rayknefel: Oh All-Wise, Knowing, and Sagacious Chatmeister,
1) What are the odds the Cardinals will ever win another World Series if billionaire Mark Cuban gains ownership of the Chicago Cubs?
2)How many years will we have to wait for that World Series Championship?
3)What would we have to give up in a trade for Mark Cuban? We could trade William O. DeWallet, Jr., ‘No Moves’ Mo and who else?

Thank you for letting us rant after a frustrating (30 blown saves) season. Pat Parris lets Rick Horton rant constantly. We only have the mesmerizing and influential JSL Tsunami to rant on as it shimmers, glimmers and gyrates ON and ON with awesome power. An exhilarating JSL Tsunami ride lets the 5 1/2 months of frustration out!

Ray

Joe Strauss: 1. Don't know. How many NBA championships have the Mavericks won with Cuban as owner?
2. I have no idea. But current ownership did end a 24-year drought in '06.
3. Is this Bernie writing in?

Nothing is more exhilerating than riding the Tsunami through the StlToday.com pipeline.

GSW: Chatmeister,

Ike is gone, but the tsunami rages on . . .

Tell us, O Wizard of the White Waters, if Milwaukee completes this colossal choke job, how deep does the housecleaning go? I give Melvin a pass (they clearly have the talent to win, and CC was a masterstroke, particularly given the timing), but otherwise . . .

As always, you da man.

Joe Strauss: This choke will likely cost Melvin MLB Executive of the Year kudos. Sveum is an interim. I anticipate ownership seeking a highly visible (R. Yount) replacement for Yost after the season.

Tom: Dear Chatmeister,

I won't be getting a new supply of Cardinals Kool-Aid until next year, but this Mizzou football Kool-Aid tastes great! The way I see it, we have two games to worry about - the Big 12 game against Oklahoma, and then the BCS Championship game against the SEC champ. You with me?

Thanks,

tom

Joe Strauss: I said before the season MU would beat Texas but would stumble unexpectedly against another conference foe. I'll stay with it. I would love to see MU play USC in a nat'l championship game but I believe Oklahoma will interfere. Free Tip: Missouri 54, Buffalo 14. The Turkey Shoot Continues!!!

mjdelpe: JSL!! Summer's (insert Season here if you will) over....time to wax down those snowboards for the off-season of thrills and chills promised by the FO, right? We can all ride the avalanche of wheeling and dealing as Mo takes on all those FA's and MLB GM's to put together a truly championship team for '09, right? OK, I'm a wait and see guy, let's hope the cynicism is unjustified.

My question is about the field leadership. Since PaPa Duncan is a FA, I expect he will take the time to look at the open market, thus delaying a decision about whether he returns or not. Since Tony and he are joined at the hip, and Tony's last three years here have to be right up there as the most stressful he's ever had, they could both leave.

When, oops.. IF they do, who do you think the FO has in their snowgoggles as leading candidates to fill their jobs? or is everyone shortsighted enough that this possibility is either overlooked or dismissed as fantasy?

Joe Strauss: My information is that Big Dunc' is close to re-upping for next season.

dan boelhauf: mr. strauss-

as the third year in the new stadium winds down i was wondering if you could verify my observation: i feel that the atmosphere within busch is rather more subdued than at the former busch. though there are times in which the crowd can get noisy, i feel the atmosphere overall is rather tamer in general. your thoughts?

also- any word on what is to become of lake dewitt during the all star game next season?

thank you for taking my questions and i admire your work

dan in dogtown

Joe Strauss: It is a more "sedate" atmosphere at new Busch. For one, it's open stadium that doesn't hold noise (or heat) like it's predecessor. There also hasn't been as much to cheer for beyond the '06 postseason or this year's first half. As for Lake DeWitt, the club will either pave it to create a foundation for temporary interactive fan stuff and retail places or (re)fill it with water and a huge wave machine sponsored by the Post-Dispatch: "Experience the JSL!!! Tsunami." Make your preference known to team management now!!!