nfreeman

You know, there is a fairly decent likelihood that Kane is telling the truth and isn't guilty of anything. I don't remember who it was specifically that said it, but I remember a pretty prominent sports writer saying that he's heard from a number of prominent athletes that they patronize high-end escort services to avoid shakedowns, recriminations, accusations, etc.

Marvelo -- I can't speak for Chz, but I will say that sometimes I too fail to respond to PMs or am late in doing so, and there is no malice intended. As for the story in question, I agree that the word is a slur and is offensive. However, as others have noted, I think the point of telling the story was to illustrate the bigotry of the person who used it -- not to endorse its usage.

Abso-freakin'-lutely. He is fantastic, and is going to make his linemates a ton of money.

How much did Jackie boy play? And who were his linemates?

Here is a pretty interesting article about how the smaller ice surface in the WC (relative to the Olympics) promotes more offense: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17582760/nhl-world-cup-hockey-team-canada-how-taking-advantage-nhl-ice-surface I have felt this way since the last Olympics, which I found pretty disappointing in terms of excitement.

I completely disagree. McD has used his speed and smarts to create lanes and has made one sweet pass after another. I'm happy to have Eichel on the Sabres, but McD is in a different category.

I love what Liger brings to the board, but this is really about #15 on the list of all-time sig-recrimination-worthy Ligerisms.

I wouldn't say that he's been floating, but he hasn't imposed his will on the game either.

As in: "Hey, baby, you look hot. Do you wanna come to a party in my hotel room? Cool. Just sign this confidentiality agreement and then we're off to my pleasure palace?" Have you heard that there was such an agreement?

Very entertaining game again. Russia got better goaltending than NA did. Jackie boy was a bit up and down but overall pretty good. MacLellan put him on with McD and Matthews with about 10 min left to try to create a spark, which worked. He didn't stay with that line though. That 5-on-3 was poorly run. Too many shots from distance. Kulikov was also pretty good. McD will be the best player in the NHL within 1-2 years.

That's the claim about the alleged incident in the hotel, right? Not the late night in the bar? If so, the counterclaim is consistent with the "shakedown by a skank" potential version of events. Interesting.

Here's something else: Alex Marvez, who I believe was the one who reported that TP/KP forced Rex to fire Roman, was on with John Murphy today (I think it's in the WGR vault if you're interested). Marvez went on and on about what a dumb and unfair move it was to fire Roman. It occurred to me that it is reasonably likely that Marvez' source was...Roman. So, I googled "Alex Marvez Greg Roman" and found that Marvez was the one who broke the story about Roman joining the Bills before last season and that Marvez also was the first to report that Roman had interviewed for the OC job in TB. So, if Marvez' source was indeed Roman, it seems pretty logical that it would be in Roman's interest to depict the firing as an impulsive move by TP/KP, and more broadly to depict the Bills as a clown show organization. From Roman's perspective, getting canned by an impulsive, clueless owner is more likely to be disregarded by a potential future employer than getting canned by Rex for poor performance. We don't know, of course, and may never know. But it seems pretty plausible IMHO.

Well, as I said, Aud's scenario was quite possible. It's also quite possible -- and frequently the case -- that sports media figures, eager to advance their own careers, promote sensationalist stories such as "meddling billionaire owner forces ill-conceived agenda on coach" -- which are then seized upon by locals as "evidence" supporting their personal pet theories.

This is certainly possible, but I'm not aware of any reason to favor that narrative over 11's.

Both of these are quite fair. I think Reich has made a reasonably good name for himself as an offensive coordinator, so he knows the NFL reasonably well, but I don't have a strong preference for a former Bill -- just someone who knows the league. Well, I guess this depends on how you feel about the PLF/GMTM prow-cess. My sense was that PLF was in charge of finding good GM candidates, but that both PLF and TP participated in the interviews with all of the candidates and in the selection of GMTM -- with the understanding that GMTM, once hired, would choose a coach, pick the players and generally run the team like a GM typically would (although that would certainly include meeting with ownership from time to time). That's kinda what I'd like to see with the Bills. If they get to, say, 2-6, they should fire Brandon, Whaley and Rex, let Anthony Lynn coach out the string, hire a PLF-type adviser immediately to help them find a GM ASAP, and then let that GM hire the new coach, run the draft, etc. EDIT: I suppose your post means that you don't think TP/KP would step back from the Bills in the same way that they seem to have done with the Sabres. You could be right, of course, but I think it's more likely that they would act in the way they've previously acted.

I'm glad you're feeling no pain! In all seriousness, I would freaking love Frank Reich or Bill Polian or someone else with credibility to come in and act as special adviser to TP/KP in the hiring of a new GM after TP/KP fire Brandon, Whaley and Rex (and Overdorf, Littman, etc.).

Well, I have a similar impression as to Rex being more the Pegulas' guy than DW's, but I nevertheless believe that if Rex gets canned it will be part of a broader housecleaning that will include DW.

Well, I've got Nelson and Bailey, but I think dudacek is probably right that Franson will probably start the year in the lineup, and in that case it will make more sense for Nelson to be playing in Rochester than riding the bench in Buffalo. I'm kinda hoping that GMTM doesn't bring in another Benoit/Meszaros type as the #7 -- and BTW Lindholm still doesn't have a contract from Anaheim! -- but it's certainly possible

I thought Ralph told him to fire his ST coach -- who had never coached ST -- and Wade refused, so Ralph fired him (and then, IIRC, Ralph tried to get out of paying Wade, and Wade had to threaten to sue before Ralph ended up begrudgingly paying him).

Pretty entertaining stuff. NA's level of speed and skill at forward is really impressive. Russia vs. Team NA Monday night (ie tomorrow) at 7:30 pm.

Which last 3? Mularkey, Marrone and who else? Wade? He got canned, innit?

Years of neglect have left you impatient my friend. Eichel and Reino haven't even started their 2nd year!

Well, his title is President, which doesn't imply any limitations. He also chose Whaley and was reportedly substantially involved in hiring Rex and the Watkins trade. I want him gone because he's presided over the generation in the wilderness.

What did he say? I don't see a story on the WGR website.

I think legit HC and GM candidates will line up for the Bills' job once Brandon and Whaley are gone. There are very few of these jobs, and TP/KP have demonstrated their willingness to throw money at the situation.