Ah, baseball season is upon us. The Braves start the season today with a game at 1:00. It's always good to start the baseball season, mainly because there isn't much in the way of good sports to watch when it's not football season. So for the next five months I'll follow the Braves as I wait for some college football. My bold prediction for this year is that Chipper Jones is so strong from rehabbing that he hits 25 home runs and ends up coming back for another season in 2012.
JB
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NCAA Tournament Selection
I don't like the NCAA, and one of the main reasons is the lack of transparancy they have. Even our federal government gives us some view of what they are doing, with the NCAA everything is behind closed doors and there is no way for anyone to find out what is going on - or why a decision was made. There are always teams that feel they got snubbed this time of year, but there is no real explainations given, we can't view the committee member's voting or reasons why a team is in or out. This has got to stop.
My second gripe is the method they use to select the teams. The last few years it's been all about 'body of work'. Well that is really dumb. Think about it. A team starts out in November, they play together, they mold themselves and create an identity in December. They stedily improve in January. They hit their stride in February, they are a complete team in March. But wait, this team lost a couple bad games in November....or they didn't play a tough enough schedule in the non-conference - although they did it on purpose because they knew they had a team that hadn't played together much.
If it takes the Miami Heat all season to gel then I think it would take a lot longer for a college team. The selection committee needs to go back to placing a lot of emphasis on the last 10 games of the year. RPI is fine, resumes are fine, all that is well and good but there also needs to be a line for the last 10 games...how is that team playing now...because, after all, right now is what they have been building up to all year.
I hate the NCAA with a passion for living. Everything they do is crap. Tournament selection is up there with the stinkiest bunch of crap they are involved in. No transparancy, bad picks, under the table deals. If you want to have a committee fine, but put up a board like the BCS does and let people know who is in and out during the last few weeks of the season. Instead of us assuming the UGA vs. Bama game is for a spot in the tourney, and after Bama beats them for the second time in one week UGA makes it easy and Bama stays home. Doesn't make too much sense to me.
JB
My second gripe is the method they use to select the teams. The last few years it's been all about 'body of work'. Well that is really dumb. Think about it. A team starts out in November, they play together, they mold themselves and create an identity in December. They stedily improve in January. They hit their stride in February, they are a complete team in March. But wait, this team lost a couple bad games in November....or they didn't play a tough enough schedule in the non-conference - although they did it on purpose because they knew they had a team that hadn't played together much.
If it takes the Miami Heat all season to gel then I think it would take a lot longer for a college team. The selection committee needs to go back to placing a lot of emphasis on the last 10 games of the year. RPI is fine, resumes are fine, all that is well and good but there also needs to be a line for the last 10 games...how is that team playing now...because, after all, right now is what they have been building up to all year.
I hate the NCAA with a passion for living. Everything they do is crap. Tournament selection is up there with the stinkiest bunch of crap they are involved in. No transparancy, bad picks, under the table deals. If you want to have a committee fine, but put up a board like the BCS does and let people know who is in and out during the last few weeks of the season. Instead of us assuming the UGA vs. Bama game is for a spot in the tourney, and after Bama beats them for the second time in one week UGA makes it easy and Bama stays home. Doesn't make too much sense to me.
JB
Monday, March 14, 2011
NCAA Bracket Theory
I've got a theory for my bracket this year that I'm going to try out. This only works for those bracket pools that reward people who pick upsets. Usually, in those pools you get the difference between the seeds in points. So if a 5 beats the 12 you get one point, but if the 12 beats the 5 you get seven points plus the one point for the win.
So here is my theory: I'm going to pick the top two seeds in each region to go all the way to the elite 8. From there I'll just pick who I think will win. In each of the first round games outside the top two seeds I will pick the upset. This way I am guaranteed to correctly pick the upset. Sure, I will get more than half of them wrong, but you can have six points for picking the correct team, I'll take the 10 points I'm getting from one game when a 13 beats a 4...which I'm guaranteed to get. So I've got to figure this will pay off, and if there aren't many upsets this year then hopefully it will break even.
For the second round I'm not going to pick upsets in every game. The reason is, if the 14 seed beats the 3, what are the chances they will win again in the second round...slim. So I will pick the 11 seed there. Chances are the 14 seed will not win, but if the 11 seed does and then they beat the 3 in the second round...I got the points. A 3 seed seems like a great choice for the Sweet 16, but since you only get 3 points from them in the first and second rounds combined I have to say it is worth the risk to punch them out in the first round.
I am expecting to get around 14 games right in the first round (1 and 2 seeds and 6 upsets)...hopefully there will be some 4 and 5 seeds go down which will lend major points. Then in the second round I'm expecting to get 9 or 10 right (1 and 2 seeds and 1 or 2 upsets)...not much but at least I should get some middle of the road points in the second round...the first round is where I hope to make up the most points. Then it's all high seeds the rest of the way out. We'll see how it goes.
JB
So here is my theory: I'm going to pick the top two seeds in each region to go all the way to the elite 8. From there I'll just pick who I think will win. In each of the first round games outside the top two seeds I will pick the upset. This way I am guaranteed to correctly pick the upset. Sure, I will get more than half of them wrong, but you can have six points for picking the correct team, I'll take the 10 points I'm getting from one game when a 13 beats a 4...which I'm guaranteed to get. So I've got to figure this will pay off, and if there aren't many upsets this year then hopefully it will break even.
For the second round I'm not going to pick upsets in every game. The reason is, if the 14 seed beats the 3, what are the chances they will win again in the second round...slim. So I will pick the 11 seed there. Chances are the 14 seed will not win, but if the 11 seed does and then they beat the 3 in the second round...I got the points. A 3 seed seems like a great choice for the Sweet 16, but since you only get 3 points from them in the first and second rounds combined I have to say it is worth the risk to punch them out in the first round.
I am expecting to get around 14 games right in the first round (1 and 2 seeds and 6 upsets)...hopefully there will be some 4 and 5 seeds go down which will lend major points. Then in the second round I'm expecting to get 9 or 10 right (1 and 2 seeds and 1 or 2 upsets)...not much but at least I should get some middle of the road points in the second round...the first round is where I hope to make up the most points. Then it's all high seeds the rest of the way out. We'll see how it goes.
JB
Friday, March 11, 2011
Crime in Football
Crime in football is a big topic. Not crime on the field, but football players committing crimes off the field. People seem really perplexed by how many players get into trouble with the law, in the NFL and in college.
I have a really simple explanation for why this is. Because football players are violent people, that is why they play the game and that is why they get into trouble off the field. There is physicality in basketball and hockey, but they aren't clothes-lining folks coming across the middle of the field.
I heard the other day that the average NFL player lives to be 55, wow. And the average affluent male in the United States lives to be 85. So, NFL players would be considered affluent (at least for their time in the league), yet they die 30 years earlier than those in other professions. I believe this is because of brain trauma mostly. But whatever the case, with those statistics why would a superior athlete choose football over basketball and baseball? Not only does the NFL not have guaranteed contracts, but the life expectancy is only 55!? My only explanation is they are violent people who want perpetuate the image of their toughness and strength.
So, now that I've established that football players are by and large violent individuals based on their choosing football, is it so hard to see why they would get in trouble off the field? The main reason for their success is their brutality, that is a hard switch to turn off for some of them when they get home. They are reckless with their bodies, they are reckless with their lifestyles, they don't make wise choices....that is why they are playing football, and that is why they are getting into trouble off the field.
How many baseball players do you see getting in trouble....none. Basketball players are far from saints, but how many violent crimes do you hear about....not too many. It seems like almost every day there is a football player in college or the pros who has gotten into trouble. Why? They are violent, reckless individuals...that is why they play, that is who they are. People can quit the psychoanalysis, stop the calls for stricter punishments, if you like football on the field...the off the field stuff comes with it.
JB
I have a really simple explanation for why this is. Because football players are violent people, that is why they play the game and that is why they get into trouble off the field. There is physicality in basketball and hockey, but they aren't clothes-lining folks coming across the middle of the field.
I heard the other day that the average NFL player lives to be 55, wow. And the average affluent male in the United States lives to be 85. So, NFL players would be considered affluent (at least for their time in the league), yet they die 30 years earlier than those in other professions. I believe this is because of brain trauma mostly. But whatever the case, with those statistics why would a superior athlete choose football over basketball and baseball? Not only does the NFL not have guaranteed contracts, but the life expectancy is only 55!? My only explanation is they are violent people who want perpetuate the image of their toughness and strength.
So, now that I've established that football players are by and large violent individuals based on their choosing football, is it so hard to see why they would get in trouble off the field? The main reason for their success is their brutality, that is a hard switch to turn off for some of them when they get home. They are reckless with their bodies, they are reckless with their lifestyles, they don't make wise choices....that is why they are playing football, and that is why they are getting into trouble off the field.
How many baseball players do you see getting in trouble....none. Basketball players are far from saints, but how many violent crimes do you hear about....not too many. It seems like almost every day there is a football player in college or the pros who has gotten into trouble. Why? They are violent, reckless individuals...that is why they play, that is who they are. People can quit the psychoanalysis, stop the calls for stricter punishments, if you like football on the field...the off the field stuff comes with it.
JB
Thursday, March 10, 2011
SEC Basketball Tournament
I've always enjoyed watching the SEC basketball tournament. The conference tournaments kind of serve as an appetizer to the NCAA Tournament and really signal the start of March Madness. I have fond memories of coming home from school on Thursday when I was a kid and the end of the first game was on. Then I'd spend the rest of the night watching the other games, but of course I usually had to go to bed before the last game. Not so on Friday, I got to watch all the games...and then Saturday and Sunday until a champion was crowned. It's pretty cool that you get all 12 teams playing in one location and in only 4 days you have a tourney winner.
This year's tournament is the only way my beloved Bulldogs can make it to the big dance. It has been the same way the last two years, although in those years I also held out hope that State could make it without winning the tournament. They did win it in 2009, and took #1 Kentucky into overtime in the championship game last year. This year, I know they only way to make it is by winning it all. The good news is State has a bye on Thursday so they would only have to win three games. I of course believe they can do it and I will pick them to do so. Here is how I see the rest of the games turning out:
Thursday:
Georgia over Auburn
Ole Miss over South Carolina
Arkansas over Tennessee
Vanderbilt over LSU
Friday:
Georgia over Alabama
Kentucky over Ole Miss
Florida over Arkansas
Mississippi State over Vanderbilt
Saturday:
Georgia over Kentucky
Mississippi State over Florida
Sunday:
Mississippi State over Georgia
JB
This year's tournament is the only way my beloved Bulldogs can make it to the big dance. It has been the same way the last two years, although in those years I also held out hope that State could make it without winning the tournament. They did win it in 2009, and took #1 Kentucky into overtime in the championship game last year. This year, I know they only way to make it is by winning it all. The good news is State has a bye on Thursday so they would only have to win three games. I of course believe they can do it and I will pick them to do so. Here is how I see the rest of the games turning out:
Thursday:
Georgia over Auburn
Ole Miss over South Carolina
Arkansas over Tennessee
Vanderbilt over LSU
Friday:
Georgia over Alabama
Kentucky over Ole Miss
Florida over Arkansas
Mississippi State over Vanderbilt
Saturday:
Georgia over Kentucky
Mississippi State over Florida
Sunday:
Mississippi State over Georgia
JB
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Communicating
I watched the movie 'The Social Network' the other day. It was pretty entertaining. I can't imagine why it was nominated for Academy Awards though. Still, the phenomenon is how much facebook has changed the way everyone communicates. I don't mind it, but there are still a few things that can warrant a phone call. And then on the other spectrum, there are a few things not everyone needs to know about.
If you are moving to another state or country, or even another town...I would have to think that if your family and close friends saw it on facebook before you called them or at least sent them a personal text message they would have to be offended. I know I would. If you are having a child, going to get married, broke up with a long time boyfriend/girlfriend, getting divorced, got a big promotion, lost your job, diagnosed with a disease, cured from a disease, anything that is significant in your life...life-changing moments...it is very dumb to post it on facebook without telling those close to you. If the first thing you think of is to post on facebook about it, then you are a dork, but I'll get to that later. But think of how unimportant those close to you feel if and when they hear about it as your status update rather from your mouth.
Then on the opposite spectrum of people posting important things, there are those who post really dumb stuff. Now I know I don't have to read it, and why do I log on to facebook if I don't care about what people update? Well, sometimes I get bored so I look at it, and some people post an interesting article or some other interesting thing. Then some people say, 'going to Chili's'. Who cares. The worst is, 'I'm sad...', nothing like trying to bait sympathy. And I realized something the other day. None of the popular people, the cool people I am friends with ever update their facebook status. It is only the dorky people. Hmmmm.
All I am looking for is people to not be ridiculous. Don't post stupid stuff and don't post important stuff before telling those close to you, especially your family...that is beyond dumb.
JB
If you are moving to another state or country, or even another town...I would have to think that if your family and close friends saw it on facebook before you called them or at least sent them a personal text message they would have to be offended. I know I would. If you are having a child, going to get married, broke up with a long time boyfriend/girlfriend, getting divorced, got a big promotion, lost your job, diagnosed with a disease, cured from a disease, anything that is significant in your life...life-changing moments...it is very dumb to post it on facebook without telling those close to you. If the first thing you think of is to post on facebook about it, then you are a dork, but I'll get to that later. But think of how unimportant those close to you feel if and when they hear about it as your status update rather from your mouth.
Then on the opposite spectrum of people posting important things, there are those who post really dumb stuff. Now I know I don't have to read it, and why do I log on to facebook if I don't care about what people update? Well, sometimes I get bored so I look at it, and some people post an interesting article or some other interesting thing. Then some people say, 'going to Chili's'. Who cares. The worst is, 'I'm sad...', nothing like trying to bait sympathy. And I realized something the other day. None of the popular people, the cool people I am friends with ever update their facebook status. It is only the dorky people. Hmmmm.
All I am looking for is people to not be ridiculous. Don't post stupid stuff and don't post important stuff before telling those close to you, especially your family...that is beyond dumb.
JB
Monday, March 7, 2011
Taxes
I hate taxes. Perhaps the main reason I hate them is because I hate the government and taxes is a way to pay their salaries and giving them money to spend any way they choose...and since I don't trust or believe in the capability of the government I really hate the idea of taxes.
One thing I've found is that a lot of people don't really consider taxes as their money anyway. That is amazing to me. This isn't the Soviet Union! The government works for the people not the other way around. When a government employee spends their day piddling and doing nothing it upsets me because they are just dead weight costing us taxpayers money....if we get rid of those people our taxes go down! But yet, when people get a tax return they act like its 'free money!'. That money is not free, that was your money...that's right, your money. You just foolishly gave the government a no-interest loan and they are paying you back.
Think of taxes the way it really is. Take your gross pay, say it's $60,000 per year. That is $5,000 per month. Now, chances are if you make $60K per year you pay about 25% tax once you add up federal, state, social security, etc. So that means your take home pay is $3,750 per month. A lot of people just consider that $3,750 as what they make and they feel like the $1,250 the government took away as not really being theirs anyway. Well it is.
How much is the mortgage or rent for this person who makes $60,000 per year? Well it's probably somewhere around $1,200 per month because generally speaking your mortgage/rent should run around 30-35% of your take home pay. So think about that, you are paying just as much money to Uncle Sam as you are for the place you live? Of the $5,000 per month you earn, you pay 25% to the government and 25% to the bank/landlord, and you've just got 50% left! That is a huge chunk of change the government is taking from you. Don't you want to make sure they are spending your money wisely?
I don't like taxes, period. I don't think anyone does. But I just want everyone to fight for our taxes to be spent wisely. We don't need to pay for layers and layers of government. We don't need to pay government workers $50,000 per year to do menial tasks that a private company would pay $12/hour for. We don't need construction workers on government jobs making triple what they normally make...that is a waste of money and completely un-capitalistic. Lower taxes or spend them better..that is what we should strive for.
JB
One thing I've found is that a lot of people don't really consider taxes as their money anyway. That is amazing to me. This isn't the Soviet Union! The government works for the people not the other way around. When a government employee spends their day piddling and doing nothing it upsets me because they are just dead weight costing us taxpayers money....if we get rid of those people our taxes go down! But yet, when people get a tax return they act like its 'free money!'. That money is not free, that was your money...that's right, your money. You just foolishly gave the government a no-interest loan and they are paying you back.
Think of taxes the way it really is. Take your gross pay, say it's $60,000 per year. That is $5,000 per month. Now, chances are if you make $60K per year you pay about 25% tax once you add up federal, state, social security, etc. So that means your take home pay is $3,750 per month. A lot of people just consider that $3,750 as what they make and they feel like the $1,250 the government took away as not really being theirs anyway. Well it is.
How much is the mortgage or rent for this person who makes $60,000 per year? Well it's probably somewhere around $1,200 per month because generally speaking your mortgage/rent should run around 30-35% of your take home pay. So think about that, you are paying just as much money to Uncle Sam as you are for the place you live? Of the $5,000 per month you earn, you pay 25% to the government and 25% to the bank/landlord, and you've just got 50% left! That is a huge chunk of change the government is taking from you. Don't you want to make sure they are spending your money wisely?
I don't like taxes, period. I don't think anyone does. But I just want everyone to fight for our taxes to be spent wisely. We don't need to pay for layers and layers of government. We don't need to pay government workers $50,000 per year to do menial tasks that a private company would pay $12/hour for. We don't need construction workers on government jobs making triple what they normally make...that is a waste of money and completely un-capitalistic. Lower taxes or spend them better..that is what we should strive for.
JB
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