Posts made by Jermofoot

@ABWorsham4

It’s because the BJs didn’t win, the Rangers gave up the game.  Stupid Andrus.

j/k  Rangers had no right to be where they were considering last season and spring training.  I’m looking forward to next year when they make Bautista eat his bat.

@frimmel:

Pepe backfisted him. That wasn’t just “one of those things that happen sometimes” like what happened to Dempsey. I call good on Mueller for taking the “dive.”

The headbutt was totally worthy of ejection especially on back of the punch.

That’s as much of a hit to the face as Mueller as Pepe in an armbar.  To me it was incidental but perhaps bad taste to have arms up like that.  I don’t know a precedence, but if that warrants a card then that’s weaksauce.  Spot Germany the ball if you feel it was a foul.

This is a hit, IMO:

@alexgreat:

Maybe you are really not an expert? Apparently, many Americans still need to emphasize how tough they are, even if only by proxy? So whats the proper English expression for Pepes deed? Light touch with the forehead? Not ok in soccer, like it or not.

Yes, I’m the problem here.  No, what I see is a sport that wants to be taken seriously in the US but is completely flush with bullshit, and that’s the status quo.  It’s pathetic when a poor tackle is recognized by the player and the victim and they play on is the exception, not the rule.  I’m not asking to be the NFL or rugby, I’m saying the sport needs to clean up and police itself and not let these antics play out.  To me, it’s less sportsmanlike than getting heated during a match.

And for your info:

Headbutt

Touching heads

I’m not saying that’s what he was trying to do, but he certainly wasn’t trying to injure or strike with a blow from his head.  In a loud stadium, maybe he was apologizing.  Maybe he was checking if he was ok.  Hell if I know, and neither do you.  But it’s ridiculous if it’s an instant red card as soon as foreheads come together.  Why is that even verboten?  They were nearly in embrace seconds earlier. I just saw a Russian player knock down a Korean player, and he then tried to help him stretch his leg out.  Why not red card that? Logically, the rules don’t make sense.  Don’t even bother going into “he has a history”.  I don’t care, and it’s not at all relevant to the play.

Pull a Zidane, red card no question.

That was a weak-ass red card.  Soccer is the sport that could use a review system the most, I think, but no one would go for it because it would “kill” the flow of the game. Nevermind the fact that you probably lose 30 minutes to the constant roll-in-the-grass dramatics, celebrations after a score, fouls, etc.

I mean, I’m not a soccer rule expert (and many of which I wonder who the hell thought THAT was a good idea), but to call that a headbutt (which is insulting to Zidane) is to liken two cars kissing bumpers to an auto wreck.

I will continue to watch and enjoy the games, but that whiny baby BS needs to go, and a review system would be the best way to combat it.

Also: Mueller should be ashamed of himself.  Not only was it fake, it was terribly faked.  He looked like a complete weeny “selling” that foul.

@Imperious:

The supporting cast basically didn’t show up. I don’t like the substitutions. For example, why not play Greg Ogden? The whole point was to have a big man and he just sat on the bench. Also, they didn’t really play Haslem till the end and they broke the confidence of Chalmers. He never played this poorly ever.

Big men wouldn’t have helped outside shooting, which is what killed the Heat - best FG% in any finals in history, nearly 50% from 3 as a team.

They need to trade for a PG, get rid of Wade.

Not sure what happened with Chalmers, but he was terrible.  Cole would have been a better start.

Need a real center, not Anderson

Need a bench more than they need a center.  But that’s where they took cuts to sign the Big 3.

Run more plays for Bosh

Maybe in the 1st game - after that he caught the Wade flu.

@Imperious:

Well see told you.

Suspiciously absent from the NBA thread…

@General:

@Imperious:

Don’t worry they will win game 4, putting me 2-1.

I can’t blame you here since I don’t think anyone in America anticipated the Finals to end on three straight routs.

If only they knew it was the Cavs that suited up…

@John:

Wow, this has to be the best Spurs team, ever. They could close at home, which would be great! One more to go! :-D

Yeah, this should have been a sweep, but I’ll take a home close instead.  :mrgreen:

@Imperious:

Well as you remember, Miami did lose a home game but won the series anyway. The Spurs are in decline, their big three are on the downside of career while Labron is at his peak.

Besides missing the Game 3 prediction, I think you have it fairly wrong.  James is at his peak, true.  Duncan has played better the past 2 years than the few years before that (but was still a very solid/good player even then).  Parker is in the late of his prime and Ginobili is one of the best 6th men out there.

Wade is on the decline and Bosh never played to the level of the others outside Ginobili maybe.

The biggest difference here is the team.  The Spurs are solid and deep - they win playing as a team.  Take away a piece of Miami, and they fall apart (especially if that’s Lebron, although I don’t think he could have won Game 1, only lessened the blow).  The Heat don’t have anyone like Kawhi Leonard - young, strong, great shooter, great D.  They don’t have a capable big man to take on Tiago Splitter or Aron Baynes (if it comes down to it, although not particularly strong players themselves).  Danny Green and Ray Allen match up pretty well, but I’d give the edge to Green due to youth and better defense.  Boris Diaw can play D like Birdman, but also can shoot it - Birdman looks like he doesn’t want to touch the ball unless the other team has it.

Who else is there?  Chalmers has been nonexistent in this series - I’d take Patty Mills over him any day.  Matt Bonner & Belinelli can play ball especially the 3, but don’t get put in as often as they should (with such a deep team, it’s understandable).  What do the Heat have left?  Battier?  Haslem?  I guess I forgot about Rashard Lewis, but still…basically the Heat are 7 players unless fouls warrant it.  The Spurs Bench can field a solid team (and nearly beat the full strength Heat earlier this year).

Series isn’t done yet, and I think it’s a good matchup, but to say it so simply is really overlooking the details.

@Flashman:

But so many storylines to cram into 10 episodes; most characters will get about 3 scenes in the entire 5th season.

And nobody dies.

Apart from –-e—.

A sad loss I don’t think.

There simply isn’t a way to do the next season the way the books are, it’ll have to be combined.  I think it’ll be more exciting that way.

@Flashman:

Last book not even started on yet.

At his rate of scribing there’s no way it’ll be finished before the relevant TV season is made.

Martin will have to supply the producers with a skeleton version of the novel for the final TV shows - aired before the book is published:

https://uk.celebrity.yahoo.com/news/george-r-r-martin-rules-eighth-game-thrones-104152422.html

He knows how he wants it to end - I think the path to get there is the hard part.  He’ll finish.

Is that all that makes great TV?

First off, people are invested for 4 seasons.  There are many things to address:

Arya
The Hound
The Mountain
A New King
Stannis and his quest for the throne
Wildlings
WTF with the Others?
Dany
Tyrion
The Boltons
Ironborn
Littlefinger/Sansa
Martells/Oberyn’s death
Varys
Brienne
Bran/Hodor
Margery/Tommen

again, off the top of my head.  And there’s still more to come.

Based on my (close as I can get to checking them out personally) gaming experience:

M18 Hellcat
Panzer V Panther

@LHoffman:

I cannot help myself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Yl-CrwtRE

Never heard of this girl before, but she’s right.

Dude, I like hockey, but you got took by a pretty face.  Not to mention you could probably turn each point she made back to the NBA.

1. Close games - 5 of the 8 first round series went to game sevens in the NBA.  Sure, not individual games, but you can’t compare and average of single digit scoring to high double/low triple digit scoring.  Apples to oranges.
2. Pace (last minute takes forever in the NBA…) - Only in a close game.  So does this invalidate point #1?

3. Team vs. Stars - I would argue the best team makes it, obviously, for each conference, and IMO, the Spurs are the more solid team.  OKC had stars they had to play nearly the full duration of the game because they had an incomplete team, and didn’t make it.  Additionally, I’m not sure how this makes for a “better sport” argument?  Besides, the pace is fairly different for each and the NHL requires a larger group to keep up with it. 
4.  Intensity/Teams playing to ability - Each game counts, both leagues.  There is no “you don’t have to try until the playoffs”.  That’s just stupid.  You have to make the playoffs first.  And the “dude broke something and had a custom mask to play in hockey”?  Look:

5. Unpredictability/odds - Teams that hadn’t been in years made it; for the first time ever, the Celtics, Knicks, or Lakers were not in the playoffs.  The Heat vs. Spurs rematch is slightly over 50/50 in Spurs favor, even though the Heat won last year.  She sarcastically “wonders” who will win, insinuating the Heat, when it went to 7 games last year and the Spurs were within a free throw of winning the championship in game 6 (that’s what you call a close game).

6. Anyone’s game (unpredictability repeated) - I believe in parity myself, and I can concede it.  But I do believe the home court advantage in the NBA is HUGE, and that makes a big difference.  But does it make for a better sport, the team that barely squeaks into the championship has a shot at the title, and the dominating team during the regular season goes out in the first round?  Most seem to like a cinderella story, but does that mean the sport is intrinsically better?

7. Sudden death overtime - You get 5 minutes in the NBA, it might as well be.  You have 5 minutes to play your best basketball.  Going into overtime is pretty big for such a high scoring sport, anyway.  Hockey can be deadlocked from the first period to warrant it, but not the NBA.
8. Drama - She rails on the NBA for having character drama.  Well that’s the NBA for you.  Fights are a luxury, not a staple.  24 hour sportsnews cycle and a popular sport will drag out tons of “stories”.  I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but it’s not an actual argument to watch hockey over the NBA.

9. Trophy - And? I bet more people can identify it by sight than name, but still…what’s that have to do with watching the sport?  Additionally, the NBA doesn’t identify the playoffs by the trophy, but by the sport.  That may have something to do with it…

10. Ratings - “Just because a lot of people watch the NBA compared to the NHL, doesn’t mean it’s good.”  Ok, so give me a reason the NHL is better?  This is a wasted spot.

So…I enjoyed the view…the argument was crap though.

Here’s my rebuttal:

The NBA and NHL finals playoff games are staggered, so you don’t have to choose!!!

I will say this - I like Nelson Cruz and glad he’s having success right now.  But if there is ever an example that he should be DH only…game 6.    :cry:

Haha, awesome!  I wondered about that tank variant as I play Darkest Hour (Red Orchestra mod) and it shows up on some maps.  I couldn’t tell exactly what was different about it.  I just might start picking it when I can now that I know what it was exactly.  I think there even was a 76mm variant that was used later to help against tougher German armor (at least the turret appears the same but the gun barrel is much longer)

@John:

@Jermofoot:

I’m very glad of this rematch.�  I’ve got quite a few friends of the Heat (namely from Bron Bron), and last year was a fun, yet ultimately sad, time.�  I look forward to it again as well as revenge.�  I’ve put my wallet down on the Spurs, as I believe they will take it this time.

The Spurs were only one play from winning last year. Let us hope they get their revenge. I don’t won’t another Miami win. :-D

Me neither (nothing against them, although I dislike the “Superteam” approach).

Last years series was exactly like when the Texas Rangers faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.  Both went to game 7s, both had an incredibly crazy game 6, and ultimately it broke my heart…

I’m very glad of this rematch.  I’ve got quite a few friends of the Heat (namely from Bron Bron), and last year was a fun, yet ultimately sad, time.  I look forward to it again as well as revenge.  I’ve put my wallet down on the Spurs, as I believe they will take it this time.

@Flashman:

The books really go downhill after a Storm of Swords.

They just have the characters meandering about aimlessly, with the author getting cold feet and refusing to kill off any more major characters.

The last two books should be ignored by the TV producers (or used for lighting fires) in favour of a completely new parallel storyline.

While book 4 was a let down (and shorter) compared to books 2 & 3, in hindsight, it wasn’t uneventful.  It basically was setting the stage for the climax as the series resolves itself.  And I thought book 5 was an upswing and on par with 1-3.

I wouldn’t mind seeing divergent paths between written and filmed material, and am used to it in other series, particularly manga (Gantz and Full Metal Alchemist come to mind).  However, the word is that the show writers and directors know the details of how it ends.  I think the fans aren’t that faroff either, but GRRM has said the ending will be “bittersweet” - there’s still a lot to come, I think.  Just laying the groundwork for it now:  Lannisters in decline, wildling integration and new northern threat, Dany & her dragons, the other Targaryen in Westeros with an army, Littlefinger seemingly raising the Vale under him (with an unblemished army to boot), Dorne secret allegiance with Targaryens, Ironborn still loose, the Starks Return?..…that’s just off the top of my head.

@frimmel:

I can’t wait to see if Margaery totally set-up Cersei with asking Pycelle for moon tea. Total amateur move unless she wanted Cersei to think (whether she was or not) she was banging around on Tommen. I don’t think for a second she couldn’t get it on the quiet from the serving girls.

So yep, Jermo count me in on the “Grand Tyrell Conspiracy” more or less.

I don’t doubt that possibility - but I would think the Tyrell matriarch is behind it all. Mace is the face of the family and really just a run-of-the-mill warrior, portrayed in the show and books as such.

@frimmel:

My impression is the current season is just going to finish all of ASOS. So they’ll have taken two seasons with that book. If they then take books 4 and 4.5 into three seasons he should at least have book 5 out by time to turn that into a season. Making it four seasons might even be possible without dragging it down. (I don’t watch the show so I can’t really speak to the pacing and what they’re pulling from where at the moment.)

But it does seem like they’re going to overtake the novels. I think a bigger concern would be that Martin’s not going to live long enough to finish the books.

Book 5 “should be” out next summer.  They spent 2 seasons on Book 3, which has been claimed not to occur again, but I don’t see how they are going to follow the books translated directly as seasons for the next two.  Since they are concurrent, it needs to be melded together and shown in that manner, and I think that will help keep attention better.  It may very amount to 3 seasons, and I’ve heard that they supposedly estimated 7-8 seasons in all.  But we’ll see once it happens.  The books will be Ghostwritten, in the case of the Wheel of Time series, and he’s prepared for that as well.

@Flashman:

e’s created a vivid fantasy world, but seems unable to go anywhere in it now except concentric circles of the same thing.

Where?  I don’t know what you mean so you’ll need to line out where you think this.

Cersei’s walk of shame, and, er, um.

I will trudge through 2 boring, uneventful, dull seasons just to see this.

@Flashman:

The book after ASOS could have been set 10 years further on when things had been allowed to settle down; but then is Stannis going to camp at the wall for 10 years?

Why?  I don’t see how that addresses anything and skips over a ton of stuff (which I listed above).  You may as well say “it was all a dream” and end it.

@wittmann:

Jermofoot: sorry, did not mean to be cryptic.
I meant Jon Snow and his girlfriend. I can’t stand her whiny Northern accent.
I am not too bothered about the Winter reference and those Northern Wildings and the White Walkers either.
I like the good  life of the Southern Royals (in Summertime!).

I figured that’s who you meant, but wasn’t sure exactly.  I think next season you’ll enjoy quite a bit then as we should be seeing much of the Southron Dorne state and more of the Martells.

@frimmel:

I’m on board with the Lyanna/Rhaegar as Jon’s parents as well. I actually went looking for the wiki/forums you linked to see if I was some sort of crazy for thinking that.

I’d thought from the first book that Ned was not Jon’s father and the Ashara Dayne as Jon’s mother by Ned was just too obviously a red herring.

I’ve only read the novels proper and have not read any of the Dunk and Egg or even the available preview chapters for “Winds of Winter.” I was pushing hard to stay ahead of spoilers via the HBO shows since November (books 2 through 4.5) and I’m on a bit of a break. There is also a lot to digest. I’m glad I got to read them all in fairly rapid succession.

Stuff like always saying Jon looks like Arya who looks like Lyanna would sort of get lost if I’d been following on the as they are published path.

My big but really kind of little question is Littlefinger and Sansa related. Is Littlefinger really “creeping” on Sansa with the kissing or is that some sort of magic or prophecy? Like a milder form of the Crone/Cersei foretelling.

Much of the little details I don’t quite remember.  As you know, there’s a ton going on - characters, history, locations, food descriptions, etc.  There’s actually a theory that Ashara Dayne is Jojen and Meera Reed’s mother, but less evidence seems to point to that.

I did remember that Jon and Arya looked alike with reference to Lyanna as well, and that stood out to me.  It’s obviously used as evidence of the theory of Jon’s parents.

I think LittleFinger has an ego to feed that really tells about his character.  He works undercover/behind the scenes as he wasn’t the strongest, bravest, or even smartest guy out there.  He’s got a chip on his shoulder regarding rejection, especially from Catelyn.  So controlling things is some restitution regarding his previous experience, and using Sansa as a tool for his aims also satisfies his grudge with the Tullys/Starks.  I think he may actually care about her, but would not bother to betray her for his own gains.  Perhaps we’ll see some redemption from his character.  Of course she’s also beautiful so I don’t doubt he wouldn’t mind having a romp, but think this could inhibit reaching his main goals.

And to mention Cersei, another theory (theories) we’ve discussed - Ser Robert Strong’s identity, there whereabouts of The Hound, and, if what we think may have happened to them, a potential showdown.

@wittmann:

My wife and I really love the series. I have not read any of the books, but am  sure I would enjoy them too.
It is funny, but I probably detest more characters than I like.
That witch and stupid King who believes in her and that Crow couple annoy me. I could go on.

I do like Jamie(now he is deformed/maimed)and his dwarf brother and ruthless father. Arya Stark must be the most sympathetic character. Never liked Sean Bean. (My wife did.)
We have seen 3 series.

You are in for a treat this season, and i’d recommend reading the books.  There’s not a ton missing, but enough little things to entertain.  They’ve not changed much, but it is becoming more and more each season going on.

Who do you mean by Crow couple?

@John:

@Jermofoot:

Wondering has anyone picked up on the books or show?  Wouldn’t mind to discuss it.

I have read all 5 books long ago (probably within 2 months of posting this topic originally), and as of today am current on the show.  I don’t watch much TV but it seems one of the top programs out there right now.

I watch the show as well. I was disappointed it is not coming on tonight, but it is on next week.

Same here, but it’ll be a wonderful episode.  In fact the next 3 should have some very big events, can’t wait to see.  Obviously the Viper vs. The Mountain is coming…

@frimmel:

@Jermofoot:

Wondering has anyone picked up on the books or show?  Wouldn’t mind to discuss it.

I have read all 5 books long ago (probably within 2 months of posting this topic originally), and as of today am current on the show.  I don’t watch much TV but it seems one of the top programs out there right now.

I have now read all of the books and watched only the first season of the show.

So from here on out my posts will have SPOILERS. I will not bother to indicate this. You have been warned.

So the big one… who is Jon Snow’s mother? Is Ned really Jon Snow’s father?

The theory, which I’ve discussed with friends quite a bit, is almost too perfect to not have GRRM work it in (he apparently has taken fan suggestions as canon for the books - even using online forums for editing/accuracy).

It is suggested that Jon Snow’s mother is Lyanna Stark and his father is Rhaegar Targaryen.  The events of the Tower after Robert Baratheon’s rebellion had completed, where Ned and Howland Reed were the only 2 living people that knew what happened (now only Howland, obviously).  The thought is that the rumors or Rhaegar kidnapping and raping her were Robert’s thoughts as he wanted Lyanna.  It’s stated she died in a bed of blood and made Ned promise her something.  It makes sense that she died during childbirth, that Jon Snow is her son, and that Ned made his promise to her and claimed him as his own as he knew Robert would probably kill him, being a Targaryen (and from his lover, no less).  This matches what Daenarys believes, and even Robert doesn’t know who the mother is regarding what Ned tells everyone (it’s depicted in the show and the books).  It’s also odd that 3 of the 7 Kingsguard are at the tower that is absent anyone from the Targaryen lineage - king or princes.

This theory plays into a lot of other things.  Particularly what most think will come regarding heroes needed to combat the White Walkers - 3 heroes.  This 3 theme is shown quite a bit - 3 headed dragon on Targaryen sigil, 3 Targaryens conquered Westeros on 3 dragons, Dany has 3 dragons, etc.  So people think that she, Jon Snow, and a third person (some suggest Tyrion, with a theory regarding his true parents as well) will use her dragons to fight the Others in the climax.  This could also be construed as the coming of Azor Ahai as Melisandre speaks of (but mistakes or fakes that Stannis is the incarnation).

There are other theories as well, but I think that’s one of the biggest.  We’ve also discussed the identity of Azor Ahai’s avatar and BloodRaven/3 eyed Crow.  Here is a good link lining up many of the theories out there, but you can find them being discussed all over the internet:

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/109496-a-compendium-of-theories-v2/

Have you read any of the Dunk and Egg novellas/graphic novels?  There is some great backstory and overall entertaining reads.  They gave a shoutout to Duncan (the Tall) this season as Joffrey was looking over the Kingsguard book with Jamie.  Pretty cool, I thought.