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Streak for the Math

rooftop secrets — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:43:33 -0800

Theoretically, what would be the best way to game the ESPN 'Streak for the Cash' game? (Note: I do not actually want to do this) ESPN recently introduced a game on their website called Streak for the Cash, which gives you a set of different picks every day that you can make on who will win a game or score more points or other 'prop' type bets. Each of these picks have odds right around the 50/50 mark, and in order to win the game you need to string together 27 corrects picks (I don't know the math exactly, but I know that's a very low probability of success-- although you can improve your odds slightly with some sports knowledge).

So the question is, how many people would you need and what strategy would you employ to effectively improve your odds to the point that you could win? Is it even possible, or would you need so many people that it wouldn't be feasible? (Again, I don't actually want to organize this, but I was having a conversation about it and am not smart enough to figure it out myself).

Key points:
- There are about 10-12 different 'bets' you can make per day in a variety of sports.
- You do NOT have to pick every day, and you can pick multiple bets per day as long as the prior game has finished. In other words, if you sat in front of the computer and picked the games furthest apart during the day, you could probably make up to 2-4 picks a day.

NORMALLY GOOD!

McBain — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:49:41 -0800

This question is completely silly but it has been driving me nuts for months. What is the movie/TV/cultural reference when the anchor on Sportscenter says "Normally good" in a rather thick accent? I am constantly frustrated with not being able to remember what this is from.

Looking for US article on picking UK footy team

jtron — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:41:16 -0800

Looking for an article by a US sportswriter trying to figure out which Premier League football club to support. I think it was on espn.com's Page 2, and I'm pretty sure I got there from a link on Paul Lukas' Uni Watch Blog, but who knows. I've searched both sites to no avail.

Give me my SNY!

Doctor Suarez — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:31:27 -0800

How can an out-of-market Mets fan persuade the MLB extra innings system to give us the New York broadcast instead of the Florida one for opening day? As an out-of-market Mets fan, I've grown somewhat accustomed to seeing half of the team's games on Extra Innings broadcast by the opposing team's network. And while I have nothing but love for Vin Scully, essentially all of the other team broadcasts are torture at best. And I have to listen to these yahoos instead of the Mets' broadcast team, which is far, far better and, of course, Mets-focused.

But I've accepted this as part of the deal.

However, here's the problem:

The Mets are opening their season against the Marlins, in Florida, and will most likely have Johan Santana on the mound. This is a big freaking deal for us. And the thought of this game's being broadcast by the insufferable Fox Sports Florida crew fills me with dread and disgust. But the package generally chooses the home-team's broadcast system.

However, there have been exceptions in the past. Sometimes, the teams have different broadcasters on the weekends (including the Mets, whose weekend games are on the CW 11 instead of SNY, and therefore never make it onto the package.) On rare, glorious occasions, a Mets road game will run with the SNY feed.

Now, if the game is chosen as ESPN's Monday Night Baseball, my problems are solved. But if it's not, I would like to know how I can convince the powers that be (whomever they are) to use the SNY feed instead of the FSN FL feed.

Aside from the fact that I want it, it makes good sense for them anyway. There are FAR more out-of-market Mets fans than Marlins fans, and since Johan is the story of the game, it would be FAR better for the audience at large to watch the game broadcast by his team.

Drums for College Gameday?

bronxteacher — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:53 -0800

What is the drumline/trumpets that's the soundtrack for College Gameday? It sounds like a college fight song...it's incredibly addictive and would love to get my hands on it (ring tone anyone?).

Any help would be much appreciated.

ESPN football highlights music?

ac — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:50:46 -0800

Does anybody know what those wonderful two or three tracks are that ESPN plays in the background while they go over football highlights (both college and NFL)? Or where I can find them? Thanks! Specifically, thinking of ESPN College GameDay, "The Blitz" with Chris Berman, and SportsCenter. Thanks!!

Personal mention on ESPN in the last day or two. Did anybody see it?

mcstayinskool — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:06:14 -0800

I just heard that my extremely odd online NCAA basketball pool was mentioned on ESPN in the past day or two, except I don't know in what context or on what show. Anyone see it? (more inside) I'm in my 12th year of running a bizarre online NCAA basketball pool. It's hard to do it justice unless you've entered it, but it's non-profit, no gambling involved, full of ridiculous data analysis tools, and the winner only gets a candy bar (mailed to them anywhere on the globe). Oh, and you compete against 1000 chimpanzees, who all make their picks at random.

SO ANYWAY, apparently my pool was mentioned on ESPN in the past 48 hours, but I don't know what show and in what context. Any chance anyone saw this, so I can try tracking down a clip?

If it helps, it's called the "Johnny Quest Memorial Candy Bar Pool" or JQMCBP for short. I kind of doubt they would have referred to it by name though.

Help me find a source for this quote!

Bizurke — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:03:14 -0800

Where's does this quote about the University of Virginia really come from? I go to UVA, and it seems every other facebook profile or AIM buddy info has this quote in it, usually sourced to the ESPN magazine:

"Just about every other school in Virginia likes to bash UVA kids for being 'pretentious' and 'snobs.' In other words, they get called out for thinking they're better than everyone else. Well, if you went to the school in Virginia with the most stringent admissions requirements, best overall athletic program, most beautiful campus and coeds, most successful and famous alumni, the most storied social scene, was founded by Thomas Jefferson, and all that happened to be in what was voted the #1 city to live in America, well you'd think you were the shit too."

Now this seems kinda off. I'm not sure why ESPN would make this kind of declaration. Also, it doesn't seem like a professionally edited publication would call UVA students "UVA kids" or have such an awkward run-on sentence in it.

I suspect that some student just made up the quote. Is there anyway to confirm my hunch?

Video location

one_bean — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:55:14 -0800

How do I get archived video from ESPN? Alternately, does anybody have a copy of the 8/31/06 Indians at Red Sox game from ESPN? Reward and A follow-up to this question, I still would really like to get my hands on a copy of this game, specifically the ESPN broadcast. Unfortunately, ESPN refers me to MLB, MLB refers me to the Red Sox, who only have the NESN feed, and so they tell me to contact ESPN.

I downloaded the game from mlb.com, but it's the NESN feed and does not include my nieces, who were interviewed by some ESPN "guy in the crowd." At this point I'm offering a modest cash reward ($50, negotiable) for anybody who can supply the video, and also for anybody who can refer me to that person. My sister would be thrilled to have this (me too).

15 Minutes of Adorable

one_bean — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 08:38:50 -0800

Does anybody have a copy of the Red Sox/Indians game from Monday night on ESPN? Pretty specific, I know, but my twin nieces (9 months old) were apparently featured on the broadcast and ESPN is refusing to send a tape. If anybody happened to tivo it (and save for posterity... good first game to go to at Fenway!), I'd love to get a copy. Thanks! (Brownie points if you also have the Sportscenter that followed, which I hear may have had the twins on the lead-in). Bartered reward.

Oooh, after that haymaker his eye looks bad!

nekton — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:07:49 -0800

What is being used by the cutman to heal your boxer (reduce swelling) in the video game ESPN Fight Night Round 3? In ESPN Fight Night Rd. 3, when you are injured your cutman can heal you between rounds. To reduce swelling, he rubs what looks like some sort of block with a handle against your boxer's face. What is this tool? Is it used to reduce swelling "in real life"?