04/20/24
June 29, 2012
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.
CPU v CPU predicted yesterday's score and leading scorer.
posted by yerfatma at 11:49 AM on June 29, 2012
What are those blue strips of tape on Balotelli's back when he took off his shirt?
I've seen a couple of players using them on their shoulder/back/legs.
Is it like a cooling strip (the opposite of those heating strips you can get)?
Does it provide some sort of muscle stability?
posted by grum@work at 12:14 PM on June 29, 2012
It's for muscle support.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:17 PM on June 29, 2012
A Guardian football daily listener suggests you can put the word "chicken" in front of the surname of any Italian player and it sounds like a meal.
Chicken de Rossi
Chicken Cassano
Chicken Chiellini
Chicken Balzaretti
etc.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:27 PM on June 29, 2012
I think they probably got it from this reddit thread which has some good gags for other countries as well.
posted by yerfatma at 01:17 PM on June 29, 2012
Before the final cuts were made to the Italian roster, chicken fanciers were also able to order an Insalata Ranocchia on the side.
posted by beaverboard at 02:57 PM on June 29, 2012
Turning to other nutritional sports stories, at this time, the top competitors are quietly preparing for next week's Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest, which is sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating.
Entrants will be competing for the bejeweled Coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt, worn only by the International Champion, which is "of unknown age and value, and is unveiled only at the annual contest".
posted by beaverboard at 03:00 PM on June 29, 2012
Rather unfortunate timing of commentary and video during a Wimbledon Ladies' Doubles match today. The ladies were seated during a break and the camera location was low and directly to the front. One of the ladies was seated with her knees slightly parted, so you can imagine the scene. At that moment the analyst said something to the effect of "We have a really wonderful view from here". I spent the next several minutes alternately chuckling and just laughing out loud.
Maybe it's because I'm a dirty old man, but I'm really just old.
posted by Howard_T at 03:40 PM on June 29, 2012
Maybe it's because I'm a dirty old man
Given you were watching Ladies' Doubles, that goes without saying.
posted by yerfatma at 04:03 PM on June 29, 2012
Turning to other nutritional sports stories, at this time, the top competitors are quietly preparing for next week's Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest, which is sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating.
I highly recommend Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit, written by a journalist who embedded himself in the IFCE. There's a certain amount of boosterism for eating as a legitimate sport, but it's a fascinating look into a weird subculture.
posted by Etrigan at 05:36 PM on June 29, 2012
Nadal ousted by the 100th ranked player