Hmmm, how did Dan Bylsma get such a rocket start?
*checks notes*
hmm hmm Crosby ... hmm hmm Malkin ... hmm hmm Fleury
Not often a rookie coach gets to lead that kind of talent. Always heard nice things about him, though.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:34 PM on January 13, 2023
My picks:
49ers by 11 (lock)
Chargers by 1
Bills by 8 (lock)
Vikings by 5
Bengals by 4
Cowboys by 6
Passer: Justin Herbert
Rusher: Joe Mixon
Receiver: Justin Jefferson
Player with interception: Tariq Woolen
Picking the Cowboys sickens me.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:29 PM on January 13, 2023
That's one of my very favourite trick plays, although I also love the Fumblerooski (played with Dean Steinkuhler's cousin, Fat Freddy) and the Rams' punt misdirection.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:48 AM on August 05, 2021
TiCats by 8
Lions by 10
Stampeders by 17
Elks by 6
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:42 AM on August 05, 2021
Minnesota by 8
Rest coming later. Can't believe I forgot last week.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:37 PM on October 24, 2019
New England by 16
Tampa Bay by 3
Seattle by 4
Kansas City by 8
Washington (new coach bounce and SOMEONE has to win) by 2
Minnesota by 4 (LOCK)
New Orleans by 2
Baltimore by 6 (LOCK)
L.A. Rams by 2
Atlanta by 3
Tennessee by 3
Dallas by 11
L.A. Chargers by 8
Green Bay by 5 (LOCK)
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:34 AM on October 10, 2019
I was so glad when the Cards game ended. I just couldn't handle the suspense at the end.
And I don't know why, but the Dodgers going down in flames makes me ridiculously happy.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:29 AM on October 10, 2019
Seattle by 3
Arizona by 4
Buffalo by 2
Chicago by 2
Tampa Bay by 4 (LOCK)
Minnesota by 2
Philadelphia by 11 (LOCK)
Pittsburgh by 3
New England by 22
Carolina by 2
Houston by 4
L.A. Chargers by 8
Dallas by 4
Kansas City by 13 (LOCK)
San Francisco by 4
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:39 PM on October 03, 2019
Green Bay by 9
Tennessee by 2
New England by 13 (LOCK)
Kansas City by 6
Indianapolis by 8 (LOCK)
L.A. Chargers by 22 (LOCK)
N.Y. Giants by 3
Baltimore by 6
Houston by 1
L.A. Rams by 4
Seattle by 6
Minnesota by 2
Jacksonville by 4
Dallas by 11 (LOCK)
Pittsburgh by 2
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:53 PM on September 26, 2019
Jacksonville by 4
Buffalo by 2
Dallas by 24 (LOCK)
Green Bay by 8
Indianapolis by 4
Kansas City by 6
Minnesota by 11 (LOCK)
New England by 22 (LOCK)
Philadelphia by 2
Arizona by 1
Tampa Bay by 5
Houston by 2
San Francisco by 6 (LOCK)
Seattle by 3
L.A. Rams by 4
Chicago by 1
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:45 AM on September 19, 2019
Carolina by 6
Cincinnati by 4
Detroit by 2
Minnesota by 3
Tennessee by 2
New England by 13 (LOCK)
N.Y. Giants by 3
Seattle by 2
Dallas by 4 (LOCK)
Baltimore by 8 (LOCK)
Houston by 3
Kansas City by 9 (LOCK)
Denver by 1
L.A. Rams by 2
Philadelphia by 2
Cleveland by 6
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:39 AM on September 12, 2019
I have recently become hooked on the videos of Jon Bois, who does "Chart Party" for SBNation on YouTube. I love these deep-dive, make-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill takes. The linked video searches for the saddest punt of the 21st century. I think it succeeds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9H9LwGmc-0
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:04 AM on September 07, 2019
Did you notice the umpire end up on the ground trying to get around Vogt?
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:21 AM on September 04, 2019
Chicago by 6
L.A. Rams by 4
Philadelphia by 11
N.Y. Jets by 2
Minnesota by 2
Baltimore by 8 (LOCK)
Kansas City by 6
Cleveland by 4
L.A. Chargers by 4
Seattle by 4
Tampa Bay by 1
Dallas by 8 (LOCK)
Detroit by 2
New England by 3
Houston by 2
Oakland by 5
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:18 AM on September 04, 2019
They moved somewhere around Mach 2, and I don't think a football could move that fast.
I'm pretty sure John Madden thought Favre could throw at the speed of light.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:38 PM on March 26, 2019
Congratulations to the new manager of Orchids of Asia!
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:34 PM on March 26, 2019
I pulled a muscle watching that.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:28 PM on June 19, 2016
It wasn't swept under here. We had a discussion about it at the time, and I have brought it up repeatedly in columns and my own blog posts.
Fivehead is a fucking tool.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:05 PM on February 13, 2016
My chair will be well-endowed.
Make it tough to sit it, won't it?
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:11 PM on November 10, 2015
This was pretty crazy, and it means Rolf Nilsen has a massive strike against him moving forward. The CHL is extremely protective of its image, and David Branch will have made clear to Nilsen that if he ever pulls a stunt like this again, the league will force him to sell his franchise.
This isn't even the first time this has popped up in recent memory, though. The Sudbury Wolves had Connor Burgess (son of owner Mark Burgess) on their roster for 95 games and he managed to racked zero goals and three points in that time. It was an open secret that the younger Burgess was simply not an OHL-caliber player, but the father insisted on keeping him (and giving him the full scholarship package).
Right now HHOFer Dale Hawerchuk is coaching the OHL's Barrie Colts and has his son, Ben, on the team. There was quite a bit of handwringing about it, but mostly from Dale himself not wanting to put undue pressure on his kid. Ben has worked his ass off, though, and this year is starting to shine as not only a pretty good scorer and motor guy, but also one tough little bugger.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:09 PM on November 10, 2015
Thanks, Howard, that was pretty damned awesome.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:09 AM on December 09, 2014
Has there been any explanation (aside from the weak "We're better people" stuff) as to why they prefer the interim? Was Hoffner a huge tool or something? Suicides until you puke kinda guy? I'm willing to hear out the players if there was abuse at practices or something, but if not, STFUASU (Shut The Fuck Up And Suit Up).
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:25 AM on April 22, 2014
Who said Cole was complaining? He probably called Gomez a lazy fuck and Gomez, knowing in this case it was accurate, reacted. I'd say Cole actually did a bang-up job -- he got out of the inning with no further damage AND he removed an opponent who had hit him hard from the game.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:52 AM on April 22, 2014
Fuck Carlos Gomez right in the ear. I think Cole was well within his rights to go over and give him a little verbal jabbing for blowing what should have been an inside-the-park home run. And pitch better? Cole gave up six hits and a walk in eight innings.
Had Gomez run out of the box, the Brewers would have won that game in regulation, instead of having to go 14 innings and work three more guys out of the bullpen.
I agree about the guys leaving the bench, but man, if they banned it, we would've missed this.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:15 PM on April 21, 2014
I think eventually there will have to be a sign on every fence or railing in the world saying, "DEAR IDIOT ..."
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:18 AM on March 30, 2014
The team must have put Hermes on waivers so they could try something new, I suppose.
Michael Vick's ears pricked up briefly, but only because he thought you said herpes.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:27 PM on October 09, 2013
If you don't like Bruno Mars, there's somethin' wrong with ya. The guy is talented, funny and can channel Michael Jackson at the drop of a sequined hat. He'll put on a helluva show.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:42 PM on September 09, 2013
In my league, Peyton rolled up 65. I'm pretty sure the rest of my opponent's team could stay in the locker room Sunday with the shits and beat me.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:39 AM on September 06, 2013
"Welcome to the party. What fucking kept you?"
-- The Hoser
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:14 AM on August 10, 2013
Fielder's contract is worth every penny if just to keep us fat guys dreaming about tripling in the All-Star Game.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:37 AM on August 04, 2013
McAllister?
I saw the Sudekis video a couple days ago. Not as good as him as the DJ at the male strip place, but damned funny.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:34 AM on August 04, 2013
A one-pitch strikeout
My Stupid, Argumentative & Now-Ejected Cousin Vinnie
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:38 AM on August 04, 2013
Am I nuts, or is what Cooper said a line from a movie? That was the first I thought I had when I saw the story.
The second was, "That motherfucker better have three chin straps on at training camp."
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:35 AM on August 04, 2013
I believe the rule states the fielder must touch the ball while some part of your body is over (meaning in the vertical plane of) the field, so as long as Shuck had at least one pinkie back inside the wall, he was good.
Grum, I think the flip of what you propose would be players could not lean into foul ground and touch a fan or seat without forfeiting their right to the ball.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:28 AM on August 04, 2013
Given the opportunity to party in a similar fashion at his age, I'd have been the first to drop trough.
I'm dropping trou now, just in case that makes a dance party happen.
According to Billy Idol, you're on the right track.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:01 PM on June 27, 2013
I was going to answer, Rogers, but this says it better than I could: It is now the the weapon of choice but the long putter must go belly-up.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:14 AM on April 15, 2013
Belly putter = give the jacket back. Fucking ridiculous.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:49 PM on April 14, 2013
YouTube has reinstated those videos and in essence told NASCAR to go pound salt.
ESPN did absolutely nothing to cover the chaos in the stands, and even lead SportsCenter with Danica Patrick as opposed to the crash.
Someone is terribly afraid of offending the head shitkickers.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:45 PM on February 24, 2013
"I really like to thank Massengil because Danica, uhh ... I can't really finish this sentence."
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:00 PM on January 25, 2013
I dunno. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but a game-tying goal in the regular merits this? What happens if scores an actual game winner? Fireworks shoot out the top of his head?
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:24 PM on January 25, 2013
Didn't she just announce she was divorcing her husband last week? Ah, sorry, no, announced in November but filed January 3rd. Still kinda makes me wonder if Stenhouse was in the henhouse.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:17 PM on January 25, 2013
As I said when Lewis botched an easy interception, apparently murder charges aren't the only thing that gets dropped around him.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:50 PM on January 06, 2013
Seen, played and coached a lotta ball, and it takes quite a bit for me to lean back and say, "Oh my God."
Oh. My. God.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:46 PM on January 02, 2013
After last night, I sure hope the Golden Globes bump Matt LeBlanc & add Mark Sanchez for "Best Comedic Performance" this season.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:50 PM on December 18, 2012
Holy crap -- the Packers can't use Isles?
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:29 PM on December 12, 2012
Calling rcade -- AFCA auctioning autographed game footballs, including North Texas.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:54 PM on December 10, 2012
It is true that Zasavica is the only town in the world which milks donkeys for cheese, but Guy Fieri will attest that if you try it on the males, you end up with a handful of Donkey Sauce.
This would be funnier if it would let me make the damned trademark symbol.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:37 PM on December 10, 2012
The clarification is it was a mistake on my part -- not sure why I typed that. The blocker never makes contact with Smith's head. Watch the video frame-by-frame and see if you come to a different conclusion, although I don't know how you could.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:49 PM on December 05, 2012
You can advance the video pretty much frame-by-frame. Watch Devin Smith's head -- how is it bouncing toward Bell if he's hitting him in the helmet?
The video shows Bell's shoulder hitting Smith's chest and head, and then the elbow following through on the chest. He never touches his head.
As for trying to trying to "light him up," well, no shit. You can light a player up legally and cleanly. This is a video demonstration of it.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:30 PM on December 04, 2012
You're going to have to explain to me how you can explode your hips without crouching a bit.
And unless you have a completely different video from me, you'll also have to point out the strutting. Where is it? He levels the guy and walks toward the sideline. Walking = strutting?
I dunno about the Deadspin comments, but I'm guessing yerfatma is right (he usually is). The best one I've seen so far boils down to people trying to legislate the violence out of a violent game. I agree with that and I just wonder how the hell you can hit someone legally and still have it be unnecessary?
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:11 PM on December 04, 2012
Here's the discussion at Deadspin. Seems divided pretty equally.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:58 AM on December 04, 2012
I'm not sure how you can throw your body without jumping/leaping.
Watch the video again and you'll see it just fine.
If he simply steps in front of him and hits him shoulder to chest (without crouching and leaping before hand), he absolutely flattens the guy (lands on his back and knocks the wind out of him) and the runner doesn't end up going head over heels.
First off, again, he doesn't leap. He drives up and into him, the way you're taught to block -- extend with the hips and explode into the player. Using the forearm is fine. And you're right -- the blocker could let up and just try and cut the guy off. He could also completely fuck up the block that way and not do his job.
I understand why you guys feel this way -- it's an ugly result. But this is not Warren Sapp cheapshotting Chad Clifton 30 yards from the play, and the announcer in the clip even points out the same thing. As stopping the video at 1:09 shows, this is a blocker putting his shoulder in the shoulder and chest of a would-be tackler in a completely legal manner.
Blockers deter would-be tacklers all the time without resorting to an attempted decapitation.
Unless you are now counting the body down damned near to the waist as the "head," calling this an attempted decapitation is just sensationalism.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:42 AM on December 04, 2012
It's the same reasoning why a defender gets a penalty if they grab a running back and then try to slam him down on his head.
No, it's completely different. A guy slamming another guy's head into the turf is an intentional attempt to injure someone that has nothing to do with the play.
That was a clean block where the blocker removed the defender who was about to make the tackle. Stop the film and the blocker doesn't leap at him, he sets himself and throws his body into the effort to, you know, make sure he makes the block.
There are plays such as this where the only way the blocker can be sure to remove the would-be tackler is going to flatten him. It's physics, not intent, and I'd like to see football realize that, in the same fashion it would be nice if the powers that be would realize that the head does not extend to the shoulders and chest and stop calling everything that looks remotely close as a hit to the head.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:58 AM on December 04, 2012
That intent to injure call the game Grum linked is a joke. What the fuck is he supposed to, ask the guy kindly not to make the touchdown-saving tackle?
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:09 PM on December 02, 2012
You mean a guy who screams all game, blocks the view of other fans and is generally acting out a "LOOK AT ME!!!" fantasy every week isn't coming back?
See ya later, dipshit.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:31 AM on November 27, 2012
That GIF pretty much took Sanchez's HOF dreams and rectum.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:08 PM on November 23, 2012
Hmmm ...
Ndamukong Suh
He must stomp your QB's junk
Like a Broadway show
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:36 PM on November 22, 2012
If Jackson wants to come back, fly his ass to Toronto and see what he can do with this bunch. If he gets to .500 at any point in the season, he's the greatest coach ever.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:48 PM on November 12, 2012
Indianapolis (-3.5) at JACKSONVILLE (43): Despite that 5-3 record, Indy is bad on the road and negative in point differential (-32 and counting). Does that mean you should put money on a Jaguars team that epitomizes bad in nearly every sense of the word, though? If you're getting better than a field goal at home, yes, yes it does. Colts 22, Jaguars 19.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:12 PM on November 08, 2012
NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round
My picks:
Chiefs by 11 (lock)
Eagles by 6 (lock)
Bills by 3
49ers by 8
Passer: Trevor Lawrence
Rusher: Joe Mixon
Receiver: Ja'Marr Chase
Player with interception: Jordan Poyer
Just in time!