DBAHO

Riccardi took over a $88 million payroll, trimmed it to $58 million and the team improved last year. This season, ownership asked J.P to cut anohter $5 mill from da payroll, and every1 thinks they'll be even betta. I think he's da best GM at da moment too.

U haven't been round here long hav u.

Don't worry. We all do.

They're all chokers.

I'm amazed they didn't pick an east coast team like the Mets.

Another reason we should be glad to hav Ozzie managing and Coop as our pitching coach. I can only imagine what JM and Nardi would hav done.

Quickman, Gees u'd think we were playin against the Twins to win the division today by ur words. It's a spring training game ok, just because Grilli and Bull didn't pitch as well as they would hav liked, doesn't instantly mean u hav to jump on their asses and say they suck. Seattle were hot today, we were not simple as that. I'm glad that Bull said he enjoyed hearin criticism as well, that made me feel a lot betta, even if it wasn't constructive.

I think sum1 like Grant Balfour mite hav to start for em now.

Damn I had Kentucky comin out and makin it to the final 4. Not good.

Including mine. I'm bankin on Duke to make the final.

Hav a nice trip Aboz.

Mmmm Salt and Vinegar, nothin betta for chips.

Here's a really interestin article of how da Boys got Henson, Organization's focus pays off when quarterback winds up in mix By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News IRVING – Every time Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks about Drew Henson, his mind drifts to champagne showers and Super Bowl trophies. Every time Jones sees videotape of Henson playing at Michigan, he remembers Troy Aikman as the epicenter of an offensive machine that helped the Cowboys win five consecutive NFC East titles and three Super Bowls to earn the title of Team of the '90s. So it should come as no surprise that Henson will be wearing the Cowboys' fabled blue star on the side of a silver helmet when the 2004 season begins. After all, Jones has coveted the 6-5, 233-pound quarterback since he read Cowboys scout Jim Garrett's glowing report after the 2000 season. And on Friday afternoon, Henson became an official member of the Dallas Cowboys, when the NFL finally approved a trade that sent a third-round pick in 2005 to the Houston Texans for the 24-year-old. "I commend them for being imaginative, creative and aggressive in doing this," Houston general manager Charley Casserly said. "This kid is as good as any quarterback in the draft. He hasn't played in a while, but he'll overcome that eventually." Setting the table Jerry Jones phoned Dan Henson the day before the 2003 draft, as did representatives from five other clubs. Each team knew Henson's son was struggling at Triple-A and wanted to know if Drew was still committed to playing baseball. Henson, considered one of the top players in the nation after passing for more than 2,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions as a junior at Michigan, quit football to sign a six-year, $17 million contract with the New York Yankees. "I told him that Drew was still committed to playing baseball, but there might be a better matchup to his physical and mental skills in football," said Dan Henson, who coached football at several Division I colleges. "I think he missed the athleticism. He missed running around and making a play, because in baseball, you're confined to a three-foot spot at third base or home plate." The next day, as the draft moved into the middle rounds, Jones phoned Dan Henson again. "I thought there was a chance Dallas was going to draft him," Henson said. "There were two to three teams that called me and wanted me to tell them that Drew was going to play football, but I couldn't do that. Charley Casserly was intuitive enough to know that it wasn't as big a risk as other people thought." That's because the Texans had talked to numerous baseball scouts and sources within the Yankees, making Casserly convinced Henson would return to football. Houston selected him in the sixth round. "I called Dan and told him, 'The only reason we drafted Drew was to trade him,' " Casserly said. After hitting .233 with the Columbus Clippers, Henson decided to return to football. Soon after that happened, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones and Bill Parcells met in the scouting department to discuss how seriously they should pursue Henson. It was the first of several meetings. They asked each other questions such as: "How does a young quarterback fit our quarterback situation?" "How will he fit with our team? "What's his talent level?" There were few negatives, so they decided to pursue him. A trade made sense because it would give Houston an opportunity to receive a premium draft pick while allowing Henson to choose where he played. If he returned to the draft, he would have had no say in which team selected him. Houston retained Henson's rights until April 23, but Jones had a different timetable. He wanted a deal done in March. Then Henson could participate in the entire off-season program and have an additional month to learn the offense and work with the coaching staff before the club's first rookie camp. The Senior Bowl At the end of a Senior Bowl practice in mid-January, Stephen Jones spoke with Henson's agent, Tom Condon, concerning his client's intentions. "We understand Drew might be considering playing football. Is that the case?" Stephen Jones asked. "Yes, he's definitely going to play football," Condon said. "Are you going to advise him to go back in the draft, or would he entertain something where he didn't have to go back in the draft?" Stephen Jones said. "Is there a way to do the contract where Drew could be happy and not go back into the draft?" "Yes, because the appealing thing about not going back into the draft is that you can pick your team," Condon said. Now, Dallas could intensify its efforts. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, in town because Wolverines running back Chris Perry was going to receive the Doak Walker Award, visited Valley Ranch in February and met with Stephen Jones and Parcells, an old friend. Jones liked what he heard during their 30-minute meeting. "My college coach said I won't have any problems with his style of coaching," said Henson, "and I agree." On Feb. 12, Henson worked out for 20 teams in Houston. Quarterbacks coach Sean Payton, scout Walter Juliff and offensive assistant David Lee represented the Cowboys. Parcells and Jerry Jones remained in Dallas because they didn't want to alert the rest of the NFL just how much they wanted Henson. Payton, a longtime friend of Henson's father, returned with glowing reviews. The combine When Jerry Jones arrived in Indianapolis at the NFL's Scouting Combine on Feb. 19, meeting with Casserly and Condon was near the top of his priority list. He needed a feel for the compensation Houston wanted and the contract Condon desired. Three days later, Jones met with Casserly in the RCA Dome. They sat in the stands near the finish line of the 40-yard dash and discussed compensation for about 15 minutes. Casserly wanted a conditional third-round pick in 2005 that could become a first-round choice if Henson performed at a certain level or a second-round pick in 2004. But Jones doesn't like conditional picks because he always assumes the player he's acquiring will perform at a high level, thus the team he's trading with will get a better draft choice. Toward the end of their conversation, Casserly agreed to let the Cowboys put Henson through a personal workout soon after the combine. "I wanted to keep the momentum going," Casserly said. Jones returned to the Cowboys' bus, a $500,000 luxury vehicle painted in the club's colors, after meeting with Casserly. Jones drank Dr Pepper while he, Condon and Stephen Jones discussed parameters of a contract. The deal would have to be creative because Henson was going to have to be compensated like a first-round pick even though he was a sixth-round pick. "If it's not a traditional contract, then a lot of people in the league don't want to do it," Stephen Jones said. "It's not like there's something hidden under a rock that's going to bite you." Dallas workout Bill Parcells didn't want anyone to know Henson was conducting a personal workout for the Cowboys on Feb. 23; he didn't want blaring headlines in the local newspapers or television trucks lined up in the parking lot of the club's Valley Ranch training complex. "We're having a secret workout on Monday," he told members of the coaching staff a few days prior to the workout. "I'm not telling anyone who it is." Henson, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, arrived in Dallas from Tampa, Fla., on American Airlines Flight 1209. A team official picked him up, took him to his hotel and then drove him to Al Biernat's, an upscale steakhouse on Oak Lawn where many of the city's power brokers dine. Al Biernat's would provide privacy for Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones and Parcells as they met with Henson, who had changed into dress slacks and a button-down shirt. In a private room, all but Parcells, who opted for seafood, dined on steak. "We were trying to get a good feel for whether this guy has the personality and is he the type of person who can handle being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys," Stephen Jones said. The dinner lasted about 2½ hours as the most powerful members of the Cowboys' organization tried to sell Henson on their team and their vision. They also wanted to look into his eyes and make sure his dream of professional baseball had ended. Once dinner ended, the men shook hands. Parcells and Henson left in the coach's white Lincoln Town Car. Henson learned a lot during the 30-minute drive to his hotel. "It was interesting," Henson said with a chuckle. "Just to hear him talking let me know he's intense about everything in life – not just about football." Much of the scouting and coaching staffs – and Troy Aikman, at Jones' request – attended Henson's 20-minute workout the next morning. When it ended, Jones asked Aikman to speak to Henson. Aikman told Henson about the highs and lows he could expect if he became the starting quarterback for America's Team. "There's a lot of pressure. You're going to get a lot of recognition," Henson said, recounting Aikman's advice. "There are going to be a lot of eyes on you. They expect great things of you." After the workout, Henson visited with Parcells. Then he met with Jones for about 20 minutes in the owner's office. "I'm certainly interested in playing for the Cowboys," Henson said. "We'll be talking to Tom and Houston," Jones replied. "We're going to be pushing this down the road." The contract The Cowboys didn't want to get down to nitty-gritty trade discussions until Stephen Jones had the parameters of a contract in place with Condon because he didn't want to give Henson or the Texans too much power during negotiations. The Cowboys watched every snap Henson played at Michigan and dissected every throw. Ultimately, they decided Henson was a late first-round or early second-round pick, so Stephen Jones began creating a contract that would pay him that way. "Once both sides decide they want to get it done," said Stephen Jones, "it doesn't take but five minutes to get a deal done." The heart of the deal was completed March 12, the day the Cowboys signed former Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley. Stephen Jones spent much of the day on the phone with Condon. Between conversations, he walked down the short hallway to his father's office to keep him informed about negotiations. Periodically, Parcells poked his head into Jones' office for an update. "Are we getting close?" the coach asked. On Friday afternoon, Jerry Jones phoned Casserly and told him Dallas had an agreement with Henson. "Look, I'm not interested in committing to a conditional adjustment if he does well," Jones said. "How about a four ... I know that's a little different than when we talked." "If I couldn't do better than that four," Casserly replied, "I'd just let him go back in the draft." "If that's the case," Jones said, "on a nonconditional basis, I'll go the three." "We got a deal," Casserly replied.

Cubune Article, also on Thomas wantin to retire here and Mr. Zero still strugglin. TUCSON, Ariz. -- The White Sox kept it in the family Saturday as they named longtime outfielder/designated hitter Harold Baines their new bench coach, becoming the fifth former Sox player on manager Ozzie Guillen's coaching staff. Baines has served as the Sox's special assignment instructor the past two seasons, working with minor-league teams and also with Sox scouting and player development staffs in 2002. Baines, whose No. 3 was retired by the team in 1989, played 22 seasons—three stints with the White Sox in addition to time with Texas, Oakland, Baltimore and Cleveland. He was named to six All-Star teams. "He was making easy money with the White Sox for the last four years," Guillen joked. "Now he will have to earn that money." Baines replaces Joe Nossek, who stepped down Friday from the job of chief in-game adviser for health reasons. Baines and Guillen played seven seasons together in Chicago and were both with the Orioles in 1998. Baines retired after the 2001 season. "All of us have to work together," Baines said. "We're a pretty good [coaching] group, so it's not going to be like just me and Ozzie communicating. It's going to be all of us communicating together." Baines said the decision to accept the 162-game grind wasn't difficult at all. "I was fortunate enough to play for an organization that gave me the opportunity and brought me back two more times as a player in the organization," Baines said. "They treated me like more than a player. They treated me like part of the family." … There have been times when it seemed otherwise, whether he wanted to be in Chicago or even whether the Sox wanted him. But Saturday morning Frank Thomas left little doubt about his feelings: "My goal is to retire here," the first baseman/DH said. Contract squabbles seem a distant memory. Thomas, who put on a brief home run derby show that brought Texas Rangers players to the dugout railing Saturday to watch a string of blasts of 400 feet and beyond, has hit safely in six straight games (8-for-15). Coming off a 43-homer season that matched his career high, Thomas' thoughts are well past contract concerns. "You can't worry about those things," he said. "I keep going out there and shining, things will work out for themselves. I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm not going to take things out around the team. These guys need me and I need them around." … Shingo Takatsu, struggling of late especially against left-handed batters, pitched two innings Saturday in a minor-league game, allowing two hits and one run on a home run.

LOL, hey it would prob be cheaper than buyin the White Sox, considerin how cheap Malaysia is.

Sorry Jas, prob out of ur price range. P&O RESORTS have put a price on paradise by announcing it will sell the exclusive Queensland Island Resorts, expected to fetch up to $200 million. Best known as Australia's playground for the wealthy and elite, the super luxurious islands of Lizard, Bedarra, Dunk, Brampton, Herron and Wilson are for sale by P&O, which is focusing its business on European ports and ferries. Lizard Island is renowned as Australia's premier resort destination, offering 24 powdery white beaches on the Great Barrier Reef to its swarm of local and international visitors. Buyers will not need to worry about maintenance costs, as the resorts have all undergone major upgrades over the past four years and are primed for nothing but rest and relaxation of the highest order. P&0 has confirmed it is discussing the sale with parties interested in taking over the business as a whole portfolio, which includes Tasmania's Cradle Mountain Lodge and Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree. "We have been investing in the Islands heavily in the recent years and have built up the business significantly, so we felt it was an opportune time to test the market," said P&O spokesperson John Richardson. He would not speculate on whether the sale was likely to be local, but said the prospect of selling the Islands individually was not feasible. "The value of the business lies in its operation as a multi-resort portfolio, and it won't be open for sale to individual parties, Mr Richardson said." Industry sources have tipped major property trusts such as GPT and Macquarie Leisure Trust as the most likely bidders for the cluster of island resorts, which offer accommodation ranging from private bungalows on Bedarra to a 144-roomed hotel on Dunk Island. Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief Daniel Gschwind said the proposed sale had come as a surprise, but the prospects for buyers were exciting. "The Islands offer a top experience, and they are quite diverse," he said. "Heron has a very strong focus on the natural environment and at the other end, Lizard Island is recognised as one of the most opulent resort islands in the world." He said the credibility of the Islands could only be maintained by a unified sale. "There would be a marketing advantage in keeping the islands grouped together, but it will depend on who the buyers are and how they choose to deal with the islands in the future." Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has been appointed exclusive agent for the sale, but would not comment on any potential buyers.

Is that the next step up for u Jason afta Futuresox?

Pirates of the Caribbean Style. Ozzie as Captain Jack Sparrow, they both crack enough jokes.

Oooohhhh u got WSF there Jas.

No that would probably be me minus the wrestler.

I hav Syracuse goin to the Elite 8 against Connecticut, lookin good in the Phoenix Bracket. Texas up against Duke in the St. Louis, lookin good there, Kentucky against Georgia Tech in the St. Louis, and St. Joseph's against Pittsburgh in the East Rutherford. I'm actually doin ok in this.

Gees Mekhi Phifer's been in a lot of films lately.

He must think we're in the AL East.

Missed out on Stanford, but had Syracuse beatin Maryland. I hav Syracuse goin up against Connecticut in the regional final with Connecticut coming out on top. I had Michigan St. beatin Gonzaga so that really didn't matter much.

He served as the cornerstone for the reconstruction of one miserable NFL franchise and now, nearly a decade later, Warren Sapp will try to help re-establish the halcyon days of a once-proud team that suddenly fell into disrepair last season. Sapp, a seven-time Pro Bowl performer during his nine-year tenure with Tampa Bay became an unrestricted free agency this spring. In a deal that would have been considered unthinkable less than 24 hours before it was consummated, he reached contract agreement with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday evening. The seven-year contract, completed after very long Friday night and Saturday bargaining sessions by phone, will pay Sapp $36.6 million. About $7 million of that will come in the form of guaranteed bonuses. League sources said that the contract is not severely backloaded and will pay Sapp more than $14 million in its first three years and in excess of $19 million the first four years. For the front part of the contract, such a distribution is superior to some of the deals signed by defensive tackles earlier in free agency. Oakland entered into the bidding for Sapp late Friday, phoning agent Drew Rosenhaus only after ESPN.com reported that the Cincinnati Bengals were close to a deal with the defensive tackle on a four-year contract that would have paid him more than $16 million. Operating with their trademark stealth, Raiders executives quickly assessed the financial viability of adding Sapp and determined it was reasonable to make an 11th-hour pitch for him. Just as important for the Raiders coaches was the feeling that Sapp would be a good fit in their defense. Sapp will be paired with another free agent acquisition, nose tackle Ted Washington, and so will be able to continue playing the "three technique" or "under" position so familiar to him. Since the mammoth Washington figures to draw a lot of double-team blocking, Sapp, who will be aligned in the center-guard gap, ought to have plenty of room to maneuver. Getting Sapp, even in the twilight of an often brilliant career, is a move characteristic of the Raiders, even coming off a disastrous 2003 season that left many critics insisting that it is time for the franchise to begin rebuilding with younger players. Part of the sales pitch to Sapp and Rosenhaus, though, was the manner in which Davis has always taken care of veteran players, on and off the field. And Sapp was intrigued by likely being able to finish his career with one of the NFL's most recognizable franchises. There is also a bit of gamesmanship, not surprisingly, in the fact the Raiders staged an all-out yet surreptitious whirlwind courtship. Remember, Sapp played his entire career with Tampa Bay, the team to which coach Jon Gruden defected after leading the Raiders to a berth in Super Bowl XXXVII. Delayed revenge was not the prime reason the Raiders jumped into the Sapp Derby, but it would be naïve to believe it didn't play at least a minor part in going after him so late in the process. There is little doubt that Bengals officials, who were confident when they went to bed on Friday night that they would close a deal by Saturday afternoon, will be stung by the unexpected reversal. Cincinnati executives probably will feel used by Sapp and Rosenhaus, who spent long hours Friday night negotiating with the Bengals. League sources said both sides bargained in good faith and with the knowledge that there could be another team or two still chasing Sapp and attempting to steal him from the clutches of Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis. It became somewhat apparent, after the Bengals made a final offer and then did not hear from Rosenhaus for a few hours, that their worst fears might be realized. Sources close to Sapp maintained, though, he was prepared to join the Bengals until the Raiders entered the picture and came out of the chute with a first offer that captured his attention. Arguably the best and also best-known player remaining in the unrestricted free agent pool, Sapp tired about a week ago of waiting for the Bucs to send some sort of signal they wanted him back in 2004, and instead went on the offensive. He instructed Rosenhaus to follow up on inquires with other clubs and, at the same time, he admitted publicly his time with the Bucs might have come to a close. Landing a player of Sapp's profile, even if his game has declined a bit the past couple seasons, would have been a huge acquisition for the Bengals. Not only would he have helped anchor the interior of a line that slumped badly against the run in the second half of the 2003 season, but Sapp, 31, also would have been a presence in the locker room, and provide an attitude and swagger the Bengals have rarely displayed. When he arrived in Tampa as a first-round draft choice in 1995, the Bucs were in the midst of a string of 12 consecutive seasons with double-digit defeats. But by Sapp's third season with the franchise, Tampa Bay was in the playoffs, and that began a run of five straight postseason appearances. Obviously, he hopes to return the Raiders to prominence before his career ends. On his Web site, Sapp had listed six franchises with which he would consider continuing his career. He never cited Oakland as a potential new home. But it had been clear for the past week that Cincinnati was more aggressive than other suitors. In end, though, the Bengals could not finish off a deal for which their longsuffering fans were clamoring. It is believed that there were also relatively serious discussions with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, but neither team was in the same financial bracket as the Raiders' offer. As a precursor to his departure, Sapp on Saturday posted on his Web site a picture of a tombstone. Inscribed on the tombstone was a Buccaneers logo and the words: "1995-2003. Thanks." There were no substantive discussions during the free agency period between top Bucs officials and representatives for Sapp, and it appeared early in the week that both sides were prepared to move on. Sapp is coming off a 2003 season in which he totaled 58 tackles and five sacks. The sacks were the fewest since his rookie season in 1995. While many observers insist Sapp is not the dominant force of just a few years ago, the former University of Miami star can still take over a game for stretches. And given the lack of interest by a Bucs team he helped to build into a contender, it is a good bet the prideful Sapp will feel that he has something to prove to Tampa Bay officials and other skeptics as well. The departure of Sapp, along with the release of strong safety John Lynch on Wednesday, marks the end of an era for the Bucs. The 12th overall player chosen in the '95 draft, Sapp has 524 career tackles along with 77 sacks. He has also forced 16 fumbles, had eight recoveries and deflected 20 passes. Sapp has appeared in 140 games and started in 130 of them.