The Clog

The Pirate Diary: 15 Losses and Change

David Roth — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:36:47 +0000

May has not historically been a happy time to be a Pirates fan, even by Pirates fan standards. There is one number, ungainly and unsightly and decimal-pointed, that proves it.

...Like Alonzo Mourning

David Roth — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:20:24 +0000

Alonzo Mourning is not necessarily the most hip-hop NBA player of his era, or in general. But he's got a great and punny name, so 'Zo's got a solid two-decade footprint in hip-hop history.

Being Big, or Being Wilt Chamberlain

David Roth — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:40:06 +0000

It's difficult to relate to a dominant NBA big man, but it's weirdly easy to feel a kinship with a terrified, overmatched 7-footer. It's complicated, but it mostly comes down to recognizing how strange it is to be a human at that size.

Apple Allergies

Pete Beatty — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:30:33 +0000

As you may have heard from our ~eleventy billion self-spams, we have an App. It's really cool. But the App Store only works if you use an Apple, and some people might not get down fruitwise with their computing. If that's you, don't sweat it.

To The Future: Introducing The Classical Magazine

David Roth — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:04:31 +0000

We're 18 months old and still toddling. But we're not trying to toddle forever, which is why we're launching The Classical Magazine. Get to know it.

Let's Be Careful Around John Buck, Everybody

David Roth — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:47:12 +0000

The Mets may not win a lot of games this year, but they've already won a few in dramatic fashion. What those games have proven, more than anything else, is that John Buck is likely to kill a teammate in a postgame celebration, quite possibly before the All-Star break.

Love and Loss on Long Island, Part 2: A Party at the Barn

Nick Bond — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:13:34 +0000

In part two of an ongoing series, an Islander fan reflects on the past, prepares for the future and tries to live in the present.

Best American Sprotswriting, or Finding the Best Alternate Spelling for the Word "Sports"

David Roth — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:36:20 +0000

Crowdsourcing the answer to one of the more vexing questions for any writer. With a helpful infographic.

Why Chris Broussard's Opinion Doesn't Matter

David Roth — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:07:12 +0000

Chris Broussard is famous, and ESPN gives him a large megaphone; Tim Brando is less so. But their shared brand of cheap, not-all-that-righteous righteousness is entirely too dim, lazy and small to mean anything, no matter how easy it is hear their voices.

Classical Crossword: Outcast

Nick Bond — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:17:43 +0000

The latest in an occasional series of crossword puzzles from the very awesome Ben Tausig. Contains current (sports) events, wordplay, and a clue involving Yanni. You should do it.

Why Chris Broussard's Opinion Matters

Nick Bond — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:36:24 +0000

During an appearance on Outside the Lines, ESPN's own Chris Broussard called homosexuality an "open rebellion" on God during a "debate" with out sportswriter (and more importantly, a person with feelings and dignity) LZ Granderson. It's not the first time we've heard this, and we'll hear much more of it in the coming days, weeks and months. But that's not why it matters.

The Burning of Los Angeles

Nick Bond — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:11:40 +0000

No team is more L.A. than the Lakers. Los Angeles is the city where movies are made, a place where massive and irresponsible dreams either come true or spectacularly don’t. It is a city built on stories: individual and collective, real and fake, meaningful and inconsequential. This is why, maybe the only reason why, Ramon Sessions can seem important for a few months in spring.

The Pirate Diary: Don't Look Down, Don't Look Up

David Roth — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:22:25 +0000

It's generally wise and healthy not to read too much into April baseball. It's also more or less impossible.

Mumia, Diesel, Zirin and Everything

David Roth — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:50:29 +0000

A movie theater owned by Shaquille O'Neal canceled a screening of a documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal. Dave Zirin is not happy about it. What's going on here?

Fun With Google Alerts: Keeping Up With Noah Davis(es)

David Roth — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:46:39 +0000

An occasional feature on Google Alert-aided multi-dimensional time traveling, and the exploits of various people named Noah Davis, all of whom are not the Noah Davis who wrote this.

The Man Who Mistook Mitch McGary for Shaq, or Meet Your Classical Bracket Achievers Champion

David Roth — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:23:06 +0000

Joe Karas works in a laboratory in Boston and doesn't watch much college basketball. But he knew enough to dominate this year's Classical Bracket Achievers contest. Get to know your college hoops overlord.

Make Me Feel Pretty, War Machine

David Roth — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:15:00 +0000

War Machine washed out of both the UFC and the porn business because of his constant, unwavering rage issues and violent bro-tendencies. But he's still on Twitter, challenging our own Tomas Rios to fights. So he's got that going for him.

Better Ingredients, Better Hangover: Checking In With Louisville Superfan Papa John Schnatter

David Roth — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:40:31 +0000

A lot of people were happy when Louisville won the NCAA Championship on Monday night. Some of those people presumably had some drinks to celebrate. Papa John Schnatter was one of them.

Slurve On: Michael B. Dougherty On Leaving Political Journalism For Baseball

David Roth — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:10:00 +0000

Michael Brendan Dougherty has written about politics for a long time. Long enough that he's now decided he'd rather get up at 4am every day to write about baseball.

Siskel and Ebert Agree That Space Jam Is Perfect

Nick Bond — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:25:27 +0000

Even when reviewing movies as goofy as Space Jam, the exuberance that Roger Ebert had for films of all shapes, sizes and stripes came through in a way familiar to all of us. He taught us to love the things we love, and to do so in a way that will get others to want to join in. So, he always had that going for him, which is nice.

Mennonite At Work: Erik Kratz, Catcher, Actor, Turkey Bacon Pitchman

David Roth — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:25:20 +0000

Erik Kratz of the Phillies is a pretty good backup catcher, but his real strengths lie in his ability to effectively pitch turkey bacon opposite a cartoon turkey in local TV ads.

The Pirate Diary: Opening and Closing

David Roth — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:10:21 +0000

On Opening Day, there's hope and promise and all kinds of other good things. Even for Pirates fans, if only for a little while. The first in a periodic series of diaries on following the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cyberbullied By Chipper

David Roth — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:30:39 +0000

Pete Gaines said something stupid on Twitter over the weekend, then spent the better part of the day being cyberbullied by a sure-thing first-ballot Hall of Famer and his online sycophants. This is his story.

The Difference, or Why Gonzaga Isn't the Worst One-Seed Ever

David Roth — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:07:20 +0000

Things didn't go well in the tournament for Gonzaga. But by one telling and not-terribly-advanced metric, they weren't nearly the worst one-seed of all time.

Memo from Ursa Major: An Introduction to the Alaska Nanooks

David Roth — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:45:50 +0000

Come with The Classical to the frozen north, where roam the bears. You've seen the bears: they rumble-bumble, eat Cheetos, sit on couches. And sometimes they do other human-like things, like play hockey and destroy the entire planet for hockey reasons.