The Latest Sporting Event and MeFi are Mutually Exclusive? May 2, 2009 3:09 AM Subscribe
"I'm a huge Celtics fan" and they are in The Greatest Series Ever?
I'd like to be able to make an FPP about every time my favorite sports team has a moment to remember, but in my humble opinion, the first round of the NBA playoffs is not the best of the web. 11 of 48 comments are by the OP... It feels to me like this could have been taken to Sportsfilter or elsewhere.
I'd like to be able to make an FPP about every time my favorite sports team has a moment to remember, but in my humble opinion, the first round of the NBA playoffs is not the best of the web. 11 of 48 comments are by the OP... It feels to me like this could have been taken to Sportsfilter or elsewhere.
I don't know. There are lots of posts about things I'm not interested in, and some things I become interested in because they've been posted here, and even though I'm not wildly excited about the minutiae of GO HOME TEAM OF THE CITY IN WHICH I LIVE team sports, I do like posts about video games, to choose an example of something that lots of other people might not care for, so you know in the end I think if it's a post that isn't completely lazy or advertising-y or the-ultimate-sin-boring, if it's a good post on its own merits and might actually be put together in a way that might interest people who might not normally be all that far in to its subject matter, well, it's all good.
But I haven't even looked at the post you linked because I've decided I'd like to be all about lofty handwavy generalizations this evening, so I have no opinion on whether it actually clears that low bar or not (see whutididthere). I don't know diddly jack squat-whistle about sports, other'n how to do some of 'em, when I'm feeling energetic and shit.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:47 AM on May 2, 2009
But I haven't even looked at the post you linked because I've decided I'd like to be all about lofty handwavy generalizations this evening, so I have no opinion on whether it actually clears that low bar or not (see whutididthere). I don't know diddly jack squat-whistle about sports, other'n how to do some of 'em, when I'm feeling energetic and shit.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:47 AM on May 2, 2009
You found the thread worthwhile enough to post in three times.
posted by EatTheWeek at 4:13 AM on May 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by EatTheWeek at 4:13 AM on May 2, 2009 [4 favorites]
It really is a crazy series and since it is in the first round it is going to be overlooked by a lot of people. I like basketball but I'm not in the U.S. right now so I haven't been paying that much attention to the playoffs, so I was glad for the heads up.
posted by afu at 4:20 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by afu at 4:20 AM on May 2, 2009
I vote for FIAMO.
FIMO just makes me think of that special plasticine from the eighties that you could bake in the oven. Remember that? The stuff where the ads promised that you could create Beautiful Jewellery with it? In practice what you got was a pair of earrings that looked like you had smooshed some charred globs of modelling clay onto your earlobes and a few days where all your cooked meals tasted vaguely of plasticine.
*Flags FIMO and moves on*
posted by the latin mouse at 4:22 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
FIMO just makes me think of that special plasticine from the eighties that you could bake in the oven. Remember that? The stuff where the ads promised that you could create Beautiful Jewellery with it? In practice what you got was a pair of earrings that looked like you had smooshed some charred globs of modelling clay onto your earlobes and a few days where all your cooked meals tasted vaguely of plasticine.
*Flags FIMO and moves on*
posted by the latin mouse at 4:22 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'm not even a basketball fan and I thought that was a pretty good post. While I am not terribly interested in basketball, I am a general sports fan. It is two storied franchises in quite a notable series that ended in triple overtime in the seventh game. That's noteworthy.
If one team had swept the other in four games, I would be more likely to dismiss the post as silly. That's not the case.
posted by DWRoelands at 4:44 AM on May 2, 2009
If one team had swept the other in four games, I would be more likely to dismiss the post as silly. That's not the case.
posted by DWRoelands at 4:44 AM on May 2, 2009
It is two storied franchises in quite a notable series that ended in triple overtime in the seventh game.
Actually, that was the sixth game. The seventh is tonight.
posted by dirigibleman at 5:28 AM on May 2, 2009
Actually, that was the sixth game. The seventh is tonight.
posted by dirigibleman at 5:28 AM on May 2, 2009
I think the series is a perfectly valid basis for the post (and not because I live in Boston; I'm not really a basketball fan at all) but I do wish the OP had provided any coverage of it not from ESPN. To me that's what pushes the post a little in the direction of "I want to talk about this" instead of "I think these links are great". But ultimately I didn't feel the need to flag it, much less call it out in MeTa.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:29 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:29 AM on May 2, 2009
Also, to me "fiamo" sounds like an obscene Italian imperative verb. Which is why I'm voting for it.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:37 AM on May 2, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:37 AM on May 2, 2009 [6 favorites]
I'd like to be able to make an FPP about every time my favorite sports team has a moment to remember
You have this ability.
posted by tellurian at 5:48 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
You have this ability.
posted by tellurian at 5:48 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
MOM!!!!! They disagreed with my views on college basketball and then called me out when I made immature comments. PUNISH THEM!!!!!!
posted by SpiffyRob at 5:49 AM on May 2, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by SpiffyRob at 5:49 AM on May 2, 2009 [6 favorites]
At least it's not hockey. What a stupid sport.
(Although these are my true feelings, to say this publicly in Canada is close to something like sacrilege, and I'm not exaggerating.)
The post, by the way, is fine. If the OP wants to ride herd on the comments like a numbskull is not against The Rules.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:53 AM on May 2, 2009
(Although these are my true feelings, to say this publicly in Canada is close to something like sacrilege, and I'm not exaggerating.)
The post, by the way, is fine. If the OP wants to ride herd on the comments like a numbskull is not against The Rules.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:53 AM on May 2, 2009
Nice tags on this post. In particular I like: I, in, for, and my. Makes me wonder why I bother backtagging when this sort of nonsense is going to be in the mix.
posted by tellurian at 5:56 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by tellurian at 5:56 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Well, while we're here, does somebody want to make a 'you-are-all-being-US-centric-and-nobody-here-cares-about-your-stupid-sports-teams-in-USA-which-you-act-like-everyone-cares-about' argument, just to round out the post?
And, yes: clearly, those tags suck. Fix 'em.
posted by koeselitz at 6:03 AM on May 2, 2009
And, yes: clearly, those tags suck. Fix 'em.
posted by koeselitz at 6:03 AM on May 2, 2009
Hey isn't it lame how it's called the "World" Series?
posted by fleacircus at 6:05 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by fleacircus at 6:05 AM on May 2, 2009
Kids in the Hall did something about a sport with spitting cobras.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:08 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by Meatbomb at 6:08 AM on May 2, 2009
it could be worse - i could do an fpp about the lions
posted by pyramid termite at 6:23 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 6:23 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
*sigh* Since I clearly have nothing better to do, let's go over the evidence, which suggests that this callout is a bit tangential to the point. From the thread in question:
clearly: I'd hate to be Ray Allen last night. 51 points in a losing effort has to be tough to stomach. It was a great game, but not even close to the best of the last 50 days.
Lacking Subtlety: I wasn't counting college basketball. Tangent: college basketball is simply not as good as pro. Yes, it's exciting. It has great flow. But the quality of play is not even close to the same level. It just isn't I'm sorry. Seriously, college basketball has untrained kids with a huge differential in skills heaving up shots at random or overtly dominating. Heck, AAU ball has a better comparative skill set and better focus in play.
clearly: This fails so hard. Remember last year when Derrick Rose's Memphis team lost to Kansas in the national championship game in OT? Remember when Mario Chalmers hit that three pointer to tie it and send it into overtime with a hand in his face? None of those kids were playing for money, none were playing for a contract extension, and all of them played six games with their backs against the wall. Win or go home.
The quality of play? GET THE FUCK OUT. Derrick Rose, the guy you are sucking off, NBA Rookie of the year, played in that game...and lost.
I realize that you love your sports and what not... but get a grip. The NBA is closer to the AND 1 mixtape tour than it is to anything Naismith envisioned. College basketball is the pinnacle of the sport, and I believe that playoff TV ratings wil back me up on this.
Anywho, I guess da Bulls just gained another fan in this series... and the Magic in the next, and the Cavs in the next. Have fun being a C's fan in LA. Being a Celtics fan, maybe you remember Larry Bird taking tiny Indiana St. vs Magic with Michigan State to the NCAA championship in 1979, which is basically the Clippers reaching a game 7 in the finals. Really... the NBA blows and their 2 month long playoff, especially in round 1, is nothing to get your panties in a bunch over, Celtics or not.
KevinSkomsvold: ["Derrick Rose, the guy you are sucking off"?] Nice. You seem to have gotten lost on your way to the YouTube comment section.
clearly: I'll agree that statement was in poor taste, but really a post about the guy's favorite NBA team, no matter how many OT's isn't a great FPP. I got carried away... but still stand behind my comment above.
So I think I've got this straight in my head—please correct me if I'm wrong. Your thought process on this whole thing goes something like this:
'Wow, post about pro basketball which makes exaggerated and probably ridiculous claims... I really like college basketball, here, I'll mention this great college game that happened recently that I think was better... oh, what's that? The fellow sports fan who made this post is pontificating about how professional basketball is actually superior to college basketball? Bollocks! I will tell him how ridiculous he's being! This matters a great deal, and I am utterly surprised and appalled that fans of professional sports might be opinionated and condescending about those sports! And I must correct this by issuing the correct opinion so that the masses may hear me and agree! ... Uh oh. It appears that my statement of my strong opinion sounded somewhat over-the-top to some people here. I'd better apologize, but not too much, since I was right... Wait a minute. This whole thing is ridiculous, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This post shouldn't even have been made in the first place! That's it! This was a bad post because college basketball is just as good as pro basketball!'
You know what I think? I think this is a crappy callout. And you know why? Because basketball is a boring sport.
posted by koeselitz at 6:26 AM on May 2, 2009 [13 favorites]
clearly: I'd hate to be Ray Allen last night. 51 points in a losing effort has to be tough to stomach. It was a great game, but not even close to the best of the last 50 days.
Lacking Subtlety: I wasn't counting college basketball. Tangent: college basketball is simply not as good as pro. Yes, it's exciting. It has great flow. But the quality of play is not even close to the same level. It just isn't I'm sorry. Seriously, college basketball has untrained kids with a huge differential in skills heaving up shots at random or overtly dominating. Heck, AAU ball has a better comparative skill set and better focus in play.
clearly: This fails so hard. Remember last year when Derrick Rose's Memphis team lost to Kansas in the national championship game in OT? Remember when Mario Chalmers hit that three pointer to tie it and send it into overtime with a hand in his face? None of those kids were playing for money, none were playing for a contract extension, and all of them played six games with their backs against the wall. Win or go home.
The quality of play? GET THE FUCK OUT. Derrick Rose, the guy you are sucking off, NBA Rookie of the year, played in that game...and lost.
I realize that you love your sports and what not... but get a grip. The NBA is closer to the AND 1 mixtape tour than it is to anything Naismith envisioned. College basketball is the pinnacle of the sport, and I believe that playoff TV ratings wil back me up on this.
Anywho, I guess da Bulls just gained another fan in this series... and the Magic in the next, and the Cavs in the next. Have fun being a C's fan in LA. Being a Celtics fan, maybe you remember Larry Bird taking tiny Indiana St. vs Magic with Michigan State to the NCAA championship in 1979, which is basically the Clippers reaching a game 7 in the finals. Really... the NBA blows and their 2 month long playoff, especially in round 1, is nothing to get your panties in a bunch over, Celtics or not.
KevinSkomsvold: ["Derrick Rose, the guy you are sucking off"?] Nice. You seem to have gotten lost on your way to the YouTube comment section.
clearly: I'll agree that statement was in poor taste, but really a post about the guy's favorite NBA team, no matter how many OT's isn't a great FPP. I got carried away... but still stand behind my comment above.
So I think I've got this straight in my head—please correct me if I'm wrong. Your thought process on this whole thing goes something like this:
'Wow, post about pro basketball which makes exaggerated and probably ridiculous claims... I really like college basketball, here, I'll mention this great college game that happened recently that I think was better... oh, what's that? The fellow sports fan who made this post is pontificating about how professional basketball is actually superior to college basketball? Bollocks! I will tell him how ridiculous he's being! This matters a great deal, and I am utterly surprised and appalled that fans of professional sports might be opinionated and condescending about those sports! And I must correct this by issuing the correct opinion so that the masses may hear me and agree! ... Uh oh. It appears that my statement of my strong opinion sounded somewhat over-the-top to some people here. I'd better apologize, but not too much, since I was right... Wait a minute. This whole thing is ridiculous, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This post shouldn't even have been made in the first place! That's it! This was a bad post because college basketball is just as good as pro basketball!'
You know what I think? I think this is a crappy callout. And you know why? Because basketball is a boring sport.
posted by koeselitz at 6:26 AM on May 2, 2009 [13 favorites]
Actually, PT, given the recent draft brouhaha and an historic season (albeit for all the wrong reasons), there might be a decent FPP to be made of the Detritus Lions' foibles after all.
posted by joe lisboa at 6:26 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by joe lisboa at 6:26 AM on May 2, 2009
So, does a MeTa flameout constitute a flagrant foul or merely a technical? My bookie, er, pastor was asking the other day.
posted by joe lisboa at 6:28 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by joe lisboa at 6:28 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
One last point on which I'm confused: in the original post, Lacking Subtlety says
It is only par for a series that has gone into overtime for the fourth time in games in six games (one of which was double OT, and last night's aforementioned triple OT).
Now, I'm not extraordinarily familiar with the mechanics of how basketball is played, but if you only make par in a series, doesn't that mean you're not likely to advance to the next tournament unless everybody else on the tour really screws up? Or unless maybe you're playing on a home court with a very difficult rating, and have the advantage so that you're able to make enough layups and free throws to stay enough strokes ahead of the rest of the masters by the end of the day that you don't have to throw a hail mary?
I think I'm getting basketball mixed up with cricket, though. Sorry.
posted by koeselitz at 6:36 AM on May 2, 2009
It is only par for a series that has gone into overtime for the fourth time in games in six games (one of which was double OT, and last night's aforementioned triple OT).
Now, I'm not extraordinarily familiar with the mechanics of how basketball is played, but if you only make par in a series, doesn't that mean you're not likely to advance to the next tournament unless everybody else on the tour really screws up? Or unless maybe you're playing on a home court with a very difficult rating, and have the advantage so that you're able to make enough layups and free throws to stay enough strokes ahead of the rest of the masters by the end of the day that you don't have to throw a hail mary?
I think I'm getting basketball mixed up with cricket, though. Sorry.
posted by koeselitz at 6:36 AM on May 2, 2009
I'm pretty shruggo on the post myself, feeling it ventures a bit into "your favorite sporting team is _____________" territory. but people don't seem to despise it and I'm happy enough not to read it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:40 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:40 AM on May 2, 2009
"No, but they gave one to me anyway."
· Elden Campbell (when he was an L.A. Lakers rookie) when asked if he earned a degree at Clemson University.
posted by netbros at 6:42 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
· Elden Campbell (when he was an L.A. Lakers rookie) when asked if he earned a degree at Clemson University.
posted by netbros at 6:42 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Kids in the Hall did something about a sport with spitting cobras.
That sport was called shirling. That was one of the funniest skits ever, thanks for reminding me, Meatbomb!
posted by Mister_A at 6:46 AM on May 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
That sport was called shirling. That was one of the funniest skits ever, thanks for reminding me, Meatbomb!
posted by Mister_A at 6:46 AM on May 2, 2009 [3 favorites]
You know, this entire argument could be avoided if the world would just realize that basketball isn't even a sport. (It's a game.)
Soccer? Now there's a sport.
posted by TomMelee at 6:47 AM on May 2, 2009
Soccer? Now there's a sport.
posted by TomMelee at 6:47 AM on May 2, 2009
>At least it's not hockey. What a stupid sport.
>(Although these are my true feelings, to say this publicly in Canada is close to something like sacrilege, and I'm not exaggerating.)
I spent a decade or two of my post-pubescent life, times when I was actually in Canada at least part-time and it seemed to matter, telling people how much I fucking didn't care about hockey, because, you know, that's what a certain kind of guy does. But I'd sit and watch the goddamn game and drink a hell of a lot of booze and take whatever drugs were to hand and make inappropriate and often successful sexual advances at the desperately bored women who were hanging around unwilling having their own fun while the idiot rinktard puckheads got their stick on.
But I'll tell you this: I fucking love hockey now, in retrospect, but only in the abstract because I love the idea of stupid toothless meatpuppets beating the living shit out of each other on the ice for the amusement of the Home Audience. I used to poo-poo all the Sport, oh dear, Maynard my Special Friend it's so commmmon and tedious, I in latter days used to and still do wave a dismissive hand-back at the reality TV and the unreality TV and the fake pretending to be real pretending to be fake winking at the real, I did, I do, but you know what? these days I love it all. I love it all in equal measure to how much I despise it because I am absolutely sure that things, where 'things' is meant to be Our Collective Cultural Heritage A-squander, where 'things' is meant to be the inexorable ramscoop of the idiocracy screaming V2ey nose-down into the fake peatbog made of plastic turf and celebrity poop, it's OK that it's all turning to Entertainment and Distraction at a rate of (k)nots, and I get a Roma-rsonist frisson from tossing my cigarette butts and lighting support blazes out on the periphery hoping ring-a-rosy all burn down without me having to make a stand.
So, yeah. Hockey is stupid, duh, but you know what: the problem with hockey is that it's not nearly as goddamn stupid as it used to be or should be, when the gladiators dropped glove and knocked pearly white teeths out onto the ice in a spray of blood. It's gotten smarter since then, instrumentally more reasonable, disappointingly less savage, and that's a cheat and a con and it's more modern and marketed and less satisfying.
Fucking weedy reedy thinskinned worthless goddamn civilization we've built.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2009 [10 favorites]
>(Although these are my true feelings, to say this publicly in Canada is close to something like sacrilege, and I'm not exaggerating.)
I spent a decade or two of my post-pubescent life, times when I was actually in Canada at least part-time and it seemed to matter, telling people how much I fucking didn't care about hockey, because, you know, that's what a certain kind of guy does. But I'd sit and watch the goddamn game and drink a hell of a lot of booze and take whatever drugs were to hand and make inappropriate and often successful sexual advances at the desperately bored women who were hanging around unwilling having their own fun while the idiot rinktard puckheads got their stick on.
But I'll tell you this: I fucking love hockey now, in retrospect, but only in the abstract because I love the idea of stupid toothless meatpuppets beating the living shit out of each other on the ice for the amusement of the Home Audience. I used to poo-poo all the Sport, oh dear, Maynard my Special Friend it's so commmmon and tedious, I in latter days used to and still do wave a dismissive hand-back at the reality TV and the unreality TV and the fake pretending to be real pretending to be fake winking at the real, I did, I do, but you know what? these days I love it all. I love it all in equal measure to how much I despise it because I am absolutely sure that things, where 'things' is meant to be Our Collective Cultural Heritage A-squander, where 'things' is meant to be the inexorable ramscoop of the idiocracy screaming V2ey nose-down into the fake peatbog made of plastic turf and celebrity poop, it's OK that it's all turning to Entertainment and Distraction at a rate of (k)nots, and I get a Roma-rsonist frisson from tossing my cigarette butts and lighting support blazes out on the periphery hoping ring-a-rosy all burn down without me having to make a stand.
So, yeah. Hockey is stupid, duh, but you know what: the problem with hockey is that it's not nearly as goddamn stupid as it used to be or should be, when the gladiators dropped glove and knocked pearly white teeths out onto the ice in a spray of blood. It's gotten smarter since then, instrumentally more reasonable, disappointingly less savage, and that's a cheat and a con and it's more modern and marketed and less satisfying.
Fucking weedy reedy thinskinned worthless goddamn civilization we've built.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2009 [10 favorites]
> I'm not even a basketball fan and I thought that was a pretty good post.
Same here. It's clearly a remarkable occurrence, well worthy of a post to the blue. If you're bored by sports, you have the option of ignoring it, which you should have exercised.
In short, this is a bad callout and you should feel bad for making it.
posted by languagehat at 6:52 AM on May 2, 2009 [7 favorites]
Same here. It's clearly a remarkable occurrence, well worthy of a post to the blue. If you're bored by sports, you have the option of ignoring it, which you should have exercised.
In short, this is a bad callout and you should feel bad for making it.
posted by languagehat at 6:52 AM on May 2, 2009 [7 favorites]
(Feed 'Em To The) Lions
Pavement [1992] Watery, Domestic
Every building same height
Every street a straight line
Team colors yellow and blue–
Cheerlead single-file
Perfect smiles unaffected
And you won't forget: our color's blue
(No, you won't forget it...)
Twenty miles westward
Home of the red birds
Team colors crimson, blue–
Open up your purses
For the boys who reimburse us
With a goal-line stand at fourth and two
(And that goal-line stand, ha!)
Summer's dry and fallow
Reservoirs are shallow
Spillways unexposed–
It's never been inspected
When the goverment's elected
And the fields will turn to yellow, too...
(Now the fields will turn...)
posted by koeselitz at 7:27 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Pavement [1992] Watery, Domestic
Every building same height
Every street a straight line
Team colors yellow and blue–
Cheerlead single-file
Perfect smiles unaffected
And you won't forget: our color's blue
(No, you won't forget it...)
Twenty miles westward
Home of the red birds
Team colors crimson, blue–
Open up your purses
For the boys who reimburse us
With a goal-line stand at fourth and two
(And that goal-line stand, ha!)
Summer's dry and fallow
Reservoirs are shallow
Spillways unexposed–
It's never been inspected
When the goverment's elected
And the fields will turn to yellow, too...
(Now the fields will turn...)
posted by koeselitz at 7:27 AM on May 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'd like to be able to make an FPP about every time my favorite sports team has a moment to remember
Yeah, when your favorite team is as good as this and is in a series as good as this go ahead, in the meantime just go back to watching them suck.
posted by caddis at 7:29 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
And hell, clearly, I'll go one step further: I actually sympathize with what I suspect is your real motivation here. NCAA basketball has, on the whole, been more entertaining, through and through, than NBA ball, probably since Jordan retired the second time. This year, however, something interesting happened: The NCAA tournament absolutely sucked. Complete snoozefest, even when it got down to the Elite Eight and there were plenty of (theoretically) good games. Unfortunately, they were by and large blowouts, UNC won, and the whole thing left a bad taste in everyone's mouths. It was so bad that it can be used by BCS apologists to show that "Hey, tournaments can suck too!"
Meanwhile, a first round NBA playoff matchup, largely of no consequence (given that conventional wisdom has the winner getting thrashed by the Cavs in the conference finals) is incredibly engaging, even without (or perhaps due to the absence of) the most dynamic player on either team. Lacking Subtlety, noting this, made a good-enough FPP about it. (Sidenote: You're allowed, nay, encouraged, to post about things you like. Self-link: bad. Editorializing in the post: bad. Having interest in the subject: probably good.)
And that, there, is where my sympathy ends. You know what happens next. And if you don't, koeselitz nailed it.
A humble suggestion: Try actually watching game 7 tonight. I can't promise that it'll be another checkmark on this series' "instant classic" status, but 5 out of 6 games have been great in this series, which is a much higher probability for viewer value than the shit college ball put out for us this year.
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:33 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, a first round NBA playoff matchup, largely of no consequence (given that conventional wisdom has the winner getting thrashed by the Cavs in the conference finals) is incredibly engaging, even without (or perhaps due to the absence of) the most dynamic player on either team. Lacking Subtlety, noting this, made a good-enough FPP about it. (Sidenote: You're allowed, nay, encouraged, to post about things you like. Self-link: bad. Editorializing in the post: bad. Having interest in the subject: probably good.)
And that, there, is where my sympathy ends. You know what happens next. And if you don't, koeselitz nailed it.
A humble suggestion: Try actually watching game 7 tonight. I can't promise that it'll be another checkmark on this series' "instant classic" status, but 5 out of 6 games have been great in this series, which is a much higher probability for viewer value than the shit college ball put out for us this year.
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:33 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
koeselitz! pavement!! awesome!!!
posted by joe lisboa at 8:40 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by joe lisboa at 8:40 AM on May 2, 2009
stav: right on, man. I was the same way; grew up in a small Colorado town with a tiny college, went to the football games and the hockey games and complained about how silly those sports were while I was hanging out at the tailgate parties and huddling in the cold watching games and secretly enjoying the hell out of the things.
Though I must admit that I've never been to Canada, so, while college football makes perfect sense to me, I didn't get what hockey really meant until I saw this movie. The uninitiated should be warned: that last clip, which depicts the finest moment of the infamously and hilariously brutal fightin' Hanson brothers, will punch you in the face with awesome. 'I'M LISTENIN' TO THE FUCKIN' SONG!'
posted by koeselitz at 8:53 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Though I must admit that I've never been to Canada, so, while college football makes perfect sense to me, I didn't get what hockey really meant until I saw this movie. The uninitiated should be warned: that last clip, which depicts the finest moment of the infamously and hilariously brutal fightin' Hanson brothers, will punch you in the face with awesome. 'I'M LISTENIN' TO THE FUCKIN' SONG!'
posted by koeselitz at 8:53 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
The post is no different than the bajillion newsfilter posts that go up daily along the lines of "Look what I read at the [fill in your favorite newspaper/news magazine/news blog] and isn't it interesting!" If it ain't your cup of tea, fine, but that doesn't mean other folks don't enjoy it.
posted by Atreides at 8:53 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by Atreides at 8:53 AM on May 2, 2009
joe lisboa: koeselitz! pavement!! awesome!!!
Watery, Domestic is pure awesomeness, yes. And Lions is the best football song I know of.
posted by koeselitz at 8:56 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Watery, Domestic is pure awesomeness, yes. And Lions is the best football song I know of.
posted by koeselitz at 8:56 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm meh both ways - I don't particularly care about the thread's contents, but I'm not particularly averse to it either.
It's certainly not best of the web, but news/sportsfilter never is (and I'm as guilty of this as anyone). It's rare to get the crossover between news and best - news is often interesting, contentious, outrageous and discussion-worthy, but rarely best of the web, but that tends not to make the good stuff a poor choice for MeFi.
So, to conclude, that is why children are our future.
posted by djgh at 9:01 AM on May 2, 2009
It's certainly not best of the web, but news/sportsfilter never is (and I'm as guilty of this as anyone). It's rare to get the crossover between news and best - news is often interesting, contentious, outrageous and discussion-worthy, but rarely best of the web, but that tends not to make the good stuff a poor choice for MeFi.
So, to conclude, that is why children are our future.
posted by djgh at 9:01 AM on May 2, 2009
I hate it when people complain that they don't like the topic of the thread or they are tired of politicsfilter, relationshipfilter, etc. DON'T CLICK ON THE THREAD IF YOU DON'T LIKE THREADS ON THAT TOPIC.
Its like opponents of gay marriage who act as if there will be some effect on their marriage if gays wed. Its not like there are a limited number of marriage licenses or a limited number of FPP's which create a problem.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:08 AM on May 2, 2009
Its like opponents of gay marriage who act as if there will be some effect on their marriage if gays wed. Its not like there are a limited number of marriage licenses or a limited number of FPP's which create a problem.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:08 AM on May 2, 2009
I spent a decade or two of my post-pubescent life, times when I was actually in Canada at least part-time and it seemed to matter, telling people how much I fucking didn't care about hockey, because, you know, that's what a certain kind of guy does. But I'd sit and watch the goddamn game and drink a hell of a
I felt really dumb for not realizing it was stavros until this point.
posted by gleuschk at 9:16 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I felt really dumb for not realizing it was stavros until this point.
posted by gleuschk at 9:16 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Makes me wonder why I bother backtagging when this sort of nonsense is going to be in the mix.
Yeah, please fix your tags. Or at least add a few, like [callout] [badpost] [metafilter]. The point of tags is to be useful, yes? Yours are not useful.
/another cranky backtagger
posted by rtha at 9:31 AM on May 2, 2009
Yeah, please fix your tags. Or at least add a few, like [callout] [badpost] [metafilter]. The point of tags is to be useful, yes? Yours are not useful.
/another cranky backtagger
posted by rtha at 9:31 AM on May 2, 2009
I'm not an NBA fan and I found the post interesting as it directed my attention to something which would otherwise pass me by. Because of this I will be watching the game tonight. This is a rubbish callout, especially after your comments on the post itself.
BTW, I've just got myself a pitchfork on the layaway...
posted by ob at 9:55 AM on May 2, 2009
BTW, I've just got myself a pitchfork on the layaway...
posted by ob at 9:55 AM on May 2, 2009
"I'm pretty shruggo on the post myself, feeling it ventures a bit into "your favorite sporting team is _____________" territory. but people don't seem to despise it and I'm happy enough not to read it."
I love NBA basketball, but this seems about right to me. That probably means the post was pretty lousy but I sure am excited for game 7!
posted by Kwine at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2009
I love NBA basketball, but this seems about right to me. That probably means the post was pretty lousy but I sure am excited for game 7!
posted by Kwine at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2009
I don't understand how one could like basketball and hate hockey. They're basically the same game.
posted by deborah at 10:02 AM on May 2, 2009
posted by deborah at 10:02 AM on May 2, 2009
They're basically the same game.
Wat.
They're not as different as sports can get, but they are much more different than any two sports that are actually similar.
Soccer and hockey = similar.
Rugby and football = similar.
Baseball and cricket = yeah.
Basketball is much closer to say, European Handball than anything else.
(this nitpicking post brought to you by the letter W, Mountain Dew, and the Washington Generals
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:18 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Wat.
They're not as different as sports can get, but they are much more different than any two sports that are actually similar.
Soccer and hockey = similar.
Rugby and football = similar.
Baseball and cricket = yeah.
Basketball is much closer to say, European Handball than anything else.
(this nitpicking post brought to you by the letter W, Mountain Dew, and the Washington Generals
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:18 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I agree with deborah. Furthermore, I don't understand how one could like giant slalom skiing and hate table tennis. What's the freaking difference?!
posted by found missing at 10:43 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by found missing at 10:43 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Actually, hockey and basketball have some strategical and other simularities. I'm watching a good game (if you like a lot of goals) between the Crapitals and the Femguins right now. Ooh, end of the period, eh! Someone get me another Labatt's.
posted by Mister_A at 10:45 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 10:45 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Not only is it round 1, but from what I hear it's not been a well-played series.
It's been basically a comedy of errors. A "whoever-fucks-up-the-least-wins" series- just like most NBA and NFL games are nowadays.
posted by Zambrano at 10:47 AM on May 2, 2009
It's been basically a comedy of errors. A "whoever-fucks-up-the-least-wins" series- just like most NBA and NFL games are nowadays.
posted by Zambrano at 10:47 AM on May 2, 2009
This seems like the right place to point out that the Mets beat the Phillies, 7-4 last night! If they can win like 83 more games, they'll be in good shape.
posted by Mister_A at 10:58 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 10:58 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
It should not be overlooked that Atlanta and Miami are also headed for a dramatic game 7. Miam, such a doormat that Hall-of-Fame-type coach Pat Riley had to replace himself, has made the playoffs under the direction of Eric Spoelstra, a young coach who looks much the same as he did when he played for the University of Portland.
Personally, I lost much interest in pro basketball when high school kids were allowed to turn pro. Steep learning curve, not always conquered. For the Trail Blazers, Greg Oden will always be tall, but he is a patsy to be called for fouls when up against an experienced center like the ever-fouling and holding Yao Ming. And Travis Outlaw will someday achieve consistency.
posted by Cranberry at 11:18 AM on May 2, 2009
Personally, I lost much interest in pro basketball when high school kids were allowed to turn pro. Steep learning curve, not always conquered. For the Trail Blazers, Greg Oden will always be tall, but he is a patsy to be called for fouls when up against an experienced center like the ever-fouling and holding Yao Ming. And Travis Outlaw will someday achieve consistency.
posted by Cranberry at 11:18 AM on May 2, 2009
How about fi&mo? Or FTMFAMO?
posted by Pronoiac at 11:18 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 11:18 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Personally, I lost much interest in pro basketball when high school kids were allowed to turn pro.
No kidding. Don't even get me started on what a disappointment LeBron James has turned out to be.
posted by found missing at 11:22 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
No kidding. Don't even get me started on what a disappointment LeBron James has turned out to be.
posted by found missing at 11:22 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Suppose there is a God. Suppose that She commands from on high that thou must selecteth a player to anchor a Divine Baskette-Ball Teame. Big game coming up against Satanic Institute of Technology and all.
God commands that you must select one of two players, who will, thanks to Godly Magic, appear before thee and play as though in the prime of their careers: LeBron James, or a certain hall-of-fame Chicago Bull.
SCOTTIE PIPPEN! Ha! You didn't see that coming, did you? The other guy would be way too easy. Who dost thou choose? Discuss.
posted by Mister_A at 11:59 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
God commands that you must select one of two players, who will, thanks to Godly Magic, appear before thee and play as though in the prime of their careers: LeBron James, or a certain hall-of-fame Chicago Bull.
SCOTTIE PIPPEN! Ha! You didn't see that coming, did you? The other guy would be way too easy. Who dost thou choose? Discuss.
posted by Mister_A at 11:59 AM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I hate it when people complain that they don't like the topic of the thread or they are tired of politicsfilter, relationshipfilter, etc. ... Its like opponents of gay marriage who act as if there will be some effect on their marriage if gays wed. Its not like there are...a limited number of FPP's which create a problem.
Of course #81319 doesn't directly affect #81302. That seems obvious. Did somebody argue otherwise?
More often, it seems to me, people who complain about SportsFilter, PoliticalFilter, etc. object to the effect they believe it will have on the site as a whole. Either that those threads "dilute" the site, or that they foster undesirable discussions or attitudes, etc. They're not complaining that it will directly affect the particular thread they posted last week or next month; they're voicing their opinions, as members of a community, about how they think it will affect that community overall.
Apply that to your analogy as you will.
posted by cribcage at 12:38 PM on May 2, 2009
Of course #81319 doesn't directly affect #81302. That seems obvious. Did somebody argue otherwise?
More often, it seems to me, people who complain about SportsFilter, PoliticalFilter, etc. object to the effect they believe it will have on the site as a whole. Either that those threads "dilute" the site, or that they foster undesirable discussions or attitudes, etc. They're not complaining that it will directly affect the particular thread they posted last week or next month; they're voicing their opinions, as members of a community, about how they think it will affect that community overall.
Apply that to your analogy as you will.
posted by cribcage at 12:38 PM on May 2, 2009
I thought the post sucked because it was basically Lacking Subtlety in there talking to him/herself. GYOFB territory in my opinion.
posted by schyler523 at 12:54 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by schyler523 at 12:54 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh, and hockey is awesome.
posted by schyler523 at 12:55 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by schyler523 at 12:55 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I liked it in a sort of "what's all this then" kind of way.
posted by Dumsnill at 12:59 PM on May 2, 2009
posted by Dumsnill at 12:59 PM on May 2, 2009
Soccer and hockey = similar
Sockey, if you will.
posted by fleacircus at 3:41 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sockey, if you will.
posted by fleacircus at 3:41 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
I agree with this callout. Until last year the Celtics practically NEVER won anything, and who the hell good ever played for the Bulls? The post that was called out flies in the face of the long-established jock culture that we've tried to foster here on The Old Grey Lady of Metafilter.
posted by Nick Verstayne at 4:00 PM on May 2, 2009
posted by Nick Verstayne at 4:00 PM on May 2, 2009
deborah: don't understand how one could like basketball and hate hockey. They're basically the same game.
There are many similarities, yes: difficult-to-reach goals which are intentionally made small in order to make them hard to hit; a required form of gameplay which limits mobility and makes it necessary for the team to act together to move the ball or puck toward the goal; an emphasis on passing and combinations which will lead to goals scored. In fact, there's really only one chief and central difference.
One could illustrate this difference by pointing out that, in basketball, if you punch a guy in the face hard enough to open veins or to close his eye under the bruise, you generally get suspended from the team for a year or two and maybe lose your career entirely, whereas in hockey you get five minutes in the penalty box and a hearty cheer from the fans.
posted by koeselitz at 5:04 PM on May 2, 2009
There are many similarities, yes: difficult-to-reach goals which are intentionally made small in order to make them hard to hit; a required form of gameplay which limits mobility and makes it necessary for the team to act together to move the ball or puck toward the goal; an emphasis on passing and combinations which will lead to goals scored. In fact, there's really only one chief and central difference.
One could illustrate this difference by pointing out that, in basketball, if you punch a guy in the face hard enough to open veins or to close his eye under the bruise, you generally get suspended from the team for a year or two and maybe lose your career entirely, whereas in hockey you get five minutes in the penalty box and a hearty cheer from the fans.
posted by koeselitz at 5:04 PM on May 2, 2009
The thing I like best about this whole thing, of course, is that, while the original post wasn't fantastic because it was lacking subtlety, this callout was clearly a bad idea.
posted by koeselitz at 5:13 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 5:13 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
zing.
posted by jerseygirl at 6:10 PM on May 2, 2009
posted by jerseygirl at 6:10 PM on May 2, 2009
The most interesting thing about that post is how it was only started so that the OP could respond to every comment made in it. I have to admire his passion though. Even if it is passion about basketball.
When you type "who invented bask" into Google, it finishes the question for you, as "who invented basketball, and why". Why, indeed.
posted by iconomy at 6:13 PM on May 2, 2009
When you type "who invented bask" into Google, it finishes the question for you, as "who invented basketball, and why". Why, indeed.
posted by iconomy at 6:13 PM on May 2, 2009
Who invented bisque?
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:26 PM on May 2, 2009
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:26 PM on May 2, 2009
Bisque, the pottery? Clay Aiken.
Bisque, the soup, was invented by Glen Campbell.
posted by iconomy at 7:34 PM on May 2, 2009
Bisque, the soup, was invented by Glen Campbell.
posted by iconomy at 7:34 PM on May 2, 2009
Bisque, The pottery......
Yao Ming......
Ming Vase......
Menzies Campbell..... (you'll never get that one)
posted by Nick Verstayne at 8:05 PM on May 2, 2009
Yao Ming......
Ming Vase......
Menzies Campbell..... (you'll never get that one)
posted by Nick Verstayne at 8:05 PM on May 2, 2009
What I want to know is why they invented Basque. Goddamn bizarre language.
Bisque makes sense. I'd invent it myself, given the opportunity.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:08 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
Bisque makes sense. I'd invent it myself, given the opportunity.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:08 PM on May 2, 2009 [1 favorite]
"They" didn't invent Basque. It was invented by a single person - the same man who invented basketball, oddly enough. Michael Nesmith of the Monkees. His mother invented invisible ink. Michael originally intended to call it basquetball but he was all out of Qs the day he printed out the first programs on his letterpress. He had a surplus of Ks, hence the last minute change in spelling.
posted by iconomy at 8:17 PM on May 2, 2009 [7 favorites]
posted by iconomy at 8:17 PM on May 2, 2009 [7 favorites]
You know what would be really cool? What if one of the players in this series had a dad who had been a star in another sport like tennis, married Miss Sweden, and then became a pop musician in France? No one would believe a story like that, though.
posted by lukemeister at 1:20 AM on May 3, 2009
posted by lukemeister at 1:20 AM on May 3, 2009
This dude is about to get a bannin'.
True. Afterwards, realising the error of his ways, he reforms the band with a new bassist, and comes back in six months time dropping amazing FPPs left right and center, due to his higher level of creative control (having formed his own label).
Sadly, the comeback is cut short when the tourbus plummets over the edge of a cliff in Italy, destroying the only computer he's ever loved, meaning that MeFi is never the same for him. Having fallen out of love with the internet, he's now on a rogue nihilistic mission.
posted by djgh at 6:11 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
True. Afterwards, realising the error of his ways, he reforms the band with a new bassist, and comes back in six months time dropping amazing FPPs left right and center, due to his higher level of creative control (having formed his own label).
Sadly, the comeback is cut short when the tourbus plummets over the edge of a cliff in Italy, destroying the only computer he's ever loved, meaning that MeFi is never the same for him. Having fallen out of love with the internet, he's now on a rogue nihilistic mission.
posted by djgh at 6:11 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
when the tourbus plummets
Plunges, djgh, the correct collocation is plunges.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:26 AM on May 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Plunges, djgh, the correct collocation is plunges.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:26 AM on May 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Lol it never ceases to amaze me!
posted by languagehat at 6:45 AM on May 3, 2009
posted by languagehat at 6:45 AM on May 3, 2009
Sounds like the united states is on the right track! Welp that's my third comment and I registered a week ago hey guys LINDSEY SAY SHE LIKE IRON STAFF OF SLAYING IN HER MAN PANCE. WANT TO B_E_B_I_G_G_E_R TRY MY SUPAR_VI@GRO FOR NOON TIME FUCK APPOINTMENT CLICK HEAR
posted by Damn That Television at 8:17 AM on May 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Damn That Television at 8:17 AM on May 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
You know what would be really cool? What if one of the players in this series had a dad who had been a star in another sport like tennis, married Miss Sweden, and then became a pop musician in France? No one would believe a story like that, though.
Um. That actually happened. Haven't you ever heard of Joaquin Phoenix? His parents were Bobby Riggs (one of the greatest tennis players of all time) and Britt Ekland, who had an affair with Bobby while she was on the rebound from Rod Stewart.
I think I'm going to have to start adding all of this factual data I have in my head to wikipedia.
posted by iconomy at 8:33 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Um. That actually happened. Haven't you ever heard of Joaquin Phoenix? His parents were Bobby Riggs (one of the greatest tennis players of all time) and Britt Ekland, who had an affair with Bobby while she was on the rebound from Rod Stewart.
I think I'm going to have to start adding all of this factual data I have in my head to wikipedia.
posted by iconomy at 8:33 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
I need a copy editor, stat.
Applications to the usual address.
posted by djgh at 9:35 AM on May 3, 2009
Applications to the usual address.
posted by djgh at 9:35 AM on May 3, 2009
Lol it never ceases to amaze me at how much people are willing to spend on carp.
posted by Sailormom at 9:44 AM on May 3, 2009
posted by Sailormom at 9:44 AM on May 3, 2009
lol
posted by found missing at 11:23 AM on May 3, 2009
posted by found missing at 11:23 AM on May 3, 2009
I'm late to the party -- really late -- but I'll say this:
I hate basketball. Or I did, until my boyfriend started watching games on our teevee and I started asking stupid questions like, "Why don't they throw that Noah guy out of the game? That thing he did to Rondo was barbaric!" (I followed this up with half an hour of, "Show him the red card!" in spite of not actually liking soccer any more than I like basketball.)
But I couldn't help feeling I was watching something special and important and spectacular when game six of this particular series went into triple overtime. I noticed the grace and beauty of the game. I began to understand why people might like it.
And so, though I usually scroll right past all the sportsfilter posts -- not that there are very many, considering sports fans get booed off the stage all the time over here -- I paused and took a look at the one that's being called out. Note that most of the posts I like on the blue are about weird things you can do with plastic bags, not about some stupid game played by a bunch of guys in really ugly uniforms.
I don't really care about all the pitchforking in this thread. I just want to say that I liked that post. I liked it a lot. It might not have been "the best of the web," but it was interesting to me.
Also, that Noah dude is seriously barbaric and shouldn't be allowed. At all.
posted by brina at 11:27 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
I hate basketball. Or I did, until my boyfriend started watching games on our teevee and I started asking stupid questions like, "Why don't they throw that Noah guy out of the game? That thing he did to Rondo was barbaric!" (I followed this up with half an hour of, "Show him the red card!" in spite of not actually liking soccer any more than I like basketball.)
But I couldn't help feeling I was watching something special and important and spectacular when game six of this particular series went into triple overtime. I noticed the grace and beauty of the game. I began to understand why people might like it.
And so, though I usually scroll right past all the sportsfilter posts -- not that there are very many, considering sports fans get booed off the stage all the time over here -- I paused and took a look at the one that's being called out. Note that most of the posts I like on the blue are about weird things you can do with plastic bags, not about some stupid game played by a bunch of guys in really ugly uniforms.
I don't really care about all the pitchforking in this thread. I just want to say that I liked that post. I liked it a lot. It might not have been "the best of the web," but it was interesting to me.
Also, that Noah dude is seriously barbaric and shouldn't be allowed. At all.
posted by brina at 11:27 AM on May 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Also, please, for the love of God, fix those tags. They aren't clever enough to keep.
posted by brina at 11:28 AM on May 3, 2009
posted by brina at 11:28 AM on May 3, 2009
I liked the post- I'm a basketball fan and it has been the most exciting series I've seen in a long, long time.
This callout seems like a knee-jerk reaction from someone who doesn't like the NBA and popped in to say Your Favorite Pro Basketball League Sucks. Lame. If you aren't crazy about the post, just skip it, man.
posted by emd3737 at 7:00 PM on May 3, 2009
This callout seems like a knee-jerk reaction from someone who doesn't like the NBA and popped in to say Your Favorite Pro Basketball League Sucks. Lame. If you aren't crazy about the post, just skip it, man.
posted by emd3737 at 7:00 PM on May 3, 2009
Is it even possible for Lacking Subtlety to not moderate (or participate VERY heavily) in his/her own posts? Here's another one.
posted by schyler523 at 6:10 PM on May 8, 2009
posted by schyler523 at 6:10 PM on May 8, 2009
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
If you care that much, flag it and move on! Do we have an acronym for that yet? FIAMO?..FIMO? I think FIMO works.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 3:31 AM on May 2, 2009