Myths/Misconceptions - Sports Edition

[webny99]

Until a few years ago, I didn't know A's (as in Oakland A's) was short for Athletics... I guess I just thought the letter A was cool enough to be a name by itself!

Going way back (more than just a few years) I used to think all sports leagues had the same number of teams and same playoff structure. It had never occurred to me that there could be more than one way of structuring a playoff.

[Max Rockatansky]

Myth; 5G causes COVID. 

[thspfc]

Myths - Sports Edition

Chargers fans

[Max Rockatansky]

Myths - Sports Edition

Chargers fans

I actually knew one in Arizona, otherwise I wouldn't believe they actually exist. 

[triplemultiplex]

When people describe something that fails to meet expectations as "under par".  As in "This steak is under par".  They are actually saying the exact opposite of what they intended.  Since you win at golf by having the lowest score possible, getting under par is great.  So if that steak sucks, a person should be like, "This steak is way over par."

[Scott5114]

Myths - Sports Edition

Chargers fans

I actually knew one in Arizona, otherwise I wouldn't believe they actually exist. 

My wife is nominally one; she grew up in San Diego and watched Chargers and Padres games with her late father. She doesn't actively watch the games now, though. But we do have a Chargers blanket on the couch.

When people describe something that fails to meet expectations as "under par".  As in "This steak is under par".  They are actually saying the exact opposite of what they intended.  Since you win at golf by having the lowest score possible, getting under par is great.  So if that steak sucks, a person should be like, "This steak is way over par."

Par is from the Latin word for "equal" and is frequently used outside of golf context to mean "average" (as well as retaining the meaning of "equal", like in the phrase "ODOT signage is on par with what a third grader could do"; this is where we get the word "parity"). So if someone says a steak is "below par" or "subpar" they mean it's below average, and aren't using the word to reference its golf meaning.

[kphoger]

I've never even seen a steak playing golf, tbh.

[webny99]

I've never even seen a steak playing golf, tbh.

What about a beefcake, though?   

[Roadgeekteen]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

[SectorZ]

That anything someone does in a sporting event is "heroic"

(And yes I know I'm a broken record with this...)

[thspfc]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

[mgk920]

The correct quote from Vince Lombardi was "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is".

Mike

[jeffandnicole]

Until a few years ago, I didn't know A's (as in Oakland A's) was short for Athletics... I guess I just thought the letter A was cool enough to be a name by itself!

Going way back (more than just a few years) I used to think all sports leagues had the same number of teams and same playoff structure. It had never occurred to me that there could be more than one way of structuring a playoff.

You probably didn't know they originally played in Philadelphia then either!

[OCGuy81]

My wife, thinking that the 2 Minute Warning meaning the game will be over in two minutes. 

[Roadgeekteen]

My wife, thinking that the 2 Minute Warning meaning the game will be over in two minutes. 

Timeout timeout! (5 minute commercial break follows)

[formulanone]

That anything someone does in a sporting event is "heroic"

(And yes I know I'm a broken record with this...)

I agree, with some notable but rare exceptions. Probably less if you consider "heroic", if you have to die for it.

Mike Hailwood was awarded the George Medal for saving Clay Regazzoni's life.

Lawrence Lemieux, 1988 Olympic sailing

[TheHighwayMan3561]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

Or if the Packers made the right choice to go for the TD rather than kicking the FG.

[Roadgeekteen]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

Or if the Packers made the right choice to go for the TD rather than kicking the FG.

Confirmation bias is a hell of a drug.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

Or if the Packers made the right choice to go for the TD rather than kicking the FG.

Confirmation bias is a hell of a drug.

People also think it's a given TB wins the game anyway since 2:09 was still left. I see it like this. The FG meant the Bucs basically had to go 10 yards to win instead of 50. If GB gets a TD+2 and ties it, let's say the Bucs start out at their own 25. They probably have to go about 40-45 yards to even *think* about attempting a long FG outdoors in January. Brady did not play well in the 2nd half of that game after the big first half. You have to give teams more chances to make mistakes, and if they beat you, they beat you.

[SectorZ]

That anything someone does in a sporting event is "heroic"

(And yes I know I'm a broken record with this...)

I agree, with some notable but rare exceptions. Probably less if you consider "heroic", if you have to die for it.

Mike Hailwood was awarded the George Medal for saving Clay Regazzoni's life.

Lawrence Lemieux, 1988 Olympic sailing

I think I can make a place for those exceptions.

I'll add a local one for me, Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice running into the stands to tend to a young child that took a line drive to the face.

[Mapmikey]

Until a few years ago, I didn't know A's (as in Oakland A's) was short for Athletics... I guess I just thought the letter A was cool enough to be a name by itself!

Going way back (more than just a few years) I used to think all sports leagues had the same number of teams and same playoff structure. It had never occurred to me that there could be more than one way of structuring a playoff.

You probably didn't know they originally played in Philadelphia then either!

Or Kansas City before finally making it to Oakland

[TheHighwayMan3561]

That anything someone does in a sporting event is "heroic"

(And yes I know I'm a broken record with this...)

I agree, with some notable but rare exceptions. Probably less if you consider "heroic", if you have to die for it.

Mike Hailwood was awarded the George Medal for saving Clay Regazzoni's life.

Lawrence Lemieux, 1988 Olympic sailing

I think I can make a place for those exceptions.

I'll add a local one for me, Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice running into the stands to tend to a young child that took a line drive to the face.

Or Rick Monday saving the American flag from extremists who planned to burn it.

[webny99]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

I assume you are stating this as a myth... If so, then yeah, I agree. I believe I've linked to this article before, but here it is again:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-head-coach-botched-the-end-of-the-super-bowl-and-it-wasnt-pete-carroll/

[webny99]

If Kevin Dyson scored the Titans would have won the Super Bowl.

Similarly, the Seahawks would have won if they ran the ball.

Or if the Packers made the right choice to go for the TD rather than kicking the FG.

Confirmation bias is a hell of a drug.

People also think it's a given TB wins the game anyway since 2:09 was still left. I see it like this. The FG meant the Bucs basically had to go 10 yards to win instead of 50. If GB gets a TD+2 and ties it, let's say the Bucs start out at their own 25. They probably have to go about 40-45 yards to even *think* about attempting a long FG outdoors in January. Brady did not play well in the 2nd half of that game after the big first half. You have to give teams more chances to make mistakes, and if they beat you, they beat you.

I think they should have gone for it, but it wasn't a terrible, indefensible decision to kick the FG. Sure, TB might not have gone down the field, but the odds were stacked against the Packers defense, and the Packers would have had to get a stop and score again to win in regulation regardless.

[thspfc]

I typically am on the more conservative side when it comes to taking the field goal vs risking it for the touchdown, but I think that was an awful decision by LaFleur, and it's really the only time I haven't been impressed with LaFleur during his tenure. If the Packers had gotten that two point conversion earlier in the game I would agree with kicking the field goal to make it a 3 point game, but a 5 point game vs an 8 point game with two minutes left is really no difference; either way it's a very tall task because you have to get the ball back right away, hope for decent field position, and then go down the field again - but this time you actually have to score a touchdown . And that's not even accounting for the fact that the guy on the other side was none other than Thomas Edward Patrick Brady. I don't care if he had a down game, he is still one of the most clutch athletes who has ever lived.

Here are the possible scenarios:

1. Exactly what happened: Packers kick the FG, Bucs run the clock out and win.
2. Packers kick the FG, get the ball back with about 1:30 left, and aren't able to score a touchdown. Bucs win.
3. Packers go for it and don't get it. Bucs have the ball inside their own 10. So it's basically as if the Packers kicked the field goal, except better because of the Bucs' poor field position.
4. Packers go for it and don't get it, but get very close. Bucs are in the shadow of their own goalposts. Packers get a safety and get the ball back.
5. Packers go for it and score, but don't get the conversion. So it's the same as the field goal, except much better because they now only need a stop and a field goal rather than a stop and a touchdown.
6. Packers go for it and score, and get the conversion. Tied game. Granted, history tells us that there's a 99% chance that Brady leads the Bucs' offense down th- shhhhh, that's not my point.