IlliniKrush

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) Are you really playing the "only successful end to a season is a championship" card with US Soccer in the World Cup? I get what you are trying to say, but you have to look at it realistically. I'd guess 75% of Belgium's roster played in the Champions League this year. How many Americans did? None. You want to keep improving your results, but getting to the round of 16 out of that group with this roster and some young players really contributing is a success. I didn't say championship or bust, I'm only pointing out facts. The whole "oh this makes our result look better!" thing is really weak, just begging for approval. Or, are we trying to say US is better than Brazil? The US team will have made it when that performance against Belgium is deemed unacceptable (or the late choke to tie). It will change the narrative. That needs to be what the team and fans push for.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:51 AM) They played pretty well against Germany. Certainly better than Brazil. ...in a loss. Which was somehow celebrated. They won 1 of 4 games, and got absolutely dominated in their last game. If not for goaltending, that would have been a 7 spot as well. The whole "they tried hard!" mentality needs to go before US soccer can be a thing.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 07:36 AM) this makes the U.S.'s World Cup results look even better. No, it doesn't.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 6, 2014 -> 12:06 PM) The team has blown through their waiting list, and it is hemmoraging fans right now. The longer this goes on, it will take more than just "kids" to bring people back. Their attendance hasn't been this low since 1997, and it is down 8500 per night over their peak. As Sox fans know, you don't make that up overnight. I know many Sox fans have this built in inferiority complex and irrational fear of the Cubs, but the facts are the facts. The longer this drags out, the more it takes to make up the fall in numbers. Trading off your top pitcher will make this process years longer. Even if they kids do start arriving in 2016, it will take them a couple of years to fit in and see a comfort level. They also aren't all going to arrive at the same time. They aren't all going to make it either. There will be some failures of those "can't miss" guys. All you have to do is look at the ups and downs of their first wave of guys like Rizzo, Castro, and Smarj to see that. We have seen this scenario play out over and over and over, through out major league baseball. A full rebuild takes an incredibly long time, if ever, to succeed. The longer it takes, the more it will eat away at that fan base. Trading him doesn't make this process years longer whatsoever. If their realistic goal is 2016, this trade did nothing to push that backwards. He's a FA by then anyway. Who cares about attendance? The Cubs are at rock bottom, haven't won in 100+ years. If I'm a Cubs fan, I'd rather have a plan in place and try to have some sort of direction rather than band-aid the whole thing to maybe sorta kinda stay in a race here and there. A few extra wins in these last few seasons or this year doesn't do a whole lot. We haven't seen this scenario over and over again. Find me the farm systems that have been quite this stacked on the position player side. Are all of them going to succeed? Probably not. But they won't need them to. They'll have all this cost-controlled talent hitting the team at or around the same time, and they are going to make 2-3 huge splashes in free agency to grab some pitching (because they'll have a TON of money to spend), and someone like a Stanton etc. to fill whatever other holes they have in the lineup. As far as making that up overnight, that's where the Cubs fan base is different (and much larger) than the Sox. The instant they start winning and getting exciting (and it won't even take a playoff appearance to do it), they'll be selling out. They can absolutely make that up overnight. The Cubs fans aren't going anywhere, they just aren't buying tickets as often. The INSTANT this looks exciting, they'll all be back. Sox don't have that luxury. Will this whole thing work? Who knows. But it's a pretty smart, well-thought out plan.

AD Miller had offers from OSU, Michigan, Miami, ND...and committed to Illinois.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 08:32 AM) Papa Johns is probably my favorite nationwide chain pizza. I'm with you there.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 4, 2014 -> 11:19 PM) No I said it feels that way. Most of the people close to him in Ohio have been saying UK for awhile. It just seems like we've seen this movie before. No, you said it's "the worst kept secret" and "he's been UK for so long." That's no "I feel" anything.

I'd drive Beckham to the airport if the Cardinals were willing to give the Sox a bag of balls for him.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 4, 2014 -> 01:22 PM) Give up on Bragg. I know Illinois will be in it until the end based on info, but it just seems like one of those heartbreakers for you guys. He's been UK for so long. I don't think we'll get Bragg either, but you post things like it's fact. If you don't know him personally, where are you getting the information? As we know, recruiting is fluid. And not EVERYONE can go to UK.

Didn't see the game, can someone fill me in?

Weather forecast: Windy with thunderstorms. A few may be strong, especially early. Storms may produce large hail and strong winds. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

B10 teams as fast food restaurants: http://www.thechampaignroom.com/2014/6/27/...s-some-diabetes

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 29, 2014 -> 09:23 PM) yeah I don't even get that one. We just signed Raanta yesterday. Would they trade Crawford and let Brodeur start 50 games? If they want to flirt with missing the playoffs, yes.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 09:39 PM) Apparently the Hawks have interest in Brodeur http://www.csnchicago.com/blackhawks/repor...-martin-brodeur Absolutely not. The guy is toast at this point. Done beyond done. I am hoping the Hawks wouldn't be "that team" that inevitably offers him a contract based on reputation, experience, blah blah blah. He's bad.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 10:31 PM) He grew up a Blackhawks fan. He's going to play for North Dakota though. Ew. Yeah, typically hockey players from North Dakota suck.

Something's definitely happening tonight. Salary is going to be moved. Anyone want Bickell, please? Draft is always more interesting for the trades than it is the for the draft selections. You knew Kesler to Anaheim was happening.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 17m If there are two guys to redefine new CBA era/rising cap, it's Kane and Toews. Each has one year left on existing deal. Fascinating dynamic. It's believed Kane-Toews initial ask of CHI on extension is around $12M/yr each. They'll end up lower but still could be $10M+ AAV players. Many agents believe cap could be as high as $75M for 2015-16, continue to escalate rapidly. Double digit AAV for superstars may be new norm. Anything over 10 (I'm hoping 9 or 9.5) is going to f*** over the roster moving forward. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 02:09 PM) Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 19m Trade senses are on high alert. Starting to sound like Kesler deal is inching closer. Still working on destination, but next 24hrs, perhaps. To the Ducks. QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 02:53 PM) Like who, then? Somebody. Bowman can't fail to address the 2C issue yet again. And I think jamming TT there would be pretty premature. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 03:38 PM) If only they could move someone who makes 6 million..... Or 4 million.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 01:37 PM) I think he is having vision problems this year. He isn't following the games well at all. He is usually pretty behind on calling plays this year, especially homers. That's part of it (like when he called a ground rule double that bounced over, a home run during the Yankees series), but now his nonsense about aura the reason why the Sox aren't/are winning games and which teams have magical aura is just ridiculous. Plus everything is some sort of grandiose point he's trying to make about the game of baseball and how no one knows anything about this game anymore. What?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 11:46 AM) Does anyone think that B&B has changed from criticizing Hawk to straight up on air bullying? I know Hawk has really lost a lot of zip on his fastball, and has a lot of faults, but the guy really cant say anything without those two turning it into a all day rip fest Hawk has taken it to another level this year. It's really bad. It's time for him to go.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 05:48 PM) Take a look at this list, consider his two Stanley Cups, along with two Gold Medals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Norris_Memorial_Trophy I think if he retires tomorrow, he probably goes in the Hall. He just needs more years of solid performance to be have a shot. The consistency for a lot of years will help. If he retires tomorrow, I don't know that he gets in for sure. Sure he has those accomplishments, but Cups and Medals are obviously team accomplishments. The Norris trophies are much more relevant.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 04:01 PM) I saw a rumor that Sharp punched Kane (or vice versa) for some reason while they were drinking. I haven't seen any real details or credible reports for it. Yeah that's going around, and the fact that he has been cheating on his wife for years has always been around.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 10:27 AM) I need a f***ing vacation, took zero time off when my kid was born, didnt take a honeymoon so I could work. Jesus I need to unplug. Now that sounds like a worn-down parent if I've ever heard one. Although "time off" when the kid was born is actually the opposite of what you'd hope it'd be.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 08:21 AM) So is Keith a Hall of Famer? Two Norris Trophies and two Stanley Cups looks pretty good on a resume. He's definitely in the conversation, I wouldn't say yes as of this moment though.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 08:48 AM) I wonder how much Stastny will get in free agency, I wouldnt mind looking at him either. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 09:10 AM) Pierre LeBrun just tweeted that multiple teams have already contacted his agent, and the Avs are still in the mix too. That probably means he will be too expensive for the Hawks. I'd love absolutely love Stastny, but I don't think he'll be affordable. Let's talk about something else. The assumption is that Kane and Toews will both be signed soon to possibly identical contracts, and everyone is excited about that. Not a lot of people are talking about for how much. But if Toews and Kane are looking for 12 mil each...yeah that can't happen. I'm hoping they get it done for 10 max (Getzlaf/Perry were at like 8.5ish last year). 12 mil each would cripple the ability to build around them, and I hope they understand that.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jun 24, 2014 -> 04:56 PM) Since you are too lazy to back up your claims, I'll have to find them for you.... Here are the only 4 comments I made about Tuevo.... "TT tonight, I hope. So stoked." "Teuvo Time tonight. "I expect nothing less than 2 goals and 2 assists out of Viner tonight." ".....But seriously, he looked pretty solid out there. Made a couple nice defensive plays and although it seemed like he barely had the puck tonight, he did show his quick hands and stick handling. He couldn't have been any less physical though. I was afraid someone was going to hit him and he'd break in half." "Morin was great, Benny Smith has been turning a corner this spring, but unfortunately Teuvo rots on the healthy scratch list.... is there no league this kid can be playing in right now?" You let me know which of those 4 times I was anointing him the savior. And don't even try to point to my obviously sarcastic comment about expecting 4 points in his debut. That was a joke about his expectations on twitter. I would be thrilled if we were able to get out from under Hossa's contract, but no one is going to want to take that on. Sharp's contract isn't one that can't be moved. He has more trade value than any of those 4 guys, which is why I want him moved. A return would free up money and hopefully fill some holes. I'm sorry you don't agree with that? So now you're claiming it's sarcasm, after your first 2 posts? I can only imagine you were one of those guys on twitter re: expectations.