Category Archives: Sports

Book Review – Imperfect

Imperfect: An Improbable Life
by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown, 2012

Inspiring story of Jim Abbott’s life as he overcomes being born with just one hand to pitch in the major leagues for years. The book bounces back and forth from chapter to chapter between a semi-chronological biography and a detailed look at Jim’s no-hitter while pitching for the Yankees. Well read by Jim on the audiobook version. This book helped calm me down while I was stuck in the hospital for a week in March with a collapsed lung. Soothing and uplifting.

Book Review – Good to Go

Good to Go: What the athlete in all of us can learn from the strange science of recovery
by Christie Aschwanden, 2019

Your body needs sleep to recover from exertion. Otherwise, there’s no consistent scientific proof that any other common or marketed form of recovery product or recovery activity does any good, outside of a well-documented placebo effect. Even common things like icing or ibuprofen (and other NSAIDs) may actually be doing more harm than good. If you think something is working for you (and it’s definitely not bad for you), keep doing it, but I would definitely suggest not spending money on the latest recovery fads or products.

NFL Picks – Super Bowl 2018

Overall Against the Spread: 123-117
Week 2: 7-9
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 6-8
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 9-6
Week 7: 3-10
Week 8: 5-8
Week 9: 3-10
Week 10: 7-6
Week 11: 11-2
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 9-5
Week 14: 12-4
Week 15: 10-5
Week 16: 9-6
Week 17: 6-9
Wild Card: 0-4
Divisional: 1-3
Conference: 0-2

NFL Picks – Divisional Round of 2018

Last week’s picks should have said wild card, not divisional round.

Overall Against the Spread: 122-112
Week 2: 7-9
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 6-8
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 9-6
Week 7: 3-10
Week 8: 5-8
Week 9: 3-10
Week 10: 7-6
Week 11: 11-2
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 9-5
Week 14: 12-4
Week 15: 10-5
Week 16: 9-6
Week 17: 6-9
Wild Card: 0-4


NFL Picks – Week 17 of 2018

Three games without lines at this point.


Overall Against the Spread: 116-99
Week 2: 7-9
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 6-8
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 9-6
Week 7: 3-10
Week 8: 5-8
Week 9: 3-10
Week 10: 7-6
Week 11: 11-2
Week 12: 8-7
Week 13: 9-5
Week 14: 12-4
Week 15: 10-5
Week 16: 9-6


Kaggle Punt Analytics Competition

Kaggle has an interesting new competition, available here.

We’re excited to let you know about a non traditional competition launch. Unlike our typical supervised Kaggle machine learning competition. Instead, this challenge asks you to use data to propose specific rule modifications for the NFL that will reduce the occurrence of concussions during punt plays. Click the button below to learn more about this format.
About the host:
The National Football League is America’s most popular sports league, comprised of 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world’s biggest annual sporting event. They’re committed to advancing progress in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries.  Since 2002 alone, the NFL has made 50 rules changes intended to eliminate potentially dangerous tactics and reduce the risk of injuries.
Competition Description:
Your challenge is to propose specific rule modifications (e.g. changes to the initial formation, tacking techniques, blocking rules etc.), supported by data, that may reduce the occurrence of concussions during punt plays. Submissions will be evaluated based on the efficacy of the solution while maintaining the integrity of the game. Winning teams will be invited to present their submissions in a pitch-style event the day before Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, GA and the top two presenting teams will each be awarded two Super Bowl LIII tickets.
Prizes:
$80,000 Total prize pool (and more!) awarded to top teams
Next important deadline:
January 9: Final submission deadline