Link

A classic draft day diary from Bill Simmons. If you like him even just a little go read it it now. Great stuff.

Preakness Round-Up

As Archibald noted the Preakness was missing one crucial component to the infield party -- people...I want to offer some quick thoughts because I've got a blog and can. I promise no more Preakness blogging after this.

To clarify: I don't think that banning BYOB was/is a necessarily bad idea. Nor do I think that it is necessarily the correct idea. I agree that the infield was getting beyond dangerous to a level that I've never seen anything like it before or after, and most attendees will repeat the same sentiments. That being said, there were other options to consider; like an increased security presence, selling fewer tickets, creating a separate area in the infield without the BYOB'ers, etc. Any combination of these might have been worth a try for a year before taking the drastic step they ended up doing.

Add in the curious marketing and communication blunders and you have one poorly executed event, which if it wasn't one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and on the verge of leaving the state of Maryland, wouldn't be a big deal. A couple of examples. They announced the BYOB change within 6 months of the event and handled the media roll out of the news as though they had no idea that the reaction would be overwhelmingly negative. Why not keep it BYOB for this year and one week after the race announce the change? Why do it so close to race? Makes no sense.

They also had no idea how to market the infield "party". They claim they are banning outside booze to increase the experience for infield attendees while classing up the event. Then they make it a concert, add a bikini bash and run TV spots and print ads that clearly are supposed to appeal to the college age market. Scantily clad women and reminders that there will be no limit of alcohol purchases. $1 drafts in the first 3 hours! Cheap beer for the rest of the day! If you want that crowd and their $60 dollars then don't ban the BYOB. If you want a older more sedate crowd that might gamble more and buy your alcohol then fine, appeal to them. But someone figure out what the goal is.

I think that the banning outside beer was merely a revenue play, and until the numbers come out we will have to see if they failed or succeeded with their bottom line. I read/heard reports from beer vendors that beer sales were actually slower than in previous years. Previous years when people where bringing their own beer in. To repeat -- They were doing less volume in beer sales even though they had zero competition. Not good. On a positive note, betting was reportedly up, so time will tell how the exact revenue numbers shape up. I wouldn't be optimistic if I was the Maryland Jockey Club or Pimlico.

Who Doesn't Want to be Tom Brady?

Tom Brady is such a stud that he can throw for a record 6 touchdowns in New England and then can frolick in South Beach with a super model the next day. What big feet he has!

I assume he will get back to business in time to slaughter the Skins this coming Sunday though the Wa Post wrote about how Brady might lose, haha.

My only hope is that Brady is so distracted by Gisele that he forgets to study this week.

On how the Pats could lose, go here.

Undefeated Fantasy Season? Or Undefeated NFL Season?

The Sports Guy is on it:

With that said, I'd always choose a 19-0 Pats season over a 16-0 fantasy season. Here's a good indicator for where you'd stand in the same situation: When you're watching a game and your fantasy team and real-life team come into conflict -- say you're a Cowboys fan and a Plax owner, and Plax scores a 50-yard TD to give the Giants a fourth-quarter lead -- as it's happening, you'll either root for them to tackle Plax, or you'll root for him to score under the twisted "maybe I can get the points and Dallas can still win the game" logic. It's one or the other. It's one of the most black-and-white moments you'll have as a sports fan. I love fantasy as much as anyone, but I could never root for something fantasy-related that would screw over the Pats. If you'd root for Plax to score in that situation, either you're not really a Cowboys fan, or you care a little too much about your fantasy team and might need an intervention.

Sports Guy, On Fire

It took me about fifteen minutes to stop laughing uncontrollably after reading the following portion of Sports Guy's ESPN chat:

mark (ottawa): how can you discuss "suicidal beards" without mentioning Campbell Scott in Singles?!? He set the bar - that's like talking about great dunkers and not mentioning Dr. J.

SportsNation Bill Simmons: Excellent point. Does Tom Hanks in "Castaway" qualify? I got sucked into that movie this weekend...it gets 5% better every time. The parts with Wilson kill me. I wanted them to include a scene where he gets a hooker after she comes back and makes her wear a volleyball mask.

[Ellipsis]

Rob (Portland, OR): What does a volleyball mask look like? Is it anything like a left-handed football bat?

SportsNation Bill Simmons: I meant a mask that was made out of one side of a volleyball.

Lots more here.

NCAA Round-Up

Greatest week of the year. Beats out opening week of World Cup only because it carries St. Patrick's Day with it.

We have Maryland winning in what might have been the best first round game so far. Duke loses to VCU in what had to be the most obvious upset to anyone who has seen Duke play more than 2 games this year. Currently Eastern Kentucky is on a 30 point rampage to bring their 1 to 16 match-up against UNC to within 6; in what may cause my two Chapel Hill alumni roomates to pull a Richard Jeni. Let's not forget Xavier and BYU taking it to the wire, currently with no winner, making a go at the Maryland Davidson best-opening-round game so far title.[ed-Xaiver just pulled it out]

Check out Bill Simmons live-blogging the tournament, see this updated bracket, and enjoy your beer and basketball.

UPDATE: OK, so I got a little ahead of myself with the UNC game. Sorry, I was imagining a house to myself for the weekend. I also need to encourage you readers to check out the Sports Guy live-blogging this thing, so I'll leave you with a sample.

10:58: Best exchange of the day …

Wenzel (after a controversial travelling call in the Maryland game): "Instantaneous decisions are a lot harder than ones you can see on replay."

JackO: "… and that's why I've been married three times."

House: "… and that's why I drive a PT Cruiser."

JackO: "… and that's why I woke up this morning next to a 240-pound woman."

(Note: This went on for the next three minutes.)

It gets better.

Sports Guy Does Vegas

From his NBA All-Star Weekend thumbs up/down novella at ESPN.com.

...we were in the process of jumping the line when the bouncer stopped me with two words: "No sneakers." As it turned out, I violated [Ceasar's Palace nightclub] Pure's dress code with my Pumas, but it was perfectly acceptable for any woman to show up there with a paper-thin cocktail dress barely covering their butt cheeks, no underwear, and their babymaker hanging out and facing the ground. This was OK. My tennis shoes were not OK. You figure it out.

Good times. More here.