Harry Chappas

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 24, 2011 -> 01:14 PM) Explain that please! Rainbow Coalition is pushing Braun and I think Watkins is a better candidate for them to be pushing as I pointed out earlier in this thread and Mary Mitchell seems to agree. The "black candidate" as the Rainbow deems her should be Watkins because in comparision she is a much stronger choice. Carol Mosely Braun has no business in the race, IMHO.

The timing of Daly's decision is what screws this up. Most folks that are going to run for an office usually live there when they decide to run. I also would like the Mosely Braun contingency to change their stance and back Watkins as from what I have read is as qualified as any. This could be a good thing or a bad thing. Odd thing, Rahm does not have a job right now.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jan 24, 2011 -> 12:42 PM) was at the game...when i saw it live, hester certainly broke off his route.....but watching it a second time on tv...hester had no chance at ever getting to that ball...it was over thrown He and Knox give up on routes way too early. He did on that one and tried to get it back and couldn't. The one thing that the Bears need on defense is a prescence in the middle of the field to stop the quick slants. WR's are suppossed to pay a price for going over the middle and they never do. In the same token Chris Harris played a really good game. Harris, Wright and maybe Tillman should add some depth at the Safety position next year along with Manning and Moore. They need at least one good CB. Rock, I have been to the revamped Soldier field a few other times but it was in the Club Seats. I was on the other side yesterday and the seats were awesome but he amentities are too cramped and the bathrooms suck. Also access to the Stadium blows no matter what mode of transportation you take. I was there to see a football game and I got that so I really shoudn't complain but I expected more. Thread for a different time I suppose.

I want to give my points. I was at the game had incredible seats right under the press box at the 50 yard line. First time ever at revamped Soldier Field, that place sucks. First off Devin Hester is brutal as a WR. The overthrown pass in the 1st quarter was because Hester quit on the route something he and Knox do often. Cutler was visablly upset. Curtler had a terrible half. If he got hurt in first quarter than fine but if not he has no excuse for how bad he played. I am not going to question his toughness as it seems to be there but I do not think he makes any of his teammates better. I have never played in the NFL so I am not sure if the intangibles mean anything but he does not have them. His play is what is leading to the questions of toughness. He was abysmal in the first half and Hanie was under the same pressue as Cutler in the second half but he handled it better. The field position was huge and Brad Maynard had a terrible game as did Hester on special teams. Exactly what does Mike Martz do well? Down 21-7 they run a hurry up and score rather easily. Dom Capers runs a complex blitz package and scheme that the Packers were not allowed to run on this drive and the defense was confused. Then down 21-14 with two time outs and 60 yards to cover the Bears kick back into lax mode burn a stupid timeout because the genius is trying to out think everyone instead of just running to get he first down. Then you run a sweep with Earl Bennett? If you are going to run that, run it with a fast guy (Heaster or Knox). Also Bennett was not even used in the first half for some reason. Real bad coaching by Martz yesterday. For continuity sake though he needs to stick around. Oh and Todd Collins, really? What do they look at in practice. Then to come out throwing with Collins for christ sake. Hanie was under pressure but he has better pocket presence than Cutler. Cutler does not move in the pocket while Hanie did. I am sure Cutler has more talent...at least that is what I am told. Rod Maranelli did a great job in his first season as DC. Lovie got them to the NFC Championship game......although my beef with him was not tryign the FG or going for it when they were on the 31 yard line although again Maynard did nothing. The Packers special teams pinned the Bears deep all day and that was huge. Overall the better team won and the Bears have what looks like a good back-up QB. The Bears lost Dan Lefeavor because Martz wanted to pay Collins for some reason. The Packers did not let up when Hanie came in the game. The officiating was hores*** as well.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jan 21, 2011 -> 04:48 PM) Padilla speculating/asking if it could be a contract extension.. Vincente?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 21, 2011 -> 04:17 PM) Yeah, the price points took me out. That $75 a person on top of the $250 for the hotel killed us. Yep I am not sure what they are thinking about for this event but it would cost almost $600 to go tonight.

Pretty sad that Soxfest starts tonight and it makes zero news, even on Soxtalk.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 19, 2011 -> 05:28 PM) My thoughts after watching the Bulls lately are that they'd be nuts to not be more than willing to include Taj and Asik as part of a blockbuster trade package. Some were saying that you couldn't give up both, but I disagree. Sign some journeyman power forward if you need to add more depth up front. Like Kurt Thomas, the guy that is as productive as either of them. Taj, Asik and Deng are all easily replaceable

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jan 18, 2011 -> 01:16 AM) Gold Rush Alaska. . . truly inspired exploitation of the stupid. Is that Chris Elliott?

I read the following about Watkins. Why she is not pushed more is beyond me. She seemes like a pretty good candidate based on this report and light years ahead of Mosely Braun. It really is a shame she is not getting more press. Ah the machine getting what they want to win. Rahm will get about 70% of the vote. http://beverlyreview.net/full.php?sid=3463

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Jan 17, 2011 -> 12:15 PM) along with the turf. It really is the worst field in sports. They should move to that synthetic mix that GB has or rolly with what NE has. On the radio a couple of weeks back I think they said Heinz field was worse because of all of the college games they play on it....not saying the bears is in good shape.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 17, 2011 -> 10:29 AM) The Sox wouldn't have a chance in that, and neither would the Cubs. The cubs will start shedding a good amount of those bad contracts beginning next year. The problem will be the holes that are created by these (Ramirez). It will be interesting to see how Ricketts open the pocket book.

Blowing the 2 goal lead Saturday was rough. Nice win last night but over the weekend the Hawks got 3 points and Nashville 2. If the Hawks coud have gotten all 4 that would have been great. Hossa and Kane need to play up to their potential or this team will struggle to make it into the playoffs.

Lovie has been able to beat the Packers. Two weeks ago the Pack needed to win and Bears really gave them fits. This game could be the biggest sporting event in Chicago sports history. This is bigger than any game a baseball team, hockey team or basketball team plays. This game will dominate national and local news for the week and will go down in lore.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 15, 2011 -> 09:53 AM) Confidence picks this week, they're an extra point since it's the 2nd round: Bears: 5 Falcons: 4 Jets: 3 Steelers: 2 Jets at 3???

Edwin Jackson could be our best pitcher. If Joba was worth anything the Yanks wouldn't be spending about what the Sox spending on Konerko for a set-up man.

If Seattle beats the Bears, Seattle has a home game against the Pack if the Pack beats Atlanta. I am sure the NFL is liking how that could work out. In reality if the Pack wins, the NBA fix should be thought of as a Pack/Bears NFC Championship game would be quite the story. The refs can give the Bears the old home court advantage in the name of NFL prosperity. On the other side of the docket all four teams are a good draw.

If you work in Illinois and live in Indiana or Wisconsin what tax do you pay? I am glad that the govenors of both states want companies to just uproot and move to a new state like there was no thought into why they were starting where they are in the first place. I wish Chicago would open a land based casino though and gain the revenue that the citizens are pumping into other municipalities and states.

Hub Arkush basically called the Starks story sorry grapes on the part of Greg Gabriel and then went into how he and the other guy the Bears fired are viewed in NFL circles. Gabriel went to Buffalo and was an RB same as Starks and they had a relationship that Gabriel was hoping to carry into the NFL. Hub pointed out that Gabriel can not get a simple scouting job in the NFL. Now you know the rest ofthe story. Aromashadu has bounced around and it appears the Bears are not high on him so there must be a reason. Not sure the Bears though are running better guys out there.

QUOTE (Chi Town Sox @ Jan 11, 2011 -> 03:50 PM) Starks should have been a Bear http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/i...ft-james-starks Pretty embarrassing considering Lefeavor is no more.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 11, 2011 -> 03:51 PM) The guy is a major leader of the GOP. He sets the tone and agenda for many congressmen and congresswomen. The guy is the epitome of a hypocrite yet he is allowed to make millions from the dolts that hang on his every word. He is the political talk radio version of the cubs. Palin is closing in on him though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2011 -> 01:08 PM) Frankly, yes, I think that in a number of positions, retirement at age 55 is a sound practice. Especially things like police and firefighting, where your body is legitimately being taxed regularly to the point that you're significantly damaging it. 30 years of smoke inhalation and carrying 80 lbs of equipment up stairs is going to put an enormous strain on most bodies. Ditto getting shot at. Ditto having to deal with 8 year olds. In fact, in some of these cases...if they don't retire, they're much less useful to their position than if they stayed on. And if they tried to find other work, they wouldn't be able to...not only because they have no experience at other positions, but because they have the other physical issues to deal with. I agree on the fire and police side of things. I also believe that unions are necessary in certain fields of work, but education is not one of them. I do not hate the teaching profession nor do I despise all teachers, I just feel that it is a profession that has been destroyed by their union. The trumpeting of how underpaid they are is a fallacy. I will end my point with my thought that if the teaching profession was so stressful, why do few people leave it once they have gotten in?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2011 -> 11:37 AM) You're splitting hairs here, and they're very tiny hairs too. You think they're getting a fair wage...but they're getting too much in benefits. You're saying "Teachers are overpaid but they're overpaid on their benefits". Yes the benefits are where I think it is debatable that they are overpaid. The initial point was the salary of teachers and my thoughts that they were not underpaid. Do you feel the ability to retire at age 55 with an income of 80% of your average last five years salary with an annual increase of 5% is a sound practice? When the private sector ended this practice, the public sector became much more attractive for specialized employees, most notably teachers. On the administrative side of the governement there are much more egregious instances of overspending but there are not as many instances nor is the dollar amount that great. I am not saying that the lady working at the DMV has a sweet ass set-up.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 11, 2011 -> 10:43 AM) Sharpie makes the All-Star team, as does Kaner. How does Kane make the team?

Let me be clear. I never once said that anyone was overpaid I think they are getting a fair wage. The issue I am having is that they can retire, mostly as teachers, at 55 if not younger and be making 100% of what they were making at 50. My point was also to point out that the salary structure in CPS is nothing to cry poor about and the schools are abysmal unless they are charter or magnet schools. If teachers continue on with their education and become an adminsistrator $100K to $150K is easily attainable. It is not the salaries of the public sector that is the problem it is the benefits. A teacher can pay less than $100/month for top flight health insurance or be given the cost if they elect not to take the coverage, approximately $12,000 a year. Both of my parents benefit from this it is great for them but it is causing the government to go broke. Have you ever heard of a teacher quitting the profession and moving on to something other than teaching?