Damn You, Yankees!
MonsieurEvil
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Damn you to hellllllllllllllll!!!11one</div> <a href='http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1735449' target='_blank'>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1735449</a>
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The Rangers and Yankees have finalized a trade that will send shortstop Alex Rodriguez to New York for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named, ESPN has learned.
A statement will be released at 2 p.m. ET. A news conference is scheduled for Monday, likely in New York.
Yankees captain Derek Jeter would remain the team's shortstop, meaning Rodriguez would be moved from short to third base to fill the hole created when Aaron Boone hurt a knee last month in a pickup basketball game.
Rangers officials said Saturday night, prior to the deal's completion, that they believe they'd be getting in return for the 28-year-old AL MVP something far more important than a young slugger in Soriano.
"It's about flexibility," Texas general manager John Hart said. "We're trading the best player in the game and we're getting tremendous financial flexibility."
The framework of the deal included the agreement that the Yankees would take on much of the $179 million remaining on Rodriguez's landmark $252 million contract.
The Yankees would pay Rodriguez an average of about $16 million a year, which translates to Texas assuming $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's contract. Two sources told The Associated Press that Texas has agreed to those terms.
Rodriguez also has agreed to defer some money by five more years -- pushing the last payment back to 2025 -- and at a reduced interest rate, one of the sources said.
According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the Rangers would pay $40 million of the $179 million in salary that Rodriguez is owed over the final seven years of his contract and would pick up $27 million of the deferred amount of that contract, which they do not have to pay for 10-12 years.
With those moves, Texas gains about $120 million in flexibility. As for the Yankees, their already hefty payroll would continue to expand.
In addition to the salary owed Rodriguez, he is due $4 million from his signing bonus and $12 million deferred at 3 percent annual interest from salaries during his first three years with Texas.
The New York Post reported that the Yankees would likely have to include Jose Contreras as well as minor-league catcher Dioner Navarro in the trade.
Soriano, 26, will make $5.4 million this year and has two more years of salary arbitration eligibility remaining. The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after the 2006 season.
Thus, the Yankees would take on an extra $183.6 million guaranteed.
The Yankees' payroll currently stands at $170.3 million, not including left-hander Gabe White, who remains in arbitration and will earn at least $1,825,000. A swap of Soriano for Rodriguez leaves New York's payroll at about $190 million.
The trade proposal requires approval from the commissioner's office and the players' association. Although the union already scuttled a potential Rodriguez trade to Boston this offseason, the contract-restructuring issues were considered less likely to be deal-breakers this time.
"We're in a very sensitive stage right now," Hart said. "A deal of this magnitude, with all the moving parts, it takes time."
The tremendous savings go a long way toward helping reshape a franchise badly in need of an overhaul.
Of course, Texas also would be without its best player, the one recently named captain. But the Rangers have finished last in their division four straight years, the past three with Rodruguez.
The losing wore on Rodriguez, prompting him to tell the club he'd waive his no-trade clause for a select few teams. Roller-coaster negotiations almost landed him in Boston for Manny Ramirez, who has five years and $97.5 million left on his contract.
Financially, the deal with New York is better for Texas.
While not quite the well-rounded hitter Ramirez is, Soriano is a two-time All-Star with a career average of .284. He's narrowly missed having 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in each of the past two seasons, going 38-35 last season and 39-41 the year before.
"Look at Soriano's numbers," Hart said. "This is no stiff we're bringing back here."
Soriano also is strikeout prone and an average defender. Texas would consider moving him to center field.
However, trading Soriano creates a hole at second base. If the deal is made, Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo and Erick Almonte would be among the candidates to play second for the Yankees.
The Rangers gave the Yankees one potential replacement last week when they swapped Mike Lamb for a minor-league pitcher. Then Hart and New York general manager Brian Cashman began talking about making Rodriguez the first reigning MVP to be traded.
Hart said Texas owner Tom Hicks -- who supported the deal with Boston -- "was reluctant, initially" on the Yankees trade.
"But as we've gone along in the process, I've been able to make him more comfortable," Hart said. "It's a potential win-win-win situation for the Rangers, the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez."
Rodriguez hit .298 last season with 47 homers, 118 RBI and 17 stolen bases, and Soriano batted .290 with 38 homers, 91 RBI and 35 steals.
Second baseman Michael Young seems the most likely replacement for Rodriguez at shortstop. That would mean Soriano or Eric Young, a veteran signed to be a utility backup, would play second base.
Another scenario would be leaving Michael Young at second and letting prospect Drew Meyer take over at shortstop.
The Rangers also are high on prospect Ramon Nivar, an infielder in the minors who was converted to the outfield last season partly because of a perceived logjam in the infield.
New York opens spring training Tuesday, and Texas starts two days later.
Information from ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons, ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark, and The Associated Press was used in this report.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When does it ever end, Steinbrenner? WHEN DOES IT EVER END!?!?!?!??!!?!!?
In other news, the Yankees have paid 11.2 billion dollars to automatically win the World Series in a 3-year deal. The seasons will be cancelled, and the stadiums rented out to the girl scouts for cookie sales. Steinbrenner was quoted as saying 'Good... gooooooood', and rubbing his hands together in maniacal glee.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The Rangers and Yankees have finalized a trade that will send shortstop Alex Rodriguez to New York for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named, ESPN has learned.
A statement will be released at 2 p.m. ET. A news conference is scheduled for Monday, likely in New York.
Yankees captain Derek Jeter would remain the team's shortstop, meaning Rodriguez would be moved from short to third base to fill the hole created when Aaron Boone hurt a knee last month in a pickup basketball game.
Rangers officials said Saturday night, prior to the deal's completion, that they believe they'd be getting in return for the 28-year-old AL MVP something far more important than a young slugger in Soriano.
"It's about flexibility," Texas general manager John Hart said. "We're trading the best player in the game and we're getting tremendous financial flexibility."
The framework of the deal included the agreement that the Yankees would take on much of the $179 million remaining on Rodriguez's landmark $252 million contract.
The Yankees would pay Rodriguez an average of about $16 million a year, which translates to Texas assuming $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's contract. Two sources told The Associated Press that Texas has agreed to those terms.
Rodriguez also has agreed to defer some money by five more years -- pushing the last payment back to 2025 -- and at a reduced interest rate, one of the sources said.
According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the Rangers would pay $40 million of the $179 million in salary that Rodriguez is owed over the final seven years of his contract and would pick up $27 million of the deferred amount of that contract, which they do not have to pay for 10-12 years.
With those moves, Texas gains about $120 million in flexibility. As for the Yankees, their already hefty payroll would continue to expand.
In addition to the salary owed Rodriguez, he is due $4 million from his signing bonus and $12 million deferred at 3 percent annual interest from salaries during his first three years with Texas.
The New York Post reported that the Yankees would likely have to include Jose Contreras as well as minor-league catcher Dioner Navarro in the trade.
Soriano, 26, will make $5.4 million this year and has two more years of salary arbitration eligibility remaining. The two-time All-Star can become a free agent after the 2006 season.
Thus, the Yankees would take on an extra $183.6 million guaranteed.
The Yankees' payroll currently stands at $170.3 million, not including left-hander Gabe White, who remains in arbitration and will earn at least $1,825,000. A swap of Soriano for Rodriguez leaves New York's payroll at about $190 million.
The trade proposal requires approval from the commissioner's office and the players' association. Although the union already scuttled a potential Rodriguez trade to Boston this offseason, the contract-restructuring issues were considered less likely to be deal-breakers this time.
"We're in a very sensitive stage right now," Hart said. "A deal of this magnitude, with all the moving parts, it takes time."
The tremendous savings go a long way toward helping reshape a franchise badly in need of an overhaul.
Of course, Texas also would be without its best player, the one recently named captain. But the Rangers have finished last in their division four straight years, the past three with Rodruguez.
The losing wore on Rodriguez, prompting him to tell the club he'd waive his no-trade clause for a select few teams. Roller-coaster negotiations almost landed him in Boston for Manny Ramirez, who has five years and $97.5 million left on his contract.
Financially, the deal with New York is better for Texas.
While not quite the well-rounded hitter Ramirez is, Soriano is a two-time All-Star with a career average of .284. He's narrowly missed having 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in each of the past two seasons, going 38-35 last season and 39-41 the year before.
"Look at Soriano's numbers," Hart said. "This is no stiff we're bringing back here."
Soriano also is strikeout prone and an average defender. Texas would consider moving him to center field.
However, trading Soriano creates a hole at second base. If the deal is made, Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo and Erick Almonte would be among the candidates to play second for the Yankees.
The Rangers gave the Yankees one potential replacement last week when they swapped Mike Lamb for a minor-league pitcher. Then Hart and New York general manager Brian Cashman began talking about making Rodriguez the first reigning MVP to be traded.
Hart said Texas owner Tom Hicks -- who supported the deal with Boston -- "was reluctant, initially" on the Yankees trade.
"But as we've gone along in the process, I've been able to make him more comfortable," Hart said. "It's a potential win-win-win situation for the Rangers, the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez."
Rodriguez hit .298 last season with 47 homers, 118 RBI and 17 stolen bases, and Soriano batted .290 with 38 homers, 91 RBI and 35 steals.
Second baseman Michael Young seems the most likely replacement for Rodriguez at shortstop. That would mean Soriano or Eric Young, a veteran signed to be a utility backup, would play second base.
Another scenario would be leaving Michael Young at second and letting prospect Drew Meyer take over at shortstop.
The Rangers also are high on prospect Ramon Nivar, an infielder in the minors who was converted to the outfield last season partly because of a perceived logjam in the infield.
New York opens spring training Tuesday, and Texas starts two days later.
Information from ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons, ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark, and The Associated Press was used in this report.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When does it ever end, Steinbrenner? WHEN DOES IT EVER END!?!?!?!??!!?!!?
In other news, the Yankees have paid 11.2 billion dollars to automatically win the World Series in a 3-year deal. The seasons will be cancelled, and the stadiums rented out to the girl scouts for cookie sales. Steinbrenner was quoted as saying 'Good... gooooooood', and rubbing his hands together in maniacal glee.
Comments
i love my team. #^_^#
Your team is the '78 Pirates? What's with the sideburns?
Then, they took out the Red Sox last year. Began to hate them more.
Now THIS?!?!
/goes to NY and burns Yankee Stadium
Your team is the '78 Pirates? What's with the sideburns? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
lol you crazy geezer
#^_^# = i'm blushing because my team is the yankees.
CURSE you, marlins.. <i>CURSE</i> you to damnation!!!!!!!!!!~=^,..,^=!!!!!!
and plus.. i'm a new yorker to the day i die.. who am i supposed to grow up with, the <i>mets</i>!?
<i><b>PFFTHFPTHFFPTTTPPTTPTT</b></i>
But I also think the Red Sox are the Cubs of the AL, and I root for them in that league. The Yankees, regardless, are the Evil Empire, headed up by Darth George.
<a href='http://www.yanks-suck.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.yanks-suck.com/</a>
<a href='http://www.yankees-suck.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.yankees-suck.com/</a>
<a href='http://www.cafeshops.com/abfreeradio.2073660' target='_blank'>http://www.cafeshops.com/abfreeradio.2073660</a>
<a href='http://maroon.uchicago.edu/sports/articles/2003/11/06/yankees_fans_eat_chi.php' target='_blank'>http://maroon.uchicago.edu/sports/articles...ans_eat_chi.php</a>
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Bronx bombshell
Damn, Yankees do it again
By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist, 2/15/2004
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to baseball . . .
ALEX RODRIGUEZ TO THE YANKEES?
This is where the late, great Ned Martin would pause and say, "Mercy."
Everyone knows the Red Sox and Yankees have been lobbing pies in one another's faces with increasing frequency these past couple of years. We've all enjoyed seeing the rivalry ratcheted up to the highest levels. But A-Rod to the Yankees deals a crushing blow to the psyche of Red Sox Nation. Just when it finally looked like the Sox were ready to overtake their nemeses -- after a terrific offseason of healing and reloading by the Boston brass -- the Yankees get the guy the Sox coveted? On the eve of spring training? Say it ain't so, Theo.
A-Rod to the Yankees? It's instant folklore alongside Ruth to the Yankees, Lyle to the Yankees, Dent into the screen, Clemens to the Yankees, and New England burning down while Grady Little slept.
And now this: The Valentine's Day Massacre of 2004.
Think about it. The Yankees have a narrow 26-0 margin in world championships since 1918. The Red Sox have finished second to the Yankees for a record six consecutive seasons. The Sox and Yanks met a record 26 times last year and Boston was ready to vanquish the Evil Empire in the Steinbrenner Motherland when the mind-blowing collapse came down last Oct. 16. And now the Yanks are getting A-Rod after Boston's failed bid for the superstar turned the Fenway franchise inside-out for the better part of two months?
How pathetic does this make the Sox look? How are Hub kids in Boston and New York dormitories supposed to answer the taunts of those arrogant, entitled Yankee lovers?
The Red Sox were willing to trade their two best everyday players to acquire Rodriguez. They were willing to assume the remainder of a quarter-billion-dollar contract. They were willing to say goodbye to Nomar Garciaparra. They were willing to maybe even pay Manny Ramirez to hit home runs against them. They were willing to do just about anything to put A-Rod in a Red Sox uniform. And now he's going to the Yankees?
What about Rodriguez's love of all things Boston? He toured Harvard, remember? Think Columbia has Pinnochio's Pizza, Hasty Pudding, The Game, and a magazine called H-Bomb?
What about A-Rod's wife having relatives in the Lowell area? Think they'll want to ride the Fung Wah bus to New York to see their in-law infielder?
What about A-Rod's lunch dates with the gentle Sox owner? Doesn't that mean anything? Can playing for the blustering Steinbrenner be as much fun as talking pork bellies with John Henry?
And where's A-Rod going to find a teammate like Kevin Millar? Is there a Yankee in the clubhouse willing to come out and say that A-Rod would be an upgrade over Derek Jeter (even though A-Rod will play third base in Gotham)?
Sox fans can try to find a bright side here. Let's remind everyone that Alfonso Soriano, the player bound for Texas, still could be the next Hank Aaron. Let's laugh at that Yankee payroll of more than $200 million, and King George's outrageous luxury tax payments. Let's remember that the Yankees haven't won any of the last three World Series and just lost 60 percent of their starting rotation. Let's remember that Kenny Lofton, Gary Sheffield, and Kevin Brown never will win clubhouse congeniality awards. Adding A-Rod doesn't necessarily vault the Yankees back ahead of the Red Sox (Vegas wiseguys last week had the Sox favored to win it all).
Unfortunately, all these rational arguments will be tough to make when your Yankee friends are laughing at you about having Jeter and Rodriguez on the left side of their infield.
It's not that A-Rod is that much better than Soriano, Manny, Nomar, or any other star player. It's that A-Rod was the guy the Sox coveted.
A-Rod to the Yankees represents Steinbrenner at his diabolical best/worst. It's like having your best girl agree to marry you, finding out you can't get married because your church won't allow it, then watching her marry the guy you hate most in the world. Hide the sharp objects and post guards at the Zakim and Tobin bridges.
It's not that bad, of course. It's only baseball. But it's just one more dagger through the heart of the Nation. Damn Yankees. It just never stops with these guys.
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. His e-mail address is dshaughnessy@globe.com.
? Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
and
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->NY powers up with A-Rod
By Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist, 2/15/2004
Geez, Joe, whaddya think?
Derek third, A-Rod fourth, and Giambi fifth? Or Derek second, A-Rod third, Giambi fourth, and Posada fifth? Sounds good, but then who's gonna tell Sheffield he's batting sixth?
And then there's Matsui. Isn't there an entire nation that now thinks its man should be occupying a prime spot in your order, not batting seventh? Which leaves Bernie -- omigod, it can't be -- eighth?
Lou Piniella doesn't have these problems.
Terry Francona doesn't even have these problems. At least Joe Torre knows who's batting ninth (the second baseman, whoever that will be). And first (Kenny Lofton). Now that Alfonso Soriano and a minor leaguer really are going to Texas and Alex Rodriguez really is heading to New York, here is what the lineups will look like when the Red Sox and Yankees get together this season: Varitek C Posada
Ortiz/Millar 1B Giambi
Pokey 2B Mr. X
Nomah SS Derek
Mueller 3B A-Rod
Manny LF Matsui/Bernie
Damon CF Lofton
Trot RF Sheffield
Burks/Ortiz DH Bernie
We'll get to the pitching in a minute. Just take a look at those lineups.
You'd maybe like to play the matchup game? Fine.
CATCHER: Jason Varitek vs. Jorge Posada
Both are switch hitters with power, but only some utter Red Sox knucklehead would deny that Posada is a better hitter. And only a Yankee knucklehead would deny that Varitek is the better receiver and leader. Both are coming off terrific years that had many people insisting each was his team's MVP. Put that mythical gun to my head and I'll take Varitek. EDGE: Boston.
FIRST BASE: Kevin Millar/David Ortiz vs. Jason Giambi
Millar's value to the 2003 Sox far transcended his stats, which were first-half heavy. Ortiz led the Sox in big hits. But Giambi is an ex-MVP who needed knee surgery and should be primed for a big year (provided he stays out of those front-page headlines, wink, wink). EDGE: New York.
SECOND BASE: Pokey Reese vs. Mr X
Reese quickly will become Derek Lowe's best friend, at least on game days. If he hits .250, great. If he hits .275, clear a parade date with Mr. Mayor. The Yankees might stay in-house (Enrique Wilson?) or they might just go out and buy Jeff Kent. Who knows? EDGE: Boston (for the time being).
SHORTSTOP: Nomar Garciaparra vs. Derek Jeter
If you don't already have your irreversible, utterly unalterable opinion formed, you can't possibly care. EDGE: even.
THIRD BASE: Bill Mueller vs Alex Rodriguez
The Sox guy is gritty, tough, resourceful, and defending American League batting champion who is coming off a career year. The new Yankee guy is the most productive shortstop since Honus Wagner and is very possibly the most talented baseball player of the past decade. Let the record show that it's Jeter who should be making the move to third, not A-Rod. So, if Derek is really a mensch . . . Oh yeah, EDGE: New York.
LEFT FIELD: Manny vs. Matsui/Bernie
Hey, he's a goofball, but he's still our goofball. Put down the customary .300/35/110 for Manny and enjoy the full show. (Last year was his best ever defensively, by the way.) Hideki Matsui is a really solid player who should improve his home run total. Bernie Williams is on the slide. EDGE: Boston.
CENTER FIELD: Damon vs. Lofton
At his best, Johnny Damon gets on base, steals a few when he gets there, and runs from Charlestown to Revere for fly balls. The throws, we won't talk about. But in his two years here he's been (a) Mr. First Half and (b) Mr. Second Half. Lofton has been a second-half savior for teams in need of a center field fix the last two years, but he's a long way from what he once was. EDGE: Boston.
RIGHT FIELD: Trot vs. Sheffield
Who here doesn't love Trot Nixon? He's just a plain, old-fashioned ballplayer, is what he is. Now he swears he'll hit lefties if given another chance. Sheffield is an immense talent, albeit an aging one. But he should have a big year. EDGE: New York.
DH: Burks/Ortiz vs. Bernie/Assorted Mr. X's
Signing Ellis Burks was very interesting, because if he has anything left, the Sox will have a formidable DH in the lineup 162 times, plus whatever, this year. Bernie ought to be a decent DH for New York, but it seems all you hear about with him anymore is shoulder, shoulder, shoulder. EDGE: Boston.
If you're keeping score, that's 5-3-1 in favor of Boston. But catcher and short are really too close to call, and second is officially an INC until we see whom the Yankees throw out there.
It's good conversation, but here is what really matters: Pedro P Mussina
Schilling P Brown
Lowe P Vazquez
Wakefield P Contreras
Kim/TBA P Lieber
Embree RP White
Timlin RP Quantrill
Arroyo RP Gordon
Williamson RP Heredia
Foulke CL Rivera
If Javier Vazquez is as good as some people think, it's tough to separate the first three starters. Tim Wakefield is more of a known commodity than Jose Contreras. The Yankees replenished their setup corps, and you wonder whether it's possible for Mike Timlin to pick up where he left off last year, which was Lightsoutville, USA. And while Keith Foulke had more saves, Mariano Rivera is still The Man.
STARTING EDGE: Even.
SETUP EDGE: Even.
CLOSER EDGE: New York.
Sox pitchers and catchers report Friday. But baseball's version of WWIII already has begun.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And you don't EVEN want to read the <a href='http://www.forums.mlb.com/ml-redsox' target='_blank'>Official Red Sox Messageboards</a>.
<a href='http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=4360364' target='_blank'>http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=4360364</a>
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees are on the verge of acquiring Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez, according to media reports Saturday.
The New York Post and Newsday newspapers said the two teams were closing in on a deal and that it could be finalized next week.
Major League Baseball's official Web Site also said talks were well underway between the two clubs on a deal which would involve New York second baseman Alfonso Soriano going to the Rangers.
Rodriguez would move to third base with the Yankees, according to the reports, as New York already has Derek Jeter at shortstop.
The Rangers tried to deal the American League MVP to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Manny Ramirez at the end of last year.
The deal fell through, however, when the Players' Association stepped in after Rodriguez's contract had to be restructured.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hate the Yankees with the burning intensity of a thousand suns. I hope that Steinbrener walks out of his plush office and gets hit by a bus, but is fine, then immediately gets hit by a garbage truck. I hope A-Rod gets a sexually transmitted disease that both itches and burns. I hope Jeter's intestines will rot and boil and some bad stuff, possibly his brains, will come out his nose. All work and no play make Nomar a dull boy.
My mission is clear. I must destroy the Yankees.
Anybody have any holy water I can borrow? I think I'm going to need a lot of it.
Of course, maybe the Rangers are just being dumb.
At least your people's team isn't the Brewers...the Brewer's wont win anything moderately good (...maybe a pennent? please?) until hell reaches below absolute zero.
Only if you are not fond of evil.
I'll be so @!%#!#%!ing happy when Steinbrenner is gone from baseball and the Yankees stop buying everyone.
So anyway, we got this team, Yankees, who just buys everything? Whoa, the name's pretty fitting <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
And no mindless post of mine can be good without a PA comic:
<img src='http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2001/20011029l.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
And of course I have to add my favourite cricket picture, as cricket and baseball have something in common...I guess you have a ball in both games:
<img src='http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/dept/phys-sci/sun/cricket.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
My work here is done. I'm glad we still have hockey.
i still cant believe marlins friggen beat the cubs even thoug we rocked their "D-Train"
i watched 2-3 games at my bros apartment with like 20 other die ahrd cubs fans and a beer bong :X and im only 16 lolelrs
did cubs ever get maddox (no not the best page in the universe maddox GREG MADDOX)
now im more **** about this lol Arod blows any ways
It depends on the sport and the player union - in the NBA and NFL, there are salary caps. There's also about to be one in the NHL (hockey), but it will start with a player lockout which will probably end the league, so it's moot.
Baseball is very different though - the NFL players union, for example, was once very strong, but was subsequently broken by the owners and now exists as a rather weak figurehead. In Major League Baseball (MLB), the player's union is <i>obscenely</i> strong, based on a few factors: a spineless commisioner, favorable rules on free agency and arbitration, a couple bad-intentioned owners (Steinbrenner), and the fact that after a couple really bad player strikes the league and owners are just plain scared of the revenue loss. So while there are some checks on excessive spending (the so-called 'luxury tax'), it comes down to what owners are willing to pay. Since Steinbrenner is fixated on winning above all else, money is no object and the cycle continues.
I was sort of hoping that when Bush became president (he was an owner of the Rangers), that the federal government might get a bit more involved in defanging the union - after all, MLB is a special govt-allowed sports monopoly, and falls under federal jurisdiction. Unfortunately, it never happened (although I'd rather the president was working on fighting terrorism and dictatorships and not shortstops, so all for the best, I reckon).
As a side note, people get very worked up over the Yankees (me included) and how they spend spend spend to make the best team possible. In practice, the Yankees lost the World Series in 2001, didn't make it out of the playoffs in 2002, and lost the World Series again in 2003. Money can't always buy happiness, it seems. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
This is the first time I truly understand what Chomsky meant when said that the Americans would be the politically most involved citizens of the world if they only put half of the attention they put into sports there...