SoxFan1

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 06:27 PM) No, I'm really not. I'm trying to determine what his post meant, if not what I thought it meant. Please pretend I never said anything. You're quite obviously misconstruing my statements.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 06:22 PM) Attacking you? I'm not attacking anyone. I'm saying you responded to a post of mine saying essentially that I would rather play the Eagles and Falcons rather than the Saints/Packers or Saints/Falcons by stating "I hate posts like these." http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=2306632 I'm not sure how you could have such a strong reaction to my post unless there was some reason for it? And it seemed pretty clear that that reason is because you are of the attitude that you should prove your worthiness by playing the toughest road possible, otherwise, you are showing weakness. I'm not really sure what else that post could mean... Perhaps I should have said "I don't like this line of thinking" instead of "I hate posts like these." My fault for bad wording.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 06:14 PM) Ok, so then why do you care if I am looking at what I believe the easiest path is? Your previous post implied that we should relish the opportunity to play only the best teams, to play the most difficult road possible, because this is the NFL playoffs, and to wish for anything else would be a sign of weakness.. It had everything to do with machismo. Now you seem to be backing off that a bit... I really don't understand where you get this idea from, or why you're attacking me really. I think you're over-analyzing what I said. Or you just think I'm a pompous idiot. It's the playoffs. Go f***ing play. And again, I said I wasn't picking on you specifically, just that, in general, I don't care who we play. There is no easy route.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 05:44 PM) Huh? I can feel the machismo leaking out of your brain. I don't care if you hate the post or not, and I don't care how "manly" you want to be about it. I want to play the teams the Bears match up the best with. You can say you want to go the toughest route all day long, but the only thing that does is increase our chances of losing. No one ever remembers the road a team took to win the Super Bowl...they only remember who won the Super Bowl. You kidding me? This is the Chicago sports market. Sure, they'd be beloved by most (look at the 85 team, STILL) but I mean we've already been compared to a team winning the MAC. And it has little to do with being manly or having machismo. Not sure where you're getting that from. Just how I feel about it. There is no easy road to winning the Super Bowl. The playoffs are the playoffs.

Da'rel Scott is good.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 05:30 PM) They do me...I don't worry about the Saints because of their offense...I think the Saints/Packers/Eagles all have elite offenses. I worry more because of their defense. The Saints and Packers have very good defenses. The Eagles, especially since Assante Samuel has been banged-ed up, do not. I'd much rather face an Eagles/Falcons road to the Super Bowl than have to mess around with the Saints and Packers... I'm not picking on you, but in general, I hate posts like these. If you want to win the Super Bowl, you're going to have to beat the best teams. This is the playoffs. You can't be afraid anybody. I say bring on the Saints. They won it last year, it goes through them.

QUOTE (The Critic @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 11:07 AM) I understand the Morrison/Malone comparison, and I agree for any position other than goaltender. Goaltenders often are the deciding factor on whether a team wins the Cup or not. Osgood was the main goalie for two of the three Cup winners he was involved in, so that carries weight in my mind. Yes, but was he one of the main reasons they won the Cup? Now, I know Osgood has been known as a playoff goalie in recent seasons (mainly because he's sucked int he regular season) but how much has he benefited from great defenses in front of him? I mean, just look at last season: Niemi vs Leighton. I just don't like the Stanley Cups as the main reason why he's a HoF.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 10:40 AM) I don't think any of their beers made the list, but Flossmoor Station makes some great beers. Their restaurant, which is in the old Flossmoor train station, is fantastic. Very good food, reasonably priced. And they usually have about a dozen of their beers on tap. I've gotten their 12 beer sampler a few times. I think it's 12 3 oz samples for about $6 or so. One of my buddies just recommended them to me as well.

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 09:40 AM) No f***ing kidding, I'm still waiting for Green Bay to catch a break this year. Injuries were really the only potential setback keeping us from a 1 or 2 seed. Well, yeah, that and horrible coaching and a lack of discipline.

Holy bejeezus. I just realized I've driven past the Three Floyd's Brewery hundreds of times in my life. Definitely going there next week.

I have not slept.

QUOTE (The Critic @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 06:11 AM) It's funny, my immediate response was "no", but then I went and looked at his numbers and I'd say he's probably in. 400+ wins, 2.49 GAA, 50 shutouts, then you add in the three Stanley Cups and I think he makes it. But from the "eye test", he always seemed like a really good goalie, but not a Hall of Famer to me. I read a good article the other day using Bill James' 15 questions in regard to someone getting into the Hall of Fame. Osgood never won a Vezina, was a 4-time All Star over an 18 year career, and was never one of the top players on his team, let alone the top players at his position. He's had a hell of a career, but I don't see him making the HoF. He benefited a ton from great teams and great defenses. Only 3 goalies have made it since 1992, Billy Smith, Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy. Brodeur and Hasek will undoubtedly be in soon. But guys like CuJo and Osgood....I dunno. I really hate the Stanley Cup argument too. I kinda compare it to the NBA and the NFL. Adam Morrison has 2 rings in the NBA, Karl Malone has none.

Woohoo! I tried 4 of the last 5 on the list. I'm a huge fan of Oberon. Had that near the top of my list. Being so close to Bell's Brewery in Michigan, I drink a lot of their beers. Oberon is a go-to in the summer. I haven't had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in quite some time, but I wasn't a huge fan when I tried it. Too bitter for my tastes, but I'll give it a whirl again. Stella is one of my favorites, I think that was top 5 for me. I have an odd love of that beer. It's skunkiness keeps a lot of people away, but it's a staple of Belgian lagers. And for f***'s sake.......Corona!?!?!? Why would anyone EVER drink that unless forced to do so? It's bottom-shelf crap even in Mexico.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 12:11 AM) I was very pleased with my first legal 6 pack in the Red Rye from Founders, I will have to try more of their stuff later on. Went to a bar with some friends a few nights ago and got a beer flight that was pretty good. Some beers that I really enjoyed were Stone's Arrogant Bastard, Gulden Draak, Lagunitas Brown Shugga, and Stone 10.10.10. I wasn't a fan of the Stone Stone Smoked Porter With Chipotle, that was just a weird after flavor that i just didn't enjoy, and there was another one that I can't remember, for a reason. I also tried Three Floyd's Gumball Head, that was flat out excellent. I am honestly scared for my wallet, I get to tempted to try new good beers, and they aren't cheap. I welcome all recommendations for reasonably priced but great beer (there is a Binny's about 5 minutes from me, that may be a good or bad thing). Oh man, I know how you feel. Turned 21 in August and most of my money has gone towards trying different drinks since then. Between my home in Chicago and my house in Grand Rapids, there are 3 good liquor stores within 5 minutes of me.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 11:37 PM) I think that I may throw some more onto the list tonight. I think that having the list right before New Years Eve is actually a good idea. The more, the merrier.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 11:38 PM) I'm not the biggest fan of playing the backups when you have a bye week anyways, since it basically means two weeks off and can lead to rust. I'd also like to see the Bears stick it up the Packers' ass and keep them out of the playoffs since not only are they a hateable bunch, but also a very dangerous team. However, past evidence tells us that assuming the Bears are locked into the #2 seed by gametime (and they almost guaranteed will be with Atlanta hosting Carolina), they'll probably go into operation shutdown and roll out the red carpet for the Packers playoff train. Which likely won't come back to haunt them since if the Bears are the #2, they couldn't play Green Bay until the NFC Title game anyways. But you never know. Either way, having the bye is huge, the Bears really needed it to be a legit Super Bowl threat IMO. The Bears have already locked up the #2 seed. All they have left to play for is the #1 seed, but again, Carolina has to beat ATL and TB has to beat NO for that to happen, and both those games are at noon. Either way, I'm kinda bummed we're going to allow the Packers to waltz into the playoffs.

Remember at the beginning of the season when everyone was saying that the Bears had no chance because they had such a tough schedule? Remember how, going into week 17, the Bears have been said to be lucky and won the "equivalent to the MAC"?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 11:00 PM) And just like that, I win third place in my fantasy league and the Vikings go back up by 10. Double awesome-ness. I'm headed to the championship game in my league thanks to Vick and Jackson sucking it up. WAY more importantly, this helps the Bears a TON if he Vikes can hold on.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 10:26 PM) I'm intrigued what his apg is since Boozer came back. Amazing what happens when he has someone to pass to. He's rebounding a lot more of late as well.

Who was that clamoring about no-look passes for Derrick Rose???

Thoughts: Is Chris Osgood a Hall of Famer? Of course, every f***ing person I know in Michigan says he is.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 09:26 PM) I mean everything is going to be really close. From "whatever they are calling Tequilla Frogs now" to Steamers (the "entertainment district") is well less than a mile. From bay to surf is less than a half mile. Most condos are across Padre Blvd from the district. Plus there is the free WAVE public trans and the Baptist Church has shuttle vans going everywhere. But there is no street party, open liquor areas. The cops shut that down hard and fast. We'll be staying on Lantana right off Padre Blvd. Anything good in the area?

f***ing Christ. Kane, Hossa and Stalberg come back. And now Toews, Brouwer and Hjalmarsson are hurt.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 09:12 PM) The second biggest week is the week you are coming. Pretty cool week with people from further away. This will be the first time I recommend strongly *not* to go to Mexico. Usually I am a big fan. But the randomness and severity of the violence in Matamoros is just too much. If you do want to go to Mexico, Progresso, a longish one hour is so drive is safer. Walk every where. Never have open liquor, even walking. The wrist bands that get you past the longer lines are not as big of a deal your week. The booze cruises are generally a waste of time. Too many drunks, not enough bathrooms. If you do, take Murphy's boat. Don't get sunburned. Rinse all the salt water off or you'll be looking like John Wayne stepping off a hoss. I know a few places to get away from the crowds if that's what you are looking for. Louis Backyard and the rest down the bayside have all the biggest parties. Chaos is usually a cool hangout. When you want to kickback PadreRitaVille (fiend owns it) will be more lowkey, but usually great singer/songwriters. If you think of it, send me a pm when you are ready to leave, I'll have some up to date info. I am there all summer and a weekend or two every month during the rest of the year. Except March. Too hard to spend $150 for a room I booked for $29.99 the previous month. lol Fantastic. I appreciate it. By "walk everywhere," do you mean parking is a b**** to find?

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 08:22 PM) You are a week early. The next week is "Texas Week", when the crowds really hit. Where are you staying? Have you signed up with any of the tour operators? We've leased out a condo of our own for the week. And ya, I've heard that Texas Week is insane, but we'll make the best of it. And no, I haven't looked much into what we'll be doing while down there. Any suggestions?