UConn James

I don't know. There's the opinion based on shaky reasoning that the show creates cynacism --> not voting --> breakdown of democracy. And then there's the opinion that far from that, people watch because they still do care. The opposite of love isn't hate (=cynacism, for purposes of our argument); it's indifference.

Offsides in hockey isn't even close to the same. In terms of the physical attributes, and then the small thing that it only requires the puckhandler to be the first to cross the line --- not that a defender must be in front. In soccer, there can not be a breakaway. I watch more soccer than that, but regardless, it doesn't take a genius. I'm presenting the argument that a lot of kids in America don't continue playing soccer b/c the rules don't allow for much personal or team success. Not too many people who like to brag that they ran 10 miles in 90 minutes and the score was still 0-0 and that this is the case in like 40 percent of matches. In no other sport that I can think of offhand could tripping someone equate to either a foul, a penalty kick, a yellow card or a red card, all at the discretion of one person.

I think a lot of the problem is that kids here are playing soccer more and more, but as they learn the stupidity that is the rules and that the ref has so much say in adjudicating penalties, etc. that they leave it to play a sport where the rules make more sense. "You mean, if I'm so fast that I can get past the last defender on the field and put the ball in the net, the goal doesn't count?! If a player so much as cuts a loud fart in front of the goalie, it's called interference!? F--- this!" I enjoy the main parameters of the sport, but FIFA sucks. As for the topic, Arena sounds like he expects he's not long for the job.

I think it was summed up best by an autograph Steve Sabol got when he was a teen. (And this was straight from the horse's mouth when "60 Minutes" did a profile on NFL Films last year). To wit:

Depending on Big Ben's recovery, might add Pittsburgh to the list.

Another Republican, and probably the only one of the ones mentioned I would consider voting for, is Mitt Romney (Gotta do something about that name, tho. Then again they ran a guy named Dubya....). A Northeast Republican is a different animal than in the rest of the country. NE Repubs generally veer away from the social politics or are more willing to come to an agreeable compromise on them, and they run based on fiscal policy (whether they're any good at fiscal policy....). In New England there seems to be a belief that people want a Dem legislature to make the laws, but they want a Repub governor to have the last word on budgeting and to implement said laws. Romney has a history of taking over when things get effed up and turning it around --- 2002 Olympics, coming into a really difficult situation in Mass. There's been several times when his leadership and desire to just jump to and solve problems have had me nodding my head, not the least of which was the serious flooding last year when a major dam broke. He showed up and asked the engineers what they needed and got the eff out of the way, then set up a plan to check all of the dams in the state so the same thing might not happen again. Most recently was his role in getting universal health insurance for Mass residents.

Just curious --- 1) How're they going to do it? And 2) Will they let the people come up and beat his body with their shoes?

Nevermind that he was for the "culture of life" before he was against it e.g. Schiavo, stem cells. These among his numerous flip-flops in the past couple of years trying to promise all things to all people. Frist is bad news, showing he's willing to abandon core convictions to go with the flow based on opinion surveys. ----- Chris Dodd is considering running? Heaven forbid --- that might cut into his booze consumption (like his father)! Or not.

I'd take Quinn, but only if Charlie Weiss comes with him.

Does VFox have a stand on this? I mean, other than the whole "Sweet! Keep sending your migrant-job dollars into my country! It makes me look good" and that country getting rid of their riff-raff at the same time....

Ooooo! Critical comments (which you seem to be equating to personal attacks that never took place)?!! You think those are critical comments? Read an Alaska Darin post and then get back to me. You're right, it doesn't make you wrong. It just means you're ignoring the pertinent evidence and predicting failure for Lindell, just because you can. I'm not exactly an eternal optimist but even I can say that Lindell is a big reason why we've been among the top STs in the league for the past few years and he's getting even better. I think Marv knows enough that you don't try to fix something that isn't broken. If you don't want people shaking your peaches, come up with something better than 'Replace Lindell!' He was maybe the team's lone bright spot last season. Dibs, that list is a little misleading. Longwell signed with Minn *toot sweet*. Agree there are age issues with the rest in addition to... Vanderjagt and Nedney are both warm-weather kickers who've struggled once they hit the elements. Todd Peterson did well from mid-distance and yet... no one else has signed him. Vinatieri seems to still have some miles left, but certainly not for the jack he got from the Colts. Cutting Lindell free IIRC would put ~$1M in dead space on the cap.

Personally, I don't give a sh-- if his heart rubs off on the team. I care more about his attitude about it being "Buffalo Bills football." I mean, after 6 years of being the 49ers(WCO)-Titans-Broncos-Patriots-Steelers, it would be nice to get back to being ourselves rather than a copycat bastardized amalgum.

I recently cleaned out my closet to find an old 8x10 plaque that I had signed in person by JK in the preseason before his last year. Trying to decide what to do with it, I've settled on putting in my brother's 'Man's Room' (that, ironically, is being worked on by my s-i-l while he's deployed) so it's the first thing he'll see when he walks in.

Some consolation lies in the fact that the coach's name doesn't get inscribed on it....

Every so often after redeeming my cans at the packy I grab a 12 of St. Pauli Girl. Probably not the best beer anyone's ever had, but I can hack it.

Charles Ponzi would be proud.

Good God! I happened onto 2 cans of Stroh's. Took one sip from the first, automatically spit it onto the deck (good thing I wasn't at the computer), and put the other can in the fridge to give to company that I really don't like. That stuff is sh--.

*sniff* Probably the sh--tiest part of the evening was when Bettman was handing the Cup over and said something like 'Here's to Peter Karmanos who had the foresight to see how successful this franchise could be here in Raleigh....' :I starred in Brokeback Mountain: Karmanos, :I starred in Brokeback Mountain: Bettman. You both f--ked Hartford over but good.

Yeah.... Eulers hafta score 3 goals to win. I don't think that's going to happen unless Herb Brooks gives a locker-room speech during the intermission.

Sadly, I think it is. NBC is bush league when it comes to sports (besides tennis maybe, and only then b/c Ted Robinson actually knows when to shut the f--- up.)

Nice that NBC went into the replay booth and the official explained the ruling. More than they did in '99.... when Bettman went all BlackOps nowhere to be found.

Still being discussed, but that was a heads-up play by Staios. At worst, there's a penalty shot for him diving on the puck in the crease instead of a definite goal. I'd take that any day. On Edit: No PS, as it was ruled a touch to engage the penalty.

What, you haven't been a victim of the rampant flag-burning? It's epidemic, you know. I actually burned one last week. Tattered, faded, had a rip in it. Meant to do it a while ago.... But I did give it a proper military ceremony --- I wore a boonie hat that got my brother through a tour in Afghanistan (he's on his second now), saluted with my right hand and held a St. Pauli Girl in my left.

eball, that's awesome to be able to say you went to a Game 7. And yes, it's the best championship in sports. This is a brutal game. Imagine the Bills playing 2, 3, or 4 games per week for seven months. Whoever's left standing wins and gets their name forever engraved on one of the oldest trophies in sports. I'm just a little worried about the Edmonton fans chanting "WE... WANT... THE CUP!" on Saturday night. Seems exactly like the kind of thing the Hockey Gods say "No" to.

<whistle> "But I never picked cotton....." --- Roy Clark </whistle>