Instant Hippo Thoughts – Week 4, 2024 Season

Strange happenings were indeed afoot at the Circle K.  Read on/

Some things, one can NEVAR unhear.  Like the match commentator comparing The Gospel According to Fatthew to…Magic Johnson?  Uh, ok then.  RRRRRRRRRRAM IT!! have been doing it with smoke and mirrors, but the Chi**** held them in check, and forced two turnovers (committing none of their own) in a 24-18 victory.  Don’t look now, but Caleb and his Bearistocrats! have clawed back to .500.  Does respectability await?  L.A. will enjoy the very early draft pick that they very much need.

Denver played next to no offense in a rain-soaked Meadowlands, but next to nothing leads to a 10-9 Donks WOO!! win.  Will Lutz missed a 50-yard FG (maybe not a great idea to try) inside of 2 minutes, then made a dumb pass interference putting Q-aron into FG range.  Lo, the defense stiffened yet again, leaving Zeuerlein with a 50-yard try of his own.  Which he also missed, fittingly enough.  Both teams now 2-2.

Jordan Love looked really not-ready to return to action, digging a 28-zip hole at home.  But much like UGA the night before, Packers roared back to make it a game late, cutting the margin to 28-22, then 31-29 before a failed onside kick.  My poor Wolven Sort alumnus missed two FGs for Green Bay, so he’ll be unemployed tomorrow.  Vikes showed signs of mortality, but 4-0 is 4-0.

Red Rocket welcomed his old homies/fellow Cat Persons into the Richardson Family Plantation.  There would be no vengeance, in a somehow-uneventful 34-24 loss.  Cincy avoids the fatal 0-4 hole, but they still look pretty shite.

Coach Epps’ voodoo finally met its match in the Gravy Dome.  Like Minny, the Humps looked like they’d win in a walk, only to sputter in the 2nd half.  Yinzburgh scored almost at will after coming out of the half down 17-3 – but Mister Elite (filling in for a very stupidly-injured – again – Anthony Richardson) kept up just enough.  PIT had one last hurrah with 2:00 and a 27-24 deficit, but a snap miscue put them behind the sticks and Strawberry Fields heaved a prayer pickerception.  27-24 it would end, and the questions about whether the Yinzer W/L record is a house of cards?  Not really answered one way or the other.  I’m just along for the ride, y’all.

Nick Sirianni really wants to get fired.  Nick Sirianni really SHOULD get fired.  But it was waaaayyyyyy cool when they ran back a blocked extra point for a double-rouge.  That cut the once-24 point lead down to 30-16, but the Iggles had finished their scoring for the day.  They need some health in the WR room, and are very happy for the early, upcoming bye week.  33-16 was the final.

Oy, N’Awlins.  They took a very late 24-23 lead, just derpily enough to work the clock down to 1:00 and burn all of Sherman Ashes’ timeouts (pun sort of intended).  Dingleberry called a dumb play for 5 yards that kept the clock running, then the center got them a 10-second runoff BLEERGH.  I mean, for fuck’s sake.  All NO had to do was NOT commit a 35+ yard DPI, which they naturally did straight away.

With 23 seconds left at the NO 40, now all Dingleberry needed to do was pick up 7-8 yards, spike the ball, and win with Younghoe.  Instead, they called and/or threw THREE deep outs.  All incomplete.  Had the Falcons caught the third attempt, he would have been down inbounds and the clock would have expired.  SO.  STUPID.  As a result, Koo had to try from 58 yards, 4 beyond his career long.  But he made it, because he’s a fucking badass.  Weird game, but 26-24 to the home team.  NFC South remains odd, as is the custom.

Things went from bad to worse for Prison Girlfriend and his Duuuuuvvvvvaaaalllll pals.  Despite scrapping and clawing to a late 20-17 lead, they kept giving the Stroud/Nico Collins combo chances, the last of which ended in a short TD completion to their 4th string RB for the win.  24-20, 500s get to 3-1, and Jaguras look forward to their annual London respite/twofer.  At 0-4, that’s all they gots to look forward to.

Four in the late window, and I am interested in zero.  Aside from Lesser Harbs running one-legged Herbert out there AGAIN, despite having a Week 5 bye.  Naturally, they hobbled to an early 10-zip lead “home” to Kansas City, because everything that fuckhead does seems to work out for him (meaning Harbs, I got no problem with Herbert).  Chefs slowly lurched back even at 10, before the Clips finally showed an offensive pulse.  But 4th and 1 from the 3, Harbs oddly goes for it, AND tries play action.  With a QB who can’t move.  He throws incomplete prior to getting mashed, while ineffective holding is declined.  KC eventually gets a short TD run from Perine and wins, 17-10.

Raiders and #ThePauls met to see which squadron was MOAR mentally checked out.  Oh man, did both teams shart all over the pitch.  CLE, like the Clips, led 10-nil.  Then Vegas ran off 20 straight, followed by a #ThePauls’ defensive TD…but they missed the extra point.  A great man\y punts followed.  Mister Touchy got as far as the Raiders 10 on their last gap, but got sacked on 4th and 3, for like the millionth time.  Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, 20-16 it ends.

You had to reckon Santa Clara, staring at a 1-2 record, would focus and beat the tar shit out of the P*ts.  And you’d be right.  Tomsulas roll, 30-13.  I noticed almost nothing.

Qards and Commies, an old school NFC East matchup that ALWAYS got televised in Hippo’s home (Charlotte) TV market growing up.  God, did I hate watching that boring slop.  Totally forget where I was going with that, probably nowhere.  Maybe sommet about Neil Lomax?  Xbox, Jr. might as well have been Lomax, whether the latter is even still alive.  Jayden Daniels?  Still looking very, very good.  42-14 in the desert.  The NFC Special Needs Division can has changing of the guard???

Given the lacklustre late window, the balancing comes with a killer SNF matchup, Bills Mafia away to the Ratbirds.  Fucking a, let’s go!  El Tractorcito was so excite, he took his first touch for 80+ and a score!  He’d run another one in, to start Q2.  One starts to sense despair on the BUF sideline.  Then The Miseducation of Justice Hill got his, and I was Vodka League annoyed and quit paying attention.  Balmer ain’t losing this’un.

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King Hippo
Reclusive, vulgar Broncos fan. Also a proud fookin' Evertonian. Likely dropped on my head repeatedly as a small child. [Insert George Carlin quote followed by thoughtful nod.]
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Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

I hate “win probability” so very, very much.

WCS

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Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Clearly that’s not from the Christmas game.

Doktor Zymm

I would guess they just look at historical data and don’t take anything else into account, so surprise surprise, teams that are ahead are favored to win. And points are scored in chunks so you get big leaps. It’s probably less accurate for uncommon scores too, that would be interesting to look at

Doktor Zymm

Running a bunch of code today, takes about 10 minutes so that’s 10 minutes I have to spend doing other stuff. In this case laundry and assembling furniture, so sorta woo cuz I’ll have clean clothes and furniture

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

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Doktor Zymm

I had the exact same thought but was too lazy to go find it. Thank you!

Redshirt

(post negative comments about Netanyahu)

(Verizon cell network goes down)

Me: “Son of a bitch! Marjorie Taylor Greene was right all along?!”

(spends rest of day looking for Space Lasers)

SonOfSpam

So the Mets are in. If Atl wins game 2, they are in and play SD, and the Mets play the Brewers. If the Mets sweep, they go to SD and Arizona plays the Brewers.

Sale pitches game 2 and the Braves will pull out all the stops. It’ll be interesting to see if the Mets rest some players, or if they go all out to avoid the longer trip.

SonOfSpam

Update: Chris Sale is either ded or has back spasms, unclear. Guy named “Holmes” is pitching in his stead. Will endeavour to find out possible relation to Sherlock.

ballsofsteelandfury

Or John?

SonOfSpam

Turns out it was H.H.

Senor Weaselo

PLAID IN ATLANTA (Game 1)

ArmedandHammered

Sherman attacking during Freak Week?

Sharkbait

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Last edited 2 months ago by Sharkbait
ArmedandHammered

Burn the heretics! Purge them with fire! For the Emperor!

WCS

Save that for the game later.

Senor Weaselo

LOLMETS, proceeding to give up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.

Senor Weaselo

LOLBARVES, giving up 6 in the 8th to *checks notes* oh COME ON.

No, a chemical plant fire isn’t good enough.

Redshirt

Good. About time a Large Market Team catches a break or two.

ArmedandHammered

As Horatio below I hate Mondays which really wouldn’t be so bad if people actually did their fucking job properly.

Project Manajer – “A&H I need you to complete this spreadsheet and upload it to product x.”

A&H – “Product x does not use that spreadsheet as it has no place for this information. That spreadsheet gets uploaded to product y and is that is the only product that uses that information, oh and the client has to fill that spreadsheet out. Here is the link to the complete process with the appropriate Work Instructions and SOPs and what needs to be done and this is a task that I am not trained nor have the credentials to complete the task – which according to SOPs is your job.”

Project Manajer – “But I already had them fill out the spreadsheet for product y and it has been signed off on by the client! (This was later found out to be a lie, the spreadsheet had never been presented to the client for them to fill out) This needs to get done now and I need you to do it.”

A&H – “Nope – and this conversation has been sent to the appropriate management teams. All you had to do was follow the step by step process laid out in work instructions and SOPs.”

I have no idea if I can make it another 2 years as people seem to get stupider and lazier. It is almost 2pm and this idiocy has taken up my entire day so far and kept me from eating so I am hangrier than a fat man during a cleanse weekend.

2Pack

With peers or superiors faced with nonsense like that, I take notes and make sure they see me doing it. The old check the watch, and whip out the notebook. Jot down the incident right there in front of them. Drives them nuts while putting them on notice. If it goes south you are ready with the details, not the usual he said – I said pissing contest for higher to adjudicate.

ArmedandHammered

Which is why I always use email or take pics of slack chats.

Gumbygirl

When it inevitably goes to shit, it won’t be your ass with the bite marks on it. Good plan!

blaxabbath

“Yeah just leave it there and I’ll get to it.”

There is the shredder.

BugEyedBoo

This from the developer’s side – a monkey could be a Project Manager, if you could keep its hands clean.

2Pack

Two things that simply can’t be beat. Hippos recap, and ladies on bicycles or mopeds.
Fun fact – Wifey rode one of these back when we were dating.
BONUS Fun fact – from the day after we got married she wouldn’t be caught dead on one ever again.

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ArmedandHammered

I’d let her run over me.

litre_cola

Happy Truth and Reconciliation Day! Day off from work!
As times are tight right now it is Mrs. Cola’s and my 8th anniversary tomorrow so instead of going to our fave french resto and dropping a couple hundred bucks I am recreating the meal that we get there regularly.
Olive tapenade to start for her.
Merguez ssg for me.
Beef Tartare for her main.
Steak au Poivre for me.
Creme Brulee to finish.

All prep is done.

SonOfSpam

Happy “Boy Are You Lucky!” Day

litre_cola

Am I ever

2Pack

Happy Anniversary Buddy. Auguri.

blaxabbath

“Dear Baby-

Due to the unprecedented events of 2024, we will be offering only a pint_cola for your beverage.

Thank you for your continued patronage!”

Gumbygirl

Hero! She will remember this one many years from now.

BeefReeferLives

Oooo. Looks like there’s a beef brewing betwixt Lil Baker and Fancy Dog.

https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/baker-mayfield-tom-brady-comments-taken-out-context.html

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Doktor Zymm

“I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings”

Barf

Horatio Cornblower

I would think that stressful would be your wife banging her jiu jitsu instructor, but maybe I just don’t have enough Super Bowl rings.

Unsurprised

Grappling with some dude on the floor. Hoping you don’t get MRSA every time you practice. How could anyone see that affair coming?

ballsofsteelandfury

Wait, whose wife are we talking about?

Gumbygirl

I’M DEAD!

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Gumbygirl

Le sigh. I don’t know why that gif ain’t giffing. Click on it.

SonOfSpam
Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

There used to be a commenter with that name – was it withleather? Or deadspin?

SonOfSpam

Good question…gonna say Deadspin but everything was so long ago (in internet time)

Doktor Zymm

Brain cancer is a nasty one 🙁

ArmedandHammered

That and stomach cancer are the two I fear the most.

Senor Weaselo

He helped save the world. And he did it for friendship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb0rlnagj4k

Last edited 2 months ago by Senor Weaselo
Horatio Cornblower

I was having a productive day and then someone closed a conference call with “Happy Monday” and now I just want to kill.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Pills, Thrills, and Bananacakes: The King Hippo Story

Unsurprised

You work with a demon.

BeefReeferLives

“Happy Monday, everyone!”

“Go fuck yourself” /click

ArmedandHammered

Sorry for the Blair Witching.

SonOfSpam

No worries, it’s funny enough to post twice.

Doktor Zymm

Oh, and Jayden Daniels currently has the best completion percentage across four games EVER. Not for a rookie, but overall! It’s at 82.1% and not just dinks and dunks. And Snyder isn’t around to destroy everyone’s enjoyment! It’ll have to be destroyed through more conventional, less toxic means!

Unsurprised

THIS GUY, JAYDEN DANIELS. I CALL HIM MAO BRCAUSE HE’S LEADING THE COMMIES TO VICTORY AFTER A CENTURY IF HUMILIATION.

SonOfSpam

Keys to success:

a) get rid of racist name
&) get rid of asshole owner

Doktor Zymm

It really is that simple!

Gumbygirl

You forgot “fix the plumbing”

blaxabbath

At some point, we gonna start blaming the Israeli citizenry/troops signing up to deliver this war or just Netanyahu?

Because ‘I support the troops not the war’ won us the last couple decades-plus wars we contracted to Haliburton.

Doktor Zymm

That’s a tougher sell when they have conscription, but they do need to do something to boot out the hardliners and cutting funding would absoutely help on our part.

BugEyedBoo

My $0.02, too close to the election for the US to do much of anything about funding. Biden doesn’t want to do anything to funding that’s just going to turn into bad news regardless of whether or not it’s a good idea.

Doktor Zymm

Oh yeah, it’s not actually going to happen or anything. Just like we’re not actually going to get media coverage pointing out how messed up it is that Trump is preemptively blaming Jewish Americans for him not getting elected

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Also proposing Kristallnacht II.

blaxabbath

Less tough of a sell the longer no political action is taken.

I guess all I’m saying is, Kamala Harris eats cats.

Doktor Zymm

It’s a wedge issue, a lot of people are weirdly fine with Israel committing terrorist acts to provoke war in the region while we just wave our hands ineffectually and ask them to please stop doing that. The only country they don’t want to get involved is Iran, and we won’t be seen to align with Iran in any way whatsoever even if it’s to prevent widespread war.

Jordan’s foreign minister had some good comments. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/26/nx-s1-5124895/fighting-between-israel-and-hezbollah-puts-jordan-in-an-uncomfortable-spot

Redshirt

It’s the weirdest thing. Israeli citizens don’t want the war, but Netanyahu knows he may be out if the war ends (unpopular before, allowed 10/7 to happen, wartime PMs rarely continue after war ends).

Doktor Zymm

And corruption charges he might have to face if he has to leave office

BugEyedBoo

Yep. By ‘out’ Bibi thinks, ‘jail’.

Redshirt

But remember, openly questioning Bibi is highly offensive to the Israeli and Jewish people. Doubly so if you are an Israeli or Jewish person.

Senor Weaselo

I’m pretty sure he might be eligible for charges of some light treason.

(As crazy as this sounds I do not know Israeli law so I can’t be sure.)

Horatio Cornblower

My solution to the Middle East issue is and always have been arming both sides to the teeth and telling them we’ll be happy to deal with the winner.

On a related note I should not be in charge of anything.

Redshirt

Give the persons in charge a baseball bat and put them in the same room. Person who walks out wins the war.

BugEyedBoo

Don’t forget, Israel has nukes and an air force that can deliver them to any country in the Middle East that wants to pick a fight to the death.

SonOfSpam

Yeah, I don’t want all-out war (because I am not insane mostly/somewhat), but I am enjoying the bad guy whack-a-mole happening right now.

blaxabbath

Truth hurts?

blaxabbath

I’m rooting for the Cardinals to move to Salt Lake City.

Week 4 played well into that scheme of mine.

Gumbygirl

Elders

ballsofsteelandfury

The Steelers killed themselves with turnovers. Now Tomlin’s got a good reason to go back to Wilson.

Oh, and it was ALWAYS a House of Cards!

Sharkbait

Does that mean Justin Fields is gonna get kicked onto the tracks of the Pittsburgh Light Rail?

ballsofsteelandfury

If he keeps turning the ball over, absolutely!

He’ll be Scotchy fodder down by the railyard

blaxabbath

“GET INSIDE THE HOUSE AND SHUT UP!”

-B Roethlisberger

Sharkbait

The only bright spot from the Pats game was a team record 63 yard FG, made at sea level, compared to the last record 62, kicked in Mexico city.

blaxabbath

Dude fuck the Patriots.

Doktor Zymm

The only letdown for Ballsitchmore was Henry being held to 199 yards and missing the 200 yd game record by THAT much.

blaxabbath

By THAT, you mean “3 feet”?

Doktor Zymm

Or 0.5%

blaxabbath

This is America. We don’t speak in your metric.