Day 262

• Sounds like the 49ers home for the rest of the season will be Phoenix.  They'll be sharing stadiums with the Cardinals, with the next two SF home games being there.
• Houston Texans:  Will Fuller:  Six games for PEDs.  Probably meaning he tried to put a masking agent on top of it.  He's probably done with the Texans as a result.
• TV News Part I:  For a long time, many game-show fans have seen the Barker-era The Price Is Right to be the Holy Grail of actually getting those old episodes on current air somewhere.  With the cooperation of BUZZR, a new channel is being created on Pluto's free streaming service on channel 163, effective tomorrow, which will spotlight the 1980's post-fur-era episodes of Barker's TPiR.  The episodes will not make BUZZR's actual schedule -- YET.
  
• TV News Part II:  For the first time on a natural stack of questions since 2003 and for the first time in history for a celebrity, the American version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has cut a top-prize check.  Chef David Chang won the million dollars for his "Southern Smoke Foundation" -- a charity he created to aid fellow New York restaurant workers, last night on ABC.  Chang went far beyond what even other celebrities would do (probably would've walked at $250,000, had he taken a more conservative approach), but scored the million when he correctly guessed (with the aid of an ESPN Phone-a-Friend) that Benjamin Harrison was the first President of the United States to have electricity in the White House.  Even though the million-dollar question noted that neither Harrison nor his wife touched an electrical outlet, for fear of being shocked!   
• And now late word:  They just moved the Steelers-Ravens game AGAIN -- TO WEDNESDAY!!!!  This does basically bring about a Sunday-Thursday-like window for the two teams, but this HAS TO BE A LAST RESORT.    
• Early reports indicate there might be two Monday night games and a Tuesday night game next week now -- as of NOW.
  

Day 261: Starting with: Disturbing stories throughout the sports sphere...

One definite, two possible:

• Possible #1 was the farce which was a boxing PPV last night.  Not only did YouTuber Logan Paul fight one of the worst boxing matches in history in knocking out ex-NBA'er Nate Robinson, but Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., both in their 50s, fought an exhibition match (to a draw).
• Possible #2 comes from Vanderbilt.  One day after making a woman the first woman to suit up for a college football game and play in one of the Power 5 conferences, the coach for Vanderbilt was fired today.  The team was winless and lost to Missouri 41-0 yesterday, but one does have to wonder (including personal witness to gigantic misogyny by SEC fans wanting to see her jacked up on the field) if the decision to field the woman might have been the final straw.
• And now the one definite:  My anonymous friend brought to the surface something I was thinking about after the Broncos announcement yesterday:  You have no quarterbacks.  So you are willing to start wide receiver Kendall Hilton as your quarterback, rather than take the flier and ring up Colin Kaepernick???  Gee, you think #NFLBoycott might've had something to do with that, including an edict from the league office????  YA THINK?????   
• I've leaving that one up there struck through, but COVID also stopped this as well.  COVID policies of the NFL indicate that any newly-signed free agent must quarantine 10 days before the team can practice or play him.  Thanks to my anonymous friend for also finding THAT.
• Saints won 31-3 in a game that didn't come close to three hours.  Should've been rescheduled or forfeited.

And in other news:

• Still thinking of having that game Tuesday?   Another Baltimore Raven, Willie Sneed, is positive for the virus, the eighth straight day someone on the team has been tested positive.   Adam Schefter reports that is the seventh starter for the Ravens to test positive.
  
• And now news that, contrary to initial reports, the other three quarterbacks for Denver WERE complying with protocols.  Sounds to me the league may actually want New Orleans after all!!!  
  

I hope you enjoy this week of the NFL, because it's probably the last one...

It's all coming apart now...

• The Baltimore Ravens' outbreak has now gotten up to eighteen players on the COVID Reserve List, including their quarterback.  (as of about 6 PM Eastern tonight)
  
• The Pittsburgh Steelers have several players on the COVID Reserve List.
• The two teams are now SUPPOSED TO PLAY Tuesday.
• The league is going to have to, at best, relocate the 49ers for the remainder of the season, as no one can now travel into Santa Clara County from more than 150 miles away without a two-week quarantine, and all contact sports in the county are banned.
• All NFL facilities are now closed for Monday and Tuesday, except teams playing.
• The Denver Broncos, less than 24 hours before playing the New Orleans Saints, have none of their four quarterbacks.  One has tested positive, the other three were without masks around him and are now high-risk.  No word on if that game gets played at all!

And that's all since YESTERDAY.

I hope everyone so inclined enjoys the remainder of this week's schedule, or what gets played of it.

Because it is now clear the NFL has to cancel the remainder of the regular season and playoffs once this week ends, unless they do it tonight after more comes out.

Look, I know many of the "FREEDOMS!!!" Republicans have joined the #NFLBoycott -- but it's clear that we are about to lose the NFL completely.  Many of the people who know of the head-injury risks, etc. will be more than happy to hear that.

But the fact is:  They can't play.  They decided not to "bubble", and now it's becoming clear they can't be responsible enough to play.  (Not all of these stories are due to irresponsibility, but it appears at least the two biggest ones -- Baltimore and Denver -- are.)

Day 260

• And now it sounds like we have infections on the Steelers as well.  RB James Conner and a coach have tested positive, after three players were put on the Reserve List this week.  There is NO CHANCE that game happens on Tuesday.    
• The Lions finally purged, firing the coach and GM today.
• The wheels are coming off the NFL season.  Now, late word, the day before the game, that the Denver Broncos have no quarterbacks.  NONE.  All three of the roster quarterbacks for the Broncos cannot play tomorrow against the Saints because none were masked around a fourth quarterback, Jeff Driskell, who has tested positive for the virus.  At this point, they are trying to figure out what they can do, but, as of now, the game will not be forfeited.  AW COME ON!!!!     
• For the first time, a woman has played in a Power 5 football game...  That is, if you can call Vanderbilt a Power 5 school in anything.  That said, Sarah Fuller kicked off the second half -- after her Commodores won the conference championship in women's soccer (and most of the other possibilities had to go into quarantine), the football coach got in touch with her, and she was made a backup kicker when she made several long field goals in practice.  It was Vanderbilt's only kickoff of the game (or kick of any kind):  They lost 41-0 to Missouri.
• And now it sounds like Santa Clara County has ended the 49ers season, at least at Levi's Stadium.  The county issued protocols today banning all contact sports and imposing a 14 day quarantine for anyone outside 150 miles of the county coming in.
  

 

Day 259

• It's Tuesday Night Football for the Steelers and Ravens.  And, somehow, I doubt even that -- I think we will have the first real schedule problem for this season right here and now.
• And next Monday (Week 13), a doubleheader, as the Ravens/Cowboys game has been moved to December 7.  (Meaning no game next Thursday)
  
• Twelve players from the Ravens have tested positive in the last five days (according to the ESPN article timeline) after a Strength and Conditioning coach tested positive but refused to report it nor wear a mask.  He has been "disciplined" -- he SHOULD be FIRED!
  
• Charles Barkley is performing far better than expected in "The Match 3", and, as a result, he and Phil Mickelson are out to an early lead over Steph Curry and Peyton Manning.
• After Baylor has had to cancel two games for other teams having COVID problems, Baylor took it's team and flew out to Las Vegas to try to find an extra game or two this Thanksgiving weekend.
• Keep thinking football is a good idea here, people!!  Ohio State's head coach is now positive for the virus.
• A nine-day NBA preseason begins December 11th.
• And Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley defeated Stephon Curry and Peyton Manning, 4 and 3.
• And in one of the most "2020" things I may have seen yet which involves us all still living:  They're actually going to play the Pro Bowl on MADDEN?  THAT MADDEN???  The broken-ass Madden of this year????  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!    
• And late Friday word from the NFL:  ALL NFL FACILITIES will be closed Monday and Tuesday to control the spread.  Too...  fucking...  late.   
  

 

Day 258, Thanksgiving 2020

• I'd say "Happy Thanksgiving", but, especially this year, I do wonder what many of us have to be thankful for outside cliched stuff.
• More positive coronavirus tests reported for the Ravens, and we could have our first game significantly endangered for the season.
• Especially now that Lamar Jackson has tested positive, and now the coaches are telling the team the earliest they could go back in the practice facility would be after the Steeler game.
  
• Randy Arozarena has been released in Mexico, and it appears the ex-wife has been basically told to shut the fuck up, by the reports I'm reading.  *sigh*  As fucking usual, as things like this go...    
• And in more evidence of the intelligence of holding a football season in this shit:  Larry Fitzgerald has now apparently tested positive for the virus. 
• Hat-tip to my anonymous friend for this one -- a pinpoint of humor from someone from the Washington Football Team:

STOP THE COUNT! pic.twitter.com/skqXkAWK0u

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 27, 2020

 

Day 257

• "Hand of God" rigging or no, Diego Maradona was a legend in soccer.  His name was added to the list of those who have passed in 2020.  He was 60 years old.  Heart attack weeks after brain surgery.
  
• Oklahoma-West Virginia is off for this weekend due to positives in the Sooner program.
• There will be no third game on Thursday in the NFL.  Ravens-Steelers is now Sunday due to positive tests in the Baltimore organization, and the Steelers are NOT PLEASED.  Juju Smith-Schuster points out that they fucked with the bye week because of the other team involved, and now they lose Thanksgiving night for the same reason.
• This is the 13th NFL game to be moved or switched due to the coronavirus.  You think it was still a good idea to play this season without a bubble?    
• Nick Saban of Alabama is positive for the virus as well.  This is a second positive test almost six weeks apart -- with several negative tests in between.  The Iron Bowl with Auburn is this weekend.  No real surprise.  The University of Alabama was one of the first colleges to report a major outbreak.     
• DeForest Buckner of the Colts is on the COVID Reserve List.
• Khambrail Winters, a defensive back of Texas State University, has been shot and killed as a result of a drug deal -- no word yet on whether Winters was in on the deal or whether he was a witness to be eliminated when the deal went bad.
• Ed Murray, Bill's brother, has passed of unknown causes.  Ed was the one who got the Murray family into golf.  So that not only inspired Caddyshack, but the often-riotous trips through the Bob Hope Desert Classic Bill was always classic for.
  

Day 256

• Tampa Bay Rays playoff phemon Randy Arozarena is probably done with baseball and as a free man for the foreseeable.  He has been arrested in Mexico for attempting to abduct his daughter from his ex-wife, beating his father-in-law in the process.  If that isn't about the "2020" of sports stories I've heard in MONTHS...    
• The Utah Jazz think they're going to be able to allow some fans at home games this season.  Even though an actual State of Emergency was declared in the state just a week or two ago!!    
• Tennessee's men's basketball team has pulled out of the Jimmy V Classic due to COVID concerns.
• Wisconsin can't catch a break on it's football season.  The game with Minnesota is now off -- and this one because of virus problems in the Golden Gopher program!  This represents the third game out of six cancelled.  They have two left.  This is a correction from a previous bullet-point to indicate the positives were in the Gopher program and not the previous problems in the Badger program.
  
• Southern Mississippi vs. Alabama-Birmingham?  Gone as well, same reason.
• Appears to be another cancellation on the Big Ten horizon:  Purdue's George Kaflatis is positive for the virus.
• Arkansas-Missouri is also off due to positives in the Arkansas program, so now Tennessee plays Missouri this week.  The SEC is now looking at conference games as late as December 19th to try to get the fall season in.
• How many overnights, early in the virus, did baseball fans spend with the 2020 season of the KBO?  Well, it has finally crowned it's champion.  The NC Dinos are the champions, 4 games to 2, over the Doosan Bears.  The KBO has a stepladder format for it's tournament...  #4 vs. #5 best of 3.  That winner vs. #3 best of 3.  That winner vs. #2 best of 5.  The regular season champion gets a bye all the way to the Best of 7 Korean Series championship match.
  

 

Six Weeks To Go: First Look at MY 2020 NFL Political Rankings

In short, the standings you read and that I just posted below are kayfabe.

This is the booking, at least as I see it now.  YES, IT CAN CHANGE AND WILL CHANGE.

I think one thing is clear:  There may not be a real NFC option here.  If they decide not to go with Tom Brady (and specifically Tom Brady), I think we are looking back-to-back, with the ominous view of back-to-back-to-... for Mahomes and the Chiefs.

AFC:

1)  Kansas City.  (9-1, leads AFC West by 3)

I give zero fucks that Pittsburgh is 10-0 with a workable (at least to this point) chance at 16-0.

All roads go through Patrick Mahomes.  The league has already made him the Golden Child with LAST YEAR'S Super Bowl.

It is clear to anyone paying attention that the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are the future of the National Football League.  They've already booked that -- Mahomes is getting at least three rigged rings, probably more, barring a career-shattering injury real soon now.

BUT:  There are really only two "buts" in this situation.  Neither involve Pittsburgh.  One is Tom Brady, the other is the 20-30% drop in ratings due to the White Right NFL Boycott.

They have Miami, Tampa, and New Orleans among their final six.  Tampa, I think, is a possible (but the possibility is fleeting a bit) Super Bowl dry run.

2) Pittsburgh.  (10-0, leads AFC North by 3)

So why would a 10-0 team be below anyone right now?

BUT:  It's simple.  The narrative the NFL is trying to set is far more than just one year worth of narrative.  UrinatingTree's "Yinzer" aside, I really do not see an avenue for the Steelers to be in the Super Bowl -- but not through fault of their own.

They have Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami, and Buffalo among their final six.  Though more likely they, say, go 3-3 for 13-3 while KC goes 5-1 for 14-2, it is not that implausible for me to see 16-0 vs. 15-1.

As such, there is a significant gap between #2 and #3 in the AFC, at least on my Political Rankings.

3) Indianapolis (7-3, has tiebreaker over Tennessee)

4) Tennessee (7-3, first wild-card)

These two basically walk together, especially because there is a second meeting upcoming between the two, and, frankly, both of them have basically become the top of the "next level" in the AFC.  I don't think anyone outside the fanbases actually has Super Bowl aspirations for either of these teams (and I do think the league has a slight nod of Indianapolis over Tennessee in this regard, due to some marquee wins already).

BUT:  Neither team really has that buzz, at the end of the day, to break through and actually close the gap on the two teams I have above them.  They are, as I said before, a DISTANT third and fourth.

And both have some real tests down the stretch:  They play each other next week, so there should finally be a small separation in the favor of the 8-3 team -- more if it's Indianapolis than if it's Tennessee.  Tennessee also has the Browns and Packers left in their final five.  Indianapolis has Tampa Bay after facing Tennessee, and then road games eventually with Las Vegas and Pittsburgh.

We'll know a lot more about these two teams and whether one can give them any realistic shot as the final six weeks go on.

5) Buffalo (7-3, leads AFC East by one game, beat Miami Week 2)

6) Miami (6-4, currently out, they play again Week 17)

This probably is going to be manipulated down to that Week 17 game, and both teams are in the same realistic boat:  The "Any Given Sunday" brigade.

Especially Miami (which is why I have them above both Las Vegas AND Cleveland on this list, the other two wild-cards), but can you imagine what would happen if the Dolphins go from a literal disgrace Week 1-5 or 6 last year to a division title in less than a season and a half?

And Buffalo is long-starving as well, and the door is finally open now that Tom Brady and New England have broken up.

BUT:  In no uncertain terms, that's all they have.  It's a nice story for at least one of them to see the divisional round, but really not much more than that.

Buffalo and Miami play Week 17.  Buffalo has a fairly easy schedule to get there -- really Pittsburgh being the only speed-bump.

Miami has Kansas City and Las Vegas before they get there.  They may well have to win one of those two games (far more likely, but not nearly probably a favorite at Allegiant Stadium) to have a realistic shot at it.

Speaking of Las Vegas:

7) Las Vegas Raiders (6-4, third wild-card)

Really, about the only thing they have is the new location -- and there's no chance they get a home game there, it appears.

About the only real benefit to a playoff berth for Las Vegas would be a third dramatic game with Kansas City.  There is probably, in my mind, more storyline "doubt" as to Kansas City winning over the Raiders than over the Steelers.

BUT:  That's about all they have.  They are not consistent in the least, and are one of the largest COVID-protocol offenders the league has had this year.

Indianapolis and Miami, both at Allegiant Stadium, highlight the final six.  That will probably speak the volumes as to whether the Raider Nation gets January football.

8) Cleveland (7-3, second wild-card)

Winning ugly, Baker Mayfield, and...

BUT:  And...

And......

Tennessee, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh litter the final six.  They might not be worth a material damn to a lot of people, but 11-5 is not out of the ballpark here.

9) Baltimore is 6-4, but needs to right the ship fast or their season is sunk.

NFC:

The number 1 here is a really tough call.  I said when the season started that Tampa Bay and Tom Brady would be about the only real obstacle Kansas City could have.  I still believe this, but I am no longer confident that is going to get them much more than in the playoffs.  They'd have to row a very steep road, but it's not infeasible.

New Orleans, I truly believe, is just being held for a screwjob.  Now, eagle-eyes can make the case, not unlike the Raiders and Gruden in Super Bowl XXXII, for a "make-up" of the last two seasons.  I still believe, though, especially if Brees can't go, that they're being held for the right time to put them down.

Green Bay?  Just...  no.  No.  No.  No.  No.  Once again, at best, they are jobbers to the stars.  And there's really little else (even with Aaron Rodgers) to speak positive for them.  And, REALLY; FUCKERS???  MORE death threats because someone followed the script????  REALLY?

I'm actually going to go an interesting direction here:

1) Los Angeles Rams (Lead NFC West 7-3 and a win over Seattle week before last)

1A) Seattle Seahawks (7-3, they play again Week 16 in Seattle)

There is nothing for me to say that these are, end of the year, the two best choices.

I just think these are probably the two best choices for the NFL right now, in their opinion.

You have the Los Angeles Experiment:

BUT:  Not only without fans, but with the entire LA metro area about one more good riot from completely falling apart, it really doesn't seem, at this point, that the LA Experiment has much ground to it.  That said, you look at the other options...

Seattle, for one, would appear to be about the best current case for the NFC title, with Russell Wilson probably a distant second to Patrick Mahomes for the league MVP.

BUT:  Not only is he all they really have -- he's been damn near breaking his back carrying them -- the main thing they have is the 12th Man...  A 12th Man who still will not be allowed in the stadium due to current Washington-state COVID-19 case totals, even through mid-December.

Seattle can make some serious hay here.  Their only two competitive opponents left are the Rams and 49ers.

The Rams have two games with Arizona to go with their game with Seattle.  Stay in range for Week 16, and it might come down to the availability of the 12th Man for the playoffs to determine who gets the spot.

3) New Orleans (8-2, sweep over Tampa, and 1 1/2 up on them in the NFC South)

You'd THINK they should be #1 easy.

BUT:  Two things:  Is Drew Brees going to be able to come back...  Now or ever?  This isn't just cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.  It sounds like he barely has rib cages left -- on BOTH SIDES!

And then you have the Refball of the last two years in the playoffs.

Are they the current NFC favorites?  Probably, especially because they swept Tampa.  And the fact they have really only one big game left and 12-4 is probably a given, even with the backup.

Eagle eyes would recall, as I said, the Make-Up Super Bowl XXXII.  And they probably would be the ones doing the job anyway for KC.

But this is one I have to see to believe.

4) Tampa Bay (7-4, second wild card)

Two words.  Tom Brady.

BUT:  He has been quite fallible this year.  It will take SERIOUS Refball to get him and the Bucs to the Super Bowl.  Not that that has not happened in the past, but there is no propganda phrase-ology to save his neck this time.

About the only real case he has is if we find out this is it.

Kansas City next week, and they have to make that look at least like a Super Bowl walkthrough.  But then four games they should sweep after a late-season bye, and then we see...

5) Green Bay (7-3, lead NFC North by two)

BUT:  Pretty much a "somebody has to take the division" motif.  And, yes, Aaron Rodgers -- but that's it.  And the team has basically beaten nobody THAT good.  Blown out by Tampa, lost to Indy last week, no one's sure about New Orleans at this point.

Worst part of this is:  Unless they slip up against the Bears, 12-4 is a given, and 13-3 us not unfeasible.   They have Tennessee left, but that's about it.

ALSO:  Arizona (6-4, third WC), basically on the basis of that they are third-best in that division with two far more palatable options.

And then that entire debacle of an NFC East, with 3 wins apiece.  Worst part of this is there's only four division games left in the season.  5-10-1 could win that division outright.

2020 NFL Week 11 Score Report and Kayfabe Standings

First, the scores:

• Second week in a row, lowest-scoring week of the year.  And there are probably at least two reasons for it:  One, the weather is beginning to turn in a number of locations.  (I'll get to the second in a bit.)
• 45.5 points per game this week.
• And, for the first time since Week One, the average per-game for the season at the end of a week is below 50 at 49.776.
• Still, however, that is a field goal a game, with 161 games played, more than the 46.727 which is the record for the average for the most points in a season, and is 2.5 points per game ahead of the all-time per-game average of 47.2.
• That said, the margin, now, between the 161-game total now and what would be 161 games at the most-points season pace is down to just 491 points -- 8,023 points for the 2020 season now.
• And the margin to the highest per-game average is down to just 415.
• As a result, the Over was only 6-8 this week -- for 82-75-4 for the season.
• Home teams were 9-5 this week -- 85-75-1 for the season.
• Interesting statistic:  The two lowest-scoring weeks of the year:  Home teams were 20-8.  Before that, with all the points being scored, home teams for the first nine weeks of the season were two games below .500.
• Vegas won again this week:  6-8 for favorites against the spread, 8-6 straight up.  (Season:  68-88-2 against the number, 104-53-1 straight up)
• Team with more penalties was 7-7 for 59-79-1.
• 4 Cliffhangers, 3 of them doubles.  (Tennessee-Baltimore OT, Indianapolis-Green Bay OT, Kansas City-Las Vegas -- and that last one had a Last Chance Miss thrown in!)  30 Cliffhangers for the season.
• A season-high 10 games finished within one score.  (Week 3 also had 10.)  27 of the last 42 games have finished within one score.  87 now total for the season.
• A season-low 2 non-competitive games this week.  47 for the season.
• 6 Last Chance Misses.  53 of those.
• The second thing which kept the scoring down?  A season-high in penalties per game.  In the 14 games this week, there were 176 penalties.  (12.6 a game)  That is the third-highest this season on a raw total, and the only two which beat that were 16-game weeks.  The last two weeks have had two of the five highest raw totals of penalties for the season.
• Total penalties for the year:  1,846 (11.466 per game)

And now, the kayfabe standings (I'll do my first Power Rankings at some point in the next 24 hours, barring more RL stupidities (UGH)...

AFC:

1. Steelers are 10-0.
2. Chiefs are 9-1.  Both teams are three games clear in their divisions.
3. Buffalo (7-3, see first tiebreaker below)
   
4. Indianapolis (7-3, see first tiebreaker below)
   
5. Tennessee (7-3, see first two tiebreakers below, first for the division, then the wild card)
   
6. Cleveland (7-3, see second tiebreaker below)
   
7.  Las Vegas (6-4, see third tiebreaker below)
   

First tie to break is the 3-4.  Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Buffalo at 7-3 (so is Cleveland, but Pittsburgh is in that division).

So, first, break Indy and Tennessee. (Buffalo leads the AFC East, so they can be no worse than the #4 at this point.)  Indy beat Tennessee last week.  They play again next week in a critical game.  (Regular Sunday early window.)  So Indianapolis has the lead in the AFC South.

Now, Indianapolis-Buffalo.  They do not play this year. 

Next is conference record:  Buffalo is 5-2, Indianapolis is 3-3.  Buffalo #3, Indianapolis #4.

Now the wildcards.  Cleveland and Tennessee are both 7-3.  Both are in, but for priority, the two play in two weeks.  (So Tennessee has two critical playoff-implication games the next two weeks.)  As for right now:  Cleveland is 4-3 with the AFC, Tennessee is 5-3.  Tennessee #5, Cleveland #6.

The final tiebreaker is for the final spot.  Miami, Baltimore, and Las Vegas are now 6-4 for one spot.  No divisional tiebreakers to take care of first.  Miami is 3-3 in the AFC, Baltimore is 4-4, Las Vegas is 4-3.  Las Vegas is in, Miami and Baltimore are now out.

First round:  Las Vegas at Kansas City, Cleveland at Buffalo, Tennessee at Indianapolis.

Undefeated Watch (hey, why not?):  Remaining schedule:  Baltimore, Washington, at Buffalo, at Cincinnati, Indianapolis, at Cleveland.  Still quite a road to hoe yet.

NFC:

1. New Orleans is 8-2  1 1/2 games and a season sweep ahead of Tampa.
   
2. Los Angeles Rams 7-3 (see tiebreaker below)
   
3. Green Bay Packers 7-3 (see tiebreaker below)
   
4. Philadelphia leads that fucking abomination of a division at THREE-SIX-AND ONE.  It is probably going to take MAJOR rigging to get anyone in that division to even 7-9!!!!
5. Seattle 7-3
6. Tampa Bay 7-4
   
7. Arizona 6-4
   

First tie to break is now the 2-3.  The Rams, Seattle, and Green Bay are all 7-3.  (Green Bay leads the NFC North, and can, hence, be no worse than the #3 at this point).

Rams-Seattle:  Rams beat Seattle last week and play them again in Week 16.  So Rams lead the NFC West.

Rams-Packers:  Will not play.  So then we go conference record.  Packers are 5-2, Rams 7-1.  Rams #2, Packers #3.

Arizona at Rams, Tampa Bay at Green Bay, Seattle at Philadelphia

Day 255

• Scoring (and penalties) finally beginning to normalize in the NFL.  More details tonight.
• There was a Refball situation in the Big Ten so bad that officiating crew is done for the season.
• The former head of African football/soccer has been banned for five years by FIFA over a corruption scandal.  Gee, could it involve "Football 4 U" and other things Declan Hill found out?    
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a key fumble in the Packers loss to Indianapolis yesterday in the marquee NFL matchup.  And, ONCE AGAIN, Packer Fan showed it's ugly face...  Death threats.  Will someone PLEASE get these stupid motherfuckers in Wisconsin the memo that the Packers are NOT going to win the Super Bowl?  YOU ARE NOT WINNING THE SUPER BOWL, and the franchise knows it from Draft Day and what they did then!!!  FUCK OFF.    
• It is now 11 weeks into the NFL season.  The leading team in the NFC East is 3-6-1.  And judging by the number of division games left, it may take serious rigging just to get the division champion to SEVEN wins, much less eight.
• Baylor's college basketball season is in some doubt -- they're out of that "bubble" situation in Connecticut due to positive coronavirus tests.
• Drew Brees has been reported to have between eleven and thirteen fractures in his ribcages.
• To the disgust of some (We think it would've been better to wait until Alex' shows finished...), Jeopardy has, to the surprise of few, decided to announce "Greatest of All Time" Ken Jennings as the first interim host of the program.
• Two members of the Baltimore Ravens, Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, both tested positive for the coronavirus today -- probably meaning the Titans are infected again as well!!  Great year to be playing football, fuckers!!!    
• A beer trolling the Detroit Lions has been shut down due to legal action from Barry Sanders -- whose image was used on the cans without his permission! 
• And the Buffalo Bills have lost Tommy Sweeney to myocarditis:  the heart condition associated with the coronavirus.
  

 

Day 253

• In the continuing impossibility of football in a pandemic...  Today's marquee matchup between Clemson and Florida State was called off.  At least one Clemson player has additionally tested positive, and team had traveled to Tallahassee before the positive was confirmed and the game called off.  FUCKING STUPID!!!   
• The Masters on CBS early on Sunday was a ratings boon...  for the early NFL games on FOX.  60-70% increases in viewers for the early game of the doubleheader, and the most watched Sunday window of any kind in almost four years (Week 16 2016, according to Sports Media Watch).
• The FOX nationals were down 20% ratings and 13% viewers.
• The CBS single which followed the Masters was down 35% ratings and 30% viewers.
• Sunday Night Football was down 31% in both measures.
• Monday Night Football was down 28% in viewers.
  
• Let me put it simply:  White America Has Spoken And Is Sick Of Black-Dominated Sports.
• I'm sorry, and I do not say this in support of that position, but the numbers don't lie.  The #NFLBoycott to either end or bleach professional football has done 20-30% FURTHER damage to the NFL's ratings.  I am reminded of that one survey, stating the only group with increasing interest in football was the White Mr. Quarterback crowd (White, college-educated...).
• And now thought on Deadspin that New Orleans deciding to pass over Jameis Winston to a White quarterback with Drew Brees out injured with ribs cracked and a collapsed lung may be racially motivated.      
• A contestant on the show Wipeout for next season passed away earlier in the week after completing one of the show's obstacle courses. 
• Ominous rumor from sources telling Yardbarker the National Football League is anticipating a severe post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 spike.  Wouldn't be inconsistent with what we're seeing, but ominous all the same.    
  

Day 252

• Because of Canadian restrictions, Toronto Raptors will play in Tampa Bay to start the NBA season.
• Latest word is that the season will be two 36-game halves, 72 games in total.  The schedule will be released in halves, with the All-Star Game between them.
• Top six teams make the playoffs directly in each conference.  #7 faces #8, that winner is in.  The loser faces the winner of #9 vs. #10.
• Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh will attempt to play with masks on on the field.  As someone who sometimes exerts with masks on, good luck with that!!!    
• As of tomorrow night, an effective statewide 10 PM - 5 AM curfew will be in effect in California due to the virus.
• Denver is reversing course -- after the game with the Dolphins, Denver will no longer have fans in the games for the rest of the season after the Monday nighter.  You still don't want to believe me that we aren't anywhere near where we need to be?    
• Miami Hurricanes head football coach Manny Diaz has tested positive for the coronavirus, per Yardbaker.  Their schedule has been moved around so that their next game would not be until December 5th.
• One day after Lou Holtz got the virus. And at his age, that's NOT a good sign!
  
• Florida Senator Rick Scott is also positive for the virus.
• And now, so is DONALD TRUMP JUNIOR!!
  
• The MLS is about to begin it's playoffs, if the virus doesn't scuttle the whole thing.
• Add Washington State vs. Stanford to the casualty list for the weekend.  Testing this morning forced Washington State below the minimum number of players required.
  

Day 251

• The head coach of Maryland's football team, Mike Locksley, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
• So Michigan State-Maryland will not take place this year.
• As an example of how high schools are having to adjust, there will be no state championships in fall football this year in Wisconsin.  The "playoffs" will be local pod playoffs of 4 teams over two weekends.
  

Day 250

• This would be no shock whatsoever, given the current climate...  Sources are reporting that the reason Russell Westbrook and James Harden want out of Houston...
• ... is because the owner of the Rockets is a flaming MAGAt.
• Robinson Cano has been banned the entire 2021 MLB season -- another positive steroid test.
• And it's stanozolol.  You know, the same drug they dinged BEN JOHNSON FOR IN 1988!!!!
• And you lose $24,000,000 and your career is basically now in tatters.
• And it appears, once again, the Raiders have fucked themselves with the coronavirus.  High-risk contacts may have felled THE ENTIRE EFFECTIVE DEFENSE for the next few days, according to Coach Gruden.
• And now Klay Thompson may be hurt again...

Day 249

• Keep fucking denying this...  PLEASE...  President Pro Tem of the Senate and third in line to the Presidency Chuck Grassley has tested positive for the coronavirus.
  

2020 NFL Week Ten Scoring Report

Well, the defenses finally showed up...

• Lowest scoring week of the year, averaging "only" 45.71 points a game.  Several weeks in the 47's, but nothing this low this year.
• Average for the year is still above 50 points per game at 50.18.
• Home teams were 11-3 this week.  76-70-1 now for the 147 games played.
• Because of the low-scoring week, the Over was only 5-9 this week.  76-67-4 for the season.
• Favorites were 8-5-1 against the number and 12-2 straight up -- only Philly and Baltimore lost as favorites.  Season:  62-80-2 against the spread, 96-47-1 straight up.
• 166 penalties this week, almost 12 a game.  1670 for the season, about 11.4
• Team with more penalties was 4-7 for 52-72-1 for the year.
• Two Cliffhangers this week -- 26 for the year.
• Eight games finished within a score -- 77 for the season.
• Four non-competitive blowouts for 45 for the year.
• Two Last Chance Misses -- 47 of those for the season.
  

Day 248

• World Golf #1 Dustin Johnson won the Masters.
• NFL current standings in kayfabe:

NFC:

1. New Orleans (7-2, 6-1 NFC)
2. Green Bay (7-2, 5-2 NFC)
3. Arizona (6-3, 2-0 NFC West)
4. Philadelphia (3-5-1, vomit)
5. Tampa Bay (7-3)
   
6. LA Rams (6-3, win over Seahawks)
7. Seattle (6-3)

Next is Chicago at 5-4 and to play tonight.

Seattle at Green Bay, Rams at Arizona, Tampa at Philadelphia

AFC:

1. Pittsburgh (9-0)
2. Kansas City (8-1)
3. Buffalo (7-3)
4. Indianapolis (6-3, win over Tennessee)
5. Las Vegas (6-3, see below)
6. Miami (6-3, see below)
   
7. Baltimore (6-3, see below)
   

Then it gets fun after that.  Miami, Baltimore, Cleveland, Tennessee, and Las Vegas are ALL 6-3 and into a 5-into-2 playoff.

So the first thing we have to solve is Baltimore vs. Cleveland.  Baltimore beat Cleveland Week 1 -- so the first tiebreaker now is MIA, BAL, TEN, and LV for the first spot, then Cleveland joins only after Baltimore has been placed.

Miami 3-2 in the conference, Las Vegas 4-2, Baltimore 4-3, Tennessee 4-3.

So Las Vegas is the 5, then, resetting the tiebreaker and getting back to the same spot, Miami is the 6 and then Cleveland is out of the running entirely.

Baltimore and Tennessee play next week, so, for now, it's strength of victory, going to Baltimore.

Baltimore at Kansas City, Miami at Buffalo, Vegas at Indianapolis

• Michigan is going back to a more restrictive tier of coronavirus protocols -- high school sports and in-person classes are off now until at least December 7th.
• By contrast, here's something to show what could've been done had people worked together:  The authorities in Australia, to great joy, have announced that the rubber match of this year's rivalry State of Origin rugby series between players born in New South Wales and players born in Queensland will be contested with a full crowd of over 52,000 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.  This will represent the first time since the breakout in March that a full-stadium sporting event is held in the country of Australia.  Because they all were in it together and draconian measures had to be implemented where required.  You hear that, you fucking idiots on the Right??    
• Ah, the perils of Las Vegas betting...  Nick Chubb broke off a 70 yard run against the Texans late in the game.  However, he stopped short of scoring a touchdown which would've put the Browns up 16-7.  Cleveland was favored by 4 1/2 points.  They won, as a result of icing the game, 10-7.  OW.
• Latest NFL positive is a player in Cleveland.
• The NCAA, whenever the basketball championship is held, is actually considering a single-site bubble in Indianapolis. 
• All charges have been dropped against the Giants' DeAndre Baker -- now the question is whether the league will independently discipline him.
• Word has now gotten out that ex-WWE personality Zelina Vega was fired late last week for violating the new social-media policies by opening up a non-nude/cosplay account on OnlyFans -- in violation of making money outside the WWE window (more, getting over without Vince's permission, yada yada yada...).  This COULD lead to a battle of the "independent contractor" status Vince lords over his WWE talent.
• Oh, and look:  He's been back in the league 2-3 weeks -- Antonio Brown now accused, before he joined the Buccaneers, of smashing a security camera where he lives...
  

Day 246

• I've largely stopped doing Fine Blotters because the reduction in the fine amounts has turned them into even more of a joke than the refereeing has.
• Buffalo's Josh Norman tests positive for the coronavirus.
• The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be a virtual ceremony, and held in January, 2021.
• Rick Pitino has called for a delay in college basketball for this season.  All non-conference matchups would be scrapped and the eventual national championship tournament would be held in May, 2021.  Good luck doing that, with all the problems we're having nationwide right now.  
• Latest word from the NBA is POSSIBLY some pre-season games in mid-December.  At the rate this virus is now out of control, I don't think a 2020-21 season can even be held for the NBA, NHL, or anything college for the winter.  Your best bet is to work for a season for MLB and the like for next year (and no way I think it can be CLOSE to 162 games) and try to work from there with a vaccine. 
  
• We just passed 250,000 national deaths this morning attributed to the coronavirus.
• #16 Marshall University won their game today -- on the 50th anniversary of the plane crash which basically killed their entire football program.  The entire team of 75 died when their plane crashed coming home from a road game.
  

Day 245

• Add Paul Hornung to the In Memoriam list for this year.
• The Commissioner of the Big XII has reported to Sports Illustrated that the chance now exists that the CFP and New Year's Six bowls may be pushed back due to the coronavirus.
• Arizona State-California cancelled after more positive COVID-19 tests.  This football season, especially at the college level, is just such a great idea...  /s      
• Player positive for the Cleveland Browns in Thursday-Friday testing. 
• After both UCLA and Cal had their games cancelled this weekend, they will, instead, play each other on Sunday.
• The Miami Marlins made history today:  Kim Ng is the first female general manager in the history of Major League Baseball.
• Steve Sisolak, governor of the state of Nevada...  Tested positive for the coronavirus.
• So has the much-maligned CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk.
• In fact, this week appears to be the first week in American history -- ONE MILLION NEW CASES this week...
• West Virginia is throwing in the towel on high school sports for at least the rest of the calendar year.
• Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia are already re-closing their schools -- and New York City appears ready to follow them on Monday.
  

 

Day 244

• Disneyland has thrown in the towel on 2020.
• So has most of the Macy's Parade.  TV-only event (basically the one block right around the store, which is a for-TV event anyway) this year.
• Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut will host forty college basketball teams in a bubble and have a 45-game 11-day event.  One of the teams, Iona, however, may be unable to play -- COVID positive in the staff.
• The Ivy League has called off the 2020-21 winter sports season. 
• Paul Casey leads the Masters with a 65 -- a 3-hour weather delay and the November light schedule left a good part of the afternoon tee times on the course.
  
• MLB Awards Week has wrapped up. 

1. AL Rookie of the Year:  Kyle Lewis of the Mariners, unanimously
2. NL Rookie of the Year:  Devin Williams, reliever for the Brewers
3. AL Manager of the Year:  Kevin Cash of the Rays (Remembering that the award ends at the end of the regular season, for those who care to dispute it now...)
4. NL Manager of the Year:  Don Mattingly of the Marlins
5. AL Cy Young:  Shane Beiber of the Indians, unanimously
6. NL Cy Young:  Trevor Bauer, the first Cincinnati Red to be a Cy Young winner
7. AL MVP: Jose Abreu of the White Sox
8. NL MVP:  Freddie Freeman of the Braves
   

Day 243

• Ohio State-Maryland becomes the fourth game this weekend called off for the coronavirus (Maryland program).
• No Par 3 for the Masters this year -- that was scrapped two weeks ago, for lack of fans at Augusta National.
• That didn't take long:  Takarist McKinney is now a Cincinnati Bengal.
• Make that FOUR SEC games now called off for the weekend.  Missouri-Georgia just added to the list, and it's only Wednesday.
  

Day 242

• Five members of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been placed on the COVID-19 Reserve List.
• Roethlesberger is one of them.  He was probably not practicing much anyway -- his knees are bothering him.
  
• They are on the list because of contacts with Vance McDonald, a tight end who has tested positive for the virus.
  
• It appears a Philadelphia Eagles coach is positive for the virus.
  
• First week of November saw 56 NFL COVID-19 positives -- 15 players, 41 staff.
  
• Alabama-LSU and Texas A&M-Tennessee have both been postponed.  That's now THREE SEC games this weekend.  Gee, you think the Rethuglipigs were wrong and that this virus is getting WORSE just after the election???
  
• Olbermann:

• Another NASCAR pig, another suspension:  Anti-Semitic Tweet gets Truck Series driver/owner Josh Reaume suspended indefinitely.  You've got a White Boy Problem, NASCAR.  Would be VERY shocked if, if the truth ever came out, there wasn't a pretty solid KKK contingent in your organization and your drivers.    
• Early word on Week 9 is that the 20-30% loss in ratings year over year for the NFL has maintained footing.
  

And what would Rob Manfred's MLB be without a good-natured coverup or two?

Well, this debacle came across the wires yesterday, and shows that Rob Manfred continues to want to cover up for his favorites and the like.

Tony LaRussa was named the manager of the Chicago White Sox last week -- with open knowledge by the White Sox and MLB that he got dinged for DUI back in February...

... as a repeat offender.  (Though the jurisdiction he was hit with this year does not declare his first in 2007 causing a repeat offender status.)

February 24, LaRussa was hit with a DUI charge for failing field sobriety, being argumentative, and refusing an alcohol test, forcing the officers to get a search warrant to take blood.

And Manfred's cool with it.

So are the White Sox.

This should actually be at least a 60-game suspension, especially because, unlike the law, MLB can and SHOULD view this as repeat offender status with respect to DUI.

But this is Manfred-Ball.  And when Manfred doesn't get his way, he's not happy.

2020 NFL Week 9 Score Report

• Scoring went a degree of "Tilt!" again this week.
• 52.93 for the week, 741 points in the 14 games.
• 6,737 points for 9 weeks of games, 133 games.  Average is 50.654 points a game.
• At this rate, the NFL will score 12,968 points this season.  That will break the all-time record from two years ago by 1,006 points.  At that average, we are looking at the late afternoon games of Week SIXTEEN to break the record.
• To break the all-time average from many years ago of 47.2 points a game in the season, this season is now 885 points ahead -- a record the league would break somewhere at the very first game of Week 17.
• Bizarre statistics with respect to home-field situations.  Home teams were 5-9 this week, meaning that, with now over half the games completed and a record of 65-67-1 for the season, home teams are now two games under .500.
• The Over was 9-4-1 for 71-58-4 for the season.
• Against the number, we had another pick 'em this week (the third of the season -- Baltimore-Indy).  So favorites were 5-8 against the number and 9-4 straight up.
• For the season:  54-75-1 against the number, 84-45-1 straight up.
• Team with more penalties was 5-6 this week, 48-65-1 for the season.
• Only 147 penalties called this week (10 1/2 a game), probably part of the reason the scoring was up again.  Total for the year:  1,504 (11.3)
• Just the Monday nighter was a Cliffhanger (and it was a double for New England).  24 for the year.
• Nine of the 14 games this week ended within one score for 69 total for the year.
• There were three non-competitive games for 41 for the year.
• SEVEN Last Chance Misses for the second time this year -- now 45 games this year have had a chance in the last two minutes for the losing team to tie or go ahead and it fail.  Several have had more than one, including two this week.

We're nine weeks in now, so let's see, right now, where the numbers say the story is going, remembering that, this year, at least (there is discussion to make the playoffs 16 if games have to be cancelled because they can't be moved later in the year) seven teams in each conference heading to the playoffs, and hence only one bye.

NFC:

The Packers, Seahawks, and Saints are all 6-2.  All do not play all (GB has beaten NO, does not play SEA.  NO has lost to GB, does not play Seattle.  Seattle plays neither team.).

Next tiebreaker is conference record.  Saints are 5-1, Packers are 5-2, Seahawks are 4-1.  (SEA and GB do the tiebreaker again at that point for #2, same step resolves)

So:

1. New Orleans
2. Seattle
3. Green Bay
4. Philadelphia (NFC Least leader)
5. Tampa Bay (6-3)
6. Arizona (5-3, 2-0 in NFC West)
7. Los Angeles (5-3, 0-1 in NFC West)

Arizona and LA still have their two games to be played.  (Second tiebreaker in any divisional tiebreaker, wild-card or title, is division record)

Chicago (5-4) is out at the moment.

Round 1:

• Los Angeles at Seattle
• Arizona at Green Bay
• Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 

AFC:

1. Pittsburgh, still undefeated.
2. Kansas City (8-1, does not play Pittsburgh)
3. Buffalo (7-2) 
4. Tennessee (6-2)
5. Baltimore (6-2)
6. Las Vegas (5-3, see below)
   
7. Miami (5-3, see below)
   

Las Vegas, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Miami are all 5-3, all in separate divisions, and, hence, in a 4-into-2 tiebreaker.

All obviously do not play all, and there are no divisional mini-tiebreakers to resolve first.

Next is conference record (home-field seeding for division champs uses the same tiebreaks as these wildcards).

Miami is 2-2.  Cleveland is 3-3.  Indianapolis is 2-3.  Las Vegas is 3-2.

Las Vegas advances as the #6.  The tiebreaker reverts back to this step with Miami and Cleveland, who do not play.  Indianapolis is out.

Next tiebreaker is common games, but there have to be at least four.  Given their schedules, the most common games each of these teams can have all season is three.

Next tiebreaker is strength of victory, and don't make me get out the math on this one.  Miami wins that tiebreaker, according to those who have.

Round 1:

• Miami at Kansas City
• Las Vegas at Buffalo
• Baltimore at Tennessee
  

Day 241

• And keep having us believe this is going away after the election:  The HUD Secretary, Ben Carson, has now tested positive for the coronavirus -- and he attended the Trump election night farce.
• We'll SEE on this one, but early word that a 90% vaccine by Pfizer has been developed has the Dow up 1,500.
• The Masters finally happens this week -- will be very interested to see Augusta National Golf Club in the Fall.
• We will NOT, however, see Sergio Garcia.  He has tested positive for the virus and withdrawn.  Very fortunate, however, they caught it today.  He's a past champion, meaning the Champions' Dinner could've been a real problem if they didn't know til, say, Wednesday just before the Par 3.    
• And now the huge Alabama-LSU football game is in jeopardy because of LSU's COVID-19 problems. 
• And Mississippi State-Auburn has already been postponed.  Gee, football is a GREAT IDEA during a global pandemic!!!
• Olbermann:

• Takk McKinley will no longer have to be worried about being fined for swearing on-mic.  Though his tribute to his grandmother upon making the NFL as a first-round pick was epic, his career has been less so -- and, after asking to be traded from the Falcons and it not be granted for even a fourth or fifth round pick, he called them out and was fired today.
• The New England Patriots have now officially joined the Las Vegas Raiders in announcing there will be no fans at their home games this year.
• This on the back of a new COVID NFL positive in Pittsburgh and one of the 49ers who was positive last week going back on the league's COVID reserve list.
  

Current status of NFL teams with fans...

So ESPN decided to go with all the teams and check in with them as of Saturday to determine status with fans.

• No fans until further notice:  Buffalo, New England, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Green Bay, Seattle
  
• None at all for the season:  Las Vegas, Chicago (basically tentatively), San Francisco (pretty much done)
  
• Friends and family:  Detroit (will allow 500 next week), Minnesota (250, in case the state will allow fans later)
  
• Reduced capacity:  

1. Miami (20%, though they have clearance to go full capacity)
2. Baltimore (4,000 this week -- hopes to have more)
3. Cincinnati (12,000 each of the last five home games)
4. Cleveland (12,000)
5. Pittsburgh (5,500)
6. Houston (about 20%)
7. Indianapolis (about 20%)
8. Jacksonville (25%)
9. Tennessee (about 20%)
10. Denver (5,700 -- and that's til the end of the season)
11. Kansas City (about 20% -- that's to the end of the season)
12. Dallas (25%)
13. Philadelphia (5,500 to 6,000)
14. Washington (has changed that they will allow about 3,000 starting this home game)
15. Atlanta (an unnamed "very limited number")
16. Carolina (a little over 5,000)
17. New Orleans (3,000 for now, 6,000 for two November home games if OK, 15,000 for December if that goes without incident)
18. Tampa Bay (25%)
19. Arizona (4,200, then we see)

So, based on that, we can look at this week and see:

Indy and Jacksonville lost, Tennessee won, KC won, Washington lost, Atlanta won, Dallas, Arizona, and Tampa Bay lost.

3-6 for games with fans this week.

Last week:  Carolina lost, Miami won, Baltimore and Cleveland lost, Cincinnati and KC won, Denver and Philly won.

5-3 for games with fans last week.

Season total for those:  33-25.

Overall, entering tonight's Monday nighter, home teams are actually below .500 this year.

65-66-1.

Meaning games without fans, the home team is 32-41-1.

Day 240, FUCK 2020 Edition...

• The day a lot of us game-show fans have been dreading.  About 18-24 months ago, Alex Trebek announced he had Stage 4 cancer.  After a valiant fight that it actually looked like he was winning, he passed away peacefully this morning, the show announced.
• Jeopardy has taped through Christmas.  No word, obviously, yet on what happens after that.
• Thanks to my anonymous friend, it seems we have information indicating that all tapings to this point probably had been completed on schedule.  The last set was right around the end of last month.
• Watch the replay on the walk-off reversal on the Chargers-Raiders game there.  Unfortunately appears that the call was right.  "Unfortunately" because of the cockamanie rule -- he clearly has both feet in with the ball over the line, but is going down, meaning he has to survive the ground, and the ball was wrested out before he got there.   
• Chase Elliot, 24 years old, has won his first NASCAR season championship.  For the eighth time since the "best finish out of the Final Four at the last race wins the championship" format, the championship winner won the season finale at Homestead.
  
• The chairman of New Japan Pro Wrestling gave his thanks to the fans for helping out -- announcing that, even with reduced-capacity fans present at, now, dozens of events for several months (including the just-concluded annual G1 Climax tournament), the company has announced a clean bill of health.  One of the major differences between New Japan and other companies is that they have demanded the fans NOT yell and scream, for fear of releasing aerosols from the nose and mouth which might cause positive tests.
• Scary days at Notre Dame ahead.  Notre Dame defeated #1 Clemson at home yesterday, and, as their coach predicted (and told the players to flee the field as quickly as they could), the 11,000 fans stormed the field.  Good luck, but we usually know where this happens, something follows....
• The NBA now has to figure out where the Toronto Raptors are probably going to be playing this season, with the Canadian limitations on coronavirus protocol.  Nashville is current top candidate.
• As if the Jets weren't having a bad enough season, now they found out security surveillance cameras are in their locker room.  It apparently is all legal and legit, and the league and Players Association were notified to check it out.
• And to what might be no one's material surprise:  Nine members of the LA Dodgers organization have tested positive for the coronavirus.  We may never find out if they were players, staff, etc., or who they are, according to Yardbarker.

 

Day 239

• Someone put a very appropo video on Twitter for the news from this morning here.

pic.twitter.com/f0GqF1jHkv

— images with fitting xiv music (@fittingxivsongs) November 7, 2020

Day 238, and the Republicans are about to really lose it...

• Just about time to install Joe Biden as presumptive President-elect.
• There will, however, be at least one state recount:  Georgia.
• The Oakland Raiders were fined for violations of the NFL coronavirus policies -- and, for repeat offenses, not only was the team fined half a million dollars, Jon Gruden was fined $150,000, and the Raiders forfeit a sixth-round draft pick.  Penalties which owner Mark Davis then later called "draconian".  That's a good way not to win another game this season, Mark.  You should know from how bad the league was against your father.  Put your goddamn masks on or be without fans NEXT SEASON too!
  
• And they aren't alone in being fined -- the Steelers and their coach were also fined -- team $250,000, coach $100,000.  Mask violations.
• Utah-Arizona is off due to COVID concerns, joining another game (Louisville-Virginia -- ten Louisville players plus others positive) which has been deep-sixed and probably won't be rescheduled.
• A second Conference USA game was called off this evening.
  
• Olbermann: 

• Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, has tested positive for the virus.  As it is becoming clearer BY THE HOUR that there is very serious concern of a violent backlash the moment this election is called for Biden.  Otherwise, it should be called.
  
• Justin Turner will not be punished for violations after a positive test before Game 6.  Partially because MLB is fucked up, partially because MLB fucked up, and probably completely because he'd already exposed the entire Dodger team in any event!    
• The Patriots, Dolphins, and a third team have all been exposed enough that they have entered intensive NFL coronavirus protocols.  This season is not going to work, people!!!!    

 

Day 237 (Day 2 of "Losing It")

• ... especially if you're a Republican trying to win back Arizona by force.  Not realizing that, if you stop the count, Biden's been ahead enough that FOX News, YOUR OWN NETWORK, called it Election Night for Biden!
• Forgot to do yesterday's "I Told You So" Olbermann:

• And the Texans have become the latest team to have to close their facilities after a positive test.  This one is a player.  Three linebackers have now been removed from next week's game as a result.
  
• Nope, scratch that.  Now the Bears as well.
• And today's Olbermann, just because...

Day 236 (Day 1 of one side or the other "losing it")...

• Riot at the Maricopa County (AZ) count.  Trump people mad that it appears Biden has won Arizona.
• Numbers look good in both Pennsylvania and Georgia.  Nevada is a concern, so is Arizona.  But it does look likely that Joe Biden has won.

And then there's the COVID reality:

• At least four members of the San Francisco 49ers are out tomorrow night because of COVID concerns.
• As is Matthew Stafford of Detroit for this week -- contact tracing.  Again.
• It appears the NBA is about to agree to a December 22nd start.  72-game season, no fans in the stands, but in local markets.
  

Day 235, Part 2

As the polls continue, some more coronavirus, etc. sports news:

• Wisconsin's game with Purdue is now off because of coronavirus cases.
• Andy Dalton of the Cowboys is now on the COVID-19 Reserve List.
• John Elway and the CEO of the Broncos, Joe Ellis, test positive for the virus.
• Maradona has emergency surgery on a blood clot in his brain.

Oof, rough day so far... 

• And only getting rougher:  Not only has Tommy Tuberville converted his football heritage to a US Senate seat from Alabama...
• ... but the expected day-of Red Wave has occurred, making it almost impossible for Joe Biden to win tonight.
  

Day 235, and here we go....

Could be a two-parter, could be just tacking the regular stuff onto this.

But here we go:  Election Day, and the chaos begins.

I've said weeks ago that I really believe this is a Winner Take All election.

If Trump wins, by whatever means he gets it, you can kiss this country goodbye as you knew it.  The increasing violence on both sides of the fence seems to indicate the very prescient reality that co-existence, as we've known it, is over.

The fact is, they're sick of seeing us, feeding us, having us breathe their air, having our rights imposed on them (many through force of war), etc.

They're sick that many of us can love who we love or see who we see, or even walk around in their less-than-polite company.

And the Biden bus being ran out of Texas by a bunch of MAGAts and an increasing number of violent (or at least threatened-violent) actions against Biden and his voters is indicative of this.

This is Olbermann, speaking of the process Trump appears to be ready to use -- to use the television media he can control (the rest, he wants rid of in a proposed second term!)

It is clear that this election will be decided in the courts, and may well be decided with guns.  As Olbermann notes, he's going to sue to win.

But one question:  How, at that point, can any Congress meet, per the remaining results of this election, come January?

If the fucker wins:

• It will be illegal to be undesirable in this country.  If there's anything the pandemic has demonstrated, it is how FEW jobs are actually necessary to keep things remotely operational in this country.
• Trump will rule by dictat.  There will be no Congress.  Again:  How can you allow the Presidential results to be overturned (as Trump has said he WILL attempt), and yet allow the Congressional results to go forward, unless you want to parse and separate EVERY SINGLE BALLOT CAST (of which there are now about 100 million already in the bank, voted -- about double a normal election and about three-quarters of the number of accepted votes in the last Presidential election!)...  Remember his meetings with John Woo, talking about rule through Executive Order.
  
• There will be a Purge.  LGBT's, immigrants, BLM, etc.  Trump talks about his fucking ratings.  What kind of ratings would the mushroom-dicked dick get for a literal bloodbath of MAGA-induced proportions?  I have friends of mine in all three communities, and they are fucking petrified.  And they have every reason to be.
• Everyone reliant on Social Security and similar programs probably has three years to live, at most.  This is the terrifying trap he set when he closed out the payroll tax which funds the program.  He gets re-elected, it never comes back, and that will be the end of a Social Security program many MAGAts never wanted and that they wanted to see those reliant on it die.
• Trump will probably use his "mandate" or dictatorial powers to end all COVID-related lockdowns and limitations, starting a death lottery in this country which, by current numbers, would fell an entire 3% of the population of this country in the still-in-progress FIRST WAVE of the virus - a number which most MAGAts I have had the displeasure of talking to completely cannot do math and refuse to believe.
• Speaking of not doing math:  Eventually, the entire public education system, K-college, will go.  It's been a pet dream of Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education, for a while now.  (As has the closure of most small businesses by Small Business Administration head Linda McMahon -- yes, THAT Linda McMahon!)
• Women can forget about having any rights but to be raped by their male betters.
• There will probably be an overthrow of the state governments of most of the remaining liberal states, starting on the West Coast.
  
• And this is HARDLY an exhaustive list.  As Olbermann notes above, there has been violence against Trump opponents in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Texas...
  

And is it no secret that one has to wonder about all the word that has come out about Nicklaus, Bobby Orr, Curt Schilling, much of the professional wrestling community, and many other WHITE athletes coming out in support of the Orange Pigfucker.

It's simple, isn't it?  They're sick of Black-dominated sports, even those in which Blacks dominate their own.  Many are just too polite to say it openly and completely -- some who aren't have lost basically most of what they have.

I'm not even sure if further dignifying this next list in juxtaposition with the very real terrors about to be inflicted if he wins or steals it, but this anti-Black-sport fervor in this country (as evidenced by plummeting ratings for the NFL and most of the other sports in their playoffs) could mean some or more of the following:

• I believe that, if Trump wins, the NBA will be immediately shut down.
• The NFL would be a tougher call, but that would probably go as well.
• I believe the major stadiums would probably become sites for something akin to the old Roman Collosseum.
• We probably end up with a sports landscape, medium-to-long-term, of Baseball, Golf, and NASCAR -- three of the biggest MAGA sports around.  Football probably devolves into a social-conditioning exercise at the high-school level with little further merit.

In short, Donald Trump has to lose.

No matter which or how many of these and other things you can agree with or add to this list, the Democrats MUST WIN today.  

Or we're done...  

Because many of us do not exist within that White, Straight, cis-Male, Alpha-Male, Pro-Rape, MRA, Rich demimonde which are the only people who the MAGAts believe ever were given rights (quoting the original Constitution, where Blacks, women, Indians, etc. weren't even viewed as human, much less citizens!).

It IS about to get violent.  Be prepared for it.  But let's hope that, eventually, a legal process can be started in which ultimate violence, with the force of law behind it, can take out any and all, up to and including the 45th President of the United States of America.

2020 NFL Week 8 Score Report and Discipline Blotter

We have our first on-field event suspension of the season:

• Chicago Bears:  Javon Wims, rightfully getting two games for his sucker-punch fight yesterday.

It does seem like tensions are boiling over...

• And it DOES appear to have some effect on the scoring.   Scoring seeming to settle into the mid-47s average now, 47.64 PPG this week.
• Average over the season:  Still 50.387.
• Home teams 7-7 this week for 60-58-1 for the year.
• Over went 9-5 this week for 62-54-3 for the year.
• Vegas loved this week, raking in the money on the public:  Favorites only 4-10 against the number for 49-67-1 for the year.  Straight up?  .500.  7-7 for 75-41-1.
• Team with more penalties was 2-8 this week for 43-59-1 for the year.
• 161 penalties for the 14-game week (11.5 penalties per game).  Season total:  1,357 for 119 games (11.1)
• Two Cliffhangers, Denver and New Orleans.  23 for the year.
• Half the games finished within one score.  Seeming about the average for the year, 60 total out of the 119.
• 4 Non-Competitive games, 38 for the year.
• Also 38 total Last Chance Miss games for the year, with 5 this week.
  

Day 234

• In the continuing idiocy which is football in 2020 with COVID-19, we now have COVID positives on the Ravens, the Cardinals (at least two), and the Packers.
• And a practice injury has felled an Ole Miss tight end to the point where he has no feeling in his body.
• Olbermann from Saturday, with the 100 cringeworthiest Trump moments:

 

Day 233

• If there's not a suspension for this one, I don't know...  Matt Judon of the Baltimore Ravens was tossed for "intentionally contacting an official" on a sideline altercation against the Steelers today.
• He took a swing at the official and hit him in the arm.
• That needs to be a multi-game suspension.  When even CONTACTING a ref is a toss and at least a 30K fine...
• Real wild day in the NFL.  Underdogs winning all over the board (favorites 5-7 straight up this week).