Trash Talk: NCAA On The Way To Save The Day!
This joint needs some football, and the college kids are back to give it to us. We have already seen a couple of notable things. First, Wisconsin looked scary good, even though it was Podunk State (UNLV) they clobbered. No, the Runnin Rebs were not much of a substitute for the real power of the Big-10.2, schools like Michigan State, Iowa and Nebraska, but seeing the traditional Badger offensive juggernaut on the ground suddenly paired with a Cam Newton type of polished slick QB was something altogether new. They may have something good up there in Cheeseland. On a more local note, the ASU Sun Devils also tore apart a weaker foe from Nowheresville (UC-Davis), but again the thing to note is the QB position looks stabilized for once with Brock Orsweiller and the Devils may actually have some game this year.
Last night there was simply an awesome game, 14th ranked TCU at Baylor. TCU who went 13-0 last year and won the Rose Bowl, got beat in a barnburner by the Baylor Bears 50-48. And TCU had to score 25 points in the 4th quarter to get that close, but damn near pulled it out. Baylor had its own stud QB, Robert Griffin III and man was he lights out 21 for 28, 359 yards, 5 TDs and no picks. Oh, dude can run too.
So, the big game today everyone is waiting for is Western Michigan versus Big Blue in the Big House! Okay, not really. But, hey, you have to pay attention to these things lest the Wolverines nearly pull off an upset over a favored opponent like they almost did against Appalachian State. In other Big-10.2 news you can use, disgraced criminal Sweatervest has been picked up as a replay consultant for the Colts. I wonder if he will be getting a tattoo to commemorate the occasion?
Eh, back to real football…the kind played in the Pac-10.2 and SEC.X (X=most players in the SEC cannot count high enough to know how many teams there are in the conference). Clearly the Big kahuna today is the Quackers from Oregon and the Tigers of LSU in the Jerry Jones Palace. You know, when the Chinese overrun us and invade in the name of democracy, you think they will loot Cowboys Palace, er Stadium? This is a HUGE game for the first week, as the Ducks are ranked 3rd and the Tigers 4th. Despite how hinky early preseason rankings are, that sounds about right, they are both superb teams. LSU has a bit of a QB problem though, as projected starter Jordan Jefferson is suspended after being charged with felony burglary; Jarret Lee will fill in, but has some experience (presumably in football, not felony crimes, but in the SEC you never know). Oregon QB Darron Thomas also has issues, but is going to play after convincing officials he was asleep and sober in that pot filled car going 118mph. Oh, the driver of that car was cornerback Cliff Harris, who is suspended for this one game. The net balance, after taking into account the respective criminal dockets, should favor Oregon who, with Thomas and tailback LaMichael James, just have too much firepower.
The other giant tilt is Boise State at Georgia. The Broncos have deadly accurate and savvy QB Kellen Moore and are always well coached and prepared by Chris Peterson. They spread you out and light you up which, coupled with a smart ball hawking defense, makes them consistently good. The Dawgs have been up and down the last few years, but look to have a decent team this year, and are ranked in the top 20 preseason. Here is the thing, the Broncos will, and do, play anybody anywhere. Oh, and Kellen Moore is 38-2 in his first three years as a starter. That militates in favor of Boise State, despite some of the TV pundits picking the Dawgs to upset.
Couple of odds and ends. The Minnesota gophers at the USC Trojans might actually be a pretty interesting game. Tommy Trojan may be a sleeper this year, even though still finishing out probation. In F1 news, the weaker sister team to the dominant Red Bull team, Toro Rosso, is getting a seriously major cash infusion from Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments, through their cut-out, Swiss bank Falcon Investments. Along with factory expansion and enhancements, this should make Toro Rosso much more competitive. One problem,however, Toro Rosso still depends on engines purchased on contract from Ferrari, and Ferrari will never give them quite exactly the same grade of motor as they use on the factory cars. Oh, and in the baseball/legal world, REggie Walton has denied Roger Clemens’ motion to dismiss based on double jeopardy, and ordered him to stand for a retrial. Predictable, but disappointing, even though Walton lashed into the prosecutors for misconduct pretty hard in court.
One final note. Next weekend is the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which was the last points race in 1961 and where the Driver’s Championship was decided and awarded. It was a momentous race on a great number of levels historically, including the crowning of the first American champion, Phil Hill, and the tragic death of his main competitor, and teammate, Wolfgang von Tripps. I am going to try to get together a special presentation for the occasion (but do have a busy week, so we will see). At any rate, the Italian at Monza is always incredible, so buckle up folks!
finally got out to see “Senna”. yowza. great film, fantastic archival footage. i knew nothing of Ayrton Senna previously and was transfixed from beginning to end. and what an end, the footage from that final race weekend is chilling. Senna knew he had a car he couldn’t rely on, and the pre-race camera catches a man looking like he is heading to the gallows.
go see the film if it’s near you! if not, catch it on DVD (though the race footage really should be seen on da big screen).
@rosalind: Aryton was a pretty compelling character, separate from his race skills, which were otherworldly.
@bmaz: yeah, his personality comes through crystal clear. the filmmakers made a great choice to avoid the standard “talking head” documentary and instead keep the focus on Senna throughout, alternating behind the scenes footage from the races with home movies from Brazil, interspersed with the many many interviews Senna did.
The most interesting thing coming from the Blue & Gold’s exhibition game might be to see if last year’s QB sensation Denard Robinson is up to his old tricks, or if he was just a flash in the pan, a supernova that has collapsed on itself into a dwarf star. Oh, and how Robinson adapts to Al Borges’ offense under new head coach Brady Hoke is key. Because, as you may recall, Michigan got tired of losing with that other guy, who was gambling that a powerful Michigan offense could offset a crappy Michigan defense. They could be trying out a New Offense in which, say, running backs do the running (wow, what a concept!), and the QB focuses more on distributing the football to others, rather than trying to do everything himself.
That other team? They have a QB to keep an eye on, too: Alex Carder.
Bob in AZ
Uh oh, WMU has a decent QB??
That could be a problem!
Rut roh. Defending National Champs just went down 21-7 to Utah State. They were a second half team last year, but they don’t have Cam to lead them from behind like last year. True freshman QB for Aggies looks very impressive (and the Auburn defense looks pitiful).
The Omaha World-Herald is giving folks a reminder to leave a little early for the Nebraska football game if you’re coming from Missouri or Iowa. Parts of I-29 have been closed since June 28th, and flooding of other roads and bridges continue, making parts of the region a nightmare to get around.
@Jim White: And Auburn immediately follows up my comment with a 97 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and then a three and out for the Aggies.
Here’s some great sportswriting on Indiana’s new coach, Kevin Wilson:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6913620/the-rise-indiana-football
He’s a character for sure, which is not the same thing as boosting a perennial doormat. if you’re not paying attention though, he has arguably the top qb coming in next year, and his previous job was coaching qb’s with some success. anything less than a 30 point defeat is a moral victory.
@Jim White:
I’m kinda surprised they’re not playing South Central Louisiana State University per the SEC’s usual M.O. of not playing anybody out of conference who has a tinker’s damn of a chance against them
Oh, and why am I not surprised they’re playing at home? (see: this game; Boise State @ Georgia; Oregon @ LSU)
@JohnT:
Even though Oregon LSU is in Jerrah’s EgoDome it’s still a home game for LSU
Wow. Utah State scored to put Auburn down 10 with about 4 minutes to go. Auburn scored two touchdowns sandwiched around a perfectly executed onside kick.
Just another day in the SEC. Auburn 42-Utah State 38
Well good to see Brady Hoke didn’t tamper with last year’s crack D.
No idea why you still seem to defend Clemens. The guy is a liar and he used steroids,only fools would dispute that.
Not calling you a fool of course but gracious, even a lawyer has to deal with facts occasionally.
May he, Bonds and all the other steroid heads get their just deserts. Cheaters and liars all.
I loathe Auburn, but I don’t underestimate them.
Meanwhile, my Miss. State Bulldogs are off to a good start. Last year I said they were the best bad team in the SEC; will they beat Alabama, LSU, or Arkansas this year?
(I seem to recall a good bit of SEC taunting before the BCS championship game … didn’t work out too well for the taunters.)
@nomolos: I am defending the process and law. The entire investigation has been dirty on the part of the investigators, and it continued with flat out unethical prosecutorial misconduct that, at least in my opinion, was both intentional and egregious.
You are free to call me a fool if you want, but to me the integrity of the system and law is more important that the continued pursuit of Roger Clemens. Many of the same problems inhabit the Bonds prosecution. You are also free to feel that continued criminal pursuit of these two men, years after they have been disgraced and out of the game, at great expense and with tactics and modalities offensive to due process is a worthy goal. I do not; to me the system is more important than that.
@nomolos:
I teach human physiology, and in the part about hormones I showed Clemens testimony. I’m not sure he used steroids. irrc he was accused of using HGH- human growth hormone, which is not a steroid. So when he keeps insisting in testimony (sorry I’ve have to go find the YouTube link) that he did not use steroids, that imho was a deliberate misdirection. (my point to students is that there are different types of hormones, etc. etc)
Gulf Coast Pirate’s Houston Cougars are whipping up on UCLA. Oooops, the Bruins just scored, now 10-7 Cougs.
p.s. I didn’t read bmaz’s comment above mine before typing- I was busy typing. I was responding as a biologist, not a lawyer.
@Valley Girl:
Oh, he probably did both by my guess. The legal proof of it is almost nil though and rests entirely on a scorned associate with a grudge who is also a known perjurer and is trying furiously to keep himself out of prison. Not very compelling.
@emptywheel:
Hey, don’t knock’em. WSU was on its way to another TD, but the Michigan D gets an interception inside the 5 and runs it back for a TD! Michigan up by a TD!
Bob in AZ
Let the Brady Hoke era begin! Go Brady!
@Thus Blogged Anderson:
Not taunting so much as disgust with the nonstop verbal fellatio, fawning, and worship of all things SEC by the national sports media
@Bob Schacht: Yup. Tuned in just in time to see the replay.
Well, it is good to see Notre Dame is already in mid-season form. USF leads 16-0.
Anybody seen Masaccio??
@bmaz:
Michigan game suspended due to threatening weather. Will it be postponed?
Bob in AZ
@bmaz:
Don’t be conned by the Texas Con Man…
Clemens is a fucking liar, plain and simple.
If you lie, you pay the piper, ask Libby.
The law works in mysterious ways.
@Bob Schacht: Might well be–there’s a whole stream of T-Storms. It doesn’t get to be ~100 heat index here w/o being a sponge, as I’m sure you remember. Plus, there were Tornadoes forecast for North of A2.
Okay, I just HAVE to comment… a tiger can eat a duck any day! Being an LSU alum, I know that LSU will best Oregon… The irony is that I now live in Arlington, TX just a couple of miles from Jerry-Dome. I went out a little earlier to go to Home Depot, and here were all these people and vehicles showing the LSU colors. For a moment, I was actually disoriented and wondered if I had entered a time warp and gone back to Baton Rouge! Then, I realized… tonight, Jerry-Dome is actually Tiger Stadium in disguise!
@bmaz:
McNamee is not going to prison…
Whattabout Clemens frivolous slander case that was laughed out of court…
Clemens is an overblown dickhead
Prison was, and is, exactly the threat hanging over MacNamee’s head. The govt not only has him on drug charges, but dead to rites admitted on perjury as well. The civil case is meaningless and would likely not have been dismissed if the allegations were not initially made in a judicial context to investigators and grand juries; that said, it is still irrelevant. My arguments have NOTHING to do with his ultimate guilt or innocence.
Not taunting so much as disgust with the nonstop verbal fellatio, fawning, and worship of all things SEC by the national sports media
The media that knows jack shit about politics or policy doesn’t become smart when it talks football. Still, the SEC is a tough conference. My impression from down here was to marvel at how the BCS overrated the Big 10.
bmaz and others- here is where I have a memory gap. I mean, exactly why did congress involve itself in the doings of MLB? I just can’t remember the context. Surely, though, it was an issue that should not have been anywhere near the top of “congressional concerns”.
@Valley Girl: When? Try the era of the Chicago Black Sox.
@bmaz: With the score 16-0 right now and the Domers on the short end of things, my guess is he’s kneeling somewhere in prayer.
Oh, bmaz, ouch!!
Stanford leading San Jose St. 17-0. Those guys used to come in and ruin Stanford’s season every year, no matter how low they [SJS] were ranked.
LSU has a bit of a QB problem though, as projected starter Jordan Jefferson is suspended after being charged with felony burglary; Jarret Lee will fill in, but has some experience (presumably in football, not felony crimes, but in the SEC you never know).
Why don’t they just have a “docket-off” or other competition based on who can rack up the most transgressions.
Oh, nice shot of downtown LA. When I was there just two days ago, you couldn’t see anything because of the smog. Quick response to Obama’s easing of smog rules, non?
Alright, after the T-Storms (I wouldn’t be surprised if they got delayed again), the Wolvereenies seem to have discovered the joy of blitz.
So maybe this game will serve precisely teh purpose it is designed to.
@bmaz:
News to me.
When will MacNamee be going to prison?
There is no criminal case pending that I’m aware of.
You got a docket number
@Peterr:
Notre Dame has finally found a defense for the Mighty USF Bulls: lightning storm evacuation of premises.
Northwestern’s backup QB did pretty well, guiding NU to a 24-17 win.
I missed the Wisconsin game Thursday night, but it sure sounds like they were impressive.
From the post:
The NFL suspended the Ohio State player involved for five games, presumably to tell their minor league affiliate (the NCAA) that they don’t want players to make a habit of screwing up then jumping to the NFL.
My question is why Tressel gets a paycheck from the NFL if the player gets suspended.
@bmaz: The folks in South Bend will tell you this was God’s way of calling Time Out, to give the Domers a little more time to strategerize.
@Bay State Librul: No, that is the point; MacNamee is operating under a cooperation agreement precisely to avoid that. He is a slimy lying little govt stoolie puke who makes Clemens look honorable in comparison; and I am not all that crazy about Clemens. But then we have been through all this before. I fail to see what the complaint here is, the government is spending tens of millions and engaging in unethical prosecutorial conduct to do these cases so you can have the pleasure of a baseball player in jail for 10 months. Is that not enough?
@bmaz:
The civil case is meaningless?
Why did Hardin file the defamation case for the fucking money?
As a understand it, Clemens’s defamation suit is dead, and MacNamee’s defamation case is still chucking along.
@Peterr: Excellent question. Gonna tweet that.
Maybe Touchdown Jesus wants a reset.
@Bay State Librul: Rusty did it as a tactical move; didn’t help much, but didn’t hurt. It sure wasn’t for the merits, MacNamee is judgment proof.
@masaccio:
Masaccio’s home!!! This little weather thing may be just what the doctor ordered for the Irish, after play resumed for the Wolverweeenies, they suddenly looked like a football team. Maybe will work for the Domers too!
@bmaz:
No.
Clemens did not have to appear before the
Congressional Committee.
It was his call.
You’ve told me in other cases that money
doesn’t matter… It’s the integrity of the
legal system…
I believe Petite… you must believe that
Clemens is telling the truth and not trying to save his fucking arse.
A conspiracy against Clemens?
No way.
@Bob Schacht: Finally. I’m sitting around 5 miles from the Stadium and listening to thunder for the last 10 minutes. The game was just suspended.
Don’t think they were going to, but the radio guys started talking about hearing thunder.
@emptywheel:
You can add “prophet” to your resume now: The Michigan game is in a second half-hour weather delay. WMU desperately needed the break because their entire game is falling apart and the announcers are commenting about their lack of “concentration.”
Michigan is finally looking like Michigan again.
Bob in AZ
Gophers looking for an upset
USC – 19
Minn – 17
In the 4th
@JohnT: . . . and not finding it.
@Peterr:
Okay, never mind! LOL!
At one time I thought that baseball was the only “innocent game”. Like when I was growing up listening to Vin Scully and Jerry Dogget on the radio, calling the LA Dodger’s games.
Point well taken.
Big blob of something on NWS radar between KZOO and AA, appropriately enough. Expect long delays.
@Bay State Librul: No conspiracy, and yes I believe he is trying to save his ass. Still an overtly dirty prosecution. Petitte is a secondary witness that, while believable, does not offer that much. He has no direct evidence of anything other than a nebulous discussion. Clemens is likely guilty, I just do not approve of what the government has done. And I knew intimate details of this case LONG before it ever involved Clemens and Bonds.
@Bob Schacht:
“Michigan is finally looking like Michigan again.”
Wait, I thought you said they were winning!
I have to say I am amazed at myself- like, getting into trash talk. bmaz and ew are seductive.
I live in the South, and driving around in the car, there are like, 4 choices Saturday afternoon- NPR opera, stations that play 80’s music, religious rants, and sports radio.
I have to confess, that I’ve been listening to “sports radio” of late. Just so I could get a grip on what I’ve been missing.
Uh, so, yesterday, there was a big discussion about some Boise players not being allowed, like they were from the Netherlands… and then all these jokes about smoking something….
And, today, again discussion about game vs. Boise, and comment that someone on the station drew the “short straw” and had to cover the “black gay pride” demonstration. And, then… yikes!
I gotta tell y’all, I’m in way over my head here!
Well, M has won this one, on a lightning-rusky play, 34—10.
They have a way to go, imo. Just after the last score, one excited young player on the sidelines seemed to think they were “sending a message” with this game.
Maybe a good film session next week’ll fix that.
@Valley Girl:
Vin Scully rulz!
… and so does the lady from woodland Hills who sends him chocolate chip cookies
@JohnT:
Oh WOW!
Thank you so much for that link.
I teared up watching the vid from Vin Scully!
He really is the best!
Oh, and I’m not from Woodland Hills, but close, hence the “Valley Girl” moniker.
Huge hugs, JohnT!
@prostratedragon:
“Well, M has won this one, on a lightning-rusky play, 34—10.”
What did they do? They didn’t broadcast anything after the second weather delay that I could see. Did they just decide to end the game early? or What?
Bob in AZ
I wanna answar Valley Girl.s question:
why did congress involve itself in the doings of MLB?
cuz investigatin steroids is a distraction from the investigations of treason, torture, war crimes, & crimes against humanity that never happened
does that clear things up ???
let’s investigate clemens and bonds, an forget to investigate bush’ cheney, dumsfeld, the condiliar, colin powell and abu gonzo
maybe nobody will notice our fucked up priorities
@bmaz:
I was referring to Michigan under Schembechler (W:194 L:48 T:5), Moeller (44 13 4) and Carr (122 40 0). Under those guys, they won 3 out of every 4 games they played.
Bob in AZ
@bmaz:
Yes. let the jury decide.
Best I’ve since about the elusive truth
“The thing about reporting is that it is meant to be objective. It is meant to record and relay the truth of things, as if truth were out there, hanging around, waiting for the reporter to show up. Such is the premise of objective journalism. What the premise excludes, as any student of modern literature will tell you, is that slippery relative fact of the person doing the reporting, the modern notion that there is no such thing as the perceived without someone doing the perceiving, and that to exclude the circumstances surrounding the story is to tell the untruth. These circumstances might include the fact that you’re rushed to an airplane, had too much too drink, arrived, realized that you are dressed for the tropics when in fact it is about to snow, that you have forgotten your socks, that you have one contract lens, that you’re not going to get the interview anyway, and then at four-thirty, that you’ve got to file your story, having had to make most of it up. It could be argued that the circumstances have more than a casual bearing on the truth reported.”
Bill Buford
BTW, some guy on NPR this morning was describing the usual cast on the sidelines this year: Coaches, lawyers, and bail-bondsmen. I guess things have gotten almost as bad as hockey out there.
Bob in AZ
@Bob Schacht: I think they went to the regularly scheduled showing of “Heidi.”
@freepatriot:
LOL!
Oh, absolutely! I mean, like, I already knew that in general, but I just couldn’t remember the exact time frame, and exactly what was else happening at the time.
But, absolutely agree-
“let’s investigate clemens and bonds, an forget to investigate bush’ cheney, dumsfeld, the condiliar, colin powell and abu gonzo”
Also, agree “maybe nobody will notice our fucked up priorities”.
I absolutely agree with you on all points.
But, I was upset with myself that I couldn’t remember the details.
@freepatriot:
Good points, but steroids and the drug culture are nothing to sneeze at.
Also, Congress intervenes more in baseball matters due to their exemption from the Anti-Trust Laws, I do believe.
@Bob Schacht:
Until they got to the bowl games.
From Bo’s wiki: “Despite Schembechler’s success during the regular season, he was less successful in bowl games. His overall record was 5–12, which includes a 2–8 record in the Rose Bowl.”
From Carr’s wiki, he was 6-7 in bowl games, with a 1-3 record in the Rose Bowl.
Hey, the Notre Dame game just might get interesting. Play has resumed, and ND just got a touchdown, so the score is now 16-7 in the third quarter.
Bob in AZ
@Bay State Librul:
What? Like “steroids and the drug culture” deserve attention from congress equal to that of all of what else freepatriot said?
Geez- like if you want to go after “anti-trust” laws… um… the insurance agencies might be a more worth target….
@Peterr:
Yeah, but those stats indicate that they got into 30 bowl games. Until they started producing bowl games at a dime a dozen, that used to mean something. And your stats also show that they have won 11 bowl games. How many teams can say that?
Bob in AZ
Is Rich Rodriguez now coaching at Notre Dame? His team is playing like it: a lot of offense, not much defense.
Bob in AZ
@prostratedragon: I’m just glad they were able to make a defensive adjustment so they actually started to hit WMU.
Michigan … I remember Michigan. Purina Bulldog Chow.
ahhhhh, make it stop!!!! “Source: OU, Texas talking Pac-16”
“The concept of the Pac-16 is again being discussed by Pac-12 officials as well as officials at Oklahoma and Texas, a source close to the situation told ESPN’s Joe Schad.
The source said the pair of Big 12 schools know the opportunity to join the Pac-12 is their decision. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech could also join the proposed Pac-16, according to the source.”
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6927204/pac-16-oklahoma-sooners-texas-longhorns-being-discussed-source-says
@rosalind:
Then they can split into two eight-team leagues that might actually make sense….
*cough* … across the Pond, the Eengleesh Cricket Team is laying quite the beating on a terrific Indian Team. Coming after the Brits drubbed the Aussies in Oz to take the Ashes, the English are looking like one of the greatest Teams EVARR !!!
… and now, back to Foosball …
The Muschamp era seems to be off to a reasonable start. 31-3 Gators over FAU going into fourth quarter. Weis is doing a great job using Rainey and Demps. Brantley started fine but it looks like his confidence is wavering in the second half. Kinda surprised he’s still in.
Ooh, and LSU just re-took the lead over the Quackers.
Notre Dame South Florida stopped again with 4:21 remaining. That must be one heck of a storm.
@Bay State Librul: Congress got involved in the steroids deal to save their old friend George Mitchell’s ass after he wrote a craptastic report that was going to otherwise be discredited.
@Peterr: Yes, you have correctly summarized Bo Merlot’s weak record in the rose Bowl (as well as Carr’s), which if you add to Woody Hayes’ pathetic record, demonstrates why the Pac people have always been slightly off put by the attention paid to the Big-10.
@rosalind:
DO. NOT. WANT!
Shocker!
Sac State beats OSU
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=312460204
@JohnT: Well, a loss to Appalachian, er Sacramento, State is always a fine way to start the power rankings of yer conference off for the season.
We might be watching Richt’s last season at Georgia…
However, if LSU can hold on to win against the Ducks, it looks it’ll be another race to glory year for the SEC on the way to the national championship.
I got an engineering degree from UF many years ago. I was in a calculus class with two football team members. One I studied with was an engineering student. Along with another student we were around 2nd or 3rd on the curve. The other football player was a total curve breaker. He was so far ahead of us it was like a different class.
@Valley Girl:
For me it was Herb Carneal on the radio as I was growing up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U1FRN2ejpY
(watch the sound; the default setting is pretty loud)
And, the Irish lose. Maybe we’ll see more of Tommy Rees next week.
And this is LSU *missing* a few thugs. Damn. Not looking forward to Sept. 15 in Starkville.
@Anderson: Gotta say, LSU looked pretty darn impressive.
@nomolos:
LMAO – do you have any proof? If we’re going to use those terms for baseball players of his era shouldn’t we bring all of them up before Congressional committees and ask them all the same questions or are we only to go after the best players to embarrass them?
@bmaz: Yea, great game but I have a question for you. There is a lot of talk down here and I even saw it scrolling across the screen watching LSU that the PAC 12 is thinking of taking OU. In order to get OU they have to take Boone Pickens Technological College, Whore U (I mean whorn U) and even whore U’s STD riddled little sister iTT Tech. Have you people on the West Coast lost your minds?
@Thus Blogged Anderson:
LOL – Boise didn’t look too impressed with the SEC either.
@bmaz:
One baseball player out of many in that era who took a hell of a lot more steroids than Clemons, if he did – which hasn’t been proven. I’m not even a lawyer and this prosecution stinks to high heaven. Unless you’re going to go after and prosecute all of them then you should prosecute none of them.
@Jim White:
Jim ! Good to see you … drop me a line via Facebook.
Oh, look, another Pac-10/12 team fails to beat an SEC team.
@GulfCoastPirate:
Yeah, steroids never existed.
The Mitchell Report went after many, not only
“name” players
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/13/sports/20071213_MITCHELL_FEATURE.html#
@Bay State Librul:
I never said steroids didn’t exist and last I looked Mr. Mitchell wasn’t trying to put anyone in jail. Have you seen pictures of Clemons lately compared to a lot of others accused of using steroids? Do you see the same type of dramatic change in physical characteristics in Clemons that you see in others when they stop using? I don’t.
Look, he’s a whorn, so he suck it as far as I am concerned but what do they really have on him? Second hand crap from Pettite about HGH and a drug sealer looking to stay out of prison. Since when does the government bust dealers and then go after the users? When was the last time some big time prostitute got busted and the government went after the clients? Have you seen any of the banksters who nearly ruined this economy perp walked? Yet, the government is going to go after a baseball player? That’s bullshit no matter who he is.
and a tip of the hat from the Stanford Band: “Rice’s Band Makes Fun of Conference Realignment, Eliminates Any Shot of Getting Invited to the SEC”
http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/09/03/rices-band-makes-fun-of-conference-realignment-eliminates-any-shot-of-getting-invited-to-the-sec/
@rosalind: I am going to see Senna this afternoon.
@bmaz: yeah! meet you back for film club! (i need you to explain what violation Senna supposedly did to get dq from one of his Prost head-to-heads, I couldn’t follow the technical details…)
lol
From Marcy’s link from the other day, the first one on the list is Vanderbilt @ 59
@Bmaz
Not a fool, no. I did say that I did not call you a fool. I do respect your legal opinions expressed here but I also say that at times it is necessary to look at the facts and not at the legal niceties. Maybe we could put the last few administrations in the pokey looking just at facts and not sitting on the the legal doctrines, written by the politicians.
It may well take a court like the ICC to deal with the torturers and war criminals in this country as the laws in this country have been written by the politicians to protect the politicians…and damn the facts.
Clemens cheated, fact., He perjured himself, fact. He took drugs to enhance his performance, fact. Deal with the damn facts not the legal “get out of jail cards” written by the rich, for the rich.
I am not a lawyer nor can I afford to stay in a Holliday Inn but I have been around long enough to know fact from fiction.
Again you are not a fool but I do think you are blinded by legal niceties that are designed to ignore facts.
Back from Senna. Outstanding, and sort of amazing how the narrative and framing was done completely with archival footage and little to no consistent voiceover. Wow. If you even think you might like Formula One, go see this movie.
@bmaz: yeah! even if you don’t have a clue about F-1, go see this movie.
ok, what did Senna do that got him disqualified in one of the early races, something about the chicane?
and did Senna deliberately take out Prost – and himself – in the later race?
Prost ran Aryton into the runoff area just as they were headed into the chicane. Prost was toast, but Senna got back underway and simply drove forward out of the runoff area and back onto the course. But because in older days, if there were not walls involved drivers used to pick up time by just cuttin a straight line through weak chicanes, a rule was instituted to prevent it. The rule was NOT designed for application to where a competitor had driven you off course and his stalled car was blocking you backing out and proceeding through the chicane. It was total bullshit.
Nobody knows whether Senna intentionally did it. I don’t think he consciously did, but he did go for a very tough braking gap. By the same token, Prost knew he would and did not have to turn down into him either, he could have gone wider. Tough call. Note at the end they actually got on better and that Prost was a pallbearer and now sits on the Senna Foundation Trust Board.
@nomolos:
Can you show me these ‘facts’ of which you speak?
@bmaz: ah, “stalled car blocking”…now it makes sense.
and yeah, it was nice to see Prost at the funeral, and it seems even FIA Pres. Jean-Marie “I Am The Law” Balestre had softened a bit at the end.
@GulfCoastPirate:
He’s no Bash Brother.
Check out his ‘roid rage, perhaps.
The Government had no choice to respond to
Clemens.
He requested his day in court and will stand
trial.
From Baseballistic …
“Consider the following…
Clemens has improved as he has gotten older; he has shown no signs of wearing down. The same can be said of Barry Bonds, who is assumed to have used steroids. Clemens has also shown signs of becoming bulkier and stronger. A look at the Clemens of the 1990’s shows a different guy that a look at the Clemens of 2006. That much of a gain in bulk and strength is a strong indication that perhaps Clemens used steroids.
But the next piece of evidence is even stronger…
Clemens had a terrific 2005 season for the Astros, despite a poor final outing in the World Series. After this, if Clemens was in fact suspended, he would’ve stopped taking steroids. Before the World Baseball Classic, every player was tested for steroids, and everyone that participated was found clean. Clemens struggled in the World Baseball Classic, possibly the first time he pitched without steroids in over a season. He didn’t seem to have the same caliber fastball, and his offspeed pitches were not the same. A sign perhaps that Clemens needs the steroids to pitch well”
The author goes on to say that he thinks Clemens is innocent and the above were “coincidences”
I myself think that Roger is a lying sack of shit, a con man no better or worse than MacNamee or Radomski
Clemens should go to Jail, cuz the only people allowed to break the Law & remain free are politicians.
Happy Labor Day, Friends !
Bmaz, are we gonna have a special trash thread for Thursday’s opener ?
There will be a lot of trash coming up. Yes, I do not see how we could get by without some trash Thursday. First there will be a garbage speech, and then real live NFL football. That is cause for Trash! But I hope to have something special for the Italian Grand Prix Sunday. And the GP is much more on my mind than reliving 9/11 I might add.
Wholly fuck, anybody watching Maryland versus Miami and get a gander at the new Maryland Terp uniforms???
Ugly does not even come close.
@bmaz:
Blame Brady?
University Of Maryland Football Uniforms By Under Armour.
@bmaz:
Truth or process?
Maybe this is what we are arguing about in re
Clemens?
A remarkable event occurred during the 6th inning of the Phillies Marlins game Saturday (which Howard Wasserman also blogged about yesterday). With Ryan Howard on first, Hunter Pence hit a long drive to the fence in right field. As Brian Peterson attempted to make the catch, two South Florida University students who happened to be Phillies fans (who else would be at a Marlins game?) reached over the fence and appeared to touch the glove of the outfielder. As the ball fell to the ground, Pence ended up on second and Howard on third. Out came Manager Jack McKeon to argue fan interference which, if called on the field, could negate the double and return Howard to first. Umpire Joe West and his crew listened then retreated to view the replay. When they returned, West ruled Pence out. Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel then came out to argue and was promptly tossed.
The problem was that the baseball’s rule clearly limits the use of replay. The rule states: “Instant replay will apply only to home run calls — whether they are fair or foul, whether they have left the playing field, or whether they have been subject to fan interference. The decision to use instant replay will be made by the umpire crew chief, who also will make the determination as to whether or not a call should be reversed.”
To make matters worse, after the game, Umpire West later gave a false statement as to what had given him “jurisdiction” to consult the replay, claiming Manuel had contested whether it should be ruled a Home Run. The replay shows no such thing; Manuel never approached West until after the reversal was made. The only reason West consulted the replay was to see if it was a double or an out.
For his part, octogenarian McKeon was candid in his assessment of the events, saying, “I don’t know. I’m not the judge. But I would think, isn’t what we want from the umpires: To get it right? Did they get it right? Yes. Did they make a mistake in how they went about getting it right? Yes.”
It’s a classic law school ethics question: is the truth more important than the process? Can a lawyer, or judge or jury go around the rules to see justice is done?
In the end, the game will matter not a bit. The Phillies should easily go on to win their division with the best record in baseball, securing home field advantage along the way.
And as to those Phillies fans? The blogosphere has already rendered its verdict. They will have a tough time buying a cheesesteak when they get home.
Sports Law Blog
The “Rule of Law” is far more than just “the law” or any single particular law or person at issue underneath it. It involves adherence to due process, principles in fairness and propriety of government’s treatment of citizens and investigation and prosecution of them. To me, these principles are far more important than any one man, and far far more important than Roger Clemens.
@bmaz:
The uniforms were hideous but what’s up with ‘the U’? Getting beat by Maryland?
@bmaz:
Yeah. They collide.
Give me the truth then we can argue about
the nuances of rules, processes, and the
fact that law is not an exact science.
Truth first, law second.
The truth is it is a dirty investigation and MacNamee is a known perjurer with a reason to enhance his story and fabricate about Clemens, and Novitsky is well known for extorting witnesses. There is your truth. Whatever Clemens is, he is entitled to fair process and NOBODY in the Balco investigation has gotten it. There is your truth. We are going over the same ground we have for years. Rehashing it here and now does nothing.
@bmaz:
The end:
My truth is Clemens lied.
Your “narrative” is that it is a dirty case.
I realize the Arizona connection with Grimsley, et.al. You have heard through your sources (not proven) that the “tactics” have
been rough. Your truth may or may not be the truth. Has Novitsky been indicted? Are you saying the SF reporters in the BALCO case are liars? Fucking Bond’s drug dealer refused to testify… can you prove in a court of law that your narrative is correct.
If you have evidence, you should “whistleblow” the case
What did you expect in a drug case… dirt is all over the place
Yes, I have seen some of the proof. And I expect the government to act appropriately and, if it does not, for its conduct to be a defense for the accused. Novitsky should be indicted and yes, there are several things the Williams and Fairnau-wada have wrong and/or underplayed. I have no specific reason to believe it was intentional or malicious.