Ghost of Dwight Drane

Yep, it sure is a debacle.

There is a federal investigation involving at least 3 agencies right now. Dozens of federal agents will be pouring through records at both Penn St., the "charity", and those linked to all. If what has been leaked so far takes on even half truth....there is good reason why nobody is talking in Buffalo. This story has the potential to be the biggest shock/cover in decades. Bucky is a moron if he expects these guys to talk. I pray Pegula is squeaky clean. He only met Benson a few years ago. But Benson facilitated the donation to Curley. I don't expect everyone to be up on all the facts and whispers so far, but this is VERY Buffalo relevant at this point. All we can do is pray that some of the people we look up to had no clue. What's the old saying....when they raid the speakeasy, even the piano player gets arrested? We don't have the piano player on board, we have the guy who it looks, controlled the combination on the safe where all the cash for the casino was held and who had the professional ability to know and understand cash flows and inconsistancies. That ain't good folks. This is so sick that you just hope the least amount of people possible had a clue. The investigation has reached critical mass however.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTg8bNIEOnw

This story is still going parabolic. The feds will follow the money trails on this and the good thing is, this story is so big right now there is no way to hush anybody up anymore. Just pray that it is more about money and jobs for most of these guys. We saw what a structure like the church was able to get away with. I know it is hard for the average goodhearted person to even come close to imagining where some of this is going.

Get a plunger ready. This story ain't goin nowhere.

To give you an idea of the level of depravity involved, Las Vegas has taken the game down for the night. Buff News stating everything Sabres staying silent.

It is in his best interest not to comment on it because the investigation is just getting rolling and who knows what will come of all this. This may hit close to home in one way or another. At the very least, the Kevin Bacon rule will be in full effect.

The stories about the DA who was informed of this suddenly disappearing, and the same lawyers representing Penn St. and Second Mile make it even a bigger story. Sadly, comedy and alcohol are about the only things to lean on when trying to make sense of the crazy place this has become. Money, power and fame. Keeping the devil in business for 6,000 years ;) That one's for X-checking...

Sad...sad... I didn't know about Benson either, but on the Sabres website it even lists him as the Financial Chair. He's the one who brought Pegula and the Athletic Director together to get the deal done. There is other crossing between Pegula's people and Second Mile, but it looks like a fairly big charity so that is to be expected. They are looking into the charity big time now. What is scary is that Sandusky littered these kids with all kinds of gifts and cash. If they came through the charity and certain kids were continually singled out for gifts, all the while the Charity was made aware 3 seperate times of incidents involving Sandusky.....it makes for some common sense questions. Hopefully it was just such a big operation that nobody paid attention. Who would have thunk that a few months ago when I was harpooned for questioning predatory behavior of a coach and charity inappropriation....the 2 effect the Sabres and synergize out of thin air? Maybe Lieno will be the one diagnosed with a depth perception problem instead of Miller?

I think we all need to stay tuned on this. They have been combing through the charity. Considering it was the conduit for all of the misdoings, and they were informed at least 3 times of it, this could get interesting. This isn't a Penn St. football problem, this is a Penn St. "family" problem.

It's moving so fast, and if the AD gets nailed for covering up, can the whole athletic program go down? The charity looks involved too, which is why I wonder who gets called to testify, etc. Sick stuff. Matt Millen was even bawling. This is by far the most disgusting thing that one could do. Especially when people hide under a position of clout to get it done.

I haven't seen the Penn St. horror mentioned here, but it is of some relevance I would think. Considering the Sabres tight ties to the Penn St athletic department, I just wonder how deep down the rabbit hole this whole thing goes. The whole program could go up in flames. I get a little nervous because Cliff Benson is the Financial Chair of Sandusky's "Second Mile" boys charity. As far as I can tell Pegula is only a hockey guy there, so hopefully the money trail and coverups don't make a draft this way. This just sounds like a long haul situation.

Here's the good thing. Gailey is smart and learns from mistakes. We get NY in 3 weeks after their gameplan worked. If you are Rex Ryan, do you play poker and expect Gailey to come out with something new, or do you come back and expect to do what you just did? We may catch them in a comfort zone. Sanchez played as well as he can, and Fitz overthrew 4 open guys. Usually he underthrows, so I am wondering if he is a little tight and was overcompensating. Nelson was contained and frustrated...the first time I've seen him dejected. He has to buck up if he wants to be a real threat in this league and not just pick up scraps from Jackson/Johnson. He will learn from this. Freddie fumbles. They were all out of sorts. The Vegas kids jumped off the bandwagon with both feet. We were 2 1/2 favorites against the Jets and are now catching 6 from Dallas after a huge move from 3 1/2. That means that the Jets would have been 5 1/2 underdogs at Dallas last week. It doesn't compute, and if there was ever a week to bet Buffalo....this is it. Maybe the wheels are off, but this is an opportunity. As nice as it would have been to win, I like where this puts these guys mentally the next 3 weeks. Chan has that lockerroom and now you can play the world against us card again. If they can beat Dallas, it sets them up to be rabid dogs in Miami for a Washington type performance.....and now they will have this Jets bone stuck in their craw for the rematch. A lot of ifs....but longterm this loss may actually springboard a mental and momentum parlay to put them in a better place by the end of the year.

Any luck? I was happy with my handicapping today, and did solid....could have run wild. The 2yo turf was a little soft for the speed types so sure enough, the Europeans come gobbling at the end. I didn't come close. The sprint was a perfect trip for my guy....he gutted it out and just lost in the end. I did have a small exacta so I cashed ok. The turf sprint was just a bad break....by 2 horse get carried out 12 wide. It was over right there that short. I ate it in the dirt mile. Trappe Shot put in a mild bid, but he burned a lot of my pick-3+ tickets. The winner was exciting though. That's the type of run I was looking for...wrong horse! I knew something was up in the turf when my pick drifted up to 7-1. If she was on, she would have been bet. Great story though with the winner. 18yo kid gets his first BC ride....for his Dad of all people...and makes an amazing ride to dominate. Thankfully the Juvenile made my weekend. I was happy to get 7-1, and Hansen set the pace but was able to relax. He dug in big at the end and I got a little lucky with Union Rags going wide. I hammered the exacta and it paid $46. I don't think Hansen has a chance to Win the Derby at this point, but if he stays healthy he is a neat little guy. Ugh....the mile was an inch away from making me a happy boy. I can't cry for missing a 64-1 shot with the 2 horses I liked. But it killed my multiple race tickets and the excitement I would have had going into the Classic with live five figure tickets. There is no way I would have the winner in the next though. Drosselmeyer looked beautiful before the race. It was his day. What a trip watching Mike Smith come and beat Chantal Sutherland...his ex-girlfriend. An interesting aside....she is a really cute girl, and her personality is pretty much like Chz, but in real life if she likes you.

OK Weave, I'll put the horse talk here because the other thread closes. I'm glad I didn't give picks today. Lost a photo for 2nd with the same filly I touted in the Oaks today in the sprint at 25-1. She won her Grade 1 a few months ago. In the Juvenile turf, race #4.....I like #8 Majestic City. It will be short odds, probably 5-1 or so and has never run on turf, but the pedigree says he should be perfect here. I know for a fact he is doing well and they were going this route a few months ago. Boxing him with #14 State of Play for the exacta and #13 Finale for the tri. It is sort of chalky, and all three have speed which could set up for a deep closer if none of them want to let the other steal it. I don't love the Sprint. Taking a stab at #6 Force Freeze. He can be 5-1 he can be 15-1....no clue. In the Turf sprint I am boxing the #10 Havelock and #7 Hoofit. The 10 is still improving and is a nice mid closer, and the 7 hasn't run in the states on turf but has one of the best turf trainers and makes a good stab. There are some classy horses that are cutting back who have every right to outperform, but for the odds I expect, I'd rather stick with the classic sprinters. I don't know where the money lands in the dirt mile, but even if #9 Trappe Shot is the favorite, I still like him. This is his best distance and he could put on a show on his best day. He also has issues and can clunk. I look at it as a coinflip and will probably get 3-1 or 4-1. In the turf I'm singling the mare, #9 Midday. I don't like this race much but will put a few bucks on her. She won't be good odds either though In the Juvenile the big favorite will be Union Rags. He will probably win, but I will take a chance on #5 Hansen. He's not a good looking sort, but he is just fast and propels himself. He is listed at 10-1 and dominated some lesser horses, so I don't know where he'll go off. I will box him with Union Rags. In the turf Mile, Goldikova is the sweetheart and it will be hard to root against her, but I will play #11 Strong Suit. Even though he ran in Europe, he is a cheap Arkansas bred horse. He's 3 which sort of plays against turf horses in my opinion, but looks the most interesting to me. I'll box him with Goldikova and #13 Turallure who has really come on strong since the summer. I like it as a trifecta box too. Maybe if you get lucky on a $1 box for $6 you can catch a $100 to $150 payout. Again no screaming longshots here. In the Classic I really have no idea. I will root for the filly Havre de Grace who is just such a classy girl, and Flat Out. I will probably wait on odds before I bet, but both will be bet well. I don't trust Uncle Mo. I have 2 horses around 7-2, 3 around 5-1, and 3 around 10-1 or so. No bombs look great to me. I might put together a pick 6 ticket and single Trappe Shot in a race many will have to use 3 or 4 horses. I feel he is that good. It will be bouncing around on ABC and ESPN tomorrow. Good luck.

Working on it. I think there is money to be made on the Juvy Turf if I can get a beat on which Europeans to throw out. Not this year. I waited until the last second and decided not to make the drive. The weather looks great too. Everybody wants to go to the Derby but only hardcore folks want to go to the Cup. I had seats at the finish on the rail, and just sold them for face. For the Derby you can get 8x that.

Breeders Cup today and tomorrow. It's like Christmas Day for horseplayers. Giant, million dollar pools to bet into where you don't have to worry about killing the odds. Races with tons of horses that have a chance to win at a big price. If you are right about one race and bet it correctly, you will make a year's salary in 2 minutes. If you are wrong for 2 straight days, you lose a month's salary.

If you board a Jet, I'll butt a Flyer......

I hear you. He comes back with no tickets and he's in trouble, so he waits for younger people to go through and then give his little speech to calm his concious. I bet no 55+ were getting nabbed. It's all about $$.

That's why I don't go to movie theatres and wait until it hits Netflix

Quota. It was the 31st. I'd rather have him writing up at a stop sign on a night when a bunch of little kids are in the streets than pulling people over for 63 in a 55. He's probably a good dude who doesn't give out a lot of tickets but needed some freebies at the last second. Still sucks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjUGeBu7vdc

Football IQ and average to good talent will beat a bunch of thoroughbred, dumb as rocks fellas in the NFL. See "Patriots".

We have a little UB reunion at the Ralph this Sunday. Not sure how many of the Long Island boys will be coming up, but I plan on a heavy dose of Golden Monkey between 10:30-12:30 and not being able to talk until Wednesday.

That's fair. Or maybe a better statement is I'm not afraid to get in people's faces when neccessary....but am willing to sit back and not beat obvious points to death and just let things flow.