That Aud Smell

I mean -- they get down there -- way the f**k down there -- and then somehow manage to procure a bunch of jackhammers and go even farther down.

The Sabres have never been a bigger bummer than they are this season. It's not even close.

I'm not even sure you stand corrected. Or that I'm correct. The whole thing is bizarre. I listened again this morning. Is his big series of coughs - right before he gets into the Deonte stuff - a "tell" that he's about to go through the looking glass? Was Deonte actually yelling "palm trees, coach!" in early December 2017 before the Colts mega snow game? Perhaps the only part that's a dig or jab is when McDermott takes that little side step -- says he's not sure whether the media sees the local palm trees, but that they're everywhere -- but everything else he said is true? Perhaps, as @Stoner noted, it was McDermott who planted a palm tree seed in GM KA?! I wish someone would unpack this with McDermott.

Possibly? Seems like you’re making a series of jumps there, though. It’s simpler to listen to what McDermott said. He says Deonte was shouting “palm trees, coach!” in reference to the palm trees that grow around here — then McDermott says to the media “maybe you guys don’t see” the palm trees “but they’re all over the place” here in WNY. How can that be anything but a jab at an affiliated team exec who recently and pathetically bemoaned Buffalo’s lack of palm trees?

That is very, very interesting. Great pull! Even so, McDermott's comment yesterday to the reporters -- words to the effect of "we have palm trees that grow around here, not sure people are aware of that" -- seemed trained on GM KA's recent remark. I listened several times. I encourage you to listen again. McDermott starts talking about Deonte and the away Miami game when he was evaluating Deonte early in the day to see if he could go, but then veers back into the Colts snow game, then again back to the Miami away game, but then clearly says that Deonte was clamouring about "palm trees" prior to the Colts snow game in OP. Which ... maybe he was? But then listen to McDermott as he riffs off that. He says Deonte is "yelling to me, 'palm trees, coach,' -- this is before the Colts game -- because we had talked about the palm trees that grow around here -- maybe you guys don't see 'em, but they're all over the place." When he says "around here," he's talking about Buffalo. And again: "Maybe you guys [the media] don't see 'em, but they're all over the place."

Good takes, all. I've listened to substantially all of McDermott's post-game press conferences this season. Of late, he's gotten pretty emotional at times about how much he believes in the people of WNY, how much he identifies with them, how proud he is to represent them, how much he appreciates them, how much he thinks they're under-appreciated and misunderstood across the country. And so on. At times, I've been like, "buddy, take it easy. you're laying it on sorta thick." But I think he really believes all that stuff. I think it's a big piece of how he motivates and centers himself. And so, by extension, I think that, when McDermott heard GM KA's "woe is me" routine about having Buffalo (I mean, blechk) as an undesirable franchise destination, McDermott was sorta pissed off. And strange as it is to say, he wanted to stand up for Buffalo.

I think that first statement above is absolutely true. The Bills have two complementary alphas leading the organization -- the so-called McBeane team. As a result, Terry's largely a supportive observer when it comes to football ops. As for Adams' failure or refusal to use the Bills' rebuild as guidance, I think he's just incapable of charting and following a similar path.

I think it helps to recall that McDermott is a strange guy. Remember the reports regarding his 9/11 precision metaphor? I think there's a way that he meant this palm tree yarn to be funny, encouraging, and a little bit of tough love? But, like I said: He's a strange guy.

Give it a few listens. I had to listen to it 4 or 5 times to understand, as best I can. I think he's making up a story - cracking wise? Because there's no way that Deonte Thompson was actually shouting about WNY's "palm trees" before the Colts snow game in 2017. But McDermott spins a yarn about Thompson saying that -- apparently so that McDermott can then talk about how there are in fact many (resilient!) palm trees all across WNY and can then link that "observation" to the end of an historic playoff drought.

speaking of deep fakes -- that are somehow NOT deep fakes -- here's mcdermott making some bizarre half-baked playoff drought joke that is intended to ... well, i'm not sure ... be a poke in the ribs of kevyn adams?

Then there are cultural factors at play. And they tend to illuminate @Stoner’s point. Those euro dudes who travel to go nuts for UPL? They’re getting “it.” In England, people aren’t “fans” of a soccer club; they’re “supporters.” Words matter. There’s a material difference there.

Is that tribalism? I’m not sure. Tribalism provides a sense of belonging, acceptance, and place. But I think what we seek through our team’s victories is more benign than tribalism.

This is the correct answer, imo. My general theory is that pro sports victories are a proxy/gateway for feelings of human connection, belonging. What’s the point of your team’s victory if you’ve nobody to share it with? “I see friends shaking hands, saying ‘how do you do?’ / They’re really saying ‘I love you.’” Saying ”Go Bills” to strangers (or loved ones) is in a similar vein.

I will never comprehend those who actually watched the guy play and then rued his departure this past offseason. Even when he was ostensibly effective, he was an obstacle to progress. Skinner as a LW1 is akin to “[hand up] we’re not a serious hockey team.” Guy’s a lightweight freelancer.

He is unequivocally the worst owner the Sabres have ever had and it is not even close. I think about the fact that Golisano - if memory serves - put some shackles on Darcy based on the team's limited ability to generate revenue (back when they were pretty good!). But Golisano imposed those limits and then (1) let hockey people do the hockey things, full stop; (2) lent his considerable business chops to high-level issues and big picture decision making. Terry gets it exactly wrong in both of those scenarios: He continues to assert himself in hockey decisions and has little to add on the business side. (Again, folks, he's not some scrappy, intense, process-oriented entrepreneur like Golisano was/is -- he's a high stakes oil man who could have easily gone bust instead of boom.)

Right - the worst the Pegula kids have done is open a financial black hole of a lunch counter business in Harborcenter and ... of course, there were Matthew's j1zz hats.

Post game interviews from Allen and others indicate that the Bills had a borderline preseason game plan for the Patriots. They're looking to keep their remaining good sh1t under wraps until the playoffs. I credit those statements based on how the game unfolded, looked from our perch in the 300s. I also respect that the team isn't organizing things in order to get Allen an MVP. They're aiming for the Lombardi. Fingers crossed.

ideal scenario. i think the bills would be better in a ravens playoff rematch, but the ravens are still a bad matchup for the bills.

based on some chatter I saw on Twitter, it may have something to do with how the "illegal man downfield" rules of college and pros are different.

Man, people gotsta get paid. Don't begrudge Duff getting his bag. Do begrudge the cackling, though. I can't not hear it now.

JACK QUINN WILL BE FINE.

i have a soft spot for the red jerseys because my youngest was just getting into the Bills back when they did those all-red colour rush uniforms — and he LOVED those damn things (in a way only a little kid can).

Lol - and they even have a bit of a point? Who cares though. It’s made so much sweeter because the Bills are up and the Pats are down.

I love the red on white. Looks sweet. Added bonus: Pats fans are griping. Haha. Get wrecked!!

the youtube link upthread.