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It is with great sadness that I inform our members of the passing of our beloved Alex (ie Heads). Alex was one of my dear friends - and was a friend to all on Soxtalk, around Ames Iowa (where he supported his cyclones) and to his friends and family. For anyone that didn’t know Alex, he had a heart of gold and he always treated people on this forum (and anyone) with the upmost respect and dignity. He loved his family, his friends, his White Sox and especially his Iowa State Cyclones. We will forever miss Alex, but we will always remember him. He was with Soxtalk from its infancy and played such an incredible roll in building out this site, developing our community, driving passionate discussion and ensuring civil dialogue. What I will miss most about Alex is his sense of humor, kind heart, and passion. We would share text over the years and always be joking with each other…whether it was over the Iowa / Iowa State game (My Hawkeyes would always win) or chatting about the Sox (and even the Dodgers - both of our dads favorite teams). I’ll always remember after all the years of texts and IMs when we finally met in person - somehow he was even nicer in person. From all those texts, it was always clear how much he loved his family, friends, the Sox and of course the Cyclones. I know without a doubt what has always made this place special is the connection our members have to each other and Alex was very much the epitome of that and we have all lost a tremendous friend and way way too soon in life. We love you Alex, we will forever miss you, and we send nothing but love and prayers to you, your family, and your friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family members and friends who were impacted by the tragic accident. https://cyclones.com/news/2025/5/6/isu-athletics-mourns-the-loss-of-alex-ernst

Just saw this while waiting at the dentist with my kids. Very shocking to read and while I didn’t have a personal relationship with him beyond the message board, it’s difficult to process. Others have said it better than I can, but the community here means something to all of us, and while a majority of people don’t know each other past the screen names, you get used to reading or getting into exchanges with each other where you feel like a friend. Condolences to his friends and family.

This hit a lot harder than I expected. Im 40 years old, but have known a lot of people on this board since I was 18 years old and even though I have never met any of them in person I still feel like I know exactly who they are and have a real relationship with them in my life. Some of it has spilled over into other forms of online connection, text, etc. but when you stop and think about it, that is a long time to have someone in your life in some way and its just fucking awful to hear this. Very tough seeing this today.

I’ll always remember Heads as one of the original admins and members of this site. Which says something of his maturity, that even as a teenager, he was moderating the Wild West years of Soxtalk. Through my time here, there was something reassuring about checking in and reading posts from the longtime members. Even through the terrible decade the White Sox have had, guys like Heads were always posting and adding to the website. Many here have stuck around for 20+ years because of the community he helped create. It is a family, of sorts. And it’s a terrible loss for Soxtalk, his friends. family, and everyone else that he knew. RIP Heads

I can certainly see why this team doesn’t think they can use Elko!

I'm in the opinion that even if they are not in your plans, and you don't believe long term in them as prospects - you still reward someone who's doing well with a call up when you don't have a block. Vaughn is not a prospect. He's not blocked. Been spoon fed pretty much his whole career. He hasn't worked out. Vaughn is not a block. When you show your actual prospects that you will reward outstanding performance by calling up the players, it builds a good morale around the place instead of creating a jailed mindset; "No matter what I do, I'm never getting out of here so why should I try hard" Lastly, I honestly believe that Getz is waiting to trade Robert, then will promote Elko. What does one have to do with the other? To me, nothing. To Getz, he probably sees it as, it frees up a roster spot, and I'm not creating an Elko vs Vaughn thing. The problem is, the fans have already done that by not calling him up. Elko could DH. Or Vaughn can. Heck, send Vaughn back to the OF for all I care if you're adamant that he has to play for the Chicago White Sox.

I'm more interested in the claim about the macaque!

We put so much importance on our sports team winning or losing. But this story makes you put everything in prospective. Winning a baseball game is so trivial compared to losing s human life. May he RIP

Oh no. My heart aches for his family, and those here who knew him well. He was such a wonderful person.

So true, I wouldn’t be able to recognize anyone on this site if they walked in front of me, but I still feel sick hearing this. Heads was always a great poster and his love for Iowa St was obvious. RIP Heads

They do so many things poorly. They have got to move on from Vaughn, he’s such a losing player. Venable again shows he can’t push any of the right buttons.

Our Bobby Witt (Amaya) throw that same play away yesterday.

Fantastic game for Vargas

Odd how some fans and Getz are afraid to bring up a guy who hasn't taken a major league swing but somehow manages to hit over .350 at AAA. It also sends a bad message to younger players that enter this organization,' It seems coddling is more important than winning. Getz just looks stupid right now. Right now the Elko situation is the biggest WTF in baseball. Odd that people defend it. I can't see this organization ever being competitive without the Sox fan low expectation yardstick as long as Reinsdorf and Getz are in baseball.

We have the dumbest 40 man management in the entire league. Nobody else can possibly recycle so many dead ends.

RIP, a poster that always commanded respect and gave it. a rarity in any age.

There’s a Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig, story in which a softball (or baseball) bounced off his head, but still landed in his mitt because, well, perfect. So there’s that, Greg.

Only knew him from his posts, but always was insightful, and humorous. I thought he was a good guy even though he was a Cyclone. This is so sad on many levels. Peace to his family.

It happened to Luis Robert a few years ago running in on a ball. It happens, it isn’t a unicorn event

I’ve known Heads since 2003, when I joined this board. Insane it’s been that long, but with the absolute tragedy that occurred, it really makes you look at time a whole different way. Alex was a great guy that I had the pleasure of meeting, and was just a positive, caring individual. Absolutely senseless he went this soon, and it bothered me all day, thought about him a lot. Going to miss him dearly. 🍻 Heads

Royals will make it a four game sweep tomorrow. The numbers are outrageously bad: Sox have scored three runs or less in 26 of the 37 games (70%!!!!!) Sox are 2-10 in one run games Sox have already lost NINE games where they held an opponent to three runs or less. Putrid through and through.

Getz needs to stop acquiring the worst bums in the majors so when they do inevitably get cut, they don’t ever return to the team after clearing their DFA and getting outrighted to the minors.

Vaughn has no clue. That K on the balloon high change up was hilarious. The thing is the Sox should be looking to figure something out with him, not playing him. The Maton call up was a joke

I’m so unbelievably tired of having to watch guys like Palacios, Taylor, Maton and Amaya

Not sure Venable has been given any buttons.

Just bring up Elko. This is bullshit.

f*** this team.

No Beavis or Mr President tonight!

lmao yeah, he's Birmingham bound before summer's out.

If the Sox had a Witt, Getz and fans start fantasizing about a haul and a stocked farm. Of course that's always based on JR will never pay him

This Royals team is gonna be something when they get Cags up there. He and Witt are gonna be scary as f***.

If my hand is over my heart, then WHAT IS THE PROBLEM REALLY???? 😂

It's so funny how badly the booth wants Elko up. Schriffen seems to hate Vaughn

Heads was an originator here at the site. Gone too soon. Miss you, man.

Yuck. The downside to Getz collecting a bunch of players that no other team wants is that they always come back like zombies. 🧟 🤮 So Benintendi DH’ed a handful of times and Maton was previously pretty much our primary DH, but Elko can’t get a call-up? What a clown shoes operation Getz is running. Even Getz supporters have to question this stupid roster management. NBC Sports take on this move. No one understands the roster decisions this team makes anymore. 🤣

With the Sox being so bad for a very long time now (and having kids and family) I admittedly have forgotten how much this place and the people that have made it what it is means to me. When I heard the news about Alex my heart shattered. I have been sick over the fact this world lost such a young and wonderful person in the blink of an eye. I know in heaven he doesn’t have a care to worry about and free from pain but I would like to think at some point he gets a chance to read some threads on the ol’ soxtalk to see how much he meant to us. RIH Alex…

Booser induced two pop-ups and a weak grounder. He should have a save.

A soft infield popup like that should be caught 100% of the time

Guys this one is rough. Not only are we losing a founding father here, but we lost one of the genuine and nicest persons you will ever meet. Alex always was who he was at his core. He understood two things in life long before I did. Service above self. Do something so well they will pay you for it. Dude was loved by everyone who he connected with, and for good reason. There is a Heads sized hole in all of us today. Love to his family and army of friends.

I just want to say that Alex from start to finish was ingrained into the soul and fabric of this site. He could discuss any topic on the forum with ease, intensity, and most importantly, humility. When we had what could have been an incredibly embarrassing site moment with Joe Cowley talking s%*# about this site, he contacted Joe directly and they talked it out and Joe actually gave a little bit of respect back (even though the s%*# talking damage was done) Alex was a great guy. He loved his University, he loved their football team, and he loved the White Sox. I will miss him dearly, he had a very good and engaging sense of humor that never made you feel like you were a target but rather in on the joke. Alex will always be one of us

Also have known Alex since 2003. Him and I and a bunch of others from this board that were teenagers at the time would literally stay up until like 5 in the morning bullshitting about nothing on AIM. Him and I also had a good time making fun of each other on here, I know he loved giving me s%*# for my awful March Madness picks every year lol. He was just a great guy and this is heartbreaking. RIP man!

We know any and all criticism of the abysmally inept owner is inconvenient to you for some strange reasons, but Lip sharing one of his great insights as to how the owner’s absence at Nancy’s retirement was hurtful to her is relevant to the announcement that she’s coming back. Again, as I mentioned before, now knowing based on what Lip has shared that when she looked up to his suite during her retirement speech and thanked him only to find that suite empty is really shameful, but not surprising given who we are talking about.

Spoke with Nancy yesterday and today she was bringing her organ accessories to the park at 1PM. Sox are going to supply the organ itself, she wanted to set everything up and get some practice in. It will be in her old location at the park. She said that Brooks wasn't part of bringing her back but it was Jeff Szynal, who runs the scoreboard operations and is the Sox historian who was the driving force.

This billionaire owner must run a very busy schedule. Couldn’t make Nancy’s retirement (didn’t realize when she looked up at his suite during her farewell speech to thank him that the SOB wasn’t even there) and was allegedly a no show for an important free agent negotiation meeting with Bryce Harper. Guess he just has a different set of priorities when it comes to the organization. I’ll bet any money he didn’t miss one meeting when he was strong arming his sweetheart lease deal with the state.

too cute about "using the whole roster". the defensive substitutions were not helpful at all. every single one backfired.

Another game with three runs or less. Another game with a crushing fundamental error. 3rd game this year the Sox took a lead in the 7th inning or later and lost. We should be used to this by now shouldn't we? Nothing changes until new ownership, it's really that simple.

This is a frustrating game. Burke deserved to win. I'm tired of these shitty lineups keeping Robert Fresh? No even 40 games has passed. This load management thing is dumb. You do that when you have capable bench players not Palacios. Actually they can DFa Taylor too. Fletcher was pretty good defensively. Palacios can go to his palace and amaya can play for the Alaska goldpanners

I get angry every time they fail at fundamental baseball. They're major leaguers. Far too often they don't execute basic plays. It's one thing to be beat by better players. It's another to lose because you play like clowns.

I honestly had no faith that they could win a one run game. It’s not in their DNA.

That was actually the first time I got legit mad all year.