Tag: sports

Friday, December 22, 2023

by fasted86

Briefly. (Not really but it’s a long, holiday weekend. Relax!)

I don’t always roll a joint, but when I do it’s my ankle.

Trivia #1: What team currently holds the longest active playoff drought (13 seasons) in all of the NHL, NBA, NFL & MLB?
Trivia #2: What two schools play in the Egg Bowl each season?
Trivia #3: The term “bowl” originated from the Rose Bowl stadium, site of the first postseason college football games. The Rose Bowl Stadium, in turn, takes its name and bowl-shaped design from what other stadium?

Go away: The Los Angeles Dodgers

And tonight thank God it’s them, instead of you.

I don’t know, I like listening to Christmas tunes during the season. Having said that, I’m glad the season is nearing its end as I’ve heard some songs 100 times, it seems. There most annoying? It has to be The Chipmunk Song. Those voices piercing through my head…

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: While consumers can fall victim to a variety of scams, experts say gift card draining was one of the most common scams that affected people’s lives in 2023. What’s worse, just about any gift card is vulnerable. Card draining occurs when a thief tampers with a gift card and “drains” the money before the funds are used by the consumer. AARP reported last year that 23% of U.S. consumers had given or received gift cards that did not have money on them.

On this day: December 22, 1882, the first string of Christmas lights was created by Thomas Edison

The Bruins aren’t as hot as they were at the beginning of the season but they are still second in the NHL in points.

Speaking of hockey, the Celtics are 14-0 at home to start the season, second only to their 1957/1958 season when they started 18-0.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A lawsuit accuses Amazon of enabling a West Virginia man to spy on an underage Brazilian girl with a hidden camera. The device, which resembles a clothes hook, was purchased from Amazon and used to record the girl. The suit alleges that Amazon failed to remove the camera from its platform despite inspecting it three times and knowing the potential harm it could cause.

I don’t know, if they’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer (okay)

The NFL has yet to announce the starting times of games for week 18, the final Sunday of the season. Bastards, with just over two weeks to go. Regardless, according to ESPN, the lowest ticket prices for those games range from $223 for Buffalo at Miami all the way down to $9 for Tampa Bay at Carolina. That’s disgusting.

They said it: “I received my bachelor’s degree in Calcium Anthropology… the study of milkmen.” – Comedian Steven Wright
They said it, part deux: “Well you see, Buddy, your father is on the naughty list” – Santa, to Buddy the elf

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a 25-year-old who has been named the MVP of the Pacific League in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan for three straight years, has agreed to a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yoshinobu’s contract is the largest ever given to a pitcher in the history of baseball, breaking Gerrit Cole’s $324 million pact he signed in 2019. It also shatters the record for the largest deal ever given to a Japanese import by more than double the previous amount – that had belonged to Masahiro Tanaka, who in 2014 signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the New York Yankees. Again, he’s 25 years old.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: American wrestler Hulk Hogan announced that he had been baptized in a special ceremony at the Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida.
Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux: Vanna White has worn more than 7,000 outfits on “Wheel of Fortune”

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas… keep dreaming

Good news: Widely regarded as the breakout year for AI, 2023 ushered in a whole crop of new and improved tech tools, many of which have impacted the health and wellness space. Andre Esteva, CEO and co-founder of ArteraAI, a precision medicine company in California, described cancer research as “fertile ground for AI.” “We’re using it to find hidden patterns in data, personalize treatment decision-making and help predict treatment benefit,” he said. AI is helping to speed up clinical trials and opening doors to new possibilities in health. “Imagine AI designing cancer treatments tailored to your unique genome — the possibilities are limitless.”

Sort of good news: The national average price of gas has declined 13 straight weeks, falling to its lowest level since 2021. (It’s still too high)

Article I’ll skip: Bill Belichick among coaches on hot seat as NFL season nears end
Another article I’ll skip: Santa Claus falls on Madonna back-up dancer during lap dance attempt gone wrong

The days get longer starting today. See, it wasn’t that bad!

Trivia #1 answer: What team currently holds the longest active playoff drought (13 seasons) in all of the NHL, NBA, NFL & MLB? – The New York Jets
Trivia #2 answer: What two schools play in the Egg Bowl each season? – Mississippi State and Ole Miss
Trivia #3 answer: The term “bowl” originated from the Rose Bowl stadium, site of the first postseason college football games. The Rose Bowl Stadium, in turn, takes its name and bowl-shaped design from what stadium? – The Yale Bowl

You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf, but have you ever heard of return your f*n shopping cart to the goddamn stall, you inconsiderate piece of shit?

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Forefather’s Day!

And have a Merry Christmas, however you choose to celebrate. ‘Tis the season, spread some cheer.

“Said Santa to a boy child, ‘What have you been longin’ for?’
‘All I want for Christmas is a rock ‘n’ roll ‘lectric guitar’
And then away went Rudolph whizzin’ like a shootin’ star”

(Sorry, but there wasn’t a Chuck Berry video-version out there worthy of posting)

Christmas bonus!

“They’re singing Deck The Halls
But it’s not like Christmas at all
‘Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year”

– Darlene Love (Baby Please Come Home)

Friday, December 15, 2023

by fasted86

Briefly.

That fact that my entire body cracks like a glowstick whenever I move yet refuses to glow, is very disappointing.

Trivia #1: Mosi Tatupu played for the New England Patriots from 1978-1990. He played for another team in 1991. What was that team?
Trivia #2: On December 15, 1791, the first US law school was established at what university? – Pennsylvania, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Lowell
Trivia #3: B.B. King. What does “B.B.” stand for?
Trivia #4: What is Howard University’s nickname?

Go away: Patrick Mahomes (Draymond Green with a close second)

DYK: Mosi Tatupu was posthumously diagnosed with CTE. He died of a heart attack at age 54. Bonus trivia: In a 2023 report, how many NFL players were diagnosed with CTE amongst the 376 who had their brains scanned? – 100-125, 126-150, 151-200, 201- 250, 251-300, 301-350

There’s still time to change the road you’re on.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A history teacher at a Seattle high school allegedly gave a student a failing quiz grade after he answered that only women can get pregnant and only men can have penises.

Fun fact: The world population is approximately 8,030,610,062. The number of people born to women is 8,030,610,062. The number of people born to men is zero. Look it up.

On this day: December 15, 1810, the first Irish magazine “Shamrock” was published in the US.
December 15, 2006, American blues legend B.B. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush

They said it: “It’s tough to swallow. Not only from me, and football in general, to take away greatness like that, for a guy like Travis to make a play like that, you want to see the guys on the field decide the game.” – Patrick Mahomes. Wah-wah-wah

Really? Colorado attorneys for two men accused of stealing items from Kohl’s, including KitchenAid appliances, argued for lesser charges during the trial because some items their clients stole were on sale.

Shohei Ohtani signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700M over 10 years. Reportedly, he deferred all but $2M annually until his contract ends. He will then receive the remaining $68M annually, paid WITHOUT interest, until 2043. So… beginning in 2034, he will collect approximately $1,863 per day for doing nothing, assuming he’s not playing in 10 years. Not a bad gig, if you can get it.

DYK: On December 15, 1980, the Yankees’ Dave Winfield became the highest paid baseball player, 10 years $15M.

I think I like the NFL more than the NBA is because the helmets cover up most hairdos.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Last night the Las Vegas Raiders scored 42 1st half points, the most in history for a team that was shutout the previous week. (They had the record at 35 and then chocked up another TD)

Good news: Bestselling author James Patterson has awarded $500 bonuses to 600 employees at independent bookstores across the United States. The employees were nominated by their store owners, managers, peers, community members and others for the holiday awards. “Booksellers save lives,” Patterson said in a statement. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season.

Article I’ll skip: Prince William’s romance with Kate Middleton faces renewed scrutiny

I went shopping for a pair of jeans the other day. My choices: Regular, straight, relaxed, relaxed straight, slim fit, classic fit, athletic, stretch. Look, I just want a pair of freakin’ jeans!

R.I.P. George McGinnis (73) – Played basketball in the ABA/NBA from 1971-1982. His accolades are numerous, I’ll skip the 2nd/3rd team honors here. 1969 – Indiana Mr. Basketball, first team Parade All-American, 2x ABA champion, 1973 ABA Playoffs MVP, 1975 ABA scoring champion & MVP, 3x ABA All-Star, ABA All-Time Team, 3x NBA All-Star, 1976 All-NBA First Team, No. 30 retired by the Indiana Pacers

Trivia #1 answer: Mosi Tatupu played for the New England Patriots from 1978-1990. He played for another team in 1991. What was that team? – The Los Angeles Rams
Trivia #2 answer: On December 15, 1791, the first US law school was established at what university? – Pennsylvania, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Lowell – The University of Pennsylvania
Trivia #3 answer: B.B. King. What does “B.B.” stand for? – Blues Boy – As a singer and disc jockey in Memphis, he was given the nickname “Beale Street Blues Buy”, later shortened to “Blues Boy” and finally to B.B. (If you were paying attention, I asked this same question on September 25, 2020)
Trivia #4 answer: What is Howard University’s nickname? – The Bison

Bonus trivia question: In a 2023 report, how many NFL players were diagnosed with CTE amongst the 376 who had their brains scanned? – 100-125, 126-150, 151-200, 201- 250, 251-300, 301-350 – There were 345 players diagnosed with CTE. Similarly, (shockingly) in a 2018 BU general population study, one person was diagnosed with CTE in 164 autopsies.

If alcohol can damage your short term memory, imagine the damage alcohol can do.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Underdog Day!

“Everybody wants to know why I sing the blues
Yes, I say everybody wanna know why I sing the blues
Well, I’ve been around a long time
I really have paid my dues”

– B.B. King (Why I Sing The Blues)