The Sports Random Thought Thread

[Burning Paradigm]

This year is going to be a big one for Lamar Jackson in terms of expectations. The division around him is only going to get better with the emergence of The Browns last year, plus a healthy Joe Burrow in Cincinnati with some good drafted additions.

Moving to Maryland, I'm gonna try and get tickets to at least one game, and I hope it's the Ravens-Browns game, but I'd settle for any of the division rival games. I still rank the NFC West as the most competitive division, but the AFC North is right there, followed by the AFC East.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

Not the biggest Giannis fan, but respect to him for expanding his game and earning this championship. His backstop makes it all the more impressive and inspiring.

 

[Stigmata]

Not the biggest Giannis fan, but respect to him for expanding his game and earning this championship. His backstop makes it all the more impressive and inspiring.

Moreso than Giannis, it is a major victory for small market teams in the superteam era. I've stated my opinions on the current state of the NBA many times -- no need to elaborate on that anymore. Just glad to see him and the few guys that have been with him over the past few seasons finally win one.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

Moreso than Giannis, it is a major victory for small market teams in the superteam era. I've stated my opinions on the current state of the NBA many times -- no need to elaborate on that anymore. Just glad to see him and the few guys that have been with him over the past few seasons finally win one.

I can't tell you how annoyed I was at all the clickbait "Giannis to the Lakers? Giannis to the Heat?" stories from ESPN the last two years.

 

[Stigmata]

I can't tell you how annoyed I was at all the clickbait "Giannis to the Lakers? Giannis to the Heat?" stories from ESPN the last two years.

Yeah you're seeing it already this year with Damian Lillard. If the NBA doesn't do something about it, I imagine the ratings will continue to slip year-over-year. The NBA has placed too much marketing emphasis around the players versus the teams/established rivalries. Why should that 8 year old kid in Oregon bother becoming a fan if his local team if the narrative surrounding their recently drafted emerging superstar player is where he'll go whenever his free agency arrives, if he can't force a trade in the meantime? At least Milwaukee's championship has value to its fans and players, who have overcome adversity after having failed to reach the top over the last few seasons.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

Yeah you're seeing it already this year with Damian Lillard. If the NBA doesn't do something about it, I imagine the ratings will continue to slip year-over-year. The NBA has placed too much marketing emphasis around the players versus the teams/established rivalries. Why should that 8 year old kid in Oregon bother becoming a fan if his local team if the narrative surrounding their recently drafted emerging superstar player is where he'll go whenever his free agency arrives, if he can't force a trade in the meantime? At least Milwaukee's championship has value to its fans and players, who have overcome adversity after having failed to reach the top over the last few seasons.

Yeah, I understand Dame wanting out of Portland (I think they've plateaued and he's done everything he can for them), but it would be an absolute travesty for the league and competitive parity if he were to join the Lakers, which is a very real possibility. I don't mind players wanting to go to large markets, tbh (for instance, if Portland somehow pulled off a Simmons + role player and picks-Lillard trade with Philly, that would be something to see because it would mainly be Embiid + Lillard with robust role players as opposed to the Nets super-trio). But, it still proves an uphill battle for smaller markets to develop and retain a consistent fanbase if they've got nothing to look forward to or if their stars are just gonna leave for California in free agency because they hit a competitive plateau. It's one of the reasons I've gotten a little worn out from the NBA the last few seasons, though basketball is still my favorite sport. Now, to be fair, the Bucks did add Jrue Holiday to get them over the top, but it can't be compared to other superteams simply because they won primarily through two home-grown stars in Giannis and Khris Middleton makes it more special for them.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

"I told shawty go slow, we don't need a fast tempo.
She say, baby run and dunk me, Antetokounmpo."
- Drake in a few days, probably

 

[Burning Paradigm]

 

[Tomb1]

Josh Allen played like a champ yesterday and Sanders, Allen, Beasley, Davis showed up for a well-rounded offense

I said last year that Trevor Lawrence was overrated, and that Justin Fields will make a better NFL QB. Thus far, pre-season ain't let me down

and now the excuses have already started (they could have at least waited until the regular season):

Expectations Must Be Lowered for No. 1 Overall Pick Trevor Lawrence in 2021 | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

 

[ceecee]

Sources - New England Patriots cut Cam Newton; Mac Jones to start

 

[Stigmata]

Sources - New England Patriots cut Cam Newton; Mac Jones to start

Heard this like all of 30 seconds. Still completely shocked. Racist Boston sports fans rejoice in the streets.

 

[ceecee]

Heard this like all of 30 seconds. Still completely shocked. Racist Boston sports fans rejoice in the streets.

Seems like the more prudent thing would be to make Cam the backup (if you're starting your rookie QB you have no idea about and then Brian Hoyer and does anyone really think that's a better option) but that wouldn't appease the worst fans in the US, now would it?

Incidentally, I had to explain Barstool Sports to my mom (due to the MLB negotiations) the other day. I must have said - You can Google that if you don't believe me - about 10x.

 

[Stigmata]

Josh Allen played like a champ yesterday and Sanders, Allen, Beasley, Davis showed up for a well-rounded offense

I said last year that Trevor Lawrence was overrated, and that Justin Fields will make a better NFL QB. Thus far, pre-season ain't let me down

and now the excuses have already started (they could have at least waited until the regular season):

Expectations Must Be Lowered for No. 1 Overall Pick Trevor Lawrence in 2021 | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

I think Trevor Lawrence will be a Pro Bowl NFL Quarterback if Jacksonville can get him some protection and some quality skill position players. I see flashes of potential greatness, but I don't think Urban Meyer will ultimately be the guy to turn that franchise around (I give it a season and a half before he is dry heaving on the sidelines while being blown out by the Raiders before promptly retiring the next day due to "health concerns".

the AFC East will end up being the best division in the conference before too long -- Mac and Cheese is going to be a stud and couldn't have possibly been drafted to a better spot than New England. He fits their offense and their team's identity perfectly. I'm not ready to crown Josh Allen yet -- I wanna see if this last year was an anomaly or if he really is that same guy on a consistent basis. Zac Wilson looks like he's going to be really good, as well as the Jets seem to finally be trending in the right direction in terms of coaching staff and front office.

The AFC in its entirety is just absolutely stacked: Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, the corpse of Big Ben, Mac Jones, Zac Wilson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, allin the same conference. Meanwhile the NFC is no man's land with the exception of a few aging, albeit superstar(s), quarterbacks.

 

[Stigmata]

Seems like the more prudent thing would be to make Cam the backup (if you're starting your rookie QB you have no idea about and then Brian Hoyer and does anyone really think that's a better option) but that wouldn't appease the worst fans in the US, now would it?

I'm over my initial shock and fanboy temper tantrum after hearing the news. Honestly, I think Cam not being vaccinated really hurt his stock with the team, coupled with the fact that he wasn't leaps and bounds better than Mac Jones (it was neck and neck, if I was to assess their QB competition while being generous to Cam), so why take a chance on an unvaccinated player not only potentially missing gametime due to getting covid himself, but also putting his teammates at risk of missing time as well if they were in close proximity to him. From a team's perspective, if you've got two equally skilled players and one is vaccinated and the other isn't, it just doesn't make sense to take the risk. That, coupled with the fact that Cam was the starter last year and his personality is too big to really allow Mac to be the unquestioned starter in the locker room, especially if the kid gets off to a rocky start.

The best thing Cam did was be a great teammate, help build up the kid's confidence, and take some of the pressure off Mac coming in to be the guy that has to follow Brady.

 

[ceecee]

I'm over my initial shock and fanboy temper tantrum after hearing the news. Honestly, I think Cam not being vaccinated really hurt his stock with the team, coupled with the fact that he wasn't leaps and bounds better than Mac Jones (it was neck and neck, if I was to assess their QB competition while being generous to Cam), so why take a chance on an unvaccinated player not only potentially missing gametime due to getting covid himself, but also putting his teammates at risk of missing time as well if they were in close proximity to him. From a team's perspective, if you've got two equally skilled players and one is vaccinated and the other isn't, it just doesn't make sense to take the risk. That, coupled with the fact that Cam was the starter last year and his personality is too big to really allow Mac to be the unquestioned starter in the locker room, especially if the kid gets off to a rocky start.

The best thing Cam did was be a great teammate, help build up the kid's confidence, and take some of the pressure off Mac coming in to be the guy that has to follow Brady.

Yeah I agree about the not being vaccinated thing. He's, of course, is absolutely free to not vaccinate. But teams and the NFL and everyone else is not obligated to accommodate him either, and that includes employment. This also may cause issues getting picked up by another team.

 

[Stigmata]

Yeah I agree about the not being vaccinated thing. He's, of course, is absolutely free to not vaccinate. But teams and the NFL and everyone else is not obligated to accommodate him either, and that includes employment. This also may cause issues getting picked up by another team.

What you described seems to be the direction the league is trending -- If you're a superstar caliber talent then teams will be much more willing to gambled on your unvaccinated status, but anything less than that talent wise and it seems like being unvaccinated could very likely end with you being out of a job if competing against other vaccinated players for a roster stop.

 

[Tomb1]

jamal dean must've gotten chewed the hell out in that tampa bay locker room half-time (bucs-cowboys)

 

[Stigmata]

jamal dean must've gotten chewed the hell out in that tampa bay locker room half-time (bucs-cowboys)

Tom fucking Brady has to have made some sort of deal with the devil that football RNG always seems to work in his favor. No one can tell me any differently. Missed offensive pass interference call in favor of the cowboys.

I can't wait for Brady to retire and admit he made a bloodpact that any sort of football thing will always work out to hos benefit.

 

[Tomb1]

Tom fucking Brady has to have made some sort of deal with the devil that football RNG always seems to work in his favor. No one can tell me any differently. Missed offensive pass interference call in favor of the cowboys.

I can't wait for Brady to retire and admit he made a bloodpact that any sort of football thing will always work out to hos benefit.

how the refs missed that is incomprehensible...it was just so blatant

 

[Stigmata]

how the refs missed that is incomprehensible...it was just so blatant

It is one of the most Brady-esque things I've ever seen. He has built an entire hall of fame career off being the beneficiary of terrible calls. That said, Cowboys win NFC Least if Dak Prescott stays healthy.