LTS

Watched only part of the first game from O'Hare. I'll miss today's game watching my son play baseball. The sports gods do not want me viewing Buffalo sports teams right now.

Tonight I played Beer League hockey with my son. One of the more important bucket list items in my life has been checked. Cloud Nine ain't got nothing for me.

I'm not surprised people have an issue with this. But it was always going to be Okposo. Tuch is a flashy new toy. He absolutely embodies many aspects of a leader. He's an absolute symbol of the WNY region (we'll include Baldwinsville here). But Tuch is also young. He's also not been with the team for a long time. None of this is a negative towards him. Tuch will be the out front, emotional leader of this team. He may be the future "C". And that's a good thing. There's a lot of talk about Cozens, and many others. Having a team of leaders is a great problem to have. It's not like having too many chefs in the kitchen. Having a team that holds themselves and each other accountable is how you build a winner. So credit to Okposo who has literally put his health on the line for this team. A person who came in as the highest sought after UFA and then had to deal with the tire fire that was the Sabres. Throughout it all he's been nothing but class off the ice and effort and results on the ice. It's not a step backward... clubs recognize those who built the foundation, players know who built the foundation. This team is just fine and in due time the leadership will pass... good teams have an abundance of leaders, it's a great problem to have.

I went through Safesport training a few years back. In it they discuss how to identify signs of grooming and quite frankly the whole training feels like a guidebook on how to be a sexual predator. Every year I had to do the training it gave me the absolute creeps to even think in those ways. I'm not going to pass judgment on anyone, that's for some other investigative body to do... but just hearing the term "grooming" makes me sick at this point.

Whether they do or not I am not sure. I know it's not part of the testing protocol that I linked.

Just to add. Fubo does not have Turner Broadcast networks.. so you won't get anything on TNT. You would however get MSG. Fubo is my option. I have ESPN+ but they apparently do a great job of blocking SurfShark VPN endpoints.. the app straight up will not work on my Firestick when I have the VPN enabled. The only solution where I would get all games would be Spectrum, but they can take their $21/month broadcast surcharge (aka. you pay for local channels) and stick it.

How many 5 second penalties are issued though? It's not that many. Everyone knows they were issued too, so you plan for that during the race. Just like Red Bull assumed Perez was going to get a safety car penalty and managed to get a 7.5 second lead over Leclerc before the end of the race. I understand about the post race penalties and I do agree that F1 should have figured it out while the race was happening. If you want the black flag or even the drive through you are no longer talking about a 5 second penalty. You are now talking about a 20+ second penalty given the pit lane speed limit. In addition, by requiring more pit stops you increase the risk to the pit crews. I think the gravel aspect is interesting but many tracks operate in different configuration for different racing series, so it's not possible to have gravel in ALL corners. The heavy fines won't impact that top tier teams. Taking away points is already something that can happen and effectively does with a 5 second penalty issued after the race. I'm not sure what violation warrants suspension however. I think they probably have something for that if the violation committed was severe enough. Overall I understand where you are coming from. I just don't think, because of the way operates a race, that it's possible to implement some of the items you are suggesting without there being larger impacts, especially when it comes to 5 second penalties.

Last year ESPN+ had all Sabres games that were not nationally televised. You just get blacked out if you are in the home or away market of the team they are playing. Not sure where Sarasota would fall in that blackout rule. This year COULD be different.

The exam performed during the game does not involve imaging. It's a question and answer test that is scored. I linked it above but you can look up SCAT Version 5 As a doctor I would think you could just get someone to prescribe you uppers if you wanted them. 😉

Perhaps this article will help: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/09/30/dr-allen-sills-tua-tagovailoa-was-checked-every-day-leading-up-to-thursdays-game/ I'm not sure what else I can say. Bottom line, if you don't want to believe the CMO of the NFL then you are insinuating he's lying. No one seems to be calling him out on his statements about how the NFL handles things. I would expect the CMO to be very aware and involved with an event of this magnitude. And I would also say there are two protocols to be discussed. The first is the protocol to detect a concussion, the second is the one to be followed when a concussion has been diagnosed. So, as far as I can tell, they are following their protocol to diagnose a concussion. They might have even gone further than normal because of the controversy surrounding his return to play. You are asking why they are testing a guy if he doesn't have the injury and I am saying, they are doing it to determine if he has the injury. Not all concussions are detected immediately. It is possible to take hours/days. https://nyulangone.org/conditions/concussion/diagnosis In game procedure: https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/resources/fact-sheets/nfl-head-neck-and-spine-committee-s-concussion-diagnosis-and-management-protocol More on SCAT: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/early/2017/04/26/bjsports-2017-097506SCAT5.full.pdf Including this warning: As a matter of practice I think it's safe to say that Tagovailoa should not have been allowed to re-enter the game. The NFL clearly does not take concussions seriously and never has. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Tackle football has one of the highest concussion rates (https://completeconcussions.com/concussion-research/concussion-rates-what-sport-most-concussions/) and football is already seeing a decline in participation because of head injuries, among other things: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerpielke/2020/01/28/the-decline-of-football-is-real-and-its-accelerating/?sh=16682f022f37. They have to figure out how to protect their lucrative business (for both owners and players) while balancing health. As outsiders to the sport it's easy for us to say what should happen. However, for those making millions of dollars or hoping to, football is all they've known. They've dedicated their lives to it and they don't want it taken away. We talk about the toughness of hockey players who get stitched up and return to play. It's the same mentality that dismisses a brain injury, right, wrong, or indifferent.

Perhaps I am misreading things. But it seems you are optimistic? The optimism for me is that this team is different than other teams. It's not built on free agents. It's built on solid drafting, development, and what appears to be very good coaching. The team looks more composed. They play more as a team. They might lack the talent across the board to take it to the playoff level. I'm okay with that because rather than talking about 26-30 year olds who lack the talent we're talking about 21-24 year olds. They are the ones who grow, and so I remain optimistic that they will continue to grow. We've seen it from a few players so far and there's nothing to suggest the next batch of young players won't follow suit. That's my optimism. Also.. I am just sick of being negative about the team. 🙂 It's draining constantly looking for reasons they won't succeed and nit-picking every decision. If they lose, they lose. If they absolutely stink I'll find other things to do. If they win.. excellent. If that makes me less of a fan I am okay with that because I'd rather be a happy person than a miserable fan.

What exactly are they supposed to figure out? I get your list of complaints, are you saying there shouldn't be track limit rules? The cost cap and engine penalties are related.. it's a salary cap, we're used to those. Track limits is a lot easier, don't go over the white line with all 4 wheels.. anywhere. If they didn't tell you about the investigations you'd likely not be complaining. Most of them result in no further action. It's the broadcast making you aware of them. Now, coincidentally and quite interestingly.. I came across this: https://www.si.com/nascar/2022/09/27/kevin-harvick-aspects-f1-that-nascar-needs-cameras-under-investigation-shorter-races

I explained it.. or thought I had. They tested him to reconfirm the decision to put him back in the game. Farce or not, lies or not. That's the whole point. Everyone claims he had a concussion... except. The independent neuro examiner (who clearly screwed up but would still have the job if Tua had not been knocked out against the Bengals) The team, coach, all of them. And to reinforce their point they said he was tested every day and passed every day. I'm not sure why you are getting all heated over it. The protocol is a joke, I don't think anyone is arguing that. You only need to look at the comments of John Harbaugh and his decision on Duvernay in week 2 against the Dolphins to get a good understanding of how it should have been handled. And perhaps he did pass the exam. I'm not saying its probable, but perhaps he did. You can believe whatever you want, but until some proof indicates otherwise, that's what we have to go on.

Well, then you can chime in on who you think are worse. My initial argument was that Dunleavy was not necessarily the worst and even then the phrase "and it's not even close" was used which was wholly inaccurate. I was asked which announcers I think are worse but I could not name them because I don't keep track of that. I am glad you do. But I still think Dunleavy is bottom tier. Razor is... a class of his own.

If you read the quote it said the Independent Neuro Expert had to clear him. I'm not sure why, not sure it matters. However, just because he passed the test doesn't mean they wouldn't perform additional tests to confirm. You don't have to be in the concussion protocol to get tested. Perhaps they were doing it as a CYA to him re-entering the game?

So the prevailing assumption is that now, in 5 days, two doctors in Miami, and a medical staff in Cincinnati have both basically covered up a concussion or multiple concussions? There's a lot of presumption here. I don't see what benefit the medical staff at a hospital have in covering anything up. Their reputation is on the line and they know this. They are not in Miami, they are in the opposing city. I get the emotion of what we've seen. But there has to be a point where the conspiracy theory falls apart right? I could understand the theories behind the Bills game. I think that's a process that's prone to being sidestepped. However to insinuate that a hospital would take that kind of risk on something so public is a stretch. I want to underscore, passing the concussion test doesn't mean there isn't something else going on. I have not followed up on any released medical statements (although they are private, so we might not know). However, I don't see the hospital staff releasing him unless they found nothing of concern on the tests they performed. That said, I think Tagovailoa should be getting some additional tests done. Clearly something is going on with both hits in the past 5 days. The physical response to both indicates that clearly.

I can't at the moment. I don't actually make a note and keep a list of things that suck. I prefer not to keep that kind of knowledge in my long term memory. I will however take note as I come across them this season. Interesting question, with sat radio I assume you are getting the radio broadcast of the hockey game versus the TV coverage broadcast? Not sure how many have different teams for both, etc. I want to say nearly all ESPN announcers last year were awful, as in truly terrible. I think only Buccigross was tolerable, perhaps one other person. Jack Edwards is an absolute tool, but he calls the game. It's when he injects his opinions that it goes off the rails. Just to reiterate, I don't like DD.. not even a bit. He's in the bottom of tier of announcing.

Of course it's fine to not like DD. I don't like DD. But that's not what my reply was about... more below. Agreed. The only reason I responded was you said he was the worst "and it's not even close." Which.. is clearly not the case you indicated above. But DD is bad.. real bad. I'd prefer lots of others.. but I also remember John Gurtler. So.. I'm not as concerned about DD... yet.

I'm not sure if you've actually sampled all the play by play around the league, including some of the national networks. At worst it's very close, but I wouldn't consider him the worst, probably not even the second worst. There are some really bad play by play announcers out there.

I picked your comment, but it really applies to the whole debate. The fundamental issue that I see is that the playing conditions are NOT equal for the teams in Miami. The broadcast crew immediately alluded to the renovations on Hard Rock stadium that put the Dolphins in the shade for the whole game and the Bills in the sun. Playing in the heat it a thing, but it should at least be an equal thing. With snow and cold, both teams play in it. Imagine if the visiting team did not get a heated bench, heaters, etc. That would be almost the equivalent. Overall, you deal with the weather, but I do think there's some level of shenanigans with the roof at Hard Rock. Yes. They had pressure all game with their front 4 and decided instead to drop off and allow Miami's talented receivers to find holes in Buffalo's inexperienced secondary. It was a very, very bad play call.

How many of those people in the rich history were UFAs during the season they were named captain? Why do you think they would not, nay ABSOLUTELY would not retain half his salary? Seems a rather odd point to be absolute on. And yes.. KO is a leader, but the conversation wasn't about him being a leader.

Well, I did say so. The question is, was the my reading of your position on this accurate? Do you believe that someone just sitting there observing is interfering with the job someone is performing? I can live with that.

I don't know who they choose. I would suspect they will lean heavily on the players themselves as this year presents an interesting situation. Okposo is a UFA. Naming him "C" presents an interesting look at the trade deadline. Will Okposo want to be moved to a cup contender? There's no doubt someone in the playoffs will take him, especially when the Sabres retain 50% of his salary. Do you trade your "C"? Does he come back next season, at a lower cap hit, anyway? I think all of that plays into who the "C" is. If they name Okposo "C" then I believe there's a good chance he's told the Sabres that either he doesn't want to be moved OR he's coming back next year, no matter what. Otherwise it seems like a silly move to name an interim "C" which is effectively what Okposo would be. Now, if the Sabres are making the playoffs that changes the discussion.

The top lines of those teams featured far more established players than what the Sabres have. We have to hope the Sabres top lines gets to a few players that are near a PPG. The Blues were an exception in my book. They basically rode the new coach (Berube) and a hot goalie (Binnington). They've not even come close to sniffing the same success since then. The Lightning are 100% how you want your team to be built.. as were the Penguins. You have to get the right players to produce. The hope is the Sabres get that out of their drafting. My point though, they built the top lines.. and then they still played players like Girgensons. The Blues would be more like the Sabres are at this point, but they had the hot goalie (Comrie?) and potentially the perfect timing in the league.. who knows. They still had players like Girgensons. I don't buy into Hockey Canada.. all-star games are a completely different beast. You don't need a hard-checking 4th line because you are icing an all-star D squad and all-star goaltending. Most hockey teams don't have that and so need a line that can shutdown players. It's improbable tthat a team has 4 scoring line depth that will be effective against another team when that talent will have usually jumped to another team (so as to not be on the 4th line).

Was reading stuff this morning all over the Internet and wanted to drop in and add to the well wishes. Brutal storm.