Steff

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 12:55 PM) Apparently they didn't do a very good job. It's because he wears a hat. It was a waste to get them in the first place.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 02:34 PM) Stop interrupting our pseudo-intellectual discussion with that nonsense. Pffttt... I don't have time for that psycho babble bulls***.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 02:24 PM) It does seem like a combination of Dante's Hell and Purgatory. I strongly believe it is a form of purgatory. But there are elements of Dante's Hell, also. BTW The first episode of the season was called "Member's only"... This one is called "Join the Club" Also, outside the literary references, I enjoyed AJ yelling "Poor You!" at Meadow. It seems Livia's presence is never too far from the Soprano household. Jim and I absolutely LOVED this. I keep hoping they find some way to bring her back into the mix, obviously in flash backs only. The way she made Tony shrivel up was amazing.

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 01:31 PM) This episode had A LOT going on in it, so bear with me as I try to express what I noticed: Tony is in purgatory. He was literally in the "Hotel California" He was without an identity and unable to leave. The hotel he can check into was the "Omni"...meaning ALL. While he is stuck in that hotel, on one end of town is a shining beacon (Heaven), on the other, a raging forest fire (Hell). Now let's dig WAAAY deeper into symbolism: He is also apparently in the military contractor business, so it can be argued that he's still involved with death and murder. Also, he is still capable of cheating on his wife. I think the writers are showing the point that in the end, sin is sin, and once you get to the end it doesn't matter if you make your decisions in a boardroom or the back of a stripclub. I guess it's some social commentary. In Dante Inferno, it is said there are 7 layers or circles of Hell that Dante traveled through to get to paradise. Tony was placed on the 7th floor(or circle)... the circle for those who are violent He's sinking further and further into the depths. Trying to get back by taking the stairs and leaving the 7th floor (circle, soul) He fell down the stairs between the 5th and 4th floor. The 5th circle is wrath and 4th is greed Also, if you recall the first episode opened with William Burroughs spoken word recording "Seven Souls" From the Seven Souls...Number five is Ka, the Double, most closely associated with the subject. The 1st circle is limbo and from there he can escape, when he stop acepting his fate and fights back and finds his breifcase. His double who took his breifcase, or as Tony out it "My whole LIFE is in there" That guy's name was Kevin Finnerty, to which the man at the bar jokes "Kev-Infinity" By the way Kevin Finnerty is a heating salesman from the hottest state, Arizona. No need to go further there. Arizona is also on the Driver's License as AZ or a-z, the beginning to the end. Dante's divine comedy is divided into three parts, corresponding with Dante's three journeys: Inferno, or "Hell"; Purgatorio, or "Purgatory"; and Paradiso, or "Paradise." Consider that Tony is now in the second of the three journeys -- his life on earth has been Dante's hell and all it is comprised of (the seven circles of hell: Circle One, Those in limbo; Circle Two - The lustful; Circle Three, The gluttonous; Circle Four - The hoarders; Circle Five - The wrathful; Circle Six - The heretics Circle Seven - The violent), he is now in purgatory, and is making his final journey to Paradiso. On Easter Sunday, Dante emerges from Hell. Through his travels, he has found his way to God and is able, once more, to look upon the stars. Perhaps this is Tony's path. Sunday April 16? Weird-o.

QUOTE(afacio @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 01:12 PM) Just an FYI From an article in the Star Ledger (jersey) The voice of Purgatory Tony's wife wasn't played by Annabella Sciorra, or any other actress who's been on the show before; she's just a generic non-Carmela female voice. Don't know who played it, but it was clear who it was intended to be when he said "Char..." during the call. Excellent tie in. Though I wish they would have had him comment on kids.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 19, 2006 -> 11:50 PM) I really enjoyed how they showed Tony and his life if the mob was not there. Very well done episode. I do however hope Tony comes out of this thing in the next few episodes. Tony Soprano is too good of a character not to have around. I did also. And I think they did it well, for those that pay attention anyway. Charmaine on the other end of the phone as Tony's wife was a pretty cool tie in to the past. And don't worry, he'll be back soon. But in the mean time things look to get explosive.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 10:33 AM) Not anymore. He got hair plugs. :headshake 2 years ago.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 20, 2006 -> 10:03 AM) 5 years- $60 million. Twice that much would be enough..

QUOTE(T R U @ Mar 17, 2006 -> 02:01 PM) Yup they are.. Mine is gettin huge, they are gettin close to a year and a half old now Just stopped today on the way back from lunch to look at some pups. If it wasn't such a pain in the ass I would be all over that Puggle thing. They are bitting whiners though. Saw a beautiful brundle female... oye.. they are so easy to fall in love with. Still have yet to see a white one in person.

Watched Friday Night Lights again a couple weeks ago and thought about you. Regardless, WB MOS.. give us all some hell. And hope the pups are doing well.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 16, 2006 -> 12:49 PM) I believe 11K was the base last year, but someone else can probably verify that for me. 11,800 and change.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 09:38 PM) I'm going out on a limb and sayin'...he ain't dead. Good way to kick off the year. What is the name of the guy who killed himself. That was the most he was ever in an episode...and now...HE GONE! I saw the second episode last night. He's not dead.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 15, 2006 -> 06:56 PM) I remember that, I was the one person who agreed. It was because I knew what a WS could do to attendance. I saw it happen a few years ago in Anaheim. The second.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) I agree they should go after everybody else as hard too, but everybody else didn't hit 73 in a season, over 700 (and counting) in a career, gain 60 pounds of "muscle" in their mid 30's (as well as all of a sudden doubling their HR/AB rate), have their head grow, be a complete in denial asshole about it to everybody, and break all kinds of baseball records, and have a PERSONAL TRAINER sent to prison for steriod crimes related to a steroid infested science lab in the city the player plays in. Of course they are going to go the hardest after Bonds, the circumstantial (and now physical) evidence is overwhelming. And the Sosa's and McGwire's and Anderson's and Giambi's of the world thank you.

QUOTE(Middle Buffalo @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 12:38 PM) Is it a witch hunt against Bonds? Sure. But when you look someone in the eye and tell them you haven't cheated (when it's pretty evident that you did), the natural reaction of a true journalist would be to prove the liar wrong with facts. Agree. Just wish they went after everyone with the same zest. The sports world would smell a lot less.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 10:15 AM) I hear some guy gets whacked. . . LOL. KINDA SORTA A SPOILER BELOW I heard 1 killing, 1 suicide and 1 "oh my God is he dead...?" in the first episode alone.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 10:08 AM) Just post a BIG WARNING!!!

Looks good. Brian.. you heard any spoilers..? I heard a few the past few days. Can you guys who don't want to know them control yourselves not to read them if I post 'em..

http://media.putfile.com/Larry-Williams-Motel-6

"Hey... the sky's not blue..."

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 11:39 PM) Holy Crap!??! I did not even recognize him. I can't believe I lost my teenage heart-throb Valerie to THAT! And I think Eddie's demon was almost entirely booze and very little drug use (Kid Gleason please correct me if I'm wrong) I'm sure cancer helped a bit also. What a waste.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 8, 2006 -> 02:46 AM) I've torn a muscle in my quad / hamstring today after playing footy at lunch. Not the greatest feeling in the world right now let me tell you. Ouch! I strained a muscle in mine last year and I was sore for weeks.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 05:12 PM) It's a shame that Barry even began using. He was a lock for Cooperstown prior to that. It's even more of a shame that Barry's a jerk and a racist, so I'm glad that he's being exposed as a heavy steroid-user now as well. Rot in scandal hell, Barry. You have nobody to blame but yourself. This pretty much proves my point.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 04:47 PM) I don't know what else to politely call people who direct critcism from Bonds and rest it on "crystal clear" reasons for being singled out . None of which actually blame Bonds for his terrible attitude, note his stature as one of the greatest players in MLB, or mention mysterious connections to steroid distributers. I heard on The Score (and I"m not sure whether the SI article mentions it) Bonds left messages on a woman's answering machine where he says if the woman were to disappear, no one would know. During a previous encounter, he allegedly placed his hands around the woman's throat, pressed her head against a wall, and threatened her verbally. This man is not a creation of the media. First, I did no such thing as direct anything away from him. Pointing out that others have done the same thing - proven or not at this point - and them not being gone after like rabid dogs is valid, IMO. It happens all the time. Was Jordan called out for his gambling or womanizing...? Even after his father was murdered the press still refused to comment on what everyone else knew. Did Cal Ripkin get s*** when he assulted his wife...? And even a bit closer to home.. Sosa... even after the cork was there for all to see barely a negative word was spoken until Grace opened his mouth about what a asshole he was. And then there's the darling McGwire... Even after that asshole sat in front of congress and s*** on that poor man who's son KILLED HIMSELF from using Andro and other roids - just like his "hero" Mark... the press still barely made a peep. Why... because they were nice to the press. If Bonds was a media darling you honestly think these two guys would have spent hour after hour, day after day, week after week, etc, etc... digging up as much dirt as they could...? I'm not blaming anyone but Bonds. If you interpreted differently, you misunderstood. I'm laughing at the witch hunt - which absolutely positively NEEDS to come out - the use of steroids - but the way that it was done is hysterical. And all the people calling for his demise... it's funny. I wonder how they would react if it were their "guy" on their "team". :rolly And you can bet high it's not far off... As for him hitting his girlfriend.. I'm sure he did it - as she's testified to the fact. And it reminds me of a story when a warm and fuzzy to the media guy did something similar and didn't get reported on... You may have heard of him... Sammy Sosa. Nearly KILLED his wife with a rum bottle. And BTW, I wasn't comparing Dykstra, Daulton, Williams, etc, to Bonds.. just making a comment that steriod use has been obvious for a long time. Yet because now they have a jerk personality to nail, they go all out.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 7, 2006 -> 03:13 PM) When I was 15 I played in a 19 year old league called Thoroughbreds I believe. There were usually a couple of scouts at every game, and sometimes they would ask you to fill out a card with your name, address, date of birth, etc. They would tell the 19 year olds to shave off a year of their age, so they would have a better chance of being drafted or signed. We sometimes played at Triton. I wonder if Kirby was offerred the same advice. Weird cause it was never caught..