2012 NFL Predictions

NFC

       West

San Francisco 10-6

Seattle 8-8

Arizona 5-11 under 6.5 

St. Louis 5-11 

-Always important to temper enthusiasm for your team when making predictions; 10 wins seems like top end for my Niners, relative health plus huge turnover advantage are two factors that point hard to regression.  

South

Atlanta 10-6 over 9 

New Orleans 9-7

Carolina 8-8 

Tampa 7-9 over 5.5

-I've got the Falcons as the second best team in the NFC, although I was unable to get Ryan on any of my 3 fantasy teams.  I like a bounceback for the Bucs and no regression from the Panthers.  

North

Green Bay 12-4

Chicago 10-6

Detroit 8-8

Minnesota 5-11

-The Bears are the team that improves; I have them bouncing the Niners in the playoffs.   The Packers are the best team in the conference and I'll take them to go to the SB.

East

Philadelphia 9-7 

New York 9-7

Dallas 8-8

Washington 7-9

-I don't love or hate anyone in the East

AFC

North

Pittsburgh 11-5 over 10

Baltimore 9-7

Cincinnati 8-8 

Cleveland 4-12 (under 5)

-I do hate the Browns; rookie QB, nothing at WR, Richardson's already injured - that's a team staring hard at a deep last place season.  

South

Houston 9-7(under 10)

Tennessee 7-9

Jacksonville 6-10

Indianapolis 5-11

-A better Houston team was stuck behind Manning and those good Colts team, now they're headed back the other way, but this looks like an easy division to pick.   

East

New England 12-4

Buffalo 10-6 over 7.5

New York 9-7

Miami 6-10 under 7

-Obviously, Buffalo's the team I like the most relative to their number; were you to invest in anything, it would be that. Patriots are the best team in the conference and I'll take them to go to the SB.

West

Denver 9-7

San Diego 8-8 under 9

       Kansas City 7-9 

Oakland 6-10 under 7.5

-I don't love anyone in the West; I kinda hate the Raiders, I don't see much chance playing under 7.5 beats you.  

Playoffs:

NYG at Philadelphia

Chicago at 49ers

NY at GB

Chi at Atl

Atl at GB

Balt at Hou

Buff at Den

Balt at NE

Buff at Pitt

Buff at NE

Packers v. Patriots.  

Down the Stretch They Come

One final look - MLB playoff projections and the best players at each position.

AL East -NYY 92

AL Central – Detroit 89

AL West – Texas 97

WC1-Oak 89

WC2-TB 88

NL East-Wash 97

NL Cen-Cincinn 97

NL West-SFG 91

WC1-Atl 90

WC2-StL 88

AL

C CSantana

1B APujols

2B RCano

SS EAndrus

3B MCabrera

LF AGordon

CF MTrout MVP

RF BZobrist

P JVerlander Cy

NL

C BPosey

1B JVotto

2B AHill

SS SCastro

3B DWright

LF RBraun MVP

CF AMcCutcheon

RF JHeyward

P JCueto Cy

The Occasional Tendown August 19-September 1 2012

Dear Internet:

REM had a song about Leonard Cohen called "World Leader Pretend".

The takeaway from Eastwood's empty chair soliloquy at the Right Wing Convention was that the old man went off the reservation.  Instead of that, consider it as emblematic of the entire world in which the right wing lives.  The Obama who actually exists, the center/right President who has presided over this economy:

...who has expanded the War on Terror in a way endorsed by Dick Cheney; and whose singular domestic achievement, the Affordable Health Care Act, was a Heritage Foundation creation designed to permanently enrich insurance companies...

That's an Obama completely invisible to the right wing.  The guy who killed Bin Laden and saved the auto industry didn't exist in Tampa this week and hasn't ever existed in the right wing mind.

The guy they talk about, the radical socialist Kenyan intentionally trying to bring down the United States like a Batman villain, the guy who would fumble for a response in a debate with Clint Eastwood and have to resort to suggesting that Romney perform a sexual act on himself - that's the guy they see.  Dirty Harry wasn't talking to an empty chair; he was talking to who the right wing sees as the President.  Anti-business, anti-American, anti-Christian - that's the guy sitting in the chair.  It's Obama.

Sure, he's imaginary, but that doesn't matter.  They'll keep saying he's real on Fox and the right wing will keep believing it.

Tendown 138 is here. This is Tendown 139


1. Paul Ryan Admits to Lying



About that GM plant that closed before Obama took office?  No, not that one.

About Medicare?  You know, Ryan's only "accomplishment" is a budget plan that would take away the guarantee of health care to senior citizens and replace it with a coupon system, but somehow it's Obama who is threatening Medicare?  No, not that one.

Or this - when Ryan said this:

We have responsibilities, one to another – we do not each face the world alone. And the greatest of all responsibilities, is that of the strong to protect the weak. The truest measure of any society is how it treats those who cannot defend or care for themselves. … We can make the safety net safe again.

When actually, his budget would set fire to that safety net in an unprecedented way in order to pay for massive tax cuts to the very wealthiest.



No.  Not that either.

It's this.  He said he ran a marathon in under 3 hours.  He didn't.  He copped to it.

2. 82 million bucks
In case you're interested in what groups have spent what dollars so far in the election cycle - here it is.

Conservative groups have outspent progressive ones by almost 4:1 and one group, Restore Our Future, has spent 82 million dollars.

3. 60 Million Bucks
A high school in Texas spent 60 million taxpayer bucks on a football stadium.  Here's what that looks like.

4. It Gets Better
The first MLB team to shoot an It Gets Better video was the Giants; the first NFL team - the Niners.

5. The War On Voting
Remember when Glenn Beck said Joe McCarthy was absolutely right?

The right wing has spent the last two years trying to rehabilitate Jim Crow.

From the Atlantic, Here's piece one.

Piece two.

Piece 3

6. In 29 States
... you can be fired for being gay.




And in 7 states...

7. What's the Most Trustworthy Font?

It's Baskerville.

8. Presented Without Comment.
Just like for profit prisons have grown.

225

percent by which enrollment at for-profit colleges grew between 1998 and 2008

$35,000

average cost of a two-year associate's degree at a for-profit college

$8,300

average cost of an associate's degree at comparable community college

96

percent of those enrolled in for-profit schools who take out student loans

13

percent of students at community colleges who take out student loans

$7.5 billion

amount of federal Pell grants given to for-profit colleges in 2009-10 school year

$4.2 billion

amount the for-profit education industry spent on marketing, recruiting and admissions staffing in fiscal year 2009

$7.3 million

average compensation of CEOs at for-profit higher education companies in 2009

$2,050

average amount publicly traded for-profit higher education companies spent on instruction per student in 2009

9. The Greatest Move in Reality Show History

I'm not a Dan Gheesling fan; he outed himself as a right wing zealot back in Season 10, and having been in the tank for Chilltown since 2001, I've been with Mike and Frank during BB14.

But Dan's move this week to free himself from certain eviction by burning down his entire alliance was, I'd suggest, the greatest strategic maneuver in the history of reality competition.  He's already moved to second place on my all time Big Brother list with his play this season, and if he can win the money again, he bumps off (sacrilege coming) Dr. Will to become the best US BB player ever.  

10. Told You So.   

My sports blogging career may now be complete.  6 and a half years later, they put the cuffs on Lance Armstrong.

I'll stop sending my annual unpublished letter to the editors at Sports Illustrated decrying their simultaneous deifying of Armstrong and burying Barry Bonds now.  I would not be surprised if they keep my correspondence in a separate file for cranks and miscreants.

If I can find another cause to rail against, I'll be back next time....if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

2012 College Football Picks. Week One

I pick football games.

Texas San Antonio +6.5 South Alabama(win)
Stanford -25.5 San Jose St.(loss)
BC +1 Miami (loss)

1-2

The Best 100 ROH Matches of All Time

I've watched a Ring of Honor show or two.  Here is my ranking of the 100 greatest matches in ROH history.

 1.       Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness 5stars (24:30) 6/07

2.       Bryan Danielson v. Low Ki 5stars (32 min) 3/02

3.       Kenta v. Bryan Danielson 5stars (33 min) 9/06

4.       Davey Richards v. Tyler Black 5stars (35 min) 6/10

5.       Davey Richards v. Michael Elgin 5stars (26:30) 3/12

6.   Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness 4 3/4 stars (26 min) 8/06

7.    Bandido v. Takeshita 4 3/4 stars (29 min) 6/25

8.       Kenta v. Low Ki 4 ¾stars (25 min) 12/05

9.       Kenta/Ibushi v. Nakajima/Marufuji 4 ¾stars 9/08

10.       CIMA/Dragon Kid/Saito v. Yoshino/Doi/Horiguchi 4 ¾stars (25:30) 3/08

11.   CIMA/Doi/Yoshino v. Saito/DKid/Horiguchi 4 3/4stars  (20:30) 3/06

12. FTR v Briscoes 4 3/4 (43:30) 7/22

13.   Davey Richards v. Eddie Edwards 4 ¾stars (36min) 6/11

14.   Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness4 ¾stars (28:30) 9/09

15.   Briscoes v. Steen/Generico 4 ¾stars (22:30) 8/07

16.  FTR v. Briscoes 4 3/4 (22:25) 12/22

17.  FTR v. Briscoes 4 3/4 (27:30) 4/22

18. Young Bucks v. Addiction v. MCMG 4 3/4 stars 10/16

19.   Samoa Joe v. Kenta Kobashi 4 3/4 stars (22 min) 10/05

20.   Nigel McGuinness v Austin Aries 4 3/4 (24:30) 3/08

21.   Davey Richards v. Roderick Strong 4 ¾stars (27 min) 4/11

22.   American Wolves v. Haas/Benjamin 4 ¾stars (23 min) 4/11

23.   Austin Aries/Roderick Strong v. Briscoes 4 ¾stars (24 min) 8/06

24.   Davey Richards v. Christopher Daniels 4 ¾stars (22min) 3/11

25.   Richards/O’Reilly v. Edwards/Cole 4 ¾stars 3/12

26.   Davey Richards v. Tyler Black 4 ¾stars (27:30) 8/10

27.   Samoa Joe v. CM Punk 4 3/4 stars (60min)10/04

28. FTR/Mark Briscoe v. Blackpool Combat Club 4 3/4 (29:30) 12/23

29.   Bryan Danielson v. Morishima 4 1/2 (18:30) 12/08

30.   CIMA/Shingo/Yokasuka v. Dragon Kid/Saito/Mochizuki  4 ½stars (27 min) 3/07

31.   Kenta v. Davey Richards 4 ½stars (18 min) 4/09

32.   Bryan Danielson v. Davey Richards 4 ½stars (36 min) 9/09

33. Bryan Danielson v. Nigel McGuinness 4 1/2 (31:30) 2/08

34.   Bryan Danielson v. Takeshi Morishima 4 1/2  (20 min) 8/07

35. El Generico v. Kevin Steen 4 1/2 (31min) 12/10

36. Bandido v. Hechicero 4 1/2 (37 min) 08/25

37. American Wolves v. Steen/Generico 4 1/2 (24min) 9/09

38.   Bryan Danielson v. Paul London 4 1/2 (41 min) 4/03

39.   Naomichi Marufuji v Nigel McGuinness4 ½stars (18min)12/08

40.   Bryan Danielson v. Samoa Joe v. Kenta 4 ½stars (20:30) 6/06

41.   Bryan Danielson v. AJ Styles 4 ½ (22:30) 11/02

42.   Bryan Danielson v Low Ki v Chris Daniels 4 ½stars (20 min) 2/02 

43.   Bryan Danielson v. Go Shiozaki 4 ½stars (26:30) 7/07

44. Vikingo v. Komander 4 1/2 stars (16 min) 3/23

45. Will Ospreay v. Jay White 4 1/2 stars (13 min) 5/17

46. Morishima/Marufuji/Shiozaki v. Roderick Strong/Davey Richards/Rocky Romero 4 1/2 (27:30) 5/08

47.   Kenta Kobashi/Homicide v. Samoa Joe/Low Ki 4 ½stars (24:30) 10/05

48. AJ Styles/Young Bucks v. Matt Sydal/ACH/Cedric Alexander 4 1/2 (21 min) 2/14

49.   Bryan Danielson v. Austin Aries v. Samoa Joe v. Mark Briscoe v. Homicide v. Colt Cabana 4 1/2 stars (42:30) 6/04

50.   Low Ki v. Brian Kendrick v. Chris Daniels v. Doug Williams 4 ½ (60 min) 7/02

51.   Bryan Danielson v. AJ Styles 4 ½ (24 min)11/03

52.   Bryan Danielson v. AJ Styles 4 ½ (31:30) 1/06

53. Austin Aries v. Davey Richards 4 1/2 (45:00) 11/09

54.   Briscoes v. Doi/Shingo 4 ½ (22:30) 3/07

55. Yoshino/Doi/CIMA v. Evans/Strong/Aries 4 1/2 stars (16min) 3/06

56.   Bryan Danielson v. Jamie Noble 4 ½ (32:30) 9/05

57.   Davey Richards v. Roderick Strong 4 ½ (30:30)12/10

58.   Low Ki v. Joe v. Danielson v. Corino 4 ½ (45 min) 12/02

59.   Paul London v. AJ Styles 4 ½ (24:30) 5/03

60.   Low Ki v. Styles 4 ½ (20 min) 8/02

61.   Nigel McGuinness v. Austin Aries 4 ½ (22min)12/07

62.   Austin Aries v. Tyler Black 4 ½ (22 min) 2/10

63.   Kings of Wrestling v. Briscoes 4 ½ (18min) 6/10

64. Kings of Wrestling v. Briscoes 4 1/2 30:30 4/10

65.   Eddie Edwards v. Roderick Strong 4 ½ (44min) 9/11

66.   Kevin Steen v. El Generico 4 ½ (23min) 3/12

67.   Naomichi Marufuji v Nigel McGuinness4 ½stars (18min)12/08

68.   Bryan Danielson v. Austin Aries 4 ½stars (17:30) 11/07

69. Jimmy Jacobs v. BJ Whitmer 4 1/2 (24:30) 3/07

70.       Briscoes v. American Wolves 4 1/2 stars (23min) 12/09

71.   Marufuji/Briscoes v. Marvin/Sydal/Aoki 4 1/2 stars (22:30)7/07

72.   Generico/Shingo/DKid v. Yoshino/Doi/Hulk 4 ½stars (22:30) 8/08

73. Bryan Danielson v. Roderick Strong 4 1/2 (56 min) 3/06

74.   Edwards v. Daniels 4 ½ 2/11

75.   Kenta/Marufuji v. Bryan Danielson/Samoa Joe 4 1/2 (33:30) 3/06

76.   Bryan Danielson v. Austin Aries 4 ½ (30:30) 5/05

77.   Takeshi Morishima v Nigel McGuinness 4 ½ (20min)7/07

78.   Samoa Joe v. Takeshi Morishima 4 ½ (18 min) 2/07

79.   Naomichi Marufuji v. Nigel McGuinness 4 ½stars (22:30) 9/06

80. Nigel McGuinness v. Tyler Black 4 1/2 stars (22min) 5/08

81.   Nigel v. Black v. Danielson v. Claudio 4 ½ (30:30) 8/08

82.   Samoa Joe v. CM Punk 4 ½stars (31:30) 12/04

83. Briscoes v. Bucks v. So Cal 4 1/2 (22:30) 12/18

84. Bucks/Omega v. Kushida/ACH/Sydal 2/16  4 1/2

85. Lethal/Strong v. Cole/MJackson v. Okada/Ishii (16 min) 5/16

86. Bryan Danielson v. Austin Aries (73 min) 4 1/2   8/04

87.   Eddie Edwards v. Chris Daniels 4 ½ (30 min) 4/11

88.   Samoa Joe v. CM Punk 4 ½ (60 min) 6/04

89.   El Generico v. Kota Ibushi 4 ½ (16 min) 4/08

90.   Eddie Edwards v. Roderick Strong 4 ½ (25:30) 3/11

91.   Samoa Joe/Adam Pearce/BJ Whitmer v. Super Dragon/ Chris Hero/Necro Butcher 4 ½ (25:30) 4/06

92.   Go v. Marufuji 4 1/2 (23 min) 8/08

93.   Kenta v. Nigel McGuinness 4 ½stars (25:30) 3/09

94. Tyler Black/Kenta v. Austin Aries/Katsuhiko Nakajima (22min) 4 1/2 4/09

95. Briscoes d. Bucks (17 min) 6/18  4  1/2

96. Claudio d. Kingston (20:15) 3/23 4 1/2

97. Briscoes v. American Wolves (26:30) 4 1/2 3/10

98. Styles v. O'Reilly (22 min) 4 1/2 8/14

99. Young Bucks v. Fish/O'Reilly (13 min) 4 1/2 5/14

100. Bucks v. Briscoes (15:30) 4 1/2   12/16