DMN Blog: Cowboys refuse to apologize for win/Brooking cherishes the win

[The30YardSlant]

It did not need to be specified he is just arguing for arguments sake. I started ignoring him long ago.

I'm just trying to shut him up. He'd argue against water being wet.

 

[utrunner07]

I read it. It was unimpressive and I stand on my reply.

Answer these three question:

Did this team make the playoffs last year?

Is this team, through the first five games, playing better, worse, or the same as last year?

Does it appear likely given the answer to the first two questions that we will make the playoffs?
(Appearing likely and being a sure thing are different, so if you say no, you should, you will not be ruling out this team turning it around.)


And that, Cowboyszone is how you use trends to make informed predictions about the future. Predictions that may be wrong, but are more often than not, correct.

 

[Bach]

I am not at all surprised the point flew right over your heads.

Which point was that? If you can't name the teams then the Cowboys chances are improved? Or if you can't name the teams then you must be bitter?

 

[fanfromvirginia]

I completely disagree. I find that thinking to be fatalistic rather than factual.

I understand bitterness, but does it have to cloud judgment? Is that really required?

Well, I find this thinking argument unintentionally ironic. Are you really arguing that if the Cowboys continue to make 'certain mistakes' that they'll make the playoffs? Remember, 'certain mistakes' would presumably include roughly 10 penalties and 2 turnovers per game.

 

[Hostile]

Which point was that? If you can't name the teams then the Cowboys chances are improved? Or if you can't name the teams then you must be bitter?

No and no.

It all went right over your head. Football IQ was challenged based upon a set of circumstances. Re-read it. It will probably still be over your head but I am ever hopeful.

 

[Hostile]

Well, I find this thinking argument unintentionally ironic. Are you really arguing that if the Cowboys continue to make 'certain mistakes' that they'll make the playoffs? Remember, 'certain mistakes' would presumably include roughly 10 penalties and 2 turnovers per game.

No, I'm not.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I completely disagree. I find that thinking to be fatalistic rather than factual.

I understand bitterness, but does it have to cloud judgment? Is that really required?

So I'm bitter because I disagree with you? What's the point of having a discussion if you've already determined my motivations?

I love this board, but I'm consistently troubled by one thing: the tendency of posters to make snap judgments about the motivations of others, and all the labeling and name-calling -- "blind homer", "negative nancy", etc.

And my assertion has plenty of support. History shows that teams with certain early season records are less likely to make the playoffs than others.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4494228

 

[Hostile]

Answer these three question:

Did this team make the playoffs last year?

Is this team, through the first five games, playing better, worse, or the same as last year?

Does it appear likely given the answer to the first two questions that we will make the playoffs?
(Appearing likely and being a sure thing are different, so if you say no, you should, you will not be ruling out this team turning it around.)


And that, Cowboyszone is how you use trends to make informed predictions about the future. Predictions that may be wrong, but are more often than not, correct.

Last year is irrelevant to this year. The part in bold is the only sensible thing you said. Coincidentally, that was exactly my point.

 

[keds]

We're down 3 starters in Williams, Felix and Sensabaugh, yet we pulled it it out, an ugly win but none-the-less a win...

 

[utrunner07]

No and no.

It all went right over your head. Football IQ was challenged based upon a set of circumstances. Re-read it. It will probably still be over your head but I am ever hopeful.

If this is referring to my statements towards you I actually would agree that your football IQ is probably higher than mine. But if you believe that you can't predict where this team is going with at least some level of certainty based on the past several games (last season included) than this would be one instance, a rare instance, when it may not be. Just to clear that up.

 

[utrunner07]

Last year is irrelevant to this year.

NO, NO, NO. Would you keep sticking your hand in a snake hole just because it was LAST YEAR when you stuck it in and got bit? NO. This team has a sustained history for the past 15 or so games that has not changed and is completely relevant.

And by the way, a prediction based on a substantial trend like we have here may be wrong, BUT ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, RIGHT!

 

[Hostile]

NO, NO, NO. Would you keep sticking your hand in a snake hole just because it was LAST YEAR when you stuck it in and got bit? NO. This team has a sustained history for the past 15 or so games that has not changed and is completely relevant.

I don't agree.

 

[Rampage]

Last year is irrelevant to this year. The part in bold is the only sensible thing you said. Coincidentally, that was exactly my point.

answer the questions man. don't be scurred

 

[fanfromvirginia]

No, I'm not.

Okay, well here's what he said that you objected to (I think--correct me if I'm wrong):

...it's reasonable to assert that certain teams (after five weeks) have a better chance of making the playoffs than other teams, and that the Cowboys' chances of making the playoffs are not very high if they continue to make certain mistakes.

You responded that this was fatalistic and clouded judgment. I really don't get this. It seems pretty uncontroversial to me. He's not asserting that, say, a 5-0 team will make the playoffs. He's not asserting that the 3-2 Cowboys won't make the playoffs. He is asserting that the 3-2 Cowboys likely won't make it if they continue to make 'certain mistakes', which I would assume would mean the 10 penalty/game average of the last two weeks, the two giveaways per game, etc. That doesn't seem the least bit clouded to me.

And remember--my jury is out. I think the Atlanta game is going to say a lot about this team but as of now I'd put our chances at about the league average.

 

[Hostile]

If this is referring to my statements towards you I actually would agree that your football IQ is probably higher than mine. But if you believe that you can't predict where this team is going with at least some level of certainty based on the past several games (last season included) than this would be one instance, a rare instance, when it may not be. Just to clear that up.

Not just this team, any team. It cannot be done with any degree of certainty. That is my point, has been my point, and will continue to be my point.

Success or failure for this team CANNOT be determined in week 5. Irrefutable despite all the dancing around the topic. Irrefutable.

 

[utrunner07]

I don't agree.

You really should stop sticking your hand in that snake hole, if it was there before and the hole is still their and you can here the rattlin, its probably going to get bit again.

 

[Hostile]

answer the questions man. don't be scurred

Of what? Cop out, irrelevant questions?

Please.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

So I'm bitter because I disagree with you? What's the point of having a discussion if you've already determined my motivations?

I love this board, but I'm consistently troubled by one thing: the tendency of posters to make snap judgments about the motivations of others, and all the labeling and name-calling -- "blind homer", "negative nancy", etc.

And my assertion has plenty of support. History shows that teams with certain early season records are less likely to make the playoffs than others.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4494228

I agree completely. The truth is almost always somewhere in between in situations like these but posters on message boards simply can't handle that. For goodness sakes, we're 3-2. That's an inherently murky start to a season. But people choose up sides and have it out as if it's Darth Vader v. Yoda.

 

[utrunner07]

Not just this team, any team. It cannot be done with any degree of certainty. That is my point, has been my point, and will continue to be my point.

Success or failure for this team CANNOT be determined in week 5. Irrefutable despite all the dancing around the topic. Irrefutable.

Nothing changed with this team, we sucked it up royally at the end of last year, i mean some of the worse i have ever seen. This offseason brought about nothing new, more talk, getting rid of a few players, basically same style training camp and now the begining of the season is the exact same, talk, same problems on the field, same problems with the coaching staff, its all the same, nothing has changed, why would we expect the results to be different?

 

[Hostile]

You really should stop sticking your hand in that snake hole, if it was there before and the hole is still their and you can here the rattlin, its probably going to get bit again.

Sorry, it's a really poor analogy.

6-3 after 9 weeks. 2nd place in the division. Would you take it if I offered it to you right now? Would you say that is probably a playoff team?