04/25/24
November 12, 2011
SportsFilter: The Saturday 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.
After making all kind of sci-fi claims about being able to manage the heat for World Cup 2022, Qatar continue to backpedal. Now, Qatar urged to scrap air conditioning in stadium by the very architect who "proved" they could keep spectators at 79 degrees and that, well 86 is okay too.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2011
Xabi Alonso: 'Spain benefited from players going to England'. Nice interview in the Guardian.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:07 PM on November 12, 2011
Television companies need to come to the realisation that ex/current pros in the sport they're presenting are often terrible commentators.
The Pacquiao-Marquez fight was painful because Marquez got robbed, but oh god Amir Khan. He must have said "styles make fights" eight-to-ten times, repeated his co-commentator's sentences again and again, sometimes repeated his own sentences back-to-back like he was agreeing with someone else and added absolutely nothing of value.
At least Amir made the verdict only the second worst thing about tonight.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:55 AM on November 13, 2011
Meanwhile, UFC on Fox : Seemingly endless hours of buildup followed by a fight that lasted 64 seconds.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:09 AM on November 13, 2011
Trying to take my mind off of the Penn State - Nebraska game for a moment, I don't know how far back today's TCU - Boise State game was scheduled, but I'm glad they did it.
These two programs have been mentioned in the same breath a lot over the last few years. They have become linked by association as well as through competition, and I think many people want to see them continue to play each other.
Good on them for not shying away from meeting again and for working to develop an ongoing high level rivalry that captures national interest. (Even though the current TCU squad has hit a bit of a lull).
Part of the allure is that neither Coach Patterson nor Coach Petersen has thus far left their respective school for greener, more lucrative pastures.
Another part of the allure is that very few of the national big boys want to play either of these two schools on a non-conference basis. At least not on the road.