AltaBound

Not a fan of the Patriots but I have learned that one underestimates the Hoodie at their own risk. Something about the experts saying the Pats were in deep trouble when a guy named Bledsoe went down with an injury. That seemed to work itself out

Adam Smith

I don't think either I or WTME would dismiss them completely, but the offence was bad last year and now has lost Brady (although getting Andrews back and having fewer injuries on the line could make a big difference), and the defence, which was what carried the team, has lost a lot of its key players to free agency or opt-outs. If they do anything this year, it's likely to be winning the division with a near-.500 record or sneaking in as a wild card, then using some smart game planning and a bit of luck to win a playoff game or two.

It's not impossible, but it's also not very likely. So instead of starting the season expecting to win the division and make a serious title run (as for about the past 15 years), I think this year it's hoping to just make the playoffs and see what happens.

FlY2XS

If there even is a season. I just see too many pitfalls for it to work out.
Seemed weird to me that the Pats had the highest opt out numbers. I honestly don't know what it means.
If the Patriot Way is all about TEAM, shouldn't more of them buy in?
Or it's more likely this year is a throw away, so don't risk your health. NO idea.

Adam Smith

At this point, I think it's highly likely there will be a season. The NFL is so important to the American psyche, and they have the benefit of watching European soccer leagues, the NBA, NHL, etc, and seeing how they've managed to return to play pretty safely. And for examples of what not to do, MLB.

I think the financial pressures are also quite high on both sides. For the teams, so much revenue lost by not playing. For the players, whose careers average three years, losing a year is just so huge. A lot of those guys also have terrible financial habits and need the money more than they should.

I think some teams' plans for fans in seats are fanciful, and I'm not saying they should play, but I think they will.

It's an interesting question for sure. Chung and Hightower in particular are key players who've had a lot of injuries, and saving a year of wear and tear in a potentially lost season might make sense. I suspect Bill must have somehow been relatively positive on opt-outs, because I doubt so many of them would have taken the year off if he hadn't, but impossible to verify that or confirm what his motives were if he did.

FlY2XS

Oh I agree, there is no way the season doesn't start. My intended message was that I seriously doubt the season will play out in its entirety as they have planned especially given the lack of any true isolation protocols.
There are too many things that can go awry. Happy to be proven wrong.
Football is big in numbers and just bad for the sharing of body fluids. We were just discussing that at work today. I remember looking down at my jersey when I was a teenager to see blood and goober all over it. Then brushed my hand over my numb face (nighttime game in November) to confirm it wasnt mine. It wasn't.

Adam Smith

Bohemian1, I had a Golden Gun tonight. Man, that is good. I also had a Navy Grog, which was disappointing. I only used a few drops of the DeGrof's (vs the 1/4 oz of St Elizabeth in the recipe), and that was at least less overpowering. I'm finding a lot of these cocktails are heavy on herbs/spice and tartness, but not well balanced. I hated the Singapore Sling (not a big surprise, since I don't generally like gin much). The Chartreuse Swizzle was interesting last night, but probably could have done with 1 or 3/4 oz of the Chartreuse instead of 1.5 oz. Don's Own Grog and Port au Prince were good though.

You're right about the large numbers and bodily fluids. I guess I just figure they'll find some way to muddle through and get all the games played.

Bohemian1

Yeah, I'm a fan of the Golden Gun as well.

And I agree that a little of pimento dram goes a very long way. I usually scale that ingredient back substantially for drinks even as complex as the Twenty Seventy Swizzle.

canadiancow

Just got back from my fav wine bar to get my last Sunday kit before I leave.

Hugs were exchanged, and an offer to help me source wine locally (wherever "local" is) after I leave, so that I may still participate in class.

Adam Smith

I mostly took a break from tiki yesterday and discovered last night that Calvados and St Germain makes a simple and delicious cocktail. 1/2 of Calvados to St Germain was the recommended ratio, but it worked well in different quantities too.

Vodka, white creme de cacao, and Godiva white chocolate liqueur (1/1/1 ratio) also was nice.

canadiancow

Not quite a Sunday spread, but the environment is a little better.

Adam Smith

Looks like a nice Saturday afternoon! Are you there with the calf?

canadiancow

The calf is in Ohio. He returns in a few days for our trip to Croatia.

I'm with the bovine and two others.

Adam Smith

Nice.

I've been making syrups. Smuggler's Cove's Mai Tai Simple Syrup and Cinnamon Syrup.

canadiancow

Today is my last tasting

This is central Italy (Tuscany, etc.)

The three on the side are all Sangiovese.

I'm way too lazy to type out everything else today. The do went too late last night.

tcook052

I was gifted a set of the low wine glasses last Christmas and have come to prefer them after years of accidentally breaking the tall wine glass stems. I've also been to parties with a forest of wine glasses on a table making it more of a chore to reach over for cheese and crackers so for that reason also prefer the shorter glasses. Do you have a preference?