Conference 7.286::sports_91

    
    Well said, Hawk. I just wonder how wide-spread that base noters view
    is.
    
    So Saw, as a moderator what's your opinion when people make those
    kinds of statments ?

 I've seen SPORTS blasted in other conferences, too.   I've seen it called
 "TrashSPORTS" more than a few times.
 
 Like it or not, this conference is somewhat of a "Members Only" club.   It
 is an open forum but it takes a little while for a newcomer to catch on to
 the lingo, the personalities, the back issues, the perpetual debates, the
 inside jokes, the battle lines and so on ...
 
 We could do an even better job of making newcomers feel welcome.   Perhaps
 a must-read note or two that explains the atmosphere and the expectations
 of *this* conference that go beyond just the normal noting etiquette.  
 You know, pointers to the trademarks, the nicknames, the roster, and more.
 
 I can see why some noters would come in, take a swim, and then leave with
 a bad first impression.   Like any other first impression, it can be
 flawed but it can stick for a long time.
 
 We should be conscious of this ... Bad publicity is much worse than no
 publicity, in this case.
 
 Bob Hunt

    And why protect the noter?  If he/she posted the note in a Digital 
    conference, I would guess it's for public view, lets see where this
    person came from!    (Unless it was a restricted file, of course)
    
    I can't imagine a file with such in-teg-rit-ass-it-tee.
    
    Git the noose, cookie, we've got a lynchin'!
    
    Chip_GSH_Bach

    
    	Right on Bob Hunt.  Why, when I firsted came in here, my
    	wittle feelings got hurt by Mike Childs when he told me
    	John Elway wasn't GAWD. :^)
    
    	Your suggestion is a good one BTW.
    
    	Claybroon

    All you have to do is read any of the other sports related conferences
    and you'll see several not so kind references to SPORTS.  Several of
    those conferences were started up in part due to the atomosphere and
    perceived lack of real information/discussion going on in here.  People
    sometimes wonder where some of the oldtimers are.  I suggest checking
    out BASEBALL, BOSTON_CELTICS, RED_SOX, and AMERICAN_FOOTBALL among
    others.

    
    I think every note has its own "mood" that takes a little reading to
    figure out.  Different notes for different folks.  Personally I don't
    read the other Sports Notes ('cept for the Red Sox) because the
    information is basically the same in here, except with a lighter, more
    humerous approach.
    
    The disrespect in Soapbox is unbelievable in that some folks in there
    can only feel big when they can make others feel small.
    
    If it's cold hard sports facts I want, I'll read the paper.
    
    Dickstah
    

    re .3

     You've got a point, Bob. I first tried noting here about a year ago 
    but stopped because I felt it was kind of cliquish here. I started
    up again a few months ago and I inflamed people because I didn't
    use smiley faces. I didn't use them because I didn't like them and 
    still don't and because I just assumed people would know when I was
    kidding. Little did I know... I learned the hard way but like Bob
    said there has to be a better way than that. 
    
     Now I note here when there's a topic of interest to me but there are
    a lot of notes of the "my team's great your team sucks" variety that I
    could do without but I try not to get into those "debates" so it doesn't
    really bother me too much.
    

    It's an electronic tavern and not many have an interest in such places.

    SPORTS is in its way, a little unique.  I remember when I first entered
    the conference, oh, back in 87, and got absolutely, totally blasted out
    of the water on the first day.  I believe I entered a note about the
    Giants going to repeat as Super Bowl champs.  I RON'd for a while, and
    got the hang of it.  MAC made a good point - but one of the funniest
    (or ironic) things is that some of the oldtimers in the other notes are
    teh ones who used to blast newcomers the best.
    
    And while some of the other sports notes may think they are beyond
    reproach, some are just as bad when it comes to 'cliques' and the like. 
    The RED_SOX conference being the worst offender of any note that I
    read.
    
    BTW, I was extremely impressed with Hawk's note.  Better watch out Hawk
    - or folks will wanna party with you! ;-)
    
    The persona's in this notesfile are fairly established.  Many times,
    one *knows* who will get involved in a discussion when a note is
    entered.    You sit there going "Oh Boy xxxxx is going to be all over
    this...."   It's kind of funny.   
    
    I do think that SPORTS had a very bad period - the great Broncos
    debates really turned folks off.  I know of a couple of folks who left
    the conference for good then.   It has, IMO, gotten better.
    
    For every inane arguement, you still get information about sports that
    you don't find elsewhere in notes - unless you read a zillion notes a
    day.   There have been/are discussions on boating, rugby, track n
    field, the 4 Major sports, college sports, plus human interest stuff
    like the recent Magic/HIV/Aids discussions.  I get more college
    recruiting information in here than I care to know about.  
    
    I think the secret to a real good SPORTS note that everyone will like
    is to emulate Michael Jordan.
    
    So, from no on - everyone stick out yer tongue while writing or
    replying - and do it with FLAIR!
    
    
    JD(typing with his tongue out...)

Who gives a rat's butt how it is viewed by others? I don't lose any sleep over
it. Everone is free to come in and read or note if they want to. Nobody has 
ever been thrown out (maybe tried and convicted but not thrown out). 

Nobody has to read notes they don't care about..I next unseen the Rugby note and
the ACC note because I don't care about them. If I want real, hard information 
I go to one of the other notesfiles...

Much ado about nothin.....


Metz
 

    Ya know, the thing that made the single biggest difference to me in
    participating in this file was that I met a noter here *immediately*
    after posting my first note.  Turned out that John Hendry and I worked
    in the same building at the time.  He encouraged me to continue on in
    here 'til I got comfie with it.
    
    'Saw's "Sports as a microcosm of life" note is a good intro to what
    this conference is all about.  A pointer to that note in either the
    banner or the 1.n note might be a big help for helping newcomers feel
    better about participating.
    
    To any read-onlies out there who feel like this conference isn't worth
    the time, or they'll take too much bashing, or whatever.... Believe it
    or not, you are welcome here.  Some of my best friends at Dec are in
    this conference - and none of my worst enemies.  If you really want
    lots of content, help provide it.  Believe it or not, it will be
    appreciated.
    
    A&W

This confernce sucks.

The moderator.

    
    >>It's an electronic tavern and not many have an interest in such places.
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    Well, if that's the case:
    
    
    BARTENDER, send one of them EEElectronic Beers down this way, please!!
    
    JaKe
    

A little explanation AND my views:


I don't really know why I put that note in here, except that in telling
Denny about it the other night (or was it Kev?) I mentioned seeing
that note (actually forwarded to me) and he said "Put it in"...

I XXXed out the noter information because I got it second hand and did
not have permission to cross post the note.




Personally, I think everyone is entitled to an opinion.  I am proud
of SPORTS because for the most part it IS an electronic tavern.
I think that the folks who put SPORTS down are the folks who are not
capable of laughing at themselves....

I will attempt to come up with a WELCOME TO SPORTS DON'T BE ALARMED
THE LUNATICES ARE NOT RUNNING THE ASYLUM NOTE, probably early nexted week.

Trying to map and describe all the little inuendos and sport's customs
might be tough.


I like this conference.  Why the other night at the DCU meeting I was
telling Denny I was gonna get up and say "I'm Frank Way and I'm a 
SPORTS noter...."

With the exception of the sometimes-run-on "my team is better than yours"
debate, and the several little personal attacks we get from time to time,
and (lastly) the sometimes too-close-to-the-gutter noting, it's not
a bad conference to moderate....


Course I'm the looniest of the bunch....


8^) <-----  for Tommy Brydie


'Saw

    I'm lucky enough to have a job at DEC which, when I'm not
    trying to help the guys (and gals) who make my job and salary possible,
    allows me to frequent many,many,many different notesfiles.
    
    Without exception, every notesfile which is not specifically
    work-related has it's own clique and 'inner circle' so we're
    not unusual EXCEPT, to the uninitiated, we're brutal to each 
    other!  We also have a certain flair for bashing virtually
    everything which is not seen in the other places.  
    
    Hawk mentioned Canine.  Now, if you ever want to see a bunch of
    (imo) strange people, visit there for a bit.  It's like a lovefest.
    (btw, imo it's a great source of info & enjoyment)
    
    A couple of years ago, ::Sports was absolutely the worst file on the
    net, devoid of any factual information or analysis but chock full of
    emotional opinion and LDUC's.  This is where I think the reputation
    came from largely due to the amount of "free time" we all had.  We had
    time to creatively play bigtime.
    
    Like DEC, ::Sports has changed.  We have less time, less money :*(, are
    doing more and are fighting for our livelyhoods.  Hence, a (slight)
    reduction in the violent flaming which used to be widespread but it has
    been replaced with a larger scope of topics (good).  We come here for
    relief AND information and often the best humorists on the planet.
    
    You're not gonna find "Fakers, XXX Jihad, Snuffy, (gasp) Carnagsi*****
    anywhere else and I think a little disrespect every now and then is
    great.
    
    We're living down a reputation from the past and frankly, I don't care!
    This is heads and shoulders above everything I read and it's my
    favorite notesfile.  Those who bash us are very much like those who
    have no tolerence for those who are different or who will not even
    listen to a different point of view and aren't worth the worry.
    
    I think we are also the most diverse community of noters to be found
    everywhere.  We're worldwide in scope and as our name implies - SPORTS
    we offer a much broader, though at times quite insightful, source
    of what people are interested in.
    
    As a developing "personality (with a loooong way to go)" I've at times
    been hesitant to post stuff for fear for being perceived as ignorant or
    not as knowledgable as many of you are but I can say that I know that
    most everything that's said is said in jest and really doesn't mean
    anything.  The proof is in the get togethers - gatherings where
    *everybody* is welcome and welcomed.
    
    I suppose most of the "progress" towards respectability has been the
    infamous demise of the 20 or 30  200+ liners per day of a certain
    (un-named) Minnysoda noter!     ;^)
    
    Kev
    

    re-.1   Kev, (sniff) that was (sniffle) beautiful.     (8^)*
    
    Beertender, I still ain't got my Eeelectronic beer yet!!  (8^(
    
    JaKe
    

    Pick a reply:
    
    I think every team but mine stinks.  Youse guys don't know crap about
    sports, or sportsmanship.  Michael Jordan is GAWD, and Isiah Thomas is
    CRAPOLLA.  Larry Bird is an ex-GAWD, but Roger Clemens is still one.
    The Donks sip bigtime, as do the Jints and Yankmees.
    
    				Or
    
    Geez, you guys are great!  I agree with everything everyone in here
    posts.  You all know MUCH more about sports than I, and I love all the
    teams and players, period.  My only objection is that Isiah doesn't
    kiss everyone.
    
    lEe  :*)

    I agree with what Kevin said.  I enjoy being here, I'm proud to be here
    and plan to keep noting here for as long as it or my tenure here at
    Digital exists.  I really don't care what anyone else thinks and if I
    could only follow one conference, this would be it.  When A&W and I
    worked in the same building, we used to be like drug addicts in need of
    a fix when the conference was inaccessible.
    
    I don't even mind the improper use of apostrophes anymore because I
    read the Bruins conference.  Now, if you want to read a conference
    where people can barely write coherent English, that's the one!  :-)
    
    John/Ninj/'Police

    I have an undergraduate degree in English Lit and Creative Writing.  If
    it wasn't for a conference like this in which I could exploit that
    knowledge and talent to some extent in an otherwise supressive
    technical environment, I do not know if I would perform my "regular"
    duties quite as well.
    
    SPORTS has become an outlet for me.  From what I've heard about the
    man, I can't help but feel KO would see the value in this.  When
    projects get hairy and deadlines near, people disappear from this
    conference knowing they need to buckle down and do it for DEC.  
    
    But they come back.  I come back for the reasons above and for one
    other good one...you SPORTS noters are my best friends in this company,
    and I don't even know what the majority of you look like...don't have
    to...you're all class acts, my kind of folk, people I know I can count
    on...even T (maybe). ;-}
    
    	--dan'l

    
    Hey if they can't take a joke...... 8^)
    
    
    Seriously tho' I have been a member of this conference since 86'
    and I have been involved in many a LDUC, but overall this conference
    has changed for the better. Noter's are far more friendlier, and polite
    than ever before and for the most part the ribbing is good-natured.
    I think 'Saw's tavern description fits to a tee. 
    
    
    Oh ya, all your teams suck!
    
    
    Steve

    
    The best debate is heated debate.  Not personal, mind you, just
    focused, intensified debate.  Unfortunately, the art of debate for
    some reason isn't appreciated as it once was.  People are put off
    if someone disagrees with them, as if it were a personal affront
    or something, when nothing could be further from the truth.
    
    I've noticed in other sports-related conferences that honest,
    well thought-out and informative debate is often immediately
    discouraged-- and, yes, is greeted with a response like "that
    belongs in SPORTS".  If that's the conference's reputation-- as a 
    place where sports-related debate can take place above and beyond the 
    usual posting of regurgitated info from the newspapers-- then so be
    it.  Nothing wrong with that...
    
    glenn
    

    The only other notes file I regularly read other than this one is the
    international soccer one, and that's because the information isn't
    generally available in this country. The tone and willingness to have
    an objective, honest debate cannot even be compared. Over there, notes
    get "set hidden" just about every day, and the disagreements are much 
    more personal and nasty. (Being an American soccer fan, I had to "prove
    myself," but they still scoff at a country that interrupts games for TV
    commercials.)
      
    I really like the tone of this conference and that no one here is
    really on their high-horse so much that they can't take a little
    good-natured ribbing. If I didn't know better, I would think that some
    people are merciless. Maybe in the Introductory note, this should be
    made clear, especially if management do-badders get involved, like they
    did with that "non-work related notes file" memo last year. 
    
    Tom

    	I figure if the self important/self righteous don't like this
    place it cain't be all bad.
    
    				/Don

It's been great since Dan left... 

    Funny how the author of the note 'Saw posted blasts SPORTS, but at the
    same time gripes about "gloating, unsubstantiated, inflammatory
    bullsh*t" in that other conference.  What's that line about glass
    houses and stones?
    
    Yes this conference has its shortcomings, but if there's a non-work
    related conference that doesn't I'm not aware of it...
    
    
    py

    
    	Not to try and single out another conference mind you :^)
    
    	but, the personal attacks in SOAPBOX are the standard
    	for which personal attacks are measured.  I haven't
    	seen anything in here that compares to the sharks that
    	lurk in that file.
    
    	Claybone
    
    	ps the ::SPORTS moderators are fascists!!!!!! ;^)

    
    This notesfile would be alot better off without the H&R (hit and
    run) noters.  I'm not going to mention any names - those people
    know darn well who they are!
    

    Jeff's right, this conference does suck!
    
    The moderator of 4 other conferences

> Who gives a rat's butt how it is viewed by others? I don't lose any sleep over
> it. Everone is free to come in and read or note if they want to. 

    Agreed.  I also think the electronic tavern is a good analogy.  Plenty
    of joking and ribbing going on but if you want to have a good, serious
    discussion there's certainly plenty of that too.
    
    
    Joe

>    of joking and ribbing going on but if you want to have a good, serious
>    discussion there's certainly plenty of that too.
    
    ...as long as the mods aren't around.
    

      I agree with alot of the replies in this note.  I know when I joined
    sports: 2-3 years ago,  I was RON for 1-2 months then decided to go for
    it,  and ended up in alot LDUC's and some shorts ones to,  but all in
    all this conference has improved alot.  'Saw has the tavern touch.
    
      The difference between this and some other conferences is here people
    are themselves as opposed to being "professional" about how you talk. 
    I only know a few of the noters in here,  but I feel I can say about
    anything I want too all the noters in here and feel like I am talking to
    friends at a sports tavern or at home watching games.
    
      Even the donks/browns bashing has cleaned up.
    
        Tim
    
    
    
    
    
    
      ps,   Elway is Gawd and all Colorado teams are the BEST!;^)   And
    thanks you moderators for hosting this party.......
    
    

    
    re: .34
    
    Even when the donks/browns bashing wasn't clean - it was all in
    good fun and I don't think anyone got offended...  There's still
    time to dirty it up before the BIG game.

        re .35
    
      Dirty it up before the big game huh?   So does this mean you haven't
    washed your hands again this week?;^)
    
    	Tim

    If I gotta wait much longer for my electronic brewski to be delivered,
    Mr Beertender here in the electronic tavern, I'm going to die of
    electronic thirst.
    
    
    (8^)*
    
    JaKe
    

      Jake, if you have a non-Workstation type terminal, run this comfile for
    your brew.
                                             Denny
    
    
$!
$ On error then goto Error_Handler
$ ww:== write sys$output 
$!
$ esc[0,8] = 27
$ csi = "''esc'" + "["
$ off  :== "''esc'[0m" ! all term. attributes off 
$ bold :== "''esc'[1m" ! term. bold
$!
$ if p1 .nes. "" then goto set_up
$ ww "''csi'2J"
$ ww "''csi'H"
$ !BEER
$ write sys$output "�1;1;1{1???_;??G/?????@;~@h@PH`P/N???A?G;H`H@`H@~/?C??G??N;GGGGGOo/??????GF;~??C??O/NGGGHGGG;?C??O??~/GGIGGGGN;AAAAAB@�
$ SET PROMPT =  "''bold'''esc')1#$%
&'(''esc')1''off' "
!$ goto clear
!$ Pistol:
!$ !PISTOL
!$ write sys$output "�1;3;1{1?wwwwwww/BFNNNNNN;wwwwwwww/BBNBBBNB;wwwwww{w/BBBBBBB?;??^~~~~^/;AAAAAA@?/;/�" 
!$ SET PROMPT =  "''bold'''esc')1#$%
&'(''esc')1''off' "
!$ goto clear

    

    
    [in a typical SOAPBOX reply]
    
    Kev,
    
    	Prove it IDJIT!  You are a stoopid myn who is in dire need
    	of a clue and a life.
    
    Claybone :*)

    BBBBBBBbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllccccccccchhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
    
    Ah, that was good, but could you make the nexted one a little colder
    please.
    
    Denny, the check's in the mail.
    
    JaKe
    

    I agree with Everything everyone said !!!
    
    
      This conference SUCKS !!  Your Teams all SUCK and I don't value
     anything anyone in the conference says !!!!
    
    
     Seriously,  This is the only non-work related conference I read.
    I love ::SPORTS during football season.....  I really am not a huge
    fan of other sports so I don't stick around to be board to tears
    by baseball...  basket ball and the like....  I say who gives a rats
    ass what others think.....  ::SPORTS is #1 in my book !!
    
    Big Game

    
    >>                     -< Hey Jake, get any on ya? >-
    
    Nah, but I'm saving the larger pieces for stew!!
    
    (8^)*
    
    JaKe
    

    The tougher, the better... What good are sports if you can't argue aout
    stuff.  Opinion is what makes the sporting world.  I feel bad for the
    thin-skin types...
    
    yea.....right
    
    Mr. Sensitivity

    I've been a practically a charter member of this conference (started
    participating months after its original creation).  I've made many
    friends through this conference and have even had the chance to work
    with some.  I basically enjoy this conference, and its good for laughs
    of Fridays, but would like to see it return to what it was intended to
    be.
    
    At one time, this conference was THE place for sports info.  Since
    about the trial era on, it has slipped quite a bit.  The people that
    want to talk about their sports, go to one of they many sports
    satellite conferences now.
    
    What would it take to get this conference back on track?  Many of the
    original members and RON's go to the other conferences because of the
    endless non-sports drivel and noter's sexcapades stories.  Are you
    satisfied with this conference?
    
    Mike 

>    Mike, I hope I don't chase you away from this conference for saying
>    this but, for someone who dislikes this conference as much as you say
    
    If I was that thin-skinned, I would have been gone years ago.
    
>    you do, especially since The Trial which has got to be a good 2 years
>    old by now, you sure still note quite a bit.
    
    Not nearly as much as I did though.  
    
>    The junk stays there, for the most part.
    
    but barely.  If you really think about it, there is more than 1 junk
    note too.
    
>    So, I fail to really understand what your beef is.  I'll tell you why
>    you stick around here- you obviously like it!
    
    I didn't say anything about a beef.  I asked what could be done to
    improve things.  Obviously, there are some things that I like about
    this conference, and I will agree that the good out-weighs the bad.  I
    still think there's room for improvement though.
    
    Mike

    
     Unreal....  I can't beleive you're serious Mike.  Yea, theres
    room for improvement in everything.  I mean DiNzMore could work
    on his spelling, JaKe could get a clue and pick a real football
    team, Childs, well he might work on getting a personality but 
    all in all I think Things are alright in this conference. ;^)
    
     What is it that bothers you.  Do you really lack any sense of humor
    when it comes to "Junk Notes", no matter where they appear ?  Can
    you honestly say that you don't bust out laughing at least once
    a week at some off the wall comment for one of the misfits (myself
    included) in this conference.  If not,  I'd say that we might take
    our selves just a bit to serious....  IMHO
    
    Big Game

    >>>Childs, well he might work on getting a personality but 
    >>> all in all I think Things are alright in this conference. ;^)
    
   Why Jack, I'm deeply hurt....I may have to go to personal on this
   one...

  

   hhhhahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa

  in the inmortal words of Kwak  "I want part wif you Dude"

  why do we have this same flippin topic every year? it's always around
  the holidays too....if'n y'all feelin that generous to ya fellow man

 then send your contributions me hlo1-1/q10...

 ;^)

    Big Game,
    
    i was in the finals in the spelling bee in 6th grade , Karen Oneil,
    
    the water fountain, i couldnt reach it, the water fountain that is
    
    :)
    
    dinz
    

    Seems to me that this conf gets away from sports whenever the
    particular teams that "most" noters either love or hate are not in
    contention.  Like, this year was really sad in that there simply wasn't
    any basis for a good 'ole Yankmee/Sox controversy.  Too, without Hoot
    and Monty, the Denver/Raider pot just doesn't boil like it used to.
    Can you imagine what it would be like if those too guys were still
    here, what with the Raiders beating the Broncos again?  
    
    In BB, the Celts are struggling, and Magic is gone from the Lakers. 
    That leaves Isian and Jordan as the keys to controversy.  Yet, many
    noters just don't have the interest to get really going in this sport.
    
    With Dan and JOJ gone, the NY teams aren't as well represented in here.
    
    Overall, it's not been the type of year, at least yet, where the
    majority of noters feel they can either tout their team, or whack the
    opponent.  Thus, junk noting fills the void, to some extent.
    
    Except for T, we don't really have a 'Vane, with JOAT (Jim On All
    Teams) gone and the Dinz not nearly as active as he used to be.
    
    Perhaps the college BB season will get some of us back to discussing
    sports.  The bowl bids didn't stir much blood, but the games just
    might.
    
    A lack of a Crow Cafe didn't help, either.  I can remember spending
    many a Monday in their, because of some rash comments made on Friday.
    But, with the current condition of my Pats, its kinda hard to go wild
    over them.  I still am a fan, and I have hopes for their future.  But,
    this year just isn't the same for me.
    
    Perhaps it's time for our annual NOTY, and maybe we should add another
    award, the JOTY (Jerk Of The Year).
    
    Somehow, when this is truly a contest and not the self-nominations
    we've seen in the past few years, it does get things going.
    
    lEe

    It would be nice if I didn't have to log into 4 or 5 different
    conferences to talk sports.

    
    It would be nice if I could log into SPORTS and talk about
    sports.
    
    
    
    
    Steve

    
     Dinz,  Mr. Childs....  I really didn't mean to offend you guys.
    If I did,  I Hope you don't like it !  
    
    Many, Many  ;^)
    
    Set/Note=ON_SOAP_BOX
    
     As one of the more notorious "Junk" noters I have added more than
    my share to fuel the fires in some "Non-Sports" and "Sports" related
    topics in the past.  I have however, considering the noted change in 
    atmosphere in this conference, Tried to refrain from any seriously
    out landish postings.  There really has been a real drop in the
    amount of enjoyment I get from noting in ::SPORTS since Uncle Hootsie,
    the Parrot, Jo* and Air Snide have left.  The reason is not because 
    you folks are any less entertaining but that the "Junk" noters and 
    old rivalries that took years to establish are gone.  I guess I 
    get alittle peeved when certin people (no matter who) get on their
    soapbox and want to ruin what I feel is the only entertaining
    conference on the NET by trying to impose martial law on what and
    how we can note.  I have seen nothing in this conference over the 
    past months I've been back that I would even remotely call offensive
    or way out of line.  Most of what is seen is, if taken in context,
    either very entertaining or known to come from a fanatical Browns 
    fan.  ::SPORTS is a great release for me during a hard days work
    at DEC and I beleive that that is what Non-work-related conferences
    were ment to be. 
    
    SET/NOTE=OFF_SOAP_BOX
    
    
     Big Game
    
    
    P.S.  
    
    If I want pure facts I'd renew my subscription to S.I. and read
    the local rag.

        I think the reasons for less junk, is because alot of the "others"
    have left the company,  and alot of us have been twice as busy as
    before,  plus we are being more "careful" of what we say in order to
    not over offend someone (whether its on purpose or just taken that
    way),  thus minimizing the risk of getting whipped with a wet noodle.
    
      I like this conference because it is a break from the busy day,  and
    at times to find out some sporting news.
    
      Cacti,  you really don't look at the GT for factual info do ya?  If
    you do,  then you don't read Ralph Rottens column....
    
    	Tim,  who hopes this conference doesn't change much.....thanks
    mods!

    
     Kawk....  Just what is it you wanna to with me ??  Could it be,
    oh lets say, I don't know maybe....
    
    
    	PARTY !!!
    
     Sounds like a blast to me....  You like beer ?  I mean real good
    beer like  KEYSTONE  maybe   ;^)
    
    
     Tim,  Anyone in their right mind knows that anything Ralph says
    is the gods honest troof.....  I mean,  after all he did predict
    several Donk SB Wins didn't he !!  ;^)
    
    Big Game

      Yeh,  right after he bashed on the donks for losing the last 2
    regular games every year they went.

    Tim, Tim, Tim.....
    
     Thou shall not slam Fat Ralph....  After all is a legend in 
    the Rocky Mtns....
    
    
    		N O T !!!!!!!
    
    Big Game

    
    	Ole Ralph finally went too far about a week ago.  He really
    	laid it on Notre Dame.  Where he went wrong was throwing in
    	insults at the Catholics.  He was humbled big time and
    	deservedly so.
    
    	Claybone

    
>    	Ole Ralph finally went too far about a week ago.  He really
>    	laid it on Notre Dame.

    I knew big Ralph must've had a good side to him. :^)  I don't get the
    Joke-zette (tm) but I did catch that article.  Maybe I'm thinking of an
    article in a different paper, but I don't recall him insulting the
    Catholics; I thought he kind of took it NBC.
    
>        He was humbled big time and
>    	deservedly so.
    
    How was he insulted?  What happened?  I missed it.
    
    
    Joe
       

    
    Joe,
    
    	I, like you, didn't mind seeing him roast Notre Dame and
    	NBC.  But, he put a few phrases in his article like "High
    	Mass in the French Quarter" and "bring on the Catholics".
    
    	A few of the Catholic members of this town basically 'took
    	him out behind the woodshed' via letters to the editor.  He
    	wrote an apology at the end of the LTTE.
    
    Clay

    
    Sports Illustrated busted up the Irish pretty good this week, too.
    Said the old Notre Dame that used to refuse to go to bowl games 
    altogether 'cause it would compromise academic standards wouldn't
    recognize this bunch.  No slurs though...
    
    glenn