Posts tagged Sports

The NBA

Last night I went to my first NBA game in nearly 10 years. While I had fun, and will probably go to another game this year, I was reminded why I stayed away from the game for so long.

Granted most of these are nothing new, but here goes. (also posted to twitter, but wanted to post it here as well)

Why the NBA is horrible in five parts.

  1. Shocked at how poor the talent level is with too many players. This is true with college basketball as well, which I still do enjoy.
  2. Absolutely no flow to the game. Too many whistles, fouls, and other stoppages of play…
  3. The “And 1/continuation” pretty much needs to stop. Either cancel the foul if the shot goes in, or give them the FT point automatically
  4. It didn’t happen last night, but the final minute of a NBA game is the most ridiculous time in sports.
  5. Regular season vs Playoff intensity. Same issue as hockey and it needs to be addressed somehow.

Bringing Paul Bunyan's Axe to Kohl Center fired up Gophers

Five or six Wisconsin football players brought Paul Bunyan’s Axe to the Kohl Center midway through the third period on Saturday. The crowd of 13,000 at Kohl Center went wild. The Gophers, already ahead 2-1, scored their third goal exactly 2-1/2  minutes after the axe was shown.

This was the turning point in the game. The Wisconsin crowd went nuts when the Axe arrived, and the Badgers nearly scored, but the Gophers responded, silencing the crowd with the two goal lead. 

Gopher chips. by the queen of subtle on Flickr.

Gopher chips. by the queen of subtle on Flickr.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers

ESPN

bigboxcar: via In Sports, Wisconsin Rocks While Minnesota Rolls Over | Fast Horse Go Lynx!

bigboxcar:

via In Sports, Wisconsin Rocks While Minnesota Rolls Over | Fast Horse

Go Lynx!

fasthorseinc.com

mightyflynn: The Boston Red Sox’ odds of reaching the playoffs peaked on Sept. 3. Following a 12-7 win against the Texas Rangers, they held a 9-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays with 24 games to play, giving them a 99.6 percent chanceof making the post-season. - Nate Silver (NY Times) Read the rest: “Bill Buckner Strikes Again” Everyone else has already said it, but that was the best night of baseball I’ve ever witnessed. And while I feel really bad for the Red Sox to lose like they did, Boston has had its fair share of success lately. And really, who would you rather have in the playoffs, the team that backs in, or the team that is actually playing like a playoff team?

mightyflynn:

The Boston Red Sox’ odds of reaching the playoffs peaked on Sept. 3. Following a 12-7 win against the Texas Rangers, they held a 9-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays with 24 games to play, giving them a 99.6 percent chanceof making the post-season.

- Nate Silver (NY Times)

Read the rest: “Bill Buckner Strikes Again”

Everyone else has already said it, but that was the best night of baseball I’ve ever witnessed. And while I feel really bad for the Red Sox to lose like they did, Boston has had its fair share of success lately. And really, who would you rather have in the playoffs, the team that backs in, or the team that is actually playing like a playoff team?

The New York Times

swirlspice: Lindsay Whalen breathes life into Minnesota Lynx - ESPN Regardless of how this season ends, she has helped breathe life into the Lynx — and women’s basketball — in a way that hadn’t happened in this state since … the last time she did it, with the Minnesota Gophers in a captivating run to the Women’s Final Four in 2004. Bummed I couldn’t watch it, but so happy for the Lynx and their fans. Now go out and beat everyone’s favorite player, Diana Taurasi.

swirlspice:

Lindsay Whalen breathes life into Minnesota Lynx - ESPN

Regardless of how this season ends, she has helped breathe life into the Lynx — and women’s basketball — in a way that hadn’t happened in this state since … the last time she did it, with the Minnesota Gophers in a captivating run to the Women’s Final Four in 2004.

Bummed I couldn’t watch it, but so happy for the Lynx and their fans. Now go out and beat everyone’s favorite player, Diana Taurasi.

ESPN

robotcosmonaut: Twins Love Love it.

robotcosmonaut:

Twins Love

Love it.

robotcosmonaut

I’ve had incredible luck with Standing Room Only tickets at Target Field lately, watching the last 3 games I’ve been to from here, including last nights game against the Red Sox. Only downside is that it was a beautiful night and we didn’t really get to enjoy being at an outdoor ballpark. But watching a game from this vantage point is hard to beat, compared to standing out in the outfield sun.

I’ve had incredible luck with Standing Room Only tickets at Target Field lately, watching the last 3 games I’ve been to from here, including last nights game against the Red Sox. Only downside is that it was a beautiful night and we didn’t really get to enjoy being at an outdoor ballpark. But watching a game from this vantage point is hard to beat, compared to standing out in the outfield sun.

Target Center's green roof: a prairie in the sky

swirlspice:

“It’s been two years since the green roof on downtown Minneapolis’ massive auditorium and sports venue was installed. The Line took a tour to see how things are going and growing.”

This was great. Looks really cool up there.

swirlspice