Update: Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun is "hearing" that the Ravens could end up signing either free agent Jerricho Cotchery or Derrick Mason. Mason is the guy the Ravens want, but he has offers on the table from the Jets and Titans, and is currently taking some time to decide.
QuickCast #6: To “We” or Not To “We” — That Is The Question
August 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
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In the sixth installment of the MSF QuickCast, Jerod addresses the issue of fans referring to their sports teams as “we”, which he does unabashedly. He explains his reasoning – including the childhood experiences that influenced it – while maintaining respect for the opposite view
“First-Ballot Hall of Famer”: An Idea That Needs to Die
August 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
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Tomorrow the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio will welcome three new first-ballot members—Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, and Shannon Sharpe—along with ninth-ballot member Richard Dent, nominated-by-the-Seniors-Committee members Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, and contributor Ed Sabol.
Once these men are enshrined in Canton, how they got there will cease to matter. Their placards will make no mention of whether they were elected in their first year of eligibility or their ninth; there is no special wing for “first-ballot” members. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website makes no mention of how long it took for an inductee to be elected or for how many years a player was chosen as a finalist before the Selection Committee decided that his bust belongs in a museum in Ohio.
A Saved By The Bell Choose-Your-Adventure Video Game? Oh Hell Yes.
August 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
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Hey Referees and Umpires, How About Losing the Attitude?
August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Like many sports fans, I become exceedingly angry when I feel that a referee or umpire has made a bad call against the team that I’m rooting for. I end up making wildly untrue claims suggesting I could do a better job than the professionals, despite my terrible eyesight and mediocre cardiovascular condition (although for baseball, fitness is clearly irrelevant).
Sometimes, the conspiracy theorist in me emerges. I will then start tossing out accusations that the entire league is against my team and these officials have been sent to do some dirty work on behalf of the powers that be, conceivably for financial reasons. It’s all a part of being a deeply passionate, yet irrational fan.
The Bottoms Line: Fun with Numbers – Offensive Rebounding Percentage and Block Percentage
August 4, 2011 By 1 Comment
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In the first few installments of Fun with Numbers, I’ve focused on many of the stars and potential breakout candidates to see where they shape up in terms of overall efficiency, usage rate, and shooting. Now it’s time to give some credit to the guys who do the dirty work, particularly on the offensive glass and around the rim.
Is this the greatest beer pong shot ever?
August 4, 2011 By 11 Comments
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The folks at Kontraband Muzik, specifically front man and unabashed Badger backer Nate Davis (the rapper, not the quarterback), are claiming that the video below features the greatest beer pong shot ever.
It’s up for debate, but it most definitely is a pretty badass shot.
Watch and decide, then vote in the poll below the video.
False Start Belly Flop
August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Mauritania’s Hamza Labeid left the starting block early for his 50M Freestyle heat at last week’s World Championships. He realized his mistake in mid-air, resulting in a belly flop:
(I just spent the summer watching 8-and-under swimming, in which belly-flop starts are the norm, not the exception.)
Per international rules, Labeid got disqualified. That’s too bad. It was the only event Labeid qualified for, and only three Mauritanian swimmers qualified for the meet. (Eycub Leebeid finished 116th in the 50M Freestyle, last among those who weren’t disqualified or no-shows. Soukeina Abdellahi was a no-show for the Women’s 50M Freestyle.)
“False Start Leads To Great Belly Flop”—Cosby Sweaters/Yard Barker
Deadspin’s depressing list of high school football training camp fatalities
August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Deadspin’s Barry Petchesky compiled a list of high school football players who have died this week at training camps throughout the American south. Each death is tragic, but the entire list suggests that coaches (and state athletic associations) may need to rethink the way they prepare for a football season.
Football is meant to be played in cool, or at least mild, weather. But getting ready for the fall means training in the summer. And bad things will inevitably happen when coaches run long practices during the hottest month of the year.
When the Internet was news
August 4, 2011 By 1 Comment
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4 players are making strong cases for American League Rookie of the Year – who will win?
August 4, 2011 By 5 Comments
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The American League features the best rookies in baseball this season, and four players are in a close race to win baseball’s prestigious Rookie of the Year award.
Two rookie pitchers have dominated the American League at times this season and displayed the ability to become potential aces in the future. The other two players who could become the 2011 American League Rookie of the Year are hard-hitting first baseman who have provided home runs and RBI’s for their teams.
Here are the top rookie players in the American League: [Read more...]
3 Reasons Leslie Frazier Is a BIG Upgrade Over Brad Childress
August 4, 2011 By 9 Comments
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It was only last November when the Packers defeated the Vikings 31-3 in the last game Brad Childress would serve as head coach for the Minnesota Vikings. What should have been a close game turned into blowout on home turf. The Vikings were 3-7, and it was time for an upgrade.
So upgrade they did.
The Monday after the Vikings-Packers game, Childress was fired. No more fights on the sidelines, no more shots being fired at the starting quarterback, no more poor play calls that “break” the game—at least not from Childress.
For the remainder of the season Leslie Frazier— the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach—was named Interim Head Coach. After their season came to an end, the Vikings officially made Frazier Head Coach.
There are three reasons why Frazier is an upgrade from Childress:
[Read more...]
16 More Spectacular Off-the-Radar Song Recommendations
August 3, 2011 By 11 Comments
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If you enjoyed my 18 Spectacular New Off-the-Radar Songs for Summer post (also known as Indie Christmas in July 2011 #1) from the beginning of July, which has 30,000 thumbs up on StumbleUpon already!), or my 17 Essential New Songs for Spring post from last year, which had 281 Diggs, then you’re in for a treat.
Because Indie Christmas in July 2011 #2 is done, albeit a few days late, and I think it’s better than either of those two previous mixes.
The Mighty Midwest: We ain’t afraid of no coasts!
August 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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A buddy of mine from college tweeted the picture below to me earlier today after I sent out a couple of tweets promoting Josh Tinley’s article from this morning entitled “What is ‘Midwest’, Anyway?”
Not only does this shirt agree with Josh’s understanding of the Midwest as the Great Lakes plus the Great Plains, the slogan immediately makes this my new favorite shirt for espousing Midwest supremacy.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Watch: Jennings, Bonifacio, Isringhausen, and more
August 3, 2011 By 1 Comment
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After a great trip to New York, I am back for some more Waiver Wire Watch. I hope everyone got a chance to look at Derek’s article last week, as he had some good stuff in there.
Also, I was lucky enough to visit Yankee Stadium to see the Yanks take on the Mariners. If anyone is headed to New York City anytime soon, I would highly recommend visiting Yankee Stadium if you have not already. It is a really beautiful ballpark.
Anyways, back to business!
