April 11, 2006
Well, this is disturbing
Logan Young dead, apparently attacked
Young is the former U of A booster who played the major role in getting the football team put on probation a few years ago. The scandal was sordid enough (and nobody came out of it looking good) and that was before a body was involved.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2006
You wouldn't want spoiled racquetballs
So I buy a can of racquetballs at noted retailer KMart. I do not play racquetball but I like to play with racquetballs as a stress reliever. And I open the can, and there on the top of it is "SEALED FOR FRESHNESS".
I am not going to comment on Alabama apparently blowing the national championship in racquetball because I didn't know there was one.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:35 PM | Comments (2)
March 17, 2006
Gonzaga Theory
NCAAsports.com - The Official Site for NCAA Sports
Basketball rant, ignore it if you don't care...
First day of the NCAA tournament, and Gonzaga, seeded third, almost lost to 14th seeded Xavier; Nevada, which a few years ago beat a highly favored Gonzaga team and had been a chic pick to make it to the second weekend, lost to Montana.
I wasn't particularly surprised (though I actually did pick Nevada to go to the second weekend). I have a theory that these teams -- the highly-rated teams from small conferences -- aren't going to do well in the tournament because they're playing teams that are basically like them. They do well against teams from big conferences because those teams aren't like them. A big conference team, even a mediocre one, is probably more athletic than Nevada or Gonzaga, but less experienced and doesn't work as well together. A team like Montana, however, is basically similar to Nevada, only not quite as good. But the mid-major powers are used to winning on experience and guile and not against a team that is their equal in those areas, and can't adjust to using their advantage -- which in this situation is athleticism. Nevada would have been better off as an eight or nine seed playing a mediocre big-conference team like Marquette or Kentucky.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 16, 2006
This is very bad
ESPN.com - NCB/NCAATOURNEY06 - San Diego arena evacuated before NCAA game
A bomb-sniffing dog indicated trouble at a hot dog stand before the Alabama-Marquette game. The game will be delayed at least two hours.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 02, 2006
This is pathetic
Doubting Thomas - Isiah destroyed the Knicks. Can anyone save them? By Michael Crowley
Is there anyone more pathetic than a Knicks fan? I'm not talking about the team's recent descent to laughing stock, but calling the Patrick Ewing Knicks a "golden era"? 15 seasons of ugly basketball without even a championship to show for it?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 08, 2006
Why the Colts are ultimately losers
ESPN.com - NFL - Pasquarelli: Disappointed Colts looking toward next season
They start 13-0, then wind up washing out of the playoffs in their first game. They're disappointed, but they're not dwelling on it. This is why they lose. They're not driven enough. This should be tearing them up inside, and instead they're just enjoying the Loser Pro Bowl.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:14 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 06, 2006
The difference between high school and college
Pittsburgh proved to be the best team
First off... No, it didn't. But let's go to the second item:
Forgetting the Tide: Pittsburgh cornerback Deshea Townsend certainly drew the ire of the Alabama fan base during the introduction of the starters.ABC allowed each starter to say his name and then his school. While most of the players, including Seattle's Shaun Alexander (Alabama) and Chris Gray (Auburn) and Pittsburgh's Kendall Simmons (Auburn), gave the name of their college, Townsend instead chose to say, "Deshea Townsend, South Panola University."
Townsend graduated from South Panola (Miss.) High before playing at Alabama in 1994-97.
He didn't keep it a secret, however, that he wouldn't claim the Crimson Tide. In a Tuesday interview with The Clarion Ledger of Mississippi, he said, "I just recorded it a few minutes ago. I had to give my high school its props."
That's a nice thought, but those guys who don't give their colleges always stick out like sore thumbs and appear to have a grudge against where they went to school. That may not be the case with Townsend, but I'm just saying.
For one thing, Mr. Townsend seems to be unaware of the difference between a high school and a college, which doesn't really say much for the academic programs of UA and SPHS.
For another, it's just lame. Colleges like the little "So and So of Such and Such State" bit because it helps with recruiting. High schools just take whoever's closest.
Boo, DeShea. Boo.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 20, 2006
BALCO Theater
ESPN near deal for Bonds series
Well, that would be fun, wouldn't it? I mean, he's just so personable.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 13, 2006
That explains it
The Sun Herald | 01/13/2006 | Favre victim of stolen identity
I was wondering who that guy throwing all those interceptions was.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 31, 2005
Odelay
ESPN.com - RECRUITING - Mustain's short list: Arkansas, ND, Tenn. and Alabama
Alabama will never get this guy, I'm sure. It would be nice. But that's not why I'm linking.
It turns out that his mother is named "Beck Campbell". I read that name and then I think... Gosh, I've seen that name before. And I have. It's Beck's name. You know, the musician/Scientologist. She should probably think about adding a "y" at the end.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 22, 2005
Preaching to the converted
Ex-Raider Banaszak lobbies for Stabler in NFL's HOF
I don't think you have to Mobile country club guys that Ken Stabler should be in the Hall of Fame. You need to convince the tiny cabal of sportswriters that decide such things. Of course the Snake should be in the Hall. He's being kept out for personal reasons because establishment sportswriters don't like him.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:16 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 03, 2005
Surrrrrre they weren't
CNN.com - FBI: Muslims detained at stadium weren't profiled - Nov 2, 2005
Five Muslim football fans were rounded up by the FBI at a Giants game because some guy in Alabama said they were talking about GPS satellites they were near an air duct and the President's Daddy was in the stadium. They were, in fact, praying, which I guess is why they weren't allowed to return to their seats, because only players are allowed to pray at football games unless there's a game-winning kick or something like that.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 22, 2005
I love this team
(5) ALABAMA 6, (17) TENNESSEE 3
Hell, I love everybody. I'm filled with love. For everybody except f---ing Tennessee. I hate those bastards. Everybody else, I love you.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:31 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
October 18, 2005
She's bad luck
Secretary Rice to attend Tide-Vols game
So if we lose, it's Condi's fault. Everybody remember that.
Poor Jack Straw is getting dragged to the game as well. That should be fun. "Now, which one is the pitcher?"
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:12 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 02, 2005
Stupid coaches
College Football - Rankings - Division I-A Coaches' Top 25 Poll
How is Alabama behind a Tennessee team that lost to the same Florida team Bama pounded yesterday? Makes no sense.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:09 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 01, 2005
Bama's back
It looks like they lost Tyrone Prothro for the season, but one hell of a win.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 05:57 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
September 19, 2005
3-0
Forget politics, football's what's important. Two teams with radically different traditions -- Alabama, the most storied program in the SEC, and Vanderbilt, the conference's perennial doormat -- are both 3-0 to start the season.
In Alabama's case, it's not particularly surprising that they're 3-0. They "should" have won all three games, and they started 3-0 last year only to finish 6-6. What's impressive is how they've done it, with a strong passing attack not seen in these parts in many years. They weren't particularly sharp in the opener against barely-Division I Middle Tennessee, and then they fell behind Southern Miss 21-10 in the second quarter. Since then, they've looked great, scoring twenty unanswered against the Golden Eagles and jumping out to a 37-7 lead at South Carolina before a late Gamecocks touchdown. That same South Carolina team had barely lost to Georgia the week before.
Here in Tuscaloosa, we're prone to irrational exuberance. The schedule the rest of the way is a lot tougher, with home games against Florida, Tennessee and LSU and a road game with Auburn to finish. To be honest, I'd be thrilled if they could split the games with the SEC's Big Four and win the rest, and get to a nice bowl game. It would be a big step forward.
Vandy's just a delight. They're 3-0 for the first time since 1984. They're 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1956, so long ago that one of the wins was against an Alabama team coached by Ears Whitworth -- Bear Bryant wouldn't become the Alabama coach until 1958. The 'Dores have three games they should win left on the schedule, against Richmond, Middle Tennessee, and Kentucky, plus a home game against South Carolina they'd have a good chance in. Of course, their other four games are against Top Ten teams, and they can't reasonably expect to win those, but 7-4 would be a huge season for Vandy.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 01, 2005
The Tuscaloosa Saints?
Bryant-Denny considered for Saints games
Whatever natural disaster there is, we must remember what's really important. Football must go on. The Saints are going to play even if New Orleans no longer exists as such, so they have to find a "home" stadium. The NFL apparently favors Baton Rouge, but if that's problematical -- and it appears that it is -- the closest stadium that meets NFL standards is probably Bryant-Denny.
There's also the possibility of playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum, which the NFL would like since they want to move the Saints to LA anyway.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 11, 2005
The NCAA is a gang of jerks
Dogs fans show heart, but . . . | ajc.com
In case you didn't know. Raising money to pay for a football player's father to fly from Baghdad to see his son play? Against the rules.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
Merit pay
ESPN.com - NCF - 'Bama extends Shula's contract, but pay the same
Alabama's men's basketball coach is now higher-paid than its football coach. As well he should be, considering the states of the two programs.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 05, 2005
Ghouls
SI.com - MLB - Clementes vow legal action against auction - Sunday June 5, 2005 12:25PM
Okay, this is pretty loathsome -- selling off pieces of the plane that killed Roberto Clemente. It's a half-step from graverobbing.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:00 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 28, 2005
It's brilliant, really
SI.com - Racing - Robby Gordon says Patrick has an unfair advantage - Saturday May 28, 2005 6:13PM
I mean, you have a sport where women might have an advantage, we have to do something about that! Otherwise they'll laugh at us and insinuate that our penises are small!
I could point out that those cars are pretty difficult to steer and that upper-body strength comes into play a lot. But I bet Gordon doesn't think he should take muscle relaxers before the race so it will be fair to weaker drivers.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:14 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 20, 2005
Whoa. Canada?
al.com: NewsFlash - Designer: Mississippi course would be world's biggest dome
Um... Okay, I'm not a big golf fan anyway. And I think building the world's biggest dome ("easily visible from space") to house a golf course would probably be the world's largest project for the world's smallest gain. But why would Canadian developers want to build a giant dome in Mississippi? Wouldn't it be a good idea to build it in Canada? After all, you can golf ten months a year in Mississippi, and Canada's golf season is about seven hours long.
It's possible that the designer is joking (that is, lying) or nuts.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:47 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 11, 2005
I don't know if I should permalink this or not
Former Alabama and new Carolina Panther offensive lineman Evan Mathis is writing a weblog for AL.com. Weird. He's currently dealing with the ignominy of backing up an Ole Miss grad. Well, at least Stephen Davis probably won't be back with the team so he'll be spared the shame of blocking for an Auburn running back.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2005
In the future, every NFL team will have an Auburn running back
al.com: NewsFlash - Auburn's Brown, Williams lead way for state NFL draft picks
Typical Auburn. Four first round draft picks and they go undefeated, and they still can't win the national championship.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:11 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 22, 2005
Yeah, that's about his level
Ex-Alabama coach gets D-III assistant job - College football - MSNBC.com
Mike Dubose, Division III assistant coach. It's a long way down from the SEC. Then again, he never really fit in there too well.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
April 11, 2005
Putting the "rot" in Protestant
SI.com - Soccer - Soccer fans in Scotland jeer pope - Sunday April 10, 2005 4:35PM
I'm the first to admit that I don't understand soccer fandom. (For one thing, I don't understand why anyone watches soccer in the first place. I guess that there's a lack of new paint you can watch dry in your soccer-oriented countries.) Booing the Pope because you're largely Protestant and your rivals are mostly Catholic seems stupid even by the standards of soccer fandom.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 04, 2005
Stupid players
ESPN.com - NCB - Calhoun, Boeheim among five elected to Hall
That's the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame for you -- why induct some dumb player when you can put in a bunch of short white guys en masse? The only player they inducted this time was a Brazilian woman, while Joe Dumars and Dominique Wilkins sat it out.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:32 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
April 03, 2005
Have they seen him play?
ESPN.com - MLB - Sanchez suspended for violating drug policy
If steroids really did any good, would Alex Sanchez have a .364 career slugging percentage?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 06, 2005
Bud out
ESPN.com - MLB - Selig: Positive steroid tests dropped last season
"I am very confident that we will effectively rid our sport of steroids in this coming season," he said at a news conference.
"And fairies will come and make everyone popular and profitable, and we'll get better ratings than the NFL, and the Brewers will win the NL Central," he added. "Well, maybe not that last thing."
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Yeah!
al.com: NewsFlash - SCLC urges black athletes to boycott Auburn over firings
Really, you owe it to two fired athletics administrators, guys. I am certainly not in favor of this just because I went to Alabama. Nor is SCLC president Charles Steele Jr., just because he's from Tuscaloosa. Certainly not.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 21, 2005
Way to go out on a limb, there, Peter
I like Peter King's work, but writing a column about how the New England Patriots were wise to make Tom Brady their starting quarterback and deal Drew Bledsoe three years ago? Edgy.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 28, 2005
Cousin Jeff!
ESPN.com - NFL/PLAYOFFS04 - Darcy: Dream vacation
Jeff Thomason (to whom I am not, to my knowledge, related) was retired from football and working construction in New Jersey. Then the Philadelphia Eagles' starting tight end broke his foot catching a touchdown against the Falcons [sob!] and the Eagles needed a replacement. So Jeff found himself signed to a contract and on his way to the Super Bowl. I hope they give him a full share.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 05, 2005
Be warned, Birmingham!
Football fan hit by stray bullet at Georgia Dome | ajc.com
If you build a dome, patrons will inevitably be hit by stray bullets which fall through the roof. This marks the second time this has happened during Atlanta's New Year's Eve bowl game.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 20, 2004
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy
ESPN.com - NFL - Uh-oh, T.O.! Star needs surgery, out weeks
Ladies and Gentlemen, your NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons!
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:54 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 18, 2004
I'm still waiting for his apology
UA’s Shelton balances graduation, basketball
Gregg Easterbrook inevitably annoys everyone, usually when he shoots his mouth off saying something stupid. The one that really pissed me off was after Alabama upset Stanford in last year's NCAA men's basketball tournament when he wrote that
Maybe he's said dumber things, but this was up there, and could have been checked by a Google search taking five minutes. Actually, virtually everyone who has played basketball under Mark Gottfried at Alabama has graduated, or was on track to graduate before leaving early to go pro. Ernest Shelton, the team's senior leader, will graduate today -- I guess by this time he already has -- after only three and a half years. Says Shelton:
“We hear a lot of stereotypes," Shelton said. “People will say things like 'Oh, you’re a basketball player, you don’t have to go to class.’ If they were in our position, they would know that isn’t true.“We do our own work. We have extra study halls. You’ll be on a road trip and you’ll look down the row on the bus or the airplane and see the lights on and the guys doing schoolwork."
I'm still waiting for Easterbrook's apology.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:45 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 24, 2004
Brilliant timing
NFL to Experiment With On-Field Seating | ajc.com
The geniuses at the NFL, figuring that there's no way a group as well behaved as professional football fans would get involved in the action, have decided to actually seat fans on the sidelines.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 20, 2004
District of Confusion
Sources: Expos to Be Renamed Nationals | ajc.com
Oh, please. I don't have any problem with "Nationals" rather than "Senators"; the old team was called the Nats at least as much as the more famous name. But the reason why is just stupid. The Mayor of Washington objected on the grounds that "we don't have Senators here". Actually, you have 100 of them, but he's going on about DC statehood again. Sigh. Just join Maryland and be done with it.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:26 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 14, 2004
It's a key constituency
TheStar.com - Taking Raptors' political pulse
Kerry seems to have the American-basketball-players-in-Canada vote pretty much sewn up.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 07, 2004
You can't make this stuff up
CNN.com - Former NFL kicker sought in shooting at Siegfried & Roy home - Oct 6, 2004
Okay, a former professional placekicker took shots at the home of two world-famous gay German magicians. Happens every day.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:38 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 05, 2004
I hate these guys
ESPN.com - NBA - Kobe's lawyers to judge: Name the accuser
I don't know if Kobe Bryant raped this woman or not. It's clear that the prosecutors, even though they dropped the charges, think that he did. But leave that all aside; Bryant's lawyers just want to release the woman's name so they can intimidate her. There's no legal reason that her name has to be public.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 18, 2004
Mike Shula is a freaking idiot
He left his starting quarterback in with a 31-0 lead in the second half against freaking Western Carolina. And that starting quarterback just left the field with an apparent knee injury. Is it too late to change coaches again?
UPDATE: They can't say what the injury is, due to Federal rules. But everything the players and coaches are doing (down to Shula holding the players for an extra-long postgame meeting) makes it sound like Brodie Croyle will be out for a long time. In fact, it sounds like a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 07:58 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
September 09, 2004
This is weird
Apparently, the best football team in Alabama may be... Troy State?!? Or maybe just "Troy", now.
For the uninitiated, the city of Troy is south of Montgomery, one of the many places in the state that is largely known for being on the way to the beach.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:17 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
September 07, 2004
Yellowhammers are woodpeckers
There's a joke to be made about that, if you like...
Crazy in Alabama - Can rotten fans make you change your favorite team? By Warren St. John
St. John has written a book entitled Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, about a season spent following the Alabama Crimson Tide. During this season, St. John had an unpleasant experience where he witnessed a racist tirade about an Alabama reciever. (He notes that most people who have read the story are as disgusted as he was.) Haggai suggests that this story is right up my alley.
I may pick up a copy of the book to review; I'd been half-meaning to. As for this particular story, I always figured that every team has some loathsome fans. The most awful fans I've ever been exposed to were the presumably pristine Penn State folk who chanted "We want to play" while an Alabama player was lying still on the turf. (This must been nearly twenty years ago now -- Derrick Thomas was on the Alabama team then. I believe he won that game basically singlehandedly, as he did so often.)
There are, of course, racists who root for Alabama, as there are racists who root for every team. Maybe there are more than on most, I don't know. St. John mentions Andrew Zow, a terrific college quarterback who won a lot of games despite every year having to fight off a challenge from Tyler Watts, a lesser passer but better runner, who was white. I always thought that the people who were shown up as racists in that were the national media, who always reversed the abilities of the two players -- making the black guy the option specialist, despite a bad knee and a big arm, and the floppy-armed white guy into a pocket passer -- because that's the media's usual story in a job fight between quarterbacks of different races.
My belief is that Alabama rooters are probably less racist than they're believed to be both by the media and by the people running the school. The Croom/Shula thing last year was basically the story of the school being pressured to show that it wasn't racist by the media and by certain people (who shall remain unnamed but who have made a living for three decades doing this sort of thing). Predictably, the school refused to be bullied and wrote Croom off, leaving Shula the obvious leading candidate. But part of it was indeed that people in charge were afraid of a racist backlash if they'd hired Croom. I thought that was a mistake, and that Croom's direct connection to Bryant would have counterbalanced racial ill will. Still, if Croom had come in last year and gone 4-9 as Shula did, I'm sure that some racist yahoo would have caused problems. It only takes one. But if one racist yahoo is enough to make you change your rooting interests, you're going to be changing them a lot.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:13 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
September 06, 2004
Yankee scum
ESPN.com - MLB - Arrival gift: Yanks want forfeit from late D-Rays
As if the world didn't need another reason to hate the New York Yankees... The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were unable to make it to Yankee Stadium on time today because of the flipping hurricane that has squatted over Florida for three days. So the Yankees want a free win.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:50 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
August 25, 2004
Actually...
Stadium Club - Athens starts a high-end trend in stadium architecture. By Christopher Hawthorne
Remember the Olympic stadium from the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona? What about Atlanta's Olympic stadium, or the one from Sydney?
I certainly do remember Atlanta's stadium. Most American sports fans probably do. It's hard to forget because it's on national TV 50 times a year and every baseball postseason. Duh. You don't have to like it, architect-boy.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 23, 2004
No Olympic stuff today
This is in honor of the silver medal won yesterday by Official tennis player of Ichthypundit Mardy Fish, and in mourning that he lost out for the gold in a five-setter after holding a 2-sets-to-1 lead. It might have been more impressive had Federer and Roddick actually seemed to care about the Olympics.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 20, 2004
I'm very confused
The Olympic athletes have got to get their colors straight. It was bad enough when I had to work through watching Canadians in blue, but now Russians in blue as well? It's offputting, especially when they're facing Americans in red.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 07:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 19, 2004
See, he was supposed to win
Kaufman compares Paul Hamm's rather odd gymnastics gold medal yesterday (in which he fell flat on the vault, the fourth of six events in the men's all-around, but rallied to win with big scores on the last two events, beating a pair of Korean gymnasts who did all clean routines) to the defeat of Roy Jones Jr. in Seoul in 1988, when Jones certainly should have won but crooked judging gave the gold to his opponent.
Me, I was thinking of something more recent, the 2002 Winter Games, when a French judge (allegedly as part of a crooked bargain) gave higher marks to a Russian pair over the Canadians, giving the Russians the gold. (The IOC, making nobody happy, made up a second gold medal to give to the Canucks.) The Russians were the favorites, you see, and were essentially given extra points for this, enough for them to win despite skating an inferior routine.
In any event, I'm pretty certain that this wasn't a "help the Americans" thing, especially since nobody likes us. What this was was a "the favorite gets the gold even when he screws up" thing. Hamm's the World Champion, he was supposed to win. The two Korean gymnasts were solid, and probably should have finished 1-2, but didn't blow the roof off, so left a hole for the judges to give the medals to the guy who "should" have won, just like in Salt Lake. That's what happens in these judged events. Gymnastics is probably less fixed than skating -- there are at least some standards -- but it's still subjective, and the judges are still human.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 18, 2004
He got a 3.2 from the Romanian judge
nbc13.com - News - Man Wearing Tutu, Clown Shoes Dives In Pool At Olympics
Security is being stepped up so that this doesn't happen again. Whew, what a relief.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 17, 2004
Josh Levin hates twins
The 2004 Olympics - Why the U.S. men's gymnastics team is un-American. By Josh Levin
Yes, I know it's supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but Slate since Kinsley left really doesn't do tongue-in-cheek nearly as well as it thinks it does. But all I have to say about the identical twins thing is:
By the way, this is my 8000th post. Sort of. There were posts on other versions of the site that didn't make it to the conversion. Whatever.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:53 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Watch this sport
Catch one of the Olympic matches on cable if you can. Wow. It's like a combination of the best elements of basketball and soccer, assuming soccer has any good elements. It's certainly much better suited to American viewing interests than soccer is, and easier to follow and televise than lacrosse, which it also resembles somewhat. (A US team member describes it as water polo on dry land, which is also pretty close -- but handball's faster.)
Anyway, the US Handball Team isn't all that good. But they did give instruction to Huntsville PE teachers this summer, and the teachers are planning to teach their students. Multiply by a couple hundred other cities, and maybe we've got something.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:28 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 16, 2004
Everything's better with Puerto Rico
To join in with my comrade below, everything would be much better if Puerto Rico were a state. Not only would the US have a real point guard, it would have a real President, because they'd have seven or eight electoral votes and would almost certainly have voted for Gore. The Democrats would probably have two more Senators as well.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 15, 2004
Olympic Volleyball, Boo
They've screwed with the rules. You used to only be able to score points when on serve, but now every turn is a point. This is just wrong. Yes, that's me, the volleyball purist.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:13 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
July 30, 2004
Mike Price's continued suspect judgment
SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports -- Leaf turning
Mike Price says he'd give a coaching job to his former player turned amazing pro loser Ryan Leaf. Leaf has to complete a college course, first, but still. Ryan Leaf?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:57 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 27, 2004
Big Fat Baby
SEC set to fine Fulmer $10,000
Phillip Fulmer is ducking SEC Media Days in Birmingham to avoid attorneys who are suing the NCAA. Originally, he claimed he was afraid he'd be assaulted, but I don't think anyone believed him. Actually, he's afraid he's going to be subpoenaed.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 22, 2004
Wimpy Top
Fulmer’s safety at SEC Media Days concerns UT
The University of Tennessee is afraid someone's going to bust a cap in its football coach's ass for his manipulations with the NCAA (getting Alabama put on probation by informing in exchange for the NCAA overlooking Tennessee doing the same things with the same recruits). So they're asking for security for SEC Media Days in Birmingham. There's no actual evidence that anybody's going to do anything to the slimy creep, but better safe than sorry, especially when it lets you bash the state of Alabama!
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:47 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 13, 2004
Everyone lay off the Greeks
ESPN.com - OLY - Official: Athens at risk for another blackout
Sure, things got off to a slow start, but Athens will be ready for the Olympics, don't you worry. For example, take a look at the progress of construction on the gymnastics venue:
So don't be a worrywart! War Liberal will be covering the games with reports from a surprise special European correspondent.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:21 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 20, 2004
Here's a question
ESPN.com - NBA - Report: Lakers, ex-Rockets coach Tomjanovich talk
If you were Rudy Tomjanovich, and you were nearly killed in a game against the Lakers when you were a player, would you take their head coaching job? And if so, would you only do it to take vengeance on the team? Think about it.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 25, 2004
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? (Athletic version)
Police called to Police Athletic Teams dispute
Shouldn't there already be police at the police athletic league? Actually, there was one, but he seems to have been at least part of the problem.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 06, 2004
Backing down from stupidity
Apparently, Alabama football coach Mike Shula didn't think anyone would think that removing Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom's name from a spring practice award was a big deal. He thought wrong, and has been forced to backtrack. Thank God we're a basketball school now.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 31, 2004
This is lame
Alabama takes Croom's name off spring award
The University of Alabama football team gives out awards for spring practice. (Which, contrary to the ravings of various basketball pundits last week, is over.) They're named after former players. One of the awards used to be the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award. Now, it's the Bart Starr Commitment to Excellence Award. (Starr was a great pro, but he was banished to the bench in Tuscaloosa by the monumentally incompetent "Ears" Whitworth. Alabama finished 0-10 Starr's senior season. "Excellence", indeed.) Croom (rejected for the Alabama head coaching job last year) took over at Mississippi State this season, and the guy who beat him out for the Alabama job, Mike Shula, decided that it's not "appropriate" for an award to be named after a coach of another SEC team. Croom wasn't even told -- he found out from a reporter. Lame, lame, lame...
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:59 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 27, 2004
Oh, well
ESPN.com - NCB - College Basketball Game Update
It just wasn't to be. UConn is really good, and we needed some breaks we didn't get. It was a great run -- and maybe it will lead to more.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 05:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 25, 2004
Alabama 80, Syracuse 71
ESPN.com - NCB - College Basketball Game Update
The Impossible Dream continues. First the #1 team, then the defending champions. It really is like a dream.
Actually, I was more nervous about this game than about Stanford. Stanford was actually a good matchup for Alabama, a big team but not particularly athletic or gifted in the perimeter. Syracuse, on the other hand, had size and athleticism. But the Tide rolled on.
I don't really understand what Jim Boeheim was doing. Boeheim is a great coach, but Syracuse's starting lineup was just too big for Alabama to handle (they were owning the boards) but then he pulled their center and went quick. That's a mistake, because Alabama can go quick with anyone in the country. He made a classic mistake of going against his own strength