Ice Machine - Chillin’

May 30th, 2008 by Tuffy

Here’s a clear shot from the daily Ice Machine, with crystal blue linkage of stories that will refresh you during your lunch break (machine crafted ice at the fore):

• Some people would be too good here to settle for a Joe Paterno joke.  We’re not that guy.
• A third of the money made on NHL ticket sales comes from Canada.  However, it’s because of the strong Canadian dollar.  No, really.  Stop snickering, eh?
• The truly rough diamonds in the NBA Draft.  Don’t try to set these anytime soon.
• This one’s pretty much Chitown Chick fanservice.  No apologies here.
• The BBC is both bad and ass.
• Please, baby Rogge, save us from people that don’t understand American geography.  We’d like high speed rail, yes, and we’d also like a pony and a girl in a short skirt and a long jacket.  They can arrive as a set.

And the Question of the Day: When can we get this kid into O’Hare and put them at Hendry’s desk?

Posted in ice machine, question of the day | 3 Comments »

Ice Machine - Old and Busted

May 29th, 2008 by Tuffy

Here’s a clear shot from the daily Ice Machine, with crystal blue linkage of stories that will refresh you during your lunch break (since this isn’t likely to be a morning feature for the next two weeks):

Normally, we provide multiple links in this space, providing a bit of a pick-me-up/simple distraction.  However, we can only think of one topic today, so we beg your indulgence: Doug Collins is the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls, according to the Chicago Tribune.  Yes, he’s also the old head coach before Jordan forced him out.  

We have come to a deeply disheartening view of the Bulls and of all Chicago sports we wish to share with you now.  We highly recommend sitting down and consuming a calming beverage of your choice before continuing.

To wit: The Chicago Blackhawks are the most innovative sports franchise in Chicago today.

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Posted in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, mlb, nba, nfl, nhl, soccer | 4 Comments »

When the Going Gets Weird…

May 28th, 2008 by Tuffy

Back soon, true believers. This Tuffy life be hard livin’. Tuffy will tell you someday over drinks. Lots of drinks. (SPORTSbyBROOKS stories still appear on the right.)

Posted in housekeeping, nonsense | No Comments »

Men’s Magazines and the Women That Love Them

May 23rd, 2008 by Tuffy

We don’t mind that men’s magazines show athletes pumping up and flexing and so on.  We suppose there are pockets of athletic men that enjoy looking at other athletic men in four-color glory for inspiration of one type or another.  We thought that market might be more niche, but we’ve been wrong before.

But then we saw what Lady… SA purchased this week…

(We assume this is the page 72-73 spread.)

Goodness gracious.  ”Don’t think; have fun” indeed.

We love Curtis Granderson’s quick bat, flashy leather, huge smile, and local roots as much as the next person, but… my my my.  This really just comes out and says it, doesn’t it?  ”For those of you too ashamed to buy porn with men in it, we now give you ‘men’s magazines’.  Please feel free to explain to your friends that you were looking for gift ideas for your boyfriend or a new protein shake for your workouts.  Just keep the pages clean and no one will know.”

There’s more pictures at SA’s blog; they should keep some of you busy through the holiday weekend.  We’ll be back on Tuesday.  No podcast today or Tuesday due to holiday obligations (read: booze).  We might post between now and then but no promises.  And hey, let’s be careful out there this weekend.

Posted in baseball, media, mlb | 5 Comments »

Ice Machine - Holiday Spritzer

May 23rd, 2008 by Tuffy

Here’s a clear shot from the daily Ice Machine, with crystal blue linkage of stories that will refresh you before you start your day (assuming you scored a four-day weekend, too):

• Kellen Winslow, Jr. has a youth football camp.  We’re one step closer to Michael Bay Sports Camp: Where we blow your kids up good.
• The Scream painting has returned from its thievery and damage, smudged but intact.  Now you don’t have to head down to the theater school dorm to see it.
• Why do you think Tony Parker speaks with this OUTRAGEOUS French accent?  (And why is Chris Paul dancing with his date?)
• This one’s pretty much Sussman fanservice. No apologies here.  (Well, Sussman and us; we will pretty much link to any story with Leon Durham in it.)
• Enough with baseball instant replay.  Enough with all instant replay.  We’ve already let loose with our screed on this topic.    However, we did like this bit of spiteful construction at old Yankee Stadium this week.  Very snotty and petulant.  We approve.

And the Question of the Day: When did we get so damned precious with our sports?  What’s with all this call for fairness and perfection and all that?  Was it the money?  Was it the television fame?  Was it the Black Sox?  We really have no idea here, but it’s causing us to chafe in our sitting place.  We’d love to know the answer(s).

Posted in ice machine, question of the day | 1 Comment »

Ice Machine - Windows Frosted Over

May 22nd, 2008 by Tuffy

A lousy computer day here has shut down major posting. Tomorrow, however, will be a heavy flow day. Please dress appropriately. There are new SbB posts on the right.

So: Bill Cartwright saved the Illinois legislative process.

And here’s a picture of Emmylou Harris with Roger Clemens that amuses us:

See you all tomorrow.  Stay safe, kids.

Posted in ice machine | 2 Comments »

Ice Machine: Clink Clank, Clink Clank

May 21st, 2008 by Tuffy

Here’s a clear shot from the daily Ice Machine, with crystal blue linkage of stories that will refresh you before you start your day (on this inaugural Chicago bank holiday):

• Light posting day today.  Please feel free to leave red and black streamers on the site until Janitorial  Services arrives.
• The new SI cover combines two of our unnatural passions: Rays and pencils.  Please enjoy.
• Leon Theremin was a badass in a time where badasses got crushed.
• This one’s pretty much J-No fanservice.  No apologies here.
• We needed this one.  We almost fell down this rabbit hole earlier this week. 
• Please watch this brief video.  No sound necessary:

Fairly dull, right?  Just a bit of Pong-esque on YouTube, right?  What if we told you that all of this happened on a space the size of a grain of rice and that little robotic figure is six times smaller than an amoeba?  What if we then told you it’s part of a Nanosoccer tournament?

You may now breathe again.  Carry on.

And the Question of the Day: Let’s get this party started in here.  Rose or Beasley?  The thought of Simeon’s finest playing in the city makes us giddy, but Beasley’s not exactly a slouch.  Hinrich’s only the answer if the question involves increasing turnovers or bowlcuts, but Gooden’s only there because who doesn’t love Dorie?

Posted in ice machine, question of the day | 4 Comments »

Daley Should Call Tomorrow a City Holiday

May 20th, 2008 by Tuffy

No one’s getting any work done anyway.

(Now let’s see if Paxson files for an extension with the league to hold the draft in December to give the organization more time to deliberate.)

Posted in basketball, nba | 3 Comments »

Touch Me in My Sporting Arena: TouchWall in Training

May 20th, 2008 by Tuffy

We’re fairly familiar with the ability to project and work with computers onto a whiteboard.  These interactive boards (usually requiring rear projection) allow the user to hook up a computer to the board and then use it normally, either with the standard software that comes with their computer or special whiteboard software that allows the user to create special presentations or activities.

For those of you out of school for awhile, this may seem stunning.  For those of you currently or recently in school, you may not quite understand why death by chalk inhalation was once an omnipresent teaching danger of the 20th Century. 

However, we’re excited about an announcement last week by Microsoft that takes this notion of wall computing to a much more usable level: touchscreen wall computing.  No rear projection; no special pens; fully interactive.  Welcome to TouchWall.

Why do we bring it up here?  Remove the example under this gentleman’s finger and replace it with game film from last week’s loss to Alabama State.  Or how about a simply-written application that allows the coach to enter all the plays in and run them at any speed, stopping and moving a defensive back out of position to see how the play’s result changes?  How about loading all the team’s plays into that application and running pop quizzes with the players?

Now we’re cookin’.

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Posted in technology in sports | 2 Comments »

Ice Machine - Nooner, Anyone?

May 20th, 2008 by Tuffy

Here’s a clear shot from the daily Ice Machine, with crystal blue linkage of stories that will refresh you before you start your day (quickie-style):

• Blah blah no-hitter blah blah.  How about an inside-the-park home run by a catcher?
• Spurs-Lakers.  We don’t think the heels are supposed to fight each other.  Get Rewrite in here!
• Craig Biggio fills out another line item on his way to beatification.
• We are endlessly amused at the notion of a Chris Mortensen vendetta.  We can believe it, but it seems so flaccid on the vendetta scale.
• Hubris alert: Formula One driver’s house nearly burns down when his trophy case catches on fire.
• Finally: Gus Gus!  We don’t know much about this MMA business, though we’re trying to learn.  We don’t know the size or the consistency of the chunks that this EliteXC organization might blow.  (The name indicates golf ball-sized and gelatin-like, but we’re still here.)  However, we have hopes Gus Gus will add one more option to our Saturday night viewing this summer.  We’re running out of Hugh Grant romantic comedies.

And the Question of the Day: In light of the no-hitter and inside-the-park home run last night, what’s the most rare sporting event you ever witnessed in person?  We can claim a July 4th doubleheader that ran from noon till nearly midnight due to rain delays, extra innings, and the Chicago Cubs being involved.  

Also, we think we saw Shawon Dunston take a walk once, but we might have been on cold medication. How ’bout you?

Posted in ice machine, question of the day | 2 Comments »