Rex Hudler

I didn't read this whole thread, so I'll earn lashes if these have been mentioned already....... -- Pavano and Yankees close to a deal (4 years - between $40-46 million) -- Jaret Wright and the Yankees deal still not finalized. Apparently his shoulder did not pass an initial physical. I guess they will have to check it out further. -- Mets still think they have a shot at signing Pedro

In keeping with consistency, Indiana scores just two points in a six minute, 28 second stretch in the second half or 4 points in 8 minutes, fourteen seconds, whatever seems worse....... Bracey Wright = Antwaan Randel El That is not a good thing.......

I have a feeling you are better off.......... but the concept of a final on a Saturday afternoon, during the middle of the Kentucky game sickens me.

Droughts? IU doesn't have doughts......... Unless you call no FG's (only 4 FT's) in a 7 minute, 58 second stretch? Or only one FG in 12 minutes, 30 seconds?? Nah, no droughts..........

My guess is it is somewhere in between.

Yup, my name is Rex, but lots of people call me Joe.

I'd offer him $1.5 to $2 million with an "opportunity" to be a starter, but no guarantee.

Beck, I see where you are coming from in regards to Carlos. I have some experience with Carlos from when he was in Birmingham and have a little insight into his mind (scary, I know). Carlos is different than a lot of players. He often seems oblivious to what is going on or anything cerebral in terms of the game. That is where he seems to get much criticism. His demeanor is very happy-go-lucky. Carlos almost always has a smile on his face and is almost kid-like when he is on the field. That is not all bad. It is okay to play the game loose and enjoy yourself out there. A player doesn't have to have a "game face" on to succeed. Some do, some don't, it just depends on the player. Carlos is not stupid when it comes to the game and especially hitting, however. He is extremely talented and can help a team in many ways. All that said, I have no doubt there is some selfishness in him. This won't be popular for me to say, but if you can say one person took Carlos under his wing when he reached the Majors, it was Frank Thomas. Whether people like my opinion or even agree with me or not, Frank has been the poster child for the "me" attitude over his career. I am not blaming Frank completely for Carlos' selfishness, but it has to had some effect. Whether Carlos Lee is good for the "winning team concept" or not, I can't say because I am not in the locker room all the time nor around him everyday. I just know that he is not your typical "intense" kind of player, but that may or may not mean he is selfish to the point of hurting the team. Sorry if it seems as if I am dancing on both sides of the fence, but that is exactly what I am doing. I see both sides of Carlos, I am just not sure which wins out, so to speak.

Maddux as an example doesn't fly at all. Greg Maddux leads by example. He imparts wisdom on younger players not even knowing he is doing so or trying to. If a player asks Maddux questions or his thoughts, he'll answer. But he won't go to young players and suggest they do things a certain way. That is just the way he is. He is very much a leader, whether he thinks he is or not. He is just not the rah-rah type.

OK, which of you guys was the big fat idiot dancing on the floor at the game last night? He's been all over Sportscenter this morning. It HAS to be someone from here, doesn't it?

IF the AL Central gets better and Detroit and Cleveland have legit contending teams, that should help the Sox attendance. I think part of the problem the past couple of years, is the unbalanced schedule provided too many home games against teams that don't excite the fans.

Anyone watch the Lawrence North-Poplar Bluff game last night? I was impressed with Tyler Hansbrough, but I am not sure he is at the top 10 level. Oden is young. He played timid in the first half, but then again, his team played at a pace that didn't favor him too. There were good players on both teams. I was also impressed with Cloutier from LN. He is headed to Western Michigan, I believe.

There is nothing shaky about that at all. It's not like this is their first job ever. A guy is allowed to make a living regardless of his last name. If the company were not legit or they were using mob type intimidation to get a contract, I'd have a problem with it. This just sounds like it is something being conjured up by a politician who didn't want baseball there in the first place. I actually find it ironic that a politician is standing up and questioning the legitimacy of the deal.

Actually, based on that, the thought of Purity Test results should scare the hell out of YOU. Then again, it was you that posted the spanking thread.........

Should it scare me that my Personality Type and Motto are the exact same as yours, Steff??

Careful Steff....... I'll break out the Purity Test next.

Does Kenny Williams actually expect White Sox fans to believe that drivel? "I've been after Dustin Hermanson for three years" Bulls***! Two years ago he could have been picked up off the scrap heap for nothing. Don't tell me you just bought a bottle of Dom Perignon when it is clearly Korbel. Just freaking tell me it is a quality bottle of Korbel and we needed Korbel. That comment is an insult to the intelligence of Sox fans.

They better!

see chisoxrd's post as he stole many of my words about Strickland.... I hate to say it, but I am not sure what will work. You would think that they could run, but to do so, you need a floor general that can control things. I don't see Strickland or Wright being that player. My guess is that is the ingredient they are missing that keeps Davis from opening it up.

First of all............. So what! The short term best interests of the players does not always equal the long term best interests for the program. I think IU completely fell into that trap when they hired Davis in the first place, without looking elsewhere. I'll add that I would have had no problem with Davis being named the Head Coach if he would have earned it. The school should have explored its options and considered Davis a candidate. If after exploring all their options, Davis was chosen, I would have had no problem with his appointment. Instead, he got the job because he was in the right place at the right time. Secondly, that would not be the case. Killingsworth and Monroe aren't good enough to jump to the NBA. Maybe Marco is, I really like him, but I think he is undersized for the NBA. They will be seniors who have already sat out a year. They can't go anywhere else. When coaches get fired, players become very emotional. However, when that emotion subsides and a new coach is brought in, players generally listen and often change their minds about leaving, especially when the realization that if they do, they will have to sit on their ass for a year. Strickland could leave, but again, I say good riddance. More likely though, he would see himself faced with sitting out with only one year of eligibility left and stick it out, rather than sit out a year. Killingsworth and Monroe did not do the same, so he could leave. White would likely be the most likely to go. It would just depend on what coach was brought in and if he thought that coach could get him to the NBA quicker than having to sit out and start over somewhere else. I doubt Bracey would leave, unless someone convinced him he was good enough to jump to the NBA. I honestly don't think he is that good and that he would be back for his senior year, but I could be wrong. Ewing and Vaden are toss ups. My guess is that Ewings father, understadning the business side of basketball would help his son determine what is best for his future. I'd guess that would mean staying and sticking it out. Vaden, I don't know enough about, but again, when facing sitting out a year, decisions aren't always so balck and white. Illinois could have had several players jump ship when Bill Self left. Cooler heads prevailed once Weber was brought in and look at where they are now. It is not as foregone a conclusion as you think that they would all bail.

Now that my rant is done....... let's look for the positive. As pointed out in tonight's broadcast, IU's conference schedule this year should be as easy as it can be because they only play Illinois, Michigan State and Iowa once each. Wisconsin is the only top tier team they will have to play twice. They have young talent. They just have to add more and find a way to get them to play in some way resembling a team. Marshall Strickland needs to grow up and stop playing like an inconsistant freshman. They need to figure out how to incorporate Bracey Wright. He reminds me of Antwaan Randel El in that he is good enough to practically carry the team on his own, yet when he does, it hurts every one else. Bracey needs to find ways to do his thing, yet make everyone around him better. That's what great players do. I think the football program focused on Randel El so much, that it set them back 2-3 years when he was gone. I see similarities with Wright. Damn, I really tried to keep things positive.......

After 2 1/2 years of this crap, why would you expect anything different? Sure it is. As the coach, he has to make sure they are doing what they need to do to get into position to make shots. Tossing up three pointers because you can't get any other shot is not totally the fault of the players (actually very little of it is their fault). Whatever offense they do have, and I am not sure there is much of one that actually works, gets abandoned every other five minutes for individual play. Everybody decides to stand around and do nothing while the guy with the ball dribbles. If there is an actual offense that works, it is Davis' responsibility to get the players to use it. He recruited the players, how they play is his SOLE responsiblity. The bottom line is, since Game 9 of the 2002-2003 season, any semblence of offensive cohesiveness has disappeared. The long droughts, the turnovers from too much dribbling, the pass a half second too late, the interior passes at guys feet, or at too high of a speed from close range..... all of those things have been going on entirely too long for it to be a fluke or the players fault. I am not a "fire the coach" kind of guy, but I am getting sick of watching this crap. Since January of 2003, this team has been painful to watch. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that is this team continues to tank it and finishes near .500 again, Davis is gone, and SHOULD BE.

Cheat, I think you got it........ I don't think KW wants to go to arbitration with him, because it would be too unpredicatble for a guy who is not a high priority. I'm sure they would like to keep him around if he expresses the desire to do what the club wants and KW can fit him into the right role, but that is a big if. Schoeneweis has been in the Majors six years, but 1999 was only a partial season. I don't have the exact number of days of service he obtained, but my guess it was not enough for him to be a free agent this offseason.

I didn't even know there was a Quotes of the month thread, so I am not sure how to respond to that. For now I will go with: Thanks!................... I think

They key is did YOU get it? lol as long as someone does.........