LongLiveRalph

Unless he's water skiing, then he's Skip.

Me personally, I'm not sure what I could've done for the guy, other than call the cops, try to see the car that hit him, and move to the street to make sure traffic doesn't hit him again. I guess I'm surprised nobody did that, but the cops got there in one minute, so I'm sure people were on cell phones immediately... What else should've been done besides that? You always hear that you don't want to move people with potential head/neck/spine injuries...I guess I'm positive I would've gone into the street and at least checked his vitals...

I don't disagree. But those tiers have exploded the past two years. Hockey is back to where it was with the ludicrous contracts. That's why, contrary to what Darin wants to read, my problem is not with Vanek's money at all...Of course it's out there, but apparently my mentioning it means I have penis envy for his contract...I don't...I see him with the skill to do more and it's frustrating when he doesn't. Playing 30-40 good games out of 80 doesn't cut it. I realize it's a team game so I guess lets chalk up his bad games to somebody else and leave the fragile kid alone. I give him a ton of credit for standing in front of his locker in slumps and after bad games and saying what needed to be said. But that was the Sabres to a "T" last year...They all talked about "we know what we have to do" and then they go out and leave points on the ice, game after game. I was expecting Vanek to make that jump to elite this year, and it wasn't even close. I'll take 30 goals a year, but he's good enough for more. I'm not expecting a replication of 40G 40A +40 every season. Too much pressure? Trying to live up to his big $$? Definitely possible. I have high hopes for him as well, and if the NHL is able to make it back to ESPN with a TV deal, his contract could look like a bargain in six years. Nobody wants that more than me.

That's a copout for frugal teams. The salary cap is going to continue to go up. If they sign a TV deal that actually PAYS (which is possible,) it will jump up.

Is this being televised? I think they're playing today...I assumed Golf Channel, but I didn't see it in the guide...

It is VERY evident in a game in which he scores. Like any big time goal scorer, you get one, you want to get two...His effort is NOTICEABLY higher, his work rate is better, he drives to the net, and he doesn't shy away from contact after he lights the lamp. Other times, playing consistently against top-line defense, he wants nothing to do with the game...

Disregard the comments at your leisure, seeing as you know more about the sport than those who cover it for a living, coach it for a living, and play it professionally. Clearly, nobody would understand the code of professional athletes code more than a guy sitting at his computer 16 hours a day in Alaska. Are the Sabres better without Campbell? Thank you for enlightening me that Vanek and Phaneuf are superstars and it's their teammates faults every time they underperform. For the 5th time in this thread, I don't begrudge Vanek one cent of his money. He had a huge season and reaped the payoff. I am critical of his inconsistent effort. But I'm sure that's someone else's fault too.

Of course the West is better and tougher. But you talked about how HUGE it is to have a defenseman who can play big minutes. Campbell was that guy for Buffalo, and he's still that guy for the Sharks. Read up on what the Sharks teammates and staff thought of Campbell. The Sabres defense has been a weakness, so they let their best defensman walk over $1-2 million? I agree with your earlier assessment that the Max/Connolly contracts are the true criminal elements here. I wasn't implying that Soupy is better than Phaneuf. They are very different players, Phaneuf is much more physical and is a better defenseman, and is also only 23. I have no doubt he will be just fine, but lets hold off on putting him up there with Pronger and Lidstrom, as he still has NO CLUE what a 2nd round playoff game looks like. That's not the point I was making, but thats ok. Thomas Vanek has 10x the skill of Jason Pominville and competes with about half the effort and intensity. That to me is not a $50 million man.

Just the nancy-boy sense? I whole-heartedly agree.

Alaska Darin: "Anaheim has both Pronger and Neidermeyer and Detroit obviously has Lidstrom. Those guys eat half the minutes available every single night and that's huge." I'm not saying Campbell is at that level of play either. But he was good enough to play 27 minutes a night for a team that went to two straight ECF's, which as you stated, is "huge." Where's Phaneuf been in the playoffs? His sin is occasional disinterest and lack of effort. He's played one season against top-line defense and he had one good 15-game stretch. He is young but he doesn't seem to be a leader or a guy the team rallies around. Crosby's skill is outrageous but it's his effort night-in night-out that makes him world class.

Golfers are definitely suspect...It's hard to call it a sport when I usually have 8 or 9 beers every time I play. There is an athletic component to the golf swing, but once you graduate to a certain level, everything about the game comes down to putting. That, my friends, requires no athleticism. That said, Tiger Woods would beat the shiit out of Thomas Vanek, no doubt in my mind. Say what you want about the "Quiet please," not ranking tennis players among the world's elite athletes is asenine. Those dudes are incredibly strong, fast, agile, and have serious endurance. They are the definition of athletic.

So...$50 million for Vanek makes Campbell too expensive.... I do not blame the Sabres failures this season on Vanek. The only thing I blame on Vanek is inconsistent effort. He definitely DOES NOT bring it every night, and that is unacceptable. Of course he would score if he was in Holmstrom's place...But so would Pominville and Kotalik, and you and me....

I understand that (wouldn't necessarily call Heatley a perimeter player, but certainly the other three.) Vanek has skills that are irreplaceable. Consistency (both in effort and production) will be expected from him. But like I said above, after watching the Stanley Cup finals the last two years, it's hard to be excited about our frugal franchise hitching their $50 million wagon to a guy like Vanek, who has more than his share of puzzy-ish tendencies and stretches of invisibility.... As far as the defenses, while Anaheim does have some bruisers, both teams' M.O. is to play efficient, safe, position defense, with crisp, safe puck movement...And some of the "jam" mixed in when need be. Limit turnovers, 2-on-1's, etc. You know, the types of teams Vanek disappears against.

True that. But do you think that after watching the last two Stanley Cup finals, the brass is excited that a guy like Vanek is tied to that much cash? He's the type of player who gets owned by defenses like Detroit and Anaheim. Hell, Heatley Spezza Crosby Malkin struggled.... It was mentioned by Spun: Unfortunately that's the model- A goalie you're confident with, and protect him with your D...It's what wins more often than not over 82 games, and it's what wins in the playoffs...Those 2 years of high octane Sabres teams were SO fun to watch, you wish "lock 'em down" wasn't the case...Nobody wants to see 8-7 games, but I think 4-3 is almost always better than 2-1... That said, there are some incredibly talented young players in the NHL who's skill always shines through. As a hockey fan, it's impossible not to appreciate that talent...I mean, Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe producing on offense AND playing against Crosby the whole series...Gotta love it...

The deep-fried turkey always seems to be a hit, and it doesn't take that long...Maybe 90 mins or two hours?

the Sabres didn't want to pay Vanek, Edmonton did. Watching Ottawa get slaughtered last year, and watching Pittsburgh get outplayed this year makes me think the Sabres are not as close as we'd all hope.

Kobe (best 1-v-1 defender in the game, IMO) locks down Pierce Odom/Gasol > KG/Perkins Fisher > Rondo Bryant averages 34, 6, 5 Celtics will be amped and they play tough in front of the Boston crowd...But.... Lakers in 6, I don't think Celtics can score enough consistently to keep up with them

I was listening to the Tirico show on ESPNRadio yesterday, and they had Kendrick Perkins of the Celtics on...Scott Van Pelt only chimed in with two questions, and both had to rank up there with two of the most idiotic ever conceived: "Have you sat back over the last week and just thought, 'Man, I'm in the NBA Finals'?" AND "Did you guys ever think back in October and November that you would possibly be where you are now, still playing in June?" Um, Scott? They signed KG and Ray Allen and IMMEDIATELY became the favorite to win the East...And didn't they start like 12-0 or something??? Of course they expected to be here. So stupid.

You must've gotten ripped off trying to buy a light saber from one of your World of Warcraft buddies...

How about, I'm a season ticket holder and I live in FL....But thanks for making things so convenient for me, I really owe you one. Ghosts of Rockpile posted about 18 posts into the thread a constructive idea about single-game tix during upgrade. Good idea. Every other post is your general crying. God forbid phones are busy when 40,000 people are trying to order tickets......

Excellent.... 2-for-2......

GOOD GOD....Change the thread title to "Cheddar" so there's something to eat with this whine...

That is easy for you to say when you are not a multi-millionaire in the public eye in a sue-happy society. Marshawn has A LOT more to lose than most people, and while driving away is not admirable or ever the right thing to do, it has certainly made the burden of proof extremely difficult for the fuzz. Let's face the facts...At 3pm he probably stops and makes sure all is well. At 3am, well, he (or whomever was driving) may have been buzzed which certainly effects driving and decision making. Thoughts come rushing in of suspensions and fines and voided contracts, it's probably very easy to get spooked and just get the hell out of dodge. Again, not a good reason to leave the scene, but it is a reason. There's a lot of "what if's" but if he had a good idea it was more of a "clip" than a "thud," he possibly felt that the chick would be ok and just bolted. Certainly a POS move, but saying "everything would take care of itself if he stayed" is a major stretch. Somebody could see neon dollar signs once they see Lynch get out of his car and all of the sudden it's a neck/back/spine/ injury and wheelchair confinement for life (or at least until the court case is over.)

Definitely one of my fav's also. Hanks and his son in the diner discussing the cash payout is great.

I agree...Nothing like laying in bed with your lady after rocking her world and puffing back a smooth joint...LONG LIVE THE GREEN BABY!