- 11:34 AM
- 12/21/24
Thanks, JJ, I just heard about this movie and faintly remember being a Cosmos fan as a 7-year-old soccer-playing kid in the NYC suburbs. Seems like a dream now that soccer was ever that popular in urban America. p.s. I'll be in London next week and want to go to either Chelsea's match v. Celtic on Wed the 9th or the Queens Park-Leeds match on Tue. the 8th. I'm having the darndest time figuring out how to get tickets. I can't find any ticket info for the Queens Park game, and tickets for the Chelsea game seem to only be available to season-ticket members. Any suggestions? Will I do better in person next week? Can I go to a broker office or something? Thanks.
posted by msacheson at 09:26 PM on July 31, 2006
Luckily, my gut is cropped off in this picture.
posted by msacheson at 12:38 PM on July 30, 2004
(well, since this thread has completely derailed...) Here's the family, from left: Lucy, Amanda and Marc 
posted by msacheson at 12:01 PM on July 30, 2004
You guys are new parents. My picks: You+aren't+getting+any. We've got a winner! See, that was the real question being asked (wink) most< ---------->least Swimming, Cycling, Soccer, Hockey, Boxing, Basketball, Volleyball, Football I match mbd1's ranking for the most part (switched basketball and volleyball due to running up and down court). And like dusted, I think the individual sports rank higher. Swimming uses upper and lower body, cycling is mostly lower. Soccer above hockey for same reasons my wife gave (on the field entire time vs. shifts on bench). Honorable mention: as some have said, running, wrestling and rowing also deserve consideration. Maybe next time.
posted by msacheson at 11:22 AM on July 27, 2004
Ernie Els. Rounding out top five will be Chris Riley, Padraig Harrington, David Toms and Tiger Woods. Or none of the above.
posted by msacheson at 01:13 AM on June 17, 2004
On the sidebar, the link to this thread asks about users' thoughts for SpoFi's future, and we Original 7 have been chatting behind the scenes about mostly technical changes, but I would like to say something here to all SpoFi members, myself included: One big feature that makes SportsFilter unique is the ability for users to write and post columns (then for everyone to comment). I'm disappointed that few have taken the opportunity to do so (myself included). We have strong personalities and opinions here...and we have a way to present those. Embrace it. Go forth and write more columns. Find your inner Rick Reilly.
posted by msacheson at 02:45 PM on June 07, 2004
(maybe I coulda slipped this into his interview below, but I didn't want to intrude. Or maybe I hadn't noticed it before posting this. You decide.)
posted by msacheson at 01:59 AM on April 22, 2004
Me and a few friends put together a golf event every year here in the SF Bay Area where the guys get stinkin' drunk and play golf. (It's a fun round of golf where each foursome is a skins match of similarly-able golfers, and the winner of each hole wins not just a skin, but the 'honor' of a shot of alcohol. Needless to say, carryovers can be a bitch. I have on occasion won holes worth 5 shots. Really evens the playing field when my competitors are not as good as me. The winner is the player who wins the most holes of al the groups.) So for the 10th edition of this event in 2007, we plan to go to Scotland. My fellow committee members dream of St. Andrews, but I imagine enjoying ourselves more at some small town with a public/municipal links course and friendly locals who don't mind a few 10-15 loud, drunk Americans (and accompanying wives and children). Any out-of-way towns and courses you can suggest? Thanks!
posted by msacheson at 01:55 AM on April 22, 2004
nice, quick response, bill. It took the wife and I something like 57 comments to notice we were being interviewed.
posted by msacheson at 11:02 PM on March 30, 2004
sport because there is an objective (get the ball in the hole), score is kept (how many strokes were needed to meet objective), and it is played outdoors, subject to the whims of nature, with which all participants must deal equally. athletes because it takes incredible coordination of big and small muscles, and brain, to perform at highest level.
posted by msacheson at 11:43 AM on February 07, 2004
I get terrible shin splints when I run for the first time in a long time. So bad that I can barely walk for a week. Any ideas/specific stretches?
posted by msacheson at 11:17 PM on February 02, 2004
two questions before my picks: 1. Who's this "Jack of the Man" character? 2. Would jerseygirl really pick anyone other than her heartthrob, Tom Brady?
posted by msacheson at 07:03 PM on January 31, 2004
Tough picks...I hope they are good games. Pats Eagles (fingers crossed)
posted by msacheson at 11:18 AM on January 16, 2004
Oh, and garfield: what kind of number is 238, anyway? Really? You're a big man to show your face around here with that number.
posted by msacheson at 09:12 AM on January 13, 2004
Pretty damn cool. As one of the Seven, I am quite proud of this milestone. To infinity, and beyond!
posted by msacheson at 09:11 AM on January 13, 2004
darn, I was a GB win from a perfect week and tie for first, but I'm happy with 6 right now. The hard part will be overcoming leaders with only three games left. (link to last week's thread) I'll make my picks later in the week after I hear from the SportsGuy. (he's 8-0 picking winners, but not covering the spread, right?) p.s. I vote for making next week worth 2 pts. each and Superbowl worth 3 pts.
posted by msacheson at 11:20 PM on January 11, 2004
Thanks to all for your kind comments. I'd love to post a picture soon, but I'm not sure how without it being from a website (which I don't have). Besides, keeping with tradition, no pictures of SpoFi girls/women, no matter how much WC asks. (and keep your son away from my daughter) I have her on my left arm as i type this one-handed. Lucy doesn't have a SpoFi userid yet, and I don't want to snatch #1000 from a worthy poster. I probably will sign her up soon, though, so i can post comments from an infant's perspective on sports. Hal: your tables are awesome. I noticed one gaffe: 86 picked KC (not CAR) to beat IND.
posted by msacheson at 11:14 AM on January 09, 2004
msacheson's picks for the weekend: New England Indianapolis Carolina Green Bay p.s. Hal: Since you said on 1/5 that Philly was a unanimous pick, how many have picked GB? p.p.s. It's a girl, BTW. Lucy Rose Acheson, born Th. 12/18, and she's perfect. Mom (aacheson) is doing well also.
posted by msacheson at 06:50 PM on January 08, 2004
smither, great link..THANKS! "Handheld Football by Mattel • 1977 Everyone who grew up in the '70s owned one of these portable two-player pigskin sims, which used red LED lights to represent players. Brian: What's this supposed to be? EGM: Football. It's one of the first great portable games. Brian: I thought it was Run Away From the Dots."
posted by msacheson at 03:47 PM on December 10, 2003
Anybody ever notice how no one from the Pantheon ever chimes in on these feature request threads? ;-) I agree with the 10 lockerroom post idea, and Ask SpoFi, but I am no bueno with coding or implementing changes around here. Sorry.
posted by msacheson at 11:02 AM on December 09, 2003
geez, I nominate garfield, for outstanding contribution to an awards thread. I've wasted a good hour reading each of those threads from January through April. Well, okay, it was a great hour. Thanks garfield. And thanks to all of you out there in SpoFi land. I am watching eagerly for member # 1000, and gspm was way-cool to think it may be mini-ach, eagerly approaching delivery in the next couple weeks.
posted by msacheson at 03:19 PM on December 08, 2003
current unimplemented feature requests: -Ask Spofi -Pony rides -wc2002 interview generator -photo ID required for new member signup seriously, I do like the Ask Spofi idea, and I think it would be good for front page posts to generate discussions
posted by msacheson at 01:20 AM on November 15, 2003
Point taken jerseygirl. Ooh..watch it, fork: our fair jerseygirl doesn't want her name besmirched by the forthcoming Bennifer movie of the same name (which is the first result of your linked google search of 'jersey+girl').
posted by msacheson at 12:41 AM on November 12, 2003
Thanks, jerseygirl, Lady SpoFites will be my fantasy WNBA team name. Latasha Byears will be my #1 draft choice.
posted by msacheson at 03:47 PM on November 10, 2003
I'll keep that in mind Weedy, just in case things don't work out with Marc. :)
posted by msacheson at 04:42 PM on August 22, 2003
wc, thanks for the interview. I want to email you and get together...I can't find your address in your profile. please e-mail me at msacheson@yahoo.com - but keep in mind we're gone on a baby-moon until next Friday.
posted by msacheson at 01:18 AM on August 16, 2003
1. Our intuition is leaning towards boy. 2. Mini-ach would be a good SpoFi username. 3. December 23. Hanukah-Christmas-Kwanzaa baby. 4. We haven't made a decision since owillis was missing. Turns out, he's moving up to bigger and better and a dee-lux apartment in the sky-y-y. 5. We meet in an old, abandoned fraternity house. 6. Is that where he goes every Thursday? No, honey, fantasy golf meeting. 7. WhatchatalkinboutWillis? 8. Jeez, I dunno.
posted by msacheson at 11:23 AM on August 14, 2003
"Where is the most unusual place that you and your husband have ever made whoopee?"
posted by msacheson at 05:14 PM on August 13, 2003
What are your favorite food and drink? We like tasty, home-cooked meals of meat, starch and veggie, such as my famous marinated steak with rice and broccoli. When we're entertaining, Amanda makes a mean bruschetta. When we go out, we prefer Thai or Indian. It helps to live next to a thai restaurant in Rockridge. I don't drink beer as regularly as I used to, but my favorites haven't changed: Guinness, Sam Adams, Pyramid Hefeweizen. We're not big wine people, and we don't drink coffee at all. That gets strange looks from people. No coffee?
posted by msacheson at 04:25 PM on August 13, 2003
what other fun stuff do you do? One thing I don't do anymore is spend much time on the computer, as you can plainly tell. Sorry for all the breaks, but the work I'm doing around and outside the house takes me away from SpoFi. When I do catch up on computer stuff, one of the things I do is manage my fantasy golf team. I'm in a league that started in about 1997 and functions more like roto football or baseball than the typical fantasy golf online. In our league, we draft the players and only one person can have any given player, so the bidding goes real high for Woods, Els, lefty, Love, etc. But, with a salary cap, whoever has Woods has probably spent 2/3 of their total on Tiger and has to settle for cheap b- and c-listers to fill out their team. It's worked out really well and has some fun guys in it. Besides that, I've gotten into photography and love my Nikon Coolpix 4300. It's the perfect digital for me to learn how to take pictures with. Sure, some of the functions are easier to control with an SLR, and I'll get there, but with great semi-automatic scene settings, I can great photos and practice controlling the aperture, shutter, metering etc. It don't cost nothing to make mistakes, and the good ones I can print out or send. A good-quality digital camera has really opened a new hobby to me.
posted by msacheson at 03:09 PM on August 13, 2003
j-school and golf and sales I grew up middle-class/privileged. Privileged that I could sail or hang out at the Larchmont Yacht Club (snootiness beyond Bushwood CC), even though my parents weren't members. I lived in a safe town where we never locked our doors. My middle school and HS (Mamaroneck) had TV studios, and it was the most fun elective to take. We could roam the halls and make fun of people. Cover sports. (Or, as we did very appropriately once, report on the death of a classmate.) And it went out to the community, so my parents and relatives watched, too. It was a pretty lucky thing to have. My class produced a 10 minute newscast (think: SNL Weekend Update-meets-Wayne's World local cable-meets-Ferris Bueller's Day Off) every day that our friends watched live in their homerooms. I tell ya, that's something Tom Brokaw never has to do: face his friends and enemies in the hallways and nooks of high school right after live TV. I followed my TV interest to the Newhouse School at Syracuse, figuring that a diploma from there would get me a reporter gig in Podunk, South Wyoming or a PA/writer job in a big market. I was more interested in being a producer than on-air talent, so it made sense to come to SF and live with Amanda in Berkeley. I got a PA job at KPIX, which was lively and interesting. I fucked up many times early, but became a favorite of a weekend producer who let me write and cut packages. Being in a newsroom when the Simpson verdict was read and when the Unabomber was caught were two amazing moments. After a year and a half, I was passed over for a staff PA job (I had been part-time 40 hours/week) and decided to leave. Not knowing it at the time, that was the end of that career path. I thought I'd get a job anywhere, somewhere I liked being, and that was the golf course (Tilden Park GC in Berkeley). From pro shop starter to ass't manager/tournament coordinator, I worked hard for a manager I liked. My stock rose quickly and I took an opportunity for a Mon-Fri 8-5 job with American Golf, selling/arranging the big events at 10 local courses. It was a fun job to talk golf all day, I guess, but I missed the face-to-face. Even though Amanda had told me sales wasn't for me, and even though I also knew it, I took an inside sales job at a software company in Alameda. It was early 2000, and the trends were still up. I was the sales ass't for a few account managers in the field, writing up their quotes and orders and helping customers. Shortly, though, the trends were down, and amidst the layoffs I lost any remaining interest in an office-phone-computer job. (however, I did meet metafilter while working there) So a sudden departure and break from doing anything has gelled into a hyper-busy life of student/sub teacher/house husband, but I'm happier running around than being stuck in a box.
posted by msacheson at 12:27 PM on August 13, 2003
yep, lucky me, out on the golf course on a beautiful day. So nice, I pulled an Ernie Banks and played twice: after 18 with my uncle halfway between Oakland and Sacto, I played 9 more at Tilden Park in Berkeley. It was a great day and evening. I worked at Tilden for about 3 years, and I love the course and the park surrounding it. aa, how has msacheson affected your sporting activities (whether participating or otherwise)? And vice versa? vice versa: aacheson has let me play golf, go sailing and about anything else I'd want. (great wife) She even went along with me coaching an under-12 boys soccer team a few years ago. That was a great and tough task, but I really think it showed me I can handle kids of that age, and it helped form my idea of teaching middle school. I'll probably coach soccer or golf in the future, too, once I get my teaching career started. I do like playing golf with her (except for that time in Hawaii on our honeymoon..the worst fit I've seen her throw) and I like sailing with her, too. As she said, she's really gotten me into camping/hiking/backpacking. When I did a backcountry ski trip in June and camped by myself on the eve of the trip, it was the first time I had camped without her. It felt weird and, well, not right. wc: did I miss any questions? when are we getting to favorite sports moments, why I'm embarrassed to be a NY Rangers fan, best NY pizza places in Berkeley/Oakland and best hot dogs (Walter's in Mamaroneck, NY)?
posted by msacheson at 12:03 AM on August 13, 2003
As for ms, how did you get from journalism to golf to software sales? I'll go into it later...I have to leave to go play golf, so I'll be out all day. Sorry. No, I'm not sorry.
posted by msacheson at 09:54 AM on August 12, 2003
I majored in Broadcast Journalism at the Newhouse school at Syracuse. Got to sit press-row for many Dome games. Quite an auspicious start to a TV career that I decided I didn't want. Then I went into the golf business, then the stupefying world (for me) of software sales.
posted by msacheson at 10:40 PM on August 11, 2003
I left a spirit-sapping inside sales job at a software company in January 2002. I'm in a teacher credential program at SF State and will be teaching middle school math a year from now. A long break from working (and earning) and a big career change, but it will be good. For one thing, teaching seems like a great career for me. Everything else was just a job.
posted by msacheson at 04:09 PM on August 11, 2003
I like poking fun at Amanda's sports IQ, but she does surprise me sometimes. But she also does silly things like mispronounce "Nordiques". (nor-dee-queues)
posted by msacheson at 03:38 PM on August 11, 2003
I popped the question in summer 1996. After a cousin's wedding in Newport, my parents, Amanda and I went sailing for a week from Nantucket to Stonington (no, really, that's the name of the town). While on Martha's Vineyard I thought of a neat way to surprise her with the ring. You ever been on one of the old style merry-go-rounds where you lean off your horse to get rings? The Flying Horses carousel in Oak Bluff is the oldest in the country, and I had been on it many times on trips in the area. (I knew I could get more rings than her.) The ride is very popular with kids, and that means parents (and tourists) are forced to stand in line with their screaming kids hopped up on sugar for 30-45 minutes. Not good times. Especially for Amanda, who has zero patience for screaming kids. Right, hun? So we're in line and it's a beautiful day outside, and the kids are screaming, and the line moves slow, and Amanda asks if we really *have* to ride the ride. I said very sternly, "Yes, going on the ride" (left "dammit" unsaid). She obliged to wait and didn't complain another time before we got on. We both got outside horses and good reaches for the rings. Actually, I think she was better than me because she was quicker each time. And I had something on my mind: don't let the engagement ring fall out of my pocket. The ride slowed and neither of us had snared the brass ring. While I was waiting for the ride "to come to a full and complete stop", as the guy always says (and I obeyed), Amanda jumped off and headed for an exit. I couldn't let her get away, but I couldn't get off my horse.* My foot was stuck in the kid-sized stirrup and I almost toppled over. I yelled for Amanda to wait, and she did, letting a number of people past her to the exit. When I caught up to her, I knelt and said, "Sorry you didn't get the brass ring, honey, but I hope this one is better. Will you marry me?" I know I surprised her because she didn't say "yes" immediately. She asked, "Are you serious?" Yes, I was, and we live happily ever after. Now please excuse me, I'm feeling a little verklempt. *which is different than getting my horse off.
posted by msacheson at 03:11 PM on August 11, 2003
That night was the 7th game of the Stanley Cup finals in 1994, where the Rangers were tied for the cup with Vancouver. wow, Amanda, I'm impressed that you knew it was the team from Vancouver. Hhmmm...what are they called?
posted by msacheson at 02:44 PM on August 11, 2003
He was a complete dead-head stoner, stoned 24/7 (no, really), loves the Dead Do you get the point? (Where's Weedy?) I went to his school's (Syracuse) program, even though I went to UC Boulder. I wanted to go to Colorado-Boulder, but my parents negged it early on. So I married an alum instead. Sports context: Syracuse had just beaten Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl in a mathup of teams at their early-90s peaks. She came to London amidst all these Syracuse fans and didn't even know we had played in football.
posted by msacheson at 02:41 PM on August 11, 2003
Q1. So msacheson (#7), how'd you get pulled into the SpoFi Pantheon? I was young and vulnerable. jacknose e-mailed me and the others in the Pantheon. He had been scouting us on MeFi whenever there were sports-related posts. What qualified you to get in? We're still trying to figure that out. I think it was my ability to pull in the yachting demographic.
posted by msacheson at 10:01 AM on August 11, 2003
This could beat Samsonov14's interview record for 56 comments before he answered the first question. Man! Tie. 56 before I showed up. see you in the morn'
posted by msacheson at 12:19 AM on August 11, 2003
Yes, hello. Um, jeez, I really didn't expect to win..just being nominated among my fellow SpoFiers was flattering enough..I really hadn't prepared anything. Well, I am chuffed to be able to do this interview. First, let me apologize for springing this interview on you two achesons. I haven't seen any SpoFi activity from you guys in the past couple of days, but am counting on you to be lurking around here somewhere. Yup, sprung it on us alright. It's amazing how little I come 'round sometimes. In the back of my mind recently I wondered if you would make good on your hints, innuendos and threats of a few weeks ago. Lo and behold, you were all waiting for me. And my lovely wife. But she's hit the sack already tonight, and I'm about to join her. Is it okay if we jump into this monday morning? I promise active answers to your questions, which I'm sure you've researched heavily over the last couple days. goodnight.
posted by msacheson at 12:17 AM on August 11, 2003
wc2002, fancy finding you here. [cue thunder clap] re: interview with the achesons, Keep up this girly talk about TV, and she'll be interested. What is this, MetaFilter? Just kidding folks, I watch the tube. You shoulda seen Ben Curtis, Mr. Deer in Headlights, on Letterman last night. (Letterman doesn't do sports interviews too well, and Curtis just moved from mid-Ohio obscurity to Times Square spotlight). After a couple dorky questions about when he thought he would win, did he feel pressure on his last putt, Letterman asked if it's intimidating to see Tiger Woods on the same leaderboard and just think you can't beat him? Curtis replied, and I quoth, "Yeah, he's got a certain aroma to him that seems unbeatable." Did he say Tiger stinks?
posted by msacheson at 06:03 PM on July 25, 2003
wc2002, this is the pantheon. Residuals begin at 500 comments. Keep it up, and you'll be there soon. Just channel some Charlie Rose or James Lipton and the questions will flow. One more thing: And from now on, stop playing with yourself! (sorry, don't know why Real Genius came into my head there)
posted by msacheson at 06:04 PM on July 21, 2003
As of this writing, we have 13 teams. I am registered as "potvin_s*cks". (Props to the first poster who can correctly identify my team affiliation...shouldn't be too hard) I don't see any details in the 'league overview' about the draft, rules, what stats count for what, etc. (Am I not seeing something?) All I have to go on for that is the scuttlebutt from this thread. I agree with autodraft and the stats as proposed above by grum and corpse (G, A, +/-, wins, shutouts, saves). Let's lace 'em up!
posted by msacheson at 06:46 PM on September 27, 2002
I think I'll join...but I don't have time today to check out the links and info.
posted by msacheson at 06:34 PM on September 23, 2002
If you haven't already, and you like soccer, you should see this.
JJ, squealy, thanks for the info! So, as a one-time shot, should I go for lower prices and power profile of QPR or pay a broker/scalper what I might have to for the Chelsea match? Which would you suggest?