Post Election Trash Talk

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Well here we are in the fifth day past the stunning election. That maybe was not that stunning at all. I don’t necessarily have anything to add at this point. Success has many fathers, and failure is an orphan. Right now there are a lot of fathers jockeying for power around Trump, and a hell of a lot of orphans pointing fingers about around the Clinton campaign and Democratic party. Well, that should go on for a while I guess.

But enough of that rot, let’s take a look at the sporting world:

As I write this, the Brazilian Grand Prix has just started on NBCSN. It is quite wet at Autodromo Interlagos, and the field started behind the safety car. Which is pitiful. F1 should either race in the wet (what they always used to do) or stop. Circling the track behind a safety car is asinine. Key race though for Lewis Hamilton, who is trying to close the championship gap to Nico Rosberg. One of these two men will be champion, Nico if he wins today, and, likely the winner of Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season. next week, if not.

A bunch of top ten teams lost in college football, including Michigan to Iowa and Clemson to Pitt. Didn’t see those coming, though Clemson has been flaky occasionally this year.

In the pros this week, the obvious marquee game is the Squawks at the Pats in Foxborough. Pats are healthy and even get fleet running back Dion Lewis back, though probably in a limited role. Russell Wilson still seems hobbled for running purposes, but is leading the offense well. Dallas at Pittsburgh should be interesting. Dak Prescott still pulling the trigger for the Boys, but is a question as to the Steelers. I expect Big Ben, but we shall see.

Denver at the Saints seems like it may be good. Saints are actually playing well lately, and they can score points. Can the Broncos and Trevor Siemian score enough to hang? After last week, it is suddenly a good question. Vikings at Skins is interesting to see only as to whether Minnesota can stop its slide. The knee jerk is to say the Vikings and their defense are the better team, but I’ll take Washington. Packers at Titans has the same morbid curiosity – Green Bay has looked horrid, can they get a grip again? Tennessee is still not very good, but they are improving. We shall see.

Music today is Sunday Mornin Comin Down. The song was really penned by Kris Kristofferson, but the Man in Black version by John Cash seemed more appropriate.

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40 replies
      • quebecois says:

        Charlie Whiting has not made one good decision under the rain in three years.  If they had looked at that and came up with intelligent policies, there’s a good chance that Bianchi would still be alive.

        • bmaz says:

          It has been terribly inconsistent. Frankly one of the things I have always loved about F1 the most is that they drive in the rain. But if you are not going to race, just stop, don’t eat up laps at a crawl behind the safety car. That is a joke.

  2. lefty665 says:

    The drama is back in D.C…. football, and other stuff too I hear.  Cousins has great stats. He threw for more than 450 yards against the Bengals in London and managed a tie. At a pay rate of around $19mm a year some churlish folks would like some touchdowns too.  2015 3rd round draft choice, running back Matt Jones, is on the bench (again) due to his continuing inability to hold on to the ball.  He’s been replaced by undrafted Rob Kelly. Pro bowl left tackle Trent Williams has started a 4 game suspension apparently generated in part by an NFLPA lawyer’s screw up that is uncorrectible. That and the Vikings blitzing may make for a long afternoon for Cousins.

    The ‘Skins are about 2 point favorites today. But, we’re as likely to see them help the Vikes on the road to recovery.  They are also vying with Philly for the basement in the NFC East.  We’re praying for the ‘Boys to put Romo in.

     

  3. bmaz says:

    Well, so the Titans attempted an onside kick on the opening kickoff against the Packers. The Pack recovered. So, that is something.

  4. bloopie2 says:

     
    As you said during Monday Night Football:  “The NFL is totally worthless. What pieces of shit the league and its refs have become. Absolutely ridiculous.”  Direct quote.  I don’t get it.  Why are we still giving it time attention and money?  Seriously, we have no better way to keep occupied?  What a bunch of losers.
     

    • bmaz says:

      Heh, thought about it, but then, what’s interesting about that game? Niners are terrible, and the Cards are mediocre at best this  year.

    • lefty665 says:

      But the real story is that Christie prosecuted and convicted Trump’s son in law’s father for tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions. Apparently the kid holds a grudge.

  7. Peterr says:

    If it’s post-election trash talk you want, the NBA seems to be the place to go:

    Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy:

    . . . We just elected an openly, brazen misogynist leader and we should keep our mouths shut and realize that we need to be learning maybe from the rest of the world, because we don’t got anything to teach anybody.

    It’s embarrassing. I have been ashamed of a lot of things that have happened in this country, but I can’t say I’ve ever been ashamed of our country until today. Until today. We all have to find our way to move forward, but that was — and I’m not even trying to make a political statement. To me, that’s beyond politics.

    You don’t get to come out and talk about people like that, and then lead our country and have millions of Americans embrace you. I’m having a hard time being with people. I’m going to walk into this arena tonight and realize that — especially in this state — most of these people voted for the guy. Like, (expletive), I don’t have any respect for that. I don’t. . . .

    Lots more from him at the link.

    Then there’s the Golden State Warriors coach, Steve Kerr:

    I thought it took a lot of guts for Stan [Van Gundy] to say what he did. I think a lot of us feel similarly. . . .

    I wish [Trump] well. I hope he’s a good president. I have no idea what kind of president he’ll be because he hasn’t said anything about what he’s going to do. We don’t know. But it’s tough when you want there to be some dignity and respect and there hasn’t been any, and then you walk into a room with your daughter and your wife, who’ve basically been insulted by his comments, and they’re distraught. And you walk in and see the faces of your players, most of them who have been insulted directly as minorities, it’s sort of shocking. It really is. We talked about it as a team this morning. I don’t know what else to say. It’s just the whole process which has left us feeling disgusted and disappointed. I thought we were better than this.

    Full transcript and video at the link above.

    • Peterr says:

      Deadspin also has a collection of NBA player reactions.

      I like Cleveland’s JR Smith, who posted a picture of his daughter with this caption:

      How do you explain to this face what happen? You can be a educated women in your field an not get the job because your a women or cause your black? How do you say “go try your best” even though it won’t be good enough. How do I even feel confident sending her on play dates knowing the kids family voted for the racist, sexist person an I don’t know how they will treat her when she’s gone. How? Seriously How? I understand let go and let God! But damn!

       

  8. William says:

    I’m tentatively optimistic about the Seahawks. Really going to miss Bennett, though. Think it’s going to come down to the run game, if Prosise can’t get it going (Michael is questionable) then I think we’re in trouble. Can’t have another game of 90+ defensive snaps.

  9. bmaz says:

    So, Peterr’s Chefs did some late cooking to beat the Panthers after being down big early.

    And the Packers are just moribund. Kind of felt this one coming.

    Skins pulled it out over the Vikes, even though Minnesota showed at least a sign of life.

    • lefty665 says:

      ‘Skins gave Bradford enough time to be good. He made a couple of longer passes that had a very nice and delicate touch, as opposed to Cousins who continued overthrowing almost everything beyond dink and dunk. Is it true the Vikes O line has not been able to stop defenses until the ‘Skins?

  10. Bay State Librul says:

    Bmaz

    Not sure what to say. Bannon was just named chief strategist

    I don’t care about the Pats anymore. I’m more worried about our nation.

    Is there anything we can do legally to prevent this?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    • Peterr says:

      No. Chief strategist is not a position for which Senate confirmation is required, nor (for that matter) is Chief of Staff. You can’t prevent it — it’s a done deal. All you can do is oppose what Bannon does.

      • What Constitution? says:

        It’s friggin’ Leo McGarry.  LEO McGARRY!  I’ve been mainlining West Wings for two weeks just to retain some sanity, and I’m now being told Trump has appointed a White Nationalist idiot to be Leo McGarry!  Even if for only a month, that’s just insane. First among many insane acts — yet both predictable and indeed predicted.  It’s just so, well, HAPPENING.

        Safety pins aren’t enough, of course — but they’re likely necessary if only for self-preservation.  No shoes, no shirt, no safety pin, no service.

        • What Constitution? says:

          oh, I feel so much relief this morning.  I learn that the guy actually being appointed as Leo McGarry (to WH Chief of Staff) is Lance Priebus.  The White Nationalist is “only” transitional.  So we got that goin’ for us — which is still pretty fucking crazy. But on balance, I’d rather have Lance Priebus as WH Chief of Staff than, say, Donald Trump as President.

          And then I learn there’s speculation about Laura Ingram for Press Secretary.  There’s a Leo DiCaprio movie in there somewhere.  Inception, not Wolf of Wall Street.

    • lefty665 says:

      Now you know how everyone else felt when Obama named f**king Emanuel as Chief of Staff.

      WC Not to be picky, but it’s Reince not Lance. Comes under the heading of know thy enemies.

      • What Constitution? says:

        Thanks.  Gotta stop taking pride in not being particularly familiar with this cast of characters.  My bad. Must have subconsciously been referring to Reince’s better-looking brother, Lance.

        • lefty665 says:

          No big deal. Afraid we’ll get all too familiar with too many of these mofos.

          They’re muttering about f**king Bolton at state for christ’s sake.  Another neocon warmongerer. Oh nevermind, it’ll be like Hillary again without the blonde dye, but he’s smarter about classified comm. Wonder if the Libyans are ready for another NATO air assault?

           

    • Peterr says:

      Well, there’s this from the AP this morning (emphasis added):

      Megyn Kelly says Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to give her gifts, including a free stay at one of his hotels, as part of what she called his pattern of trying to influence news coverage of his presidential campaign.

      In her memoir “Settle for More,” to be released Tuesday, Kelly says Trump may have gotten a pre-debate tip about her first question, in which she confronted him with his critical comments about women. Her book also details the insults and threats she received after Trump’s tirades objecting to her reporting. The Associated Press obtained an advance copy of the book Saturday.Kelly, host of Fox News Channel’s “The Kelly Report,” said Trump routinely attempted to gain favorable treatment from other journalists and commentators.

      “This is actually one of the untold stories of the 2016 campaign: I was not the only journalist to whom Trump offered gifts clearly meant to shape coverage,” Kelly said. He also attempted to woo them with praise, she said, adding, “This is smart, because the media is full of people whose egos need stroking.”

      It’s “one of the untold stories of the 2016 campaign,” Megyn, because you didn’t tell it at the time but saved it for your book.

      Does this answer your question?

      On the other hand, there’s Marcy. They don’t come any stronger than that.

    • lefty665 says:

      There is no more influential, highly compensated, propaganda arm of a national government, and purveyor of hysteria and conventional wisdom, anywhere in the world.

      It will be ironic if we end up having to thank Trump for making the MSM presstitutes honest again. However, I’m afraid flacking hysteria has been baked into yellow journalism from the get go. It still sells paper, and these days it attracts clicks too.

       

       

  13. Peterr says:

    You got elected president in a stunner of an election, but your pal from Access Hollywood lost his job for laughing with you. Poor guy. All that NBC Universal severance isn’t gonna last forever — it’s only a mere $10 million — so what’s he going to do next?

    Trump: Steve, my pal’s in a bit of a spot. Is there someone you can call to put in a good word for him?

    Bannon: I know just the outfit for a guy like him. Let me make a call or two . . .

    Of course.

  15. Bay State Librul says:

    I’m so fucking irate at Belichick. He’s a bully and pompous liar. Trump is the ultimate jocksniffer. As Charlie says, God save the Commonwealth!

  16. John Casper says:

    GOP’s moved so deep into fascism, it’s a crime Dems didn’t campaign behind Reagan’s 96-second video.

    “Collective Bargaining = Freedom”

    “These are the values inspiring those brave workers in Poland, the values that have inspired other dissidents under communist domination, who have been willing to go into the gulag and suffer the torture of imprisonment, because of their dissidence. They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost… They remind us that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. You and I must protect and preserve freedom here, or it will not be passed on to our children and it will disappear everywhere in the world. Today, the workers in Poland are showing a new generation how high is the price of freedom, but also how much, it is worth that price. I want more than anything I’ve ever wanted, to have an administration that will through its actions, at home and in the international arena, let millions of people know, that Miss Liberty, still lifts her lamp beside the golden door.”

    http://bloggingblue.com/2015/03/ronald-reagan-collective-bargaining-freedom-video/#comment-146867

    Isn’t connecting the current anti-worker GOP to the Soviet Union a lay-up?

    Ike was pro-union too.

    • bmaz says:

      Yes, he is right about young Verstappen, he made a thoroughly exhilarating charge from the back to land in P3 on the podium. In a way that has not been seen in a long time. That was about all that was good though. They should never c heat the audience with a third or more of the race being a lined up funeral procession behind a safety car. But, yes, Verstappen was THAT good.

  18. Rosalind says:

    sorry, S.D. Chargers, don’t think y’all will be moving up the road any time soon. L.A. Rams home tickets are already on the market at less than face value.

    NFL’s not only losing viewers…

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