February 11, 2010

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.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 23 comments

Yesterday's second attempt at staging an initial race in the America's Cup was called off due to prevailing conditions. The water was a bit too rough.

If the wind speed is greater than 15 knots and/or the seas are greater than 3 feet, the race is called off.

The decision to call off a race is made by the insurance companies. Seriously. No further comment necessary.

I'm already tired of the fragile, twiggy starcraft and they haven't even matched up yet.

I say build some sturdy monohulls with a bit o' beam to 'em, and let's go back to Fremantle and tap the lager.

posted by beaverboard at 07:18 AM on February 11, 2010

I'm sure the good folk of Freo would agree with you.

Although the tech head in me is fascinated by these machines. Disclosure: Used to race a Hobie 16.

posted by owlhouse at 07:55 AM on February 11, 2010

Twenty years ago, the world was shocked by the greatest upset in pro sports history.

posted by grum@work at 09:00 AM on February 11, 2010

Twenty years ago, the world was shocked by the greatest upset in pro sports history.

You had to bring it up, didn't ya, grum? I still nearly shed a tear when I watch that clip. I remember how utterly stunned I was when I watched it the first time. Twenty-years-and-a-day ago ... who would've predicted the extent of his fall from that glory?

posted by Spitztengle at 11:20 AM on February 11, 2010

The majority stake in the St. Louis Rams will be sold to an Illinois businessman named Shahid Khan.

This comes after Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy a stake in the team was summarily rebuffed.

I'm sure Limbaugh is going to remain entirely silent on the matter. No talk of NFL takeover by the Taliban or anything.

posted by beaverboard at 11:37 AM on February 11, 2010

Oh well. Ignore my post about this. Your comment is much more interesting, beaverboard.

posted by yzelda4045 at 11:44 AM on February 11, 2010

Twenty years? Jesus. *old*

posted by JJ at 11:59 AM on February 11, 2010

That was the first time Tyson was knocked down in his career. Douglas was such an underdog that the Mirage Casino was the only casino to make odds on the fight and put him as a 42 to 1 underdog.

posted by rcade at 12:12 PM on February 11, 2010

Ooh, ooh, time to make you guys feel old. I wasn't yet alive when that happened. That was a month before I was born.

posted by boredom_08 at 12:13 PM on February 11, 2010

Landon Donovan broke Ashley Cole's ankle in yesterday's game? Guess LD is tough enough for the Premiership after all!

posted by billsaysthis at 01:18 PM on February 11, 2010

Amusingly, Ashley's injury pushes Wayne Bridge back to the fore for a role alongside John Terry if he can get fit.

Not the first time those two have ploughed the same field. etc.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:56 PM on February 11, 2010

I wasn't yet alive when that happened. That was a month before I was born.

Children are meant to be seen and not heard.

posted by rcade at 02:13 PM on February 11, 2010

I wasn't yet alive when that happened. That was a month before I was born.

Children are meant to be seen and not heard.

Did someone say something rcade?

posted by BornIcon at 02:24 PM on February 11, 2010

Thirty athletes barred from Vancouver Olympics according to WADA.

The part of this that I find potentially troubling is the assertion that 30 athletes now versus the more than 70 DQd in the lead-up to Beijing is a clear indicator that anti-doping measures are working.

Off hand, does anyone know the differences in the number of competitors between the Summer (Beijing) and the Winter (Vancouver) Olympics?

Also interesting to note from end of article: countries like Italy imposing fines for drug-cheats. 100,000 Euros if you're busted. Yikes! Now that's an anti-doping measure that might just work, no?

posted by Spitztengle at 05:24 PM on February 11, 2010

Off hand, does anyone know the differences in the number of competitors between the Summer (Beijing) and the Winter (Vancouver) Olympics?

The numbers for Beijing (2008) and Turin (2006) are 11,196 (4,746 women) and 2,508 (960 women) respectively.

posted by tommybiden at 06:28 PM on February 11, 2010

The numbers for Beijing (2008) and Turin (2006) are 11,196 (4,746 women) and 2,508 (960 women) respectively.

Which is what? About 41/2 to 1? Wouldn't logic then hold that if only 15 or less athletes were barred prior to these Games then we could reasonably say that anti-doping measures might be working? The number 30, to me, suggests that the anti-doping measures aren't working at all. Not that I actually expect them to though. I'm just stymied by the logic that says these numbers show they are.

posted by Spitztengle at 08:00 PM on February 11, 2010

Mansfield Town lets supporters pay what they want. Gates increase.

I'd like to see a club introduce a system where you pay what you think the game was worth, but on the way out.

Like busking.

posted by owlhouse at 08:05 PM on February 11, 2010

If not Wayne, then who?

Oooooooh ... I can hardly take it anymore ... who's it gonna be?

Honestly, I think that they've been able to keep it a secret is pretty amazing in this day and age. I know I'll be tuned in to the ceremonies. Not just for this, but it sure adds one more layer to the mystique around this ceremony.

Are there odds on this? Rick Hansen? A collective? Ooooooooh

Obviously, talking about who's gonna light the official flame at the opening ceremonies

posted by Spitztengle at 12:59 AM on February 12, 2010

I'd like to see them light a puck on fire, and Gretzky flips it into the cauldron to light the official flame.

Or, you know, Betty Fox runs up to where the cauldron/flame is lit, while an image Terry Fox runs beside her, projected onto a plexiglass wall so everyone sees it (like a poor man's hologram).

posted by grum@work at 01:23 AM on February 12, 2010

Or someone rides in on a moose, carrying a packet of flaming Tim Bits, while the theme from Hockey Night in Canada booms out in Punjabi.

posted by owlhouse at 02:09 AM on February 12, 2010

Bob and Doug McKenzie?

posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:24 AM on February 12, 2010

Marc Emery.

Sorry, he's going to use the lit cauldron as a spark.

posted by tommybiden at 08:30 AM on February 12, 2010

C'mon. It's got to be the ever-popular Don Cherry! All he has to do is get near enough to flammable material with one of his jackets.

posted by Howard_T at 03:11 PM on February 12, 2010

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