Billy Paultz Reconsidered

Exactly what I expected- a pleasant feature that didn’t do James’ work justice. I liked Theo Epstein’s comment that James’ value to the Red Sox is more often the questions he asks than the answers, because it suggests the important truth that Sabermetrics isn’t about slide rules and formulas but simply about thinking.
I didn’t like Terry Francona’s, […]

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I’m sitting on my bed with the computer in my lap. Son number one is web-surfing in his room. Son number two is doing the Jimi Hendrix thing in his. Mom is downstairs watching whatever on the HDTV with Tivo, and using her laptop….
It’s a full life, but a very electronic one.
It’s been a light […]

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Continuing today’s breakdown of the NCAAs with the Friday games:
Midwest region
Wisconsin-Davidson: I don’t think Davidson is that live a dog. Its front line is substandard, and it’s utterly dependent on a small, not-especially quick jump-shooter. After Kansas-Carolina-UCLA, the Badgers are as good as anybody.
Can Stephan Curry play in the NBA? Sure, in the right situation. But he’s […]

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A look at the third-rounders:
East region Thursday
North Carolina-Washington State: OK, maybe I underestimated the Tar Heels a little bit….
Obviously a healthy Ty Lawson makes a big difference here. He played an immaculate game in Sunday’s demolition of Arkansas- 19 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3pt FG, 5-5 FT), seven assists and no turnovers is 24 minutes.
Carolina scored […]

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Now here’s a class I could guest lecture: “Joe Paterno, Communications and The Media.”
Mike Poorman, who conceived the course and will teach it, is an old friend. I don’t think Joe is quite as crafty and calculating in his dealings with us as Mike does. Still, Joe’s been doing what he does, in the same […]

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This is from a piece on Pryor’s signing by Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
“I would’ve had Penn State higher and would’ve considered them more if I knew coach Bradley was going to be the head coach when Joe Paterno retires,” Pryor said.
He’s not the only one.

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So Terrelle Pryor is going to Ohio State, as has been long suspected.
Not sure this is a bad thing for Penn State. They have a quarterback for next year. They have a QB for the year after that. Drop Pryor into Happy Valley and you immediately have a QB controversy, probably with players taking sides, etc. […]

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The 24 hours or so after the brackets come out is, at least to me, maybe the most interesting time of the sports-media year. My favorite moment from Sunday night was when ESPN’s panel came on for its post-bracket analysis, and there’s Bobby Knight, leaning heavily back in his chair and yawning like a grizzly bear. […]

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One staple of this blog in its original conception was supposed to have been to sit down late in the evening weekdays, with the family in bed, and sort of purge. For a variety of reasons (i.e. my disorganization and sloth) that hasn’t happened much. Tonight the domestic planets are aligned….
I’m doing a column for the […]

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Occasionally someone asks who I think I’m writing for, what I consider my audience to be. OK, very occasionally, but it has happened. The answer is a person who’s interested in sport for its own sake, not because they went to Penn State or their nephew plays for McCaskey, a person who wants to know, honestly, what the […]

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