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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

SI's Game of the Year
2006-12-20 07:13
by Jon Weisman

No surprise - it had to be the 4+1 game. And to top it all off, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated quotes Dodger Thoughts commenter Xeifrank in his story.

Dodger Stadium was refilling, and the fans were going berserk, a reaction that echoed through cyberspace. One blogger, following the game on mlb.com, reported with gleeful sarcasm, "GameDay seems to be broke. It keeps on saying every Dodger hitter is hitting a home run."

It was comment No. 604 in this Dodger Thoughts thread.

I wish Verducci hadn't gone the tired route of talking about fans leaving the game before the comeback, a route that writers only seem to take in Los Angeles even though it is wide open in every other ballpark in the U.S. (At least Verducci didn't say that only Dodger fans leave early.)

In any case, it's fun to relive the game - why wouldn't it be?

With the Dodgers down 9-8, Marlon Anderson, already with four hits, stepped to the plate. (Bruce) Bochy grumbled in mock humor, "I hope we try something other than a fastball here." But (Trevor) Hoffman threw another fastball. Anderson smacked it into the rightfield seats to tie the game. "It's got to be only 10 seconds after the last one, and I can hear all the pounding and yelling going on again," (Padres general manager Kevin) Towers says. "I'm thinking, What? A single? Maybe a double? I turn the channel. You've got to be kidding me!" ...

(Nomar) Garciaparra hit his home run at 2:05 a.m. Eastern time, with most of the country asleep. It didn't change the course of the season. Both teams finished atop the NL West at 88-74 and, thanks to the wild card, both made the playoffs. Yet the game was one of the most powerful reminders this side of October of why baseball gives the most breadth to possibility.

Comments (334)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2006-12-20 07:36:10
1.   Colehouse
And I was worried that they would pick Texas vs. USC.
It was a great choice - I love that it was more than just a regular season game in May (it had post-season implications), but that it didn't have to be a World Series game to be recognized.
2006-12-20 07:43:49
2.   katysdad
Not having an internet connection at home, I "watched" 4+1 (at 2 a.m. - I'm an east coaster) on ESPN's ticker. Every time the LA/SD game would come up in the rotation of games, the Dodgers were one run closer. Silent screams of joy so as not to wake the baby.

Then the top of the 10th and I "watched" the Padres go ahead by one. Silent screams of agony at LA's wasted comeback.

Then Nomar rocks the baseball world and I could contain myself no longer. I wake my wife and she smiles politely before going back to sleep. The next day I check Dodger Thoughts and relive the magic.

I had the same experience "watching" Steve Finley's walkoff, division-clinching Grand Slam against the Giants in 2004 on ESPN's ticker. What a frustrating way to keep up with a game. Nobody was home to babble to, so I called my brother in law. He wasn't home, but my sister agreed to listen to me go on and on.

2006-12-20 07:45:41
3.   Colehouse
As a personal choice the "4+1 game" would likely finish in a tie for game of the year. My other choice would have to be a CFL contest between Winnipeg and Edmonton. Winnipeg led late in the game until fumbling with under a minute left on their own 20 yard line. Edmonton goes into score to lead by one point. Winnipeg gets the ball back and on the last play of the game, Milt Stegall catches a pass at the midfield, breaks free and romps down the sideline for a 100 year touchdown. The Bombers win 25-20. Another 2006 classic.
2006-12-20 07:47:49
4.   Colehouse
Err make that a 100 yard touchdown!
2006-12-20 07:56:05
5.   Jon Weisman
1 - It was the baseball game of the year, not game of the year for all sports.
2006-12-20 08:03:15
6.   bhsportsguy
The other thing about that game was that it wasn't just the bottom of ninth that made it such a memorable night.

Again, the Dodgers were tied with the Padres for first place going into the game and before the seats got warm, they were quickly behind. But they clawed back and tied the game (for the first time that evening after trailing by 4 runs).

The bottom of 6th saw the frustration of loading the bases and then not scoring.

The reliable Broxton and Saito both had rough outings that saw the Padres take that 4 run lead.

But, despite all that, the large crowd (the Dodgers had set an all-time attendance record for a 4 game series that weekend) was buzzing and there was a sense that something could happen.

Finally, you know you love DT when despite being caught up in all the excitement at the Stadium, you think to yourself, "I wonder what is going on Dodgerthoughts right now?"

2006-12-20 08:35:54
7.   gpellamjr
6 Didn't winning that game tie the teams? I didn't think the Dodgers went ahead by a game with that win.
2006-12-20 08:39:27
8.   Vishal
[1] i don't know why people keep bringing up texas vs. usc. it wasn't that great a game, though there were a couple of neat highlight-reel plays. and to top it all off, the officiating controversy (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=jo-replay111006&prov=yhoo&type=lgns), suggest the outcome possibly wasn't the right one. and national powerhouse texas wasn't that big an underdog. just, not a great sports moment.
2006-12-20 08:40:08
9.   Vishal
xei, was your comment "gleeful sarcasm", as verducci suggests, or was it honest incredulity?
2006-12-20 08:47:07
10.   Bob Timmermann
After the game, the Dodgers were 79-71 and the Padres were 78-71.
2006-12-20 08:51:57
11.   Greg S
7 Nope they went ahead. Remember Scully's call? "Oh by the way, I forgot to tell you: the Dodgers are in first place"
2006-12-20 09:00:21
12.   still bevens
I still left this game early =(

We were at the game the Saturday prior when Billingsley came back and got absolutely shelled and we were down something like 8-1 in the 4th. That was the first game I left early all year and I guess it was contageous going into the regular week.

2006-12-20 09:09:53
13.   still bevens
I dont know if this was in the other thread, but some poor Angels fan gets smacked down in the Angels Q&A section of the LA Times.

Q: Why does the Los Angeles Times print so many more stories about the Dodgers? I hate the Dodgers. I'd prefer that The Times only write about the Angels.

Rob Simpson

A: Haven't discussed this with my sports editor, Rob, but my guess is that since the Dodgers draw more than 3 million fans annually, garner solid television ratings, have won five World Series titles in Los Angeles, have one of the game's greatest broadcasters in Vin Scully and are located in the heart of the paper's circulation area, which happens to be the second-largest market in the U.S., we might want to drop a few paragraphs about them into The Times every now and then.

2006-12-20 09:35:20
14.   Jason in Canada
Wow, another indicator that the best writers in baseball know where the best baseball blog is. Keep up the awesome work Jon.

(Oh...and hello Tom, I loved your piece last year on playing for the Bluejays..)

2006-12-20 09:55:07
15.   Midwest Blue
13

LOL, LOL, LOL.

2006-12-20 10:03:20
16.   still bevens
15 I feel bad to have mischaracterized this guy as a 'poor Angels fan' as I didnt read his intial letter close enough. 'Jerk Angels fan' is more apropos.
2006-12-20 10:27:10
17.   Bob Timmermann
No fan of any team likes the way their local paper covers the team. No fan of any team likes the way the beat writer works.

That's because the average fans want to read a newspaper that covers an event and has writers who reflect a viewpoint that is 99.5% in accord with theirs.

2006-12-20 10:32:38
18.   Jason in Canada
17 Yeah...?!? ..And the problem with that is...?
2006-12-20 10:34:08
19.   Xeifrank
whooohooo!!! I made SI.Com, now my resume is complete. How to get access to the article, subscribe$$$?

9. I'm pretty sure it was "gleeful sarcasm", as I am pretty much all about sarcasm. The gleeful part, I had to think about for a few seconds, but overall I am pretty gleeful about the description. It's just too bad he didn't quote one of my anti-tv/movie talk posts. Those are true classics! :)
vr, Xei

2006-12-20 10:36:45
20.   Bob Timmermann
I think most beat writers have a thick skin since a lot of the players and coaches they cover don't like them and then the people who read them don't like them.

And now the internet gives us all a place to make fun of them.

2006-12-20 10:39:36
21.   Greg Brock
Congrats to Xeifrank! So cool!
2006-12-20 10:51:29
22.   Daniel Zappala
I think you're all looking at this situation in reverse. The big honor is not that Xeifrank's comment was included in the SI article. The honor is that the SI article was linked from Jon's DT blog. I read DT way more than I read SI, therefore it has more influence and more prestige.

Congrats to Tom Verducci for getting his article linked. It would have meant even more if the article wasn't pay-per-view so that I could read it. Maybe one day I'll run across the magazine in a doctor's office and get a chance to read it, but I don't get sick much.

2006-12-20 10:54:17
23.   Xeifrank
is the article in the magazine too? Or just the "for your eyes only" online site?
vr, Xei
2006-12-20 10:55:49
24.   Bob Timmermann
22
Maybe one day I'll run across the magazine in a doctor's office and get a chance to read it, but I don't get sick much.

Well, you're cursed now. I hope your affairs are in order.

2006-12-20 10:56:51
25.   Daniel Zappala
24 I'm only cursed if they put me on the cover. Fat chance.
2006-12-20 10:58:40
26.   Ken Arneson
25 You're not on SI's cover, but you are on the cover of Time Magazine. Congratulations!
2006-12-20 10:58:48
27.   Disabled List
I haven't recieved this week's SI, but I'm pretty sure it's a "Best of 2006" issue. Verducci is the senior baseball writer at SI, and I doubt he going to pen an entire piece like that just for a small portion of the online readership.

It's great stuff. I still remember watching the game sorta-live the next morning on the mlb.tv archive.

2006-12-20 11:00:45
28.   TellMeTheScoreRickMonday
Note that Verducci forgot to add the "vr, Xei" footer in his quote.
2006-12-20 11:07:53
29.   JoeyP
I was checking out reviews for "We Are Marshall" over at rottentomatoes, and I dont think I can remember such contrasting opinions on a movie. Either people loved it or hated it.

I'll probably see it bc I'm a sucker for inspirational sports movies.

"Wildcats" was one of my favorite movies growing up, and its no classic by any means.

2006-12-20 11:08:42
30.   Midwest Blue
28 What does that mean anyway?
2006-12-20 11:10:49
31.   Marty
30 Very Respectfully

I believe

2006-12-20 11:12:12
32.   Greg Brock
30 Very Respectfully, Xei.

I thought we'd get a NVR during movie talk, but Xeifrank is always respectful, even when he wants to ductape our keyboards.

2006-12-20 11:16:13
33.   Midwest Blue
31,31 --

I'd never seen that before. I should try that. Maybe VTR (very truly yours) or RY (respectfully yours).

VTR, MB

2006-12-20 11:24:05
34.   Linkmeister
33 No disrespect to xei here, but why not "YIP?"

Yours in peace. ;)

It's got the advantage of being pronounceable.

2006-12-20 11:24:26
35.   ToyCannon
Not to twist any arms but you'd all be doing me a favor if you'd click on the "Chess in a Box" ad that is currently featured in the DT blog ad area to the right just below toaster.tv. Trying to win a bet and help a friend.
2006-12-20 11:25:04
36.   Terry A
Huh.

I always thought "vr" stood for "VORP Rules!"

2006-12-20 11:25:21
37.   ToyCannon
34
That is better then RIP:)
2006-12-20 11:27:03
38.   das411
Congrats XeiFrank! I just might have to go buy that issue now...if you and your family leave any copies for the rest of us, that is.

...and now you guys know I am not the only PSUer who hangs out here at Jon's house ;)

2006-12-20 11:29:22
39.   Greg Brock
35 Done and done
2006-12-20 11:31:53
40.   Marty
I clicked on both the read more and on the link the UCLA blood site. Not sure which one you wanted.
2006-12-20 11:47:28
41.   Midwest Blue
I just realized that "very truly yours" should have been VTY, not VTR.

DUH, MB

2006-12-20 11:50:51
42.   Johnson
41 I just realized that "very truly yours" should have been VTY, not VTR.

Oh. And here I thought it was Talk Like Scooby Doo day!

2006-12-20 11:59:11
43.   bhsportsguy
Again for fun, look at the summary of the dueling Padres/Dodger blogs during that game from Hardball Times article.

http://tinyurl.com/yje3n8

Not only was XeiFrank's entire entry quoted but many others. It does capture what was going on in the blogosphere.

2006-12-20 12:01:42
44.   bhsportsguy
43 Read that story and tell me that blogs like DT are not the best source of immediate analysis and emotional outbursts.
2006-12-20 12:02:31
45.   Jon Weisman
43 - Hmm - It may well be that that's where Verducci got it.
2006-12-20 12:35:10
46.   Sushirabbit
35 - World Chess Champion. Now that's Hot!
2006-12-20 12:36:19
47.   Jason in Canada
43What kind of name is Ducksnorts anyway? Sheesh...
2006-12-20 12:40:41
48.   Daniel Zappala
Also, I much prefer a blog that tends toward Beowulf references, rather than profanity, during a historic moment.
2006-12-20 12:46:11
49.   Eric Enders
I think the ideal blog would be one with profane Beowulf references.
2006-12-20 12:56:08
50.   Paul S
"In the other clubhouse the Dodgers were childish in their euphoria"

I'm hoping Verducci meant "childlike"

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2006-12-20 12:58:01
51.   Daniel Zappala
One of my favorite DT threads:

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/393628.html

Start at 115 and go to 136. Beware of extraneous, though not profane, Beowulf references.

2006-12-20 12:58:31
52.   Bob Timmermann
One of my biggest nightmares involved Rudy Law trying to give me a ham:
http://tinyurl.com/yn4muk

It was true!

2006-12-20 13:04:59
53.   D4P
52
How generous of the Dodgers to hand out food donated by someone else.

Three hundred preselected families received a complimentary holiday ham donated by Farmer John and fixings provided by Ralphs and Food4Less.

2006-12-20 13:17:16
54.   robohobo
51. How many commenters here were medieval literature majors in college? Or was 1000 year old poetry required reading in high school at every school but mine?
2006-12-20 13:25:32
55.   Jon Weisman
54 - I never read Beowulf - I just picture the Big Bad Wolf when I hear the name and it makes everything sound interesting.
2006-12-20 13:26:59
56.   Daniel Zappala
I think I read Beowulf in high school, but everything farther back than 10 years all starts to blur together.
2006-12-20 13:27:39
57.   robohobo
I had friend who majored in medieval literature. The only math class he needed to take to complete his coursework was entitled "Dealing with Math Anxiety" or something like that. I always thought that was pretty funny. Of course, now he is a computer network administrator.
2006-12-20 13:28:49
58.   Benaiah
56 - Everything blurs together. I find that I consume so much media that I need to return to something to remember more than broad details. Blogs really upped the ante by adding a thousands of words on every subject everyday.
2006-12-20 13:29:28
59.   Eric Enders
54 Yes to the second question. It was a staple of freshman English.
2006-12-20 13:40:12
60.   Robert Daeley
53 Ebenezer Scrooge! I was wondering when you were going to show up.
2006-12-20 13:43:14
61.   trainwreck
Everytime we refer to the game as 4+1 it makes me think of some boyband name.
2006-12-20 13:43:27
62.   robohobo
I just read on Wickipedia that Chrichton's "Eaters of the Dead" and the movie "The 13th warrior" were loosely based on Beowulf.
2006-12-20 13:48:34
63.   Bill Crain
62 Both of those highly recommended. The part of Grendel played by not-quite-extinct Neanderthals. This is not at all like Crighton's other writing, except maybe The Great Train Robbery.
2006-12-20 13:51:36
64.   Midwest Blue
I have no idea what you people are talking about.

Who likes ketchup on waffles?

2006-12-20 13:56:59
65.   Bill Crain
64
Dodgers -> Baseball -> Guys with sticks -> Beowulf -> Michael Crichton.
QED

But I'm pretty sure any waffles discussion would violate Rule #4.

2006-12-20 13:57:31
66.   robohobo
55. Sounds like when I used to think of a 70's rock band when I heard the name "Steppenwolf". Turns out is was first a interesting/strange novel by a German living in the early 1900s.
2006-12-20 13:59:54
67.   Marty
Beowulf was not on my junior high book list. But Grendel had just come out I think, and we had to read that. Sympathetic to the monster's point of view as I recall.

When you have to coddle the monsters in medieval literature, the terrorists have won.

2006-12-20 14:00:19
68.   Andrew Shimmin
64- Sounds like something from Sartre's cookbook.

http://pvspade.com/Sartre/cookbook.html

2006-12-20 14:07:43
69.   overkill94
61 Makes me think of Cartman's Christian rock band, Faith+1
2006-12-20 14:09:09
70.   still bevens
Beowolf is about to be a major motion picture directed or produced by Robert Zemeckis and starring Angelina Jolie.
2006-12-20 14:14:19
71.   Midwest Blue
Deadspin is featuring an absolutely horrendous 1987 video feturing Mets Gary Carter, Mookie Wilson, and Roger McDowell.

On the list of lazy pre-Christmas time videos to whittle away the remaining office hours with, this one might be the most cringe-inducing. It's part 1 of a half-hour "musical adventure" -- here's Part Two and Part Three -- involving the 1987 Mets, some extremely annoying children and a "nerd" who illustrates that the "Moneyball" debate has been going on for an awfully long time. Your actors are Gary Carter, Roger McDowell and Mookie Wilson.

Think Rockie Horror meets the Super Bowl Shuffle. It is nausea-inducing. Enjoy.

http://www.deadspin.com/

(scroll down a story or two)

2006-12-20 14:15:18
72.   Eric Enders
In this version, Beowulf becomes a football star playing for Bear Bryant and also invents the pet rock.
2006-12-20 14:20:22
73.   Midwest Blue
Further down in Deadspin, they have a great story on Mrs. Matsuzaka:

Because the former Miss Shibata is significantly older than Matsuzaka (she's 31, he's 26), she was viciously criticized in the Japanese media for "seducing" Matsuzaka when the couple began their liason in 2000 when he was only 19 years old. Because of the difference in their ages, they began dating in secret, and a huge scandal errupted when it came out that Matsuzaka's car had been towed for being illegally parked overnight in front of Shibata's house (it was such a big scandal that the Seibu Lions even suspended Matsuzaka for a few games).

Wow. Suspended by the team for sleeping over at your girlfriend's house? What would the Japanese do with Lindsay Lohan? Or Demi and Ashton?

(BTW: Did I mention that I get a fee for every person I link to Deadspin?)

2006-12-20 14:23:48
74.   Sushirabbit
73
(BTW: Did I mention that I get a fee for every person I link to Deadspin?)

No, but I think that violates rule 11.

2006-12-20 14:24:45
75.   Sushirabbit
Wasn't there some guy here spouting middle english the other day?
2006-12-20 14:25:31
76.   Humma Kavula
71 That is the greatest thing ever.

By which I mean, I threw up in my mouth a little.

2006-12-20 14:28:24
77.   Marty
Keep scrolling down on Deadspin. You'll get to a link of all the Rocky fights. I pity the fool who watches all of them.
2006-12-20 14:32:59
78.   bhsportsguy
75 Middle Earth Rules!
2006-12-20 14:36:55
79.   Jon Weisman
76 - Humma, this is not to single you out - the whole point of what I'm about to say is that many have been doing it.

But can we have an unofficial ban on the throwing up in your mouth line? It's just turning me off in a big way.

2006-12-20 14:38:07
80.   Humma Kavula
Sorry. It is a bit overplayed.
2006-12-20 14:46:36
81.   Midwest Blue
79
I think we've actually found the new Rule #11.
2006-12-20 14:48:38
82.   Jon Weisman
80 - No problem :)
2006-12-20 14:49:35
83.   Andrew Shimmin
Most days I don't, but today I kind of wish I'd ever gone to law school. It is deeply curious to me that people who had their computers potentially ruined by Sony are entitled to $7.50 and a free download from iTunes, and the State of California is entitled to 100,000 times that much (but no free downloads).

http://tinyurl.com/y6ttle

2006-12-20 14:49:59
84.   Jon Weisman
81 - I think the Rule #11 was the honorary Bluebleeder rule. So this can be #12.

What's wrong with me that I still think of #11 as Pat Haden and #12 as Joe Namath or Terry Bradshaw?

2006-12-20 14:52:34
85.   Midwest Blue
84

#11 Thou shall not post while drunk -- and brag about the experience?

2006-12-20 14:53:34
86.   Sushirabbit
79 to 82
I'm about to be able to have the line "I just got a little spitup on my shoulder". Baby due Dec 31st by C-section. Boy (we're pretty sure). Benjamin. Jon, was a close second, sorry 'bout that. Just kiddin' (would that get me in BoDT2?)
2006-12-20 14:55:28
87.   trainwreck
I think of Spinal Tap when I think of # 11.
2006-12-20 14:56:47
88.   Eric Enders
85 I thought it was thou shalt not post while pretending to be drunk.
2006-12-20 14:58:02
89.   Sushirabbit
87 Shhh. We're honoring Xeifrank today.
2006-12-20 14:59:42
90.   Jon Weisman
88 - 11b.
2006-12-20 15:00:35
91.   Midwest Blue
88

Right

vr, MB

2006-12-20 15:01:04
92.   Daniel Zappala
Spinal Tap is a fantastic movie and I still can't understand why my wife doesn't like it.
2006-12-20 15:01:59
93.   trainwreck
Joe Sheehan said he believes Zito will go to Angels because he heard he wants to stay out west.
2006-12-20 15:04:54
94.   Daniel Zappala
And yet the LA Times reports, directly from Stoneman, that they're not pursuing Zito. Since Zito is a Boras client, I'm expecting him to sign with whoever offers the most money.
2006-12-20 15:06:01
95.   trainwreck
94
Well I guess he is a Met waiting to happen. I do not think he wants to go to the Rangers.
2006-12-20 15:08:30
96.   Humma Kavula
92 I know what you mean, but not with Spinal Tap. The bride likes it well enough... but...

I love A Confederacy of Dunces, whereas my wife gets two paragraphs in -- the description of Igantius Reilly's clothes and his views on the ways others dress -- and quits every time. I can't figure it out.

2006-12-20 15:08:39
97.   Daniel Zappala
I likewise think he'll be a Met. Just a matter of them haggling over the deal once the market is set.
2006-12-20 15:09:38
98.   Sushirabbit
I hope KC outbids everyone for Zito.
2006-12-20 15:11:35
99.   Humma Kavula
98 A team could do worse than a starting rotation anchored by Zito and Hochevar.

And Meche, of course.

2006-12-20 15:11:43
100.   Midwest Blue
There's not much left out there for FA's is there?

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6290182

Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2006-12-20 15:14:16
101.   Daniel Zappala
Zito to KC would be hilarious.
2006-12-20 15:15:07
102.   Sushirabbit
Actually I think my next great family baseball adventure will be to KC.

VR,
Sushi

2006-12-20 15:39:05
103.   Eric Enders
Kansas City's a very cool place, the ballteam notwithstanding.
2006-12-20 15:42:16
104.   das411
HAHAHA that stat nerd in the Mets video mentions K/BB ratio!! Cool!

...does McDowell get to wear #42 again now that he is coaching for the Braves?

2006-12-20 15:43:45
105.   Greg Brock
102 If you go to KC, make sure to bring me back some good BBQ.
2006-12-20 15:47:03
106.   skybluestoday
Re: 92

I think Spinal Tap is just fundamentally a male thing. Though it is certainly sublime! I recently addressed the sublimity in a recent eBay posting (I'm selling a copy of the Criterion laserdisc):

http://tinyurl.com/tqyvd

2006-12-20 15:51:21
107.   Indiana Jon
Kansas City is a great place to watch a game. Nice park, good food, no crowd, bad team. My favorite ML park until I finally made it to Dodger Stadium this year.
2006-12-20 15:53:36
108.   Disabled List
So, the Sports Illustrated just arrived. Not only is the Verducci piece on the 4+1 game given a prominent spot in the year-end wrapup, but Xei's quote "Every Dodger Hitter is Hitting a Home Run" is the HEADLINE of the article.

I feel honored to share the same message forum as Xei.

vr, DL

2006-12-20 15:58:12
109.   Midwest Blue
Xei:

I'm so proud. It's like seeing my kid graduate from high school. Or hitting 11 on the amplifier.

vr, MB

2006-12-20 15:58:51
110.   robohobo
106. Tight leather pants, long hair and makeup are fundamentally male? How very confusing the 80's were.
2006-12-20 16:03:36
111.   skybluestoday
Re: 110

Haha! The 80s were horrible confusing, to be sure! Try growing up during such a time -- my goodness! "Tears For Fears" "Phil Collins" The mind boggles.

But "Spinal Tap" is still such a rocking-cool good time that holds up just fine nowadays in the Age of Irony.

2006-12-20 16:10:19
112.   D4P
The best thing about the 80s?

Leg warmers

2006-12-20 16:10:21
113.   trainwreck
111
Are you forgetting the 80's classic by Phillip Bailey and Phil Collins, Easy Lover.
2006-12-20 16:17:47
114.   Jason in Canada
Honestly, I come here for Dodger talk, but I think as much because you are some of the funniest strangers I know.
2006-12-20 16:19:00
115.   trainwreck
Best thing about the 80's?

Bruce Campbell

2006-12-20 16:32:49
116.   Xeifrank
Thank you all, I won't let this fame go to my head. I still consider myself one of the "guys", though Mrs USA did email me 20 minutes ago and I had to very respectfully say no to her party invitation. :) Also got another email offering me a great refi deal. I couldn't have done all of this without you, and a special thanks to Jon for not banning me for complaining about movie/tv talk pre-tv toaster. vvr, Xei
2006-12-20 16:37:29
117.   Greg Brock
We got TWO v's.

Xeifrank is a respectful celebrity. Not like that Crowe fellow.

2006-12-20 16:47:25
118.   Linkmeister
117 Or that Richards guy. Or that Gibson guy. Or...(shall I go on?)
2006-12-20 16:48:56
119.   skybluestoday
And Harold Faltermeyer... sigh. the 80s weren't too cool.
2006-12-20 16:49:24
120.   Shotupthemiddle
I see it coming- the day when everyone denies being at the 4+1 game, and instead insists they were present here when Xeifrank pecked out his famous post.

vr, Shot

2006-12-20 16:52:00
121.   Greg Brock
I guess when Time magazine said "YOU" they meant Xeifrank, not me.

Xeifrank is YOU. We're all just THEM OTHER GUYS.

2006-12-20 17:04:11
122.   Xeifrank
Maybe they should call it the VR game, instead of the 4+1 game. Shall we take a vote? Ok, I'll shut up now. See ya later.
vr, Xei
2006-12-20 17:06:41
123.   trainwreck
121
I wondered why I did not see myself in that mirror.
2006-12-20 17:08:08
124.   Andrew Shimmin
121 is a very useful post as I often confuse myself with Xei. I'm bookmarking this thread.
2006-12-20 17:18:27
125.   Daniel Zappala
Someday, instead of ranking the top Dodger players or the best movies of the 90's, we'll rank our favorite DT commenters. And then DT will have reached the nirvana of metablogging.
2006-12-20 17:18:33
126.   Jim Hitchcock
Anybody know if Eric Neel ever published the article on Vin Scully in which he e-interviewed several DT posters?
2006-12-20 17:25:19
127.   D4P
we'll rank our favorite DT commenters

My vote goes to oswald

2006-12-20 17:25:49
128.   trainwreck
127
lol
2006-12-20 17:25:58
129.   bhsportsguy
120 Never, I was there.

This is how addictive that game is to me, I am seriously considering paying $15.00 for off-season Gameday Audio, just to listen to that game until opening day.

I always buy regular season Gameday, plus I have XM Radio. I have the Russ Martin walkoff game still recorded on my portable player.

2006-12-20 17:27:32
130.   trainwreck
129
I have watched the end of the UCLA and Gonzaga game countless times on youtube.
2006-12-20 17:29:34
131.   bhsportsguy
125

In no particular order, aside from first

Bob Timmerman
Jon Weisman
NPurcell
ToyCannon
JoeyP
Xeifrank
Sam DC
Maury
Eric Enders
Andrew Shinmin
Greg Brock

2006-12-20 17:33:21
132.   Bob Timmermann
131
I didn't make the list. ;-)
2006-12-20 17:34:36
133.   bhsportsguy
132 I guess I need to think of it like the Johnny Mann singers.

Go google that now.

2006-12-20 17:36:00
134.   trainwreck
Good Pac-10 out of conference matchups tonight.

Right now Memphis vs AZ

Later LSU vs Washington

2006-12-20 17:51:18
135.   Vishal
[126] yeah, he did. i got a mention! i have a copy of the magazine at home for posterity.
2006-12-20 17:53:44
136.   Vishal
[131] maury? you mean marty? and i can't believe steve and bluebleeder don't make the cut.
2006-12-20 18:01:57
137.   gpellamjr
Alright ladies and gentlemen. You all have been arrogantly assuming that Greg Oden will be jumping ship at the end of the season, but here's what he has to say (from the-ozone.net:

Men's Basketball : During interviews today, freshman center Greg Oden was asked about how long he intended to stay at Ohio State. Oden answered "There's a very big chance I will be here four years." When asked if he really intended to be here four years he replied "Of course. I've got to finish college. That's what my Mom told me."

What possible reason would I, as an Ohio State basketball fan, have not to believe him?

2006-12-20 18:04:19
138.   trainwreck
137
Haha, well Matta does not expect it because he they have high ranking centers committed in the 07 and 08 classes.
2006-12-20 18:05:06
139.   trainwreck
*because they
2006-12-20 18:05:23
140.   Vishal
[137] the realities of opportunity cost.
2006-12-20 18:07:58
141.   trainwreck
Ohio St will be a top team without him for years, since they are recruiting so well. But if he were to stay they would be ridiculous.
2006-12-20 18:16:05
142.   trainwreck
Keeping Conley and Cook around for awhile, I think is the best chance they have of getting him to stay.
2006-12-20 18:18:28
143.   trainwreck
Someone should hire John Groce as head coach. He is a master recruiter.
2006-12-20 18:20:58
144.   Marty
That reminds me that in my last new-employee orientation, my name tag said Mary.

Any list without DzrtRatt on it is a flawed list.

2006-12-20 18:22:06
145.   Marty
I don't think Neel used any of my interview.
2006-12-20 18:31:00
146.   Bob Timmermann
People at work dropping like flies with a particularly nasty stomach bug that fells them for 3 days or more.

I ate dinner Sunday at a guy's house who is suffering from this now. I feel the icy specter of death hovering over me waiting to strike.

2006-12-20 18:32:58
147.   D4P
I ate dinner Sunday at a guy's house who is suffering from this now

Did you have any ketchup...?

2006-12-20 18:35:29
148.   Vishal
[145] sorry marty. i guess not everyone can be a blog-commenter-cum-sports-magazine-reference-point.

[high five to xei]

2006-12-20 18:41:58
149.   Icaros
The L.A. Times ran one of my DT comments awhile back but did not credit me.

Of course I blame Plaschke.

2006-12-20 18:42:56
150.   Bob Timmermann
147
Nope, no ketchup. The only condiment served was horseradish.

Nobody double-dipped. My girlfriend had this and I didn't get it. One guy in my office got it.

I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette. Most likely this disease will manifest itself on Sunday or Monday.

Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2006-12-20 18:44:19
151.   twerp
Jon Heyman's 10 best signings of the offseason has Wolf #1, Nomar #3, Matsuzaka #6, Schmidt #10, But Maddux #9...hmmm...

Says Nomar will wind up one of the most underpaid players of his generation===

http://tinyurl.com/y4ko3g

2006-12-20 18:47:30
152.   twerp
151 My link seems to go to page 2, not 1.

Backwardness has long been one of my problems.

2006-12-20 18:47:32
153.   trainwreck
Sean Casey #2?

I still think Dellucci was the best signing.

2006-12-20 18:49:25
154.   Jon Weisman
Hey, Neel didn't even ask me for a quote. I was nothing, no one, nobody :)

So, it looks like 4+1 is catching on as the name of the game? Unless anyone else has a prior claim, I think I came up with that.

2006-12-20 18:51:00
155.   Gen3Blue
I admit to being very old now but I did have about 8 years of "Spinal Tap" viewing parties at my house after about 5 years of "The Party" and 5 years of "The Producers".
I must admit I have not seen Steve Martins Inspector Clouseau or the new "Producers" for fear of seeing something wonderful ruined. Am I being too cautious?
2006-12-20 18:52:48
156.   Gen3Blue
154 I think 4+1 is it and I think it is yours.
2006-12-20 18:53:44
157.   D4P
Am I being too cautious?

No. Such remakes are shameless and should be avoided at all costs. I still can't believe music "artists" can remake someone else's song and make millions doing so.

2006-12-20 18:54:16
158.   trainwreck
It is hard to find movies these days that are not remakes.
2006-12-20 19:01:03
159.   Marty
So, some Plano Texas outfit that was selling the most expensive chocolate in the world has been exposed as a fraud:

http://tinyurl.com/ynfup6

Next thing they'll be telling us that Snook doesn't make it's own chicken-fried bacon.

2006-12-20 19:02:00
160.   trainwreck
lol there is such thing as chicken fried bacon
2006-12-20 19:05:28
161.   Vishal
[157] i'm still bitter about natalie imbruglia's absolute butchery of the song "torn", by a band that i really liked, ednaswap, that nobody's really heard of.
2006-12-20 19:08:19
162.   D4P
161
Perfect example. She comes out of nowhere, sings someone else's song (and no doubt has her voice "digitally remastered" to make it sound better), becomes rich and famous, then disappears.

Did she write the song? No. Did she play any instruments? Not that I know of. Could pretty much anyone do what she did? Yep.

2006-12-20 19:09:21
163.   trainwreck
At least she married the lead singer of Silverchair.
2006-12-20 19:12:04
164.   D4P
At least she married the lead singer of Silverchair

Is that all women are good for? Marriage, barefootedness, and pregnancy?

2006-12-20 19:14:02
165.   Jon Weisman
Fourth quarter tally: Lakers 34, Timberwolves 7.
2006-12-20 19:16:10
166.   D4P
165
The only non-zero entries in Mark Madsen's line score are a 5 in the MIN column and a 2 in the PF column.
2006-12-20 19:18:06
167.   Jon Weisman
I'd say that's his most common line.
2006-12-20 19:18:27
168.   bhsportsguy
154 Jon, I definitely recall you writing that but I just scanned through the 1500 or so posts and have not found it yet.
2006-12-20 19:19:04
169.   Icaros
That was an absolute avalanche 4th quarter for the Lakers. And it was done entirely by the second unit. Kobe didn't enter until less than 3:00 remained.
2006-12-20 19:20:03
170.   Jon Weisman
168 - I didn't come up with it the night of the game. I just came up with it because it didn't seem like we had a definitive name for the game, and this was pretty good shorthand I thought.
2006-12-20 19:29:27
171.   Andrew Shimmin
Dr. John didn't write Iko, Iko (or Junko Partner, or Blow Wind, Blow), but I'm glad he covered them, and happy to pay to hear his covers. Coltrane didn't write Greensleeves. Eta James didn't write I'd Rather Go Blind. . . The world would be poorer if musicians had to write all their own music; it's poorer, too, for some of the covers done, but that's no reason to write the whole thing off. This is like judging a pitcher on his W-L record.
2006-12-20 19:29:36
172.   GoBears
157 I still can't believe music "artists" can remake someone else's song and make millions doing so.

That comment makes me feel old, D4P. I mostly listen to Jazz, and vocal jazz is almost nothing but covers of "standards" - singers giving their own versions of songs that everyone has performed. Someone wrote them. Someone performed them first, but it almost never matters. And I think the last new standards have been "New York State of Mind," and "Time after Time," neither written by jazz artists. Most of the rest are from the 40s and 50s, many even earlier.

Some rock classics have been covers as well. Doesn't bother me a bit. If the new performance is good, it's good. If it's not, it'll fade away, and the earlier version will re-emerge.

What I hate is bad remakes of bad movies/songs.

2006-12-20 19:33:20
173.   Marty
For example, I like the remake of "Stop Breakin Down" by the White Stripes.
2006-12-20 19:36:25
174.   gpellamjr
171 Have you ever been asked to read a passage and then tell the asker how man times the letter "f" occurs, only to be shocked when you find out that you did not count the "f"s in the word "of" because your brain registers it as a "v"? That is precisely how I feel every time you write something to counter something said by D4P (that is not to say that you don't do it often). For some reason my brain registers "Andrew Shimmin" and "D4P" as the same handle.

On that note, I agree with you. Where would this world be without Bob Dylan's version of "House of the Risin' Sun"? Or even Roger Waters' version of "Across the Universe"? Okay, maybe I could do without the latter.

2006-12-20 19:37:22
175.   GoBears
Ooh. 9 seconds less edgy than Shimmin.

Of course, it's hard to be both edgy and stodgy at the same time.

And really, Andrew, I was sure you were going with "My Favorite Things" for Coltrane.

2006-12-20 19:42:02
176.   GoBears
I will qualify my smack down of D4P with the following. I am no fan of pop singers who do nothing but cover others' hits. Michael Bolton, and back in the day, cheeseballs like John Davidson (remember him?) or any actor or actress who was a guest on Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, or Dinah Shore.

Man, I am old. A few other commenters have some years on me, but I might still be older (and none the wiser).

2006-12-20 19:42:12
177.   Andrew Shimmin
175- Yeah, but the score from Sound of Music is Brock's territory; I didn't want to intrude.
2006-12-20 19:43:38
178.   Icaros
Sebastian Bach recorded a version of "Children of the Damned" that destroys the Iron Maiden original.

And Johnny Cash owed nearly his entire revival to covers.

2006-12-20 19:44:32
179.   Andrew Shimmin
174- D4P as my dopplegänger? I can see it. Thankfully, it means we have to be especially careful to never see each other in person. Which works out.
2006-12-20 19:45:12
180.   Marty
I think you're younger than me GoBears. So you got that going for you...
2006-12-20 19:49:53
181.   Steve
Shatner - Lucy - Diamonds.

Awesome to behold.

2006-12-20 19:49:58
182.   Vishal
[164] D4P is just asking for it now.
2006-12-20 19:53:34
183.   Icaros
182

He feels like since he defeated the grim reaper in a game of checkers, he can just do whatever he wants from here on out.

Kinda sad, really.

2006-12-20 19:55:00
184.   Vishal
i'm not against covers in general. mainly i just hate when people butcher other people's songs and get famous for it.

i think there are some GREAT covers as well, however. some better than the original. for example, i just came across jose feliciano's version of "california dreamin'":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgJL3C_BC0

2006-12-20 19:56:21
185.   trainwreck
It is hard for me to listen to California Dreamin after watching Chungking Express.
2006-12-20 20:00:35
186.   Andrew Shimmin
D4P probably thinks this is funny:

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/12/19/problem-solved/

2006-12-20 20:03:20
187.   Steve
But Shatner's cover of Common People rocks.
2006-12-20 20:07:54
188.   Vishal
[187] i kinda like pulp, and i agree that shatner's version is awesome.
2006-12-20 20:08:18
189.   Icaros
I've been working on a dirge-y cover of "Summer of '69" lately.
2006-12-20 20:12:28
190.   Charenton
The ultimate for a jazz musician is to reappropriate a standard to the point where the tune becomes his. Go Bears, the Belgian Beer connoisseur(I assume that he doesn't put ketchup on his French Fries…), mentioned 'My Favorite Things': Coltrane has owned that tune for 45 years now. Bill Evans 'owns' My Foolish Heart. And, "My Romance": i.e. the definitive version, or 'cover'. Since 1939, Coleman Hawkins has been the proprietor of 'Body and Soul' - there have many many versions of the tune since then but all are in hommage to his version…(whether they know it or not…) And the Yankees "own" Pedro Martinez…
2006-12-20 20:14:10
191.   GoBears
180. Yeah, Marty. You were born before I was. But I'm still older. More curmudgeonly and stuff. Your White Stripes (173) are showing.
2006-12-20 20:15:33
192.   trainwreck
Oh my god...

http://tinyurl.com/yb7pcc

2006-12-20 20:15:45
193.   GoBears
190. Nice...
2006-12-20 20:17:26
194.   overkill94
185 Hey, the one foreign movie I've seen in...a long time. It was pretty good, but I still can't stand subtitles.

One of the worst cases of a band getting famous for a cover song was The Ataris doing "Boys of Summer". The song sounds pretty much exactly the same except they change "Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac" to "Black Flag sticker..." and for some reason everyone ate it up.

Then again, there's UB40's "Red Red Wine" which took an already good song (Neil Diamond did the original) and make it a classic. Well, to me at least.

2006-12-20 20:19:30
195.   overkill94
192 That girl has to be missing a few vertebrae
2006-12-20 20:22:15
196.   trainwreck
Washington is going to be a big problem for UCLA.
2006-12-20 20:29:39
197.   Disabled List
I love the version of "I Walk the Line" in those Levi's commercials. Can't find that particular song online anywhere, but the vocals are by Megan Wyler and Adam Ilhan, neither of whom I've ever heard of before.

It's a terrific cover, and I say this as a huge Johnny Cash fan.

2006-12-20 20:30:46
198.   overkill94
Arizona's success against UCLA will hinge on how Afflalo and Shipp are shooting from the outside. Arizona doesn't defend physical big men very well, but UCLA's big men aren't very offense-minded. UCLA defends the post well, but Arizona is mostly a slashing team with good shooters at every position. Arizona gives up a lot of open 3's when they're in their zone, but they might have to switch to man against UCLA.
2006-12-20 20:36:01
199.   trainwreck
AZ plays so wide open that I think they will start to get in trouble when they play UCLA's defense. They rely a lot on individual skill and that will be a problem against the Bruins.
2006-12-20 20:36:13
200.   Bob Timmermann
Slate's most recent sports article says that all NCAA basketball should be abolished and replaced by AAU basketball because it's pure and NCAA coaches are just blowhards.

They've been on a real basketball kick there. They recycled another article about why fighting is good for the NBA.

Slate also had an article about why diving is a good tactic for soccer.

The bigger question is: why do I read Slate? I hate them so.

Slate will likely run an article telling us that the best baseball game of the year was Tampa Bay's 7-3 win over Texas on August 23.

Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2006-12-20 20:37:25
201.   trainwreck
AAU basketball is pure?

That may be one of the dumbest things I have ever read.

2006-12-20 20:40:10
202.   Bob Timmermann
The author does admit that AAU ball does have a few image problem, but also says this:

"Another point in AAU's favor is that the talent is homegrown. Rooting for State U is pretty much the same as cheering for a pro team, considering that your favorite school's roster is more likely to be stocked with guys from Croatia than with instate kids. Let's say you live in Atlanta. Does it make more sense to root for the Atlanta Celtics—an AAU program that recently produced Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, and Randolph Morris—or the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, whose top players of recent vintage are all from out of state? There should be no debate: If you want to support local hoopsters, then go with AAU. These teams comprise boys and girls who attend your church and bag your groceries. You know them, and they know one another: It's not for nothing that Jalen Rose's 13-and-under AAU squad was called Team Superfriends."

2006-12-20 20:45:35
203.   trainwreck
Kevin Love played for the So Cal All Stars. Last time I checked, Oregon was not in Southern California.
2006-12-20 20:47:01
204.   Greg Brock
The bigger question is: why do I read Slate?

For the same reason I do Madlibs online. Because reading utter nonsense is very entertaining.

http://tinyurl.com/kd8jq

2006-12-20 20:47:51
205.   Bob Timmermann
But I have finally solved the problem of how to log in and leave comments there.
2006-12-20 20:50:09
206.   Vishal
who cares where the kids are from. unless you are friends with them yourselves, does it really matter?
2006-12-20 20:51:32
207.   Daniel Zappala
I will definitely be more invested in the Dodgers this year with all those kids spurning big dollars and deciding to come home to play for their childhood favorite team.
2006-12-20 20:54:36
208.   Bob Timmermann
Do people go to basketball games (or really any other sporting event) above the youth level just because they like watching the sport for the sport's sake?

Don't people want to have a rooting interest? Don't people like to go to college basketball games because they have some connection to the college?

2006-12-20 20:56:42
209.   Andrew Shimmin
There's a joke in here, something about Mick Jagger, but I can't find it. Good on her, though. I'll never graduate from the London School of Economics.

http://tinyurl.com/y9te87

2006-12-20 20:57:22
210.   Daniel Zappala
208 Yes, if I can get tickets to the NCAA tourney, I would go regardless of any rooting interest. I would likewise attend just about any "good" sporting event that came to town (or if I was in town on business) -- I define good as both teams being good/intersting, such as a Yankees-Sox game, or Steelers-Patriots, or even Dallas-Phoenix.
2006-12-20 20:58:01
211.   thinkingblue
Schmidt is seen as a little soft by some East Coasters who think he's happy to coast out West.

I thought that was an odd line, but if that's true, than those "East Coasters" are nothing but a bunch of ignorant sports talking heads.

But then again, Heyman was probably just using that line as a filler in his article, as it doesn't make any sense.

2006-12-20 20:59:59
212.   Greg Brock
Schmidt had a reputation for being non-competitive on the Pirates, before he went out to San Francisco. Even among his teammates.
2006-12-20 21:02:23
213.   Sushirabbit
192
Get that girl some chicken-fried-bacon!

I got the feeling that was in Beijing, Vishal. You might want to see that in person.

Etta James has a special place in my heart. I've tried to verify this, but I believe that it was 1988 at Ella Guru's in Knoxville, and she singled me and my grilfriend of the time out for our dancing. Earlier that year, I'd been out to LA and after traveling for hours was hugging and kissing on this same GF, and some guy was waiting behind us at a gas station. I apologized and he said something like "young man, if I had that to hold onto I'd savor every minute of it. Don't you worry about me."

Ella Guru's, by the way, is historical now. Hard to believe Ashely Capps went through the same Philosophy dept I did! Somewhere I have all the tickets of almost all the shows they had. John Lee Hooker, Etta, Buddy Guy, Wynton, Garth Brooks (see "the old stuff"), Prine, the Neville Bros, Richard and Linda Thompson (during or immediately after breakup), Capercaille, Roy Bookbinder, Roger McGuinn, Leon Ruseell, on and on. Ah the days of the Lame Monkey Manifesto and Spike Gillespie... Sort of like Cheers, with awesome bands everynight.

2006-12-20 21:02:45
214.   thinkingblue
non-competitive on the Pirates,

I can understand why.

2006-12-20 21:08:11
215.   Vishal
[208] yes. but does it matter to me if the college player came from the same town? no, all that matters is he goes to my school now. i don't really care that mike lieberthal is a hometown guy. i'll root for him because he's a dodger.
2006-12-20 21:08:25
216.   bhsportsguy
Went back and watched the fateful 10th.

After Nomar hits his game winning 2-run homer and Vinny says the Dodgers win 11-10, he does not say anything for 1 minute and 24 seconds then he says "By the way, the Dodgers are in first place."

Could anyone else broadcasting a game stay quiet for that long?

2006-12-20 21:09:18
217.   Bob Timmermann
The whole West Coast is "soft" and East Coast is "tough" is one of the dumber aspects of sports.

Ben Howland supposedly brought "East Coast" basketball to UCLA, although he started coaching on the West Coast and learned much of his style at hardscrabble UCSB.

The NBA tries to use that distinction too. In the 1980s, the Lakers were the "soft" ones compared to the "tough" Celtics.

Just a bunch of hooey.

2006-12-20 21:10:41
218.   underdog
Tim Brown has a nice little piece on Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka on Yahoo.
http://tinyurl.com/ycasop

Talks about how while Gagne's fastball will likely never be what it once was, his changeup is so good that he could still have a Trevor Hoffman-ish career.

And also:
"Gagne is an incredible teammate, often offering spare bedrooms to rookies and other newcomers. Russell Martin and Jason Repko are recent boarders. He even took Joe Beimel out for a couple beers in New York City, which, granted, did not work out so great for the Los Angeles Dodgers."

2006-12-20 21:10:46
219.   gpellamjr
216 It was beautiful and powerful and that's why I'm so ashamed that I forgot about it earlier.

By the way, when does the 10 most hated posters list come out? I've gotta get some recognition somewhere.

2006-12-20 21:12:21
220.   underdog
217 That's hilarious. Have people actually said that about Howland? That he brought tough East Coast basketball to UCLA? Sheesh. As one who watched the early part of his career at UCSB as an assistant, it makes me roll my eyes. God forbid someone should actually come from the West Coast and know what they're doing. As Daffy Duck once said, it is too laugh.
2006-12-20 21:13:06
221.   underdog
Except with one less "o."
2006-12-20 21:16:27
222.   Andrew Shimmin
219- I strongly suspect I made bhsportsguy's top 10 because he's seen how successful I've been at fomenting libel. Which makes me a little sad. And giddy with power!
2006-12-20 21:17:14
223.   Bob Timmermann
Grant Wahl of SI.com mailbag question: 11/29/06

Am I the only one who thinks Ben Howland is the best coach in college hoops these days? That's an East Coast team out there on the left coast.
-- Tom Tuchscher, New York City

N.Y. Times, Pete Thamel, 3/24/2006

By scurrying back from deficits as large as 17 points in the regional semifinals of the N.C.A.A. tournament, U.C.L.A. showed that its East Coast style of basketball can reign on the West Coast.

(I'll ignore the NY Times style that requires periods in UCLA. They also require periods in USC. I hate this.)

2006-12-20 21:25:51
224.   Steve
Since it came up:

after about 5 years of "The Party" and 5 years of "The Producers".

The Producers is of course the best comedy not named Cabin Boy ever made. A group of us in our college days rented The Party, though, and found it...um...dated.

2006-12-20 21:26:13
225.   popup
Congrats to XFrank. It would be great if the LA Times would hire him as the paper's new movie critic.

Back in 1961 the Mets hired Rogers Hornsby to scout major league games to give the organization his opinions about players in advance of the 1962 expansion draft. The most glowing report Hornsby submitted that summer was "looks like a major league player." He made that comment about Mickey Mantle. I figure XFrank would be the Rogers Hornsby of movie critics.

Stan from Tacoma

2006-12-20 21:30:22
226.   Eric Enders
223 But they make up for it by referring to the creator of Paradise By the Dashboard Light as "Mr. Loaf."
2006-12-20 21:32:23
227.   Bob Timmermann
225
xeifrank probably gambles a lot less than Rogers Hornsby did.

That's not hard to do.

Even adjusted for inflation.

2006-12-20 21:44:43
228.   Disabled List
223 That's one of my biggest pet peeves about the NY Times (among many). They also used to have an incredibly annoying style of dropping the 2nd letter in a numerical ordinal beginning with 2 or 3. For example: "the 2d letter", "on 3d down", "their 22d win of the season", etc.

Newsweek did this for a while too, IIRC.

2006-12-20 21:45:41
229.   Marty
If you are a Peter Sellers fan, The Party is good. But, it IS dated.
2006-12-20 21:52:54
230.   El Lay Dave
226 Mr. Loaf is not a creator, but merely "covers" Jim Steinman's songs. (A Todd Rundgren production, lest you forget.)
2006-12-20 21:54:28
231.   Greg Brock
I had to pass this along, from Toaster reader Strike4 who originally posted it at The Griddle. Amazon reviews of David Eckstein's new book:

http://tinyurl.com/yaz5nb

2006-12-20 21:59:08
232.   das411
And for the deadspin denizens on here, how long until some brave DTer steps up and produces a Colletti version of this?

http://childressmustache.com/

2006-12-20 22:03:43
233.   El Lay Dave
231 I seem to recall a link to that here on DT on the 8th or 9th maybe? Probably not coincidentally, the firejoemorgan dudes had it linked on 12/11
http://firejoemorgan.blogspot.com/
2006-12-20 22:07:56
234.   Greg Brock
231 Of course, Bob put that link in his Griddle post so, you know, I'm kind of stupid.

But you knew that.

2006-12-20 22:12:23
235.   El Lay Dave
231 Ah ha! On 12/11 Post #155 by D4P.
http://tinyurl.com/y85wg6
2006-12-20 22:21:17
236.   El Lay Dave
208 I probably need a rooting interest to plunk down my money to warm a stadium seat. But I haven't attended an NFL game in 33 years, have no rooting interest, but still consider myself a fan. I find that the longer we in L.A. have been without a "hometown" team, I follow the entire league as if it were the biggest reality show of all-time (which it is). My rooting interests can vary from season to season or game to game - or from bet to bet - depending on the situations, or I can just hope to watch a well-played football game.

Except that I will never root for the Dallas Cowboys.

2006-12-20 22:24:45
237.   Strike4
235 I plead ignorance of past citations here. The grittier posts came after the 11th.
2006-12-20 22:28:51
238.   El Lay Dave
237 Yes, but is Eckstein edgy?
2006-12-20 22:30:12
239.   Vishal
[219] unfortunately i've gotta wait till they come out with the "commenters who post a lot but still say nothing interesting" list.
2006-12-20 22:36:25
240.   Greg Brock
239 You would not be on such a list.
2006-12-20 22:40:36
241.   gpellamjr
240 That's true, but I would. Surely that's what he meant.
2006-12-20 23:01:33
242.   Bob Timmermann
Horrible stomach problems stalk my family:

http://tinyurl.com/yf9plt

2006-12-20 23:05:24
243.   trainwreck
242
My plan failed Brock they got sick the next day.
2006-12-20 23:05:59
244.   trainwreck
Knowing my fellow Gauchos it was probably just alcohol poisoning.
2006-12-20 23:06:45
245.   Greg Brock
Poor St. Louis. I'm sure they'll be the most knowledgeable, friendly, and dedicated mystery illness victims in all these United States.
2006-12-20 23:12:22
246.   Bob Timmermann
245
I was told details by my brother. He was among the 33 "lucky" ones.

He was down for two full days.

I'm still waiting to get some stomach flu. If half the people at work are getting it and one of them cooked me food this week, then I'm doomed. DOOMED.

But I will die, as I lived, wearing a green shirt, a catcher's mask, and dancing the Can Can.

2006-12-20 23:15:19
247.   Greg Brock
You can't die, Bob. I haven't sneaked into the library to ask you a series of inane questions for my own amusement yet.
2006-12-20 23:20:47
248.   Bob Timmermann
247
We'll have IM reference soon, so you don't even have to come by.
2006-12-20 23:23:25
249.   trainwreck
Bob will be asking Santa tor bowel regularity.
2006-12-20 23:23:33
250.   trainwreck
*for
Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2006-12-20 23:27:00
251.   Greg Brock
Bob, I'm putting together a classroom website and I was wondering if you can think of any really great history/government links to add. You know, being a research type and all. I have a few, but any input would be appreciated.

I've also been learning html code. What a wonderful way to spend your time off {bangs head}.

2006-12-20 23:30:05
252.   Bob Timmermann
http://www.lapl.org/resources/inet/politics.html

http://www.lapl.org/resources/inet/history.html

2006-12-20 23:32:52
253.   Andrew Shimmin
248- This is the greatest news of all time. Are you a little worried the lonely old people will spend hours online asking you questions, just to pass the time? And the pranking, oh the pranking you'll get!
2006-12-20 23:32:58
254.   trainwreck
One of my high school history teachers played guitar and sand us Bob Dylan songs and played us Bullworth. He also used to give us a lot of free days and barely had any tests.

I have a feeling Brock will never be like this.

2006-12-20 23:35:48
255.   trainwreck
*sang
2006-12-20 23:37:10
256.   Greg Brock
252 Great. I just added them.

Thanks

2006-12-20 23:44:06
257.   Greg Brock
Brock will not be showing Bullworth. Brock hates Warren Beatty.

They can watch The Candidate instead.

2006-12-20 23:48:04
258.   Bob Timmermann
Lonely people ask the library questions over and over and over in other media, so IM will just be another way for them to get in touch.

There's always IP blocking.

2006-12-20 23:56:37
259.   bhsportsguy
258 But Bob, what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers.

Doesn't he deserve better?

Doesn't that kid have a right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on Bob, maybe that's how you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies...

2006-12-21 00:08:35
260.   Bob Timmermann
259
That character was based on a real person.
2006-12-21 00:14:41
261.   Greg Brock
Is that the book detective from Seinfeld?
2006-12-21 00:16:51
262.   Bob Timmermann
261
Yes, that was one of Bookman's speeches during that episode.
2006-12-21 00:17:08
263.   Greg Brock
259
I just the-googled it. It is.

Hilarious. Well done.

2006-12-21 00:45:05
264.   overkill94
259 I'm so ashamed of myself that I didn't pick up on the reference. I will now punish myself to the tune of five soup dinners with Bania (Banya? Bana with the spanish tilde over the n?)

Just for Xeifrank, I watched Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me tonight and wow was it horrible. David Lynch can make some fine cinema from time to time, but this was definitely not one of those times.

2006-12-21 01:00:03
265.   Greg Brock
264 garmonbozia
2006-12-21 03:50:17
266.   Sam DC
Joe Cocker did OK with the covers.
2006-12-21 04:02:14
267.   Sam DC
Nationals re-signed Robert Fick as backup C/1B/Jerk.

Also, a nice piece by the Nats beat writer on the team's only major Dominican signing, a 16 yr old SS prospect named Esmailyn Gonzalez, and on the Domincan buscones system overall. http://tinyurl.com/yzycco

2006-12-21 06:25:58
268.   D4P
Regarding "covers": I don't mind so much when an established artist (who became established by singing their own material) covers another song or two. What I have a problem with is people who come out of the woodwork and find great success by releasing a remake as their first (and possibly only) single/hit.

Have they no shame...?

2006-12-21 06:52:07
269.   Gen3Blue
Many covers fail to come up to the original and explore nothing new. There are exceptions however. Also with a large time interval in between, they work better. Two good examples are Spooky covered by Atlanta Rythm Section and Tell Her No with Santana IMO.
2006-12-21 07:17:56
270.   Sushirabbit
269 Nice example with Spooky. Van Morrison could cover songs by Mister Rogers and make them better. All along the watchtower should be all that needs to be said on the matter. For me that pretty much confirms God's existence. Well having a kid helps... but that could just be explained by hormones and exhaustion.
2006-12-21 07:20:40
271.   Sushirabbit
Went back and re-watched 4+1 last night on Tivo. Julio Lugo, professional rally killer! Really got a chuckle out of that.

I'd forgotten what a roller-coaster of a game that was, too.

2006-12-21 07:57:44
272.   Moon Shot
251

Here are some that I use. Don't know if it is what you are looking for.

http://countrystudies.us/united-states/

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/index.cfm

http://www.historyplace.com/index.html

http://harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByTheme.asp

http://www.beyondbooks.com/bbsuites/gov91.asp

http://infotree.library.ohiou.edu/bysubject/social-sciences/political-science/elections-and-campaigns/

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/CourtCases.htm

2006-12-21 08:01:25
273.   Dodger Tony
Could someone please post the Tom Verducci article here, or tell me where I can read it without having to subscribe to SI.Com. I am really interested in reading it.
Thanks.
2006-12-21 08:11:35
274.   Jon Weisman
273 - Sorry, we don't post full articles from other sources without permission.
2006-12-21 08:23:08
275.   JJoeScott
251 - You didn't mention what ages/grades, but here's a link to my daughter's elementary school's site where the computer teacher has posted some good links: http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/emerson/index2.htm
2006-12-21 09:04:32
276.   Steve
I thought I had been exposed to irony in my day, but I have finally read the tipping point. We now officially live in the post-ironic world. I hope it doesn't look like Children of Men.
2006-12-21 09:08:38
277.   DodgerHobbit
more ironic than Trump saying Rosie has an unattractive mouth?
2006-12-21 09:24:33
278.   Curtis Lowe
Thirteen-Johnny Cash

Best Cover Everrr.

2006-12-21 09:41:08
279.   Andrew Shimmin
268- So now you want to start checking credentials before permitting covers? Rod Stewart's (this is a problematic example, since though many people would, I have no trouble calling him a one hit wonder, and saying that the hit was:) Stay With Me is the only song of his I like, and he didn't write it. But it's a good cover.

All musicians play other people's music when they're young. This is very good, because their music wouldn't be any good. Their covers are often bad, too. Listen: most music is bad. Most poetry is bad. What you seem to be against is lottery winners, which is fine as far as that goes, but you're a little strident about it. Is Norman Greenbaum that much more deserving of tons of cash than the twig-boy who just got done covering Brock's favorite song, More Than Words?

2006-12-21 09:42:17
280.   Nagman
Speaking of covers... while I could somewhat understand the whole "standards" thing with Rod Stewart, he's taken it one (obnoxious) step further:

http://tinyurl.com/yxemp6

2006-12-21 09:54:00
281.   Icaros
278

Originally penned by Glenn Danzig, my former teenage idol.

2006-12-21 09:56:58
282.   Bob Timmermann
In Poland, Glenn Danzig goes by Glenn Gdansk.
2006-12-21 10:06:17
283.   Humma Kavula
On the subject of covers:

Two thumbs up to the Gourds' cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin & Juice.

2006-12-21 10:09:35
284.   Dane Bramage
Best cover album ever, actually on two levels, as the cover itself is pretty darn cool, too...

http://cdbaby.com/cd/stanridgway3

2006-12-21 10:12:18
285.   Marty
Wow, I haven't thought about Stan Ridgway in a long time.
2006-12-21 10:38:07
286.   gpellamjr
So, is it really possible that Colletti would trade Penny for Rios/Johnson? Personally, it seems like it would be dumb to pass up. Both are young and talented. Both OPS over 800 and both seem to be developing power. I know there's no real place to put them, but maybe such a trade could make Pierre obsolete and trade bait (whenever that's alowed). So, please, hammer me. Tell me why I'm wrong, because I really like this idea.
2006-12-21 10:40:12
287.   gpellamjr
I just realized Johnson's 30. Maybe he doesn't have such great potential. He's still better than Gonzalez or Pierre. Last year he had an OBP of .390.
2006-12-21 10:45:28
288.   Greg Brock
279 I find your comparisons of James Taylor and 80's hair bands troubling.

Thanks to everybody for the links.

2006-12-21 11:02:17
289.   Eric Enders
I can't believe nobody has posted this before. (Or maybe they have...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZn-AQSRka0

2006-12-21 11:10:07
290.   gpellamjr
289 I found that a couple of weeks ago and just forgot to post it. It's quite good--- and points out all the things we love about him.
2006-12-21 11:14:18
291.   capdodger
267 Wait... Who is the Nats starting Jerk?
2006-12-21 11:15:35
292.   Bob Timmermann
291
Jim Bowden.
2006-12-21 11:17:18
293.   Eric Enders
291 Do they still have Jose Guillen?
2006-12-21 11:18:03
294.   Xeifrank
Sorry to break up the music talk but after running quite a few sims it looks like the Padres and Dodgers are still the class of the NL West. The Padres mainly due to their good starting pitching and very good bullpen. The Giants aren't rating very good, their offense is pretty average and their bullpen looks to be pretty awful. If the Giants can't get alot of innings out of their starters they could be in for another long season. The Diamondbacks look to be the third best team but I haven't finished running all my sims yet. vr, Xei
2006-12-21 11:19:14
295.   Bob Timmermann
293
Guillen signed with Seattle.
2006-12-21 11:19:49
296.   Xeifrank
To all, when posting a link, especially something with youtube or tinyurl could you please give a little synopsis of what the links take you to (is it safe for work?). Some of us don't want to get in trouble. If I see a youtube link, I just ignore it even though I'd really like to see what it is. Perhaps that should be a "man rule".
Thanks. vr, Xei
2006-12-21 11:20:02
297.   Marty
Can't you hire someone to run those sims Xei, now that your famous?
2006-12-21 11:20:14
298.   capdodger
293 No. He's gone to Seattle.
292 Bowden is the Clown-in-charge (CINCNAT).
2006-12-21 11:20:27
299.   Marty
you're

sheesh

2006-12-21 11:22:10
300.   Dane Bramage
I have always made it habit to specify when something's not "work friendly". However, since I'm immersed in one of those environments most of the time anyway, I rarely get the chance to do so...
Show/Hide Comments 301-350
2006-12-21 11:23:11
301.   regfairfield
296 What numbers are you using for those sims?

How are the Dodgers winning? I have their offense being anywhere from below average to god awful, depending on how the ball bounces. The Dodgers remain competetive solely due to their starting pitching, and maybe a couple of strategic injuries. Does the sim agree with me?

2006-12-21 11:23:24
302.   Greg Brock
I doubt anybody on this great site would post something tawdry, but for the record NSFW (not suitable for work) would be the tag to use.
2006-12-21 11:35:44
303.   Marty
Pirates sign short-time, but still "old friend" Einer Diaz:

http://postgazette.com/pg/06355/747788-63.stm

2006-12-21 11:37:13
304.   Penarol1916
302. Regardless, I think it would still be nice to have a bit of a synopsis. Youtube is blocked from work regardless, so I'd at least like some idea of what I'm missing, especially if people start commenting on it. Maybe I'm just in a crabby mood because I'm becoming involved in a mini-flame war in the comments section of a blog on the Washington Post.
2006-12-21 11:39:36
305.   Xeifrank
301. I am using last years stats for all players and I park adjusted for players who switched stadiums. I run 1000 sim games and change pitchers after each sim, so each pitcher one Team A faces each pitcher on Team B 1000 times. So far, nobody beats Derek Lowe he has a very slight advantage against the top three pitchers from San Diego (Peavy, Young, and Maddux). Yes, the Dodger offense might not be the greatest but in the land of the NL West the slap hitter is king! :) Wolfe is getting beat up pretty bad by most teams, perhaps it isn't fair to use his stats from last year as his walk rate went way up. vr, Xei
2006-12-21 11:40:25
306.   Eric Enders
For the record, the link in 289 is both safe for work and required viewing.
2006-12-21 11:48:43
307.   regfairfield
305 Makes sense. I was basing my numbers off the ZIPS projections which aren't too kind to the Dodgers.
2006-12-21 11:51:58
308.   Sam DC
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have agreed to terms with right-handed pitchers Gary Glover and Al Reyes and outfielder Jason Grabowski on minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training, it was announced today.
2006-12-21 11:52:57
309.   Curtis Lowe
301- How do you figure that the offense will be God Awful?

Was last years offense god awful?

Rusty Cage - Johnny Cash 2nd best cover

2006-12-21 11:53:43
310.   regfairfield
308 Wow, I thought Grabowski was done after failing miserably in the Japanese minors. Shows what I know.
2006-12-21 11:54:44
311.   Bob Timmermann
289
Hey, I was all over the Einar Diaz story yesterday on the Griddle. I have seven different news feeds that send high pitched squeals to my cellphone whenever the name "Einar Diaz" shows up in a news story.
2006-12-21 11:56:31
312.   regfairfield
309 Last years offense is not this years offense. According to ZIPS the average starter will OPS 32 points less which costs a team 50-100 runs (this was just me eyeballing the numbers over a couple years).

Also, the Dodgers OPSed 42 points higher with RISP, if they actually become "unclutch" the Dodgers could see their offensive output drop around 120 runs in the worst case scenario. I'm expecting around 750 right now, which would be 22nd in 2006.

2006-12-21 12:04:55
313.   Greg Brock
Best album cover of all time

http://tinyurl.com/yzz73l

2006-12-21 12:05:03
314.   still bevens
Will Ned's sportsperson of the year award be revoked if the team finishes in 3rd place this upcoming season?
2006-12-21 12:06:37
315.   bhsportsguy
312 On the one hand, the Dodgers had a record breaking team offense last year, setting several records and also leading the league in several categories. So on that basis, considering they lost Drew, guys like Kent and Nomar are one year older and Martin and Ethier face the sophomore slump, you could reasonably expect a decline.

However, last year's team only had one player that had a career season, Furcal, Kent was more hurt than in a decline phase, Betemit or LaRoche or Nomar should provide better offense at 3B for the year than having Izzy and Lugo play about a third of season in that spot. The big loss will be Drew.

But the Dodgers should have better starting pitching to help balance that.

In the end, yes, I would feel more comfortable with a little more sock but I am not sure that Drew's loss alone will cause a huge drop off.

2006-12-21 12:09:55
316.   Greg Brock
I am not sure that Drew's loss alone will cause a huge drop off

Losing far and away your best hitter and replacing him with Gonzo and The Human Out Machine will hurt a lot. You could argue that Loney, Martin, Ethier, and Kemp (if he plays) will improve, but losing Drew is going to hurt.

2006-12-21 12:13:10
317.   Sushirabbit
Yeah, and I was smoking (bad drug du jour) when I thought the infield would do better, even though I do think Betemit ought to OPS better than the position last year.
2006-12-21 12:15:15
318.   regfairfield
315 I'm just reporting the numbers based on ZIPS, which seem largely accurate. The main thing that seems to be dropping is batting average. 10 points here, 15 points there, replace Lofton and Drew with Pierre and Gonzalez, and you have a team that ends up being substaintially weaker.

The counter argument I thought of was that the Dodgers didn't start the season with their complete lineup, they got better as the season went on, but this wasn't true. The Dodgers did most of their damage in May, when they scored over six runs a game, after that, they were around average, except when they scored 5.39 runs per game in September, and when they couldn't score at all in July. The Dodgers were a better overall offensive team when the lineup was still in flux than it was for the final push.

You can thank guys like Ramon Martinez and Nomar for that.

2006-12-21 12:16:39
319.   Sushirabbit
The answer is to trade Hendrickson now while his value is high!
2006-12-21 12:22:49
320.   Jon Weisman
314 - New year, new award.
2006-12-21 12:35:53
321.   dzzrtRatt
313 Best album cover of all time? I beg to differ. It's a tie between:

http://tinyurl.com/y2zvzu

and

http://tinyurl.com/y3wu6s

2006-12-21 12:48:57
322.   Greg Brock
The mayor of Vero Beach is keen on getting the Orioles into town if (when) the Dodgers leave.

http://tinyurl.com/yzuagp

2006-12-21 13:11:14
323.   Dane Bramage
321 Thank you, sir!

You have now doomed me to an afternoon of the Tijuana Brass set to endless repeat on the iPod In My Head™.

2006-12-21 13:24:11
324.   Marty
323 Could be worse. Could be "It's a Small World"
2006-12-21 13:34:04
325.   Dane Bramage
324 Ahh, I feel better now. TJ Brass have now been replaced with Mr. Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science".

This special remedy can be found here:

http://prettypictures.com/maim/
(work friendly, of course)

2006-12-21 13:51:18
326.   Sam DC
My vote for album cover:

http://tinyurl.com/ymnbjo

2006-12-21 14:01:20
327.   Marty
326 That made me laugh Sam.
2006-12-21 14:07:46
328.   skybluestoday
321 Have always loved that "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" cover and am today sorry that I sold my original LP of it back in 1988.

Neon Park was a genuinely special artist, and it's a shame he died too young.

I love the whole series of Little Feat covers -- they have pledged that they will always use Park paintings as their cover art.

2006-12-21 14:49:15
329.   Andrew Shimmin
Not an album cover (I have a passing familiarity with the historical period before music was distributed over IP, but the only corporeal music collection of much consequence I've ever had was sheet music), but my favorite picture of a musician:

http://www.tcnj.edu/~messmer2/duke_ellington.html

I've never had much use for posters, but have always wanted one of this print.

2006-12-21 14:52:06
330.   Xeifrank
Album covers. The poor mans movie chat.
vr, Xei
2006-12-21 14:55:07
331.   Sam DC
330: LOL.
2006-12-21 14:58:08
332.   Andrew Shimmin
330- I got an email from Baseball Prospectus, yesterday, telling me I'd been given a gift subscription for the year. But I can't open it, till Christmas. After Christmas, though, I promise to redouble my baseball chatting efforts. But until then, I'm running on fumes.

The email from BP was signed, "Love, Baseball Prospectus and [My father's name]." Which is very sweet. Baseball Prospectus loves me, this I know, for their email told me so. . .

2006-12-21 15:01:02
333.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2006-12-21 15:15:43
334.   Andrew Shimmin
Deadthreaded, so as not to irritate Xei anew. The world's most dangerous roads (lots of fantastic pictures):

http://tinyurl.com/y5hvqw

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