sfaJack

Two things: 1. Who cares if Rose's "playing days" were over? He was the freakin' MANAGER of the Reds while gambling!! While technically not on the field playing in the game, he was very much a part of it at the time of his gambling, so it's entirely irrelevant whether his playing days were over or not. Oh, and Rose was so "intelligent" that he not only got caught placing his bets, but had the ingenious idea of placing some of his bets from the Reds' clubhouse. Intelligent, indeed. 2. Being a racist ass isn't against the rules and bylaws of the game. Nobody has ever said you can't be a racist and play pro ball. It's despicable, but racism isn't a violation of any MLB rules, as far as I'm aware (outside of hiring practices/discrimination, that sort of thing, obviously). Gambling IS against the rules. Actually, you can't say that because there is no evidence that a druggie ballplayer threw any games to "get his fix." It might be fun for you to speculate that that has happened so that you can sort of prop up your Pete-Rose-Should-Be-In-The-Hall-Of-Fame argument, but it's really just pointless and baseless speculation that is useless as a valid argument. From a moral and legal standpoint, no, gambling is not a bigger black eye than drug dealing or murder. But in the context of the game of baseball, a professional sport, it is. Like Al and others have said, the ONE thing that pro sports have to have is legitimacy, the assurance that the games are straight up athletic contests. When you have players/managers gambling on the outcome of their own sport's games, then you undermine that legitimacy, leading to a whole plethora or problems that can bring permanent consequences. No historical precedents come to mind off the top of my head, but I think it would be safe to say that if a MLB player murdered someone and was proven guilty of it, he wouldn't be welcome back into the game, either through an outright ban or by being blackballed. Hell, if Rae Carruth got out of prison tomorrow, I doubt he'd end up back in the NFL at any point in time. In short, fuck Pete Rose. He broke the rules, got caught, lied about it (for 14 years, no less), and is only now coming clean in a vain attempt to sell some books and possibly get the ban (that he agreed to, remember?) lifted. I used to support Rose (years ago when I was very young and stupid), but now I don't care if he ever gets in the Hall. The world will go on, I promise.

It may not be unusual, but it's still idiotic. There is NO reason to drive that fast, EVER, for ANYBODY. Why the hell do you ever need to go that fast (outside some life-threatening/emergency situation, obviously)? I can't feel sorry for these kids. It's their own dumbass fault.

Whoa. You're delusional. You should head back to the Comics forum or something. Marney is absolutely correct with her "sickening" rant.

Whether you like it or not, there are plenty of people in this country who appreciate and/or have no problem with candidates/presidents showing their faith - more than are opposed to it. Just because a candidate says "I love Jesus" doesn't mean he's going to be hellbent on installing a theocracy, as you so often fear. What exactly is wrong with Dean coming out and saying this, or than the fact that it reeks of desperation to connect with as many folks as possible?

On Madden 2004, Al Michaels will say "Happy Halloween" or whatever holiday it is. That was a nice little feature I thought.

Thumbs way, way up for 2003, especially towards the end here.

Report: Cubs reach agreement with Todd Walker December 23, 2003 CHICAGO (Ticker) - ESPN Radio in Chicago is reporting that the Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement with infielder Todd Walker, who had a career year last season for the Boston Red Sox. The Cubs are expected to officially announce the signing on Tuesday. ESPN Radio is reporting that Walker will receive $1.75 million in 2004. Walker was Boston's starting second baseman last season and batted .283 with 13 home runs and 85 RBI. However, he was a liability in the field and was often replaced in the late innings. -------- Not a great acquistion by the Cubs, but Walker is a step up from Tony Womack and/or Augie Ojeda. But what do they do with Ramon Martinez now?

Ryne Sandberg. I wore #23 in high school because of him, and made second base my position of choice because of him. The man is a god to me.

Bearkats suck! Bearkats suck! Bearkats suck!

Jurors here for Harris County (Houston) get paid, I believe, $6 a day. If you have to serve at the downtown courthouse and drive your own car, that $6 doesn't even cover your parking cost for the day.

he'll make $8.85 mill in 04 don't ask me why I know that off the top of my head because I myself can't figure it out It's simple. Your Sox fandom causes you to be aware of all things Yankee. Thanks, btw. I knew he made a lot, but for some reason I figured it would be even more than that.

Logic seldom applies to the MLBPA.

Oh? Billy Wagner gets paid $8 million a year to pitch approximately 75-80 innings. Would you say that the Astros in the past (and the Phillies now) don't get their money's worth from him?? Mariano Rivera is handsomely paid (Yanks fans, help me out with an exact figure), as are Keith Foulke, LaTroy Hawkins, and many others. They aren't worth the money they get paid? Saying that Contreras should start because he makes a lot of money is ridiculous. If he is a better pitcher as a starter, then start him. If helps the team more out of the bullpen, put him in the bullpen. Simple as that.

Fuck that!

I don't think I could agree more. Both guys are class acts, and deserve all the success they have had. Bravo, David and Tim. And bravo for SI as well. Great choice.

How, exactly?

You didn't read your Wall Street Journal today, did you Jobber? http://webreprints.djreprints.com/890250434404.html

I sat in the Club level at Minute Maid Park last year. A buddy of mine at work got his dad's season tickets, so we went. From what I could tell, the only real difference from the "regular" seats is that the staff would bring your food/drink to your seat, you could go inside the club area and sit at the bar and watch the game, and the food selection seemed to be a bit wider up there. The thing I liked the most though was the seats. Padded, unlike the lower "regular" levels, and a great view. The seats we had were first row, so we were able to kick back, put our feet up on the railing and just relax. The Cubs won the game as well, 5-3, which sealed that game as my favorite visit to Minute Maid thus far. Carlos F'n Zambrano blasted a 2-run homer off Wade Miller in the seventh to tie it at 3 and then ex-Astro Moises Alou rocked Octavio Dotel in the 8th for another 2-run shot. Only the second time I've actually seen the Cubs beat the Astros live, out of about 15 games.

Looks like all you liberal conspirators might have to find something else to whine about... http://webreprints.djreprints.com/890250434404.html

I assume you're referring to my post above with this. If so, perhaps you should reread what I wrote because I talked specifically about the Marlins.

A catcher's effect on a pitching staff is pretty overrated. I think the Marlins' success last year had more to do with Beckett, Penny, and company being pretty damned good pitchers on their own. Couple that along with not being totally abused by McKeon as they had been in the past, and you have a recipe for success...the kind of success all the Marlins' young pitching was supposed to have had in years previous, before their arms fell off.

I say let him in. That way, he won't get drafted high, he will get little to no money, he will struggle to make earn a roster spot, and maybe, just maybe, he'll get the shit knocked out of him in his first game. Then, maybe, all this bullshit about 19-year-old kids playing professional football will die off and we can get back to our real lives.

What "attempts?" I see no one defending anything. Unless you count one call for waiting until the audit is even FINISHED before indicting Halliburton and one call for any one of the "lefties" to suggest why another company would be better qualified than Halliburton to do this job as "defending" then I'm afraid you're out of luck for now. Nice try, though.

$$$

I would think such a rule would apply only to "frivolous" lawsuits (i.e. Kelci Stinger suing the helmet manufacturer) and not to losing what are legitimate claims. For instance, if you slipped and fell and broke your hip because Joe Dipshit working at McDonald's didn't put up a wet floor sign, but you (somehow) lost in court, I would think you wouldn't be on the hook for court costs. Obviously there's a claim there...you just didn't win in court. But if you sue McDonald's because "they made you fat," your ass better be ready to pay up. It'd all be subject to a judge's discretion, of course, but I'd guess that's how it would work.