vance_the_cubs_fan

Anybody seen this yet? Link

Yeah, it the short term though, I'm really not missing out. I'm still able to get decent seats to games when I come to Chicago. It does suck in regards to not having playoff options and such, however. If I didn't think it would be too big of a hassle to unload tickets to all those other games, I would go ahead and get them. But right now, it isn't right for me. Man,if I got the opportunity to buy now, I'd have to go forward even if I thought selling some or most would be a hassle. But I'm not the one wearing your shoes. Well, I didn't actually pass it up. I have acted as the go-between for someone who wanted to buy a pair. My name is on the account, so it will give me some options in the future.

Sounds like a porn star name to me.

I was offered locations in the 400-level or bleachers.

That's kind of what I'm doing. I sent an email back asking for information about location and pricing. I'm waiting for a response to that one.

Yeah, it the short term though, I'm really not missing out. I'm still able to get decent seats to games when I come to Chicago. It does suck in regards to not having playoff options and such, however. If I didn't think it would be too big of a hassle to unload tickets to all those other games, I would go ahead and get them. But right now, it isn't right for me. Do you stay at the head of the line until you are ready, or is there a penalty for turning down the opportunity? Frankly, I don't know. But, I doubt I could keep turning them down and stay there for as long as I would need to. I haven't contacted the person yet. I've just read the email. This was it.

Yeah, it the short term though, I'm really not missing out. I'm still able to get decent seats to games when I come to Chicago. It does suck in regards to not having playoff options and such, however. If I didn't think it would be too big of a hassle to unload tickets to all those other games, I would go ahead and get them. But right now, it isn't right for me.

Well, I got an email about 10-minutes ago that I have been selected. Either they have opened up a ton of seats or a bunch of people stopped buying this year. Last year at this time, I was 2700 or something like that. Unfortunately for me, I'm going to have to decline. Since 2003 when I signed up, I've moved an average of 300 spots per year. I was hoping to get called in about 15 years when I would be close to retirement. I only make one trip to Chicago at this time, so the cost is too great for me to do it now.

Charles Haley missed out as well. He has a pretty strong resume for enshrinement in my opinion. He played a strong role on two separate Super Bowl franchises.

don't make me dig out my kids sized Bobby Hebert jersey shirt. it is a bit frustrating at times the bandwagonism(?) that is going on. I was telling some supposed Saints fans about Rickey Jackson getting into the hall yesterday and I basically got blank stares. These folks weren't even around as recently to watch Aaron Brooks throw interceptions and then laugh about it. It's reached epic proportions around here with all these "long-suffering" Saints fans here in Monroe. I know more about former Saints players and past history than many of the "die-hard" Saints fans I've talked to. Also, many can't believe why I'm not donning the black and gold and chanting "Who Dat?' One co-worker I talked to didn't even know about Ditka trading the entire draft for Ricky Williams. But she's been a Saints fan her whole life (she's 32) and has waited so long for this.

True. Interestingly enough, I'd argue that Mississippi is more of a Saints state top to bottom than Louisiana. In my experience I've come across a whole HELL of a lot of Cowboys fans in that state (such as yourself). The state is becoming more and more a Saints state. I think every business, school, whatever proclaimed Friday black and gold day here. Years ago, the Saints did a poor job marketing themselves as the team for the whole state. Areas in the northern part of the state often were Cowboys fans, but I'd say if you polled people now, the Saints are definitely the majority here. Fans of other teams here are fewer and fewer, especially in the 25 and under crowd.

Furthermore, I'm not saying that New Orleans isn't tied up in the Saints and that it doesn't energize the city for the Saints to finally make the Super Bowl. And yes, maybe more so than other cities. And yes, I'm sure it is good for the city because there is much of the city that isn't rebuilt. And Katrina may have actually saved the Saints. Benson long had wanted to move them out of New Orleans. And even considered it in the aftermath of Katrina. He's long held that over the heads of state legislators and has a pretty good sweetheart deal right now. Since Katrina and the strong 2006 season, the Saints have been sold out for season tickets. That stopped Benson and his moving talk. He and the NFL knew that it would be bad PR to discuss moving the team after that. But it was talked about lots even in the aftermath of Katrina. Bum probably doesn't hear much about that. No one talks about it anymore. They're too busy languishing in the euphoria. Yes, people here are tied to the Saints. Louisiana is a football state. The Saints for a long time have been the only pro franchise in the state. Yes, we now have the Hornets and at one time the Jazz were here, but there were many years there where for Louisiana, it was the Saints. And yes, we have all heard the story about Brees coming to save New Orleans, and it makes a good story. But what it is is revisionist history. He followed the money. That's what athletes do. Yes, he has done a lot for the city since signing the deal and he should be commended, but had the Dolphins or anyone else offered him more guaranteed money, Brees would not be in New Orleans. We hear this crap from players all the time. I vaguely remember about a year ago Bradley gushing about how he wanted to be in Chicago...yada, yada, yada....we see how long that lasted. I'm sure Brees had compassion for the city. I'm sure his heart strings were pulled. You would have to be heartless not to feel that way, but in reality Brees is a Saint because they needed a QB bad enough to sign him even with the questions about his shoulder.

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board. Maybe, but maybe not. Do you actually think you know more about the city than him? Dude, he talks to people. I've never lived in New Orleans, but I've lived all but five of my 37 years in the state. I have a number of friends from there and have visited there a number of times. I met many of the evacuees in shelters, talked to one every day as she taught at my school until she returned home to rebuild her home in the ninth ward. He may have a better understanding of them than I do, but maybe not. Would my living in Chicago for six months give me a better understanding of the city as someone who lived in Illinois their whole life, but not in Chicago? I don't know, but I wouldn't be so presumptuous to claim it. Of course, I'd never claim I was mentally ready to be a parent at 18 either. In fact, I have two and at 37, I'm not sure I'm mentally prepared for it. But I guess we've all learned that da bum knows more than us anyway.

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board. Maybe, but maybe not.

Let's talk about lazy. Is being lazy not reading anything said by Brees or Sean Payton and just assuming stuff based on absolutely nothing but your own ideas or is lazy reading about why Brees decided to sign and watching interviews where Payton and Brees talk about it? ESPN the Mag just had a story on this an issue ago. Payton was taking Brees to the airport and he was going to fly to Miami. Brees said he was leaning towards Miami but then Payton missed a turn and got into a neighborhood that was destroyed (claims it wasn't on purpose). Brees saw the damage and told Payton he was going to sign with the Saints because he felt a calling to help the city. So yes Brees signed because of Katrina. He signed because nobody else [expletive] wanted him. Even Miami (the only other team) was lukewarm at best. Brees can go around and say it was because of Katrina but it's because no other teams wanted to sign him and the Saints easily offered the most money and the chance to be a starter. Nobody is going to turn down millions of dollars and a starting job to be a backup and not make money just because a city got ravaged by a hurricane. Yeah I guess you know what Brees was thinking better than Brees himself. Drew Brees has never told a lie. of course not. http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc298/diesel5021/buddy-breesus.jpg

And yet Miles has as many national championships as coach as LSU as Carroll won at USC.

People in glass houses . . . . I believe LSU is looking into possible NCAA violations, according to Athletic Director Joe Alleva. Hey, my team doesn't have any potential violations. What about the recruiting violation when Reggie Bush called and helped recruit McKnight? Are you going to provide a link where Reggie acknowledged "recruiting" McKnight? Well, McKnight said he did when he signed his loi and then quickly retracted after receiving a phone call from Carroll. I think it's clear to see unless you just stick your head in the sand. As for the LSU situation, as best as it is known it appears to be an isolated incident and the student-athlete did not compete in contests for LSU. I'm not minimizing it, and if it is found to be a major infraction, I'm sure there will be a penalty. As for USC, let's see...knowledge of the Bush situation, recruiting violation with McKnight, McKnight driving a fancy car, among others...when you have that much going on, yes it does appear there was lack of institutional control.

What about the recruiting violation when Reggie Bush called and helped recruit McKnight.

Sanctions or not, USC will end up falling because Lane Kiffin is the coach.

I sympathize with all of you that are losing games due to WGN cutting back. It's what motivated me years ago to get the EI package. The only games that it hurts me on are games vs Houston and would probably affect the Rangers games, but I'll be at those games regardless. I think it is the beginning of the end for Cubs on WGN (not that the beginning wasn't years ago.). The Ricketts no longer have a financial incentive to keep the Cubs there. With the expanding abilities of MLBtv and EI, there is a means (albeit at a cost) for out of market fans to see the games. Furthermore, the Cubs no longer have a means to want to prop up programming for WGN. I expect when the current contract with WGN is done, that will be an end of the games carried by the superstation. Fans of Corner Gas will be excited.

I never get too upset over a team's hitting coach. He'll likely get heckled during bp by the fans who show up early, but I'd probably expect more might ask for an autograph.

Nomar had a good run, but in my opinion he wasn't good enough long enough to be a HOF. His career numbers if spread over a longer period likely would be enough. And there's no doubt that he was likely a HOF before injuries did him in, but how does that distinguish him from a guy like Don Mattingly? Nomar is one of those really good players that, in my opinion, doesn't quite equal HOF. Really, I don't think he's close enough to debate. He's in the class of guys like Dale Murphy, Will Clark, Don Mattingly and others who were good enough for some to at one time think they belong (mainly die-hard fans of that player) but after closer scrutiny, it's clear they were just good players but not all-time greats.

LSU by all accounts had a top ten class. It wasn't as strong as I would like, but with Louisiana's crop rated lower than usual, it's not surprising.

What about the north (particularly northeast) Louisiana area? UL-Monroe has a RH'er by the name of James Jones, who is pretty good and will likely drafted in the mid rounds (15-25). La Tech has a left hander by the name of Mike Jefferson that should go between rounds 3-5 and might be worth the drive down I-20 to Ruston. They also have an OF'er by the name of Devon Dageford that merits watching if go see them. Not much as far as HS or Juco in that area to watch for. Thanks. I'll definitely check out the ULM pitcher and will try to see La Tech player as well.

What about the north (particularly northeast) Louisiana area?