Matthew

And make Vada Pinson a charter member! Add Willie McGee to that HOTVG

Just on a side note: The best fielding first basemen I ever saw was not Hernandez, but Wes Parker. Not too many people remember Parker though....

Here's a list of who can go in -- Sorry too lazy to fix it up and get rid of the underlines: A Rick Aguilera B Albert Belle Bert Blyleven C Will Clark Dave Concepcion D Andre Dawson Gary DiSarcina F Alex Fernandez G Gary Gaetti G cont. Steve Garvey Dwight Gooden Rich Gossage Ozzie Guillen H Orel Hershiser J Gregg Jefferies Tommy John Doug Jones M Don Mattingly Willie McGee M cont. Hal Morris Jack Morris Dale Murphy P Dave Parker R Jim Rice S Lee Smith Bruce Sutter T Alan Trammell W Walt Weiss John Wetteland

Here is who would get my vote: Dave Concepcion Andre Dawson Rich Gossage Bruce Sutter Jack Morris Jim Rice Alan Trammell I think people forger what a wonderful player Concepcion was, his numbers don't compare with the current shortstops, but it was a different game when he played. Goose was awesome in his prime as well as Sutter. It's interesting when he played Rice was overshadowed by Fred Lynn for a lot of years, but geesh, Lynn for awhile was a fantastic player who could do everything. Dave Parker & Dale Murphy just don't do it for me. What is really cool, I saw all these guys play in person. There is nothing that compares in sports that watching a great baseball player at the top of his game.

Damn copycat!

And then there is the player that had the most talent, and then threw it all away: Dwight Gooden. He had ability to burn, and now, nothing. What could have been.....

I've read Powell's Dance to the Music of Time twice now, and I have mixed feelings about it. It'll be interesting to read your take on the books. I would compare the writing more to Waugh instead of Trollope or Galsworthy, Powell has that cynical touch about characters and situations that reminds me of EW.

I don't know what motivated Reardon to rob the store, but the 'medication made me do it' is a load of horse hockey to mix my sports here. From what I've read, Reardon was on anti-depression drugs because he was greiving over his son who died a couple of years ago -- the son died at the age of 20. I always share your doubt on these kinds of excuses, but in this case, it just might be true. From all reports Reardon is financially secure, has no history of trouble with the law, so I would cut him some slack on this one.

Could be............but it sounds to me like you might actually be talking about Yusef Lateef on 'Judyful' from the Fuller Sextet "Images" Savoy one? Coincidentally, I saw the Curtis Fuller Quintet last weekend w/Ronnie Matthews and Lou Hayes. It was Fuller's B'day and Freddy Cole stopped by to sing a couple of numbers, which was a real treat! After the show Hayes had a cd or two rattling around in his bag so I bought 'Dreamin of Cannonball' off him (he was a bit miffed that he had to pack up his own kit). So that then, was my last CD purchase. You ol' name dropper, you!

The Fuzzy Warble series, vols 1-6. Merry Christmas to me!

We all have players that everyone raves about, but we don't think that highly of, for me, Damon is that kind of player. Of course he had a great year last season, but that was a contract year, which always seems to bring out the best stats for a player. I see Damon going to down in value this season, and I don't think over a full season he can handle center at Yankee Stadium. Feel free to flame away now.

I'll have to look for that, I have an Italian 2cd import, and the sound is anything but quite clean. Wouldn't it easily fit on one disc? Ye$, it doe$, but who know$ why they $ell two cd$ in$tead of one.

I'll have to look for that, I have an Italian 2cd import, and the sound is anything but quite clean.

Is Jerry playing a steel guitar on It Hurts Me Too, in the Paris concert? Late edit: I'm stunned, a Pigpen vocal I actually like! Two Souls in Communion has an understated, sad quality to it.

Just to add my two cents: DP 36 is a great concert, and like everyone else, the Dark Stor / Morning Dew is worth the price alone; plus the sound is outstanding. It was mentioned earlier, but to have a complete set of Europe '72 would be sooooo cool. Right now I'm listening to Olympia Paris, '72 concert and it's very good.

Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks vols. 1-6. I've decided that my New Year's resolution will be to get all of the Dead's DP's by the end of 2006.

Have I overlooked it -- not one mention of Joni Mitchell?

This is a terrible decision... Treasury says Cuba can't send players to Classic Associated Press NEW YORK -- The U.S. government is shutting Cuba out of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, citing the standing embargo against the communist island nation. The Treasury Department told Major League Baseball of its decision Wednesday, said Pat Courtney, a spokesman for the commissioner's office. The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control confirmed the announcement. The sport's first World Cup-style tournament, originally to include 16 teams, was jointly organized by the commissioner's office and the players' union. It runs from March 3-20 in the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan. Organizers will work to have the decision reversed, said Paul Archey, the senior vice president of Major League Baseball International, and Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the Major League Baseball Players Association. A permit from OFAC is necessary because of U.S. laws governing certain commercial transactions with the Fidel Castro-controlled nation. "We are very disappointed with the government's decision to deny the participation of a team from Cuba in the World Baseball Classic," Archey and Orza said. "We will continue to work within appropriate channels in an attempt to address the government's concerns and will not announce a replacement unless and until that effort fails." In Havana, government officials had yet to react to the decision Thursday, but Cubans on the street were outraged not only because they felt it was unfair, but because it meant they won't be able to see their players go up against the American major league stars. "Enough already!" said Antonio Mayeta, whose brother is a baseball player in Cuba. "It's unbelievable. This is about sports, not politics. In Cuba, baseball is our culture. Everyone was so anxious to see these games." Said Victor Renglon, sitting on a park bench in central Havana: "Everyone from Fidel to little boys are born with a bat in their hands." Organizers had said the Cuban team likely would have included only players currently residing in Cuba and not defectors such as Jose Contreras, Orlando Hernandez and Livan Hernandez, who have become major league stars. In the tournament schedule announced last week, Cuba was to play its three first-round games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, facing Panama on March 7, the Netherlands on March 9 and Puerto Rico the following day. If the Cubans advanced, they would also have played their second-round games in Puerto Rico. "It is our policy that we do not confirm, deny or discuss licenses," Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Generally speaking, the Cuba embargo prohibits entering into contracts in which Cuba or Cuban nationals have an interest." Rep. Jose Serrano, a New York Democrat, said Tuesday that he is circulating letters to be sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary John Snow asking that Cuba be allowed to play. "Let's leave the politics out of this," Serrano said in a statement. "The World Baseball Classic should not be tainted by our grudge against Cuba's government. Cuba produces some of the finest baseball talent in the world and they deserve to participate." At last week's news conference in Dallas announcing tournament plans, Orza sounded unconcerned about OFAC granting a permit. "I do not think that is a serious impediment," Orza said, adding he was "very, very confident that the Cubans will play."

If I remember correctly, when Nomar went down with the torn groin, ESPN had a huge article more than hinting that steriods was a factor. Which, I also thought strange given the nature of the injuries, but it was someone who seemed to know (FWTW). Maybe I'll see if I can dig the article up. Edit Here's the article I had in mind. Edit on my edit: No it's not.

Are only Spiritual Unity, Bells, New York Eye & Ear Control, and Spirits Rejoice, going to be in this set? No Slugs Saloon?

I don't think Nomar can stay healthy for a whole season. It seems in baseball once the body starts to breakdown (maybe it was abuse of steriods that caused it), nothing can help it -- exhibit A: Ken Griffey. Nomars days as a top level, everyday player, are over, I'm afraid.

Only one with Naomi Watts... I still think Watts' performance in Mulholland Drive is one of the tops in the past 25 years.

I'm in the "Velma is in way over her head" camp. Apply that as you see fit to Pigpen (which, you don't have to at all, it's just my humble self thinking this).

I always thought of Pigpen as rock's answer to Velma Middleton.

I just do get the Yankee's interest in Damon, he's never stuck me as someone who could handle center at Yankee Stadium. And then to ask for seven years . Normar is even more of a risk, he's never been the same player since 2003. Some of the deals that are being mentioned make no sense to me, at all. Manny to the O's though, does make sense, he'd go .350 - 50 -150 easily in Camdon.