Mark80

“He was a very kind and sweet-spirited young man" "For residents of the neighborhood, it was difficult to reconcile the Sean Keenan they had known – a kindhearted young man who had participated in Boy Scouts fundraisers and played street hockey as a teenager – with the murder allegation and strange mug shot released by police." It seems like every article about a murder (especially a suburban one) has comments like these in it. Obviously he was not a kind, sweet-spirited, or kindhearted person. Why won't someone ever just say to the reporter "the kid just killed his father, obviously he was pretty f'd in the head."

Perhaps, but you have to start somewhere. Everyone who pays attention knows what you described is all true, but I didn't see you offer any potential solution. To me, it starts in the schools and in the home. Unfortunately, the schools are some of, if not the worst in the country. In the home? Well, that may be even worse. Kids with ill equipped parent(s) (probably directly attributable to their own upbringing and schooling) will grow up undisciplined, unmotivated, uneducated, and immoral. They will predictably fall into the patters of the majority of their peers and what they see going on every day right outside their doors. Gang life. Perhaps, just perhaps if you could curtail the violence, reduce the visibility of these gangs on the streets, make some meaningful crackdowns you could start the process of alleviating the core issues causing it. But until then, the cause may just be hopeless. IMO.

That city should seriously consider calling in the National Guard for some assistance.

Game 1: One or Two Drives Game 2: 1st Quarter Game 3: 1st Half Game 4: 1st Half Game 5: Depends, if playing well maybe a drive; if struggling then 1st Half Concerned with injuries? Well, as Ivan Drago would say "If he dies, he dies." No where for this scenario in voting, so I'm between 1 quarter and 1 half per game.

Maybe he saw ARod getting paid an average of $30M per the last 3 years while sleeping through the season and figured he could do it for a bargain price of only $10M.

Excellent performance. If he can dominate like this the rest of the way then I'll be happy with trade. He just makes me nervous with how he's fell off over the second half of seasons throughout his career. Impressive tonight for sure though. Go A's! Not sure why they optioned Milone though, he was throwing quite well this season. Hopefully they can move Hammel before the deadline for something. I really, really doubt his legitimacy for the long run.

Pitching was never the A's problem in the playoffs, it was the offense. Verlander has completely dominated them in 4 games over the last two seasons (although the A's won one of them 1-0). Scherzer dominated another game last season as well. They needed more offense in these games, not better pitching. I'm just glad that Verlander doesn't look nearly as dominate this season as he had in the past.

A's have made the playoffs the last 2 seasons in a row and 7 out of the last 14 seasons.

I think you summed it up already, when you said they are already pitching rich; you don't need to become more pitching rich. A low payroll team like the A's should not be sending off top tier prospects who they will have control over for 6 years after be breaks in (was supposed to be starting SS next season) for a guy you'll have for only 1.5 seasons and another guy who you'll most likely have for only 1/2 a season. They already have Sonny Gray, Kazmir, and Milone who are all solid. Plus a great season going for Chavez and Pomeranz (stupidly injured himself though). Not to mention they'll have Parker back next season who is probably better than all but Gray. Straily could have been used a filler until Pomeranz came back. I just don't see the logic in getting rid Russell for an unproven guy in Hammel and an inconsistent pitcher who struggles in the second half year after year (in the NL none the less). And on top of that Straily who dominated the minors but has run into some control issues that could easily be fixed, and McKinny who is no slouch prospect either. However, I'll readily admit that Billy Beane is much, much smarter than I am, so I'm sure he knows what he's doing! I disagree, 17 home runs last season as a 19 year old in only 110 games and 21 SBs and a plus fielder at a vital position. That is very good, especially for a SS. Top 5 prospects usually pan out. As I said earlier, if they wanted to trade him they should have went after Price. I think that package would have got him (or possibly adding in Olsen or Robertson instead somewhere). Finally, as I've said they've done this before. Trading away Carlos Gonzalez, Andre Eithier, Nelson Cruz (though not a high prospect at the time) and it has never panned out for them. Hopefully this time it does.

A's get Samardzija and Hammel Cubs get Addison Russell, Dan Straily, Billy McKinny As an A's fan I have to say that I hate, hate, hate this deal. Sure it looks good for this season but Samardzija has only a year and a half left on his deal and we all know the A's won't resign him for the money he'll want. Also, he notoriously struggles in the second half of the season which is what he was brought in to do, bring it home in the second half. Hammel is 31 and is having his first good season ever. Am I really to accept that he's suddenly just figured it out at 31? I don't think so. Not against the bats in the AL, and more specifically, the AL West. You simply just don't trade a SS prospect of Russell's caliber for these type of players, you don't, I'm sorry. This is bringing back horrible memories of the Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street for Matt Holliday trade. Holliday stayed for 1/2 a season and Carlos and Huston have been all-star caliber players ever since. I guess the A's are all in this season which I can get on board with, but man, I wish they would have got a better pitcher (David Price perhaps) for such a quality prospect in Russell. On the flip side, the Cubs are absolutely stacked in their system with offensive talent. It will be interesting to see what pieces get moved to add some pitching. Cubs fan's should be pretty excited with what they have brewing over there, even though I know it doesn't look very good right now on the MLB level. Kris Bryant is absolutely destroying the minors.

And to clarify, I'm not one the people who believe that, that was just my impression of them. To play devil's advocate they would probably say that we didn't offer them enough to come here. I can't remember what we offered them (or if it was even made public), but that would be the logic of their argument. I too, think it's unfounded and untrue.

I have one but rarely if ever use it. However, if I was in sales or looking for a job I'd be all over it.

Not that I disagree with any aspect of your post, I just wanted to say that I think the "bean counter" people are talking more about what we are willing to pay for top end Personnel and Coaching staff than the roster. Or maybe I'm wrong, but that was always my impression (at least the ones that know what they are talking about).

Even though I'm a mid 30s educated and employed person, my grandmother and aunts / uncles still are determined to give me birthday and Christmas presents even though I repeatedly asked them not to since my mid 20s. A few years back I came up with a solution. I asked them all to instead donate to the V Foundation what they would have been giving me as gifts. It's not a ton of money, but at least it's something. ESPN always pushes this fund and I like it because the Foundation has a big enough endowment to pay for all of their expenses and every dollar donated at this point goes directly to funding research efforts. There is no reason why we cannot cure many, if not all types of cancers in the next few decades. I implore each of you to take the time to donate any amount you feel comfortable with if you can afford it. Every little bit helps. Also, if any one knows of a better foundation for said same purpose please let me know.

Nice work Steffan, nice work.

I know a lot / most of you hate Olberman. But last night on his show he had this story as his "Worst" on the Worst of the Worse segment. He absolutely destroyed Texas A&M and it was fantastic. Edit: Guess it's called World's Worst segment. Same difference.

Well, you just in one post ruined any and all credibility you had on this site. Congratulations. Our best WR huh? Mike Williams and Sammy Watkins have more talent than Stevie Johnson could ever dream of having. Just because a guy can run routes very well doesn't mean he's a great receiver. He drops balls in huge situations, he admittedly doesn't put forth any effort in the off season to get better (what a great example to set for our younger players), he gets the stupidest penalties at the worst times, and his a the epitome of a "me first" guy on and off the field. He would have been our 4th, maybe even 5th best receiver this season after Williams, Watkins, Woods, and possibly even Marquise. Not to mention our TEs. And then you want to go 0-16 when we have no first round pick next year just to prove a point? Holy smokes. If this team goes 0-16 attendance plummets and it becomes a very, very serious in regards to the future of this franchise in this city (not that it isn't already serious enough). Great idea Super Fan. "I may be the biggest optimist on here." Oh, OK, now I get it, you were just joking the whole time. Now I understand. You might as well change your user name now, I have a feeling a lot of people will be blocking your posts after this one. I know I am.

This thread really puts the Kiko thread into it's proper perspective. Wish all of you and your friends / families the best.

Europe teams have mandatory systems in place to train adolescents in camps for free with legit coaches. MLS has recently picked up on this and it will pay dividends in years to come. 2022 is our real goal. Have patience. As far as my booty call? Either I'm too drunk to make sense in the text of I have dipped the pail into the well one too many times with no commitment. Oh, "well."

"They" say it takes 3 generations of players to build a top end program. Realistically, ours started in the early 90's. We are about 1/2 - 3/4 of the way through the second generation. I feel we're right on track for this to come to fruition. In 2022 we should be a force to be reckoned with. We had the World Cup that we needed to keep the momentum going getting out of that group with Portugal and Ghana was huge. Sure, we could surprise in Russia (as we had a slim chance to here) but 2022, we could / should be among the favorites. It was a fun ride, but we were never winning it all this time. Now I drink Scotch and drunk dial a girl I'm going to regret in the morning. Don't Tread On Me.

Just got the blue one. Already have a white Spiller and a dark blue Fletcher. Needed a royal blue one. Thanks for the idea man. Now, where to get a new nameplate (although i wouldn't mind rocking Cowart for a game or two). Anyone know who does nameplates in the Western NY area? North Suburbs specifically.

Cowart jersey...good idea. Think I'll roll with that, thanks.

Anyone know where someone could pick up a Talley jersey? Ebay and Google have come up empty in my quest. Thanks for any help.

Yeah it's a funny shirt. Unfortunately, my days of rocking shirts with such language are over. Years ago at a Bills home opener I bought a "F the Jags" t-shirt in the parking lot and wore it around. I felt like such an idiot anytime I walked by a family and took it off very quickly. Never wore it again or another shirt with offensive language on it. But that's just me.

Absolutely.