bigruss

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 05:05 PM) No offense to anyone here, but I hope NIU loses tonight. I work with an alum who is flat out annoying and out of control about them. My manager is an alum and he cant stand Illinois or BIG football in general so yea, I wouldn't mind if they lost.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 03:21 PM) The crystal ball thing is hilarious sometimes. I like how those guys change their "predictions" moments before a kid announces so their record is still good. Just pick and stick with it. Yea it is ridiculous, they at least weight the amount of time you had the pick but I don't think anyone ever really looks at that stat rather than the % correct. Still, Brian must be hearing something different because that's a huge amount in favor of Duke at the moment.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 03:09 PM) I wonder where that leaves Turner. I really thought Okafor was going to land at Duke. So does 92% of the national "experts".

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 12, 2013 -> 12:24 PM) Ended up getting offered this position this morning...yay for new challenges and a little more money! Congrats!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 01:19 PM) We are hoping both he and Kennard stay in Ohio. Both have the attention of UK, but apparently the NBA-like atmosphere and roster turned off at least Kennard. Bragg just seems to like the spotlight from what I've seen. NOTE: This is just from casual internet observation.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 13, 2013 -> 01:02 PM) Maybe we'll pull Turner and make it moot (not likely). I know we lost the guy who never should have committed in the first place, but how does someone who isnt enrolling for 2 years counting as a 2014? Thats insane to me. I think Matta is trying again in 2015 to hit a HR going all out for Kennard and Bragg. While Illinois and OSU have done a good job with Bragg so far, I see him going to someplace like UK.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 07:35 PM) Having had him on my team before...I can't imagine how signing Juan Uribe for 2/$12 would be anything other than a worse contract than Keppinger. Seriously, that would be an awful contract. I wouldn't give him more than $6m over 2 years.

In regards to that last point, it's not like they have a ton of fans showing up already (even for playoff games). I don't think they are too worried about pissing off fans that live in the city since those fans aren't showing up now.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 12:26 PM) Apatows movies are mostly depressing comedies that make light of real life scenarios. When you look at them, very few are "feel good". They just make you laugh I usually love Apatow's stuff, and a big fan of Rudd, I just thought the jokes in general weren't that great and became uber repetitive in the movie.

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 10:18 AM) I'd be shocked. I'm thinking he'll go to the Yankees or Phillies. Yea I dont think its on the Sox side either, I'd bet that AJ is done with the Sox.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 09:58 AM) I know I am late, but This is 40 was hilarious. Wow really? I couldn't get through it when watching it on HBOGO. I think I got about 2/3 of the way through and called it quits.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 09:45 PM) Isn't Spirit basically the RyanAir of the US? You can't beat the price but expect to get charged for any possible luxury. Spend the extra $20 and fly EasyJet/Southwest if you can.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 09:26 PM) Spirit is an absolutely miserable airlines. But they shouldn't charge you if it's them who run out of room. At least they didn't to me. "Shouldn't" is the key word.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 09:08 PM) Im going to NY on Saturday for some family stuff(not the most exciting trip but I'll make the best of it) and am flying Spirit. I've heard some horror stories about Spirit, anyone ever used them before? Anything I should know ahead of time? Pack lightly and small, since most will carry on to avoid fees the overhead compartments fill up quickly (they will charge you to check if they run out of space). And be prepared for delays/cancellations. All this has happened to my roommate flying them. I'm going to IU and UM this weekend on some campus chapter visits, first time in that area of Indiana and going back to Ann Arbor for the 2nd time since I moved 5 years ago, should be fun/exhausting.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Nov 7, 2013 -> 02:53 PM) Solid article and synopsis by the guy. One thing about "locking down Chicago"... I'd say that's not happening. If it did, Illinois would surely be on probation within a few years of it. Just too many people with their hands out in that area. Pretty clear that's the dirtiest area for recruiting in the states, along with NYC. No one will ever lock down Chicago, there's too much talent for that to be feasible anyways. But I don't think that's what Robert really meant anyways, it's more of when there are a few top recruits from Chicago, then Illinois should be getting at least 1 of them. That's about as good as any school can do in Chicago.

Booker to UK, Blackmon back to IU?

Wow, Looney shocks everyone.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Oct 30, 2013 -> 08:18 AM) Doesn't seem likely, but stranger things have happened. There's never been a question about his talent, as he was the best in Indiana in the 2014 class. He's now at prep school and Rabjohns and Peegs have said the bad influences are out of his life and things are looking way up for him. Still plenty of work to do in the classroom, but we'll see. I could see IU taking him and putting him on a faculty scholarship in the summer to see if he can qualify, much like they did with Ron Patterson before he got busted. I know his grandmother has always wanted him at IU. Just such a weird recruiting year for Indiana. I'm ready for 2015 and 2016 after the whole Lyles/Blackmon fiasco. There's a boatload of talent in state in 2016. Can definitely see Illinois picking up a few. Illinois only has 1 scholly (currently) for 2016, and they are going hard after a few Illinois guys. With the history of Indiana hs players only teasing Illinois I doubt we really venture deep into that group. We'll see though.

QUOTE (Brian @ Oct 28, 2013 -> 05:06 PM) If true, I would guess Charles Mathews. He seems to love Illinois judging by tweets. That would be huge for the Illini, he's a stud.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Oct 27, 2013 -> 10:09 PM) No more drinking. I say this about once a month, which coincidentally is about the number of times I rage per month now. Fireball is always my downfall these days.

I do too, I just don't see enough talent/experience/balance on this years team to make it to the tourney. If we didn't have Starks/Paul/Cosby sitting then I think we make it, but we are relying way to much on freshmen, many of whom were known to need seasoning before making a large impact.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Oct 25, 2013 -> 09:31 AM) From the highlights it looks like Ekey is our best player. Could be a LONG year... Ekey will probably be the most consistent, which isn't a huge problem as long as someone else is stepping up every game. I don't see us making the tourney this year, the fanboy in me says yes but the realistic side just doesn't see it. We probably end just a shade above .500 this year and go to the NIT.

QUOTE (Brian @ Oct 25, 2013 -> 12:50 PM) Cliff in Champaign this weekend. Illini going all out. DJ Williams and 2016 G Zach Norvell are unofficially visiting as well, huge weekend for recruiting.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Oct 21, 2013 -> 04:40 PM) I think my annual evaluation is just around the corner. I didn't get a raise last year but that's because I started in August at this new gig. Is there a proper etiquette to negotiating raises? I feel like I make way below the market rate but then again, I'm not sure what source is adequate enough to be a good reference for it. Any thoughts will be appreciated. At my company raises are determined by two sources: 1) Department as a whole is given a % 2) Managers decide how to distribute said % Last year my department was given a 1.5% increase (they pulled money from raises to put into other compensation areas, really good if you fell in those areas), and so it was up to my manager to distribute an average of a 1.5% increase to his employees. Some may get 1, others may get 2%, etc. If you can, your HR department should be able to give you a range for your job, they should have one set already. You should see where you fit in that range, if you are really below than you should work with your manager to make a case for salary adjustment.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 10:10 AM) I just got a job doubling my salary. Congrats!