Texsox

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 10:55 AM) Many of the people putting down money are brokers themselves. They will rake in money for the WS tickets, paying for next year's full season and then some, and will be able to sell the defending World Champion tickets for at least face next year which would be all profit. So how much do you think the brokers are willing to invest? How much capitol will they invest for 2006, knowing that most regular season games will not sell out and they will have to take a loss on those tickets? They will not be getting face value on most of the games. They also have expenses in selling the tickets. Even getting face value, they will lose based on interest and overhead. Plus if they tie up too much money they don't have it to buy Stones, Bulls, Streisand, etc. tickets. If the Sox are out of the race by August, the brokers are really in trouble. They don't like to gamble. They also don't want 50 or 100 seats to an event that may or may not sell out. Then have that for 80 games? Who will be paying a premium in April? Don't you think they would come out better in a single game market? Invest now and get your return in days? You know the phone lines would be jammed by opportunistic people hoping to snag tickets to sell. And the brokers employ people to buy tickets. Some have ties directly to Ticketmaster and the other sellers. They develop contacts inside the clubs to gain access. This at least puts up one barrier to the sellers. They need a much bigger investment.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 09:17 AM) No, the argument is pathetic because he basically uses the homer by Pujols last night as a way to start comparing the excitement level between the Sox making the World Series, and the Cubs making the NLCS. He also tries to make it sound like many important members of the Sox organization are still worried about the whole Sox/Cubs rivalry. Mariotti should be spending this week talking about the importance of a team making the World Series for the first time in over 4 decades, and not using it to push his agenda of basically being a dick towards the Sox. No he used the Pujols homerun to show that despite everything going the Sox way, it is still a Cubs town. That's what he said to link the two. Post some quotes in his article that hasn't also been discussed here? Cards over Astros? If that's s***ty, then call out most of the posters here. Ozzie, JR, and KW, have all come out with statements urging Cub fans to back the Sox. Seems like they are doing their best to whoo Cub fans to become Sox fans. Are they being s***ty too? Did you even read the article?

Who would be more likely to sell their tickets? Person A who buys two tickets at $140 each and can make a quick, higher % cash profit. Person B who buys season tickets + WS Tickets and would make a much smaller profit after expenses, who would basically have 2006 season tickets for his trouble? My guess is person A. More people would go through the trouble of trying and hitting the lottery with a lower initial investment.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 09:42 AM) I'm not bitter. I'm a long time season ticketholder who will be at the games. As I said, there will be a few people getting these tickets with good intentions. I just think the majority will wind up in ticket broker hands which is a shame. IMO, there at least should be some tickets available for the general public. The general public would be selling also and the brokers are even better at snagging these. They have the systems in place, their jobs depend on it. You are also forgetting the thousands of seats that the league has to give to executives of other teams, Fox, and other sponsors, etc. So few tickets are ever available for big events like this.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 09:35 AM) I just question the long-term effect it really is going to have on the season ticket base, and I know most of these WS tickets are going to wind up with Eric Soderholm and people of his ilk, looking for $1000 to sit way up behind a post in the corner. Long term effect? Give me a scenario where it will drive season ticket sales down?

No matter how they sell these tickets, they will wind up in the hands of the highest bidder. Some will value the experience over money and attend the games, some will value money over the experience. No matter how you spin it, the Sox are taking a cut of that fact. It could be argued that by selling first to this year's season ticket holders and second to next year's season ticket holders, they are doing their best in make tickets available to the true fan. A phone in process, waiting in line, etc. favors the pros whose job it is to procure tickets. The brokers have the systems in place to snag tickets to everything. I can't think of a better process. If you are a "true fan" buy a season ticket package.

OMG, the Sox are trying to maximize revenues! The bastards. f*** them. I'm going to root for a team that doesn't care about revenues and just wants to be certain the tickets get to the really die hard fans. A team that would make you take a test before being considered for tickets. Then a careful background check to root out any "new fans". I have ticket stubs dating back to the mid 70s, any of you Johnny come lately bandwagon jumpers from '83. '93, or '00 better line your asses up behind me. I'm a real fan, I have over 18,000 posts. Shall we turn on Soxtalk members who joined in 2004? Where were they when the board was struggling? Damn bandwagon jumpers.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 09:09 AM) If you are talking in general terms, then no, I dont believe that humanely killing an animal for use(whether it be bait, meat, all around products) is a bad thing. It has happened throughout time. All animals need to eat, which involves the death of another plant or creature. If we are still talking puppies and sharks, then I am very against it on the grounds that it is finning the sharks more than it is a dog as bait. And under no circumstances ever would I support a live animal as bait, that is cruel and unusual punishment. So if the shark is humanely processed, not drowned, would the dead dogs be ok as bait? I agree in most cases live animals for bait is cruel. The one case I can think of is a no longer widely used practice of penning up a rabbit to attract predators. The rabbit is generally safe from the predator. The rabbit is later eaten by the hunters, however, for a brief while, it is bait. Now tapes and recorded calls are substituted.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 08:52 AM) This is one of the worst pieces of s*** I've ever read. While I agreed with a lot of what he said when the Sox were struggling, this seems like an article written by someone desperate to piss of White Sox fans. http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay18.html Jay is wrong as always, let's count the mistakes in his column. This is a Sox town. More Cub fans than Sox fans in Chicago? What an idiot. There have always been more Sox fan, Jay must be smoking something. More Cub fans around the world? He mustn't travel much, the Sox have way more fans than the Cubs in all corners of the world. Again, Jay the idiot. The city is united. We are happy for all those Cub fans rushing to buy Sox stuff, especially tickets. Maggs and Showalter will send Ozzie a Christmas card, Cub fans aren't bitter about the Sox success, Sox fans wanted a rested Clemens and Oswalt, we didn't want the Astros to be extended, we wanted them to win last night. The world wouldn't care if the Cubs were in the World Series, we're the American Fairy Tale, not the Cubs. Ozzie never trashed Wrigley and fanned flames during the crosstown series, every Cub fan will root for the Sox over the Cards, just like we would root for the Cubs over the Twins. Jay, what an idiot.

The first year I bought Bulls season tickets was to see the All-Star Game. I was undecided about future seasons. I wound up keeping them, and having them during the championship runs. The team has an entire staff to try and sell season tickets. They should use every tool imaginable to sell them. Corporations who buy the tickets will use them to entertain clients. It's all good. It beats a "who is the most loyal fan" contest.

How is an accountant taking a position with another company, perhaps someone with a strong client following, different than a player? MLB is their industry. Take Buerhle for example, he grew up a Card fan. With the draft, most players have their teams chosen for them. They are tied up for several seasons, regardless of where they want to live or who they want to play for. Then, they are suppose to show loyalty to the company that drafted them, or who traded for them? I would argue that the accountant who interviewed and accepted a position at his own free will, should show more loyalty than a ball player who was drafted. The player may have never had a chance to choose. The accountant may take key clients with him, harming the company that paid him to develop that relationship.

Finning is another deplorable practice. But again, are what we are really debating is how best for humans to kill other species for our use? Should we really be outraged at killing dogs and using them for bait? As far as humanly killing the dog, they could use a a smaller version of the device they use to kill cows. Basically use a spring loaded device to drive a bolt into the cow's skull. Bullets, chemicals, etc. are way to expensive to use. Am I turning anyone towards becoming a vegetarian? In a modern facility, an animal is killed every three seconds.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 08:07 AM) The Simpsons have to be at the top of that list, cartoon or not. Isn't it the longest running sitcom of all time?

QUOTE(Mercy! @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 07:55 AM) Tex: Pet overpopulation, pet food ingredients, pet euthanasia, culturally taboo food items, and slaughter of food for human consumption – all are interesting topics to be sure. But what the heck do they have to do with the topic of this thread: The use of LIVE animals – I purposefully avoided using the loaded word, “puppies,” although they are mentioned most often – as shark bait. In searching the Reunion newspaper, I found mention of this practice more than once and going back to 1999. The fact that the practice might not be widespread does not detract from its barbarity. Kill the animal before using it as bait, please. The articles talk more about roadkills and using dead dogs. I agree that live dogs would be cruel. I believe dead dogs, even those processed for the task, shouldn't cause moral outrage. We slaughter every other animal and use it, why not dogs? Again if it is morally right to kill a cow to feed a dog, shouldn't it also be right to kill a dog to feed a shark? Shouldn't the debate be over the most humane method to kill the dog?

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 08:00 AM) Look here Mr. Roboto, it's High Time you take a Midnight Ride since you're obviously Born For Adventure and are such a Lonely Child, Babe. Since this is the First Time in a long time (and we may be living on Borrowed Time) that the Sox are in the World Series, and we are just waiting for The Grande Finale, we should get along. But obviously you think you're The Great White Hope and you have to spend your time mocking me. So why don't you and the other Superstars get through this little Cold War?

The original comment was never having anything bad to say about these guys. I just pointed out some fans have short memories and will turn in a heartbeat. I wonder how many people here are "fans" of the company they work for? How much less they would take to work for a company that has showed them loyalty and had great customers who also loved the company? Could you imagine yourself saying "we have the greatest customers in the world, I want to stay here forever! Even if someone offers me a 15 or 20% increase."

QUOTE(BobDylan @ Oct 17, 2005 -> 11:49 PM) I don't know if they'd want to do it. They work a long season. This is their off-time to simply enjoy it. But I love the idea and would like to see it. I think some people forget this is a job for them. As much as they might enjoy working, not working can be fun also. I have a hard time believing Hawk would have more fun announcing the game than watching it with friends. I'm LMAO picturing Hawk sitting around the house "announcing" the game to family and friends. I just don't think Hawks watches the game and screams He Gawn or Stretch! like we do. It would be wild tojust sit and watch a game with him.

Yes, they could take second or third place money in the auction for their services. But when they don't, we turn on them like any other player. This euphoria will be long forgotten. That was my point. They will suck just like Belle, Colon, Maggs, etc.

I have such mixed emotions reagrding the series. The Astros are my favorite NL team. A distant rival for my baseball attention from the Sox. I really can't stand two friends fighting. But the collapse would be the worse since the Yankees last year. I do want this decided on Thursday in an 18 inning, throw everybody, game.

It depends on your resources. Money is no object? Check the classifieds, Stubhub, eBay. Just beware of counterfeit tickets. Money is an object? Hang around the stadium beginning about 1 hour before the game and be prepared to buy a single. Pairs and groups go for a premium. Someone selling one, has a tougher problem because people want to sit together.

I was scared, I didn't think I could continue, the Rally Crede appeared on the headboard, gave me a wink, played his symbols 4 times, one for each victory in the WS, and I was ready to come back for more. Thank you Rally Crede.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Oct 17, 2005 -> 12:31 AM) no matter what happens in the next two weeks I will never be down on a single player from this 2005 team for as long as I live. They are golden, in my book, from here on out. I am certain you, and many others are saying this. Sadly, Konerko will be a greedy bum and a s***ty player when he signs a bigger contract elsewhere. Crede and Boras will leave and piss off Sox fans for not being "loyal". It always happens, it is a part of being a Sox fan. Rare is the Sox player who leaves on his own accord and isn't slammed for doing so.

I figure that anyone who wasn't a fan by 1977 is a bandwagon jumper. If you didn't live through the Hitmen and the August slide, you are a bandwagon jumper. What we want is extra respect for our years of being a fan. We want people to give us extra attention because we watched games in the 60s and 70s when there was little chance of the postseason. The kids here who became fans in the last 6 years don't know what it is really like. These teams all had a realistic chance at the post season. Try being a fan when for 5 or 6 years straight it looks like another 4th Place finish. Seriously, everyone had a moment when they went from casual observer to fan to hardcore. I have a Northwestern Rose Bowl and a Wisconsin Badgers Rose Bowl sweatshirts around somewhere. I enjoyed the games, rooted hard for them, and then stopped even thinking about it. Should I have just ignored the Rose Bowl until "my" team was in it? The only motor sports race I'll make an effort to watch is the Indy 500. Am I a bandwagon indy car fan? Playing the I'm a bigger fan game with new fans won't work because they are in it for the moment and then gone. So you are upset, they really don't care. You will also be saddened when someone whips out ten more years and more angst than you.

I never watched Fresh Prince. Third Rock jumped the shark badly the last couple seasons. They seemed to run out of ideas. News Radio was just hitting their stride when Hartman caught that bullet. I understand the Friends popularity, but there was too much angst and stuff to keep me interested for long. Rosanne also jumped the shark quickly, I think they had 3-4 great seasons then bleech.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Oct 18, 2005 -> 12:18 AM) Well do you have any pet Cows, pigs, lambs, chickens, or turkeys? Another thing none of those animals can really be house trained and wont ever be able to be as close to a human as a dog or cat. I wonder how Dbaho would feel about this dont they eat wild dogs down under.... I guess I wouldnt mind if the Dog was dead but if it was alive while they do it thats just wrong.... Actually you will see on farms, dairys, etc farm animals and humans with a pet-like bond. But most kids growing up on a farm understand that all animals on a farm have a purpose and that purpose may be Sunday dinner. I've said that people shouldn't be allowed to eat meat until they have killed and processed their own food. I think there would be a lot more vegetarians then. The article and follow up stuff seem to indicate the animals are dead before hitting the water. That would make sense based on shark fishing with fish as bait, it is always cut bait. I do have a pet rabbit. It has stopped me from eating rabbit. Again, what I find fascinating is feeding chickens to dogs is ok, but not feeding dead dogs to sharks. I agree though that feeding live dogs to sharks is wrong. That is abusing the animal and we know that dogs feel pain. And Soxy, they are awesome shoes. Once I got comfortable with my heel being loose, they were a slice of heaven after a long hike. I just never liked driving with them on. My Tevas and the stupid tan lines become my new standard.