Texsox

He's at the top of my list, but there are a couple of possibilities that wouldn't cause me to throw up in my mouth. Really I think the GM spot is more critical. I prefer the two spots be independent of each other. I wouldn't want to settle on a weak GM candidate if that's what it takes to get Harbaugh. (We don't know it would, but it seems like a possibility based on his public comments)

Someone has to hire the top football guy and it isn't going to be a football guy in this situation, they have both been fired. I don't trust the franchise to hire one good football guy, why would I trust them to hire a President and a GM? When that doesn't work out next time it will be hire a CEO to hire a President to hire the GM. Find a good GM and get the hell out of the way, again.

That's exactly what I was thinking. While I'm a big fan of hiring Harbaugh I'm not certain I like the idea of doing that first given that my gut tells me he would demand input into the GM selection.

Now which comes first? Generally speaking I don't want the HC picking the GM but that may be what it takes to get their guy. Unless they have a GM lined up that search could take a while.

No exaggeration. The market forces on wages are all downward. Businesses aren't charities. If they can get the job done for less they will and they will be more "successful". Wages go up because a business can't hire and retain qualified employees at their current levels.

Whose best interest? Fans? Owners? Players? Making a profit and increasing wealth for shareholders is how our society judges most companies as successful. Amazon, Tesla, Apple, and Walmart offer horrible pay and working conditions as they became industry leaders. More profits = more likely to be around for a long time. Owners tend to have longer careers in baseball than just about anyone. It's their industry. Like all American businesses they pay employees as little as they can. From an American business standpoint the best interest of baseball is anti player. I don't think we want that.

65 is scary young.

Which is why I find it a waste of energy to pick a side. I was going to write that eventually players will get everything they want, but it may take 50 years. But then I remembered Machiavelli. If the players received every point they are negotiating now when the next CBA was up there will be more issues. So taking a 1,000 year view everytime this is renegotiated there will be angst and debate. Eventually the owners will cede a little more and a little more. As a fan why worry about it each time? If I'm going to advocate for workers I'm going to advocate for the working class trying to build a better life for their loved ones.

@Balta1701 I don't think either side is concerned about the fans, MiLB, employees, etc. Each side is looking out for their best interest and trying to make it look as pretty as possible. If anyone else does actually benefit, it's a accidental bonus.

What happened with the Hawks that has everyone upset?

Exactly. I care the same today as I did a year ago about these issues. I know this will have a huge impact on the game going forward. Depending on the outcome, we'll see owners selling or players quitting if their side loses the negotiations. Guys in MiLB will go home and find better careers. Rich folks will find something different to impress their friends. My dream can't happen. Keep MLB contracts growing as they have, have owner's profits shrink as they increase MiLB compensation and lower the cost for fans. Instead the MiLB players and fans are left paying for this battle and they think they have a side in this.

I'm also anti owner.

Lol, that's what I want in the off season.

Once I started coaching it greatly decreased the number of give a fucks I had for sports in general. Winter is the busiest so the Bears, Bulls, and Hawks get ignored.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-white-sox-magic-cane-guy-20211012-wdq4hmji6rglngydm7f7xftzt4-story.html Life was simple then.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-white-sox-cane-guy-bobblehead-20220107-eqqjfoulcjevpk6khsigd3qkme-story.html That's the kind of off season news I can enjoy.

Rip

Three score years. I've had two wives, three careers, a book, and a master's degree since starting to post here.

I agree ? with everything except this. I have complete faith and confidence that the Bears can be that stupid. I'm holding my breath here.

I should add, based on the last forty years of Bears football, why would any top HC be interested? It's a crap franchise with a lousy history.

Probably true, but for an extra million or two . . . I usually believe most organizations need just a couple changes to fix themselves. In this case blow it up and start over. Everything seems to be aligned to just clear the building.

Ah the optimism that comes with a new coach https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/if-the-bears-keep-ryan-pace-watch-for-these-head-coach-candidates/

I'm reading The Smartest Guys in the Room about Enron. I'm taking a break from two series, one set in Minnesota by Krueger about a sheriff/PI and another by Doiron about a Maine game warden.

Wood prices are spiking again.

I wrote 50% more checks last year than the year before. I went from two to three. I haven't bought new checks in over ten years. Lol