Dick Allen

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 4, 2012 -> 10:50 PM) Back to back 30K in the house. It's a start. There were actually quite a bit more than that in actual attendance both nights. Tuesday night was a season ticketholder exchange night, where they could exchange unused tickets for tickets to that game. There must have been a lot of comps tonight because there weren't many empty seats. There was a couple from Texas sitting next to us tonight and the guy said to his wife, " I thought they said hardly anyone goes to White Sox games. Look at all the people."

If the Bulls were healthy, they might have won it all this year. Rose, Deng and Noah all hurt. Nothing they can do about Rose's knee except wait. They aren't going to win a title in 2012-13. Nash is still surprising effective but his age has to catch up to him sometime, plus he's Boozeresque on the defensive end. I think this gives the Lakers one last shot with Kobe (who also has a lot of mileage on him) but I wouldn't make them the favorites. I still think OKC will kick their ass.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 4, 2012 -> 03:34 PM) The interview I watched after last night's game was great. He was calm and professional. I guess after that, he decided to rant on the pitchers. Big deal. Don't you Ozzie haters see you have sold your souls to modern sports cliches. You love the manager (when winning), then tire of the manager because he's old news, been around too long. Unless the team keeps winning divisions you tire of him and want him gone even though he's young and as good a manager as anybody out there. You fail to realize the players are the ones actually playing and also responsible for winning division titles. You sell out to the dreaded sports cliche and are no longer loyal to the guy who gave you THE ULTIMATE THRILL as a baseball fan. A WS title. And if anybody could have engineered a postseason run as Oz did, then why the hell has it happened once in 90 years or whatever the string is. Cubs still haven't done it. OZZIE ROCKS!!!! It was for the reasons posted above my response. Yes Miami will get in. Hopefully it's destiny we meet them in the WS and beat them. I tired of the manager when it became obvious he wasn't about the White Sox. He was about himself, his dopey sons and his bank account. Now the guy who supposedly ran CLee out of town picks his 50 lb. heavier 8 year old ass up. It will be interesting to see if Ozzie's comments match the comments he made previously. I don't have a problem with guys going to the highest bidder. The problem I have is once you're with them you should be doing your best to assure they do their best. He failed miserably, and the team you claimed he would lead to multiple championships isn't even .500.

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Jul 4, 2012 -> 11:56 AM) Couldn't find anything desirable to do this afternoon/evening so we grabbed some tickets to the game! Hoping for an American winner! You will know what heaven is like tonight when the game is ova and you hit air conditioning. I went last night and had a great time but it was Africa hot. Hit the shower, hit the rain room, still sweated my nut bag off. I never had been more happy to be in a CTA train when I walked in after the game. It felt like it was 30 degrees in the train. Eventually my body adjusted and it probably was closer to 80, but it was fantastic the first 5 minutes.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 4, 2012 -> 11:33 AM) We used one of those special code things to get our seats for $20 each so I'm not sure how much it's going to cost us to exchange those for four tickets in the shade. I cringe at the thought of spending $100 more on tickets than I have to, but maybe these temperatures are going to force me to do that. Had the same problem with my nephew's first game several years ago. Marty's right. Go to Guest Relations. They will probably set you up in a handicapped section which will be covered. IIRC, the tickets for his game were premium UD box and they set everyone up in the handicapped lower level behind home plate.

I'm still trying to figure out why Jenks "gave" the Red Sox $1.5 million. Do they have naked pictures or something? When a player gets released, he normally gets the balance of his guaranteed contract.

I know Frank is better, but Konerko will be making his 6th All Star appearance as a White Sox this year. Frank Thomas made 5.

QUOTE (soxfan49 @ Jul 3, 2012 -> 08:33 PM) RT @clarksencer: Ozzie Guillen went on post-game, profanity-laced rant in clubhouse, for all to hear, ripping pitchers after Tuesday's loss. It all part of his genius, keeping the pressure off his team and the spotlight on himself. I can't believe intelligent people actually bought that for years, but they did. I guess it was just hard to accept Ozzie wasn't about the White Sox or now the Marlins, Ozzie is about Ozzie. Does anyone think its just a coincidence the 2012 Marlins are really going like the Sox teams after 2005 with the same expectations? I think deep down Loria knows Ozzie isn't a very good manager and hasn't sold the tickets he was hoping. He's probably holding on for some sort of miracle and hoping the people in south Florida hop on the Ozzie bandwagon, but its becoming more remote by the day.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jul 3, 2012 -> 12:55 PM) Very interesting, if true. Maybe the buyer wants to own a higher % of the club than JR currently owns. Or, JR can control a sale more easily with a bigger %. If its true its probably more of a case where his partners are getting old and/or dying and want to get out, so he's buying them out.

If you're willing to go into Shinnick's or any other restaurant or bar in the area, you can park on the street for free and ask them for a parking pass. Maybe eat some food have some drinks there and you save even more money.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 2, 2012 -> 07:25 PM) That's not true at all, otherwise teams over the cap would essentially never be able to make trades. It's right here in Larry Coon's salary cap FAQ: Yeah, they can take on salary in trades. That's doesn't mean it's likely in this case because Orlando would actually have to want these players, but it's theoretically possible. Actually I got my info from the same place. It was right above what you posted: 80. What is the Traded Player exception? As described in question number 79, exceptions are the mechanisms that allow teams to sign players or make trades that leave them above the salary cap. Any trade which leaves the team over the salary cap requires an exception -- even if the team is moving downward in salary. For example, if the salary cap is $60 million, a team has a team salary of $65 million, and they want to trade a $5 million player for a $4 million player, they still have to use an exception. Even though their team salary is decreasing by $1 million as a result of the trade, the fact that they would finish over the salary cap ($64 million) means that an exception is required. The Traded Player exception is the primary means by which teams over the cap complete trades. It allows teams to make trades that leave them over the cap, but it places several restrictions on those trades. Trades using the Traded Player exception fall into two categories: simultaneous and non-simultaneous. As its name suggests, a simultaneous trade takes place all at once. Teams can trade players together and acquire considerably more salary than they trade away in a simultaneous trade. Simultaneous trades are described in question number 81. A non-simultaneous trade may take up to a year to complete, but the team can only trade away one player, and its team salary can increase by no more than $100,000 as a result of the trade. Non-simultaneous trades are described in question number 82. If they could, I agree, its still a longshot, maybe they have another trade exception. Orlando like you said would have to want those players for probably several years, and they would also want to do Howard a favor which I'm guessing after they fired the GM and coach because he wanted them gone then demanded to be traded they probably aren't inclined to do. Acquiring Lopez and Humphries at best will put them in NBA hell. Dwight is going to have to find a new destination. It wasn't long ago Howard was considered a pretty good guy. He will be the most despised NBA player shortly.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 2, 2012 -> 07:03 PM) The cap doesn't matter if you're making a trade. All you have to do is match salaries, or get close enough. While that would be tricky in this case since most of their salary filler would be going to Atlanta, they could still sign and trade Lopez and/or Humphries to get within range. It certainly does matter. If you're over the cap and make a trade which still leaves you over the cap, even if you are reducing salary, you need a trade exception. I believe the Nets used their's with the Johnson trade. They are over the cap. So I believe to get Howard they would have to get under the cap. Which would mean Williams would have to sign elsewhere for sure as one piece, and a lot more would have to happen. If the cap is $60 million they would have $50 million tied up in Howard, Wallace, and Johnson.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 2, 2012 -> 06:33 PM) Meh. They're moving to New York and their owner is a multi-billionaire. If anyone is going to ignore the luxury tax, it's probably Prokhorov. He can ignore the luxury tax all he wants, he can't ignore the cap when acquiring a player.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jul 2, 2012 -> 08:09 AM) Going to the game on Wednesday, and it'll be the first Sox game for my kids. Hoping for a win. Excellent. Everyone without season tickets should use the codes provided in the ticket exchange. Lower boxes vs. Texas are $20.

Marcus Jordan arrested. Drunk, resisted arrest was arguing with some women. From what I understand, he's a guy who thinks he's owed things because his last name is Jordan.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:29 PM) Here is the cap breakdown of the Asik deal: Kinda interesting that it's different for the teams. That's kind of cool. Although Gar/Pax probably vomited when they saw the salary for year 3.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:18 PM) I agree, we have one of the best C/backup C combos in the entire game. If we have to break it up, so be it, but I don't want Asik to go for nothing. That would suck balls. Sometimes you can't avoid it. This might be one of those times depending on how deep into the tax JR is willing to go. They could probably go quite a bit in and remain in the black, but its so complicated with how the cap works, if it destroys any chance of improving the roster for 3 years, that's another thing that needs to be considered. The year he's scheduled to make $15 million is the year the Bulls are expected to get a bunch of cap room with among other things amnestying Boozer, and would this contract stop them from being able to sign Gibson? I don't think Gibson is a starter, but I'd rather have him than Asik. There are so many rules with the cap I'm unfamiliar with and I would guess most are. Teams try to throw these poison pills in contracts so they won't be met. Maybe this was Houston's, and I would imagine they understand the Bulls cap situation a lot better than me.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:10 PM) What the...do you even watch the Bulls? Asik helps us because he protects the rim and shuts down driving lanes. Of course he helps us against Miami. Wade and Lebron are not gonna have such an easy time driving on Asik, are they? Theyre gonna have to change the trajectory on all their shots when he's there, aren't they? What does Noah do? I guess he left the Bulls.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:07 PM) So what though? There's teams in the NBA that have elite super stars on the perimeter, they don't need guys in the middle taking shots away from them. Houston is probably not one of those teams though. My point is, having a guy in the middle who is all defense and no offense is not such a big handicap as you make it out to be. Not for every team. Imagine Miami with Asik at C. Good God. We are talking his worth to the Bulls. As I said, I don't mind having him on the team but he's a luxury not a necessity, the Bulls have another elite rim defender in Noah who gets the bulk of the minutes and Gibson can play there some although undersized, but many NBA centers are undersized and Thibs can pick his minutes there depending on match ups.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:05 PM) The big problem is...if he's on Houston, he's probably a 25 minute player, which means he's a lot more valuable for Houston than for the Bulls. Ultimately, the Bulls have to beat Miami. In the 3 games this year against Miami he had a total of 4 points 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. He doesn't help them there.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 08:01 PM) Thibs used him at the end of games all the time man, what are you talking about? He's never a non factor, his presence in the post alone changes the trajectory of so many shots. You're playing 4 on 5 on offense at the end of the game. He can't touch the ball or he's going to the line. Never a non-factor? Really? There's games he plays 3 minutes.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 07:54 PM) No, the tax hit is the amount they get paid that year. If it's 5/5/15, then the cap number is 5/5/15. Then I bet they match.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 07:49 PM) He is not over rated for what he's expected to do. He is an ELITE rim protector, and also an elite rebounder given the minutes he plays. Everything else you said, its not his game. He's not charged with passing or playing offense. I know nowadays people tend to like flashy offense and they tend to ignore defense but... Most of the time, he's a non factor. I agree with the defense and he's a decent rebounder, but he's very limited. He can't be used at the end of games because he can't make a free throw as we all know very well. He's a nice guy to have on the roster but its very understandable if the Bulls walk away. Without Rose most of this year and maybe Deng for a portion, they are going to need some guys who can score.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 07:46 PM) If the deal is 3/$25, then the first 2 years would be about $5 million a year. That would probably be enough to push the Bulls over the tax level next year. I'm just wondering if its like the NFL where they take the average instead of the yearly total. The Bulls were budgeting $5 million for him. I'm just thinking if its 2 years at $5 million and that's the cap hit, and another where he'll be a $15 million expiring contract, maybe they do match. I personally don't think he's worth $5 million a year. Throw out his huge games against Charlotte last season, games I'm confident the Bulls would have won without his services, his numbers are even worse than they look.

QUOTE (RZZZA @ Jul 1, 2012 -> 07:43 PM) Taj plays a different position than Asik, lol Why do people keep saying don't match? You realize we lose him for nothing then right? Are you guys happy to lose a guy we drafted and developed, who has tremendous value in todays NBA, for nothing? I hope our GM isn't this shortsighted $8.33 million average for a guy who averages 14.7 minutes a game and cannot score. Sometimes you just have to walk away. Considering the Bulls will be over the luxury cap, his real cost is probably even bigger. Wouldn't mind him back, but he's a luxury not a necessity.