May Day 10

A cool thing is from the Skyway, this thing looms LARGE.

That was a good choice. I thought during that season that team had the goods to be regarded as one of the best NFL teams of all-time. They got stung by injuries, weather/scheduling, and also the Hamlin ordeal. They were absolutely worn-out once the playoffs came around. Really could have/should have been 15-1 with that stupid Vikings loss and the Heat Stroke Bowl. I did think they were heading toward a pounding on MNF against the Bengals prior to the Hamlin injury. The Bengals were pissed and running right through the Bills. I wonder what would have happened if the injury never happened, the Bills kept a mental edge, and the Bengals got their angry-edge out of the way (and perhaps giving the Bills the angry-edge).

I feel like the current uniforms are pretty much perfection

Im still a ways away (although its approaching faster than I want to believe). Right now, I think Tennessee is winning. 2nd Place is somewhere in Arizona. A lot depends on where my kids end up too.

These are all terrible IMO. Some good songs, but not great in 2025 as hype music for an NFL team. Depends on the situation I guess. I think 'Immigrant Song' would be great as an intro/take the field song.

The kid who played joffrey. He was so believable people endlessly sent him hate mail and he was driven from acting forever

Putting a ton of faith in kesselring? And if you add Norris, you have to factor in losing cozens as well, but that isn't how hockey works. You cant just add and subtract aggregate goals. If that were the case, the rangers would have won most cups between 1996 and 2004. If kesselring can make power look like a 1oa pick, we are in business. If Norris can stay healthy and be a #1 center. If their special teams can improve under that SUNY coach in waiting they are grooming. Goaltending needs to come from somewhere. I have little faith these guys can figure it out. Its been sooooo long with so many of them. I cant assume kesselring will look any better than what they have had. Connor Clifton was supposed to stabilize the D and also "be hard to play against". Other than Levi making the nhl club and becoming a vezina finalist, I don't see any way the Sabres can finish better than 6th in the division.

They cant sign anyone. The organization is viewed as a toxic and perpetual failure. It is impossible to argue otherwise. This is way deeper and darker than the Bills' drought ever was.

You have to wonder if they are trolling the fans and dragging their sacks across our faces on purpose. The television coverage is more than complementary and the messaging is clearly heavily filtered. It is to the point where I worry for the sanity of those who have to cover the team for them every day.

I agree. Umpires are very good, and replay is administered in a quick and painless fashion. I actually like the ABS system they have been testing where teams get one or two challenges from the batter and pitcher. It is pretty seamless.

I dont see any indication that Pegula is in any urgency to sell the Sabres... let alone sell them to an outside interest who would relocate the team. Also, he stands to make like $100 Million-Plus for each of these upcoming expansion teams. I do wonder if he had a local off-ramp to rid himself of the Sabres, if he would take the money and run. He does seem to like acting like a hockey executive though and getting his thrills with further ruining the franchise. However, this arena situation is coming to a head and something needs to get done. Arenas in the Keybank Center's age, which were more expensive and nicer at the time are getting major upgrades one after the other. Washington is getting a $500 Million upgrade. Nationwide Arena in Columbus (which is younger than the KBC) just had $400 Million in renovations announced. The Keybank Center is in desperate need of some major updates and will become an increasing black eye for NHL as far as arenas go. Who will pay for it? I dont think the State has an appetite for the political baggage of another major arena project for a failed team who wont spend to the salary cap. Pegula is taking a beating on the cost of the Highmark project and on some level he probably thinks the public owes him for that one. The County seems to be distancing themselves. Many/most Sabres fans wear this armor that the Sabres can never move because the NHL saved them in 2002-2003. Different times. Keybank Center was only 6 years old. The NHL's franchise values were low and fans in the seats were more valuable. Non-traditional markets across the country have taken off since then and have proven staying power (Nashville, Florida, Dallas, Tampa, Carolina, Vegas, and Seattle). NHL teams are now worth more than $1 Billion. Golisano bought the team in 2003 for $70 Million. In my opinion, without a lease and the building the way it is, nobody involved in the NHL would shed a tear or try to prevent the Sabres from moving to a more appealing locale.

The New Orleans and Austin things are new. If there are/is a billionaire interest, and they fail to procure one of these 2-4 expansion franchises, they could target an existing team. The Sabres heading toward no-lease-land in a bad arena, and unprecedented fan apathy would be a prime target.

It was surprising to me, that after his early struggles and mis-steps with the Sabres, Terry Pegula went through the process and purchased the Sabres 'cold'. If it were me, or anyone with a half of a brain, proactively, they would have had/employed people to analyze the organization on many/most fronts. Perform a ground game around the sport and find prospective new staff. This was an organization in a decade-plus playoff drought. I was shocked when Pegula came in and just allowed Russ Brandon to continue presidenting because he knew his way around the building during the purchase/auction process. The entire Bills world wanted/needed this guy kicked to the curb. It shouldnt take a few years of figuring it out. Russ Brandon was the harbinger of the Bills' failures.

Yes. The Ralph I know would have had trouble coming to terms with a lot of these extensions they have handed out and we may have lost a few more players like Dawkins, Knox, Taron, etc. Overall, how would he not be pleased with the results and the new Stadium being built. I do wonder how he would feel though with his family cashing out just before NFL franchise values ballooned to epic proportions.