The Beast

Maggsmaggs, how did you get into working with the sports marketing firm? What is it called? Are you going to get a Master's in sport management or even a certificate from somewhere in sport management for your job?

I've heard from a few people that UPS pays your tuition if you work there for a certain amount of time in a co-op program. Not sure if that is true or not. Yesterday, I read this too and thought about how great it would be, making $74,000 doing this kind of work. But honestly I'd rather just get my degree and stumble into a career. Though that is something I wonder - what is the difference between a job and a career in soxtalk.com's viewpoint? You could also never get me to be a lawyer, but I would consider being a paralegal. Any job that consumes your life where you are working long hours for virtually nothing in return but money doesn't fit me. Similarly, long hours for $20K doesn't fit me either. Is there a happy medium between the two?

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 09:13 PM) I always heard it was a terrible idea to move because of a girl (or guy, I imagine). Worst decision that I have ever made. I'm sure the sex was better with the girls I missed out on my freshman year.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 02:21 PM) Ross, just calm down and live in the moment. If you are just meeting a girl, you have no idea what is going to happen between you two. Calm down and enjoy yourself. Quit worrying about the future so much. Employment doesn't bring happiness, forcing yourself into a relationship won't bring happiness, and just following societies expectations of you won't bring happiness either. Do what makes you happy. Smoke a giant metaphorical joint, sit back, and watch the f***ing sunset as you relax. Everything will work itself out in the future (I know it's cliche, and I know you need some type of work, but seriously, you'll be fine). Go out and have fun and don't worry about dating girls. And honestly, if you get a little shy or scared or over-the-top affectionate because a girl is too hot, go for a 7 out of 10 rather than a 9 or 10 out of 10. I never had the self-confidence to approach a great looking girl when I was getting into the game, and I would make an ass out of myself somehow or another (I have a famous quote in freshman year when I was drunk...I was talking to a hot girl at a party, and she mentioned that she was single, and I said something along the lines of "oh you're single? Wanna date?" and I was dead serious). I always had a little crush on my current one, but how I actually met her was getting drunk and talking to her...we did that for like 2-3 straight weekends, and we eventually started hanging out sober, and then she gave me a massage, and then I told her I liked her and she told me she liked me, and then we kissed, and then we partied together, and we went on a walk and started making out, and we went back to my room and clothes started to come off...it goes on and on from there, but I eventually lose my virginity and get to the point I'm at. Just go out, have a good time, go to an afterbar with some friends, chill, relax, and be yourself. Have a good time, relax, be yourself, and live in the moment. What brings happiness? "Do what makes you happy." Too bad no major or career has made me happy. Ever since life has changed significantly, I have kind of just felt like something is missing. When I found out that my initial majors weren't what I expected, I really got worried and felt like I had no purpose in life. That all I had worked for wasn't for anything. And now I'm trying to use my gifts of being compassionate towards others or follow my passion of baseball and football by obtaining that degree towards business. If it doesn't work, then I want to help high school juniors and seniors make the right choices while they still have time to make the right decision. I love helping people, so that's my next plan, a Master's in School Psychology/Counseling Education. I think what would is to be able to live the life that I want, which is to come back to Chicago and be employed or live down there so that I can soak up the city and sports teams that I love while meeting someone and settling down there when the time comes. That is what I'm working towards because THAT is what will make me happy. Sure I go to school in the quad cities but I have a desire to come back home and work my way toward Chicago after graduation. I have gone out and "had fun" and absolutely can't stand the bars and I find that the things I do like going out to include sports. Maybe that will change when I have another semester at SAU under my belt and I can concentrate less on studies and more on the people there. At the moment, I'm working on a few, one that goes to Lewis and the other one that is down in Peoria. We'll see what happens. Once I find what "is a good time" to me and not just a blanket statement that applies to everyone, then I'll live in the moment. Till then, I think it is important to keep searching, keep searching and FIND IT. EDIT: Thoughts on "living in the moment." Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself. (I'm getting there, not sure if the feeling is mutual all of the time.) Keep your eye on the prize – visualize the kind of life you want and never lose sight of it. (Yep, check, want to come back to the city.) Laugh every chance you possibly can – even if you have to fake it at first, until you remember how great it can feel. (I'm trying, it isn't always easy.)

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 12:45 PM) Just a few years ago you couldnt wait to get out of high school to get into college with more mature people where you can get your degree etc. Now you cant wait to get out of college and get a job and "find happiness". Whats the big hurry? Why do you have to skip straight from meeting someone out, directly to discussing what you want to do with your entire life with the girl you are just meeting out? If you would slow yourself down just a bit an look around, you would realize things arent nearly as bad as you think they are, and you wouldnt want to GTFO so bad. I don't believe that I was excited to go to college. I just wanted out of my high school because I didn't have a fun high school career. It has gotten better now but I still have the fear of failure in the back of my mind. Sometimes I wonder if I just love the city too much and just miss that atmosphere, too bad the schools are expensive. I discussed that with that one girl that one evening to get rid of her. I didn't have an interest in the friend I was passed over to. But anyway, go wite, go for it!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 12:18 PM) When you GTFO, you will soon realize that its easier in college. What is easier? Landing a girl or passing your classes to get a "job?" I guess my issue is this: "Hi, my name is...I can tell you right up front that I don't want to work in sales. I'm a closeted introvert and would hate cold calling, it would probably give me ulcers. I'm doing this major to get a degree in management. I don't know what I want to do other than to be an account executive in health care or sports. I'd like to work in PR but who knows. Here's what I did in school. Here's where I went to school. Here is what I'm capable of. I'm not an idiot. Want to hire me? Great, thanks for your time. It's time to go to grad school, try to get a master's in guidance counseling and help others find the right career or college path. And if I fail at that, then I'll go amongst the happily or unhappily unemployed."

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 4, 2010 -> 05:22 AM) Thanks. It's going to be interesting. She has said she wants to move out to Seattle with no strings attached to South Dakota (other than her parents, of course), but over the past week or so has been talking about how she could see herself marrying me. We have about 4 and a half months left together before that date, so we'll just have to see how it plays out. Is this the same girl as before? If so, wow, you turned that around nicely. I wish that I had your talent, then I wouldn't be searching at bars and playing the bulls*** game. Meh, doesn't matter to me as long as I graduate soon and GTFO.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Mar 31, 2010 -> 01:51 PM) Nah, I don't think I've ever dated or had a fling with a Sox fan. Admit it though guys, imagine what it would be like if we were dating a Sox fan who would fulfill this fantasy but wearing White Sox gear instead. I'd be game for that!

Did any of you subscribe if you used match.com? It seems as though you can just post on those sites and if you want to email the girl you have to pay. Maybe there's a way around that, like looking at facebook profiles somehow.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Mar 21, 2010 -> 08:15 AM) If we were Cub fans..... we'd be drinking beer and ignoring bad baseball. I don't see why all of the discourse about this "story." Do we as a readership need to give a rat's ass about the White Sox manager's son who can't comply with what the employer wants? It comes to a point where I just care about the facts presented in articles and not some writer's opinion about something that is meaningless to a team. Jenks' health is a lot more important than Oney Guillen or Kenny Williams, Jr. I suppose I will never understand what objective and good journalism is. Or what makes something "newsworthy."

If we were Cub fans, this would be a perfect thread to discuss Lou and Hendry's relationship or Bradley and Hendry's relationship. But we're not Cub fans - we're White Sox fans. Thus, this has no relevance to our success this year so I think the thread should be deleted.

I always wondered if any of those website worked. Yahoo! personals looks decent but I never actually tried it. Hmm...is eHarmony.com legit or bull s***?

Probably either: Hoobastank - Crawling in the Dark Godsmack - Straight out of Line Slayer - Reign in Blood Metallica - Enter Sandman

QUOTE (iamshack @ Mar 6, 2010 -> 09:39 PM) What exactly are you suggesting, Ross? Would you rather the commentary you regret making be deleted? I would like some of this commentary to be deleted - what if an employer came on and saw this? That wouldn't look very good for me, now would it?

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 6, 2010 -> 06:33 PM) This will kind of be off the topic of relationships, but good general advice overall. But first of all, it's ridiculous to want to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18 when picking school/majors, so don't fret over that. As for a job, you really have to do what you love and not worry about money. If you do something you like, you will work harder at it and be promoted and make a living. For example, with me I have always been worried way too much about money. Up until a month ago, I was dead set on going to U. of I for law school and making $100,000-plus as a 25-year-old. Then I realized (while working at a sports agency at a law firm right now) that no amount of money is worth not doing what you want to do. Law was going to kill my life. I was not going to be able to do the monotonous work of a lawyer and work the crazy hours. So now I am trying to get into sports marketing. You're at a time right now where maybe you should just hold off on worrying about women and just find what you want to do for a career and get a start there. Then you will be in the right mindset to find a girl. Gentlemen - I wanted to start out by saying that I regret some of the posts that I have made in this thread. Not only are they unprofessional and not developed thoughts but they also are distasteful. You may wonder why I'm saying this, but ultimately, I just had someone come talk to me in regards to what I've said. And I've taken that individual's insight to heart. That being said, most of the steps I have taken up to this point in changing majors, switching schools and stuff have been the right choice. While I will admit to not enjoying the life of being a sports journalist or broadcaster, that doesn't mean that the business side of sports doesn't interest me. I am fascinated by things related to sports management and marketing, which includes some aspects of working with an organization or for working behind the scenes in radio doing whatever they tell me to do at 670 the score or at their competitor in AM-1000. I think I might have a plan as to how to get the ball rolling on this but it will take some effort on my part. Most of all, I do believe working on yourself, expanding your fan base (friendships and network) could be the most valuable thing for me right now. I appreciate all of your insight and will continue to read this thread as well as this board. Now, may I suggest parts of this thread belong in another thread entitled, 'Young sports professionals?'

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 6, 2010 -> 02:12 PM) Had to google her. Yowzas. Some nice pics show up of her. I've got good taste. She's going to replace Buehrle as my new computer wallpaper as soon as I get home.

Finding a job, hanging at home, taking the next step to graduate next May. Maybe playing drinking games. Who knows.

I wonder if this uncapped season is going to bring upon a trend of long-term deals and if this will negatively impact the Bears once this whole cap situation gets figured out. I have a feeling that the Bears are going to regret this in the long haul if they tie these three up.

Some guy on facebook claims it is a done deal and Kaplan said that the Bears will not be outpid for Peppers. I don't know why they would spend all of the money on the pass rusher when they are lacking at defensive back and safety.

It's safe to say that I can wake up tomorrow, nobody will be signed and McNeil and Spiegel will have something to talk about for 4 hours.

Per Kaplan's facebook: RT @vxmcclure23: Julius Peppers has agreed to visit Chicago Bears on Friday, according to agent Carl Carey. The Bears are the front-runner.

www.670thescore.com - those bastards aren't airing the game? What jack asses!

Danny Mac is even saying that the Sox are high off their ass to trade a guy like Gordon Beckham. I would certainly agree and don't see any value in trading Beckham for this guy from San Diego. Do we really need an upgrade?

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 28, 2010 -> 04:05 PM) Beast got Wingman-ed. Evidently some people didn't read about last night. Go back a page, read my most current post about last night. Things were a lot better and I didn't get wingman-ed. I had a blast and have the opportunity to hang out again next week. Hell to the yes.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 28, 2010 -> 04:00 AM) Nail the friend. Get yourself laid. f*** it. I had a better night last night. I'd only nail that friend with a blind fold on.