SI1020

You say that now.......just wait till ya taste some tube-steak somthered in underwear.......you'll change your tune. You don't know me! I've got a strong will that is unmatchable! I WILL NOT have anything to do with that until I'm married. Sex IS NOT a toy! It is something SERIOUS! There are too many people this day in age not taking responsibility for anything, and it's sickening! Sometimes makes me wish I grew up in the 1950s! I was born in 1950. It's my favorite decade in the history of the world. It's misunderstood by liberals and conservatives alike. It had some of the greatest movies Hollywood ever produced. When they came out with that list of the 100 greatest movies of all time the 1950's lead the pack. Great Jazz, Blues and Rock n Roll. The White Sox actually won the pennant!! Would have won the World Series too if Al Lopez hadn't been mad at Billy Pierce. It wasn't perfect and I don't believe in living in the past, you've got to keep moving, but it was a really great decade. I would love to teach a class on the 1950's.

If I post my geographical resume you'll get a frickin headache. Was actually a hobo in my twenties for a while. At times resided in the North Park, Albany Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park and Logan Square neighborhoods of Chicago. Miss Chicago real bad. A loyal Sox fan for a looooong time.

The exact same thing happened to me.

Baggio- In 2000 the Pennsylvania Dems ran a "pro life" candidate against incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum. The big money Philadelphia area Dems sat on their hands, crippling candidate Ron Klinks ability to raise funds. The election was reasonably close, it went 51-46 for Santorum with 3% for third parties. Klink used to be a newman for KDKA TV in Pittsburgh. He's pretty good in front of a camera and Santorum is known to be short tempered and at times prickly. This was a winnable race for the Dems and think where they'd be with Klink in the Senate today. Unfortunately he stayed true to his "pro life" beliefs and even though most of his other views should have given Dems comfort the party big shots would not roll out the big guns to aid him. My no politics is crumbling little by little. At least I've avoided the "crossfire" style arguing so far.

What are you people doing to me?? I'm trying so hard to get out of politics, really I am. Let me say this. I have real life, not theoretical experience concerning that horribly divisive policy called "affirmative action." I could give you chapter and verse about real people and companies and the effect it has had. I'm a quiz show junkie. One of my favorites is a local show called Hometown High Q. It's a quiz show for local high schools. Three schools match up for each show/contest. Today one of the schools in the game was a predominately white (about 90%) suburban school. Two of the three players for that school were minority. That's the way you've got to do it. Whether it's your basketball team, symphony orchestra, law school or whatever. Set a standard, then pick the best ones whoever or whatever. If that makes me a racist then oh well, I guess I plead guilty.

Unfortunately, YES, a lot of people are total sheep and live and die on every move that these people make. This "culture" is so full of star-crossed followers that some idiots don't even know the name of our Vice President, but can rattle off the title of every movie Tom Cruise has ever been in. A huge segment of the American population is a complete embarrassment. The Kennedys are royalty, people chased another country's princess to her death, and we're more concerned with Michael Jackson's nose, Britney Spears' inflating and deflating tits and where R. Kelly's allegedly sticking his meat than we are with a potential global crisis. It's the lowest common denominator at an all-time low, and it's sad. I cant remember the exact numbers but in a poll for 18 year olds I think it was, a good majority of them could not locate the Pacific Ocean. That is just sad. Fortunately there are enough smart kids to keep this country dominant in the future... And just thinking about it, can you imagine the current generation running the country? Like me, wsc, wsf and bighurt as Americas leaders? Thats kinda insane. Some of the vocabulary they may use and such... Hey roman. Here is the test.

Oh well I swore off politics. (again!) Let me say that was great reading. In the late 70's and early 80's I had to spend a lot of my work time alone and unarmed in various neighborhoods of the west side of Chicago. I had a couple of really scary moments, but otherwise just sailed through the experience. Years later I went to Detroit and had cause to return a half dozen times or so. One time, being the urban guerilla I am, I spent the better part of the afternoon "cruising" through the neighborhoods of the North East and East sides of Detroit. What a surreal experience! Detroit is the extreme of the American "rust belt" city. Parts (actually most) of the city couldn't look worse if an enemy had carpet bombed the place. I have lived in Pittsburgh exclusively since 1985. I was able to complete my college education as an adult here, but the place has really ruined me career wise. You want to see death, defeat, decay and despair come here and visit. I'll buy you lunch and show you around. Pittsburgh, unlike Detroit however does not have a hard edged view of reality. At least the movers and shakers don't. They are unbelievable rose colored pollyannas who keep extolling the virtues of the place, as it continues to die a little more each year. The local peons aren't so dumb. Pittsburgh has always been known as an unusually informal and friendly American city but years of decay and decline have taken their toll. People get a little meaner each year. To top it all off, and get back to the topic the hockey team is going bankrupt and this time even Mario might not be able to save it. Great link Heather. It qualifies under the heading, " read it and weep."

Great post IMHO.

Hockey is in serious trouble. It's not just Ottawa and Buffalo.The Penguins may be going bankrupt too.

OK I guess I'm a historical dumbass, but I still think to this date Lincoln and FDR had to face the most difficult problems. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis, ancient man that I am. I'll never forget the looks on my teachers faces as we were dismissed from school ( I was in the 7th grade ). We were just kids but we knew this was big time serious. Kennedy and Kruschev first had to face down the War Hawks in their own respective camps. Then with Kennedy making a major concession in Turkey, Kruschev was able to back off in Cuba. From then on it was painfully obvious to both parties that there was no real "nuclear option". MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) was the policy that carried the day until the fall of the Soviet Union. Yes, I know some historians think we were dangerously close again in Reagan's first term, especially around the time the Russians shot down the Korean airliner. The point is, unless the Russians felt extremely backed in to a corner they were not going to begin lobbing missiles our way. Not so with the enemies we have today. That is why, dumbass that I am I think Bush has the most difficult Presidency since FDR. Some people seem to be blinded by ideology and unable to see this. If Gore were President now, I would feel the same way. The problems today are more difficult and dangerous than any faced in quite some time. I haven't even gotten into the economic sphere, with the world economy in the tank. With this, I swear off politics, again. The last time I think I actually lasted three or four weeks. I still say taking Kordell would be really DUMB.

Disagree with me on politics. Tell me I don't know much about sports. But please, take my word on this. YOU DON'T WANT KORDELL!

Ingrid Newmark the founder and leader of PETA once said "a dog is a rat is a pig is a boy".

Left handed QB from Oregon State, won the Heisman in 1962 I believe. Made the cover of SI, I remember that because my suscription to SI was a Christmas present. He was a big bust in the NFL but very exciting in college.

Standardized test scores are quite possibly the worst way to judge student intelligence. They are a very incomplete way to judge intelligence. The idea that we throw out all standards, including standardized tests is feel good bulls***. Standardized tests are not the be all and end all that some want, but they are also not worthless like some others claim. On the internet anyone can claim anything but this is one area that I've actually done a lot of research on. There are a wide battery of tests that if administered and evaluated properly can tell you a lot about a given individuals abilities or lack thereof. Whatever your choice of measuring our educational system leaves a lot to be desired. Money is not the answer, we spend more and more for an inferior product but the NEA and teachers unions fight reform at every turn. I don't want to get into a long argument here. I agree that standardized tests should not be the sole emphasis, but reject all that blather about them being "culturally biased" blah blah blah. In every endeavor of life you have to set some standards. By the way, I hope things are going well for you at Bradley. They used to be a basketball power way back in the day. They stink pretty bad now right?

Anyone remember Terry Baker?

Regarding intelligence, Bush's Binet IQ score is 119, the same as JFK. That puts him at the 88th percentile. His SAT score was at about the 84th percentile but his math was much higher than his verbal. As far as public education in this country goes well let's be charitable and say it's lacking. We spend more money per capita now than we ever did. Most college graduates today couldn't pass turn of the 20th Century tests to graduate from elementary school. 150K for a Chicago Public School teacher?? Do a school by school analysis of standardized test scores. It's enough to make you cry. Disagree with Bush, it's your right as an American. Quit demonizing him. He's got more deadly serious problems to deal with than any President since FDR. History will judge him.

She made "racially insensitive" comments. I'm not into political correctness but this lady was a complete boor. "Racially insensitive" doesn't even come close. She called Eric Davis her "million dollar n****". When umpire John McSherry died of a heart attack on opening day ( I forget the year ) she b****ed and moaned when MLB made her cancel the game. Quite a charming dame.

Like I said in a previous post the French and Germans practically begged us to go into Kosovo. How many American skyscrapers did the Serbs ever blow up? Today the Kosovar Albanians hero worship Bill Clinton and Madeline Allbright. I'll bet there won't be too many tears shed in Iraq if Saddam is toppled. How many Iraqi families have had loved ones tortured and murdered? Come on people. There are a lot of smart folks on this board. Remember Neville Chamberlain? You can't negotiate or wish away this type of threat. Whether or not Saddam practices the type of Islam that Bin Laden holds dear is totally irrelevant. There is more than a little evidence that Saddam's people and Bin Laden's have worked in the past and continue to do so to this day. Saddam has given aid and sanctuary to all sorts of terrorists. Abu Nidal anyone? Baggio's initial post in this thread gives me some hope. It may all come down like a house of cards before we even go in. How can anyone be against that?

It was on ESPN Classic a couple of months ago. What a crazy play! To this day the Stanford band is both famous and infamous.

You're a good and principled guy. I come here because I'm the only White Sox fan that I know of in Allegheny County Pennsylvania. I've never met you or anyone else on this board to my knowledge. If I was in a social gathering and we were playing Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit I'd definitely want you on my team. If we ever do meet I'll tell you why I left the left 30 years ago or so. I'm not a "knee jerk" (and hopefully not a plain old jerk ) anything. My voters card says "non-partisan" . I know these times must be tough for you, not agreeing with the politics of the Executive Branch and having a kid in harms way. Hopefully it will all over soon with your kid, Nuke and everybody elses kid home safe and the White Sox in a pennant race. Now I offer my cyberhand to you in cyberspace.

For a variety of reasons I feel more comfortable here than on the other two WS boards I've been to. Jason, Mario and the whole staff deserve a lot of credit. In addition to the boards there have been some top notch articles at Soxnet. The reports on prospects and the Sox minor league system are especially helpful to me. One more thing. There is less "attitude" here than on other baseball message boards IMO. Hey, I've been told where to stick my opinions baseball and other wise on occasion here. You can go on to the next topic without feeling put upon, put down or otherwise unwelcome. That is not always the case elsewhere.

I think some of the picks were made shall we say "tongue in cheek". On a more serious note I think Wille Kamm (3b) is the most underrated player in the teams history. He was the best fielding 3bman of his era and a decent hitter too. Unfortunately he played on some horrible Sox teams in the 1920's.

Mary McGrory is a left wing Democrat who has written a national column since 1960. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1975. She loves Clinton and Al Gore and does not try to conceal her disdain for President Bush. However, there comes a point when you can't ignore reality, regardless of your political affiliations. This is what Mary has to say now. Thomas L Friedman is also a liberal of impeccable credentials. I'm pretty sure he has a Pulitzer to his credit too. I often disagree with him but I always read him and have the highest respect for his skills and intellect. His most recent column takes France to task for their arrogant obstructionism on the Iraq issue. It is too difficult to link this, the NY Times makes you jump through hoops to view their on line newspaper. I recommend you read it if you can get a copy. ENOUGH already of this demonization of the US in particular and this attempt to make George Bush the war criminal. No one wants war but sometimes it happens. You don't want to be living in this world if our side loses. Baggio is right, there is great hypocrisy among the Germans and the French who insisted that we bomb the hell out of the Serbs in 1999 but sit smugly on their hands now. Screw them!! If Saddam is deposed by US force don't necessarily expect a universal backlash against Americans. Clinton and Madeline Allbright are heroes to the Kosovar Albanians.

I think it is a stretch to conclude that the last quote is definitely a reference to Thomas. I agree with Jasons assessment earlier in the thread. This is an example of why some athletes eventually cease speaking to the media. This to me is someone trying to create his own story.

The guy was a complete and total arrogant jerk. If I had been in the twin towers on 9/11 and one of my kids carried on like that it would be a dishonor and a disgrace and they know it. As far as O'Reilly goes he has the "in your face" style that has become popular in this country. Hey, you like it in your movies and your music, why be offended by O'Reilly? His politics are more complicated than he is given credit for. I have seen him on more than one occasion tear the "religious right" a new ass. He came out unequivocally in favor of gays being allowed to adopt children. He defended that lame brain senator from the state of Washington Patty Murray when she made statements I considered vacuous at best and treasonous at worst. A few months ago we had some "spirited" political threads on this site. I tried to be civil, but at times it did get nasty. Consequently I cut back on my participation. What I said on another thread still goes, it's sterotyping to the max at times. My love of a debate is getting the better of me. Unless or until I decide to quit message boards then I'm going to throw my two cents in if I feel like it. Leo Durocher was right. Nice guys do finish last. And that guy on with O'Reilly was an immature narcissistic moron.