Andy

You've got it all mixed up. Players play for big contracts if the Cubs are stupid enough to give it to them, but once here they never live up to their billing.

I see there was some more contraction since the last standings update.

Unlike MLB, the NFL has actually done a very good job of policing themselves and taking a strong stand against performance enhancing substances. They have tough penalties and have done random testing for a long time. Additionally, they not only test for the drugs but for masking agents as well. The union and the owners both agree that performance enhancing substances have no place in the NFL and have worked together to try to keep them out of the league. This is totally different from MLB where the owners were more than willing to sweep this under the rug (until Congress got involved) and the union opposed drug testing. Because the NFL hasn't allowed the problem to get out of hand like MLB has, there's not nearly the amount of controversy surrounding the NFL. Didn't several members of the Carolina Panthers admit to using steroids a couple of years ago? I think Todd Sauerbrun (sp?) was one of them, and if a punter is juicing, who isn't? I could be making this up, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing something like this a couple of years ago. It just makes no sense to me why football gets a free pass, while it's a witch hunt in baseball. Yes, a few members of that team got steroid prescriptions filled out by a doctor in the area who I believe is no longer a doctor. Sauerbrun, two offensive linemen and I believe one other player were implicated, but no major ones. I really don't think the NFL has that big of a problem with it, though.

Good point. When was the last time the Cubs signed a top FA? Shane Andrews? Probably have to go all the way back to Andre Dawson.

14 page game thread, this is what the Cubs have done to us

*Todd Walker walks into the clubhouse and sees Pierre and Neifi penciled in to the 1 and 2 slots in the order* Todd: Hey Dusty, this has to be a mistake. Pierre and Neifi have .287 and .213 on-base percentages respectively. Those are both pretty awful. Shouldn't they bat later in the order? Dusty: But they're both fast dude, and they're both not white so they can handle the summer heat better. Plus, Pierre's been putting the ball in play hard he just hasn't gotten the breaks, dude. Todd: What are you talking about? Pierre's slugging this year is lower than Glendon Rusch's. Haven't you ever managed a team before? Dusty: Ummm, no. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. *Todd looks at the camera stone-faced* Todd: Oh, no. http://www.epier.com/Fisher/ItemImages/HolidayInnExpressLogo-300.jpg

HR David Ross. What, the, hell.

Thanks, Glendon. He's signed through 2007, BTW.

Wow, that sure looked fair to me, Angel.

I want Freel on this team. Stupid Glendon.

An ad with Joe Buck saluting his dad? Do you REALLY think we can get behind that subject matter?

K!!!!

Rusch walks Ross in front of Slugger Arroyo :x

JOCK!

Len busting out the "tip your cap" line :roll:

Random. Len was talking about Kerry "being penciled in" for Sunday's start but not necessarily a lock to make it.

Good catch Murt!

The Ewing/lottery conspiracy is widely known around the league, even more so than the "Stern drove Jordan out of the game for 18 months because of his gambling" theory.

Rusch strikes again...

Good bloop there by Luis Matos...I mean...Todd Walker. :)

Nice smack by the Wombat!

Well, I'm psyched for Monday's game and I'm not even a soccer fan. :)

Seconded

Sammy is mentioned in that article too I see.

Won't be too long before Nevin starts being a clubhouse cancer here too when he realizes that he's effectively being benched for the Neifi/Womack show.