Quote from: JWags85 on Today at 11:50:03 AMIts funny cause I'm a HUGE Fanta fan.  I think he's probably the best new college basketball personality in 20 years.  He's so refreshingly organic and natural and enthusiastic.  But I think his PBP ability is easily the lowest of his skills.  He's a great interviewer, he's a great podcaster, his Spaces on X are hysterical and produce viral clips weekly, but he's just ok as a PBP guy and I don't think he has an appealing PBP voice at all.  I'd much prefer to see him do more studio work.

That being said, I'm not gonna be upset about one of the good guys in the business, beyond just being so likeable, getting promotions.

I think he's earned the opportunity to do some play by play and he's certainly at least equal to some of the guys you hear on ESPN+. But he's not ready for BE level games yet, IMO. Definitely not NBA games.

Agree on everything else though. He seems like a genuinely good dude and I like seeing him succeed.

Quote from: rocky_warrior on Today at 10:10:53 AMWheeeeee!!!

So is the TACO trade in play?

I did a little buying today ... but, to answer your question, who knows?

Quote from: Zog from Margo on Today at 10:58:31 AMIf you think Gold is the problem on MU's defense, then I guess you don't watch defense.

But that is not what I said, was it? Maybe you should take a look at Golds defense on switches, which I know you have not watched

Quote from: Tarragona on Today at 09:15:24 AMI found this recent Cato Institute study helpful, on immigration:

https://www.cato.org/blog/cato-study-immigrants-reduced-deficits-145-trillion-1994

Not surprised. Immigrants are great for the economy, and the ejecting of them already is showing to be bad for the economy. People who for decades have been reliable employees and valued members of their communities are being chased out by the Gestapo.

Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on Today at 11:00:23 AMSome of us saw this season coming from a mile away.

Yes we did. Maybe did not see it as this bad, but it was easily discernible through our blue and gold glasses.

Quote from: The Sultan on February 21, 2026, 09:58:54 AMNBC seems to do this a lot. They crossover their announcers, which just results in odd things like Jason Garrett doing Notre Dame games.

Its funny cause I'm a HUGE Fanta fan.  I think he's probably the best new college basketball personality in 20 years.  He's so refreshingly organic and natural and enthusiastic.  But I think his PBP ability is easily the lowest of his skills.  He's a great interviewer, he's a great podcaster, his Spaces on X are hysterical and produce viral clips weekly, but he's just ok as a PBP guy and I don't think he has an appealing PBP voice at all.  I'd much prefer to see him do more studio work.

That being said, I'm not gonna be upset about one of the good guys in the business, beyond just being so likeable, getting promotions.

Quote from: MuggsyB on February 22, 2026, 05:51:18 PMWhy exactly do humans need jewelry?  I've never understood this and its impact on the environment is horrible. 

Did something specifically spur this thought?

Of course they don't NEED it.  But humans have desired jewelry, in nearly every culture and geography since the beginning of time.  And I'm sure you know that countless animal species seek out and adorn themselves and their habitats with pretty jewelry or baubles.

Its an easy angle because people like to use personal vanity or expensive belongings as convenient targets for complaining about human consumption and the environment, but as someone who is works with a couple NGOs on sustainability/environmental impact...if you eliminated all gem (whether diamond or other precious stones) and gold/silver mining tomorrow...it wouldn't even make a dent on the most pressing environmental hazards of resource extraction/mining.

Quote from: Pakuni on Today at 10:56:34 AMBut it was easily forecasted. Not guaranteed ... there's a plausible outcome in which all the returning players took the leaps necessary to continue Shaka's run of success ... but that outcome was never likely.
When 99% of the college basketball world is using the portal to fill roster weaknesses with proven players, and you're strategy is to roll the dice with development instead, it's not hard to see the potential outcome.

And I'd quibble with the notion that what Shaka tried the past two seasons is the same strategy he used in his first three.

I guess I just accept that Shaka understandably believed in the RGV approach, which had been looking successful through last year. It doesn't surprise me that he stuck with his guys, though I do worry that he and his staff did have a myopic and rosy perspective on several individual players. Still, it is important to note that "99% of the college basketball world" had roster openings that needed to be filled, allowing coaches to identify and then fill the weaknesses. MU did not have a transfer out after last season, and Shaka didn't have any scholarships available. Could Shaka have pushed out one or more players to create openings? Yea, he could've but it's just not surprising that he stuck with his approach and was confident in the growth of players. Was it a risk? I accept that it was. Has it come back to bite him? Certainly. And, does it seem that he'll change going forward, and be willing to push guys out in order to have openings that he can fill? Yes, but we shall see if he really does that. I hope he does.

Quote from: rocky_warrior on Today at 10:10:53 AMWheeeeee!!!

So is the TACO trade in play?

Only my guess, but it looks a little different now.

The SC handed him a golden opportunity to get out of what was a disastrous policy both economically and politically, and he chose not to take it, and double down instead.

Part of it, from everything I've read, is that he has been fixated on tariffs since the '80s, and as we've seen his brain stopped taking in new information right about then. But I think it is more about power and money.

He uses tariffs as a cudgel to beat anyone that disagrees with him, and as a tool to pry out money and favors from others. If you are Tim Cook and give him a gold covered statue, you get an exemption; if you "donate" to his unnatural carnal knowledgeing ballroom, you get an exemption. If you say something mean (and accurate) about him, he'll double your tariffs.

But all of that will be on an individual basis--individual countries or individual companies-- which I think makes the broader TACO trade more difficult.

Sure, theoretically the Republicans in Congress could stop him and get out from this absolute losing position, but wake me up when that ever happens. Hell, less than 2% of the Republicans in the House were willing to force a vote against covering up pedophilia. I truly doubt they'll rise up against tariffs.

Quote from: MU82 on February 22, 2026, 10:49:54 AMSeriously, what a fun game to watch. Incredible performance by Hellebuyck.

I do wish OT was at least 4-on-4, as it had been in a couple of past Olympics.

I think its kind of fun/ironic/amusing that the win was very much fueled by an insane performance by Hellebuyck...who has spent his entire 12 year pro career (both AHL and NHL) in Winnipeg, arguably the MOST Canadian city in the NHL, not a cosmopolitan city like Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal.  You could also argue Calgary or Edmonton, but Alberta is Alberta.

Also, not that the game (or the Olympics in general) needed more emotion, but not just skating with Gadreau's sweater after the game, but bringing out his kids for the picture on the ice.  Absolutely WRECKED ME.  Seeing Matthew Tkachuk, a legendary heel/crap stirrer, sweetly smiling and waving off ice and then seeing it was at Werenski cruising in holding Gadreau's daugher, and the Tkachuk skating with her after.  Just unreal stuff.

Saw another post mentioning how calm and smiley the kids were with Larkin, Werenski, Tkachuk, and others cause they've known and been close to them their whole lives, especially in the 18 months since their dad passed.  Special stuff and speaks a lot to the relationship that the US team has.