SinceThe70s

My theory is it's the parents who are planning out little Johnny or Jenna's sports scholarship before their kid ever sets foot on a field.

Maybe where I differ from you guys is I give more credit to the kids. I don't think that just because they get a trophy they think they're a superstar. I think they are more self aware than that. I also wouldn't discourage a kid from pursuing a sport they like because they aren't good at it. Plenty of opportunities in sports for non-athletes (refs/umps, sports medicine, player agent, to a lesser degree coaching, nowadays analytics,...) and being around the sport as the last player on the bench can only help. Regardless, if the participation trophy haters marched on Washington and convinced Trump to sign an executive order banning participation trophies it wouldn't bother me. To me it's a pretty innocuous tradition.

You took the words right out of my mouth. Everyone got a trophy but the champs got a big one. Everyone wanted the big one.

Is this a trick question? I'm going with Billy's mother and father.

Trivial? Better? Bullied? Daddy? Latte? Chat? Have a nice day!

Answering your own question. Not responding to the question I asked. Enough said.

Did any Bills fan on this board need to see the Colts game to determine we need big improvements on the OL? Master of the obvious. When you see an elite WR have a big playoff game will you please remind us that one of those would be helpful too?

I hope you're right. I'd feel better about the bullpen with a proven lefty. I'm skeptical it will happen, but Britton would be a welcome surprise. Three interesting reliever signings this year: Familia: 3 years, $30 million Andrew Miller: 2 years, $25 million David Robertson: 2 years, $23 million Miller is coming off an injury but I think we'd better off with him over Familia....even though I liked the Familia signing. EDIT: add Zach Britton, 3 years, $39 million to the list.

Rex is a perfect fit for Miami. A lot of flip flops and open-toed footwear.

The city and region is a legit impediment as is 1 playoff game in 18 years. Talent level is a concern for every team. This debate that our visitors locker room is a serious impediment to attracting free agents makes me worry about what this board will debate until opening day next year.

They probably don't like Adam Jones in CF. It also looks like they aren't counting on Lagares.

Years ago I was at a party. A friend of a friend was married to a large lady who I hadn't seen in a while. Someone mentioned that large lady was pregnant and I said something to the effect "You're kidding, I had no idea, congratulations!!". Problem was she was in the last trimester which apparently was blatantly obvious to everyone but me. My comment was well-intentioned, but nevertheless it was an epic fail. One of those moments I'll always feel bad about.

I'm an out of towner who has been to 3 games in Buffalo. One was last season. I don't remember hearing a train horn so I have no idea what the poll is all about. There was no clueless option so I'll just abstain from the vote. But Fred Flintstone brought back memories. Pretty sure before the opening kickoff circa 1998 they did a Flintstone Water Buffalo Stampede thing that was pretty cool. #BringBackFredFlintstone

When I was little and Vietnam was raging someone had spray painted War on a Stop sign in a neighborhood we'd pass through from time to time. I thought "Stop War" was a warning that we were entering a war zone. I used to duck down in the back seat and wondered why we couldn't go a different way.

Not a fan of the Bonham homage that kicks this off, just doesn't fit, but after that all good.

I don't think the use of McBeane is misleading or stupid. Just the opposite actually. People like myself see them as a package deal. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Pegulas hired them off the same team. IMO, McBeane is a clever way of acknowledging this.

Forever? Is that really you're perspective? Even if you don't like the current regime are you making a blanket assumption that you will think the same of the next group(s)? Hand to forehead indeed.

BOGO

First off: Happy New Year! I don't know how you separate the reason you get fired as a HC with how long you held the job. The leash is always short and there are different reasons why you get fired. Bowles should have been fired from the Jets as quickly as Rex was from the Bills IMO. The fact that Bowles lasted as long as he did was astounding, but I doubt had anything to do with the color of his skin. Beyond pure speculation and the one year tenure is there any reason to believe the Wilks firing was racially motivated? Opportunity speaks to hiring not firing. Using a coaches firing as a platform to decry their lack of opportunity makes no sense to me.

Here's the thing for me. With the exception of Josh Rosen I've paid no attention to the Cardinals in the past year. Had no idea who Wilks was when he was hired. Didn't see the Cardinals play all year. When he got fired my assumption was "effed up organization". Had no idea the color of his skin until reading through parts of this thread. Is there any reason to think that race was a factor in his firing apart from his skin color? Why not go to Keim is clueless first?

Great player and by all accounts a great guy. After he left he wrote a great article on Derek Jeter's site (Players Tribune?). Have I said great enough yet? Sucks for me that he walked away and the Isles have nothing to show for it. Sucks worse that he's having his best year ever. No points the other night, but I think Toronto is coming down in the next few weeks. He should get a, um, er, great reception and I'm bracing for the worst. All good, he's the type of player you love rooting for. My loss, your gain, enjoy.

Totally agree. The debate over whether there's a hiring issue has more legs. Bringing up firings cheapens that debate IMO.

Disclosure: Islander fan. After losing Tavares - with nothing to show for it except salary relief - and watching Lamoriello bring in a bunch of 3rd/4th liners over the summer, expectations were even lower than usual. Amazing what a difference a coach can make. I think the big difference has been defensive responsibility. Enjoy the third period (but not too much) and happy new year!

Yup the hate for Edelman is like that for Rodney Harrison, well deserved. As a Charger, Harrison was identified as the dirtiest player in the league by his peers. The Patriot way embraced it. Sometimes did stupid things? Spoken like a true Patriot apologist. They are/were both dirty players. Own it and move on.

Plawecki: below average catcher, below average hitter without much power. But he makes up for it by being a slow base runner. Good riddance.