This blog would be nothing if it didn't dish out some bad predictions. I may be out of reach of internet this weekend, (must be on my way to Penn State so I'll try to be quick, and add if I have time later on), so I best hand them out my early NBA playoff predictions now. Let's go.
Eastern Conference:
1 - Boston Celtics vs. 8 - Atlanta Hawks
Please tell me I'll get this one right...I don't want the dreaded O-fer like my last year's baseball first round. On a quick note, basketball's the one sport where I would not mind a five-game first round series - it's less susceptible to upsets than hockey, and the playoffs take 2 months anyway. Okay, this ought to be an easy one anyway - best team in the east against a team making its first playoff appearance in 8 years. I'll take Celtics in 5.
2 - Detroit Pistons vs. 7 - Philadelphia 76ers
Much bigger upset potential here, a hot team against a team that is consistent and plays about as solid defense as can be found in the east outside of boston (or about as solid anything as can be found in the east outside of boston). Detroit's just too good. This should be an easy one, but I'm not nearly as confident as with the Celtics. Pistons in 6.
3 - Orlando Magic vs. 6 - Toronto Raptors
Okay, out of time, will try to write more later, but let's at least get the numbers in so I can be laughed at on record later.
Magic in 7
4 - Cleveland Cavaliers v. Washington Wizards
What the hell, pick against the game's best player, great idea - Wizards in 7.
Western Conference:
1 - LA Lakers vs. 8 - Denver Nuggets
Lakers in 6
2 - NO Hornets vs. 7 - Dallas Mavericks
Dallas in 7
3 - San Antonio Spurs vs. 6 - Phoenix Suns
Suns in 7
4 - Utah Jazz v. 5 - Houston Rockets
Jazz in 6
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Love Hank Aaron; Hate the Hank Aaron Award
If there’s one thing I’m tired of in baseball award voting (and there are many), it’s the claim that players on losing teams have no claim to the MVP, because it’s not for the best hitter; the Hank Aaron award is for that.
(In case you don’t believe that it happens, I cite two instances in which this very claim is made by Tom Verducci, a baseball writer for Sports Illustrated: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/tom_verducci/04/09/verducci.bag1/1.html, in which he writes, “So yes, the award discriminates against guys on losing teams (generally) and rewards those that play on winners. I believe in applying context to the MVP. It is not purely an individual award; there are other awards that take care of that (Hank Aaron Award, Silver Slugger, Players' Choice, etc.).” Also seen here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/tom_verducci/09/15/mvp.debate/index.html)
See, here’s the thing. With all due respect to Hank Aaron, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, no one gives a shit about the Hank Aaron award.
Okay here’s a quiz. Name last year’s Hank Aaron award winners. Go.
I didn’t think so (if you actually did know them, just pretend you didn’t for my sake). If you guessed the MVPs, A-Rod would have been right in the
For some interesting thoughts on the matter, and ideas on how to make the Hank Aaron award relevant check out: http://www.raysindex.com/2006/08/hank-aaron-award-has-no-legitimacy-and.html
If you don’t think someone should win the MVP while on a losing team, at least just say it. Don’t say it’s because they’ll get another award which is better suited to them. In baseball, right now, there are only two awards with that kind of clout, and they are in the MVP, and the Cy Young, and hitters only have access to one of them. Most writers showed they can occasionally put standings behind them in 2003 when they voted for Alex Rodriguez for AL MVP from the last place Rangers. (Also the recipient of that year’s AL Hank Aaron award.)
Monday, April 07, 2008
April Madness: Live Blogging the NCAA Championship game
8:14 - Okay, so I'm going to try my first live-blogging experience tonight with the Memphis-Kansas NCAA Championship game. Let's see how it goes.
9:19 - I like how they show the signatures for these players as they introduce them - I can use my skills in handwriting analysis to read the players...
9:21 - Mario Chalmers from Alaska? Didn't know that...maybe he played on the same court as Shane Battier...
9:25 - Anderson misses a three - Memphis is best when they're not taking threes, and are driving instead, like Roberts just did off the fast break.
9:26 - Both of these teams are great defensive teams but I think Kansas would certainly benefit more from a slow half court game.
9:27 - Arthur with a dunk - certainly not the last we'll see today I imagine.
9:28 - Memphis gave Robinson a two pointer from about the free throw line - it will be interested if Memphis keys on Rush and Chalmers like they did on Love and Collison in the UCLA game.
9:29 - Rose with the basket, and a shot at the old fashioned three point play - my money's on him as player of the tournament, but it'll of course rest in large part on how this game comes out.
9:31 - Memphis can't hit their threes yet - they don' they don't have to though - until Kansas can really stop Memphis from driving and getting easier shots, it's not an essential part of the Tigers' game.
9:33 - The music in this strange BK commercial sounds an awful lot like the opening music of the first Final Fantasy.
9:34 - First alley-oop to Kaun, Memphis best watch that back screen carefully.
936 - Memphis looks the worst when they take a lot of time, and particularly against zone, and junk defenses the likes of which teams have thrown against them time after time - the key for them is to take the ball inside without losing it, and just get past the defender enough to draw fouls.
9:37 - As Chris Douglas-Roberts (I would love to see an all hyphenated name team by the way) hits two free throws, it makes you think how remarkable the change has been in Memphis' free throw percentage over the year and in the tournament. I would love to hear a good explanation of how they did it, though at least part of it I believe is who are taking those free throws - in the tournament it's mostly been Rose and Douglas-Roberts.
9:41 - 2 fouls on Dozier - which definitely hurts Memphis, but they've been successful in the past with Dozier in foul trouble. They have enough big men to defend, or at least foul, and they can play a little zone with Dozier on the bench. Not to mention of course, the use of Joey Dorsey.
9:42 - I would probably give Dozier a rest with the two fouls so early, but it's probably not that important a call - the key is to prevent him from getting three in at least the next ten minutes of game time.
9:45 - I wonder what the longest time has gone by in a championship game without a three by either team. Maybe the announcers will tell us if it goes on for long enough.
9:45 - Announcers call Brandon Rush's rebound a "big-time" rebound - What makes that a big-time rebound as opposed to a regular rebound at the 10:57 mark in the first half?
9:46 - Douglas-Roberts did exactly what he needs to be doing - penetrate, draw a foul, we'll see if they go right back to him.
9:48 - The crowd seems to be very pro-Kansas - not surprising I suppose with Kansas far closer to San Antonio to Memphis, and also more of a national program, especially throughout the midwest. A huge slam by Dorsey either with Kansas taking a 5 point lead.
9:51 - Memphis doesn't need threes I don't think, but no one said they don't help - nothing feels like more of a blow than hitting a couple threes in the space of just a few seconds.
9:55 - I I really think Douglas-Roberts will get the better of Rush more times than not by the time this game ends, and that will by the difference.
9:58 - A terrible series for Kansas turns into a score with an offensive rebound.
9:59 - Needless three attempt for Anderson - a few feet back of the line with a man on him.
10:05 - Enough about the freshness of the big men - I don't think that's as big a factor as they say, but we'll see how that changes.
10:10 - I agree with the announers in not understanding the delay in taking a shot - if you're not going to take the last shot of the half, there's no reason to deprive yourself of precious time you could use to move around the ball, or cause a mismatch on the defense - Memphis has got to be attacking the basket.
10:11 - Tied at 28? Little miss up by the announcer. Anyway, with a five point lead for Kansas a ton of basketball left to play - I'll stick with my call that Memphis will win, but I'm wary. Memphis still certainly has a lot of firepower, and can score fast, but that doesn't mean they will.
10:34 - We're back and within a minute this game is tied.
10:36 - Arthur has been the star for Kansas, and continues. Will Dorsey/Dozier and co step up the interior D? Perhaps we'll see some double teams.
10:38 - Silly quick shot by Kansas from three - let to a great running opportunity for Memphis.
10:44 - Good move, bad shot by Memphis - but doing the right things driving, I suspect if they get more of those opportunities they'll score.
10:45 - Nothing more depressing than have four point blank opportunities and not getting any points, as Kansas did a couple of possessions back.
10:51 - Memphis needs to get more offensive rebounds. They're going to miss their share of shots, so they have to count on getting some put backs.
10:53 - Great defense on that possession by Memphis - swarming on the perimter - forcing a horrible, long three point attempt.
10:55 - Dozier's awful free throw shotting certainly not helping Memphis here.
11:05 - A stupid ticky-tack foul for Douglas-Roberts - he's going to the bench with 3 fouls - not too many for this point, but Memphis won't want to keep him out too long.
11:07 - Memphis is rolling here - there's a 50/50 chance (really going out on a limb here) that this roll could just lead them into double digits and effectively be the end of the game.
11:09 - Shot of the tournament - no - but most important shot of this game - maybe - still enough time, but it's drawing nearer.
11:16 - This goes without saying, but Kansas needs stops it's not getting. I'm going to say it's over, we'll see if it's premature.
11:18 - Well, here comes the Mississippi State game - Foul city - and now the game may come down to whether Memphis can hit its free throws. The key is getting the ball in to Rose and Douglas-Roberts.
11:21 - An absolutely stupid foul by Joey Dorsey. There is less than no reason and now he's out of the game. Memphis needs to keep the pressure on by scoring every time down the court and hitting free throws now.
11:24 - Wow, within 2 - this is a game after all. Missed free throws, or free throw could end up being the culprit. I was way wrong about even attempting to call that, Memphis has to at least try to get call.
11:26 - Memphis would have preferred to get that score rather than go to the line there, but at least it's CDR.
11:27 - Wow, story of Memphis's team all year, missing free throws, getting offensive rebounds.
11:30 - 3 point chance to try it - who takes it?
11:30 - Wow - missed free throws kill them, but still a chance. Mario Chalmers, incredible.
11:33 - I like this Time out by Calipari - straighten them out now. There isn't time to fuck around and see how they're going to come out.
11:36 - Chalmers to Arthur. Memphis must score here.
11:40 - Memphis is in Kansas's shoes from regulation. One possession to try to stop them before they have to foul.
11:41 - Chalmers just fired up one of those shots that makes you think - if he hits this it's over - also why is Rose taking a three there?
11:42 - That was a better three at least - totally open - but down 6 - they're in trouble. And yet, as seems to happen sometimes in these tight games, when he absolutely needs it, CDR gets the three.
11:44 - Like the announcers, I hate the foul there - if you're absolutely going to foul - you have to do it earlier in the possession, and really think about who you're fouling. Why waste your defensive effort? Teams rarely come back after they really start fouling to catch up.
11:46 - Well, I totally fucked this up making a premature prediction earlier - but now there's really not enough time left and Kansas hits free throws, it's over. I hope I'm wrong.
11:46 - Back to Memphis? You have to be kidding me - I still don't think there's enough time, but we'll see.
11:47 - Okay, it's really over. Tournament done, Congratulations Kansas.
11:49 - It ended the way many predicted it would for Memphis. They couldn't make their free throws when they had to. It's sad to see a game come down to that, but it did - credit to Kansas though, especially in the overtime.
8:14 - Okay, so I'm going to try my first live-blogging experience tonight with the Memphis-Kansas NCAA Championship game. Let's see how it goes.9:19 - I like how they show the signatures for these players as they introduce them - I can use my skills in handwriting analysis to read the players...
9:21 - Mario Chalmers from Alaska? Didn't know that...maybe he played on the same court as Shane Battier...
9:25 - Anderson misses a three - Memphis is best when they're not taking threes, and are driving instead, like Roberts just did off the fast break.
9:26 - Both of these teams are great defensive teams but I think Kansas would certainly benefit more from a slow half court game.
9:27 - Arthur with a dunk - certainly not the last we'll see today I imagine.
9:28 - Memphis gave Robinson a two pointer from about the free throw line - it will be interested if Memphis keys on Rush and Chalmers like they did on Love and Collison in the UCLA game.
9:29 - Rose with the basket, and a shot at the old fashioned three point play - my money's on him as player of the tournament, but it'll of course rest in large part on how this game comes out.
9:31 - Memphis can't hit their threes yet - they don' they don't have to though - until Kansas can really stop Memphis from driving and getting easier shots, it's not an essential part of the Tigers' game.
9:33 - The music in this strange BK commercial sounds an awful lot like the opening music of the first Final Fantasy.
9:34 - First alley-oop to Kaun, Memphis best watch that back screen carefully.
936 - Memphis looks the worst when they take a lot of time, and particularly against zone, and junk defenses the likes of which teams have thrown against them time after time - the key for them is to take the ball inside without losing it, and just get past the defender enough to draw fouls.
9:37 - As Chris Douglas-Roberts (I would love to see an all hyphenated name team by the way) hits two free throws, it makes you think how remarkable the change has been in Memphis' free throw percentage over the year and in the tournament. I would love to hear a good explanation of how they did it, though at least part of it I believe is who are taking those free throws - in the tournament it's mostly been Rose and Douglas-Roberts.
9:41 - 2 fouls on Dozier - which definitely hurts Memphis, but they've been successful in the past with Dozier in foul trouble. They have enough big men to defend, or at least foul, and they can play a little zone with Dozier on the bench. Not to mention of course, the use of Joey Dorsey.
9:42 - I would probably give Dozier a rest with the two fouls so early, but it's probably not that important a call - the key is to prevent him from getting three in at least the next ten minutes of game time.
9:45 - I wonder what the longest time has gone by in a championship game without a three by either team. Maybe the announcers will tell us if it goes on for long enough.
9:45 - Announcers call Brandon Rush's rebound a "big-time" rebound - What makes that a big-time rebound as opposed to a regular rebound at the 10:57 mark in the first half?
9:46 - Douglas-Roberts did exactly what he needs to be doing - penetrate, draw a foul, we'll see if they go right back to him.
9:48 - The crowd seems to be very pro-Kansas - not surprising I suppose with Kansas far closer to San Antonio to Memphis, and also more of a national program, especially throughout the midwest. A huge slam by Dorsey either with Kansas taking a 5 point lead.
9:51 - Memphis doesn't need threes I don't think, but no one said they don't help - nothing feels like more of a blow than hitting a couple threes in the space of just a few seconds.
9:55 - I I really think Douglas-Roberts will get the better of Rush more times than not by the time this game ends, and that will by the difference.
9:58 - A terrible series for Kansas turns into a score with an offensive rebound.
9:59 - Needless three attempt for Anderson - a few feet back of the line with a man on him.
10:05 - Enough about the freshness of the big men - I don't think that's as big a factor as they say, but we'll see how that changes.
10:10 - I agree with the announers in not understanding the delay in taking a shot - if you're not going to take the last shot of the half, there's no reason to deprive yourself of precious time you could use to move around the ball, or cause a mismatch on the defense - Memphis has got to be attacking the basket.
10:11 - Tied at 28? Little miss up by the announcer. Anyway, with a five point lead for Kansas a ton of basketball left to play - I'll stick with my call that Memphis will win, but I'm wary. Memphis still certainly has a lot of firepower, and can score fast, but that doesn't mean they will.
10:34 - We're back and within a minute this game is tied.
10:36 - Arthur has been the star for Kansas, and continues. Will Dorsey/Dozier and co step up the interior D? Perhaps we'll see some double teams.
10:38 - Silly quick shot by Kansas from three - let to a great running opportunity for Memphis.
10:44 - Good move, bad shot by Memphis - but doing the right things driving, I suspect if they get more of those opportunities they'll score.
10:45 - Nothing more depressing than have four point blank opportunities and not getting any points, as Kansas did a couple of possessions back.
10:51 - Memphis needs to get more offensive rebounds. They're going to miss their share of shots, so they have to count on getting some put backs.
10:53 - Great defense on that possession by Memphis - swarming on the perimter - forcing a horrible, long three point attempt.
10:55 - Dozier's awful free throw shotting certainly not helping Memphis here.
11:05 - A stupid ticky-tack foul for Douglas-Roberts - he's going to the bench with 3 fouls - not too many for this point, but Memphis won't want to keep him out too long.
11:07 - Memphis is rolling here - there's a 50/50 chance (really going out on a limb here) that this roll could just lead them into double digits and effectively be the end of the game.
11:09 - Shot of the tournament - no - but most important shot of this game - maybe - still enough time, but it's drawing nearer.
11:16 - This goes without saying, but Kansas needs stops it's not getting. I'm going to say it's over, we'll see if it's premature.
11:18 - Well, here comes the Mississippi State game - Foul city - and now the game may come down to whether Memphis can hit its free throws. The key is getting the ball in to Rose and Douglas-Roberts.
11:21 - An absolutely stupid foul by Joey Dorsey. There is less than no reason and now he's out of the game. Memphis needs to keep the pressure on by scoring every time down the court and hitting free throws now.
11:24 - Wow, within 2 - this is a game after all. Missed free throws, or free throw could end up being the culprit. I was way wrong about even attempting to call that, Memphis has to at least try to get call.
11:26 - Memphis would have preferred to get that score rather than go to the line there, but at least it's CDR.
11:27 - Wow, story of Memphis's team all year, missing free throws, getting offensive rebounds.
11:30 - 3 point chance to try it - who takes it?
11:30 - Wow - missed free throws kill them, but still a chance. Mario Chalmers, incredible.
11:33 - I like this Time out by Calipari - straighten them out now. There isn't time to fuck around and see how they're going to come out.
11:36 - Chalmers to Arthur. Memphis must score here.
11:40 - Memphis is in Kansas's shoes from regulation. One possession to try to stop them before they have to foul.
11:41 - Chalmers just fired up one of those shots that makes you think - if he hits this it's over - also why is Rose taking a three there?
11:42 - That was a better three at least - totally open - but down 6 - they're in trouble. And yet, as seems to happen sometimes in these tight games, when he absolutely needs it, CDR gets the three.
11:44 - Like the announcers, I hate the foul there - if you're absolutely going to foul - you have to do it earlier in the possession, and really think about who you're fouling. Why waste your defensive effort? Teams rarely come back after they really start fouling to catch up.
11:46 - Well, I totally fucked this up making a premature prediction earlier - but now there's really not enough time left and Kansas hits free throws, it's over. I hope I'm wrong.
11:46 - Back to Memphis? You have to be kidding me - I still don't think there's enough time, but we'll see.
11:47 - Okay, it's really over. Tournament done, Congratulations Kansas.
11:49 - It ended the way many predicted it would for Memphis. They couldn't make their free throws when they had to. It's sad to see a game come down to that, but it did - credit to Kansas though, especially in the overtime.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
A few days into the season, no better time to make my awards picks for baseball, and as always, see how wrong they are.
Let's have a go:
American League
MVP: Miguel Cabrera -
He's pretty much been Albert Pujols light for the last four seasons, which is intended as high praise, and since he's out of Pujols' league (not to mention Pujols' Cardinals ought to be wretched) he's pretty much been the most consistent hitting who is now in the AL (though A-Rod might have something to say about that). Cabrera percieved lack of work ethic may hurt him with voters, as well as his possibly sub-par D (though nowhere close to as bad as his fellow Marlin Hanley Ramirez), but overall he's got a great storyline coming to a new team, which voters love, plus his team ought to be in the hunt at the very least.
Other contenders: A-Rod, Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz
Cy Young: Justin Verlander
Yeah, I'm picking someone from the same team as the MVP. But it happens more than you think (or at least more than I think you think), happening last just two years ago as Johan Santana and Justin Morneau took home honors for the Twins (see if you can guess which went to which), just one year before that Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols did it for the Cards, and in 2002, Barry Zito and Miguel Tejada did it for the As. Verlander has dynamite stuff, has firmly established him as the ace of a staff on a team that should be contending, and is primed to win at least one of these things sometime.
Other contenders: Josh Beckett, CC Sabathia, Eric Bedard, Fausto Carmona
Rookie of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury
After being thrust in the spotlight and delivering last fall, he seems set to continue on that path as a burgeoning star in
Other contenders: Joba Chamberlain, Clay Bucholtz, Evan Longoria, Billy Butler
NL to come soon!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
So here’s a commercial that’s been irking me. It’s on all the time, it’s for State Farm insurance, and there are several things problematic about it.
First, let’s try to understand what State Farm’s trying to tell us. Somehow, when you need to choose between two similar things, one a solid committed brand name, and one a similarly-named knock off, that is cheaper, but lower in quality, you should clearly take the slightly-more-expensive-but-far-more-valuable choice. In other words, you might say State Farm is the “Coach K” of insurance companies, while perhaps Geico is the “Coach J.”
Now the Coach K part makes sense, in that, we all know and recognize him as a top the coaching profession. So the commercials sets you up to think it’s going to show a cheaper coach, which for some reason, we would both recognize as inferior, and would have some kind of name related to Coach K. But who is this Coach J? First, of all, why is he named Coach J? We recognize he’s supposed to be a generic ridiculous coach, but why J? Merely because it rhymes with K, I suppose, but there’s nothing about him that suggests a J surname. And why does Coach J look eerily like Dwight Shrute? Also, does one even want to think about they had to pay Coach K for three seconds when he has absolutely no essential place in this commercial? Why are middle-aged adults even paying to be taught by Coach J?
There are just too many questions about this commercial for me to even digest…
There’s no worse commercial than one that makes you feel like you’re missing something, even though you’re not. It’s like a Dr. Seuss style approach to wordplay – if you don’t have a word to rhyme, make up one; if you don’t have a aptly named bad coach to make your wordplay work, make up one.
So after waking up early yesterday to see the first MLB game of the season, I didn't feel like waking up for today's, and thanks to the combonation of a reshowing on ESPN2 at 2, and the good fortune to have no class on Wednesday, I've decided to watch it on tape-delay, which brings up the oft controversial subject amongst sports fans of tape delay, or watching a recorded sporting event later.
Most have tried to do it at one point or another, sometimes there are commitments one can't get out of simply because of the excuse that important sports are on. Some people I know claim that there is no value in watching a sporting event later, even if you know nothing about it; just the fact that it's over is too much. I am not of that school; I've tried it, and done it occasionally successfully - the toughest part is, first, having to decide, wherever you are at, whether you should try to get updates during the game, or have the commitment and foresight to hold it all off until you can watch it, and second, of course, to block out/not hear scores and updates once you make your decision.
I do this most commonly with football (soccer) matches that I DV-R off Fox Soccer Channel - this is relatively easy as I can pretty much bank on never ever finding out what happened unless I specifically look up the scores - one of the few benefits of the lack of popularity of football in America.
In March 2003, for the NCAA tournament's first weekend, in one of the nicest things my parents ever did for me, when I was in Spain, they taped all the first and second round games. Now, in this case though I decided I'd just pick and watch the exciting parts later; there was no way, first, I was going to wait the whole weekend to find out how my bracket was doing, and second, was going to find the time for 25 hours of programming or so during the week.
Of the two most successful times for me of recording and watching events later, one was not even a sporting event.
First, the sporting event: Again in 2003, in Syracuse's run to the title, they played Oklahoma in the elite 8 on the second sunday (march 30) of the tournament. I had a prior commitment to go see some play with my family, so I taped the game. After the play, my parents drove me to my dorm, and I of course insisted they turn off the radio - Elite 8 results are pretty big, big enough to get announced even during the minute sports segments of news stations. Eventually I got back, and immediately watched the game, maybe about two or three hours behind the actual game time, and was treated to a thrashing of Oklahoma, where Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds, to send the 'Cuse to their first Final Four since 1996. All in all, well worth recording.
The second, and perhaps even harder taping, was The Sopranos finale. I was in Israel when the finale aired, and honestly, the only way I was able to avoid having it spoiled for me, was having the good fortune not just to miss the finale, but at least to also be on a plane for most of the next day after the finale, where if I was in New York, I couldn't have turned on a TV, radio or been on the internet without reading anything. However, after the first day reports died down a bit, so I could hear snippets of media without worrying about hearing anything, before I sat down and watched the finale, unruined.
In fact, another time I had attempted this was when, arrogantly, my roomate and I, who did not get HBO in our dorm, attempted to have his family tape all of season 4 of Sopranos and then save them so we could watch in a marathon fashion. Of course, this was a foolhardy effort, as both of us had (SPOILER if you have never seen Sopranos and plan to, though the statute of limitations is really starting to run on that...) Ralphie's death ruined for us on separate occasions, but, it was still a good season anyway.
Most have tried to do it at one point or another, sometimes there are commitments one can't get out of simply because of the excuse that important sports are on. Some people I know claim that there is no value in watching a sporting event later, even if you know nothing about it; just the fact that it's over is too much. I am not of that school; I've tried it, and done it occasionally successfully - the toughest part is, first, having to decide, wherever you are at, whether you should try to get updates during the game, or have the commitment and foresight to hold it all off until you can watch it, and second, of course, to block out/not hear scores and updates once you make your decision.
I do this most commonly with football (soccer) matches that I DV-R off Fox Soccer Channel - this is relatively easy as I can pretty much bank on never ever finding out what happened unless I specifically look up the scores - one of the few benefits of the lack of popularity of football in America.
In March 2003, for the NCAA tournament's first weekend, in one of the nicest things my parents ever did for me, when I was in Spain, they taped all the first and second round games. Now, in this case though I decided I'd just pick and watch the exciting parts later; there was no way, first, I was going to wait the whole weekend to find out how my bracket was doing, and second, was going to find the time for 25 hours of programming or so during the week.
Of the two most successful times for me of recording and watching events later, one was not even a sporting event.
First, the sporting event: Again in 2003, in Syracuse's run to the title, they played Oklahoma in the elite 8 on the second sunday (march 30) of the tournament. I had a prior commitment to go see some play with my family, so I taped the game. After the play, my parents drove me to my dorm, and I of course insisted they turn off the radio - Elite 8 results are pretty big, big enough to get announced even during the minute sports segments of news stations. Eventually I got back, and immediately watched the game, maybe about two or three hours behind the actual game time, and was treated to a thrashing of Oklahoma, where Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds, to send the 'Cuse to their first Final Four since 1996. All in all, well worth recording.
The second, and perhaps even harder taping, was The Sopranos finale. I was in Israel when the finale aired, and honestly, the only way I was able to avoid having it spoiled for me, was having the good fortune not just to miss the finale, but at least to also be on a plane for most of the next day after the finale, where if I was in New York, I couldn't have turned on a TV, radio or been on the internet without reading anything. However, after the first day reports died down a bit, so I could hear snippets of media without worrying about hearing anything, before I sat down and watched the finale, unruined.
In fact, another time I had attempted this was when, arrogantly, my roomate and I, who did not get HBO in our dorm, attempted to have his family tape all of season 4 of Sopranos and then save them so we could watch in a marathon fashion. Of course, this was a foolhardy effort, as both of us had (SPOILER if you have never seen Sopranos and plan to, though the statute of limitations is really starting to run on that...) Ralphie's death ruined for us on separate occasions, but, it was still a good season anyway.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
So, for some reason I decided to wake up early this morning and watch baseball's opening day in Japan between the A's and the Red Sox. As I type this, the Red Sox have just taken a 3-2 lead...
...As a Daisuke Matzusaka fantasy owner and fan, I was worried early on, when he seemed to have no control, throwing five walks in the first few innings, and hitting a batter,but really rebounded to get out the last 7, striking out six in five innings, while luckily getting away with only giving up 2 runs.
...Talk about a contrast in style between the two pitchers...Blanton relies on not walking anyone and keeping the ball in the ballpark...his stuff certainly doesn't blow anyone away, while Daisuke was his own worst enemy; once he was able to find the strike zone, the As couldn't just wait out walks at the plate.
...the one thing I can say is I'm glad I didn't wake up early just to hear Joe Morgan on the telecast
...though Steve Phillips isn't much better - can we make a new rule in which there's a limit for how many times you can use the word "wheelhouse" in a game?
...can we start changing the default stats shown when each batter comes up? maybe from batting average/home runs/RBI to the "slash stats" batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage
...also you want to talk about how silly wins are in one sense - Daisuke really "won" the game for his team, kindly rooting them on to score three runs after his last inning pitched (of course Red Sox may not hold on, but even being in position to win...) (Update: Well, would have been, had Jack Hannahan not hit a 2 run bomb in the sixth to retake the lead for the As)
...As a Daisuke Matzusaka fantasy owner and fan, I was worried early on, when he seemed to have no control, throwing five walks in the first few innings, and hitting a batter,but really rebounded to get out the last 7, striking out six in five innings, while luckily getting away with only giving up 2 runs.
...Talk about a contrast in style between the two pitchers...Blanton relies on not walking anyone and keeping the ball in the ballpark...his stuff certainly doesn't blow anyone away, while Daisuke was his own worst enemy; once he was able to find the strike zone, the As couldn't just wait out walks at the plate.
...the one thing I can say is I'm glad I didn't wake up early just to hear Joe Morgan on the telecast
...though Steve Phillips isn't much better - can we make a new rule in which there's a limit for how many times you can use the word "wheelhouse" in a game?
...can we start changing the default stats shown when each batter comes up? maybe from batting average/home runs/RBI to the "slash stats" batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage
...also you want to talk about how silly wins are in one sense - Daisuke really "won" the game for his team, kindly rooting them on to score three runs after his last inning pitched (of course Red Sox may not hold on, but even being in position to win...) (Update: Well, would have been, had Jack Hannahan not hit a 2 run bomb in the sixth to retake the lead for the As)
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