Borderline Fantastic

I decided with my tons of links to split off the sports ones in their own separate post.

Amazing Tailgating Trailer - Only 3 TVs included?

J-Roll’s Sportscenter commercial

Looking back at the Mariners’ futuristic night - You might forget about the original Turn Ahead the Clock game. All sorts of fun facts I wasn’t aware of.

Let’s Play The Feud: The WNBA Edition - The fight in the WNBA game. In case you are the one person that hasn’t seen it.

Please, I Beg You, Make It Stop - A post about the green sticker on the back of QB’s helmets in the NFL. This year they added a graphic.

Agent Aloha - Some great Philly shirts. The best of the bunch.

This year’s Penn State video

There is nothing worse than getting mocked by the Nationals - I hate the kiss cam, but this is funny.

Game of the century The story behind the 1912 Carlisle vs. Army battle

Rare cancer took Ruth, dentist says

Baseball star John Kruk one of many fooled by bank robber

Ticket Stumbler - Pulls together listings from the various ticket sites.

Passing the Torch: An Evolution of Form - The Olympic Torch over the years.

Skip Caray Tributes …
Baseball mourns loss of Skip Caray
Ernie Johnson And Turner Sports’ Tribute To Skip Caray

I’ve been getting sick of worthless baseball lists. Here are some decent ones …
Top 20 Baseball Quotes of All Time
The Worst Seats in the House
THN.com’s NHL Logo Rankings

This week I launched College Football Picks for the 2008 season. It’s a College Football Pickem game that I started last season. Similar to last year you have the option of competing against all ICH members or in a group.

ICH picks includes games featuring Top 25 teams against the spread. Your score will rank you against the other people making ICH picks. It will also add to your Overall ICH Score where you can see where you rank against everyone in all sports.

Groups can be customized in a number of ways so that your group will only pick the games you want. You can select from Top 25, conferences, or individual teams. Any combination you wish. Groups can choose to pick against the spread or straight up. Wager Points allow your group members to place points on games they are confident in. The risk is that an incorrect pick will result in the amount wagered being subtracted from your total.

If you are ready, the rankings for Week 1 are up and you can start making your picks now!

Ice Cream Helmet College Football Picks

Sometimes my travels on the internet wind up taking an unusual path leaving me tracing my steps from my destination back to where it all began. Take today, I started on a baseball blog and it led me to looking into the history of the NBA. I’ll explain …

It all started in my Google Reader where I keep up on a variety of feeds, many of them are the blogs of the ESPN baseball columnists. Rob Neyer is one of those columnists. He had an entry on Friday about Russ Gload (I think you need ESPN Insider to read, but its not too important). For those of you not in the loop, Russ Gload is the Kansas City Royals’ 1st baseman. It’s alright, I didn’t know who he was either, I haven’t kept up with the Royals. In the post he examined if Russ Gload was the worst everyday 1st basemen ever. He found three players doing worse than he has done so far this season. So there is still time for Russ to catch up.

One of those players was Howie Schultz who turned in the worst season ever in 1947 when he played for the Dodgers and Phillies. What interested me was that after the 1948 season Schultz stopped playing baseball and played basketball. In 1949 he played during the 1st season of the NBA for the Anderson Packers. This interested me very much. Who were the Anderson Packers? Where is Anderson? What other teams existed during the first season of the NBA that I’m not aware of?

Who were the Anderson Packers?
Basketball Reference to the rescue. The Anderson Packers did play in that first season of the NBA (49-50). In fact, they finished 2nd in the Western Division. They won their first two playoff series and wound up losing in the semifinals to the Minneapolis Lakers, who wound up winning the title. Despite making the playoffs, that was the only year the Anderson Packers were in the league.

Continuing to Wikipedia for more details, there aren’t a ton. The Packers played 3 seasons in the NBL. Then the NBL and BAA merged forming the NBA. After the inaugural NBA season the Packers moved to the NPBL. A league that almost lasted an entire season. One interesting note about the Packers: Their home court was the Anderson High School Wigwam.

Where is Anderson?
Indiana. Northeast of Indianapolis.

What about the other teams from that 1st NBA season?
There were 17 teams that season in 3 divisions: Eastern, Central, and Western.

Eastern
Baltimore Bullets - Lasted 1947-1954. In NBA: 1949-1954.
Boston Celtics - Still in existence
New York Knickerbockers - Still in existence
Philadelphia Warriors - Moved to San Francisco in 1962. Now the Golden State Warriors.
Syracuse Nationals - Moved to Philadelphia in 1963. Now the Philadelphia 76ers.
Washington Capitals - Lasted 1946-1951. Only 2 seasons in NBA.

Central
Chicago Stags - Lasted 1946-1950. Only played in NBA for 1 season.
Fort Wayne Pistons - Moved to Detroit in 1957, where they still play.
Minneapolis Lakers - Moved to Los Angeles in 1960, where they still play.
Rochester Royals - Moved to Cincinnati in 1957. Moved to Kansas City/Omaha in 1972 and became the Kings. Just in Kansas City starting in 1975. Moved to Sacramento in 1985, where they still exist.
St. Louis Bombers - Lasted 1946-1950. Only played in NBA for 1 season.

Western
Anderson Packers - Talked about them above. NBL: 1946-1949. NBA: 1949-1950, NPBL: 1950-1951.
Denver Nuggets - NBL: 1948-1949, NBA: 1949-1950. Not connected to the current Denver Nuggets.
Indianapolis Olympians - NBA: 1949-1953
Sheboygan Redskins - NBL: 1938-1949, NBA: 1949-1950, NPBL: 1950-1951
Tri-Cities Blackhawks - Moved to Milwaukee in 1951, shortened name to Hawks. Moved to St. Louis in 1955. Moved to Atlanta in 1968, where they still play. The Tri-Cities are Moline, Illinois; Rock Island, Illinois; and Davenport, Iowa. Apparently that area is now known as the Quad Cities, or maybe even the Quint Cities.
Waterloo Hawks - NBL: 1948-1949, NBA: 1949-1950, NPBL: 1950-1951

Out of those 17 teams only 8 still exist in some form. The 2nd season of the NBA only had 11 teams and 2 divisions. 3 teams moved to the NPBL and 3 teams folded.

I learned all this in just a little searching around this afternoon. As with most adventures of this type, it started at a baseball blog. I’d like to learn more about the history of the NBA, I love old teams, leagues and how teams move around. More likely I’ll see something else shiny on the internet and get distracted.

If you went to a large university or big corporation you have likely often been in the situation where someone asks you if you know someone that goes to school there or works there. 99% of the time the answer is no. That 1% is fascinating but because of the 99% the question itself just invokes and negative response.

The questions often start out the same, ‘You probably don’t know him but …’ The relation is often some sort of odd chain of connections that enable this person to attempt to relate to you, ‘My neighbor’s cousin’s nephew goes to Penn State, do you know him?’ ‘Nope sorry. Do you?’

There is the odd chance where the person is completely serious in their question. This happens often with my job because they don’t realize that thousands of people in the area work for the same company. Still, it’s either time to learn that fact or realize that they are a moron. When it comes to Penn State, you have no excuse, especially in Pennsylvania.

One of my favorite responses came on a plane on my way to my first spring break. There were quite a number of spring breakers on the flight. A few rows away someone asked the guys near her where they went to school. ‘Oh! I know someone that goes there, do you know so and so?’ One of the guys replied with a shocked and confused tone, ‘No. That’s weird because I know all 40,000 people there.’

The question is asked so often that it’s the perfect situation to try out all sorts of responses. The person asking usually knows you’ve heard it a lot. Even if you wind up offending them in some way you can easily explain the situation. Explain that so many people go to your school or work at your company that you’ve made a game of it after being asked so many times.

I thought of a few possible responses …
Put the person in a bad light, yourself too if needed (sacrifice yourself for the good of the bit) – ‘Oh yea, he’s my dealer.’ ‘That kid always has the best weed.’ ‘We went streaking one time, but we didn’t hang out much after that.’

Have the person confused with someone else – ‘Did he have a peg leg?’ ‘Mohawk?’ ‘I think I know who you’re talking about. Doesn’t he go by Michelle now?’

Admit you didn’t know anyone - ‘I didn’t have any friends.’ Then act broken up about it.

Tell them you went to the other Penn State (substitute your institution of choice here) - ‘Oh no, I went to the the other Penn State, its a small Christian college in Mississippi.’ Don’t worry that the school name doesn’t fit. For bonus points act as though you’ve never heard of this gigantic school that goes by the same name as the tiny college you are pretending to be attending.

Say a similar name but turn the question around – ‘Do you know Mike Janke?’ ‘No, but I know a Phil Jenkins. Do you know him?’ Then start talking about what a great guy he is. I like this one because I’d have to work to come up with something good. On occasion I’d probably come up with a name that I loved and wouldn’t be able to get it out without cracking up. Every once in a while I’d throw out a random name that is not at all similar to the name asked. If I were in a particularly evil mood I might switch sexes up on them.

Wear gear from other large schools - This lets you join in the fun if you did go to that small Christian college. I have some Florida Gators gear. If I wore it more often I’m sure I’d get asked about it. A few times I’ve had passers by yell ‘Go Gators!’ Which is similar to someone yelling ‘We Are!’ to a Penn Stater.

Promo for The Cleveland Show - At first I thought this was a dumb idea but after the promo and getting back into American Dad I am now on board.

Be a star in our reasonably priced car - Try out the Top Gear track.

Wii Fit damage. I knew this was coming as soon as I set mine up. You need a bit of room to be moving about. I especially see issues at first for the unbalanced gamers.

WGN did a turn back the clock game. They covered the game as if it were 1948.

Uni Watch took over uniform duties for the Camden River Sharks. I wish I would have remembered, I would have gone.

Jim Caple on Page 2 ranks the best single sports years for a city. The winner? Philly in 1980-81. That’s right, I just missed the best sports year for any city ever.

Bob Uecker’s Yacht Wrecked By Freighter - A rule I have is anything I find mildly interesting that involves Bob Uecker, I share.

Fahrenheit - The new coaster at Hershey Park drops at 97 degrees. I haven’t been to Hershey in a few years, I think its time to go back.

If you’re dog and Roomba don’t get along, yell at your robot.

Top Five Roadkill Sites in North America - Actually the list is for top sites where turtles are run over. I was surprised that roadkill was tracked. I’m even more surprised they keep track by animal. The #1 site wins with a score of 2070 turtles killed per mile. That seems like a lot.

Gizmodo loves their LEGO posts. Apparently there was some sort of convention.
LEGO Death Star video
Pictures of the LEGO Death Star
LEGO Business ‘Card’
LEGO Airbus A380

Game 5 of the NBA Finals is about to start. I’ve watched a grand total of 10 or 15 minutes through the first 4 games. I wanted to get into it this year, I really did. Forget that its the Celtics and Lakers, just that it was two teams that seemed to be matched evenly and one that I wanted to win much more than the other, the Celtics.

Problem is the games didn’t start until after 9. There is no point in even starting to watch when I know that I’d have to stay up later than I wanted just to get to halftime. I realize this makes me sound like an old man. Well, I am and I try and get up around 5am each morning to get to work at a reasonable hour.

For Game 4 I was up later than I expected so I checked in before going to bed. The Lakers were up big but the Celtics were playing hard and hitting shots. I wanted to watch the rest but it wasn’t happening. From watching the Sixers come back so many times this year I’ve learned to sense when the tide is starting to turn in a major way.

The best part of the Finals has been that Kimmel is on at 8 on game nights. Each show has been great, his usual show is good but I don’t think anybody watches it. Hopefully people watched these specials, were surprised at how good his show is and will start checking him out at his regular time.

Tip off is coming up and I’ll be watching … probably something else. I’ll check in before bed.

Carolla did Made Up Movies again yesterday, Part 1 and Part 2. This continues to be my favorite segment on the show, which is really saying something.

David Sedaris on The Daily Show - Enjoyable interview. One of the few people who’s books I will go out and get, then actually read.

Bo Burnham - New Math - New YouTube Song from Bo. I saw him open for Joel McHale.

Chris Bosh on Leno - He reports from the NBA Finals for Leno. The second thing I’ve found funny on Leno in a month, doubling my lifetime total.

Pool Pogo Stick - At first I thought it was funny and worthless. Now, I kind of want one.

Water Slide with Loop - You get started by dropping through a trap door. Something seems dangerous about this.

Pillow Rings - Someone must have gotten tired of having knuckles imprinted on their cheek.

Disney World in 3D - Travel to Disney World inside of Google Earth.

You’ve Been Left Behind - Worried that you won’t get to say good-bye to your loved ones after you’ve been raptured. This site will email what you have stored on the site to who you select within 6 days of the rapture. How do they know the rapture has occured? Here is what they say: “This occurs when 3 of our 5 team members scattered around the U.S fail to log in over a 3 day period. Another 3 days are given to fail safe any false triggering of the system.” Oh, and its not free. $40 for the first year but they expect a lot of signups so future years should be cheaper.