Roger Waltemath: Joseph: What was your motivation and purpose for " putting out" the MU diatribe?
"I bet my life that this question will not be addressed by you on your "CHAT SHOW"!

Joe Strauss: I'd hardly consider a column that liberally quotes the school's AD as a diatribe. An alternate point of view, perhaps. But hardly a diatribe. Mr. Alden stated that a win is a win, whether against Arkansas or Arkansas St. At this point I would suggest he has accurately taken the pulse of his fan base. But with a large number of schedule openings approaching, my point is that Mizzou might try to reach a bit higher. Blasphemy, I guess, with Kool-Aid running through the streets.
Condolences to your family on your lost bet.

Chester: Joe; All of a sudden the National League has some really great managers. Bobby Cox and LaRussa as the two who've been around awhile now. Pinella in Chi town along now w/Dusty Baker in Red Leg town and now Torre in LA. Could this be a shifting of power away from that beer league they call the American League???!!!!

Joe Strauss: The AL still rules. But who wants to watch 3:30 games every night? I wholeheartedly agree with your point about the growing managerial intrigue. Dusty, Torre, Cox, Ned Yost, Piniella... shake and stir with TLR and you never know what might come out. If only the Pirates had rehired Lloyd McClendon.

Amy: Joe,
What is the status of the Ballpark Village and what will be the status of the Village as it relates to the 2009 All Star game?
Amy Preston
Llano, TX

Joe Strauss: Ballpark Village is still referred to as Lake DeWitt. Nothing is coming out of the hole and construction has again been pushed back. Forget about it being completed prior to the '09 All-Star Game. The club has not offered any additional details since its most recent date for a construction start passed.

robert DeSutter: What's the question limit? Why do you suppose the PD uses John Rodriguez as the thumbnail on all clickable fan forum sites? Do you think it's a fleeting hope for his return? Or is it merely from Sports PD layout laziness?
~R~
JSL!!!

Joe Strauss: JRod had knee surgery and is no longer part of the org's plans. The Baltimore Orioles still market Cal Ripken. We continue to market JRod. What's the diff?

H Pool: I would like you to explain why it is rational for Baseball Cardinal fans to continue to support a middling team playing in the weakest division of the weaker league, and yet it is irrational to support MU's football team during a successful season.

Joe Strauss: Come on, H. Let's be intellectually honest here. If I'm an MU grad I'm all over this team and its success. But apparently your ball coach doesn't feel the love for this weekend's epic conference tilt against A&M. I'm not suggesting Tiger Nation not embrace what's going on. I'm merely suggesting the program reach higher. Broadening a recruiting base (something assisted by aggressive scheduling) can help a program achieve consistency beyond 1-2 seasons. There's nothing wrong with making a trek to MU on Saturday as much a tradition as it is in Athens, Columbus, Austin or Norman. A downtrodden program would never think about pursuing tougher competition. Pinkel has laid a foundation. It's OK to build on it.