBC you would think there were maybe 6 teams in the league: Knicks, Lakers, Kings, Portland, Philly and Washington.
posted by srboisvert at 01:13 PM on February 26, 2002
I would contribute but only if I could invest in Vladimir Guerrero and get dividends based on his next contract.
posted by srboisvert at 10:17 PM on February 23, 2002
John Rocker is one of Major League Baseballs premiere relief pitchers. John has won four division titles, three National League Pennants, and has pitched in The World Series. He is one of the most recognized figures in professional sports
Overstatement, understatment, punctuation and capitalization errors in the same 2 sentence bio. Definitely the work of a po-mo since grammar checking is an oppressive intrusion of a classist patriarchal framework trying to stifle the real voices of the multiplicity of people! The way I see it John is trying both to release his own demons through the catharsis of role playing and at the same time hang with a cyber-playmate of the week. Based on last season it's probably good that he is looking for a life after baseball
posted by srboisvert at 04:41 PM on February 22, 2002
Toronto Star Amazingly, U.S. coach Ben Smith said all the calls against Canada may not have been to the advantage of his team even though both goals the U.S. did score came on the power play. "Actually, we got too many power plays," said Smith. "We had a lot of pressure to score."
posted by srboisvert at 09:42 AM on February 22, 2002
First off, why would they ever allow the ref to be from one of the competing nations in a gold medal match? Secondly, how can anyone explain a team that going into the game was the least penalized team in the tourney suddenly getting so many penalties?
posted by srboisvert at 08:47 PM on February 21, 2002
Now the Koreans are getting in on the act. They want to sue over the Ohno reversal.
posted by srboisvert at 08:34 PM on February 21, 2002
damn ..i even checked in another browser to make sure no one beat me to it!
posted by srboisvert at 07:34 PM on February 21, 2002
pastepotpete: Don't dredge up all that tired nonsense about how "the agents control the NBA" that's just owner propaganda from the lockout swallowed by the large contingent of basketball "journalists" (*cough* Peter Vecsey *cough*) who, I believe, truly hate the game and the players they spend their lives covering. Please don't tar me with the Vecsey brush...that is almost hateful. I suspect in your refusal to swallow propaganda you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. There are facts that indicate there is at least a kernal of truth, if not more, to the Falk meglomania stories . Falk has repeatedly and publically dictated and threatened owners. Falk made threats to McHale with Marbury, screwed around with Danny Ferry and the Clippers, tried to with Miles and the Clippers to name just a few of his ploys. I think it is pretty clear that agents, particularly super-agents like Falk who had large rosters, used to wield considerable power. Now they don't and when Falk lashes I can just picture the impotent rage and maybe some spittle on his chin.
posted by srboisvert at 01:47 PM on February 21, 2002
Falk is lashing out because despite having a sizeable roster of NBA players he no longer wields the power he once did. He used to be able dictate trades to teams and force GM's to make sweet deals to players who didn't deserve them in order to stay in his good graces. With the new CBA he can no longer crack the whip and one his clients got sent to NBA hell in Chicago. Now Falk and Krause will have to sit at the same table. The Hoop Gods are chuckling.
posted by srboisvert at 10:04 AM on February 21, 2002
Since when was the Olympics about warm and fuzzy internationalism? It is a jingoistic celebration of athletics. Otherwise why have national medal counts? That said it sure is fun to watch the hockey. The NHL looks at it as a marketing opportunity but all I find myself thinking is "This is so much better than the NHL!". That can't be good advertising. It says "If we were really interested in showing the fans good hockey we would have wider ice surfaces but dammit we want the extra money from the gold seats." Go Belarus!
posted by srboisvert at 02:21 PM on February 20, 2002
Sorry dai...I am Canadian and I am embarrased by the conduct of Gretzky and Quinn. If those comments came from the heart then they both need transplants... Both Gretzky and Canada's coach, Pat Quinn, suggested that there will be retribution. "In the old days (of international play), we couldn't pay them back, so that's why we lost our tempers," said Gretzky. "Well now they've got to answer the fiddler in about a week (when NHL play resumes) and payback's going to be awful tough. It's not going to be pretty." Quinn said, in the NHL, there would have been an immediate response. "But it doesn't play in international rules, so we say you can't do it, you can't do it," said Quinn. "... But one week from now, we get all the payback we want." That is just incredibly low class. While Quinn is a brawler and that sort of thing isn't surprising from a guy who holds Domi's leash all year, Gretzky used to at least pretend to have class while he let his team's goons take care of business. There is no place for threats like that in the Olympics. Just play the game and if you don't bring home medals at least bring home some dignity.
posted by srboisvert at 10:31 AM on February 20, 2002
I think the Pacers should move Rose. He is a sub-allstar making all-star money. He has always shown potential but never quite realized it and at some point you have to decide that the potential buckets are not as meaningful as real ones. The Pacers look really good with a lot of youth in Harrington, Bender, O'Neil, and Tinsley and are 2 or 3 years from being a serious power. Where will Rose be in 2 or 3 years? I think he might be in the way so it might be better if he were on his way. BTW Simmons' trades are comedy...I hope! The Rashad Lewis for Mo'Pete and Keon Clark would be robbing the Raptors. Mo'Pete is almost the same player as Rashard Lewis. Why would the Raptors then throw in a 7 footer who could be worth 16 & 10 with 2 bpg as filler? I am also confused about how Pitino is responsible for Michael Stewart's contract since Yogi is a raptor not leprachaun! Trades I think will happen: Rose to the Bulls in a swap of bench quality players. Pacer fans will feel robbed but in a year or two will be very happy as the roster space created allows future stars to develop and Rose continues to underacheive even on a team where he is the only option. Van Exel to New York: He is overpaid, at the tail end of a career and despite being tough is starting to suffer regular injuries (even if they don't keep him from playing). Fits the Knicks mold (or should that be mould?) perfectly. Gatling to anywhere: The human tumbleweed...need i say more?
posted by srboisvert at 10:19 AM on February 19, 2002
I should hope every other country wants Canada to lose! Isn't that what the Olympics are about? I am not impressed with the Canadian mafia style threats though. Poor sportsmanship.
posted by srboisvert at 09:38 AM on February 19, 2002
catatonic said: my innocence has been lost this olympic games. the olympics are supposed to be scrupulously fair because they have no pull or preference who wins, but after this and the canadian/russian debacle, i'm not so sure that the scales aren't tipped. You really think the scales are tipped in short track skating? What the collision and wipeout were staged to eliminate Ohno from the race so the Australian could win? If there is any country with less political clout than the Aussie's in the Winter Olympics I can't think of them. I think the NASCAR analogy is appropriate. Part of short track racing is controlling the other skaters around you. It is isn't just finishing first. You have to deny them the opportunity to pass, or even to think that they can, by cutting off the angles, forcing space, swinging your arms, etc.. As for losing your innocence in this Olympics, I would just point out that your innocence was probably an illusion anyway. My favorite Olympic fraud was Bab-Sprague (U.S. Synchronized Swimming) getting to steal a gold medal due to a typing error by a judge that the judge acknowledged and tried to get corrected right away. The gold eventually went to rightful owner but B.S. didn't get demoted to a Silver. However, there isn't an Olympic games without fraud or controversy or an Olympic federation that doesn't encourage or condone cheating.
posted by srboisvert at 10:05 AM on February 18, 2002
Sorry I wasn't clear The key shortcut ctrl-shift-a is used on my system for other functions..
posted by srboisvert at 01:39 PM on February 16, 2002
I thought Joseph was okay. Not brilliant but okay. he was left naked on the ice by his team. Watching it all I could think was that I was seeing the difference between hungry players and jaded players. The Canadian team looked like it thought it would be 'neat' to win the game. Sundin and company looked like they thought it would be a great thing. I'm too lazy and not enough of a hockey fan to do the work myself but I wonder if there is a difference in Stanley Cup counts amongst the six NHL all-star teams competing. After winning the Stanley Cup a few times wouldn't and Olympic gold just seem like another chunk of metal on the mantle?
posted by srboisvert at 12:22 PM on February 16, 2002
Dime's Game of the day and Smack can also be had on FoxSports.com (I would put the link in but ctrl-shift-a is assigned to other functions - Should this be in Sportatalk? :-) )
posted by srboisvert at 12:17 PM on February 16, 2002
This has a precedent. In a controversy involving synchronized swimming a judge made a typing error that resulted in Kristen Babb-Sprague (USA), wife of Blue Jays third baseman Ed Sprague getting a gold when it should have gone to Sylvie Frechette (Canada). Then they gave Sylvie a gold as well without yanking Babb-Sprague's.
posted by srboisvert at 08:55 PM on February 14, 2002
I like Keon Clark: It was suggested to Raptors centre Keon Clark, who scored a game-high 26 points, it might have been a different story if the Raptors had started their comeback a minute or two earlier. "If, if if ... if 'if' were a fifth, we'd all be drunk," Clark said. "Very, very small things are putting us in a position where we have to scratch up."
posted by srboisvert at 07:02 PM on February 14, 2002
Hmmm...timed perfectly for the $200 shoe launch. Perhaps Juanita has some financial intelligence.
posted by srboisvert at 08:16 PM on February 05, 2002
The Foreign Invasion of the American Game.
he NBA has chosen to market itself in a certain way and they got the results they were aiming for. The problem? They lost white guys like me (25-35 years old) in the process...Call it what you want, but I don't drive a Hummer H2, have my teeth capped and have outfits that revolve around my baseball hat Funny, I watched the allstar game and thought "Why the hell are they marketing to old farts?" Did you see any big name hip hop artists perform during the game or the dunk contest? Nope. Gloria Gaynor, Meatloaf, Mariah Carey got the prime slots. The hip hoppers you complain about all got the side stage slots - read to acheive and the nba party spots.