Mercy!

I don't want to get into a fight, but when you allege for some reason that Frank Thomas's domestic life somehow is wanting in comparison to that of Jim Brown, I've just got to put in my two cents worth. Jim Brown was an amazing running back, and is undoubtedly a fascinating and complex personality. I believe he has done a lot of good works with various communities. But his, umm, family life left a little to be desired. Here's a sanitized and abreviated version of some of his exploits. As you probably know, in that last incident, Brown refused to go to counseling or do community service, and did jail time instead. In an interview on Larry King Live, he said that he only smashed the windows because he loved his wife, and that her PMS was the cause of all their arguments. :rolly

I am most definitely not one of those Timo Bashers one sees around here from time to time. But can anyone tell me what that stuff is spraying out of Timo's nose in the above banner? Thank you in advance for this information.

I agree with everything you said, Beer.

Dear Mr. Serling, Uh-oh! Does that mean that Catfish’s KC locker never really existed then? Or that the three years he played in Kansas City were actually a sort of parallel-universe Oakland? Does that mean that when I rooted for the Washington Senators, Frank Howard never actually existed after the team moved to Texas? And how can the Nationals really be in the National League if they're playing in RFK Stadium? I'm afraid my head's going to explode! Never mind. I gotta go hitch a ride on that turnip truck down yonder, the one marked, Twilight Zone. Dazed and Confused, Mercy

That ranks as one of the most peculiar statements I've ever read on any sports message board.

Dear Mark, You know how ol’ Hawk incessantly compares you to Jim “Catfish” Hunter? Well, when Catfish first came up with the Kansas City A’s, there was a saying in his locker: “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to is.” It’s looked to me lately that you and your buddies hardly even WANT to put forth the effort required to win. Just remember today: even if KC steals your signs; if one of their pitchers doctors the ball; if the low numbers of Sox fans in attendance don't meet your expectations – even so, you boys should STILL beat the lowly A’s like a drum. So no more complaints - just do it already! Best regards, Mercy

Ah, DP’s! That term has its own historical baggage, too, doesn’t it? Thanks for a more personal take on this issue. Springfield. I’ve been a little surprised to hear reports that some victims didn’t appreciate being called refugees. I still suspect most care more about the quality of the nation’s response to this crisis than what name gets hung on them. In general, I believe that words DO matter and that people should be able to name themselves. Whenever something like this arises, it always seems to be those who are not in the group under discussion who are the most vociferous in discussing the “proper” terminology. In this case, however, (and more in response to the thread-starter) I don’t see some big media conspiracy. I still haven’t been able to get my mind totally around the scope of this disaster, but when I first started hearing the term “refugee,” I began to understand better what was unfolding in our country.

I'm a dust bowl refugee, Just a dust bowl refugee, From that dust bowl to the peach bowl, Now that peach fuzz is a-killin' me. 'Cross the mountains to the sea, Come the wife and kids and me. It's a hot old dusty highway For a dust bowl refugee. Hard, it's always been that way , Here today and on our way Down that mountain, 'cross the desert, Just a dust bowl refugee. We are ramblers, so they say, We are only here today, Then we travel with the seasons, We're the dust bowl refugees. From the south land and the drought land, Come the wife and kids and me, And this old world is a hard world For a dust bowl refugee. Yes, we ramble and we roam And the highway that's our home, It's a never-ending highway For a dust bowl refugee. Yes, we wander and we work In your crops and in your fruit, Like the whirlwinds on the desert That's the dust bowl refugees. I'm a dust bowl refugee, I'm a dust bowl refugee, And I wonder will I always Be a dust bowl refugee? -Woody Guthrie (1938)

Well, okay, I guess you must be right. But could you try a little test first? Pick out a few people – your mother, father, your wife or girlfriend, your boss, the loudmouth behind you in the movie theater. Go ahead, interrupt what they’re saying with a really forceful “SHUT UP b****!!!” Come on now, no trying out that line "b**** is used in many ways," or pretending that you’re talking to your cocker spaniel as you let ‘em have it. After you're discharged from the ER, can you come back and let us know what those folks ASSUMED you meant? Peace and love.

"telescopic batons"? Double tuff.

That's odd, I don't see any dog, either.

Not "tacky" at all! Just very, very funny.

Hey, thanks for the prompt response. May I venture one more question? Why do you present yourself to the world with a "Shut Up b****" avatar. Do you have any close women friends? I guess that's two questions. Thanks.

Hi, I'm new here. Is this sort of statement the reason why you're described as belonging to the "Wing Nuts" Group?

Priceless! And (most of) the responses to the tale of your awesome day have been sweet, as well. Refreshing.

I’ll admit straight out that I didn’t read the linked article. I’m just responding to the photograph Gene posted. It just screams 1970’s Sorority Sisters meeting

At a meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in response to a position paper attacking the overarching sexual discrimination within the organization, someone asked about the “proper position of women” in SNCC [or The Movement, depending on who is telling the tale], and Stokely Carmichael responded, “prone.” He always maintained he was joking. Like all such jokes, I guess, whether or not you think it’s funny depends on ... who’s on top.

I assume you mean: Heaven and Hell AND Earths in the Universe -------------------------------------------- My suggestion: The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn Amazon.com reviews

Major blackout in Los Angeles has occurred. “The blackout came a day after ABC aired a videotape of a purported al-Qaida member making terrorist threats against Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia, on the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.” - Associated Press Although they don’t know the cause of the blackout, officials are saying it isn’t terror-related. Oh. okay. EDIT - this was later blamed on a utility worker who accidentally cut a cable. Oops!

I personally find his public negative sniping about teammates to be annoying in the extreme. But there’s a lot to like about Paulie as a player. Still, I think he just doesn’t handle pressure especially well. When he’s in one of his extended slumps, he seems to become a head case when batting with men on base. And these stats are appalling (apauling?): 2005 RISP with 2 outs .167 career RISP with 2 outs .220 On the positive side, he hasn’t been grounding into as many double plays this year.

Depending on which news source you utilize, you will see different images, based on that source’s guidelines. During 9/11, the issue was whether or not to show video of falling/jumping people in their last agonies. Most (but not all) US outlets opted not to do so, or to stop doing so. Whether or not they “DO want to show the bodies now” is not the issue, I think. Rather, do we want the government to decide what a free and unfettered press may or may not cover?

Actually, Big Bill Liston (1950's)

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Well, not painful exactly. But, you know, I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. So I’m thinking not everyone here has been 100 per cent truthful. And the truth is out there. Maybe.

But not to worry. According to Brown's boss: "Chertoff suggested the shift came as the Gulf Coast efforts were entering "a new phase of the recovery operation." He said Brown would return to Washington to oversee the government's response to other potential disasters." - from CNN.com So if a major terrorist attack occurred in Chicago tomorow, "Brownie" would be the Man in charge? Do we have a smilie for hiding under the bed shivering?