Monday (Knowing limitations) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on January 14th, 2008 – 7:56 AMBy Michael Rand
Life is a fine line between reaching for the stars and knowing your limitations. On today’s after-school special, that lesson is applied to gambling on football, which we don’t do, and for good reason: the more sure we are about something, the more likely we are to be wrong. This past weekend’s slate of NFL games is the blueprint for this sentiment. We felt so good about all four favorites that we boldly proclaimed they would all not only win, but cover the spread. Had we been a betting man, we would have lost two of those four straight up and lost a third on the spread (New England was anywhere from an 11.5-13 point favorite over Jax and won by 11). We also know that we picked the wrong day (Saturday) to watch two full games, thus meaning we also picked the wrong day (Sunday) to dodge in and out between various other things that make us a “respectable member of society.” But could someone please explain how the Chargers, with their three of their most important offensive skill players either out completely or hobbling at key points, defeated the Colts? Or how Eli Manning has now won two road playoff games? Or how, and this one really hurts, it is now a virtual cinch that the Patriots and Packers are going to the Super Bowl, thus making for an insufferable two weeks and potentially an insufferable lifetime? Away with you, NFL. What else happened?
*Dwight Howard has a kid. For this comparison to “Knocked Up” and “Juno,” you are awarded no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.
*OK, this is more tabloid journalism than football: The NY Post planted a “fake Jessica Simpson” in the stands yesterday. It was a fun prank until she beaten within an inch of her life^.
*The Wild and U women won yesterday; the U men won over the weekend, too. Could things be looking up? Ah, you’ll have to wait for Jon’s COW post to find out (he shares the honor with AZGopherGirl this week). We’ll also have dispatches from Lambeau Field soon. Man, why did we agree to that?
*Interesting recent column by Paul Krugman that has nothing to do with sports.
*Fasola-link! Interesting stuff about the iPhone: It secretly emits a powerful drug that makes consumers helpless^.
^May not be true.
40 Responses to "Monday (Knowing limitations) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
“it is now a virtual cinch that the Patriots and Packers are going to the Super Bowl”
You spend half a post saying how the NFL is unpredictable and then you predict what is going to happen? I only need to post this to remind you that you are often wrong.
When saying the U men won over the weekend, you seem to have forgotten to mention the U men’s hockey team.
SIEVE, SIEVE, SIEVE, GO HUSKIES!!!
A Bears fan and a St. Cloud State fan?! I’m looking forward to the COW post. That’s assuming jama won, as we never discovered the final tally.
Also, to talk about the Gopher Hockey team, I think it can be assumed that Frazee is the Kyle Lohse of Gopher Hockey. Tons of “potential”, but a total headcase.
SIEVE, SIE–urrrrrrrrpVE, SIEVE, GO HUSKIES!!!
Fixed. (To be fair, I drove through the Granite City’s South Side yesterday, and there wasn’t a single destroyed piece of furniture on any front lawn that wasn’t already there before the weekend. Well done, SCSU! Well done.)
the U men won over the weekend, too. Could things be looking up?
They’re going to make the NCAA tournament. I hope everyone realizes this.
the Patriots and Packers are going to the Super Bowl, thus making for an insufferable two weeks and potentially an insufferable lifetime
ESPN will go 24/7 with “Patriots: Pursuit of Perfection,” and ESPN2 will go 24/7 with “Favre: He’s Like a Kid Out There.” I will go with a warm bath and a razor.
Unfortunately, this also means having to cheer for Tom Coughlin and Philip Rivers, both of whom are Olympic-class douches. It ain’t right.
Dave
Unfortunately I am not the COW this week. I would have loved to have written about what a complete assclown Phil Rivers is. Did anyone else notice him taunting the fans at the end of the game. I think he must have forgotten the fact that he didn’t play the 4th quarter and the fact that Billy Voleck won the game for the Chargers. Did I mention how much I hate this guy. He is the new John Elway when it comes to hatred for an AFC West QB!
[…] Here’s another interesting post I read today by Randball […]
….”insufferable two weeks” ? only so if you can’t get over your anti-Pack bias and see that the Bowl is all about the best two teams, at this moment, playing, not the teams you, in your Happy Dayz mindset, wish it to be. (By the way, how did the Vikes do ?)
All I can say (for a moment anyway) is… Smell the Glove, you minor leaguers !!!
jama, I think more fans should be taunted. Did you ever notice the paunchy, drunk, face painted middle aged men wearing horns on their head (because their horn down below hasn’t worked for years) taunting opposing teams at Viking games ? I think players should be allowed not only to taunt but to punch out such morons. Gimme a break ! So, he “taunted” some fans. Could you hear what they wear saying ? I didn’t think so, so I rest my case, except to ask you something I’ve thought of before…are you a girl ?
Jama, I hope that you check out the love that the folks over at KSK have for Philip Rivers:
http://kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/2008/01/marmalards-moment-of-douche.html
P3
Does it matter if I’m a girl or not?
Punch fans? That will be good for the league. What’s next beheading puppies and beating babies as the halftime show?
only so if you can’t get over your anti-Pack bias and see that the Bowl is all about the best two teams, at this moment, playing, not the teams you, in your Happy Dayz mindset, wish it to be. (By the way, how did the Vikes do ?)
All I can say (for a moment anyway) is… Smell the Glove, you minor leaguers !!!
This, of course, is what the Proprietor meant by insufferable.
Stu, that’s a good day for the South Side.
Another good day for Dinky Town too. I drove through and only saw three football players harrasing 18-year old females.
(To be fair, I drove through the Granite City’s South Side yesterday, and there wasn’t a single destroyed piece of furniture on any front lawn that wasn’t already there before the weekend. Well done, SCSU! Well done.)
Another week without a couch, Blaine residents.
[…] Here’s another interesting post I read today by Randball […]
Stu, that’s a good day for the South Side.
The problem my old house on 8th Avenue had was that we’d have to rouse the occasional homeless dude who passed out overnight on the couch we had on our porch.
I wonder how many dead Gophs the well behaved SCSU student body happened to toss on the ice on Saturday? It would be nice of the Gopher fans to at least once acknowledge this tradition and throw out a dead Husky next time they play.
jama, so you are ?? !! and, I guess it doesn’t matter, but by the way you write, I always guessed you were…now I know why you “jack me around” (Dave’s fav phrase) the way you do, since girl’s generally hate arrogance (unless we’re dealing with arrogant girls) and I’ll freely admit when dealing with lessers I can be quite arrogant myself ..hardedhar
I hope that you check out the love that the folks over at KSK have for Philip Rivers
Ya betta ask somebodddaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!
Stu, you would still find the world insufferable even w/o me in it, since after all you still would be >>>> says a zen master
It would be nice of the Gopher fans to at least once acknowledge this tradition and throw out a dead Husky next time they play.
Michael Vick is interested in what you have to say, and would like a pamphlet or brochure.
Jama - The dead husky would be a tad disturbing.
Besides, where would Gopher Fans find a supplier of said deceased dogs with Michael Vick in jail and all?
Damn you, Stu!
Story from the San Diego Union Tribune:
You would think that after winning an AFC playoff game Philip Rivers would be busy celebrating and preparing for the Pats. Instead he logs onto RandBall and needles the Vikings fans with a moniker of P3. The always classy Rivers continues to argue against the Vikings even though their season has been over for 3 weeks.
Stay classy San Diego(and P3)
Who is this P3 you guys are referring to? My browser just tends to skip down every once in a while as I’m reading. Firefox just keeps getting smarter, first pop-up blockers, then tabbed browsing, and now this. Fantastic!
Off topic:
When did Johnny Knoxville move to rural Minnesota?
Get a hold of your self, Dave….can you still type one handed ?
Did anyone else see that King James thinks his royalty lets him do whatever he wants?
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7673776?MSNHPHMA
23rd B-Day, I wonder if he was drinking a little bit of the bubbly?
Only 101? You’d think King James could double the speed limit.
And he was on Interstate 71, so there goes the “I mistakened the Interstate sign for the speed limit” argument. Used many times on 494.
Not that it matters, but since everything is anon in here (except that little boy’s choir that goes out holding hands together), I do wonder from a scientific basis, particularly concerning who in the population would even care for sport talk, how many onboard this ship are blessed with the “46,XX” choromosome array..
But could someone please explain how the Chargers, with their three of their most important offensive skill players either out completely or hobbling at key points, defeated the Colts?
Feel the Volektricity!
Destiny
Where’s Fasolamatt to cover the Cleveland area athletes when you need him?
I don’t think I thanked Rand for linking to Paul Krugman. So, thanks for linking to Paul Krugman, Rand. Somewhere, a right-wing blogger cries.
Jama -
LeBron’s birthday “present” from Medina County wasn’t as bad as another guy’s birthday “present”.
When you see Billy Volek, a guys who has always rode the pines (ask a real athlete about the phrase, Dave) taking over a team like that, do you ever become honest with yourselves and ask why you backed, even for a moment, “Action Jackson” ???????????
Fasola - Yeah, I’d say getting a ticket is getting off lightly compared to potentially shooting your [redacted] off and getting shot by the cops on your birthday.
P3
Did you know that Volek was the Titans starting QB for almost a whole season? Any respectable fantasy football remembers the season of Volek to Bennett that won many people a fantasy football crown.
I forgot that you only know about 3 things when it comes to football.
1. Brett Favre
2. The Packers
3. The opposite of whatever the Vikings do incorrectly.
I know you are, lets put this gently, not of my gender
