Hat-tip to my anonymous friend.
A game-historian, my friend was piqued by a Kotaku article, stating the disqualification and final banning from the preeminent video-game records site Twin Galaxies of the most famous Atari- and Activision-era record-holder (so much so that the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him).
Todd Rogers has been banned from Twin Galaxies for several claimed records -- and, as a result, over 1700 world records nullified. Back in his day (we're talking 1982 here), it was pretty clear that a picture would be sufficient to indicate a record run.
Two claimed records began the unraveling of the string -- what has been found out since may well unravel Twin Galaxies for an entire era!
First to go was his record in a game called Barnstormer. Rogers claimed a time of just over 32 seconds.
There's a problem: That time is completely impossible. With methods much closer to today's, video-game players have proven, beyond doubt, that time could not be achieved in any degree of play. We're not even talking computerized "Tool-Assisted Speedruns". We're talking that, in the game where you have to go up and down to avoid obstacles and fly through barns, that you could not even get this time if you took everything out of the game and flew the plane in a straight line start to finish.
They know. They hacked the game to actually do just that!
The other was the most famous first world record in history: A drag-race game for the Atari 2600 called Dragster. Simple concept: Simulated quarter-mile race, fastest in-game time.
Rogers not only claimed a Polaroid of a time of 5.51 seconds, but he also claims in a YouTube video on the record that Activision asked him to come to Las Vegas for the next year's CES, where he claims to have duplicated the feat.
Bullshit.
It has been established that the best time you could get on that game is 5.57. Again, this is through the use of computerized tools and other such assists.
So what went on here?
Last week, YouTuber Apollo Legend put this damning video on the site. He has verification of his claims, and what he has said should put not only every record of that era, but every person involved in those records, in serious question as to not only the records themselves, but what else might be involved.
As my friend has pointed out to me, and you can verify in the classic video-game-record documentary "King of Kong", that the Twin Galaxies of the day was a tightly-run clique to circle-jerk the records, and anyone outside this clique would probably not be allowed, or made to feel unwelcome enough they might as well not have been.
Well, in this clique is referee Ron Corcoran, who is believed to have been the sole verifier of all of Rogers' records.
He's serving 30 years in an Arizona prison for raping his daughter.
As I well know from the Sandusky situation: AT BEST, this kind of a situation would probably reach "worst-kept secret" levels.
But it does make me wonder, especially with the bald-faced liar that Rogers is, what other secrets might lie in the Twin Galaxies clique.
And this includes more famous players like Billy Mitchell, another of the very few world-famous record-holders, one of the people in "King of Kong", and the first to actually play Pac-Man to the point where the maximum score possible was achieved before the number of levels involved would force the game to crash.
This includes Walter Day, who founded Twin Galaxies.
And now one has to wonder if every record of this era (including more than a few of the famous Donkey Kong records, outside of those done on arcade machines in the presence of witnesses) are completely invalid -- or, worse, what other threads might come unraveled as time goes on here.
Thanks. More gamers making video gaming look bad...
Monday, January 29, 2018
NBA/NHL: Are we looking at an elaborate situation here???
It was bad enough to see it done one time.
Now we may be seeing it three.
After Major League Baseball openly rigged Houston a championship after the hurricanes, it was disgusting enough (especially for those of us here in Los Angeles) to see how much it was clear the entire administration of the game was shitting all over the Dodgers.
Well, lookie what we have here in the winter sports:
Dallas, 1980: 15-67, missed the playoffs
Miami, 1988: 15-67, missed the playoffs
Charlotte, same year: 20-62, missed playoffs
Minnesota, 1989: 22-60, missed the playoffs
Orlando, same year: 18-64, missed the playoffs
Toronto, 1995: 21-61, missed the playoffs
Vancouver, same year: 15-67, missed the playoffs
That said, though: Are we about to have TWO MORE cases of national tragedy lead to sporting glory?
And then, at what point does some sports-drunk idiot get stupid and do something just to get a championship...
Now we may be seeing it three.
After Major League Baseball openly rigged Houston a championship after the hurricanes, it was disgusting enough (especially for those of us here in Los Angeles) to see how much it was clear the entire administration of the game was shitting all over the Dodgers.
Well, lookie what we have here in the winter sports:
- NBA: A little less obvious than the other one, as Houston has been one of the better second-tier teams for a little while now. But Houston is 35-13, and, more importantly, has two wins in three games over the Warriors. (The season opener on the road at Golden State October 17th, and a win at home January 20th. The Warriors beat the Rockets on January 4th.) The two teams do not play again in the regular season.
- But the real one is in the NHL, as this Las Vegas Golden Knights situation is not going away anytime soon. Coming out of this weekend's All-Star break, through 48 games of the 80ish game schedule, the Golden Knights are 32-12 with 4 overtime losses for 68 points. They lead their division by 9 points over San Jose, and the conference by two over Winnipeg. (The only team with more points right now is Tampa Bay.) They have only five losses at home this year in 24 games, two of them in overtime.
Dallas, 1980: 15-67, missed the playoffs
Miami, 1988: 15-67, missed the playoffs
Charlotte, same year: 20-62, missed playoffs
Minnesota, 1989: 22-60, missed the playoffs
Orlando, same year: 18-64, missed the playoffs
Toronto, 1995: 21-61, missed the playoffs
Vancouver, same year: 15-67, missed the playoffs
That said, though: Are we about to have TWO MORE cases of national tragedy lead to sporting glory?
And then, at what point does some sports-drunk idiot get stupid and do something just to get a championship...
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: Letting It Ride... To the first shade of doubt???
Let's put it this way: I'm still convinced the Patriots are winning Sunday - and I don't think it's going to be particularly close, because I believe the league needs to do a Tom Brady fourth-quarter announcer rim-job in case this is his last game and it's not entirely his choice.
(In the latest Brady developments: His latest Super Bowl Week edition of his weekly WEEI (Boston) call-in show was cut short after he had to be put on the air with a host who called his 5 year-old daughter an "annoying little piss-ant" last Thursday. The host has finally been suspended for those comments. (The Big Lead))
That said, though... This World Series "Let It Ride" bettor is definitely piquing my interest.
RJ Bell in Las Vegas is reporting that, as of the 24th, the person who made a gross $14 million on letting it ride on every game in the MLB playoffs until he cashed out before Game 7 of the World Series was in negotiations to make a $10 million+ bet -- Eagles to WIN.
As of Sunday, he has $4.2 million on the table.
For the first time in six weeks, there's an iota of doubt on this Super Bowl.
Not NEARLY enough for me to change my position, no.question, but there has to be a point made here, and it has two parts:
1) Going back to the era of Dan Moldea's Interference, there's an old adage among high rollers: "You never bet that kind of money without knowing the result."
2) Anyone who watched that playoffs, especially the complete #HoustonStrong rig-job -- the umpiring, the juiced balls, other factors... -- has to believe that anyone putting that kind of money up and winning like that in a let-it-ride situation had to have inside info on the fix.
And, thinking about it the last couple of days, I begin to wonder if the reason he cashed out is that no book would take $14 million in bets from him on Houston winning Game 7...
It's clear that, if he can lay that kind of money, he will. The problem is, Vegas isn't letting him -- at least yet.
If you read books like The Smart Money, you do understand that some of these decisions are based on the balance between the sides of a wager. Perfect world, it's 50-50 and the book makes about 4.5% of all wagers.
But, as you well know, this "Let It Ride" guy has made the MGM too heavy on the Eagles right now, and the general public (the "squares") is feeding in to the Patriot Hate.
But I have to begin to wonder: Has the NFL gone SO "All In" on the conspiracy that it is actually prepared to whip-saw this situation into a babyface win for Philadelphia?
Stay tuned.
(In the latest Brady developments: His latest Super Bowl Week edition of his weekly WEEI (Boston) call-in show was cut short after he had to be put on the air with a host who called his 5 year-old daughter an "annoying little piss-ant" last Thursday. The host has finally been suspended for those comments. (The Big Lead))
That said, though... This World Series "Let It Ride" bettor is definitely piquing my interest.
RJ Bell in Las Vegas is reporting that, as of the 24th, the person who made a gross $14 million on letting it ride on every game in the MLB playoffs until he cashed out before Game 7 of the World Series was in negotiations to make a $10 million+ bet -- Eagles to WIN.
As of Sunday, he has $4.2 million on the table.
For the first time in six weeks, there's an iota of doubt on this Super Bowl.
Not NEARLY enough for me to change my position, no.question, but there has to be a point made here, and it has two parts:
1) Going back to the era of Dan Moldea's Interference, there's an old adage among high rollers: "You never bet that kind of money without knowing the result."
2) Anyone who watched that playoffs, especially the complete #HoustonStrong rig-job -- the umpiring, the juiced balls, other factors... -- has to believe that anyone putting that kind of money up and winning like that in a let-it-ride situation had to have inside info on the fix.
And, thinking about it the last couple of days, I begin to wonder if the reason he cashed out is that no book would take $14 million in bets from him on Houston winning Game 7...
It's clear that, if he can lay that kind of money, he will. The problem is, Vegas isn't letting him -- at least yet.
If you read books like The Smart Money, you do understand that some of these decisions are based on the balance between the sides of a wager. Perfect world, it's 50-50 and the book makes about 4.5% of all wagers.
But, as you well know, this "Let It Ride" guy has made the MGM too heavy on the Eagles right now, and the general public (the "squares") is feeding in to the Patriot Hate.
But I have to begin to wonder: Has the NFL gone SO "All In" on the conspiracy that it is actually prepared to whip-saw this situation into a babyface win for Philadelphia?
Stay tuned.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Championship Weekend Fine Blotter
Minnesota (with all fines doubled due to dollar-for-dollar status):
- Anthony Barr: $9,115 for a facemask. With Minnesota's record, this should be no surprise: Barr is now a THREE TIME LOSER.
- Nigel Bradham: $9,115 for a facemask.
- Barry Church: $24,309 for the hit that put Rob Gronskowski out. Helmet shot.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
OK, USOC, I guess you ARE listening...
The US Gymnastics Federation will be disbarred/decertified within six days if it's entire board does not resign over the Nassar scandal.
That's a start. I'd have just went and done it -- as I said in the other post, you have a template to allow the boys and girls to compete under the US flag independently of the sanctioning body, but it's a start.
We'll see what happens.
That's a start. I'd have just went and done it -- as I said in the other post, you have a template to allow the boys and girls to compete under the US flag independently of the sanctioning body, but it's a start.
We'll see what happens.
XFL Version II Launches in 2020, and it appears it's going to be Whites Only.
I'm neither mincing nor kidding with the title.
Vince McMahon, today, announced he was launching a simpler, safer, faster version of football. Games would be about two hours long, fewer penalties, etc.
But it's one announcement (which may have taken one of the few non-NFL marquee names off the board already in Johnny Manziel -- reports vary, though!) which has me thinking HE'S GOING THERE!
Vince McMahon, in today's press conference, said the following, courtesy of 24-7 Sports:
And, don't get me wrong: This is EXACTLY what the White Right who've been on the #NFLBoycott on Twitter have been begging for for at least two years now.
The #NFLBoycott created this second version of the XFL.
Facts are facts: Vince McMahon is a raving lunatic Republican. If you don't think he won't try what is necessary to get his league completely whitewashed, think again.
And, given the league's status as a private entity, an iron-clad no-criminality background check will basically disqualify, BY DESIGN, ALL relevant-level Black players.
And I'll say this now: It's a real roll of the dice to think you might even get 320 players (eight teams, 40-man rosters) of any race to qualify under that criteria and not have to dig to mid-level high school alumni or lower.
Vince McMahon, today, announced he was launching a simpler, safer, faster version of football. Games would be about two hours long, fewer penalties, etc.
But it's one announcement (which may have taken one of the few non-NFL marquee names off the board already in Johnny Manziel -- reports vary, though!) which has me thinking HE'S GOING THERE!
Vince McMahon, in today's press conference, said the following, courtesy of 24-7 Sports:
"During a Facebook Live press conference on Thursday afternoon announcing the return of the XFL, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon said his relaunched professional football league will allow "no criminality whatsoever." McMahon said that even a DUI arrest, a relatively common offense among NFL players, can preclude a player from being signed by an XFL team."If he's serious, he's just created the Whites Only League.
And, don't get me wrong: This is EXACTLY what the White Right who've been on the #NFLBoycott on Twitter have been begging for for at least two years now.
The #NFLBoycott created this second version of the XFL.
Facts are facts: Vince McMahon is a raving lunatic Republican. If you don't think he won't try what is necessary to get his league completely whitewashed, think again.
And, given the league's status as a private entity, an iron-clad no-criminality background check will basically disqualify, BY DESIGN, ALL relevant-level Black players.
And I'll say this now: It's a real roll of the dice to think you might even get 320 players (eight teams, 40-man rosters) of any race to qualify under that criteria and not have to dig to mid-level high school alumni or lower.
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: Plot Thickens in Vegas!
According to RJ Bell:
I think the guy has already thrown away $3 million and may be prepared to toss millions more!
He does have the money to toss. That whole World Series affair made him a gross $14 million -- probably netting $9 million.
I do note he seemed to get out before Game 7 and MLB taking hold to ensure the result.MGM has publicly confirmed "multi-million dollar" bet on #Eagles to win SB (verifying our reporting from yesterday)— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) January 25, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: Details withheld by MGM
* Who bet? Famous World Series Let-It-Ride bettor
* How much? $3 MILLION
And he's looking to bet millions MORE ... stay tuned!
I think the guy has already thrown away $3 million and may be prepared to toss millions more!
He does have the money to toss. That whole World Series affair made him a gross $14 million -- probably netting $9 million.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: Oh. My. God.
My first inclination here is: Someone just lost a metric shit-ton of money.
My second inclination is: Anyone who knows of the NFL and conspiracy theories just got a fucking gift if they can get to Vegas in the next ten days.
According to an ESPN Chalk article: Philadelphia is getting the bulk of the money here. And now the MGM Sportsbook (one I have visited a number of times in Las Vegas) is "heavy Philadelphia" after a single bettor placed a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BET ON THE EAGLES.
Let that process. With everything that's been done (forget the Eagles being underdogs in the first two games, that's not the point here...)...
With this...
In one of the most BLATANT displays in history...
The line on the game has moved a full point toward the Eagles. It's now New England -4.5 to -5.
The money line is now Philly only +175.
The MGM is 2-1 on the number of tickets for Philadelphia on the point spread, and EIGHT TO ONE on money line.
Guys: I have one rule:
All losing bets have a value of zero.
EDIT TO ADD, UNRELATED: And when I see certain apparent "proofs", I tend to research them... There's a video on YouTube kinda blowing up on the "NFL is rigged" fandom talking about Roger Goodell proving the NFL is rigged for shareholder money.
You MIGHT want to check the name of the account on it: SATIRE DAILY!!!
My second inclination is: Anyone who knows of the NFL and conspiracy theories just got a fucking gift if they can get to Vegas in the next ten days.
According to an ESPN Chalk article: Philadelphia is getting the bulk of the money here. And now the MGM Sportsbook (one I have visited a number of times in Las Vegas) is "heavy Philadelphia" after a single bettor placed a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BET ON THE EAGLES.
Let that process. With everything that's been done (forget the Eagles being underdogs in the first two games, that's not the point here...)...
With this...
And THIS...I wish my favorite teams had the support of the referee like the New England Patriots, it would be nice. pic.twitter.com/jnxN01Vx8c— ❂ Yübbîę Umoh ❂ (@Yubbie007) January 22, 2018
Someone has placed a multi-million dollar bet on the team the NFL is TELLING YOU IN ADVANCE IT'S GOING TO ENSURE TO WIN...Referee says, “We did it! See you in the showers!” #PatriotsCheat #Patriots ref @NFL @ProFootballTalk @NFLosophy https://t.co/9F9oZ9Pkc4— Wesley Coleman (@WhoDatWesley13) January 22, 2018
In one of the most BLATANT displays in history...
The line on the game has moved a full point toward the Eagles. It's now New England -4.5 to -5.
The money line is now Philly only +175.
The MGM is 2-1 on the number of tickets for Philadelphia on the point spread, and EIGHT TO ONE on money line.
Guys: I have one rule:
All losing bets have a value of zero.
EDIT TO ADD, UNRELATED: And when I see certain apparent "proofs", I tend to research them... There's a video on YouTube kinda blowing up on the "NFL is rigged" fandom talking about Roger Goodell proving the NFL is rigged for shareholder money.
You MIGHT want to check the name of the account on it: SATIRE DAILY!!!
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: Another Bad Day For the National Religion
(Deadspin)
Bob Costas will not work the Super Bowl this year. (For the record, he won't be at the Olympics either: Mike Tirico will head that crew.)
That, in and of itself, means not that much.
It's why. From Sports Business Daily, through the Deadspin article:
OF COURSE WE CAN!!!
Bob Costas, one of the most respected sports voices in this country, is effectively walking away from football. Maybe not completely (we might find that out next year), but the fact is that his feelings for what the sport does to people have made him so ambivalent (his own word) to football that he can't cover the Super Bowl and shill for it anymore.
And that's on the NFL, among others.
Bob Costas will not work the Super Bowl this year. (For the record, he won't be at the Olympics either: Mike Tirico will head that crew.)
That, in and of itself, means not that much.
It's why. From Sports Business Daily, through the Deadspin article:
“The decision was mutually agreeable, and not only do I not have a problem with it, I am actually happy about it,” he told THE DAILY via email. “I have long had ambivalent feelings about football, so at this point, it’s better to leave the hosting to those who are more enthusiastic about it.” [...]
“I have been making the same points for several years, often on NBC. In halftime commentaries, interviews with Roger Goodell and other prominent NFL figures, appearances on CNN and elsewhere, I have addressed the issue of football and its undeniable connection to brain trauma many times. Why? Because the evidence is overwhelming and the effects are often devastating. It’s the elephant in the stadium at every game whether others choose to acknowledge it or not. And it’s not going away. So the idea that I am only now finding my voice on this, or that NBC was taken aback by what I said at Maryland is just wrong. It’s all simple and straightforward.”The Deadspin article then asks if we can still blame the NFL...
OF COURSE WE CAN!!!
Bob Costas, one of the most respected sports voices in this country, is effectively walking away from football. Maybe not completely (we might find that out next year), but the fact is that his feelings for what the sport does to people have made him so ambivalent (his own word) to football that he can't cover the Super Bowl and shill for it anymore.
And that's on the NFL, among others.
And we have another Olympic team and another university which need to be destroyed.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the Victim Impact Statements basically spanning a generation of US Olympic Gymnastic champions, have indicated that Larry Nassar fondled, groped, penetrated (I'd say actually raped if the word qualified -- and, if it does, I do!), and sexually pleasured his way through numerous gold medals (not to mention that the allowance of such sexual misconduct as Nassar's probably was a major factor in selecting which girls went and wore the Red, White, and Blue and the Five Rings and which did not!).
Nassar was finally sentenced from 40 years to two life sentences -- and there's more coming.
Fact of the matter is: The IOC and the IGF (the International Gymnastics Federation -- the Olympic sanctioning body) need to end USA Gymnastics. Hell, you can use Russia as a template: Get rid of the national Olympic gymnastics program, keep the individual athletes. You at least have three years to Tokyo to come up with a template (you can use results in World and National Championships, etc., to establish qualification and number of slots), but there is no USA Gymnastics anymore.
Burn it to the ground, jail anyone who knew and didn't act.
And do the same for Michigan State University, where Nassar worked with the gymnastics and women's crew programs. Latest word is the University President is out soon, as of tonight...
But death warrants, like the one the judge implies he's signing for Nassar (not entirely cool with that knowledge, knowing he can't be executed for the offenses under sentencing guidelines!), do need to be written and signed.
No more USA Gymnastics. This is the same as the state-sponsored drug program in Russia -- this is a state-sponsored sexual-deviant who has literally done these things to hundreds of women -- at least 150 of which testified in these statements.
No more Michigan State University. You can join Pedophile State and Rape-lor, as far as I'm concerned.
How much more of this are we going to have to tolerate before it becomes apparent that rape and sexual assault are used as power and screening mechanisms to determine which women are allowed the illusion of success in our culture and which are not?
Nassar was finally sentenced from 40 years to two life sentences -- and there's more coming.
Fact of the matter is: The IOC and the IGF (the International Gymnastics Federation -- the Olympic sanctioning body) need to end USA Gymnastics. Hell, you can use Russia as a template: Get rid of the national Olympic gymnastics program, keep the individual athletes. You at least have three years to Tokyo to come up with a template (you can use results in World and National Championships, etc., to establish qualification and number of slots), but there is no USA Gymnastics anymore.
Burn it to the ground, jail anyone who knew and didn't act.
And do the same for Michigan State University, where Nassar worked with the gymnastics and women's crew programs. Latest word is the University President is out soon, as of tonight...
But death warrants, like the one the judge implies he's signing for Nassar (not entirely cool with that knowledge, knowing he can't be executed for the offenses under sentencing guidelines!), do need to be written and signed.
No more USA Gymnastics. This is the same as the state-sponsored drug program in Russia -- this is a state-sponsored sexual-deviant who has literally done these things to hundreds of women -- at least 150 of which testified in these statements.
No more Michigan State University. You can join Pedophile State and Rape-lor, as far as I'm concerned.
How much more of this are we going to have to tolerate before it becomes apparent that rape and sexual assault are used as power and screening mechanisms to determine which women are allowed the illusion of success in our culture and which are not?
2018 Hall of Fame is in, and the Steroid Sharks are looming...
Four names joined the immortals in Cooperstown today.
Chipper Jones and Jim Thome were locks, and Jones received over 97% of the vote. Trevor Hoffman and Vladimir Guerrero, the top two carryover, join them for a class of four from the writers, plus several others, later this year.
But the two most awaited numbers still fell about 20% short of the doomsday scenario for the Hall of Fame.
Joe Morgan, a Cooperstown board member, famously has sent an open letter to the entire voting class, indicating he wants no steroid cheats in the Hall. (He's too late -- Ivan Rodriguez means there IS one in the Hall, and Mike Piazza means probably at least two.)
The fact is: We are heading for a showdown between ESPN's Best Interests of Baseball (and, I also believe, Rob Manfred's -- as the balls are so obviously juiced, they might as well be dripping) and the actual Best Interests of Baseball.
Before we get to those two: The top non-inductee is Edgar Martinez, Year Nine (meaning he has only one more ballot with the writers, next year) at just over 70%.
Bonds and Clemens, as they were last year, are the next two.
Clemens got 242 votes for 57.3%, 75 short of induction. That's another 3.2% up, but he only gained three votes.
Bonds got 238 for 56.4%, 79 short of induction. 2.6% up, but gained NO votes.
Each has four years left.
2019 has Mariano Rivera and probably Martinez as locks. That might be the ballot that might determine, once and for all, whether they have a realistic shot.
2020 is the Derek Jeter year, with Jason Giambi also on the ballot.
2021 looks to be a complete shutout for first-timers.
And 2022 is A-Rod, David Ortiz. Which means, by then, we probably should have a pretty good indication as to whether A-Rod gets in before Vote One is cast.
I think they need a straight referendum on whether to let in the cheats, remove the cheats they already have (in the Hall and on the ballot), and what to do.
The minimal gains for Bonds and Clemens indicate it might not be next year, as I feared last year, but there are three good definites after that.
Chipper Jones and Jim Thome were locks, and Jones received over 97% of the vote. Trevor Hoffman and Vladimir Guerrero, the top two carryover, join them for a class of four from the writers, plus several others, later this year.
But the two most awaited numbers still fell about 20% short of the doomsday scenario for the Hall of Fame.
Joe Morgan, a Cooperstown board member, famously has sent an open letter to the entire voting class, indicating he wants no steroid cheats in the Hall. (He's too late -- Ivan Rodriguez means there IS one in the Hall, and Mike Piazza means probably at least two.)
The fact is: We are heading for a showdown between ESPN's Best Interests of Baseball (and, I also believe, Rob Manfred's -- as the balls are so obviously juiced, they might as well be dripping) and the actual Best Interests of Baseball.
Before we get to those two: The top non-inductee is Edgar Martinez, Year Nine (meaning he has only one more ballot with the writers, next year) at just over 70%.
Bonds and Clemens, as they were last year, are the next two.
Clemens got 242 votes for 57.3%, 75 short of induction. That's another 3.2% up, but he only gained three votes.
Bonds got 238 for 56.4%, 79 short of induction. 2.6% up, but gained NO votes.
Each has four years left.
2019 has Mariano Rivera and probably Martinez as locks. That might be the ballot that might determine, once and for all, whether they have a realistic shot.
2020 is the Derek Jeter year, with Jason Giambi also on the ballot.
2021 looks to be a complete shutout for first-timers.
And 2022 is A-Rod, David Ortiz. Which means, by then, we probably should have a pretty good indication as to whether A-Rod gets in before Vote One is cast.
I think they need a straight referendum on whether to let in the cheats, remove the cheats they already have (in the Hall and on the ballot), and what to do.
The minimal gains for Bonds and Clemens indicate it might not be next year, as I feared last year, but there are three good definites after that.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: It's Already Starting
The bullshit Super Bowl that's a foregone conclusion really appears to be hitting overdrive.
Why?
Windows main page Sports app had these two stories come up for me first:
"It's the Patriots' Stage: All the Rest are Merely Players"
and
"Who's the GOAT? Brady or Jordan?"
WHY THE FUCK DO WE EVEN DO THIS GAME THEN?
Why?
Windows main page Sports app had these two stories come up for me first:
"It's the Patriots' Stage: All the Rest are Merely Players"
and
"Who's the GOAT? Brady or Jordan?"
WHY THE FUCK DO WE EVEN DO THIS GAME THEN?
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: You Really Think They Were Going To Take Out the Relevant Half?
It's New England-Philadelphia, and a lot of people are going to use this as a means to discredit us.
Please take a look at the designation I've put on this Super Bowl: ONE VERSUS ALL.
They got the New England half of it scripted properly, the other half doesn't matter.
Please take a look at the designation I've put on this Super Bowl: ONE VERSUS ALL.
They got the New England half of it scripted properly, the other half doesn't matter.
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: They Arent Even BOTHERING To Hide It
This from Yahoo after the inevitable...
(For the record, the penalty at about 1:23 to go in the first half? That's not only a penalty, but if the NFL enacts the targeting rule, like it's expected to do this offseason, he's gone. That's a definite helmet shot, and he will be fined for it, I think.)
But it does no favors when the post-mortem to the AFC Championship reads like this:
Boomer Esiason, broadcasting for CBS: "“But how about this one? Doug Marrone said this was the right call. Barry Church, helmet to helmet, unnecessary roughness. Now it’s Gillette Stadium so the flags have to come out, don’t they boys? They come out in favor of the Patriots, I don’t know about this call on A.J. Bouye.”"
And this little ditty:
"Whatever the case, referee Clete Blakeman being among the first to congratulate Tom Brady after the final snap isn’t going to help the perception that the zebras prefer red, white and blue to black and white."
The National Football League told you FIVE WEEKS AGO that the Patriots were going to win Super Bowl LII(E). What is it going to take for you to take notice?
One penalty (on a kickoff return) vs. six for the Jaguars. This was NOT CALLED...
Oh Jesus Christ, are you kidding me?
(For the record, the penalty at about 1:23 to go in the first half? That's not only a penalty, but if the NFL enacts the targeting rule, like it's expected to do this offseason, he's gone. That's a definite helmet shot, and he will be fined for it, I think.)
But it does no favors when the post-mortem to the AFC Championship reads like this:
Boomer Esiason, broadcasting for CBS: "“But how about this one? Doug Marrone said this was the right call. Barry Church, helmet to helmet, unnecessary roughness. Now it’s Gillette Stadium so the flags have to come out, don’t they boys? They come out in favor of the Patriots, I don’t know about this call on A.J. Bouye.”"
And this little ditty:
"Whatever the case, referee Clete Blakeman being among the first to congratulate Tom Brady after the final snap isn’t going to help the perception that the zebras prefer red, white and blue to black and white."
The National Football League told you FIVE WEEKS AGO that the Patriots were going to win Super Bowl LII(E). What is it going to take for you to take notice?
The ref seems a little too happy about the Pats scoring. Damn smh #Rigged pic.twitter.com/7wStHKBpBJ— Jayen Patel (@jaysizzle03) January 21, 2018
One penalty (on a kickoff return) vs. six for the Jaguars. This was NOT CALLED...
#Patriots #RIGGED #CHEATERS
— TreVon (@KodakJo) January 21, 2018
The officials called all those penalties but cant call this.
Tom Brady overrated can’t win without officials 💯 pic.twitter.com/XhX95dNX5Q
Oh Jesus Christ, are you kidding me?
Friday, January 19, 2018
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: We Now Know The Standing Narrative
Whether it changes by Sunday, especially now that this has been revealed by MSN, we will wait and see.
According to the article, THIS was posted on the NFL's Facebook account Tuesday as part of a campaign for a sweepstakes for donations to the United Way:
Ladies and gentlemen, barring a short-circuit caused by this knowledge, it's New England vs. Minnesota.
And these things that get leaked are usually NOT WRONG when it's the likes of the NFL or their media partners putting it out.
EDIT TO ADD: According to posters on the NFL's Reddit: Google also seems to believe the same thing -- if you Google "Super Bowl Appearances", apparently the Vikes and Patriots are already listed as Super Bowl LII participants.
According to the article, THIS was posted on the NFL's Facebook account Tuesday as part of a campaign for a sweepstakes for donations to the United Way:
Ladies and gentlemen, barring a short-circuit caused by this knowledge, it's New England vs. Minnesota.
And these things that get leaked are usually NOT WRONG when it's the likes of the NFL or their media partners putting it out.
EDIT TO ADD: According to posters on the NFL's Reddit: Google also seems to believe the same thing -- if you Google "Super Bowl Appearances", apparently the Vikes and Patriots are already listed as Super Bowl LII participants.
Two rounds of NFL Bullshit
- Tom Brady's throwing hand.
- The NFL announcing the Raiders upheld the Rooney Rule with their hiring of Jon Gruden.
In the former case, the league needs any doubt it can have that Patriots are winning the Super Bowl. Unless they can provide the fans X-Rays or something, and Brady isn't even talking in his press conferences, this, to me, is a lie.
As is the announcement today that the Raiders upheld their end of the Rooney Rule on interviewing minorities.
BULL
SHIT.
Don't give me that, NFL. You've got bad enough problems with the Raiders, as bad as things are going, I have real reasons to believe a second lame-duck season in Oakland is not feasible.
2017-18 Divisional Round Fine Blotter
It's Friday, so you know what that means:
From New Orleans:
New Orleans finishes the season as the seventh NFL team to reach the final fine threshold, fined another $50,000 -- and, with their responsible total reaching $192,315, are also fined about an additional $10,000 for dollar-for-dollar considerations. Their final total reaches about $300,000.
From Jacksonville:
Pro Football Talk has their total at $112,000 and change, and a total of eight fines.
More to come, maybe.
From New Orleans:
- Terron Armstead: $18,231 for a horse-collar tackle.
- Trey Hendrickson: $18,231 for roughing the passer.
New Orleans finishes the season as the seventh NFL team to reach the final fine threshold, fined another $50,000 -- and, with their responsible total reaching $192,315, are also fined about an additional $10,000 for dollar-for-dollar considerations. Their final total reaches about $300,000.
From Jacksonville:
- Telvin Smith: $9,115 for taunting.
Pro Football Talk has their total at $112,000 and change, and a total of eight fines.
More to come, maybe.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
NOT ENOUGH, NBA! NOT ENOUGH...
So two Houston Rockets suspended two games apiece -- Trevor Ariza, seen as the instigator, and Gerald Green as well.
As heated as things are getting in the NBA, now was the time to send a message and ban someone a good 10 or so to get it across now.
Of course, league probably needs the Rockets to be somewhat relevant so it isn't a complete Golden State coronation, but I digress...
As heated as things are getting in the NBA, now was the time to send a message and ban someone a good 10 or so to get it across now.
Of course, league probably needs the Rockets to be somewhat relevant so it isn't a complete Golden State coronation, but I digress...
Especially given the political climate of the NFL today, you'd think James Harrison would've learned from the other situation...
Customized AK-47 on his Instagram, according to Yahoo!
Gee, that's going to appease the #NFLBoycott crowd...
And, after the last James Harrison Super Bowl loss could only be explained by a thuggish display on the cover of Men's Health (and his blasting Roger Goodell in the interview), you'd think he'd be more sensitive to the situation -- both the political one against Black NFL players and the fact he is, now, in the Most Favored Nation of the NFL...
Gee, that's going to appease the #NFLBoycott crowd...
And, after the last James Harrison Super Bowl loss could only be explained by a thuggish display on the cover of Men's Health (and his blasting Roger Goodell in the interview), you'd think he'd be more sensitive to the situation -- both the political one against Black NFL players and the fact he is, now, in the Most Favored Nation of the NFL...
Another suicide sacrifice to the altar of football...
Washington State quarterback.
Was going to be next year's starter.
Suicide.
Tyler Hilinski.
He was 21.
As I said on Deadspin, who reported it: "CTE. Full Stop."
Was going to be next year's starter.
Suicide.
Tyler Hilinski.
He was 21.
As I said on Deadspin, who reported it: "CTE. Full Stop."
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
And the "No Chill" America of 2018 hits the NBA on one of it's biggest days of the regular season...
So, let's see here... Just Monday, Martin Luther King Day:
Mr. Silver, you better get your league under control.
- 21 technicals, 5 players tossed.
- Russell Westbrook gets the heave-ho after being fouled in the face and getting no call, leading Carmelo Anthony to say he's "done" with the referees. Judging by similar fines, an announcement on a probable $15,000-$25,000 fine for Anthony should come about Thursday.
- Ben Simmons and Kyle Lowry were two of the five players given early exits on Monday, and they said they were going to have some more words after in the tunnel. They probably didn't, according to Deadspin.
- Some people who definitely had some more words after were the Houston Rockets, who apparent got some help from former Clipper Chris Paul and stormed the Los Angeles Clipper locker room after the game. No current word on discipline against the Rockets involved. Some word is they wanted a piece of Austin Rivers, the Clippers' coach's son.
Mr. Silver, you better get your league under control.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Super Bowl LII(E), One Versus All: A Real Frightening Dread of the Inevitable
Usually, I get several hours to myself doing odd things out and about in the afternoon where I live, and it's quite the catharsis where I can think on a number of subjects and just let thoughts flow.
The thought got to the almost-certain inevitability in the NFL, and a thought entered my head that I'm not sure I can shake:
Last week (or was it the week before?), there was some consternation, leading some to believe Belichick might be on his way out of New England, of a serious rift between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick regarding a doctor Brady's seeing who many believe is an absolute quack.
Well, that leads to one very real question: IS TOM BRADY USING STEROIDS OR HGH?
Which then leads to the next very real question: IS THIS BRADY'S LAST RIDE, AND IS IT NOT HIS TO SAY ON IT?
(Which, of course, could lead to a third question regarding how long he's been using and having the NFL cover it up...)
The thought got to the almost-certain inevitability in the NFL, and a thought entered my head that I'm not sure I can shake:
Last week (or was it the week before?), there was some consternation, leading some to believe Belichick might be on his way out of New England, of a serious rift between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick regarding a doctor Brady's seeing who many believe is an absolute quack.
Well, that leads to one very real question: IS TOM BRADY USING STEROIDS OR HGH?
Which then leads to the next very real question: IS THIS BRADY'S LAST RIDE, AND IS IT NOT HIS TO SAY ON IT?
(Which, of course, could lead to a third question regarding how long he's been using and having the NFL cover it up...)
Sunday, January 14, 2018
OK, America: Knock it the fuck off, and knock it the fuck off right now.
Three stories this weekend which intersect a bit with sports which are indicating the continuing fraying nature of things:
The fact that it took 30-40 minutes to "All Clear" the mess really raises questions. Scenarios on the table include the official story of an official error, a psy-op/exercise to measure responses, an actual missile WAS shot off and it's kept quiet after it's shot down (especially from Trump), or even one that has crossed the transom in which one blogger has the idea someone wanted Trump to throw the nuclear football...
Wesley Harris of West Virginia is now investigated for a punch on a Texas Tech fan yesterday, and several other players may join him for pushing and shoving their way through the court-storm:
Yuttana Choochongkol is reported to have sent THIS to the stadium and to a local Pittsburgh television station (taken from the above-linked Deadspin article, courtesy of KSAT in San Antonio):
As a person who has had more than his share of that kind of moments (at least the "pathetic planet" part...)...
Oh boy... If this is 2018, no wonder I am thinking this is uncharted territory now...
- Hawaii, for about a half hour Saturday, thought it was in the crosshairs of an ICBM.
The fact that it took 30-40 minutes to "All Clear" the mess really raises questions. Scenarios on the table include the official story of an official error, a psy-op/exercise to measure responses, an actual missile WAS shot off and it's kept quiet after it's shot down (especially from Trump), or even one that has crossed the transom in which one blogger has the idea someone wanted Trump to throw the nuclear football...
- West Virginia basketball is in some trouble. Probably quite a bit of it, for at least one person. (Yahoo!)
Wesley Harris of West Virginia is now investigated for a punch on a Texas Tech fan yesterday, and several other players may join him for pushing and shoving their way through the court-storm:
Lower-rightish part of the picture. Yeah, son, you're in trouble.A West Virginia player threw a punch at a fan after the Texas Tech crowd stormed the court pic.twitter.com/rVfA0J2uRv— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 14, 2018
- But both of those may cower in comparison to an idiot in San Antonio this morning... (Deadspin)
Yuttana Choochongkol is reported to have sent THIS to the stadium and to a local Pittsburgh television station (taken from the above-linked Deadspin article, courtesy of KSAT in San Antonio):
"“This Sunday’s playoff game in Pittsburgh is going to be like no other. Why? Because it’s going to be my last day on this pathetic planet. So why not take some innocent lives with me? The Steelers game will be packed, and that’s when I plan on killing Steelers football players and fans before taking my own pitiful life. After all, what does a person that is going to commit suicide have to lose? Absolutely nothing. So why not take out some million dollar Steelers players before me? Sounds like a good idea. Hahahahahah”"For God's sake...
As a person who has had more than his share of that kind of moments (at least the "pathetic planet" part...)...
Oh boy... If this is 2018, no wonder I am thinking this is uncharted territory now...
One Versus All: Any Mystery Left That It's All Over But the Sixth Brady Coronation?
Gotta love it when the NFL goes mad scripting everything...
New England won 35-14, the other three games had a combined margin of 13 points.
Here was the Last Chance Miss in Atlanta...
THIRTY-EIGHT fourth quarter points in Pittsburgh to ensure the desired result. Steelers never got the lead, and probably wouldn't have even had any chance but to try to kick it into the end zone and cover it first. (The final TD was with 1 second left!)
And then THIS to end the weekend and send the Minnesota Vikings one game from being the first team to actually HOST a Super Bowl (one of the 49er Super Bowls was in Stanford (Super Bowl XIX) -- this would be the first such Super Bowl in one of the participants' stadiums...):
What do you think? You think the Saints' defender made that play with the intention of taking out the last defender to ensure the touchdown?
The Patriots are now down to 6-5 to win the Super Bowl. They are at least eight-point favorites over Jacksonville, and a lot of early money is running in on the Patriots.
Minnesota is a three-point ROAD favorite over Philly, and the total started at 40 and has already been sheared to 38.5 basically immediately.
New England won 35-14, the other three games had a combined margin of 13 points.
Here was the Last Chance Miss in Atlanta...
THIRTY-EIGHT fourth quarter points in Pittsburgh to ensure the desired result. Steelers never got the lead, and probably wouldn't have even had any chance but to try to kick it into the end zone and cover it first. (The final TD was with 1 second left!)
And then THIS to end the weekend and send the Minnesota Vikings one game from being the first team to actually HOST a Super Bowl (one of the 49er Super Bowls was in Stanford (Super Bowl XIX) -- this would be the first such Super Bowl in one of the participants' stadiums...):
What do you think? You think the Saints' defender made that play with the intention of taking out the last defender to ensure the touchdown?
The Patriots are now down to 6-5 to win the Super Bowl. They are at least eight-point favorites over Jacksonville, and a lot of early money is running in on the Patriots.
Minnesota is a three-point ROAD favorite over Philly, and the total started at 40 and has already been sheared to 38.5 basically immediately.
One Versus All: Easy, EASY Money For Nothing
JAC +7
+275
(Westgate, via Vegas Insider)
That's what you could've gotten -- Jacksonville getting seven points today, and, if you wanted to take them to win, you'd have gotten 11-4 odds.
This, even though:
+275
(Westgate, via Vegas Insider)
That's what you could've gotten -- Jacksonville getting seven points today, and, if you wanted to take them to win, you'd have gotten 11-4 odds.
This, even though:
- Pittsburgh was the most fined team in the NFL this year, and not close -- and, last year's most-fined team was ousted in it's first playoff game (the Giants).
- Jacksonville dominated Pittsburgh in the first meeting in the regular season.
- And, most importantly (and with apologies to at least one Steeler fan I've run into since for saying it), did you really believe the National Football League was going to let it's one remaining Golden Boy -- The Reigning, Defending, Undisputed, Political/Fascist/Propaganda Sports Champion of the World, Tom Brady -- get his knees targeted by an angry Pittsburgh team that got screwed over four weeks ago?
#Vikings (-5.5) capitalize in a brutal pass interference call against the #Saints and tack on a FG to lead 10-0 with 4:42 left in 1Q— VegasInsider.com (@TwitVI) January 14, 2018
In-game: MIN -12.5/50
Friday, January 12, 2018
The league told you four weeks ago the Patriots were winning the Super Bowl...
And Pro Football Talk with an interesting stat...
New England is a 13.5 point favorite on Saturday, the seventh time in the National Religion Era a playoff game has had a spread of 12 or more.
ALL SEVEN INVOLVE THE PATRIOTS.
Patriots were favored in all but Super Bowl 9/11, Patriots won all but the one that would've given them 19-0 (Super Bowl loss to the Giants).
Patriots have covered the last two of that size.
New England is a 13.5 point favorite on Saturday, the seventh time in the National Religion Era a playoff game has had a spread of 12 or more.
ALL SEVEN INVOLVE THE PATRIOTS.
Patriots were favored in all but Super Bowl 9/11, Patriots won all but the one that would've given them 19-0 (Super Bowl loss to the Giants).
Patriots have covered the last two of that size.
2017-18 Wild Card Fine Blotter
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Yannick Ngakoue: $18,231 for unnecessary roughness -- making him a THREE-TIME LOSER. The Jaguars have had nine fines this year, Ngakoue has had three, in Weeks 1, 16, and the Wild Card.
- And, largely as a result of almost $73,000 in fines to Ngakoue, the Jaguars can add their names to the list of teams going past the first fine threshold, becoming the FOURTEENTH team being fined $50,000 as a result.
- Atlanta Falcons: Ricardo Allen: $18,231 for unnecessary roughness -- late hit out of bounds -- making him a TWO-TIME LOSER in the last month. Fines in Week 15 and the wild-card.
Couple of interesting thoughts so far:
- Fourteen teams have been penalized $50,000 for passing $121,000 in fines for the season. (If Atlanta gets one more fine this post-season, they become team #15.)
- Six have been fined an additional $50,000 and nailed dollar-for-dollar for any more for passing about $181,000.
- The team Club Remittance penalties for on-field dirty-play violations (this does not count the fines themselves except in dollar-for-dollar cases, does not count the multiple-suspension penalties, and does not count things like concussion protocol, etc.) are now almost $1.2 million themselves.
- Total reported fines plus the Club Remittance dirty-play penalties so far? Almost FIVE MILLION DOLLARS (and it'd be well over five million and pushing six if we took the entire paychecks of some of the suspensions, rather than just the $50,000 maximum.)
- Pittsburgh: #1, $268,784 in fines, another $186,272 in Club Remittance penalties, total $455,056 -- and that's with zero fines in Weeks 16 or 17.
- Minnesota: #4, $201,924 in fines, another $119,414 for Club Remittance, total $321,338, and that is with no fines since Week 10!!!
- New Orleans: #7, $155,853 in fines, another $50,000 Club Remittance, total $205,853.
- Jacksonville: #9, $132,426 in fines, another $50,000 Club Remittance, total $182,426.
- Atlanta: #16, $112,425.
- Philadelphia: One of the trend-setters for dirty hits and winning this season, they had fines in the preseason and in the first four weeks of the regular season for almost $85,000. They've had one fine since, total $94,194, ranked 19th.
- New England: #27: $68,230 -- $50,000 of that total was the Gronkowski suspension. If Gronkowski does not get suspended, New England is the least-fined team in the NFL.
- Instead, that honor goes to the last remaining playoff team, Tennessee, only fined twice this year for a total of $21,269 -- the margin between them and the next two higher teams would more than double that amount.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
The Uncivil Race War: They're Pushing It. Hard!
A couple of stories that at least have touched into sports are indicating how much White Right America is trying to push themselves into a Second American Civil War over race.
First, the designer clothing chain H&M thought it would be a good idea, for it's latest advertising campaign, to put an African-American child in a shirt reading "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle".
To give you how much of an idea that slur is toxic to African-Americans, when Howard Cosell was making a familial reference to the agility and speed of an African-American running back by saying "Look at that monkey run!", many of his Black friends had to remind other Blacks of Cosell's long friendship and political support of the likes of Muhammad Ali!
--
But that has been somewhat subsumed by a bunch of White punk-ass motherfuckers near Cincinnati who called themselves the "Wet Dream Team" in a recreational league -- with names like "Coon" and "Knee Grow" (read it if you need to check why) on the back.
They've been thrown out of the league.
They were also seen as unsportsmanlike, overly physical, and taunting other players on other teams.
One school board member (these are apparently juniors and seniors in high school!) has been forced to resign, which, to me, raises the question as to whether the school(s) these bitches attend have a policy on suspension or expulsion for out-of-school events.
Apparently the holiday break and the incompetence of the league allowed these bitches to play three matches before getting tossed.
--
And then a third story, this one with your friend of mine, Richie Incognito.
The Buffalo Bills now have a problem: Incognito is claimed by the Jaguars' Yannick Ngakoue to have made racial slurs in an exchange which the Bills now admit did take place, but call a "misunderstanding".
This is why they needed to throw that shit out of the league with the Jonathan Martin incident.
Is it no wonder that Jaylen Brown of the Celtics has said that racism, with God-Emperor Gropenfuhrer Oompa-Loompa Pussygrabber I, is completely acceptable again?
First, the designer clothing chain H&M thought it would be a good idea, for it's latest advertising campaign, to put an African-American child in a shirt reading "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle".
To give you how much of an idea that slur is toxic to African-Americans, when Howard Cosell was making a familial reference to the agility and speed of an African-American running back by saying "Look at that monkey run!", many of his Black friends had to remind other Blacks of Cosell's long friendship and political support of the likes of Muhammad Ali!
--
But that has been somewhat subsumed by a bunch of White punk-ass motherfuckers near Cincinnati who called themselves the "Wet Dream Team" in a recreational league -- with names like "Coon" and "Knee Grow" (read it if you need to check why) on the back.
They've been thrown out of the league.
They were also seen as unsportsmanlike, overly physical, and taunting other players on other teams.
One school board member (these are apparently juniors and seniors in high school!) has been forced to resign, which, to me, raises the question as to whether the school(s) these bitches attend have a policy on suspension or expulsion for out-of-school events.
Apparently the holiday break and the incompetence of the league allowed these bitches to play three matches before getting tossed.
--
And then a third story, this one with your friend of mine, Richie Incognito.
The Buffalo Bills now have a problem: Incognito is claimed by the Jaguars' Yannick Ngakoue to have made racial slurs in an exchange which the Bills now admit did take place, but call a "misunderstanding".
This is why they needed to throw that shit out of the league with the Jonathan Martin incident.
Is it no wonder that Jaylen Brown of the Celtics has said that racism, with God-Emperor Gropenfuhrer Oompa-Loompa Pussygrabber I, is completely acceptable again?
Sunday, January 7, 2018
The Warriors Better Watch Their Shit. Now.
- Draymond Green is going to get fined for his latest missive -- he said the NBA needs to change all the referees because they are ruining the game. (Deadspin) This, after Green received his 11th technical of the year -- with the first suspension for accumulation at 16. Last night's game was #40.
- But the Warriors better start getting control of their situation fast, or Adam Silver might want words with more than just Green. According to FOX Sports (and this might not be accurate, but the page on the question says it), of the 19 players tossed from games, 4 are Warriors.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
And here we go with the final regular season 2017 Fine Blotter:
With a reminder that you can be fined in the playoffs and have it count against the number and all:
- Miami Dolphins: For starting the big fight, Jarvis Landry was fined $48,620. Repeat offender from last year.
- Miami Dolphins: Kenyan Drake: $12,154 for tossing a Bills helmet in the fight.
- Buffalo Bills: Leonard Johnson: $12,154 for his role in the fight.
- Both teams, however, are in the bottom five of fines this year entering Week 17, so, shockingly, even that over $60,000 the Dolphins picked up does not trigger a threshold.
- Carolina Panthers: Wes Horton: $18,231 for helmet to helmet on the quarterback.
- Carolina Panthers: Jairus Byrd: $24,309 for a late hit. (Must've been more than a simple late hit.)
- And that puts the Panthers into dollar for dollar territory. So any further fine in the playoffs is dollar for dollar. And another $50,000 for the team, and another $10,504 for the excess of the final threshold. Carolina becomes the sixth NFL team to reach that number for the dollar for dollar threshold. Three are in the playoffs (MIN, PIT, CAR).
- Indianapolis Colts: T. Y. Hilton and
- Houston Texans: Johnathan Joseph: $12,154 each for a fight of their own. This makes Joseph a TWO-TIME LOSER.
- Detroit Lions: Quandre Diggs: $9,115 for a low block. That makes Diggs a TWO-TIME LOSER.
- Detroit Lions: Darius Slay: $12,154 for an illegal touchdown celebration (pantomiming a gun).
- Los Angeles Rams: Blake Countess: $48,620, defenseless player helmet to helmet. That makes Countess a TWO-TIME LOSER, and he was fined as a repeat offender.
- San Francisco 49ers: Cassius Marsh: $18,231 for roughing the passer.
- That put the 49ers over the first threshold. $50,000 fine for them in Week 16. The 49ers became (at least!) the thirteenth team to go over that first number. Of those, only five made the playoffs (the aforementioned three plus NO and KC).
- Atlanta Falcons (Week 15): Ricardo Allen: $9,115 for a late hit.
- Buffalo Bills (Week 15): Deon Lacey: $18,231 for a horse-collar tackle
- Kansas City Chiefs (Week 15): In one I swore I put in, but I guess I didn't: Charcandrick West: $9,115 for a chop block.
Two Thoughts on NFL Irrelevant Weekend Day One
One Versus All begins next week, but the NFL had to go through with some of the rest of the formalities, and a couple thoughts came to mind after the road teams, both touchdown underdogs, upset Kansas City and Los Angeles:
The LA experiment is a categorical failure in every sense of the word. The only way to save it might be to market LA by forcing celebs into the crowds to try to pump up interest, because LA ain't buying it.
But when you obviously have a league who's trying to rig Marcus Mariota forward (or give the Patriots an easier matchup in Week One of One Versus All), the biggest story of the Chiefs' loss to Mariota's Tennessee Titans? SHIT OFFICIATING!!
Nowhere more evident than a touchdown in the third quarter from Mariota... to HIMSELF!
Yep, one of those. And the explanation was complete bullshit: The ref tried to state that, because Mariota was in the shotgun, he was an eligible receiver.
BULLSHIT. And once a ball is touched by someone else, there is no such thing as an ineligible receiver in the first damn place!
But watch the play closely (you'll probably have to click through to YouTube because of NFL restrictions):
He's over the line with the foot that's in the air.
TD makes it 21-9, eventually all the way back from 21-3 down to win 22-21.
Mike Periera blasted the officiating left, right, and up the center -- probably indicating the league wanted to put over the young blood Mariota and doesn't see much stock in an Alex Smith who's getting a bad reputation (earned or otherwise) of not getting it done.
- That resounding THUD you heard tonight is the present state of the NFL's Los Angeles situation. After rigging both teams hard this year, the Rams couldn't get more than 74,300 in LA Memorial Coliseum...
The LA experiment is a categorical failure in every sense of the word. The only way to save it might be to market LA by forcing celebs into the crowds to try to pump up interest, because LA ain't buying it.
- Another year, another probably-rigged playoff game.
But when you obviously have a league who's trying to rig Marcus Mariota forward (or give the Patriots an easier matchup in Week One of One Versus All), the biggest story of the Chiefs' loss to Mariota's Tennessee Titans? SHIT OFFICIATING!!
Nowhere more evident than a touchdown in the third quarter from Mariota... to HIMSELF!
Yep, one of those. And the explanation was complete bullshit: The ref tried to state that, because Mariota was in the shotgun, he was an eligible receiver.
BULLSHIT. And once a ball is touched by someone else, there is no such thing as an ineligible receiver in the first damn place!
But watch the play closely (you'll probably have to click through to YouTube because of NFL restrictions):
He's over the line with the foot that's in the air.
TD makes it 21-9, eventually all the way back from 21-3 down to win 22-21.
Mike Periera blasted the officiating left, right, and up the center -- probably indicating the league wanted to put over the young blood Mariota and doesn't see much stock in an Alex Smith who's getting a bad reputation (earned or otherwise) of not getting it done.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
NBA Tanking and Match Fixing, January 2, 2018
Saw this on the first morning I was in Vegas for same badly needed R&R...
104-101 Tuesday might in Phoenix, the Suns leading Atlanta.
Watch the video at 1:44/ Dennis Schroder of the Hawks, three point game...
No effort in the least at a three. Drives in for the layup, no foul on the inbound, ballgame.
Match-fixing, alive and well in the four (at maximum) team NBA...
104-101 Tuesday might in Phoenix, the Suns leading Atlanta.
Watch the video at 1:44/ Dennis Schroder of the Hawks, three point game...
No effort in the least at a three. Drives in for the layup, no foul on the inbound, ballgame.
Match-fixing, alive and well in the four (at maximum) team NBA...
The Final 2017 NFL Score Report
And I'll start with one of the biggest numbers of them all, related today:
Now (and we probably get word on the timeframe within the month), we're going to find out from Vince and the White Right Football League whether it is actually working.
All right. I'll dispense with Week 17 and just go to the year-end numbers:
- The final NFL ratings show a roughly 10% (9.7% to be precise) drop in the ratings this year.
Now (and we probably get word on the timeframe within the month), we're going to find out from Vince and the White Right Football League whether it is actually working.
All right. I'll dispense with Week 17 and just go to the year-end numbers:
- The average game in the 2017 regular season scored 43.4375 points. (2016: 44.933 2015: 45.625 2014: 45.1875 2013: 46.707)
- Home teams were 142-109 this year. (Four games in London, one in Mexico City) Percentage: .5657 (2016: .5853 2015: .5494 2014: .589)
- I did the Over percentages as a function of games per week over .500 on last year's thread. This year, the Over was 114-134-8, a game-plus under .500. (Last year was a half-game a week above .500; two years ago, a full game a week under .500.)
- Favorites were 133-113-9 against the number this year - a game-plus a week over .500. (Last year: 123-115-7. Two years ago they were a game a week under .500.)
- Straight up: 181-74 this year, 161-83-1 last year -- there were a number of games last year with either pick 'em starts or variances to not make a clear favorite.
- Cliffhangers: 49 this year, 50 last year, 57 two years ago, 40 three years ago, 56 four years ago.)
- 48 Last Chance Misses this year -- 70 last year.
- Percentage of competitive games (games which were within eight points at some point in fourth quarter): This year: 66.02%. 2016: 71.1%. 2015: 67.57% 2014: 62.89% 2013: 68%
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