kgambit

Parts 47 - 51 are now up.

Not being able to sign Deng to an extension certainly played into the decision. Deng may be nothing but a rental for the Cavs. The first round pick (from Sacramento) that the Cavs gave up is protected thru 2016 and likely reverts to a second round pick. Next move for the Bulls is likely applying the amnesty tag to Carlos Boozer's contract.

Manning himself didn't know if he would be able to come back and neither did Dr Watkins who performed the procedure. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/peyton-manning-on-his-neck-surgeries-rehab--and-how-he-almost-didnt-make-it-back/2013/10/21/8e3b5ca6-3a55-11e3-b7ba-503fb5822c3e_story.html Manning's own surgeon said that Manning was not fully recovered and it was not clear if Manning would fully recover and you think the Colt's doctors were incompetent because they agreed at that time (Feb/March 2012 just before the release)? Your logic fails me dude. Play again? Probably but the real issue is whether he would play as well as he did before. Thinking that this was all guaranteed is just total nonsense. As Manning himself said, even HE wasn't sure that he would come back playing as well, if he even came back at all. Manning's comeback is remarkable and huge props for the guy. Quit with the over top, cloying hero worship already - its ridiculous.

Those Tier 3 and tier 4 KwH rates are obscene. The gas costs sound reasonable (consider yourself lucky that can heat with natural gas - electric heating is a pain in the tush).

Fantastic games all around. Colts comeback and Saint's last second victory were amazing.

His herniated disc was fiction? That it was the result of a congenital degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is fiction? His four surgeries were all fiction? That his condition would have qualified him for permanent disability? The bone spurs that he has developed that will likely require a fifth surgery is fiction? Really? I get that medical opinion on Manning's full return was mixed but claiming that it was 100% guaranteed is just ludicrous. You seemingly overlook the fact that picking up Manning's contract for 28M$ ALSO triggered an automatic four year contract extension. Peyton and the Colts agreed to push back the deadline for exercising that option until the Colt's medical staff cleared him, The Colt's medical staff didn't clear him so the decision was obvious. Denver signed him to virtually the same contract with one added clause that was not in his Colt's contract: the Broncos were fully covered in the event that Manning could not continue playing. A clause that Peyton refused to add to his existing Colts contract. Keeping and paying Peyton Manning would have crippled not only the 2012 Colts, but several more years worth of teams as well. It simply could not work. The cap situation was ridiculous. http://salarycap101.net/category/indianapolis-colts/ Quit treating Manning like some water-walking choir boy. He is far from it.

Latest on Andrew Bynum trade rumours (The practical deadline for the trade is today - Bynum's contract is guaranteed on Tuesday the 7th and trades need 48 hours for physicals.) 1) Bynum for Lakers Gasol - Once considered dead, the talks have resumed. The injury-ravaged Lakers have been considering whether to execute a Gasol-for-Bynum trade because it would get them out of the luxury tax for the first time in seven years. More important than the $20 million in instant savings would be easing the pressure of going into the repeater tax in either 2015 or '16. 2) Bynum for Jazz Richard Jefferson - The Jazz could trade Jefferson for Bynum, then waive Bynum before the January 7th deadline to guarantee his $12 million for this season, saving them nearly $5 million in salary for this season. The move makes them worse, which helps their long-term tanking goals. sources: CBSSports and ESPN

LOL Out of the frying pan into the fire ......

WOOT! Saints finally win on the road! Not pretty but I'll take it. Peyton's surgeons offered no guarantees that Peyton could come back 100% and Peyton's dad Archie was extremely worried as well. I'm not questioning Peyton's desire just the simple medical facts. You think after not one but four surgeries in less than 2 years that his full return was "guaranteed"? With further surgery almost guaranteed? LMAO That's ridiculous. Correction: The Colts saved 28M$ not 20M$ by not picking up Peyton's option. Forgot that his contract was back-loaded.

I love reading Grantland. That was funny.

This is too funny ........ How to Stop Sucking as a Fanbase: 5 Rules to Guide Miami Heat Fans http://fullyoperational.tumblr.com/post/25868529371/how-to-stop-sucking-as-a-fanbase-5-rules-to-guide-Miami

Just for clarity Colts 45 Chiefs 44 Chiefs blow 21 point lead Just curious what people thought of Andy Reid's play calling during the 1st half of that game .... lol PS: As for Manning versus Luck debate, yes Manning is better. BUT there was no guarantee that he was coming back from surgery, the Colts had a shot at Luck (which they took) and saved 20$M a year on the chance that Manning would return. It was a gutsy call by the Colts and I think it paid off.

Cookie Monster on crack?

Surprised me too, but that's what Amazon says and this link says so as well: http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/releases/2014/2/new-dvd-releases-february-2014 and this: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Sherlock-Season-3/19205

Finished watching these: season 6 of Doc Martin - google it - it's not for everyone but we love it season 1 of Good Wife - excellent series, highly recommended

Well, we did series 1 on Thursday, and series 2 on Friday. Up until 3am both nights after the kids went to bed. I consider 4.5 hours in a row of one show marathoning. Series 3 is supposed to be out for DVD on February 11th according to Amazon.

Munchak fired by Tennessee Titans (apparently Munch was fired when he refused to dump his assistants) In NCAAF: Al Golden quits as HC of U of Miami and becomes new Penn State HC, replacing O'Brien

Texans got O'Brien and Tampa Bay gets Lovie. LOL The Bears sign QB Jay Cutler to a 7 year contract with 50 million guaranteed. The deal is expected to eclipse the $17.6 million average the Detroit Lions gave Matthew Stafford in July. IF true, that would make Cutlers deal worth slightly more than 123$ million.

Standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding, grilled asparagus, sautéed onions ...... and an impertinent red to wash it down .... lol

I didn't think you were knocking Oden's commitment at all. All reports out of Miami are that Oden is working exceptionally hard on rehab. Being drafted ahead of Durant certainly isn't a plus. Bennett appears to be far more of a fail based on talent, and not injuries. No one has doubted Oden's talent or dominance when he is healthy - the problem is that his knees (at least so far) have just been train wrecks. Just a different perspective.

In fairness before he ever played an NBA game, Greg Oden had season-ending microfracture surgery on his right knee. Since then it's not been an issue of whether he could be a dominant center but if he could ever stay healthy enough with his knee issues. When he has been healthy he has flashed signs of being the dominant big man that Portland thought they were drafting.

No they don't - read the standard NBA contract. As for "expectations", I don't recall any reasonable preseason forecast that had the Cavs winning the NBA championship or very few folks that even projected them making the playoffs. And those few positive predictions for the Cavs success depended on Bynum successfully returning to his '11-'12 form which obviously has not happened.. As for being a scapegoat, #1 pick overall Anthony Bennett, showed up at the Cavaliers' camp overweight, out of shape and suffering from sleep apnea and would like to discuss the scapegoat claim with you. Bennett has been so dreadful that 20+ games into his first year he's being looked at as possibly the worst overall #1 pick in the last 20 years. Bennett is averaging 2.2 points and two rebounds on 27.7 percent shooting in 20 games this season. The one prediction I do remember was ironically this one:

ROTFL PS: Heard a story that Miami OC Mike Sherman is a goner and if Philbin won't can him, Philbin is gone too.

Add Schiano and GM Dominik from Tampa Bay to the list of casualties. No surprises there either. I agree re: Jerry. No coach who wants control over player personnel decisions (either total or part control) is ever going to agree to work under Jerry. Jerry calls the shots in the draft and contract wise - period.

Sadly, not Jason Garrett. Even better would be if Dallas fired its GM, but that's obviously not going to happen (Jerry's not going to fire himself). I always thought Garrett did a reasonable job (not great mind you) and the real problems were with Jerry (salary cap issues from ridiculous contracts and crap drafts). I think Schiano might be looking to get out and back to college - hear he's got his eye on Penn State job if O'Brien jumps at Texans job, but he might have competition from Munchak if Munch gets the boot.