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  • July 7, 2019 at 8:50 pm in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102759
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    July 7, 2019 at 7:57 pm in reply to: AD is a Laker #102758
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    I noticed the interest in the Lakers by some guys here, so since I ran across this, thought it would fit.

    ==

    After Saturday spending spree, Lakers have players, not answers

    https://theathletic.com/1065411/

    Here is what the Lakers had on June 30, at the dawn of free agency: Two of the greatest forwards in the modern NBA and a whole lot of uncertainty about the team that would surround them.

    Now, here is what they have on July 6, after a flurry of free-agent additions: pretty much the same thing.

    Kawhi Leonard? A Clipper.

    Big three? Still two.

    Betting favorites for the title? No more.

    Spurned by Leonard in prime Las Vegas gambling hours, Rob Pelinka was forced to Plan B and quickly went to work locking up commitments from Danny Green, Quinn Cook, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. On Saturday, he added Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, who will soon be two years removed from a torn Achilles. Alex Caruso, who spent the past two years on a two-way contract, was also brought back.

    The question oft asked about the Lakers and their hard-earned $32 million in salary-cap space before free agency was answered for them: spend it all on one player or split it up? The Lakers tried for the former and were forced into the latter in a picked-over market. Players such as Seth Curry and Patrick Beverley were gone. Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington and Taj Gibson were Knicks.

    Anything was going to feel like a letdown if the Lakers missed on Leonard. But at the same time, the Lakers went into July with a core of James, Davis and Kyle Kuzma and the cap space to assemble a roster that would contend for a championship.

    Did they do that here? Or did waiting for Kawhi cost them that opportunity? And if so, would they have been better off never clearing the cap space that allowed them to pursue a max free agent? Or, rather than chasing a third MVP-caliber star, should they have simply pursued a third All-Star in Jimmy Butler or Kemba Walker?

    These are questions that will be asked. But as I wrote Friday night, the Lakers knew the game they were playing and they knew that there was a risk they wouldn’t land Leonard. They bet on themselves, on the lure of forming an all-time great Big Three, on the brand of the Lakers. They lost.

    Pelinka likely salvaged the best offseason he could once Leonard finally came off the board, but it is far from a finished product.

    Green, who signed for a reported $15 million a year for two years, was the most important piece. He is among the best 3-and-D wings in the league. He shot a career-best 45.5 percent from 3 and won a title in a contract year with the Raptors. Even if he regresses to his career average of 40.4 percent, that would be better than the Lakers’ best 3-point shooter from a season ago — when Lance Stephenson made 37.1 percent.

    Green has been a key member of title teams in San Antonio and Toronto. The only criticism of Green is a great indictment of the Lakers’ depth. He was, generously, the fifth best player on those championship teams.

    With the Lakers, he’s arguably third.

    A year ago, the Warriors were lauded for attracting Cousins. Even coming off the most devastating injury a basketball player can suffer, Cousins was viewed as the fifth member in a quintent of All-Stars. The Lakers are receiving no such plaudits in the immediate aftermath, and it’s fair to wonder if that has more to do with Cousins’ injury in the playoffs or a general negativity toward the Lakers. Sometimes, it seems like it’s an organization that can’t win for losing.

    Another reason this feels like a bigger risk for the Lakers than it did for the Warriors: In Golden State, Cousins was absorbed into an organization with a strong culture and clearly delineated hierarchy. There was no room for Cousins to rock the boat with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. He served at their pleasure.

    With the Lakers amid a full organizational reboot, from the front office to the coaching staff to the roster overhaul, there is no such structure. It will be up to coach Frank Vogel to make sure the pieces work on the floor, and up to James and Davis to set the tone for the culture.

    The history between Cousins and Davis is encouraging. The Pelicans were +5.3 with Cousins and Davis on the floor in 2017-18.

    But 


    That number plummeted to -1.3 when Rondo was on the floor.

    On a value contract, Cousins will have the opportunity to show he is still the player he was with Davis in New Orleans. That high ceiling could be the X-factor to a deep playoff run for the Lakers.

    After the Lakers ranked 29th in 3-point percentage, it was clear the team had two key areas in which it needed to improve in the offseason — from the perimeter and defensively.

    Did the Lakers get better from 3? With Green, Troy Daniels (career 40 percent), Jared Dudley (39.2 percent) the answer is unquestionably yes. The roster boasts shooting at all five positions.

    And defense? Vogel is a defensive coach, for starters, and Davis and Green should anchor a much stronger unit on that side of the ball.

    In general, you can talk yourself into all of the Lakers’ signings in a vacuum, especially as consolation prizes. The question remains how it will all come together on the court and whether it will be good enough to remove the sting of losing out on Leonard and everyone else who came off the board while they waited.

    July 7, 2019 at 4:39 pm in reply to: the womens world cup team #102756
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    ==

    ==

    July 7, 2019 at 3:48 pm in reply to: the womens world cup team #102755
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    July 7, 2019 at 1:44 pm in reply to: Donald #102753
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    ==

    ==

    July 7, 2019 at 12:35 pm in reply to: if you've never seen Deadwood, you need to #102751
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    Billy_T wrote:

    Have not seen the series, though.

    It’s just a netflix order away (I mean ordering the discs).

    Streaming only matters if you have to/need to watch things when originally broadcast….which IMO is a hot consumerist model of seeing these things. I rarely watch anything that way these days. For me, instead, it’s binging with discs…though to do it that way you can’t care if you’re a year behind. So I say, wait a year and order the discs.

    July 7, 2019 at 12:19 pm in reply to: OL talk #102750
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    July 7, 2019 at 11:20 am in reply to: AD is a Laker #102747
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    July 7, 2019 at 11:04 am in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102746
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    July 7, 2019 at 11:03 am in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102745
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    July 7, 2019 at 12:24 am in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102743
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    AlbaNY_Ram

    Just to be clear, this is what the charges claim – that he “touched an adult woman against her will on intimate parts of her body for the purpose of sexual arousal and gratification.” https://www.ocregister.com/2019/03/15/rams-get-back-coach-ted-rath-charged-with-three-counts-misdemeanor-sexual-battery/. The woman says she was asleep when the alleged assault occurred. https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2019/07/05/trial-begins-l-a-rams-strength-conditioning-coach/1643643001/

    July 6, 2019 at 9:46 pm in reply to: Ranking all 32 NFL helmets … &, ranking the top 25 sports uniforms #102741
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    from Ranking the 25 most iconic uniforms … note: they mean in all sports, college & pro

    The clothes make the teams and the fans that follow them. Some of the uniforms are iconic and should not be messed with, yet teams still dive into the apparel market to reap financial benefits. The best of the best.

    —

    21. Los Angeles Rams

    The Rams have a lot to work with in their scheme. They have used gold and dark blue, but now that the team is back in LA, the bright lights of the big city pop with their bright blue and yellow colors. All it took was a few wins for the buying public to notice this is the kind of look that can be worn proudly.1. Los Angeles Rams

    July 6, 2019 at 8:49 pm in reply to: Rams 2nd pick, Darrell Henderson, RB #102740
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    RockRam

    Living in the South, and being a UCF fan, it was really something to watch Henderson tear the UCF defense apart because that defense had serious speed. But Henderson simply out-quicks and outruns everybody.

    I know that the NFL values it, but I think that fans sometimes don’t appreciate, that quick twitch/suddenness is a huge factor in a player’s game. It is a huge factor in ADs game…. maybe the largest. And it will be the #1 factor in Henderson’s game. His long speed is really good; but plenty of other NFL RBs have 4.5 40 speed. The difference is that ability to hit that speed in a burst, and to make those cuts and movements instantaneously.

    July 6, 2019 at 4:45 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102739
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    Michael Katz@MichaelLKatz
    Harry Potter was a system wizard

    July 6, 2019 at 4:42 pm in reply to: around the league tweets (7/6 thru ?) #102738
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    July 6, 2019 at 12:12 pm in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102735
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    July 6, 2019 at 9:08 am in reply to: Renewables are winning the economics battle against new coal and gas #102732
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    July 6, 2019 at 8:57 am in reply to: Podcast #102731
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    July 6, 2019 at 8:53 am in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102730
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    July 6, 2019 at 12:32 am in reply to: so. cal gets a 7.1 quake…here's local news during the quake #102729
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    ==

    July 6, 2019 at 12:14 am in reply to: AOC does it again #102727
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    ==

    July 6, 2019 at 12:12 am in reply to: the one-shot tweets thread (diff'rent stuff, funny angry interesting) #102726
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    July 5, 2019 at 11:14 pm in reply to: strength & conditioning coach Rath … trial … update: back with team #102725
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    Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
    The trial of Ted Rath, the Rams director of strength and performance, began this afternoon in Ventura. Rath is accused of three counts of sexual battery.

    ==

    Trial begins for L.A. Rams’ strength, conditioning coach

    Megan Diskin, Ventura County Star

    https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2019/07/05/trial-begins-l-a-rams-strength-conditioning-coach/1643643001/

    A Moorpark woman was asleep in her bed when an accused Los Angeles Rams coach allegedly touched her inappropriately, the prosecution said Friday as the coach’s trial began.

    Theodore “Ted“ Rath, the strength and conditioning coach for the NFL team headquartered in the Conejo Valley, has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery in the alleged June 2018 incident.

    Rath, 35, of Moorpark, has pleaded not guilty to the allegations through his defense attorneys Vicki Podberesky and Bill Haney.

    Rath was arrested Jan. 15, five days before the Rams beat New Orleans in the NFC championship game. He was booked into Ventura County jail and released on $5,000 bail, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

    Rath is on a leave of absence from the team as the case goes on.

    The trial began about 4:30 p.m. Friday in Ventura County Superior Court with Senior Deputy District Attorney Erik Nasarenko laying out for jurors what the 33-year-old alleged victim claims happened that night at her home on Breeze Glen Way.

    ==

    from: https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-ted-rath-trial-begins-20190705-story.html

    After nearly three days of jury selection, the trial for Ted Rath, the Rams’ director of strength training and performance who pleaded not guilty to three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, began Friday in Ventura County Superior Court.

    Rath, 35, has been on leave from his position with the Rams since mid-January, after he was charged for an alleged June 2018 incident that involved a woman he knew at her residence in Moorpark.

    …

    If convicted on all counts, Rath could face a maximum of 18 months in jail and would be required to register as a sex offender.

    July 5, 2019 at 9:51 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102724
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    Chris Long@JOEL9ONE
    Realizing u won’t go have to go to camp is like a warm blanket out of the dryer. It’s like sinking into a giant hammock. Like the best Friday 1st beer you ever had. Like rolling around in the grass w 15 puppies. It’s like when they cancel school on the forecast the night before.

    July 5, 2019 at 5:05 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102721
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    A note on this. The value of VB’s comments is that he saw the Rams practice in OTAs. Yes it’s practice in pajamas, but still it’s nice to hear from someone who saw them in action, even at this early stage.

    ==

    Rams Q&A: Vinny Bonsignore
    https://theathletic.com/1060038/2019/07/05/live-qa-with-rams-writer-vinny-bonsignore-on-friday-from-noon-to-1-p-m-pt-3/

    I still think they’ll be primarily 11 personnel, but not as much as in the past. I think there will be some diversity and different packaging. And yes, I think there will be an earnest effort to get Henderson and Everett more involved

    [Woods, Kupp, Cooks] I think if they stay healthy they all reach 1000. And absolutely when that group is intact, Jared’s stats reflect their importance. He is simpy a better QB, statistically, when that group is together

    [Kupp] Everything is on target. I think he’ll be on a definite program in camp. Not necessarily because he isn’t healthy, but just as a protective measure to ward off any setbacks. They want him full go to open the season, and feel they have a plan in place that achieves that objective
    He was on the field, and a partial participant even in some reduced-speed 11 on 11 periods during OTA’s, so that’s an excellent sign. And everyone I’ve talked to anticipates he’ll be ready to roll for the season opener.

    really liked what I saw when the ball was in Henderson’s hands, just in terms of a burst/speed perspective. He’s a different kind of athlete, man. And it shows

    [Gurley] I think the talk of him being dramatically damaged goods is exaggerated. But the Rams will absolutely slow down his workload during the course of the season to put him in a better position to be effective late in the season.
    We will see. My instincts say yes, he will be healthy, but be used a bit differently in terms of load management. The goal is to make sure he’s good to go late in the season and in the playoffs. From what I hear, the combination of heavy usage and a couple of nasty hits in the Philly game led to a situation where the knee was slower to respond. They hope to minimize that risk by keeping him, and the knee, more fresh with a modified useage rate.

    it sure looked to me like the Rams were operating against a lot more zone coverage looks during 11 on 11 in this years OTA’s compared to in the past, which would lead me to believe they will have a better answer for that kind of coverage when they face it.

    [Ranking Goff?] Top seven with his arrow pointing up.

    [who looks like they bulked up this off-season?] For me: Austin Blythe, Micah Kiser and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Gerald Everett looks in ridiculous shape, too.

    Barring a surprise in camp, I believe Kiser wins the ILB spot opposite Littleton in base defense. I think he will initially be utilized in more run situations, but the Rams will be aggressive in utilizing more nickel and dime packages where he comes off the field in favor of an extra safety or cornerback. I think you’ll also see some Clay Matthews lined up at ILB

    [Brockers] . Definitely worth watching. Did his play slip, or was he playing responsibility football that sometimes isn’t reflected in raw stats? Hard to say. But I will say this, based on everyone I spoke to there was zero, and I mean zero thought about him being a salary cap cut or being asked to re-do his contract. That tells me there is respect for him and his level of play from his coaches and the front office.

    July 5, 2019 at 4:53 pm in reply to: Podcast #102720
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    waterfield wrote:

    But I need to start because (not sure I’ve told this story) my dad’s plane was discovered about two years ago off the coast of Oahu near the marine airbase. It went down during WW 2 in January 1945 as they were attempting to get as many planes as possible to Guam. Many were simply put together with band aids. He was in a PBY which is a pontoon aircraft. They lost the right engine just a mile off the Marine air base and when the pilot attempted to turn back to the base the plane dove into the ocean. 7 occupants, including my dad, were killed. Long story short: the plane was discovered a couple of years ago. Its broken up but parts of the fuselage rests in about 110 ft of water and parts of the props are in about 150 ft. I want to dive on it and spread my mother’s ashes . It is not a particular difficult dive and may not even involve decompression as long as the stay on the bottom is short. But I need to get in better shape than I am right now. Sooo


    That’s quite a story W and my best wishes on that.

    …

    July 5, 2019 at 3:49 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 7/5 thru 7/8 … (including a good VB Q&A) #102715
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    I’m not a member of PFF Elite & you have to be a member to find out which 4 Rams are named. I will hazard a wild guess and say Donald is one of them.

    ==

    July 5, 2019 at 3:17 pm in reply to: non-football news from around the league #102712
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    Football screws Ken Stabler, again

    Football screws Ken Stabler, again

    First, he had to wait way too long to get to the Hall of Fame. Next, because he didn’t make it to the Hall of Fame during his lifetime, Stabler’s family didn’t get the gold jacket or the ring that goes along with it. (And apparently still won’t, thanks the the Hall of Fame’s clumsy carving of an exception for Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.)

    Now, even though Stabler died with advanced CTE, he won’t get a penny from the NFL’s concussion settlement.

    Dom Cosentino of Deadspin.com explains the legal technicalities that prevent Stabler from receiving payment. His death with CTE came less than three months after the agreed window closed for compensation based on death with CTE. And Stabler’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis came after he died, contrary to language of the settlement that requires the diagnosis to come during the player’s lifetime.

    The NFL fought the efforts of Stabler’s estate to get compenstion for the brain trauma he suffered while playing football, because of course the NFL did. That’s the problem with having an unlimited fund to pay claims under the concusion settlement; removing the cap created a strong incentive for the NFL to fight any and every claim, on any basis at its disposal.

    In most cases involving opposition to a claim, the NFL fights by challenging whether the player has or had a health condition that qualifies for compensation. In this case, the NFL simply connected the dots to the plain language of the court-approved settlement in order to escape doing the right thing.

    The NFL fought Stabler’s claim by, among other things, challenging the veracity of the notion that he didn’t seek an Alzheimer’s diagnosis before he died because he was fighting colon cancer by pointing out that he had “extensive dental work” performed and that he was planning to have knee-replacement surgery. In other words, the NFL suggested that the contention was an embellishment at best, a lie at worst.

    Although the NFL’s argument could be easily dismissed as overlawyering, it was unnecessary, unrealistic, and unkind. Getting an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the hopes of eventually getting a sliver of the concussion settlement surely took a backseat to more pressing matters for Stabler like, you know, having a mouthful of functioning teeth and eliminating the pain of a knee that was wrecked by a lifetime of football. Not to mention the colon cancer.

    Put simply, Stabler wasn’t motivated by greed. If the NFL would like to convince anyone that it isn’t motivated by greed, it will pay Stabler’s claim.

    As with Stabler’s nonexistent (for now) gold jacket and ring, all it would take is one phone call from the Commissioner to fix the situation.

    No one is counting on that happening, including Kim Bush, who was Stabler’s partner during the final 16 years of his life.

    “I guess in some weird, kind of crazy way, we can close the book, you know?” told Cosentino. “At least now you know definitively, okay, everybody has screwed him that can screw him. Let him rest in peace, put it behind us, and move on.”

    July 5, 2019 at 3:13 pm in reply to: non-football news from around the league #102711
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    July 5, 2019 at 3:02 pm in reply to: non-football news from around the league #102710
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Viewing 30 posts - 26,131 through 26,160 (of 48,220 total)
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