04/19/24
July 02, 2012
SportsFilter: The Monday 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.
A troll indeed, and a well-reasoned response. Said troll wouldn't have a career without cranking out that sort of copy. It's his stock in trade.
Living in the land o'sirloin, I just hope he keeps eating big meals.
posted by beaverboard at 11:19 AM on July 02, 2012
posted by scully at 12:03 PM on July 02, 2012
Euro 2012 Fantasy League final standings - spoiler alert: I finished second by the proverbial nose.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:09 PM on July 02, 2012
an Internet troll
Before ever clicking the link, I knew that the troll's name would be Whitlock.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:05 PM on July 02, 2012
Whitlock's Twitter account includes the most comically self-aggrandizing bio in the sports world.
posted by rcade at 02:15 PM on July 02, 2012
Tarmoh concedes instead of participating in a run-off against Felix.
posted by bperk at 04:59 PM on July 02, 2012
Jack McCallum responds to an Internet troll about the Dream Team selection process being "racist".
From McCallum's article:
And while I'm sure that Jason has done a better job of uncovering racism than I have, I give myself a decent grade on that score.
Um, I wouldn't put money on that one.
posted by bperk at 05:06 PM on July 02, 2012
There has been some Twitter/Internet kerfuffle about Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke attending the Toronto Gay Pride Parade yesterday -- which was also the opening of NHL free agency. Burke's son, who was gay, was killed in a car accident several years ago.
I'm not sure how I feel about Burke's decision. I definitely support him in his wish to bring gay rights issues to the forefront in honour of his son, but I also understand why Leaf fans would not be thrilled with the GM and seeing it as not putting the team first.
The immediate rush from media members in Toronto (on Twitter, at least) was to brand anyone questioning the decision as homophobic, and several people told me no one would have said a word if Burke was at a Shoot For The Cure event. However, most of the tweets I read didn't mention the actual event -- just disappointment that Burke was not in the office on the biggest day of the year for NHL GMs.
Personally, I'm fine with Burke going. The Leafs have put together a big and capable front-office staff, and it's not like the guy didn't have a cell phone. Optically, though, I get the frustration boiling over, especially when the day netted Toronto a whopping Jay McClement.
Thoughts?
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:34 PM on July 02, 2012
Who else was signed yesterday that the Leafs "missed out on", and might have been in Toronto's wish list?
I'm looking at the names, and there aren't any quality players that the Leafs might have signed.
If anything, him being at the parade might have saved Leaf fans from Toronto resigning Colby Armstrong...
The only reason there is a "free agency frenzy" according to the media is because they are the ones that create that "frenzy" with 2-4 hours of uninterrupted coverage yesterday.
More blah blah blah to get the page hits.
posted by grum@work at 05:57 PM on July 02, 2012
Atlanta trades giant contract to Brooklyn for Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson and a pick. Brooklyn gets the contract and Joe Johnson. Dwight Howard gets left out in the cold.
posted by yerfatma at 06:03 PM on July 02, 2012
"Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson"
As someone whose entire knowledge of basketball comes from playing NBA2k11, that list looks a lot like those mystery bags Woot will send you for nine dollars.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:16 PM on July 02, 2012
There's some talent there, but only if you were starting a franchise. I assume the Hawks will have to cut half of them. Then again, they would have traded Johnson and his albatross for nothing if league rules allowed.
posted by yerfatma at 09:11 PM on July 02, 2012
The point was to free up cap space for Atlanta since JJ was never worth max salary money.
posted by jmd82 at 10:21 PM on July 02, 2012
Okay, Leaf fans need to get a grip. This is Brian Burke we're talking about; if he was going to sign a FA today he would have nailed down the details long before today. Whether you like his talent evaluation or not he is skilled and experienced in the mechanics of being an NHL GM. These are probably the same fans who whined that he didn't nab the Sedins before they re-upped for the Canucks and complain that Rick Nash wants to be a Leaf so just get him, alright?
posted by deflated at 11:22 PM on July 02, 2012
I can't tell you how much respect I have for the collective priorities of Toronto fans. The fact that the outrage comes from Burke's potentially missing free agents rather than from the reason he was indisposed shows that priorities (above all else-hockey!) are right where they should be.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:01 PM on July 03, 2012
This is Brian Burke we're talking about ...
Leaf fans should be happy that Burke wasn't involved in any dealings. Another one of those Kessel type deals would pretty much ensure they wouldn't make the playoffs this decade.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:20 PM on July 03, 2012
Patrick Burke on You Can Play's Progress, Pride Toronto, and Criticism of his Dad
posted by tommybiden at 05:42 PM on July 11, 2012
Jack McCallum responds to an Internet troll about the Dream Team selection process being "racist".