Comments on: UPDATE: OK, it was a joke that went over my head

By: BC

BC — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:01:01 +0000

Epic blogger fail!

By: frankvzappa

frankvzappa — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:18:29 +0000

and the goddamned uss calcaterra has crashed into the mountain…

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 04:08:37 +0000

I laughed right away. I thought it was pretty funny. But I’m a total a-wipe. And I’m not one of those there saber mathematicians neither. So it was probably in bad taste. IMO It was a “Joke” as opposed to a Joke. Like he meant every last word of it, but figured he could get away with calling it a joke. You know it.

By: IdahoMariner

IdahoMariner — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:36:45 +0000

I have to agree with dreamkafka and billtpa…it doesn’t really work as a joke, but even if intended that way, it just comes off poorly. We should just celebrate that they got it right, and resist any urge to do anything else.

By: IdahoMariner

IdahoMariner — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:34:39 +0000

well, not intentionally. sometimes, they inadvertently engage in brilliant satire…of themselves.

sorry…got carried away.

By: billtpa

billtpa — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:13:17 +0000

I think it makes it only marginally better that it WAS a joke. Because sabermetricians/saberists obviously aren’t the butt of the joke, which means “they” are. What makes Colbert so brilliant is that he comes off this way while poking fun at himself much more than at others (of course he’s playing a character so “he” isn’t really “himself,” but nevermind that), and I don’t get that sense from this at all. It’s just not very funny, and I think it qualifies as “unctuous arrogance” regardless of how it was intended. I’m a big fan of Tango, but IMO, he’d be best served to stay out of this particular arena.

By: dreamkafka

dreamkafka — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:11:43 +0000

Regardless of joke status, the message by Mr. Tango read as sarcastic. The original request here for graciousness would seem to hold up.

By: woodenulykteneau

woodenulykteneau — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:06:02 +0000

Tom Tango’s sabermetric and mathematical abilities are inversely proportional to his skill as a writer and his humility. Take it from someone who has dared to challenge him… because you have to: Tango deletes the posts that he doesn’t agree with. Sorry, Tommy: When you have a history of being a prick, it’s hard to tell when you’re doing intentionally or not. That someone as smart and savvy as Craig couldn’t tell the difference so proves my point.

By: wpcorbett

wpcorbett — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:59:37 +0000

Remember, Craig is a recovering lawyer. You gotta cut him some slack. The Supreme Court doesn’t do satire.

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:54:02 +0000

You read this and didn’t immediately think it was a joke? Damn, don’t take this stuff so seriously. Next time you should probably take 5 minutes before hitting publish.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:51:42 +0000

Reading as if it was Colbert in front of Congress does make it funnier, but Colbert in front of Congress was f’ing hilarious and this doesn’t come close…try again Tango.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:41:11 +0000

In two separate comments from Tango Tiger responded to complaints.

I thought that I had enough tongues-in-cheek in the post that it wouldn’t be taken seriously.

Man, you guys are so serious about this.

When I read it, I’m imagining Stephen Colbert saying it, like when he was in front of Congress. Read it like that. See if you get the same impression.

I mean, the “dean of new-fangled stats” is like “senior balloon correspondant”.

So yes, it’s just a joke.