That Aud Smell

I came here for World Cup talk.

8 or 8.5? Sheesh. I’d put both of them in the 5.75-6.25 range.

Good looking out.

What Vegas is doing is remarkably improbable. It’s not unlike what Leicester City did in the EPL a couple years ago. It’s an enjoyable spectacle.

Sounds like they’re having money problems.

I know, I know. They're fairly young. Over the past 10 years, my wife and I have noticed the trend whereby things that used to be the province of, say, 13-15 year olds, became something that 10-12 years olds were doing too. And so on. Disney is amazingly skilled at this. They eventually get 8 year olds gobbling up Pretty Little Liars, or some such sh1t. So, my holding out with the kids is at least 2-fold: 1. I don't want them playing games that involve connecting to and having communications with strangers. My understanding with Fortnite and such (and older games like Call of Duty) is that that's part of what's available -- or what takes the game to another level -- a social media aspect to it, almost. Maybe I'm not understanding. I also get that even games like Madden have that capability. 2. I've had 3 conversations with parents of kids ranging from ages 9-14, and they've all said about the same thing: This game (Fortnite) is a different sort of animal. Proceed with caution.

Fair point. I raise my hand for being backwards on that post. That said, and as I think my post indicated, my post was based on my personal experience (moms generally run the world) and, yes, a bit of fantasy about what an adventure like that might be like. Well, the thing is ... My wife runs the show, but I am generally the sap and softy in the marriage.

What a shame and waste. The leading comment about Bartolo Colon made me legit LOL: Bartolo Colon nearly ruined his career with fork knife but he returned bigger and better than ever. One other thought: My younger kids want in on Fortnight like nothing else. I've held out, and stories like this aren't apt to help their cause.

Hamilton does a solid job. I'd say he does call a cleaner, more interesting game than Dunleavy. From a PSE-brand perspective, I'd guess that they like Dunleavy more because, chief among other reasons, he's more camera-ready.

It's an interesting topic of conversation. I am in a near-constant state of unease or disquiet whenever I'm in or near Manhattan and, more recently, Brooklyn. I do better in Queens.

TBN with a profile on the 2018 5th rounder - Siran Neal. Some choice quotes from the college coach: “He knows where the backers fit, he knows where the safety fits. He knows what everybody's role is. He's got a whole-picture mentality when it comes to defense. His football IQ is really, really high and I think that's going to help him in the NFL.” “Just real humble, I think, is a good word to describe him,” Grass said. “He's a chill guy. He's not a lot of talk. He's about work. He's very serious about what he handles, anything he sets out to do. He's a good dad. He's got two beautiful twins, so his character is very, very high. He does things the right way for the right reasons, so you just love to see that.” As I've stated upthread, I don't know whether Beane's and McDermott's vision will work -- but they are pretty clearly and consistently building the sort of organization that they want. The Bills took Matt Milano in the 5th round last year, and that seemed to work out for them.

Bah hahaha. Seriously, though. Mom's coming over, right? She can make the family's special phat panny. And, assuming mom and dad are still together, dad can hang back in Sweden, have some bachelor life, and make occasional long visits to Buffalo. Not for nothing: As a middle-aged dad and husband, that sort of (temporary) arrangement sounds kinda fun.

^ Good take.

The more I think about it, the more I think it makes no sense whatsoever that he'd come to Buffalo. Maybe if this were mid-May 2020 and the Sabres were clearly getting things turned around (like, maybe they'd just made the playoffs and been eliminated in round 1). But the Sabres are the worst team in the league. Why would Tavares want to go to such a team? I'd thought St. Louis myself, and saw Dreger mention it. But I have no idea whether he'd be a fit there, financially or otherwise.

I don't dismiss out of hand that the mass shooting in Las Vegas could have played a real role in the season they've had. I was there for just one night - a home game night - this spring. And I am saying it: The energy in and around the arena was palpable. I think having a pro sports team to rally around was meaningful to people who live in the area.

Fwiw (from White at WGR): Home teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are 34-39 so far... Fluky year? Or is something we've long held to be an advantage disappearing?

PA tells good stories.

The Las Vegas pre-game show stuff is hilarious. Not to my taste -- but for those who dig it -- have at it.

Agree with this as well.

These "hey - here's a question" threads are good threads.

Yeah - I’m not sure what that’s about. He seems to be saying this take is a product of unanimous chatter, but then it sounds like it’s inferential on his part.

@PA : Don Cherry on CBC just now talked at some length about how playing on the roadin the playoffs can simplify things, and how playing at home can complicate them. FWIW.

Cocaine? PCP? Some cocktail thereof?

Yeah - what the fook is that locked thread all about?

Interesting. If he doesn't go to England, Bayern would be ideal. The Premier League has to want him badly, though. They've made such inroads into the US -- having the young American star would push things to another level.