How to tell if you are a douchebag

First, ask yourself, is my name James Mitchell? If yes, then determine if you've put up a job description of girlfriend, like say, this. If yes to both, then you are in fact a douchebag. Glad to be of service.

Misapplied credit

I think I've been able to pinpoint exactly where the The Wages of Wins guys go wrong in valuing basketball players, or at least what their largest error is. Clearly they overvalue rebounds, but that's not my insight, it seems like everyone is pointing that out. My thoughts are on why they do so. Defensive rebounds are valuable not so much because of the rebound itself (as valuable as that is), but rather because they mean that the other team missed a shot. The player who grabs the board then receives all of the credit for this missed shot in the formula, when in fact credit would probably properly go to the on-the-ball defender first, then to the rebounder, then to team play (this exact order may be wrong, but the general idea is right), and of course discredit to the offense. There are other defensive issues, but in my opinion this is by far the biggest one. Yes, the numbers add up pretty much correctly in the formula 'predicting' a team's wins, but that makes sense; an opponent's possession will end in a steal, a block, a rebound, or points, but the apportioning of credit to individuals is not accurate.

As for their offensive evaluations, they are closer to correct than their defensive ones, but there are some issues there as well, such as no outlet passing credits, setting picks doesn't have any place in the formula, the pass to set up the pass is ignored, etc.

I understand that all these things that I want to include in the formula are extremely hard to measure, but that's partly the point. Just because they are hard to measure doesn't mean that they don't matter, and pretending that they don't matter leads to evaluations like that Garnett, an excellent but flawed player, is by far the best playing today.

Your two-time MVP

And his Hasselhoff-loving friend, rocking out. Hard to believe that there is a high probability that one of these guys will be the best player on this year's NBA champion. I think I just started rooting for the Eastern conference to produce the winner (not that there's anything wrong with the Hoff, just his music career).

Here comes the sun

An alternative explanation.

That's what I'm talking about

What American politics needs much more of. People would pay a lot more attention to what's happening if you never knew when this might happen.

Ha

Failed back flip into nunchaku fall. Roughly how I would look if I tried it, other than I'd know to stop after the flip.

This man is in Congress???

It was bad enough to hear fellow students talk this way back when I was an undergrad. Sensenbrenner either knows better and is trying to pander, or he's a complete moron. Actually, he'd be worse than a moron. Can anyone really think (and I use the word 'think' loosely) this is as evil as slavery?

Biggs up

A lost scene from A New Hope. It's not particularly good, but interesting to Star Wars fans.

Also, Kevin Smith on why he stopped going to strip clubs.

Update: How Chewbacca would defend Shaq. It's not good for Chewie.

Your '79 ROY

and '84 Cy Young Award winner, Rick Sutcliffe (via Deadspin, of course). Also, some fun pics of players and, uh, not their wives.

Update: Video.

You have become, how you say, indispensable?

Uh, indispensable (Top Secret!? Anyone? Anyone?) Interesting that two Rockets made the list. Not so surprising that ex-Celtics slug Mark Blount made it onto the most dispensable list, though it's as a T'Wolf. On a related note, after seeing how excellently he played at the end of the season, I now think that Yao could become a great basketball player, instead of maxing out as a very very good one, though of course it remains to be seen.

Smack

Normally, when a significant other or mother or whatever tries to get involved in a feud/fight/conflict it's lame. Not so with Raja Bell's mom, who is awesome. I don't think there was anything Kobe could have said as a comeback. Well, other than to make like Berman, but that would have taken some very quick thinking.

In case YOU need it

Learn about The Optical Inch (via Balko).

Learning to make associations

This bottom-up theory of how governments work seems pretty much unassailable to me. Trying to do it the other way is like polishing an old sneaker.

Say it loud enough

and often enough, you get an availability cascade. Global warming?

Yes

Do the right thing, NH. Live up to your motto.

Chug Chug Chug

Learn the health benefits of beer. Mmm, beer.

Right

Apparently I look like Erwin Rommel, Jim Morrison, and Julia Roberts. Plus, I was told in Vegas I look like Oprah (yes, Oprah). Weird shit.

Remember

How many was it? You'll probably be shocked.