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Probably lots of ours lamenting that we don't have that and have mr. happy positivity guy instead yeah, i was going to say, a large swath of every fanbase would love it, especially ours. imagine if sandberg rolled in here and his first act as manager was to be mean to starlin castro for no reason. he'd be emperor for life. I know it is a different sport but Mike Ditka just had his number retired by the Bears and is very popular almost everywhere except Green Bay.

If we happened to beat Michigan, would that get us in? Or do we need one more after that? We'd need no bid thieves and even still would be left to the whims of what the committee values this year. (R/N record good, bad losses bad) Should be a lock with 3. Time to root for all tournament locks and Illini opponents for the next 12 hours Illinois would get Neb/OSU winner if they beat Michigan. I think they could easily win that game. I am not sure if Illinois is on the bubble yet, but if they beat Michigan you would have to think they would be knocking on the door. you have to give Groce credit. 2 yrs in a row Illinois is playing their best ball when it counts the most

Indiana is twice as talented as Illinois. They just really suck at playing basketball.

does it really matter?

So I know no one cares...but I am going to boycott all future televised Red Wings games that Eddie O is doing the color. He has given up even trying to sound objective.

if he was still a Cardinal the Cardinal Way would protect him from saying anything that could be construed as not being a good teammate.

what were you hoping to get? Crawford and Bickell were not overpaid, they were given market value contracts. The question is should have the Hawks paid them? Hawks are still the favorites and in good position to keep being strong contenders for several yrs to come.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=445323 St Louis to the Rangers for Callahan and pick. I know that the Rangers were having issues signing Callahan, but this seems like a huge give away for a 38 yr old.

I think he missed the mark with this. The Cardinal Way is an organizational blueprint. If he wanted to take people to task for misrepresenting what it is, I would've agreed with that, but he's basically griping about a successful marketing strategy. IDK. There are plenty of people who live here in Central Ill that believe that the Cardinals play with some sort of moral superiority or the right way. They run out grounders, dive after balls, hit behind runners and play clean. I think they have thought this way long before there was any marketing campaign.

according to several twitter accounts yes. No actual confirmation that I could see. I would say that yes he has thoughhttp://www.tsn.ca/nhl/ edit. confirmation

Maybe. I think Philly is always lured to the most shinny object on the shelf and will make the moves to get it, regardless if it is good for the team long term or not. So my guess is that they do not want whatever non-shinny thing the Hawks would give up to get Kesler. So you think the Flyers want Shaw... yes!! How about the Flyers get Hossa, the Hawks get Kesler+, Vancouver gets pieces and parts

Maybe. I think Philly is always lured to the most shinny object on the shelf and will make the moves to get it, regardless if it is good for the team long term or not. So my guess is that they do not want whatever non-shinny thing the Hawks would give up to get Kesler.

I read that Philly is making a big move to get him. I don't understand Philly

too bad Pittsburgh's play and the snow on the ice made the game kind of crappy to watch for a person who didn't really have a rooting interest I'm guessing the snow aspect was what got a lot of people tuning in. People texting their friends..."are you seeing this hockey game in the snow? They can't even move the puck in it...check it out!" It may not have been the ideal showcase for the best hockey there is to offer, but i don't think anyone expects that out of these stadium games. It's a spectacle. I understand. The outdoor games are not really geared for guys like me who are going to watch a game between two of the best teams in the league anyway.

too bad Pittsburgh's play and the snow on the ice made the game kind of crappy to watch for a person who didn't really have a rooting interest

There is a couple of kids from my local HS that play for Wesleyen. I didn't know that IWU was having such a good season.

I think it was 2 picks...1st and 3rd rounder

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=445054here is a link with Pittsburgh proposed offer. edit: I think Vancouver would probably require more from the Hawks since they are a Western Conference team...but obviously if that is the Penguins offer and Vancouver is considering, getting Kesler should be doable. Personally I think the Wings can easily beat that deal and will probably have a higher 1st rounder. I hope they become serious about obtaining Kesler also.

I finally understand what it was like to be a Bulls fan in the 1990s. Or at least close. not really that close. There was almost no doubt the Bulls were going to win the championship in at least 3 of their championship yrs. The Edmonton Oilers dynasty run was probably the last time an NHL team was that dominant.

is there an issue with Olt? I find it weird that he has DHed twice

The only way a trade for Kesler would work at the deadline it would have to balance out money wise. That would mean having to include Seabrook, Bickell or Oduya or some combination involving at least 1 of those guys. I doubt the Hawks would be willing to part with Seabrook since their D prospects are still too far away to play his minutes, I don't know if Oduya would accept a trade to Van and I'm not sure how either side would feel about Bickell. Van probably like Bickell but not at his price tag. The Hawks probably don't want to give up on him so quickly. It would take Bickell plus. Truthfully I think the Hawks would be better off not making that deal. I think Bickell is a better fit with the current Hawks than Kesler would be. If Bickell was moved another big body net presence would need to be added also. Vancouver really doesn't need d-man that bad unless they trade Edler. Really? Kesler would be the 2nd line center they've needed basically forever. Bickell got overpaid because he had 2 good months. There probably isn't 1 GM in hockey that wouldn't trade Bickell and a 1st round pick for Kesler. And it would probably take more than that. The Hawks have won 2 Stanley Cups without a really good 2nd line center. They have not won a cup without a power forward that creates pressure in front of the net. Is Bickell going to be that guy in the playoffs again? IDK. But I will maintain that the Hawks have enough quality forwards to get by without a great 2nd center, they will not win the Cup without someone creating space and cleaning up garbage. Holmstrom drove me crazy for yrs for the Wings, but now that they never really replaced him I truly understand the value of players like him.

Have they always done the 7th inning stretch in ST? Have I just not noticed before? If it was added for the new place than I am completely in on hating Ricketts

I understand ESPNs creating a non story. But I do not think that has anything to do with what I mean. He was just largely unproductive. If it is what Rawaction said then fine, but I still think it would scare me if I was a GM thinking about trading up to get him. I think there are a couple valid questions about him. Is he too good of an athlete that he has not worked that hard on improving technique? Also, if he was just coasting to not get hurt, can he be trusted to not coast later? Listen I am not saying he is not a top 5 pick or even not the number 1 overall. I just think if it was me, I would be apprehensive about trading up and adding at least another number 1 to get him.

I have been confident that Castro would rebound. I have really been hoping that Olt works out to some degree. If both happen I would suggest that the negative air that has surrounded the Cubs this off-season will fade away rather quickly

Yeah, a .300 BA with a .330 OBP is perfectly fine with me. As Merrill Hodge said "It didn't feel right not to swing." with 40 doubles