Bored

Great game but holy shit do these officials suck. Come on Boise State finish this off.

Tonight's Game Fort Worth Bowl: Boise State vs. TCU, worth 21 points Pick Breakdown Boise State (14) - 2GOLD, Kotzenjunge, bps "The Truth" 21, JHawk, Bored, Lando Griffin, Rob E Dangerously, teke184, the pinjockey, phoenixrising, bravesfan, Edwin MacPhitso, Vern Gagne, CanadianChris TCU (9) - MarvinisaLunatic, cartman, Cuban Linx, Choken One, The Mighty Damaramu, HarleyQuinn, Agent Bond34, Gatornibs, razazteca This might be the most important game in the contest as no game worth 20 points or more has a bigger split in the picks. There is a 6-4 split for Boise State among the current 10 leaders so there will be a lot of changes in the standings after tonight.

I've been doing these since April in the WWE and General Wrestling folders but due to lack of interest and other reasons I thought of not doing them anymore. But since I have this crap all typed out already for several months I figure I'll just put it all in one thread and put in the more appropriate Old School folder. This week in Raw/Smackdown/Nitro/Thunder history for 12/14 - 12/20 NITRO December 18, 1995 Ric Flair def. Eddy Guerrero Lex Luger def. Marcus Bagwell Sting def. Bobby Eaton The Giant def. Randy Savage by DQ; WCW Title Match December 16, 1996 Steven Regal def. Psychosis; TV Title Match Big Bubba Rogers def. Chavo Guerrero Jr. Chris Jericho def. Masahiro Chono by DQ Dean Malenko def. David Sammartino; CW Title Match Ice Train def. Jerry Flynn Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Bobby Eaton Kevin Sullivan def. Arn Anderson The Outsiders NC The Faces of Fear December 15, 1997 Ray Traylor def. Vincent Disco Inferno def. Yuji Nagata; TV Title Match Fit Finlay def. Dean Malenko Rey Mysterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera def. La Parka & Psychosis Scott Hall def. Chris Jericho The Steiner Brothers def. Konnan & Scott Norton by DQ; Tag Title Match Randy Savage def. Booker T Chris Benoit def. Scotty Riggs Buff Bagwell def. Lex Luger by DQ Ric Flair def. Curt Hennig by DQ; U.S. Title Match December 14, 1998 Eddy Guerrero NC Villano V Wrath def. Al Green Kidman NC Rey Mysterio Jr.; CW Title Match Barry Windham def. Emery Hale Norman Smiley def. Saturn Konnan def. Stevie Ray; TV Title Match Horace def. Scott Hall by DQ Scott Steiner def. Van Hammer Goldberg, Kevin Nash, and Bam Bam Bigelow go to a no contest in a Triangle Match December 20, 1999 Madusa def. Buzzkill Curt Hennig def. Hugh Morrus Tank Abbott NC Jerry Flynn in a No Holds Barred Match Fit Finlay & Brian Knobs def. Meng & Norman Smiley The Maestro def. Evan Karagias Chris Kanyon def. Diamond Dallas Page and Bam Bam Bigelow (pinned) in a Three-Way Match Jeff Jarrett def. Chris Benoit in a Ladder Match to win the United States Title Mike Rotunda & Rick Steiner def. Harlem Heat Bret Hart def. Goldberg to win the WCW World Title December 18, 2000 Shane Helms def. Shannon Moore Terry Funk def. Meng; HC Title Match Lance Storm def. Rey Mysterio Jr. Jeff Jarrett def. Mike Awesome The Cat def. Alex Wright Goldberg def. Buff Bagwell by DQ Jeff Jarrett def. Lance Storm THUNDER December 18, 1998 Konnan def. Kenny Kaos Fit Finlay def. Mike Enos Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Juventud Guerrera Disco Inferno def. Shima Nobunoga Norman Smiley def. Jerry Flynn Chris Jericho def. Saturn Scott Hall def. Lex Luger by DQ December 16, 1999 Buff Bagwell def. Vampiro TAFKA Prince Iaukea def. Evan Karagias Jim Duggan & Midnight def. Saturn & Asya David Flair def. Norman Smiley by count out; HC Title Match The Wall def. Steve Williams by DQ Dustin Rhodes def. Curt Hennig by DQ Chris Kanyon def. Diamond Dallas Page Bret Hart & Goldberg NC Kevin Nash in a Handicap House of Pain Match for the Tag Titles; Special Referee, Roddy Piper December 20, 2000 Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Jamie Knoble; CW Title Match Mark Jindrak & Sean O’Haire and The Perfect Event are co-winners of a Tag Team Battle Royal Konnan def. Elix Skipper Bam Bam Bigelow def. Crowbar in a hardcore match Goldberg def. Norman Smiley Shane Douglas & Kronik def. The Misfits in Action Scott Steiner def. The Cat; WCW Title Match RAW December 20, 1993 Jeff Jarrett def. P.J. Walker Men on a Mission def. Dwayne Gill & Barry Hardy Tatanka def. Ludvig Borga by DQ Adam Bomb def. Mark Thomas Owen Hart def. Mike Bell The Headshrinkers def. Phil Apollo & Jerry Seavy December 19, 1994 Irwin R. Schyster def. Lex Luger by count out The Smoking Gunns def. Roy Raymond & Chris Avery Bob Holly def Chris Kanyon The Bushwhackers def. Well Dunn Jim Neidhart def. Nick Barbarry December 18, 1995 Jeff Jarrett def. Fatu by DQ Buddy Landell def. Bob Holly Razor Ramon def. Yokozuna by count out; IC Title Match December 16, 1996 Steve Austin NC Vader Fake Diesel & Fake Razor def. The Godwinns Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon def. T.L. Hopper & Doctor X Billy Gunn NC Bart Gunn December 15, 1997 Taka Michinoku def. Jerry Lawler by DQ Dude Love def. Road Dogg Mark Henry def. The Brooklyn Brawler Tom Brandi def. The Sultan Steve Blackman def. Miguel Perez The Legion of Doom def. Shawn Michaels & Hunter Hearst Helmsley by DQ December 14, 1998 Val Venis & The Godfather def. Edge & Christian Goldust def. The Blue Blazer by DQ D’Lo Brown & Mark Henry def. Scorpio & Bob Holly Ken Shamrock & The Big Bossman def. The New Age Outlaws to win the Tag Team Titles Jeff Jarrett def. Steve Blackman in a Guitar on a Pole Match Mankind NC Kane in a No Holds Barred Match The Rock def. Triple H December 20, 1999 The New Age Outlaws def. Test in a handicap match Jeff Hardy & Christian def. Edge & Matt Hardy Kurt Angle def. Viscera The Dudley Boyz def. The Acolytes and The Fabulous Moolah & Mae Young (pinned) in a Triple Threat Match Santa Claus def. Mankind in a Boiler Room Brawl Chris Jericho def. The Godfather; IC Title Match Hardcore Holly def. Val Venis in a Holiday Topless Top Rope Match Al Snow def. The Rock in a Brahma Bull Rope Match Too Cool & Rikishi def. The Mean Street Posse The Big Show def. Kane in a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWF Title December 18, 2000 Chris Benoit def. Jeff Hardy; IC Title Match Val Venis, Bull Buchanan, & The Goodfather def. The Dudley Boyz & Billy Gunn The Rock & The Undertaker def. Edge & Christian to win the Tag Team Titles Chris Jericho def. Perry Saturn William Regal def. Steve Austin by DQ The Acolytes & Jacqueline def. T&A & Trish Stratus Kurt Angle NC Vince McMahon; WWF Title Match December 17, 2001 The Undertaker def. Jeff Hardy; HC Title Match The Dudley Boyz def. Scotty 2 Hotty & Albert; Tag Title Match Christian def. Tazz; Euro Title Match Lance Storm def. The Rock by count out Kurt Angle & Test def. Edge & Rikishi Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo def. The Big Show & Tajiri Chris Jericho NC Rob Van Dam; Special Referee, Ric Flair; Undisputed Title Match December 16, 2002 Test & Trish Stratus def. Steven Richards & Victoria Christopher Nowinski def. Maven Christian def. Goldust Kane & Rob Van Dam def. Three Minute Warning & Batista in a handicap match Lance Storm & William Regal def. The Dudley Boyz Jeff Hardy def. D’Lo Brown Booker T NC Chris Jericho SMACKDOWN December 16, 1999 Chris Jericho def. Prince Albert; IC Title Match Kurt Angle def. Test by DQ Matt Hardy def. Jeff Hardy X-Pac def. Tori Mankind def. Al Snow in a No Holds Barred Match Edge def. Christian The Acolytes def. The Mean Street Posse in an Acolytes Rules Match Too Cool & Rikishi def. The Hollys & Viscera The New Age Outlaws def. Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco in a No-DQ Match for the Tag Titles The Big Show NC The Rock in a Lumberjack Match for the WWF Title December 14, 2000 Edge & Christian def. The Dudley Boyz Ivory def. Lita; Women’s Title Match Billy Gunn def. Val Venis by DQ The Undertaker def. Raven in a hardcore match The Hardy Boyz def. Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn Dean Malenko def. Chris Jericho The Rock & Steve Austin def. Kurt Angle & William Regal December 20, 2001 Edge def. Kurt Angle by DQ; IC Title Match Lance Storm def. Rikishi The Undertaker def. Matt Hardy; HC Title Match The Rock def. Test Chris Jericho def. The Big Show; Undisputed Title Match Booker T def. Steve Austin a First Blood Match December 19, 2002 Eddie Guerrero def. Billy Kidman John Cena def. Chuck Palumbo Brock Lesnar def. Matt Hardy Bill DeMott & Crash def. Jamie Noble & Nunzio Edge def. A-Train Chris Benoit def. Kurt Angle by DQ

Why? It's going to be glorified house show with little to no storyline development with hardly anyone watching so who cares if Austin is there? Hell they might as well done a joint Smackdown/Raw show.

Standings thru 3 of 28 bowl games. Points possible to this point: 28 Points possible remaining: 378 1. MarvinisaLunatic 28 2GOLD 28 cartman 28 Cuban Linx 28 Kotzenjunge 28 bps "The Truth" 21 28 JHawk 28 Bored 28 Landon Griffin 28 Choken One 28 11. The Mighty Damaramu 24 HarleyQuinn 24 13. Agent Bond34 22 Rob E Dangerously 22 teke184 22 the pinjockey 22 phoenixrising 22 Gatornibs 22 bravesfan 22 Edwin MacPhitso 22 Vern Gagne 22 22. razazteca 18 23. CanadianChris 4

Today's Game Tangerine Bowl: N.C. State vs. Kansas, worth 4 points Pick Breakdown N.C. State (20) - MarvinisaLunatic, 2GOLD, cartman, Cuban Linx, Kotzenjunge, bps "The Truth" 21, JHawk, Bored, Landon Griffin, Choken One, Agent Bond34, Rob E Dangerously, teke184, the pinjockey, phoenixrising, Gatornibs, bravesfan, Edwin MacPhitso, Vern Gagne, CanadianChris Kansas (3) - The Mighty Damaramu, razazteca, HarleyQuinn On paper this might be the most lopsided bowl match-up but you knever know. Only worth 4 points so I guess there isn't a huge risk in going with Kansas.

Starters aren't announced until January 3rd. AFC QB: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Steve McNair, Tennessee; Trent Green, Kansas City RB: Priest Holmes, Kansas City; Jamal Lewis, Baltimore; Clinton Portis, Denver FB: Tony Richardson, Kansas City WR: Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; Chad Johnson, Cincinnati; Hines Ward, Pittsburgh; Derrick Mason, Tennessee TE: Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; Todd Heap, Baltimore T: Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; Willie Anderson, Cincinnati; Willie Roaf, Kansas City G: Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; Will Shields, Kansas City; Ruben Brown, Buffalo C: Kevin Mawae, New York; Tom Nalen, Denver DE: Adewale Ogunleye, Miami; Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis; Shaun Ellis, New York DT: Richard Seymour, New England; Marcus Stroud, Jacksonville; Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh OLB: Keith Bulluck, Tennessee; Peter Boulware, Baltimore; Takeo Spikes, Buffalo ILB: Ray Lewis, Baltimore; Zach Thomas, Miami CB: Chris McAlister, Baltimore; Ty Law, New England; Patrick Surtain, Miami FS: Brock Marion, Miami; Jerome Woods, Kansas City SS: Ed Reed, Baltimore K: Mike Vanderjagt, Indianapolis P: Craig Hentrich, Tennessee KR: Dante Hall, Kansas City ST: Adalius Thomas, Baltimore NFC QB: Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota; Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia; Brett Favre, Green Bay RB: Deuce McAllister, New Orleans; Ahman Green, Green Bay; Stephen Davis, Carolina FB: Fred Beasley, San Francisco WR: Randy Moss, Minnesota; Torry Holt, St. Louis; Terrell Owens, San Francisco; Anquan Boldin, Arizona TE: Alge Crumpler, Atlanta; Jeremy Shockey, New York T: Orlando Pace, St. Louis; Flozell Adams, Dallas; Walter Jones, Seattle G: Larry Allen, Dallas; LeCharles Bentley, New Orleans; Marco Rivera, Green Bay C: Olin Kreutz, Chicago; Matt Birk, Minnesota DE: Michael Strahan, New York; Leonard Little, St. Louis; Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay DT: Kris Jenkins, Carolina; La'Roi Glover, Dallas; Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay OLB: Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay; Julian Peterson, San Francisco; LaVar Arrington, Washington ILB: Brian Urlacher, Chicago; Keith Brooking, Atlanta CB: Dre' Bly, Detroit; Troy Vincent, Philadelphia; Champ Bailey, Washington FS: Aeneas Williams, St. Louis; Roy Williams, Dallas SS: Corey Chavous, Minnesota K: Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis P: Todd Sauerbrun, Carolina KR: Jerry Azumah, Chicago ST: Alex Bannister, Seattle

There was no Velocity taping, I don't think. APA vs. World's Greatest Tag Team Rikishi vs. Rhyno Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero John Cena vs. Big Show

Well after a very bizarre week in A's transactions has finally come to an end with everyone they expected to get. Michael Barrett did agree to a contract with the Cubs today thus allowing them to send Damian Miller to the A's as the PTBNL plus $800k in cash. Also after trading for the guy early in the week and then non-tendering him yesterday, the A's signed Mark Redman to a three-year deal worth reportedly $4 million/year, this according to espn.com.

Tennessee scores in the final seconds to give me the tiebreak win and to maybe keep my incredibly slim playoff hopes alive.

Hmmm surprised no mention of the Heyman lead stable of Benoit, Cena, Rhyno, WGTT that never happened. Although I guess that was only a rumor.

Nitro December 25, 1995 Lex Luger def. Scotty Riggs Sting def. Big Bubba Dean Malenko def. Mr. JL Randy Savage def. Ric Flair by DQ; WCW Title Match December 23, 1996 Eddy Guerrero def. Chris Benoit Lex Luger def. Tombstone Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Mr. JL Glacier def. Buddy Lee Parker The Amazing French Canadians def. The Public Enemy by DQ Big Bubba def. Konnan by DQ Dean Malenko NC Steven Regal, time-limit draw; TV Title Match Jeff Jarrett NC Rick Steiner December 22, 1997 Fit Finlay def. Eddy Guerrero by count out Steve McMichael def. Meng Rey Mysterio Jr., Juventud Guerrera, & Hector Garza def. Psychosis, La Parka, & Silver King Chris Benoit def. Hammer by DQ Rick Steiner def. Scott Norton by DQ Curt Hennig def. Disco Inferno Harlem Heat def. Lodi & Scotty Riggs Buff Bagwell def. Chris Jericho Randy Savage def. Lex Luger December 21, 1998 Fit Finlay def. Scott Putski Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Kaz Hayashi Wrath def. Lizmark Jr. Eddy Guerrero def. Rey Mysterio Jr. Norman Smiley def. Prince Iaukea Barry Windham NC Van Hammer Booker T def. Jerry Flynn Lex Luger def. Kenny Kaos Konnan def. Alex Wright; TV Title Match The Giant def. Disco Inferno Goldberg NC Scott Hall December 27, 1999 Brian Knobs def. Bam Bam Bigelow in a hardcore match Mike Rotunda & Buzzkill def. Dean Malenko & Konnan Tank Abbott def. Shane Lash LeRoux & Midnight def. Harlem Heat Bret Hart def. Jerry Flynn; WCW Title Match PG-13 def. Rick Steiner & Berlyn by DQ Norman Smiley & Asya def. Saturn & Jim Duggan Jeff Jarrett def. Kidman; U.S. Title Match The Harris Boys def. Fit Finlay & Meng by count out David Flair & Crowbar def. Vampiro & Evan Karagias Chris Kanyon & Buff Bagwell def. Big Vito & Disco Inferno Kevin Nash def. Sid Vicious & The Wall in a handicap match 2000 – no show Thunder 1998 – no show December 23, 1999 Rick Steiner & Mike Rotunda NC PG-13 Tank Abbott NC La Parka Norman Smiley def. Fit Finlay; HC Title Match The Harris Boys def. Curt Hennig in a handicap match The Maestro def. Bam Bam Bigelow Konnan, Kidman, & Jim Duggan def. Saturn, Dean Malenko, & Asya The Wall def. Kevin Nash by DQ Chris Benoit def. Bret Hart by DQ; WCW Title Match 2000 – no show Raw December 27, 1993 Lex Luger def. Barry Horowitz Johnny Polo def. Marty Jannetty Crush def. Mike Moraldo Razor Ramon def. Derek Domino December 26, 1994 Tatanka NC The British Bulldog Henry Godwinn def. Mike Khoury Kwang def. Rich Myers The Undertaker def. The Brooklyn Brawler 1995 – no show December 23, 1996 Hunter Hearst Helmlsley def. Marc Mero Rocky Maivia def. Salvatore Sincere Pierroth & Cibernetico def. The New Rockers Bret Hart def. Fake Razor Ramon December 22, 1997 The Headbangers def. The Godwinns by DQ The Undertaker def. Rocky Maivia by DQ; IC Title Match Marc Mero def. Scotty Taylor Kurrgan def. Eight Ball Ken Shamrock def. D’Lo Brown Hunter Hearst Helmsley def. Shawn Michaels to win the European Title December 21, 1998 Al Snow def. Gangrel Billy Gunn def. Ken Shamrock Steve Blackman def. The Blue Blazer by DQ Road Dog def. The Big Bossman to win the Hardcore Title J.O.B. Squad def. The Acolytes by DQ Mankind def. Shane McMahon by DQ The Headbangers def. D’Lo Brown in a handicap match Triple H & X-Pac def. The Rock & Test by DQ December 27, 1999 Chyna def. Crash Holly The Dudley Boyz def. The Godfather & D’Lo Brown, Edge & Christian, and The Acolytes (pinned) in a Four Corners Tag Match; Special Referee, Joey Abs Kurt Angle def. The Headbangers in a handicap match Al Snow def. Chris Jericho by DQ; IC Title Match The Rock def. Mankind in a Pink Slip on a Pole Match Prince Albert & Ivory def. Viscera & Jacqueline, Gangrel & Luna, and Val Venis & The Kat (pinned) in a Four Corners Tag Match X-Pac def. Jeff Hardy Test def. Kane by DQ The New Age Outlaws def. Too Cool; Tag Title Match The Big Show def. Triple H; WWF Title Match December 25, 2000 The Hardy Boyz def. Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko Hardcore Crap Segment: Raven wins the Hardcore Title after pinning Steve Blackman; Blackman def. Raven and Hardcore Holly (pinned) in the original Triple Threat Match Steve Austin def Kane by DQ Too Cool def. T&A Kurt Angle, Edge, & Christian def. Chris Jericho & The Dudley Boyz Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather def. A.P.A. The Rock def. The Undertaker by DQ December 24, 2001 Rikishi def. Test by DQ Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo def. A.P.A. Rob Van Dam def. Lance Storm Torrie Wilson def. Stacy Keibler in an Egg Nog Match Christian def. The Hurricane; Euro Title Match Booker T def. Maven Tajiri def. Bubba Ray Dudley in a Santa Claus Match Chris Jericho def. Kurt Angle and The Rock (pinned) in a Triple Threat Match for the Undisputed Title December 23, 2002 Kane & Rob Van Dam def. Three Minute Warning Test def. D’Lo Brown by DQ The Hurricane def. Christopher Nowinski Batista def. Spike Dudley Trish Stratus, Jacqueline, & Stacy Keibler def. Victoria, Molly Holly, & Ivory in a Santa’s Little Helper Match Booker T & Goldust def. Chris Jericho & Christian; Tag Title Match Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross def. William Regal & Lance Storm Smackdown December 23, 1999 Chris Jericho def. Hardcore Holly by DQ; IC Title Match Rikishi Phatu def. Viscera Test def. Road Dogg Kurt Angle def. Edge The Rock def. Al Snow in a Cage Match The Kat def. Ivory; Women’s Title Match Jeff Hardy & Christian def. Kaientai Kane def. Mr. Ass Mark Henry def. Buh Buh Ray Dudley The Big Show NC Mankind; WWF Title Match December 21, 2000 The Dudley Boyz def. Lo Down Ivory def. Jacqueline; Women’s Title Match Chris Jericho & The Hardy Boyz def. Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, & Perry Saturn William Regal NC Hardcore Holly; Euro Title Match Crash & Molly Holly def. Kaientai Steve Blackman def. Raven; HC Title Match Billy Gunn def. Steven Richards Edge & Christian def. The Rock & The Undertaker to win the Tag Team Titles; Special Referee, Kurt Angle December 27, 2001 Tazz & Spike Dudley def. The Dudley Boyz Christian def. Rikishi by count out; Euro Title Match The Rock & Rob Van Dam def. Kurt Angle & Lance Storm Trish Stratus def. Mighty Molly; Women’s Title Match The Undertaker def. Tajiri; HC Title Match Edge def. Kane; IC Title Match Booker T & The Big Bossman def. Steve Austin in a handicap match December 26, 2002 Bill DeMott def. Crash Los Guerreros def. Edge & Billy Kidman; Tag Title Match Rikishi def. B-2 Chris Benoit def. The Big Show

The Marlins signed Armando Benitez to a one-year, $3.5 million deal and because of that non-tendered Braden Looper making him a free agent. I know Looper wasn't the greatest closer but that is a pretty big risk to be taking when they probably could have kept him for cheaper.

They got Derek Lee so they don't need Simon and he'd cost too much to just be a back-up. Only thing though is they did do the Lee trade like six weeks ago so I'm wondering in that time if they tried to trade Simon at least for a prospect. Other Cubs related news, according to their website it is expected that they did agree to a contract with Michael Barrett which would mean Damian Miller will go to the A's to complete the trade from earlier this week. Nothing is official at the moment though. Other A's related news, they signed Erubiel Durazo to a one-year deal worth $2.1 million. I think Durazo is no longer Billy Beane's "Holy Grail" to only get a one-year deal. Now watch him hit 35 homeruns and leave for a big contract as a free agent next offseason.

Count me as someone who can't stand Dick Vitale. I remember a little while back seeing a game on ESPN Classic from like 1986 or 1987 between I think Boston College and Providence. Vitale was doing the game and he was excellent. He was much more understated but not to the point where he was boring and when an exciting play, only then would he go into his shtick. Now he's just a parody of his ownself getting overly excited about every other play during a game. Oh and Vern is right about the never critcizing coaches thing. In Vitale's world no coach in college basketball can do anything wrong. I remember just the other day when Mike Jarvis was fired there was immediately a column up on espn.com by Vitale ripping St. John's a new one for firing him. Now right or wrong Vitale does this ALL THE TIME when a coach is fired to the point where I think he just writes the same exact thing every time and just cuts and pastes the latest coach to be fired. One other thing that bothers me about Vitale is the guy is incredibly biased towards the ACC especially Duke and North Carolina to the point where its just sickening. The guy lost any credibility the first time he ever uttered the word "Dukies". I personally can't watch any game Vitale does anymore.

Thank god that little shit Menechino is gone. Yes he can draw a walk but could do absolutley nothing else except give Jason Giambi blow jobs. You'll have to be a diehard A's fan to get that. I'm kinda surprised Fikac wasn't tendered but with the recent bullpen additions there probably wasn't going to be a spot for him. Redman actually isn't a surprise at all because he didn't fit under Steve Schott's salary cap. The A's payroll with Redman (who would have gotten probably $4 million in arbitration) would have pushed to about $58 million and Schott probably won't go any higher than $55 million this year. Yes $3 million means a lot to this asshole. I'm wondering why Beane bothered with the deal when he must have known there was no chance he would get permission to add more payroll. Oh well all they gave up to get him was mop-up reliever but it still sucks they have nothing to show for it.

It's the A's...they won't sign any of them. Speaking of the A's they have until tonight to agree on a contract with Mark Redman or already say bye to him without getting anything for him. It doesn't seem likely that they will offer him arbitration. Aw the wonders of a cheap ass owner team.

God damn I wish I or someone else had had the foresight to create an OAO A-Rod topic a couple of weeks ago. A little late now.

Could have posted in the original college football topic since it has nothing to do with the bowls. Anyways...to keep on topic here's a little useless bowl fact. The Tangerine Bowl is on Monday and the game is only 13 years old but it has under gone four name changes. First it was the Blockbuster Bowl (as in Blockbuster Video), then the Carquest Bowl, then the Micron PC Bowl, and finally settling on the non-corporate Tangerine name. Blockbuster Bowl (1990-1993) 12/28/90 Florida State 24, Penn State 17 12/28/91 Alabama 30, Colorado 25 1/1/93 Stanford 24, Penn State 3 Carquest Bowl (1994-1997) 1/1/94 Boston College 31, Virginia 13 1/2/95 South Carolina 24, West Virginia 21 12/30/95 North Carolina 20, Arkansas 10 12/27/96 Miami 31, Virginia 21 12/29/97 Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30 Micron PC Bowl (1998-2000) 12/29/98 Miami 46, N.C. State 23 12/30/99 Illinois 62, Virginia 21 12/28/00 N.C. State 38, Minnesota 30 Tangerine Bowl (2001-present) 12/20/01 Pittsburgh 34, N.C. State 19 12/23/02 Texas Tech 55, Clemson 15 And there is your Tangerine Bowl history lesson...not that anyone cares.

Al I sometimes wonder if your trying to get a job as A-Rod's publicist. He might have not gone into Tom Hick's office and said "TRADE ME!" but the fact that he and Scott Boras openly campaigned for the trade seems to indicate to me that he wants to be traded. But oh well he gets to rot in Texas like he chose too in the first place.

Houston - 20 pts. Tampa Bay Minnesota New England Baltimore St. Louis Carolina Buffalo Jacksonville Dallas Tennessee Chicago Pittsburgh Seattle Philadelphia Indianapolis Green Bay

Ben Roethlisberger referred to his college career in past tense after the game so I'd assume he's going to the NFL as expected.

Standings thru 2 of 28 bowl games. Points possible to this point: 24 Points possible remaining: 382 1. MarvinisaLunatic 24 2GOLD 24 cartman 24 The Mighty Damaramu 24 Cuban Linx 24 Kotzenjunge 24 bps "The Truth" 21 24 JHawk 24 Bored 24 Landon Griffin 24 HarleyQuinn 24 Choken One 24 13. Agent Bond34 18 razazteca 18 Rob E Dangerously 18 teke184 18 the pinjockey 18 phoenixrising 18 Gatornibs 18 bravesfan 18 Edwin MacPhitso 18 Vern Gagne 18 23. CanadianChris 0 (died for the greater good)

Aww but there lies the big question...is MLB better off with the Red Sox winning a championship? That's a tough one, but... Do as many people tune into the playoffs last year if the Red Sox didn't have this mythical "Curse" story? Do as many people give a shit about the Red Sox getting Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, and trying to trade for Alex Rodriguez? Do the Red Sox even go to these lengths if they had a few championships in the last 80+ years? I'd say a resounding "no" to everyone of those. Oh and I think you'd get many people to argue the Red Sox had a great chance of going to the World Series and winning without every trying for A-Rod.

I know your a big A-Rod fan but you can't defend him on this. He is openly campaigning to steal a man's job and forcing his way there. Its not like he's a free agent and no one forced him to sign with the Rangers. Ya I believe for two seconds he signed with the Rangers to win...sure he did. Maybe he didn't think they'd be this bad but winning was secondary to the money. Hey most people wouldn't reject an offer like that but now he has to reap consequences of his decision instead of trying to turn himself into some sort of victim.