southsider2k5

In all seriousness, we used to do gatherings about once a year. It kind of faded away because a lot of the board isn't from the area, and we weren't getting big turn outs. If we picked a summer game in advance, who would be interested in doing some combination of tailgate or maybe softball game, or the like?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 11:12 AM) In the Knicks package to Denver sense or the actual getting Carmelo sense I either want a superstar in return, or I wanted a ridiculous package you can't pass up.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 10:15 AM) If I'm trading butler I'd want a lot more picks I want a Carmelo return for Jimmy.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 08:24 AM) Why would you have to pick one? There will be a candidate on the other side. Or don't vote at all read the whole thread. I wouldn't pick one. I'd vote for someone else. The question was if I had to pick one.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 09:45 AM) No one wanted to go after the heard you were going to be there. BURN. Why you little...

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 06:44 AM) I'm just worried if the Sox will have enough to make the rent payment and pay the utilities bill next month over there at 35th and Shields, given how tight you claim the budget to be all the time. And after that $3M hit they took on Latos? Jerry's probably in touch with every bankruptcy attorney in the city as we speak!! A whole of substance here.

QUOTE (bjm676 @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 09:11 AM) i remember reading soxnet.net and was a member of WSI. This place is by far the best. Not only sox discussions, but other sports and pop culture. I remember long ago there were softball games, one where i participated in, where we played WSI or something like that. That was fun. That was a ton of fun. I would love to do that again, but hardly anyone showed up.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 05:24 PM) LOL that would make zero sense considering they were certainly offering SOMETHING to Cespedes and Gordon. Perhaps they were only offering them groupon deals?! The allocations approved could very well have been either dependent on moving out other money, or they could have been a one time approval for just that player.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 04:33 PM) And I have no idea what was said in private, which is why my first post was merely wondering why theyd take such a stance. For all I know both parties agreed that this is what they would publicly say (which would answer my own question.) Besides, if fans can't figure out what a simple statement like the one they released today actually means, why would the Bears release something that contains an element of unknown and really confuse them?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 04:20 PM) Nobody in the league thought that Steph Curry would be this though. Nobody did. Or else he wouldn't have been picked where he was. He would have been picked #1.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 04:04 PM) Why wouldnt the best option be: "Hey Matt we think you are an amazing player and we appreciate everything you have done. Unfortunately there is a salary cap in the NFL and while we would love to have you back we think that you are going to get a multi-year offer that is far in excess of what we can afford at this time. If that doesn't materialize or if you want to try and work out something that is extremely favorable to us, please contact us to discuss." Different strokes for different folks, but to me that is the best option. And I dont think its really comparable to Urlacher wasnt likely to be signed to a big contract where the Bears could go "The money didnt make sense." There is a big difference between what is said in public, and what is said in private. We only know what was said in public.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:52 PM) I think this is part of it, but they also want Forte to know he is free to do what they want and they want to manage the media perception, by letting everyone know up front what the plan is and giving Forte a good send off in the process and essentially wishing him all the best. It is essentially them trying to be the exact opposite of the Urlacher fiasco. This is what the common sense interpretation of what we just saw today would be. A respectful farewell to one of the best players in recent franchise history.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:46 PM) I dont need to find an example. My argument is simply: Keeping your options open is always the best business practice when there is no impending deadline. You are the one who is arguing that it is somehow better for the Bears to tell Forte under no circumstances would we consider bringing you back. I know you can make up scenarios with the best of them, and that is kind of the point. There is no reality where Matt Forte is coming back to the Bears for minimum wage. To offer it as even a possibility is a worthless argument. I am also 100% positive that if Forte was willing to play for minimum wage, he would be a Bear, despite the management statements. I wouldn't think their management would actually need to spell out that they aren't willing to pay him a market value wage, and they don't want to insult him or cause a stink with their fans by offering him an insulting contact, but apparently a simple statement will be assumed to be the most insulting interpretation possible by a segment of their fans, so maybe they need to drop their assumptions of the ability of their fan base to understand a situation. I would also think it is obvious that the Bears understand that there is an incredibly high possibility that this is Matt Forte's last chance at a big contract in the NFL, so there is no realistic chance that Forte would be willing to play for a contract small enough to make it worth while to pretend what everyone already knows, which is that Matt Forte is done as a Bear. But no, let's all live in pretend land where Matt Forte is coming back to the Bears as a minimum wage player because IT COULD HAPPEN! (even though it has never happened in the history of the NFL).

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:39 PM) Can you find an example where another team prior to free agency told a player in their prime "We arent even going to attempt to re-sign you at any price." This isnt about fuzzy fan stuff. This is about business. If Forte walked in the door and said "Ill take league minimum to be a Bear" you are saying you wouldnt sign him, thats just silly. Its not like Forte has an offer of 4 years X dollars and the bears say "We arent going to match." I assumed the Bears would not sign him, I just think its bad business to tell a model employee that under no circumstances will we consider bringing you back. If you want to run in courterfactuals, can you find an example of where a established franchise star player came back to a team and said they would play for minimum wage? It is a bad business model to invest in statistically bad investments. Signing old running backs is like buying lottery tickets. Maybe one pays off once in a while, but that doesn't mean the odds of it working are anything but small. There is nothing wrong with the Bears being honest with Forte and their fans that they won't resign him. Honestly it is a sign of respect to both Forte and the fans that they aren't going to play games with either, when they have zero intent to bring him back.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:33 PM) Thomas Jones was 29, and the argument isnt about whether the Bears should spend money elsewhere. Its about burning a bridge, its about creating an atmosphere where other players dont believe that they will be taken care of. But again, with all the Bears success over the last 30 years, I can understand why they wouldnt want to run their team like a successful organization. Successful organizations are paying attention the relevant industry statistics, and aren't worried about what is popular, versus what is a statistically correct decision.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:18 PM) I bet you were saying that the Bears should get rid of Thomas Jones and keep Cedric Benson. Cause you know, RBs over 30 are always worse than younger rbs. LOL yeah, because it isn't like Forte has starting accumulating injuries and missing games as red flags, nor is there a history of running backs quickly falling apart as a young age.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 03:13 PM) They don't care what the market is. They want to play different people at RB. They are moving on. Smear teams don't pay $$ to 30 year old RBs Yeah, of all positions to be sentimental about, RB is the worst. The hits add up, and those guys fall apart quickly. Really it has already started with Forte seeing his own fair share of injuries. If you want to talk about this being a business, you have to get past the fuzzy fan stuff and realize that Forte is most likely a walking time bomb for the team that signs him next.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 02:49 PM) Who cares about rumors or pointless speculation? The Bears are a multi-million (if not billion) dollar corporation. Just because they think Forte may be too costly, doesnt mean that you dont keep the door open and say "Hey we think you are going to get paid a lot more than we can afford, but keep us in mind if that isnt the case." Good companies always keep the door open to good employees. You never know what will happen. This isn't a fortune 500 company. This is a pro sports franchise. They don't operate like Wal-Mart.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 11:00 AM) The talking up of Avi continues. He's gonna be the starting right fielder and I'm gonna lose my freaking mind. Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 8m8 minutes ago Todd Steverson said Avisail Garcia was very receptive to trying a new stance when they worked out for 3 days in Miami. Promises diff. look. Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 7m7 minutes ago Todd Steverson on Avisail Garcia: "“You can tell people, tell people, tell people. But until they get a hold of it in their own head." Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 3m3 minutes ago Basically, #WhiteSox know there's much to be done & it's early. They're hoping Avisail Garcia gets comfy w/ new stance in spring. Hopefully it is something that allows to him to see pitches longer, and swing at less junk... or at least convinces him that this will help him do that.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 01:19 PM) I will never understand why a team would say they wont even try. Maybe the market for Forte was weak and he would have come back for a good deal. Its almost always better to leave the door open to something. No need for pointless speculation and silly rumors to have both parties have to waste a bunch of time on.

QUOTE (ozzfest @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 12:58 PM) Hoiberg was the GM that took two point guards ahead of Steph Curry. He drafted Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. I don't think I want him running the show...Soxtalk will eventually realize that John Paxson is the head of the snake. As long as Paxson is still running anything. The Bulls have no shot. Hoiberg was the GM? What?

FOX Sports: MLB ‏@MLBONFOX 13m13 minutes ago Bryce Harper on potential $400 million deal: 'Don't sell me short' -->http://foxs.pt/1R040dO

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 10m10 minutes ago Agent: Lazarito Not Close To Decision http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/laza...sion-close.html …

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 07:24 AM) One of my good friends lost his battle with cancer last night. He was 34. I really really hate that disease. I'll vote for the first candidate that wants to carpet bomb cancer. Sorry to hear that man. Condolences.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 09:31 AM) How do we know that the government isn't being run by super-intelligent space monkeys that live in the center of the moon? We don't, but there's no evidence to suggest that it's the case. AHH THEY ARE COMING TO KILL US!