Long overdue congrats to Hall of Famer Jim Rice. I can't quote you all of his stats, although I remember that he won at least one MVP and was an All-Star for a long time, but when I was kid, this guy was feared. For several years, the guys pitchers absolutely didn't want to face were Mike Schmidt and Jim Rice (and Reggie Jackson was still in there somewhere I think), and it took 15 years of voting to get him in. Ridiculous. Better late than never, I guess. With him and Art Monk both finally in, I have a lot less to whine about Hall-of-Fame-wise. Tonight's basketball:
NBA
Thunder +6.5 -108, 1.08 units to win 1 unit
Bulls +2 -101, 1.01 units to win 1 unit
Betting and line movement. Although I pick them everyday, I swear I don't think Oklahoma City is a good team. And that Bulls pick makes me a little queasy, but I'm not going to argue with the big run we've been on since we let go of all rational thought when picking NBA games. Luke.....let go....use the Force....
College Basketball
Louisville -6 -110 (WSEX), 1.1 units to win 1 unit
This one makes me a little queasy, too, but I just don't believe that the guys running the sportsbooks woke up this morning and decided that they were just going to give away free money to 80% of their customers. I just don't believe that. That huge number of bettors on Notre Dame can't move this line at all? Bullshit.
The Citadel +3 -116, 1.16 units to win 1 unit
I'm really annoyed by the college hoops juice I'm paying tonight, but it is what it is. I think I have might have some kind of man-crush on this Citadel team, so beware on this one. Line moving in their favor, we'll take the home team.
Appalachian State +11 -112, 1.12 units to win 1 unit
More lousy juice (the alternative was +10.5 -110 which is worse). Like I don't think OKC is a good team just because I pick them all the time, I don't think Davidson is bad just because I seem to pick against them all the time. I just think they're not as good as the lines would suggest (or, in other words, not as good as the public thinks they are after hearing about Stephen Curry on ESPN all the time). Big support for Davidson, but no movement in the line all day. Go Mountaineers.
P.S. Rickey just called on behalf of Rickey and said that Rickey likes these picks.
2 comments:
I wish to go on record here: Hambone speaks for himself on Jim Rice. He's a borderline Hall of Famer at best.
Among the many anti-Rice writers, I recommend this piece for my fellow dorks out there:
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/12/jim_rice_the_ha.php
Or, for the less statitsically inclined, anything on Posnanki's blog on the subject will do. Posanski didn't vote for him, and explained himself a bunch of times.
Also, if Hambone and others are looking for a new source for Hall of Fame whining, I direct you to Bert Blyleven. His absence is truly criminal under any standard.
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