clujer420

You're barely starting HS and you're 15? WTF? I was 13 when I started.

My 2 cents on college (some things will be repeated from what other posters have said)... - If you think you could get a moderately good job now and work your way toward a career and you're really not "into" school, IMO don't bother going to college. The "you need a degree to get a good job" attitude is BS. Hard work is the #1 component of being successful, not having a piece of paper that says you graduated from an "institution of higher learning". - If you are committed to going, though, AVOID having a job if at ALL possible. To be successful in college, it requires mega-effort, and there is not really any time for a job (unless you plan on having zero social life). - Like I said, college is all about effort. I've said that in HS, it's about 80% intelligence and 20% effort (in other words, if you're smart, you can slack off and still get by with a fair amount of ease). In college, though, it's a complete 180 -- it's 80% effort and 20% intelligence (in other words, if you're a genius but don't put in the time, you'll fail -- whereas a moron who puts forth a solid effort will succeed). Which is why I said that if you aren't 100% committed and desirous of going to college, don't bother, because you will just be wasting your time. - Heather pointed out that you CANNOT procrastinate. In HS, you can get away with that because 1) the assignments are short and 2) the teachers don't expect much depth. In college (assuming you're going to a real college and not a JC, aka the 13th grade), the assignments are frequently much longer and require you to go into much greater depth -- particularly in essays and such. Hopefully your English teachers in HS pounded "essay writing" into your brain, because you're going to need it. - Be prepared for TONS of reading. Often times, you won't have any "homework" except to read from your text book. I know that in my case, a lot of times I would view that as having no homework, and consequently, the night before the exam, I would be stuck trying to go over 10 chapters of material, and it is simply impossible to do that. Keep up with the readings, and I would suggest getting the study guides that normally are available for purchase for pretty much every book you're going to have. The cost can be high, but they will really help outline the main points and help you focus in on what it is you need to take from each section/chapter of the book. - Make friends with your professors. TRUST ME, there are going to be times that you will need an extension on a paper or some such special request, and if the teacher knows you on a remotely-personal basis, your odds of them granting you extra time increase exponentially. Like Heather said, introducing yourself to them sometime during the first week of class (not necessarily the first day - you don't want to come across as a suck-up) is a very good idea. - I don't know you from Adam, so I don't know how you interact with fellow students, but GET THE NAME, NUMBER, AND E-MAIL ADDRESS OF AT LEAST 1 PERSON (PREFERABLY 2 OR 3 IF YOU CAN) IN EVERY CLASS. There WILL be times when you are too tired for class (as well as times where you may be legitimately ill), and having access to someone who was in the class is going to be essential. You need to keep up on exam dates, quiz dates, due dates, etc, etc, and if you have no method of contacting someone who was THERE to hear any potential changes, you're going to find yourself very much in the dark. - Form study groups! I, for one, hate them (I'm not much of a people-person), but in the few occasions that I did utilize them, it was really helpful. It cuts your study time drastically, and allows you to interact with your fellow students and learn from them. Those are a few of the main things that I can think of right now.

Thank you for reminding me why I stopped going to college.

"Work detail"?

$14 for the upper deck? At Dodger Stadium, you can sit in either the upper deck or the bleachers for $6.

In a word, hell f***ing yes, we need him.

They have 1 common characteristic -- they are in need of therapy and are not getting it. It's a simple cry for attention.

Plus, what real pitcher would want to be known for giving up a HR to a dude who can't get it up?

Well...I agree that the AL Central race is going to be the most exciting of all, but at the same time, don't confuse "great race" with "great division". In virtually any other division in baseball (save the NL Central), all 3 teams (KC, SOX, MIN) would have been buried long ago.

I'm pretty sure it's some lefty. #10, I think the guy is wearing. As far as I know, it's just some fake guy.

Yep. Some fake LH pitcher.

sorry clu.. did you miss that part of the discussion the first time around? there some 4x6 glossys floatin around somewhere i am sure of all the days events...... Nah, that's OK. If I want to see unacceptable behavior like that, I'll go hang out at a whore house. lol but that will cost ya.. this was a free show.... , Heather. Unacceptable.

sorry clu.. did you miss that part of the discussion the first time around? there some 4x6 glossys floatin around somewhere i am sure of all the days events...... Nah, that's OK. If I want to see unacceptable behavior like that, I'll go hang out at a whore house.

WTF? :puke

Without revenue, owners don't spend on free agents. It's simple.

This is true. But, I think we all know that unless this group of guys shows something in the playoffs (if we get there), JR will have every reason to say "That's it, I'm not paying these guys", and cut everyone loose. The fans really wouldn't have a leg to stand on if this happened, because the players failed. However, if we go deep into the playoffs and make some noise, JR will have no excuses not to either bring back our current FA's, or go out and spend equal money elsewhere.

A team loaded with talent that's in the hunt for a playoff spot in the 3rd biggest market in America, and they can't draw more than 20,000 unless it's a half-price night? There is something very wrong with that picture.

Sox fans in Chicago (and by the way, there ARE Sox fans that I'm speaking of that are not members of this board) should be ashamed that the Sox didn't draw 2 million in the division-winning season of 2000, and the 17,000 showing last night was pitiful too. No excuse for that. And anyway, I'm only 22 and I have a hard enough time paying the rent and my credit card bills every month, much less flying to Chicago to see a game at US Cellular -- that would be fiscally irresponsible. But I've gone out to 3 Sox games (the 3 in LA) and rooted them on. Sure, the Dodgers were the ones that got the revenue, but I was still there cheering them on. And I also have the MLB EI package through my cable company, so I'm sure the Sox get some small percentage of that revenue. I do more than most Sox fans out here in CA do, and I'd wager I do more than some Sox fans in CHICAGO do. If the Dodgers can draw 40,000 for a weekend game when they're out of playoff contention, there's no reason why the Sox couldn't do the same when they ARE in playoff contention.

Isn't Chicago the 3rd biggest market in America?

Killa, whether you realize it or not, the attendance at US Cellular is a big deal. Without a big crowd, there's not much of a home-field advantage, and without crowds of near 30k+ for the rest of the season, there's virtually no chance of maintaining guys like Carl Everett, Robbie Alomar, and Bartolo Colon. Without those 3 guys, we would not be in a position to win the division, so they are vital for our success next year. And as far as the criticism about Sox fans not going out to the ballpark goes, spare me your excuses about a lack of time and money. The Dodgers are a horrible team who haven't won a playoff game since 1988, and they draw over 3 million every year. The Sox, on the other hand, couldn't even draw 2 million in a season in which they were in first-place virtually all year and had a DYNAMITE offense (2000, of course). That is pathetic. Oh wait, we folk out here in Los Angeles have no lives, so it makes it easy for us to go out to games, and afterall, it's much cheaper to go to a game in SoCal than it is in Chicago.

And I'm sure KW is heartbroken to hear you say that.

The X-factor in all this is Joe Crede. If his foot injury doesn't heal soon, Valentin is going to have to play. If Crede is out for another few games, Valentin will get the plate appearances he needs without much problem.

Serious question... Why not have half-price night EVERY night for the rest of the season? The Sox clearly aren't going to draw over 20,000 otherwise, right? So why not allow people in for half price, charge the same for parking, and the same for food/drinks? In the end, they would make more money, and would have better crowds to root the Sox along. Is there some reason that I'm missing as to why this would not work?

I haven't seen hardly anybody saying anything bad about Lee lately. He's been great for us this year. Garland on the other hand...let's see him have 6 or 7 straight good starts before we start praising the guy. He's still just a .500 pitcher with a mid-4's ERA. That's not gonna cut it IMO.