October 18, 2005
MLBloggers Fantasy League Final Results
Well, the baseball season is now weeks over, and the Fall Classic is almost ready to start. i think sufficient time has passed and my embarrassment has waned enough for me to post about the final standings in my own fantasy baseball league, MLBloggers.
i started the league last spring and nine other fine bloggers signed up to play. i quickly plummeted to the bottom of the standings, where i stayed pretty much from wire to wire. But here are the final results:
Greg of The End Zone had Hank's Homey's, and finished in first place. Congratulations Greg! You now win the coveted annika's journal fantasy baseball memorial stein. As soon as i design and manufacture it. This is Greg's second annika's journal contest win. You might remember that he won the infamous Joe Don Baker haiku contest back in September '04. Interestingly, Greg says he had no experience in haiku or fantasy baseball before entering either contest. Greg, you might want to try tackling world hunger next. Give it a shot.
The Maximum Leader of Nakedvillainy came in second.
Paul of the now defunct Sanity's Edge came in third. He has returned to blogging, by the way.
Munuviana's elder statesman, Ted of Rocket Jones finished in fourth place, even though he's not a baseball fan.
Dawn Summers of Clareified came in fifth place with her East Coco Beach Metropolitans.
The Biloxi Turds of Matt from Irreverent Probity came in sixth.
Victor's Windbreakers finished seventh.
Resurrection Song's Zombyboy finished eighth with his Zombyesque Zombies.
And Physics Geek of Physics Geek finished ninth with his Physics Geeks;
And finally, there's my own annika's A's in last place.
Thanks to everyone for playing.
Posted by: annika at
09:39 PM
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Post contains 291 words, total size 2 kb.
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There's no crying in baseball.
Posted by: shelly at October 19, 2005 12:02 AM (6mUkl)
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I only played because you asked, my dear. I have no clue about baseball. I'm suprised I didn't become more of a laughing stock. I ddn't know how to trade or make any transactions...I guess I did okay, all things considered.
I'm an NFL kind of guy.
Posted by: Paul at October 19, 2005 04:36 AM (vbP6L)
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I can't believe even a little paper-doll annika would wear boots that ugly.
Posted by: Victor at October 19, 2005 04:43 AM (L3qPK)
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Here in Houston we are all SICK after the big Choke job the Astros pulled in game five.(Its not like our football team gives us any good news) Still, they only have to win one of the next two games, so there is some hope.
Posted by: Kyle N at October 19, 2005 05:02 AM (skAEs)
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PS: I think the fuzzy boots are cute, But Icon Annika looks like a redhead, or strwberry blond. Annie, have you ever died your hair red?
Posted by: Kyle N at October 19, 2005 05:04 AM (skAEs)
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That outfit is an abomination.
Posted by: d-rod at October 19, 2005 06:40 AM (IgiuY)
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Fashion advice from guys who don't own two pair of shoes.
Posted by: Casca at October 19, 2005 07:50 AM (qBTBH)
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I won't give fashion advice either since I'm not wearing socks at work. Baseball was fun, hopefully I won't suck next time. oh hey, look at that, more work...
Posted by: Scof at October 19, 2005 09:08 AM (7z8ua)
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Hey I've got more than two pairs of shoes, if Flip Flops and Ugg boots count.
Posted by: d-rod at October 19, 2005 09:56 AM (ooYm7)
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thanks for the kudos. Sadly, I do have experience in joining a cause to fight world hunger, then having very little to show in the way of results
Posted by: gcotharn at October 19, 2005 06:07 PM (z1J0S)
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annika forgot to push the button. Therefore, I shall write some Bad Haiku:
annie's paper doll
has terrific fashion sense
except for the boots
Posted by: Victor at October 19, 2005 06:10 PM (l+W8Z)
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btw - I think those are damn sexy cartoon boots, as is my Annika's extra large coffee cup, which is my preferred sipping cup.
Posted by: gcotharn at October 19, 2005 06:11 PM (z1J0S)
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U fucker, i'm so jealous.
Posted by: Casca at October 19, 2005 06:33 PM (qBTBH)
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I'm into the legs
but orange red brown and PINK
go together well?
Posted by: d-rod at October 19, 2005 11:15 PM (7O/p+)
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I'm in a Yahoo hockey fantasy league. My team name is The Nawlins Looters.
Posted by: Mark at October 24, 2005 09:24 AM (Vg0tt)
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October 10, 2005
MNF Pick, Week 5
i'm late, but you'll just have to trust me. i got SD to win minus 3 points.
Posted by: annika at
07:21 PM
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It seems you're having the worst luck this season.
Posted by: Victor at October 11, 2005 02:14 AM (l+W8Z)
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You getting your tips from Casca?
Keep looking for the OSU Offense; it's there somewhere...
Posted by: shelly at October 11, 2005 07:05 AM (6mUkl)
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There is solace in knowing that it won't be long until you're rotting in a rest home watching Oprah 24/7, because there's no remote, and that's what everyone else likes. Broadband? What's that?
Posted by: Casca at October 11, 2005 07:46 AM (qBTBH)
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Yep, already watched Oprah yesterday; didn't want to miss Ricky Martin's comeback.
By the way, everyone knows what a broad band is, it's The Dixie Chicks, right?
Or maybe the interior line at OSU.
Posted by: shelly at October 11, 2005 08:14 AM (6mUkl)
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You know what we need? We need to get Shelly & Casca their own blog. We could call it "The Lockhorns" or "The Genius and the Dumbass" or "You ignorant slut!"
You'd swear these two were married to each other.
Posted by: Victor at October 11, 2005 09:57 AM (L3qPK)
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at least they're too preoccupied to talk about my Bears.
Posted by: annika at October 11, 2005 10:00 AM (zAOEU)
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Annie:
November 12 is far away for now, but don't think for a second we have forgotten what happened last time we were in Strawberry Canyon.
A zit upon an otherwise unblemished record. Your Bears paid the price last year in the Coliseum, but it will be infinitly more satifying to whack them around at home in front of those blue painted idiots.
Don't worry, SC NEVER looks past Cal.
Victor, you're wrong, Casca is Annika's bitch; can't you read?
Posted by: shelly at October 11, 2005 10:49 AM (M7kiy)
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I have hopes for the Bears. Might not need 'em though, I have the Irish this week.
Posted by: Casca at October 11, 2005 04:42 PM (qBTBH)
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Shelly, with all respect due to my elders--annika is waaay too classy to own Casca. Doormat maybe, but not bitch.
Posted by: Victor at October 11, 2005 07:11 PM (l+W8Z)
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Silence, ratboy, I'll be in DC next week.
Posted by: Casca at October 11, 2005 09:48 PM (qBTBH)
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Casca, the protests were a few weeks ago.
Posted by: Victor at October 12, 2005 05:40 AM (L3qPK)
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Possible showers Friday, clearing and windy Saturday.
SC favored by 11 1/2. Lay the points, the Irish are going down.
Ain't no stopping this team, especially if they show up before halftime.
Posted by: shelly at October 12, 2005 08:43 AM (6mUkl)
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Joe Montana (ND QB) was on Best Damn last night with Jerry Rice. Only a fool bets againt the Irish. Hell, I may take the moneyline.
Posted by: Casca at October 12, 2005 02:07 PM (qBTBH)
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Go on ahead, chunk it in on the Irish.
"A fool and his money..."
By the way, Montana doesn't play for ND anymore. Johnny Lujack and Joe Theisman are also gone. George Gipp may be there, though.
Posted by: shelly at October 12, 2005 03:01 PM (M7kiy)
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i caught some of that BDSSP, with Joe and Jerry. Arguably the two greatest ever to play the game. Joe seems nice, but he's never been a very interesting guy to listen to. No wonder he didn't last in the booth. i played hooky to go and see him when he announced his retirement at the Embarcadero Fountain. It was a mob scene, the guy was loved.
Posted by: annika at October 12, 2005 06:19 PM (b2vYZ)
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Joe is a smart guy, he keeps his mouth shut, except when he has something worth saying. Looks like he's giving the pep talk on Saturday to the Domers.
In any case, a fool and his money were lucky to get together in the first place. We shall see.
Posted by: Casca at October 12, 2005 10:35 PM (qBTBH)
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Lines are moving; SC is now -12 and OSU is -6 1/2.
No money line on SC/ND
Posted by: shelly at October 13, 2005 08:49 AM (6mUkl)
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Repent!
And ye shall be saved.
All Hail USC Trojans!
Threepeat
Posted by: GoodbyeColumbus at October 14, 2005 07:41 PM (6mUkl)
Posted by: shelly at October 15, 2005 05:20 PM (6mUkl)
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October 05, 2005
The End Of An Era
It saddens me to report
the end of the "All the way with Tim Rattay" era for the San Francisco 49ers.
Okay, i'm not really sad.
On a related sports note, has anyone noticed that ESPN.com has basically become a pay site this year. Useless for anything but statistics, and maddeningly slow to load too.
Posted by: annika at
01:13 PM
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The only reason I ever visit espn anymore is for the Sports Guy. Otherwise it's a big pile of suck. As soon as they make his column part of their insider package I'll never visit there again.
Posted by: Trevor at October 05, 2005 02:20 PM (GtBBB)
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The only things that are working for the Disney company are the US parks and ESPN. The rest of the corporation is in trouble. That's why Michael Eisner was kicked out.
So Disney is milking ESPN for all its worth. But if they don't watch out, they will kill this cash cow.
Posted by: Jake at October 05, 2005 03:54 PM (r/5D/)
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I've noticed that too. Of course, they have a right to charge for their content if they want, but I wonder if they aren't overestimating the number of people who are willing to pay to read their columnists, rather than just do without. Other than the Sports Guy and the stats, everything in the free section is pretty lame. Once they move the SG to the pay site, I'm going to just find someplace else to get my stats.
They seem to have beendoing this incrementally, moving a few features at a time behind the pay wall. I wonder if this was planned, or if they're doing it this way because the response to the pay sight has been disappointing and they're figuring "If we just move a few more features to the pay site, maybe business will pick up".
Posted by: JimN at October 05, 2005 05:14 PM (TELLe)
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That's exactly what i've noticed, JimN. i think its a bad business move. i'm a huge sports fan, but i don't need to rely on ESPN for my sports news. There are too many alternatives. And really, the only thing i'm willing to pay for is live sporting events and cable tv. i think most people are like that. i've updated my drop-down favorites menu to CNN-SI.com.
Posted by: annika at October 05, 2005 07:01 PM (WSLkD)
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I get all my statistics and news from NFL fantasy football. Its free, and one of my two teams is now 4-0.
Posted by: Kyle N at October 06, 2005 03:50 AM (0Zt6B)
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I bought the "Gameplan" broadband download package last year for the grand sum of $100 for the season. All things considered, it wasn't worth it. The resolution sucked. The big draw though was that you could watch archived games all season long, which was a neat idea, although I never did it.
Imagine this, I've been a purchaser. They know everything about me except whether the roll is installed over or under. Am I solicited for the '05 season? Fuck no, I'm just a customer. BTW, this year ABC games are no longer available in archive, "contract problems". WTF, they're the same company! The proliferation of ESPN variant channels is another thing. Now I have go buy a satellite package to watch a football game?
I could go on and on about what's wrong with ESPN, but you have it right. Really the problem runs from ABC on down. I suspect that the people making decisions are MBA's not sportsfans, thus their cluelessness is remarkable. There is plenty that could be done to increase revenue at ESPN, instead they cluelessly choke the goose.
Posted by: Casca at October 06, 2005 08:52 AM (qBTBH)
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I agree about ESPN. The best place to go for NFL news and stats these days is NFL.com. That is also the home of Gregg Easterbrook, author of Tuesday Morning Quarterback, who was fired from ESPN for pissing off his Disney masters. Always worth a read.
Posted by: Roscoe at October 06, 2005 10:55 PM (KHNGh)
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yup, espn sucks, besides, as someone above expressed, for sports guy. even the fantasy football is crap. I joined a couple leagues over there and abandoned them because I don't have 8 hours to watch the screen load up, on broadband nonetheless. okey doke. rant over. yahoo all the way. ALSO: big game this weekend, cal's gonna take ucla out to the woodshed in pasadena, he said hopefully with a side of chagrined not-so-youthful exuberance. GO BEARS.
Posted by: kool keith el otro at October 07, 2005 07:55 PM (/MDEc)
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October 03, 2005
MNF Pick, Week 4
Week 4? Is that right? i guess so. It seems like the season just started. But it's been going on long enough for one thing to be clear: both Green Bay and Carolina suck this year.
Carolina, at home, is favored by a big 7½ points. Will they cover? i been burned by Brett Favre and the Packers on Monday Night before, but i've also won too.
The Packers and 7½ points is too tempting to pass up. i'll go against conventional wisdom and say that Carolina will not cover. Bet Green Bay, take the points and laugh at the suckers later. ha-ha.
Update: i'm now 1 and 2.
Update 2: What? No "congratulations annika on your amazing prognosticative powers?" No "annika you're so awesome?" No "annika, we're sorry we ever doubted you?"
Posted by: annika at
02:30 PM
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Annie,
I'd advise to re-evaluate your position. I admit I'm not a big football fan (football fields are a waste of a perfectly good short rifle range) but I have it on good authority (i.e. a redneck uncle - like I have any other kind? - who's been eating & breathing football since Garands were still standard issue) that the Panthers have a very strong team this year. Course he mumbles hastily "despite them getting their asses kicked so far" but I think it's a valid point; they have a lot more potential than they're showing & now would be the time they start to realize it.
Besides, a Carolina team defending their home (turf) against a bunch of Yankees? & this time we have decent shoes????
Wanna make a side bet? If the Panthers lose I'll devote a whole post to saying nice things about the AR rifle platform. If they win though send me a pic of you at the range that I can post first. Even a fully clothed pic will do as long as you're identifiable - & the firearm is too (my readers - both of them - are bitchy about that kinda thing).
No points - just a straight up win/lose outcome. Care to put your pic where your pick is? (damn, that just sounds wrong lol)
Posted by: Publicola at October 03, 2005 03:22 PM (vC8Ev)
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Carolina will cover easy, the Pack is hellaisous bad right now. (thats a southern term you might not have heard before.)
BTW- check some of the lefty blogs right now, they have heads exploding all over the place.
Posted by: Kyle N at October 03, 2005 03:24 PM (8SRlp)
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LMAO, I'm laughing at the suckers right NOW!
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 04:35 PM (qBTBH)
4
BTW, do you understand now why he's avoided at cocktail parties?
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 05:07 PM (qBTBH)
Posted by: annika at October 03, 2005 07:32 PM (/z9ik)
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Not to worry, there is value in knowing to compute the back azimuth.
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 08:15 PM (qBTBH)
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32-13 in the fourth? What GB needs now is Joe Montana.
Posted by: annika at October 03, 2005 08:42 PM (/z9ik)
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Nope, just Pacman. They're coming back.
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 09:10 PM (qBTBH)
9
U always were a niners fan.
So let it be written, never miss a Monday night 4th quarter.
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 09:14 PM (qBTBH)
10
You losers need to stick with the Buckeyes and the Bears.
It's less comlex.
Posted by: shelly at October 03, 2005 09:23 PM (6mUkl)
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Man that old bastard gets feisty at night when his Geritol kicks in. Who am I talking about Shelly or Favre? Your guess is as good as mine.
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 09:26 PM (qBTBH)
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I don't know about Geritol, but it looked like Favre slipped some Metamucil into the Panthers gatorade in the fourth quarter.
Posted by: Trevor at October 04, 2005 06:55 AM (RwZxT)
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Look at me, i'm
LAUGHING AT THE SUCKERS!
hahahahahahaha!
Carolina didn't cover!
Posted by: annika at October 04, 2005 07:01 AM (Ku+kp)
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U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON, U NUMBA WON
Now what's your call on the Cal v USC?
Posted by: Casca at October 04, 2005 11:18 AM (qBTBH)
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Even a blind rat cuts the cheese sometimes, annika.
neener, neener
Posted by: Victor at October 04, 2005 11:57 AM (L3qPK)
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Cal v. USC? too early to tell. i liked what i saw last week against Arizona, but i'm not sure we've really seen the Bears tested yet.
Posted by: annika at October 04, 2005 01:46 PM (zAOEU)
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Hey Numbnuts:
Can OSU beat Penn State at home, or cover 3?
Not even me, the premier Cool-Aid drinker of SC football thinks it is worth betting SC -37 against a weak Arizona team.
Posted by: shelly at October 04, 2005 02:13 PM (6mUkl)
18
Actually, they're rather sensitive. Now is that any way for an educated intelligent man to talk? Aw, that's right, nevermind.
I jumped on that 3 point spot already, cause I don't think that it is that close of a game at all. The Buckeyes have really developed offensively since settling on Smith at QB. They literally destroyed Iowa, allowing only 9yds rushing, while running over the Iowa line on offense.
Penn State showed they could stop Minnesota's one-dimensional run offense, and beat a shitty coach. They have a couple true freshman in the backfield on offense, and they haven't been welcomed to the big time yet. You know, like that up-the-gut hit on Leinart that took him out for a play last week. Three of PSU's wins are against punk teams too low to note, and the Northwestern game was a true squeaker where the best team lost.
I call it 27-17 Ohio State. (In my heart I think that it'll be bigger than that, but I'm trying to who restraint.) How much of my 3 pt money do you want? You are sitting on a boat in territorial waters while writing this aren't you?
As for USC v AZ? I'd take USC and give the pts. This is a blowout. 55-6. First qtr 21-0.
Cal v USC, too close to call. One never knows WHAT kind of team USC will show up with. (Bad coaching)
Posted by: Numbnuts at October 04, 2005 05:22 PM (qBTBH)
19
We always know what kind of a team USC will show up with.
We just don't know exactly when they will show up.
Lately, it's been after the half time festivities; I am beginning to think they like being ripped to shreds by Pete Carroll, or maybe they just like to piss off Mike Garett, the luckiest man alive today, if he is really alive.
Look for Booty to play a lot against Arizona; that'll also keep the score down under 37 margin. Bet is not worth it this week.
I'll bet with my own offshore person, since I am in Aruba looking for Natalee. Somehow, I don't think she's actually here anymore, poor girl. She must have hitched a ride to Venezuela, like Joram says.
Posted by: shelly at October 04, 2005 06:26 PM (6mUkl)
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Mental declination, I meant UCLA v Cal, and UCLA is the ?.
Posted by: Casca at October 04, 2005 06:32 PM (qBTBH)
21
Actually, playing the backups against AZ is even worse. They've got something to prove. I'd still give the pts and take the favorite.
Heh, arent' you supposed to be celebrating Rhoshashana or boomshakalaka or something like that? Isn't that all about trying to live a good life and be nice to people? Ooops, I forgot, you're a lawyer.
Posted by: Casca at October 04, 2005 07:24 PM (qBTBH)
22
Yeah, that makes more sense. I actually went to UCLA as well, but root primarily for USC...I still like to see UCLA win except against SC.
Cal is infiniitely more dangerous in Strawberry Canyon; too close quarters and way too loud. UCLA is showing some talent, but as you say, the coaching sucks. Bet they never thought they'd wish for the good old days of Pepper Rogers and Terry Donahue.
Booty is primarily taking snaps and not throwing much. Timing issues, so I don't look for the subs to really run it up, plus, if there is weakness in depth, it is in the D. And, we've got a Santa Ana coming in and it is gonna be over 110 on the floor of the Coliseum.
I wouldn't lay the points this week; too many.
I found the Aruba OTB and bet a few shekels on the chance that you are right. Natalee wasn't there, either. Could Joram be telling the truth?
Me, I'm splitting for the deseret first thing Friday morning, so as for the game, (In the immortal words of Darryl F. Zanuck) "include me out".
Posted by: shelly at October 04, 2005 08:36 PM (6mUkl)
23
"Could Joram be telling the truth?" Naaaaaaah!
Posted by: Casca at October 04, 2005 09:17 PM (qBTBH)
24
Some salient facts, I've been browsing the NCAA defensive stats. OSU is #1 against the run, allowing only 41 yds a game, and 5th overall. The highest ranked PAC 10 team is Cal at 20 followed by Arizona (No not state) at 47 and USC at 50. One imagines that those last two will flip come next week. Notre Dame pops in at 92, just below Akron, yay Zips.
Posted by: Casca at October 05, 2005 06:03 AM (qBTBH)
25
No one fropm Arizona is looking forward to this weekend in the Coliseum. But I suspect Carroll will not let them run rampant. Thirty seven points are a lot to run up in only one half.
It will be a laugher, but not by 37. Don't bet, or take the points.
Posted by: shelly at October 05, 2005 08:55 AM (6mUkl)
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I just remembered that a good friend told me last year that University Park, Pa. is a drinking town with a football problem.
Everyone wants Paterno to go, but he wants to die on the sidelines in the middle of a game.
Maybe the hidden offense can help him this week, that is, if they don't hide it too much.
Posted by: shelly at October 07, 2005 07:02 PM (6mUkl)
27
LMAO, fuck you. It will be a tough game, but we're going to lay the woopass on them. As for JoPa is there any way to go but to drop in the harness? That would be my choice too.
Think about THIS... first incredible game of the year, Ohio State v Tejas. The second? Ohio State v Penn State.
Posted by: Casca at October 07, 2005 07:21 PM (qBTBH)
28
Yeah, two incredible games, and OSU hid their fucking O both times.
This coach hides his O so effectively that NO ONE ever sees it.
Carroll, on the other hand, comes to play the second half, exclusively.
OSU is done; put a fork in them.
USC and the Horns in the Rose Bowl.
Take the Trojans and, by the way, don't bet them to cover against The Irish, either.
This is a team that can't get going early. I am thinking that Leinart doesn't want Booty to play much.
Casca, seppeku is an honorable way to go; I'll take the broadsword.
Posted by: shelly at October 08, 2005 08:13 PM (6mUkl)
29
Yep, you'll take the broadsword... up the ying-yang!
Posted by: Casca at October 09, 2005 06:16 PM (qBTBH)
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September 29, 2005
BCS Poll Changes
To improve and simplify the system,
The Onion reports that the BCS Committee is considering some changes.
Hat tip to Casca.
Posted by: annika at
07:38 PM
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1
Shelly, make sure you pay close attention to the last one. Obviously, others have noticed.
Posted by: Casca at September 29, 2005 08:21 PM (qBTBH)
2
What would the world be like without sore losers? We pay these guys off for twenty years, and nothing.
Finally we have a team that can go over .500 all by itself and we get a few good calls, and the world starts to whine. It is our turn; get over it.
This is USC's birthright; whine away, we'll get you some cheese.
See somebody in Pasadena on January 4.
P.S. This guy's stature is slightly below the Austin sportswriter.
Posted by: shelly at September 29, 2005 08:47 PM (6mUkl)
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OK Shell, you can lie to your wife. You can lie to the IRS, but never ever lie to yourself. USC has been lionized in a way that we haven't seen since the unbeatable 'Canes who lost to that mediocre team with a brand new coach from the Big Ten. At some point, the man comes around.
It's OK. Every dynasty needs to be knocked on their ass once in a while. It teaches us humility.
Posted by: Casca at September 29, 2005 09:16 PM (qBTBH)
4
You're right; all good things come to an end, and, indeed, USC's streak will as well.
None of us have forgotten what happened in Berkeley two years ago. I, myself, was within shouting distance of the stadium, but decided it wasn't worth leaving the Sonoma Inn and giving up a day of golf to see a routine bashing of the Bears. Turned out the Bears bashed back. But, they had a great QB that year, a far cry from what we're looking at this year. Nonetheless, it cost one-half of the National Championship.
Carroll regularly reminds the team of it. I'll bet he mentioned it at halftime last week. I'll bet he has to do so again.
But, my point is simply that they have the horses. Like every Carroll team, they are superbly conditioned and they are so deep that they platoon and just beat the other team on sheer staying power. Check out their games, most are blowouts in the second half.
So yes, we're used to getting a little behind in the first half these days while the other teams burn off their adrenaline, but in the end, talent and conditioning pay off.
As Vince Lombardi was fond of saying "The harder I work, the luckier I get".
Don't bet the house against USC this year.
Posted by: shelly at September 30, 2005 02:43 AM (6mUkl)
5
USC is indeed a powerhouse and has been the best team in football for at least one and a half seasons. But I would have loved to see them play LSU two seasons ago, the way LSU was playing at the end of that year it would have been hard to beat them.
The big problem with USC is that they play in a poof conference. Even as good as they are if they had to take the regular pounding of an SEC,ACC,or big twelve schedule chances are they would have lost at least one game a season, possibly two.
Posted by: Kyle N at September 30, 2005 03:15 AM (UEnyt)
6
Kyle, you may be right, but I think Oklahoma has had just about enough of that "poof" conference for a while.
Just ask the Sooners and Boomers how soft it is in Southern California.
Posted by: shelly at September 30, 2005 06:45 AM (6mUkl)
7
I don't buy the conference inferiority thing. The worst thing about BCS is that it ended the Big 10 Pac 10 century of tradition of sending their best teams to the Rose Bowl on New Years day.
Posted by: Casca at September 30, 2005 07:38 AM (qBTBH)
8
Well, well, well. We finally find something to agree upon in the realm of the pigskin. The Pac 10 and the Big 10 caved in; they are the losers; it is much more fun to go to Pasadena EVERY year, than to have to go to different bowls. Although, it was fun in Miami in January, at least for the poofs from the Pac 10.
By the way, what ever happened to Woody Hayes' model of not throwing the ball because three things can happen and two of them are bad?
Posted by: shelly at September 30, 2005 10:02 AM (6mUkl)
9
I'm always confused by this argument that the Pc 10 is a weak conference. Four teams in the conference are rank this week in the AP and USA Today polls. And Oregon was ranked until they played USC (and they still recieved votes). So, someone explain to me please, how a conference with almost half of it's members in the top 25 is weak?
And yeah, I miss the old format - and not just in regards to the Rose Bowl.
Posted by: KG at September 30, 2005 10:33 AM (YPmsQ)
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You two need to pay attention. In your case KG, it's called West Coast Bias. The sportswriters would rather hang in Cali the center of the universe, than in Ottumwa. Who can blame them? It worked the same for Miami. Think about it. Where do you want to work a game this weekend, or interview a coach, or hang with Jessica and Nick? Well, I might rifle her underwear drawers in search of homebrew porn to post.
As for Woody, Jim Tressel is a protege. You clearly have not paid attention to OSU. There is a thing called "Tresselball". The dictates of which are; powerful defense, time management, field position, get a lead and sit on it.
Tressel is an artist. You know how the CW is always, "One game at a time"? Tressel maps the entire season, and only shows as much offense as he needs to win. Passing is a component of the offense, and not the lifeblood.
It can be irritating to watch, but his formula of success has been dramatic. Four national championships in a dozen years at Youngstown State, and one in his first year at Ohio State.
His dad coached at Baldwin Wallace in Cleveland, and was a football fixture in NE Ohio. He was the guest speaker at my high school football banquet each year, and one hell of a guy. Jim looks and acts like an accountant, never swears, never says anything that he doesn't want either his team, or the opposition to know. It's the same way he runs his offense, very controlled, lots of discipline.
Posted by: Casca at September 30, 2005 12:18 PM (qBTBH)
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Now I'm drooling for a chance to play OSU.
I just changed my rooting, and I will be rooting for USU to win every game and Texas to lose, just so the Trojans can take the Bucks to the woodshed.
It is now a dream match.
Go Buckeyes; get to Pasadena!
Posted by: shelly at September 30, 2005 03:06 PM (6mUkl)
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I agree. Go watch the Ohio State v Texas game. Vince Young was shut down. Buckeyes dominated in every way, and led until the last moments of the game when the officials put Texas back in it.
Ohio State v USC would be the battle of the best defense against the best offense. The dirty little secret is that Ohio State has a great offense too. Jim Tressel spends a lot of time and effort hiding it.
Posted by: Casca at September 30, 2005 03:31 PM (qBTBH)
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Yeah, he hid it from Texas, right?
Posted by: shelly at September 30, 2005 03:49 PM (6mUkl)
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I sometimes wish more teams would bring back the wishbone, Nothing is as exciting as some good running. Back in the early nineties I used to love to watch texas A&M play Nebraska, no wussie throwing in those games!
Posted by: Kyle N at September 30, 2005 07:42 PM (9bm/9)
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That's right Shelly, he did, but if you watched the game, then you saw it. Quit being a punk.
You're right Kyle, but you'll never see it because wishbone backs have no future in the NFL, so any school running that offense won't be able to recruit the best talent, or so the thinking goes.
Here are my picks for tomorrow:
Michigan State over U of M. State's giving 5.5 pts, but they're playing at Spartan Stadium, and this is their year. (These guys whomped Notre Dame in overtime). Lloyd Carr will be lucky if it isn't five touchdowns they lose by. BTW, Stanton is the REAL Heisman QB in this country.
Minnesota giving 2.5 over Penn State. Perdue was supposed to be the powerhouse of the big 10 until they lost to Glenn Mason's Gophers last week. Northwestern has returned to doormat status, and proved it by losing to this Penn State team. Even though it's an evening game in Happy Valley, take the gophers and give the pts.
Finally, I'm sitting here watching Knute Rockne All American, plus Perdue is coming off the Minnesotta loss last week and still a 3 pt favorite over the Irish. Ya gotta be kidding me! Bet against Notre Dame? Are you fucking NUTS? Bet the moneyline and as Anni would say, "Laugh at the suckers later." This Weis guy is the real deal, and he aint losin' to Perdue. Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame...
Posted by: Casca at September 30, 2005 08:19 PM (qBTBH)
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Casca goes with some safe bets; I especially like N.D. to beat up on the Boilermakers (better than "Perdue").
Didn't mention that OSU cannot possibly lose this week as they further hide their offense.
USC, on the other hand does not hide their offense. It is so strong and balanced that they can go at you with stuff you know is coming and still be successful. Look for them to beat the stuffing out of the Sun Devils today. Also look for a lot more of John David Booty and LenDale White. And, keep your eyes on Dwayne Jarrett.
Oh yeah, there are a couple of other lesser guys to look out for, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart aren't bad, even if "Stanton is the real Heisman Quarterback in this country."
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 03:44 AM (6mUkl)
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That's not a pick! That's partisan gushing. Worse yet, it is your one note. Bring something interesting to the table. Call the score. Is USC going to beat the 15 pt spread? I can see them wilting in the desert sun. It's gonna be a scorcher.
Posted by: Casca at October 01, 2005 06:41 AM (qBTBH)
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Yes, they'll beat the spread and then some. They have every game this year and most of the last two as well. The spread is 16 1/2 as of now.
The Coliseum is regularly anywhere from 105 to 120 degrees on the field for afternoon games; Carroll likes to run them up and down the stairs in practice, and then practice all afternoon there when he can. If the game was in LA, it'd be over 100 today for sure.
The heat will not wilt them, again, because of their ability to substitute freely without losing much in talent level.
Look for SC to step it up about the middle of the third quarter on... (Booty wants to put some numbers on the board, too)
LA doesn't need a pro team, we already have one.
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 08:58 AM (6mUkl)
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Speaking of no D, how about Spartans?
Looks grim for them right now...
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 10:09 AM (6mUkl)
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casca, is worse than hugh hewitt with the osu shit. except, unlike hugh, you know something about the game. shelly is worse than my favorite undergrad history professor, who was a usc grad. every monday, he'd spend the first half hour of class rehashing saturday's game.
Posted by: annika at October 01, 2005 10:18 AM (nGY1H)
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"The horror, the horror..."
Kurtz
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 02:47 PM (6mUkl)
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Alabama is putting a major ass whuppin on Florida, that was unexpected.
Posted by: Kyle N at October 01, 2005 03:42 PM (C6iC4)
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Fucking Spartans, played a great game, but couldn't close the deal. Watch them when they play the Buckeyes in two weeks. It will be a great truth-teller.
Fucking Glen Mason, I'm just glad that we didn't hire the fucktard to replace the fucktard Cooper. He's the guy that the administration wanted, thank God the Alumni hung in there and hired Tressel.
Posted by: Casca at October 01, 2005 03:51 PM (qBTBH)
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Fucking syphalitic retard Keith Jackson, one day I will publicly piss on him.
Posted by: Casca at October 01, 2005 04:32 PM (qBTBH)
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So, Okay, they didn't cover, but they showed the kind of balance that can win against anyone.
And, down 21-3 they came back in the second half and outscored ASU big time.
Thunder and Lightning; better hope OSU doesn't get to Pasadena. The Defense may gel by then. It is young, but they hung in there and got five (5), count'em, FIVE picks on Keller.
Good game; ASU may be the second best in the Pac 10 and they are gonna beat someone in a bowl, too.
Trojans RULE...
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 04:51 PM (6mUkl)
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never seen you sweat like that, Shelly. SC is taking their reputation for being slow starters to a whole new extreme. Reminds me of the 'flip the switch' Lakers of a few years ago.
Posted by: annika at October 01, 2005 05:45 PM (nGY1H)
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Casca,
You wrote, "Vince Young was shut down." The first time Texas had the ball, Vince Young ran for 10, 32, and 10. Ohio State adjusted to take away his running, and Vince passed for 270 yards. Vince had 346 yards of total offense for the game. Ohio State *** AS A TEAM *** had 255 yards of total offense. If 346 of total offense for a single player is "shut down," what is 255 for the WHOLE BUCKEYE TEAM? Is having almost 100 total yards more than the ENTIRE BUCKEYES OFFENSE what passes for being "shut down"?
You also said wrote, "Buckeyes dominated in every way." More points? Texas. More first downs? Texas. More rushing yards? Texas. More passing yards? Texas. More total yards? Texas. More time of possession? Texas. Is that what passes for domination in your world?
Texas went into Columbus in front of a record Ohio Stadium crowd and dominated the statistics and scored more points, even without getting credit for Melton's TD. Ohio State had its chance and failed.
Posted by: Amy at October 01, 2005 05:57 PM (8Rqqf)
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Hey, leave Casca alone; he's mine to pick apart.
Ohio State did not fail.
They just didn't totally succeed.
Also, you forget to mention that they totally succeeded in hiding their offense. From everyone.
OK, gotta go watch the Irish bail my sorry ass out of a bad afternoon at the bookie.
Posted by: shelly at October 01, 2005 07:35 PM (6mUkl)
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Excuse the fuck out of me Amy (who is clearly not my next friend), but if you think that stats tell the story your understanding of the game is jejeune. Perhaps you didn't see the game? I'll be glad to send you a DVD.
You see, Texas trailed until late in the 4th Qtr until a bogus pass interference call on third and long gave them a fresh first down past midfield. That's what gave them their score, and put them back in the game. Seems like stopping the unstoppable Vince Young from running IS shutting him down. Your vaunted cheesedicks won't make it through the season undefeated. Now get out of my way, I'm here to fuck with Shelly.
Posted by: Casca at October 01, 2005 07:40 PM (qBTBH)
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Has anyone else noticed that there doesn't appear to be a real defense in the entire PAC-10?
Michigan State defense? What a bunch of pussys. Arm tackling doesn't stop real football players. It was like watching the ASU defensive backs trying to tackle Bush & White, pathetic. Watch how Notre Dame tackles, that's how the Buckeyes do it. They put their hat on the ball carrier.
USC v Notre Dame is going to be great! I'm taking the domers and the pts.
Posted by: Casca at October 01, 2005 07:50 PM (qBTBH)
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SC v. Notre Dame, always a classic, but this year, maybe even more.
There is a serious mindset here in LA about USC coaches; they can lose every game but two and still have a successful season. All they need to do is beat UCLA and Notre Dame, and the world is right. And lately, the world has been more than right.
Notre Dame does not have the horses to beat SC this year, but they will give them a game for a while; there is no one they'd rather beat, either.
There is a story about the guy who took his dog into a bar to watch the SC-Notre Dame game.
After the SC won the game, the dog started doing back flips on the bar. The owner says "He always does this after SC beats Notre Dame".
The barkeep asks "What happens when Notre Dame wins?".
The owner responds "I don't know, I've only had him for three years."
USC may not end up Number 1 at the end of the season, but they are there until someone else finishes a full game ahead, not when people play a good quarter, or even a good half agaisnt them.
And, their Defense just gets better every week, especially when they have to rally from behind.
Admit it, Casca, they showed real heart this week, while OSU just watched on TV.
Next week is not the week that someone will beat them, nor is the week of October 15.
Posted by: shelly at October 02, 2005 02:58 AM (6mUkl)
32
My comments intention was not to piss Casca off, but to point out the Texas was not shut down. I was there at Ohio to see the game and both sides played a good game. But it was not a shut down on any side.
Look at the stats and interpet them how you want. Pretty even on face value, without looking at who earned them. OSU wupped Texas on kick off returns, Texas did better on offense, yet no one dominated the game. It was close to the bitter end. Stats can be found
here.
Casca, thanks for the nice "Steer and Queers" comment on my blog.
Posted by: Amy at October 02, 2005 11:20 AM (1k32s)
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Call it what you want, character, mental toughness, not laying down and let the other guy kick you. That's really what a great coach brings to a team, and every great team has it. Some of the ASU players had it, but not enough of them. Leinart shows it, but USC hasn't really been in a position to show it as a team yet.
Notre Dame doesn't have the horses? People have been saying that all season. I'm inclined after last nights performance to believe that they do. If I were you, I'd start praying right now that it doesn't rain Oct 15 in South Bend, because all skill is in vain if an angel pisses in your flintlock. ND will play a full game, and like their song says, they'll be "Shaking down the thunder from the sky".
Posted by: Casca at October 02, 2005 11:25 AM (qBTBH)
34
Lighten up Amy, I didn't invent the line. I'd suggest that you take me up on the DVD offer if you think the game was that close. If you want to look at stats, look at this one: Turnovers, OSU 1 (fucking Zwick's fumble at the end of the game) UT 3 (Two interceptions of the unstoppable one, and a fumble).
Posted by: Casca at October 02, 2005 11:31 AM (qBTBH)
35
Save your money, Casca. No speed.
The only reason ASU got game was their speed. When they tired, it was over.
But when they really needed it, no one to hit the line really hard. The QB was the only guy over 220 in the backfield.
ND doesn't have the speed to stay with USC.
Save your money, or, give it to me.
Posted by: shelly at October 02, 2005 09:50 PM (6mUkl)
36
"Save your money, or, give it to me."
Now THERE's a thought.
Posted by: Casca at October 03, 2005 07:04 AM (qBTBH)
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September 26, 2005
MNF Pick, Week 3
Kansas City plus 2½ points? That's a no-brainer. Sure, Mile-High is always a factor, but so are Trent Green and Priest Holmes. Take KC over Denver. Insist on the points so you can laugh at the suckers later.
First Quarter Update: Fuck.
Halftime Update: Double fuck.
(That Clay Aiken's got a pretty good arm. Who knew?)
Third Quarter Update: Looks like we're going to need the greatest comeback in MNF history for those 2½ points to matter.
Final Score Update: Okay, so i'm 0 and 2. Denver was 0 and 2 before Monday Night, but i don't see you mocking them now. Just wait until next week.
Update to the Update: Crap, wrong again. Denver was 1-1.
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Agreed, no-briner. After drafting Clarett in the third round, it's hard to believe that Shanahan can EVER find his ass with both hands.
Posted by: Casca at September 26, 2005 02:10 PM (qBTBH)
2
The Rat never was a great coach, funny how having a hall of fame QB can make you look like an offensive genius.
Posted by: Kyle N at September 26, 2005 02:43 PM (EUwEI)
3
Actually, the line is 3 at game time. The money line is +120/-140.
If you are so sure, why not bet the money line and forgo the points?
I'm sure, but not so sure as to do that, so I took the three.
Posted by: shelly at September 26, 2005 05:52 PM (M7kiy)
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You're pretty sure of yourself this time, Annie.
based on your track record .........
Posted by: wayne at September 26, 2005 06:58 PM (sOqkQ)
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GODDAMMIT! LSU blew a three touchdown lead to loose to Tennesee in OT. God that sucs
Posted by: Kyle N at September 26, 2005 08:41 PM (22maq)
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I think USC could have beaten Kansas City tonight; Heck, even the Quarterbackless Wonders pf Strawberry Canyon might have been able to roll them.
Nice call, Annie. Don't give up your day job...
Posted by: shelly at September 26, 2005 09:10 PM (ywZa8)
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DOUBLE GODDAMN IT!! I was going to tape the LSU game, while I went to watch the Padres snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Hehhehe, it's ok though. Anyone ranked ahead of the Buckeyes needs to lose and get out of the way of destiny.
Posted by: Casca at September 26, 2005 10:27 PM (qBTBH)
Posted by: shelly at September 27, 2005 03:15 AM (6krEN)
9
Anni, where do you get your information???? The Broncos beat San Diego last week and were 1 and 1 going into last nights game. Now they are 2 and 1 and in control of the AFC West. I know its hard for a Raider fan to believe it but the Broncos are back and as long as the injury bug doesn't bite too hard, they are going to make a run!!!!
Posted by: Thomas at September 27, 2005 09:12 AM (xuYrh)
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Crap. You are right.
: (
But of course, i could have meant that Denver was 0-2 at some unspecified point in the past, not necessarily this season. So there.
Posted by: annika at September 27, 2005 09:33 AM (zAOEU)
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Go back to the law books. The pay's better and steadier.
Posted by: shelly at September 27, 2005 12:29 PM (6mUkl)
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The only thing that makes being a Broncos fan is the Broncos drinking game.
You get sloshed when they win and stay sober when they loose.
As long as AFC West teams loose to the Broncs, the rest is just fun to watch.
Posted by: jcrue at September 27, 2005 02:51 PM (ZDQoM)
13
Re Clay Aiken, I especially enjoyed Kimmel's "instant replay."
Watch out what you say in your blog. The Welsh might be monitoring it now. (Not to be confused with Raquel Welch)
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at September 28, 2005 10:46 PM (V6D5w)
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September 19, 2005
The Return Of annika's MNF Pick
Dallas is favored by 5½ points. i'd take Dallas minus the points because they plan to honor Troy, Michael and Emmitt tonight. The Cowboys should be up for this home game and besides, the Redskins aren't going anywhere this year.
Unrelated football note: L.A. has been without a football team for what, ten years now? New Orleans doesn't even exist, but they have a football team. How embarrassing is that.
Update: Amy was at the game!
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1
That's a no-brainer. What about the Nawlins game? It's a double header.
Posted by: Casca at September 19, 2005 02:39 PM (qBTBH)
2
I'd rather have no team than have the Raiders.
The average Raider fan comes on a Harley Hawg, has at least three tattoos, has served at leat 30 days in one jail or another...
And, that's just the women.
Posted by: shelly at September 19, 2005 02:59 PM (M7kiy)
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My own team the Texans sucked it up so much that they just fired their off. coordinator after two games!
Guess I can still be a cowboys fan.
Posted by: Kyle N at September 19, 2005 03:11 PM (3zRXt)
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I'll have to take Dallas, because the Big Tuna is going to get them into the playoffs.
Posted by: Alexa at September 19, 2005 03:42 PM (oTIkE)
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We have a local character in San Diego by the name of "King" Stahlman. He's in bail bonds. Last time we had the Superbowl down here, the local newsguys asked him at playoff time who he'd like to see in the game. His reply? "Oakland, they're good for business".
Pre-911 I went to a Chargers/Raiders game where everyone was patted down before entry. Now of course the minimum wage shitheads do it to everyone, but in those days it was an afront.
Posted by: Casca at September 19, 2005 03:50 PM (qBTBH)
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i have two tattoos. i guess that means i need a third.
: 0
Posted by: annika at September 19, 2005 04:35 PM (zAOEU)
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My picks are over at my site. I'm 18-10 so far this year against the spread. Not bad eh?
Oh, and I took Dallas and gave 6.
Posted by: Pursuit at September 19, 2005 05:20 PM (n/TNS)
8
Sky masterson says "My Daddy told me that if a guy offers to bet you that he can make the Jack of Spades jump out of a brand new, unopened pack of cards and spit cider in your eye, don't bet him; sure as Hell you are going to get cider in your eye".
That's how Dallas looked tonight. On paper, at home, they should have been at least 13 point favorites, but the bookies know more than you guys. Obviously.
I hope the cider didn't sting too much.
Posted by: shelly at September 19, 2005 09:58 PM (M7kiy)
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By the way, Annie, see if you can figure out who the President of the Los Angeles Memeorial Coliseum Commission was the year that the Raiders left and went back to Oakland.
Posted by: shelly at September 19, 2005 10:00 PM (M7kiy)
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Might this person be a district representative of the State Bar Board of Governors?
Posted by: annika at September 19, 2005 11:50 PM (f0eyK)
11
Might even be Vice President.
Posted by: shelly at September 20, 2005 01:59 AM (M7kiy)
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My strategy will now be to look at annika's pick and go the other way. Heh.
Dallas was winning
for fifty-six minutes, babe!
Gibbs is a genius!
Posted by: Victor at September 20, 2005 04:30 AM (L3qPK)
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AND THATS WHY THEY PLAY THE GAME!
Dallas does a Texas size CHOKE.
Posted by: Wayne at September 20, 2005 06:48 AM (IrbU4)
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Dallas didn't put them away in the 3rd qtr when they should have. I predict that the long ball comes at Dallas all year.
Posted by: Casca at September 20, 2005 08:28 AM (qBTBH)
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As a native of Louisiana, I humbly offer you the New Orleans Saints. You can have em!
Posted by: Ken at September 20, 2005 12:16 PM (xD5ND)
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I vote for nakid pics!
Posted by: Kyle N at September 20, 2005 02:53 PM (JfV4t)
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Things could be worse:
http://rschultz.blogspot.com/2005/09/french-kiss-head-coach-bill-parcells.html
Posted by: Casca at September 20, 2005 04:47 PM (qBTBH)
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July 19, 2005
Supreme Court Update
WHITE HOUSE SAYS
CLEMENT NOT NOMINEE
Despite early reports today, speculation that right hander Matt Clement was picked to be the ninth man in the Supreme Court rotation are apparently untrue.
Sources within the administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, told annika's journal that Matt Clement was never under serious consideration.
However, some experts say Clement would have been an awesome choice, despite his 4.21 ERA and mediocre WHIP. Said annika: "Heck, he's been on my fantasy team three years in a row. i don't know what kind of justice he'd make, but he's got ten wins and 101 K's this year. And the way my team's been doing, i've needed every damn one of 'em."
Developing . . .
Update: Speculation continues to circulate around Gonzalez as a possible nominee. Some pundits say President Bush is under pressure to nominate another Arizonan to replace Justice O'Connor, who grew up in Duncan, Arizona. However, some conservative activists are wary of the veteran outfielder for the Diamondbacks.
Said prominent right wing blogger annika: "Sure Luis throws right handed, but he bats lefty. And everytime i've seen him, he's way out in left field. Can we really trust him?"
Developing . . .
Update 2: The news is out! It's Roberts! i'm ecstatic. His stats aren't outrageous, but he's got good speed and was a quality guy when he played for the Dodgers. This year Dave's been a solid contributor to the first place Padre team. Democrats who wanted a center fielder should be happy with this lefty batter.
Developing . . .
[If there's a rule about beating a joke to death, you might want to invoke it now.]
Update 3: Preston wanted a justice with strings attached. Or someone who can pull all the right strings. Or something like that.
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1
...but he's got ten wins and 101 K's this year. And the way my team's been doing, i've needed every damn one of 'em."
The way your team's been doing, you've needed a bitch of a lot more than ten wins and 101 K's )Not that I've got any room to talk--but at least I'm number one in total K's and I'm making a serious run for W's in the pitching department.).
Posted by: Victor at July 19, 2005 04:59 PM (IBRcA)
2
Clement??...Come on. We all know Randy Johnson would be picked over him. Let's Go Yankees.
Anyway, I found you via the Cotllion.Nice blog by the way.
RR
Posted by: RegularRon at July 19, 2005 05:30 PM (UXT/+)
3
Leave it to the Chicago Cubs and the trolls at the Chicago Tribune to let a pitcher like Matt Clement go.
What a truly sorry ass organization.
Posted by: Mark at July 19, 2005 08:22 PM (442Yb)
4
Personally I would prefer Lindsay Lohan for SCOTUS. Or Boy George. Or Kenny Rogers (the Barona casino hawker, not the fan of photographers).
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at July 20, 2005 05:45 PM (c6rOB)
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Roberts was one cool dude; I am sure that it was he, and not Ensign Pulver who stole Queeg's strawberries. Not sure about who tossed the palm tree either.
Will Broadway Chuck ferret this out of him in intense cross examination?
Or, will the Bloviating Senator from Boston take him on with skills he learned in college whilst being caught having others take his exams?
Stay tuned to this station through September...
Posted by: shelly at July 21, 2005 12:40 AM (pO1tP)
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Which Bloviating Senator from Boston? The one whose last name begins with a K?
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at July 21, 2005 05:27 PM (bGyIu)
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July 11, 2005
Tour de France Trivia
On this
off day for the Tour, i thought you all might enjoy this bit of Tour de France historical trivia.
Question: What dinosaur was also an excellent biker in the time trial events?
Answer in the extended entry.
more...
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Lance is proof positive that an American with one nut is better than a legion of Eurotrash.
I'm sorry, was that needlessly harsh?
Posted by: Kyle at July 12, 2005 05:07 AM (7Re84)
2
Old joke, Kyle. Robin Williams told that one *years* ago.
Posted by: Victor at July 12, 2005 06:27 AM (L3qPK)
3
Well, I'm as big a fan of Lance as anyone (hell, we flew to Austin last year to do his Foundation ride in the heat of the Texas Hill Country). But he'd never call his competitors Eurotrash... remember, the dude calls Spain home now, spending more time there than anywhere else... and he publicly touted Paris for the 2012 games. In one of his books, he makes it clear that he doesn't see eye-to-eye with President Bush, either, though he respects him as a fellow Texan... Face it folks; with a divorce, Sheryl Crowe and a foreign address, Lance is more "blue state" than "red." :-)
Posted by: Hugo at July 12, 2005 07:25 AM (qldcl)
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Yea but it doesn't count when Williams says it, cuz he is such a leftist dweeb.
Lance might like the Euros, but I dont, At least not the ones I have met and had to work with. But then again, I'm just a little package of hate.
Posted by: Kyle at July 12, 2005 10:09 AM (7Re84)
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IÂ’m a little torn about supporting Lance Armstrong. On one hand, it is great the French hate him so much because he dominates their big event. It must make them stew to know that an American is the best at what they hold so dearly. On the other hand, when I have heard him talk he comes across like a typical Hollywood liberal (IÂ’m sure dating Sheryl Crowe doesnÂ’t help my perception). Also, IÂ’m unsure if he is an atheist but IÂ’ve never heard him attribute any of his success or his overcoming cancer to God. This may be a bit hypocritical of me because it irritates me when athletes thank God for letting them win, but you would think that a man who came back from the brink of death would thank more than the doctors and the medicine. Perhaps I should just ignore the politics of it all and appreciate an American dominating Europeans.
Posted by: Jonathan at July 12, 2005 04:26 PM (oegEw)
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July 06, 2005
le Tour Update
DMC at Ridgecrest Blog has a couple of really good Tour de France updates.
The first is something Tour fans already know. Lance Armstrong is a class act.
Today Lance Armstrong showed up for the big roll out wearing his normal Discovery Channel jersey, not the yellow jersey of the race leader that he was entitiled to wear.
. . .
After the rollout the race referees told Lance that he would have to wear the yellow or risk being disqualified from the race. So Armstong is racing with the yellow jersey pulled on over his discovery jerset. Let's hope it doesn't get hot today.
So there you go, in a day of overpaid, over egoed proffesional athletes we have one here that tries to take the high road and do the right thing and the race officials have to get involved and drag him back into the muck.
The second update concerns
a questionable judgment call on the part of David Zabriskie's team leader, Bjarni Riis.
To Bjarne Riis, you made a tough call ordering the team to ride on withour Zabriskie. But was it the right call? YOu should have left a rider behind to help him. To bad you don't respect the yellow jersey as much as the guy who was wearing it and the man today who is reluctantly wearing it today.
Go check out
Ridgecrest Blog. It's good stuff.
Posted by: annika at
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Bjarne Riis made a tough call, but the right call. The man CSC is setting up to win the General Category of the Tour is Ivan Basso, not David Zabriskie. In order for Basso to do that, it was imperative that he, and CSC, lose as little time as possible against DSC and Armstrong in the team time trial, preferably none at all. And in the end, remember, CSC only lost to DSC with two seconds. Had CSC won, they would have received a time bonus, but also proved to the world, and themselves, that Armstrong's team was not invincible; both points would have given CSC a considerable moral boost; both points were well worth 'sacrificing' Zabriskie's yellow jersey for. In essence, Riis was faced with the choice of trying to keep Zabriskie in the yellow jersey for an extra day
now or giving Basso a chance to win
the entire Tour de France.
As for Lance Armstrong's refusing to wear the yellow jersey out of 'respect' for Zabriskie's plight: it's funny, but I don't remember Armstrong having any problems whatsoever with donning the maillot jaune in 2003 after his main rival Jan Ullrich had a nasty fall in one of the individual time trials thereby screwing up his (Ullrich's) chances of winning. What's the difference?
Last year, Armstrong eschewed the tradition which has the previous year's winner wearing the yellow jersey in the prologue/first stage, claiming that he wanted to 'earn' it.
Puh-lease! My theory is that hanging around Sheryl Crow is rotting his brain. I had much more respect for Armstrong when he was a brash and upfront and somewhat sense-of-humour deficient Texan rather than some lovey-dovey and somewhat sense-of-humour deficient Hollywood type.
PS. You wrote somewhere that you were thinking of buying Robert Ludlum's book
The Bourne Identity because you really liked the film. If you haven't already, don't. While the film is excellent, the book is a sorry waste of space ... unless one is a die-hard fan of Alistair MacLean or airport novels with funny embossed fonts on the cover. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with either, but neither has the sass and class of the film.
Posted by: bettiwettiwoo at July 06, 2005 09:43 PM (ZGQP0)
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Betti makes a good point about Riis's logic for abandoning Zabriskie. Zabriskie was going to lose it sooner or later and CSC knew this. Zabriskie winning the yellow jersey during the prologue was a bonus for CSC, but it wasn't in CSC's master plan for the Tour. A CSC rider in the yellow jersey was a bonus battle won at the beginning of the three-week war.
As for her asking, "What's the difference?" about Armstrong pulling on the yellow jersey after Ullrich's crash during a TT-that was in 2003 and there are two huuuge differences between that incident and this year: It was the final TT of the Tour and it was seen as Ullrich's last chance to take the race lead from Armstrong. Further, and more important,
Ullrich wasn't in yellow at the time and Armstrong already was.
There is precedent for a rider refusing to take the yellow jersey after the race lead has crashed out: During the 1971 tour, Louis Ocaña crashed out in the mountains while in yellow; Eddy Merckx refused to wear the yellow jersey the next day as a sign of respect to both Ocaña and to the Tour. I believe that also happened once in the fifties, but I may be mistaken. Merckx did wear yellow the second day after Ocaña crashed out.
Going back even further in the Armstrong-Ullrich rivalry, you might remember when Ullrich endoed in the mountains--Armstrong held up the lead group until Ullrich got back on his bike and rejoined the group, instead of chosing that moment to take advantage of Ullrich's accident.
When Armstrong said he wanted to 'earn' the yellow jersey I believe he meant it but not the way you think--I think it was a way to pump himself up and play some mind games with his opponents. We'll never really know for sure, so all we can do is speculate.
One thing that *is* known for sure is when Armstrong was going for his second victory, the TDF refused to let him wear the yellow jersey for the opening prologue, claiming the very short route (less than ten k, as I recall) wasn't actually an opening prologue but the true opening of the race. Another French class act, you bet.
Posted by: Victor at July 07, 2005 06:04 AM (L3qPK)
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July 05, 2005
Fantasy Baseball Update
We're a week away from the All-Star break, and i'm sure everybody's wondering how annika's A's are doing in annika's own fantasy baseball league, MLBloggers.
i suck.
Every other owner has been in first at least once. i've set a record for being in last place the most consecutive weeks.
Yep, pretty much all of them.
i drafted poorly. i built my team around Eric Gagné, who went on the DL almost immediately, came back briefly, and is out again. i got no runners except for Podsednik, with his sub-par offensive stats.
But that's only for starters.
i'm in the bottom three in the following stats: runs, home runs, runs batted in, stolen bases, batting average, on base percentage, wins, saves, strikeouts, earned run average and walk+hit ratio.
Yep, pretty much all of them.
i'm even behind Ted, who doesn't even like baseball. i'm way behind gcotharn, and he's never played fantasy baseball before. (In fact, gcotharn is in first place!)
Victor and Matt tried to help me out with some very generous trades, and yet i still suck. While Dawn and The Maximum Leader never make a roster change and they're beating me.
i'm losing to Paul, who apparently gave up his blog so he could devote more time to kicking my ass!
Even a Geek knows more about baseball than i do.
It's hard to believe, but i'm even losing to a bunch of Zombies and Rats.
Yes, as Charlie Brown said: Rats.
Posted by: annika at
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The race is not always to the swift, nor the contest to the strong, but that's the way you bet.
Posted by: Casca at July 05, 2005 09:49 PM (qBTBH)
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I'm working hard to meet you at the bottom, though.
Which, if you weren't paying attention, almost sounds naughty.
Heheh.
Posted by: zombyboy at July 05, 2005 09:52 PM (jMD7w)
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fantasy football is even more fun. I am looking forward to Football season. I have a big HD tv and I got NFL total package HDTV from Direct TV. ITs gonna be so sweet.
My wife plans on visiting me in the living room a couple of hours each week.
Posted by: Kyle at July 06, 2005 05:31 AM (7Re84)
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Accept the grim reality honey. How can you compete against adversaries who drink rat blood, eat nuclear waste, control human thought, breath fire and even regenerate?
Posted by: d-rod at July 06, 2005 06:38 AM (Lsghx)
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You might have noticed that I, too, almost never change my roster. Two children vying for daddy's attention: do I give in or go update my roster? Ehh, fantasy baseball loses out most of the time.
Don't worry about being in last. I have an almost unique ability to come roaring into the back. On the other hand, I'll bring beer when I come, so at least we won't be thirsty in last place.
Posted by: physics geek at July 06, 2005 07:37 AM (Xvrs7)
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This is only my second experience with fantasy sports, the first being fantasy hockey a couple of years ago. I have no idea what's going on most of the time.
And it's not that I hate baseball, I hate what baseball has become.
Posted by: Ted at July 07, 2005 03:41 AM (blNMI)
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Ted, for a while, the traditionalists at Major League Baseball were pondering putting advertisements on the bases.
Advertisemets.
On the bases.
My guess is that Bud "What Steroids?" Selig got an avalanche of hate mail because the idea died a quick death.
Posted by: Mark at July 08, 2005 08:40 AM (Vg0tt)
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July 01, 2005
Heroic Cal Football Player
Cal's football team again starts the season highly ranked at
number 15 in the Sporting News Poll. But while the Golden Bears' finish last season was less than heroic, their freshman offensive lineman
Mike Tepper should be a hero in anyone's book.
A University of California, Berkeley, football player was seriously injured when authorities say he was allegedly intentionally struck by a car driven by a group of men leering at a female friend.
Mike Tepper, 19, was walking with the woman near campus during the weekend. The men began taunting the woman, a Cal volleyball player, and eventually cut the pair off with their car, police said.
When the men refused to leave the woman alone, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound lineman jumped between the car and the woman. The men allegedly then ran over Tepper twice, breaking his leg.
'My season's toast,' Tepper said Wednesday as he recuperated from surgery to repair a broken fibula and torn ankle ligaments. He had nine screws and one plate put in his leg and can't walk on it for eight weeks.
Police have arrested Johnny Ray Smith, 33, and Calvin Joe Kelley, 29, for violating terms of their probation or parole, authorities said. Officers also arrested a third man, but prosecutors declined to file charges against him because of scant evidence.
Police are investigating the incident as an assault with a deadly weapon.
Cal football coach Jeff Tedford said he was 'proud of the courage Mike showed Saturday night.'
Thank God chivalry is not dead. i sure hope Mike Tepper gets to play again, he's a real hero.
Update: Mike's dad describes the incident here.
Mike was walking on Telegraph Saturday night. A good looking girl was on her way home just ahead of him and was trying to cross the street (I think at Dwight) and a car pulled up with 4 or 5 men in it. They started taunting the girl, making unwanted propositions. She said she wasn't interested and was trying to get by. As she started to walk ahead of the car to pass in front of it, they sped up and blocked her.
By this time, Mike caught up with the girl and told the guys she wasnt interested and together they walked behind the car to get by.
As they were crossing the street behind the car, the driver put the car into reverse and punched it, intentionally attempting to hit them. Mike immediately pushed the girl out of the way, but could not get out of the way himself. She landed across the street with scraped knees and a scraped up face.
Mike wasnt as lucky, the car hit him, he fell, then the car ran over mike's leg. Then, the idiots put the car in Drive and ran over him again (over the ankle again).
A police lieutenant witnessed the whole thing from about a block away. He was at Mike's side within seconds and called an ambulance. He took statements from 5 witnesses at the scene. The lieutenant put a turniquette on Mike's leg (he has a very deep gash), because it was bleeding fairly severely. The lieutenant also said that it was intentional.
At the hospital, they x-rayed Mike, and found he had a broken Fibula, and ligament damage. He also has a dislocated Tibia. They had to spend a little time trying to stop the bleeding.
He had an operation this morning, where they put a plate and two screws into the broken bones, and will repair the ligament damage. He will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks before they take the plate off. After that he will be able to jog lightly on it, but will not be in any condition to "play hard" at least until November at the earliest.
The lieutenant called for backup and had the guys arrested within 5 blocks of the incident as he came to Mike's aid. The driver was on parole, and another passenger was on probation.
The driver is going to be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, and both of those guys had had their paroles/probation revoked that night. They will both finish their earlier convictions behind bars, and are behind bars now.
. . .
Personally, I think Mike saved a life that night. Had he not been there, who knows what those scumbags would have done to that girl, the least of being run over by a car. I think he deserves a medal for what he did. I am proud of his behavior.... He is a great kid, and an outstanding citizen, and I am constantly reminding him of that.
In his meeting with the surgeon yesterday, he was told that he would heel 100%, and that 4 or 5 CAL players have had similar surgeries and have gone on to play in the "pros." That was great news, and we are looking to a speedy recovery and a fantastic year, next year. He will be working out with the team, but staying off the foot until such time he can play again.
Good news indeed. Get well soon, dude.
Posted by: annika at
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I was wondering, who is Mikes father? I ask because there is a college football coach named Lou Tepper.
Posted by: Kyle at July 01, 2005 03:32 PM (7Re84)
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The message board says "Gus Tepper." so different guy.
Posted by: annika at July 01, 2005 03:37 PM (iqARA)
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Not to take anything away from Tepper, but I'll take a preseason #5 Ranking any day. Go BUCKEYES!
Posted by: Casca at July 01, 2005 04:08 PM (qBTBH)
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This story kinda got to me. This guy is a fine man, and the world is better off b/c of guys like him.
Posted by: gcotharn at July 02, 2005 11:47 AM (SU2IN)
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June 05, 2005
French Open Fashion Break Point
Today's exciting French Open final between two absolute hotties, Argentina's Mariano Puerta and Spain's Rafael Nadal, is a great match. But i had to break away between sets to comment about their awful fashion choices.
Puerta chose an orange shirt to wear on a clay court. Not good. Really bad, actually. Maybe that was part of his strategy, to distract Nadal with some sort of ill-conceived camouflage idea.
But Rafael Nadal's outfit takes le cake. A chartreuse sleeveless top with white capris? Qu'est-ce que c'est? Il est terrible! i want to match them with some cute lace-up espadrilles, dude. No guy can pull off that look, not even one as gorgeous as Rafael. Tennis player thighs are the best looking thighs in the world; why cover them up?
And the panty-lines! Guys, white pants are why they invented thongs. Any girl will tell you. That's embarrassing. They should try some lycra boxers or something.
Okay, time for me to get back to the sweaty grunting latins. They're tied, one set all, in the third set.
[Welcome, Slate readers! Why not bookmark annika's journal?]
Posted by: annika at
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At least they weren't wearing matching outfits like the girls. What was up with that?
Posted by: d-rod at June 05, 2005 11:38 AM (tMu1E)
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i don't think tennis is as good as it was say a few years back, but then again maybe I just like watching Americans win. Was a decent match today though, looking forward to wimbeldon.
Posted by: scof at June 05, 2005 12:16 PM (x8hF4)
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As a tennis player I must say that I favored the mid to late 80s stuff -- maggia, tacchini, etc. Sometimes I don't know what in the world these people are dressing in these days!!
[spam portion deleted]
-Christopher King, Esq.
Posted by: christopher king at June 05, 2005 12:27 PM (ywZa8)
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Wow, that's spam with a personal touch. Mixing a topical comment with a totally unrelated one and links to your agenda site, although not in html format. Still, spam is spam, so i'm going to delete the portions irrelevant to the subject post. i generally allow a free-wheeling discussion in my comments section, and if people want to move the subject, that's okay with me. But such an abrupt change in topic gets my spam dander up. Especially since i've have to waste time deleting a couple dozen spam comments every single day lately. My spammer tolerance is not as big as it used to be.
Posted by: annika at June 05, 2005 12:50 PM (hUYup)
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Booger green will always be a fashion statement.
Posted by: Mark at June 05, 2005 03:35 PM (Vg0tt)
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So
that's chartreuse!
Apparently it's a great color for fishing lures.
Posted by: Matt at June 05, 2005 09:29 PM (vQvTM)
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They are terrible outfits. I always liked Sampras in his classic whites...
Posted by: Hugo at June 06, 2005 03:19 PM (2bqBq)
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Best tennis fashion? Aggasi in the late 80s. I owned a pair of those black with hot-pink paint splash Nike Airs.
And you think Nadal is hot? He's got a great body, but his face? He looks like the damn missing link, sloping brow and jutting jaw and everything.
Posted by: ken at June 07, 2005 10:47 AM (xD5ND)
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Hey,
Nadal does have a wierd looking face for a guy, but who cares? He has a fantastic body. Take a look at that BUT. Who cares what he wears. Plus, he plays fantastic tennis.
Posted by: N Diane at June 07, 2005 12:52 PM (CAT+l)
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VPL? Visible Panty Lines? Only on Puerta, I do not think Nadal was wearing any! Maybe a thong? My husband says there is no way he could play tennis that long without some sort of support...
Posted by: Gretchen at June 08, 2005 07:37 PM (RENXF)
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Hey Annika, I'm a Slate reader and I'd gladly bookmark your site, but I took a quick look around and it's pretty clear you're an idiot.
Posted by: Jon at June 22, 2005 11:22 PM (Dbae2)
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Well, Jon, your razor sharp wit proves that you are a discerning reader. what can i say?
Posted by: annika at June 23, 2005 12:22 AM (j8BB9)
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Nadal is jjust 100% WOW!!! My god that body and that ass easily distract me from the game. I'd definitely like to meet somene with a smile as cute as his, he's just so incredibly hot, even with the weird face.
Posted by: sabrina at July 05, 2005 07:00 AM (TNL66)
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Hey! WOWOWOW RAFA IS AN AMAZING PLAYER! I think he is so cute-c'mon you have to admit-he has one heck of a smile! When he smiles his whole faces lights up!! I thinks he is so cute and a great player lol of course!
Posted by: Ilar at July 11, 2005 03:52 PM (LENMf)
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May 29, 2005
annika on Danica
Everybody's talking about Danica Patrick, the girl who is starting
today's Indianappolis 500 in the second row. Danica is one of eight rookies in the race. She's never driven a 500 mile race before. Don't believe the hype, she's not going to win (i'm picking Helio). So much depends on the car, the team, and luck. But i'll be rooting for Danica. i hope she'll be safe and i hope she does good.
The Indy 500 is not an easy race. That's five hundred miles - think LA to Phoenix, an 8 hour drive, normally - exept they're doing it at 200 miles an hour. Five hundred miles, two hundred laps, eight hundred left hand turns, two hours of total mental concentration. You ever try concentrating for two hours in a life and death situation? In this race there are a hundred problems that come up, which you gotta deal with, and a million potential problems you gotta worry about the whole time. You gotta have your shit together to win the Borg Warner.
My brother races a little, and he's a huge Danica fan. Mainly because he's a horndog and she is a hottie. On weekends at my parents house, no one is allowed to touch the remote because everyone knows Derrick will be watching the car shows on Spike tv all day long. Danica does the intros for each of the shows (Ride with Funkmaster Flex, Horsepower TV, Extreme 4x4, etc.), so i was familiar with her as a spokesmodel before i ever heard she was a driver.
It was hard for me to believe, when my bro told me that Danica drove Indy cars and that she had talent. He knows about those things, but i still thought he was kidding me, so i looked her up on the web. In fact she's done well in her short career. Derrick says driving is all about aggressiveness and thinking ahead, and he thinks Danica has those qualities.
What's interesting to me is that Danica doesn't try to be "one of the boys." It's a different world now, than it was when girls like Janet Guthrie or drag racer Shirley Muldowney blazed their trails. i can understand the wisdom of using a driver's looks in a sport that depends so heavily on sponsorship money. But i also think its a sign of progress when a girl can do a guy thing and not have to act like a guy or downplay her own femininity. i think that's cool.
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just gone done watching, that was a good performance as she made some mistakes but amazingly led like 15 laps near the end. I thought it was a good finish, Wheldon definitely deserved it -- curious if you think he's a hottie annika?
Posted by: scof at May 29, 2005 01:44 PM (x8hF4)
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So, how about the huge advantage she picks up by weighing less? They've been making a deal out of this lately.
Should everyone have to weight the same, like in horse racing, where they add pounds for handicap purposes?
I don't know enough about NASCAR to have an opinion. If I were the judge, I'd give her anything she wanted.
Posted by: shelly at May 29, 2005 04:48 PM (pO1tP)
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Shelly, your blue-stateness is showing. In NASCAR the idea is to even the playing field by making all the cars as similar as possible. Not so in IRL racing.
Posted by: annika at May 29, 2005 09:22 PM (CngUF)
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You think that's fast? You should have seen me driving up the Merced River into Yosemite at 0700 last week in a brand new Sebring convertible. The state trooper bagged me outside of Lemore, Dudley-Doright-motherfucker.
In the immortal words of BB King, "ain't it just like a woman" to run out of gas just before the flag? Danika is the real deal, beautiful and talented. She was definitely a contender.
Posted by: Casca at May 30, 2005 05:59 AM (qBTBH)
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This girl is a fast and courageous driver. The guys who are complaining about her weight didn't complain about Sarah Fisher. They never complain about Jeff Gordon or any of the other guys who weigh much less than they do. They are whiners. They approve of any little cheats they can get away with and think it's just slick racing. They are weenies who are simply afraid of losing to a girl.
I used to race GP motorcycles on asphalt and it was well known that the smaller, lighter riders had an advantage. So what? The fact that some were women didn't play. It's still the same track, same day, and it's your own skill and nerve that you're up against, not the next riders body weight or gender. When the green flag drops, the BS stops. Hit the gas or go home - nobody wants to hear your whining.
If body weight has to be an issue like in horse racing or boxing, then we'll have to include engine horsepower as well to 'level the playing field'.
Posted by: Hawkeye at May 30, 2005 09:32 AM (Hn+2k)
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"its a sign of progress when a girl can do a guy thing and not have to act like a guy or downplay her own femininity."
Never ceases to amaze me that some women think they have elevated their femininity by emulating men.
Of course, let's not forget the opposite of all this: men behaving like women don't get respect. They end up on the Bravo channel.
Posted by: Mark at May 30, 2005 02:03 PM (+4/Id)
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Shirley Muldowney! I saw her race a few times when I was a kid.
I think Danica did a great job, especially considering how many positions she lost when she stalled out in the pits. It was an impressive performance from any rookie.
Posted by: lorie at May 30, 2005 08:06 PM (gd7Xr)
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DP will make more money than she has ever dreamed from marketing partnerships and endorsements.
Posted by: Jason O. at May 31, 2005 06:38 AM (2CAKL)
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I wonder if she is fast in bed?
Posted by: CUBE at May 31, 2005 08:04 AM (nyNr0)
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May 24, 2005
The Contender Final Episode
This was just an excuse to mess around on photoshop.
i watched the final episode of The Contender tonight, although i missed the undercard because of American Idol. The bout between Sergio "Latin Snake" Mora and Peter "Pride of Providence" Manfredo was one of the best fights i've seen in a long time.
The great thing about tonight's episode was that it was unedited, which means real boxing. No slow-mo, and minimal family reaction cut-aways make for better sports action. They should have cut Stallone's mike though. He kept repeating himself. He alternated between the same two lines for seven rounds - it was either "Whoa!" or "there's got to be a re-match." He actually started calling for a re-match in the middle of the second round. Sly needs to worry more about whether the show will be renewed. Ratings apparently were less than expected and putting the final up against tv's most popular show AI, didn't help.
Sergio Mora won the match, and the million dollars. i was impressed by him last week when he advanced to the final with a win against Jesse, whom i had expected to go all the way. Sergio fights with real attitude and he's damn quick. Tonight, when Peter had completely run out of steam in the final round, Sergio was still showering combinations on his head like it was the first.
Peter seemed more of a hard-headed slugger and had Sergio backed against the ropes for much of the fight. Sergio's temple opened up early and looked ugly. But Peter wasn't slowing him down. Sergio clearly was the better conditioned fighter, and if he didn't move as much as i had expected, he still punched almost continuously.
There was an episode of smack talk in one of the middle rounds, when Sergio turned his head to mouth off at Peter's corner. Since it wasn't broadcast live on the West Coast, they cut out the audio and i don't know what he said. But it seemed like a dangerous move, leaving yourself unprotected against a guy like Manfredo, even for a moment. i think Sergio has a little too much attitude for his own good, and that may end up hurting him down the road. He did show class after the fight by apologizing to the other corner and giving Peter the props he deserved.
One of my ex's, Tommy, was an amateur boxer who taught me how to score a fight. i think you get much more out of watching boxing if you make an effort to keep score. i had the match much closer than the judges did. According to my card, the fighters split the first six rounds, and Sergio took it all by showing more aggressiveness and energy in the final round. i had Sergio 67 to Peter 66.
And as for American Idol, we'll find out who that champ is tomorrow. My pick is Carrie Underwood, but rumor has it that Bo's got more fans. It should be interesting.
Matt has a Contender recap too.
Posted by: annika at
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Will you give us a quick scoring tutorial?
Posted by: John at May 26, 2005 10:27 AM (yAKj9)
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The Contender's website has
a pretty good summary. The only thing i would add is that my boyfriend taught me when scoring keep your eyes glued to the screen for the entire three minutes of the round.
Posted by: annika at May 26, 2005 11:36 AM (zAOEU)
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One thing they missed on the Contender's site. A knockdown is a mandatory point deduction. Therefore, if I win 99% of a round, but get caught clean by a good shot and go down, the round is scored 9-9. I get my 10 points for winning, but then one is deducted for the knockdown. Were I losing the round already, and then get knocked down, the round is generally scored 10-8. If I were knocked down twice, two points are deducted and so on. It has to be a VERY dominant round for a judge to deduct more than one point from the losing fighter without a knockdown.
Posted by: Josh at May 26, 2005 03:03 PM (o6DfR)
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good point, that's an exception to the "ten point must" rule.
Posted by: annika at May 26, 2005 06:41 PM (8crBh)
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is there goin to be another contender on itv2
Posted by: waz at June 12, 2005 02:09 AM (pdofS)
Posted by: hamza at June 13, 2005 01:28 PM (s4T4Q)
Posted by: hamza at June 13, 2005 01:29 PM (s4T4Q)
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ive been havin problems findin the son that was sung on the contender the final, could you let me know wot it is plz
from Dan
Posted by: daniel fisher at June 14, 2005 01:29 PM (lTaWl)
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ive been havin problems finding the song that was sung on the contender the final, could you let me know wot it is plz
from Dan
Posted by: daniel Fisher at June 14, 2005 01:30 PM (lTaWl)
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it was by Hash and his new album is called Bulletproof.
Posted by: nik at June 14, 2005 02:31 PM (MpD72)
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they cancelled the 2nd season. But sly is fightin for the second season. i'll be mad if it dont continue!!! plus the last four gonna be fighting again in last vegas in july. the 6th i think. it was on my boxing schedule. they are down to fight but i dunno wats gonna happen. i was really influenced by the program.
Posted by: Orlando '1 man riot' Roberts at June 22, 2005 06:48 AM (gTbTU)
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The contender is being renewed by ESPN for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seasons. Stallone will still be a part of the show but probaly won't be in every episode and will be doing the "behind the scenes".
Posted by: Brian at September 09, 2005 04:01 PM (GeWA1)
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April 25, 2005
The Contender
If you're too lazy to watch an entire boxing match, The Contender is the show for you, because they edit out all the clinches and just show the punching. If you're still too lazy, you can just go to
Stop The Bleating, and read the recap.
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Where do I go to stop watching boxing at all?
I have gone from an avid fan to a person who believes this "sport" should be banned. Too many downsides, with permanent injuries, corruption, and, Mike Tyson biting off an ear was the last straw for me.
There are better things to do with one's time than watch two neanderthals pound each other into submission and spray blood all over the place, then have to listen the winner's pearls of wisdom.
Sorry, Annie, count me out on this one.
Posted by: shelly at April 25, 2005 07:12 AM (pO1tP)
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I' not really the most avid boxing fan myself, but 20 yr old Oaktown native
Andre Ward has brought some new blood (so to speak) to the sport. He's undefeated, usually fights as a middleweight taking on light heavyweights and kicked ass against 6'6' Russian World Champion in 2003. The anti-American fuckwits in Europe booed and booed but he still WON THE GOLD!!!
Posted by: d-rod at April 25, 2005 09:33 AM (CSRmO)
3
Mr. Romance is by far the funniest of all reality shows. Contender is good to watch too
Posted by: Scof at April 26, 2005 03:17 PM (nKzMm)
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April 21, 2005
Fantasy Baseball Update
Here we are, almost three weeks into a new season, and i've been stuck at the bottom of my own ten team league for most of the time. However, after a few key roster moves, one promising trade, and some brilliant free agent acquisitions, i've been able to pull my team up by its bootstraps to fourth place.
i'm behind Paul and Dawn (neither of whom have made a single trade or free agent pick - that's good drafting) and Matt.
My offensive starters as of today are:
Catcher: Victor MartÃÂnez, Cleveland, slumping right now, but i hope he can regain his 2004 form soon.
First base: Paul Konerko, Chicago Sox, currently leading the majors with seven home runs.
Second base: Clint Barmes, Colorado, averaging .652 with 8 RBI and an on base percentage of .714 in the last week! He's currently second in the majors in both batting average and on base percentage, behind...
Third base: Edgardo Alfonzo, San Francisco, that's right, i have the number one and number two major league batting average and OBP leaders on my team. They're fucking keeping me afloat. And you know what the funny thing is, i picked up both of them after the draft as free agents. i should be a talent scout.
Shortstop: Pedro Feliz, San Francisco, tied for fourth and eleventh in runs scored and RBI, respectively.
Outfield: Jim Edmonds, St. Louis, love this guy, he's been on my fantasy team every year.
Outfield: Matt Lawton, Pittsburgh, perrenial underachiever on a mediocre team.
Outfield: Sammy Sosa, Baltimore, whom i'm a little worried about, but i couldn't say no to the trade when Victor offered him.
Utility: Adrián Béltre, Seattle, who had a monster year last year, and better deliver this year. i've noticed that former Dodgers often seem to do well during their first year with a new team.
Defensively, my brilliant pickup was Toronto rookie Gustavo ChacÃÂn, who was just sitting there in the free agent pool with three wins, nobody noticing. So i snagged him. Similarly ignored is the supremely talented, but sometimes inconsistent Dodger starter Odalis Pérez, who's having a great April.
My disappointments have been the injured Eric Gagne, who was my #1 draft pick, and Barry Zito, who seems to be having trouble adjusting to life without Mulder and Hudson. But he'll come around. So will Mike Lowell, my old standby the last couple of years. He's in the middle of the worst slump i've seen him in since i've been his fan. Snap out of it, mi borinqueño!
If i can get some save production out of Trevor Hoffman and/or Gagne comes back healthy, i might move up even more. If i don't jinx everything with this post, that is. Still, it feels good to be out of the cellar.
Posted by: annika at
06:57 PM
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Post contains 473 words, total size 3 kb.
1
I've been pretty lucky so far. I have no clue what I'm doing.
Posted by: Paul at April 22, 2005 09:16 AM (vbP6L)
2
Lord knows it took you long enough to say "Yes" when I offered him.
Betcha you treat all your men like that.
Posted by: Victor at April 22, 2005 10:39 AM (L3qPK)
3
Part of me still thinks you got something up your sleeve with that offer.
Posted by: annie at April 22, 2005 10:52 AM (zAOEU)
4
Yeah, someone with a higher BA last season. Sammy's not the same ol' Sosa.
Posted by: Victor at April 22, 2005 12:27 PM (L3qPK)
5
Yes the Balko posterboys are conspicuously absent this season.
Posted by: Casca at April 22, 2005 04:29 PM (cdv3B)
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April 13, 2005
Hooligans
How long before
the Euros just start shooting the players?
Shameful.
Posted by: annika at
11:02 PM
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Post contains 13 words, total size 1 kb.
1
Why do fans go nuts when watching pro soccer? Because they are bored out of their minds.
Posted by: Jake at April 14, 2005 05:24 AM (r/5D/)
2
It's soccer...so, let them shoot.
Posted by: Tom at April 14, 2005 11:12 AM (J7BEJ)
3
Annika, you know that soccer fans would never shoot, because personal ownership of guns is an evil American thing, and Europeans are superior to Americans in that regard.
Sure they'll throw bottles, set fire to fields, set bombs, and the like. But GUNS?!? Icky.
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at April 14, 2005 11:56 AM (bGyIu)
4
Apparently, "Milan" is Italian for "Detroit"
Posted by: ken at April 14, 2005 12:32 PM (xD5ND)
5
You have to admit that watching the goalkeepers shoot it out with single shot flare guns would beat the heck out of watching a bunch of guys line up to try kicks at the end of a tied game. Think of the drama - does he fire at long range, giving the opponent a chance to close in and nail me, or does he get closer first so he can't miss? This'd be bigger than Survivor. Heck, soccer could out-draw the Super Bowl. High stakes paintball. Where's my agent?
Posted by: Mark at April 14, 2005 03:03 PM (nQAo8)
6
LMAO, priceless Ken! Actually, I'm given to understand that Naples is the Detroit of Europe.
This is what happens when you go a generation without war, or the threat of war. Not too worry, they'll be roasting Moslims tied to stakes in a couple years.
Posted by: Casca at April 14, 2005 03:31 PM (cdv3B)
7
eh if you don't mind me putting my 1.5 cents in. They already have shot players. I forget if it was spain or brazil (at a european game) where the goaly accidentially tipped the ball into his own goal...a fan killed him on his way home.
Posted by: crim at April 18, 2005 12:22 PM (tDpm1)
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April 04, 2005
9 Games 9 Fields
i'm toying with the idea of a west coast baseball tour this summer. With Southwest Airlines air fares so low, i think it's do-able. Nine games, nine stadia:
Network Associates Colliseum, Oakland
SBC Park, San Francisco
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Angel Stadium, Anaheim
Petco Park, San Diego
Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix
Coors Field, Denver
Ameriquest Field, Arlington
Safeco Field, Seattle
Looking at that list, i realize that some of the nicest ballparks in the major leagues are in the Western Divisions.
Posted by: annika at
10:24 AM
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1
How can you pass up PNC Park in Pittsburgh, voted the best by ESPN?
/unabashed PA booster
Posted by: albo at April 04, 2005 11:54 AM (ZPx7m)
2
I'm just guessing, but maybe because PNC Park isn't on the West Coast?
Posted by: ccs178 (Chris) at April 04, 2005 01:30 PM (B5UVm)
3
"Looking at that list, i realize that some of the nicest ballparks in the major leagues are in the Western Divisions."
You're probably right, but the names for these stadiums are hideous. I have nothing against corporations, but I cannot stand the way they plaster their names shamelessly on sports stadiums, even in cases where their product has literally NOTHING to do with sports!
PETCO Park? (Pets and baseball. What an obvious combo. Can I bring my pet ferret to the game?)
Bank One Ballpark? (Atleast this one has a nice sound with the repeated "B" but who cares about bank advertising at a sporting event?)
Network Associates Colliseum? (Just rolls of the tongue, yes?)
Coors Field? (Atleast this one is named after a real human being (and a Republican -- yay!) but still, it's a corporate name. Ugh.
Ameriquest Field? (During the 7th inning stretch, get info on a mortgage!)
Safeco Field? (Anything with a "co" at the end of it is too "co"rporate for me.)
Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium: Nice, to the point, and actually refers to the damn TEAM.
Closer to home is the atrocious "U.S. Cellular Field", home of the Chicago White Sox. I'd like to see President Bush issue an executive order to change this one.
Posted by: Mark at April 04, 2005 05:58 PM (Vg0tt)
4
Give me the date, and I'm your host at Petco.
Posted by: Casca at April 04, 2005 09:56 PM (cdv3B)
5
I worked on Safeco field in 1998, whole time I kept thinking, "Why not make right field the shortest fence in the league for griffey jr?" The year after the stadium opened he started crying to be traded. pussy.
Posted by: MH at April 04, 2005 10:24 PM (FWnjh)
6
The rap on Safeco was that it's a pitcher's park, which prompted Jr. to leave. I had him on a few fantasy teams, and if i was a Seattle fan, i'd have said good riddance.
i think Angel statium is going through an identity crisis just like the LA, er anaheim, er California Angels. They used to call that park Anaheim Stadium, The Big A, and Edison Field.
Posted by: annie at April 04, 2005 11:18 PM (NCFFn)
7
Great googley moogley, I hate corporate sponsorship.
Posted by: Victor at April 05, 2005 04:47 AM (etHvD)
8
Do not miss the Ballpark in Arlington,
it is an olde tyme ball park,
except for the selection of teams to watch trounce the strangers that is.
Posted by: r at April 05, 2005 06:29 AM (zzzZ7)
9
Baseball bores. Annika, re-read the comments in this post and congratulate moi.
http://annika.mu.nu/archives/071246.html
Posted by: Hugo at April 05, 2005 08:26 AM (y05LR)
10
Shit Hugo, talk about not getting it. Perhaps you ARE in your niche. Should you ever desire personal growth, find someone who doesn't squat to pee, and who doesn't need to talk for a couple hours, and get a couple beers, and sit in line with a steroidal fueled mutherfucker hurling a rock at 100mph, and another guy with a club trying to whack it, and you'll learn to admire physical skill.
Posted by: Casca at April 05, 2005 09:39 PM (cdv3B)
11
Casca, as one who longs for personal growth, I'll keep your kind suggestion in mind. Until then, I'll wait for the start of college football, just four and a half months away.
Posted by: Hugo at April 06, 2005 09:21 AM (y05LR)
12
i'd tell you to follow the Bears, but they're 3-3 in Pac-10 play right now.
Posted by: annika at April 06, 2005 03:27 PM (zAOEU)
13
Oh, I do follow the Bears. The #3 ranked Cal Women's Softball Team. (Would it surprise -- no, it wouldn't -- that I like softball better than baseball? I love the pitching!)
Posted by: Hugo at April 07, 2005 08:40 AM (y05LR)
14
softball players got bigger balls!
Posted by: annika at April 07, 2005 09:20 AM (zAOEU)
Posted by: Hugo at April 07, 2005 11:19 AM (y05LR)
16
I'm thinking that an auto tour might be better than a car tour. When you get to Southern California, it's easier to see the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Anaheim Angels (sue me, Rita Moreno of Arte), and the San Diego Padres by car. If you take the plane down here you'd have to rent a car anyway.
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at April 09, 2005 10:08 PM (OpfyU)
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March 29, 2005
Fantasy Baseball Update
Well my team drafted and i'm not too crazy about it. i'm weak in two key areas compared to my competition: pitching and offense.
Batters
C V. MartÃÂnez (Cle - C)
1B P. Konerko (CWS - 1B)
2B B. Boone (Sea - 2B)
3B A. Béltre (Sea - 3B)
SS B. Crosby (Oak - SS)
OF J. Pierre (Fla - OF)
OF J. Edmonds (StL - OF)
OF S. Podsednik (CWS - OF)
Util M. Lowell (Fla - 3B)
BN T. Iguchi (CWS - 2B)
BN A. Boone (Cle - 3B)
BN M. Lawton (Pit - OF)
BN ÃÂ. Sánchez (TB - OF)
BN Mi. Sweeney (KC - 1B)
Pitchers
SP B. Zito (Oak - SP)
SP M. Clement (Bos - SP)
SP Od. Pérez (LAD - SP)
RP E. Gagne (LAD - RP)
P T. Hoffman (SD - RP)
P S. Takatsu (CWS - RP)
P A. Leiter (Fla - SP)
With Pierre and Podsednik, i'm probably good on stolen bases, i think. But i need starting pitchers who can get wins.
Posted by: annika at
10:27 PM
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Post contains 179 words, total size 1 kb.
1
I got most of the pitchers I wanted. I'm happy.
Posted by: Victor at March 30, 2005 05:04 AM (L3qPK)
2
Can you pick up Nick Swisher? You heard it here first.
Posted by: Jason O. at March 30, 2005 10:26 AM (2CAKL)
3
i'm weak in two key areas compared to my competition: pitching and offense.
Well, that doesn't leave much...
;>)
I know, nobody likes a smart-ass!
Posted by: Paul in AZ at March 30, 2005 03:17 PM (qGVyO)
4
Zito and Clement should be good for at least 25 wins together. Two frontline pitchers on two good offensive teams.
Posted by: Trevor at April 01, 2005 07:30 AM (RwZxT)
5
Get Dan Haren, the A's pitcher - almost everyone is saying he's going to have a breakout season and notch 15 wins with a sub 4 ERA.
Posted by: GIdeon at April 02, 2005 05:24 PM (rT83g)
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