YB Box Score: 9/23 - Win totals and the jobbing renaissance

Welcome back to Box Score, day two of the the YB roundup of news we find interesting from around sports blogdome. Happy birthday to Matt Kemp, Marvin Lewis and Eric Montross; and a big congrats to Jose Canseco on this 28th anniversary of joining the 40-40 club.

Around the League:

YB IYCMI:

"The strongest force in the NFL at any given time is fortune’s inclination to screw over Cleveland. Granted, the Browns organization is usually willing to lend fate a hand in the service of making the team struggle, though it is remarkable how often one organization can be dealt a raw deal." -  NFL Kickoff: Week 3 - Pity the perpetually rebuilding Browns

"But will the Warriors have incentive to win as many games as they can during the season? There are plenty of reasons to answer no." - Questions from reviewing the Vegas 2016-17 NBA win totals

"Pro wrestling isn’t all that different from any other line of work. You never know when your opportunity is going to come, when that bit of luck is going to find you. But when it does, you need to capitalize. Ellsworth did." - How James Ellsworth jobbed his way into the heart of the wrestling world

"Plus, with the way the Raiders value their history, they'll probably never switch from this design — even if they do switch cities again." - Ranking the helmets of the NFL

"She did not write this to place herself into a neat box and ride off smoothly into retirement with a perfect-from-afar legendary image—she wrote it to further break out of any box she has ever been placed in." - Abby Wambach's memoir 'Forward' will make you want to leap with her

YB contributors elsewhere

Editor Joe Boland was on Sportsnet radio to talk about his open letter to fellow alumni on Joe Paterno and Penn State. Give a listen here. [Sportsnet]

Not just blowing smoke

After the Houston Texans were blown out by the New England Patriots 27-0 tackle Vince Wilfolk admitted, "We came into Gillette Stadium and we got smoked."

Wilfork? Smoking? Good enough for us to post one of the greatest football highlight reels of all time.


At least Wilfork has the rest of the weekend to get a nice smoke ring on his brisket.

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More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Rafael Nadal switches gears, gives major update on French Open status
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Heat legend cautions Lakers against hiring JJ Redick
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to blowout win in Game 5 vs. Pacers
Nikola Jokic torches DPOY to lead Nuggets past Wolves in Game 5
Oilers use late heroics to tie Canucks at two games each
Watch: Astros pitcher ejected after foreign substance check
Kirk Cousins not angry with Falcons because winning is 'hard enough'
Bronny James has surprising comments on potentially teaming up with LeBron
Bills add two-time Super Bowl champ to new-look WR room
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Sandy Alderson denies involvement in Mets, Billy Eppler IL controversy
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish

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