Monzanator

I didn't realize Slovakia is doing this bad? "Rescuing" a draw from 0-2 vs Malta?   Well, Dusan Kuciak is still Top 5 goalkeeper in Polish Ekstraklasa

This whole Planica weekend is totally useless. Granerud won the overall by miles and there's nothing to play for literally two weeks after the previous event. Just cancel the damn thing and let them enjoy some quick holidays. Incredible waste of time & effort.

26 minutes ago, phelps said:

if the Niners want to be competitive and get back to the SB soon, I don't think taking a young QB like Lance or Wilson is the right move, I'd rather take Sewell and look for a trade to get an experienced backup QB to protect the team from JimmyG possible injuries...

in their first couple of years, Lance or Wilson wouldn't give SF a lot more than a Beathard of this world...they're not Lawrence...

 

if he's still available, the Falcons are going to call Wilson for sure...and Atlanta might be the right place for him, more than SF (or the Jets, even if I'm reading more and more often that they're going to call Sewell at no.2 and either stay with Darnold or find the way to bring DeShaun in NY)...

 

we'll see how it goes very soon...

Garoppolo has been injured 3 of the 4 seasons he started in NFL. That's a wash. Plus this roster is build to win now. They just made Trent Williams the highest-paid tackle and they will be paying big bucks to George Kittle (extension) and Nick Bosa sooner than you know it. It's exactly time to draft a young QB and let him play for nothing while all the big contributors eat up the salary. Garoppolo's deal is a bargain but he can't stay healthy and NFC West is a juggernaut with Wilson, Stafford and Murray. This is not NFC East where you can win it with Ryan Fitzpatrick (as WFT thinks they can).

21 minutes ago, mrv86 said:

Is Trusova’s 12th to 3rd the biggest climb in position at WCh?

It's not if you consider the old compulsory figures. Denise Biellmann was notoriously bad at CP and Janet Lynn won silver in 1973 despite 12th in short program (but she was 1-2 in free & compulsory).

I recall one totally forgettable short from Maria Butyrskaya before she climbed up after free but don't remember the year anymore.

18 minutes ago, phelps said:

they might take Devonta from 'Bama to give JimmyG a reliable target on both the short and deep passing routes, instead (they already signed some good linemen to improve their QB protection)...

 

imho no other above the average QB would eventually move this year, except for DeShaun (if can stay out of jail, considered his last off the field performances)...

No way someone is moving up to Top 5 to draft a WR. No way. It's a QB move. Niners take either Trey Lance or Zach Wilson IMO. Garoppolo's frequent injuries have worn out Shanahan & Lynch big time.

Smith could be a target for Miami at #6 now. Either him or D'Marr Chase. Penai Sewell ain't falling past the Bengals at #5.

The big question is what the Falcons do at #4. They brought back Matt Ryan and they have a terrible defense but I don't think a defensive guy goes Top 5 in this draft. They could also draft a WR or TE Kyle Pitts to further boost the offense with Julio Jones not getting any younger and the TE spot vulnerable after they traded Austin Hooper away last year.

SF 49ers traded to #3 in the the draft which suggests they're taking a QB. So Jimmy Garoppolo's days as the starter are basically over. Question is whether SF traded him to Patriots before the new season or in 2022 since Cam Newton has only signed another 1-year deal and we all know Bellichick loves Garoppolo.

Da hell happened with Miyahara? Wasn't she supposed to be a medal contender here?

Saarinen with the worst free of the whole champs. Gonna be difficult to beat that.

Justyna Plutowska & Jeremie Flemin retired after last season so good luck in finding a second dance pair who can qualify

7 minutes ago, rybak said:

Recently also Agnieszka Cyl joined to our biathlon coach team.

I don't understand that. Wasn't Cyl enraged over Kolodziejczyk's decision to not field her at the 2014 OG? She was promised to start in the individual before eventually getting shelved IIRC? She basically retired prematurely due to Kolodziejczyk's coaching methods and now she joins his staff? What gives here?

Justyna Kowalczyk is the new Sporting Director in Polish Biathlon Association. Word is Alexander Veretelny could be returning to biathlon as well (he was HC of Polish NT 1987-1998).

With Skinder and Marcisz having a lot of promise in cross country it's curious to see Kowalczyk leave them but it's classic PZN war at the top. Presumably CC HC Martin Bajcicak wants to have a bigger say since Skinder & Marcisz were based in the Kowalczyk/Veretelny private team the last two years.

Kaliszek & Spodyriev ahead of the Russians & Americans so far. That's a great performance by them for sure.

14 hours ago, Vektor said:

Missed opportunity for us, I doubt we will get another chance like this in Poland. 

Yes, our defense was very poor. Helik got burned on his NT debut and most experts think he should have been brought more easily (but we have only two friendlies before Euros so there is no time anyway). Old man Glik is still required as Bednarek clearly struggled as the defense leader.

Arkadiusz Reca once again proved he's useless wing-back when he actually has to play defense. He might play vs Andorra but no way he starts vs England!

In response to the dubious frozen rankings nonsense WTA has decided to do something after all (or maybe they feared another mutiny like in ATP case).

Indian Wells 2019 points will stay on for another year though. But Iga Swiatek's Roland Garros points will count for 52 weeks after all.

Also the path to remove Ashleigh Barty from her fake #1 spot is much easier for Osaka now.

https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2077588/wta-announces-ranking-system-adjustments

Paulo Sousa makes his debut as head coach. Expected to play 3-5-2 which is relatively unproven for Polish football. If Hungary somehow neutralizes Lewandowski they can easily secure a draw.

Paganini bombs out ---> van Zundert in.

20 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

Agenda 2020 allows host cities/countries to add a few sports they want to grow locally, or that are popular in the host nation.
 

Lacrosse isn’t a bad candidate as it does have a good audience in the United States. It’s not all that popular on the West Coast though (it’s more of an East Coast thing). 
 

Personally, I’d like to see Skateboard, Surfing, Sport Climbing, and Flying Disc (Team Ultimate) added to the program under that clause. I know there’s been movements to add Lacrosse, Cricket, Baseball/Softball, and Cheerleading (among other sports) as well.

Lacrosse would be a waste of time just like the ballet skiing at 1992 Olympic Games. How did that "sport" grow in the last 30 years?  

I don't see lacrosse getting to Olympics. It's even more elitist sport than cricket We have women's hockey for the all-too-predictable finals in women's hockey. Who needs another USA vs Canada final in lacrosse?

My final team:

Eckhoff (c), Wierer, Davidova, E.Oeberg, Alimbekava

JT Boe (c), Desthieux, Eberhard, Samuelsson, Latypov

Transfers out: Olsbu, Zuk (sic), Vita Semerenko, Doherty, Rastorgujevs (forced by the suspension)

Obviously I can see three reasons why I finished 8th (after being stuck in bottom three for 1,5 months during the season so I deffo gained on the transfers but the damage was done in January in particular).

1. Having Olsbu instead of Eckhoff as the Norwegian female entry until World Championships.

2. Foolish idea Kamila Zuk can become a reliable Top 30 point scorer (thankfully replaced by Alimbekava soon enough)

3. Whiffed on the old guard Eberhard and Semerenko badly. They appear to be done.

It's funny, I had Samuelsson in my team from Day 1 to last in the previous season (not a great result in the end) and only added him mid-way through in 2021. He had a season this time I thought he'd have last campaign!

Well, it was about time USA reminded us why it's the land of mass shootings. Even COVID can't keep that away for too long.

If there are no blacks or Asians among the victims nobody will care about that shooting anyway IMO.

10 minutes ago, NearPup said:

He barely survived against an extremely weak opponent. And he's facing the prospect of an election at any moment because of this specific scandal (since we have a hung parliament at the moment).

 

Trudeau also has a reputation (fairly or unfairly) of being extremely soft on China, so a scandal that involves specifically caving to China could be extremely damaging. Especially when the only thing Canada would get in return for Trudeau caving is... nothing (i.e. a return to the status quo).

But this case proved he can get away with it and that's the most important thing. He's not gonna lose his job over meddling with any court proceedings IMO. Hail to the democracy!

If Trump called him to lock Meng up and he obeyed then he's just a mere servant on the global scale. And even Joe Biden would know that right now.

19 minutes ago, NearPup said:

If Trudeau got involved in this case and it got leaked to the press he'd lose his job. A head of government should not interfere in court proceedings, that's extremely inappropriate.

 

I'm not sure how it would be some brilliant chess move for him to destroy his own career in order to appease the CCP. Canadians by and large don't blame Trudeau for what happened to the two Michaels. Either they blame China or the United States. But there's no political cost for Trudeau holding the line. Caving to China, however, would be the kind of scandal that would be extremely damaging, especially since Trudeau already has a reputation for being very friendly towards the CCP.

Trudeau survived the attorney general interference so it's rather clear he can get involved and get away with it

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/trudeau-broke-ethics-law-in-snc-lavalin-case-watchdog-rules

3 minutes ago, intoronto said:

Im not sure I agree with the whole Meng arrest. However, China arresting two Canadians on false pretenses, then having a sham of a trial, is something I do not agree with. 

 

Ps. I don't think any country would do anything like that for NK

Retaliation is an old weapon in politics. Besides USA & Canada think that whatever China does is a sham so why should China care about appearances anymore? They simply don't. Trudeau is a second league player on the Chinese chessboard anyway.

14 minutes ago, NearPup said:

What is the Canadian government supposed to do, add a “this person is important to the CCP” clause to it’s extradition treaties?

Making moves to please chief Chinese critic Donald Trump worked short-term but now you're dealing with long-term effects. Trudeau won the 100m dash but China is running in the marathon And USA is still trying to navigate the Nord Stream 2 mine field. You just can't put China and Russia out of business by bringing a knife to a gunfight.

John Crichton-Stuart better known as Johnny Dumfries passed away at the age of 62.

Still best known as Ayrton Senna's Lotus teammate in 1986 (only because Senna vetoed the hire of Derek Warwick).

Winner of Le Mans 24 hours in 1988.