Phightins

The Cubs are massively overpaying for Matt Garza. I am well aware that he has the potential to dominate in that division, but they are still giving up an [expletive] load. Report is that Tampa is getting Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, and Robinson Chirinos. Well done, Tampa. Small market teams take note.

I need to remind myself not to believe ANYTHING Eklund says, even when he says "100% done deal". Dude is a joke. Flyers are still in play for Langenbrunner apparently, although I'd have to guess it's a long shot. Lou Lamiorello has never traded with the Flyers. Never.

Looks like Jamie Langenbrunner is going to Dallas. Flyers supposedly made an offer. He'd be a marked improvement over Zherdev so I'd definitely welcome here, but it sounds like the Dallas deal is all but done.

Twins and Carl Pavano supposedly close on a two year deal. Maybe this sets up the trade market for Joe Blanton.

I still don't get the uproar here. It is HIS life, afterall. Believe it or not, some guys aren't out to get every last penny.

If I was a third year college student who could have sexual relations with any female on campus, I'd consider going back for a fourth year also.

Also, there's the simple fact that (from everything I am hearing) he loves Stanford and college in general. I will always respect somebody who takes happiness over money. And he will most likely get his money eventually, anyway.

There is no CBA. If there was ever a year for him to do this, this is the year. Plus it sounds like he legitimately loves college, and all that jazz. Happy for him, although obviously there is that injury risk involved. Sucks for the Panthers.

The thing is, I don't think it is possible to just draw a line and end it. There will always be questions about guys on the ballot, already in the Hall, etc. It is MLB's fault for not taking a stand years ago. That is why my ideal situation (well nothing about a scandal is ideal) would be for the writers to vote guys in based on numbers. Those are the only sure things we have. Just take a stand from this point forward and don't let it happen again (fortunately it looks like they are doing this). There is no way to "clean up" the hall. There are surely cheaters in there already that we will never know about since MLB did not properly test for most PEDs until a few years ago. Also, I am not totally convinced that alleged steroid use pushed any of the fringe hall-of-famers over the top (except arguably McGwire and Sosa, although we will never know). Bonds, Clemens, Manny, A-Rod, and possibly others that I am forgetting are all hall-of-famers with or without steroids. Not condoning what they did, just observing.

It's cool that you feel that way about it, I think many others agree with you. My take is that the general baseball public adored these guys and loved every second of their careers, when in the cases of Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, etc. there was always that strong suspicion that they were juicing. But most writers and fans (and most importantly, baseball themselves) just looked the other way. It was apparently OK then, but now when it's time for them to enter the Hall of Fame it is a crime. My biggest wish is that the Hall of Fame would take a stand, one way or the other. Stop leaving the moral questions up to the BBWAA. Even if the Hall says "if you had a positive test you are banned from the ballot", I could live with that (although I'd disagree with it). What I don't want is guys without positive tests being left out just based on suspicion, which is what is starting to happen. It is pretty disgraceful IMO.

I remember the Flyers were strongly considering drafting Krieder before they traded the pick away for Chris Pronger. Oh well, no complaints here! But yes....that was epic. Huge choke job regardless of the sport/team. But the fact that it's Canada choking at hockey makes it 1000x bigger. Worst loss for Canadian hockey in the last 20 years? Longer?

Great game!!!

Jrue Holiday makes me hard.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2011/01/05/hall-of-fame-voters-are-idiots/ This is another reason why it sucks.

You really should give that article a read if you get a couple minutes. It is fantastic. It isn't often that I try to force these long articles on people, but this Hall of Fame/steroids thing is a huge issue (about to get bigger in the next 3 years) and IMO Stark absolutely nailed it. FYI I agree with you 100%. I am saying that Blyleven and Alomar are Hall of Fame players, but yes, they absolutely should not be elected over some other guys on this ballot (however they should be eventually). But the two bigger atrocities (as far as a lack of support) are Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines. Bagwell's numbers over a 15 year period were consistently filthy. Arguably the best NL first baseman EVER (pre-Pujols obviously), but because of some unfounded gossip that he *may* have used some PED, he is going to be excluded. It is a disgrace. And Raines was arguably the best leadoff hitter in the National League for almost 20 years. He is getting screwed because he played for a team that doesn't exist anymore, I think, and there aren't any writers around anymore who covered him closely. There is no public figure out there to scream about what a disgrace this lack of support is. The main point Stark makes is that the Hall needs to take a stand one way or the other. Don't leave the morality policing up to the writers, who each have their own biases and "standards". The process is becoming so hypocritical. I am personally with you though. Let guys in based on numbers.

Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to the Hall of Fame. Both deserving, but this process is so flawed. Jayson Stark actually put it perfectly. I think I agree with every word he said in this article, including his ballot. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof11/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=5987228&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Fish!!

I would understand this decision if the performance was literally offensive (not just hurting LeBron's/Miami fan's feelings), and if these were paid, spoiled professionals we were talking about (they aren't, they are kids). And FYI, the kids in the band have NOTHING to do with song/show selection, except maybe the drum majors who have a bit of input.

With the exception of Campbell, the American team was quite underwhelming. About time Canada starts to dominate, they have so much talent.

No Hawes tonight. Mo Speights starting at center.

Also, when my cousin played in the Orange Bowl 4 years ago, I got to see this [expletive] clown committee first hand and honestly this doesn't surprise me a bit.

So tuba player #7 and trumpet player #4 and on and on and on who had nothing to do with this planning, but probably had their entire families fly down to Miami to see them perform on the biggest stage of their lives...they should be punished because of a few butthurt Miami residents?

It doesn't work like that. Can't really just take one tiny part of a field show out and have it still work.

Kudos to the officials for ruining the experience of a lifetime (and 4 months of hard work) for a bunch of innocent kids? Got it.

Pathetic. As a marching band guy myself (and with many friends in division-1 marching bands), this is absolutely pathetic on the part of the Orange Bowl committee. Those kids work their asses off all year (they practice way more than even the football team) and this was going to be the highlight of their season, and some of those kid's lives.