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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Around the Arena (Championship Game ... Winner: ApolloSmieGirl)

Discussion in 'Archive: The Arena' started by DarthIntegral, Apr 23, 2008.

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  1. EmpireForever

    EmpireForever Force Ghost star 8

    Registered:
    Mar 15, 2004
    I don't care.
     
  2. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I'd prefer to go through the whole routine. Skipping sections would not be fair from a competitive standpoint, as skipping makes it harder to build a lead and gives one fewer opportunities to overcome a deficit.

    Plus, I like playing this game.:p
     
  3. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    OK then, we'll just continue on as normal, and watch A_J get a large negative score, but also give you guys the chance to get some separation through great answers. So, to score that last round:

    EF: Great stuff about Nadal over Federer this year (+3), a good recap of the specialness of the match (+3), and a good recap of the long term stuff, too (+3)
    Onoto: Gotta love the stats (+2), and the research on peaking (+2), fantastic points about the class acts after the match (+3), and a very good point on the casual vs. hardcore fan (+2)
    ASG: Great point about consistency (+3), and I do love the boldness you show (+3)

    And, EF, that point about the lead being cut in half ... great stats ... (+2)

    Scoreboard:

    This round:

    EF: 11
    Onoto: 9
    ASG: 6
    A_J: (-1)

    Overall:


    EmpireForever: 16
    Onoto: 15
    ApolloSmileGirl: 13
    Armenian_Jedi: (-2)

    Buy or Sell is next ...
     
  4. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    A Buy or Sell double whammy ...

    [image=http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0417/nba_g_bdavdnel_580.jpg] and [image=http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0404/nba_g_brand_260.jpg]

    NBA Free Agency is upon us. And two big stories out of the gate: Baron Davis leaving the Warriors to join the Clippers, and Elton Brand leaving the Clippers to join the 76ers.

    So, a two-part buy or sell ...

    Buy or Sell the Clippers as improved by adding Davis, but losing Brand and Corey Maggette?

    and

    Buy or Sell the 76ers as serious Eastern Conference contenders this season with the addition of Brand?

    Let's go Around the Arena and find out ...
     
  5. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I'm going to Sell the Clippers being better. Brand, when healthy, is one of the top 10 players in the game. Maggette is one of the top 10 small forwards in the game, as he's capable of scoring and rebounding efficiently. Baron Davis, when healthy, is no higher than fourth-best among NBA point guards. Paul, Williams, and Parker are definitely better, with even the aging Nash probably still ahead of him. So LA has lost one great player and one good player on the inside and gained one good player on the outside. I can't see how they could have possibly improved.

    And I'll Buy the Sixers being a contender. They were last year's 7th-seed and play in the Eastern Conference. They don't need to improve much to get into the top 4 and have a shot. Assuming he stays reasonably healthy (plays 72+ games), Brand could conceivably take them from a 40-42 team to 48-34. His points on the inside will help, the defense will improve, and the outside players who took them to the playoffs last year will have more opportunities when the defense zeroes in on Elton. They might even push 50 wins if Iguodala plays as well as he's capable, which would virtually guarantee home-court advantage in the first-round (Cleveland got it last year with a record of 45-37). If you get home-court in the first-round, you've got a good chance of winning, and when you get down to four teams left in the conference, everyone is a legitimate contender. I think that there's a pretty good chance of that scenario unfolding, so the Sixers have a pretty fair shot at the Eastern Conference title. Boston has to still be the favorite, but I'd throw Philly in with Detroit, Cleveland, and Orlando.
     
  6. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    How can you not sell on the Clippers being better this year? Davis is a talent, but look what they gave up to get him. The Clippers had a good season a few years ago, but they never improved after that, and frankly they have gone downhill. That was due in part to injuries, but still. Davis isn't going to make the team better, the best I'd think he'll be able to do is keep it leveled at the current state the team is in. There's always a chance that some players may step up and they could surprise us, but how likely is that to happen in the West? Especially if the West is as competitive as it was last season.

    I'm going to buy the 76ers being a contender as well, because it's the east. That conference is to unpredictable. Almost any given team in the East can make it to the finals, any given year. LeBron took the Cavs to the finals basically on his own 2 seasons ago. So yeah, Brand will improve the 76ers(who I may add, had a pretty decent season last year). I'm not sure it'd be easy to pick them as a favorite, but they're certainly a potential contender on paper.
     
  7. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I find it incredibly funny that Maggette signed with Golden State. It's like musical chairs, but with multi-million dollar basketball franchises.
     
  8. EmpireForever

    EmpireForever Force Ghost star 8

    Registered:
    Mar 15, 2004
    I'm going to 're sell Clippers being better. They're the Clippers. They just lost two good players and gained one good player. It's just math. If Byron Davis was the kind of player bring an entire team out of the dark, then maybe, but he is clearly not.

    And I will sell the 76ers as being serious contenders. Yeah, it's the East, but they now have to go through Boston. Cleveland isn't going anywhere. I don't think it's as easy as it used to be. They can probably make a pretty good run, but I wouldn't call them serious just yet. A great improvement though.
     
  9. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    Onoto: Good Brand breakdown (+2), great eastern breakdown (+3)
    ASG: Great Clippers breakdown (+3), but you don't have to bury the East like that (+2)
    EF: "They're the Clippers" ... [face_laugh] (+3), good east info, and thanks for giving the Cavs props (+2)

    Scoreboard

    This round:

    Onoto: 5
    ASG: 5
    EF: 5
    A_J: (-2)

    Overall:


    EmpireForever: 21
    Onoto: 20
    ApolloSmileGirl: 18
    Armenian_Jedi: (-3)

    Another Buy or Sell Next
     
  10. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    <img src="http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/mar08/favre2_speaks30608-308.jpg">

    Is Brett Favre crying because he's thinking about walking away from playing football, of because the Packers want him back as a backup to Aaron Rodgers? The world may never know.

    You guys buying or selling Favre coming back to the Packers as the backup?
     
  11. Armenian_Jedi

    Armenian_Jedi Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2003
    ok, now I'll start playing.


    The greatest comeback in Around the Arena history.




    ok, I lied, I'm not playing. :p
     
  12. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    Brett Favre is to proud to come back as a backup. He totally screwed over the Packers in March by saying he wanted to come back this season, and then changing his mind......again.

    This affected the Packer's draft and didn't necessarily hold them back, but certainly didn't help them for the preparations for this coming season.

    This situation is not fair to Aaron Rogers one bit. He's been the training starter for 5 months. He finally has his chance, and now Favre has to come back.....again, and change his mind? If they do take back Favre, they need to trade Rogers. Because, Packer fans will not accept Favre as a backup and that poor kid does not deserve the crap he'll get for being in a higher position than Favre.

    Ultimately, I think Favre will either be traded(so the Packers will get some value for him), or he'll decide not to make a comeback and be a backup. He's done this whole "I may retire, I may not" song and dance for the last 3 or 4 years. It's gotten old, and I'm surprised more Packer fans aren't as sick of hearing it as the rest of us are.

    There's no way they'll outright release him though, because more than likely he'd be going to a division rival. They'll keep him and eat the money before they release him. I think the best option the Packers have is to trade him for some positions they may need work on.

    Right now, it seems like Minnesota, Atlanta, and Tampa would all be interested, but I think the Packers would prefer making a deal with an AFC team.

    BTW, I do like Brett Favre, but yeah, I do think he's being a big crybaby over all of this.

     
  13. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    When OU's Jason White won his Heisman, everyone expected that that would be that, and young Paul Thompson would take over the reigns after losing his redshirt year when their backup got drunk and fell off a truck his first year. Still, he would have enough time to start and be productive. But no. White finagled an extra year due to his health problems and Thompson was forced to wait another year, which would eventually lead to Rhett Bomar taking over Thompson's spot. It was a very annoying situation, and the fact that Thompson stepped up and played as well as he did in 2006 didn't receive near enough attention or appreciation. And it all happened because White hung on when his time should have been up.

    The Green Bay situation reminds me of that. (Oddly enough, Thompson actually worked out with the Packers last season. Funny.) Favre needs to be done, but his hanging on is putting his natural successor in a bad way. Now, I have no problem with Rodgers having sat the first couple years, as that was once the custom in the NFL. But the simple fact of the matter is that the rest of the team is ready for Aaron to take over the helm. They have young receivers, a young defense...they need a young quarterback. Throw in the fact that Favre jerked around the team and his teammates, and I don't think anyone in the organization wants number four under center. They might not mind him being a backup, as the last few seasons have certainly shown the value of a good backup (take Philly's run with Garcia a couple years ago), but I don't buy the idea that he could serve as a good mentor, as he wasn't exactly the Peyton Manning "Coach on the Field" type. I certainly don't believe he'll be anything less than a disrupting influence, especially if Rodgers struggles at all. Green Bay would be better off without him in uniform. So I'm selling him as backup.

    If Favre plays in 2008, I can see only one realistic possibility: trade. According to the New York Times, the Panthers have contacted Favre's agent, so they might look to make a deal. The Times figures that the cost would be a third-round pick, and Carolina is close enough to the playoffs they might hazard it. They play in a weak division (9-7 Tampa won it last year) and Favre could help them improve a couple games and win it. Baltimore is also rumored to be involved, and as they weren't as bad as their 4-12 record would indicate and Flacco won't be ready, it might be a decent match.
     
  14. Armenian_Jedi

    Armenian_Jedi Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2003
    actually, let's see if I can get the lowest score in around the arena history...




    I bet Cliff Lee and Lebron James are gay lovers.
     
  15. EmpireForever

    EmpireForever Force Ghost star 8

    Registered:
    Mar 15, 2004
    What would the value in this be for them? Is he going to mentor young Aaron from the sidelines? A headset on and everything? Why would he? Was he doing it before?

    And if he wants to come back, it's obviously because he's not ready to stop playing. He's going to ride the bench? What good does coming back do for him with that? There's no way.

    And what do you think is going to happen when Rodgers has a poor game, and the Pack is behind? People are going to start chanting for Favre, and it's not going to help matters at all for the organization.

    Sell this. No way is Favre on the bench in Green Bay. It's not possible. Way too many problems can arise from this situation. Bad idea.

    And if Favre shows up in a different uniform, I just don't think I could look at him the same.

    Brett, just simmer down and go climb Mt. Everest if you're looking for a challenge. Let the kids play football. Please. You went out on top, stay out on top.
     
  16. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    Things have probably changed in the last few seasons, but I remember Favre straight saying that he wasn't there to mentor Rogers, when Rogers was first drafted. I think it may have been because Favre was more than a little insulted that the Packers picked a QB at such a high spot in the first round of the draft. They look like they get along better now, but after the season they had last year it could simply be the game environment.

    Like I said before, I really think Favre is to proud to accept a backup position. Things are seeming like they're more and more hostile because of the situation between Favre and the Packers organization, that it's doubtful to me that they'll even keep him. They want to move, they were willing to let him come back, but after he flip-flopped the 7 time they moved on.

    The only reason I can see the Packers keeping him is if they do break under pressure of fans and make him the starter. Otherwise he's going to be traded for something of value and end his career like Montana and Rice did. He'd be lucky to have any success with a new team. Hell, he'd be lucky to have success with the Packers who have been training with Rogers this whole offseason.

     
  17. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I will say this: the whole "will he/won't he, he's retired, he's coming back" saga has tainted Favre in my eyes. He was a fine quarterback, but I no longer consider him as classy as Manning or Staubach. He's given the team the run around and been downright awful to Rodgers. I think less of him than I did a year ago.
     
  18. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    ASG: Good solid information all around, and a good breakdown of all things considered (+4)
    Onoto: I think the Jason White comparison was a bit of a stretch, but it made the point, I suppose (+3)
    EF: Again, good all around, if not spectacular (+3)
    A_J: Now has a perpetual mute

    Scoreboard:

    This round:

    ASG: 4
    Onoto: 3
    EF: 3
    A_J: (-39)

    Overall:


    EmpireForever: 24
    Onoto: 23
    ApolloSmileGirl: 22
    Armenian_Jedi: (-42)

    One more Buy or Sell, and then I game ban A_J
     
  19. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    <img src="http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0712/rpm_g_busch04_412.jpg">

    Kyle Busch is attempting to turn the NASCAR world upside down. Enough so that I mention it in this game. An amazing last two-laps victory after a caution gives him seven Sprint cup wins, including three of four, and fourteen wins overall in NASCAR.

    You Buying or Selling a serious run at the all-time single season win mark from Kyle Busch?
     
  20. Armenian_Jedi

    Armenian_Jedi Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2003
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    lol
     
  21. EmpireForever

    EmpireForever Force Ghost star 8

    Registered:
    Mar 15, 2004
    I have a choice between discussing Nascar or doing something worthwhile.


    See you guys next round.
     
  22. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I'm sick as a dog and my bathroom is reenacting the Gilligan's Island theme song. I'll answer sometime in the next 24 hours, if that's all right.
     
  23. Onoto

    Onoto Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 7, 2004
    I'm buying that Kyle Busch can make a run at Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty's single-season mark of 13. Only a little more than half the season is over, with 17 of the 36 races still remaining. He'd have to win seven of those, and while that will be difficult, he has a legitimate chance. He's finished in the top-10 at every track left on the schedule except for Homestead, and he's won on 7 of them. You have to figure he has a good shot at winning seven over the second half and breaking the record. He got really fortunate the other day with that caution, and he took advantage of it. That kind of opportunism is what separates the good ones from the great ones, and Busch has the opportunity to have an all-time great season.
     
  24. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    Better car

    Better crew

    Better team

    How else can you explain it, besides the fact that he's just the dominant driver this season? He has the opportunity to achieve this feat, we'll just have to see how lucky he is at not being wrecked by other drivers in upcoming races.

    He's got the talent, he has the drive, and because of the first half of this season, he has the confidence to pull it out.

    Let's see if he can do it.

    I'm saying Buy. :)
     
  25. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    Let's score the arguments then:

    A_J: I don't get it. Why would that bother me? (minus something really big)
    EF: So disappointed in you. WWTCD? (-2)
    Onoto: Great stats, good argument (+3)
    ASG: Great argument, good conclusion (+3)

    Scoreboard:

    Overall:

    EmpireForever: 22
    Onoto: 26
    ApolloSmileGirl: 25
    Armenian_Jedi: (-6.03 x 10^23)

    Oh, and look at that ... A_J gets banned ... whodathunk it?


    Out of Bounds is next
     
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