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statsman

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Everything posted by statsman

  1. How will you know? You won’t be here, right? Our last game for the foreseeable future, with OSU, was last year.
  2. Didn’t we learn in the Wyoming game that spots can’t be reviewed? U less there are special circumstances (like a goal line play)?
  3. What was the deal with those empty upper end zone seats?
  4. I’m so cynical that I suspect when a bunch of “Russian troops” lives are wasted, they’re not really Russians, but rather conscripts from Ukrainian areas held by Russia, or foreigners suckered into joining.
  5. I didn’t want to divert the Israel-Hamas War thread with these philosophical musings and thoughts. There has been a lot of discussion about Hamas apologists, on campus, and other places. There are rebuttals that mention IDF strikes on population centers. I’d like to make a few observations and see where it leads. Hamas killed children, toddlers, infants, unarmed civilians. They shot them, stabbed them, burnt them. It is difficult to put yourself in their shoes and imagine doing that, while in a right mind. How can anyone defend that? Russia has killed civilians in Ukraine and raped women, as a matter of policy. The war gets support in Russia. I bet a lot of us know or have known Russians, and struggle to reconcile that. Dropping bombs on military targets that kill nearby civilians. Our armed forces do it, as do opposing armed forces. How do we feel about that? 1 Samuel 15: the prophet Samuel tells Saul that it is God’s will that the Israelites kill every Amalekite, every man, woman and child. This was over 1000 BCE- each of those killings required an Israelite to put a brass blade into every Amalekite’s body. (Saul disobeyed God and merely killed the men, and sold the others into slavery. Not wanting to go into a theological discussion, but my personal belief is that Samuel’s instruction was more Samuel’s will than God’s will). The Texan-Comanche war. When you read that Rangers wiped out an Indian village, it means that Rangers killed women and children. You can argue that the Comanches were worse, or not (they were more likely to not kill the children that they could absorb into the tribe, and would enslave the adult women, working them until they died. The babies and infants were thrown aside and the men were tortured to death). I’ve skipped a whole lot of similar history, but my central point is- people are awful. These atrocities that seem senseless and unexplainable are actually things that we (or our people) are a lot closer to doing than anyone would like to admit. How can anyone defend them? I think we have a tendency to always empathize with “our side”, whether it’s our nation, our religion, our culture, our party/school. My Lai really happened, it would have been worse if Hugh Thompson didn’t stop it (may have even been suppressed) and let me tell you-Lt. Calley absolutely had defenders in the early’70s (not really anymore and I think most people will nod their heads in approval that day they read that he died). There always will be people willing to be apologists for horrible actions, arguing that they were necessary actions in a larger just cause. What can be done? I am coming around to thinking ideas are more effective at resolving serious conflicts than actions, once you rule out the possibility of genocide, which I hope you do). Our nation has been blessed that our most oppressed people had leaders like Frederick Douglass (if you have not read any of his July 4 speeches, you should google them. Know how some of Lincoln’s remarks don’t hold up and sound cringey? Douglass’ really holds up well, even to modern ears) and MLK. They argued ideas and challenged the nation to live up to its avowed principles. The nation didn’t deserve them; we deserved a Haiti-style uprising. I don’t know how (or if) the Israeli-Palestinian issue will be resolved, but I think it will be a positive sign if we see leaders arguing ideas and challenging their own people to be and do better.
  6. I think that’s a mistake on Germany’s part. They had those laws in 1972. After the Israelis were killed at the Olympics, Germany had some terrorists in jail. The Palestinians said that there would be more terror heading Germany’s way if they weren’t released. Brandt agreed with the plan to allow the Palestinians to make a bogus skyjacking of a plane filled with German police, which was then traded for the terrorists. Lessons- Germany outlawed anti-Semitic speech, but still valued German lives over guest Israeli lives. Israel was going to be on its own seeking Justice. Better in America, where people are allowed to talk and reveal who they really are and what they believe.
  7. This is what’s great about free speech. People are allowed to show who they are. In Weimar Germany, there were laws against anti-Semitic speech. All they accomplished was to suppress the Nazis’ display of what they believed. The laws didn’t moderate the Nazis’ views; they hid them.
  8. Roma, previously I have written in depth about Waco. I won’t again, now, but let me state that it is very clear that Waco is atop an ancient, deep and powerful evil that has to manifest itself every few years in horrible ways. I don’t know how the Chip and Joanna Gaines story will end, but it will be horrific. Trust me- Baylor will not escape punishment.
  9. Where? In your underwear! (sorry, I’ve been waiting to use that one)
  10. It comes down to critical reasoning and paying attention to what people say and do.
  11. Israel has always had a problem- Jews are a liberal people, and the idea of a Jewish state is illiberal. Everywhere else in the ME, you have Muslim states. A Muslim state is also an illiberal idea, but the other people are illiberal, so you don’t have that tension. If Palestinians were allowed full access into Israel, and allowed to claim residency, in short order it would become a Muslim state. The Jews would have to flee, submit or die. I’m sorry you need this explained to you.
  12. Israel has decided that, existentially, they cannot let Iran have nukes. And I really mean “existentially” (at least, for this iteration of Iran). There is a fascinating history of the lengths they will go to to forestall that happening - murder, sabotage. Great premise for a dark comedy- a uniquely brilliant young Iranian is encouraged to study physics, and upon graduating, comes into the Mossad’s radar, and then has to try to elude their assassination attempts while deciding what to do as he learns about the regime’s plans for his work.
  13. On the college campuses, I don’t know that it’s motivated by anti-semitism as much as by training to have a default affinity for marginalized peoples. Gazans are poor, and have restricted mobility out, either to Israel or Egypt. Israel takes the lead in restricting and monitoring supplies into Gaza. That is one part of the equation. Deadly missiles are regularly launched, from Gaza, into Israel, aimed at nothing in particular (but they hope to kill some Israelis). Israel has an Iron Dome, but it doesn’t stop all, and intersected missiles still have to fall somewhere. Missiles, and the materials needed to fab them, come from somewhere and get in somehow, so Israel is very careful to try to restrict such shipments. October 7 shows why they are careful about border control. This is the other side of the question. Are the Gazans oppressed and marginalized because of the cruelty of Israel? Or, are they in such a shitty situation because they have a really shitty leadership (like North Koreans)? I think that where you fall on this decision guides how you view the situation.
  14. That’s why I’m trying to nail down whether some ADs are making philosophical shifts. Brent Venables is from two trees- Stoops’ and Swinney’s. I’m pretty sure neither approach is the right one, unchanged, for the future.
  15. I think they are going to clear the tunnels and take the weaponry out.
  16. For blue blood schools, for years, the model to follow in hiring a new coach has been “Hire the most proven successful coach you can”. A few years ago, Texas was going to try that with Urban Meyer, even getting a serious offer together, but we were rebuffed. Here is an observation that I think is right, but y’all might have better info. Texas hiring Sark and Florida hiring Napier are similar strategies. The idea being that each school really decided to reconfigure their football program, boosting support functions (scouting, personnel, analysis) to mimic what Alabama does. The idea is that the tasks have grown too large (recruiting is year round, and you scout the entire nation, HS through college junior year), and organizational roles and responsibilities have to be rethought. To that end, Florida and Texas hired coaches that didn’t come to the job expecting traditional “King Coach” roles. Sark makes a little less that $6M per year with a buyout of 65% of his remaining contract. Napier makes $7M per year with a buyout rate of 85%. The idea is- they are paid to coach, and they have the senior roles in recruiting, but nobody is asking them review submitted recruit tape, or even make the first down select of positional offers. (Down the road, Jimbo Fisher operates a traditional “King Coach” role. Have you heard about his contract?) I think what I’ve posted is right. There isn’t a lot written about this huge shift in philosophy. Is Kirby Smart successful because he successfully imitated the Alabama program at Georgia? I think so, but I don’t know for sure. Brent Venables makes $7M per year, with no buyout discount. Has OU reconfigured their program, or is it still organized the way Riley left it? I don’t know. Im curious as to your thoughts.
  17. Thinking about your points doesn’t make me feel good, so I will ignore them. (Just kidding. Dammit, why do you make me think of this?)
  18. Luckily, the girls took care of soccer and volleyball. Now, for football.
  19. I heard a podcast recently where the speaker noted that Abbas hasn’t had an election in 18 years, and that’s a good thing, because Hamas would win if they did. Is that not right? Jews are a liberal people, but a Jewish state is a very illiberal idea, so there is a structural instability (Muslim populations tend to be illiberal, so Muslim states don’t have the same tension). The issue is: two states vs one state. The world has brokered two-state solutions, Israel has agreed to two-state solutions, and the Palestinians have consistently rejected two-state solutions. If you view it as a single state, the Palestinians are an ejected and oppressed people that are victims until allowed free unfettered access to all of Israel. This would be the end of the Jewish state of Israel, and the beginning of the Muslim state of Palestine. If you view the area as two states- Israel is not responsible for Palestinians outside the Israel border. The Palestinians need to govern and care for themselves, and final borders are negotiable. Until both sides agree on the one-state vs two-state issue, there can be no resolution. By withdrawing from Gaza almost 20 years ago, Israel tried to force acceptance of the two-state idea but the Palestinians refuse to accept it.
  20. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-biden/card/map-shows-labyrinth-of-tunnels-made-by-hamas-under-gaza-identified-by-israel-IieNDixn5Bs78HeUi46v
  21. I get the argument. Fox is obligated to show B12 games on Fox at 3:00. The B12 content is mostly stuff that should be on ESPN2 or FS1, but some will have to be shown on Fox, on Saturday afternoon. We’ll find out how it works out.
  22. Every time? Yes. UT, TAMU, OU, and LSU dominate Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana TVs. Their slots will be staggered. That’s not even counting Georgia, Florida and Alabama playing games. If you think the SEC 3:30 game, when OSU is playing KSU, is going to be MSU vs. Kentucky… The B12 media rights owners will have to decide if they want their best games on Saturday afternoon or Friday night. Texas wasn’t just the B12 cash cow; it was also a defense against SEC encroachment on and ownership of Texas TVs. And your league office despised it.
  23. I’ve rethought this. One problem with the past data on IR8 matchups- before 2024, they have never had to compete for viewers with major local powers, like UT and OU. Maybe they were counter-programmed with LSU or TAMU, and maybe not. Next year, every time a B12 game is scheduled for Fox at 3:00, it will have to compete for viewers with games like OU-Arkansas or Texas-Georgia.
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