This is a thread that I have made up so the people that know and love their sports can sit here and discuss their opinions and arguements with others that know what is going on in the sports world. (jazz you are more than welcome to join, you put in good arguements, but we'll leave the NBA refs in candid) I'm sure we can have better conversations than the people of ESPN (Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn)
They annoy the hell out of me....Lets begin.

First up is Pete Rose. He may be reinstated back into the League. Should this happen and should he be put in the Hall of Fame? Alot of fans want to see one of the best hitters of alltime be put in the Hall because what he did off the field is no reason to keep him out for what he did on the field. Is it time to give these fans what they want (baseball needs all the fan support they can get right now) or keep him out for the fact that other players will see this and not care if they break a rule of any kind because they know they can get away with anything. Plus you have to add in the fact he broke a "golden" rule in baseball, thou shalt not GAMBLE

Second. Boxing. I feel this sport is becoming an entertainment more than a sport. What ever happened to just coming down to the ring and trying to beat your opponet sensless? I'm half drunk before the first boxer even gets to the ring. This is becoming a very annoying trend that will never change but should we put a time limit on entrances. If you're not in the ring after your music starts in 3 minutes you should be penalized a pt. for every minute after. This could make the fights alot more enjoyable to watch because someone like Roy Jones Jr. would actually go out there ready to KO someone with his spectacular talent rather than trying to go the distance.

Third. I don't know that much about soccer errrr Football...sorry my friends over seas. Can someone please tell me why you have so many riots at your games. Are you walking in there a human time bomb and think you will win a reward for acting the biggest fool? It's a game. GROW UP! Where is the security at by the way? Are they already passed out from their cheap lagers that they drink during halftime or intermission, what ever you call it.

Let me know what you think on these subjects and their will be plenty more to come. If none of these intrest you post your own and lets get a good arguement or discussion going.

Cheers!!!!!!!

I'm on the fence re Pete Rose. I grew up a fan of the Big Red Machine and would often play imaginery baseball games using the Reds lineup versus whoever they were playing that day (Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and George Foster were my favs). And in my day imaginery meant imaginery; we didn't have playstations and computer games. Anyway, I think I could support his omission from the HOF if they also banned pitchers that had scuffed baseballs (against the rules and for done for competitive advantage), players that used tar or cork (ditto), and players who have tested positive for illegal substances. Rose is arrogant and bone-headed but he earned his place in the Hall.

Boxing I no longer watch or am I interested in it. The days of Foreman-Frazier-Ali and even Roberto Duran and "Boom Boom" Mancini are over. These guys today aren't worth watching.

just kidding...have to do the nobility plug
shameless, I know...

Bench, no reinstatement
they really need to crack down on celebrities doing illegal things everywhere.
I hate this double standard.
they are not above us.

No much of a boxing fan.

Love soccer or football or...
played for many years as a child.
I think it is awesome and fun to watch
and it is sad that there are hooligans like that
then again just look at the college football fans in the US
it's just as bad.

'til next time!

I can agree that the the Heavyweight competition in boxing is horrid. As for the rest of the competition out there it is very entertaing to me. Oscar is great boxer and seems to be in battles to the death every fight. Other boxers such as Shane Mosely, Roy Jones Jr. (although he lacks the intention of trying to please the fans of getting a KO), Vernon Forrest, Cabrerra and many others in the smaller weight classes are very talented and can put up a fight that is worth your money to watch. The only problem they face anymore is getting the fights signed and delivered to the people. One of the fights that I really want to see is Jones-Hopkins. It sucks they have to bicker about money but they have the right to because it's their paycheck. I think Roy should get the % of take in the fight that he wants because he already beat Hopkins once plus he left that division for Hopkins to win anyway. This fight would bring out the Roy of old I believe. A Pazzienza type destruction is in need for Roy's relationship for his fans.

Good points on Rose. If you ban him for doing something off the field you have to ban all those who "cheated" on the field. I'm still torn in this subject. He knew the rules and you do not break the rules if your not willing to accept the punishment. On the other hand is banning someone that obiviously deserves to be in the Hall for his play to harsh?

Another topic to be thrown out here. There was alot of talk about the OSU's fans Lord and Savior Clements coming out after his freshman year. I say let the man do what he wants. If he thinks he can go out and be a top RB in the NFL then let him go and make his money. Maybe he will becomme the Leagues MVP or maybe he will be a bust. Who are we to make a decision for someone that may have the talent to go but make him stay so he may tear an acl or fall to a neck injury. He already seems to be injury prone so why deprive him of the chance to make the one big paycheck he might ever see. I don't like to see players leaving school to the pros that are not that polished just as much as the next fan but they are adults and its their life not mine.

I agree on Clements. If he was a computer geek that was offered millions by Microsoft we would think he was nuts to tell them "No thanks, I want to stay in school a few more years." Clements can get his education while in the NFL. They only concern I have is if scouts get caught up in the hype and give false hopes to these kids who leave early on to bomb in the NFL. Case in point, last year LSU LB Trev Faulk left after his junior year to cash in. In this case though Saban told him he should stay another year and that he wasn't ready but Faulk believed his press and left. He went undrafted and unsigned. Don't know what became of him, he may be on a practice squad somewhere.

Faulk is an example of an unpolished player. As are many that leave school early. If Clements does leave school early as a freshman I expect to see alot more follow his path just like the ones that followed Kobe's & K.G.'s in the NBA. I am a Duke Blue Devils fan in college basketball. It was sad to see the talent of William Avery, who was a deep threat, ending up wasted by going to the pros early. He went to Minn. and I haven't heard of him since. I think the players should listen to their coaches as well instead of believing the Media Hype that surrounds these up and coming stars. Very few have the talent to make it, but the again they see $$$$$$

This persn is getting more National TV exposure than half the teams in the NBA. Whats going on here? Lebreon James, who many people feel is going to be the NBA's next #1 pick, is playing HIGH SCHOOL hoops on ESPN Primetime. Not only does the fact that ESPN is making money of a HS player and he isn't seeing a dime but they have also put his games on PPV in Ohio. I don't think it is right for any TV stations or HS's to be making money off the next phenom that is in HS. Is this the start of a new trend? What does this tell the player that is the main star? If James had any doubt of going Pro I'm sure it is gone now. When will the media and TV marketing learn there is a line that should not be crossed. If this continues we will see JV ball on Big Monday instead of seeing the talent that I already know is there in college basketball.

it does suck...but what can you do?

reap, you and I are in a minority

people want money in their meaningless consumer driven lives

<shrug>

LJ is also on the cover of this week's ESPN The Magazine (the worst sports mag ever, imo). I hope they are not setting this kid up for a big fall.

Congrats goes out to Palmer of USC for winning his award. Hopefully you have better luck than most Heisman winning QB's. Where is Crouch at by the way?

It's coming close to playoff time. Who is going to the Super Bowl? Looks like its all up for grabs. All of the top teams look like they can be beat by any givin team (Bengal exception). I think that one of the Bay's will make it from the NFC and either the Dolphins or Oaktown from the AFC. What do you think?

sounds good to me
my Niners ain't going far in the playoffs
I do hope I'm wrong

Just for the record Reap, New Orleans isn't on a BAY!
Seriously, I am lousy at picking Super Bowl teams but I'll go out on a limb and pick Colts (?) and Packers.

And don't count the Bengals out yet, they have the luxury of playing the "I can't beat a team with a losing record" Saints this Sunday.

LMAO DH!!!! Good luck on the Saints quest!

I have heard a rumor. If anyone has heard anything on it please tell me more. I heard that Paul is thinking about finally bringing the Super Bowl up north. I for one think this is a great idea. I might actually get to see one near my hometown. Their is alot of fans that have the arguement...Well what about the cold? It's an unfair advantage. Well i say this to you...WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! What about the heat for the teams up North. Plus the fans of the teams up north have to travel a million miles to go see their team. What do you think? Good idea or bad?

I don't care where it is played. I actually love to watch a football game played in the snow. Too bad they can't organize the Super Bowl so that its location can be determined after the league championships are decided as in every other sport. In that case a San Fransisco/Oakland SB could be played on the bay. A Tampa/Miami SB could be played in Orlando. Last year's St. Louis/New England could have been played in a neutral site -- say Washington. At any rate, I agree with you Reap.

My boyz just knocked off top-ranked #1 Arizona Wildcats!!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!

WooooHooo!!!!!!
Got to love college b-ball!!!

What did I tell ya about dem Saints. My boys must be afraid of actually going to the playoffs for a change. Or maybe they made plans for January before the season started or something The Aints have a history of giving up "firsts". The first Tampa franchise win was against the Saints, ditto the new Cleveland, ditto the Texans (though it was an exhibition game), and now Cincy gets it first win of the season.

That was the most baffling display by the Saints I have seen in a long time. How can you not be up for a game when the playoffs are on the line? If they sit home this year they deserve it, but two season ending collapses is getting too much to take as a long-suffering fan. How can a team that started out 7-1 and beat Green Bay and Tampa twice lose to Detriot, Minnesota, and Cincy? I give up!

Its actually Cincy's 2nd win. They beat the Texans as well. Poor NO fans

How 'bout dem Browns!! Now with a whole lotta luck and a win next week they could win the division. Go figure.

Grinch (aka PRIMETIME) coming to Oakland? Good or Bad?

I thought I heard on Fox radio that Indianapolis pulled Edgerrin James from the game Sunday when he was just 10 yrards shy of hitting a 1.5 mil incentive clause. Does anyone know if I heard right. If so, that is just so wrong!! Incentive contracts can be a good thing for a club but if they keep cheating these guys they'll never be able to get anyone to sign one again. If the man made the numbers you asked him to make then you need to show him the money.

I never really heard anything on the EJ thing. If they did its a way to save a few bucks while making him angry and come FA time I hope it pops in his head what they did.

Last weekend filled with football contro. Miami, so called best team in nation, didn't look like they deserved to be in the Top 10. 5 Turnovers, come on, come prepared the next time you play in a championship please or are the Buckeyes that good? Looks like the Big 10 WAS NOT the 4th or 5th conference in the league. Even though they didn't have to play Iowa who were embarrased by USC they still had tough competition.

NYG......Don't cry. If you wouldn't have gave up that lead you wouldn't have been in the situation you was. And lets face it, even if you had another try to kick again what are the chances you would have made it? I say about 5%.

Browns.......FINALLY THIS SEASON IS OVER!!!!!! Go get Jamir back. Maybe look at trading Couch for a lineman and learn how to establish a killer instinct so the fans in Cleveland can be happy after a playoff game instead of having their heart ripped in two.

McGahee.......Love that insurance my friend. 2.5 ML not taxed ain't a bad paycheck. Get your education fix your knee and call it quits so you are able to walk when your 40.

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!! Guess who I'm routing for the rest of the way.....

I'm hoping for a Bay Area showdown in San Diego

The Bengals went out and spent money on something that made sense today. They actually hired themselves a good head coach. Now if Mike Brown can keep himself out of the coaches decisions they may actually break 500 in the next 5 years.