Harry Chappas

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 12:34 PM) But unlike Babich, Marinelli is also one of Angelo's boys. That is what people forget. The Chicago Bears are all a good ole boy network especially on the defensive side of the ball and we all have Warrren Sapp and the Greatest Show on Turf for the reason why the Tampa 2 is still around and Lovie has a job except we do not get Monte Kiffin and Dungy though. Next year is the last ditch effort by this organization from Ted on down to keep their jobs. The Bears organization is not going to spend the money for 2010 if they feel 2011 will not have football. The owners can not even begin to negotiate with the NFLPA until they resovle what it is they want and this is not going well. My feeling is that this organization is done with these guys and that is what Hub Arkush was reporting a few weeks back. The best thing that happened was the last two weeks gave hopes and calmed people down........they now can make some minor moves for 2010 and hope for the best knowing if they fall apart and there is no football in 2011 they pay Lovie for doign nothign anyway and start fresh in 2012 or eat the chunck ofthe money for 2011 if there is football.

The deal that Lovie signed gave him free reign over his staff and involvement in player personnel decisions. He has failed miserably in both accounts. I was in favor of bringing in Marinelli as I have no problem bringing in failed head coaches that were good assistants. I hope Maranelli gets some free reign to stunt and be creative with the defensive scheme. If he is a Lovie puppet like babich then the will suck again. Pep Hamilton better be gone.

You ain't going to get into that place for under $50 face very soon. There is nothing to do in the winter in Chciago and the Hawks are exciting as hell to watch.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 03:05 PM) Anyone else just completely lose interest in this show? I dunno what it is, but I've gone from serious mental issues with liking the show (thinking about it most of the work day, reading the various websites, devoting RSS feed space to the summaries after each episode, etc) to being very disinterested and unexcited about its return. My fiance continues to be obsessed, and she's asked me about 15 times in the last 2 weeks to watch an old episode with her, but I just can't do it. We sat through the first episode from Season 5 two nights ago (I did promise to watch the whole season to get ready for the premiere), but I dunno, it didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure what to think. Maybe having the new and final episodes to watch will bring it back. I was getting to this point and then I popped in season 3 and am now back into it. I rewatched season 1 and 2 before last year to get back in the mood last year and they help.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:09 AM) I think Cowher clearly wants to take a job along the Southeast coast close to where he lives. That's why we kept hearing he was interested in Carolina or Tampa, and when those jobs didn't open, suddenly he wasn't interested in coaching this year. When your options are Buffalo and that's it you rethink wheather you want to coach are not. I get the feeling there is more inside stuff to the Hub Arkush reports and it ties into no football in 2011 as well.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Jan 4, 2010 -> 09:50 PM) If they're stating their announcing their changes tomorrow, that means Lovie is back, else it would've been leaked already. Turner is going to be the fall guy as well as Pep Hamilton. Wouldn't surprise me if they bring in Zorn as a QB coach, and Martz, not because he's Lovie's friend, but he would be able to fully utilize the Bears' offense strengths which is speed. Also, I could see Rod Marinelli becoming the new defensive coordinator tomorrow or someone other than Lovie, but who still runs the cover 2. This was exactly what I was going to post and I would be content with this. It also makes the most sense fiscally and with the fact that there may not be football in 2011 teams are heding their moves. It won't happen and here is why. Lovie is very smug and knows everything. Martz can take his job if the O excels and the D fails. If there is no football in 2011, Martz will be paid anyway so you fire Lovie and install Martz. The new D coordinator must keep the cover 2. The fact that this failed so badly under Lovie and he was unable to do both jobs speaks volumes about his ability to be a head coach. There are plenty of guys that can do it but thay all have the oversized cards to read (I know these are the offensive guys) and Lovie looks at the scoreboard. If Bill Cowher does not have a job, I think he gets the call after Lovie fails next year.

Look at Frank Thomas June 2005 numbers and remember the White Sox may not make the playoffs if not for that.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jan 3, 2010 -> 12:12 PM) There was no charge on the hit on Sharp, neither of Weaver's feet left the ice before the hit though at live speed you would think so. You can't blame Barker for doing what he did because again at live speed, that didn't look clean. He took at run at him. I looked at the Eager/Jackman tilt a few times and I think Eager bit Jackman, earning him the match penalty. Isn't there anything about going at the guy's head? The thing about that game was how badly the Hawks outshot the Blues well being so grossly shorthanded. If the Hawks feel they need to be physical Lil Buff needs to be heard from.

I think Peyton Manning earned an opportunity to assist in making the decision and it appears he did not.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 31, 2009 -> 11:53 AM) Marlon Byrd to the Cubs, 3 years 15 million He is the winner they need to take them to the series.

If the contract thing with Danks does not go well, he is not signed for next year, he will go well before Floyd.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 11:34 AM) 2006 Hester would have gotten a 1st rounder and more. Your severely under-valuing this guys trade value. The guy was taken in the 2nd round, has produced in the NFL, and has talent and many teams would love to have there hands on an athlete like him. He is at least worth a 3rd round pick and It wouldn't shock me if you could get a 2nd round for him. His contract is very cap friendly. Without doing any research the Cardinals wanted and could not get a number 2 for Bouldin. I think the Bears could get a 3 but it would not be that easy.

Summer..late 70's Toronto double header sitting in left firld with my grandfather and cousin 1983 banging pots when the Sox won...watching ABC 7, Sox on the Move Making home made score sheets and keeping score. I remember the 79 World Series fondly. Getting my mom and aunt to Opening Day at the new park.

Getting drilled in the head is a pretty good reason for a drop off in numbers......hell it virtually ended Sosa's career.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 12:53 PM) The Sugar Bowl kicks off in like 54 hours. I was being kind of a smart ass I think they already have a guy anyway. Leech will have a job rather quickly though I would assume.

If I am Cincinnati I hire Leech to coach in their BCS Bowl game. I can also see a flood of kids leaving Texas Tech if he was as well liked as it appears and if James was as big a pain in the ass that he is.

On WSCR yesterday they were talking about the entitlement thing. I get the feeling that the James family is going to look really conceded and condesending in the end.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 29, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) You could get a 3rd for Hester no problem. A team is not going to give up a 3rd round pick for a kick returner who is no longer returning kicks. Hester has not learned the Bears offense enough to be considered anything more than a bad number 2 or decent number 3. What is his value when placed in a new system that he has to learn? Hester is also making a decent sum of money although the reciever incentives will never be met. If Manning is on this team he will be returning kicks with Knox next year and Bennett will return punts...they did as well as Hester this year. I think they could possibly get a third but I do not think they could get a third easily. At this point in his career for the money he is making there are more questions about Hester than guarantees and the fact that the Bears did not miss him in the return game is interesting to me and I assume GM's would think so as well. 2006 Hester is worth a number 2 or 3....current Hester....not so sure.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 29, 2009 -> 12:57 PM) Equipment is much more expensive than cable. Cable you get everything free, just pay the monthly box fee. DirectTV you pay the monthly box fee plus a price just to lease the equipment (if you have HD, HD DVR, etc). I pay $5/month for every piece of equipment. It was all free when I signed up wiht Direct TV. Cable cost me $15/month for HD/DVR and $10 for non-HD. I hear FOX is looking to buy Versus and make another run at ESPN.

Anything related to best of the decade begins and ends with the 2005 White Sox. I understand I am biased but the rest of the options are pointless fodder.

QUOTE (vandy125 @ Dec 28, 2009 -> 04:34 PM) I'd actually say give me the DISH DVR any day of the week over what DirectTV has. Very cool to use. I like being able to jump forward 30 seconds and back 10 seconds to skip through all of the commercials instead of fast forwarding and trying to stop it at the right point. My DirectTV has a 30 sec jump ahead and 7 second jump back. The channel ordering in DirectTv actaully makes sense and it is rather easy to find something. I love the fact that if it is HD you get the channel in HD without having the non-HD option thus the channels are all the same on every box. The Dish DVR is better but he on-line setting of the DVR is a cool feature. I like the four tv's on one DVR option with Dish. The equipment for DirectTv is also much cheaper than cable not sure about Dish. I am hoping to get into the on-line On Demand feature one of these days. If this works there will be no comparison. The Customer Service with DirectTv has been much better than cable. Overall though, go with whichever vendor gives you the best package price.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 29, 2009 -> 11:25 AM) I've been saying it all along. Trade Hester. Toub is great and Hester wasn't the first nor will he be the last good returnman the Bears have if Toub sticks around. Manning is dynomite and Knox ain't too shabby himself. Manning will never be anything more than a nickel back and therefore is perfect to replace Hester who seems to have lost the desire to return kicks. I think Hester has zero trade value as he will never be a reciever and Toub can be credtied with making him a returner. Bennett, Manning and Knox have looked good and we may never see the 2006 Hester again.

Campbell and Sopel are quitely earning their money as well. It is a testament to the Hawks that the Swedish Hammer and Versteeg were out this weekend and they did not miss them. This team is also missing two centers (Burish and Bolland) that nobody is talking about. I understand the Red Wings are missing more but the Hawks will only get better when these guys get back and as Hossa gets more comfortable.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 29, 2009 -> 09:40 AM) That was so enjoyable to watch this team actually play like we expected at the beginning. The worst move of the offseason was obviously Orlando Pace. Now that Chris Williams is getting comfortable in his natural LT position, he's actually looking like a first rouner. Jared Allen got nothing done against him. Bingo Let me chime in once again with what i think is wrong with this team.....Lovie Smith.....early in the game the defense was changing up prior to the snap and making stops...second half.....pattened cover two......Lovie is not able to coach a football team and call the defense. I understand Cutler may have injured his hand but call timeout and evaluate the situation. When Lovie was given the contract extension and allowed a say in personnel decisions what we got were the Adam Archuletta and Orlando Pace's of the world. Maybe Pace was brought in becasue of the retirement of...ah I forget his name....but Shaffer and Omiyale are tackles. This team is not missing Orlando Pace. Chris Williams did a great job. This team needs a good left guard and I think the O-line and offense will be fine. The development of players in the NFL does not happen and I am not sure if this is Lovie his staff or who....Josh Bullocks could be the worst football player I have ever seen. The fact that Armoashadu and Bell were not allowed on the field until they ran out of players is really sad and a further indication of this staff being unable to groom and evaluate talent. I do not know what role Jerry Angelo plays in this. Cedric Benson, Marc Columbo and Chris Harris are three players that could really help the Bears. These are guys that Angelo brought in and for various reasons did not work out. I still think Angelo can eveluate talent, it happened before Lovie took over and I am not certain why it has fallen apart except that Lovie is having a say in things. I am not saying that getting rid of those guys were not the proper move (not sure why Harris was let go) it was but I think Angelo can get the talent, it is the ability of the coaches to make them into NFL players that is the issue. I liked..no loved... the win last night. The ESPN guys are typical ESPN s***. Too bad Shineco was not in there, that is a quote from those morons.....Ya too bad Tillman was not in there to knock down the 4th down pass to Rice, or Knox to run back the kick with 20 seconds left. It truly was a sickening display of cub broadcasting at its finest. I like the win mostly because of the ESPN praise of Favre and if the Eagles win next week, the Vikqueens will have to go to Philly if they win the first round game. For some reason I am pulling really hard for McNabb....... Is there a chance the Vikqueens can play the Packers in the first round????????

I moved to Direct TV and saved over $40 for more stuff and better equipment. The best thing about it is that there is no dual HD/non-HD channel options. The weather thing can be an issue but the DVR makes up for it. I am venturing into the internet On-Demand and hope this works well.