*Mercer over Duke is a quintessential NCAA Tournament result.
*I tweeted this right after the game: There is nothing quite like the "Duke first-round NCAA Tournament loss." It's a national celebration of schadenfreude, transcending basically everything.
*If I had to rank my most desired outcomes every year in the NCAA Tournament, they rank "My team wins the national title," then -- a close second -- "Whenever Duke loses (ideally right away)."
*My 5-year-old son Jonah, who was watching the game with me, appreciated my enthusiasm over the upset-in-progress and the ending, but really didn't like when I said that I "hate" Duke.
And he's right. "Hate" is not just a bad word to flaunt in front of a kid (who can't grasp the nuances of the word) but inelegant. The reality is that I love seeing them lose.
(Post-script: Astutely, he asked what I would do if HE played for Duke. Would I "hate" them/him? I sheepishly said I would be rooting like crazy for him to win.)
*The glorious Mercer win eclipsed everything else that happened over the First Thursday and Friday. Let's give SF Austin a shout-out for knocking off a VCU team that -- if we're being honest -- choked.
*Looking ahead to today:
(1) Florida BETTER win (FWIW: Pitt has had a LOT of trouble with elite defenses this season)...
(2) Your Everyone-Should-Be-Rooting-For-Them team is North Dakota State, in a very winnable game vs. San Diego State...
(3) My Upset Special (it's on my bracket, so it MUST be right) is UConn over Villanova.
I went 27-5 in the first two days, which is OK (I'm in the 92nd percentile nationally) but certainly not spectacular. More importantly, I lost two Sweet 16 teams: Duke (like almost everyone else) and VCU.
-- D.S.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
3/21 Tournament Friday Quickie
*What an entertaining First Thursday -- from Dayton at the very start to Harvard's upset (or "upset") to the slew of terrific endings/chokes last night, a great day.
*Luke Winn nailed it: It's not just enough to have an elite defense -- you have got to be able to score efficiently, too.
So here are the teams that are Top 10 in adjusted D and Top 20 in adjusted O: Florida, Louisville, Wichita State. (UVA is on the cusp, and Arizona, Kansas and Michigan State are Top 40 at least.)
*I was 12 out of 16 yesterday -- same as my 5-year-old, for what it's worth. I missed Harvard, Texas, Saint Louis and Dayton. My 7-year-old was 14/16.
*My favorite stat: 80% of billion-dollar brackets were busted after the very first game of the tournament. (I kind of love that people are focused on the billion-dollar bracket, despite its absurdity.)
*Today's best games: Duke-Mercer right at the top of the day, Oklahoma State-Gonzaga at 4:40, SF Austin vs. VCU in the early-evening and Kansas State-Kentucky in the late-evening set.
Enjoy it.
-- D.S.
*Luke Winn nailed it: It's not just enough to have an elite defense -- you have got to be able to score efficiently, too.
So here are the teams that are Top 10 in adjusted D and Top 20 in adjusted O: Florida, Louisville, Wichita State. (UVA is on the cusp, and Arizona, Kansas and Michigan State are Top 40 at least.)
*I was 12 out of 16 yesterday -- same as my 5-year-old, for what it's worth. I missed Harvard, Texas, Saint Louis and Dayton. My 7-year-old was 14/16.
*My favorite stat: 80% of billion-dollar brackets were busted after the very first game of the tournament. (I kind of love that people are focused on the billion-dollar bracket, despite its absurdity.)
*Today's best games: Duke-Mercer right at the top of the day, Oklahoma State-Gonzaga at 4:40, SF Austin vs. VCU in the early-evening and Kansas State-Kentucky in the late-evening set.
Enjoy it.
-- D.S.
Monday, March 17, 2014
3/17 Selection Monday Quickie
A few thoughts about the bracket:
*"Championship or bust" for Florida: It's one of the greatest things in sports -- "title or fail." Those are the stakes for Florida this year. I'm all-in on the Gators winning it all.
*I have never seen a bandwagon as strong as the one carrying Michigan State from the 4-seed (underseeded, to be sure) to the Final Four (and, in the case of ESPN's experts, all the way).
*OK, I'll bite: I have Michigan State upending UVA en route to the Final Four. (However, I am NOT on the Louisville bandwagon -- if they didn't have to play Wichita, I'd be more bullish.)
*Match-ups giving me the most pause: Wisconsin-Creighton and the VCU-UCLA sub-region. And tons of teams that are seemingly clear favorites scare me as probable underperformers.
I think the guts of the bracket -- 64 to 8 -- are as murky to predict as any in recent memory. That's a good thing (if not so great for my chances at picking a bracket successfully).
-- D.S.
*"Championship or bust" for Florida: It's one of the greatest things in sports -- "title or fail." Those are the stakes for Florida this year. I'm all-in on the Gators winning it all.
*I have never seen a bandwagon as strong as the one carrying Michigan State from the 4-seed (underseeded, to be sure) to the Final Four (and, in the case of ESPN's experts, all the way).
*OK, I'll bite: I have Michigan State upending UVA en route to the Final Four. (However, I am NOT on the Louisville bandwagon -- if they didn't have to play Wichita, I'd be more bullish.)
*Match-ups giving me the most pause: Wisconsin-Creighton and the VCU-UCLA sub-region. And tons of teams that are seemingly clear favorites scare me as probable underperformers.
I think the guts of the bracket -- 64 to 8 -- are as murky to predict as any in recent memory. That's a good thing (if not so great for my chances at picking a bracket successfully).
-- D.S.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
3/13 Thursday Quickie
*Thanks to the University of Maryland's Merrill College Povich Center for Sports Journalism for having me out last night to talk about Entrepreneurial Journalism.
*I'll be back on campus tonight to watch my alma mater Whitman HS play in the boys' basketball state semifinals against Annapolis HS. Go Vikes!
*Yesterday, I also got to sit in on an Aspen Institute "Project Play" session with a bunch of really smart people talking about redefining youth sports. I'm super-intrigued by Dick's Sporting Goods' #SportsMatter concept that created a crowd-funding platform to help youth teams that need it.
*My favorite deal of NFL Free Agency week wasn't even a free-agency move -- it's the Eagles trading for Darren Sproles. Chip Kelly is going to do ridiculous things with him.
*Four days until Selection Sunday -- today is annually one of the best college hoops days of the year, with a slew of conference tournaments going all day and bubble teams in must-win positions.
-- D.S.
*I'll be back on campus tonight to watch my alma mater Whitman HS play in the boys' basketball state semifinals against Annapolis HS. Go Vikes!
*Yesterday, I also got to sit in on an Aspen Institute "Project Play" session with a bunch of really smart people talking about redefining youth sports. I'm super-intrigued by Dick's Sporting Goods' #SportsMatter concept that created a crowd-funding platform to help youth teams that need it.
*My favorite deal of NFL Free Agency week wasn't even a free-agency move -- it's the Eagles trading for Darren Sproles. Chip Kelly is going to do ridiculous things with him.
*Four days until Selection Sunday -- today is annually one of the best college hoops days of the year, with a slew of conference tournaments going all day and bubble teams in must-win positions.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
3/11 SXSW Hangover Quickie
*Huge thanks to SXSW for having us as part of their inaugural "SX Sports" event. And thanks to Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury for being such a good sport for our session with him.
*Joel Embiid's back problems: He should never play another minute for Kansas again. I don't care if he is medically "cleared" for the back half of the NCAA Tournament -- everyone should be focused on his long-term future as a basketball player and caution should prevail.
*Phil Jackson to the Knicks: Posting and Toasting's Seth Rosenthal has the best take on this. I could try to pull out my favorite points, but just take the 3 minutes to read his argument.
-- D.S.
*Joel Embiid's back problems: He should never play another minute for Kansas again. I don't care if he is medically "cleared" for the back half of the NCAA Tournament -- everyone should be focused on his long-term future as a basketball player and caution should prevail.
*Phil Jackson to the Knicks: Posting and Toasting's Seth Rosenthal has the best take on this. I could try to pull out my favorite points, but just take the 3 minutes to read his argument.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
3/4 LeBron Quickie
This was LeBron at the height of his mastery over basketball -- and the height of efficiency:
Making threes at a ridiculous rate, and when he did shoot 2s, they were high-percentage (if also high-effort) shots near the rim.
Unstoppable. Just watch: -- D.S.
Making threes at a ridiculous rate, and when he did shoot 2s, they were high-percentage (if also high-effort) shots near the rim.
Unstoppable. Just watch: -- D.S.
Saturday, March 01, 2014
3/1 2nd Birthday Quickie
*Happy 2nd birthday to my swee' pea, Lucy. (Whew: The first two years of the third kid go MUCH faster than the first two years of either of the older kids.)
*Bummed to be missing the fabulous Sloan Sports Analytics Conference this year (here's my take on it from 2010), but thanks to GW's Sports Management program for letting me host a 1:1 conversation with Geoff Reiss, head of Sports for Twitter.
*Steph Curry remains in the Top 3 most must-see players in the NBA (LeBron, Durant). FWIW, Kevin Love is No. 4. I'm ready to put John Wall in the Top 5. (Anthony Davis is his main comp.)
*My father-in-law is in town from Gainesville today for Lucy's birthday, which means we'll get to watch the Gator basketball game together -- he's a die-hard fan, and that's always a treat.
-- D.S.
*Bummed to be missing the fabulous Sloan Sports Analytics Conference this year (here's my take on it from 2010), but thanks to GW's Sports Management program for letting me host a 1:1 conversation with Geoff Reiss, head of Sports for Twitter.
*Steph Curry remains in the Top 3 most must-see players in the NBA (LeBron, Durant). FWIW, Kevin Love is No. 4. I'm ready to put John Wall in the Top 5. (Anthony Davis is his main comp.)
*My father-in-law is in town from Gainesville today for Lucy's birthday, which means we'll get to watch the Gator basketball game together -- he's a die-hard fan, and that's always a treat.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
2/25 Trout Dirk Kansas Quickie
*Mike Trout is a bargain at $30M a year. And Trout is loving life to be hitting free agency at age 28. (Expect the Nats to pay Bryce Harper something similar -- without the free agency at his peak. If they have to pay a premium to tack on a few extra years, so be it.)
*That Dirk shot was awesome.
*Do you buy Kansas as a Final Four contender? Absolutely. There are 7 teams in the KenPom Top 30 for both adjusted offense and defense: Louisville (17/7), Florida (9/10), Kansas (5/27), Wichita St (16/13), Villanova (8/20), Syracuse (22/9), Pitt (25/22). (Arizona is JUST on the outside: 32nd on offense, but No. 1 on D.)
If I had to pick 8 teams with the best shot at the Final Four, Kansas is among them -- along with Florida, Wichita St, Syracuse, Arizona, Louisville, Michigan State (13/34) and either Wisconsin (6/40) or Virginia (43/4).
UVA feels too nouveau riche this season and will eventually run into a superior defense that they can't score on. Still: Would a Hoos fan really turn down a trip to the Sweet 16?
March starts in just a few days....
-- D.S.
*That Dirk shot was awesome.
*Do you buy Kansas as a Final Four contender? Absolutely. There are 7 teams in the KenPom Top 30 for both adjusted offense and defense: Louisville (17/7), Florida (9/10), Kansas (5/27), Wichita St (16/13), Villanova (8/20), Syracuse (22/9), Pitt (25/22). (Arizona is JUST on the outside: 32nd on offense, but No. 1 on D.)
If I had to pick 8 teams with the best shot at the Final Four, Kansas is among them -- along with Florida, Wichita St, Syracuse, Arizona, Louisville, Michigan State (13/34) and either Wisconsin (6/40) or Virginia (43/4).
UVA feels too nouveau riche this season and will eventually run into a superior defense that they can't score on. Still: Would a Hoos fan really turn down a trip to the Sweet 16?
March starts in just a few days....
-- D.S.
Monday, February 24, 2014
2/24 Monday Quickie
*Jason Collins' return to the NBA -- this time as the first openly gay player in the history of major pro sports leagues -- is the biggest sports milestone of the year (and one of the biggest ever).
*Jadeveon Clowney running a 4.4-whatever in the 40 is so ridiculous that for all the talent at QB (and Sammy Watkins might be the most talented WR to see the draft since Calvin Johnson) that you have to put him in the mix at No. 1 -- whether or not he fits the Texans' needs, he is the most talented player in the draft.
*The Jim Harbaugh/Browns thing is fascinating. Bill Barnwell has the best analysis.
*So long, Sochi. Perhaps more than any other sports event, the Winter Olympics are a fun little quadrennial blip. It was enjoyable in individual moments, with the US hockey failures completing things on a down note.
-- D.S.
*Jadeveon Clowney running a 4.4-whatever in the 40 is so ridiculous that for all the talent at QB (and Sammy Watkins might be the most talented WR to see the draft since Calvin Johnson) that you have to put him in the mix at No. 1 -- whether or not he fits the Texans' needs, he is the most talented player in the draft.
*The Jim Harbaugh/Browns thing is fascinating. Bill Barnwell has the best analysis.
*So long, Sochi. Perhaps more than any other sports event, the Winter Olympics are a fun little quadrennial blip. It was enjoyable in individual moments, with the US hockey failures completing things on a down note.
-- D.S.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
2/16 Birthday Quickie
Wait, so you're saying that on the night before my birthday that:
*Florida basketball would secure their best win since the 2007 national-title game...
*Bradley Beal would produce the most exciting moment of NBA All-Star Saturday Night...
*And John Wall would "win" the "dunk contest?"
All that and my kids behaved at the fancy-ish restaurant we took them to last night.
Not a bad way to end one year and herald the next!
-- D.S.
*Florida basketball would secure their best win since the 2007 national-title game...
*Bradley Beal would produce the most exciting moment of NBA All-Star Saturday Night...
*And John Wall would "win" the "dunk contest?"
All that and my kids behaved at the fancy-ish restaurant we took them to last night.
Not a bad way to end one year and herald the next!
-- D.S.
Friday, February 14, 2014
2/14 Valentine's Day Quickie
An annual ritual -- a few things I love in sports right now.
*I love these Washington Wizards. They drive me batty, but at least they're competitive. I cannot remember the last Wizards team I liked this much -- probably the Webber/Howard mid-90s Bullets.
*I love this Florida Gators basketball team. The past few years have been very good teams (I thought last year's team was good enough to win the title). This year's team is better than all of them.
*I love this short film from Grantland about Steve Nash in his career twilight. Nash just turned 40. I'm exiting 40 this weekend. So much of what he says resonates with me.
*I love the state of sports-writing right now -- at the top, better than it has ever been.
*I love that my kids' burgeoning interest in sports lets me (re-)experience what it's like to fall in love with sports as a kid.
-- D.S.
*I love these Washington Wizards. They drive me batty, but at least they're competitive. I cannot remember the last Wizards team I liked this much -- probably the Webber/Howard mid-90s Bullets.
*I love this Florida Gators basketball team. The past few years have been very good teams (I thought last year's team was good enough to win the title). This year's team is better than all of them.
*I love this short film from Grantland about Steve Nash in his career twilight. Nash just turned 40. I'm exiting 40 this weekend. So much of what he says resonates with me.
*I love the state of sports-writing right now -- at the top, better than it has ever been.
*I love that my kids' burgeoning interest in sports lets me (re-)experience what it's like to fall in love with sports as a kid.
-- D.S.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
2/13 Jeter LeBron Etc Quickie
*You can not root for Derek Jeter yet still appreciate his phenomenal career. He jumps to the top of my list of "Have to get to the ballpark to see him in person" in 2014.
*College football has had many dumb moments. This may be the dumbest: "Offenses that snap the ball before 29 seconds remain on the play clock would receive a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty."
*LeBron. Whew.
*Just when I think my Wizards can't find new ways to lose games, they do. Pretty amazing phenomenon, actually.
(This clip of Harden's game-winning layup doesn't include the controversial dead-ball foul that preceded it. Ariza grabbed him, but Harden is the league's craftiest at drawing fouls.)
-- D.S.
*College football has had many dumb moments. This may be the dumbest: "Offenses that snap the ball before 29 seconds remain on the play clock would receive a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty."
*LeBron. Whew.
*Just when I think my Wizards can't find new ways to lose games, they do. Pretty amazing phenomenon, actually.
(This clip of Harden's game-winning layup doesn't include the controversial dead-ball foul that preceded it. Ariza grabbed him, but Harden is the league's craftiest at drawing fouls.)
-- D.S.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
2/12 Rushmore Quickie
Because everyone is doing it....
NBA Rushmore: Jordan, Russell, Magic, LeBron.
College hoops Rushmore: Alcindor, Robertson, Ewing, Carmelo.
NFL Rushmore: Jim Brown, Payton, Montana, Peyton.
College football Rushmore: Grange, Herschel, Tebow, Manziel.
MLB Rushmore: Ruth, Ted Williams, Walter Johnson, Bonds.
-- D.S.
NBA Rushmore: Jordan, Russell, Magic, LeBron.
College hoops Rushmore: Alcindor, Robertson, Ewing, Carmelo.
NFL Rushmore: Jim Brown, Payton, Montana, Peyton.
College football Rushmore: Grange, Herschel, Tebow, Manziel.
MLB Rushmore: Ruth, Ted Williams, Walter Johnson, Bonds.
-- D.S.
Monday, February 10, 2014
2/10 Michael Sam Quickie
*The Michael Sam story has me awestruck. (via SB Nation's OutSports, here is the fascinating backstory.) Needless to say, I wish him only the best.
A few things: Sam is a hero... the anonymous detractors were appalling... I know it was pushed a bit, but the timing before the combine feels totally appropriate... I agree with the theory that he will get drafted by a team with a strong owner-GM-coach troika and team culture (Seattle, SF, Philly).
*Marcus Smart's shove merited the suspension he got -- a bright line of big-time sports is that you can't push a fan, no matter how vile, and they couldn't NOT suspend him (that it was only three games is telling) -- but the fan's behavior was just as inappropriate, if not more.
(No, it won't have any bearing on Smart's NBA future. If it isn't clear by now, it should be: He should've gone pro a year ago. I appreciate his reasons for coming back, but if he wanted to be a great pro, he was better off getting pro coaching and focus as early in his career as possible; OSU doesn't prioritize his pro career.)
*The Olympics have been a ton of fun to watch with my kids. My 5-year-old plays hockey and is fascinated by the speedskating (as he should be -- it's pretty amazing to watch).
-- D.S.
A few things: Sam is a hero... the anonymous detractors were appalling... I know it was pushed a bit, but the timing before the combine feels totally appropriate... I agree with the theory that he will get drafted by a team with a strong owner-GM-coach troika and team culture (Seattle, SF, Philly).
*Marcus Smart's shove merited the suspension he got -- a bright line of big-time sports is that you can't push a fan, no matter how vile, and they couldn't NOT suspend him (that it was only three games is telling) -- but the fan's behavior was just as inappropriate, if not more.
(No, it won't have any bearing on Smart's NBA future. If it isn't clear by now, it should be: He should've gone pro a year ago. I appreciate his reasons for coming back, but if he wanted to be a great pro, he was better off getting pro coaching and focus as early in his career as possible; OSU doesn't prioritize his pro career.)
*The Olympics have been a ton of fun to watch with my kids. My 5-year-old plays hockey and is fascinated by the speedskating (as he should be -- it's pretty amazing to watch).
-- D.S.
Friday, February 07, 2014
2/7 Opening Ceremonies Quickie
Happy 40th birthday, Steve Nash -- one of my all-time favorite athletes (and not just because we're close to the same age)...
*Everyone ready for the Olympics to start?
*I have a very (very) hard time believing that Jameis Winston -- a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft (as he would be a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft) -- would put off the NFL any longer than he is required to.
*I'm not sold on the new Dunk Contest format, but I like that John Wall is participating. I don't think he'll win, but I do think he'll win All-Star Game MVP. (And I am certain Bradley Beal will win the 3-point contest. Although Damian Lillard playing in every event is the most fascinating participant of the weekend.)
*Arizona basketball just isn't that impressive anymore. It's not like I was picking them to win the national title anyway, but still.
*Most fascinating thing I read yesterday: "Databall," on the breakthroughs in statistical analysis in the NBA, by Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry. Worth the time to work your way through it.
*Condolences to family and friends of Ralph Kiner.
*I founded and ran the first (and only) monthly reading series dedicated to sportswriting, and it was one of my favorite things I have ever done. Last night, I went to a reading that reminded me how fascinating they can be -- if you are interested in parenting stuff, don't miss "All Joy and No Fun" by Jennifer Senior.
*Everyone ready for the Olympics to start?
*I have a very (very) hard time believing that Jameis Winston -- a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft (as he would be a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft) -- would put off the NFL any longer than he is required to.
*I'm not sold on the new Dunk Contest format, but I like that John Wall is participating. I don't think he'll win, but I do think he'll win All-Star Game MVP. (And I am certain Bradley Beal will win the 3-point contest. Although Damian Lillard playing in every event is the most fascinating participant of the weekend.)
*Arizona basketball just isn't that impressive anymore. It's not like I was picking them to win the national title anyway, but still.
*Most fascinating thing I read yesterday: "Databall," on the breakthroughs in statistical analysis in the NBA, by Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry. Worth the time to work your way through it.
*Condolences to family and friends of Ralph Kiner.
*I founded and ran the first (and only) monthly reading series dedicated to sportswriting, and it was one of my favorite things I have ever done. Last night, I went to a reading that reminded me how fascinating they can be -- if you are interested in parenting stuff, don't miss "All Joy and No Fun" by Jennifer Senior.
Monday, February 03, 2014
2/4 Great Super Bowl Day-After Reads Quickie
Filing this 8 hours ahead of the actual 2/4...
Grantland's Bill Barnwell: "Seattle's Best"
SB Nation's Matt Ufford: "Deserve has nothing to do with it."
Grantland's Brian Phillips: "Are we having fun yet?"
Yahoo's Dan Wetzel, on Peyton Manning's moment of failure.
SB Nation's Jon Bois with a hilarious cut of the data of the "whooping."
Deadspin's Drew Magary: On the Super Bowl party boat
The MMQB's Peter King: On the game. (God, I vividly remember editing the morning-after Super Bowl MMQB column 15 years ago.)
Big sports moments always produce really terrific day-after observations.
-- D.S.
Grantland's Bill Barnwell: "Seattle's Best"
SB Nation's Matt Ufford: "Deserve has nothing to do with it."
Grantland's Brian Phillips: "Are we having fun yet?"
Yahoo's Dan Wetzel, on Peyton Manning's moment of failure.
SB Nation's Jon Bois with a hilarious cut of the data of the "whooping."
Deadspin's Drew Magary: On the Super Bowl party boat
The MMQB's Peter King: On the game. (God, I vividly remember editing the morning-after Super Bowl MMQB column 15 years ago.)
Big sports moments always produce really terrific day-after observations.
-- D.S.
2/3 Super Bowl Hangover Quickie
*Right about the Seahawks winning, wrong about the margin (but at least I wasn't one of those folks who picked the Broncos!) Should have been spot-on about Percy Harvin winning MVP.
*The Seahawks' defense is exceptional -- to do that to one of the best offenses in NFL history puts this performance among the greatest by a defensive unit in Super Bowl history.
*None of this changes Peyton Manning's place in history, except to the extent that in remembering his greatness, we'll always remember the way his team got shellacked in the Super Bowl.
*My personal favorite ads: Tim Tebow's two spots for T-Mobile, obviously. (As many folks bemusedly observed, he had a way better night than Peyton Manning, which fits with "Tebow ultimately wins" theory.)
*Looking ahead to next year: No reason not to install the Seahawks as favorites to win the Super Bowl again. (The AFC is less clear -- way less clear.)
-- D.S.
*The Seahawks' defense is exceptional -- to do that to one of the best offenses in NFL history puts this performance among the greatest by a defensive unit in Super Bowl history.
*None of this changes Peyton Manning's place in history, except to the extent that in remembering his greatness, we'll always remember the way his team got shellacked in the Super Bowl.
*My personal favorite ads: Tim Tebow's two spots for T-Mobile, obviously. (As many folks bemusedly observed, he had a way better night than Peyton Manning, which fits with "Tebow ultimately wins" theory.)
*Looking ahead to next year: No reason not to install the Seahawks as favorites to win the Super Bowl again. (The AFC is less clear -- way less clear.)
-- D.S.
Sunday, February 02, 2014
2/2 Super Bowl Day Quickie
*Repeating myself from Friday: Seattle wins by 5. Percy Harvin as MVP.
*Speaking of MVPs, Peyton was a lock. And this is by far the most impressive MVP season of his career. (Or any other player's career.)
*"Syracuse-Duke is the best!" is the new "Realignment ruined college hoops rivalries!"
*Go figure: Arizona was overrated. (Meanwhile, this Florida team is better than any I have watched since the back-to-back title teams. The offense doesn't necessarily come easy, but the D is ridiculous.)
*I can't explain why my Wizards play so well against the Thunder, but I'm sure glad they do.
Enjoy the game.
-- D.S.
*Speaking of MVPs, Peyton was a lock. And this is by far the most impressive MVP season of his career. (Or any other player's career.)
*"Syracuse-Duke is the best!" is the new "Realignment ruined college hoops rivalries!"
*Go figure: Arizona was overrated. (Meanwhile, this Florida team is better than any I have watched since the back-to-back title teams. The offense doesn't necessarily come easy, but the D is ridiculous.)
*I can't explain why my Wizards play so well against the Thunder, but I'm sure glad they do.
Enjoy the game.
-- D.S.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Friday 1/31 Super Bowl Quickie
Seahawks win by 5, with Percy Harvin as the game MVP...
*Two of my favorites at their best for the biggest game of the season: Bill Barnwell with an exhaustive game preview and Chris Brown with an exhaustive look at Peyton Manning's offense.
*Fun, clever Slate piece by Joshua Keating where he describes the Super Bowl as if US sportswriters were describing a big sports event elsewhere around the globe.
*The NYT Sunday Magazine leads with a big read on the world of NFL gambling in Las Vegas.
*Finally, in a brilliant piece of Super Bowl journalism/entertainment I guarantee you won't see anywhere else, this video from SB Nation's Jon Bois is phenomenally fun.
*If you love Super Bowl ads, be sure to register to be on USA TODAY's "Ad Meter" panel to rate each ad and be part of the group that picks the game's top ad. Sign up here today.
Enjoy the game and your weekend. Tomorrow is the season opener for the 2nd-grade boys' basketball juggernaut that I am coaching -- currently, I am thinking about which song is our layup-line music.
-- D.S.
*Two of my favorites at their best for the biggest game of the season: Bill Barnwell with an exhaustive game preview and Chris Brown with an exhaustive look at Peyton Manning's offense.
*Fun, clever Slate piece by Joshua Keating where he describes the Super Bowl as if US sportswriters were describing a big sports event elsewhere around the globe.
*The NYT Sunday Magazine leads with a big read on the world of NFL gambling in Las Vegas.
*Finally, in a brilliant piece of Super Bowl journalism/entertainment I guarantee you won't see anywhere else, this video from SB Nation's Jon Bois is phenomenally fun.
*If you love Super Bowl ads, be sure to register to be on USA TODAY's "Ad Meter" panel to rate each ad and be part of the group that picks the game's top ad. Sign up here today.
Enjoy the game and your weekend. Tomorrow is the season opener for the 2nd-grade boys' basketball juggernaut that I am coaching -- currently, I am thinking about which song is our layup-line music.
-- D.S.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
1/26 Super Bowl Week Eve Quickie
*Your beat-you-over-the-head Super Bowl storylines, in order of beat-ness: (1) Weather, (2) Peyton, (3) Richard Sherman, (4) Russell Wilson, (5) Pete Carroll.
*Pro Bowl haters have it wrong: It will get more viewers than the World Series or NBA Finals. At some point, critical bleating just doesn't match up with what fans clearly want to see.
*Regular-season wins don't mean much in college hoops (particularly between two teams guaranteed to make the Tournament), but Michigan's win at Michigan State was a solid one.
*Terrence Ross scores 51: Pretty amazing stat -- he is the first player in NBA history to average single-digit scoring then score more than 50 in a single game.
*Career-defining win for Stan Wawrinka in Australia in beating back/down Rafa Nadal.
-- D.S.
*Pro Bowl haters have it wrong: It will get more viewers than the World Series or NBA Finals. At some point, critical bleating just doesn't match up with what fans clearly want to see.
*Regular-season wins don't mean much in college hoops (particularly between two teams guaranteed to make the Tournament), but Michigan's win at Michigan State was a solid one.
*Terrence Ross scores 51: Pretty amazing stat -- he is the first player in NBA history to average single-digit scoring then score more than 50 in a single game.
*Career-defining win for Stan Wawrinka in Australia in beating back/down Rafa Nadal.
-- D.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
