Ghost of Dwight Drane

So this solves nothing. The players had no bad interactions with him but are being fed stories from management. Lafontaine left the most dysfunctional NHL franchise last time around and took the job because he played for the team. Seems like he just completed a repeat. When you are a billionaire and surrounded by Yes-Men....an intelligent, charming guy who will stand up for what he believes in no matter who you are just may seem Jeckell and Hyde. Thanks for the info though....

The 200 level is open to all comers after the game with the bar running for a solid hour+ if I recall......but then again, those were the Golisano years....

Derby Draw today...... Looked at the Oaks card and have some thoughts. Trying to key My Miss Sophia, but not a lot in the races around her except favorites. I may even single her in a Pick6 that won't be expensive. Still don't like the Derby. Going to bet more on a 5 furlong turf sprint Friday.......

HEAR HEAR!!!! AND.....I raise you $88 million!!! http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/20510-penn-state-debacle/ I've got a crisp $20 bill that says the free throw % would be higher.......

Did the players SAY that, because that was their experience with him...or is that what they heard as the reasoning from others? I don't want to ram-rod this guy, because in all honesty....my impression is a lot like yours. I think he would have liked being around Lafontaine because he seems to revert to being a fan. He had to have been thrilled going out on the road with him. I don't think Battista is an a-hole. I don't know what he can bring to player evaluation at an NHL level.....but he is fine to have around otherwise. He needs to decide if he wants to be an agent of the Sabres...or a fan though. I can say crap because I make $0.00 from the Sabres or any entity covering them. He's probably hauling in $200K+....and if he wants to point out his contributions to "The Hockey Operations Department".....he probably shouldn't be so flippant in his commentary.

It's 1AM and you have a BAC of .12 and you need to drive home in an hour. Do you order...A) The caviar sampler...or B)The 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger? It's the playoffs man...... Can you be my defense attorney?

HILLARY 2016!!!!! Go State!!

I went like 15 years ago at MSG theatre. It was McNabb's year and on day 2 there were probably 50 people in the stands for the 7th round. It was awesome because the ESPN guys were talking to the fans and it was still organic. Day 1 the players were wandering the crowd too. I think Cade McNown ordered a knish at the concession stand after I did.

In my opinion, as long as Clowney goes in the top 3, I would be fine at #4 with Robinson, Mack or Watkins. After that there are questions. I like Lewan at #9, but you need Manziel and Bortles to go for a shot at him there. I am scared by Clowney and Matthews, and want no part of Evans. I would much rather trade down to 12-16 and then package the premium with another pick to move back into the mid-late 1st. Maybe St. Louis would give you their 3rd and #13 for #9. Then KC doesn't have a 2nd...but are sitting at #23. Could you give them #41 and a 3rd to get to #23? I think there are too many good players stacked similar in the 10-20 range. Guys I would not draft in the mid 1st getting a lot of mention are Evans, Barr, Mosely, Dennard, Robey. You could set up this team with a top 5 defense for the next few years if you take Shazier and Verrett. I wouldn't hate trading up for Watkins, but he is not as strong as a Julio Jones to me.

The only criteria is that the NFL feels confident the guy will be gone by the end of round 3. It would be embarrassing for a player to be there and go day 3....although there is a chance that can happen. James Hardy set every Indiana receiving record in 3 years...... I'm not saying he is Hardy...I hated that pick. I like Matthews. I would take Matthews over Lee and Benjamin. Heck, I might even take him over Evans. I just wouldn't even think about it in the first round for any team.

He looks like a "nice" player. To me he is a high basement, medium ceiling guy.....safe. I wouldn't want the Bills to take him in the 2nd. We have too many "nice" receivers. I don't like the receivers too much in general though. I readily admit that I don't watch too much college football so it's good to hear context. Also, character plays a role. Of some of the guys I like, one guy is retweeting humble thoughts about god...and another "up all night dreamin bout dat check".......One guy interviews saying, "it's not about what I do on a football field, it's about being a good person and doing what's right." Another is using ebonic profanity in a public forum. I would hope all this comes into play. And if there is ever a guy screaming to be a Bill, it is Ryan Groy.

There is a reason he is projected so low....I hear you. On pure physical ability and athleticism though....he stands out. Some team will probably take him in the 3rd because they feel they can coach him up. I wouldn't cringe if the Bills took him in the 4th because to me he sounds like an EJ clone with a stronger ball. If the Bills staff liked EJ at #16, hard not to like this guy at #130......

I wish a Vegas book had props on over/under what pick a guy will go.....I am still convinced that no matter how many times people talk about Shazier going 18 or worse....someone is going to make him a top 12 pick. With all the talk of Lewan being gone by #9, I don't mind if it is the Bills. After looking into some of these guys a little more, Shazier is a good soldier. This Ebron talk needs to stop. He is the best looking prospect at the position by far, but that is like saying that he is the best looking girl at a bar in Buffalo at closing time.....

They played him 9 games in his first 18 days there....and 26 in 57 days..... He was doomed. I don't think he helps the Sabres, but a SMART team will convince him to play 50-55 games and have a strong #2. It's amazing how people mismanage him. He probably only has 2 or 3 years left in the tank though. I guess that analytics service Hitchcock has wired into the bench doesn't teach him that it's not a great idea to have your goalie looking like a Kenyan marathon runner heading into the playoffs. At least Lindy has company......

I heard Pope Francis was seriously tempted to canonize 3 people today......he considers the throngs of worshipers for 1 Stanley Cup loss in 2 decades a modern day miracle. Darcy keeping his job until this year was miracle #2....and as far as I know he might actually be dead. While there was great deliberation if they should be considered one entity as the father and the resurrected son......the Pontiff decided to wait on this one....

Clinging to Celebrating Mediocrity Brought Another Unbelievable Eighthplace Run PA.....you get NIKE and JOFA......

8 teams make the playoffs.....6 don't. Celebrating Lindy for being the 8th team in the West is like bragging about having a 92 IQ. I love Lindy and I love Millsie though. They hedged my Rangers loss tonight.....

I'm glad you understand. I think it's great you enjoy working with them. When a horse goes bad because of poor treatment, it is very difficult to get them back. I have always adopted stray dogs or ones from the city pound, and even the ones with issues come around with love. A 1200 pound horse is more difficult. The mare Samantha you talked of....my guess is she was protecting something, or had only recently had neglect. If you pull up her racing record, even though she was at a low level, the same trainer hit the board with her 11 of 17 races. She then had a bad race and never was the same. She ended up with another trainer/owner her last 2 races. That's the problem. She is a very pretty filly and her mom ran 81 times and hit the board 30, so it's not surprising she did well. Something went bad....she was running in $5,000 claiming races....and someone probably took a small check for her. Thoroughbreds in general are high strung. Standardbreds are much easier and what most of the police use. I am not a fan of the small tracks myself. Finger Lakes I was at once when we ran a horse. The backside was like Beirut. There were good people back there, but the industry needs to work together to give a comfortable environment and solid resources. Don't mean to sound like an apologist. The sport has it's kinks. They really are bred to compete though and most of them love it. It's up to the humans to know which ones need a rest from battle.

I'm glad you're still helping Jo. Have you ever been involved with a group that isn't focused on taking on "the worst of the worst" cases? With what you are doing, you are sort of like a social worker working for Child Protective Services. There are kids that are abused, bounce from foster family to foster house, mental issues that aren't treated....I could see where if that is all you saw, you would think that nobody should be allowed to have children. There are very few horses that win big money. The industry has made it a huge point the past decade to limit breeding, have groups in place to prepare horses for their 2nd career right off the track as opposed to waiting until it was a hopeless case, and the Jockey Club has now made services free to the public, such as identifying a horse through it's tattoo or to include with breeding papers instructions from previous owners that they will take the horse from any current owner if they no longer want it. In 2005, there were 38,000 foals. It has decreased every year since and is down to 23,000. Some of that has to do with the economy, but the industry has also limited lower level races compared to the past and has discouraged huge supplements to purses for inferior horses. More casinos also have taken away the gravy train some tracks enjoyed a decade ago...so lower revenue equals less money for crappier races...equals less temptation for someone to run a hurt horse. It takes time to get the system at equilibrium, but it's getting there. As for the fallacy by some that thoroughbred owners are all millionaires....the large majority aren't anywhere close. Last year, 59.376 horses ran in a race in North America 20 earned $1 million or more 200 earned $300,000 or more 1500 earned $100,000 or more The average racehorse at a large track with an average trainer and vets costs $35,000 - $50,000 per year to keep in training At a low level track, you could get my for $20,000 The top trainer in the game costs $80,000+ 90% of horse owners LOSE money. It is really a game of passion or a livelihood for most. The average person just tunes into the Kentucky Derby and thinks it's all some sort of Hollywood bacchanalia. They don't see the average guy maxing out his credit cards so the barn help gets paid, and the hay truck keeps coming, and the horse has everything he needs. Will some people not do right by the horse in that situation or be tempted to push it too far to get out of a hole? Certainly. But the thing about how the industry is structured attempts to prevent that. The claiming system makes it so that if you don't run your horse where it belongs, you will not make any money. An ECHL horse has no shot at an NHL level, let alone All-Star team. If you do something to get the horse out there for "just this race", you are going to lose more money the next 6 months when it can't run than you make for winning that race. THESE are the situations that need to be flushed out...the trainers that drug horses that are beyond typical wear and tear or are more than likely to have a catastrophic injury occur.....the good horsepeople know who they are and it makes them sick. I cringe when I hear your stories. I know that odds are a horse I was associated with ended up in a bad situation, and if you are human, you feel some guilt. We always put one in our care into the best home possible, and I retired every horse that either wasn't good enough for anything but the bottom level, or who developed something medical that was beyond reasonable. I would like to think most owners feel the same way. I know they all don't....

I still don't know what I am going to do for the Derby. I liked Tapiture early on, but he has backed up last 2 races. I'm looking and looking, and having a hard time finding anything exciting. I dismissed California Chrome, and still do not think he will win, but there is nothing out there. I will include him in the bottom of a super or maybe a tri, but he is a miler in my opinion. I am going to closely follow: Wicked Strong, Ride On Curlin, Harry's Holiday, Hoppertunity, Tapiture, and California Chrome. Good stuff and bad stuff on all. The Oaks is a different story. For some reason, I can spot a top filly and fall in love easier than a colt. I think My Miss Sophia is going to earn a few million dollars on the track if she can stay healthy. I saw her come out her 1st race and my jaw dropped. If Todd Pletcher didn't train her, I would be making calls for someone to chase her down. I don't think she WANTS to run 1 1/8 miles in the Oaks. I think she will be amazing at 7 furlongs to a mile. But she is just so classy and bright that I have to think she can beat the favorite in Untapable. Her only downside is that she is by Unbridled's Song....who is one of the worst sires at gifting prolonged health. I think My Miss Sophia can sweep through the Grade 1's this spring and summer....Oaks, Acorn, Test, even the Prioress at 6f. I just love her. That being said, the fillies are a much better looking group than the males. Untapable deserves to be the favorite. Fashion Plate is a game little girl and could win this as well. There are 5 other fillies who are very nice....really, just so much better a group. When the entries come out in a week I will go through the card. Just my early thoughts.

HEY!!!!! I want them to win and I am hoping they improve. I think they will be better than 6-10....but the story the past few years lines up. The exact same looking schedule going in. And I don't remind people of stuff that 86% of people are expecting......ya bastage.....

It seems like the same story every year....get to at least 3-3 to start the season, 4-2 would be great....then a 6 week breather inbetween where they are all winnable...then hope to go into NE at 9-6 with them not needing the win. In reality...2-4, they go into the bye at 3-5, but talking a big talk....go .500 the next 4 and then win at Oakland....6-10.....

Just wondering....I saw his team was down 3-0 and got blown out 2 straight where he was on the ice a bunch. Looks like he was fine before this series.

Hasn't McDavid been a total clunker in the playoffs?