General Sports Talk
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73 members have voted
Quote:The father of a 4-year-old whose accurate NFL predictions made her a viral sensation says his family is now receiving death threats after her picks during the playoffs were losers.
Reese Donatelli gained a large social media following for her spirited and sassy football predictions posted to her dad’s account, often grabbing the mini helmet of the NFL team she believed would win and sometimes tossing aside the loser’s.
Still, during the first weekend of this month’s playoff games, several of her predictions missed the mark, prompting some followers to claim her picks were “cursed.”
Her father, radio personality Anthony Donatelli of Riverside, California, told the Los Angeles Times that the family has received threatening messages, including demands for money from people who claimed to have lost thousands of dollars because Reese’s picks were incorrect.
“It’s nuts,” Donatelli. “She’s obviously not an NFL analyst. She’s picking teams based on the color of her dress, or she’ll pick the Packers because she likes cheese. She just relates these silly little things as reasons why she picks certain teams.”
Never trust a bunch of gambling strangers with your daughter. That's my motto.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/four-old-went-viral-her-145024323.html
amazing yt from back in the day
Wilt blocking a shot while in college
his hand over the top of the backboard
his head way over the rim
Kansas ran a picture of the block in their college newpaper and the opposing players thought it was a fake - it was no fake
the legend is that he could could get up 50 inches off the ground - he high jumped and broad jumped in college track
I've never seen anything else like this - totally awesome
Wilt scored 100 points in one game and one season averaged 50 p.p.g.
records that will probably never be broken
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Al Oerter was a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist who attended Kansas when Wilt was there. He was trying to make a comeback in 1976 and signed up as a part-time field and conditioning coach at my high school. He told us about the time a loose shot put ended up in the high jumpers' pit, and Wilt picked it up and threw it like a softball. He said it traveled almost 60 feet, when the NCAA record was 62 feet.
Wilt wasn't really into weight lifting, although I've read he could bench press anywhere from 500 to 700 pounds and Arnold said he was the strongest man he ever met.
Al believed lifting weights was bad for athletes. Oerter did hundreds of push-ups three times a day and used to do pull-ups while wearing heavy chains. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 270 pounds of all-natural muscle. He hated steroids and the athletes who used them to gain an advantage. He took it personally when someone he believed to be on steroids broke his record.
I don't believe he could bench press 500 pounds. Too tall and arms too long, that's a terrible disadvantage in that game. The typical guy you see doing stuff like that is one of those 5 feet tall, 6 feet wide guys.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyMaybe Wilt belongs in the Mandela Effect thread. Has any evidence of his 100 point game turned up yet? Maybe it was just a mass illusion.
I don't believe he could bench press 500 pounds. Too tall and arms too long, that's a terrible disadvantage in that game. The typical guy you see doing stuff like that is one of those 5 feet tall, 6 feet wide guys.
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There was no TV crew at the game and there is no film of Wilt's 100 pt game. I have a memory of seeing the box score though - maybe a Mandela Effect memory.
at the end of the vid I posted they don't identify the speaker but I believe it's Bill Russell
he says:
"I continue to call Wilt the 8th wonder of the world when it comes to basketball"
linked is Wikipedia's account of the 100 point game
from Wiki:
"The game was not televised, and no video footage of the game has been recovered; there are only audio recordings of the game's fourth quarter, which was added for preservation in the United States' National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2016."
at the beginning of the 4th quarter:
"Chamberlain now realized he could break his own 73-point scoring record (for a regulation 48-minute game) or his record 78 points, set in triple overtime"
in the game, you can see from the Wiki box score that Wilt made 28 of 32 free throws - 87.5%
that is quite surprising since since thru his career he only shot .511 - a little over 50% from the line
free throw shooting was his only weakness as a player; and opponents knew it and really hacked him because of it
in the game he also grabbed 25 rebounds; 15 more than the next player with the highest rebound total
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain%27s_100-point_game#Box_score
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thinking about Wilt I then remembered that before he joined the NBA he played for the Harlem Globetrotters
then I remembered seeing the Trotters when I was a kid and my favorite player Curly Neal (r.i.p.) and how much joy he brought to people including me
how great he was___!!!!
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History will be made. Either oldest grand slam tournament winner or youngest to win career Grand Slam.
Quote: SOOPOOAlcaraz versus Djokovic for Aussie Open.
History will be made. Either oldest grand slam tournament winner or youngest to win career Grand Slam.
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I am still shocked by Djokovic accomplishments. I don't think of him as a "great" like I do Federer.
Quote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOAlcaraz versus Djokovic for Aussie Open.
History will be made. Either oldest grand slam tournament winner or youngest to win career Grand Slam.
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I am still shocked by Djokovic accomplishments. I don't think of him as a "great" like I do Federer.
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I think Djokovic wins the men’s GOAT award
Serena women’s.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOAlcaraz versus Djokovic for Aussie Open.
History will be made. Either oldest grand slam tournament winner or youngest to win career Grand Slam.
link to original post
I am still shocked by Djokovic accomplishments. I don't think of him as a "great" like I do Federer.
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I think Djokovic wins the men’s GOAT award
Serena women’s.
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Looking at his past accomplishments I can certainly see why people would consider him the GOAT. I just don't ever remember thinking that about him when watching him. Serena is definitely the GOAT probably of all men's and women's players.
Djokovic is often cited as being the greatest returner (of opponent' serves) of all time. I've always believed that he was able to anticipate which side of the court the opponent will serve to - in addition to having great foot speed.
r.i.p. Sonny Jurgensen - truly great - I'm from the DC area and I was a big fan of his
https://archive.ph/onK5u
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a look back at the worst call in Super Bowl history - 11 years ago - Patriots vs. Seahawks - maybe the worst call of all time
27 seconds left, down by 4 points, second down and needing only 1 yard for a TD and a Super Bowl win and Pete Carroll calls for a pass which was interecepted
instead of giving the ball to superstar rb Marshawn Lynch
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZSqjfYaX4M
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/sport/new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks-rematch
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It seemed stupid at first, but after looking over the circumstances, there may be a point.
California has a very high state income tax and pro athletes who play a game there owe taxes.
During the regular season, if the Jets fly in to play San Fransico, players owe California income tax for the day they worked in the state. They can fly in on Saturday, play Sunday, and fly out Monday, but they owe only 1/365 of their income because they worked only one day.
For the Super Bowl, teams spend the two weeks before the game engaged in all sorts of work-related activity, so they end up owing roughly ten days' worth of taxes. An example they used was Sam Darnold, who was paid $178,000 for the game but owes $187,000 in state taxes.
These figures are being released by the Players Association and may not be accurate, but that is the claim.
I'd love to see the Super Bowl find a permanent spot in Las Vegas, as it appears that Wrestlemania has. No state income tax, easy to get to, has good weather in February, and tons of hotel rooms.
Quote: billryanShould the NFLPA ban future Super Bowls from being played in California?
It seemed stupid at first, but after looking over the circumstances, there may be a point.
California has a very high state income tax and pro athletes who play a game there owe taxes.
During the regular season, if the Jets fly in to play San Fransico, players owe California income tax for the day they worked in the state. They can fly in on Saturday, play Sunday, and fly out Monday, but they owe only 1/365 of their income because they worked only one day.
For the Super Bowl, teams spend the two weeks before the game engaged in all sorts of work-related activity, so they end up owing roughly ten days' worth of taxes. An example they used was Sam Darnold, who was paid $178,000 for the game but owes $187,000 in state taxes.
These figures are being released by the Players Association and may not be accurate, but that is the claim.
I'd love to see the Super Bowl find a permanent spot in Las Vegas, as it appears that Wrestlemania has. No state income tax, easy to get to, has good weather in February, and tons of hotel rooms.
link to original post
Sam Darnold made $37.5 million in 2025-26 season. Assuming the NFLPA is accurate, he won't be paying $187,000 on $178,000 in income. He'll be paying $187,000 in taxes on $37.5 million in income. That's about 0.5%. Plus, he plays in the NFC west, and played 2 regular season games in CA, so that adds to his jock tax hit. He'll be just fine money-wise.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: billryanShould the NFLPA ban future Super Bowls from being played in California?
It seemed stupid at first, but after looking over the circumstances, there may be a point.
California has a very high state income tax and pro athletes who play a game there owe taxes.
During the regular season, if the Jets fly in to play San Fransico, players owe California income tax for the day they worked in the state. They can fly in on Saturday, play Sunday, and fly out Monday, but they owe only 1/365 of their income because they worked only one day.
For the Super Bowl, teams spend the two weeks before the game engaged in all sorts of work-related activity, so they end up owing roughly ten days' worth of taxes. An example they used was Sam Darnold, who was paid $178,000 for the game but owes $187,000 in state taxes.
These figures are being released by the Players Association and may not be accurate, but that is the claim.
I'd love to see the Super Bowl find a permanent spot in Las Vegas, as it appears that Wrestlemania has. No state income tax, easy to get to, has good weather in February, and tons of hotel rooms.
link to original post
Sam Darnold made $37.5 million in 2025-26 season. Assuming the NFLPA is accurate, he won't be paying $187,000 on $178,000 in income. He'll be paying $187,000 in taxes on $37.5 million in income. That's about 0.5%. Plus, he plays in the NFC west, and played 2 regular season games in CA, so that adds to his jock tax hit. He'll be just fine money-wise.
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It’s apparently quite complex. They take your entire years pay and divide it into ‘duty days’. Article I read said NFL players (that make it to the Super Bowl) have around 180. And the SB has around 10 ‘duty days’. So 1/18 of his $37.5 million is around 2 million. And his California tax bill on that is around $200k MORE than if he didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. And his added pay from the SB was some thousands less.
You can moralize on ‘he made enough’. But if I’m an NFL player I’d want no more games in California.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: billryanShould the NFLPA ban future Super Bowls from being played in California?
It seemed stupid at first, but after looking over the circumstances, there may be a point.
California has a very high state income tax and pro athletes who play a game there owe taxes.
During the regular season, if the Jets fly in to play San Fransico, players owe California income tax for the day they worked in the state. They can fly in on Saturday, play Sunday, and fly out Monday, but they owe only 1/365 of their income because they worked only one day.
For the Super Bowl, teams spend the two weeks before the game engaged in all sorts of work-related activity, so they end up owing roughly ten days' worth of taxes. An example they used was Sam Darnold, who was paid $178,000 for the game but owes $187,000 in state taxes.
These figures are being released by the Players Association and may not be accurate, but that is the claim.
I'd love to see the Super Bowl find a permanent spot in Las Vegas, as it appears that Wrestlemania has. No state income tax, easy to get to, has good weather in February, and tons of hotel rooms.
link to original post
Sam Darnold made $37.5 million in 2025-26 season. Assuming the NFLPA is accurate, he won't be paying $187,000 on $178,000 in income. He'll be paying $187,000 in taxes on $37.5 million in income. That's about 0.5%. Plus, he plays in the NFC west, and played 2 regular season games in CA, so that adds to his jock tax hit. He'll be just fine money-wise.
link to original post
It’s apparently quite complex. They take your entire years pay and divide it into ‘duty days’. Article I read said NFL players (that make it to the Super Bowl) have around 180. And the SB has around 10 ‘duty days’. So 1/18 of his $37.5 million is around 2 million. And his California tax bill on that is around $200k MORE than if he didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. And his added pay from the SB was some thousands less.
You can moralize on ‘he made enough’. But if I’m an NFL player I’d want no more games in California.
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If I'm an NFL player, I'd want to get rid of the jock tax. No moralization, but I'm not feeling sorrow for anyone who has to pay the same taxes as everyone else.
For the NFL players, it seems that the 2-3 nights they spend in California for road games against the Chargers, Rams, and 49ers must be setting them up for incremental state income tax. Most other states (and DC) don't pursue state income tax from visitors below a certain threshold number of days you spend in their states.
Quote: gordonm888I have friends in the film business and the same thing has been happening there. The combination of fees and taxes for shooting movies is so high that filmmakers are fleeiing California. Been happening for several years. It is actually far cheaper to fly all the cast and crew and equipment to Eastern Europe, put everyone up in hotels and shoot movies there then shoot them in California. Filmmakers are using Vancouver, Atlanta and Texas as alternatives to California.
For the NFL players, it seems that the 2-3 nights they spend in California for road games against the Chargers, Rams, and 49ers must be setting them up for incremental state income tax. Most other states (and DC) don't pursue state income tax from visitors below a certain threshold number of days you spend in their states.
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I used to go to trade shows and sales/service calls in California, spending as much as 2 weeks a year there. Was I supposed to pay tax to them?
Players on the As will get a significant income boost when they move to Vegas. Every player in the AL West has a significant advantage over their NL West rivals, the most taxed players in sports.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: gordonm888I have friends in the film business and the same thing has been happening there. The combination of fees and taxes for shooting movies is so high that filmmakers are fleeiing California. Been happening for several years. It is actually far cheaper to fly all the cast and crew and equipment to Eastern Europe, put everyone up in hotels and shoot movies there then shoot them in California. Filmmakers are using Vancouver, Atlanta and Texas as alternatives to California.
For the NFL players, it seems that the 2-3 nights they spend in California for road games against the Chargers, Rams, and 49ers must be setting them up for incremental state income tax. Most other states (and DC) don't pursue state income tax from visitors below a certain threshold number of days you spend in their states.
link to original post
I used to go to trade shows and sales/service calls in California, spending as much as 2 weeks a year there. Was I supposed to pay tax to them?
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When I did a lot of business travel a typical rule was that state taxes were due if you spent 30 days or more in the state/district on business travel in a given tax year. Not sure about recent changes in tax rules (California has apparently made changes in the last few years.)
If Elon Musk earns $180 billion in a year (and pays state income taxes in his home state) and spends a couple of nights in California on business does he owe them on the order of $50 million for each night?
It's amazing how so many policy makers don't understand that fees and taxation create incentives for people to modify their behavior in ways that are not favorable to the taxing municipality.
Quote: billryanA baseball player pays state income taxes on the 81 home games and pays visiting taxes on the 81 games on the road. The Dodger players pay California income tax on their 81 home games and on road games against NL division rivals San Diego and San Francisco, as well as on six additional games against Oakland and the Angels. At least half their postseason earnings will get hit with Cali's income tax.
Players on the As will get a significant income boost when they move to Vegas. Every player in the AL West has a significant advantage over their NL West rivals, the most taxed players in sports.
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And all hell breaks loose when they have to go to Toronto. When there were two Canadian teams there was an argument for it, but now I believe that franchise should be moved or contracted. From the seagull incident on, they've been nothing but an asterisk and an inconvenience for the Major Leagues. Move them to Jax or a Carolina.
"California's jock tax is a unique tax system that applies to professional athletes based on the number of "duty days" they spend in the state. This includes days spent playing, practicing, attending meetings, and fulfilling media obligations. The state's highest income tax rate of 13.3% is applied to a prorated share of a player's annual salary based on their duty days in California. This can lead to significant tax bills for players, even if they only spend a few days in the state for a major event like the Super Bowl. For example, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold earned a $178,000 bonus for winning Super Bowl LX but owed nearly $198,000 in taxes due to the jock tax rules. This situation highlights the jock tax's impact on out-of-state players competing in high-tax states like California. "
So this tax doesn't apply to Elon Musk or any of us forum members. But for professional athletes, it can amount to quite a bit. Probably applies to college athletes receiving NIL and other types of salaries.
May also apply to athletes competing in the 2028 summer olympics in Los Angeles.
Quote: billryanA baseball player pays state income taxes on the 81 home games and pays visiting taxes on the 81 games on the road. The Dodger players pay California income tax on their 81 home games and on road games against NL division rivals San Diego and San Francisco, as well as on six additional games against Oakland and the Angels. At least half their postseason earnings will get hit with Cali's income tax.
Players on the As will get a significant income boost when they move to Vegas. Every player in the AL West has a significant advantage over their NL West rivals, the most taxed players in sports.
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Cali’s silly taxes are why Ohtani structured his contract the way it is. He is making very little now, and will get most after he has moved out of California post baseball career. I’ll bet it eventually goes to court with Cali arguing he owes them.
I think NY does something similar, by the way.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: billryanA baseball player pays state income taxes on the 81 home games and pays visiting taxes on the 81 games on the road. The Dodger players pay California income tax on their 81 home games and on road games against NL division rivals San Diego and San Francisco, as well as on six additional games against Oakland and the Angels. At least half their postseason earnings will get hit with Cali's income tax.
Players on the As will get a significant income boost when they move to Vegas. Every player in the AL West has a significant advantage over their NL West rivals, the most taxed players in sports.
link to original post
Cali’s silly taxes are why Ohtani structured his contract the way it is. He is making very little now, and will get most after he has moved out of California post baseball career. I’ll bet it eventually goes to court with Cali arguing he owes them.
I think NY does something similar, by the way.
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NY can be worse, in some respects. They took Derek Jeter to court, arguing he was a state resident and owed state income on all his earnings, while Jeter claimed to be a Florida resident who owed taxes only on 81 games played in NY. An undisclosed settlement ended the case. They also tried to collect some state income tax from players for the Super Bowl that was played in NJ, claiming many pre-game activities were held in NY
