Sporots

[Trial]

Bread Barry

[isoS]

Goddamn your learning disability!

[Americas Team]

Nebraska just got a commitment from Scout's number 3 QB.

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Pretend this has something to do with the NBA.

[chapina]

Something about soccer!

[jon]

Bread Barry

Brent Berry (too obvious?)



Dirk Nowitzquiche

[Trial]

I think you or somebody else already did a Berry joke on the 2nd out of 4 ASTs. Another possibility is Chicken Breast Barry

[matt in the east]

Cilantro Barbosa

[Famous Police Dog]

matt in the yeast

[isoS]

Guys, Mike Dunleavy is really pissed. Maybe we should send him some flowers.

[jon]

You mean Mike Bun-leavy?

[isoS]

No, I mean Mike Dunleavened bread.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

Something about soccer!

Garlic Naan-aldinho
Posh and David Steakums
Rack of Frank Lamb-pard
Jan Vinegar of Hesselink
Didier Egg Drog-ba

[isoS]

Mia Ham

[Famous Police Dog]

Not the most trusted source but a fun rumor!

The Metro News, a Canadian news outlet, is reporting that the Detroit Pistons are trying to trade for Tracy McGrady.

July 10, Metro News: And, speaking of major trade possibilities, there's a blockbuster brewing in the NBA, too.

The Detroit Pistons, we hear, are making a big pitch to the Houston Rockets for perennial all-star Tracy McGrady.

The outlet is based in Toronto, where McGrady started his career and spent his first three seasons playing. This could be one of the deals that Dumars has been working on.

Edit: I heard the suggested trade is Rip Hamilton ($10.8m) + Antonio McDyess ($6.8m) for Tracy McGrady.

Stay tuned.....

I, for one, would welcome Tracy to the Central Division so he can complete his dream of losing in the second round. But who do the Pistons trade for him?

EDIT: supposedly this: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=532~294~530&teams=8~10~10&te=&cash=

[JayRunner]

In the past I would have really wanted Brett Favre on my team, but now I am glad to not be a Packers fan and endlessly jerked around.

[Trial]

The McGrady/Detroit rumor has been going around for a really long time, I'm pretty sure it's been shot down over and over by now.

[charles star]

Mia Ham
Darvin Ham

[Señor Colostimizer]

Elton Bran(d) muffin? Oh, I don't know, go Sixers!

[jon]

No, I mean Mike Dunleavened bread.

Darn you, that was actually my first thought.


Carmelon Anthony
Mike Kibbeh
Jorge Garbanzo-sa
Yao Mint
Emeka Okrafor
Reuben Patterson
Udon-is Haslem

[Harry Bongers]

Not the most trusted source but a fun rumor!

The Metro News, a Canadian news outlet, is reporting that the Detroit Pistons are trying to trade for Tracy McGrady.

July 10, Metro News: And, speaking of major trade possibilities, there's a blockbuster brewing in the NBA, too.

The Detroit Pistons, we hear, are making a big pitch to the Houston Rockets for perennial all-star Tracy McGrady.

The outlet is based in Toronto, where McGrady started his career and spent his first three seasons playing. This could be one of the deals that Dumars has been working on.

Edit: I heard the suggested trade is Rip Hamilton ($10.8m) + Antonio McDyess ($6.8m) for Tracy McGrady.

Stay tuned.....

I, for one, would welcome Tracy to the Central Division so he can complete his dream of losing in the second round. But who do the Pistons trade for him?

EDIT: supposedly this: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=532~294~530&teams=8~10~10&te=&cash=

The guy who writes for that paper is a class A hack and is notorious for just making shit up. He has no inside sources, cribs from basketball messageboards and has never even been to a Raptors practice or press scrum. The Metro is the free paper they hand out in subways. I'd rather get my sports news from those homeless papers, or even just a homeless guy. Other respected sports journalists have openly called him out in print for being a liar. Honestly, fuck that guy. Hear me? Fuck you Marty York if you google your own name.


Edited to Add:
P and J Brown
Trevor Apizza
Maurice Lager
Andre Fresh Blatche of cookies
Carob Butler
Mike Bibby Lettuce
Kevin Currant
Travis Weiner
Samuel Camembert
Kris Hump-fries
Zydranas Moussakas
Bob Cous-Cousy

[Monge]

Billy Packer is an unemployed little monkey.

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=826632

[nadsat droog]

Chase Utley, you are the man:

<object classid="clsid<img src=" http:="" aspecialthing.com="" forum="" images="" smilies="" biggrin.gif="" alt="" title="Big Grin" smilieid="3" class="inlineimg" border="0">



<embed src="http://media.redlasso.com/xdrive/WEB/vidplayer_1b/redlasso_player_b1b_deploy.swf" flashvars="embedId=b949eff0-a25b-471e-9e48-2d8ff31b6248" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" name="Redlasso" height="320" width="390"></object>

[charles star]

Baron Davis is probably relieved that the Elton Brand-sized hole in the roster has been filled (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3491156), more or less.

[isoS]

That's a nice move for the Clips, but I'm a little skeptical of how this team will come together -- now you've got a skinny inside defender who can't score and a bulky perimeter scorer who can't defend. Will they complement each other perfectly and cancel out each other's weaknesses, or will this be a solid defensive team that gets 35 from its PG and 40 from the rest of the squad to lose 85-75 on any given Tuesday night?

[jon]

It's certainly a better deal than getting Snack Randolph. The Clippers are obviously panicking right now, and trying to do something, anything. I think this will work reasonably well if Bunleavy Sr. realizes he should play Kaman and Camby together the bulk of the time. I'm not overly concerned with having BD on the perimeter, since now he can just try and funnel his guy into the interior.

I also think, though, that this means the Nuggets probably won't make the playoffs next year unless Carmelon has a great year. Like, a really great year. They've lost two of their better interior defenders in Camby and Najera, and right now they only have three guys who can play the 4 or 5, two of whom have an injury history. Who guards Boozer now? Or Greg Oden/Aldridge? Or Al Jefferson? And that's just in their division.

[TomHicks]

And the Camby deal comes after rumors of Carmelo trade talk. I think the Nuggets have kind of thrown up their hands, unless they have some monster trade planned down the line.

[Famous Police Dog]

Monster trades and the nuggets dont mix.

[jon]

Someone's not happy (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/16/camby-insulted-trade/)

"Blindsided, distraught, disrespected. All those adjectives. I definitely feel insulted," [Camby] said in a telephone interview with the Rocky Mountain News.

"When I first heard about the trade, I felt like I was the scapegoat after all our past first-round exits and failures and lack of defense. I felt it was them telling me that I was no longer wanted and I was the cause of everything that went wrong the last couple years on this team.

"I'm still in disbelief. I'm still in shock. I still can't believe this happened."


Don't worry, Marcus. You'll probably be traded again before the season's out anyway.

[nadsat droog]

He's right to be angry. It sucks to get traded for peanuts, especially when you were the only good defender on the team. I've always been a fan of Camby. My favorite player of all-time, AI, also gets kind of screwed. That team was walking the fine line of being legit or a bust. Looks like management got tired of waiting for results. Good thing AI is a free agent next year. I want the little guy to get a championship somewhere before his heart gives out.

[TomHicks]

It's probably the lack of oxygen in Denver that is impairing his thinking. I think he at the least has made a horizontal move to a team that should be in the chase for the conference playoffs. On the plus side, with Camby out of the picture, AI can now do even bigger and more pointless dribbling displays where he wanders all over the court with the ball like those maps of Billy looking for his dog in Family Circus.

[disl]

honestly, that's the best scouting report of allen iverson i've ever read.

[isoS]

I too am a Camby fan. He went to school in my home state, so I always root for him. I even traded for him in NBA2K, which made the Lakers unstoppable. I think he's better off now than he was--the Clips will be good, and he'll be a bigger part of their success than he was allowed to be in Denver. And I bet he knows that, he's just understandably upset that they dissed him.

[nadsat droog]

Ugh...Phillies traded three minor leaguers to the A's for Joe Blanton. I hate the people who run this team.

[Famous Police Dog]

moneyball!

[suavepebble]

Brett Larva wants back on the mappers!

[slapstickeulogist]

Any ASTers into MMA? If so, how do you feel about the upcoming Sylvia/Fedor fight?

[Señor Colostimizer]

Any ASTers into MMA? If so, how do you feel about the upcoming Sylvia/Fedor fight?

I'm excited for all the fights this weekend. Ordering the Affliction PPV and Tivoing UFC on Spike. Affliction is smart building up the heavyweight division where UFC is lacking big name talent. Most everyone's picking Fedor and I am as well. Dude's WAY too much on the ground for Sylvia to handle. Looking forward to the Babalu/Whitehead fight too.

And of course watching Anderson Silva fight is always great. Knockout artist like Irvin is a risky opponent for Silva, but he ain't the best in the world for nothin'.

[Ryebread]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/What-if-30-seconds-of-cats-meowing-and-babies-cr?urn=nhl,94328

This is pretty cool for Canada.

[Famous Police Dog]

yeah

for canada

[matt in the east]

I'm surprised they got rid of Camby. Every other player was the problem last year EXCEPT for Camby, so why trade him?

Now they have a roster full of headcases that can't defend. I don't get it.

[isoS]

I think they're setting up to rebuild around Melo all over again.

[matt in the east]

After so many years, I'm still not sure if Melo is a headcase or if he's just dumb. Either way, he's not a guy that a franchise can or should build around. I'd feel bad to be a Nuggets fan right about now.

[Ryebread]

If they manage to replace Camby with The Birdman or The Dutch Dislocator then I say the Nuggets get 68 wins next season. Don't forget that they still have JR Smith, who in most people's opinion is the best player to ever step on the court.

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/59/martintattoobggs2.jpg

[matt in the east]

Judging by his lack of education and off-court demeanor, as well as his general appearance and speech patterns, JR Smith might be the dumbest person the NBA. Pound-for-pound.

[jon]

In non-NBA trade news, Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3498795) and Jason Taylor to Washington. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3497625)

I like the Taylor deal more than the other. He'll definitely help Washington's defense, which looks to be the team anchor again this year. Shockey, though, is what Kornheiser used to call a "preening schmo." He's been injured and/or unproductive the last two years, and frankly, New Orleans needs defensive backs a lot more than offensive players.

[matt in the east]

Well, the Saints just gave up a 2nd round and 4th round pick for him, so I guess I can't complain. I detest him on a personal level, but he can't be any crazier than Kyle Turley, who we dealt with for a few years. Ah well.

[nadsat droog]

This video wins everything:

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[TomHicks]

It would be nice if we could turn the TV on and didn't have to worry about the examples womyn car drivers and lady basketballerettes are setting for our young people.


We were joking about it at work and one guy said it must be a full moon, and then quickly apologized because it sounded too much like he was saying "it must be that time of the month."

[SailRacer]

Anyone else excited about Winter Classic 2009? Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley field. The Wings won the Stanley Cup last season, and might be even better next season. The Hawks have a wealth of youth talent, and seem to be improving on some of their weaknesses from last season. They were the only team in the 07-08 season to give the Wings a consistent challenge.

Should be an awesome game.

[charles star]

Well, the Saints just gave up a 2nd round and 4th round pick for him, so I guess I can't complain. I detest him on a personal level, but he can't be any crazier than Kyle Turley, who we dealt with for a few years. Ah well.
2 and a 5, I think - though the 2 becomes a 1 in 2010 if Vilma doesn't get injured.

Not sure how I feel. The Saints TE's had a horrible case of the dropsies in '07. It will be nice to have someone with hands - Brees will do some serious damage with a TE that can catch. OTOH, my biggest complaint last year (on O; nothing was worse than Jason David) was the run blocking and Shockey is allergic to contact. We are going to have to have a second TE who can block and when he is on the field it will allow the opposing D to cheat on Bush/Deuce.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

Mad Props to Rick Mahorn. Way to take out Lisa Leslie...

I suppose it's only a matter of time before Ron Artest starts coaching the WNBA and goes all Kermit Washington on Candace Parker.

Speaking of the WNBA, shouldn't the Seattle Storm be forced to move as well? After all, Storm goes with Thunder a whole lot better than it did with Sonics.

As a lifelong Sonics fan, I'm happy with the new name. For a while I was torn over whether or not I would continue to root for this team or not, but the name Thunder has made them the most easy to hate team in the league.

[Famous Police Dog]

Anyone else excited about Winter Classic 2009? Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley field. The Wings won the Stanley Cup last season, and might be even better next season. The Hawks have a wealth of youth talent, and seem to be improving on some of their weaknesses from last season. They were the only team in the 07-08 season to give the Wings a consistent challenge.

Should be an awesome game.

I should have somewhat of a vested interest since they are playing at Wrigley, but nahhhhh.

Speaking of the WNBA, shouldn't the Seattle Storm be forced to move as well? After all, Storm goes with Thunder a whole lot better than it did with Sonics.


Nope, Clay sold the team to a local group. The Storm is yours to keep!

[chapina]

OK, so no one cares and the real story should really be whether or not Real Madrid will get the loan to buy him from Man U, but lord almighty you guys...

Cristiano Ronaldo has turned into C. Thomas Howell (in Soul Man) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1038261/Browned-Sun-worshipper-Ronaldo-turns-distinct-shade-mahogany.html)

[isoS]

wow, how bad is that ankle tan-line going to be?

[chapina]

That's the least of his troubles. Rosary on the chest tan line? No thanks.

[SailRacer]

chap - maybe that's the look he's going for...

[TomHicks]

Ron Artest is a Rocket. I look forward to seeing how he will fill in when McGrady and Yao are inevitably injured.

As one Western Conference scout said when asked about the trade, "Wow. They just moved up, for sure. They were missing that element, that danger, that toughness, that [expletive]. And now they have it."

What [expletive] fits there?

[Trial]

bich

[suavepebble]

The expletive is either "fucky" or "squalorboy"

[Famous Police Dog]

"sneeb"

[charles star]

What [expletive] fits there?
"potential for a hole in your lineup because of a fucking season-long suspension"

[Harry Bongers]

Ron Artest is a Rocket. I look forward to seeing how he will fill in when McGrady and Yao are inevitably injured.

As one Western Conference scout said when asked about the trade, "Wow. They just moved up, for sure. They were missing that element, that danger, that toughness, that [expletive]. And now they have it."

What [expletive] fits there?

"Wow. They just moved up, for sure. They were missing that element, that danger, that toughness, that guy who could potentialy stab the shit out of Rafer Alston in a Miami strip club. And now they have it."

[disl]

when is it one of my teams' turn to trade peanuts for a superstar?

[SailRacer]

Ron Artest != Superstar.

He's a fool, not a star. There was talk that the Pistons were interested in him for about 10 minutes. Most Pistons fans were glad when that talk went away. You never know when Artest is going to ask for a sabbatical to promote his rap album.

[disl]

dennis rodman was a nut, too. that doesn't mean he wasn't a star. don't confuse "star" with "sane."

[nadsat droog]

You never know when Artest is going to ask for a sabbatical to promote his rap album.

Or put up 20 PPG. Oh wait...

[SailRacer]

If you put up 20 ppg one night, and then take the next three weeks off to think about what line should follow "Pickin' up bitches in my tricked out Escalade", how much are you helping your team?

[SailRacer]

Holy crap, the Tigers traded Pudge Rodriguez to the Yankees!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/SPORTS02/80730079/1050/SPORTS02

[Harry Bongers]

Artest is exactly what Toronto needs at the postion we're weakest at. He can effectively cover SG's, SF's and PF's and put up decent rebounding numbers, bring toughness and score 20 points a night. I still wanted nothing to do with the clown. He's clearly said he wants to be the first option so there is no way he would defer to Bosh and O'Neal and once he's unhappy that's when he does something kooky and ruins the locker room, creating distractions. BUT, if he was sane:

C: Jermaine O'Neal
PF: Chris Bosh
SF: Ron Artest
SG: Anthony Parker
PG: Jose Calderon

That's a good team. But of course, if he was sane he wouldn't be available at the price he is and have bounced from team to team.

[Big Box Of Money]

Holy crap, the Tigers traded Pudge Rodriguez to the Yankees!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/SPORTS02/80730079/1050/SPORTS02

Sucks, Farnsworth was just becoming awesome. Eh well, trade makes sense for both teams - Good Lord Detroit's bullpen must REALLY be a mess if they're willing to deal their starting fucking catcher for some middle relief help.

[nadsat droog]

If you put up 20 ppg one night, and then take the next three weeks off to think about what line should follow "Pickin' up bitches in my tricked out Escalade", how much are you helping your team?

You say that like he does it with regularity. He did it once, four years ago. Of course he's crazy, but he's had his act together for a while now. I'd love him on my team.

[SailRacer]

Sucks, Farnsworth was just becoming awesome. Eh well, trade makes sense for both teams - Good Lord Detroit's bullpen must REALLY be a mess if they're willing to deal their starting fucking catcher for some middle relief help.

Yeah, our bullpen has been... interesting this season. We've had injury problems there, and lots of consistency problems.

Pudge was the starting catcher, but was being spelled almost every other game by our new starting catcher Brandon Inge. I think Pudge calls a better game and is better at the plate than Inge, but he's been on a slow decline. Pudge wasn't likely to come back next season. Right now we need more help in the bullpen than behind the plate.

What really concerns me is that Farnsworth was here before, and wanted out on the fastest plane possible. He doesn't sound excited to come here. I don't know what he'll bring to the D this season...

[Harry Bongers]

This bodes well for team chemistry.

From the Houston Chronicle:

"Ron Artest said that he was excited about going to the Rockets but would join them only if they are committed to him, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

Artest's comments about commitment stem from Yao Ming’s wariness of the trade. Ming is happy with the deal, but is concerned for team chemistry.

“We’ve still got to make sure there’s still a commitment,” Artest told the Sacramento Bee. “That’s the main thing. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we’re going to find out how much they really want me there.”

“For some reason, I like (Artest),” Yao said. “Because in the games we play against him, I hate him."

“When I text-messaged with Luis (Scola), we talked about team chemistry. That’s only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team, and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don’t mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time.

“There’s worry. Obviously, yes. ... Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. ... I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history, but we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us.”

[Trial]

He also did a radio interview later that night in Sacramento where he said he's "Yao Ming's soldier, baby" and that they talked it through and are totally cool, and he's okay with his contract as-is, don't be jeeeeaaaaloussss

[Harry Bongers]

He's nuts.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53822/20080731/artest_yaos_bought_into_the_propaganda/

[isoS]

"Violent nutbar" is not a culture.

[Trial]

That's still referring to the same article as before. It's all been smoothed over, Ron Artest will go a little crazy this season, but not too crazy. Everything's going to work out at the maximum entertainment level, and culminate with the Rockets' best post-season in 11 years. This is going to be a nice fun interesting season for me, Trial. Trial Artest.

[Harry Bongers]

As long as he isn't a Raptor I'd love to see him to go absolute apeshit cuckoo. I think that would be awesome. I want him demanding time off so he can start an apiary, I want him to suplex Rafer during a timeout, I want half-time interviews where he will only speak in a series of beeps and boops. I actually think this year, if he works at it, he can have a career crazy year.

[TomHicks]

That must be hard to be a black dude and have to represent your culture. Irish people just have to be maudlin drunks (and crazy-great dancers and fantastic lovers).

[Big Box Of Money]

<a href = "http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/07/31/manny.sweepstakes/index.html?eref=T1"> Manny Traded To Dodgers </a>

[Famous Police Dog]

I guess the marlins couldn't afford him. That almost locks the Dodgers with a playoff berth in the NL Weak as long as Manny doesn't let Hollywood get to him*

*I'm just kidding it probably will in a very big way

[charles star]

<a href = "http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/07/31/manny.sweepstakes/index.html?eref=T1"> Manny Traded To Dodgers </a>
As a Pirates fan I am happy with this deal. In fact, I'm happy with both deals that the Bucs made. I may be one of a few who liked the Nady/Marte deal from the Pirates' end, but I did.

Beyond the players that the Pirates received, this deal (a) clears money for the Pirates to sign their first round pick (a Boras client) and (b) lets Boras know that they've already got a potential All-Star at his client's position, which should bring down the price a bit.

I neither know nor care how this trade affects the playoff picture in 2008.

[Bobaganoosh]

In the other deal of the day Griffey went to the White Sox for a couple of prospects. Cincy will split the rest of his contract with Chicago.

As a Reds fan I'm happy for two reasons, the first being that they got something for Griffey, who was gone by season's end anyways. The second being that I now have a team to root for in October. It would be amazing if Griffey went on to win his first world series in (potentially) his last season after being traded to a contender at the deadline.

[Famous Police Dog]

If only Timbuktu shared your enthusiasm when Garnett went and won with the Celtics.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

You lost me at 'As a Pirates Fan'...

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

That Steve Nash and Boom Dizzle can do a hell of a robot:


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[Harry Bongers]

Steve Nash is a true Canadian hero.

[Shane]

In the other deal of the day Griffey went to the White Sox for a couple of prospects. Cincy will split the rest of his contract with Chicago.

As a Reds fan I'm happy for two reasons, the first being that they got something for Griffey, who was gone by season's end anyways. The second being that I now have a team to root for in October. It would be amazing if Griffey went on to win his first world series in (potentially) his last season after being traded to a contender at the deadline.

It would definitely be nice to see Griffey win a world series, since I'm a White Sox fan living in Cincinnati. But I don't understand this move for the White Sox, it effectively benches our team captain in Paul Konerko, because Nick Swishers going to move to first base, which is his best position. Kenny Williams has been trying to get Griffey for the past 5 years, and he finally gets him at the worst possible time. We shall see...

[Harry Bongers]

Does UFC count as sports?

Kenny Florian is fighting August 9th and that guy scares me because he looks like someone I would take a swing at without thinking, then have my face reduced to paste.

[Trial]

Unbelievable, the Ron Artest Saga continues!!!!

“Rafer, he’s my idol. I grew up watching him. I watched him at Rucker Park. Everybody looks up to Rafer and is proud of Rafer. He grew up in a tough environment, playing street ball and adjusted his game to be a star in the NBA. I not only have admiration for him but I’m happy for him.

“Me and Shane have been playing together for quite some time. Every time we played it’s always a battle. When we first played against each other (15 years ago) Shane used to be way bigger than me. I really admire Shane because Shane at Duke was the star and he’s still playing defense, hitting big 3s and is such important part of the Houston Rockets. That’s why I wouldn’t mind coming off the bench as a sixth man or seventh man.”

Artest said he was excited about the move for reasons ranging from contending for a championship to establishing his foundation, “XL University” in Houston to provide scholarships for Houston students in private schools or heading to college. But he said he did not want to say much.

“My game speaks for myself,” he said. “I’m one of the top thee or four two-way players in the game. I do love to play defense. I got scoring all around me now. I can just contribute.

“I am happy. I’m always happy. I have family, a beautiful wife, four kids. I’m always in good spirits, always happy. I’m blessed. I guess over time you get to know people. The first day is the interesting day. The next days always get better. I don’t want to write a book in newspaper today. We will over time.”

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM, TICK TICK TICK, ANY DAY NOW

[Bobaganoosh]

It would definitely be nice to see Griffey win a world series, since I'm a White Sox fan living in Cincinnati. But I don't understand this move for the White Sox, it effectively benches our team captain in Paul Konerko, because Nick Swishers going to move to first base, which is his best position. Kenny Williams has been trying to get Griffey for the past 5 years, and he finally gets him at the worst possible time. We shall see...

Konerko being the captain doesn't change the fact that his bat has been useless all year, though. Some of his stats: .214 AVG, .312 OBP, and .349 SLG. Recently he's been even worse. In July .209 AVG, .274 OBP, and slugging a whopping .284. Plus first base is a position from which you usually expect above average offense. If you go just by stats, Griffey is a decent upgrade, plus he's heated up in July as opposed to what Konerko has done. July for Griffey: .271 AVG, .386 OBP, .541 SLG.

I would also imagine a pennant race would motivate Griffey even more, and we could see some postseason heroics. Although it is also possible that Griffey is just too far past his prime and won't be a factor. At the least it gives the White Sox more depth with the freedom to platoon a right handed Konerko and a left handed Griffey according to pitching matchups, but it seems to be a decent offensive upgrade to me.

[Bobaganoosh]

Griffey 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, a walk, and a run in his White Sox debut. Keep it up JR.

[TomHicks]

I have thought it over and I have decided I will accept $1,000 from the Packers to not play in the NFL next season.

[Shane]

Konerko being the captain doesn't change the fact that his bat has been useless all year, though. Some of his stats: .214 AVG, .312 OBP, and .349 SLG. Recently he's been even worse. In July .209 AVG, .274 OBP, and slugging a whopping .284. Plus first base is a position from which you usually expect above average offense. If you go just by stats, Griffey is a decent upgrade, plus he's heated up in July as opposed to what Konerko has done. July for Griffey: .271 AVG, .386 OBP, .541 SLG.

I would also imagine a pennant race would motivate Griffey even more, and we could see some postseason heroics. Although it is also possible that Griffey is just too far past his prime and won't be a factor. At the least it gives the White Sox more depth with the freedom to platoon a right handed Konerko and a left handed Griffey according to pitching matchups, but it seems to be a decent offensive upgrade to me.


I know Konerko's stats are completely awful this year, but the man is 32 and has a .277 career batting average, and has had 30 home runs each of the last 4 seasons. He does tend to have awful hitting years every now and again (hit .234 in 2003 and .259 in 2007). So, in that regard, I don't think you can justify benching Konerko because of a bad 79 games. Then again, Griffey can definately still put up the same numbers Konerko can, if he stays healthy. So maybe this was a good deal for this season, but I can't say that about long term if Konerko ends up leaving because of this.

[matt in the east]

Does UFC count as sports?


Nope.

[matt in the east]

Ron Artest is insane, and you don't recover from insanity. It just gets worse.

I give it 5-6 Months.

[Trial]

I hope he goes insane on David West

[matt in the east]

i hope you shut your mouth! david west is a gentleman's gentleman.

[SailRacer]

I have thought it over and I have decided I will accept $1,000 from the Packers to not play in the NFL next season.

You got hosed. The Pack gave me $3,000 not to show up to camp.

I hope Ron Artest punches a ref this season, then defends himself by claiming to represent his culture.

[matt in the east]

I hope Ron Artest does something over the top to ingratiate himself to yao ming. like getting a chairman mao tattoo on his face.

[TomHicks]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3520860

This is a bizarre story about how LeBron would consider playing in Europe for $50 million a season. I'm not sure the story ever defends the premise; it's not clear that any team would be capable of paying that sum. (It's 32 million euros, by the way.)

[Famous Police Dog]

I'd do it. Become the uncontested greatest person to play international, win a championship practically every year,make tons of dough, AND eat greek food? Sounds a lot better than playing for a shitty team in Brooklyn, Jay-Z or No-Z.

Sign me up, I'm going Euro baby :cool:

[SailRacer]

Favre is officially done with the Packers. Leading trade candidates are Tampa Bay and the New York Jets.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/PKR01/80805144/1058&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

[matt in the east]

I'm starting to get the feeling that Lebron is a disloyal, money-hungry egomaniac. Maybe I'm late on this.

[isoS]

"It's business."

That should be a mandatory tattoo for all incoming NBA rookies.

[Americas Team]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3520860

This is a bizarre story about how LeBron would consider playing in Europe for $50 million a season. I'm not sure the story ever defends the premise; it's not clear that any team would be capable of paying that sum. (It's 32 million euros, by the way.)

This seems like a huge non story. They interviewed the writer yesterday, on the radio. He was even down playing it.

Of course LeBron would have to consider it. It is $50 million dollars for a year of basketball!!! It is a retarded question. What are the odds some team would actually pony that up? Zero? Less then zero? Super negative zero? Plus LeBron did not say it "Someone very close" did. It could be one of his 3 barbers for all we know.

[Americas Team]

"It's business."

That should be a mandatory tattoo for all incoming NBA rookies.

I agree with your sentiment. There is definitely a much cool calculated over feel to the young players these days. I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. They seem to avoid trouble better then in the past. They all have been coached up by PR people so they don't say stupid shit as much. Some are even given comedy classes.

Hopefully it will not take away from the passions they have for the game. The last thing I want is a league full of Roger Dorns.

[Itslikeimsayin]

What's one good reason Lebron shouldn't do this if given the opportunity?

[Berliner]

Offshoring

[isoS]

What's one good reason Lebron shouldn't do this if given the opportunity?

Maybe there isn't one, and if I were him I'd probably do it, but the myth of the American pro athlete is built on the premise that they care about being the best (and beating the best) more than anything else. That myth is exploded if a guy leaves the most competitive league to play against lesser players just because he can make more money. If you believe that winning an NBA championship still means something to players, even in this era of me-first free agency business-ball, then the flip side of the coin is that winning a championship in a Russian or Italian league means nothing.

It's similar to what happens in soccer, where players often move between the English Premier League, the "softer" Spanish La Liga, or maybe the German Bundesliga, and their attitude towards their employer seems much more mercenary than in American pro sports, where there's still lip service paid to the concept of team pride and commitment to a club. (This isn't across the board, but it's more prevalent because there are multiple top-tier soccer leagues with rich franchises in Europe.) The difference is, in soccer the bigger deal is playing for the national team in international play -- that's where players' hearts are, not with the clubs who pay them so well. Even with the renewed commitment seen from this year's U.S. Olympic basketball team, that just isn't the case with Americans. No one thinks winning a gold medal is more impressive than winning an NBA championship. That could change as other countries get more competitive, but right now the ultimate prize is where the best competition is found, and if you're not involved in the pursuit of that prize, you're basically irrelevant.

Put philosophically: if LeBron dunks in a club game in Barcelona, does it make a sound?

[Itslikeimsayin]

I see that point, but if you have the opportunity to further popularize the game globally and expand your marketing prowess by playing a year or two in Europe, the long-term impact could exceed that of winning an NBA championship, which is unlikely anyhow. As the article said, if he goes to Europe, I don't think he'd play the rest of his career there.

If he did it, I'd say he'd have a chance to overtake Tiger in terms of global awareness and popularity. As Tiger has shown with his Tiger Woods Foundation and his long-term philanthropic tendencies, that can go a long way toward bringing about positive change in the world that means more than NBA scoring titles. I'm not sure if Lebron has those same aspirations, but if he does, he's got to at least consider the European option if it presents itself.

[disl]

if lebron goes to europe, i think that will legitimize playing ball overseas to many players. and my ultimate hope from all of that is there is a tournament at the end of every nba season where the champions from each league in the world faces off for a world championship. basketball will be played 12 months a year and i won't be bored out of my fucking mind during baseball season.

[SailRacer]

Put philosophically: if LeBron dunks in a club game in Barcelona, does it make a sound?

Yes, but only in Barcelona.

I have a lot of thoughts on this (could he take the same route Beckham did?), but want to point out one thing right now. Not all of major professional American sports are like this. All the athletes aren't mercenaries.

May I present to you, the National Hockey League. Case in point. Marion Hossa (formerly of the Eastern Conference Champion Pittsburgh Penguins) was the TOP free agent forward on the market this summer. Offers for Hossa's services were reported to be upwards of 10 million a year. Vancouver made public an offer for 20.25 million for two years. This isn't the NFL folks, that's guranteed money. Hossa signed with the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings (I love typing that) for one year at 7.25 million. He bypassed a huge payday, and security for what he feels is the best chance to win his first Stanley Cup.

So don't lose hope. There still are athletes who are more than just mercenaries for hire.

[matt in the east]

The Euroleagues aren't even close to being as competitive as the NBA. If Earl Boykins is the highest paid player in Italy, that should tell you the state of Italian basketball.

If Lebron went over there, it would make him look awful. Not only would he be proven to be a money-grubber, but he'd look like a chump for playing against weak competition and selling out his country.

The Euroleagues don't pose a threat to the NBA at all. But, I hope they keep subtly draining the talent pool in the NBA, so we can get rid of a few teams and have a more interesting league. Just shave a 3 or 4 teams right off and integrate the players into the rest of the league.

[isoS]

if lebron goes to europe, i think that will legitimize playing ball overseas to many players. and my ultimate hope from all of that is there is a tournament at the end of every nba season where the champions from each league in the world faces off for a world championship. basketball will be played 12 months a year and i won't be bored out of my fucking mind during baseball season.

Stern will never allow that, since it would interfere with his plan to expand the NBA into Europe and put the NBA brand on everything b-ball related worldwide. Also, players need an off-season. But I'm all for shortening the NBA playoffs and having an international club tournament in the summer... just give the rest of the leagues another decade to catch up to the NBA. If the money's there, the players will follow, and then we might see global parity. I still think there will be lingering cache to playing in America though, esp. for American stars. Just like England has the cache of being soccer's birthplace (which probably means more to Brits than anyone else), the U.S. will retain that same status for hoops.

As for a star going overseas, I think a more realistic scenario would be Kobe playing in Italy when he's like 36 and still able to do some things, but past his prime in NBA terms. Sort of like Beckham coming to the Galaxy -- it would be a big story worldwide, but the game is bigger than one player, and it's not going to be the difference between success and failure for a whole league or the sport's global rise. (Luckily, unlike soccer in the U.S., basketball really is exploding overseas, and I assume it will continue to do so with or without American stars involved. It's just a great sport to watch, live or on TV.)

[TomHicks]

I just like the LeBron story because of how journalism works: I'm sure the NBA beat reporters write daily pitches they send to their editors. And that one reporter had to write up some pitches and he wrote, LeBron said this "..." I can make a little blurby story about it so we have something to post. And the editor said, Fuck, we ain't got nothing better. So write it up.

I think Kobe Bryant would leave the Lakers this season to play in Europe for $50 million. He could pay the Lakers back his almost $20 million and still be up about $10 million.

Did you see Kwame Brown is a Piston? I feel sorry for him now. He seemed to have so much potential that he just squandered and he will have to settle for being paid only $4 million a season. I think it's a good lesson for incoming players that if you dog it in practice and on the court you can only expect to be a multi-millionaire. Instead of multi-jazillionaire.

[matt in the east]

kwame brown looks stupid. just look at him.

[Famous Police Dog]

Lebron has an equal chance of winning an NBA Championship while playing in St. Petersburg as he does playing for the Nets and the Knicks.

The Euroleagues don't pose a threat to the NBA at all. But, I hope they keep subtly draining the talent pool in the NBA, so we can get rid of a few teams and have a more interesting league. Just shave a 3 or 4 teams right off and integrate the players into the rest of the league.

That would be great but I doubt Stern would ever be up for a league contraction. He would rather move teams to Omaha and Providence before he does that.

[Harry Bongers]

LeBron will never win anything unless he takes a pay cut so they can actually afford to build a team around him. I hate these guys who wine about wanting to win so bad but refuse to actually help the team by being paid 70 million dollars instead of 80 million dollars. What difference could that make to them personally? I understand this need to take care of your family, but unless you're trying to ensure that your great-great-great-great grand kids have platinum rocket-packs then I don't see how it oculd make a difference.


I was just reading that there are clues in the advance schedule that OKC will in fact be called the Thunder. Anyone want to wager on their intro music? I'll take AC/DC Thunderstruck.

You've been....THUNDERSTRUCK!

(Why don't keyboards have lightning bolt keys so you can spell AC/DC properly. They way god intended?)

[daveunfun]

Brett Favre is officially a New York Jet.

" McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that after approximately six hours of what he called "brutally honest" conversations over two days, the coach had determined that Favre doesn't have the right mindset to play for the Packers.

McCarthy said Favre couldn't seem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensions mounted in recent weeks -- even with the chance to win his starting job back potentially on the table."

Ugh, what an asshole. I hope he fails miserably and ends his career watching Kellen Clemens get sacked seven times a game.

[Famous Police Dog]

Antonio MrDys
StomTrial Swift
Ronnie Brewcaster
Monta ILIS

and for our gridiron fans

LeDaniel TomHickson

[disl]

i'll do you one better: ledaenematronlinson
:D :D :D

[isoS]

didisaylabainian

[disl]

zydrunas isoskas

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

Mary Van Poppel
Thunder Dan Telfer

Tom Scamboog-liotta

[matt in the east]

yaomingtree

[yumitree]

THAT G.D. CHINAMAN!

just so i'm contributing:
OH THAT CAMBY!

[Kurt]

Kurt Thomas

I may be doing this wrong.

[Itslikeimsayin]

Mehmet Joker

[Americas Team]

Stephon Strawberries
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Riddell">Mark Riddell(er)</>


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/no1W1f8RvQ0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/no1W1f8RvQ0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Trial]

America's Team USA

[Famous Police Dog]

SebastDan Telfer

[MrDys]

I'm tempted to start a thread for this, but hey hey ho ho, the Olympics start today!

Though, I am pissed that NBC totally fucked up what could have been the best use of internet video everrr by making their Olympics website a region locked, Vista-only, Silverlight-requiring piece of shit. Myp2p.eu and torrents will have to suffice.

[jon]

Harryus Bongersaila

[Harry Bongers]

LeJon James


I Win!

[TomHicks]

America's Team USA

USA! USA!

[Americas Team]

USA! USA!

I like the direction this thread is taking.

[matt in the east]

who dat say dey gon' beat dem saints, cher?

[charles star]

who dat say dey gon' beat dem saints, cher?
Not the Cardinals' practice squad!

Glad to see Robert Meacham in uniform - and in the end zone! Now, if we can teach Reggie Bush to wait for his blockers...

[Famous Police Dog]

Kobe Bryant would consider a move to Europe as well (for 50 million of course)

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/08/kobe_to_italy.html

“I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that… Peace out.”

PEACE OUT!


Sidenote: I watched some of the Olympics on NBC.com and it was kind of fun to watch Judo, Badminton, Handball, and Cycling in one sitting. Good on you, NBC.com, but I wish you had the air pistol challenge online.

[Famous Police Dog]

I watch Georgia lose in badmitton meanwhile..

CNN - At least 2,000 people have died in Tskhinvali in South Ossetia, and the Georgian city has been destroyed, a Russian ambassador tells Interfax.

Georgia's parliament Saturday approved a request by President Mikhail Saakashvili's to impose a "state of war," as the conflict between Georgia and Russia escalated, Georgian officials said.

Sure those numbers are definately inflated but :(

[isoS]

I watched a little badminton online -- it looked good, but without commentary I was completely lost. And I fear that the resolution will be too low to watch soccer and really follow the action.

(ILIS: they are also showing basketball without commentary: your dream come true!)

[isoS]

Olympic basketball, USA v. China: they're playing the old NBA on NBC theme song at every break -- I'm in heaven!

[jon]

Olympic basketball, USA v. China: they're playing the old NBA on NBC theme song at every break -- I'm in heaven!

Yeah, I thought that was a nice touch. As for the game, I think if anything gets the US team in trouble, it'll be defense. Overall it seems to be more active than smart, with players like Kidd, Wade, Boozer, even James a little bit, reaching in and swiping at the ball instead of staying in front of their man. I was a little disappointed in Howard's play. He missed too many shots three feet from the basket. There were also a lot of bad passes in the first quarter. I don't know if that was general sloppiness or the players still getting used to each other. There was also a little too much showboating early on. This isn't a "I wish everyone made set shots" rant, but there was one James sequence where he basically And-1'd a guy, complete with spinning no-look pass, and I think the US was up by less than ten at that point.

I thought Bosh and Paul played well, Bosh in particular. Deron Williams was up and down, and seemed to want to challenge Yao a lot more than he should have.

Did Carmelon do anything in this game? I know he was on the floor, and had a few foul shots, but even when he was in the game it seemed like he disappeared.

[chapina]

I watched a little badminton online -- it looked good, but without commentary I was completely lost. And I fear that the resolution will be too low to watch soccer and really follow the action.

(ILIS: they are also showing basketball without commentary: your dream come true!)

Did you check to see if your cable company is carrying the soccer and basketball only channels? DTV is not :(

[Trial]

Carmelon

Carmelon

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

Olympic basketball, USA v. China: they're playing the old NBA on NBC theme song at every break -- I'm in heaven!

I feel like a schmuck that this actually made me tear up a little.

(Not Isos's post, but the old NBC music...)

I could watch badminton all day. It's like watching tennis on tivo x3 speed.

Table tennis too.

[isoS]

Did you check to see if your cable company is carrying the soccer and basketball only channels? DTV is not :(

Oh, I'm sure they're not. Time Warner sucks. They JUST added USA and CNBC to their paltry HD lineup for the Olympics, so I flipped on Argentina v. Australia yesterday morning. Technical problems (digital picture noise) got worse and worse as the match went on, so I eventually switched to regular USA.

[isoS]

Wow, I actually do get those channels! They're just listed wrong in my guide (TW just bumped Fox Sports West HD and Mojo HD for Olympic Soccer and Basketball, but didn't update the guide). I turned my TV on just now to see if I had them and was treated to a replay of the last 2 minutes of USA v. NED and that horrible free kick. If the US doesn't beat (or tie I guess) Nigeria to advance, that will haunt them forever.

I also just learned that when the Olympics end, TW will be taking USA and CNBC HD away. Not that I need to watch Psych or Mad Money in high def, but given how few HD channels they offer (20), I find that really cheesy.

[Famous Police Dog]

All my life I was looking for a game like handball, and now I found it.

[chapina]

I was about to tell you you do get them, you lucky jerk. I'm getting it at work and I just finished watching that game as well. I'm so mad they didn't pull it out. They almost beat the Netherlands! The Netherlands!

[Harry Bongers]

Be careful Spain or they may go pee-pee in your coke.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/11/olympicsbasketball.olympics20081

[chapina]

Lalas, Gullit shown door by Galaxy (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-galaxy12-2008aug12,0,4926526.story)

[matt in the east]

Ohhhh man. Bad move, spaniards.

[Liezl]

blue screen of death at the olympics (http://gizmodo.com/5035456/blue-screen-of-death-strikes-birds-nest-during-opening-ceremonies-torch-lighting)

[TimBuktu]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/09/beachvolleyball2.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00788/640-george-bush-vol_788317c.jpg

I'm starting to like wacky, almost out of office Bush.

[matt in the east]

misti may!! git r done

[isoS]

Be careful Spain or they may go pee-pee in your coke.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/11/olympicsbasketball.olympics20081

Pau, no!

[Embiggen]

Be careful Spain or they may go pee-pee in your coke.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/11/olympicsbasketball.olympics20081

They don't seem to be pulling very hard -- it looks more like they're pointing at their heads. Maybe they're just saying that for these games they're really going to have to use their noggins.

I don't know if anyone on AST cares about swimming, but did any of you watch the 400 free relay live last night? That was the most amazing race I've ever seen, and possibly the greatest Olympic moment I've ever seen. Three world records broken in one race -- the relay record by four (4!) seconds, the 100 free on the leadoff leg of the Australian team, and Lezak's anchor was the fastest relay split ever, though not an official record. Lezak swam a perfect race, and even though his time of 46.06 was a relay split, a relay exchange generally only counts for 0.7 seconds, so that swim from a flat start would have obliterated the 100 free world record by half a second. And that came from the oldest member of the men's team who coaches himself! I don't imagine we'll see a race that exciting for the rest of the games, even from Phelps.

[Embiggen]

More on the Lezak swim. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/michael_farber/08/11/lezak/index.html?eref=T1)

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

I've never seen a silver medal winning team look so dejected before. The Frenchies looked like they just watched a space shuttle with all their pets in it explode.

How long before the Lezak doping allegations begin?

[Embiggen]

I've never seen a silver medal winning team look so dejected before. The Frenchies looked like they just watched a space shuttle with all their pets in it explode.

How long before the Lezak doping allegations begin?

Well, by that logic, how long before the doping allegations for all members of the top five relays -- every one of them broke the world record. I think everything's on the up-and-up.

As for the French, if you just saw your teammate, the fastest 100 free swimmer ever, get overtaken after having a body-length lead by a 32-year-old, and your team broke a world record by four seconds, only to lose by another 0.08 seconds, I think you'd have a pretty similar look on your face.

[isoS]

I keep hearing how "fast" the pool is in Beijing. I don't know what that means or how it could be the case, but it seems like world records are being broken left and right in there.

[Embiggen]

It just means the pool is deep, wide and has good drainage at the bulkheads at either end. You just want to minimize little waves and currents, and not have waves reflecting off the walls due to people's turns.

[Vanessa]

I keep hearing how "fast" the pool is in Beijing. I don't know what that means or how it could be the case, but it seems like world records are being broken left and right in there.

the pool is 3 meters deep instead of 2 meters (and there are 10 lanes instead of 8). that reduces resistance from the bottom of the pool.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93478073&ft=1&f=1001

[yumitree]

i remember that comcast added universal hd for the last winter olympics games, but, sadly, no soccer for me... just way too much olympic boxing.

[MrDys]

Watching Mens' gymnastics tonight was one of the most crushing things I've ever seen in live sports. They came back from nothing to being solidly in silver to majorly fuck up pommel horse, to have the last pommeler kick its fucking ass to back to praying that they get bronze.

[charles star]

Christiane sure can finish.

[Americas Team]

I am watching Greece and Germany basketball game. It is strange to watch a game without any announcers. There don't seem to even be arena announcers. It reminds of when my grade school would drive over to Council Bluffs to play The Iowa School for the deaf.

This Greece team hustles on defense. Our three point shooting better get better quickly. We may need to play Red more.

Is there no way to watch the USA games on line?

[isoS]

I don't know if it was online, but I'm pretty sure USA v. Angola was on live at 5:30am this morning on the basketball channel. Then they'll probably replay it in prime time on USA or CNBC. What's weird is that they have Steve "Snapper" Jones and some other guy calling the games on the basketball channel from a studio in NYC -- why they can't do the same for the online feed is beyond me (in other words, if it airs on the bball channel with commentary, why can't they put it online the same way? Is this part of the SAG-AMPTP standoff?).

[disl]

team handball is the dumbest sport i've ever seen. i can't believe a gold medal will actually be handed out at the end of this. the winner should get a jumbo-sized, stuffed teddy bear.

[punkdc]

team handball is the dumbest sport i've ever seen. i can't believe a gold medal will actually be handed out at the end of this. the winner should get a jumbo-sized, stuffed teddy bear.

Sad but true. I also laughed super hard at this for some reason. Oh yeah, because its so crazy.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

It's certainly no dumber than the Equestrian events.

When the Olympics started, I picture a bunch of rich, snobby, jealous assholes around saying, "But I want a medal! Look, I can ride my horsey!! Daddy, make them give me a medal for riding my horsey!!".

[Harry Bongers]

USA Olympic medalist Alicia Scaramone has an interesting training program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QA6s7p-zU8

[isoS]

Johnny Sack would be proud.

[charles star]

USA Olympic medalist Alicia Scaramone has an interesting training program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QA6s7p-zU8
I hope that this morning she is feeling a little better and realizing that China probably wins the gold even if she doesn't fall off the beam or in the floor exercise. Seeing her despair after her routines was tough.

[TomHicks]

I think my 71-year-old mother speaks for all Americans when she says of Michael Phelps: "His face is kind of ugly."

I'm pretty sure that photo of Spain's national basketball team was meant as satire. People just didn't get it.

[matt in the east]

phelps has kid teeth like brian posehn.

those swimmer bodies are weeeird lookin though. do chicks dig those?

[TomHicks]

phelps has kid teeth like brian posehn.

those swimmer bodies are weeeird lookin though. do chicks dig those?

Not as much as guys with a good sense of humor.

[Trial]

This Greek basketball team is getting my goat!

[charles star]

While the US basketball team has played like shit in the past, I watched the second half of Lithuania - Russia and I can't conceive of losing to either team if we put in even a halfhearted attempt at defense.

[matt in the east]

Not as much as guys with a good sense of humor.

guys with a good sense of humor dig those?

[matt in the east]

i'm so tired of NBC's olympics coverage. I can't think of one conceivable way for me to actually watch these team USA basketball games. If you miss the 5 am airtime, then you can't go on the internet to any news site all day because the score will be on the front page.

Why can't the news media pretend that nothing has happened until the primetime replay comes on in the US? I'm very frustrated.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

If you were a real fan, you'd be up at 4:30am with a pot of coffee and your signed, Dream Team 2 Shawn Kemp jersey.

(I'm not)

[Harry Bongers]

I got free tickets to the Steelers-Bills pre-season game in Toronto tonight. Should I bother going, considering I don't really like football?

[Americas Team]

The complete game is thankfully on line:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/index.html

You should hear the cheer Kobe Bryant gets when he gets announced. GRRRRRRR

[Americas Team]

I got free tickets to the Steelers-Bills pre-season game in Toronto tonight. Should I bother going, considering I don't really like football?

Yes, because you might start to like it when you go to a game. (Even though it is just preseason.)

[TomHicks]

guys with a good sense of humor dig those?

I meant women like guys who are funny when they are swimming.

[Itslikeimsayin]

I got free tickets to the Steelers-Bills pre-season game in Toronto tonight. Should I bother going, considering I don't really like football?

No. I suggest you mail the tickets back to NFL HQ and tell them to keep their stupid league out of your country.

[isoS]

Of all the major American sports, I think pro football is the least entertaining to watch live. So if you're not into it to begin with, you REALLY won't be into it after witnessing a pre-season game in person.

[matt in the east]

I think a football game is nice to experience at least once, but only if you're reasonably close to the action. if you have nosebleeds, there's no point in going unless you're there to offer support to a particular team.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

I agree. Pro Football is the worst game to see live.

For the most part, it's just a picnic that idiots pay $100 a ticket to get into so they can hang out with their friends, get drunk and scream at something. Once you get past 10 rows, the action's nearly impossible to follow and you wind up watching the replay that you would've seen live if you'd been home instead.

Of course, I live in Oakland, so I've got the whole 'legitimate fear for my life' angle keeping me away from games as well.

[isoS]

I agree with matt: try every sporting event at least once. I've been to NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS, WNBA, ATP (tennis), women's world cup soccer and probably some other crap I'm forgetting, and it was all interesting on some level.

[charles star]

You people are crazy. I love going to football games live. At the pro stadiums I've been to, the seating is usually angled so that the sight lines are all great. If you can't follow the action it is because you are too used to the way games are broadcast, not because the action is actually too hard to follow.

That said, I can barely watch games at home on TV without a DVR now. The time between plays doesn't seem so bad at the stadium (or if I'm watching with friends at a bar) but I squirm through the commercials and the inane blather from the commentators if I can't fast forward through them. A football game at home in 80 minutes is the way to go.

[Itslikeimsayin]

I agree with matt: try every sporting event at least once. I've been to NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS, WNBA, ATP (tennis), women's world cup soccer and probably some other crap I'm forgetting, and it was all interesting on some level.

Sounds like you need to venture out to Riviera next February. (PGA Tour)

[chapina]

That said, I can barely watch games at home on TV without a DVR now. The time between plays doesn't seem so bad at the stadium (or if I'm watching with friends at a bar) but I squirm through the commercials and the inane blather from the commentators if I can't fast forward through them. A football game at home in 80 minutes is the way to go.

I watch college football and I cannot even fathom the idea of watching a game on delay like that. But I do drink alot during the game so the breaks are nothin' but relief for me.

[Americas Team]

I don't know what it says for Shaq's legacy when every overweight center is nick named Baby Shaq.

I fucking love Chris Bosh in this game. He never stops and seems to be everywhere doing little things. Revised starting five after watching this game:

Chris Paul
Wade
Kobe
LBJ
Bosh

[matt in the east]

Yea i'm surprised with how much he's stuck out in the last few games, especially defensively. I made the mistake of thinking that he was a soft player until getting the chance to really watch him. He's a really smart defender and, even though he looks skinny, he can bully guys a little bit in the paint as well.

[charles star]

I watch college football and I cannot even fathom the idea of watching a game on delay like that. But I do drink alot during the game so the breaks are nothin' but relief for me.
The key for me is to set the DVR to tape and then start watching during what otherwise would be halftime.

[Trial]

Michael Phelps just drowned

[charles star]

Kristin Schall + Elijah Wood = Rebecca Soni

Discuss.

Also, great job by Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson - especially after getting jobbed on the early rotations.

[isoS]

Soni's upset of Lethal Jones was exciting to watch. It seemed like she caught her on every leg, then fell a little behind on every turn, and then she won.

[Harry Bongers]

I don't know what it says for Shaq's legacy when every overweight center is nick named Baby Shaq.

I fucking love Chris Bosh in this game. He never stops and seems to be everywhere doing little things. Revised starting five after watching this game:

Chris Paul
Wade
Kobe
LBJ
Bosh

Yeah, he's underrated a little bit. He seems to improve something ever year as well. I'm really excited about next year, if Jermaine O'Neal can stay healthy that's a pretty devastating front court for us. With Calderon running the point that's a three-headed monster. The question marks are our wings, but Kapono and Moon each bring something totally different to the table -- defence and rebounding and deadly three-point shooting. Parker is getting on in years but he's smart and plays within himself. If one of Ukic or Hassan Adams can surprise a little bit, and Bargnani plays like he's capable of doing I think Toronto can make some noise.

[matt in the east]

i enjoy the raptors.

i also enjoy misti may.

2 things i enjoy.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

I am so bored with Misti May and Kerri Kenney.

Beach volleyball is an atrociously boring sport to watch on television, and it seems pretty cheap of NBC to go wall to wall covering it during primetime just because they ain't wearing much clothes.

[MrDys]

I've gotten very quickly tired of Gymnastics, Beach Volleyball (boring as tits), and Swimming in primetime. There are so many other sports in the Olympics that they could feature and they just aren't.

[isoS]

I am amazed at the amount of coverage NBC has devoted to May-Walsh. I think I've seen at least part of every match they've played so far without even trying to. They've been on every night this week in the prime-time sweet spot of 8:30-9:30pm. Meanwhile, they don't even replay the U.S. Men's Basketball team games on the all-basketball channel after the initial 3-5am airing (instead they show a static image of the schedule for 8 hours -- good use of HD, guys). It's also annoying that they hold the stuff people want to see (Phelps, women's gymnastics) until some ungodly hour -- do they really think people will stay up past midnight to watch this stuff? It's not live, so just put it on from 6-11p instead of 8-1a. Or at least stop boasting about five hours of coverage when half of it is happening after everyone's gone to sleep.

[isoS]

Oh, and watching May-Walsh couldn't be less interesting: they dominate everyone they play. It's barely even sport. What's entertaining about a lopsided ass-kicking? Drama only comes when competitors are evenly matched and anyone can win, and that's not about to happen here. Bump, set, spike. Dig, set, spike. Block. We get it.

[TomHicks]

I am so bored with Misti May and Kerri Kenney.

Beach volleyball is an atrociously boring sport to watch on television, and it seems pretty cheap of NBC to go wall to wall covering it during primetime just because they ain't wearing much clothes.

Like most people in the world, past and present, I don't follow beach volleyball. So I was really shocked to see that there are a lot of points scored "easily," as in: Serve and then the returning team just puts the ball in an empty space. I thought it would be more like team volleyball where back-and-forth seems to be the norm.

Secondly, can we just go ahead it and call it "Girls Gymnastics"? It has to be one of the only athletic competitions where people are walking around saying, Look at her! She's 12! How am I supposed to beat a 12-year-old girl?

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

It has to be one of the only athletic competitions where people are walking around saying, Look at her! She's 12! How am I supposed to beat a 12-year-old girl?

What about competitive child abuse?

[Americas Team]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-flumenbaum/scandal-of-the-ages-docum_b_118842.html

What began as whispers among the media and gymnastics insiders weeks ago about the ages of three of China's female Olympic gymnasts -- Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin and He Kexin -- has grown into ear-shattering, head-hurting shouts. Despite assurances by Chinese officials that all three are 16, the minimum age of eligibility for Olympic competition, newly discovered documents and records prove otherwise.

The New York Times first looked into the age of China's gymnasts with a story on July 27 that focused primarily on He Kexin, whose birthdate on numerous online records was listed as January 1, 1994, making her 14 when the Games began and ineligible to compete.

When the world was officially introduced to He Kexin this week, even those unwise to the ways of competitive gymnastics could tell that with He, something was not right. At 4-foot 8-inches tall and weighing 72 pounds, the Beijing native appears significantly younger than most of her Chinese teammates much less her American and European counterparts.

The world's foremost expert on female gymnastics Bela Karolyi has routinely referred to the 2008 Chinese team as "half people" and in his contributions to NBC as a commentator during the Games he has railed against the Chinese for engaging in age falsification. After China outscored the U.S. in the qualification round, Karolyi had this to say about the Chinese gymnastics officials:

These people think we are stupid...We are in the business of gymnastics. We know what a kid of 14 or 15 or 16 looks like. What kind of slap in the face is this? They are 12, 14 years old and they get lined up and the government backs them and the federation runs away. There is an age limit and it can't be controlled.

[jon]

I am amazed at the amount of coverage NBC has devoted to May-Walsh. I think I've seen at least part of every match they've played so far without even trying to. They've been on every night this week in the prime-time sweet spot of 8:30-9:30pm. Meanwhile, they don't even replay the U.S. Men's Basketball team games on the all-basketball channel after the initial 3-5am airing (instead they show a static image of the schedule for 8 hours -- good use of HD, guys). It's also annoying that they hold the stuff people want to see (Phelps, women's gymnastics) until some ungodly hour -- do they really think people will stay up past midnight to watch this stuff? It's not live, so just put it on from 6-11p instead of 8-1a. Or at least stop boasting about five hours of coverage when half of it is happening after everyone's gone to sleep.

Well, some of it is live (the swimming, mostly; there's a 12 hour time difference, so a race at 10:30 pm eastern Thursday is being swum/swam/swem Friday morning in China). I think the reason they keep showing May-Treanor/Walsh is precisely because they're so dominant. Also, because they're American. I have a feeling their matches aren't so heavily televised in, say, Australia. That's annoying for those of us who want to see good athletes and good competition no matter what the country or sport, but I'm sure it's been proven over the years that the majority of American TV viewers want to see Americans doing well.

[isoS]

It might be live on the east coast, but then they delay it for the west (mens vball is on here right now).

[isoS]

just saw Phelps. Wow. That didn't seem real. It was like a corny movie how he was basically beat, but then he magically reached out and won.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

My new candidate for worst television sport is Water Polo.

Seriously, without an 80 inch HDTV, how can you possibly follow what the fuck is going on? Ice Hockey seems like the easiest sport in the world to spot the ball/puck in compared to this.

[Berliner]

I don't know if you guys feel this, but the NBC commentary is so anti China that it drives me up the wall. I saw the 1996 games in China, and if I recall correctly, it was highly complimentary of the American athletes.

[MrDys]

I don't know if you guys feel this, but the NBC commentary is so anti China that it drives me up the wall. I saw the 1996 games in China, and if I recall correctly, it was highly complimentary of the American athletes.

This really got my goat in the opening ceremonies. I'd have to watch it again, but Costas's constant comments like "Oh, there's the delegation from the Dominican Republic, who are not going to medal this Olympics" really pissed me off. I know it's a competition, but fuck, have some respect for people that are merely athletic representatives of their respective nations.

It's one thing to be "Rah! Rah! USA!" and it's another to be "What the fuck do they think they're doing here?"

[AmericasMobileDevice]

I would not consider myself a Chinese apologist but all the shit people are talking about the opening ceremonies is annoying to me. No one goes back to football game half time shows and does this. Who cares if people are lip synching? It is a ceremony which in and of itself suggests that things are going to faked to make it look better. FYI Those Disney characters, at Disneyland, are just people in costumes.

[jon]

I flipped to the Olympic women's marathon during preseason football commercials. Early on it was about as boring as watching people running sounds, but later on, seeing the overhead shots of just how far ahead that (38 year old) Romanian woman was was pretty incredible. She wasn't even in the same frame.

Oh, and Colt Brennan looks like he throws with his shoulder too much.

[Bobaganoosh]

Oh, and Colt Brennan looks like he throws with his shoulder too much.

Please tell me you watched the ending to that game. I'm still lost for words since Nugent shanked that kick. That'll teach Mangini to go for overtime in a frickin preseason game.

[charles star]

I don't know if you guys feel this, but the NBC commentary is so anti China that it drives me up the wall. I saw the 1996 games in China, and if I recall correctly, it was highly complimentary of the American athletes.
The coverage is a simultaneous head-shake about human rights and blowjob for the government's efforts to put on a show for th cameras.

For most events I think the announcers are fair and reasonable but the gymnastics crew was pretty gross. Sure the Chinese gymnasts are pretty clearly underage but I can't say that I really give a shit. The U.S. had a 15 year old swimmer and I didn't see anyone bemoaning her lost youth.

The worst part of the coverage for me (and yet the best in a so-appalling-I-laughed way) was when Al Trautwig said before the All-Around competition - without any irony - that the Chinese gymnasts were going to "try and ruin [Liukin and Johnson's] American Dream." Don't the Chinese athletes have their own dreams, Al?



Please tell me you watched the ending to that game. I'm still lost for words since Nugent shanked that kick. That'll teach Mangini to go for overtime in a frickin preseason game.
The only way Mangini's decision made sense was if he told Nugent "I want you to practice hitting the upright."

[Bobaganoosh]

Here are the final two drives of the Redskins-Jets preseason game.
Colt Brennan's game winning drive (http://s538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/kylesthayer/?action=view&current=RedskinsGameWinningDrive.flv) and the Jets' amazing/terrible game losing drive (http://s538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/kylesthayer/?action=view&current=Jetsalmostwinningdrive.flv). Plenty of solid fourth string defense being played throughout. I would have never thought that a preseason game could bring me so much enjoyment.

[Berliner]

One thing I don't understand about the underage thing is how useful the ban is in actually getting girls to stop their constant training, which I assume strains their bodies a lot more than the competitions. All the gymnasts at the Olympics right now probably started at a very young age, and probably didn't suddenly stop when they hit puberty.

I hope that after these Olympics, the Chinese government will be satisfied enough to reform their Olympic sports apparatus. It's way too costly, and chews up too many young athletes along the way.

[TomHicks]

This is a good story on that giant sprinter.

http://www.slate.com/id/2197679/

It goes into the mechanics of running and why tall people usually aren't fast. It also points out that a lot of people his size, say, Terrell Owens, early on orient themselves into sports with lots of financial reward.

[charles star]

This is a good story on that giant sprinter.
I figure that watching Bob Beamon jump in Mexico City is about as close as you get to what it looked like to watch Bolt's 100. When he dropped into neutral with almost 20 meters left my jaw hit the floor.

[Big Box Of Money]

Alex English Muffin.

Someone probably did that one already.

[Harry Bongers]

Alex English Muffin.

Someone probably did that one already.

I don't think so.

What about Steve Nash Browns?

How did this start again and why does it always make me giggle like a 6 year old girl on nitrous?

[matt in the east]

I did Steve Nashed potatoes a while ago.


and now i'd like to add Jarrett Jack Cheese and Spanish Point Guard Jose Toblerone.

[Harry Bongers]

Aaron Affalo Wings
Mike Bibby Lettuce
Derek Fisher and Chips

[disl]

pau gasol day cuz of all those beans i ate!

[charles star]

Mike Bibby Lettuce
Michael Reddicchio

[isoS]

Caramello Anthony (stretch it out!)

[jon]

Chris Bosc (pears)
Terry Porterhouse
Andre Egguodala (alternative: Egg-uardo Najera)

[matt in the east]

Rigatoni Parker

[Famous Police Dog]

I did Steve Nashed potatoes a while ago.


and now i'd like to add Jarrett Jack Cheese and Spanish Point Guard Jose Toblerone.

and I said Steve Hash a long while before that

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

and I said Steve Hash a long while before that

Yeah, but Hash and Hash Browns are two totally different things (Too bad, if they weren't, McDonald's breakfast would be even more awesome).

Kelenna Azucchini

Hedo Turkey-Glue

John Salmons

Pickael Meatrus

Fabricio O-Boy Oberto Jerky

Dark Meat Milicic

[Itslikeimsayin]

Teemu Salami

[jon]

Dark Meat Milicic

Darko Millet-cic

Blair Rasmuffin
Rolando-lakes Blackman
Wafer Alston (aka Skip to My Roux)
Shad Daugherty
Zarko Caper-capa
Jamal Crawfish
Jon Corn-kak
Olive-r Miller


Have I used Jorge Garbanzo-sa before?

[disl]

"rolando-lakes blackman" almost made me do a spit take.

[Harry Bongers]

Wafer Alston (aka Skip to My Roux)



Winner. Jon's the winner.

[Big Box Of Money]

Teemu Salami


John Van-cheese-brouck

[charles star]

John Van-cheese-brouck
Serve with Mike Ritz-ter.

[isoS]

Danish-ica Patrick

[TomHicks]

Danish-ica Patrick

That's sexist.

How come in this reality TV age we aren't allowed to call in and vote on whom we think should receive the gold medal in men's equestrian? This current system of giving medals to whomever achieves the most in a certain period of time and/or while adhering to pre-established criteria is like sports if sports were run by the Nazis.

[Americas Team]

Is anyone else watching the men's basketball games on line? There are no announcers, which is weird enough. Then they add some guy writing play by play below the game who seems to have graduated from the Bill Simmons school of something or other.

[TomHicks]

graduated from the Bill Simmons school of something or other.

Don't laugh; it's accredited.

[Americas Team]

Example: "Tayshaun Prince in the game to imitate Shaq at the line."

[matt in the east]

is the play by play text guy really cracking jokes?

[Americas Team]

is the play by play text guy really cracking jokes?

Yes, and he is oddly hyper critical of Jason Kidd for some reason. Sure Kidd's numbers have not been good but that is really not his job right now.

[chapina]

You handball haters have it all wrong - Women's race walking is by far the worst event to watch.

Also Guatemala vs USA? Pretty good, bloody too!