the all sports post!
I am finally preparing my cheat sheets for the mighty Dying Quails (2006 edition). I've gotten a late start despite my intention to take this season more seriously and really go for the money. To compensate, I broke down and spent $14.99 I probably shouldn't have on a website's online draft kit. Much of my spare time at work today and the next couple of days will be spent getting it ready for a legible, printable form.
I have what I think is a better Plan for the draft; I've used this strategy before and done pretty well with it. To hell with position scarcity - go for the numbers. I'll live with a third tier/can't-hurt-me catcher or second baseman if I can use the $15 - $20 savings to upgrade to better mashers or pitchers.
Next week, I'll join a Yahoo! public league to get an idea of where players are going in drafts so I can get an idea how much guys will cost at the auction.
I was going to change the team's name since I sucked so bad last year, but then Vice President Dick Cheney shot a man in the face while quail hunting - and got the guy to apologize! - so there's no way I'm changing it now.
***
Really looking forward to the World Cup in the summer. I'm not worried about the 4-1 thrashing the US team got from Germany the other day - most of our regulars weren't playing, and most of theirs were playing and scared to death of the repercussions of losing.
I don't like our Group; it's a tough one. I'm still aggravated Mexico got a seed when we won CONCACAF and are ranked #5 in the world (Mexico is #7). Hell, we're ranked even higher than Italy (12th), and they're the seeded team in our group. The Czechs are #2 and got shafted, too. Anyway, should be some great soccer; and since Germany is only about 6 hours ahead, I might get to see some of it without staying up past midnight.
***
Somebody please explain to me why CBS chose to show the UCLA-Gonzaga game in Oakland last night instead of the Texas-West Virginia game in Atlanta. Why would they think folks in Atlanta would care more about a Pac-10/WCC game in Oakland than a Big 12/Big East game in … Atlanta? Especially after WVU spanked UGA just a couple of months ago in the Sugar Bowl? Asshats.
***
I wish I could have seen more of the World Baseball Classic. What little I did see was some great baseball. I could have seen the beginning of the championship game, but ESPN felt obligated to show the end of the Michigan/Notre Dame NIT game. That's right: NIT. The tournament whose champion is proudly crowned the 66th Best Team in the Country. I get that the game went to two overtimes; I get that the game featured two big football rivals. But why not put either that game or the WBC championship game over on ESPN2? Bump the middle of an opening round game from the women's tourney for a half hour. No one will care. Instead, we finally joined the WBC game in the second inning, with the score already 4-1 and a huge plotline come and gone. I got to read about the Cuban manager's antics and pitching changes online the next day. Would have been nice to, you know, actually watch them.
Anyway, I hope the next WBC is in the fall, when major leaguers are in playing shape, instead of the beginning of spring training. The Cubans especially had a huge advantage going in because of their winter leagues. That, and no professional player had ever seen them before, giving their pitchers a great advantage.
PS: note to George Steinbrenner: shut up
***
The Dolphins traded for Daunte Culpepper. I'm not sure how this will work out. He managed to find gambling and whores in Minnesota. What's gonna happen when he finds South Beach?
Quite frankly, I don’t care what he does in his spare time. He and Ricky can go cosmic bowling in his rec room for all I care. Just throw the ball, Daunte, preferably to someone in a Dolphins helmet.
Also: thank God TO went to Not Miami and Not Atlanta.
***
Looking forward to the Mets sucking hard this season and the Braves winning yet another division title. That will depend on how the Baby Braves mature this season and if Bobby can MacGyver the bullpen together yet again. The Mets' Achilles' heel is their pitching. After the aging Glavine, it's Pedro's bad toe, and … that's pretty much it until they can get to their stud closer. Fat lot of good Wagner did the Phillies, eh?
I have what I think is a better Plan for the draft; I've used this strategy before and done pretty well with it. To hell with position scarcity - go for the numbers. I'll live with a third tier/can't-hurt-me catcher or second baseman if I can use the $15 - $20 savings to upgrade to better mashers or pitchers.
Next week, I'll join a Yahoo! public league to get an idea of where players are going in drafts so I can get an idea how much guys will cost at the auction.
I was going to change the team's name since I sucked so bad last year, but then Vice President Dick Cheney shot a man in the face while quail hunting - and got the guy to apologize! - so there's no way I'm changing it now.
***
Really looking forward to the World Cup in the summer. I'm not worried about the 4-1 thrashing the US team got from Germany the other day - most of our regulars weren't playing, and most of theirs were playing and scared to death of the repercussions of losing.
I don't like our Group; it's a tough one. I'm still aggravated Mexico got a seed when we won CONCACAF and are ranked #5 in the world (Mexico is #7). Hell, we're ranked even higher than Italy (12th), and they're the seeded team in our group. The Czechs are #2 and got shafted, too. Anyway, should be some great soccer; and since Germany is only about 6 hours ahead, I might get to see some of it without staying up past midnight.
***
Somebody please explain to me why CBS chose to show the UCLA-Gonzaga game in Oakland last night instead of the Texas-West Virginia game in Atlanta. Why would they think folks in Atlanta would care more about a Pac-10/WCC game in Oakland than a Big 12/Big East game in … Atlanta? Especially after WVU spanked UGA just a couple of months ago in the Sugar Bowl? Asshats.
***
I wish I could have seen more of the World Baseball Classic. What little I did see was some great baseball. I could have seen the beginning of the championship game, but ESPN felt obligated to show the end of the Michigan/Notre Dame NIT game. That's right: NIT. The tournament whose champion is proudly crowned the 66th Best Team in the Country. I get that the game went to two overtimes; I get that the game featured two big football rivals. But why not put either that game or the WBC championship game over on ESPN2? Bump the middle of an opening round game from the women's tourney for a half hour. No one will care. Instead, we finally joined the WBC game in the second inning, with the score already 4-1 and a huge plotline come and gone. I got to read about the Cuban manager's antics and pitching changes online the next day. Would have been nice to, you know, actually watch them.
Anyway, I hope the next WBC is in the fall, when major leaguers are in playing shape, instead of the beginning of spring training. The Cubans especially had a huge advantage going in because of their winter leagues. That, and no professional player had ever seen them before, giving their pitchers a great advantage.
PS: note to George Steinbrenner: shut up
***
The Dolphins traded for Daunte Culpepper. I'm not sure how this will work out. He managed to find gambling and whores in Minnesota. What's gonna happen when he finds South Beach?
Quite frankly, I don’t care what he does in his spare time. He and Ricky can go cosmic bowling in his rec room for all I care. Just throw the ball, Daunte, preferably to someone in a Dolphins helmet.
Also: thank God TO went to Not Miami and Not Atlanta.
***
Looking forward to the Mets sucking hard this season and the Braves winning yet another division title. That will depend on how the Baby Braves mature this season and if Bobby can MacGyver the bullpen together yet again. The Mets' Achilles' heel is their pitching. After the aging Glavine, it's Pedro's bad toe, and … that's pretty much it until they can get to their stud closer. Fat lot of good Wagner did the Phillies, eh?