That Aud Smell

I had held out hope for better news. It’s genuinely sad to learn that she’s not going to return to her full pre-incident self. It is, however, encouraging to see Jessica signaling her ability to step forward. As a wise mentor once related to me about any multi-generational family business in crisis: “Do they have a ‘Michael?’” A “Sonny” will get sh1t done, but is too brash. A “Fredo” ... well, enough said. And so on. You gotta have a Michael in order for the business to survive and thrive. Or a Michaela.

Running to a work meeting. The essay is detailed, personal, and moving. I'll also venture that this essay coming from Jessica is indicative of succession planning that is already in place. God bless Kim Pegula.

Jessica has a piece in The Players Tribune about her mom. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/jessica-pegula-tennis

Our resident quadruped lightly whimpered when her crate door was opened at 6:05 a.m. and declined to come out for her morning walk. Super unusual behaviour on her part.

My wife was in Greece for a big one they had in ~1999. I remember reading at the time that that region of the world is - from a geological standpoint - like a slowly fracturing pane of glass.

there is an international standard measurement system - richter, right? i suspect the 2 reporting agencies will reconcile their readings so that there's an official report. it's a US quake, so i'd think the US report would be the official one. Makes sense - it was a sudden, surprising, and confusing event.

Evidently, a lot of people here remember a 2010 earthquake that was centred near Ottawa. That was a 5.0 and made buildings in WNY sway. I don’t recall it. Coincidentally, that quake occurred on the exact same day as Landon Donovan’s famous goal against … Algiers? … to send the USMNT through to the knockouts in the 2010 Mens World Cup.

Startling as hell. Prayers up for those poor souls in Turkey/Syria. I remember the one in May 1995. That was a lot like this one — just a sudden boom like explosion that made us all think that a truck had crashed into the building we were in.

There's a reason he nearly fell out of the top-50 when the Bengals got him in the 2nd round. IIRC, he broke several bones in the victim's face. FTFY.

I'll say: Lumbar-region stuff with a tall, tall fella ... makes me just a little nervous. Get well, Tage. p.s. Is it possible that the lower back knock he took last night was unrelated to the other issue he had been having?

Stray thought: I'm watching that game - and not being someone who follows the personnel moves of other teams much - and I was just like "Paul Stastny? Brent Burns? ... FAHK, this team is loaded for bear." That should be the Sabres in a year or 2.

Oof. No thanks. The guy hasn't been a bust, but he has surely disappointed based on where he was drafted. He was my greatest hope for pressure on Burrow prior to that Cincy game. The fact that they have to pay him on that 5th year option is suboptimal.

Das. ... Das a lotta flesh.

Ha. Everyone's %'s get re-defined, I guess? that guy makes chris drury sound like a barrel of laughs.

This is really just a definitional problem. Just define that 85% as 100%, and, boom, problem solved.

I watched the 3rd period and OT of the Canes-Kings game last night from the lounge area of a local youth sports facility. Carolina's frickin' good, man. But so are the Sabres! Let's Go, Buffalo!!

Not enough catch radius. Not enough winning contested balls. Not enough separation. Some of all of that. But not nearly enough of any of it with consistency.

i read that the consensus is that this is a weak year for WR's. so they may have to wait and take a shot at someone on day 2. I never make up my mind where my rooting interest lies until I am watching the game. And I definitely found myself favouring KC. I reckon I don't much like that Cincy team.

The numbers aren’t totally apt, as Chase competes for looks with 2 other legit NFL WR’s. Plus there were injuries for Chase this season?

Sir. Sir!

This conversation reminds me of a podcast previewing the NBA season. The conversation turned to the metaphysics of basketball. One of the analysts - a former player - offered that the super majority of defensive success is focus and effort, together with repetition and experience. I think that’s much the same in hockey, soccer, and all similar sports.

I heard him talk about this on WGR — his regular appearance being the only time the station discusses the Sabres apparently — and he referenced how sometimes the approach hurts timing and precision. He referred to the start of the Dallas game when the Sabres looked like the Keystone Cops. But he said, on balance, he knows it’s better for the team to be fresh. As others have noted: This is interesting stuff.

Triumph fu*king rocks. I pine for those early, early days of MTV when the fledgling network had, like, 62 videos it could show, 4 of which were live concert clips of Triumph.

It's the worst kind of intentional too -- guy was savvy enough to disguise it as unintentional. He knew what he was doing. He wasn't sure he'd find Cozens' face, but he was reaching for it with his fist closed around his stick's butt end.

I get that, for sure. I'm wonder if, medically/clinically, there's anything to the distinction I'm making about a jaw-related KO. There may not be.