One of the things mentioned in Bill Simmons’ myriad of pre-Super Bowl podcasts is that swimming in the Olympics is lame. Simmons pointed out that swimmers can get 7 medals for doing essentially the same thing, swimming from one end to the other, while basketball players only get one medal for playing multiple games that [...]
Archive for the ‘Commentary & Analysis’ Category
How to Fix Olympic Swimming
Posted in Commentary & Analysis on February 4, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Reviewing Our Predictions
Posted in Commentary & Analysis, Football on January 20, 2009 | 2 Comments »
One of the things that drive me crazy about the sports media is that there is no accountability. If someone makes a prediction that turns out to be woefully misguided, that person doesn’t get fired or even chastised. Instead, they show up the next year making predictions once again and being presented as a viable [...]
Things to Do Before You Die: Sports Goals
Posted in Commentary & Analysis on January 6, 2009 | 9 Comments »
I’m not big on New Years resolutions. I think the problem is you typically try to keep your resolutions manageable by aiming low. This seems to make sense because a small goal is attainable and therefore, it is argued, you’re less likely to become discouraged and give up. But a lifetime of slacking has taught [...]
What’s the Best Playoff System?
Posted in Commentary & Analysis, Football on December 12, 2008 | 4 Comments »
As the post below says, a Congressman from Texas has proposed a bill that would essentially make it illegal to call something a National Championship if it is not the result of a playoff (I am generally not in favor of government intervention in private matters, but really this is the only way that the [...]
It’s the Economy Stupid
Posted in Commentary & Analysis, Football on December 1, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Neither Tennessee nor Clemson are in the market for new coaches anymore. The Vols are going to replace Phil Fulmer, a guy who played at UT and then coached his alma mater to a 152-52 record and one National Championship, with 33 year old Lane Kiffin who has never been a college head coach and [...]
I Wanna Hear the Song (But Which One?)
Posted in Baseball, Commentary & Analysis on October 2, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The Cubs and I have had a tumultuous relationship over the last couple of years. I’ve always been a Braves fan, but as a kid I liked coming home from school and catching the Cubs on WGN, listening to Harry Caray, and watching as they blew a lead in the 9th. But then something happened [...]
The Merkle Curse
Posted in Baseball, Commentary & Analysis on September 23, 2008 | 7 Comments »
Today, September 23 2008, is the 100 year anniversary of what I believe is erroneously called “The Merkle Boner.” Let me set the scene. The Cubs are playing the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on this very day in 1908. These two teams were in a tight race for the National League pennant [...]
The Future of Sports Media
Posted in Commentary & Analysis on September 18, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Last night Mike (mao) and I engaged in a 45 minute question and answer session about sports (the audio can be heard at his blog The AD Hall, which is linked from The Stormy Present Sports, and I encourage you to check it out). In the course of the conversation we eventually got to the subject of the [...]
Where MLS Teams Should Be
Posted in Commentary & Analysis, Soccer on July 22, 2008 | 13 Comments »
A couple days ago I wrote a post about how impressed I was with how Toronto supported its MLS team and opined about how the MLS needs to recognize that it should not try to drag new fans into soccer, but rather just focus on the ones that will come to it willingly (scroll down [...]
Things We Hate About ESPN
Posted in Commentary & Analysis on February 5, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Deadspin the other day ran a post about this guy Jeff Pearlman who used to work for The Worldwide “Leader” and then ran a list of the top 10 things he hated about ESPN. The comment section blew up with people adding stuff (I added my own comment). I think this is a popular subject [...]
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