Texsox

Do you mean he was clueless that his role as closer was in jeopardy or that he had no idea he was sucking? In that regard, I disagree. I think his quote that he "needed to get right back out there" was wishfull thinking on his part. Koch knew, regardless of Ozzie's assurances, that his roll of closer was hanging by a string. Foulke could blow two saves in one week and the Red Sox fans would be pissed, perhaps wondering what's wrong, but not calling for his head. Koch knew he did not have that luxery. His eyes were wide open, his situation was clear.

I think he's wide awake. He just doesn't have the intimidation or confidence. Other teams know he's vulnerable and they get juiced up to face him. He's done as a stud closer. He's still a middle of the pack guy, serviceable at a lower salary for a Cleveland or Montreal, but almost worthless for a contender.

I was thinking a new $200 would be better.

Koch is relieved Hell every Sox fan is relieved

I'm scanning the globe to bring you the best in topics and links Without Southsider2k4's usual array of topic starts, SLAP will get slow and stale. I wonder where he's been?

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Too bad we couldn't afford Foulke. :headshake

Agreed. I was using it for comparison. Let's use fireman and police officers who we expect to risk their lives for us. When he cashes his check, he should be looking for a reporter to talk to.

Yes we take our sports to the extreme. Look how many thousands of posts about the White Sox are here. If I care about what YASNY, or you, or ChiSoxFn thinks about Koch, don;t you think we care what E-Lo thinks? If we care what we think about Rauch walking out, don't you think we care what Thomas thinks?

The rest of the story I4E, they sending you to help?

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If that sort of stuff is unneccesary, then just print the box score. The reason sports are so popular is the why?. The human stuff surrounding the players. Don't ask Sammy about the cork, he'll get pissed. Don't ask Mark Grace about Sammy's cork, we don't need to know, or care to know, what Grace thinks about Sammy. We are a nation of celebrity watchers. Why do baseball players make more than a soldier who protects our ass? Because we are facsinated by them, hero worship some, and pay money to know about them. Suck it up and answer the damn questions. You can bet if he sets a record or wins a WS he'll talk about his wife's, sister's boyfriend's cat if asked. He's getting paid, in part, to represent his team and make his team financially sucessful. If he wants the bucks the fans pay, they answer the questions the fans, through the media, ask.

Or Kerry is elected along with a few Dems

But we have cut vocational and other electives to "get back to the three Rs" We've also added stuff like advacned computer classes, kids in the McAllen School District can graduate from HS with certification in over 25 different fields ranging from Novell and Microsoft to Cosmotology. Those programs are in jeopardy each time we add another credit of math or science to the curriculm. Our schools, for the majority or the country, are the best in the world. You mentioned home school earlier and I wish every parent would understand, like home school parents do, that they alone are ultimately responsible for their child's education. If they contract out that responsibility to a school, public or private, they still have a responsibility to follow up and make certain what is being taught. They also need to complete the eduction process at home by teaching the rest of the stuff. Too many parents do not do that, instead they ask our school systems to teach stuff that should be taught at home. Like morals, ethics, team building, stock markets, starting a small business. I understand since the parents do not, that someone has too, but that doesn't make it right.

I only hope that Ozzie talked with Marte and Koch before this. I wonder why he isn't more confident in Zero. Perhaps he likes Marte's experience.

Then let's all not read or watch any sports news for the summer. Everyone who agrees with athletes not talking to the media go a month without sports news. Just read the box scores.

I think anyone succeeding in America is good for us. I think we need to help everyone, regardless of origin, succeed. It makes us stronger. If a couple school districts are teaching ebonics, I do not think it has that great an effect on the nation. The problem with requiring advanced academic skills happens in a couple areas. One is that many kids are not exposed to various "shop" classes to see if they are interested. I took drafting, wood working, metal working, etc. as fun type stuff and to pick up some life skills. A buddy of mine became an architect after being exposed to drafting. I was talking to a ROTC instructor and he mentioned how his numbers are down because he cannot use the "try it, you may like it" approach. Another is some kids are discouraged when then cannot pass these required courses and drop out of school. Three it fails to allow for local decisions in the schools. States pass these requirements, but do not fund them, leaving localities to raise taxes or cut spending on sports, arts, extra curricular activities, etc. Looking at unusual things that are taught in school, I am interested in your opinion. In the middle schools here and elsewhere, they are competing in a classroom excercise called "The Stock Market Game" classes form teams and they are given $X to invest in the stock market. Their results are tracked over a 60 or 90 day period and judged against other teams from accross the nation. My son's team happened to win for his school a couple year's ago when he rejected my advice and invested almost 75% of their funds in Timberland after they noticed almost all their fellow Boy Scouts were buying Timberland boots. Is this something that should be taught in the schools? I believe it is in their Math or Advisory classes. And probably takes up 20 hours of instructional time.

I knew he was going to be a key piece of this years team and it is disapointing he is only a middle of the pack closer. I was actually hoping he was goig to announce some minor surgery or something to explain the drop in velocity and effectiveness. When that didn't happen, I had a bad feeling. I really wish he would shave. I'm sick of his face at this point.

Writing isn't that easy. It is a very competitive field and only the best of the best survive. I believe a player has the right to remain silent. I also believe he has an obligation to his employer to help in marketing the team. The team needs the publicity to build and keep fan interest. Popular players, who put butts in the seats, are almost always great with the media. Contrast the media ass kisser Sosa to Thomas. Both are HoF caliber players, yet one has the town falliong at his feet. Why? One is media friendly. Take a thousand casual fans, put them in Chicago for the day, and ask them who they would rather see, Sosa or Thomas. Who do you think will fill the seats? Suck it up, give the interviews, and quit whining. You're paid very nice wages to play a f***ing game. Most people here would rather switch places with you than the reporter.

Same here. The hardcore on both sides have gone to such extremes, it's embarrasing.

I don't see it as a us vs. them argument. :headshake When do you consider these Asian immigrants to be "us"? I agree the schools are partly to blame. My kids have not been taught ebonics or any of the items you mentioned, perhaps it is just with military kids. What school did you go to or your kids went to that taught ebonics and multiculturism? Was it all day, one period, all four years? I have my son's HS list of courses and neither of those subjects are listed. What has happened is the State Governments and school boards have increased the number or required math, science, and english classes to the point where kids have very few electives. Everytime some standardized test comes out, we add more regulations and required courses. Kids who are not, and maybe should not be, on an academic track, who would be better on a vocational track, are cut off from those opportinities. We have a critical shortage of Tool and Die workers, of Industrial Maintanance workers, etc. Maybe teaching Triginometry and Physics to kids who want to be Auto Mechanics, HVAC mechanics, Tool and Die workers is a good idea, I just think it should be an elective, not required. When I was in High School, by my Junior year, I had three periods of electives, my son will have 1.

Kap, Dems loved Reagan as well. Remember the phrase Reagan Democrats? Witness his landslide re-election. He spent like a Dem and taxed like a Rep. What's not to love? I disagree about Clinton receiving the same respect. Perhaps on par with Nixon, but not with Reagan. I believe Reagan served with more dignity than Clinton. Reagan was a unique President and deserves the accolades he is receiving.