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Remembering Hoops, the college basketball computer game Billy Packer helped develop
Billy Packer's contributions to college basketball included an endless list of analyses and calls (both famous and infamous) as a broadcaster and voice of the Final Four on TV for more than three decades.
But he also had a small hand in developing a long-forgotten 1980s computer game, Hoops, which was basically the college basketball version of Strat-O-Matic.
Packer died on Thursday night at the age of 82 due to kidney failure that was the result of various health issues over the past few weeks.
Hoops was mostly developed by the sports analytics duo of Jeff Sagarin and Wayne Winston. It originally began as a table-top card game that would have historical teams go against each other, similar to the old Strat-O-Matic baseball game.
Sagarin enlisted the help of Packer to create defensive ratings for the players in the game.
The March 30, 1987 edition of Sports Illustrated called the game "addictive" due to its "sophisticated, yet marvelously easy to play" style. It was available for purchase only through mail order.
The initial game included the statistics and characteristics of 220 top teams between 1950 and 1986 on a floppy disc.
Later versions of the game would add teams and make gameplay adjustments (adding in a fatigue factor for players, the three-point shot, etc.) to improve the experience.
This game would help be the launching pad for Sagarin's career as a sports analytics expert. His methods for rating teams would be used regularly by USA Today, the college basketball selection committee, and the college football bowl championship series.
Hoops didn't have much staying power due to the eventual development of sports video games, and it is merely a footnote in Packer's career.
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Pitt Men's Basketball All-Time Starting Five
The Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team boasts a rich history of success, including one appearance in the Final Four in 1941. They have had 15 First Team All-American selections and participated in 27 NCAA Tournaments, with the most trip coming in 2023. Pittsburgh has also appeared in nine National Invitation Tournaments (NITs). Here is the program's all-time starting five. C: Charles Smith, 6-10, 1984-1988 Exceptional performance became a standard for Charles Smith throughout his four-year tenure at Pittsburgh, as he set school records in points (2,045) and blocks (346). His four All-Big East teams and the title of Big East Player of the Year in the 1987-88 season are a testament to his skill and dedication. As a Panther, Smith's average of 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game on 50% shooting from the field is a benchmark for aspiring players. His jersey, retired in Pittsburgh, is a fitting tribute to his legacy. PF: Sam Young, 6-6, 2005-2009 Sam Young won the Big East Most Improved Player in the 2007-08 season when he averaged 18.1 points per game. He also scored 13.2 points and grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game for his career at Pittsburgh. Additionally, he shot 49% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc on his way to two Big East teams. In his senior season at Pitt, Young averaged 19.2 points per game and was honored as a Third Team All-American. His 2009 NBA draft stock also increased after his spectacular performance in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, during which he averaged 23.5 points in four games. SF: Billy Knight, 6-6, 1971-174 Billy Knight was dominant during his three years at Pittsburgh, averaging 22.2 points and 12.0 rebounds on 52% shooting from the field. He scored 1,731 total points and was part of the team that won 22 straight games in the 1973-74 season, a remarkable feat that led them to the Elite Eight. SG: Brandin Knight, 6-0, 1999-2003 Brandin Knight was a floor general for the Panthers, setting school records in assists (785) and steals (282). He dished out 6.2 assists per game for the program. He also averaged 11.3 points per game and scored a total of 1,440 points. Knight won Big East Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in the 2001-2002 season. PG: Don Hennon, 5-8, 1956-1959 Don Hennon could score the basketball; he averaged 24.2 points per game in three years as a Panther. He scored 45 points in a game and had two other 40-point performances as well. He finished his career at Pitt in an era before the three-point shot was introduced, and before first-year students were eligible to play; he was the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,841 points upon leaving the program, a record that remains fifth on the school's all-time scoring list.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Rangers Sign Former Stanley Cup Champion to Tryout Agreement
The New York Rangers are adding to their forward depth ahead of their upcoming training camp. The Rangers are entering a new chapter of their organization under new head coach Mike Sullivan. After missing the postseason last year, the organization is trying to rebound and respond accordingly in 2025 and 2026. Former Stanley Cup champion forward Conor Sheary is the latest player to join the new-look Rangers. The veteran forward agreed to a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the club and will look to earn an NHL deal with his performance in training camp and the preseason. Sheary is a veteran of 593 NHL games. Originally an undrafted free agent, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins after completing his collegiate career. Following a year with the Penguins' AHL affiliate, he forced his way onto the NHL squad after posting 36 points in his first 30 games of the 2015-2016 season at the AHL level. His debut NHL season went better than ever expected, and he was a key part of the Penguins' lineup that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Sheary's coach at the time, both at the AHL and NHL levels, was Mike Sullivan. Now, he'll get the chance to reunite with the coach under whom he won two championships. In addition to playing for the Penguins, Sheary has played for three other NHL franchises. The Pens dealt him to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2018-2019 campaign, but he would return to Pittsburgh the following season at the trade deadline. After his second stint with the Penguins, he joined the Washington Capitals. He played three seasons in Washington, D.C. before landing with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he spent the past two years. Over his 593 career games, he's compiled 124 goals and 143 assists for 267 points. His best NHL season came during the 2016-2017 campaign, his second in the league. He scored 23 goals and added 30 assists for 53 points in 61 regular-season games.
Ten most egregious MLB Hall of Fame snubs by position
On July 27, first baseman/third baseman Dick Allen, outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Dave Parker and pitchers CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. They will join the 351 players already immortalized, either for their performance on the diamond or their contributions to the game itself. While many of the greatest players in MLB history have been enshrined in Cooperstown, there have been several who have yet to join their ranks. Let's take a look at the biggest snubs for the Hall of Fame by position. Catcher: Thurman Munson The heart and soul of the New York Yankees in the 1970s, Munson was a fiery leader who was named the sixth captain in franchise history. A seven-time All-Star, Munson posted a .292/.346/.410 batting line with 113 homers and 229 doubles over parts of 11 seasons. The 1970 AL Rookie of the Year and 1976 AL MVP was just 32 years old when he died as the airplane he was flying crashed, trapping Munson in the wreckage. First base: Keith Hernandez Hernandez is better known for his appearance on "Seinfeld" and as a commentator during New York Mets' broadcasts these days, but he is arguably the best defensive first baseman in MLB history. Hernandez won a record 11 Gold Glove awards at first, and his 120 runs saved is the most of any first baseman. A five-time All-Star and a 1979 co-NL MVP, Hernandez was a solid hitter as well, slashing .296/.384/.436 during his career with 162 homers and 426 doubles. His 60.3 bWAR is the most of any eligible first baseman not tied to PED allegations who is not already enshrined. Second base: Lou Whitaker Whitaker, by virtually any measure, should already be in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he received just 2.9% of the vote in his only year on the ballot. A five-time All-Star, Whitaker was one of the best all-around second basemen of his era. He had a .276/.363/.426 batting line with 2,369 hits, 244 homers and 420 doubles while stealing 143 bases. Whitaker was the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year, won three Gold Glove awards and was a four-time Silver Slugger. His 75.1 bWAR is the sixth most of any second baseman in MLB history. His enshrinement is long overdue. Third base: Buddy Bell Bell had the misfortune of playing during the careers of two of the greatest third basemen in MLB history — Mike Schmidt and George Brett. Nonetheless, Bell had an impressive career in his own right. A five-time All-Star, he batted .279/.341/.406 with 2,514 hits, 201 homers and 425 doubles. Bell was a six-time Gold Glove winner and ranks third all-time in runs saved at the hot corner. Shortstop: Bill Dahlen One of the best shortstops of the dead-ball era, Dahlen is a forgotten great of the game. "Bad Bill," so nicknamed due to his battles with umpires and fiery temperament, put up a .272/.358/.382 slash line with 2,461 hits, 413 doubles and 163 triples. Although his 975 errors at short are the second most in MLB history, he was considered an excellent defensive shortstop with great range during his playing days. His 75.3 bWAR is the sixth-best of any shortstop, helping revive his Hall of Fame candidacy. Left field: Barry Bonds Bonds faces an uphill climb to enshrinement due to suspicions of PED usage and his connection to the BALCO scandal. Nevertheless, no one can argue his greatness on the diamond. Bonds was a 14-time All-Star, a seven-time NL MVP, won 12 Silver Slugger awards and eight Gold Gloves. The single-season and career home run leader, Bonds boasted a .298/.444/.607 batting line with 2,935 hits, 762 homers and 601 doubles while stealing 514 bases. He is one of just eight members of the 300 homer/300 stolen base club and the only player in the 400-400 and 500-500 clubs. Center field: Kenny Lofton As was the case with Whitaker, Lofton had just one year on the Hall of Fame ballot, earning 3.2% of the vote. However, like Whitaker, Lofton is one of the best at his position in major league history. Although overshadowed by teammates such as Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez during his time in Cleveland, Lofton was a six-time All-Star and won four Gold Glove awards. He has a career .299/.372/.423 batting line with 2,428 hits, 130 homers and 383 doubles while stealing 622 bases. Lofton's 68.4 bWAR ranks ninth in MLB history, the highest mark of anyone either not enshrined or eligible for induction. Right field: Dwight Evans Evans was the victim of timing. Had he played in the Moneyball Era, he likely would have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer due to his ability to work counts, get on base and hit for power. Overlooked for much of his career, the three-time All-Star had a .272/.370/.470 batting line with 2,446 hits, 385 homers and 483 doubles. An eight-time Gold Glove winner, Evans ranks in the top 20 all-time in putouts (4,247, third), assists (155, 15th), double plays (42, ninth) and runs saved (71, 13th) in right. Starting pitcher: Roger Clemens As is the case with Bonds, Clemens' Hall of Fame case is hurt by PED allegations. Baseball history cannot be written without acknowledging Clemens' place therein. An 11-time All-Star, Clemens won a record seven Cy Young awards, doing so in three different decades. He went 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.173 WHiP over his 4916.2 innings, striking out 4672 batters, including a pair of 20-strikeout games — the only pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a game twice. Relief pitcher: Firpo Marberry One could argue that Marberry was the prototype for what became the closer role. Although he would function as a starter, including five years where he started most of his appearances, Marberry was a dominant force out of the bullpen. He twice reached double digits in wins and saves in the same season (1924 and 1926). Overall, Marberry produced a 148-88 record while recording 99 saves, retroactively leading the AL seven times and leading the majors six times. He pitched to a 3.63 ERA and a 1.323 WHIP in 2,067.1 innings, ranking seventh in bWAR (31.7) among any pitcher with at least 60% of their appearances coming out of the bullpen.
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