Random Thoughts

First thought: I need a beer, or ten.

Good news today, the Sabres woke up and beat someone. The won 4-1 tonight in Atlanta, a team who historically we either do one of two things: lose to them, or beat them 8 - 0. It was a good win for the boys tonight. Vanek scored, Ennis got one, Myers got one.. and Cody McCormick? Yes, Cody McCormick is now tied for 2nd on the team with 2 goals on the season. It was a stroll in the park for Miller, who didn't see a shot until almost 15 minutes into the game. Now the challenge is to string a couple of these performances in a row.. like 10 or so, because 2-4-1 through 7 games isn't really that good.


Second Thought: The virtual Tom Brady is just as annoying as his real life counterpart.

I seriously think it is physically and emotionally impossible to hate something as much as I hate Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the entire New England Patriots organization (Teddy Bruschi is one of the most bias people on SportsCenter today. I hate him about as much as I hate Brady.). Let's just say I'm not applying for any jobs with the Patriots or New England Revolution anytime soon, or ever for that matter. Now, I know that ShoeBox hates the Jets and their fans, and believe me, I do too. But the Patriots take the cake. It's probably because they just destroy the Bills every time they play them.

Or I haven't seen the Bills beat the Patriots since I was 14 years old. My bet is it's one of those reasons. I even hate the Patriots on Madden. I played them tonight, and I literally did everything I possibly could to hit Tom Brady as much as possible. It's bad when you reach the point where you try everything possible to injure a person's image on a video game, right?


Third Thought: HALLELUJAH MARK SCHLERETH!

Can I get an AMEN?!!?

In my opinion, hits the nail on the head. Chances ESPN had any idea he was going to go off like this? 0%? Jabs at soccer, use of an iPad, calling for two hand touch football on Sundays, and my favorite part, jabs at the Patriots. He used the full bag of tricks for this one. I wonder if Apple will use this clip for there next commercial? National Hypocrite League? Everything he said is completely true. The only hit that should've been fined was the Meriweather hit. The others were all football plays. Every single one of them. NFL, let's be honest here, you have more than proved your point about making your players become more accountable for their actions (see Vick, Michael; Roethlisberger, Ben), this is just taking everything way too far. Let the players play, don't fine them for playing football the way it is supposed to be played.

Final Thought: This post would've been a lot funnier if I had those beers in me.

Ryan Miller Would Be a Great Politician.

Basically, Ryan Miller should run for President. Okay, well maybe just focus on New York governor (he would already be better than the jokes we have running now). I love the comments he made, all of which were spot on and 100% true. Miller, Pominville, Roy, Vanek, Connolly, etc have been together for over 5 years now, people should stand up for their teammate/friend.

If you haven't seen or heard the comments made by Millzy regarding the hit on Jason Pominville last night against the Blackhawks, here's a link. Oh I can't wait until these two teams play again... it's on Saturday! I have a feeling there might be some words/fists exchanged. I already heard a rumor that Pat Kaleta & Pat Kane did such a thing at Sunset Bay Beach Club in Buffalo earlier this summer. Don't quote me, just a rumor i read/heard today. (PS Kaleta, these next stretch of games would be a perfect opportunity for you to score 4 or 5 goals.... someones got to make up for Pommers, who by the way, will miss his first NHL game Wednesday when the Devils come to HSBC Arena. It will effectively end his consecutive games played streak at 336 games.)

The hit was dirty. Like Millzy said, there really is no place for it in the game, no matter if you were trying to make a play or not. It deserved a 5 minute major & game, as what was handed out. The Sabres never recovered. They lost 4-3, and many players were visibly shaken on the bench after the hit, and even after the game in the locker room. For those who may have missed it, here is the hit.

Can we also notice that the first Buffalo Sabre to start beating the crap out of Hjalmarsson was Tim Connolly? TIM CONNOLLY? Good for him, he should start doing that more often. Then again, no, just focus on scoring/setting up goals. I have a strange and sad feeling that Pommers wont be the same after this.

To the Blackhawks announcers, coach, and anyone who has/had no problem with this. Switch the players around, you would react the same way us Sabre & hockey fans are today. Thank you Ryan Miller for speaking out against hits like these. He's right, there is no place for them. Ever.

Blue & Gold Are Back, Baby!

In honor of the NHL season starting in less than 90 minutes with a game overseas (still think it's stupid), I thought I would give you a little preview of the greatest team in the world, the Buffalo Sabres. I'll give you a hint: the Sabres have a better shot at making the Finals than Drew Stafford does at scoring 30 goals.

During the off season, the Sabres really did basically nothing. Out are Hank Tallinder, Toni Lydman, and Tim Kennedy. I thought people in Buffalo were going to kill Darcy for buying out Kennedy. Apparently he was God's gift to Earth & the next Gretzky, I guess I don't see it. In come veterans Jordan Leopold, Shaone Morrisonn, and Rob Neidermayer. In my opinion, upgrades across the board. Granted, they got a little older, but this team was too young anyways. Guess what?! They actually have a player who has won a Cup and knows what he is doing! Remember the last time that was true (hint, Chris Drury). That alone should be exciting.

Nuts & Bolts: The forwards are pretty much the same, finally no more Adam Mair or Matt Ellis (sent to Portland). In come Tyler Ennis, Nathan Gerbe, and Cody McCormick. Ennis has potential to score 30 goals a season for the next 10 years. I see him as a version of Danny Briere. Small, quick, great hands. All the things you look for in a man, right? Speaking of men, or lack there of, Drew Stafford needs to basically shape up or ship out. What a waste of a first round pick he has turned out to be. Can't score, can't play defense... sounds like Max Afinegenov. The Sabres still don't have a number 1 center, but depending on his play, Tim Connolly can fill this void. Him or Derek Roy, if Roy decides to grow up. Vanek is Vanek, Hecht and Mike Grier will be your solid defensive forwards with 30 goals between them. My wildcard this year (besides Ennis) is Pat Kaleta. This guy is the new Sean Avery with a mix of Rob Ray. No, he won't fight, or at least not that often, but he is hated by everyone outside of Buffalo. Best part, he scored 10 goals last year in 50 or 60 games. I know that is one thing he has been working on since he became a regular, but it should be interesting to see if he can outscore the likes of Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad, or Mike Grier this season. I think it's possible.

The defense, the weak link, improved this summer. Morrisonn is a better verison of Tallinder and will be that stay at home defenseman that will let Tyler Myers go out and destroy the NHL. Jordan Leopold is extremely underrated, however the only thing that scares me is his injury history. Look for Craig Rivet to come back strong this season following his shoulder surgery. I know he wasn't happy with his play this past season so he will be looking to do better this season (especially with the hints of this being his last season in the NHL). Beyond that, its a crapshoot. Steve Montador will play all 82 games for the Sabres, but the last spot will be up for grabs between Chris Butler, Mike Weber, and Andrej Sekera. Gut feeling is one of these guys will be traded during the season.

Ryan Miller is still the best goalie in the NHL and that is really all I have to say to make my point here. Oh, Patrick Lalime is backing up again.

My Prediction: I think the Sabres will win the Northeast again. Although Boston improved a ton in the offseason, so they are the only ones who really scare me. Toronto is trying, Ottawa isn't, and Montreal is still there, but with no goalie. At the very least, the Sabres will be in the playoffs for the second straight season, and everyone knows that anything can happen then (example, Boston, Montreal, & Philly). Sabres got new uniforms this season (again, 5th year in a row) that now make them the best dressed in the NHL.

As always LETS GO BUFFALO!

You bet they are!

Hockey season is just around the corner, and you know what that means! Yes that's right, another year of watching the Buffalo Sabres demolish everyone in the regular season and then choke in the playoffs!  No I kid, but seriously, you want to know what the difference is going to be this year?  Look no further than this: Ryan Miller Commercial

Great commercial and great goalie (if not the best).  I just wish for once that Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn would get some legitimate defensemen in front of Miller so he didn't have to make 50 saves a night just to give us a chance to win.

Ryan Miller is in my opinion the best goalie in the league.  Sure he gives up the occasional softy, but I mean come on, he is consistently night in and night out the best player on the ice for the Sabres.  He is the Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Sabres basically.  I just pray that before he is gone, we can do what we never did for Dominik Hasek which is win a Stanley Cup.  It's something that not only the Buffalo Sabres need after that BS debacle in the '99 against the Stars.  But it's something that the city of Buffalo desperately needs.  Between THAT, and the 4 consecutive Superbowl losses for the Bills, this city and these fans deserve a championship more than any other sport in America.  And there's really no debating that.  All that I have to say is, "LET'S GO BUFFALO!"  Oh and "NO GOAL!"