RockRaines

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 07:54 AM) So the wife and I get the rare chance this weekend to go out on the town without the kid. Trying to decide where to have dinner. Looking for something north side-ish, or maybe near west side, in the city. Something nice, but not I-have-to-wear-a-tie nice. Really good food, nice selection of wines and beers. And no loud music or bands - I want a place we can actually talk. Suggestions? What kind of food do you like? I just went to a great place called Blue 13 on Erie. Small and intimate setting where the chef makes meals fresh and sometimes comes out to chat. Really top notch food and a decent wine selection. Service was excellent. Its a modern play on traditional food. But once again I could add more spots if I know what you are looking for. I eat out. Alot.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 2, 2009 -> 10:38 AM) I'm a huge fan of Izzo and the MSU program but... when was the last time MSU won a meaningful pre-conference game? Seems like they always have a craptastic dud of a game against an inferior opponent and also a loss to a quality opponent that they should contend with. Obviously by the end of the season, when it matters, they turn it on. Just strange though that they never seem as ready out of the gate. I always think they are overrated during the regular season and then in the tourney when I pick them to lose they go several rounds. Izzo is just a good coach.

That was awesome, I wish I was there.

Thank God. Now get Redmond out of the division and all backup catchers that kill us are gone.

Versteeg is so good.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 08:35 PM) This Carolina game is out of control. Great atmosphere, incredible players, great tempo. And Dickie V sucking off UNC. John Henson must have an 8 foot wingspan. I dont think I've seen someone that long.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 06:25 PM) Rock, I get to cover Lenzelle Smith on Friday. First game of the year for him. He sat out the whole Thanksgiving tourney with a bad ankle. It isn't a major injury. Nice!!!! I still havent seen him play.

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 06:42 PM) I hope every Big 10 team loses except Purdue and NW. The only schools I like in the B10. Awww, do you need a hug?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 27, 2009 -> 01:20 PM) Oh, and Seantrel Henderson visited Iowa last week. Interesting to see if they can pull out a massive coup and get him. That would be HUGE, freaking huge. #1 recruit in the country according to Rivals. I'm hearing OSU or Florida.

QUOTE (scotty22hotty @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 01:20 PM) While Dotel had a great '09 season ~$6Mil for a 36 year old arm isn't worth the risk. But looking at FA options... I doubt KW will find anyone better for the price. He's been a pretty good player for us, very flexible and although prone to the big HR, he's been overall very good.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 10:53 AM) I hate taking him away from the best finshers on the team in Hossa, Toews, and Sharp. Steeg is solid, but with the year Kane is having, I'd be tempted to move Toews. Kaner needs to be on the RW so he can snipe from that side, it makes sense.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 1, 2009 -> 09:43 AM) Anyone else think the timing of Weis' firing is stupid? Why not wait until after the bowl game? They need to name a coach quickly so they dont lose recruits and players to the draft. If they hire Brian Kelly, domers are going to be pissed about the defense for the next 5 years.

Kaner replaced by Sharpie on the top line.

So is part of VDN's offense built around having D Rose jog through the lane and stand in the corner? Because thats what I see a majority of the time.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 07:27 PM) Yeah, academics are a lame excuse. I don't understand why a high school athlete would want to go to Notre Dame. They offer nothing that isn't matched or topped by several other programs that don't have the handicap of playing in Indiana. The regional recruiting for the midwest (Ohio and Pennsylvania are up there, but that's not where Notre Dame is) isn't as good as Texas, Florida or California. Many of the other top programs are in those areas. Notre Dame can't expect to be a top tier program when they are #4 in terms of current prestige among the midwest (behind Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State), which isn't as deep as the areas mentioned. Despite all that they've still recruited supposed top talent, so why are academics a valid excuse? ND used to historically pull alot of the top catholic players from all over, Penn, NJ, Ill, Ohio, it didnt matter. Nowadays its more important to play for a big time school with serious facilities and a pipeline to the NFL. The states you mentioned all have a top tier football program that takes the best talent in the state. I understand ND WANTS to compete for a national title every year, but its extremely hard for ANY program to do that.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 07:04 PM) Gradys Ladies strike first, and strike hard! Clearly no mercy

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 06:38 PM) Since Weis has been at ND havent they consistently had top 10-5 recruiting classes? I dont think the problem is that athletes didnt want to come to ND, I think the problem was that there wasnt someone who could coach them up, especially on the defensive side. If Quinn or Clausen ever had a bad day, ND was totally f***ed. That defense was a sieve. I was being sarcastic, I didnt think I needed the green. They have the players clearly.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 04:59 PM) Bard may not be outstanding, but lets not overvalue Alexei either. Generic shortstop defensively. He gives you a very nice amount of offense for the position, but it's not at the level of special. Also since when does Alexei have an attitude? Do people here know him personally? If we're trying to do something silly like interpret his facial expressions ...that's highly contingent on the culture yr from. Oh, you could tell he was "generic" defensively from his first professional season at the position?

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 05:23 PM) ND will get rejected as long as they are so strict with their athlete academic requirements. Yeah, its really hurt their recruiting classes..... Maybe its just time to admit that Notre Dame isnt a football power anymore, and isnt a destination that athletes seek out. Those days are over.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 03:09 PM) I dunno. TV wise, I'd much prefer to see a TCU team over teams like Iowa/PSU who no offense are pretty bland and boring for non Big 10 fans. Not sure where bland and boring came from, PSU has a dynamic offense to go with a good defense. The argument for TCU is that they are top 5 in both offense and defense, although against lower tier competition. Bowls would obviously prefer teams that travel better and probably teams that have played a tougher schedule so that they can make it a good game. TCU's two toughest games were against Air Force and Clemson and their offense struggled to put up points against both.

Ad sorry for all the folks that I havent responded to in PM's, I will get around to it.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 03:33 AM) Rock, I'm sure you can answer this. With the nutrition guide for P90x, are you supposed to change your 'levels' as you go along in the program? I'm 200 pounds and fall right at the bottom of level 2. Let's say in several weeks I'm down to 190, do I recalculate everything and eat according to level 1 now? I'm sure you do, but I think to myself, I'm in interested in staying around my weight (after losing fat and gaining muscle), shouldn't I just keep at level 2? Or for that matter, eat the portions at level 3 to gain more mass? I'm sure I'm missing some piece of wisdom that is listed in the nutrition guide that comes with the DVDs. I just found some of the key points about what to eat, portions, etc. on a website You know I tossed my nutrition book to a buddy for the program so I dont have it in front of me, but what I can remember is that you begin the program at a certain stage and then you move to another level as you lean out. I believe it was more carb heavy at the beginning?

I heard Sharrif Floyd to OSU.

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 09:38 AM) Arrelius Benn is going to be taken too high in this draft imo. He is not a first round talent to me, maybe a second round talent. Maybe I'm saying this because he had a below average QB in college but I was never impressed. I feel like he's going to be 10 times better in the NFL than he was in college. He simply had nobody to throw him the ball this season and his OC went from pass first to run first. I think he'll slide a bit because of his numbers, but its hard to ignore his size and speed.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Nov 30, 2009 -> 01:50 PM) The ACC is a giant turd this season, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up as the 3rd or 4th rated conference. I just don't see a team with Final Four possibilities, and the Elite 8 might be stretching it. I guess I havent watched enough of them yet. I saw Duke beat up on a UConn team that I thought was going to be really good and that may have skewed my view. I still think the Big Ten isnt as good as I thought it was going to be.