Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Tuesday 11/06 A.M. Quickie:
Pats-Colts, Big Ben, Schilling, Strat, More!

Today's Names to Know: Pats-Colts, Ben Roethlisberger, MLB Instant Replay, Curt Schilling, Greg Maddux, Derrick Rose, Dennis Franchione, Jason Terry, Steelers fans and More!

Sports Media: The Pats-Colts game drew the highest TV rating for a Sunday afternoon game since 1987, which is as far back as CBS' records go. This could confirm that Pats-Colts 2007 was not just the Game of the Year in the NFL, but the regular-season Game of the Century (this or last). In an era of extreme consumer fragmentation, this is one of the most remarkable statistics I have seen in a long time.

The Colts deny they artificially create noise in the RCA Dome: Sure they deny it. Wouldn't want to ruin that pristine image by admitting that they cheat. (The NFL cleared the Colts of any chicanery. Of course, the NFL has a vested interest in maintaining the facade that the Colts are the league's golden boys, in contrast to the Pats, who are the new Raiders.)

Steelers thump Ravens: I think Pittsburgh has established itself as the 3rd-best team in the NFL. Which makes them as likely to win the Super Bowl this season as my college intramural team. Big Ben ends up as the Fantasy QB of the Week, throwing for a Steelers single-game record 5 TD passes.

MLB GM Meetings: I can't understand the resistance to instant replay. They're talking about home-run "in-or-out" calls foul-line "in-or-out" calls. That's a start. (They need plays at the plate, but that will never happen.) Regardless, I can imagine this as a clusterf--- waiting to happen, because you know the implementation will be brutal. (Here's my think about instant replay: If it's good enough for the NFL and college football -- and even the NBA, at end of quarters -- then I'm not quite sure how it's not good for MLB.

MLB Hot Stove: Curt Schilling returning to Red Sox? That makes sense. (Plus, he's managing the Red Sox in the Sporting News' Strat-o-Matic recreation of the 1986 season, in which I'm managing the Cubs. Here's a link. The season starts today, and my Cubs begin with a series against their rival St. Louis Cardinals, managed by one of their most prominent fans.)

Greg Maddux IS returning to the Padres: 1Y/$10M, to extend his Hall of Fame career. Get to the ballpark to see this legend while you still can.

College Hoops: The Derrick Rose Era has begun. It will be a one-year stop in Memphis, but he's off to a great start: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists in his college debut. He won't be as dominant as Kevin Durant, but Rose is the best player in college hoops.

The "official" AP preseason All-America team was announced: Hansbrough, Hibbert, Lofton, Neitzel, Collison. I would agree with Hansbrough and Lofton (and maybe Collison), but I'm not so sure about the rest.

CFB: Texas A&M won't fire coach Dennis Franchione... yet. They said they would wait until the end of the season. And then, of course, they'll fire him.

More CFB: I/we will blissfully take a break from analyzing the BCS rankings. (But here is my weekly Deadspin CFB post, if you haven't seen it yet.)

Who will be the CFB Coach of the Year? In the latest week of blog posts I'm creating in partnership with the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, I make the case for Kansas' Mark Mangino, who has turned the Jayhawks from a punchline into a powerhouse. Check out the site (coachoftheyear.com) keep up with my blog and leave your own analysis of the Coach of the Year race.

NBA: Are the Rockets this year's breakout team? In a game against their in-state rivals from Dallas, they proved that they might not be ready yet. Jason Terry: 31 points.

Business: The Steelers may have been bumped from the top as America's favorite NFL team, but they are the kings of an even more impressive list: The Steelers are the "strongest team brand in their local market," and while many/most local fans are faithful, Steelers fans are at another level.

-- D.S.

71 comments:

marcomarco said...

First Post!

Natsfan74 said...

Marco - you should have kept going, making a 2nd post, 3rd post, etc. to make up for yesterday's dbd award.

The '86 Cubs were a good team. They were outclassed by that awesome Mets team, but that roster had a lot of talent. The Cubs really should have won it in '85 (or not choked in '84), but they had way too many injuries.

I'm glad to see Maddux back one more year. Do you think he wants to just outlast Clemens to stay ahead on the wins list?

David Kippe said...

Dan Shanoff said...The "official" AP preseason All-America team was announced: Hansbrough, Hibbert, Lofton, Neitzel, Collison. I would agree with Hansbrough and Lofton (and maybe Collison), but I'm not so sure about the rest.

So Hibbert would have been possibly a lottery pick last season, and Neitzel single handidly carried MSU to the tourney last season. Name me two players you would put in their place.

are those crickets i hear?

Unknown said...

Wow... it almost seems as if Dan "wants" the Colts to get caught cheating...
maybe to make himself feel somehow better for his own moral infractions?
In any case, I have never seen him have such disdain for a team or individual that he wants them to both cheat and get caught.
The NFL cleared them and that's that...at least they didn't destroy the evidence like they did with the Pats.(Probably after they realized it would tarnish all of their Super Bowl Victories).

Darklawdog said...

I live in Findlay, Ohio and Grand Valley State is in the GLEAC which is the conference the Findlay Oilers play in. It is a division II conference. I know many of the basketball players on the Findlay team so I have seen a few games. Michigan State lost to Grand Valley State. There is no way Nietzel should be a preseason All American for this exhibition game alone.

pv845 said...

No matter how many superbowls and arrogant games the Pats play, they will never be the Raiders because they are not a dirty team.

Who was going to compete with the Steelers in their Market: Pirates, Penguins?

Kevin Erb said...

Dan, as someone who was at the Colts/Pats game on Sunday, and someone who's been to many games in the RCA Dome, trust me: The Colts have no need to pipe in extra crowd noise. That game was the loudest event I've ever been to. The dome is such a small, enclosed space that it's naturally loud. No performance-enhancing noise is needed.

Besides, CBS said the issue was a glitch on its part.

And it's hard to feel like the NFL is persecuting the Patriots when it conveniently sweeps all things Spygate-related under the rug and promptly ends its investigation without conclusion or completion. That worked out pretty well for them, wouldn't you say?

Also, please admit you were badly mistaken in picking the Pats to win by 30+ points.

Clinton (Indianapolis) said...

Dan,

You're starting to sound like all the sportswriters I stopped reading because they became too goddamn pompous. Don't make me jump this ship, too.

RevScottDeMangeMD said...

@all

My beloved Dayton Flyers beat California last night in an exhibition game. No wait, they beat Pennsylvania. No wait! They beat the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans. Yeah baby!

Question: Who is/was the most laughable exhibition opponent for your team?

David Kippe said...

wow lawdog, thats a great reason, one exhibition game should just overrule a slot on the preseason team that is based mostly on the previous years performance. let me know when another player outscores the entire number 1 team in the country in a half.

Levi Chronister said...

Dan, thanks for the support for Mangino! Is there any chance you can get the coachoftheyear.com guys to fix "Pittsburgh" State (there's no "h" in it, actually)? I've asked and received no response at all, but I figure you have a bit more sway with them :)

Dr. Zoom said...

Wow, the Strat-O-Matic mention just about brought a tear to my eye. What great memories. Add to that my joy at your managing my beloved Cubbies. I moved to Illinois from Florida in 1983 and quickly received the Cubbie Blue blood transfusion.

I will be following this. If you haven't already posted a permalink to your league home page, could you?

Darklawdog said...

Wow, sparty great reason. The same reason you consider mine worthless is the same reason yours is worthless.

Way to make a valid point.

Neitzel should have dominated against these players, even on an off night. All Americans do not let there team lose to a Div. II opponent even if it is an exhibition. I watched the game. Neitzel is no All-American. I also watched the game you speak of. Great night and Neitzel did play out of his mind, but he shouldn't have to play out of his mind to play well against a Div. II team.

Woot Rev. I'm a Dayton Alumnus. Go Flyers.

Matt T said...

Tuberville's name is being mentioned for the opening at Texas A&M.

And he hasn't denied interested. Hopefully his Auburn team will be distracted this weekend.

Qwagmire said...

Is it too late to start a fire Brian Billick website? That was prety embarrasing, I turned it off after one quarter.

David Kippe said...

i could bring up every other game he carried the team last season as well.

you are right, he had an off night, as did the whole freakin team against GVSU. but show me other examples of Neitzel ineptitude, other than a meaningless game that was the 1st on the schedule.

On a related note..Izzo won't even let them use the locker room right now. The players have to change in the weight room or hallway until he thinks they earned using a locker room. I love that man

David Kippe said...

and yes i am a homer. my heart controls my thinking too much when it comes to sports...

Unknown said...

Dan, you doing alright? You've taken a decidedly negative spin on things. The NFL clears the Colts, but you yell conspiracy. tsk

You and Cowherd hanging out now or something? Comparing football rankings?

patrick said...

The "3rd best team in the NFL" lost to the Cardinals.

Just making sure you didn't forget.

The Mark Show said...

Haha, so the NFL clears the Colts and that's that but they clear the Pats of any further cheating and that's not enough? You Colts fans make me laugh. I don't know whether or not they piped in crowd noise, they probably didn't, but multiple teams have accused them so it's not like this is out of nowhere. And all Dan said is that the NFL has a vested interest in preventing any more cheating scandals, which is true, so just relax.

Unknown said...

Wouldn't surprise me about the Colts piping in noise. A few years ago, the UNC Tarheels got caught piping in noise both in the coliseum and over the radio for basketball games. Of course, I guess that's no worse than when they "estimate" attendance at their football games as 50,000 every game, even though 2/3 of the fans are dressed as aluminum.

Unknown said...

I'm with you, Lawdog1214. I grew up playing the Strat-o-Matic board game. I was 9 years old at the time and played the entire 1973 season. I got to where I could play a game in about 15 minutes and came up with my own scoring system. I had to keep stats by hand, of course, My older brothers taught me how to figure batting averages and ERAs. That's why I breezed through math for the rest of my life. Of course, I also needed glasses when I was through because I laid on the floor with my nose 2 inches from the cards.

Geoff said...

I really, really don't want to see plays at the plate get reviewed with instant replay. Baseball games take long enough as it is without stopping to check everything. If we start doing replays at the plate how long until people are whining that the shortstop really didn't touch 2nd base on that double play. Just say no.

Unknown said...

I can't read this blog anymore, between his obsession of all things being instant history, conspiracy theories about everyone in every sport, Florida deserving to be number 1 in everything, Arenas, because he has a blog of his own, being the best bball player of all time, Ohio State deserving to never be ranked ever again for the rest of all time because of their loss last year in the championship, I can go on and on about all the things this guy is wrong about...

The Mark Show said...

As far as replay in baseball goes I can only see it really working for Fair/Foul balls on home runs only. Anything else and you have to start worrying about what happens to other runners on base and stuff like that.

The Mark Show said...

I love the people who say they're going to stop reading the blog. It reminds me of when people used to ask SI to cancel their subscriptions because the magazine ran a story they didn't like. Hilarious. Everyone knows what they're getting when it comes to Shanoff, just deal with it and join the discussion in the comments like everyone else.

verbal97 said...

I want to know how BC gets dropped from your top 10 while Michigan with it's two losses (one to a 1-AA team) is in. You constantly harp about inertia and how bad it is that a team that loses late is dropped below a team that loses early. Nice to know that you're a hypocrite and now I can stop wasting my time with your useless and completely moronic college football posts on deadspin. You lost all credibility...if you had any to begin with!

verbal97 said...

for the record...I said that I'd stop reading the football column and not the quickie.

Boomhauertjs said...

The Steelers are No. 1 in Pittsburgh because the Penguins and Pirates have sucked for so long.

I loved last night when Tony was talking about Billick and the fact he hasn't had a great QB in Baltimore, and then mentioned that they had Derek Anderson, but cut him. Go Browns!

Another UD alum here! Looking like the Flyers might make a run at the NCAA's this year.

Unknown said...

My favorite part of the people thinking that the Colts weren't cheating is the "Have you ever been to the RCA Dome? It's deafening in there!" arguement.

That's the whole frickin' point! It's deafening! Some might say too deafening.

patrick said...

verbal,

I brought up a similar point yesterday I believe. Michigan jumps not only BC but ASU. Comparing the same opponent between ASU and Michigan shows ASU losing on the road to Oregon. Michigan getting embarrassed at home by Oregon.

Only other difference, Michigan lost to the other ASU.

C Gally said...

@RevScottDeMangeMD

I was at Virginia Tech when we lost to Marathon Oil. The fact that we made the tournament within 5 years is astounding to me.

The heroin sheik said...

I wonder if you went to a small school if you are merely content making the tournament once every few years. I know how crazy they went at UCF when they made the tournament a few years back. Their coach Kirk Speraw is a class act. Sure I love the Gators first and foremost but UCF is slowly becoming a decent school for sports judging by how the fb and bb teams are improving steadily.

I never got into Strat-o-matic. The sports game I loved as a kid was Subbuteo. My older brother played and coached soccer so he turned me on to it.

Hank Wackman said...

Curt Schilling, Gary Dell'Abate and then a BIG drop off in Strat-o-Matic manager.

At the Sporting News Office:

"Who's available?"

"Bloggers. Bloggers are always available"

"Shit, sign em up."

RT said...

So I guess you're going to let Will "The Savior of S.I." Leitch win? Wouldn't want to burn that bridge.

marcomarco said...

Schilling-Sox agree

marcomarco said...

@ cmfost

And for 8mil + 2mil incentives, turns out I rule.

SonsOfAndyReid said...

Who is this heroisheik and can he hook us up.

Beetle said...

Hey David, you ass-hat.
The NFL cleared the Patriots of "cheating" as well.
The Pats were fined for breaking a rule, but the NFL stated clearly that the infraction was not used to cheat in any way.
So, if the Colts are in the clear according to the NFL, then so are the Pats.

jhawkjjm said...

heard this on the local radio here yesterday and found it hilarious. At the Big XII conference call they asked Bill Callahan if he expected to be coaching Nebraska next year. This was followed by a very long pause.

As for preseason All-American's it means nothing. Brandon Rush isn't on the list because he's out for at least another month with his knee injury.

As for the Colts pumping noise in, if there's smoke there's normally a fire. Multiple teams have questioned it.

Boomhauertjs said...

The Pats are still cheating. Since Spygate, visiting teams have complained about having problems with their radios when playing at Foxboro. You think the NFL's slap on the wrist would stop Belichick?

Drunken Loo said...

Since when is breaking rules not cheating?

CMFost said...

Boom - Really no one has complained at all this season. the only thing I have heard in regards to a Patriots game and Radios was the Fact that the Coach to QB system was not working in INDY this week

bkelly126 said...

so are we going to start penalizing teams for having an "acoustical advantage" at their own stadium?

by all accounts, the piped noise could just be echoes off the dome

Unknown said...

Regarding baseball instant replay - I think it could work for safe/out calls at the end of a play.

I don't think it would work for fair/foul or home run calls.

Normally a safe/out call does not affect any other base runners. They would stop or continue regardless of whether the other runner was safe or out.

With regard to fair/foul and home run calls, It would be OK if the replay showed a ball was really foul, or it was a home run. But if the umpire calls a ball foul and the runners stop, then what do you do if the replay shows it was fair? What if the replay shows that it wasn't really a home run? What do you do with the runners? Should a guy who was on second be sent home? Who can say that he wouldn't have been thrown out attempting to go home had the umpire made the correct call?

Unknown said...

pv845 said...

No matter how many superbowls and arrogant games the Pats play, they will never be the Raiders because they are not a dirty team.

except for this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POT8n2Qk3g

CMFost said...

you know what it did not matter that the Colts had a loud stadium, it did not matter that the Patriots coach could not communicate with the QB, it did not matter that the referees sucked. The Better team went into Indy and won.

So pipe all the crowd noise you want since next time these to teams meet it more then likely will not be in a dome.

Unknown said...

The Derrick Rose Era has begun. It will be a one-year stop in Memphis...

I wonder if it isn't better to recruit good-but-not-great players so that you can keep your team together for a few years and build some continuity.

The Mark Show said...

Joseph,

I was referring to fair/foul ONLY when it pertains to homeruns, so either it's a homerun and the bases are cleared or it's foul and everyone goes back to where they were. I was not suggesting it be used to review on fair/foul balls that don't leave the park or on homeruns where there is a question of whether it went over the wall.

Unknown said...

CMFost said...

you know what it did not matter that the Colts had a loud stadium, it did not matter that the Patriots coach could not communicate with the QB, it did not matter that the referees sucked. The Better team went into Indy and won.

So pipe all the crowd noise you want since next time these to teams meet it more then likely will not be in a dome.

Shut up fat ass

CMFost said...

Joseph,

you are completely wrong. If you have a play at the plate and runners on base with 2 outs and they are all running and the umpire calls a man out at the plate and that is overturned by reply do you spend 10 minutes trying to figure out where the runners should be.

Only replays on Home Runs would work the rest is just to subjective.

The Mark Show said...

More brilliant analysis from Jonathan. Beat it, Troll.

CMFost said...

Jonathan said...

pv845 said...

No matter how many superbowls and arrogant games the Pats play, they will never be the Raiders because they are not a dirty team.

except for this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POT8n2Qk3g




Jonathan you are complete asshat, watch that play closely and look at the offensive lineman falling on Wilforks legs. That was not a dirty hit, that something happens during a game.

Beetle said...

Drunken,
Breaking a rule is not necessarily cheating;
For example, chewing gum in class is against the rules, but it is not cheating.

Jen said...

Did you guys catch the comment last night when the guys on MNF were talking about the Steelers' retro uniforms and someone said "Hmm, then should Baltimore be wearing...the Browns' uniforms?" My co-worker just told me that and I thought it was hilarious and pretty quick thinking on his part (My guess is it was Jaws??)

Lots of Ohio ties on this site. My brother is a Flyer alum as well.

Strat-o-matic: My brothers played that forEVER. All of their stuff is still at my mom's in a desk. They also played baseball with their baseball cards and a little ball of aluminum foil. One of those fold-out cushion-chair things was set up as the outfield wall. They'd play that for hours. Twins do the goofiest stuff. I was the older, bitchy sister.

Anonymous said...

All of a sudden it's like kindergarten in here. You cheated! No, you cheated! Who cares?

Why not talk about something interesting, like say, do the Steelers have a shot against New England? What if the game was in Pittsburgh instead?

The heroin sheik said...

jen there` is a link to that browns comment on PFT it is the bit about the Natl anthem.

Unknown said...

OK I see the point on MLB instant replay.

It could be useful for determining fair/foul on a home run. It could also be useful for reviewing safe/out calls, but only if there is a single base runner.

A play at first base, runner tagging up and going home after a fly out, pickoff attempt, etc.

Give the manager a red flag to throw from the dugout. Or I could see a manager emerging from the dugout, trotting to the base in question, and dropping the red flag on the umpire's feet.

marcomarco said...

I hereby nominate Jonathan for Douche of the Day award. Alternate, CMfost

CMFost said...

marco with that comment you just won the award.

The Mark Show said...

I nominate marcomarco for doing that stupid "First Post!" crap. That's so freaking lame. I would support the nomination for Jonathan but he's a douche pretty much every day so it's not surprising he was today.

Jen said...

Are you guys in elementary school?

Erik Huntoon said...

Dan.. do you feel the need to hate on the Colts and anything related to them because of you adopted the Jags as 'your team'? It is really lowbrow writing you are resorting to to thinly veil accusation that the Colts are cheating. The RCA dome is the smallest venue in the NFL.. Fact. It's also a dome that sells out to a pretty rabid fanbase. There is no reason to think it wouldn't be extremely loud at a home game against the most hated rival... It's just arrogant disregard to fact based journalism to make an assumption that the NFL is hiding something here.

The heroin sheik said...

With all the names of Baseball players using PED's I wonder how many teams will have NOT had players caught. I would have bet on it only being the devil rays but I forget for a sec we had Jose Canseco. Hell I bet the entire shit show that year was juicing and we still couldn't reach 70 wins.

BLUE said...

you guys will thank me later

BLUE said...

I will win douche of the day award today

BLUE said...

cmfost-

i'm not sure I know what you speak of...but whatever you do, don't mess up my world please.

Joey said...

You know what is awesome, is that idiots like Blue can't ruin the comments if you just click next to their name at the top and you can hide the whole comment. If only I could do that to some of the stuff Dan says...

After the first game this season, I never would have thought 1st place in the AFC North would be on the line this week between the Browns and Steelers.

Zappatista said...

Put the pipe down Dan. Eric Gordon and Jordan Crawford will delight much more than Rose, for the record!

starkweather said...

Dan, please don't make any NBA pronouncements about team strength for at least 7 weeks. Remember that time when the Mavs started 0-4 and won 67 games? Wait, that wasn't very long ago at all.

TBBUCSRAYSLIGHT said...

To the readers of danshanoff.com,

I am sorry for my immature and childish pranks. I really feel bad that I have ruined your conversations. From now on when I post I will add something to the conversation instead of posting the TMQ or other garbage. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me and welcome me into your little community.

blue