iamshack

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 01:40 PM) The Panthers lost 31-10 to Atlanta, 31-14 to Seattle, 31-13 at Baltimore, 31-16 against Tampa, and 31-3 against NOLA since November, while they played close games against Cleveland and then beat the Cardinals last week. Pittsburgh is playing at home. There's a chance of some precip tonight but it decreases as the day goes on. I'm not a gambler, but I wouldn't have any confidence putting money up saying that Carolina won't be blown out by a good team coming off a tough loss. Have you watched Pittsburgh's offense recently though, Balta? They've been horrendous as of late. They were mediocre against the Jets, they were downright horrible against Cinci, awful against Baltimore, and awful against Buffalo. They have been bad in the red zone. Obviously anytime you bet a team getting 14.5 points, there is a potential for a blowout, and that is the risk you run if you bet Carolina. But I just think two touchdowns is too much considering they don't have Polamalu or Heath Miller. Their working with a beat-up offensive line as well.

Hey Knight, who you like tonight? I'm thinking Carolina +14.5 and over 37. The Steelers are not the same without Polamalu and Jonthan Stewart has been running the ball with some effectiveness recently. I think they'll be able to score some points tonight, although not a ton...maybe 17 or so. The Steelers have been unable to score much at all recently. I think they'll have some more success tonight because Carolina has no pass rush, and Mendenhall should be able to run the ball well, but I don't expect an offensive explosion or anything. I am thinking 24-17 or something along those lines.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 01:12 PM) The ESPN article makes it sound like these were NCAA suspensions. This all happened in 2009, didn't it? So it sounds like there has already been an investigation by the NCAA and this is their suspension. I also heard them say the school plans to appeal on the radio.

Happy Birthday W! Enjoy your day!

My iPad was not syncing to iTunes yesterday and would not accept a charge well. I tried all the common fixes, including uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes, restarting the iPad, etc., but to no avail. Made an appointment with the Genius Bar (the nerve of them to call it that), and took in my iPad this morning. Apparently the dock connector was bad and so they just gave me a new iPad no questions asked, since it was still under the manufacturer's 1-year warranty. Pretty happy with the service and outcome.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 22, 2010 -> 10:23 PM) I guess the story is that a player's parent did all the negotiation and since the players didnt know about it they are eligible.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Dec 22, 2010 -> 10:19 PM) Yo Rock, you hear anything about this Ohio State thing they are talking about on ESPN during the Boise game? 10 players potentially suspended for some tattoo parlor scandal? I hope that's not true. It would completely ruin a BCS bowl game.

My goodness Utah has been awful. If I wasn't on Boise in this game I would be complaining that Utah was intentionally throwing the game...

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 22, 2010 -> 10:37 PM) His previous history does deserve the respect, but with the player issues last year and now legal issues for his players, you have to wonder if he wishes he went to the NBA? I doubt he wishes he was in Cleveland

Apparently I am the only person interested in this game Utah looks horrible, despite Herbie's insisting that they dominated the first quarter. This game is going to get ugly quickly.

Happy Birthday, fellas! Enjoy your day!

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 22, 2010 -> 06:28 PM) How much basketball have you played with or against men OR women at the college level? How much time have you spent watching women's college B-Ball at the D1 level, in person? And I see you moved the goal posts. Mid-level team is now a district final team. I used to be friends with a couple of the girls in the Lewis University team back in the late 90's. I was not a particularly great basketball player (never played HS or college), but I am an above average player. I was the best player on the court, simply because of my strength and athleticism. Now I'm not comparing the Lewis University's team to UConn's, by any means. I think a top ten HS team in any state would probably beat UConn's women's team pretty solidly though. Guys at that age are simply too athletic, too strong, and even then, good enough shooters where I think the UConn's women's team would be very hard pressed both to stop them and hard pressed to score. Obviously it depends on size down low, but I just think they would get outmuscled, outshot, and could not compete because of the difference in athleticism. However, women's basketball has come a long, long way in the last 15-20 years. I think we'll reach a point sometime in the next 15-20 years where we will not be able to argue this.

Boise v. Utah tonight. I'm expecting a Boise route, 38-13 or so... Lots of rain here in Vegas, but nothing either of these teams haven't played in before.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 01:42 PM) When Cutler wins a single playoff game in the NFL, he will start getting more respect from these types -- and not until. I love Cutler, he plays hard and takes risks, and he's fun to watch because of these things...but in the NFL, he's proven absolutely nothing yet, to pretend or to say otherwise is false. This has always been my problem with Bears fans and their general arrogance that they get from who knows where. They're so easy to dislike because they have that "Cub" like mentality that they're the most awesomeist thing ever when in fact, they aren't. They want praise for everything their team does, but don't like to give praise to anyone else. When they win on a fluke play, it's part of the game, when they lose, it's not because the other team beat them, it's because they didn't show up, or some other such nonsense. I don't apply this mentality to all Bears fans, either...but there are the many, as I like to put it, 'Da Bers" fans...and this is directed at you if you're amongst them. This is not a "Cub" mentality. It's a Chicago mentality, and it occurs any time you have a huge population of sports fans supporting one team. We don't get the full effect in baseball because we obviously have two teams. But compare this to any team that travels particularly well or who has a very big fanbase, and you'll get the exact same thing. Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers, Steelers and Bears are all very good examples.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 01:09 PM) Steve Young isn't objective? He's blindly hates Jay Cutler? Okay, I really want to hear your evidence for such claims. Steve Young didn't even blast the guy last night, or come close. Take off the goggles Bears fans, he was being objective about your QB. He simply stated, Jay has the ability to make all the throws, can get it in the tightest of spaces and can become great. But in order for him to enter that elite realm, he needs to watch his footwork and develop consistentcy with solid mechanics. Until then, he's always going to be where he's at. He even said, "Don't take it from me, watch the great QB's. Look at guys like Tom Brady and his footwork" and he named some others. Are you telling me, you don't want Jay to be great or elite? Because he's not either right now. And I doubt he's going to lead the Bears to the SuperBowl. Heck, I think they'll lose their first game in the playoffs. And Trent, though a little more strong about it, said basically the same thing. He even went on to say, he has a great ability to throw through any conditions, that's how great of an athlete is, then continued to break down video of what Steve Young was stating. He even goes on to say that Jay had better tools than him and he wishes he had Jay's abilities. So please, stop saying anyone who gives valid criticism of the Bears is an idiot, because it makes you as fans look idiotic. No, he's not objective. He's had a hard-on about the acquisition and the Bears since it happened. He has been unduly harsh when commenting on the Bears, as if they are continuously the favorite that doesn't deliver. I have absolutely no problem with criticism of Cutler, the defense, whatever. I certainly realize this team is not perfect, nor is it elite. I see the problems on the offensive line, with the running game, with the defense when no pressure is applied to the quarterback. Young, Dilfer, Cowherd, whomever, can criticize those things all they want. All I want is for them to point out the good things the Bears have done or the good things they do in equal fashion. But they don't. They'll quickly gloss over the fact that the Bears generally play good defense and that they have been running the ball better lately, but very rarely will they actually doing, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WATCH THE ENTIRE GAMES. They just see what they see when they're in studio or watching games on Sunday or when they watch the Bears when they are on prime time television. But they do not watch the games even as much as I do, and so damn right I see inaccuracies in their criticisms. But I digress. All one needs to do is read and watch the "objective" commentary about the Green Bay Packers and compare it with that of the Chicago Bears "objective commentary," and one would certainly believe the Packers are the team sitting at 10-4 right now.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 20, 2010 -> 12:28 AM) I'll add Kick Ass to the list the others have put out there. Very fun movie. Spy Game is incredibly underrated. Redford is great in it, and Brad Pitt was just cool, before he became a big politico because of Angie. One of my favorite movies of all time. Tell me it won't make you want to get that little Porsche Redford drives in it.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 10:16 AM) did everyone notice Gruden messed up on the hunting gear gag early? they cut to the group and Gruden was holding the hunters hat and they didnt mention it, and then next time they showed the group he wa in the full hunting gear and they are like "OMG what are you wearing?" ridiculous I also liked when he was commenting on a Bears impressive drive "that started darn-near on their goal line....well, at the thirty or forty after the nice return, and have really taken it to this Vikings defense..." Meanwhile, the drive had started on the Bears 47 after the Daniel Manning kickoff return.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 09:37 AM) There is no player that Gruden doesn't suck off... the guy loves every player and everything and is quite possibly the worst announcer ever. The night games have always seemed that way. The announcers know they are on a national stage and try a little too hard to make the broadcast "an event" instead of just another game. Mike Patrick and Thiesman used to do the same thing on Sunday night football when it was on ESPN. In fact, Mike Patrick was the absolute worst at doing that.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 09:26 AM) Did you guys hear Favre tell Cutler that he sent a Dick pic to Cavallari when they chatted after the game? At least thats what I heard. Hah, when he whispered in his ear?

I love the old time radio channel, actually. All the old mysteries and westerns and stuff...The Shadow, etc....great stuff to listen to on a slow or rainy night...

I just don't see any way that we could be bad enough for Kenny to throw in the towel....something dreadfully wrong would have to happen. I guess I could forsee a scenario by which Kenny gets someone he really likes that is close, and another very, very good player. But otherwise, given the commitment we've made in dollars this season, I just don't see the team being in a position where trading a player like Danks for salary relief and to go younger would happen. That simply isn't the direction we are going in anymore.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 20, 2010 -> 11:57 PM) ' Passing ability aside. . . Jay makes a ton of plays (especially on 3rd down) with his legs. To say Jay is crippled is a joke. Dilfer doesn't like Cutler's attitude and it affects his ability to analyze his play. I don't like his attitude either, and despite owning his jersey, I kind of think Jay is a giant douche. But I don't know the guy, and he is not my friend. Last I checked, he isn't Dilfer's friend either. But you're right...both he and Young can't seem to be objective about him. I wonder if there is anything personal there, in terms of meeting at some function or something.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 20, 2010 -> 11:43 PM) They didn't tear it apart, but it's a valid criticism. Hell, I've seen youuuuu guys criticize him all season long wishing he would stop throwing off of his back foot amongst other things. Nothing Steve or Trent said are untrue. But I understand, most of you guys are riding a high right now and don't want to hear it. Eventually, if Cutler wants to be great, he's going to have to work on that. Just include the positives along with the negatives, please. Instead, it's all negative, negative, negative, like he f***ed their wives or something. To say Jay is "crippled" if his first option is taken away? Seriously? That's just complete bulls***.

QUOTE (The Gooch @ Dec 20, 2010 -> 11:31 PM) Its probably just something in the water at ESPN. If the words Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Michael Vick, Tom Brady, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or Lebron James aren't involved, no one at ESPN will want to talk about it. I wouldn't even mind if I just felt like we were not getting the appropriate attention we deserve (and we probably don't), but some guys like Young and Dilfer and Collinsworth seem to want to go out of their way to slam us, and it's like, hey, you can't blame us for winning the games that are on our schedule, pal. It's not like we're running around guaranteeing victories or something.

QUOTE (The Gooch @ Dec 20, 2010 -> 11:23 PM) Wouldn't be too bad if he was like Steve Young though... Young just has some problem with the Bears. I don't quite get it. They don't reall draw unnecessary attention to themselves or have any really outspoken players or coaches. Yet he acts as if they are a bunch of jagoffs or something.