FiddySicks

They get them tonight. I've been trying to find sneak peeks for weeks now but they've kept them pretty well guarded.

https://instagram.com/p/9WONpAN59k/

Stickguy's old stickwife, Twiggi, got board with him and had an affair with his stickboss. It turned into such a big deal that they actually transfered him to another branch in Pencilvania and she took the stickids with her. It was really rough for Stickguy at first, but then he met single mom Branchette on stickpeoplemeet.com and they hit it off so well she up and relocated her whole clan from Stickperson Durham (Tree Hill). I'm not sure that one is gonna last though, because she clearly still has feelings for her ex stickhusband Cane, who recently extended the olive branch to her, and he's really been working on getting over that nasty aged whiskey problem. There's also some tension because Stickguy isn't as effective at sticking her as Cain was, and Stickguy is already totally fed up with her dad Oakley, who just sits around all day in his old maple rocker trying to shake Stickguy's tree. He always says Stickguy's career as a woodworker is too one dimensional and that he should branch out more. Money is also a point of contention because, as Oakley says "Money doesn't grow on trees, you know!" and he wastes his cash on stupid frivolous things like Hurricanes season tickets. It's gonna be hard on Ash and Aspen, but it'll get better if they decide to stick it out and try to see the forest for the trees.

Not totally sure how accurate all of that is, though. It's just something I heard through the grapevine. I'm sure we'll root out more of the important details over the course of the season.

Ya'lls crazy. Portillo's is far above replacement-level. Al's is close, but not as good. I've never been to Buona, and I've never had Italian beef from a mom-and-pop place which was close to Al's or Portillo's. Since the small places are likely ordering their beef and sauce from the same vendors, I can't imagine them being that different or better than the chains. I will give the nod to Al's for their fries and giardiniera, though.

As for deep dish, I agree with Gino's over Giordano's, but I've never had Malnati's. But I'm not huge on deep dish, so whatever.

I feel like I have to actually try Portillos in the Chicago area, because I suspect that Arizona, like they do with most things, kinda runs it.

Giordanos is a place my buddy basically dragged me to when I was in Chicago insisting it was amazing and I walked away wondering what, exactly, the fuss was all about.

EDIT: Oh yeah, ice hockey.

Perdóname. No sé en qué estaba pensando. Comida Mexicana, probablemente.

I don't live in Phoenix anymore and am back in California, or I'd definitely take you up on that offer.

In the three years I was there, I NEVER found a single Mexican restaurant that was even pretty good let alone very good, and I tried a TON of places because I love Mexican food. It was all SO damn expensive, too. The majority of even the dirty hole in the wall places I've eaten at (especially in Southern California) absolutely blow even the more well known Mexican restaurants in the Phoenix area out of the water.

It could've been a three year string of poor luck on my part. But considering the sample size I created, it must've been an absolutely astounding run of bad luck.

Wait, what? How does Phoenix not have awesome Mexican food? You'd think that'd be the one thing they can't screw up!

I was as surprised as you are when I first moved there. Really disappointed, too.

After living there, I suspect there are two reasons for this, though:

1) I can't really speak for Tucson as I've only been there twice (although I tried a Sonoran hotdog while there and was pretty underwhhelmed), but the overly strict and downright racist immigration policies in Maricopa County led to a bit of an exodus of the Hispanic population. I was SHOCKED with how few Hispanics are in Phoenix as a whole. I moved there from an area where the South American immigrant population was pretty high anyway, but I totally expected Phoenix to be a bit of a cultural and population hub for immigrants, but it's really not from what I saw.

2) Due to the snowbirds, there's SUCH a large midwestern influence in Phoenix that it tends to dictate what businesses thrive and fail there. For example, they put a Portillos in Tempe Marketplace instead of more locally influenced eateries (Which I don't get the appeal of at all. It's the most astoundingly meh place I've ever eaten) and tossed up a bunch of Culvers in the county while I was there.

I can't imagine Gila River Arena (or whatever it's called now) would be any different as the nature of the business they work with is about as white as it comes.

Not a huge fan of sonoran dogs. There is still a decent representation of hispanics in the PHX metro area, but you're right, they are fairly localized. Between the snowbird/retiree and LDS population, you won't find too many hispanics in Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale or Phoenix proper. Most of the ones I know are in Glendale or other outlying 'boroughs'. Filibertos are pretty consistent across the city, though there are a couple bad ones.

Tucson has a much better mexican food scene: Mi Nidito, Guadalajara Grill, Tachito's and Casa Molina are a few of my favorites.

I was in Tempe during my time in AZ and didn't spend much time in Glendale or the other areas mentioned, so that's probably why I noticed that particular pecularity. I was also pretty surprised at just how large the LDS community is in Phoenix, now that you mention it. It makes sense though considering Utah is just to the north.

And Filly B's, uggh. That place is consistent alright. Consistently awful. First, like, five times I ever found giant bone hunks in Mexican food were all in the same Filly B's Texas burrito. Also, I lived just behind a Filibertos my last year there (Broadway and Priest on the boarder of Tempe and Phoenix) and I swear I still wake up some nights in a cold sweat dreaming of the awful smell that poured out of that place and just lingered in the air.

I don't live in Phoenix anymore and am back in California, or I'd definitely take you up on that offer.

In the three years I was there, I NEVER found a single Mexican restaurant that was even pretty good let alone very good, and I tried a TON of places because I love Mexican food. It was all SO damn expensive, too. The majority of even the dirty hole in the wall places I've eaten at (especially in Southern California) absolutely blow even the more well known Mexican restaurants in the Phoenix area out of the water.

It could've been a three year string of poor luck on my part. But considering the sample size I created, it must've been an absolutely astounding run of bad luck.

Wait, what? How does Phoenix not have awesome Mexican food? You'd think that'd be the one thing they can't screw up!

I was as surprised as you are when I first moved there. Really disappointed, too.

After living there, I suspect there are two reasons for this, though:

1) I can't really speak for Tucson as I've only been there twice (although I tried a Sonoran hotdog while there and was pretty underwhhelmed), but the overly strict and downright racist immigration policies in Maricopa County led to a bit of an exodus of the Hispanic population. I was SHOCKED with how few Hispanics are in Phoenix as a whole. I moved there from an area where the South American immigrant population was pretty high anyway, but I totally expected Phoenix to be a bit of a cultural and population hub for immigrants, but it's really not from what I saw.

2) Due to the snowbirds, there's SUCH a large midwestern influence in Phoenix that it tends to dictate what businesses thrive and fail there. For example, they put a Portillos in Tempe Marketplace instead of more locally influenced eateries (Which I don't get the appeal of at all. It's the most astoundingly meh place I've ever eaten) and tossed up a bunch of Culvers in the county while I was there.

I can't imagine Gila River Arena (or whatever it's called now) would be any different as the nature of the business they work with is about as white as it comes.

I don't live in Phoenix anymore and am back in California, or I'd definitely take you up on that offer.

In the three years I was there, I NEVER found a single Mexican restaurant that was even pretty good let alone very good, and I tried a TON of places because I love Mexican food. It was all SO damn expensive, too. The majority of even the dirty hole in the wall places I've eaten at (especially in Southern California) absolutely blow even the more well known Mexican restaurants in the Phoenix area out of the water.

It could've been a three year string of poor luck on my part. But considering the sample size I created, it must've been an absolutely astounding run of bad luck.

I'd be interested in trying a southwestern take on poutine. Not a big fan of the Quebecois original. I'm ambivalent to french fries and I hate gravy.

I tried a place here that serves it fajita style. Topped with beef, pork and chicken. With cheddar cheese and pico de gillo on top. Closest to southwest style I've ever seen

Arizona has TERRIBLE Mexican food. And don't even get me started on that bland white rice "Southwest" style crap they have.

Meh. If they absolutely insisted on doing a Giants themed alt set I wish they would've just used the Giants current cap minus the F. Also, they should've just used SACRAMENTO for the jersey rather than the dumb SACTOWN. I don't know anyone who actually calls Sacramento SacTown.

Sounds like no expansion to Quebec City, just Las Vegas. Figures with this league.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/39616/bruins-owner-jacobs-i-dont-know-if-theres-a-desire-for-expansion

Since there are already 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and 14 in the Western Conference, Jacobs did say he would rather see a team in the West.

While Jacobs admitted Quebec has the history and a beautiful new arena with a strong fan base, he believes Las Vegas would be more viable.

"Take a look at what’s gone up in Nevada -- it’s scary. I mean, it really is. It’s a heck of an arena built there, and there’s a strong interest there," Jacobs said. "Balance the fact, Quebec has a great hockey interest, [but] it’s an extraordinarily small market."

When a comment was made that the league wouldn’t want to expand into Quebec because the franchise could then possibly fail, Jacobs said: "No, we don’t want to do it again."

Jesus, what the is this? YES. Take a look at it. It's definitely scary. A gambling based economy in the desert located in the most federally propped up and population desolate state in the country. LETS THROW A PRO HOCKEY TEAM DOWN THERE, HUH?!?!?!

And where exactly is this interest, again? I've lived in (or very near) Nevada nearly my entire life and I don't know a single person who gives even two :censored:s about hockey. And I lived in the northern half of the state! And don't give me this bull about how "Oh it's there alright, you've just never noticed!". I got that same line in Phoenix and I always said it's by far the biggest pile of nonsense I've ever heard.

They're actually going to put up a team in a city that's more indifferent to their product than Phoenix. I mean, just think about that. It's so far beyond the definition of insanity that The Joker is even trying to talk some sense into the NHL. This is so :censored:ing stupid. I don't care what any other comissioner does, they are NEVER supplanting Gary Bettman utop the great mountain of idiocy. Rodger Goodell could rape a ten year old cancer patient with her soldier dad's prosthetic during halftime of the Cowboys Thanksgiving game and he would still be a more favorable choice as a comissioner than Gary Bettman.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse....The Fresno Grizzlies will be the Tacos for a game.

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150721&content_id=137772352&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

This is the ONE time I wish the Giants were still affiliated with the Grizzlies and that Sergio Romo was making a rehab appearance for them.

I thank my lucky stars every single waking moment that I no longer live in Maricopa County and that backward ass state.

:censored: Arizona, give it back to Mexico. If they even want it.

Also, making the trek out to Bellevue is still going to be a total hassle considering you have to cross Lake Washington over the 520 or the 90. I had to do that quite a few times last summer for work and (unless they've improved the toll system) it was always a complete and total headache. I'm STILL trying to fight a toll ticket that I was unable to pay on time due to their wonky ass web pay setup.

And I'm not saying Tukwila would be an awful solution. Like we've said, it's still WAY better than the setup in Sunrise and Glendale, but shouldn't those two situations be something that scares off the NHL from having ANOTHER situation like that?

And I can definitely see how putting an arena down there would work for you, Jimmy! Renton seems to have a pretty large concentration of people down that way and a lot of the young professionals I knew there who were local grew up closer to Renton. But is it enough of a population draw (both overall attendance and $$$ wise) to justify sacrificing the populous closer to the city? Somehow, I don't think so.

Watch the NHL give an expansion team to the group in a suburb of a city that doesn't even really want hockey over the ready-to-go arena in the hockey hotbed of Quebec City. Just watch it happen.

Are you saying any of us would be surprised?

Is Tukwila way out there or something? I'm pretty optimistic about Seattle as an NHL market, so I'm curious why everyone's discussing it as a bad idea.

Tukwila is a suburb south of Seattle notable for being near the airport and that's about it. It's not Tacoma, and not Bellevue and certainly not Seattle. It's an area with strip malls, cheaper homes and apparently an NHL-loving sugar daddy.

The bad thing about an NHL arena in Tukwila is it probably wouldn't past muster as an NBA arena. It's just too far away (15 miles? But you know how traffic is) to be considered part of the city.

EDIT: And I should add that the NBA is the real prize in Seattle. That's nothing against the NHL; people would love it if it came here. But getting the NHL is mostly seen as a bridge to eventually return to the NBA.

Yeah Tukwila isn't completely CRAZY, like, say, Glendale is. But traffic in that area is an absolute nightmare most of the time. And it makes zero sense to put a stadium south of Rainier Brewery when there's still a relatively large area up in SoDo just south of the stadiums that is kinda ripe for development.

Also, I have a friend who lives down that way (ok so she was a tiny little bit further south down in Kent, but still) and it was probably the only part of the Seattle area where I actually felt somewhat worried after dark.

Lol at comparing Anaheim to freaking Tukwila, Washington.

I think there's more honor in half-taking up a team from afar because you like their players/uniforms/city than there is in adopting a team because you move near them and they're there. I don't want sports Stockholm Syndrome.

It usually doesn't work, either. I bought season tickets to the Diamondbacks when I moved to Tempe in an attempt to gain a rooting interest in them, and I ended up actually disliking the team even more once the season was over. It was just too strange wearing my Giants gear for a series vs San Francisco, then swapping to D Backs gear two days later when they played the Brewers or whoever.

I basically worked for the Sounders and Mariners last summer, too. Mariners were fun but didn't stick, but I am kind of a Sounders fan now.

I dunno, I don't see anything wrong with trying to get into the local teams when you move. I mean, what else are you gonna do? Sit in your basement grunting to Cubs games while everyone else is out at the Angels game (or whoever)?

To address the specter of a new arena shared by the Coyotes and the Suns, I'm going to raise one question BTW:

Is it actually in the Suns' (or ASU's, if they get involved) financial interest to bring in the Coyotes? Assuming they're running the arena, they might be leaving money on the table by having a hockey team chew up 40+ nights that could be used for more lucrative concerts and other events. I mean, the Kansas City and Houston experiences might be relevant here.

ASU is going to have to bring in someone if they want to get a new arena to replace Wells Fargo. But the question is, why would they even want to do that? Other than it being small, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current place, and basketball hasn't exactly been enough of a revenue sport for the school to justify it. On top of that, while they'd LOVE a fresh new spot for their upcoming hockey program, there are plenty of places around the valley where ASU could play hockey. There's even been talk of them playing at US Airways Center/whatever it's called now.

This whole thing makes me really miss living in Maricopa County.

No. I'm lying. It doesn't. AT ALL.

Perfect solution to this mess? Put em in Snowflake, Arizona! Sure, it's still in the sunbelt, but it's got the word snow in the name!

Yeah, it may be somewhat out of place, but not THAT out of place. Too bad they're not in the NBA where recoloring logos and keeping names like the Lakers after a big move is sort of common.

Or they could just keep what they have and change the name. Panthers is a pretty flexible identity.

The NHL isn't letting Phoenix get away from them now with 2016's #1 overall pick coming out of Phoenix youth hockey. I expect this year's deux ex machina to be the announcement of a new Suns/Coyotes/ASU arena out near Tempe or Scottsdale.

I was talking this morning to a friend about how if they REALLY wanted to keep the Yotes, they would team up with ASU and either renovate or completely rebuild Wells Fargo Arena on campus. It's damn near the perfect spot, right on the light rail line, is a good alternative to downtown, and ASU would have the motivation and justification to use their subsidies because it'll help their basketball team AND their new D1 hockey team.

But, no. Instead they'll just waste away in BFE using tax money that the county doesn't have until they're forced to move. Good riddance.

Thought this would get more notice/traction in this thread.

From DarkJourney in the NFL Merry-Go-Round thread:

From Field of Schemes:

San Jose could be about to approve $100m+ in lease breaks for Sharks in exchange for diddly-squat

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Neil deMause

The San Jose city council is set to vote tomorrow on a lease extension for the Sharks on their current arena while talking about whether to build a new one. You can read the proposal here; its a bit convoluted and I havent made sense of it all yet, but Marc Morris of Better Sense San Jose has sent along his analysis, which is this:

1. The Sharks get immediate relief from previously obligated rent payments (total reduction is $7.25M = $2M for the Arena and $5.25M for the Ice Center, where the Sharks and their new AHL farm team practice).

2. Starting in 2018, the Sharks stop paying any rent at all (thats $0 per year) for the city owned Arena, down from roughly $5M per year.

3. The City in the short term kicks in $6M and then, starting in 2018, pays $2.6M for capital and modernization needs for the Arena. That of course will be financed by the $0 a year rent.

4. The Sharks get to spend a lot of this capital money for revenue enhancing improvements; for its efforts, the City gets precisely none of the enhanced revenue.

5. Just to rub it in, the agreement also explicitly prohibits the City from getting any new revenue from its own Arena, like maybe adding a ticket tax.

6. It appears that the City will take on the interest rate risk for the bonds on the Ice Center, making the current ultra-low rates the new baseline for the rent calculation. After all, theres little to no probability that rates will go up in the next 10 to 20 years.

7. And, although this never gets mentioned, the City will continue to pay over $10M a year in interest on the bonds that paid for construction of the Arena in the first place. In the best case, the net loss to the City from the Arena is over $8M a year.

Like I said, I havent done the math on this myself, but if Morris is correct, that could easily be more than $100 million in concessions that the city would be providing to the Sharks all for a team that doesnt have an immediate alternative option to play in, and which isnt even agreeing to a long-term lease deal in exchange. (Theyd have to stay put through 2025, but its unlikely they could get a new arena built much before then anyway.) Thats the kind of thing you might think youd want to have a hearing on, or even a financial study, before voting on whether to approve it, but thats apparently not the way the San Jose city council rolls.

So the Sharks would pull a Red Wings and stop paying rent in 2018, all while essentially getting an extra $100 million out of the city, all the while trying to edge for a NEW arena?

A lot of things wrong with this, most of all that Tank needs a replacement. I mean, I guess they're talking about 10 years down the road. But besides it's sterility and brightness, the Shark Tank is a fine facility.

I'm pretty sure this is a sign from the city of San Jose showing just how scared $h!tless they are of losing the Sharks to San Francisco. I'm not sure the new arena for the Warriors is going to be big enough to fit a hockey rink, but you've gotta think the idea has at least been thrown around once or twice.

PENCILSTACHE!!!

Yeah I was expecting a total disaster, because the ones I've seen in Person looked like trash. My jaw about hit the floor when I opened the box.

I'm probably gonna give it to my mom this Sunday to add to her Giants shelf, but this makes me wanna order the 2012 and 2014 versions, too.