10/30/2003 10:22:00 AM by Rob

Nada

My wife was involved in a major car accident as a child, which twisted her back. As a young adult, she fell off the back of a motorcycle, doing more back damage. As a slightly less young adult, she tried to lift a niece and further ruptured her disk. Never once did she have anything done about it. Now, pushing 40, her back has gotten to the point where it is no longer comfortable for her to sit, stand, or lie.

Ummm, which doesn't leave much for her to do but go to the hospital, which is where we were yesterday, which was OK as far as the Sloth is concerned because I didn't have anything to write about anyway, save the fact that you generally don't hear famous people talk about one another the way Kobe and Shaq have been lately. Yet, Kobe comes limping out sometime after the start of the second half, and parks his butt right next to the Diesel on the Lakers' bench. You got a death wish, boy?

Shaq has always been "me first, me second, then me". But Kobe, man, it isn't often you see someone slip off of the rails of sanity the way he has lately.

It appears that Hendry is in no hurry to go out and resign all of the Heroes of the Revolution out of loyalty. That's good. It is also good that he is not going to bite on the $100M hook the Red Sox have tossed out there for Manny Ramirez. In case you don't know, Manny is on Irrevocable Waivers. Anyone who wants him can have him, for free, even if the Steingrabber bites, the Sox cannot take him back. Of course, you gotta pay the assclown, too, $20 milldo per for the next 5.

It also appears that the Great Sideshow Fraud himself, Sammy Sosa, is not going to opt out. It would be cool if, after he returned to the fold, he could be traded to the Yankees for a young catcher and relievers. I don't imagine they will give us their good catcher. Maybe talent wise, Sosa-for-Posada is fairly close, but understand that the Cubs will want the Yanks to take over paying his contract, too. You gotta give for that one.

It's a down time right now. There are a few teams filling management openings, and once that is settled, then we can see the direction a few key franchises are heading, such as Florida and the Yankees. Are the Yankees going to tear apart their roster? Is Florida going to be able to keep everyone?

The thing is, the Cubs are in a good position NOW to attract quality free agents. Guys are always saying dumbass things like "Money is not a consideration, I want to play for a winner." Well, this is the one silver lining to this year's short-sell playoff run. They won this year, and they do still have Prior and Wood. If anyone looks like a winner, who can do it all with a few key acquisitions, it would be us.

To have a chance at Pudge, Vlad, and Tejada! We have always managed to step on the rake the very next year, and blow any perceptions about winning long-term. We must be careful not to do the same thing, this time.

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