Bob Lamb

The NFL just keeps "jacking" their fans around

There is a thing called "Economy of Scale" - look it up What are you measuring against ? I have worked in retail sales for years. The "heads" tell the troops - sales are up/down this week (versus last year) Now, in Buffalo - last January might have been socked in snow emergency for eight days - not a great comparison - but number crunchers do it anyway Now, I work for a large, public company on the NASDAQ. If you project to the Wall Street types that you are going to make $2.40 per share on $1B in sales and end up reporting that you only made $2.33 on $1.1B - the stock takes a temporary dive - (undeserved for those that can actually read financials) but that is the way that market works - and the pros sort out things afterwards. Now the federal government, which (BTW) prints all the money it wants, is running a deficit of gazillions (sic). Their cycle is largely indefinite because a "balanced" budget has the substance of Charmin - 2BL Ply and is projected at least 5 years in advance - why ? - Because they can. Future revenues are a pie in the sky guess. Future expenditures WILL go up So - a January surplus - ? Pretty much a myth - in the big scheme of things. Have you ever gone to a local budget meeting in your town, city, county where they actually have to balance a budget ? It ain't pretty. My little, local city out here in SOCAL is putting up a tax proposition for the November ballot to raise the local sales tax 0.5% to 8.25%. The tax will pay for a City Hall not in trailers with leaky roofs and two badly needed fire stations. California law says we can't do much about property taxes - so sales tax is the major revenue generator. The city's current top tax generator is a Ford car dealership right in the middle of town - what do you think that 0.5% will mean to their revenue ? Whomever said, "All Polictics Is Local" knew the system

You think there are two parties ?

Not a word (or rumor) of this anywhere near Mission Valley Brees is still a UFA and reportedly recovering well from his surgery

In SoCal we refer to that particular act as an "Asner" I have no idea why Carbonated beverages are even worse

More than half of the people in Spaulding Lakes (Clarence, NY) or Eagle Heights (OP) don't even know what the word mortgage means

The "game" and times have changed as have the selectors and the media (PR) driven criteria - no subjective selection systems such as this is even close to perfect. The "old quard" was pickier IMHO. If Larry Felser had been pitching TT - #34 might have fared better

Like 30 years ago - Len Ford ? http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=69

Loonies or pesos ?

Then - I guess we should consider his CFL stats also - no dome there Bob Matthews writes a good column (for once) http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/p...0334/-1/COLUMNS

"Looking at stats only, how do you keep him out. Still on the issue of stats, Art Monk's stats sure look impressive, but he is still on the outside looking in." Stats are misleading and I am in total agreement with MDH. I have the hindsight (or handicap) of being a little older and remembering a very different NFL - long before expansion diluted the talent pool and the stats. I guess my criteria for the HOF is based more on player "impact" than stats. Who did the other side have to game plan against ? I grew up watching Fran Tarketon - he was "feared" by the other side Walter Payton - Barry Sanders drove the defense nuts Bruce Smith is a sure first rounder based on my criteria and much as I dislike him as a selfish player Warren Moon had his time - just like Mr. Kelly - but IMHO opinion neither had first year selection written on them - part of the selection process involves some marketing and scheming - do they deserve to be there - hell - yes - first time - probably not. That all being said - I did not expect TT to be a first rounder - he had a great career - but he was part of a machine - not the driving force. And for what it matters - Michael Irvin (can) and Andre (will) cry all they want but Art Monk on the outside looking in is a disgrace to the HOF selectors

Must you bring up RJ ?

"Each teams fans believe they have a chance at the playoffs at the start of the season, with no team buying up all the best players due to economies of scale. " Do you know any Cardinals fans ?

Look at the career passing yards on this chart - that doesn't count his CFL years If Fran T. can be there - Warren can too - black, white or sepia

Someone had better read up on the Antarctic Treaty http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarct...aty/index.shtml

Best Proposition Bet: Will Kobe outscore the Seahawks - Steelers ? http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/det...5&entry_id=2811

"It's not football - unless you have frozen snot in your moustache !" Randy the Weatherman - 1999 Norton & Stout Bills' CD

Bill - You make the false assumption that the NFL cares

The SkyDome is not an NFL calibre stadium

That would be Erie, PA. and I second your sentiment Then again, some will maintain that we must support the AFC

I'm going to try my hand at home made stuffed (hot) banana peppers - a dish I always enjoy eating out - and someone from the CNJBB made at the TBD tailgate. I researched various recipes for the stuffing and am just going to "wing it" while breaking in the broiler on my new oven.

If Cowher and the Steelers don't lose on Sunday - the day will have been for naught.