Chisoxfn

He hit .216 in his major league career. Was originally a very highly touted prospect in the Yankees organization who was eventually traded to the Padres in exchange for the legendary Hideki Irabu. To say the least neither guys lived up to there greatness. Rivera also had an incident in spring training where he took someone's mitt (I think it was Arod's or Jeters) and tried to sell it. I think that was Rivera. Obviously camp fodder. Rivera is 32.

Sox looking for their first win of the spring.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Mar 3, 2006 -> 06:30 AM) Like fathom said, Kirk is great in helping bring the team back, but he completely chokes in the clutch. He misses FT's, layups, or does something that screams choke. I also think Duhon runs the offense much better than Kirk. That's the only reason he gets PT. Kirk is good at getting his own shots, but he still can't make a post entry feed(hasn't been good at that since high school) and the offense is a stalemate for the most part when he's on the floor moreso than it is for Duhon. If Duhon was so much better at running the offense, why isn't he the starting PG. I'm not going to say anything else though. Obviously we differ on opinon way too much. You dislike Kirk and dont' think he's any good. I don't.

s*** I didn't even realize the games started already. I just turned on my tv and one of the asian games is on. Korea vs someone.

LOL...Im tired, finally finished up with school for the day.

The prior note was kind of stuck in a glitch thread so I just want people to know that the reason you couldn't access Soxtalk for a large portion of the day on Thursday was due to an error in the program the runs all the PHP. Because of that the front page and forum (which are both PHP based) were basically acting as if they couldn't recognize the code. We had not seen the issue before, but we have been doing some other server stuff on the back end and by mid day we had isolated and solved the problem. Everything should be set and I wouldn't expect any sort of significant outage (not that we ever do) but every once in a while an error will happen and being that we are amateurs sometimes it takes us a bit. I appreciate everyone's patience and apologize for the downtime. We are always trying to do things to ensure that the downtime will decrease and I'd like to think that ever year we've improved on that and we'll be doing what we can to prepare the site for the new season and more site growth so that there won't be many slowdowns. We are also working on some alternatives to getting the search function working again (but in a different way). Just wanted to keep everyone in the loop and thanks so much for making Soxtalk what it is today. The site is only as good as the community and I personally think you, the members, are amazing.

Just want to post it here. For those that couldn't get in, it was an issue on our end dealing with the PHP. The issue has been solved and everything should be golden now. We still have an upgrade in the works for before April 1, but aside from that we should be good to go.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 08:46 PM) That pretty much sums up the difference in browers. Firefox is the better browser, I'm sure you IE people are hard headed, hell I was too before switching. Firefox and tabs and it's mundo pop-up blocker will have you hooked in 3 days--give it 3 days I swear you'll love it. Admins: Any chance of getting the page views broken down by broswer? I hope Firefox and Opera are up into the 30% range as a whole. IE is such a POS, IMO at least--and I used IE forever. Actually in terms of the front page...I think in general Soxtalk favors Mozilla. Its right at 50% or so. Its too early to tell though since the front page is so new.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 1, 2006 -> 06:41 PM) ESPN says the Bears are under by $7.8 million (John Clayton with a list.) Clayton is dead wrong. Its minimum 17 million and you can take that to the bank. There is a good chance (depending on the new CBA) that it will be even higher.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 10:15 PM) BTW, the single most ridiculous thing I've seen by the Bulls all year is that they won't give the ball to Gordon at the end of the game. He's the only guy on the team who can create a shot whenever he wants. They could have anywhere from 3-10 more wins if they were able to make that clutch shot at the end. I would agree with that. I don't like that play going to Noc, but it looked as if the play was drawn up for Gordon to curl around and Noc to give him the ball, but for some reason Gordon started coming to Noc and than curled the other way, leaving Noc on his own. He was kind of stunned. I still think Hinrich is far more clutch than anyone gives him credit for. People look at a last second shot, but he's often the guy who all of a sudden starts whooping ass in the 3rd and 4th quarter while bringing the Bulls back into the game. What ticked me off was there was a stretch of a few minutes in the 4th where Kirk was just handing it to the Cavs, whether it was driving in and stopping and popping a jumper or driving and kicking it to Songalia or someone else. But than Skiles brings in Duhon and that f*** holds the ball. I just don't like the way Duhon runs the offense when compared to Kirk. Duh does a solid job running offenses, but Kirk is one of the best pg's in the biz when it comes to that standpoint and when he's just been whooping ass they should be milking it and going with it. Duhon can't work pick and rolls cause he can't shoot for s*** so why when the pick and roll is working so well do you take the ball out of Hinrich's hand and put it in Duh's while moving Hinrich to the oft guard spot. That I'll never know. I love Skiles, but I just dont' like how he takes the ball out of Kirk's hands.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 09:57 PM) Good post. I agree with most of it. As far as getting into the playoffs, learning, ect, I agree with that. I don't agree with AD being the diffrence in this team winning so many close games last year and losing all the close ones this year. Maybe calling them dumb was going a little overboard. But they make A LOT of bad decisions in close games. They've been doing this all year. I believe you shold get better in that area as the season goes on. They're making the same mistakes now that they were in November and December. What makes it really frustrating is that they've regressed in that department since last year. But like you said, they're still young. I expect major improvements in that area next year. Or they'll just be a bunch of talented players who have no idea how to win close games. The big reason I mention AD is because I know from talking to a few people and they all had the same consensus view in terms of the leadership Davis provided on the court in the final minutes. Veterans players know how to finish games and they can constantly harp (basically as a floor general) on the guys. I realize the coach does that stuff, but to have that type of guy on the floor is a big difference. Luckily these young guys got to go through with that but there has been a definate let down now that they are on their own (Harrington is a leader as well but he typically isn't out there in the final minute or two). With the fact this is the guys first time without that true leader, your going to see leaders develop certain days but mistakes come up other times. I think we'll see them really start closing games off well down the stretch and next year we'll really see it pay dividends. I agree they make mistakes at crucial times but thats a part of growing up. The good thing is the team has found itself in the position to make those mistakes (ie in quite a few close games) and that type of experience, with proper coaching as well as proper personel (ie guys that are intelligent and talented enough and I Think we have that, especially when we find another big or two) will lead to us closing out games and holding on to leads much better.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 09:45 PM) Cripes...cause we don't need SF's. We need PF/C's and drastically. A really good 2 guard would be great too (kick Gordon's ass out). I know one thing, we need much more of Kirk at the 1 cause he's by far the best PG we got and its a disservice having him jumbled so many other places. We are best when the ball is in his hand with him running the offense. He's an astute player that can drive, can pass when he drives and on the most part protects the ball very well for a young player. Plus he's the best defensive PG we have (although Duh is a very good on the ball defender as well). Just wanted to say...after posting this I realized you were talking to Dbaho, so just ignore those parts. I was wondering where that came from cause your usually pretty on the money with the Bulls (although I disagree with you on Nazr/Harrington).

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 01:28 AM) Why not draft Morrison and trade for JR Smith. Cripes...cause we don't need SF's. We need PF/C's and drastically. A really good 2 guard would be great too (kick Gordon's ass out). I know one thing, we need much more of Kirk at the 1 cause he's by far the best PG we got and its a disservice having him jumbled so many other places. We are best when the ball is in his hand with him running the offense. He's an astute player that can drive, can pass when he drives and on the most part protects the ball very well for a young player. Plus he's the best defensive PG we have (although Duh is a very good on the ball defender as well).

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 07:02 PM) Past Bulls squads didn't have the bball I.Q of a bunch of donkeys. Failure to win games that we should've won will be the downfall of this season. It's quite pathetic. For the Cavs, this win might've saved their season. A loss tonight would've been a huge blow to their already fragile psyche. Thats the reason why this season is so great. It sets a learning curve for them and these young guys are actually learning to become the leaders. Last year they had AD on the court with a minute left showing them the ropes, this year its on them. Obviusly there is a step back with that, but the step forward is going to be greater. Get them in the playoffs and the learning curve will be even quicker and I think you'll see that pay off in big ways when this team exponentionally grows in terms of wins and talent in the coming years. And to say this team has no bball IQ is just wrong. This team is smart, gritty and plays its ass of. It makes mistakes but they are young mistakes and Skiles is the type of coach that will make sure those things improve. But no one is going to tell me that Hinrich is a dumb player or that Duhon is a dumb player. Even Noc or Deng. They make dumb plays from time to time, but they aren't dumb.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 06:54 PM) Yep, I find myself almost rooting for the Bulls to lose to improve their second, 1st round pick position. This team isn't going anywhere this season anyways, so it doesn't matter if they win or lose these games. Fathom, you know I respect you, but I can't believe you'd say this. Winning is the most important thing for this young team. A 2nd lottery pick is going to be like 2 slots different (unless they get insanely lucky). First of all, the odds of a superior player being available between the Bulls finishing as a 9th seed or 7th seed is very unlikey. Secondly, the amount of knowledge and confidence you gain from the playoffs is superior in importance to that lottery pick, especially since we are talking about a young up and coming team. You need to instill in a young team how to win and how to play in close games. No other type of game is more close and more important than playoff games where the level of play and intensity increase 10 fold. You can't coach for those situations and players gain and improve so much from being in those situations (especially young players). If its an older team with veterans I could see the pick being better since you'd likely need young blood, but thats not the case with the Bulls. Instill winning, let them gain confidence and a little more playoff experience. This team won't make it to the finals but no one is going to convince me that the Bulls are far worse than any of the teams not named the Pistons in the East (and that includes the Heat; The Heat have done one thing the rest of the East hasn't done and thats beat the teams your supposed to; aside from that they have pretty much failed to win any big game). I'm not saying the Heat aren't talented, its just the fact that you get this team to start expecting to win and start expecting to make the playoffs and you'll se this team continue to rise and improve. Screw not making the playoffs, that would be a step back. Get that 7th or 8th seed and get a shot to play one of the best teams in the league and gain some more experience.

Bulls down 1. Time for the game winner by Kirk.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 06:44 PM) Bulls hooked you up They will hook me up. Got about 17 seconds till that happens.

Deng sinkes em both. 3 point game 17 seconds left. Cavs have the ball. DEFENSE!!!!!

On a sidenote...the Bulls will win in regulation cause they don't want me to miss more of my class. I got class in 20 minutes and have like a 10 minute drive to get there.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 06:39 PM) another missed lay-up :headshake We must have 12 missed layups at least tonight. Luckily this team is gonna overcome that cause we got KAPTAIN KIRK

Ben bails out Hinrich who had a nice drive only to miss the layup. Now Noc had a perfect steal or so it looked like and it went out of bounds. Cavs have 7 left on the shot clock and the Bulls are up 1. Its time for Deng to shutdown Bron Bron.

Zeke fouls out. Deng to the line down by 1.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 06:31 PM) damn people... sorry... today was rough on soxtalk withdrawls, eh? Seriously...I had to go back to coke for a day

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 2, 2006 -> 06:34 PM) Ben misses a fast break layup with 2 minutes left in a 1 point game. GOD JOB EN He was trying to jump from past the free throw line for cripe sakes. Horrible. They are crediting Bron Bron but thats just bull. Gordon better make up for it. Screw that, just give it to Kaptain Kirk. In Kirk I trust.

Kirk just sank a 3 to not it at 81. Awesome game right now. Bulls are just playing tremendous defense and they are really moving the ball and having great posessions on offense. Its anyone's game with about 5 to go.