Rex Hudler

Not really new news or anything final, but the latest is DJ White will stay and Vaden is gone. The latest from the Indianapolis Star: White likely to stay; Vaden about to be gone

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Apr 12, 2006 -> 09:15 PM) Smith is card farm hand Walkin in Memphis.....

I thought the contestants this week didn't understand or just weren't able to provide the punch or edge that Queen had. I am not sure if I am using the right words, but they weren't crisp. I actually enjoyed Kellie's "Bohemian" better the 2nd time I watched it, but she lost it at the end. I thought the initial transition to the uptempo portion of the song was better than I original thought, but she really missed it transitioning back to the end. The power in that song is how well Freddie changed from one tempo to the other, and back, while keeping the vocals powerful all the way through. I thought Taylor was good, but not great. I think he loses some of his vocal ability as he is running around the stage. I thought he was much better in the parts of the song where he was more stationary or at least moving slowly. I was disappointed that he changed from We Are the Champions. I think he could have done that song well. I thought Simon was spot on about Chris. His performance seemed solid, but it wasn't a well known song. I think with the right song choice, he had a chance to blow people away this week, but instead he chose a song most of the audience had never heard, or at least had very little familiarity with. His performance was pretty forgettable for that reason. I liked Katharine this week, but again, it wasn't the most familiar song. It is easier for me to enjoy an unfamiliar song that is slower in tempo. Maybe that's just me. Bucky was okay at best. If only you could understand one word the guy sings... I thought his performance was pretty ordinary and I really hope he is gone after this week. Ace wasn't as bad watching it the 2nd time as the first, but that's not saying much. I thought he started off pretty well, then just completely lost it. It wasn't good at all. He told Ryan "I thought I rocked it". I had to laugh. I think Elliott has a nice, soothing voice. I do think the guy has talent, but his performances bore me. I just don't think he has any star quality (second lowest to Bucky). He'll probably hang around a little longer, but I can't see him winning this thing. I liked Paris tonight. She certainly didn't come across as a 17-yr old tonight. I will admit that I am pretty much only familiar with Queen's most notable titles, so some of the songs I wasn't too familiar with. I thought she had one of the best 2-3 performances tonight. I think the bottom three should be Ace, Bucky and Elliott. I think Ace and Bucky are locks (unless AI starts playing games again) and my guess is that either Katharine, Chris or Paris could be there instead of Elliott.

Getz is on the 40-man?

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 04:45 PM) Dodie Dunson apparently committs to ISU. Can a guy with a name like Dodie actually play??

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 10:53 AM) I've only listened to a few games this year, but I know the Knights have some pretty quality announcers or at least they did the few times I was there. I've never had a problem with it though, mainly because I'm listening to find out whats going on with the prospects and don't pay much attention. Plus in the minors a lot of these guys announce along with doing other key jobs for the organization so its a real busy thing where they can't focus on just one thing. Another difficulty in broadcasting minor league games is more often than not, they do not have broadcast partners or color men. They are doing, in essence, the work of two jobs. Combine that with having to work in drop-in sponsorships and just having to fill dead time and it is not easy. Imagine talking to yourself for 3+ hours 140 times a year and not getting off a bit?

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Apr 8, 2006 -> 10:14 PM) Oh Jim and Jonathan both begged me to stay but man I enjoy it out here. It was funny becuase last year I got my season ticket then I got the Scoring job so I pretty much gave away my season ticket last year. First Dback game when Bonds comes calling I believe the 20th Were you the Official Scorer up in the pressbox? I know they were looking for someone last year before the season, but if you were, I never put two and two together. Good luck in Phoenix. It is nice out there.

Vaden and Mike Davis Jr going to UAB according to Davis Jr. Here's part of it...

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ Apr 8, 2006 -> 09:36 AM) So Jamie Carroll did not like Rauch much eh? Who's Jamie Carroll?

I can't believe a $3 ring is selling on ebay for more than $100. Now THAT's profit margin (especially when you get it free!).

QUOTE(Young Gun @ Apr 8, 2006 -> 01:45 AM) What is their definition of "goth" then? depends on what she looked like at work. We were't there, so it's hard to say.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 8, 2006 -> 01:34 AM) Well whatevr the case he seems to have turned it around in Washington, maybe partly because of Frank Robinson? And any sox prospect/player I wish good luck to if they happen to be traded. Unless I have personnel experiance with them which would make me think otherwise. I hope he does well too, but he's still somewhat of a dick. Was before he had his big year in the minors, I am told. My first experience with him was during that year and he was not a major asshole, just stuck on himself and just a dick. I don't know how else to explain it. I had a friend that played on the Nats last year and he intimated not much had changed and that Rauch wasn't the most popular teammate. The guy could pitch, I'll give him that, but he has always been one of those guys without a lot of friends at the ballpark. I guess that is the best way I can put it.

Bham, did you move to Phoenix? Didn't you have family out there? How the hell are the Barons going to make it financially without your season ticket revenue? lol

The pay for entry-level salaried jobs can be quite low. Assistant Manager's in retail often work 50-60 hour weeks (especially in the busy times) and often start in the low to mid $20's. Obviously some markets may vary. There are a lot of jobs that don't pay well in the beginning. Going away from the salaried jobs, I took a job at 27 years old that tops all in this discussion. At 27, I moved to a state I had never set foot in to take an "internship", which is a fancy way of getting around wage laws. I moved knowing I may only be there for 9 months and had no benefits and no guarantee of employment after those 9 months. I was long out of school, so the "internship" had nothing to do with anything related to school. I did this all for the lovely sum of $450/month + an apartment during that time. Yes that was per MONTH and I still had to pay all utilities at the apartment they provided. I think I took home $202 every two weeks!!! This job often required 75-80 weeks. What made matters worse is that after that 9-month period, I was kept on "full-time" at a salary of $16,500, which sounds like a nice raise. But once you pay for your own apartement and can no longer file exempt on your taxes, it didn't net out to be much more than the first year. I did make an extra $3k and change in commission which helped, but there were still a lot of stale hot dogs and bologna sandwiches eaten. It did get better in subsequent years and I soon got to the point I was making a decent living in Alabama. Sadly, the employment program is still pretty similar today. My situation was 9-10 years ago. The $$ amounts now are not much higher. The profession where I literally worked for peanuts??? Professional Baseball!!!! (not a player) Some thought I was an idiot doing so, but I had a great time and I would do it again if I were in the same situation.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 04:57 PM) He made a mistake leaving early.... but you know im not going to condemn a guy who was obviously frustrated and knew he was going straight back down to AAA. I mean b4 his surgery he was a pretty damn good prospect and not being able to live up to that is tough. And hey it was funny when Buehrle hand cuffed him to the locker his next start so he couldnt leave. Rauch's attitude issues were far more deep than the leaving early incident.

I wonder where they are going to go with the terrorist angle. The FBI guys will come back into the fold and they have to do more with them than just have them trying to get Tony.

I'm willing to bet that's not how she looked when she went to work. There are usually two sides to every story.

QUOTE(Fourofakind @ Apr 7, 2006 -> 06:41 PM) Davis is a solid coach and very disrespected. He could bring UAB to big time contention in Conference USA I'd say he is an average coach and respected appropriately.

For those that must have a link. Davis to UAB

Mike Davis will be named UAB Head Basketball Coach on Friday... It's a done deal.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 4, 2006 -> 07:41 PM) I needed a none of the above for both books and comics since I have never read comics in my life and quite frankly school has ruined any interest I once had in a good book (thanks for making me read horrific text books and awful awful books). I used to read 2 books a week and now I read maybe 1 a year. Pick up some old Archie comics. They should entertain you. They'll make good bathroom reading if nothing else.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 30, 2006 -> 09:37 AM) Disco would be another great theme to throw a lot of people off their game. Hopefully they follow up country week with something on the other end of the spectrum so that Bucky and Kellie get knocked on their asses too. How about Queen? That far enough on the other end of the spectrum? That should shake things up a bit. I have no idea how this will work out, but it certainly could be interesting.

Good call on the Mandisa prediction. I would not have guessed it, though it certainly didn't surprise me. Aside from Bucky, who continues to skate by, I think the rest of them are pretty even. Any could go in any given week with a bad performance. I really don't see much of a separation (when combining talent and following) between: Taylor, Chris, Elliott, Kellie, Paris, Katharine and Ace. I'd rank Ace toward the bottom based on talent. I might rank Elliott toward the bottom based on a lack of ability to perform. He can sing, but he's boring. Paris can be really good or just decent. Katharine is very good, but I am not convinced she has a huge following. I think country actually helped Chris this week, but I am not convinced he can go all the way with his style. Taylor seems to be loved and can perform well and sing well, but I don't think he is the best at either. Kellie is decent, looks good and is from NC (which seems to be some kind of secret to lasting) but she is irritating and not great. I'm still waiting on someone to really stand out, week in, week out. Haven't seen it so far.

UAB interviewed Florida Assistant Coach Anthony Grant today. The UAB job seems to be between those two only at this point. Rumor here has it, the job is all but Davis' if they get everything worked out. According to local sources, Grant would have really had to make a huge impression for that to change.

18 - Stuck in the Last Century