Dick Allen

QUOTE (timbo @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 02:10 PM) why do you believe bernstain does he a a source to back it up Of course. He hasn't been correct yet about Sox stuff. But he's due.

KW has to be lying. Bernstein said the Sox were backing off.

I hope Manning wins. He seems pretty cool and I think takes a bad rap for winning "only" one Super Bowl. The other game, I think Seattle will win but if it's SF, I wouldn't mind. I know Harbaugh comes off as a chooch sometimes, but when he was with the Bears, I played in a card game with him once, and he was really nice. He didn't seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he sure has been a successful coach. And you should win some points for wearing $8 Walmart pants on national television.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:15 PM) And Kansas gets much more exposure than Illinois. I think that has leveled off, especially for a Chicago guy. With the Big Ten Network and ESPN, Cliff's friends and family could catch just about every one of his games on TV, and as for pro scouts, they will be at every game he plays regardless. The Big Ten might suck right now on the gridiron, but they are a top of the line baskeball conference.

I thought Jermaine Dye was a mistake.

Cliff's mom on his decision. Doesn't mention Kansas tradition: Added his mother, Latillia Alexander: “John Groce is great. I know, most definitely, John Groce would care for him on and off the court, but I think (Kansas coach) Bill Self will get him to the next level.”

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) I'm surprised I haven't heard Keppinger's name mentioned with the Yankees need for a 3B. They had interest in him last season. Unfortunately, the Yankees probably saw him play last season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) Again, this is the difference between a Kansas and an Illinois. I agree with that, but if you already have the coach that Kansas wants, you are probably in good shape. And my stance is the coach makes a difference. IMO, coaches have a fondness for the Blue Blood schools, not necessarily the players. Many believe the pinnacle of their profession is Kansas, Kentucky, UNC. If Kansas sells itself to players, there really would be no need to pay big money to a big name coach. Self at Illinois for a 20-25 year run would have been happy times for Illini fans. Probably a lot like Izzo in East Lansing. Multiple Final Fours.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 10:42 AM) See also, Mike Davis at Indiana, Bruce Weber at Illinois, Tubby at Kentucky, Matt Doherty at UNC, etc. But really those blue blood programs like Kentucky/Kansas/UNC are only down for so long. That's where the "school" becomes so important. It becomes important because look at who they can hire. They don't get the hot MAC coach to take over.

I know the Mariners have Japanese ownership and have wooed Japanese players in the past, but if I had to bet about being unprepared, my money is on Jack Z.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 09:20 AM) It makes me suspicious that this is a race that the front office intents to "come up just short" on. I don't doubt that we will make an offer, but this reeks of being happy to have a dog in the fight. Hahn has talked a lot about being more "active" in the international market and reshaping the franchise. Tanaka is a perfect example of a guy we at least have to create some press releases about. Also, anyone notice how quickly this has killed all the Sale trade speculation? We went from discussing the pros and cons of effectively tanking for the foreseeable future to building a contender in 2014. Either way, it's a brilliant move by the front office and it will most likely will cost them nothing. I don't think so. I think they are going to their limits to land him. They have been in on guys like Soler even Fukudome they offered more money than the Cubs. 25 year old, potential ace, all it costs you is money is exactly what rebuilding teams with not a lot of future contract committments should be looking for. If, and it is a huge if this guy is as good as hoped, and say the Sox draft Hoffman #3. Rondon is compared to David Price, and I read 2 scouting reports that say Hoffman can get to that level of effectiveness. These are all ifs that couldn't be any bigger, but if they all remained healthy, you are looking at Sale, Tanaka, Hoffman, Quintana, Johnson or whomever else for a long stretch. That is 1990s-2000s Atlanta Braves. If any of the young offensive players reaches their potential, it would be a team that would be expected to make the playoffs year in and year out for quite a while.

So the Octomom fails to report $30k in income and could get a couple of years locked up. Ty Warner doesn't pay taxes on $25 million and gets a couple of years of probation. If there is one thing in the world to ever not try to find something a little cheaper is a good lawyer. Always go with the best you can afford.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) When Jordan left to play baseball, Reinsdorf honored his basketball contract and paid Jordan $4 million to be a minor league player. JR still came out way ahead on that deal. MJ made JR a lot more money than JR could pay MJ.

I'm with the can't believe KW is spilling the beans crowd. Even if the Sox offer isn't up to snuff, it has to be very significant. A lot more than they have ever offered anyone.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 07:57 AM) Forty years ago today, UCLA won their 88th consecutive game with a 66-44 win over Iowa. That same day, one of my father's co-workers offered him a ticket to that Saturday's UCLA @ Notre Dame game because his wife didn't want him driving over 1½ hours to South Bend in the middle of winter. Did he take it?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 05:55 PM) When you look at the history of Kansas basketball, it is more than just "good hires". If it were that simple Bill Self would have been just as good, or better, than what he was at Ill. The history and the name of the school sell themselves which is a large reason why people go there. It is why kids to Kentucky and North Carolina. It is why everyone wants to be a Yankee or Cowboy or Celtic or Canadian. It is one of THE franchises in sports. Explain UCLA.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 03:26 PM) Kansas isn't easier to recruit at than Illinois? What? Not for Self IMO. For others, definitely. He would have landed the same blue chippers he gets now in Champaign. Champaign is nothing special, but have you ever been to Lawrence, KS?

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jan 16, 2014 -> 03:19 PM) You want to talk about posting crap. He picked Kansas. Groce at Kansas lands Cliff. There is no such thing as players only go to coaches. Must be pure coincidence that top programs always get good talent, regardless of coach. Sorry, you can only sell s***ty Loyola so much. You need more than just a coach. You need something to sell. No such thing as players only go to coaches? You won't have 1 person agree with you. Recruiting is a huge part of a coaches job. The reason some of the same schools are always good is because they always have good recruiters. Illinois' recruiting dropped off. Is that because of the coach or the school? I showed you Self did better in his 3 years at Illinois than his first 3 in Kansas.

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.