Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
March 2010 Archives
Walking Wounded Win Again
They had every reason to lay an egg tonight but they stood tall in Boston and hung in there despite having injuries to three of their top six forwards and arguably thier best physical player in Patrick Kaleta.
We won one of those games in hand and now Ottawa is three Bufffalo wins away from being mathematically elimiated from first place in the Northeast division.
My man crush Tyler Myers just wrapped up the Calder Trophy tonight for ROY. He's established himself in the top 10 defensemen in the league easily. My reasoning puts him as the 7th best defenseman in the league just behind Nicklas Lidstrom.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Religion is Bad
Another reason why I refuse to be involved in any organized religion. Apparently right wing nut jobs are forming militias now aimed at starting a civil war in the name of Jesus. The Christian militia Hutaree were charged with planning to kill a police officer and ultimately their grieving family members at the officer's funeral and eventually start war against the United States.
Let me just ask this....how do you go from a true loving Christian to these wack jobs. What Bible do they read from that says that this is acceptable in Jesus' world?
I know there are good people who are christian however the fact that you can go from that to this and belong to the same religion, makes Christianity no better than being a Muslim.
Religion is brain washing, nothing more. It all depends on who is doing the reading from the book of that religion and how they interpret and teach their church's members.
The way you get to being a member of the above militia is through a truly wicked and twisted collection of thoughts and beliefs that Im sure Jesus would probably strike them down now if he could but he can't because religion is a bunch of fiction, all religion. Thats what makes it dangerous. Its brainwashing, it allows those who follow it to hide behind it when they are wrong and to hold it up in front of them when they are right.
Add to that the Catholic church's sex scandals with priests who don't go to jail for their sick acts against young boys and there is not one religion that doesn't have more than enough evidence to show that they are all full of crap
Category: News
Playoff Bound
A 7-1 win last night over the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning has us playoff bound. Tampa Bay was awful. Totally undisciplined especially this stupid spear on Tim Kennedy.
As bad as Tampa was last night how do they have a guy tied for the league lead in goals in Steve Stamkos? Him, Lecavalier and St. Louis were all practically invisible, I'd love to see the time Buffalo spent in the Tampa zone last night it had to have been 75% of the game, and thats not an exaggeration. Even Harry Neale stated in the first period that they didn't have to Zamboni the Buffalo end of the ice.
Now, if only we could save some of that for the next time we play Ottawa which is the last game of the season.
Notables from this game: We clinched a playoff berth, next goal is clinching first in the Northeast, then clinching second though Im comfortable in third as we are most likely getting Montreal who currently sits in 6th place, I doubt Boston or the Flyers makes a run at 6th even if they are only two points back. I want to be the team that knocks out the mighty Habs with four swift defeats in the first round.
Patrick Lalime got win number 200, finally, Lindy needs to play him a few more now and let Miller relax and charge up for the playoffs.
Tyler Ennis seemed to have the puck on his stick every shift he played last night, two assists including a beautiful pass to set up an Adam Mair goal on the rush showed that if Connolly does or doesn't come back we might have to make room for this kid.Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
The Annoying Chickens
If you drove past Airport Plaza Jewelers at all the last day or two then you noticed. That annoying chicken standing outside has multiplied into a half dozen annoying chickens. What a crappy job that must be and how desparate are you to stand out in front of one of the busiest areas in Western New York with a ugly ass chicken suit on. I know the economy is bad, but is it that bad? It must be making them money though because they keep doing it.Category: Miscellaneous
Le Choke By Le Habitant
Sure, for 57 minutes the Sabres looked like crap, but then something happened. Either the Sabres woke up or the Habs and Carey Price forgot that there were still 3 minutes left to play and pulled a major league choke. It was probably a combination of both.
Either way we all but put another nail into Montreal's chances of catching us for first place in the Northeast. If this is the best Montreal can do I hope we catch them in the first round because they really didn't look that impressive it was more Buffalo looking down and out for most of the game.
Two games in hand over both Montreal and Ottawa and Ottawa is up next we should have the Northeast wrapped up in a week.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
OMG They Had Food At The Last Meal!?
Did you hear the news? They had food at Jesus' last meal!
Experts are shocked and concerned that over time in replicas of the last sit down for grub that Jesus and the Apostles are depicted with 69% more food on their plates and the plates were 56% larger. OMG.
Now if there is anyone other than some scientist in a lab coat staring at the damn replica long enough to notice we might be concerned, concerned that people really have way too much time on their hands to notice something so trivial.
So what! Big friggin deal, so the Lord wanted to sit down and have some dinner before he was put up on the a cross and had the crap beat out of him, whats the big fuss? What kid or for that matter is looking at that picture going...geez, im hungry for some of what Jesus is having I think I'll go get me a super sized value meal at McDonalds.
Or as they called it back in Jesus's day McLuke's, the apostle Luke actually owned a chain of food stores back then and was able to hook up the crew for the last supper they had the stale bread, sushi and some boxed wine and oh yeah some of Jesus' blood and his body, yummy, Im going out now to see if I can have some of what they are having, that painting made me so hungry!
This ranks right up there with Santa Claus needs to slim down and stop eating cookies and Cookie Monster has to eat healthy stuff now on Sesame Street because we all know those two made so many of us adults fat....no dice. Thats externalizing the blame, get a life people and stop looking at paintings for more than what they are!
Category: Miscellaneous | religion
The Tea Bagger Pledge: Socialist Free Society
I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights
I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.
I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also, I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life.
I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:
•Social Security
•Medicare/Medicaid
•State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
•Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
•US Postal Service
•Roads and Highways
•Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
•The US Railway System
•Public Subways and Metro Systems
•Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
•Rest Areas on Highways
•Sidewalks
•All Government-Funded Local/State Projects
•Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
•Public and State Universities and Colleges
•Public Primary and Secondary Schools
•Sesame Street
•Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
•Public Museums
•Libraries
•Public Parks and Beaches
•State and National Parks
•Public Zoos
•Unemployment Insurance
•Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
•Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
•Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
•Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
•Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
•Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
•Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies
If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care
I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:
•Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History
•The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
•The government-operated Statue of Liberty
•The Grand Canyon
•The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
•The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
•All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC
I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.
I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.
I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.
I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.
Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.
Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.
SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___.
_____________ _________________________
Signed Printed Name/Town and State
Category: Miscellaneous
Violent Threats Over Health Bill?
Is this going too far? Threats of gun violence over a healthcare bill? This is basically admitting that your are willing to shoot people to get your way, that is domestic terrorism and for this sign this guy should be arrested on the spot.
Its a threat of violence, that is enough to issue an arrest warrant is it not? We are talking about healthcare not warfare, Does this healthcare bill really threaten you that much? Its not perfect but its not going to threaten you physically, if it needs to be fixed they will fix the bill, hopefully to help the people.
Category: healthcare
FINALLY!
Well after a year of bickering and fighting and lies from the repukes and mismanagement of the argument from the president and democrats here we are, healtcare reform has passed.
I'll write more later but for now all Im going to say is that this bill, while not perfect by any stretch (it didn't go far enough for liberals/democrats) was and is necessary. There is no argument from the other side that private insurance companies have raped the middle class and poor of this country and are killing small business with ever increasing rates and people losing insurance for getting sick.
The wait is over, time will tell if this bill will be worth the wait, if it needs to be tweeked now it can and hopefully the first tweek is getting the public option in it somehow.
For the repukes out there, you lost. The majority of Americans, we being the democratic/liberals of this country won, live with it or leave. Personally, I would rather have fewer of the republican variety that scorns parkinson's patients but hey what do I know.
Category: healthcare
Yankees Suck
Category: Miscellaneous | Sports
Jays Preview
If Vernon Wells is finally healthy and able to swing the bat like he did...4 years ago it might at the very least be an interesting season at Roger's Center in Toronto.
Instead Im leaning toward a year of growing pains. With the exception of Lyle Overbay, Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells this team is full of players who are either inexperienced or unproven or both. Adam Lind has one great year under his belt, he needs to repeat last years performance to be included in the veterans of this team.
Notice I didn't list one pitcher. Thats because the rotation and bullpen are full of uncertainties and plenty of youth.
The pitching looks like its going to be brutal with the exception of maybe Ricky Romero who had a rookie of the year caliber performance last year and will most likely get the opening day start. Shaun Marcum returns and IF healthy could be the veteran leader of the starting rotation. I would list more starters but it already looks like the injury bug is starting to hit as newly acquired Brandon Morrow has some soreness in his throwing arm leaving his spot TBA for a few days/weeks. Brett Cecil would be another candidate but his spring has been bumpy at best.
The Starters:Ricky Romero, Shaun Marcum, Brandon Morrow (If healthy), Brett Cecil (maybe), and maybe round it out with Brian Tallet. Three lefties in the rotation. I love left handers regardless of how proven or good they are, they always have a place in the rotation. Dana Eveland and Marc Rzepczynski also have outside shots at making the rotation.
The Relievers: We still don't know who our closer is. Im hoping its not Scott Downs or Jason Frasor. I like Frasor right where he is, a set up guy/short relief. Downs should remain a left handed specialist. That leaves Kevin Gregg and Merkin Valdez as my candidates for closer. Valdez hasn't earned it yet and Gregg hasn't exactly been stellar either. There has been talk about David Purcey....big lefty, throws hard, simplifying his pitches ...maybe Purcey emerges at some point as a left handed closer? Just please don't let it be Frasor and Downs....please.
The offense/starting lineup:
Catcher: John Buck has had a good spring hitting .316 and two homers. He has earned the starting catching job and will split time with either Raul Chavez or JP Arencibia.
First Base: One more season of an under performing Lyle Overbay...anyone? Anyone? Brett Wallace will be in Toronto making us forget about Overbay before July 31st even if it means Overbay goes on waivers. Overbay would have to have a monster start to avoid that.
Second Base: Aaron Hill, can he repeat what he did last year? Please bat him second btw.
Shortstop: Help is on the way, we have to start the year with Alex Gonzalez newly acquired from the Red Sox and John McDonald which is fine, but Im predicting we see Adeinis Hechavarria the Cuban shortstop that our new GM (who I love so far btw) Alex Anthopoulos outbid the Yankees for before the year is up. Espcially if Alex Gonzalez struggles.
Third Base: Yuck, Yuck, and more Yuck. Can we please find a good third baseman? Can Kelly Gruber still play? Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion, they gets April and May before we screw the pooch on this one and call up Brett Wallace who can also play third.
Outfield: Maybe after all is said and done potentially at least their most reliable position if Vernon Wells is finally healthy besides Aaron Hill at second base.
Center: Vernon Wells (please be healthy), Left Field: Adam Lind/Jose Bautista, Right Field: Travis Snider
Snider still has a lot to prove but hes been smashing the ball in spring games.
Would be nice to get a repeat on the 35 homer, 114 RBI season Adam Lind had last year.
There could be a few surprises including speedy Joey Gathright playing in the outfield and challenging for the leadoff role, Randy Ruiz may get some DH time, Brad Emaus may make the team as a back up infielder, and it will be interesting to see if Kyle Drabek makes it to the show before the season is over. My bet is with this starting rotation anything is possible. Drabek could be hear sooner than later.
Season record? 65-97 and thats being generous. I could easily see a 100 loss season if things fall apart. I don't think we will because we still have Mr. Cito Gaston at the helm and all the talk about mutiny in the lockerroom I think is gone. Could this team surprise us all and do better, sure, Encarnacion, Overbay and Wells have to have career years and Adam Lind and Aaron Hill have to repeat what they did last year and Travis Snider has to have a break out year. In addition Ricky Romero would have to continue to show why he is the number one guy, Marcum would have to get back to form and Brandon Morrow and who ever else gets pieced into the rotation would have to basically over acheive.
Too many ifs. Its going in the right direction and for that it will be intriguing to watch, but if you want a winner better wait another year.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday Retro: Peter Gabriel's Magic
Peter Gabriel was just enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Genesis and so I was online checking out Peter Gabriel videos. I remember back then watching them in awe. There were music videos and then there were Peter Gabriel videos. The animation in them were second to none.
Steam: Sledgehammer; Big Time Digging In The Dirt My favorite and most popular Shock The Monkey:Category: Sunday Retro
Sabres 3, Panthers 1
Well, I eat my words, it looks like Lindy and the boys have gotten things back together in Florida of all places. Tyler Myers had yet another big game with 27+ minutes of ice time and had two assists and was a plus 3. This kid is only getting better too.
Patrick Kaleta and Mike Grier got two of the goals and yes, Jochen Hecht got the other. Not one point from Vanek, Roy, Pominville or Connolly which has me a bit concerned but not frightened.
So now its a 7 point lead over Ottawa and Montreal, Ottawa is fee falling down the standings and Montreal is in a position to pass them in the standings. I may have to become a Boston/Atlanta fan for the rest of the season to see Ottawa eliminated from playoff contention.
As for Montreal.....Overrated.
BTW: Thank You Leafs for your win over the evil empire.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Passing Healthcare
Where were advertisements like this back in July and August when the teabaggers were crashing the townhall meetings on healthcare?
Is it too little too late to get this thing passed? I think both sides republican and democrat are hoping this bill does what they say it is going to do, cut costs/debt and hold private insurance companies accountable while providing some competition to the private industry.
I hope Obama and the democrats are right too:
Because if this bill works, it shuts these scumbags up:Category: Politics | healthcare
Why The Hype?
I don't get it. I honestly don't get why Tiger Wood's apology or his comeback is such a big story. Humble Howard had this on his website today:
"TIger is back for the Masters. Yes Black Heyzoos returns and all is right in golf. That sound you just heard is the PGA tour sighing... "Howard is not the only one. I read this today off of the Huffington Post, it was CBS's President Sean McManus saying that this would be "among the biggest events of the decade"
Whoa there Sean and Howard and the rest of those who think Tiger is still god....hes not.
Maybe McManus wants it to be the event of the decade but why should it be? Its a great golfer to be sure (I will not take that away from Tiger Woods) but a shallow and average human being at best returning. He doesn't deserve the hype hes getting.
I agree the initial story back in November was huge. No doubt about it, No one saw it coming. But since then the media has been pulling such a reversal of opinion and most of us (me not included) have fed off this media blitz hook, line, and sinker. First it was how bad Tiger is, then the apology.
HA! The apology, which I didn't take the time to write about it because I didn't think it was worth the time, but Ill say it now. Why in the world was he apologizing to the media or his fans? He did nothing wrong to his fans or the media did he? Its his wife that deserved the apology and why did he do so long after the initial event? Why wait? Because he knew the media shit storm would surround the damn thing and hype it all up, get everyone talking and bait everyone's breath who gave a damn for his eventual return.
So, here we are his return and no shit CBS's president wants the ratings to be among the highest of the decade, hes the president of the network that carries all the major golf events.
The fact is this is a guy who cheated on his wife with multiple women which makes him no better than any other guy who has ever cheated on his wife. Hes a great golfer as an athlete, but a scumbag in life. Why are we celbrating this? Why are we hyping this? The media should be ashamed of themselves for the reversal of attitude on this. It should be like any other day in golf and just broadcast it withou all the hype. Besides, its not like he went far...he finished the season last year did he not? Its been about 6-7 months since everyone saw him play last. So big deal.
Im looking at it this way, if he cheated on his wife whats to say he hasn't cheated on golf? He was tied to that steroids doctor was he not? Maybe it wasn't proven but hey, with what he has done in his home life, every other aspect of his life is in doubt too. Hes not innocent anymore and he certainly doesn't deserve the hype and attention he will get at the Masters.
Thrashers 4, Sabres 3
What a pathetic first 10 minutes last night. I hate to say it but this team will make the playoffs and thats unfortunate because Lindy Ruff has run his course as this teams head coach.
The problem hasn't been the goaltending, the problem has been the play of the team in front of Patrick Lalime and Ryan Miller. It goes back to last year when Patrick Lalime had to fill in for the injured Miller and for the better part of March last year Lalime gave this team a chance to win every night but the offense and the team fell short.
Its the same old story, not enough finish and too little aggressiveness. Too many give aways and odd man rushes leaving their goalies hung out to dry.
Send Tim Kennedy back to Portland, yeah he scored last night but so what. Thats his first since 2009? Mark Mancari is bigger and looked a hell of a lot better in his own end and looked as if he could stand in front of the net in the offensive end.
The best medicine for this franchise would be a total tanking of the last part of this season and them missing the playoffs. They probably won't, but how about finishing in 8th spot? That could happen, the Bruins are just 8 points back. We'd get Washington who would crush us in the first round and that might be enough for Lindy's firing.
Its been three years since the last playoff run and over those three years Vanek has gone from a 40 goal scorer to a shadow of his former self, he'll be luck to get to 30, for a player who should be entering his prime and getting better hes gotten worse. You can also say that about Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Max Afinogenov. All regressed since the last playoff run. I call that coaching's fault.
Want proof? Max scored last night and has 22 goals and 54 points. Last year he was sitting on the bench because Lindy Ruff couldn't put him into a position to succeed on the ice.
Either Lindy Ruff's message is falling on deaf ears or the message sucks. Its time for a change.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This isn't a great video but its one of my favorite songs this time of year. Vancouver's own Spirit of the West doing The Crawl, enjoy!
Category: St. Patrick's Day
Damn Credit Cards
Yesterday I was paying off bills and as I was paying one of my remaining credit cards I noticed the statement from another card online that should have been not just at a zero balance but closed.
It was a Chase Bank credit card and without me knowing or getting any prior knowledge they had closed the account on me last July. It was a card I was planning on keeping because of the cards I have left it had the lowest interest rate.
Well, since it was closed I wanted it paid off. I paid the remaining $400+ balance on the thing in December, zero balance right?
Wrong.
While looking at my statement noticed in February a mystery $7.46 balance showed up. Apparently this was interest from the average daily balance for the month of December that they conveniently forgot to charge me in January.
In addition there was a "minimum" interest fee of $1.00 added to it for February so the balance was $8.46. I know Im screaming about pennies but the point was this card was paid in full, they came up with some bullshit interest charge and kept the account in payment status.
If I hadn't noticed they probably would have nailed me for a late payment fee and the card would have ballooned out of control without any purchases.
So I called and originally they told me that there was nothing they could do which really got me pissed. So I asked for a manager and stated the facts, I paid off the balance in Decemenber, there was a zero balance, how do you get interest from nothing?
Only a credit card company could figure that one out. The manager eventually after about 15 minutes of going back and forth and me refusing to pay a cent of the charges agreed that it was wrong and they dismissed it.
I have essentially two cards and a store card remaining to pay off. Once those are gone Im credit free. If we don't have the cash I ain't buying.
Memo To Lindy: We Need Scoring
Paul Gaustad was back in the lineup last night, that I get, but the decision to send Mark Mancari back to Portland I don't. This team with the exception of one game since the Olympic break has been unable to score more than two goals in a game.
So what do they do? Send Mancari, one of the leading scorers in Portland back and leave Matt Ellis and Adam Mair in the lineup.....????????
In the end, the Sabres have no one to blame but their poor decision making on what players to play and what players to sit. I appreciate Adam Mairs work ethic, like the way Matt Ellis works in the corners but the fact is they will both get their 5-10 goals if that on the season and that will be it.
Mancari netted a goal and picked up an assist in the three games and was looking more and more comfortable each shift he played, playing on the Vanek line much of the time. How is it that Lindy and Darcy think this team is better with Matt Ellis in the lineup? They can't make that case.
What's wrong with leaving a young guy who is big at 6'3" and has a nice scoring touch? He plays big and hits and hangs around the net. His 22 goals and 42 assists make him the organizations leading scorer with 62 points. I'll tell you whats wrong with it, absolutely nothing, he should be back up next game sit Mair or Ellis take your pick.
Category: Sabres
Sunday Retro
RIP Corey Haim, Haim passed away this past week, yet another all too early death from something that is usually prescibed to help us....prescription medications.
From 1989's Dream A Little Dream, Rock On by Michael Damian. Dream A Little Dream featured Haim, Corey Feldman and Meredith Salenger.
Rock On which was probably the signature tune off that soundtrack was originally written in 1974 by David Essex. Its been featured in numerous movies and television shows including The Sopranos and Cold Case.
The song has also been covered by Damian, Def Leppard, Smashing Pumpkins, and my favorite a live version by Love and Rockets.
Category: Sunday Retro
Capitalism: A Love Story, Moore Ties Them All Together
I watched the latest Michael Moore documentary yesterday, Capitalism: A Love Story and after watching it, it was Michael's best work thus far, it was the most challenging to him and to his viewers, but if you get your head around the bashing of the capitalistic system and stopped and listened instead of assuming that if not capitalism then he must be pushing socialism, you got a movie that ties in everything he has done in his career.
It summed up everything he has tried to do since his first documentary Roger and Me. The roots of this mess go back to Reagan who every conservative seemed to worship, and the debate over universal healthcare and fair wages go back to FDR and the new deal which was a great deal but most republicans forget that.
My favorite part of the movie was a scene featuring FDR introducing his "2nd Bill of Rights". Perhaps if he had lived a few years longer we would have seen that come to fruition and the landscape of this country would be much, much different, and much much better. Most importantly, FDR would have had us on the way to universal healthcare.
Category: Movies
Damn My Kid is Cool
Olivia is a natural in sunglasses....bring on summer our kids goin poolside asap!
Category: Baby Buffalo Girl
Sunday Retro (On Monday)
Had to do this Monday due to a busy weekend, saw this video as my eyes were being held up by some weak toothpicks Saturday night.
Its The Cure's Why Can't I Be You. If I have the story right, this was the last time anyone would see Robert Smith dance in a video, after he saw it, he thought he looked ridiculous and put a stop to him dancing in any future videos. Of course those costumes couldn't have contributed to Roberts feelings about dancing?
Maybe Alan Cross can confirm that one.
Category: Sunday Retro
Still Not Pretty
When Patrick Kaleta and Adam Mair are your two goal scorers in a 2-1 win over a team that has scored one goal in three games its pretty sad.
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, maybe I should be happy they won, but until Thomas Vanek, Tim Connolly, Derek Roy and Jason Pominville start contributing to this teams success its going to be a long last 18 games or so.
Sure they have won two in a row but I see no reason to believe this is going to continue. Miller can't keep being expected to hold teams to one or two goals a night every night, sure hes the best in the league but you need to score more than two goals to win hockey games especially with Craig Rivet and Tim Kennedy coughing up pucks.
Heres the deal, we have 79 points, we need at least 15-16 more to be comfortably in the playoffs. That means winning 8 out of the last 18, going 8-10 or a combination there of.
I don't see it happening. But let them prove me wrong.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
The Shamrock Meet
What a great weekend! It was the 14th Annual Gold-Silver-Bronze Stingray's Shamrock Meet and officially the 6th one I have been a part of as a member of the Stingrays coaching staff and it was by far the best of the 6 thus far.
I probably could make that case every year so far but this one was different. We had the most entries in the meet, something that hasn't been the case for Stingrays in quite some time.
The parents and board put on a great meet and our athletes worked tremendously hard to get themselves ready and have some really nice swims this past weekend.
Its a long weekend, a tiring weekend but well worth it when its all said and done.
Category: Swimming
Big Eddie Talking Repuke Fear Tactics
Its a shame that Repukes have been reduced to fear tactics to persuade the small group they have left the Tea Baggers or partiers what ever the hell is left of the GOP, but that is all they have. They refuse to work with President Obama even with the extraordinary effort Obama has put into including them what few ideas they have come up with on healthcare.
All the Repukes from Limbaugh on down to Michael Steele and John Boner....I mean Boehner....or is it Boner....what ever, have left is scare tactics, calling healthcare reform socialist without really referring to the real definition of socialism and just making it sound so scary, or telling people how the president is running up debt when in reality it was George W. Bush who got us where we are, Obama is using a spend as you go philosophy which worked to get us surpluses under Clinton.
Its pathetic and now we are going it alone. The Democrats are going to get healthcare passed with reconciliation and the Repukes can scare and fear monger all they want but in the end when the legislation goes through and is implemented the American people will realize how much this reform is needed. Especially when people are seeing their rates increasing but upwards of 30-40%.
Check out the Big Red Head Ed Scultz talk about the Repukes scare tactics:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Category: Politics
Play The System!! Capitals 3, Sabres 1
Ryan Miller was none too happy last night, yeah he recieved the applause at the beginning of the game but his team was getting booed off the ice by the end.
Bottom line, since January 19th this "team" has won a grand total of 3 games. I don't know what Raffi Torres is going to bring but if its anything short of an army I am getting this sick feeling like this team is not going to the playoffs.
What reason have they given us to think otherwise? They blew a 13 point lead for the division lead to the Ottawa Senators in a month, right now they have just a 10 point lead over the 9th place NY Rangers and we all know who plays for that team. The Rangers will fight and claw their way up the standings because they have the guy we should have signed forever, Chris Drury and it all goes back to losing him. There is nothing to say this team can't lose a 10 point lead over the next month if they don't right the ship and fast.
I was absolutely elated last night to hear Ryan Miller call out his teammates and I hope some resent that he did. He didn't call anyone by name but you got a feeling of who he was talking about, Roy, Vanek, Pominville, and the defense.
Where was Craig Rivet our captain to answer to the media? Has a goalie ever been named captain? Ryan Miller showed why maybe he should be or at the very least an assistant captain.
Lindy Ruff was a little more kind, he took the blame stating it was his fault why the team wasn't up to snuff. I don't put this on Lindy and from Miller's comments he was smart enough not to put this one on Lindy. There were alot of players who had a lot of time off to rest so being tired is no excuse.
I looked at the schedule coming out of the break last week and saw the first two games Pittsburgh and Washington and I had a feeling that Lalime was goint to start against Pittsburgh which he did and he gave them a chance to win so Lalime did his part. The goaltending is there, where is the rest of this team. I thought this week had the potential to be a nightmare and continue the woes of this team from pre-break and so far it has been as awful as I thought.
An inability to finish plays. Danny Gare was filling in for Mike Robataille last night while Roby gets healthy from his car accident. Maybe they should keep Danny around and have him work with the forwards like Rick Martin did a few years back on shooting the damn puck.
Danny couldn't say enough about Raffi, lets hope he comes in like Danny said he would because this team needs everything that Danny talked about especially the leadership up front.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Olympics/NHL/Sabres
After watching the last two weeks I can't help but feel that tonights game is going to be a let down. The intensity will not be nearly as high as it was over the last two weeks of Olympic hockey and the Sabres are no where near the team in front of Ryan Miller as the rest of the US squad.
So that said, I am looking forward to this week but since I didn't get a chance to write much on the Olympics and the gold medal game I'm taking my chance here.
First off, congradulations to Canada, it was deserved, that team got better throughout the tournament and as a diehard hockey fan I can't remember when hockey was more exciting in recent memory and yes that includes the Sabres runs with Drury and Briere. I hate Heatley and Crosby but after watching them the last two weeks there is a healthy hate/respect for many of those players.
What the last two weeks did for fans of hockey probably won't be measured until after this years playoffs. For me it took a diehard fan and made me all the more a fan of the game when its played right....with passion, grit and determination. For casual fans, they saw some of the best hockey has to offer and it may have made some casual fans diehards.
The biggest difference I saw of the players in those Olympic teams as compared to what we go back to tonight is that those players play with passion, they go to the net and they pay a price to put the puck in the net by any means. They don't screw around with behind the back passes and if they do its because they know exactly where players are on the ice.
Tonight we will probably see more Tim Connolly and Derek Roy dipsy doodle crap and no effort to go to the net. If there is any hope its that Ryan Miller, Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder, Jochen Hecht and Lindy Ruff come back and tell their peers what it takes to win hockey games, they all saw it, they all lived it for the last two weeks.
I wondered why Tim Connolly wasn't pcked for the US team, I now know why, hes not willing to go where these players were going. Hes not willing to go to the net.
So, the trade deadline is tomorrow and after tonight, if Buffalo loses its trade time. Even if they win there is not enough room on this team for Connolly and Roy, we need grit and leadership and someone who can contribute offensively. Who wouldn't take Chris Drury for Derek Roy at this point?
We need one solid, young, power play type defenseman who isn't afraid to grind a little too and we need some leadership/scoring up front.
Its fitting that we see Pittsburgh and Sid Crosby tonight first game back, its a good measure as to how good this team really is. Granted, Patrick Lalime is getting the start, but who cares. This team has to show they are a team and they have to play in front of him. If they don't I hope Darcy has a phone on speed dial to some willing trade partners in his hand to bolster this roster.
Category: Hockey
Olympics/NHL/Sabres
After watching the last two weeks I can't help but feel that tonights game is going to be a let down. The intensity will not be nearly as high as it was over the last two weeks of Olympic hockey and the Sabres are no where near the team in front of Ryan Miller as the rest of the US squad.
So that said, I am looking forward to this week but since I didn't get a chance to write much on the Olympics and the gold medal game I'm taking my chance here.
First off, congradulations to Canada, it was deserved, that team got better throughout the tournament and as a diehard hockey fan I can't remember when hockey was more exciting in recent memory and yes that includes the Sabres runs with Drury and Briere. I hate Heatley and Crosby but after watching them the last two weeks there is a healthy hate/respect for many of those players.
What the last two weeks did for fans of hockey probably won't be measured until after this years playoffs. For me it took a diehard fan and made me all the more a fan of the game when its played right....with passion, grit and determination. For casual fans, they saw some of the best hockey has to offer and it may have made some casual fans diehards.
The biggest difference I saw of the players in those Olympic teams as compared to what we go back to tonight is that those players play with passion, they go to the net and they pay a price to put the puck in the net by any means. They don't screw around with behind the back passes and if they do its because they know exactly where players are on the ice.
Tonight we will probably see more Tim Connolly and Derek Roy dipsy doodle crap and no effort to go to the net. If there is any hope its that Ryan Miller, Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder, Jochen Hecht and Lindy Ruff come back and tell their peers what it takes to win hockey games, they all saw it, they all lived it for the last two weeks.
I wondered why Tim Connolly wasn't pcked for the US team, I now know why, hes not willing to go where these players were going. Hes not willing to go to the net.
So, the trade deadline is tomorrow and after tonight, if Buffalo loses its trade time. Even if they win there is not enough room on this team for Connolly and Roy, we need grit and leadership and someone who can contribute offensively. Who wouldn't take Chris Drury for Derek Roy at this point?
We need one solid, young, power play type defenseman who isn't afraid to grind a little too and we need some leadership/scoring up front.
Its fitting that we see Pittsburgh and Sid Crosby tonight first game back, its a good measure as to how good this team really is. Granted, Patrick Lalime is getting the start, but who cares. This team has to show they are a team and they have to play in front of him. If they don't I hope Darcy has a phone on speed dial to some willing trade partners in his hand to bolster this roster.
Category: Hockey
