whitesoxfan101

Paulie with SB #2? DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES???

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 02:36 PM) Just got back from the meeting...nice to see the Sox leading. How many guys has Lance "back doored?" That sounds like a personal question you'd have to ask Lance himself.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 02:24 PM) There has been a ton of water polo on MSNBC (UHD for the HD MSNBC feed). I have also seen PLENTY of handball (pretty dumb, who couldn't score a damn goal in that), and soccer and boxing are there as well. USA's live stuff from 1am on has a lot of interesting stuff too. NBC likes showing the live feeds because it gets the most ratings (and these Olympics are extremely high rated), but the stuff you crave IS available. Yeah this is all certainly true, it's just a pain in the butt to find and I'm whining and being lazy.

15 invididual runners left on base, and 8 men stranded by the White Sox as a team through 4 innings. If you want to lose a game you should win with ease, that's a good way to start.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 01:12 PM) I see your point with the Cubs/Sox comparison, but that pales into comparison with the Olympics. It's the single greatest sporting event in the world. I have yet to see ANY coverage on soccer, very little on water polo, nothing on handball, and numerous other sports. But I suppose as long as Michael Phelps, Misty May, Kerri Walsh, and Johnathan Horton are competing...it's much more important than anything else. In other news, Federer was upset today by James Black. Djokovic advances in 3 sets vs Monfils, and Nadal takes care of some Austrian. The semifinals are set: Blake (US) vs Gonzalez (CHI) Djokovic (SRB) vs Nadal (ESP) On the woman's side, both of the Williams sisters lost. Well obviously the Cubs/Sox comparison was very generic, as the olympics are the biggest event there is. The problem is, the American media (and I'm sure it's like this everywhere, but I don't see the media worldwide) wants to decide what is the story/make itself the story. It sucks, but that is how they are. My biggest issue is the distribution of the primetime coverage. I'd like to see more events than just swimming, diving, and gymnastics. I'm sure as the olympics move on we will see more variety in primetime as more events start/head to their medal rounds, but it just seems like the same stuff is on in primetime everynight for the olympics, an event with dozens of sports. Also, I REALLY hope James Blake can pull it off and win the gold medal now that he upset Federer. He seems like a very likeable guy and it'd be a great accomplishment for him as a player. It's tough though obviously as even if he wins the semifinal, he'll probably have to beat Nadal, who is the real #1 player in the world right now.

Good to see I was correct in my assumption that we're not stupid or cheap. This draft on the surface officially looks like a good one. Let's hope looks aren't deceiving.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 01:02 PM) I never said American media. And my complaining about these crap stories and s***ty coverage is only as bad as your complaints about the ceremony and the age issue of the Chinese gymnasts. Sorry for wanting fair, diverse coverage of all good stories throughout the game instead of just what time Michael Phelps takes a dump every day. Crap stories and s***ty coverage is the way the media has covered sports as long as I can remember. It's sad, but all you can do is enjoy the athletic events and ignore the media. We as White Sox fans living in Chicago and dealing with the Cubsessed media should know that more than anybody.

The U.S. basketball team systematically destroyed Greece this morning, 92-69. Greece simply couldn't handle the American defensive pressure or athletic ability. The U.S. only finished I believe 7 for 20 on three pointers (although that's an improvement), but they were just so dominant that it didn't matter much. Next is their toughest test of the prelims, Spain. As for the "fake" play by play thing, it's been going on for several years now. It's a good way to save money, and the technology of HDTV makes it possible to do. I don't think it's a big deal.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 12:42 AM) Golds > Overall medal counts. Well yeah of course, but I think Jimbo was referring to the overall medal count and not the golds.

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 12:33 AM) China to win medal count, even after Track and Field?? I'd be surprised if they win the medal count, they seem poised to finish considerably ahead of us in gold medals though.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 12:13 AM) What's your deal with hating on Seattle, they came close to the Wild Card last year and many people, including some on this website picked them to make the playoffs this year. Yeah, Seattle has no business being on that last. To be among the worst franchises in baseball, it takes a long period of being just plain awful. Even a team like Cincinnati finished only 2 games behind the eventual world champion Cardinals in 2006, as well as made a one game playoff in 1999. Teams like Kansas City and Pittsburgh have had no hope for over a decade. Even the one exception to this rule to some degree, the 2003 Royals, finished in 3rd place. I guess you could put the Nationals/Expos on this list too, although I think they have some hope as soon as Jim Bowden is fired.

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ Aug 14, 2008 -> 12:11 AM) I want to take this Gymnastic announcer back and beat him. What a little annoyance. I assume you mean the main broadcaster, Al Trautwig. Yeah, he's been a bit of a b**** and generally very mean (which is saying something, I never think announcers are mean enough) by what I've seen.

Worst franchise in terms of history: Washington (since Tampa Bay hasn't been around very long and is great this year) Worst franchise in general right now: Flip a coin between Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:54 PM) Just to kind of get an idea, 8 of the 202 countries in the Olympics are fielding a baseball team... Yeah see I figured it was like that, no surprise. I am biased since I am such a baseball fan, but realistically, it shouldn't be an olympic sport and won't be in London. The WBC is where it's at anyways.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:40 PM) This may be an unpopular opinion here (and in this country), but baseball and softball don't deserve to be Olympic sports. To me, simply not enough countries play it for it to be as competitive as it should be. Well you are getting your wish. Softball for sure should not be an olympic sport, I know that much. Baseball has a better case because you do have a lot of it played in parts of Central and South America, as well as the Carribean, Australia, Korea, Japan, but a small percentage of nations play it so I could see why it is being discontinued as an olympic sport too. The WBC is the big event now anyways since major leaguers actually play in it.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:32 PM) I heard Strasburg looks phenomenal. So far: 7 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 11 k's He's been untouchable, but Netherlands was shut out in their first game too so I have no idea if they have any offense to speak of. He has very good stuff though, regardless of who the opponent is. He had a no hitter going until a single with 2 outs in the 7th. Matt Brown had a solo home run earlier, but the big blow was a 3 run home run by Matt LaPorta. The game is in a rain delay now in the top of the 8th. Not sure of olympic protocol or the Beijing forecast, but they might just give the U.S. a win and call it a day if it's anything like it is here.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:26 PM) A friend heard today that the Sox don't want to start his arb clock this season. That would be shocking. If we had our 2007 record at this point right now, I'd get that, but we're in a pennant race, so call him up if he can help. Going on the cheap would shock me, I thought this organization had put those days in the past with our payrolls the last few years.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:25 PM) Where the hell is Poreda???????? They must think his secondary stuff has not progressed enough for him to pitch in the major leagues, and although I haven't seen him pitch, I would guess that is a fair concern.

The United States has a 6-0 lead over the Netherlands at the 7th inning stretch. They should beat on the Netherlands, but good to see they are apparently going to get on the board with a win after last night's crushing loss. Watching the feed of this on the nbc olympics website is funny, you can hear fans cheering/heckling because there is no broadcaster.

If he starts, then we are just stupid. If he's called up for Wise, then that's fine and I'll eat my crow and say it makes sense because we need the extra arm, but I think enough was seen of Richard to say, if nothing else, that he isn't going to be ready to start in 2008 for a team in the race.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:13 PM) There was a period of time where 'the sun never set on the British empire'. In other words, English was being spoken all over the world because England had colonies all over the world. Well thanks, now I feel stupid. I obviously knew that, but apparently was too stupid to put that together the last few days. I guess part of my problem is I've never left the North American continent. I appreciate you and Soxfan's help though, I guess I never put all of this together when thinking about it.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 11:09 PM) English is pretty much the universal language, that's the most likely reason why. A Chinese athlete and a Ukrainian athlete probably aren't going to know each others language when interacting. English is something most people are taught for that reason. It's most evident in soccer world wide. Is there a reason english is so prominent worldwide? I have to plead ignorance on this one and ask somebody who might know better than I would. That does explain most of what I was wondering though, except for the fact you hear the American music and sounds of the game in so many events during these olympics. That's still kind of weird to me too.

The Olympics have been weird to watch. You hear american music in the background during the volleyball matches (in fact you do during a lot of sports), you hear all the sounds of an American baseball game in the background of the basetball games, the english language is the primary language for public address it seems like besides obvioiusly chinese, a lot of big events are done in the morning over there so that they'll be in primetime here. I know a lot of this is because America is where the money is in large part even with our bad economy, but still to see that much American influence during an olympics in China is weird for me. I guess I don't fully realize how powerful our nation is sometimes. I hope that rant made sense.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Aug 13, 2008 -> 05:29 PM) I know B&B are under the impression that Boras might have something to do with Crede "sitting out", but I don't buy that. B&B are stupid if they think Joe Crede is going to sit out extra time in a contract year due to an injury to his back, something I'd assume most teams in baseball have majors concerns about in regards to him.

I have no prediction for the game itself, but Griffey will hit his first home run as a Chicago White Sox and tie Sammy Sosa on the all time list this evening.