Fökai

Ah, where to even start with this...

You're making a statement as if Shane has a say in the creative end. He's a spot machine because he is a terrible worker. The only thing separating him and Vince in the ring is Vince's charisma, which has made Vince into one of the best workers in the company. Just imagine Shane's matches without the high spots and the crazy bumps. Now imagine Vince's matches without those things and a bland heel schtick to boot. They'd be exactly the same.

I don't know what Cena has done over Michaels this year to deserve being called the best worker in the company. All of their best matches came with each other, and Cena's match with Khali was equatable to Shawn's effort. Do you honestly think that Cena could've gave us a better straight match with Taker at the end of the Rumble that Shawn did? Was the Cena/Umaga street fight (on PPV) honestly any better than the HBK/Edge street fight (TV in January)? Did you see their tag match against MVP and Kennedy from Smackdown in February? The reason I'd put Shawn above Cena would be the program Shawn did with Rated RKO while fighting to get to Mania. That was the first compelling angle of the year.

Well, that's fine if the Hawks don't want Conley. And you're right about Woodson's ineptitude rubbing off on Conley. My point was that they shouldn't hope he's available anywhere after #6, because he's good as gone.

To veer off of the current subject, a few people mentioned pages back about Conley being a reach at #3. I think he's good as gone at #4 (Memphis) or #6 (Milwaukee). Conley may be the eighth-rated prospect in the draft, but both teams have pressing needs at the point, and he won't last past Milwaukee if they choose to not re-sign Mo Will. And yeah, Chicago could use Spencer Hawes, but I don't think this team can wait until Hawes develops a post presence at the pro level. They need a guy now, whether it's Randolph or Garnett or whoever, they should not be building toward Tyrus and Hawes in the frontcourt in a few years. If they can package the pick to land someone, so be it. I think that pick is a waste with the team they have right now. Nothing short of Oden and Durant falling to them should sway this. EDIT: I just wanted to make the point that Conley is NOT a reach at #3, and is the perfect pick for the Hawks at that time. I wouldn't risk trading down to land him later - just get him.

Screw the plural "pieces" - the Bulls need low post offense. I just hope that this game from Brown doesn't leave Paxson thinking he should stand pat with that nucelus next year. The Bulls post completely disappeared in the fourth, and it wasn't even a matter of the Pistons playing great defense underneath.

Sorry about that. Crash is Gerald Wallace.

I don't know why he had any obligation to go to Cornette and "straighten things out". Yeah, maybe if Cornette yelled at him in front of the boys, then he should have tucked his tail and apologized. But he was struck by Cornette - how do you sort things out then? Cornette was in a position of power, and whether Cornette had final say or not on developmental (and he didn't), he basically controlled Carelli's fate. And again, I thought the big deal was that he struck Carelli in front of the other wrestlers, and no one there condoned it. From the Figure Four Weekly after Cornette was fired...

It should've been obvious, but Saltalamacchia's name looks ridiculous on that jersey.

Yes, he's the guy who went crying to John Laurinaitis when the retired 150lb wrestling manager slapped him a few times. Wasn't the problem that Cornette did it in front of other wrestlers and staffers backstage?

Amare, JJ and Crash.

It can't be worse than "See? Golden State FINALLY lived up to their potential!"

He was generally regarded as an average worker in Deep South.

When are the rosters actually due for the following week? I came in on Sunday afternoon and was sent to the following week (I'm the team with Mussina).

I sputtered at the end with JJ and Gerald on the disabled list, but I have three (or four) strong keepers going into next season.

I don't remember the last time I was this giddy after a trailer. Michael Cera has returned. August can't come soon enough.

I don't even have a witty response, but fuck you guys, we're worth keeping. We're all healthy and well-tanned over here. Take that, Maryland (and Minnesota, for that matter).

Am I the only one who finds it weird that he's cut all off negotiations for the next eighteen months? My mistake on the contract.

So, I don't know if this is old news or not, but Johan has cut off negotiation talks with the Twins until he becomes a free agent at season's end. SI reports that it's not a matter of money, but the length of contract that the Twins were offering ( 2 years @ $18 mil each). Okay, Schuerholz, it may be wishful thinking, but do what you can. Think about who's going to be there in a season or two and beyond -- Hudson, James, Davies? The farm system isn't ready to produce talent that'll fill those holes in the rotation. Maybe Harrison in 2009, but that's likely it for now. They've already flirted with trading Andruw last season, so there's some financial flexibility right there. edit: Not that I'm condoning doing ANYTHING with Andruw that involves him leaving the team.

Well, if the incident in Vegas doesn't happen, Pacman steers clear of Goodell's radar. I'd say that the NFL believes he embarrassed them as a whole. The two players are suspended without pay, the NFL announced. Hmm, well, I could see the union appealing that ruling. I don't know what Pacman makes beyond his base salary (which is what he's losing).

I think the players' union will uphold the suspension. For one, Jones has a sad history of polarizing conduct - he does all of the voluntary charity work outside of the organization, then he undoes all of it with the shitty stuff that can be blamed on the clique that surrounds him. And secondly, a reduction in Jones' schedule could result in a reduction for Henry, which is definitely not what the league wants. Pacman may be the one that embarrassed the league with the events at NBA-ASW, but Henry keeps fucking up on his own and deserves everything he's getting. Okay, good, you said it too, but an appeal won't happen.

Well, if it had to be the week where Manny and Teixeira both struggled badly... I was going to worry about my pitching this week, but with Johan and Peavy on the other team, I gave up.

Umm, it was Cage who hit him with the chair and sent him to the hospital.

Was there a reason why Teddy Long announced the World Title match? Talk about an anti-climatic feel to the entrances. That's the only complaint I have about this show. The nearfall sequence with Cena and Shawn was one of the best things I've seen in wrestling in a good while.

Disregard the PM, MJ. Sunday is locked, but Monday works for editing lineups.