whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 23, 2011 -> 03:18 PM) Iowa signs a convicted felon who spent over 3 years in jail. Ehh I like to rip Iowa as much as the next guy, but they're far from the only school that would take a chance on somebody like that if they felt such a player was talented enough. Hopefully, he can keep out of trouble.

Enjoyed our spring game today, we should have another good team in DeKalb this year. I also think Chandler Harnish is the best non-BCS QB in the nation other than Kellen Moore. Such a good player.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 23, 2011 -> 04:02 PM) By Whom? Yeah, they'll win next round. I'd be very surprised if the Bulls were to beat Boston or Miami in the Conference Finals though to be honest after watching these 4 games. This team needs better perimeter shooting, and more specifically, a 2 guard who can create for himself. Such things can be found, and I could see the Bulls winning title(s) if they do. But not right now, there are a lot of weaknesses on this team offensively that the process of being exposed has already begun on.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 23, 2011 -> 08:49 AM) Speaking of the Dolphins, Brandon Marshalls wife stabbed him last night. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6414256 No vital organs pierced, he should be ok Glad he's ok. That's about the least surprising off the field NFL news you'll find right there though.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Apr 22, 2011 -> 11:03 PM) And Anaheim s***s the bed. Ouch. Nashville was CLEARLY the better team last night. However, considering Anaheim had the lead inside the final minute of regulation, only to lose the game within the first two minutes of overtime......yeah I'd say s*** the bed describes what happened well. That's been a great series, and Nashville may finally kill their first round hex.

Hope the Chris Paul fans enjoyed those 4 points he put up in the 2nd half last night. Going into invisible/silent as your teams season dies just shows how much better you are than Derrick Rose.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 21, 2011 -> 11:55 PM) It's at times of adversity that you see the true colors of people. We could very well be seeing the true colors of these Blackhawks right now. Obviously, they have the heart. Bolland coming back was an incredible boost, and the resurrections of Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith are simply orgasmic. They haven't even peaked yet. Toews and Kane are playing better, but still aren't quite there. Campbell has been contributing MUCH more on both ends of the ice. Leddy is growing into a legit d-man in front of our eyes. And Corey Crawford is just doing work. Yeah. Not only do I want to see the Hawks win this series since it'd be an epic 3-0 comeback and would stick it to the Canucks, but also because the Hawks can beat anybody if they can do this. And while you're right about the Hawks showing their true colors and some of the elite guys stepping up, I don't think it's a coincidence at all that Dave Bolland comes back, and all of a sudden the Canucks can't score and are doing stupid s***. Dave Bolland is not only one of the best defensive fowards in hockey, he's one of the best pests in it. Also, in referrence to another post earlier, I honestly don't even hate the Red Wings that much. I put them in the category of the Twins: A team I have a lot of respect for whom there is no real reason for me to hate other than they're really good and beat my team. I hate teams like the Blues, Canucks, and Pacers a lot more since they're just plain dirty.

A sweep would be really nice since the Orlando/Atlanta series seems a lock to go 6 or 7 games. This team could use some rest. It's the playoffs, and you only have to win 16 to get in. I'm interested more in lowering that number currently at 13 than style points, especially if on the road like the Bulls were tonight.

I've thought almost all year this was a mediocre team that never could overcome it's losses from last year, and had a group of core players tired from the regular season, playoffs, and in some cases olympics last year. Now, I wonder if maybe I was wrong, and they were merely a sleeping giant with a Cup hangover that lasted 85 games. We'll see in the coming days, I suppose. It's clear they're back in the Canucks head. The Hawks would be best suited to stay there.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Apr 20, 2011 -> 09:38 PM) There will be more of this for this guy until he hopefully ends up in jail. Good for him. Also LOL on the kids. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6395973 Many parts of the south are just so strange, and Alabama certainly falls into that group. I'm not surprised by anything involved in that story. I'm also not surprised by Notre Dame being a joke. Hands covered in blood, and you pretend it was just a tragic accident that nobody could have seen coming. Way to go.

The reasons for optimism right now are the division standings are backwards, and there are a lot of games left. I still feel our team is fatally flawed and is not going to make the playoffs. However, it appears very possible this divison sucks. So maybe we can get hot midseason, get to an upper 80's win total again, and that'll be enough to get in this time. It's just very frusterating when your bullpen blows, your defense blows, and you're getting off a horrible start to the season after emphasizing starting hot because a bad start basically cost you the playoffs last year. Another reason for optimism? I think heads will finally roll if this season doesn't work out. And as much as another failed season would suck the big one, at least the change that would be long overdue with another season ending after only 162 games would come. I'd much prefer this team just pick up the pace, though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 20, 2011 -> 07:11 AM) Seriously, if the Sox next GM doesn't have experience and is like 35 years old, all of Soxtalk will erupt because JR is cheap. I wouldn't. Quite frankly, somebody calling JR cheap really hasn't had ground to stand on since about 2004. He's proven he'll spend, and JR and Ozzie have proven that they won't win outside of a magic in a bottle year 6 seasons ago. If this season continues to go to hell, those two need to go to the unemployment line. And if we go young at GM and manager with guys who have heard of advanced statistics, can develop and keep young players, and won't waste outs bunting and stealing every single day, I'd be thrilled.

I'm all for making April 21st some sort of National Drug Testing Day. Even though that'll obviously never happen.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 19, 2011 -> 04:28 PM) Here's a question for y'all. If this season is "Ova" before the trade deadline, it's highly unlikely that the Chairman will change GMs before the "Firesale' happens. Are you content with KW being the guy whose job is to dismantle this team for whatever he can get mid-season? Nope. I'd rather stand pat, fire our lousy GM and manager, and give the new guy the chance to trade our heavily priced veterans. I agree with the title of this thread, btw. Unless something really hard to forsee happens. A bad bullpen and defense is a recipe for failure, especially if our offense is going to go cold.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 17, 2011 -> 10:57 PM) I would like to ask guys like Krush, Tony, Rock, Steve, Slavko, CC, maggsmaggs, Athomeboy, Jester, LittleHurt, DBAH0, chimpy, Murcie, 101 (sorry GoodAsGould, hate the name..), etc. who you would like to see the Hawks do/add in the off-season to help the team, which young guys should stick, etc.. (yes I know series isn't over yet, but I'm not optimistic on their chances comming back 0-3) Well there isn't a ton of wiggle room, even with the Stanley Cup bonuses off the books. Number one, you hope with an actual offseason that these guys can get rested AND not have the Stanley Cup/we're fat and happy hangover next season. Because I think both of those things were an issue all season. With a rested and hungry group next year, I think that should be enough right there to move the Hawks up to the 4 or 5 seed region like they were in two seasons ago with as tight as the west is. Beyond that, you have to hope some of the kids can contribute. It's really the only way to be good every year with the way things are setup right now in the NHL, but I have faith in some of the kids we've seen this year as well as some in Rockford. This team has some depth concerns right now, but still has some star power on it at the top. Therefore, you're going to have a lot of kids fighting for a relatively small number of spots in camp next fall. And that's not even taking into account potential veteran signings. There really isn't much room for new blood at defense if everybody stays healthy and is retained, but this team needs help on the 3rd and 4th lines up front right now, there is no denying that. Overall, I thought the forwards were actually pretty good most of the year, but had injury/running out of gas issues down the stretch. I was REALLY let down by the play of the defensemen all season to be perfectly honest. However, I feel a Stanley Cup run really affects that group more than anybody with all of the dirty work they must do, and am hoping a full offseason helps that group as well. Beyond that, the Hawks REALLY need to add some grit and toughness. The team never really found replacements for guys like Brent Sopel, who could block shots and penalty kill, and John Madden, who was a great veteran to have at 4th line center. Some of that can be filled with that little cap room the Hawks have, but some must be filled from within as well. I think the Hawks were a bit too heavy on trying to find league minimum vets to fill in those glue guy roles, and not enough attention was paid to young guys up front. It's also important that Corey Crawford continue to develop and move in the right direction. I think overall, he had a wonderful year.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 07:24 PM) As soon as anyone ever refers to healthcare as "Obamacare" you can't get me to listen anymore. Anyone else the same way? Very much so. I feel this way about a lot of political subjects right now though.

Anybody ever look at John Hollinger's Twitter feed? He basically just rips Derrick Rose on it a few times a week, and then last night he was on there saying Rose is 6th in his mind for MVP while he also bragged about not watching the game. How the hell does a guy like that have a paying job at ESPN? He's basically just an advanced metrics dude. And, while such things work really well in an individualized game like baseball, the same cannot be said for basketball. At all. Any statistical category that says Derrick Rose is the 6th most valuable player really should just be laughed at.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 09:08 PM) And/or the puck may have never completely crossed the line. Kopecky just said on the postgame that Hossa told him (during review) he didn't think it was a goal. My guess is his stick never touched it. It's what I thought the whole time, while it took "Edzo" 50 replays to realize it was kicked. I think sticking with the on-ice call was correct. You couldn't see if the puck crossed the line or not, and you couldn't tell for sure that Hossa's stick didn't touch the puck after the kick (the on-ice angle actually made me think Hossa's stick may have indeed touched the puck after the kick). Obvoiusly, the Hawks were VERY lucky it was ruled goal on the ice though, as it'd have never been overturned the other way either. I still don't think the puck ever crossed the line anyways, but we'll take it.

I hope Jereme enjoys playing in either Bakersfield or Turkey. I'd rather be a "failure" and a simpleton than a complete asshole. I'm not sure why any NBA team would take him, he doesn't have NBA anything other than height. I think Illinois basketball, long term, will benefit greatly from having some of the people out of the program that left after the past season. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they overachieve next year based on that relief alone.

Fitting end to this season. Worst college basketball season I've ever seen, worst title game I've ever seen. Quite frankly, both teams played like s*** and should be ashamed of themselves. However, UConn just played like run of the mill, reasonable s***. Butler played like a level of s*** that cannot be described in words. A Horizon League team making two title games in a row, even in this era, is still quite amazing. But for them to be up 6 with 19:30 left in the title game, and then just absolutely die like that.....it's more shocking than any of their 10 wins in the last two tournaments. We either need a two year minimum, back to the days where you can skip college alltogether, or a system like baseball where you have to either go straight out of high school, or wait 3 years. Although, I think there is a JUCO loophole in that system, but you get what I'm trying to say. The system as it is now does no good for the kids, the NBA, or the NCAA, and there is no reason to keep it as is.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 4, 2011 -> 07:43 PM) From hearing from his friends in Ames, he's leaning towards staying. His friends in Chapel Hill are saying the same thing, FWIW.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Apr 3, 2011 -> 10:53 PM) Yeah this is all an elaborate plan to make Martin leave the conference. Once he takes the Miami job Mizzou can fire Haith and get a real coach. That's actually not the worst plan on paper.

http://twitter.com/fakefrankhaith Comic relief for any Mizzou fans feeling suicidal about this awful hire.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 31, 2011 -> 11:52 AM) Almost every title team is a call, or a shot away from being bounced. There is always that one moment that they have to win to move on and win the title. Its rare a team just breezes through unscathed. This is definitely true. The only team I can think of that really wasn't challenged in the tournament was 2009 North Carolina. I don't think 2002 Maryland or 2007 Florida really had a game that came down to the last minute either, but I believe even they had games that were close within the last couple/few minutes. Anybody making two straight title games is amazing. A Horizon League team doing it is hard to fathom. They'll be heavily challenged Monday, but counting Butler out is never a good idea. They get the rare sports second chance.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 30, 2011 -> 11:05 PM) Grass is always greener on the other side, right? See, who the hell would we hire? No one better than Bruce is my guess. Who wants to come work for a departing AD, too? And then recruits could leave, assistants could leave, etc. No thanks. Well I do agree the timing of this would not be good. Ideally, Weber would get canned sometime in earlier March after a season with the new AD in place. But Bruce Weber inherited a program in great shape, and has railroaded it into irrelevance. As long as he's coach, I see no reason to believe the basketball program will do anything of note. So if he's going, good riddance. Two NCAA tournament wins, no Big Ten regular season or tournament titles, and no Sweet 16's in the six seasons since 2005.