Dick Allen

The only reason this garbage was even published is Cowley needs this feud to continue for anyone to care about anything he writes. It must really make him cry at night to know Ozzie's book is being written not by Cowley but by Rick Morrissey.

What's scary is Ozzie is programmed by his sons and they are some dumb motherf***ers. When KW mentioned that text story, and there is little doubt in my mind he mentioned it to try to make himself look good and to try to prove he and Ozzie had moved on, his sons went on twitter and said it was total BS, Ozzie never responded. When they found out Ozzie did respond like an adult, they both had a fit and actually Oney ripped Ozzie. What's new about this recycled story? Ozzie won't work for the Sox as long as KW is there? I'm pretty sure KW AND JR won't have Ozzie as long as KW is there. Nothing new, just Joe trying to start trouble watching his career melt like the Wicked Witch of the West.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 07:15 PM) God how I hate A.J. batting 5th. There are really very few other options. Viciedo and Ramirez historically start out slowly. Rios has been crap since July 2010.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 2, 2012 -> 04:24 PM) Does a pitcher pointing up on pop-ups actually help the fielders? Sometimes. If you can't see the ball, anything may help.

Happy birthday. He is a great guy. Another great guy I am very worried about since he hasn't been seen, at least by me in over a year when it was reported he had cancer, is Moose Skowron.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 31, 2012 -> 01:20 PM) And with that said, Nate Jones is probably the most likely to be sent down first. Probably, but if they get him to throw strikes like they got Thornton to throw strikes, he could be dominant for a while.

Charlotte fans will be happy. If he's awful, its no skin off the Sox back. Risk free. This guy used to be pretty good. What happened? Did he get hurt or did he stop taking vitamins?

I just wonder why it was a fireable offense for Cooper and not Guilen and why Cowley waited until March 2012 to write it. Isn't the Peavy ankle injury old news? I guess Joe's agenda for baseball season this year is to rip KW and Cooper any chance he can get and mention Ozzie as much as possible. His meal ticket is in Miami. That must really suck for him.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Mar 29, 2012 -> 05:32 PM) Delwyn Young or Christian Marrero > Greg Golson Maybe, but none of them are even average major leaguers.

Anyone see the story on Fox yesterday about DePaul possibly building an arena on the NW corner of Fullerton and Sheffield? I don't know where they would put the cars, but I'd go to games.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 07:06 PM) Not sure what he inherited. The guy left for Bryant because it was his hometown I believe He's 20-99 at Bryant. 2-28 this year. He probably left for the job security.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:44 PM) Fwiw, Groce didn't inherit a mess. He inherited a program that won 80 games the previous four years(he's improved on that, but just saying) What kind of roster did he inherit? Where there still starters from the teams that won games the previous years? One reason coaches bolt, especially to places like Bryant University, is the future doesn't look so great where they are at. I have no idea about Ohio's rosters FWIW. I do know this guy has got that school in the tournament 2 out of the last 3 years and has won 3 games. He also recruited a lot of Ohio State's top players when he was an assitant there. He's certainly not the sexy hire, but probably the most competent at this point, but if I was him, I wonder how much Illinois really wants me. This is a crazy situation. I can't remember a school having such a hard time, especially with the money they have been willing to throw out there.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:42 PM) I wont comment on why he was fired, but its simply more than a blanket statement like recruiting or coaching. As for Jerrance, he's 29. That's why. 29 year olds get jobs, especially if they show they are outstanding as assistants at major schools. Maybe he doesn't want to, I obviously don't know, but IMO, Weber got fired because the AD is new and he wanted to be a tough guy, and probably thought he'd have no problem landing a guy like Smart, but that new AD has a reputation that is scaring away a lot of people. If the Illini get Groce, it will still be OK, I don't see how he could be a disaster, although the longer it takes if the reports were true and it was a done deal already, the better the odds Groce tells Illinois to go scratch. If they named Howard or Theus the new head coach, it would mean they will still be paying Weber while paying an inferior coach as well. If I'm a trustee, I'd be wondering about the new AD.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:28 PM) First his recruiting sucked. Then once he got that turned around, his coaching suddenly went to s***. . I think he's probably a better option than the candidates being considered, although I don't think Groce is a bad choice. I think he may be better than Shaka and Stevens. He can recruit, and knows the Big Ten. People are too hung up on his record. If you inherit a mess, it takes a while to clean up especially at a school like Ohio where 4 star recruits aren't going to be lining up to attend no matter who the coach is. I don't think Weber forgot how to coach. If this assistant is as good of a recruiter as some claim, the Illini would have been just fine without making a change.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 06:02 PM) Howard has a great basketball mind. He surpassed the other two assistants very quickly when it came to game prep. What happened with Illinois goes beyond that. So he's a great basketball mind and a great recruiter, how come no other schools are interviewing him for a head job? I think his popularity is back up QB syndrome. Why did Weber get fired? Coaching? Recruiting?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 28, 2012 -> 05:13 PM) Pfff. I hope to god nobody actually believes that. Some OSU fans actually believe that he's considering us too. In this case, $$ talks. I don't think so. Parker may be an exception. He comes from a solid family. But for Illinois and/or their fans to think he has to be an Illini for them to have much of a future, if he's anywhere near as good as expected, he's only going be playing for one or two years in college.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Mar 27, 2012 -> 02:08 PM) The Worm is broke...and I'm not shocked. http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=9553 According to his manager, he's nowhere near broke. He's trying to get by on 30k a month.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 27, 2012 -> 02:49 PM) Because we are in a worse position for football and the MAC is at least respectable in football. It's the natural progression for mid-west mid-major football coaches. You don't make the Big Ten jump in basketball. It's been a bottom 15 (or worse) conference for awhile now. If a guy can coach and recruit, it really doesn't matter what conference he comes from. There have been bad coaches in the Big Ten and good coaches in the MAC.

Bruce Weber if not so classy would probably be getting a kick out of this.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 27, 2012 -> 02:47 PM) Illini Loyalty is reporting that the 3pm presser stuff was to see who was leaking the news. Funny, if true. Now add some paranoia and you have Illinois athletics.

Groce appears to be as good of a candidate as anyone who is willing to take Illinois' money. If you're Thomas and the Trustees say no, how do you continue as the AD? If you had any pride wouldn't you walk?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 27, 2012 -> 02:43 AM) Well, Iowa certainly learned the lessons of going with the "hot" coaches in Steve Alford (coming off a Sweet 16 at SW Missouri State) and Todd Lickliter. Looks at all the names from the past, like Bruce Pearl, Tommy Amaker, Quin Snyder, Jeff Lebo, Stan Heath, Billy Gillespie, Matt Doherty, Mike Davis...all "coaches of the moment" at different points, but usually coming off strong NCAA appearances. The George Mason coach, for another example. The list goes on and on. For every Mark Few, Billy Donovan or Brad Stephens, there's 5 who flamed out completely. Don't forget Keno Davis.Unless they were selling their souls and bringing in a Calapari I think tbis guy from Ohio is probably just as likely to succeed as Smart or Stevens in Champaign at a fraction of the cost.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 26, 2012 -> 12:32 PM) I can see the frustration of Illinois fans in that it's not as good of a hire as other schools in the conference have made like Michigan, Indiana, OSU, Iowa (somehow), but you have to look at it without orange and blue glasses on, Groce is a pretty decent hire with a good pedigree. Kind of exactly like the football hire. If you want someone who has a chance to recruit extremely well and stick around even if he's successful that he's your guy. If you want a stepping stone guy then guys like Martin, etc would be just that. Haugh made a good point today. If Akron makes an open shot Ohio doesn't make the tournament and this guy is never considered. He may turn out to be the greatest coach in Illinois history he may be awful. It will all come down to recruiting

As Hawk says, everyone, with the exception of Michael Jordan is always available.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 24, 2012 -> 06:25 PM) A very convincing article for Reggie Theus to Illinois I think Jerry Sloan would be rolling around laughing when the subject of Reggie and defense came up. I really wonder what his Chicago connections are these days. He was traded by the Bulls 28 years ago. He also doesn't seem like a guy that would enjoy Champaign for very long, but he still might be a decent coach, but I think it would be short term. If he were successful, IMO he'd look to get back into the NBA or a more urban location. Something fun, Reggie dated Michael Jordan's ex-wife before Michael met her. Michael was even more intense than usual when he played against ready and with Reggie's reluctance to play defense anyway, MJ used to come up huge.