NFL News:
- NFL officiating & rules are again in focus this morning:
- Gene Steratore’s crew in Oakland had two national spotlight moments last night.
- The first was the index card. Steratore said the card “reaffirmed” the call on the field:
- “The ball was touching the pole. I put the card in there and as soon as it touched, it was nothing more than a reaffirmation. The decision was made based on my visual from the top looking down and the ball touching the front of the pole.”
- Jim Daopoulos, a former NFL official and former supervisor of officials, told Florio’s word salad factory that, while there’s no specific rule in place, referees have been told over the years that they are “never allowed to use anything other than their eyes to make that decision.”
- The second was the touchback on Derek Carr’s failed touchdown dive.
- That one made sense, if only because I had been at the last time this call happened. Plus, Carr’s had the decency to bounce into the endzone & then go out of bounds.
- But coming after seemingly gifting Dallas the first down just feed the conspiracy theorists.
- Deadspin had the best headline: $13 Billion Industry Uses Folded-Up Piece Of Paper To Determine Outcomes
- That one made sense, if only because I had been at the last time this call happened. Plus, Carr’s had the decency to bounce into the endzone & then go out of bounds.
- The first was the index card. Steratore said the card “reaffirmed” the call on the field:
- Speaking of conspiracies, “what is a catch” is alive & well thanks to the Steelers inability to finish off the Pats and losing Antonio Brown in the process.
- I think it was during one of the Saturday games when I hea the announcers debating why a running back can dive into the endzone & lose the ball during the flip but the score counts, yet a receiver has to not only stick the landing but hold onto the ball the whole way through the routine.
- Gene Steratore’s crew in Oakland had two national spotlight moments last night.
- Panthers owner & generally awful southern white stereotype Jerry Richardson has gotten in front of the mounting scandal & announced he will be selling the team at season’s end.
- Sexual harassment AND racism? It’s a Weinstein plus the full Sterling.
- The sexual harassment stuff sounds pretty weird, but sadly atypical.
- The racism aspect has me curious. We goof on Jerry Richardson being racist a fair bit, but I want to know what “directing a slur at an African-American scout” means.
- And you just know there’s more. As SI notes, Flagstar (the company Richardson owned prior to buying the team; Hardees & Denny’s, among others) was accused multiple times in the 90s of racist behavior, including segregating its restaurants and making black customers pre-pay for meals.
- The Charlotte Agenda notes Richardson stepped down from Flagstar in 1995, the first year the Panthers began play. The company had faced several lawsuits alleging racial discrimination. Richardson said he wanted to devote his time to the Panthers.
- And you just know there’s more. As SI notes, Flagstar (the company Richardson owned prior to buying the team; Hardees & Denny’s, among others) was accused multiple times in the 90s of racist behavior, including segregating its restaurants and making black customers pre-pay for meals.
- Sexual harassment AND racism? It’s a Weinstein plus the full Sterling.
- ESPN boss (& chief sports Libtard, if Twitter is to be believed) John Skipper is resigning from his position to deal with his substance abuse issues.
- All the proof you need that it’s out of control is the $1.9 billion a year ESPN is paying through the 2021 season for the rights to Monday Night Football.
- Since I was at Deadspin anyway, a trip through their comments found the joke I was looking for:
Finally, it seems to be the end of a couple of eras in Seattle.
First, yesterday’s obliteration at RAMMIT’s hands brought out the already-tense locker room situations. The latest bubble to burst was due to defensive teammates taking shots at each other.
- Earl Thomas made an aside about how Bobby Wagner maybe shouldn’t have played with his gimpy leg, and Wager shot back with a tweet telling Thomas, “E, keep my name out yo mouth!”
- this tweet summarizes where all the hurt comes from.
The #Seahawks 42-7 loss to LAR is their:
• Worst loss of the Pete Carroll era
• Most points allowed (tied) in a game in the Carroll era (Wk 12, 2010 vs KC)
• Worst home loss since Week 1, 1997 (41-3 L vs NYJ)
• Worst loss since Week 16, 2009 (48-10 L at GB) https://t.co/1EgFloOzgT
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 18, 2017
- All that’s left is for them to decide on a rebuilding strategy for the offseason.
- Fix the defence & ignore the O-line
- Fix the O-line & plug the defence as needed
- Go full Patriots & rebuild constantly around a franchise QB
Secondly, the final American airline Boeing 747 flight is this week, a Tuesday Delta flight from Detroit to Seoul.
- It was supposed to have been Sunday, but the flight was cancelled / delayed to Tuesday because they didn’t have enough staff for the flight.
- The majority of the planes were built in the Seattle area because Boeing was already at capacity in its other locations due to commitments to the 707, 727 & the Apollo missions.
- They built new assembly plants, and at its peak Boeing employed over 100,000 people in Washington state, and currently employ about 70,000.
- Nearly 30,000 more than the 43,000 employed at Microsoft, the region’s second largest employer.
- They built new assembly plants, and at its peak Boeing employed over 100,000 people in Washington state, and currently employ about 70,000.
- Since the first one built in 1969, over 1500 were built in total, and 500 are still in service today.
- The 747 will still be in use by Lufthansa, British Airways and Korean Air Lines.
- They still build or complete the 737-MAX and the 777-X in Washington state.
Game preview: Falcons at Buccaneers
This game has absolutely zero curb appeal, outside of fantasy points & minor playoff implications.
Thanks to the Packers & Seahawks losses yesterday, the only concern left for Atlanta is the Cowboys and Lions. If Atlanta wins out, or goes 2-1 at worst, they are in the playoffs, because they have already beaten Detroit, Seattle, Dallas and Green Bay this season. Realistically, there’s a chance they could catch the Panthers & Saints for the division lead and/or a higher seed, but that still means they play on Wildcard Weekend.
Right now, they are the #6 and scheduled to play the Rams. So the risk of them choking away another Super Bowl seems incredibly remote right now.
The Buccaneers have been generally awful this season. But they have figured out how to draw fans to tonight’s game:
Time is running out to get your tickets for the Jon Gruden Ring of Honor induction game. Fans will receive a Bucket Hat presented by @FrontierCorp upon entry!
🎟: https://t.co/VzuOYHTu0j pic.twitter.com/tay86ryKVD
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 18, 2017
Yep. And the fans’ reaction?
But, at least one fan is still taking it very seriously,
I’m just rooting for Atlanta so I don’t have to buy any Seahawks playoff tickets.
Tonight’s sports:
- NFL:
- Falcons at Buccaneers – 8:15PM | ESPN / TSN
- NHL:
- Blue Jackets at Bruins – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
- Kings at Flyers – 7:00PM | NHLN
- NBA:
- Celtics at Pacers – 7:00PM | Sportsnet1 / NBATV
- Warriors at Lakers – 10:30PM | Sportsnet1 / NBATV
- the Kobe’s jersey retirement game
- NCAA:
- Men’s basketball: (of note)
- Nebraska (Omaha) at Kansas – 7:00PM | ESPN2
- Northern Illinois at Marquette – 7:00PM | FS1
- Tennessee State at Texas – 9:00PM | ESPN2
- Men’s basketball: (of note)
- WWE:
- Monday Night Raw – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
- it’s one month to the Royal Rumble, so things may start taking shape.
- Monday Night Raw – 8:00PM | USA / Sportsnet360
I’d like to thank the NFL for already deciding on my playoff rooting interest. Since the Packers & Seahawks are all but out, I’m down to “ambivalence” or “anybody but the Patriots”. NOT A GOOD LOOK, ROGER!
it’s late. Time for that Alexis Ren video again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKt7BvgVChQ
Kylo’s sister?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6omsDyFNlk
I am a shitty person who shaves randomly.
So since tWBS brought it up, fuck it, anyone else have beard habits? I try and shave every 2-3 days depending on upcoming performances and gigs. Otherwise I lose the contact point I want and have become accustomed to with my violin.
Also because if I grew out a beard I would get stopped doing every single thing. As opposed to throughout my life when I’ve gotten stopped while traveling.
I have a beard because I couldn’t maintain a shaving habit.
Habits:
— every 2-3 days
— in the shower, to keep the skin warm & moist
— shaving cream
— cold cream as balm afterwards
I either full beard or nothing. I grow a Crimestoppers suspect-level mustache, so it’s either full beard or nothing.
I always (almost anyway) have a goatee, very closely trimmed.
Annoys me when it’s not groomed.
Most winters, I let the full beard grow out and shave it sometime b/w New Years and spring.
I shave every day rain or shine. Razor blade and shaving cream. It’s been so fucking dry that the likelihood of shaving part of your face off is high but I proceed nonetheless.
Still trying to figure out my schizophrenia.
Did you say something?
Fuck of I’m not talking to you.
Oh there I am.
@bfc …. I forgot about the new Garbage. Also a good album start to finish if you like them….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSa_hbutFt0
Plus…Shirley with the pink hair n stuff.
Ooooof.
I love fishnets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2XfVml6o24
Wow.
Anyone up?
Well I am now
Yeah, it’s early.
Working on it!!!!
/looks down
Well dangit!!!!!
It’s all mental according to Burroughs and Cocteau.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QU1nvuxaMA
I’ve decided to not shave until April. Or maybe March.
Possibly January.
Fuck, this shit itches.
Remember – wash that with shampoo, preferably Head & Shoulders 2-in-1. If you treat it like head hair & not body hair, it will cut down on the drying & flaking.
I use beard butter. Not a euphemism, that shit is great.
I am familiar. Not a fan.
Mind you, I’m one of those “been shaving since 15” guys, so am particular about my routine. To quote my granddad – “persnickety”.
Wait, are we talking face, genital, or butt?
That depends upon how much of an erection you have right now thinking about my body hair.
Well, if you’re growing a playoff beard for the Caps, you’ll be able shave that off before the Conference Finals.
I am so excited for a Nick Foles-Blake Bortles Super Bowl
I’m haunted by the question: Would I be okay with a Brian Hoyer Patriots Super Bowl?
It means the Patriots won (fuck!) but not because of Brady (yay?).
Blake – Foles –> Black Hole
Come on, endless void of nothingness!
Random music because I’m out of touch tonight for “reasons” and can’t play off of all of yourses stupid bullshit…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IusEhJXlCOA
I’m drinking free while our autistic dishwasher creeps towards the finish line. What’d I miss?
You win.
Imma go jerk off now. But no, not to thoughts of autistic dishwashers.
As far as you know.
He’s a tremendous guy. You can say “Chris Henry, tell me a joke!” and he can rattle off ten in a row like he’s Dangerfield. He’ll NEVER ask for a meal, but if you just go up & ask him, he’ll always order something. A lot of times, people don’t ask. I do. He’s great. Works his ass off, he’s just slow. But he’s a nice fixture around here.
Sounds like King Hippo.
(I’ll pay foar that one tomorrow)
Just make sure he gets a ride home in the cab of the truck.
http://abc13.com/food/joke-written-inside-pizza-box-costs-employee-her-job/2794202/
So… what’s the punchline to the joke?
Get close enough to smell but you can’t eat it.
That’s gotta be it, but I was hoping for something more…..
Something that made one of her kids throw up.
White people, dude.
GOD FUCKING DAMN THEM!
My guess: They get close enough to the smell but will get in trouble if they eat it
Or:
Their job gets them a lot of pussy
/revision/latest?cb=20111107051723
Ass to ass!
No, no, it’s fine.
Top o’ the world, Ma.
Watching the Lakers halftime where Kobe’s getting both numbers retired (I think 24 and 69).
Jeannie Buss would be a top-shelf MILF if she didn’t have Phil Jackson’s stank on her.
Magic’s intro was nice, “Well, young buck, I may have been cured of a fatal sex disease, but I never had to force myself on a woman in Colorado to get that disease ha ha ha young fella.” It was touching but awkward.
Fuck, I forgot about that. How could I have forgotten? They brought back Puppet Kobe and Lebron!