PHILLYQ

Rice had 137 assists ! Dwight Evans had 157! Assists are one of those stats where a lot of funny things can happen. If someone like Clemente, Vlad, Dwight Evans has a great arm runners are less likely to run, thus resulting in fewer opportunities for the outfielder to get an assist. There are certain years where guys who have average to less than average arms actually run up high assist totals, simply because the 3rd base coach sends more runners knowing that the OF has a subpar arm. Also Rice played in a short LF. The distance from LF to home is shorter than any other AL park. There was one year that Dave Winfield, playing right field for the Yankees, had a ton of assists. The next year? Hardly any, because nobody tried to take an extra base on him.

On Friday night I went to an employee sponsored late Christmas party. My company decided to cancel the Christmas party becuase it 'wouldn't look good', so some of us kicked in some bucks and threw our own party. After about 4 hours of Scotch and Chinese food I decided to leave the party but I didn't want to go home, so I got on the subway and headed uptown to Birdland to catch Dave Holland's Octet. I showed up at 11:10 for the 11:00 set, but as luck would have it they hadn't started playing yet. Luck #2, there was one seat left and I had a great view. The group is Nate Smith on drums, Steve Nelson on vibes, Alex Sipagian on trumpet, Robin Eubanks on 'bone, Gary Smulyan on Bari sax, Antonio Hart on alto and Chris Potter on tenor. I cannot possibly go overboard in recommending them- the entire band SMOKED!!! Not a weak solo in the bunch and some fine arrangements to boot. If they come around your way, SEE THEM.

They get some pop and experience at a price that's not hefty and it's only for two years. Looks like a smart move on their part.

Leonard had the greatest nickname in the history of baseball. He was known as "Penitentiary Face". In the early '80's, I made the mistake of going to Candlestick (or Windlestick as they used to call it) for an afternoon game dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. Vida Blue was pitching for the Giants and Steve Carlton for the Phillies. Sounds like a great match-up, but it got so cold around the third inning, my brain shut down. I have no recollection of much of anything after that. Up over and out. IIRC, Leonard was known as Prison Face when the sportswriters called him Jeff Leonard. He insisted at one point in being called Jeffrey, at which point the sportswriters took to calling him'Correctional Institute Face'!

IF, and I realize this is a VERY BIG IF, the Lions draft well they could be a very good team in a year or two. They have two first round picks(1 + another around 15 courtesy of the Cowboys), and two third round picks(Cowboys again), so the Lions have 5 picks out of the first roughly 80 picks.

If/when it comes out and I still have a job I'll get it!

Sad but not unexpected. I saw Freddie live once, with what I think may have been the first performace of the VSOP quintet- Freddie was blowin' the roof off the place that night! Thanks for tons of great music and for being an adventurous spirit- hard bop, Ascension, East broadway Rundown, etc.

My God! Did he run the auto companies as well? It's more like 30+ years of awful management.

Two more travesties: Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose. The Hall isn't about the writers, it isn't about the players, hell, it's not even about the game; it's about the fans. Find me one true baseball fan that doesn't get a stiffy when s/he sees that black-and-white of Pete diving for third base. OH! That's it, I've gotta go rub one out.

I made some chicken adobo yesterday from a recipe provided by a native of the Philippines

Happy happy happy birthday to a great guy who brings so much to this board and who has hipped me to much great music.

For the overwhelming majority of people a loan is necessary to buy a car and it's awfully tough to get a loan. Couple that with a recession where people are scared to spend and those cars will keep on piling up for awhile.

Ms. Jolie is certainly no slouch in the looks department, and she might be very weird but in a very cool kind of way- she got some substance going on there.

I ordered two discs late on Thursday evening, and granted that they are in Connecticut and I'm in NYC, but I got the discs on Saturday!!! Great service

I saw the group last month and enjoyed them quite a bit. At least live, they didn't seem to be slavishly recreating or trying too hard. I get Allen's points about a relaxed, casual feel, and they seemed to have that at the concert I went to. They were not the reason I went to the concert, so no bias on my part there.

Remarkably stupid behavior. You're wearing expensive jewelry and carrying a large wad of cash and worried about being robbed, so you pack a piece? Dude, hire a bodyguard! It's a lot cheaper than losing a month's pay and maybe getting your contract terminated. Stay home with your two year old boy! JERK!

I saw him once with Weather Report at what then was called Avery Fisher hall at Lincoln Center. He did a bass solo where(IIRC) he quoted the 'Star Spangled Banner' as an homage to Hendrix. At the end of the solo he banged the bass on the floor, laid it down on the stage and walked off while the last note reverberated. it was show-offy but a lot of fun, too. I recall being amazed at how fluid he was.

They're legit and their service is excellent! I've ordered from them a few times and they deliver quickly, no muss no fuss. They're practically all downloads now and they specialize in live recordings.

Well if that's the worst this is a close second! Celine Dion - These Are Special Times Is a duet disc far behind?

I got the disc they did together with Vernon Reid and it's verrrrry good- funky/fusiony/ spacey stuff.

Well, I'm a Beck fan and I got the latest disc and after one spin I'm liking it a lot. It's similar to his last one, 'Official Bootleg', but a different bassist and the tunes are a bit more worn in and the players are adding bits here and there. I saw Jeff Beck about two years ago, and he's astonishing live. The sounds he gets out of a guitar are amazing, and he uses maybe one or two pedals, a slide sometimes and a pick for maybe two tunes! He does all of it with his fingers and it seems to me like a lot more than just a technical exercise or flash- YMMV.

They covered this guy's wounds in DUCTAPE!!!

I didn't play any organized sports but I played a ton of sports on the street- stickball, slapball, stoopball, punchball, king/queen, touch football. Then we had the many games, like two box, five box, etc. My friends and I developed a new thing in the neighborhood we dubbed'push-wrestling'. Two guys stand in two squares of concrete and the object is to push one guy out. Years later I discovered that it was an urban version of sumo wrestling, but without the beefy guys and the diapers. I still play hanball at 52. Oh the joys of growing up in Brooklyn!

I've bought from dadashampoo and I say universe bless dadashampoo!

Johnny E, I hope you win-it's a helluva disc!!