That Aud Smell

It's a terrible cycle we're stuck in: KA: "We want players who want to be here." KA: [Does a dozen things that make players not want to be here.]

D'oh! I glossed over "Brand New" -- thought it was a descriptor phrase that was mistakenly capitalized.

Yo - what’s the band’s name??

I understand what you're saying. Nothing could be further removed from my experience. Whether it's the delirium brought on by an OT winner (Briere in 2006, for example) or the delirium brought on by a beloved favourite being played as a surprise encore (remember when that blind guy got on stage with U2 to play guitar and Bono sang "All I Want Is You" to the guy's wife?), the fundamental point of supporting teams or artists is communion.

absolutely true. Bills games are a commitment, man. It always feels like an all-day or late-night event. And I don't even do much in the way of tailgating!

I think the same truth applies substantially in other sports as well. Jordan without Pippen (and without Horace Grant, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc, etc.) is not a 6-time (?) NBA champion. It seems more pronounced in hockey. The Pardon My Take guys (a podcast) have a running bit about how McDavid can't be that good because he has to come off the ice after 60-90 seconds.

This is an interesting topic, and I'm glad to give it a bump. It's a delicate balance that these pro sports leagues are trying to strike. The leagues and teams want and need their hardcore fans. To varying degrees, they need those fans to ensure gate revenues are solid. Moreover, they need the hardcore fans for the value they add to the brand. Think about how important the fans are to a televised sporting event -- the noise they make, the hijinx they get into, and so on. But increasingly, most people can't and/or don't care to attend live pro sporting events. With the advent of high definition mega screens, it is so much easier to watch the game from the comfort of one's own home. So the leagues and teams must respond by doing more to attract a wider segment of the population to the stadium or arena. Gamblers, sure. Kids Day promotions. And on and on. For my money, there is nothing, nothing, like the feeling you can get when you're joining in the frenzy of thousands (even 10s of thousands) in support of the home team. But I think a lot of people view the live sports experience as something they can do without, or at least something that's not worth all the expense, trouble, and time associated with going to a game. Sorry for the long but inchoate post. This is a big question.

Put some respect on Drew Stafford's name. Dude jumped right in and ate a few from Chris Neil. I still respect him for it.

it's a big lol from me at the take that McDavid is a playoff no-show, choke artist. (his dunderheaded whiff of a back check last night notwithstanding.) otoh, he's been bumping up against some kind of ceiling -- encountering the limitations that a single other-worldly hockey player will encounter when trying to win a Stanley Cup. ice hockey is the ultimate team game. and the panthers are -- quite obviously -- the best team in the world.

I've been thinking about what Stanley Cup champion from recent memory compares with this Florida team. They are just incredible. Is it possibly the Bruins in their recent heyday? How many Cups did they win - just one? I'm mostly wondering whether Bergeron is comparable to Barkov, then with Marchand being comparable to ... Marchand, etc.

McDavid with a puck-gazing olé of a back check on Florida’s second goal. idgaf about ratings. i watch what i like. and find people to talk to about it.

have a great trip.

Could have been the Buffalo Brownfield Beach Parties? I caught Buffalo's Mallwalkers a couple times a decade ago or so. They were fun. And loud.

A city with no navel. (I'm borrowing what Brendan Behan once said about L.A.)

Yeah man. There are levels. You’re operating on levels I don’t occupy but can dimly perceive.

when did you start peddling in troll sh1t?

I'll set aside the National Hokey League and NHL Rigged talk before saying: I am so impressed with what Edmonton did in coming back in that game after it appeared that they'd had their doors blown off and were going to lose by 5, 6, or more. More impressive still? The Oilers did what they did in a game where they could not get McDavid away from Barkov. Just incredible. We need 7 games of this!

was that jeff skinner getting worked for that third goal?

fwiw, i would dissent from comparing a desire to keep peterka to an affection for "garbage." but i take the point, i think. nothing is working. nothing has worked. like the man said.

Stockholm Syndrome.

Man ... I dunno. This franchise's recent track record with trading away its malcontented young top-6 forwards is ... not good. Maybe things would be different with JK in the fold?

@Thorny ripping through my posts with multiple negative engagements.

I read a transcript of Cook's press conference today. I appreciate that, so far, he sounds fully committed to playing out his contract. He's a key piece of that offense. I hope that they can get something done that satisfies both sides, but I am prepared for it not to happen.