So, these are thoughts I've been having since the whole Comcast ordeal. I'm not trying to be a downer with this post. I genuinely hope this leads to some discussion, or maybe I'll learn something from comments, but.... shouldn't we be angry?
So, this off-season, ownership cut payroll by $30 million, claiming it was, in part, due to the TV situation (not having a clear broadcast partner), BUT promised there wouldn't be any blackouts. Ok, cool and understandable. Buuuuut, they then got back into business with a distributor they knew had sketchy business dealings (Bally/Diamond Sports). So, blackouts are back, but at least they should've got a sizeable chunk of money back (which I believe they requested not be publicized). So this meant, because blackouts are back, at least the money they recouped goes back into the team. You know, the team that has a good, young core and just broke a 20-year curse? Nope. Instead, our GM is forced to scratch and reach for players such as: Carlos Santana, Manny Margot, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Topa. This is not the front office's fault. But what impact have these players realistically had, even with Santana having a few good weeks?
Ownership then pivots (gaslights?). They go on saying they're "right-sizing" the organization and that there are more ways to win than by spending money, pointing to what the Rays and Orioles spend. So, it's no longer a secret that they're pocketing the TV money and telling us that we should expect to compete as the Ray's and Orioles do. But, here is a list of the past 10 world series winners by payroll position: -Rangers: 4th -Houston: 8th -Braves: 10th -Dodgers: 1st -Nationals: 7th -Red Sox: 1st -Astros: 17th -Cubs: 5th -Royals: 13th
The Rays (although with a ws appearance) and Orioles are noticeably absent on this list. The Twins current payroll rank? 19th. To hear ownership say "there are other ways of winning" and expecting us to believe the team is around the same level of the 2017 Astros is honestly offensive and insulting to our intelligence. Shouldn't we be angry?
Ok, so ownership isn't treating fans great. We've seen that before in Minnesota. But what really is infuriating is the complete ignorance ownership has, plus their audacity to continously attempt to appear blameless. With the Comcast situation, they essentially told the fans, "Whelp, this sucks, doesn't it?" But THEY were the ones who got back into business with this shady partner.
If they need to have an answer to their question, which will inevitably be asked, "Why isn't attendance better at Target Field?" just gesture in a general direction. They said they needed a new stadium to compete. They got it and didn't change much. And, again, they currently have a young core, then gut the payroll. They get back into business with a shady partner, pocket the money, and say "that sucks" when a huge swath of fans can no longer watch their games. I've had a few casual Minnesota baseball fans in my life say they're honestly looking at other teams to root for and, with all this, I do not blame them one bit. I believe ownership has completely alienated casual fans and are choking out future fans. Shouldn't we be angry?
This isn't all to say ownership has been monstrous. From what I know, they paid all staff, including in the minors, during the pandemic which is very admirable. They stayed about average (15th ish) in payroll for the mlb for a number of years, which is about the "right size" for the twin cities market size.
But, if you notice, the Astros went from 17th to 8th in spending to support their young core. What did the Twins do with their young core? They went from 17th to 19th in one year. Anyone expecting that formula to work, with all due respect, is foolish. I do not think ownership is expecting that formula to work either. Shouldn't we be angry?
Seriously, shouldn't we be angry? Imagine Phillies fans going through this. Imagine Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Cardinals, Red Sox, Dodgers fans going through this. Imagine their outrage. I know those are the big boys, but those are the ones you're competing against with a young core of players. Why aren't we angry? Shouldn't we be angry?

As a preface I want to ask the mods to please read through this and thoroughly think it over before deciding to lock or remove this thread. This is not a BS thread of me trying to sell anything, mislead anyone, or do anything for personal gain. What follows is a limited outline of my research from the last 3 years that I feel would be beneficial and give bettors new insight and perspective into sports betting.

 

Here is a controversial statement: Several, not all, sports can be accurately predicted. Through one very simple algorithm that can be seen in a movie, statistics that are available for free online, a basic understanding of mathematical constants, and an open mind to challenge something we have not seen done before, I am about to soft reveal how the way we view the prediction of outcomes should be changed.

 
Today we will cover Soccer, WNBA & NBA. At the time of writing this there are MLB games going on so compiling MLB data with my schedule tomorrow will be hard to get my pick in this thread so we will primarily cover Soccer and Basketball now.
 
With soccer I decided to only look at passing & possession stats. I then deployed the algorithm and made 4 more statistics that divide, multiply, add, subtract, etc a combination of the numbers, algorithms and custom numbers I compiled. I use this to read and determine which team with score first.
 
With Basketball I determined that it is best to track advanced assist & shooting percentage numbers. After trial and error, I then found a sweet spot combo of stats I deployed the algorithm and again began making my own custom stats. With basketball is where we need basic understanding of mathematical constants where there is a single threshold (aka if a certain number I create falls below the threshold, then it will cause me to choose option 1 to make my pick, this is less common. If the number is above the threshold, then I use option 2, the easiest, to make the pick) the pick is then made and I know the outcome.
 
Baseball is my baby, my bastard, the thing that has caused me to lose sleep and question my sanity, the SOB that began the whole project in 2019. She’s a hateful beast that has been the equivalent of wrestling a pissed off crocodile whereas the others required as much work as a jog through the park. I dislike baseball, I don’t watch it. 5 years ago, I could tell you tons of active obscure players, I enjoyed the games no one else cared about, I enjoyed the storylines, etc. but this project has since permanently altered my love and care for the sport. I worked 7 days a week on this project, which has of course taken several different twists and turns as to what I felt like I was doing or sat out to do (which was to win DFS) I took an entire year and half off from 2021-2022 to come back and tackle it. It didn’t work then. I took the back half of 2023 off and spot worked here and there when life was getting me down. I made several leaps and bounds and came with experience and new perspective each time but each time I felt like the closer I got to the goal it was only waiting to be yanked away. I decided for the final time in March 2024 to give it one last try and damn it I got it. This is my Magnum Opus; I don’t care what challenges I face professionally or personally; this was the loch ness monster I sat out to find. Was it worth it? I don’t know. It’s aged me. I knew deep in my serotonin deprived brain that Baseball could be predicted but here are so many moving parts and factors that must be accounted for. New stats must be made to make sense of everything. It’s still challenging and there are games that are in obscure land that I can’t confidentially make predictions on which is the loss I have no other option but to accept. However, there are several I can. For baseball we begin making a stat that includes contact (Out of Zone and Zone contact made with the ball), we also incorporate Swing/Strike percentage, and the pLI (player leverage index)

 
But enough about me, let’s lay out the winners for May 21, 2024 as written just before midnight on May 20, 2024
Boston takes Game 1 against Indiana (wow shocker a heavy favorite win, ok let’s go further)
Atlanta Dream beats the Dallas Wings in the WNBA (ATL is 5.5 point favorite)
Washington Mystics beat the LA Sparks in the WNBA (LA is 3.5 point favorite)
Minnesota takes Game 1 against Dallas on 5/22 (this one is kind of interesting because of a rare mathematical constant situation paired from both teams that has popped up for a unique situation that has not been found in over 2,000 games sampled. If I were betting, I would skip this one simply because there is no history to make a full logical determination that Minnesota would win. But I haven’t come this far to lay down over a technicality. I still say Minnesota)
On May 24 Girona will score the first goal against Granada
 

This isn’t luck, this isn’t a heater, this isn’t a guess, this isn’t 80% accuracy. This is real.

There is a cultural trauma for Minnesota sports fans. I notice it in every person I talk to. There is a fear in hopping on the bandwagon. There is a hesitation to feel hopeful. Every time we have a lead I think of 1998, 2004, 2009. The worst wolves fans are the ones that talk shit in the forums cause it feels like they’re cursing us further. The first lesson I learned in sports growing up was to be quiet until the game was over, hell until the season was over in the off chance you might lose in devastating fashion.
We’ve had our fair share of sports suffering and we’ve been trained to always be on edge. Games 3 & 4 opened up these same wounds. The first half of game 7 did so as well. I couldn’t watch on Sunday. I was a ball of anxiety telling myself I didn’t care anyway, but I kept feeling the tug to go check.
And then the comeback. What an amazing experience it was. These wolves are different. And my body doesn’t know what to do about it. I’m torn and hesitant, but hopeful and also am grateful just to have seen these guys make it as far as they have. And they’ve now given me more and more of a reason to not give up even when it’s gross to watch.
It’s a weird feeling isn’t it? 🤞🤞

Ticket absolutely crushed Big Jok on YouTube last night. The guy played 46 minutes he did what he could. BrandonLovesSports also has been talking so much shit. Now it looks he is having a field day against coach Malone. Heck even 2Raw was celebrating Minnesota's win and blaming Jokic. This shit has been toxic in the YouTube streets. I do know that Ticket has been hiding in the DR for years now. He is the worst. These brothers are only good when LeBron and the Lakers lose. That is all they are worth listening to. Other than this I am highly disappointed. Denver's hate is insane.

Im currently in a 2024 hrv sport, yes I know I just got it. But the gas mileage isn’t the greatest. Im getting around 25 miles per gallon with it in Econ. And 23 in normal. I drive like a grandma to save gas but even then, I’m still getting low 20s for the gas mileage. I was wondering if a crv hybrid would be a good choice for my next vehicle? I’m torn between an accord and crv but I live in Minnesota and I think the crvs AWD would be better than the FWD on the accord in the winter despite the extra 10 mpg. What is y’all’s opinion?

I have been a fan of the wolves since I can remember and going to low crowded target center with my dad. Losing an enormous amount of games. I feel like I am in a dream right now. I can’t believe it. Cheers to this season. No matter how this ends this is my favorite team in Minnesota sports history.
Be right back. I am going digging in the attic for my Alexey Shved jersey.

Boston Celtics: The doubters are quieted as the west would be a challenge no matter who wins it. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will add their name to the long list of Celtics legends and be in the history books as the guys who put Boston back on the map. Jayson Tatum becomes a lock hall of famer as a 5x all star and 4x all nba and nba champion. Jaylen Brown likely makes his way to the hall as well, especially if he wins the FMVP. Jrue Holiday also makes a case for the hall as a 2x champion and multiple time all defensive and all star. And if Kristaps Portzingis plays well in the finals he sheds his bad image as a sort injury prone player.
Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic will immediately gain the status as the best player in the league and will have the argument that he was robbed of MVP only get louder. Kyrie Irving will get a massive boost in his legacy as he would finally get a championship without Lebron James, he will likely go from a fringe top 75 player ever to a top 55 or so player. The mavericks will likely be seen as one of the best franchises of the millennium as they were able to build with Dirk and win the title then immediately rebuild with Luka and win the title again. Mark Cuban tho not the majority owner any more will be seen as one of the best owners in nba history as he was the guy who acquired Luka and built this current team around him.
Minnesota Timberwolves: The T-Wolves would be immediately not viewed as a poverty franchise anymore with Anthony Edwards putting them on the map just as the Bulls in the 80s/90s with MJ or the Cavs in the 00s/10s with Lebron. Anthony Edwards would be immediately considered the new face of the league and instantly be considered the best player in franchise history as he did what Kevin Garnett couldn’t. Rudy Gobert would solidify his hall of fame career with a championship to back up his 4 DPOY awards. And the Minnesota sports scene would be completely recharged with their first title since the 1991 Twins.
Indiana Pacers: The clear black sheep of the conference finals. However if they’re able to get past Boston and Minnesota/Dallas then it would easily be considered the greatest playoff run in nba history. Tyrese Haliburton would instantly gain the status as the best player in the Pacers short history for doing what Reggie country and would also be considered at the very least a top 3 point guard in the league currently. Pascal Siakam would be viewed as a true game changer as a 2x champion and former all nba player. Coach Rick Carlisle’s legacy would also grow massively as he would’ve been responsible for 2 massive underdog title runs with the 2011 mavs and 2024 pacers. It would also likely heavily alter the legacy of the 2 teams they would need to beat as Boston and Minnesota/Dallas don’t have excuses to lose to Indiana unlike Milwaukee or New York. Boston would most likely have to completely restructure their roster and consider trading one or both of their stars and they will always have that ugly stain on their franchise. The fans of the Pacers are also finally validated as the “basketball state” finally gets their long awaited professional title. Additionally it would completely change the way general managers view the way title teams are built. The all offensive system would be justified as the pacers would do what a team like 2000s Phoenix Suns couldn’t do. Less of an emphasis would be put on defense as they would need to beat the defense focused Celtics and then the leagues best defense wolves, or the less defensive mavs will take care of them further removing defensive focus from the game. And playoff seeding would also be viewed entirely differently as the view that the regular season isn’t that important would be massively validated. To put it bluntly the Pacers winning a title would completely change the league as we know it internally.

Everyone watches this Minnesota team and sees the ‘92 Bulls. This league and its followers want the next face of the league/best player in the world to be an American so badly and I don’t completely blame them for it, but that combined with the massive bias against Lukai that many fans have is distorting everyone’s perception of how this series is gonna go.
It doesn’t matter how well they defend if we can match that and get four good nights of offense. Mavs in 6.
Edit: I totally agree with y’all that being an “underdog” has its perks, I just don’t think we’re actually underdogs. I’m totally cool with our squad being doubted and flying under the radar though, it’ll probably help.
Edit #2: I am not on the team, I do not have to block out the noise, I do not have to ignore narratives and focus on my craft. I simply think this topic is interesting and I’m sorry if you don’t. Having a discussion is not “caring” or “worrying” about it and even if it is what the fuck difference will that make with anything? The team isn’t counting on us for that.
Edit #3: My bad y’all, Skip Bayless and Paul Pierce believe in us. My entire post is invalidated now. Thanks you sports talk show power listeners for pointing that out.
Edit #4: Tim Legler on the other hand…I will cry if he changes his pick lol. He’s been on this iteration of the team since the beginning.

Good Morning Patriots
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2024 Opponents Set.

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Patriots updated depth chart

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New England Patriots News Catchup Links - 2024 NFL Schedule: Patriots get royally screwed

• Patriots announce 2024 schedule. The Patriots first game against an AFC East opponent will be a Thursday Night Football game at the Jets on September 19.
• Mike Dussault analyzes New England’s schedule. ‘The Patriots have one of the toughest opponent lists in the NFL this season based on 2023 win percentage, landing in a three-way tie for eighth hardest overall.’
• NFL announces Patriots to face Jaguars in London in 2024.
• Alexandra Francisco reports Patriots players show support at CT Sun home opener as Caitlin Clark makes her WNBA debut.
• Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar offer a complete breakdown of the 2024 Patriots schedule. The Bye Week falls at the latest week possible, in Week 14. Pats will face the Bills twice in the final three weeks. More! (8 min. video)
• Good Jules Hunting: The Patriots 2024 schedule release. (3.46 min. video) /Well done!
• Mike Reiss offers his schedule takeaways and predictions. While the Patriots would have liked to have their road games against the 49ers and Cardinals paired up so they could stay out west, they instead will be making two cross-country treks this season. They are scheduled to travel 25,071 miles (fourth most of any team)’
• Andrew Callahan points out the NFL did the Patriots no favors with their brutal 2024 schedule. None.
• Mike D’Abate offers his key takeaways from the Pats’ schedule: From beginning a “new era” with their season opener on Sept. 8 to their Week 18 finale against the Bills, the Pats face a tough road on their efforts to rebuild.
• Mark Daniels’ thoughts on the entire Patriots schedule: The Jerod Mayo era will start on the road in Cincinnati.
• Mike Kadlick shares one schedule related thought and prediction for all 17 Patriots games.
• Alex Barth takes a game-by-game look at the Pats’ schedule. Week 5 vs. Miami: Coming into this game the Patriots have lost six of their last seven matchups with the Dolphins – including a sweep last year. This will be a good measuring stick for the Patriots somewhat early in the season.
• Chris Mason gives us 6 takeaways from the schedule release. 6. Happy holidays. After heading to Minnesota on Thanksgiving in 2022 and Denver on Christmas Eve last season, the Patriots don’t have a holiday game this year. Players will get to spend them at home.
• Ben Volin shares his thoughts on the 2024 schedule: The Patriots are now the tomato cans. The team’s only primetime game is the token Thursday night game, a Week 3 matchup vs. the Jets in which Aaron Rodgers, not the Patriots, is the draw. /Oof...
• Nicole Yang analyzes the Patriots schedule, game by game. Week 10 at Chicago Bears: If the Patriots deem rookie Drake Maye ready to start by at least Week 10, this could be a showdown between the first and third overall picks in this year’s draft.
• Faith Pinnow explains why the Patriots signed a rugby player from Australia. Jotham Russell came through the International Player Pathway program, allowing the Patriots to sign him without forfeiting one of their roster spots.
• Lauren Campbell relays Jason Kelce on how he thinks FOX did Greg Olsen “dirty” as Tom Brady prepares to make his Week 1 broadcasting debut. /Kelce didn’t say anything about ESPN doing Robert Griffin III dirty after Kelse replaced him on Monday Night Football.

Watch Reddit MLB Streams Ways of Minnesota vs Washington Live Streams Free on Reddit, I've been wanting to watch more games lately, but most online links I've found either skip frequently or are lower quality. I don't mind paying for league pass, but they blackout local games (which is 2 teams for me) and all nationally televised games (ESPN, TNT & ABC). I refuse to pay basically double or more just to get those channels and just for Baseball games.

🔴Here► MLB Live free

🔴Visit► Baseball Streams

I pirate everything: sports, movies, TV Channels, and even made my own plex server. But lately I have gotten really into MLB Streams and haven't found a great way to watch Men's MLB Tournament Bracket 2024 live for free.
MLB Today Games:-
I have good Internet and a good PC if that matters. I just wanna watch MLB games in good quality without paying over $250 a year. Any advice is appreciated.
I have been researched and found a few ways to watch it but I want to see what you guys recommend.
Key: ver MLB en vivo online, MLB En direct Streaming, Baseball MLB in diretta streaming gratis or gratuit regarder

Watch Reddit MLB Streams Ways of Minnesota vs Washington Live Streams Free on Reddit, I've been wanting to watch more games lately, but most online links I've found either skip frequently or are lower quality. I don't mind paying for league pass, but they blackout local games (which is 2 teams for me) and all nationally televised games (ESPN, TNT & ABC). I refuse to pay basically double or more just to get those channels and just for Baseball games.

🔴Here► MLB Live free

🔴Visit► Baseball Streams

I pirate everything: sports, movies, TV Channels, and even made my own plex server. But lately I have gotten really into MLB Streams and haven't found a great way to watch Men's MLB Tournament Bracket 2024 live for free.
MLB Today Games:-
I have good Internet and a good PC if that matters. I just wanna watch MLB games in good quality without paying over $250 a year. Any advice is appreciated.
I have been researched and found a few ways to watch it but I want to see what you guys recommend.
Key: ver MLB en vivo online, MLB En direct Streaming, Baseball MLB in diretta streaming gratis or gratuit regarder

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(I am not sober while typing this)
To me this playoffs feels like our biggest test, and we overcame it. The suns were said to be a terrible matchup for us (i said that too) and we swept them, the Nuggets are (now arguably the 2nd best rn) best team in the west, we came back from 20 to beat them. Even if we lose against the mavs, this has been a GREAT test from the wolves and I'm extremely proud of seeing their growth. I started watching in 2021 and seeing their growth from the Memphis series (with some major changes) has been amazing, and it feels nice to be drunk and a happy minnesota sports fan, instead of the countless sad drunk moments.

So I was working the front desk one night and I had checked this really rednecky, but polite, woman in. Nothing remarkable about the check-in. A few minutes later the elevator dings and out pops this really big rednecky looking guy. This guy asks "did you just check in my wife?" He asked. And I, figuring the two rednecky people went together, said "Yes sir, is everything okay?" Figuring I had fucked something up.
And this guy approaches my station and says "Yeah everything's fine." And he pulls out a thick as fuck roll of hundreds and hands me $100 bill. And I figure he wants change for it, So I head to the back office to get him some change and he starts heading to the elevator, And I turn around and ask "sir, don't you want your change?" And he responds, "no that's for you".
Now this made me very confused because I just checked the guy's wife in so I more or less, "wait what?" And then thank him and told him to have a good night and he went down the elevator. So I ran into security a little while later and apparently the guy was just handing out $100 bills to everybody that helped him in any way. Valet parked his car, $100 bill, security helped the guy find his room, $100 bill.
So a few nights later I found the guy on the main patio at like 2:00 a.m. smoking a cigar. Technically we were a non-smoking property but............well fuck he treated all the employees right. So I overlooked it. Then we got no conversation and I asked him what he did, and he told me that he owned a small online sports betting company in Minnesota. I am in the wrong goddamn business.

The total number of whistles for each team isn't the point. In the first half especially, our best players were as shackled by the refs as they were by the Nuggets' feisty defense. 60% of our starters were in foul trouble (Ant only had 2, but it was early enough in the second that a 3rd would have been devastating before the half.) Hell, Joker didn't get whistled for the first time until there was less than 10 minutes to go in the game, and I didn't see a single possession all night that wouldn't be justified for calling a foul on him. He's massive and he lowers his body and rams into people, when he goes for a rebound he literally holds a Wolves' player down as he jumps up. He puts his arms all the way around people's waist to prevent them from going in this or that direction, he constantly hooks with his elbow to get around them. He makes a lot of lumbering, moving screens. He did that for more than 3 quarters straight, but in the first half, before he was tired, he was on pace for over 30 points, over 30 rebounds, and 10 assists. He still got those points, but he only managed 2 rebounds in the second half. Why? He was tired. That's it. The ref's gave him a green light to do whatever he wanted on both sides of the ball all night long until he was so tired that he was barely making a difference out there anymore. Gobert fouled out. KAT was forced to sit. Jaden was at 4 fouls early in the third.
But in the second half, the Wolves started clawing their way back into the game. I honestly thought it couldn't happen, not because the Wolves don't have the capability, but because of how the foul calls against them almost seemed strategic. The Wolves put together a small lead in the 4th, but it didn't feel safe until they started getting some real energy going. OH BUT WAIT, here comes the fucking refs again. KAT picks up his 5th foul and has to sit. Ant drove through the lane and (this is not hyperbole) got flagrantly fouled, and they didn't call it. Shortly thereafter, the Wolves got whistled for another moving screen, even though every single team on every single possession has moving screens, ESPECIALLY the god damn Nuggets. Then Mike Conely is OBVIOUSLY fouled when (I think it was Joker) hacked at his arm, causing the ball to come loose. No whistle. Conley picks the ball up and CLEARLY says and gestures "time out" before the Nuggets try to get their hands on it. The refs call it a jump ball! Then moments later the exact same thing happens where a Wolves' player gets a loose ball, calls time out, and instead it's a damn jump ball. Gobert fouls out on some BULLSHIT. At this point it feels like the table is set for a "miraculous" Nuggets comeback. The refs literally gave the Nuggets every opportunity to prevent Minnesota from expanding on their lead. However, NAZ REID, Jaden McDaniels, a suddenly awoken Ant, and a well-rested KAT were NOT fucking having it tonight.
This all makes me wonder. If there were, hypothetically speaking, some conspiracy amongst one or two of the refs, or even the league at large to fix games (whether due to gambling, a sleezy payoff, or because one market would result in better views/revenue/what have you), and the Wolves OVERCOME that (again, hypothetical) agenda... what would that mean? What would the fallout of such a "blunder" be? Because the refs generally have a TON of influence over games. More than any other sport, they have the luxury of only calling fouls when they really feel like it, as fouls are happening all over the court all the time.
I think it's an incredible testament to the Wolves poise and passion to win tonight. In all my years as a fan of the sport, I've never so sincerely felt as though the team I was rooting for was actually battling the refs as much as the opposing team.
Maybe Denver fans feel as though they got all the wrong whistles tonight and I'm just biased. That's possible. But there were no less than 5 or 6 significant calls/no calls at specific times against specific players that makes it really difficult for me not to seriously entertain the notion that this shit is (at least loosely) rigged. And the refs behavior tonight took a lot of joy away from the game for me. I ignored a bunch of it, only watching about 3/4ths of it altogether. I couldn't stand the ref show.
Does anyone else feel this way?

Vikings, take notes from the Timberwolves.