So we weren't the only ones who noticed that Purdue's preview on EsPNU was chocked-full of errors...To prove the point, here's the story as it aired:
And click here for the re-taped, fact-checked interwebnet version.
I should get paid more for my awesome fact-checking skeeeeelz.
Showing posts with label Samantha Steele. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samantha Steele. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
What EsPN Taught Me Yesterday
It's pretty well documented that we don't like EsPN when it pretends to be a journalistic entity. Sure, they study up on the SEC for football and ACC for basketball, because they have vested interest in those conferences. But, outside of Urban Meyer being aOSU's head man, there aren't too many storylines that interest the folks in Bristol about the nation's oldest conference. Furthermore, when a football team from that conference is a middling to lower-third team, they don't care at all.
Purdue's not sexy...we get that. BUT, if a network is going to spend four minutes on a preview on a BCS conference team...and that network claims to be a sports-related outlet, there should be some show prep that took longer to research than the final piece itself. Clearly, on EsPN's "College Football Today" show prep is asking around the office and glancing at a Google search.
Adam Rittenberg is pretty good at his job...and he works for the crappiest sports network in all the land- he's what people inside of the EsPN family should call an expert. Rittenberg knows quite a bit about what's going on inside Purdue football...because he reads up, interviews and prepares for the articles he writes. Someone at EsPN's TV studios should give Rittenberg's card to David Pollack; the braintrust behind yesterday's Purdue season preview.
Here are some things that the Entertainment Network told me about Purdue yesterday that I never knew.
-First, Robert Marve transferred from the University of Michigan to West Lafayette. Sweet. The poor guy probably has to pay his own tuition. B1G fans know that intra-conference transfers are strongly discouraged by the league...so much that you don't get a schollie when you decide to make such a move (unless it's '12 and you're leaving PSU). Sure it happens- UM's Boren transferred to aOSU after he found out that Rodriguez was an asshat...but it's not normal. And while UM does stand for University of Michigan, Marve's former school was the University of Miami, Einstein.
-Second, Purdue never beats aOSU.
Actually, they've done so twice in the past three seasons...and thrice in the last six times they've played...but who's counting (not David Pollack).
One of our favorites, Erin Andrews' replacement at the network, Samantha Steele, told me that it took two overtimes for the Boilers to beat the nuts in '11...And while I'm known to blackout from time to time in stressful situations, I'm pretty sure I only saw one OT last season at RA...but her error is much less egregious than Pollack's multiple boners on the air.
-Lastly, and most-glaringly, Purdue has secretly added MSU and Nebraska to the '12 schedule...all to be played in the last three games of the season.
This is big news to me...and I'm surprised that the B1G, any Purdue outlet and the Purdue Athletic Department itself has decided to keep this so hush. Hell, even guys who are really in the know like J Money and TMill haven't let me in on this news...Jerks.
Regardless, I hope Purdue gets another homegame out of the deal...it'd be tough to play two more surprise road games...Dammit, I hope the coaches and players know.
Thanks to David Pollack, and his employer for never letting us down. While our expectations are low, you guys always find a way outdo yourselves. Schleps.
Purdue's not sexy...we get that. BUT, if a network is going to spend four minutes on a preview on a BCS conference team...and that network claims to be a sports-related outlet, there should be some show prep that took longer to research than the final piece itself. Clearly, on EsPN's "College Football Today" show prep is asking around the office and glancing at a Google search.
Adam Rittenberg is pretty good at his job...and he works for the crappiest sports network in all the land- he's what people inside of the EsPN family should call an expert. Rittenberg knows quite a bit about what's going on inside Purdue football...because he reads up, interviews and prepares for the articles he writes. Someone at EsPN's TV studios should give Rittenberg's card to David Pollack; the braintrust behind yesterday's Purdue season preview.
 |
| Reportering is hard. |
-First, Robert Marve transferred from the University of Michigan to West Lafayette. Sweet. The poor guy probably has to pay his own tuition. B1G fans know that intra-conference transfers are strongly discouraged by the league...so much that you don't get a schollie when you decide to make such a move (unless it's '12 and you're leaving PSU). Sure it happens- UM's Boren transferred to aOSU after he found out that Rodriguez was an asshat...but it's not normal. And while UM does stand for University of Michigan, Marve's former school was the University of Miami, Einstein.
-Second, Purdue never beats aOSU.
Actually, they've done so twice in the past three seasons...and thrice in the last six times they've played...but who's counting (not David Pollack).
 |
| Why not post a photo of Steele? |
One of our favorites, Erin Andrews' replacement at the network, Samantha Steele, told me that it took two overtimes for the Boilers to beat the nuts in '11...And while I'm known to blackout from time to time in stressful situations, I'm pretty sure I only saw one OT last season at RA...but her error is much less egregious than Pollack's multiple boners on the air.
-Lastly, and most-glaringly, Purdue has secretly added MSU and Nebraska to the '12 schedule...all to be played in the last three games of the season.
This is big news to me...and I'm surprised that the B1G, any Purdue outlet and the Purdue Athletic Department itself has decided to keep this so hush. Hell, even guys who are really in the know like J Money and TMill haven't let me in on this news...Jerks.
Regardless, I hope Purdue gets another homegame out of the deal...it'd be tough to play two more surprise road games...Dammit, I hope the coaches and players know.
Thanks to David Pollack, and his employer for never letting us down. While our expectations are low, you guys always find a way outdo yourselves. Schleps.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Sam Steele Dominates Shannon Spake...Oh Yeah
Turns out that a whopping 83% of poll respondents agree with our general, informal unscientific assessment that between Ms. Spake and Ms. Steele, the dimpled blonde from Arizona wins out. I don't really have much else to add but that I found this pic of Shannon kissing the bricks and, well, there's something wonderful about this photo:
Want something else adorable about Sam Steele? She got on stage and participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee the other day:
I think we can agree, we're all winners here.
Happy Friday.
Want something else adorable about Sam Steele? She got on stage and participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee the other day:
I think we can agree, we're all winners here.
Happy Friday.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Monday Gumbo; Pre-Indy 500 Edition
Big Jay Gets Screwed...Again
Jay Simpson had surgery on his foot recently following breaking his foot a few weeks ago. In spite of needing surgery to repair the break, his docs still say he'll be available for the trip to Italy with his Boiler teammates. I'd venture a guess though, with two months out of commission, Jay will exhibit some rust come early August. He says he's currently about 10 pounds heavier than he'd like to be...so getting in shape for the '12/'13 season, while not impossible, will be difficult for Purdue's 6'9" Freshman PF.
This isn't the first time Simpson has had to have surgery on a foot; a few years ago, he had similar surgery on the other foot.
In November, Simpson joins a youthful, but talented frontcourt with fellow Freshman, Hammons and Hale, along with Sophomore, Jacob Lawson and Juniors, Carroll and Marcius.
Still Champs...But...
The Baseball Boilers dropped their first series of the B1G season in Iowa over last weekend. The sub-.500 Hawkeyes managed to score at least 6 runs in all three games of Purdue's final series of the regular season. Now, Purdue heads into the B1G tourney as the #1 seed in the conference...but needs to play well in an effort to host a round in the NCAA tourney.
Back on the Team
OJ Ross practiced all Spring without a schollie for the Hope's team after academic problems and enigmatic behavior put the starting behavior in the doghouse. Dwayne Beckford had another run-in with the law during the winter that forced him out of Spring practice and off of the team.
Both players have had their scholarships re-instated...but make no mistake, both cases aren't the same.
Ross, while exhibiting some laziness, both on and off the field probably should be given another chance to play in the fall. Purdue's receiving corps desperately needs stability and experience...especially with Antavian Edison's status still a question mark following his arrest in Florida earlier this month.
But, Beckford, in my opinion, has had more than enough opportunities to stay out of trouble, and simply hasn't been able to do so. I think Hope really wants to see the kid graduate...and I appreciate that idea. But, as we saw at the end of Tiller's time at Purdue, letting guys who repeatedly break the law does no good for the program in the longrun...and really doesn't do much good for that individual either.
While Purdue needs help at LB even more than WR, I'd rather not see #3 playing for my alma mater in the fall...but I'm not the guy who makes the call (obviously).
Edison's weapons charge in Florida still has a ton of ways it can go. Who knows if Antavian was unaware of the weapon in the car, if it was his or if he tried to deflect some of the attention off of his uncle (who is already a convicted felon)...regardless, this seems like a really dumb situation to be caught in...and if he gets off with misdemeanor charges and a plea (which I think he will), hopefully, he never puts himself in this position again. Unlike Beckford, Edison has never been in trouble with the law before this incident...but if he's charged/convicted with a felony weapons charge, he'll surely be off the team and kicked out of school.
Spake or Steele? Everyone's a Winner here
I'm a big fan of blonde-haired sports reporters with dimples. Weird, I know.
I think Samantha Steele is one of the best in the business...she's knowledgeable and very good to look at as well. But racing fans, specifically NASCAR fans know Shannon Spake...and probably like her quite a bit. IndyCar fans have Jamie Little (I'm not a huge fan).
But in a cage match for on-field (or on track) supremacy, who wins- Spake or Steele? Weigh in on the upper right of the page on this week's poll.
No-Bump Bump Day
I spent two afternoons at IMS in the last three days...and gathered some more opinions of my favorite form of racing...here are some nuggets.
-The extra boost used to help make quals and practice faster and more entertaining did exactly what it was supposed to do. BUT, I don't think it's a coincidence that there were four crashes in that period.
The new chassis, as it's configured now has a ton of downforce and makes it easier to drive. The combo of additional horsepower and taking out as much wing as possible led to some pretty dramatic wrecks.
-Before a few teams left Lotus to seek some engines that would actually compete at Indy and everyplace else on the circuit, it was tough to find an extra engine in the IndyCar garages.
After a few of those Chevys went backend-first into the outside walls, the engine shortage became an even bigger deal. The end result was a Bump Day at IMS that had exactly 33 driver/car combos...and four or five drivers left with their hats in their hands as they sought rides to get into the show. Next year, with another year of development, and hopefully the loss of Lotus and another manufacturer (i.e. Ford or Mazda?) coming into the league, Bump Day should return to where it was in 2011 and before.
-I'm all for safety of the drivers...but let's look at what racing really is at its core: Go as fast as possible and beat your competition. That principle is no longer in play in any of the major racing leagues in the world.
NASCAR machines were going 205+ in the 90s...CART had cars that would do close to 250 on a straight-away in the 70s and 80s (sure, they couldn't turn at anywhere near that speed) and F1 continues to take away aero advantages to make driving the car more of a challenge (I'm actually a fan of this as it seems much of F1 racing is out of the drivers' hands)...
The point is IndyCar needs to get back to the days in which teams were encouraged to innovate and press for speed. Sure, that idea led to a Buick that went 236 mph...but couldn't hold up for more than 40 laps of race conditions; but isn't that the point? Everything in racing is about risk/reward.
Allowing the teams to change aero packages next year is a good step forward...and hopefully, with another year of development, the Honda and Chevy engines will be able to get closer to 230 again. But the fact that multiple drivers were over 235 mpg 20 years ago, and can barely crack 225 now makes fans like me long for "the good ole' days".
That said, I still love IndyCar and the month of May at IMS.
Jay Simpson had surgery on his foot recently following breaking his foot a few weeks ago. In spite of needing surgery to repair the break, his docs still say he'll be available for the trip to Italy with his Boiler teammates. I'd venture a guess though, with two months out of commission, Jay will exhibit some rust come early August. He says he's currently about 10 pounds heavier than he'd like to be...so getting in shape for the '12/'13 season, while not impossible, will be difficult for Purdue's 6'9" Freshman PF.
This isn't the first time Simpson has had to have surgery on a foot; a few years ago, he had similar surgery on the other foot.
In November, Simpson joins a youthful, but talented frontcourt with fellow Freshman, Hammons and Hale, along with Sophomore, Jacob Lawson and Juniors, Carroll and Marcius.
Still Champs...But...
The Baseball Boilers dropped their first series of the B1G season in Iowa over last weekend. The sub-.500 Hawkeyes managed to score at least 6 runs in all three games of Purdue's final series of the regular season. Now, Purdue heads into the B1G tourney as the #1 seed in the conference...but needs to play well in an effort to host a round in the NCAA tourney.
Back on the Team
OJ Ross practiced all Spring without a schollie for the Hope's team after academic problems and enigmatic behavior put the starting behavior in the doghouse. Dwayne Beckford had another run-in with the law during the winter that forced him out of Spring practice and off of the team.
Both players have had their scholarships re-instated...but make no mistake, both cases aren't the same.
Ross, while exhibiting some laziness, both on and off the field probably should be given another chance to play in the fall. Purdue's receiving corps desperately needs stability and experience...especially with Antavian Edison's status still a question mark following his arrest in Florida earlier this month.
But, Beckford, in my opinion, has had more than enough opportunities to stay out of trouble, and simply hasn't been able to do so. I think Hope really wants to see the kid graduate...and I appreciate that idea. But, as we saw at the end of Tiller's time at Purdue, letting guys who repeatedly break the law does no good for the program in the longrun...and really doesn't do much good for that individual either.
While Purdue needs help at LB even more than WR, I'd rather not see #3 playing for my alma mater in the fall...but I'm not the guy who makes the call (obviously).
Edison's weapons charge in Florida still has a ton of ways it can go. Who knows if Antavian was unaware of the weapon in the car, if it was his or if he tried to deflect some of the attention off of his uncle (who is already a convicted felon)...regardless, this seems like a really dumb situation to be caught in...and if he gets off with misdemeanor charges and a plea (which I think he will), hopefully, he never puts himself in this position again. Unlike Beckford, Edison has never been in trouble with the law before this incident...but if he's charged/convicted with a felony weapons charge, he'll surely be off the team and kicked out of school.
Spake or Steele? Everyone's a Winner here
I'm a big fan of blonde-haired sports reporters with dimples. Weird, I know.
I think Samantha Steele is one of the best in the business...she's knowledgeable and very good to look at as well. But racing fans, specifically NASCAR fans know Shannon Spake...and probably like her quite a bit. IndyCar fans have Jamie Little (I'm not a huge fan).
But in a cage match for on-field (or on track) supremacy, who wins- Spake or Steele? Weigh in on the upper right of the page on this week's poll.
 |
| No losers in this competition |
No-Bump Bump Day
I spent two afternoons at IMS in the last three days...and gathered some more opinions of my favorite form of racing...here are some nuggets.
 |
| Bourdais' new paintjob is badass. |
The new chassis, as it's configured now has a ton of downforce and makes it easier to drive. The combo of additional horsepower and taking out as much wing as possible led to some pretty dramatic wrecks.
-Before a few teams left Lotus to seek some engines that would actually compete at Indy and everyplace else on the circuit, it was tough to find an extra engine in the IndyCar garages.
After a few of those Chevys went backend-first into the outside walls, the engine shortage became an even bigger deal. The end result was a Bump Day at IMS that had exactly 33 driver/car combos...and four or five drivers left with their hats in their hands as they sought rides to get into the show. Next year, with another year of development, and hopefully the loss of Lotus and another manufacturer (i.e. Ford or Mazda?) coming into the league, Bump Day should return to where it was in 2011 and before.
-I'm all for safety of the drivers...but let's look at what racing really is at its core: Go as fast as possible and beat your competition. That principle is no longer in play in any of the major racing leagues in the world.
NASCAR machines were going 205+ in the 90s...CART had cars that would do close to 250 on a straight-away in the 70s and 80s (sure, they couldn't turn at anywhere near that speed) and F1 continues to take away aero advantages to make driving the car more of a challenge (I'm actually a fan of this as it seems much of F1 racing is out of the drivers' hands)...
The point is IndyCar needs to get back to the days in which teams were encouraged to innovate and press for speed. Sure, that idea led to a Buick that went 236 mph...but couldn't hold up for more than 40 laps of race conditions; but isn't that the point? Everything in racing is about risk/reward.
Allowing the teams to change aero packages next year is a good step forward...and hopefully, with another year of development, the Honda and Chevy engines will be able to get closer to 230 again. But the fact that multiple drivers were over 235 mpg 20 years ago, and can barely crack 225 now makes fans like me long for "the good ole' days".
That said, I still love IndyCar and the month of May at IMS.
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