Dick Allen

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 26, 2013 -> 12:43 PM) Even with that they are short on talent, existing and incoming. Not really.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 26, 2013 -> 12:40 PM) They have an outside shot next year if there are a lot of early departures across the Big 10 which is possible (would require Zeller, Oladipo, Thomas, Harris, Burke, Payne, etc. to all go pro). But their chance of winning the Big 10 would more be a result of the conference being bad than Iowa being really good. They will be really good next year regardless of early departures. Of their 9 conference losses this year, 7 were by 4 points or less. Their conference tourney loss was by 3, so 8 out of 10 by 4 or less, starting 3 freshman a sophomore and a junior most of the season. As Al McGwire used to say, the best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.There is reason for a lot of optimism as they only lose 1 player, and gain a couple of guys who are supposed to be pretty good players.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 26, 2013 -> 11:37 AM) Hire someone from the Matta tree, its been fairly successful so far. Chris Jent or Jeff Boals are about ready. As an Iowa alum..........Todd Lickliter? Really? He seems like a nice guy, and probably is a decent enough coach, he was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but you throw him in a major conference, you better not give him too long of a contract or you will be paying him to coach NAIA which is exactly what Iowa is doing now. Stevens is an interesting case. If he ever leaves Butler, the expectations are going to be enormous. It would be interesting to see how he does.

Looks like Collins to NU is very likely.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 01:42 PM) Much more sensible. Also LOL @ Borass. They said the Rangers were the runner up. They didn't make an offer.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 01:24 PM) I hate that it took a competitive league and made it into an uncompetitive joke. LeBron going to Miami made winning championships and uncompetitive joke, just like the NBA has been almost it's entire existence. It shouldn't stop teams from becoming good. Only 9 franchises have won championships the last 33 years, since Magic and Bird came on the scene.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 12:29 PM) You don't need to be personally invested in him/the Cavs to see what an asshole the guy was. No one would have questioned him leaving the Cavs. It was the bulls*** parading around the country getting other teams to beg for him that pissed me off. Especially since it was all for show. It was all for attention. He knew where he was going before FA hit. Unlike Wade and Bosh, who went on a country-wide tour, at least several teams, Bulls included, went to LeBron in Cleveland to sell their proposals. There is no question "The Decision" was a mistake. LeBron would be the first to tell you that. I actually think he's a pretty good guy.

People want it both ways. They criticize players who use their no trade clauses and don't move from contenders to playoff teams, saying they don't want to win, yet they criticize LeBron for moving (and taking less money) to a stacked team.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 25, 2013 -> 10:55 AM) Eh, Lebron barely got past the Celtics last year and that was with Wade by his side. His lack of overall playoff success is kind of being downplayed because of last year and the current streak. He won the title last year. If he wins it again, this "overall playoff success" BS is just that. The roster he played with in Cleveland wasn't as good as the roster MJ played with when he couldn't beat Detroit. Of course the first 5 or 6 years of MJ's career, the critics were saying he would never win. LeBron dominated in the finals and is dominating this year. MJ starting winning championships at about the same age LeBron is now. Haters are gonna hate, but LeBron is the best in the game, and one of the best of all-time.

I don't think the Heat would be less dominant if you substituted a 1996-1998 Pippen and Rodman for the current Wade/Bosh. In fact, those guys might have even fit better with LeBron. I still think Jordan is the king, but every year LeBron wins, he gets a little closer.

If the Bulls made a secret deal, I would have thought it was genius. The Heat did it and it ticked me off, but this streak is incredible. The level LeBron is playing is one, if you like basketball, not to be missed. Unless he gets hurt, for the rest of the NBA, this season, for all intents and purposes, is ova.

Internal discussions doesn't mean they are pursuing these guys or even that they have any interest. They probably have internal discussions about hundreds of players in other organizations. I wouldn't get too excited or mad about this report. It most likely means nothing, and for the Santiago fans, maybe the "internal discussion" concluded with what they have is better than what they could get.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Mar 23, 2013 -> 06:34 PM) Gill out for season as Bulls analyst http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03...r-chicago-bulls Comcast SportsNet Chicago Friday has suspended Chicago Bulls analyst Kendall Gill for the remainder of the season. "We have made a decision to not have Kendall Gill appear on our air for the remainder of the Bulls season," the station said. "We will re-evaluate our current position on this matter during the off-season.” I would imagine Kendall has appeared on CSN for the final time. IMO, they pretty much have to let him go. If they didn't and more CSN employees got into fist fights at the office, they would probably have a hard time firing them without getting sued.

The thing is, this guy is going to have to stay clean, but considering the contract and the terms, it's a great deal for the Bears and he should be super motivated. It's about as risk-free financially as the Bears could get. The only risk they are taking, and it could be a big one, is if they are totally counting on him.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 22, 2013 -> 12:59 PM) But also the style of play in the conference is different than others. We get into the tourney and all of a sudden cant touch anyone. That is a problem, but usually on the road in the Big Ten you can't touch anyone, while the home team is allowed to beat the hell out of you. I'm still trying the figure out how Michigan State had only 6 team fouls the second half of their game vs. Iowa in the Big Ten tournament.

Big Ten teams should be used to being hosed by refs. Every team in the conference does several times a year.

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Mar 17, 2013 -> 05:50 PM) Anyone familiar with selling tickets on Stub Hub? If I list tickets there but sell them on my own, is there a penalty or fee to take them off Stub Hub or should I just raise my price so high that I know they won't sell to avoid penalties? No fee to remove them, but if they sell and you don't have them anymore, it will cost you because they will upgrade the buyer, and you will have to make up the difference in price.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 02:14 PM) He doesn't leave the ground. He moves like Tin Man. There was a guy from Chicago that played at UNC-Ashford several years ago. I think he was listed at 7'7". He was just huge. I one time was right behind him walking down Rush Street. He pretty much was exactly the same player. I think he wound up having a foot amputated. His name was Kenny something.

DRose apparently wasn't required to take any English classes at Memphis: "I really don't know right now," Rose said. "I don't want to place no percentage on it, but I just know that I'm close and I'm taking every day serious and just becoming a professional." Not quite up to the best quote of all time when Rickey Henderson was asked about playing with injuries, he responded and like the deal with Paulie, I will never forget: "When I'm injury, I'm totally concentrated of my mind."

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 01:57 PM) Isn't the point of an appreciation thread is to say positive things about a player leaving our favorite team? No, you need the obligatory good players shouldn't play in meaningless games post. If that were the case, guys like Walter Payton and Frank Thomas would have spent the majority of their careers sitting down.

QUOTE (Felix @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 11:49 AM) But what does Steve's friend's uncle say? He's been told to make sure he's in his box tonight for the return. It's for Hinrich though.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 08:17 AM) Urlacher was the face of the franchise for 13 years, a dominate force on the field and a lock for the Hall of Fame. But he didn't have it anymore and he didn't really have a place on this team. New coaching staff, new GM, time for a fresh start. You're right. The bottom line is if you are taking up a roster spot, you have to be able to make plays. He can't make them how he used to make them. They will get someone to take his spot. It will be an upgrade over where he's at now, and a downgrade over where he was most of his career.

It's actually pretty similar to the end for Frank Thomas, except the White Sox didn't even bother with a token offer for Frank.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 07:52 AM) Urlacher's quotes were pretty brutal. "Two million isn't enough to put my body through an NFL season" - but 3.5 is? It is what it is, and it made the Bears' choice easier. I don't get why this thread can show Urlacher no appreciation for 13 years of mostly awesome football, though. I think that was mostly said out of pride. That was the Bears original offer. He probably thinks he should get at least a little more through negotiation. It was probably time to move on. A friend of mine who is a radiologist told me last year Urlacher's injury was going to end his career. He said it wouldn't get much better and would lead to hamstring problems. He seems to be 100% correct. I agree, where's the appreciation? He was a great player for a long time. It wasn't that long ago where if he didn't play, the Bears were walked all over. Definitely one of the all-time great Bears.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 20, 2013 -> 06:42 PM) Hey Brian, it's hard to feel sorry for you when you came into training camp a few years ago and forced the Bears to give you a new deal when you still had 2 years left on your current deal Any other sport and I agree with you, but teams can cut you in the NFL. Renegotiation is more than fair.