thedoctor

here's his updated "big board"

am i the only one really, really sick of packer's "if they played the game the right way" schtick? i mean, he has a point but goddamn does he just have to hammer us with this in every single f***ing game he broadcasts? sheesh.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Feb 2, 2006 -> 10:14 PM) I'm not so sure that at least some Illini fans aren't getting a little cocky. The guys on this board have all been pretty sane and intelligent, but there are definitely others that aren't like that. I spent four years down there, and my attitude towards the Illini was pretty neutral when I got on campus. After four years of hearing how great the Illini are, I've started rooting against them, and it wasn't just the drunken frat boys that ticked me off. Every time I tried to tell anyone that the team wasn't as good as they thought, people jumped on me, no matter how calm, reasonable, and logical I was in my argument. No one wanted to hear that the Elite 8 team wasn't going to win in all because they weren't even the best team in their bracket, or that the next year's team was highly suspect and might lose to ND in the second round, or that last year's team would eventually have some problems against better teams because of their dependence on the 3 and the relative lack of an inside prescence. I suppose that probably happens at every school, it amazed me that I couldn't seem to find too many reasonable fans. If they make the Final Four again this year, I really think that a whole lot of Illini fans are going to take a pretty ridiculous attitude toward the team, and those people will probably overreact if they have an 18-20 win season next year like it appears that they will. this post explains a lot. i do agree that i was surprised at the level of cockiness adopted by some fans. however, i think that's also true of many fan bases who experience success. i agree totally that people are going to overreact next year and i am in the minority that thinks 18-20 wins might be overestimating things. the pre-conference schedule is already shaping up as brutally tough, and it would not be surprising to me to see five or six non-con losses, which people will not be able to handle. the only saving grace could be the fact that the league in general will be down.

what the hell. i'll go upset and call indiana win. killingsworth has his best game and the hoosiers are hot from 3.

lancelot link, secret chimp.

QUOTE(illinilaw08 @ Feb 3, 2006 -> 09:17 PM) http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2317958 Didnt see this anywhere, the Knicks trade AD for Rose and a first round pick. The Knicks now have about 7 guards who can't pass and wont play defense to go with Channing Frye and Eddy Curry.... and they just traded away a solid expiring contract. At least thats my initial reaction. Any other thoughts? my initial reaction is that isiah is dumb as f***. let's see, trade away a guy making 13 million in the last year of his contract for a guy making $15 million with another year on his contract at that rate. then add a shoot-first player to a team already overloaded with selfish combo guards. yep. dumb as f***.

i'm bored. it's friday. wtf.

man, the last time i had a quick hit i just couldn't stop coughing.

anderson (people say he's hilarious and a good time) buehrle (my favorite current sox) iguchi (if he ripped on my swing i wouldn't know what he was saying)

one article that is essentially an opinion piece does not constitute proof to me. besides, i thought we were talking about the media being desirous of a black quarterback being successful. if you want to turn this into a some broad-based discussion of how the white man is kept down and discriminated against (lol), then have that discussion with someone else are there a lot of stories about white receivers? no. but have white receivers historically been an oddity? no. black quarterbacks have.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 3, 2006 -> 04:30 PM) I'm not confused at all. I totally understand. First of all, the University calls the Chief "a symbol" not "a mascot." And doc, I know what you are saying about the academics of the school. You are absolutely right, a change would mean nothing in regards to the learning or research at the school. And my fondest memories of the U of I aren't the Chief. But, it was a part of it. I didn't miss a football game in 4 years. Everytime the Chief came out, all of us cheered as loud as we could and I would get goosebumps, in fact, I still do. Then, as we sang the Alma Mater, we (the students and alumni and anyone else that was there) were all one. It wasn't the Chief. It wasn't the games. It was being there with friends and the college experience all together. And the Chief is a big part of that experience. It's hard for people to let that go. Rock, since you didn't go there, it's hard for you to truly say what that feels like. Maybe you think it's a silly tradition, or hostile, or abusive, or racist, or whatever, but I fondly remember the Chief as a way to bring everyone at the U of I together for 5 minutes, no matter color, race, creed, anything. When we were all cheering at halftime, we were all Illini. can, i respect your view. i had many friends who loved the chief and did tie significance to him. for myself, i just never made that connection, but i still felt like i was an illini and a part of something bigger. that's just me tho.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Feb 3, 2006 -> 04:13 PM) Great post Doc. Those are my sentiments exactly after having my own school change our mascot. Illinois isnt even changing their name or anything. I had to adjust to the damn RedHawks. But I will tell you this, as much as my parents, relative, and older alums miss the Redskin name, the new generations have picked up on the new mascot and are beginning new traditions. My school was founded in 1809, and tradition is rich. But the insignificance of a football or basketball mascot is extremely apparent in the big picture. thanks. you make excellent points as well. the thing i think has happened is that this argument has just become a way for some people to express their support or lack of support for political correctness. the argument isn't really about the chief, the chief has just become a vehicle for people to express themselves one way or another. this is a good thing, imo. intelligent discourse is always a plus. the problem is, people have gotten so wrapped up in their own dogma (and this is on both sides) that they've lost sight of what is most important at a university - education. i wish people would be this passionate about the university curriculum or the way the university funds programs instead of getting caught up in a debate that is relatively meaningless in the big picture.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Feb 3, 2006 -> 03:59 PM) I don't need Irvin to validate anything...just pointing out he is a black commentator and he didn't say Rush's comments were racist. Since you agree they weren't racist, no sense going into it any further. If you think the NFL does not want to see a Black QB succeed ...you have blinders on. Everytime there is a Black QB that is in a big game or has a big game. We have to hear about how he is a great black QB instead of just a great QB. Akili Smith's comments from this article: Smith said there’s been a perception in the league that blacks weren’t smart enough to play quarterback in the NFL and that’s why they’ve always been encouraged to play other positions. He’s out to shatter that stereotype. "That’s what it was," Smith said. "Once they figured out we (blacks) were smart enough to play the position, everybody started having confidence in us. Once we continue to show that, they’ll have confidence in the next kids coming along in this league." i didn't mention the nfl. i'm sure they want black quarterbacks to succeed. they want everyone to succeed. it's good for business. more jersey sales, more broad-based interest etc. but limbaugh didn't address the nfl, nor did i. he and i spoke to the media, and that's where we differ. of course those stories are going to be reported. they are reported because they are out-of-the-ordinary. is this representative of the media being "desirous" of black quarterbacks succeeding? not in my view.

as a u of i grad, i tied none of my great memories and great times at illinois to the chief. to me, if you are an alum and are going to withhold your support for the university because it had to change it's mascot, that's just sad. i went to illinois for a great education, and i am satisfied i received it. the chief part of it was irrelevant to me, just like i'm sure an animal would be irrelevant to me if that's what our mascot was. i understand traditions and such, but losing the chief will change nothing about the university. it won't change how classes are taught, what faculty are brought into the school, or the level of education you can get there. that is what is really important, not whether or not some guy does a dance at halftime of a football game.

i doubt anyone considers it classic rock but i love superstition by stevie wonder.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Feb 3, 2006 -> 02:37 PM) McNabbs comment is just plain old race card bulls***. Irvin just used Favre as an example cause he is a great veteran quaterback. He didn't pick him cause he was white, he picked him cause he is respected. He was suppose to pick Brooks? Culpepper? Vick? What the f*** have they ever done? It wouldn't even be a good question if Irvin used them cause it can easily be argued that McNabb is better than all of em. Apparently, nobody can criticize McNabb without being a racist or guilty of Black on Black crime?? As for Rush Limbaugh, he never said anything racist. The NFL and the mediaare looking to find a star Black QB. They want to erase the notion that a black QB can't succeed in the NFL. That isn't a secret. It isn't racist to say that. It's a fact. The only criticisim Rush had for McNabb was that he isn't that good and maybe he was right. He said "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team." So he took a dig at the media, but he never said anything racist about McNabb. He just said he doesn't think McNabb is that good and Philly's Defense is what carried them. Just like many of us have said...Orton isn't that good....the Defense carried the Bears. If Tom Jackson made that comment is he being racist against Orton?? Just as an aside following Rush's comments Michael Irvin said..."Rush has a point" so now michael irvin's support is validation of a viewpoint. lol. anyway, i disagreed with rush's statement at the time and i still do. i would love to see any "factual" evidence that supports a broad-based media conspiracy to promote black quarterbacks. i didn't see this in chicago when kordell stewart was the quarterback, nor in cincinnati when akili smith was the quarterback, nor in atlanta now that michael vick is having issues. it seems to me that vick has justly received a lot of criticism. now, has vick also received credit? sure. rightly so when his team beat gb in gb and made it to the title game. did mcnabb receive credit? sure. but did he receive any more credit than any quarterback? not in my view. across the board quarterbacks get a lot more attention than credit. i also did not think rush's comments were racist. they were, however, political, and espn specifically told him not to inject politics into his analysis. that's why he got s***canned.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Feb 2, 2006 -> 04:37 PM) I'd say Donovan had the right to play the race card when talking about the head of the Philly chapter of the NAACP. That was total bulls*** the way he characterized McNabb and he made it about race. i agree with this. however, i don't think it was an appropriate reference here. crime is a serious problem. two teammates who can't get along isn't. mcnabb was just echoing what his father said when the incident happened, and i did not think it was an appropriate comparison then either. but i do agree that when the head of the naacp basically calls you an uncle tom in an editorial in a daily newspaper, then race has been interjected into the situation. as an aside, i also question why this had to come up this week. i took favre to task for allowing his retirement non-story to be an issue earlier this week, and i feel the same way about mcnabb and this story. i'd much rather hear about joey porter calling jerramy stevens a b****.

flying coffee

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Feb 2, 2006 -> 08:40 PM) As for Illini hatred against Self, I can understand that, as I have the same feelings for Benedict Roy, that bastage. Only difference was Self never said on national television that we would remain the Illinois coach forEVER. I like that Illinois fans are getting cocky with their program, and I will admit, the program is close to becoming "elite", but lets stop and think what got the team here. Weber is a great coach, no question about it, but also safe to say his recruiting has not got off to a very solid start. Is Illinois any better than an NIT team if Dee doesnt gt hurt at the pre-draft camp?? Has Augustine got any better or learned anything from last years championship game?? I have all the respect in the world for Illinois and I hope they continue to build a reputation that makes the team a perinnial elite powerhouse, I just don't get it that their fans take it for granted that this is a foregone conclusion. Kentucky, UCLA, Duke, Kansas didnt become the programs they are overnight. i'm a huge illinois fan and would be the first to say our program is not among the elite yet. you need nc's to accomplish that, and we haven't had one (not counting the pre-ncaa tournament one we had). that said, i feel the program is on the right track and you can not quibble with the success weber has had there. whether he recruited those kids or not, he has been their coach and he has coached them as well as you possibly can. my happiness with weber is also why i have no problems with self. as a recruiter, he did a fantastic job at illinois, so he deserves credit for bringing in such a great group of players. he gets some credit for the past two years no doubt. however, i also think he has many drawbacks as a coach, and i do not feel the team would do what it's done the past two years under his leadership. whether or not weber is able to bring in top talent is the biggest question. rankings-wise he wasn't off to a great start, but i like what i've seen out of some of his recruits. plus, it does appear that some future classes are shaping up well. weber takes criticism for recruiting (and rightly so, that comes with the job), but all of this is not his fault. illinois has run through four coaches in the past 15 years and that type of instability does not help the long-term success of you program. anyway, just wanted to be clear where i stand. welcome aboard and i look forward to reading your hoops insights.

i am a fan of the sox, the bears and illinois and it seems as if each of these fanbases is at times obsessed with the idea of "respect" whether it is from media, other fans, other teams, coaches whoever. no article that is not some huge homer piece can go by without someone filling the email inbox of the writer with anger and vitriol. no criticism can pass without someone getting a chip on the shoulder. and i will say this is evident throughout the sports world today. the teams listed above aren't alone in this. hell, sometimes the teams themselves can't let anything pass without saying "no one believed in us." this s*** gets so old it is unbelieveable. why is this happening? i don't recall in years past that this was the case. are people just overly sensitive, or are we so miserable that even in our most glorious times the slightest bit of criticism can not be let to pass without claims of disrespect. i just don't get it.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 2, 2006 -> 04:32 AM) But he's not all about making people great basketball players, he's all about making people great human beings. Coack K is a saint. i heard he was something else...

vontae davis to illinois, per washington post chat:

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Feb 1, 2006 -> 05:10 PM) not strange, just disillusional haha lol

what's so strange about looking at your team honestly?

so far today illinois has received these national letters of intent: isaiah williams, chris james, chris duvalt, joe morgan, anterio jackson, jon asamoah, eddie mcgee, antonio james, garrett edwards, ryan palmer and jeff cumberland. kenny britt has sent his letter to neither illinois nor rutgers so far.