KRAM1

ALL OF THE ABOVE!

O.K., here's a question I heard on the radio driving to work this morning. Is the new england area the current sports capital of America, or what? Let's see...Boston seems on the verge of running away with the World Series, the Pats look to be shoe-ins for the Super Bowl at this point (O.K., you Indy fans can claim a right too) and BC just staged a great last minute comeback win over W. Va. last night and are what 8-0 now? Man, what has happened? Has the earth titled a different way on its axis? Oh, I know. It must be either global warming or George Bush's fault, right? Seriously, what do you think?

Yes, and that why they are a bunch of clods! you got me on the Rush thing....Gee, let's see...one defense of a "conservative" or "conservative issue"...1000 defenses on the left. Yep, my idea of "fair and balanced". No "atheist child" is or was being forced to say anything...they could just keep quiet. But, even that is not good enough for your friends at the ACLU. Hmmmmmmmmmm...one or two "atheist children" and the rest of the class get "run under the bus" for wanting to have a moment of silence or say the pledge? Yep, great solution. Anyway, let's make sure we don't offend anyone or hurt anyon'e feelings here. Time to end this thread. It was fun while it lasted. That's why I love these boards. Everyone get's "their day in court". Thanks for all the input...very interesting. Now, back to the real issues of the day, and the important ones at that. GO MEAN GREEN...BEAT MIDDLE TENNESSEE!

The Rockies have lost the "Mo" they had...do you think it was the long layoff? They can certainly comeback from 0-2, but the odds are against them. This may be just another of the "blow-out" seies! Let's see...game 1...BIG TIME BLOWOUT...didn't watch and glad I didn't...it had to be a boring game...no contest at all. Last night at 2-1, maybe not so boring with K. Schilling on the mound for the Sox...Man, does her ever come to play in these Series games. He is Mr. October when it comes to pitchers these days. And, the "curse of the Bambino"???? Way, way OVER!

See, this is one of my "challenges" with being in the Sunbelt. Can't get all that fired up about any of our opponents to have one I would "hate" as an opponent. And, hate is a tough word...but, for me the team I get the most pleasure out of beating is SMU! Our "friends" just down the highway! Bring me SMU and I can get fired up about that...The MUTS, Troy...not so much! Do I want to beat everyone else in the 'Belt...YEP, sure do...and soundly at that! But, hate? Not so much.

The ACLU is a symbol of just about everything wrong with the legal profession. You are correct regarding their pro bono status and lack of suits resulting in "damage and/or pain and suffereing awards", but they seem to only take cases from the "left side of the argument". Let some yahoo have an issue with a kid who wants to pass out candy canes at school and they are all over it, let someone have a problem with someone saying "Merry Christmas" and they are all over it, let some killer want a certain TV show in prison and they are all over it, let someone want to sue the government...federal, state or local...and they are all over it, let someone want to burn the American Flag or take "God" out of the Pledge and they are all over it. It seems to me that the ACLU is simply the "unpaid" arm of all the Michael Moore types. A little "fair and balanced" legal work would help me, and others like me, believe that the ACLU was really in the job of protecting "civil liberties". If I am a killer then, yep, they are all for my "civil liberties"...jump right up there and defend those rights..... O.K., folks, how long should this thread go on? To me, the ACLU needs to think about "both sides of the issues". I am sure they have defended the rights of law abiding citizens and conservative causes from time to time, and anyone out there who loves the ACLU as much as I don't can probably point me to several conservative issues they championed, but, for me, the scales are heavily weighted in favor of the "bad guys" when it comes to the ACLU. If they went away today, the country would be far better off without them than with them. In my "never so humble" opinion that is...and that is what it is...my opinion. You are more than welcome to yours...hey, maybe the ACLU will defend my stand...opps...not a chance!

And, to that I give a BIG AMEN!

Smitty, I knew I'd be in for a "rebuttal" on some of that last rant. I know the difference of which you speak but was "on a roll" and just couldn't stop. Good question. Just what is "real lawyering". Well, that would be getting "bad guys" put in jail where they belong, fighting off the idiot lawyers who make up the ACLU when they want to stop a kid from saying the Pledge or taking a "moment of silence" in school, real estate attorneys closing property sales for willing buyers and sellers, negotiating contracts between willing parties, and on and on and on. There is so much "good stuff" that lawyers need to be doing that this other "stuff" for the "love of nothing but money, and unreasonable amounts of money, should simply go away. The end result of all this is that it drives the cost of goods and services that everyone pays through the roof, and becomes a real burden for those less able to pay for essential goods and services. But, I digress. Amazing how folks think that the "insurance companies", big corporations, and businesses of all sizes are the ones paying the freight for all this "stuff". Man, what world do they live in??? It gets passed along to the "avergae joe" just trying to earn a living, support his/her family and trying to keep his nose clean. Shall I go on? P.S. There is lots more "good lawyering" going on than "bad", but the "bad" gets all the press and causes all the "pain and suffering" for all us "average joes" out there.

Lifer, you should go to work with Channel 8 and Dale H. with comments like that! Very funny! Saw an 8 plus goal game the other day...does happen! I have no interest in starting up all the "I hate soccer" folks again...if so, Im going to beat on baseball as boring, and no one on this board wants to hear me rant on about that one!

I agree with what you said about drex! If only a few folks in the Athletic Dept. had listened to his thoughts on the future and how to get there...my oh my...where UNT Athletics be today??? One can only dream! Hey, drex, great support all these years! One of the very best of the very best. Thanks for all you have done and continue to do! GO MEAN GREEN! See you Saturday at Fouts!

We connect on that pass and the whole complexion of the game might have been different. Still may not have won, but it might have been a "contest" at least...plus, our offense does something with a few of the turnovers and who knows???? A play or two in each game we have lost this year...what a difference a play or two makes is correct, but that the way all contests in sports seem to go. As I am a soccer "guy", I have seen time and time again that each team will make about three "mistakes" in critical situations...the team that capitalizes on the others "mistake" more often than not wins the game...take it a bit further and turn it around...each team will have at least three very good scoring opportunities "in the box" during a game...the team that converts wins....sometimes that may not be the better team, they just took advantage of the opportunities given...UNT needs to "learn" how to take advantages of opportunities given...and, maybe add a little "lady luck" in the mix...like connecting on the pass in question.....so be it! It is what it is this year. And, it IS fun to watch. SEE YOU SATURDAY AT FOUTS! GHO MEAN GREEN!

Punitive damages are way over the line...and if we put a lid on the contingency fee thing many of these "idiot" lawsuits would stop and lawyers could get down to the real "lawyering" that needs to be done. The idea that a guy making $6.00/hr. should get say...$200,000,000 in punitive and "pain and suffering" damages is pure insanity. There should be some sort of adequate compensation in damage awards...say for medical expenses (real ones...not the mental kind because someones feelings were hurt), lost wages and actual damage to property, etc. I worked with some of the tabacco trial lawyers in my "prior life", and they were raking in millions and millions...and I MEAN...millions and millions over a long period of years for their "work" against the tabacco companies. What a joke! I don't blame them, they saw a cash cow and went after it...good for them...it's the system that needs fixing. These guys were flying all over the country in their person Gulfstream 4 jets, driving VERY high dollar autos, living in multi-million dollar homes, sailing multi-million dollar yachts all from the tabacco trials they were involved in...the folks they represented...none are in that kind of shape...nor should they be...but neither should the lawyers. I could go on and on about this...we MUST enact meaningful tort reforms in this country...and SOON! No, I am not on the side of big business or the tabacco companies...I don't smoke, never have...but, the idea of these "awards" are simply GREED in its purest form. I don't see that the tabacco companies have stopped manufacturing and selling their products. NOR should they...it's legal. I wonder how may folks in the SE have been put out of work and how many small farmers have lost their farms over these payments to the trail lawyers, etc.? Stuff is bad for you...you know it...don't do it! Smoking BAD...don't smoke! If you do and you get sick...BLAME YOURSELF. If you drink too much you get drunk and your judgement is impaired...don't drive and don't storm your neighbors back door...something bad might happen...if so...it's your fault. Don't blame the bar of the beer company...too much booze...BAD...we all know that...don't do it or take responsibility if you do! Drink hot coffee...you spill it...wow...it hurts and it's hot! Sorry...take responsibility for being too dumb to put it in a safe place! I could go on......want me too? Probably not. Can't wait for my next jury summons....if you are a trail lawyer trying to bilk a company, family or individual out of more $$$$$ than you deserve...watch out...you darn sure do not want me on your jury! YOU LOSE! If you see me...ask for reasonable and certifiable damages...I'll listen and I'll be open to the evidence.....'Nuf said! And, have a good day!

And, many thanks to "drex" too, for his help on this project. Eddie hardin has been a UNT supporter for a long time, and was most generous to donate the paint. Way to go Eddie and way to go Pittsburg Paints. Fouts looks so much better this season.

We'll just let that be our only loss for the year. Our soccer team is playing great, and this one "oops" should not overshadow that fact. I see a conference championship and an NCAA bid at the end of this season in my crystal ball. At least that's what I am hoping for as the season gets to the final satges. GO MEAN GREEN...SCORE EARLY...SCORE OFTEN!

A quote I recall from the "world of sports" and championship games that I like very much came from a Dallas Cowboy, who, as I recall, was a bit of a hanfull in his day...I cannot seem to recall his name, but I am sure someone will and will let us know...he was talking about the Super Bowl and someone calling it the "Ultimate Game"...as best as I recall he said something like..."Well, if this Super Bowl is the ultimate game then why are they playing it again next year?". I think this quote may have come from Dwayne Thomas. Pretty much puts all championship games in perspective, doesn't it? Interesting thought. Think about it a bit...maybe this says something about "blowout" cahmpionship games and weak World Series. I like the thought that the Series may be bad, but the games are good. Hmmmmmm, was that 11-2 (or whatever it ended up being) blowout of Cleveland by Boston in game 7 a good game to watch? I think not if you are not a fan of the Red Sox. For me, I didn't care who won, I turned it off...so, here we are in game 7 with everything on the line for both teams and it is a 11-2 (or 12-2 or whatever it was) blowout! You would think it would be a one or two run game with all that was riding on it. But, that doesn't happen that often in my my memory of 50+ years of watching these things. I wonder if any "really smart person" has ever studied the "championship games" in sports to see what the real record is in finals, etc.?

Very good QB...a possibility for the O'Brien, but there is stiff competition from "bigger" schools who get all the national pub. You know, the BCS conference vs the "have not" conference thing. But, there is a shot for your guy and he is a good one. You have my vote...but, I can't vote! Thanks for the nice words. We'll see you in Denton next year. Let us know if we can help you find a great drink/food/party, etc. spot in Denton. Lots os stuff in Denton...you do not have to go to Dallas or Ft. Worth to spend your $$$$. Besides...all the good looking UNT co-eds will be in Denton after the game! Well, a lot of them anyway!

Maybe its due to our "run" through the conference in the regular season last year. Some may see our tournament win is simply a team getting hot at the right time, and not an indication of something more. I disagree, and I think we have a good shot at winning the division and back to back tournament wins. Then on the the "Dance" again. I think that is the goal the team should have this season, and I think it is definitely an obtainable goal. Unlike, T Dodge and the unfounded expectations some put on the football team this year, i think JJ has the men ready to go "dancing" a second straight year. Just getting two 3rd team selections is a slap in the face to UNT, but should be good bulletin board fodder! Should be a fun season for UNT. I hope Tina S can get the women to the "dance" this year. I think the women's team has "underperformed" the last several years. Hopefully, they will play up to their potential this season, get off to a great start and "hit the dance floor" at season's end. It is very possible! At least I think so. We'll see. Come to the Denton Exes Mixer on Nov. 7th and hear what both Johnny and Tina have to say about the season. Mixer starts at 6PM at the Super Pit...concourse level...gates/doors D & G.

That's an interesting perspective. I agree, the last few series have been "dogs" and frankly, yes, I will use that word again, boring. So, why is that? Why are World Series games, and World Series in general, Super Bowls, the "fake" NCAA D-1 National Championship Game, etc., etc. often just plain bad games? All the build up of the two best teams, etc., etc. and then...BAM! Bad game, bad series! I wonder why that is? Anyone have any thoughts on the matter or is that a topic for a new thread?

Green Crazy...If it's THONGS I want to know where they are too! Dance Team, Cheerleaders?????? Sorry, just my poor typing skills. In case you have not noticed, I do such things often as I use the Columbus method of typing...oops, showing my age...I mean keyboarding...the "search and find" method! Nice to see you are reading my posts so closely!

I've got an idea. Why don't we all step back, take a deep breath and give all the "attacks and counter attacks" against the coaches and the players a rest on this board. My guess is that each and every coach and each and every player is doing the best they can at this point to win some games this season. But, college sports (any sport) is not a situation where everyone gets a ribbon or a trophy for just showing up like in T-Ball, PeeWee Football, Youth Rec Soccer, etc. It's a tough "job", and no one goes out to lose, EVER! It's a new year with a new coach, with some coaches new to D-1 football, some new players and a pretty different situation than what we saw last season. Players KNOW the drill when new coaches arrive and coaches know they will be the ones who get blamed. This is a "new year" and it is a rebuilding year. How can anyone not realize that? Expectations, on this board, were set way too high as far as wins and loses were concerned for this year, so just step back and take a breath. We do not need to get on to personal attacks against players or coaches. No one goes out to lose on purpose. I have seen lots of thiongs that make me think we are on the path to being much better. Everyone here can remember when we beat Troy, but now Troy seems to be the "top dog" in the Sunbelt. Things change. Love or don't love DD, but everyone realized that something had to change. It did. So, let it develop. Give folks a chance to get things set the way they want them before you throw folks under the bus. Everyone on this board is a MEAN GREEN fan or they would not be on this board and would not "care" so much about what happens to the team , its players and its coaches. But, folks have started attacking members of the board for their posts, coaches for not doing what they think they should be doing and players for either not playing up to some standard set on the board or even for not quitting the team. WOW! Think about it, and let's get back to "talking football" and MEAN GREEN sports of all kinds and leave the personal attacks out of it. That's my say...what say you?

Oh, in case you were wondering, and in case you are a trial lwayer...you may not want me in your jury pool in one of these cases if you are on the "I want my money and I want lots of it" side of the case.

And what part of hot coffee do you not understand when you buy it? It gets down to who spilled the crap and how that happened in my book. Did the McD folks pour it on her? If so, yep, they pay...or did she place the "hot" coffee in a spot in the car when she drove off where it might just spill if not situated properly? Gee, who is responsible for that? I do not want to rehash this case, and I have read about it...the severity of the burns, etc. I feel very badly for the lady, but it doesn't change my opinion of this whole lawsuit...nor does what i have read in the transcript or in any review of the case by any "legal scholar". Sorry...I am just on the side of "personal responsibility"...Coffee..."HOT"...might burn if you spill it...yes, some coffee is hotter than others...Coffee "hot"...I need to be careful!

Boston over the Rockies in 6! But, not being that much of a baseball fan, I could be wrong...way wrong! I'll start watching after one team has three wins. That's when it gets interesting for me!

The event is for UNT Exes, but guests are allowed...and welcomed. Adult beverages are for those "of the proper age". If folks start "cheating" on the age thing, The Exes will no longer be able to provide "adult beverages". Obviously, there will be "monitors" and "ID" checkers in attendance to control the flow... The last Mixer saw about 125 folks attend. Hopefully, more will turn out this time...we'll see. It's a great chance to join the Exes and/or renew your membership...so you can enjoy the Exes events, Mixers, etc. The Denton Chapter has done several events this year and will be doing several more....new and returning members welcome...as thet say on the Price is Right..."COME ON DOWN"!!!!

You guys sound like a bunch of lawyers...and that's never a good thing! Too many lawyers out there driving up the costs of everyday products and services and allowing folks to forget about personal responsibility...go back to the woman who sued McD's for spilling hot coffee in her lap! Give me a break...coffee...hot...get it? Be careful...and all the tobacco lawsuits...I am hitting 60 next month and I've known all my life that smoking is bad for me! So, let me see...I know it's bad for me, I know I can get really sick if I smoke...so, I smoke anyway...I die...and my wife sues and gets millions! Or, I drive like an idiot drunk, crash my car and get hurt and I sue the bar who sold me the drinks because some 21 year old kid should have known I was too "tipsy" to drive a car! Shall I go on????? Lawyers have made millions and millions off these type of lawsuits...ask John Edwards how well he's doing financially.... I AM NOT anti-lawyer or anti-American legal system...it IS the best in the world...BUT, I do think we need to go back to some common sense and start training and graduating lawyers who respect the law and who will tell a guy...get over it...you are responsible for this in the first place! And, some judges (who are more often than not lawuyers) who will stop these dumb lawsuits from even making it to court in the first place! This sort of thing gives lawyers and the legal profession a VERY BAD name, but so far the professions seems unwilling to police itself and clean up its act. A few bad apples as they say.....when there are jokes about snakes and lawyers and the snake is the "good guy" in the joke...you know you might just want to look at some of what's going on. Like I said...our legal system and our legal professionals are the BEST in the world and 99.9% do a great job and provide professional, quality and honest services at a fair price...BUT, that 0.1% sure get a lot of the press! If you don't believe it, just read the above! Should never be allowed to hit the legal; system...My guess...the lawyer went to this guy and suggested he sue, and provided some trumped up grounds upon which to sue in the hopes of a big settlement...of which the lawyer will get a lion's share...fee and costs, etc., etc. Do you think he took it on a contingency????? O.K., sorry if this gets everyone going. This sort of lawsuit just "fries my tail". Soapbox time.