10 things to look forward to this summer

In News And Rumors by dmick89179 Comments

Figure it’s about time to talk about a few things that might be worth looking forward to this summer.

10. A team worth cherishing their history comes to Wrigley Field on June 17, 18 and 19. Roger Clemens won’t be trying for win number 300 this time, but I like the Yankees. I like the Cubs. I’m looking forward to this series.

9. June 24, 25 and 26. The Cubs head to Kansas City. I’ve got tickets.

8. Robert Whitenack. The Cubs didn’t think his recent injury was serious enough to even give him an MRI. He’s been really good this year between High A and AA. If he comes back from his injury soon enough, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a September call-up.

7. Will Starlin Castro learn how to take a walk?

6. Trey McNutt isn’t striking as many batters out, which is cause for concern. However, he is just finally getting over the blister issues so maybe the strikeouts will come. If he pitches anything like he did last year, he’ll be with the Cubs in September.

5. Are the Cubs the 4th, 5th or 6th best team in the NL Central? I’m dying to find out.

4. Matt Garza, when healthy, has been ridiculously good this season from an FIP standpoint. Will his run average get lower or will his FIP get higher? I’m guessing both because if his FIP remained the same he’d easily be the best pitcher in baseball. He’s good, but he’s not that good.

3. Moveis. Any. Fucking. Movie. Even the romcoms.

2. When will Brett Jackson make his big league debut? Hopefully sooner rather than later because this team is boring.

1. The best show on tv kicks off its fourth season on July 17th. Did Jesse kill Gayle? On the season 3 finale it appeared as though he did, but I don’t know. How much longer can Walt continue to get away with this with his brother-in-law being a DEA agent? Will there be another episode like the “Fly” episode from last year? I hope so. That was awesome. Is Vince Gilligan really going to stop after 4 or 5 seasons? Seriously? That means this might be the final season of one of the best tv shows in history. Really, there’s a lot more to be excited about with the upcoming season of Breaking Bad than there is anything related to the Cubs.


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  1. Rice Cube

    3. Moveis. Any. Fucking. Movie. Even the romcoms.

    I’m actually looking forward to the Green Lantern movie.

    /nerd

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  2. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Is that like an award for being constipated?[/quote]You’ll need to remember to tell yourself to shit, not get shit or get no-shit.

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  3. GBTS

    Will there be another episode like the “Fly” episode from last year? I hope so, bitch. That was awesome, yo.

    .

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  4. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=GBTS]Less than those who think he should either be fined or suspended though.[/quote]
    Exactly. More people think he should be punished. That’s fucking bizarre. Sullivan doesn’t know shit from shinola about baseball, but he sure as fuck knows his mouth-breathing, barely-literate audience.

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  5. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I knew the #1 the second I saw the title of this post (dying laughing)[/quote]I assume everybody knows the number 1 thing to be excited about this summer.

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  6. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Exactly. More people think he should be punished. That’s fucking bizarre. Sullivan doesn’t know shit from shinola about baseball, but he sure as fuck knows his mouth-breathing, barely-literate audience.[/quote]
    It’s because he’s not supposed to be angry anymore.

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  7. mb21

    Will there be another episode like the “Fly” episode from last year? I hope so, bitch. That was awesome, yo.

    (dying laughing)

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  8. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]I assume everybody knows the number 1 thing to be excited about this summer.[/quote]The Cubs. Duh. Nothing wrong with this team but injuries, bro.

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  9. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I’m actually looking forward to the Green Lantern movie.

    /nerd[/quote]Definitely more exciting than the Cubs. If they made a movie that started at a wall it would also be more exciting than this team.

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  10. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]It’s because he’s not supposed to be angry anymore.[/quote]I forgot that his anger-management training had morphed him into Automaton Z.

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  11. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius]I knew the #1 the second I saw the title of this post (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Wrong. #1 should have been that tomorrow is Friday/Friday.

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  12. Berselius

    Did anyone else see The Hangover sequel? I’ve been laughing my ass off at the bad reviews for the movie. No shit, it’s more or less a carbon copy of the first movie. What the fuck were they expecting? I don’t expect to get insight about the Duality Of Man within the Duality Of Nature in a fucking gross-out comedy (dying laughing)

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  13. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Did anyone else see The Hangover sequel? I’ve been laughing my ass off at the bad reviews for the movie. No shit, it’s more or less a carbon copy of the first movie. What the fuck were they expecting? I don’t expect to get insight about the Duality Of Man within the Duality Of Nature in a fucking gross-out comedy (dying laughing)[/quote]I haven’t seen it yet, but I really want to. Did you watch it? I’ve been laughing at the reviews also.

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  14. melissa

    If you have the least bit of interest in mankind go see Werner Herzog’s, ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams,’ about the Cave of Chauvet in France. I’m sure it’s no ‘Green Lantern’ but it’s pretty damn incredible.

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  15. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]Did anyone else see The Hangover sequel? I’ve been laughing my ass off at the bad reviews for the movie. No shit, it’s more or less a carbon copy of the first movie. What the fuck were they expecting? I don’t expect to get insight about the Duality Of Man within the Duality Of Nature in a fucking gross-out comedy (dying laughing)[/quote]
    I will see it if Stu sings another tiger song.

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  16. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]I haven’t seen it yet, but I really want to. Did you watch it? I’ve been laughing at the reviews also.[/quote]
    We saw it when we were in WI last week and it was a recent movie we enjoyed.

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  17. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I will see it if Stu sings another tiger song.[/quote]
    Mini-spoiler

    There is another Stu song, but it’s not about a tiger

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  18. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]If you have the least bit of interest in mankind go see Werner Herzog’s, ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams,’ about the Cave of Chauvet in France. I’m sure it’s no ‘Green Lantern’ but it’s pretty damn incredible.[/quote]Plus, Werner Herzog’s voiceovers make it feel like the movie is being narrated by Colonel Klink.

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  19. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]Mini-spoiler

    There is another Stu song, but it’s not about a tiger[/quote]
    I love that they were able to find a piano in Thailand.

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  20. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]We saw it when we were in WI last week and it was a recent movie we enjoyed.[/quote]It looks hilarious. I noticed on Rotten Tomatoes that the critics haven’t liked it, but the audience has loved it. That’s what matters.

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  21. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I forgot that his anger-management training had morphed him into Automaton Z.[/quote]
    Little did they know that part of the Automaton Z’s programming is to snap bats like toothpicks after every strikeout.

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  22. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Plus, Werner Herzog’s voiceovers make it feel like the movie is being narrated by Colonel Klink.[/quote]
    Listening to his voice while they navigate through a mysterious cave is rather creepy and definitely added to my enjoyment.

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  23. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    [quote name=melissa]If you have the least bit of interest in mankind go see Werner Herzog’s, ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams,’ about the Cave of Chauvet in France. I’m sure it’s no ‘Green Lantern’ but it’s pretty damn incredible.[/quote]

    I can’t wait to see that. I love all that Werner Herzog shit. Just got White Diamond from the mail in Nexflix

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  24. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Maybe they can MST3K all of Todd Ricketts’ UnderCover Boss episode..[/quote]

    Best I could do with Paint.

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  25. Ace@BleacherNation

    Not to go off topic by talking about the Cubs, but what’s the deal with Whitenack from a prospect perspective? He wasn’t really on anyone’s radar until this year, and then obviously, he’s been tearing shit up.

    Does anyone know exactly what changed? I’ve heard that he added some velocity and maybe some crispness on his breaking stuff. Is he definitely legit now? I don’t want another Mark Holliman type situation (semi-non-prospect comes out of nowhere with a great year, but it was just a tease).

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  26. GBTS

    All the negative reviews I’ve been reading have called The Hangover misogynistic. Did anyone else get that vibe? I was under the impression they were making fun of bro culture with Galifinakis. His homoeroticism was off the charts.

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  27. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    [quote name=GBTS]Also, if any of you are Netflix fags, watch Marwencol.[/quote]

    That looks pretty interesting. Someone was telling me about that I think. I’ve been wanting to watch Sweetgrass on netflix too.

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  28. GBTS

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]http://www.examiner.com/comedy-in-national/worst-break-up-note-ever-picture[/quote]That was a cold move, SK.

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  29. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Maybe Sabean should show everyone how angry he is by trading Liriano, Boof Bonser, and Joe Nathan for AJ Pierzynski again.[/quote]
    He can also give Zito and Rowand 5 year extensions

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  30. Rice Cube

    [quote name=GBTS]He can also go win a World S-

    God dammit.[/quote]
    I know, right? Sabean is the luckiest bastard alive all things considered.

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  31. GBTS

    So I recently bought Netflix and have been watching old episodes of the X-Files. This was my favorite show as a kid, I wanted to be Mulder. Now that I’m watching it again, it really saddens me that he’s essentially the FBI’s Yellon. (dying laughing)

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  32. Rice Cube

    [quote name=melissa]The only thing missing was a declaration that the Giants are not a team to be messed with. Does Sabean have his own line of douchey t-shirts by chance?[/quote]
    I take solace in knowing that most of the Giants’ players (as far as I know) harbor no ill will towards Cousins. I think they generate enough good karma as a team anyway, between the college scholarships given out by Bonds and Brian Wilson and that “It Gets Better” PSA they did.

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  33. melissa

    Costas called R-The “uncharacteristically shaky in the field.” Actually, it’s not that uncharacteristic, Bob.

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  34. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rice Cube]This new Cardinals pitcher I’ve never heard of is no-hitting the Giants through three full.[/quote]

    No more no-hitter.

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  35. melissa

    [quote name=Rice Cube]No more no-hitter.[/quote]
    Had Theriot made the inning ending double play, no hitter in tact for at least one more inning.

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  36. Rice Cube

    [quote name=melissa]Had Theriot made the inning ending double play, no hitter in tact for at least one more inning.[/quote]
    He’s finally on the right side of the rivalry.

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  37. mb21

    [quote name=Ace@BleacherNation]Not to go off topic by talking about the Cubs, but what’s the deal with Whitenack from a prospect perspective? He wasn’t really on anyone’s radar until this year, and then obviously, he’s been tearing shit up.

    Does anyone know exactly what changed? I’ve heard that he added some velocity and maybe some crispness on his breaking stuff. Is he definitely legit now? I don’t want another Mark Holliman type situation (semi-non-prospect comes out of nowhere with a great year, but it was just a tease).[/quote]I wouldn’t get too excited yet, but there’s reason to be optimistic. He threw a knuckle curve before this season and scrapped it, which was odd because it was considered his best pitch. He has really good control and I think he’s now throwing a harder sinker.

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  38. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]mcnutt pulled after 2 innings tonight[/quote]blister? The lack of strikeouts is becoming concerning. We saw the same thing with Jay Jackson after he moved quickly through the organization. Once those strikeouts dropped his potential dropped with it. Maybe some of it’s from the blisters. Maybe not. He’s striking out 5.5 per 9 this season (including tonight’s start). He’s struckout close to 25% of the batters in his career but under 15% this season.

    Jay Jackson was at about 24% k rate prior to AAA and it’s been under 16% there.

    It’s something to watch. Hopefully it’s blister related, but if it isn’t, it’s a very bad sign.

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  39. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mish]Pretty low, in my book:

    http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/02/giants-gm-brian-sabean-if-scott-cousins-never-plays-another-game-in-the-big-leagues-i-think-we%E2%80%99ll-all-be-happy%5B/quote%5D
    this topic came up again when Erstad got hired as Nebraska’s head coach today. Erstad hit the Braves Johnny Estrada at home in a game 6 years ago..

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/600139625/Erstad-Estrada-collision-gives-Angels-a-victory.html

    As for the hire, a big “meh” from me. Neb fans seem to be split 50-50 on it. He has no coaching experience save for his volunteer hitting coach title this past year at Neb, and now Osborne named him head husker. hmmm. I was surprised. I don’t think Osborne knows much about baseball. He looks for other qualities in a coach when it doesn’t involve football but I wish experience was one of them. He also has a loyalty fetish. That could be good or bad.

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  40. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]Pretty low, in my book:

    http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/02/giants-gm-brian-sabean-if-scott-cousins-never-plays-another-game-in-the-big-leagues-i-think-we%E2%80%99ll-all-be-happy%5B/quote%5DI don’t mind him being upset. I don’t really agree that it was malicious. I don’t think the baserunner has enough time to think to himself he’s going to lunge at a guy even if he’s out of the basepaths. But I understand Sabean’s anger.

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  41. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]blister? The lack of strikeouts is becoming concerning. We saw the same thing with Jay Jackson after he moved quickly through the organization. Once those strikeouts dropped his potential dropped with it. Maybe some of it’s from the blisters. Maybe not. He’s striking out 5.5 per 9 this season (including tonight’s start). He’s struckout close to 25% of the batters in his career but under 15% this season.

    Jay Jackson was at about 24% k rate prior to AAA and it’s been under 16% there.

    It’s something to watch. Hopefully it’s blister related, but if it isn’t, it’s a very bad sign.[/quote]Blisters notwithstanding, Is it possible there’s a coaching issue at Iowa?

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  42. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Hmmm. The Giants are beating the Cardinals.[/quote]Obviously, Sabean’s burning rage is lending them impetus.

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  43. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Is it possible there’s a coaching issue at Iowa?[/quote]There could be, but it’s not why Jay Jackson’s k-rate dropped like it did. Tougher competition explains that, but that lower k-rate also makes him perfect for the bullpen. Not sure it really matters though.

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  44. Horny Goat

    Erstad was a first-team baseball All-American at Nebraska in 1995, when he hit .410 with 19 HR and 79 RBI. He was also the punter for Nebraska’s football team in 1994, a year they won the then-mythical national championship, and in 2008 when with the Astros struck out for the final out in Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter. He’ll need to remember to tell his players to get hits, not get hit or get no-hit. Confusing, but then, Erstad is currently Nebraska’s hitting coach.

    “the then-mythical national championship”? So it’s no longer mythical?

    there are all kinds of fail in Yellon’s little piece there. most of it confusing.

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  45. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]There could be, but it’s not why Jay Jackson’s k-rate dropped like it did. Tougher competition explains that, but that lower k-rate also makes him perfect for the bullpen. Not sure it really matters though.[/quote]Yeah, it really seems like Jackson has fallen off for good. Even so, maybe they ought to just keep Whiteknack away from Iowa. (dying laughing)

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  46. Horny Goat

    btw, I think something should be done about the contact at home plate. Concussions are a serious problem. They’re trying to do something in the NFL, so why not in MLB.

    I”ve always wondered why runners are allowed to bowl over a defender at home and not at any other base.

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  47. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Erstad was a first-team baseball All-American at Nebraska in 1995, when he hit .410 with 19 HR and 79 RBI. He was also the punter for Nebraska’s football team in 1994, a year they won the then-mythical national championship, and in 2008 when with the Astros struck out for the final out in Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter. He’ll need to remember to tell his players to get hits, not get hit or get no-hit. Confusing, but then, Erstad is currently Nebraska’s hitting coach.

    “the then-mythical national championship”? So it’s no longer mythical?

    there are all kinds of fail in Yellon’s little piece there. most of it confusing.[/quote]Well, the presence of two rapists/serial abusers of women (Peter and Phillips) whose acts were later found to have been ignored/covered up by the athletic dept. kind of took the shine off.

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  48. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]btw, I think something should be done about the contact at home plate. Concussions are a serious problem. They’re trying to do something in the NFL, so why not in MLB.

    I”ve always wondered why runners are allowed to bowl over a defender at home and not at any other base.[/quote]
    Excellent question. At any base, that’s interference. I don’t like it, personally. It causes beanball problems on the field even when it doesn’t injure anyone, and it frequently injures someone.

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  49. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Well, the presence of two rapists/serial abusers of women (Peter and Phillips) whose acts were later found to have ignored/covered up by the athletic dept. kind of took the shine off.[/quote]
    I guess Osborne was win at all costs, huh? You can’t save everybody. He thought he was Father Flanagan.

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  50. Rice Cube

    Hey…any of you listen to WGN radio? My friend who runs the facebook page we play on said Joe Ricketts was just interviewed and it was bad. Getting details now.

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  51. dylanj

    lets not forget Jackson’s K rate declined with his loss in velocity. That probably has been a major factor

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  52. melissa

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I guess Osborne was win at all costs, huh? You can’t save everybody. He thought he was Father Flanagan.[/quote]
    You can’t save everybody but you also don’t have to enable criminals which is what he did. Wasn’t there even a story about him holding a gun for a player?

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  53. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Hey…any of you listen to WGN radio? My friend who runs the facebook page we play on said Joe Ricketts was just interviewed and it was bad. Getting details now.[/quote]
    I’m going to need a link if you find one.

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  54. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I guess Osborne was win at all costs, huh? You can’t save everybody. He thought he was Father Flanagan.[/quote]It’s not just Osborne or the Huskers. NCAAFB is a truly disgusting enterprise. I don’t think there’s a clean program out there. Some are worse than others, but it’s an entirely corrupt venture.

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  55. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]I’m going to need a link if you find one.[/quote]
    He’s looking…stay tuned.

    My suspicion is that Joe is mad that Tom convinced him to buy the team at a substantial markup and then proceeded to flush the investment down the toilet.

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  56. Mercurial Outfielder

    I just got a text about the interview. I’d be very interested if someone can get a link.

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  57. Horny Goat

    [quote name=melissa]You can’t save everybody but you also don’t have to enable criminals which is what he did. Wasn’t there even a story about him holding a gun for a player?[/quote]
    what are you talking about? Phillips? I’m not going to defend that scumbag for a second, but let’s not blow this out of proportion. There was no serial rapist shit going on. holy cow, and Osborne didn’t know about Peter until after he was gone.

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  58. Rice Cube

    Ah…he figured it out. It was the video of Joe Ricketts that I think Aisle-y talked about on his old blog back in November, but it was the center of discussion on the radio show. Still a good interview. But I hope someone is brave enough to interview Joe Ricketts soon about this year’s Cubs and what he thinks (dying laughing)

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  59. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]what are you talking about? Phillips? I’m not going to defend that scumbag for a second, but let’s not blow this out of proportion. There was no serial rapist shit going on. holy cow, and Osborne didn’t know about Peter until after he was gone.[/quote]Peters supposedly committed two sexual assaults while at NEB, but like you say, Osborne supposedly did not find out until after Peters was gone.

    http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2004/06/16/a_voice_for_the_victims/

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  60. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]lets not forget Jackson’s K rate declined with his loss in velocity. That probably has been a major factor[/quote]I don’t remember hearing about much of a velocity drop for him. He was sitting 90-91 in the low minors and in the high minors it’s about 88 to 90. However, McNutt had a huge increase in velocity in one season. I’m just saying that it’s something to watch. Considering the blisters it’s not that concerning at this point (the blisters are!), but if the strikeouts stay down, forget about him being a quality starting pitcher.

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  61. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]It’s not just Osborne or the Huskers. NCAAFB is a truly disgusting enterprise. I don’t think there’s a clean program out there. Some are worse than others, but it’s an entirely corrupt venture.[/quote]
    I don’t think it’s much different that any other part of society. young people fuck up. Coaches do much better good than they do bad by FAR. I shudder to think what would happen to most of them.

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  62. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]It’s not just Osborne or the Huskers. NCAAFB is a truly disgusting enterprise. I don’t think there’s a clean program out there. Some are worse than others, but it’s an entirely corrupt venture.[/quote]Depends on what you consider clean. Is it any different than professional sports? Probably a little cleaner than every single professional sport in the world, but not much. Athletes are pigs and nobody wants to watch the choir boys play football (or baseball, softball, tennis, golf, badminton and so on). (dying laughing)

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  63. Rice Cube

    The interview of Joe Ricketts was played on 670 The Score as part of a discussion item. Sorry about the mixup, I thought it was a more recent or even live interview which would’ve been (dying laughing) worthy.

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  64. dylanj

    that josh guy who follows the minors for BCB has indicated Jackson was in the 85-88 range all year so far

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  65. mb21

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I don’t think it’s much different that any other part of society. young people fuck up. Coaches do much better good than they do bad by FAR. I shudder to think what would happen to most of them.[/quote]I agree with that. At least the kids in college have some type of excuse for some of their behavior (they’re young). The ones in professional sports can’t really use that excuse.

    I guess I don’t understand the disgust for the NCAA. Far worse things happen in MLB, NFL, NBA and every other professional sport. The difference is the cover up.

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  66. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I don’t think it’s much different that any other part of society. young people fuck up. Coaches do much better good than they do bad by FAR. I shudder to think what would happen to most of them.[/quote]I refuse to defend any of it. Few of the athletes benefit from their college experience. The university uses their eligibility and then could give a shit. They are overworked past the point of usefulness in any classroom (trust me. I teach some of them), and then turned out when their eligibility is up. And for the stars, they have carte blanche. As in the case of Peter. Two rapes and a groping. Not a day in jail. I don’t care how much good a coach does, one rape is too many. Again, I carry no special animus towards NEB or Osborne. But once you see how this shit works from the inside, you can’t defend it, at all. It’s disgusting. Through and through.

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  67. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]that josh guy who follows the minors for BCB has indicated Jackson was in the 85-88 range all year so far[/quote]That could be, DJ. I haven’t paid any attention to jackson for a year now. I was mostly talking about last season when it became obvious he just didn’t have the strikeout potential to be a successful starting pitcher. I know last year I read on BA that he was 88-90, which was just a bit under previous years, but not much.

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  68. dylanj

    Also mentioned in Law’s article is the noticible drop in velocity by Jay Jackson of the Cubs. Law speculates that he must be trying to pitch through injury.

    thats from a keith law insider article from march this year

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  69. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]I agree with that. At least the kids in college have some type of excuse for some of their behavior (they’re young). The ones in professional sports can’t really use that excuse.

    I guess I don’t understand the disgust for the NCAA. Far worse things happen in MLB, NFL, NBA and every other professional sport. The difference is the cover up.[/quote]Because the NCAA likes to carry this pretense of “student-athletes” and throwing the book at “dirty” programs. Drop the fucking act. The athletes are exploited and in turn exploit others, and everyone turns a blind eye to the whole thing because there’s so much fucking money involved no one wants to upset the apple cart.

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  70. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Peters supposedly committed two sexual assaults while at NEB, but like you say, Osborne supposedly did not find out until after Peters was gone.

    http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2004/06/16/a_voice_for_the_victims/%5B/quote%5D
    My apologies. It still doesn’t make it a systemic problem on TO’s watch in his 25 years+. He could’ve won without those scumbags. I’m betting he has some regrets.

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  71. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]Also mentioned in Law’s article is the noticible drop in velocity by Jay Jackson of the Cubs. Law speculates that he must be trying to pitch through injury.

    thats from a keith law insider article from march this year[/quote]Thanks, DJ.

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  72. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]My apologies. It still doesn’t make it a systemic problem on TO’s watch in his 25 years+. He could’ve won without those scumbags. I’m betting he has some regrets.[/quote]Like I said, it’s hard to blame one person. It’s not all Osborne, and it’s not all NEB. This is a problem in all major college sports, and, IMO, especially in college football.

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  73. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Maybe you should interview Joe Ricketts.[/quote]
    Joe Ricketts wouldn’t slow down long enough to spit on me from his limosine if I was on fire.

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  74. Berselius

    I guess I don’t understand the disgust for the NCAA. Far worse things happen in MLB, NFL, NBA and every other professional sport. The difference is the cover up.

    The difference is that the NCAA so often pats itself on the back as being an organization of Perfect Scholar Athletes. That may or may not be true in the unprofitable sports, but pretending that it extends to major programs is a joke.

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  75. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Because the NCAA likes to carry this pretense of “student-athletes” and throwing the book at “dirty” programs. Drop the fucking act. The athletes are exploited and in turn exploit others, and everyone turns a blind eye to the whole thing because there’s so much fucking money involved no one wants to upset the apple cart.[/quote]
    So you’re the morality police huh, MO? You’re so fucking perfect. Why do you even watch and support sports of any kind? answer me that? If you do you’re a fucking hypocrite.

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  76. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]Joe Ricketts wouldn’t slow down long enough to spit on me from his limosine if I was on fire.[/quote]
    I’m glad to see you don’t have a Yellon complex.

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  77. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]The difference is that the NCAA so often pats itself on the back as being an organization of Perfect Scholar Athletes. That may or may not be true in the unprofitable sports, but pretending that it extends to major programs is a joke.[/quote]
    As opposed to the other professional sports patting themselves on the back for the all the fantastic shit they do for the community?

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  78. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I’m glad to see you don’t have a Yellon complex.[/quote]
    I can’t stand baloney sandwiches.

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  79. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Berselius]The difference is that the NCAA so often pats itself on the back as being an organization of Perfect Scholar Athletes. That may or may not be true in the unprofitable sports, but pretending that it extends to major programs is a joke.[/quote]
    what’s wrong with celebrating student-athletes? and are you saying it doesn’t get criticized? haven’t you been reading the papers? (dying laughing)

    imo, we should give credit to the 99% or whatever students who are good decent hardworking people instead of always focusing on the bad.

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  80. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]As opposed to the other professional sports patting themselves on the back for the all the fantastic shit they do for the community?[/quote]
    That’s a different kind of marketing. It’s different when you’re pretending that the scholarship that you gave Joe McBackupSafety to get a General Studies degree is worth anything to their future. I’m just an asshole academic who is cynical about the value of the college degrees that I’m part and parcel of handing out though. For a lot of students who get in that wouldn’t be admitted otherwise, their degree is really just Shot At The NFL/NBA/whatever. Just call it what it is.

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  81. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]So you’re the morality police huh, MO? You’re so fucking perfect. Why do you even watch and support sports of any kind? answer me that? If you do you’re a fucking hypocrite.[/quote]I never claimed to be perfect. I enjoy sports. I watch them. I attend games here at school. But I also feel awful when I see one of these poor kids drag himself into my classroom 10 minutes late, exhausted. And I feel terrible when I read stories alike the one I posted above and know that my viewing and attendance aids and abets that kind of behavior. I’m as implicated as the coaches, boosters and athletes, and to be honest, i don’t know what to do about it.

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  82. mb21

    imo, we should give credit to the 99% or whatever students who are good decent hardworking people instead of always focusing on the bad.

    Perhaps I’m misunderstanding the argument, but I don’t believe they’re saying we should focus on the bad, but rather the corruption that will inevitably exist in anything that is worth anything at all. There’s undeniably a shitload of corruption and mistreatment and so on and so forth, but I generally agree with you that it’s the same in any business. I think you could easily argue that there’s much less of it at the college level than the professional level. The fact that so few people in college football take steroids compared to reasonable estimates at the NFL level is evidence of that. The average athlete in college is a far better person than the average professional athlete. I don’t see how anybody could deny that.

    There is corruption in professional sports and in college sports as well.

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  83. Berselius

    [quote name=Horny Goat]what’s wrong with celebrating student-athletes? and are you saying it doesn’t get criticized? haven’t you been reading the papers? (dying laughing)

    imo, we should give credit to the 99% or whatever students who are good decent hardworking people instead of always focusing on the bad.[/quote]
    I’m grandstanding on the NCAA, which I’m not a fan of, but a strong majority of students on scholarship are in nonprofitable programs and the value of that scholarship opens up a lot more doors from an education standpoint. It’s easy to grandstand on football and other big sports (as I am more than guilty of doing) and forget about the other programs.

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  84. Horny Goat

    Sorry about that MO. I replied in haste without reading your whole paragraph, when I actually agreed with you. Didn’t mean to get personal. I got a little hot there. I agree that student athletes are exploited.

    I don’t know what to do about it. Spurrier came up with something as I’m sure you’ve all read but he was just brainstorming.

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  85. mb21

    For a lot of students who get in that wouldn’t be admitted otherwise, their degree is really just Shot At The NFL/NBA/whatever. Just call it what it is.

    I agree with that, but I also think that’s actually a very small number of collegiate football players. You could maybe say 5 or even 6 of the 120 scholarships on a football team are like that. Maybe 1 to even 2 of the basketball players and perhaps an equal amount of women’s athletes. Out of all the athletes that’s a tiny percentage.

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  86. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]what’s wrong with celebrating student-athletes? and are you saying it doesn’t get criticized? haven’t you been reading the papers? (dying laughing)

    imo, we should give credit to the 99% or whatever students who are good decent hardworking people instead of always focusing on the bad.[/quote]We should definitely do that, especially considering how hard these programs make it on athletes that do want to succeed. But we also should not pretend that there’s not a lot of shadiness and exploitation underneath that shiny veneer. The way college athletes are treated by universities is appalling. And in the case of the major sports, they are almost encouraged to eschew the “student” part of the NCAA’s preferred label for them.

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  87. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]I

    I guess I don’t understand the disgust for the NCAA. Far worse things happen in MLB, NFL, NBA and every other professional sport. The difference is the cover up.[/quote]
    Another difference would be that NCAA athletes aren’t paid like professionals even though they’re making their coaches and schools millions. In turn it seems to create a culture where athletes are allowed to commit acts that wouldn’t otherwise be tolerated. A lot of crimes committed by college athletes are committed on campus and covered up by coaches and administration. Once they become pros they don’t have an administration or campus that protects them from law enforcement and the outside world to the same degree.

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  88. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]We should definitely do that, especially considering how hard these programs make it on athletes that do want to succeed. But we also should not pretend that there’s not a lot of shadiness and exploitation underneath that shiny veneer. The way college athletes are treated by universities is appalling. And in the case of the major sports, they are almost encouraged to eschew the “student” part of the NCAA’s preferred label for them.[/quote]
    My rant about shady non-majors above notwithstanding, my experience attending and teaching at UW (and to a lesser extent, here at UT) is that the opportunities are there if students want to take them. If I knew anyone who was headed into undergrad right now I’d tell them that if they want some easy money and a lot of of they should look into their athletic department’s tutoring program.

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  89. Mercurial Outfielder

    The average athlete in college is a far better person than the average professional athlete. I don’t see how anybody could deny that.

    Probably so. But only because those are the guys who have been so good that their mistakes have been covered up all the way up the line. By the time someone hands them a big-money deal, they consider themselves above the law

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  90. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Sorry about that MO. I replied in haste without reading your whole paragraph, when I actually agreed with you. Didn’t mean to get personal. I got a little hot there. I agree that student athletes are exploited.

    I don’t know what to do about it. Spurrier came up with something as I’m sure you’ve all read but he was just brainstorming.[/quote]No worries. These are tough issues. But something has to be done, both to alleviate the exploitation of the athletes and to remove the incentive for coaches to pull a Pontious Pilate when they hear about wrongdoing by an athlete.

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  91. Berselius

    On a tangentially related note, I don’t understand big college boosters at all. I love sports and my favorite teams, but I don’t know if I would ever spend the kind of money that some of these guys do on their schools’ stars players (cars, cash, tattoos, etc.).

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  92. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]My rant about shady non-majors above notwithstanding, my experience attending and teaching at UW (and to a lesser extent, here at UT) is that the opportunities are there if students want to take them. If I knew anyone who was headed into undergrad right now I’d tell them that if they want some easy money and a lot of of they should look into their athletic department’s tutoring program.[/quote]That’s a tough gig here. They’re very selective and there’s a lot of guidelines. They even have a completely separate facility for tutoring athletes.

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  93. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]Another difference would be that NCAA athletes aren’t paid like professionals even though they’re making their coaches and schools millions. In turn it seems to create a culture where athletes are allowed to commit acts that wouldn’t otherwise be tolerated. A lot of crimes committed by college athletes are committed on campus and covered up by coaches and administration. Once they become pros they don’t have an administration or campus that protects them from law enforcement and the outside world to the same degree.[/quote]Bingo. It’s a whole system that only exists because it’s predicated on an unpaid labor force.

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  94. Berselius

    I had one of UW’s O-linemen in my calculus class a few years ago and while he wasn’t the greatest student, he had TONS of support from the athletic department to help keep his grade up. It’s a lot tougher to juke the stats with grades when they have to take in-person exams though.

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  95. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]That’s a tough gig here. They’re very selective and there’s a lot of guidelines. They even have a completely separate facility for tutoring athletes.[/quote]
    Yeah, that’s what I was talking about. What’s selective – that tutoring facility?

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  96. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Probably so. But only because those are the guys who have been so good that their mistakes have been covered up all the way up the line. By the time someone hands them a big-money deal, they consider themselves above the law[/quote]
    I very much agree with this. The pro athletes that get in trouble aren’t getting in trouble for the first time. They were most likely doing the same things in college and either weren’t getting caught or had a bigger net around them to help with the clean-up. I would also add that I don’t think a Coach at a major program is unaware of what his star players are doing in their “free” time. They know what these kids are up to much more than a pro org. does.

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  97. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]On a tangentially related note, I don’t understand big college boosters at all. I love sports and my favorite teams, but I don’t know if I would ever spend the kind of money that some of these guys do on their schools’ stars players (cars, cash, tattoos, etc.).[/quote]Honestly, those people, especially the The Rich Texan types, creep me the fuck out. There are some really cool boosters here, a bunch of older women, and they bake huge batches of cookies for the football team before the games and drive them over to them…but then there are the other ones. The big spenders. Creepy.

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  98. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Yeah, that’s what I was talking about. What’s selective – that tutoring facility?[/quote]Yeah. They do not fuck around.

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  99. Horny Goat

    I guess I’m a bit touchy whenever somebody brings up the Peter/Phillips thing because it makes Osborne look like a win at all costs villain. He made a couple of big mistakes that in hindsight wishes he could do over. He’s been with the program since the 60s and Neb has been relatively clean for as much success as they’ve had. I’ve lived here for almost 30 years and players don’t drive fancy cars and shit. Like I said, Osborne always thought of himself as a Father Flanagan figure. He went to great lengths to bring kids off the streets and try and give them a future. I think people outside the state have been terribly misinformed. Same with Tressell and OSU.

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  100. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]I had one of UW’s O-linemen in my calculus class a few years ago and while he wasn’t the greatest student, he had TONS of support from the athletic department to help keep his grade up. It’s a lot tougher to juke the stats with grades when they have to take in-person exams though.[/quote]Yeah, the money sport players here have a personal advisor, and that person is in almost constant email contact with the instructor. Good point about the tests, but there are ways around that, as I’m sure you know.

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  101. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]Another difference would be that NCAA athletes aren’t paid like professionals even though they’re making their coaches and schools millions. In turn it seems to create a culture where athletes are allowed to commit acts that wouldn’t otherwise be tolerated. A lot of crimes committed by college athletes are committed on campus and covered up by coaches and administration. Once they become pros they don’t have an administration or campus that protects them from law enforcement and the outside world to the same degree.[/quote]That’s just not true. Three Big Ten university athletic departments profited less than $5 million in 2009. That’s the richest or second richest conference in sports (and that’s thanks to the SEC having negotiated their TV contracts years after the B10 did). When the B10 negotiates their next TV contract they’ll be at the top, especially with Nebraska having joined the conference. Plus, the BTN will be picked up in additional locations. Then again, years after that the SEC will pass the B10.

    If only 8 of the 11 B10 athletic departments can profit more than $5 million, can you imagine how difficult it is for lesser programs to make a profit? The entire idea that universities are making tons of money off these kids is incorrect. Some schools are doing quite well. The University of Georgia has the most profitable athletic department in the nation and they made about $65 million. Texas isn’t far behind followed by several SEC schools and a few B10 ones too. Those programs make up less than 10% of the FBS programs. Then there’s the FCS.

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  102. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Yeah, the money sport players here have a personal advisor, and that person is in almost constant email contact with the instructor.[/quote]
    Seriously. I wanted to send an email to the guy to the effect of “shut the fuck up, if there is a problem I’ll let you know” (dying laughing)

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  103. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I guess I’m a bit touchy whenever somebody brings up the Peter/Phillips thing because it makes Osborne look like a win at all costs villain. He made a couple of big mistakes that in hindsight wishes he could do over. He’s been with the program since the 60s and Neb has been relatively clean for as much success as they’ve had. I’ve lived here for almost 30 years and players don’t drive fancy cars and shit. Like I said, Osborne always thought of himself as a Father Flanagan figure. He went to great lengths to bring kids off the streets and try and give them a future. I think people outside the state have been terribly misinformed. Same with Tressell and OSU.[/quote]I think Tressell is a complete hypocrite. I don’t know much about Osborne himself, but I’m pretty well-acquainted with the Peters and Phillips situations. Those two guys were scumbags, for sure, football or not, but it’s pretty clear the NEB athletic dept (most people suspect the AD, IIRC) and to a large degree the local and campus police were almost entirely negligent in those incidences.

    It’s also worth noting that those actions follow the general pattern with sexual assaults on almost all college campuses, even when they are not committed by athletes.

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  104. melissa

    HG, don’t you think it’s also possible that you can’t be objective because you’ve been drinking the Red Kool-Aid for a long time? I don’t mean that as an insult just that you might be more inclined to buy into Osborne’s act as saving the poor ghetto children. I’m sorry but I don’t buy it and it wasn’t just Peter and Phillips. There were claims that Osborne gave his own agent a sideline pass and this guy then went on to rep several Nebraska players when they left school. It wasn’t accidental. I’m also very weary of guys like Osborne and Tressell that moralize to everyone else and are so big on wearing their religious beliefs on their sleeves. These guys talk a good game but they have a lot of things going on behind the scenes that aren’t right. This stuff with Tressell didn’t just pop up at OSU either there was plenty of shady things that went on at Youngstown St as well. I’m not saying they are worse than anyone else but they were not running clean programs and they are hypocrites.

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  105. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]That’s just not true. Three Big Ten university athletic departments profited less than $5 million in 2009. That’s the richest or second richest conference in sports (and that’s thanks to the SEC having negotiated their TV contracts years after the B10 did). When the B10 negotiates their next TV contract they’ll be at the top, especially with Nebraska having joined the conference. Plus, the BTN will be picked up in additional locations. Then again, years after that the SEC will pass the B10.

    If only 8 of the 11 B10 athletic departments can profit more than $5 million, can you imagine how difficult it is for lesser programs to make a profit? The entire idea that universities are making tons of money off these kids is incorrect. Some schools are doing quite well. The University of Georgia has the most profitable athletic department in the nation and they made about $65 million. Texas isn’t far behind followed by several SEC schools and a few B10 ones too. Those programs make up less than 10% of the FBS programs. Then there’s the FCS.[/quote]
    MB, all the within-a-sport profits subsidizes the scholarships of a ton of other student-athletes, who reap the benefits. The fact that Joe McBackupsafety’s revenue generation are paying for someone else’s education rather than lining the pockets of the university make it somewhat more palatable to us, but does it make a difference to Joe McBackupSafety? The same goes to ESPN and the college sports media, who wouldn’t be airing football if they weren’t turning a profit on it either.

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  106. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]That’s just not true. Three Big Ten university athletic departments profited less than $5 million in 2009. That’s the richest or second richest conference in sports (and that’s thanks to the SEC having negotiated their TV contracts years after the B10 did). When the B10 negotiates their next TV contract they’ll be at the top, especially with Nebraska having joined the conference. Plus, the BTN will be picked up in additional locations. Then again, years after that the SEC will pass the B10.

    If only 8 of the 11 B10 athletic departments can profit more than $5 million, can you imagine how difficult it is for lesser programs to make a profit? The entire idea that universities are making tons of money off these kids is incorrect. Some schools are doing quite well. The University of Georgia has the most profitable athletic department in the nation and they made about $65 million. Texas isn’t far behind followed by several SEC schools and a few B10 ones too. Those programs make up less than 10% of the FBS programs. Then there’s the FCS.[/quote]But you’re forgetting about the “invisible” money sports bring in the form of grants and alumni donations. Why should a booster be able to give 50 grand to the school and not slide a few hundred bucks to a few athletes?

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  107. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Seriously. I wanted to send an email to the guy to the effect of “shut the fuck up, if there is a problem I’ll let you know” (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing) indeed.

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  108. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Bingo. It’s a whole system that only exists because it’s predicated on an unpaid labor force.[/quote]I’m OK if you want to pay the athletes as long as we accept one simple fact: women sports are dead. I wouldn’t like that because it’s without a doubt not fair, but I’ll also admit the only women’s sports that I have ever watched is college softball and I could take it or leave it. So as far as my viewing pleasure goes, I couldn’t care less. As far as what I believe is right and wrong, I’d hate to see it.

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  109. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder] Why should a booster be able to give 50 grand to the school and not slide a few hundred bucks to a few athletes?[/quote]
    I don’t have a problem with any of that, so long as it’s outside of the framework of the athletic department/school. I think athletes should be free to trade on their name, etc., as well as do things like so much as glance at an agent. If they can make enough off their rep to pay tuition then let that money go to someone more deserving (EDIT: I mean someone who needs it more)

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  110. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]MB, all the within-a-sport profits subsidizes the scholarships of a ton of other student-athletes, who reap the benefits. The fact that Joe McBackupsafety’s revenue generation are paying for someone else’s education rather than lining the pockets of the university make it somewhat more palatable to us, but does it make a difference to Joe McBackupSafety? The same goes to ESPN and the college sports media, who wouldn’t be airing football if they weren’t turning a profit on it either.[/quote]Right. I mean, I get money in my pocket because of unpaid student-athletes. I am never remiss to remind my colleagues here who like to bag on the athletic dept. of that fact. We exist at least in part because of them.

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  111. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I don’t have a problem with any of that, so long as it’s outside of the framework of the athletic department/school. I think athletes should be free to trade on their name, etc., as well as do things like so much as glance at an agent. If they can make enough off their rep to pay tuition then let that money go to someone more deserving.[/quote]I absolutely agree with that. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I also don’t care about the boosters.

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  112. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]That’s just not true.[/quote]
    Can you name a single major college football or basketball program where the coach doesn’t make millions? This is huge business. It also keeps boosters donating to the schools and funding other areas of the school. They are relying on “unpaid” athletes to keep these programs profitable so there are all kinds of incentive for them to enable bad behavior. I’m not saying cheating and enabling of criminal behavior doesn’t go on in schools where they don’t make big money because it does. I’m just saying that big time programs have more incentive to circumvent the rules.

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  113. Berselius

    Can you name a single major college football or basketball program where the coach doesn’t make millions?

    99% of schools in Division II (or whatever the fuck they call it these days)

    EDIT: just realized I missed your ‘major’ qualifier

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  114. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]Can you name a single major college football or basketball program where the coach doesn’t make millions? This is huge business. It also keeps boosters donating to the schools and funding other areas of the school. They are relying on “unpaid” athletes to keep these programs profitable so there are all kinds of incentive for them to enable bad behavior. I’m not saying cheating and enabling of criminal behavior doesn’t go on in schools where they don’t make big money because it does. I’m just saying that big time programs have more incentive to circumvent the rules.[/quote]Well, the incentive to cheat at the schools that don’t make a lot of money, at least on the part of the AD and the coaches, is to build a successful program so they can move up and get that big-money program.

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  115. Mercurial Outfielder

    Leave to us to make shit get real in a thread with a “any movie bitch” tag. (dying laughing)

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  116. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius]99% of schools in Division II (or whatever the fuck they call it these days)[/quote]
    I wouldn’t consider anything outside of Div I “major” and many DI schools don’t have a huge football and basketball money generating program.
    Coaches also have incentive to cheat in order to get endorsement deals from advertisers.

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  117. Horny Goat

    No Melissa, I don’t agree with you. The things Tressel was ignoring was minor stuff. Trading shit for tattoos? I don’t see that as a big deal. Even the car deals are overblown nonsense. And I’m not just drinking the red koolaid. Osborne made 2 mistakes with Peter/Phillips. That was in the hands of the inept Lincoln police dept. Again, bad judgment on TO’s part, but it wasn’t a decades long pattern of ignorance is bliss so to speak.

    No, this stuff happens as much if not more outside the confines of college athletics.

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  118. mb21

    The fact that Joe McBackupsafety’s revenue generation are paying for someone else’s education rather than lining the pockets of the university make it somewhat more palatable to us, but does it make a difference to Joe McBackupSafety?

    Probably not, but you have to make a decision. Do you want to have more than one or two sports (Duke probably has basketball only, same with KU and some others) or do you want to be able to provide an education to more students through athletic scholarships? I’m in favor of that, but I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t care. If the University of Iowa announced tomorrow they were cutting all sports except football, I’d be disappointed that I’d never get to see Iowa ever be good at basketball again. I’d be disappointed that there were fewer scholarships available for athletes. I’d be disappointed women didn’t have the same opportunity. That would last for about 19 seconds and then I would stop caring.

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  119. Berselius

    [quote name=melissa]I wouldn’t consider anything outside of Div I “major” and many DI schools don’t have a huge football and basketball money generating program.
    Coaches also have incentive to cheat in order to get endorsement deals from advertisers.[/quote]
    I didn’t see your ‘major’ qualifier when I wrote that. I agree that successful athletic programs help a school from an advertising perspective.

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  120. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]I wouldn’t consider anything outside of Div I “major” and many DI schools don’t have a huge football and basketball money generating program.
    Coaches also have incentive to cheat in order to get endorsement deals from advertisers.[/quote]You’re cherry picking. If you reduce the NCAA to 1.8% of the athletic departments you’re going to get whatever results you want. If I reduced it to the 1.8% of the “cleanest” programs the NCAA would look awesome.

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  121. Berselius

    Duke probably has basketball only

    We know well that Duke also has a lacrosse program. They also have a laughable football team.

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  122. Horny Goat

    It needs to be pointed out that many football programs support not only other sports within their university but also finance other academic departments. I work at the library here and we get a hefty sum straight from the athletic dept, which is almost all Husker football. I wish I had the latest figure.

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  123. mb21

    [quote name=Horny Goat]No Melissa, I don’t agree with you. The things Tressel was ignoring was minor stuff. Trading shit for tattoos? I don’t see that as a big deal. Even the car deals are overblown nonsense. And I’m not just drinking the red koolaid. Osborne made 2 mistakes with Peter/Phillips. That was in the hands of the inept Lincoln police dept. Again, bad judgment on TO’s part, but it wasn’t a decades long pattern of ignorance is bliss so to speak.

    No, this stuff happens as much if not more outside the confines of college athletics.[/quote]Agreed. I have no real problem with what Tressell did. I think Terrelle Pryor is an idiot and Tressell is probably one for sticking behind him as long as he did, but I just don’t care about that shit.

    As for Osborne, he’s been at this for 100 years. If we can find one or two instances of potential corruption I’d say that’s remarkable. I’d expect a lot more even if he’s the best person ever.

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  124. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]You’re cherry picking. If you reduce the NCAA to 1.8% of the athletic departments you’re going to get whatever results you want. If I reduced it to the 1.8% of the “cleanest” programs the NCAA would look awesome.[/quote]
    I’m not attempting to cherry pick, I’m pointing out that programs where big money is being made are very prone to corruption. I don’t think it’s okay for these schools to harbor and enable rapists and criminals just because it’s not going on at the schools that aren’t generating as much money.

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  125. GBTS

    You guys could just be like me and not give two shits about any college athletics. Makes being a sports fan much simpler. (dying laughing)

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  126. Horny Goat

    [quote name=GBTS]You guys could just be like me and not give two shits about any college athletics. Makes being a sports fan much simpler. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    If I wasn’t a sports fan my life would be much happier

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  127. melissa

    [quote name=GBTS]Epic Miami bed shitting taking place.[/quote]
    Hell, yeah, Go Mavs. Hope they can pull this out.

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  128. Rice Cube

    [quote name=GBTS]Epic Miami bed shitting taking place.[/quote]
    Totally called that 3-pointer. Miami has some piss poor shot selection.

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  129. melissa

    Heat should have had LeBron on Dirk not Bosh. LeBron also did a shitty job of helping Bosh once he was beaten.

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  130. GBTS

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Totally called that 3-pointer. Miami has some piss poor shot selection.[/quote]I guess they used up all their fallaway 18-25 footers last series.

    /cries into beer bottle

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  131. Horny Goat

    [quote name=melissa]I’m not attempting to cherry pick, I’m pointing out that programs where big money is being made are very prone to corruption. I don’t think it’s okay for these schools to harbor and enable rapists and criminals just because it’s not going on at the schools that aren’t generating as much money.[/quote]
    I’m not defending gropers and other scumbags. If they’re not convicted of the crime and pronounced innocent, aren’t they given the benefit of the doubt? Do you just kick them to the curb? I’m not being insensitive here. I hate anyone who commits such a heinous act, but coaches will mostly just follow what the law says.

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  132. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I’m not defending gropers and other scumbags. If they’re not convicted of the crime and pronounced innocent, aren’t they given the benefit of the doubt? Do you just kick them to the curb? I’m not being insensitive here. I hate anyone who commits such a heinous act, but coaches will mostly just follow what the law says.[/quote]Well, there are several instances of coaches interfering in the legal process. Maybe the most recent was that jagbag that was coaching basketball at Iowa.

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  133. melissa

    [quote name=Horny Goat] coaches will mostly just follow what the law says.[/quote]
    I think this would be where my major disagreement lies. I don’t think coaches just follow the law. I think they have big incentive to circumvent the law and help their athletes avoid prosecution. There is case after case of coaches doing so. Coaches look the other way and many times actively participate in covering up the misdeeds.

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  134. Rice Cube

    [quote name=melissa]Heat should have had LeBron on Dirk not Bosh. LeBron also did a shitty job of helping Bosh once he was beaten.[/quote]
    They had a foul to give that wasn’t given. I don’t recall the foul situation but you can’t let Dirk drive like that. Just wrap him up at that point or hack him before he can put it up.

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  135. Berselius

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I’m not defending gropers and other scumbags. If they’re not convicted of the crime and pronounced innocent, aren’t they given the benefit of the doubt? Do you just kick them to the curb? I’m not being insensitive here. I hate anyone who commits such a heinous act, but coaches will mostly just follow what the law says.[/quote]
    Didn’t the Baylor MBB coach cover up a murder?

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  136. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]I think this would be where my major disagreement lies. I don’t think coaches just follow the law. I think they have big incentive to circumvent the law and help their athletes avoid prosecution. There is case after case of coaches doing so. Coaches look the other way and many times actively participate in covering up the misdeeds.[/quote]But the question you have to ask it why. These coaches aren’t criminal masterminds. What inspires them to do what they do? And why do the coaches always bear the brunt of the punishments? It’s like the war on drugs. Bust users and mid-level dealers, never actually address the root causes of the problem.

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  137. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Didn’t the Baylor MBB coach cover up a murder?[/quote]Yeah. And the guy at Iowa tried to cover up a rape and I think some petty theft.

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  138. Horny Goat

    [quote name=melissa]I think this would be where my major disagreement lies. I don’t think coaches just follow the law. I think they have big incentive to circumvent the law and help their athletes avoid prosecution. There is case after case of coaches doing so. Coaches look the other way and many times actively participate in covering up the misdeeds.[/quote]
    Do you think it’s ego/power trip or a win at all cost thing?

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  139. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]But the question you have to ask it why. These coaches aren’t criminal masterminds. What inspires them to do what they do? And why do the coaches always bear the brunt of the punishments? It’s like the war on drugs. Bust users and mid-level dealers, never actually address the root causes of the problem.[/quote]
    I think part of it is the coach’s own ability to earn income off these players as mentioned previously. I would also argue that coaches are rarely made the target of NCAA punishments. They can leave a school after committing major violations and the school’s athletic department is punished and the coach can move on to a different school with no restrictions. This has started to change somewhat but coaches aren’t punished like the program as a whole or the athletes.

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  140. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]But the question you have to ask it why. These coaches aren’t criminal masterminds. What inspires them to do what they do? And why do the coaches always bear the brunt of the punishments? It’s like the war on drugs. Bust users and mid-level dealers, never actually address the root causes of the problem.[/quote]
    yeah, that’s my question. These coaches are basically good people.

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  141. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Do you think it’s ego/power trip or a win at all cost thing?[/quote]I think it’s the pressure to win exerted from on high. Successful athletic programs result in HUGE bumps in enrollment. My institution just had a very successful football season and got something like a 3,000-4,000 student bump in freshman enrollment.

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  142. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think it’s the pressure to win exerted from on high. Successful athletic programs result in HUGE bumps in enrollment. My institution just had a very successful football season and got something like a 3,000-4,000 student bump in freshman enrollment.[/quote]
    Very good point. The high profile successful sports programs draw large numbers of regular students to the school.

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  143. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the Cubs are super-duper fucked: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0603-mlb-cubs-chicago–20110602,0,344709.story

    Ricketts has fucked them good.[/quote]
    Damn, and I just posted this preview http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/previews/series-preview-iowa-cubs-23-31-at-st-louis-cardinals-33-24.html

    That would be much more interesting to talk about (dying laughing)

    new thread up

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  144. Horny Goat

    [[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think it’s the pressure to win exerted from on high. Successful athletic programs result in HUGE bumps in enrollment. My institution just had a very successful football season and got something like a 3,000-4,000 student bump in freshman enrollment.[/quote]
    That’s an insane amount. aren’t you at ORE? is it partly because of the new pac-12? I know that Neb is going to see a big bump simply from joining the big ten.

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  145. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat][

    That’s an insane amount. aren’t you at ORE? is it partly because of the new pac-12? I know that Neb is going to see a big bump simply from joining the big ten.[/quote]It’s partly that, but a lot of it is because of the football program. There’s a lot of “hidden” money that comes from sports that doesn’t get counted in the revenue numbers.

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  146. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the Cubs are super-duper fucked: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0603-mlb-cubs-chicago–20110602,0,344709.story

    Ricketts has fucked them good.[/quote]I’ve brought that up a dozen times here. I hadn’t been able to find any information, but I was certain that they were at the very least very close to violating that rule. It’s not surprising to find out they are.

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