Soul

I believe his name is Ken Walter. There are a big number of Patriots fans on the Colts board that I am on. One of them described Walter's punts as almost like a pool shot-he said it went 30 yards in the air, and then simply spun backwards every time. It infuriated Patriots fans then, and they hate that he is back. Yeah that might be a big plus for the Bears. The only thing I worry about though is that Hester might get so excited that he makes a stupid mistake. Word is, Hester has been putting in alot of extra time with the special teams coach. Certainly the last couple games after the Miami meltdown, he has been improved. Here's hoping it continues----I think the Bears are at a significant disadvantage this weekend, being the 3rd road game in a row against a good team.

That could be helpful with Manning Jr out. Yeah, and special teams coverage. The injury report is now clear after Jones and Wesley were removed on Friday. The Patriot, on the other hand: OUT SS Rodney Harrison (Shoulder) QUESTIONABLE TE Daniel Graham (Ankle) CB Ellis Hobbs (Wrist) LB Corey Mays (Hamstring) P Josh Miller (Shoulder) CB Asante Samuel (Knee) CB Chad Scott (Groin) TE David Thomas (Groin) FS Eugene Wilson (Hamstring) PROBABLE QB Tom Brady (Shoulder) DE Richard Seymour (Elbow) But that's from Thursday. Faulk is now questionable with the flu. And Josh Miller is now out. They are bringing a punter in off the street. I can't remember his name, but he hasn't punted in 2 years. That could really help.

I'm glad someone agrees. I don't understand the infatuation with Lugo in a position that he's played a total of 1 time in his Major League career, especially when it's more vital that we upgrade at SS than it is in OF. Doesn't everyone agree with that? Well everyone except for Hendry? Yeah. IMHO, Lugo in CF is a disaster. Lugo in CF + Izzy/DeRosa middle infield? That's just terrible. No way for playoff contention with that. At least Jacque would bring some outfield experience and some decent power.

I think this is a key to JD(from the article) "His nickname in the Dodger clubhouse, according to one big league coach, was "Nancy Drew," and according to one major leaguer who has played against Drew for much of his career, one Dodger player greeted the news of Drew's departure by phoning friends in jubilation. Some of that same undercurrent was present when he was with the Cardinals. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Buzz Bissinger, who spent much of the 2003 season with the Cardinals for a book entitled "Three Nights in August," wrote in the book that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa "wondered whether Drew's underlying ailment, like it was for so many young players coming into sudden millions, was an absence of sustained passion that had no medical remedy." " You mean a key as to why the Cubs have shied away? You could be exactly right.

Rebuilding? I don't think so. His actions thus far are quintessential reloading. I view a move for Lugo in CF as akin to slamming on the brakes. I agree he's been loading up, but we finished so far from playoff contention it will take a hell of a train to pull us all the way back in 1 season.

I really don't get ideas of starting Lugo or Soriano in CF. They have COMBINED to play....wait for it....ONE game in CF in their careers. I know, let's sign JD Drew to play catcher! Maybe Vicente Padilla can spell Izturis at SS! The only reason I can see why they want to do that is to not block Pie. They think if they start Lugo in CF in 2007 that they then can move him to SS after 2007 when Izturis's contract runs out and Pie is ready to play CF. If Hendry's going to experiment in CF just to keep Pie ready for '08, then he ought to come clean and admit we're on a 2-year rebuilding plan. With the moves he's been making lately everyone has the impression we're trying to win this year. But ultimately, launching Jones out of town leaves us with a mid-power lineup offensively and the pitching is still bad. It reeks of 3rd place. I realize there's work to be done with the pitching staff yet, but dumping a decent power hitter with outfield experience for a guy who can't hit for power and hasn't played CF is counterproductive. As for Drew, he's out and he was really the best option. Which also would point to keeping Jones as the preferrable policy.

I don't care what anyone says. This team is not as advertised, and that's just a fact. Whatever happens from here on out, this right now is far below expectations. Lord help us, if we lose to the lowly Knicks and go 0-fer on the road trip, this will be as bad as any start I remember. And no, recovering to win 47 and go to the playoffs will NOT qualify to get this off the table. This was advertised as a challenger for the conference title, a true contender. I'm not seeing it.

Stros had to make this move. They were in danger of being routed to the bottom of the division. Signing Lee keeps them relevant. It's a good signing for them. I was hoping Carlos would go back to the AL.

I think this signing actually makes the Astros worse. The C Lee signing helps though. I do wish he had gone somewhere else.

Hehe, cute :lol:

People who are innocent should not be expected to have to PROVE their innocence. Your statement implies that Pujols has to PROVE his innocence. His statement does not imply that at all. He already stated that the original article did not prove Pujols of being guilty, just like this article does not prove Pujols is innocent. He's basically saying Pujols has no reason to be mentioned in either of these articles. I agree with that. He should not have been linked either way. This just proves that deadspin was dead wrong...nothing more. I do think though that anyone that reports these false things should have to pay a price...Even Keith Olberman jumped on this story that night without any proof. The media is too quick to report "news" without waiting for facts. I'll agree with that, other than the idea that it is somehow suprising that Olberman jumped too quickly at a story. His show is little more than The Daily Show repackaged for MSNBC.

Hilarious. ARod on the Texas bench, laughing and clapping. Lou's a classic. I only hope he doesn't lose that edge in Chicago.

I love Ron Santo. But the point is valid. Many hated Santo because he was pompous and arrogant too. Now he's beloved. It could be done, but I don't think it will be. Sosa will stay down in the dominican and not accept much blame. And that will be it.

Thanks. Seems like the past couple offseasons there have been rumors about Floyd and Chicago.

So the money's there at the moment, and Hendry's spending it. I have no problem with it. I mean, the man's job is on the line. He's got a farm system that's drained, and he needs to win right now or else. Of course he's going to lay out what cash he has to try and win sooner rather than later. One thing I'll say about Mr. Hendry: he's at least doing what I would expect a GM to do in his position. For me, that's a change. I don't know if it makes him "smart."

What if he beleived in comminism and murdering people? :? As long as he's not actually murdering anyone, he can believe in it all he wants. Believing in murdering people isn't really politics though. Belief in communism? I wouldn't stop a good player from playing on my team because of that. I'd tell him he's misguided.....but then I'd give him the ball and ask him to win that big game for me :wink:

She's always impressive. But her songs......I just find them to be a little cookie-cutter-ish. Doesn't matter though. She can sing anytime, I'll be watching.

Gumbel is pretty boring. Not a good characteristic to have for a PBP guy. That's *GUMBEL*?? Wow. I totally didn't pick that up. He's not doing it for me right now. Hopefully it will get better. So Fogerty flew from Detroit to KC and did two halftime shows? That was pretty neat.

I can't argue that the Cubs have lacked direction and focus. I don't agree with your apparent belief that Hendry is the ultimate source of this, however. I don't really like the job Jimbo has done either, anyone who has read my posts knows this. But the fact is, there have been many other GMs and the results have been similar. I'm a believer that organizations are built from the top down. The overall direction and long-term strategy of the Cubs (i.e. who we want to "be" as a baseball franchise) must come from the top level. And that's the Trib. I don't subscribe to --- and never will --- the idea that owners are simply a financial resource and little else. Yes, the GM is an important part. But he is hired by the owners, and will for the most part carry forth the vision of those owners----whether consciously, or (more dangerously) subconsciously. So while I agree the plan/direction has not been there, I'm not convinced there's going to be one until the Trib either undergoes a massive overhaul of the way they choose to run this team, or alternatively sells the team. As for those who correctly point out the Cubs were ranked the #1 farm system not too many years ago: it would have been nice to capitalize on that with an overall organizational strategy that made sense. But we didn't, instead raping the farms by selling them off for questionable talent. In the meantime, the Cubs still never had a focus on position talent even when they were ranked highly -- which has directly lead to our current need to spend massive amounts of money on position talent.

Floyd would be a strong signing by Hendry. Not sure about dollar figures since this is still just a rumor. I'd prefer him to come off the bench while Murt starts, just because I think Matty has a shot to break out this year. If they're signing him as a bench player/insurance policy against injury, then this sounds like a very good idea to me. It's been since Glenallen Hill that we had solid power off the bench.

what are his politics? how do you even know what his politics are? I don't get it either. I could care less if a guy has diametrically opposed views to me on each & every issue. You deliver a WS to this old Cub fan? You're a saint. He and Kurt Warner were in political ads in St. Louis during the WS opposing the stem cell research proposition that was on the ballot. As a person with a science background, I found the ads offensive because they so blatantly distorted the small amount of truth what they were saying contained. Plus they're idiots for having their viewpoint, but that's just my opinion. But, back on track, Suppan will be too expensive for what he's worth. Even though Weaver's agent is Boras, I think he'll try to sign a short term deal to get his price tag back up and then strike while the iron is hot after Duncan fixes him. No thanks to Mulder, we have enough of those already. Watch it. That's why I said it was just my opinion, which I and everyone else is entitled to. No offense intended, those ads just really pissed me off. Alot of people were upset with Michael J. Fox for his ads, too. Let's say I'm a rebuplican who opposes stem cell research. I'm making a movie and it's having a lot of trouble getting any funding----no name actors, no real interest. Fox reads the script and says "I'll have a go at it." You can bet your bottom dollar I'm signing him up. ASAP. Here's my opinion: not wanting a player because of his politics is stupid. To me this is self-evident.

Early impression of the NFL Network broadcast: Collinsworth is alright I suppose. But the play-by-play guy (missed his name) seems a little weak. At least the game doesn't seem as blowout-ish as the first two.

Yeah, after rooting shamelessly for the Jets last week, and surely just as much for the Patriots on Sunday, they got a respite today watching one of their favs win it. As if there was any doubt the Cowboys would destroy the Bucs, but whatever. Dallas is an excellent ballclub, no doubt about it. I just hope if the Bears play them in the playoffs it isn't Buck/Aikman doing the call. That would be sooooo unfair to Chicago fans.

He looks very good. Tampa is obviously unable to pressure him though.

He took an expansion club to a World Series title in a very short period of time. A title which he won by staring down the mighty Yankees at the height of their considerable powers. I'll take him. He'll do what it takes to win, as he has proven with the Diamondbacks. He is also very well respected as owner of the Suns, where he has been voted executive of the year 4 times. He's a solid owner with a proven track record of success. But to hell with it, let's stick with the 25-year losing streak of the Trib.