TDSN Around the Horn!

[Jake]

I decided to start a game. For those of you who have seen ESPN's Around the Horn, you know how it works. For those of you who don't, here's the outline.

(There will be some changes due to the game being on the boards.)

Every day, I'm going to post a sports related topic. Each person who wants to play posts a comment/answer to my topic/question. I'll give points based on the response, and the person with the most points at the end of 7 days wins!

So here we go:

Day 1:
The MLB trade deadline was Thursday. What team was the biggest winner, and what team was the biggest loser?

[Howlin' Wolf]

I decided to start a game. For those of you who have seen ESPN's Around the Horn, you know how it works. For those of you who don't, here's the outline.

(There will be some changes due to the game being on the boards.)

Every day, I'm going to post a sports related topic. Each person who wants to play posts a comment/answer to my topic/question. I'll give points based on the response, and the person with the most points at the end of 7 days wins!

So here we go:

Day 1:
The MLB trade deadline was Thursday. What team was the biggest winner, and what team was the biggest loser?

the biggest winner was the angels.
the biggest loser was the cardinals. all the relievers that were available and they couldnt get one!

[danbos]

I'd have to agree with Tulip on the winner....the Angels got a solid 1st baseman in Mark Teixeira, and didn't have to give up too much to get him.

Loser - Tigers. They gave up Pudge, their starting catcher, to get Kyle Farnsworth. They have a decent bullpen, and I honestly have never been that impressed with Kyle Farnsworth. They do have Brandon Inge to fill the catcher spot, but he's only batting around .220 this year, and .240 career. I think their going to miss Pudge's hitting in their attempt at the playoffs, unless they've given up on it, and are just looking to next year.

[silly4HIM]

Winner - NY Yankees: Got left-handed reliever Damaso Marte, Xavier Nady and a Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez. They only gave up Farnsworth and a two minor leaguers. Manny leaving the Sox can only help the Yanks too.

Losers - Boston: Lost Manny in left field, along with...7 million in cash, pitcher Hansen, right fielder Moss, and 2 possible 1st round draft picks at the end of the season if Manny decides to refuse arbitration and goes into free agency...all for Bay from the Pirates.

[rossid]

Winner - LAD with Manny.

Loser - myself the only sad Reds fan with Griffey's departure

[Jake]

the biggest winner was the angels.
the biggest loser was the cardinals. all the relievers that were available and they couldnt get one!

+3

As a Cubs fan, I love somebody taking a dig at the Cards!

I'd have to agree with Tulip on the winner....the Angels got a solid 1st baseman in Mark Teixeira, and didn't have to give up too much to get him.

Loser - Tigers. They gave up Pudge, their starting catcher, to get Kyle Farnsworth. They have a decent bullpen, and I honestly have never been that impressed with Kyle Farnsworth. They do have Brandon Inge to fill the catcher spot, but he's only batting around .220 this year, and .240 career. I think their going to miss Pudge's hitting in their attempt at the playoffs, unless they've given up on it, and are just looking to next year.

+4
Again, as a Cubs fan, I saw what Farnsworth can do. He's a better linebacker than a closer

Winner - NY Yankees: Got left-handed reliever Damaso Marte, Xavier Nady and a Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez. They only gave up Farnsworth and a two minor leaguers. Manny leaving the Sox can only help the Yanks too.

Losers - Boston: Lost Manny in left field, along with...7 million in cash, pitcher Hansen, right fielder Moss, and 2 possible 1st round draft picks at the end of the season if Manny decides to refuse arbitration and goes into free agency...all for Bay from the Pirates.

+2
The only thing Boston lost was Manny. The cash isn't that big of a hit, and most people have never heard of Hansen or Moss. And draft picks in baseball are such an unknown it's hard to get too worked up about them.

Winner - LAD with Manny.

Loser - myself the only sad Reds fan with Griffey's departure

+1
It's always great to see a team get their injury plauged outfielder of the future!

[Jake]

After 1 question
Danbos-4
Tulip-3
Silly-2
Rossid-1

NEXT QUESTION:
The college football preseason polls are out, and Georgia is setting at number 1. What do you think of the preaseason top 10?

[Howlin' Wolf]

After 1 question
Danbos-4
Tulip-3
Silly-2
Rossid-1

NEXT QUESTION:
The college football preseason polls are out, and Georgia is setting at number 1. What do you think of the preaseason top 10?

Georgia may be the best team in college football but they have a sick schedule! at Ariz St, Lsu, and Auburn. Ohio St. isnt even a top ten team. I'm sick and tired of the overrated Big ten. I'll take West Va vs Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

[rossid]

Being an Iowa alum I'll stay with the midwest - Big Ten and Big Twelve. I have no comment about football. Now felonies? Okay we know about that stuff.

Yes the Big Ten is overrated based on last year's bowl record.

But you cannot take a national championship away from Ohio State. Penn State is way underrated at 22 and Michigan a bit underrated at 24.

Mizzou is way too high at seven. Iowa State not only got a horrible new logo but is gonna continue to prove that even Coach Gene Chizek is not their messiah. Finally, I want Kansas' Coach Mangino to anchor my Oakland Raiders o-line this fall.


Sidenotes: what happened to the talk on ESPN that GA and FL were one-two?

I'll go on a limb and pick Cincinnati at 37 to finish in the top 25.

[danbos]

Georgia's got their work cut out for them if they want to stay number 1. They've got quite an easy non-conference schedule. I'd have to disagree with everyone and say the Big 10 is underrated in this poll. I think Michigan will finish a lot higher than 24. They've got a great new coach in Rich Rodriguez(I would've rather seen Les Miles), but I think Rich will be completely different than Lloyd Carr. A lot of Michigan's losses over the years have been because of Lloyd's inability to take chances. Ohio State will be a contender again...they have a fairly easy non-conference schedule, but they have something Georgia doesn't have, a game against USC. Illinois will probably come out with something to prove, and will have a chance to do it in their first game against Missouri. I'm surprised to see Clemson in the Top 10, and Boston College not even in the Top 25.

[Jake]

Georgia may be the best team in college football but they have a sick schedule! at Ariz St, Lsu, and Auburn. Ohio St. isnt even a top ten team. I'm sick and tired of the overrated Big ten. I'll take West Va vs Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

+2
I like the bold prediction

Being an Iowa alum I'll stay with the midwest - Big Ten and Big Twelve. I have no comment about football. Now felonies? Okay we know about that stuff.

Yes the Big Ten is overrated based on last year's bowl record.

But you cannot take a national championship away from Ohio State. Penn State is way underrated at 22 and Michigan a bit underrated at 24.

Mizzou is way too high at seven. Iowa State not only got a horrible new logo but is gonna continue to prove that even Coach Gene Chizek is not their messiah. Finally, I want Kansas' Coach Mangino to anchor my Oakland Raiders o-line this fall.


Sidenotes: what happened to the talk on ESPN that GA and FL were one-two?

I'll go on a limb and pick Cincinnati at 37 to finish in the top 25.

+5
You absolutely brought it right there, man. Great answer.

Georgia's got their work cut out for them if they want to stay number 1. They've got quite an easy non-conference schedule. I'd have to disagree with everyone and say the Big 10 is underrated in this poll. I think Michigan will finish a lot higher than 24. They've got a great new coach in Rich Rodriguez(I would've rather seen Les Miles), but I think Rich will be completely different than Lloyd Carr. A lot of Michigan's losses over the years have been because of Lloyd's inability to take chances. Ohio State will be a contender again...they have a fairly easy non-conference schedule, but they have something Georgia doesn't have, a game against USC. Illinois will probably come out with something to prove, and will have a chance to do it in their first game against Missouri. I'm surprised to see Clemson in the Top 10, and Boston College not even in the Top 25.

+4
I disagree with you about Michigan, but that's still a good answer.

[Jake]

Danbos-8
Tulip-5
Silly-2
Rossid-6

That's after those last answers. I'll give it a coulpe more hours before posting quesiton number 3.

[danbos]

Yep, I would expect you to disagree about Michigan...probably just still bitter that we beat your Gators last year. ;) ;) :P

[Jake]

Yep, I would expect you to disagree about Michigan...probably just still bitter that we beat your Gators last year. ;) ;) :P

MUTE
-1

Danbos-7
Tulip-5
Silly-2
Rossid-6

I do enjoy hosting!

And for the record, other than U of F, my loyalties are in Morgantown...which is why I wanna see Rich fall on his face.

[Jason]

ASU is #16. I would've ranked them higher.

[tomsoto]

As much as I dislike USC (I'm a UCLA alum) I think they are going to be the team to beat this year. They are absolutely loaded at every position. No way Ohio State beats them at the Coliseum. Georgia has too many tough games.

Everyone else will lose at some point in the season. The team that I think will make a push into the top 10 will be BYU. They have everyone returning from a 10-2 team and don't play a very tough schedule. Which, sadly, includes a match-up with my Bruins.

[Jake]

ASU is #16. I would've ranked them higher.

+1
As much as I dislike USC (I'm a UCLA alum) I think they are going to be the team to beat this year. They are absolutely loaded at every position. No way Ohio State beats them at the Coliseum. Georgia has too many tough games.

Everyone else will lose at some point in the season. The team that I think will make a push into the top 10 will be BYU. They have everyone returning from a 10-2 team and don't play a very tough schedule. Which, sadly, includes a match-up with my Bruins.

+3
I don't like USC or Pete Carroll, but it's hard to argue with truth...

[Jake]

Danbos-7
Tulip-5
Silly-2
Rossid-6
Jason-1
Tom-3

QUESTION #3!

Brett Favre saga day 1576...
Straight up, what's gonna happen with the whole Favre saga? Green Bay backup, marketing deal, traded to a team outside the division, or released so he and A-Pete can form an insane combination in Minnesota? What's it gonna be?

[Howlin' Wolf]

He takes the marketing deal and when aaron rodgers is hurt during pre-season games, he comes out of retirement and leads the pack to the playoffs only to cost them the playoff game on an interception.

[Jason]

I'd say Favre will take a non-playing role with the Packers. I really can't see the Packers letting him go to a division rival.

[tomsoto]

I think it is ego that is driving Favre so he does not take the money to stay retired. He wants to play, so he shows up for camp and is traded to the Jets. Or maybe Tampa Bay.

He should just have stayed retired because now he will fade away in mediocrity. Brett stay retired!

[rossid]

I know I had a good ramble last time.

On #4 I just keep repeating, "let my love open the door", actually I keep saying how can you pay someone to stay retired? Has this EVER happened before? I think it is so wrong. But how can you top what they said, on Mike and Mike methinks, that he needs to go out on a farewell tour and play one game for each team.

Do I love him going to the Vikings? Or what about the Bears anemic quarterback history the last few years? Or to compete with Pennington?

[rossid]

I agree with Georgia being number one. With Stafford coming back, they are going to be a powerhouse. Tebow is back, but his backfield and receivers are gone. So I agree with it. As far as West Virginia at 8, I think that's a little high since Pat White is gone.



Favre Topic: He's going to play. He'll report to Green Bay training camp, be the backup, get most of the playing time since it's only preseason. He'll show what he can do, and a team will wake up to find that Brett Favre can STILL play.


-Mario (Doriano's son)

[Howlin' Wolf]

I agree with Georgia being number one. With Stafford coming back, they are going to be a powerhouse. Tebow is back, but his backfield and receivers are gone. So I agree with it. As far as West Virginia at 8, I think that's a little high since Pat White is gone. -Mario (Doriano's son)

Pat White isnt gone.

[rossid]

ESPN.com has a major error then.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/roster?teamId=277

West Virginia Mountaineers Roster - 2007

5 Patrick White QB 6-2 185 Sr. Daphne, AL


So he was on the roster last year but is now a senior? It should then say this is the 2008 roster.

*goes and flogs 14 y.o. son anyway for posting this huge mistake* :P

[danbos]

MUTE
-1

Hehe, I was wondering if I'd get muted for that. :P

As for Farve...what he should've done is retired a few years ago and stayed retired while he was still regarded as one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. Now he's had several mediocre seasons, and now this, and he's going downhill in the eyes of most people. What I think will happen is that he'll just suck it up and take his role as the backup.

[Howlin' Wolf]

Favre was awesome last year!

[middletree]

danbos, were you watching Favre last year? Other than the game against the Cowboys, and the last interception against the Giants, he had a great year, certainly not mediocre.

BTW, to all those who say the Angels were winners, I disagree. Texieria is such an amazingly bitter human being that his presence in the clubhouse will be the very definition of the term "cancer".

Actually, two months isn't very long, so as a rent-a-player, he might be worth it to get deep into the playoffs. But after what I observed here in TX, I'd never sign the guy to a long-term deal. He's got to be the unhappiest millionaire since Howard Hughes.

[Jason]

danbos, were you watching Favre last year? Other than the game against the Cowboys, and the last interception against the Giants, he had a great year, certainly not mediocre.


Favre proved he was still one of the top quarterbacks last season.

[danbos]

Yes, last year he was on top of his game, but '05 and '06 he was nothing more than mediocre.

[Jake]

Wow...a bunch of posts to try to go through to give points.

He takes the marketing deal and when aaron rodgers is hurt during pre-season games, he comes out of retirement and leads the pack to the playoffs only to cost them the playoff game on an interception.

+2
Seems possible

I'd say Favre will take a non-playing role with the Packers. I really can't see the Packers letting him go to a division rival.

+2
Also seems possible

I think it is ego that is driving Favre so he does not take the money to stay retired. He wants to play, so he shows up for camp and is traded to the Jets. Or maybe Tampa Bay.

He should just have stayed retired because now he will fade away in mediocrity. Brett stay retired!
+0
You had me in the first part, but saying that Favre will fade into mediocrity is hillarious. He'll never see mediocrity. He's already too far above it.

I know I had a good ramble last time.

On #4 I just keep repeating, "let my love open the door", actually I keep saying how can you pay someone to stay retired? Has this EVER happened before? I think it is so wrong. But how can you top what they said, on Mike and Mike methinks, that he needs to go out on a farewell tour and play one game for each team.

Do I love him going to the Vikings? Or what about the Bears anemic quarterback history the last few years? Or to compete with Pennington?
+1
You didn't really tell me what you thought was going to happen there.

I agree with Georgia being number one. With Stafford coming back, they are going to be a powerhouse. Tebow is back, but his backfield and receivers are gone. So I agree with it. As far as West Virginia at 8, I think that's a little high since Pat White is gone.




Favre Topic: He's going to play. He'll report to Green Bay training camp, be the backup, get most of the playing time since it's only preseason. He'll show what he can do, and a team will wake up to find that Brett Favre can STILL play.


-Mario (Doriano's son)
-2 on the first part, because not only is that topic over, but Pat White is still the man in Morgantown

+3 on the Favre topic though.

Hehe, I was wondering if I'd get muted for that. :P

As for Farve...what he should've done is retired a few years ago and stayed retired while he was still regarded as one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. Now he's had several mediocre seasons, and now this, and he's going downhill in the eyes of most people. What I think will happen is that he'll just suck it up and take his role as the backup.
-3
Obviously, you missed the last NFL season. Favre had arguably his best statistical season to date.

danbos, were you watching Favre last year? Other than the game against the Cowboys, and the last interception against the Giants, he had a great year, certainly not mediocre.

BTW, to all those who say the Angels were winners, I disagree. Texieria is such an amazingly bitter human being that his presence in the clubhouse will be the very definition of the term "cancer".

Actually, two months isn't very long, so as a rent-a-player, he might be worth it to get deep into the playoffs. But after what I observed here in TX, I'd never sign the guy to a long-term deal. He's got to be the unhappiest millionaire since Howard Hughes.
+2 on the Favre topic
-2 on the Angels...baseball topic is over, AND they're probably the best team in baseball now.

Favre proved he was still one of the top quarterbacks last season.
+1

Yes, last year he was on top of his game, but '05 and '06 he was nothing more than mediocre.
-1
Joe Montana couldn't have won with the teams the Pack ran out there in 05 and 06. The defense was dismal, and most of the offense was hurt.

[Jake]

After 3 Questions:

Danbos-3
Tulip-7
Silly-2
Rossid-7
Jason-4
Tom-3
Middletree-0
Mario-1

Time for some Buy or Sell!

It's August and the Cubs are still rolling. Buy or Sell the Cubs as the NL Pennant winner!

[Howlin' Wolf]

After 3 Questions:

Danbos-3
Tulip-7
Silly-2
Rossid-7
Jason-4
Tom-3
Middletree-0
Mario-1

Time for some Buy or Sell!

It's August and the Cubs are still rolling. Buy or Sell the Cubs as the NL Pennant winner!

I'm buying. The NL west teams cant hit and the NL east teams cant pitch. Any time you can run out Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, and Lilly with Marmol and Wood closing out games, I like my chances. And I have the same feeling about Samardijza as I had about K-rod in 02 and Mariano Rivera in 96. Those 2 guys, before they became closers, would shut down the 6th-8th innings. They were unhittable in the playoffs.

[danbos]

-1
Joe Montana couldn't have won with the teams the Pack ran out there in 05 and 06. The defense was dismal, and most of the offense was hurt.

Tough crowd. :P And, by the way, I wasn 't looking at his record in 05 and 06, I had no idea how many games he won and lost, I was looking at his stats.


As for the next question, I'll buy as well. The Cubs are so far ahead of everyone right now, that it would take a bit for them to fall. But I'd like to point out to Tulip that the Colorado(in the west) is third in the NL in batting average and first in doubles. I'd hardly call that not being able to hit. SF and LA are both middle of the road as far as hitting. The West may be a struggling division, but I wouldn't say they can't hit.

[middletree]

+2 on the Favre topic
-2 on the Angels...baseball topic is over, AND they're probably the best team in baseball now.


Huh? It's over? How is a topic over? I don't get it. And what's with the plus and minus stuff?

[Howlin' Wolf]

Tough crowd. :P And, by the way, I wasn 't looking at his record in 05 and 06, I had no idea how many games he won and lost, I was looking at his stats.


As for the next question, I'll buy as well. The Cubs are so far ahead of everyone right now, that it would take a bit for them to fall. But I'd like to point out to Tulip that the Colorado(in the west) is third in the NL in batting average and first in doubles. I'd hardly call that not being able to hit. SF and LA are both middle of the road as far as hitting. The West may be a struggling division, but I wouldn't say they can't hit.

Colorado is 11 games under .500!

[Howlin' Wolf]

Huh? It's over? How is a topic over? I don't get it. And what's with the plus and minus stuff?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_horn

[rossid]

I'm buying. They swept the Brewers easily, Soriano is back, and they have the perfect blend of veterans such as Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Soriano, Wood and young guys: Soto, Fontenot, Theriot, even Fukodome. They're pitching has been stellar from Zambrano to Dempster. I have them winning that N.L. Pennant


-Mario

[danbos]

Colorado is 11 games under .500!

Yeah, but that wasn't the topic at hand. You said the NL west couldn't hit, which is a false statement, and I was showing that. And, by the way, they're 12-5 since the All-Star Break.

[Jake]

I'm buying. The NL west teams cant hit and the NL east teams cant pitch. Any time you can run out Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, and Lilly with Marmol and Wood closing out games, I like my chances. And I have the same feeling about Samardijza as I had about K-rod in 02 and Mariano Rivera in 96. Those 2 guys, before they became closers, would shut down the 6th-8th innings. They were unhittable in the playoffs.

+4
Great answer
Tough crowd. :P And, by the way, I wasn 't looking at his record in 05 and 06, I had no idea how many games he won and lost, I was looking at his stats.


As for the next question, I'll buy as well. The Cubs are so far ahead of everyone right now, that it would take a bit for them to fall. But I'd like to point out to Tulip that the Colorado(in the west) is third in the NL in batting average and first in doubles. I'd hardly call that not being able to hit. SF and LA are both middle of the road as far as hitting. The West may be a struggling division, but I wouldn't say they can't hit.
-1 on Favre
Stats are affected by people around you.

+4 on the baseball question though

Colorado is 11 games under .500!
-1
Nobody said anything about the record, just that they can in fact hit

I'm buying. They swept the Brewers easily, Soriano is back, and they have the perfect blend of veterans such as Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Soriano, Wood and young guys: Soto, Fontenot, Theriot, even Fukodome. They're pitching has been stellar from Zambrano to Dempster. I have them winning that N.L. Pennant


-Mario
+5
I like the roster breakdown, and I love somebody showing some love for Fontenot and Theriot!

Yeah, but that wasn't the topic at hand. You said the NL west couldn't hit, which is a false statement, and I was showing that. And, by the way, they're 12-5 since the All-Star Break.
+2 more

[Jake]

Danbos-8
Tulip-10
Silly-2
Rossid-7
Jason-4
Tom-3
Middletree-0
Mario-6

Those are the most updated scores. I'm gonna give a coulpe hours for some more folks to respond before we go with question number 5.

[rossid]

Impulse buy based on those three dingers yesterday. Especially that sweet stroke by Soriano.

Serious buy based on 22 games above .500 for first time since 1989. They lost that year but since I don't remember 1989, except for my marriage to my beautiful wife which resulted in four great children including Mario, I give no credence to any curse. These players and manager are all new. The fans will remember what happened with Bartman but they always have hope. I see there were 41,000 yesterday at Wrigley, how many does it hold, doesn't matter but that is the support they need.

Brewers - tough sell but they will lose to the Cubs down the wire in what may be a close one.

Cards - give them away.

Reds - will my Redlegs please climb back above the Bucs and 'stros?

[middletree]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_horn

Oh. Thanks. I don't have cable, so I had no idea.
Well, you guys have fun. Texieria's still a pinhead.

[Jake]

Impulse buy based on those three dingers yesterday. Especially that sweet stroke by Soriano.

Serious buy based on 22 games above .500 for first time since 1989. They lost that year but since I don't remember 1989, except for my marriage to my beautiful wife which resulted in four great children including Mario, I give no credence to any curse. These players and manager are all new. The fans will remember what happened with Bartman but they always have hope. I see there were 41,000 yesterday at Wrigley, how many does it hold, doesn't matter but that is the support they need.

Brewers - tough sell but they will lose to the Cubs down the wire in what may be a close one.

Cards - give them away.

Reds - will my Redlegs please climb back above the Bucs and 'stros?

+3
Nice breakdown of the division, but the Dodgers are still a good looking team out of the West if they could get healthy, and the Phillies are a solid team in the East. The Cubs will still win the NL though.

[Jake]

Danbos-8
Tulip-10
Silly-2
Rossid-10
Jason-4
Tom-3
Middletree-0
Mario-6

Question Number 5
The X Games are on, and the Olympics are coming up. Buy or Sell the X Games as more entertaining than the Olympics

[rossid]

Sell. I tried to watch the X-Games, and I didn't feel anything. When I'm watching the Olympics, you get to know the people. From a 40 year old swimmer, (Diana) Dana Torres, to a 16 year old Iowan gymnast, Shawn Johnson (woo-hoo!). The fact that during the opening ceremonies, you may see a country with 1 or 2 athletes, remember the name, and end up rooting for that person! I like the Olympics better, and I think it'll be more entertaining.

-Mario

[rossid]

Sell the X-Games AFTER watching Dave Mirra in an auto race. He's from the BMX circuit, so that is enough, but the car race goes from hard surface to dirt, over jumps, and through these very narrow lanes bordered by concrete barriers.

Wait, take that back, watch Shawn Johnson win the gold in women's gymnastics, watch LoLo Jones win the women's hurdles, then switch over to the X-Games while the U.S. Men's basketball team bloodies up the rest of the world. Yes I'm from Iowa so there is a LOT of partiality toward Johnson and Jones.

Dana, not Dianna, so now you can go in and fix it son.

Note that I posted without reading your post.

Okay I'll go fix Dana.

[tomsoto]

If its not too late:

Throw out all the records, the stats, the lineups etc. Its the Cubs--Sell bigtime.

X Games:
Its kinda funny. I like to or have done some of the X game sports myself. Skateboarding, surfing, motorcycles, bmx but I don't watch it on tv. I'll catch some of the surf but thats about it. Then, I always say I'm not going to watch the Olympics but then get sucked in and tune in almost everynight. I guess because its us against world. So I have to go sell on the X Games.

[Jake]

Sell. I tried to watch the X-Games, and I didn't feel anything. When I'm watching the Olympics, you get to know the people. From a 40 year old swimmer, (Diana) Dana Torres, to a 16 year old Iowan gymnast, Shawn Johnson (woo-hoo!). The fact that during the opening ceremonies, you may see a country with 1 or 2 athletes, remember the name, and end up rooting for that person! I like the Olympics better, and I think it'll be more entertaining.

-Mario

+3
I disagree, but you back yourself up well.

Sell the X-Games AFTER watching Dave Mirra in an auto race. He's from the BMX circuit, so that is enough, but the car race goes from hard surface to dirt, over jumps, and through these very narrow lanes bordered by concrete barriers.

Wait, take that back, watch Shawn Johnson win the gold in women's gymnastics, watch LoLo Jones win the women's hurdles, then switch over to the X-Games while the U.S. Men's basketball team bloodies up the rest of the world. Yes I'm from Iowa so there is a LOT of partiality toward Johnson and Jones.


+2


If its not too late:

Throw out all the records, the stats, the lineups etc. Its the Cubs--Sell bigtime.

X Games:
Its kinda funny. I like to or have done some of the X game sports myself. Skateboarding, surfing, motorcycles, bmx but I don't watch it on tv. I'll catch some of the surf but thats about it. Then, I always say I'm not going to watch the Olympics but then get sucked in and tune in almost everynight. I guess because its us against world. So I have to go sell on the X Games.
-2 on the Cubs, because it IS too late...and I'm a Cubs fan

+3 on the X games

[Howlin' Wolf]

they both suck

[Jake]

they both suck

+2
That's my outlook on it too

[danbos]

I'll buy, just to be different. The Olympics are kind of a joke this year...whose stupid idea was it to have them in China anyways? And I was entertained by the only part of the X Games I saw. I more of a winter sports guy myself, but I was watching the skateboard big air the other night, and those guys put on a show. First, Danny Way takes a big fall that would've put most athletes out of commission for a few weeks, then comes back and on the very next run does the same exact run and nails it to take first. Then someone else takes first from him, and another from him. Then in the last round, Danny Way takes first back, only to have Bob Burnquist pull of an amazing run to take to gold. And it was incredible to see all the other guys cheering for Way when he came back from the injury...I don't think you'll see much of people cheering on their opponents in the Olympics.

[Jake]

I'll buy, just to be different. The Olympics are kind of a joke this year...whose stupid idea was it to have them in China anyways? And I was entertained by the only part of the X Games I saw. I more of a winter sports guy myself, but I was watching the skateboard big air the other night, and those guys put on a show. First, Danny Way takes a big fall that would've put most athletes out of commission for a few weeks, then comes back and on the very next run does the same exact run and nails it to take first. Then someone else takes first from him, and another from him. Then in the last round, Danny Way takes first back, only to have Bob Burnquist pull of an amazing run to take to gold. And it was incredible to see all the other guys cheering for Way when he came back from the injury...I don't think you'll see much of people cheering on their opponents in the Olympics.

+3 because it's a well forumulated answer

But I just can't get past the fact that we're discussing a bunch of grown men riding bicycles and skateboards!

[rossid]

"When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room for fun." - Nacho Libre

He did not say to wear them on your bicycle. And enough closeups, ahem, during the Tour de France.

[Jake]

Sorry about the delay on Question 6, but storms knocked out my power last night. Here's the updated scores, with the question at the bottom!

Danbos-11
Tulip-12
Silly-2
Rossid-12
Jason-4
Tom-4
Mario-9

NASCAR TIME!
Kyle Busch has looked scary good this year. Buy or Sell him as this year's champ!

[tomsoto]

I love sports, football, basketball, baseball. I like hockey, and track and field. I'll watch the Olympics for swimming, boxing and even gymnastics. I'll watch just about anything that involves some sort of competition.

But man, NASCAR is boring.

Just never been a fan of the "left turn" league. Can't get into watching cars go around in a circle for two straight hours. One thing I do know, NASCAR looks GREAT in hi-def. And why do all the boring sports like golf and NASCAR look so good on TV? So nevermind Busch, Sell NASCAR. I'll take my minus points like a man now.

[rossid]

Sell, I don't watch Nascar much, but when a guy like this gets on a roll, it's hard to stop him.

[Jake]

I love sports, football, basketball, baseball. I like hockey, and track and field. I'll watch the Olympics for swimming, boxing and even gymnastics. I'll watch just about anything that involves some sort of competition.

But man, NASCAR is boring.

Just never been a fan of the "left turn" league. Can't get into watching cars go around in a circle for two straight hours. One thing I do know, NASCAR looks GREAT in hi-def. And why do all the boring sports like golf and NASCAR look so good on TV? So nevermind Busch, Sell NASCAR. I'll take my minus points like a man now.

-4


Sell, I don't watch Nascar much, but when a guy like this gets on a roll, it's hard to stop him.

+2
I'm assuming you meant BUY instead of sell with the reasoning you gave...

[Jake]

Danbos-11
Tulip-12
Silly-2
Rossid-14
Jason-4
Tom-0
Mario-9

LAST QUESTION!

Are the Jets, with Brett Favre going to the playoffs?

[tomsoto]

Who was that guy that said Farve would go to the Jets? Anyway, the Jets have too many holes on both sides of the ball for Farve to make enough of a difference to get them to the playoffs. What I saw as a 7-9 team is now possibly 9-7 team. So a gain of two wins but at the end they stay home.

[rossid]

Quick note: I think Mario posted on NASCAR. Take two from me and give them to him.

I'll be back to talk about old men who pose as QBs going to the playoffs.

[rossid]

No, no, no, and even more no. Favre cannot make a team. Last year, Favre was supported by guys who stepped up: Jennings, Driver Lee, Grant. He's w/ the Jets now, and who will be EXPECTED to step up? Laverneous Coles, Jericho Cotchery, Chris Baker, Thomas Jones?? Not exactly guys who could live up to those expectations.

Mario

[rossid]

*edit of prior post complete*

Can you remember to put your name on their next time son?

Without actually reading what my son posted here's my take.

Conclusion up front: they are NOT going to the playoffs.

Pennington was released? Okay maybe I'm like in a 60s daze. So I can't compare their stats without a lot of work.

1. Favre's interceptions always bugged me. How he forces the ball in there even though some of them end up being successful plays. He averaged 16.5 the last two seasons after 29 in 2005. Eleven more all-time, 288, than George Blanda who played 26 seasons. But I will BUY based on his all-time TD record - enough said about that...

2. He has been a cold weather QB all his career, except rookie season of 1991 in Atlanta, so no problem in NY with two December home games. Stretch making the playoffs and playing in NE you can say they have a SMALL shot against the Pats. Brady vs. Favre twice in the season in itself is awesome and playoffs would be icing on the cake.

3. Looking briefly at the depth chart NOTHING after Coles. Thomas Jones out of the backfield? Nope. Who are the tight ends anyway?

So someone already said it, NYJ go from 7-9 to 9-7, but wait! They were 4-12 last year and Tom said they were going to be 7-9 until Favre joined. I say 7-9 is maybe where they end up.

[Howlin' Wolf]

Danbos-11
Tulip-12
Silly-2
Rossid-14
Jason-4
Tom-0
Mario-9

LAST QUESTION!

Are the Jets, with Brett Favre going to the playoffs?

No
the AFC is too loaded.

[danbos]

I say they don't make the pressure. Farve alone cannot make that big of a difference to the team. I'd say they'd have to pick up at least one or two more players to fill gaps in the team before they are a playoff contender.

[UGA Gomer07]

The Jets would make the playoffs if they were in the NFC. Unfortunately, their in the AFC. From top to bottom, the AFC stacks up too heavily for the Jets to make a run. 8-8 or 9-7 is reachable, and would probably win a wild card berth in the NFC, but the Madden curse rears its ugly head once again and the Jets are left on the outside looking in.

And since theres no way i can possible win, ill give the Kyle Busch question an actual answer. As the chase nears, id take any of the three hendricks drivers over Busch. Jr has been consistent for most of the year and in a hendricks car, id never bet against him possibly being able to win the cup but more likely will finish top 5 but still ahead of Busch. Ill say that Jeff Gordon wins the cup this year, either as a driver or part owner. But im gonna say driver. Johnson has been heating up as of late and the 2 time defending cup champion is entering his best part of the season every year for him. But this season just feels like its waiting for Gordon, the best and most talented driver on the circuit to win ever so slightly over the car he is part owner of, Johnson. Gordon enters the chase winless and dominates 5 of the last 10 winning those and finishing no worse than 13 in any of the other 5 with an average finish for the chase races around 4.3. Busch slips down to 6 or 7 in the points and carl edwards finishes 3rd.

[Jake]

Who was that guy that said Farve would go to the Jets? Anyway, the Jets have too many holes on both sides of the ball for Farve to make enough of a difference to get them to the playoffs. What I saw as a 7-9 team is now possibly 9-7 team. So a gain of two wins but at the end they stay home.

+3

No, no, no, and even more no. Favre cannot make a team. Last year, Favre was supported by guys who stepped up: Jennings, Driver Lee, Grant. He's w/ the Jets now, and who will be EXPECTED to step up? Laverneous Coles, Jericho Cotchery, Chris Baker, Thomas Jones?? Not exactly guys who could live up to those expectations.

Mario

+3


Conclusion up front: they are NOT going to the playoffs.

Pennington was released? Okay maybe I'm like in a 60s daze. So I can't compare their stats without a lot of work.

1. Favre's interceptions always bugged me. How he forces the ball in there even though some of them end up being successful plays. He averaged 16.5 the last two seasons after 29 in 2005. Eleven more all-time, 288, than George Blanda who played 26 seasons. But I will BUY based on his all-time TD record - enough said about that...

2. He has been a cold weather QB all his career, except rookie season of 1991 in Atlanta, so no problem in NY with two December home games. Stretch making the playoffs and playing in NE you can say they have a SMALL shot against the Pats. Brady vs. Favre twice in the season in itself is awesome and playoffs would be icing on the cake.

3. Looking briefly at the depth chart NOTHING after Coles. Thomas Jones out of the backfield? Nope. Who are the tight ends anyway?

So someone already said it, NYJ go from 7-9 to 9-7, but wait! They were 4-12 last year and Tom said they were going to be 7-9 until Favre joined. I say 7-9 is maybe where they end up.

+6
You just brought the heat right there!
No
the AFC is too loaded.
+1

I say they don't make the pressure. Farve alone cannot make that big of a difference to the team. I'd say they'd have to pick up at least one or two more players to fill gaps in the team before they are a playoff contender.
+2

The Jets would make the playoffs if they were in the NFC. Unfortunately, their in the AFC. From top to bottom, the AFC stacks up too heavily for the Jets to make a run. 8-8 or 9-7 is reachable, and would probably win a wild card berth in the NFC, but the Madden curse rears its ugly head once again and the Jets are left on the outside looking in.

And since theres no way i can possible win, ill give the Kyle Busch question an actual answer. As the chase nears, id take any of the three hendricks drivers over Busch. Jr has been consistent for most of the year and in a hendricks car, id never bet against him possibly being able to win the cup but more likely will finish top 5 but still ahead of Busch. Ill say that Jeff Gordon wins the cup this year, either as a driver or part owner. But im gonna say driver. Johnson has been heating up as of late and the 2 time defending cup champion is entering his best part of the season every year for him. But this season just feels like its waiting for Gordon, the best and most talented driver on the circuit to win ever so slightly over the car he is part owner of, Johnson. Gordon enters the chase winless and dominates 5 of the last 10 winning those and finishing no worse than 13 in any of the other 5 with an average finish for the chase races around 4.3. Busch slips down to 6 or 7 in the points and carl edwards finishes 3rd.
+2
(Would've been more on the Favre topic, but you brought up the Madden Curse...)

-4 for betting against the hottest driver going right now on a dead topic...and I just wanted to have one person finish below zero lol

[Jake]

Danbos-13
Tulip-13
Silly-2
Rossid-18
Jason-4
Tom-3
Mario-14
USA- -2

So your winner of the first TDSN: Around the Horn is ROSSID!

We'll start fresh tomorrow evening, and in the mean time, Rossid, feel free to post a paragraph or so about any topic you want to. It's your face time :-)

[rossid]

Thank you Jake.

There were several not-so-good items that came to mind but sports are about having fun and being entertained so one should stay positive.

Lots of stuff on Brian Phelps. Sure this is the BIG story and lots of small ones will steal our hearts. But this guy is an athlete, a superstar, and we all should root for him.

Handicapping Phelps:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3524709

Already bests own record in 400 IM heats:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/swimming/news/story?id=3526812

Video interview (only three minutes):
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3525706&categoryId=2378529
Says at age 27 in four years he will not swim a full program in London.

Analysis of Phelps' strokes:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3526309

Photos: http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/flash/zoomGallery?section=gen&photoGalleryId=3524817

*starts Revelation album audio stream ('this is who I am so take me and make me so much more')*

Team makes statement with Sudanese flag bearer: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?id=3524976

Okay I digressed with that last one but I was SO happy to see Lopez Lomong carrying the flag. It brings tears to my eyes thinking of it now...

[Howlin' Wolf]

look! Its MAGNUM!!!

[Jake]

New Game!

Round 1:
The Olympics are well underway. What country is coming out with the highest medal count?

[Howlin' Wolf]

New Game!

Round 1:
The Olympics are well underway. What country is coming out with the highest medal count?

U.S.

too many athletes.

[UGA Gomer07]

Ill say the US takes the medal count, but barely. The Chinese have been training for these since they got the bid to host. The US takes several swimming from Phelps, especially after the 4x100 went in our favor, which might have been the most impressive Olympic moment during my lifetime. We also take the womens gym team and overall individual after Shawn Johnson continues to amaze. Basketball will medal. Should be a gold with Coach K and the talent we have. The Chinese make up ground with mens gym and rowing, which they have dominated so far.

[tomsoto]

China has the "home field" advantage and will win some based on that. Even though China is good at copying everything we do, Track and Field ain't one of them. US strength there makes the difference so US wins most medals.

[danbos]

I would say the US. China has a great gymnastics program, but I don't think that will be enough to overtake the US. The US has been doing very well in swimming. Beach volleyball should give them another couple, although the men's team was upset by Latvia the other day, they should be able to come back from that. The US has also swept a fencing event, and should do well in track and field.

[jrmitch]

Okay, so I'm late to the party. But if it's not to late to sneak in I'm up for the challenge of seeing how much ground I can gain on the rest of you....:D

Regarding todays question, I agree that our strengths in swimming and track & field give us an edge towards winning the overall medal count. However, I'm concerned about our hoops team. I still don't see a killer instinct there, and as we've seen in past Olympics the lack of that can come back and bite them in their collective butt. Even though they were upset today Argentina (as well as Spain and Greece, among others) still pose a risk. While I think we've got more overall athletic skill, my concerns lie more in the area of lack of a consistent outside game and mental focus. Those have been our achilles heel in the past.

I also see that China will sneak by us for the team Gold medal in Womens Gymnastics. Our ladies are a little too beat up and looked like they didn't bring their A game to the preliminaries last night. If we were 100% healthy it might be a different story, but I see China as having the edge. Regarding the mens program, I also see trouble looming, and not just from China. Japan is the defending Gold medalists for a reason. Those guys could kick everyone's butt.

I'll also possibly disagree with Tulips answer. I say possibly because I'd like clarification on what he meant by saying we had too many athletes. If he meant that we have more overall athleticism than anyone else, then I'd be inclined to agree. But if he's talking sheer numbers then he's wrong; China actually has us outnumbered in terms of participants (639 to 596).

[danbos]

Okay, so I'm late to the party. But if it's not to late to sneak in I'm up for the challenge of seeing how much ground I can gain on the rest of you....:D

Nope, actually you're not really late to the party...you missed one game, but the scores are all reset for this game.

[jrmitch]

Nope, actually you're not really late to the party...you missed one game, but the scores are all reset for this game.Thanks, bro. ;)

[Jake]

U.S.

too many athletes.
+1

Ill say the US takes the medal count, but barely. The Chinese have been training for these since they got the bid to host. The US takes several swimming from Phelps, especially after the 4x100 went in our favor, which might have been the most impressive Olympic moment during my lifetime. We also take the womens gym team and overall individual after Shawn Johnson continues to amaze. Basketball will medal. Should be a gold with Coach K and the talent we have. The Chinese make up ground with mens gym and rowing, which they have dominated so far.
+3

China has the "home field" advantage and will win some based on that. Even though China is good at copying everything we do, Track and Field ain't one of them. US strength there makes the difference so US wins most medals.
+3

I would say the US. China has a great gymnastics program, but I don't think that will be enough to overtake the US. The US has been doing very well in swimming. Beach volleyball should give them another couple, although the men's team was upset by Latvia the other day, they should be able to come back from that. The US has also swept a fencing event, and should do well in track and field.
+3

Okay, so I'm late to the party. But if it's not to late to sneak in I'm up for the challenge of seeing how much ground I can gain on the rest of you....:D

Regarding todays question, I agree that our strengths in swimming and track & field give us an edge towards winning the overall medal count. However, I'm concerned about our hoops team. I still don't see a killer instinct there, and as we've seen in past Olympics the lack of that can come back and bite them in their collective butt. Even though they were upset today Argentina (as well as Spain and Greece, among others) still pose a risk. While I think we've got more overall athletic skill, my concerns lie more in the area of lack of a consistent outside game and mental focus. Those have been our achilles heel in the past.

I also see that China will sneak by us for the team Gold medal in Womens Gymnastics. Our ladies are a little too beat up and looked like they didn't bring their A game to the preliminaries last night. If we were 100% healthy it might be a different story, but I see China as having the edge. Regarding the mens program, I also see trouble looming, and not just from China. Japan is the defending Gold medalists for a reason. Those guys could kick everyone's butt.

I'll also possibly disagree with Tulips answer. I say possibly because I'd like clarification on what he meant by saying we had too many athletes. If he meant that we have more overall athleticism than anyone else, then I'd be inclined to agree. But if he's talking sheer numbers then he's wrong; China actually has us outnumbered in terms of participants (639 to 596).
+5
VERY nice answer

[Jake]

Tulip-1
USA-3
Tom-3
Dan-3
Mitch-5

QUESTION 2:
Aaron Rodgers starts his first preseason game tonight, and Brett Favre makes his debut for the Jets Saturday. Who has more pressure on him?

[jrmitch]

Since I went last on the 1st question, I guess it's fair that I lead off on this one. To me, it's undoubtedly on Rodgers for several reasons:

1.) In having watched the process of Brian Griese trying to replace John Elway, one of the biggest things that I see Aaron will have to face is the expectation to immediately replace Bretts skills as both a quarterback and a leader. Rodgers will have to be able to weather what could be a lengthy public comparison to Favre. And it ain't gonna be that easy to do, especially in a fishbowl like Green Bay.

2.) Brett has more excuses in case he falters than Aaron does. His age; the fact that he's going into a completely different type of offense; the Jets record last year; and the litany of star quarterbacks who changed scenery late in their career and flopped all reduce the risk for Brett. If he succeeds, he's a hero. If he flops, well....so did Namath and Unitas.

3). Aaron may also have more expectations because of the tools around him. While the Jets are coming off of a 4 win season, Green Bay was one game away from the Super Bowl and has practically everybody but Brett coming back. They won 13 games last year with the youngest team in the NFL; 40 of the guys on the current roster have been acquired during the 3 years that Thompson has been the GM; and they've also been able to accomplish this while staying over $30 million dollars under the salary cap. The Packer brain trust has now placed the future of the team in a guy who has less than one full game of actual NFL experience, and if they don't equal or exceed last years success, I think they've inadvertently set Rodgers up to be the fall guy.

4.) I don't recall any stories about fans chanting "We want Aaron...we want Aaron..." during any Packers practices.........:D .

5.) History has proven that when you replace a legend you never live up to their standard of performance or the expectations of the fans ( with the admission that the one exception to that rule would be be Steve Young). Just ask Brian Griese, Jay Fiedler, or Jeff Garcia.

[Howlin' Wolf]

Tulip-1
USA-3
Tom-3
Dan-3
Mitch-5

QUESTION 2:
Aaron Rodgers starts his first preseason game tonight, and Brett Favre makes his debut for the Jets Saturday. Who has more pressure on him?

Brett Favre. Tougher league, worse team, and he plays in NY. Even if Rodgers is a bust, he wont take the heat for that. McCarthy and Thompson will because they ran Brett out of town in favor of Rodgers. Rodgers cant help who he is. He doesnt have the strongest arm, he isnt a playmaker, and he has zero experience. So he has nothing to lose.

[UGA Gomer07]

Favre definitely. He's a future hall of famer that has been dropped into a NY team that is expecting to win championships because of the trade. Anything less than a playoff berth is going to be a letdown and being in the AFC, dont count on a playoff berth. Can you see the headlines if Favre loses the season opener?!? There is no way that he would make it through that without a backlash. Eli better send him a gift package cause now he can have a decent year, not come close to defending his Super Bowl and the media still wont rip him apart like they will Favre if he doesnt come close.

[danbos]

I'd say Favre. He's the one asking for all the pressure. Aaron Rogers' job was chosen for him. He was placed in the starting job by the management of the team, so the blame can fail back on them if he falters. Favre, on the other hand, was not content with what the management wanted, and went off to find his own job, so if he falters at the starting job, the blame really has nowhere else to go but on him.

[Jake]

Since I went last on the 1st question, I guess it's fair that I lead off on this one. To me, it's undoubtedly on Rodgers for several reasons:

1.) In having watched the process of Brian Griese trying to replace John Elway, one of the biggest things that I see Aaron will have to face is the expectation to immediately replace Bretts skills as both a quarterback and a leader. Rodgers will have to be able to weather what could be a lengthy public comparison to Favre. And it ain't gonna be that easy to do, especially in a fishbowl like Green Bay.

2.) Brett has more excuses in case he falters than Aaron does. His age; the fact that he's going into a completely different type of offense; the Jets record last year; and the litany of star quarterbacks who changed scenery late in their career and flopped all reduce the risk for Brett. If he succeeds, he's a hero. If he flops, well....so did Namath and Unitas.

3). Aaron may also have more expectations because of the tools around him. While the Jets are coming off of a 4 win season, Green Bay was one game away from the Super Bowl and has practically everybody but Brett coming back. They won 13 games last year with the youngest team in the NFL; 40 of the guys on the current roster have been acquired during the 3 years that Thompson has been the GM; and they've also been able to accomplish this while staying over $30 million dollars under the salary cap. The Packer brain trust has now placed the future of the team in a guy who has less than one full game of actual NFL experience, and if they don't equal or exceed last years success, I think they've inadvertently set Rodgers up to be the fall guy.

4.) I don't recall any stories about fans chanting "We want Aaron...we want Aaron..." during any Packers practices.........:D .

5.) History has proven that when you replace a legend you never live up to their standard of performance or the expectations of the fans ( with the admission that the one exception to that rule would be be Steve Young). Just ask Brian Griese, Jay Fiedler, or Jeff Garcia.

+3
That's some good info, but man, if anybody talked that long on the real Around the Horn, Reali would mute the crap outta them lol.

Brett Favre. Tougher league, worse team, and he plays in NY. Even if Rodgers is a bust, he wont take the heat for that. McCarthy and Thompson will because they ran Brett out of town in favor of Rodgers. Rodgers cant help who he is. He doesnt have the strongest arm, he isnt a playmaker, and he has zero experience. So he has nothing to lose.
+4

Favre definitely. He's a future hall of famer that has been dropped into a NY team that is expecting to win championships because of the trade. Anything less than a playoff berth is going to be a letdown and being in the AFC, dont count on a playoff berth. Can you see the headlines if Favre loses the season opener?!? There is no way that he would make it through that without a backlash. Eli better send him a gift package cause now he can have a decent year, not come close to defending his Super Bowl and the media still wont rip him apart like they will Favre if he doesnt come close.
+3

I'd say Favre. He's the one asking for all the pressure. Aaron Rogers' job was chosen for him. He was placed in the starting job by the management of the team, so the blame can fail back on them if he falters. Favre, on the other hand, was not content with what the management wanted, and went off to find his own job, so if he falters at the starting job, the blame really has nowhere else to go but on him.
+4
I realluy like the point about how Favre wanted to go out and do it himself.

[Jake]

Tulip-5
USA-6
Tom-3
Dan-7
Mitch-8

QUESTION 3:
The Red Sox picked up Paul Byrd to help a damaged rotation today. Are the Red Sox going to the World Series this year?

[jrmitch]

+3
That's some good info, but man, if anybody talked that long on the real Around the Horn, Reali would mute the crap outta them lol.....Good point. What can I say; I'm a former DJ and we all have a big mouth.....:D

Point well taken; we'll make future comments lean and mean.

[Howlin' Wolf]

Tulip-5
USA-6
Tom-3
Dan-7
Mitch-8

QUESTION 3:
The Red Sox picked up Paul Byrd to help a damaged rotation today. Are the Red Sox going to the World Series this year?


No. they dont have the pitching depth that Los Angeles has. And they will sorely miss Manny's clutch hitting in the post season.

[tomsoto]

Tulip-5
USA-6
Tom-3
Dan-7
Mitch-8

QUESTION 3:
The Red Sox picked up Paul Byrd to help a damaged rotation today. Are the Red Sox going to the World Series this year?

Looks like I missed the previous question. For what its worth, Farve because he needs to live up to his "legendary" status.

Now onto to baseball. No WS for Sox. As well as the Angels did before the trade deadline, it was the trade of Manny to the Dodgers that will seal the deal for the Angels to make the WS. The Red Sox broke up arguably the best 1-2 punch ever in baseball with that trade. And Manny, personally destroyed the Angels the last two times they played. Byrd won't matter. The Angels have everything right now--hitting, pitching, killer bullpen. And being a fan I'm loving it!

[jrmitch]

To answer the question, no, the Red Sox ain't gonna be there. The crystal ball tells me it's an all Chicago World Series, with the baseball gods smiling on the Cubbies and allowing the curse to finally be put to rest.

Er.....that is, until they sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field. At which point the baseball gods will become angry with them again and decide to condemn them to another century of ineptitude.......:D

[UGA Gomer07]

The Red Sox won't make it to the WS. From the AL it's gonna be the Angels, just too much offensive power and recently in the playoffs, its been who could But the Angels come up short in the WS to a team that sneaks into the playoff by winning the weak NL East and makes it 3 for 3 after making the playoffs, the Florida Marlins. This will just add to the parity that seems to exist at sports on all levels right now. The team with the lowest salary in the bigs winning the WS. Maybe that will open the eyes of the Sox and Yanks.

[danbos]

I don't think the Red Sox can do it(I almost just said Sox there, but then remembered that I can't do that since the White Sox are actually good this year :P ). The AL has too many good teams for the Red Sox to make it.

[Jake]

No. they dont have the pitching depth that Los Angeles has. And they will sorely miss Manny's clutch hitting in the post season.
+3

Looks like I missed the previous question. For what its worth, Farve because he needs to live up to his "legendary" status.

Now onto to baseball. No WS for Sox. As well as the Angels did before the trade deadline, it was the trade of Manny to the Dodgers that will seal the deal for the Angels to make the WS. The Red Sox broke up arguably the best 1-2 punch ever in baseball with that trade. And Manny, personally destroyed the Angels the last two times they played. Byrd won't matter. The Angels have everything right now--hitting, pitching, killer bullpen. And being a fan I'm loving it!
+3

To answer the question, no, the Red Sox ain't gonna be there. The crystal ball tells me it's an all Chicago World Series, with the baseball gods smiling on the Cubbies and allowing the curse to finally be put to rest.

Er.....that is, until they sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field. At which point the baseball gods will become angry with them again and decide to condemn them to another century of ineptitude.......:D
+5 hillarious...and I agree with the all Chicago WS.

The Red Sox won't make it to the WS. From the AL it's gonna be the Angels, just too much offensive power and recently in the playoffs, its been who could But the Angels come up short in the WS to a team that sneaks into the playoff by winning the weak NL East and makes it 3 for 3 after making the playoffs, the Florida Marlins. This will just add to the parity that seems to exist at sports on all levels right now. The team with the lowest salary in the bigs winning the WS. Maybe that will open the eyes of the Sox and Yanks.
'+4

I don't think the Red Sox can do it(I almost just said Sox there, but then remembered that I can't do that since the White Sox are actually good this year :P ). The AL has too many good teams for the Red Sox to make it.
+2

[Jake]

Tulip-8
USA-10
Tom-6
Dan-9
Mitch-13

So, we're all of 2 games into the NFL preseason, so it's time to start discussing the NFL. Easy question here:

What's your Superbowl matchup this year AND WHY?

[UGA Gomer07]

I'm gonna say that the Jags make it this year from the AFC. Theyve been building their team for the past two years, and I feel like this is their year. The Pats are getting to old and need to rebuild with some younger defensive players. And I feel like the Jags will have an edge on the Colts this year as well. From the NFC, I'm gonna go wil the Cowboys. The Giants wont repeat, or even get the chance to defend. And I'll go ahead and pick the Jags to win it all, mainly because their in the AFC and we'll even with the Giants win last year, I wouldnt go against the team representing the AFC this year.

[jrmitch]

People have been saying the Pats are too old for several years, and yet they just keep plucking guy after guy to help 'em keep rollin' along. (Rodney Harrison beget Junior Seau, who beget John Lynch, etc.) I haven't seen enough evidence yet to convince me that Indy, Jacksonville, or San Diego can outthink or outperform them in spite of their age and supposed flaws. With the easiest schedule in the NFL they should be in Tampa in February.

I also don't see a repeat for the Giants; between Dallas and a Philly team that should be improved they're gonna have a tough time to even win their division. Adrian Rodgers is too inexperienced to lead Green bay to the Super Bowl, and Wade Phillips is......well, Wade Phillips, which negates the Cowboys chances. I think the Vikes have improved both their seconday and pass rush enough to sneak up on everyone and steal the NFC right out from under their nose, with the Pats taking the Super Bowl.

[Jake]

I'm gonna say that the Jags make it this year from the AFC. Theyve been building their team for the past two years, and I feel like this is their year. The Pats are getting to old and need to rebuild with some younger defensive players. And I feel like the Jags will have an edge on the Colts this year as well. From the NFC, I'm gonna go wil the Cowboys. The Giants wont repeat, or even get the chance to defend. And I'll go ahead and pick the Jags to win it all, mainly because their in the AFC and we'll even with the Giants win last year, I wouldnt go against the team representing the AFC this year.

+4
I like the risky pick with the Jags, and I think the Cowboys are heads and shoulders above the rest in the NFC.

People have been saying the Pats are too old for several years, and yet they just keep plucking guy after guy to help 'em keep rollin' along. (Rodney Harrison beget Junior Seau, who beget John Lynch, etc.) I haven't seen enough evidence yet to convince me that Indy, Jacksonville, or San Diego can outthink or outperform them in spite of their age and supposed flaws. With the easiest schedule in the NFL they should be in Tampa in February.

I also don't see a repeat for the Giants; between Dallas and a Philly team that should be improved they're gonna have a tough time to even win their division. Adrian Rodgers is too inexperienced to lead Green bay to the Super Bowl, and Wade Phillips is......well, Wade Phillips, which negates the Cowboys chances. I think the Vikes have improved both their seconday and pass rush enough to sneak up on everyone and steal the NFC right out from under their nose, with the Pats taking the Super Bowl.
+5
Great answer

[Jake]

I haven't forgotten about my hosting duties, but my laptop crashed a few nights back, and this is my first time online in quite some time. I'm on my girlfriend's computer now, but I'll try to do better.

ANYWAY, here's the most updated scores:
Tulip-8
USA-14
Tom-6
Dan-9
Mitch-18

QUESTION 5:
We're halfway through August and the Tampa Bay Rays are still up on the Red Sox and the Yanks...are they as for real as they seem to be?!

[UGA Gomer07]

Considering theres only a month and a half left of the season and they are leading the Red Sox and Yankees, how can they not be taken seriously. They've obviously got a team that can win and believes they can win, so there just as dangerous if not more than any team that might make the playoffs. Some would say their lack of inexperience would cause them problems in October, but I say, the fact that no one even expected them to break .500, anything they do from here on out this season makes them already winning despite lack of experience.

[Jake]

Well folks, your host is back, so the scoring will pick back up. I'm gonna let this question stand for a little bit to see if people will get back into playing since the questions will start being updated daily again.

[danbos]

I'd say yes, they're for real. They've got the Yankees all but put away with 9 games on them. And even if the Red Sox do manage to take the lead from them they should have the Wild Card easily wrapped up. They've got a good team and they're proving it.

[jrmitch]

You know, I'm still not totally sold on them yet. I don't want to take anything away fom their accomplishments, but before I'm a true believer I want to see how they handle staring down playoff-experienced teams like the Angels and White Sox come October. I'm not saying they can't do it - but the playoffs are a totally different kind of pressure, and I just can't buy that they're ready for that until they prove otherwise.