This is depressing. 

 

So we go to a World Series and it gets harder to sign guys we like?  Another backward-sy happening that this Rangers franchise is full of.

Filler will be Sufjan Steven's "Age of Adz"

Well I have known you
For just a little while
But I feel I've known you
I feel I've seen you
When the Earth was split in fives

And in your words, I
Should let it out, I
Would see it die
But I'm a watcher
I see it watch her

It's in your afterlife
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

Oh, keep from trying
Oh, keep from caring
You are the life

We see you trying to
Be something else that
You're not, we think you're nice

The circumstances
Of what I thought, I
Could see it now
I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
But it's a running wild
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

[Oh, oh, it rots
Oh, oh, it gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living]

And all reflections
I see your method
I see it all
And what about you?
And what about me?
Are we the lost of lost?
Don't speak to soon, don't
Be fruit o' loom, don't
Excite yourself

For what you see is
Not fantasy, it's
Not what it gets, but gives
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

And all reflections
I see it mentioned
I see it all

The gorgeous mess of
Your face impressed us
Imposed in all its art
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living

[Oh, oh, it rots
Oh, oh, it gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living]

When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got

When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got

Gloria, Gloria
It rots
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us

Gloria, Gloria
It rots
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us

I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life

I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life

Now I have known you
For just a little while
I feel I must be
Wearing my welcome
I must be moving on

For my intentions
Were good intentions
I could have loved you
I could have changed you

I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
Consumed by selfish thoughts

I'm sorry if I
Seem self-effacing
Consumed by selfish thoughts

It's only that I
Still love you deeply
It's all the love I got

Does anyone else have a problem with how long LSB takes to load.  It takes a good 15-20 seconds to load fully, sometimes 30 secs.  Every other website I visit instantly appears after hitting 'enter' after typing in the address (ESPN is the only exception, with it taking 5-7 secs).  What's the big difference with LSB?

 

In case you're curious, I use Firefox, and my AT&T internet is 18Mbps.

Damn Damn.

Is this the fastest the Rangers have ever gone to a 15-12 record?  It seems like it.  Wonder if it's a record.

 

word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/for_the_record/posts/43341-irvin-boys-taking-americas-team-into-reality-tv?eref=fromSI

 

If there was one thing I figured the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones would have learned from last season, it's that no news is good news. That less attention paid to off-the-field matters meant more attention paid to on-the-field matters. That reality television might not be the best route to making their Super Bowl aspirations a reality.

But what do I know? Apparently, all they need to cure their problems is an American Idol type reality show hosted by Michael Irvin, featuring Jones as a judge, promising a guaranteed training camp roster spot to some amateur contestant off the street.

As much as I want to bash the idea, I think it might work. Not that this unknown player will make the team (I'd be surprised if he made it past the first cut), but it will certainly add some intrigue and excitement to an otherwise humdrum beginning of training camp and, after all, isn't that what the Cowboys are around for?

After the news came out on this yet-to-be-named reality show, which will premier in the spring on Spike TV, I caught up with Irvin to talk about it:

Per Rotoworld.com

 

The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox and Diamondbacks "clearly feel there is a fit" for a Miguel Montero trade and speculates that "it is only a matter of finding the right match."

According to the newspaper, "the Diamondbacks are seeking only a comparable prospect in return" for Montero, which seemingly differs from a Boston Herald report Monday that suggested Arizona had asked for "Michael Bowden and/or Daniel Bard." If acquired, Montero would likely platoon with Josh Bard and signal the end of Jason Varitek's time in Boston.

 

I assume though that they'd love to have Salty, but it doesn't appear it's going to happen.  JD sucks.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

I love polls.  polls are great.  polls taste good with fava beans.

Poll

Will the Rangers finish above .500?

45%

Yes

50 votes

46%

No

51 votes

8%

Even Record

9 votes

110 votes | Poll has closed

The guys on the Ticket brought this up this morning and I thought it was interested.

We're so excited now about the future of the Rangers, almost sure of their dynasty run from 2010-2016 or beyond.  But how sure are we that 2009 and 2010 won't be 2005 and 2006 all over again.  What's really different in 2008 than in 2004?  Are we so sure that our great minor league system is better today than in 2004 (it seems likely, though).  Anyway, I'm not taking a side, but rather would love to read a discussion of more knowledgable people.

You gotta be kidding me!

The NBA acknowledged that a foul should have been called on the final possession of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals, when Derek Fisher made contact with the Spurs Brent Barry just before Barry would try a game-winning 3-point shot to tie the series.
"With the benefit of instant replay, it appears a foul should have been called," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

 

I'll say it again:  Go back and watch the final play of Game 4 on Youtube. It shouldn’t have even been a foul. Mark where Barry and Fisher are when Fisher jumps. Notice Fisher never enters the space where Barry is/was at the time of the jump. Barry initiates the contact by dribbling into Fisher while Fisher’s in the air. Barry could’ve been called for a charge, honestly.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/specials/fansurvey/2008/index.html?eref=T1

 

Ridiculous.  I can name at least 15 better parks.  The Ballpark is so freakin' great.  Obviously the number of Ranger fans voting was low.  What does everyone else think?

 

words words words words words words words words wordswordswordswordswordsv words words words words words words vvv words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words

Dirk didn't hesitate when asked whether the off-court drama took a toll on the Mavs during this series.

"Yeah," Dirk said. "Obviously, very disappointing what happened in the playoffs -- bad timing. I think in the playoffs it's really time to focus on basketball and not let distractions come up. So I'm very, very disappointed with the timing of the whole thing, but I still try to keep them all together, try to make everybody play as hard as they can. But it wasn't good enough."

Dirk didn't name names, but it was pretty clear he was talking about Josh Howard's strange decision to discuss his tendency to "partake in smoking weed in the off-season sometimes" on the radio the afternoon of Game 3.

At least one teammate thinks Howard's pot confession might have made the Mavs off-season come a little earlier.

So they're already making really bad excuses that have nothing to do with basketball. That's the talk of losers, plain and simple. They have to blow this thing up now. There's not a leader on the whole team. Dirk's great and all, but he's not a leader, and he needs to stop someone on defense sometime. I personally don't want to see any returnees except Wright and Bass.

"I think I've been here for a pretty long time and I deserve a fresh start somewhere else. It's not the most negative thing to me right now that this has happened. I'm excited about it."

Asked if he thinks he'll get back to the majors?

"I don't know. I think there's plenty of examples of people leaving the Texas Rangers and going on to really great things. There could be something huge in my future. Kind of an exciting moment."

 

Plenty of examples?  You've spoken true Bottsy.  I can't blame him.  He's funny.

Josh Howard admits to smoking dope in the offseason.  Unbelievable!!!  I'm not sure I want to be a fan of a team with an admitted drug user.  I've never heard on an NBA player that uses drugs.   Next you'll be telling me rap music is full of bad morals and sets a bad example for our children.  Unbelievable!

 

Seriously, why is this a story?  (Of course, I understand the irony of creating a fanpost about a story that I question whether it should be a story).

Poll

Okay, by request, who's smoked the Lucas?

63%

Hell's to the yeah

30 votes

0%

Sort of...didn't inhale

0 votes

36%

No...I actually paid attention in High School

17 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

According to Evan Grant, Mendoza knew his shoulder was hurt prior to the game and even though the coaches asked him about it repeatedly, he never acknowledged the pain until he came out in the 2nd.

 

I think Nolan should demonstrate that we don't put up with this crap (as Jerry would say 'Stop this crap'), and not let Mendoza pitch again this year in the majors.  Probably too harsh, though, and a waste of a 40 spot.  Seriously, we've got to start playing with maturity.

The wife and I woke up at 4:00 am sharp here in Richardson to the loudest winds and rain I can remember (with living in Arlington most of my life, there's been some bad bad storms).  I looked out the window and about 4:02 there was a calming, then the sky turned bright, bright blue, then a dark grey, then the freight train sound blasted.   But, alas, I didn't see anything.  There were reports that South Richardson had a touchdown around Belt Line and Plano Rd, but we're up north near Plano.

Just wanted to make sure everyone was alright.  And to see if there were any cool stories for those that live in the area.