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HOT SPORTS TAKES - A man who won't stand for the anthem is an act that we as Americans shouldn't stand for (2 Viewers)

General Malaise said:
Premier said:
I am dying.

Tiki Barber is here, everyone pretend youre a 14 year old virgin and give it up for him. Tikis the Marlon Wayans of the NFL fokls: his twin works harder then him, no one takes him serously on TV, and he got alot of #### for being in White Girls. Hey Tiki is it embarassning that you were on TV first and then Michael Strahan came a long and was better then you? Im not kidding folks NBC dropped Tiki Barber like he was a football being carried by Tiki Barber.
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:lmao: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/8/1/5956923/hall-of-fame-class-2014-roast-michael-strahan
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:lmao:
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:lmao: :lmao: Also from the same article:

Tom its good to see your taking care of your skin during the ofseason, the last time I saw you it looked like Mike Shanahan had passed out in Cabo San Lucas. Im teling you if your skin got any redder President Obama would try to force you to change your name. Tom Im sorry if some of these jokes are over the line here but you half to admit its better that there a little bit out've bounds then if I just gave them all to Desean Jackson
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Thats right its 9/11 and were under attack again, but this time the terrorists are the PC Police who want to fire Roger Goodell just because hes like every other defensive coordinator in the league for the past 2 years, and didnt really think it was necessary to watch film on Ray Rice as part of his job.
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:lmao: :lmao:

 
Sizzling, "ready"-made Tampa Take for Cappy:

http://tbo.com/list/sports-columns-mfennelly/its-clear-that-the-bucs-just-werent-ready-20140919/

ATLANTA They werent ready.

Were you?

Was anyone out there prepared for the strangely majestic hazardous waste material produced by Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers on Thursday night, national TV, the only NFL game the game that never was.

We give you 56-14, one of the worst losses in Bucs history. And you know Bucs history. Its filled with worst losses.

They werent ready.

Theres not a whole lot, really, to say after a game like that, Lovie said. Im embarrassed by our play. We failed in all phases.

It was the kind of loss that would get a head coach fired if he wasnt just hired.

Its the kind of loss that changes quarterbacks, and not just because of an injury. The door just swung open for Mike Glennon.

It should hit Josh McCown in the back on his way to the bench. Even without an injured thumb, he earned the heave-ho.

They werent ready. The Falcons were ready. They had 169 yards of offense in the first quarter. The Bucs had 19. The Falcons had 28 points one play into the second quarter. When Devin Hester, Lovies old friend, scored his second touchdown of the game and NFL-record 20th return TD, it was 35-0 by halftime. The Falcons had 300 yards. The Bucs had 63. Halftime. After three quarters, the Falcons had 56 points. The Bucs had none.

Comically awful. Completely unprepared. McCown and the Clowns.

Of course, it starts with the coaching, starts with the head football coach, Lovie said. I thought I had our football team ready to play. Obviously we werent ready to play.

The last time the Bucs got rolled like this, they trailed 42-0 at the half in this very same Georgia Dome on New Years Day 2012. It was Raheem Morris final game as Bucs head coach.

But heres the difference: Those Bucs quit on Morris.

Lovies Bucs were actually trying.

Theyre just that lousy right now.

At 0-3, they have a record to match.

They werent ready, and were ready for a new quarterback.

McCown left the game after injuring his thumb, but not before another McStake, his fourth interception in three games, this one going for an Atlanta touchdown. Yes, he was hit as he threw, but even when McCown isnt being hit, he looks unsettled.

That thumb should give Lovie an opening for Glennon reps this week.

Enough, Lovie.

Your hand-picked guy isnt getting it done. He looks like a backup.

Actually, the Bucs have two backups on their hands.

They werent ready, and the rush couldnt get to Falcons QB Matt Ryan. He had all night to complete 21 of 24 passes. It was a joke. At one point, you looked up front and there they were, Solomon, McDonald, Gholston and English sounds like a great law firm, but its a lousy defensive line.

They werent ready, and couldnt cover a single Falcons receiver. Guys wide open. They did know Julio Jones might be a target, right? There was that third-and-17 play, when the Falcons converted by getting ... 17 yards ... on a Ryan pass to Jones that seemed to hang in the air for three weeks, but still no Buc could stop it. Dashon Goldson made the tackle after the first down. I believe tackles after first downs are his specialty. And is someone ever going to teach Mark Barron how to play the Cover 2?

Even when the Bucs got it right, they immediately got it wrong. Alterraun Verner forced a fumble. Barron grabbed it, ran for 8 yards, was hit, fumbled. Atlanta ball again. Same play. Falcons score.

What do you think is going through Lovies mind?

Im going back to the basement ...

Its easy to see 0-5 from here, with two more road games dead ahead. The only question is whether its like Tony Dungys first season, when he began 0-5, but built a foundation, or its more like 0-5 in Morris and Greg Schianos final seasons, when they began 0-7 and the house was leveled. Lovie is a proven talent, but things could go either way by the looks of Thursday.

They werent ready.
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It wasn't a hot sports take, but a Facebook friend of mine posted this comment this morning...

"I wonder how much better our world would be if all those people waiting in line to buy the new iPhone 6 happily stood in line waiting to donate that $200 towards their local VA hospital or to a children's charity"

...and it immediately made me think of this thread.

 
Bring Adrian Peterson to the Cowboys

“Adrian Peterson is a monster.”
“He’s just the same and maybe WORSE than Ray Rice.”
“I don’t want a guy like that on my favorite team.”

These are comments being made in every part of the country, but there’s less being made here in the great state of Texas. They are reportedly angry in Minnesota. They don’t view Peterson’s methods as a form of discipline. They view it as a form of abuse. The reaction is a mixture of outrage, anger and attack. The reaction HERE is a mixture of understanding, acceptance and debate. Adrian was raised in East Texas.

They just don’t understand AP like ‘we’ do.

‘We’ believe and practice corporal punishment. We got Whoopins, beatings, belts and switches administered like a bath at night. We agree and support your way of parenting Adrian. We get it, because it’s the way we grew up. Come back home and finish your HOF career here. We would welcome you with open arms like no one else in the country.
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TobiasFunke said:
Bring Adrian Peterson to the Cowboys

“Adrian Peterson is a monster.”

“He’s just the same and maybe WORSE than Ray Rice.”

“I don’t want a guy like that on my favorite team.”

These are comments being made in every part of the country, but there’s less being made here in the great state of Texas. They are reportedly angry in Minnesota. They don’t view Peterson’s methods as a form of discipline. They view it as a form of abuse. The reaction is a mixture of outrage, anger and attack. The reaction HERE is a mixture of understanding, acceptance and debate. Adrian was raised in East Texas.

They just don’t understand AP like ‘we’ do.

‘We’ believe and practice corporal punishment. We got Whoopins, beatings, belts and switches administered like a bath at night. We agree and support your way of parenting Adrian. We get it, because it’s the way we grew up. Come back home and finish your HOF career here. We would welcome you with open arms like no one else in the country.
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Vikes should try for the reverse-Herschel trade.

 
Michael Brown said:
It wasn't a hot sports take, but a Facebook friend of mine posted this comment this morning...

"I wonder how much better our world would be if all those people waiting in line to buy the new iPhone 6 happily stood in line waiting to donate that $200 towards their local VA hospital or to a children's charity"

...and it immediately made me think of this thread.
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Hot Society Takes?

 
Pftcommenter trying to get fleshlight as an nfl sponsor. He retweeted these.

@RogerGoodeII: I'm pleased to announce the NFL's new sponsorship deal with @Fleshlight, worldwide advocate of men's health #NFLeshlight

@RogerGoodeII: (cont'd) Fleshlight is a thought leader in the synthetic ###### space and we feel it will be a great "fit" for our fans! cc @darrenrovell

@RogerGoodeII: Remember, not only am I the leader of the #NFLeshlight initiative, I'm also a client ;) ?

:lmao: :lmao:

 
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@DannyKnobler: Amazing how Tiger fans have turned into entitled Yankee fans. Season is disaster unless they win World Series.

 
Well Jameis Winston finally declared for the NFL draft, freeing Florida State from their two year prison sentence and thus shortly assigning that debt to someone else.

I, for one, couldn't "crab" less. Because any NFL team would be crazy to draft this guy.

See the NFL is about winning, not sinning. You might be able to get away with a few convicts at the skill positions or head coach, but you aren't going to make the playoffs or ever play in multiple Super Bowls with a QB accused of committing a rape in a small southern town.

It just doesn't happen folks.

Maybe it's just me, but I want my QB to be standing on the tables yelling how he's studying in the film room, not ####ing in the ####y.

An NFL QB is a leader on AND off the field. A face of the franchise who personifies greatness and readiness.

Do you really want your kid hanging up a Jameis Winston Fathead or a Marcus Mariotta one?

Do you want to wake up one morning and have to explain to your kid why his hero is on the front page of the newspaper in handcuffs?

I know I don't. That's why if I am an NFL GM, I'm making the smart choice. The correct choice. I didn't lose 14 games so my QB can get 14 years.

I'm taking Marcus Mariotta.

 
General Malaise said:
Premier said:
I am dying.

Tiki Barber is here, everyone pretend youre a 14 year old virgin and give it up for him. Tikis the Marlon Wayans of the NFL fokls: his twin works harder then him, no one takes him serously on TV, and he got alot of #### for being in White Girls. Hey Tiki is it embarassning that you were on TV first and then Michael Strahan came a long and was better then you? Im not kidding folks NBC dropped Tiki Barber like he was a football being carried by Tiki Barber.
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:lmao:

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/8/1/5956923/hall-of-fame-class-2014-roast-michael-strahan
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:lmao:
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Wow. That's an impressive take.

:lol:

 
Premier said:
Well Jameis Winston finally declared for the NFL draft, freeing Florida State from their two year prison sentence and thus shortly assigning that debt to someone else.

I, for one, couldn't "crab" less. Because any NFL team would be crazy to draft this guy.

See the NFL is about winning, not sinning. You might be able to get away with a few convicts at the skill positions or head coach, but you aren't going to make the playoffs or ever play in multiple Super Bowls with a QB accused of committing a rape in a small southern town.

It just doesn't happen folks.

Maybe it's just me, but I want my QB to be standing on the tables yelling how he's studying in the film room, not ####ing in the ####y.

An NFL QB is a leader on AND off the field. A face of the franchise who personifies greatness and readiness.

Do you really want your kid hanging up a Jameis Winston Fathead or a Marcus Mariotta one?

Do you want to wake up one morning and have to explain to your kid why his hero is on the front page of the newspaper in handcuffs?

I know I don't. That's why if I am an NFL GM, I'm making the smart choice. The correct choice. I didn't lose 14 games so my QB can get 14 years.

I'm taking Marcus Mariotta.
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I got a five-gallon drum of water steaming hot from this take. Ready for the neighborhood crab boil now.

 
Premier said:
Well Jameis Winston finally declared for the NFL draft, freeing Florida State from their two year prison sentence and thus shortly assigning that debt to someone else.

I, for one, couldn't "crab" less. Because any NFL team would be crazy to draft this guy.

See the NFL is about winning, not sinning. You might be able to get away with a few convicts at the skill positions or head coach, but you aren't going to make the playoffs or ever play in multiple Super Bowls with a QB accused of committing a rape in a small southern town.

It just doesn't happen folks.

Maybe it's just me, but I want my QB to be standing on the tables yelling how he's studying in the film room, not ####ing in the ####y.

An NFL QB is a leader on AND off the field. A face of the franchise who personifies greatness and readiness.

Do you really want your kid hanging up a Jameis Winston Fathead or a Marcus Mariotta one?

Do you want to wake up one morning and have to explain to your kid why his hero is on the front page of the newspaper in handcuffs?

I know I don't. That's why if I am an NFL GM, I'm making the smart choice. The correct choice. I didn't lose 14 games so my QB can get 14 years.

I'm taking Marcus Mariotta.
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i Aye aye aye, Muy Caliente !

 
Premier said:
MY COLUMN:

Reports today are that Colin Kaepernick just signed an extension for 6 years at over 100 million dollars.

Can you believe that? What is that, 2000 dollars for each overthrown pass? 1000 dollars for each tattoo?

Has the Aaron Hernandez saga taught us nothing about extending guys with that many tattoos?

Look you can say what you want, but a quarterback is a leader and should have that clean cut look that people respect. Unitas, Manning, Brady, even Russell Wilson (who I may add beat Kaepernick just this past January) all look professional, don't have tattoo sleeves and carry themselves a certain way.

I just want my QB to be more concerned about his team and winning Super Bowls than he is with his Beats Music commercials or how flat his oversized hat bill is. Is that asking too much?

I just want my QB to be perfecting his timing route or his fade pass in the end zone (that Richard Sherman famously jumped) rather than be worried about whether he can shoehorn another splotchy, illegible tattoo onto his bicep.

And if I am paying a guy a hundred million dollars, I want to know that he can win the biggest game of the year, rather than throw a terrible pass to seal the loss and then show no emotion. It's okay Colin, you still have your giant hat.

Today's extension ensures Colin will have a lifetime of oversized hats. But will he be able to fill them with Super Bowl trophies? Or will he just continue to be Colin Kaepercan't...the 100 million dollar QB incapable of leading his team to the big win.

I know which way I think this is going to go.
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Holy #### this one was right :eek: ????????

 
So apparently, someone named "Stevie G" is replacing American hero Landon Donovan for the LA Galaxy. Now, I understand that this Gerrard character is a somewhat accomplished player. He's won "the Champions League," whatever that is. But can Bruce Arena and the Galaxy trust him? Because you see, unlike Donovan, Gerrard's blood doesn't run red, white, and blue. He's not American, he's British. And yeah, maybe the Union Jack's colors are red, white, and blue as well, but you know what I mean.

The last "Bob's Your Uncle," cricket-watching, National Health Service card carrying, Benny Hill-enjoying Brit to make a promise to MLS was a guy named (and I couldn't make this up if I tried) "Frank Lampard." There he was in New York, holding up a jersey, promising to play for NYCFC in their inaugural year. Now, we probably should have known never to trust news involving a sports team that doesn't have an actual name, but there was a hitch. It turns out that this "Lampard" character never had a contract with NYCFC. He had signed with the group controlling NYCFC corporate overlords in Manchester, England. Lampard lied, but we could we really have expected anything else. Have we so easily forgotten Lexington and Concord? Bunker Hill? Sarasota? Yorktown? Have we forgotten when Washington burned in the War of 1812? Only one nation has landed an army in the continental United States and waged war on our people. Three guesses who that was.

Gerrard is coming to the Galaxy in July. Ironically, the month of our Independence. The Galaxy should be a student of history and declare their independence from Gerrard (Freddy Adu, the All-American hero of the 2009 Gold Cup Semi-final against Panama would be available to take his place). If not, Bruce Arena and the Galaxy should prepare for the inevitable treachery.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
So apparently, someone named "Stevie G" is replacing American hero Landon Donovan for the LA Galaxy. Now, I understand that this Gerrard character is a somewhat accomplished player. He's won "the Champions League," whatever that is. But can Bruce Arena and the Galaxy trust him? Because you see, unlike Donovan, Gerrard's blood doesn't run red, white, and blue. He's not American, he's British. And yeah, maybe the Union Jack's colors are red, white, and blue as well, but you know what I mean.

The last "Bob's Your Uncle," cricket-watching, National Health Service card carrying, Benny Hill-enjoying Brit to make a promise to MLS was a guy named (and I couldn't make this up if I tried) "Frank Lampard." There he was in New York, holding up a jersey, promising to play for NYCFC in their inaugural year. Now, we probably should have known never to trust news involving a sports team that doesn't have an actual name, but there was a hitch. It turns out that this "Lampard" character never had a contract with NYCFC. He had signed with the group controlling NYCFC corporate overlords in Manchester, England. Lampard lied, but we could we really have expected anything else. Have we so easily forgotten Lexington and Concord? Bunker Hill? Sarasota? Yorktown? Have we forgotten when Washington burned in the War of 1812? Only one nation has landed an army in the continental United States and waged war on our people. Three guesses who that was.

Gerrard is coming to the Galaxy in July. Ironically, the month of our Independence. The Galaxy should be a student of history and declare their independence from Gerrard (Freddy Adu, the All-American hero of the 2009 Gold Cup Semi-final against Panama would be available to take his place). If not, Bruce Arena and the Galaxy should prepare for the inevitable treachery.
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perfect :banned:

 
Premier said:
Well Jameis Winston finally declared for the NFL draft, freeing Florida State from their two year prison sentence and thus shortly assigning that debt to someone else.

I, for one, couldn't "crab" less. Because any NFL team would be crazy to draft this guy.

See the NFL is about winning, not sinning. You might be able to get away with a few convicts at the skill positions or head coach, but you aren't going to make the playoffs or ever play in multiple Super Bowls with a QB accused of committing a rape in a small southern town.

It just doesn't happen folks.

Maybe it's just me, but I want my QB to be standing on the tables yelling how he's studying in the film room, not ####ing in the ####y.

An NFL QB is a leader on AND off the field. A face of the franchise who personifies greatness and readiness.

Do you really want your kid hanging up a Jameis Winston Fathead or a Marcus Mariotta one?

Do you want to wake up one morning and have to explain to your kid why his hero is on the front page of the newspaper in handcuffs?

I know I don't. That's why if I am an NFL GM, I'm making the smart choice. The correct choice. I didn't lose 14 games so my QB can get 14 years.

I'm taking Marcus Mariotta.
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Maybe it's just me. I'd rather take the All American duck than the criminal who ducks the law and responsibility. Take Winston and you will continue to be the team that loses a ton fokls.

 
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"Dad...did the Patriots really cheat?"

I immediately knew I had a problem when my 7-year-old son came down the stairs without his beloved Tom Brady jersey this morning.

"Well maybe Randy. The NFL is still looking into it. Nobody knows yet." I tried to explain the situation to him, but to be honest, I am not sure of the answers myself.

"But you said cheating is bad and cheaters never win. If cheating is bad, can I still root for Tom?"

My heart broke. You've finally gone too far New England. You've finally gone too far Bill and you've finally gone too far Tom. I hate to have to explain this to my kid. I mean, when does it stop being a game, and when does the NFL start to impact life lessons?

Welcome to the new reality for Roger Goodell, who is facing his worst crisis in his time as NFL commissioner. And as far as I can see, there is only one thing he can do:

After a decade of cheating, Goodell needs to blow Tom Brady and Bill Belichick out of the NFL.

That's right. Suspend the duo for the Super Bowl, if not more. You don't want to play by the rules? Then you need to teach them a lesson. Like I do with my son. You need to not let them play.

The proof that the Patriots are habitual cheaters has been there for years. From Spygate to deceptive play calls to deflating footballs so your QB can get a better grip...I mean, it's gone too far.

"But I don't want to root for Seattle daddy. They have mean players."

This is where the NFL is in 2015. On one side of the Super Bowl you have a loudmouthed, arrogant cornerback along with a running back who grabs his crotch every time he scores a touchdown. And on the other side you have a gang of cheaters who can't even go through one playoff run without having "-gate" added to the narrative.

"Dad when does baseball come back?"

That was the last thing my son said to me as I dropped him off at his mom's this morning. I told him in a few months, but the reality is, it's not soon enough.

Maybe we'll do something else Super Bowl Sunday. Maybe I'll take him bowling or to putt-putt and show him how to play fair in real life.

Because if the NFL isn't willing to be good role models, it's time to take the air out of their product.

 
Had to log out of Capella to update the thread title. Took me 3 minutes to figure out why the edit button wasn't there. :lmao:

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
In truth, starting with the conversation with your son is almost cheating. That's like the Instant Cup of Soup of Hot Takes. Just add a little outrage.
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:lmao: been wanting to do one of those for a while. This one was tailor-made. I don't even have a kid.

Also I always start with the final line and work my way up. If you don't have that you have nothing.

 
Xwrong.

it IS cheating.the colts balls were not off by any weight whatsoever...so how is it that just the Patriots balls , ALL 12 of them, were off by 2+ lbs,while the Colts balls were not off one bit?

answer: Bellichick and Brady cheated. where there's smoke there's fire.you backing the wrong people here.the NFL is goingto come down hard on BB,he'll get suspended for the SB, huge fine , loss of draft picks, and suspension for 4+ games next season.it's THAT serious.not a preseason game, not week 1, but the AFC Championship game..now the circus turns to the SB..he won't make the trip to Az..they'll let him get the team prepped till sunday,and annouce it then,that he's suspended.

THEY CHEATED.

what's so hard to understand here?

and if you think Brady didn't know about it,you're nuts.he was in on the gig.check his laugh at that radio show the other day,when asked about it.his obnoxious arrogant laughter tells it all.would love to have a body language expert sit in on that conversation..I'm sure there were telltale signs ..

also,if you think Bobby Kraft wasn't in on the gig, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell ya..

other owners are probably clamoring that the NFL come down hard on this guy, BB, who already was caught cheating,and now is again.

and those of you who don't think he should be suspended, they banned Sean Payton for a full year for Bountygate..and his DC was out for 2 years..thats for putting money on injuries made to opposing players.actually altering the game and its parts - deflating balls - is even WORSE...

the mdeia is going to make this SB a circus, it could affect sponsors, etc..the integrity of the game has been compromised,yet,again,by Bill Bellichick and Tommy Brady.

they're both FRAUDS, and this will only further cement the idea that BB doesn't sniff the HOF and that Brady gets an asterisk..

ladies and gentlemen, meet the new Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire..
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I am completely and 100% addicted to the inflated balls thread in the shark pool. I cannot get enough.

apparently Brady ran a closed door meeting with his team today, before the upcoming press conference..and with this , so goes his career..laughing about it a couple days ago, obnoxiously, arrogantly, to now have a closed door meeting with teammates to basically say I did it???? he's a fraud, people..his whole football career is a fraud..
reports are that other teams have noticed deflated balls in games v. Patriots earlier in the year..this is sytemic.Brady is, as I and others have always maintained, is a first class cheater..he's NOT the greatest QB ever, not even in the conversation ...does he show his narcissism and deny it all , or take responsibility and then try to downplay it with his aww shucks demeanor,as Jim Rome says. it's a pity, because they have no shot at beating Seattle even with Brady..but there's an outstanding chance he is suspended for the Super Bowl..bye bye, d-bags! this likely has been happening his entire career...you figure he doesnt throw many ints, so how would the opposition get a hand on the ball anyways? Pats dont turn the ball over very often.Brady knows this..he engineered this and needs to be reprimanded accordingly..
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Frostillicus said:
I am completely and 100% addicted to the inflated balls thread in the shark pool. I cannot get enough.

apparently Brady ran a closed door meeting with his team today, before the upcoming press conference..and with this , so goes his career..laughing about it a couple days ago, obnoxiously, arrogantly, to now have a closed door meeting with teammates to basically say I did it???? he's a fraud, people..his whole football career is a fraud..

reports are that other teams have noticed deflated balls in games v. Patriots earlier in the year..this is sytemic.Brady is, as I and others have always maintained, is a first class cheater..he's NOT the greatest QB ever, not even in the conversation ...does he show his narcissism and deny it all , or take responsibility and then try to downplay it with his aww shucks demeanor,as Jim Rome says. it's a pity, because they have no shot at beating Seattle even with Brady..but there's an outstanding chance he is suspended for the Super Bowl..bye bye, d-bags! this likely has been happening his entire career...you figure he doesnt throw many ints, so how would the opposition get a hand on the ball anyways? Pats dont turn the ball over very often.Brady knows this..he engineered this and needs to be reprimanded accordingly..
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T with T?

 
Cheated.

Hot Sports Takes won't make up for it.

35-31 against Baltimore.

Smile, Charlie Pierce, smile.

Too arch for your own good.

Cheats.

 
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This one is so hot it actually reads like parody:

As career winds down, Duncan remains a starTim Duncan was selected for his 15th NBA All-Star game on Thursday, and it flies in the face of everything for which the modern NBA stands.

The NBA is about preening drama queens who are marketed ahead of their teams. It’s about aerial acrobatics and TV commercials and impatient men who aren’t willing to make the necessary sacrifices to win it all.


Every year, Duncan faces being shut out of the All-Star game because he’s none of those things.

In a world of high-wire showoffs, the Big Fundamental is the guy with his feet on the ground. Literally. You couldn’t slip a sheet of typing paper under Duncan’s feet as he jumps.

Duncan doesn’t seek the limelight, so no one has to face-palm when nonexistent embarrassing photos hit his imaginary Instagram account. He hasn’t taken his front office hostage, demanding the maximum contracts he deserves.

Instead, he has agreed to smaller paychecks in order to help mold a championship team. And he is not making up the lost income with national endorsement deals, because he doesn’t have any.

Duncan’s public image could be best described as “enigmatic.” He might be duller than the fine print in an earnings report, but fans and media don’t really know because he keeps to himself.


Duncan’s selection to the West All-Stars is a tribute to the enduring greatness of one of the best players of all time.

If this were the Academy Awards, Duncan would be getting the Irving Thalberg, a special award given to someone who should have gotten a lot more attention and many more awards over the years.

Now 38 years old and in his 18th NBA campaign, Duncan enters every year being written off as too old to make a difference by the nation’s sports media.

That assessment usually is followed by a season in which the Spurs win at least 50 games and, in most cases, go deep in the playoffs. Duncan and his co-conspirator, coach Gregg Popovich, are the only constants on a team that’s made the NBA Finals six times, winning five and coming within seconds of a sixth title.

The Spurs, under Pop’s leadership and Duncan’s wingspan, are considered to be one of the most well-run and successful sports franchises on the planet.

And it all started in 1997, when the Spurs beat out the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 pick in that year’s NBA draft and selected the lanky, inscrutable kid from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Duncan’s reputation as a blue-collar basketball god began at Wake Forest, where he was All-ACC for three years and All-America for two years. He was college basketball’s Player of the Year, winning the Wooden and Naismith awards as well, in his senior year.

He set the NBA on fire in his rookie season, averaging 39 minutes, 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

These days — even though he’s playing 30 minutes a game and logging 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds — his teams are better.

Duncan has proven the concept of addition by subtraction, to wit: by playing less, scoring fewer points and being a presence, the rest of the team’s players have gotten better. The Spurs are a more lethal team in the autumn of Duncan’s career than they were when he was a spring chicken mopping the floor with the leagues’ other dominant players.

Even though he still can turn it on if he has to, those days are long gone. And as Duncan sees the light at the end of the professional tunnel, honors such as Thursday’s will become fewer and fewer.

A young Duncan was selected as an All-Star starter for eight straight years.

Now, he focuses on using his skills to improve the Spurs, not his own bank account. Kobe Bryant would not understand that.

And he has chosen to stay on his small-market team. LeBron James would not understand that.

The narrative in San Antonio had been that Duncan would be snubbed by All-Star coaches, as he has been snubbed by All-Star voters in recent years.

Duncan knows the truth. Sharing the spotlight has helped get him rings, but it does not get him an automatic starting job on the All-Star team.

He has willingly opted to be a team guy, giving up money and touches to make sure the team around him could win five world championships. A seat on the All-Star bench is a perk.

Duncan accepts this. It’s time we accept it, too
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