Texsox

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From http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/2816089/detail.html

I see what the Hidalgo Killer Bees are doing to build a fan base where there was none and it is amazing. They will do everything but have a player come to your door and take you to the game. Of all minor leaguen teams, they are in the top 25 in attendance in the US. And they are less than 10 miles from Mexico. The only ise down here is in a margarita

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Wirtz is a puzzle. Certainly he knows he could make more money by selling home tv rights, yet he doesn't do that.

I do not think you can compare a sports franchise with other businesses. First of all, in the real world, you do not have to lose money for a quarter to make money. You will have expenses of course but most small businesses can not withstand a couple quarters worth of loses. Most corporate boards would be breathing down the neck of a CEO who isn't showing a profit every quarter. Businesses need to plan for future expansion, structure their debt load in a manner which enables them to operate, etc. But this really doesn't amount to anything with a baseball team. Most owners have made a pile of money before getting into sports. I can believe some owners plan to continue to invest every year and operate at a loss. "Hey, I made $46,00,000 at my day job, so I will give the team and extra $12,000,000 to get a player. Others will try and break even, and I"m certain a few will try and make some money. This is, for some, a hobby, albeit a very expensive hobby. Do we care what the Sox bankroll is if we win? Get to the playoffs every few years and I could give a s*** if it costs you money or you make money. Baseball doesn't have an artificial salary cap, they operate like all of the businesses we work at. Free market. You can spend as much as your business situation will allow. Baseball workers are like us, free to cut the biggest and best deal possible. If your company came to you and said we could improve market share by 3% if you took a pay cut and we hired Jaime Smith, would you say Sure! Let's do it!? Likewise, it's tough to fault a player for not doing the same. We have what we have with Jerry squared. I would love to see Cuban buy the team, I think he would throw everything into trying to win like he has with the Mav's. I also think he would take seriously the contest for fan loyalty in Chicago. But it will not happen. There are only a handful of owners in all of sports who are that focused on winning and have the resources. I believe the Sox payroll would be much higher if we were the only team in Chicago and had the revenues to justify it. I do not think Sox ownership is making millions in cash every season. There riches as based on the value of a baseball franchise rising. Something you really can not spend until you sell.

It's 33% great 33% OK and 33% what was he thinking putting this crap out. It's been out for almost 1 year I believe.

I've seen some of those as well. I am going to assume that until the contest is crystalized, people will be in flux. For example if Kerry is sellected and picks (for example) Sharpton as his running mate, minds will change. If Bush makes a monumental blunder minds will change. I do not believe 90% of Americans will stay firm for 10 months.

I think I still have my "black box" descrambler from those days. Hmm, maybe I will put it on eBay as a collectors item . . .

LMAO Weird Al's parody is better

Yes, and it is

I love how politicians try and argue both sides of an issue. Clinton's draft issues wasn't suppose to mean a thing in 1992 but the GOP kept trying to hammer at it. Now the roles are reversed and the GOP is saying W's favors are not an issue and the Dems are trying to hammer away. Both sides make me laugh. They are mostly cut from the same cloth and we accept it.

Damn East Coast bias How many hours does your next program require "in residence" to earn a degree? Some require more than 30. I'm certain you checked.

Looking at the law of thirds. A third will vote for Bush no matter what. The straight ticket GOP, the conservative, the anti-who ever is on the Dem ticket, etc. Another third will vote for the Dem for the same reasons, including he isn't Bush. Winning the other 1/3 is the battle. Generally they are the middle of the road politically. Do not identify with either party and they may or may not vote. That's were they start selling sizzle over substanance. Sound bites and negative ads. It's too bad because free elections are the backbone of our process.

Popular theory is spending money = votes. I think you are correct. For some reason this time the public doesn't seem to be in the mood. I wonder how he will react.

For a long time I read very little fiction. I've been reading a bit more fiction and I find it more enjoyable then when I was younger.

The Dems are the hot topic since their nomination is being contested. I thought we should also have a GOP forum. Even if George W isn't on the campaign trail he is campaigning from the Rose Garden. Is he doing the right things? Will some weird karma be in play where both he and his dad are 1 timers? What can he do to get re-elected? The last scientific poll I read shows the country about 50-50 regarding his approval rating. Obviously he can win or lose. Would a different running mate help or hurt? Some said his dad lost when he kept DQ. Is he trying to buy voterd with election year spending? Does it work? I am trying to separate politics of a policy vs. the relative good or evil of the policy itself.

Public money means spending our taxes. Private money buys advantage and opportunity for the weathly. Both mixes the worst of both. How would you fund the elections? If you decide public or both how would you determine who gets funded? Can anyone apply? Should it be matching where they only get funded if they already have money. If private should there be limits? Should an American have the right (some would argue it's a free speech issue) to give $10,000,000 to a candidate? Does that buy too much favor?

I never got past the birthday party when I was in High School. ZZZZzzzzz A few years ago my son begged me to read the first book and I was hooked. I guess everything in it's time.

Interesting points. Politics is money. But money flows to the guy who is in need. If my guy is cruising to an easy victory (theory is) he doesn't need my donation. If my guy is locked in a struggle I better send him some support ($$). Then you have the front runner mentality. The guys who are 4/5/6 in this are toast when it comes to raising money unless they have a single agenda that is fueling it. For example, Sharpton's financial supporters may continue while his/their message has a wide platform.

PA, Is this your last semester? Have you started looking for positions back near Miss PA2004? I am certain this is probably a great time to line up those reference letters from your so-workers

Ah Brando, you love to bait. Why did you read Clinton's bio? Hillary? Jennifer Lopez? or any of the pop celebrity bios? To find meaning in your life? To be "fascinated and inspired" "educated about a particular ideology" of J-LO! Maybe you, but not me, I aim a little higher. Maybe you can learn something "TO LEARN ABOUT THESE INIVIDUALS FROM THE SOURCE ITSELF, ABOUT THEIR WORLDVIEW AND SELF-VIEW AND EXPERIENCE.....TO EDUCATE MYSELF ABOUT A PARTICULAR IDEOLOGY.....ABOUT A CERTAIN TIME AND PLACE IN HISTORY......ABOUT LIFE AS A WHOLE EVEN.......ANYTHING I CAN DRAW UPON LATER PRETTY MUCH" from Christina Aquilera or Britney Spears, I can not. These bios are being sold in huge numbers because B&N places huge displays in the middle of the store. These sell because every talk show covers them. Hell, half of autobiographies really aren't. They are authored by a team of ghost writers so the books can be on the shelves while the persons popularity is still high. Or do you believe that I detest students that parrot things they heard in other classes and can not defend their thoughts. They repeat stuff they think the professor wants to hear. That is what I detest. People need to think for themselves. You, of course are free to believe everything you read in a autobiography, I choose not to. Every biography contains a secret. The secret is truth. If you and I each wrote about this exchange we would have different stories. Mine would of course be the truth. Of course you will believe yours will be closer and you just proved my point. You can not trust what you learn in the bio. BTW, I am ROTFLMAO You remind of a little chattering kid wanting attention. Here is a pat on your head, now go away.

Mark picks up what E-Lo drops off and we did not replace Bart. Then we add an unproven pitcher in the 5 spot and it is a nightmare. Add question marks at 1st, 2nd, and CF. Pray for a bargain basement closer from Japan with a great nickname and it's not looking too good. Frank and Jose are another day older. Which is bad. Lee, Crede, and Maggs are another day older and that is a good thing.

I agree 100% it is a nice picture of Maggs

The Cadillac dealer could understand him just fine.