18to88 Goes Ice Cold
Written by Nate Dunlevy   
Monday, 14 September 2009 12:45

In case you haven't checked out Cold Hard Football Facts today, I suggest you give it a look.

Why would you want to check out that Colts hating, Dungy smearing, Manning trashing rag, you ask?

Because DZ is chipping in there on Mondays.

Yes, that's right, despite raging against the dying of the light between their ears over and over again, 18to88.com has been asked to help out with the weekly Monday Morning Hangover column.

Now, before you charge me with rampant whorism, please understand that whores actually get paid for their work.  All I get for my efforts is a reputation and a temporary feeling of inflated self-worth that quickly degrades into a sick shameful pall over my soul.  What does that make me then?  Oh yeah...I guess that's not really much better is it?

Seriously though, a couple of thoughts on the process:

1.  I'll be covering the Colts' game each week for sure.  So whatever else, you can be sure I'll tell the cold statistical truth of the game, no matter how ugly.  What I write may not be pretty, but it won't be driven by any secret agenda to bow at the alter of Tom Brady.

2.  It's actually a much harder process than I realized when I agreed to help.  Yesterday, my submissions were sound (all the stats provided were the ones I came up with), but lacked that certain CHFF flair which serves to entertain and incite the masses.  The versions you see in the piece today were heavily edited by the staff who I assume are angry drunks slamming at their keyboards with crushed beer cans.  It shames me to admit that their versions of what I wrote are vastly superior to what I submitted.  I'd say it gave me a new found respect for what they did, but then the world would implode under the weight of the cosmic irony vortex which would open up above my head and swallow us all whole.

3.  Obviously, I'm watching every play of the Colts' game, and while I try to track the other games and watch whatever plays I can, ultimately, I rely heavily on the stats.  I learned a lot of cool facts and trends in the process, and it gave me new insight into the teams I wrote about.

4.  Thanks in part to sloppy communication on my part, there were some slight details that came out hazy in the final version today.  Here's what I was trying to communicate:

  • Colts Jags games...5.1 has been the average margin of victory between the two teams in Indianapolis.  Games in Jacksonville have included a few blowouts on both sides.
  • The five QB list involving Sanchez isn't just in a rookie's first game.  It's the list of the 5 QBs who threw for 250 yards when starting the season opener their rookie year.  Some other guys not starting the first game might have accomplished the feat.  I was only looking for rookie QBs playing in week one.  The final version could be misunderstood.


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Comments (10)Add Comment
...
written by J.C., September 14, 2009
espnboston.com

Genius.
...
written by DZ, September 14, 2009
I just assumed it was a link to the normal ESPN page.

What's the difference, really?
...
written by J.C., September 14, 2009
It covers nothing but our region, Patriots, C's, B's and Sox.

Plus BC (which I care nothing about) and other local nonsense.

I'm sure sense announcing it on Sportscenter the traffic has gone through the roof.
So in other words...
written by Westside-Rob, September 14, 2009
It's really just the same as ESPN....total focus on the Boston/New England market...with double the amount of Tom B. and Bill B. worship.
...Frank Tarkenton?
written by Doug England, September 14, 2009
Is he related to Fran?

Most people probably think the phrase "you da man!" should have been stricken from the venacular long ago. I totally agree with this unless it is being used to describe Dwight Freeney.

Was it just me, or was Antonio Johnson's motor off the charts yesterday. Not sure how he was doing at the point of attack (great coverage CBS) but big 99 was flying around like he was a young Cato June.

Finally, I love Donald Brown. I especially loved when he had that one run where no one touched him for ten yards and he still never took both hands of the ball. You just know he was thinking, "no way am I fumbling this ball and having to face Peyton". And since it didn't cost us the game, I love that we gave the ball to him on both the plays were we tried to gain a yard and ice the game. Great experience for him. But on the fourth down play, Addai gets that yard.
...
written by DZ, September 14, 2009
That spelling error was NOT my fault.

I wrote Fran in my email to them.

That was their bad.
...I was just kidding
written by Doug England, September 14, 2009
Especially since I am the king of the typos.
Congrats on the exposure!
written by Zac P., September 14, 2009
You guys certainly deserve it.
...
written by Willy Duer, September 14, 2009
I think that's pretty mature of them to have brought you on like that. Good work - maybe it can lead to more and you can have some healthy debates with the other writers on the site.
...
written by shake n bake, September 14, 2009
Mookie really impressed me when he sniffed out, chased down and put a quick end to a slot dumpoff/screen. Impressive play for a DT to make.

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