General Sports Talk
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71 members have voted
To which I'll counter: So what?
As an old-school basketball player and wannabe coach, I believe that great players make those around them better. I never saw that from Iverson. Others are welcome to hold other opinions. I only saw Baylor in his final years and missed his prime. I watched AI from his HS days.
On one play in his highlights, he dribbles around four men and throws up a shot. With four defenders on him, he should have had three open teammates but he took a low-percentage shot rather than a pass for an uncontested shot It looks great on the highlights, but teammates remember things like that.
To which I'll counter: So what?
As an old-school basketball player and wannabe coach, I believe that great players make those around them better. I never saw that from Iverson. Others are welcome to hold other opinions. I only saw Baylor in his final years and missed his prime. I watched AI from his HS days.
On one play in his highlights, he dribbles around four men and throws up a shot. With four defenders on him, he should have had three open teammates, but he took a low-percentage shot rather than a pass for an uncontested shot. It looks great on the highlights, but teammates remember things like that.
pick out any great player that you want and I will be able to find highlights where he took a shot when he could have passed to a teammate who was more open
and once again, HE HAD MORE ASSISTS THAN MJ
you don't like AI's flash - MJ had plenty of flash too
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I'm not sure why you think comparing AIs career to MJ's is a good idea, but knock yourself out.
Quote: billryanI'm not sure why you think comparing AIs career to MJ's is a good idea, but knock yourself out.
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well, you were the one who posted that AI shot twice as much as anyone else when MJ shot more than him - an obviously false statement
it irks me to see a truly great player disparaged with trivial stuff
but go ahead and get the last word - I'm done here - KNOCK YOURSELF OUT - mission accomplished
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Quote: lilredrooster.
pick out any great player that you want and I will be able to find highlights where he took a shot when he could have passed to a teammate who was more open
and once again, HE HAD MORE ASSISTS THAN MJ
you don't like AI's flash - MJ had plenty of flash too
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Bill Russell?
Quote: lilredrooster.
of all of the NBA back in the day vids that I've watched (lots and lots) this one is by far the most fun
the little dude is just spectacular
he beats 2 different guys so bad with his crossover that they fall down trying to guard him - one guy fell down twice
his last victim in the vid is MJ who he beats by about 4 feet before shooting a J over him
22 million views on this baby
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If you want to watch an exciting player check out Jay Williams "White Chocolate". All of the guys that played with him were amazed by his moves.
the Jay Williams vid was great
everybody already knows how great Steph Curry is - maybe the GOAT
I like watching his highlights more than the games themselves
very entertaining indeed
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Quote: DRichQuote: lilredrooster.
of all of the NBA back in the day vids that I've watched (lots and lots) this one is by far the most fun
the little dude is just spectacular
he beats 2 different guys so bad with his crossover that they fall down trying to guard him - one guy fell down twice
his last victim in the vid is MJ who he beats by about 4 feet before shooting a J over him
22 million views on this baby
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link to original post
If you want to watch an exciting player check out Jay Williams "White Chocolate". All of the guys that played with him were amazed by his moves.
I was at a Nets-Kings game, and Williams and Jason Kidd seemed to turn the regularly scheduled game into a one-on-one showcase.
It was the most entertaining game I think I've attended and there were only a few thousand fans in attendance but the crowd went nuts.
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It's the 7th inning, one out, and the bases are loaded. There is a short pop-up into left field, and the runner on third plays it halfway, instead of retreating to the bag. The outfielder makes a nice, but not spectacular, diving catch and comes up throwing. The runner on third scrambles back to the bag, but the other two runners think the ball fell, so they are running. If the outfielder holds the ball, he can toss it to third as there are two men on base, or to second or first as neither runner tagged up. Instead, he throws the ball halfway up the netting about forty feet from the plate. The runner on third jogs home, and the man on second gets about a third down the line before retreating
The ball is still in play, and the catcher throws the ball to third, where the umpire calls the current occupant safe as the play is still live. The ball is thrown to second, where the umpire rules the man on the base is safe. The announcer is going nuts as the replay shows the original runner on second never tagged up but is ruled safe third. The O's manager runs out, seeming to argue that the throw was out of bounds so his runners can advance , while the D-Backs is arguing the players never tagged up. Much debate ensues and after a long delay it is ruled the outfielder made the catch for the second out.
Here is where it gets silly.
The runner on second never tagged up so he is ruled out. However, the proper method should have been to resume play, have the pitcher throw to second and have the umpire make the call. That never happened( or it wasn't shown).
If the runner on second left early, he is out and that happened before the runner on third scored,the run shouldn't count, so most people were left confused .
I think the throw went out of bounds. Someone fifty rows up would have caught the ball if not for the protective netting.
Quote: billryanA play in last nights D-Backs game is sparking a lot of arguments over rules.
It's the 7th inning, one out, and the bases are loaded. There is a short pop-up into left field, and the runner on third plays it halfway, instead of retreating to the bag. The outfielder makes a nice, but not spectacular, diving catch and comes up throwing. The runner on third scrambles back to the bag, but the other two runners think the ball fell, so they are running. If the outfielder holds the ball, he can toss it to third as there are two men on base, or to second or first as neither runner tagged up. Instead, he throws the ball halfway up the netting about forty feet from the plate. The runner on third jogs home, and the man on second gets about a third down the line before retreating
The ball is still in play, and the catcher throws the ball to third, where the umpire calls the current occupant safe as the play is still live. The ball is thrown to second, where the umpire rules the man on the base is safe. The announcer is going nuts as the replay shows the original runner on second never tagged up but is ruled safe third. The O's manager runs out, seeming to argue that the throw was out of bounds so his runners can advance , while the D-Backs is arguing the players never tagged up. Much debate ensues and after a long delay it is ruled the outfielder made the catch for the second out.
Here is where it gets silly.
The runner on second never tagged up so he is ruled out. However, the proper method should have been to resume play, have the pitcher throw to second and have the umpire make the call. That never happened( or it wasn't shown).
If the runner on second left early, he is out and that happened before the runner on third scored,the run shouldn't count, so most people were left confused .
I think the throw went out of bounds. Someone fifty rows up would have caught the ball if not for the protective netting.
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I would be inclined to agree with you. Every ballpark has its own ground rules specific to what happens in the unique features of the ballpark, e.g., what happens if the ball gets caught in the ivy at Wrigley, what happens if it hits the roof or a frame member in a dome, etc.
That really should be standardized. Every National League player probably knows the rules in Arizona but how would the Orioles know, when they play there once every 4 years or less? Now that they all have the sissy nets, how a ball thrown there is treated should be universal across the sport.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanA play in last nights D-Backs game is sparking a lot of arguments over rules.
It's the 7th inning, one out, and the bases are loaded. There is a short pop-up into left field, and the runner on third plays it halfway, instead of retreating to the bag. The outfielder makes a nice, but not spectacular, diving catch and comes up throwing. The runner on third scrambles back to the bag, but the other two runners think the ball fell, so they are running. If the outfielder holds the ball, he can toss it to third as there are two men on base, or to second or first as neither runner tagged up. Instead, he throws the ball halfway up the netting about forty feet from the plate. The runner on third jogs home, and the man on second gets about a third down the line before retreating
The ball is still in play, and the catcher throws the ball to third, where the umpire calls the current occupant safe as the play is still live. The ball is thrown to second, where the umpire rules the man on the base is safe. The announcer is going nuts as the replay shows the original runner on second never tagged up but is ruled safe third. The O's manager runs out, seeming to argue that the throw was out of bounds so his runners can advance , while the D-Backs is arguing the players never tagged up. Much debate ensues and after a long delay it is ruled the outfielder made the catch for the second out.
Here is where it gets silly.
The runner on second never tagged up so he is ruled out. However, the proper method should have been to resume play, have the pitcher throw to second and have the umpire make the call. That never happened( or it wasn't shown).
If the runner on second left early, he is out and that happened before the runner on third scored,the run shouldn't count, so most people were left confused .
I think the throw went out of bounds. Someone fifty rows up would have caught the ball if not for the protective netting.
link to original post
I would be inclined to agree with you. Every ballpark has its own ground rules specific to what happens in the unique features of the ballpark, e.g., what happens if the ball gets caught in the ivy at Wrigley, what happens if it hits the roof or a frame member in a dome, etc.
That really should be standardized. Every National League player probably knows the rules in Arizona but how would the Orioles know, when they play there once every 4 years or less? Now that they all have the sissy nets, how a ball thrown there is treated should be universal across the sport.
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I watched that play and believe it was called correctly. The run scored before the appeal at second base so the run counted. I do not understand what was controversial about it. I thought the most interesting part about it was that the umpires never signaled that the ball was caught and the batter was out.
When you appeal if the runner left too soon, there is a procedure you must follow. The pitcher must step on the rubber, step off and throw over. If there is a deviation, the appeal is shut down, right or wrong. You don't get a second appeal.
The umpires screwed up terribly. No one was watching if the runners tagged up, but nobody made the call on the catch. The people in NY ruled the runner out on a play that hadn't been properly appealed. If the runner on second left early and the play is appealed, he is out and the inning is over. Instead, NYC overturned the field decision and improperly ended the inning, allowing the run to count.
Their series of incorrect decisions ended up with the right results.
Quote: billryanI think the final result was correct, but not the way it was called
When you appeal if the runner left too soon, there is a procedure you must follow. The pitcher must step on the rubber, step off and throw over. If there is a deviation, the appeal is shut down, right or wrong. You don't get a second appeal.
The umpires screwed up terribly. No one was watching if the runners tagged up, but nobody made the call on the catch. The people in NY ruled the runner out on a play that hadn't been properly appealed. If the runner on second left early and the play is appealed, he is out and the inning is over. Instead, NYC overturned the field decision and improperly ended the inning, allowing the run to count.
Their series of incorrect decisions ended up with the right results.
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I couldn't find the official rule in the rule book but I always assumed this was true. "Doubling a runner off is considered a "time play" (as opposed to a force play), which means that even if the doubling-off is the third out of an inning, any runs which score before the double-off will count (unless the run was scored by the same runner that was doubled off, in which case the run will not count in any situation).
I thought the run should count.
The run should count, but they count it for the wrong reason. On the comic/sports forum I also participate in, I'd guess 90% agree the run should score, but it's about 60-40 on why it counts. What is interesting, but ultimately meaningless, is that no one ever called the batter out.
I love Gary Sanchez's reaction. He heads back towards first, then, seeing his teammates advancing, he just gives up. Gary was slow for a catcher, but always had good baserunning instincts. He was just hung out to dry as no call was made.
The O's ran themselves into losses in two games against the Yankees last year, and their baserunning still needs improvement.
This would get really interesting if they were playing with a short umpiring crew. With an appeal at second the second base umpire would make the call on the appeal. But let's say they were playing without a second base umpire, a runner ends up on third and the defending team appeals at second. The third base umpire might have to call the runner safe at third, despite knowing he never touched second, then call the runner out on appeal because he was the only one with a view of second.
If the 1stB ump observes the runner left too soon, he doesn't make the call. When the play is over, if the other team appeals that he left too soon and the 1stB umpire makes the call. There is no previous call to overturn. It's a non-call and play continues unless the other team appeals. It's one of last quirky rules left in the game.
Quote: billryanWhat is interesting, but ultimately meaningless, is that no one ever called the batter out.
I agree 100%. How would the runners know they had to tag up if the batter was never called out?
Quote: billryanNot really.
If the 1stB ump observes the runner left too soon, he doesn't make the call. When the play is over, if the other team appeals that he left too soon and the 1stB umpire makes the call. There is no previous call to overturn. It's a non-call and play continues unless the other team appeals. It's one of last quirky rules left in the game.
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There kind of is, though. Let's say a runner on first wants to advance to second on a fly ball out. That's always going to be a close play at second so maybe he gets called safe at second. Both first and second base umps might have seen him leave early but neither one of them is going to say before an appeal and the second base ump is going to make his call based on the action at second base.
Instant replay challenge: that might be tough to use it to see if a runner left early. The same camera can't record both the runner on the base and the ball being caught in the outfield. And the runner & coach can watch the ball descending and anticipate the exact time of the catch, so he can take off from the base even quicker than a sprinter can get off the block when the starter's pistol is fired. I wonder how closely the different cameras are synchronized, and if it's good enough to make that call accurately.
The NBA play-in/playoffs start tomorrow. I’m going to watch most of it. OKC was best team this year. Boston/Cleveland tied for second. Lakers/Warriors/Nuggets/Clippers/TWolves all are live underdogs. I don’t give any other East teams a chance.
Quote: SOOPOOMcIlroy’s Masters win was one of the most captivating 5 hours of television I have ever watched. He made two wedge shots that were so bad the announcers couldn’t believe it nor even explain it. He made a few long iron shots that were so good they will be talked about as long as golf is talked about.
The NBA play-in/playoffs start tomorrow. I’m going to watch most of it. OKC was best team this year. Boston/Cleveland tied for second. Lakers/Warriors/Nuggets/Clippers/TWolves all are live underdogs. I don’t give any other East teams a chance.
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I give OKC & Cleveland best chance to win. Boston a close second. When the season started and progressed, I was reveling that the Celtics were winning...and the Lakers weren't. And then Luka donned a Lakers jersey, and I became less happy and a bit more concerned there was any.other contender in the mix. Luka made the Lakers into a whole new team, so I agree don't sleep on them.
In other news none of the Original Six teams in the NHL made the playoffs this year in a first.
Quote: GenoDRPh
In other news none of the Original Six teams in the NHL made the playoffs this year in a first.
Canadians as type this have 98% chance to make the playoffs. Not sure what you mean?
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: GenoDRPh
In other news none of the Original Six teams in the NHL made the playoffs this year in a first.
Canadians as type this have 98% chance to make the playoffs. Not sure what you mean?
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Correction noted: No US based Original Six have made the playoffs this year. The author regrets the error.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOQuote: GenoDRPh
In other news none of the Original Six teams in the NHL made the playoffs this year in a first.
Canadians as type this have 98% chance to make the playoffs. Not sure what you mean?
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Correction noted: No US based Original Six have made the playoffs this year. The author regrets the error.
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I am still blown away that a Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup in 32 years,
Bases are loaded and the batter hits a squibbler down the first baseline. The pitcher fields it but misses out on tagging the runner, so he tosses the ball to first. Only he overthrows, and the ball heads into right field. Two runs score as the right fielder runs down the ball and fires towards home plate.
The throw is high and goes past the catcher as the third run scores, but the ball takes a wierd bounce and ends up back in the field of play, about halfway to the pitchers mound as the batter comes around and finishes the unofficial little league grand slam- perhaps the rarest, most exciting play in basebal
Rick Barry - the Miami Greyhound - is another all but forgotten back in the day great - 37 p.p.g. his senior year at Miami
he was an excellent shooter who averaged 36 his 2nd year in the NBA and shot over 50% on his 2s in a couple of years
he shot foul shots underhand and was close to 90% for his career - one year he shot 94.7% from the line - a higher % for a season than Steph Curry has ever had except for a season where Steph played only 5 games
Barry was much disliked - he was considered selfish and arrogant - but it's time to forget all that and remember his greatness on the court
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My first basketball game was a Nets game, and while Barry was out for the year with a knee injury, the Nets had him doing meet-and-greets as our bus pulled into the parking lot. It was Scout Night and there must have been a dozen school buses. Knowing what I know now, I imagine he hated doing that but as an eleven-year-old old I was thrilled to meet him. I don't remember anything about the game, except they played the Kentucky Colonels, but I remember Rick Barry standing there, with crutches, signing for us.
My friend Artie won a CYO contest, hitting 24 of 25 free throws underhanded, but his freshman basketball coach refused to allow anyone to shoot underhanded. It was strange to see two superstars use the same technique with such drastic differences.
I played hoops in college - small college
I wasn't great - but very good for a h.s. player - 18 p.p,g. my junior year - too small at 5'9" - only a couple of colleges were interested in me
I lived in the DC area - a highly competitive area for hoops
here are the more notable players I got to get out on the court with
Austin Carr (playground) - the greatest player by far that I ever got onto a court with - in college he was just amazing - he holds several NCAA records including most points in a game - 61
Kermit Washington - my college team played AU - he's best known for punching Rudy Tomjonavich who was left unconscious in a pool of blood in the middle of the floor while he was playing for the Lakers
Billy Knight - my little college played Pitt - Billy was All America and an NBA and ABA All Star - I had a 3 point play on Billy - my claim to fame - he didn't foul me - just came close - but the ref called it
James Brown - CBS sportscaster - he was my Coach at scrimmages at Dematha h.s. basketball camp
John Thompson - not a likeable guy but a great Coach - he coached a h.s. team - St. Anthonys - that crushed my team and was later named as the #1 h.s. team in the country by Sport Magazine
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a great moment in sports history______________________(-:/
Malice at the Palace
some fans got in some pretty good licks too - you can see it best at about 5:22
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I thought the cards were mediocre, at best. The WWE has over seventy wrestlers under contract, and just purchased the largest Mexican promotion, so you would think they can fill eight hours of premium events without resorting to endless self-promotion. Triple H wasn't on the card but got more airtime than any performer. They brought back two of their "injured" top female stars, which resulted in disjointed matches as the performers weren't on the same page. Even the camera work suffered as they missed several key shots.
John Cena, many years past his prime, turned heel a few months back, and this was his last shot at a record-breaking 18th World title.
His incredible strength and stamina used to overcome his lack of skills, but the writers worked overtime to justify his victory with a good old-fashioned fist to the balls. In fact, the main events of each night were all settled with that most American of moves. A well placed uppercut to the testicles. Saturday's main event featured two of them.
Charlotte Flair was a fantastic performer in the past, but age and a minimal schedule led to a heavy dose of ring rust and missed cues. To make things worse, an injury earlier on the card meant they needed to stretch the match out longer.
Rey Mysterio, who is always a highlight film by himself, came up lame Saturday morning, and his last-minute replacement wasn't up for the job.
Overall, I think this was one of the weakest WrestleManias—certainly the worst two nighter.
Desmond Watson - 6'6" and 464 pounds would be the heaviest player ever selected in the NFL Draft -
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/philrogers/2025/04/22/heavyweight-desmond-watson-could-be-a-big-surprise-in-draft/
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Quote: lilredrooster.
John Thompson - not a likeable guy but a great Coach - he coached a h.s. team - St. Anthonys - that crushed my team and was later named as the #1 h.s. team in the country by Sport Magazine
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My father was a cheerleader at the same time Thompson was there-same graduating class- for the Providence College Friars basketball team. When asked why he became a cheerleader, he said "I got to go to the basketball games for free."
Former Boston Mayor and US Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn also played for the Friars at the same time. My parents were invited to attend Flynn's inaugural ball when he was first elected mayor. He had a well-earned reputation for being a drinker.
In the early 1960s, the New York Yankees announced they were looking for batboys for the upcoming season.
A young girl, named Gwen Goldman, wrote a letter, saying g she loved baseball and could do the job of batboy as well as anyone else.
She received a thank-you letter, but was told that the dugout and clubhouse were no place for young girls.
Sixty years later, her granddaughter wrote a second letter to the Yankees and enclosed a copy of the first letter.
In June of 2021, Gwen Goldman not only served as the Yankee batperson but was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
If a seventy-year-old woman can be a Yankee batboy, it would seem little is impossible.
Hold on to your dreams.
Quote: billryanSome dreams take longer to come true, but you should never give up on them.
In the early 1960s, the New York Yankees announced they were looking for batboys for the upcoming season.
A young girl, named Gwen Goldman, wrote a letter, saying g she loved baseball and could do the job of batboy as well as anyone else.
She received a thank-you letter, but was told that the dugout and clubhouse were no place for young girls.
Sixty years later, her granddaughter wrote a second letter to the Yankees and enclosed a copy of the first letter.
In June of 2021, Gwen Goldman not only served as the Yankee batperson but was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
If a seventy-year-old woman can be a Yankee batboy, it would seem little is impossible.
Hold on to your dreams.
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Fantastic. Thank you for sharing that.
Quote: DRichQuote: billryanSome dreams take longer to come true, but you should never give up on them.
In the early 1960s, the New York Yankees announced they were looking for batboys for the upcoming season.
A young girl, named Gwen Goldman, wrote a letter, saying g she loved baseball and could do the job of batboy as well as anyone else.
She received a thank-you letter, but was told that the dugout and clubhouse were no place for young girls.
Sixty years later, her granddaughter wrote a second letter to the Yankees and enclosed a copy of the first letter.
In June of 2021, Gwen Goldman not only served as the Yankee batperson but was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
If a seventy-year-old woman can be a Yankee batboy, it would seem little is impossible.
Hold on to your dreams.
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Fantastic. Thank you for sharing that.
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Someplace on YouTube is a zoom video call with her family members when Brian Cashman joins in and surprises her. I've found it in the past, but not when I'm looking for it.
couldn't stop watching this - ride 'em cowboy
the announcer stated that the riders are the toughest athletes in all of sports - maybe true - idk
man vs. beast
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The problem was that the ball clearly bounced before he caught it, and judgment calls are not reviewable. The Umpires could have gotten together to discuss it, but since the first and second base umps called him out, there wasn't a majority of them to overrule.
What's the point of having reviews when bad calls can't be fixed?
Victor W is already the tallest player in the NBA, being listed at 7'4. He's been out with an injury for the season and hasn't been seen in public very much.
A new photo was released with him standing next to 6-11 Tim Duncan and 7-1 David Robinson and he appears to be closer to eight feet than seven.
It might be a photo illusion but it is an incredible photo.
