All Things Pegula 2

[sabremike]

I'm only half joking when I say I hope a group of disgruntled fans sneak into a WTA event his daughter is playing in and storm the court and stage a sit in to protest her idiot dad.

 

[May Day 10]

This clown prince of hockey should stop being a coward and face the media (and fans)

How much of a sabres fan could this guy have been? It feels like he hates the sabres and takes zero pride in them

 

[5 Minute Major]

That’s not at all what I’m saying. He deserves criticism for poor hires and a losing franchise.

What I’m saying is it doesn’t make any sense not to give him credit for the Bills success.

Where did I ever say that? He deserves credit for their success. You can argue luck, skill, whatever, but he has a winning combination and has stayed out of the way. That’s a big difference from what he’s doing with the Sabres.

 

[slip]

I'm only half joking when I say I hope a group of disgruntled fans sneak into a WTA event his daughter is playing in and storm the court and stage a sit in to protest her idiot dad.

97% of the sports fans I interact with wouldn’t understand why because Bills.

Only those of us who give zero f’s about the NFL get it.

 

[OkimLom]

I'm only half joking when I say I hope a group of disgruntled fans sneak into a WTA event his daughter is playing in and storm the court and stage a sit in to protest her idiot dad.

People entertaining those thoughts whether joking or not, need to touch some grass outside their house. Even the thought of doing something like that should immediately tell them they should stop watching sports and quite frankly watching TV.

People seriously need to learn to cope with things.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Sabre Dance]

Where did I ever say that? He deserves credit for their success. You can argue luck, skill, whatever, but he has a winning combination and has stayed out of the way. That’s a big difference from what he’s doing with the Sabres.

Do you think he is trying to win?

 

[May Day 10]

There is a general neglect going on in all facets of this franchise. When Pegula and Ted Black burst on the scene, they promised (and started following through with) winning every detail. Now, it just seems like nobody is home.

The hockey management staff has been beat to death and we all know how that stands. Buff State asst coaches becoming director of scouting, Jr Sabres guy becoming GM, etc.

I was in the 200 level for the Wild game. Before the game, I went to the bathroom. Traditionally a smaller and nicer bathroom than you get in the public areas of the 100 and 300 levels. It was filthy and smelled. 2 of the 3 soap dispensers at the sinks did not have soap. Only 1 paper towel dispenser was stocked. Once the game got filled up, this was very annoying. These seats are $100s of dollars apiece. I found this strange.

The telecasts have gotten really bad. There is nothing to them. Very paint by the numbers, very bland and lifeless. (I like him as a Sabre figure), but Rob Ray has got to be the worst color commentator in sports. Every telecast is the same, nondescript, and not fun. Nobody tries. If you are in a car and turn it on, there is dead air during hockey action. It puts you to sleep. It has all been the same as long as I can remember.

Is this how things are even at the player-level? I am hearing a lot about Juan Soto the past few days, and the stops the Mets and Cohen pulled out to make him comfortable signing there long-term. He met with their travelling secretary and they demonstrated how his family would be treated. Peripheral details. Does anyone worry about this stuff for the Sabres? Is there enough staffing? Does anyone care?

To circle back, there were members of a player's family sitting in our section. They were using that bathroom too. I am sure they took note of what a dump it was. I am sure the bathrooms in the premium seating in Las Vegas are clean and have soap and paper towels refilled before games. But palm trees are doing this.


I always think of Sam Rothstein in Casino. When he is eating lunch discussing their challenges, he stops in his tracks and is appalled that his muffin has very few blueberries while the other is falling apart there are so many. He goes back into the kitchen to demand that this detail gets ironed out moving forward, not caring if it is going to create more work

 

[sabremike]

People entertaining those thoughts whether joking or not, need to touch some grass outside their house. Even the thought of doing something like that should immediately tell them they should stop watching sports and quite frankly watching TV.

People seriously need to learn to cope with things.

"Touch grass" is right up there with "Read the room" and "My dude" as annoying memephrases that after I am elected God Emperor of Earth uttering them will be made a capital offense.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Do you think he is trying to win?

He is trying to win doing it his way and it isn’t working. At all.

How can you possibly even begin to argue that fact? Sorry, but our conversation is done. I can’t take you seriously.

 

[Tijuana Donkey Show]

That’s not at all what I’m saying. He deserves criticism for poor hires and a losing franchise.

What I’m saying is it doesn’t make any sense not to give him credit for the Bills success.

Meh, he employs the same process in both orgs. Flat leadership, anybody can bring him anything and muddled roles/responsibilities.

It was a major issue when he bought the Bills, and it will become another major issue once the McBeane/Allen are over.

The big difference is that McBeane came in together with an already working relationship. They manage Pegula together despite the fact that Pegula's management flowchart allow them to do it independently.

There is a poster who lurks here and posts more a bit on TBD/SS who has worked for a few professional sports franchises in the big 4, and has cited that Pegula isn't considered a great owner in those circles.

Lets not forget that Pegula came in and did an autopsy on the BIlls and came away with "Russ Brandon is my guy". So much so he gave him the Sabres too. The only reason the Bills are in the place they are in now is because Russ Brandon couldn't keep it in his pants.

 

[May Day 10]

Meh, he employs the same process in both orgs. Flat leadership, anybody can bring him anything and muddled roles/responsibilities.

It was a major issue when he bought the Bills, and it will become another major issue once the McBeane/Allen are over.

The big difference is that McBeane came in together with an already working relationship. They manage Pegula together despite the fact that Pegula's management flowchart allow them to do it independently.

There is a poster who lurks here and posts more a bit on TBD/SS who has worked for a few professional sports franchises in the big 4, and has cited that Pegula isn't considered a great owner in those circles.

Lets not forget that Pegula came in and did an autopsy on the BIlls and came away with "Russ Brandon is my guy". So much so he gave him the Sabres too. The only reason the Bills are in the place they are in now is because Russ Brandon couldn't keep it in his pants.

This is correct. There was a lot of dysfunctional drama with the Bills under Pegula. Whaley/Marrone/Brandon had their power struggle. It is UNBELIEVABLE he allowed Russ Brandon to continue in his lane of fail.
Then we had Marrone walk off. Had the whole "dont let him leave the room" thing, Russ Brandon continuing to play GM, and telling Rex Ryan what kind of wine to impress the Pegulas with.

Rex Ryan was an absolute clown show here. Ended up a deadbeat coach. They had Anthony Lynn as interim and unfairly fed him into the wood-chipper in a disastrous press conference.

Then you had Whaley out-do him in a press conference, hugely embarrassing, saying he was "not privy" to the decision to fire Rex Ryan.

It is all very familiar to what we see with the Sabres.


Hoping Pegula's kids can take over these teams without a power/financial struggle and that they aren't raging morons like Terry and Kim. I am impressed with how Jesse conducts herself.

 

[TehDoak]

This is correct. There was a lot of dysfunctional drama with the Bills under Pegula. Whaley/Marrone/Brandon had their power struggle. It is UNBELIEVABLE he allowed Russ Brandon to continue in his lane of fail.
Then we had Marrone walk off. Had the whole "dont let him leave the room" thing, Russ Brandon continuing to play GM, and telling Rex Ryan what kind of wine to impress the Pegulas with.

Rex Ryan was an absolute clown show here. Ended up a deadbeat coach. They had Anthony Lynn as interim and unfairly fed him into the wood-chipper in a disastrous press conference.

Then you had Whaley out-do him in a press conference, hugely embarrassing, saying he was "not privy" to the decision to fire Rex Ryan.

It is all very familiar to what we see with the Sabres.


Hoping Pegula's kids can take over these teams without a power/financial struggle and that they aren't raging morons like Terry and Kim. I am impressed with how Jesse conducts herself.

I'm the biggest proponent of the Pegulas selling the Sabres at this point, but they certainly aren't morons.

If running a team only required smarts, every team would be successful. Plenty of smart people wouldn't have the first clue what it takes to run a sports team. We've gotten very lucky with Brandon/McDermott.

It's easy for fans to sit back and say "well just do this or that" but the reality is its never that simple. Spending more money isn't going to magically fix everything nor is just hiring an experienced GM. They need to have a good team structure and calm and, more than anything, they need success.

 

[Sabre Dance]

He is trying to win doing it his way and it isn’t working. At all.

How can you possibly even begin to argue that fact? Sorry, but our conversation is done. I can’t take you seriously.

I think there’s a lot of assumptions about what Pegula does behind the scenes. No facts.

 

[OkimLom]

I'm the biggest proponent of the Pegulas selling the Sabres at this point, but they certainly aren't morons.

If running a team only required smarts, every team would be successful. Plenty of smart people wouldn't have the first clue what it takes to run a sports team. We've gotten very lucky with Brandon/McDermott.

It's easy for fans to sit back and say "well just do this or that" but the reality is its never that simple. Spending more money isn't going to magically fix everything nor is just hiring an experienced GM. They need to have a good team structure and calm and, more than anything, they need success.

I get what you’re saying. My neighbor hired a guy to clear the snow from her porch and sidewalk and garage during the winter as well as fixes her plumbing despite not having any tools or training in that area. Seems like a nice guy.

I see him over more often fixing the plumbing as the neighbor has the same problem over and over again every few months, and she has no problem with the guy because he talks to her like he’s her son. Now she could hire an actual plumbing company to handle the job and they probably wouldn’t need to come out as often, but nothing beats having that conversation time for her. She says she’s confident she won’t have to spend to deal with further issues down the road because the guy says he can fix whatever breaks. It’s been going on 5 years now.

 

[slip]

I'm the biggest proponent of the Pegulas selling the Sabres at this point, but they certainly aren't morons.

If running a team only required smarts, every team would be successful. Plenty of smart people wouldn't have the first clue what it takes to run a sports team. We've gotten very lucky with Brandon/McDermott.

It's easy for fans to sit back and say "well just do this or that" but the reality is its never that simple. Spending more money isn't going to magically fix everything nor is just hiring an experienced GM. They need to have a good team structure and calm and, more than anything, they need success.

When it comes to operating the Sabres, the Pegulas have demonstrated that they are complete morons. Sure, you don’t need to be smart to win, but you definitely need to not be a moron. They can’t get out of their own way.

 

[May Day 10]

Also to add to an organization who misses the mark on everything.

The season ticket holder gift this year was a Lindy Ruff bobblehead. You had to order and pay for it.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[TehDoak]

When it comes to operating the Sabres, the Pegulas have demonstrated that they are complete morons. Sure, you don’t need to be smart to win, but you definitely need to not be a moron. They can’t get out of their own way.

I would honestly say Terry's biggest sin is being a fan.

If someone from the WGR whiner line won the powerball and bought the team, this is kind of what to expect to happen. Come in, throw money around, make big promises. When it does work, blow it up. When that doesn't work, go to the NHL for help to find someone. And when THAT doesn't work, hire a friend to run it and hope for the best.

 

[May Day 10]

Im not even sure how big of a fan Terry was. I think he was just a bored rich middle aged guy looking to get his kicks.

When he used to actually speak publicly, it was clear he didnt know that much about hockey, the NHL, or the Sabres. He always mentioned reading books about hockey, almost like he was cramming, trying to figure it out.

 

[Gabrielor]

Not one iota of that money raised will be to the Sabres.

Internal cap. Lack of concern. Adams has it covered being pissy to the external world, so Pegula doesn't have to.

 

[many76]

Sabres will never have true market value in Buffalo without being able to get them into the southern Canadian TV market and that can’t happen with Canadian laws, do it will be cheaper for someone to buy them and move them elsewhere no matter what penalties they might have in a contract