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The New Big Board, Top 100 Remaining Players in 2013 NFL Draft

Friday, April 26, 2013



Here's my new top 100 as we move into the second round.

1. J.Cyprien S
2. M. Barkley QB
3. M.Te'o ILB
4. G. Smith QB
5. M.Watson T
6. K. Allen WR
7. R. Woods WR
8. E. Lacy RB
9. T.Carradine DE
10. K.Minter ILB
11. J. Hunter WR
12. M.Hunt DE
13. J.Williams DT
14. K.Short DT
15. Z.Ertz TE
16. D.Moore DE
17. A.Brown ILB
18. J.Jenkins DT
19. J. Taylor CB
20. M.Ball RB
21. R. Nassib QB
22. L.Warford G
23. J.Hankins DT
24. J.Banks CB
25. S.Moore OLB
26. Q. Patton WR
27. J.Collins OLB
28. A.Okafor DE
29. J. Franklin RB
30. T. Armstead T
31. DJ Swearington S
32. K.Greene OLB
33. A.Dobson WR
34. B.Williams DT
35. B.Wreh-Wilson CB
36. D.Slay CB
37. R.Alford CB
38. B.Winters G
39. M.Wheaton WR
40. G.Escobar TE
41. S. Thomas S
42. JJ Wilcox S
43. V.McDonald TE
44. T.Mathieu CB
45. D.Amerson CB
46. T.Williams WR
47. G. Bernard RB
48. L. Jones QB
49. J.Reed TE
50. B.Jones C
51. J.Simon OLB
52. S.Montgomery DE
53. T. Kelce TE
54. J.Boyer CB
55. BW Webb CB
56. D.Gratz CB
57. L. Bell RB
58. C. Michael RB
59. K.Reddick ILB
60. P.Thomas S
61. A.Ellington RB
62. K.Davis RB
63. R.Swope WR
64. M.Scott QB
65. D.Rogers WR
66. T.Wilson QB
67. M.Glennon QB
68. D.Taylor DE
69. S.Bailey WR
70. T.Bray QB
71. C. Washington OLB
72. L.Ryan CB
73. K.Alonso ILB
74. J.Bostic ILB
75. D. Bakhtiari T
76. B.Logan DT
77. B.Schwenke C
78. W.Gholston DE
79. H.Thornton G
80. D.Thomas G
81. M.Lattimore RB
82. D.Sims TE
83. B.Williams T
84. D.Robinson WR
85. J.Boyce WR
86. L.Edwards DE
87. C. Harper WR
88. D.Quessenberry T
89. D.Bass DE
90. TJ McDonald S
91. J.Kruger DE
92. K.Holmes C
93. B.Rambo S
94. K.Juszczyk FB
95. M.Harrison WR
96. N.Kasa TE
97. R.Fragel T
98. C.Faulk T
99. R.Jensen G
100. C.Lemonier DE






The Big Board - My 2013 Top 100 NFL Draft Prospects

Wednesday, April 24, 2013


1. E. Fisher T
2. L.Joeckel T
3. S.Floyd DT
4. B.Mingo OLB
5. D.Jordan OLB
6. L.Johnson T
7. S.Lotulelei DT
8. C.Warmack G
9. J.Cooper G
10. E.Ansah DE
11. S.Richardson DT
12. D.Milliner CB
13. K. Vaccaro S
14. T. Austin WR
15. T. Eifert TE
16. DJ. Hayden CB
17. J.Jones OLB
18. DJ. Fluker T
19. J.Cyprien S
20. M. Barkley QB
21. D.Trufant CB
22. M.Elam S
23. X.Rhodes CB
24. M.Te'o ILB
25. A.Ogletree ILB
26. D.Jones DE
27. S.Williams DT
28. G. Smith QB
29. M.Watson T

30. K. Allen WR
31. R. Woods WR

32. E. Lacy RB
33. J.Pugh G

34. B.Werner DE
35. T.Carradine DE
36. K.Minter ILB
37. D. Hopkins WR
38. C. Patterson WR
39. J. Hunter WR
40. M.Hunt DE
41. J.Williams DT
42. K.Short DT
43. Z.Ertz TE
44. K.Long T
45. D.Moore DE
46. A.Brown ILB
47. J.Jenkins DT
48. E.Reid S
49. J. Taylor CB
50. M.Ball RB
51. R. Nassib QB
52. L.Warford G
53. J.Hankins DT
54. J.Banks CB
55. S.Moore OLB
56. Q. Patton WR
57. J.Collins OLB
58. A.Okafor DE
59. J. Franklin RB
60. T. Armstead T
61. DJ Swearington S
62. EJ Manuel QB
63. K.Greene OLB
64. A.Dobson WR
65. B.Williams DT
66. B.Wreh-Wilson CB
67. D.Slay CB
68. R.Alford CB
69. B.Winters G
70. M.Wheaton WR
71. G.Escobar TE
72. S. Thomas S
73. JJ Wilcox S
74. V.McDonald TE
75. T.Frederick C
76. T.Mathieu CB
77. D.Amerson CB
78. T.Williams WR
79. G. Bernard RB
80. L. Jones QB
81. J.Reed TE
82. B.Jones C
83. J.Simon OLB
84. S.Montgomery DE
85. T. Kelce TE
86. J.Boyer CB
87. BW Webb CB
88. D.Gratz CB
89. L. Bell RB
90. C. Michael RB
91. K.Reddick ILB
92. P.Thomas S
93. A.Ellington RB
94. K.Davis RB
95. R.Swope WR
96. M.Scott QB
97. D.Rogers WR
98. T.Wilson QB
99. M.Glennon QB
100. D.Taylor DE



2013 Mock NFL/Bravolebrity Draft.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013




I enjoy the NFL Draft - I've got Kiper's blue book, the Ourlad's guide, and the Top 100 Big Boards for Rang and Mayock.  You want to know why Bjoern Werner projects as a left defensive end in a 4-3, I got you.
I enjoy Bravo.  I know the easy stuff, like to whom "close your legs to married men" was said, but can also play some deep cuts.  Who was the best cast member from NYC Prep?  What didn't ever get sold at End of the Century on Gallery Girls?  I got you.  My Bravocabulary game is tight.  That sounds like a good game, actually.  Call Parker Brothers.

So let's put those things together.  Mock Draft!

1. Kansas City – This isn't a draft with an Andrew Luck who you’d deal your whole board to pick; this isn't a draft with an Orlando Pace or a Jonathan Ogden, a can’t miss franchise saving left tackle – so the Chiefs pick the one ca't miss superstar, Nene Leakes, bringing swagger and catchphrases with her to middle America. With two network roles and about to add a second Bravo show – Nene’s going to be a Trump Check cashing, sack dancing, scenery chewing machine. Plus, her oldest son was once arrested for bringing pot into a police station. Bloop! Plonk!

2 Jacksonville – A colorless town (with an unsettling burnt armpit odor) picks a colorless player (who is also weirdly odorless, the carbon monoxide of offensive linemen, he recently contributed to the deaths of half the cast of MTV’s Washington Heights) Luke Joeckel T Texas A&M

3 Oakland – It was Al Davis’s last wish, someone to return that renegade, swashbuckling, outside the law glory to Oakland. That person – the table flipper and recipe thief - Teresa Giudice. She brings along her husband Joe, who posed as his brother for a fake driver’s license, as they take their outlaw act to the East Bay. The Autumn Wind is a Raider. Pillaging just for fun.

4 Philadelphia – Chip Kelly comes from Oregon and he’s bringing one of his own, no, not Toni and Candace, co-owners of Women and Women First, that’s on IFC, but instead his pass rusher, Dion Jordan OLB Oregon.

5 Detroit – 50 years ago Detroit had the highest per capita income in the country; in 2009 the Silverdome sold for half a million bucks. This is a town in need of a hero. That hero – Shahs of Sunset star Reza Farahan, who referred to his best friend of two decades MJ as having been “double stuffed by some Jewish cousins.” Perhaps it is an overture to Michigan’s healthy Middle Eastern population, and the pick becomes controversial when Reza refers to Lions QB Matt Stafford as a “yummy white ho”

6 Cleveland – the Browns get their best cornerback pairing since Frank Minniefield/Hanford Dixon by giving Joe Haden a partner – Dee Milliner CB Alabama.

7 Arizona – I spent two weeks there last summer and there is nothing hotter than Phoenix. Except Padma Lakshmi, who the Cardinals absolutely steal with the 7th pick.

8 Buffalo – The Bills head into the season with Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback; they end it with Geno Smith QB West Virginia.

9 New York Jets – Desperate for a pass rush, the Jets get the best edge man in the draft, Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU.

10 Tennessee – Music City USA has its pick of the full Bravo canon, from “Tardy for the Party” to “Money Can’t Buy You Class” (or my favorite, Miss Lawrence’s “Closet Freak”) – the pick is the singer of “On Display”, Melissa Gorga, whose husband Joe’s comfort with women’s wear could probably get her booked at Tribe.

11 San Diego – before Philip Rivers gets killed the Chargers get the best tackle on the board, Eric Fisher T Central Michigan

12 Miami – the median age of the town still drops .25 years with the somewhat unexpected selection of Inside the Actor’s Studio host James Lipton. And now, from the questionnaire  developed by the legendary Bernard Pivot, Jim - What is your favorite word…suplex. My favorite word is suplex.

13 New York Jets – You don’t deal Darrelle Revis  unless it’s for a tattoo worthy of Rex Ryan's other arm.  In the spirit of Mike Mamula, the Jets pick a combine hero; one of the all time Height/Weight/Speed guys who has all the measurables:  Atlanta based male stripper Ridiculous.  Dude's gonna need a bigger cap.  

14 Carolina –the value on the board is in the interior of the defensive line, the Panthers leap at Sharrif Floyd, to whom Chris Berman has presumably already given the obvious musical nickname.

15 New Orleans – the Saints year in football jail comes to an end, they want to spend this pick on someone who is above the fray, beyond reproach – and that’s Lisa Vanderpump. Jiggy becomes the toast of the French Quarter but is viewed as bougie by residents of  Treme.

16 St. Louis – the Rams have been faceless since the end of the Greatest Show on Turf when Kurt Warner resumed his previous life bagging groceries and Mike Martz passed away mumbling “the horror, the horror”. Andy Cohen returns to his hometown to become that face, serving  both an on field and front office roles. Wednesday becomes Shotski night in the Ram locker room.

17 Pittsburgh – the top defensive end is still on the board and the Steelers need to replenish that edge rush. Ezekial Ansah DE BYU.

18 Dallas – other than the American Family Association, there aren't too many organizations I dislike more than the Cowboys; my least favorite Bravolebrity is Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger. Here’s hoping they can’t turn the card in fast enough.  I enjoy it when people I dislike align in some fashion; if Nancy Grace married my freshman year forensics coach, I'd put the wedding announcement on my fridge.

19 New York Giants – there remain 3 premium offensive linemen on the board, give New York the best tackle left Lane Johnson T Oklahoma.

20 Chicago – the Bears are dying for a guard; there are two elite interior linemen in the draft and both remain in this spot – Chance Warmack G Alabama.

21 Cincinnati – what are the two things we know about the Bengals? 1. They could use an influx of cash 2. They aren't afraid to draft players whose characters come into question. The pick is Adrienne Maloof; she brings some casino money and a sleazy veneer. Chef Bernie and Rod Stewart’s son come along for a dysfunctional entourage.

22 St. Louis (from Washington) – the best receiver in the country is still available here, Travon Austin WR West Virginia.

23 Minnesota – the Vikings have lost 4 Super Bowls; Tom Colicchio has won 5 James Beard Awards; you need to start changing the culture in Minneapolis. He’s the pick.

24 Indianapolis – there is some reason to believe that Colts owner Jim Irsay is batshit crazy, or at least, 
enjoys a little drinky drink every now and again. That’s a good description of Sonia Morgan, who brings her interns and toaster ovens to the Midwest.

25 Minnesota (from Seattle) – They thing they’re drafting Mike Singletary; personally, I think the Vikes are about to get Catfished, but they’re taking Manti Te’o ILB Notre Dame

26 Green Bay – Kenny Vaccaro S Texas is still on the board for the safety hungry Pack.

27 Houston – The Texans are close, filled with really talented players on both sides of the ball, but Matt Schaub, even though he’s not a bad QB, just isn't field general enough to lead this team to the Super Bowl. You know who is? Jeff Lewis – he’ll feed Andre Johnson and fill the writers’ notebooks. If he and Jenni Pulos can stay out of protracted litigation, this is the pick that puts the Texans over the top.

28 Denver – Elvis (Dumervill) has left the building, the Broncos get the best lineman on the board, Star Lotulelei DT Utah.

29 New England – Bill Belichik does what he wants. And what he wants is to hand out with Vicki Gunvalson’s Maybe Boyfriend Brooks. “I don’t care what Tamra says, Brooks is the Bomb Dot Com.”

30 Atlanta – The first Husband/Wife combo on the same NFL team since the secret Ken Anderson/Pete Johnson elopement in 1981 – the Falcons draft defensive lineman Kroy Beerman’s wife (why? Why did he do this?) Kim Zolciak.

31 San Francisco – Sure, as someone who watches every Niners game I could give us Brandi Glanville, just for the Oscar dress alone – but our need for a safety wins out with the pick of Jonathan Cyprien S FIU.

32 Baltimore – the Ravens look for doubles in the first round, someone safe with a good track record and a high motor. Plus, we’re reminded by GM Ozzie Newsome “Girl wrote No Scrubs!”. Kandi Burress.

The 100 Best Players in the NBA, 2012-2013 by NBA WAR

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Through a combination of Hollinger's Estimated Wins Added +Win Shares - here, yes, here, is your definitive list of the 100 Best Players in the NBA for the 2012-13 season.




1.        L. James 24.75 (All NBA Team 1-F
2.       K. Durant 23.25 (All NBA Team 1-F)
3.       C. Paul 15.75 (All NBA Team 1-G)
4.       J. Harden 15.75 (All NBA Team 1-G)
5.       R. Westbrook 15.25 (All NBA Team 2-G)
6.       K. Bryant 15 (All NBA Team 2-G)
7.       C. Anthony 13.75 (All NBA Team 2-F)
8.       S. Curry 13.25 (All NBA Team 3-G)
9.       D. Wade 12.75 (All NBA Team 3-G)
10.   B. Griffin 12.75 (All NBA Team 2-F)
11.   B. Lopez 12.25 (All NBA Team 1-C)
12.   M. Gasol 12 (All NBA Team 2-C)
13.   D Williams 12 (All NBA Team 4-G)
14.   T. Parker 11.25 (All NBA Team 4-G)
15.   A. Horford 11 (All NBA Team 3-C)
16.   T. Duncan 10.75 (All NBA Team 3-F)
17.   A. Jefferson 10.25 (All NBA Team 4-C)
18.   C. Bosh 10.25 (All NBA Team 3-F)
19.   D. Howard 10
20.   D. Lee 10 (All NBA Team 4-F)
21.   M. Conley 10
22.   S. Ibaka 9.75
23.   D. West 9.75 (All NBA Team 4-F)
24.   L. Aldridge 9.5
25.   T. Chandler 9.25
26.   P. George 9.25
27.   P. Pierce 9.25
28.   G. Monroe 9
29.   J. Noah 8.75
30.   P. Millsap 8.75
31.   JJ Hickson 8.75
32.   T. Young 8.75
33.   G Hill 8.75
34.   K. Faried 8.5
35.   T. Splitter 8.25
36.   JR Smith 8.25
37.   K. Walker 8
38.   K. Irving 8
39.   N. Pekovic 8
40.   J. Calderon 8
41.   Z. Randolph 7.75
42.   A. Davis 7.75
43.   T. Lawson 7.75
44.   R. Anderson 7.5
45.   K. Garnett 7.25
46.   D. Lillard 7.25
47.   D. Gallinari 7.25
48.   G. Dragic 7.25
49.   D. Cousins 7.25
50.   E. Ilyasova 7.25
51.   N.Vukevic 7.25
52.   R. Lopez 7.25
53.   J. Smith 7
54.   R. Hibbert 7
55.   L. Sanders 7
56.   A.Johnson 6.75
57.   C. Parsons 6.75
58.   B.Jennings 6.75
59.   A.Blatche 6.75
60.   J. Teague 6.75
61.   V. Carter 6.75
62.   N. Batum 6.5
63.   L. Deng 6.5
64.   A. Kirilenko 6.5
65.   K. Martin 6.5
66.   C. Boozer 6.25
67.   J. Wall 6.25
68.   M. Ellis 6.25
69.   J. McGee 6.25
70.   K. Koufos 6.25
71.   D. Jordan 6.25
72.   S. Marion 6.25
73.   N. Robinson 6.25
74.   D. Nowitzki 6
75.   A. Iguodala 6
76.   G. Hayward 6
77.   K. Leonard 6
78.   I. Thomas 6
79.   T. Evans 6
80.   K. Lowry 6
81.   C. Landry 6
82.   J. Crawford 6
83.   J. Butler 6
84.   J. Holliday 5.75
85.   T. Thompson 5.75
86.   G. Vasquez 5.75
87.   D. Collison 5.75
88.   M. Barnes 5.75
89.   A.Drummond 5.5
90.   O. Asik 5.5
91.   J. Lin 5.5
92.   J. Jack 5.5
93.   M. Ginobli 5.25
94.   A. Miller 5.25
95.   K. Korver 5.25
96.   S. Hawes 5.25
97.   B. Wright 5.25
98.   E. Okafor 5
99.   D. Green 5
100.                        J. Johnson 5 

The Occasional Tendown April 14 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Dear Internet...




You know who didn't believe in any of that nonsense?  Roger Ebert.

That's the soft version of that sentence.

You know who understood all of that was nonsense?  Roger Ebert.

That more accurately reflects the evidence.

My facebook feed got hit with the "Siskel and Ebert are in heaven reviewing the new Vince Vaughn movie" posts pretty hard.  I had a hard time looking at them, not just because it was in disagreement with Ebert's understanding of existence, a Christian appropriation of him in death that it could not have accomplished in life (sort of like Mormons baptizing dead Jews), but because I was genuinely embarrassed for the adults expressing this thought.  Roger Ebert isn't really dead - he's on a farm upstate!

I hate thinking about death; hate that the reality of my existence and of the people I love is that it ends, no different than a pig or a chicken.  If there were an escape hatch that I could take to avoid that truth, I'd take it.  I don't know how eager I'd be to bow down to my master and admit I'm nothing and all of those other pretty nakedly obvious methods of social control that facilitate the domination of the many by the few - but if the tradeoff was a bottomless bucket of eternal popcorn, you know, that's a hard deal to turn down.

But its nonsense.  Ebert's dead.  Siskel's dead.  I will be too one day.  Sucks.

Tendown 154 is here. This is Tendown 155.


1. Moyers



The United States collects less in taxes as a share of its economy than all but two other industrialized countries. Only Chile and Mexico collect less. Chile and Mexico. Right now a powerful group of CEO's, multi-millionaires and billionaires are calling on Congress to fix the debt. And their enablers in both parties are glad to oblige. Okay. But why not fix the debt by raising more taxes from those who can afford to pay? Close the loopholes. Shut down the tax havens. Cancel the Mitt Romney Clause Congress enacted, allowing big winners to pay a tax rate far less than their chauffeurs, nannies, and gardeners.
Instead, as we speak, our political class in Washington is attempting to fix the debt by sequestration – Washington doublespeak for bleeding services for veterans and the elderly, the sick and poor, for kids in Head Start.
Marching in lockstep beneath a banner that now stands for “Guardians of Privilege” -- GOP -- Republicans refuse to raise revenues, while Democrats have a president whose new budget contains gimmicks that could lead to cuts in Social Security. Social Security! The one universal safety net -- and a modest one at that – and yet the main source of purchasing power for millions of aging Americans.

2. Economic Inequality Contributing to Gap in Life Expectancy















Remember that the next time you hear about raising the retirement age.

3. We're a Plutocracy.
Rule by the Rich.

The United States today qualifies as a plutocracy – on a number of grounds.  Let’s look at some striking bits of evidence. Gross income redistribution upwards in the hierarchy has been a feature of American society for the past decades. The familiar statistics tell us that nearly 80% of the national wealth generated since 1973 has gone to the upper 2%, 65% to the upper 1 per cent. Estimates as to the rise in real income for salaried workers over the past 40 years range from 20% to 28 %. In that period, real GDP has risen by 110% – it has more than doubled.  To put it somewhat differently, according to the Congressional Budget Office,  the top earning 1 percent of households gained about 8X more than those in the 60 percentile after federal taxes and income transfers over a period between 1979 and 2007; 10X those in lower percentiles.  In short, the overwhelming fraction of all the wealth created over two generations has gone to those at the very top of the income pyramid.  That pattern has been markedly accelerated since the financial crisis hit in 2008. Between 2000 and 1012, the real net worth of 90% of Americans has declined by 25%.

4. CEO Pay

5. Don't Listen to Meryl Streep - Thatcher Was Awful
Trained the Khmer Rouge.  Called Mandela a terrorist.

Margaret Thatcher was a zealot, a friend to the worst mass murderers of the 1980s, a force for antisocial cruelty, and her violent means of ending the great British experiment in social democracy made the country a more brutal, less equal county. One of the most telling, and disturbing, of Thatcher’s catchphrases was “there is no alternative,” which was always invoked specifically to close off the possibility of considering the many extant alternatives to her top-down class warfare. At this point, the alternatives that might’ve produced a more equitable future are indeed long since gone, and the future — for England’s indebted, jobless youth and people the world over ground down by her philosophical comrades — looks about as grim as those horrid 1970s must’ve looked to the people who originally voted Thatcher into office. The world is better off without her, and it would’ve been much better off had she never existed in the first place.

6. Every Drop of Juice.
Your company is squeezing you for all you have.



The relentless drive for efficiency at U.S. companies has created a new harshness in the workplace. In their zeal to make sure that not a minute of time is wasted, companies are imposing rigorous performance quotas, forcing many people to put in extra hours, paid or not. Video cameras and software keep tabs on worker performance, tracking their computer keystrokes and the time spent on each customer service call.
Employers once wanted long-term relationships with their workers. At many companies, that's no longer the case. Businesses are asking employees to work harder without providing the kinds of rewards, financial and psychological, that were once routine. Employers figure that if some people quit, there are plenty of others looking for jobs.
“Wages are stagnant, jobs are less secure, work is more intense — it's a much tougher world,” said Paul Osterman, co-director of the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research. “Employers have become much more aggressive about restructuring work in ways that push for higher levels of productivity.”


7. How Much Did Halliburton Make From the Iraq War?
Try 40 Billion Dollars.

8. The Best News From the First Two Weeks of the Baseball Season


Well, the best news is the Giants are in first place and the Dodgers are going to miss their second best pitcher for the next two months.

But the second best news comes from the broadcast booth.

And the best piece of schadenfreude comes courtesy of anti-PED moralist and libertarian Curt Schilling, who probably should go to jail.

9. I Watch 4 Star Wrestling Matches
8 of them over the past two weeks.

Tanahashi v. Okada 4 1/4 NJPW
Devitt v. Shelley 4 1/4 NJPW
Nakamura v. Smith 4 NJPW
Lethal v. Elgin 4 ROH
Lesnar v. HHH 4 WWE
Undertaker v. Punk 4 WWE
American Wolves v. Fish/O'Reilly 4 ROH
Bret Hart v. Steve Austin, Sept 1996 WWF

And here's Grantland discussing John Cena's "go away" heat.

10. Ebert's Goodbye.
Thanks, Roger.


That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time, if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim



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