TKthunder2

THIS I have kids, they loved it. For the first time ever they asked to go back and watch it again. Might go back tomorrow if they are good and clean their rooms. It’s entertaining just not great cinema but I didn’t go into it thinking I’d get the Godfather like some of the critics seemed to expect. I saw one review that said the critics are writing it off as a less of a movie and more fan service, where as the audience score is like “ITS AMAZING FAN SERVICE!” But Jack Black’s Bowser stole the show. I wouldn’t have expected some of the decisions they made with his character but it was perfect. Wife enjoyed how they portrayed Peach too, not the helpless damsel in distress, but not overshadowing the main character (that the studios often do when trying to comply with the #metoo movement). Also they ‘fixed’ Mario’s voice it seems from the early audio that was leaked. It worked enough and humanized him more and made the movie far more watchable in my opinion than if I had to listen to the thick cartoony Italian accent for 90 minutes straight. There are post credits scenes. One mid credits worth staying for and a very small clip at the end that not really worth it.

Wow. Didn’t think that was the most likely outcome here.

Waiting on jury. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/daniel-perry-trial-24-hours-into-deliberations-no-verdict-yet-on-murder-trial/

I see FSU/Clemson joining the SEC, it just seems too logical. While I could see the Big Ten making a play here, giving them two historical powers in the heart of the SEC won’t sit well with the conference or ESPN. But honestly the next major realignment battle will be over UNC and UVA. If the Big Ten gets those then I see them going further South and grabbing Miami and Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta. Both are major city hubs for Big Ten alumni/fans and would have the Big Ten represented in every major city/market along the Eastern seaboard from NY to Miami (only really missing New England). But without UNC/UVA I don’t see them wanting to have both LA and Miami/Atlanta on virtual islands which is why I think they’d pivot and go after the West Coast.

Let us not forget the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 which setup Kansas to be a slave state. Jayhawks to the SEC confirmed!

It would have been the best situation for all. Shame on all for their egos and hubris. Would have been a little cleaner if the PAC had just poached Tech, TCU, Okie St, and Kansas after UT/OU left and then could have picked up Iowa St, Kansas St, Houston, SDSU, whoever for after USC/UCLA left but this obviously doesn’t work out as logical in real time as it could have on paper.

My point was a 10 team PAC10 versus a 16 team Big 12. I don’t see a scenario where the PAC10+? in any form, is regularly getting 2 bids. The Big 12 on the other hand, without UT/OU, may have done it multiple times if the expanded CFP was in place with TCU, Baylor, Okie St, K State, and even Iowa St…and that’s without including UCF, BYU, Houston, and BYU’s occasional success over the past decade. That was the basis of my 2 of 16 > 1 of 10. The SEC&B1G will likely pull in 3 bids regularly so it’s really not worth comparing to them.

The CFP money isn’t going to come out as a lump sum anymore where the P5 conferences will get roughly the same money to divide. Both the Big Ten and SEC said it will be per school (so the 16 teams conferences will make more than the 10 team ones, but all schools in the P5+ND will make the same) with a major increase on getting bids and winning. The scenario wing thrown around out West where staying at 10 gets then them more money per school since they get same annual guaranteed money as the B1G/SEC (before factoring in performance) is not realistic. 1 bid divided by 10 will not be more beneficial than 2 bids divided by 16. The Big Ten and SEC will not allow that math, and anyone thinking that the PAC12 staying at 10 will outsmart them is hopelessly naive.

Correct. The cop recommended against the arrest and said there was very strong evidence of self defense. So he was called by the defense. The exchange on the stand was in KXAN news last night (likely online somewhere).

Pretty sure one of the Arizona presidents was out of the country until after April 15th and they said they’d meeting after he got back, so I highly doubt they’ll announce anything before then. Smells like BS.

Trial about to end. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/daniel-perry-murder-trial-almost-over-attorneys-prepare-for-closing-arguments/

Good post, I knew all these metrics but constantly forget how the PAC’s hidden tier 3 boosts their overall stats. Still the numbers posted this morning were about fan engagement which is also higher for WSU. I generally agree with SDSU over WSU but the Big 12 feels like it already pulled in directional State U Florida and city U (times 2) so I don’t see a giant appeal taking another on “potential” like SDSU. I think the 4 corner schools are the obvious target, but even if Utah refuses to see the light right away, I’d still sit back and wait on #16 before offering SDSU, Fresno or Gonzaga. In addition to Utah, you’d still have and school like Oregon who could get tired waiting on their Big Ten invite waiting to join especially if it starts affecting their fb recruiting, or Cal who could get left out if they add the Oregon, Washington, Stanford, and Notre Dame, possibly a deal to take all 5 (Stan, Cal, UW, UO, Utah) at the end of their next disappointing contract. All of those options are more appealing than SDSU in my opinion.

More data showing that again, by the numbers, Wazzu over representing for the PAC12.

I don’t think they have that refined of a big picture. FOX is pinching pennies right now and trying to decide what its priorities are. That is just not great for the PAC timing wise. They locked up the Big Ten, Big 12, MWC, and Big East and think that’s enough to compete with ESPN who has SEC, ACC, Big 12, American, Sun Belt, MAC…and the PAC12 isn’t going to shift that one way or another, though I assume adding money late kick options would be appealing especially if it’s discounted otherwise they’ll just reup with the MWC. They are also keeping their powder dry for bidding for a part of the new 12 team playoff (which will ‘own’ the Rose Bowl TV rights going forward). MLB 3rd tier rights are currently a catastrophe with the regional channels going broke. Fox owned them before, I don’t think it would be crazy to get back into that game. They own nothing in the NBA, but are starting to lean in on basketball with Big East, Big 12, and Big Ten…something to watch. They are still in on racing (both cars and horses) and soccer. They lost UFC and gained WWE and still have boxing. No golf but lots of less popular sports like rugby or lacrosse that can fill dead air. But for now they really just have OTA FOX, FS1, FS2, and BTN so you can see why they don’t feel like they need to go punch for punch with ESPN which has OTA ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and SECN plus ESPNU, ACCN, and whatever the LHN turns into to fill with programming, not to mention it’s Watch ESPN/ESPN+/ESPN3/ESPNnow or whatever streaming service(s). A lot is changing right now, I think it’s difficult to see an end game other than FOX want to be a major player in NFL (2033), College football (B1G/B12 2030), MLB (2028) and likely will get involved with CFP (2025) and re-up with the Big East (2025). Beyond that I think they are sitting tight and trying to keep cash on hand, because if ESPN is discussing shedding properties, FOX could end up a really strong position (especially if they can turn FS1 into a real competitor for ESPN).

Shooting someone over a prank? That’s fucked up. Weird takes in here, but unless the shooter was ‘pranked’ into thinking their life or someone else’s life was in danger, then they should go to jail for a long time. This shouldn’t be a controversial statement..

TV numbers have WSU as the 4th or 5th in the most watched program in the PAC12-10. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/where-should-the-big-ten-expand-next-we-crunched-the-numbers/ In order (per 538): Oregon, Stanford/Utah, Washington/Washington St, Arizona State, Cal/Colorado, Arizona, Oregon State With San Diego State you’re betting on having local interest that one day could be in the top 50% of your league and pull in viewers, with Wazzu you have a proven team that already does that. Playing the biggest market game is dumb especially without a conference network that gives you carrier payout. It’s now about how many people actually watch your game, and in that WSU has the advantage. SDSU can catch up, but that’s taking a bet, not following the data.

They’d wait on Utah or Oregon or Washington. I honestly think Washington State would be better than SDSU. They won’t. They’ll bitch and moan but if Colorado and Arizona leave Utah will jump ship too. They got ESPN (but not FOX) to agree to a pro rata increase for P5 expansion only. They’d have to negotiate with both ESPN and FOX to get SDSU. The target is the 4C schools, everything else is just noise. I’d be surprised if the B12 didn’t already have approval from FOX to add the four corner schools.

I mean the PAC (with 12 teams that included the LA school eyeballs) most weeks had 1 game OTA on FOX/ABC and 2-3 games on ESPN/FS1 and 2-3 games on P12Net. Which was roughly 50% give or take week to week. With LA gone and FOX gone and no deal from CBS/NBC out there it was obvious they’d take the hit at the top and end up with 2 games on ESPN maybe 1-2 regular season games at best on ABC. With only 10 teams you’re talking 5 conference games (even if you add SDSU/SMU who no one watches so it only adds to the weak content) so 40% has always been the number in my mind. They want their top 2 games of the week on linear. But those are the only games Apple/Amazon want. Sure they’ll take the others but to sell subscriptions they want Oregon v Washington not Oregon St v Washington St. So again we’re back to taking money and going streaming, or taking exposure and losing money relative to your peers. Either way it’s just a bandaid until the next round of realignment where you lose your next biggest brands. FOX could pay $50m/yr to the Big12 for the 4C schools for that content, or piggyback with Apple for the PAC tier two games. Apple gets the game of the week and the worthless tier three trash content and FOX gets 2 games a week to put on FOX or FS1. The question is will that be more expensive or less expensive than just giving the Big 12 $50 million? The SEC (prior to UT/OU) got $300million/year for tier one for 14 teams for $21.5m/yr/per team. The Big 12 Now + gave the members (w/o Texas/OU) $24million/year or 3 million/yr/per school for their third tier rights and the ACCN payed out $40 (which is less than $3m/per) but they haven’t hit 100% distribution of the network due to startup costs. So if we assume the PAC12-2 could get $21 million a year/per team for tier one from Apple (assuming they are paying a premium to get them to stream) and $3 million/per for tier three still leaves a $7 million/per year/per school for $70 million total gap between the PAC12 versus the Big12 that they need tier 2 to fill. So for $20 million more than paying for the 4C to join the Big 12 FOX could get the 2nd/3rd best PAC games each week for FOX/FS1. Doesn’t sound like a great deal to me.

Is my memory wrong, I thought they halted and canceled multiple cadet classes and many of those officers went elsewhere? When you already have a shortage (due to the cost of living) then you cancel/defer hiring for a time this is the only logical outcome. So “defunding the police” is/was part of the problem, even though it was only for a short time. If I’m not remembering correctly then feel free to correct me and call me an idiot.

You’re underselling it.

They are currently a top 40 bank in the US, and have a robust M&A department. Since 2009 they acquired 23 institutions directly (and a few indirect ones listed below) including CIT Group 2022 (who acquired Mutual of Omaha Bank and OneWest Bank recently as well) and now SVB (who just acquired Boston Private back in 2021). They’ll be a top 25 US FI once this settles with around $200 billion in assets (think HSBC, USAA, AMEX, UBS).

No one misses on top 3-4 round talent, scouting at that level is mostly picking between which elite player has the best upside, our discussion was around filling out a scout team or practice squad with fringe diamond in the rough/project guys. A K State guy that doesn’t get invited to the combine has a lower chance of getting an UDFA deal than an Alabama guy that doesn’t get invited to the combine. The Big 12 pro days is an attempt to reduce the gap between Alabama and K State by giving a fringe K State DB more opportunities to be seen by and make impressions on scouts so that they are remembered when they are filling out their rosters the day after the draft.

Fuck me, yeah thought BYU was in the Border conference. Doesn’t change the lineup though.

4 titles, 6 runner ups, but who’s counting…

I mean Baylor and Iowa State fucking sucked back then. They get credit for digging out of the basement in recent years, but honestly if you’re forming a brand new conference with no ties to the previous Big8 or SWC dropping ISU and Baylor for Arkansas (before they joined the SEC) and BYU would have been ideal. North - BYU, Colorado, Kansas, K State, Mizzou, Nebraska South - Texas, aggy, Tech, Oklahoma, Okie St, Arkansas Protected rivalries: OU/NU (obvious, keep for TV/history) UT/CU (next best 2, best academics) aggy/KSU (next best 2, ag schools) Ark/MU (border states, Easternmost) Tech/BYU (former conferencemates, Westernmost) OSU/KU (worst schools at the time, close Big8 members)