Well, Fury, it's baseball. And there's no salary cap. So you're going to have to spend some money to compete. Teams like the Expos can't come crying because they can't afford to get players - it's not the fault of other franchises that their fans don't come to their games to support them. And comparing the Braves' attitude toward the game to the Yankees' is like comparing the salary I had last summer working as a farmhand to Bill Gates'. A lot of Atlanta's players are home grown from the farm club, not bought off of other teams. And if there was a salary cap in baseball, I guarantee you that the Braves, with Cox and Schuerholz at the helm, would be able to put together another division win no matter how level the playing field. Don't go tossing numbers around to try sound more intelligent or rub my nose in the dirt or whatever you're trying to do. I never said that the Braves didn't spend more money than other teams - they have millions upon millions of dollars tied up in just two players (Jones and Hampton). I don't like the way the system works, either. I just take offense at anyone comparing any team to the Yankees - not even the Red Sox come close to being that bad.

To everyone else, I apologize for having this little banter session on this thread, because it's out of place, but I just felt the need to respond. I'm sure Fury will reply back, too, and probably be right again, and I'll just keep my mouth shut next time.
 
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COM Darkhawk/VEN/VE/(=MA=)(=SCPA=)(=FCO=)[LoC][BRC][CBV*][MC:1][VC:Ebony][KC:OC]

DLotS/SW Darkhawk/Sith/VEDJ/VE/[CR]

Snipes: Last inauguration tens of thousands turned out in DC to protest and belted Bush's car with eggs as he slowly drove towards the White House.  They cancelled the tradtional walk to the White House and instead bolted up in the car to avoid the mass of rowdy people.  Safe prediction is a similar episode this time, perhaps even with rocks as well.

Predictions for this year:

Lucasarts is going to produce another overrated game that ends up being crap.

George Lucas is again going to look utterly stupid after releasing yet another terrible movie.

The debate over northern territory ownership is going to continue to heat up as the ice slowly melts

People are finally going to care about the environment and perhaps adopt or at least appreciate the wisdom of the First Nations in regards to the environment and protecting mother nature (very wishful thinking but I still have hope, our generation is the ones who have to do it because if we fail our very planet is in very very serious jeopardy.)

The war in Iraq won't end by December 31st 2005

If the prediction above happens, the law will be changed to extend ToDs past 24 months and the draft discussion will heat up by 2006.

The NHL season will be cancelled

China will launch another man into space

NASA will break something (they are quite talented at it)

The international community will continue to ignore the HIV/AIDS epidemic

The US BMD system will fail again

This will be the year of the Evangelicals as they flex their political might as never before (I feel sorry for muslims and homosexuals in the US this year)

George Bush will say something stupid

Canada will have its second federal election in less than a year

NATO will show deep fractures when the Iraq situation comes up again, possibility for half to go and half not to go sounding the death bell for NATO, it will slowly fracture as nations divide.

Russia will try to influence the elections of another former Soviet Republic

Vladimir Putin will continue is slow ascent as dictator (the fact that he was an ex-KGB Colonel should have at least created the thought that this *might* happen if the proper opportunity arose during this terms in which he could cover his real motives)
 
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*DarkDragoons*

SL/SFC_Afyon/2SQD/2PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/[LoR][IH][CoH(2)][SoA]

"The way of war is a way of deception. When able, feign inability; when deploying troops, appear not to be. When near, appear far; when far, appear near. Lure with bait; strike with chaos. If the enemy is full, be prepared. If strong, avoid him. If he is angry, disconcert him. If he is weak, stir him to pride. If he is relaxed, harry him; if his men are harmonious, split them. Attack where he is unprepared; appear where you are unexpected. This is victory in warfare; it cannot be divulged in advance. Victory belongs to the side that scores most in the temple calculations before battle. Most spells victory; least spells defeat; none, surer defeat. I see it in this way, and the outcome is apparent." -- Sun Tzu

Sweet Otto!  I plan on making fancy invites and mailing out cool badges too.. just for fun
 
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ASL/FTC1/SGT MaraJade/3SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE[LoR]

Hell, it's a five hour drive and I can probably catch a game at the BOB while I'm at it; though without Johnson, do you guys have any all-stars left besides Luis?
 
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PRF/HG Fury/VEA/TADATH/VE [SCP][PoC][SotE:HC][SotE:VEA][IOC]
Prefect - Stormtrooper Corps
Administrator - Imperial Center

I'm just to lazy to get my permit and get a liscence.  I was supposed to take Driver's ed a bit back...  Oops.
 
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*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) [LoM] [LSM]

I had to go back down to my dad's over the summer so I can have guitar lessons with my teacher Guy Somers, who is probably the greatest guitarist I've ever seen...  Plus I always go to 'Catholic Youth Camp' over the summer, probably start counciling soon, so that cut me off a year.  I'll have to do it this year though, so I can just gert done with it.
 
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*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) [LoM] [LSM]

I predict that a whole bunch of people will graduate from high school and college sometime this spring/summer.
 
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COM Darkhawk/VEN/VE/(=MA=)(=SCPA=)(=FCO=)[LoC][BRC][CBV*][MC:1][VC:Ebony][KC:OC]

DLotS/SW Darkhawk/Sith/VEDJ/VE/[CR]

Zach Wylde, the now deceased Dimebag.

beer,? sounds like fun Mara, oh and send us a pic
  -----------------------
The Comnet Hermit{Retired}
-Raider Squad-
TRP/SSG Sniping101/CrazySQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR][IH][BoA]

"Born to Lose, Live to Win"- Lemmy