So when are these motherfuckers going to come after people like me and Brian Tuohy?
Lauryn Hill (formerly of the Fugees) has been sentenced to 3 months in jail for tax evasion.
That should be a red flag right there, vis-a-vis that Hill is a celebrity.
Today, at least according to the various conspiracy websites, we find out probably WHY she got jailed.
In addition to the jail sentence, Hill was sentenced to counseling -- for voicing conspiracy theories as to who really controls the music industry!
This is purported to be from Hill's Tumblr account. This is the apparent post in question.
Anyone who's paid an ounce of attention, from Elliot Spitzer (who investigated the payola of the labels, and paid for it with his political career with the call-girl scandals) to Dan Moldea (the one and same from Interference, as one of his previous books, Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, the MCA, and the Mob, tied Ronald Reagan's 1980 Presidential victory to influence from the record company MCA, and the ties of MCA to the Mob!) should find that Hill's claim that the record industry is controlled by a "media protected military-industrial complex" is completely unsurprising.
I fully recall being on USENET about a lifetime ago, and was asked the simple question as to whether the fact that my favorite performers of the day were not at the top of the charts was my "evidence" for that the charts were rigged.
Let's get this all straight right now.
Whether it's drugs, sex, rape, blacklisting, violence, death itself... Every chart, every music award, everything in the music industry is controlled. The artists have no voice -- the fans, even less!
I know of stories about my favorite performers over the course of the last 20 or so years that would make your stomach turn. Yeah, you heard about the concert tours and the like -- how about the Xanax and being in the emergency rooms hooked up to IV's just to make it to that next commitment that the record company just HAS TO HAVE..
How about the very real possibility and rumor that the very future people have with the record label comes with "expectations" -- that, the moment the time is right, they have to "put out"? Heard a lot of the rumors, and I believe most of them, especially with some of the ramifications of what is known to have occurred at about those times.
The bottom line is not only that Lauryn Hill was jailed for trying to expose this, but she's also now going to be attempted to be "re-educated". I can almost bet you money that an open threat to her life, face-up, will be made in this "counseling". She either shuts her god-damn mouth -- she is told -- or she is killed.
Whoever is "running the show" runs the music industry, controls every place on the charts. Yes, even the Carly Rae Jaspen and Psy phenomena -- Psy especially, the K-Pop Idol scene is one of the most abusive music machines in the world!
In dabbling on YouTube, I've seen videos of claims that the entire music industry is controlled by the Satanic Illuminati, up to and including the deaths of the likes of Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson. Beyonce, in her Super Bowl halftime show, actually caused a mainstream media buzz when, in forming her hands into a triangle, she actually acknowledged ties and gave tribute to the Illuminati for being placed in such an illustrious and profitable position.
(For the record, it is largely believed by such YouTube presentations that they can establish certain ties which would indicate forced "tribute" to the Illuminati by all relevant performers. The pyramid symbol with the All-Seeing Eye (which is also on the Great Seal of the United States -- don't believe me? Check your $1 bill!), the hand gestures previously-decribed, various other Satanic symbols interspersed subliminally into videos (Rihanna's "Umbrella" is a prominent example given by those presentations.), etc. In fact, I just saw one this morning (completely unrelated to this story) which compared pictures in their youth of a number of entertainment performers (Beiber, Bynes, the Olsons, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, etc.) to some of the edgier pictures of their "adulthood", the claim being the Illuminati )
Do I believe it's the Illuminati? Not really, but, if I did believe the music industry was controlled by the Illuminati, then everything else would be controlled by them.
The thing is, there is a central entity which does control everything, and those who believe that the games and charts are legitimate are either too naive not to realize they've been lied to, or, frankly, too stupid to have an intelligent conversation with -- they're too far gone. And Hill is right, the media has it's back and it is part of the MIC.
I've made no secret, for example, that the government has and continues to dabble in the politics surrounding game-fixing.
The three Super Bowl Championships of the Patriots? Government propaganda -- it's one of the reasons you look at especially that game with the Rams and you have real questions.
When you look at the acts that have populated much of the top of the charts over the last 20 years or so, is it any surprise that the NFL pushed the Rapist-burger/Harrison Steelers to two titles or gave Ray Lewis a second Super Bowl title he never should've earned?
(You want an idea of how bad the NFL can be in that regard? Even after going after Reagan, the MCA, and the Mob in Dark Victory, Moldea wrote Interference, and, according to Patrick Hruby, Moldea's father Emil warned him not to publish the book. Dan did, and admitted it ruined his career.)
When you look at the conduct glorified by the entertainment industry and the only raison'd'étre of the public schools as simply athletic factories and social engineering experiments, do stories such as Stubenville, Ohio or the girl who had a rape claim in Michigan rebuffed because they didn't to compromise the rapist's collegiate/professional athletic chances surprise anybody?
As I say to friends of mine from time to time, it all comes from the same place. And, sometimes, when it is clear that a person with enough power, influence, and position does not pay the proper tribute and Know Their Role and Shut Their Mouth (tm The Rock -- the new American motto), they get blacklisted, nailed, and, yes, in Hill's case, jailed.
Much of what happens to and by many of the people in power is controlled and protected. Lose that control and protection, and the person almost certainly loses their career, if not their sanity, if not their life.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Throw this contemptible idiot out of baseball now, Selig, or resign and put someone in who will!
So the fucking poker games weren't enough to send Alex Rodriguez past Pete Rose on the Banned List?
How about the steroid admission on top of it?
How about the Biogenesis investigation that Selig is deliberately sitting on? (Probably because it involves far more names, and most of the _names_ baseball has (at least on the batting side), than we've heard so far...)
And now, Sports Illustrated reports that Alex Rodruigez, probably the single most corrupt active athlete in the four major sports (and, as you well know, that takes doing!!) is cleared for baseball activities, three months ahead of schedule.
Yep, Biogenesis.
Selig, either throw this motherfucker out, get someone in your place who will, or risk someone doing it for you.
How about the steroid admission on top of it?
How about the Biogenesis investigation that Selig is deliberately sitting on? (Probably because it involves far more names, and most of the _names_ baseball has (at least on the batting side), than we've heard so far...)
And now, Sports Illustrated reports that Alex Rodruigez, probably the single most corrupt active athlete in the four major sports (and, as you well know, that takes doing!!) is cleared for baseball activities, three months ahead of schedule.
Yep, Biogenesis.
Selig, either throw this motherfucker out, get someone in your place who will, or risk someone doing it for you.
Friday, May 3, 2013
A Lot of (Succ)Sex Leads A Female Reporter To Be Fired... For Being A Female
When I first heard this story, I laughed like almost everyone else.
Then I heard the rest of the story, and then talked to some friends about it, and it, as usual, has gotten completely out of hand!
Susannah Collins, outside the Chicago Blackhawk locker room just before Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, made reference to Chicago's President's Cup winning season.
It was how she did it that should've been the subject of chuckles, web fame, and maybe 15 minutes having to explain a pretty bad (though, and I say this as a person who's done college radio, very reasonable) Freudian Slip:
For this, she was FIRED today by Comcast Sports Network, and many believe it was at the insistence of the Blackhawks.
For the record, this is the same outfit that has not (YET!) fired Kendall Gill for assaulting a male counterpart after a heated discussion of a foul in a Chicago Bulls game.
The official reasoning is that the network claims that Collins' Freudian Slip has put light on raunchy parody videos she used to do on a sports parody show.
To wit I have one thing to say, and ignore the video part of the context here:
How much of bullshit is this? How much of this is "Get that fucking woman back in an outfit like this Stephanie McMahon job, her only real presence in sports?"
(Yes, that IS actually Stephanie McMahon. Pretty much present-day.)
Anyhow: So how do I know that being the only justified place that the Blackhawks and Comcast Sports Network believe a woman has in sports?
Well, try no less than these:
Then I heard the rest of the story, and then talked to some friends about it, and it, as usual, has gotten completely out of hand!
Susannah Collins, outside the Chicago Blackhawk locker room just before Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, made reference to Chicago's President's Cup winning season.
It was how she did it that should've been the subject of chuckles, web fame, and maybe 15 minutes having to explain a pretty bad (though, and I say this as a person who's done college radio, very reasonable) Freudian Slip:
For this, she was FIRED today by Comcast Sports Network, and many believe it was at the insistence of the Blackhawks.
For the record, this is the same outfit that has not (YET!) fired Kendall Gill for assaulting a male counterpart after a heated discussion of a foul in a Chicago Bulls game.
The official reasoning is that the network claims that Collins' Freudian Slip has put light on raunchy parody videos she used to do on a sports parody show.
To wit I have one thing to say, and ignore the video part of the context here:
How much of bullshit is this? How much of this is "Get that fucking woman back in an outfit like this Stephanie McMahon job, her only real presence in sports?"
(Yes, that IS actually Stephanie McMahon. Pretty much present-day.)
Anyhow: So how do I know that being the only justified place that the Blackhawks and Comcast Sports Network believe a woman has in sports?
Well, try no less than these:
- Courtesy of The Howard Stern Show and YouTube, the honorable Vin Scully.
- This one is about as bad of at least a near-slip as the Susannah Collins one. Outside the Lines, ESPN, and a discussion on the lack of African-American jockeys in horse-racing led to this head-scratcher that got Bob Ley shook up pretty good. (From Deadspin)
- Reggie Miller letting his inner Golden State Warrior out in classic fashion last night. (Deadspin again)
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Studying the NBA Playoffs: Part I
FIRST ROUND COMPLETE.
Brian's doing his normal Free Throw Attempt analysis (and we've already got two live ones in the first six games) of the 2013 NBA Playoffs, but cannot, this year (due to time -- recent surgery and the release of his next book, Larceny Games, later this year interfering), go to spreads or Over/Under stuff.
Well, thank the people at VegasInsider.com for the information, and here's what we find so far:
Source: Vegasinsider.com
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
BOS-NYK: (NY Knicks win series 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 20): Knicks 85 - Boston 78
NYK: -7.5 (with one -8) (NO COVER)
O/U: 189-190 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 23): Knicks 87 - Boston 71
NYK: -6.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 186-187 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 3 (Apr 26): Knicks 90 - Boston 76
BOS: -2.5 - -3 (UPSET)
O/U: 183.5 - 184 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Boston 18 - Knicks 8
FTM: Boston 14 - Knicks 3
Can't fault the refs on trying on that one. Fact is, the better team is established. The NBA record for fewest free throws made in a playoff game is 2. (Toronto actually went an entire regular-season game without making any!) Milwaukee got that 5/24/01 at Philadelphia. They, too, won the game.
Game 4 (Apr 28): Boston 97 - Knicks 90 (Overtime)
NYK: -1.5 - -2.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 181 - 182 (OVER, but needed the overtime to do it, was 84-84 at the end of regulation)
Game 5 (May 1): Boston 92 - Knicks 86
NYK: -8 (UPSET #2)
O/U: 183 (JUST UNDER)
Game 6 (May 3): Knicks 88 - Boston 80
NYK: -2 - -2.5 (COVER)
O/U: 180.5 - 181.5 (UNDER)
FTA: Boston 33 - Knicks 16
FTM: Boston 26 - Knicks 13
It's pretty clear that there were some efforts (probably Marathon-related) to push Boston at least a little bit in this series. The facts are that the Knicks are probably the one major perceived threat to get a game or so off the Heat before The Finals. That and David Stern is an unabashed Knicks homer.
Covers were 2-4 with 3 outright upsets. Over was 1-5 in a very low-scoring series.
BKN-CHI (Chicago wins series 4-3):
Game 1 (Apr 20): Brooklyn 106 - Chicago 89
BKN: -4 to -4.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 182 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Complete reversal of the first two games of the first day (BOS-NYK, DEN-GS)
Game 2 (Apr 22): Chicago 90 - Brooklyn 82
BKN: -5 to -6 (UPSET)
O/U: 182.5 - 183.5 (UNDER)
First upset of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
Game 3 (Apr 25): Chicago 79 - Brooklyn 76
CHI: -3.5 - -4 (NO COVER, BARELY)
O/U: 181.5 - 182 (UNDER, NOT EVEN CLOSE)
Game 4 (Apr 27): Chicago 142 - Brooklyn 134 (3 Overtimes)
CHI: -2.5 (COVER)
O/U: Irrelevant, really, with 3 overtimes. Obviously, the game went OVER. That said: The number was 176-177 (so the game went over by ONE HUNDRED POINTS with the three overtimes, but the game was 111-111 at the end of regulation, over by 45-46 points -- the game went over very early in the 4th quarter)
Think this helped?
FTA: Brooklyn 45 - Chicago 29 (Reg: BKN 35 - CHI 24)
FTM: Brooklyn 29 - Chicago 20 (Reg: BKN 22 - CHI 17)
Not a rig for the result, but, in a tournament bereft of drama, perhaps the NBA wanted to manufacture some.
Game 5 (Apr 29): Brooklyn 110 - Chicago 91
BKN: -5.5 - -6.5 (COVER)
O/U: 179.5 - 180.5 (OVER AND NOT CLOSE)
Game 6 (May 2): Brooklyn 95 - Chicago 92
BKN: PICK - -1 (COVER, FOR THOSE WHO HAD BKN -1)
O/U: 183.5 - 184 (OVER)
FTA: Brooklyn 33 - Chicago 18
FTM: Brooklyn 22 - Chicago 13
Gee, why you think this series is going 7?
(ADD: It's now the only first-round series that will!)
Game 7 (May 4): Chicago 99 - Brooklyn 93
BKN: -7 - -7.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 182 - 183 (OVER)
FTA's were 20-13 to Brooklyn.
The one series to go 7, it sounds like they let this thing get to 7 and manufacture as much drama as they can. Not like it's going to matter, winner gets swept by Miami anyway.
Favorites were 4-3 against the number. Over was 5-2.
IND-ATL (Indiana wins series 4-2):
Game 1 (Apr 21): Indiana 107 - Atlanta 90
IND: -7 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 184-185.5 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Indiana 34 - Atlanta 14
FTM: Indiana 30 - Atlanta 7
Looks like a high-level screw there. Fouls were only 26-19 though.
Game 2 (Apr 24): Indiana 113 - Atlanta 98
IND: -7 (ANOTHER BIG COVER)
O/U: 187 (OVER: AND NOT REALLY CLOSE)
FTA: Indiana 29 - Atlanta 20
FTM: Indiana 21 - Atlanta 11
It was clear who was getting the push until the venue changed...
Game 3 (Apr 27): Atlanta 90 - Indiana 69
ATL: -1.5 - -2 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 189.5 (UNDER AND NOT CLOSE)
Game 4 (Apr 29): Atlanta 102 - Indiana 91
ATL: -1 - -1.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 187 - 187.5 (OVER)
FTA: Atlanta 38 - Indiana 25
Game 5 (May 1): Indiana 106 - Atlanta 83
IND: -7 - -7.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 187/5 - 188.5 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
And this is why it made Over:
FTA: Atlanta 37 - Indiana 35
FTM: Atlanta 30 - Indiana 29
5 T's in the game as well!
Game 6 (May 3): Indiana 81 - Atlanta 73
ATL: -1 - -1.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 186 - 187.5 (UNDER, NOT CLOSE)
Seemed as if the refs really liked to control the series until Game 6. Covers were 5-0 before that game, and none of those, much in doubt.
Over was 4-2.
MIA-MIL (Miami wins series 4-0):
Game 1 (Apr 21): Miami 110 - Milwaukee 87
MIA: -13.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 197 to 198.5 (ON THE NUMBER OR A SLIGHT UNDER)
FTA: Miami 33 - Milwaukee 20
FTM: Miami 27 - Milwaukee 12
Even when they don't need the help...
Game 2 (Apr 23): Miami 98 - Milwaukee 86
MIA: -14 - -14.5 (NO COVER)
O/U: 197 (UNDER: RELATIVELY NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Miami 26 - Milwaukee 17
FTM: Miami 22 - Milwaukee 10 Final margin of victory: 12 points
Game was 68-65 at the end of the 3rd quarter. By 2:17 to go in the 4th (FTA in 4Q to that point, 9-4 Miami), 96-79 Miami.
Game 3 (Apr 25): Miami 104 - Milwaukee 91
MIA: -7 - -7.5 (GOOD SIZED COVER)
O/U: 194.5 - 196 (PRETTY MUCH A PUSH. DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WENT.)
Game 4 (Apr 28): Miami 88 -- Milwaukee 77
MIA: -8.5 - -10 (COVER, on a late pull-away)
O/U: 195 - 196 (UNDER BY A LOT)
Free throws were fairly even for the two games in Milwaukee, but is it any surprise the NBA had the champions finish the first series in the first round against a sub-.500 opponent?
Miami, favored in all four games by substantial margins, covered in three of them, with all four games being either on the number or under.
SECOND ROUND WILL BE:
Chicago-Miami: Michael Jordan is with the wrong basketball franchise -- it would be erroneous to call the Bob-kitties an NBA franchise at this point -- to think Chicago gets a game off Miami here. Miami sweeps.
Indiana-Knicks: Glad there's one series I think that's going 7, because none of the others are. Knicks in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
DEN-GS (Golden State Wins Series 4-2):
Game 1 (Apr 20): Denver 97 - Golden State 95
DEN: -7 to -8 (NO COVER)
O/U: 210.5 - 212 (outlier at 214!) (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Denver 28 - Golden State 15
FTM: Denver 18 - Golden State 11
Referees definitely appeared to influence outcome.
Game 2 (Apr 23): Golden State 131 - Denver 117
DEN: -8.5 (with one of the first really decent upward moves of the playoffs) (UPSET)
O/U: 207.5 - 209 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Denver 36 - Golden State 20
FTM: Denver 28 - Golden State 15
Can't blame the refs for trying, but when you have no defense to speak of...
Game 3 (Apr 26): Golden State 110 - Denver 108
DEN: -1 - -1.5 (Some had GS as the favorite, and then a pick. Was moving to Denver.) (UPSET)
O/U: 210.5 - 211 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 4 (Apr 28): Golden State 115 - Denver 101
DEN: -1 - -2.5 (Make that three UPSETs for Denver in four games. Denver has been favored in all four contests!)
O/U: 212.5 - 213.5 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
FTA: Denver 38 - Golden State 23
FTM: Denver 29 - Golden State 16
It is clear who the referees are favoring. The problem is: That team is now down three games to one, and a late layup from a playoff sweep!
Game 5 (Apr 30): Denver 107 - Golden State 100
DEN: -7.5 - -8 (NO COVER -- no -7s to be found for the push)
O/U: 211.5 - 212.5 (UNDER)
Game 6 (May 2): Golden State 92 - Denver 88
GS: -2 - -3 (COVER)
O/U: 212 - 213 (UNDER AND NOT CLOSE)
At one point, this game was 80-62 Golden State in the 4th quarter.
Golden State was favored in precisely ONE of the six games of this series (Game Six), and it was clear that the officials were favoring Denver for most of the series. But was that $25,000 fine for the coach of the Warriors well spent? The Warriors went 23-24 from the line, to Denver's 13-21, to eliminate the favored Nuggets.
This was probably considered the highest-scoring series of Round One, but the over (210 and up) went only 2-4!
LAC-MEM (Memphis wins series 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 20): LA Clippers 112 - Memphis 91
LAC: -5.5 to -7 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 179-180 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 22): LA Clippers 93 - Memphis 91
LAC: -5 to -6 (NO COVER)
O/U: 180-181 (SLIGHT OVER)
FTA: Memphis 34 - LA Clippers 22
Perhaps trying to at least consider extending the series?
Game 3 (Apr 25): Memphis 94 - LA Clippers 82
MEM: -4.5 - -5 (COVER)
O/U: 178.5 - 180 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 4 (Apr 27): Memphis 104 - LA Clippers 83
MEM: -3 - -3.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 177-179 (OVER, NOT REALLY CLOSE)
FTA: Memphis 29 - LA Clippers 17
FTM: Memphis 22 - LA Clippers 15
For all this talk of the Clippers being an alternative now that Westbrook is out for the playoffs, the officials seem to be favoring Memphis in the series!
Game 5 (Apr 30): Memphis 103 - LA Clippers 93
LAC: -5.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 180.5 (OVER BY A LOT)
FTA: Memphis 33 - LA Clippers 25
FTM: Memphis 26 - LA Clippers 19
Game 6 (May 3): Memphis 118 - LA Clippers 105
MEM: -6 (with one -6.5) (COVER)
O/U: 179.5 - 180 (OVER AND NOT CLOSE)
FTA: Memphis 47 - LA Clippers 24
FTM: Memphis 38 - LA Clippers 16 Margin of victory 13 points.
5 technicals and a flagrant on the Clippers. Paul and Billups both ejected. 2 technicals and an ejection (Randolph) from Memphis.
Blake Griffin is not now, and probably is not going to be for some time, an NBA superstar.
The referees in this series OPENLY preferred Memphis in this series. Double-digit attempt margins in Games 2, 4, 5, and 6 - ALL favoring the team you would NOT think the league would benefit, especially with the Lakers rolling over and dying.
This was even more true than the MIAMI series! Are we going to find out, at some point soon, that Griffin or Donald Sterling said something homophobic or something? No explanation of this, unless all the hype Griffin's been getting the last 2-3 years is NOT NBA-sanctioned!
Complete surprise here. Covers were 4-2, 5 of the 6 went over.
SA-LAL (San Antonio wins series 4-0):
Game 1 (Apr 21): San Antonio 91 - LA Lakers 79
SA: -8.5 - -9 (COVER)
O/U: 191 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 24): San Antonio 102 - LA Lakers 91
SA: -8.5 - -9 (COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 189 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 3 (Apr 26): San Antonio 120 - LA Lakers 89
SA: -6.5 (Was -5 til right before tipoff, then a BIG point and a half move, actually started on 4/25 at -3!) (HUGE COVER IN ANY EVENT)
O/U: 184.5 - 185.5 (BIG move down from 189.5 to start on 4/25) (OVER, NOT CLOSE, AND WAS OVER AT 189.5 AS WELL)
Game 4 (Apr 28): San Antonio 103 - LA Lakers 82
SA: - 11.5 - -12 (COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 190.5 (UNDER)
FTA: San Antonio 23 - LA Lakers 12 (including 3 technicals for LA)
FTM: San Antonio 20 - LA Lakers 5
Almost appropriate that the fans at the Staples Center got white towels before the game. Lakers lost all four games by double-digits, San Antonio covered fairly large spreads in all four games. Two games went over, two under.
Dwight Howard was expelled from Game 4 with two technicals. In a four-game sweep, Howard received four technical fouls in the last three games. Though the NBA does not suspend a player on their schedule until a 7th playoff T, one has to wonder if the league is going to take action against Howard independently, one of the most T'd players in the league.
David $tern has made it clear -- this IS the Los Angeles Kobes.
OKC-HOU (Oklahoma City wins 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 21): Oklahoma City 120 - Houston 91
OKC: -10 - -11 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 214-215 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 2 (Apr 24): Oklahoma City 105 - Houston 102
OKC: -11.5 (NO COVER, NOT CLOSE)
O/U: 213.5 - 215 (UNDER)
Game 3 (Apr 27): Oklahoma City 104 - Houston 101
There was no defined favorite in the game. You could get the game bet either way,or as a pick. You wouldn't give more than a point either way, but you covered if you went with Oklahoma City.
O/U: 206-207 (SLIGHT UNDER)
FTA were only 30-25, it was the free throws made that won it for Oklahoma City. They made 28, Houston only 17.
Game 4 (Apr 29): Houston 105 - Oklahoma City 103
OKC: -1 - -2 (UPSET)
O/U: 206 - 207 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
Game 5 (May 1): Houston 107 - Oklahoma City 100
OKC: -8.5 - -9 (UPSET #2!)
O/U: 207.5 - 209 (UNDER -- NOT QUITE)
FTA: Houston 37 - Oklahoma City 28 (Kevin Durant: 16!)
FTM: Houston 25 - Oklahoma City 20
Game 6 (May 3): Oklahoma City 103 - Houston 94
No defined favorite. Though most of the books had Houston an upset loser (HOU -1 or -1.5), the MGM actually got the game to a Pick about 20 minutes before tip, and a consensus of VegasInsider.com lines actually had Oklahoma City a point favored just before tip.
O/U: 206 - 207 (A PUSH if you got 207, 206 or 206.5 go JUST OVER)
FTA: Houston 31 - Oklahoma City 16
FTM: Houston 20 - Oklahoma City 16
Kinda sounds like, with Westbrook out, the refs wanted this one to go 7 as well! Houston actually got the better of the free-throw margin by a significant margin in Games 5 and 6, and their poor FT shooting did them in in the elimination game.
And no real assurance that they wanted Oklahoma City to win! I really think the road is paved for San Antonio right now - they have about the only real backstory that might even do anything for the Heat in The Finals.
ROUND TWO WILL BE (separate post):
Memphis - Oklahoma City (would not rule out this going either way, OKC would almost certainly provide at least a bit more star power for San Antonio, but would not be shocked to see Memphis get the calls again and put out both Oklahoma City and the Clippers. Prediction: Memphis in 7.)
San Antonio - Golden State (Only question is if Golden State gets a game off San Antonio. My guess? No. We could be staring FoFoFo vs. FoFoFo Prediction: San Antonio sweeps.)
---------
As of right now:
Favorites: 31-11 straight up, 24-18 Against The Spread. (with two games that had options, both in the OKC-HOU series)
East 17-5 SU (3 in the BOS-NYK series), 14-8 ATS
West 14-6 SU (3 Denver, 2 OKC), 10-10 ATS (and two mixed games, both OKC-HOU)
O/U: 20 Over, 22 Under, 2 Pushes -- 10 Over in the East, 10 Over in the West
Brian's doing his normal Free Throw Attempt analysis (and we've already got two live ones in the first six games) of the 2013 NBA Playoffs, but cannot, this year (due to time -- recent surgery and the release of his next book, Larceny Games, later this year interfering), go to spreads or Over/Under stuff.
Well, thank the people at VegasInsider.com for the information, and here's what we find so far:
Source: Vegasinsider.com
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
BOS-NYK: (NY Knicks win series 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 20): Knicks 85 - Boston 78
NYK: -7.5 (with one -8) (NO COVER)
O/U: 189-190 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 23): Knicks 87 - Boston 71
NYK: -6.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 186-187 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 3 (Apr 26): Knicks 90 - Boston 76
BOS: -2.5 - -3 (UPSET)
O/U: 183.5 - 184 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Boston 18 - Knicks 8
FTM: Boston 14 - Knicks 3
Can't fault the refs on trying on that one. Fact is, the better team is established. The NBA record for fewest free throws made in a playoff game is 2. (Toronto actually went an entire regular-season game without making any!) Milwaukee got that 5/24/01 at Philadelphia. They, too, won the game.
Game 4 (Apr 28): Boston 97 - Knicks 90 (Overtime)
NYK: -1.5 - -2.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 181 - 182 (OVER, but needed the overtime to do it, was 84-84 at the end of regulation)
Game 5 (May 1): Boston 92 - Knicks 86
NYK: -8 (UPSET #2)
O/U: 183 (JUST UNDER)
Game 6 (May 3): Knicks 88 - Boston 80
NYK: -2 - -2.5 (COVER)
O/U: 180.5 - 181.5 (UNDER)
FTA: Boston 33 - Knicks 16
FTM: Boston 26 - Knicks 13
It's pretty clear that there were some efforts (probably Marathon-related) to push Boston at least a little bit in this series. The facts are that the Knicks are probably the one major perceived threat to get a game or so off the Heat before The Finals. That and David Stern is an unabashed Knicks homer.
Covers were 2-4 with 3 outright upsets. Over was 1-5 in a very low-scoring series.
BKN-CHI (Chicago wins series 4-3):
Game 1 (Apr 20): Brooklyn 106 - Chicago 89
BKN: -4 to -4.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 182 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Complete reversal of the first two games of the first day (BOS-NYK, DEN-GS)
Game 2 (Apr 22): Chicago 90 - Brooklyn 82
BKN: -5 to -6 (UPSET)
O/U: 182.5 - 183.5 (UNDER)
First upset of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
Game 3 (Apr 25): Chicago 79 - Brooklyn 76
CHI: -3.5 - -4 (NO COVER, BARELY)
O/U: 181.5 - 182 (UNDER, NOT EVEN CLOSE)
Game 4 (Apr 27): Chicago 142 - Brooklyn 134 (3 Overtimes)
CHI: -2.5 (COVER)
O/U: Irrelevant, really, with 3 overtimes. Obviously, the game went OVER. That said: The number was 176-177 (so the game went over by ONE HUNDRED POINTS with the three overtimes, but the game was 111-111 at the end of regulation, over by 45-46 points -- the game went over very early in the 4th quarter)
Think this helped?
FTA: Brooklyn 45 - Chicago 29 (Reg: BKN 35 - CHI 24)
FTM: Brooklyn 29 - Chicago 20 (Reg: BKN 22 - CHI 17)
Not a rig for the result, but, in a tournament bereft of drama, perhaps the NBA wanted to manufacture some.
Game 5 (Apr 29): Brooklyn 110 - Chicago 91
BKN: -5.5 - -6.5 (COVER)
O/U: 179.5 - 180.5 (OVER AND NOT CLOSE)
Game 6 (May 2): Brooklyn 95 - Chicago 92
BKN: PICK - -1 (COVER, FOR THOSE WHO HAD BKN -1)
O/U: 183.5 - 184 (OVER)
FTA: Brooklyn 33 - Chicago 18
FTM: Brooklyn 22 - Chicago 13
Gee, why you think this series is going 7?
(ADD: It's now the only first-round series that will!)
Game 7 (May 4): Chicago 99 - Brooklyn 93
BKN: -7 - -7.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 182 - 183 (OVER)
FTA's were 20-13 to Brooklyn.
The one series to go 7, it sounds like they let this thing get to 7 and manufacture as much drama as they can. Not like it's going to matter, winner gets swept by Miami anyway.
Favorites were 4-3 against the number. Over was 5-2.
IND-ATL (Indiana wins series 4-2):
Game 1 (Apr 21): Indiana 107 - Atlanta 90
IND: -7 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 184-185.5 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Indiana 34 - Atlanta 14
FTM: Indiana 30 - Atlanta 7
Looks like a high-level screw there. Fouls were only 26-19 though.
Game 2 (Apr 24): Indiana 113 - Atlanta 98
IND: -7 (ANOTHER BIG COVER)
O/U: 187 (OVER: AND NOT REALLY CLOSE)
FTA: Indiana 29 - Atlanta 20
FTM: Indiana 21 - Atlanta 11
It was clear who was getting the push until the venue changed...
Game 3 (Apr 27): Atlanta 90 - Indiana 69
ATL: -1.5 - -2 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 189.5 (UNDER AND NOT CLOSE)
Game 4 (Apr 29): Atlanta 102 - Indiana 91
ATL: -1 - -1.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 187 - 187.5 (OVER)
FTA: Atlanta 38 - Indiana 25
Game 5 (May 1): Indiana 106 - Atlanta 83
IND: -7 - -7.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 187/5 - 188.5 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
And this is why it made Over:
FTA: Atlanta 37 - Indiana 35
FTM: Atlanta 30 - Indiana 29
5 T's in the game as well!
Game 6 (May 3): Indiana 81 - Atlanta 73
ATL: -1 - -1.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 186 - 187.5 (UNDER, NOT CLOSE)
Seemed as if the refs really liked to control the series until Game 6. Covers were 5-0 before that game, and none of those, much in doubt.
Over was 4-2.
MIA-MIL (Miami wins series 4-0):
Game 1 (Apr 21): Miami 110 - Milwaukee 87
MIA: -13.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 197 to 198.5 (ON THE NUMBER OR A SLIGHT UNDER)
FTA: Miami 33 - Milwaukee 20
FTM: Miami 27 - Milwaukee 12
Even when they don't need the help...
Game 2 (Apr 23): Miami 98 - Milwaukee 86
MIA: -14 - -14.5 (NO COVER)
O/U: 197 (UNDER: RELATIVELY NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Miami 26 - Milwaukee 17
FTM: Miami 22 - Milwaukee 10 Final margin of victory: 12 points
Game was 68-65 at the end of the 3rd quarter. By 2:17 to go in the 4th (FTA in 4Q to that point, 9-4 Miami), 96-79 Miami.
Game 3 (Apr 25): Miami 104 - Milwaukee 91
MIA: -7 - -7.5 (GOOD SIZED COVER)
O/U: 194.5 - 196 (PRETTY MUCH A PUSH. DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WENT.)
Game 4 (Apr 28): Miami 88 -- Milwaukee 77
MIA: -8.5 - -10 (COVER, on a late pull-away)
O/U: 195 - 196 (UNDER BY A LOT)
Free throws were fairly even for the two games in Milwaukee, but is it any surprise the NBA had the champions finish the first series in the first round against a sub-.500 opponent?
Miami, favored in all four games by substantial margins, covered in three of them, with all four games being either on the number or under.
SECOND ROUND WILL BE:
Chicago-Miami: Michael Jordan is with the wrong basketball franchise -- it would be erroneous to call the Bob-kitties an NBA franchise at this point -- to think Chicago gets a game off Miami here. Miami sweeps.
Indiana-Knicks: Glad there's one series I think that's going 7, because none of the others are. Knicks in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
DEN-GS (Golden State Wins Series 4-2):
Game 1 (Apr 20): Denver 97 - Golden State 95
DEN: -7 to -8 (NO COVER)
O/U: 210.5 - 212 (outlier at 214!) (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Denver 28 - Golden State 15
FTM: Denver 18 - Golden State 11
Referees definitely appeared to influence outcome.
Game 2 (Apr 23): Golden State 131 - Denver 117
DEN: -8.5 (with one of the first really decent upward moves of the playoffs) (UPSET)
O/U: 207.5 - 209 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
FTA: Denver 36 - Golden State 20
FTM: Denver 28 - Golden State 15
Can't blame the refs for trying, but when you have no defense to speak of...
Game 3 (Apr 26): Golden State 110 - Denver 108
DEN: -1 - -1.5 (Some had GS as the favorite, and then a pick. Was moving to Denver.) (UPSET)
O/U: 210.5 - 211 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 4 (Apr 28): Golden State 115 - Denver 101
DEN: -1 - -2.5 (Make that three UPSETs for Denver in four games. Denver has been favored in all four contests!)
O/U: 212.5 - 213.5 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
FTA: Denver 38 - Golden State 23
FTM: Denver 29 - Golden State 16
It is clear who the referees are favoring. The problem is: That team is now down three games to one, and a late layup from a playoff sweep!
Game 5 (Apr 30): Denver 107 - Golden State 100
DEN: -7.5 - -8 (NO COVER -- no -7s to be found for the push)
O/U: 211.5 - 212.5 (UNDER)
Game 6 (May 2): Golden State 92 - Denver 88
GS: -2 - -3 (COVER)
O/U: 212 - 213 (UNDER AND NOT CLOSE)
At one point, this game was 80-62 Golden State in the 4th quarter.
Golden State was favored in precisely ONE of the six games of this series (Game Six), and it was clear that the officials were favoring Denver for most of the series. But was that $25,000 fine for the coach of the Warriors well spent? The Warriors went 23-24 from the line, to Denver's 13-21, to eliminate the favored Nuggets.
This was probably considered the highest-scoring series of Round One, but the over (210 and up) went only 2-4!
LAC-MEM (Memphis wins series 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 20): LA Clippers 112 - Memphis 91
LAC: -5.5 to -7 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 179-180 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 22): LA Clippers 93 - Memphis 91
LAC: -5 to -6 (NO COVER)
O/U: 180-181 (SLIGHT OVER)
FTA: Memphis 34 - LA Clippers 22
Perhaps trying to at least consider extending the series?
Game 3 (Apr 25): Memphis 94 - LA Clippers 82
MEM: -4.5 - -5 (COVER)
O/U: 178.5 - 180 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 4 (Apr 27): Memphis 104 - LA Clippers 83
MEM: -3 - -3.5 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 177-179 (OVER, NOT REALLY CLOSE)
FTA: Memphis 29 - LA Clippers 17
FTM: Memphis 22 - LA Clippers 15
For all this talk of the Clippers being an alternative now that Westbrook is out for the playoffs, the officials seem to be favoring Memphis in the series!
Game 5 (Apr 30): Memphis 103 - LA Clippers 93
LAC: -5.5 (UPSET)
O/U: 180.5 (OVER BY A LOT)
FTA: Memphis 33 - LA Clippers 25
FTM: Memphis 26 - LA Clippers 19
Game 6 (May 3): Memphis 118 - LA Clippers 105
MEM: -6 (with one -6.5) (COVER)
O/U: 179.5 - 180 (OVER AND NOT CLOSE)
FTA: Memphis 47 - LA Clippers 24
FTM: Memphis 38 - LA Clippers 16 Margin of victory 13 points.
5 technicals and a flagrant on the Clippers. Paul and Billups both ejected. 2 technicals and an ejection (Randolph) from Memphis.
Blake Griffin is not now, and probably is not going to be for some time, an NBA superstar.
The referees in this series OPENLY preferred Memphis in this series. Double-digit attempt margins in Games 2, 4, 5, and 6 - ALL favoring the team you would NOT think the league would benefit, especially with the Lakers rolling over and dying.
This was even more true than the MIAMI series! Are we going to find out, at some point soon, that Griffin or Donald Sterling said something homophobic or something? No explanation of this, unless all the hype Griffin's been getting the last 2-3 years is NOT NBA-sanctioned!
Complete surprise here. Covers were 4-2, 5 of the 6 went over.
SA-LAL (San Antonio wins series 4-0):
Game 1 (Apr 21): San Antonio 91 - LA Lakers 79
SA: -8.5 - -9 (COVER)
O/U: 191 (UNDER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 2 (Apr 24): San Antonio 102 - LA Lakers 91
SA: -8.5 - -9 (COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 189 (OVER: NOWHERE CLOSE)
Game 3 (Apr 26): San Antonio 120 - LA Lakers 89
SA: -6.5 (Was -5 til right before tipoff, then a BIG point and a half move, actually started on 4/25 at -3!) (HUGE COVER IN ANY EVENT)
O/U: 184.5 - 185.5 (BIG move down from 189.5 to start on 4/25) (OVER, NOT CLOSE, AND WAS OVER AT 189.5 AS WELL)
Game 4 (Apr 28): San Antonio 103 - LA Lakers 82
SA: - 11.5 - -12 (COVER)
O/U: 188.5 - 190.5 (UNDER)
FTA: San Antonio 23 - LA Lakers 12 (including 3 technicals for LA)
FTM: San Antonio 20 - LA Lakers 5
Almost appropriate that the fans at the Staples Center got white towels before the game. Lakers lost all four games by double-digits, San Antonio covered fairly large spreads in all four games. Two games went over, two under.
Dwight Howard was expelled from Game 4 with two technicals. In a four-game sweep, Howard received four technical fouls in the last three games. Though the NBA does not suspend a player on their schedule until a 7th playoff T, one has to wonder if the league is going to take action against Howard independently, one of the most T'd players in the league.
David $tern has made it clear -- this IS the Los Angeles Kobes.
OKC-HOU (Oklahoma City wins 4-2)
Game 1 (Apr 21): Oklahoma City 120 - Houston 91
OKC: -10 - -11 (BIG COVER)
O/U: 214-215 (SLIGHT UNDER)
Game 2 (Apr 24): Oklahoma City 105 - Houston 102
OKC: -11.5 (NO COVER, NOT CLOSE)
O/U: 213.5 - 215 (UNDER)
Game 3 (Apr 27): Oklahoma City 104 - Houston 101
There was no defined favorite in the game. You could get the game bet either way,or as a pick. You wouldn't give more than a point either way, but you covered if you went with Oklahoma City.
O/U: 206-207 (SLIGHT UNDER)
FTA were only 30-25, it was the free throws made that won it for Oklahoma City. They made 28, Houston only 17.
Game 4 (Apr 29): Houston 105 - Oklahoma City 103
OKC: -1 - -2 (UPSET)
O/U: 206 - 207 (JUST MADE IT OVER)
Game 5 (May 1): Houston 107 - Oklahoma City 100
OKC: -8.5 - -9 (UPSET #2!)
O/U: 207.5 - 209 (UNDER -- NOT QUITE)
FTA: Houston 37 - Oklahoma City 28 (Kevin Durant: 16!)
FTM: Houston 25 - Oklahoma City 20
Game 6 (May 3): Oklahoma City 103 - Houston 94
No defined favorite. Though most of the books had Houston an upset loser (HOU -1 or -1.5), the MGM actually got the game to a Pick about 20 minutes before tip, and a consensus of VegasInsider.com lines actually had Oklahoma City a point favored just before tip.
O/U: 206 - 207 (A PUSH if you got 207, 206 or 206.5 go JUST OVER)
FTA: Houston 31 - Oklahoma City 16
FTM: Houston 20 - Oklahoma City 16
Kinda sounds like, with Westbrook out, the refs wanted this one to go 7 as well! Houston actually got the better of the free-throw margin by a significant margin in Games 5 and 6, and their poor FT shooting did them in in the elimination game.
And no real assurance that they wanted Oklahoma City to win! I really think the road is paved for San Antonio right now - they have about the only real backstory that might even do anything for the Heat in The Finals.
ROUND TWO WILL BE (separate post):
Memphis - Oklahoma City (would not rule out this going either way, OKC would almost certainly provide at least a bit more star power for San Antonio, but would not be shocked to see Memphis get the calls again and put out both Oklahoma City and the Clippers. Prediction: Memphis in 7.)
San Antonio - Golden State (Only question is if Golden State gets a game off San Antonio. My guess? No. We could be staring FoFoFo vs. FoFoFo Prediction: San Antonio sweeps.)
---------
As of right now:
Favorites: 31-11 straight up, 24-18 Against The Spread. (with two games that had options, both in the OKC-HOU series)
East 17-5 SU (3 in the BOS-NYK series), 14-8 ATS
West 14-6 SU (3 Denver, 2 OKC), 10-10 ATS (and two mixed games, both OKC-HOU)
O/U: 20 Over, 22 Under, 2 Pushes -- 10 Over in the East, 10 Over in the West
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
And you knew it was coming, and it was no surprise from the Four-Letter Network
Chris Broussard, Bible-Thumping Bigot.
This should be nothing new, but, let's be honest here... ESPN has done a lot (even with the one-hour grandstand it gave to OTL Monday to make us think they give a damn about this story).
But in that hour, the agenda of Real Manhood Through Bible-Thumping Bigotry came out in full color.
(Thank you to Deadspin for this one...)
Chris Broussard said, on the Worldwide Leader, being gay is an open rebellion to God.
He's made no secret of it. It's his opinion.
Frankly, I'm no longer ensured he's entitled to it.
Fuck this noise. I think one of the UK campaigns is the like of "There are gay people, live with it..." (And if I'm wrong, I do believe it's close and will be corrected.)
The fact of the matter is this. There are fucking people out there -- human beings GOD CREATED -- in fear for their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor because of who they love and how they love, in a country supposedly free of religious oppression. (Those of us steeped in reality know better, but that's far beyond the scope of THIS blog.)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", Mr. Broussard. Romans 3:23, New International Version.
ALL. Me, you, EVERYBODY. We all are in "open rebellion to God" from one time to another. I was taught that when I was SIX YEARS OLD, you idiot!
To have to, on one of the proudest days in the GLBT community's history of American sport, have one of the main NBA broadcasting networks allow that piece of bigoted asshole on the air, KNOWING that he was going to say something like that, just blows my mind, unless we really want to talk in terms of being a Real Man.
The National Basketball Association is one of the, if not THE, greatest supporter of GLBT Equality in the major sports in this country. All my issues with how corrupt David Stern is, I cannot stand against him on this one.
Yes, he "distracted", ESPN. The fact is, YOU KNEW what he was going to say. He's made no secret he's a bigot.
What the fuck is he doing on that discussion, unless you are trying (especially with your tongue up the NFL's asshole) to demonstrate Propagandistic Real Manhood.
So, once again, we find out that ESPN is trying to CREATE the news again, by allowing an open bigot on the subject his say when he has no right to it.
This should be nothing new, but, let's be honest here... ESPN has done a lot (even with the one-hour grandstand it gave to OTL Monday to make us think they give a damn about this story).
But in that hour, the agenda of Real Manhood Through Bible-Thumping Bigotry came out in full color.
(Thank you to Deadspin for this one...)
Chris Broussard said, on the Worldwide Leader, being gay is an open rebellion to God.
He's made no secret of it. It's his opinion.
Frankly, I'm no longer ensured he's entitled to it.
Fuck this noise. I think one of the UK campaigns is the like of "There are gay people, live with it..." (And if I'm wrong, I do believe it's close and will be corrected.)
The fact of the matter is this. There are fucking people out there -- human beings GOD CREATED -- in fear for their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor because of who they love and how they love, in a country supposedly free of religious oppression. (Those of us steeped in reality know better, but that's far beyond the scope of THIS blog.)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", Mr. Broussard. Romans 3:23, New International Version.
ALL. Me, you, EVERYBODY. We all are in "open rebellion to God" from one time to another. I was taught that when I was SIX YEARS OLD, you idiot!
To have to, on one of the proudest days in the GLBT community's history of American sport, have one of the main NBA broadcasting networks allow that piece of bigoted asshole on the air, KNOWING that he was going to say something like that, just blows my mind, unless we really want to talk in terms of being a Real Man.
The National Basketball Association is one of the, if not THE, greatest supporter of GLBT Equality in the major sports in this country. All my issues with how corrupt David Stern is, I cannot stand against him on this one.
Yes, he "distracted", ESPN. The fact is, YOU KNEW what he was going to say. He's made no secret he's a bigot.
What the fuck is he doing on that discussion, unless you are trying (especially with your tongue up the NFL's asshole) to demonstrate Propagandistic Real Manhood.
So, once again, we find out that ESPN is trying to CREATE the news again, by allowing an open bigot on the subject his say when he has no right to it.
Monday, April 29, 2013
A Historic Day: A Major-Team Sport Player Has Come Out
Got the news from one of my friends who often gives me information. I'm also saving the snark of my tags on the NBA and the like because they don't apply here.
Of course, most people are going to obsess about where Tim Tebow is going next, and the continuing political farce that is Tebow Time.
Sadly, they miss that the biggest story of quite a while in sports is on the other side of the argument many have placed Tebow on politically.
Today, as Bob Barker would say occasionally, is a historic day.
And it truly is.
It's a day that I think a lot of people knew was coming, especially in the last couple of years about the discussion on major team-sport players being LGBT (up to and including All-World NCAA player Brittney Griner, almost indisputably the best women's college-basketball player in many years, coming out as a lesbian two days after being drafted into the WNBA).
Today, Sports Illustrated has stated that they have the exclusive interview for their next issue:
Jason Collins, a somewhat-journeyman center for six NBA teams over 12 season, has become the first currently-active major team-sport athlete to come out as a gay man.
Obviously, this is a watershed day.
And if anyone knows my contempt for David $tern, I can say one thing fairly: My contempt for the man does not extend to his political beliefs with respect to homosexuality.
The NBA has done more than any other sport, to my knowledge, for the promotion of acceptance of homosexuality. I truly believe that homophobic slurs by Kobe Bryant and Joachim Noah changed the outcome of an NBA championship (the year Dallas ended up winning).
But it's not just talk... In 2011, the NBA teamed up with GLSEN for what I considered to be quite a pleasantly-surprising commercial, especially given some of the playground-game talk to which the spot refers:
Say what you want about David $tern's NBA. It's NOT homophobic.
If the NBA is going to sanction no less than Kobe Bryant for his slur, it's not going to put up with anything against Jason Collins. One can almost-certainly expect that arena security is going to be notified to expel anyone from an NBA game that tries to deal with today's announcement with anything but respect.
So, in my own opinion, that it was an NBA player who was the first to come out is completely unsurprising and probably about the safest of the NBA/NHL/MLB/NASCAR/NFL conglomerate (and I believe the safety factor to be in about that order) for him.
He's a free agent, and the one thing I can say is that being gay will not prevent Jason Collins from playing again in the NBA should his talent warrant. I can't say that about all of the other leagues. I (and people I've spoken to on the subject) agree that we all fear what will happen to the first NFL player to come out, even though one of the most outspoken advocates in the league for LGBT equality, Brandon Ayanbadejo, has said that four current NFL players are considering it, and that they are in talks that they will do it in the same press conference together.
Today's announcement by Collins and SI is a step.
But it's ONE step.
But it is still One Small Step For Man, and One Giant Leap For Major Professional Sports.
You really need to read the Collins interview. One of the things I liked most about it is that the first person he came out to was his aunt, a Superior Court judge in San Francisco, CA.
She said she knew he'd been gay for years.
I'll leave you with this quote from the man himself:
"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."
-- Jason Collins, from the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated
Of course, most people are going to obsess about where Tim Tebow is going next, and the continuing political farce that is Tebow Time.
Sadly, they miss that the biggest story of quite a while in sports is on the other side of the argument many have placed Tebow on politically.
Today, as Bob Barker would say occasionally, is a historic day.
And it truly is.
It's a day that I think a lot of people knew was coming, especially in the last couple of years about the discussion on major team-sport players being LGBT (up to and including All-World NCAA player Brittney Griner, almost indisputably the best women's college-basketball player in many years, coming out as a lesbian two days after being drafted into the WNBA).
Today, Sports Illustrated has stated that they have the exclusive interview for their next issue:
Jason Collins, a somewhat-journeyman center for six NBA teams over 12 season, has become the first currently-active major team-sport athlete to come out as a gay man.
Obviously, this is a watershed day.
And if anyone knows my contempt for David $tern, I can say one thing fairly: My contempt for the man does not extend to his political beliefs with respect to homosexuality.
The NBA has done more than any other sport, to my knowledge, for the promotion of acceptance of homosexuality. I truly believe that homophobic slurs by Kobe Bryant and Joachim Noah changed the outcome of an NBA championship (the year Dallas ended up winning).
But it's not just talk... In 2011, the NBA teamed up with GLSEN for what I considered to be quite a pleasantly-surprising commercial, especially given some of the playground-game talk to which the spot refers:
Say what you want about David $tern's NBA. It's NOT homophobic.
If the NBA is going to sanction no less than Kobe Bryant for his slur, it's not going to put up with anything against Jason Collins. One can almost-certainly expect that arena security is going to be notified to expel anyone from an NBA game that tries to deal with today's announcement with anything but respect.
So, in my own opinion, that it was an NBA player who was the first to come out is completely unsurprising and probably about the safest of the NBA/NHL/MLB/NASCAR/NFL conglomerate (and I believe the safety factor to be in about that order) for him.
He's a free agent, and the one thing I can say is that being gay will not prevent Jason Collins from playing again in the NBA should his talent warrant. I can't say that about all of the other leagues. I (and people I've spoken to on the subject) agree that we all fear what will happen to the first NFL player to come out, even though one of the most outspoken advocates in the league for LGBT equality, Brandon Ayanbadejo, has said that four current NFL players are considering it, and that they are in talks that they will do it in the same press conference together.
Today's announcement by Collins and SI is a step.
But it's ONE step.
But it is still One Small Step For Man, and One Giant Leap For Major Professional Sports.
You really need to read the Collins interview. One of the things I liked most about it is that the first person he came out to was his aunt, a Superior Court judge in San Francisco, CA.
She said she knew he'd been gay for years.
I'll leave you with this quote from the man himself:
"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."
-- Jason Collins, from the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Show Must Go On: Where the Economic Realities of Sport Run Headlong Into Common Sense
There's several things I could post about that I've read in the last couple of days. I'll start, however, with this one, a conglomeration of four separate incidents over the last two weeks which have, in my mind, a common thread.
The first three come from NA$CAR, and both involve inspection incidents.
If you basically make it a disqualification offense to fail inspection, it will happen the grand sum total of MAYBE once more. Because, then, you're not only going to get people on the car end involved, but the sponsors too.
You've now nailed, in two weeks: The defending Cup champion, one of the most popular drivers on the circuit, and a former Cup champion who swept pole and race (in dominant fashion) with an illegal car.
Stop catering to the damn sponsors. Stop thinking the money is the end-all of it. Park some of these guys. You start parking them, and the bullshit stops.
But that's nothing compared to this ditty from across the pond, where, once again, the almighty Football Assocation (of English soccer) shows it has no bite to it (pun intended!) at all:
WHAT THE HELL IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO THROW SOMEBODY OUT OF SOCCER?
At minimum, I'd have done the following:
Again, it's money. And the fact of the matter is, it needs to fucking stop. Joey Barton has no business on a football pitch anywhere for his situation in Manchester last season, which has now basically been accepted as his last match at Queens' Park Rangers. (He, IMODO, should still be investigated for actions directly resulting in the relegation of his team, even though it turns out that relegation is one year delayed.)
But if we are going to have anything approaching credible sport in this country, we need to stop the bullshit of letting sponsors and money dictate discipline. They should do that, but in the OTHER direction...
EDIT TO ADD, on the Suarez matter: Brian Tuohy is at it again, showing people reality, through his soccer reporter Matt Agosta: Suarez was, until Monday, the leading scorer in the English Premier League (probably one of the main reasons he's going to remain on the pitch.
Manchester United, with four games to spare, has already won the League championship, and won it with a 3-0 win Monday over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Agosta and Tuohy point out that the three goals were a natural hat-trick, all scored in the first half, by Robin van Persie -- who now has the leading scorer title at 24 goals. Suarez finishes his season with 23.
As C&C Music Factory would say: Things That Make You Go Hmmmmmm....
The first three come from NA$CAR, and both involve inspection incidents.
- Three drivers were disciplined for illegal cars in the race at the Texas Motor Speedway on April 13. The two most severely punished were Brad Keselowski (the defending Sprint Cup champion) and Penske teammate Joey Logano. Both failed pre-race inspections, so much so that Logano almost missed the race, having to start in the back when he failed the inspection on his back end of the car TWICE. Martin Truex Jr. failed his post-race inspection on his front end. He finished second at the race.
- Keselowski and Logano had the book thrown at them (at least until this week!). Both crew chiefs were tossed for six races, including the upcoming All-Star Week, for which Keselowski is permanently qualified as a Cup champion. Logano is also qualified for a win in the last year.
- The crew chiefs were fined $100,000 each.
- The same suspensions are levied at the teams' competition directors, engineers, and car chiefs.
- The teams are docked 25 championship points each.
- Truex's crew chief was put on probation, and the team and owner were docked six championship points.
- The next day, Ron Hornaday drew a $25,000 fine and 25 points in the Truck series for wrecking another truck under caution.
- And, now, today, an even bigger penalty: Matt Kenseth, who won last week's race in Kansas on the track, has had basically everything taken away from him for that race except the direct recognition that he won it. Kenseth failed a post-race inspection because of an illegal part from a European vendor.
- Kenseth has lost 50 points in the Championship. (The maximum one can gain in a race is 48 -- 43 for winning, 3 for the win, 1 for leading a lap, 1 for most laps led.)
- Kenseth also loses the three points he would get in the Chase, should he qualify. (A qualifying driver for the Chase has his/her points equaled with all other Chase drivers. Then, three points are added to any driver who has won one of the 26 preceding races.)
- Kenseth also loses the recognition of having the Kansas win for purposes of wildcard qualification. (Kenseth is now 14th in the points, but because he has another win (Las Vegas), and is the only driver outside the top 10 (applies 11-20, but he's the only one outside the Top 10), he wildcards into the Chase in 11th place.)
- Crew chief fined $200,000 and banned for six races, similarly to Logano's and Keselowski's.
- If you fail a pre-race inspection, you are parked for the week (additional penalties to the crew chief, etc. apply). (I've believed this since Knauss' and the 48's misadventures at the likes of Daytona.)
- If you fail a post-race inspection without cause such as Bristol can provide, etc: You are parked for the next race, you lose all points, awards, honors, and money from the race you failed inspection at, and additional penalties to the crew chief, etc.
If you basically make it a disqualification offense to fail inspection, it will happen the grand sum total of MAYBE once more. Because, then, you're not only going to get people on the car end involved, but the sponsors too.
You've now nailed, in two weeks: The defending Cup champion, one of the most popular drivers on the circuit, and a former Cup champion who swept pole and race (in dominant fashion) with an illegal car.
Stop catering to the damn sponsors. Stop thinking the money is the end-all of it. Park some of these guys. You start parking them, and the bullshit stops.
But that's nothing compared to this ditty from across the pond, where, once again, the almighty Football Assocation (of English soccer) shows it has no bite to it (pun intended!) at all:
- Luis Suarez has been suspended for a total of ten first-team matches (meaning the last four matches of this season for Liverpool and presumably the first six of next season) for biting Chelsea opponent Branislav Ivanovic in a game Saturday.
- No official on the pitch saw the bite, even though it was clear on television replays he had done so.
- Suarez was admitted, by the FA, that he should've been sent off, and immediately "charged" with the Violent Conduct, to indicate the three-match ban for such a straight-red card was insufficient.
- Suarez was allowed to remain in the game, and scored an at-the-end injury-time (we're talking seventh minute of a six-minute injury time) goal to draw Chelsea 2-2.
- This is Suarez's THIRD major affront to football in three years. He was banned for eight matches for ANOTHER biting incident in the Netherlands on November 20, 2010 (which precipitated his removal from the Dutch league to the EPL), and was banned seven matches less than a year later for a racial incident against Patrice Evra.
WHAT THE HELL IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO THROW SOMEBODY OUT OF SOCCER?
At minimum, I'd have done the following:
- The match is given to Chelsea, two goals to one. Two additional points are awarded to Chelsea, the one point unjustly given for the draw is taken away.
- Suarez is banned indefinitely, and the case sent to FIFA for a worldwide ban.
Again, it's money. And the fact of the matter is, it needs to fucking stop. Joey Barton has no business on a football pitch anywhere for his situation in Manchester last season, which has now basically been accepted as his last match at Queens' Park Rangers. (He, IMODO, should still be investigated for actions directly resulting in the relegation of his team, even though it turns out that relegation is one year delayed.)
But if we are going to have anything approaching credible sport in this country, we need to stop the bullshit of letting sponsors and money dictate discipline. They should do that, but in the OTHER direction...
EDIT TO ADD, on the Suarez matter: Brian Tuohy is at it again, showing people reality, through his soccer reporter Matt Agosta: Suarez was, until Monday, the leading scorer in the English Premier League (probably one of the main reasons he's going to remain on the pitch.
Manchester United, with four games to spare, has already won the League championship, and won it with a 3-0 win Monday over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Agosta and Tuohy point out that the three goals were a natural hat-trick, all scored in the first half, by Robin van Persie -- who now has the leading scorer title at 24 goals. Suarez finishes his season with 23.
As C&C Music Factory would say: Things That Make You Go Hmmmmmm....
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