gohansrage

Are you close enough to London that you are feeling the buzz? Is there a buzz? What's the energy like?

It was an upset at the World Cup but the japanese then went out and came in second the next major tournament (Algarve Cup) It's not snarky, it's a fair question. Germany, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Canada, Japan, England, and France all field competent women's teams. Each of those countries pour money into their women's programs. I don't think this is a good metric to make that point. The disadvantage the US men have is the lack of a tradition. In the US, the best male athletes gravitate toward basketball, football, and baseball. Could you imagine what the US men's team would look like if Lebron James, Michael Vick, and David Wright grew up playing soccer?

The rest of the world has caught up with US Women. In fact, a good case could be made that other countries are better now. Brazil and Japan have much better technique. The US still relies on athleticism way too much and physicality way too much. There are two parts of the Olympics I love. The first is the international competition. That's always great. The second is seeing events I never get to watch. Gymnastics (men's and women's), track and field, swimming, etc. As much as I love soccer and basketball, I'm more excited for these other sports I never get to see.

Finished Game of Thrones. I ended up underwhelmed. It would have made a better graphic novel. Starting Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson for my science fiction book club.

You forgot Girgensons: Mancari-Porter-Tropp Girgensons-Varone-Adam Roy-Catenaci-Rankin Tarnasky-Schofield-Sunder

Understood. Thank you for the information.

Could Darcy promote someone from his staff to the Amerks GM role? Would that solve both problems or create new ones?

I don't think attendance will fall (I certainly hope not). Even with the struggles last year I thought the team was fun to watch. The problem with Florida was multi-faceted (in my opinion): 1. No one in Rochester cared about the Panthers For many fans, the appeal to minor league sports is watching a guy like Jason Pominville excel at a young age and then feeling proud when he excels at the major level. And when your local minor league affiliate is also your favorite NHL team, you see that a lot. 2. The teams were bland I covered this before, but the teams under Florida were just hideous to watch. They had little to no puck possesion, and scored little as a result. Even with the modicum of success they had (losing to Abbotsford in the playoffs in 2010), they played slow plodding hockey. You could always count on a good goaltender though. 3. The marketing team for Florida was terrible (at least in comparison) The marketing team for the Amerks is great. active on social media, great ticket promotions, and great social interaction. That was really missing in the Florida years.

You're probably right and that is annoying. They did sign Mancari, F. Roy, Tanarsky, and Porter specifically for the Amerks. I don't think that's enough to win a Calder Cup but it's a step in the right direction. I want a true GM empowered to make decisions. Dacry is busy, but if a guy like Jody Gage was given power and a budget (and maybe ven a roster limit so there would still be development spots) I think the Amerks would be in much better shape.

I think my post is reading harsher than I meant it too--I wasn't upset. I've taken out the bit that clearly didn't come across as half-joking as I intended.

First of all, I was an Americans fans before I was a Sabres fan. I remember the OT game in 1996 when we went up 3 games to 2 on Portland and how crazy the game was that day---I was 10 and my mother was furious with my father for keeping me out so late. I remember Ryan Miller backstopping the team to the best record in 2004-2005 as I drove up from Geneseo for a great season that ended too early. I sweated (sweat?) through the Donner's sale of the team and I lived in fear of my team leaving. In context, I was comparing the Sabres partnership to the Florida partnership. I recognize the problems of Darcy's leadership but I would take it GLADLY over the crap Florida sent us. Mike Repik was good, but I pretty much hated everyone else. Those teams were unwatchable, and no one in Rochester gave a crap about them. That last game of this regular season when the team crushed Binghamton was the first time since 2005 the BCA was really rocking. EDIT: Took out "And if you had taken your head out of your you-know-where and paid attention to the context of my post you would know." I was half kidding and that didn't come across.

Let's not get carried away. Stocking Buffalo's draft picks in Rochester is way more exciting than anything Florida did. That was a terrible partnership. The team stunk (worse than do now), the fans didnt' care (in year 1 attendance went up 50%), and the team lost a ton of money. Buffalo may not sign any AHL vets for Rochester, but I would take Sabre draft picks and projects over anything Florida has any day

Amazing post. Someone above compared Ennis to Briere and I don't know that I agree. Briere is bigger and does his best work in front of the net. Ennis is a way better skater who does his damage in the open. I've always thought the better comparison for Ennis is Theo Fleury. Fleury had about 20 lbs on Ennis but given Ennis's young age I expect him to add some weight.

And then the sabres can have the two best players on a team that didn't make the playoffs. Great. To that point: Thomas Vanek's stats in the last three years: 229 GP, 86 G, 101 A, 187 Points, 0.82 PPG Bobby Ryan's stats in the last three years: 245 GP, 100 G, 92 A, 192 Points, 0.78 PPG

That was the first Barnes book I have read. I will give Arthur and George a read. In my signature I have a line from Tinkers by Paul Harding. Beautfully written and worth reading for the prose alone. If you haven't read it that may be a good summer book for you.

I recently finished The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall and Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. I enjoyed both. Polygamist is long (approximately 800 pages), but the story was rich enough to deserve it. Sense of an Ending was also a great read and is much shorter. The best part was how well it lent itself to discussion. I'm currently 200 pages into Game of Thrones. I find I am enjoying it much more than I anticipated I would. The suspense and intrigue are great, and it's not too fantasy.

As Buffalo fans I think we all need to cheer for Spurs. Often mediocre? Check. Depressed fan base? Check. When they are good they manage to lose in the most heart breaking fashion imaginable? Check.

But Gaustad had always been the guy. Remember him pounding Hartnell in Philly in the playoffs? Or fighting Jordan Tootoo? Him and McCormick (who was hurt that game?) and Kaleta (definetly hurt that game) were supposed to make guys answer. I understand your point. I was unhappy with everyone, but I blame Gaustad specifically. He failed the toughest test of his life and he knows it. On an aside, I actually don't think this moment ruined the Sabres season. They went out and won the next game! What ruined the Sabres season was a complete inability to score a goal.

I never blamed the whole team--I mean vanek gets in there. But what did you expect Thomas Vanek to do against Lucic other than get his face broken? Or even Pommers for that matter? For me the blame rests squarely on Paul Guastad. Your goalie (and friend) gets totally run and you back down. You're supposed to be the guy who makes guys answer for that. Terrible. I'm glad his weak ass is off the team.

Why is that you think? I have always felt the Brits love football so much they would take any chance they could to cheer for their National team.

Great fight. I think Glass got the Gordie Howe that night. If I remember correctly he tweeted that McCromick made him earn it

+1 for doing research I was too lazy to do. Do you have a team your rooting for? With no USMNT team, I'm grasping at straws. Go Senegal?

True. Did Ghana qualifty? I would looooove to see them beat Suarez and those Uruguaian bastards

When I said 4 games above, I was referencing the 45 games Vanek Man said Scott would playing. I then made a typo.

Probably a good bet. The South American teams will be pretty rested and they are always hungry for Olympic gold.