Episode 220 - USSF D2 Decision

Yes, we heard about the USSF decision to sanction 2 second division soccer leagues in 2017: the incumbent D2, NASL, and the former third division USL, which effectively got "promoted" in the most corrupt way possible. 

Did we mention that USL, a league and organization with a history of team failures that lead to the spinning off of NASL, is mostly filled with MLS B-sides (Swope Park Rangers, anyone?)?  Or that NASL has been tag-teamed by MLS and USL, almost to the point of non-existence?

It took a little longer to get this podcast done, but we did, and in it Mike and Tim discuss what this could mean for the future of soccer in the US and the continued need for soccer reform.

By the way, for the #ProRelforUSA community, Mike strongly favors the following:

• a national D1, 20 teams (FIFA standard for top-flight leagues), single table (i.e. NO conferences, divisions, etc.)
• prefers a national D2, 20 teams, single table; this is the highest level at which regionalization should occur
• regionalized D3 leagues (think "conferences" starting here) and so on
• promotion and relegation between all levels, hybrid of Scottish and Japanese systems
• the firings of, among others, Sunil Gulati and Don Garber from their current soccer-related jobs

The Deloitte report referenced by Mike can be found here.

Lastly, we go slightly off subject and talk about the documentary series "The Religion of Sports," with special focus on the Old Firm Derby (Celtic-Rangers) and the current eSports phenomenon (we're still trying to get Mike's brother Dan, who knows a lot about eSports, to come onto the podcast to discuss the subject).



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Episode 219 - 2017 HOF Discussion

Who gets into Cooperstown?  How about Canton?

Mike and Tim discuss.



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Episode 218 - The LA Situation Continues...

It's now been about a year since the NFL gave St. Louis - and Mike as a fan of St. Louis' NFL team - the finger by allowing the team to move to Los Angeles.  They also kept two other teams, both in California, in limbo as their stadiums crumble with no hope in sight.

The NFL's blatantly corrupted and rigged relocation process resulted in the following:

• lower TV ratings in Los Angeles for the former St. Louis team than in St. Louis (8.8 in LA, 8.3 in STL)
• a last-chance stadium bill in San Diego that failed to get 50% support
• stadium deals being discussed and seriously considered in Las Vegas
• (this officially happened shortly after the podcast recording) the Chargers moving to LA as their second team (for the morons insisting that the team change their name, the team originally started in LA as the AFL Chargers)

We discuss the situation in detail here.

 
We also end with an update on Mike's search for a new NFL team.  Still no decision has been made, but one team did find its way back on the list based on its owner seeing the reality of this mess: Indianapolis.

Fair use: Senor Stan, "Jackin' It in San Diego," and Arsenal fan interviews make appearances here.



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Episode 217 - January Batsu

It's a new year, so the free passes are fully restored.

And it didn't take long for Mike to use his for his bad NFL picks.  The reason: he didn't want to do a Cowboys or Chiefs themed batsu.  Coincidentally, that's exactly what he would have had if he didn't use the free pass.

Which brings us to the college bowl pick batsu.  In honor of USC (a school that has personally been a thorn in Mike's side since last year), Mike had to eat a strawberry-cream Twinkie.

Important programming note: Tim will be taking the rest of this year off to focus on other more important things, so we will be looking for a new permanent co-host.  Qualifications:

• must be in the Kansas City area
• must have a good working knowledge of sports
• must be willing to work at least once a month for free
• must be okay with doing light punishments for bad picks (batsu games)

If you want to be part of WSC as a co-host, please email Mike or message him on Facebook.



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2016-17 Bowl Picks Tracker

How did the guys do with their bowl picks?

Bowl Game	Mike's Pick	Tim's Pick
New Mexico	New Mexico	New Mexico
Las Vegas	Houston	Houston
Camellia	Appalachian State	Appalachian State
Cure	Central Florida	Central Florida
New Orleans	Southern Miss	Louisiana-Lafayette
Miami Beach	Tulsa	Central Michigan
Boca Raton	Western Kentucky	Memphis
Poinsettia	BYU	BYU
Idaho Potato	Colorado State	Colorado State
Popeyes Bahamas	Old Dominion	Old Dominion
Armed Forces	Navy	Navy
Dollar General	Ohio	Troy
Hawaii	Middle Tennessee	Middle Tennessee
St. Petersburg	Miami (OH)	Mississippi State
Quick Lane	Boston College	Boston College
Independence	NC State	NC State
Heart of Dallas	Army	Army
Military	Wake Forest	Temple
Holiday	Minnesota	Washington State
Cactus	Boise State	Boise State
Pinstripe	Pitt	Pitt
Russell Athletic	West Virginia	West Virginia
Foster Farms	Utah	Utah
Advocare V100 Texas	Texas A&M	Texas A&M
Birmingham	South Carolina	South Florida
Belk	Virginia Tech	Virginia Tech
Alamo	Colorado	Oklahoma State
Liberty	Georgia	Georgia
Sun	Stanford	Stanford
Music City	Nebraska	Nebraska
Arizona	South Alabama	Air Force
Orange	Florida State	Michigan
Taxslayer	Georgia Tech	Georgia Tech
Citrus	Louisville	Louisville
Chick-Fil-A Peach*	Alabama	Alabama
Fiesta*	Clemson	Clemson
Cotton	Wisconsin	Western Michigan
Outback	Florida	Florida
Rose	Penn State	USC
Sugar	Auburn	Oklahoma
Championship**	Alabama	Clemson

Mike's Picks: 22/41
Tim's Picks: 23/41

In the Championship game, Alabama found a way to choke it away.  Guess what that means?

Mike, BATSU GAME!!!

Bowl Picks: It Will Come Down to the Championship Game

Through the first 40 bowl games, with only the Championship game pending, Mike and Tim are tied with their picks.

Both have 22 out of 40 correct, and both accurately predicted the Championship, thus making them both eligible to pick the final game.

Common Correct Picks	Mike's Correct Picks	Tim's Correct Picks
New Mexico Appalachian State BYU Old Dominion Boston College NC State Army Utah Virginia Tech Georgia Stanford Georgia Tech Alabama Clemson Florida	Southern Miss Tulsa Western Kentucky Wake Forest Minnesota Florida State Wisconsin	Troy Mississippi State South Florida Oklahoma State Air Force USC Oklahoma

The Championship game will determine who wins - and who gets batsu.

Mike's pick: Alabama
Tim's pick: Clemson

2016 NFL Prediction Check

How did the guys do with their 2016 NFL picks?

Division	Mike's Originals	Mike's Adjusteds	Tim's Originals	Tim's Adjusteds	Actual
NFC North	Green Bay	Minnesota	Green Bay	Green Bay	Green Bay
NFC South	Carolina	New Orleans	Carolina	Atlanta	Atlanta
NFC East	NY Giants	NY Giants	Dallas	Dallas	Dallas
NFC West	Arizona	Arizona	Seattle	Seattle	Seattle
NFC Wild Cards	New Orleans Seattle	Green Bay Seattle	Arizona Chicago	Arizona Minnesota	Detroit NY Giants
AFC North	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh
AFC South	Houston	Houston	Indianapolis	Houston	Houston
AFC East	New England	New England	New England	New England	New England
AFC West	Raiders	Raiders	Kansas City	Kansas City	Kansas City
AFC Wild Cards	Cincinnati Indianapolis	Cincinnati Denver	Jacksonville Raiders	Raiders Denver	Raiders Miami
NFC Champions	Green Bay	Green Bay	Green Bay	Seattle	TBA February
AFC Champions	New England	New England	New England	New England	TBA February
Super Bowl	New England	New England	New England	New England	TBA February

Final Results:

Mike's Originals: 7/12
Mike's Adjusteds: 7/12
Tim's Originals: 7/12
Tim's Adjusteds: 9/12

As stated earlier, Tim's good picks (his adjustments) cancel out his bad picks, which tie with both of Mike's sets.  Mike will get the batsu game.

There is only one batsu team this year: New England.  We at WSC wish the Patriots good luck in the playoffs and hope for their 5th Lombardi Trophy.

Note: the teams are officially set now, with Green Bay and Detroit playing this evening for the NFC North.  However, both teams have clinched playoff berths.