Sports: Football, Baseball, Bball, Hockey, Etc. Vol. II

[Jeff Wrangler]

The games were exciting enough, but the teams in the WS were not. Although MLB viewership was UP during the regular season and also for the first few rounds of the playoffs, the WS viewership is on track to be the lowest ever. 

Heck, I didn't even know when it was on. Not that I really cared.

So the Rattlesnakes got beat. Good.

Everyone around here is excited for and about Travis Jankowski because he's a local boy.

[CellarDweller115]

the 3rd event in the Grand Prix of Figure Skating ended today.

Here are your winners for Grand Prix de France.


Ice Dance


Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI  -  ITA  - Gold

Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SOERENSEN  -  CAN - Silver

Evgeniia LOPAREVA / Geoffrey BRISSAUD  -  FRA -  Bronze


Best American showing:   Christina CARREIRA / Anthony PONOMARENKO in 4th place



Pairs Skating

Lia PEREIRA / Trennt MICHAUD  -  CAN  -  Gold

Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII  -  ITA  -  Silver

Camille KOVALEV / Pavel KOVALEV  -  FRA  -  Bronze


Best American showing  -  Valentina PLAZAS / Maximiliano FERNANDEZ  -  4th place



Men


Adam SIAO HIM FA  -  FRA  -  Gold

Ilia MALININ  -  USA  -  Silver

Yuma KAGIYAMA  -  JPN  - Bronze.


*note*  This finish was considered an upset.  Ilia Malinin was considered the favorite to win, but had a mistake on one jump.  Adam Siao Him Fa had a clean program, and better presentation than Illia, and was rightfully awarded the gold.



Women


Isabeau LEVITO  -  USA  -  Gold

Nina PINZARRONE  -  BEL  -  Silver

Rion SUMIYOSHI  -  JPN  -  Bronze



The women's event was the discipline that provided the most shake ups.  After the short program, Isabeau Levito was 1st, Anastasiia GUBANOVA from Georgia was second, and Haein LEE from South Korea was 3rd.

Wakaba HIGUCHI and Mone CHIBA, both from Japan, were initial favorites to be on the podium, but errors in both of their short and long programs left them further down in the standings.

Rion SUMIYOSHI from Japan was in 5th after the short program, but she landed a quad jump in the long, becoming the first Japanese woman, and the first woman who was NOT a teen ager to land a quad in a major international competition.  This vaulted her from 5th to 3rd. 

Anastasiia GUBANOVA and Haein LEE, both in podium position, had error filled long programs, that dropped them down in the standings, and they fell off the podium.  Nina PINZARRONE from Belgium had a great long program, and was able to climb up to silver medal position.

As for Isabeau, she did not have a clean long program, some errors here and there added up, however, because she had such a big lead over the the eventual silver and bronze medalists, she was able to retain the lead and win gold.  She was lucky.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

^^^

So interesting!  I like Ilia Malinin! You just never know in skating what will happen!

[CellarDweller115]

^^^

So interesting!  I like Ilia Malinin! You just never know in skating what will happen!

Hello Lyle!   I'm a member of a figure skating forum, and we do live chat threads during competitions, like we did here during the Brokeback award season.  When we discuss before the event starts, people talk about the favorites, and someone will ALWAYS add:  "but remember, ice is slippery!"  meaning faves can fall, and we can end up with a completely different podium.

and just for transparency, I had to amend my post above, as I realized I posted:  Adam Siao Him Fa had a clean program, and better presentation than Illia, and was rightfully awarded the bronze.   that should've read "awarded the gold."

[Lyle (Mooska)]

If that was in France, you were able to see it live at a respectable hour?

[CellarDweller115]

Yes, the first competition took place at 8am my time.

The next event this weekend, however, is a no go for me.  It's Cup of China, so the events are taking place live at 4:00am eastern, so I'll be in dream land.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Or I could stay up late!

[Jeff Wrangler]

We learned yesterday that Bryce Harper will be playing first base next season.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Isn't that harder to play than the outfield? I thought he was injured or something.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Isn't that harder to play than the outfield?

That I don't know.

I thought he was injured or something.

He played first base this season, though maybe it wasn't until late; I don't remember when that started. He seems to be well recovered from his Tommy John surgery.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Results of Kelce Bowl #2:

Eagles 21, Chiefs 17.

(Taylor wasn't there. She's still in South America.)

Since I live in Philadelphia, I guess I shouldn't say this, but I think Travis is better looking than his big brother Jason, and Patrick Mahomes is way cuter than Jalen Hurts. He looks and sounds like a teenager, too; I find that endearing.

[Jeff Wrangler]

After Thanksgiving Dinner today, my cousin had on the Packers--Lions game. His mother remarked at how young the coaches looked, so I looked them up. The Packers' Matt LaFleur is 44, and the Lions' Dan Campbell is 47.

The Eagles' Nick Sirianni has them both beat; he's 42.

[Jeff Wrangler]

The Eagles squeaked by the Bills yesterday 37--34.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

MLB Executive Billy Bean Diagnosed with Leukemia 
Associated Press | Dec 4
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39041560/mlb-executive-billy-bean-diagnosed-leukemia

Bean, 59, played for Detroit, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego, appearing in six big league seasons from 1987 to '95. He came out publicly as gay in 1999, the second major leaguer to do so after Glenn Burke.

MLB launched its winter meetings charity auction, which benefits Stand Up To Cancer, on Monday in honor of Bean and Catalina Villegas, MLB's director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, a friend of Bean since summer ball in 1984, had to repeatedly stop to compose himself as he spoke during the news conference. "I know that it's very hard for you right now, Billy, and it's our turn to take care of you," Lovullo said. "You have been the ultimate giver since the day that I've known you. So even though I know it's going to be very tough for you, it's time for you to sit down and let us love you up and take care of you."

Bean spoke in a recorded video and said he received the diagnosis on Sept. 1 but didn't want to tell Lovullo during the late stages of the season as the Diamondbacks advanced to the World Series. "Like most players, I am very superstitious, so I didn't want to bother Torey with my diagnosis because they were winning," Bean said. "There would be time to tell him later."

[fritzkep]

Darn.