General Sports Talk

Quote: lilredrooster

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great moments from college basketball - immortalized by YouTube

1992 - Grant Hill throws a 65 foot pass from out of bounds to Christian Laettner who hits a turnaround at the buzzer to get Duke the W over KY and push them into the final 4. Laettner was 9 for 9 from the field and 10 for 10 from the line

one of the KY guards should have picked off that pass - they had lots of time - no excuses

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the Boys and Washington have a long standing nasty rivalry

they don't like each other

Boys coach McCarthy just made it nastier saying "We're going to win this game"

the Footballers have won 4 in a row including a win over the Bucs - Heinicke ain't pretty - but he's been getting it done somehow

it's going to be real interesting tomorrow


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https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/12/is-dallas-cowboys-a-lock-to-beat-the-washington-football-team-cowboys-coach-mike-mccarthy-thinks-so


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I am pretty sure that I never saw any of Heinicke's college games but I do remember him playing a little for St. Louis in the XFL.

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the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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Quote: lilredrooster

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the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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link to original post

The line is moving. Raiders were dog now Browns are. Moved a point while I tool a walk!

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: lilredrooster

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the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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link to original post

The line is moving. Raiders were dog now Browns are. Moved a point while I tool a walk!
link to original post

It probably had already moved before the official announcement. A starting QB being out is definitely worth more than 1 point.

Quote: DRich

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: lilredrooster

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the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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link to original post

The line is moving. Raiders were dog now Browns are. Moved a point while I tool a walk!
link to original post

It probably had already moved before the official announcement. A starting QB being out is definitely worth more than 1 point.
link to original post

It opened at Browns -6.5

Quote: unJon

Quote: DRich

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: lilredrooster

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the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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link to original post

The line is moving. Raiders were dog now Browns are. Moved a point while I tool a walk!
link to original post

It probably had already moved before the official announcement. A starting QB being out is definitely worth more than 1 point.
link to original post

It opened at Browns -6.5
link to original post

Now Browns + 4,5 and over/under down to 37!

May you live interesting times!

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: unJon

Quote: DRich

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: lilredrooster

____________


the NFL is struggling with Covid

the Browns placed 6 players on the Covid reserve list including Mayfield
Washington has 18 on the list and the Packers have 9

.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/15/baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-coronavirus/


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link to original post

The line is moving. Raiders were dog now Browns are. Moved a point while I tool a walk!
link to original post

It probably had already moved before the official announcement. A starting QB being out is definitely worth more than 1 point.
link to original post

It opened at Browns -6.5
link to original post

Now Browns + 4,5 and over/under down to 37!

May you live interesting times!
link to original post

I think I may take the Browns at +4.5 or better. I can become a Nick Mullens fan since he played in Hattiesburg, I like him more than that other quarterback that played there.

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

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https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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Quote: lilredrooster

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

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https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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link to original post

What do you find insane about it? New York City, maybe state too, has a rule that you have to be vaccinated to participate at an indoor sporting event in the city. The same rules apply to all players including visiting teams.

Quote: lilredrooster

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

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https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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link to original post

He is no less vaccinated than Bradley Beal or 3% of nba players, he just plays for one of the three teams in a city that requires it. He can’t play at Toronto either.

They are really just trying to not have to run Durant into the ground with all the players they are missing now imo.

Quote: DRich

Quote: lilredrooster

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

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https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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link to original post

What do you find insane about it? New York City, maybe state too, has a rule that you have to be vaccinated to participate at an indoor sporting event in the city. The same rules apply to all players including visiting teams.
link to original post

I actually don’t think it applies to the visiting teams which is an insane double standard. At least that’s the way it is for the Golden State Warriors, it’s only enforced on their own team not the visitors

Quote: mcallister3200

Quote: DRich

Quote: lilredrooster

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

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https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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link to original post

What do you find insane about it? New York City, maybe state too, has a rule that you have to be vaccinated to participate at an indoor sporting event in the city. The same rules apply to all players including visiting teams.
link to original post

I actually don’t think it applies to the visiting teams which is an insane double standard. At least that’s the way it is for the Golden State Warriors, it’s only enforced on their own team not the visitors
link to original post

if that is true it is ridiculous. I thought it applied to all players in NYC visiting or residents.

I do admire that he is standing up for his beliefs and sacrificing about $20 million dollars by not getting the vaccine.

Really some good college bowl games lately. That Huskies v Chanticleers game was awesome.

Golden State +9 at Toronto. They are resting 6 players. That is messed up.

Quote: DRich

Quote: mcallister3200

Quote: DRich

Quote: lilredrooster

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the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, can play, but only in road games - this is really insane IMO

.
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/17/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-returning-unvaccinated-road-games/

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link to original post

What do you find insane about it? New York City, maybe state too, has a rule that you have to be vaccinated to participate at an indoor sporting event in the city. The same rules apply to all players including visiting teams.
link to original post

I actually don’t think it applies to the visiting teams which is an insane double standard. At least that’s the way it is for the Golden State Warriors, it’s only enforced on their own team not the visitors
link to original post

if that is true it is ridiculous. I thought it applied to all players in NYC visiting or residents.

I do admire that he is standing up for his beliefs and sacrificing about $20 million dollars by not getting the vaccine.
link to original post

Gee. He’s been making $20 million a year FOR DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Some sacrifice! They tried to activate him but no good…. He’s in ‘Covid protocol’ now, with EIGHT of his teammates, including Durant. The Nets are signing random G league players to have a roster that can play. Must be quite a game tonight between the fake Nets and the dismal Orlando Magic.

I don't think he has been paid a dollar this season.

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Covid has rocked the NFL - again -

Washington and Cleveland may have to start QBs from their practice squad - according to the NYT which I can't link because it's a pay site

the Rams shut down their practice facilities

3 games have been rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday

other pro and colleage leagues are getting messed up too


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I hadn't heard this story: an NFL Championship game played indoors on a 60-yard field.

Quote: smoothgrh

I hadn't heard this story: an NFL Championship game played indoors on a 60-yard field.
link to original post

For reasons I don't understand, the NFL dates the Championship Game from 1933 rather than including this game.

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Fox is running a special on Christmas Day - all Madden a documentary

looking forward to watching
he is definitely, IMO, one of the most interesting characters to be associated with the NFL

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Some good games so far

Quote: billryan

I don't think he has been paid a dollar this season.
link to original post

He has been paid something around 1/2 million per road game he is medically eligible to play in. What makes you think he is not getting paid?

Do you have a link to that?

Quote: billryan

Quote: smoothgrh

I hadn't heard this story: an NFL Championship game played indoors on a 60-yard field.
link to original post

For reasons I don't understand, the NFL dates the Championship Game from 1933 rather than including this game.
link to original post

That article said something about the NFL not having a playoff system before this game — whichever team had the best win pct was the champion (and there were a lot of ties).

Quote: lilredrooster

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Fox is running a special on Christmas Day - all Madden a documentary

looking forward to watching
he is definitely, IMO, one of the most interesting characters to be associated with the NFL

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link to original post

I was not a fan of his announcing. He seemed biased towards the Cowboys and 49ers.

Quote: smoothgrh

I hadn't heard this story: an NFL Championship game played indoors on a 60-yard field.
link to original post

I heard of it or other games they had to "turn" the field because it was a short field.

Not long ago when the Packers would play in Milwaukee the teams had to share a sideline, which must have been murder for calling in signals.

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tonight Wash will play the Eagles

re the Wash QB:

they've called on Garrett Gilbert - a 6th round pick by the Rams in 2014 -
on Thursday morning he was on the Patriots practice squad
on Thursday evening he was on a flight to DC to face the Eagles
studying a playbook -
Heinicke still might test out of the protocols and be able to play


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Quote: lilredrooster

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tonight Wash will play the Eagles

re the Wash QB:

they've called on Garrett Gilbert - a 6th round pick by the Rams in 2014 -
on Thursday morning he was on the Patriots practice squad
on Thursday evening he was on a flight to DC to face the Eagles
studying a playbook -
Heinicke still might test out of the protocols and be able to play


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link to original post

Hook'em Horns and Mustangs

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pretty amazing to me that Wash was only 6.5 dogs to the Eagles - on the road with a QB shipped in from a Patriots practice squad on Thursday and who has only appeared in one game since 2019 and only played in 8 NFL games in his entire career - Wash was decimated by Omicron - without lots of other players

in other news I'm thrilled to be able to watch pro football - the USFL - all spring and part of summer____________𝑵𝑶𝑻


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Quote: lilredrooster

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pretty amazing to me that Wash was only 6.5 dogs to the Eagles - on the road with a QB shipped in from a Patriots practice squad on Thursday and who has only appeared in one game since 2019 and only played in 8 NFL games in his entire career - Wash was decimated by Omicron - without lots of other players

in other news I'm thrilled to be able to watch pro football - the USFL - all spring and part of summer____________𝑵𝑶𝑻


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link to original post

The closing line was WFT +10.

Quote: unJon

Quote: lilredrooster

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pretty amazing to me that Wash was only 6.5 dogs to the Eagles - on the road with a QB shipped in from a Patriots practice squad on Thursday and who has only appeared in one game since 2019 and only played in 8 NFL games in his entire career - Wash was decimated by Omicron - without lots of other players

in other news I'm thrilled to be able to watch pro football - the USFL - all spring and part of summer____________𝑵𝑶𝑻


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link to original post

The closing line was WFT +10.
link to original post

oh, okay - I got 6.5 from covers.com just now - I always thought they were very accurate - maybe not - or maybe they don't use the closing line - I don't know

Edit: okay, I see from their line history that it began to move Tuesday morning - I guess when it was confirmed that he would start
the news that Heinicke would likely be out and that he would likely start came out Friday
it looks like someone paying attention could have gotten a nice edge

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https://www.covers.com/sports/nfl/matchups

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32889257/washington-places-taylor-heinicke-reserve-covid-19-list-forced-start-garrett-gilbert-sources-say

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It was 6.5 in the morning but climbed all day.

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I give that Wash QB - Gilbert - lots of credit
he didn't win it but he definitely manned up - showed no fear
threw no picks, got almost 200 yards and 65% completion
great, great stuff considering the situation

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if you happen to have Xfinity they have a new (I'm pretty sure it's new) station WDVM2 - on my box it's #1180 (no extra charge - free if you have Xfinity)
all day long on this station sharps give picks and commentary on fantasy, props, and spreads for various sports and leagues

of course, not everything they blabber about is solid gold
but if you pick and choose I think there is some great info provided that can be used
this station has dudes running their mouths all day long about sports and odds - there has to be a few nuggets in there

their best show which runs several times a day is called "The Early Line"


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I was flipping thru You tube when I came across a classic international wrestling match from the summer of 1967 from the Tokyo Dome.
Then WWF champion Bruno Sammartino was taking on the almost mythical Giant Baba in a two out of three falls, conducted under Japanese rules.
Many of you are familiar with Sammartino who is a legend, but this match was from his prime and not a lot of mid-1960s videos of his matches has ever been released by the WWE. 1967 was the year Bruno broke the bench press world record and he was in peak form.
The Giant Baba rarely came to the US and I didn't see him in person until he was in his mid-60s but he was only in his late 20s for this match, and also in incredible shape.
Baba was 6-10 and rose to fame as a pitcher in Japans pro baseball leagues. He won the MVP his first two seasons, going something like 13-2 in each of them and before his third year, they considered banning him. They felt his height gave him too big an advantage and the leagues discussed banning anyone over 6-5 or 6-6. Up until opening day, it was uncertain he'd be allowed to pitch and when he started 10-0, the outrage got stronger. The crowds in Japan would boo him , something that almost never happens, and one day a wrestling promoter happened to be at a game and saw the heat he was drawing and thought he would make the perfect wrestling villain. That winter, after winning his third straight award as the best player in Japan, Baba shocked the world by announcing he was leaving baseball to train to be a professional wrestler.
A year later he was at the top of the Japanese wrestling world, where he often stood a foot taller than his opponents. He was Andre the Giant before Andre.
Baba's signature move was a running, jumping karate chop to the top of the head and he rarely needed to use it more than once or twice a match. He could be in deep trouble, hit a chop from seemingly nowhere and the match would be over. In this match, he must have landed two dozen of them, most of which would flatten Bruno, but he would soldier on.
It was great seeing Bruno, but a real pleasure to watch Baba in his prime. Baba won the first fall, but Bruno quickly won the second fall of a match that was pretty scientific and featured a lot of clean breaks. In between falls, something happened and Bruno's famous temper kicked in and he came out loaded for bear. In the States, Bruno would explode and make mincemeat out of his foe, but in Japan, his Tinkerbell effect didn't have the same magic. It's a sixty-minute time limit and Bruno and Baba really turned up the energy. The last fifteen minutes were breath-taking as each man took turns giving and taking his opponent's best shots. With little time left, Baba hit Bruno with a shockingly violent low blow, followed by an equally nasty series of kicks and stomps before falling on a seemingly knocked out Bruno for the pin but just as the ref counted to three, the time limit bell sounds and the match is a draw.
The crowd, realizing they just saw greatness, starts to applaud and by the time a wobbly Samartino got to his feet, the place is giving both of them a standing ovation, another rarity in Japan.
The Giant Baba went on to be one of the most popular heroes in Japan and was named as one of the 100 most important Japanese men in the history of his country. Not one of the top athletes but as one of the best Japanese men in their history.
Baba started out as a villain but soon was a crowd favorite and from the late 1960s to the 1980s, won over 3,000 matches in a row and was considered the true champion of Japan for over ten years. He is credited with bringing in American-style pro wrestling to Japan and as a promoter began importing American talent on a steady basis, rather than just them coming over for a week long tour.

Quote: billryan

I was flipping thru You tube when I came across a classic international wrestling match from the summer of 1967 from the Tokyo Dome.

You had me excited for a minute. I am a huge wrestling fan, then I realized you were talking about the phoney kind of wrestling. I love international wrestling and watch just about every collegiate match that I can find on TV. Just this week I watched the dual meets held in the panhandle of Florida. Lehigh, NC State, Iowa, Central Michigan. That is wrestling.

Quote: DRich

Quote: billryan

I was flipping thru You tube when I came across a classic international wrestling match from the summer of 1967 from the Tokyo Dome.

You had me excited for a minute. I am a huge wrestling fan, then I realized you were talking about the phoney kind of wrestling. I love international wrestling and watch just about every collegiate match that I can find on TV. Just this week I watched the dual meets held in the panhandle of Florida. Lehigh, NC State, Iowa, Central Michigan. That is wrestling.
link to original post

That is a form of wrestling.

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the most amazing part of Bill's story is the booing of the guy and Japan seriously considering banning him from baseball
how totally ridiculous - shame on the Japanese authorities and shame on the crowds for booing him for being too good
can you imagine Wilt Chamberlain being banned from basketball in the U.S.____?
I'm not in any way anti-Japanese but they obviously have some very strange ideas about things over there - or did in the past

I watched most of that match - it was a great match - I guess it wasn't but it really looked real


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Quote: lilredrooster

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the most amazing part of Bill's story is the booing of the guy and Japan seriously considering banning him from baseball
how totally ridiculous - shame on the Japanese authorities and shame on the crowds for booing him for being too good
can you imagine Wilt Chamberlain being banned from basketball in the U.S.____?
I'm not in any way anti-Japanese but they obviously have some very strange ideas about things over there - or did in the past


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link to original post

George Mikan was almost banned from basketball for being too tall. Instead, they made a number of rules because of him. The three-second rule was established to keep him from camping out under the basket, goaltending was made illegal because of him and the free throw lanes were widened, all because at 6-10, he dominated the game like no one before. He literally played a goaltender, swatting balls on their way up, their way down and on the rim.
The NCAA banned dunking because of Lew Alcindor.
I'm sure there are plenty of other examples of rules being changed because of one player. Heck, a bottle of creatine in Big Macs locker started the whole steroid/performance-enhancing debate.
Barry Bonds got booed everywhere except San Francisco. I've never heard a reaction like Yankee fans gave him when he played in NY for the last time.
American baseball banned Eddie Gaedal for being too small. How would that be different than banning someone for being too big.
Think about it. A man was banned from his profession for being too small. I'd like to see his situation revised. Imagine being able to lead off every game with a guy who will draw a walk most of the time. Is it worth a roster spot to start most games with your leadoff hitter on first? I doubt today's baseball commish would be able to ban a man based on his size.

Quote: billryan

The NCAA banned dunking because of Lew Alcindor.

no doubt the worst decision in the history of the NCAA

please forgive some personal talk

that rule came between my Junior & Senior year in h.s.
I averaged 18 p.p.g. my junior year
I'm only 5'9" but I could go about 6" over the rim - I couldn't dunk because I couldn't palm the ball

I had planned that summer to work very hard on my jumping so that I could get up a few inches higher and maybe dunk in a game
I was hoping that would get attention and get me recruited by major colleges - I badly wanted to play for a major college
maybe that wasn't a great idea - maybe it was unrealistic and foolish - but I was a kid just 16 years old - I had a right to dream

that rule was announced I believe just before the summer before my Senior year and I was dejected - and I pretty much goofed off all summer and even got a little bit fat

I didn't get recruited by any major colleges - just small colleges - always I wonder what would have happened to me if not for that rule

I played one year Freshman and one year Varsity for a small college - I was leading scorer on the Freshman team - 16 p.p.g. - Freshmen couldn't play varsity then
my sophomore year I averaged 8 p.p.g. for a terrible team in a terrible program - but it was Division 1
our college had 2,600 students but we played Pitt with 35,000 students and Penn State with 100,000 students (now anyway)
how ridiculous -

disgusted, I transferred out after my Soph year and only played in Summer Leagues after that
don't want to say which College - don't want to doxx myself - if somebody doesn't believe it - I don't really care


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Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: billryan

The NCAA banned dunking because of Lew Alcindor.

no doubt the worst decision in the history of the NCAA

I disagree, I hate watching people dunk the ball. I also hate layups. Any shot inside 10 feet should be worth nothing in my opinion.

Quote: DRich

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: billryan

The NCAA banned dunking because of Lew Alcindor.

no doubt the worst decision in the history of the NCAA

I disagree, I hate watching people dunk the ball. I also hate layups. Any shot inside 10 feet should be worth nothing in my opinion.
link to original post

IMO you're failing to appreciate the skill required to get into the position to dunk or shoot a layup
the defense doesn't just let you get to that spot - unless they're very weak
that is half the beauty of it - maneuvering into position to lay it up or dunk

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I think the first basketball game I watched on TV was UCLA vs Houston in the Astrodome. I was hooked.

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: billryan

The NCAA banned dunking because of Lew Alcindor.

no doubt the worst decision in the history of the NCAA

please forgive some personal talk

that rule came between my Junior & Senior year in h.s.
I averaged 18 p.p.g. my junior year
I'm only 5'9" but I could go about 6" over the rim - I couldn't dunk because I couldn't palm the ball

I had planned that summer to work very hard on my jumping so that I could get up a few inches higher and maybe dunk in a game
I was hoping that would get attention and get me recruited by major colleges - I badly wanted to play for a major college
maybe that wasn't a great idea - maybe it was unrealistic and foolish - but I was a kid just 16 years old - I had a right to dream

that rule was announced I believe just before the summer before my Senior year and I was dejected - and I pretty much goofed off all summer and even got a little bit fat

I didn't get recruited by any major colleges - just small colleges - always I wonder what would have happened to me if not for that rule

I played one year Freshman and one year Varsity for a small college - I was leading scorer on the Freshman team - 16 p.p.g. - Freshmen couldn't play varsity then
my sophomore year I averaged 8 p.p.g. for a terrible team in a terrible program - but it was Division 1
our college had 2,600 students but we played Pitt with 35,000 students and Penn State with 100,000 students (now anyway)
how ridiculous -

disgusted, I transferred out after my Soph year and only played in Summer Leagues after that
don't want to say which College - don't want to doxx myself - if somebody doesn't believe it - I don't really care


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link to original post

Is that you Basketball Jones? 😁👍

Quote: lilredrooster

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pretty amazing to me that Wash was only 6.5 dogs to the Eagles - on the road with a QB shipped in from a Patriots practice squad on Thursday and who has only appeared in one game since 2019 and only played in 8 NFL games in his entire career - Wash was decimated by Omicron - without lots of other players

in other news I'm thrilled to be able to watch pro football - the USFL - all spring and part of summer____________𝑵𝑶𝑻


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link to original post

Funny how all the sports are pressed into the winter months. We have 3 pro and 2 college going on. In the Summer we only have one. Maybe covid will force a reversal of thought.

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Covid has now messed up the College Football Championship Series with new rules in place coming from the Playoff Committee

the new rules dictate forfeitures for teams who miss Bowl games

times are tough for the top players and teams and for sports junkies who will probably feel they're getting inferior entertainment if there is forfeiture

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https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/playoff-committees-covid-solution-is-as-laughable-as-it-is-wrong/


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Quote: lilredrooster

times are tough for the top players and teams and for sports junkies who will probably feel they're getting inferior entertainment if there is forfeiture


link to original post

My assumption would be that the play is inferior if you have many of the starting players missing games but the games are played anyway. Forfeiture wouldn't seem to reduce the quality, playing the games might.

At least they are trying, which is infinitely better than others approaches, which seem to be sticking their heads up their butts and hoping everything will be ok.