Word flying in today on the current situation of the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.
It sounds as if the ownership of the Chargers has made their last stand to fuck San Diego straight up the ass without lube. The deal which would allow San Diego to move into the new Rams stadium (but only as tenants, not as full partners -- making them the Rams' bitch) is agreed in principle.
The Chargers have, however, elected to exercise their one-year look to try to get a better deal (read: "Pay us for a fucking stadium or we are out!!!") in San Diego.
The Chargers have until March 23 to play in Los Angeles at a temporary location this year.
Friday, January 29, 2016
Super Farce 50: Off to a flying start - they had to repaint the end zone...
"That's great... Who are the Chefs?"
In a move almost out of that one commercial (I think it's either Snickers or Southwest Airlines), this out of Super Bowl City in what has been a fairly quiet first week before the GOLDEN SUPER BOWL (RARGH!!!!)....
The idiots painting the field at Levi's Stadium for the game painted the Broncos end-zone first -- and did the WRONG END ZONE!
(Deadspin)
Hence, they had to paint that end zone green and then go paint the other end zone correctly before they work on Carolina's.
"Great googly moogly..."
In a move almost out of that one commercial (I think it's either Snickers or Southwest Airlines), this out of Super Bowl City in what has been a fairly quiet first week before the GOLDEN SUPER BOWL (RARGH!!!!)....
The idiots painting the field at Levi's Stadium for the game painted the Broncos end-zone first -- and did the WRONG END ZONE!
(Deadspin)
Hence, they had to paint that end zone green and then go paint the other end zone correctly before they work on Carolina's.
"Great googly moogly..."
Curtain About To Fall On Daily Fantasy -- Payment Provider is out...
(ESPN)
Vantiv Entertainment notified The New York Times that it will no longer honor payment requests from Daily Fantasy sites because of the growing number of states which have declared it illegal gambling.
The decision has effective immediate effect -- they will stop as of tomorrow.
Shares of Vantiv Entertainment, according to the article, rose 6% on the announcement.
--
It's over, fraudsters.
The game is up.
Now whoever has money in the system is probably going to have a very hard time getting it out at all. It's not known how much of the money Vantiv was processing, but they were seen as a "major player" according to the article.
It's going to be very interesting to me to see if we even get to baseball season before the hammer finally comes down and all the major players in Daily Fantasy go behind bars.
Vantiv Entertainment notified The New York Times that it will no longer honor payment requests from Daily Fantasy sites because of the growing number of states which have declared it illegal gambling.
The decision has effective immediate effect -- they will stop as of tomorrow.
Shares of Vantiv Entertainment, according to the article, rose 6% on the announcement.
--
It's over, fraudsters.
The game is up.
Now whoever has money in the system is probably going to have a very hard time getting it out at all. It's not known how much of the money Vantiv was processing, but they were seen as a "major player" according to the article.
It's going to be very interesting to me to see if we even get to baseball season before the hammer finally comes down and all the major players in Daily Fantasy go behind bars.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
UPDATE: Wideman (Technically) Suspended, Hearing Next Tuesday
I guess it probably has to happen this way under the CBA, but there are no regular-season games until Tuesday, February 2 anyway.
Dennis Wideman has been suspended until a February 2 hearing -- and it appears to be a big suspension: The hearing is IN PERSON -- and that's the criteria which must be met for any suspension larger than five games.
Under NHL rules, any attempt to injure an official starts at 20 games.
He's probably getting a minimum of 10, which is force to an official without intent.
Dennis Wideman has been suspended until a February 2 hearing -- and it appears to be a big suspension: The hearing is IN PERSON -- and that's the criteria which must be met for any suspension larger than five games.
Under NHL rules, any attempt to injure an official starts at 20 games.
He's probably getting a minimum of 10, which is force to an official without intent.
Gary Bettman is going to have a busy All-Star Break.
So is this a concussion or a referee attack?
Nashville and Calgary last night, one of the last games to complete before the new 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament this weekend in the NHL.
This happens in the second period, courtesy of SportsNet Canada:
Dennis Wideman nails the referee heading to the bench.
The replay appears to be quite damning: Wideman is boarded head-first into the boards -- no call. He then, clearly woozy, slams his stick on the ice and begins to go to the bench.
The referee, while there, appears to be intentionally nailed in the back.
I don't think this one is Shanahan's, especially given the severity and at least the possibility it was intentional.
If this is intentional, it needs this season and next, at minimum. It's time for the sports leagues to understand that players are attacking officials across the board.
If this isn't, it's another good evidence as to what can happen if someone gets a nasty knock on the head.
No penalties of any kind were called, no word yet from the NHL as to what they might do.
Nashville and Calgary last night, one of the last games to complete before the new 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament this weekend in the NHL.
This happens in the second period, courtesy of SportsNet Canada:
Dennis Wideman nails the referee heading to the bench.
The replay appears to be quite damning: Wideman is boarded head-first into the boards -- no call. He then, clearly woozy, slams his stick on the ice and begins to go to the bench.
The referee, while there, appears to be intentionally nailed in the back.
I don't think this one is Shanahan's, especially given the severity and at least the possibility it was intentional.
If this is intentional, it needs this season and next, at minimum. It's time for the sports leagues to understand that players are attacking officials across the board.
If this isn't, it's another good evidence as to what can happen if someone gets a nasty knock on the head.
No penalties of any kind were called, no word yet from the NHL as to what they might do.
Another football death before 30...
Another CTE confirmation.
Tyler Sash, formerly of the Giants, dead at 27, Grade 2 CTE -- rare to see it that bad, or so the family was told.
This is getting ridiculous. I'm almost predicting Peyton Manning will be carted off during the Super Bowl...
EDIT TO ADD: Two thoughts from the Deadspin story this came from...
First, looking at the picture of the guy, it was pretty clear the guy was long gone before he got to the NFL. Did two years with the Giants, never adjusted to civilian life. Most of the damage was already before he made the NFL, in fourteen previous years of football.
Second, one of the comments from "FartInTheWind": Told a story of himself in 7th-8th grade Catholic school football. Facemask to the gut by a teammate, walked home, unable to stand after the trainer said simply a bruised stomach.
Turned out it was a lacerated liver (the facemask went all the way and aided in punching two holes in his liver), and it could've been fatal had his mom not rushed him to the ER. He was bleeding out.
Tyler Sash, formerly of the Giants, dead at 27, Grade 2 CTE -- rare to see it that bad, or so the family was told.
This is getting ridiculous. I'm almost predicting Peyton Manning will be carted off during the Super Bowl...
EDIT TO ADD: Two thoughts from the Deadspin story this came from...
First, looking at the picture of the guy, it was pretty clear the guy was long gone before he got to the NFL. Did two years with the Giants, never adjusted to civilian life. Most of the damage was already before he made the NFL, in fourteen previous years of football.
Second, one of the comments from "FartInTheWind": Told a story of himself in 7th-8th grade Catholic school football. Facemask to the gut by a teammate, walked home, unable to stand after the trainer said simply a bruised stomach.
Turned out it was a lacerated liver (the facemask went all the way and aided in punching two holes in his liver), and it could've been fatal had his mom not rushed him to the ER. He was bleeding out.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
ESPN Only Wants the RIGHT Kind of Politics, You See...
Bob Ryan was suspended from ESPN for what appeared to be between two and three weeks recently.
On January 6, Ryan called fellow ESPN personality Mark Jackson a "bible-pounding phony" and a "con man", among other things, according to a Deadspin report when the Dan Le Betard Show incident took place.
In a showing that ESPN only wants right-wing politics and "bible-pounding phonies" like Curt Schilling and everyone ensuring Michael Sam was out of the No F_____s League at the NFL's demand, they suspended Ryan until just this past Monday.
Stay classy, Worldwide Leader in Snorts...
On January 6, Ryan called fellow ESPN personality Mark Jackson a "bible-pounding phony" and a "con man", among other things, according to a Deadspin report when the Dan Le Betard Show incident took place.
In a showing that ESPN only wants right-wing politics and "bible-pounding phonies" like Curt Schilling and everyone ensuring Michael Sam was out of the No F_____s League at the NFL's demand, they suspended Ryan until just this past Monday.
Stay classy, Worldwide Leader in Snorts...
Winston victim gets $900,000 from Florida State.
Well, I think it's pretty clear what happened here.
It was announced this week that the victim of whatever Jameis Winston may have done to her (up to and including rape) just received a $900,000 settlement from Florida State University, obviously without admission of wrongdoing, for Title IX and US Code 42 "Failure to Protect".
It's clear it's "go away!" money, but you just don't do that unless there's enough smoke to indicate fire, and it's clear to anyone who's followed this situation that there is.
It was announced this week that the victim of whatever Jameis Winston may have done to her (up to and including rape) just received a $900,000 settlement from Florida State University, obviously without admission of wrongdoing, for Title IX and US Code 42 "Failure to Protect".
It's clear it's "go away!" money, but you just don't do that unless there's enough smoke to indicate fire, and it's clear to anyone who's followed this situation that there is.
Blake Griffin Better Talk Fast...
Because this situation which has resulted in a broken hand for Blake Griffin might land him in prison, and, unless there's something we don't know, should get him thrown out of the NBA, quite probably for life.
The story appears to be that Blake Griffin of the Clippers beat the shit out of an equipment manager for the team, and, in the process, injured his hand. He's out four to six weeks.
Multiple punches after an argument at a restaurant, etc.
This is far more serious than anything I think people are taking into account here.
Unless there is evidence that the manager actually started this situation, Griffin's done with the Clippers. The only question after that is, how long after is he done?
This season plus one year?
This season plus two years?
Life ban??
This has all the makings of a situation which can see Blake Griffin expelled from the National Basketball Association - and, lacking any mitigating factors, this is exactly what should happen.
He easily could be up for felonies, up to and including (because of his status as a pro athlete) assault with a deadly weapon. He has (barring mitigating factors) almost certainly cost the Clippers hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in a proposed lawsuit or settlement. He has cost the Clippers his services through his injury, and has shown a complete lack of duty of loyalty to both the employees of his team and the NBA itself.
This is a place where Adam Silver can make a great distinction between his era and that of David Stern. Especially in the day and age of out-of-control athletes, it is time for someone in power to take a stand.
The minimum this former sports fan will accept is the rest of this season and playoffs plus all of next year too. A life ban is the preferred situation, because of the many facets which continue to damage the NBA because of incidents like this.
The story appears to be that Blake Griffin of the Clippers beat the shit out of an equipment manager for the team, and, in the process, injured his hand. He's out four to six weeks.
Multiple punches after an argument at a restaurant, etc.
This is far more serious than anything I think people are taking into account here.
Unless there is evidence that the manager actually started this situation, Griffin's done with the Clippers. The only question after that is, how long after is he done?
This season plus one year?
This season plus two years?
Life ban??
This has all the makings of a situation which can see Blake Griffin expelled from the National Basketball Association - and, lacking any mitigating factors, this is exactly what should happen.
He easily could be up for felonies, up to and including (because of his status as a pro athlete) assault with a deadly weapon. He has (barring mitigating factors) almost certainly cost the Clippers hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in a proposed lawsuit or settlement. He has cost the Clippers his services through his injury, and has shown a complete lack of duty of loyalty to both the employees of his team and the NBA itself.
This is a place where Adam Silver can make a great distinction between his era and that of David Stern. Especially in the day and age of out-of-control athletes, it is time for someone in power to take a stand.
The minimum this former sports fan will accept is the rest of this season and playoffs plus all of next year too. A life ban is the preferred situation, because of the many facets which continue to damage the NBA because of incidents like this.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Stupid, stupid, stupid... (Tennis match fixing...)
Someone didn't get the hint, we think.
There is a report from MSN that an Australian Open mixed-doubles match was taken off the betting sheets because the amount bet at that point in the tournament (it was a first-round match) far exceeded reasoned parameters.
$25,000 had been bet on the match on Pinnacle Sports before betting was halted. It was almost all bet on the team of Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic and Lukasz Kubot of Poland, who defeated Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and David Marrero of Spain 6-0, 6-3.
The ESPN report on the incident notes Pinnacle Sports noted a small number of people betting larger amounts of money about 13 hours before the first-round match. The relevant authorities have been notified.
According to Bleacher Report, the losing team in the first round of mixed doubles received $4,500 between them. A normal match in the mixed-doubles tournament receives about $2,000 in bets.
There is a report from MSN that an Australian Open mixed-doubles match was taken off the betting sheets because the amount bet at that point in the tournament (it was a first-round match) far exceeded reasoned parameters.
$25,000 had been bet on the match on Pinnacle Sports before betting was halted. It was almost all bet on the team of Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic and Lukasz Kubot of Poland, who defeated Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and David Marrero of Spain 6-0, 6-3.
The ESPN report on the incident notes Pinnacle Sports noted a small number of people betting larger amounts of money about 13 hours before the first-round match. The relevant authorities have been notified.
According to Bleacher Report, the losing team in the first round of mixed doubles received $4,500 between them. A normal match in the mixed-doubles tournament receives about $2,000 in bets.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Well, we know ESPN wants Denver to win the Super Bowl now...
Someone needs to be fired from the Worldwide Leader in Snorts -- again!!!
Danny Kanell is a water-carrier for football in the day and age of CTE -- and he's doubled down!
According to Awful Announcing and Yardbarker, Kanell actually went on his and Ryan Rusillo's ESPN Radio show and actually called upon the Denver Broncos to late hit Tom Brady:
(From the linked MSN article:)
FIRE THEM BOTH!!!
Though Kanell CLAIMS he doesn't want Brady hurt, WHAT OTHER FUCKING CONCLUSION ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DRAW OUT HERE, especially because you are such a fucking water-carrier for football in this day and age?
Danny Kanell is a water-carrier for football in the day and age of CTE -- and he's doubled down!
According to Awful Announcing and Yardbarker, Kanell actually went on his and Ryan Rusillo's ESPN Radio show and actually called upon the Denver Broncos to late hit Tom Brady:
(From the linked MSN article:)
“I didn’t even think about this until just now. I think they have to have two personal foul calls, like 15-yarders against Brady. Like, they’ve been talking about him crying, I almost feel like this is the type of game where you have to send a message like in the first and second quarter, the first half, hit him a couple of times where it’s a little past the whistle. Like, let him know you’re around. Get those knock downs, get those hits on him, make him aware that you’re coming after him.”And Rusillo said it actually made sense??
“I’m saying you’re gonna take the hit, you’re going to hit him late and you’re going to get a flag called on you for hitting him late… It’s one of those games where you’re like in the first half, you know what, if it’s close and you get a good… I’m not saying dirty, but questionable.”
“You gotta push the envelope. I would almost challenge them to like be like ‘You know what, get a 15-yarder in the first half. Draw a line somewhere, but say ‘We have to send a message.'”
FIRE THEM BOTH!!!
Though Kanell CLAIMS he doesn't want Brady hurt, WHAT OTHER FUCKING CONCLUSION ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DRAW OUT HERE, especially because you are such a fucking water-carrier for football in this day and age?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
(Daily Fantasy) Add Texas to the list...
I am utterly shocked that the rigged Daily Fantasy games lasted the entire football season, especially after the beginnings of the allegations in about... what... Week Three?
But the Texas Attorney General has joined the growing chorus of states declaring Daily Fantasy Sports illegal gambling and banning it from the state.
(Deadspin)
But that appears to be only part of the story.
When you take this and add the bans in the likes of New York and Illinois, Daily Fantasy is now banned to a quarter of the US population, and three of the top five states, the Kevin Draper report notes.
I disagree on Draper with one point: I _DO_ believe Daily Fantasy will be completely outlawed. Whether it goes the route of the dodo or toward March Madness' nudges and winks might be a disputable point.
But it's another thing of if the truth ever really comes out, the entire system fails. Fan Duel and Draft Kings are rigged operations, each company using the other as a part of a shill operation to Three-Card Monte money away from otherwise-legitimate players.
It's done. Kill it all.
But the Texas Attorney General has joined the growing chorus of states declaring Daily Fantasy Sports illegal gambling and banning it from the state.
(Deadspin)
But that appears to be only part of the story.
When you take this and add the bans in the likes of New York and Illinois, Daily Fantasy is now banned to a quarter of the US population, and three of the top five states, the Kevin Draper report notes.
I disagree on Draper with one point: I _DO_ believe Daily Fantasy will be completely outlawed. Whether it goes the route of the dodo or toward March Madness' nudges and winks might be a disputable point.
But it's another thing of if the truth ever really comes out, the entire system fails. Fan Duel and Draft Kings are rigged operations, each company using the other as a part of a shill operation to Three-Card Monte money away from otherwise-legitimate players.
It's done. Kill it all.
And, in today's sign we are headed to race war...
(Deadspin with this gem of American society.)
Josh Innes of WIP Sports Radio in Philadelphia just called Eagles lineman Jason Kelce a "house Negro".
In 2016.
Apparently, the crime is that Innes felt Kelce was brown-nosing to new Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson by attending his press conference.
To which Innes said the following, from the Deadspin article:
But Kelce had a delicious response:
Josh Innes of WIP Sports Radio in Philadelphia just called Eagles lineman Jason Kelce a "house Negro".
In 2016.
Apparently, the crime is that Innes felt Kelce was brown-nosing to new Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson by attending his press conference.
To which Innes said the following, from the Deadspin article:
"Here’s the thing though, right, it’s like this. Let me find a good comparison here. I was watching Malcolm X yesterday, I was in the airport in Memphis watching Malcolm X, and there was a scene where Denzel’s doing the whole thing about the slave and the house Negro? Right? And like, the house Negro is the guy who’s gonna tell you like, oh he gets to live in the big house with the boss and every time he refers to something that happens in the house it’s ‘our house’ and ‘we’ and everything like that. And then there’s the actual slave [who’s not] the house Negro that’s just trying to run away. Essentially what you’re getting here is Jason Kelce is the house Negro is what I’m trying to convey to you."That we know of, Innes still works at WIP.
But Kelce had a delicious response:
— Jason Kelce (@Jkelce) January 20, 2016
Another life made "better" by football... YAY FOOTBALL!!!
Another story of a brain-damaged, discarded cog who sacrificed his brain (and, soon, his life) for The National Religion.
It's another one you've probably heard of too: Former Steeler Antwaan Randle El.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette published to Yahoo! through Business Insider, Randle El states that, six years out of the NFL, he wished he'd never played football professionally at all.
Massive memory loss as well, Randle El is only 36.
It's another one you've probably heard of too: Former Steeler Antwaan Randle El.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette published to Yahoo! through Business Insider, Randle El states that, six years out of the NFL, he wished he'd never played football professionally at all.
""If I could go back, I wouldn't," he said. "I would play baseball. I got drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round, but I didn't play baseball because of my parents. They made me go to school. Don't get me wrong, I love the game of football. But right now, I could still be playing baseball.""There are days he has to exercise caution going down the stairs, sometimes needing to go down sideways so as not to fall.
Massive memory loss as well, Randle El is only 36.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Jarmal Reid Update: Again, The Show Must Go On
Four games suspended, university imposed. Pac-12 accepts, can be extended by Oregon State.
WHAT THE FUCK??? Reid should be behind bars if that was any kind of an intentional trip!
When did it become so acceptable for athletes to attack referees as it has seemed to have been the last couple years or so?
WHAT THE FUCK??? Reid should be behind bars if that was any kind of an intentional trip!
When did it become so acceptable for athletes to attack referees as it has seemed to have been the last couple years or so?
When did it become in vogue in this country to physically attack the officials???
Another athlete who needs to be banned from sports and arrested, and the guy is probably still on the team today.
From Yahoo!:
Oregon State vs. Utah last night, Jarmal Reid intentionally trips the referee after getting a no-call on the ground. (Video is on the article.)
The Pac-12 is said to be reviewing as we speak.
Where I used to come from, that was game over and handcuffs. Period.
From Yahoo!:
Oregon State vs. Utah last night, Jarmal Reid intentionally trips the referee after getting a no-call on the ground. (Video is on the article.)
The Pac-12 is said to be reviewing as we speak.
Where I used to come from, that was game over and handcuffs. Period.
It's bad enough when an NFL fan fight makes Deadspin...
When Yahoo! has a story on the list of "The Brutality of NFL Fandom Is On Full Display", you know something's wrong.
Dateline: Arizona. Packer-Cardinal game.
I had to do a double-take on the original picture, because the fan getting the shit knocked out of him was NOT a Packer fan, at least ostensibly.
He was a Seahag fan...
The Brian Sharp Uproxx article cited that the New York Daily News reported that sixty-three fans were ejected from the game.
WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR THE GOLDEN SUPER BOWL? RARGH!!!
Seahag fan tries to jump a Cardinal fan and pays for it hard.
Some actual credit has to be given to a number of the fans. Yes, there's at least one guy who tries to be like that one hockey player who took a rink invader and gave him 15 or so good shots, but some of the fans are clearly trying NOT to do that.
Still, just another example of how Football Nation America is well beyond help...
Dateline: Arizona. Packer-Cardinal game.
I had to do a double-take on the original picture, because the fan getting the shit knocked out of him was NOT a Packer fan, at least ostensibly.
He was a Seahag fan...
The Brian Sharp Uproxx article cited that the New York Daily News reported that sixty-three fans were ejected from the game.
WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR THE GOLDEN SUPER BOWL? RARGH!!!
Seahag fan tries to jump a Cardinal fan and pays for it hard.
Some actual credit has to be given to a number of the fans. Yes, there's at least one guy who tries to be like that one hockey player who took a rink invader and gave him 15 or so good shots, but some of the fans are clearly trying NOT to do that.
Still, just another example of how Football Nation America is well beyond help...
So let's take the obvious and invert it
From the Twitter account of FOX Sports Radio's JT The Brick, today's sports cover of the New York Daily News, taking the obvious (rigged) Last Roundup between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and inverting it, based on reports of the last 12 months:
So are we going to hear you talk about Cam Newton's exploits in Florida or how he ended up at Auburn?
(But, to play fair: Newton has been quite the model citizen since he got to the NFL, at least as far as we know.)
Leave it to the New York tabloids pic.twitter.com/7iYtHHSIUQ
— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) January 18, 2016
So are we going to hear you talk about Cam Newton's exploits in Florida or how he ended up at Auburn?
(But, to play fair: Newton has been quite the model citizen since he got to the NFL, at least as far as we know.)
Significant updates and other stories on several fronts...
- This tennis thing is already exploding in a manner in which the entire sport may come unhinged. Novak Djokovic is one of the main stars of the men's tennis tour. If there's two guys with him (much less above), I'd be shocked. Today, Djokovic, in Australia, has reported that he once, through intermediaries, was offered $200,000 to throw a match. It was supposed to be a first-round upset in a match, and (probably as a result of the attempted fix) Djokovic, later, decided not to participate in the tournament at all.
- Interesting statement from the NFL: That whole controversial coin-toss? LEGAL!!!
This has led some people to believe that the game was actually preparing to be fixed for the Packers, and I can't see that argument not holding some water, given the nature that the original coin toss for overtime (like the one which counted) was won by Arizona, and the game soon afterward on a quick touchdown.
(For the record, I believe Arizona, as more "useful idiots" than Carolina, will upset Carolina and lose to Denver in San Francisco.)
- Speaking of Denver's opponents next Sunday... Or, more, the announcing crew. We may have another case of a major player who has brain damage.
Fouts, in calling a Tom Brady run toward the goal line, said Brady did not score because no part of Brady's body crossed into the goal line.
Dan, you should know better... Obviously, it's the ball.
The thing is: Was it intentional, a slip (I've had those!), or was it an indication that Dan Fouts, veteran of many of the league's violences, has taken a few too many shots to the head himself?
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Tennis' elephant in the room is exposed again.
If there's been one sport that's been at the centerpiece of match-fixing other than soccer, it's been tennis.
Largely, however, when we hear about it in the mainstream media, it's often individual players who've been caught and prosecuted or banned by the tennis authorities, etc.
Well, the BBC and BuzzFeed News have reported in this ESPN article at the start of play in the first Grand Slam event of 2016 that the entire top of the sport is tainted. A report will be aired in Great Britain on Tuesday night on these findings.
A seven-year investigation by a group commissioned by the men's tennis sanctioning body is the effective end of the relevant belief that the sport is (or can be!) on the up and up:
Why not? The Show Must Go On.
Largely, however, when we hear about it in the mainstream media, it's often individual players who've been caught and prosecuted or banned by the tennis authorities, etc.
Well, the BBC and BuzzFeed News have reported in this ESPN article at the start of play in the first Grand Slam event of 2016 that the entire top of the sport is tainted. A report will be aired in Great Britain on Tuesday night on these findings.
A seven-year investigation by a group commissioned by the men's tennis sanctioning body is the effective end of the relevant belief that the sport is (or can be!) on the up and up:
- Over the course of the last ten years, a massive betting syndicate in Europe and Russia has been able to infiltrate the top ranks of world men's tennis.
- The body created to study and enhance integrity in tennis has found, over the last ten years, that matches, even involving Grand Slam winners, Top 50 players, and Grand Slam events (the report directly implicates three Wimbeldon matches) as being suspicious, with the tennis league doing nothing against anyone involved.
- Mark Phillips, one of the investigators contacted, said there were 10 players at the core of the process, routinely fixing matches in a manner which was one of the most blatant schemes in 20 years of Phillips' investigations into betting patterns on matches.
- No names were disclosed, because the BBC and BuzzFeed believed they would need more evidence and probable sanctions, but many of the players still play today, without sanction. Eight are in the men's draw of the just-started 2016 Australian Open.
- Sixteen of those players were ranked in the top 50 at the time of their purported fixed matches. No word on how many of those sixteen were in that main ten-player group.
Why not? The Show Must Go On.
Anyone else catch this?
In the chase for the Useful Idiots to the Peyton Manning Retirement Party (Super Bowl 50 -- and I'll look damn foolish if Denver loses later today!!), here's one a lot of people missed.
This was the coin flip for overtime in Green Bay vs. Arizona. (NFL YouTube video, cannot embed.)
The NFL admits to your face the coin never flips. (At least one sane part of it, they did re-flip and Arizona got the ball and scored a touchdown in two plays.)
This has nothing to do with Green Bay being the losing team -- they shouldn't have made the playoffs in the first damn place and that Hail Mary was far too convenient.
But... COME ON MAN!!! (To those readers sick of that cliche, I am sorry -- that's too obvious.)
This was the coin flip for overtime in Green Bay vs. Arizona. (NFL YouTube video, cannot embed.)
The NFL admits to your face the coin never flips. (At least one sane part of it, they did re-flip and Arizona got the ball and scored a touchdown in two plays.)
This has nothing to do with Green Bay being the losing team -- they shouldn't have made the playoffs in the first damn place and that Hail Mary was far too convenient.
But... COME ON MAN!!! (To those readers sick of that cliche, I am sorry -- that's too obvious.)
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Don't Get Rid of the Handshake Line...
Get rid of the game instead, if it's that clear something is going to go down.
Monmouth and Iona don't like each other, and the bench histrionics which have given Monmouth an identity are a decent reason.
So, when the two teams played last night, fireworks were expected.
After the game, they weren't disappointed:
And now we have at least one columnist who's saying to get rid of the post-game handshake sportsmanship line.
No, Mr. DeCourcy. First off, I know we criticize the No Fun League and all. Whether you agree with all of what the NFL does or not, this is why the NFL gets rid of choreographed celebrations.
Second: These two teams play again in about a month (and are almost certain to meet AGAIN in Championship Week).
If you don't want trouble, you may wish to reconsider that.
Monmouth and Iona don't like each other, and the bench histrionics which have given Monmouth an identity are a decent reason.
So, when the two teams played last night, fireworks were expected.
After the game, they weren't disappointed:
And now we have at least one columnist who's saying to get rid of the post-game handshake sportsmanship line.
No, Mr. DeCourcy. First off, I know we criticize the No Fun League and all. Whether you agree with all of what the NFL does or not, this is why the NFL gets rid of choreographed celebrations.
Second: These two teams play again in about a month (and are almost certain to meet AGAIN in Championship Week).
If you don't want trouble, you may wish to reconsider that.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Couple of updates from previous stories...
- Another manifestation of the big stadium scam in this country: St. Louis, the state of Missouri, and the county still owe over $150 million to pay for a domed stadium which now has no purpose. Legislation is in the works which may demand teams which leave before the payoff is done to deal with that problem, according to Deadspin.
- Also on Deadspin: When this story came out about the sexual assault hazing at a Tennessee high school basketball team, I began to wonder if the best course of action might be abolishing the high school outright. Today's charges against the coaches and athletic director of the school make me certain that some sort of reorganization and redraw of the school districts is probably required. The AD, who is an assistant principal of the school, "Tank" (the head coach), and an assistant coach got criminal warrants for failure to report (child sexual abuse). SHUT THE FUCKING SCHOOL DOWN.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Has the NFL just taken down a cable network?
I"m not going to say 100%, and it may not even be just this, but...
That Peyton Manning HGH story was done as a story by Al Jazeera, presumably for Al Jazeera America.
The investigation was made public on December 27, 2015.
Today, January 13, 2016: Al Jazeera America announces it will shut down April 30.
Now, obviously, there are many other angles about all this. But one has to wonder if one of two factors may have occurred here:
1) Was the report false, and did that end Al Jazeera America?
2) Or was the report so explosive that the NFL actually went behind the scenes to take it down?
As with so many things, the world may never know...
That Peyton Manning HGH story was done as a story by Al Jazeera, presumably for Al Jazeera America.
The investigation was made public on December 27, 2015.
Today, January 13, 2016: Al Jazeera America announces it will shut down April 30.
Now, obviously, there are many other angles about all this. But one has to wonder if one of two factors may have occurred here:
1) Was the report false, and did that end Al Jazeera America?
2) Or was the report so explosive that the NFL actually went behind the scenes to take it down?
As with so many things, the world may never know...
Only A Matter Of Time: Lawrence Phillips Dead
In what has to be about the least surprising sports news in a long time, California prison officials announced today that Lawrence Phillips is dead at age 40. Apparent suicide, facing the death penalty for murdering his cellmate on top of the 31 years he was already serving.
If there is a cautionary tale as to why football needs to be abolished across the board, Lawrence Phillips may be one good place to start. A Nebraska Crimehusker of the first order, the only thing which might separate him from "complete piece of shit" levels is if we find out this ticking time bomb had CTE since about high school and was already beyond all semblance of redemption on a brain-damage level -- and not simply on a conduct one.
Whether brain damage had anything to do with Phillips' reign of terror or not, that he died as he was is not surprising in the least. That he was given any real chance to be otherwise is a pure result of him being Football Man.
This is one of those brains that those of us paying attention damn well better see tested for CTE, as a function of the victims he harmed and killed. We can really only hope that this was a Chris Henry situation -- long gone far before his time. Either way, there is massive complicity and coverup in his criminality which extends purely because of Football Nation America.
If there is a cautionary tale as to why football needs to be abolished across the board, Lawrence Phillips may be one good place to start. A Nebraska Crimehusker of the first order, the only thing which might separate him from "complete piece of shit" levels is if we find out this ticking time bomb had CTE since about high school and was already beyond all semblance of redemption on a brain-damage level -- and not simply on a conduct one.
Whether brain damage had anything to do with Phillips' reign of terror or not, that he died as he was is not surprising in the least. That he was given any real chance to be otherwise is a pure result of him being Football Man.
This is one of those brains that those of us paying attention damn well better see tested for CTE, as a function of the victims he harmed and killed. We can really only hope that this was a Chris Henry situation -- long gone far before his time. Either way, there is massive complicity and coverup in his criminality which extends purely because of Football Nation America.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
And so the Great LA Scam begins anew....
Today, the St. Louis Rams became no more.
Starting in 2016-17 (next season), the Rams are back in LA. New stadium in three years, to open in 2019-20 season. And it's in Inglewood -- in a dangerous area which no one who's been there can believe they have enough space for an NFL stadium and all the trappings.
The San Diego Chargers have been approved for an OPTION to go to LA -- they are not confirmed.
Oakland is staying unless San Diego declines, then they get the option. The owners did not care for that whole Oakland-San Diego joint stadium debacle. The league will give each of the two AFC West teams $100 million to try to stay in their cities.
Starting in 2016-17 (next season), the Rams are back in LA. New stadium in three years, to open in 2019-20 season. And it's in Inglewood -- in a dangerous area which no one who's been there can believe they have enough space for an NFL stadium and all the trappings.
The San Diego Chargers have been approved for an OPTION to go to LA -- they are not confirmed.
Oakland is staying unless San Diego declines, then they get the option. The owners did not care for that whole Oakland-San Diego joint stadium debacle. The league will give each of the two AFC West teams $100 million to try to stay in their cities.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Aaaand it only takes two Wild Card games to get a completely out of control mess!!!
One of the things I've said about this playoff series is that I believe Roger Goodell's mantra for this will be: WHAT WILL YOUR TEAM DO TO WIN THE GOLDEN SUPER BOWL???
Well, Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati, a Cliffhanger, gave us FIVE large-scale incidents to this end.
He had no control of the ball on any complete manner, was out of bounds before he could make any "football move", and could not become a runner because the ball was somewhere between his ass and between his legs!
But that's a touchdown for Pittsburgh. RIGHT....
Look, NFL, I get it. If Peyton Manning is going to get a ring on the way out (which appears to be the plan!), you can't have him and the Broncos playing the Chiefs, who've now won 11 in a row to go from 1-5 to a date in New England next weekend.
"The NFL, as you know it, cannot be made safer."
There was no penalty on the play.
Shoulder to the head, 15 yards.
A hit so blatant that, when Burfict refused to give reporters any more than cursory answers, Deion Sanders of the NFL Network said Burfict's actions on the field meant he owed the media answers. (Deadspin)
It almost makes me think that what Sanders is really asking is to whether Burfict actually was trying to ensure Pittsburgh won. *cough!*
But that wasn't the only problem near the end of the game...
Cincinnati wins that game, Denver and Manning play Kansas City, the hottest team in the NFL. (And easier fall guys now (if they beat New England for their 12th in a row) for Manning and Denver after Denver beats a banged-up Pittsburgh team.)
Well, Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati, a Cliffhanger, gave us FIVE large-scale incidents to this end.
- Taken from Deadspin's Screengrabber website, this was from 1:25 to go in the first quarter. It is exactly what you think it is: Pittsburgh offensive line coach Mike Munchak is yanking the dreads of Cincinnati's Reggie Nelson. Munchak, who was penalized but not removed from the sideline, felt Nelson had cheapshotted one of his players.
- Here's one for the conspiracy-minded: Five minutes to go in the third quarter. Again, since it's from the NFL's YouTube account, I can only link it, I cannot embed it here. They called THIS a catch and a touchdown for Martavis Bryant.
He had no control of the ball on any complete manner, was out of bounds before he could make any "football move", and could not become a runner because the ball was somewhere between his ass and between his legs!
But that's a touchdown for Pittsburgh. RIGHT....
Look, NFL, I get it. If Peyton Manning is going to get a ring on the way out (which appears to be the plan!), you can't have him and the Broncos playing the Chiefs, who've now won 11 in a row to go from 1-5 to a date in New England next weekend.
- Less than two minutes to go in the third quarter, Cincinnati being shut out 15-0. Then this, from Deadspin, happens... A hit so blatant that the announcers of the game are called "brain-damage apologists"....
"The NFL, as you know it, cannot be made safer."
There was no penalty on the play.
- Now, to the end of the game. Cincinnati, enraged by the helmet shot noted above, scores 16 unanswered in the fourth quarter to take a 16-15 lead. Pittsburgh has the ball at about midfield with 20 seconds left and no time outs. Then THIS happens...
Shoulder to the head, 15 yards.
A hit so blatant that, when Burfict refused to give reporters any more than cursory answers, Deion Sanders of the NFL Network said Burfict's actions on the field meant he owed the media answers. (Deadspin)
It almost makes me think that what Sanders is really asking is to whether Burfict actually was trying to ensure Pittsburgh won. *cough!*
But that wasn't the only problem near the end of the game...
- Pacman Jones strikes again. ON THE SAME PLAY: Jones was assessed an additional 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Chip field goal wins it for Pittsburgh, and Jones was PISSED. He can expect a major fine for this tirade, which he has since taken down but was captured for posterity by Deadspin.
Cincinnati wins that game, Denver and Manning play Kansas City, the hottest team in the NFL. (And easier fall guys now (if they beat New England for their 12th in a row) for Manning and Denver after Denver beats a banged-up Pittsburgh team.)
Thursday, January 7, 2016
(NFL) So how bad did I screw up this year? (With one exception, VERY!)
Can't say I forecast Carolina going 15-1, for Heaven's sake.
I said New England, Pittsburgh, Indy and Denver would win the divisions. Pittsburgh at least made the wildcard, and Indy couldn't even win the race to eight for the AFC South.
Wildcards: San Diego and Miami. WOMP WOMP!!! They won ten games... Between them!
Cincinnati and Houston won divisions, Kansas City joined Pittsburgh as the wild card.
I did say Tom Brady's health would be an issue, and it now appears that Brady is seen as hurt and Peyton Manning will start the divisional game against the lower-seeded winner from this weekend.
Looking like Denver, Manning's health holding up pending.
NFC: I said Dallas, but the injuries across the board ended that.
I said New Orleans, and it's pretty clear that run is over.
I said Seattle, and they might well beat Minnesota this weekend.
But I did have Minnesota winning the North at least! No three-way tiebreaker, and one game better than the 10-6 I forecast.
All roads lead to Carolina, though, it would appear -- though would Cam Newton and the like be able to convincingly keep a game close enough with Denver for Peyton Manning to will his broken body to one more Super Bowl drive at the end to win it? Arizona would make a more useful band of idiots, but might not have enough to carry the pre-game hype for two weeks.
Washington should off Green Bay rather convincingly -- Green Bay would not have made the playoffs without the 6-0 start -- they were far closer to 6-10 with the 4-6 finish!
Had Detroit and Philly acing out Green Bay for the wildcards...
Not a very good pre-season read there.
I said New England, Pittsburgh, Indy and Denver would win the divisions. Pittsburgh at least made the wildcard, and Indy couldn't even win the race to eight for the AFC South.
Wildcards: San Diego and Miami. WOMP WOMP!!! They won ten games... Between them!
Cincinnati and Houston won divisions, Kansas City joined Pittsburgh as the wild card.
I did say Tom Brady's health would be an issue, and it now appears that Brady is seen as hurt and Peyton Manning will start the divisional game against the lower-seeded winner from this weekend.
Looking like Denver, Manning's health holding up pending.
NFC: I said Dallas, but the injuries across the board ended that.
I said New Orleans, and it's pretty clear that run is over.
I said Seattle, and they might well beat Minnesota this weekend.
But I did have Minnesota winning the North at least! No three-way tiebreaker, and one game better than the 10-6 I forecast.
All roads lead to Carolina, though, it would appear -- though would Cam Newton and the like be able to convincingly keep a game close enough with Denver for Peyton Manning to will his broken body to one more Super Bowl drive at the end to win it? Arizona would make a more useful band of idiots, but might not have enough to carry the pre-game hype for two weeks.
Washington should off Green Bay rather convincingly -- Green Bay would not have made the playoffs without the 6-0 start -- they were far closer to 6-10 with the 4-6 finish!
Had Detroit and Philly acing out Green Bay for the wildcards...
Not a very good pre-season read there.
Final 2015-16 NFL Season Score Report
Well, our long national nightmare is (almost) over -- the 2015-16 NFL regular season is over.
Here's what we have:
Here's what we have:
- For Week 17: 42.9375 PPG (Last year: 41.5)
- Home teams were 9-7 (Last year: 9-7)
- Over was 5-11, including the first six afternoon games on the board. (Last year: 6-10)
- Favorites were also 5-11 against the number, including the last five games on the board.
- Only 191 penalties in Week 17, a little less than 12 a game and a penalty and a half per game lower than a standard week this year.
- Two Cliffhangers, neither in a relevant game of any realistic kind. St. Louis and San Francisco won with last-play field goals, the 49ers' coming in overtime. (Last year: 1.)
- Eight other games finished within one score.
- Two other games were within a score at some point in the fourth quarter, leading to 12 competitive Week 17 matchups, same as last year.
- The average regular-season NFL contest for this season averaged 45.625 points per game. About a half-point higher than last year's 45.1875, but a full point below the record 46.707 from two years ago.
- With three London games, the home team won 139 out of 253 contests, losing 114. That is a .5494 winning percentage. That is four full percentage points below last year's .589.
- The Over was between about one-half game per week to one full game per week under .500, depending on where you shopped. The best strategy would still have left a bettor betting one unit on the Over in all 256 games played at a loss of about 21 units, about 1 1/3 units per week lost. (About a half a unit per week better than last year, though! Last year, you'd have lost 28!)
- Favorites were one game a week under .500 (plus a possible two for a couple of variable games) for the season. This meant betting one unit on every favorite vs. the number was a net loss of 27.1 units for the season, right about what last year's Over would've gotten you. I did not keep track of the statistic last year.
- We ended the year with 57 games decided with a score in the last two minutes or overtime. 57 Cliffhangers means the percentage this year was 22.27%. (Last year: 40. Two years ago: 56.)
- The biggest anomaly of the year was the number of games actually decided by one score (8 points or less). That occurred in 141 of the 256 games, 55.07% of all NFL contests. (Two years ago, Brian Tuohy reported that percentage at 48%, last year was a little less than 42%, 107. Meaning that two full games a week, 34 total, more than last year for games decided within one score.)
- 173 of the 256 contests were within 8 points or less at some point in the fourth quarter: 67.57%, in line with the 68% figure Brian gave from two years ago, up almost 5% from last year's 62.89, for 161. Meaning about three-quarters of a game per week increase.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
And why don't we just throw in a hazing incident to high-school basketball, while we are at it?
Just popped across Deadspin on this rainy day in California:
Ooltewah High School in Tennessee will cancel it's boys basketball team today, as a result of at least FOUR PLAYERS being sodomized and otherwise sexually assaulted with a pool cue at a holiday tournament just before Christmas. All the players were younger players, and three older players have been placed into custody as a result. The three have been suspended from the school.
One student who was sodomized has left the school completely.
Basically, it has appeared that this has become a tradition at the school, according to a report from WRCB television, called "beating in".
Basically, in short: Beating the ever living humanity out of the players to make them inhuman monsters.
If this were one incident, I'd consider it a start.
I have to question the future of this high school if the reports are true that this has been a tradition for a significant period of time. One of the four students was actually put in the hospital for snitching -- and that might imply a SECOND assault. (This is the student who will not return to Ooltewah.)
At this point, "Tank" (the coach's name is Andre "Tank" Montgomery), you need to go to prison. So does probably a significant portion of the administration of your school.
Ooltewah High School in Tennessee will cancel it's boys basketball team today, as a result of at least FOUR PLAYERS being sodomized and otherwise sexually assaulted with a pool cue at a holiday tournament just before Christmas. All the players were younger players, and three older players have been placed into custody as a result. The three have been suspended from the school.
One student who was sodomized has left the school completely.
Basically, it has appeared that this has become a tradition at the school, according to a report from WRCB television, called "beating in".
Basically, in short: Beating the ever living humanity out of the players to make them inhuman monsters.
If this were one incident, I'd consider it a start.
I have to question the future of this high school if the reports are true that this has been a tradition for a significant period of time. One of the four students was actually put in the hospital for snitching -- and that might imply a SECOND assault. (This is the student who will not return to Ooltewah.)
At this point, "Tank" (the coach's name is Andre "Tank" Montgomery), you need to go to prison. So does probably a significant portion of the administration of your school.
Well, it's pretty much official: E. Stan Kroenke is done with St. Louis, MO
The official bid to move the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles is on Deadspin. And, in reading this, consider: The Rams PUBLICLY RELEASED their reasons for the move.
In making his attempt to move the Rams, Kroenke has basically thermonuked the city of St. Louis as a metropolitan area.
Too bad he does it for all the wrong reasons: St. Louis is, increasingly, a racist and bigoted shit-hole (which see all the pro-police anti-Ferguson-protestor stuff around the Cardinals fans and all that shit) which needs a serious reality check into the year 1916, much less 2016.
That said, it's clear that one of two things is going to happen for next football season:
1) We will get the Los Angeles Rams back. (This says nothing about getting the LA Raiders or the LA Chargers back as well.)
2) E. Stan Kroenke will no longer be the owner of the St. Louis Rams.
Deadspin and the front of the bid give just a small sample of why Kroenke just took gasoline and a match to every bridge he had in the city of St. Louis:
Deadspin is right. I'm sure that the San Diego and Oakland proposals probably say similar, but the fact is that Kroenke is making sure that he's done in St. Louis.
As of right now, it appears each of the three bids has the votes to block the other two, meaning it is not impossible that NONE of the three teams moves.
In making his attempt to move the Rams, Kroenke has basically thermonuked the city of St. Louis as a metropolitan area.
Too bad he does it for all the wrong reasons: St. Louis is, increasingly, a racist and bigoted shit-hole (which see all the pro-police anti-Ferguson-protestor stuff around the Cardinals fans and all that shit) which needs a serious reality check into the year 1916, much less 2016.
That said, it's clear that one of two things is going to happen for next football season:
1) We will get the Los Angeles Rams back. (This says nothing about getting the LA Raiders or the LA Chargers back as well.)
2) E. Stan Kroenke will no longer be the owner of the St. Louis Rams.
Deadspin and the front of the bid give just a small sample of why Kroenke just took gasoline and a match to every bridge he had in the city of St. Louis:
- "St. Louis lags, and will continue to lag, far behind in the economic drivers that are necessary for sustained success of an NFL franchise. [...] the City of St. Louis ranks near the bottom of all U.S. cities of any size in terms of economic and population growth." Explain how we still have the Green Bay Packers, then. You've done such a poor job, Stan, in creating a marketable franchise, that you appear to limit yourself to St. Louis, and this is what you get as a result.
- One of the headers, in insulting St. Louis' efforts not to bend the taxpayers over for billions for a new palace for E. Stan Kroenke: "St. Louis Is Not A Three Professional Team Market." Are you even sure you want to count the NHL, as far as that's gone down the ladder these days?
- Another: "St. Louis Promised The Rams A First-Tier NFL Stadium For 30 Years" The only way that's possible is to basically give Kroenke not one new stadium, but about three or four! So much so, that another header has said that the city of St. Louis has been in material default of this standard since 2004!
- "San Diego and Oakland Are Substantially Stronger Markets Than The St. Louis Market" Doesn't sound like he just wants the Rams out. He probably wants the Blues and Cardinals out with them!
- And then the kicker: “Any NFL Club that signs on to this proposal [the current riverfront stadium proposal which would bilk $350 million from the taxpayers] will be well on the road to financial ruin, and the League will be harmed.” He's basically telling the NFL to expel St. Louis, one way or the other -- that the NFL would actually be better off FOLDING the Rams and creating a new franchise somewhere else than keeping the Rams in St. Louis, if moving the Rams to LA is not an option.
Deadspin is right. I'm sure that the San Diego and Oakland proposals probably say similar, but the fact is that Kroenke is making sure that he's done in St. Louis.
As of right now, it appears each of the three bids has the votes to block the other two, meaning it is not impossible that NONE of the three teams moves.
It Took Five Days: First Highly-Publicized American Ref Attack
Shocked it took this long, but into the world of high-school sports we go for another coach who needs never to be around sports again.
Pennsbury and Neshaminy are two Pennsylvania high schools who played last night, and Jerry Devine, the head coach of Neshaminy, didn't like a late charge call, and promptly assaulted the referee in so doing...
The Deadspin article I originally found this at refers to a better video from WBCB Radio, a sports-radio station in Pennsylvania, who took this video of the game, including of the incident.
The blog software does not seem to agree with the streaming site used, Livestream, so I'll pop a link it to the WBCB video here.
Devine has been placed on administrative leave and faces possible criminal charges.
To which I say, screw that garbage.
The rules need to be simple:
Any assault on a game official results in:
1) Immediate forfeiture of that game.
2) Immediate forfeiture of all future contests (at the time an assault is confirmed) until the sanctioning body completes the investigation to determine if there's a larger problem at the school.
3) All assaulting parties are immediately arrested, and any affiliated with the schools, fired.
Pennsbury and Neshaminy are two Pennsylvania high schools who played last night, and Jerry Devine, the head coach of Neshaminy, didn't like a late charge call, and promptly assaulted the referee in so doing...
The Deadspin article I originally found this at refers to a better video from WBCB Radio, a sports-radio station in Pennsylvania, who took this video of the game, including of the incident.
The blog software does not seem to agree with the streaming site used, Livestream, so I'll pop a link it to the WBCB video here.
Devine has been placed on administrative leave and faces possible criminal charges.
To which I say, screw that garbage.
The rules need to be simple:
Any assault on a game official results in:
1) Immediate forfeiture of that game.
2) Immediate forfeiture of all future contests (at the time an assault is confirmed) until the sanctioning body completes the investigation to determine if there's a larger problem at the school.
3) All assaulting parties are immediately arrested, and any affiliated with the schools, fired.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
E-Sports: Valve gets it right on match-fixing...
Too bad it takes E-Sports to do it, and maybe part of that is, in most cases, the company or sanctioning body isn't in on it.
As one of those "it's unbelievable it's come to THIS!" moments, several of the major video games which have crossed over into Electronic Sports or E-Sports have been marred by match fixing scandals. There have been at least two in Korea involving Starcraft (and one of them forced Blizzard, the game's creator, to seize control of all such tournaments going forward).
But leave it to Valve, the creators of Counter-Strike, to understand what a match-fixing situation (in any sport -- E- or otherwise) can do -- not only to the sport, but to the game itself.
As a result of this and as a result of a match-fixing scandal in a Counter-Strike event, Kotaku's Steam sub-blog Steamed reports today that Valve has released a clarified position that any team or player (even retroactively) who fixes a match and loses on purpose, especially for the purposes of money, will be banned permanently.
For life. First offense.
Gone.
Forever.
Bout damn time.
I don't think I need to go much further than about ten days down this blog to that Canadian Soccer League to state how important it is that a sanctioning body of any sport take this kind of a stand.
And yet, the current fluid state of E-Sports does leave a few questions.
First, some background: About 18 months ago, on August 21, 2014, an American powerhouse team, iBUYPOWER, was supposed to roll to an easy victory in a season league match over NetCodeGuides.com . They lost, and the way in which they did so was quite disturbing.
The Daily Dot, an Internet website which dabbles in video games as well, quickly received communications with substantive belief that the match was fixed, including betting patterns which indicate that a person with connections to both teams was able to place five-figure bets on the match on NetCodeGuides.com .
The winter of 2014-15 threatened to kill Counter-Strike -- not just the professional leagues, but the game itself. This became one of several match-fixing scandals of that winter, exploding when another team's player's former girlfriend released texts indicating that he had actually been the one to make several wagers on the match in question.
Some of the bets even take place inside the game, in which players will bet items which can then end up on the RMT (Real Money Trading) market. This professional player was making some such bets (on this match and others believed fixed) in the Lounge area of the Counter-Strike game.
On January 26, 2015, Valve banned seven players from all Valve-sponsored events, indefinitely.
The bans were clarified to life bans today. An eighth player has also been life-banned for fixing a match shortly after the iBUYPOWER/NetCodeGuides match.
The Nathan Grayson Steamed article does leave some questions on the matter, though:
Yes -- for point-shaving and sports bribery, Federal offenses.
This is the other side of what really pisses me off about American sports: It is legal (Mayer decision) for a sports league to fix it's events. It is NOT legal for an individual player or team to point-shave -- and that's exactly what we have here. Those eight players now life-banned and Berezin should be punished (in Berezin's case, if it's applicable under US law) with prison time for a Federal crime.
As one of those "it's unbelievable it's come to THIS!" moments, several of the major video games which have crossed over into Electronic Sports or E-Sports have been marred by match fixing scandals. There have been at least two in Korea involving Starcraft (and one of them forced Blizzard, the game's creator, to seize control of all such tournaments going forward).
But leave it to Valve, the creators of Counter-Strike, to understand what a match-fixing situation (in any sport -- E- or otherwise) can do -- not only to the sport, but to the game itself.
As a result of this and as a result of a match-fixing scandal in a Counter-Strike event, Kotaku's Steam sub-blog Steamed reports today that Valve has released a clarified position that any team or player (even retroactively) who fixes a match and loses on purpose, especially for the purposes of money, will be banned permanently.
For life. First offense.
Gone.
Forever.
Bout damn time.
I don't think I need to go much further than about ten days down this blog to that Canadian Soccer League to state how important it is that a sanctioning body of any sport take this kind of a stand.
And yet, the current fluid state of E-Sports does leave a few questions.
First, some background: About 18 months ago, on August 21, 2014, an American powerhouse team, iBUYPOWER, was supposed to roll to an easy victory in a season league match over NetCodeGuides.com . They lost, and the way in which they did so was quite disturbing.
The Daily Dot, an Internet website which dabbles in video games as well, quickly received communications with substantive belief that the match was fixed, including betting patterns which indicate that a person with connections to both teams was able to place five-figure bets on the match on NetCodeGuides.com .
The winter of 2014-15 threatened to kill Counter-Strike -- not just the professional leagues, but the game itself. This became one of several match-fixing scandals of that winter, exploding when another team's player's former girlfriend released texts indicating that he had actually been the one to make several wagers on the match in question.
Some of the bets even take place inside the game, in which players will bet items which can then end up on the RMT (Real Money Trading) market. This professional player was making some such bets (on this match and others believed fixed) in the Lounge area of the Counter-Strike game.
On January 26, 2015, Valve banned seven players from all Valve-sponsored events, indefinitely.
The bans were clarified to life bans today. An eighth player has also been life-banned for fixing a match shortly after the iBUYPOWER/NetCodeGuides match.
The Nathan Grayson Steamed article does leave some questions on the matter, though:
- There is a DOTA2 player, Alexi Berezin, who was banned from all DOTA2 Starladder events, and the basis for a similar rule in that game. (The ban was later reduced to one year in his case.) However, he is still allowed at Valve games, especially given the reduction in the ban. This, as a significant Reddit conversation on the subject reports, is a major problem -- and I agree, it never should've happened.
Yes -- for point-shaving and sports bribery, Federal offenses.
This is the other side of what really pisses me off about American sports: It is legal (Mayer decision) for a sports league to fix it's events. It is NOT legal for an individual player or team to point-shave -- and that's exactly what we have here. Those eight players now life-banned and Berezin should be punished (in Berezin's case, if it's applicable under US law) with prison time for a Federal crime.
Four Additional Indications 2016 is getting off to a predictably chaotic start in the sports world...
- To their credit (and I do mean this by the Rafael Palmeiro Principle!), Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard have officially sued Al-Jazeera for the report they did on PED's and HGH that has implicated (in one form or another) Peyton Manning. (Deadspin)
I do mean this.
My "Rafael Palmeiro Principle" (named after the roid cheat who said a lot of tough bluster about not using PED's before he was exposed to have done so!) is that if an outlet is going to claim with credibility that you are using PED's, and you aren't, you have one option: SUE THE LIVING FUCK OUT OF THEM.
So we'll see where that one goes, but I am actually pleased to see that they are willing to actually pull the trigger and do it.
One other interesting note: The Diana Moskovitz article actually is one of the first I've seen that mentions that the implications of Peyton Manning receiving HGH at his house may actually be for his WIFE'S medical treatment, which Manning says is none of our fucking business. (And if it is for his wife, he's right!!)
In a related note:
- There is MURMURING, at this point, that the next major sports star to get implicated by the Al-Jazeera story may end up being... Derek Jeter! (Deadspin)
However, the New York Times and Michael Powell decided to follow the trail of this Al-Jazeera story a bit, and found most of the people involved were tied to a single fitness trainer from Sarasota, FL -- one Jason Riley.
A Jason Riley that Ian O'Connor of ESPN said "reshaped Jeter's body and game" in 2010, allowing him to play the last few years of his career.
A Jason Riley who is business partners with the lynchpin of this entire situation, Charles Sly.
Keep an eye on this one.
- Tomorrow is the big day that Ken Griffey, Jr. gets the call from the Baseball Writers Association of America to go into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
That said, that's not the chaotic and stupid part:
- My External Bullshit Detector (my anonymous friend, who's also a huge baseball historian) tipped me off to this (and the other stories on this list), but I can't find precisely where on this one.
- There is a straw poll of about a third of the writers with ballots for the BBWAA, and that claims that both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens scored fairly close (on the ballots of the straw poll) to the 75% mark to get induction (even though it would appear they are far enough away that they won't get in this year).
There is even a murky belief Piazza admitted taking Andro in a biography.
Again, keep an eye on it.
And in social media sports chaos:
- Shaun Smith, last playing for the Chiefs, decided to talk about Kansas City's upcoming AFC playoff game against Houston on his Twitter account. (Deadspin)
- He got the inevitable trolling, almost certainly from Texans fans and little kids with no life.
But what's also not so fine and good was what he did about it:
And then, after he deleted it (picture is from the Deadspin article), noted to another Twitter idiot that it is in fact legal: He does have a license to carry.
That said, why would you cover it up with a Past Due bill notice? *shrug*
Brian Tuohy and his information does it again...
Three things to report from the Brian Tuohy NFL Season page on his website that people better keep in mind...
First is a couple things from a video that may delve into news conspiracy theory rather than sports. Relevant to Brian and myself, though, is that this person's theory is that the Super Bowl (Distraction) the video-maker is talking about will be played between Carolina and Denver, and that a major scandal will hit one of the teams beforehand.
Why is this important? Two reasons.
First, according to Brian, the video was posted on December 7, 2015 -- about two or so weeks before the Al-Jazeera Peyton Manning HGH story broke.
Second?
Sunday... It's 13-7 in the third quarter in Denver, San Diego leads with Brock Ostweiler going 14/22 for 232 yards, but 2 interceptions. New England has already lost, and Tom Brady is now seen as "hurting" (preparing for the write-off for the season, it appears!). If Denver wins, they're the #1 seed and probably the favorites for the Super Bowl.
So, for the first time since the injury, HERE COMES PEYTON MANNING!
Touchdown drive, 8 plays 80 yards.
Two seven-play field goal drives.
A San Diego turnover results in a quick touchdown. Denver punts only once in Manning's time on the field.
Denver wins 27-20. Denver is the #1 seed.
And Brian's theory regarding that the league is protecting Peyton Manning for "just the right moment" (and I believe it's just that -- the guy is quite hurt, breaking down, and all that stuff) so they can get him a ring for the road (especially with how much water he's carried for the league, including that pig Papa John and aiding in throwing two Super Bowls) this year.
The only problem with this theory, to me, is: Is Cam Newton enough of a "useful idiot" for this case?
Make no mistake: This 15-1 season is a mega-push for Cam Newton -- one most people saw coming if they were paying attention.
What I almost feel is becoming too obvious is that Brock Ostweiler will start for Denver, get into a tight game with the NFC representative that the NFC team will be leading, much like this Week 17 game, just long enough that Peyton Manning can play in the game (protected as Hell), come back, win, get the ring, MVP, and we all carry him off into the sunset (except for those of us who are barfing at the obvious nature of all this!).
That's why I can't be 100% on Carolina, because I am fairly certain the NFC team loses, and does the job while doing so.
Oh, the third thing from Brian's site?
The first thing he posted for Week 17, before he, a day or two later, broke down some of the action...
The NFL Parity Wheel, the Circle of Parity.
I don't know who did it (Brian doesn't credit it, so I'd need to look for it), but someone was able to construct a "wheel" in which, since Carolina did lose one game, every team on the wheel would beat the one before it, but lose to the one after it.
And does anyone truly believe that's any degree of an accident?
First is a couple things from a video that may delve into news conspiracy theory rather than sports. Relevant to Brian and myself, though, is that this person's theory is that the Super Bowl (Distraction) the video-maker is talking about will be played between Carolina and Denver, and that a major scandal will hit one of the teams beforehand.
Why is this important? Two reasons.
First, according to Brian, the video was posted on December 7, 2015 -- about two or so weeks before the Al-Jazeera Peyton Manning HGH story broke.
Second?
Sunday... It's 13-7 in the third quarter in Denver, San Diego leads with Brock Ostweiler going 14/22 for 232 yards, but 2 interceptions. New England has already lost, and Tom Brady is now seen as "hurting" (preparing for the write-off for the season, it appears!). If Denver wins, they're the #1 seed and probably the favorites for the Super Bowl.
So, for the first time since the injury, HERE COMES PEYTON MANNING!
Touchdown drive, 8 plays 80 yards.
Two seven-play field goal drives.
A San Diego turnover results in a quick touchdown. Denver punts only once in Manning's time on the field.
Denver wins 27-20. Denver is the #1 seed.
And Brian's theory regarding that the league is protecting Peyton Manning for "just the right moment" (and I believe it's just that -- the guy is quite hurt, breaking down, and all that stuff) so they can get him a ring for the road (especially with how much water he's carried for the league, including that pig Papa John and aiding in throwing two Super Bowls) this year.
The only problem with this theory, to me, is: Is Cam Newton enough of a "useful idiot" for this case?
Make no mistake: This 15-1 season is a mega-push for Cam Newton -- one most people saw coming if they were paying attention.
What I almost feel is becoming too obvious is that Brock Ostweiler will start for Denver, get into a tight game with the NFC representative that the NFC team will be leading, much like this Week 17 game, just long enough that Peyton Manning can play in the game (protected as Hell), come back, win, get the ring, MVP, and we all carry him off into the sunset (except for those of us who are barfing at the obvious nature of all this!).
That's why I can't be 100% on Carolina, because I am fairly certain the NFC team loses, and does the job while doing so.
Oh, the third thing from Brian's site?
The first thing he posted for Week 17, before he, a day or two later, broke down some of the action...
The NFL Parity Wheel, the Circle of Parity.
I don't know who did it (Brian doesn't credit it, so I'd need to look for it), but someone was able to construct a "wheel" in which, since Carolina did lose one game, every team on the wheel would beat the one before it, but lose to the one after it.
And does anyone truly believe that's any degree of an accident?
Monday, January 4, 2016
The NFL Los Angeles threat card is about to come off the table...
The day after all three teams were eliminated from the 2015-16 season, the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego Chargers have all applied for relocation to LA.
This effectively removes the "If you don't give us a new stadium, we're going to LA..." threat which teams have played on their rube taxpayer fans for years.
Now the question: How many will be in the LA area, and what city, outside of maybe San Antonio, is left to so threaten until we look at foreign markets?
This effectively removes the "If you don't give us a new stadium, we're going to LA..." threat which teams have played on their rube taxpayer fans for years.
Now the question: How many will be in the LA area, and what city, outside of maybe San Antonio, is left to so threaten until we look at foreign markets?
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Race Relations in America and the NFL: With Friends Like Dexter Manley...
(Deadspin)
Dexter Manley has opened up his mouth and inserted his foot. Again.
The latest need for surgery for foot-in-mouth disease for Manley came on WUSA when he said that there's a reason Black quarterbacks are so mobile...
They're used to running from the law.
WTOP Radio in Washington, DC banned Manley for calling Troy Aikman a "queer".
Sounds like WUSA (and all other DC-area stations, at minimum) need to have already done so -- lacking that, they need to follow suit.
Now.
Dexter Manley has opened up his mouth and inserted his foot. Again.
The latest need for surgery for foot-in-mouth disease for Manley came on WUSA when he said that there's a reason Black quarterbacks are so mobile...
They're used to running from the law.
WTOP Radio in Washington, DC banned Manley for calling Troy Aikman a "queer".
Sounds like WUSA (and all other DC-area stations, at minimum) need to have already done so -- lacking that, they need to follow suit.
Now.
Another $tern-era NBA crook retires...
Joey Crawford, another of the old guard of NBA referees who fixed games and made a general ass out of himself for David $tern's benefit, is retiring after 39 NBA seasons.
(Deadspin)
(Deadspin)
It Took One Day of 2016 to show fans...
... that MIGHT make me look sane.
This is from Deadspin, and the picture is taken from there.
That is some of the things that Boston fans (we presume) felt appropriate to bring to yesterday's outdoor NHL Winter Classic match between the Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.
Let this process.
This is from Deadspin, and the picture is taken from there.
That is some of the things that Boston fans (we presume) felt appropriate to bring to yesterday's outdoor NHL Winter Classic match between the Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.
Let this process.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)