MattPie

Well, there is a certain inbuilt fear of people who don't look like you (or your family, really, since before mirrors you wouldn't know what you looked like). One of those natural selection things, I'd guess. But realistically after around age 5 in our society it's a learned behavior.

I'm just the opposite, in the grand scheme of things, NBA and NHL playoffs are a drop in the bucket. Human decency is perhaps a bit more important for the long-term survival of the species. Shipping slaves from England to Ireland was big business during the middle ages, but that's probably a little early (and from the sounds of it, not something your family partook in in). Slattern would be a good one (I bet it's not even caught by the filter here). Or calling someone "yellow" at one point would be "fightin' words", but now you'd probably just get a chuckle and asked, "are you 80 or something?".

It kind of reminds me of my boss: he's 100% behind his people and rarely has anything bad to say, but he has no issues getting into it with his peers or superiors and telling it like it is. I've only seen that side when I've been in a meeting with him and his peers and superiors, which I doubt the players would be. Apparently some of the west-coast folks in my org used to refer to him and "The Hammer" (although he's mellowed out a bit in the last couple years).

I thought about writing something to that effect early on in this thread, but decided it might take it in ugly directions. Suffice to say, you're correct, and the NBA and owners have voted to exercise their free-speech by saying "I want no part of this guy's nonsense".

Another black eye for Buffalo, the once proud Buffalo Braves reduced to this.

For the first time in 19 years I'm going to change up my prediction to 7-9 (upgraded from 6-10). Turns out, 7-9 +-1 covers 10 of the last 14 seasons and I haven't seen anything that makes me think this year is going to change. 6-10 +-1 only covers 9 of the last 14 seasons.

While not playoffs, didn't the Sabres allow 4 against Carolina in the 90s (but still won 5-4)? If I remember right, Canes pulled the GT with 5 minutes left down 5-0.

I don't watch him much either, and it's almost always through the eyes of playing against the Sabres. I have to wonder if it has to do with the concussions. I remember him being pretty clutch and the go-to guy when he was younger.

Manual? I don't know if anything other some Jeep models would fill that. My 99 Cherokee had a 5-speed. I'm not sure I'd recommend a Jeep though, mine was starting to show some issues at 75k, although I did a little off-roading in it and it was in a deer accident so I'm not going to 100% blame the brand on that one.

Ah you're right. I'm shocked that the Internets don't have a good picture and technical write-up on these things.

A "Rackets" racket, maybe? That's my best guess after Googling "uk racket sports" (who else would wear white sweaters?). The game sounds a bit like squash (squash used to be called "squash rackets", apparently) but with a hard ball and racket.

The only, and I mean only, way Kane comes here (other than late career) is if he has a burning desire to help Buffalo win a cup.

And they say no one plays defence in the Q. :)

21 years ago today:

But how many WINS! :)

I'm wondering if it really put on steam with Darcy Regier, since it's difficult to spell.

The next "handbook" will be called "terms of contract employment". I don't love it because of the chances of abuse, but a company (the Bills) has the right to put terms into the contract a contractor signs. In a more normal job they'd be things like "showing up to work for these hours", a dress (and possibly appearance) code, etc. And it's up to the contractor to decide if the contract terms are acceptable. I don't like it, but it's the way many businesses work these days to avoid the entanglements of actual "employees".

In a world where "ur" is an acceptable substitute for "your", this surprises u? Pet theory: people that can't figure out your/you're/yore use "ur" because you can't screw it up; but I just assume they're morons anyway. BTW, the "u" above is intentional and meant in a humorous manner. The only time "u" made any sense was in the 12-key phone era, and even then it's questionable.

I have friends that do (or have done) low-level motorsports racing. They all like to say, "I'm a professional (car/rally/motorcycle) racer, in my career I've made hundreds of dollars". A very similar (and much better) example are bands that do bar-gigs. People pay covers, buy drinks, and some come to see those people play, but the band gets a very small cut (if any!) of the total revenue for the night. I hate to say it, but it's a choice. Continuing on the musician theme, I could be a house musician at a fancy club or bar in my spare time (think piano bar or strings). While I don't think they'd mention how to wash my wedding tackle (unless I was really rank), they'd certainly have requirements on how I dress and my grooming. All for (probably) crappy money. In a perfect world, sure. But it's supply and demand, there are plenty of cheerleaders that will work for the low wages, why pay more?

Perhaps it makes the draft slightly more predictable. If every player that's 18-19 was pulled into the AHL, it'd be a lot more difficult to judge the remaining 17 year olds. If Reinhart/McDavid/Bennent/etc. are tearing it up playing against guys that are 1-2 years older than them, you know they're something. If they're just playing against other 17 year olds, it's a tougher call. Most places won't let you rent a car until you're 25.

I'm the answer to a question no one has asked!

:) I'd have rather bought a WRX and motorcycle rather than just the STi.

I miss my silver Subaru, but the slate looks so good when it's clean. It shows the scratches a bit more than I'd like though. I've had good luck with Subarus. I'm having a bit a rust (underside, not the body) on the 2005 Outback, but that car lived up near Hunters Creek park until last year, so that's almost to be expected.

I considered that, but gave up meat instead. Beer would have been much more difficult. That being said, Pasquale's pizza (with pepperoni) and wings were really difficult to resist on Saturday, but I did.

42, since I'm THE ANSWER. If it's a 3-digit: