Stoner

Josh's wide hips will serve him well on the field and in his prime child-bearing years.

Ray: Pitt and Buff. R.I.P., @inkman.

Skinner sighting.

This game is so Buffalo at Pittsburgh.

Dunleavy with The Dunleavy. Sorry — I'll stop when he does.

Internet giraffes are slow.

I started a GoFundMe for suspenders for Dan Girardi.

TIL...

That's the idea. The anthem singer and PA guy are obnoxious too. Buffalo should look into it.

I like Rob's attitude re: officiating.

Terry just got his Olean Times Herald in the mail today with the story about Houser being from Pittsburgh. Hoo boy.

Cagey!

What's your "backup" plan?

Whisky after poutine, BM is routine Poutine after whisky, colon gets frisky You're welcome.

I'm cracking a cold pap.

No. It's the target demographic. Do you not think it would be smart to go into certain parts of the country where vaccination rates are low and offer a box of shotgun shells with each jab (two boxes)? Philosophical and political opposition the vaccine would be moot for many of these very smart, sensible, educated folks.

Bruce Martin? Maybe Martyn?

I just hope someone has thought to have Rick record a line we all want to hear someday. When it happens, if at home, can you imagine when it's played in the arena? Sigh. Statins, do you thing.

I actually think it's been his best season in several years. He's playing a more simple game. I think he knows he can't see the numbers anymore, so instead of getting tongue-tied, he just goes with, "Boston comes to the line and dumps it in." I've come to chuckle at the occasional blunder, like calling Sam, Ranheim. Not seeing the goalie make a spectacular save? Welp, he's 78. He's still 68.75% of what he was (fancy broadcasting stat), and that's pretty derned good. And to quote the country music song, sometimes Rick's as good once as he ever was.

I think I missed it. But in the last game, Rob said "playoffs" as an apparent takeoff on Jim Mora and Rick laughed. He might be as at the end of his rope as many of us. I did wonder how that kind of comment would play with the suits at PSE, if they were listening.

It's about respect. Not clearly stating that the opponent has scored is disrespectful (not to mention confusing to the listener). The height of homerism. Amateurish.

Are you assuming NASCAR fans are dumb rednecks?

TBN reported today that Rick and the executive veep of PSE will meet after the season to discuss his future. My default position has always been that Rick milks these moments, creating some suspense about whether he's going to return, knowing he's going to return — and that Rick's run will end when he's wheeled out of the booth one final time. That position is being challenged a little today. Rick hasn't called a road game this season, but he's going to do the season finale on Saturday. At first, I made a major blunder in my thinking, which was that, sure Rick is retiring by calling a Sabres game in Pittsburgh, which is how it all began. For the franchise, but not Rick. Duh. Rick started in 71-72. Now, that season also started with a game against the Pens (another 2-1 win), this time in Buffalo. Blunder #2: thinking that game was Rick's first Sabres game. At least I think it's a blunder. Rick wouldn't have called that game, either, if the team's media guide is correct. The only games he called that season were 15 televised games. Radio-only would have been the Voice of the Sabres, Ted Darling. Rick's first call was apparently at Boston on Oct. 14, 1971. The game was televised. His first home call was (apparently) Nov. 21 against the Leafs. If all that's true, deciding to call the game at Pittsburgh isn't anything of special significance to Rick except it's the finale and maybe he thought it could be a big game. OTOH, it's his 50th season, the franchise DID start in Pittsburgh and if there's anything Rick loves in life besides Cupcake, beer, hockey and broadcasting, it's the joy of slipping in the last word in a crossword puzzle. A nice, tidy finish. It'll be interesting to watch unfold, to say the least.

Our fantasy life of sports sure gets complicated when real life intervenes. Can you imagine a story about your MVP tweeting out the n-word on the eve of Game 7, SCF?

The obvious setup would be pxp, analyst, color commentator/comic relief between the benches. Rutherford (Chris, currently doing games in Muskegon), Drury (Matt, former ECHL star and hockey podcaster) — and Ray. (Some names made up for comic relief.)