If you think about alternatives, not too tough. You could have drawn 3 harder opponents (Barcelona, Bayern, Madrid), one about the same level (Juventus) and two easier (Roma, Sevilla). If you have the option to get Liverpool or a draw of the other 6, the smart choice would be stand pat.

I doubt Middle Tenn St gets in. After Alabama win, the last teams on the bubble are: St Mary’s, Louisville and Arizona St. Solid teams, the committee will not pick Mid TN St over any of them. 

In team sports it is standard allowing only one team by country/member, even though we know than a second or third team from a powerhouse would be a title contender. No one would argue to send 5 USA teams to basketball Olympics, or 2 Duke teams to March madness.

Another big moment came on the 9th end. Canada down 4-2, with the hammer (last shot). With one throw left for each team, there is only one Canadian stone in the house. Everone assumed USA would hit the Canadian stone out of the house, and in turn Canada would hit hard the USA stone, leaving no stones in the house (a…

This one was planned to sell in Mexico, maybe will fit Puerto Rico better.

It depends a lot of the time. Blitz chess (under 10 minutes per player for all the game) is definitely a young man’s game. Fast calculation and reflexes rule. As time goes slower, experience gets more valuable. Peak may be close to 30 and decline is slow. Big talents like Anand and Kramnik are still top 10 players at…

Jalapeños are very different, much wider than Shishito. You likely bought Serrano peppers, which looks very similar.

Civil conFLiCT, football U Conn vs UCF. Totally made up, looks like the trophy is lost.

They also came with same insight on baseball:

Shottenheimier did a great work too. In NFL great coaching cannot overcome lack of talent.

Yes, Don Roberto Hernández Jr. He was very good narrating games for radio, but made his fame on a daily program “Futbol al Día” on Multimedios TV. There he was a flame thrower, many years before such programs were popular. I agree, he was in part responsible of violence at the stadiums in Monterrey.

It is impressive that last 4 opponents have quit on Lomachenko. A good boxer deciding it is not worth to continue the fight implies a huge beating. This streak shows Lomachenko head and shoulders above the opposition.

Great article about this kind of play, recommended.

Of course, doing a childish pre-game dancing to intimidate te oppoising team works always. Way to go!

I read once a very interesting proposal for draft order. The worst team picks another team, and next year will draft in the place of that team. So this year nets pick first, they may take Suns. Second picking team Suns may take Nets, etc. If your picked team ends last, you get 1st pick next year (or alternatively,…

Classical sportsbook management calls for getting equivalent money on both sides to lock in a profit. Las Vegas sportsbooks tend to be this conservative, as a few bad breaks could hit their bottom line so much that the hotel could prefer closing the sportsbook to place something with better return, such as slot…

I agree with most of the article, but my spin detector could not help but notice the phrase: “the mean number of injuries suffered per game in the NFL is approximately 4.9 times higher than the sum of those other leagues.”. Sounds huge, but the NFL season is 16 games vs 162 on MLB and about 80 on NBA/NHL. So, nice…

Great article. However, looks like something about the betting numbers is not right. First, the difference between fave - dog odds grows on one-sided contests. If McGregor pays 225-1, Mayweather should pay 1 for at least $1000 risked. I doubt any casino would offer such prices at opening. Even if offered, maximum bet…

As everything on those contracts, the team option years are negotiated. Do you want only 2 years without team options? Your guaranteed money decrease. Do you want a player option? Guaranteed money decreases even more.

I don’t think Boston would trade Sale for Darvish, unless they get prospects :/