That Aud Smell

I'm still okay with trading Tyrod for an asset. This post did not age well. Yep. Total and complete embarrassment. And it fundamentally calls into question McDermott's/Beane's ability to evaluate talent, at least at the QB position in the NFL. What are they seeing? What biases are prompting them to conclude that Peterman can get the job done? Absurd. That was generally their calling card last season, even when they lost. That squad yesterday looked completely befuddled.

I really appreciate the effort here - you’re articulating things I might have known or understood at one point, but couldn’t or didn’t call to mind. Language is enormously powerful. It controls, dictates, influences, and prescribes a great, great deal.

Kindly sod off with that. #readingcomprehension Samesies.

Let’s Go, Bills!!

@Eleven for Mod.

I think the insistence on *not* identifying every single racist aspect of our society, language, etc. is the most significant obstacle to progress. Black writers/thinkers whom I respect will tell you: The thing that’s impeding progress isn’t the overt torch burning hooded racist (or something close to that), it’s the millions of earnest whites who *think* they’re not racist but make dozens of choices, large and small, that perpetuate racist structures in a society built on the same. I say that as a self-acknowledged racist. I know I am. I’m working on it, constantly.

Object all you want. IMO: It’s wishful thinking and delusional to think that the reaction to the black kneeling players isn’t largely (yeah, maybe not entirely) rooted in racism. I know enough history. I have my own significant sample size from which to judge. I’m confident and (un)comfortable in my take. And I acknowledge others feel and think differently. They’re entitled to that, obviously.

Did you gloss over the part where I said I didn’t think Eichel actually intended the word that way, whether consciously or subconsciously? Because that’s the part where I specifically did not impute racial bias to Eichel.

I saw high-end quality for the Sabres. Hells yeah.

Sir. Please re-read what I wrote. I specifically did not impute any racial bias to Eichel. I said the word he used has a certain ... stank to it, based on my experience in eastern Mass. And that his use of it could be a byproduct of where he grew up. As for the big reasons that our society is so polarized, I’ll just say that I just deleted what I thumbed out and that I am sure our views on such matters are quite different.

Hear, hear. As much as I have at times despaired over what Trump says or does, the op-ed writer's claimed virtue infuriated me. It really made me angry. If what s/he says is true, it's a fookin' soft coup is what it is. It is as damaging a thing as has been done to the Constitution in my lifetime, I think. And that's scary business. Now, mind you. I understand that such a soft coup would be a product of how uniquely odious and imbalanced the POTUS is. But, goddammit, there are procedures to address those issues. And I'm not just talking the 25th Amendment -- I'm also talking more bureaucratically about a process of getting the POTUS to tone down a certain charted course of action.

That is fair. My point remains.

Well, for a long time, the anthem just was. There are some here who've traced the history of the practice. Tied to honouring those who served in the armed forces and such. More recently, though, the league made a clear choice to cast their lot and their brand with a certain type of patriotism. Their member organizations even made a bunch of money off the DOD (maybe still do?) by helping them run in-game promotions and such. Anyway, the process of commodifying and branding an amorphous concept like that always leads to reductivism and over-simplification. Hence: MURICA! There's a lot of that going on. My social media feed (mostly FB) is awash with those friends and relatives of mine who find the kneeling and the Nike ad campaign to be a complete and total affront to all this country stands for. Every time I read those kinds of gripes, I hear a white person complaining about how uppity them n***ers are and how much ground the white race has ceded in its supremacy. I'm not saying it's what those folks consciously have in mind, but I'm saying that is what at the root of the issue. Holy sh1t. I tuned in for a while. Unwatchable. The anticipation of football's return is way better than football's return. If you don't bet on the games and/or have a true rooting interest, there's rarely a reason to watch. Also:

Aannnnnnnd, I'll tread super lightly here, but I will add that the use of the word "ignorant" in this particular context struck me. Based on my experience living in the Boston area (admittedly half a lifetime ago), that word is sometimes as a bit of a coded term, not unlike how "thug" gets used. Mind you: I don't think Eichel would intend to use the word that way, whether consciously or subconsciously. But local lexicon has a way of seeping into your cortex.

I felt as though Eichel came off as a humourless cement head. Lighten up, Francis. Ramsey's a brash sh1t talker. He's basically playing a WWE/F character who's in the middle of the ring with a mic. Nathan MacKinnon (sp?) got it right. I can't find his comments at the moment, but he got that it was just stuff and nonsense -- to be laughed at, if anything.

Sorry - I'm mostly here for the lulz

I think when you say his full name in a super nasal, super whiny voice, you have your answer.

I'll wait to see how the season plays out. I still think the middle of the table will cause trouble for some of the big clubs. But, yes, it is a troubling trend. It's an indication of how capital always, always tends to consolidate power (unless it is acted upon in a way intended to impede or retard that inevitable process). Maybe? There's just too much talent there to really stink it up. I've heard this. Maybe the USMNT can time a hiring of the guy to ensure qualification.

More recently, I saw that Francis was urging silence and prayer in response to these allegations. I dunno, man. I think he needs to address the claims in some way. The sad thing is, it seems clear that everyone in Church hierarchy - Francis included - is having a very churchman-like response to this dust-up. They all seem to know that this is not about the atrocities committed against children and the vulnerable, it is a play for power. Which frustrates the sh1t out of me.

The question's been posed before. Who/what gets more points this season -- the Sabres or Eichel? (I realize it's apples and oranges, but, whatever. It's fun.)

In the sober light of day: This was not a good moment for me. The song is still not in my top 5 for the band, but it is obviously a singalong anthem.

For my money, their worst greatest hit.

EXCELLENT ANALYSIS. The NFL QB Name Theory is sorta like the band Journey for me: Do I love it ironically or genuinely? Hard to tell sometimes.

Arguably, Carson Wentz could cause the whole theory to topple. Fookin’ Wentz! Matt Ryan isn’t a great name, but it’s sufficiently solid. Sorta like the player. All of these names are solid or better names. FACT.

Not sure what that means, but I’ll wait for you to identify a great QB who didn’t have a name to match. Then I will graciously accept your apology.