My thoughts are that a reunion is not close to happening and if i had to bet my life on it I would say that the odds are quite low. There are really two comments I'd like to make regarding this topic.

I've been around these message boards (most loyal to here, of course) since the late 1990s. I've been around long enough to see at least a few patterns in ebs and flows of the conversation and buzz surrounding this band. These are the things I noticed.

1) Hardcore Gn'R fans have been soooo deprived of any stimulation from this band for so long that sometimes we create our own stimulation. As optimistic as I would like to be about a possible reunion, I think the latest swing in optimism is self-stimulation from a group of people starved for stimulation and a need to find some reason to continue to justify following this band.

2) Hardcore Gn'R fans suffer from a rare from abuse, and like many abused fans we blame ourselves and come back for more only for the same cycle to repeat.

I honestly expect more of the same....long, dormant periods followed by tours/Vegas type stuff. As I understand it, all of these players were employees of Gn'R, not really members of a band as you and I would define them. Their 'leaving' may just be a way to save money. I honestly never understood paying DJ, Robin, Bumble...etc....for years of dormancy. I don't know how many years Axl has in him. Also, I feel like if he really gave a crap about being creative, he would have produced a bit more than he has produced at this point. So in terms of new material....I really don't think he gives a crap about it. He may like to tinker, and play around in the studio...but to take it to the point producing a professional piece of art....I just don't think he cares about it. It's easy to just do nostalgia acts for HUGE paydays.

I don't blame him for it either.

I remember James posting several times over the years that he thought perhaps the creativity pump had run dry after the illusions. I can't remember his thought process on that...maybe he could reiterate it for us if he is so inclined.

So sadly, no...I don't believe a reunion will happen.

I think axl should leave the band now too....who would that leave?

Man....never knew what a sleaze Doug could be....

And all this conjuring up of scenarios feels so sad to me, partly because they all seem like things that could have actually happened.

But honestly...what it really feels like is going back to the tombstone of a long lost departed close friend. I can't believe how much time has passed. We all keep coming back to this forum to revisit tombstones.

When I discovered GNR I was a freshman in high school and the year was 1997. It had only been 4 years since their last concert, and I had such hopes of reconciliation, realistically thinking that by my senior year of high school, something would certainly change.

All we've been left with is rehash upon rehash relating to even some of the most behind the scenes characters of the story.

Anyway, I feel a deep sense of meloncholly after reading this thread from its very first post. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same.

Honestly, I listen to sports radio and pay attention to the sports news on a regular basis here in Chicago, and I've heard nothing about the whole one ball thing. Maybe I just missed it, but I have not heard anything about it.

I think the patriots will be pardoned because it's in the best interest of the NFL to put this behind them.

If I'm completely honest...I don't care about the ever so slightly deflated balls. I just wish that they didn't feel that they had to bend/break rules when they are already arguably the best franchise of my life time.

For the record....I don't criticize the Hawks for the play call either. You should pass when a team is in goal line D and the O has three wide outs.