OT: Hypothetical Sports Question
Along with being a die hard Michigan fan, I am also a die hard New York Mets fan. Needless to say, since the Molina homer in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS and Crable's hit on Troy Smith in THE GAME, the last three years have been one continuous dong punch. So here is the question, which of these do you think is the most likely to occur first and why?
1. Michigan football makes a BCS bowl game
2. Michigan basketball makes the second round of the NCAA tournament
3. The Mets make it to the NLCS
February 8th, 2010 at 1:20 AM ^
1. BCS game
2. 2nd round of the tournament
3. NLCS
The NLCS comes in last, because as far as I'm concerned, there's a three-tiered system for baseball success insofar as the playoffs are concerned: making the playoffs is goal number 1, making the world series (I.e. winning the AL or NL) is goal number 2, and winning the World Series is goal number 3. To me, losing in the LCS isn't substantially better than LDS.
BCS game beats second round of the tournament because we made it two the second round last year and have had two awful seasons of football that we need to put behind us.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:20 AM ^
Michigan makes a BCS bowl no question, and for the record the Mets suck.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:32 AM ^
As a mets fan, I want to disagree with you, but you're right.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:25 AM ^
I appreciate the feedback, but I wasn't asking what you would want to happen first, but which is more likely to happen first.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:46 AM ^
Anyway, the order remains the same:
Michigan will make it to a BCS bowl game in two years, as I imagine that our talent on offense combined with a newly functioning defense will be formidable in a Big Ten in which OSU and PSU look to have upcoming QB issues (Pryor cannot be injured or OSU dies and PSU is already screwed).
Michigan Basketball should be able to make an NCAA run in the next few years (I'd guess 2) with the high level of talent Beilein is bringing in, provided that they actually manage to make three pointers. A highly experienced lineup with Morris, Douglass, Novak, Lucas-Perry, and Smotrycz (or some other combination involving somebody taller) would be formidable.
The Mets have the roster needed to make an NLCS run in theory, but with the injury history surrounding every key player in the lineup minus Jason Bay, combined with the fact that the team will have some big decisions to make when Beltran's and Reyes's contracts come due, and the fact that the Mets have demonstrated an uncanny ability to fail to meet expectations, I doubt they'll be making an NLCS run until they get Beltran off the roster.
Mind you, I'm definitely being optimistic about Michigan in relationship to the Mets, but then again, I'm kind of obliged to be as I'm not a Mets fan.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
I think basketball happens first. To be honest they all could happen soon though.
Man, I remember that game 7. I was living in Dayton, OH and was hoping the cardinals would win just so I could make the road trip to STL to watch the Tigers. I still believe that if the Mets went on to win that game and the World Series Endy Chavez catch would be one of the greatest of alltime! That was so insane. It was a time-stand-still moment of my sports life and that is impressive because I have no major interest in either of those two teams!
Sorry about your Mets.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:41 AM ^
I also thought your question was asking for preference based on how it's worded. Perhaps a revision to "So here's the question: which of the following three items do you think is most likely to occur first?" would increase clarity.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^
Thanks MGoViso
February 8th, 2010 at 12:52 AM ^
Well, I could care less about the Mets, so I'll substitute my own interest--Detroit sports. Obviously I love Michigan football, but I'm rather spoiled by our historical success, and the fact that I've witnessed a national championship in my lifetime. Same for the Red Wings--I'm lucky to be less than 20 and to have celebrated 4 Stanley Cups. So, I think I would take the Lions in the Super Bowl and a Tigers World Series before those again. They have been the jokes of their respective sports for years, and I long to celebrate a championship for one of them, even before any Michigan sports. Blasphemous, I know, but the heart speaks in ways the mind cannot understand.
I like Michigan basketball, but I don't really have much of an emotional investment, so they are probably last on the list.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:38 AM ^
The tigers were in the series in 2006. They're definitely not a joke team anymore.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:01 AM ^
Unless the Mets can find some starting pitching, they won't sniff the NLCS anytime soon. Especially sharing that division with Philly.
I'll say BCS for sure though.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:45 AM ^
I mean we made the second round last year. If Manny stays, there is no reason to think we can't make the second round again next year. Beilein is a good coach and if we could hit an open shot we would be in a lot better position this year. Football is at least another year away IMHO and the Mets just aren't very good. Reyes needs to prove he can come back healthy, Wright needs to find his power stroke, and some starting pitching has to emerge from somewhere. Not to mention they play in a division with Philly, Florida and Atlanta, all capable of making the playoffs this year.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:01 AM ^
that molina homer was probably the best moment of all time
February 8th, 2010 at 7:37 AM ^
I mean, it's going to happen this January.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:44 AM ^
I'm a die hard Mets fan who remembers the Braves in 1999, the other New York team in 2000 among other games.
The Mets had angry Injury gods against them all season long. Top to bottom, I've never seen a team with as many key injuries.
To answer your question though. I think you have the order right:
1. Michigan football makes a BCS bowl game
2. Michigan basketball makes the second round of the NCAA tournament
3. The Mets make it to the NLCS
My problem with the Mets right now is that they make moves like signing Jason Bay (a home run hitter in a big park.) Yet we really have no catcher and questionable pitchers at best. I like John Maine, Pelfrey, but can they be consistent? Oliver Perez is overpaid among other things.
I'm not a huge Jerry Manuel fan (Bring back Bobby V!) In fact, if the Mets do well next season, it could be bad news for the Mets long term (e.g. keeping Minaya, Manuel instead of letting them go.)
Having gone on my negative rant, if the Mets stay healthy, they likely content for wild-card. They won 70 games essentially with a minor league roster. They are definitely better than that.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:37 AM ^
i'll tell you right now... you're going to get really frustrated with jeff francoeur this year... he has hard time staying consistent the year after he has a decent year... his stats with the mets last year are almost the same as his rookie year with the braves... in his second year with the braves he started out horribly slow so don't let the 29 homers fool you...
February 8th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
The Braves ruined my childhood. (Half joking) After spending a year and change in Atlanta, my perception of the Braves and Braves fans changed. I don't hate them nearly as much as I did in mid to late 90s.
On Francoeur: I know what you mean. He had a bad sophomore campaign, but I like his aggressive style of play. He's passionate and I love that in a baseball player. Too bad he played himself through that thumb injury though.
He strikes out a little too much for my taste, but I still like him.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
wrong i loved francoeur and i want to see him to well no matter where he plays... i think the pressure of playing at home hurt him a bit... his agressive play is great but it can also be his down fall... he does strike out a lot which wouldn't be that big of a deal but he loves to do it with runners in scoring postion... part of the problem with his 2nd year with the braves is that he played in the world baseball classic and he bearly played... so he never got the at bats he needed in the spring and it carried over to the season...
the braves saved my childhood... i grew up in windsor and the braves were on TBS 3 to 4 times a week... when the tigers were pulled off of normal TV there wasn't any other baseball to watch other than the blue jays and i hate the jays...