soccer10k

I would be ok with it if Lee is at 1st, Ramirez is at 3rd, ARod is at SS and Soriano is at 2nd! There are always a couple exceptions to any situation.

That's doubtful. The Yankees view any season in which they don't win the WS as disastrous, and Boston goes insane every season. I think those are both higher pressure than the Cubs job. Imagine if Dusty got the results he got in either of those two places. He made it 4 full years in Chicago, 3 of which he was accepted by the vast majority of the public and media as exactly the right guy for the job. He'd have been killed after the 2003 playoff loss and 2004 collapse. Instead people talked about how lucky we were to have back to back winning seasons. Considering how they fired Grady Little after a 95-win season and a series victory over Oakland in the ALDS in 2003, I think Dusty's fate would have been similar. He wouldn't have even been around in 2004. Grady's choke job in 2003 with leaving Pedro in was far worse than anything Dusty did. Everybody knew Pedro blew up after he hit the 100 pitch mark. Everybody knew that Pedro should have been removed from the ball game. Heck, my mom changed the channel when Little came out the first time because she thought Pedro was going to be removed from the game. Nobody could believe that Grady left Pedro in that ballgame. While you could argue that Prior was overworked that year, there was no evidence to suggest that Prior wasn't going to be able to complete that 8th inning. He had pitched superbly that game and didn't show signs of tiring. He had also thrown 115+ pitches numerous times over the course of the year with positive results. Dusty had no reason to think that Prior would come undone in the 8th inning that day. That's the difference. Grady should have known Pedro was likely to unravel. I think Dusty would have been around in 2004, but would have been fired after the season if he was the Boston manager.

No. I could root for Manny, I could even root for Edmonds in cubbie blue. But Bonds would seriously make me consider not being a Cubs fan, atleast for a year. Did you cheer for Sosa when he was on the Cubs? You can't compare Bonds and Sosa. Two completely different people and situations.

I had to go with Morgan. And I agree on Walton. He is the worst NBA announcer out there.

I agree on dropping the ties from the score. I'll fix my post above. And your feeling about laying money down this week was the same feeling I had after my 12-4 Week 2. But then I went 4-8 this week and realized that's why I don't bet.

I dont think Minnesota will be able to run the ball consistantly at all. Maybe a big run here or there but they wont be able to grind Michigan out on the ground. The front 4 of Michigan is there best ive ever seen (DL for them historically isnt all that great anyway, but these guys are good) and the LBs are solid. Caputo is a good Qb but he is going to need to carry them this week. Purdue can run the ball against ND. If they have to rely on painter too much in obvious passing situation or need to come from behind they will be trouble. ND cant run the ball and probably wont stick with it long enough to know anyway. Its all about Purdue's secondary, and they did ok against Caputo. It's Cupito. And I agree with your point about Minnesota. Their O-line is still good but they don't have Marion Barber or Laurence Maroney in the backfield anymore. If Gary Russell would have returned I think that would have been an upgrade over Amir Pinnix and Alex Daniels. Heck, Daniels is a converted linebacker. I think Minnesota is going to get hammered in this game. ETA: The only thing I would be worried about as a Michigan fan would be a letdown after wins over Notre Dame and Wisconsin. But I think Michigan is good enough to overcome a letdown if they do have one.

Man United-Benfica is about to start on ESPN2 in Champions League Matchday 2

Looking at the MLB standings after today's (Sept 25) games, I noticed that win their 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox today, the Toronto Blue Jays are now half a game ahead of the Red Sox for second place in the AL East. It's the first time in recent memory that the Yankees and Red Sox haven't been 1-2 in the AL East this late in the year.

No. I could root for Manny, I could even root for Edmonds in cubbie blue. But Bonds would seriously make me consider not being a Cubs fan, atleast for a year. I would root for Manny. I would root for Edmonds. Under no circumstances would I EVER pull for Bonds on the Cubs unless the World Series was on the line. He's the only player like that.

No.

Totally agree, and have thought so for quite some time. I love when the Bears play the Falcons. That was my favorite game last season. Same here. I have never liked quarterbacks that relied on their legs to make plays. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I don't like fast quarterbacks. What I am saying is that I prefer quarterbacks that can throw the ball first and will use their legs if necessary. okay jim hendry. Please. Don't insult me. This is completely different from baseball. How many starting NFL quarterback's rely on their legs more than their arms this year? Michael Vick. Period. There's a reason for that. Is it a coincidence that the Eagles made the Super Bowl the same year in which McNabb had the most passing yards (by 500), highest quarterback rating (by 18 points) and least rushing yards (by 93) of his career? I think not. There is a reason the option doesn't work in the NFL and it's the same reason why quarterbacks that rely on their legs aren't very successful in the NFL. i was kidding. when i read the part in bold it reminded me of the famous jim hendry quote. i hate michael vick too. Oops. #-o

This week: vance: 9-3 Mark: 5-7 ndistops: 4-8 soccer: 4-8 Ryan: 7-5 Truffle: 6-6 UMfan: 7-5 rawaction: 5-7 Overall: vance: 26-18 Mark: 21-23 ndistops: 20-24 soccer: 23-21 Ryan: 14-14 Truffle: 6-6 UMfan: 7-5 rawaction: 5-7 *There were two 'push' games in Week 3.

Final ATS for the week: vance: 9-3-2 Mark_R: 5-7-2 ndistops: 4-8-2 soccer10k: 4-8-2 Ryan: 7-5-2 Truffle: 6-6-2 UMfan: 7-5-2 rawaction: 5-7-2 I'll post the overall standings in the thread in fantasy discussions.

Totally agree, and have thought so for quite some time. I love when the Bears play the Falcons. That was my favorite game last season. Same here. I have never liked quarterbacks that relied on their legs to make plays. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I don't like fast quarterbacks. What I am saying is that I prefer quarterbacks that can throw the ball first and will use their legs if necessary. okay jim hendry. Please. Don't insult me. This is completely different from baseball. How many starting NFL quarterback's rely on their legs more than their arms this year? Michael Vick. Period. There's a reason for that. Is it a coincidence that the Eagles made the Super Bowl the same year in which McNabb had the most passing yards (by 500), highest quarterback rating (by 18 points) and least rushing yards (by 93) of his career? I think not. There is a reason the option doesn't work in the NFL and it's the same reason why quarterbacks that rely on their legs aren't very successful in the NFL.

Totally agree, and have thought so for quite some time. I love when the Bears play the Falcons. That was my favorite game last season. Same here. I have never liked quarterbacks that relied on their legs to make plays. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I don't like fast quarterbacks. What I am saying is that I prefer quarterbacks that can throw the ball first and will use their legs if necessary.

Early line for the game is Chicago (-3).

Marshall is starting this game.

New Orleans off to a good start.

I think just having the Saints back in the Superdome means enough as it is. Obviously a win would be nice for the city (although not for my picks) but I don't think it's necessary.

I had raw at 2-4-2 after the morning games.

True, I guess it depends on the Cubs goals for contending next year. In fact if I were Hendry the ARam situation might help those goals. With Aram and a few more decent moves I could see the Cubs contending next year since the NLC is so bad. I hate hearing the phrase "a few decent moves" in regards to what the Cubs need to do in the offseason. Don't get me wrong, it's the truth. It just doesn't bode well for the Cubs next year when you need more than a move or two in the offseason to help the team contend. The add in the fact that the Cubs were 5 outs from the World Series just three seasons ago and now they are likely going to have the worst record in the National League.

I would prefer not to have to see Pagan trot out to CF on opening day next year.

Why is that a more attractive job? Because you'll get to watch expensive players leave after they hit arbitration while managing a team in an empty stadium and having Loria in your ear at all times? The Cubs have to be one of the most attractive jobs around. A guaranteed 2 years with low expectations, a full stadium, a big budget, and all the perks that go with a big city (commercials, etc.) And the potential to end the longest WS drought in baseball.

ESPN.com story. Madden cover jinx strikes again.

Burn it in a sacrificial ritual.