04/24/24
September 10, 2009
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
The BBC are currently streaming video of the Women's European Nations Cup final between England and Germany live on their site, if you are from the UK, or can convince Auntie Beeb that you are.
The game just reached halftime.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:46 PM on September 10, 2009
For the sake of balanced coverage, there's also Brahm Resnik's Twitter feed.
This is mess is ten times uglier than with Nashville. I'd hate to see what happens in Atlanta/Tampa Bay/somewhwere else if Balsillie loses this battle.
posted by MrFrisby at 12:55 PM on September 10, 2009
In the US Open, Melanie Oudin lost in the quarters to Caroline Wozniacki, 6-2, 6-2 -- a match more interesting than the score would indicate, being a high-round matchup between a couple of rapidly emerging talents. Both were fun to watch in different ways: Oudin's game needs to mature some, she's got a bad tendency to stand up towards the end of a point and shank one into the net, and she's jussst this side of being a junk-baller...but she's got a nice slice forehand and backhand, which makes for a pretty versatile game. Wozniacki is a very smart player, seemingly not all that powerful and maybe even a bit of a bang-board, but it's hard not to like a player who's that smart. With the two of them playing, the points are just more interesting than with two power players whaling away from the baseline. My prediction: Wozniacki and Williams in the final, and won't that be an interesting matchup.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:28 PM on September 10, 2009
lbb, did you feel like Oudin's performance was a result of her being tired? That was the first time I'd seen her play and she seemed to be hitting a lot of shots into the net. And she either couldn't or wouldn't go after Wozniacki's backhand. Then again, Wozniacki looked tough.
posted by yerfatma at 03:56 PM on September 10, 2009
posted by Spitztengle at 03:59 PM on September 10, 2009
I'm not going to have time to finish up The Hoser's Picks before tonight, so here's the Thursday game -- the rest will go up tomorrow.
Tennessee (+5.5) at PITTSBURGH (35) The Titans have cursed themselves in our eyes by cutting punter A.J. Trepasso. You have a guy who a) scores on a fake punt the first time he touches the ball in a game and b) causes Jerry Jones grief by banging a punt off Telemanjaro and you let him go? Shame shame. Steelers 20, Titans 13.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:40 PM on September 10, 2009
lbb, did you feel like Oudin's performance was a result of her being tired? That was the first time I'd seen her play and she seemed to be hitting a lot of shots into the net.
Could be; I didn't see her three earlier matches in this tournament, and I know they were very physically demanding. The standing-up-at-the-end thing could be fatigue, or it could be impatience -- if you're used to a power game, you're not used to long points. A player like Wozniacki is exactly the type to frustrate the hell out of a strong young player (not that she's not pretty young herself). Either way, it's something Oudin has to learn: what to do when you're playing a defensive player who makes very few mistakes (and you're maybe a bit tired). She's a lot more than just a simple, one-dimensional power player, so I predict she'll get by it without too much difficulty. I think we're going to be seeing a lot more of both of them, and I hope we do have a Wozniacki-Williams final: see what Wozniacki does when she comes up against a player who is extremely strong and has a ton of court smarts and experience.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:44 PM on September 10, 2009
Hoser's back!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:45 PM on September 10, 2009
I'm with the Hoser 's pick tonight for the specific reason of cutting Trepasso. Karma, dude. Kar-ma.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:00 PM on September 10, 2009
I like how the judge in the Coyotes case told both sides today that there is a more than theoretical third alternative: he can select neither of them. Now that decision would have implications.
posted by billsaysthis at 08:20 PM on September 10, 2009
A couple of entertaining football games tonight. Tennessee/Pittsburgh on NBC and Clemson/Georgia Tech on ESPN. Watch 'em.
posted by NoMich at 10:13 PM on September 10, 2009
Quiet day today.
For anyone following the whole NHL/Phoenix thing, Kevin McGran's Twitter feed is invaluable.