Open Thread for..whatever you want! (2-15-09)

We haven't done one of these in quite a while, to tell you the truth. Why not start one now? There's plenty of things going on today, tonight and of course all weekend long:

• NBA all-star break (discussion on last night's slam dunk contest, game of G-E-I-C-O; East/West all-star game tonight on TNT).

• Spring training starting this weekend for Baseball.

• Daytona 500 (currently airing on fox).

• Possible free agent signings in the NFL world..and, of course, you can always talk NFL draft. The combine is in less than a week.

• College basketball can always be talked about:

    3 North Carolina v.s. Miami (Fl.)

    5 Duke v.s. Boston College

    USC v.s. #18 Arizona St.

    And you can't forget about today's upset specials:

    Virginia over #11 Clemson, in OT; Loyola (IL.) over #15 Butler.

• Sticking with College hoops..Is Notre Dame (14-10), led by Luke Harangody, strong enough to play deep into March?

This, and more, are all up for discussion. It's all up to you guys!!

Behbigben15All-Star

287 days ago

Score 2

Well, the 17 car Matt Kenseth just wrapped up the race in Daytona after a rain-shortened race. And..the Braves are reportedly interested in Ken Griffey Jr. http://sport...y?id=3909252 (but, of course, we already knew that, didn't we?).

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 3

Tim Brando: Let the tea party begin!

He's the ultimate buzzkill (if there is any) for a Duke loss.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 1

Is that what the announcer said? That's so lame.

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 2

He's the same guy that said

"This ain't Carmen San Diego!"

"And we're tied." in a game in which the score was 59-58

"Pomare with the offensive putback."

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 0

I watched the replay of the game. I think he did an OK job, apart from that WTF moment.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 3

Boston College 80, Duke 74...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 2

And yes, I was there, and yes, there will be an upcoming Usher article about a very interesting afternoon.

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 0

Well Ty Lawson just hit his 3rd deep ball in a row and North Carolina needs just 2 free throws to win this.

If North Carolina wins the title (which they won't), it will be because of Lawson, now the overrated Tyler "B*tch" Hansbrough.

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 0

Game over, UNC wins.

If there is one team I can't stand more than Duke, it's UNC.

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Behbigben15All-Star

287 days ago

Score 0

Ty Lawson is the man!

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 1

Well the West is pummeling the East in another boring edition of the All-Star game.

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DeutscherRed-Shirting

287 days ago

Score 2

I hate all star games, lets talk about how the Florida Panthers are in 7th and the Pens are rubbing shoulders with the garbage of the league, namely the stupid Leafs. Lets take bets right now for HOW early Bostons exit from the playoffs will be...I say swept first round. San Jose first round also but hey maybe in 7.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 3

The Bruins have only shown matchup problems with New Jersey and Washington, which they'd face in later rounds based on the standings as they are. I don't see the Sabres, Panthers, Canadiens, or Rangers beating them, let alone sweeping them.

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 0

Shaq and Kobe win co-MVPs.....the fix is in.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 2

Well duh! There is no damn fix. It's an all-star game, meaning entertainment. The Shaq/Kobe situation was the story of the weekend (along with the Slam dunk contest and the debut of G-E-I-C-O). Kobe and Shaq both entertained the crowd and won the game for the west. Why wouldn't they be co-MVP's?

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 0

Penguins fire Michel Therrien, kinda surprised they waited this long.

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 2

Oh and Inter beat AC Milan in the Milan derby 2-1, Becks hobbles off injured. (I can't stand Jose Mourinho)

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 2

Who can?

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 2

His wife........maybe.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

287 days ago

Score 0

I don't know about that...

http://www.t...le333240.ece

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SSreportersLegend

287 days ago

Score 0

The only reason why Becks is being forced back to LA is for the survival of the club. Suppose Donovan is successful in Germany, you lose him and Becks and that means no ticket sales.

No ticket sales in addition to losing your best player (which is Donovan), means they go from mediocre and missing the playoffs, to just downright crap.

That likely means goodbye to the club.

I was really hoping Beckham stayed at Milan, because admittedly he's putting in more effort and quality with them than he ever has in LA.

I was right though that if Becks leaves before year 5, it will likely go down as one of the biggest failures in sports marketing history.

Oh yeah, the game.....Adriano got lucky, that was an obvious handball and there should have been no goal given.

In FA Cup News: Man Utd 4 Derby 1, Everton 3 Aston Villa 1 (sorry Alex).

Can't wait for Arsenal/Cardiff.

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

286 days ago

Score 2

I can see your sports marketing arguement there SSR but if I were in charge of LA Galaxy I would be very tempted to pull in some of that big cash from AC Milan for making the move permamnent. I don't think the loss Becks and Landycakes would mean the end of the Galaxy right away with Alexei Lalas no longer in charge the club may finally sign some talent that can gel into a team.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 1

Oh, snap. Jeff Garcia will be in a new uniform next season, if he is even still in the League. The Bucs are reportedly not going to re-sign him. That opens the doors for several teams in need of an experienced QB (i.e. Kansas City, New York Jets, Niners, Vikings etc).

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DeutscherRed-Shirting

286 days ago

Score 1

The Vikings should really take a long look at Garcia, if they cut T-Jax and keep Gus the combined QB age on that team would be about 112.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 0

I think signing Garcia to a one, maybe two year deal would be a great idea for the Vikes. They have the setup to win now, not later. Great defense, All-pro RB, solid line. Throw an experienced QB who has a 61.6 career completion percentage with capable receivers sounds manageable for a run-first offense. Go for it, Brad Childress!

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DeutscherRed-Shirting

285 days ago

Score 0

yeah they really should though, consistent QB was the biggest problem for them last year. Garcia may be getting up there but he is still competitive and consistent.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 1

An exciting one being played in Connecticut. The number one Huskies lead #4 PITT 56-51 with 7:13 remaining in the game, the Huskies big-man, Thabeet, is in foul trouble (4 points, 4 fouls) and is sitting on the bench. If Thabeet wasn't in foul trouble this would be a whole different game. Uconn would most likely be up by much more than five right now.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

285 days ago

Score 1

The reason Thabeet was in foul trouble was because of Blair so it is unfair to say the tables would be turned if he weren't in foul trouble.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 1

Ouch, Thabeet fouls out with :29 to play, Pittsburgh up 71-63 and it looks like UCONN has been overthrown (for now). But Oklahoma will have to wait an entire week to be given the #1 ranking.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 2

Dejaun Blair is the best big man in Division one..period. 22 points, 23 rebounds tonight. Wow is the only word that can be used to describe his performance.

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SSreportersLegend

286 days ago

Score 2

Game over, UConn falls.

How about Providence, Pean?

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 1

It's ok UCONN, it could be worse. You could be Duke and lose four of the last six.

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SSreportersLegend

286 days ago

Score 2

This is a rather serious/happy ending story.

If anyone remembers Eduardo Da Silva from Arsenal, you'll remember he had his leg shattered last season by Birmingham City's Martin Taylor. If you want the picture, click here.

It's been a year since that incident, he had a successful and career-saving surgery.

Today against Cardiff in an FA Cup round of 16 tie, in his first game back playing in competitive senior squad football, he scored twice. Even as someone who can't stand Arsenal, I was really happy that a man went from likely being unable to play again, to scoring twice in a huge tournament match.

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 2

Here's some more news for ya: I may be taking a trip up to Fenway this April. How exciting is that? If that trip falls through it will be either Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. And I've already got tickets to the Rays/O's game in Baltimore on April 10th.

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RomiezzoLegend

286 days ago

Score 2

You're so lucky you have time on your hands, man. I would do anything to have the chance to go back to Fenway again (or any stadium for that matter) without it affecting my grades here!

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Behbigben15All-Star

286 days ago

Score 3

Yeah, I'm glad I have the time too, haha. A couple of my friends are planning a weekend trip up there, and I'm pretty excited about it. They are mostly O's fans so they are trying to get tickets to the April 18th game against the O's. I'm hoping Koji Euhara starts for the O's that day..

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Steel TownDraft Pick

285 days ago

Score 3

The wife and I will be heading to Fenway late this summer. Let me know how hard it was to get tickets if you go Ben.

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JuTMSY4Legend

285 days ago

Score 3

Take a look on the sox site right now for tickets if you know the date...there's still some on sale additionally, if its a game against the O's, Blue Jays or another also ran, tickets aren't as hard to come by...Yankees? Not so much...

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

285 days ago

Score 4

Yes, get tickets now if you can figure on a date.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

285 days ago

Score 3

Thanks guys.

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Behbigben15All-Star

285 days ago

Score 0

Well it shouldn't be too hard for me actually, cuz I'm not the one buying them and the kid that is getting them is a huge Red Sox fan and takes several trips up there a year. I think his dad has some pretty good connections and he has family that lives up there as well. We will be spending the weekend at his cousin's house instead of getting a room at a hotel.

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

285 days ago

Score 1

Maple Leafs and Sabres tonight. Judas H. Priest and a half do the Leafs stink. No wonder Therrien got the sack after the Flightless Ones laid an egg at the Air Canada Centre.

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DeutscherRed-Shirting

285 days ago

Score 2

The Leafs stink!? Leafs stink!? To be fair the Leafs have been playing unwatchable uncompetitive hockey for the better part of 20 years. To say they stink is like saying signing Rick DiPietro to that stooopid 10 year contract was a blip on the radar of an otherwise solid franchise. As for Therrien getting fired after losing at the ACC, its the unwritten rule. Lose to the Leafs and your fired. Standard operating procedure.

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RomiezzoLegend

285 days ago

Score 1

Well, the Knicks defeated the Spurs in what was a very close game. I watched the final minutes of the 4th quarter and the overtime period. All I can say is that I believe that Nate Robinson is ready to lead this team and I think that this is a new beginning to the Knicks' season. Now, will the Knicks make the playoffs. I don't want to jump to conclusions and make a prediction that far ahead... but all I can say is that you can hope for a much better Knicks team in my opinion.

After 3 straight wins against [at least] two decent teams and an average team in the Rockets, Hawks, and Pacers, they lost 6 in a row: Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, Blazers, Warriors, and Clippers. Now the first 4 games were all very close in the last couple minutes of the 4th quarter... and then they faced the Warriors: a team with a bad record now, but will make tremendous improvement in the second half IMO, and the Clippers (when they basically just gave them the win).

With a better team chemistry, and someone to look up to, it seems like New York may actually come together. It sure seems like they have the potential to upset many teams looking to get in the playoffs.

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