At the Fanhouse, MJD talks about the decline in interesting sporting events and stories in mid-summer. That's why you're getting treated to 32 separate fantasy football previews on this blog (and you'll actually probably actually get a lot more). But this isn't the time to strain and claw at whatever minuscule sports stories you can. You can be a spectator the rest of the sports year; now is the time to do. Take up a sport yourself. I have a cheap, easy, and very fun recommendation: badminton. It's not hard to set up a badminton net in your backyard, or even a park. It's a very fun summer activity--a good workout but not terribly strenuous. Give it a whirl. don't let your summer be spent pining for spectating; make summer your chance to play badminton every day. Slam that shuttlecock!
What other easy yard or park games do you recommend playing in midsummer?
Antoine Winfield and the Vikings like each other again (Star Tribune, Pioneer Press).
VikingUpdate has brief looks at expectations for Adrian Peterson and the changing tone of Brad Childress.
The Science of Football finds the salary cap has no impact on "parity."
Peter King ranks all 32 starting QBs, and Tarvaris Jackson does not come in last!
And finally, via PFT, Steven Jackson is talking about gaining 2,500 yards from scrimmage this season. The rule for a Suspension of Disbelief article is that it must be a national publication; however, this News Tribune article is very much in the spirit of SoD. We love it when the player himself picks out the absurdly high number he's going to shoot for and talks about why he's going to do it. It's also fairly plausible: last season Jackson did have 2,334 yards, fifth highest ever; couldn't he improve and have 2,500 yards? There is a small error in the article: Faulk's record is 2,429.
We also think that yards from scrimmage needs to be a more prestigious number: there should be respect for the record holder and for each season's leader comparable to the respect for the leader in rushing yards (if there were, there's no way Thurman Thomas would have waited until his second year of eligibility to make the Hall of Fame). In today's NFL, yards from scrimmage is a truer sign of a RB's contribution to his team's success than rushing yards.
Basketball is a good summertime activity. All you need is a ball and a public court.
ReplyDeleteNo stop being such a chickenshit and play me.
I choose not to play.
ReplyDeletethe best 'who does he think he is absurd number' prediction by a player was the 14 (or 24 depending on packer publication referenced) interceptions terrell buckley predicted he would get in his second year. buckley finished with 2. his career high was ... 8? 7?
ReplyDeleteRK