Interesting article on Grantland about the NFL and violence. The author contends that the popularity of the game is not dependent upon the violence of the game, but that both the popularity and violence are increasing at the same time despite not being linked. His most serious point is that the sport may become too expensive for high schools and college to insure medically, and that this could threaten the game itself.

Also, listening to sirius nfl radio last night, a woman called in with two questions. First, she wanted to understand how the franchise tag works, and second she wanted to talk about concussions. She was clearly a fan, but not a super serious one if she is unfamiliar with the franchise tag. But concussions were on her mind.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7997026/the-nonexistent-intersection-nfl-popularity-violence

Continue reading this post »

With a near-flawless docking on Friday, start-up rocket company SpaceX achieved what only big governments have to date: It launched a mission to the international space station.

The moment marked a pivot point in U.S. space ambitions, away from total NASA control and toward creative private enterprise. While NASA furnished seed money and technical advice, SpaceX engineers designed, built, launched and drove the white gumdrop-shaped Dragon capsule until the final moments.

Continue reading this post »

UPDATE 8:45 AM: The final tally was eight people injured — seven of them shot and one person was critically wounded, plus a pregnant woman was punched in the abdomen — according to the Oklahoman. There have been no arrests in the case. Yet.

The incident took place just a few blocks from the arena where the game was played. Police estimate there were about 5,000 people in the area when the shooting took place. The area is where a lot of people park or go out after the games. There have been growing crowds — in addition to the packed building about 5,000 people watched the game on a big screen outside the arena, an area called Thunder Alley. The shootings did not take place in the arena or Thunder Alley but did involve the crowd from the game.

It’s unfortunate this kind of thing happens, but it’s not unprecedented. For example, the Lakers used to show playoff games on a projection outside Staples Center when it first opened more than a decade ago (the Shaq/Kobe Lakers era) but stopped after fan violence following a win.

2:27 am: Multiple people have been wounded by gunfire near the Thunder’s arena in downtown Oklahoma City in the wake of the Thunder win over the Los Angeles Lakers. A win that sent them to the Western Conference Finals.

From the Oklahoman:

Multiple people were shot downtown shortly after the Thunder game let out Monday night, police said….

One person was shot in the back, another in the upper arm and a third in the hand, according to police radio traffic. Victims are still turning up to hospitals. The victims’ conditions are not yet known.

Two suspected shooters are in custody at the Bricktown Harkins Theater, Oklahoma City police Capt. Lisa Camacho said.

We don’t have a lot of details yet, we don’t know about the suspects or their motives. That said, there no excuse. It grows frustrating to see every time a team wins — hockey in Vancouver, college basketball in Lexington and the list goes on around the world — there seems to have to be violence afterwards.

PBT will update this as we get more information.

Continue reading this post »

Watched some basketball over the weekend. Saw the second half of the heat game. It is truly amazing that they won that game, and it speaks to the talent of Wade and James. At one point, Wade and James had combined to score 38 or so straight points for the heat. They went over a quarter with no one else scoring, just those two. How that team wins any games is beyond me. The heat pulled away at the end when Haslem actually hit some wide open jumpers.

Watched most of the clippers game. Griffin scored a bunch before I turned it one, then did nothing the rest of the game. They were leaving him wide open for 14 footers and he would pass the ball. Someone please tell me again about his fantastic offensive game?

If longwindedhank is around today, or for any of you who like game of thrones, Tyrion Lannister had one of the best lines ever delivered. It violates certain rules around here, but for those interested, here is the Link.

via p.twimg.com

This is the picture that Pierre McGee posted on Twitter over the weekend as a trap for reporters. Sure enough, some reporters fell for it and reported that McGee had purchased these two as pets. McGee then revealed his deception and attacked the reporters for failing to verify the story with the source- him- prior to publishing. I find this hilarious. I think McGee's nickname going forward must be "The Platypus". Is that 75 words yet?

Irving was the runaway winner of the award, getting 117 of the 120 first place votes (and I’d love to hear the explanation from whoever voted for Kawhi Leonard and Iman Shumpert). The former Duke player and No. 1 overall pick last June averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 assists a game, shot 39.9 percent from three, became a dangerous late game threat, and gave the fans in Cleveland hope for the future.

Here are the top 5 vote getters (with total points):

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland (592)
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota (170)
Kenneth Faried, Denver (129)
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio (47)
Iman Shumpert, New York (33)

Continue reading this post »

Wherever you turn these days, discussion of the NFL and concussions seems to pop up.

I listen to sirius NFL radio everyday, and it is constant. One caller suggested the idea of replacing the kickoffs with a punt from the 50. A step short from eliminating the kickoff entirely that the Giants owner has said the league is considering. The idea of the punt still allows for the kicking team to fake, thus preserving the chance to get the ball in an on-side type situation.

I have read numerous articles on the football helmets, and ways to make them safer. The players suing the nfl over concussions are all suing the helmet manufacturer. I think the helmets are going to be the key, along with rule changes, to correcting this problem. There were some players in the 90's who padded the outside of their helmets and were very successful in preventing concussions. I think this is the key next step for the NFL.

I drove my wife's car over the weekend, and she streams music through her phone. That leaves NPR as the only station that gets reception where I live. And guess what NPR was talking about: NFL concussions. They brought up 1905. The year before 18 people had died playing football. This was the era before helmets and players sometimes sewed handles onto their uniforms because being thrown by teammates was a very common play. There was no passing. People where breaking their necks and cracking their skulls. There was a lot of talk of banning the game entirely. Football was at a crisis point. Rules changes were implemented that made the game much safer, and the forward pass was created as a way to spread out the players and reduce injures. The game moved forward in a very different way than it had been in the past, but without the changes the game would likely have disappeared entirely.

I think football is again approaching a crisis point. When the players are killing themselves, can't remember their own kids names, and all time greats are refusing to let their kids play the game, you have a problem. This problem is now part of the national discussion. They are going to have to make major changes to the game that we may not like, but without them, we could lose football entirely.

I read yesterday some comments suggesting that it's time to give up on watching this team. That there have been enough first round losses and that it is time to move on from the nuggets and the nba as fans. That some are tired of always waiting for next year. Only a handful of teams are ever going to win a title and the rest of us are wasting our time.

I certainly can understand the frustration and how someone could come to those conclusions. If someone makes the decision to step away from the game, I won't disagree with them. If they are still open to staying, I would point out a couple of things. One, the nuggets were thoroughly competitive in that series. It would not have been fluky or lucky if they had won the series, unlike several previous years where they were completely uncompetitive and folded at the first sign of adversity. Second, the steep new luxury tax is already impacting the big spending teams. Both Dallas and LA made moves to shed salary before the new tax kicks in. More teams will follow suit this year. Third, Denver should only get better. The young core guys are all still improving, especially Faried, and should be even better this year. They gave an LA team all they could handle. A first round win next year isn't guaranteed, but I don't see one reason why an improved seed and a first round playoff win aren't minimum expectations for next year. This isn't the capped out Melo teams that were ruined by the Kmart trade and lacking in the capacity to improve. This team is already good, has the assets and cap space to add more, and the young talent arriving from the draft to grow. Yes, they still have Karl as coach, and I think he stays at least one more season. I do think they'll have to dump him to win a title, but what's one more season of head scratching rotations and Karl adding to his timeout collection? This year the team improved over last years team, and improvement is my definition of a successful season. I expect more improvement next year, and another successful season! By my count, this is only the second successful year with Karl as the coach, third if you count his truncated first season. How can you give up after a successful year? Stay here and have fun with us!

They won a second elimination game in a row! It's a May Miracle (TM)! Those of us who questioned the value of this team making the playoffs have been proven completely wrong. These Nuggets already have the second most playoff victories of the Karl era! No pointing out that the second most victories still isn't enough to win a series. I swear that winning the last two games has been more stressful than any of the losses. Losing games in the playoffs sucks, but is kind of the norm. Having a big lead against the Lakers leaves me freaking out. I want to have hope, but live in fear of the collapse.

Go Nuggets!!!!!

Or if you don't care about spoilers

Continue reading this post »

When Reggie Evans sold a foul like there was a sniper in the grassy knoll at Staples Center (you can see the video above, where a flagrant 2 was rightly reduced to a personal foul) it brought up a discussion of the Clippers and flopping. As in they do it a lot. As in people are starting to call them “flop city.”

Well, not if you ask Vinny Del Negro. His team needs to flop more, he thinks. He stood in there and took the charge for his team. Here is the quote, via the Orange County Register.

“We’re flopping a lot? I wish we would flop a lot. Maybe we’d get some charges,” he said. “I don’t know anybody on our team that flops. It’s all around the league. I wouldn’t say our team is a flopping team at all — maybe one or two guys. If we get the call, I like it.”

Um, yes you are flopping a lot. The Clippers may lead the league there.

You can argue that the Clippers and their attacking style means they also take a lot of hard fouls, that’s a legit complaint. Some of that goes uncalled, I’ll give you that as well. But the Clippers flop and complain about calls with the best of them. Or worst, depending on your interpretation. The video evidence litters YouTube. Or look at TrueHoop’s list of the league’s biggest floppers.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/24/vinny-del-negro-says-clippers-not-flop-city-video-suggests-otherwise/

Put your Monday OT stuff here. And what a fun game yesterday, after a slow start. My wife was doing a jig saw puzzle and knew when to look up because I could see the dunk coming before it happened. I don't know why they don't run that lob every play for him. It should be a dunk on every single play. Unfortunately, the lakers won, so even if we get the 6 seed, we probably get the lakers. Minus ron artest at least.

Post all your comments not related to tonight's game here. Don't want to clutter up the game thread with all our unrelated bs.

Well, I have to have 75 words to publish this, so I'm adding some. Anyone else excited to see the Avengers movie that is coming out? I only have access to a one screen theater currently, so I don't see many live movies. They are building a two screener that should be finished soon. Woohoo!

Several people familiar with the Redskins’ plans said the team is comfortable with the risks associated with signing Manning, who missed all of last season with the Colts after undergoing a series of neck surgeries. The team will pursue him intently, they said. Redskins officials declined to comment.

But it’s not clear how seriously Manning, who turns 36 this month, would consider an offer from the Redskins. Opinion around the league is mixed on that subject.

It also is unclear whether the possible addition of Manning would keep the team from pursuing a trade with the St. Louis Rams for the second overall selection in April’s NFL draft. The Redskins, who have the sixth overall pick in the draft, have appeared interested in trading up to use the Rams’ choice on Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Baylor.

One person with knowledge of the Redskins’ planning said the team intends to go after Manning aggressively and, if Manning signs elsewhere, turn its attention to strongly pursuing a trade for the Rams’ pick.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/peyton-manning-redskins-poised-for-a-hard-sell-to-superstar-qb/2012/03/07/gIQAtnzxwR_blog.html?wprss=linkset

I am just wanting to gauge the feeling among the other readers of this site, to get an idea of where the fans stand on the question of who should be the QB of this team next year. Obviously, there are some quite vocal people in favor of RG3, and there are some quite vocal people opposed to trading up for him. What do you think they should do at QB? I make the assumption that RG3 will not be available at the #6 pick.

As of this writing, the Nuggets have lost 7 of their last 8 games, and are preparing to face the pacers this afternoon.

Continue reading this post »

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/07/nuggets-danilo-gallinari-out-with-chip-fracture-in-ankle/

Continue reading this post »

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/4

Continue reading this post »

It appears that Jerry Sloan is ready to coach again. The shortened season may work against him in this regard. In a normal season an underachieving, but playoff contending team, might fire their coach midseason, in hopes of a playoff run. Exactly this happened with our own Nuggets when Karl was brought in mid-season as coach of the team.

Continue reading this post »

This is the second time that Stoudemire has been reported to be a piece in trade talks. There were earlier reports that he was offered to New Orleans for Chris Paul. It certainly appears that Stoudemire is available.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/video-report-knicks-willing-to-trade-stoudemire-to-rent-howard/

Continue reading this post »

My father got this pennant for me the year the Redskins lost to the Raiders in the super bowl. It was at a signing party at the apple blossom mall in Winchester, I believe. I know that there are Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Charlie Brown, and Joe Washington, but I can't identify the last signature. I thought it was Gary Clark when I was a kid, but he wasn't on the team then. Any ideas? Or is this Gary Clark, and I've got the signing timeline wrong? I was young. Thanks for your help.

Continue reading this post »

With ih8dallas back in exile this week, I thought I would do my best impersonation.  I'm assuming ih8 is simply too exhausted from continuous viewing of Twilight to be available.  Please forgive me if I'm unable to achieve true equality with the real thing.

Continue reading this post »

According to profootballtalk, the Redskins are still $11.9 million under the cap.  That begs the question, of what, if anything, they should do with that money.  Obviously, they have to keep some available for injury replacements, but at most $2 million should cover the pro-rated minimums for several replacement players over the remainder of the season.  There are several starters in the last year of their contracts who could be extended.  I would be all for this, if they sign for reasonable amounts.  Especially Fred Davis should be a priority.  Given that they are this far into the season and there isn't much discussion publicly of any extensions, and the players are now only a few games from unrestricted free agency, I don't think we'll see much happen with extensions. 

So what do to with all that cap space?  Trent Williams is due $11 million for next season, far and away the largest on the team.  I'd restructure his contract to pay him a roster bonus of $10 million during this season and reduce his pay to $1 million for next year.  This keeps Williams total pay the same, and moves $10 million in cap space into next season.  That's more than enough to sign next years Albert Haynesworth!  Get to it, Allen!

Reading Bill Simmons Mailbag column.  You can't tell me you haven't had the exact same thought.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7220622/welcome-national-mailbag-league

Continue reading this post »

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/31/chandler-smith-could-be-released-from-china-when-lockout-ends/

Continue reading this post »

In another indication that the lockout could soon be over, several teams have sent out letters telling their employees to return to work on Monday.

The New Jersey Nets ticket sales office, idle for most of the fall, is holding a series of hastily called meetings today under the theme “Be Ready.” One staffer tells us that a department-wide email has been circulated, instructing employees that “it’s time to get back to work.” The short-staffed 76ers’ team office has been told that Monday will be “all hands on deck,” as per orders from the league.

 

To me the key is the use of the word "will" when talking about returning to work monday, not could or if.  Don't need ticket office people if there are no games.

Come on, get it done.

There are a number of starters who are free agents after the season. Fletcher, Landry, Fred Davis, Adam Carricker, and Tim Hightower are all in the last season of their contracts.

Continue reading this post »