That Aud Smell

A screen grab of the merch from one of Minnesota Wild's themed nights for the upcoming season. Bold move for a franchise that plays in an arena that's ~10 miles from where George Floyd was killed.

I like it. There’s a temptation to curate a top-5. But how about the 5 moments/games/events that stick with you the most? That’s often different.

Not sure of my entire top-5, but Pominville in OT to dispatch the favoured Senators is definitely in there. My fandom really took hold in middle school (Bowman-era), so I don't have clear memories of the Philadelphia finals or arguably the greatest Sabre team of all time (1979-1980).

Wtf with saving lives? I'm generally pointing at the arts and the culturals. It's not that complicated. Like I said: I'll know it when I see it. Not everybody, no. Not ever. But I'll be pleased when I see them move a buttload of money -- call it a Gundlachian sum! -- into something that's directed to helping some area nonprofit secure or create a lasting legacy for the region. I promise I won't be fussy. Also, someone made the point upthread: Our sainted Ralph Wilson didn't do much of anything like this during his life. Then his estate and foundation started dropping loads of cash on a bunch of good causes.

Good post. I want to be clear: I'm not moving any goal posts. Not unlike p0rnography, I'll know the dignified-golf-clap-approved form of major gift giving when I see it. Sports shrines aren't cutting it. Jeff Gundlach has less than half the net worth that the Pegulas do and is about 10 years Terry's junior, and he's in for $60M+ to make our art museum awesome. 'Swhat I'm talkin' about.

I already told you: Those don't count. I hear you, though. I just think it's a fair area of inquiry, grousing. FREE IT UP, TERRY AND KIM. Yeah - I do think that's right. The Pegula empire is in growth mode, full speed ahead. Fair. In the absence of information, though, I'm left to infer that they don't do much -- beyond building sports shrines.

Nah - this ain't it, as the kids say. (Or used to say, given that I'm now saying it.) He (and Kim) have no obligation, obviously, to explain or justify what they do with their money. I'm saying: As a common normie, I do get to wondering: WTF, dude. Move some of that money into something that unequivocally does some common good. OTOH: From the sounds of the Pegulas' activity in wealth management ventures, etc., they're still in active empire-building, wealth-generating mode. Maybe the big donations come later. Yet again OTOH: They've built sports shrines at their alma maters. So they have excess cash they can throw at things. I think it would burnish their brand, if you will, if they did something major to support a beloved institution/cause.

This, otoh, isn't unfair (although it's beside the point I was making). Where is his major charitable donation? Sports shrines at ostensibly nonprofit education corporations don't count. No children's hospital bearing the name? Not even a foundation that could also serve as a tax shelter?

i'll note here that my then 14 year old son (a sensitive sweetheart of a kid) was one of the local faithful who was bummed that, on our walk into the stadium during our first season as STH's, he couldn't see the bills mafia house that he'd heard about but that the new fence was obscuring. so, a horde of doubebag cretins + my son. otherwise, that characterization seems spot on. 😒

Pssst. Terry Pegula's a man of the people. I like this story a lot. “He told me since they put the fence up, there were complaints from fans who park in the parking lot during games that they couldn’t see the Bills Mafia house. He wanted to know if I had any issues with the fence as well,” Larson said. “I told him, ‘Mr. Pegula, I see a lot of fancy cars and businessmen driving past my backyard a lot (to the security gate near the field house) and I don’t think anyone wants to see my fat (butt) sitting in my swimming pool!’ “So I told him the fence was fine at my house, but he said he was going to have employees cut into the fence at Shane’s Bills Mafia House so the fans could enjoy the iconic home,” Bill Larson said. “I could not believe the owner of the best NFL franchise cared that much and listened to the fans, and then all by himself, came over to visit and talk to use.” https://wellsvillesun.com/blog/2022/08/08/having-a-catch-with-stefon-diggs-and-how-buffalo-bills-owner-terry-pegula-listened-to-fans-by-taking-down-a-fence/

I'd lost the thread here, tbh, or maybe never had a handle on it. So I reposted the OP. It is an odd take. Like the man said: Just win, baby.

I caught some of Schopp yesterday, and he was recalling how OBJ was off on some mega yacht (or away on some frolic) right before an important game. Something like that. It would have been during his time with the Giants, I guess. That was a bad look. That was also a while ago. He seemed to fit in okay with the Rams, and definitely helped push them over the top. I agree that his time with the Browns is difficult to judge. That team's been a mess.

I think he’s trophy hunting as well. I just don’t want him signing up with the Chiefs or Chargers.

This is fun. I don’t remember it.

The team had to Tweet a clarification that the red helmet is not a thing this season. Josh is full of beans.

I lack context on this, but I've heard a couple references to how NFL players have taken to conducting "hold ins" rather than "hold outs." I don't think that's what Poyer is angling to do, but it's apparently become a thing.

Stumbled on this clip of Pep Guardiola coaching up his Manchester City team. Quick context: Man City is arguably the greatest soccer team in the world, and Pep is arguably the greatest (soccer) coach in the world. Starting at around :40, Pep implores his uber-elite world class athletes: “I hate it when you don’t want the ball. … You have permission to make mistakes. You have permission to lose. …” Sounds familiar.

Accusations made under penalty of perjury are evidence.

With Crowder lacking the most important ability (availability), this seems very likely. I’ve read that his huge game against NE was a bit of an aberration because they did nothing but play him with man-coverage, and that the real challenge was for him to be savvy like Beasley was in finding those pockets in zone coverage. There was a play from camp that the Bills Tweeted this week where McKenzie briefly dipped and drove his shoulder into a d-back before almost pirouetting (sp?), back pedaling, and catching an easy score. I take that as an encouraging sign.

Also, the replies to the Tweet above are incredible. Many of them read like parodies of themselves. I am dumber for having read them — but also entertained.

The practice-play that resulted in the scuffle confuses me. Allen wears the red no contact jersey, but he was carrying the ball between tackles in a goal line drill? If I have that mostly right, I’m not sure how the D can fully avoid contact.