Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Moneyball- The Consultant Links
For $alary data- Use Sportrac and research
Like Patriot payroll for example or all NFL FA's.
NFL- Collecting Data...
Additional Data Sites
Soccer-
How to Build a Champions League Winner?
MLS Collapse? Not so fast...
EPL and TV ratings
Additional Data Sites
Hockey-
Additional Data Sites
Baseball- Cubs and Moneyball effect of Ross
Additional Data Sites
Basketball-
2016 NBA All-Stars
No Stats All-Star-by Moneyball author Lewis-Google doc- use Clearly)
More on Battier
Cools stat visualization from NBA 2012
Player Projections- Melo and the League
Brainstorm Questions:
*Which conference can you find the best bet for talent in the 3rd round?
*Beyond height, what is the stat that predicts effectiveness for....?
*What is the balance of FA vs. drafted players of the past ....?
* Which country/league cultivates the best players that comprise UEFA Champions?
*Could MLS compete with EPL?
Monday, February 1, 2016
Manning vs. Newton- Dusk vs. Dawn
Legend Rises- Cam Newton (Sean/Mason/Greg Podcast) or this link
Letter criticising Cam and a reaction letter Dear Cam Newton: Please Don’t Read This
Cam Newton: The Bridge to Somewhere
Legend Falls- Peyton Manning
Last Rodeo?
The audacity of Peyton Manning
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Sport Memoir Writing
- Why I remain...
- Why we love...
You get the idea. Let's consider how we jigsawed the various sections of Lopate's memoir piece. For tomorrow, you will write two paragraphs of the memoir. We will revise in time to make the sentences pop with the confidence of syntax.
Let's review parts of the memoir to include in our own memoir.
The Pass by Ricardo Lockette
The Best Play I Ever Made
Why I Remain a Baseball Fan
Singular Focus (preparation for greatness)
Transitions from Lopate's essay
- I sometimes...
- The fact is I...
- I grew up in ...
- In a sense, the( insert favorite team/player)...
- It is sometimes posited as ....
- Part of being a ________ is accepting________
- I can still see in my mind's eye...(insert memory)
- The older I get, the more ________
- Of course being a ____fan is not all about ______
- Here we come to the most essential reason I cling to _________
- _______ has always attracted _______, a mixed blessing.
- With such a powerful inducement to keep me engaged, perhaps you understand_________
- Nor do I buy the idea that _______ must be like _______
- I have no idea how _____ compares with _________
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Imagery Punch Up! Revise with Sentence Variety
Joakim Noah epitomizes best of Chicago sports
From GQ
The Appositve can appear in many forms as well. The samples below show how you can - Appositive- Noun phrases that identify adjacent nouns or pronouns. They can occur as sentence openers, subject verb splits, or sentence closers.
One of six players on the ice, Toews was a fierce, willful leader. Messi, a Barca legend, spent the formative years of his live living in Spain, not Argentina.
Other ways of using the appositive-
HT to Grammar Monster
Jane Smith, who swam 100m in under a minute, wins the award for most improved swimmer.
Jane Smith (who swam 100m in under a minute) wins the award for most improved swimmer.
Jane Smith — who swam 100m in under a minute — wins the award for most improved swimmer.
The Bulls without Noah is like a Chicago winter without a sub-zero wind-chill; tough but without its characteristic bite. Even coming off the bench in an uncomfortable role this season, even looking like a shell of the player who just two years ago was an All-NBA center, Noah supplied the Bulls an indomitable spirit they cannot replace. Not now. Not ever.from headlines of NYT:
Anthony had 19 points for the Knicks on Monday, including a game-tying 3-pointer late in regulation, after missing two games with a sprained right ankle.
Peyton Manning, the Broncos’ Flickering Star, Glows
Just in Time Wright went on the disabled list April 15 with a hamstring strain. Bothered by lower-back pain in May (participial), he was found to have spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal (appositive). In June, Manager Terry Collins said, he thought Wright would be lost for the season. and this too...
We were tied 1–1 going into the seventy-eighth minute when Rooney misplayed a pass and then, seconds later, got the ball lobbed back to him and pulled off this unbelievable maneuver: With his back to the goal, he jumped a few feet off the ground, wheeled his leg up and over his head, nailed the ball, and sent it rocketing into the top-right corner of the net. The sound in the stadium was like a napalm strike, and yes, I did one of those frantic I'm-so-excited-I-don't-know-what-the-****-to-do jumping-hug things with the guy standing next to me. I like to think I ground a few grains of Martin into Old Trafford right then, and that he'll have those crazy-good seats forever.
From GQ
The Appositve can appear in many forms as well. The samples below show how you can - Appositive- Noun phrases that identify adjacent nouns or pronouns. They can occur as sentence openers, subject verb splits, or sentence closers.
One of six players on the ice, Toews was a fierce, willful leader. Messi, a Barca legend, spent the formative years of his live living in Spain, not Argentina.
Other ways of using the appositive-
HT to Grammar Monster
Jane Smith, who swam 100m in under a minute, wins the award for most improved swimmer.
Jane Smith (who swam 100m in under a minute) wins the award for most improved swimmer.
Jane Smith — who swam 100m in under a minute — wins the award for most improved swimmer.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Friday Sports News Dump!
Great profile of Cam- I like him even more...
No more AIR BALL...AIR BALL... original letter.
The shame of the Rams ownership...and a measure to stop future hostage city situations...
ESPN...Ala Carte disaster
Pop and Sager have quite the rapport https://t.co/PUw1I5LXVq
— Brian Turnbaugh (@wegotwits) January 15, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Fallacy return
From FNC-
#2-
#3
#4

#5
GUTFELD: According to the Washington Post, growing research has found that always praising kids makes them shy away from real challenges for fear they will soil their perfect record, meaning real success is no option when you never dare to fail. Said one researcher, "We used to think we could hand children self-esteem on a platter. That has backfired."
So what's the long-term harm to all this feel-good nonsense? Well, by encouraging kids to look internally for validation, we've disconnected feeling good from doing good. Rewarding you for being you means you could be a crappy you forever. And that leads to one place: jail. After all, the people with the highest self-esteem are killers, because if you think you're really special, it's easier to get rid of those who aren't. Far better to instill a little self-loathing in your kids. If anything it'll be great preparation for middle age.
#2-
#3
#4

#5
#6
Monday, October 19, 2015
Bleak Day for Chicago Sports-
Is Arrieta's pitch count catching up with him? Contast this with what the Met's did with Harvey during September.Here’s the pool report from Walt Coleman about the Jonathan Anderson INT turned Golden Tate TD in Detroit pic.twitter.com/r9J9qZpuYY— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 18, 2015
Here is some more economic theory applied to sports...The Coach Who Never Punts
Friday, October 16, 2015
Sports Science & Economics
Dodgers payroll: $314 million
Cubs and Mets combined payroll: $254 million
(per @spotrac)
— Mike Rosenberg (@RosenbergMerc) October 16, 2015
Also check out this interesting read on NCAA and the boom in diet awareness.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Story behind the story
Arrieta trash talking on Twitter? Brandon Marshall did it too.
Spaulding from Caddyshack
Friday, October 2, 2015
Predictions!
- Open up the sports calendar (Cubs vs. Pirates, Bears vs. Raiders, Bulls vs. Cavs-season opener, Hawks vs. Rangers, next UFC, Champions League-)
- Provide backstory to this game-Good news/bad news, who is hot/not? coach hot seats? player introductions? injuries?
- Use data point to center your prediction. Cite it!
- Refute a counter point with data/ logic.
- Post on Classroom.
Fallacy Watch---Listen @29:00-Golic on ND vs. Clemson
Check out this Kiermaier heat-seaker at 100 mph from outfield.
Toews "filthy" rookie goal
Monday, September 28, 2015
Do college sports need to be repaired?
First off----Whoa
Readings:
2.
Prompt:
Readings:
- Opposing Viewpoints Search (Access at school)
- Athletic programs enhance college experience (Access at school)
- College Athletes should be paid(Access at school)
- ABC CLIO (Access at School)
- SIRS Research (Access at school)
- Frontline: Money & March Madness
- Room for debate- In the interest of students?
- Current SMU scandal
- North Carolina Scandal- How did North Carolina Lose its Way?
- Derrick Rose Controversy
- Need 3 Quick credits to play? Call Western Oklahoma.
- The Shame of College Sports
- Harbaugh's Contract
- Advice in March Madness Betting (Pro-Gambling) -Video
- NYT and Money/March Madness-Video
- Who will hold colleges accountable?
- Academic Counseling Racket
- Look at this map
- Room for Debate- Are Student athletes employees?
- Sports aren't work
- Northwestern Can't Unionize
1.
3.
Prompt:
To what extent should the NCAA be reformed as scandals continue to surround this institution? To answer this question, you will need to read about the issue. A decent place to start will be the provided links.
In your response you must establish the following:
- thesis
- evidence clearly cited from relevant sources (minimum 3)
- refute a position from the opposite side
How to kick start this...
- But is my proposal realistic? What are the chances of it actually being adopted?
- Yet is always that that______? Is it always the case, as I have been suggesting that______?
- However, does the evidence I've cited prove conclusively that________?
- "Impossible," you say. "Your ________ is flawed/skewed/unrealistic/ biased.
How to tamp back...
- Ultimately, what is at stake here is______
- X matters because _______
- My discussion of X is in fact discussing the larger issue of ______
- The evidence has important consequences for the broader discussion of_______
- Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of _______, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about _______.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Checklist for Perfect player
For Monday-Checklist for the project:
B) Preview the player (# Time League MVP or # Ballons d'Orr)
C) Provide stats that back up this particular claim
E) Provide some personality. Use the jargon of the game to show your ethos (expertise) of the game.
F) Finding a video is great but not required as not all footage is easy to find. In place of video if not able to locate, an action photo of athlete will be sufficient. Your analysis is key!
This is why Bear fans might need to just vacation until A.A. Ron Rodgers retires...
- Did I make a Google Site?
- Did I share it to Turnbaugh?
- Did I post link on Classroom question?
- Did I include an introduction that reveals the type of style and structure expected of an exiting senior?
- Do I have 5 physical characteristics of dominance/ brilliance?
- Do I have 3 mental/philosophical/intangible characteristics?
- Did I double check all the links to make sure they indeed to connect to the video?
- Does my video explanation cover each of the following:
B) Preview the player (# Time League MVP or # Ballons d'Orr)
C) Provide stats that back up this particular claim
Rodgers threw 520 passes last season. Five were intercepted. Of those five, four deflected off a receiver’s hands.D) Find what peers/ experts have said to corroborate this claim. T
E) Provide some personality. Use the jargon of the game to show your ethos (expertise) of the game.
F) Finding a video is great but not required as not all footage is easy to find. In place of video if not able to locate, an action photo of athlete will be sufficient. Your analysis is key!
This is why Bear fans might need to just vacation until A.A. Ron Rodgers retires...
Who else, ever, can make this throw, fading left, between two defenders? Maybe Elway. Maybe Favre. That's it. pic.twitter.com/6m5gmhcZmg
— Seth Wickersham (@SethWickersham) September 24, 2015
and this...
Sam Bradford with the splitter: pic.twitter.com/GZCnekzGKP
— OHB (@ohholybutt) September 20, 2015
From this article
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Finishing Touches on The Perfect Player Site.
Hulk Smash!

For Thursday:
- Finish your Logical Fallacy Argument- Post link in Classroom with participants labeled.
- Make sure your Google Site page is posted on Classroom
- Watch this video how to make links to your video on Sites
- Write introductory paragraph for the Perfect X. Explain why this position is the most important by using several points of reference. If it helps, think about what the game/sport would be without it or absence of quality athlete playing it. Such as some people are freaking out about the pending drought of quality QB's in upcoming years after Brady/Manning/Brees retire.
- Click save often!
- If your want to make the look of the Site more than basic. Go ahead and play around with the settings to fit your taste. See video below.
- Our fallacy work is in preparation for our first debate. Vote!
Friday, September 18, 2015
Intro to Logical Fallacies
By Monday you should have at least 6 features of the Perfect player recorded. We will be assembling links on Wednesday!
Example #1
From FNC-
GUTFELD: According to the Washington Post, growing research has found that always praising kids makes them shy away from real challenges for fear they will soil their perfect record, meaning real success is no option when you never dare to fail. Said one researcher, "We used to think we could hand children self-esteem on a platter. That has backfired."
So what's the long-term harm to all this feel-good nonsense? Well, by encouraging kids to look internally for validation, we've disconnected feeling good from doing good. Rewarding you for being you means you could be a crappy you forever. And that leads to one place: jail. After all, the people with the highest self-esteem are killers, because if you think you're really special, it's easier to get rid of those who aren't. Far better to instill a little self-loathing in your kids. If anything it'll be great preparation for middle age.
#2-
#3
#4

Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Building the Perfect Player...
Nailed it. pic.twitter.com/kkdIGhi3y0
— You had one job (@_youhadonejob) September 15, 2015
9th hour- Remember let's begin to open up some personality in your feature. Only I will be your audience so I encourage you to develop some personality and voice to your screen capture synthesis.
Jay Onrait or Classic Craig Kilbourn
In the LRC, sit at your own table so as to maximize your focus and limit noise from anyone else.
By the end of today- minimum-post one of your features. Consider this a draft video as I will give you constructive feedback on this by tomorrow hopefully.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Build the Perfect Player...The Sample
Today's vocab/allusion (Pyrrhic victory for the Cowboys?)
Opinion Piece from Rosenbloom from today's Trib...Patrick Kane Supporters: I don't get you...
Building the Perfect Player-
Let's say that one of the feature for the perfect QB is Accuracy. So here is a serious endorsement of A.A Ron Rodgers or this comparison to Joe Cool.
Structure:
A) Explain the importance of this feature (Accuracy for a QB is essential for these reasons)
B) Preview the player (# Time League MVP or # Ballons d'Orr)
C) Provide stats that back up this particular claim
Rodgers threw 520 passes last season. Five were intercepted. Of those five, four deflected off a receiver’s hands.D) Find what peers/ experts have said to corroborate this claim. T
E) Provide some personality. Use the jargon of the game to show your ethos (expertise) of the game. F) Finding a video is great but not required as not all footage is easy to find. In place of video if not able to locate, an action photo of athlete will be sufficient. Your analysis is key!
Send me the link to the draft of just one via Classroom question.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Building blocks and cement for memoir piece
Task #1 for today: Move your writing into the Doc "Building Block of Memoir" (Why we Love Sports, Memory #1, Witness to Greatness Quote, Build Suspense-context/imagery of suspense,"What is sport?", Memory #2)
Task #2- Arrangement- Before committing to organization yet, let's think how you might want to sequence parts you have written already. You will have major revisions on the sentence level but first we will think big picture about its arrangement.
Let's review parts of the memoir to include in our own memoir.
The Pass by Ricardo Lockette
The Best Play I Ever Made
Why I Remain a Baseball Fan
Singular Focus (preparation for greatness)
Transitions from Lopate's essay
- I sometimes...
- The fact is I...
- I grew up in ...
- In a sense, the( insert favorite team/player)...
- It is sometimes posited as ....
- Part of being a ________ is accepting________
- I can still see in my mind's eye...(insert memory)
- The older I get, the more ________
- Of course being a ____fan is not all about ______
- Here we come to the most essential reason I cling to _________
- _______ has always attracted _______, a mixed blessing.
- With such a powerful inducement to keep me engaged, perhaps you understand_________
- Nor do I buy the idea that _______ must be like _______
- I have no idea how _____ compares with _________
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Sportsmanship vs. Headgames
Kris Bryant-Yowzer!
Dave Kingmanesque (ian) or -like.
Some teams try to keep a positive vibe like the Seahawks;however, we know that not every player aspires to such level of sportsmanship. Yet is "trash-talk" part of the game to seek out a competitive advanantage against your opponent?
How about this banter already before this week's opening game between Bears/Packers?
How about Noah going after James? To no avail...
Yet sometimes it works...Jordan or even costing the World Cup
Look what happened in this high school game recently.
two high school players suspended, may face charges for hitting the ref. pic.twitter.com/RN7A1T7Tef
— deray mckesson (@deray) September 8, 2015
They are in trouble. For Wednesday-
- Respond to Gottlieb's position on accountability for this incident. Response will be posted on Classroom (200 word count requirement- use the adverbial conjunction properly)
- Bring over paragraphs into Building Blocks outline (posted on classroom)
- Sports Vocab for the Week- Justin(w), Kyle(Th), Josh(F)/ Controversy -Justin P(W), Brian(Th), Justin Y(F)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Punched up adjectives- Allusions and participle + noun modifiers
Classy move Dodgers!
What a food review from Pete Wells once again

Punch up your adjectives when no word current exists that can capture the essense...
Take an allusion from pop culture/literature/ history (don't be too obscure for your audience) + ian or esque or -like
What a food review from Pete Wells once again
Chase the scent of great barbecue in New York City, and you are rooting for a team that will, sooner or later, let you down. You are a Red Sox fan in any season from 1919 to 2003. There will be enough victories to keep the dream flickering, and there will be nights when you watch the ball hop between the first baseman’s legs.
But every loss feeds a new hope in your heart. This winter, hope came in threes. Barbecue hounds ran to Gowanus to get burnt ends and char siu pork steak at Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue, and to Williamsburg to find out whether BrisketTown deserved to be crowned the Brisket King of New York in a recent cook-off. They descended on the East Village to take apart Flintstonian beef ribs at Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque and watch men in heavy black gloves grab pork shoulder by the fistful and shake it into dripping hunks — yes, real pulled pork on Second Avenue.
All three places slow-cook their barbecue with hardwood only, no gas allowed. All three places serve meat that is largely raised on pastures or outdoors, including pork from old breeds with flavorful rosy flesh and a thick girdle of white fat that bastes the meat as it melts.
Punch up your adjectives when no word current exists that can capture the essense...
Take an allusion from pop culture/literature/ history (don't be too obscure for your audience) + ian or esque or -like
- Flintstonian(adj) beef ribs(noun)
- Jordanesque (adj) fadeaway (noun)
- Matrix-like (adj) evasion (noun)
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