Other sports worth following

1171819202123»

Comments

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459

    The English reviews of the All Ireland are in


    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228

    I'll admit from the clip I saw, I thought "this guy would absolutely rule at school sports day". Be good at the pancake race too.

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660

    The closest I've come to feeling American watching "European" stuff.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    The few times I've watched Gaelic sports have been like when I watch Aussie Rules (that I assume has derived partly from Gaelic football), I tend to enjoy the apparent chaos but never really have a clue what is happening. If there was more opportunity to watch I probably would and try to get to understand more.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    Baseball on the other hand...

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,496

    In my experience baseball is something to look at while drinking beer, chatting, drinking beer, eating hot dogs, and drinking beer.

    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982

    Fenway Park, The Red Sox on a warm evening at an after work jolly organised by the meeting's hosts. And yes, as described.... chatting, beer, hot dogs. I had no idea what was going on and who was winning but it was a nice atmosphere and very enjoyable as a one off. Didn't find it a very interesting match but perhaps I was too ignorant and not paying attention.

    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,719

    No different to cricket tbh

    (and I'll leave it up to you as to whether or not that's positive or negative)

    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Tashman
    Tashman Posts: 3,497

    I enjoyed the 1 match I went to many moons ago (96ish) to watch the Portland Sea Dogs. George Bush made the first pitch. Was an enjoyable trip as I got treated to an IndyCar race too at Louton, New Hampshire. That is mad up close.

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459

    @TheBigBean

    The Curse remains, and isn't to be taken lightly


    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459

    I'm not sure what people don't understand about hurling, it's perfectly clear


    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    Just been watching the women’s race at the Golden Trail Series final. Serious trail racing with a horrendous climb and some very technical descending.

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459

    Ludicrously, the Mets are still alive.

    The win last night (our time) keeps them in the best of 7 series against the LA Dodgers (3-2 down) and takes the series back to LA.

    Since the London Series they've been the best team in baseball and have provided the most fun I've ever had following a sport/team

    https://news.sky.com/story/grimace-is-our-god-the-fuzzy-purple-mascot-who-became-a-sporting-icon-13230396

    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,029

    You're still getting value for money from your baseball sub then?

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    Never watched baseball but just heard there has been a $660 million 15 year deal handed out. The money seems huge but what really took me by surprise was the length of the deal. It seems like a huge risk but I assume there are lots of caveats.

  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228

    The deal is $46m per year for 15 years, plus a $75m signing on bonus paid over the first five years. He gets an option to leave after 5 years if he can get a better deal, but the Mets can override that by increasing his salary to $50m per year for the last 10 years of the deal. He is 26.

    It's a lot of money.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    Good agent! The risk seems to be mainly with the club there although they must have get out clauses if he gets injured or simply loses form. I was wondering about his age, I'd assumed he had to be well proven but still very young - 15 years for a 26 year old seems a very long deal but I don't know what age baseball players peak.

  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228

    No opt outs for the team, even if he gets injured. The risk for the player is that after getting his $61m for the first 5 years (including signing on fee), he is worth more than $50m a year under whatever the situation is then, and he misses out for the next ten years.

    Good hitters can still be good past mid 30s, and up to 40 so he could still be top class all the way through the contract or he could be past it with $250m still to collect.

    The previous newsworthy contract for Ohtani now looks like he undersold himself massively. He went for $700m over ten years, but only gets paid $2m per year, with $680m being paid out (without interest) in the years after the contract ends. Not sure what he gains from that. Soto's deal is all paid normally in the year of the contract.

  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,029

    Not sure I'd sign a 15 year contract. I like my freedom.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    I guess that gives you a strong retirement income and during your career you can make loads more through endorsements etc. Potentially quite a shrewd way of doing things although I think having a slightly bigger cut in the playing years would be optimal. That said, $2 million per year would keep most people going.

  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228

    He won't be going short, even if he does have to pay his translator's gambling debts. He's got plenty of endorsements. But for potentially the greatest ever player to be outearned by a really good hitter, doesn't seem right.

    It would be nice to still be getting it coming in after retirement, I'm sure. But who knows what $680m in 2040 is worth in today's money? He's gambling on low inflation even more than Soto with his 15 year contract.

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228

    The guy who's paying it seems an interesting character https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Cohen_(businessman)

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597

    Fury and Usyk are apparently fans of Big Train and decided to re-enact the staring competition sketch.

    The whole boxing pre-fight stuff is so pathetic.

  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,145

    The whole heavyweight boxing thing is pantomine.

    That said, I really hope Usyk sits Fury on his *rse again.

  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,743

    Hoping Usyk stops Fury, seems a decent guy. Glad Fury had the sense to kick his dad out of the build up this time.

    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,743

    Surprising heavyweight boxing hasn’t moved on in the past 20/30 years with improvements in nutrition and training method. The last great heavyweight being Lennox Lewis.

    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי