OK, looks like we’ve got this blog integrated now with Sports On Earth. So, we should be off and running again. Coming up (I think): Something on Fred Couples and the Hall of Fame; my daughter the swimmer; the worst award-winners ever, the best board games ever* and the new Snuggie.
*If you have any thoughts on what should be on the worst board games or worst award winners lists, as always, Brilliant Readers suggestions are duly considered.
in the meantime, on Sports on Earth:
-- RIP Steve Sabol, the storyteller, the filmmaker and the man.
-- We’ve started a new feature, Today at the Pennant Races, where we catch you up on the action the night before and write about whatever happens to come to mind.
Wednesday: Man, Miggy Cabrera can hit.
Tuesday: The comeback of Adam Dunn and the artistry of Cliff Lee.
Monday: An appreciation of Matt Wieters and a pretty unbelievable Molina stat.
-- Bill James is back in the loop with the Red Sox. I think it’s a good sign.
-- This Orioles team might not play baseball The Oriole Way, but it’s good to have Baltimore back.
ReplyDeleteMonopoly
Risk
Stratego
The best board game ever isn't technically a "board game" but it's Scattergories and everything else is playing for second place.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad answer, but not as good as Facts in Five, upon which Scattergories was based.
DeleteBut both are wrong. Acquire is the best board game.
Fair point. I will say that Rare Entries, the research based internet game that is similar to Scattergories is also fantastic.
DeletePandemic is an incredible game that I know 99% of the readers here have never heard of. Keith Law, he knows it. Joe, you should definitely get Keith's input on this question.
ReplyDeleteSettlers of Catan in a runaway.
ReplyDeleteStrat-o-Matic.
ReplyDeleteThe best board game of all time is almost certainly 'Diplomacy'. It's life changing.
ReplyDeleteFor Young Children--- Candy Land
ReplyDeleteOlder Children--- Yahtzee
Teens--- Settlers of Cataan
Adults--- Civilization or if you have a couple weeks Guns of August
I tried playing the first version of the Civilization board game, which was overly complicated. Supposedly the later versions were more playable, right? Of course that doesn't compare to "The Campaign for North Africa", which I've only read about, but seems like the most comically complex game ever created.
DeleteTrivial Pursuit (Genus Edition), Stratego, Scrabble.
ReplyDeleteGood board games: chess, go, Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride.
ReplyDeleteWorst board game: Monopoly. It's 90% luck. It takes forever, and you spend half that time doing math. Some of the players are out of the game well before the end, leaving them to stare boredly as the other players "try" to roll the dice so as to bypass their opponents hotels. It's the opposite of what a board game should be.
Monopoly is most definitely a bored game.
ReplyDeleteMy vote for best board game ever is Ticket to Ride.
ReplyDeleteDominion, Carcassonne, and Settlers of Catan.
ReplyDeleteCarcassonne, Settlers, Axis & Allies for the WWII buffs.
ReplyDeleteDiplomacy. Honorable mention: Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan.
ReplyDeleteCarcassonne! It has caused much family ire.
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ReplyDeleteDiplomacy, Settlers of Catan, Strat-O-Matic, 1960: The Making of the President, and Twilight Struggle are favorites of mine. Carcassonne, Dominion, Chess, Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble would fall in the honorable mention category.
ReplyDeleteDiplomacy, APBA baseball, Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, and since it's election season: Founding Fathers and Die Macher.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the worst board game is Sorry. It seems more like an experiment in anger management than an entertaining way to pass the time (although I should mention that a game of Mille Bornes almost ended my marriage).
ReplyDeleteAxis & Allies would be my pick, however I'm surprised no one has mentioned Acquire
ReplyDeleteTen best boardgames ever (including cardgames) IMHO: The Settlers of Catan, 2038, Bridge, 1846, Merchant of Venus, Fresh Fish, Race for the Galaxy, Advanced Civilization, Res Publica, Thebes.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to include cardgames, add Ticket to Ride and La Citta.
Title Bout
ReplyDeleteI love Small World if you want a fun battle game that lasts 60-90 minutes. If you have several hours, Axis & Allies can be a blast.
ReplyDeleteBalderdash, Out of Context.
ReplyDeleteChess is the perfect board game.
ReplyDeleteMonopoly is one of the worst (and therefore most overrated) of all time. Before you put it on your list, Joe, please go back and play it as an adult if you haven't already. It's painful.