bddavidson

Exploiting that market inefficiency of undrafted Wisconsin linebackers

The only real problem I have with this is the fact that the rest of the roster is in shambles and even if you did feel moderately better about one of the QBs than you do Fields, you're in the same position all over again. You're not going to get the value by trading Fields that you will from trading the #1 pick and the roster desperately needs as many talented bodies in whatever position you can find them as they can get. Now this I do not understand. If Fields is as good as we want him to be, if he's clearly a better choice than the No. 1 pick, then he should have as much trade value as the No. 1 pick. Two additional cheap rookie contract years would be of more value to many teams in need of drafting a QB

Leonhard is way more than just a Chryst holdover. He's a 40 year old alum with 10 years or relatively recent NFL experience. His defenses have largely been very good to excellent. Beyond all of this we were in the same freshman history section. Word is that Aranda was the other coach seriously considered. I’m sure he’s a great guy. This team needs an offense. I mean the coach they fired was an offensive guy. But you're right. QB and OL play has been bad recently.

Leonhard is way more than just a Chryst holdover. He's a 40 year old alum with 10 years or relatively recent NFL experience. His defenses have largely been very good to excellent. Beyond all of this we were in the same freshman history section. Word is that Aranda was the other coach seriously considered.

Your last line there is why I don't want them back on the tour.

Haven't they done similar with F1? Sports with an interested demographic that skews rich, white and conservative isn't all that surprising is it? They can let those types do their "what abouts" and "it's their money" arguments for them to normalize it.

Actually looks like you/NLU were correct. They're elevating API, Genesis and Memorial along with the Matchplay and Sentry TOC. Pretty sizeable increases to those 5 purses. They're also doing a 3 consecutive week thing in the fall overseas, Australia, GB&I and maybe Middle East? Those three are for top 50 FEC qualifiers only apparently. From Eamon Lynch's Article

I'd be a bit surprised if they elevated existing events. The Genesis and API for example are already invitationals, partly because of where they fall in the schedule (need a smaller field to get around Thursday Friday) and partly because of the history. At least with the Genesis. I'm wondering if it'll be the WGC's that get swallowed into this. The idea has a ton of potential for the golf nerd to be really neat. If they can get cooperation from certain courses it would be great to see a ton of variety. Say go back to Chambers Bay or Erin Hills for a bombers paradise, then go to Merion or TCC for classic architecture. Maybe then Bandon wants the free ad for a week or Payne's Valley etc...Definitely hit markets they aren't regularly going to like Chicago, Boston, NY and mid plains. Don't just add 2 more Texas and Florida stops. Being that they are spread out throughout the whole year and the PGA Tour's general aversion of going up against Football, I think we could even see some Weds-Sat tournaments or the like.

There are some that argue that this dilutes the product, but I think that's pretty short-sighted and wrong. Are you saying that because to date the only guys going are on the very last years of their careers or oft injured and post peak? Because I think a very big part of this, if it drags out, is them using NIL and other avenues to pull the guys who would become the next PGA Tour superstars. It's all about how long this goes on. Clearly the Saudis don't need to turn a profit, so if the majors let these guys play and OWGR potentially approves their events to give points then I don't see how this doesn't severely water both products down, assuming the JT, Rory Rahm crew sticks to their ideals

Yes, I think most acknowledge that the PGA Tour needs a complete overhaul to be more entertaining. I'm not sure 54 hole shotgun start tournaments are that but it is something. Speaking for myself only here, in addition to the money being funded by the Saudi PIF, I don't like that an already not great week to week product is going to be further watered down. They're on the verge of creating two things that suck. For me, I also wish the players weren't hiding behind "grow the game" as the principal reason for doing this. Just say it's about the money and that you don't give a crap about who's paying you or what they stand for.

Yeah, I have the same issue with Bally Sports here in STL. Seems like most of those very specialized apps aren't available directly through the TV. I know my pre 2016 Samsung doesn't support a lot of apps now. That could be the issue as well.

Oh funny because my user name isnt the same as the guy you hate. Really great joke though I hate Brad Davison? Said who? Sorry I just assumed everyone here did. Bad assumption from the UW alum on the Cubs message board full of opposing B1G fans

I think the valid point when you look at Wisconsin is they don't have a matchup for a dominant big. Kofi had his way and so did Eddy, just they did a tremendous job against Eddy's supporting cast at Purdue. Plus Johnny went off. To sell them short is a bit unfair. The BIG schedule will have steeled them against teams that don't have a dominant big. No one likes him but if Davison is hitting his 3's they have 4 to 5 guys who can score double digits. I'll hear arguments that they aren't deep or they can't handle a big that can take over, but other than that, there's only a handful of teams that will have the best player on the floor against them. Johnny Davis is really really good. Also the poster earlier who called him a dick because he taunted the Indiana fans is the softest sports fan ever. Aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for the game, Brad? Oh funny because my user name isnt the same as the guy you hate. Really great joke though

It’s great to win the league, but not all schedules are created equally. Wisconsin didn’t have to go to Michigan, Michigan St or Iowa and only played Illinois once. And I will also be laying the hammer with Purdue -2.5 tonight. I think that's a good bet, and SSR's point is way valid, but dogging Wisconsin for SOS is silly. They are 13th in the nation in SOS, 6th highest in the Big 10. (Illinois is 6th and 1st, respectively.) I think the valid point when you look at Wisconsin is they don't have a matchup for a dominant big. Kofi had his way and so did Eddy, just they did a tremendous job against Eddy's supporting cast at Purdue. Plus Johnny went off. To sell them short is a bit unfair. The BIG schedule will have steeled them against teams that don't have a dominant big. No one likes him but if Davison is hitting his 3's they have 4 to 5 guys who can score double digits. I'll hear arguments that they aren't deep or they can't handle a big that can take over, but other than that, there's only a handful of teams that will have the best player on the floor against them. Johnny Davis is really really good. Also the poster earlier who called him a dick because he taunted the Indiana fans is the softest sports fan ever.

Yeah if we're being honest, if God himself came down and plucked the 50 best players in the world and dropped them into the Saudi League, I would probably still watch 90% as much as I do now. The difference in skill between these guys is so miniscule, and at the end of the day, it's still gorgeous scenery, timeslots that generally don't overlap with anything else, and the thrill of knowing that once or twice a summer, you can pull off one of those shots yourself. If you just told me that...Cam Smith or whoever was suddenly the best player on the Tour, it would take me like three weeks to adjust. I wonder how many people are like my dad (and I really) who use golf as background noise on a Sunday afternoon while hanging around the house (or in my case, sometimes working). Also, one of the things that really makes watching enjoyable for me is something that the Saudi tour wouldn't be able to offer: The last three tournament winners, Luke List, Tom Hoge, and Scottie Scheffler were all first time PGA Tour winners. Watching guys win for the first time, especially guys like Hoge and List who are in their 30s, is amazing. Watching Theegala make an insane run is something that this high end tournament won't offer. It'll just be a bunch of rich pricks playing for no real stakes. Especially if this Netflix series takes off and they can really get you to like some of these guys who are finding their first win it will go a long way too. I admit to not watching the F1 series or races but damnit if all of golf twitter doesn't become F1 twitter during the races. That series could have a huge impact on the exposure of these guys.

I think the players considering the jump are vastly over estimating their popularity relative to getting eyes on the sport. If the Saudis take Phil, Bryson, Kokrak, Na, Poulter, etc away from the PGA tour...I would love it. Those are some of the more nauseating personalities amongst a sea of insufferable types. Losing them would not impact my consumption of golf content, which is embarrassingly high

ESPN just took over the streaming services for PGA Tour Live. So, this has been available previously (last year was NBC Sports Gold and Amazon Prime) and still is as a subscription service. This is the first year I've subscribed and I love it. Additionally, once they get back to the mainland they're going to have 4 streams available on the PGA Tour Live stuff. Not just featured groups.

Thanks for the answers everyone.

I guess the follow up would be what happens if the runner on third say joins his teammates at the mound celebrating before he touches home (assuming two outs)?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I was thinking about walk off walks today and was wondering about what, if anything, has to happen to make the game officially over. Does the batter have to touch first base? Does the runner on third have to touch home base? If the batter were to be mobbed by his teammates in celebration before he reaches first could he be considered to have been running outside the base paths and therefore out?

Any chance Theo is flipping him for that cost controlled SP we're after? The Pomeranz thing is still fresh

Kaplan approves

So you don't think Trestman wants Cutler? From everything I've heard it seems like he really liked Cutler.

Big Ten on the road Also, I don't think many really believe Wisconsin is legit. Evidenced by Mike Tirico during Tuesday's win @ Indiana "Wisconsin still very much in this game, they lead by two." Largely, skepticism is fair. Really good front court with guard play that is still suspect/developing. Add into it, Wisconsin hasn't played Iowa well the last 2 years and I think it's fair. At least Gatens isn't there this year.