Dick Allen

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 02:46 PM) I guess it depends on your definition of regular, but it's absolutely not pushing it. I won't exaggerate anything, I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. You picked an arbitrary time frame and then gave no context compared to other programs. BTW, no one has ever said we're one of the blue bloods or truly elite teams. That's laughable. We're basically the best program to never have won a title, for whatever it's worth. Not a great award to win. But regularly expecting sweet 16's at Illinois is far from pushing it. What are the expectations at MSU? Indiana? OSU? Wisconsin? Should we have less of an expectation? These are from 2 years ago. I'm not going to bother looking up the updated numbers, as they haven't changed much. This accurately gives you where Illinois falls on the basketball landscape. So yeah, zero reason to not expect "regular" sweet 16 appearances. And if you can't figure out why Self would leave Illinois for Kansas, I can't really help you there. One of the best programs of all time, and it's confusing why you'd take that job? Oh Jesus, you're out of your mind. Loyola would be top 25? LMAO. You think Champaign is easier to recruit for Self than Kansas? OK, right. You are going on and on about how great of a program Illinois has been historically and then post this crap. Players go to coaches not schools. Loyola would be top 25 with Self, I have no doubt. The guy is a great recruiter. Do you think Cliff Alexander picked Kansas or the coach? Woud h go to Kansas because they are Kansas if Bruce Weber were coaching?Why did Charlie Villenueva decommit when Self left if was all about the school? What do these guys have in Lawrence, KS that you can't find on just about every other campus in the US? It's the coaching staff. 3 years at ILL 78-24 1 sweet 16, 1 elite 8, one second round first 3 years at KU 72-24 2 first round exits, 1 elite 8. Yes, it was just as easy for him at Illinois as it was at KU. What KU is doing now is probably what Illinois would have been doing if he had stayed.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 02:38 PM) There was more. Basically he talked to KU about the opening. He then came back to our AD and more or less told him he talked to Kansas (in other words his hand was out looking for a raise). The AD got upset that he would even talk about another job so he told him to F off. The rest is history. That said I don't think Illinois 05 would have been as good under Self as they were under Weber There is no reason not to give him a raise in that situation. That is a collosal screw up if that is how it went down.

They don't have to know what Tanaka is thinking. The odds are based on where people would put down money.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 02:14 PM) Because Kansas is arguably the #1 blue blood basketball program in the country. It's not like he left for Kansas State. Yeah, but he was the king in Champaign. Had he stayed, you add Charlie Villenueva to that title game team, and maybe they win it all. Many fans turned on him when he left. I don't think Kansas is an easier place to recruit for Self, maybe for others, than Champaign. I think if he coached Loyola they would be top 25. IMO, there had to be more. Maybe they had better toupee guys in KS.

If Bobby is out of money, and there is no indication he is, he's living in Malibu, he only has to look in the mirror. He made $26 million. Say the government and other obligations gets half, that's $13 million. Say he blew half, that's living a pretty good life, that leaves $6.5 million. Say his wife gets half, he still has over $3 million. That's ultraconsevative with no investments, just burning money. I find it next to impossible insurance isn't paying his medical bills. He was a major league player when this all went down. How many people here have $3 million in the bank and need a handout? I'm pretty sure if the choice was $3 million or your current bank balance, most here would take the $3 million.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 01:43 PM) I don't think if he misses hitting the 2015 class out of the park will say much. I think it's fairly easy to see right now that it is at the very least going to be solid with Jordan and Williams in the mix. If he keeps getting top 100 players and builds his way up to 5 stars in the future that's fine. I'm more interested to see how the team does next year. If they don't make it to the sweet 16 or at the very least to the round of 32 (where they would have to be beaten by a very good team) I will start doubting Groce's coaching ability. Next year's roster is much, much more balanced than this year's. The Illini are adding two guys in Cosby and Starks that are better shooters than anybody on the current roster. The five freshmen will be sophomores and the only two people lost are Mr. Passive (Bertrand) and Ekey. Ekey should be adequately replaced by Darius Paul or even possibly Leron Black. I really think expecting Illinois to make it to the Sweet 16 regularly is pushing it. I know a lot of their fans like to exaggerate how great they have been, and they have obviously been a good program, but in the last 50 years they have made the Sweet 16 eight times. The Elite 8 four times and the Final Four twice. It is still pretty good, but not exactly College Basketball Blue Blood Program territory. Bill Self, who many of the U of I fans I know, slammed as not a good coach...cheats on his wife with cheerleaders...when he went to Kansas has 7 sweet 16's,5 Elite 8s, and 2 Final Fours his first 10 years at Kansas. I always wondered why he would leave Champaign. He was recruiting well, had Chicago in his backyard. Maybe he didn't want to play the Chicago recruiting game. From what I understand, it makes Chicago politics seem tame.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 10:19 AM) While you're right, there are a lot of starting pitchers to be desired. Sure some will sign extensions but... Scherzer Shields Lester Bailey Masterson Perhaps seeing how this year plays out and then deciding whether we want to spend on a RH #1,#2 or #3. Namely Shields/Bailey. There are some nice names. A couple I can't see leaving, and the others if they have great years are probably going to cost more than Tanaka now, and they are all several years older.

You look at the free agent list for next year, there isn't too much to be excited about. Could be a reason for the Sox and others to go a little higher than they feel comfortable.

He gets a bonus for being top 3 in the Cy Young balloting. $1 million for winning, $500k for coming in second or third.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:50 AM) Wasnt it like this before the recent CBA renegotiation? I swear they had that in place but teams were getting pissed that owners like Jeff Loria and David Glass were just pocketing the money instead of investing it in their teams They should do it like the NBA. Instead of just giving it to the lower revenue teams who don't spend it anyway, split it up among all teams not paying the tax. The money will then get spent. I'm thinking the Dodgers and Angels are eventually going to be paying a ridiculous amount of tax.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:33 AM) I think it's a lot easier to sell our future than the Cubs. At least if your talking about competiting in the near future. Sure the Cubs have a great farm system but who knows if any of those guyS turn out and become ML mainstays. I guess you can say the same about us but with the trades and players already there we have a team much closer to competing. And hands down a better pitching staff. There are a lot of the same issues. The White Sox guys are more advanced. The Cubs guys are more dreweled over. There most likely will be plenty of failure with both. If there isn't, each team is going to be stacked, at least offensively for the Cubs, which could appeal to Tanaka. But how long until that is going to occur?

Who gets the luxury tax money?

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:26 AM) Gotcha.. I'm sorry I don't believe the Cubs have a shot in hell. He may be right the Cubs I'm sure have BIG interest but nothing on that side of town could make pitching there for the next 7 years appealing. The cubs could certainly blow everyone else put of the water $ wise, and yes this kid could surprise me and go where the most $ is, but I don't see it. IMO this is posturing by theo to make sure their interest was reported so if and when they miss out he can say they did everything. That fanbase is losing patience if not lost it and have been expecting Tanaka since last season. I hope he's just trying to steer him away from us. And I'm not going to lie, the longer I go the less confident I get for the WS to sign him. But I just have the gut feeling we had a really good chance. KWs comments to the suntimes were telling a week or so ago, they met him, the $ is clearly there, and he fits PERFECTLY in what we are doing. It was always going to be against the odds. Not only do they have to have the money, they have to sell a team that almost lost 100 games as a legitimate contender, which would probably require spending even more money.

QUOTE (dayan024 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 1h Sources: #Cubs pushing hard for Tanaka. #Angels remain involved, along with others previously mentioned - #Yankees, #Dodgers, etc. So basically the same report we have been given since before Tanaka was posted.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:06 AM) Not happening, so forget about it. Seriously, the White Sox aren't going to eat $15 million to send Dunn away. Stop suggesting it. Yeah, I don't understand eating almost all of Dunn's money to make him go away. He did have a few solid months in 2013, so the ability is still there. Unless someone is eating a significant portion, you might as well keep him.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 09:07 AM) I pay as much attention to this as I do "the Sox are falling out" tweet as I do "beware of the Sox." Frankly, I could care less either way. There's going to be so much bulls*** thrown around in the next week and a half that it's impossible to know what's true and what's not. I disagree 100% with this. They have the money. Exactly. Until they say where he is going, everything should be taken with a grain of salt. You will find out some of these teams never made an offer, some being mentioned now were out long ago, some not mentioned were in it all the way. Some who haven't been involved might become involved. There is a lot more misinformation that actual facts out there right now. I just read today, the Yankees were divided internally as to whether to pursue him or not, and it wasn't because of money.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:46 AM) No, it wasnt. I said his image would be changed, and I also included his gambling as part of my argument. You changed it to "you guys think that people arent cheating now because of social media, LMFAO" You also completely disregard the order of events and how social media destroyed Tigers image. Tiger still rakes in the cash, but not even in the same stratosphere of what he was making and what he would be making right now if that didnt happen to him. Just so you know, this is the post I made that you started arguing with me: I don't think infidelity would have been that big of an issue. Most professional athletes are doing the same thing.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:56 AM) 2 DIFFERENT ANIMALS IS RUINED AND CHANGED. You obviously dont see the difference and you dont understand that if the s*** hit the fan through social media back in MJs heyday, he probably wouldnt be Mr Brand Name like he is now. Look, Im done arguing with you now. You are wrong, thats all. Again, the s*** has hit the fan on MJ and his brand is making more than ever. He hasn't lost endorsements, he's still making commercials..... If that is wrong, I hope I am never right.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:53 AM) lmao. Is Bieber even 20 yet? How much money was Mike makin' at 20? You just forced me to stick up for Bieber. Shame on you. What difference does it make how old you are if you are the most popular person on the planet chances are you will not be making only 75% in endorsements as a supposed has been.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:46 AM) No, it wasnt. I said his image would be changed, and I also included his gambling as part of my argument. You changed it to "you guys think that people arent cheating now because of social media, LMFAO" You also completely disregard the order of events and how social media destroyed Tigers image. Tiger still rakes in the cash, but not even in the same stratosphere of what he was making and what he would be making right now if that didnt happen to him. Again, why isn't MJ's image ruined? All these things are out about him. His brand according to Forbes is bigger than ever. It was 2 different animals. The thing that killed Tiger was his accident. Then the money grabbers, and the fact his wife was seen weekly at tournaments with their 2 toddlers. It was the perfect storm. MJ has been exposed. He hasn't lost endorsements. He is still raking in money with the best of them. You even wrote Tiger was exposed by the National Equirer, a rag sheet that has been around since at least the 70s which also featured stories of MJ cheating, yet no firestorm. There was a firestorm when Michael went gambling with his father before a playoff game with the Knicks. That fire was put out quickly and still would have been today because the guy did nothing but win. And if you go back to my first post about this subject, I only mentioned the cheating, which you then argued.

Bieber's popularity is with teens. That is why he and Miley are so googled. I doubt many 30 and ups google Biebs, and only the perverts that age google Miley. According to Forbes, Biebs made $58 million in 2013. MJ pulled in $80 million. I guess being a youtube sensation doesn't pay off like selling shoes.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:25 AM) Well I did say just about more famous/popular than anyone ever. In my 30 years on earth, I've never seen anything like Bieber Fever (I feel sissy as hell just for typing that) . A Bieber vid goes up on YT and it gets like a million hits in 5 minutes. Unless you are watching them, how would you know? J4L secret Bieber fan. Busted.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 08:03 AM) Who the f*** ever said MJ would be ruined today? lol. All I, Kyyle, or anybvody else that doesn't still wear Air Jordan's or sing the "be like mike" song in the shower has said is that most of the s*** that was kept secret/hidden from the public or came out WAYYYYYYY after the fact would not be possible today and that the way we view/see him overall would be different. That is exactly what Kyle was saying. He said MJ would be villianized for cheating on his wife like Tiger Woods. That is what this entire argument is about. So everything is out there now about MJ, yet for a guy who hasn't played for 10 years, he's still raking in the cash. From 2010, 12 years after his heyday: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/53/celeb-...ordan_UGGU.html Yeah, knowing Mike cheated on his wife and was rough on teammates and mean to Jerry Krause really made him less popular. GMAB. He still makes $80 million a year in endorsements.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 07:22 AM) That's Bieber today. And with social media, youtube, etc, he's more popular than MJ or just about anyone ever. So you just ruined your case. If he is more popular, how has the social media ruined him like you claim it would MJ? This guy is way more scandalous than MJ ever was, and MJ was smart enough to keep most of his discressions, discreet. It is funny the argument is MJ would be exposed for all these things he WAS exposed for back in the day. And it didn't matter. MJ is the king. Get over it. The greatest of all time.

QUOTE (midway @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 03:26 PM) I'd love to see Tanaka with the White Sox, but his wife is an actress and wants to be where she can pursue her acting career... seems like LA or New York would be the place to be for that. Didn't they say last week his family doesn't speak english? I don't know if they film many Japanese movies or television shows in LA or NY.