UMFan83

If/when Pujols announces he's breaking off contract talks, that would be a very enjoyable thing to wear during Cubs/Cardinals games at Wrigley this year.

Pujols. I'd probably be making a terrible mistake but whatever. I'm not big on Fielder as a long term investment and I'm not a big fan of Sabathia in general. I wouldnt be thrilled paying Pujols $30 mil at age 40 but if the choice was between those 2, I'd choose the guy that's almost guaranteed to put up .950+ OPS for the next 4-5 years.

Yeah that was pretty bad. But I think people don't blame Wade for staying in Miami and I think most people, other than Chicagoans, were pretty much convinced he was going to stay in Miami from the start of the process until he signed. I'd be willing to bet most casual NBA fans didn't even realize that whole halfday drama that was Wade's second visit with the Bulls.

Pessimistic spin: 6 of the Bulls last 8 losses have come to the 20-34 Clippers, the 17-38 Nets, the 26-28 76ers, the 23-31 Bobcats (twice), and the 24-29 Warriors.

I definitely agree with all of that. I can't really blame him for leaving Cleveland, but the way he did wasn't just a dick move to them; it was a dick move to everyone. Honestly, the whole FA process left a sour taste in my mouth. Some of it is his fault, most of it is not. The shoddy reporting in the media really started it. There were actual articles in respected media outlets that said that LeBron James was going to be a Bull (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/sports/basketball/27draft.html). And ESPN was just a ridiculous farce the way they went about their reporting. Then you have the whole specticle of LeBron. At first it was rumored he was going to fly to each city to hear pitches, and Nike was going to make a shoe in the team's colors to commemorate his FA visit. Then, after backlash there, it was decided he was going to invite everyone to visit him in Cleveland (not Akron either). That was another specticle. But all of that wouldn't have resonated with me without the shameful event called "The Decision". Rightly or wrongly, that turned me against him. Not even because he ditched Cleveland on national TV, but just the entire event of him having an hour long special on ESPN to announce where he was going to sign. It even sort of angered me that he was donating money to charity for the event because it was an attempt to limit the backlash. Blah, I'm over it now. I think LeBron realizes what his actions this summer cost him in terms of reputation, even if he won't admit it.

And he's got a really, really, really good chance to win at least one while he's in Miami. And really, is it LeBron's fault that Cleveland constructed such a horrible team around him? If anything, their poor play just makes me understand better and even sympathize with why he wanted out. He would have had a chance to win a bunch of championships with the Bulls. He's got a good chance to win a bunch with the Heat, too. They're not going to be always as restricted as they are now. Probably not, but no one knows for sure until the new CBA is settled on. My belief is that LeBron probably knew the Bulls offered him the best immediate opportunity to win, but the Heat were right behind the Bulls. The problem with the Heat was that for the first year or two they were going to be really limited beyond the big 3. But get a couple of MLEs under their belts and suddenly their supporting cast is going to look decent. So LeBron took the option where he plays with his friends in a warm climate and hopes the star power of those 3 are enough to overwhelm everyone for a title this year, and if not, they will only improve the next couple of seasons.

obviously not

Incorrect. It will be when their leadoff hitter reaches on a seeing eye single in the top of the first on opening day.

how about you take him and we get ron adams back You are obsessed with Ron Adams (and rightfully so). But you act like we stole your homegrown product. He was the Bulls assistant coach (as im sure you know) for 6 years before going to OKC for not even 2 seasons. We just took back what was rightfully ours after VDN stupidly decided not to keep him on the staff.

So Washington finally won a road game?

Whatever, its still in the same region. It has more importance to LeBron than like Chicago or something. You can't deny there is an emotional tie to Cleveland, as he mentioned quite a few times when he still wanted to be a Cav. I could be wrong but the quotes about Cleveland not being his hometown only came the last year or so.

Yup same here. It was something like an 18 inning game and everyone starting joking on this board that harang's career is about to be ruined. And not surprisingly it was. I'm pretty surprised he went public with that though, considering he's still an active pitcher and unless he doesn't make the team will surely cross Dustys path again.

I don't think people in the national media respect Geo all that much. I know he won ROY and started the ASG in 08, but I think he's been forgotten about due to his poor 09, the various injuries that has really kept him out of the lineup a ton the last 2 seasons, and the fact that Lou all but made Koyie Hill the starting catcher for a time last year despite Soto playing awesome.

I was just reading the thread from earlier in the day. Did someone actually say that Illinois fans, particularly in this thread, are setting their expectations too low for Illini basketball and accepting mediocrity?? Is this opposite day? Next someone is going to complain that erik is too laid back during game threads.

Yea they were discussing that a bit on realgm last night. They were pasting quotes from a hornets blog where fans were just ripping on Rose. I know I am saying this through Rose (pun intended) colored lenses but I gotta wonder how much of it is them feeling threatened that they might not have the unquestioned best PG in the NBA.

There are A lot of really entertaining teams in the NBA this year it seems. I feel like anytime the Celtics, Heat, Magic, Lakers, Spurs, Knicks, Clippers, Thunder and Mavs (not to mention my Bulls) are playing, I get engrossed watching them. It's beginning to remind me of the 90s NBA again with a lot of great teams with strong entertaining personalities.

Who? I forgot he even existed.

I don't know maybe. They can't really afford more than 1-2 losses the rest of the way, and they still have games at Illinois, at Minnesota and vs. Wisconsin, not to mention vs. Michigan State. Can't see them making it, but they have impressed me this year.

Tim Hardaway Jr is a stud.

If there was any team that I didnt want to see knock off Ohio State, it is a bunch of stupid Packer fans.

1 point isn't enough, and yet that is what we get. Hawks lose. Turco was 0-3 in the shootout, getting fooled badly each time. The Hawks are still in 11h place and 2 points out of a playoff spot. Hawks blow a 3-0 lead and after 3 quick goals, do not score again the rest of the game. I cannot express how infuriating this game is. Looks like a lost season for the Hawks. Any good offers for Seabrook out there?

Turco looks absolutely awful in this shootout. I've never seen a worse performance

Wow...hawks take a penalty when they fling the puck into the crowd. Then a few minutes later, on a shift change, a hawks player passes the puck down ice and it hits the skate of a player coming off the ice.

Another game where we lose a goal on a questionable call and the opponent gets a questionable goal. Just awful luck this year. We are still 5th in the NHL in goal differential

Yeah whoops. So much for that lead