Details of Jaguars offer to Alex Mack reported
April 10, 2014White Sox 7, Indians 3: Salazar impressive yet disappointing
April 11, 2014I set a Google Calendar reminder so that I wouldn’t forget to do WWW this week. Let’s hope that works from here on out. Now on with the WWW.
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I saw Draft Day last night, and here are my initial thoughts. Don’t worry. I will save you any and all spoilers. This isn’t a great achievement in cinema, but sports movies and summer popcorn flicks don’t have to be. This movie would be a full on failure if it was about any other topic but sports. Sports movies always have a special license and leeway because they’re about a topic that many of us are already pre-disposed to enjoy. Even still, Draft Day isn’t a great sports movie. It’s alright. Here in Cleveland because it’s about our team it’s like a B+. In the rest of the country where it’s not about other NFL fans’ teams it’s a C-.
There were a few jokes and light moments that mostly fell flat. Some of the quirky characters that were supposed to provide relief, really didn’t achieve it. I thought Denis Leary was probably the best part and even with my criticisms, every Browns fan should see it and will probably enjoy it. Come on. It’s about the NFL draft. That’s our annual Super Bowl, you know other than that real Super Bowl that other teams seem to compete for on occasion.
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Finally, we can talk about the Cleveland Indians and race and it has nothing to do with Chief Wahoo. As Deadspin pointed out in their post with video, White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson had some pretty interesting things to say about the Tribe’s reliever, C.C. Lee after he entered the game last night.
After Lee threw a “nasty slider,” Harrelson called it a “typical Asian motion” before tagging it with, “Deception involved.”
Can you imagine either the Indians’ radio or TV crews saying anything like that? Yes, Tom Hamilton was in the spotlight after a brush back pitch at Nick Swisher by Aroldis Chapman last year, but it’s hard to imagine just the same.
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Of course the talk of the day here in Cleveland will be Alex Mack. It might be too much talk for the topic. Andy Baskin has been quite level-headed on the topic on 92.3 the Fan. His sentiments have included that as soon as this reaches its conclusion nobody will talk about it anymore and he’s exactly right. NFL center is one of those positions that nobody knows anything about unless the guy is tossing the ball over his QB’s head all the time or committing penalties. Nearly nobody I know would know whether Alex Mack had a good season or not without the benefit of Pro Football Focus.
On top of all that, we need to remember what we don’t know. The Browns were all set to pay Mack just over $10 million for 2014 with the transition tag. The deal makes Alex Mack the league’s top paid center. That can be misleading though. There are so many different variables at play here. Most notably, the salary cap has grown and is expected to continue to grow. So, while $18 million is always going to be $18 million, it shrinks in impact on the team as the salary cap increases.
We’ll just have to wait and see whether the Browns decide to match the deal or not. Only they know via their longer range projections whether this is a good idea for them. Only they know their own confidence level in replacing Alex Mack if he were to depart. Even the most plugged in Browns fans with extensive cap knowledge can go so far as to say if it’s a “good” idea or not.
I think my preference would still be for the Browns to bring Mack back, but absent that extra layer of intel, that preference isn’t worth a whole lot. My preferences are also based on the fact that I have no idea whether John Greco can play center at a fraction of the price or not. I suspect the Browns have a better feeling for that matter, among others.
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It might not seem fair, but it makes for a heck of a YouTube highlight video. I bring you the 7’5″ tall high school player highlight mix tape including sweet croakies to hold on his glasses. He’s everything that State Farm wanted their stupid commercial to be with Chris Paul, except the guy with glasses is awkward and plays basketball.
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Last, but certainly not least, I’m really excited to go see Mansions again live next week. This time instead of road-tripping to Pittsburgh I get to see them play live and in the comfortable confines of the Grog Shop. They are opening up for La Dispute, who are also sure to be good. Still, I’m only in that door because of Mansions. Here’s my favorite song from their newest album Doom Loop. It’s a live version.
Have a really nice weekend everyone and stay tuned for a podcast with @sportsyelling that I’ll be recording soon!
47 Comments
Roll Call!
Who’s going to see Draft Day this weekend?
Me.
one of the most important parts of the Mack deal is that we have the tag to use on someone else next offseason and we have to factor in that we won’t be paying him 120% of the tag price.
“$18mil + use of ’14 tag” is much better than “$22mil + no ’14 tag”, which is the money and usage that would have happened had he signed the tag and we tagged him again next year.
You’ve spoiled me to the point where I expect gifs in all of your comments now.
I am no RGB with the gif’s, but hopefully this helps tide you over as my reaction to once the Browns officially match JAX’s Mack offer:
http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/276/files/2014/03/SDSU-DANCE.gif
Much obliged. And the way that gif is cut, it looks like the dancer is about to get popped in the head with the ball. Or he swats it away with his defensive dancing. It’s like a choose your own adventure.
Ok…who’s going to see Draft Day this weekend?
Me!
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130728053816/glee/images/4/4a/Hermione-Raising-Hand.gif
100 points for Gryffindor!
my favorite part is how none of his teammates/coaches look upon him strangely. it’s just expected from him by that point in the year even from subdued guy golf-clapping in his warm-up top 🙂
How about the suit all the way on the left with the clap fake-out? But yes, it IS expected – I think Simmons had a discussion about the different types of bench player celebrations, which includes the guy designated to hold everyone back, as if they’re all about to run on to the court.
Is that the “milking the invisible cow” celebration?
I’m more of a Hufflepuff guy.
that’s pretty violent arm action, wouldn’t that hurt the cow?
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/O0oo0.gif
You can thank Michael Sam and Derrick Gordon for paving the way and making it easier for you to admit that.
Shaddup you!
Giant invisible cow?
Perhaps he saw this gal when playing Northern State University of South Dakota?
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/imagebuzz/2008/7/24/14/8dcdc1dec9e743ae198911c007049387.jpg
@garry_owen: I’ll see you at Draft Day tonight and exchange a knowing glance from under my hooded (Brownie) sweatshirt
Udder-ly ridiculous
Roger that. Cocoaplex. 10:00. (Actually, I probably won’t make it until next week – but I’ll be there in (hooded) spirit.)
Roger that. Cocoaplex. 10:00. (Actually, I probably won’t make it until next week – but I’ll be there in (hooded) spirit.)
http://gifstumblr.com/images/im-not-raising-my-hand_670.gif
agree about Mack, but don’t think we need tons of intel to expect Browns to match. Browns new FO gives every indication they want to win now, the best FA centers are signed, if Greco can be an adequate center that creates a deeper whole at the guard spot he abandons, and Mack’s salary will be less than the transition tag figure.
And most of all, the contract’s most worrisome provision – Mack’s ability to walk after 2 seasons – is pretty irrelevant to Ray Farmer. If the team is still so bad that he wants out Farmer will be getting the boot anyway about then. In this org, a front office reign of 2 years is like 11 years in Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Unfortunately that only ranks as 27 on the list of reasons I want to punch Hawk Harrelson in the balls.
I suspect it will be a bunch of solo married dudes in the theater. After all, it’s generous enough our wives and girlfriends tolerate us watching the Browns on Sundays and then administer the consolation afterwards.
You’re probably right. The funny thing is, in every interview that I’ve seen with people involved in the movie, they say it’s as much for women as men. Now, I get that they’re trying to get butts in seats, but it actually does sound like a weird sort of chick flick in a sports movie costume.
I somehow convinced my girlfriend to go with me under the pretense of a “date night”. So we will be visiting the Cocoaplex in the near future as well. Look forward to a James Lipton-esque discussion of the film w/ everyone next week!
I have to say, Hamilton’s comments last year seemed at least as bad as Hawk’s.
There was just as much jingoism, and Hamilton made a comment wishing injury upon Chapman. I wonder if he thought about those comments again when Chapman did take one on the head this spring?
People on the air are expected to talk for hours on end, and sometimes they’re going to say something stupid, maybe really stupid, and they’ll wish they can take it back (though Hamilton made it clear he doesn’t). It happens, and I’m not going to pile too hard on either guy. I know we don’t like Hawk, and we do like Hamilton. But sometimes our guy is just as dumb as their guy.
That’s great. I think I’ve about convinced my wife to do the same, under the same pretenses. She initially said that I should “go, have fun,” but it didn’t actually sound fun. It sounded more than a little pitiful.
agree. Hamilton has now acquired sacred cow status (what’d I say?) but I think he’s gotten less enjoyable since Herb Score retired and he’s shifted from brilliant play-by-play only to increasingly assuming an “I’m a MLB Expert” attitude. He used to encourage Herb to play that role but Herb never seemed comfortable, either out of natural modesty or because he knew it wouldn’t wear well.
OY VEY!
Harrelson has a much longer and dubious list of blunders then just about anyone else doing games period.
Its not a cow its a bull and that is how he likes to be milked.
He’s been around a while, so he’s going to have his share of poorly said things, but I don’t know if he has a longer list of inappropriate blunders that stands out above anyone else. He’s frequently good for a rant or blatant homerism. But Hamilton can put up a good rant on his own, and when the Cavs are playing well, you’ll find few guys who are better homers than Mr. Cavalier himself.
I miss Herb. 🙁
No Harrelson is in a class of his own trust me I’ve heard enough of him to know. It’s beyond being a homer.
So, do I have to turn in my fan card for really having literally no desire to see Draft Day?
I, and I’m sure most everyone else here, are more than familiar with Harrelson. He’s a unique guy for sure. But I wouldn’t mistake not liking his rooting interests for blunders.
Nope.
Is it really racist to point out that a guy has a delivery style commonly used by Asian pitchers and that said style is deceptive. People from different cultures do things differently. Pointing out those differences or different styles is not racist.
I saw the Draft Day premiere (always nice when your Browns’ ticket agent calls you last second with free tickets!), and I thought it was better than that. While it’s slightly more fun for a CLE fan, I kept thinking of my friends in NY as I watched it. I thought they would laugh at many of the same jokes, which I found to be mostly solid, albeit from a different angle (“Haha CLE sucks!”).
I’d have given it a B+ for CLE fans, B- for NFL fans, C for non-NFL fans. The attention to detail on the NFL and broadcasting stuff was excellent, though it was definitely too bad they picked SEA to start with the #1 pick. To an NFL fan that was distracting, considering how much other current stuff they nailed.
Perhaps it wasn’t a cinematic achievement, but it was just a whole lot of fun to watch… unless you’re from Jacksonville. 🙂
I was going to reply but f*&k it I ain’t interested!
Perhaps it wasn’t a cinematic achievement, but it was just a whole lot of fun to watch… unless you’re from Jacksonville. 🙂
Or Buffalo who Cleveland snaked this movie from by giving better “incentives” to the film studio to have it filmed here.
My wife liked it.
Saw it last night with about 15 people total in the theater, about half of which seemed to be Browns fans by the laughing at the stuff only a Browns fan could understand. Fire Sonny!!
“It’s a beautiful day for baseball”
Just saw it.
Decent flick, although it was totally worth it just hear the line…
“Make the trade, you pancake eating m-fer!”
Just go see it.
There is one line in it that makes it totally worth it. 😀