Sports Lounge

Berman is the worst. He's ok when he's calling golf, but that's only because they make him talk quietly.

I kind of figured this years Derby would be a bust. It was cool weather in an outdoor stadium. Then there's the obvious fact that guys aren't juicing as much anymore. Its still not as bad as the dunk contest. That's unwatchable... for me, at least.

The UFC fights were pretty entertaining tonight. Letting some of the older guys fight because of a recognizable name is pretty shady, and all of the ridiculous weight classes have watered-down the competition level, but I was still entertained. It's nowhere near as bad as Strikeforce which is a level above redneck boxing. (go to a small town fair and chances are they will have redneck boxing which is fucking hilarious)

I'd also like to express my contempt for the Baseball Hall of Fame. It's now 10 years of eligibility instead of 15. And because methamphetamines from the 60s and 70s is apparently OK, and even playing in the so-called "steroid era" is a crime, Bagwell will probably not make it in. I personally don't give a shit about steroids and fuck the HoF voters who do. What the fuck have they ever done in baseball besides getting picked last in 6th grade? /endrant

I know its early but was wondering if we are going to be doing the Fantasy Football league again this year and if so who going to be commissioner and who will be joining. I'm pretty excited for football to get started back up here.

All of this football (proper American for the blasphemous Brets out there) drama sort of reminds me of Rockstar: people making bad decisions because of money and scrutiny is the only accountability. Seriously, these articles (i won't linky) parallel the "Hot Coffee" debacle.

Eagles are 2-0. FSU is 2-0. My fantasy team is 2-0. I already lost in my Survivor League, but it was because the Seahawks lost which is about the best way possible to go out, so that isn't even so bad. Good start to the season.

Milan is 2-0. High five to us, Trip!

It's kind of sad I'm more interested in the Rockets preseason game than the Texans/Colts game that actually matters in the division. Even Ryan Patrick's epic beard can't convince me. I blame whoever it was that drafted the QB as the last friggin pick in the first round. Sports fan logic at its best.

Gotta say, even though I don't think there was any PI by the defense, that picked up flag was really suspect. I mean, I think it's the right call, but if those refs did it just to appease Dallas fans, fuck that. Especially since I saw another suspect flag (but only one really).

Does it happen often where they pick up flags? I don't recall ever seeing it. Looked like pass interference to me. His eyes weren't on the ball and he was pushing the receiver forward blocking him from getting back to make the catch. It took so long for the pick up that it was as if the fans and Cowboys talked them into it. Makes all of the times I've complained about players bitching after calls saying "the call was made, they're not going to over turn it" seem like a foolish thing to say.

Those are pretty rare. I'm fine with them if done for the right reasons. Refs make mistakes. But even though I think they made one, why they picked it up is another story.

Honestly, to me it looked like Pettigrew was holding onto Hitchens. It looks a lot like he's about to turn around when the guy's arm keeps him back. Even saw what looked him grabbing onto his facemask from another angle. I could be wrong, but it didn't look like DPI to me.

Usually they call DPI when the defensive player doesn't turn to make a play on the ball... which the Dallas player definitely did not. If they don't call that a penalty, that's fine. I just thought it was kinda ridiculous how they picked it up so late. You'd just expect a playoff officiating crew would have their shit together... especially considering how important these games are. But that call did not cause Detroit the game. They had plenty of opportunities to stop Dallas.

I would call that interference. Makes contact while the ball is in the air before it arrives without playing the ball (never looked back). Admittedly PI gets missed all the time. It was just odd they threw the flag and picked it up. I can't imagine what made them change their mind. Could have been a hold prior to the pass to be honest.

But as Matt pointed out the Lions had plenty of chances, so I don't think it matters.

Yeah, when you only score 3 points in the 2nd half, like the Lions did... you're not going to win a whole lot of playoff games. So the one call did not cost them the game.

Wasn't a fan of a couple iffy calls, but the same thing happened last week in our favor. Great game, just disappointed cause it was so close. Think we can all agree the games we had are better than if Detroit played the Seahawks.

I think the issue with the Dez catch is more the rule than the refs. It is just a shitty rule. I wasn't surprised it got overturned after seeing the replay because I've seen this get called before. I do think you could make the argument that he made a "football play" (or whatever they call it now) by stretching towards the endzone, but the football play/move has always been a ridiculous thing and hard to judge, so I don't really know. I think the truth is you watch that play and go, that was a catch obviously which is why they should probably rework that part of the rule or something.

The Patriots are so scummy.

If the balls were inflated properly, I'm sure the Colts could have erased a 45-7 deficit.

If the Patriots did do something to alter the balls that is pretty shitty, but the way the NFL handles the whole ball thing in general is pretty fucking stupid. As much as the officials touched the balls as well they should have noticed a difference. This might be a weird example but my cat dropped a lb. when she was sick a few months back and before taking her to the vet we noticed the 1 lb. she dropped without the doctor having to tell us. When you do something so routine you should notice when something isn't right.

Every single time I play soccer, the very first time I kick a ball I can tell if it needs air or not. To me the blame goes 60% Patriots, 40% officials.

I didn't say the Colts would have won. No one thinks that. They would have got hammered regardless. But did the Pats know they'd win by forty when they tried to make things easier for themselves? No. And who knows if they've done this before in much closer games.

I'm just tired of the Patriots cutting corners illegally to try and gain an advantage. They did it for years with the spying and now we find out they did something again. You want to blame the refs for not knowing? How about your boy Tom Brady laughing off the idea the balls had less air a couple days ago? He definitely knew when he was throwing those balls all day. At worst the refs missed something they should have caught sooner. Where as the Patriots knowingly went out of their way to break the rules. So whoever was responsible on the Pats, pretty scummy. And there is pretty much zero chance Belichick and Brady weren't complicit right?

And that is the bigger issue than whatever gain the deflating achieved. That the Pats purposely try and cheat. I repeat: scummy.

Yeah, I gotta agree with Trip. They need to be held accountable when they cheat. And as much as I hate Pete Caroll and the idea of back to back Seahawks wins, I'm gonna root for Seattle after this. I'd rather Pete Caroll be successful than cheaters.

Pro cheaters here.

Pretty funny supercut of Tom Brady talking about balls:

http://screengrabber.deadspin.com/tom-brady-talking-about-balls-the-supercut-1681225270/+bubbaprog

I have a set he could inflate or deflate. Whatever he wants.

I'm reluctantly rooting for the Seahawks to win. My prediction is 24-20 Patriots though.

I'm predicting the Seahawks slaughter them after Brady doesn't make it on time because his tires were deflated.

Looks like he won with flayed balls. Best ever.

Cheaters won but Pete Caroll's fucked so I won't complain

Winners won. Until they have video of someone taking air out of the ball they have nothing.

I refuse to give the benefit of the doubt because they were caught cheating before.

That was a damn entertaining game. In the end I didn't care much who won, but it was a blast to watch. I still can't believe they threw the ball on the one there. Just crazy.

Sidenote: Commercials seem worse every year.

Are we going to do another March Madness bracket challenge? Brackets will be out next Sunday!