DBAHO

That was the first thing I thought when I saw that pic too.

Too bad they won't be in more films together like Gigli.

Mayb a guy da Cowboys should look at, this will prob be Darren Woodson's last season in the NFL.

Interstin article to read, from da Trib. A year ago, some viewed Wally Backman as the favorite to become the next manager of the White Sox. Backman, however, won't even return to manage Double-A Birmingham, a team he guided to a 152-125 record and a Southern League title in his two years. "I've gone from being a hot commodity to not even having a job," Backman told the Tribune on Thursday. "It's frustrating." Backman's departure was expected, however, after a report surfaced in October alleging he had been overly ambitious in his pursuit of the Sox's managerial job. The report in USA Today's Sports Weekly alleged Backman had called Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, a former teammate with the Mets, and told him before a crucial series with the Sox to "kick their [butts] so I can get [Jerry] Manuel's job." The story surfaced a day before Backman flew to Chicago to interview with Sox general manager Ken Williams for the team's managerial vacancy. "I told Kenny that if he believed anything that was written, he should fire me on the spot," Backman said. "I discussed it in detail and I believe Kenny believed what I told him." Responding to the report, Backman said: "I didn't say it at all. Gardy would be the first to admit I never said it. I called to congratulate him on wining the division. That was the extent of the whole conversation. "Gardy wanted to make a public statement to that effect, and I said no. Now that I've been put on a piece of ice out here, maybe I should have let him." Williams said Thursday he was "satisfied" with Backman's explanation of the circumstances, and that it was not the reason he was denied a chance to return to Birmingham. "There were other things I'd rather not get into that the minor-league personnel had issues with," Williams said. Backman's response: "What, that I got thrown out of too many baseball games? That I stuck up for my players too much? "It's a cop-out, an absolute cop-out. They wanted to open a job for somebody else, that's the bottom line. I still respect some people there. But my respect level for some in the organization has dropped dramatically. "You find out how big a political world it is. It's not [about] baseball. Do they want the best coaches and teachers? To me, if I was running an organization, that's what I would want. But it's their decision, and I can live with it and they'll live with it." Williams said former farm director Bob Fontaine originally decided against having Backman return. After Fontaine joined the Mariners' front office in December, his replacement, Dave Wilder, agreed with the decision, according to Williams. "That's not true," Backman said. "About Bobby, that's not true. And that Dave Wilder [item] is not true. I know people in the game, too, and people in the [sox] organization gave me the heads-up. I think [the decision] came down to somebody up top [in the organization]." What surprised Backman the most, however, was his assertion that he never received an official phone call from the Sox informing him that he had lost his job. "To not be called is, by anybody's [estimation], unprofessional," he said. "I heard it through the grapevine." Backman remains convinced the Gardenhire item had a "huge effect" on his inability to land a job. "It doesn't mean I would have gotten the [sox] job, but other organizations saw it," he said. "Now it's so late in the year [to get hired]. A lot of other organizations didn't even know I was available." Backman will be replaced by Razor Shines, who last season led Class A Winston-Salem to the Carolina League championship. He will be joined by pitching coach Juan Nieves and hitting coach Manny Trillo, who had two stints as an infielder with the Cubs. Dale Torborg, son of former Sox manager Jeff Torborg, joins the organization as conditioning coordinator. It's official: Shingo Takatsu, Japan's all-time saves leader, passed his physical Thursday and signed with the White Sox. He will be introduced to the media Friday. Takatsu is guaranteed $1 million—$750,000 in 2004 with a club option for $2.5 million in 2005 or a $250,000 buyout. The 35-year-old right-hander, who has a career 3.13 ERA, could compete with Billy Koch for the closer's role.

Yeh I know, I really wanted an Aussie to root for on this team. Oh well, I can always tell da White Sox generals to come down here more often and sign sum youngsters that could progress thru da system. Moss will pretty much replace Joe Kennedy for Tampa Bay, if he gets his control problems worked out, he could be a pretty good pitcher for em. Nice pick up at only 800,000.

Sorry Steff, but that kid ain't wearin a good shirt rite there. Wrong team.

I just came back from seeing 1 nite's action at the Australian Open down here in Melbourne. Saw sum really good players as well, including Andy Roddick practising on an outside court (almost got his autograph) and then he was escorted out by bout 10 security guards. Tell ya he looks pretty different in person without da cap on, he kicked Dent's ass 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 tonite as well. Also saw Sebastein Grosjean beat Dominick Hrbaty and James Blake without da long hair win as well.

Doesn't matter much unless Nintendo brings out sum good new games along with it, cos u know most ppl r playin XBox's and Playstation's instead of Gamecube's rite now.

Wolf would be da 3rd starter minimum in this rotation, he's one of da best control finesse lefties in da major leagues rite now, plus I think he's still only bout 26. And I would be really excited bout gettin Rollins here as well, I'm sure Ozzie could really make him inot a player if he can increase his OBP and use that speed of his more on da bases.

Reasons for Mr. Zero signing are as followed, Dave Wilder, the Sox's new director of player development, attended the workout and recommended signing Takatsu, who received offers from four teams. Sources say Takatsu picked the Sox, in part, because of his opportunity to contribute to the Sox's weakened bullpen and because of cultural opportunities in Chicago. It didn't hurt that Takatsu's wife, who speaks English fluently, is said to have studied in suburban Chicago for two years. "I think it's a leap of faith for Takatsu and a leap of faith for the Sox," said a source close to the pitcher. "But sometimes leaps bring the best results. "The safe thing would have been for him to sign with a team in California or New York. This is adventurous."

1 - Reed 2 - Honel 3 - Borchard 4 - Cotts 5 - Sweeney 6 - Wing 7 - Anderson 8 - Munoz 9 - Diaz 10 - Rauch

Close enough, how bout Koch to da Mets for Aaron Heilman

Yeah I like it too, I assume his nickname is Mr. Zero.

I think today's move has really given a lot of hope to our supporters, and shows that anythin can happen.

He could be like that Japanese guy in Major League 2, and hav a run in with Frank and say he has no balls.

This could only happen to da Raiders.

I think beatin Pittsburgh this week proved that to a lot of ppl. Okafor and Gordon are goin in da top 10 in da draft, mayb even top 5.

Any chance of UConn still makin it? Da Spartens and the Huskies are my teams.

I'd prefer Mark McLemore but he could be a good pinch runna.

I'd do this trade in a heartbeat if da prospect ain't Cotts, Honel or Reed. Rollins will turn it around, I'm sure Ozzie will make him into a great player, he'll lead da league in steals one season, Byrd is a very solid young center fielder with a good future ahead of him, and Wolf is one of the most underrated lefties in da game. The Wolf Pack mite hav to mov to Chicago is this goes down. Burrell is da key to this deal though makin it really great for us, if he can turn it back around and hit .280-.300 with 30 homers, then we gotta make this deal.

Hopefully he'll be as succesful as Kaz Sasaki was when he 1st went to Seattle. Great signin especially only for $1 mill, shows that KW is still tryin to make this team betta even with da payroll issues. I would hav said Koch would hav been shipped out to da Mets, and he still could be afta they missed out on Vlad, but now since they signed Brandon Looper, I just don't think they'd take him on unless we pay part of his salary as well. Good move makin him a setup man at 1st as well, he'll be our Flash Gordon this year if Koch stays and struggles.

I think sum1 from Boston really wanted Dempster on their team.

Bears hav to play all NFC East teams, which ain't gonna be easy at all. I'll be lookin forward to my Cowboys winnin at Texas Stadium ova u guys.

Sox sign Damian Moss to a 1 year $850,000 deal with a club option for a 2nd at $1,000,000.

Good, he's an excellent QB coach.