September 30, 2022 News and Notes

• Myles Garrett, "grateful" to be alive, wants to play Sunday.
• The NFLPA is considering legal options regarding the frightening situation with Tua.
• JC Tretter, the president of the NFLPA, disputes all claims clearing Tua -- saying Tua was exhibiting what he called "no go" symptoms.
  
• The NFL is claiming an independent neurologist cleared Tua to play. Shyeah and right.    
• Chris Nowinzki, prominent neurologist, has said to the media Tua should be done for the year.  ... and, looking at some of that video, THAT might be generous.  I think his career is over!!!    
• THE legendary professional wrestler from Japan, Antonio Inoki, has passed away early Saturday (Japan time) in Japan.  So much a legend that, for many years, wrestlers and fans would line up for the privilege of being slapped silly in the face by the man -- the "Inoki Honor Slap".   He was 79.
  

The Ultimate Cost of "It's All About The Quarterback"

I have a reader of this blog -- probably about as close to me as any of the readers of the blog.

That reader not only gets sick of my overloading on football (having sworn off on football years ago, and I'm about to show you why...), but gets doubly sick of me talking about Q-Rating quarterbacks of the NFL as the centerpiece of the rigging because "It's All About The Quarterback".

Tonight, in vivid living color, you saw the ultimate cost of "It's All About The Quarterback".

There was no secret to me that Tua Tagovailoa was the rigging reason the Dolphins got to 3-0.

He almost died out there tonight.

Urinating Tree made a video, and FUCK YOU NFL for not letting me just embed this one.

It begins with last week's game, the original injury, and the fact that he was not well even in the rest of the game, after being whiplashed into the ground in the second quarter.

He supposedly not only passed protocols to return to the field that game, but to play again tonight.

He was not himself, and another whiplash hit in the second quarter probably had about the most frightening visual in the history of the televised National Football League.

His body, frozen on the ground, and look at his hands -- or, more correctly, his fingers.  53 second mark of the video.

Ten minutes on the ground, sent to a hospital.  Non-zero chance it's Career Over, right there!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your league, writ large.  And it's not going to change, even if someone dies out there.  Especially if it's a name quarterback.

49 games and we've had two near-misses on the field this year already.

NFL Week 3 Suspension Blotter

• Pittsburgh Steelers:  Damontae Kazee, three games
• Los Angeles Rams:  Brycen Hopkins, three games, substance abuse.  This one will cost the Rams a fine check to the league as well, as it is their second suspension of the year.  If past years are any indication, the fine check will be somewhere in the $50-75000 range, 15% capped of the lost salaries.  Three would make it 20%, four would make it 25% with a cap Jerry Jones wrote off as a personal expense every year.
• Judging by the 2021 Policy and Program on Substance Abuse (page 14), it appears both of these players, this is the fourth failure on a testing end after being placed in Stage Two of the program.  Oh brother...
  

September 29, 2022 News and Notes

• Aaron Judge finally got a mistake he could drive, and, as a result, has tied Roger Maris for the legitimate non-steroid home run record with his 61st.  3-2 pitch in the 7th.
• Roger Maris Jr., last night, joined the growing cacophony to nullify Barry's "record", along with McGwire's and Sosa's steroid-ridden bomb seasons.
  
• The home run ball went off a clash of two gloves over the left field fence and landed safely in the Blue Jays bullpen.
• The ball is now in the custody of...  Judge's mother, through a bullpen coach who ended up getting it first.  His wife joked both about retiring and then filing for divorce when she found out her husband ended up with the ball, then gave it to the Yankees.

Quick kayfabe standings:

• Took all night and The Manfred Run for the Dodgers to plate one in the tenth, the only one they needed over the Padres.  That and an Astro loss to Arizona means magic number for home field throughout is 2.
• Only one division are left to settle.  NL East, Mets are up 1 on the Barfs while we wait to see what Ian is going to do to Atlanta for the purposes of figuring out what of the three games between the two teams can be played when and where.
• Because of the new first round, MLB got rid of Game 163.  So, since St. Louis won the season series with Milwaukee 10-9 and their Magic Number would otherwise be 1, they clinched the NL Central on Tuesday.
  
• Wild Cards:  Twins were finally eliminated last night in the AL.  Orioles Tragic Number is four.  Once that's taken care of, it's the Jays, Rays, and Seattle -- but the order is still to be decided.  Jays Magic Number for playoffs is 1, 1.5 up on the Rays, 2 up on the Mariners.
• NL:   NL East loser is the #4, that's for sure.  Padres 2 1/2 up on Philadelphia.  Margin for out is now only 1/2 game from Milwaukee.  And the Giants are still around -- Tragic Number with Philly is 2.
• Seeds:  AL:  Astros Magic Number for the #1 with the Yankees is 2.  Guardians are the 3, the only seed locked in right now.
• NL:  Dodgers 1, NL East Winner 2, Cardinals the 3, NL East loser the 4.

Other stuff:

• Sirius XM has fired Brett Favre for the growing welfare-fraud incident he helped perpetrate through his charities, at least partially to fund a football facility at his old university.
• Myles Garrett was cited for driving at an unsafe speed, leading to his crash.  He is back at practice facilities.  Police are noting, on a slick road, 65 in a 45.
  
• Minneapolis was told to prepare for a possible relocation of the Tampa-Kansas City game, but just across the wire at 1 PM Eastern, Tampa says they will be ready to host.  And you know what that probably means...  Prepare for 2-2, Kansas City!
  
• A listless 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Spain followed a 2-0 loss to Japan in Germany for the US men's national team, and coach Gregg Berhalter is not happy with what he's seeing, two months from the group phase.
• To give the general interest in these final tune-ups, if a thousand people showed up for USA-Saudi Arabia, most observers would be shocked.
• A minor-league pitch clock has appeared to work.  25 minutes (almost 15% of the 3:03 which the average minor-league game was last year) were cut off the average game in all of the minor leagues, Fuck Rob Manfred reported yesterday.
• The LIV-PGA feud continues -- the PGA has countersued, stating LIV interfered and tampered with PGA players' contracts.
• In a move Deadspin correctly notes is Rihanna bending over and taking it up the ass to the anti-female NFL, she will do the Super Bowl halftime.  One wonders how few clothes she'll be wearing, if the NFL-ordered Shakira/JLo jigglefest a couple years back is any indication.  
• Jezebel is reporting on the continuing efforts of literally hundreds of rape and sexual assault victims in the Ohio State athletic program over two decades to get justice from the school.  What makes this unusual is that all of them, save one, were male athletes at the school.  Here's a reminder about "Dr. Nuts", "Dr. Feelgood", "Dr. Drop Your Drawers", and coaches basically using the threat of being sexually assaulted and raped by this doctor in practices from Sports Illustrated.  
• The new "Pro Bowl Games" -- the replacement for the Pro Bowl -- will have a monetary stake.  $84,000 a man for the winning conference, based on scores of events throughout the week.  Half that for the losing conference.
• And a second concussion incident, along with head and neck injuries, put Tua Tagovailoa on the deck for over 10 minutes in the second quarter of tonight's game.  Stretchered to a hospital.
  

2022 NFL Week 3 Ratings Report -- AND IT'S WORKING ON THE SHEEP!!

And if you want to see the benefits of the NFL's open-faced manipulation to put and keep butt in seat, I present to you the following numbers from NFL's week 3 television broadcasts:

Amazon Thursday Night (Steelers-Browns):  11 million viewers, about 10 million on Amazon.  About 2 million down from the week before, but the Chiefs can be somewhat of a draw.

Monday Night Triplecast:  Is this one of the reasons ABC shuffled Dancing With the Stars to a Disney+ exclusive this year?  (Along with running out of "stars" people want to see...)

Anyhoo, the third, and I believe final for a good part of the season, triplecast (ESPN and ABC regular, 2 had the Manningcast) scored a 10.7 rating and 19.34 million viewers.  Highest Week 3 since 2000 -- two out of the three MNF games have gotten that level.  (Makes you wonder if the network has plans going forward to make this arrangement pseudo-permanent, see comment above.)

FOX National (Packers-Bucs):  Decade highs.  Highest Week 3 since 2012 and a 15% jump year over year on ratings and viewers with a 13.4 rating and 26.4 million viewers.  Second highest of the year behind last week's National.

Sunday Night (49ers-Broncos):  In evidence that shit football and a bad matchup doesn't benefit the league, ESPN/ABC actually outdrew NBC's 9.6 rating and 17.8 million viewers, double-digit losses in both.  Worst Week 3 since 2017.

FOX Single:  7.2 rating, 13.8 million (up 7-8%).

CBS Single (largely Chiefs-Colts and Bills-Dolphins):  7.7 rating, 14.7 million viewers (down about 3% with two marquee matchups, better than anything FOX had in the early window!).

2022 NFL Week 3 Even Further Comments

Some further comments I wanted to make on this week:

First:  I reiterate the "warning shot/shot across the bow" discussion I've made a couple times this week.  Now seeing how obviously the league and several Chiefs players were in on rigging and throwing the game to Indianapolis this week, I have to think the Chiefs, if they aren't already being removed from consideration, definitely got their last warning and another major embarrassing transgression means the league is going somewhere else.

The Bucs??  That definitely was costly, more for January purposes than anything else, but we know the Bucs can go to Green Bay and get it done if necessary.  But that has to be a message.

The Bills would've been one you would've seen at the beginning of the year, that's for sure.  And I'd be somewhat surprised if there isn't more...

... but it's clear that, if there's a single player or the like that is the impetus of a big push to start the year, it's Tua Tagovailoa.  (I cannot spell that guy's name right for the LIFE OF ME -- without looking it up!)

Some people forget the kind of synergy which goes on between the NFL and college football, especially as it relates to rigging and the like of games and the pushing of players.  Cam Newton had the same kind of thing going on in Carolina after his rigged championship and Heisman.  Take away that push, and he's not even an NFL quarterback.

But it's clear that the name the league is at least getting on the back of to start the year, it's Tua.

There's one other thing you need to keep an eye on, as it relates to the NFL after three weeks.

The average score per game is down over five points a game this year over last, and almost NINE from two years ago.

I'd say part of it is the "The NFL is going to entertain the country in a 'At least we still have blitz.' situation vis-a-vis COVID."

But there's another angle I'd like to add.  Remember that 2018 Monday Night Football game with the Rams, the Chiefs, and the 100+ points?  You know, the unacceptable conditions in Mexico, the California wildfires (and NFL fundraising for same during the MNF game), and the aftermath of a major shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA the week prior?

Can you tell me any person watching or following that game that didn't KNOW the game was just going off the charts as a manipulated mess?

My point:  What kind of game is easier to manipulate the outcome for if the NFL wants to rig an outcome and have it NOT be that obvious to the houseplant-level IQs of most NFL fans?  11-10/14-12/20-17 or the like, or 55-52 or some construction like that, whatever it was?

Exactly.

Remember, there have been 12 Cliffhangers (winning score or tying score in the last two minutes or OT) and 19 Last Chance Misses (a feasible chance for tying or winning score in the last two minutes or overtime).  Nine games have had both, meaning 22 of the first 48 games of the year have been either decided in the last two or overtime on offense or defense!

What other better way to keep ass in seat than "The Witching Hour -- where wins turn to losses and losses turn to wins" (reg tm NFL RedZone)?

And remember this thought from pro wrestling:  You have to make it believable.  Else, good luck getting people to buy in further.

2022 Week 3 After Further Review

We'll start with Jake The Asshole again, and I think that I already know what is #1 -- and if it's not, I will definitely call him out on it.

Again, NFL highlights, so I can't embed the YouTube...  (Then why can I do the Twitter, and why can't I find my #1 play on video on it that easily?  I'd figure half of Kansas City was up in arms over it -- AND it had a major role in costing an NFL kicker his job!)

So, then:

#10  We start Colts-Chiefs, but Jake goes elsewhere here.  It's a first-quarter punt by Indianapolis, muffed at the KC 7 by the Chief receiver, he turns around like "whadablazes", and Indy easily recovers -- leads to the first touchdown.  If the Chiefs are going to cut Ammendola for the kick led to by the play that better be #1, this guy needs to go too!  That is the textbook definition of a "slop play", as Pat Troothner puts it.

Probably about the only reason Skyy Moore is still with the Chiefs today is that he was a late second-round pick in this year's draft.  He's had one target in three games and had all sorts of problems with punt returns.

#9  He stays with Colts-Chiefs.  This is about two minutes into the 4th quarter, and the Chiefs are about to try at 42 yard field goal up 17-13...  or are they?  4th and 10, they try the fake.  Not only does the holder badly overthrow the pass, but two Indianapolis players had the play completely snuffed out (did they know it beforehand???), and there was no way they were getting the first down.

#8  Bills-Dolphins.  4th and goal at the Miami 2 for Buffalo, down 21-17 in the last two minutes, and Josh Allen all but throws a ground ball to end the drive.  Ball misses the receiver by a good two yards.

#7  Rams-Cardinals.  3rd and 1, LA 35 for the Rams.  Alleges slop play on the defender on the tight end after the catch, leading to a 55 yard reception.  Or it would've if he hadn't stepped out of bounds by the tiptoe.  Drive ended with a fourth-quarter fumble.

#6  Steelers-Browns.  Magnetic gloves charge.  And you all saw this play Friday morning if you saw the highlights -- and everybody was glowing at comparisons to the best NFL regular-season play of the first 100 years of the league, the OBJ catch.  Same thing here.  Jake then goes into some degree of detail as to how it works, and how at least one company is actually marketing this kind of technology.  (Note the female narrator:  Only saying the tech is disallowed in NFHS and NCAA...)

And this kind of catch gives credence, how, falling away, can you make that grip on the end of the ball without help?  Seriously???

#5  Lions-Vikings.  Magnetic K-ball/uprights charge.  First drive of the game, 48 yard field goal attempt for the Lions.  If that one was magnetic, that's harder to tell.  Because the kick started to the center and drifted and hit the right upright -- which can happen legitimately.  Not exactly the greatest case given to this one.

#4 49ers-Broncos Sunday Night.  2nd and 10 at the 2 for the 49ers.  Third quarter, 7-3 49ers.  Garropollo goes back and loses track of the back of the end zone for two points.  Yeah, I can see that argument, especially because the Broncos eventually won the game 11-10... 

#3  Cowboys-Giants Monday Night and another gloves charge.  CeeDee Lamb touchdown, clear glove stop, but there's another angle the Asshole isn't doing on the play -- the clear PUSH-OFF he gives the Giants defender on the play before snagging the ball with his magnetic glove.  And with 8:30 to go in the 4th quarter, that's the winning touchdown.  20-13 lead then, final was 23-16.

#2  Panthers-Saints.  Laviska Shenault, Jr. with the 67 yard touchdown pass where two players basically ole'd his ass and no one hustled after him for the touchdown which put the game on ice.  Made it 19-7 in the 4th, ended 22-14.

#1  (You better have picked this one, because there were two others in the same game you already put on the list...)

HE DOESN'T.  And he probably picks the worst possible play.  THE BUTT PUNT.

The safety was the best play there or you're giving Buffalo the ball at about your 40 or so!!!

So you don't call THIS your #1 play??  Chiefs-Indy again.  8:48 in the 4th, Chiefs up 17-13.  Mahomes is pressured, holding on the blind side is eventually declined.

But wait, the CBS cameras catch a facemask exchange between Mahomes and the guy he was trying to stiffarm -- that's offsetting penalties, and does Ammendola even get to try the field goal which cost him his job?

In calling the holding call, the referee, on-mic, acknowledges the Chiefs' sideline going up in arms over it, asking them "What's the question?" when he's calling the holding!!!

Better point even yet:  Not even Jake the Asshole has that play even on Twitter OR YouTube.  The NFL doesn't want that play becoming public.  OH GEE I WONDER WHY!!!

Putin's War, and the possibility of why everyone is holding their breath:

The mid-term elections are six weeks away.

If what has been reported from the Baltic Sea has any legs to it, it might be a very LONG six weeks.

At least three leaks have been reported from explosions in the Nordstream gas pipelines.  Two of them are on the shuttered Nordstream 1 pipeline, the third on Nordstream 2.

It has long been proposed that Russian sanctions will freeze out or starve Europe this winter.  This isn't going to help matters.

But the REAL FUN PART is who has actually done this.  If we get proof as to who, you can almost bet that party COULD be wiped off the map, if small enough.

And that's because there are a number of people, citing a speech Joe Biden made about wiping out Nordstream 2, claiming the US might've done it.

In fact, the head of the EU/US EU Parliamentary delegation (which apparently exists), Radek Sikorski, has said just this, tweeting a picture of the leak on the surface of the water with the words "Thank you USA". 

A number of anonymous German sources have the same belief.

Fact is, this isn't on Russian soil.  The leak may go into Danish territorial waters, but this DEFINITELY appears to pull up an escalation possibility, no matter who did it.

And, with that in mind, I'm not sure right now much of any long-term plans can be made.

Hell, Debbie has another tour for a holiday album Thanksgiving to Christmas -- and I'm not 100% sure you want to make plans even THAT far out.

And, speaking just of sports, that would explain a lot of the chaos in the first three weeks of the NFL, now, wouldn't it?

September 27, 2022 News and Notes

• Hurricane Ian is already wreaking havoc.  The Tom Bradys have to go practice in Miami this week.  There is some concern the game in Tampa Bay can be played there this week -- it's the Sunday nighter, but Tampa looks to be nearly taking a direct hit from Ian as things currently stand.
• AEW head Tony Khan, knowing a number of the roster have base in that part of Florida, has said Dynamite is optional this week if you need to take care of business at home.  Bad for some of the fans, yes -- but wrestling has a way of getting up from a back-against-the-wall scenario.    
• Tuesday morning, South Florida and South Carolina have both announced changes to their college football games this weekend due to the hurricane. 
• Texas Tech has been fined $50,000 for the field storming after the win over Texas.  Here's a hint:  "They won't keep them off the field tonight!" is not just a meme.  One major forfeiture to reverse a big win, and this process WILL STOP.  But nothing else will, including the possible injury to a Texas player decked by a Tech fan in the storming.
  
• Are we going to see the teams preventing Aaron Judge from getting #61?  First and second in the 10th, tied 2-2 with Toronto -- and they just intentionally walk him to load the bases.  Worked, too:  Toronto won 3-2 in 10!
• One of the juiciest stories in sports and games is the Magnus Carlsen/Hans Niemann cheating feud, where the former is giving up his FIDE world championship anyway -- but everything from sexual beads up the ass to leg and toe stimulators, where Niemann has access to a chess computer to throw Carlsen off his game, are being alleged.  One chess website, where Niemann HAS cheated, has banned him.  Hoo boy.    
• Matt Ammendola has been fired as kicker of the Chiefs due to missing a field goal and an extra point in a rigged loss to the Colts.  Then fire the guy who got the taunting penalty to extend the touchdown drive as well...  Nah...  He's too convenient to the team -- kickers are a dime a dozen...  Sure...   

 

2022 NFL Week 3 Political Rankings: Shots Across The Bow

I'll probably do a separate thoughts post tomorrow, because there's a lot to digest here.

If you need to know what the NFL is pushing, I am reminded of the opening to this week's Red Zone coverage (no, I am not beneath pirating that for research purposes -- and it paid dividends this week):  "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT???"

I would need to do a fair bit of research on this one, but SEVEN Last Chance Misses is either a record or close, and it's clear the NFL wants you riveted to that seat before the offensive coordinator tears out the tablet and tries to smash it when his team can't clock it for a winning field goal!

In contrast, there were only nine in the first three weeks last year.

But here's the fun part:  The Bills, Bucs, and Chiefs all lost this week.  And all three have a thing in common.

The Bills had the preseason Matt Araiza situation.  The Chiefs lost Willie Gay for four weeks.  And the Bucs lost Mike Evans -- a move that ESPN's Rex Ryan said was the moment they lost the Packer game, and, hence, a very important tiebreaker threshold.

If you don't think the NFL got in the ear of some of these top contenders and told them to knuckle the line, this week should have given the indication they did.  For the Chiefs, I think this is a Last Warning.  Slightly less so for the Bills and Bucs, but we will see.  Keep in mind:  One of the Chiefs and Bucs is 2-2 after next week!

So, with a nod to chaos:

AFC:

1) Miami and Tua

I really blanch at this because of the ownership foul from the offseason, but the early push for Tua and the Dolphins can no longer be denied.  Obviously, Buffalo gets another crack at them at their stadium December 18th.  That said, as much as this has some question marks, let's remember even $Cam got a Super Bowl.  (Clearly as job-boy, but he got there!)  There is a synergy between the NFL and the rigging of college football.  The only 3-0 in the AFC.

(Which makes the Butt Punt a funnier moment in retrospect.  Here's the thing:  A safety was probably the best play!)

2) Baltimore

He's not only got the highest passer rating through three weeks, but Lamar Jackson is third in the league in rushing!

3) Cleveland

And don't look now, but the Dark DeRapist Rapist move for later in the year has taken some fruit.  This team SHOULD be 3-0 (the loss was inexcusable), but they have one easier game left before the schedule steepens SIGNIFICANTLY in the next few weeks after.

AFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

You know what?  CO-WINNERS!  I got three for ya, and they all deserve the honors.

THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, AND WHATEVER THE FUCK THAT WAS AT SOFI ON SUNDAY.  Thirty-eight to ten to the JAGUARS??!?!?!?!?  I was thinking of giving some mercy, but the fact is that you really cannot walk away from the fact that was one of the more embarrassing outcomes -- and now Justin Herbert is hurt.  Probably was in too long, but didn't wanna quit on his team.  Oof.

THE 0-3 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, the only 0-3 team in the NFL.  (Houston is 0-2-1, everyone else has won at least one game.)  But it's far worse than that:  Even though their average margin of loss is less than five, the three opponents have lost all six other games this year, and by an average of over 16 points!  I do REALLY begin to wonder if the NFL wants to reevaluate the league's future in Las Vegas.  Hell, I would not be surprised in 5-10 years if the league simply has the Vegas stadium, etc., for "event games" and no longer has a week-to-week team there!

AND ANDY REID, WILLIE GAY, AND CHRIS JONES.  Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs show their ass and the complete lack of leadership ability in the franchise.  First, Willie Gay gets dinged four games for a pseudo-domestic incident back in January.  Then, with about five minutes to go in the fourth quarter up 17-13 and a 3rd and six, Jones sacks the Indianapolis quarterback.

Then he taunts him.

The 15 yard penalty aids in a TOUCHDOWN which is the final score of the game.  Now, there's a lot more to this game as well which might make one also wonder if Jones actually acted under league orders.  (Which see the upcoming Further Review post.)  The fact is, that Indianapolis win over Kansas City was not only another sterling example of the complete lack of leadership in the KC franchise, but this week's Rigged Game of the Week. 

NFC:

1)  Philadelphia

Kinda have to do it with them being the conference's only 3-0 team.  Not really sure WHY.  Maybe it's their turn with some of the other stuff going on.

2) Dallas

Percolate them back up the line a bit here with the win over the Giants.

And then there's just a bunch of same-same here.  No fewer than seven teams are 2-1 at this point.

NFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

Nominee:

Jimmy Garropollo.  Would you like to give up two points or six?  Late in the game against Denver, he steps out the back of the endzone, somewhat akin to Dan Orlovsky of the Lions years back.  The problem is, had he not, he threw a clear pick-six on the play.

But a winner, a carryover from last week:  MIKE EVANS.

You can't take yourself out of a game the level of the Packer game if you're in Tampa, kid.  Especially on that level of a repeat offense.  Especially if the Tom Bradys are still trying to find their offense.

2022 NFL Week 2 Ratings Report

Forgot to do this -- Sports Media Watch is the usual main source.  Week 2 went like this for the ratings:

11.8 million people on Amazon Prime saw the first Prime-exclusive (yes, the game does go over the air to the local markets) Thursday Night Football clash.  That's a lot of subscribers, and gives good indication as to the future of pay-to-view television, where you must have a subscription to get the shows you REALLY WANT.

Monday Night Football's split doubleheader drew almost 21 million people -- the bulk of them to Vikings-Eagles (almost 13 million), with just short of 8 million for Titans-Bills.  That's an interesting dichotomy, especially given what, until this week, seemed the reality in the AFC!!    

Sunday National (CBS):  Cowboys-Bengals and an overtime Raiders-Cardinals aided in the biggest Week 2 National window in over 20 years:  14.1 rating, 27.4 million viewers.  Highest non-Thanksgiving regular-season window since Week 14 2019 with Chiefs-Patriots.

Sunday Regional (CBS):  Patriots-Steelers led 7.4 rating and a 14.1 million viewer take, down a couple ticks in both respects from last year.  CBS is having the most-watched NFL season through two weeks it has had in over a decade.

Sunday Night:  Bears-Packers was down the same couple of ticks from last year, 10.6 rating, 19.55 million viewers.

Sunday Single (FOX):  The big loser of the week -- as Bucs-Saints led only to 8.6 rating and 16.23 million viewers.  Down a full ratings point and 2 1/4 million viewers from last year.

2022 NFL Week 3 Score Report

Either tonight, overnight, or tomorrow, I will do the Politicals, where I have a BUNCH of thoughts regarding Week 3 in specifics, and the 2022 season so far in general.

In short:   HOO BOY...

• Only 40.625 points per game this week.  (Last year:  45.375  Two years ago:  OVER 52!)
• Season average:  42.083 PPG.  (Last year:  47.333.  Two years ago:  50.958)
• Meaning scoring is down over five points a game through three weeks year over year -- and two years ago, almost NINE points a game down.  There's a very simple answer to it.  See if you can figure it out before I post it!    
• Home teams 8-8 this week, same as last year.
• Season:  Home teams:  25-22-1.  Last year:  23-24-1.  Two years ago:  25-22-1.
• The Over was actually 8-8 this week!  18-29-1 for the year.  Last year:  5-11 for 20-28.
• No fewer than three of the eight games which went Over this week did so by only half a point (I use the Caesar's Sportsbook numbers from the Gamecast pages on ESPN for these purposes.)
  
• Against the Spread:  5-10-1 for the week, 18-27-2 for the year.  Last year:  7-9 for 18-30.
• Straight Up:  Losing Week for the favorites.  7-9!!  26-20-1 for the year.  Last year:  9-7 for 27-21.
• Team with more penalties was 5-8 for the week, 21-22-1 for the season.  Last year:  5-6 for 20-21.
• Only 10 1/2 penalties per game this week.  168 accepted flags.  568 total for the 48 games so far, 11.83 per game.  Last year:  195 for the week, 629 for the season.
• Only two Cliffhangers this week (that wasn't where the league got you this week, Football Nation America!).  12 for the year.  Last year:  5 for 11.
• Here's a hint to what they did:  11 of the 16 games were within eight points.  Only ONE was outside two scores -- and it was JACKSONVILLE!  29 of the 48 games so far have been within one score.  Last year:  5 for 22.)
• Three non-competitive games, 13 for the season.  Last year:  5 for 17.
• Here's the big stat:  SEVEN Last Chance Misses, and six of them didn't involve a Cliffhanger as well.  19 for the year.  (Last year, only one in the third week and nine for the first three.)  I'll address this more in a comments post, which might actually be separate from the Politicals, now that I think of possible length.    

September 26, 2022 News and Notes

• The NFL finally bowed to reality today.  The Pro Bowl is no more.  It will be replaced by an All-Pro skills competition and flag football week -- with Peyton's Omaha Productions running the show.  First one is in Vegas next February.
  
• Tua Tavaglioa returned quickly from a concussion incident when his head hit the ground in yesterday's victory over Buffalo, and the NFLPA wants to know why.
• Sounds like they didn't even wait for the meeting:  A Monday meeting was scheduled at Georgia Tech to fire the football coach and probably the AD.  Reports had the coach gone on Sunday, sources have added the AD's firing today.  At least the third Power 5 football coach to be fired this season, and we aren't even out of September.  Reality that there just are too many schools in college football?    
• And, as usual, Foobaw Fan has to show his ass.  Police are looking for a Texas Tech fan who punched a Texas player after Texas Tech beat Texas.
• Chris Davidson was an Australian surfer on the town at a pub in New South Wales.  A man decked him, he was out on his feet, and the resultant head on concrete killed him.  The assailant was arrested.  Davidson was 45.
• Jimmie Johnson has retired from racing, except for a handful of "bucket list" projects, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a NASCAR-sponsored attempt in the Next Gen car, as well as to become the second driver (Tony Stewart) to complete the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.
• To give you an idea of the irrelevance of most college football:  For the first time since the days of the Mannings, Tennessee is a top-10 team.
• Two reserve pitchers, one for each of Kansas City and Seattle, were tossed out before yesterday's game.  They decided to have some fun with the National Anthem Showdown -- first to leave loses.  MLB has outlawed the practice in the last couple of years.  (A video from umpire school Close Call Sports shows that, before the outlawing, even CB Buckner was caught smiling at the situation.)
• Greg Gibson was NOT the home plate umpire in the game, nor were the Dodgers celebrating at that game.
• They WERE, however, celebrating clinching home field in the NL over the weekend, winning 2 of 3 over the Cards.  Cards NL Central Magic Number is 3.  Best record in baseball Magic Number for the Dodgers is 4.
• Mets 1 1/2 up on the Braves in the NL East, critical 3-game series in Cobb County this weekend.  Mets 8 to play, Braves 9.
• NL WC:  Braves/Mets in as the 3 seed, whichever does not win the East.  Padres 1 1/2 ahead of the Phillies for the 5 and 6.  Milwaukee 1 1/2 behind the Phillies.  All other teams eliminated.
• Yankees AL East Magic Number is 2, after a shortened game Sunday night over Boston.  Astros Magic Number for #1 AL seed is 4.
• Guardians clinched the NL Central yesterday.  Seven wins in a row and six losses in a row for the White Sox ended that.
  
• AL Wild Card:  Jays 2 up on the Rays.  2 1/2 on the Mariners.  Those are the three teams in.  Orioles 4 back.  White Sox Tragic Number is 3, Minnesota's 1.
• Dodgers 5 1/2 on the Astros for best record in baseball, Magic Number for home field throughout is 4.
• Myles Garrett in a one-car accident last night.  Both he and passenger were wearing their seat belts, no impairment -- alcohol or otherwise.  Bad break for him, obviously.  Non-life threatening.    

 

September 25, 2022 News and Notes

• Oklahoma was the main victim yesterday in college football, eliminated from the CFP consideration with a loss at home to Kansas State.
• Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, and Clemson all won -- varying degrees of difficulty.
• Eliud Kipchoge has the official marathon record down within sixty-nine seconds of the two hour mark.  He ran 2:01:09 in the Berlin Marathon to sever a half-minute from his world record today.  The two-hour stunt he did earlier was not official -- it involved pacing groups, too flat of a course, etc.  It was to prove it was possible.
• Dodgers Magic Number down to 5 for best record in baseball, one over the Mets for best record in the NL.  Asterisks got their 100th win last night, their magic number for the AL is 5.
• The September sumo tournament is over.  
• Carnage at the top:  Terunofuji, the sole Yokozuna, was off form and injured and eventually dropped out.  Ozeki Mitakeumi went 4-11 as kadoban, and is provisionally demoted to Sekiwake.  He must go 10-5 in November or he permanently drops.  Ozeki Shodai is kadoban for the fifth time in two years with a 4-11.
• On the flip side:  Wakatakakage went 11-4 as a Sekiwake, beginning a new set where if he can duplicate that in November and January, he should be promoted to Ozeki.
• The winner?  Maegashira Rank 3 Tamawashi, two wins clear of the field at 13-2.  It is his second championship -- and, as a Maegashira, he gets the Outstanding Performance Award as a bonus.  His other win was in January of 2019.
  
• The Green Bay Police Department has officially apologized to Packer A.J. Dillon for actions during a Lambeau Field international soccer friendly this summer.
  

2022 NFL Week 2 Fine Blotter

Well, three suspensions already.  Let's see what the Fine Blotter holds.  Starting with NFL.com through Tom Pelissero.

• Carolina Panthers:  Xavier Woods (not THAT Xavier Woods), $11,139 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Jacksonville Jaguars:  Marvin Jones, $10,609 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• New Orleans Saints:  The only one Pelissero has reported so far was Marshon Lattimore's fine for his part of it:  $13,367.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Three additional fines, only one or two for the skirmish.  Not related is Devon White's $11,139 for unnecessary roughness.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Leonard Fournette also got $13,367 for his role in the fight.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Carlton Davis, $13,261 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Pelissero notes Tom Brady was not fined.

Others:

• Denver Broncos:  Kareem Jackson got the $5000ish fine for showing too much knee.

So other than the Jackson fine, ALL SIX fines for Week 2 were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct of one form or another.

September 24, 2022 News and Notes

• The NLCS is beginning to look like Cardinals or Barfs, isn't it?  Look, I get the Dodgers have very minimal to play for, but you have to at least TRY.
• It was so bad, the 11-0 win by the Cardinals in Dodger Stadium last night:  Albert Pujols hit TWO home runs last night and got #700!!!
• And if that wasn't two of the most served-up pitches I've seen in such a situation since the Derek Jeter final at-bat...   699 was straight down the middle, 700 was lower and more inside, but still quite in the sweet spot.
• Then get Bickford and Heaney as far away from the playoff rotation as you can.  My anonymous baseball-historian friend notes that the two have absolutely been giving up a ton of those cheapies all season!!
  
• I guess you wanna do it now, but there's a problem:  Pujols provides a perfect angle to fuck you square in the ass without lube next month, Dodgers...  Really.  And you're playing right into the hands at this point. The 1 seed faces the 3-4 winner in the new setup, and, right now, that's Cards-Barfs.
  
• The Mets won to keep the Dodger Magic Number for the NL home field at 3.  The Barfs lost to place them at the precipice at 1.  Mets are now 2 1/2 up on the Barfs in the NL East.
  
• The Asterisks lost to push the best in baseball Magic Number to 6.
• Shakur Stevenson was stripped of the 130 pound belts for failing weight.  He then won his fight with Robson Conceiano.  He appears to be done at 130 and will go to 135.  Money.  There's no money left for him, a light hitting 19-0 with only 9 knockouts, in the division.
  
• Gee, Commissioner Manfred, speaking of bullshit...  Aaron Boone got tossed for the 9th time this year (and 3rd this month), arguing balls and strikes (and, according to umpire-school website Close Call Sports, they've ALL been balls/strikes) in Friday's game at Yankee Stadium after Gerrit Cole thought he got Strike 3 to get out of the inning, just before a 3-run Boston jack tied the game.  Cole got tossed as well.  Suspension?  Any week now???   
• For the record, David Bell of the Reds was tossed nine times by the trade deadline in 2019, and, as a result, had his suspension for his involvement in the Reds-Pirates tirade escalated to six games as a result.   

 

September 23, 2022 News and Notes

• To give you an idea of how bad Rutgers and Iowa are, at least offensively:  The Vegas total for this game, according to BetMGM, is only 33.5.  If that stands, according to Yahoo!, it will be the lowest Vegas total for a college football game since a Pac-10 tilt between Arizona and Oregon State went for 33 in 1995.  And the under hit:  20-11.  
• And the Wisconsin game Iowa had last year totaled 34 at kick -- pushed.  Wisconsin won 27-7.
  
• Iowa had that field goal and two safeties classic to start their season.  A long punt return led to their lone touchdown two weeks ago, and last week Nevada-Reno just has no defense whatsoever.
• Rutgers could only manage 16 points against Temple, and could not score an offensive touchdown.
• Japan seems to be doing quite well in Qatar warmups.  An earlier 4-0 victory was followed up by a 2-0 win today in Germany over the United States.  The main tournament begins in less than two months.  I'm still not sure if I'm going to cover it or boycott it, Russia-style.
  
• A protester at the Laver Cup in London disrupted play by setting a portion of the court near the net on fire.  He also got his arm.  He was protesting the use of private jets in the UK.
  
• Someone else had done the same in a 2022 French Open semifinal with a shirt saying "We Have 1028 Days Left".  March 22, 2025?    
• The Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols home run milestone watches have hit small snags, and there are now only two weeks to go in the baseball season.
• The Celtics owner says a months-long inquiry came before the year suspension for head coach Ime Udoka. That's obvious, sir.  The question you should be asking is why you didn't fire him now -- or is that simply a function that he'd go somewhere else?  There is belief he still will be fired after June 30 of next year, when the suspension ends.   
• There is now an additional charge that Udoka made unwanted sexual remarks to another female staffer.  He's gone.  The only question is the circumstances.  Take this from someone who knows:  This is only going to mushroom.  Udoka will not coach in Boston again.
  
• The ESPN pre-season poll of the best players in the NBA shows the top four players are all foreign.  Steph Curry is the highest American-born player at #5.  4 is Joel Embiid (Cameroon), 3 is Luka Doncic of Slovenia, 2 is Nikola Jokic of Serbia, and #1 is Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece. 
• Vegas screwed around again last night.  Pittsburgh tried for the Stanford-Cal down six, it ended up in their own endzone for a Browns touchdown.  The Over of 40.5 then covered, and at least one bettor lost a parlay on the game for $7,000.
  

Quick baseball:

• Yankees magic number in the AL East is 4.
• Astros magic number for the best record in the AL is 6.
• Dodgers magic number for the best record in the NL is 2 with Cobb County and 3 with the Mets.
• Cardinals magic number for the NL Central is 5.
• Guardians magic number in the AL Central is 6.
  
• Dodgers (who face the Cardinals this weekend in LA) are 5.5 up on Houston for best record in baseball.
• NL wildcard:  Padres are 3 up and Phillies 2.5 up on Milwaukee. Giants elimination Tragic number is 3.
• 
  

2022 Week 2 After Further Review...

Going around the Net...

------------

I'll let this one be "You Be The Judge".  The Tweeter has his opinion on it, I'm kinda 60-40 he's right because Tua.

Rigged NFL

#32 read the play made no move on the ball and #6 falls down in the throwing lane pic.twitter.com/LD9MXmrNke

— Life-Force Aldo 🐚👣🐚 (@Aldo_9111) September 21, 2022

------------

This one looks a bit more concrete.  Almost as bad as the one punt return Brian Tuohy pointed out years and years ago.  Watch the receiver call the very VERY late flag first...

@NFL explain this please. The league is getting more and more rigged. Not even enjoyable to watch. https://t.co/vutVqM4I8Q

— Dakota Joseph (@dakotagardner17) September 21, 2022

-----------

I'm not going to dignify flat-earthers, but they decided they had too much time on their hands and decided to give the 10 biggest rigged plays of the week.

But Jake The Asshole has it, and I have my thoughts:

#10 was the scoop and score to end it in the Cardinal-Raider game.  Can't agree with that.  He's probably thinking either facemask or the receiver never had the ball.  Nope.  Gotta say that one looks good from what I saw.

#9 was a touchdown reception in the Detroit-Washington game.  Dunno about this one either -- if you have a case for this one, it'd probably fall under the "slop play" designation (which we know happens, etc.).  The fact he fell down and was able to get up was only because he was so wide open -- which could be another discussion.  You be the judge yourself.

#8 was a long punt return in the Dallas-Cincinnati game, and you're gonna have to do better than this, bro.  The player falling down may have been blocked out, the third player to fall after falling over his teammate was too far to play the returner.  Maybe some slop on the proceeding through.  My main question, though, was earlier:  Running into the kicker?  Roughing the kicker??  Watch it again.

#7 would definitely fall under the "slop play" discussion.  A clear muff on the part of Pittsburgh punt returner Gunner Olszewski (Name Hall of Fame there!), recovered by the free New England gunner.  First off, a gunner should not be that free on a punt if at all possible.  I can see why it would appear so obvious, since the gunner did give him the requisite by rule cushion to catch.  Asshole is correct, though:  Olszewski is on a 2 year, $4M contract.  Resulting TD provides the necessary points to win, but far before the end.

#6, same game, late first-half touchdown catch by Nelson Agholor.  Asshole is calling "magnets in the gloves" on this one.  Or perhaps even in the shoulder pads.

#5, a Jacksonville rushing touchdown in the shutout win over the Colts, and he might have "slop play" on this one, at least on a couple of the players involved.  The last guy really doesn't appear to make sufficient effort, and maybe one other, but most of the players involved were blocked, etc.

#4 is the pick-six for the Chiefs in the Thursday nighter with the Chargers.  The one question I have which he does not allow for replay:  Was that ball tipped to be the defender having the only play on the ball?  If so, nope.

#3, Miami-Baltimore, but a different play.  Pre-snap, I see three problems already.  It looks like the near-side slot receiver is all but uncovered, as the safety is looking in on Tua.  Asshole points out the cushion the far-side receiver (Tyreek Hill) is getting, but the big one is that the far-side receiver is well in the neutral zone!  COMPLETE whoosh job by the so-called "defender" on the far side, easy six!

#2, Jets-Cleveland.  This was part of the "insane ending", and if you want to tell me that wasn't rigged, watch the guy who was supposed to cover the receiver on this touchdown and tell me that was any degree of legitimate.  (That was the 30-24 touchdown.)

Asshole makes issue of the "idiot" in the Vikings T-shirt at the Jets-Cleveland game, and who would do that?  Someone who swears fealty to the NFL!

Well, those last two, at least, were quite blatant.  So what's his #1?

Rams-Falcons.  Well, if #84 of Atlanta had his magnetized gloves on, that doesn't happen!  You could make the case he bats the ball right to the Rams defender...

But #2 and #3 are better than #1.

Moral:  Might look into these videos more in the year, but it's definitely a YMMV on this guy's opinion and you need to look at the plays yourself.

---------------

But it looks like we have our winner for Rigged Game of the Week for Week 2:  Tua's six-touchdown dismantling of the Ravens.

One more from that game before I look for more:

Why does nobody talk about how the NFL might really be rigged. This is the only thing happening on the field and you miss this? https://t.co/1AppP5O706

— DeeJay (@DeeeBabyyy__) September 20, 2022

 -------------

In closing, I want to give you an instructive exercise:

Watch this play CLOSELY...

I hate the NFL shit is legit rigged. That INT would have changed the game! https://t.co/zP3YBLhv5P

— Brandon (@Diamond_gloves_) September 20, 2022

This is a case where the NFL rigging games actually helps feed the NFL addictions.  Because a lot of people against Buffalo think that was a pick.  It was NOT.

Watch the reverse angle when he finally gets control of the ball -- or does he ever before he goes out of bounds?

Again, WATCH THE PLAY ON THE FIELD.  The games are rigged, but educate yourself because there are a lot of people trying to deceive you on that subject.

And once again, FOOBAW MAN and every toxic thing shows in Cleveland...

This situation is out of motherfucking control, and there's still nine games left for that rapist to serve.

(And make no mistake:  If you think for one goddamned second DeShaun Watson is not DeRapist Rapist and hasn't silenced all of that, you're funny.  Except you're not.)

It is now clear that the fanbase of the Cleveland Browns is about to make this Toxic Masculinity Foobaw Man all but the Mayor of the city.

And the stupidest part is not only will the NFL do nothing about it, but it will applaud it.  To what level the latter will become evident and public will probably depend on something happening about a month before the reinstatement, ifyouknowwhereI'mgoin'...

The latest bullshit has been exposed (and I do not mean the pun here -- I think a lot of these thugs in the parking lots outside Cleveland's stadium would like this quiet!) in a Deadspin article they have so conveniently tried to bury in the last two days.  One of the major pictures was of a mannequin with a represented erection and the sign "Happy Endings Are Not Illegal".

In most states, yes they are, you fucking enabling bastard.

Not only that, but you are not only reducing the person performing massage therapy to that of a sex worker, you are doing the same to the entire art of muscle therapy -- because YOUR THUG RAPIST QUARTERBACK is going to lead you to the Promised Land.

Given this season, the right political climate might actually make that happen.  Squeak out four or five wins before he comes back (though schedule does get rougher after Week 4 in this regard), he goes on a run late-season, and you get a playoff spot at 9-8 or 10-7, and then who knows...

Because there's one important difference between a lot of other teams' bullshit and this:  This has become tied to Foobaw Man -- and not just at the pro level, but at every level probably down to goddamned Pop Warner.

This.  IS.  FOOTBALL!!!

It is clear, as the article notes, that every Ray Rice and Rapistburger jersey that's being broken out indicates this THUG FANBASE actually likes Watson MORE because he's a rapist.

And it's not just the men:  One Tweet actually caught a husband and wife at the game in matching #4 (I assume that will be DeRapist's number once he is able to play).  The husband had "Rubbing" with his nameplate, the wife, "Tugging".  I won't even dignify that shit by embedding it here -- you can see it for yourself at the article linked above.

The fact of the matter is it's not only because he is the star quarterback (and, hence -- even to the disgust of many, simply from the media coverage of the sport itself -- the entire existence of the Cleveland Browns (given not only the guaranteed contract, but giving up the next three first-round picks to get his rapist ass!!!)), but the fact of the matter is that if this were a third-string defensive back, he'd have been cut Day Fucking One.

Or even the starting punter -- amIrite, Buffalo?

September 22, 2022 News and Notes

• The government of Czechoslovakia has told the NHL not to bring Russian players into the country.  The Sharks and Predators play two regular-season games there in about 2 weeks, and each team has one -- no word on whether the NHL will comply or what will happen if they don't...
• Czech legend Dominik Hasek has led the movement for the ban.
• Two regular-season games have been scheduled for Finland around the same time.  No word on whether the Avalanche and Blue Jackets will be asked the same request.
• No home run for Pujols last night, but a 7th inning single broke up Blake Snell's no-hitter.
• There are now actually conspiracy theories surrounding the Mike Evans suspension, because the father of one of the Packer players is the person who upheld it.  I'd believe you if it wasn't clear to God and anybody there was a track record of this.  This was the third major foul of a violent type (the second resulting in a fight -- I expect lots of small "involved in fight" fines in about 48 hours) between Evans and Marshon Lattimore of the Saints, and the second Evans suspension for them.  So the fact that Evans wasn't suspended multiple games should be the end of that scenario.    
• A female University of Utah IDIOT actually said she'd blow up a nuclear reactor on the campus (there apparently is one) if Utah lost to San Diego State.  Terrorist threat charges have been filed.
• Speaking of young IDIOTS...  The latest TikTok trend wise people have to try to talk young people out of is the "Sleepy Chicken Challenge" -- eating chicken cooked in Nyquil.  We're fucked.  We're done.
  
• And the Boston Celtics are about to lose their coach for all of next season.  Head coach Ime Udoka will be banned the entire 2022-23 season for an inappropriate relationship with a female member of his staff.
• It is unclear whether this is a league suspension or a suspension by the Celtics -- but it is largely unprecedented.  It almost HAS TO BE league -- this appears a wildly fire-able offense, even for the head coach of the Eastern Conference champions...    
• Now word this morning that Udoka is considering resignation.  I wouldn't give him the dignity, especially if this is a team/franchise offense.  If this is the Celtics and not the NBA, FIRE HIS ASS AND FIRE IT NOW -- regardless of the fact that reports indicate the relationship is consensual.    
• And the suspension -- a team suspension -- was announced tonight.  Why is he not fired?  Full stop.  No other questions to ask. 
  

 

September 21, 2022 News and Notes

• An executive of the Beyond Meat plant-based meat corporation tried to get some real meat as part of a road rage confrontation when he tried to bite off a person's nose.
• As a result, COO Doug Ramsay has been suspended and he's been arrested for the offense.
• Aaron Judge has hit his 60th home run, tying Babe Ruth and one behind Roger Maris for the AL and legitimate record.
• And on the same night, with just 16 days to go in the regular season, Aaron Judge now has the AL Triple Crown -- the league lead in average, home runs, and runs batted in.
• Interesting that the only three legitimate non-steroid 60 home run seasons were from New York Yankees.   
• 129 former NFL players were named as first-round Modern Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday.
• One of them (and he knows it and said it on his YouTube show yesterday) who does not believe the Knock At The Door will ever come for him is Pat McAfee.
• The WNBA and it's players will refuse to have anything to do with Russia going forward.  Getting one of your players killed (eventually) in a Russian prison will do that for you.   
• Article forthcoming about the increasing toxicity of Cleveland Browns fans -- not only toward DeRapist Rapist.   
• This week is the beginnings of the 51st season of The Price is Right.  The first show was festive and rich.  The second featured a contestant who not only became the first player in two or three decades to wipeout-lose One Away by missing all five digits of the SUV on the first chance, but then blows the bonus spin (when he should've known better!), and then still wins the Showcase.
• No confirmation as to when, how, or how much -- but Michael Davies is proposing a non-scored win-or-lose cash bonus for any contestant who gets all five questions correct in a category on Jeopardy!.
• Robert Sarver is out as the owner of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, adding his name to the Sterling List of racist pieces of shit who have no place in the NBA.
• Evans' appeal has been denied, he sits against the Packers -- as well he should, with the one caveat...

September 20, 2022 News and Notes

• There was great wailing in most baseball circles last night...  
• The Astros won the American League West title last night.
• And the LOLMets are back in the playoffs!!  The great meme has been felled!!  
• And how much is the media going to bury this fact?  Sports Illustrated reports today that the New York Mets now hold the highest payroll in baseball, even surpassing the Dodgers.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... 

Quick baseball primer, about 17 days to go in the season:

• In:  Houston (AL West champs, and (Edit To Add, per MLB.com, also have the first round bye), New York Mets (at least wild card), LA Dodgers (NL West champs, clinched first-round bye last night with win #102, 5-2 over Arizona.
• Eliminated completely:  Kansas City, Detroit, LA Angels, Texas, Oakland in the AL.  Miami, Washington, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and the Cubs in the NL.
• AL East:  Yankees 5.5 on the Rays (Magic Numbers:  Division:  11  Playoffs:  10).
• AL Central:  Guardians 4 on the White Sox (Magic Number:  12)
• It appears as if the six AL teams have been settled, and the byes as well:  Houston and Yankees get the byes (Houston is 8 up for best AL record, Yankees 8.5 up on Cleveland), and Cleveland, Toronto, Tampa, and Seattle will duke it out in round 1.  (Margin to Chicago and Baltimore is 5.5-6.)
• Remaining AL elimination Tragics:  Baltimore 12, Boston 7, Chicago 12, Minnesota 9.
• NL East:  Mets 1 up on the Braves, same in the loss column, so the Braves playoff Magic Number should be about 1 or 2.
• NL Central:  Cardinals have pretty much sealed that deal, 8.5 up on the Brewers and Magic Number is 7.
• Wildcards:  Atlanta (92-55), San Diego (81-66), and Philadelphia (80-66).  Milwaukee 2.5 out.
• Remaining NL elimination Tragics:  San Francisco 3, Arizona 1.
• Dodgers have a bye clinched (9.5 up on the Mets and 10.5 up on the Braves for best NL record -- Magic for that is 6 on both.)
• And for the Dodgers and Astros for best MLB record and guaranteed home field as long as they play off:  Dodgers are 6 up on the Astros.

Other stuff:

• The Boston Celtics will paint-embed the number 6 into their parquet floor to honor Bill Russell.
• The Saudi blood lords have commanded the WWE again.  For the latest blood-money card, Roman Reigns will face...  social-media pretender Logan Paul for the unified championship in late October.  And the word is that the Saudi blood lords actually wanted the influencer as the challenger!!  smacks -- fucking -- forehead...  Thanks, Vince.   
• And it has been announced that Survivor Series will be changed from straight elimination matches to...  dammit, can we get William Regal to say it one time...  WAR GAMES!!!
• The suspensions for the All Out fight are down to just the Elite (Omega and the Bucks) and CM Punk and Ace Steel -- and the word is that, as long as the suspensions are in force, they are wrestling-wide.  No indie/AAA/New Japan dates allowed.  (And this is probably at least another 60 days at this point -- and the longer this goes, the more likely CM Punk and Steele will not be the only terminations, even though all now agree that Punk threw the first punch.  If for no other reason, he knew it was coming and got the jump.)
• How the mighty have fallen...  Emoni Bates, who was believed to be a God headed for the NBA out of high school when he reclassified in 2020 has now transferred after dudding out in 2021, and now faces weapons charges at his new school after a traffic stop overnight into Monday.  His new school has tossed him until the legal problems are resolved.  May be time to consider Europe or China, kid.  Go fuck yourself.
• The latest CFP projections from SI have USC as the #4 team and Tulane named the Group of 5 National Champion from outside the polls.
• It appears at least four, if not more, members of the pandemic cast of Saturday Night Live are leaving the show -- not unexpectedly.
• Both PK Subban and Zdeno Chara have announced their retirements from the NHL this morning.

2022 NFL Week Two Political Rankings

And now, time for the weekly look into the booking of the NFL.

Not really much change this week.

AFC:

1) Buffalo

Well, the Thursday Night and Monday Night (at least the first one) games showed the significant separation of the Bills and Chiefs from the rest of the AFC.  The question is, will the league remember the San Diego State rape case come January?

2) Kansas City

... or, now, the Willie Gay trip into the suspension blotter for a property damage situation?  And if that's four games worth, even as a misdemeanor, there must be a lot more to this story than anyone wants to admit.  For that to be handled in eight months and be four games means that it must've fallen under the domestic violence situation -- he was visiting his son, and the son's mother and Gay got into an argument, and at least it appears only material things were physically damaged in the argument.

Other teams starting 2-0:

Miami:  Hoo boy, you couldn't have called that when Stephen Ross was fined a million dollars, suspended six games, and forfeited a first-round and another draft pick for illegal tampering into trying to get Tom Brady and Sean Payton to come to the Dolphins.  Even so, it does appear that the Tua Express, for the moment, appears to be chugging along.  If anything, it might be that synergy with the ESPN college football rigging/manipulation in play again.

And those are the only three teams in the AFC that are 2-0.  Seriously.  I'll have more to say about that after the NFC, because I think there's a general comment to be made here.

AFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

Nominees:

Andy Reid and his leadership skills:  See above -- has he done it again, which would be about the third or fourth time that off-the-field bullshit has scuttled Kansas City...  AGAIN!

(And before anyone asks:  To the level of the fact that these players are quite expensive assets for their teams, maybe their off-field actions should be monitored far more, especially if the players' mental health (in general and specifically) is in question!)

The Tennessee Titans:  Who wants the AFC South??

crickets

Anyone?  Bueller?  BUELLER????

But the winners, and it's a THREE-WAY TIE this week:

THE BALTIMORE RAVENS:  If there's a team that took a more precipitous drop in that short of time, it's Baltimore when they lost up 21 to the Dolphins.

THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS:  Up 20-0 to the Cardinals and lost -- one has to wonder if, given another chance, the league might not have put a franchise (Raiders or otherwise!) in Las Vegas!

AND THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:  Shut out is one thing.  Shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars is another!  Last one was 2018 -- against the same Colts!

NFC:

1) Tampa Bay

And it's clear to most that Tom Brady is quite distracted by his marital situation -- which is completely self-caused, because Gisele did NOT want Brady to play this season!  As long as they keep winning (and I fully forecast they'll put the Packers to pasture at home next week -- suspension to Evans notwithstanding...), no reason to drop 'em.  There's a reason he's playing this year.  Keep that in mind.

Other 2-0 teams in the NFC:

Philadelphia:  One would have to think Philly is at least being semi-positioned, especially with Brady struggling a tad and a suspension on the books for Tampa right now, as a possible alternative.  Not strong enough YET to actually rank them, but...

The Sentient Derp, errrr.... The New York Giants:  WOT?????  Urinating Tree will never hear the end of this!  Five Points Videos' favorite team is 2-0 somehow!!  That they won the games by a total of four points, and now get Dallas next week, so we can get a good idea as to the state of both teams here...

And that's it.  Only six total, three in each conference, are 2-0.  I'll get to that in a second.  Gotta take care of business.

NFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

Nominees:

Evans, Lattimore, and the NFL front office:  Really, people?  This is at least the third deep-sanctioned incident between the two players, causing a major ruckus and disruption in the games.  You'd THINK that would be worth multiple games for Evans if you're suspending him one, and how does Lattimore get off this with only a fine?

The Chicago Bears:  Still suck.

Winner:

NONE!  Not really as a mercy or anything, but I can't see anything jumping off the paper at me.  The Bucs at least won their game and the Bears do Still Suck.  None of that is earth shattering or at least even causes a small hole when it hits the ground, as it were.

Maybe the Evans-Lattimore fight, but that's more on the NFL front office than anything -- and you do wonder if the MNF rematch is gonna get hyped on that basis, regardless of the records.

But there is a theme here:

Shit football, and evenly matched teams.

I mean, Buffalo is good -- quite good!  Kansas City is decent, and Tampa's defense is quite good...  After that...

...

...

Only six NFL teams enter Week 3 2-0.  Only four, two in each conference, are 0-2 -- and the two teams that tied Week 1 in the AFC South both lost this week for 0-1-1.

So, of the 32 NFL teams, 20 of them are 1-1.  A random distribution would average 16.  (8-16-8)

It appears as if fourth quarters are going to be even more manipulated and crazy this year.  Strap in, if so inclined.

2022 NFL Week Two Score Report and Comments

Well, that MNF doubleheader was underwhelming.  Both games home non-competitive wins, and the reality of football hit hard in the first game when the game had to be stopped for an extended period after a second Buffalo player came crashing in on a tackle already being made, compressing the neck of Buffalo's Dane Jackson the Buffalo player hit his teammate Jackson with a helmet-to-helmet shot by accident.

• 17 in the second for Philly and 24 in the third for Buffalo did in any thoughts of competitive games for the night, and no points in the fourth quarter for either game.
• 43.56 points per game this week, 48.63 last year for Week 2.
• Season average for the 32 games so far is way down:  42.81 this year vs. 48.31 last year vs. over 50 two years ago.
• One of the big numbers:  Home teams went 11-5 this week for 17-14-1 for the year.  Last year:  8-8 for 15-16.
• As might be expected with the low scoring, the Over only went 5-10-1 this week, meaning, out of the first 32 games of the season, only ten have gone over -- 10-21-1.  (Last year:  8-8 for 15-17)
• Against the spread:  Only three covers on Sunday, and one game kicked at even.  (The Detroit string of not being favored, at least per Caesar's, still stands.)  5-9-1 for the week, 13-17-1 for the year.  (Last year:  7-9 for 11-21.)
• Straight up:  9-6 for 19-11-1.  (Last year:  11-5 for 18-14.)
• Team with more penalties was 8-8 this week for 16-14-1.  (Last year:  5-10 for 15-15)
• 196 penalties for the week (12.25 per game).  Last year:  220.  (13.75)
• 400 penalties for the season (12.38 per game)  Last year:  434.  (13.5)
• Four Cliffhangers this week for 10 for the season.  Last year:  3 for 6 for the season.
• Nine games finished within one score, 18 so far for the season.  Last year:  8 for 17.
• Five non-competitive games again this week, 10 so far for the season.  Last year:  5 for 12.  Each of the last three Week 2's now have had five non-competitive games.
• Six Last Chance Misses this week, 12 so far for the season.  Last year:  Two for eight.  (Actually had to do the spreadsheet again on my laptop and saw I missed two!)
  

And the NFL mantra continues:  You might as well just start watching during The Witching Hour -- the fourth quarter that turns losses into wins and wins into losses.  (NFL Redzone actually calls the early-window fourth quarter just that -- and it applied this week!)

This was the Week of the Comeback.

• Easily the biggest upset of the week was Miami popping off after being down 21 against Baltimore and winning.
• And if there's any idea why Miami is 2-0 right now, it appears as if there is an early-season push for Tua Tavaglioa.  SIX touchdown passes in the game.
• The Jets scored two touchdowns in one minute in the last two minutes of the game (in which 21 points were scored) to down Cleveland.
• Not a comeback, but Tampa and New Orleans were 3-3 and then the Tom Bradys went off for 17 to get the 20-10 win.
• 22 unanswered in the middle of the fourth to overtime for the Cardinals to beat the Raiders after the visitors were down 20-0 at halftime.  (Gee, you think the league is trying to tell the Raiders more housecleaning is needed?  YA THINK???)

Additional comments:

• The Packers actually did a touchdown celebration at Lambeau Field Sunday night in the style of the illegal (Federal law, not NFL) tea that Aaron Rodgers is using for his mental health.
• The league is investigating former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, who was on the sideline for some reason and got involved with the latest Evans-Lattimore scrap, for which Evans has been suspended again for a game.  (If you want my impression, since it's a big game he got suspended for anyway, the suspension should've been for the rematch!)
• They didn't even give Jimmy Garropolo a playbook during training camp -- they were so certain he was gone anyway that the 49ers feared he'd give his new team the plays.  Now, Jimmy G is the starter for the rest of the season after Trey Lance had season-ending surgery on his ankle -- two injuries, he probably broke it twice!
• There is an investigation in Las Vegas today, as a fan has been alleged to have struck Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray after the game.  (Gee, you think the league is trying to tell the Raiders more housecleaning is needed?  YA THINK???)

NFL Week Two SUSPENSION Blotter

A huge fight broke out as Tom Brady got involved with the New Orleans Saints -- doesn't it seem like Tampa and New Orleans get into some of the bigger kerfluffles in the league when they meet?

Well, we have Supplemental Discipline for the first time this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Mike Evans suspended for the Packer game next week for blindside cheap shotting a New Orleans player in the pile.

This is, in fact, the THIRD such incident Evans has been sanctioned for in a confrontation with New Orleans' Marshon Lattimore.  A 2017 fight cost him a game, a 2020 confrontation cost him about $10,000.

It is quite probable that the league took those two actions into consideration -- he can appeal, but I expect it will fail because this is the third such incident between the two in five years in which Evans has committed a major foul.

This will cost him $764,705 of salary.  It will apply a $50,000 penalty toward accumulative fines (if the policy still exists -- the NFL hasn't published the relevant number in years!!!).

It is the first suspension for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season.

Especially because this was the third such incident, I'm not sure I wouldn't have set the beginning level at at least two games and then reduced it to one on appeal.

The two teams meet again in Tampa Bay Week 13, December 5th, Monday Night Football...

ETA:  Another one, and this one could also shake things up...

Kansas City Chiefs:  Willie Gay, four games for a personal conduct violation from a January misdemeanor property damage event.

Will cost him about $250,000.  Since it's off the field, it doesn't count against any accumulated fine situation.

Also the first suspension against Kansas City this year.

Gee, if Buffalo loses tonight, could this open the door a crack for another year of complete chaos???

And ANOTHER Supplemental on Tuesday from the Monday Night games:

Buffalo Bills:  Bobby Hart sits a game for throwing a punch in a post-game incident and hitting a Tennessee Titans coach.  The coach was not the target of the swing.

September 19, 2022 News and Notes

• I'll cover Week 2 in it's own regular posts.
• Last night, even Big Ben fell to reverence.  A minute of silence for the death of Queen Elizabeth II at 8 PM London time last night was to be marked by tolls of Big Ben -- except the clock malfunctioned and no chime was heard.  It, too, fell to silence.
• This has, apparently, been resolved, and importantly, too:  Big Ben will toll continuously after the funeral this morning as the Queen's coffin is taken from Westminster Abbey through London and heading to Windsor Castle for further ceremonies.
• And apparently, either in a speech given beforehand or in a statement (since President Biden is in London for the Queen's Funeral), Biden has declared the pandemic over.  Lost.  We have lost to COVID, and will pay that penalty now and in the next few years.  The White Right has won and will get it's wave of death...
• And that's to say nothing of the Nazi rally with Trump in Ohio on Saturday night, nor the follow-up Q-Fest with PA gubernatorial candidate Mastriani on Sunday.
• We cannot get out of this sanely at this point.  Something drastic is going to have to happen, come what may, or we will lose this country and at least half of it's population.   

September 18, 2022 News and Notes

• High drama and criminality in French women's soccer.  Aminata Diallo has been arrested and held without bond for conspiring with four men for one attack on a player on the team she was released from at the end of last season (Paris-St. Germain's women's side), and, even while under investigation, but released for the first attack, planning a second!  Why does it seem that we are getting more and more "beyond the pale" motifs here?   
• The reality that most college football teams do not measure up hit BYU (three-touchdown loss to Oregon) and Houston (fight between two wide receivers on the sideline during a loss to Kansas) yesterday.
• Georgia 48-7 at South Carolina.  Alabama disposed of Louisiana-Monroe 63-7.  Ohio State hung SEVENTY-SEVEN on Toledo.  Michigan canned UConn 59-0.  Penn State 41-12 at Auburn.  Clemson by four touchdowns over Louisiana Tech.  Tennessee and Oklahoma State hung 60s on FBS-II or FCS opponents.  And Deadspin is blatantly calling for a Black coach at Nebraska, after Oklahoma spotted them the first 7 and then won 49-14.  Just fold the damn program at Nebraska -- they've NEVER COMING BACK, especially with that racist claptrap being posed as a solution!   
• With BYU's loss, it is possible Marshall will be the only non-Power 5 team in the AP poll and no non-Power 5 teams in the Coaches Poll, three weeks in.  If that holds to the end of the season, then the CFP Committee basically names a Group of 5 "National Champion" for the slough-off.
• Is this year "Save the Pac-12" Year for the CFP?  Of the 14 ESPN analysts projecting the Top 4 way too early, 12 are picking a Pac-12 team for #4.  10 USC, 1 Oregon, 1 Washington.
• The University of Oregon has apologized for chants directed against BYU and their Mormon fans.
• A joyful commemoration of the late Queen at this weekend's returning Premier League matches:  For the 70 years in reign, the 70th minute of every match will feature a full minute of applause.
• The world says goodbye tomorrow -- the funeral is tomorrow, early morning in the US.
• The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Championship today, three games to one over the Connecticut Sun.  It's the first pro championship of any kind for Las Vegas.
• Speaking of the two away (from 700) for Albert Pujols, Aaron Judge hit two home runs on Sunday for the Yankees to get two away from Roger Maris' AL (and drug-free/legitimate) record.
• Herm Edwards has been fired at Arizona State.  Not only does the team suck again, but the university is under investigation for illegal recruiting practices under the COVID protocols.
• Nebraska's defensive coordinator has joined Scott Frost on the unemployment line after Oklahoma made their defense their bitch.

2022 NFL Week 1 Fine Blotter

Might try this, at least as long as I can actually get the information -- which, if like the last couple of years, might be only a couple weeks...

(SIGNIFICANT Sunday Morning update per an NFL.com Around The League post.)

• Los Angeles Rams:  Justin Hollins, $5,361 for a horse-collar tackle.
• Los Angeles Rams:  Matt Gay was fined $5,035 for his pants being too short.  He now has question as to whether he can effectively do his job as a kicker, and could well be fined again for making his grievance quite public!
• Houston Texans:  Jerry Hughes, same fine, same offense, same reaction (except he's a defensive lineman)
• San Francisco 49ers:  Charles Omenihu, yep, same drill!
• Detroit Lions:  Tracy Walker, $11,139 for two personal fouls, one of them a punch for which he got ejected from the game.
• Buffalo Bills:  Stefon Diggs:  $10,609 for taunting.  No flag was thrown.
• Buffalo Bills:  Dane Jackson:  $4,972 for taunting.
• Carolina Panthers:  To actually cement the rigging, Brian Burns was fined $15,914 for that roughing the passer penalty against the Browns.
• Seattle Seahawks:  Jamal Adams:  $10,609 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Denver Broncos:  Javante Williams, $11,914 for unnecessary roughness.  My guess:  Lowering helmet to initiate contact, given the Tweet I'm reading?
• Denver Broncos:  Jonathan Cooper:  $4,723 for taunting.
• Houston Texans:  Jalen Pitre, $9,145 for a helmet foul.
• Cincinnati Bengals:  Ja'Marr Chase:  $23,870 for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.  Only one of the two was flagged.  There needs to be a rule in the CBA that if a disqualification event occurs which the refs do not call, the league can automatically suspend.  Chase needs to sit this game.   
• None of three different hits by Pittsburgh's Minkah Fitzpatrick, two of which flagged, were fined.  Between that and a missed TD for Cincinnati, I think we have our winner for Week 1's Rigged Game of the Week!

I know some of these numbers look like complete jokes, (and they are) but it sounds to me they are more correctly announcing the fines which are applicable to the salaries of the players this year (and the last couple), rather than what they did in previous years. 

That's it, as of about noon PDT Saturday.

There are some preseason fines I need to toss in (Source on these, Spotrac):

• San Francisco 49ers:  George Odum, $5,035, uniform violation
• San Francisco 49ers:  Malik Turner, $5,750 for a helmet foul
• Washington Commanders:  Reggie Bonafon:  $4,972 for taunting
• New York Jets:  Quincy Williams:  $10,609 for a late hit
• Dallas Cowboys:  Dante Fowler Jr.:  $10,609 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

September 16, 2022 News and Notes

• Roger Federer is retiring after the next major international men's team event later this year.
• The Giants got their first Week 1 win last week since 2016.
• The Browns, since 2004!!
• Yesterday was Roberto Clemente Day in MLB.  The Rays, today, trotted out an all-Latin-American starting lineup, a first in the history of the majors.
• The minority owner of the Suns wants the majority owner out after his suspension.
• At least one team sponsor is leaving the team if the majority owner isn't put out...
• ... and the NBPA doesn't think it went far enough and wants the majority owner Sterlinged -- banned completely.
• In a surprising decision, probably largely on procedural grounds (as the Jewish university jumped the gun several times to try to capitalize on the American Taliban in the Supreme Court), the US Supreme Court, earlier this week, published a 5-4 decision forcing Yeshiva University to recognize an LGBT student club.
• Instead, they apparently are choosing today, the other option...  Yeshiva University has terminated activities for ALL school clubs until it can figure out what to do next.  (Much like, as one lawyer for the club points out, Jackson, Mississippi, where, 50 years ago, rather than desegregate their swimming pools, they just closed them all.)
• Economic realities have finally claimed the record Broadway show -- the longest-running Broadway show in history, "Phantom of the Opera", closes in late February, 2023 after just over 35 years and over 12,000 performances.
• Incoming problems for the Nationals, it appears.  They may be in need of an immediate new ballpark, because the District of Columbia is threatening to shut down Nationals Park because the people who made it also promised to develop the area around it into a hub for commerce and the like.  They want out of that agreement, citing the pandemic, etc.
• Two away for Pujols now.  He gets #698 tonight, and still has almost three weeks to get two more.

And here are the NFL Week 1 ratings numbers for 2022...

Sports Media Watch is the source...

Monday Night:  Dualcast and a Manningcast, so ESPN/2/ABC all got involved in this one.

11.1 rating, 19.84 million viewers.

Best Week 1 game since 2000!!!  Now, that it was on five networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, the online ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes all carried the first Monday Mass of the year) cannot be underestimated here.

In fact, it was the highest MNF game at all since 2009, third all-time on the ESPN MNF watch, behind two 2009 games (a Tom Brady game against the Saints, and Brett Favre returning to Green Bay!).

It's a 1/6 increase over last year's MNF doubleheader.  This week, a staggered doubleheader on the ESPN/ABC networks on Monday.  One game at 7:15 Eastern, the other at 8:30!

Sunday Night:  Buccaneers/Cowboys delivered as expected.  Even with a completely lackluster game and a blowout win for the Tom Bradys and the TB12 drug program, the game still drew 23.3 million viewers for NBC.  That's about a 1/3 increase in viewership over last year's Week 1 in SNF.

Sunday National (FOX, featuring Packers-Vikings):  9.2 rating, 18 1/2 million viewers.  Up 10% ratings and 12% viewers over last year.

Sunday Regional (FOX, featuring Bears-49ers):  6.4 rating, 12.15 million viewers, and that's 7% up in both counts over last year.

Sunday National (CBS, featuring Chiefs-Cardinals):  8.3 rating, 16.62 million viewers, but that was down 17% ratings, 16% viewers from last year.

Sunday Regional (CBS, featuring Steelers-Bengals):  The chicanery of Roger Goodell worked!!  8.7 rating, 17.39 million viewers, up 16% ratings, 21% viewers and the best CBS Regional window for a Week 1 since 1998.

Thursday Night Opener final numbers:  10.8 rating, 19.94 million viewers on the TV, another 1.75 million on streaming).  About a 10% drop in both numbers.

So maybe pushing Buffalo and Arizona ISN'T such a good idea????

September 13, 2022 News and Notes

• The Dodgers made the playoffs so early this season, MLB got confused and actually gave them their stuff a day early to celebrate.  They formally clinched last night, but got their stuff Sunday night, forgetting a possible issue where the Phillies, Barfs, and Cardinals could pass them, and the Cardinals are one of the few teams who actually had a winning record over the Dodgers.
• Their magic number for the NL West is one.
• Britt Reid has pled out on his attempted-murder DUI, the family is pissed.  Oh gee, what a motherfucking shock in all respects.
  
• The fall season of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune started last night.
• Indications now abound that the suspensions for The Elite in All Elite Wrestling will go past the Full Gear pay-per-view a week before Thanksgiving, meaning 90 days, at least?  Might as well send Omega and the Bucks to Japan for a New Japan program around Wrestle Kingdom.    
• In a game last night, home plate umpire Ron Kulpa tossed both managers on the same play.  Terry Francona of the Guardians for arguing being unable to appeal a hit by pitch (he'd have lost, but it was in time, according to umpire-school YouTube account Close Call Sports), and then Angels manager Phil Nevin for Kulpa not allowing his pitcher warm-up throws after Francona went off!  My anonymous baseball-historian friend can't find a (non-fight) example of this either, nor can CCS!!    
• It appears the next team on the block for a racist owner is the Phoenix Suns.  For even an investigation into the use of the N-word, Adam Silver has thrown out the owner, Robert Sarver, for one year and fined him $10,000,000.  He doesn't play around, people -- nor do the Black players that make up about 80% of his league!!  (and hat-tip to my anonymous friend who found the story)  
• And it's "good" to see that English soccer fans aren't the only fucked-up ones. Bayern Munich fans aren't caring for the delays and visiting-fan bans for Queen Elizabeth II's passing, unfurling large banners at their Champions League match with Barcelona saying to "Respect Fans".
• RESPECT FANS???  WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE???  This is the kind of bullshit which has me think the entire CONCEPT of fandom is dangerously toxic.  HOLY FUCK!!!     
• If visiting fans are barred from a UK match due to these measures, the UK team's fans will be banned from the return group match in the interest of fairness. 
• Something has happened for the first time in nearly an NFL season and a half:  Since their opponent is the Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions are actually FAVORED to win for the first time in 24 games.
• And the Giants are favored to win their game over Carolina, their first favorite position in 16 games.
  

2022 NFL Week 1 Political Report

I was going to title this something else, at least the first several weeks -- and then forgot I actually DID plan to do weekly of this from the start last season, so here ya go.

The biggest story here is basically two-fold, joined at the elbow:

1) There's going to be a lot of teams basically in about the same stew this year, talent-level wise, meaning a lot of close games.

2) There's going to be a lot of shit football played this year.

Cincinnati-Pittsburgh?  Check.

Denver-Seattle??  Check.

I would not be surprised at all if we do get a record number of Cliffhangers this season (averaged per week, to equate to the 18-week schedule).

It's kind of hard for me to go much further than I did in my predictions, but if I did, I'd note three teams really appeared to separate themselves this week:  Kansas City, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay.

Buffalo took the defending Super Bowl Champs and basically invalidated any thought that the team legitimately won the title last year with a shocking performance Thursday night.

Kansas City took Arizona to school in a slightly less surprising result (with the injuries and personal-conduct/drug issues Arizona has had with the NFL in the offseason).

And Tampa...  might just have finished off Jason Garrett AND Dak Prescott in Dallas with that performance.

I mean, yes, Week 1, but might as well rank a few.

AFC:

1) Buffalo  

That was quite a piece of work they put together against the Rams last Thursday.  Really cemented the concept that the Bills are seen as the best team in the NFL in a shoot sense.  And, with some of the other discussions this week, might well have put significant distance between them and the AFC.

2) Kansas City

3) Baltimore

4) LA Chargers

This is ALMOST a 3 and 3A here.  Lamar Jackson probably decides it, but, for the moment, there you are.

HUH??:  Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Miami also won.

AFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

NOMINEES:

New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, who officially said he's "taking receipts" from all the haters of the Jets after another dud performance.

REALLY...  The Jets haven't had a winning season since 2015, nor a playoff berth since 2010.

YOUR FRANCHISE IS A JOKE.  Put that down for a receipt, coach!  Your franchise doesn't even belong in a league above the USFL!

The Denver Broncos, who fumbled TWICE inside the 1 yard line and had so little faith in the offense that, instead of trying a 4th and 5 from the Seattle 46 with a minute left, let the clock run down to 20 seconds and tried a 64 yard field goal, which went wide left.  The 12 penalties were also a week high.

The Tennessee Titans, who lost to The Sentient Derp in Week 1!!

The New England Patriots, who probably pulled a Dallas, except for the fact that they lost to Miami!!!  That is a close second...

BUT YOUR WINNER:

THE CINCINNATI BUNGLES, who bungled their way to 5 turnovers, a missed field goal and a missed extra point, either of which would've won the game -- and they lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the beginnings of their defense of the AFC Championship.

NFC:

1) Tampa Bay

If the Thursday nighter was a piece of work, this was artistry, and on both sides of the ball.  They took a team that most would've considered at least an outside contender and basically ended their season Week One.  And, if this week is any indication, they're three weeks from taking out another bag of trash.

There really isn't a #2 at this point -- I probably would've said that anyway, but there you go.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

The NFC East, outside Dallas.  All three other teams won.

Chicago, who stunned San Francisco in the slop.

Minnesota, who, once again, exposed the idiocy in Green Bay and should get the Packers to at least take some live reps in the preseason for their starters....  any millenium now...

NFC DUD OF THE WEEK:

NOMINEES:

Arizona Cardinals and NFL Karma:  You think some of those discipline problems and the like didn't come back to bite you square in the ass?

LA Rams:  The whole point of the Super Bowl Championship Party opener is NOT to lay that kind of an egg.  Remember how much of a bandwagon Showtime can be, and you'll realize how paper-thin your margin of error actually IS out there!

Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett, and whatever approximated a game plan or God knows what for the Cowboys this week:  The only reason you didn't win outright is that there was at least an expectation that Tampa and TB are trying to lay down the rubber to make the risk to Tom Brady's marriage worth it this season!  But not only do you lose the game by a margin which makes 19-3 look cuddly, you basically jailbreak a screen pass in the fourth quarter, the screen largely fails, and your quarterback breaks his hand on the rushers, out 6-8 weeks.  Season...  over??

San Francisco 49ers:  For a team which seems to have the number of the owner of the Chicago Bears, THAT sucked WORSE than the Bears usually do!

Atlanta Falcons:  As I once told the now-manager of Debbie Gibson:  "Again???"  ANOTHER TWO-TOUCHDOWN LEAD BLOWN because you're Atlanta and have no idea how to finish a game??

BUT YOUR WINNER, BARELY NOSING OUT THE RAMS, COWBOYS, AND 49ERS:

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS, THEIR PRESEASON PHILOSOPHY, AND THE RIGHT WING PIG AT QUARTERBACK, AARON "I NEVER SAW A RED HAT I DIDN'T LIKE" RODGERS:

As I told same manager:  "Again???"

For the second year in a row, and everybody could've seen this coming (so much so, the late money moved the game the better part of four points in the spread, GB -2 to MIN -2), Green Bay basically used Week 1 as the old Week 3 of a four-week preseason, as they decided to actually, once again, make a game that counts a dress rehearsal, and laid down.

That's bad enough.

But then, your quarterback decides he wants to go full-on MAGAt with the likes of Joe Rogan (and I'm sure I could sense that old Portnoy sow from Barfstool at some point in the equation too!), with statements like he knows California is going down into the shitter, etc.

Dude, WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS TO EVEN THINK YOU CAN POP YOUR TRAP LIKE THAT?

I get it.  I do.  I lived in rural Wisconsin, where you went to your first Mass in the fall at 8 or 10 AM, and then had your second Mass in front of your television set as the Packers played at noon most Sundays.

But at SOME POINT, Packers, you have to understand when the season is 0-0 and decide you're going to take matters seriously!  And at SOME POINT, Aaron, you need to shut up and play.  Because to even be in position that a Red Tsunami would get you political points toward maybe actually winning a Super Bowl (Hell, getting to one...), you have to win games like that, starting Week 1.