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UCSF is only a medical

UCSF is only a medical center.  Think about that for a second--they made this list as only a medical center.  

Nearly every physician/scientist would rank them in the top 5 in regard to medical centers, and I am of the opinion that they're probably the top medical center at the moment (in part because of the incubator that SF is for start ups and public-private partnerships).  

UM is a great medical school and medical center, but it doesn't have the depth of UCSF.

A former member of the 1997

A former member of the 1997 Michigan championship team was visiting the house of John Cooper as part of a charity event.  Many of the attendees present were Ohio State fans, and all of them were eager to pick on him.  After a nice dinner and a few drinks, the former Michigan player goes to use the restroom and finds a picture of Lloyd Carr above the toilet.  The Ohio State fans are itching to find out what he says about it, but to their surprise, he doesn't mentioned it when he returns.  Astonished, they ask him--"hey did you see the picture?" *snicker*.  He replies, "yeah, it made a lot of sense, nothing makes John Cooper shit faster than Lloyd Carr".  

Donald Fehr: 6 labor

Donald Fehr: 6 labor stoppages
Gary Bettman: 3 labor stoppages

Let's stop pretending the NHL is 110% at fault. The writing was on the wall when the players hired Fehr.

The reason the owners walked out of the last meeting is because while the plans were "reasonable" from a percentages stand point, the players association was attempting to redefine what constituted hockey related revenues. Essentially, they said sure we'll do 50:50 if we can redefine revenues such that 50% new revenues > or = 57% old revenues. HRR had already been agreed upon by the NHL and PA and the owners refused to start from scratch with those negotiations.

The owners certainly aren't perfect, far from it, but the players aren't giving a fair effort either. So can we stop with the Gary Bettman sucks worst commishoner ever? NHL revenues doubling over the past 7 years and unanimous support from the owners (i.e. his boses) would strongly suggest otherwise.

You're demonstrating a lead

You're demonstrating a lead time bias in your analysis.  Take this example:

Day 1 = your first prostate cell turns cancerous

Day 100 = you die from prostate cancer

Scenario A:  you wait until you have symptoms of prostate cancer before you go to the doctor. This occurs on day 75 because the cancer has to get big enough to start interrupting your normal functions.  Your survival is 25 days after diagnosis.

Scenario B:  you have a test done that can identify the cancer before it starts causing symptoms.  You get your diagnosis on day 50.  Your survival is 50 days after diagnosis.

Don't confuse survival time after diagnosis with actual increases in survival.  Both of these scenarios end with the person living 100 days with cancer.  Regarding prostate cancer, two large studies in the US and Europe demonstrate no significant differences in survival for prostate cancer with PSA screening at any age.  

For breast cancer screenings, the data NEVER suggested that these tests be done in your 40s.  The original data sets from the 60s and 70s all said start when you're 50.  It was actually several politicians who had family members who died in their 40s from breast cancer who advocated for the old guidelines.  All the actual data say 50.  

Please consider the data before you start criticizing everything.  Please go check my bank account--us scientists aren't getting paid big bucks to lie to the public.  Also--USPSTF guidelines on screening DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COSTS.  They are strictly based on benefits vs harm to the patient.  

Crazy! 
The cap hit is 7.9

Crazy! 

The cap hit is 7.9 million.  It's a high salary for the first few years with a tapered off salary as the contract goes on. 

I think it would be a poor move for Nashville not to match.  The four first round picks they would receive by not maching aren't worth much in the short term (they'll probably all be in the 20-30 range), and maybe not even much in the long term.  The cap hit isn't unreasonable at all for Weber.  This could facilitate a trade, but if I'm Nashville I'm starting at least with the two Schenn's + 2-3 first rounders, and probably another roster player. 

Even then, Weber is the face of your franchise.  What message do you send to your team if you lose your top two defensemen in free agency.  Moreover, if Nashville matches then Weber--their franchise player--will be a predator for the rest of his career.  Even if it means a bit more up front money, the benefits to not having a repeat of the Suter situation have to outweigh that. 

posted from iPhone

Stay classy.

As a former NOLA resident...

Drago's - the charbroiled oysters are to die for; fantastic seafood!
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<br>Jacques-Imo's - amazing Cajun and southern comfort food for a reasonable price; I would suggest the duck but really it's all good!

posted from iPhone

The difference is that all students can meet a GPA requirement, while in football only 11 guys are on the field at once. The more accurate comparison would be an academic scholarship that required you to be in the top 5% of your school, a significant challenge when a hypothetical incoming class of geniuses shows up. But how were you supposed to know all of them would come to UM?

posted from iPhone

I agree that the academic scholarship model is a good comparison, but I believe you're looking at it the wrong way. For academics, you are told to meet a certain criteria (ex: 3.7 GPA) or you lose it. With academics, however, there isn't necessarily a limit to the number of students who can meet that requirement.
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<br>In football, there is--only so many people can be on the field at once. Things outside of your control, like a coach deciding to recruit several more players at your position, shouldn't in my opinion influence whether you get to keep your scholarship. I believe that if you excel at the things within your control (i.e. working hard in practice, going to all required training, watching film), then you are meeting the expectations of the scholarship.
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<br>A more fair comparison would be an academic scholarship that said you had to have a GPA in the top 5% of the school. You better hope those incoming freshman aren't very smart...

Your left kidney or first

Your left kidney or first born child.

I don't really get it.

I don't really get it.  Objectively speaking, Ohio State actually has pretty decent looking uniforms.  The red pops, and the helmets with buckeyes are distinctive.  *sigh*

Can you believe all of this

Can you believe all of this started because the Big 10 wanted to go to 12 teams?  Psh..and the Big 10 is irrelevant *rolls eyes*

posted from iPhone

There are 2 garages up by the medical school that are free all weekend (starting 6pm on Friday - 6am on Monday). Go on the Michigan Parking and Transportation website, click Permit Parking and then the tab on enforcement. Scroll down and you can see the permit time enforcements for most of the garages on campus.

posted from iPhone

There are some garages around the medical canter (Catherine Street) that are free all weekend. It's a bit farther of a walk, but it may be an option.

posted from iPhone

Their biggest issue is that the UN Medical Center, which has an appreciable amount of NIH/NSF research dollars, is a separate entity than UN-Lincoln and is thus not counted towards the University's research portfolio.

posted from iPhone

Well, with the amount of cases you're likely to have to handle in the buckeye state, they just want to make sure you're well prepared.

McPhee is a mediocre GM at

McPhee is a mediocre GM at best.  The Capitals have managed to draft well in recent years, and I tip my hat to them for that, but McPhee's asset management post-draft is awful.  He quite simply won't part with any of his NHL-level talent, which has led to log jams at certain skills and absolute dearths at others. 

The Laich contract was a bit excessive, but he's one of the few character guys on that team so it's probably worth it.  Joel Ward had one good playoffs, and now he's suddenly a 3 million/year player?  Hamrlik was a decent signing, but not exactly a steal. 

I'm not sure the Capitals could have done anything really this off season with the poor crop of UFA, but they wouldn't have been in this position in the first place with a better GM.

Assuming the main reason for

Assuming the main reason for the tuition increases is state budget cuts, why does out of state tuition go up by such a significant margin?  If the whole reason in-state students pay less is because they're being subsidized by the state, and that money from the state is cut, why do out of state students pay more?

I know there are other factors, but I strongly believe the University could do more to alleviate students' financial burden.  They don't, because college is an arms race and they don't want to fall behind.  People are still paying, so why not? 

Still, I think its a poor decision in the long run.  More important than the state funding is the University's endowment.  Donors are so critical to the growth of the endowment, and now the University is creating a generation of students with unprecedented financial debt relative to their age.  I think in the long run, they'll see fewer and smaller donations, which will be a real financial challenge for the University if they keep up with their current pace.

posted from iPhone

Sparty is a nightmare for Sparty recruiting.

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And Pete Carroll used to do some fantastic charity work and mentoring in some awful areas of LA.
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<br>It doesn't mean he didn't break NCAA rules and that he shouldn't be held accountable.

I'm really excited about this

I'm really excited about this hire.  You mentioned that Wiseman is willing to put in the effort to make some serious strides up the coaching ladder, which should pay dividends for the program.  Two questions in that regard:

1.)  Is being an assistant at Michigan considered a big step up from a similar position in the AHL?

2.)  How long do you think he'll be at Michigan?

I don't think most of you

I don't think many of you realize how infrequently offer sheets are used (i.e. the process of trying to sign a restricted free agent like Weber, Yandle, Doughty).  Brief recap on the process:  if you want to sign a RFA, you tender that player an offer sheet.  The team who owns his rights can either match it (and then the player can no longer consider the outside team at that offer) or they can allow the deal to go through.  If the deal goes through, the outside team aquiring the player must give the team losing the player draft picks dependent upon how much the offer is worth.

Since the lockout, only six offer sheets have been tendered, and only one has NOT been matched (Dustin Penner).  To get someone like Weber or Doughty, who are expected to earn in the 6.5.7.5 range, you'd have to offer significantly in excess of that.  Offering more than ~7.8 million means that if the team does NOT match your offer and you aquire the player, you must give up your next FOUR 1st round draft picks to that team.  In the day and age of the cap, losing four 1st round picks is a nightmare.

Ken Holland is too cap conscious to even consider sending an offer sheet to one of these guys.  He'll likely look at the crop of UFA defensemen, as underwhelming as they are, and go from there.

But the Kings have the right

But the Kings have the right to match any offer we make to Doughty because he is a RESTRICTED free agent.  If the Kings match the Red Wings offer, then Doughty can only consider the Kings offer.  Any reasonable offer would be matched by the Kings, because Lombardi is a good General Manager who understands how important Doughty is to their future. 

Thus, to get Doughty, the Red Wings would have to go significantly above market value, let's say in the 8.5-9 million dollar range.  If the Kings did NOT match an offer in that range, then Doughty could sign with Detroit.  As a result of this offer sheet process, however, the Red Wings would then owe the Kings FOUR 1st round draft choices.  That is an absolute nightmare in the cap age, and why only six offer sheets have been tendered post-lockout, and only one has NOT been matched.

One of Bieksa or Ehrhoff will

One of Bieksa or Ehrhoff will be available, but they're getting a lot of expsore/hype right now due to Vancouver's deep run into the playoffs.  My guess is that they'll be overpaid.  Wiesnewski will probably be the best bang for the buck. 

Unfortunately, though the Wings will have lots of cap space to play with, especially if Lidstrom retires, this just isn't a good year for UFA defensemen.  Last year would have been ideal, with plenty of 2-3 type guys available like Paul Martin, Dan Hamhuis, and Zybenek Michalek.

The Wings could go after Richards, but I don't think he's the answer.  He'll be overpaid, and though he's still a great player, he's on the backside of his career.  If you sign him to a 5-6 year deal, you won't be getting the same player at the end of that contract.  The Wings, instead, need to get younger. 

Craig Adams will likely sign in Pittsburgh.  He's critical to their penalty kill, and I'm guessing he'll show loyalty to the team that picked him up off waivers and won him another Stanley Cup.

An $8.5 million dollar offer

An $8.5 million dollar offer sheet would cost the Red Wings four first round draft picks.  Weber is amazing, but that deal would be a fiscal and draft killer.  I highly doubt Holland would even consider it.

I would be VERY surprised if Weber was not in a Predator's uniform next year.

posted from iPhone

Conflict of interest due to familial relations?

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I'm pretty sure it only hurts you if the player is academically ineligible at the time they leave.

"natural" goal scorers are

"natural" goal scorers are overrated.  Look at the goal distribution so far in the playoffs.  Where are all the goals from the Sedins, Semin, Heatley to name a few.  It's the guys like Bergenheim, Pavelski, and Ward who have been most critical for their team's success. 

I certainly have my

I certainly have my preferences for North American players, but the problem isn't that the Red Wings Europeans don't want to play physical.  It's that they're making awful turnovers and not competing at a high level for 60 minutes. 

I know all concussions are

I know all concussions are different, but after the Savard debacle last year (came back even though he probably still had symptoms leading to post-concussion symptoms most of this season) I hope they exercise some caution with Bergeron. 

At what point, however, do

At what point, however, do the Wings realize that the Sharks are going to try to draw calls and the refs are going to make them?  Awful dive by Thorton, but why swing the stick in the first place knowing he's probably going to flop?

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TCU disagrees that a 3-man front can't succeed against Big Ten teams.

posted from iPhone

Really? This was as clear cut of a call as you could make.

The NHL has a fairly rigid

The NHL has a fairly rigid salary cap system, and I would say they've had quite a lot of parity.  Just this year, on the last day of the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks could have finished anywhere from 4th to 8th place in the conference.  Up until the last week of the regular season, there was something like 12 teams fighting for 8 playoff spots, and the difference between 12th and 4th was only a few points. 

This was strictly a reflex

This was strictly a reflex error while typing.  No irony or humor intended, just poor spelling on my part.  My apologies. 

No one is saying that the

No one is saying that the Predators for instance will make $82 million a year and be a better franchise financially than Toronto.  The problem is that there aren't 30 Torontos.  Teams like Nashville and Tampa have had sustained periods of success and profits.  Over the course of many years, these teams are profitable.  Certainly not as profitable as Toronto or Detroit, but they're viable franchises.

I can understand people who

I can understand people who don't want to participate in extra events, but I don't see how its a bad thing that businesses in the area have created an attractive area for not JUST hockey but also enjoying a good time before and after the event.  If all you want is hockey, then that's all you partake in.  But personally, I prefer some good food beforehand and a few beers afterwards.  If all I have to do is cross the street from the arena to be filled with a plethora of opportunities to do this, then awesome.

Because the small market

Because the small market Canadien strategy worked so well the first time...

There is a reason that teams left Winnipeg and Quebec City.  They would immediately be the two smallest markets in the NHL, and they could NEVER get corporate support for the teams in the past.  They failed before, and I have no reason to believe that a repeat performace would fare much better.

Also, there are several southern teams that have had plenty of success on and off the ice.  Nashville with their new ownership group has fielded many competitive teams.  Also, they're the 29th smallest market in the NHL but were 21st in average attendance.  Carolina, one of the teams you want to move, is probably the most successful southern franchise.  They have a strong brand, have won a Cup, and have a very passionate fan base.  Tampa, though struggling somewhat in recent years, has had periods of sustained success and with Yzerman running things I think that will continue. 

Not all southern markets are successful (i.e. Atlanta, Florida), but neither are all northern markets (NY islanders).  There are certainly more challenges in southern markets, but there are several that are successful and a lot of it has to do with strong ownership groups, good front office staff, and responsible spending. 

In my opinion, it's all

In my opinion, it's all positioning and that the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix.  The problem is that it's taken a few years for Phoenix to really produce a solid product on the ice, and by the time that happened, all of this ownership stuff had come up.  It's hard to draw new fans when there might not even be a team next year.

That said, I think they'll stay in Phoenix.  The corporate support is there, and in my opinion, the fan base would be solid enough if they can replicate the success of teams like Nashville, Tampa, and Carolina.  Like the negotitations in Pittsburgh a few years ago, the team/NHL are going to "seriously" consider moving to gain leverage. 

I know everyone wants more Canadien teams, but Winnipeg and Quebec City are just NOT viable cities.  They would immediately be the two smallest markets, and they could never gain any corporate support in the past.  I see no reason to believe that has changed, and if the Canadien dollar doesn't remain strong there just isn't any viability for an NHL franchise in those cities.  The only place in Canada that could potentially support a team is Hamilton, but they won't let a team move there.  The owners want the start-up fee for a new franchise, which in Hamilton would probably be >200 million.

The Coyotes need to stay in Phoenix or the league needs to downsize.

I'm with you as far wanting

I'm with you as far wanting to see Detroit vs. the Pens or Hawks, but I think the NHL will try to branch out as far as they can.  You're obviously limited to having at least one cold weather team, and preferably one with a large market.  Their rivals also tend to be cold weather teams, and so you have quite a bit of overlap.  For this reason, I think the NHL will try to expand the scope of teams involved, and I think Colorado would be a reasonable choice to play Detroit.  I think it would be a hard fought game (where nothing would get out of hand) that would represent the league well and would hit two pretty large markets. 

The Red Wings have already

The Red Wings have already said they don't want to participate in 2012, but would consider in subsequent years.  Assuming that holds true, you could do a 2013 Winter Classic in Detroit at Comerica Park or the Big House versus Colorado.  Colorado has a bunch of young talent, and though they probably won't be winning the President's Trophy in 2 years, I would wager that they'll be a mid-range playoff team.  That would be two good markets and two big rivals.

This year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyers vs. the Rangers.  I really wish this event wasn't limited to US teams though.  It technically isn't, but for all intents and purposes, NBC wants to reach US markets.  After all the events that transpired this year, a Montreal vs. Boston game would be fantastic! 

Kunitz will probably 1-2.  I

Kunitz will probably 1-2.  I thought the Downey hit was also pretty bad (and something he's done and been suspended for before).  I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 2-3, though with Torres not getting suspended for his incident last night who knows.

Outside hire to replace Red? 

Outside hire to replace Red?  I guess, but I don't see anyone significantly more qualified than Pearson in the college ranks who would likely be available. 

Eh, not everyone has to hit

Eh, not everyone has to hit >0.300.  I'm really happy with Rhymes as a fielder, and he hit pretty solidly last year in an extended stay in the big leagues.  I think you hit the nail on the head though with the last comment:  you can't make a power hitter out of a non-power hitter.  I'll take Rhymes getting singles and doubles all day long if he never hits a home run. 

Large data set.

(This post

Large data set.

(This post is full of win)

Hockey can be viable in the

Hockey can be viable in the south.  Carolina, Nashville, Dallas, and Tampa have all been relatively successful and have passionate fan bases.  They also do fairly well when you compare market size to average attendance (in percentage).  Conversely, teams like Florida, Phoenix, and Atlanta have struggled.  Hockey can be viable in the south, though it isn't always.

But there was a reason teams left Winnipeg and Hartford.  These were extremely small markets with no corporate support.  These teams were bleeding money, and though things may be different today, it's certainly no gaurantee.

Do you really think the refs care about what Bettman wants?  I just don't buy that the refs want to see Phoenix win and Detroit lose.  If Phoenix wins, it wasn't because Bettman made a phone call or sent emails to the refs urging them to consider the importance of having southern hockey markets.  Just because events transpired that are beneficial to the marketting of the NHL doesn't mean the NHL is scripting it, even at a low level.  Instead, I think they're just capitalizing on it like any smart organization would.

I have all three games up on

I have all three games up on my TV/computers.  I'm in my mid-20s, so you certainly have tenure, but I've played enough hockey and watched enough hockey to have some credibility.  Look up my other posts on mgoblog related to hockey. 

For what its worth, there are very few games where there is a difference of more than 2 PP opportunities per team.  I'm just saying that I don't think its a conspiracy.  Do you honestly think the refs get together and say "hey let's make phoenix win and screw detroit"?

My logic:  Detroit wins lots of games, and has a very large fan base.  Phoenix has about 3 fans.  If you got to pull the strings, and your concerns are financial, wouldn't you want Detroit to win to take advantage of huge television ratings and revenue from 2011 Stanley Cup Champions merchandise?  What exactly do you gain by having Phoenix win?  It would be worse than the last World Series as far as national interest (adjusted for popularity of the sports, of course). 

Bad calls happen.  I just don't think it's a conspiracy. 

 

EDIT:  Read your post wrong, I guess we're about the same age.  It doesn't really matter, I just wanted to edit for consistency.

Small data set.

Small data set.

But how many times have the

But how many times have the Wings been on the other end of things?  I think you're focused on when the Wings are wronged by poor officiating (understandably), and don't really consider all the times that the Wings should be headed to the sin-bin. 

The refs make bad calls, trust me, but they cut both ways.  Sometimes, in one game, bad calls may affect one team more than another.  It sucks, but it happens.

*sigh*

Just because the

*sigh*

Just because the calls aren't going the Wings way does NOT mean it is a conspiracy.  Sometimes refs make bad calls.  Sometimes those calls, in short periods of time (i.e. one period of one hockey game) are mostly against one team.  It happens, unfortunately, but does not mean that someone is playing puppet master.