...

PHEW!

Absolutely. Next year will rock.

Word.

WTF.

WTF.

Again, the Sabres PP looks a lot more confident and poised. ...when the entry is successful, that is.

They really are, especially when contrasted against a crappy team such as ours. Just an obvious higher level of play.

The 3 and 4 lines will save the game!

Pull the goalie! Travesty!

Well, well, isn't this an interesting microcosm of the world today. The self-anointed elite have determined for themselves what is so, and are pre-emptively insulting and belittling those whose point-of-view is different. The self-determined intellectually superior, the self-proclaimed tolerant, are so clever and so open-minded they are shutting out possibilities. And why? Because these possible realities simply don't mesh with their world-view, their values, the thoughts that keep them comfortable. Using the media, and this is media, they announce their position, and belittle any opposing view, forcing the casual observer to make a choice: do I want to be belittled by contradicting the self-anointed elite? Do I want to be "that guy" whom the self-declared brain-trust descends upon with vitriol and scorn because I do not agree with their conclusions. The weak will, and do, cave to this. Unlike politics, what is there to gain in defending the NHL (willy nilly)? Nothing, other than it reinforces the value-set of those defending it, reinforces their self-begotten social position, reinforces a pecking-order. Whatever. The evidence is clear. There is no way to determine whether this lottery drawing is honest or manipulated. No way. And there are compelling arguments for either side. But, if you choose to not believe it is legit, be prepared to be mocked, insulted and run down until you change your mind - that is the American way!

It may take Taro and a few others a couple of weeks to get used to normal NHL speak after the CHL season is over.

I'm going to have to charge a fee for that.

You have been following along, no?

If one were to have evolved from old mores and beliefs using reason and logic, one could be said to be "enlightened", hence "The Age of Enlightenment". But you're welcome to protect the old ways in your own manner, I will not judge you for that. I figured someone would pick up on the strategy here eventually.

That's fine, that's your choice. But don't hate on people who choose to express their feelings and thoughts in the moment when, as we've established, it's the honest, and enlightened, thing to do.

It's not hypocritical, it's honest. You are clinging to this archaic notion of what a fan is supposed to be like, when in truth, fandom has evolved. If the team is doing something on the ice that goes against their best interest, you shouldn't cheer them on as if you don't notice, you should boo them to express your honest thoughts and feelings. Cheering for the team to win when you really want them to lose is what's hypocritical.

No it's not. I have no dispute rooting for the team to lose. Apparently, though, lots of people seem to not like that and want to tell folks like me that my fandom is hollow or unprincipled. So, if there's a dispute, it's one-sided. And the arguments against rooting for the team to lose are very much based on these nebulous morals and principles. It's ironic that, if your premise is true, the morals and principles don't affect the team whatsoever, all they seem to affect are the other fans. So, in other words, you're saying the players are playing for themselves and the contracts despite the fans even during a Cup-winning season (which, btw, logically supports rooting against them during a home game). My question is, then, why do you, or deluca, or any other anti-tank zealot give one whit what other people think? Why bother wasting your time trying to tell others how crappy they are when it doesn't matter at all? Why does Paul Hamilton even bother asking the question to players after the game? Isn't playing only for each other and contracts as morally and principally deprived as cheering against them at home, if you're so inclined to make that argument in the first place (and you have all season)? Tell me, why NOT openly cheer against them during home games if they're only playing for each other and contracts? Who is less wrong? Oh, forgot to ask, if this is a matter of morals and principles, then where is your tolerance and understanding? Why aren't you tolerant and understanding of others' thoughts and manner of expression? Why do you feel the need to thrust your values upon others? Hands up, don't shoot!

Question: so, if the players don't care about the fans, why should we care about the moral/principled arguments against cheering against them?

Well, then perhaps you should remind yourself of that the next time you have a snarky comment for the tankers; no sense trolling the community unless you just feel like trolling. Also, you should PM this news to deluca, you might save him from having a stroke.

Hmm, really? Riddle me this: why did Mike Weber throw his fit the other day then, if this is true? What's with all of the high-and-mighty "you can't cheer the other team in your own barn" talk? If the players don't give a crap, and the game is all about the players, then WTF are you doing even taking the time to write that lengthy post? If the players don't care, and if the fans don't really matter, because we're sheep, then WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Does this just say it all. I'm sure the Sabres won't have any problems replacing you. Hmm, I wonder which one "says it all"...yours or Callaway's.

I think fans CAN and DO understand the nuance, but the point is the fans want McEichel. They want to bask in the glow of a generational talent who will oooh and ahhh them for many seasons to come. That is the payment for respectfully accepting the tank. Sabres fans want their team to be THAT team with all of the bells and whistles. And, yes, it does smack of entitlement. I don't know if I disagree with the sentiment. Buffalo sports fans have put up with, and supported faithfully, and awful lot of dreck.

This has to be my favorite by far...

Good. Good. Yes...good. Good! Seconded, or maybe a "hear-hear" by this time since it took me a while to actually post this. I think you and dudacek are being a little snobbish on this point. The payoff for the fans accepting and living through the tank is McEichel. The payoff for season ticket holders is McEichel. You don't sell McEichel and, in the end, do not get him. Sure, there ARE other ways to build a team. This was the early anti-tank argument, and it's true. And, I would say, applies once picks 1 and 2 are not available to you. But...BUT...we were sold McEichel. Actually, we were sold, and have been sold, McDavid. McDavid played here, I believe a few times in the last year. Murray's comments, manipulated by the media or not, have been largely about McDavid. The argument stands that if there are other ways to build a team, and there are, why tank and put the entire community through this if you are not going to succeed. And, whether you as individuals think so or not, the tank has been about McDavid, with Eichel added later to sweeten the pot and make the entire effort more palatable. Success to, I would say, most Sabres fans, is McEichel. Do not stare down your noses at the masses here and complain that they do not understand the nuance of the situation. The situation, and the stakes, were and are clear. With all due respect, of course. As you may have noticed, this tank has really left its mark on our little rust belt community. Again, why put everyone through this misery in the first place and then fail? That's not nothing.

So, by mistake, I turned on my vehicle tonight and discovered I left the radio on. Before turning it off, I heard Kozial read a tweet (paraphrased) "The Sabres are winning because they finally have a common enemy to rally against; the fans..." At that point, I figured turning off the radio, or NOT coming here, before watching the replay, was foolish because it was obvious the Sabres won.