The Dean

I went as well. I hated the stadium, which I think pretty much everyone hated. I took my buddy from Milwaukee and we stayed about an hour outside of town. Drove in in the morning and caught a bus from a bar on the outskirts of town. Perfect plan for us, really. But you will notice they have not had a SB since. With that said, Minneapolis is a WAY bigger market than Buffalo and I assume it has far more hotel rooms (it's late so I won't do the research). I don't think Buffalo won't get a SB because of the weather (though it will be an issue) but rather because the infrastructure for a mass influx of tourists isn't there. Maybe before the increased border control measures, Niagara Falls Ontario would have been a workable solution. It was what I always pointed to when people said Buffalo would never get a SB. But I think they were right. The corporate types which really rule the SB, aren't likely to want to stay what amounts to almost an hour commute to the game. And Toronto (as some have suggested) is a non factor, I think. Keep in mind many of the small crappy motels in NF NY actually close during the winter. Plus I don't think they are SB quality accommodations.

They wouldn't take Tebow, from what I understand, and he is a choir boy.

I think this is a complete lie. I am saying I don't believe you. I can find no credible source to confirm this, on or off the record. In fact, everyone who knows anything believes a SB might happen someday, but only if many other things fall into place. A covered stadium is simply one element of what needs to happen. If you have info to the contrary, help us out, point us to it. And the fact you suggest Super Bowls (plural) suggest you have information Buffalo will be tapped multiple times to host the big game. That sounds like a lot of inside info, that I can't imagine has been decided yet. So, yes, I think you are making this up.

Set the bar low enough and I guess Johnny looks good. I doubt any of us represented a muti-billion dollar company or were looked upon as someone in a position to lead a professional football team to victories. But even so, I had no position of great responsibility or special expectations. We never got into scuffles (seriously only idiot get into bar fights) but we did party extremely hard. Yes, we took drugs, drove under the influence, etc. Not proud of it, but it is the truth. You know what we didn't do? Get caught. One would think a guy who continues to draw negative attention to himself would figure out a different way to go about things. Seems clear to me, he simply doesn't' care.

Indeed I was a bit surprised to see the commish at the game. Watching him being interviewed by Tasker, I took note of two very pasty white guys on the screen. Goodell is so pale he is almost see-through.

Hotels, for one. Niagara Falls Ont has accommodations, but crossing an international border might be too much to ask. And I wouldn't assume Buffalo builds about 10 more high quality hotels in the near future, simply because they get a closed stadium downtown. Someday, if Buffalo continues their "comeback" it might be a possibility. You are correct on that point.

Haven't they already hosted a Frozen Four?

Do you really think the NFL wants to host a Superbowl in Buffalo? Maybe, if Buffalo sucks enough NFL c#@k, and pays WAY too much money, they might get considered for a SB one day. Doubtful, but possible I suppose. Your use of the plural (Super Bowls) makes me laugh.

Hate the idea. And if it is covered, it certainly won't be a "dome". Do they even build them any more? As has been already said, a retractable roof is very likely, and better than a 100% covered stadium. But not much. Green Bay is colder than Buffalo and I haven't heard anyone suggest Lambeau needs to be replaced.. It works for them, it can work for Buffalo.

No doubt. Very impressive.

We don't need no stinking practice! I can see it now. Next week the Bills practice one day,. Maybe another day for a walk through.

I understand that, but if part of your job is "Celebrity" and you stoke that (as he clearly does) you have to deal with the consequences. If that worried him, he could step back on his "bad boy" image, not stay out in public late at night, not have a huge media presence, etc. He make a ton of money, above and beyond his football contract, due to his celebrity status. Don't like the gig? Don't play the role. But I think the bigger issue is his continual public displays go against what he has been asked to do by the owner of the team. I would be shocked if his teammates think his behavior reflects what they expect from their backup QB. Had he been called on to play Sunday, do you think he would have been prepared? Or do you think it is more likely he would have pulled a Billy Jo Hobart/Mike Vick "I was unprepared this week"? I'm betting it would be the later. And had he not performed, with this story breaking, what would be the fallout? Dude has to grow up.

Respond to the wrong post, or did I miss the joke?

Well his brother is there, so I think that is legit. I still believe the guy riding the wave, and profiting from, the celebrity status he has, needs to be able to take more than you or I in public. And I have NEVER considered hitting a guy who tried to hug me, and neither have any of my friends. He should expect that. At least guys like Frank Sinatra had their own private rooms and entrances so they didn't have to deal with that. The guy was a fan, for Christ's sake. The bottom line for me is, if he wants to be The Guy in Cleveland, he needs to calm down on the public partying. He has proven he doesn't have the intelligence/discipline/ability to avoid trouble when he is out on the town.

It's actually less funny now that I un-muted it.

Did I ever suggest one can't defend themselves from battery? I believe I more or less explicitly said you can do that. But what constitutes battery? Have you ever had someone touch you in a bar to get your attention? Maybe grab you, lightly, as you walk by? Do you, or one of your friends, immediately react with a punch? I'd hope not. I certainly don't. Now imagine you are a celebrity where than sort of thing is more or less commonplace. Sorry, battery involves far more than touching. It should FEEL threatening. And yes he could tone it down. My argument is, if he wants to be a leader on his team, and make his case to the owner that he isn't a POS punk, he SHOULD tone it down. He seems to have no interest. I do find it interesting his group is referred to as an "entourage". And many here are jumping on that label. I take a more reasoned approach, I think. I know there are several definitions of that term. But I believe most of us know the difference between a group of friends and an "entourage" or a "posse". If you refer to your group as "My crew" or "My boys" it's probably an entourage. If you have a guy you refer to as "Petey B, he's my sneaker guy" or "Big Sally is the guy who screens my bitches" it's probably an entourage,. If you say things like. "I'm here with Johhny" or "we're part of Johhny's crew" you are probably part of an entourage. Does the guy bring the same gang to meetings, dinner, shopping? Are they all on his payroll? If so, I'm guessing they are a posse/entourage. Friends don't really act that way, or refer to each other that way. I can't say for sure if these guys are friends or an entourage, but I'm sure if I observed their behavior over a short period of time, I could make that call.

If that's how it played out, you might be right. If the fan seemed threatening, you might be right. So let's suppose that was the case for a second. One has to ask, why is the #2 QB out that late, partying, that close to game day? I thought Johnny's excuse for all the problems he encountered during the offseason was, well, that it was offseason. Once the season starts, it's all business, right? Sure, he's an adult and gets to make those decisions. But he is also a guy who has experienced a lot of negative publicity for him, and his team, by using questionable judgement. How can one consider him a team player, and a team leader, if he continues to put himself into situations where there is an enhanced likelihood of attracting trouble? He is a celebrity---and not a reluctant one. He basks in the attention and profits from it. But it doesn't seem as though he can handle the issues that come with celebrity status. People approach celebrities, photo them, touch them and, yes, attempt to hug them. If he can't take it, I think the smart choice would be to stay private, party at home, play down his celebrity status, etc. Approaching someone, asking for a hug (if that happened), is NOT grounds for punching them. The only way a punch would have been acceptable is if the approach were CLEARLY threatening. It might not be fair that Johnny has to watch his step while in public, but it isn't particularly fair he gets paid what he does for his job. I'm not suggesting he is overpaid, but I am suggesting the job comes with its rewards, and drawbacks. Fan attention comes with the job, like it or not. In a way this reminds me of a time when by friend kept finding his teenage son with pot. It was in his drawer, he got caught with it in school, etc. Of course, he had to punish his son. The funny thing was, we smoked pot all the time when we were teenagers. We were smart enough, and discrete enough, to never get caught. Clearly his son isn't. He isn't really mad at the kid for smoking pot. He's mad because he keeps screwing up and getting caught. In a way, that's what makes Manziel different from others who may do the same thing. He just doesn't seem bright enough to be that arrogant.

I simply can't understand how Vine is useful in any way, really. Is there anything it you can do there that you can't already do with a number of other services? So, I predict it will be a huge success, as it seems stupid and utterly devoid of any real content. Oh., and I have no idea what's going on with the posted vine. Fat stupid kid. LOL I can just drive 10 minutes and see an entire community of these fat stupid kids. Must be a real laugh riot to live there.

Proof positive this dog, indeed, melted the hardest heart. Bravo, Arthur

Comments like the one above are, for the most part, completely useless. I'd be interested in what methodology you used in your very careful study of consultants in the "business world". As has been said above, consultants have their place, but are often misused. Also, in my experience, some consultants are basically con artists. But a good consultant, used properly, can be of great use. Particularly in areas of specific expertise not found in the organization. But strangely enough, I have sometimes found that even crappy consultants, poorly used, can have a short-term positive impact on an organization. If only for the reason they raise the level of focus on a particular issue, and get everyone rowing in the same direction, so to speak. The problem arises when, upon seeing the positive impact, management keeps the consultant for too long and expands their sphere of influence. So the boat goes faster, but often in the wrong direction. For the record, my experience with consultants is, for the most part, limited to broadcasting and the food and beverage industry. I have had consultants thrust upon me, hired consultants, and been a consultant myself.

Yes, I've posted this recently, but it fits perfectly in this thread. Two GREAT voices together"

The right decision, and one I suspected would be made. That's one thing off my mind.

What does the governor have to do with anything in this? Call Obama! Call John Boehner! Call Putin! Call a sex chat line. At lease someone will talk back to you.

They have to be, as it will be on CBS in the #1 TV market in the country, NYC. Nothing they can do about it. Having DTV carry it is small potatoes compared to that.

You might get a $1, or so credit. They will likely calculate every game they carry, divide by what you pay, to get a "cost per game" amount.