04/26/24
July 26, 2012
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.
That is ridiculous, and I have a hard time believing it happened by accident.
posted by bender at 09:21 AM on July 26, 2012
Blame the Scots.
They've got this North of the Border issue, too.
posted by owlhouse at 09:24 AM on July 26, 2012
An interesting little meditation from Bill Simmons on how fantasy football has affected our memories of players (specifically, the recently retired LaDainian Tomlinson).
posted by Etrigan at 09:52 AM on July 26, 2012
Why the Carolina Panthers will win Super Bowl XLVII.
Ryan Kalil's teammates and head coach love it.
posted by NoMich at 10:03 AM on July 26, 2012
Finding it hard to get excited about the Olympics? Feel like the broadcasters aren't giving you enough back-story or form guides to the sports you want to watch but haven't seen for 3 years and 51 weeks? You need the Olympics Prospectus. Seriously, you really need it.
posted by JJ at 11:49 AM on July 26, 2012
Well damn, that's pretty handy.
posted by NoMich at 12:26 PM on July 26, 2012
So far, the three stories I've heard from the Olympics (I'll admit, I'm not excited or following it this year as I usually do) are anti-color racism scandal, sexism in Japanese womens soccer players not being flown in the same class as the men and someone upsetting the North Koreans.
My card is filling up; I'm a double false start on a front-runner on the track away from BINGO on the "world's greatest hits" game.
posted by dfleming at 01:20 PM on July 26, 2012
You don't get double false starts any more, I believe. One false start and you're out.
Although I think they also modified the rules recently so you don't get called for a false start for having a twitch in the blocks.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:46 PM on July 26, 2012
I should still see a doctor about it though, yeah?
posted by yerfatma at 01:52 PM on July 26, 2012
Mr Bismarck is right -- it's now only a false start if your hands leave the track or your feet leave the blocks.
posted by Etrigan at 02:01 PM on July 26, 2012
Really underwhelmed by these special channels NBC/ Comcast have provided. The graphics packages look incredibly dated and, more importantly, they don't show everything: Brazil and Egypt just kicked off, but the Olympic Soccer channel is showing a holding graphic. Meanwhile I can see the game on Telemundo. Probably better commentary too.
posted by yerfatma at 02:46 PM on July 26, 2012
Bob Kraft's acting skills didn't land Ricki Lander a job
posted by tommybiden at 03:00 PM on July 26, 2012
I'm not sure they needed to paint the lines on Brazil's side of the field. Or bring their goalie.
posted by yerfatma at 03:20 PM on July 26, 2012
The Hurricanes sign Alexander Semin to a one year, $7 million contract.
posted by NoMich at 03:29 PM on July 26, 2012
How the owners of the Marlins conned Miami.
posted by insomnyuk at 03:37 PM on July 26, 2012
The graphics packages look incredibly dated and, more importantly, they don't show everything
The graphics for live stuff is mostly out of their control -- it's the OBS feed, which is designed to be pretty minimalist. NBC will have their own camera crews for other events that appear on the main network -- wait for the swimming to start -- and will add their own treatment to the graphics.
(I had the technical stuff explained to me by someone who's in London right now with the NBC crew to do real-time video editing. It's incredibly complicated.)
The not-quite-live scheduling -- and the breaks at 22 minutes during the half for some matches -- are very annoying. And on the iPad app, I can't believe that they don't have the ESPN3 thing of showing more than one stream simultaneously.
Oh, and the opening ceremony tomorrow? Tape-delayed for Americans. Because it's not like there's Twitter and Facebook and the web to spoil things during those five hours.
posted by etagloh at 03:43 PM on July 26, 2012
The England men hadn't scored an Olympics soccer goal in 52 years?
posted by rcade at 03:49 PM on July 26, 2012
We haven't played Olympic Soccer in 52 years. I think the last one we tried to qualify for was 1974.
The Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Football Associations believe, (perhaps with some reason), that it will reflect poorly on their independence with FIFA if they participate in a Great British team and they might end up losing their position with the international FA's.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:02 PM on July 26, 2012
The England men still have not scored in a goal in 52 years, seeing as how the goal was scored by a Welshman and the team is GB.
posted by holden at 04:32 PM on July 26, 2012
The Hurricanes sign Alexander Semin to a one year, $7 million contract.
$7 million is a lot for Semin, but it's not like they went ahead and shot their load for the next several years, thus potentially putting themselves in the proverbial salary cap hell for years to come with a lot of salary tied up in a player not worth it. Seems okay for a one-year deal -- high upside, lowish risk. Spunky offseason thus far for the 'Canes.
posted by holden at 04:42 PM on July 26, 2012
The Hurricanes were quite a bit under the salary floor, so they had to throw a shit ton of money at someone. And boy howdy, they did. This deals makes me pretty happy. He's a gamble but what the hell, it's only for a year. If it doesn't work out, trade him at the deadline. Someone will take him.
posted by NoMich at 04:44 PM on July 26, 2012
FIFA issued a statement saying that the participation of a British team wouldn't compromise the independence of the national FAs, but only because they're the host nation and get a guaranteed place. Even that wasn't enough to make the Scots, Welsh and NI FAs comfortable. It's a one-off thing.
posted by etagloh at 05:08 PM on July 26, 2012
I thought the Welsh FA was comfortable with it (at least comfortable enough to send players), while the Scottish and NI FAs were not.
posted by holden at 05:21 PM on July 26, 2012
The graphics for live stuff is mostly out of their control -- it's the OBS feed
Ah, thanks so much. Obviously that comment of mine was just an incisive as my Brazil/ Egypt analysis. I'm worried Brazil took it to heart in the second half.
posted by yerfatma at 05:32 PM on July 26, 2012
All of a sudden, I don't give a shit about Tim Thomas not playing for the Bruins.
posted by yerfatma at 05:35 PM on July 26, 2012
Look, everybody! I'm skating on the wrong side of history!
posted by rcade at 07:44 PM on July 26, 2012
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:57 PM on July 26, 2012
I thought the Welsh FA was comfortable with it (at least comfortable enough to send players)
Not according to Aaron Ramsey. [there's a video at the link that autostarts, apologies.]
posted by etagloh at 07:58 PM on July 26, 2012
From Religion Dispatches for the Tim Thomas discussion:
...unless he really thinks Cathy was talking about his company's support for polygamy, wives as war trophies, and other biblical notions of marriage...
posted by NoMich at 08:29 PM on July 26, 2012
My immediate thoughts, too, NoMich. You can have a lot of fun with "Biblical".
posted by owlhouse at 08:58 PM on July 26, 2012
Where do I sign for the war trophies thing? Hey, it's in the Bible, sinner! Do not question me!
posted by NoMich at 09:00 PM on July 26, 2012
"Bookmaker William Hill is offering odds of 33-1 on the mayor accidentally setting his hair on fire with the Olympic flame."
Those are very favourable odds considering who holds that office right now.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:32 PM on July 26, 2012
If they're worried about setting things on fire, they could always send the torch on another boat ride.
Do over! Do over!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:57 PM on July 26, 2012
Look, everybody! I'm skating on the wrong side of history!
But he's clearly having such fun doing it, wouldn't you say? I find Chick-Fil-A's position abhorrent, have for years (it's not a new thing), but for some reason this Thomas thing is making me giggle. It's sort of like J. Random Person walking up to you and saying, "You know what? I really can't support your hairstyle." WHO ASKED YA, YA MAROON???
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:00 PM on July 26, 2012
So there's another one of these.
April Ross remains the best in all of the videos thus far.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:10 PM on July 26, 2012
Jen Kessy available to serve as blonde stunt double for the Duchess of Cambridge if the need arises.
Composure and dignified comportment available for a modest additional upcharge.
posted by beaverboard at 08:50 AM on July 27, 2012
Jen Kessy available to serve as blonde stunt double for the Duchess of Cambridge if the need arises.
Wow. She really does look like her.
posted by grum@work at 11:56 AM on July 27, 2012
Looks like we've cocked up the Olympics before they've even begun. Wrong flag displayed at North Korea's opening match in the womens football.