Rowand44

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) Very good post. Also: I didn't know that Brian Anderson was the next Justin Morneau. No one said he was, but that's a simple example of what could happen if you give up on a talented player too early.

I honestly couldn't care less who wins the 5th spot, I just want it to be the best guy. Who that is? I haven't a clue at the moment.

QUOTE(HeGone33 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 12:42 PM) That was my point in summing it up. Im not going to repeat all the things on here that keep repeated over and over about him. Say all you want about Brian this and Brian that, but last year he sucked and looked nervous, scared and clueless at the plate! Well I haven't read through every thread in PHT about Brian lately so I haven't seen your points, whatever. Nobody has to think Brian is going to be a star and not many do, but that's not the point anyone is trying to make here. The fact of the matter is, Brian is the best option we have in Center by far and away. You can say that the reason Ozzie doesn't like Brian is because he sucks, well explain to me why in the 2nd half of the season when Brian and Mack were virtual equals at the plate that Mack still got so many damn ab's when he's about a million times inferior defensively. Something is wrong with that picture. Ozzie cost us a good amount of games last year because he has something against Brian, and that's just unacceptable, period.

QUOTE(HeGone33 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 12:35 PM) Like calling people out on a message board for stating their opinion. Well actually back up your opinion instead of just saying "he sucks and can't handle pressure." Why does he suck? Because he wasn't a fantastic hitter after 400 ab's? When has he proven that he can't handle pressure? Lets hear some facts instead of a baseless opinion.

Let me clarify my point: If Ozzie doesn't like you, you basically don't have a fair shake, I hate to say it but it's the truth. A lot of these players that Ozzie seemingly doesn't like are young players as he obviously has 0 patience. Brian and Brandon rubbed Ozzie the wrong way and one is in Texas while the other has basically been given up on after what...400 ab's? Ridiculous.

Randal's doing a daily diary for the tournament, so here's his first entry: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...0E?OpenDocument

Brandon's going to be a top of the rotation starter, hopefully Danks can be as well and Masset can blow 'em way in the pen. Like Kap said, we'll revisit this deal in a few years and hopefully Kenny made the right move.

I don't think we're ever going to develop young players again with Ozzie around.

QUOTE(Brian @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 09:27 AM) Warren played sooooo bad. They expected to walk in and win without trying. I hate Stevenson, always have and always will. Blah blah blah. Anyone on the team that stands out? I'm trying to think of some people that I could see being decent but I'm really drawing a blank besides one kid.

Stevenson? Down state? Interesting. I kind of find that hard to believe but I've basically lost track of the athletes at that school after the 06 kids graduated(year after me). Well, Go Patriots!

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 02:49 PM) Well the people on the eastern seaboard can't pronounce anything that ends in an 'r' so whatever. I like my turn-a-ment damn it. I agree. Turnament is the way to go.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 12:02 PM) What is funny about all this to me is if the Gordon family didn't f*** over Weber, the "Weber can't recruit" talks would have been put to rest. I had this same conversation with Steve on Friday.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 07:14 PM) Boy it sure would be nice to be able to get back on to ValleyTalk.net. But until an admin desides to actually help get me back in, I am looking in from the outside. This is pretty frustrating. Rowand, I sent them a message on Sunday through their admin form and have not heard back from anyone. I even gave them an alternate email address, but that didn't help either. Ya, I'm not sure what the problem is there. I sent an admin a PM as well a good while ago now about your situation and still haven't received a response

QUOTE(tigerfan @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 09:19 PM) Florida vs. Southern Illnois in one semi, and Georgetown/Ohio State in the other. Florida and Georgetown in the finals, with Georgetown emerging as champ. I like you.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:48 PM) I haven't finished yet but first thought goes... Florida vs. UCLA UNC vs. Texas A&M Florida vs. Texas A&M Stupid championship.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:43 PM) I think they are too, but it's hard to ignore Durant, and Augustin has been a damn good point guard for most of the year as well. If they had a competent big man they'd really be A LOT more dangerous IMO. I've liked USC most of the year, I'm just not sure they have quite enough to hang with UT. Also, Arkansas is a bad matchup for them in the first round with their size, and they're not exactly terrible on the perimeter either. Even if they win, they'll probably be a bit more beat up, which tempers my enthusiasm a bit... I'd never dare ignore Durant . Obviously Augustin has become a stud as well, overall though, I just can't get too excited about them as a team. IMO they have a tendancy to just allow points in bunches and that will eventually be their down fall. As for USC-Arkansas, I completely agree that USC is going to have a tough one there. Arkansas is a really big team, and they pressure the ball about as good any one. Eventually though, I just think USC is too tough overall and they'll pull out a close one. Neither USC or Texas are a 100 percent certainty to make it to the 2nd round, but if they do matchup, I believe USC will take them.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:36 PM) I think that could be a hell of a game with USC. Both are perimeter oriented teams with athletic perimeter players that can shoot, and USC has been pretty good defensively. They also actually have someone that can score in the post in Gibson. I couldn't pick them over UT though, they have no one that can matchup well with Durant (MAYBE Young, but not so sure about that), and they really only have 4 good players themselves. To be fair though, they did struggle to put away Baylor and Oklahoma State. If Durant tries to do everything and is forcing shots while Augustin and Abrams aren't really factors (and both struggled a bit in the Big 12 tourney), that really hurts their cause. As gifted as he has, he can't do it alone. I like USC in that game, I really do. Also, just saying, NMSU is athletic enough to stick with UT. I personally believe Texas is a tad overrated, jmo.

Texas better worry about their first two round opponents before they worry about the Tar Heels.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 08:38 AM) He may have recruited them, but he never coached them, I wouldnt say he knows them very well. I dont know, I think SIU-Illinois would be off the hook, and SIU would have a bigger chip on their shoulder than Illinois. Beating the coach that left you is always a good motivating factor I'm hoping our players aren't looking ahead to a possible Illinois matchup, they're saying all the right things but every damn reporter is asking them about it and it has to be in the back of their minds. Holy Cross is no push over and that game honestly scares the hell out of me(I'd be nervous no matter who we played though). QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 10:06 AM) http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/0...ts/19573964.txt I miss the Copper Dragon, I have seen many many great shows and have had many many Copper Dragon brews there. Its too bad they stopped having it open regularly and only open it for special events. I've still never been to Copper.

Interested to see what everyone else here has as their final four. As for me: Florida, UCLA, Georgetown and Texas A&M.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 11:41 PM) Kansas fans are always glad to see Syracuse down in the dumps. I've really developed a strong dislike for Jim Boeheim the last few years, so I'm happy they didn't make it.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) Maybe I'm mistaken, but wasn't Florida going through the flu/injuries when the two teams played (not to lessen it, just to say that I don't think the two teams have played each other at 100% yet). No. Their FSU loss is when Brewer was out and Noah was insanely sick.

QUOTE(Felix @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 07:27 PM) So did I SIU all the way, right? Um...duh. Is there any doubt?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 10:12 PM) Where can I find the times? I really don't even think they've all been released yet. It's just on our athletic site for our game.

We play at 8:40 Friday night, Dawg fans. God damn that's far away.