TIL: Conversationally, you interject “Umm…” when you’re trying to decide WHAT to say, and “Err…” when you’re deciding HOW to say it.

This World Cup began with a Somali referee being denied entry to the US, teams being searched like criminals, and Iran facing ridiculous visa restrictions. It was always Trump and Infantino's tournament. People just care more about the Balogun suspension 🤷‍♂️

I love everything about this. I didn’t know about The Great Law of Peace Center and I’ve said that “The Words That Come Before All Else” is the single greatest work of poetry ever written. Our (North & West of Albany ‘Upstate NY’) pre-Colonial history is foundational, formative, and fascinating.

Fifty years ago today, I was sitting by the Erie Canal in Lockport, watching Jerry Korab & Jim Schoenfeld run by me, barefoot, with a canoe full of empty beer cans on their shoulders.

“I had a neighbor, and whenever he would knock on my wall I knew he wanted me to turn my music down and that made me angry ‘cause I like loud music. So when he knocked on the wall, I'd say ‘Go around. I cannot open the wall. I dunno if you have a doorknob on your side but over here there's nothin.’”

Had to get groceries this morning. Meh. A “holiday” can be any day you’re feeling up to it, and in the mood for a party. All else is a day that ends in ‘Y.’

America’s 250th birthday has been canceled due to climate change.

Well, that’s done.

Who did this?!

Carlsson offer sheet with #hashtag breakdown: Yr 1: $850K Salary, $19.95M Signing Bonus Yr 2: $900K/$18.1M Yr 3: $950K/$17.05M Yr 4: $1M/$15.2M Yr 5: $1M/$15M NMC in Yr 5 Signing Bonus per @reporterchris Rep’d by Matt Keator https://puckpedia.com/player/leo-carlsson?6a48374393697

Sounds like the Carlsson offer sheet is maximum signing bonus and front loading permitted. This deal was led by Ryan Keator who recently became a partner in WIN Hockey. Impressive first contract as the lead agent! https://puckpedia.com/agent/matt-keator

*whistles* For those who aren’t in a position to look it up themselves, old friend Danny Briere just got recent #2 overall pick and rising star center Leo Carlsson (Anaheim) to sign an offer sheet that would pay Carlsson $90M / 5 years, $18M AAV, which would be THE highest cap hit in the NHL.

I don’t know, so I had to look. Egypt has a game this afternoon.

Just read an article where the Bruins’ GM says he thinks he’s put together a team that’s “good enough to improve upon a 100-point 2025-26 season.” I get that he’s got to say that the 1st week of July. But, show me. You’ve got FOUR drought-era Sabres on defense in front of Swayman.

Yeah. It’s hard to say at a Dev Camp scrimmage. 3v3, running clock, faceoffs only at the start of halves, no hitting with angry intent, and nothing but highlight reel goals. I was wondering if my guy Rucinski popped. Didn’t make Matthew’s top-10, but he’s got at least three years at Ohio St.

Lichess has to have a talk with their engine. Just mated an opponent rated 200+ higher than me in 46 moves. Wasn’t my best-ever win, but thought it might’ve been the most clean, accurate chess I’ve played. Reviewed the game. FIVE “BLUNDERS?!” Asshole chess computers.

What do you suppose is on their wedding registry? Which one turns to the other and says “Y’know honey? Our blender is almost a year old?”

During an AFCON semi-final between Cameroon and Mali in 2002, two Cameroonian coaches were arrested by *riot police* for supposedly placing a magic charm on the pitch ahead of the match. This isn't even the wildest story in the article. www.sportspolitika.news/p/world-cup-...

There has been a lot of talk about curses, witchcraft, and voodoo at the World Cup. So I wrote about so-called "black magic" and why it remains one of football's most enduring—and controversial—subjects. www.sportspolitika.news/p/world-cup-...

No surprise. Markwayne Mullin is a former amateur MMA fighter who infamously challenged a Teamsters boss to a fight during a Senate hearing in 2023. Bernie Sanders had to break it up by shaming him. This is the man Trump put in charge of ICE. No wonder arrests are ramping up.

Wild trade Jake Middleton to the Flames, acquiring Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Looks like Minnesota is about to land Blake Coleman from Calgary, which would take Coleman off your Sabres trade wishlist.

With the authority vested in me by the State of Delusion; I do hereby declare this week of June 28-July 4 to be Nut Funk and Swamp Ass Awareness & Prevention Week.

Watched the videos of prospect availablilities at dev camp on the official YouTube channel. Is “Character” a euphemism for “dull as dirt” or “entirely lacking anything resembling a personality?”

Josh Dunne isn’t coming back. Joins Tuch in Washington.

That’s five of every six for the math challenged.

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen speaking on a quiet first day of free agency: "We’re still open for business for sure if there’s an opportunity to make our team better. But by no means are we desperate to add anything right now." Said it has to be the perfect fit on ice and cap wise.

Word on the street is that Utah lands Trocheck from the Rangers. Cross him off your wishlist.

Capitals land Boone Jenner. Cross him off your Christmas list. Four years $5.8-something AAV.

The Bowen Byram contract might not look bad in a few years. That doesn't make it good. Free contract grades with @marklazerus.bsky.social ⤵️⤵️⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

Six years $75M $12.5 AAV. The Sabres couldn’t pay him more than Dahlin, even if they’d wanted to.

I can't imagine a single US athlete saying this. Even the nerdy hockey goalies

And you (not YOU Shayna, you’re awesome) were worried about Malenstyn’s contract? It’s a whole new world post-pandemic, with the artificially flattened cap going up in big jumps. Inflation is coming for everyone. Even billionaire sports team owners. It’s fine.

@jessegranger.bsky.social A question if I may? Hellebuyck’s superpower is anticipation/positioning/angles. Making tough saves look routine. How does that play behind the Sabres, who don’t mind trading chances and can still be chaotic in their own end? What adjustments would he have to make?

Legacy corporate media is permantely broken.

Devils need a goalie to pair with Jake Allen, Sabres have four goalies on one-way contracts that need homes. Levi? I don’t see a good fit in a 1-for-1 deal, might have to be for a pick, or as part of a bigger package.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits.

Reminder that of roughly 510,000 NCAA athletes, there are fewer than 10 openly transgender student-athletes. And yet, here we are.

The only job Milan Lucic should have is pulling carts of hay around a field.

He TALKS a sensational game about “character,” which doesn’t make him unique, and line the rest of them, it’s only important when it’s convenient. They got rid of Adam Mair, arguably for less.

Finger Lakes 72-hour weather forecast: Swamp ass and nut funk HOT, bookended by thunderstorms that are probably going to knock somebody’s power out.

Winger Olivier Nadeau and defensemen Zac Jones, Nikita Novikov and Isaac Belliveau did not receive a qualifying offer from the #Sabres.

Sabres have extended qualifying offers to RFAs Peyton Krebs and Olen Zellweger

You thought you already hated Florida ENOUGH?! Child. League’s foremost cheap shot artist is back in the Atlantic Division.

Be interested in how Rucinski looks. I saw a LOT of Youngstown this past year. Two Sabres draft picks (him & Kuharcik), and three pretty good draft prospects. Rucinski was their do-it-all guy. Going to Ohio State. Wish he were a little bigger.

The Habs just cleared some cap space.

This is pretty much it.

Ugh. Supreme Court rules in Slaughter, 6-3 that Trump can fire people from the FTC. But in Cook, Court rules 5-4 that Trump cannot fire everybody from the Fed. Roberts writes both majority opinions There's no real difference between the FTC and the FED other than Roberts likes the Fed.

Jarmo made a point to say they were keeping Malenstyn and he wasn’t kidding. Good for Beck, good for the Sabres to keep an excellent guy in town.

Elliotte Friedman reporting that Beck Malenstyn will re-sign in Buffalo for six years at $3 million per year ($18 million total)