Friday, November 27, 2015

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Haven't posted in a while, I've been busy (doing what I don't know). Lotsa things happening in the world of sports, so lets take them one at a time:
Yankees make a big move
No, wait, they didn't. Unless you consider the acquisition of Aaron Hicks, a fourth outfielder, a big move. For him, they had to give up John Ryan Murphy. I like Murphy, but the Yanks have what they consider to be a plethora of good catchers.
Of course, as usual during the "Silly Season," New York is listed as a potential landing spot for every major free agent. They probably won't make any kind of big move for two reasons: 1) they're still trying to pare their payroll because of the big contracts they're locked into for players no one would be willing to take off their hands. 2) Other than a starting pitcher, they have no position for any major free agent that's available. In fact, we may see a couple long time Yankees moved - Bret Gardner and/or Adam Warren. There is also a remote possibility that Rookie sensation Greg Bird may be packaged and sent somewhere, but they would have to be overwhelmed to move him.
Rumors abound at the Winter Meetings
This is normal and a few signings or trades do take place, but it usually takes one big name to sign to open the logjam and set the market. The Meetings don't start for another nine days, so I doubt there will be any major moves until then. Normally the agents try to play clubs off against each other to get the biggest contracts. This is called the "Scott Boras Gambit," because he figures that if he waits long enough, some team will panic and offer some outrageous sum. Unfortunately, this usually works.
By the way, Boras still insists that Jose Fernandez will have some kind of pitch count ceiling next season, regardless of what the Marlins say.
There is parity in the NFL
Outside of five or six teams, no one has a really good record. In fact, the Indianapolis Colts (AFC South) ans The NY Giants (NFC North) lead their divisions with 5 and 5 records. We could have a few teams in the playoffs with records of .500 or below. This isn't parity, it's mediocrity.
Sad news
The family of the recently deceased Frank Gifford allowed the medical community to examine his brain and they discovered CTE, (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), a brain disease linked directly to brain trauma. thought by many to be caused by trauma resulting from concussions. Further tests are forthcoming.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has acknowledged the situation which is quite a change from his previous stances: CTE doesn't exist. - It isn't caused by concussions. - There are no concussions in football. I'd say that it's hard to believe that he would take these positions, but his history makes you realize that this is nothing unusual for him.
College Basketball
The Syracuse Orange basketball team plays for the championship of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas this afternoon. They're are only 5 games into the season, but the Orange do look like they have some talent. Surprising? Yes, a little. Boeheim explains it this way: "When we hit our shots, we win. When we don't, we could lose to anybody."            I better write that down.
College Football
There are 12 teams in D-1 football with one loss or less and at least 9 wins, with 2 teams at 11-0. So when the CFP selection committee finally chooses the four teams that will play for the championship, there will be at least eight other teams screaming foul. This should be lotsa fun.
Wisconsin Badger fans pelted their own cheerleaders with snowballs, driving them off the field. Sometimes the cheerleaders are the most entertaining thing on the field, but when your team is 8-3, how can you be bored with the game?
Brad Dickson' Bottom Ten
 2. Eastern Michigan (1-10): The Eagles used the bye week to prepare to lose really good to Central Michigan Friday.
 3. Kansas (0-11): KU fell to West Virginia 49-0. The Mountaineers had three 100-yard rushers. Four if you count the dean of the College of Agriculture.
 4. Wyoming (1-10): Well, things could be worse in Laramie — no wait, they couldn’t.

Just for Vod
 To my limited knowledge, Lebron James did nothing to upset me this week. I guess the uniform issue has been resolved (in all likelihood in King James' favor).
In spite of my dislike of the NBA, I could watch highlights of Steph Curry all day.
Temper, temper
Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd has been suspended for one game without pay for aggressively pursuing and confronting a game official, slapping the ball out of his hands and not leaving the court in a timely manner upon his ejection. Now THAT would be entertaining.

***THEY SAID IT***
"National Geographic picked Winnipeg as one of the world’s Top 20 Best Trips of 2016. Unless you’re looking for professional football."  -- RJ Currie
"During a timeout in a game vs. the Lakers, a Golden State fan hit a free throw, a mid-range jumper and a half-court shot. The Lakers are now being out-shot by Golden State fans."  -- Brad Dickson
"I could’ve scored 80 tonight,” said the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant after scoring four points on 1-for-14 shooting in a 34-point loss to the Warriors Tuesday night. “It wouldn’t have made a damn difference.” Though it would’ve been fun watching him take the 280 shots he would’ve needed to do it."  -- Dwight Perry

"There is a glut — as in 40 — of college bowl games this season: “The only reason to watch the majority of those bowl games is if you are in a hospital bed with an IV-drip and sensors to monitor your vital signs and you cannot reach the remote to change the channel and the nurses are busy."  -- Jack Finarelli, The Sports Curmudgeon
"This Thanksgiving, President Obama may pardon a turkey, the Cowboys and the Eagles"  -- TC Chong
" The Saints fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after three seasons. He wasn’t even there long enough to get a haircut."  -- Brad Dickson
"76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor apparently knocked a guy out in a street fight in Boston last night. Of course Okafor should know better. But hey, it might be the only win he can remember this year."  -- Janice Hough
"Color blind viewers said they couldn’t decipher the difference between the all red and all green uniforms worn on last Thurs night’s NFL Bills/Jets game. “Why didn’t I think of that?said Broncos QB Peyton Manning after he threw four interceptions on Sunday."  -- TC Chong
"Agent Scott Boras told the Miami Marlins that his client, pitcher Jose Fernandez, needs to be placed on an innings limit. Boras somehow neglected to mention imposing a corresponding pay limit, of course."  -- Dwight Perry

"To persons who use my mythical football predictions for gambling purposes. If stupidity were an Olympic event, you would be Mark Spitz."  -- Jack Finarelli
"The Saints have surrendered an NFL-worst 424 yards and 31.5 points per game. I thought ‘defensive indifference’ occurred only in baseball."  -- TC Chong
"President Obama pardoned the White House turkeys named Honest and Abe. Someone called "Hey Honest!" and the only one in Washington D.C. to turn around was the turkey."  -- Brad Dickson
"Floyd Mayweather expressed sympathy for Ronda Rousey by saying “A true champion can take a loss and bounce back.” The guy was 49-0. How would he know?"  -- RJ Currie

CP-

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