Sports discussion
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Mayo Master
Pro Adventurer
I began to play seriously at university level (even played for Strathclyde University, in Glasgow), and then in the team of Quebec City when I lived there. I'm "retired" since then: playing rugby is very demanding, and I didn't feel like devoting that much time and effort to a single activity anymore.
I pretty much played anywhere in the back line (only once or twice as fly-half to help out, but I'm not really suited for it) from 11 to 15. I preferred playing as winger or full-back rather than centre though.
Mayo Master
Pro Adventurer
So... well, not very happy about the defeat of France, the whole game got me really frustrated. Credit to Scotland for having handled their game very well, and for scoring some good tries. As for us, France made too many silly mistakes (not to mention penalties and conversions being squandered - I could have passed some of these kicks for crying out loud) and made poor decisions, which is pretty disappointing because it was definitely a game within their reach.
Personally very unhappy with the refereeing around the scrums. Not one scrum ended up being decent, and the amount of time wasted in scrum resets was just absurd. I would believe - although I might be biased - that the Scots were messing them up, but since they were never taken at fault and it provided them the opportunity to waste time while they were in front, so they had zero incentive to make scrums cleaner. What frustrates me more is the odd sensation that more than half of the game was spent doing resets, with little time given to actual play.
Anyway, not really sure what would need to be done about this. I think they should just stop the watch between resets because it's really lame.
Personally very unhappy with the refereeing around the scrums. Not one scrum ended up being decent, and the amount of time wasted in scrum resets was just absurd. I would believe - although I might be biased - that the Scots were messing them up, but since they were never taken at fault and it provided them the opportunity to waste time while they were in front, so they had zero incentive to make scrums cleaner. What frustrates me more is the odd sensation that more than half of the game was spent doing resets, with little time given to actual play.
Anyway, not really sure what would need to be done about this. I think they should just stop the watch between resets because it's really lame.
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
I think the scrum laws need wholesale change. They're a joke at the moment. I understand what World Rugby (formerly the International Rugby Board) were going for by separating the various stages of engagement, but it hasn't worked. Scrums are no longer a contest for the ball; after all the resets, they always end up with penalties or easy possession for the side with the put-in.
I was only half-watching the game today because I was recording a TLS podcast at the same time, so I don't have much to say about it. Pleased to be right with my prediction though. (Sorry!)
I was only half-watching the game today because I was recording a TLS podcast at the same time, so I don't have much to say about it. Pleased to be right with my prediction though. (Sorry!)
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
Well...the Denver Broncos, the reigning Super Bowl Champions, are fucked. Their quarterback situation went from Mile High to rock bottom in an instant. Obviously, there was that Peyton Manning retirement thing. Brock Osweiler ends up signing with the Houston Texans, and now they end up trading for...wait for it...Mark Sanchez from the Philadelphia Eagles. This is the same Mark Sanchez who regressed dramatically with the New York Jets after initially leading them to 2 straight AFC Championship Games, and in 2014, singlehandedly gave the NFC East division title to the Dallas Cowboys on a silver platter.
Mayo Master
Pro Adventurer
Holy crap, just watched the second half of Wales Italy (67-14), what a thrashing!
The Welsh had opened the floodgates, they were pretty much scoring whenever they wanted. The Italian side was a sad thing to watch, as if they were back to their pre - year 2000 level, with crappy defence and squandering outnumbering opportunities with silly mistakes. It just looked too easy for the Welsh.
The Welsh had opened the floodgates, they were pretty much scoring whenever they wanted. The Italian side was a sad thing to watch, as if they were back to their pre - year 2000 level, with crappy defence and squandering outnumbering opportunities with silly mistakes. It just looked too easy for the Welsh.
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
It sure did. The last Welsh try was a bit harsh on the Italians, though; they thought they had scored a try themselves, only for the referee to call a penalty for offside, which Wales took quickly and got over the line. I guess you could say you always have to be paying 100% attention in international games but I had sympathy for them.
The France-England game was probably the least interesting of the three today. Too many mistakes from both teams. Still, a Grand Slam, I can't complain too much.
The France-England game was probably the least interesting of the three today. Too many mistakes from both teams. Still, a Grand Slam, I can't complain too much.
Mayo Master
Pro Adventurer
Yeah, I think you can celebrate! I think we managed to get England penalized around the contests in the ruck (England conceded many penalties for not releasing), and overall I think you mostly made the difference by obliterating our lineouts. If we had managed to keep 5-6 throws you stole, the game would have looked different.
Congrats to you, for us it's painful to end at the 5th place in the tournament because I think we're not that bad. The problem will be dealing with impatience from the media and "supporters".
EDIT: And Ireland vs Scotland was a really good game, indeed.
Congrats to you, for us it's painful to end at the 5th place in the tournament because I think we're not that bad. The problem will be dealing with impatience from the media and "supporters".
EDIT: And Ireland vs Scotland was a really good game, indeed.
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
Yeah, England's line-outs were excellent this year. In Maro Itoje and George Kruis, we've got a pair of second-rows who should be playing together for a long time. They were amongst the stand-out players of the tournament. Billy Vunipola and Anthony Watson were also excellent.
France definitely have the potential to improve. Their backs were arguably better than England's today, so it's surprising they didn't manage to score a try. Machenaud's kicking was impeccable, though. I can see why Novés wants the team to focus on playing through their backs. France finished fifth but it was very close between Scotland, Ireland and themselves, so I wouldn't be too downbeat. Thanks for the congratulations and see you next year at Twickenham.
France definitely have the potential to improve. Their backs were arguably better than England's today, so it's surprising they didn't manage to score a try. Machenaud's kicking was impeccable, though. I can see why Novés wants the team to focus on playing through their backs. France finished fifth but it was very close between Scotland, Ireland and themselves, so I wouldn't be too downbeat. Thanks for the congratulations and see you next year at Twickenham.
Carlie
CltrAltDelicious
- AKA
- Chloe Frazer
Baseball news: The Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National team have just finished playing a game in Havana. This hasn't happened since the Cuban Revolution. Obama is also there and there hadn't been a president in Cuba since 1928.
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
I had a brain fart and forgot to report this one.
Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia has made baseball history, but in a BAD way. He became the first player ever banned from Baseball for life for PEDs. Since 2006, the consequences for a third positive test for PEDs has been a Lifetime Ban. Jenrry Mejia is one of only 2 living people currently on MLB's Permanently Ineligible List, the other being none other than Pete Rose, the former Cincinnati Reds legend who was banned in 1989 by then Commissioner A. Bart Giamatti amidst allegations of betting on Baseball while he was Manager of the Reds (allegations that have since been proven true by Rose's own admission 15 years later). Rose was repeatedly denied reinstatement by both current Commissioner Rob Manfred and his predecessor Bud Selig, and his Hall of Fame candidacy remains a major controversy among Baseball fans even to this day (despite not being eligible for Cooperstown due to his Lifetime Ban from Baseball, Pete Rose is nonetheless is two other Halls of Fame; the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, and the WWE Hall of Fame in the Celebrity Wing).
Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia has made baseball history, but in a BAD way. He became the first player ever banned from Baseball for life for PEDs. Since 2006, the consequences for a third positive test for PEDs has been a Lifetime Ban. Jenrry Mejia is one of only 2 living people currently on MLB's Permanently Ineligible List, the other being none other than Pete Rose, the former Cincinnati Reds legend who was banned in 1989 by then Commissioner A. Bart Giamatti amidst allegations of betting on Baseball while he was Manager of the Reds (allegations that have since been proven true by Rose's own admission 15 years later). Rose was repeatedly denied reinstatement by both current Commissioner Rob Manfred and his predecessor Bud Selig, and his Hall of Fame candidacy remains a major controversy among Baseball fans even to this day (despite not being eligible for Cooperstown due to his Lifetime Ban from Baseball, Pete Rose is nonetheless is two other Halls of Fame; the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, and the WWE Hall of Fame in the Celebrity Wing).
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
I should be asleep but I've just seen the most amazing turnaround in the final few holes of the Masters tournament (golf), which has produced the first British winner since 1996 in Danny Willett. Jordan Spieth was five shots clear at one point and looked all but certain to defend his title before dropping six shots in three holes. It's a great story and I had to write something about it even though I don't think anyone else here cares. 
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
History has been made in the NBA today on the final day of the regular season.
First of all, the Golden State Warriors won their 73rd game of the season, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking the record set by the Chicago Bulls during the 95-96 season. Of particular note is the fact that Steve Kerr was directly involved in both records; as a point guard coming off the bench for the Bulls, and as the head coach of the Warriors. This game did have playoff implications, as it dropped Memphis to the 7th seed, which means Memphis will be playing the 2nd seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
Also, Kobe Bryant has scored 60 points in the final game of his NBA career, which I believe is a record for a player in his final career game. Among the first players to enter the league straight out of High School (now illegal under the current CBA), Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft (a draft which yielded one of the greatest draft classes of all time) and was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. In the 20 years since, Kobe has won 5 NBA Championships, 2 scoring titles, the 2008 MVP, Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010, and 2 Olympic gold medals (2008 and 2012). His career high was 81 points on January 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors...that is the second highest single game scoring total by a single player in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game (also of note is the fact that this happened on the same day as the AFC and NFC Championship Games, effectively upstaging the two games that determine who goes to the Super Bowl). He finishes his career with 33,643 points, the third most in NBA history, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, and is the all-time leading scorer of the Lakers franchise. He spent his entire career with the Lakers. Kobe's final game would have had playoff implications had the Houston Rockets lost to the Sacramento Kings, but since Houston won, the Utah Jazz were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
The NBA Playoffs start this weekend. Schedules are TBA, but here are the matchups for the 1st round.
Eastern Conference:
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Detroit Pistons
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs (5) Boston Celtics
(2) Toronto Raptors vs (7) Indiana Pacers
(3) Miami Heat vs (6) Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference:
(1) Golden State Warriors vs (8) Houston Rockets
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs (5) Portland Trail Blazers
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (7) Memphis Grizzlies
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (6) Dallas Mavericks
First of all, the Golden State Warriors won their 73rd game of the season, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking the record set by the Chicago Bulls during the 95-96 season. Of particular note is the fact that Steve Kerr was directly involved in both records; as a point guard coming off the bench for the Bulls, and as the head coach of the Warriors. This game did have playoff implications, as it dropped Memphis to the 7th seed, which means Memphis will be playing the 2nd seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
Also, Kobe Bryant has scored 60 points in the final game of his NBA career, which I believe is a record for a player in his final career game. Among the first players to enter the league straight out of High School (now illegal under the current CBA), Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft (a draft which yielded one of the greatest draft classes of all time) and was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. In the 20 years since, Kobe has won 5 NBA Championships, 2 scoring titles, the 2008 MVP, Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010, and 2 Olympic gold medals (2008 and 2012). His career high was 81 points on January 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors...that is the second highest single game scoring total by a single player in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game (also of note is the fact that this happened on the same day as the AFC and NFC Championship Games, effectively upstaging the two games that determine who goes to the Super Bowl). He finishes his career with 33,643 points, the third most in NBA history, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, and is the all-time leading scorer of the Lakers franchise. He spent his entire career with the Lakers. Kobe's final game would have had playoff implications had the Houston Rockets lost to the Sacramento Kings, but since Houston won, the Utah Jazz were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
The NBA Playoffs start this weekend. Schedules are TBA, but here are the matchups for the 1st round.
Eastern Conference:
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Detroit Pistons
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs (5) Boston Celtics
(2) Toronto Raptors vs (7) Indiana Pacers
(3) Miami Heat vs (6) Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference:
(1) Golden State Warriors vs (8) Houston Rockets
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs (5) Portland Trail Blazers
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (7) Memphis Grizzlies
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (6) Dallas Mavericks
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Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
Amazing by the Warriors. I've heard some people say that they're boring but I think they're really good fun to watch. Despite the headline numbers put up by Curry and Green every night, the team also records 30+ assists on a regular basis. That play fast, unselfish, technically excellent basketball and I'd say that only the Spurs have a chance of stopping them from clinching back-to-back championships. And even then, it's quite a small chance.
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
The Los Angeles Rams, who just returned to LA after 22 years in St. Louis, have just traded to the top of the NFL Draft from 15th overall. The Rams will also receive 4th and 6th round picks from the Tennessee Titans. The Titans will receive the following in return.
First round pick this year (15th overall)
2 second round picks this year (43rd and 45th overall)
3rd round pick this year (76th overall)
First and 3rd round picks next year (both picks TBD based on next year's records)
This is the first time the 1st overall pick has been traded since 2004, when the San Diego Chargers drafted Eli Manning (who demanded to be traded if he was drafted by that particular team), and then traded his rights to the New York Giants in exchange for, among other draft picks, the rights to Philip Rivers. The last time the top pick was traded before the draft was 2001, when the Chargers traded the pick to the Atlanta Falcons; the Falcons drafted Michael Vick, while the Chargers drafted LaDainian Tomlinson. The last time the Rams held the top pick was in 2010 when they drafted Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford out of OU. The last time the Rams traded for the top pick was in 1997, when they used it on offensive tackle Orlando Pace. The last time the Titans held the top pick was in 1978 (back when they were known as the Houston Oilers), and used the pick on the then-reigning Heisman Trophy winner, running back Earl Campbell.
The NFL Draft is on April 28th (1st round), 29th (2nd and 3rd rounds), and 30th (4th-7th rounds) on ESPN and NFL Network.
First round pick this year (15th overall)
2 second round picks this year (43rd and 45th overall)
3rd round pick this year (76th overall)
First and 3rd round picks next year (both picks TBD based on next year's records)
This is the first time the 1st overall pick has been traded since 2004, when the San Diego Chargers drafted Eli Manning (who demanded to be traded if he was drafted by that particular team), and then traded his rights to the New York Giants in exchange for, among other draft picks, the rights to Philip Rivers. The last time the top pick was traded before the draft was 2001, when the Chargers traded the pick to the Atlanta Falcons; the Falcons drafted Michael Vick, while the Chargers drafted LaDainian Tomlinson. The last time the Rams held the top pick was in 2010 when they drafted Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford out of OU. The last time the Rams traded for the top pick was in 1997, when they used it on offensive tackle Orlando Pace. The last time the Titans held the top pick was in 1978 (back when they were known as the Houston Oilers), and used the pick on the then-reigning Heisman Trophy winner, running back Earl Campbell.
The NFL Draft is on April 28th (1st round), 29th (2nd and 3rd rounds), and 30th (4th-7th rounds) on ESPN and NFL Network.
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Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
And for all you fight fans out there, big news today out of New York. Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York, has signed a bill into law that lifted the state's ban on MMA. UFC wasted no time booking UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden, scheduled for November 12th. I'd like to know why the hell New York kept their MMA ban for this long, even after UFC rose to the same level of prominence as boxing, and the fact that New York City's very own MSG was once the Mecca of Boxing (before promoters moved their biggest fights to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas) makes the state's MMA ban even more fucked up than it already was. And they were the last state to have an MMA ban on the books, too.
Mayo Master
Pro Adventurer
Just watched the final of the rugby European Champions Cup... logical win of the Saracens in a game that was for the forwards. Itoje was man of the match for me (EDIT - well, I wasn't the only one to think that since he actually ended up being elected "man of the match").
Overall, though, I found that game quite insipid. Flint, if you haven't watched it, I don't think you've missed out.
Overall, though, I found that game quite insipid. Flint, if you haven't watched it, I don't think you've missed out.
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Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
Well...I hope the Philadelphia 76ers are happy with the manner in which they destroyed the integrity of the game. They have spent damn near the last 3 or 4 seasons "tanking", a slang term for intentionally constructing a team set up for losing a LOT of games, in this case, in hopes of obtaining a higher draft pick and being able to select the best available prospect coming out of college, but let's call a spade a spade here; what Philly was doing wasn't a "shrewd strategy to get better in the long run". They were actually throwing games. They were cheating to lose by intentionally building a roster of talent-deficient basketball players and spending high draft choices on players with injuries severe enough to sideline them for the entire year (Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid come to mind), and this bullshit all started when the Sixers traded their then-star player Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets in a 4-team trade that gave them Andrew Bynum from the Lakers (and Bynum didn't play a damn game for Philly due to injury); this trade was most notable for the Orlando Magic sending Dwight Howard to the Lakers, and Iguodala has since won a Finals MVP trophy. Luckily, the NBA has a procedure in place supposedly to discourage this type of behavior known as the Draft Lottery.
Well...it appears that Philly's bullshit cheating is only going to encourage it even further, because they have won the Draft Lottery, and with it, the 1st pick in the draft. In fact, there was absolutely no change in the projected draft order as a result of this particular Lottery for the first time I can remember (only the 1st 3 picks are up for grabs). The most notable consequence of this is the fact that the Lakers get to keep their 1st round pick this year, as it was top 3 protected (they're picking 2nd).
And shame on the Brooklyn Nets. In an obvious attempt to gain short-term playoff contention and steal the spotlight from the crosstown New York Knicks in the local press (especially after having recently relocated to Brooklyn from East Rutherford, NJ, and bringing a major sports franchise there for the first time since the Dodgers left for LA, I might add), the then-contending Nets traded a future 1st round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, both of whom were instrumental in the Celtics winning the 2008 NBA title. Well, thanks to that very trade, the Celtics are picking 3rd overall this year, and Boston was in the playoffs this year (it's worth pointing out that 3rd overall is the same draft position that once yielded a player widely regarded as the best basketball player of all time, by the name of Michael Jordan).
The last time Philly held the top pick was exactly 20 years ago, when they began the legendary Draft Class of 1996 by selecting Allen Iverson (who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year)
Well...it appears that Philly's bullshit cheating is only going to encourage it even further, because they have won the Draft Lottery, and with it, the 1st pick in the draft. In fact, there was absolutely no change in the projected draft order as a result of this particular Lottery for the first time I can remember (only the 1st 3 picks are up for grabs). The most notable consequence of this is the fact that the Lakers get to keep their 1st round pick this year, as it was top 3 protected (they're picking 2nd).
And shame on the Brooklyn Nets. In an obvious attempt to gain short-term playoff contention and steal the spotlight from the crosstown New York Knicks in the local press (especially after having recently relocated to Brooklyn from East Rutherford, NJ, and bringing a major sports franchise there for the first time since the Dodgers left for LA, I might add), the then-contending Nets traded a future 1st round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, both of whom were instrumental in the Celtics winning the 2008 NBA title. Well, thanks to that very trade, the Celtics are picking 3rd overall this year, and Boston was in the playoffs this year (it's worth pointing out that 3rd overall is the same draft position that once yielded a player widely regarded as the best basketball player of all time, by the name of Michael Jordan).
The last time Philly held the top pick was exactly 20 years ago, when they began the legendary Draft Class of 1996 by selecting Allen Iverson (who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year)
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
As much as I'm disgruntled with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with the manner in which he's been handling the league as of late (such as junk rules changes, abusive suspension practices, bait-and-switching the 2010 Uncapped Year that resulted in the Cowboys and Redskins being stripped of Salary Cap space, and even the mishandling of Domestic Violence cases as recently as 2 years ago), Twitter hackers have crossed the line today.
The NFL's official Twitter page was hacked, and the douchebags responsible wasted no time reporting the Commissioner's death. Needless to say, this was a tasteless hoax.
The NFL's official Twitter page was hacked, and the douchebags responsible wasted no time reporting the Commissioner's death. Needless to say, this was a tasteless hoax.
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
Kind of a sad day for me as a Spurs fan. San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan has announced his retirement.
Drafted by the Spurs with the 1st overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest University, Tim Duncan has spent his entire 19 year career with the Spurs (only John Stockton and Kobe Bryant have played that long a career for only a single team). He is 14th on the NBA's all time scoring list and the Spurs all time leading scorer. He won Rookie of the Year in 1998, NBA MVP in 2002 and 2003 and NBA Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005, and is a 5 time NBA Champion, but his impact on the Spurs organization is what's most impressive. Before drafting Duncan, the Spurs were a fairly decent franchise. From the franchise's entry to the NBA in 1976 to 1997, the Spurs only missed the playoffs 4 times (which remains an all-time NBA record low to this day), but never reached the NBA Finals. Since Duncan was drafted, the Spurs have never had a win percentage below .600, only won fewer than 50 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season that abbreviated the season to exactly that number of games (though their win percentage that year suggests they easily could have had that been a full season), have not missed the playoffs, and have won 5 NBA Championships with 6 trips to the Finals (a Ray Allen 3 point shot at the end of regulation of Game 6 of the 2013 Finals kept the Spurs from winning a 6th title). It is a mere formality for the Spurs to retire Duncan's number (21), most likely on the team's home opener next season, and Duncan is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021 (like Kobe Bryant, who is also eligible that year, Duncan is a lock to be inducted in his first year of eligibility).
Drafted by the Spurs with the 1st overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest University, Tim Duncan has spent his entire 19 year career with the Spurs (only John Stockton and Kobe Bryant have played that long a career for only a single team). He is 14th on the NBA's all time scoring list and the Spurs all time leading scorer. He won Rookie of the Year in 1998, NBA MVP in 2002 and 2003 and NBA Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005, and is a 5 time NBA Champion, but his impact on the Spurs organization is what's most impressive. Before drafting Duncan, the Spurs were a fairly decent franchise. From the franchise's entry to the NBA in 1976 to 1997, the Spurs only missed the playoffs 4 times (which remains an all-time NBA record low to this day), but never reached the NBA Finals. Since Duncan was drafted, the Spurs have never had a win percentage below .600, only won fewer than 50 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season that abbreviated the season to exactly that number of games (though their win percentage that year suggests they easily could have had that been a full season), have not missed the playoffs, and have won 5 NBA Championships with 6 trips to the Finals (a Ray Allen 3 point shot at the end of regulation of Game 6 of the 2013 Finals kept the Spurs from winning a 6th title). It is a mere formality for the Spurs to retire Duncan's number (21), most likely on the team's home opener next season, and Duncan is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021 (like Kobe Bryant, who is also eligible that year, Duncan is a lock to be inducted in his first year of eligibility).
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
Russia is fucked. The country participated in state-sponsored doping during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi (of which they were the host country), according to a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA is even going as far as recommending that Russia be completely banned from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
We haven't seen state-sponsored doping in the Olympics since Cold War-era East Germany.
We haven't seen state-sponsored doping in the Olympics since Cold War-era East Germany.
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ForceStealer
Double Growth
Ironically, this will result in Russia having the only healthy Olympians left in the world. Brilliant, really.
Nanaki Skywalker
Kate Lord of the Sith
- AKA
- Tarkatan Trash
Holy shit, ESPN is reporting on television that it's worse than I thought. Russia's been doing this since the 2010 Winter Olympics. That means THREE Olympics were affected by this, not just the Sochi games.
Ghost X
Moderator
Australian cricket is at its worst in quite a long time. Some person of importance (
) said that we're lucky to be in the top 10. Former Australian captain believes the reason is a brain drain, as retired stars aren't continuing to work for the team in coaching roles, rather selecting lucrative jobs in the media. More evidence that profit-driven cultures are destroying the world . My dad reckons it is because of the 20/20 games, and how batsman are not learning strategies for the longer test games.
) said that we're lucky to be in the top 10. Former Australian captain believes the reason is a brain drain, as retired stars aren't continuing to work for the team in coaching roles, rather selecting lucrative jobs in the media. More evidence that profit-driven cultures are destroying the world . My dad reckons it is because of the 20/20 games, and how batsman are not learning strategies for the longer test games.