That Aud Smell

I never gave it much thought, so I was learning for the first time that it was in the shape of an animal. I did find myself shaking my head at the OP who was *nerding* out on how utterly amazing the logo is (like, the best in all of sports?). I guess, from a design professional's standpoint, there's a lot to admire. As a fan/consumer, I think it's an unappealing mess. Also, it looks more like a bear than a wolf to me. But I think the designer intentionally made it ambiguous.

I think this was the first mention of him. He's on my totally arbitrary not very well informed list as well. But perhaps the vote is cast for his time as a non-Sabre. In addition to Wendel Clark and taking Gretzky as a given, I guess I'd go: 2. Dave Tiger Williams (unmatched goal celebration) 3. Ovechkin (the most fun player to watch live, in my experience) 4. Lafleur (reminded me of Perreault, yes, but perhaps more graceful whereas Perreault was more powerful) 5. Lanny McDonald (for the 'stache and his team's epic Cup win (in his final season?))

Yeah - that's not cool at all - characterizing DiBiase's opinion content as a sourced report.

Hey now!

What I read from Wawrow was more definite than that.

@john wawrow Tweeted in that same thread that Dudley had interest in coming to the Sabres.

FFS.

Ooh ohh. I missed most frustrating. "RORY!! THE PUCK IS BETWEEN YOUR SKATES!"

Sure, I'll play. Among my earliest memories are watching hockey (Sabres?) games on a snowy black and white amidst a blueish haze of cigarette smoke (from my dad). Were those Sabres games? Or just HNIC? No matter. I recall my older brothers and others being fired up for the playoff run in 1979-1980. Unfortunately the Islanders had other plans. I've heard many a time that that was the best Sabres team ever - Perreault at the peak of his powers, Gare sniping, etc. I got a real head of steam as a fan when games started being broadcast on cable TV. That was in the Scotty Bowman era. Favourite Sabre is easy: Gilbert. Most exciting moment as a fan was probably seeing Gretzky play at the old Aud during the season where he scored a bajillion goals. Because I was a kid. And the excitement you can have is a kid is so pure. It was one of only a handful of games I attended when I was young. More analytically, the most exciting moment was Game 6 of the 2006 ECF. Top of the 300s. Briere pots a powerplay goal. Back to Carolina we go. As for improving the current team, that's beyond my pay grade. You need more good NHL players. Preferably forwards. I think the D is in okay shape. Goaltending is mostly fungible.

What can I say. I'm good with a turn of phrase. I reckon I was prompted by the use of the terms immature, obnoxious, rude, and group think. So, maybe that was not quite scorching. Singeing, maybe. But definitely scolding.

That’s fairly rich - the part about battles - since you were the one to scorch and scold when I replied saying that booing Bettman is a fun thing for fans to do. And I’m not sure where you come off presuming that I don’t GAF about your take on Bettman and booing. I’m here to listen (read) and engage. At least we got it cleared up that your post was the sum of your thoughts on the matter, not the end of all valid discussion thereon. Not sure - but the enemy of my enemy is my — something.

Hey - thanks - it's nice and cool here where all that shade got thrown. It's also good to know that your post is the final word on the matter.

The booing of sh1theel pro sports commissioners is one of fandom's simple pleasures. They don't all get booed, as best I can tell. Seems like the ones who (richly) deserve it do.

Fair point.

i find it strange that PSE apparently can't turn a few bucks on a Tim Hortons store.

that's fun. definitely sounds to be of a piece with the sounds that were coming out of SoCal in the late 80s and early 90s. fishbone, red hot chili peppers, firehose, and the like.

Very true. Someone at work was pitching me on a theory/approach to a problem, and I thought my non-verbals were conveying my strong skepticism. Not so much, it turned out. I had to jump in after I realized my cues were not being picked up.

10 years?! Sheesh. There's gotta be something unique/new about the compensation structure. What had I been hearing? A salary tied to the salary cap?

I wish there was data on this point. Maybe there is? I know of 5 people who've had COVID-19. Four of them had fairly mild symptoms and all seem to have made a full recovery. The fifth is having a hell of a time -- it's going on 8+ weeks and he's still not close to being right. Never had to be hospitalized, but he just can't seem to kick it.

I’ve been following some contrarian types on Twitter, just to get a feel for other perspectives on how the pandemic is being managed. It’s making my head hurt. From a contrarian, I read that Arizona’s death rate per case is now well below 1%, whereas months ago it was well above 10%. Then I read a mainstream report that Arizona’s ICUs are approaching capacity. Oft times, I hardly know what to think or believe. But masks, distancing, and washing remain my touchstones.

“What has [it] done wrong?”

I don’t think that’s the case. They were taking closeup footage of the opposing sideline, presumably in order to decipher their signaling schemes.

More seriously, I can see a scenario in which a guy like Dudley decides to semi-retire to the city where he makes his permanent home. I think we tend to overstate how unusual the Pegulas' involvement is in a FO's decision making processes. I think they're on the higher end of being involved, but I don't think it's different by an order of magnitude. I don't think that would scare off Dudley, who could just as easily be of the mind -- "hey, one last challenge from the comfort of my own home. If they're not smart enough to listen to me? Eff 'em."

I looked again, and the sample size in the study was really, really small (~37?). So, take it with a huge grain of salt. Even so, though: Concerning.