Letters to the Editor
wstander
Published Letters: 56 Editor's Choice: 13
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BCS rankings
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am disappointd that Kaufman, whose intellect shines through most of his columns, ignores the trite but true chestnut "garbage in-garbage out" when he says that "the computers don't base their rankings on assumptions the way human polls do...what computers do is analyze the action that's taken place on the field". He then accepts that the computers' assessments of strength of schedule are compelling in placing Texas above USC.
The assumptions that the decidedly human computer programmers built into their systems before unleashing them to do some basic arithmetic can only be wrong, wrong , wrong when they conclude that Texas has played a stronger schedule (Louisianna-Lafayette, Ohio State, Rice, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas Tech) than USC (Hawaii, Arkansas, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona, Notre Dame, Washington).
The Arkansas (SEC conference) score is particularly revealing. USC won by 53. Fellow undefeateds Georgia and Alabama beat Arkansas by 3 and 11 respectively.
PS I watched the World Series out of duty- ("Who are these guys?") I didn't recognize one postion player on the White Sox. But I am glad I did. They are a great TEAM to watch.
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Dishonesty
[Read the article: Libby takes the fall]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Don't forget the official, on the record, statements by McLellan in his capacity as Press secretary, that he had spoken to both Rove and Libby and could assure the press, and all America, that neither Rove or Libby were involved in the leak.
There is no question that statement is untrue. The only questions are whether Libby or Rove, or both lied to McLellan: whether McLellan lied to the press; or all of the above.
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Official A
[Read the article: "Official A" and the mystery of Karl Rove]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The simple reason Official A (Rove) was not named is that the prosecutor is cautious, conservative , and fair. If he had enough evidence at this time to prove A commited a crime he would have named him and presented an indictment against him. If he had enough evidence to to prove A did not commit a crime he would have had no reason not to name him as part of the Libby narrative. Because he does not know if A commited a crime, A is still in legal jeopardy, and it would be unfair to name him before a decision has been made.
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Football move
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Polamula quite obviously intercepted the ball. If he had simply lain on the ground and waited to be downed by contact I am certain that would have been the end of the play and the interception would have stood review. Unfortunately for him that is not what he did. Rather, he made a "football move" of getting to his feet and beginning to run with the ball. In the course of that move he fumbled the ball. Fortunately for him (apart from the ref's bad decision) he recovered the funmble before being downed by contact. I don't think it was the rule that was the problem- just the ref.
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Hubris
[Read the article: Report: Bush's spy briefings appear to have been illegal]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Bush didn't "admit" that the unauthorized tapping took place, he boasted that it took place.
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Delhomme
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, that was the same guy who led the Panthers to the Super Bowl two years ago-(except with two more years experience under his belt)- and had the highest QB rating in playoff games in NFL history going into the game (about 106 as I recall)- and had a QB rating of just under 2.0 when the Seahawks began celebrating their win. And No, DeShaun Foster is not MVP, 28 TD Sean Alexander (whose absence made no difference in the Seahawk win last week over Washington), and he does not not play on the offensive line for Carolina in any event,- the offensive line that was completely dominated by the Seahawks.
Hasselbeck is better and more experienced than Rothlesberger- Alexander is better than the Pittsubrgh tandem, and Jackson and Engram are the most seriously underrated receivers in the NFL. The game may be close, but I doubt it. Go Seahawks.
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Last second three throws
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hear hear on the analylsis of the last second free throw strategy. It is even dumber than the football "prevent" defense where coaches abandon their most effective pass defense tool, the pass rush, when they know the opposition has to pass. In particular I couldn't believe it, when it was shown to be so ineffective at the end of regulation, that they repeated the strategy at the end of overtime.
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Star rating
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think Anonymous' post at 11:46:58 deserves a star.
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So much for the Wunderlick test
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]bwunderlick argues in his post that he is "sick and tired" of the arguments that Nash gets credit for Phoenix's success given that he is surrounded by superior teammates (specifically Marion). Unlike, apparently, Bryant who is surrounded by inferior talent that Bryant makes better. He cites Odom and Brown in support of his argument. Time out for some fact checks.
2004 Phoenix
Stoudemire-22.4 ppg (.475 fga)
Marion-18.6 ppg (.449 fga)
Joe Johnson-16.4 ppg (.430 fga)
NO NASH
Team record 29-53
2005 Phoenix
Stoudemire-26.0 pg (.559 fga)
Marion-19.4 ppg (.476 fga)
Joe Johnson-17.1 ppg(.461)
WITH NASH
Team record 62-20
Wunderlick test question- Identify the factor that best appears to explain the improvement in the Phoenix team record?
As to the "improves teammates argument". Seventh seed (third in their division) LA surrounds Bryant with Odom (US Olympic team member, 4th pick overall 1999 draft, 2005 salary- $10,548,596) and Brown (1st pick overall 2001 draft, 2005 salary-$5,361,872). Second seed (first in their division) Phoenix surrounds Nash with Bell (undrafted after graduating from Florida International U, 2005 salary- $1,320,000.) and Diaw (21st pick overall 2003- 2005 salary $1,097,640.)
Wunderlick test queston- Identify the player who has the greatst impact on the success of his teammates, and his team?
If the answers to the above question are not Steve Nash, you are taking a Rorschach test, not a wunderlick test.