Random Sports Discussion

[Nebu]

Anyone else here watching the Tour de Blood-doping?

[ghost]

You know, I'm actually not this year.  I usually watch all of it, but I just haven't had any time.  I'll probably try to watch some over the fourth of July weekend.  The kids are getting to the age that I can't stay glued to the TV for 3 hours to watch it unless it's something that interests them.   

[Nebu]

I still watch.  I enjoy the tactical aspects, particularly in the mountains.  I can't seem to help myself.

[HaemishM]

Jay-Z's involvement in anything besides shutting the fuck up and going away is a bad thing.


HOOO!!!!!!

[ghost]

I find cycling extremely compelling, for some reason, even with all the doping.  The Lance Armstrong TdF's were some of the best moments in my personal sports viewing history.  Sounds like Cavendish is still killing it.

[Ingmar]

The only time I ever watched the Tour was in high school French class. 

Regarding Jay-Z, the only issue I see is there's a possible conflict of interest given he's part owner of a franchise. Otherwise it isn't like he's going to be any more of a shitheel than most agents.

[Trippy]

He sold his stake in the Nets.

[ghost]

Yeah, Boras is a dick.  I don't think Jay-Z will be a dick, necessarily, just unnecessarily intermingle sports and hollywood high society in an even more obnoxious fashion than it already is.

[ghost]

Man, this is a fucking awesome article, out of Slate Magazine, on how fucked up the NCAA has become. 

[Paelos]

Man, this is a fucking awesome article, out of Slate Magazine, on how fucked up the NCAA has become. 

The transfer policy bothers me the least of the offenses in the NCAA. If you accept the payment the school is offering in a scholarship, then you don't get to just leave the team at will with no consequence. Having kids be able to transfer at will creates cross-recruiting issues inside the league. You can't have coaches poaching other team's players mid-season. It's ridiculous.

[ghost]

I would agree with you if the players were guaranteed a four year scholarship.  But the idea that they can get cut at any time make the relationship completely hypocritical bullshit.

[Paelos]

I would agree with you if the players were guaranteed a four year scholarship.  But the idea that they can get cut at any time make the relationship completely hypocritical bullshit.

And in turn, they can leave whenever they want. The penalty of a year doesn't stop that. It also doesn't count against their eligibility. It's there specifically to stop poaching and young kids making very rash decisions. You don't want to have to recruit your own players every single year after the season.

[ghost]

The penalty of a year certainly discourages it.  I personally don't like the idea of the teams changing so drastically every year either, but it's not fair to the players to hold them to those standards when the shools and the NCAA are taking every advantage of them that they can. 

[Ingmar]

It's really only a relatively small handful of players in a couple sports that you can really say the NCAA is taking advantage of, though. Football is a mess, and men's basketball to a lesser extent, but those messes pay for a lot of opportunities for people in other sports. I think it can probably be fixed without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[Paelos]

No it's not fair, but in the things I want to address that particular rule is at least logical in my mind. Even in the NFL you can't just leave your team for another without penalty, even though they can cut you on a whim. That's the nature of the sport.

What I'd like to see is the same penalty applied to coaches who are at a school for less than a period of 5 years.

[ghost]

Well that's the main point of the article, really, Paelos-  the process is hypocritical.  Coaches can do whatever they like, whenever they like, and often a kid goes to a school simply because of the coach involved and not the school itself.  I agree that your solution would be a nice way to bridge the gap and make it a little more equitable. 

[Paelos]

The best would be to see douches like Kiffin squirm over the penalty. 5 years would be at least enough time to see a full class through.

[Ingmar]

Why are the ESPN Dallas writers so much worse than all the other special regional ones?

[HaemishM]

Why are the ESPN Dallas writers so much worse than all the other special regional ones?

Texas?

[Ginaz]

Two women who I never heard of played in the ladies Wimbledon final.  One of them won.  The other one cried.  A lot.

[Paelos]

Two women who I never heard of played in the ladies Wimbledon final.  One of them won.  The other one cried.  A lot.

And then in a classy move, one of the British announcers made fun of the winner because she was French and not hot.

I'm just happy it wasn't the drugged up Williams sister this time.

[01101010]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/06/referee-player-killed-brazil-soccer-fans_n_3555436.html

Police say enraged spectators invaded a football field, stoned the referee to death and quartered his body after he stabbed a player to death.

I umm... What?

[Paelos]

Glad they got the world cup. 

[Sir T]

Glad to see one player in Brazil was not faking his injuries. 

[Shannow]

Murray wins, good on him. Last game was a reminder of how good tennis can be to watch.

[Rasix]

Pretty good match for a 3 setter.  I was a bit worried at the end that blowing 40-0 serving for the set was going to lead to a massive rally.  I don't think British tennis fans could deal with that much disappointment.  Good for him that he pulled through, as he's played by far the best tennis this tournament.

So, I guess cold towels are kinda nice..

[ghost]

This doesn't sound good for the NCAA's chances of winning their lawsuit against former players.

The NCAA said Wednesday it won't allow Electronic Arts Inc. to use its logo and name in video games while it fights a lawsuit that says the governing body owes billions of dollars to former players for allowing their likenesses to be used for free.

[Paelos]

From even a purely logical standpoint, they have a terrible case. Using someone's name forever to sell a product is a damn crime in my book, and I hope they get spit-roasted on the case with absolutely no settlement.

[ghost]

The SEC is pushing hard to revamp the NCAA.  It wouldn't surprise me, at all, to see the SEC move out of the NCAA eventually. 

[Rasix]

Man, the ESPYs are dumb as hell.  Anyone watch that stupid show?  Has to be the most useless award show next to anything music related.

[ghost]

No.  I think awards shows are asinine. 

[Paelos]

No.  I think awards shows are asinine. 

Award shows for sports are even more asinine in my book. They already give out rings, trophies, etc for actually winning. And they give out awards for individual efforts. Now we have to do it again because your programming sucks in the summer? Pass.

[HaemishM]

The only interesting thing to ever come out of any of the ESPY's ever has been Justin Timberlake's speeches and routines. That should tell you how fucking useless those things are.

[Nebu]

Far too many awards out there.  For every field. 

[Nebu]

I just have two words for today.

"Go Phil!"