Because there’s nothing going on. There’s even a lack of good rumours, partially because most job openings have been filled. It just means time for more “Peter King thinkpieces”, which isn’t good for anybody.
I’m not one of those “back in my day” types who thinks the break is too long. I do think the two weeks are good for healing the teams so a better game results. But it’s the interminable slog towards game week that gives people reason to question why they watch the game.
NFL Notes:
- Proving nature & the media abhors a vacuum, Ben Roethlisberger mentioned “evaluate and consider all options” and now all outlets are talking about retirement and what happens to the Steelers.
- I doubt it makes up for the sting of not playing for the Super Bowl, Browns linebacker Jamie Collins signed a 4-year, $50 million deal to stay in Cleveland.
- Take from this what you will, but it’s John Elway & Tony Romo at a Trump inauguration party over the weekend.
The pic of Elway & Romo that's making the rounds is from House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's victory party. https://t.co/pFuSOK1XH3 pic.twitter.com/2gWvmXVtdS
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 23, 2017
Finally, Peter King is doing his master’s work.
I missed it yesterday, because why would I look for it, but the MMQB has a hagiographic long-form piece on how Roger Goodell helped convince Robert Kraft to not move the Patriots to Hartford and instead build a new stadium at Foxborough.
Long story short: just after Hartford lost the Whalers, the mayor set out to try and draw another major sports franchise to town, to both boost his popularity and to replace what had been ripped away. There was actually a letter of intent involved, but six days prior to commiting to Hartford, a group involving ol’ Rog managed to convince the good folks at the Foxborough council and state government to pony up some “improvements” if Kraft built the stadium himself.
So really, Pats fans, don’t boo this man you consider the devil. Petey is one of you, don’tcha know. Instead, worship him as your god, because without his sincere concern you wouldn’t have a Patriots to cheer for.
Oh, and FYI – don’t search “dismissive wanking gif” on your work computer. Trust me.
Rather than try and improve upon it, I’m just going to use this Pro Bowl Skills preview verbatim:
The Pro Bowl Skills Challenge, now called Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, returns after a 10-year hiatus this week. The reimagined version, which will tape on Wednesday and air Thursday night on ESPN, features a dodge ball game, a “power relay challenge,” a precision passing competition and a best hands showdown. But in its essence, the best part about the competition — athletes on vacation, letting their hair down but still unable to shed the fear of athletic humiliation — remains unchanged.
This is really all the excuse I need for a “Throwback Tuesday”, and reason to post clips & pics from the ancestor to this effort.
No, not the “Laff-A-Lympics”, but the “Battle of the Network Stars”.
The graphics!
The captains!
The stars!
And, of course, DFO’s mater familias, Lynda Carter.
Fun fact: in 1979, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were part of the ABC team due to this fantastic looking movie.
The ad campaign couldn’t even get off the ground today. “A little cheesecake in a beefcake world.” Could you imagine the Jezebel screeds and Twitter campaigns? The volume of petitions would break change.org.
Look – it’s on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQRWRE5AEXI
Yessir – that’s the 70s.
Tonight’s sports:
- NHL:
- Blues at Penguins – 7:00PM | NBCSN
- Red Wings at Bruins – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
- NBA: Spurs at Raptors – 7:00 | Sportsnet1
- NCAA: DFO probable choices:
- Kansas at West Virginia – 7:00PM | ESPN2
- Purdue at Michigan State – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
- Kentucky at Tennessee – 9:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
- WWE SmackDown – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
- the “go home” show before the Royal Rumble
- Australian Open: Quarterfinals – 9:00PM | ESPN2
- highlights:
- Konta versus Serena Williams – 9:00PM
- Raonic ?? versus Nadal – 3:30AM (Wed.)
- highlights:
I believe you have enough rabbit holes to look down this evening. WHERE WILL THE CONVERSATION TAKE US?!
I don’t care what your politics are, Shia LeBouf needs an old fashioned stomping with steel toed motorcycle boots. Because he is a raging douchebag and a stupid fucking idiot.
Are you sure?
The front yard Thanksgiving football game at Moose’s house gets a little intense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M26ug8MGYlY
Lousy Smarsh Weather
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A. A. Ron is an excellent teacher.
Funbag letter moment
Wowzers…
Weather down here had the audacity to slip down into the low 60’s today. Guess who’s got a pot of chili and a skillet full of jalapeno buttermilk cornbread?
That’a boy!
I’ve been waiting for a couple cool days so I can get my braise on. Fired that skillet up rocket hot with some bacon fat so I could get the cornbread nice and crunchy on the bottom and back. Goddamn does that extra five minutes make all the difference.
Don’t tell anyone but I made hush puppies last week.
Oh shit did that get out?
Oh man will I eat the ass out of some good hushpuppies. I tried making them once years ago but wasn’t impressed with how they turned out. I don’t fry very often, but I’ve been thinking about frying up some catfish. If I’m gonna go to the trouble of heating up all that oil, I’m damn sure gonna have to make some hushpuppies and fries to go along with it. Pretty sure I’ll be obligated to drink something out of a mason jar.
And I’ve got some nice strong porters and some St Bernardus for my “cold weather” beer, and a handle of Crown and jug of cider in case of hypothermia. Why the hell does anyone live up north?
I’ll be trying out your chowder recipe at some point this winter. I’ve gone through a few that were good but nothing that’s knocked me out. There was one that was great, but it was damn near an all day commitment. And I can get fresh clams pretty cheap because one of the biggest aquaculture farms anywhere is just a couple hours north of me in Cedar Key. Why yes, I do love visiting that town. Why do you ask?
I feel obliged to point out a couple of outstanding long form pieces that I read today.
H/T to Richard Dietsch of SI.com.
The first is a novel worthy read on SEAL Team 6 by The Intercept.
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/10/the-crimes-of-seal-team-6/
And the second might be one of the best pieces I’ve read in eons about the mailroom who worked under President Obama. This piece is life altering from Jeanne Marie Laskas for the NY Times. This was incredible.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/magazine/what-americans-wrote-to-obama.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmagazine&action=click&contentCollection=magazine®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront
Excellent.
The mail room article reminds me of the FDR stories about staff giving people personal responses if they wrote in.
Between that & the New Deal, it cemented his relationship with the voters.
Evening gents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGMUAMevH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3adalXADJM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbsumG5oGgk&list=RDQbsumG5oGgk#t=12
http://68.media.tumblr.com/8c32ab0450095e0a325df9d8aea3b0d1/tumblr_njd24fUVTg1qz78azo1_1280.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtOYfB84PRY
http://68.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9dpl3jB5P1r4fq2ko1_250.gif
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOx7d-LpHws
I did my taxes and boy howdy did I get fucked compared to last year. I was expecting a decent return even accounting for state taxes I owed. That didn’t happen. And so now I’m in a mood.
Trump’s EPA nominee Scott Pruitt?
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2p3m1G0W71qhnr1lo1_500.gif
He sued Colorado to stop the legalization of marijuana when AG of Oklahoma.
While not saying it straight out he is a CC denier.
Many statements in the past indicate he will hamper regulation, or dismantle it if the industry people want.
Great, just GREAT.
What the fuck kind of idiot would think he had any standing to sue Colorado?
Are you familiar with the people of Oklahoma?
Oh, right.
By John Ingold, The Denver Post
In the most serious legal challenge to date against Colorado’s legalization of marijuana, two neighboring states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the history-making law.
Nebraska and Oklahoma filed the lawsuit directly with the nation’s highest court on Thursday. The two states argue in the lawsuit that, “the State of Colorado has created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system.”
“Marijuana flows from this gap into neighboring states, undermining Plaintiff States’ own marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on their criminal justice systems,” the lawsuit alleges.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said in a statement that he will defend the state’s legalization of marijuana, saying that the lawsuit is, “without merit.”
https://www.scribd.com/document/250506006/Nebraska-Oklahoma-lawsuit
Thanks.
That is asinine, and obviously failed embarrassingly.