That Aud Smell

I think this is what happens - “no contest.” I saw an intriguing Tweet about how they could play a Buffalo-KC AFC Championship game at a neutral site (Indianapolis seeming the most likely). Interesting thought.

What he's doing is absolutely bonkers.

It is equally bizarre that the big picture parallels with Josh Allen's unprecedented development have continued to track.

Good stuff. As for Thompson, I'm not sure. He's presumably got some cold streaks coming in his future, but I don't think he's at his ceiling yet. It's especially exciting to realize that he's doing this over a significant sample size of games, after opposing teams have had a full opportunity to scout him, and generally against the opponent's best competition. Oh, and add to all of that his intangibles of being a super grounded, likable player and teammate. Incredible. Dahlin and Samuelsson generally had a rough night in their own end. In this regard, see your note about that guy who wears #8 for the Caps. Him and his line were pretty good. As for Power, maybe he's got a weird and/or wicked correction. Not everyone is a candidate for lasik. As for JJ, I don't disagree but I thought I also noticed the baby wingers getting banged around quite a bit. And I believe he and Quinn got stapled to the bench in the 3rd against ... Ottawa? Granato is sheltering them. Which is fine. One more thing on Power: At least we've moved past the era where they'd have to stop the game to search for a player's hard contact lenses. Good God. Remember that? (I don't think anyone actually has to wear hard contact lenses anymore (?).)

Let’s go, Buffalo. Happy New Year to all those who frequent the best Sabres message board there is. #SabresTwitter just doesn’t compare, imo. And shoutout to the anticipated return of @X. Benedictand @deluca67 for the playoff run.

He resurfaces occasionally. He was hand in glove with his gf Josie on this board. Once they were no longer together, I got the sense that this board was sorta of a weird place to hang out. Which would be understandable. He was also at a significant life-change crossroads — maybe it was just time to focus more on stuff IRL.

Shades of Bill Hajt. I don’t give a damn whether and how much he scores or records points.

Harrington’s report from the game indicates that Granato gave an empassioned pregame speech that the arena production people then rebroadcast via the jumbotron. Anyone have a link? Sorry if it was posted upthread and I missed it.

Hmm. Not totally unfair. Mostly wrong, I maintain. But there’s something to this. A small thing.

Hear, hear. Puck luck is bound to come looking for him. But I’d bet dollars to donuts that his underlying metrics would generally show him to be unlucky. I can’t help but like (love?) his game. He is among the team’s most consistent players when it comes to *playing his game*. And I love how that game is characterized by tenacity and joy. And edge work. RaKru probably wins the award for the franchise’s worst coach of all time. That he damn near ruined Dahlin is really all the proof we need. His effect on Skinner is perhaps the next case in point.

Growing pains. Also, this is another reason that grabbing Jost off waivers was in-line with what KA and DG are trying to do. Jost has the skills (or at least should have the skills (or used to have the skills and maybe will again)) needed to play up/across the lineup like that. I also approve heartily of the accountability that this bespeaks.

Fair fookin' point. More than fair. I like the idea of bringing in a good checking centre and/or a minute-eating (or better) d-man.

The infamous interview of the beautiful blubbering bro Bills fan starts at around the :40 mark of the video at this link (sorry - this is the only source that is readily found). https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/bills-make-buffalo-shout-on-new-years-eve/71-503875511 I still can't find the Tweet that I recall from Portnoy (and I believe it was taken down because it infringed WGRZ's copyright) - which I recall being fully in praise of the guy's purity of spirit, etc. Interestingly, his corresponding blog post still exists. And it's ... more of a mixed bag (than I recall the Tweet being). Which is fitting, I guess.

Ha. Zero. The only way I can manage being in the stadium is to have every available wit at my disposal. I'm generally there with one of my kids (some of whom are young adults by now) and that has something to do with the approach as well.

ha - reminds me of this bit

let's fuggin go, @Pimlach

It's almost Christmas and @deluca67 .500 is within reach. Let's get it, boys. PLEASE.

I was at the game Saturday night and want to shout out the most authentic Santa I've ever encountered in the wild. He was sitting somewhere up yonder in the 307-308 area. His red suit looked handmade (and well made). His beard was real (and snowy white). When I hollered out "thank you, Santa!" as he was passing by to grab food or take a bio break, he sorta half turned toward me, gave a polite wave, had A TWINKLE IN HIS FUGGIN' EYE (he appeared stone cold sober, btw), let out a little "ho ho," and said "you're welcome, young man. Merry Christmas!" Made my night, honestly.

I cannot, will not begrudge this view. The guy's done plenty to earn it. I will just add: He's the producing force behind what is, to me, the funniest, most entertaining "sports" podcast out there (Pardon My Take). He's also the person who gave a platform for the Zero Pod Thirty (?) podcast that has a military/vets foundation - and 2 of the contributors there are just fantastic (Chaps and Kate). As to the latter, Kate, she is easily one of my favorite content creators out on teh interwebs. Such a funny and genuine person. And not for nothing: Portnoy is also the person who brought on the "Out and About" podcast, which focuses on gay culture and features 2 very entertaining (and very gay) hosts. The list goes on. So, for me, the Portnoy guy (and Barstool) is a bit of complicated mess. He's often a troll and always an uber Delta Bravo. But he's also a modern day Vince McMahon - the guy knows how to entertain and promote.

Let's go, Buffalo!

Portnoy is a complicated public figure, imo. He is a true entrepreneur who has assembled an extensive bench of talent in the podcast/media space. He has a keen eye for talent and he knows how to promote personalities, events, etc. - not unlike Vince McMahon. There’s other stuff going on too, which isn’t great. I will always credit him for loving on the video of the tearful Buffalo fan who was interviewed at a NYE party in 2017. I wish I could find the Tweet or clip. It’s the one where the guy blubbers his way through the Bills’ path to the Super Bowl - concluding with a rousing “it’s hard to beat a team three times!” in reference to an AFC Championship game at New England.

People who practice sports bigamy tend to be.

Let's go, Buffalo!

The Sabres are currently 3 games under .500.* *The so-called @deluca67 .500, which, IMO, is the only measure of .500 that matters. I had some home improvement stuff to complete last night. I didn't have the game on the ipad or anything while we worked. I glanced at the Score app throughout the first 1/2 of the game. Sheesh, I thought. Then I saw the app update the score with Thompson's first goal. Next time I looked, it was 6-0. And I was just ... wut? This team is fascinating and fun (and at times frustrating (all the F's!)).