SDS

So basically you have decided to double down on ignorance? They did not "offer" a premeditated quote. There wasn't a staff meeting on how to answer the travel blog writer. Mike answered a simple innocuous question. I later spoke to the author on the phone and your interpretation is wrong. He is a Sabres fan. He was there. He knows exactly the context of everything that was said. Although I'm not going to make public what he really said, to paraphrase using my own words, every single thing you said about the situation is garbage. Utter garbage. Your insistence in using any words from that article against the Buffalo Sabres is your insistence to lie about the organization. And this is the garbage that I'm tired of having on Sabrespace.

Is it interesting? Have you ever been critical of Sabres management? Have you ever been warned? I wonder what percentage of posters here have been critical - even highly critical of the Sabres management in the last 10 years...? If you told me it was close to 100% I would believe it. How many people do you think were warned for doing so? If you told me 2 - I would believe that too. 100,000's posts and I bet that number comes in at 2-3. So, if you find that interesting, well you're an odd duck. What smacks of money making? Do you mean like Pegulaville?

Revisiting the original post...

I just exchanged emails with Lorne Opler. I asked him specifically about the question/context around Mike's Stanley Cup dream killing words... The poor guy is rightfully confused as hell as to why anyone would require clarification on that article... Apparently Lorne didn't find Mike's comments "indefensible"...

Or death by a million bitter posts tearing down a team you claim to love, but despise at every turn, regardless if they actually did anything despiteful in the first place. You admittedly knew this would be a "hot topic" because you enjoy being a troll. "Hot topics" don't originate from puff pieces in the travel section of local newspapers, unless someone is willing to bend and twist the situation to illicit that hot reaction you know all so well. That's the definition of a troll - a person who writes inflammatory posts to create a negative reaction. It is what you do. Some tolerate it. Some find it tiresome and get chased away. If you can't stand the site then find something else that you do enjoy. It's not unprecedented. This is supposed to be a place of enjoyment and despite the constant animosity you show us - we do try to make this a place where everyone can enjoy themselves. How many people do you think have silently left because they no longer enjoyed the daily drumbeat of two guys endlessly ruining thread after thread bashing the front office? Although the phrasing of LGR4GM's outburst was inappropriate and was rightfully warned about it, I hope everyone stops for a second to think about WHY he reacted like that. It wasn't random. He doesn't have Turrets. There are two sides to every story. He happened to have reached the end of his tolerance for those juicy "hot topics" like scores of others before him. Most others just log-off and leave... many for good. Just give that a thought. Not everyone has the ability to dismiss this junk every day, forever. I spoke to Mike Gilbert tonight. You know - to actually get some facts instead of building a daily straw man to knockdown and piss the word "Pegulaville" over it. (Everyone knows the original poster certainly meant "Pegulaville" as a term of endearment, not derision - right? Because what type of person would deride the attempted rebirth of a region that is going on in Buffalo? Something to ponder.) Anyways... The author, Lorne, is from Buffalo, who lives in Toronto. As a freelance writer, he probably gets about $100 an article. He got an idea for easy money writing a puff piece for the travel section of the online paper for Hamilton and gave Mike a call 2 months ago asking if he could come in and get some information about the Harborcenter. Mike said: - Lorne contacted him two months ago and requested information regarding a local destination travel piece he was writing (He was probably home for Thanksgiving as he is from Buffalo but lives in Toronto) - The Sabres did NOT initiate contact with Lorne. - Mike sent him to a lower level employee who provided the details Lorne requested for his article. (If people are unfamiliar with the style of destination travel pieces - try reading some. It's formula. It sounded like a press release because that's the nature of the genre. The Sabres provided the information as requested, but Lorne was responsible for the final copy. If you don't like the fact that it sounded like a press release then blame him.). - Lorne asked Mike a few questions because he wanted another voice for the article. - The article does not say what question elicited Mike's response, nor did I ask Mike. (Probably an important fact before one criticizes the response. Not hard to imagine Mr. Travel writer guy asking a question specifically about Leaf fans that required him to directly answer about Leaf fans. A shocking assertion.). - Mike the VP of Public and Community Relations chose/choses to welcome all hockey fans to enjoy a game at Harborcenter. (It is what they do in community relations - welcome the community.) - 18% of all sales come from SO/Hamilton. Most are Sabres fans (he presumes), but there are Montreal/Toronto fans too. Fans of the game are welcome. Period. (as if there is any other acceptable answer here from the Community Relations guy) - Notes that atmosphere at the arena much more lively when the Leafs play and it makes for a better experience for everyone in attendance. (Kudos to those who mentioned this) - He wishes all games could have a similar atmosphere, but recognizes that they don't. - Says the Sabres lose money. - Marketing department had nothing to do with that article. Strictly a Community Relations response to an information inquiry from a Toronto-based travel writer wanting to highlight the Harborcenter. So, that's the big bad boogieman for you. Those incompetent front office buffoons... Two guys do their job in the least noteworthy way possible, one quotes the other (and edits to the greatest appeal of his target audience while not providing any context) and some see that as another opening to create a "hot topic" to cast another round of aspersions on the franchise. Because, you know, everyone goes waaaaaay out of their way to constantly crap on something they "love" - right? My only question is what could possibly be next? The national anthem singer has already been outed as a problem. Hard-hitting travel writers have exposed the wretched underbelly of the beast. I'm guessing someone will notice Terry's farts smell like Philly cheesesteaks and not Frank's hot sauce. Selling out to the Broad Street Bullies? Who could possibly doubt it...

There are also 60 NHL goalies taking the place of 60 borderline skaters. However, a proper team needs to have all skill sets covered. I might. Not in the least bit because it is my 1st name. :)

We loved it. The issue some people have is that the original story arc was not meant to last more than 2 (possibly 3) seasons. However, it was so successful, they needed to draw out the story. Most episodes were great, but the occasional fillers can be easily spotted. The value of the series though was really in the after episode discussion as the series is filled with symbolism and objects in search of explanation. Binge watching it alone (without friends and the internet talking about it) loses that aspect. You could read for hours and hours on end about all the theories and symbolism in the episodes. So, I thought it was great, but we watched it in real time. You will lose something if you don't look for discussions as you watch...

I guess he isn't scoring there either...

Imagine his reaction to Terry, upon buying the team, if he said in the news conference, "I loved the Sabres back in the 70's... The French Connection, or whatever they were called, were my heroes..."?

:rolleyes: The only thing embarassing is your insistence on being Mr. Contrary to everything. You do such an awesome job or word-parsing/smithing every word from the front office, why don't you take a whack at that one? As the kids say... gg

Like Eichel's 1st goal yesterday?

Ted probably doesn't know that dump and chase is a system of play. He also probably doesn't know what systems of play are.

Monahan was the steal of that draft...

this could be said of either team, in any game, in the history of the NHL.

So, you want a gigantic reward, but don't want to pay for it/assume the commensurate risk?

ha. I was actually more curious about the food processing. I would be more willing to buy different brands if I actually knew where they came from. Maybe I should be looking for a made in Rochester, NY line on the label.

So, how do the workers know about the quality/taste of the products? Do they give samples? Do they have focus groups in the factory?

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2014/12/11/lidestri-foods-innovation/20234421/

They were bleaching meat and fish to get rid of the spoiled smell and repackaging it. I think that was about 20 years ago in the 1990's...

Nah. That was my fault. The brevity didn't convey my off the cuff "hey did you know" remark.

John Vogl follows us on Twitter. I use to play hockey with one of his best friends here in MD.

I thought it was an interesting fact. You may not....

Hi, Welcome to Wegmans. I'm Carrie... How may I assist you?

Why is that? They have to talk about 2 sports teams for 3-4 hours every day, week after week, month after month, year after year. I assume they scour all sorts of places looking for interesting topics that fans are talking about.

The band name is: Eagles... lowercase "t" on "the"...