Chisoxfn

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 07:25 AM) I don't think players not being able to target another players head is why football has been lacking. I don't miss watching players getting their brains scrambled on the field every week. It still happens, but not nearly as much. I do think the game is being over officiated. That is something that might change. I think the over officiating was a reaction to HD. Fans can see every play and every little thing that happens. Also, I think teams need to go back to having more contact in practice, but not sure that can change under current labor agreement. I think your last point is the biggest issue, that said, I like to see good physical play and now when you see that sort of play, you unfortunately see the flag thrown. They've made it so hard to play defense and I personally liked seeing good defense (I also like seeing good offenses go against good defenses). But really, the lack of practicing and contact allowed during training camps / season is one of the bigger culprits. I still seriously enjoy football though.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 03:34 PM) Yea, hopefully Capers is gone. That defensive performance was pathetic even with their injuries. Rodgers is the only player that showed up today. Absolutely nothing he could have done with how awful the rest of the team played. Give credit to Atlanta. They are fantastic offensively. I am surprised the Falcons are underdogs. People must not have watched them, but they have gotten better and better as the season has worn on. Matt Ryan is playing some fantastic football. Goes to show that if you give a good QB the right weapons and coaches, they can play at an elite level (I've always been a Ryan fan). I long felt the same about Cutler, but obviously that is said and done at this point for him. I do think if Jay goes to San Fran with Shanny, we might actually see him win and I personally will be hoping he does well.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 08:50 PM) This Cavs team matches up extremely well against the Warriors. The Warriors have no rim protection (unless you try to count Durant and draymond, which is meh). The cavs have two guys that can attack the basket and score inside with Kyrie and Lebron. Last years finals: Kyrie averaged 25 PPG in games 1-4. 30 from games 5-7. Lebron 24.75 in games 1-4 and 36.3 with no rim protection in games 5-7. This isn't difficult. Cavs could really use Taj. Seriously, they could. Warriors could as well.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 07:10 PM) Berlin? I'm going nowhere near Berlin! (Everyone who enjoyed 2000s teen films will catch that one) I absolutely adore that movie. Scotty doesn't know...scotty doesn't know...

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 08:56 AM) NO YOU DIDNT DONALD. According to Brett05, you didnt COMPETE so you couldnt have won! (Sorry Im not fancy enough to know how to post the tweet better) I don't agree with Brett often, but in general, he does have a point. When the road to the white house goes through the electoral college, you are going to come up with your strategy to maximize electorates not necessarily the popular vote. We have no idea what would happen if the election was actually based on popular vote...well I kind of do and I hypothesize it would swing even greater to Hillary, but that is mainly because resources would be spend in large cities and a lot of the country would be forgotten. That said, we are a republic and as far as I know that hasn't changed so the rules / laws are what they are. Heck, who knows how many people didn't vote in certain states (repub or dem) even in the current case because they knew their vote woulnd't matter.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 11:12 AM) Jimmy Butler is not a guy you deal unless you get multiple awesome young assets back. I completely agree.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 09:29 AM) This scenario is probably more likely than the Bulls trading Jimmy in my opinion. If they didnt trade Jimmy this past off season it wasnt ever going to happen. Butler has taken a pretty big step forward (imo) this year. He's playing at a whole nother level right now (and worthy of ASG starting spot he just got)...that said, the offers we had on the table were pretty freaking terrible in the off-season (at least based upon what was reported). If we had pulled of any of the rumored offers, we would have been totally hosed. Boston was offering Crowder, Smart, and this years pick (which would be Brown). They supposedly wouldn't even give up next years pick and I think the Bulls wanted next years + the following pick. Twolves had Lavine and Dunn supposedy (and Lavine is pretty good and I still think Dunn is a good bet to emerge next year into a pretty good player). Bulls wanted discussions to start with Wiggins (I believe) plus Dunn and possibly even plus Lavine (not sure).

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 09:02 AM) I don't even think that's enough honestly. So in that case, I presume you are okay then sticking with Butler and trying a different path? I'd have to think that Boston offer I mentioned would be pretty top dollar. I don't see too many teams with more assets to make it work. Maybe we'll see Chris Bosh and Chris Paul join Wade and Butler and we'll be the old man banana boat crew plus Buckets.

Wade made some comments about how if Butler goes, he goes and if Butler stays, he probably stays. Very refreshing comments as a whole (Wade was being refreshingly honest based upon the quotes I saw from the interview).

On the other side of the equation, if the Bulls were going to buy, I'd think a point guard and someone like Okafor would be the direction they should go. I just don't know how they can do it. I suppose PG can be in free agency and Okafor would have to be a trade (and maybe it happens given the Sixers crowded front court...but I'd think a 3rd team would have to be involved).

QUOTE (bshah723 @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 05:59 PM) Butler to the Celtics for the rights of the nets pick? Fair trade? Awful trade. If you trade with the Celtics you need to get the Nets pick this year, nets pick the following year, and Jaylen Brown. I'd probably argue you need one more, such as Marcus Smart or Crowder. I'd start by asking for the first three pieces plus Crowder. Supposedly Nets and Celtics have talked about trading Jaylen Brown for Lopez (plus some other pieces).

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 03:44 PM) I'm torn on trading Butler. Historically the return from trading superstars has been pretty s***ty, and you are looking at once again turning Chicago into the last place any FA is going to want to go. On the other hand, this team defines mediocrity f*** you Gar I agree with you and I'm very torn. I finally opened up to moving him, but it would take an absurd package, because I still think with Jimmy, you are a lot closer to the top then the bottom and I look at the Lakers, who have largely tanked, and I still see them being a long ways away. If the Lakers can't sign big name FA's when you have a roster of young players, Bulls are going to have an even harder time.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 08:49 AM) According to Crain's, you can. Maybe I should put my password on Ebay and screw some Cubs fans. *Cough* Chisoxfn *cough* Haha.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 05:22 AM) Andruw Jones while very good was never really dominant. I don't think so. Vizquel maybe but borderline. I always viewed his combination of defensive and offensive ability as putting him amongst the elite at the game. I thought he had a run where he was the best CFer in baseball (after Griffey went to Cincy).

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 06:39 PM) Iowa looks like they are a year ahead of schedule to be completely honest. They were thought to have Jok and who else? They aren't a tourney team but I can't imagine they thought they would have some of the wins they did. Extremely volatility, as should be expected with a young squad. ISU plays one of the shortest lineups in all of the power conferences and it is burning them. Holberg's lack of big man recruiting before he left and two big man recruits for Prohm not being eligible at the beginning of the season has made it extremely difficult to guard down low during Big 12 play. Also, apparently, Georges Niang was that good. It's funny seeing McDermott doing this at Creighton, I always thought he could coach but wasn't a fit at ISU. -- Also the Big 12 is weird Regarding Iowa, I agree with you. I've been very surprised and they seem to have quite a few young guys that can play. I still think they probably have a two year dry spell from the tourney (but I'm hoping next year they can push it there), but hey, this year has been way more enjoyable then I expected. I'm pushing for an NIT birth. Sucks though that they couldn't have more around Jok...he is so freaking good (from an Iowa Hawkeye fan perspective).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 05:50 PM) Easily the best SS since Ozzie Smith, and none have been better since. Not first ballot, but he's the Bill Mazeroski of his generation, plus he played on a number of really good teams during his career, and impacted numerous post-seasons. He also developed into a pretty solid hitter later in his career. (OPS won't like him cause he was pretty much a singles hitter, but hey, I think the advanced stats undervalue singles hitters). I know he played for forever, but he's only 123 hits shy of 3000.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 05:04 PM) Andruw doesn't pass the smell test. I know the numbers look great for 10 years and the defense, but, ya know... Vizquel looks like a glove-first Hall of Fame SS. I wouldn't complain if he got in, but the stat nerds are going to be anti-Omar. In terms of Andruw, what is the "ya know" part. He was one of the elite players in the game for a decent size stretch of his career, especially when you factor in his defensive value. He put up a 63 WAR in 17 seasons vs. Tim Raines 69 WAR in 23 seasons. 5 seasons of WARS > 6 and 3 above 8. 10 gold gloves (and deserved gold gloves); 5 ASG's and finished as high as 2nd in the MVP. It seems like his peak he was good elite enough. First ballot, maybe not, but I have a hard time arguing that Andruw Jones shouldn't be in the hall. I also view Vizquel as a HOFer because he is one of the best defensive shortstops I've ever seen (even if his bat was light). The list of defensive shortstops who were better (and had that long of a career) is few and far between.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 03:37 PM) 2018 ballot- Chipper Jones, Jim Thome are locks. Also on- Rolen, Andruw Jones, Johan Santana, Johnny Damon, Omar Vizquel Vizquel is going to be the new Jack Morris. My 2018 ballot- Guerrero, Clemens, Bonds, Mussina, Schilling, Manny, McGriff, Chipper, Thome Only 9, but Hoffman is getting in next year along with Vlad, Chipper, and probably Thome. Andruw Jones and Omar Vizquel have to have legit shots.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 03:46 PM) You figured it out! You figured it out! Haha that was awesome though. Yeah, that was awesome. You nailed the excitement part.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 03:38 PM) Yep...I got the exact same feeling, that it was all over. In general though, I thought this was by far the worst season. Might be that I would have liked to see them interweve some other things into the last episode, that said, worst season of sherlock still is amongst the best season of any show ever (cause the show is so freaking fantastic). I read where the general belief is they probably will be back for another season, but the hiatus might be closer to 3 years. Seems like everyone generally wants to do it again and the ratings are obviously very strong, etc. Problem is, all of the key players have a lot of other near term committments.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 10:44 AM) I agree that it had that feeling to it. Hopefully that isn't it, but at the same time, that is a great place to end it. Yep...I got the exact same feeling, that it was all over.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 12:37 PM) Boston has young assets: Crowder, Smart, Bradley, Jaylen Brown. They also have Nets 1st this year in a swap. Also have Brooklyn's #1 pick in 2018 and LAC and Memphis' 1st round picks in 2019. If Boston wants Jimmy Butler, they can absolutely get it done. They need to pony up though. See, I'm not that interested in Crowder, Smart, or Bradley (unless we are spinning them to a 3rd team). Jaylen Brown I'd have some interest in (in the sense that he is younger so you have him on a cheap deal for longer). I obviously am interested in the picks, but even then, lots of uncertainty as to where they will fall out given the lottery. I'd need a lot from Boston to do it and if I'm getting Crowder / Bradley / Smart, I want another team lined up to get them and give me more high picks or guys more akin to Brown (recent draft picks who I have around on cheap deals longer...as your winning plan can only succeed, imo, if you can develop enough talent on rookie / cheap deals who you can supplement with some big name stars (while everyone is under rookie deals). Ideally you get a transformative player with one of those picks, but that is a major crapshoot given lottery, etc. If I had a Crowder, maybe I'm talking to the Lakers who see him as a better fit long-term vs. Russell (who maybe doesn't fit with Ingram who they seem to be grooming into a point forward). Russel is on my short list of guys that I think are attaintable who will at some point blow up. I think year three is going to be a good one from him. He's made major strides this year, but struggles a lot with consistency (and some of that is to be expected). Lakers may not be patient with him.

As one of the last holdovers, I want to point out, that the more I look at the free agent market, etc, the more open I become towards the idea of tanking. I don't think the Celtics alone can provide the package we want, but they are probably the best destination spot for a Buckets trade (not saying we need to do it now, although you could), mainly because if I moved Butler, I'd want lots of high picks plus young players with lots of time left on cheap contracts. I hate the idea of giving up Butler, cause he's so freaking good and so cheap, but if we got the right offer, I'd be 100% on board at this point.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Jan 17, 2017 -> 01:45 PM) Vladimir Guerrero is the only player I've ever seen turn an intentional walk into a double. They were trying to pitch around him, and the pitcher threw the ball eye high and over the left handed batter's box, but Guerrero slapped it down the right field line for a double. He's also the only player I've ever seen hit a home run off of a ball that bounced before it got to home plate. One of my all time favorite players. So damn fun to watch.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 17, 2017 -> 08:59 AM) I agree with this 100%. I hate him v the Bears but outside of that he is so f***ing good. I wish I could view the cubs like this I always liked watching Favre play too. Hated how he killed the Bears, but those two Packers QB's have been on my short list of favorite players to watch play.