Forget the Ticket, We Want Revenge

January 26, 2016

Of all the things that people have to do community service for, why not for causing accidents that tie up traffic for hundreds, causing them to lose hours of their lives because someone was texting, or driving recklessly, or doing some other thing that caused a wreck.

It won’t get people their lost time back, or help with the appointments they’ve missed, or get them to work on time; but they might get some smidge of satisfaction from knowing that the person who caused  the problem had to give up a few hours of his leisure time in return—and possibly did something useful, to boot.

Music Brain Freeze

January 26, 2016

Have scientists ever pinpointed the age at which your brain says, “No new music!”? Or figured out why it happens?

I mean, we grow up listening to a certain sound; and we’re certainly around as the sound evolves; but at some point we just don’t want to hear new music, unless it reminds us of what we grew up with. What’s that point, and why does it happen to every generation?

Sulk Much?

January 20, 2016

After he lost to Noah Rubin in the Australian Open, Benoit Paire said, “I played against a not good player, but I was very bad today so that’s it, I lost. I didn’t know him and after this match I said, yes, he’s not a good player.”

Since I didn’t see the match, I don’t know if he was telling a brutal truth or just pouting.

Boise State Blues

October 3, 2011

When Boise State was accepted to the Mountain West Conference, one of the requirements (and I'm not making this up!) was that during home games, the BSU players NOT wear their blue uniforms on the blue turf, so as not to confuse the opposing team's players.

Oddly enough, teams that AREN'T in the Mountain West don't seem to have these vision problems. Maybe the MWC should provide eye tests to all the players.

Last Kroenke Post

January 17, 2016

And FINALLY: The Post-Dispatch printed this message from Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times to the NFL:

“We’re not paying for you to come back. …We didn’t pry open our pocketbooks or agree to any special taxes… We’re sophisticated enough to understand that you’re not a hospital or firehouse, that billionaires shouldn’t need handouts to bankroll their pigskin parties.”

Well said, Mr. Plaschke.

Economic Statistics

January 17, 2016

A few days ago, the Post-Dispatch ran an article about a sports bar owner who is afraid the business will have to close without the revenue from game days.

I know I sound unfeeling, but you’ve had months to consider a fallback plan, including ways to keep the customers coming back even without the games. And if you’re having a hard time thinking of one, there are plenty of business-assistance organizations that can help you.

(One person I mentioned this to said, “Yes, but nobody ever really thought it would happen.” But when you’re running a business, you have to think of it. It’s not like a tornado came through and stripped you clean in 5 minutes; you actually had time to prepare.)

Furthermore, today’s Post-Dispatch has all the statistics about why the revenue loss overall won’t be as great as was feared/trumpeted/hammered into our heads when the city was trying to induce the Rams to stay.

Here’s my favorite: I haven’t checked his math, but columnist Pat Gauen calculated that if St. Louis had built the stadium, and the Rams had stayed for 20 years, the public’s share of the construction would have been $2 million PER GAME.

I think we can easily afford to lose the Rams.

It's Called a Contract

January 17, 2016

St. Louis spent quite a bit of money ($16.2 million) doing the research and the planning for a replacement stadium to keep Stan Kroenke happy. With his departure, that money seems to have gone down the drain (although no doubt some of the studies can be used to determine the feasibility of other projects).

Since the Rams’ departure leaves St. Louis holding the bag for millions of other dollars invested in the franchise, Sen. Claire McCaskill is drafting a bill to get some of the money back from the team.

As I stated before (“Rank This”, December 13, 2010), I don’t really think that there is a need for the government to get involved in sports matters. There is already a system for making sure that each side operates in good faith, and that penalizes them for reneging on the deal.

It’s called a Contract.