IlliniBob72

To paraphrase Crash Davis of Bull Durham, if you think you're pitching well because you're wearing women's underwear, abstaining from sex, or got rid of cursed pillars from your living room, then you are. Don't muck with it.

I didn't see it, but heard Lyons sort of give an excuse for his antics, but then Brenneman pied up and called it "weak". That really surprised me. From what he said and what I'm reading here, it must have been really excessive. I'm sure he wants to win and all, but Manny looked like he was told he won $10 at the local Knights of Columbus raffle. He could not have looked more disinterested. I guess he's too cool to look excited.

I've got to give this board and the mods a lot of credit. Often times boards or mailing lists turn into power trips for the people who run them. I used to be on an emailing list of The Score fans, run by some prick named Paul. Anyway, he became a real power monger. One time I asked if anyone knew the results of the Kennedy Cup high school hockey finals. Knowing no one else would want to be reading about it, I asked for any info to be mailed directly to me privately. This Paul guy writes me and tells me no one gives a s*** about high school hockey and to keep it off his list. I simply responded that I knew that and that was why I asked for it to be sent to me privately. I couldn't leave it at that and said that if no one cares about high school hockey, certainly no one wants to read his ridiculous posts about how many quarts of vomitus he spewed out after his drinking binge the night before. That got me kicked.

I heard that he intends to ask out of the service. I think that's wrong. The military service is not something you opt out of if your financial situation changes. It would send the message that the armed forces is for the financially disadvantaged only. What was that old saying, "A rich man's war but a poor man's fight"? If he's let out, this would only prove it.

I never saw where Limbaugh said that McNabb was only starting because he was black. I thought the gist of his statement was that people want a black QB to succeed and in that vein has been overrated. What's the controversy? The NFL has a program to get blacks into coaching. Would I get in trouble for saying that people want blacks in coaching? I would hope not, because it's a fact. There has been a stereotype that blacks can't play QB. Would people love to see a black QB succeed? I think so. Who wouldn't love to see that stereotype shattered? It should've been put to bed with Doug Williams or Warren Moon, but it's still out there. Rush feels that McNabb has been overrated because of this. I disagree, but that's not the point. He didn't say anything racist...all he said was something concerning race, and in today's society that's a huge no-no. The PC police at work again. And someone mentioned Jimmy the Greek. I'm not an expert on anatomy, but people who know more than me agree with what he said. Well, not so much about the breeding, but that blacks are different anatomically that makes them faster. And most everyone who ever knew Jimmy says he was no racist. He was treated very unfairly.

Your friend said she was chubby before they hooked up and now you want to tell her that? Good Lord, you are vindictive. So if a friend tells you that his girlfriend's nagging is wearing on him, you'd tell her that? If you tell your friend that your gf is busting your balls over going to a baseball game, your friend would be justified in telling her you said she's a ballbreaker? If a friend tells you that he thinks his gf should stop wearing low neck sweaters, you'd pipe up and tell her that? Keep your big yap shut.

I remember as a kid playing Micro League Baseball. I liked the simulation aspect and you watched the game happen and made in-game managerial decisions. I loved it. I got Baseball Mogul recently and didn't like it. I'd like to see the games (not pitch by pitch. Micro League would just show you the last pitch of every at bat.) and I didn't find the simulations realistic. Too many 40-130 seasons for Konerko. Also, and I'm not sure if others saw this, all my news minor leaguers were girls with "A" names. I have nothing against girls playing baseball, but do I need a roster filled with Ashleys, Annies, and Ambers???

No offense to the person who had Lincoln and Jefferson as their top two, but I had to smile when I saw that. There probably aren't two more diametrically opposed presidents in our history. Jefferson was in favor of a weak central government and a country that acted as more of a loose confederation of independent states than as a country. Lincoln, on the other hand, consolidated power in the central government and essentially ended any vestiges of states' rights. This wasn't his intention when he took office, but out of necessity, and rightly, this is what he did. I voted for Lincoln. I just have the utmost respect for the man. I sometimes need to go down to Springfield for work and never let a trip end without a visit to his home or gravesite. He was just a wonderful president and man.

I guess I didn't get my feelings across properly, as I got into the same frustrating discussion with the wife about it. I don't really care that they're celebrating. What I said to the wife was that they're celebrating too much, like they are just TOO happy to be there. If the Sox were doing that, I'd feel the same way...congrats, you won the division in a tight race, but in reality, you haven't won s*** yet. I felt that being so happy about making the playoffs will lead to an early exit.

No Lerrin LaGrow??? (Sorry, I probably butchered the spelling.)

Is anyone else put off by the Cubs' antics after clinching the division? I understand it's exciting and they are happy, but come on now. Spraying champagne on the fans in the bleachers? Dancing around like school girls? Do what teams that expect to win do. Go to the locker room, spray some champagne, and say "We're not content with just making the post-season." They seem to be just the opposite, just f***ing thrilled to be making the playoffs. I actually love it...they're setting themselves up for another sweep by the Braves. And don't even get me started with all the reporters airing from the Cubby Bear abd whatnot. Again, the only thing that keeps me from kicking my TV in is the thought of all these "fans" watching the Cubs lose to the Braves. The only downside is that many of them won't mind.

This list is a joke. In fact, reading it, I'm trying to figure out what the hell it's a list of. A list of U.S. foreign policy actions? Somalia? Good Lord. Yeah, the big bad bully United States goes in to remove warlords that are starving their people in a sort of power blackmail. The nerve of those intrusive Americans! Iraq 1990-1991? Yup, you're right again. How dare the U.S. evict a murdering madman that invaded a neighboring country. The terrors unleached upon Kuwaitis were unspeakable. Yugoslavia? Again, damn Americans trying to end ethnic cleansing. Bastards! Australia? What evils have we perpetrated on the Aussies? Eastern Europe? You're joking right? The Soviets march in and take over the whole damn thing and somehow we have blood on our hands? Of course, I'm sure that list is cut and pasted from some other truth telling website you adhere to. Though I'm sure that list can't be from your GOPbastards site, since the majority of those horrible events in your list came under Democratic presidents.

I don't know. Maybe they consider us even for the help they gave in the American Revolution. I'd say saving their asses twice in the last 85 years more than makes up for it though. Three times if you want to count Vietnam.

What places in the standings get extra coin? Just the top 2? Or do the Tigers get to vote on how to split the 5th place bonus money?

I don't give a s*** of this guy still believes the Earth is flat, this guy needs to be brought back.

I seriously cannot believe they postponed the game so soon. They waited only an hour or so!! With two days left in the season, I would have thought that they'd wait until 9 PM before they postponed the thing! Whose call is that? The umpires, MLB, or the home team? This screws the Cubs. Like someone said, now Prior wouldn't be able to pitch until Game 2 at the earliest, Game 3 most likely (assuming they made the postseason, of course). Not just that, but more importantly, aren't doubleheader sweeps very rare? If I were Andy MacPhail or Dusty Baker, I'd demand that they wait around until 10 to get that game in. s***, didn't the Sox and Tigers (???) wait around until 11 or so? And that game turned out to be as meaningless as teats on a bull.

I agree that the French people as a whole are not saying this, but the fact that this book is such a big seller does serve as a sort of indictment of the French people. I, personally, think the French are worse than useless. But I guess being the butt of many a joke is enough to give a nation an inferiority complex.

What does that mean? How does any money you pay in taxes go to a millionaire in Hinsdale? Regardless, I'm sure you were just trying to use some tried and true class warfare schtick. I get tired of hearing liberals complain about millionaires. I am by no means rich, but I'm certainly not going to begrudge someone for making money, because chances are very good that that person is worth that money to someone. If anyone could do it, everyone would be doing it. I'm sure everyone knows the stats. Something like the wealthiest 2% of Americans pay 95% of the taxes, yet everyone drives on the same roads, has the same governmental services, etc. Just because someone makes a lot of money doesn't mean that they deserve to keep less of it.

I don't want to downplay the loss of soldiers because one life lost is one too many, but let's think about this logically for a moment. Iraq is a large country with a sizable population, correct? Let's say there are 2 American casualties per day. Two too many, I grant you, but if there were wide spread discord concerning our presence, why isn't it 20 per day? 50 per day? Hell, even 10 per day? And from many sources, it seems the main culprits are foreign terrorist elements, just like in Afghanistan. IIRC, the Afghans were the first to surrender and welcome U.S. soldiers, while it was foreign terrorists that fought to the end. I usually don't give much credit to the average American, thinking most are apathetic and lazy, but I believe in my heart that if a foreign power invaded and took control of Chicago, there would be a continuous bloodbath. At least some sort of organized resistance, a la the hokey '80s movie Red Dawn. Based on America's reaction to the proceedings in Iraq, this country could never handle a conflict like the Civil War, WW II, or Vietnam again. "Our forces lost at Bull Run and lost 3000 men in one day? s***, I never liked the South anyway. Let them go. Fire Abe Lincoln!!!" Think about it logically? Good luck getting them to do that. People with an agenda do not use logic. "Since the New Deal, Republicans have been on the wrong side of every issue of concern to ordinary Americans; Social Security, the war in Vietnam, equal rights, civil liberties, church- state separation, consumer issues, public education, reproductive freedom, national health care, labor issues, gun policy, campaign-finance reform, the environment and tax fairness. No political party could remain so consistently wrong by accident. The only rational conclusion is that, despite their cynical "family values" propaganda, the Republican Party is a criminal conspiracy to betray the interests of the American people in favor of plutocratic and corporate interests, and absolutist religious groups." The above is from Apu's member page. You're right, BMR. America hating is a past time that goes back generations and is especially en vogue with college age kids. American universities keep pumping out these types, and these kids put a lot of time and energy into this hatred. Though, Apu, I don't understand your reference to the Vietnam War, since that was basically a JFK/LBJ creation, but I'm sure the Republicans are somehow responsible for it, or perhaps you'll blame Eisenhower. Either way, it really doesn't matter nor do I care. Things like your quote above demonstrates to me that not only do you have issues with this country's current administration and history, but the fact that you would put that on your Soxtalk.com member page tells me you're fanatical about it, making your opinions less than valid to me. And your talk about your friends' accounts, chances are good that your friends share your views, making their accounts less than believable. Your left-wing ranting has gotten tedious and I'm going to stop wasting my time with it. Perhaps you can get back to us when you've lived in the real world for a bit. It's easy to hate America and it's past while enjoying the benefits it provides.

I don't want to downplay the loss of soldiers because one life lost is one too many, but let's think about this logically for a moment. Iraq is a large country with a sizable population, correct? Let's say there are 2 American casualties per day. Two too many, I grant you, but if there were wide spread discord concerning our presence, why isn't it 20 per day? 50 per day? Hell, even 10 per day? And from many sources, it seems the main culprits are foreign terrorist elements, just like in Afghanistan. IIRC, the Afghans were the first to surrender and welcome U.S. soldiers, while it was foreign terrorists that fought to the end. I usually don't give much credit to the average American, thinking most are apathetic and lazy, but I believe in my heart that if a foreign power invaded and took control of Chicago, there would be a continuous bloodbath. At least some sort of organized resistance, a la the hokey '80s movie Red Dawn. Based on America's reaction to the proceedings in Iraq, this country could never handle a conflict like the Civil War, WW II, or Vietnam again. "Our forces lost at Bull Run and lost 3000 men in one day? s***, I never liked the South anyway. Let them go. Fire Abe Lincoln!!!"

I took what Everett said as not so much a defense of Manuel as an indictment of the players. He essentially said that the players in that clubhouse need pampering and couldn't take a guy that holds them accountable. Also said the players have a lot of responsibility for what happens and they failed.

I remember Dan Bernstein whining on the radio that we once had the world's sympathy and now everyone hates us...what happened??? I'll tell him and others who think like him. People have sympathy for victims. I don't want my country to be a victim, and thankfully we have people who feel the same way. People feel bad for victims. Sympathy and fear/respect are polar opposites.

His approval rating is still higher than Bubba's was. And recent polls indicate that the vast majority of Iraqis are positive about the U.S. presence and what has occured over there, but you won't see that reported in the liberal media. All they are interested in showing you is the wives who are sad that their husbands who volunteered for the military are actually being asked to serve, or throw the word "quagmire" around. The final recount in Florida showed that Bush won the state. Regardless, Bush can't be held to blame that Gore's supporters are too damn stupid to figure out a butterfly ballot. s***, every election I've voted in was with a butterfly ballot. If someone is too big an idiot to figure it out, I don't want them helping shape the future of the nation. Bush leaving the UN after his speech wasn't reported here because it is unimportant. Hell, it may even be protocol for all I/we know. The man is the leader of the free world and you think he should sit around listening to a bunch of two-bit ambassadors discuss matters in an organization that exists by the grace of the U.S. I think not. It's pointless to talk to these hate-filled liberals though. In my experience, you never get any ideas from them, just criticisms.

I've never understood the concept of providing services to illegal aliens. Rather than giving them free tuition and driver's licenses, shouldn't they be getting deported? If not, why make people go through all the bulls*** of getting green cards and visas? If nothing else, at least get rid of the word "illegal", because it seems that there's nothing wrong with sneaking into this country in violation of the laws.

I believe Manual should go, but what about the Paniagua game do people have a beef with, besides the final results? Bringing him in at all? I hope that's not it, because if you can't bring a pitcher in with a 6 run lead in the ninth, then he shouldn't be on your roster whatsoever. Leaving him in so long? I didn't see the inning, so I can't judge really. Four runs were scored, so it is sort of apparent he was in too long. I can't fault him for bringing him in, so if that's the beef, I've got to disagree. It is very unfortunate though, as it seemed to have fired up the Twinkies. But I agree with Rozner...the turning point of the season was the opening sweep in KC. Set the tone for a s***ty first half.