http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4369219
Orlando Cabrera. Well, let's go to baseball-reference.com and see his comparables (by the way, the deletion of Similarity Scores from basketball-reference.com still really pisses me off).
http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/scomp_bat.cgi?I=cabreor01:Orlando%20Cabrera&st=age&compage=33&age=33
At best -- Dave Concepcion or Terry Pendleton. At worst -- Jim Fregosi and Granny Hamner.
Um, OK.
Tyler Ladendorf -- young, low-level Twins infield prospect: http://twinsfix.com/2008/12/qa-with-tyler-ladendorf/
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tyler Hansbrough -- Wuss
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4369069
Ooh, my wittle shinny hewts! I needs 6 to 8 weeks to west!
I guess the Pacers will have to find someone else to provide them with 7 minutes a night backing up Danny Granger.
Ooh, my wittle shinny hewts! I needs 6 to 8 weeks to west!
I guess the Pacers will have to find someone else to provide them with 7 minutes a night backing up Danny Granger.
Fox News Proves Bush's Success In Iraq
It has now become "Egypt."
In a poll, 87% of Fox News viewers said they agreed with the statement "If Fox News says Iraq is now Egypt, then Iraq is now Egypt."
7% disagreed, and 6% said they did not understand the words "Iraq" and "Egypt."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Paul Stanley -- Not the KISS Paul Stanley -- The Naked Intern Pictures Paul Stanley
Every once in a while there comes a story where you just can't believe you missed it for even a day.
This is such a story. Tennessee State Senator Paul Stanley had to resign today after he refused to pay $10,000 blackmail to the boyfriend of a 22 year old intern whom Stanley was banging. Well, how could the guy possibly blackmail Stanley when it was just his word against........uh oh....seems Stanley took naked pics of the 22 year old. Well, geez, that could have been anyone....they were taken in Stanley's apartment.
The 22 year old, McKensie Morrison -- sure she likes her 47 year old politicians, but I am sure she is faithful to Paul............oh wait, that is right, 27 year old Joel Watts (the blackmailer) was her boyfriend. Well, she is a single girl, who says single gals can't play the field a...........oh no, she is also married.
Her hubby is in Florida serving 7 years in the slam....but I mean, given that his other choices in prison are all non-hetero contact, I assume that he will forgive........oh wait, story says he has filed for divorce. Your hubby goes to prison for 7 years, HE files for divorce.
My lord -- welcome to Tennessee.
Separate Boston Policeman Calls Professor Gates "Jungle Monkey"
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/officer_suspend.html
So, you see, Obama clearly overreacted when he said that handcuffing and arresting an old black man in his house constituted police acting "stupidly." No Boston area police officer would ever express any racial bias against a black man, Barack. Geez.
So, you see, Obama clearly overreacted when he said that handcuffing and arresting an old black man in his house constituted police acting "stupidly." No Boston area police officer would ever express any racial bias against a black man, Barack. Geez.
Last Minute Decisions That Turned Out Well
There are small moments in your life -- not big ones like getting married or the birth of your kids or buying a house -- that you always remember fondly. For me, these have generally resulted from a spur of the moment decision (or surprise) that worked out. Here are a few for me, and I welcome your similar stories:
1) 1985 -- Georgetown v. Villanova -- I was living at the Hotel Wellington in Albany, NY. My college roommate was somehow in town and he called in the afternoon to see if I would be around to watch the game. We had a keg left over from some party we had over the weekend and it was in ice in the empty room next to mine. We watched and drank so much beer it is a miracle I remember the game at all. Awesome night.
2) 1988 -- Kansas v. Oklahoma -- it is my 24th birthday and I ask everyone I know if they will come watch the NCAA title game with me. No. What the F? I don't want to beg anyone by telling them it is my birthday, so I end up just deciding to watch the game with my girlfriend. Incredibly horrible night -- then we get to her place and they are having a surprise party for me. Watch Manning beat up on Stacy King. Very drunk, very cool.
3) Circa 2002 -- end up in Fort Lauderdale with some clients trying to negotiate a new contract. At the end of the day one says, "Hey, I have a boat we can take out tonight." Go to the beach store and buy some shorts and some sandals. It is 95 degrees and you put 95 percent ice in your drink and it is melted in 10 minutes. So you just drink faster. Awesome night.
4) Circa 2005 -- in Cincinnati arbitrating a case, the client's wife decides he and I need to take a night off (and so does she). We go to Kentucky and have dinner and drinks, then we go walk down toward the Ohio River. 80 degrees, perfect night.
There are a few honorable mentions (Hamel rodeo outing in 1988; Omaha baseball outing in 2007; Wrigley outing with K in some year -- late 1990s? Final 4 outing with RKG in 2000).
Common thread -- last minute decisions which turned out really great. Nothing super awesome happened (I didn't win money or make a big life decision or anything), but it is why we live our life -- a really good time that we will always remember.
1) 1985 -- Georgetown v. Villanova -- I was living at the Hotel Wellington in Albany, NY. My college roommate was somehow in town and he called in the afternoon to see if I would be around to watch the game. We had a keg left over from some party we had over the weekend and it was in ice in the empty room next to mine. We watched and drank so much beer it is a miracle I remember the game at all. Awesome night.
2) 1988 -- Kansas v. Oklahoma -- it is my 24th birthday and I ask everyone I know if they will come watch the NCAA title game with me. No. What the F? I don't want to beg anyone by telling them it is my birthday, so I end up just deciding to watch the game with my girlfriend. Incredibly horrible night -- then we get to her place and they are having a surprise party for me. Watch Manning beat up on Stacy King. Very drunk, very cool.
3) Circa 2002 -- end up in Fort Lauderdale with some clients trying to negotiate a new contract. At the end of the day one says, "Hey, I have a boat we can take out tonight." Go to the beach store and buy some shorts and some sandals. It is 95 degrees and you put 95 percent ice in your drink and it is melted in 10 minutes. So you just drink faster. Awesome night.
4) Circa 2005 -- in Cincinnati arbitrating a case, the client's wife decides he and I need to take a night off (and so does she). We go to Kentucky and have dinner and drinks, then we go walk down toward the Ohio River. 80 degrees, perfect night.
There are a few honorable mentions (Hamel rodeo outing in 1988; Omaha baseball outing in 2007; Wrigley outing with K in some year -- late 1990s? Final 4 outing with RKG in 2000).
Common thread -- last minute decisions which turned out really great. Nothing super awesome happened (I didn't win money or make a big life decision or anything), but it is why we live our life -- a really good time that we will always remember.
Twins Kick White Sox Ass in Metrodome......Again
Ozzie was not that upset -- apparently pre-occupied with something else!!
See the clip below to hear the chorus of the song that was playing in the Twins clubhouse all series long!!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Bill Simmons -- Iverson is a Top 30 Player, All-time
tell me why everyone is so willing to count out one of the best 30 basketball players of all time, as well as one of the greatest pure athletes in the history of sports, at the tender age of 34 when he has something to prove. We have not heard the last from him. Just wait. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090728
Whoa! Not a top 30 guard, or a top 30 scorer, but a top 30 PLAYER all-time. So, if you had a two-team all-time player league and you got an expansion franchise and got to pick 12 guys, Iverson would be selected by you with your #6 pick.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Zero titles. Only once ever close. As his career has gone on his presence has basically assured that his team will get worse. http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/really-the-answer-is-iverson/ The guys at Wages of wins have always asserted that he not only is overrated -- they say he is an average to slightly above average player: http://www.wagesofwins.com/Iverson.html
But let's just go with it -- if you had to pick a guy for your team, would you want Iverson or.........
(I took this from a list on-line):
1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Larry Bird
6. Magic Johnson
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Tim Duncan
9. Karl Malone
10. Kobe Bryant
11. Bob Pettit
12. Oscar Robertson
13. Jerry West
14. Elgin Baylor
15. Hakeem Olajuwon
16. David Robinson
17. Kevin Garnett
18. Bob Cousy
19. Moses Malone
20. John Havlicek
These 20 guys are so far above AI, it doesn't even bear much comment or comparison.
21. Charles Barkley
22. LeBron James
23. George Mikan
24. Julius Erving
25. Isiah Thomas
26. Scottie Pippen
27. Bob McAdoo
28. Dolph Schayes
29. Elvin Hayes
30. Patrick Ewing
31. Dirk Nowitzki
32. Paul Arizin
33. Willis Reed
34. Vern Mikkelsen
35. Clyde Drexler
36. Steve Nash
37. George Gervin
38. Dominique Wilkins
39. Rick Barry
40. Jason Kidd
41. Gary Payton
42. Bill Sharman
43. Tracy McGrady
44. Walt Frazier
45. Jerry Lucas
46. Hal Greer
47. Pete Maravich
48. John Stockton
49. Paul Pierce
50. Ray Allen
And I have left off old-timer players like Sam Jones and Tom Heinsohn and Slater Martin because I have no point of comparison.
I have also left off players like Adrian Dantley and Joe Dumars and guys with multiple titles like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. I have left off Dwyane Wade and a young guy like Dwight Howard.
It would appear to me that Iverson belongs down with guys like these:
Tiny Archibald
Robert Parish
Billy Cunningham
Bob Lanier
Dave DeBusschere
Chris Webber
Lenny Wilkens
Kevin McHale
Dave Bing
Vince Carter
Alonzo Mourning
Bailey Howell
Alex English
Grant Hill
Bernard King
All excellent players, just not top 50 guys. Iverson has put up such gaudy stats as a player because: 1) he is an unbelievable ball hog (his usage rate is #2 all-time), and 2) of all guys who started their career after 1990, he ranks #1 in minutes per game. The only other recent guys in the top 15 all-time? LeBron and Latrell Sprewell.
AI a top 30 player? Um, no.
Whoa! Not a top 30 guard, or a top 30 scorer, but a top 30 PLAYER all-time. So, if you had a two-team all-time player league and you got an expansion franchise and got to pick 12 guys, Iverson would be selected by you with your #6 pick.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Zero titles. Only once ever close. As his career has gone on his presence has basically assured that his team will get worse. http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/really-the-answer-is-iverson/ The guys at Wages of wins have always asserted that he not only is overrated -- they say he is an average to slightly above average player: http://www.wagesofwins.com/Iverson.html
But let's just go with it -- if you had to pick a guy for your team, would you want Iverson or.........
(I took this from a list on-line):
1. Michael Jordan
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Larry Bird
6. Magic Johnson
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Tim Duncan
9. Karl Malone
10. Kobe Bryant
11. Bob Pettit
12. Oscar Robertson
13. Jerry West
14. Elgin Baylor
15. Hakeem Olajuwon
16. David Robinson
17. Kevin Garnett
18. Bob Cousy
19. Moses Malone
20. John Havlicek
These 20 guys are so far above AI, it doesn't even bear much comment or comparison.
21. Charles Barkley
22. LeBron James
23. George Mikan
24. Julius Erving
25. Isiah Thomas
26. Scottie Pippen
27. Bob McAdoo
28. Dolph Schayes
29. Elvin Hayes
30. Patrick Ewing
31. Dirk Nowitzki
32. Paul Arizin
33. Willis Reed
34. Vern Mikkelsen
35. Clyde Drexler
36. Steve Nash
37. George Gervin
38. Dominique Wilkins
39. Rick Barry
40. Jason Kidd
41. Gary Payton
42. Bill Sharman
43. Tracy McGrady
44. Walt Frazier
45. Jerry Lucas
46. Hal Greer
47. Pete Maravich
48. John Stockton
49. Paul Pierce
50. Ray Allen
And I have left off old-timer players like Sam Jones and Tom Heinsohn and Slater Martin because I have no point of comparison.
I have also left off players like Adrian Dantley and Joe Dumars and guys with multiple titles like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. I have left off Dwyane Wade and a young guy like Dwight Howard.
It would appear to me that Iverson belongs down with guys like these:
Tiny Archibald
Robert Parish
Billy Cunningham
Bob Lanier
Dave DeBusschere
Chris Webber
Lenny Wilkens
Kevin McHale
Dave Bing
Vince Carter
Alonzo Mourning
Bailey Howell
Alex English
Grant Hill
Bernard King
All excellent players, just not top 50 guys. Iverson has put up such gaudy stats as a player because: 1) he is an unbelievable ball hog (his usage rate is #2 all-time), and 2) of all guys who started their career after 1990, he ranks #1 in minutes per game. The only other recent guys in the top 15 all-time? LeBron and Latrell Sprewell.
AI a top 30 player? Um, no.
Brett Favre -- Re-Quitter
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/51926357.html?elr=KArksUUUU
Let me write this in good-old upstate NY language so that the ignorant fella from Mississippi can understand it (if someone reads it to him):
Has there ever been a bigger pussy than Brett Favre? I mean, really. Here is a guy who doesn't want to work. He wants to show up after all of the hard work of training camp is over, not watch film, not compete for a job, but be handed a starting job 10 seconds before Game 1.
And of course he wants Randy Moss to be his receiver and he wants a good running game and a great offensive line and a great defense.
Then he wants you Vikings fans to kneel down and perform oral sex on him after "he" leads your team to 3 more wins than Sage Rosenfels can provide.
But you know what -- he is too much of a puss to do even THAT, I would bet. "Oh, I can't go up to cold Minnesota. I like it down here in Hicksville, Mississippi where we take our whiskey and Vicodin straight!"
So what you have here is a washed-up soon-to-be-40 year old guy who has decided (for a couple weeks at least) that he is too much of a pansy to take NFL-level conditioning.
There was a time eons ago, for a 3 year period, where Brett Favre was the Michael Jordan of football. Those days are long gone -- he is now the Michele Bachmann of football: a crazy whack-job who loves attention and has no frigging idea what he is doing. But that does not keep either one from dominating the media with nonsensical actions.
Congrats, Brett. Enjoy Hattiesburg in the winter. I hear they may actually get a library if the federal government will just pick up the tab. Maybe some of your humanitarian efforts can get the poverty rate down below 25% some day.
Let me write this in good-old upstate NY language so that the ignorant fella from Mississippi can understand it (if someone reads it to him):
Has there ever been a bigger pussy than Brett Favre? I mean, really. Here is a guy who doesn't want to work. He wants to show up after all of the hard work of training camp is over, not watch film, not compete for a job, but be handed a starting job 10 seconds before Game 1.
And of course he wants Randy Moss to be his receiver and he wants a good running game and a great offensive line and a great defense.
Then he wants you Vikings fans to kneel down and perform oral sex on him after "he" leads your team to 3 more wins than Sage Rosenfels can provide.
But you know what -- he is too much of a puss to do even THAT, I would bet. "Oh, I can't go up to cold Minnesota. I like it down here in Hicksville, Mississippi where we take our whiskey and Vicodin straight!"
So what you have here is a washed-up soon-to-be-40 year old guy who has decided (for a couple weeks at least) that he is too much of a pansy to take NFL-level conditioning.
There was a time eons ago, for a 3 year period, where Brett Favre was the Michael Jordan of football. Those days are long gone -- he is now the Michele Bachmann of football: a crazy whack-job who loves attention and has no frigging idea what he is doing. But that does not keep either one from dominating the media with nonsensical actions.
Congrats, Brett. Enjoy Hattiesburg in the winter. I hear they may actually get a library if the federal government will just pick up the tab. Maybe some of your humanitarian efforts can get the poverty rate down below 25% some day.
Fox -- "No Go" To Family Guy Abortion Episode
http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2009/07/28/9361/aborted!
Let's see, we have a show where they have as primary characters: a drunk dog who has sex with women and who hates blacks, a gay baby who wants to kill his mother, a 16 year old girl who dated a TV newscaster and made out with the dog before stalking him and making him a pie with her hair in it, a parapalegic cop who is constantly the butt of jokes, a wacky neighbor guy who films women while they are pooping, a child molester who constantly hits on the primary young male character, a wife who did cocaine and admits to doing every member of Kiss, and the lead male character who once made a religion based upon worshipping The Fonz.
So yeah, I can see why there might be some topic too hot for Fox to handle here. I mean, maybe they can run a new episode of "The Handi-Quacks" instead. I would watch. http://hoopramblings.blogspot.com/2009/07/greatest-cartoon-to-never-make-tv.html
Let's see, we have a show where they have as primary characters: a drunk dog who has sex with women and who hates blacks, a gay baby who wants to kill his mother, a 16 year old girl who dated a TV newscaster and made out with the dog before stalking him and making him a pie with her hair in it, a parapalegic cop who is constantly the butt of jokes, a wacky neighbor guy who films women while they are pooping, a child molester who constantly hits on the primary young male character, a wife who did cocaine and admits to doing every member of Kiss, and the lead male character who once made a religion based upon worshipping The Fonz.
So yeah, I can see why there might be some topic too hot for Fox to handle here. I mean, maybe they can run a new episode of "The Handi-Quacks" instead. I would watch. http://hoopramblings.blogspot.com/2009/07/greatest-cartoon-to-never-make-tv.html
Christine Brennan -- Erin Andrews Is Pretty, So She Was Asking For It
Christine Brennan, a sports columnist for USA Today, suggested yesterday that Erin Andrews, who was recently the victim of a peeping tom video, was partly to blame for what happened to her.
ABC reported:
"If you trade off your sex appeal, if you trade off your looks, eventually you're going to lose those," USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan said Wednesday on the sports radio show 850 "The Buzz." "She doesn't deserve what happened to her, but part of the shtick, seems to me, is being a little bit out there in a way that then are you encouraging the complete nutcase to drill a hole in a room.
"If you trade off your sex appeal, if you trade off your looks, eventually you're going to lose those," USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan said Wednesday on the sports radio show 850 "The Buzz." "She doesn't deserve what happened to her, but part of the shtick, seems to me, is being a little bit out there in a way that then are you encouraging the complete nutcase to drill a hole in a room.
Unfortunately, Brennan's comments were taken out of context. But I have been able to locate the text that was deleted inadvertently by someone:
"She goes around with all that blonde hair and that tiny little waist and she thinks she is all hot and whatever. And guys want to do her. So she shakes her cute little ass and bounces her little fun bags all around on TV and then she has the balls to complain when some normal guy just takes out a "reverse peephole" camera and films her in her hotel room. Not only does the little Miss Priss deserve it, she probably wanted it, no, I think the phrase is "asked for it." You shake all that blonde hair all around on TV and guys are going to pick up on the fact that you want to do each and every one of them. I wouldn't have blamed the guy outside her room if he had just broken in and taken what she obviously is offering every guy in America on every TV broadcast."
Brennan didn't actually say that? Well, she might as well have......
Any male sportswriter would be serving his suspension right now.
Comparing Tyson Chandler and Emeka Okafor
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-42-127/Comparing-Tyson-Chandler-and-Emeka-Okafor.html
For the guy in this item who doesn't understand why the Hornets were better with Chandler on the floor, I offer these two words -- "Alley" and "Oop." When Chris Paul drove the lane with Chandler on the floor, a center had two options -- allow Paul a layup, or allow Chandler a dunk. With Chandler off the floor, the opposing big man had two options -- allow Paul a layup, or force Sean Marks to catch the ball and try to make a layup. Everyone chose option #2.
I have to give the Hornets some credit -- last year they surrendered Chandler for nothing (only to get him back when he failed his physical). This year they got an NBA starter in his prime for Chandler. Sure Okafor has an endless contract, but at least the Hornets are trying, unlike, say, the Minnesota Twins.
For the guy in this item who doesn't understand why the Hornets were better with Chandler on the floor, I offer these two words -- "Alley" and "Oop." When Chris Paul drove the lane with Chandler on the floor, a center had two options -- allow Paul a layup, or allow Chandler a dunk. With Chandler off the floor, the opposing big man had two options -- allow Paul a layup, or force Sean Marks to catch the ball and try to make a layup. Everyone chose option #2.
I have to give the Hornets some credit -- last year they surrendered Chandler for nothing (only to get him back when he failed his physical). This year they got an NBA starter in his prime for Chandler. Sure Okafor has an endless contract, but at least the Hornets are trying, unlike, say, the Minnesota Twins.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wolves Acquire Damian Wilkins and Chucky Atkins
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Minnesota_Acquires_Damien_Wilk-090727.html
Um, OK. I used to believe that the Uwe Blab/Mike Smrek deal was the most meaningless deal in NBA history, but now.....
Etan Thomas (worthless) for Damina Wilkins (worthless) and Chucky Atkins (everyone's favorite third point guard)???????
I guess that the Wolves were able to drop a power forward (now down to 4, that is probably a good level since they play Al Jefferson at center), and I guess it is good to have a guy at PG who has actually played an NBA game -- not to mention his tremendous accolades listed in the attached article (1999 second-team all-rookie; starter on the 1995 World University Games team!!!).
And it looks like the Wolves took on only about $6.9MM in salary while dumping about $7.4MM. So they shed a few bucks (maybe the $500K can go toward hiring a coach?).
Winner in the trade? I guess Minnesota (keeping up our winning streak of 3 straight trade winners).
Thunder -- C minus -- I know you are remarkably soft up front (BJ Mullens and DJ White anyone?) and these guys are not gonna play much behind Westbrook/Harden/Green/Durant, but Etan Thomas? I guess in the 2 years out of 6 that Etan is able to actually play, he will give you some fouls and some shot blocking.....but still???? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomaet01.html
Wolves -- C -- they needed some veteran to play point guard in the event that their rookies fell apart. Probably all of the coaching candidates mentioned "How in the hell do you except me to play a 5'11" rookie for 40 minutes a night?" Enter Atkins. Chucky has always been a good ballhandler. He also LOVES the 3 (his shooting percentage every year sucks because basically half of his shots are 3s). Wilkins? Well, for an athletic player, he is remarkably unproductive. His Offensive Rating is under 100 (which is terrible) and his defensive rating is 111 (which is mediocre to below average). http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilkida02.html
Wilkins over a 36 minute stretch has been remarkably consistent and mediocre (13 points, 5 rebounds, 2.5 assists). So why pick him up? Well, in his only full year as a player, Corey Brewer's Offensive Rating was......................wait for it..............91. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/breweco01.html It is almost impossible for a swingman to reach 91 as an offensive rating. The league leader is generally around 125.
So Wilkins and Atkins are insurance for the young guys sucking. Plus we still have Darius Songaila to take up backup PF minutes.
Um, OK. I used to believe that the Uwe Blab/Mike Smrek deal was the most meaningless deal in NBA history, but now.....
Etan Thomas (worthless) for Damina Wilkins (worthless) and Chucky Atkins (everyone's favorite third point guard)???????
I guess that the Wolves were able to drop a power forward (now down to 4, that is probably a good level since they play Al Jefferson at center), and I guess it is good to have a guy at PG who has actually played an NBA game -- not to mention his tremendous accolades listed in the attached article (1999 second-team all-rookie; starter on the 1995 World University Games team!!!).
And it looks like the Wolves took on only about $6.9MM in salary while dumping about $7.4MM. So they shed a few bucks (maybe the $500K can go toward hiring a coach?).
Winner in the trade? I guess Minnesota (keeping up our winning streak of 3 straight trade winners).
Thunder -- C minus -- I know you are remarkably soft up front (BJ Mullens and DJ White anyone?) and these guys are not gonna play much behind Westbrook/Harden/Green/Durant, but Etan Thomas? I guess in the 2 years out of 6 that Etan is able to actually play, he will give you some fouls and some shot blocking.....but still???? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomaet01.html
Wolves -- C -- they needed some veteran to play point guard in the event that their rookies fell apart. Probably all of the coaching candidates mentioned "How in the hell do you except me to play a 5'11" rookie for 40 minutes a night?" Enter Atkins. Chucky has always been a good ballhandler. He also LOVES the 3 (his shooting percentage every year sucks because basically half of his shots are 3s). Wilkins? Well, for an athletic player, he is remarkably unproductive. His Offensive Rating is under 100 (which is terrible) and his defensive rating is 111 (which is mediocre to below average). http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilkida02.html
Wilkins over a 36 minute stretch has been remarkably consistent and mediocre (13 points, 5 rebounds, 2.5 assists). So why pick him up? Well, in his only full year as a player, Corey Brewer's Offensive Rating was......................wait for it..............91. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/breweco01.html It is almost impossible for a swingman to reach 91 as an offensive rating. The league leader is generally around 125.
So Wilkins and Atkins are insurance for the young guys sucking. Plus we still have Darius Songaila to take up backup PF minutes.
Top 10 Broadcaster Salaries
List of 12 Top-Earning Personalities (per AOL):
1. Oprah Winfrey -- $275 million -- any black woman who can get my mom to watch her show has performed a miracle.
Rating -- 10 stars (out of 10). Worth every dollar.
2. Dr. Phil McGraw -- $80 million -- has there ever been anyone with less to say who got paid more to say it? His best schtick? "Yeah, you are fat and you cheated on your wife with her sister and her mom. Don't blame society, blame yourself." Response -- "God bless you Dr. Phil. I never thought of it that way!"
Rating -- 2 stars -- Have we sunk so low as a society that we have no one willing to blandly tell us our faults unless we pay them $80MM annually?
3. Simon Cowell -- $75 million -- while an argument could be made that he is similar to McGraw (rips folks who are bad at what they do), look around at every other judged TV reality show. Is there anyone whose opinion matters as much as Cowell's? Even the people who are hired and just asked to be "Our version of Simon Cowell"?
Rating -- 9 stars. If you watch Idol and find yourself saying "I agree with Randy and Paula instead of Simon" more than twice a year, seek counseling immediately.
4. Howard Stern -- $70 million -- a guy with serious mental and emotional issues has managed to become a voice for east coast city-folk. He is basically the OPPOSITE of McGraw (who gets paid for telling idiots they are idiots). Stern just presents these people who are on the fringe of our society and let's us make our own assessments. He also takes famous people and reveals their seedier side just by saying, "Oh come on. Tell me how many chicks you banged while married to _______."
Rating -- 7 stars
5. Rush Limbaugh -- $54 million -- enormous self-important gas bag. There are even conservative radio folk who are way, way better to listen to. He gets paid to read GOP talking points 99% of the time. The other 1% is when he determines that the GOP points do not go far enough down the "least common denominator" ladder.
Rating -- 4 stars -- his work is slightly harder than McGraw's.
6. Donald Trump -- $50 million -- "You are fired!" There, I said it. Now give me $50MM.
Rating -- 2 stars -- he built his name, sure, but what he actually DOES right NOW to earn his money? Not much.
7. David Letterman (tie) -- $45 million -- I must admit that I abandoned Dave in favor of the less quirky, easier to fall asleep to Jay Leno. But now I have abandoned Conan in favor of the (...)
Rating -- 7 -- in the early late-night days, he was so amazing. Now he wins my affection by being the blander, safer choice.
7. Judge Judy (tie) -- $45 million -- Amazing.
Rating -- 1. I am basically speechless.
9. Ryan Seacrest -- $38 million -- say what you will about the metrosexual, his is a key cog on Idol (I mean, with the three judges, you need a really, really, bland inoffensive type -- Seacrest). Simon Cowell once noted that Seacrest was the master of knowing his limitations. While this is hardly a compliment, it may actually be the truest thing ever said about our generation's Dick Clark.
Rating -- 9. Would have been 10 if he had managed to find a job for Brian Dunkleman.
10. Ellen DeGeneres -- $35 million -- Sort of like Oprah, except substitute "gay" for "black." BUT my mom will not watch her. So she gets dropped a few points. Used to be a decent comedienne, but now is so bland that she makes Letterman look like an NYC performance artist.
Rating --5
11. Jay Leno -- $32 million -- Knew his job and did it well. After all, was Johnny Carson really that great? I mean, Leno wasn't allowed to do a nightly skit featuring tit jokes for 5 minutes.
Rating -- 7
12. Tyra Banks -- $30 million -- now if she would only take some of that $30MM and regain the body she had in the "Little Penny" commercials circa 1994. You make $30MM a year, Tyra. Don't give up on your body so completely that you make ME look like I am trying!
Rating -- 7 -- my daughters cannot get enough of "Top Model" so I guess she must be doing something right.
1. Oprah Winfrey -- $275 million -- any black woman who can get my mom to watch her show has performed a miracle.
Rating -- 10 stars (out of 10). Worth every dollar.
2. Dr. Phil McGraw -- $80 million -- has there ever been anyone with less to say who got paid more to say it? His best schtick? "Yeah, you are fat and you cheated on your wife with her sister and her mom. Don't blame society, blame yourself." Response -- "God bless you Dr. Phil. I never thought of it that way!"
Rating -- 2 stars -- Have we sunk so low as a society that we have no one willing to blandly tell us our faults unless we pay them $80MM annually?
3. Simon Cowell -- $75 million -- while an argument could be made that he is similar to McGraw (rips folks who are bad at what they do), look around at every other judged TV reality show. Is there anyone whose opinion matters as much as Cowell's? Even the people who are hired and just asked to be "Our version of Simon Cowell"?
Rating -- 9 stars. If you watch Idol and find yourself saying "I agree with Randy and Paula instead of Simon" more than twice a year, seek counseling immediately.
4. Howard Stern -- $70 million -- a guy with serious mental and emotional issues has managed to become a voice for east coast city-folk. He is basically the OPPOSITE of McGraw (who gets paid for telling idiots they are idiots). Stern just presents these people who are on the fringe of our society and let's us make our own assessments. He also takes famous people and reveals their seedier side just by saying, "Oh come on. Tell me how many chicks you banged while married to _______."
Rating -- 7 stars
5. Rush Limbaugh -- $54 million -- enormous self-important gas bag. There are even conservative radio folk who are way, way better to listen to. He gets paid to read GOP talking points 99% of the time. The other 1% is when he determines that the GOP points do not go far enough down the "least common denominator" ladder.
Rating -- 4 stars -- his work is slightly harder than McGraw's.
6. Donald Trump -- $50 million -- "You are fired!" There, I said it. Now give me $50MM.
Rating -- 2 stars -- he built his name, sure, but what he actually DOES right NOW to earn his money? Not much.
7. David Letterman (tie) -- $45 million -- I must admit that I abandoned Dave in favor of the less quirky, easier to fall asleep to Jay Leno. But now I have abandoned Conan in favor of the (...)
Rating -- 7 -- in the early late-night days, he was so amazing. Now he wins my affection by being the blander, safer choice.
7. Judge Judy (tie) -- $45 million -- Amazing.
Rating -- 1. I am basically speechless.
9. Ryan Seacrest -- $38 million -- say what you will about the metrosexual, his is a key cog on Idol (I mean, with the three judges, you need a really, really, bland inoffensive type -- Seacrest). Simon Cowell once noted that Seacrest was the master of knowing his limitations. While this is hardly a compliment, it may actually be the truest thing ever said about our generation's Dick Clark.
Rating -- 9. Would have been 10 if he had managed to find a job for Brian Dunkleman.
10. Ellen DeGeneres -- $35 million -- Sort of like Oprah, except substitute "gay" for "black." BUT my mom will not watch her. So she gets dropped a few points. Used to be a decent comedienne, but now is so bland that she makes Letterman look like an NYC performance artist.
Rating --5
11. Jay Leno -- $32 million -- Knew his job and did it well. After all, was Johnny Carson really that great? I mean, Leno wasn't allowed to do a nightly skit featuring tit jokes for 5 minutes.
Rating -- 7
12. Tyra Banks -- $30 million -- now if she would only take some of that $30MM and regain the body she had in the "Little Penny" commercials circa 1994. You make $30MM a year, Tyra. Don't give up on your body so completely that you make ME look like I am trying!
Rating -- 7 -- my daughters cannot get enough of "Top Model" so I guess she must be doing something right.
My Trip to The Kolacky Days Queen Contest
Since I own some land in ex-urban Minnesota, I like to head down whenever I get a chance to the nearest town -- Montgomery, MN. I took the family this year for our second trip to Kolacky Days, the annual Montgomery festival. A kolacky (alternative spelling -- kolache) is basically just a bun stuffed with some sort of filling (traditionally poppy seed or prune, but I prefer raspberry or apple). But this year I got the girls to attend the pageant for the Kolacky Days queen.
First -- $25 for the three of us to get in. Yikes. Um, money maker. I almost asked whether I got a free foreclosed house with a paid admission.
Second -- I have always really wanted my kids to grow up in the country, but to say that the high school auditorium is old and crappy would be, well, the truth. I sat in the back corner -- I thought I was getting black lung disease.
Third -- there is something just so solid about a small town. They had 30 past queens in attendance. For example, the 1949 and 1950 queens were there. Here is all you need to know about pageant contestants: 2005 and 2007 winners had the same last name, they looked alike, they had to be relatives (sisters or cousins). They didn't sit together because they made sure the 2006 winner sat in between for purposes of introductions. Wow. The older queens -- they sat wherever they wanted so they could see the stage better.
Fourth -- I actually was amazed at who won. I mean, I figured it was fixed like any other beauty pageant and the prettiest blonde girl would win. Nope. Good for you, Kolacky Days, good for you.
Fifth -- A couple MC jokes -- "My wife put her bra on backwards this morning...and it fit better!!" "The state trooper says, 'OK, if you can give me a good excuse for speeding, I will let you off with a warning.' Then the speeder said, 'My wife ran away with a state trooper 3 years ago and I thought you were bringing her back.'"
"On the morning of her birthday the man's wife said she wished she were 6 again. The guy took her to an amusement park and the movies and then asked how he had done in making her feel 6 again. The woman replied -- I meant a SIZE 6 you retard." Not often you hear a joke anymore that uses the word retard....thank goodness.
Overall experience -- 8 out of 10. I asked the girls if they wanted to come back next year. "OF course. I have to see who wins!"
First -- $25 for the three of us to get in. Yikes. Um, money maker. I almost asked whether I got a free foreclosed house with a paid admission.
Second -- I have always really wanted my kids to grow up in the country, but to say that the high school auditorium is old and crappy would be, well, the truth. I sat in the back corner -- I thought I was getting black lung disease.
Third -- there is something just so solid about a small town. They had 30 past queens in attendance. For example, the 1949 and 1950 queens were there. Here is all you need to know about pageant contestants: 2005 and 2007 winners had the same last name, they looked alike, they had to be relatives (sisters or cousins). They didn't sit together because they made sure the 2006 winner sat in between for purposes of introductions. Wow. The older queens -- they sat wherever they wanted so they could see the stage better.
Fourth -- I actually was amazed at who won. I mean, I figured it was fixed like any other beauty pageant and the prettiest blonde girl would win. Nope. Good for you, Kolacky Days, good for you.
Fifth -- A couple MC jokes -- "My wife put her bra on backwards this morning...and it fit better!!" "The state trooper says, 'OK, if you can give me a good excuse for speeding, I will let you off with a warning.' Then the speeder said, 'My wife ran away with a state trooper 3 years ago and I thought you were bringing her back.'"
"On the morning of her birthday the man's wife said she wished she were 6 again. The guy took her to an amusement park and the movies and then asked how he had done in making her feel 6 again. The woman replied -- I meant a SIZE 6 you retard." Not often you hear a joke anymore that uses the word retard....thank goodness.
Overall experience -- 8 out of 10. I asked the girls if they wanted to come back next year. "OF course. I have to see who wins!"
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Quarterbacks Since 1980 to Post a Zero Passer Rating For a Game (10+ attempts)
Quarterback CP AT YD INT Notes
Todd Marinovich 3 10 25 3 Last career NFL game played
Tommy Maddox 6 23 49 3
Dave Brown 3 11 31 2
Kent Graham 4 14 40 2
Tony Graziani 4 18 24 2 1st career start
Trent Dilfer 2 15 38 2
Ryan Leaf 1 15 4 2
Scott Mitchell 4 16 39 2
Anthony Wright 5 20 35 2
Randy Fasani 5 18 46 3 Only career start
Tim Hasselbeck 6 26 56 4
Jeff Garcia 8 27 71 3
Eli Manning 4 18 27 2
Joey Harrington 5 17 20 2
Rex Grossman 2 12 33 3
Chris Redman 4 15 34 2
How absolutely terrible are these performances? Well, I looked up Spurgeon Wynn's 2 starts with the Vikings -- ratings of 23.2 and 20. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WynnSp00_games.htm He had a chance at a zero against the Packers, but managed to throw a TD in that game (ruining his 0 rating). Against Baltimore, Wynn did engineer a 19-3 loss and go 13-29 for 86 yards and 2 picks, but those 13 completions were just too good to reach a 0 rating (even though he did average a paltry 3 yards per pass attempt).
So what do you need for a 0 passer rating? Well, the best game on the list appears to be Jeff Garcia's 8 of 27. So you need to complete less than 30% of your passes. No zero rated passer has achieved 3 yards per attempt. And every single guy has throw at least 2 picks with no TD's.
So, Wynn failed to get under 30% in either Viking start and he managed to eke out 3 yards per attempt both times. Plus he had that one unfortunate TD (47 yards to Byron Chamberlain -- his stats the rest of the game? 10 of 29 for 67 yards and 3 picks).
CONCLUSION -- You really, really, really have to suck in a game to get a 0 passer rating for that game.
United Football League
With the signing of horrible Bills suckman J.P. Losman, it looks like the United Football league is really steaming toward, well, complete oblivion. But for you TRUE football geeks, here is the list of guys "drafted" by the UFL in June (I am not sure you can call a secretive behind-closed-doors deal where 4 guys sit around a table and pick any sort of professional "draft" (more like a fantasy football league party), but you get the point).
http://uflaccess.com/uflaccess/breaking-full-ufl-draft-player-list/
Could Losman become the face of the league? I don't know, they also have Tim Rattay, who almost had a chance to back up Dan Orlovsky last year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Rattay
http://uflaccess.com/uflaccess/breaking-full-ufl-draft-player-list/
Could Losman become the face of the league? I don't know, they also have Tim Rattay, who almost had a chance to back up Dan Orlovsky last year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Rattay
Blake Griffin -- To Quote Rita Coolidge...
"Outside the rain begins; and it may never end":
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/07/blake-griffin-injured.html
Find Bill Simmons' article on the Clippers curse. Poor kid.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/07/blake-griffin-injured.html
Find Bill Simmons' article on the Clippers curse. Poor kid.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Text of Lawsuit Against Big Ben
http://www.rgj.com/assets/pdf/J7138957721.PDF
Well, I guess we now have her side of the story. Actually HOSPITALIZED for months!!
Well, I guess we now have her side of the story. Actually HOSPITALIZED for months!!
Baldwin Brother Files for Bankruptcy
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/death-taxes-and-baldwins-two-are-inescapable-and-guess-which/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl3link6http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walletpop.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F07%2F21%2Fdeath-taxes-and-baldwins-two-are-inescapable-and-guess-which%2F
In his defense, filing for BK protection helps him keep the future residuals from "Bio-Dome" and "The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas." So he will still be a billionaire after the BK is closed........I think.........
In his defense, filing for BK protection helps him keep the future residuals from "Bio-Dome" and "The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas." So he will still be a billionaire after the BK is closed........I think.........
Yo Quiero -- A Decent Dog Funeral
"Gidget" -- dead at 15. I might have to take PM to Taco Bell late tonight as a tribute....
Erin Andrews Article
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/21/erin-andrews-video-straddles-sports-cultures-sexual-fault-line/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl8link3http%3A%2F%2Fncaafootball.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F07%2F21%2Ferin-andrews-video-straddles-sports-cultures-sexual-fault-line%2F
The article is well written. But what amazes me most is that the author is married to a cheerleader who, while a Tennessee Titans cheerleader, did not believe that her primary purpose as a pro sports cheerleader was to titillate male fans. Wow. Are cheereleaders really this dumb?
The article is well written. But what amazes me most is that the author is married to a cheerleader who, while a Tennessee Titans cheerleader, did not believe that her primary purpose as a pro sports cheerleader was to titillate male fans. Wow. Are cheereleaders really this dumb?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
"Hey, My TV Isn't Working!"
Wanna take a quick look at it?
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/20123949/detail.html
And by "It" I definitely do NOT mean the TV!!!!!
Ben apparently is a huge Kobe Bryant fan. What next, we get to hear "That is my whole deal, ya know?" from Ben?
Natalie Gulbis apprently was unqualified at TV repair, so Ben and her had to split.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/20123949/detail.html
And by "It" I definitely do NOT mean the TV!!!!!
Ben apparently is a huge Kobe Bryant fan. What next, we get to hear "That is my whole deal, ya know?" from Ben?
Natalie Gulbis apprently was unqualified at TV repair, so Ben and her had to split.
A-Rod House Available At Fire Sale Prices
http://realestate.aol.com/resale-homes/181_Sunrise_Av-Coral_Gables-FL/mls-M1270295/1.flsemls-c2_M1270295
I bet he would even take $9MM if you acted quickly.
I bet he would even take $9MM if you acted quickly.
No Wonder Natalie Gulbis Dumped Ben
http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/roethlisberger-listed-as-defendant-in/580104?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl4link4http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanhouse.com%2Fnews%2Fmain%2Froethlisberger-listed-as-defendant-in%2F580104
Ben. come on, at least find some WILLING groupie to pleasure you!
Ben. come on, at least find some WILLING groupie to pleasure you!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mark Madsen's Twitters Show He Is Not Exactly Real Plugged Into the Pulse of the Wolves
confirmed-- I just got a text from my agent...I have been traded to the Clippers--I will miss Minnesota!!!about 1 hour ago from web
If Craig Smith, Sebastian Telfair and me to the Clippers is Real, then it's complete news to me!about 1 hour ago from web
If Craig Smith, Sebastian Telfair and me to the Clippers is Real, then it's complete news to me!about 1 hour ago from web
Wolves Acquire Quentin Richardson -- NBA Title Now On The Horizon??
Wolves deal Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen and Craig Smith to the Clippers for Quentin Richardson (whom the Clips just acquired to rid themselves of Zach Randolph's contract).
I guess this is what Mark Madsen meant when he twittered that David Kahn told him the Wolves would be "active" in the trade and free agent markets!!!
Good bye, Mark. For god's sake, retire and be a front office or PR guy. You have sucked $10MM out of the Wolves doing basically nothing but PR -- at least make it your official job.\
The Clips will cut Madsen and keep Telfair (an OK backup) and Smith (see Telfair).
The good thing about this is that Kahn can now tell Rubio that Kahn has cleared out one PG. Kahn has also traded 2 power forwards for a guy who eats like a power forward (Q) but who has become basically a one-dimensional 3 point shooter as the years have gone by.
Clippers -- D -- are they really that good that they need to strengthen their bench?
Wolves -- C minus -- at least it drops two guys off the active roster, including 2 PFs.
Wolves current roster (assuming Rubio comes):
3 PGs (Flynn, Rubio, Brown)
1 SG (Ellington)
2 swing men (Brewer, Q)
2 tweener forwards (Cardinal, Gomes)
5 PFs -- Jefferson, Love, Thomas, Songaila, Pecherov
0 Centers
So, yeah, at least you can ARGUE that you have some mid-sized players now. Certainly the Wolves are starved for shooting, so Q will get a chance to play some.
Amazingly, the trade makes the Wolves ......wait for it.....even WORSE defensively!!!!!!
Possible starters:
Brown
Q
Gomes
Love
Al
Is allowing 140 a game possible?
Friday Night Baseball Story
PM's squad has had a disappointing year (around .500) and they limped into the state tourney seeded 24th out of 32 teams.
So they start the tourney against a team from the south metro who has one of the top 4 pitchers in the state. The kid is also was the #1 7th grade player in the state in basketball (he played a year up last year and next year is expected to start for his varsity team as an 8th grader).
So I have to work Friday (game is at 4). I get text reports from my wife, AM. The other club is so unconcerned about us that they pitch the basketball player 2 innings and take him out (PM -- walk). We go up 2-1, against the backup, then they take the lead 3-2 and put basketball guy back in. Now this kid throws 80+. Bottom of 6. First guy draws a 3-2 walk. PM now up.
Wait for AM's text -- [PM] just hit a home run 300 yards over the center field fence. Our side of the stands is just going nuts.
Anyway, PM's ball landed between two trees about 315 feet from the fence (accepting that the fence was 300). They won that game and the next and tied the third game, so they advanced to the final 8. Where they lost.
But getting a top 8 finish when you have struggled all year is just short of a miracle (as was PM hitting a homer off the basketball kid over a 300 foot fence). PM ended his state tourney with 6 singles and a homer -- 7 for 12 with a walk, 7 RBI, 6 runs scored. He even pitched 2 scoreless innings (maybe more amazing than the home run).
A teammate's dad went up to the basketball kid's dad the next day and said, "Tough one last night, huh?" The basketball kid's dad said, "He was very sad, but I told him -- Son, how many times do you think you have sent some kid home very, very sad as a baseball and basketball player? 50? 100? For you this is one time. You need to understand that this happens and learn from it."
Good advice. No wonder the kid is so damn good.
HM
So they start the tourney against a team from the south metro who has one of the top 4 pitchers in the state. The kid is also was the #1 7th grade player in the state in basketball (he played a year up last year and next year is expected to start for his varsity team as an 8th grader).
So I have to work Friday (game is at 4). I get text reports from my wife, AM. The other club is so unconcerned about us that they pitch the basketball player 2 innings and take him out (PM -- walk). We go up 2-1, against the backup, then they take the lead 3-2 and put basketball guy back in. Now this kid throws 80+. Bottom of 6. First guy draws a 3-2 walk. PM now up.
Wait for AM's text -- [PM] just hit a home run 300 yards over the center field fence. Our side of the stands is just going nuts.
She meant, of course, 300 feet (not 900 feet) but still, pretty cool. Wish I had been there. We won in a huge upset 4-3.
I watched all of the games played at that field on Saturday. If these fences are 300 feet, they are measured from about 10 feet in front of home plate. I watched some big, big guys hit the ball very hard for 7 hours on Saturday. Not one guy reached the fence on the fly or one-hopped the fence. I saw a guy crush one to right about 100 feet in the air. Landed 10 feet short of the fence. Another reason I think the fences are mis-measured: the outfielders in every game were generally playing 60-90 feet short of the fence. You can put whatever sign you want on the front of the fence, but the coaches will get the outfielders playing where the ball is going to be hit eventually. Even the biggest guys (this is Minnesota, some kids were 6'3" some were 200 lbs., some were both) were being played a good 30-40 feet short of the fence.Anyway, PM's ball landed between two trees about 315 feet from the fence (accepting that the fence was 300). They won that game and the next and tied the third game, so they advanced to the final 8. Where they lost.
But getting a top 8 finish when you have struggled all year is just short of a miracle (as was PM hitting a homer off the basketball kid over a 300 foot fence). PM ended his state tourney with 6 singles and a homer -- 7 for 12 with a walk, 7 RBI, 6 runs scored. He even pitched 2 scoreless innings (maybe more amazing than the home run).
A teammate's dad went up to the basketball kid's dad the next day and said, "Tough one last night, huh?" The basketball kid's dad said, "He was very sad, but I told him -- Son, how many times do you think you have sent some kid home very, very sad as a baseball and basketball player? 50? 100? For you this is one time. You need to understand that this happens and learn from it."
Good advice. No wonder the kid is so damn good.
HM
Friday, July 17, 2009
Are Tiger's Fields In The Majors "Deeper" Than Jack's Were???
Jason Sobel in his British Open Blog on ESPN (which is supposed to be a "British Open" blog, but spent 85% of its time on Tiger Woods) was asked the following question:
Doesn't Old TW's showing so far give further credence to the belief that Jack Nicklaus had tougher competition during his prime than Young TW has today?
Doesn't Old TW's showing so far give further credence to the belief that Jack Nicklaus had tougher competition during his prime than Young TW has today?
Sobel's "Kiss Tiger's Ass" Response: Nope. I'm not buying it. Nicklaus had some much better rivals -- from Arnold Palmer to Gary Player to Lee Trevino to Tom Watson -- but the depths of fields weren't what they are today.
Back in the previous era, there were very few Angel Cabrera or Lucas Glover types who could step up and win a major. Did it happen sometimes? Sure, but not as often as today....
Why guess? Let's look it up -- that is why we have Wikipedia.
Jack's primary winning years were 1962-80. Sure, he won the 1986 Masters, but that 19 year stretch was his heyday.
Tiger started winning majors in 1997 and he continues to be the top player today. So let's look at him 1997-2009.
In 76 major tournaments 1962-1980, Jack won 17 major titles (22.3%): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_major_golf_championships. In 50 major tournament opportunities 1997 through 2009, Tiger won 14 times; since he also won't win this one, he is 14/51 = 27.5%, better than Jack.
Guys who beat Jack in a major and also reached more than 3 major titles? 7 guys: Ray Floyd 4, Peter Thomson 5, Seve 5, Lee Trevino 6, Arnold Palmer 7, Tom Watson 8, Gary Player 9.
Guys who beat Tiger in a major and who have more than 3 major titles: None. Nada. Zip.
So yeah, probably have to start your Tiger defense by admitting that his opponents aren't anywhere near as historically great as Jack's opponents.
So then let's examine the whole "gee anyone can win" argument. Take Jack's 76 major appearances in his best days and throw out Jack's wins and wins by guys who won at least twice during that period (in other words, repeat winners argue against "depth" of the field). Jack's Era had 24 one-shot winners -- meaning they beat Jack once and only once during that time period in a major.
Gay Brewer, Bob Goalby, George Archer, Charles Coody, Tommy Aaron, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ken Venturi, Orville Moody, Lou Graham, Jerry Pate, Hubert Green, Andy North, Bob Charles, Tony Lema, Peter Thomson, Roberto Devicienzo, Tom Weiskopf, Bobby Nichols, Dave Marr, Al Geiberger, Don January, Lanny Wadkins, John Mahaffey, David Graham
31.5% of the time a guy won who never beat Jack again.
Tiger has had 50 tourneys with a winner in the Tiger Era. 19 guys beat Tiger once and only once in a major:
Jose-Maria Olazabal, Mike Weir, Zach Johnson, Trevor Immelman, Lee Janzen, Payne Stewart, Jim Furyk, Michael Campbell, Geoff Ogilvie, Lucas Glover, Justin Leonard, Paul Lawrie, David Duval, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, David Love, David Toms, Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel.
So 19 out of 50 -- 38% of the time for one-shot winners.
So, are Tiger's fields "deeper"? Maybe, maybe not. Remember, Jack's Era covers 26 more tourneys than Tiger's. So is it possible that in 6+ years one or more of these 19 guys might get another major? Sure. If they do, then they come off the list (example, it took Ray Floyd from 1969 to 1976 to get 2 on Jack). Could Tiger go on a stretch where he wins a ton more or Vijay wins or Phil wins? Sure. Again, that reduces the field "depth" argument.
Conclusion based upon what we know now -- Tiger's fields may be deeper, if only marginally so.
But Who Had Tougher Competition?At the end of the day, think of this as an NBA question -- if you were an NBA player, would you have a better chance to win titles in a league that either a) featured Bird, Magic, Michael, Jordan, Malone, Stockton, Robinson and Ewing or b) featured Kobe, LeBron, Wade, and a bunch of guys who could every once in a while make the all-star team? You would certainly choose "b" where you basically only have to beat a couple guys each year.
Jack played against all-time greats, as well as one-time guys who won 31.5% of the time. Tiger played against decent players and one-shot guys who won 38% of the time.
Jack had much tougher competition.
Tom Watson -- Way Better Than Tiger Woods
While Briny Baird and DJ Trahan certainly did their job to suck, some guy named Edfors birdied 17 and got to +4.
Mayfair and Molder appear ready to end at +3 or better, and Wood, Weekley and Grace, if anything, seem to be getting better.
So it is goodbye for Tiger.
One question that is always asked is whether Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time? My reply for today:
At age 33, Tiger lost badly to Tom Watson, who will be 60 in early September. Very, very badly. 10 shots over 2 days. Who do you think would have won had they played in their respective primes? Watson wins by, what? 30 strokes?
HM
Mayfair and Molder appear ready to end at +3 or better, and Wood, Weekley and Grace, if anything, seem to be getting better.
So it is goodbye for Tiger.
One question that is always asked is whether Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time? My reply for today:
At age 33, Tiger lost badly to Tom Watson, who will be 60 in early September. Very, very badly. 10 shots over 2 days. Who do you think would have won had they played in their respective primes? Watson wins by, what? 30 strokes?
HM
Tiger Down to His Last Straw
Tiger did what I thought was 20% possible (for him) and birdied 16 and 17, parring 18.
He got to +5. Unfortunately, the course has stopped chewing up guys and spitting them out, and +4 is currently only good for 75th.
For Tiger to advance, he needs no one to move up from +5 and he needs 5 of the 6 guys listed below to collapse and finish +5 or worse:
DJ Trahan -- +4 Through 17
Bryce Molder -- +4 through 15
Billy Mayfair -- +3 through 13
Chris Wood -- +1 through 16
Boo Weekley -- Even through 16
Branden Grace -- minus 1 through 13.
In short, Tiger is screwed. I could see him ending up 72nd, but I doubt the final three guys finish anywhere near +5.
HM
He got to +5. Unfortunately, the course has stopped chewing up guys and spitting them out, and +4 is currently only good for 75th.
For Tiger to advance, he needs no one to move up from +5 and he needs 5 of the 6 guys listed below to collapse and finish +5 or worse:
DJ Trahan -- +4 Through 17
Bryce Molder -- +4 through 15
Billy Mayfair -- +3 through 13
Chris Wood -- +1 through 16
Boo Weekley -- Even through 16
Branden Grace -- minus 1 through 13.
In short, Tiger is screwed. I could see him ending up 72nd, but I doubt the final three guys finish anywhere near +5.
HM
Tiger Needs a Miracle to Make British Open Cut
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tournamentId=549
The British does not allow folks "within 10 shots of the lead" to get an automatic pass to the weekend. You need to be in the top 70 or tied for the top 70.
It is now 12:38 Central time. Tiger is at +7 with 16-18 to play. He is tied for 106th. There are 76 guys at +4 or better, and only 18 of them (barring some just awful complete train wreck like a quintuple bogey) have any chance to fall to +5 or worse.
So there are already 58 guys necessary to place the cut at +4 -- just need 12 more. Those 12 could either come from the 18 guys currently at +4 or better but who are still playing, or from someone at +5 or worse right now who comes on toward the end of the round.
There are already 8 guys finished at +5. Add that to 58, you get 66, then assume that at least 4 of those 18 guys at +4 or better don't fall below +5 (a pretty fair assumption).
So, looking at Tiger's chances of making the cut: I would put the chances of the cut line as follows:
+4 -- 46%
+5 -- 53.99%
+6 -- 0.01%
So Tiger has three holes to get to +5 or +4. He has to go at least -2 on these three holes.
Chances of him going -2 -- 20%
Chances of him going -3 or better -- 1%
So Tiger's current chances of making the cut:
10.8% + 4.6% = 15.4% plus some miniscule amount for the chance the cut might be +6.
HM
The British does not allow folks "within 10 shots of the lead" to get an automatic pass to the weekend. You need to be in the top 70 or tied for the top 70.
It is now 12:38 Central time. Tiger is at +7 with 16-18 to play. He is tied for 106th. There are 76 guys at +4 or better, and only 18 of them (barring some just awful complete train wreck like a quintuple bogey) have any chance to fall to +5 or worse.
So there are already 58 guys necessary to place the cut at +4 -- just need 12 more. Those 12 could either come from the 18 guys currently at +4 or better but who are still playing, or from someone at +5 or worse right now who comes on toward the end of the round.
There are already 8 guys finished at +5. Add that to 58, you get 66, then assume that at least 4 of those 18 guys at +4 or better don't fall below +5 (a pretty fair assumption).
So, looking at Tiger's chances of making the cut: I would put the chances of the cut line as follows:
+4 -- 46%
+5 -- 53.99%
+6 -- 0.01%
So Tiger has three holes to get to +5 or +4. He has to go at least -2 on these three holes.
Chances of him going -2 -- 20%
Chances of him going -3 or better -- 1%
So Tiger's current chances of making the cut:
10.8% + 4.6% = 15.4% plus some miniscule amount for the chance the cut might be +6.
HM
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Hey, Stop Stealing My Stuff!!!
Antoine Walker -- Accused Criminal
For once it is not his criminally-bad shot selection (John S., if you are reading, that is for you) that is at issue, but his unwillingness to make good over $800,000 in bounced checks.
Money made by Walker while an NBA player? Almost $100,000,000 (see bottom of that entry).
Well, that was a long time ago he made all that...........oh wait, he made over $8MM in 2007-08. Can't pay the casinos $800K?
Money made by Walker while an NBA player? Almost $100,000,000 (see bottom of that entry).
Well, that was a long time ago he made all that...........oh wait, he made over $8MM in 2007-08. Can't pay the casinos $800K?
Bernie Kosar "I Am 45.....And An Idiot"
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/07/14/bernie-kosar-at-25-i-thought-i-was-smart-now-im-45-and-know-i/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl2link4http%3A%2F%2Fnfl.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fbernie-kosar-at-25-i-thought-i-was-smart-now-im-45-and-know-i%2F
And no he is not talking about me......I don't think.......
Riddle me this, Batman: if you are basically on the verge of bankruptcy because your investments suck the big one so badly, why don't you simply GIVE your wife half of the worthless investments and not pay lawyers $5MM!!!!!!!!!!!! to end up in the same place???
Weird. But I guess not as weird as being 45 and having no idea (per Kosar) of how to operate a dishwasher.
And no he is not talking about me......I don't think.......
Riddle me this, Batman: if you are basically on the verge of bankruptcy because your investments suck the big one so badly, why don't you simply GIVE your wife half of the worthless investments and not pay lawyers $5MM!!!!!!!!!!!! to end up in the same place???
Weird. But I guess not as weird as being 45 and having no idea (per Kosar) of how to operate a dishwasher.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Voting Exercise
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/womens-iconic-swimsuit-mo_n_228201.html
Probably best to vote at home instead of during work hours.
Probably best to vote at home instead of during work hours.
NBA.com on Wolves coaching search
LAS VEGAS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves' deliberate coaching search will soon move into its next phase with ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Houston Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner expected to progress to the deciding round of interviews, according to NBA coaching sources.
There might be others who advance -- it's believed that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts could also be invited back
Terry Stotts? Really? Yikes.
Mark Jackson -- if his announcing is any indicator, he knows absolutely nothing about basketball.
Elston Turner -- hmmm, well, if you can find a 50 year old guy whose only head coaching experience is as a player-coach 20 years ago in the CBA, how can you not consider him?
Other candidates believed to have been interviewed by Kahn include former WNBA coach Bill Laimbeer, Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw and Monty Williams and Dean Demopoulos from the staff of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Laimbeer -- I see him as a no-lose choice. He desperately wants to escape the label of WNBA coach, and he would probably work for nothing. Plus he is entertaining as a TV interviewee. Imagine his salty comments after the Wolves lose 10 straight.
Shaw -- don't know much about his coaching record, but I was always impressed with him as a player
Williams -- I am afraid to hire a guy with a heart condition to lead a team which will surrender 120 points a game.
Demopoulos -- if Williams is the #1 assistant, how far have we sunk that we can only get the #2 guys?
A Guy Looking For a "Prom Date" Comparisons:
Jackson -- the crazy chick you used to put up with in your old school. You both have moved from your old school to the new school and you may be the other's only choice.
Rambis -- you see a cheerleader arguing with her boyfriend and you say, "Ah, might as well ask...."
Elston Turner -- Your mom says, "Why don't you ask that girl you knew 4 years ago? She might go with you."
Stotts -- Your little sister's friend who is 20-25 pounds overweight.
Laimbeer -- the mediocre-looking funny girl who everyone else is sorta freaked out by.
Shaw, Williams, Demopolous -- You are walking down the hall with a female friend who already has a date and she keeps saying, "How about her? Her? Her? She is nice, so is she, so is she.....Come on, you don't have a date yet!"
There might be others who advance -- it's believed that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts could also be invited back
Terry Stotts? Really? Yikes.
Mark Jackson -- if his announcing is any indicator, he knows absolutely nothing about basketball.
Elston Turner -- hmmm, well, if you can find a 50 year old guy whose only head coaching experience is as a player-coach 20 years ago in the CBA, how can you not consider him?
Other candidates believed to have been interviewed by Kahn include former WNBA coach Bill Laimbeer, Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw and Monty Williams and Dean Demopoulos from the staff of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Laimbeer -- I see him as a no-lose choice. He desperately wants to escape the label of WNBA coach, and he would probably work for nothing. Plus he is entertaining as a TV interviewee. Imagine his salty comments after the Wolves lose 10 straight.
Shaw -- don't know much about his coaching record, but I was always impressed with him as a player
Williams -- I am afraid to hire a guy with a heart condition to lead a team which will surrender 120 points a game.
Demopoulos -- if Williams is the #1 assistant, how far have we sunk that we can only get the #2 guys?
A Guy Looking For a "Prom Date" Comparisons:
Jackson -- the crazy chick you used to put up with in your old school. You both have moved from your old school to the new school and you may be the other's only choice.
Rambis -- you see a cheerleader arguing with her boyfriend and you say, "Ah, might as well ask...."
Elston Turner -- Your mom says, "Why don't you ask that girl you knew 4 years ago? She might go with you."
Stotts -- Your little sister's friend who is 20-25 pounds overweight.
Laimbeer -- the mediocre-looking funny girl who everyone else is sorta freaked out by.
Shaw, Williams, Demopolous -- You are walking down the hall with a female friend who already has a date and she keeps saying, "How about her? Her? Her? She is nice, so is she, so is she.....Come on, you don't have a date yet!"
More on Wolves Loss to NBDL Team
D-League Select 96, Minnesota 91: NBA.com reports:
Gary Forbes and Othyus Jeffers scored 20 points a piece for the Select team en route to the team’s first win against an NBA Summer League team... Forbes and Jeffers combined for 21 points in the half, while Jasper Johnson chipped in with 8 in the last two quarters and Coleman Collins added 13 of his own in the third and fourth.
NBDL's first win ever against an NBA summer league team.
Gary Forbes and Othyus Jeffers scored 20 points a piece for the Select team en route to the team’s first win against an NBA Summer League team... Forbes and Jeffers combined for 21 points in the half, while Jasper Johnson chipped in with 8 in the last two quarters and Coleman Collins added 13 of his own in the third and fourth.
NBDL's first win ever against an NBA summer league team.
Wolves lose to D-League Select Team
http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2009/07/13/nba_min_1520900013_recap.nba/
Ouch. You think that hurts? Try some of these other daggers on for size: Tyreke Evans -- 33 in a game for Sacto. Steph Curry -- 23 for the Warriors.
Corey Brewer -- playing against D League players -- 11 points 4 rebounds.
Ouch. You think that hurts? Try some of these other daggers on for size: Tyreke Evans -- 33 in a game for Sacto. Steph Curry -- 23 for the Warriors.
Corey Brewer -- playing against D League players -- 11 points 4 rebounds.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Movie Review -- "W."
I avoided this movie so long because I knew it would just make me angry. And it did.
My wife's reaction says it all -- Me, "How did you like the movie?" Wife, "Scary. Very scary how anyone could become President."
Amen.
Thandie Newton's Condi Rice is the most damning portrayal of any intelligent person that I have ever seen on film. She makes Waylon Smithers look like a true Devil's Advocate by comparison. To call her a "sycophant" or "toadie" would be kind.
The one issue I had with the film was that it made Colin Powell out to be a hero and a voice of reason, while not investigating at all why he would agree to go to the U.N. and give the most embarrassing speech of his career.
Best scene -- GWB asks who is in charge of finding the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and no one at the table knows, until someone mentions some undersecretary at the Defense Department whom Bush has never heard of.
Which brings me to the really basic question I always had -- if we supposedly knew where the WMDs were (see Powell's speech), why wouldn't we just secretly tell the U.N. weapons inspectors who were already in Iraq? Right? I mean, it is like saying, "I know this guy has AK-47s in the attic of his country house 100 miles from here" but only telling the police "I think my suburban neighbor might have a couple guns. Look for them."
My wife's reaction says it all -- Me, "How did you like the movie?" Wife, "Scary. Very scary how anyone could become President."
Amen.
Thandie Newton's Condi Rice is the most damning portrayal of any intelligent person that I have ever seen on film. She makes Waylon Smithers look like a true Devil's Advocate by comparison. To call her a "sycophant" or "toadie" would be kind.
The one issue I had with the film was that it made Colin Powell out to be a hero and a voice of reason, while not investigating at all why he would agree to go to the U.N. and give the most embarrassing speech of his career.
Best scene -- GWB asks who is in charge of finding the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and no one at the table knows, until someone mentions some undersecretary at the Defense Department whom Bush has never heard of.
Which brings me to the really basic question I always had -- if we supposedly knew where the WMDs were (see Powell's speech), why wouldn't we just secretly tell the U.N. weapons inspectors who were already in Iraq? Right? I mean, it is like saying, "I know this guy has AK-47s in the attic of his country house 100 miles from here" but only telling the police "I think my suburban neighbor might have a couple guns. Look for them."
Friday, July 10, 2009
McNair -- Minneapolis Stripper Story
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/07/10/steve-mcnair-allegedly-had-6-year-affair-with-exotic-dancer/
And his dead mistress? Watch how incredibly distraught she is in the DUI video. Obviously on the edge of snapping: http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/steve-mcnair-unhappy-with-sahel-kazemis/566206?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanhouse.com%2Fnews%2Fmain%2Fsteve-mcnair-unhappy-with-sahel-kazemis%2F566206
And his dead mistress? Watch how incredibly distraught she is in the DUI video. Obviously on the edge of snapping: http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/steve-mcnair-unhappy-with-sahel-kazemis/566206?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanhouse.com%2Fnews%2Fmain%2Fsteve-mcnair-unhappy-with-sahel-kazemis%2F566206
Lenny Dykstra and Sarah Palin.......You Can Fool Some of the People....
It is impossible for me to look and the crash and burn of Sarah Palin and Lenny Dykstra without seeing some obvious similarities.
For thos of you who are unaware, Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska in what can only be described as a bizarre press conference where she babbled incoherently about any variety of reasons for leaving office. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/07/09/2009-07-09_to_go_forward_gop_must_snap_out_of_its_sarah_palin_spell.html
Dykstra is the former Mets and Phillies outfielder who steroided his way to prominance as a player (he is named as a user in the Mitchell Report) and then somehow, by some unexplained phenomenon, managed to become an investment guru with his own column on thestreet.com!!!!!!
Dykstra advised everyone that he was an unbelievably successful businessman, managed to somehow "buy" Wayne Gretzky old house. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4145589 He has now filed for bankruptcy protection, disclosing $50,000 in assets and between $10MM and $50MM in liabilities: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4313487. (Even this appears to be false, since I believe the proper thing to do is disclose the gross value of your assets in one spot and then the liens against them in another spot -- right K? -- so if Dykstra owns Gretzky's house and it is worth $14MM and has $20MM against it, you still hve to disclose the $14MM as an asset.)
But back to the comparison. What we really need to look at are two simple questions:
1) How in the hell did Sarah Palin almost become Vice President of the United States? and
2) How in the hell did Lenny Dykstra (whom everyone thought was an idiot when a ballplayer) become a financial industry guru whom Jim Cramer once called "one of the greats" in stock picking?
A lot of the answers are the same.
1) Their Audience -- Palin appeals to rich white men because she is good looking. She has been described as hot, slutty, a MILF, a GILF, sexy-bitchy, and resembling a hot librarian or a hot teacher. Old rich guys want to do her.
Dykstra was a start athlete in two major east coast markets (NY and Philly). He was on the 1986 Mets for goodness sake. Every guy in the NY or Philly metro area wants to be friends with a 1986 Met (and it gets more unhealthy than that -- watch the Seinfeld episodes with Keith Hernandez) or a 1993 Philly.
So they both had access to rich white men who worshipped them. This is a great career boost.
2) Their Secondary Audience -- It is important to cultivate not only a rich white elite audience, but also an audience for your backstory. Thus, it helps that both have an unusual background to "sell." Dykstra -- what is he, some sort of savant? I mean, as a ballplayer he could barely put together a coherent sentence and now he is a mutimillionaire? A genius stock picker? There is an old ESPN interview where the interviewer keeps asking Jim Cramer, incredulously, "Lenny Dykstra?!?!?!" Seemingly unwilling to believe Dykstra could spell his name, let alone pick stocks.
Palin is the outdoorsman/athlete/small town girl/beauty queen who became the tough, ethically strong Governor, overcoming corrupt opponents by pure willpower. She could gut a moose and write legislation at the same time....and kick your ass in basketball.
So many people who had a chance to for Palin or pay to read Dykstra's financial advice decided, "Hey, this person is just like me! See, you don't need to go to some big name school or read books and stuff to be great. See, good old common sense wins out every time!"
3) The Race Is Not Always to the Swift...... It says in Ecclesiastes 9:11, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."
That is what everyone wants to believe. It makes your future look a lot better to believe that. But as Damon Runyon said, "The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that is the way to bet."
The fact of the matter is that while people wanted to believe in Palin and Dykstra, there was no good reason to do so other than hope/blind faith. Palin had kicked around various colleges, and even when she ran for VP no one at any of those schools seemed to remember anything from her. She was not a great athlete. Heck, she was probably a sub-par high school athlete, but she played Alaska small-school basketball for one year in 1982. She only had one halfway impressive job, and she quit that. Then she somehow miraculously became governor (arguably because she wass the lone GOP candidate in a very GOP state who was not at the time under some suspicion or indictment).
Dykstra? Come on. He acted like an idiot as a player because..........well.....what do you think? He was out telling people he was worth $50MM and people were swallowing it hook, line and sinker. The articles I have seen indicate that he sold his one successful venture (car washes) for about half that amount, a lot of that being "paid" in a promissory note. Any modicum of due diligence would have established that Lenny owed money on his homes, his jet, his magazine, and probably his clothes and his hair cut. When ESPN finally began investigating, it found millions of unpaid debts, numerous lawsuits, etc. These didn't all just pop up overnight.
4) "I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers." Let's be blunt here. Sarah Palin -- good looking, but give any woman who can squeak above a 6 out of 10 about $150,000 worth of clothes and makeup, put them on a diet and have them yell loudly about "terrorists" and "the real America" and you will have white male rednecks across the country unzipping their flies and heading to their mom's basement. Sarah Palin was a very medicore Governor of a tiny state. Had McCain not nominated her, she continues to be a non-entity nationwide in 2008, 2009, 2010, etc.
Dykstra -- there are a million stock pickers out there. The rumor is that Dykstra found one he liked who gave him advice on how to pick stocks and Dykstra paid the guy's son every month to do analytical charts for him. Then Dykstra read a lot of newletters and picked out his picks from the ones stated by others. Not exactly genius. But who was Dykstra's mentor/enabler? Jim Cramer. Philly guy, loved the Phillies, loved "Nails," willing to promote him to the public. Again -- someone who was not qualified to do what they were doing, placed there by an influential person.
I am sure that there are more parallels to be drawn, but the lesson I draw from Palin and Dykstra is that you really can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. With Dykstra, it looks like his efforts to fool all of the people all of the time failed. We shall see if Palin has any political capital remaining.
For thos of you who are unaware, Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska in what can only be described as a bizarre press conference where she babbled incoherently about any variety of reasons for leaving office. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/07/09/2009-07-09_to_go_forward_gop_must_snap_out_of_its_sarah_palin_spell.html
Dykstra is the former Mets and Phillies outfielder who steroided his way to prominance as a player (he is named as a user in the Mitchell Report) and then somehow, by some unexplained phenomenon, managed to become an investment guru with his own column on thestreet.com!!!!!!
Dykstra advised everyone that he was an unbelievably successful businessman, managed to somehow "buy" Wayne Gretzky old house. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4145589 He has now filed for bankruptcy protection, disclosing $50,000 in assets and between $10MM and $50MM in liabilities: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4313487. (Even this appears to be false, since I believe the proper thing to do is disclose the gross value of your assets in one spot and then the liens against them in another spot -- right K? -- so if Dykstra owns Gretzky's house and it is worth $14MM and has $20MM against it, you still hve to disclose the $14MM as an asset.)
But back to the comparison. What we really need to look at are two simple questions:
1) How in the hell did Sarah Palin almost become Vice President of the United States? and
2) How in the hell did Lenny Dykstra (whom everyone thought was an idiot when a ballplayer) become a financial industry guru whom Jim Cramer once called "one of the greats" in stock picking?
A lot of the answers are the same.
1) Their Audience -- Palin appeals to rich white men because she is good looking. She has been described as hot, slutty, a MILF, a GILF, sexy-bitchy, and resembling a hot librarian or a hot teacher. Old rich guys want to do her.
Dykstra was a start athlete in two major east coast markets (NY and Philly). He was on the 1986 Mets for goodness sake. Every guy in the NY or Philly metro area wants to be friends with a 1986 Met (and it gets more unhealthy than that -- watch the Seinfeld episodes with Keith Hernandez) or a 1993 Philly.
So they both had access to rich white men who worshipped them. This is a great career boost.
2) Their Secondary Audience -- It is important to cultivate not only a rich white elite audience, but also an audience for your backstory. Thus, it helps that both have an unusual background to "sell." Dykstra -- what is he, some sort of savant? I mean, as a ballplayer he could barely put together a coherent sentence and now he is a mutimillionaire? A genius stock picker? There is an old ESPN interview where the interviewer keeps asking Jim Cramer, incredulously, "Lenny Dykstra?!?!?!" Seemingly unwilling to believe Dykstra could spell his name, let alone pick stocks.
Palin is the outdoorsman/athlete/small town girl/beauty queen who became the tough, ethically strong Governor, overcoming corrupt opponents by pure willpower. She could gut a moose and write legislation at the same time....and kick your ass in basketball.
So many people who had a chance to for Palin or pay to read Dykstra's financial advice decided, "Hey, this person is just like me! See, you don't need to go to some big name school or read books and stuff to be great. See, good old common sense wins out every time!"
3) The Race Is Not Always to the Swift...... It says in Ecclesiastes 9:11, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."
That is what everyone wants to believe. It makes your future look a lot better to believe that. But as Damon Runyon said, "The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that is the way to bet."
The fact of the matter is that while people wanted to believe in Palin and Dykstra, there was no good reason to do so other than hope/blind faith. Palin had kicked around various colleges, and even when she ran for VP no one at any of those schools seemed to remember anything from her. She was not a great athlete. Heck, she was probably a sub-par high school athlete, but she played Alaska small-school basketball for one year in 1982. She only had one halfway impressive job, and she quit that. Then she somehow miraculously became governor (arguably because she wass the lone GOP candidate in a very GOP state who was not at the time under some suspicion or indictment).
Dykstra? Come on. He acted like an idiot as a player because..........well.....what do you think? He was out telling people he was worth $50MM and people were swallowing it hook, line and sinker. The articles I have seen indicate that he sold his one successful venture (car washes) for about half that amount, a lot of that being "paid" in a promissory note. Any modicum of due diligence would have established that Lenny owed money on his homes, his jet, his magazine, and probably his clothes and his hair cut. When ESPN finally began investigating, it found millions of unpaid debts, numerous lawsuits, etc. These didn't all just pop up overnight.
4) "I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers." Let's be blunt here. Sarah Palin -- good looking, but give any woman who can squeak above a 6 out of 10 about $150,000 worth of clothes and makeup, put them on a diet and have them yell loudly about "terrorists" and "the real America" and you will have white male rednecks across the country unzipping their flies and heading to their mom's basement. Sarah Palin was a very medicore Governor of a tiny state. Had McCain not nominated her, she continues to be a non-entity nationwide in 2008, 2009, 2010, etc.
Dykstra -- there are a million stock pickers out there. The rumor is that Dykstra found one he liked who gave him advice on how to pick stocks and Dykstra paid the guy's son every month to do analytical charts for him. Then Dykstra read a lot of newletters and picked out his picks from the ones stated by others. Not exactly genius. But who was Dykstra's mentor/enabler? Jim Cramer. Philly guy, loved the Phillies, loved "Nails," willing to promote him to the public. Again -- someone who was not qualified to do what they were doing, placed there by an influential person.
I am sure that there are more parallels to be drawn, but the lesson I draw from Palin and Dykstra is that you really can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. With Dykstra, it looks like his efforts to fool all of the people all of the time failed. We shall see if Palin has any political capital remaining.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
McNair finding -- Murder Suicide
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090709/SPORTS01/907090347&s=d&page=3#pluckcomments
According to this diagram, gun residue generally goes back onto the shooting hand.
http://truthinjustice.org/gunshot-residue.htm
So she shot McNair on the couch (while he was sleeping -- not sure why if you blew someone's head off with shot 1 you would need to shoot him 3 more times). Then she sat down on the couch and had this idea -- she would shoot herself in the right temple and fall onto McNair, thus linking them together in death, blah, blah, blah.
OK -- find a couch, go sit on it. Pretend your left hand is a gun. Now shoot yourself in the right temple........with your left hand. Why would you shoot yourself in the right temple with your left hand? You would need to reach across your face and twist your little stubby arm backward so that you could reach. And then you fall onto McNair, but then (while dead) fall off so that you land on your gun. That is some bad luck there. And McNair (who was blasted 4 times at close range) has no gun residue on him at all?
OK -- case closed. I am moving on so I can find that drug dealer guy who killed Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.
According to this diagram, gun residue generally goes back onto the shooting hand.
http://truthinjustice.org/gunshot-residue.htm
So she shot McNair on the couch (while he was sleeping -- not sure why if you blew someone's head off with shot 1 you would need to shoot him 3 more times). Then she sat down on the couch and had this idea -- she would shoot herself in the right temple and fall onto McNair, thus linking them together in death, blah, blah, blah.
OK -- find a couch, go sit on it. Pretend your left hand is a gun. Now shoot yourself in the right temple........with your left hand. Why would you shoot yourself in the right temple with your left hand? You would need to reach across your face and twist your little stubby arm backward so that you could reach. And then you fall onto McNair, but then (while dead) fall off so that you land on your gun. That is some bad luck there. And McNair (who was blasted 4 times at close range) has no gun residue on him at all?
OK -- case closed. I am moving on so I can find that drug dealer guy who killed Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.
Jonas Brothers Concert Notes
1) 18,000 people there. I would guess 98% female, 99.9% under the age of 20.
2) They put on an unbelievable show. It must be the New Jersey background of the boys (think Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Bon Jovi), because they hit it very, very hard for 90 minutes with about 10 minutes of total breaks.
3) The youngest brother, Nick, is unbelievably talented musically. Sadly, he lacks a strong voice, so middle brother Joe has to take over 65% of the vocals. They make a good pair; Joe's voice strong but not distinctive, Nick's voice the exact opposite.
4) Nick did his Type 1 diabetes song/speech, which was nice for my Type 1 daughter to see in person.
5) I gotta tell you, if you think that arena rock is dead, you ought to go find a kid and see this concert. It was so nice to see young people putting on a real rock show (especially with all the crap you hear on the radio). You wonder why the top touring acts are all old geezers? Cuz they know how to put on a show.
6) Honor Society -- um, they try real hard. Not great -- 5 out of 10.
7) Korean girl group "The Wonder Girls" -- I read that they are huge in Asia. Lord knows why. Did one song -- awful. I would rather watch Pussycat Dolls for 3 hours than see them again. 1 out of 10.
Imagine if The Spice Girls were 20 and Korean.......and 3 of them lip synched.....and they thought a dance your 2 year old can do was really entertaining. When the announcer (Jordin Sparks' keyboard player) said, "Weren't they hot?" I screamed "NO!!!!!!!!!" People around me laughed heartily.
8) Jordin Sparks -- the American Idol winner was surprisingly active and entertaining. Her hair now makes her resemble a young Tina Turner, which is a fitting comparison. She is just fun to listen to, not a great vocalist, but given a catchy tune she can be very enjoyable. She did "Battlefield" with The Jonas Brothers backing. A highlight of the evening. 8 out of 10.
Jonas Brothers concert experience -- my youngest gave it 9 out of 10 "Because our seats were so bad and we sat so far away."
2) They put on an unbelievable show. It must be the New Jersey background of the boys (think Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Bon Jovi), because they hit it very, very hard for 90 minutes with about 10 minutes of total breaks.
3) The youngest brother, Nick, is unbelievably talented musically. Sadly, he lacks a strong voice, so middle brother Joe has to take over 65% of the vocals. They make a good pair; Joe's voice strong but not distinctive, Nick's voice the exact opposite.
4) Nick did his Type 1 diabetes song/speech, which was nice for my Type 1 daughter to see in person.
5) I gotta tell you, if you think that arena rock is dead, you ought to go find a kid and see this concert. It was so nice to see young people putting on a real rock show (especially with all the crap you hear on the radio). You wonder why the top touring acts are all old geezers? Cuz they know how to put on a show.
6) Honor Society -- um, they try real hard. Not great -- 5 out of 10.
7) Korean girl group "The Wonder Girls" -- I read that they are huge in Asia. Lord knows why. Did one song -- awful. I would rather watch Pussycat Dolls for 3 hours than see them again. 1 out of 10.
Imagine if The Spice Girls were 20 and Korean.......and 3 of them lip synched.....and they thought a dance your 2 year old can do was really entertaining. When the announcer (Jordin Sparks' keyboard player) said, "Weren't they hot?" I screamed "NO!!!!!!!!!" People around me laughed heartily.
8) Jordin Sparks -- the American Idol winner was surprisingly active and entertaining. Her hair now makes her resemble a young Tina Turner, which is a fitting comparison. She is just fun to listen to, not a great vocalist, but given a catchy tune she can be very enjoyable. She did "Battlefield" with The Jonas Brothers backing. A highlight of the evening. 8 out of 10.
Jonas Brothers concert experience -- my youngest gave it 9 out of 10 "Because our seats were so bad and we sat so far away."
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
How To Commit The Perfect Crime
Many years ago, I used to write "The Wolves Wire" where I occasionally would write a piece of fiction. Here is a new fiction item. Enjoy
Hypothetically, let's suppose that you are a 37 year old woman and you find out that your hubby, father of your four kids, was heading off on vacations with his little slutty mistress that he met at a sports bar. And suppose you gutted that out because you were not made to look THAT bad because it was not a public humiliation. But then you find out that he was just was in the car he bought for his 20 year old girlfriend when she got a DUI citation. Now suppose you are not real happy about it because that will be a public report. Suppose you call up a friend of a friend and see what you would have to pay to, say, off hubby? And suppose he says he knows someone who can get into the girl's apartment, make it look like a suicide, and then shoot hubby and make it look like a crime of rage.
Then suppose that the guy actually does it. You claim surprise and move along with your life. Hopefully St.....er....Hubby has paid-up life insurance and you move along with the four boys, all happy like. Cheating MFer of a hubby? Dead.
Now there may be a few small issues, like the gun ending up under the body of the "suicide" victim, or maybe that the 20 year old and Hubby were extremely happy together and she was planning to marry him and had no reason to shoot either herself or him. None whatsoever....at all....And maybe someone looking closely at the issue might ask how a 20 year old who is about 5 feet tall was able with her very recently-purchased gun to riddle the body of a 6'4" very athletic man with 4 bullets, all in killing zones before he got anywhere near her.
But suppose you are in a southern town where minority-on-minority violence doesn't exactly skyrocket up the list of city prosecutor concerns.
Maybe you can get a quick murder-suicide determination and move on with your life.
So that, maybe, is how you might commit the perfect crime.
End of Story.
On a completely unrelated matter, the Steve McNair evidence now seems to point to a murder-suicide determination:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4313821
Hypothetically, let's suppose that you are a 37 year old woman and you find out that your hubby, father of your four kids, was heading off on vacations with his little slutty mistress that he met at a sports bar. And suppose you gutted that out because you were not made to look THAT bad because it was not a public humiliation. But then you find out that he was just was in the car he bought for his 20 year old girlfriend when she got a DUI citation. Now suppose you are not real happy about it because that will be a public report. Suppose you call up a friend of a friend and see what you would have to pay to, say, off hubby? And suppose he says he knows someone who can get into the girl's apartment, make it look like a suicide, and then shoot hubby and make it look like a crime of rage.
Then suppose that the guy actually does it. You claim surprise and move along with your life. Hopefully St.....er....Hubby has paid-up life insurance and you move along with the four boys, all happy like. Cheating MFer of a hubby? Dead.
Now there may be a few small issues, like the gun ending up under the body of the "suicide" victim, or maybe that the 20 year old and Hubby were extremely happy together and she was planning to marry him and had no reason to shoot either herself or him. None whatsoever....at all....And maybe someone looking closely at the issue might ask how a 20 year old who is about 5 feet tall was able with her very recently-purchased gun to riddle the body of a 6'4" very athletic man with 4 bullets, all in killing zones before he got anywhere near her.
But suppose you are in a southern town where minority-on-minority violence doesn't exactly skyrocket up the list of city prosecutor concerns.
Maybe you can get a quick murder-suicide determination and move on with your life.
So that, maybe, is how you might commit the perfect crime.
End of Story.
On a completely unrelated matter, the Steve McNair evidence now seems to point to a murder-suicide determination:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4313821
Andrea Bargnani -- 5 years, $50MM from Toronto!?!?!?
Apparently unaware that the salary cap will decline to $57.7MM next year and that the luxury tax will decline to $69.92MM and that the year after that the numbers are said to possibly decline by 10-15%, the Raptors signed Bargnani to a $50MM deal.
But hey, when you got a guy who is 56th in the league in Efficiency........oh wait, 56th in the CONFERENCE in Efficiency, and 72nd in the East in Eff48 (between Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith), how do you NOT open the pocketbook and pay him $50MM???
This is a guy who is only 7 feet tall and yet he managed to almost get as many rebounds per game (5.3, 56th best in the NBA) as Chris Paul (5.5, 50th in the NBA)!!!!!!! Clearly a future superstar.
His rebounds per 48 minutes number (8.1) while not QUITE as good as Linus Kleiza or Joey Graham, does stack up as the equal of Quentin Richardson and James Posey!!
Of course at the start of the year he will only be 24........so the same age as Al Jefferson (23 points, 11 rebounds, 2.5 steals+blocks) and a good solid 10 months younger than...........LeBron James (league MVP, something like 28/7/7). At 15/5/1.6, with an assist-to-turnover mark as bad as Al's, yeah, I see the logic here.
Toronto, good signing. I am sure that a guy who is allergic to the lane will become a big star rebounder and defender for you.....some day......OK he won't -- never mind.
But hey, when you got a guy who is 56th in the league in Efficiency........oh wait, 56th in the CONFERENCE in Efficiency, and 72nd in the East in Eff48 (between Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith), how do you NOT open the pocketbook and pay him $50MM???
This is a guy who is only 7 feet tall and yet he managed to almost get as many rebounds per game (5.3, 56th best in the NBA) as Chris Paul (5.5, 50th in the NBA)!!!!!!! Clearly a future superstar.
His rebounds per 48 minutes number (8.1) while not QUITE as good as Linus Kleiza or Joey Graham, does stack up as the equal of Quentin Richardson and James Posey!!
Of course at the start of the year he will only be 24........so the same age as Al Jefferson (23 points, 11 rebounds, 2.5 steals+blocks) and a good solid 10 months younger than...........LeBron James (league MVP, something like 28/7/7). At 15/5/1.6, with an assist-to-turnover mark as bad as Al's, yeah, I see the logic here.
Toronto, good signing. I am sure that a guy who is allergic to the lane will become a big star rebounder and defender for you.....some day......OK he won't -- never mind.
Report From Spain -- Rubio Offers $3MM So He Can Play With Minnesota
My Google Translate service won't win any awards, but it seems he has offered $3MM and the club says it won't consider any offer until he withdraws his lawsuit (which, of course, is his only leverage to lower the buyout amount.....other than begging). Here ya go, computer translation:
Ricky Rubio's lawyers have presented this Tuesday at Joventut Badalona in a bid of around three million d? Dollars, lower than that stipulated in the cl? Clause of rescisi?
Of its contract for the charter of liberty and power play in the NBA, an offer that the club look green? ma? ana during a meeting? of its board of managemen? n. Seg?
N EFE reported sources familiar with the negotiations, the offer made by counsel for the Joventut Ricky Rubio is just over 3 million d? Dollars, an amount the player? To assume in the case of accepting the supply of the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves.
Before the celebration? N the 'draft', the legal representatives of the player made an offering of 4 million d? Dollars for the freedom of Ricky Rubio, a bid that was rejected by the green body.
The Youth at all times hab? Post as a condition? N to negotiate with Ricky Rubio, the player withdraws the lawsuit filed against the entity green, considering that the cl? Clause to get rid of his contract (4.7 million euros), was not commensurate with the salary paid. However, the player does not seem ready to withdraw it and now I should take a decisive Joventut? About the bid submitted.
For those more fluent in Spanish == http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20090707/53739723608/noticia/los-abogados-de-ricky-realizan-oferta-a-la-baja-que-el-club-estudiara-manana.html
Ricky Rubio's lawyers have presented this Tuesday at Joventut Badalona in a bid of around three million d? Dollars, lower than that stipulated in the cl? Clause of rescisi?
Of its contract for the charter of liberty and power play in the NBA, an offer that the club look green? ma? ana during a meeting? of its board of managemen? n. Seg?
N EFE reported sources familiar with the negotiations, the offer made by counsel for the Joventut Ricky Rubio is just over 3 million d? Dollars, an amount the player? To assume in the case of accepting the supply of the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves.
Before the celebration? N the 'draft', the legal representatives of the player made an offering of 4 million d? Dollars for the freedom of Ricky Rubio, a bid that was rejected by the green body.
The Youth at all times hab? Post as a condition? N to negotiate with Ricky Rubio, the player withdraws the lawsuit filed against the entity green, considering that the cl? Clause to get rid of his contract (4.7 million euros), was not commensurate with the salary paid. However, the player does not seem ready to withdraw it and now I should take a decisive Joventut? About the bid submitted.
For those more fluent in Spanish == http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20090707/53739723608/noticia/los-abogados-de-ricky-realizan-oferta-a-la-baja-que-el-club-estudiara-manana.html
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Mike Bibby and Jason Kidd Combined -- 3 Years, $42MM
http://www.fanhouse.com/news/main/ap-source-hawks-reach-deal-with-bibby/559821
and
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4508
WTF? I am sorry, this makes no financial sense. Jason Kidd cannot play anymore. He outdid Mike Miller last year by averaging more minutes than Miller and actually scoring fewer points per game. Kidd finished 27th among Western Conference guards in scoring last year (behind CJ Watson, behind Rudy Fernandez, Mike Conley, Beno Udrih, Roger Mason.....)
Stop me when you hear some good reason for spending $8+MM a year on a 36 year old guard.
As for Bibby, well, he has always been an awful defender, so let's push that to one side and look at a stat that reflects primarily offense -- Efficiency. He is 32nd among NBA guards in Efficiency. He is 43rd in Efficiency per 48, slightly better than Travis Diener, but he is no.......Louis Amundson or Will Bynum (he is REALLY no Will Bynum -- Bynum is 29th in Eff48).
So for another $18MM the Hawks can content themselves with awful defense and mediocre offensive play, because.......................???????? I guess because they have no one else to turn to.........which might be caused by the fact that they have committed to paying one of the worst defenders in the past 20 years of NBA basketball $6MM per year at ages 31, 32, and 33.
True Reasons Behind These Signings:
-- Dallas: Kidd had Cuban by the proverbial balls. Cuban traded to get Kidd and he couldn't let him go for nothing after Devin Harris had such a great year in New Jersey. It would have been a PR nightmare for Cuban, akin to, for example, cutting Michael Finley and watching him win a title elsewhere.
-- Atlanta: The Hawks are actually decent. They made the second round of the playoff. They have nothing great coming in, and no one is clamoring to be a Hawk, so they need to keep whatever they have no matter how the overpay for it.
Imagine a situation where your wife had not had sex with you for 11 years. But then suddenly, last year and the year before, she had sex with you every other day cuz you hired an ugly Mini-Me looking housekeeper who really didn't do much and was overpaid for what little he did. But somehow you had sex pretty regularly. For two straight years!! Housekeeper guy asks for a raise. Can you really turn him away? I mean, shit, no matter what he asked for, he probably didn't ask for enough!! (In this example, your wife is the Hawks, sex is a decent playoff performance, you are Hawks management and Bibby is the ugly Mini-Me guy).
HM
and
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4508
WTF? I am sorry, this makes no financial sense. Jason Kidd cannot play anymore. He outdid Mike Miller last year by averaging more minutes than Miller and actually scoring fewer points per game. Kidd finished 27th among Western Conference guards in scoring last year (behind CJ Watson, behind Rudy Fernandez, Mike Conley, Beno Udrih, Roger Mason.....)
Stop me when you hear some good reason for spending $8+MM a year on a 36 year old guard.
As for Bibby, well, he has always been an awful defender, so let's push that to one side and look at a stat that reflects primarily offense -- Efficiency. He is 32nd among NBA guards in Efficiency. He is 43rd in Efficiency per 48, slightly better than Travis Diener, but he is no.......Louis Amundson or Will Bynum (he is REALLY no Will Bynum -- Bynum is 29th in Eff48).
So for another $18MM the Hawks can content themselves with awful defense and mediocre offensive play, because.......................???????? I guess because they have no one else to turn to.........which might be caused by the fact that they have committed to paying one of the worst defenders in the past 20 years of NBA basketball $6MM per year at ages 31, 32, and 33.
True Reasons Behind These Signings:
-- Dallas: Kidd had Cuban by the proverbial balls. Cuban traded to get Kidd and he couldn't let him go for nothing after Devin Harris had such a great year in New Jersey. It would have been a PR nightmare for Cuban, akin to, for example, cutting Michael Finley and watching him win a title elsewhere.
-- Atlanta: The Hawks are actually decent. They made the second round of the playoff. They have nothing great coming in, and no one is clamoring to be a Hawk, so they need to keep whatever they have no matter how the overpay for it.
Imagine a situation where your wife had not had sex with you for 11 years. But then suddenly, last year and the year before, she had sex with you every other day cuz you hired an ugly Mini-Me looking housekeeper who really didn't do much and was overpaid for what little he did. But somehow you had sex pretty regularly. For two straight years!! Housekeeper guy asks for a raise. Can you really turn him away? I mean, shit, no matter what he asked for, he probably didn't ask for enough!! (In this example, your wife is the Hawks, sex is a decent playoff performance, you are Hawks management and Bibby is the ugly Mini-Me guy).
HM
Timberwolves Need to Do Something
For example:
1) hire a coach -- it is kinda worthwhile to have a coach employed when you are a pro sports club
2) get an off guard and a center -- unless Wayne Ellington and Pecherov are going to be your starters, you have no one at either position.
3) Deal your expiring players for someone decent -- the Wolves have 6 (!) guys who have expiring deals (Thomas, Cardinal, Brewer, Brown, Madsen, Smith). They account for a total payroll of $23MM this year.
Repeat -- the Wolves have $23MM of expiring contracts. Isn't there some way they can acquire a Chris Kaman or a Tyson Chandler or a Sam Dalembert? Hell, I would even look the other way on a Zach Randolph signing if you could rid yourself of three power forwards in the process (Madsen, Smith, Etan Thomas).
Other overpaid guys I could be OK with -- Michael Redd and Andre Kirilenko. Both fill an enormous need, and both have only 2 years left.
A guy from the Wolves sent me an e-mail the other day that said, "Starting lineup: Jefferson, Love, Gomes, Brewer, Flynn. Your thoughts?" My thoughts -- that is a terrible, terrible lineup and might allow 400 points a game. It also might never make a shot if the other team went zone and collapsed on Al. I know Kahn wants to build for the future, but my God, do we have to be 15-67 to build for the future?
By the way, of guys not on rookie deals, the Wolves have 4 non-expiring contracts: Al, Songaila, Gomes, Telfair. So your veteran leadership amounts to 2 guys who are 24 and 2 guys who are good 8th men. Yikes.
HM
1) hire a coach -- it is kinda worthwhile to have a coach employed when you are a pro sports club
2) get an off guard and a center -- unless Wayne Ellington and Pecherov are going to be your starters, you have no one at either position.
3) Deal your expiring players for someone decent -- the Wolves have 6 (!) guys who have expiring deals (Thomas, Cardinal, Brewer, Brown, Madsen, Smith). They account for a total payroll of $23MM this year.
Repeat -- the Wolves have $23MM of expiring contracts. Isn't there some way they can acquire a Chris Kaman or a Tyson Chandler or a Sam Dalembert? Hell, I would even look the other way on a Zach Randolph signing if you could rid yourself of three power forwards in the process (Madsen, Smith, Etan Thomas).
Other overpaid guys I could be OK with -- Michael Redd and Andre Kirilenko. Both fill an enormous need, and both have only 2 years left.
A guy from the Wolves sent me an e-mail the other day that said, "Starting lineup: Jefferson, Love, Gomes, Brewer, Flynn. Your thoughts?" My thoughts -- that is a terrible, terrible lineup and might allow 400 points a game. It also might never make a shot if the other team went zone and collapsed on Al. I know Kahn wants to build for the future, but my God, do we have to be 15-67 to build for the future?
By the way, of guys not on rookie deals, the Wolves have 4 non-expiring contracts: Al, Songaila, Gomes, Telfair. So your veteran leadership amounts to 2 guys who are 24 and 2 guys who are good 8th men. Yikes.
HM
Monday, July 06, 2009
Palin Basketball Note
Since Sarah insists on using basketball analogies to explain why she quit ("sometimes a point guard has to pass the ball...."), I looked back to find an article on her basketball career.
Here you go: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27091580/
Answer -- she was a girl who played at a tiny school who couldn't make the team for 3 years, finally started as a senior and became an OK player, surrounded by "dominant front court players."
Here big claim to fame about her mental toughness: "When I was shooting those free throws in that state title game....."
Reality -- She had 0 points and her team was up by 4 in the title game and she made one lousy free throw, missing the second. There were 50 seconds left. Basically she did as well as Shaq would, lucking in one free throw and bricking the second.
So why do her basketball analogies suck so badly? Because she really wasn't much of a basketball player. She played in 1982 (when many women did not play ball) in the small school division in ALASKA and she just tossed the ball to her better teammates and tried to stay out of the way.
Heck, I earned 7 varsity letters at MY tiny high school. I guess I missed my political calling -- my garden-variety single to right in a tie game of sectional play in 1980 could have become a wicked blast in the gap for a double (I took second on the throw home) that nearly punched a hole in the outfield wall.
Here you go: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27091580/
Answer -- she was a girl who played at a tiny school who couldn't make the team for 3 years, finally started as a senior and became an OK player, surrounded by "dominant front court players."
Here big claim to fame about her mental toughness: "When I was shooting those free throws in that state title game....."
Reality -- She had 0 points and her team was up by 4 in the title game and she made one lousy free throw, missing the second. There were 50 seconds left. Basically she did as well as Shaq would, lucking in one free throw and bricking the second.
So why do her basketball analogies suck so badly? Because she really wasn't much of a basketball player. She played in 1982 (when many women did not play ball) in the small school division in ALASKA and she just tossed the ball to her better teammates and tried to stay out of the way.
Heck, I earned 7 varsity letters at MY tiny high school. I guess I missed my political calling -- my garden-variety single to right in a tie game of sectional play in 1980 could have become a wicked blast in the gap for a double (I took second on the throw home) that nearly punched a hole in the outfield wall.
Sarah Palin -- Quitter
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/opinion/05dowd.html?_r=2 says it better than I ever could.
When you are a Republican and Fox News commentators start turning on you, maybe you have surpassed the threshold of "whacky" and moved on to plain old "insane"?
When you are a Republican and Fox News commentators start turning on you, maybe you have surpassed the threshold of "whacky" and moved on to plain old "insane"?
A Timberwolves Season Ticket Holder's Response to Ricky Rubio's Decision to Stay In Spain 2 More Years
From the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today.
The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut.
1) Do I care that Ricky Rubio is going to play in Spain next year? Absolutely not. I think it is great. This way the Wolves can evaluate whether Jonny Flynn is any good (as I said before, they absolutely love the guy more than Steve McNair loved drugged-up 20 year olds) and then you have a no-lose situation:
a) Flynn is great and you don't need Rubio. You trade him.
b) Flynn sucks and you do need Rubio. You keep him.
2) Do I care that he stays in Spain 2 years? Yes. That extra year doesn't help the Wolves. So I am a little pissed at Troy Bolton -- I mean Ricky Rubio for that decision.
3) He doesn't want to play here because it is cold? Is it cold here in the winter? Yes. No question. Does it rain forever in Seattle and Portland? Yes. Are the winters in Boston and NYC beautiful sunny 50 degree days? No. Philly? No. Ever been to downtown Memphis? Downtown Atlanta? Downtown New Orleans? Ever been 10 minutes outside the city limits of OK City? Wanna be a Clipper? Wanna be a Bucks? A Net?
So yeah, every single NBA player would love to be a Laker or play in Florida or Texas. You know what Ricky? That isn't how it works. Minneapolis is cold. But we have a large city where people are somewhat interested in sports and somewhat interested in culture. It is a beautiful city from April 15 through October 15. The other half the year? You know what? YOU ARE A BASKETBALL PLAYER!!!!!!!! You will be traveling half the time when it is cold out.
4) Final Note to Ricky -- We own your sorry ass. Sorry, Rick, this isn't the MLB where all you have to do is sit out one year and get drafted by someone else. We own your rights forever.
You ever want to come to the NBA? You have to deal with us -- cold, pitiful, pathetic us. So yeah, you wanna "play minutes" and throw it to "a good player who make a dunk"? You play for us or for someone who we agree to trade you to.
So stay in Spain and rot, Ricky. Eat tapas to your heart's content. Gorge yourself on paella and cover all of your food in olive oil. I really do not give a fuck.
Summary -- would I rather have Ricky Rubio or absolutely nothing? Based upon what a little prima donna prick the guy has been so far, I would still pick Rubio......but it is a close contest.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today.
The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut.
1) Do I care that Ricky Rubio is going to play in Spain next year? Absolutely not. I think it is great. This way the Wolves can evaluate whether Jonny Flynn is any good (as I said before, they absolutely love the guy more than Steve McNair loved drugged-up 20 year olds) and then you have a no-lose situation:
a) Flynn is great and you don't need Rubio. You trade him.
b) Flynn sucks and you do need Rubio. You keep him.
2) Do I care that he stays in Spain 2 years? Yes. That extra year doesn't help the Wolves. So I am a little pissed at Troy Bolton -- I mean Ricky Rubio for that decision.
3) He doesn't want to play here because it is cold? Is it cold here in the winter? Yes. No question. Does it rain forever in Seattle and Portland? Yes. Are the winters in Boston and NYC beautiful sunny 50 degree days? No. Philly? No. Ever been to downtown Memphis? Downtown Atlanta? Downtown New Orleans? Ever been 10 minutes outside the city limits of OK City? Wanna be a Clipper? Wanna be a Bucks? A Net?
So yeah, every single NBA player would love to be a Laker or play in Florida or Texas. You know what Ricky? That isn't how it works. Minneapolis is cold. But we have a large city where people are somewhat interested in sports and somewhat interested in culture. It is a beautiful city from April 15 through October 15. The other half the year? You know what? YOU ARE A BASKETBALL PLAYER!!!!!!!! You will be traveling half the time when it is cold out.
4) Final Note to Ricky -- We own your sorry ass. Sorry, Rick, this isn't the MLB where all you have to do is sit out one year and get drafted by someone else. We own your rights forever.
You ever want to come to the NBA? You have to deal with us -- cold, pitiful, pathetic us. So yeah, you wanna "play minutes" and throw it to "a good player who make a dunk"? You play for us or for someone who we agree to trade you to.
So stay in Spain and rot, Ricky. Eat tapas to your heart's content. Gorge yourself on paella and cover all of your food in olive oil. I really do not give a fuck.
Summary -- would I rather have Ricky Rubio or absolutely nothing? Based upon what a little prima donna prick the guy has been so far, I would still pick Rubio......but it is a close contest.
Federer Over Roddick, 16-14 in the 5th
One sad thing about tennis is that when you reach the 5th set, rarely does one guy raise his game and win the match. What generally happens is that the loser gives it away. You get a double fault or a couple unforced errors or a makebale shot into the net. That kind of stuff.
So as I watched set #5 of Federer-Roddick (a set that never should have happened -- Roddick pissed away the set 2 tiebreaker, gagging on his own vomit as he did it), I was rooting for Federer, but I was sincerely hoping that we would not see the typical tennis ending. Roddick had played admirably all tourney and he was the better player for most of this match.
But one thing was working hard against Roddick -- Federer always wins and Roddick basically never wins. Past history is a powerful, powerful force. Once you get used to winning, you expect it. Same thing with finishing second -- you get used to it. You wait for something bad to happen.
In the final game, Roddick commits 4 unforced errors and 1 forced error (a questionable designation, but hey, we will give him some credit). So basically, just like always happens to the non-winners, Roddick gave it away. He gave away enough points in Game 30 to, literally, give Federer the game. So what do we say? Should we credit Federer for his seemingly endless supply of above-average steady shots that eventually wore down Roddick, or should we ask ourselves why Roddick since 2003 has never been able to win anything of great value against a true high-end player like Federer?
It is hard to be overly critical of Roddick. Like a 200-average bowler who bowls a 220, he certainly did a great deal more than anyone expected. His new wife, Brooklyn Decker, seemed to inspire him (of course!!) despite wearing what appeared to be an old flour sack with a big belt ("Hmmmmmm, I am one of the top 50 best looking women in the world, what should I wear to Andy's biggest ever event? Hey, Kenny, do you still have those old white curtains we used to hang in the barn? Cut me a V neck into them and grab my big leather belt, OK? We are going to a Wimbledon final!!").
Anyway, Roddick bowls 220 and Federer (a declining player, but one who still is probably a 220-average guy) bowls a 221. So how do we blame Roddick? Because at the end of the day Roddick needed to go spare-strike in the final frame to win, and he went spare-8 (ignore the bowling math here you get the point). He had Federer. Federer was average, maybe a touch better. Roddick had done everything as well as he possibly could. And he.....just........needed......a strike. One ball, one strike. YOU get the trophy and the OTHER guy gets that shitty, tiny plate. One strike............and you leave your shot out wide and knock over 8 pins.
But Roddick is a multi-millionaire and he is married to probably the #2 or 3 best-looking swimsuit model in the world, so he really doesn't need the title............which, when you think about it, might be part of the problem..........
So as I watched set #5 of Federer-Roddick (a set that never should have happened -- Roddick pissed away the set 2 tiebreaker, gagging on his own vomit as he did it), I was rooting for Federer, but I was sincerely hoping that we would not see the typical tennis ending. Roddick had played admirably all tourney and he was the better player for most of this match.
But one thing was working hard against Roddick -- Federer always wins and Roddick basically never wins. Past history is a powerful, powerful force. Once you get used to winning, you expect it. Same thing with finishing second -- you get used to it. You wait for something bad to happen.
In the final game, Roddick commits 4 unforced errors and 1 forced error (a questionable designation, but hey, we will give him some credit). So basically, just like always happens to the non-winners, Roddick gave it away. He gave away enough points in Game 30 to, literally, give Federer the game. So what do we say? Should we credit Federer for his seemingly endless supply of above-average steady shots that eventually wore down Roddick, or should we ask ourselves why Roddick since 2003 has never been able to win anything of great value against a true high-end player like Federer?
It is hard to be overly critical of Roddick. Like a 200-average bowler who bowls a 220, he certainly did a great deal more than anyone expected. His new wife, Brooklyn Decker, seemed to inspire him (of course!!) despite wearing what appeared to be an old flour sack with a big belt ("Hmmmmmm, I am one of the top 50 best looking women in the world, what should I wear to Andy's biggest ever event? Hey, Kenny, do you still have those old white curtains we used to hang in the barn? Cut me a V neck into them and grab my big leather belt, OK? We are going to a Wimbledon final!!").
Anyway, Roddick bowls 220 and Federer (a declining player, but one who still is probably a 220-average guy) bowls a 221. So how do we blame Roddick? Because at the end of the day Roddick needed to go spare-strike in the final frame to win, and he went spare-8 (ignore the bowling math here you get the point). He had Federer. Federer was average, maybe a touch better. Roddick had done everything as well as he possibly could. And he.....just........needed......a strike. One ball, one strike. YOU get the trophy and the OTHER guy gets that shitty, tiny plate. One strike............and you leave your shot out wide and knock over 8 pins.
But Roddick is a multi-millionaire and he is married to probably the #2 or 3 best-looking swimsuit model in the world, so he really doesn't need the title............which, when you think about it, might be part of the problem..........
Steve McNair -- Great Guy. Well, Not the Cheating and Drunk Driving and Weapons Possession Stuff -- But Otherwise, Great Guy
Look, as a guy, I understand the appeal of a chesty 20 year old in a sun dress. Don't have to sell me hard on that. But McNair obviously was yet another athlete fraud. Another Steve Garvey who talked a good game but who just couldn't keep it in his pants.
So he ends up dead on the floor of a Nashville condo because he wasn't happy being a 36 year old guy with 4 kids and a wife. He needed to still be Alcorn State superstar Steve McNair, banging a hot 20 year old while clubbing and doing drugs with the young lady (I enjoyed her comment to police after her DUI arrest, "I am not drunk, I am just high.")
Certainly Mrs. McNair cannot claim any great surprise. I mean, hubby is out all night on a Thursday night when you have 4 kids at home? Read Mickey Mantle's biography. He basically had a whole other wife. His real wife (Meryl?) knew and just took it.
Messed up, messed up, messed up.
One final note -- when you shoot yourself in the head, I would think it is unlikely that the gun ends up underneath your body. That is the one thing that makes me believe that we may have a more interesting story coming here.
To all my friends: if I ever become famous and end up dead on my 20 year old mistress's floor and the media comes to ask you what kind of a guy I am -- it is OK not to say I was a great guy.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Reaching 240 Minutes
Every team in the NBA has to fill 240 minutes of playing time.
Here is how the Lakers and Cavs filled this time last year:
Two big minute guys:
LeBron and Mo Williams (73 minutes)
Kobe and Gasol (73 minutes)
Three Lesser Starters:
Z , Delonte and Varejao (90 minutes)
Bynum, Odom and Fisher (88 minutes)
Four Decent Minute Bench Players:
Gibson, Wally, Hickson, Ben Wallace (about 80 minutes)
Ariza, Farmar, Sasha, Luke (about 80 minutes)
So, you play a 9 man rotation and you need 2 big-minute stars.
What can the Minnesota Timberwolves do?
Al Jefferson -- 36 minutes
Kevin Love - 25 minutes
Corey Brewer -- 20 minutes
Wayne Ellington -- 14 minutes
Jonny Flynn -- 30 minutes
Ryan Gomes -- 25 minutes
That is 150 minutes.
If Rubio came he would be a 24 minute guy. But assume he doesn't.
That means you are short the following:
-- 1 37 minute star
-- 2 starter-level minutes guys (30 minutes apiece -- Flynn will get you 30 as one non-star starter).
That would be 37+60 = 97 minutes. Now you are at 150+97 = 247 minutes. You probably drop Ellington's minutes to about 7 a game and voila, you have a playoff-level team!!
But how sad is that? You are at a point where you need to add a 37 minute star (of which the league has about about 30) AND two starters. That is an awful lot.
So assume you can get two starters for Rubio -- off guard and small forward. You are still one superstar short of having a real team.
Note to David Kahn -- get to work, baby, get to work.
Here is how the Lakers and Cavs filled this time last year:
Two big minute guys:
LeBron and Mo Williams (73 minutes)
Kobe and Gasol (73 minutes)
Three Lesser Starters:
Z , Delonte and Varejao (90 minutes)
Bynum, Odom and Fisher (88 minutes)
Four Decent Minute Bench Players:
Gibson, Wally, Hickson, Ben Wallace (about 80 minutes)
Ariza, Farmar, Sasha, Luke (about 80 minutes)
So, you play a 9 man rotation and you need 2 big-minute stars.
What can the Minnesota Timberwolves do?
Al Jefferson -- 36 minutes
Kevin Love - 25 minutes
Corey Brewer -- 20 minutes
Wayne Ellington -- 14 minutes
Jonny Flynn -- 30 minutes
Ryan Gomes -- 25 minutes
That is 150 minutes.
If Rubio came he would be a 24 minute guy. But assume he doesn't.
That means you are short the following:
-- 1 37 minute star
-- 2 starter-level minutes guys (30 minutes apiece -- Flynn will get you 30 as one non-star starter).
That would be 37+60 = 97 minutes. Now you are at 150+97 = 247 minutes. You probably drop Ellington's minutes to about 7 a game and voila, you have a playoff-level team!!
But how sad is that? You are at a point where you need to add a 37 minute star (of which the league has about about 30) AND two starters. That is an awful lot.
So assume you can get two starters for Rubio -- off guard and small forward. You are still one superstar short of having a real team.
Note to David Kahn -- get to work, baby, get to work.
Tommy Haas's Edge Over Roger Federer
I am thinking -- what possible chance does Tommy Haas (the tennis equivalent of basketball's Kurt Thomas) have to beat Roger Federer (tennis's LeBron James)?
Then someone told me that Haas is engaged to actress Sara Foster. I have seen Roger's wife -- advantage Haas.
Gerald Henderson Now A Timberwolf........For a Week or So
The Wolves summer league roster:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Wolves_Announce_2009_Vegas_Sum-090630.html
Ben Woodside may make an NBA roster somewhere (not in MN, he would be our 5th point guard), but the guy who intrigues me is the monster Garrett Siler:
"Garrett Siler --
Not drafted by an NBA franchise out of Augusta State... Started all 35 games last season and averaged 16.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.6 bpg in 26.8 mpg...
Led team in shooting percentage (78.9%), rebounds (271) and blocks (90) while finishing second in points (566)... Earned All-Peach Belt Conference honors for the third consecutive season... Led Division II in field goal percentage in each of his final three seasons, finishing his career with an NCAA-record 74.5 percent shooting percentage... As junior in 2007-08, led conference in field goal percentage (76.2%), rebounding (7.8), and blocked shots (2.62)."
6'11", 305.
For a team with no center, worth a look.
Also a good get for the Wolves in summer league play -- Paul Harris -- Jonny Flynn's teammate at Niagara Falls High School and Syracuse. If he can play any 2 guard at all, he has a chance to be a contributor for the off-guard hurting Wolves.
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Wolves_Announce_2009_Vegas_Sum-090630.html
Ben Woodside may make an NBA roster somewhere (not in MN, he would be our 5th point guard), but the guy who intrigues me is the monster Garrett Siler:
"Garrett Siler --
Not drafted by an NBA franchise out of Augusta State... Started all 35 games last season and averaged 16.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.6 bpg in 26.8 mpg...
Led team in shooting percentage (78.9%), rebounds (271) and blocks (90) while finishing second in points (566)... Earned All-Peach Belt Conference honors for the third consecutive season... Led Division II in field goal percentage in each of his final three seasons, finishing his career with an NCAA-record 74.5 percent shooting percentage... As junior in 2007-08, led conference in field goal percentage (76.2%), rebounding (7.8), and blocked shots (2.62)."
6'11", 305.
For a team with no center, worth a look.
Also a good get for the Wolves in summer league play -- Paul Harris -- Jonny Flynn's teammate at Niagara Falls High School and Syracuse. If he can play any 2 guard at all, he has a chance to be a contributor for the off-guard hurting Wolves.
Sarah Palin
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/01/palin-says-she-could-beat-obama-in-race/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link6http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F07%2F01%2Fpalin-says-she-could-beat-obama-in-race%2F
Nothing I could write would match up to what she actually has said and done. I will leave you with this: "Trig Paxson Van Palin"......cuz she likes Van Halen.........
Nothing I could write would match up to what she actually has said and done. I will leave you with this: "Trig Paxson Van Palin"......cuz she likes Van Halen.........
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