11/23/24
June 04, 2010
SportsFilter: The Friday 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.
Cancellara still denying he has an engine in his bike reveals the new 2010 model he will be riding.
posted by JJ at 10:34 AM on June 04, 2010
A number of World Cup injuries already as teams start their training sessions.
The US Jozy Altidore has a scan on his knee with a decision about whether to keep or replace him to follow, while England lose Captain Rio Ferdinand and probably call up Spur Michael Dawson, (who had a better season than Rio), as a replacement.
Clodhopper Emile Heskey busted Ferdinand's knee, so that's nice.
Meanwhile Didier Drogba, a guy I was really looking forward to seeing in action in an African World Cup, fractured his elbow in a friendly with Japan and may miss the tournament too.
Oh, and in non-World Cup news, Rafa Benitez is free to investigate new opportunities now, as he's left Liverpool "by mutual consent."
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:57 AM on June 04, 2010
Meanwhile Didier Drogba, a guy I was really looking forward to seeing in action in an African World Cup, fractured his elbow in a friendly with Japan and may miss the tournament too.
FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUU
posted by grum@work at 11:41 AM on June 04, 2010
Clodhopper Emile Heskey busted Ferdinand's knee, so that's nice.
Had to be. Next up, he'll break Rooney's leg.
posted by etagloh at 01:38 PM on June 04, 2010
A load of balls. (With a fun fact about the 1930 final.)
posted by etagloh at 01:41 PM on June 04, 2010
Jeff Passan takes a place high upon his horse with his head firmly up his ass. I personally find him to be overly sanctimonious and this article is a perfect example of why. Just because he feels that replay is need (as an overreaction to recent events) he uses it as an opportunity to be condescending to people to disagree with him. Shocking.
posted by Demophon at 02:08 PM on June 04, 2010
The 1970 model from Mexico City has always been the default model (in my mind) of what a soccer ball is supposed to look like.
posted by grum@work at 03:42 PM on June 04, 2010
I'll bet that if the implemented the replay option in baseball that followed the guidelines laid out by Passan, he'd be the FIRST one to complain two years down the line that it was killing the sport of baseball.
If we have to wait 2 minutes for every bang-bang play, diving catch, hit-by-pitch, catcher interference, and other minor even that happens, it will drag the sport even closer to the 4 hour mark.
As king of baseball, my replay rule is simple:
- any play where a reversal of the call would directly change the score of the game.
That's home runs (fair/foul, over the wall or not), tag plays at home (tagged or not, touched home plate or didn't), and tagging up from third on a fly ball (left early or didn't).
That's it. Everything else is left to the umpires.
posted by grum@work at 03:53 PM on June 04, 2010
With Danny Ferry now gone as general manager and the coach having previously been canned, do the Cavaliers just offer all three jobs to LeBron now? Heck, why not just make him owner, too?
posted by graymatters at 04:33 PM on June 04, 2010
The 1970 model from Mexico City has always been the default model (in my mind) of what a soccer ball is supposed to look like.
Compared to some of those newer sharp-looking ones, it never ceases to amaze me that this kind of ball still plays.
posted by Spitztengle at 04:53 PM on June 04, 2010
As king of baseball, my replay rule is simple:
- any play where a reversal of the call would directly change the score of the game.
That's home runs (fair/foul, over the wall or not), tag plays at home (tagged or not, touched home plate or didn't), and tagging up from third on a fly ball (left early or didn't).
That's the challenge with baseball though, innit?
Let's imagine this scenario.
The Royals are up by 3 over the Yankees at Yankee stadium (it could happen). Two outs, bottom of the ninth, nobody on base. A Yankee hits a little grounder to the Royals' short stop. He fields it and easily throws out the runner at first.
Wait, though! The umpire calls him safe! Yikes!
This hasn't directly effected the score of the game under your rule.
Next two batters load up the bases and A-Rod comes up and hits a walk off. Yankees win by 1!
Even though the poorly called single didn't effect the score of the game at the time, had the Yankee been properly called out at first base, the game would have been over.
Let's put the same situation in the fourth inning. Blown call to first base with two outs, which leads to loading the bases and a walk off by A-Rod. The rest of the game goes scoreless.
The blown call still ultimately changed the score of the game.
I recognize that you use the word "directly" to clarify the rule, since my example could be considered "indirect." I would argue that, at least in my bottom of the ninth example, there was a direct correlation between the blown call and the final score.
That's kind of the beauty of baseball.
I'd be much more in favor of something more akin to the NFL rules regarding number of challenges per game. I recognize that this could slow the game down a little bit, but I also think that most baseball fans don't watch it for the speed of play. I could be wrong.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:12 PM on June 04, 2010
I would think 1 or 2 challenges per game per team would be more than enough.
Two minute time limit to view replay. If you lose your first challenge, that's it for the game.
Excellent examples Joey, I like the concept of being able to appeal non-scoring, or indirect calls.
posted by tommybiden at 05:22 PM on June 04, 2010
I'd also like to mention that if you remove the blown call from my example and replace it with a legitimate single, my example realistically describes 75% of all Royals games - even the ones the Yankees aren't involved in.
posted by Joey Michaels at 06:34 PM on June 04, 2010
The 1970 model from Mexico City has always been the default model (in my mind) of what a soccer ball is supposed to look like.
Absolutely, with the exception that if players are in black and white, the ball should look like the 1966 model: brown, leather, rectangular panels, gives you concussion when you head it. In the 80s, you'd still find the odd "casey" being used on the street.
(Spitztengle's link is really worth a look.)
posted by etagloh at 08:35 PM on June 04, 2010
brown, leather, rectangular panels, gives you concussion when you head it
Don't forget the shoelaces. Head that kind of ball in the wrong place and you'll have a perfect reproduction of how the coach laced the ball up on your forehead.
posted by owlhouse at 08:38 PM on June 04, 2010
Let's imagine this scenario.
I would argue that, at least in my bottom of the ninth example, there was a direct correlation between the blown call and the final score.
No there wasn't. You can't predict the future, so you don't get the option to declare that play as even remotely affecting the score.
The replay has to be made at that time, and according to the rules from King Grum, it didn't affect the score.
Otherwise, every single play in the game would "indirectly" affect the score.
A ground out in the 1st inning called safe means that the pitcher now has to throw more pitches, which means the less-effective reliever has to come in earlier in the game, which means blah blah blah.
Nope. "Directly" means on that play.
Such is my regal proclamation!
posted by grum@work at 09:08 PM on June 04, 2010
My favorite honkey!
posted by tahoemoj at 10:51 PM on June 04, 2010
(Spitztengle's link is really worth a look.)
Not that impressive. The kid has worked for Nike for 6 years already.
posted by tselson at 10:51 PM on June 04, 2010
Would the final out of the game be reviewable? It has a direct outcome on the score of the game.
posted by apoch at 11:00 PM on June 04, 2010
Not according to King Grum's proclamation. And I will now stand firmly in his corner as a loyal subject.
Grum, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that two stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Grum... so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!
posted by Joey Michaels at 04:15 AM on June 05, 2010
I suppose "grum" could be a variation of Crom. And Canada is a cold and harsh land.
posted by yerfatma at 10:37 AM on June 05, 2010
Apparently John Wooden is not long for this world.