Steff

Ehem... Jason can stand in line. I'm sure you have some other work to be doing...

McDonald's cuts ties with Kobe Bryant January 19, 2004 OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant lost his sponsorship deal with McDonald's, costing the NBA star another endorsement while his sexual assault case proceeds in Colorado. The fast-food company said Monday its three-year agreement with the Los Angeles Lakers guard expired Dec. 31 and was not renewed. ``It would be inappropriate to comment or speculate at this time about any future sponsorship relationship,'' spokesman Bill Whitman said. Ferrero of Italy, the maker of Nutella chocolate spread, earlier chose to not renew Bryant's endorsement contract. Bryant, a five-time All-Star who helped the Lakers win three NBA championships, is averaging 22 points. He recently hurt his shoulder and could miss several weeks. Bryant's once-wholesome image has been damaged since a 19-year-old woman accused him last year of sexual assault. Bryant contends the sex was consensual.

Thoughts on what should happen to the kids that did this..? http://abcnews.go.com/sections/US/2020/hig...g_031110-1.html IMO.. expulsion. Bubye college and possible football career.

You guys think it was an accident..? http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/Sports...s_040114-1.html

123 Arrested in Deadly Georgia Dog Fight Mon Jan 19,12:20 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo! COVINGTON, Ga. - Police raided a rural house and found a blood-soaked dog fight arena where fans had gathered for a night of gambling with a winner-take-all pot of $50,000. Officers arrested 123 people late Saturday on felony charges of cruelty to animals, dog fighting and commercial gambling. Newton County sheriff's deputies found one dead dog lying at the side of a makeshift ring, and another dog so badly mauled that it was later euthanized. Blood covered the walls and soaked through an old carpet. "It's hard to understand any crime, but to see animals used — or I should say misused — for someone's entertainment like this is just pitiful," Sheriff Joe Nichols said. "It just tears at your heart." Deputies seized about a dozen guns, several kilograms of marijuana and cocaine and more than a quarter of a million dollars, Sheriff's Sgt. Mark Mitchell said. Deputies also found four trophies already engraved with the date of the fight. "This wasn't a gathering of people who just happened to hear about it and showed up," Mitchell said. "It was well planned." Thirteen pit bulls were placed with county animal control. The owner of the house was charged Sunday with involvement in the event. Her name was not immediately released.

Isn't any needed the same as whole body...??

I'm well aware of Albert's deal.. (and you're right that he did not get all $55 million, he got $11 for both of the seasons he was here - and left due to the clause that he remain one of the top 3 highest paid players). But I just don't see them paying Maggs that kind of money.

Unfortunately.. a lot more than we're obviously willing to spend.

Pujols wants long-term deal By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer January 18, 2004 ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Albert Pujols wants a long-term contract from the St. Louis Cardinals, and he doesn't plan to give them a bargain. ``What do you mean?'' Pujols said Sunday at the team's annual winter fanfest. ``This is business. There's no break here. ``You try to get what you deserve and that's what I want. I've taken care of my business in the field the last three years and hopefully I get treated respectfully, that's all I ask for.'' Pujols, who won his first NL batting title and finished second in MVP balloting behind Barry Bonds last season, expects to file for arbitration Tuesday. Both he and the Cardinals anticipate Pujols, 24, will win a record arbitration award. The Cardinals reportedly offered Pujols a $55 million, five-year contract. Pujols refused to discuss the status of talks. ``It's a tough negotiation because it's obviously a player that has never been in this category before,'' general manager Walt Jocketty said. ``There are very few comparables.'' In 1997, Mark McGwire signed for less than market value with the Cardinals, soon after joining them in a trade from Oakland. But Pujols, who batted .359 last season with 43 home runs, 124 RBIs and 137 runs scored, doesn't plan to do the same. After watching the team allow Eduardo Perez and Miguel Cairo to leave as free agents this offseason and seeing the Cardinals trade J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero, Pujols said it might be best not to get too attached. ``I'm pretty sure it's going to work out,'' Pujols said. ``It's great to stay with one team and not get traded. ``I love the city, I love the fans, but also you need to understand this is business. Next year I could be somewhere else.'' The Cardinals don't see that happening. Manager Tony La Russa said the team wanted to make Pujols a ``Stan Musial, where he plays his whole career here.'' Pujols said he won't let his contract status affect his play. He made $900,000 last year, the largest one-year deal for a third-year player, and is due for a huge raise no matter what happens. ``I've been getting ready working out, and I'm not even thinking about it,'' Pujols said. ``It doesn't matter how much money I'm going to make, the money is not going to change the way I play the game.'' La Russa has no worries about Pujols' commitment. The only question is where he'll play. Pujols, who played left field last year, likely will move to first base after Tino Martinez was traded to the Devil Rays. But Pujols played four positions regularly in each of his first two seasons and he's willing to play wherever he's needed. ``It doesn't matter to me until we break camp and we start the season, and even then during the season if somebody goes down and I have to move to the outfield, I'll do it,'' Pujols said. ``Because I'm a teammate guy.'' Pujols was limited in his throws last year by a sprained elbow ligament. He said he's been throwing without problems for almost a month and a half. ``It feels fine,'' Pujols said. ``It doesn't bother me at all.''

OK.. you got me there.

Tigers get no budge by Pudge BY GENE GUIDI, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER We found out Sunday which teams will be playing in the Super Bowl, but we still don't know if Ivan Rodriguez will be playing for the Tigers this season. The free-agent catcher and his agent, Scott Boras, are weighing the Tigers' four-year, $40-million offer, which the Free Press learned is accurate. With the team's offices closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Boras busy finalizing arbitration cases for other clients, it's likely we won't know Rodriguez's decision until Wednesday or Thursday. Boras has said another team or teams expressed interest in Rodriguez, but they've yet to surface publicly. And based on the offers made to Rodriguez earlier this off-season -- $24 million for three years from the Marlins and Orioles -- it's hard to imagine that any team at this juncture would top the Tigers' offer. The Tigers' four-year offer to a 32-year-old catcher surprised many because that hasn't been the norm this off-season. Since last season ended, six players have signed for more than three years: Javier Vazquez, Bartolo Colon, Miguel Tejada, Keith Foulke, Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero. But the Tigers knew the only way they could get a name free agent was to overpay. Now that the deal is on the table, the Tigers hope Rodriguez doesn't get cold feet -- literally and figuratively -- after visiting cold and snowy Detroit last week.

At this point.. I can't say I'd be upset with anyone invited. What have we got to lose..??

I've heard both Jim. I've heard people swear that the Sox get some of the hotel revenues and that unless FULL PRICE TICKET attendance is above 1.7 million the Sox pay nothing. I leaned more towards those two things being a bit far from reality, but never had any proof. What interests me the most about the tax.. if you think about it.. the state is double dipping. They get the revenues from the tax.. and rent from the Sox. I didn't get as far into it to see the estimated profit from the bonds back to the bond holders, but I did see that the rate of return was a single digit # (I'm not real sure of what I can or can't be specific about - bear with me guys). Obviously the bond holders aren't getting rich off of the bonds.. But someone is.

I believe it was rated through 2023. But to be honest that doesn't mean anything with the naming rights. If something happens to US Cellular I believe all bets are off and it's back to the drawing board. This deal was updated September 2003 so it's the current governing rules of the agreement. I wish I had brought it. I was running late this morning. I'll try to get out of bowling early and do it tonight, otherwise I'll get in here early tomorrow morning and post more details.

It was not easy. The way this this is set up is that a private person MUST hook up with not only a broker, but a firm. There are NO single bond owners. The buy in amounts were pretty confusing as well. I'll try to summarize that in english. But to be honest I was scratching my head while reading it - and I have some knowledge of how those things work. And greasy.. that's the part that I was completely confused by as well. Not even a mention of JR as chariman or anything. No governing authority at all. Which means - IMO until I read into it more - that the ISA called ALL the shots on this one as far as how the bonds were set up to be paid for - i.e.. the hotel tax. This, from the surface, appears to be an advantage for the state and not JR and the Sox. I honestly don't think he makes anything from that tax. And even if he doesn't have to pay rent - which by the way was the first thing I looked for and there is no mention of "no rent" rather pro-rated compensation (which means the Sox DO pay for using Comiskey EVERY YEAR). I always thought that story was a tad bit over-stated.

Guys.. I was able to get my hands on a copy of the agreement. I started to read over it, but it's pretty thick. The bond info is pretty complicated, but there is a section detailing the renovations. I left it at home, but what I remember is a new out of town scoreboard, a new TV media deck, and additional LF seating. I will bring it tomorrow - or do it tonight depending on what time I get home - and post some more of the details. One thing I did find interesting is that the agreement does not name JR or any of the main Sox investors at all. And that the ISA has a committee that operates out of offices at Comiskey park. To me that looks like JR, or anyone else directly involved with the Sox does not have as much to do with this "agreement" as some might have thought. Interesting to say the least...

Good Lord.. that just brought tears to my eyes. Can you imagine? I can't even begin to. Prayers are with this family...

Happy Birthday!!

I've heard the complete opposite in the past 2 years. Frank's net worth has supposedly tripled thanks to smart investing help from Arn. Also, I'm sure Frank planned very well for his children's futures. As for the house in Burr Ridge.. it sold for $7.4. Not that it matters.. the house was his ex's.

Heaven for bid it was to spend the summers with his kids...

I'm dissapointed.. not even one... "no, they're worse"

Daaayyyymmmmm...

Yea. Email me [email protected] so I can mail it to you. Thanks heads!! Oh.. nice post about me on the other site..

Guys.. I have a video of what looks like something from Iraq that I'd like to share with the board.. how do I upload it to the board? It's a Window's Media compatable file about a minute 15 seconds long

The topic should be "Saddam pictures reaL"