PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

[ClayP]

[link]http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=degree/jonesjr_pappas[/link]

The ESPN Greatest Athlete bracket is down to 16. Track's only athlete left is Tom Pappas. Be sure to vote for Pappas to advance. It's a shame he's up against Roy Jones when they are many athletes left that aren't in Pappas or Jones's class but we have to vote Pappas on.

[Track fan]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

This is current athletes I hope? At this point Pappas is better, but overall you have to be kidding? Jones has accomplished more over his career than Pappas.......

[Asterix]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

> we have to vote Pappas on.

This may be a naive question, but why do we have to? Will he be booted off the island literally instead of just figuratively? Will the vote results determine how much sponsorship (public or private) the sport will get? Will the vote results dictate how many hours of coverage ESPN will devote in the next year? Will track be dumped as an Olympic sport if thousands of anonymous people don't repeatedly click for one over the other (there doesn't appear to be much protection from one person voting a dozen times either)?

Might this be nothing more than a scheme to get people to visit the ESPN page? It's quite possible to have an inter-sport discussion of who beats who without being told we "have to vote" for anyone.

Cynics R Us

[ClayP]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

Of course, we don't "have" to vote for Pappas but he is the only track athlete left. If we want a track athlete to continue to advance, Pappas is it. Jones, like I mentioned before, is an exceptional athlete as well - remember, his basketball game before his night boxing match?

On the other hand, In a March ESPN magazine with Michael Phelps on the cover, pg. 49 (in reference to decathlete Tom Pappas) says "He's toying with the idea of someday participating in the NFL Combine as a wideout. Note to the pros: Pappas is 6'5 210 with a 4.34 in the 40, 17 reps in the 225-pound bench, 11'1 standing long jump and a 40" vertical.

You make the call?

[Asterix]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

>Of course, we don't "have" to vote for Pappas but he is the only track
>athlete left. If we want a track athlete to continue to advance, Pappas is it.

But why should we (or maybe I) care whether a track athlete advances? It is a completely unscientific and biased self-selecting poll that means absolutely nothing. Whether Pappas or any other track athlete advances anywhere has no bearing on anything.

I just find it amusing that some people get all worked up about such online polls and feel that their (and their sports) reputation, if not life blood, hang in the balance of the outcome.

>Jones, like I mentioned before, is an exceptional athlete as well - remember,
>his basketball game before his night boxing match?

No, I don't remember. Does that make me less worthy?

>You make the call?

My call: this poll and its results don't amount to a hill of beans. Demanding that fans "have to vote" someone on just looks rather silly to me. Maybe I should run my own online poll on that one?

[trackcoach]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

After 31,000 votes Pappas has a slight lead of 51% - 49%

[decafan]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

My
>call: this poll and its results don't amount to a hill of beans. Demanding
>that fans "have to vote" someone on just looks rather silly to me. Maybe I
>should run my own online poll on that one?

Asterix, you're a feakin' genius for pointing out that polls are meaningless. Thanks for bringing clarity to such of confusing topic. Lighten up.

[Asterix]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

Asterix, you're
>a feakin' genius for pointing out that polls are meaningless. Thanks for
>bringing clarity to such of confusing topic. >Lighten up.

Yes sir! Anal nitpicky mode now being set to 'off'. (Although it's a damn tricky switch and prone to jiggle loose at any time. Manufacturers warranty expired a few years ago and maintenance costs prohibit keeping up to spec.)

Still, I am curious as to why we were told "we have to vote". Seems some are indeed lacking in clarity.

"I had a clue once and didn't like it much. I took it back and they gave me an attitude instead."

[No Name]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

"Still, I am curious as to why we were told "we have to vote". Seems some are indeed lacking in clarity."


I don't think he meant it literally. I think it was just his way of encouraging everyone else to vote. As decafan said, lighten up.

[Asterix]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

"I think it was just his way of encouraging everyone else to vote."

But still, why should anyone bother to vote?

"As decafan said, lighten up."

Being a skinny runt distance runner, I've got very little weight to spare. Lightening up might result in serious health problems. Sorry.

[Jon]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

"But still, why should anyone bother to vote?"

Who knows - maybe some people DO like to participate in online polls (circa 51,000), however pointless they might be.


"Lightening up might result in serious health problems."

And.....?

[Asterix]

Re: PAPPAS VS ROY JONES JR

"Lightening up might result in serious health
>problems."

"And.....?"

And obviously too late for the incurred emotional/psychological problems. Apparently I have issues playing nicely with others.

So some people may enjoy pointlessly clicking on poorly contrived and meaningless online polls. As an activity to pass the time, that's probably comparable to argueing pedantic issues anonymously on a message board, so long as they are fully aware of what they are doing.

I've just seen many cases though in the past where people had strongly advocated others to vote similar to them under the apparent belief that the results somehow mean something (the rules would change, their sport might be cut, etc). Ignorance may be bliss, but it's a disservice to try and spread it.

"I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing."