ESPN SportsNation Maps Are Lessons In Humility
by Country Roads on Dec 7, 2011 11:00 AM EST
in Holy Shit We're Good
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PrintI came across this yesterday:
And it looks...vaguely familiar. Like I've seen it, or something like it, somewhere before. Of course, we all know what it is. It's an ESPN SportsNaiton map, where the country is invited to vote on the outcome of upcoming sporting events. And in this particular poll, the ENTIRE COUNTRY, save one state (the greatest state in the nation, West Virginia), thinks Clemson is going to beat WVU. Yeah, there are some scattered votes in favor of the underdogs that skew the percentages a bit. But all in all, SportsNation spews nothing but doubt at the Mountain State.
Sure, I've voted in these polls from time to time. Heck, I even voted in this one. But something about the colors of the states, and the percentages. Oh yes, I have seen something like this before. It was almost two years ago, in March:
And do you know what happened after that poll was taken? I do:
THIS happened!
That would be a final of 73-66 over the #1 overall seed Kentucky Wildcats in the 2010 Elite Eight. You know, the same Kentucky team favored to run roughshod over the rest of the field with sensational freshman John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. That would be an 18-point barrage from Da'Sean Butler and another 17 from silent assassin Joe Mazzulla. That would be crushed hopes and torched dreams of a national championship for the UK Wildcats. That would be...beautiful.
But yet, I feel like that's not the only other time I've seen something like it. Oh yeah, about 4 years ago, before another BCS bowl. That's when THIS happened:
THAT would be a 48-28 curb-stomping of the #4 ranked Oklahoma Sooners who some predicted would "blast" WVU by "at least 3 touchdowns." THAT would be an offensive clinic hosted by Pat White, Noel Devine, Darius Reynaud, and Owen Schmitt. Trust me, it was a legit clinic. I paid $100 on my way out of the stadium.
Do you see that, SportsNation? Have you not learned your lesson by now? BAD things happen to GOOD teams when you doubt the Mountaineers! Bad things happen to your favorite teams and your favorite players and your favorite pets. DO YOU SEE THAT MAP, BRUCE IRVIN? DID YOU TAKE NOTICE, KEITH TANDY?
NOBODY believes in you. NOBODY, except your home state. I trust you will respond accordingly.
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fan polls
are absurd. anyone who knew a shred about basketball knew that WVU was the real deal when we beat Kentucky. It really shouldn’t have surprised people so much that a team with two draft picks and a slew of talented roll players would have advanced to the final four. I think a lot of of the Clemson bias has to do with our getting trounced by Cuse on national TV.
WVU was talented, but Kentucky was extraordinarily talented. Butler and Ebanks are not exactly Wall and Cousins. Any shrewd, unbiased fan would have predicted UK to win.
Really?
WVU shot better, rebounded better, played in a better league, won in a better league, and had De’sean Butler. I picked WVU to win that game because I thought they were a better TEAM. John Wall was phenomenal, but he hadn’t faced any defense all year like ours. Didn’t hurt that they missed every shot they took from three, but that’s basketball. Live by the three, die by the three.
And We Had A Team That Had Gelled Over Time...
whereas UK had four freshman and a senior in the starting 5, which is what I think they are going to have every year. And every year they will have superior talent to everyone they face. And I would venture to say that every year, they will crap out before the final.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
And you drew this conclusion how?
Does being a fan make it more likely that one’s objectivity is clouded? Sure. Does it necessarily follow that one’s objectivity is clouded to the point where one could not reasonably choose WVU otherwise? No.
Come on, your reasoning skills are better than that.
www.smokingmusket.com
@CountryRoadsWV
by Country Roads on Dec 8, 2011 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
FWIW
Objectivity is a myth, it’s not possible. We are humans and always subject to our experiences and upbringing.
I’m not saying that doesn’t mean you can’t make an informed decision based on the available facts but it does mean that those facts will always be interpreted through your particular lens, which therefore makes objectivity impossible.
"Thus, it is with those nurtured in Appalachia—they leave, but they look back, remembering pleasant things. The land has claimed them, and its ties will not be severed." --Maurice Brooks
Dr. Charley West, Please don't block me if I have typos or poor grammar.
by Oregon Mountaineer on Dec 8, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
Have you been reading Tim Keller?
www.smokingmusket.com
@CountryRoadsWV
by Country Roads on Dec 8, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
No but I did just google him
I am Presbyterian but a different kind and I come from a post modern liberal progressive theological bent, which means I always remind myself that my life will impact my judgements on every issue, which means that I need to realize there isn’t one way to read/do/undertand stuff.
"Thus, it is with those nurtured in Appalachia—they leave, but they look back, remembering pleasant things. The land has claimed them, and its ties will not be severed." --Maurice Brooks
Dr. Charley West, Please don't block me if I have typos or poor grammar.
by Oregon Mountaineer on Dec 8, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Any idea
Where you can watch that Kentucky game online or download it perhaps? I’d love to see that one again. I had it on a HD but it crashed on me. Boo.
I don't give credence to anything from Disney.
The OB is a winnable game if we leave the USF gameplan in the flaming dumpster and bring some real offensive gameplan, effort and execution.
Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.
This
"that place laid the foundation for who I am. A lot of outsiders make fun of it and say negative things about West Virginia. Fuck them" - Jerry West
by MountaineerAirman on Dec 8, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Great stuff CR.
I’m simultaneously pissed and motivated myself. I hope the coaches have the good sense to post this for the guys.
I agree with OG&B, we play so much more spirited in the underdog role.
by Mountaineer Chuck on Dec 7, 2011 8:24 PM EST reply actions
Thanks, Chuck.
I couldn’t find the actual map from the Fiesta Bowl, and the LSU map looked the same, but it would have been counterproductive to actually post that one.
www.smokingmusket.com
@CountryRoadsWV
by Country Roads on Dec 8, 2011 9:16 AM EST up reply actions
I'm sure the Sugar Bowl map would have looked the same!
We're bound by a bond not completely understood by those outside, try as we might to explain it to them.
Oh yes. Would have loved to have seen that.
www.smokingmusket.com
@CountryRoadsWV
by Country Roads on Dec 8, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
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