Category: sports
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NBC Fails at the 21st Century
I remember watching the 1988 Winter Olympics, and being completely entranced by speed skater Bonnie Blair. Ever since, I’ve been an Olympics junkie — especially speed skating. But it’s not 1988 anymore, so I don’t know why NBC is broadcasting them like we’re still back in the Stone pre-Information Age. I emailed Dick Ebersol, and…
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Thank God I was wrong!
Back in June, after the Lakers lost in the NBA finals, I said: I can tell you right now that the Dodgers will make it to the World Series and lose in six games, Michigan football will finally beat Ohio State only to suffer (another) embarrassing loss to USC in the Rose Bowl, and the…
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The Shining Rays
I don’t want to jinx anything (too late!) but the Rays prevailing over the Red Sox has given me hope about Obama’s prospects… Let me explain. For tracking the polls, the best place by far is fivethirtyeight.com, which uses some hardcore statistics to combine polling and demographic data to forecast the election results. The guy…
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There’s no ice in Florida!
By far, the most egregious move by the NCAA Ice Hockey Committee is placing the 2012 Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida. Tampa. FLORIDA. 674 miles from the nearest Division I hockey team, and nearly 1,000 miles to the second-closest Division I hockey team. Of course, there are still regionals and the 2011 Frozen Four in…
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NBC Doing Well with Olympics, the Bastards
Apparently the Olympics have been ratings gold for NBC this year. Swimming and gymnastics have been extremely popular, and everyone has been talking about the Olympics. What this article doesn’t mention is that the West Coast isn’t getting any of that live primetime coverage. Nothing but tape delays for us! NBC said Saturday’s prime-time broadcast…
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What were the other 19% thinking?
I know August is a slow sports month, what with only preseason football and pre-pennant race baseball, but it’s still a pleasant surprise to see how many people are paying attention to the Olympics. In the ESPN.com poll (to which I cannot directly link, and can I file a complaint about that?), over 80% of…
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Second place is the first loser
It’s been a tough two months of sports for us here. In April, Michigan lost in overtime to Notre Dame in the Frozen Four, ending a wonderful, unexpected rush of a season. A few weeks ago, the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals, four games to two, after an impressive…
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Waving the white flag
This basketball postseason has seen a wave of home teams surrendering home-court advantage by waving the white flag. The “white-out” tradition of having all the fans wear white apparently started back in time immemorial by the Winnipeg Jets (I hate Winnipeg). And I guess it works in hockey…the Penguins have had three white-outs this post-season,…