Off Topic Thread 4.0

thomond2006 wrote: »

Bears gonna go all the way.

I know you're joking... but that would make an old man very happy

awec wrote: »

Rory McIlroy is a very inconsistent golfer.

He played fairly well overall this week but that was a complete meltdown on the 18th. They sent him out early wanting him to put some blue up on the board early on and ease the pressure on those out later. He really didn't deliver and you could see it hurt him. Bjorn was talking to him after the win and appeared to be trying to pep him up, somewhat. He knew they were looking for much more from him.

Although guys like Garcia and Poulter were getting the plaudits and coverage, their wins were as much (and possibly more) down to their opponents failures than their own great golf. Johnson, Spieth and Fowler were all +2 for their rounds which is rubbish from the world numbers 1, 9 and 10 respectively in singles matches.

Ironically, after the poor starts from Rose and McIlroy, the best golf was played by the guys at the tail end who would have known that Europe were faltering up front. Stenson was incredible and was -6 when the match was called after 14. Best player on the day and was a complete rock. Noren was -5 for the day. DeChambeau probably would have won if he had been facing anyone but Noren or Stenson.

Final word for Phil Mickelson. Sticks his tee shot into the water and conceded the tournament. Grow a pair and take the tee shot again at least before conceding. He could have stuck it to 2ft and put some pressure on Molinari to not make a balls of his putting. He didn't want to know, didn't want to walk down the fairway in front of a home crowd and wanted out. What a sorry way to probably end his Ryder Cup career.

Buer wrote: »

He played fairly well overall this week but that was a complete meltdown on the 18th. They sent him out early wanting him to put some blue up on the board early on and ease the pressure on those out later. He really didn't deliver and you could see it hurt him. Bjorn was talking to him after the win and appeared to be trying to pep him up, somewhat. He knew they were looking for much more from him.

That's a bit of an exaggeration. You can't call that kind of bad luck a 'meltdown'. Thomas took out the driver and hit an unbelievable drive into the narrowest part of the fairway. But Rory is longer and he'd have been in the water if he tried that. So he took the sensible decision and played a 3 wood with a bit of fade to keep away from the water. It just started out about ten yards farther right than he wanted. Even then, it was a yard short of being in the rough and I don't think I saw a worse plugged ball all weekend. Absolutely unplayable. Just the worst luck imaginable.

Final word for Phil Mickelson. Sticks his tee shot into the water and conceded the tournament. Grow a pair and take the tee shot again at least before conceding. He could have stuck it to 2ft and put some pressure on Molinari to not make a balls of his putting. He didn't want to know, didn't want to walk down the fairway in front of a home crowd and wanted out. What a sorry way to probably end his Ryder Cup career.

Phil Mickelson shouldn't have been there. He was playing the worst golf of his career and it was purely a political decision to not have him sniping from the wings. Yeah, he should have played to the green anyway. Even McIlroy with his fifth shot and absolutely no chance, still tried.

Melodeon

BOD/Craig Doyle rugby item on with Ryan Tubridy on RTE Radio 1 shortly...

prawnsambo wrote: »

That's a bit of an exaggeration. You can't call that kind of bad luck a 'meltdown'. Thomas took out the driver and hit an unbelievable drive into the narrowest part of the fairway. But Rory is longer and he'd have been in the water if he tried that. So he took the sensible decision and played a 3 wood with a bit of fade to keep away from the water. It just started out about ten yards farther right than he wanted. Even then, it was a yard short of being in the rough and I don't think I saw a worse plugged ball all weekend. Absolutely unplayable. Just the worst luck imaginable.

And then on his second attempt to get out of the bunker he made a meal of it and didn't clear the face again despite having a decent lie, seeing his ball ricochet across the fairway into the water. Maybe meltdown is inaccurate (but I don't think it's too far from the mark given his struggles of late when the expectation ramps up) but he made a complete and utter dog's dinner of the hole.

When you're one of the best in the world, it's the final hole of your round on the closing day of the Ryder Cup and you're hitting your approach for 5, I think it's fair to say he had a nightmare on the hole.

As you say though, he sucked it up and hit his approach. For McIlroy to do that in an even less favourable situation highlighted how petulant Mickelson's action was.

Buer wrote: »

And then on his second attempt to get out of the bunker he made a meal of it and didn't clear the face again despite having a decent lie, seeing his ball ricochet across the fairway into the water. Maybe meltdown is inaccurate (but I don't think it's too far from the mark given his struggles of late when the expectation ramps up) but he made a complete and utter dog's dinner of the hole.

When you're one of the best in the world, it's the final hole of your round on the closing day of the Ryder Cup and you're hitting your approach for 5, I think it's fair to say he had a nightmare on the hole.

As you say though, he sucked it up and hit his approach. For McIlroy to do that in an even less favourable situation highlighted how petulant Mickelson's action was.

Yeah. He kept battling. It was one of the things that they said at the start. That even if you were losing your match, you kept it going long enough to give the others a bit of belief and keep a US point off the board for as long as possible. He probably should have taken an 8 iron to the second bunker shot. But at that stage, it was already a lost cause. He wouldn't get to the green in less than four and a seven iron might have got him close enough to have a shot at holing a chip. I wouldn't be blaming him for what happened on 18. The real loss came earlier where he was burning the edge of holes on putts inside ten feet. It's been a problem for him all year.

Zzippy

Deleted User wrote: »

Sat up last night for an hour or so and watched the senate testimony of Kavanaugh and his accuser. There isn't enough evidence to convict but there was more than enough credibility in the accusation to go and investigate. Am a bit shocked they are going ahead with the vote today, I think it might really back fire (though perhaps the GOP don't care at this point).

Whether the accusation is true or not however, I wouldn't confirm Kavanaugh to anything - deeply partisan and frankly unpleasant individual.

Apparently there is an upcoming case being heard by the Supreme Court this month. It will involve the SC deciding whether states can pursue individuals for criminal offences where the president has already pardoned the person for a federal conviction for the same offence. Trump and his family and other people in jeopardy from the above are desperate to get Kavanaugh on the bench for this case.
Not to mention Kavanaugh's previous stated opinion that a sitting president cannot be indicted, or even questioned and the cover he will give Trump if and when Mueller comes after him or his family.
Not to mention the loss of face if he is rejected.

For so many reasons, all of them objectionable, they NEED this nomination to go through.

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

And then on his second attempt to get out of the bunker he made a meal of it and didn't clear the face again despite having a decent lie, seeing his ball ricochet across the fairway into the water. Maybe meltdown is inaccurate (but I don't think it's too far from the mark given his struggles of late when the expectation ramps up) but he made a complete and utter dog's dinner of the hole.

When you're one of the best in the world, it's the final hole of your round on the closing day of the Ryder Cup and you're hitting your approach for 5, I think it's fair to say he had a nightmare on the hole.

As you say though, he sucked it up and hit his approach. For McIlroy to do that in an even less favourable situation highlighted how petulant Mickelson's action was.

Was it a decent lie? I thought it wasn’t at the time

He’s not the best in the world. He’s 6th in the world. And he was playing the 4th in the world. And they went 18 holes. It was completely possible the match would go either way the entire way through. The fact a bit of bad luck decided it means very little either way. Same thing could have happened to Thomas.

He hit 16 pars according to that post above. Fair ****s to all of them for playing so well under that pressure. I’d crumble.

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Was it a decent lie? I thought it wasn’t at the time

It looks a fairly decent lie to me. Certainly straightforward enough for him to make a decent connection. Clipping the face of the bunker in that situation was pretty poor, to my mind.

He’s not the best in the world. He’s 6th in the world.

...which would make him one of the best in the world!

The pressure was intense though as you say. The no. 1 in the world stuck his ball in the water a number of times. People were crumbling all around. That's when someone like Stenson is so useful and important. No. 1 on the PGA list for hitting fairways. I'm surprised he didn't play more. A very understated performance from him and was 3-0 for the tournament.

The highest American on the fairway stats list who was in Paris? Jim Furyk. That course absolutely killed them.

Zzippy

Buer wrote: »

The highest American on the fairway stats list who was in Paris? Jim Furyk. That course absolutely killed them.

Read somewhere that Furyk organised a practice day to familiarise themselves with the course in July, but only 4 turned up!

Saw a quote from Garcia to Molinari: "Francesco, did you realise this course has 18 holes? Did you know it has a 17th and 18th??"

Molinari: "Yes, I think I played them in practice on Tuesday"

baby moose name

[Deleted User]

Pretty dramatic rhetoric from Arlene.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dup-leader-arlene-foster-our-red-line-is-blood-red-1.3650080

I find it amusing that people have repeatedly said that breaking the GFA or erecting a border could lead to violence and Brexiteers have scoffed at the notion. You have a fairly naked threat here from Arlene on the other side and I doubt there will be a whiff from the Tory right.

The only potentially good thing about Brexit is that it's a hill I think right wing politics in the UK might actually die on.

Zzippy wrote: »

Read somewhere that Furyk organised a practice day to familiarise themselves with the course in July, but only 4 turned up!

Saw a quote from Garcia to Molinari: "Francesco, did you realise this course has 18 holes? Did you know it has a 17th and 18th??"

Molinari: "Yes, I think I played them in practice on Tuesday"

That was from the press conference on Sunday.

Worth a look. They were all doing Conor Moore's 'Sergio giggle'. Including Sergio.

Edit: Justin Thomas was the only one from the team who actually went and played the French Open there. Fair play to him, and it certainly didn't do him any harm.

jacothelad

Made me laugh. Now for 'noone' users when they mean 'no one' and we're sorted.

http://http://newsthump.com/2018/10/04/people-who-spell-lose-as-loose-face-death-penalty/?utm_source=NewsThump+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=94f4461b51-RSS_EMAIL_DAILYBRIEFING1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7d11245827-94f4461b51-435925581

I tend to a have a low opinion of the things humans are capeable of. It kind of protects me, then something like this comes along and it really makes me wonder just how low we can sink. That is so shocking and disgusting, that there just aren’t words.

stephen_n wrote: »

I tend to a have a low opinion of the things humans are capeable of. It kind of protects me, then something like this comes along and it really makes me wonder just how low we can sink. That is so shocking and disgusting, that there just aren’t words.

Saw the headline on The Journal yesterday. Couldn't click into the story then and won't read it now. I can't even begin to comprehend this. It makes me physically ill if I dwell on it.

I hope those impacted as well as those who have to carry out the legal proceedings and investigation are made of stronger stuff; they have my deepest sympathy.

awec

Properly disgusting. That bastard should be spending the rest of his days in Maghaberry.

mfceiling

Buer wrote: »

Saw the headline on The Journal yesterday. Couldn't click into the story then and won't read it now. I can't even begin to comprehend this. It makes me physically ill if I dwell on it.

I hope those impacted as well as those who have to carry out the legal proceedings and investigation are made of stronger stuff; they have my deepest sympathy.

Same as yourself Buer. Got a snippet of info and then decided I wasn't reading a word about it.
Hopefully he'll have an "accident" inside.

awec wrote: »

Properly disgusting. That bastard should be spending the rest of his days in Maghaberry.

I'd imagine he'd have to be segregated for his own safety. Otherwise...

prawnsambo wrote: »

I'd imagine he'd have to be segregated for his own safety. Otherwise...

Much as I hate the idea of mob justice, in this case I really hope they don’t segregate him.

All the talk of Jose Mourinho getting the sack yesterday...the board came out fully in support of him before today's game at home against Newcastle
..seems to have worked a treat, after 10 mins.. 2-0........oh down.. they're 2-0 down !

Squidgy Black

Mookie Blaylock wrote: »

All the talk of Jose Mourinho getting the sack yesterday...the board came out fully in support of him before today's game at home against Newcastle
..seems to have worked a treat, after 10 mins.. 2-0........oh down.. they're 2-0 down !

Board was always going to say that though. They said the exact same about Moyes, Van Gaal and the same about Ferguson retiring.

With United, the board of directors is there in terms of running a business, and worrying about their share prices. A business will never come out and say they're going to fire their CEO unless they've a replacement lined up.

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Board was always going to say that though. They said the exact same about Moyes, Van Gaal and the same about Ferguson retiring.

With United, the board of directors is there in terms of running a business, and worrying about their share prices. A business will never come out and say they're going to fire their CEO unless they've a replacement lined up.

It's actually very unusual for a club to have anyone lined up before a sacking when the season has started.

Up early (as usual) so thought I'd throw on the McGregor fight...
I'm not a fan of this sport..I saw nothing in the fight to change my mind...
but what happened afterwards only increases my belief that this whole freak show is just beneath contempt.

Squidgy Black

What Khabib did was absolutely idiotic and he's thrown a good win into complete disrespute. There's also the legal implications with his visa etc so could possibly have ended his career with that decision.

In saying that, the stuff McGregor was saying about him and his family, his religion, and those around him was absolutely disgusting, I'm not surprised the adrenaline took the better of him. McGregor has turned the UFC into WWE with the drama show of it all..

https://media.giphy.com/media/BpRd4LSJTZOkQqAkoZ/giphy.gif

Lovely bunch of lads