soccer10k

Liverpool had about 3 chances to put one in and completely take control but they couldn't finish. Plus some good defense by Barcelona on the play.

What's the process (besides the obvious of selecting the teams)? It sounds interesting. Sorry, missed this earlier. We do it over 3 or 4 days from Thursday-Sunday. We start with everyone submitting every team they think has an argument to be an at large team. I don't believe there's a limit on # of teams you can submit, but obviously you keep it within reason as it's unlikely anyone truly feels 70 teams have at large arguments. After all those are submitted all teams that reach a certain %, (I know in the past we had it at 7 out of 9 ballots, but it depends on the # of people participating) are put in as locks. From there, all teams that received at least one vote, but less than the percentage are put into the bubble pool. You can make your case for any team you wish in the thread, and then by Friday night you rank all the bubble teams from 1 on down. After that a composite ranking figures out who the at large teams are at that point. If the chalk holds up in the final conference tourneys, teams that were just out would then be moved in as necessary. Finally once all the at larges are taken care of, there is a final 1-65 ranking of all the teams we've put in the tourney, the rankings are combined, and we come up with our own field of 65. In the 2 years we've done it we haven't had to deal with any Sunday spoilers putting a non at large into the tourney, so hopefully that holds out(on a personal level too) otherwise things can get confusing. It sounds kind of daunting now that I re-read that, but really to participate doesn't take that much effort, and is fairly easy to zoom through if you've followed the season all year, which seems like you have. The tough stuff falls on the person who runs it compiling all the numbers which is why I'm shamelessly begging Bukie to run it again. Sounds interesting and fun. If you/bukie decide to run it, I'm in.

Yep, the only team they've played in two months is Gonzaga, who they barely beat. And Gonzaga was just discussed as a team not worthy of an at large. I wonder where they get seeded. I would give Memphis a 2 seed right now but if they win their conference tournament and have some other potential number 1's lose early in their conference tournaments (UCLA, Wisconsin, Florida, Kansas) then they could move up to a #1 seed. Here's the thing about Memphis though. High RPI of 8, which is worthy enough of a 2 seed. But their SOS is only 73. Even worse, their top 50 record is only 1-3, with their only top 50 win against Kentucky. Only four top 50 opponents in the season. Not too good. I'd be very surprised if they get a anything higher than a 4 seed. Yeah, I guess I worded my statement incorrectly. Personally, I don't think Memphis is that good and I don't think they should be seeded too high. But they could move up to #2 or #3 in the nation after the conference tournaments and I don't think the committee will give them lower than a 2 seed if they win the C-USA tournament.

Wednesday has Man U-Lille on ESPN2 and Bayern/Real Madrid on Classic. I really like the Barcelona/Liverpool choice. Barca is going to come out firing because they have to win - much like their final group stage match against Werder Bremen. I would have preferred Munich/Madrid on ESPN2 for Wednesday over the Man U game.

Yep, the only team they've played in two months is Gonzaga, who they barely beat. And Gonzaga was just discussed as a team not worthy of an at large. I wonder where they get seeded. I would give Memphis a 2 seed right now but if they win their conference tournament and have some other potential number 1's lose early in their conference tournaments (UCLA, Wisconsin, Florida, Kansas) then they could move up to a #1 seed.

What's the process (besides the obvious of selecting the teams)? It sounds interesting.

As far as we know. That's good news.

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/03/02/rFnjXMB8.jpg I have to say I'm quite disappointed. Not that he could actually top last years picture though.

I agree. I don't see Gonzaga getting in if Santa Clara beats them today nor do I think they deserve to.

Is his arm still attached?

It would have been such a bad idea on so many levels if the Bulls would have traded Gordon for any of those guys. In any realistic potential trade, I think it would be a bad idea to trade him for just about anybody.

George Mason is looking to make a miracle run to the NCAA tournament. They are the sixth seed in the CAA and are facing top seeded VCU in the championship game. Mason is down 2 with 5:11 to go.

ewwww, that reminds me too much of Ozzie Ozzie would make a comment about how only gay people lose.

Wade will skip surgery and will try to return this year. Story Not surprising in his decision.

Oh I agree on the trading down part. If the right deal comes and the Raiders can get a ton in return for it, then by all means, go ahead and do it. But I don't think anybody is going to sell the farm to get the #1 pick. But like I said, if the right deal comes around, you have to do it. As for the extra picks, that's why I'm hoping a Moss deal will happen. I figure the Raiders should be able to get a second rounder for him (not great and nowhere near what they gave up for him but it's something they have to do).

I like your optimism, keep up the positive thinking. Myself, I'll give him more than 30 pitches before making a snap judgment. He threw 40 My bad. Stick a fork in him, he's done. Ten pitches changes everything, eh? :wink:

Hansbrough did suffer a broken nose yesterday. Story. He will play in the ACC tourney, likely with a protective mask.

New polls out. AP top 5 is OSU, Kansas, Wisconsin, UCLA, Memphis. Coaches poll top 5 is OSU, Kansas, UCLA, Wisconsin, Memphis. OSU is a near unanimous #1 in both polls as Kansas got 2 and 1 first place votes in the AP and coaches poll.

He also lacked velocity. Was only throwing 83-85. Ugh. Even for spring training that's not good.

I like hearing that.

So I skimmed through the first few pages of the thread (through the first inning) and it appeared that Prior lacked control. Is that what happened in the second inning? Did he get hit hard in the second as well?

Now those who haven't watched it know it didn't end in a tie which, considering how the game ended, could spoil it. So though you tried not to give the result away, you sort of did. :wink:

Damn. I wanted the Raiders to sign Garcia in hopes that it would make them rethink their decision to draft Russell #1 overall. Oh well. That's quite a 180 by you. I argued a couple of months ago that the Raiders should trade down and get more picks. You told me I was cur-ray-zee. Don't want to speak for soccer here, but I'm pretty sure he wants Calvin Johnson with the first pick. And is also not enamored by JaMarcus Russell. Bingo. I still don't want them to trade down, I just don't want Russell. If they are going to draft a QB #1 overall, I want them to take Quinn. But if I'm running the team, I draft Johnson #1 and try to get Drew Stanton.

They're dead wrong!! It's Scott Eyre who's appeared in 163 games with the Cubs just last season alone. :wink: He's so fat that parts of him appear in games he doesn't even pitch? Or each time he goes out it counts as two appearances.

Wow. Prior is going to be worth $115 million in 2012? What's he going to do over the next couple years to deserve that kind of cash :wink: