Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Jumbo on April 21, 2010, 02:48:40 PM
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5121614 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5121614)
Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games on Wednesday for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the NFL announced.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback also was ordered to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation. Commissioner Roger Goodell will evaluate Roethlisberger's progress before the season and might consider reducing the suspension to four games.
“
In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track.
”
-- Roger Goodell, in letter to Ben Roethlisberger
However, a failure to comply with the NFL's ruling might lead to a longer suspension.
Roethlisberger is barred from attending any Steelers offseason activity after Wednesday until he completes the evaluation. He can participate in training camp and preseason games this summer as long as he is cleared by the evaluators and Goodell.
The Steelers have begun contacting teams to see if they would be willing to trade a top 10 pick for Roethlisberger, an NFL source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
At least one team, and possibly more, have fielded a call from the Steelers and debated the trade internally, the source said.
But any team that trades for Roethlisberger wanted to officially hear how long he was suspended and what the conditions of his suspension would be before dealing for the quarterback.
Sitting out all six games would cost Roethlisberger an estimated $2.8 million.
The Steelers were also ordered to remit a portion of Roethlisberger's salary to the NFL for having two players suspended for violations of the league's personal conduct or drug policies. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes was suspended for four games before being traded to the New York Jets this month.
A second player being suspended requires the offending team to pay the NFL 25 percent of the second player's forfeited salary, with the maximum amount being $200,000.
Last month a 20-year-old college student accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub. Last week, prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger in the case.
"The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline 'even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime' as, for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person'," Goodell stated in his letter to Roethlisberger.
"As the District Attorney concluded, the extensive investigatory record shows that you contributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by purchasing (or facilitating the purchase of) alcoholic beverages for underage college students, at least some of whom were likely already intoxicated. There is no question that the excessive consumption of alcohol that evening put the students and yourself at risk. The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that 'undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.' By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard."
More excerpts from Goodell's letter to the Steelers quarterback:
• "I recognize that the allegations in Georgia were disputed and that they did not result in criminal charges being filed against you. My decision today is not based on a finding that you violated Georgia law, or on a conclusion that differs from that of the local prosecutor. That said, you are held to a higher standard as an NFL player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans."
• "Your conduct raises sufficient concerns that I believe effective intervention now is the best step for your personal and professional welfare."
• "I believe it is essential that you take full advantage of the resources available to you. My ultimate disposition in this matter will be influenced by the extent to which you do so, what you learn as a result, and a demonstrated commitment to making positive change in your life."
• "In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track."
Backup Plan
The Steelers are 5-5 in games not started by Ben Roethlisberger since 2004.
Blog: Dixon best option
QB Record
Charlie Batch 3-1
Tommy Maddox 2-3
Dennis Dixon 0-1
On Tuesday, the Steelers traded a seventh-round pick in this week's NFL draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for quarterback Byron Leftwich, adding depth to the position in anticipation of a possible Roethlisberger suspension.
Leftwich backed up Roethlisberger in 2008, when the Steelers won the Super Bowl. He knows offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' system and could be ready to play Sept. 12 when the Steelers open against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Steelers play three teams that didn't make the playoffs this past season -- the Falcons, Bucs and Tennessee Titans -- plus the division rival Baltimore Ravens in their first four games, a period that could span any Roethlisberger suspension.
Pittsburgh hosts the Cleveland Browns in its fifth game and travels to Miami to face the Dolphins in its sixth game. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5.
Pittsburgh already has third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon and longtime backup Charlie Batch under contract. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started only one NFL game but likely would compete with Leftwich in training camp to be the early-season starter if Roethlisberger is suspended.
Walker on Roethlisberger
Do not expect complaints from the Steelers over Ben Roethlisberger's 4-6 game suspension. ESPN.com's James Walker says the season can still be salvaged. Blog
The NFL and the Steelers were angered and embarrassed by the tawdry details of Roethlisberger's night out March 3.
In a statement to police, the 20-year-old college student said Roethlisberger encouraged her, and her friends, to take numerous shots of alcohol. Then one of his bodyguards escorted her into a hallway at the Capital City nightclub in Milledgeville, Ga., sat her on a stool and left. She said Roethlisberger walked down the hallway and exposed himself.
"I told him it wasn't OK, no, we don't need to do this and I proceeded to get up and try to leave," she said. "I went to the first door I saw, which happened to be a bathroom."
According to her statement, Roethlisberger then followed her into the bathroom and shut the door.
"I still said no, this is not OK, and he then had sex with me," she wrote.
Two of her friends said they saw a bodyguard lead her into the hallway and then saw Roethlisberger follow. They said they couldn't see their friend but knew she was drunk and were worried about her.
The statements were among hundreds of pages of the case file made public last week by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Last week, Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team would have imposed sanctions on Roethlisberger before now, but doing so would have permitted the players union to appeal any penalties. Any suspension imposed by Goodell can be appealed only to him.
Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl winner and the highest-paid player in franchise history with a $102 million contract, also is being sued in a civil case by a Nevada hotel employee who has accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2008.
Roethlisberger practiced Monday and Tuesday with the Steelers, but he did not talk with reporters.
NFL security was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, interviewing Roethlisberger's bodyguards, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
A Pennsylvania state trooper can't continue to work as a personal assistant to Ben Roethlisberger because he was there when the Pittsburgh Steelers star was accused of sexual assault in Georgia.
The Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday that Trooper Ed Joyner's outside work exceeded the scope of what was permitted. They also say "he is alleged to have demeaned the image" of the state police.
Joyner got the OK in 2005 to work as Roethlisberger's assistant. Police regulations require permission for any outside work for which troopers will receive compensation or "consideration."
Milledgeville is a central Georgia college town about 30 miles from where the quarterback owns a lake home.
Chris Mortensen is ESPN's senior NFL analyst. Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Interesting.
Speculation was for anything from 1-4, but nothing harsher than that.
Goodell ain't fuckin around here. I guess Pacman made him look stupid one too many times.
So....that leaves the Steelers playing Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch for the first half of the season, pretty much. Tough call.
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If I'm Rothlisberger, I walk into a bar, stop the music, grab the mic and annouce: "Hey. I'm Ben Rothlisberger, Super Bowl winning quarterback. I'm gonna be over in that booth there in the corner. Anybody wants to blow me or ride me like a cowboy, please form a single file line." And then I go to the booth and wait. The line will form. (This is sort of how I do things now, and it works).
That he'd have to "force" anything makes no sense to me.
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Interesting.
Speculation was for anything from 1-4, but nothing harsher than that.
Goodell ain't fuckin around here. I guess Pacman made him look stupid one too many times.
So....that leaves the Steelers playing Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch for the first half of the season, pretty much. Tough call.
Espn's reporting the Steelers are trying to trade Ben before the draft for a top 10 draft pick.
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Espn's reporting the Steelers are trying to trade Ben before the draft for a top 10 draft pick.
Fat fucking chance. They should have been working on this since the allegation was made. No one wants to touch a hot potato like Rapistberger right now, certainly not fresh on the heels of Rog's penality.
Why give up a top pick for a guy that won't be able to play immediately and will likely not change his ways?
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We ever see a picture of her?
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We ever see a picture of her?
Excellent question. I'll leave it to the google sleuths.
EDIT: I just did a quick search for "roethlisberger victim" and got plenty of pics of the sow he assaulted in Reno. Yeeeeouch. Benny's sporting some thick beer goggles when he parties.
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Excellent question. I'll leave it to the google sleuths.
EDIT: I just did a quick search for "roethlisberger victim" and got plenty of pics of the sow he assaulted in Reno. Yeeeeouch. Benny's sporting some thick beer goggles when he parties.
WOW. You ain't kidding.
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WOW. You ain't kidding.
That's her "good" side.
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Fat phuking chance. They should have been working on this since the allegation was made. No one wants to touch a hot potato like Rapistberger right now, certainly not fresh on the heels of Rog's penality.
Why give up a top pick for a guy that won't be able to play immediately and will likely not change his ways?
I don't think it's crazy at all. What are the drafting success odds for QBs in the NFL draft? I mean, out of all the QBs taken year after year after year, how many become a Roethlisberger? One in 100? Maybe even less?
If I was St Louis, I would be seriously considering it. If you could take Sam Bradford or Ben Roethlisberger in the upcoming draft, who would you take? I don't think it's really a question, even with the current cloud over him. Over the next 5-8 years, who will most likely win the most games for you?
You do have the public relations side of things to deal with. But you deal with it....you march him to the mic for a press conference in which he shares his deep sorrows of being a care-free, irresponsible young man who has let alcohol and pride cloud his judgment. He announces how he now understands that he has to grow up, be a mature, accountable adult.
Then a year goes by and he goes back to being Big Ben. Then, as the Rams, you have a Super Bowl, Pro-Bowl level talent running your team for the next 8-10 years (he's only 28). Think Kobe, but without the trial, and the adultery. He's recovered, and from a far worse incident I'd say.
And think of it financially. Stafford got a 6 year, $72 million deal last year (avg $12m per year), with $41+ million guaranteed. Ben is currently into an 8 year, $102 million deal (avg $12.75m per year). So you're additional investment in Ben would be negligible (especially considering that Pittsburgh has already paid down the total due).
You have a choice...for roughly the same money, you can sign a question mark, unproven, recently damaged college QB (a guy that is more likely to be on the Ryan Leaf end of things than Peyton Manning), or you can sign a proven, Super Bowl/Pro Bowl veteran that is still young.
There are arguments as to why you wouldn't want to do it too. But to me, the arguments for are pretty sound.
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If I'm Rothlisberger, I walk into a bar, stop the music, grab the mic and annouce: "Hey. I'm Ben Rothlisberger, Super Bowl winning quarterback. I'm gonna be over in that booth there in the corner. Anybody wants to blow me or ride me like a cowboy, please form a single file line." And then I go to the booth and wait. The line will form. (This is sort of how I do things now, and it works).
That he'd have to "force" anything makes no sense to me.
This. 100%.
Plus, I'm frequently told I look like him. Imagine me with millions of dollars, fame, and a Super Bowl ring as a quarterback.
:thumsup:
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This. 100%.
Plus, I'm frequently told I look like him. Imagine me with millions of dollars, fame, and a Super Bowl ring as a quarterback.
:thumsup:
Is this before or after your Puerto Rican girlfriend has whipped your ass?
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I don't think it's crazy at all. What are the drafting success odds for QBs in the NFL draft? I mean, out of all the QBs taken year after year after year, how many become a Roethlisberger? One in 100? Maybe even less?
If I was St Louis, I would be seriously considering it. If you could take Sam Bradford or Ben Roethlisberger in the upcoming draft, who would you take? I don't think it's really a question, even with the current cloud over him. Over the next 5-8 years, who will most likely win the most games for you?
You do have the public relations side of things to deal with. But you deal with it....you march him to the mic for a press conference in which he shares his deep sorrows of being a care-free, irresponsible young man who has let alcohol and pride cloud his judgment. He announces how he now understands that he has to grow up, be a mature, accountable adult.
Then a year goes by and he goes back to being Big Ben. Then, as the Rams, you have a Super Bowl, Pro-Bowl level talent running your team for the next 8-10 years (he's only 28).
And think of it financially. Stafford got a 6 year, $72 million deal last year (avg $12m per year), with $41+ million guaranteed. Ben is currently into an 8 year, $102 million deal (avg $12.75m per year). So you're additional investment in Ben would be negligible. You have a choice...for roughly the same money, you can sign a question mark, unproven, recently damaged college QB (a guy that is more likely to be on the Ryan Leaf end of things than Peyton Manning), or you can sign a proven, Super Bowl/Pro Bowl veteran that is still young.
There are arguments as to why you wouldn't want to do it too. But to me, the arguments for are pretty sound.
I agree with some of this. I think that I agree with a Steeler's fan's opinion I read this morning. To paraphrase: The Steelers SB victories were akin to the Raven's. Born of defense with a competent offense.
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Plus, I'm frequently told I look like him.
:thumsup:
So you are saying that everyone thinks your ugly.
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I agree with some of this. I think that I agree with a Steeler's fan's opinion I read this morning. To paraphrase: The Steelers SB victories were akin to the Raven's. Born of defense with a competent offense.
I could see that to some extent, but that's a Steeler fans view that comes with recently having to hate his QB. He has a little bit of selective memory. The Cardinals had just scored 16 straight points on that defense to take the lead with 2:30 to go. Two minutes later Roethlisberger had gone 5 of 7 for 84 yards and the game winning TD.
I think because of their defense, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they lost him, but for that fan to act like Ben is just "competent" is like the people who look back and act like Tuberville couldn't recruit for ten years based on his 2008 class. He's trying not to like Ben, so he's switched his interpretation of everything he's done from endorsing it to being indifferent to it.
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I could see that to some extent, but that's a Steeler fans view that comes with recently having to hate his QB. He has a little bit of selective memory. The Cardinals had just scored 16 straight points on that defense to take the lead with 2:30 to go. Two minutes later Roethlisberger had gone 5 of 7 for 84 yards and the game winning TD.
I think because of their defense, it wouldn't be the end of the world if they lost him, but for that fan to act like Ben is just "competent" is like the people who look back and act like Tuberville couldn't recruit for ten years based on his 2008 class. He's trying not to like Ben, so he's switched his interpretation of everything he's done from endorsing it to being indifferent to it.
That could be. Could be I'm looking for a reason to dislike the kid. How about not 1, but 2 sexual assault allegations in a year? Yeah, that'll do it. I dislike him.
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That could be. Could be I'm looking for a reason to dislike the kid. How about not 1, but 2 sexual assault allegations in a year? Yeah, that'll do it. I dislike him.
The fact that he has no better ho management skills than what he has should be what's most disconcerting. Wonder if I could contract to the NFL to teach these things?
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The fact that he has no better ho management skills than what he has should be what's most disconcerting. Wonder if I could contract to the NFL to teach these things?
I think we could teach that class for a pretty penny. Relative to what they'll pay in civil settlements, legal fees and lost wages (if convicted), we'd be a bargain.
The agents are CLEARLY not helping these kids adjust to professional life. They got their % and they're on to the next client.
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That could be. Could be I'm looking for a reason to dislike the kid. How about not 1, but 2 sexual assault allegations in a year? Yeah, that'll do it. I dislike him.
Not guilty.
Kaos laid out exhibit A. I laid out exhibit B.
I've been in the presence of a Super Bowl winner around females at a bar. He had ho's lined up. I doubt Ben is so far behind that that he has to force anyone to do anything.
Kobe didn't rape that bitch either.
Money grubbin' hoes will do anything for some cheddar and a little infamy.
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Not guilty.
Kaos laid out exhibit A. I laid out exhibit B.
I've been in the presence of a Super Bowl winner around females at a bar. He had ho's lined up. I doubt Ben is so far behind that that he has to force anyone to do anything.
Kobe didn't rape that bitch either.
Money grubbin' hoes will do anything for some cheddar and a little infamy.
I understand the perils of cleat-chasers (and Ben really ought to by this time as well).
BUUUUTTTTT....
Not guilty is a long cry from innocent. And an even further cry from "Fuck it, we ain't prosecutin."
Dude may just be making bad decisions, but it certainly has the looks of a pattern at this point.
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I understand the perils of cleat-chasers (and Ben really ought to by this time as well).
BUUUUTTTTT....
Not guilty is a long cry from innocent. And an even further cry from "Fuck it, we ain't prosecutin."
Dude may just be making bad decisions, but it certainly has the looks of a pattern at this point.
Fuck that bullshit, you know as well as I do that he didn't do anything wrong. Actually, they dropped the charges, so no rape. I bet $1,000,000 that they were throwing themselves at him. He should have a 0 game suspension.
On a side note, it is Roethlisberger Awareness month!!!@!@!
http://www.nsvrc.org/saam (http://www.nsvrc.org/saam)
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I understand the perils of cleat-chasers (and Ben really ought to by this time as well).
BUUUUTTTTT....
Not guilty is a long cry from innocent. And an even further cry from "phuk it, we ain't prosecutin."
Dude may just be making bad decisions, but it certainly has the looks of a pattern at this point.
No argument on him being a bit of a douche...and definitely not innocent. All my stuff was just from a football organization and winning stand point. If I were a Steelers fan, I think I would be alright with trading him. At least right now, in April. Come November I would probably be cussing the Rooney family as we sat mired in the middle at 6-6.
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I think Token will agree with me on this - for most guys who assault women, it is not about the sex, it is about the power trip. Who's to say Big Ben is not a power freak? Aggression is expected in a football player. Maybe the willing ones aren't enough for him.
Right after I was divorced, I was sexually assaulted - by a cop that I was dating. We had only gone out twice, and I probably would have slept with him eventually, but he decided that "eventually" was our third date. It was a pure power trip - he wanted me to fight him, and I did, and not in a good way. That's how he got off - literally. He did not rape me, but it was close. Very similar to this situation - drinking, some making out before he made his move - so was it assault? I said no to him, so to me it was, but could I have proven it? Nope. Plus, he was a cop - like I could have gotten a fair shake from his asshole buddies in the department. To top it off, we worked together. He bragged about it to his cop friends too. Freaked me out. I moved to Houston two months later.
OK - so that was random and cathartic.
Anyway, I think Goodell is absolutely right in every thing he wrote. The NFL assholes can either shape up or forfeit the privilege of playing football. Fuck them - being an athlete does not give someone the right to hurt anyone, regardless of the circumstances.
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So, how did Rapistberger not get charged with purchasing alcohol for a minor (or whatever that charge is called) or was that one of the charges that was dropped?
(http://static.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/andrea-mcnulty-image_249x370.jpg)
Andrea McNulty (Lake Tahoe)
I can't find a name or picture of the young girl out of Georgia....I'm guessing that there won't be any released.
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I want to know what bathroom they were in...the women's or the men's. I know she was drunk as shit but if you go with a guy into the men's room...well you have a pretty good idea that something, probably you, is about to go down.
Where the fuck were her friends?
Either way, I agree that the whole pattern of behavior thing is damning...and I am convinced that Ben really is a douchebag on several levels. He doesn't tip service people. That's enough evidence for me.
Fuck him.
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I want to know what bathroom they were in...the women's or the men's. I know she was drunk as shit but if you go with a guy into the men's room...well you have a pretty good idea that something, probably you, is about to go down.
Where the fuck were her friends?
Either way, I agree that the whole pattern of behavior thing is damning...and I am convinced that Ben really is a douchebag on several levels. He doesn't tip service people. That's enough evidence for me.
Fuck him.
He gives people that have sex in shitter stalls a bad name.
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So, how did Rapistberger not get charged with purchasing alcohol for a minor (or whatever that charge is called) or was that one of the charges that was dropped?
(http://static.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/andrea-mcnulty-image_249x370.jpg)
Andrea McNulty (Lake Tahoe)
I can't find a name or picture of the young girl out of Georgia....I'm guessing that there won't be any released.
Not attractive.
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I don't really like Ben, but I have to say 6 games is a crock of shit for something one has not been convicted of. Is being charged with murder worse than this? Yet we have not seen this type of suspension given to one found not guilty of murder. I think Ben is a douche, but is it the NFL's place to punish where there has been no conviction? This is a bad precedence in that ANYONE can accuse a player of ANYTHING and it doesn't matter what the law is, the NFL commissioner is judge and jury. That is TOO much power. There should be a committee or panel that decides this type of thing, not one man. I felt 2 to 3 games would have been harsh. This is just a power trip for Goodell.
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I don't really like Ben, but I have to say 6 games is a crock of shit for something one has not been convicted of. Is being charged with murder worse than this? Yet we have not seen this type of suspension given to one found not guilty of murder. I think Ben is a douche, but is it the NFL's place to punish where there has been no conviction? This is a bad precedence in that ANYONE can accuse a player of ANYTHING and it doesn't matter what the law is, the NFL commissioner is judge and jury. That is TOO much power. There should be a committee or panel that decides this type of thing, not one man. I felt 2 to 3 games would have been harsh. This is just a power trip for Goodell.
Uh...they're not government employees. These guys get ridiculous paychecks and all Rog is asking is that they not be out fucking up and tarnishing the brand that he is charged with protecting. If you get accused twice in a year for the same thing, you're doing something to invite the allegations.
Ben should sit home, count his $100M, and order hookers if he needs to get laid.
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(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/9494/roflbot3adj.jpg)
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(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/9494/roflbot3adj.jpg)
:pwnd: