Duquesne Cap's Blog

What to root for if you hate the BCS

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:42:38 GMT

I apologize for this being a short post, but I got work to do...

Anyways, here are the current BCS standings:

Alabama .9872
Texas .9209
Oklahoma .9125
Florida .8755
USC .7974
Utah .7858
Texas Tech .7789
Penn State .7520

So if you want to see chaos ensue...

Root for Oklahoma to lose to OSU tonight
Root for Oregon State to beat Oregon tonight
Root for Florida to lose to FSU tonight
Root for Missouri to beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship
Root for Alabama to lose to Florida in the SEC Championship game

That would leave a 1 loss Texas team atop the polls, and 1 loss USC and Alabama sitting at 2 and 3 (in all probability). Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech would all have 2 losses and would be out of BCS contention.

So if those events happen, the two most likely BCS Championship Match Ups are:

Texas vs. Alabama or Texas vs. USC

That means the BCS Championship game would feature 2 teams (in either scenario) that didn't even win their own conference (and Texas wouldn't have even won their own division). I would love to see the BCS weasle their way out of this one (especially leaving off undefeated Utah and Boise State - who would probably be sitting at 4 or 5). To avoid this, PSU could be voted as high as number 2 (althought VERY unlikely). But then we'd have another suspect Big Ten Champ in the Championship game.

Anyway you look at it, if you want to see more BCS chaos - root for those scenarios to work themselves out.

Look for my blog explaining why the Obama BCS playoff plan wouldn't work once the final regular season BCS standings are posted!

Penn State, the BCS Title Game, and the SEC Myth

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:52:49 GMT

Enough about the Penn State and the Big Ten not being worthy to send another team to the Championship game. I'm sick of hearing the same old arguments: weak conference + weak non-conference schedule - conference championship game = easy trip to the BCS. I thought I heard it all and it was finally starting to dwindle down, but then I stumbled upon this crappy article this morning and wanted to puke in my mouth.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-bcs102808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

"The Nittany Lions' best nonconference win is over Oregon State. This doubles as the best nonconference win for the entire Big Ten. The only other contenders are Michigan State over Notre Dame and Wisconsin over Fresno State. That's it. For the entire league. The Big Ten failed to defeat a single currently ranked nonconference team."
-The Big 10 only has a few significant non-conference victories, so let's punish Penn State!!!
-Penn State beat Oregon State. Now I hate daisy chaining games, but how can he say in one sentence that this wasn't that big of a victory and then step over the fact that USC lost to that same team?

"Penn State's nonconference opponents are a combined 12-19 on the season. Just seven of those wins came against teams from what used to be called Division I-A."
-But of those seven wins, three came against BCS Conference opponents.

-What About Alabama?
Let's take a look at Alabama's non-conference schedule to date:
Clemson (3-4) and playing in the ACC
Tulane (2-5) in conference USA
Western Kentucky (2-6)

Looks like Alabama's non-conference opponents are a combined 7-15 on the season.
Only four of those wins came against teams from what used to be called Division I-A, and only two of those wins were against other BCS conferences.

-What about #1 Texas?
Texas' non-conference schedule to date:
Florida Atlantic (3-5)
UTEP (3-4)
Arkansas (3-5)
Rice (5-3)

Their non-conference opponents combined for a 14-17 record.
While all but 1 were against Division I-A opponents, only 1 of their opponents victories came against a BCS Conference team (Arkansas over Auburn).

So between Alabama and Texas, they played one team with a winning record (Rice). My apologies to you Mr. Wetzel, I'll make sure I call up Joe Pa and the PSU athletic department and let them know they should schedule contenders like Rice and Tulane if they want to impress Yahoo/Rival column writers.

And I'm debunking another myth right here and right now. All this hype surrounding the SEC? Who are their big non-conference wins?

Vanderbilt, 3-2 in the SEC, and at one point ranked as high as #13 just lost a non-conference home game against Duke. Yes, Duke.

Here are the SEC games against non-conference BCS opponents so far this year:

Georgia over Arizona State
Florida over Miami
Kentucky over Louisville
South Carolina over NC State
Alabama over Clemson

Vandy lost to Duke
Tennessee lost to UCLA
Mississippi lost to Wake Forest
Auburn lost to West Virginia
Arkansas lost to Texas

So of the 12 teams in the SEC, they played 10 total non-conference games against one of the other BCS conferences. They managed a stellar 5-5 record

Here are the Big 10 games against non-conference BCS teams (including Notre Dame) and their results

Penn State over Oregon State
Penn State over Syracuse
Michigan State over Notre Dame
Northwestern over Syracuse
Northwestern over Duke
Iowa over Iowa State

Michigan State lost to California
Ohio State lost to USC
Iowa lost to Pittsburgh
Illinois lost to Missouri
Michigan lost to Notre Dame
Purdue lost to Oregon
Purdue lost to Notre Dame

So of the 11 teams in the Big 10, they played 13 non-conference BCS teams and went 6-7.

Maybe it's just me, but how is scheduling Oregon State, Notre Dame, California, USC, Pittsburgh, Missouri, and Oregon taking the easy way out?

Hey Wetzel, make sure you do your homework instead of just typing down whatever pops into your head into your word processor.

Now, I should also note, I'm, not here to defend the Big 10. They aren't the top conference, but they certainly aren't the worst. But to say that Penn State doesn't deserve a shot at a BCS title simply because they play in the Big 10 is absurd. I'm sure you're one of those mindless reporters saying you think a 1 loss SEC team deserves a shot at the title before an undefeated Penn State.

My favorite head-scratching funny quotes in sports

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:56:01 GMT

Some of my favorite head scratching quotes from athletes....enjoy!

"Well, Rickey's not one of them, so that's 49 percent right there."-Rickey Henderson on reports that 50 percent of ballplayers use steroids. It's a good thing he was a baseball player and not an accountant.

"Because there are no fours."-NBA long-range gunner Antoine Walker when asked why he shoots so many threes. Antoine never met a shot he didn't like.

New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first." Hey George, please show me something where 1,500 comes before 1,000.

"I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father"
Greg Norman - Famous Australian Golfer. Maybe sharks have parents other than their mother and father.

Jason Kidd, on arriving with the New Jersey Nets via trade: "We're gonna turn this team around 360 degrees." So you're going to keep them in their losing ways but make them spin in a circle first? Bold strategy.

"All I said was that the trades were stupid and dumb, and they took that and blew it all out of proportion" -- Ron Davis, Minnesota Twins. And stupid and dumb were you going soft on upper management?

"There are some teams who will try to circumcise the rules" -- Bill Cowher. Sounds painful

Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann, 1996 : "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." Maybe Norman is the genius brother of Albert...but either way, Joe...we know you aren't a genius.

Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, "Coach, I don't know and I don't care." --Guess it's both.

Chad Johnson, saying that Michael Phelps is overrated, "the problem with Michael Phelps is there's no competition where he is."
---Yea, I would guess the world's best swimmers aren't competing at the Olympics

Is he talking about the infield?
-- Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe, when told that hitting coach Ron Jackson said Lowe had power to all fields. Maybe Jackson meant Lowe gives opposing hitters power to all fields?

Elden Campbell, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, when he was asked if he had earned his degree from Clemson: 'No, but they gave me one anyway' --- Least he's honest.

"I don't know about that whole 'Eat your Wheaties' thing. I'd rather have Cocoa Krispies and go 0-for-4 than eat Wheaties and go 2-for-4."-Jack Wilson, Pirates shortstop
--Clearly you've been eating a lot of Cocoa Krispies over the years Jack

"Every time we lost, its because we didn't score enough points." - Ray Allen
--This just in....you need to outscore your opponent to win basketball games.

And finally, even though the man deserves his own page full of head scratchers (look for that coming up soon!)....Yogi Berra at Legends Day at Yankee Stadium. On the big screen flashes the names of great departed Yankees. Yogi, "I hope I never see my name up there."

State of the [Fan]Nation Address:

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:55:45 GMT

State of the [Fan]Nation Address: "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?"

September 2, 2008

Dear fellow Fannationers,

Many of you probably know who I am. I have gone by Duquesne or Dookie for the past 11 months of my tenure here on Fannation. I have befriended many of you, and probably offended twice as much. None of that is important right now, and I hope we can put away our differences and agree on the main point of this blog.

Fannation has become a shell of what it once was. Fannation has not lived up to its potential or to our expectations in the last couple months. Something needs to be done.

Now I already know what you're probably thinking, "Great, another user complaining about the site. If you don't like it here, then leave." Well yes, I could leave if I wanted to, but I have enjoyed this site for a long time now, and I hope to continue to enjoy it. I also hope to make it better and make it more enjoyable for those that want to stay on here.

Now this site is great, it has 3 different, unique functions that users can enjoy: Blogging, Truth and Rumors, and Throwdowns.

I have dabbled in all three facets, but I found TDing to be my favorite. So, being as that is the area I am most familiar with, I will address only the issues with the TDing department.

The biggest problem here in the TD department is the lack of Moderators (or them just not doing their job).

A couple months ago, the user KPKahder made a Blog about the problems of fannation. After initially being deleted by an overanxious moderator, the moderator Bryan Armen Graham made a response blog. I believe a new "response from the moderators" is due to us users.

I pose the following questions that I wish to receive an answer to, and I encourage the rest of you to post questions in the comment section of this blog in the hopes that we may finally receive the answers we are looking to.

1. Who is the official moderator of this site?
1a. When we have a problem on this site, is this the person we should contact?
1b. What would be the best way of contacting this user (and yes, I know they are busy and an immediate response is not always possible, but a response would be nice)

2. Would it be possible to set up a couple regular users on Fannation that would have direct contact with a moderator? This would cut down on silly questions, and the more pertinent issues could be quickly addressed. These semi-moderators would have no power to delete votes, deleted comments, or delete users, but would simply be a line of communication.

3. Why is it that emails bounce back when I try to reply to ask why I had a comment removed? This is at the bottom of every "offensive" comment that gets removed email:
-------------------------------------------------------

"If you have any questions about the removal of your comment, or think it was done by mistake, simply reply to this email.

Thanks,

The Moderator"
--------------------------------------------------------

- Here is the bounce back I get:

--------------------------------------------------------
"This is the mail system at host noc-106.smedia.info.

I'm sorry to have to inform you that your message could not
be delivered to one or more recipients. It's attached below.

For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster.

If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the attached returned message.

The mail system"

-------------------------------------------------------------

Can this be fixed so we can finally ask why that comment was deemed to be offensive?

4. Can you explain to use why certain users (names will be excluded) were deleted recently, yet other users who are clearly duplicate accounts have been allowed to stay intact? Do you realize the message you are sending the rest of us? I know some of the users got deleted for foul and offensive language, but isn't that why you have the "report offensive comment" tab? Are you saying to us that foul language is worse than cheating on throwdowns?

5. When we report or protest a TD, is it possible to get a reply back? I personally have reported several TDs where obvious duplicate accounts were present, and I never received a fanmail and no action was taken on these users. So am I to assume that you either didn't receive my complaint or you are just ignoring me?

6. Again, I understand you are busy, but why is it your response time to deleting users for offensive language is so quick, but you don't have the time to email them a reason why their account was removed?
6a. Is it a person or a program that determines when someone deserves to be deleted?
6b. If it is a person, is there someone working at all times?

7. What could normal users like me do to help clean up this site (i.e. what would be our best avenue of policing these things ourselves? Would it be best to fanmail the moderator you provided? An email? Reporting the TDs/comments/etc.?)

Now I plan on sending this daily to Bryan Armen Graham until he posts a response or directs me to someone who will post a response, so I encourage you all to post questions or comments as THEY WILL BE SEEN BY A MODERATOR! I promise you this. When someone does reply, I will make sure I fanmail the community so you can check back and see if your questions have been answered.

For now, enjoy Fannation as usual, but let's hope that changes are made to make this a better place for all in the future!

Sincerely,

Chris (Dookie)

LPGA's new un-American policy

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:44:04 GMT

For those who haven't heard the news, the LPGA has announced that "all players who have been on tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills." The policy is effective immediately, but the first oral evaluations will be at the end of 2009. Those who fail the evaluation will be suspended from the Tour.

Now the first question or comment I'm sure I'll get is, "well it's the LPGA, who cares?" Personally, I have never sat through or endured an LPGA event either live or on television. While I enjoy golfing, the only way I can watch is if it's the final Sunday of a Major Championship or if Tiger Woods is on the course. However, the reason I am writing this is I believe the LPGA's new police is un-American and absurd.

Let me put it in perspective for you; imagine that the MLB, NHL, or NFL had this same policy. Would the MLB suspend players from Japan or Latin America if they couldn't speak English well enough? Wouldn't that be deflating the purpose of the league (bringing in the best talent available and having them compete versus the best?) What if the NHL suspended Evgeni Malkin because he can't say more than the swear words his teammates taught him and "I'm open"? Would that be fair? Hell no! What if the NBA, who recently started going global, had an English language oral evaluation before that player could be drafted? Wouldn't that deflate the entire purpose of going global? What if the NFL interviewed their incoming draft class, and those that didn't speak English well enough, or demonstrated an abuse of the language would be declared ineligible? What's next, putting an IQ requirement on players?

Now I do understand that the LPGA would like to have his members speak English so they can market their best players better and receive more sponsorship money. Which begs the question, will the oral evaluation just be asking the players to say, "I won. Thank you (enter sponsors name here)." Well if the class of LPGA golfers from South Korea can't pass the evaluation, then many sponsors will be pulling out anyways as the talent pool will drop significantly.

Here's another interesting tidbit about the testing policy; according to Golfweek, it isn't standard, and players will be targeted for evaluation based on staff observations.

Maybe I'm just a gung-ho law student, but isn't this discriminatory? Isn't this racism at its finest? The LPGA has not provided any training or tutoring system for its players (at least not publically). The 14th amendment made it illegal in this country to discriminate based on the race of a person. Arthur Leonard, a professor of law at New York Law School and an expert on employment issues, said that in some U.S. states, a potential claim of national origin discrimination could be made if the players were able to show that the rule singled out players of a particular origin. Personally, I hope legal action ensues, and sponsors drop the tour BECAUSE of this policy. Now wouldn't that be ironic!

Here's what should have been done:
The LPGA should have implemented a policy like the MLB where foreign-born players are offered English lessons through the league, and encouraged, not required, to take the lessons to better communicate with fans and the media.

ESPN Fantasy Football Keeper League

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:20:37 GMT

4 spots left!

Draft is August 25 (this monday) at 9 PM eastern time.

It is a live draft and is a Keeper league.

Any other questions? Feel free to fanmail me.

Leave your email in the comments or fanmail me your email address and you will be invited in asap!

NCAA 09 XBOX 360

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:01:55 GMT

I just got the game yesterday and it's awesome...

However, I'm looking to start or join an online dynasty.

Anyone else interested?

My gamertag is PSU Cap406

Team Preference: PSU

If you are interested in joining/creating a fannation Dynasty, leave your tag and your team of preference below (or create and invite me!)

List Only First Arguments - The Black Plague of Fannation

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:30:22 GMT

I want to vent about a black plague that's ruining fannation. It's a neutralization technique used mainly by newbies (but not always). It's the list first, argue second and third technique.

This eliminates almost 1200 characters of the maximum 3600 allotted. Often, when the rule is in place, the opponent will say a sentence or two and be accused of "cheating" and "breaking the rules". Very few times, the opponent will ignore the rule completely and use the space allotted to make a full argument. Sometimes the people of fannation will automatically vote against this person for not adhering to the rules of the TD.

There are three theories when TDs like this popup.

1. Don't take the TD. I don't like this approach because often there aren't many TDs even available so when an interesting TD pops up, it shouldn't have to be ignored because you simply like to use all your space allotted.
2. Take the TD and obey the rules. Yea, you lose 1200 characters, but at least the TD won't be a waste due to accusations of cheatings and draw offers. This also eliminates the chance of voters voting against you thinking you cheated.
3. Take the TD and ignore the rules and use your whole argument. (I'll explain below why this should be the approach taken from now on)

Look, the fannation.com creators structured the TDs with 3 arguments for a reason. A well argued debate needs a full 3600 characters to effectively illustrate the reasons why your side should be voted for.

I mean how hard is it really list your team and a short argument for your side? I understand you cant argue against your opponents choice, but why not argue for your point?

A lesson for newbies and anyone else wanting advice on how to effectively argue a TD:

First Argument: List your choice clearly in your first sentence of the argument so voters and your opponent understand who you picked. Follow in the rest of the argument giving reasons why voters should vote for your choice.
Second Argument: Argue against your opponent's choice at first by trying to counter points he made in his argument. If there is still more space left, argue some more about your strongest position. (remember, you are trying to convince the voters - not yourself)
Third Argument: Shortly address any new issues brought up in the second argument of your opponent, hit again on your strongest point, and try to close with a one sentence reason why voters should vote for you.

So this is my plea fannation...stop the "List Only" TDs. You can do your lists...but don't limit your opponent if you choose not to argue. And voters, when you see TDs like this, please don't vote against the guy accepting the TD and using all the space allotted by the rules.

Let's all put an end to this plague.

Retiring from Fannation

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:35:22 GMT

I have decided to retire from Fannation for the following reasons:

1. It is consuming my life. I am struggling to do school work because of fannation and this just can't happen.
2. Frustration with other members on the site. There really is only 1, but when HE leaves this site, I might consider a comeback. Reserve the 45 jersey for me. (I've left my email address with some members so that I may be alerted if that certain person leaves the site). Also the cherry picking of TDs by certain members and the voting on topics without reading an argument just frustrate me to no end.
3. Loss of enthusiasm. I have lost what makes fannation fun as of late and I can't explain why that happened.

So thank you to everyone who made this site fun for so long and for all 99 of my friends and the groups I am in. I'll check back periodically this week, so if you are in any of the group's that I'm a creator of and want to take over for now, let me know via fanmail.

Maybe I'll see everyone around this summer when school is out...

Thanks again everyone...

(for the groups I'm in, feel free to remove me when the inactivity rules expire - just allow me to reapply if I do come back)

And Night Owls...keep fighting to get Roy off the site

*Retirement effective as of 12:01 am 3/18/08

The Pittsburgh Pirates: Punchline to another joke

Dookie: Here We Go Steelers — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:16:30 GMT

Just when you thought the Pirates couldn't be any more of a joke...

The Yankees sign actor/comedian Billy Crystal to a one-day, minor league contract and will play in Thursday's exhibition game against your pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates. Crystal will turn 60 the following day and hit .348 as a high school senior over 40 years ago.

Joe Girardi, Yankees manager, hasn't decided which position Crystal will play. Not that Girardi is worried; they chose to have Crystal play against the closest thing to a minor league team.

When asked if he felt bad for giving Crystal a chance to play against the Pirates, Girardi said, "Not at all, the Pirates actually called us as asked for him to get his chance to play against them. They figured he has a legitimate shot of making the Pirates roster after his contract with us terminates."

When I called down to the Pirates spring training head quarters, a spokesperson said, "Crystal fits what the Pirates are looking for in a ball player. He is way past his prime and has a name casual fans will recognize. If he can hold a bat, he'll get a look from us. The Pirates feel Crystal will satisfy their needs at the Centerfield position, and his jokes would be a great addition to the locker room."

Well there you have it Pirate fans, your team has gotten so pathetic that even the Yankees are auditioning players for us. Well, I guess the way they look at it, we trade away all our talent to them and Boston anyways, so may as well stock pile our talent!