May Day 10

Although I was talking about basically pre-1995 which was pre-trap.... I disagree. It is all still there, but it is re-skinned. Players are so efficient and big now, coaching is so refined, there is zero room out there for maneuverability. As I mentioned, it is a game to see who makes the next mistake. It is awful. You also had the possibility of any game turning into an ugly and exciting brawl, even if it was a 5-1 game. It felt like the players had real emotion and really cared. Nowadays it just feels like a recreational skate for millionaires a lot of the time. Goalies are spreadsheets, and we no longer see a lot of athletic saves. Goalies just know how to be efficient and be in the exact spot, making themselves take up as much space as possible to reduce the % possibility of a goal against. I go to a game and can barely recall anything that happened. I cant even watch any games on television including the Sabres.... and hockey used to be my thing. I probably missed less than 25 sabres games total from like 1987 to 2012. Everybody is so big and fast now. Watch a game from the 70s to see how much smaller and slower everyone is (including goalies) and there was so much more space and variety in play. I have said it before, and still think that they need to execute a 40-year advanced thinking plan and increase the size of the playing surface whenever a new building or major renovation is done. Larger nets should be considered as well. I absolutely loathe silly things the NHL does to contradict itself, first and foremost the awful "Coaches Challenge" for Offside plays. My goodness is that a silly rule that can only prevent goals (in a league desperate to create offense). Most times an Offside is 3, 4, or 5, steps away from a goal against, and means nothing, especially when they are analyzing if a toe had a millimeter of daylight when the puck crossed the line.

I think if they allowed collisions like they did 25-30 years ago, players would die and we would see broken necks/backs all the time. Players are so quick and strong now. I actually dont like seeing a player get laid out and they cant get up. Its heartbreaking. Back in the day, it didn't seem to happen as often. Even now with 'less hitting', these guys have a major toll taken on their bodies and I really respect that. I also believe that the NFL has transitioned well out of trench warfare and collision after collision into a captivating sport with a lot of offense and strategy. On the other hand, the NHL hasnt at all, and it has gotten worse and boring.

I was talking to my son in the car today about how people always look back to their childhoods and think everything was better (and often are correct). I used the NHL as an example. My dad would always tell me how much better the original 6 was. Now I tell my kid how much better the 80s and 90s were, with a lot of the fun stars of the day, high scoring games, lots of fights and rivalries, etc. Hockey is boring to me now, and the quality of the players and coaching has made every game a war of attrition to see who makes a mistake first. MLB the same way, although I much prefer today over the roid era. Still long for the days of older ballparks and Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripkin, George Brett, Mattingly, Winfield, Strawberry, Hershiser, etc... Then I got to the NFL and I paused... I actually think it might be much better today than it was when I was a kid (Im 42). I do think there would be an extra charm with the AFL days/1960s and 1970s that I missed... but overall, the sport has improved from the 80s and 90s. It has gotten faster, more action, much more in quantity and quality coverage, ridiculous popularity, fantasy football/pools, and lots of stars. granted, there are things I dislike... mainly the extreme proliferation of video review. It would also be nice if players had a longer shelf-life like they seemed to have in the past.

It's very hard to win 6 in a row. There is so much fortune involved, even when playing teams perceived as "weaker". So many games come down to a missed fg, late turnover, controversial officiating, weather, etc. Also add in the possibility of losing a position group to covid any given week This is a big reason I refused to dock the Bill's credit for running the table with "easy" games last season.

]You just knew those guys were on to bigger and better things and bolting at their first good chance. I dont get that sense so much from Leipold. He just seems like a slow-burn guy who is pretty comfortable with being a part of the fabric of mid level college football in the mid-west. I also don't see him as fiery/desirable/cutting edge for a decent-enough Power-5 program. Everything said, though.... it has been a really good run for the Basketball and Football programs and they really should continue as one of the most consistent programs in the MAC.

Yeah, mlb clubs in general have move in making a big play to completely make milb capitulate. It will make a complete turn to developmental. Might as well not keep score any more. It's too bad. They are eliminating pro baseball from existing within every corner of the nation. Long term, this is going to hurt the sport. I miss the day where I could go to a number of nearby places and see good, competitive pro baseball.

Coming from someone who wanted him gone after last season, he has been much better this year and even had some really good games.

Lol, are they trying to run him out of town?

It is hard/impossible to say... The AFC was fairly poor during that time period though. A very good chance they make at least 2 more of those Superbowls. With that said, those Dallas teams were juggernauts, and Washington was in a fluke season where they could do no wrong. So I am going to say in my construct, the Bills go to the next 2 Superbowls, and experience a similar result as to real life. They don't make it to XXVIII. You could tell they were fading slightly, and perhaps their will to 'win one' pushed them through.

This is the ultimate bottom line. Russ Brandon was trusted with stewardship of the franchise and Mr. Wilson was not in condition to manage the Bills day-to-day. Brandon was playing GM and owner since about 2006, and the role only increased through Wilson's advanced age. There was no escaping that other than, unfortunately, new ownership. McDermott came in and once and for all convinced the Pegulas that Brandon was a cancer on the football dept. He gained the autonomy, brought in Beane, made monumental improvements to the football side, and the Bills have been a relevant NFL team ever since. If we had a 60-year old Ralph Wilson managing the day-to-day? Sure, he could probably turn it around at some point. Based on the history of the franchise though, we would need a bit of good fortune. I highly respect Ralph Wilson's place in history with this team, and happy he was able to go out, and everything turn out positive with the NRA, Pegula bux, etc, along with the philanthropic initiatives from his estate.

Pretty much this. Nobody with options wanted to work here as gm or Hc. The organizational structure was rigged so russ brandon was the de facto gm. Marrone tried a powerplay against this when pegula purchased the team. The pegulas chose to continue with the russ brandon model. They finally figured it out and walled him off when the organization became a further embarrassment with the rex ryan era and a series of follies like the anthony lynn pc and whaley's "privy" fest.

I see this as an actual positive move. Minor league baseball does not belong in or near NYC. The NY Penn League has been ruined. and now disbanded. That team was originally stolen from Watertown and Oneonta.

Brady looks like trash

My best advice.... I guess it is to enjoy yourself now. As far as getting sleep, sleeping in, going out with your wife, going on a trip(s), etc.... Get it all out now because all that is going away. Some of it (like sleeping in) is gone forever. The first year of kid especially is kind of like some sort of prison camp. Its in a good way, but still Having the kid is actually fairly easy. It is when you have multiple that it becomes challenging (and you realize how easy 1 was).

This has always been a theme with Brady. I was one who also was firmly in the 'put him on the Lions and see what happens' boat. People claiming he is by far the best ever. I was/am on the side of Payton Manning. Strongly believe that Brady was much more a product of the Belichick/Patriots/Gillette Stadium environment than the other way around. It is an argument thrown about many a barstool for 20 years. This year we are getting some clarity. While the Buccaneers are really loaded (and are still loading) with weapons.... Brady is like 49 and doesnt have unlimited access to the cheating systems. I thought we would see Tampa fizzle, while the Patriots' smoke and mirrors show continues under some clown under C. Covid drop-outs hurt the Patriots a bit... but Belichick's drafting has caught up to them.

He would be nuts to start coaching

It doesn't seem like he is a great "ceo" of the football operation. Much more effective as a dedicated coordinator focused on his specialty.

I have Hulu live. No problems. It was weird for the Dallas game though. I was picking up some local Texas station much of the game. Was getting absolutely bombarded with local political ads from these people I never heard of. Then in the 3rd quarter I suddenly got a blackout message and I had to find ESPN to continue watching

they are a young team with a lot of promise. Dodgers are a juggernaut.

The premise that Donald Trump and Caputo were responsible for turning us on Bon Jovi, undermining his bid is such fictional nonsense. We were onto Bon Jovi and the Tanenbaum/MLSE connections LONG before Trump was in the picture (I doubt Trump's interest or financial ability to buy the team was even sincere anyway)... The motivation to relocate the Bills to Toronto was hardly a leap that we needed Trump's manipulations to make. Most Bills fans were borderline obsessed with the situation for many years, well before Wilson's passing, and we were well aware of MLSE/Bon Jovi's presence. As far as the bid goes. We knew all along the Pegulas had far deeper pockets in liquidity. They also would not have to deal with additional costs of relocation to the NFL, breaking the Non-Relocation Clause, as well as the cost of a posh new facility in Toronto (which would have needed to be built by now). We are talking like double or triple the cost. Trump didnt create that situation. Neither did the people in Buffalo or radio stations who didnt play "Wanted Dead or Alive" for a month. I dont really carry too much of a grudge for Bon Jovi, honestly. However, I do get annoyed with his ongoing lack of self-awareness and dishonesty when it comes to this issue. See the post above for an appropriate response.

I think comparisons to the 'glory years' are inevitable. This is the only blip of success the franchise has really had in the Super Bowl era other than that. This would be the only time other than those teams the team qualifies for the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons. The Bills have won 1 Division title without Jim Kelly. With that said, I was saying last year it reminded me of 1988. Good team, propelled by defense, but not quite ready yet. This season might be very comparable to 1989 in its development. By that measure, next year if they take another step, they would stand solidly in the top 1-4 teams in the NFL which would certainly be 1990-1991.

The Christian Okoye game!

The Bills didn't look ready or engaged in the game at all. The Titans on the other hand looked and played angry. They were extra-physical with the Bills and looked like they were chirping at them too. The early interception helped putting the game in their pockets early. I dont think this is always an issue with the Bills. I expect them to be ready for the next game

Tannehill almost blew out his knee celebrating

Sometimes when I think of my baseball cards I feel shame and embarrassment because of this guy.