RockRaines

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 11:21 PM) I'm having a really hard time thinking if there has ever been a more overrated college basketball player than Aaron Craft. I realize that isn't his fault but I always just laugh when he is listed as a top 10 player in the country or when Dakich says he would take Craft over every other player in the country. His value is in something you don't really measure and has been one of if not the best defensive player in the country his entire career. That's the sum of his value. Great complimentary piece. With a team that can't score his value is quickly diminished since offensively he is below average.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 10:16 PM) Three straight B1G losses. OSU must be terrible. Ready for the recruits.

When will the cold streak end?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 06:00 PM) You mean UCLA that manages to pull top recruiting class annually even when it sucks? And have had underwhelming coaching staffs. Shaka Smart is one of the best coaches in the game, why wasn't Vcu listed as favorites for Alexander, Parker, etc?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:27 AM) Unless you are watching them, how would you know? J4L secret Bieber fan. Busted. Biebers last movie was a complete bomb. Nobody went to see it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) You guys seriously don't think Bieber is more famous than Jordan? Bieber is the most famous person on the planet right now. And then I see J4L said the exact same thing. Like it or not, Miley is the most famous person on the planet. Bieber was the number 4 most googled person in 2013.

QUOTE (WHarris1 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 10:01 PM) Haha yup. Losses to Northwestern and Purdue and well probably be underdogs in the next 5. The next 5 games will not be fun, but with an upset it could be a signature win. Silver lining?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 03:22 PM) Who, Chipotle? From their website: Hass Avocado, Red Onion, Jalapeño, Cilantro, Citrus Juice, Salt Ah I was confusing it with whole foods. My bad. I've stripped down my burrito bowl so much lately but it's still awesome.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 02:27 PM) Again, this was all stated in the context of responding to Badger about IU's low years. All of the 2007 recruits you refer to were gone by the following year (08-09). And those 4 top 100 2009 players still won a grand total of 7 Big Ten games their first two years. And the other top classes were the past 3 years, where, again yes, IU was just as talented if not moreso than Wisconsin. I agree it's not a handicap when they're blue chips (but I consider blue chips to be top 25 guys, not top 100). For example, this year Vonleh only just turned 18 in August, but yeah he's probably more presently talented than anyone on Wisconsin, despite his youth. Results after recruiting those much more talented players actually shows coaching and program deficiencies if anything. Since the beginning of your "low year" spectrum IU has always had higher rated players. And that has continued to today. IU should have won a majority of those games over the years, but of course the difference has been Bo Ryan.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) fun fact, most restaurant guac is half cut with mashed peas Theirs happens to be cut with half sour cream, which is why its horrible for you.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 01:43 PM) Neither I nor He Gawn ever argued that IU is currently (within the past 3 seasons) devoid of talent. I was merely responding to SB saying "Even at their lowest Indiana is full of players that are supposedly more talented than Wisconsin." That's it. I pointed out IU's three worst years (08-09, 09-10, 10-11) in the middle of the streak to show that his statement was absurd on its face. But he kept babbling about Zeller and moving the goalposts. If you're talking about right now, IU might be more talented (definitely more athletic) than Wisconsin, but its raw. Still a young team that will continue to have its ups and downs, and certainly frustrate me as the year goes on. Since 2007 IU has had 4 top 10 classes. In 2007 they recruited 3 top 100 players. In 2009 they had 4 top 100 players. In that timeframe Wisconsin has had zero top ten classes. Youth is not really a handicap in college ball when you bring in blue chip players.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 01:47 PM) And apparently this board wasn't the only place discussing court storming. Eamonn Brennan: IU students don't care about your rules. Mostly lines up with B>W's thinking. Alot of those students are young and their best experience as a fan and student was Crean cutting down the nets in an empty stadium after a loss. I dont fault them for thinking it was a big win. Not that many of them were alive when IU was a perennial power.

And it's also funny saying teams are overrated when they lose in conference. News flash, nobody is getting through the Big Ten undefeated.

Crean couldn't get out of the sweet sixteen with 2 top 5 draft picks and you are criticizing Bo Ryan? Laughable.

Wait. How is IU devoid of talent with the best recruiting classes EVAR???

Yeah it hasn't gone over well.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 01:27 AM) Since you're a Sox fan and the wife is half Irish, what about Frank Cillian B. ? Cillian is a good Irish name. Could flip the first and middle as well. Although half Mick, shes much more of a dego

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 01:17 AM) Holy s***. I had it at .00001% days ago. Im shocked by their interest. I knew they were looking for money to sign someone, it may just be this guy.

Jerry was involved too, I can 100% guarantee it, maybe he was on the phone.

Ok Soxtalk. I've have a little boy coming in a little over a month and my wife and I have had some friction regarding names. I have been very stuck on Frank Thomas as the first and middle name and we can call him little hurt. At first she was very resistant but its starting to grow on her, especially when I told her the second choice is Braxton Miller. However its good to have alternatives that arent today's ridiculous made up s***. We are very traditional, so no Lemonjello. She is half italian and half irish and i am 100% east German. Here is your chance. If someone comes up with something better than Frank Thomas, and frankly if it sells my wife, I'll relay the results. My last name starts with a B

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:47 AM) With a guy in Tanaka's position, there will be other costs, benefits, and risks to think about beyond mere guaranteed dollars. Take the Cespedes deal as an example -- people don't think Oakland offered the most money, but they renounced their team control of him after the contract ends. Cespedes was willing to take that gamble. Great point. The big spending teams want him locked up for a long time. If hes as good as he thinks, how about a shorter term with an out or escalators?

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:37 AM) This would be awesome. Any idea how interested Tanaka is in Chicago though? Or is it all about the money for him I think they are hoping its not. The Sox, although a question mark, are building a nice core and their pitching is solid. Its a somewhat attractive destination, especially since the expectations this year arent all that high yet.

Maybe Danks. I'm hearing they have money to spend.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:21 AM) I think people are overreacting how much the Yankees are willing to pay for Tanaka. I'm sure they are going to be in it for the 15-20 million annual range, but I don't see them willing to spend over 20 million annually on him. They still have to deal with A-Rod after this year, and if they go over 20 million on Tanaka they are right back to where they were with no breathing room under the luxury tax. I'd be more worried about the Dodgers being the ones to spoil all the fun and offer him something nuts. To me, the fact that someone is trying to leak "preferred cities" shows me that teams are afraid that their bids arent going to win, and they want to drive the price down, or lessen interest. I also think that his camp is more interested in the team and ownership than we think. There is a reason that Jerry was involved here and having all the top brass pitch was a great move by the Sox. Abreu got the full court press as well. IN the end our offer was competitive (I dont believe we were the highest, barely), and our management sold the Sox future IMO.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 12:08 AM) Translation: They are out. Could be. I'm hearing they think they can afford it, and they could also move salary (I assume Dunn). Their pitch was pretty much all out including Jerry, thats pretty telling.