Sabre Dance

I like the sentiment. Actually, the main reason the lockout "offended" me is that the bartenders, restaurant owners and arena workers got shortchanged. My co-worker's daughter works at the FNC as a waitress and was planning on using that extra money to buy Christmas presents. Obviously, that extra money wound up being zero. Yeah, I know NHL hockey is business and that we all knew of the forthcoming labor issue last summer. I just think it was very bad publicity for a league that is still struggling to get higher ratings on TV than soccer. (Or maybe all the exposure on the news WAS good publicity.) In any event, little of this CB foolishness impacted my life. I went to work, I had dinner with friends and I watched a lot of bad TV. All it has done is erode my enthusiasm for what I once thought was the greatest sport in the world. If the NHL and the players can live with that (and they certainly can), so can I. 'Nuff said.

The NHL had something I wanted, too. They withheld it for three months for their own selfish reasons. I'm now returning the favor. I'm glad you are happy to have your binky back. I won't be protesting in any way, shape or form. I've been living my life NHL-free since June and will continue to do so. If that makes ME a sheep, then baa-aa-aa...

There won't be any such protest in Buffalo, and other than a few signs in arenas, probably not in any other NHL cities. "The sheep remain inside their pen though many times they've seen the way to leave." Now that Ted Black and Ryan Miller have both issued apologies to Sabre fans, all is forgiven. In fact, I expect that on the day of the home opener next week, there will be a double rainbow over First Niagara Center and scores of songbirds will chirp happily in the bare trees outside. Lockout? What lockout?

Darcy has said that Hecht is under consideration. So after all the hype about Pegula building a winning team, this is his GM's great idea for providing depth at center? Really? Honest to God, I feel like we're in the Twilight Zone......

Yeah, but the thing is EVERY NHL team will be in the same boat - in fact, the Western Conference teams have it rougher as their travel distances are generally longer. Shortened season or no, the Stanley Cup will be awarded to some team this year. If the Sabres don't play well and miss the playoffs (again) or bow out in Round one, (which is very likely), we're back at the same point with the Darcy and Lindy show. It's like the movie "Groundhog Day"; the same tired excuses every year.

Anyone see the mistake in the letter? It says, "2012-2013 season". Uh, Ted...all those games in 2012 were cancelled, remember? Oh, and that letter certainly makes up for losing three months of the season. :censored:

Yeah, methinks the Commish won't be attending any games for a while. :bag:

Don't Tread On Me. Not that it will happen......You know, for all the rancor and vitriol spewed about the lockout on these pages, there are an awful lot of fans who now are acting like the lockout never happened. I've heard of short memories, but gee whiz....at least be a LITTLE indignant. :mellow:

Marrone might be the second coming for all I know, but out of all of the potential candidates it does seem like an underwhelming choice at first blush. There are lots of variables not yet in place (the rest of the coaching staff, draft picks in April, new quarterback) but picking Marrone doesn't seem like the Bills were swinging for the fence with the choice. They talk like they just want to get the Bills to be "respectable" and that Marrone did just that it Syracuse. Of course, time will tell but right now I am as excited about this choice as I am for the Sabres' chance of winning the Stanley Cup this (half)season...

I've thought about Drew Stafford exactly the same amount that he has thought about me....

As this year has progressed, I have found that I "need" hockey less and less. As far as entertainment, going to a movie is tons cheaper than going to a Sabres' game (which I haven't done since before the last lockout). I'm glad that the lockout is over, not for my sake but for the sake of all those whose jobs and financial well-being depend on NHL hockey (arena workers, bar and restaurant owners, etc.) I'll probably wind up watching a game here or there, but hockey no longer holds the same interest for me that it did prior to the previous lockout. I know that the NHL and the players could give a $hit about me, but it is what it is. I guess that makes me a lousy Sabres' fan. Well, I'm just returning the same "affection" that was afforded me by them. 'Nuff said...

I hope Andy was referring to the jersey when he tweeted that he had "found an extra one of these laying around my apartment..." If he was referring to the boob.... :blink:

Interesting article - the comments posted after it are even more enlightening. I was just thinking the other day that from an entertainment value point of view, going to an NHL game is really poor. If you add up the cost of a game ticket, parking and food/beverage (and leaving out the souvenirs), you're talking close to $100 for two and a half hours of action. Plus, all of the games are already on TV, which costs nothing to watch at home. I can go to a movie, park for free and even if I spring for the big bucket of popcorn, my two hours of entertainment costs less than $20. Hmm....

Having to do a verbal tap dance on the phone with a doctor who was told that the information they were looking for was posted on our web site when in fact it isn't. Then, after referring the MD to one of our directors for the information, I'm told that the director was the one who said the info was posted on the web site. :censored: :censored: :censored:

I agree - but, there have been some really great bowl contests. Louisville (#21) vs. Florida (#3) looked like it might be a mismatch, but it was a great game and the Cardinals came out on top. LSU vs. Clemson was another great game. Tonight, it's Oregon vs. Kansas State (#4 against #5); this should be an awesome matchup (and a chance to see the Bills' new head coach in action :rolleyes: ) Of course, the "big one" is Monday night; that will be "must see TV". I'll be cheering for Notre Dame, not because I like them better than Alabama but because their football program has struggled for so many years. It would be great to see them win a national championship. Oh, yeah - on the actual topic of the thread, the NHLPA did NOT file for a disclaimer of interest yesterday (their self-imposed deadline), so there's that. What it means in the grand scheme of things.... <_<

Nike to Fehr and Bettman....."$uck it!" :angry:

When considering whom to bring in to coach the team (including coordinators), please look for someone who has had some success against Belichick. I know that cuts down on the length of the list, but the Pats are a team that we face twice every year and they always clean our clock. If we can at least split the games, that would be a nice start. The Jets and Dolphins are still question marks (although Miami is getting better), but we know the Patriots will bring it. Also, I am not thrilled with Nix as GM, but there is some speculation that he will only stay until after the draft and he will depart as well. That would be fine with me.

If the NHL wants to get me to start attending games, I'll need a private box stocked with Captain Morgan Tattoo rum, unlimited BBQ wings, female servers in various stages of undress and a "masseuse" with a rather casual moral attitude. If they want me to start watching games on TV, they'll need to replace the regular intermission features with ten minute adult video clips (and coupons for free Tattoo rum). OK, Commissioner, I'm waiting.....

First, the tragedy of this is nearly unbearable. I saw the still photo of little kids being led away by a female officer and I choked up. Horrific. The thing is, these folks aren't completely crazy - to them, the reason that they do these terrible things is very logical...but only to them. Their logic is twisted. Their brains don't work like the rest of us "normal" folks. I just don't know why it seems to be happening with such scary frequency. God help everyone who has been touched by this - I hope they can find peace. I'm going home and lock myself in for the weekend.

A few minutes ago, I heard the sound of drums coming from outside my office window at Roswell. I thought it was a car with a really powerful sound system, but when I looked outside, there was a 30-piece Santa Claus marching band. Yes, you read that correctly. They had just gotten off an Akron Central School bus. They were led by a Santa drum major and two elves. They marched around for a while playing Christmas songs, then they got back on the bus and left. Now that's something that you don't see every day and it was pretty awesome!

Well, of the two, the NFL is the only one actually playing games. :blink:

The flu. I never got the flu vaccine and I also never got the flu...until Sunday night. I'm just now beginning to feel human again. I also discovered that despite having hundreds of TV channels to choose from, there is nothing good to watch on any of them during the day.

Man, if Pegula ever offered up shares of Sabres' ownership, I'd sell my motorcycle to buy me some...

There is a third party in this situation that has a definite financial stake and who is completely unrepresented in the negotiations - us, the fans. I don't recall specific figures, but if ticket revenues are paying the majority of players salary, there ought to be a fan representative in the discussions. I'm not naive enough to think that this would ever happen, but it sure would have an impact. The players complain that they are being treated like cattle - how about us fans? We are being disrespected from both parties and I completely resent it. We keep hearing (from both sides) about "the good of the game"; I sure don't see it. I feel like giving Otter's speech from Animal House: "I feel that a stupid and futile gesture should be done on someone's part..." to which Bluto replies"...and we're just the guys to do it." I wish a coordinated anti-lockout fan protest of some sort could be organized and publicized. Maybe even tie in some charity to make the thing worthwhile. (Like maybe everyone donate their NHL logo clothing to the Salvation Army or Goodwill). I hate feeling powerless.