Hot Seat Answers #67 - DiamondDave

[Kingdom]

Ron Santo making the Hall is worse than Bonds playing again or Prodigy mattering again? Wow.

[DirtyKash]

Al_Pacino for the next Hot Seat.

[DiamondDave]

Ron Santo making the Hall is worse than Bonds playing again or Prodigy mattering again? Wow.

Honestly.. Bonds did a lot before the neck growth steroid abuse... and a company is just a company... but Santo did little as a player, and is not all that as an announcer... he's a favorite among Chicago fans, but that would be like inducting Doug DeCinces as a hall of famer

[DiamondDave]

HCG's questions

Battle of the bands - Backstreet Boys vs Super Junior (if you don't know the latter band, look them up). Who wins and why?

God.. trying to get me to pick between something I know that sucks and something I can pretty much assume sucks.... Well... neither play instruments, so not a band... they both lose by default

Seeing that it is just about four degrees above freezing here in San Fran, what do you hate/love about winter?

I had frostbite in the past, twice (long stories)... so I am not a fan of the cold at all... plus I have a lot of metal in my left leg, and cold pretty much makes that leg seize up like a 1979 Buick Regal with an oil pump problem... so the temperature in winter is definitely the worst thing for me
As for the best thing... I have kids... so anything that involved pelting them with snowballs, or helping them build a make-shift igloo, or generally just having fun with them would have to top the list.... That and dark beer seems to taste better in winter

Best invention ever is...?

Hmm... tough one.... no printing press would mean no books, papers, porn magazines, daily crossword puzzles, etc
No microchip would mean no video games, no OOTP, no message boards, and basically no career for me
No alcohol would mean that women would not look as good at bar closing time, would mean no Guinness, and would mean no buzz on when playing poker with my friends
I will have to go with compound interest being the best invention... The ability to save money and have the interest build over time, giving the average Joe or Jane Schmoe the ability to store for later in life, has got to be it... you can rely on the savings of your past and the growth on that savings, so that you do not have to rely on your children taking care of you when you are older... freeing up their lives and giving you the ability to enjoy the 'golden years'

[DiamondDave]

mofo's questions

1) Why do those AOL free trial CD's advertise that a credit card is not required yet the fine print clearly states that a credit card or checking account is required?

I think you answered your own question... The credit card is not required when your checking account is verified

2) What are your thoughts on Alex Rodriguez's decision to switch allegiance from the U.S.A. to the Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic?

Personally I don't give a rat's ass if he plays for the US, or the DR, or Paraguay, or Tibet, or wherever.. I think it is all PC/touchy feely crapola anyway... 'Oh, I have ties to Cuba thanks to my great aunt twice removed.. I need to represent."

3) Rank the following moves by the O's from bad to worst:

1) -Not discovering that pitching prospect Leslie Brea's age was actually 28 instead of the reported 21 before acquiring him. - this is inexcusable and shows the ineptitude of this organization
2) -Albert Belle's mega contract - Joey Belle was one of the worst things that happened to the O's... money wise.. attitude wise.. culture wise... and president wise... this move crippled the O's
3) -Trading John Maine and Jorge Julio for Kris Benson. - I shouted from the rooftops that Benson was a P.O.S.... I would have rather traded for Robert Guillaume playing the character 'Benson'.... Maine has turned out better than expected, as he was projected as a #5 or so starter at best... but even THAT would have been better than Benson... as for Julio, I was never really a big fan.... but even he was worth more than Benson
4) -Letting Mike Mussina leave for the Yankees. - basically his best was behind him, but he was a guy that should have been around til the end... One of our better career pitchers... and the Best O's are generally lover forever by this town.. when he was basically shown the door and was not pursued or persuaded to stay, he became just another player who came thru and will not be considered an Oriole thru and thru
5) -Re-signing Sidney Ponson - The pitcher who never met a triple cheeseburger that he didn't like and stuff into his gullet... But by this time, it was hard to get any veteran with any talent pitching to join the O's
6)-Trading B.J. Surhoff for Trenidad Hubbard, Fernando Lunar, and Luis Rivera - We got nothing, but Surhoff was basically done anyway
7) -Drafting Adam Loewen - You can never foresee what can happen injury wise... He had the 'stuff'... but mistakes will always be made in the draft... and this was not a bad one

[DiamondDave]

cjkalt's questions

1) If you had to trade one of these players from the Orioles who would you trade and why? Brian Roberts or Nick Markakis

Personally, and to the shock of some, I would have to say Markakis... quality OFers are more commonly found.. and we have traded and drafted and obtained some quality OFers.. he is more easily replaced.... I like Roberts, and I remember screaming from the hilltps to get rid of Jerry Hairston well before we did, for Roberts was a gem in the rough....

2) If you could give Angelos 3 pieces of advice on how to run the Orioles what would you tell him?

1) Sell the team to someone who actually knows what they are doing and gives a shit
2) The BoSux and YankMes are in full buy mode, and will be for the foreseeable future... forget 30 year old veterans and has beens... if you are going to compete in the future you MUST commit FULLY to the youth movement and development of the farm... lose 100 games for 2 or 3 seasons, but build and commit... and when the core talent is ready, they spring the money for the veteran help that is in thier prime and is of the highest quality
3) The blue-collar loyal fan base was a strength of this organization. Wild Bill Hagy and section 34 in Memorial Stadium was the epitome of what it used to mean to be an O's fan... That has to return... **** corporate boxes and extraordinary luxuries for $65 tickets... The fan appeal in Baltimore has to be derived from Joe Six-Pack and the families of 4.. The steelworker, cabbie, and factory worker... Let DC have their metrosexuals, let Philly hit Santa with snowballs, go back to the strength of this town being the strength of the fan base and embrace that fan base... bring blue collar-fandom back to Baltimore

3) What was the worst decision the Orioles ever made? (can be trade, FA signing, hire/fire etc) and if you can't decide you can make a list

Simple answer.. Glen Freaking Davis... Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and Curt Schilling traded for the overrated "slugger"

[DirtyKash]

I will have to go with compound interest being the best invention...

[DiamondDave]

Hey man... changed life, currency, family, financial 'classes' of people, etc forever..

Most people don't really think about total impact of an 'invention'... when you sit back and think of how much this has impacted everything in our lives today, it's actually pretty staggering... hell, even Einstein called it the most powerful force in the Universe

[hot_corner_gurl]

A. Kill.. I have no use for any of these three for the other options
B. Kill mission and DK, run away with HCG to Jamaica for exotic drinks and topless beach frolicking... LOL
C. Kill.. all 3 are OOTP rivals... eliminate thy enemy
D. I generally try and **** general in OOTP as my division rival... too bad ***** slap is not an option for LTR, cause people know my stance about drug use... and I have to go with killing dry, as the other 2 options make no sense
E. **** 'em all until Nick and Hammer decide to fix it that Detroit wins the WS in the SIM league
.... ah hell.. as for the rest.... **** 'em and kill 'em all... if I have HCG, who needs the rest? LOL ... yeah.. .I'm almost 40 and I'll be a dirty old man for going after an 18 year old... but you only live once, right?

Not gonna lie, I'm a little weirded out...

I will have to go with compound interest being the best invention...

That was my exact reaction. But hey, to each his own...?

[DiamondDave]

eh... I'm harmless....

[Kingdom]

Not gonna lie, I'm a little weirded out...

NYGF isn't looking too bad now, eh?

[DirtyKash]

Disgusting pig!

[HollywoodLeo]

answer my questions, asshole.

[Dry1313]

Firstly... had $40 to your name and worried about food, yet still bought weed? STUPID....
Secondly... Both are frowned upon... but the military has a program called ADAPC that is there for people with drug and alcohol problems... and the military will work with you if you really work on things for yourself... but stealing is dishonor and is a violation of trust.. and with the Army providing either chow hall privileges or Separate Rations Pay, you should never be going hungry.... but now you have to think of your position within the military.. are you in possession of a clearance? If so, all bets are off... You violate your trust of confidence and do something like this in either case, and you cannot be trusted in the future.. Plus you are susceptible to blackmail or corruption from an enemy entity...

As for tricking the Army... IMHO that is against my code of honor... but there have been ones that used things such as AA or NA as a means of trying to avoid harsh punishment for alcohol and drub abuses... no tricking them about theft... there is no excuse, even if there is a supposed reason....

I didn't pay for it...this Army kid would let me smoke for free whenever.

And I guess the situation does change when you enter the army, but I still feel like smoking is worse than stealing food because you're hungry and have limited funds ( I used that $40 on food and getting home for christmas)

[DiamondDave]

HollywoodLeo's questions...

I figured I would wait til my birthday morning to answer the final set of questions...

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?

I'll go in eras...
As a kid, there are the basic answers. Some go with their first bike. Some go with a car when they hit 16. Some go with a dog. To me, it was the Christmas I received my Commodore64. I had got my Atari2600 when I was younger and it was a source of great fun with all the games I played over the young years. But the 64 set me on a different path. Yes, I still played games, but the computer brought me into a different light. I learned how to program Basic. I learned how to program and set up my own Bulletin Board System on my 5 1/4 disk drive and 300 baud modem. I learned to go beyond and do things myself with a computer. Little did I know but this simple $200 gift at the time would change my life. It took me into my enjoyment. It took me into the electronic world, which eventually took me into my communications training in the Army. It then took me into the world of high technology where I live today. And all of these steps led me to the people and friends I have met. It led me to my ex-wife, which put me on the path of being a father to my 2 wonderful girls.

As a young adult, I have to go with my first Christmas on my own. My best friend and I were earning our own way and we were working all the time, including usually Christmas and Christmas Eve. My friend and I got off at 11PM on Christmas eve and realized we had not shopped for each other. We started a tradition that we would shop for each other with $20 at 11PM on Christmas Eve at 7-11. That Christmas I got a Playboy, some slim Jims, and a 12 pack of Corona. Those gifts meant a lot as we were changing who were were as people and entering adulthood.

As a father, every Dad says they enjoy every gift from their kids. While we know a lot of this is trumped up, because who really likes a purple, orange, and fluorescent green tie? To me it was the first time that my first child made things for me. I had a homemade card, some crayon drawings, a homemade ornament with her picture on it, and I was brought some cereal in bed (yes, it was spilled all over the place on the way up and it was spilled on me and my ex in the bed... but it was all good). This showed me how much giving of yourself really meant. This showed me the unconditional love and the unconditional joy of giving to those you really love.

2. Are you a fan of Ann Coulter? What's your opinion of her?

First let me say that yes, I am a conservative in terms of politics.
Secondly let me say that I cannot stand this woman. She's a loudmouth and saying what she says for all the wrong reasons. You have to realize that, like any other entertainer, this is playing to an audience. She likes to draw the angry crowd. She likes shock as much as Howard Stern does. But in trying to play to this, she gets the message completely wrong. She has a warped view of Conservatism, and she does not care, because she is in the spotlight....

3. What do you think it'd take to fix the Orioles?

As stated in another answer, I think a big step if getting the team away from Angelos. Beyond that, I think what the O's have gotten away from is building from within and having a way of going about it. There is no personality to this team. There is no way of getting the job done that is shared by all. That is what made the early 70's O's, the 79 O's, and the 83 O's special teams. You may have had different styles of players, but the approach to the game was shared by all, and the core of the team was formed, molded, and built. Now they have a couple of youngsters who seem to be on their own page and playbook. You have a lot of journeymen who are simply looking to hang on to what a MLB paycheck gives them. You have some players who are living off of a few moments and getting overpaid for the types of players they really are. And you have no shared effort. I think we have to only keep a few of the players we have now who seem to have the right mindset or the ability to feed from that mindset (if set forth my the manager and coaches). I think we have to have a vast majority of our effort into scouting and nurturing young talent in the minors. We have to be smart and trade some of the has-beens and never-will-bes and gain more talent for the minors. We have to trudge thru the mire of being horrible for 2 or 3 seasons, and come out the other side fresh new and HUNGRY.