http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_knievel RIP Evel Knievel. Every 35+ year old American raised more than 50 miles from our two ocean coasts mourns your passing.
To honor Robert Craig Knievel, you gotta listen to the drippy 1970s song.........http://weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com/evelknievel/files/evel.mp3
Friday, November 30, 2007
Coaching 8B Basketball
Oh, woe is me, coaching 8th grade girls hoops, blah, blah, blah (there, for those of you who want to skip, you just got a good summary of this entry).................................But I got a couple stories: 1) girl starts, literally, walking during a practice scrimmage "I am tired" I say, "well, I guess we need to run more to get you in shape" response, "Not tired as in out of breath, tired as in sleepy." Um, OK... 2) a girl had a birthday the other day so I asked her what she got -- "mostly cash" -- my reply "oh bring some of that to the tourney, I could use some cash." (straight face) "What? I am not giving you my birthday cash!" (um, hey, only kidding there...) "Did you get any non-cash items?" Yes, I got a tote bag for my makeup from (name of lingerie store); that's a place that you probably don't know anything about but it is a nice place. "Yeah, never heard of that." "I didn't think you would...".............................................................................................................So, summary -- I am a nerd whose sarcasm isn't apparent, and who doesn't know very basic things about national chain stores; and I have players who need a nap while playing hoops...........I am pumped up for this weekend's tourney like you can't believe!!
Quentin Richardson??? Why was he being quoted anyway?
Before the 104-59 throttling of the Knicks by the Celts, Q offered up his analysis:
“It’s not that big a deal to us,” Richardson said of facing the 11-2 Celtics. “It’s like the media makes more of The Big Three and all of them. We’re not in awe of them. They ain’t won no championships. They have a good record right now, but that don’t matter. Dallas showed that [last season].”
“They’re not that deep of a team,” Richardson said. “After those three, there’s a significant dropoff.”
Ask yourself this question -- why does Q even get to comment on anything? Here is a guy who is making about $8MM a year. Right now he is 160th out of 204 Eastern Conference players in Efficiency per 48 minutes. He is 179th out of 204 players in shooting percentage (30.4%) he is scorching the 3 at a rate of 9 makes per every 38 attempts (23.7%). Why even talk to the guy? I mean, doesn't the ball boy have something more worthwhile to say?
To indicate how poor these stats are, there are 15 Eastern Conference teams. If you simply divide 160 by 15, you can see that Q's per minute production would make him a good 11th man for an Eastern Conference team. And if you instead use 179 divided by 15, he is struggling to be the 12th best shooter on any Eastern Conference team.
“It’s not that big a deal to us,” Richardson said of facing the 11-2 Celtics. “It’s like the media makes more of The Big Three and all of them. We’re not in awe of them. They ain’t won no championships. They have a good record right now, but that don’t matter. Dallas showed that [last season].”
“They’re not that deep of a team,” Richardson said. “After those three, there’s a significant dropoff.”
Ask yourself this question -- why does Q even get to comment on anything? Here is a guy who is making about $8MM a year. Right now he is 160th out of 204 Eastern Conference players in Efficiency per 48 minutes. He is 179th out of 204 players in shooting percentage (30.4%) he is scorching the 3 at a rate of 9 makes per every 38 attempts (23.7%). Why even talk to the guy? I mean, doesn't the ball boy have something more worthwhile to say?
To indicate how poor these stats are, there are 15 Eastern Conference teams. If you simply divide 160 by 15, you can see that Q's per minute production would make him a good 11th man for an Eastern Conference team. And if you instead use 179 divided by 15, he is struggling to be the 12th best shooter on any Eastern Conference team.
Katie Holmes' Hair
Upon returning home she heard these words, "No. I said I wanted you to look like Bob!"
Smush Parker Puts Hurt On Car Parker
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/323758.html
Little Billy Parker, didn't your mother teach you not to beat up women?
Note to all Miami criminals: "This Smush carries less than $12 in cash at all times."
wikipedia reports that Smush drives an Escalade that he calls the "Smushcalade." Good Christ.
Smush is gonna make $2,000,000 this year. So............Smush's failure to pay $12 (even if he thinks it is already paid) is akin to me refusing to pay about 60 cents while checking out at a convenience store. ("No way am I paying for that pack of gum AGAIN! Hand it over wench!")
Nice job, Smush.
Little Billy Parker, didn't your mother teach you not to beat up women?
Note to all Miami criminals: "This Smush carries less than $12 in cash at all times."
wikipedia reports that Smush drives an Escalade that he calls the "Smushcalade." Good Christ.
Smush is gonna make $2,000,000 this year. So............Smush's failure to pay $12 (even if he thinks it is already paid) is akin to me refusing to pay about 60 cents while checking out at a convenience store. ("No way am I paying for that pack of gum AGAIN! Hand it over wench!")
Nice job, Smush.
Pink -- Dear Mr. President
This is a free video on my new Digital Cable, so I saw it for the first time last night. I am not sure why the song and video haven't received more notice.
On an objective note -- I never knew Pink could sing this well, particularly at a live stadium show.
On an objective note -- I never knew Pink could sing this well, particularly at a live stadium show.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Springsteen, August 14, 1985
A man at the height of his powers. The comments indicate it was 100 that night in Philly and Bruce's intro and exit indicate it was the end of a 3 1/2 or 4 hour show. I saw this tour in Buffalo and he did 3 hours 45 minutes at "The Aud." He seemed to grow stronger as the show went on.
Awesome -- and 22 years ago..............
Your lyrics as written:
Your Mama's yappin' in the back seat
Tell her to push over and move them big feet
Every Monday morning I gotta drive her down to the unemployment agency
Well this morning I ain't fighting tell her I give up
Tell her she wins if she'll just shut up
But it's the last time that she's gonna be riding with me
You can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talkin' she'll be walkin' that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you, and baby you've got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Now there's girls melting on the beach
And they're so fine but so out of reach
Cause I'm stuck in traffic down, here on 53rd Street
Now Sherry my love for you is real
But I didn't count on this package deal
And baby this car just ain't big enough for her and me
So you can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talkin' she'll be walkin' that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you, and baby you got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Well let there be sunlight, let there be rain
Let the brokenhearted love again
Sherry we can run with our arms open before the tide
To all the girls down at Sacred Heart
And all you operators back in the Park
Say hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Awesome -- and 22 years ago..............
Your lyrics as written:
Your Mama's yappin' in the back seat
Tell her to push over and move them big feet
Every Monday morning I gotta drive her down to the unemployment agency
Well this morning I ain't fighting tell her I give up
Tell her she wins if she'll just shut up
But it's the last time that she's gonna be riding with me
You can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talkin' she'll be walkin' that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you, and baby you've got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Now there's girls melting on the beach
And they're so fine but so out of reach
Cause I'm stuck in traffic down, here on 53rd Street
Now Sherry my love for you is real
But I didn't count on this package deal
And baby this car just ain't big enough for her and me
So you can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talkin' she'll be walkin' that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you, and baby you got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Well let there be sunlight, let there be rain
Let the brokenhearted love again
Sherry we can run with our arms open before the tide
To all the girls down at Sacred Heart
And all you operators back in the Park
Say hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darlin'
Sean Taylor -- Various
Michael Wilbon, of course, is taking some heat for saying Taylor's death is "not surprising" -- but I doubt Wilbon could honestly say anything else after his story on Taylor from 2005: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/05/AR2005060501277.html
While police claim that the murder was random, Taylor's friend Antrel Rolle thinks the exact opposite (source startribune.com):
While police are currently following the theory that Taylor's murder was random, his friend Antrel Rolle appears to think that Taylor was a target of bad folks from his checkered past (source startribune.com):
However, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle, a childhood friend of Taylor while growing up in Florida, said he did not believe the killing was part of a burglary gone sour, and that Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami.
Rolle said many former "friends" had it in for Taylor, who was trying to build a more stable life.
"I know he lived his life pretty much scared every day of his life when he was down in Miami because those people were targeting him," Rolle said. "At least, he's got peace now."
Taylor's girlfriend/baby-momma: Jackie Garcia, former Miami U. soccer player and niece of Ocean's 11-13 star Andy Garcia: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2007/11/28/m1a_Taylor_1128.html
Mom's name "Jackie" -- daughter's name..............Jackie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Taylor#_note-pbpost
While police claim that the murder was random, Taylor's friend Antrel Rolle thinks the exact opposite (source startribune.com):
While police are currently following the theory that Taylor's murder was random, his friend Antrel Rolle appears to think that Taylor was a target of bad folks from his checkered past (source startribune.com):
However, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle, a childhood friend of Taylor while growing up in Florida, said he did not believe the killing was part of a burglary gone sour, and that Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami.
Rolle said many former "friends" had it in for Taylor, who was trying to build a more stable life.
"I know he lived his life pretty much scared every day of his life when he was down in Miami because those people were targeting him," Rolle said. "At least, he's got peace now."
Taylor's girlfriend/baby-momma: Jackie Garcia, former Miami U. soccer player and niece of Ocean's 11-13 star Andy Garcia: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2007/11/28/m1a_Taylor_1128.html
Mom's name "Jackie" -- daughter's name..............Jackie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Taylor#_note-pbpost
Jordin Sparks -- Um, No
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/521/week-of-nov-19-2007-idol-schmidoljordin-not-setting-off-sparks
Not selling real well....
I heard "Tattoo" a month ago -- it basically could be any one-name-black-female-singer (Rhianna, Cierra, etc.) singing over a crappy backing track.
Sparks' appeal on American Idol was that she sang very heartfelt ballads with tremendous emotion. She is basically a young darker-skinned Celine Dion or LeeAnn Rhimes. Sadly, her record company seems to think that she can compete in the "I am young and hip" marketplace. Obviously she cannot.
Maybe if things get even worse she can do a Weird Al-like version of "Living On a Prayer"?
Not selling real well....
I heard "Tattoo" a month ago -- it basically could be any one-name-black-female-singer (Rhianna, Cierra, etc.) singing over a crappy backing track.
Sparks' appeal on American Idol was that she sang very heartfelt ballads with tremendous emotion. She is basically a young darker-skinned Celine Dion or LeeAnn Rhimes. Sadly, her record company seems to think that she can compete in the "I am young and hip" marketplace. Obviously she cannot.
Maybe if things get even worse she can do a Weird Al-like version of "Living On a Prayer"?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
LeBron -- Can He Keep Up Jordan's Pace of 1988-89?????
I really thought that I would never again see a season equal to MJ's 1988-89 campaign in which he put up the following numbers over the course of 82 games:
MJ -- 32.5 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3.7 steals+blocks. Those are frightening stats.
LeBron James through 15 games: 31.7 points, 8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 3.7 steals+blocks. http://aol.nba.com/playerfile/lebron_james/index.html?nav=page
To my knowledge, NO player since 1989 has come close to putting up Jordan-esque numbers. basketball-reference.com states that Kobe's 2002-03 season is most similar to Jordan's 1988-89 campaign. (The Devil going 30-7-6-3.0 that year, the 3.0 S+B being BY FAR his best ever defensive season).
LBJ would still have a long way to go to catch Oscar Robertson's 30-11-10 years, but if he were to stay even with Jordan, it would certainly be a historical achievement in old HM's book.
Good Luck to K
K's dad is in the hospital. I am sure he would appreciate a note of support either here or at www.k-line.blogspot.com
Best wishes, K!
Best wishes, K!
Monday, November 26, 2007
"Hulk -- Your Thoughts On Your Wife Divorcing You?"
http://television.aol.com/news/story/_a/hulk-hogans-wife-seeks-divorce/20071124071809990001
Nice of Linda to not even let him know what she is doing. You never know what it is like living with someone, but based solely upon "Hogan Knows Best," Hulk will be devastated for 6 months and then he will start thanking his lucky stars that he can "trade up" to a new wife.
HM
Nice of Linda to not even let him know what she is doing. You never know what it is like living with someone, but based solely upon "Hogan Knows Best," Hulk will be devastated for 6 months and then he will start thanking his lucky stars that he can "trade up" to a new wife.
HM
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Things I am Thankful For
1) My kids are all healthy and (I think) pretty happy with their lives.
2) I make enough money to get by and I don't worry that much about paying the next bill.
3) I have friends who share similar interests and who are there for me when I need help.
4) My wife is far better looking than I am, and she doesn't drive me insane.
5) My parents are still both alive and seem to be good for another 5 years (knock on wood).
6) If everything goes to hell, I have a rich sister I can mooch off.
7) Duke basketball looks like it is gonna be pretty good the next couple of years.
8) No one has sought an injunction preventing me from writing this Blog.
9) It is Thanksgiving, a chance to justify my overeating.
10) It is basketball season.
Happy Thanksgiving readers!
2) I make enough money to get by and I don't worry that much about paying the next bill.
3) I have friends who share similar interests and who are there for me when I need help.
4) My wife is far better looking than I am, and she doesn't drive me insane.
5) My parents are still both alive and seem to be good for another 5 years (knock on wood).
6) If everything goes to hell, I have a rich sister I can mooch off.
7) Duke basketball looks like it is gonna be pretty good the next couple of years.
8) No one has sought an injunction preventing me from writing this Blog.
9) It is Thanksgiving, a chance to justify my overeating.
10) It is basketball season.
Happy Thanksgiving readers!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Musical Interlude
As I prepare for trial..............
I used to own the album "VOA":
For those of you who think hip-hop Nelly Furtado is a new deal, welcome back to the 1980s and Samantha Fox:
I used to own the album "VOA":
For those of you who think hip-hop Nelly Furtado is a new deal, welcome back to the 1980s and Samantha Fox:
Michael Beasley -- Putting Up Sick Numbers
http://www.kstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3084&SPID=213&DB_OEM_ID=400&ATCLID=1322134
As a freshman, Beasley (or as I will now refer to him, "Future Timberwolves star Michael Beasley) has registered TWO 20-20 efforts for Kansas State.
nbadraft.net has Beasley going #1 to Minnesota. Their comparison NBA player? Carmelo Anthony. We will take it!
Now if we can just get Miami to finish just past the protected level of their pick, we might get TWO really good guys!
HM
As a freshman, Beasley (or as I will now refer to him, "Future Timberwolves star Michael Beasley) has registered TWO 20-20 efforts for Kansas State.
nbadraft.net has Beasley going #1 to Minnesota. Their comparison NBA player? Carmelo Anthony. We will take it!
Now if we can just get Miami to finish just past the protected level of their pick, we might get TWO really good guys!
HM
Dwight Howard v. Kevin Garnett
Since Dwight beat KG the other night, I thought it might be worthwhile to compare their current stats:
Scoring -- advantage Howard by 2
Rebounding -- Howard by 1
Assists -- Garnett by 2 1/2
Shooting percentage -- virtual tie
Steals -- Garnett by almost 2
Blocks -- Howard by 1
Turnover -- Howard has more
Assist-TO and Steal-TO -- Kg's numbers much better
Efficiency -- Garnett 31+ to 28+
Efficiency per 48 -- Garnett 39.5 to 35.8
So, tie or a slight edge to KG. But of course the Ticket is 10 years older than Howard, so this may be the year that their seasonal numbers cross and Howard stays ahead from here on out.
HM
Scoring -- advantage Howard by 2
Rebounding -- Howard by 1
Assists -- Garnett by 2 1/2
Shooting percentage -- virtual tie
Steals -- Garnett by almost 2
Blocks -- Howard by 1
Turnover -- Howard has more
Assist-TO and Steal-TO -- Kg's numbers much better
Efficiency -- Garnett 31+ to 28+
Efficiency per 48 -- Garnett 39.5 to 35.8
So, tie or a slight edge to KG. But of course the Ticket is 10 years older than Howard, so this may be the year that their seasonal numbers cross and Howard stays ahead from here on out.
HM
Monday, November 19, 2007
It Is Official!!! McCants Turns It Over At the Highest Rate
http://aol.nba.com/statistics/player/Turnovers.jsp?league=00&season=22007&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=3&splitDD=All%20Teams
Of all players who have played enough to qualify, Rashad leads the league in turnovers per 48 minutes!!
His assist-to-turnover ratio and steals-to-turnover ratio are also frighteningly awful.
Wolves -- #1 at something.....
HM
Of all players who have played enough to qualify, Rashad leads the league in turnovers per 48 minutes!!
His assist-to-turnover ratio and steals-to-turnover ratio are also frighteningly awful.
Wolves -- #1 at something.....
HM
American Music Awards
From an episode of Family Guy:
Dr. Diddy: Let me explain something to you, all right? We got to get her half-naked and put her up front center stage. That's gonna make you all billionaires, because America loves hot white jailbait ass.
If Dr, Diddy is correct, Miley Cyrus (14 years old) gained mucho points on the popularity index last night. I mean, it is just wrong, wrong, wrong.
Other than that, the AMA's may have featured the worst music ever performed live on television -- everyone from Celine Dion to Lenny Kravitz to Alicia Keys to Mary J. Blige failed to impress.
Carrie Underwood won three times for "Some Hearts" (which I believe was release around 2003......I think she edged out Creed's "Human Clay" for her 2007 award).
Daughtry won three times, leading singer Chris Daughtry to say, "I was blown away. What could I say? It all seemed to make sense....." Like John Candy's character in "Splash", when Chris finds something that works he sticks with it.
HM
Friday, November 16, 2007
Larry Hughes -- Horrible and Injured
Hughes out a month with a leg injury: http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/2007/11/16/hughes-out-for-a-month/
How in the world are the Cavs going to replace his 70th-best Efficiency Per 48 minutes (out of 78 Eastern Conference Guards) or his 29% overall marksmanship or his 25% stroke from 3-point range??
http://aol.nba.com/playerfile/larry_hughes/index.html?nav=page
Hughes's #350 ranking in Efficiency Per 48 would imply to most folks that the Cavs simply cannot get worse without him. Au contraire mon frere; remarkably the Cavs actually have THREE GUYS who rank below #350!!! Pavlovic, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons all rank WORSE than Hughes!!
Pavlovic -- 28% from the floor, 6% from 3-point range!!
(This would explain how LeBron can put up a 39-14-13 triple double and still lose a game).
By the way, before tonight's games, least productive player in the entire league................Troy Hudson (1 for 6, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, 2 games, 2 points, no other positive stats).
How in the world are the Cavs going to replace his 70th-best Efficiency Per 48 minutes (out of 78 Eastern Conference Guards) or his 29% overall marksmanship or his 25% stroke from 3-point range??
http://aol.nba.com/playerfile/larry_hughes/index.html?nav=page
Hughes's #350 ranking in Efficiency Per 48 would imply to most folks that the Cavs simply cannot get worse without him. Au contraire mon frere; remarkably the Cavs actually have THREE GUYS who rank below #350!!! Pavlovic, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons all rank WORSE than Hughes!!
Pavlovic -- 28% from the floor, 6% from 3-point range!!
(This would explain how LeBron can put up a 39-14-13 triple double and still lose a game).
By the way, before tonight's games, least productive player in the entire league................Troy Hudson (1 for 6, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, 2 games, 2 points, no other positive stats).
Creative (But Not Real Diligent) Spammer
Anyone who is so diligent that they will Spam a Timberwolves item and advertise their services as a ticket broker!! deserves some reply. Maybe you want to 1) check your automated reply to see if can be read and understood; and 2) not make silly statements like "I checked out ticketmaster and all Wolves games were sold out!!" The Wolves, by the way, are selling 7 game packages where if you buy 6 you get a FREE ticket for the Celtics game (Garnett's homecoming)!! They can't sell out KG's homecoming? Or do they think people are so dumb that they will buy 6 games they don't want to see KG??
Here is the Spam comment on my Blog (I hope it is automated an not just a poor translation from a foreign language):
Good defense by the Minnesota Timberwolves drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Minnesota good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts.
This comment combines gibberish with some level of support for the team.
We don't have yet the Timberwolves team down. I which I could see some Timberwolves games live.
Even the automated/foreign commenter couldn't bring itself to say it WISHED it could see the Wolves live. So it went with "I which."
I was looking for tickets all the good seats on ticketmaster were taken I had to check broker. And man you don’t want to do that especially for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the siteTimberwolves Ticketshttp://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Minnesota-Timberwolves-Tickets.php.
You just don't go to a ticket broker for Wolves tix........cuz you can pick up one of the 8,000 unsold tix any night right before game time.
I like slam dunks that take me to the hoop my favorite play is the ally-hoop,I like the pic n roll,i like the given goal its basketball yo, yo lets go!Go Timberwolves Go!!!
Not often you can end with a butchered lyric from the songs they used to play on Radio Disney. I like the "given goal" -- try "give and go."
Go Timberwolves Go! (and take the Vikings with you).........
Here is the Spam comment on my Blog (I hope it is automated an not just a poor translation from a foreign language):
Good defense by the Minnesota Timberwolves drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Minnesota good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts.
This comment combines gibberish with some level of support for the team.
We don't have yet the Timberwolves team down. I which I could see some Timberwolves games live.
Even the automated/foreign commenter couldn't bring itself to say it WISHED it could see the Wolves live. So it went with "I which."
I was looking for tickets all the good seats on ticketmaster were taken I had to check broker. And man you don’t want to do that especially for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the siteTimberwolves Ticketshttp://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Minnesota-Timberwolves-Tickets.php.
You just don't go to a ticket broker for Wolves tix........cuz you can pick up one of the 8,000 unsold tix any night right before game time.
I like slam dunks that take me to the hoop my favorite play is the ally-hoop,I like the pic n roll,i like the given goal its basketball yo, yo lets go!Go Timberwolves Go!!!
Not often you can end with a butchered lyric from the songs they used to play on Radio Disney. I like the "given goal" -- try "give and go."
Go Timberwolves Go! (and take the Vikings with you).........
Sothwest Airlines "Too Sexy" Chick Gets a Lot Sexier
Kyla Ebbert -- playboy.com
Note: She says she wants to be a lawyer. Let's see, you can make around $70,000 by taking off your clothes for half a day or, if you are a top 15% student at a top 20 law school, you can make $100,000 a year by looking through documents for 2,200 hours a year. Hmmm, lawyer or lingerie model..........hmm..........
Thursday, November 15, 2007
BCS -- Oops, Now We Got Real Problems!
Oregon falls to less-than-mighty Arizona. So now we start comparing the teams left at the top of the BCS:
Win Out and They Are In
LSU (1 loss, on the road in triple OT to a good 3-loss Kentucky team)
Kansas -- no losses.
Next Best Shots
Missouri -- one loss, to Oklahoma, and to win out they will likely avenge that loss.
Oklahoma -- it is hard for me to get over their loss to 6-loss Colorado (an awful team drilled by Arizona State by a million points). What they have working for them however, is unbridled media man-love and the fact that they beat Missouri head-to-head.
Need a Lot of Help
Ohio State -- I refuse to believe that you can lose at home to a decent (not great) 3-loss Illinois team, beat NO ONE else who is half-decent and appear in the title game. But it could happen if Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma each adds one more loss.
Arizona State -- I don't know the media member whose daughter has been doing Dennis Erickson behind her family's back, but as much as Oklahoma is loved, ASU is hated by the media. They have one loss, to Oregon on the road. They beat Cal. They destroyed Colorado (who beat Oklahoma) and Stanford (who beat USC). So why no love? Maybe if they can beat USC and Arizona, they can convince people that a loss on the road to Oregon isn't as bad as a home loss to Illinois or any loss to Colorado??
West Virginia - one loss is on the road at USF, but go through their schedule and try to find me a good quality win. Mississippi State at 6-4? And things get worse because if they end up beating UConn and Cincy those teams will have 3+ losses and won't do much for strength of schedule. I just see such an uproar if they get in.
And I cut it off at those 7. I mean, Georgia???? A home loss to the Gamecocks and a 21 point loss to Tennessee??? Texas with TWO home losses (one by 20 to Kansas State!!)? Virginia Tech? Let's rematch them with LSU so they can try to avenge that narrow 41 point nipping by the Tigers earlier in the year!!
I heard someone mention "maybe USC is back in it?" tonight -- oh yes, sure, TWO losses, one of them being at home to woeful Stanford, if they aren't a top 2 squad, who is??? Maybe THREE-loss Florida???
How many games would every team in front of them have to lose before undefeated Hawaii got a shot? Is it 3 apiece? 4? Right now in the BCS 3-loss Florida is 4 spots up on Hawaii, so I think the answer is 4 losses. Great system, guys....
Win Out and They Are In
LSU (1 loss, on the road in triple OT to a good 3-loss Kentucky team)
Kansas -- no losses.
Next Best Shots
Missouri -- one loss, to Oklahoma, and to win out they will likely avenge that loss.
Oklahoma -- it is hard for me to get over their loss to 6-loss Colorado (an awful team drilled by Arizona State by a million points). What they have working for them however, is unbridled media man-love and the fact that they beat Missouri head-to-head.
Need a Lot of Help
Ohio State -- I refuse to believe that you can lose at home to a decent (not great) 3-loss Illinois team, beat NO ONE else who is half-decent and appear in the title game. But it could happen if Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma each adds one more loss.
Arizona State -- I don't know the media member whose daughter has been doing Dennis Erickson behind her family's back, but as much as Oklahoma is loved, ASU is hated by the media. They have one loss, to Oregon on the road. They beat Cal. They destroyed Colorado (who beat Oklahoma) and Stanford (who beat USC). So why no love? Maybe if they can beat USC and Arizona, they can convince people that a loss on the road to Oregon isn't as bad as a home loss to Illinois or any loss to Colorado??
West Virginia - one loss is on the road at USF, but go through their schedule and try to find me a good quality win. Mississippi State at 6-4? And things get worse because if they end up beating UConn and Cincy those teams will have 3+ losses and won't do much for strength of schedule. I just see such an uproar if they get in.
And I cut it off at those 7. I mean, Georgia???? A home loss to the Gamecocks and a 21 point loss to Tennessee??? Texas with TWO home losses (one by 20 to Kansas State!!)? Virginia Tech? Let's rematch them with LSU so they can try to avenge that narrow 41 point nipping by the Tigers earlier in the year!!
I heard someone mention "maybe USC is back in it?" tonight -- oh yes, sure, TWO losses, one of them being at home to woeful Stanford, if they aren't a top 2 squad, who is??? Maybe THREE-loss Florida???
How many games would every team in front of them have to lose before undefeated Hawaii got a shot? Is it 3 apiece? 4? Right now in the BCS 3-loss Florida is 4 spots up on Hawaii, so I think the answer is 4 losses. Great system, guys....
Comments on Top 50 TV Icons
50 -- Hagman -- too low. Had both I Dream of Jeanie and Dallas. Should be top 30.
49 Flockhart -- sorry, no. would struggle to be in top 100
48.47.46 -- Smits, Cowell, Lassie -- all fine
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar??? I wouldn't place her above, say, Boss Hogg or B.J. McKay
44. Susan Lucci -- yes.
43. Flip Wilson -- watched him all the time growing up, but still no.
42. Gandolfini -- begrudinging yes. Never drew an audience over 10MM (less than "According to Jim,") but those viewer and critics consider themselves more important cuz they watch HBO.
41. Jon Stewart -- nope, too soon, maybe in 5 years.
40. Sally Field -- definite yes.
39. Jennifer Aniston -- way too low. When 80,000,000 women cut their hair just like yours, I think you are a bit more of an icon than, say, John Ritter
38. Bea Arthur -- are you kidding me? Not top 50. I would argue that Flo from "Alice" was more of an icon.
37. George Clooney -- ok, was huge for a short burst
36. D. Carroll -- I have done nothing but watch TV for 43 years, and I couldn't tell you what TV show she was on. So no. (I mean, how about Marlo Thomas if we are going back in the archives?)
35. Michael J. Fox -- yep, huge success twice
34. Bob Barker -- absolutely, but how about Alex Trebek?
33. Ellen -- um, no......Jennifer Aniston, Larry Hagman, Sally Field, all fall in line behind a woman who had a bad dramedy sit-com for......3 years was it???? and now has a bad talk show????
32. Winkler -- Fonzie, one spot ahead of Ellen and 21 spots behind Roseanne.........come on folks! His jacket is in the Smithsonian!!! Way too low.
31. SJ Parker -- way too high, see Gandolfini comments. As Brian Griffin asked, "So, is it a show about three hookers and their mom??"
30. Alan Alda -- yes and maybe a tad low
29. John Ritter -- really?? 29?? Fonzie 3 spots behind Jack Tripper? Just end the list now, there is no credibility left...way too high...Suzanne Somers not top 50, her sidekick, #29.
28. Howard Cosell -- too high, but top 50
27. Regis -- sure
26. Farrah -- in top 50 but too high
25. Locklear -- I guess I didn't watch enough Melrose Place, but I say No, way too high
24. Landon -- has an argument to be higher, Little Joe and Pa were TV staples
23. Barbara Walters -- can you be an icon just by annoying the shit out of every single male viewer? Is that enough? I fea-ew that this is a tewwible, tewwible weckwess sewection!
22. Milton Berle -- is there some hidden agenda here that places "Mr. Television" 11 spots behind Roseanne??? Ouch.
21. Kermit -- too high
20. Carroll O'Connor -- apparently docked points for "In the Heat of the Night" by people who recall it as a Bryan Adams song. Archie Bunker, not a top 20 icon? Again, Ouch!
19. Andy -- of course, but where is Barney?
18. Shatner -- can't deny, he has become an icon
17. Bob Newhart -- love him; had two great shows; maybe 5 spots too high.
16. Letterman -- at least this high; those who now watch his half-hearted work may not recall his early genius.
15. NR For PT Players -- what a joke. Come on. How about "The Cast of Seinfeld" or "The Cast of ER" or "The 7 lady truckers from B.J. and the Bear" or "All of Boss Hogg's Law Enforcement Personnel"??
14. Ed Sullivan -- ok, the top is awfully crowded
13. Jackie Gleason -- yep, a legend
12. Dick Van Dyke -- no. I am sorry, the DVD show was an ensemble effort and I watched for the super-hot MTM (#7). Who wanted to be Rob Petrie (other than for the fact that he slept across from Laura)? Diagnosis Murder work subtracts points IMHO.
11. Roseanne -- low 40s.
10. Dick Clark -- yes.
9. Homer -- of course
8. Seinfeld -- sure
7. Mary Tyler Moore -- I would say top 3
6. Burnett -- no. Top 35, not top 6.
5. Cronkite -- yes. Clever pick.
4. Cosby -- top 20, not top 4.
3. Oprah -- switch her with MTM
2. Lucy -- cannot stand Lucy. Sorry, absolutely no way. I know that TV standards were low in the early days, but rewarding this one-note performer is like naming John Ritter #4 overall.
I'd be OK with high 30s.
1. Johnny Carson -- put America to bed for innumerable years. There is really no carping about his icon status, even at #1.
49 Flockhart -- sorry, no. would struggle to be in top 100
48.47.46 -- Smits, Cowell, Lassie -- all fine
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar??? I wouldn't place her above, say, Boss Hogg or B.J. McKay
44. Susan Lucci -- yes.
43. Flip Wilson -- watched him all the time growing up, but still no.
42. Gandolfini -- begrudinging yes. Never drew an audience over 10MM (less than "According to Jim,") but those viewer and critics consider themselves more important cuz they watch HBO.
41. Jon Stewart -- nope, too soon, maybe in 5 years.
40. Sally Field -- definite yes.
39. Jennifer Aniston -- way too low. When 80,000,000 women cut their hair just like yours, I think you are a bit more of an icon than, say, John Ritter
38. Bea Arthur -- are you kidding me? Not top 50. I would argue that Flo from "Alice" was more of an icon.
37. George Clooney -- ok, was huge for a short burst
36. D. Carroll -- I have done nothing but watch TV for 43 years, and I couldn't tell you what TV show she was on. So no. (I mean, how about Marlo Thomas if we are going back in the archives?)
35. Michael J. Fox -- yep, huge success twice
34. Bob Barker -- absolutely, but how about Alex Trebek?
33. Ellen -- um, no......Jennifer Aniston, Larry Hagman, Sally Field, all fall in line behind a woman who had a bad dramedy sit-com for......3 years was it???? and now has a bad talk show????
32. Winkler -- Fonzie, one spot ahead of Ellen and 21 spots behind Roseanne.........come on folks! His jacket is in the Smithsonian!!! Way too low.
31. SJ Parker -- way too high, see Gandolfini comments. As Brian Griffin asked, "So, is it a show about three hookers and their mom??"
30. Alan Alda -- yes and maybe a tad low
29. John Ritter -- really?? 29?? Fonzie 3 spots behind Jack Tripper? Just end the list now, there is no credibility left...way too high...Suzanne Somers not top 50, her sidekick, #29.
28. Howard Cosell -- too high, but top 50
27. Regis -- sure
26. Farrah -- in top 50 but too high
25. Locklear -- I guess I didn't watch enough Melrose Place, but I say No, way too high
24. Landon -- has an argument to be higher, Little Joe and Pa were TV staples
23. Barbara Walters -- can you be an icon just by annoying the shit out of every single male viewer? Is that enough? I fea-ew that this is a tewwible, tewwible weckwess sewection!
22. Milton Berle -- is there some hidden agenda here that places "Mr. Television" 11 spots behind Roseanne??? Ouch.
21. Kermit -- too high
20. Carroll O'Connor -- apparently docked points for "In the Heat of the Night" by people who recall it as a Bryan Adams song. Archie Bunker, not a top 20 icon? Again, Ouch!
19. Andy -- of course, but where is Barney?
18. Shatner -- can't deny, he has become an icon
17. Bob Newhart -- love him; had two great shows; maybe 5 spots too high.
16. Letterman -- at least this high; those who now watch his half-hearted work may not recall his early genius.
15. NR For PT Players -- what a joke. Come on. How about "The Cast of Seinfeld" or "The Cast of ER" or "The 7 lady truckers from B.J. and the Bear" or "All of Boss Hogg's Law Enforcement Personnel"??
14. Ed Sullivan -- ok, the top is awfully crowded
13. Jackie Gleason -- yep, a legend
12. Dick Van Dyke -- no. I am sorry, the DVD show was an ensemble effort and I watched for the super-hot MTM (#7). Who wanted to be Rob Petrie (other than for the fact that he slept across from Laura)? Diagnosis Murder work subtracts points IMHO.
11. Roseanne -- low 40s.
10. Dick Clark -- yes.
9. Homer -- of course
8. Seinfeld -- sure
7. Mary Tyler Moore -- I would say top 3
6. Burnett -- no. Top 35, not top 6.
5. Cronkite -- yes. Clever pick.
4. Cosby -- top 20, not top 4.
3. Oprah -- switch her with MTM
2. Lucy -- cannot stand Lucy. Sorry, absolutely no way. I know that TV standards were low in the early days, but rewarding this one-note performer is like naming John Ritter #4 overall.
I'd be OK with high 30s.
1. Johnny Carson -- put America to bed for innumerable years. There is really no carping about his icon status, even at #1.
Top 50 TV Icons
I have to get home, but here is ew.com's list of the Top 50 TV Icons.
I will comment when I get a chance.
50. Larry Hagman
49. Calista Flockhart
48. Jimmy Smits
47. Simon Cowell
46. Lassie
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar
44. Susan Lucci
43. Flip Wilson
42. James Gandolfini
41. Jon Stewart
40. Sally Field
39. Jennifer Aniston
38. Bea Arthur
37. George Clooney
36. Diahann Carroll
35. Michael J. Fox
34. Bob Barker
33. Ellen DeGeneres
32. Henry Winkler
31. Sarah Jessica Parker
30. Alan Alda
29. John Ritter
28. Howard Cosell
27. Regis Philbin
26. Farrah Fawcett
25. Heather Locklear
24. Michael Landon
23. Barbara Walters
22. Milton Berle
21. Kermit
20. Carroll O'Connor
19. Andy Griffith
18. William Shatner
17. Bob Newhart
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
12. Dick Van Dyke
11. Roseanne
10. Dick Clark
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
7. Mary Tyler Moore
6. Carol Burnett
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson
I will comment when I get a chance.
50. Larry Hagman
49. Calista Flockhart
48. Jimmy Smits
47. Simon Cowell
46. Lassie
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar
44. Susan Lucci
43. Flip Wilson
42. James Gandolfini
41. Jon Stewart
40. Sally Field
39. Jennifer Aniston
38. Bea Arthur
37. George Clooney
36. Diahann Carroll
35. Michael J. Fox
34. Bob Barker
33. Ellen DeGeneres
32. Henry Winkler
31. Sarah Jessica Parker
30. Alan Alda
29. John Ritter
28. Howard Cosell
27. Regis Philbin
26. Farrah Fawcett
25. Heather Locklear
24. Michael Landon
23. Barbara Walters
22. Milton Berle
21. Kermit
20. Carroll O'Connor
19. Andy Griffith
18. William Shatner
17. Bob Newhart
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
12. Dick Van Dyke
11. Roseanne
10. Dick Clark
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
7. Mary Tyler Moore
6. Carol Burnett
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson
Mike Golic -- Steroid Cheat
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/11/15/espns-mike-golic-on-steroids-i-used-them-and-it-was-wrong/
I am someone who has defended Barry Bonds all the time. Golic's admission, while in a different sport, serves to prove my point yet again.
It is not only the great players who use steroids in sports; it is also the mediocre and the good players. Golic certainly wasn't trying to make the Hall of Fame. He was just trying to gain an edge. (I don't believe one word of Golic's claim that he used roids briefly or to heal an injury -- that is like saying you went to a strip club once or you smoked marijuana once -- it just doesn't happen that way, but you think that maybe someone saw you that once so fessing up ends the inquiry).
In baseball, you had guys who were less talented that Bonds blatantly cheating and leaving Bonds in the dust as a player. The union defended the rights of players to use steroids (there is no other real way to put it -- when you oppose steroid testing that is what you are doing) and management turned a blind eye. So.....................we CRUCIFY Barry Bonds for doing what everyone else was doing when his sport had an agreement not to test for roids, but we believe the pap offered up by Mike Golic (who knew the NFL tested for and banned steroids)? No thank you.
I am someone who has defended Barry Bonds all the time. Golic's admission, while in a different sport, serves to prove my point yet again.
It is not only the great players who use steroids in sports; it is also the mediocre and the good players. Golic certainly wasn't trying to make the Hall of Fame. He was just trying to gain an edge. (I don't believe one word of Golic's claim that he used roids briefly or to heal an injury -- that is like saying you went to a strip club once or you smoked marijuana once -- it just doesn't happen that way, but you think that maybe someone saw you that once so fessing up ends the inquiry).
In baseball, you had guys who were less talented that Bonds blatantly cheating and leaving Bonds in the dust as a player. The union defended the rights of players to use steroids (there is no other real way to put it -- when you oppose steroid testing that is what you are doing) and management turned a blind eye. So.....................we CRUCIFY Barry Bonds for doing what everyone else was doing when his sport had an agreement not to test for roids, but we believe the pap offered up by Mike Golic (who knew the NFL tested for and banned steroids)? No thank you.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Guys Who Can't Seem to Get A Rebound
On a per-48-minute basis, the forwards and centers in the league who are doing the worst job of hitting the boards thus far.
Forwards:
Worst -- Malik Rose (1.6 per 48)
Pavlovic (4.0)
Joey Graham (4.1)
Trenton Hassell (4.2)
Wally World (4.4)
Donyell Marshall (4.5)
Matt Carroll (4.5)
Bruce Bowen (4.5)
Jason Kapono (4.8)
Dishonorable Mention -- Rashard Lewis ranks 67th amongst EASTERN CONFERENCE forwards in boards per 48 (6.3). I know you love the 3 Rashard, but you are 6'10" and being paid a gazillion dollars, maybe venture inside on occasion.
(For those of you who say, "Well, Dwight Howard gets everything..." Teammate Pat Garrity, white an unathletic as they come? 6.8 boards per 48).
Centers Not Hitting It Hard (reverse order):
Okur (9.0)
Blount (9.0)
David Harrison (9.0)
Robert Swift (9.0)
Stop here to note that even the crappiest and least interested centers board at twice the rate of the worst rebounding forwards -- this is why teams should make every effort to play a true center if possible.
Darryl Watkins (SAC) (8.8)
Kendrick Perkins (8.8)
Paul Davis (LAC) (8.7 -- he cannot honestly say "I Go Crazy")
Hold on to your hats here: Ben Wallace (8.7) -- wonder why the Bulls have struggled? Mark Blount would give them more rebounding production than Ben has thus far!!! 316th in the league in Efficiency Per 48 -- slightly ahead of Walker and Hughes, but not by much!
Theo Ratliff (8.6)
Primoz Brzec (CHA) -- 6.1. Ouch. 6.1. Would not even reach that lofty 67th best forward in the East spot held by Rashard!!
There ya go.
HM
Forwards:
Worst -- Malik Rose (1.6 per 48)
Pavlovic (4.0)
Joey Graham (4.1)
Trenton Hassell (4.2)
Wally World (4.4)
Donyell Marshall (4.5)
Matt Carroll (4.5)
Bruce Bowen (4.5)
Jason Kapono (4.8)
Dishonorable Mention -- Rashard Lewis ranks 67th amongst EASTERN CONFERENCE forwards in boards per 48 (6.3). I know you love the 3 Rashard, but you are 6'10" and being paid a gazillion dollars, maybe venture inside on occasion.
(For those of you who say, "Well, Dwight Howard gets everything..." Teammate Pat Garrity, white an unathletic as they come? 6.8 boards per 48).
Centers Not Hitting It Hard (reverse order):
Okur (9.0)
Blount (9.0)
David Harrison (9.0)
Robert Swift (9.0)
Stop here to note that even the crappiest and least interested centers board at twice the rate of the worst rebounding forwards -- this is why teams should make every effort to play a true center if possible.
Darryl Watkins (SAC) (8.8)
Kendrick Perkins (8.8)
Paul Davis (LAC) (8.7 -- he cannot honestly say "I Go Crazy")
Hold on to your hats here: Ben Wallace (8.7) -- wonder why the Bulls have struggled? Mark Blount would give them more rebounding production than Ben has thus far!!! 316th in the league in Efficiency Per 48 -- slightly ahead of Walker and Hughes, but not by much!
Theo Ratliff (8.6)
Primoz Brzec (CHA) -- 6.1. Ouch. 6.1. Would not even reach that lofty 67th best forward in the East spot held by Rashard!!
There ya go.
HM
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Playboy.com -- name the Sexiest Sportscaster
Much as I hate to say it, broadcasting poker is not being a sports broadcaster, so I think the final vote will come down to Erin Andrews versus Lindsay Soto. Playboy has posted an AWFUL picture of Erin Andrews, so if you like her, go over and vote.
Erin Andrews (orange) or Lindsay Soto? Still not close in my opinion, unless someone can get me a hotter pic of Soto....
Frontier Hotel -- Controlled Demolition
Now, to toss a little fuel on the 9-11 Controlled Demolition theory, let's compare A to B:
Monday, November 12, 2007
Weekend Basketball Recap
Daddy's Girl Maven (in case I haven't mentioned this before) is being coached by old HM this year in girls 8B traveling basketball. Last year this team was a couple games under .500 and finished in the top 3 of a tournament..........twice out of 10 tournaments.
-- This year, due to one player quitting the A team, we lost our best forward.
-- Our former center plays for a private Catholic school
-- We lost our 12 PPG point guard to the "A" team who sent back a guard they didn't want.
-- We also lost a girl to A whom I wouldn't have started on B. In return I got a tall girl from A who hated the A coaches(so I got the better of this deal).
I picked up two tall girls from the C team to fill out the roster. (In case you can't tell, I am a Phil Jackson disciple -- I like tall players and I will pick them over slightly more talented small players every day and twice on Sunday).
Results so far -- 2nd place out of 8; out of the money; 3rd place out of 12. We won our 3rd place game this weekend 44-17 in a horrid ass-kicking where everything I called worked.
Coaching teenage girls is, to say the least, a challenge. I have times when I just don't understand why I ever said I would do it. But when you win 5 out of 9, you hang in there for a while. Now if it turns into 12 out of 30............well.......I guess that is when you start to cry.
PLAYSTATION MAVEN ("PM") on the other hand, had a rough start to the year, getting 4th in a 6 team tourney and suffering back-to-back whuppings courtesy of some southern suburban squads.
But payback, so they say (but not around my 8B girls who complained about me saying "damn" the other day) is a bitch. PM goes for 38 in a 3-game stretch on Sunday, including 18 points and about 14 rebounds in the title game and he avenges one of the losses from week one in a 53-43 victory. For the casual reader, I am about 5'8" or so (though the MN doctors tend to measure me at 5'9" so I go with that). PM will turn 12 in December and he is 5' 7 1/2" in bare feet. His feet are size ten, his hands are bigger than mine. Simply put, he is a big kid.
He had a rebound in the title game where he grabbed the ball half-way up the net. PM, when he plays well, is a monster.
So, overall, good basketball weekend.
HM
HM
-- This year, due to one player quitting the A team, we lost our best forward.
-- Our former center plays for a private Catholic school
-- We lost our 12 PPG point guard to the "A" team who sent back a guard they didn't want.
-- We also lost a girl to A whom I wouldn't have started on B. In return I got a tall girl from A who hated the A coaches(so I got the better of this deal).
I picked up two tall girls from the C team to fill out the roster. (In case you can't tell, I am a Phil Jackson disciple -- I like tall players and I will pick them over slightly more talented small players every day and twice on Sunday).
Results so far -- 2nd place out of 8; out of the money; 3rd place out of 12. We won our 3rd place game this weekend 44-17 in a horrid ass-kicking where everything I called worked.
Coaching teenage girls is, to say the least, a challenge. I have times when I just don't understand why I ever said I would do it. But when you win 5 out of 9, you hang in there for a while. Now if it turns into 12 out of 30............well.......I guess that is when you start to cry.
PLAYSTATION MAVEN ("PM") on the other hand, had a rough start to the year, getting 4th in a 6 team tourney and suffering back-to-back whuppings courtesy of some southern suburban squads.
But payback, so they say (but not around my 8B girls who complained about me saying "damn" the other day) is a bitch. PM goes for 38 in a 3-game stretch on Sunday, including 18 points and about 14 rebounds in the title game and he avenges one of the losses from week one in a 53-43 victory. For the casual reader, I am about 5'8" or so (though the MN doctors tend to measure me at 5'9" so I go with that). PM will turn 12 in December and he is 5' 7 1/2" in bare feet. His feet are size ten, his hands are bigger than mine. Simply put, he is a big kid.
He had a rebound in the title game where he grabbed the ball half-way up the net. PM, when he plays well, is a monster.
So, overall, good basketball weekend.
HM
HM
Rashad McCants -- Soaring Up the Turnover List
Before the season started, I told a Timberwolves representative, "If McCants plays 40 minutes a night he will get 20 points a game and turn the ball over 8 times a night." Wellll...........
http://aol.nba.com/statistics/player/Turnovers.jsp?league=00&season=22007&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&qualified=N&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=3&splitDD=All%20Teams
Of guys playing over 10 minutes a night, Rashad (7.0) now trails only the remarkable J.R. Smith (7.5 times per 48) and the less-than-careful Devin Harris (7.1) in turning the ball over at the highest possible rate. Congrats, Rashad!!
What is probably most disconcerting about Rashad is that he seems to care NOT AT ALL if he loses the ball out of bounds or travels or commits an offensive foul (a turnover in NBA stat keeping). He just trots down to the other end to play abysmal defense (13 turnovers per every steal so far this year).
One can only hope that McCants begins to get more minutes. At only 22 minutes a contest, he is still 20th in the league in turnovers PER GAME!! And he is nipping at the heals of some of the biggest minutes guys in the league who handle the ball almost every possession (LeBron James, Deron Williams, Jason Kidd to name just three)!! Point -- LeBron handles the ball probably 10+ minutes a night, he loses it 3.3 times a night. Rashad? Maybe total elapsed time of 3 minutes a game, turns it over almost as much.
I feel that if given a real chance to play 4o minutes a night Rashad could SHATTER Artis Gilmore's NBA record 366 turnovers in a season.
Of course the Wolves could take some heat off McCants by letting their point guards handle the ball more. But since Marko Jaric is 254th and Sebastian Telfair is 298th in Efficiency Per 48 Minutes
http://aol.nba.com/statistics/player/Efficiency.jsp?season=22007&league=00&conf=OVERALL&qualified=N&position=0&splitType=9&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=7&splitDD=All+Teams&pager.offset=250 I think there is a decent chance that Rashad's turnover run will not end any time soon.
http://aol.nba.com/statistics/player/Turnovers.jsp?league=00&season=22007&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&qualified=N&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=3&splitDD=All%20Teams
Of guys playing over 10 minutes a night, Rashad (7.0) now trails only the remarkable J.R. Smith (7.5 times per 48) and the less-than-careful Devin Harris (7.1) in turning the ball over at the highest possible rate. Congrats, Rashad!!
What is probably most disconcerting about Rashad is that he seems to care NOT AT ALL if he loses the ball out of bounds or travels or commits an offensive foul (a turnover in NBA stat keeping). He just trots down to the other end to play abysmal defense (13 turnovers per every steal so far this year).
One can only hope that McCants begins to get more minutes. At only 22 minutes a contest, he is still 20th in the league in turnovers PER GAME!! And he is nipping at the heals of some of the biggest minutes guys in the league who handle the ball almost every possession (LeBron James, Deron Williams, Jason Kidd to name just three)!! Point -- LeBron handles the ball probably 10+ minutes a night, he loses it 3.3 times a night. Rashad? Maybe total elapsed time of 3 minutes a game, turns it over almost as much.
I feel that if given a real chance to play 4o minutes a night Rashad could SHATTER Artis Gilmore's NBA record 366 turnovers in a season.
Of course the Wolves could take some heat off McCants by letting their point guards handle the ball more. But since Marko Jaric is 254th and Sebastian Telfair is 298th in Efficiency Per 48 Minutes
http://aol.nba.com/statistics/player/Efficiency.jsp?season=22007&league=00&conf=OVERALL&qualified=N&position=0&splitType=9&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=7&splitDD=All+Teams&pager.offset=250 I think there is a decent chance that Rashad's turnover run will not end any time soon.
Wolves On Way to Worst-Ever Season?
With Randy Wittman as their coach and a very mediocre roster, the Timberwolves have a chance at being one of the all-time worst teams in NBA history. Let's take a gander at the three worst of all-time.
The worst NBA record ever was the 9-73 Philadelpia 76ers in 1972-73. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1973.html How bad were they? Well, they were outscored by 12 points a game and outshot by 5% over the course of an entire year. It appears that they managed to reach 9 victories only after replacing their coach with a PLAYER! (Kevin Loughery, who turned out to be an adequate NBA coach).
Similarly, the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets were terrible, outscored by 11 a night and outshot by almost 7% on the year. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1998.html
Now, the worst NBA club that I ever saw in person was the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks. And it is not close. The Mavs drafted Jimmy Jackson in the summer and he refused to sign, leading the GM to state, "We just have to consider Jimmy Jackson our Len Bias..." Ouch. Richie Adubato's squad started 2-27 and if Richie had been retained, I am extremely confident that the Mavs would have shattered the 9-73 mark. Unfortunately for history, the Mavs replaced Richie with Gar Heard, a nice guy who somehow got the team to play hard for him. They even signed Jackson in March and managed to go on a torrid 7-14 skein to end the year and finish 11-71. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/1993.html. The Mavs were outscored by 15 points a game. Their steals+blocks total was 1,000 versus 1,320 by their opponents.
How awful were the Mavs? Walter Bond seldom if ever started for the University of Minnesota. He started for Dallas and was often the go-to guy. What was even more historically awful about the 1992-93 Mavs is the number of guys on their roster who, upon leaving Dallas, NEVER played more than a handful of games anywhere else for the rest of their career -- Mike Izzulino, Doug Smith, Randy White, Walter Bond, Walter Palmer, Lamont Strothers, Brian Howard, Donald Hodge, Steve Bardo, Radisav Curcic. So, out of 18 guys that appeared that year, 10 either played zero minutes in the league after leaving Dallas or had a brief cup of coffee somewhere else.
Radisav Curcic may have been the least talented player I ever saw in an NBA uniform. Billed at 6'10" and 275 pounds, he was probably closer to 6'7" and 300 pounds. Fouled at a rate of 7.2 fouls per 48 minutes while playing against the worst players the league had to offer (mop up duty in Mavs games).
Certainly the Wolves roster is not as awful as the 1992-93 Mavs, but I can see some scenarios where Minnesota end up in the 9 win area........
The worst NBA record ever was the 9-73 Philadelpia 76ers in 1972-73. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1973.html How bad were they? Well, they were outscored by 12 points a game and outshot by 5% over the course of an entire year. It appears that they managed to reach 9 victories only after replacing their coach with a PLAYER! (Kevin Loughery, who turned out to be an adequate NBA coach).
Similarly, the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets were terrible, outscored by 11 a night and outshot by almost 7% on the year. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1998.html
Now, the worst NBA club that I ever saw in person was the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks. And it is not close. The Mavs drafted Jimmy Jackson in the summer and he refused to sign, leading the GM to state, "We just have to consider Jimmy Jackson our Len Bias..." Ouch. Richie Adubato's squad started 2-27 and if Richie had been retained, I am extremely confident that the Mavs would have shattered the 9-73 mark. Unfortunately for history, the Mavs replaced Richie with Gar Heard, a nice guy who somehow got the team to play hard for him. They even signed Jackson in March and managed to go on a torrid 7-14 skein to end the year and finish 11-71. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/1993.html. The Mavs were outscored by 15 points a game. Their steals+blocks total was 1,000 versus 1,320 by their opponents.
How awful were the Mavs? Walter Bond seldom if ever started for the University of Minnesota. He started for Dallas and was often the go-to guy. What was even more historically awful about the 1992-93 Mavs is the number of guys on their roster who, upon leaving Dallas, NEVER played more than a handful of games anywhere else for the rest of their career -- Mike Izzulino, Doug Smith, Randy White, Walter Bond, Walter Palmer, Lamont Strothers, Brian Howard, Donald Hodge, Steve Bardo, Radisav Curcic. So, out of 18 guys that appeared that year, 10 either played zero minutes in the league after leaving Dallas or had a brief cup of coffee somewhere else.
Radisav Curcic may have been the least talented player I ever saw in an NBA uniform. Billed at 6'10" and 275 pounds, he was probably closer to 6'7" and 300 pounds. Fouled at a rate of 7.2 fouls per 48 minutes while playing against the worst players the league had to offer (mop up duty in Mavs games).
Certainly the Wolves roster is not as awful as the 1992-93 Mavs, but I can see some scenarios where Minnesota end up in the 9 win area........
Thursday, November 08, 2007
"You're Throwing It all Away!" -- Most Turnovers Per 48 Thus Far
Of guys with over 10 minutes played a game, here are the guys Genesis was singing about.......
11 through 8 (ties)
Ruben Patterson (6.7 TO per 48) -- sodomizing nannies, commiting turnovers, what's not to love?
Acie Law - no wonder the Hawks aren't rushing Law into the starting lineup.
Caron Butler -- the Butler did it.......dribbled it off his foot that is.
Andre Iguodala -- explosive leaper, just doesn't always bring the ball along
7. Steve Nash (6.9 TO per 48) -- still is almost 2 to 1 on assist to turnover though
6. J.R. Smith (7.2) -- game is, well, SOMEWHAT lacking in discipline...
5. Delonte West (7.3) -- back to that old "don't acquire a Celtics cast-off PG" rule
4. Robert Swift (7.6) -- pass into Swift........through his hands out of bounds.........
3. Juan Carlos Navarro (8.4) -- he can't really be this awful can he?
2. Devin Harris (8.5) -- that's 4 real ones a game while playing less than half the game
Freddy Jones just misses out here. He is getting 9.7 minutes a night and turning it over 9.9 times per 48. Yikes!
1. Thaddeus Young (Philly) -- um, who? 11 minutes a game, 3 real turnovers a game 13.0 turnovers per 48.
You play the guy less than a quarter and he gives it up three times??? Expect that 11 MPG to decline precipitously at that rate. If he and Iguodala played all 48 together, they would chalk up 20 turnovers for the squad!
11 through 8 (ties)
Ruben Patterson (6.7 TO per 48) -- sodomizing nannies, commiting turnovers, what's not to love?
Acie Law - no wonder the Hawks aren't rushing Law into the starting lineup.
Caron Butler -- the Butler did it.......dribbled it off his foot that is.
Andre Iguodala -- explosive leaper, just doesn't always bring the ball along
7. Steve Nash (6.9 TO per 48) -- still is almost 2 to 1 on assist to turnover though
6. J.R. Smith (7.2) -- game is, well, SOMEWHAT lacking in discipline...
5. Delonte West (7.3) -- back to that old "don't acquire a Celtics cast-off PG" rule
4. Robert Swift (7.6) -- pass into Swift........through his hands out of bounds.........
3. Juan Carlos Navarro (8.4) -- he can't really be this awful can he?
2. Devin Harris (8.5) -- that's 4 real ones a game while playing less than half the game
Freddy Jones just misses out here. He is getting 9.7 minutes a night and turning it over 9.9 times per 48. Yikes!
1. Thaddeus Young (Philly) -- um, who? 11 minutes a game, 3 real turnovers a game 13.0 turnovers per 48.
You play the guy less than a quarter and he gives it up three times??? Expect that 11 MPG to decline precipitously at that rate. If he and Iguodala played all 48 together, they would chalk up 20 turnovers for the squad!
"I Do Not Apologize"
This is a phrase that I badly wish professional athletes and other people associated with sports would learn. No. I do not apologize.
I was reading an old item on www.k-line.blogspot.com about Jon Kitna apologizing for dressing up like the Lions coach who drove naked through the drive-thru. Hey, that is funny. You thought it was funny. Don't apologize.
A recent success in the "I won't apologize" effort is Rudy Guiliani. He is pro-gay rights, pro-abortion rights and pro-gun control. Yet he someone gets the endorsement of right-wing southern whacko Pat Robertson!! I still can't figure out why, but it certainly is a rare victory for the forces of "stand your ground and let the chips fall where they may."
And yes, the Timberwolves suck -- and I do not apologize for making that observation either.
I was reading an old item on www.k-line.blogspot.com about Jon Kitna apologizing for dressing up like the Lions coach who drove naked through the drive-thru. Hey, that is funny. You thought it was funny. Don't apologize.
A recent success in the "I won't apologize" effort is Rudy Guiliani. He is pro-gay rights, pro-abortion rights and pro-gun control. Yet he someone gets the endorsement of right-wing southern whacko Pat Robertson!! I still can't figure out why, but it certainly is a rare victory for the forces of "stand your ground and let the chips fall where they may."
And yes, the Timberwolves suck -- and I do not apologize for making that observation either.
Footage of KG Coaching the Celtics
Footage from iheartceltics.blogspot.com
To be fair, Doc Rivers does randomly count out 5 guys and say, "Keep moving the ball, keep moving the ball."
This footage perhaps explains Dwane Casey's 20-20 mark last year with the Wolves. If you do NOTHING and simply allow KG to run the huddle, even an incompetent coach might survive. Once Randy Wittman came in with the "get tough" attitude and actually tried to DO something, the Wolves dropped 30 of their last 42....
To be fair, Doc Rivers does randomly count out 5 guys and say, "Keep moving the ball, keep moving the ball."
This footage perhaps explains Dwane Casey's 20-20 mark last year with the Wolves. If you do NOTHING and simply allow KG to run the huddle, even an incompetent coach might survive. Once Randy Wittman came in with the "get tough" attitude and actually tried to DO something, the Wolves dropped 30 of their last 42....
Ralph Sampson
Since his son is coming to Minnesota next year, I thought I'd make a note on Ralph: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Sampson#Post-NBA_life
Also, per Wikipedia, Ralph is the 53rd tallest man measured since the Guiness Book has been recording such things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tall_men
HM
Also, per Wikipedia, Ralph is the 53rd tallest man measured since the Guiness Book has been recording such things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tall_men
HM
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Ranking NFL Game-Day Stadium Experiences
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/11/01/fvi.intro/index.html?bcnn=yes
A rather shaky analysis. I mean, I don't care how much it sucks to be a Jets fan, no stadium experience is worse than the Metrodome. I would doubt that you could attend any Jets game where the two guys behind you had this discussion about a returning starter like Chester Taylor: "So, who the hell is that guy #29? I have never seen him before." "I am pretty sure that it is Winfield, right, or.....Sharper?"
The Bills stadium facility is awful and brutally, brutally cold, yet it ranks middle of the pack because the fans have fun??? Sooooooooooo.........if they played in a valley between two hills would they also be top 15? Orchard Park is almost a rural area with nothing anywhere nearby. But the Bills rank higher than the Bengals, who play in a really nice stadium in warmer weather and where you can walk across a pedestrian bridge to some really nice bars and restaurants on the Kentucky side???? Hmmm...
Some interesting stuff.
A rather shaky analysis. I mean, I don't care how much it sucks to be a Jets fan, no stadium experience is worse than the Metrodome. I would doubt that you could attend any Jets game where the two guys behind you had this discussion about a returning starter like Chester Taylor: "So, who the hell is that guy #29? I have never seen him before." "I am pretty sure that it is Winfield, right, or.....Sharper?"
The Bills stadium facility is awful and brutally, brutally cold, yet it ranks middle of the pack because the fans have fun??? Sooooooooooo.........if they played in a valley between two hills would they also be top 15? Orchard Park is almost a rural area with nothing anywhere nearby. But the Bills rank higher than the Bengals, who play in a really nice stadium in warmer weather and where you can walk across a pedestrian bridge to some really nice bars and restaurants on the Kentucky side???? Hmmm...
Some interesting stuff.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
NBA Players Off to a Slow Start
Guys who have played 10+ minutes a game and rank at the bottom in Efficiency Per 48 Minutes (basically how productive are they on the court while they are out there):
10th Worst -- Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis) -- 4.01 -- time to try Dave Navarro instead
9th -- Darrell Armstron (NJN) -- 3.38 -- adjusting for how old he is, he may be the BEST player in the league
8th -- Quentin Richardson -- 2.92 -- at least he is only owed about $30MM more by the Knicks
7th -- Jarrett Jack (Portland) -- 2.61 -- never a favorite of this Blog, to retain his starting job he may have to pull out those pics he has of ownership and the goat
6th -- Jason Collins (NJN) -- 2.29 -- or about what you would expect from him.......
5th -- Primoz Brezec (CHA) -- 1.12 -- half as productive as the 6th worst guy.....ouch.
4th -- Raja Bell (PHX) -- 0.94 -- somewhere Kobe is smiling
3rd -- Orien Greene (SAC) -- 0 -- I guess maybe picking up a Boston PG cast-off isn't the best idea (Banks, Telfair, Greene)
2nd -- Freddy Jones (NYK) -- 0 -- Isiah, "OK, we need production, put Q back in!!!"
1st -- Pat Garrity (ORL) -- Negative 2.15 -- How exactly does one go NEGATIVE on a stat intended to measure production? Well, in 45 minutes of play you go 1 for 7, 0 for 3 from 3 point land, shoot 0 free throws, get 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers and 2 points.
(For you Duke haters, Garrity (334th best player) has been the better choice thus far than teammate J.J. Redick (335th)).
Troy Hudson (drawing $10,000,000 from the Timberwolves due to a contract buyout)????? 337th best player, negative 11.94 Efficiency per 48. 16 minutes, 1 for 7, zero free throws, one rebound, no steals, no blocks, 2 turnovers, no assists, 2 fouls, 2 points. I guess they assume that multiplied by 3 Troy would be at 3 for 21, 3 rebounds, no other positive stats, 6 turnovers and 6 fouls.
The worst start in minimal play? Seattle's Andre Brown (negative 55.38) hurt by his line of one point, 2 TO, 25% from the line.
HM
10th Worst -- Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis) -- 4.01 -- time to try Dave Navarro instead
9th -- Darrell Armstron (NJN) -- 3.38 -- adjusting for how old he is, he may be the BEST player in the league
8th -- Quentin Richardson -- 2.92 -- at least he is only owed about $30MM more by the Knicks
7th -- Jarrett Jack (Portland) -- 2.61 -- never a favorite of this Blog, to retain his starting job he may have to pull out those pics he has of ownership and the goat
6th -- Jason Collins (NJN) -- 2.29 -- or about what you would expect from him.......
5th -- Primoz Brezec (CHA) -- 1.12 -- half as productive as the 6th worst guy.....ouch.
4th -- Raja Bell (PHX) -- 0.94 -- somewhere Kobe is smiling
3rd -- Orien Greene (SAC) -- 0 -- I guess maybe picking up a Boston PG cast-off isn't the best idea (Banks, Telfair, Greene)
2nd -- Freddy Jones (NYK) -- 0 -- Isiah, "OK, we need production, put Q back in!!!"
1st -- Pat Garrity (ORL) -- Negative 2.15 -- How exactly does one go NEGATIVE on a stat intended to measure production? Well, in 45 minutes of play you go 1 for 7, 0 for 3 from 3 point land, shoot 0 free throws, get 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers and 2 points.
(For you Duke haters, Garrity (334th best player) has been the better choice thus far than teammate J.J. Redick (335th)).
Troy Hudson (drawing $10,000,000 from the Timberwolves due to a contract buyout)????? 337th best player, negative 11.94 Efficiency per 48. 16 minutes, 1 for 7, zero free throws, one rebound, no steals, no blocks, 2 turnovers, no assists, 2 fouls, 2 points. I guess they assume that multiplied by 3 Troy would be at 3 for 21, 3 rebounds, no other positive stats, 6 turnovers and 6 fouls.
The worst start in minimal play? Seattle's Andre Brown (negative 55.38) hurt by his line of one point, 2 TO, 25% from the line.
HM
Shula -- A Patriots Season Would Need an Asterisk
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3097057
As Rachel Green (or Greene) stated to Ross on friends, "My mother kept saying to me, 'Once a cheater always a cheater'." Shula apparently abides by the same theory.
As Rachel Green (or Greene) stated to Ross on friends, "My mother kept saying to me, 'Once a cheater always a cheater'." Shula apparently abides by the same theory.
How The Mediocre Blog Has Fallen
My Blog's ranking on www.lowpost.net has fallen below 100 on both the 30-day and 90-day rankings.
Oh well, I still narrowly edge out the NBA Macedonia Blog (which I will link to here even though that link will catapult them ahead of me). But I doubt I could have maintained the lead much longer anyway. After all, how are you going to compete with headlines like:
“Војни на рекламите 2“ - Нешти и Нештињо ???
Oh well, I still narrowly edge out the NBA Macedonia Blog (which I will link to here even though that link will catapult them ahead of me). But I doubt I could have maintained the lead much longer anyway. After all, how are you going to compete with headlines like:
“Војни на рекламите 2“ - Нешти и Нештињо ???
Monday, November 05, 2007
Rushers With Speed
The top 10 guys I have seen on TV running the football, graded solely on raw foot speed on the football field. Sorry that they are out of order:
-- Michael Vick (1) -- I believe that, when his mind was not encumbered by thoughts of killing everything that barks, Vick was the fastest QB or RB I have ever seen when carrying the ball. Maybe not the fastest if you put him in track shoes, but the fastest with the ball.
-- Curtis Dickey (2) -- awesome speed back at A&M and then with the Colts. Couldn't actually make a cut or locate the hole, but if he happened to hit the existing hole? Gone.
-- Robert Smith (6) -- still can't forgive him for running out of bounds, but if Robert got those long legs working, you weren't catching him.
-- Eric Dickerson (10) -- appeared to not even touch the ground when he ran
-- Michael Bennett (4) -- modern version of Curtis Dickey
-- O.J. Simpson (8) -- if O.J. had played in the 1990s, he would have caught 60 balls a year for 10 TD's. In the open field (or in a penned-in area near a suburban home) there really wasn't much chance against him.
-- Herschel Walker (3) -- world class speed, now if you actually tiptoe toward the line for 5 seconds each play, you won't use your speed much, but there are those rare times......
-- Bo Jackson (5) -- if he turned it up field, he was simply a blur. NOT a shifty back, but he never needed to be.
-- Adrian Peterson (7) -- scary fast
-- Tony Dorsett (9) -- not exactly tough, but reminded me an awful lot of O.J. (except his crime involved primarily tax issues)
-- Michael Vick (1) -- I believe that, when his mind was not encumbered by thoughts of killing everything that barks, Vick was the fastest QB or RB I have ever seen when carrying the ball. Maybe not the fastest if you put him in track shoes, but the fastest with the ball.
-- Curtis Dickey (2) -- awesome speed back at A&M and then with the Colts. Couldn't actually make a cut or locate the hole, but if he happened to hit the existing hole? Gone.
-- Robert Smith (6) -- still can't forgive him for running out of bounds, but if Robert got those long legs working, you weren't catching him.
-- Eric Dickerson (10) -- appeared to not even touch the ground when he ran
-- Michael Bennett (4) -- modern version of Curtis Dickey
-- O.J. Simpson (8) -- if O.J. had played in the 1990s, he would have caught 60 balls a year for 10 TD's. In the open field (or in a penned-in area near a suburban home) there really wasn't much chance against him.
-- Herschel Walker (3) -- world class speed, now if you actually tiptoe toward the line for 5 seconds each play, you won't use your speed much, but there are those rare times......
-- Bo Jackson (5) -- if he turned it up field, he was simply a blur. NOT a shifty back, but he never needed to be.
-- Adrian Peterson (7) -- scary fast
-- Tony Dorsett (9) -- not exactly tough, but reminded me an awful lot of O.J. (except his crime involved primarily tax issues)
BCS Standings
The top 7 in the BCS standings are
Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and West Virginia.
Based upon the BCS formula and the current rankings, I don't see any team below the top 7 competing in the national title game.
BC and ASU suffered embarassing defeats this weekend, which I personally have to say ends any hopes either had of a title game appearance, but they are still ranked at ##8 and 9, ahead of 2-loss Georgia (no hope). Heck, MICHIGAN is now #12 in the BCS and they lost at home to Appalachian State (a team with losses to Wofford and Georgia Southern!!).
I, personally, could not select Oklahoma over OSU or LSU if they all end with one loss. Oklahoma's loss to an ultra-mediocre Colorado squad (nipped 55-10 at home this week by Missouri) is a per se disqualifier in my book.
Kansas will likely end the year with Missouri and Oklahoma. If they win both of those, they leapfrog LSU in my opinion. If Missouri beats Kansas and then avenges its only loss of the year in the Big 12 title game by thrashing Oklahoma, I say it is too tough to call in a Missouri/LSU tiebreaker.
The NCAA really has to hope that Ohio State wins out. That way only one spot has to be controversial. An Ohio State loss just makes everything FAR too complicated for the BCS.
BCS Nightmare Scenario
Let's say Ohio State loses to Michigan, LSU loses the SEC title game, Oregon loses a game, Kansas loses to Oklahoma State but beats Missouri and Oklahoma, West Virginia loses to UConn, Hawaii wins out, ASU wins out, and BC wins out
Hawaii -- no losses
OSU, Kansas, UConn, ASU, BC -- one loss
LSU, Oregon, Missouri, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Michigan, etc. -- two losses
Don't you have to wipe out all 2-loss squads?
If so, will we have an Ohio State/UConn title game? Hawaii/UConn? Kansas/Hawaii? BC/OSU? ASU/BC (with Florida State and Oregon looking on in horror)?
Does anyone truly believe that any of these matchups would bring together the two best teams in college football? Conversely, if UConn and Hawaii and Kansas can all play so well for so long and NOT be rewarded with a title game, why do they even play????
HM
Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and West Virginia.
Based upon the BCS formula and the current rankings, I don't see any team below the top 7 competing in the national title game.
BC and ASU suffered embarassing defeats this weekend, which I personally have to say ends any hopes either had of a title game appearance, but they are still ranked at ##8 and 9, ahead of 2-loss Georgia (no hope). Heck, MICHIGAN is now #12 in the BCS and they lost at home to Appalachian State (a team with losses to Wofford and Georgia Southern!!).
I, personally, could not select Oklahoma over OSU or LSU if they all end with one loss. Oklahoma's loss to an ultra-mediocre Colorado squad (nipped 55-10 at home this week by Missouri) is a per se disqualifier in my book.
Kansas will likely end the year with Missouri and Oklahoma. If they win both of those, they leapfrog LSU in my opinion. If Missouri beats Kansas and then avenges its only loss of the year in the Big 12 title game by thrashing Oklahoma, I say it is too tough to call in a Missouri/LSU tiebreaker.
The NCAA really has to hope that Ohio State wins out. That way only one spot has to be controversial. An Ohio State loss just makes everything FAR too complicated for the BCS.
BCS Nightmare Scenario
Let's say Ohio State loses to Michigan, LSU loses the SEC title game, Oregon loses a game, Kansas loses to Oklahoma State but beats Missouri and Oklahoma, West Virginia loses to UConn, Hawaii wins out, ASU wins out, and BC wins out
Hawaii -- no losses
OSU, Kansas, UConn, ASU, BC -- one loss
LSU, Oregon, Missouri, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Michigan, etc. -- two losses
Don't you have to wipe out all 2-loss squads?
If so, will we have an Ohio State/UConn title game? Hawaii/UConn? Kansas/Hawaii? BC/OSU? ASU/BC (with Florida State and Oregon looking on in horror)?
Does anyone truly believe that any of these matchups would bring together the two best teams in college football? Conversely, if UConn and Hawaii and Kansas can all play so well for so long and NOT be rewarded with a title game, why do they even play????
HM
Weekend Sports Thoughts
(OK, I already e-mailed this out, but not to everyone):
Patriots Over Indy -- The Pats lose that game without Moss. Brady appeared completely confused and overwhelmed with whatever Indy was doing. The only security blanket he had was Moss. Brady tosses that 4th quarter prayer to Moss and it is answered. Officiating? Think Roger Goodell wanted the white hats to win? The Pats get called twice on VERY sketchy defensive pass interference penalties and once on a completely phantom offensive pass interference penalty, but the Indy guy actually grabs Moss's right arm on one long TD attempt -- nothing. The flag on Moss's catch actually comes out only after the official sees that Moss has safely secured the ball.
Adrian Peterson -- a combination of speed, size and toughness not seen since Bo Jackson. Let's be honest here -- when he gets past the linebackers, it is 70-30% that he is gone on every rush. What is the NFL record for most 30+ yard rushes in a season? Whatever it is, he has a very good chance to break it.
Minnesota Timberwolves -- While they have kept it close in two losses, this is a bad young team who will get worse as the year goes on. Through November, everyone in the NBA thinks they can win and plays hard. Then you get to 3-11. Then you get injuries. Then you get people bitching about minutes. Then you have management saying, "Why is Theo Ratliff getting 30 minutes a night? Shouldn't we be giving young guys his time?" Then you get to 10-40 and people just start melting down.
Sebastian Telfair -- if you are 5'8" and can't shoot, welcome to the land of "at best Jacque Vaughn" and "at worst Mateen Cleeves." You are an NBA player. You start and play a lot. You need to be giving me 14 and 9 on a bad team.
Ryan Gomes -- Ryan Gomes is very good. Not physically gifted enough to be an all-star, but he will be an NBA starter or good 6th man for the next 8 years. Since the Wolves are basically cutting Gerald Green, they are going to end up with Gomes and Jefferson for KG. They are paying Al $13MM and they will need to pay Gomes $6-8MM to keep him. So............................your big salary cap savings by dropping KG's $21MM a year went.........where? The thing to do with Gomes was to sign him immediately when you got him. Extend him for 4 years and $20MM. Now he will start all year and get his value through the roof.
Kevin Garnett -- KG went 22 & 20 on opening night. I didn't see the Celts play either game, but you have to recall that Toronto had just beaten NJ in NJ by 40 or so! Toronto was playing well and the Celts beat them. KG was plus 7, Allen and Pierce were a combined 0.
Al Jefferson -- Al Jefferson may be the best scoring, worst passing combo that I have ever seen. The book on Al is pretty obvious -- he gets the ball: DOUBLE!!! He is a poor passer and he panics when doubled. Could he improve? Sure. Best after watching KG for so many years, seeing a guy who can barely get the ball back to the guard after the double is a little hard to watch.
HM
Patriots Over Indy -- The Pats lose that game without Moss. Brady appeared completely confused and overwhelmed with whatever Indy was doing. The only security blanket he had was Moss. Brady tosses that 4th quarter prayer to Moss and it is answered. Officiating? Think Roger Goodell wanted the white hats to win? The Pats get called twice on VERY sketchy defensive pass interference penalties and once on a completely phantom offensive pass interference penalty, but the Indy guy actually grabs Moss's right arm on one long TD attempt -- nothing. The flag on Moss's catch actually comes out only after the official sees that Moss has safely secured the ball.
Adrian Peterson -- a combination of speed, size and toughness not seen since Bo Jackson. Let's be honest here -- when he gets past the linebackers, it is 70-30% that he is gone on every rush. What is the NFL record for most 30+ yard rushes in a season? Whatever it is, he has a very good chance to break it.
Minnesota Timberwolves -- While they have kept it close in two losses, this is a bad young team who will get worse as the year goes on. Through November, everyone in the NBA thinks they can win and plays hard. Then you get to 3-11. Then you get injuries. Then you get people bitching about minutes. Then you have management saying, "Why is Theo Ratliff getting 30 minutes a night? Shouldn't we be giving young guys his time?" Then you get to 10-40 and people just start melting down.
Sebastian Telfair -- if you are 5'8" and can't shoot, welcome to the land of "at best Jacque Vaughn" and "at worst Mateen Cleeves." You are an NBA player. You start and play a lot. You need to be giving me 14 and 9 on a bad team.
Ryan Gomes -- Ryan Gomes is very good. Not physically gifted enough to be an all-star, but he will be an NBA starter or good 6th man for the next 8 years. Since the Wolves are basically cutting Gerald Green, they are going to end up with Gomes and Jefferson for KG. They are paying Al $13MM and they will need to pay Gomes $6-8MM to keep him. So............................your big salary cap savings by dropping KG's $21MM a year went.........where? The thing to do with Gomes was to sign him immediately when you got him. Extend him for 4 years and $20MM. Now he will start all year and get his value through the roof.
Kevin Garnett -- KG went 22 & 20 on opening night. I didn't see the Celts play either game, but you have to recall that Toronto had just beaten NJ in NJ by 40 or so! Toronto was playing well and the Celts beat them. KG was plus 7, Allen and Pierce were a combined 0.
Al Jefferson -- Al Jefferson may be the best scoring, worst passing combo that I have ever seen. The book on Al is pretty obvious -- he gets the ball: DOUBLE!!! He is a poor passer and he panics when doubled. Could he improve? Sure. Best after watching KG for so many years, seeing a guy who can barely get the ball back to the guard after the double is a little hard to watch.
HM
Friday, November 02, 2007
The Office -- "Branch Wars" Episode
While I enjoy any episode of "The Office," I have to tell you that this episode left me wondering whether Michael's PT Cruiser came equipped with a time machine.
Dwight, Jim and Michael leave for Utica around lunch time (the Finer Things Club is getting ready for their lunch meeting). The guys have an unscheduled stop or two when they have to backtrack to find Jim's cell phone and when they have to get dressed in their disguises.
It is about 3 hours from Scranton to Utica: http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&un=m&cl=EN&ct=NA&rsres=1&1ffi=&1l=&1g=&1pl=&1v=&1n=&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&1pn=&1a=&1c=Scranton+&1s=PA&1z=&2pn=&2a=&2c=Utica&2s=ny&2z=&r=f
I myself wouldn't take the Mapquest-suggested 2-lane road from Binghamton to Utica, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt here. Add in 45 minutes of unscheduled stops, you aren't in Utica until at least 3:45 p.m. OK, then you need time to do your silly prank, get caught, get yelled at by Karen, and get back in your car. So let's say that is 4:15 p.m. or later.
You then need to drive back to Scranton. Why do Michael, Dwight and Jim walk into the Scranton office together and everyone is still there? It would be, at best, 7:00 p.m. before they got back to Scranton.
I am willing to suspend disbelief here, but this is awfully lazy writing.
How about having the guys leave the NEXT DAY immediately upon coming into work at 9:00 a.m.? That way, even with a road stop of 30 minutes and a 30 minute chewing out by Karen, they can get back into their car and drive home and they would get back to Scranton at about 4:00 p.m.
OR they could have had Karen be the boss of the fictional Binghamton Branch (Utica, 60,000 people, Binghamton 47,000) -- making her 90 miles closer to Scranton and making the timeline more believable.
HM/Comic Book Guy
Dwight, Jim and Michael leave for Utica around lunch time (the Finer Things Club is getting ready for their lunch meeting). The guys have an unscheduled stop or two when they have to backtrack to find Jim's cell phone and when they have to get dressed in their disguises.
It is about 3 hours from Scranton to Utica: http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&un=m&cl=EN&ct=NA&rsres=1&1ffi=&1l=&1g=&1pl=&1v=&1n=&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&1pn=&1a=&1c=Scranton+&1s=PA&1z=&2pn=&2a=&2c=Utica&2s=ny&2z=&r=f
I myself wouldn't take the Mapquest-suggested 2-lane road from Binghamton to Utica, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt here. Add in 45 minutes of unscheduled stops, you aren't in Utica until at least 3:45 p.m. OK, then you need time to do your silly prank, get caught, get yelled at by Karen, and get back in your car. So let's say that is 4:15 p.m. or later.
You then need to drive back to Scranton. Why do Michael, Dwight and Jim walk into the Scranton office together and everyone is still there? It would be, at best, 7:00 p.m. before they got back to Scranton.
I am willing to suspend disbelief here, but this is awfully lazy writing.
How about having the guys leave the NEXT DAY immediately upon coming into work at 9:00 a.m.? That way, even with a road stop of 30 minutes and a 30 minute chewing out by Karen, they can get back into their car and drive home and they would get back to Scranton at about 4:00 p.m.
OR they could have had Karen be the boss of the fictional Binghamton Branch (Utica, 60,000 people, Binghamton 47,000) -- making her 90 miles closer to Scranton and making the timeline more believable.
HM/Comic Book Guy
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Wolves Sign Jefferson, Foye, McCants -- Ditch Gerald Green
Big Al -- 5 years, $65MM -- so, let's just go with the basic $13MM a year average.
So, KG for the next 5 years -- $103MM; Big Al for the next 6 years -- $67MM.
Time will tell who is a better investment, but certainly if the Wolves' idea was to keep from getting into a situation where they had one guy taking up a lot of payroll.............that is still going to happen.
The Foye and McCants signing were no-brainers. Young players, goota keep them around and see what they can do.
Not re-signing Gerald Green is insane. OK. You fail to re-sign Green to a roughly $2,000,000 deal. You lose his Bird rights, and any team you try to trade him to will also not have his Bird rights (Marcus Banks redux here). So, you have reduced both his value to you and his value to anyone else.
What you have done is throw away Gerald Green in order to save yourself $2,000,000.
You have lost 100% of Gerald Green's upside. The downside risk of $2,000,000? Well, you could have just traded that salary away as part of a larger deal.
So, KG for the next 5 years -- $103MM; Big Al for the next 6 years -- $67MM.
Time will tell who is a better investment, but certainly if the Wolves' idea was to keep from getting into a situation where they had one guy taking up a lot of payroll.............that is still going to happen.
The Foye and McCants signing were no-brainers. Young players, goota keep them around and see what they can do.
Not re-signing Gerald Green is insane. OK. You fail to re-sign Green to a roughly $2,000,000 deal. You lose his Bird rights, and any team you try to trade him to will also not have his Bird rights (Marcus Banks redux here). So, you have reduced both his value to you and his value to anyone else.
What you have done is throw away Gerald Green in order to save yourself $2,000,000.
You have lost 100% of Gerald Green's upside. The downside risk of $2,000,000? Well, you could have just traded that salary away as part of a larger deal.
Martina Hingis -- Possibly Drugged Up and Definitely Retired
Added Hingis, "Now if you will excuse me, I have to use the bathroom. I have a really bad cold."
Martina Hingis was a brilliant tennis player, but the speed and power of the women's game simply got to be too much for her. Once the Williams Sisters and Davenport and the rehabbed Jennifer Capriati began to take over the game, smallish light-hitting players who served 90 miles an hour really stood little chance on any surface.
Say what you will about her, but she saw Anna Kournikova's bent-over butt for 1 to 2 hour stretches at a time and (as displayed above) would receive a congratulatory kiss from Anna at the end of winning matches. Have you got a similar resume?
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