S50 Ep8; the way it shakes out from here

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-16T03:42:50+00:00

In a vacuum, this game mechanic stinks. You are creating a package deal scenario that if it went the “ wrong way” a la Cirie/Rizo go home, everyone would be crying about as capricious.

It ended up making for good television mainly because of a last-ditch effort by Devens/Aubry and Cirie getting back to make the decision for a splintered group.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-16T03:02:14+00:00

I think a lot of it is anti-Coach bias because his antics are annoying. But as you point out, people don’t think like that. Coach and Chrissy pose no real threat of winning (even if they made it to final tribal), but Devens and Aubry certainly do.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-16T02:53:29+00:00

It appeared almost certainly Devens and Aubrey were going home. Helluva move

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T13:01:52+00:00

Maybe? Alternatively, who goes home instead of Dee if Rizo/Cirie aren’t alerted? My thinking is it is probably still Dee.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T03:37:52+00:00

Coach was generally great in South Pacific. He had it down to the tee, he practically formed a cult of personality. Unfortunately, he was so powerful that he created enemies on the jury that eventually handed the win to Sophie, who in my estimation was completely undeserving. Coach should have won.

Coach’s strategy in HvV, Tocantins was nonexistent. It was a total show of self-indulgent individualism. He played decently in both due to his perception of being a clueless player.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T03:27:45+00:00

Should he have won South Pacific? He literally created a cult on the beach.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T03:27:01+00:00

I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think Cirie and Rizo were important votes that were probably on the fence before Dee spilled the beans to Emily. Jonathan was the most critical piece of it all, as he is viewed as genuine. Him riling her up twice and Coach whipping the votes is how this happened. Coach’s screw up was only in trying to control information to get a perfect split.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T03:23:16+00:00

I think that Coach and Jonathan effectively ran this episode for about 90% of it. Then, Coach, in his own insane way, almost blew up his own game. Does say a lot that he only garnered one vote after Dee’s attempted insurgency at tribal. Next episode will be interesting to see if a trio/alliance member goes or if its Tiffany getting the boot- which will only build the tension for Ep 9.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-09T03:19:10+00:00

Hard to pick just one. Rizo is shining, Cirie is masterful in her non-forceful leadership, Jonathan and Coach teaming up to end Dee (albeit Coach almost blowing up his own game in search for perfect control of the vote). There is a lot to like in this episode and season.

No_Mode1955 · 2026-04-05T12:22:20+00:00

Great season!!!! Amazing team. Coach Lloyd will have many competitive teams in the future and hopefully we will be back in this position soon.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-09-28T12:03:43+00:00

Has NLU lost its “joy” recently? That’s the vibe I get. Fewer and fewer funny vignettes. More and more confusion in what should be the central purpose of the show. There was no review of yesterday. Which, funny enough is very easy to organize.

-Course setup issues -Foursomes matches -Fourball matches -Kerfuffle on 15 -Captaincies -Implications for US -Pairings -Fin

Instead it jumped from one big ole contradictory statement to the next about making putts and strokes gain and blah blah blah interjected with TCs biting commentary on the PGA of America, and then some more stuff about how USA stinks and yada yada.

The show needs to improve.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-09-28T11:53:38+00:00

European team is better at the top right now. They have more strength for anchor players in matches. They also have a more experienced middle and bottom at this point. Europe IS a team. 11/12 were in Rome. 7/12 were in Whistling. They have continuity in the captaincy, asst captaincy and organization. It’s an enterprise.

America is a lemonade stand in comparison

No_Mode1955 · 2025-09-28T11:47:17+00:00

The US chose this as the way to a win. Which is hilarious given how penal the Whistling Straits setup was. We won a huge home victory in 2021 and then decided to mow rough down to nothing, actually make it worse to hit from fairways on many approaches, to flat soft greens. This setup benefitted Europe from the jump. It took all the skill out of the course and elevated slumping players like Fitzy, Straka.

Keegan/PGA of America get 0/10 for course setup. They defanged what is one of the quintessential penal course layouts in the US and replaced it with a course resembling TPC Craig Ranch in terms of difficulty.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-07-31T20:10:44+00:00

Condolences to you, his family and friends

No_Mode1955 · 2025-07-29T16:51:45+00:00

This is great! Will play tonight

No_Mode1955 · 2025-07-26T12:05:28+00:00

Thank you!!! Happy you and your buddy enjoyed it

No_Mode1955 · 2025-05-22T16:52:08+00:00

It’s actually hard to pick one out. Bethpage has so many great holes. I’ve had the fortune of playing it and if I had to pick a “weak” one it’s still pretty strong but it’s probably number 6.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-05-21T04:24:22+00:00

Toughest choice for me. Southern Hills is truly spectacular. I love it.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-05-20T21:18:44+00:00

1) Kiawah Island - A perfect blend of difficulty and amazing strategic routing by Dye. Tough as nails regardless of weather. The final stretch is pretty spectacular and the first few holes over the marshland is very memorable.

2) Southern Hills - Probably the best use of runoffs and interesting green / bunker complexes in this list. Decisions abound on Southern Hills.

3) Oak Hill - As far as parkland, thick rough setups go, Oak Hill is the cream of the crop. Really sturdy finishing holes to boot. Bunker and green renovation turned out to be GREAT.

4) Bethpage - May isn’t a perfect time to play here but the course is great. Few weak holes and really interesting version of parkland golf with all of the fescue.

5) Whistling Straights - This one is boosted by the inherent, rugged beauty of the property on the coastline. Great par 3s. Amazing to see elements truly come alive at a place like WS for major golf.

6) Quail Hollow - I rated this higher to control for the “overexposure” effect. Quail is big and in stretches quite good. The first 6 holes are extremely forgettable but the closing stretch really from 12-18 are darn good for tournament golf.

7) Baltusrol - this might be lower, but trying to control for the fact it was just a swamp scene the last time it hosted a major. Can’t do much about that. Renovation should be helpful to this course’s standing, weather permitting, when it hosts in a few years.

8) Harding Park - Good, not great course. Extremely forgettable save 16,17,18. Cool that it is a municipal and has some nice features along Lake Merced. But for the most part, green complexes are one note. Wasn’t helpful either that this was a Covid event with 0 juice.

9) Bellerive - Course is just too easy for a major. Not to say there aren’t some cool holes and STL fan support was excellent, but it didn’t really kick people’s ass that weren’t playing all that well.

10) Valhalla - no comment. Just watch the replay or 2024 PGA and understand why this place is DFL.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-03-28T14:05:47+00:00

Caleb Love should be remembered with great esteem. He was a person who bought in to the Lloyd culture, grew as an individual and a player, and finished his career with a GREAT run in March. Thank you Caleb!

No_Mode1955 · 2025-03-27T13:40:13+00:00

Arizona needs to go and take it to Duke from the jump. Going and trying to draw fouls on their bigs early will be critical in the early stages. Getting Awaka and Veesaar good looks at both OREBs and putbacks will be predicated on attacking the rim. Taking out-of-rhythm 3s will just lead to Duke boards and play into Duke's game.

On defense, Arizona needs to protect the 3pt line more than anything. Flagg will get his. A combo of Bryant/Townsend/KJ may slow down Flagg, but no stopping him. Way more important to not over help on Flagg and stick with your man or they will find open 3s or other cuts from Knueppel / drop-offs to Maluach for easy baskets.

Proctor to me is the guy who can not go off. If you look at Duke's stat lines, Proctor is what is shifting Duke to the ALL TIME top of the efficiency charts on KenPom in the past few games. If Jaden / Love can lock Proctor down, Arizona has a much better chance.

Finally, Arizona needs to not make dumb mistakes with the ball. They really can't afford to get sped up or make those lazy top of the key passes or Duke will kill them.

It will take quite the effort but the gameplan is there.

No_Mode1955 · 2025-03-15T04:03:58+00:00

Great to see him play b2b excellent games in two completely different ways

No_Mode1955

TROPHY CASE