whitesoxfan101

The fact that THIS mediocre Illinois team (the worst in a decade or so) is going to make the dance and finish 3rd in the Big 2 plus 9 mediocre if they win at Iowa tells me how poor this league is, regardless of how many bids are handed to it. I'd pick Kansas to win it all if Bail didn't coach them. As it is, I'll say that for the 4th time in his career, his team loses an elite 8 game in which they are better (Yes, Tulsa was better than that mediocre #8 seed UNC in 2000) and have most people rooting for them. My final 4 based on what I've seen is Kansas, UNC, Georgetown, and UCLA though (Wisky, Ohio State, Florida, and everybody else don't have me sold). And if your looking for a mid major final 4 team, check out Nevada. They have bigs, guards, depth, experience.....they could do it with the right bracket.

As bad as the NBA players are, the NFL players are FAR worse people, but since the NFL has a communist hold on our nation in sports, nobody cares.

I'm not falling for that Memphis trap BS after what they did to my bracket last year.

Andres Nocioni on his best day is about as good as Deng on his worst day, maybe. Trading Deng for Gasol would have been monumentally dumb, if Deng is going Garnett better be coming. Also, nice win tonight vs. the Wiz.

Mark Tupper (who is a really talented writer downstate) did an EXCELLENT job summing up how I felt when I saw Jamar, only he did it with less emotion (hence, he's a pro and i'm not yet). http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/ Ok, now first of all, reading that Guenther the rat and Weber (also a rat it appears) talked this over and decided during a rational moment to let Jamar be at the game makes me want to vomit. The rest of the article pretty much speaks for me, except this paragraph: That is wrong on so many levels: 1. I don't give a f*** what the team, outside of Carlwell, thinks. The inmates shouldn't run the asylum, and they probably support Jamar so much since it's possible half of them left Brian for dead as well. 2. Combine the quote in paragragh from Carlwell, with the one about Brian wanting to use Bruce's celly to call Jamar and make sure he's ok, along with talking to him on facebook and figuring out fast he really means all that, has me convinced that in terms of "forgiveness of sins", Brian Carlwell might be the black effin Jesus Christ. How he can forgive what was done to him by Jamar and God knows who else is beyond me, but at least I know this team has 1 guy I can respect. 3. The fact that the program thinks Jamar didn't leave Brian for dead is baffling to me. There was no 911 call, he went back to his apartment for TWO HOURS, and the only person to call 911 was a woman who saw the car randomly. Pretty damning evidence to me. 4. It's becoming more and more clear that if Jamar is able to plea out of this before trial and avoid jail time (which wouldn't surprise me, given the history of Champaign County's treatment of Illini athletes), we will see #31 play again in the orange and blue. And if that happens, Bruce Weber and Ron Guenther should be fired ASAP (but they won't, nobody related to athletics at the school with power has balls apparently). This is such a damn disgrace. I am not a U of I grad or student, but I've followed their athletics since the days of the '89 final four team and Jeff George on the gridiron back when I was 3. I feel even worse for you students and alums to see this happening.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ Feb 23, 2007 -> 02:11 AM) I take it we're talking about Santo when he was actually playing? Or are you saying Santo and his fake leg is argubly better than Mack out in CF? Sarcasm is glory, my friend.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Feb 23, 2007 -> 01:40 AM) This definitely sounds like the work of our old pal, alcohol. Actually, I don't drink (and i'm serious) but I figured that was coming. I am the one thing that makes a person more crazy than alcohol: a journalism major.

This is really tough for me. It's late, so I'll sleep on it and answer tomorrow.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 02:57 PM) There are parallels to Baylor perhaps in how the coaching staff responded, but someone was murdered in the first. In this is would have been manslaughter. This was an accident. True, however if that woman doesn't see the car and call 911, Brian probably dies out there (since none of the players, including the drunk who crashed the car, had any interest in getting help) and woudn't that be grounds to charge Jamar with 2nd degree murder or something? If not for blind luck, this could be Baylor-esque, instead of the current epic disaster it is. Oh, and 2 others things: 1. If you want Carlwell suspended for underage drinking, that's cool. Just make sure that you are consistent, and the 90 percent of college athletes that drink prior to being 21 are all suspended too. 2. The Downey column is completely over the top. The football program's only crime right now is people assuming they cheat since they are recruiting well, they don't even have any legit rumors against them right now (if that even makes sesnse) and the Alaeze thing is a stretch since he hasn't been in the program for over 5 months.

I'm pretty down that Pax didn't get Shareef Abdur-Rahim based on the low asking price, but that was a HUGE win AT Cleveland tonight. Big Ben earned his paycheck and then some, for once.

Loyola and Wright State are both pretty good. One of them is going to win the Horizon Tourney, thus Butler will take somebody's at large bid. Boo.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:03 PM) http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/2657...eluca21.article Very interesting stuff. The BS headline "Rangers got proven commodity" in that article is the basis of this thread idea, so good call sir. However I shouldn't expect any less from DeLuca, that douche wrote a Sammy Sosa ass kissing column today, saying how wrong it is Jason Marquis is wearing #21 this year.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:23 PM) It would seem he wants out of his current contract and into a new one with the Bears. I read 2 weeks ago that Lovie was offered 3.2 million by the Bears and was enraged at how disrespectful that offer is, on pro football talk online. It's possible he's posturing, but it's fact the Bears are offering 3.2 million a year to a coach with a market value about 2 million dollars a year higher than that.

QUOTE(fathom @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 11:29 AM) Everything I've heard says that yes, a member of the staff was alerted to what was going on. *cough* Wayne McClain *cough* The part I want to know is when was McClain called, what did Jamar tell him, and what did McClain tell Jamar. I doubt we ever know that though. Oh, and i'm not even worried about recruiting or anything like that either, I just want this program cleaned up, and I think Bruce and several players will have to be gone in order to do that, ESPECIALLY after that despicable decision to let Jamar be on the bench last night. QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 11:53 AM) Yep. Every single rumor on this site last week is coming true. And Jamar on the bench last night is absolutely pathetic. That's the nightmare here. Everything I was told by reliable sources, as well as several other things I never could have imagined, is coming true. Oh, and if not for blind luck here, Carlwell dies and this is just as bad as the Baylor scandal IMO, considering the coverup was in progress when (thank God) that woman called 911 and saved Brian's life.

I don't know why anybody wouldn't believe Dye, seeing as he turned down a better offer from Arizona to come here in the first place. However, he is aging, we have OF depth in our system, and even a "fair deal" for a guy that puts up 30 plus homers every year and plays pretty good defense is a ton. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he's out after this year.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 08:53 AM) The way this is being handled by the U of I athletic department is unbelievably pathetic. Smith on the bench the day he gets bailed out of jail? Forget about the numerous transgressions he had that night. He's breaking the law just sucking back 1 beer. I don't like the Illini, and never have, but I've always kind of admired Weber and thought any criticism of him was pretty unfair. Last night's "decision" is just more poor judgement, and for that he and the AD should resign. If they refuse, they should be fired. As an Iowa alum and a guy who initially supported Alford's decision to support Pierre Pierce, and seeing all the Illinois fans, students and alumni's reaction and rip job on that, and listening to many of the Illinois apologists on the radio yesterday sticking up for Smith, I almost could laugh at this, if it wasn't so sad. At least there was a little doubt when Alford supported Pierce during his first crime, it was a he said/she said thing, and he was professing his innocence. There is no denying Smith was drinking underage, drunk, driving, got into an accident, and left his teammate for dead. BTW, when Pierce was busted for the second time, I do believe Alford should have been shown the door. I guess Smith learned one thing playing basketball at Illinois for a couple of years. He looks good in orange. A color he probably will be wearing 24 hours a day for a couple of years. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree 110 percent with you, Mr. Iowa fan. And I hate the stupid Illini apologist fans too, however luckily none of those fools are on this board. Hence it's the only place I can go to vent/discuss this.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 07:06 AM) I wonder how many Americans that don't wear foil hats believe the government is killing citizens? I don't believe 9/11 or OKC were inside jobs, but I believe the government has killed citizens who knew too much. That and intimidation is why our government is able to keep quite a few secrets (and no, I'm not a tin foil hat guy who thinks we are hiding dead aliens, Elvis, and Adolf Hitler).

When did Brandon McCarthy become "a proven commodity" as I saw him referred to by the Texas GM and the writer of the article in yesterday's Sun-Times? He's a 22 year old kid who had 2 stretches as a starter (1 really good, 1 really bad) in 2005, and was mediocre in long relief in 2006. He's less of a gamble than Danks and Masset I guess, but it's not like Texas is getting Cy bleeping Young (sorry, I had to).

I've heard Abdur-Rahim for P.J. Brown for a while now. I would actually like that deal, since I don't want to deal Ben or Luol to get Gasol. And I thought the Nets were demanding Bynum in the Kidd trade? Ah well, we'll find out at 2 today (or whatever the hell time 2 PM Central is in your hood, DBAH0 )

Bruce said last night that Jamar was on the bench because the team wanted him to be there I guess, based on what I read. Well first of all, you don't let the inmates run the asylum (literally in this case, possibly) but second off, they are probably standing up for Jamar since half of THEM were also in the wrong that night (although not as bad as Jamar, but still). This is textbook lack of instituational control, but these kids are a bad bunch as well. QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 08:23 AM) It's a university that educated 11 Nobel prize winner and has had another 10 on the faculty. It's given the world the web browesr, paypal and youtube. And all anyone will hear about is that it's a racist institution because some idiots are abnormally attached to watching a guy dressed as an Indian jump around, and that the basketball team likes to leave teammates to die while they try to cover up a DUI accident. What an absolute embarassment. The University administration should announce today that it's forfeiting the rest of the season. Those 6 guys need to kicked off the team...actually I wouldn't be upset if they just abolished the whole athletic department. Well said, and I can't say i disagree with a word of it. I feel guilty rooting for this team (outside of Carlwell and how forgiving he has been, and Warren Carter, who i'm just about positive wasn't at that party and who is also a really good guy) and they are just so....yeah I'll stop. I just agree with you.

Figured this deserved it's own thread too, as it's new news.... http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_052231703.html At least Jamar was on the bench in his warm ups tonight!! Maybe Bruce will suspend the others 1 game each to teach them a lesson!! Weber is going to lose his job over this....and I hope some players lose their free education, too. I can't believe that EVERY crazy rumor I heard is coming true. What a joke/nightmare (and this story ONLY mentions 3 of the other 6, although maybe the other 3 are scrubs and that is why they weren't mentioned, but either way.....ugh)

I must also point out that as embarassed as I am about Weber and Jamar, I am almost as proud of Brian Carlwell. For him to be as forgiving as he is towards Jamar.....he's 10 times the man I'll ever be in that regard.

I had a friend that was in Vegas for all this, and she said about the same things. The NBA, Las Vegas, and ESPN have done a good cover up so far, but more info is going to get out. My favorite quote about it was "It was the Hip Hop Woodstock". I wish I remember who said it, but whoever did hit the nail on the head.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:57 AM) I was thoroughly disappointed to see him on the bench. Actually when they showed him i had to really concentrate to make sure that was him, as i just couldn't see it happening. And then every time i saw him he was laughing and having a good time. I'd like to hear exactly why he was on the bench. IMO that just wasn't right at all, i have no idea what the hell that was. I had the exact same reaction at first to be honest, maybe it was because it was such a big game. But afterwards, as I thought about it....yeah I got enraged. QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:58 AM) Please refresh my memory, why we putting Alford in the scum list? I don't feel like doing the work this late, just google Pierre Pierce and find his story from his days at the University of Iowa. Won't take long to figure out why I hate him.

I'm going to hell too. Every time Santo doesn't get in, I tell my Cub fan friends "he doesn't have a leg to stand on in this debate". Always gets people mad at me, but I don't care. In all seriouness though, the Santo fluff pieces are going to be sick (again). My guess is he won't get in, even though he deserves it based on his merit as a player, because of how much of a jag other players considered him (those on the Vet's committee). Shoulda been nicer, Ronny.