Pop Off Valve, for IndyCar fans

"I just pretty much blow stuff like [well-founded criticism] out the window to be honest with you. That’s where it belongs. Everybody has their own opinion and I’m not one to let that get me down. I know how [manager] Ozzie [Guillen] and my teammates feel about me, how they have confidence in me.’’ "I guess they’re looking at previous years, or previous times where I was put out there on this level,’’ Wise said. "You know, 2000 or 2002, where they’re just looking on the back of my baseball card. It’s 2009 now, it’s not 2000, and I could care less what negativity people want to throw my way. I feel like I’m ready. "It might not have happened as quickly I was wanted it to, but now I’m ready.’’

Ha! A pun! "Since winning the national title in 2002, Williams has signed just two prospects ranked among the nation’s top 50 in Rivals.com’s annual recruiting rankings. Even worse, critics said, is that he continues to show little interest in high-level players who attend high school less than an hour from Maryland’s campus." Article is very critical, but it's still a good read to hear that side of the argument. I don't think anyone will argue that Gary doesn't like to recruit, but it's a bit of overkill.