Mike O'Connell | The Web home of Michael O'Connell

Restaurant reviews… yet another service we offer

Posted on May 3, 2024 by moc

Today on Math and Musings I’ve got a professional food critic offering up a few notes on one of my favorite restaurants in the world.

I’m always worried when speaking to an expert, even more so when that expert is judging something I’ve placed in such high regard.

The restaurant is the Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room, and the expert…

is my son. He got a free meal out of going to there with me a couple weeks ago, so in our review he wasn’t going to say anything too harsh.

All I can say is, Bon appetite!

It’s been 30 years…

Posted on May 1, 2024 by moc

A week ago I called them the best team in hockey, and having swept my hometown Capitals I still hold that particular distinction for the Broadway Blueshirts, the team of my youth… the New York Rangers.

I referenced their championship 1994, noting among other things it hasn’t happened since.

You think that’s a drought?

How about the team with whom they share a building?

That would be another team of my youth, the New York Knickerbockers of the NBA, who last won a title in 1973.

The Knicks have won exactly one playoff series the past decade though they’re poised to win another this week (minor setback last night).

And they’ve been to only one NBA Finals since…

1994.

Caps out, Wizards long out… New Yorker Mike comin’ out again.

Sometimes I plug other people’s podcasts

Posted on April 29, 2024 by moc

Here’s a cure for your Monday…

If you’re looking for an entertaining hour this week (or whenever) check out the latest episode of Conversations with Sports Fans, a podcast hosted by Detroit-area educator and writer Doug Hill.

I’m Doug’s guest this week, among other things talking about sports fandom, teaching, and my upcoming book on using sports statistics in the classroom. I had fun doing the show and Doug is a knowledgeable host and all-around nice guy. He was even enough of a gentleman not to call me out when I mistakenly referred to a Syracuse basketball game from 1990 as being from 1991.

Doug’s website, The Sports Fan Project, has an incredible amount of content. I aspire. Check out every word because it’s all top notch and ranges across a wide variety of topics. Musings upon life like this other guy I know.

But you’ve already found his website.

Binghamton review

Posted on April 26, 2024 by moc

As promised Monday, today’s episode of Math and Musings sees me and Franklin in the old country: Binghamton, New York.

We were there for only 24 hours because that’s about all that I can handle, and just about enough time to do anything worthwhile in that place.

Team of my youth showing its mettle

Posted on April 24, 2024 by moc

Down two-zip in its series I’m started to worry a bit about my hometown NHL team (that would be the Washington Capitals). I guess that’s what to expect when going up against the best team in hockey. That would be the New York Rangers.

The Rangers also happen to be the team of my youth, the team who brought me great joy when hoisting Lord Stanley’s cup in 1994. This was 54 years after their previous trophy–a little before my time.

One championship banner in 80-plus years?

I think they’re due.

Not exactly Disney World, but…

Posted on April 22, 2024 by moc

This past weekend I was in the old country: Binghamton, New York.

You’ll hear more on the podcast Friday, of course, but for now I’ll just say wow, Binghamton is a lot nicer when it’s not your real life. See some friends, go to a couple restaurants… not go to work.

I imagine anywhere in the world is nice if you go there on vacation.

Binghamton is proof of that.

Public and private anniversaries

Posted on April 19, 2024 by moc

Today on Math and Musings it’s the tale of two anniversaries, one well-known (but could be more well-known) and one hardly known at all.

One is happy and one is sad, one worth repeating and one we hope is never repeated again.

They both get their dues on the podcast today, but you’ll have to tune in to find out more.

Just making it is still making it

Posted on April 17, 2024 by moc

In baseball the saying is, “It’ll look like a liner in the box score.”

That’s how I’m seeing my local NHL team (that would be the Washington Capitals) and its sneaky entrance into this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Caps won their last three games of the season, and I’m happy to say it wasn’t their last three games.

Just as important, these were regulation wins. Yeah, the old RW column. Who’da thunk this meaningless stat would actually play into whether or not the Caps made the playoffs? They forgot that one in Moneyball… on-base percentage, OPS+, and regulation wins.

Remember to put that one in Moneyball 2.

This is somehow worse than Sundays without football

Posted on April 15, 2024 by moc

It’s been a minute since I’ve had a Sunday night with no episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm to look forward to.

Last night was one of those nights, and yeah, it just felt wrong.

Then again, for a little perspective (and a little math lesson), Curb Your Enthusiasm was on the air for 24 years. That’s about 1,250 Sundays.

Twelve seasons, 10 episodes each, a total of 120 episodes.

Less than 10 percent of Sundays the past 24 years have had a new episode of Curb.

Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

You knew this was coming

Posted on April 12, 2024 by moc

Like I’m going to take a professional food critic to Disney World and not have him on the podcast talking about the delicious fare offered at the tastiest place on Earth.

Today on Math and Musings my son muses about all things edible at Walt Disney World.