IlliniKrush

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 10:55 AM) The amount of people saying the overlooking of Hossa's injury is "no big deal" is shocking to me. There's no way the front office knew about this injury at the time of the signing, despite what they say. He's signed for 12 years (and will play for what, 8?). So he's out 2-3 months. It is not a big deal. It's not a one year contract. And they probably knew something was up at the time of the signing. Even if they didn't, who cares? The cup is won in June. If the team can't play through 2 months without him, then they won't do s*** with him.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 11:32 PM) Ok so either they have newbies or guys that were crap last year. They won 5 games last year. Not sure why the excitement other than expectations from good recruiting classes. I didn't say they would be atrocious this year, but they were last year. 3-5 in a mediocre Big Ten and a loss to Western Michigan was bad. Better is assumed, but what does 'towards the top somewhere' mean? Top 4 in the Big Ten? Far from unthinkable, but shouldn't be an expectation. All newbies or crap, got it. With the talent this team has, and looking at the rest of the conference, a top 4 finish should be expected. They should be 5-3 or 6-2. The schedule starts out really tough (though far from guaranteed losses) but there should be a ton of wins after that. If they can't pull that off there will be a ton of heat on Zook.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 06:47 PM) I gotta say I'm absolutely stunned at the confidence from the Illinois people. A team that was atrocious last year and they are expecting a bunch of newbies to be stars. I wouldn't really say they are returning "crap." Kind of an ignorant comment. The offense doesn't have newbies, minus a few lineman. Best receiving core in the big ten, QB who led the big ten in total offense, and every rushing yard returns. Defense has more question marks, especially at line and lb. Secondary will likely be the strength of the defense as there is more experience there. There could be a lot of shootouts this year. I don't see many reasons why we shouldn't be confident that this team should be pretty decent this year and not atrocius, but if you want to call everyone a homer, so be it. I am not guaranteeing a BTT, that's silly to predict, but I don't see how this team finishes in the bottom to middle of the Big Ten. Maybe the Big Ten is down but I think they finish towards the top somewhere.

Well, hopefully they got their money's worth during last night's celebration...

I'd like to thank Chad Bradford for wasting an hour of my life. Missed a train by a few minutes, along with plenty of other people at the station.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jul 10, 2009 -> 02:46 AM) My nails are short 24/7 because I bite them way too much. Like to the point where it hurts. I also bite the skin on the corners of the fingers.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Feb 20, 2003 -> 06:13 PM) Let them battle it out in spring training, simple. I think D should be able to win out the job, i think he's got some sleeper potential this year. Keep in mind, he was more hyped than Soriano until his accident. That's not saying he's the next Soriano, not saying that at all. But he's got some talent. Instead, i'd rather see Harris take over CF for Rowand, especially if Rowand is still banged up from his dirt bike accident, which he probly will be. He won't be 100%, no doubt. Fire and passion making an appearance.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 6, 2009 -> 09:27 PM) I would REALLY like it if they stopped putting women's scores on the botom line on ESPN, especially college basketball. On multiple occasions I've glanced at it, seen a score that makes me think there's been a major upset or something, and right when I'm getting ready to freak out and try to figure out what the hell happened I see the "WNCAA" or "WCB" or "WBB" or whatever abbreviation next to it. I do the same thing all the time. No one is watching the ticker just to see the women's bball scores, just take them off. QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Jul 6, 2009 -> 09:54 PM) Not only do I not watch women's sports, I don't watch college sports either. If you're gonna watch sports, watch them at the best level. A friend of mine and I always get into this discussion. Pretty lame. Sports at levels other than the highest level can be highly entertaining, competitive, well played, and have plenty of energy and passion.

It's only up by 100K.

QUOTE (SoxFanForever @ Jun 26, 2009 -> 11:49 PM) Tallon has done quite a job of overvaluing or overpaying players so far. Soup, Huet, Sopel and now Bolland. I love Dave Bolland and think he will be a very solid 2nd center. I just think that giving him this big of a deal after one good year is a bit much. How dare you forget Buff! He was good in the playoffs. Will we get that during the season, and the next playoffs, and so on? Because right now it's still very, very questionable.

Man that's high for the first couple years, at least. Off that, what does Steeger and Barker get? I don't see how you sign TKK for 6 or so each with contracts like that out there. We're going to lose Keith (or someone else, at least) when all is said and done. I like Bolland's game a lot, but I don't know how the hell Tallon is going to make this work. My guess is, he won't or won't be around to figure that out.

Dudley resigned...becoming the Assistant GM in Atlanta.

Good, the post 1997 wings fans had to watch the cup be skated on their home ice. Couldn't ask for more from that series.

I may be the only one watching, but this has been one hell of a f***ing hockey series.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jun 9, 2009 -> 10:12 PM) Because the best obvious position is behind the catcher towards the first base side making sure he is shielded. What? Did you even watch the play and see where he was and how it unfolded? And that's the positioning you are supposed to have.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 9, 2009 -> 10:06 PM) What a terrible job by the ump of seeing the play. No way he could have seen the tag/hand at the same time. He was in the correct and perfect position to see the play.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 11:33 AM) Boers and Bernstein have kinda become...full of themselves.... I know it's the set-up of the show, but they really do come across has blowhard know-it-alls. And the worst part is...they could be great if they went on knowledge alone, but they go on refuting dumb-ass callers for humor. And it's really not funny anymore. It's actually very funny. STEAK DINNER BOOM. If you call up and you talk out of your ass, they should make fun of you. Most of the people that get on air have opinions that have no basis in fact.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/1605492,d...-060309.article And more B&B, booya

20 minutes to extend the season. Hopefully the team with no margin for error doesn't lose this on a bad break or odd deflection, as would seem to make sense when they play knowing one goal going behind them likely brings out the handshake line.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 27, 2009 -> 01:13 PM) I always thought they hired Bowman with the intention of putting him in a role like this, but I think Dale bought himself another season with this premature run. It would almost be bad PR to can him at this point. He probably did and that is true...but, remember the Hawks took a ridiculous PR hit with Savvy. IMO Tallon being fired wouldn't top that hit, since Savvy is a Hawk legend. Perhaps it would be a bit less of a PR hit as people would say 'well looked what happened with Q...they seem to know what they are doing.' I just don't know if they are worried about that PR stuff anymore, because why would they at this point. They are worried about winning a Cup, not just topping out at the conference finals. Honestly, it's hard to imagine this team being any better next year. I realize I'm saying this in May and a lot of things can happen to change that, but I can see it happening as it is now. I still think it's whatever the elder Bowman thinks, that matters. From what I've heard, he was the one that wanted Savvy out, and got it shortly thereafter.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 27, 2009 -> 09:51 AM) SO you are saying you think DT is going to be fired after taking the Hawks to the conference finals after probably the largest franchise turnaround in sports history? Yes, I absolutely do think he should. But, I think he will end up with another season. Let's not be blind to other issues (some mentioned already) just because the team made it this far. Problem is, he's already set up a huge mess, and I don't trust him to get out of it. Rocky's comments weren't very encouraging (putting it mildly) as well, fwiw.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 26, 2009 -> 11:24 AM) I held off as long as I could. Brian Campbell is our Alfonso Soriano. Admitting it is what, step 1? Though Soriano is way more talented and actually contributes more.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 26, 2009 -> 01:51 PM) He HAD to make those moves however because they needed a D man like Campbell and they needed a long term solution at Goalie since khabby is older and will be asking for money. I just wish we could have developed both internally, at least an impact netminder. He didn't HAVE to make either of those moves. He chose to. And he'll likely be fired because of it, which won't shock me.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ May 24, 2009 -> 08:10 PM) To be fair, The Critic is at least twice the Red Wings fan I am. As long as there is a Wirtz tied to the Blackhawks franchise, I'll never root for them. That's a pretty ignorant statement. How is Rocky anything like Bill? He's the complete opposite and doesn't give a s*** what his dad did or believed in.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ May 24, 2009 -> 03:35 PM) Hope the Red Wings go into double digits on these f***ing punks. Good to see the die hard red wing fan decided to jump into the thread.