As I mentioned yesterday, it's been ten years (today!) since I graduated from law school. You know what that means. Shortly thereafter, I started to study for the bar and the stress/boredom of that compelled me to start a blog. Yep, the ten year anniversary of the various incarnations of this site/community is coming up. (The actual ten year anniversary is July 17th.)
NBA Finals: so yeah, it was disappointing to see LeBron miss the last 8 minutes of the game last night. It was shaping up to be a classic nailbiter finish, but take out the best player in the world and you end up with a 15 point blowout. Great for Spurs fans, I suppose, but for those of us who are more fans of the game than of either of these teams, it was a letdown. Up to then, though, this had all the makings of a classic. Duncan/LBJ were both giving the fans a show. Let's hope that continues.
Yea, I wanted to see the Spurs win with Lebron on the floor.
What I did not understand is why the Spurs' medical staff wasn't forcing Gatorade down Lebron's gullet the first time he left the floor with cramps. Does the medical science now not support the quick introduction of electrolytes as useful for combatting cramps?
I'm guessing they wouldn't want to give LBJ any advantage.
oy. Heat staff, I meant. I guess I'm such a fanboy I can't recognize any other franchises any more.
He has a sponsorship deal with PowerAde!
When was the first time he went down? If it was second half, I'd bet there would be almost no way to rehydrate/recover in time to save him from going down at the end of the game. Probably an issue of illness/activity/hyrdation from the previous 24 hours.
Pickle juice. Of course, this may be from the Journal of Irreproducible Results.
I've drank pickle juice before to help relieve muscle cramps. There's definitely some evidence that it does work, but if you don't like the taste, Gatorade/Powerade is going to do pretty much the same thing.
Yeah I was in and out of the room during that 4th quarter and couldn't figure out how a 6 point Heat lead went to a 8 point Spurs lead in a pretty short order. Then I saw my twitter feed and it all made sense.
I am shocked--shocked--to hear allegations of academic fraud in the athletic department of a major educational institution.
If UNC ends up going down on this, it would be a pretty big deal. They've long been held up as a paragon of virtue in the world of college basketball. As you know, though, I'm not really interested (my own alma mater's Little Engine That Could exploits aside) in college basketball. It is a business that thrives on free labor. Not exactly something worth celebrating.
From the twitterverse last night:
As a father of a daughter, I have really tuned into the idea that it is not okay to suggest that a man is feminine as a way to put that person down. Women are not inferior to men. This to me was absolutely uncalled for. I immediately unfollowed and that's my thing these days on twitter. If someone says something offensive or stupid (#playyousissies), I unfollow.
As an also father of a daughter, I completely agree and I've been making a concerted effort to not equate being a woman with being weak and helpless.
Also, I assume this tweet was in regards to LBJ (who I've grudgingly come around to since The Decision due to quite amazing basketball ability.... but Dwayne Wade can still go right to hell). I also assume no one tweeting stuff like this has ever had a cramp before. I completely don't understand this line of thinking (bi-lateral leg weakness and all). We're asking these guys to go out and do what is really physically impossible. If everything isn't working right, its completely impossible. So yeah,mediots.
Are we no longer allowed to appreciate a good zinger? At first glance, that's all we need take from this. I'm a man without a cable package so I'm somewhat insulated from the depths of self-serving sports media. This probably happens a thousand times a day and therefore becomes unoriginal and ever-more detestable in that light, but...I understand there was some contentious eye contact between MJ and Lebron in a previous series; there's no doubt LBJ is a phenomenal athlete that really need pay no attention to the self-glorifying social media acounts of minor public figures or any of the rest of us. Presumably Michelle Beadle is a woman, one who has experienced cramps of various types and should be given some leeway to reference that physical condition without our declaring that she has fallen prey to our masculine agenda. Maybe she's a rotten person. I don't know. I fully expect to encourage my daughters be as strong and confident as any man. Let's not get too deep on something like this.
My first read on it wasn't "women are weak" it was "the target of her zinger is overly pissy and needs to chill out". Every Midol joke I've ever seen (pointed at either gender) has been as such.
Edit: Also, yes. The author of this tweet was a woman, and likely has a better idea than 98% of the denizens of this site what a menstrual cramp feels like.
Probably less than 98% with our new Citizen from last night's gamelog
some zingers zing themselves.
I know my place and am more than willing to humbly self-administer as much zing as I have coming to me.
Confirmed.
self-administered zing? Is that what the kids are calling it now?
Sounds so much cooler than "Epi-Pen"
But she could have left off the hashtag and the zinger would have been exactly as effective. Mostly, though, my post was complaining about mediots assuming that professional athletes should be able to play through any injury when that's just completely not true. I don't know about menstrual cramps. but cramps in the legs of a basketball player take away their most important physical tool.
Yea, I'm not overly offended by the tweet. I can see how it can offend, but I can also interpret it as completely benign (making an oh-so-clever reference to cramps). But then, I don't follow her so I haven't seen the context this was placed in. Is she calling Lebron a pussy? Or mocking that line of criticism?
I'm certainly not saying that a cramps/Midol joke is particularly clever, but I don't find much to be outraged about.
What is especially egregious about this is that Beadle, being a woman in sports media, has been subjected to all kinds of sexist crap. She proves herself to be pretty close to the knuckledraggers who call her names.
Women can be misogynists too. People forget this.
Told Philosofette about this tonight. Her first reaction was "She's saying women are tougher than men. Take a midol and get back to doing what you need to, just like women do."
While browsing through Runner daughter's graduation program, I noticed that at the time I was graduating from college, UMSL was also giving Stan Musial and honorary doctorate. So I have that going for me.
Technically, I got my degree from Georgetown Law at the same time that Chief Justice Roberts got his.
Let's see if you yo-yos can figure THIS one out...
ID the AU -- which Twins player (former or current) has this signature flourished with outstanding curves?
I got it with the hint.
Wouldn't be in the HOF unless Because Media. Just saying.
I thought this question was a joke at first. #nohintneeded
It's been a running thing around here. Some are much, much harder.
🙂
It's also the 30th anniversary of Tetris! Do you have appropriate clothing to celebrate?
It's also the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
And 80th anniverary of the Securities and Exchange Act!
And the 48th anniversary of 6/6/66!
I have a friend whose child was born on 6/6/06. I was just glad to know they didn't name it Damien.
I wish The Tetris Company didn't have their stupid Tetris Rules because I want a home version of Tetris The Grand Master I can play.
I tried to tin-eye today's image but didn't get any results. Does anyone know where it came from?
On the set of The Young Philadelphians.
I thought that was Paul Newman until I did an image search and then couldn't find any pictures of him that really confirmed it for me. I like this one.
I'm headed to the Land of Nibbishment (and Zoomxness) tomorrow morning, staying two nights in a camper cabin at the local state park, Lago de Carles.
If state parking meshes with your weekend plans, Nibs or Zoomx, I would gladly entertain for a bit, and introduce my family.
I'm keen on birdwatching, so maybe bring binocs.
It's our first time "camping" with all six of us, so this is almost a trial run: close to a town and to family so if we've completely screwed up something (like AJR or LBR refuses to sleep), we can bail.
I should have my cell, but I don't know what the signal is like there. (There was no signal for miles at St. Croix a few years back.)
You'll be staying about two miles from my domicile, so you'll really be in the Land of Nibbishment.
Cell signal should be spotty, but workable.
ETA: I don't remember what, if any, plans I had tomorrow afternoon/evening. I'll ask Linds. Otherwise, I'd be down with a meetup. We saw a female orchard oriole last weekend, so they might still be in the area, hopefully.
My visit to the Land Of Nibbishment (this sounds like a very magical place, right?) last fall netted some good birdwatching, including a nibbish. The rarest bird of all.
The call of the nibbish typically sounds like geeking out over Spookymilk Survivor or a friend's idea for a Star Trek spec script.
I should have made it La Tierra de Nibexemente.
I'm so far removed from Spanish classes or use, I can't even tell if that's the right word type.
Cool. I'm not thinking anything big, don't go out of your way or anything. But I know you like to go out in the woods sometimes. Maybe I can share a beer and we can BS for half an our or so, then do a short bird walk.
Also, how are the mosquitos? We had very low numbers on May 24 and very high numbers by May 26. We're gonna spray and lotion ourselves with DEET, but even then...
Carlos State Park has about three miles worth of trail around the big perimeter loop. We've had a hatch of mosquitoes lately. I'm not sure how bad they are at the park, but they were bad at the golf course.
Be sure to visit Nibhenge.
Closed for repairs. The little things are too delicious.
Posted in the gamelog. Posting here for more eyeballs.
I'm in the black tee (HHT Euro Tour - Thanks again Algonad!) and blue hat.
what's with the disembodied heads?
Seam of the exposures, different cameras, I assume.
Yeah. Likely stitching errors from assembling the panorama.
Important news: The Taco Bell quesarito, a burrito wrapped in a quesadilla, is really happening
FINally!
Oh hell yeah.
now with more beaf!
What, no loobster?
beaf, it's what's for dinner.
I have MapMyRide on my phone. I've done 11 miles already today getting around to my various clients + walking the dogs when I get there. Two more clients this afternoon will put my daily total near 20 miles.
Just got back from having dinner at BrewDog. I can confirm that it was fairly expensive, although not really any more so than anywhere else in Manchester. I will also say that the English generally suck at BBQ and that BrewDog seems to me to be rather more about hype than quality. I had two beers tonight, the 5 A.M. Saint and the Jack Hammer. Honestly, they tasted damn near the same to me and were rather un-remarkable. I think I'll stick to real ales as best I can for the rest of the weekend.
Words to live by.
We went to Oxford on rugby tour when I was at Trinity. We ended up at The Hobgoblin. Yes...that Hobgoblin. Most of the lads were drinking £2.00 Carling (Carling Ice to be specific if I remember correctly). But they had all the Wychwood ales on tap (most of which I'd never heard of) straight from the brewery for £2.50. The fellas were giving me stick for drinking ale ("That shit tastes like bog water" and the like), but for an extra 50p, you bet your sweet butt I was drinking all the ales.
2.50p a pint? Dang, maybe I ought to hop a train to Oxford.
College town --> drink specials on everywhere. Also, it was 5 years ago. Hobgoblin had £2.00 gin/vodka tonics/sodas, and make it a double for an extra £1.00. Lots of £3.00 double vodka sodas had that week.
Brett Graves taken 101st in the third round by the A's. Bit lower than they were hoping -- I wonder if he takes it or returns for his senior year?
for funsies:
Michael Cederoth RHP R/R
Five years after Stephen Strasburg went No. 1 overall in the Draft, San Diego State has another hard-throwing right-hander poised to go in the first round. Unlike Strasburg, Cederoth was a prospect in high school, too, though signability knocked him down to the 41st round in 2011. He can light up a radar gun like no other college arm in this year's Draft, as he's capable of working in the mid 90s and hitting 98 mph with his fastball, with triple-digits within reach in shorter stints. Cederoth has a lot of moving parts in his delivery and still is learning to control his 6-foot-6 frame, so he lacks consistency with the rest of his pitches as well as his control and command. His low-80s slider has the most potential of his secondary offerings, and he also throws a curveball and a changeup. Cederoth moved to the bullpen this spring and was throwing well as San Diego State's closer. If he can't develop a reliable second weapon and do a better job of locating his pitches, that could be his long-term role at the next level.
ROUND 4 - PICK 110:
Sam Clay LHP L/L
Clay was a two-sport star in high school and didn’t pitch much for the Yellow Jackets as a freshman, as he began concentrating on baseball for the first time. He took on a larger role in the bullpen this spring, becoming one of their most important relievers. Clay’s fastball typically sits in the low-90s and touches a bit higher. He complements it with a hard slider that flashes above-average potential. Primarily, Clay is a two-pitch pitcher, but he also throws a curveball and changeup at times. Though he has enough stuff to start, he is still somewhat raw and will need to improve his control. Clay is a Draft-eligible sophomore and would have two more years of eligibility if he chooses to return to school.
(Scouting reports by mlb.com)
Jake Reed RHP R/R
A starter during his first two years at Oregon, Reed moved into the closer role in 2014 and really took off. The right-handed reliever has a ton of arm strength and can crank it up into the mid 90s with plus life, coming in on the hands of right-handed hitters. His slider is a hard slurve that is a strikeout pitch when Reed commands it well. He has a below-average changeup, but in short relief, he doesn't really need it. Considering he's new at the gig, Reed has adjusted to it seamlessly, showing the kind of aggressive mindset you like from closers. All things point to him being a quick-to-the-big-leagues-type reliever.
(Scouting reports by mlb.com)
So that's two more college closers who have starting experience. I'm guessing the Twins might still be considering their reliever-to-starter conversion projects.
reliever-to-centerfield more like
Finally, a reason for the 14+-man pitching staff!
Hey Beau, doesn't the new Tom Cruise sci-fi flick have a plot similar to a cool ST:TNG episode. Where the enterprise keeps blowing up and then repeating until Picard and the gang (w/Data's help) figure out how to not blow up? What was the name of that episode and can you link to your review of it?
I'm not as handsome as Beau, but I do have the answer for you.
looks like I came up just a wee bit short in this race.
Cause and Effect.
similar, although in STtNG they didn't retain memory of the previous "go round" so couldn't affect the results
didn't they start "remembering" cards played in the poker game?
Yeah, they all started getting déjà vu.
right, but not full recognizance like the movie appears to have.
movie looks interesting, in the same way that Oblivion looked interesting, and I'll probably watch it in the same way I watched that (thank you, library district)
Groundhog Day After Tomorrow?
Or Edge of Tomorrow...nuts. Whatever.
They turned Groundhog Day into an action flick.
yes, this is a more accurate comparison
It's also similar to Source Code.
That one was good until the coda ruined everything about it.
If anyone hasn't seen it, shut it off with ten minutes to go.
This.
Interesting election battle here in Cali. The state's top-two primary creates an opportunity for an All-D or All-R general election for a particular office. In the race for state controller, there are three candidates within roughly two-tenths of a percentage point of one another for the second spot (currently, 7,324 votes out of 3.093 million counted, with ~770k remaining ballots to be counted).
ROUND 6 - PICK 170:
John Curtiss RHP R/R
Curtiss could have been a third-round pick out of a Texas high school in 2011 had he been willing to turn pro, but he was set on becoming a Longhorn. The most highly regarded arm in a deep Texas recruiting class, he had Tommy John surgery after his freshman season and missed all of 2013, when he also had a rib removed to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome. He has come back strong as a closer as a redshirt sophomore this spring and should return to starting again in 2015. Curtiss has regained the velocity on his fastball, which sits at 92-94 mph and peaks at 96, and he uses his 6-foot-5 frame to throw his heater on a steep downhill plane. He still can run his slider up into the 80s, though it can get slurvy and he battles his command with it. Pitchers who have their elbows reconstructed often need time to get back their consistency and command of their secondary pitches, so his slider should get better. Because he's working in relief, Curtiss hasn't found much need for a changeup, which will require plenty of work when he joins the rotation. A potential No. 2 or 3 starter if everything comes together, he's also highly intelligent and graduated from Texas in three years with a double major in English and history.
(Scouting reports by mlb.com)
a) Getting it done early for the Twins.
b) Going to suck to have to get the surgery again.
c) Traded away and doesn't need the surgery.
Majors are in English and History, so he's not THAT smart.
Bazinga!
By baseball standards, I'm sure he'll soon be known as "Doc" or "The Professor".
And when he struggles, "he's thinking too much out there."
After doing better than expected for several weeks, things have taken a very quick turn towards the bad for my sister. Prayers much appreciated.
You've got 'em.
thinking of you and yours, phyllo.
You and she remain in our prayers. If there is anything I can do, or if you need someone to talk to, feel free to get hold of me.
You and your family have them from me as well.
Best of luck Phil.
Andro Cutura RHP R/R
Junior right-hander Andro Cutura was one of four pitchers Rogers named to Perfect Game's All-Conference team. He also named Cutura the second-best pro prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft in the Southland.
(Scouting reports by Southeast Louisiana University)
ROUND 8 - PICK 230:
Keaton Steele RHP R/R
Steele missed his first college season in 2011 with rotator-cuff and labrum tears in his shoulder that required surgery. He came back the next year to win Most Outstanding Player honor at the Junior College World Series. Steele helped Iowa Western capture its second national title, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer and earning a save in the championship game. In his first season at Missouri in 2013, he was the only NCAA Division I player to lead his team in homers, wins and saves, and he has focused mostly on pitching this spring. When he's at his best, Steele works at 91-93 mph and touches 96 with a heavy fastball, flashing a plus slider with good tilt at 84-85 mph. At other times, he pitches with an 88-91 mph fastball and a flatter slider in the upper 70s. He has a strong, athletic frame and earns praise for his control and his competitiveness. Moved into the Tigers' rotation for the final three weeks of the season, Steele responded with two complete games and pitched into the ninth inning of his third outing. He has a chance to start in pro ball, though he'll need a better changeup in that role. After graduating as a redshirt junior with a degree in sociology, he's expected to sign after turning down the Rays as a 29th-rounder in 2012 and the Royals as a 40th-rounder last year.
(Scouting reports by mlb.com)
So...many...pitchers...
Seriously. Is Gordon the only position player?
The Twins appear to subscribe to a "the more lottery tickets you buy, the better the chances of finding a winner" theory.
And Gordon isn't even a position player...well, he will be.
Max Murphy CF R/R
During his college career, Murphy established a strong track record of performance, both at Bradley and during summer ball. He ranks sixth in school history with 27 home runs and slugged .526 in the Northwoods League last summer. Murphy’s quick wrists help him generate good power despite being somewhat undersized (he’s listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds). He has a line-drive stroke and makes a lot of hard contact, despite an unconventional setup at the plate. Murphy played center field at Bradley, but his average speed makes him a better fit in a corner as a professional. He earns praise for his aggressive play and work ethic.
(Scouting report by mlb.com)
Future trade bait for a closer!
Minnesotan!
Who wouldn't want one of these to make your beer taste better with the touch of a button.
Holy cr@p. Two bodies found stuffed in suitcases in quiet Wisconsin town.
Wow. My brother and his wife used to live in Waukesha before moving to near Louisville a few years ago.
ROUND 10 - PICK 290:
Randy LeBlanc RHP R/R
LeBlanc burst onto the prospect scene as a Louisiana high school senior in 2010, when his fastball jumped to 94 mph and would have put him in the early rounds of the Draft if not for his strong commitment to Tulane. He made an instant impact for the Green Wave in 2011, pitching well in three starts before blowing out his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery. After two up-and-down seasons and going undrafted as a redshirt sophomore-eligible in 2013, he's back on track this spring. LeBlanc mainly lives off his fastball. He's able to sit at 92-93 mph and hit 95 with little effort, and he maintains his velocity deep into ballgames. He can run it to both sides of the plate, commands it well and generates steep downhill plane with an overhand delivery, making it even more difficult to hit. Because LeBlanc has yet to establish an average second pitch, many scouts think he'll profile best as a reliever -- a role in which he could generate additional fastball velocity. He can throw his curveball for strikes, but it doesn't miss too many bats, and he doesn't use his changeup much.
(Scouting report by mlb.com)
Another guy with the TJ done already. No worries here, right?
It's not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling, but maybe they think one TJ makes a second TJ less likely? There's probably stats on that somewhere.
Only because the player usually retires before blowing it entirely again, I think.
Uck. I was worried that's what the numbers would show.
basically, you want to draft a SS with a cannon arm but no experience pitching. Then teach him how to pitch in the minors.
Go with the Northern kids. They can't pitch year round. Or the ones you know played other sports. More and more of these kids play on travel teams year round out here. Junior had some teammates that played Saturday after playing in two games in a tournament earlier in the day. At least Junior's team uses a lot of different pitchers and rarely do they approach their 85-pitch limit.
you draft SS's to have him play CF.
There's a quote somewhere along the lines of "if they can wreck the one God gave them, they can wreck the one we gave them."
In his second-to-last game of the season, Junior finally got his first hit of the season. He's had a number of walks but has had a hard time making contact at the Majors level (this is the level that plays at Williamsport in the LLWS). He's been coming off the bench for the most part, but he started last night because he didn't get an AB in the last game when it ended early due to mercy rule. In his first AB, he had an RBI groundout. In his second AB, he hit a ground ball up the middle that snuck through for a hit. He liked that so much, he hit a hard one-hopper that bounced over the second basemen's glove into right CF for a double in his third AB. He grounded out to second in his fourth AB, but his manager gave him a high five as he came off the field because he hit the ball all four times.
that's pretty awesome.
I'm glad I didn't make the majors as a kid, as I probably would have ridden the bench like Junior. I couldn't hit a curveball to save my life. As it was, I batted .700 in my final year of AAA, hitting mostly slow fastballs.
I also just found out tonight that Trey essentially made an All-Star team. Our league is sending 4 kids from each team to play in a tournament. With 6 teams, that's 24 kids, so they are dividing them up into 2 teams. We'll see how expensive this is, but we'll try and make it work because I'd like him to get a chance to play against better competition and with kids that all can play well.
so, end of year, the Mrs brings home all manner of gifts from the kids/parents at her preschool.
This is a thing.
What an abomination! Milk Chocolate?
Beggars can't be choosers. Needed moar bacon. And dark chocolate would have been the ticket.
The bacon bar was a big hit at Tamarind the year I went. Dark chocolate only.
[not here]