Kyyle23

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-crash30.html The four teens cruised through the quiet, early-morning hours Thursday, sharing a night out on Christmas break to celebrate a buddy's birthday. But the road was slick. So slick that when 16-year-old Christopher Sampsell tried to change lanes, the 2001 Sebring convertible skidded out of control and smashed through a bank of trees. "I tried to turn the wheel to the right to stop the car from skidding,'' Christopher said from his hospital bed Thursday afternoon. "But then the car started going out of control. The next thing that happened was the car jumped the curb and hit the light pole and rolled. That's when I blacked out.'' Christopher's front-seat passenger, 16-year-old Patrick Schilling, shook him awake and called 911. But the two teenagers in the back seat -- 16-year-old Robert Oakes and 17-year Dan Noble -- had suffered massive injuries and died. Emergency workers -- who said the wreck was among the worst they'd seen -- had to cut through 12 trees and bushes to get at the Sebring, which had been crushed by the light pole. "When I woke up and saw what had happened,'' Christopher said, "I kind of got angry.'' *** The four teens, all high school juniors, were connected by neighborhoods and the Catholic schools they attended. They had gathered Wednesday to celebrate Dan's 17th birthday. Christopher said he got to know Robert and Patrick at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, where he attended high school until this year, when he transferred to Taft High School. He had just met Dan on Wednesday. Dan attended St. Patrick's High School in Chicago, and both the Noble and Oakes families are members of Queen of All Saints parish on the Northwest Side. The Nobles attended Christmas mass there, and funeral arrangements for both teens were pending, a parish spokeswoman said. "The tragic thing about accidents is they are so sudden and so final,'' said the Rev. George Koeune, an associate pastor. "We are keeping them in our prayers.'' It is not clear exactly where the boys went Wednesday. But a member of the Oakes family said Robert had been given permission to sleep at a friend's house that night, and friends of Dan said he also had talked of plans for a sleepover. Lincolnwood Police Chief Daniel Gooris said he did not believe that Christopher, who was driving his father's car, had been given permission to drive and that he didn't know what the boys were doing in the 6900 block of Cicero at 3:30 a.m. when the car skidded off the road. Gooris said Christopher, who was northbound on Cicero in a 40 mph zone, lost control while trying to switch lanes and that the teen told police he "might have been going too fast and lost control.'' The car hit the curb and was airborne for a few seconds before hitting the light pole, which crashed into the back seat. The car then crashed into a tree. The car's top was closed, but Gooris said the soft top offered little protection against the falling light pole. Police could not say if everyone was wearing a seat belt. Gooris said the accident remained under investigation, adding there were no immediate signs that alcohol or drugs were involved. Christopher has been licensed to drive since May and had no record of tickets or citations, a spokeswoman for the Illinois secretary of state's office said. *** Denise Gordon, Robert's aunt, said her sister-in-law rarely if ever allowed her son to stay out overnight at friends' houses. "She knew where he was at every minute,'' Gordon said. "All she knew is he was sleeping over at somebody's house.'' Robert, who lived in the 5700 block of North Kingsdale, was a "wonderful boy,'' she said. "Always a good boy. Never in trouble. Never." She said Robert's parents were struggling to cope. "Pretty much, they're devastated." Robert was the youngest of four boys. He had 23-year-old twin brothers and a 26-year-old brother. Like his brothers, he went to Loyola Academy. He planned to attend the University of Colorado. Robert loved golf and was a Bears fan, Gordon said. While he didn't play sports, he loved fishing with his uncle Jim in Door County, Gordon said. Dan, who lived in the 4800 block of West Balmoral, also loved the outdoors, including camping, hunting and hiking, his classmate at St. Patrick's, James Ridgeway, 17, said. He also joked about the fact that his family was from Tennessee, calling himself a "redneck.'' Dan often hung out at Ridgeway's house to play foosball or darts, or went to another friend's house for table tennis. He was a competitive swimmer and was a member of both the water polo and the swim teams at school. Dan missed swim practice Wednesday because it was his birthday, friends and coaches said. He told coaches and friends he was going skiing and then planned to go to a sleepover. At a Thursday morning practice, swim coaches brought the entire swim team together to break the news. "Everyone is still in shock,'' said friend Joe Przekota, 17. "He was only gone for a day, and now he's not here anymore.'' The team dedicated the rest of its season to Dan, and school president Konrad Diebold called Noble a "terrific kid with a smile that never stopped.'' Assistant varsity coach John Przekota remembered Dan's huge sense of humor, including the time last year he shaved his entire body, and then painted on a pair of false eyebrows that looked angry and intimidating. "He took the edge off,'' Przekota recalled. "It cracked up the team.'' Dan's neighbor, 80-year-old Lorraine Aloia, also recalled his kindnesses -- shoveling her walk without being asked and coming over to help her around the house. "He did stuff like a son would do,'' she said. "You didn't have to ask him to do anything. He'd just do it. You don't find kids like that these days.'' *** Patrick and Christopher remained in good condition at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, a spokeswoman said. Christopher said he fractured his ribs and also suffered injury to his spine and lungs. He was very lucky, he said. And Patrick, he added, "was doing real good.'' When asked about Robert and Dan, Christopher got quiet. "I just really don't want to talk about that right now.'' TEENS ON THE ROAD Through Dec. 23, 1,338 people were killed in vehicle accidents in Illinois in 2005, according to preliminary state figures. Thirty-three of them were 16 years old: 17 were drivers, 15 were passengers, and one was a pedestrian. In all, 152 people ages 15 through 19 were killed on Illinois roads through Dec. 23. In 2004, 72 drivers ages 15 through 19 were killed in Illinois -- and 54 of them were male. Sixty-three passengers 15 through 19 were killed last year in Illinois -- and 36 were male. Nationally, young male drivers are more than twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes than young females, federal statistics show. Alcohol-related fatal crashes also are more likely among young males. Motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death for 15- through 20-year-olds. Traditionally, very old and very young drivers have the worst accident rates, and 16-year-olds have the highest involvement in fatal crashes among all teen drivers, who get progressively safer as they age. Sources: Illinois Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 09:47 PM) I'm too lazy to read the whole post, but I'll just say, please stop with these VAfan.

QUOTE(VAfan @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 04:05 PM) A lot of guys on this board ripped me repeatedly and said I didn't have a clue. Im willing to bet that opinion hasnt changed after todays little display of childishness. Besides, you still dont get it. Go ahead and repeat my post. But maybe you should try reading it. Because repeatedly posting it without reading it just affirms that YOU DONT GET IT.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 03:50 PM) Makeshift? I was gonna say something, but then I thought "naaaah, not worth it...."

And VAFan, how come you didnt read the last paragraph of my post? I said it wasnt likely. Not that it was impossible

QUOTE(VAfan @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 03:42 PM) Well, who turned out to be right about Garland????? I'm not sentimental at all. If Javier Vazquez were a better pitcher than Garland, I'd be thrilled to have him take Jon's slot in the rotation. Fact is, he isn't close right now, unless Cooper can work a miracle with him. ******************* So, that's two out of three. I don't expect Crede to sign, nor to I expect the Sox to extend him a deal. When I first wrote this I thought Crede was three years from FA. In fact, he's four years away, with 3 years of arbitration ahead. If I were KW, I would try to sign him for those three years and buy myself some cost certainty. But with Crede's back, I can understand not taking the risk. Even so, watch Crede turn in a great year in 2006. you act like our reasoning wasnt sound. KW issued an ultimatum and Garland responded before Contreras did. It doesnt change the fact that you are overly sentimental about players and engage into extended whinefests when you think one of your guys is going to get traded. and you still dont understand that noone here wanted Garland traded. Most of the people realized the situation the Sox were in and saw Garland as the moveable commodity because he had already turned down a contract and supposedly the contract talks were over. I never said I didnt want him, but I certainly could recognize what his value was and why the Sox would move him, something you still cannot grasp obviously. But thanks for the 20/20 flashback.

You would think that Fred Miller would have shown people not to f*** with Olin Kreutz

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 12:57 PM) Here's something I've always wondered about Raffy's story: I remember reading that Palmeiro said that Tejada gave him a vitamin injection of some kind. Steroids issue aside, WTF is Tejada doing with drugs and syringes?.....and WTF is he doing playing Dr.? The only reason I still have doubt that Raffy took steroids is that there is really no reason for him to keep up this charade anymore. Whats the point for Raffy? This guy has made his money and had a good career. And if his career was close to being over before this happened, it must be over now. Why does he want to keep pushing it? If knowingly he did it, you would think he would just come clean and say "Man I screwed up, I saw my career slipping away and tried for one more glory season.", and just walk away from the game. The most unfortunate thing for Raffy is the only proof anywhere is in his test that he failed. He has nothing on Tejada except a story. It just seems to not be worth it for Palmeiro to drag it out this long if he really did it.

Whether he warrants that kind of salary is moot. The market is set, and the Sox ponied up to make their guy happy. If a consistent underacheiver like Burnett is getting 11-12 million a year, then what do you think Garland would command? The Sox got him at a discount and protected themselves from an unhappy player next year if the market takes off again. There are plenty of players in the league that dont warrant their contracts, you just have to be able to set apart the ones who will rip you off from the ones who will (somewhat)earn their money.

I love this quote from K-Dub And he is like "Jerry is taking the risk, and I am to blame if we fail." That is a true leader.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 11:40 AM) But he's only holding up five fingers. eh, I found a good pic of the count and used it. I wasnt interested in how many fingers he was holding up

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 11:33 AM) And so it begins, like Chaveztalk, and Griffeytalk, and as recently as Garlandtalk, we are now offically Counttalk. Ah Ah Ah, I count 6 wonderful pitchers!

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 11:32 AM) What do you think will happen with Jose? If I had to guess I would say that this thread will be repeated 5 times by tomorrow. Thats all I've got

QUOTE(wilmot825 @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 11:28 AM) Hey if Anderson is a stud, I will stand corrected and look like an ass Well then how about we actually let him play before we decide to trade him, what do you think?

Saturday Denver San Diego NY Giants Oakland Sunday Arizona Indianapolis Baltimore Cleveland Buffalo NY Jets Carolina Atlanta Cincinnati Kansas City Detroit Pittsburgh Miami New England New Orleans Tampa Bay Seattle Green Bay Houston San Francisco Tennessee Jacksonville Chicago Minnesota Washington Philadelphia Sunday Night St. Louis Dallas

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 01:37 AM) i have never done this before but this is the first time I blame the refs. These jackasses were Sun Belt Refs. I have seen High School Refs call a better game. This was on both sides. Michigan played a very good game and they had the Nebraska QB on his ass all day. you have never done that before? s***, I do it all the time when I watch college sports. Its an impossible urge to deny. Still though, Nebraska? Michigan shouldnt have been in a position to have to come back with that ninny Callahan on the sidelines.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 11:13 PM) LOL...what's worse is I said the Lions should contend for the North. You werent the only one fooled by Millen and Mooch. Dont feel bad.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 29, 2005 -> 07:10 AM) In the same article, the Cubune was mooting Contreras being part of a deal for Miggy Tejada. Contreras and Uribe for Tejada, I don't know if either team would do that still. But I think both parties may still discuss it. I wish Tejada hadnt opened his big mouth. I dont want to hear these rumors anymore, let the Cubs overpay for him. The Sox already have their SS

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 10:51 PM) Heh, I'll even admit, as much as it pains me, that I was dead wrong about the Bears. It takes a REAL man to admit he is wrong, Heads

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 10:10 PM) Lose by 13 to the f***ing Bobcats? Yay for reaching complete joke status. No s***. Same script, they mail it in about midway through the 3rd quarter. And not only do they lose, but they look like 8th grade players when they are doing it. The first 8 minutes of the 4th quarter were absolutely pathetic. Tyson traveling, Gordon jacking, Kirk throwing them away, Deng stepping on the sideline while shooting a three, Sweetney getting called for a foul that he didnt commit, then committing a stupid foul 3 seconds later, Pargo throwing away an inbounds, getting another chance on a delay of game and immediately throwing it away again, Nocioni getting an offensive foul, you name it, they f***ing did it. Absolutely pathetic.

The audio from the conference call on MLB.com is very interesting. KW says the payroll is expected to settle in at 95 million, and he would prefer to keep all 5 starters he has now and give BMac time to develop and put on some weight and get situated with himself. some quotes -in regards to McCarthy's role next year

Happy Birthday Josh. Now own up.

And what is "The Owens thing" and the rumors about Owens?

QUOTE(SnB @ Dec 28, 2005 -> 05:35 PM) tejada is coming and going to play center AND be our 7th starter.

LOL, yeah we should trade some prospects for Rowand before the season starts.