Cheech Tremendous

3. Lashley may have been ECW champ, but he was never Hardcore Champion

1. He doesn't talk like a 5-year-old

Id take potential 3rd place in NL central over guaranteed 4th place from here to eternity in the AL east Ha... you mean 5th place, right? I can't see the Orioles sniffing 4th for at least two or three years.

From si.com:

Consider yourself lucky. I've been killing time today because work's been a little slow. The whole argument basically came down to "Fielder is really fat, but he doesn't strike out as miuch as Howard." Really... that was the crux of the whole thing.

Boston will probably end up with Sam Cassell or Damon Stoudamire before too long. It just depends on what happens in the trade market before their potential buyouts. That will go a long way towards solving their bench and PG issues.

When Ryan Howard was Fielder's age, he hit 23 home runs in the Florida State League. Fielder was better last year as well; Howard's totals are fueled by his 2006 campaign, which he may not touch again. I would take Fielder over Howard. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but if you read the chat it seemed as though Stark only preferred Fielder because he struck out less. Almost every response included something to the effect of "Fielder makes more contact", "Fielder strikes out less", "Fielder moves runners along" and "Fielder's a better pure hitter." It got really nauseating after a while.

Nah, didn't catch it, but I don't think it's an age thing. You're like two years older than I am.

Maybe there are multiple killers... did you ever think of that?

Look I'm a Kings fan and 2002 was the second most crushing defeat I've ever had to deal with as a sports fan (behind the 2003 ALCS), but I'm not going to make excuses for a team that had every opportunity to win the series outside of one poorly officiated game. Game 6 was the worst refereed game that I have ever seen in professional sports and the phantom Bibby foul was beyond suspicious but I'm not dense enough to think it was some sort of set-up by the league. Referees make bad calls. It's just a part of the game. I don't think there was anything unfair about the Kings-Lakers or Suns-Spurs series.

Then who was? I'm trying to think, but I can't come up with anyone. Maybe best is the wrong word but certainly the biggest. EDIT: Totally forgot about U2, but they technically got together in the 70s.

In terms of 'severe difference' if I'd have looked at Britney when she was 20, I'd have said she was was fairly normal, grounded young woman, like Page seems to be now. Heck, a few days ago I'd have said there was a huge difference between Britney now and Heath Ledger, but apparently there wasn't. If Ellen does win, she'll be one of biggest stars in the world and probably have the paparazzi all over her which I don't think anyone needs at that age. Really,I'd just hate her to end up like another one of these actors who got too much too soon and went crazy on drugs. I don't really know enough about her to say she wouldn't end up like that. You are way off base here. There is little, if any, similarities between Page and Spears. Britney Spears was never "grounded." Does anyone remember the Spin article by Chuck Klosterman done shortly after her first album that basically foreshadowed her insanity? Just about everyone connected to her stated how out of touch with reality she was from a very young age due to the idolization from her audience and sheltering from her handlers. There is also a monumental difference between Spears and Page as stars. Spears was a worldwide icon. Every little girl wanted to be her and every guy wanted to fuck her. Page is just a talented actress from a surprisingly successful movie. I can't think of any parallels between the two.

Bad calls and bad referees are part of the game. You don't make excuses based on officiating.

Slim's right. I still to this day think that the Kings were the better team in 2002 and should have won the whole thing, but it's their fault they lost. Sure the refs made some dubious calls in Game 6, but the thing would have been over in 5 if someone would have guarded Robert Horry and game 7 was all theirs for the taking. It took a chokerific performance in the 4th and OT to let that thing get away.

The Kettle Chips plant is located about a block from my office. Imagine trying to avoid those chips when you smell them every single day. I probably go through a bag of the Salt & Vinegars every week.

I tried to make it through Jayson Stark's chat today comparing Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. I nearly shot myself after reading roughly 50 different Stark replies that somehow concluded that Fielder was better because he doesn't strike out as much, despite the fact that Howard has a better career AVG and OBP.

Appetite For Destruction is probably the best hard rock album of all time and Use Your Illusion could have been just as good if they cut out the fluff and made it one disc. I don't know why we are debating their place in history. They were probably the best band of the 80's, but burned out fast. That's their legacy. Everyone has their individual tastes and G n R aren't for everyone, but I don't see how anyone could deny what they accomplished.

- The Tampa Bay Rays locked up James Shields to a long-term deal. The deal is guaranteed for four years with three additional option years. Guaranteed money is just $12 million, but total deal could be worth $38-$40 million with options and incentives. - The Red Sox signed two former closers to minor league deals. Former Brave Dan Kolb and Ray Dan Miceli will start in the minors but get guaranteed money (around $800K) if they are added to the 40-man roster at any point. - According to Baseball Prospectus, Bartolo Colon looked bad, but not awful in his last start in winter league. The ESPN Deportes gun had him cracking 90 MPH for the first time, but his fastball was sitting at 88-90 MPH. He'll probably get a shot somewhere, but I wouldn't expect much.

Not this argument again. San Antonio was the better team last year. The suspensions impacted one game and the Spurs won the series 4-2. It's too much of a leap for me to say that the Suns would have won the game for sure if the suspensions didn't happen and that they'd come back and win a game 7 against the best team of this decade. It's plausible, but not particularly likely.

I like the idea of a serial killer who targets B and C level celebrities and makes their death look like a drug overdose by planting pills at their side.

By the wya, I had a hard time choosing between the winning post above and this gem:

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't paid real close attention to the NBA this year. I usually check the standings, but haven't made it through more than a handful of games. 1. Which team looks like the best bet to win the East? At this point, I'd have to say Boston. I've seen enough of Flip Saunders' coaching in the playoffs to know that an ECF choke is in the picture. 2. Which team looks like the best bet to win the West? It's still the Spurs until someone shows that they can knock them off. They've struggled a little bit this year but it's still the same team that dismantles everyone come playoff time. 3. Which team looks like the best bet to win the NBA title? The champion is going to come from the Western Conference. San Antonio is the favorite, but I wouldn't count out Dallas or even Phoenix. 4. Which dark horse has a legitimate shot at surprising us and winning it all? This is always a difficult question for me because I have a hard time defining who the darkhorses are. Is Dallas really a darkhorse? Of the teams that are somewhat off the radar, I'd say New Orleans or Cleveland. The Hornets because I believe that Chris Paul can do anything and the Cavs because everyone has sort of forgotten about them and they are still the 3rd best team in the East. 5. Who's been the best rookie this season? Kevin Durant. 6. Who's the MVP so far? Chris Paul and it's not particularly close. He has the best numbers of anyone and he had the freaking New Orleans Hornets in first place in the West. That's unbelievable. 7. Which team has the biggest disappointment? Lots of good candidates with Utah, Houston, Chicago and Miami. I'd be inclined to say Chicago because they were title contenders when the season started and have just totally imploded. But looking at their record, they could still finish .500 this year. The Miami Heat, on the other hand, have gone from 2006 champs to the worst team in the NBA. 8. As we sit at the midpoint of the regular season, which story line or situation interests you most? How will the darkhorse contenders (Blazers, Hornets, Warriors) respond in the second half of the season and how will they impact the playoff picture.

1/22 - In reference to Heath Ledger's death:

This is something we did last year at midseason and thought it would be fun to try again. 1. Which team looks like the best bet to win the East? 2. Which team looks like the best bet to win the West? 3. Which team looks like the best bet to win the NBA title? 4. Which dark horse has a legitimate shot at surprising us and winning it all? 5. Who's been the best rookie this season? 6. Who's the MVP so far? 7. Which team has the biggest disappointment? 8. As we sit at the midpoint of the regular season, which story line or situation interests you most?