That Aud Smell

Um, well - okay: “I'm told by @JennaCottrell that Casey Nelson is a healthy scratch for the Amerks in Syracuse. Amerks lost Game 1 and trail in the first period of Game 2.” Paul Hamilton

I’m not sure why - but I am aggressively fed up with the NFL draft talk this year. Which is a little weird because you’d think I’d be super into it with the Bills such a big player. That’s no slag on the good talk here, btw. But it hit me yesterday: I’ve had enough. “Uncle.”

Very well deserved. His emo stuff aside, the guy had an objectively remarkable season. Playing against top competition and taking only 2 PIM, while killing face offs and getting solid point production? That’s pretty nuts. Oh, and I read that his one minor was coincidental.

Gah. Sorry to hear. I was taking a shortcut through a trucking depot area yesterday and hit a pothole so massive that I still cannot believe that the entire wheel assembly didn't just disintegrate.

For any considered fan of the club, it has to be a day of mixed emotions. It was time for him to go, and yet -- dude's a legend. One thing I've always heard about him: He did his very best to treat everyone associated with the club -- *everyone* -- with genuine kindness. That sort of thing always counts a lot, for me.

I appreciate the feedback and acknowledge that the issue is a massive one. Here’s what I don’t want for an east side revitalization: Another avenue by which a small group of politicians enrich a small group of developers, who build tax-incentivized housing for relatively well-off people. That is: I’d rather an east side comeback not resemble much of what’s been going on to date in Buffalo.

To the question: The training center states in its publicity material that the region is slated for a massive wave of retirements of skilled mfg workers. So, there's that. Also, there are apparently a number of manufacturers in the region who have been talking to Albany about being unable to hire qualified people from the area. So, that too. I appreciate what you're saying about small businesses. That's not for everyone, though. Hardly, in fact. The large majority of people just wanna go to work somewhere. Days gone by, there were thriving pockets of middle class black Americans in the area -- due largely to large-scale employers like Bethlehem Steel. It's also a bit of a chicken and egg issue. Until you get real wages flowing into the neighborhood, who's going to support the local shops?

^ Good stuff. I take a dim view of Prince Andrew's Buffalo Beelyun, but I think some of that money is backing the workforce training center that's being built in an existing building on Northland Avenue. The goals of that place sound intriguing and promising. Maybe training 100s of east side residents for modern manufacturing jobs could make some headway in regenerating a black middle class.

Good letter.

I took you to be talking about the redevelopment, rebirth of the east side and the people who live there -- something that would be done for, and perhaps in some significant part by, the under-served people who have lived (and often languished) there for decades. OTOH, gentrification is the process whereby (mostly) white folks move into a neighborhood and displace the folks mentioned immediately above. Some of that is already going on in and around the Fruit Belt and the medical campus.

I'll try to re-state the major points (such as they are): 1. The big 4 (plus Jackson and Rudolph) constitute a cohort of QB prospects that seems materially different in terms of quality and quantity than any year in recent memory. I'm not sure what conclusions can be drawn from that -- but it seems like history may not be a good predictor. I think there's a good a chance that the 4th (maybe 5th) QB taken will be the top player from his QB draft class as there is a chance that the 1st QB taken will prove superior to the rest. Which is quite a departure from what the data would suggest. 2. Goff and Wentz make me think that the NFL actually has its version of a system quarterback. Actually, wait. Did frickin' Tom Brady herald the same?!

Because it's a goddamned disjointed mess of unconnected, incomplete thoughts. Sorry.

Seems like what d4rk was talking about, and Taro's reference to gentrification, are two very (very) different things.

Man. This year feels different, though. And again, I'd say: This year seems different. If Darnold and Allen were to go 1-2, you could very well see Mayfield and Rosen be the best QBs of the bunch. These guys are such interesting case studies. Goff looked pretty lost before the new coach came in. Wentz was terrific, sure, but then so too was Nick Foles. Makes me think. And wonder. Again, this year seems different. I've also had people say to me that the historical data for QB drafting (going back 15 years, say) is of limited value because NFL teams have more recently gotten so good at evaluating the position (analytics or something?). I don't buy it. It is still a crap shoot.

All of the PSE social media is like this, though. I can't quite put my finger on it. But it's as if the people responsible for that content there are emulating the sorts of stuff they see on that particular platform without quite ... getting how to do it. It's cookie-cutter-mimicking without a voice or personality. Taking the most recent example (from the Bills feed): https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/986962780359200768 It may just be my personal taste, but there's something about that that's just a bit off. It misses, falls flat. Also, the phraseology they wanted there is (or, at least, was most recently) "that feeling when." I dunno. I may now be incapable of objectivity when it comes to PSE on social media.

The Jets are a perfectly worthy object of your hate.

Good points -- and amen to what you're proposing. Perhaps they will. I heard that the NFL is looking to have the draft covered like a presidential debate event -- by all networks?! So weird.

This is the time of year when the mockers get into the business of over-thinking things or getting into fantastical thoughts. If history is a guide and the current trajectory of the league any indication, there will be 6 QBs gone faster than you can say Jack Robinson. The Bills are gonna hafta move up, way up, to get the guy they want. My sense is that the only reason they wouldn't make the move is if they don't have a "willing" partner. And by "willing" partner I exclude a team that wants an absolute king's ransom.

Saw “Morrissey” and “telephone,” and was momentarily confused and then reminded of the 80s urban legend (standq-up bit?) that *Robert Smith* of The Cure (or was it Morrissey?!) had a payphone (?!) installed in his home that didn’t ring, and whenever he felt like ... *talking*, he’d just pick up the receiver and share his sadness.

Didn’t someone already show up here to advise against feeding trolls? Dude’s name IRL might be Trolly McTrollFace.

Hmmm.

Honestly. I saw that WKBW won for its local tornado coverage. Lord. #shillnchz

Fair deuce. I’m harkening to some old theatre vocal warmups: “I am a mother pheasant plucker. I pluck mother pheasants. I am the pleasantest mother pheasant plucker that ever plucked a mother pheasant.”

Tough but fair.

Sorry. I don’t generally play those reindeer games. I’ll bet you 50 internet points. Perfectly stated, imo.