T.D.

Mike, you're a Minnesotan, were (are) you a hockey player? IIRC, the skate companies make hockey-style inline models. I've also seen inline hockey leagues, which might be an acceptably non-doofus way to participate. [Disclaimer: I used to play hockey, but have never tried online skates.] Bike/fitness trails seem like reasonable sites. I've even seen X-C ski type roller setups with poles, which were interesting. One caution: I know of a dude, ex-hockey player and decent athlete, who fell down on his first day of online skating and broke his wrist in 8 places. So I'd suggest purchasing protective equipment, certainly knee and wrist guards...

Van Basten "I" Stan Kasten John Astin

Thomas Dewey Doc Cheatham Elias Howe

Don Regan DeWitt Clinton The Bush Tetras

Frank Beamer Bill Raftery Justin Timberlake

What he said! Most happy birthday to a true asset of the forums...

I voted "Huh". Happy to go with existing thread(s) in "Miscellaneous Music", or whatever consensus is reached. I might actually post more there than to jazz music threads (used to spend time on classical forums).

Jim Bowie Kris Kringle Dirk Diggler

I'd bargain with the shop, and see if they'd do 4 for $120 or $125. You'd think they wouldn't even want to sell shoes in 3s, as it'd leave 'em with a bunch of orphans...

Toots Thielemann Boots Mussulli Alex Haley

Philly Joe Jones Colt McCoy Major "Mule" Holley

Agreed. Testing regime seems kinda strange: players' union won't accept blood tests for HGH (wink, wink), and the steroid testing has holes you could drive a truck through. But they come down hard on weed, which doesn't seem like a performance-enhancing substance ... Like he said, let Ricky be. If I was a ballplayer, I'd want my opponents to be whacked out on performance-non-enhancing drugs!

In the West, I'll go with Anaheim in six or seven. They knocked on the door last year, and should go further this year. As a former crappy defenseman in weak adult rec. leagues, I'm a huge fan of Niedermayer and Pronger. And I just don't care for the Wings... In the East, I'll say Sens in seven because I'd like to see them do well after all the disappointments of the past decade. But logic (eg the above-cited "knocking on the door") does dictate Buffalo... At any rate, we should have three excellent series coming up. [Added 3 days later] Sens take first two games in Buffalo! Detroit won first game due to power play, despite mostly being outplayed.

So what are you waiting for? That kind of quote sets the bar too high ... after such a lead-in, the jokes have to be classic!

Lainie Kazan Elia Kazan Eliane Elias

Wallis Simpson James Sallis Chester Himes

George Gipp Jutta Hipp Wally Pipp

I figure there'll eventually be a settlement, anyway.

There's an item (Gene W.) at espn.com claiming that the s**t might hit the fan re. steroid allegations by the ex-Met clubhouse attendant. He's "cooperating with prosecutors." (I doubt this will happen...)

Dock Ellis Charlie Sitton Willow Bay

F**k 'em! I hope the Senators can get off the schneid this year. But it'll be tough to beat the Western finalist (I predicted Anaheim, and will stick with it).

Arnold Rothstein Shoeless Joe Jackson Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Renee Richards Richard Raskind Victor Victoria

Smead Jolley Zora Folley William H. Seward

I'm not a big roundball fan, but have to recall the '94-95 Rockets. That was a very mentally tough team. En route to their (second consecutive) title, the Rockets overcame a 3-1 deficit to Phoenix, without enjoying home court advantage. During the comeback, Rockets players were quoted to the effect that "a series doesn't start until one team faces elimination." I can't help thinking that the current Maverick club is light-years removed from that kind of toughness.