The Big Picture - Macro Perspective on the Capital Markets, Economy, Technology, and Digital Media

For fans, this is Ernie Acorsi’s 2003 scouting report to the Mara family on why the NY Giants should reach out for Eli Manning. Incredibly accurate insights.

Hat tip Arthur Cashin, UBS

~~~

Subject: Arcorsi’s note to Mara from ole miss from 2003

WEARS LEFT KNEE BRACE… DURING PREGAME WARMUP, DIDN’T LOOK LIKE HE HAD A ROCKET ARM… AS GAME PROGRESSED, I SAW EXCELLENT ARM STRENGTH UNDER PRESSURE AND THE ABILITY TO GET VELOCITY ON THE BALL ON MOST THROWS. GOOD DEEP BALL RANGE. GOOD TOUCH. GOOD VISION AND POISE.

SEES THE FIELD… IN A SHOTGUN ON MOST PLAYS AND HIS ONLY RUNNING OPTION IS A DRAW… HIS OFFENSIVE LINE IS POOR. RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN LEFT TACKLE. ELI DOESN’T TRUST HIS PROTECTION. CAN’T. NO WAY CAN HE TAKE ANY FORM OF DEEP DROP AND LOOK DOWNFIELD. WITH NO RUNNING GAME (10 YARDS RUSHING THE FIRST HALF0 AND NO REAL TOP RECEIVERS, HE’S STUCK WITH THREE-STEP DROPS AND WAITING TIL THE LAST SECOND TO SEE IF A RECEIVER CAN GET FREE. NO TIGHT END EITHER. NO FLAIRING BACK. SO HE’S TAKING SOME BIG HITS. TAKING THEM WELL. CARRIED AN OVERMATCHED TEAM ENTIRELY ON HIS SHOULDERS. I IMAGINE, EXCEPT FOR VANDERBILT, HIS TEAM IS OVERMATCHED IN EVERY SEC [SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE] GAME… HE’S BIG, NEVER GETS RATTLED. RALLIED HIS TEAM FROM A 14-3 HALF-TIME DEFICIT BASICALLY ALL BY HIMSELF. LED THEM ON TWO SUCCESSIVE THIRD QUARTER DRIVES TO GO AHEAD, 17-16. THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN, ON A 40-YARD STREAK DOWN THE LEFT SIDELINE, HE DROPPED THE BALL OVER THE RECEIVER’S RIGHT SHOULDER. CALLED THE NEXT TOUCHDOWN PASS HIMSELF, CHECKING OFF TO A 12-YARD SLANT… MAKES A LOT OF DECISIONS ON PLAY CALLS AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, BUT THEY ASK TOO MUCH OF HIM. THEY DON’T LET HIM JUST PLAY. THIS IS A GUY YOU SHOULD JUST LET PLAY… WHEN HE’S INACCURATE, HE’S USUALLY HIGH, BUT RARELY OFF TARGET TO EITHER SIDE… PLAYS SMART AND WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE. DOESN’T SCOLD HIS TEAMMATES, BUT LETS THEM KNOW WHEN THEY LINE UP WRONG OR RUN THE WRONG PATTERN… THREW THREE INTERCEPTIONS. TWO WERE HIS FAULT. TRYING TO FORCE SOMETHING BOTH TIMES. HE COULD HAVE RUN ON ONE OF THEM, A FOURTH DOWN PLAY. HE HAS A LOT TO LEARN.

SUMMARY: I THINK HE’S THE COMPLETE PACKAGE. HE’S NOT GOING TO BE A FAST RUNNER, BUT A LITTLE LIKE JOE MONTANA, HE HAS ENOUGH ATHLETIC ABILITY TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE. REMEMBER HOW ARCHIE RAN? IN THAT DEPARTMENT, ELI DOESN’T HAVE THE BEST GENES, ALTHOUGH I NEVER TIMED MOM OLIVIA IN THE 40. BUT HE HAS A FEEL FOR THE POCKET. FEELS THE RUSH THROWS THE BALL, TAKES THE HIT, GETS RIGHT BACK UP… HAS COURAGE AND POISE. IN MY OPINION, MOST OF ALL, HE HAS THAT QUALITY THAT YOU CAN’T DEFINE. CALL IT MAGIC. AS [FORMER BALTIMORE COLTS DEFENSIVE BACK] BOBBY BOYD TOLD ME ONCE ABOUT UNITAS, “TWO THINGS SET HIM APART: HIS LEFT TESTICLE AND HIS RIGHT TESTICLE”… PEYTON HAD MUCH BETTER TALENT AROUND HIM AT TENNESSEE. BUT I HONESTLY GIVE THIS GUY A CHANCE TO BE BETTER THAN HIS BROTHER. ELI DOESNT GET MUCH HELP FROM THE COACHING STAFF. IF HE COMES OUT EARLY, WE SHOULD MOVE UP TO TAKE HIM. THESE GUYS ARE RARE, YOU KNOW. PEOPLE WILL SAY HE ISNT CONFIDENT. PEOPLE WILL SAY HE IS SOCIALLY AWKWARD AND INCAPABLE OF LEADING. THEY ARE WRONG. THIS KID IS A WINNER. LET’S DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO GET HIM. IT WILL BE THE DIFINING MOMENT OF THE FRANCHISE.

click for full graphic

>

Hat tip Flowing Data

Just in time for the big game, via Colonel Flick:

>

click for larger graphic

As Super Bowl fans gather around the TV and the chip bowl, some will probably be guilty of double-dipping those chips. In this latest “Is It True” segment, WSJ’s Christina Tsuei finds out whether double-dipping is really such a health hazard.

2/1/2012 9:03:05 PM

Though the Giants are closer to the New York Fed’s printing press, which can make magic happen,  fix almost anything, and more powerful than steroids, we’re buying the 49er breakout.   We do confess, however, our affinity for the team of the town we once lived and our love for Eli,  but the fundamentals and technicals are just too strong for San Francisco.

First,  adding 1 (more victory) to 49 sums to 50,  which is a key Fibonacci ratio level.   This is somewhat neutralized as the Giants will be playing in their 31st postseason, an NFL record, and their 19th championship game, which also sums to 50.

Second,  the 49er 50-day moving average broke above its 200-day generating the classic Golden Cross buy signal this week.   This is especially powerful when it moves through such a tight channel as the Golden Gate and we expect this combination to generate an explosive third wave in the fourth quarter, which could really give a boost to team confidence.   Niner fans are well trained and can  do an excellent wave on all three levels.

Finally, quarterback, Alex Smith, who has done nothing for 49er investors for several years had his breakout performance last week against the Saints.   This was confirmed on Friday by a breakout move of another long-term dog,  Microsoft, which was up almost 6 percent.   Thus, we are picking the 49ers to beat the Giants by 6 points.

Conversely,  Eli Manning is a bit overbought, coming off a career season and his first 300-yard postseason game, throwing for 330 yards against the Packers last week.  This looks like the formation of a Long Island Top to us.

The only real risk we see to a 49er victory is that Greece and its creditors don’t strike a deal by kickoff.   S&P futures could fall sharply and expectations that the Fed will announce a QE3 next week might give the Giants a boost.   This may be offset a bit as we believe next week’s close of the Shanghai Composite and Hang Seng in the first part of the week due to the New Year holiday is 49er positive.

Now how’s that for some Moneyball?   We dare you to prove us wrong if the 49ers win,  especially by 6 points.   Cheers to a hard hitting injury free game.

TV and Radio Calls of Vernon Davis’ Touchdown vs. Saints 1/14/12

(click here if video is not observable)

If the video dos not load, go to atenightwithjimmyfallon.com/

Is it ski season already?

Matthias Giraud and Stefan Laude capture some of the most incredible content seen by GoPro as they hit the Alps like true heroes skiing the French backcountry while escaping a large avalanche on their tails!

Avalanche Cliff Jump with Matthias Giraud

Hat tip Paul Kedrosky

A song I put together using Mike Tyson Quotes.

Download song here

http://justdavemusic.bandcamp.com/track/mike-tyson-quotes-the-song

Follow me on twitter

http://twitter.com/#!/JustDaveBklyn

hat tip world’s best ever

Full article, Genius Marketing: Audi Ad Details Crushing Physical Toll Of Racing In Le Mans at FactCoDesign:

Eliminating Luck,

The story of the New York Yankees and their strategy for success.

October 3, 2011