Midget Thai Boxing
Continue Reading April 20th, 2006
Sure, it might be wrong. But that’s what makes it funny.
Archive for April 20th, 2006
Mark Cuban’s Strategic Giveaway
Continue Reading April 20th, 2006
Last night, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got himself and his team all kinds of good press by giving away round-trip plane tickets to all fans on Fan Appreciation Day. And, let there be no doubt, it was a magnanimous move, the type of headline-grabbing, everybody-wins move that we’ve come to expect from Cuban.
It’s still instructive to read the fine print, regardless. First off, the flights have to be booked by April 30 and taken by November 12. That’s not such a big deal though. The real kicker is that they must be from Love Field from American Airlines, which only flies to four cities: Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City or St. Louis. So it’s a flight, but not really. Though we suppose if they had announced, “For Fan Appreciation Night, we’re send you all to Kansas City!” it wouldn’t quite have had the same oomph.
Of course, the real story is that American Airlines agree to the promotion because it’s in the midst of a fierce battle with Southwest Airlines to make sure limited numbers of flights continue to go out of Love Field, which, ultimately, hurts the consumer. (It’s called the Wright Amendment; you can read all about how it’s escalating prices and hurting travel at that link.) We don’t blame Cuban for this, who, after all, is just making his fan base happy, which is his job. But so you know: This was not some kind-hearted deal from American Airlines; it’s a way to make you hopefully forget how they’re screwing you over.
Mavericks Fans Given Plane Tickets]
Mark Cuban Will Help Lose Your Luggage [The Sports Pulse]
(UPDATE: For perhaps a less biased but still informative look at the Wright Amendment, as always, we direct you to Wikipedia.)
There’s No Need to Fear, Underdog Is Here!
Continue Reading April 20th, 2006
The Rangers’ season-ending losing streak may have started in New Jersey, but their woes really began two games earlier, immediately after their inspirational playoff clincher over Philly, as they struggled to edge two semi-AHL teams, the Islanders and Bruins. Could…
Joey Harrington’s Negotiating Position
Continue Reading April 20th, 2006
Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, that you were a computer programmer who had just signed a four-year contract with, oh, Dell, a company that couldn’t wait to have you come in. In fact, they were so excited to have you on board that they restructured their entire organization just so that you succeed. But it turned out that you still weren’t very good; in fact, everything you did somehow drove down the entire value of Dell.
Your response, of course, would be to demand that they trade you to Apple.
“I chose Miami,” said Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, “because, No. 1, they didn’t promise me anything, and No. 2, I believe I’ll have the chance to compete. … They need somebody to fill a spot right now — with the guy they traded for injured — so it gives me a chance to earn people’s respect right away.
It apparently doesn’t take much to demand a trade these days. At this rate, Scott Spezio is going to command the Cardinals to trade him to Arizona because it will “give him a chance to earn people’s respect right away.” In fact, we think Mike Brown did this with FEMA almost immediately after Katrina.
Why Harrington Followed The Sun [Detroit Free Press]
(UPDATE: A reader writes: “you may have missed the point on harrington.. he’s due a roster bonus in june and they certainly aren’t going to give it to him… so the lions’ choice is to either trade him prior to that date or release him… so joey is holding the cards… he may or may not be an nfl quarterback but certainly not being able to get anything done in detroit isn’t a sign of much of anything… they haven’t been able to find a qb since bobby layne … and in this case, matt millen screws up again by losing all leverage in a trade.”
Eh … he still sucks.)
