The Critic

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Aug 3, 2008 -> 10:34 PM) Because bad calls are the ones magnified, simple as that. Umpiring's a job where you're expected to be perfect on the first day, and then get better after that. I feel that too many umpires are hyper-sensitive control freaks who are itching to throw anyone who dares argue a call, no matter how bad that call may be. You see these guys who tear their mask off and/or glare at dugouts immediately when players complain about bad calls - all they're doing is drawing more attention to the call when they over-react to the players like that. I don't hold the players blameless in this at all, as there's also more histrionics and "showing up" from players than I've ever seen before, but too many umpires seem to have this idea that they are immune to scrutiny. If it were reasonably possible, I'd like for umps to have "umping averages" so people could see which ones call better games and who could use more schooling and/or minor league seasoning. That would never happen (even if there was a way to accurately grade them), but everyone else on the field can be scrutinized by trackable, performance-based numbers, so in a perfect world I'd like for the umps to be as well.

QUOTE (knightni @ Aug 4, 2008 -> 02:27 AM) I just cannot fathom why that is. ...I see what you did there...

Just heard tonight that the Packers contacted the Vikings and told them to make an offer. Also, the Packers QB job was referred to as an "open competition", which goes against the earlier comments made by Green Bay's GM. I'm guessing that's lip service to try to keep Favre's trade value high. What a goofy-ass soap opera they've written for themselves up there.

On my drive home from work just now, a car pulls alongside me and keeps pace, which of course makes me look over. 3 young whippersnappers are wearing Groucho Marx glasses and waving their arms around like idiots. Maybe I'm overtired but it made me laugh. I gave them the golf clap and they happily drove away. I hope the driver wasn't as intoxicated as the passengers seemed to be.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Aug 4, 2008 -> 12:46 AM) Their live shows would change your mind. That's why their live shows are such a big part of the appeal. But I guess if you feel that way, you'd never be interested in seeing them live. Nah, probably not. I have a few of their songs on the Pod, and it's always good when those songs come up on shuffle, but I'm not fan enough to want to see them live. I saw that performance on YouTube, it was good but not exceptional, but I'm guessing it's not really representative of a true live setting. These days, I have to really be into a band to go to a concert. I'm pretty burnt out on the whole concert thing at this point.

This thread is a nice tribute. RIP Skip Caray.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Aug 3, 2008 -> 09:58 AM) Well apparently, he's coming back as he was just reinstated. Technically, he's not reinstated until tomorrow. Then the Packers have 24 hours to respond (trade, release or roster him). So it's still not quite over......and he could still accept the bribe and re-re-retire.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Aug 3, 2008 -> 01:14 AM) You're welcome. Enjoy. I don't know what face I expected that voice to come out of, but that wasn't at all what I imagined! I like the Hold Steady well enough, but I do get that "heard one song, heard 'em all" vibe from them.

I don't think anyone really knows what Favre wants to do, including Favre. He seems to be having a mid-life crisis, and is completely confused as to whether he wants to come back or not. It's a ridiculous mess.

Insurance run, compliments of Olivo. Damnit.

Now THIS is dancing!!

Looked like the "neighborhood" forceout there. Didn't look like he was anywhere near the base when he caught the ball. That s*** needs to go.

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 2, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) You should. You don't wanna miss Honkey Tonk Man vs. Randy Savage or Bad News Brown vs. Hulk Hogan. Speaking of HTM, have you seen the video of him trying to do a double-guitar shot with some guy in a parking lot and getting the s*** bashed out of his finger? He ended up needing 8 stitches on his finger. YouTube it if you get a chance.

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 2, 2008 -> 01:54 PM) Just found out there is a "Saturday Nights Main Event tonight". I'll be at the Thunderbolts game tonight. Maybe I'll run a tape.

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 2, 2008 -> 01:16 PM) You Metallica haters...sigh. Anyway, I'm jacked about the new album but this one song track has me rasing eyebrows. I shudder at the mere thought of another Unforgiven. And I'm no hater, I was a HUGE fan until the Black Album. Saw them 5 times "back in the day". Loved that band. Just really haven't liked anything they've done since Justice. They're a different band now, and that's fine. I'd really like to get excited about a Metallica release, I just don't expect to.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Aug 2, 2008 -> 11:14 AM) It can't be any worse than St. Anger. This is true. It could be just as bad, though.

QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 1, 2008 -> 10:17 PM) Hopeful but not optimistic. Hopefully Rick Rubin owns a time machine.

QUOTE (SoxFanForever @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 05:58 PM) Funny, the only good thing to ever come out of Detroit was Robocop. Alice Cooper.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 10:06 AM) Wow that will be f***ing awesome if true!! Yep, the Hawks have needed some Winged Wheel in their front office for a while now..... B) :begood

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 10:44 AM) Griffey is hitting .245 with 15 homers. Last year Konerko hit .259 with 31 homers and everyone was saying how much he sucked. Its going to be ugly seeing Griffey's pot belly giggling as he's chasing balls in the gaps. I give him 2 weeks before he's on the DL. As one of the comments in the Tribune stated: 1995 called and said great trade. The only way this is any good is if KW has a corresponding move. I better NOT catch Griffey's belly laughing if he's chasing a gapper!!! That would be quite a Belly Laugh, though!!!! FWIW, I don't like the move. I would have liked it when Griffey was a Mariner, but he's too far gone at this point. I hope he plays well and helps the Sox win the division, but my expectations are low.

I think the bats are a great idea. It's definitely a unique gift, and since the guys all like baseball I think it's a nice idea.

101 days, according to Hawk tonight.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 30, 2008 -> 08:59 AM) SO? He's on screen for 60% of the movie. He's a part of the movie. How would "There Will Be Blood" have been without Daniel Day-Lewis? How would "The Shawshank Redemption" have been without Morgan Freeman? Hell, how would "Fight Club" have been without Brad Pitt? Seriously, he's part of the movie, so saying it's mediocre without him is absurd. I don't think it's absurd to say that at all. It's just another way of saying that the other performances were not as interesting. I think that's a solid assessment. It was a very good movie, I won't say it was mediocre or average, but if another actor had given a lesser performance, the rest of the movie wouldn't have held my interest nearly as much. Ledger kept me interested much more than the plot or the other actors. That's all I'm saying.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 30, 2008 -> 07:17 AM) Oh so you're the guy that gets up in the middle of a CQ at bat in the 8th to beat the crowd to the parking lot? The EIGHTH????? The joke I use is: "I hear the Sox have a pitcher named Jenks, but I've never seen him....is he any good?" The thing is, with my goofy-ass work hours, I have to leave a game in about the 6th or 7th at the latest if I'm going to get any sleep. If I want to pretend to be a normal human being, I have to burn a vacation day the next day. I can only do that so often.

QUOTE (Kid Gleason @ Jul 29, 2008 -> 02:30 PM) Wait...so you leave early for the things that cost a lot of money and are live and stand a chance of "anything can happen"??? Yep. That's what I do. Movies to me are the same in principle as books - when I start one, I usually like to finish it. When I rent movies, though, that principle does not apply. If a rented movie is stupid and horrible (I'm looking at YOU, Napoleon Dynamite), I shut it off with no problem whatsoever. As for live events, when I've had my fill I split. I don't worry about what I might miss. Inconsistent? It sure is.