Everything posted by Macca
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Big Bash
Ha! This version of the game is rapidly gaining acceptance ... I've found the whole concept to be quite fascinating with regards to how it all fits into our summer. It's not going away in a hurry. ... and just when you thought we'd exhausted all avenues for new sports we've now got another one to deal with ... 'Fast4 Tennis' ... Lleyton vs Roger on ch9 right now. The sporting purists will be beside themselves with grief
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NFL
Playoff tipping comp leaderboard 6 - JV7, Go the Biff, Macca 5 - pantaloons, Georgiou R.R. Martin 4 - Gorgoroth (a clean sweep this week) 3 more games to go and don't forget that the SB is worth 3 points.
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NFL
The ground caused the ball to move but in my opinion it should be ruled a catch unless the ball spills free. As it was, it was a spectacular play and those sort of highlights need to be kept in the game. I'm more thinking about future incidents like these. Not sure there's any grey area either - if the ball is being controlled and isn't moving before a player and the ball hits the surface then in my opinion it should be ruled a catch (unless the ball spills free) Edit: The other thing to consider is what if by 'reaching out', Bryant had have broken the plane of the goal line? (he was probably only about a foot short) Is that then ruled a TD? We've seen numerous examples of where a ball gets knocked free just after a player breaks the plane of the goal line (a TD is normally awarded in these instances)
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NFL
A Des Bryant catch or non catch on the goal line with under 5 minutes to go. In the end it wasn't paid NFL.com will probably have it highlighted if you can access it. A tense game and the commentators were calling it a good one. I was just hoping for a win :-)
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NFL
Was it a catch or wasn't it? It seemed unfair not to pay it but normally it isn't paid under those sort of circumstances ... however, it could be argued he was making a football move after completing the catch. Again, they've probably ruled that the ground dislodged the ball and caused the bobble. Watching it live I thought I saw the ball move and once it moves, they'll often rule it to not be a catch. Murray also fumbled the ball in the 3rd quarter which helped turn the game. Rodgers finished strong after looking shaky in the first half ... happy to get the win but the Cowboys put up a terrific fight.
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NFL
No doubt he'll play (or at least start) ... how well and for how long, that's the question. You just never know in this sport ... anything could happen including Rodgers not being incapacitated at all. I'm prepared for any outcome but obviously hoping for the best. Seattle in the end were just far too good and whoever is up against them next week is in for a torrid time. The crowd was seriously loud and I thought the Panthers did well to hang in for as long as they did. The Ravens had their chances and could have won ... credit to the Pats though - too good in the end. The match was not without it's controversy though ... Tom Brady: Study the rulebook
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NFL
Dallas may not get a better chance to beat the Packers in Lambeau tomorrow ... a possibly banged up Rodgers with a questionable rush defense awaits. A torn calf muscle seems a lot to overcome but they might be able to get him right. It literally is going to be a wait and see situation ... if it was just a strain then he might be ok but when there's a tear involved it makes one think he could he could tear it even more so - especially in freezing cold weather and the nature of how he plays the position. I'd like to be more confident but I'm not sure he'll be able to get away with just throwing from the pocket without a lot of movement. The best protected QB in the sport seems to be Peyton and that's probably because he rarely ventures out of the pocket. The Denver O-line has to be absolutely first rate because of how Peyton plays the position. Rodgers likes to manoeuvre himself around as a general rule. He might have to adjust his game but then our O-line would then have to play out of their skin. We'll also need Lacy to have a big one and Starks would need to chip in as well. Denver should win the later game at home - might be close though.
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Anyone for cricket?
I'd like to see Clarke get back ... there are going to be some games where we'll need his steadying influence and his unique batting skills. In the ODI's not every batsman needs to have the capabilities of hitting the ball out of the park ... mainstays are often required especially when it gets to the QF stage onwards. I like the look of the squad but I agree with TD about the reserve keeper ... of course, one of the 14 other players would then miss out but if it were a batsman or a bowler breaking down shortly before a game then at least that type of player can be replaced (apart from the spinner) The squads are too small anyway - 17 or 18 would be a better number. It's not as if it would be much of an added cost to the countries involved.
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NFL
Good effort by the Ravens but the Edelman play turned the game As for this game, Carolina are hanging in there ... the scoreline at half time could have been worse for the Panthers. They probably need to score first in the 2nd half to have a chance - however, the Seahawks do get the first possession once play resumes.
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The Soccer thread
I guess we all see things differently ... I thought our first 5-10 minutes was average and then I thought we played really well for the rest of the match. It was a terrific open game in fact and we created plenty of chances. Kuwait were no match for us in the end but they had a go. I'm quite happy with the 4-1 scoreline and if we win our group, we'll avoid Japan until at least the semi-finals. A good start and we've got plenty of scoring opportunities with Cahill & Luongo being quite dangerous up front. Oman & especially South Korea will be much tougher opposition but I'm expecting at least 4 points from those other 2 group games - it might come down to goal difference to decide our group.
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NFL
Now it's a tear in the calf muscle ... Rodgers may be far from 100 percent ... if that's the case then it's unlikely that his calf muscle has had enough time to heal. Couple that with the near freezing conditions and I can't see how he can be at his best ... or anywhere near his best if we're being brutally honest. It could be that he's just going to hand if off to Lacy and Starks and throw from the pocket only. That may or may not get it done and Dallas is sure to apply the pressure. If we have to go to Flynn or even Tolzein then we may have to end up relying on Romo not being able to take advantage - that's always a possibility
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The Soccer thread
Nice equaliser from Cahill ... hopefully we can go on and win it. For those without cable the game is on ABC Grandstand radio Edit: Channel 2 are broadcasting the games involving Australia but tonight's game is on delay (10pm start) Edit (2) ... now 3-1 in front
- Anyone for cricket?
- Anyone for cricket?
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NFL
I like Belichick's idea where the challenge flags that the coaches can use extends to penalties such as pass interference or holding penalties. They often use up their challenge flags anyway so it wouldn't necessarily add any extra time to the games. Think they get 2 challenge flags and an extra one if the first 2 are used successful. Anyway, most NFL fans are used to time outs and replay anyway - as long as the games don't descend to "flag football", I reckon it adds a bit more drama to the sport and I see it as just another part of the sport. The hold on Suh which wasn't called was fairly blatant but if we were to analyse every play of every game, they could find a reason to throw a penalty flag with even more frequency than they do now.
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NFL
Baltimore 26 New England 29 Carolina 10 Seattle 33 Dallas 27 Green Bay 35 Indianapolis 19 Denver 25
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Big Bash
What you see is what you get wisedog. Not only do I not compare t20 to test cricket, I've never really compared ODI's to test cricket - I see all 3 as separate sports with test cricket being miles ahead of the other 2 versions with regards to my preference. t20's has a high appeal to the holiday crowd, women and young people - the eyes say it all and popular culture is popular culture. Having said all that, I'm not in a hurry to watch the games ... what does interest me is the progression of this version of the game and what will happen to cricket in the future because of the presence of t20's - I'm certainly not concerned in a negative way though. The overall interest in cricket in Australia is quite high and the crowds and TV viewers reflect that opinion.
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NFL
Big reversal of a pass interference call with 8.18 left in the 4th quarter in the Dallas game ... no explanation given Perhaps a call came in from Vegas Home town decisions are always likely to occur and must be factored in but the defensive player (Hitchens) doesn't look like he ever had eyes for the ball. If the original call had have stood, Detroit would have been within field goal range with a 1st down (the Lions were leading 20-17 at the time) To be fair, there were probably a number of other "iffy" pass interference calls throughout the game (there always seems to be) so I guess things evened themselves out in the end. Still, Detroit would probably feel a little aggrieved. The incident is certainly a talking point ... Pete Morelli: Penalty not warranted Leaderboard in the Playoff Comp 3 - Go the Biff, JV7, Macca 2 - pantaloons, Georgiou R.R. Martin 0 - everyone else Sunday Jan 11 8.30am Baltimore @ New England 12.15pm Carolina @ Seattle Monday Jan 12 5.00am Dallas @ Green Bay 8.30am Iindianapolis @ Denver
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NFL
Ravens D getting it done ... Big Ben needs to find something
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Big Bash
I didn't watch it Smithy ... but, I watched the end of the Heat's innings. Didn't give the Tassie side much of a chance to be honest but that must have been a terrific run chase by them. The 2 Melbourne sides go at it tonight at Docklands ... Stars are 0-3 and the Renegades are 1-2 so if the Stars lose, they'll almost certainly be out of it - KP might put on a show though and there's sure to be a big crowd.
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Big Bash
Many attacking shots are just an extension of defensive shots ... t20 creates a situation where young players are playing the extension of the defensive shots as a first option but again, it's nothing to be too worried about. Batting is an artform but there's no reason it can't be learnt with an aggressive intent. In fact, that is what is happening a fair bit of the time. The new breed of batsmen are going to be more aggressive. Take Maxwell for example - he's got all the shots and he can play defensively but ... it's his temperament and decision making which is the issue. ... and temperament and decision making can be taught & learnt. Warner is living proof of that. He's now a much more solid player - many might have thought he'd never make it as a test player. In the future, there will be many like Warner - it stands to reason. A lot of the young Indian batsmen are and will be gravitating from t20 cricket. Like most things in sport, the cream rises to the top. Kohli & Vijay have each played 6 or 7 seasons of IPL and are in high demand in the shortest form of the game. Both can play.
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Big Bash
I went to a number of Bushranger games (before the instigation of the big bash) and whilst I enjoyed the games back then, I lost a bit of interest because I was trying too take the games too seriously. Now, I just have the games on without watching it too intently. Most people I know watch the games for the same type of reason. Strangely enough, I watch the tennis and the footy in a similar way (apart from demon games) When I want to watch sport in a serious way, I will. t20 cricket appeals to the holiday crowd - it's a bit of fun and it's harmless. It's certainly not going to be the ruination of test cricket. In fact, the crossover of players and spectators helps the sport on an overall basis. What I find to be fascinating is how a new sport like this can take hold of the public's interest. The positive is that the public get to have a look at our players who aren't in the test side - albeit at breakneck speed
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Big Bash
I'm kinda liking seeing all these old timers doing well in this frenetic form of the game - in some ways it doesn't make sense but of course, class is permanent. Kallis was great to watch tonight I'm thinking that this version of the game is terrific for those summer nights. Light entertainment at it's best. Not to be taken too seriously - that's the whole key.