Mike In Illinois

Is Huggins the kid who tore up his knee at the Combine last spring?

Gaylord Perry?

Looks like Martz wants back in St. Louis if Jim Haslett is hired as head coach: Martz To Return To St. Louis?

The Illinois Secretary of State has to sign off on Blago's appointment of Burris before the U.S. can accept him, I believe. The Illinois Senate will go forward with the impeachment trial and, by all accounts, there are enough votes to boot him from office; early February is the estimate. My past job put me in the midst of some of the politics in Illinois and I'd heard horror stories about Blago from some of the lawmakers he was supposed to be working with. The Governor would offer to help lawmakers who voted for his bills, but he burned so many going back on his verbal promises that they began asking for him to put them in writing before even considering supporting his causes. He would also verbally berate people who went against him on issues (which has come to light) when the FBI arrested him The guy is no good to say the least. Blagojevich makes the historically dirty politics in Illinois look clean.

Happy Birthday! How soon before AARP starts sending you letters to join!

I agree that would be a bad move, unless you have a contingency plan when he gets hurt.

I still have the Monday Night game at Cleveland on VHS (October '95). That game was engulfed by the Browns pending move from Cleveland and the fact the jury had reached a verdict in OJ's murder trial, with the results to be read on Tuesday. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Browns were coached by Belichik. Ahhh, the good ol' days.

Even in a corrupt state we can have a little fun.... Seinfeld holiday commemorated at Capitol-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By DOUG FINKE THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER Posted Dec 23, 2008 @ 11:12 PM Last update Dec 24, 2008 @ 06:06 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even fictional holiday symbols are going up in the Capitol rotunda. Already the site of a Nativity scene, menorah and a message from atheists, the rotunda now also has a plain aluminum pole commemorating Festivus, the holiday born in the “Seinfeld” television show. Festivus was created by character George Costanza’s father, Frank, as a sort of protest against the commercialism of Christmas. The holiday’s slogan is “A Festivus for the Rest of Us.” It’s symbol is an aluminum pole with no decoration because Frank Costanza found tinsel distracting. Michael Tennenhouse, 18, of Springfield got permission from Secretary of State Jesse White’s office to install the pole, something he said is “kind of silly and in the name of fun, really.” But Tennenhouse also said he wouldn’t have bothered if not for the fuss generated by a Nativity scene being placed in the rotunda followed by the atheist sign protesting organized religion. “I follow the news and heard all of the shenanigans with the atheist sign and the Nativity scene,” Tennenhouse said. “I’m opposed to all religious displays. I wanted to send a message. With everything going on in the state right now, there’s more important things to be worried about than putting up displays and stealing displays.” Tennenhouse said part of his motivation was when the atheist sign was stolen, noting that it sparked heated arguments on The State Journal-Register Web site, sj-r.com, about whether the sign should ever have been allowed in the rotunda. “If people can make a sign, why can’t I put up a Festivus pole?” Tennenhouse said. Capitol Police are still investigating the theft. The sign was replaced, and the biblical admonition “Thou Shalt Not Steal” was attached to it. The Festivus sign was also a chance for Tennenhouse to get in a political jab at Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose impeachment hearings are being conducted just down the hall from the pole. As fans of the show know, Festivus includes the airing of grievances in which you tell people how they have disappointed you over the previous year. “Although Festivus is traditionally celebrated December 23, the people of Illinois have had to begin a grievance hearing early this year,” says a sign by the pole. “Hopefully we can conclude Festivus by February.” White’s senior legal adviser, Nathan Maddox, said the office had no choice but to give permission for the display. “It met all of our requirements,” Maddox said. “We do not judge the rest based on content. This is a public forum. As far as government’s ability to regulate, (the rotunda) is little different than a public street corner. I understand it is something of political satire.” Tennenhouse said he’s happy to have permission for the pole, but said it should be placed in the middle of the rotunda along with the Nativity scene, menorah, atheist sign and Christmas tree. Instead, it is separated a bit from the other displays. The pole is actually the handle from a pool skimmer, Tennenhouse said, set into a department store tree stand. “I tried to keep costs down,” he said. The increasingly crowded rotunda got a couple of more secular signs since the Nativity scene and atheist message were installed. One was placed by White’s office explaining that the First Amendment allows religious and anti-religious displays in the Capitol as long as they are not paid for with public funds. It also explains that White’s office cannot censor the content of speech in those displays. The other was placed by Springfield’s Committee for the First Amendment, a group of lawyers and others devoted to the principles of free speech. Its sign says the divergent views represented by the various signs and symbols celebrate the notion of free speech. Springfield lawyer Don Craven, a member of the committee, said the debate over whether an atheist sign should be displayed next to a Nativity scene “is a wonderful argument to have.” “It’s only because of the First Amendment that we are having the argument at all,” Craven said. “It’s a pat on the back to (White) for doing the right thing and allowing the discussion to go forward.”

Good to see you're back on The Wall! Hope things are better for you and enjoy the holidays!

I'd like to nominate "Merry Christmas From the Family" by Robert Earl Keene. I heard this on Sirius a couple of years ago and got a kick out of it. . Total White Trash indulgence!

Probably Astro-Play, the defunct hybrid turf company that was an option (with the thriving Field Turf: Ohio State, U of Illinois). Seeing the old stuff Illinois had it was shiny and slick. The Field Turf they installed this summer looks better on TV and in person. Also the ground-up rubber adds to the darker look to the surface.

udonkey and McD are trying to organize a get-together near the Dome before the game. PM one of them and they can offer details. I'm also still trying to sell an extra ticket to the game. Lower Level (Section 149 near the visitor's bench). PM me if you are interested.

It does sound like SIDS but we don't know yet. I know that was what scared me the most about our son when he was an infant. The first night we brought him home I slept on the floor next to his crib and I'd wake up several times throughout the night just to check on him. Those positioners are helpful but you don't know how active a child is and whether they'll get away from it. Thoughts an prayers to the family.

I gotta tell you the comeback win was as nice a birthday present I could ask for. Luckily I have a few more Buffalo-related things for my birthday; both Tim Russert books and I got Bills-Rams tickets a couple of months ago. We're gonna root like hell to pull the team to 4-0 at the quarterpost of the season!

The best post today by far. Even with the bad memories it's a funny reference.

They could be. But let's worry about 3-0 before thinking about 5-0.

Thanks Dean. When I first attached the link it was the wrong one. You might have snuck a peek at the post with the bad link before I could change it.

Works for me. I wonder what I did wrong....

Henry Jones was on the University of Illinois campus last Saturday as the school honored the 10 greatest Illini at each football position (kickers, punters and long-snappers were 'Specialists'). Here's my picture with him: Henry Jones and Champaign Mike I told him I watched the entire Comeback game and never turned it off. He laughed and said that everybody tells him that. He was extremely nice and had his family with him. By the way, Dave Diehl, who's a Guard for the New York Giants was there being honored too. He had his Super Bowl ring and was wearing it on his pinkie (mob style?). That is some serious bling and I cannot wait for Buffalo players to add that piece of jewelry to their fingers....... someday.

I'm actually looking forward to the '81 Chargers episode (the entire America's Game series is very good). What a talented group of players they had for a few years and could not break through in the conference championship game.

Hoping for safety for CBB and all who have to go through this again like Katrina.

Good game by Mizzou. I thought Illinois had something going in the second half but the turnovers were the end of that. How about Juice Williams: over 400 yds. passing and 5 TD's! I hope Maclin is okay. Hopefully the Tigers can get past Oklahoma and out of the Cotton Bowl. My hope for Illinois (even before this loss) was either the Capital One Bowl or Outback Bowl (New Year's Day).

Bump: The Final season starts Wednesday (which is also my anniversary). Good thing the wife is a fan of the show, too. The Shield on FX Get some.

This show's days are numbered: Ted McGinley= Jumped the Shark. Everybody knows that.

I was too young to see him play but I have some knowledge of NFL history. Gene played in the Super Bowl three times (II, XI, XV) in three different decades (60's, 70's, 80's) for three different coaches (John Rauch, John Madden, Tom Flores). I think that speaks volumes about him as a player. As for the Union stuff I was sour on him and the stance the Union took with the veterans and their benefits. Maybe there'll be a compromise once a new Union Chief is in place.