jackie hayes

QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 01:30 PM) Also, right now, would you argue that the Bears have the worst offense on paper out of any team in the NFL? I think that's a tough sell. KC, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Baltimore are all pretty awful.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 11:23 AM) I see. When someone receives over 200 death threats and then is bound, gagged and shot in the back of the head, you can assume it wasn't because they wanted his watch. Not that there aren't cases when someone is just killed for anonymous reasons, but I think the majority of them are pretty blunt. Also some of the murders will come after a rally or protest. Also murders tend to happen close to each other. Like a unionist will be shot and than less than 24 hours later another will be shot. To create that climate of fear. As far as what a "leader" would be. I don't know. Someone who heads up a protest or organizes against a certain company I would assume. The reason I ask is because some people have claimed that the murder rate for union members is lower than the average murder rate in Colombia. In which case, it's difficult (though not impossible) to make the case that union members are being 'hunted down'. In any case, if that is true, it would be irresponsible to make the claim that union members are being systematically killed on the basis of sheer numbers. Can you just show me where you are getting your data?

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 10:26 AM) The distinction between assassination and other forms of killing is that the assassination usually has political motivation. As far as the leaders go, you could use Carlos Alberto Chicaiza Betancourt as an example. He was killed in 2004. He was a board member of a union that was trying to organize municipal workers. He was shot twice in the head. No, you're not understanding me. I'm not asking about the meaning of the word. How are the two distinguished in the data? And, again, who qualifies as a union "leader" in these data you are citing?

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 10:00 AM) I was referring to the 17 trade union leaders that were assassinated this year. I see. So the question I've been asking is, how are assassinations differentiated from other types of murder? Also, what is the qualification for being a "leader"?

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jun 10, 2008 -> 10:25 AM) Well there is a lot of murder in Columbia, but I was trying to use the word assassination to make the point that besides the random murder cases, people are being killed for political reasons. I really don't know if makes any sense of not. You're talking about numbers, though. I'm asking about those numbers you are referring to -- are they assassinations of trade unionists, or all murders of trade unionists? If they are assassinations, how are those differentiated from other murders?

QUOTE (DABearSoX @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 07:26 PM) bar talk people? you mean drunks? hey@ whuchu gotginst su, uh?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 06:00 PM) Yes it was a nothing offense, but that doesn't mean it was a nothing offense in the eyes of the team. After the Tank situation, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they sat Benson down and said "This is your only warning, you're on probation, we're not cutting you for this, but we don't want to see you doing anything else that could put yourself in jeopardy. You don't have to break the law, we don't want you being caught without a DD somewhere, or being caught out late at night, or anything." I personally wouldn't have cut him had I not told him that, but if you sat him down, told him that you had a zero tolerance policy for anything, and then 2 weeks later he's caught doing exactly what he promised he wouldn't do, then the team would have no choice. Sure, a team can do what it likes. But if it gets so hysterical that it cuts a player for "being caught out late at night", I'm gonna ridicule the team, not the player.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 07:09 PM) Now is the rate of assasination to union leaders droping because of reform or because there is barely any left? I also think this will cost more Americans their jobs. You come off as extremely anti-union. I've never heard of union workers called "overlords" before. Do you mean assassinations, or murders? Do you differentiate between the two?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 06:45 PM) It's not really about what I think. If it was, I would've at least waited until the BAC test came back because it wouldn't have hurt anything. But it doesn't matter, he created his own situation. That's why he no longer plays in Chicago, and he knows it. That's nice...

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 06:21 PM) ?????????????????????????????? Tank got his fair shakes all the way up until he got out of prison (and I had his back the whole way), and then right after he gets out he goes to a party, has like 10 beers (he's 300 lbs, it's got to be at least that) and then barely misses the legal limit - good chance he would've blown over if he didn't buy himself that 40 minutes or so in refusing the breathalyzer and getting the blood test. Horrible decision-making, and it shows that he hadn't learned a thing after all that, and nobody to blame but himself. That debate is kind of old, but suffice it to say I don't give a damn what you think about it. He was under the limit, all he did was speed. You can say all you want about previous acts, patterns -- bull. About 95% of the people I've ever been friends with, including those who've never seen the inside of a jail, have done that or more. It was a nothing offense, and I think Tank got jobbed.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 04:41 PM) You mean telling Benson to his face? That's not s***ty, that's being a man. So what if he flew all the way here. They could've done it over the phone, they could've done it through his agent, but Lovie or whoever, manned up and told him to his face. To me, that's showing respect, which he probably doesn't deserve at this point. Also, Shaun Alexander's downfall is directly related to Steve Hutchinson going to the Vikings. He needs a good line and hopefully, the Bears have improved their line enough that he might be a good pickup. I'd pass on Henry, just because of PR. No, I mean not saying anything so he shows up thinking he's going to practice, then gets, 'Go home and wait for our decision.' You want to tell him to his face, fine, just give him or his agent a call and tell him he's not practicing, but you want to see him for a meeting at 2. I'd have no problem with that. Iirc, that's what happened with Tank, and even though I don't believe Tank got a fair shake, I don't have a problem with how they delivered the news. Instead, the Bears didn't say anything -- they just let him show up, I guess to humiliate him -- then told him nothing. Just, go home, we'll send you the press release. Being a real man, there. There are very few people in the world who don't deserve respect, and Cedric Benson, for all that he's done (and not done), hasn't even nearly crossed that line yet.

QUOTE (BFirebird @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 05:11 PM) Would that really be tampering? I thought that teams talk with players about signability all the time. If you have an agent, I'm pretty sure the team can't talk to the player about contract matters without including the agent (or at least getting the agent's okay). That issue came up with ARod's contract, and I don't see why it'd be any different for an amateur player. I guess they could have told Jordan that they'd sign him if he dumped Boras, as long as they cc'd Boras, but I don't think they want to poison that well, even if they don't drink from it that often.

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 05:18 PM) Apparently Benson showed at morning workouts and was told to go home by Lovie Smith. Ouch http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...r060908.article Anyone say if they called him beforehand? Tried to get in touch with his agent, something? Kind of a s***ty thing to do, if they could've avoided it.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 9, 2008 -> 12:57 PM) So we're looking at a run-and-gun type offense next year then? I dunno about that. That was D'Antoni's calling card, but supposedly he left Phoenix because he and the front office weren't on the same page. Since this guy was part of the fo, he might have very different ideas. Given that we started with D'Antoni, then went on to Collins and looked into Avery Johnson along the way, I don't think Pax was looking for a coach associated with any particular style of play. He seemed willing to try just about anything.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 8, 2008 -> 12:43 PM) I watch cuban TV in the USA. Anybody can watch foreign TV in the USA. Just buy an FTA dish, receiver, LNB and install it. The cuban season just ended in the spring. Ask for the Nats and Viciedo, how about the outfield? Okay. But in that case, I'm sure the scouts you were questioning have watched the same games you have. Dollars to donuts every single MLB scouting department has tapes of every one of those games. I'm not saying you can't disagree with their opinions or dismissing your take. Just that you can't write off their opinions because they haven't seen enough of him, if they're seeing everything that you've seen. As for the Nats, it depends on how Pena and Dukes turn out. Figure Milledge will stick, but I doubt both of those two work out long term. Either Pena'll hit .200 or Dukes'll beat the living crap out of an umpire who gave him a bad look. So I imagine they'll have at least one spot open.

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 08:55 PM) When was the last time these scouts saw him play? Scouts are banned in Cuba and may see cubans in international tournaments for 5 or 6 games a year. So, I don't mean to call you out or anything, I mean this as a legit question. Given that you live in WV, when's the last time you saw him play? Why didn't he just go to DR, like all the other Cuban defectors? Seems silly to risk being ineligible for fa by going to the US. Also, third base with the Nats is probably not gonna happen any time soon... Oh, and his wikipedia page hasn't been updated since April. Who wants everylasting fame?

Doubt it. I would guess that high prices would mean less opportunism, simply because people are paying a lot more attention to prices now.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 02:18 PM) worst commercial out right now is the taco bell one for the double beef burrito with the rap.....drives me nuts btw i love any of free credit report.coms jingles...those are so bad they are good...like the red roof inn one HELL YES. Plus, the double beef burrito sucks. Double s***tiness.

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jun 7, 2008 -> 10:41 AM) Remember the Eagleman days? "IIIIIIIIIIIIIII've got something for youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" It was like the director of those commercials told everyone to speak as if they were in slow motion. I was in the audience for a Letterman show where they played awful local commercials. That was the final one they showed, and as soon as it came on I was elbowing my friend while speaking along with the commercial. Look at those lowwww rates! It is the standard.

Benson arrested again, DWI. I feel awful for him. If only he had an offensive line, these sorts of things would never happen!

QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 10:56 PM) The Red Roof Inn one is so bad that I like it. That. And the cheesiness of Bob Rohrman commercials has been so consistent through the years that they trigger nostalgia more than annoyance. So where's the, "I likes 'em both" option?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 05:19 PM) THose sorts of things cause temporary spikes and falls. The overall trend though, is caused by much larger factors. I mean the minute-to-minute movements, not a trend. Though I'm sceptical about how temporary those are.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 03:24 PM) My question is has demand or supply really changed enough to cause a $10 price bump in the last 24 hours? Or is it people speculating that demand or supply will change enough? From the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/07stox.html And there could be more. One of the funny things about market movements is how much things can shake when there's no discernible news. There usually is news, but it's not always easy to track it down when you're not on the ground.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 12:33 PM) i may have been imagining, but I could have sworn I've seen it since 9/11 No, they have played it recently. I saw it sometime in the last 3-4 weeks (? -- something like that) -- it was the first time I'd seen it, so it stuck out. They probably stopped playing it for a while after 9/11, but it's definitely back in the rotation now.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 6, 2008 -> 09:03 AM) That was quick.... The Raiders have signed first-round pick Darren McFadden, the team announced Thursday night. Contract terms were not disclosed, but it's believed to be for six years and $60 million, with $26 million guaranteed. McFadden's contract represents a 40 percent increase in guaranteed money over last year's fourth overall pick, Gaines Adams. The Raiders will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. ET today to formally announce the deal. Jun. 6 - 8:13 am et Whoa.