cgator

For Week 1, we had 20 players submit picks. Here is how you picked as a group: Washington Redskins 5 at N.Y. Giants 12 (only 17 players) Detroit Lions 18 at Atlanta Falcons 2 Cincinnati Bengals 13 at Baltimore Ravens 7 Seattle Seahawks 10 at Buffalo Bills 10 N.Y. Jets 12 at Miami Dolphins 8 Kansas City Chiefs 0 at New England Patriots 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 at New Orleans Saints 14 St. Louis Rams 1 at Philadelphia Eagles 19 Houston Texans 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers 19 Jacksonville Jaguars 18 at Tennessee Titans 2 Dallas Cowboys 20 at Cleveland Browns 0 Carolina Panthers 1 at San Diego Chargers 19 Arizona Cardinals 13 at San Francisco 49ers 7 Chicago Bears 2 at Indianapolis Colts 18 Minnesota Vikings 11 at Green Bay Packers 9 Denver Broncos 15 at Oakland Raiders 5 Wins = 177 Losses = 140 Winning % = .558 (through 16 games)

Points/stats are gathered by players that have been picked to your team. So the game does not run when the baseball players are out playing golf, getting arrested, buying performance enhancing drugs, etc.

Attempting the repeat, good luck champ! And to everyone else as well!

does someone keep a score of correct predictions throughout the season and have a leaderboard etc??? Yes, I will keep a season long standings board. If you wish to take a look back, here are the final standings for the 2007-2008 season.

IT'S BACK!!! The MB.com 2008 NFL Pick 'em game has officially started. Make sure that you have made picks in ALL 16 GAMES. Week 1 starts with a Thursday game at 7:00 p.m. on September 4th, so get your picks in prior to kickoff. This thread will lock shortly after kickoff on Thursday. Here is the schedule for Week 1: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Washington Redskins at N.Y. Giants 16-7 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons 34-21 Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 17-10 Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills 34-10 N.Y. Jets at Miami Dolphins 20-14 Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots 17-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 24-20 St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles 38-3 Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers 38-17 Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans 17-10 Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns 28-10 Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers 26-24 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers 23-13 Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts 29-13 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 24-19 Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders 41-14 Good Luck!!

All the models are now pretty much in agreement, taking Gustav just south of Cuba's coast, but crossing the western tip on it's way into the Gulf. It has been a while since I've seen all the models show so much agreement...that obviously means the storm will never follow THAT path :mis2

Track has now moved to the south, running along the length of Cuba. 000 WTNT32 KNHC 252344 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 3A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008 800 PM EDT MON AUG 25 2008 ...GUSTAV CONTINUES NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD HISPANIOLA... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM BARAHONA WESTWARD TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF HAITI...AND FOR THE SOUTHWEST PENINSULA OF HAITI FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND PORT-AU-PRINCE WESTWARD. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HAITI FROM NORTH OF PORT-AU-PRINCE TO THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC EAST OF BARAHONA TO SANTO DOMINGO. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 800 PM EDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 71.2 WEST OR ABOUT 165 MILES...270 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PORT AU PRINCE HAITI. GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR...AND A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF GUSTAV WILL BE MOVING NEAR OR OVER HAITI ON TUESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD BECOME A HURRICANE PRIOR TO MOVING OVER LAND. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES...85 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB...29.41 INCHES. GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 7 INCHES OVER HISPANIOLA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 25 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE INTENSE RAINS MAY PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. REPEATING THE 800 PM EDT POSITION...16.4 N...71.2 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM EDT. $$ FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Goddshit Happy Bday Hope you get laid Do you say get laid to everyone in their birthday thread? :mischief Well, now it's a party!

The current models. One has it dying an early death. Most have it remaining pretty well south (one taking a Fay-like track), one has it turning due north immediately and entering the Atlantic over the Turks and Caicos. I notice the 2:00 model run dropped the NOGAPS model in favor of the UKMET model (the one with the early death.) The earlier NOGAPS run had it staying east of the Bahamas, but the latest one has it running up between the Bahamas and Florida (moved west from earlier.) Just found it interesting that weatherunderground decided to show a different model this time.

Correction to second paragraph... ...Caribbean depression strengthens into tropical storm... At 2 PM EDT...1800 UTC...the government of the Dominican Republic has upgraded the Tropical Storm Warning to a Hurricane Warning for the South Coast of the Dominican Republic from Santo Domingo westward to the southern border of Haiti. At 2 PM EDT...1800 UTC...the Tropical Storm Warning for the southwest peninsula of Haiti from the southern border with the Dominican Republic and Port-au-Prince westward has been upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. At 2 PM EDT...1500 UTC...the tropical storm watch has been changed to a Hurricane Watch for Haiti from north of Port-au-Prince to the northern border of the Dominican Republic. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours. For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter plane indicate that Tropical Depression Seven has intensified into a tropical storm. At 200 PM EDT...1800z...the center of Tropical Storm Gustav was located near latitude 15.8 north...longitude 70.5 west or about 225 miles...365 km...south-southeast of Port au Prince Haiti. Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph...22 km/hr...and a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. On the forecast track the center of Gustav will be moving near or over southwestern Haiti on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph...95 km/hr...with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours...and Gustav could strengthen into a hurricane prior to moving over land. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 50 miles...85 km from the center. The minimum central pressure reported by the Air Force reconnaissance plane is 996 mb...29.41 inches. Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 7 inches over Hispaniola...with isolated maximum amounts of 15 to 25 inches possible. These intense rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Repeating the 200 PM EDT position...15.8 N...70.5 W. Movement toward...northwest near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds...60 mph. Minimum central pressure...996 mb. The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 500 PM EDT. $$ Forecaster Brown Well, that happened in a hurry. TD @ 11, TS @ 2

Hope you have a great one!!

Replay needs to be limited. I understand the push with the homerun calls and all, but you can't start using it for every call. Part of the game is the human factor. And while umpires certainly don't get it right all the time, they do a pretty damn good job. If we are going to review half the plays of a game (bang-bang plays, interpetation, etc.) we might as well just stop playing the game until the perfect system is developed to get everything right. Of course, Bobby Cox won't be able to get thrown out of games anymore (or Lou when he isn't drinking his Aquafina.)

Far too early to predict much of anything, but since we have now had our practice with Fay the NHC presents you with: TD7 ...Tropical depression forms in the central Caribbean... at 11 am EDT...1500 UTC...the government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the South Coast of the Dominican Republic from Santo Domingo westward to the southern border of Haiti. At 11 am EDT...1500 UTC...a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the southwest peninsula of Haiti from the southern border with the Dominican Republic and Port-au-Prince westward. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. At 11 am EDT...1500 UTC...a tropical storm watch has been issued for Haiti from north of Port-au-Prince to the northern border of the Dominican Republic. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours. For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. Satellite data and surface observations indicate that the low pressure area in the Caribbean has become better organized and is now a tropical depression. At 1100 am EDT...1500z...the center of Tropical Depression Seven was located near latitude 15.5 north...longitude 70.1 west or about 260 miles...415 km...southeast of Port au Prince Haiti. The depression is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph...24 km/hr...and a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. On the forecast track the center of the tropical cyclone will be moving near or over southwestern Haiti on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph...55 km/hr...with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast...and the depression could become a tropical storm later today. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb...29.71 inches. The depression is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 7 inches over Hispaniola...with isolated maximum amounts of 15 to 25 inches possible. These intense rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Repeating the 1100 am EDT position...15.5 N...70.1 W. Movement toward...northwest near 15 mph. Maximum sustained winds...35 mph. Minimum central pressure...1006 mb. The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 500 PM EDT. $$ Forecaster Pasch

The thing to remember is that the worst of the weather is on the east side of the storm. Even if it makes it's way into the Ft. Myers area, the east coast will receive a lot of rain to go along with some TS force winds.

:raises hand. I believe I'm going on 10 years on the boards, I remember ezboard and thestands before this software. BTW, another milestone: Ross the Infomod

000 WTNT31 KNHC 180240 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM FAY ADVISORY NUMBER 10 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062008 1100 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 2008 ...FAY MOVING NORTHWESTWARD...SOON TO MOVE OVER CUBA... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF TO KEY WEST...INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS AND FLORIDA BAY...AND ALONG THE FLORIDA MAINLAND FROM CARD SOUND BRIDGE WESTWARD TO TARPON SPRINGS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CUBA FROM THE PROVINCES OF LA HABANA AND CIUDAD DE LA HABANA EASTWARD TO SANCTI SPIRITUS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROVINCES OF CUBA FROM CAMAGUEY WESTWARD. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CAYMAN BRAC AND LITTLE CAYMAN. AT 11 PM EDT...0300 UTC...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS EXTENDED EASTWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA KEYS TO OCEAN REEF. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF TO KEY WEST...INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS AND FLORIDA BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF FLORIDA FROM NORTH OF OCEAN REEF NORTHWARD TO JUPITER INLET...AND FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND. INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE FLORIDA PENINSULA...THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS...AND THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF FAY. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FAY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.6 WEST OR ABOUT 170 MILES...275 KM...SOUTHEAST OF HAVANA CUBA AND ABOUT 235 MILES...375 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA. FAY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR...AND A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 1 TO 2 DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...FAY IS EXPECTED TO CROSS WESTERN CUBA EARLY ON MONDAY AND MOVE NEAR THE FLORIDA KEYS MONDAY NIGHT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE CENTER CROSSES CUBA...AND FAY COULD BE APPROACHING HURRICANE STRENGTH WHEN IT NEARS THE FLORIDA KEYS MONDAY NIGHT. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1001 MB...29.56 INCHES. STORM TIDES OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF CUBA IN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE WINDS. TIDES OF 2 TO 4 FT ABOVE NORMAL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS IN THE WARNING AREA. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA. FAY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER MUCH OF CUBA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES. THESE RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER GRAND CAYMAN AND OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS. HEAVY RAIN MAY BEGIN TO AFFECT THE FLORIDA KEYS AND SOUTH FLORIDA TONIGHT AND INTO MONDAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES...WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS AND SOUTH FLORIDA. REPEATING THE 1100 PM EDT POSITION...21.4 N...80.6 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 AM EDT. $$ FORECASTER PASCH/ROBERTS 000 WTNT41 KNHC 180253 TCDAT1 TROPICAL STORM FAY DISCUSSION NUMBER 10 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062008 1100 PM EDT SUN AUG 17 2008 AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE REPORTS NEAR 0000 UTC SHOWED LITTLE MOTION SINCE THE EARLIER FIXES. RECENT SATELLITE IMAGERY AND CUBAN RADAR DATA IMAGERY INDICATE THAT THE CENTER IS ILL-DEFINED AT THE MOMENT...AND SURFACE SYNOPTIC DATA SUGGEST THAT THE CIRCULATION IS SOMEWHAT ELONGATED FROM EAST TO WEST. STRONGEST CONVECTION IS OCCURRING JUST TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST OF THE ESTIMATED CENTER. INITIAL MOTION IS A HIGHLY UNCERTAIN 305/9. THE TRACK FORECAST REASONING IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM EARLIER TODAY. FAY IS LIKELY TO TURN TOWARD THE NORTH ON THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF A MID-LEVEL RIDGE. NOAA G-IV JET DATA SHOW MID-TROPOSPHERIC HEIGHT FALLS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WHICH ALSO SUPPORTS A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH. SOME OF THE TRACK MODELS SUCH AS THE GFDL MODEL HAVE SHIFTED...ONCE AGAIN...TO THE EAST. THERE HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME RUN-TO-RUN CONSISTENCY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRACK GUIDANCE...BUT THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE FOR WEAK TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE MODEL INITIAL CONDITIONS. I HAVE NOT MADE MUCH OF A CHANGE TO THE OFFICIAL FORECAST WHICH REMAINS CLOSE TO THE DYNAMICAL MODEL CONSENSUS. WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING 45 KT FOR THE CURRENT INTENSITY SINCE EARLIER TODAY ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECENTLY OBSERVED FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS TO SUPPORT THIS VALUE. HOWEVER IT IS BELIEVED THAT THESE WINDS ARE LIKELY OCCURRING IN THE STRONG CONVECTION NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER WHICH WAS NOT SAMPLED BY THE AIRCRAFT. AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW OVER THE EXTREME NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA IS IMPEDING THE OUTFLOW OVER THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE AND MAY EVEN BE CAUSING SOME UPPER-LEVEL CONVERGENCE OVER THE STORM. ON THE OTHER HAND...THE SHIPS GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT VERTICAL SHEAR WILL DECREASE DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THEREFORE SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST WHILE FAY IS OVER WATER DURING THE EARLIER PART OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. BY 48 HOURS OR SO...SHEAR ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE EXTREME EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO IS FORECAST TO INCREASE...AND THIS SHOULD LIMIT INTENSIFICATION. THE OFFICIAL INTENSITY FORECAST IS A BLEND OF THE LATEST GFDL AND HWRF MODEL PREDICTIONS. IT SHOULD BE ADDED THAT THERE IS LOW CONFIDENCE IN THIS FORECAST HOWEVER. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK. A BETTER WAY OF ASSESSING YOUR RISK IS TO MAKE USE OF THE WIND SPEED PROBABILITIES. THESE DO NOT CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR GIVEN LOCATIONS WHEN SMALL ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE TO THE TRACK FORECAST. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INITIAL 18/0300Z 21.4N 80.6W 45 KT 12HR VT 18/1200Z 22.3N 81.7W 50 KT...INLAND 24HR VT 19/0000Z 23.8N 82.7W 55 KT 36HR VT 19/1200Z 25.3N 82.8W 65 KT 48HR VT 20/0000Z 27.0N 82.8W 70 KT 72HR VT 21/0000Z 30.5N 82.5W 50 KT...INLAND 96HR VT 22/0000Z 34.0N 82.5W 25 KT...INLAND 120HR VT 23/0000Z 37.5N 82.5W 20 KT...REMNANT LOW $$ FORECASTER PASCH/ROBERTS

There was also that short span where I was given control of the old official forums and made them the mb.com forums. Yep, that was just prior to all the official sites going to the current cookie cutter format. BTW, ever hear from Paul (TheStands) anymore?

:raises hand. I believe I'm going on 10 years on the boards, I remember ezboard and thestands before this software. I can also remember a couple of stints on the Yahoo forums.

Could go anywhere.

000 WTNT31 KNHC 161435 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM FAY ADVISORY NUMBER 4 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062008 1100 AM EDT SAT AUG 16 2008 ...CENTER OF FAY MOVING WESTWARD AWAY FROM HAITI...NEW WARNINGS AND WATCHES ISSUED... AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE PROVINCES OF CAMAGUEY...CIEGO DE AVILA... AND SANCTI SPIRITUS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE PROVINCES OF CAMAGUEY...LAS TUNAS...AND HOLGUIN. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING ALSO IS IN EFFECT FOE THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF GRANMA...SANTIAGO DE CUBA...AND GUANTANMO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS...AND THE ENTIRE COAST OF HAITI. AT 11 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR JAMAICA. ALSO....THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS. INTERESTS IN WESTERN CUBA...THE FLORIDA KEYS...AND THE FLORIDA PENINSULA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FAY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 73.7 WEST OR ABOUT 95 MILES...155 KM...WEST-NORTHWEST OF PORT AU PRINCE HAITI AND ABOUT 130 MILES...205 KM...SOUTHEAST OF GUANTANAMO CUBA. FAY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST ON SUNDAY. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF FAY WILL BE NEAR OR OVER THE SOUTHERN COAST OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL CUBA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...AND FAY COULD BE NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES CENTRAL CUBA ON SUNDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES. TIDES OF 1 TO 3 FEET FEET ABOVE NORMAL CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA IN AREAS OF ONSHORE FLOW. FAY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER HISPANIOLA...EASTERN AND CENTRAL CUBA...JAMAICA...AND THE NORTHERN CAYMAN ISLANDS...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES. THESE RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. REPEATING THE 1100 AM EDT POSITION...19.0 N...73.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NEAR 15 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 PM EDT. $$ FORECASTER BEVEN

J-Roll Rocks Philly Fans By Lee Russakoff Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:02:13 GMT Jimmy Rollins has played eight years in Philadelphia. You'd think he'd know better than to rip Phillies fans...especially when he's having a down season. J-Roll and teammate Ryan Howard were interviewed on the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" in Los Angeles this week. When Rollins was asked if Philadelphia deserves its reputation as a tough sports town to play in, Jimmy took aim at the Philly Phaithful. "It can be [tough], yeah," Rollins said. "There are times, like, it's one of those cities...I might catch some flack for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you." When Rose and Salley suggested that it was like that everywhere, likening sports fans to a "family," Rollins said, "I hear you. But, for example, Ryan is from St. Louis, and St. Louis, it seems like they support their team, they're out there and encouraging. In Philly, can't be no punk." Calling your fans front-runners? Not the smartest move in a blue-collar town like Philly for anyone. Let alone a guy who has been benched twice this season for "big timing" it--once for not running out a pop-up and another time for showing up late to a key game against the Mets in Shea. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Rollins gets when he returns home from this seven-game West Coast road trip (J-Roll is currently 3-for-14 in the first three games of the trip, all losses to the Dodgers). Are Philly fans front-runners? How will they treat Rollins when he returns? Add your own comment here. Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 08-14-2008 02:14 AM Link This should be interesting...

NFL announces new fan code of conduct Tue Aug 5, 2:15 PM EDT The NFL implemented a new code of fan conduct Tuesday, warning that spectators who misbehave will be ejected from stadiums and barred from coming back. The policy, first recommended by commissioner Roger Goodell at league meetings in April, is aimed at conduct that the league said ``detracts from the gameday experience.'' It includes bans on: - Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal. - Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior. - Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures. - Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field. - Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel. - Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team. ``The in-stadium experience is critically important to the NFL, our clubs and our fans and it will be a major focus this season,'' Goodell said in a statement. ``We are committed to improving the fan experience in every way we can - from the time fans arrive in the parking lot to when they depart the stadium.'' The league also left teams the option of adding additional provisions to the code based on local circumstances. It said the guidelines would be contained in mailings to fans and signs posted at stadiums. The Associated Press Link I thought the regular code of conduct was to committ most of those banable offenses.

Happy Birthday!!! Thank you for your service, and stay safe.

It may be a large sea turtle without its shell? It does actually look somewhat like that. Sea turtles do not have teeth. Looks like a mammal that has lost it's fur. Just can't get a good enough look at the 'nose' area to see if it is just an injury or eaten part that makes it look so strange.

If Loria does not want to sell than we will buy an American League team and move them to Palm Beach County. Ah, a Tampa Bay lawsuit in the making.