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Bret Bielema vs. UW fans on Twitter: there are no winners
Bielema has been responding to some of his critics on Twitter and firing back. This culminated in a strange Sunday in which Bielema attacked a few fans. But by no means did Bielema's actions start then. It dates back over a month.More » -
Does Having the Best Player in Football Correlate to Wins?
I love sabermetrics. In another life, I could have pursued a career in sports analytics. Guys like Bill Barnwell, John Hollinger, Bill James – they personify critical, strategic thinking. I will never understand why so many sportswriters feel threatened by those who work to ensure quantitative analysis gets a seat at the table during sports discussions and decision-making. I’m not as capable as the true thought leaders in this discipline, but given the recent release of the Associated Press’ 2012 NFL All-Pro Team, I wanted to do some ham-handed analysis that calculated how having the best player at any given position in football impacts win totals.More » -
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Sometimes you’re completely right
Just sayin'. From July 2010:
I've thought about what's the psyche behind the Armstrong myth. Here's my take.
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1. In the mid-90s, Armstrong was a great one-day racer. The type of guy that'd be a favorite in classics and things like the Olympic road race. Then, all of sudden, guys on r-EPO started winning. r-EPO was undetectable, so Armstrong, like other cyclists were faced with a big moral dilemma. To dope or not to dope. I have some sympathy for Armstrong at this point. If he didn't dope, he'd likely lose his livelihood. It's easy to understand why so many riders chose to dope and just makes those who didn't all the more admirable.
2. Armstrong got cancer. The interesting thing is that his level of beta-hCG (the indicator of testicular cancer) should have been detected in routine doping tests months earlier. I'd imagine Armstrong felt two things: a) the cycling authorities weren't serious about catching dopers, so they were tacitly approving the practice and b) it was partially their fault that he almost died. If Armstrong had any moral doubts about doping, it's easy to see how they could have been erased. The UCI didn't care about doping and furthermore, they owed it to Armstrong.
3. So Armstrong went on to dominate the Tour de France rest assured that he wasn't a cheater because a) he had the moral high ground given his cancer and b) everyone else was cheating too. That attitude helps explain his issues with Christophe Bassons. Bassons' clean riding picked away at that moral high ground. Everyone wasn't cheating. Armstrong wasn't really an innocent victim of a dirty sport - he was part of the problem. Bassons mere existence must have irked him.
4. Armstrong kept winning the Tour. He got rich and famous and had a fabulous image that opened lots of doors with sponsors, celebrities and even politicians. That image had to be protected at all costs. Hence his attack of Filippo Simeoni, his feud with Greg Lemond, and his attempt to portray himself as a victim of the nefarious French.
5. At some point, I think Armstrong started to believe his own lies, kind of like O.J. Simpson. How could react with his typical level of indignation if he didn't? I think Armstrong thinks he's owed something because of Livestrong. It's a get-out-of-cheating-free card. If all else fails, he could fall back on cancer.
Eventually, I suspect Armstrong will have to deal with confession, contrition and rehabilitation. It's not pretty to imagine how a man like Armstrong is going to deal with his coming fall from grace. If he's running down innocent pedestrians now, just imagine who he could take down with him in the coming months. -
NFL QB Playoff Stats
I was reading about how Aaron Rodgers playoff stats, particularly his lack of interceptions are historically awesome, so I decided to see for myself and pulled some QB stats - just looking at attempts, TDs and INTs. Rodgers is pretty awesome, but so was Bart Starr and so is Drew Brees. His playoff awesomeness is what really stands out to me. I mean, I knew he was great, but I didn't realize just how great.
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Hillary Clinton to testify on Benghazi
Amid ongoing questions about the September violence in Benghazi that left four Americans dead, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to Capitol Hill next week to testify on the matter, appearing before both House and Senate committees to answer questions about the sequence of events that led up to the attacks, and how the State Department hopes to prevent similar incidents in the future.. . -
Tuesday in Warsaw
Sometime in the middle of that first night, I skyped Ed and proclaimed -- I can't sleep. It's not the jet lag. It's the being in Warsaw thing. When I am here, I slowly forget all those adaptive mechanisms that have allowed me to feel, in Madison, more American than Polish. I can't do that for long when I'm back home (in Poland). The tug is strong to slip back into Polishness and it leaves me confused and, at night, restlessMore » -
Dear Jeeer – letters from our readers
Dear Jeeer,
I'm so in love with my new boyfriend. He's handsome, smart, passionate and the sex is incredible. On the down side, he's just recently separated from his wife, he can be quite secretive and he could be in some legal trouble that will very negatively impact my career. I want to throw caution to the wind and start planning our future together, but my friends and coworkers are really discouraging me. What should I do?
Jazz Lover
Dear Jazz Lover,
You say your boyfriend is secretive and talk about your passionate, dangerous (at least to your career) relationship. I wonder if you love the excitement more than you love him? Will it be worth your career when your relationship has more nights filled with Chinese takeout and Netflix than with dodging the law or his wife?
Dear Jeeer,
Not to sound cocky, but I'm the best at what I do. Everyone from my coworkers to our customers and even our competitors agree. The problem is that while management does generously compensate me, I can't help but feel that I'm being held back by coworkers that just aren't performing at my level. I'd like to stick it out longer, but it seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same around here.Should I get a different job or stick it out here?
All Day
Dear All Day,
Look at your management's track record over the years. If they've shown little ability to bring in and develop top performers, perhaps it's time for you to run away, before you're blamed for lack of overall success.
Dear Jeeer,
I just got a new job! It's a lateral move, but I get a significant salary boost and I get out from under my boss' thumb. My problem is that I've found it very difficult to be gracious in my exit interviews. How can I show my excitement for my new gig while not burning too many bridges?
Pig Farmer
Dear Pig Farmer,
First, congrats on the new job. Second, if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. The reason platitudes exist is precisely for situations like this. Being bitter just makes you look bitter. The way to prove that you were right about your old job and boss is to succeed at your new job. So, hold your tongue. More » -
Barry Alvarez to coach UW in the Rose Bowl
University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will coach the Badgers football team in the Rose Bowl, the State Journal has confirmed. . . -
My Sportsman: Christophe Bassons
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 5. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer. More » -
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Green Bean Casserole: The History Behind this Classic Comfort Food and Thanksgiving Staple
The green bean casserole is an American classic comfort food and a Thanksgiving staple. The dish is made from a unique combination of ingredients: green beans, cream of mushroom soup, French fried onions, milk, soy sauce and ground black pepper.. -
Dazzling!
Zenyatta's three-year old half sister, Eblouissante (French for "dazzling") debuted today at Hollywood Park. The one thing horse racing has going for it that it doesn't do nearly enough with are bloodlines. Fans of one horse should be easily encouraged to follow that horse's relatives in the future, right?
Anyway, Eblouissante isn't a dancer like Zenyatta, but she's even prettier and by all accounts has a completely sweet temperament. But can she run? Let's take a look at what happened today :)
So there you go, another big, black filly to spend a dream on. -
A Two-Man Oral History Of “The Princess Bride” Episode Of ESPN NFL Kickoff
On Friday, November 9th's episode of ESPN's NFL Kickoff, host Trey Wingo and analysts Mark Schlereth, and Tedy Bruschi talked, as they usually do, for a half hour about the latest NFL news. But something about this episode was different. For thirty minutes, amidst the discussion of the Patriots' defense and the Chiefs coaching situation, ESPN 2 became a one-channel celebration of The Princess Bride as the trio tossed in references to "Corners of Unusual Size," "Cliffs of Insanity," and more.More » -
I Lived a CIA Conspiracy Theory
I had an interesting weekend. Maybe you did, too. It's always a mixed bag, you know? Some Friday nights are drunken and exhilarating; other Friday nights are empty and reserved. And then, of course, there are those Friday nights when random people believe you accidentally forced the resignation of the head of the CIA.More » -
AMERICANS WON’T PAY $40,000 FOR A $17,000 CAR
hocker. What are those sticker prices? (T)he base price of a Toyota Prius comes in at $24,995 but the plug-in version starts at $32,795. The Chevrolet Volt starts at $39,995. The $51 billion-bailed-out General Motors (GM) Volt is completely uncompetitive with its un-bailed-out electric/hybrid competition. More » -
WHERE DO REPUBLICANS GO FROM HERE? THE SOCIAL ISSUES
We Republicans are different. Whenever we lose an election, you can be sure two things will happen: one group, which consists mostly of Democrats but includes some Republicans, will say it is time to give up on the social issues. Another group (this time all Republicans) will say that the party needs to nominate purer conservatives. These critiques come from the left and the right, respectively.More » -
Fallen acorns a threat to kids with allergies, Vaughan mother claims
A York Region mother is fighting to have oak trees removed near her child’s school, fearing that acorns could pose a deadly threat to students with severe allergies. Donna Giustizia said the young trees on property owned by the City of Vaughan next to St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School are littering the area with acorns. The school, meanwhile, is nut-free to protect students with potentially life-threatening anaphylactic allergies.More » -
In Defense of the Electoral College
The Electoral College is widely regarded as an anachronism, a nondemocratic method of selecting a president that ought to be superseded by declaring the candidate who receives the most popular votes the winner. The advocates of this position are correct in arguing that the Electoral College method is not democratic in a modern sense. The Constitution provides that “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress.” And it is the electors who elect the president, not the people. When you vote for a presidential candidate you’re actually voting for a slate of electors.More » -
Everything happens for a reason
I was looking at the NFL standings and I had a realization about what's going to happen at the end of the regular season. The final wild card is going to come down to Seattle and Minnesota and Seattle will advance all because of that one extra "victory" over the Packers. Even in defeat, the Packers will be able to screw the Vikings. Isn't that beautiful? -
Fateful purchase of mare impacts racing
Historians often refer to the early 20th century as the “Progressive Era,” a rather bland moniker considering the chaotic turbulence and high drama accompanying that period. In fact, those years represented a fast-paced, hair-raising time of war, revolution, and global pandemics, of political assassins and spies, extreme weather, monster earthquakes, rampaging social unrest, radical reform, brilliant innovation, horseless carriages, flying machines, and pictures that moved. Exhilarating, but often confusing and scary, this brave new world was not one into which everyone could segue seamlessly.More » -
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
November 10th marks the anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Since I can remember anything, I can remember hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald. Maybe it was the beautiful Gordon Lightfoot song, but whatever it was, I've continued to be fascinated by it. Just last year, I specifically ordered a terrible cocktail just because it was named the "Gales of November".
The part that has always resonated with me the most is
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
in the rooms of her ice-water mansion.
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams;
the islands and bays are for sportsmen.
I love it for how he captures the difference between cold, awesome Gitchee Gumee and bright, friendly Lake Michigan. He gets the personalities of our upper Great Lakes.
I'm glad the families of the men of the Edmund Fitzgerald have embraced the song over the years. It's yet another lovely, lasting tribute to them. -
Adviser: Romney “shellshocked” by loss
Then came the early exit polls that also were favorable to the president. But it wasn't until the polls closed that concern turned into alarm. They expected North Carolina to be called early. It wasn't. They expected Pennsylvania to be up in the air all night; it went early for the President. After Ohio went for Mr. Obama, it was over, but senior advisers say no one could process it. "We went into the evening confident we had a good path to victory," said one senior adviser. "I don't think there was one person who saw this coming."More » -
Cabinet role for Mitt Romney would be a shrewd move
President Obama’s post-election offer to sit down with vanquished GOP rival Mitt Romney has spurred talk of a possible White House role for Romney, a move that could help calm jitters on Wall Street and warm the partisan chill on Capitol Hill.. . -
Citizens United Rejected By Voters In Montana, Colorado
WASHINGTON -- In Colorado and Montana voters overwhelmingly stated their disapproval of the campaign finance climate that emerged in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling by voting for resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn of the ruling and end so-called corporate personhood. Pushed by a coalition of reform groups, voters in both states passed resolutions with more than 70 percent approval, and with support from both sides of the aisle.. . -
Ways to handle this
We lost. Despite my genuine and profound despair caused by the cold hard proof that over half the American electorate dwells in a pathological state of denial about elementary basic arithmetic and of the concepts of cause and effect, I’m trying to be optimistic right now. Trying to make myself laugh right now or else I’ll give up.. -
Puerto Rico wants to become the 51st state of the US
The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote. The island is currently a US territory, which uses the dollar and whose citizens travel on US passports.. . -
On Tomorrow
I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow. I dread the gloating and anger and all of the stories about how one side or the other "stole" the election. I dread the way we all pretend that one candidate winning or losing will solve or ruin everything. Mostly, I dread the way we act toward people who vote differently than we do. I dread the name calling and the sinister questioning of motives.
I once compiled a list of my favorite Presidential quotes for our old website. I picked out two that I think are especially important to keep in mind over the next couple of days:
Yet we can maintain a free society only if we recognize that in a free society no one can win all the time. No one can have his own way all the time, and no one is right all the time.
Richard Nixon said that and I think it's important to remember that this is what democracy looks like. What democracy looks like is a vast purple plain of different ideas - some we agree with and some we don't. But it's not all black and white or blue and red. Only the truly partisan or truly deranged can honestly believe that their party is right all of the time. Because of that, we need to remember that we'll need to work together to find the best path. And the road to working together shouldn't start with nastiness or riots.
I also love this quote from Andrew Jackson:
It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word.
In my heart of hearts, I truly believe that every American and every candidate, right or left, wants to make America a better place. We have the same goals, we just have different ways of getting there and luckily for us, there are several paths that lead to the same basic place. We're going to be okay. The only disaster that can happen tomorrow is if we all think we're on Team Obama or Team Romney.
We're not. We're all on Team America.
F*ck Yeah.More » -
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Priorities: National Guardsmen to Be Booted From Manhattan Armory for Victoria’s Secret Show
The Victoria’s Secret show must go on — even if it means kicking out hardworking men and women in uniform. Dozens of National Guardsmen, and Army and Air Force personnel who have been sleeping at Manhattan’s Lexington Armory in between hurricane-relief shifts are being booted — to make room for Victoria’s Secret models in anticipation of Wednesday’s runway show.. . -
More details emerge about Obama’s Monday rally in Madison
President Barack Obama's election-eve campaign rally in Madison featuring rock icon Bruce Springsteen will take place Monday morning on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in front of the City-County Building. . -
Breeders’ Cup 2012: Friday results, video replays
Results, video replays, and recap articles for the Friday card of the 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.. . -
Bob Johnson had a ‘gift’ that keeps on giving to Badgers
Mark Johnson got the perfect "house-warming'' gift with the opening of LaBahn Arena. The Wisconsin women's hockey coach received a typewritten thesis. The topic? Coaching high school hockey. The author? Robert N. Johnson. The year? 1960.. -
Generators should give power to people — not marathon
As hundreds of thousands of Big Apple residents suffer in homes left without power by Hurricane Sandy, two massive generators are being run 24/7 in Central Park — to juice a media tent for Sunday’s New York City Marathon.. .
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