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March 18, 2015

*THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY SLINGBOX*

I’m trying something new. Both in the technology and in the post. As you can tell by the disclaimer above, this is an endorsement/ad post.

I’ve reached the point in life where I can’t just take vacation or sick days to watch the first two days of NCAA Tournament basketball. With a wife and kids I am not allowed to be so selfish as to “waste” time off just watching games all day. No. Those days have to be preserved for family.

Enter the Slingbox.

It’s one of those gadgets I’ve always wanted. When they first came out, they were better in idea than in reality. Lots of configuration. Lots of work to get it just right.

Now, it is almost plug-and-play.

I picked up a Slingbox M1 this past weekend and plugged it in to my DirecTV box — all the cables are included. Then it was a download of the app to my phone and tablet. And a different app on my laptop. A few minutes to register and configure the settings and it was ready to go.

I’ve been testing it the last couple days at work and in other places. It streams remarkably smoothly on my tablet and laptop when connected to wi-fi. On my cell phone, though, when I have to rely on the cell connection it has been a very pleasant surprise.

Slingbox gives me full access to the DVR in addition to all my channels. Anything saved on my DVR I can watch right on the tablet or phone.  It even plays well with my Amazon Fire TV stick.

Obviously, the main attraction is live sports. No issues with blackouts — which I’ve hit a few times with WatchESPN — when I couldn’t be home to watch a game.

The crush tomorrow to watch the NCAA Tourney on a stream from CBS is a bit dodgy at times with the sheer crush of people trying to watch. That isn’t a problem when I’m streaming it from my own TV.

Please take a minute to checkout some more info about the Slingbox (and help me justify one more gadget to my wife). They are even doing a “Madness Cubed” contest to give away a comfy chair for your office, a Slingbox 500, and an party meal for your entire office. 68 runners-up get a Slingbox M1





I hate that the 1st post is a negative one, but I received an ‘access denied’ error message when I click on the link. BUT it is most likely because I am doing this from my work computer.

I’m pretty sure when I get home to my notebook, I will be able to get in.

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 6:01 am

I am unforgiving about parenting; I deeply respect parents who do it the way I did it and continue to do it and I abhor parents who cheat their kids out of the essentials. Your kids are a gift, other stuff can wait. Technology to the rescue.

Comment by Old School Panther 03.19.15 @ 6:57 am

I’ve had one sitting in my in-laws house back in PA for years. It was the only way to see many of the Pitt games here in VA. Since then the amount of games streamed on the internet has increased dramatically and has rendered the Slingbox almost obsolete. I rarely have the blackout issue since I am not in Pitt TV territory.

Comment by Yeti 03.19.15 @ 7:11 am

Props to RMU (who will play Duke tomorrow night). Irrespective to what technology that is utilized to watch tomorrow’s game, it has to be a requirement of March Maddness viewers in the Pgh area since they’re the only homeboy team in the tourney.

I’m not expecting much if course with them going up against the #1 seed in their bracket but that’s what it’s all about. I’m just hoping RMU can hang with the Blue Devils. I’ve already seen enough dismantling of BB programs by putting myself through observing the last 5 Panther games.

Comment by Dr. Tom 03.19.15 @ 7:58 am

It works internationally, too.

Comment by 2$Chuck 03.19.15 @ 8:42 am

WOW, Jim Boeheim has just completed a public announcement about his rebuttal of the imposed NCAA sanctions against Syracuse and Boeheim specifically. In no uncertain terms he has lambasted the investigation by the NCAA and the conclusions that were the results of those investigations.

Based on the information provided by Boeheim in his rebuttal, the NCAA got some splainin to do regarding this entire matter regarding how they came about applying these sanctions against both him and the University. Boeheim really supported his argument well in rebuttal and gave it back to the NCAA with both barrels.

It will be interesting to see how the NCAA officials respond to this press conference. A response is warrented, in any case.

Comment by Dr. Tom 03.19.15 @ 9:24 am

The slingbox is the greatest. Plus you don’t have to change your viewing habits like you do with apps.

Turning your Roku into a full functioning cable box is great too.

There are too much information and menus for apps. Once you find what you want to watch in an app 10 min has passed start the process over in another app.

Comment by freebird 03.19.15 @ 10:36 am

Have gone to Dokish’ Panthers Prey before, but only read the articles occasionally.

Just went, and looked at comments as per someone
suggested.

Wow! What, is he an 18 year old kid living in his mothers basement??

He personally responds to what looks to be any criticisms of Dixon at all.

On top of that, your comment has to wait for
an approval?? LMAO!!!

Hey, it’s his site, but I realize now why I don’t go there much.

I’m sure at sometime, I tried to comment and was told my comment was waiting for approval.

I don’t do “waiting for approval sites”.

Comment by Dan 03.19.15 @ 10:48 am

p.s. I get some people may say derogatory things, use foul language etc. etc. on a particular site.

Give them a warning, or don’t even give them a
warning. Then block them.

“waiting for approval”??? LMAO

Comment by Dan 03.19.15 @ 10:51 am

Dr. Tom, just listened to Jim B also, sorry, but this is typical if you get caught
-admit nothing
-deny everything
-blame everyone

Really did not have the same take. He admitted violations all took place, only that he did not know! Sorry, that is lame, easy to complain about NCAA. Everyone wants them to enforce against cheaters, except when they are the ones that are caught, then it’s blast the NCAA. It deserves criticism but these guys are like the Nitters, who, not us, not me!

Comment by JoeKnew 03.19.15 @ 10:54 am

If you are at work and want the watch the tourney, just get into CBSSports.com. And it comes with a ‘Boss Button’ .. if your boss is walking towards you, just click it and it takes you a spreadsheet. They have had this function for the past 2 years.

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 11:24 am

Having lived in Ohio and close to OSU media/fans, and from PA and exposed to PSU media/fans … the deal is that when sanctions come, blame them on the NCAA.

It’s amazing how the NCAA has become the Tino of college sports. The culprits are definitely the schools and individuals but if you read the web stories and blogs you would think the NCAA is the cause. Fact is that if you run a relatively clean program, then there are no issues.

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 11:41 am

-admit nothing
-deny everything
-blame everyone

Everyone has been using this since Bubba Prez, the leader of the free world, used it in the mid ’90’s.

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 12:25 pm

~ wbb

Zombies like those at Ohio fAke and Ped State work on a collective mind. (can’t call it collective intelligence)

And collective mind species like bees, just blindly attack….anytime they’re messed with.

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 12:30 pm

The Ped State debacle showed the world if you jump up and down screaming like a child the NCAA will back down. The NCAA is starting to make FIFA look virtuous.

Comment by Yeti 03.19.15 @ 12:56 pm

Hey, all of you bragging up Iowa State’s style of play … where you at?

Hope this doesn’t stop their coach from gong to the NBA

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 2:01 pm

So much for Iowa State. Based on all the raving on this blog, I picked them for the final 4. Oh well.

—->> goes back to lurking

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.19.15 @ 2:07 pm

And we thought us Pitt fans were depressed! Cyclone fans have to be like WTF? UAB, really?

Comment by Dr. Tom 03.19.15 @ 2:16 pm

Emel, you are really going to need meds for 8 yrs of Hillary! LOL

Comment by JoeKnew 03.19.15 @ 2:21 pm

Wow, What great games. This is the best weekend of the year. Love it, Baylor goes down!! Could be reality check for all those crowning Big 12 as super conf!! Maybe they just over seeded these teams?

Comment by JoeKnew 03.19.15 @ 2:51 pm

How’s everybody’s brackets looking?

Comment by Nick 03.19.15 @ 2:54 pm

The only weekend that used to come close was Labor Day when HSs opened on Friday, college on Sat, and nFL on Sunday!

Comment by JoeKnew 03.19.15 @ 2:56 pm

B12 was supposed to be the best conference top to bottom so why did they lose their first to games in NCAA.

Comment by Frank MD 03.19.15 @ 2:57 pm

every year the B12 is overrated in both FB and BB .. mainly because they don’t play defense for the most part. Then come post-season, failure after failure

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 3:19 pm

@Nick, not good. I didn’t have either of those
upsets.

Good thing about big upsets, don’t get too down, most people miss those.

Comment by Dan 03.19.15 @ 3:21 pm

Just saw a stat that of the nearly 11.6 million brackets submitted on espn.com that after the first 3 games completed that only .7% were still perfect. Crazy. I had ISU in Elite 8 and Baylor in Sweet 16. Stupid move.

Comment by JJ 03.19.15 @ 3:29 pm

It’s not the upset so much as how far you had them going. I had ISU as my national runner up so I was officially done at 2:45 on day 1.

Comment by Nick 03.19.15 @ 4:12 pm

Wait til WVU loses to Buffalo. Pitt has to get in as a 1 seed so they can be the first #1 to lose to a 16

Comment by Dan 72 03.19.15 @ 4:19 pm

SMU robbed by a horrible goaltending call. One of the worst I’ve ever seen in NCAA history!

Comment by Dan 72 03.19.15 @ 4:22 pm

@Nick, ha ha, ya that hurts.

Comment by Dan 03.19.15 @ 5:09 pm

Hopefully, you have several or more polls!

Comment by Dan 03.19.15 @ 5:10 pm

Dokish has some strange connection to Dixon. And Dokish always wears bottle-thick rose-colored glasses when it comes to his good buddy. Cardiach Hill same way, expect an objective article gets thrown in from time to time.

For laughs check out this one: “A decent season 0all things considered.”

link to cardiachill.com

Comment by Tony77019 03.19.15 @ 5:21 pm

Dan 72, agree about that call, it wasn’t even near the cylinder

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 6:15 pm

when you consider that they were picked 9th in the preseason and all of the youth, Pitt wasn’t a complete flop. But there is no excuse for the final 2 1/2 weeks. That’s what bothered me.

I really do think they will be a legit NCAA team next year but not near the level we are accustomed.

Comment by wbb 03.19.15 @ 6:21 pm

After watching the tourney all day several things are obvious:
1. Everyone has very good speedy guards. We don’t!
2. Everyone has several legit centers. We don’t!
Conclusion: they’re in the tourney. We are not!

Comment by pittman4ever 03.19.15 @ 6:32 pm

WBB … Aside from that, an official directly decided a game with a judgement call ( see Pitt/ Butler) albeit an atrocious one.
That same official made 4 calls in the last 5 minutes all favoring UCLA. And yes I had SMU

Comment by Dan 72 03.19.15 @ 6:39 pm

Guards are the key even more than a center especially with the 3 point play. In the old days the center was number one, no more. We need 2 good guards now.

Comment by Frank MD 03.19.15 @ 6:53 pm

Jamie didn’t even offer Ryan Arcidiacono.

Comment by gc 03.19.15 @ 7:25 pm

All I heard all season from Hoopieland fans was hoe the Big 12 was by far “the best conference in the country.” Man am I talking up Texas, Iowa State and Baylor tonight. Haha

Comment by Panther Fan in Hoopieland 03.19.15 @ 7:56 pm

Of course all the games can be watched here in HD:

link to ncaa.com

Comment by Jackagain 03.19.15 @ 8:09 pm

Yeah Dan, I had used his site for comments for a couple years and have always been civil and mostly agreed with him.

I was on there a couple days ago and answered a post from another user about this new PF recruit. I said that Dixon would no doubt be playing the poor sucker (didn’t use those words) at center after his 325 lb. one doesn’t pan out.

Then in another post I told Doke that Dixon was the 2nd best BB coach at Pitt (the truth BTW). He wouldn’t allow either post. The guy is an overrated clown with no inside info at all at Pitt. He gets most of his info the same way we do…

When Pitt was hiring a new FB coach he had to follow Rich Walsh on Twitter to get any inside info. He’s a pompous know-it-all clown.

Comment by Jackagain 03.19.15 @ 8:25 pm

Gx, absolutely not true, he was contacted and offered. Dixon has stated that publicly on several occasions . Maybe he is a liar also?

Comment by JoeKnew 03.19.15 @ 8:26 pm

Well we can’t brag too much….can we. ND almost lost to a 23-12 Northeastern team.

And UNC squeezed out a 2 point win over Haaaavard.

Had those two went down the ACC’s esteem would have went in the toilet.

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 8:36 pm

I haven’t actually watched any of the games btw. Just saw the scores on ESPN’s website.

I’m fed up with watching bball, whether it’s the cheating, the players who aren’t even college material for the most part, the PC and the fact that Pitt isn’t a part of it.

I rather watch reruns of Cops.

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 8:40 pm

LSU looks like it deserves a much higher seed.

Comment by Frank MD 03.19.15 @ 9:00 pm

Am watching the 2nd half of this NCSU/LSU game.

All these big men for both teams are quite athletic. Nobody on Pitt is even close and is why NC State routed us twice. And of course they have legit D1 guards.

And NC State has a plethora of big men, that have to SHARE minutes with each other. Think I remember that Freeman is only getting 19 minutes/game.

Yet still, Dixon couldn’t convince one of them, to come to Pitt. Where they would get 30 minutes a game.

That’s pretty lame. This Abu freshmen monster is from Boston. Wouldn’t he have been a solution at the 5. Since he’s from the North, and Pittsburgh is similar to Boston, another edge for Pitt.

Nope !

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 10:19 pm

BJ Anya with the last second game winner.

He knew Robinson stunk…so he didn’t want to play with him anymore !

Comment by Emel 03.19.15 @ 10:26 pm

None of the rating sites has Arciadocono getting an offer from Pitt, but a whole host of others are listed. Kind of a mute point, since he had family ties and Nova is close to home.

Comment by gc 03.19.15 @ 10:58 pm

Too bad Anya is overrated, just kidding.

Comment by gc 03.19.15 @ 10:59 pm

Emel, I shacking head too regarding Pitt’s lack of recruiting a big man. The last time we didn’t make the NCAA we hope for the coming year. The guys were young. Zana was still developing. This time I see not rosey future. I truely feel for Young. We is being wasted; worn out. Played in the wrong position. When did he miss a foul shot last year?

My wife is an Eastern Washington grad. The’re happy they got this far. I think they would have beat Pitt this year. Not many scholarships given at that program. Gonzaga is next door in Spokane. We get to play them next year?

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 03.19.15 @ 11:16 pm

I scanned a few of the above posts and got a favor of negative feeling torward Dixon.

Do any of you guys think we can get a better coach than Dixon?

Simple response to those that do, you’re NUTS!!!

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 03.19.15 @ 11:22 pm

I don’t think Dixon will be fired or should be fired … but I’m not so sure that Pitt can’t get a better coach (not sure they would either).

The coach at Stephen A Austin has a two year record of 67-8. Think he would consider a Pitt job? Know way knowing right now if he is that good or not — might not be when he moves up a level. There are several young good coaching propsects but it’s a crapshoot

Comment by wbb 03.20.15 @ 6:20 am

Not calling for him to be fired.

But, actually yes, with the new chancellor and
him seeming to understand that investing in athletics not only helps the overall university, but also the old you have to spend money to
make money.

The Pete, The ACC, ya, actually if the time ever comes, I think Pitt could and would get
an excellent coach.

Let’s put it this way, Pitt’s in a much better position now to hire an excellent coach much more so than in 1999 when they hired Howland.

Comment by Dan 03.20.15 @ 7:33 am

Yes and his name is Archie Miller. He wants in the ACC and would take a 1M raise per year. Lastly, He made the Elite 8 Last Year and is in the tourney this year with a Program like Dayton. He has no where the support Pitt does and he did it with 6 Scholarship Players. He is better than Dixon and probably 15 Years younger.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.20.15 @ 10:18 am

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