PicoBlog

The genius of Burn After Reading, Joel and Ethan Coen's 2008 stab at a dark comedy about Washington, D.C., is that its plot keeps stepping right up to the line of specificity, when it comes to politics and diplomacy, before, at the last moment, choosing absurdity and silliness instead.  This isn't a movie about Democrats, Republicans, policy, or any of sorts of things people argue about in real-life Washington. Aside from the brief involvement of the Russians, nothing that happens has much geopolitical significance.

Peak: #7 on the Hot 100 Streams: 8.5 million It’s gonna take a minute to unpack the bizarre and remarkable career of Was (Not Was), so let’s settle in for… BOOM! BOOM! ACKA LACKA BOOM BOOM! Ahem. Forgive me. It’s hard to finish a thought when I’ve got the opening to “Walk the Dinosaur” stuck in my hand. Take a listen and see what happens to you. ncG1vNJzZmikn6jBtLvNoKpnq6WXwLWtwqRlnKedZL1ww8ClomasmJp6pbXNqKqaraJixKK%2FjKemrWWnlsBufZhxcA%3D%3D

     What should we tell a football analyst who makes $18 million a year and no longer cares? Unlike his playing career, when Tony Romo couldn’t lead the Dallas Cowboys past the NFC divisional round, he was branded a generational commentator when his CBS superiors gave him $180 million not far into retirement. Initially, he was brilliant in grasping formations, plays and boomerangs before they were called.      Then they gave him the largest contract ever in sports media.

On November 22, 2001, the Mike Shanahan-led Denver Broncos took on a terrible Dallas Cowboys team. It was Thanksgiving in Texas Stadium, with a crowd of over 64,000. The Broncos were up 26-3 going into the fourth quarter. The Cowboys mounted a comeback, but still came up short, losing 26-24. Literally none of that matters. What does is what happened at halftime. Do you have 7 minutes and 15 minutes to spare?

Madison Bumgarner couldn’t have been thrilled upon hearing that MLB will likely adopt the universal designated hitter once players and owners settle on a CBA. The former Giant stepping to the plate was one of the great attractions in the game. For pitchers who flail at breaking balls and dread the high heat, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s announcement was likely met with a sense of relief. No more hitting for pitchers — save for maybe the Shohei Ohtanis of the world.

Great essay. As a Brit, one of things which fascinated me was the wilful blindness of politicians across the West and beyond. The forget the political axiom that it matters less about what the majority thinks on a specific issue, and far more HOW MUCH they care. Generally, the apathetic middle have undertaken a collective amnesia, even though the 'science' now shows that the institutions were wrong on any number of issues- from masks to school closures, from vaccinations for the healthy under 30s to lockdowns themselves.

The 2023 regular season is over and now comes the annual roster churn that we’ve witnessed repeatedly over the Tyson Helton era. After a disappointing 7-5 season, Helton will have to reinvent himself (and the roster) again in order to return towards the top of the CUSA standings. With the transfer portal opening and signing day just around the corner here is a comprehensive list of where WKU’s roster currently stands heading into the 2024 season.

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts! Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet? Welcome back to our WNBA CBA and Salary Cap Explained series. As part of our mission to unlock better insight about the women’s game, we’re breaking down the rules outlined in the 350-page WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), covering the 2020 through 2027 seasons, in plain language.

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts! Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet? Welcome back to our WNBA CBA and Salary Cap Explained series. As part of our mission to unlock better insight about the women’s game, we’re breaking down the rules outlined in the 350-page WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), covering the 2020 through 2027 seasons, in plain language.