Steely Dan

Wow, great question. I'm a huge Genesis fan. I say with Gabriel but "Trick of The Tail" and "Winds and Wuthering" are fantastic albums. IMO, another good question is; are they better with or without Hackett? IMO, Hackett's departure was the beginning of the end for the band I call Genesis. Hackett was the guitarist who gave Genesis the art rock sound and the art rock aspect of the band left with him. "And Then There Were Three" and "Duke" are very good albums too. I really like "Behind the Lines" from that album. (The song Collins destroyed on "Face Value" ) According to some of the books I've read, Hackett left the band because he put out a solo album and the guys sat him down and told him he couldn't do that anymore. Ironically, they all put out solo albums soon after he left the band. It didn't help matters either that Hackett asked Collins and Rutherford to appear on "Voyage of the Acolyte" but snubbed Tony Banks, who at the time, was the band leader. Hackett didn't like him because Banks wasn't letting enough of Hackett's work get on the albums. "Oh yeah!! Well you flat out suck!!" (Best I could come up with. ) I really think Gabriel's solo albums are better than the Genesis albums put out after he left. IMO, Gabriel and Hackett were the total art rock package in Genesis. From what I've read, Gabriel left of his own accord. The band members got really pissed at him for leaving after the LLDOB because they had handed over almost total control to him on that album. Some of the music ended up with lyrics over it that Gabriel had said would be instrumental pieces and the guys didn't like that. They also felt betrayed by Gabriel because they were doing everything they could to keep him with the band. Collins is a great drummer, a good vocalist and good song writer. His craft is best suited for pop music. If Genesis had dropped their name and started over with a new name after "Duke" I wouldn't mind him so much but after he took the reigns from Banks as the bandleader he drove them into disaster quicker than James Dean. Rutherford's solo stuff is pretty good, not great, but good. His stuff with Mike and the Mechanics is his best work. I saw an interview with him where he said that Mike and the Mechanics came about because he wanted a band with more than one capable lead singer. Smart move. Bank's solo stuff is relegated to propping up wobbly desks at the music company. The only great thing he's recorded is "Quicksilver" with Fish from Marillion. BTW, can you call them Marillion after Fish left? I've really only heard "Voyage of the Acolyte" from Hackett and it's a good album. He's probably best known for his work with Steve Howe in GTR.

I know. I'm not positive they won't resign him because I don't think his market value is that great after his on field issues. If they don't then Levitre will probably be the starter.

Why hasn't this thread been closed yet?

The current list of Bills OL is; http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster.html Andy Levitre - Rookie Christian Gaddis - 1 year Jamon Meredith - Rookie Jonathan Scott - 3 years Jason Watkins - Rookie Richie Incognito - 5 years Andre Ramsey - Rookie Nick Hennessey - Rookie Geoff Hangartner - 5 years Kirk Chambers - 5 years Guys who finished the season on IR; Eric Wood - Rookie Demetrius Bell - 1 year Brad Butler - 4 years Kendall Simmons - 7 years Seth McKinney - 8 years Marvin Phillip - 1 year I believe the bolded players had at least one start this season. Somebody please double check me. If I'm right that means the Bills had 12 different starters for 5 positions on the field. The O-Line depth is young but not necessarily incompetent. It's impossible to judge the players on the line when so much upheaval happens in a season, but it looks like the talent is there for 2010. The Bills really only need a LT that hopefully will be picked up in the draft. So it looks like a starting lineup this year as; LT(?), Wood, Hangartner, Levitre or Incognito, Butler and then the guys with starting experience as backups; Bell, Simmons, McKinney,Meredith, Scott, Ramsey and Chambers. To me it looks like a corp of young talented players with good depth. If the new S&C coach proves that Allaire was the impetus of the injury problems then things look very good. I think the Bills go into a season with 9 OL players. Somebody help me with that too please. That would mean the Bills would be cutting, assuming they get a new starting LT, four players at least, with starting experience. This is a good article on the O-line woes; http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3...b4-4c175c594f5f The team was forced to field six different offensive tackles tandems and nine different offensive line combinations in 2009, That is a recipe for disaster. Don't judge the O-line performance as a unit based on this seasons production. If every guy was a pro bowler the line might still have had problems with that much turnover. I think Gailey is going to give TE another year to see what he can do with some time to throw. I'm stoked for next season. BRING IT ON!!!* *It should be noted that I am always psyched for the new season, only to have my hopes dashed. However, THIS SEASON WILL BE DIFFERENT!!!!** **It should also be noted that I say that every year, only to have my hopes dashed.

Thanks.

Supposedly, Gailey is a run first smash mouth kinda guy. Any QB in a system like that, IMO, doesn't need grand skills. Gailey has done a lot with a little at the QB position in the past. Somebody posted the QB's he's worked with somewhere here. I can't find it now. I also like the smashmouth style of offense for this division. The best way to beat NE* is to keep TB off the field. If Sanchez turns out to be a great QB the same will apply to him. Smashmouth usually keeps the ball longer, when successful, and that gives the D a lot of time to rest. I guess I'll let you guys figure out how I can constantly run down Scott Pioli and then turn around and use him to make a point but Pioli wanted Gailey kept in KC. http://www.bobgretz.com/chiefs-football/ha...html#more-10279 There needs to be some soul searching on the part of both Haley and Scott Pioli on what’s happened. Haley was encouraged to keep Gailey on his staff by Pioli. Also from that article; The decision to relieve Gailey of his position has nothing to do with the quality of the man’s work or his competence. Gailey is one of the best offensive minds in the game. On top of that, there are not many better people in the game of football. He’s the personification of class, something Haley acknowledged on Monday. If he can win consistently then the Bills might have Marv Levy part deux. I'd much rather be a formidable team with a high class coach than a formidable team with Belichick. JMO

Fixed! BTW, with the first name Chan I expected him to be oriental.

Some people say that graveyards shouldn't be haunted because nobody dies there. They believe hospitals are the really active places for ghosts. IDK if that's right but it does make sense.

I think he could resurrect TE's career, JMO

I thought something similar when I read about the possible hiring of Gailey. I looked for info. on the internet about him and came up with these articles that make me feel a lot better about the hiring. http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2009/1/28/73...r-chan-gailey-a Gailey's success as a head coach has largely been forgotten or underrated. He spent 2 years manning the Dallas Cowboys until Jerry Jones prematurely fired him. "I regret just giving Chan [Gailey] two years," said Jones, the Cowboys' owner and general manager. "When you really look at what he's done since he's left here and look at what he had done here – he took us to the playoffs twice. And I'm not talking about the fairness of it. I'm just talking about how I should have worked hard on some things where we could've made adjustments that were meaningful." So, Jerry Jones, a guy willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, admits he made a mistake in firing Chan Gailey after just two seasons. And why does Jones regret that move? Because Gailey's teams reached the playoffs both years, winning the NFC East with a 10-6 record in 1998. His two year stint left him with a head coaching record 4 games above .500. Gailey, in an organization that was on the verge of overhauling its identity from the days of the triplets (Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin were nearing the end of their careers while Emmitt Smith was nearing the end of his productive years), demonstrated an ability to competently play the hand that was given to him. And play it well, mind you. In contrast, Dave Campo took over after Gailey was dismissed and brought the team just 15 wins in 3 years, 3 less than Gailey's total in 2 years. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...de.37dd692.html Gailey is a footnote in Cowboys history: the fourth coach in franchise history, one with an 18-14 record, an NFC East title in 1998 and no playoff wins. But as the Cowboys move into 2009 with Wade Phillips for a third year, Jones' misgivings about his decision to fire Gailey cannot be overlooked. http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-foot...ley_chan00.html Gailey coached the Yellow Jackets to bowl games in each of his first five seasons on the Flats, the only head coach in Georgia Tech's storied history to do so. With Tech's trip to the 2007 Toyota Gator Bowl, Gailey's Yellow Jackets achieved a feat unprecedented in school history with their 10th consecutive bowl berth. Prior to its current streak, Tech's longest bowl string was six in a row from 1951-56 under legendary head coach Bobby Dodd. Georgia Tech is one of just six schools in the nation to earn a bowl bid each of the last 10 years, an elite group that also includes Florida State, Virginia Tech, Florida, Georgia and Michigan. In 2006, the Jackets recorded their 10th consecutive winning season-all with seven or more wins-the school's longest string since Tech had 18 straight winning seasons from 1908-25 under John Heisman and William Alexander. The Rambling Wreck also posted a conference record of .500 or better for the 12th consecutive year, a feat unmatched by any ACC school and achieved by only three other schools in the nation.

Thanks Deerball, good article. Why would TV networks agree to contracts that make them pay even if there are no games to televise? There's probably a lot more to it but on face value it seems mighty stupid.

Aye Yi Yi the owners are being dickheads. They get $1 billion a year from ESPN for Monday Night Football, alone. These guys aren't starving and right now I'm siding with the players, that could change though. Expecting an 18% pay cut every year over the length of the contract is ridiculous, IMO. Ownership's crocodile tears would be very funny if it wasn't for the seriousness of the issue. I find it difficult to feel sorry for the billionaires who are crying poverty. JMO

Excellent call!!

You aint gettin outta me!!

BTW, some eeediot here once said Andre was a wuss who never went over the middle. I don't remember who it was but if your reading this watch the video you schlepmoe. If you don't believe this guy is a HOFer you're Helen Keller. I remember laughing hysterically at the way Reed would make DB's look stupid. I'm sure no DB's relished going up against him, ever. JMO A video rating Andre Reed as the number 5 guy who should be in the HOF but isn't. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfg-9jhDe54...feature=related TD catches 1985 - 1990 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDmdg5DD6Q...feature=related TD catches 1991 - 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-H1fl0zu0I...=PL&index=1 'Nuff said!! The endless stupidity of Leon Lett. Where has Don Beebe's heart gone? The current Bills need it bad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2kcpTmheM4...feature=related Another really stupid play. This one by DeSean Jackson. I can't believe the Cowboys didn't jump on that ball. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIWWrdDNBRU...feature=related WTF!! Bruce Smith the 4th best pass rusher of all time!! I reiterate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jMh_SiG4s...feature=related

It's incredible to look back on that era and remember Jim, Bruce, Steve, Thurman, Will, Kent, Andre and Lofton but lost in all of those names are the backups who provided incredible depth to that team. Jim was out and Thurman was out and it didn't matter one iota for that team. It's nice to feel good about the Bills again, even if it was 17 years ago.

Are you sure he wasn't laughing at you for spelling would with two O's and when with an H at the end?

Gaines Adams play dropped off because he played at Clemson, in the weak ACC, his stats got inflated and he worked out well, thats why he was drafted so high. Did you ever see Gaines adams, he wasn't doing steroids, he got by on length, not strength. and speed I'm just pointing out that an enlarged heart is one of the consequences of steroid use. I don't know for sure he did but if that was the cause of his enlarged heart it's a warning for kids. JMO BTW, in the future could you make sure your open and closing quotes match. It makes it harder to respond to you when they don't. Thanks.

Looks like Conan is definitely gone; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/c...c_n_424508.html According to the outlines of a settlement, Conan O'Brien will leave NBC and the network will make an as-yet unspecified payment. The comedian will be free to appear elsewhere on television well before his contract expires, despite earlier threats from NBC that it would prevent him from working anywhere else. Wow! When Leno was a traveling comic he came to Rochester and some good friends of mine got together with him after the show and they said he was the nicest most down to earth guy. It seems now that some of that is gone. What he's doing to Conan is inexcusable. If you're pissed at NBC then don't take it out on Conan. Letterman weighs in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A98_-EeXS_I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msC3uu4KZbg...feature=related If there is any truth to the story presented in the movie "The Late Shift" then Leno's agent really screwed Carson and Letterman. I don't think Jay knew what was going on exactly but Letterman was screwed by NBC and Leno's agent. BTW, the new agent Letterman hired, Michael Ovitz, was brilliant in handling the situation for Dave. It should be remembered that when Conan took over Late Night Letterman had him on his show to publicize his taking over Late Night. A very classy move IMO. Today Show interview with Conan just before taking over The Tonight Show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inldaPzn1Fs I hope Letterman finds some way to get WWP to sign him to a contract to do various CBS specials and then eventually take over the Late Show when he retires. Letterman invites Conan to be a guest on his show.

More from the article; Barber declined to show the footage he took after the balloon returned to earth, saying he worries that if any of it is described or Heene is quoted it will only make it harder for him while he's in jail.

Balloon Boy Documentary In The Works All except for one: Steven C. Barber, a 48-year-old filmmaker who says he still believes Heene really thought his son was in the balloon as it spun wildly through the skies on Oct. 15. He plans to prove it, Barber says, when he releases the documentary "Balloon Boy: Guilty Until Proven Innocent" later this year. Barber has known Heene for more than 10 years and says he has dozens of hours of film of the backyard inventor pursuing one science project after another. He compiled much of that footage, the filmmaker says, in an effort to help Heene land a TV reality show chronicling his science adventures.

If Tabasco sauce was the same price as FRH I'd buy Tabasco instead.

Or maybe War Pigs With Their Pants on the Ground!!

Good!