greasywheels121

His numbers may not warrant the honor, but I would go w/ Jose in this pack. He seems to be a big leader inside the clubhouse.

We ended up getting hit w/ 5 inches of snow and ice last night in NE Indiana, and there's at the least another 4 inches of snow coming tonight. Got to love it!

A-Rod Meets for Five Hours With Rangers' Brass Shortstop Named Team Captain After Nearly Being Traded NEW YORK (Jan. 25) -- Wearing their finest evening clothes, Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers tried to put a formal end to their troubled offseason filled with trade talk and tension. At an unusual news conference in which everyone wore tuxedos, the Rangers appointed Rodriguez their captain on Sunday night. In town to accept the American League MVP award, Rodriguez met for five hours in the hotel suite of Rangers owner Tom Hicks, with general manager John Hart and manager Buck Showalter joining in. Afterward, the quartet proclaimed the start of a new era that they hoped would culminate in Texas' first World Series title. "I definitely think I'm going to be here for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I'm probably pretty sure it will work out for the best." Texas wanted to get out from the burden of the record $252 million, 10-year contract it signed Rodriguez to after the 2000 season, and the seven-time All-Star shortstop was frustrated following three last-place finishes with the Rangers. Texas then agreed last month to a tentative trade that would have sent the seven-time All-Star shortstop to Boston for outfielder Manny Ramirez. "It looked like there might be a situation that would be win, win, win," Hicks said. But the deal was contingent on A-Rod agreeing to restructure his contract, and the players association vetoed the proposal made by Boston, saying it would have reduced the deal's value by $28 million to $30 million. The union made a counteroffer that would have cut $12 million to $13 million, a proposal Boston found unacceptable. The trade then collapsed. "This was an unpleasant experience but probably a necessary one," Hart said. Showalter said he had been thinking of making Rodriguez captain for the past year, but Hicks wasn't aware of the plan until halfway through Sunday's meeting. "I feel a grand responsibility not only to the Texas Rangers but to our fans," Rodriguez said, adding that he was touched by the gesture, especially given that he's only 28 years old. Showalter said the only other captain under him was Don Mattingly with the New York Yankees. "It's something I know that portrays the best in Alex," Showalter said. "It is very important as we go forward that we have someone like Alex lead our young people in the proper direction and set the tone." Rodriguez, just back from a vacation to London, Milan, Florence and Venice, said he was convinced the Rangers were "moving this train in the right direction." The team is going with youth, putting a renewed emphasis on pitching. He called the offseason "very stressful" and said he was "very happy the trade talks have ended." "I feel very good about our plan as we move forward," he said. "I feel we're going to be very good, very soon." Hicks looked at the injuries to Texas pitchers the last few years and said the Rangers "had more bad luck than any team should have." "I think definitely the toughest days are behind us," Rodriguez said, adding that he looked forward to one day negotiating a new contract with Hicks that would extend "into my 40s." Rodriguez was in New York to accept the AL MVP award Sunday night at the annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

ND gets w/in 3 with 1:20 left in the game, but they never get any closer...They lose to 8th ranked Kentucky, 71-63.

LMAO...this has been an annual thing at IU since Assembly Hall opened....You sure you guys originated this?

"You're insulted as a Jew?" "No...I'm insulted as a comedian."

Purdue is going to end up winning this one to tie atop the Big Ten w/ the Hoosiers and Badgers.... SETUP for THE rivalry!!!! Purdue is at IU for the Big Ten lead on Paint the Hall Crimson night, Tuesday!!!

Purdue ties it w/ 8 seconds left at 62-62...and MSU dishes out to the corner for the 3...and the ball gets stuck on the rim! Jump ball...MSU ball...and they miss the shot to win it at the buzzer....Going to OT

Kind of a bittersweet game...MSU can tie for the Big Ten lead along w/ IU and Wisconsin, but I don't want to see Purdue win......MSU has come back from a halftime deficit to take the lead 58-54 w/ 4:10 left in the 2nd half.

WOW....14-5 overall..what's their ACC record now?

It does get the Chisox what we need.....BUT it's not worth that much to give up.

That last line says it all......Wow, that's amazing that they still have to make those by hand. You would think w/ all the advancements w/ technology etc. that we would have machines that would be able to do that.

Can you paste the article? You have to register to see it, and I'm too lazy...

That has to be my favorite show too....I saw something the other day that next season will be their last.....Their contracts expire in May of 2005.

You just wanted to use the new smilies....

Exactly...I really don't understand what JR and KW are thinking at the moment. It's proven the attendance grows when we have a winner; they were just one game shy of surpassing 2 million people in USCF last season w/ the close division race, etc. People DID come out, and we're still slashing payroll. I love the Sox no matter what, but having Willie Harris and Aaron Rowand in the everyday starting lineup is not going to attract the casual fans to the ballpark. I just don't know when this team will ever get out of this "rebuilding" stage.

The funny thing about that though is that it's believed that the Minnesota owner has more money than JR and Steinbrenner combined.

IU holds on to beat friggen' Minnesota, 86-81.....IU let an 18 point lead slip away, and most of the 2nd half was back and forth which put the game into OT.....This puts IU on top of the Big Ten along w/ Wisconsin at 4-1. This is IU's 4th straight win, and 3rd straight road win. IU hasn't won 3 straight road wins since the 91-92 season.

IU's only up 2 now w/ 14:20 in the half....48-46

1--Rick Reily (SI) 2--Bill Simmons (ESPN Mag) 3--Terry Hutchens (Indy Star)

ICE COOOOOOOLD!!! LMAO...That was hilarious!

IU's up 42-34 in Minnesota at the half.....They're going for the 3rd straight road win, fourth straight win overall.

They have what it takes though, I'm really not sure what the hell they're doing against these smaller teams. However, like you said, they really turn it on against bigger teams. I definitely still see them in the Final Four in San Antonio.

IU converts their first 8 shots and take an early 18-8 lead.

LMAO....That was hilarious to see how much trouble that one little signature caused on whitesox.com