SI1020

I read the initial post and then I read Baggs which I responded to. Now that I've reviewed the whole thread I see it contained the usual insults and personal invective. Additionally there is a lot of historical mumbo jumbo too. You may not like George Bush and were free to vote against him in 2000, will be free to vote against him in 2004 but believe me he is no Herman Goering. That kind of mad dog attack style is not going to win you any friends, least of all any elections. It's the same with Bill Clinton. I personally did not like him but could make coherent arguments against the man and his policies. I wouldn't walk across the street to say hi to him. On the other hand, he was the President, his administration did have some accomplishments and some of the criticism was blinded by raw hatred, just what I see here against Bush. If the 22nd amendment was never passed I have no doubt that Bill Clinton would have won a third term. And guess what? He would be pursuing a policy very similar to what George Bush is trying, his recent comments notwithstanding. He would have been a reluctant warrior, just like Jimmy Carter was in 1980 and he would have kicked his party's left wing in the ass just like Carter did to Kennedy in the 1980 primaries. I'm sorry to tell you guys but the world is a very dangerous place and 9-11 did happen and probably will happen again. Whatever mistakes this country made we are in a war and I want us to win. I want us to win even more for Sideshow, cerb, mm, etc because you guys have a lot more time to go then me and my generation. Sideshow I don't agree with you very much but you do make some good points and show some wit and a lot of intellectual curiousity. I have three twenty something kids and have butted heads with them on occasion. Politically, they run the gamut. I never wanted to bash them and I don't want to bash you young lefties here but the tone of the debate just plain sucks. And like I said, folks are very polarized these days. Also, I hope a shooting war with Iraq is avoided, I am hardly a war monger. Finally I did not post this so someone could call me an asshole nor did I do it to stick it to the lefties here.

Great post, especially the last line. Baggs, Oregon is politically correct to the max. The Huck Finn thing was stupidity personified. Twain was light years ahead of most people on race issues and he used his book to attack racism and slavery. Jim is the hero. I knew that when I was 10 years old. Pittsburgh banned Christmas and Channukah several years ago in favor of SPARKLE SEASON. WTF Oh well, I said I'd try to avoid politics but I guess I'm unable.

Good luck, stay well and great to hear from you. If we ever meet the first two beers are on me.

Never mind, Cotts was born in Lebanon, Illinois and attended O Fallon High School which is in the St Louis metro area. Probably grew up a Cardinals fan.

Thanks for the report and update. I don't want to imply that I have all kinds of "inside" sources because that's not true but I've learned that Cotts has kicked the velocity up a few mph on his fastball since turning pro. Most prospects don't pan out but after researching Cotts I'm a "little" less peeved about losing Valentine. By the way Heather do you know where Cotts played his HS baseball?

Every single damn time! What is it with this guy? I think he decides he's gotta have someone and the other gm knows it and then proceeds to fleece him.

So much for "bulls*** rumors". Lots of folks owe HSC and gug an apology.

Double Amen!! :****

Maybe the trade will come off, maybe not. When GM's negotiate or anybody else in the business world for that matter sometimes "snags" develop. Sometimes these little "snags" end up derailing the whole process. In any case, whether it happens or not I have read enough of you and gug to know in my own mind that you're both great Sox fans who don't bs people. By the way, how does Keith feel about this I wonder? It wouldn't surprise me if he would like a change of scenery. Like I said about 6 times already closers get in slumps, even the great Mariano Rivera. Everyone seems to be allowed to work out of their trouble except Keith. Among other things this organization does not know how to handle and develop its own players at the Big League level. It wouldn't surprise me if Foulke returns to top form as a closer whoever he happens to pitch for next year.

College footaball and politics are the only things cw and i argue about. The problem i have with the way a lot of liberals think is the whole " We can be friends no matter how much they f*** with us " additude. I was always taught if someone hits you, fight back fast or they'll f*** with you whenever they get a chance. Yeah, some people are upset that their friends or family are involved in this. I have a cousin and a friend of the family in the Marines. One of them is over seas right now right in the middle of it. He's a re-con guy . He's loving it, but he has some seious issues. When the bullygives so much of a wink, knock his eye shut and he wont bother you. "Words of wisdom from the twisted and angry mind on RPS . I'm a dumbass that didn't realize at first you guys are OK with each other. Anyway, like I said I want to avoid political fights on baseball boards. It isn't worth it. Oh and you're right about never allowing anyone to bully you.

www.careerbuilder.com Good luck.

I've been thinking and thinking about this and it has KW written all over it. He fixates on someone he wants (Wells, Ritchie or in this case Koch) and then proceeds to overpay. I just wonder who that minor leaguer will be if this trade happens. Oh well, I guess we'll all find out soon enough.

Oh, and I forgot to add cwsox, it occurred to me that your son may be in harms way too. In any case, wherever the marines have him these days my best to him.

Us liberals are not only very tough, but also very tolerant of others, to put up with all the bulls*** we hear about politics! And my son is a liberal, more a leftist like I am, and a proud member of the U. S. Marines. It happens to be our country too... very much so! I pray for all the people in the service to come home safe. That is why I have tried hard recently to avoid political arguments on White Sox message boards. Number one, I'd rather have a knock down drag fight with a cub fan. Number two you and durham/armoursquare are two of my favorite posters, even though we don't share the same politics. I don't think that being a liberal precludes one from being a patriot, just as I know that being a conservative does not mean you are a dumb neanderthal. Hey, I are a college graduate! Three times! Seriously though, even the terms "liberal" and "conservative" are often out dated. I'm hardly a liberal, but so called "religious" conservatives often give me a royal pain in the ass. On a Sunday even! I vote for Liberterian candidates as often as I vote for Republicans. Last, but not least if Nuke is gone overseas, may he come back very soon and very healthy and I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to say so long. If any of you correspond with him tell him SI says take care.

Wasn't Big Frank hung out to dry a time or two by the great one Wavin Wally, the worst friggin 3b coach I ever saw?

MJ And Foulke are enough for Koch. I like Koch, he has the potential to be a lights out closer for a long time. I also think Foulke can rebound, so I don't want to give up a really good prospect plus Foulke to make this trade. Keith probably needs and wants a change of scene after the way he was jerked around by the Sox. Closers have slumps, he wasn't allowed to work out of his. As far as WS catchers go, MJ and Paul depress me. I hope Olivo seizes his chance and makes good.

You should know that by nature I am partial to those of Italian descent. Anyway I have recommended this site to a number of Sox fans, so what higher praise can I offer to Mario and everyone else here for that matter?

Well he didnt quite make it over to the sideline...he danced his little jig right there on the field...and then followed with these comments: Sapp did not deny that he hunted Clifton out on the play. "Yeah, I was a heat-seeking missile," Sapp said. "Boom. Boom. Boom. And I hit him." And regarding Sherman: Sapp responded afterward by suggesting Sherman cursed at him and then termed the Packers coach "a lying, s***-eating hound....If I was 25 years old and didn't have a kid and a conscience, I would have given him an ass-kicking right there at the 30-yard line." Ok wait so you need to be younger and have to personal ties to go and beat up a 55 year old guy? You're a f***ing ego-maniac asshole Sapp. No, I think he meant that as a father, he needs to at least resemble some kind of role model to his kids. Whether or not you want to argue how poor of a role model he is, I think that's his point. I think the majority of the human population could kick Mike Sherman's ass if they wanted to. Don't be so quick to diss the over 50 crowd. I knew a guy, who in his mid 50's had a gun pulled on him by a 20 something, proceeded to disarm him and then beat the living s*** out of him with said gun.

Baggio- Glad you said what you did about tackling. One of the reasons the Steelers are sucking of defense this year is because almost to a man they forgotten how to tackle properly. If they are not spearing with the head, they are attempting that pathetic arm wrap of a tackle. Runners and receivers are leaving them in the dust, or should I say the sand because that's what they play on in Heinz Field. Chisoxfn - So you noticed that fundementals have gone to hell in the NBA too? Everybody is looking for the highlight reel dunk, so the finer arts of dribbling and passing have gone the way of the dodo bird. I love the three point shot, but it has hurt the game, spawing a generation of "gunners". I remember some of those great series between the Lakers and the Celtics in the 80's. That was basketball at its finest.

Have you heard Joni Mitchell's newest release? Some of her stuff from her work with Charles Mingus is on it, and it has all been re-arranged with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, etc. It is not really jazz as I know jazz, but it is close. Django Rheinhardt's name pops up now and again. I don't think I have ever heard a note of his music but I know that he is praised by a lot of great artists out there in genres other than jazz. Django Rheinhardt was a French speaking Belgian gypsy, yes a real live gypsy who traveled with a caravan in his youth. He was injured in a horrible fire that rendered two fingers in his fretting hand useless. Despite this severe handicap he became a guitarist of legendary status. It is hard, if not impossible to describe his style. It comes out as a mixture of gypsy, European folk, and modern (for its time) American jazz. Early in his career his best recordings were with French jazz violinist Stephane Grapelly, another musical genius. Later he did good work with French clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, the most underrated jazz musician I ever heard. Rheinhardt's music is emotional, romantic and powerful. His style is unimitatable, although many have tried. He died in 1953 in France. I believe he was in his 40's. The only other jazz guitarists I would mention in the same breath with Django Rheinhardt are the late Wes Montgomery and Les Paul, who to the best of my knowledge still lives (in his 80's) and has even appeared on stage with rock idols such as Eric Clapton. One more thing, in the late 30's when many guitarists were switching from accoustical to the "newfangled" electric guitar Django Rheinhardt made the transition flawlessly.

I forgot to add this. In 1987 I was an adult college student doing a stint of student teaching in an inner city school. One day in a fit of exasperation I did a spontaneous rap to a class. It actually got them to shut up for the duration of the period. They couldn't believe I would do that. I also did bench presses in the weight room with the football team. I did what I had to do to survive.

I do too, but I recognize it's here and popular. They say rap started about 1977 at some South Bronx clubs where DJ's at dances would scratch records while simultaneously "rapping" impromtu words to a dance record playing. I forget the movie where Bruce Willis gets captured by the bad guys and just before one commences to beat him up he says to him "I want to hear you scream." The Willis character replies "Play some rap music." That 's about the way I feel. But I notice that folks both left and right politically here are rap fans. I am a music lover myself but my favorites are jazz and blues. I don't imagine there are many Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Django Rheinhardt or Dizzie Gillespie fans on this board. None of my three twenty something kids likes rap, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. None of them are jazz fans either. Oh well, to each his own. I love music just as much as baseball, but these are not great times to be a Sox fan or a lover of certain types of music.

OK I admit it. I thought posting a link was a simple proposition, but apparently not simple enough for me. I got my www's in fine but you can't click on to the link. How about a step by step for me. Thanks.

While I've been doing a pretty good job avoiding politics I hope I'm not opening up another can of worms here. I have a question and don't wish to start an argument. What's with Eminem's sudden popularity among baby boomers ( those born between 1946-1964) ? I wonder if someone could educate me here. Like I said I don't want to start an argument, but I am curious. I know my own musical, movie and artistic tastes are not mainstream. I do like to keep up to date so in that vein I ask the question.

My wife and some relatives are from here. I've been in Pgh since 1985. Steeler tailgate parties are like a Roman bacchanalia. Root against the "Stillers" at your own risk in Heinz "Filled". Donora is the hometown of baseball great Stan Musial. Also Ken Griffey Sr. and Joe Montana. It's amazing how many great athletes from all sports hail from SW PA.