Something in the Air

by Ryan

The above isn't a Phil Collins quote, nor is it it from ABBA. Actually, it may be a little of both. Whatever.

Today the Bills made their last cuts, and I've been thinking about the home opener all day. For the first time in months the there is a sense that football is close, so close I can't help but get excited about it. For the next seventeen weeks things are going to get really interesting around here, and I'm really, really, really excited.

So excited I decided I'm going to the home opener.

I just dropped $130 bucks on two upper deck tickets, and I'll be there in a week. Bear in mind that my entire Sabres minipack was only $180, but that's beside the point. I'm going because, well... I feel like I should be there.

Later in the week there will be a "season preview" post, which will really just ramble on and on about the Bills and what they mean to the area and all that stuff. However, when we get there I'll talk about something important that happened this week, and this purchase is a direct result of that. Trust me, it will make sense in a few days.

All I know right now is I can't wait to get to that sack race. The countdown starts now.

A Word on #85

by Ryan

A few weeks ago a rumor floated around that Chad Johnson was changing his name to Ocho Cinco. If you heard it, well, you probably weren't all that surprised. You see, Chad Johnson sort of has that reputation, and well, it was just a rumor.

Well, yesterday it was reported on a few blogs that he actually went through with it. Okay, your old school pragmatism kicked in and thought "well, it's not on a major news site, so it's probably just a rumor."

Today the Associated Press picked it up.



Now.

I think it's safe to say that Chad Johnson is one of the best wide outs in the league, and he certainly does perform on the field. However, I think at this point it's also safe to say that he is absolutely crazy. Like, completely, absolutely, over the moon out of his mind.

However, that's why we love him so much. I mean, he says he's going to go out there and have fun, but he's making it just as fun for the rest of us. Just take a look at his Wiki page and tell me you can keep a straight face while reading it.

On June 9, 2007, Ocho Cinco raced a thoroughbred racehorse over a furlong (220 yards) for charity. Ocho Cinco, given a 110-yard head start, beat the horse by twelve lengths.

Hilarious.

Now I know what some of you may be thinking: just another troubled NFL wide receiver. Sure, Ocho Cinco has caused some problems with Marvin Lewis and asking to be traded, but when you look at the other problems on that team, I think he's a minor concern at best. If Lewis was as stern a coach as people think he is, Chris Henry would not be on that team. Again.

Compared to the other jumpsuit Bengals, Chad is great. Even when he's playing against you he's hard to hate. His "antics", while detrimental at times, still make you want him on your team. Before his injuries, tell me you weren't secretly hoping Russ could swing a trade for him over the summer. Even as a pipe dream it was fun to think about.

I think from a team perspective, Chad Ocho Cinco may not be the best of options. However, when you look at it as a fan he is the ultimate in entertainment. Football is an entertainment vehicle, and no person is more entertaining than Ocho Cinco. He makes you want to draft him in your fantasy league, and even if you don't have him you can't wait for his name to change.

For all the "problems" he may cause, he still puts up big numbers and plays when he's hurt. Most of all, he's fun. Even with all the fines and off season talk, he is at the top of the list when it comes to making football fun. Only Sheriff Gonnagetcha comes close to Chad, and we love them both for the effort.

I think a big reason Chad sees some backlash is because the media hypes his antics up so much. Every fine is discussed at length, every prime time game is hyped as "what's Chad going to do next?" People in the media develop opinions on him and beat them to death, and we as viewers get sick of the whole thing.

Yet however tiring all that talk is, we still watch. Why? Because the talking isn't enjoyable, but watching is. The conversations about Ocho Cinco aren't nearly as fun as the product he puts out on the field, and when it comes time for him to play we take notice. Not everyone enjoys it, but you know the Bengals get an extra look from most fans because of it.

In a league trying so hard to crack down on celebrations and antics and anything outside of the status quo, Chad Ocho Cinco still hasn't backed down. While Adam Pacman Jones shed his nickname in an attempt to turn the corner in his life, Chad became his nickname because, quite frankly, there's nothing wrong with it.

In a league where fun is even cracked down upon in the stands, Chad Ocho Cinco exists. Better yet, he thrives.

Like him or not, you have to admit that's pretty amazing.

Boom goes the Dynamite, Part Deux

By Jon

The NFL preseason is far too long. The college preseason doesn't exist. Let's ask former Bills kicker and current UB color analyst Steve Christie what he thinks...

"Ugh.. I remember the NFL. The preseason was too long."

Thanks for that hard-hitting analysis, Steve! Now, what did you think of that personal foul that just wiped out a huge UB gain?

"That's a shame."

It sure is! So that leaves UB with third and long, what do you expect them to call?

"We should call a pass. We need a first down."

Needless to say, I was less than impressed with the radio coverage of Thursday night's UB-UTEP game. Paul Peck was just OK, technical difficulties prevented any sideline reports from Brendan McDaniels (although, they tried and tried to go down to him, despite the choppy audio), and audio from the officials were completely drowned out by the crowd. However, I'm willing to look the other way on all of that. It was the first broadcast on a new station.

There is one man that doesn't get a pass: Steve Christie. Dare I say it, Christie was the worst color announcer I have ever heard in my life. He consistently referred to UB as "us" and "we," and UTEP as "them." He stepped over Peck's feet all night, interrupting him during important calls with imperative statements like "whoa" and "wow." He was generally monotone for the entire game, which is mind-boggling considering the excitement surrounding the game.

Have you ever watched a high-school football game on a public access channel where the announcers were completely unproffessional and nearly comical to listen to? That was Christie.

Part of me feels bad ragging on the guy. I mean, it was his first game as an analyst (at least, I think it was.) But some people just aren't cut out for the gig, and I have a hard time believing that Christie will have a job after this year.

So please, Steve. Stick to kicking and painting, and leave the analysis to the pros.

Twenty Will Not Come Again

{Sigh...} Oh Manny...

The Realest Team Alive

by Ryan

Today is the big day.

The Buffalo Sports Blogger's league is having their fantasy draft today, and of course the Goose's Roost has a team. This will be an interesting experiment, as we're not sure anyone has ever done a team with four people on it.

A few weeks back the Dukes of Awesome did a little post making fun of the team names, and of course we were scrutinized for going the "self titled" route. (Hey, it worked for Zep, right?)

The fact of the matter is that we hadn't decided on a team name. Yet. Well, we have one now. It took a little while to word correctly, but the Goose's Roost will fight for blogging honor under as:

CARLA, the F--k Lion.

If you don't get it, kindly refer to this story and immerse yourself into the mind of Marques Slocum.

I'm actually prouder of this team name than the last one, which resulted in this photoshop:



(Answer, by the way: TheWhaleMoneyHit. Not great, I know, but it makes up for itself when other teams play this while you draft...)

As far as drafting for this league, I think Jon and Rich will take up the reigns, as Chris and I are still debating the value of Brandon Marshall as a 3/4th receiver. I think we are in good hands.

We will let you know the results, as well as talk some smack along the way. This is going to be fun.

O, o iss on.

Yellow Paint and Wire Mesh

by Ryan




I would say something kind about Yankee Stadium, but I've never been there in my life. There was just something that held me back, probably the fact that wearing a Sox hat in that place would get my face caved in.

Either way, as you read the Red Sox are playing their last game ever in Yankee Stadium, and I have to admit it feels odd.

Now I'm not going to say I have many great memories about the place, because according to a YES Network graphic the Sox are 200 or so games below .500 at the Stadium. However, one of the greatest moments of my life was when the Red Sox won Game Seven of the 2004 ALCS in Yankee Stadium.

I may lose my hearing at any moment, but I will never forget the sound of Mark Bellhorn's home run off the shrieking off foul pole to put it away. It sounded like a million cats being shanked by a paper clip while the tears of Yankee fans rained down from the upper deck. It was glorious.

So here's to you foul pole, thanks for the memories.

Obits, the Lions, and Fine: This is Preseason

by Ryan

If you don't read sort of girly gossip/news sites run by Nick Denton, you may not know that Bloomberg has been updating the obituary of Steve Jobs, that guy from Apple who sold 152.8 million iPods while you weren't looking. If you don't know, Jobs has pancreatic cancer and there are some concerns his health is failing, so I guess they have some reason to do so.

I'd imagine this kind of things is pretty common in the news world, as there is a reason the AP can get a death notice up and running so quickly. However, this got me to thinking about local news agencies. More specifically, does the Buffalo News have an obituary ready for Ralph Wilson?

I bet they do, and at this point I wonder what it says about him. It is pretty obvious that the next great franchise crisis will arrive the day he passes into that great luxury suite in the sky, and I wonder what kind of legacy that will leave him with. Most obits are very kind to the deceased, but who knows if Sully or Bucky can get to the copy before it gets sent to press.

---

So the Bills play the Lions tonight, and I will once again miss it. Sometime this weekend I will watch seven hours of scrub football and feel prepared for the regular season. Sometime.

The "will he or won't he" regarding Trent playing doesn't really bother me, I think he's going to start the season no matter what, and if J.P. gets to throw a few to Lee against the Lions, well, good for them. Maybe after the game they can go out and get some of those friendship bracelets or something. (You know what they should make? Some bracelets that break into threes...)

---

One thing that does make me wonder is the injury to Derek Fine. He seemed, well, fine until Russ Brandon texted me yesterday. I wonder how that went down at the doctors' office.

Dr. Hecl: So Mr... uh, I've been looking over your charts here and it looks like you are going to be... Fine, Derek.

Derek: Really? Doc, this hurts pretty bad. Maybe you should look it over again?

Dr. Hecl: Well, I suppose so, but the paperwork I see here says you are quite Fine. It says it right at the top.

Derek: It's just my thumb, Doc, could you take a look?

Dr. Hecl: Yes, Fine, let me see.

{Grabs hand}

Derek: OOOOOOWWW! Yeah, that's it! My thumb!

Dr. Hecl: Well, it appears you are certainly not Fine.

Derek: Okay, Doc. (Rubs thumb) Should I get ready for surgery?

Dr. Hecl: Oh hevans no, son. We only have an insurance card on file from a Mr. Fine. You are clearly anything but Fine...

---

This post sponsored by Abbott and Costello, who remind you that "I don't know" really is an appropriate term for A-Rod.

If You are Really Bored...

by Ryan

There are hundreds of things I should be doing right now, but for some reason I just finished making an avatar for one of my fantasy football teams. It's not the best of photoshops, but then again, it doesn't have to be.

I don't know if anyone cares, but if you'd like to guess the team name based on the photo, feel free.



The tags will be key for this one, and yes, I'm inherently mediocre at photoshop, thank you for asking.

An Interesting Idea

by Ryan

So yesterday the Habs released a logo for their centennial. That's right, hockey fans, 100 years of hockey and jingoistic tensions, everybody celebrate!



Anyways, I was poking around their website and found this, which seems like a pretty good idea if you ask me. The team is unveiling a "Centennial Plaza" in a few months, and for a nominal fee you can have a brick with your name on it get stepped on by hundreds of drunk people on the way inside the Bell Centre. Quite the investment, I know.

However, this got me thinking, could the Sabres pull off something similar?

Remember back when the Bass Pro deal was finalized (the second time) and Larry Quinn said something about doing something with HSBC Arena's atrium because of the development around the building? Well, I do, and the Buffalo News' website blows and doesn't archive anything past a week or so, so I can't show you. Just, uh, just trust me on this.

Anways, what if the Sabres did something similar to this? I think this would be the perfect place for a monument of some sort to the Aud, and letting the fans get a piece of the action would be a nice gesture. The pricing for that kind of thing isn't all that bad, and it's been done before.

For example, the Bills do this with Gate 2 and 3, and the prices aren't too bad if you like to drop a few bills on masonry. The smallest brick is $150 bucks, and even that isn't too bad if you just don't know what to get a special Bills fan.

The only problem with something like the Bills' Walk of Fame is that not everyone gets to see it, as there are many ways to get into the stadium. If the Sabres did something like this it would have much more visibility, and would undoubtedly get much more interest because of that increased traffic.

There is only one way in the Arena, and while that may seem like a fire hazard to some, (have you ever tried getting out of there in a hurry? Good luck.) it only means a quality investment to someone who wants the world to know he was at Game Five of the ECFs two years ago.

This may seem like a petty excuse for a cash grab, but, well, that's exactly what it is. I'm sure there would be some tie to a charity, but you just know the team is dying to squeeze every nickel out of this team that they can, and this is a pretty novel idea if you ask me.

Larry, if you're reading, you know how to reach me.

Shutting the Door

by Ryan




Michael Kay sounded so sad tonight, and that makes me so, so happy.

That is all.

Burgers and Sound Mufflers

by Ryan

Every once in a while I visit The Aud Club and look things over. It's a trip not to reminisce as much as it is to try and absorb a little bit more of that history we all love so much.

You see, I don't remember much of the Aud, and for someone who is fascinated by arena design and history, well, that just won't do. So while people get ready to buy up pieces of the old building before it gets torn down, I just hope they turn on the lights one more time and take a few last pictures.

The older I get, the more I want to understand the place I grew up. There is so much to learn about such a cool place, and I'm tired of hearing about how crappy things are; I want to understand why. Sadly, I'm one of those guys who doesn't mind sitting at a table full of old people and hear stories about what it was like back in the day. As long as they don't tell me the American League was better off without the DH I'm good.

When I was looking through the bookstore for something to read on vacation, I came across this book in the local section. As soon as I saw it, I knew I would be buying it no matter what the price.



First of all, that's a pretty snazzy cover. I can't say I'm partial to the yellow/black color scheme (This is Buffalo, not Pittsburgh), but there was something so striking about the Buffalo skyline on the edge of a sheer cliff that I figured this guy had something interesting to say.

(Quick story: The cover reminded me of a poster I've seen in a few places, with the Buffalo city skyline on the edge of the Canadian Falls. The last time I saw this picture I was with the other three members of the Roost, and made a stupid joke about the city in a barrel or some crap like that. We all ended up staring at this picture for far too long, letting our Fudruckers burgers get cold while an elderly couple and family was leaving right next to us.

Needless to say, someone made another joke, we all laughed, and the couple thought we were making fun of their slow departure. The man who was with this couple gave us an awful look, and we were banished to hell right then and there. Moving on...)

Our little Reading with the Roost series is drawing to a close with the end of the summer, and our results were a bit of a mixed bag. I wish I had gotten to more reading than I did, but I'm glad we could have a few interesting discussions to kill some time over the long, Sabre-less summer days. Maybe I got a few more people to read The Game or The Code, and for that I'd say it was time well spent.

However, City on the Edge is one of those books I won't be putting off until next summer. I think it's about time I start caring understanding, and things like this and this are too important not to know about.

If anyone has read City on the Edge, let me know what you thought. And while we're at it, let me ask you something else a bit more sports related.



When the Aud gets torn down sometime within the next few months, are you going to venture downtown to be a public nuisance? I have to admit I'm more than curious and would like to, but I wonder if it means anything to anyone else. I may not remember much, but I' like to make sure I remember this.

Searching the Desert

by Ryan



Oh, hello there.

I was just looking at some pictures from the game on Sunday, and I can't decide how I feel about it. I mean, that was a pretty nice sack there, and on the first play from scrimmage no less. However, that's The Pillsbury Throwboy in there, a third string quarterback who had no idea he would be seeing the first team defense.

When you really think about it, you can play this little game with just about everything that happened in the Bills' 20-7 win over Indy. Sure, the defense looked great, but that was against a third and fourth string quarterback, and Joseph Addai decided to die on that one play. Then there was that miss-timed jump from Leodis, and our run defense still manages to look suspect at times.

Then there's special teams. Lindell looked good, but we didn't get much on our returns and Fitzpatrick probably isn't making the team. The offense had one fantastic drive, but that was J.P. Losman in there, and you knew he was going to come through and "answer the bell", as they put it. I mean, for a stretch we were running on all seven cylinders, but how much value can you place in it with Peters still not reporting and so many of our starters held out?

You see what I did here? All of it, that neurotic, crazy second guessing. That's what it's like to be a Bills fan in preseason, and that's why I hate preseason football. Now this isn't going to be one of those "we should shorten preseason" arguments, because as you can see, this is probably a good thing. Let me explain.

If the hockey off season is hard, the football off season is a withdrawal on heroin. For the last decade the Bills stop playing football at the end of December, and until September you don't have much reason to head to Orchard Park.

Yeah, there is the postseason and the NFL draft and mini camps, but all of that is nothing more than a slow drip of methadone in a rehab clinic. Real football is that 17 week stretch of Sundays in the fall, and nothing, not realistic computer graphics, not depth chart scouting, and not even fantasy football drafts can substitute properly.

What comes close, however, is preseason football. Kinda.

The problem with preseason football is that all we really want to get out of it is something to look forward to. Progress, that's all we want. Just... show me things are coming along nicely, and maybe we will have a good year. Even now, with all this Toronto stuff looming and the playoff-less streak as long as it is, I only want to see potential in preseason games.

The problem with this is that preseason football isn't the real deal, and so no matter what we see we don't believe it. If the team plays badly, well, they are getting things together and will improve. "That's what preseason is for," we say.

However, they play well and the list of excuses grows longer and longer. Not the first team, the plays were scripted, the other team didn't want to show their hand, peaking early, whatever. Couple in the injuries on both sides, the general fan's indifference, and all those 6th string players and, well, just how much can it really tell you about your team?

Still, I do think preseason is worth something. With each passing week, we get closer to the regular season. I mean, even though I have no idea what to take away from Sunday's game, I specifically watched Monday Night Football to "scout" the Seahawks. Hasselbeck was out and their receiving core may have featured Nate Burleson and... well, that's it. However, we got through another day together, and eventually it will matter.

Before you know it Thursday will come, we will speculate once again, and suddenly, real football will be here. Eventually.

Please?

A Brief Update on Hockey, Because We Like Hockey and Miss It

by Ryan



My mini pack order is due Friday, which means the hockey season is slowly creeping toward us. Today the Sabres announced pricing for their two home preseason games, and of course we are going to talk about it here because, well, there's nothing to talk about.

Tickets go on sale September 3rd, and are half price for kids like last year. I think it's a smart move by the team, and... God this sucks. I hate August, man.

When you make the playoffs for a few years, you forget how absolutely excruciating the off season is in hockey. The playoffs were like three months long, and then there was all that summer after that. I mean, once July 1st comes and goes, there's just not that much to talk about unless you make crap up like we did.

Let's put it this way, I went to see the Red Sox play in Toronto on the last day of the Sabres' regular season. Four months passed before I saw the Sox in Toronto on Friday, and they still haven't hit the ice at HSBC Arena. Christ, that's a long time.

What I'm getting at here is that at this point any news is good news, and I can't wait for September so we can talk about training camp. Seriously, I want to see some hockey like, right now.

(Also, as soon as Yahoo releases Fantasy Hockey '08 we will have a league ready to go. I think we'll start with 12 teams and see what the supply/demand looks like. Again, that should happen soon, so start coming up with team names now. I have mine ready to go...)

On Eagles, American and Otherwise

by Ryan

So this is new.

There isn't much to write about these days, so I suppose we can talk about me. I guess you can say I'm going through one of those "life shifts" or whatever they call it when a bunch of things change at once. For a society where constant change is the status quo, we sure do feel the need to categorize this kind of thing often.

Thing is, this is the first time I can honestly say things are shifting in my life, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it.

Now I could sit here and mope about how things are going for me, but that would be misrepresenting myself, and that's something I'd like to avoid. The truth is that I'm pretty happy with where things are heading with me, and I'm fairly content with my life. Still, when change happens you get to take a unique perspective on yourself, and that hindsight can be pretty revealing.

Example, with a brief aside:

I'm pretty sure by now the secret is out, we are all college students here. For a long time I worried about disclosing my age, fearing our opinions wouldn't be taken as seriously due to our "inexperience" or some strange bias perhaps only in my head. However, I'd like to think that our work speaks for itself, and by now if you are reading this you know a bit about us. If you care, here is a bit more information.

Until recently, I have worked just one job. Sure, I delivered papers like every other kid, but my first minimum wage job has been my last, and for three years I spent my days serving the neurotic, overbearing public. Good times.

However, recently I did some freelance work for a local paper I interned at during high school, and that gig turned into something more. As of today, I work exclusively in the dying industry that is the paper press, and that is a startling turn of events to say the least.

In the span of three months, I went from a pretty mediocre college student to someone you can apply the tags "having direction", "doing well", and "got a job in the industry". Suddenly there's this tangible proof that I'm doing something well, and I'm not sure how to deal with this. I mean, nothing really has changed, but suddenly people are, I don't know, excited about me.

However, I'm looking so sure they are right. To explain this, let's talk about my wardrobe.

I've never had a job where I can pick my own clothes. Heck, until 7th grade I couldn't even pick my own school clothes. My last job gave me a hat and a polo, and I supplied the pants. Suddenly that gentle nudge in fashion sense has been taken away, and looking over my wardrobe, it was a bit alarming to realize I had nothing to wear.

Nothing. Well, nothing appropriate, at least. This is the hindsight part of the story where you realize something about yourself that got you writing about it in the first place. I know it took me some time to get here, but if you're still reading I guess I got you there anyway, right? I... I'm just wasting time now, aren't I? Sorry.

What I realized about myself is that I have a lot of shirts. T-shirts, that is. Nothing I can throw on and go work in a newsroom, though. In fact, I don't have many nice shirts at all, and that's not good when you think about it. In fact, when I think about it now, I don't think I have many shirts that aren't sports related.

Oh crap, I'm "that guy".

The first time you meet me, more than likely I will be wearing a Bills or Sabres shirt of some sort. Over the summer, my typical wardrobe was a pair of mesh shorts, a t-shirt, and a Red Sox hat. That's me, every day.

When I went looking for clothes to wear to work, I came to the shocking realization that aside from my NHL Awards/Wedding apparel, everything I own I could wear to the gym. What's worse is that I never go to the gym, so this fashion sense isn't exactly practical.

Needless to say, last week I went out and bought a pair of khakis and seven polo shirts. So far so good, but man, I don't want to be that guy. Why do I have to be that guy?

You know what, I think it's about time I accept the fact that I am that guy. I'm the guy who is excited to have the AP Sports wire directly involved with my occupation. I'm the guy who was worried less about getting holidays off and more concerned with getting Sundays off. I am that prototypical sports fan, but multiplied by 40 and given too much exposure to winter.

I'm a guy with an above average set of hands but very little speed, which makes me destined to sit in the stands and attempt to connect with a group of people I can never truly be. Sports will be the first thing you hear about me no matter how hard I try to keep it down.

It's not something I'm exactly proud of, but that's just how it is. For years I've been trying to justify why it matters so much, and I think it's about time that justification is unnecessary. It does matter because without it, there's just not much to talk about with me.

Now dammit, where's that polo with the little lion on it? It's the only one that matches my Sox hat...

Elisha's Brother Takes a Look Around

by Ryan



Hrm. Nice place, I like the window we have in the end zone.



Oooh! The roof opens! That should clear out the "Lorenzen" smell Eli was telling me about.



Ugh, I would kill for an Oreo right about now.



What the hell is that?!?



Oh, good to see Jeff Saturday's family made the trip.







Uh, Quinn Gray SUCKS.

This is NFL Network? Really?

by Ryan

If you are watching the game, tell me this isn't just me. I mean, that announcing crew sounds awful, right? There is so much silence, so much stuttering, so much... Boom Goes the Dynamite.



Gotta go, it's second and... her... third and... um... fifth and third.

Cut That Meat

by Ryan

Tonight my TV will look a little like this:



Well, uh, he's going to be on the sidelines, right?

Lucas Oil Field is shiny and new, and for once we are allowed to have nice new things to play with. J.P Losman is in the house and ready to roll, and if he doesn't go deep at least a half dozen times I'd be shocked. J.P. wants to roll, people, and this is his chance.

This is one of those games that almost matter, but you still know that it doesn't count at all. Needless to say, I'm pumped.

Let's see what happens, eh?

Also, This

Marvin Gaye > Whitney Houston.

WTF is Right

I know this is against the Olympic spirit and all, but that is the best picture I've seen from Beijing. If there is anything we know, it's a sporting event that ends with a kick to the face. Usually the ref doesn't get it, but whatever, these things happen.

Also, I know Usain Bolt is the devil for not shaking hands or something, but Jacques Rogge can go to hell. The man is faster than anyone alive, I think he should be allowed to jump around a bit.

Part of the draw of the Olympics is to see something amazing, and every time he took the track Bolt delivered. Rogge should just be happy he isn't underage, or protesting human rights, or on PEDs or something. The man was downright fantastic, and him looking into the crowd while setting a world record is something we may never see again.

Maybe I don't understand the Olympic spirit, but as he said himself, there are bigger problems in the world, problems that the Olympics can't fix. Leave it alone, and hope everyone has their Passports ready in time for Vancouver.

Serious Question

by Ryan

If you haven't heard the news, the City of Buffalo is one of three finalists for the 2011 World Juniors tournament. This is absolutely fantastic news, and I'm pumped about the announcement.

Here's the serious part: Is there anything we as fans can do to help us get this thing? Now I don't mean a "this would be awesome we should totally do it" kinda thing, because we all know it's more complicated than that. However, I think showing the IIHF and USA Hockey how important this event can be to the area would be a huge help in winning the right to host this event.

So I suppose I come here with a request. I know it's a Saturday and no one reads on the weekend, but if you have any ideas about what we could do to help make this happen, I'm all ears. Also, if you have any ideas about who to contact to ask questions or find out more information, I'm here to hear it.

If you can't tell, I'm completely serious about this. If anything, I'm extremely interested in finding out just how this process works. Once we have that answered and get a better idea of what we can do, I'm more than willing to play a part in it happening.

When have we done anything of real value with our blogs and interest in hockey? Why not try to pump $6 million into the Western New York economy and see some great hockey along the way? Buffalo is the perfect place and the near future is the perfect time to host an event like this, and whoever needs convincing that is the case, well, I'm willing to give it a shot.

Ideas? Anyone?

Back from the Laser Show

by Ryan

Wow, I'm freaking tired. Remind me not to do that again. I'll have a good sized post up about tonight's game sometime tomorrow afternoon. In the interim, why don't you buy a Rogers Blackberry?



Yeah, now go throw it at that tree over there. Dude, they are going to triangulate our signals and find us.

What's that? Why can't you smash it on a rock like normal people? Well, I suppose you are just out of practice.

Old Money

by Ryan

It's a pretty sleepy Friday around here, and I'm heading up to Toronto to catch the Red Sox tonight. We will have some stuff posted later today, but I thought we should start off the day with a video of Marshawn Lynch. I'm sure you've seen this before, but I thought it was pretty fun to see him before all this off season... activity came about.



Carl Edwards ain't got s$%t on Money.

It's funny, when I was in Myrtle Beach I bought a Lynch rookie card just because I didn't manage to get one last year. Obviously it was much cheaper down there, as there isn't much demand for Bills players with phonetic spelling issues. (That's what they have Clemson football for) The card, of course, was a Donruss, and I'm very sad they didn't issue one of him doing a back flip.

Slowly the football season is coming upon us, and I can't tell you how excited I am. We will start posting more about the Bills very soon. It's a shame none of us were able to hit training camp this year, because if you haven't got a good look at J.P.'s manbeard, I'd take a gander at this.

Beard of Destiny is right. Let's hope this isn't another "Bledsoe got a haircut!" kinda thing...

Congratulations, Gene Upshaw

You've just won the 2008 Bill Wirtz Award!

Covering the Bases

by Ryan

So it's August, and there is absolutely nothing to talk about. I haven't posted as often as I'd like to be, but I'm in a bit of a "life transition" right now and working a lot.

One good thing about working a lot is all that extra money, and I've decided to put some of it to good use. Rich mentioned to me a few days ago that he wanted to buy a Sports Illustrated cover, and after looking at their archives I picked a few out that I'd consider buying myself.

That's where you come in.

I'm going to show you the ones I like, and let you decide which one I'm going to get. If you want to take a look for yourself and suggest one, by all means. Sometime later today I'll put up a poll, and whichever one gets the most votes gets put on my credit card.

Here are my picks:




Big Bad Bills, 1991- What a photo that is. I gave my father this one last year, but I wouldn't mind having one for myself.




Miracle on Ice, 1980- Almost a must have for some. Great picture.




MLB Postseason, 2007- Great photo. This is the last SI I've bought, if only for that face.




World Series Red Sox, 2007- I didn't buy this one, but probably should have. Papelbon leaping in the air was on my desktop for a good six months.




Super Bills- Thurman deserves a spot on my wall somewhere.




Why Hockey is Hot, 1994- Just for the sake of irony, really. It's just amazing to think of the complete reversal in less than a decade.

So what do you think? I'm well aware that this is a waste of money, so why not influence my waste of money?

Greggggggggggg Hates Dick, Loves Toronto

by Ryan

Gregg Easterbrook is a douche. You and I both know this. However, I was reading the paper today and noticed that his awful Tuesday Morning Quarterback column mentioned something about the league wanting to keep a franchise in Buffalo. For the sake of understanding his special type of crazy, I wanted to see this for myself.

Here we go.

Buffalo: This year's Miami "at" Buffalo game in Toronto reduces the Bills' home dates to seven. But unlike the Dolphins and Saints, penalized by losing a home game for "home" appearances in London, developing a Toronto relationship should be good for the Bills.

Um... sure? Convince me. No? Okay.

Now check the favor the league did for Buffalo in this year's sked -- only one Orchard Park game in December, and that against the sinister-but-popular Patriots. The Bills always sell out their pre-Thanksgiving games, but struggle to move December tickets, since locals know snow will have set in by then. For 2008, Buffalo has only one December true home game to sell, which won't a problem with the Patriots as the opponent.

I guess that's good from a ticket standpoint, but that's looking at it pretty coldly. The Dolphins are still the Bills' main rival, and taking that game and moving it 90 minutes north is a slight to the fans no matter what the weather. The fact that this game does take place in December is only removing the weather advantage the Bills would have against a warm weather team. But yeah, keep going.

The Toronto game is in December; though north of Buffalo, Toronto gets considerably less snow, owing to lake-effect weather patterns. Even though the game will be played indoors at Rogers Centre, it will likely be easier to get around Toronto than Buffalo on Dec. 7. For several seasons now, the NFL has both limited Buffalo's December home dates, and made sure that December visitors are attractive to ticket buyers. Between scheduling favors and the new revenue-sharing deal, which is favorable to small-market teams, the NFL seems to be signaling it wants the Bills to be successful in Buffalo.

The fact of the matter is that no matter how many home games the Bills had in December, the entire season would have been sold out. The season ticket base has swelled, interest is increasing, and a Miami game on December 7th in Buffalo would have sold out just as quickly as a "Bills in Toronto" series game would have. There is a reason the Bills have pushed this Bills Backer Presale on us; it's the only real chance for people to get tickets for this year.

The revenue sharing and limiting December home dates is a nice theory, but I don't think there is much to justify it's significance. Whatever, let's get to the part where he talks about Jauron.

Buffalo's Ivy League coach, Dick Jauron, is a fine man but low-voltage personified; he's like a car battery that won't turn the engine on a cold morning. Jauron has just one winning season in seven as a head coach. Losing does not seem to bother him; he's never animated on the sidelines or upset after a loss, and he wasn't upset even after the Bills allowed two scores in the final 20 seconds to lose 25-24 to Dallas before a national audience on "Monday Night Football." Team spirit is high in Buffalo, but the team mindset is all wrong, mirroring the coach. Jauron's gift is lowering expectations; this is his third season in Buffalo, yet he's still talking only about "improvement," not winning. Much of the time, the objective seems to be to lose with dignity. Trailing New England 42-7 in the second half, the Bills kicked a field goal. Trailing New England 56-10 in the fourth quarter, Buffalo punted from midfield. Those were Jauron's decisions and the message sent was, "Oh well, another loss, right you are chaps, pip pip." For a once-proud franchise that has not made the postseason in this decade, the Bills need an attitude adjustment.

I love how he made sure to call him an "Ivy League coach", like being intelligent is a bad thing for a head coach. "Screw that sissy reading, boys, let's go out there and throw the f$%k out of that ball. Let's rip someone's face off!"

Bringing up the New England game as a sign of his demeanor really doesn't do it for me, either. I'm pretty sure if he was anything like me, he couldn't make proper facial expressions for a few days after that one. Who really cares if we punted down 46 points? Yeah, we should have gone for it, but what does that really matter?

Listen, you know I'm not one to defend Jauron. I even have a tag called "We got Dick for less...", but I don't think having a firecracker of a head coach is any better than a cerebral guy like Jauron. Bill Belechick doesn't yell and scream and he is considered the best head coach in the league. Just because Dick looks like a withered corpse doesn't mean he can effectively coach the Bills by speaking in grunts and gentle nudges.



Oh, I see what you did there.

F--k it, I'm Checking Going Down

by Ryan

Did you get a text from Marv Russ Brandon that said Trent Edwards has a right leg injury? I did, and I got it fast too. I knew about Trent's injury before it even hit the AP wire, so Russ must have sent that bad boy out right after sprinting onto the field to see what the problem was.



We are probably going to see a lot of that this weekend. Few things here. First of all, is anyone safe from Marshawn Lynch? Canadian women, starting quarterbacks, Quesadilla Burgers. No wonder Peters hasn't come to camp, he doesn't want to get run over by the Moneymobile.

Second, isn't this the absolute perfect time to have a quarterback controversy? I mean, you just know J.P. is going to look more than competent with the first team offense on Sunday, and Evans is going to get the ball and be happy, and before you know it we are back to where we were last year. F--k. This is why we can't have nice things.

The only good news I have for you is this: J.P. is going to air that mother out on Sunday. Think of it this way, even if Edwards plays it won't be the standard "into the second half" type of 3rd preseason game starters get. Losman is going to get a lot of time, and he is going to look good. Real good. Expect Hardy to get vertical (if he plays), Evans to go long, and Robert Royal to perform well past his potential.

Great.

Classic Marty

Props to Shots Off the Crossbar for finding this.
Marty Biron prepares to throw out the first pitch at a Phillies game. Enjoy.

Madden and a Red Snapper

by Ryan

It's been about a week since Madden 09 came out, and to some that means they haven't been outside very much in the last few days. Every year around this time a buzz starts because of a video game named after a bumbling, sometimes incoherent former Raiders head coach, and every year this blows my mind. Well, at least it used to.

Back in the day, there were plenty of football video games to choose from. Sega had a game, the NFL Quarterback Club had a game, and the Blitz series was there if you felt like setting yourself on fire. All in all, it was a good time to be a football fan. Even if you didn't like Madden or Blitz, you could play NFL 2K on your Dreamcast and be satisfied with yourself.

Now things are different. EA Sports has an exclusive contract with the league and the NFLPA, and there is only one football video game that matters: Madden. With this has come Maddenoliday, TV shows, and a white boy slapping his own nipples in a Bills jersey. Yeah, we've come a long way.

These days video games creep closer and closer to the mainstream, and as they do we look at our sports a different way. People always complain their favorite team doesn't get a good ranking in Madden. Every year we all sit around and dissect the IGN Player Rankings for NHL 09 like a tarot card. Heck, even Mirtle got into the act, if only to kill some time in this hell-hole of a hockey month.

When you think about it, you really can base a lot of your sports knowledge off of video games. I remember people scoffing about the fact that Dan Paille was ranked higher than Drew Stafford in last year's NHL 08, but look at what we know now. A friend of mine joked around about that at a Sabres game last year, and a group of people below us could only nod in agreement.

That same group later started talking about Cristobol Huet, debating how his name should be pronounced after his trade to the Capitals. One argued that his name should be pronounced "Hu-eh" because that's how it always was done in Montreal, and another argued it should be "Hu-et" because that's how it is in NHL 09. That was his only justification, that's how the dude says it in the video game, it must be right.

The above is only a small fraction of what you could conceivably take from video games, and we haven't even gone into the minor leagues. However, video game knowledge is of course not infallible. In fact, one of the quirky video game facts blew up in EA Sports' face last year.

With every player ranked, that means that someone is listed as the "worst" player in the league. Last year, that was Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright.



Not only did he get stuck with the Madden boobie prize, he also had the misfortune of getting a picture like that taken of him. However, last year he went out and made the Pro Bowl.

So what does this mean? Well, I guess that depends on how much you care about "Red Snapper" and the evaluations video game designers give players, teams, and franchises. Everything really is up for interpretation, and I suppose people who attempt to simulate reality are as good a candidate as any to make these decisions.

The question is this: how much value do you put in these rankings? Everyone has their own opinion of a team, player, or coach; but how much clout does a player's ranking have for you? The larger question is whether or not you play Madden at all, if you feel like telling us. I personally have never bought Madden, but I admit I'm curious to see where my team falls in the overall ranks.

It may be a load of garbage, but at the very least it's educated garbage, right?

Another Banner for the Rafters

by Ryan

It was a close one, but professional basketball has finally made a name for itself in Buffalo. The Buffalo Rapids/Silverbacks/Sharks have been selected as the Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History.

Of course, they needed a banner to rival the majesty of Radoslav Hecl's. Well, I'm proud to present to you an hour worth of photoshop:



It will be going below Hecl for the time being, and then will be assigned a special place on the blog in the fall. Thanks to everyone who suggested teams, argued for or against them, voted, or tore their closets apart looking for pogs. Your input is the only reason this worked.

Also, if Brian S. has any other suggestions, by all means...

Fantasy Moneyball

by Ryan

So someone was looking at my phone earlier today and asked me, "What's 'Fudge Nuts Draft'?"

"Oh, that's Fig Nuts, one of my fantasy football leagues," I said referring to the event listed in my calender. Now I know what you are thinking, and yes, I used my phone's calender. But that's the only thing listed in my calender, and yes, it's that important.

Last year Jon posted about the Fig Nuts draft, but he left out my side of the story. You see, I took over a team from someone else, and because it was a keeper league, I inherited his player list. That... is probably the worst financial decision I have made in my life, and that includes Sabres playoff tickets.

The problem with inheriting a keeper league team is this: it's not your team. Sure, you get to pick three keepers out of his roster, but those aren't your players. Those three picks are nothing more than a greatest hits of some other guy's team, and no matter what you do it will never be anything more.

Another problem is that I did absolutely zero research, and while that works for just an ordinary draft, a keeper league is a whole different story. To put it simply, you need to know your s#$t.

An 18 round draft with 30 players off the board before it even begins. To go into that cold turkey is probably the stupidest thing you could possibly do, and of course I did it. This led to being the worst team in the league, and finishing in last place. I... I'm not proud of this, but that's the truth. My lack of preparation for that league was downright embarrassing.

This year it was going to be different. There was no way I was going to be ill-prepared for this keeper league anymore, and I was going to do whatever it took to make sure last place never happens again.

That's where Rich comes in.

I asked him if he wanted to give me a hand, and once the phrase co-owner came into the conversation he was on board. That conversation took an interesting tone, however. We each had other leagues, but we've never been co-owners before, let alone in a keeper league. We wanted to do things a bit... different.

Over the next few weeks, we studied. A lot. We looked at keeper options and guessed who everyone else would take. From those guesses we decided who was worth keeping, and what kind of philosophy we wanted our draft board to take. Depth charts, Top 200 lists, offensive line studies. We tried for days to imagine who would be out there, and what route to go. I won't get into details, but the AP sports wire came into play.

The past month I've studied fantasy football more than anything I've ever studied in my academic career. Ever. I'm sure my teachers will be proud.

In fact, we may have over prepared. The draft went down tonight, and this was the first time in my life I've ever felt prepared for anything. Tests, jobs, anything. The people we picked certainly made some people scratch their heads, but there was hours of research behind them, I promise.

Now that's not to say that things will go well this year. In fact, we may do awful again. However, we went at things a bit unusually, and I think that is going to pay off.

It's hard to explain, but we had a list of people we "liked", and if we could get those guys over the course of the draft, we would be happy. In a way it was like what Billy Beane did in Moneyball. We were looking for guys that could yield some decent return for us, and if a few of them failed, well, that usually happens anyway.

What we thought was this: why not take a guy you think will be better over a guy who other people like? Why should peer pressure matter when in the end you need to be satisfied with your own team? Take what you know, take what you think, and apply it to your draft. Once you get a solid group together, start going after the players you want to mess with.

It sounds logical, but it doesn't always play out that way. Think about what Jon said last year:

3) I will put too much thought into who will be available at my next pick. I can't tell you how many times I have waited one round too long for a player I want, only to have him snatched up three picks before me.

Screw that. If you like a guy, take him, even if that means a few odd glances. Who cares if Steve Smith is suspended for two games? It's Steve Smith! He's going to come back Week Three and rip a DB's face off! Doesn't anyone remember what happens when Steve Smith gets upset?

Again, this could turn out badly, but that's why we are talking about it here. The fact of the matter is that I finally walked away from a fantasy draft satisfied with who I picked, and my concerns with players were outweighed by the upside I feel they have. I guess we will come back to this in a few weeks to see how things are turning out, but at the very least we have a novel experiment going.

Hey, it's only a $20 league...

Bills vs Steelers: Tickets Still Available!

by Ryan

If you still want to pick up tickets to (last) Thursday's historic Bills game in Toronto, it's not too late.



Only a few hours left, but at $50 bucks, that's a steal!

Jim Kelly be Crazy

by Ryan

Somehow I missed this, which is amazing considering how much I've read about the Bills in Toronto. This one goes along the usual line until the end, which you will conveniently see below. It's like I'm setting you up for a post or something.

While Buffalo and Toronto fans continue to ponder the future NFL fates of both cities, Bills Hall-of-Fame quarterback Jim Kelly suggested a bit of a compromise before Wednesday’s pep rally here for the Bills.

“I think in the near future, we have to build a stadium closer [to Toronto], maybe in Niagara Falls,” Kelly told reporters.

“Why not Niagara Falls?” Kelly asked. “They definitely have the land to do it. It makes sense not only with the tourism — one of the wonders of the world — and it’s 45 minutes closer for Canadians.”

So are we talking about the Buffalo-Toronto Bills or even the Niagara Bills?

“No,” Kelly categorically stated. “It’s the Buffalo Bills. It’s not going to change. It won’t change as long as I’m part of it.”

Wow. Why not Niagara Falls, eh? Well for starters, Erie County would have a conniption fit.

The taxpayers of Erie have put millions into the Bills' infrastructure, and there is no way in hell the Bills move a few miles down the road and out of the sales tax pool.

Larry Quinn will be mayor of Buffalo before the Bills leave Orchard Park for anywhere but downtown Buffalo or downtown Toronto. Or Los Angeles. Or maybe Oklahoma. Whatever, they aren't going to the Falls.

As a resident of the city, I can lovingly say that even if there was an interest in building a state of the art football stadium within city limits, someone would f#%k it up. Really, I say that with the most affection geo-political stalemate can offer you.

Another logical flaw in Kelly's idea is that Niagara Falls just isn't prepared to handle the kind of traffic a football stadium would bring. Even if space is found, bridges to Canada, roads surrounding the stadium, and major highways would need expansion and redevelopment. Orchard Park is clearly a traffic mess, and it would at the very least be just as bad in the Falls.

The fact of the matter is that the only real answer to solidifying the Bills in Buffalo is a new stadium, most likely placed within city limits. The area is slowly growing, the waterfront space is there, and maybe this Bills in Toronto gimmick is exactly what is needed to pump some urgency into the situation.

Hey, I'm just a blogger, but if our Hall of Fame quarterback is allowed to say crazy things, why can't I?

Gotta Admit...

...that is one sick photo. If this doesn't win some kind of visual journalism award, there is no justice in this world for underwater picture-taking robots and the photojournalists that use them.

This will have a wonderful shelf life as a motivational poster or some sort, eh?

Stampeding the Archives

by Ryan

We are about halfway through the voting for the Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History, and things are pretty tight in the voting. I've been meaning to post about my Buffalo Stampede memorabilia, but I forgot about it until Dani reminded me in the comments. Here we go, your world champion Buffalo Stampede Pogs.



I have no idea why I still have these. The "Milk Kaps" come with a Stampede "slammer" and ten pogs, none of which have anything to do with roller hockey.



Among the Pogs: a bunny rabbit, grim reaper, monster truck, and yes, a boot.



There's the slammer. Pretty snazzy, and according to some it may be the only one in existence. They may not have any championship banners floating around, but when Pogs come back in style their victory will be celebrated by my mighty hand. I'll be waiting.

--

I really have no idea if the above will change anyone's vote, but I thought this had to be seen. I hope you've enjoyed another glimpse into my childhood. Let's hope September comes before we break out the baby pictures...

The Series Begins

As you can see, we are thrilled.

Five Rings and an I Don't Give a Crap

by Ryan


It's 4:55 AM and I'm watching baseball. Supposedly, this is live. The Estados Unidos de America is taking on the Netherlands in baseball somewhere in the shrouded nation that is China. I would mention something about lip syncing, CGI, or Buddhism, but I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning in a box somewhere. The People's Republic is good like that.

You know what, I'm too tired to finish this. I'll talk to you in the morning.

----

Good Morning.

Sorry to leave you, but in a way leaving like that proves my point. The Olympics just don't do it for me. There, I said it.

Now don't get me wrong, I've been watching them off and on. This is a matter of simple convenience, however. The time frame for the live broadcasts are perfect for my insomnia, and so I can watch a few hours each night just because of the fact that there's nothing else on that late.

This year works out, but not many other years have. Torino didn't work, so I didn't watch. Athens was iffy at best, and Australia was a mess. I don't remember anything from those Olympics at all. In fact, the only games I remember with any fondness are the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. This is because I had the flu the entire time and watched almost everything that was on. It was soap operas or the Olympics, so I went with the hockey and didn't look back.

Here's the thing about the Olympics: while they are at least mildly entertaining, the don't really do anything special for me. Here's my benchmark for "anything special": I change my schedule to watch them. My live circulates around football and hockey, and I can't say I have the same enthusiasm for the games.

Sure, Phelps is a beast and I've seen a few of his races, but I just happened to be near a TV at the time. I didn't change my evening to revolve around his gold metal chase, and I certainly didn't stay glued to the television for gymnastics.

That's another problem with the Olympics: they try to make you care about events that you only watch once every four years. At the end of the games, you aren't even going to think about them until a torch gets lit in England. No one is going out there to practice their javelin toss, and god forbid you try to play water polo in your above ground swimming pool.

Have you seen a water polo match on TV? People that say hockey is unwatchable on television have never seen Olympic athletes splashing each other competitively. It's amazing officials can even call fouls. All you can see is a mess of splashes, then they show the replay and the girl from the Ukraine is mauling the one from China like a bear. Crazy.

The only positive impact the Olympics have on you is this: even though you may have never seen an event in your life, the moment you sit down to watch you become an expert in the field. It's just like when you go to the movies; you instantly know how a movie will be based on the trailer.

You know you do it. Someone slips up on the uneven bars and you know they messed up. You may even scoff at them, knowing it was the easiest part of their routine. You analyze musical selections, disapprove of proper Sabre techniques, and elaborate on the differences between kayak gates.

To me, the only redeeming quality the Olympics give is the illusion that you know something. Every four years, we become experts on the things we have no freaking clue about. It is a whimsical time, full of track and field and handball.

I'm not knocking the Olympics, really. Just doubting their significance. Nationalism aside, the Olympics is a nice change of pace to my Adult Swim viewing habits and nothing more. To others they mean more, and that's why we watch the game/competition/arbitrary scoring event judged by partial human beings/match. Or... something.

Happy Birthday Nolan Pratt

Enjoy the gift Nolan, I'm sure your kids will love it.

(To be fair, I had this post ready for at least three months in advance. Consider this a fond farewell to our favorite journeyman with a love of pre-teen pop. Hopefully he gets to catch the Jonas Brothers while they are in town.)

Fight the Power!

By Jon

For the most cynical of Bills fans (redundant, I know) tomorrow is the beginning of the end.

Ralph's master plan to "keep the Bills in Buffalo" (read: make more cash) kicks off tomorrow night, with a thrilling preseason contest chock full of third-and-fourth-stringers that will be in the CFL in a few weeks, anyway (in that respect, those lucky fans are getting an early look at their future Argos.)

Listen, Ralph. I get it. The NFL, behemoth that it is, has outgrown the WNY market. From a financial standpoint, an owner would be a fool to keep a team here when he could double his profits in a bustling metropolis. I understand, I really do. You've been telling us for months now that Toronto could be our saving grace, and while I'm in the minority, I agree. There's millions of people up North with no allegiances to a specific NFL team, so it only makes sense to try and tap that market. But the way you have handled the entire ordeal has been atrocious from a PR standpoint, and you are alienating your existing fanbase in the process.

I didn't really have much of an issue with the Bills in Toronto series until I read this. They take our game, jack up the prices, find that sales are a little slow, and try to unload them on the people that were robbed of a game in the first place. Granted, it's only preseason, but could there be a bigger slap in the face?

There are plenty of other issues. The length of the deal. The regular season opponent. The lack of the word "Buffalo" in any of the promotion (Why not "Buffalo Bills in Toronto?"). If the deal was for one year, they were playing the 49ers, and it was made clear that the Bills are indeed from Buffalo, would you have a problem with it? It wouldn't help much, but I would be at least a little bit more accepting.

Someone dropped the ball on the Toronto end, too. I'm not sure if the Bills or the Rogers brass set the ticket prices, but according to this article and various others, our Canadian brethren are hesitant to shell out the big bucks to watch a team they haven't had much exposure to. This quote sums it up best:

"I love the Bills but I think they should stay there in Buffalo," said Jeff Rubinoff, 57, of Richmond Hills, a Toronto suburb. "This is a rip-off for fans with the prices they are charging. And I feel sorry for fans in Buffalo. It's their team. And even if they don't move, this is just creating anxiety for everyone. I'm an Argos fan and this is a definite threat. We in Toronto feel threatened, Buffalo feels threatened, and somebody's making a lot of money off it."

That's just it: Buffalo does feel threatened, and Mr. Wilson is to blame.

Something needs to be done to keep the Bills in Buffalo, and clearly, it's out of the fans hands. There's nothing more we can do but cross our fingers that the old man wises up before he kicks the bucket and sells the team to someone that cares less about a bigger bottom line and more about what this team means to this area. The chances of that actually happening? About zero. Money makes the world go 'round, as they say.

It's a double edged blade. Do we root for the success of the series and hope that leads to financial stability rather than relocation? Or do we hope it busts, detracting potential owners from moving the team north? Either way, we get screwed.

It's hard to get excited for a game when it may be the beginning of the end.

***********
Does the thought of the game being held north of the border make you so sick to your stomach that you won't watch at all?

Do you want to stick it to Ralph by not tuning in?

Well, then do I have the alternative for you!

Sorry to tack on this shameless plug, but I'm going to be playing some sax with my friend's band, the Jimmy Joustra Quartet, tomorrow night (8/14) at Braccetto's Restaurant, located at 6612 Lincoln Ave. in Lockport. The gig goes down from 8-12 on the patio. Feel free to stop by and enjoy the tunes.

An Appeal to Reason

by Ryan

I'm having a crisis of faith right now.

You see, I've been betrayed. Betrayed by one of my very own. Last night was my first fantasy football draft of the year, and terrible things went down. One of my best friends (for the sake of his safety he will remain nameless), a person I've known for years and attend Sabres games with regularly, committed one of the mortal sins of fantasy football.

He brought his girlfriend to the draft.

Now let me stop here and say that this is not a sexist matter, nor is it about this one girl. For the record, she is a great person and if my nameless, (apparently soul-less) friend is reading, she's a keeper. However, what he did last night just isn't allowed. In fact, this is so not allowed I didn't even think I had to bring it up in order to prevent it.

Look, it's 2008 and I'm a realist. I think women should have equal rights and equal pay and all that good stuff. I even don't have a problem with women playing fantasy football/hockey/baseball and all those typical sexist arguments. However, there are a few places significant others just should not show up. The first of those is a fantasy football draft, and the others aren't important enough to bring up at this point in time.

Fantasy football may not matter to some people (Wilbon), but for a lot of guys it is the only "hobby" they have. This is the 21st Century, there aren't many secret societies floating around that you can join. Bringing your girlfriend to a draft is like taking the town drunk and your dog Skippy to a Freemasons meeting back in the day. It seems pretty obvious that it's not an "open invitation" kind of thing.

Why is this is big deal, you ask. Why not just let significant others/spouses show up to drafts? Just picture the scene in your head for a moment. A guy misses out on the QB he pegged. He curses, and that is immediately followed by an "Awwwwwwww" and a back rub.

This. Happened.

I couldn't even comprehend the fact that it was happening, and before you know it Yahoo's servers crapped out on us and the last four rounds were auto picked. Yes, I blame her. The servers smelled the menstruation, and put our whole draft board at risk. I'm pretty sure I heard a bear in my backyard, too.

I... I don't even know what to do. I guess what I'm looking for is a confirmation that I'm not crazy. That is the rule, right? No girlfriends. I didn't just make that up in my head, right? Has anyone had to deal with this before? Should there be some form of punishment?

I need to lie down before the alien bursts out of my chest and hunts him down. Good grief.

A Thought on War, Gutenberg, and SUVs

by Ryan

There is nothing like a 16 hour car ride to make you want to stab someone in the face. When you are trapped in a motor vehicle for that long, your weaponry is limited, so you are probably going to act out while taking a break. This type of incident usually happens at a Denny's or Bob Evans or some sort, and most often within the borders of West Virgina. (A fact I will not look up but promise is true. We have stories.)

In any event, I made it back to the homestead in one piece and, amazingly, with some treasures. Vacation souvenirs are simultaneously the best and worst part of a trip. On one hand, they are the tangible fruits of your endeavor, the material belongings that will remind you of your time well spent. On the other hand, they are the useless, overpriced crap you can't fit in the car and immediately regret buying.

Things I resisted buying while on vacation:
A rubber chicken
A cowboy hat
A Frozen Rockuccino™ from the KISS Coffeehouse

Anything NASCAR related
Sand

Things I bought while on vacation:
Sonic (didn't need to be packed)
Obligatory t-shirt
This:



No, that isn't a newspaper. Not really, at least. I found this at a sports card store near our residence for the week. I had been eying it all week, and came away with this and a huge Upper Deck ad with David Ortiz on it. Hey, I need to cover some wall space.

This is where my journalistic nerdiness helped me in my purchase, but failed me in my justification for it. This is a metal... thing for a newspaper printed by the Washington Post on January 21st, 1991. For those of you that don't recall the exact date of big moments in Buffalo Sports history, let's try that headline again, shall we?



Yeah, that's the day after the 51-3 AFC Championship Game against the Raiders. That was an interesting day for the country, and the next picture sums it up nicely.



The main reason I bought it was not because it held such warm memories, but rather because it was a ridiculously interesting timepiece. This was a snapshot of what it was like with your team on the brink of a championship. The newspaper gives the line "Bills by 5", and says that the Bills are the first real threat to the NFC in years. No matter what happened in the game, it's interesting to know what "the papers" were saying about your team almost two decades ago. Combine that with the Gulf War angle and it was more than worth the eight bucks for it, even if I have no idea what to do with it.




Hey, remember Todd Marinovich? Good times!



Speaking of cocaine, what the hell is going on in this picture? LT is mauling his own kicker, and another linebacker is literally doing cartwheels. If I didn't know what happened the next week, I would have guessed that group of knuckleheads had no chance of beating the Bills. Ah, to be frozen in time...

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: Poll

By Jon

As promised, the poll is up for The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History on the upper right side of this page.

The poll will be up until next Monday, 8/18/08 at 5:30 PM. Be sure to vote before then!

For anyone who is new here, or needs to catch up, all of the posts in this series can be found here.

Reading with the Roost: Fargo Rock City

by Ryan

If you've been keeping track of the reading list, I originally said we would be talking about Chuck Klosterman's third book, Killing Yourself to Live. However, before going on vacation I dropped about $70 bucks in Barnes and Noble. Wrapped in a fantasy football magazine were a few books, including the only Klosterman book I haven't read, Fargo Rock City.

I begrudgingly bought this book, but only because I wanted to read it so badly. The fact of the matter is that I could have had the hardcover version for about six bucks back when Media Play was going out of business. I dropped the ball, and my wallet paid the price.

ANYWAY, Fargo Rock City was another great effort by Chuck Klosterman, although you can tell it was his first try. He has four books under his belt, but his Metal Odyssey is the first, and the one that started it all. Talking about everything from music videos to proper hair etiquette, Klosterman relives his childhood through the pages of this very engaging work.

What I like best about Klosterman is his writing style, and when I say that I mean he seems to write like me. At the very least, he writes the way I wish I could write all the time. Perhaps I would be a bit less self deprecating, but his blend of conversational tone and philosophical reasoning is something most writers dream of achieving. In reading his other works I've come to discover my writing format is much like him: writing nonsense in the middle of the night. However, I do it without all that pot, which may be why I'm not as good.

The truly great thing about Fargo Rock City is that Klosterman is writing about something he loves. Metal was his life growing up, much like watching sports has been the majority of my childhood. Klosterman is truly hurt by insinuations that metal means "nothing", and sets out to prove that it indeed does. Now I'm no literary critic, but I think he did a pretty good job proving his theses.

That conclusion may only be made because sometimes I imagine myself in a similar predicament. There are many people out there that think sports are worthless, but to me so much of my life is tangled up in it. In a strange way, I have to justify the significance of sports in my life much like he tries to make Metal matter.

My favorite Klosterman book is Killing Yourself to Live, in which he travels the country searching for the answer to a fascinating inquiry: Why is death the best career move any musician can make? In his travels he goes looking for places in which musicians die, trying to understand why it makes an artist's music so much more "important". The great thing about the book is that the majority of the time it becomes a reflection upon his own life. Much of his writing becomes about himself, and while some consider this vain, I look at it as a fascinating way to communicate.

There is a chapter where he professes his love of KISS, then completes an extended metaphor that categorizes each member of KISS as a past girlfriend. On the surface that looks really, really crazy. However, isn't that what we do with sports? In a strange way, us fanatics look at sports in the same way Klosterman looks at and writes about music.

To an extent, what Klosterman does in his books is what we all try to do in our own lives, and certainly what we try to do here. We do not aim to rip Klosterman off, but in every single post we try to explain why sports matter, whether we can or not. Most times we don't even get close, but the more I write the more I realize that even forming the argument is what matters most.

I guess what I'm trying to say, I mean what I'm asking is, I know we haven't talked in a while, but you should give Klosterman a try. If there is any writer I could recommend to you in the off season, it would be Chuck. He'll get you there, I promise.

A Question of Signifigance

by Ryan

While I've been on vacation Jon has done a good job with our newest "Insignificant" series. However, I had a question for him that we still haven't been able to answer.

Do we include the Braves?



This is a question I struggle with often. I am not old enough to remember the Braves when they played in Buffalo. My knowledge of the team goes as far as this: Bob McAdoo played for them, ownership swapped with the Celtics, and they moved to San Diego, which later moved to LA. That's about it.

Considering they were before our time, we are always weary of talking about them due to our generational ignorance. We do know they never even made the Finals, had limited postseason experience, and weren't exactly a great product. However, the very fact that they were an NBA team does give them a boost over many of the teams we've featured here.

So here's the question once again: should they be included in the poll?

My personal opinion is still no. Even though they did not last long in Buffalo, the team does still exist, which is more than we can say for most of the other four selections. However, my interpretation of "significant" is not in its existence, but the impact they had on the sports scene and overall culture. When you look at it like that, I think you have to conclude that the Braves do matter.

How many McAdoo throwback jerseys do you see around town these days? Perhaps not too many. However, put on some music videos and I bet within ten minutes you will see a Braves 59/50. The resurgence in retro culture has brought the Braves along with it, and even if the kids don't know what it is, it's still pretty cool to see.

How many Blizzard players made the cover of Sports Illustrated, or were beating out players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for MVP races. The Braves were an important part of the sports world while they existed in Buffalo, and they were significant on a local and national scale. However, their tenure here was brief, and they did leave supposedly because of a lack of support.

So now I ask you this: should the Braves be included on the list? We have four teams that can certainly be considered insignificant, should the Braves even be included in the argument?

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: Buffalo Stallions

By Jon

Today marks the fourth in a series of posts in an effort to find The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History. Any current or former sporting franchises from the WNY area will be considered. A poll will be posted by the end of the week, and the franchise receiving the most votes will be deemed Most Insignificant.

Today's nominee is the Buffalo Stallions.

Who?

Buffalo Stallions

What? A indoor soccer team that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

When? 1979-1984

Where? The Stallions played all of their home games at the Aud, even hosting the 1982 All-Star Game.

Why? To this point, there had never been a professional soccer team in Buffalo, so owner John Bellanti tried to capitalize on a new product.

The Story: Buffalo was awarded an expansion team in the relatively successful MISL before the 1979-80 season. Even though the games were seemingly well-attended (check out this site, though I can't vouch for the validity of the numbers,) the team would go on to post only one winning record, and lost in the first round of the playoffs three times. The team folded after the 1983-84 season, after just five in Buffalo. Pro soccer would return in 1992 with the now defunct Blizzard.

Overall Record in Buffalo:

Regular Season: 212 Games Played; 98 Wins; 114 Losses; .462 Winning Percentage

Playoffs: 3 Games Played; 0 Wins; 3 Losses; .000 Winning Percentage

Why the Stallions should be Most Insignificant: They lasted for only five seasons playing a sport that is largely forgotten (professionaly, at least) in Buffalo (and the U.S., for that matter.)

Why the Stallions should not be Most Insignificant: The games were generally well attended, and if you search around the interwebs, you can see that some people still care.

Game Night

By Chris

Last year, Fred Jackson stole the show in the preseason opener against New Orleans. We didn't know his name then, but he's a key backup today.

Which unknown will make the case for a roster spot tonight?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Shaun Nua.


He's the third string left end to Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay (Nua's the big guy from American Samoa for those of you keeping score at home).

Game starts at 7 and while it is just a pretty meaningless exhibition, it's better than watching practice.

Reading with the Roost: Live From New York

By Chris


You can't win a championship every year. With some sports franchises, that lofty goal is set for themselves at the beginning of every preseason or spring training. If they're not lifting that trophy over their heads at the end of the season, then all of the hard work that got them there is considered for nothing.

For those that have been to that promised land before, nothing is as good as your first championship. For the new players coming on, they wonder what it was like to be a part of those glory days, the days everyone--players, critics and fans alike--compares the current standard to.

There's a reason why television, like sports, is broken up into seasons. With the start of each new season, old faces are gone and new faces emerge. Finding the right combination to put together a winning season every year is a constant struggle and the pieces don't always come together.

Saturday Night Live has been going not for a championship, but for it to be the funniest it can be for 35 years now. Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller get the byline for Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, a massive 600-page book about the television institution, but the words, for the most part are not theirs. Shales and Miller conducted countless interviews with everyone from the stars to the writers to the production assistants. It is their words that tell the story from the beginning to 2002, when the book was published.

While it is lengthy, the multitude of quotes from so many familiar names actually makes for a quick read. Everyone from Lore Michaels to Chevy Chase to Conan O'Brien is interviewed, save for Eddie Murphy who seems to want nothing to do with the show that made him a household name.

Being a part of the show, for many, was the best time of their lives. Most of the interviewees, especially those that found success afterwards, look upon the show with fondness, reverence and gratitude. The harshest words spoken are from and about those who feel bitter about their experience because the show wasn't the launching pad they expected it to be. Harry Shearer and Janeane Garofalo are among the leading gripers.

The person who most interested me through it all was Jane Curtain. An original Not Ready For Primetime Player, Curtin was a bit older than the rest of her castmates and had a different perspective on it all because of it. She really didn't need the show the way the others did, she had a house, a husband and a dog to go back to after the show. She didn't need the extracurricular sex and drugs like everyone else. Her quotes are usually short and to the point. Her tolerance levels for all the non-professional stuff that went on was very low but she dealt with it because she really loved the job and the opportunity it presented. She doesn't mince words when she doesn't have to and is brutally honest.

Curtin's working environment attitude is the norm on the show today. The drug atmosphere is so far removed from the current set that many of the cast can't even fathom doing the show stoned. Staying on your game is hard enough without all of those the destructive habits.

Those drug habits, along with other tragic events have cost the Saturday Night Live family some great talents. Among them are Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Phil Hartman and Michael O'Donoghue, one of the show's most influential writers. Each is talked about fondly with the spirits of Radner and Farley seeming to take center stage. You can see smiles form whenever someone conjures up memories of Farley's kindness and Gilda's warm heart.

Everyone always compares the show to the early years. Some say that the show will never live up to those glory days. Maybe that's true. But it's mainly because when the show first came on the air, there were no expectations. They went out and made history. The show today can't possibly be what the show was the fist five years. It was a revolution back then and the stories are those of legends. It’s a tamer show now for sure, but it’s because the early years set the tone and SNL has been stretching the limits ever since.

The book seems at times to glorify the show a bit too much, but the authors don’t apologize for it. Live From New York is a celebration of the show and what it has brought to popular culture. Every year may not exactly be a championship season, but it’s entertaining and interesting regardless. The book is a must-read for any fan of the show just makes sure you give yourself a few lazy weekends to read it.

The Face of a Franchise

Teppo's back, and I don't think his my heart can take it. From WGR550:

The Sabres have signed veteran defenseman Teppo Numminen to a one-year contract today. Numminen missed all but one game last season with a heart ailment. The 40-year old underwent successful heart surgery in September of 2007. The deal is worth $1.1 million.

Numminen has been with the Sabres since the 2005-06 campaign. He has 620 career points in 1315 games played.
The official announcement is expected to come later today.

$1.1 sounds like a lot for a 6/7th defenseman, but he is a veteran that is going to give the team a huge boost in confidence. He brings a leadership role to that team that just wasn't there last year, and his absence is one of the many, many reasons the team struggled. When you consider what we are paying certain other players to perpetually under perform, that price for Teppo may turn out to be a steal.

I for one am glad to see the deal made. Coupled with the addition of Rivet, it's been a pretty nice summer for our defense. Add in the development of Balls Sekera and I am officially satisfied with the Sabres roster heading into camp.

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: Buffalo Destroyers

By Jon

Today marks the third of a series of posts in an effort to find The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History. Any current or former sporting franchises from the WNY area will be considered. A poll will be posted by the end of the week, and the franchise receiving the most votes will be deemed Most Insignificant.

The Buffalo Destroyers are the third nominee. We have decided to add a fourth nominee, which will be revealed tomorrow. The poll will be up on Monday.

Who?
Buffalo Destroyers

What? An Arena Football League franchise.

When? The Destroyers were in Buffalo from 1999-2003.

Where? While in Buffalo, the team played all of their home games at HSBC Arena.

Why? When the Bills' lease was set to expire in the late nineties, Mark Hamister brought an AFL team in hopes of filling the football void if the Bills were to leave. The AFL was gaining a bit of popularity and exposure, and an expansion to a football-crazy city seemed logical at the time.

The Story: The Destroyers five seasons in Buffalo were filled by mediocrity and a lack of support. After finishing their inaugural season with an atrocious 1-13 record, and starting the next season with four straight losses, ownership fired coach Dave Whinham. In an effort to build any sort of interest in the team, Hamister and co. hired Ray Bentley, the former Bill. It didn't help. The team did make the playoffs in 2000 and 2002 under Bentley's watch, but lost in the first round. Bentley left for a broadcasting job soon after (because being in the booth is a more attractive gig than an AFL coaching job, which speaks volumes for the integrity of the league), and the Destroyers finished the '03 season, their final one in Buffalo, with a 5-11 record under Ron Selesky.

If you remember, around this time Hamister had been attempting the purchase the Sabres, and right after his deal fell through, he shipped the Destroyers out to Columbus.

Record in Buffalo:
Regular Season: 72 Games Played; 23 Wins; 49 Losses; .319 Winning Percentage

Playoffs: 2 Games Plaayed; 0 Wins; 2 Losses; .000 Winning Percentage

Why the Destroyers should be Most Insignificant: This paragraph, stolen from the Destroyers Wiki page, sums it up pretty nicely:

After the 2003 season concluded, talks of a re-location began, as the Destroyers had lost $5 million over five years, went nearly unnoticed by the media (NBC had blacked out all of their games in 2003), and suffered from a lack of local support reflected in low attendance levels.

Why the Destroyers should not be Most Insignificant: A lot of people remember the fallout from the Rigas debacle and the battle for Sabres ownership that followed, and Hamister played a huge role in that, giving the team a bit of publicity as a result.

Go Carts and Free Throws

by Ryan

Yesterday I was at the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach and I saw something interesting. But first, a word on the NASCAR Speedpark. There are some people that like go carts. If you are among this group of people, you need to visit one of these places. If you don't think racing around an oval is interesting to watch, put yourself inside the car and it becomes incredibly fun on even the most remedial of levels.

ANYWAY, I was walking around and saw a kid in a Patrick Kane shirsey (a shirt-jersey). What was interesting about this particular shirsey was that it didn't have a Blackhawks logo on the front, just "KANE 88" on the back of a red shirt. So, in theory you had to know at least a little about hockey to understand it, otherwise you probably thought someone spelled "Kanye" wrong on a promotional freebee.

So that wasn't the point of the story, but I found that interesting enough. What was across from Kane was one of those basketball free throw games. You know the one, with the overinflated balls, small rims, and backboard with the crazy bounce. You just know the game makes more money than the gross domestic product of Kenya, but you're pretty sure that giant giraffe is the best thing ever, so you are going to give it a try.

The thing about this one was that the big prize was sports jerseys. A Matt Ryan Falcons jersey, Gretzky Rangers, and Reggie White Pro Bowl jersey were all hanging together. Heck, they even had an LT next to an Eagles Randall Cunningham. There were at least a few dozen up there, and quite a few people were giving it a try.

Amazingly, I stood there for only a few minutes and saw two people sink the shot. The first guy got an Emmitt Smith Cowboys jersey, and the second picked a Yankees Jeter. Now, my jump shot is seriously lacking, so I wasn't going to give it a shot. However, seeing people actually win made me think about which jersey I would pick. I think I would have gone with the Gretzky just for the sake of framing. I wouldn't wear it, so why not have something I can display.

So I've been thinking, let's put this on a larger scale. If you could have any jersey in the world, what would you pick? Keep in mind that it would have to be a team you don't root for, and you would have to win this in public. Also, you can pick a specific jersey from a certain period, but you have to justify your desires. I'll give you points for creativity if you have it, but you need to give a good reason for the pick.

My selection would be one I can still get today: a Durant Sonics jersey. I think it would be a cool timepiece to have, and it would serve as a reminder that no matter what you have on the field, there is so much more to sports. A Durant jersey is the ultimate reminder that owners control the game, and that sports is a business.

Your picks in the comments, if you will.

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: On hold until tomorrow

By Jon

Due to a combination of work, laziness, and a social life (I'd be a fool to turn down Zappa plays Zappa and The Whigs at the Square), the last finalist and poll for The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History will be up tomorrow.

Thanks to all who have participated so far, especially MinorLeagueMan and Elmagolf, for shedding some light on the teams we have profiled so far.

Vote for Talley? Sure, We're In.

By Chris

For the record, I've voted for him six times already. I'm not sure if they've all counted, but I know I've clicked "Vote" six times.

For whom you may ask?

Darryl Talley.


The Dukes of Awesome discovered a poll on ESPN.com that asks fans to vote for their team's "Franchise Player." It's too easy to vote for Jim Kelly (who's running away with it) so let's shake things up a bit with DOA's main man.

Talley is lagging way behind in the polls with a measly 0.2% of the vote. Over 31,000 votes have been cast already but that doesn't mean we can't try and swing it.

It's a meaningless poll anyways (every day I wonder who's "NOW" now that Tiger is injured) so let's have some fun with it.

Join the good fight and vote for Talley early and vote for Talley often. After all, why not?

Link to vote here.

Welcome to the AFC East, Lorenzo

By Chris

Well things certainly got more interesting in a hurry. Brett Lorenzo Favre is now the quarterback of the New York Jets, meaning the Bills will face him twice this year. It's one of the rare days where it might actually be a good day to be a Jets fan.

For Bills fans like us, however, the thought is scary. This is the year Buffalo was looking to break the nearly decade-long playoff drought and the Jets, two years removed from their last playoff berth, just got better. The road to the postseason just got a little more crowded.

The Jets have built up their offensive line into a formidable unit (the left side with D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca and Nick Mangold especially) so adding a Hall of Fame quarterback under center should help make them look even better.

The weapons around Favre aren't spectacular. On the wings, Laveranues Coles is a consistent option and Jericho Cotchery is an emerging threat but the backfield is a bit muddled. Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Jesse Chatman (formerly of the Dolphins) and Musa Smith (who isn't Maurice Morris and who played in Baltimore last year) are all likely to share carries at some point. Although the lack of a running game has never really been a setback for the gunslinger. Chris Baker and Bubba Franks (who used to catch Favre passes in the Packers' end zone) won't blow you away at tight end, but they're both decent players that can make plays.

Favre enters the AFC East as the second-best quarterback behind Tom Brady. Heck, with Peyton Manning injured, Favre is probably #2 in the entire conference as well. He's still prone to the stupid mistakes, but there's no question that he's as dangerous as he's ever been as long as he can stay healthy.

Four games against two of the game's top quarterbacks. The Bills will definitely need two if not three of them if they want to reach the postseason. It's a tall order for a defense with high hopes. The Bills finished 31st in the league last year in total yards against. Most of that can be attributed to a depleted line up and two ugly games against New England.

The Bills don't start divisional play until the second half of the season (Week Eight at Miami to be exact. The Bills don't play the Jets until November 2) so it will be some time before we know if new additions Marcus Stroud, Kawika Mitchell and Leodis McKelvin (even Paul Posluszny to a certain extent) will be the difference between playing January ball and watching the games on TV. Pressure on the quarterback is going to be key and it will be interesting to see how the Bills adjust to great quarterback play within the division.

So while Jets fans may be smiling, I know one man must be in tears. His cover boy (and man lover) is on the cover of his own game wearing the wrong uniform. To Madden, Favre to the Jets might actually be worse than death.

Reader Appreciation Day

by Ryan

I work at Sonic. I know all the drink secrets. I recommend ordering a: blended Dr Pepper float with cherry.

Done, and Wrap Around Curl was absolutely right, it was fantastic.

I know it may not seem like a big deal to some, but this was a pretty cool experience all around. A year ago we literally had tens of readers, and now we are getting drink tips in the middle of summer from relative strangers. That's pretty cool if you ask me.

What I'm trying to say here is thank you for reading, and thanks for sticking with us over the summer. I promise things are going to get busier around here very soon. For now, I've got to hit up Sonic a few more times before I leave town. Next up? Powerade Slush.

Well, unless someone has a suggestion...

The Stress Buffalo Unwinds

by Ryan



Thinking about hitting the beach.



Or maybe the pool.



It's nice, but he's a bit uneasy because of...



Dolphins. Ew. We better find somewhere else to relax.



There we go. The Stress Buffalo will be ready for the long winter soon enough. He may even have a book to review...

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: Buffalo Sharks/Silverbacks/Rapids

By Jon

Today marks the second of a series of posts in an effort to find The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History. Any current or former sporting franchises from the WNY area will be considered. A poll will be posted by the end of the week, and the franchise receiving the most votes will be deemed Most Insignificant.

Today's nominee comes from the king of insignificance himself, Brian S.: The Buffalo Sharks (formerly known as the Silverbacks and Rapids.)

Who?
Buffalo Sharks
Buffalo Silverbacks
Buffalo Rapids

What? A professional basketball franchise competing in the new American Basketball Association, a minor league not to be confused with the ABA that merged into the NBA.

When? The team was known as the Rapids for the 2005-06 season and the Silverbacks for 2006-07. After going on hiatus for a season, the team will return as the Sharks in November.

Where? The Rapids opened their inaugural season playing at the Flickinger Center, but the team was booted for failure to pay rent after only two games. The team spent the rest of the season playing in various high school gyms around the area (seriously) before finishing out at the Buff State Sports Arena. The Silverbacks played their games at Buff State, and the Sharks are slated to play at the Koessler Center.

Why? There wasn't a pro basketball team in Western New York since the days of the Braves, so the original ownership was banking on the area being excited for a product that hadn't been around for decades.

The Story: The Rapids came to town as an expansion franchise in 2005, originally owned by Gary Nice. After failing to pay rent at the Flickinger Center and bouncing a few checks to his players, the ABA kicked Nice to the curb. The team was then purchased by Todd Wier and Dan Robbie. Robbie's name might ring a bell, as he is the son of Joe Robbie, the famed former owner of the Miami Dolphins (the junior Robbie owned part of the team at one point, as well.) After the tumoltuos inaugural season, Wier and Robbie changed the team's name to the Silverbacks, and revealed this logo:

The Silverback doing his best Uncle Sam.

Buffalo's African-American community didn't take so kindly to this logo, and with the help of a few buzz-generating articles in the Buffalo News, this allegedly racist logo was swapped for this:

An all-around terrible logo, completely ignoring the fact that a tiger has nothing to do with a silverback gorilla. I digress.

Wier and Robbie, disgusted with the ABA's suits, sold the franchise to Vincent Lesh just five weeks before the start of the 2007-08 regular season, electing to start an expansion team with the Premier Basketball League (the Buffalo Dragons.) Lesh decided to put the team on hiatus for a year rather than rush into things, so he informed the fans and press the way the owner of any respectable pro franchise would: Through the team's MySpace page (which no longer exists.) Lesh rebranded the team as the Sharks, and it remains to be seen if he can generate any sort of interest in the team for the upcoming season.

On the court, the roster has been sprinkled with a few names fans might recognize (Modie Cox, Tim Winn, Turner Battle (for a few games), and Kueth Duaney), but have largely been filled with no-namers. The team qualified for the playoffs both years, with the Silverbacks losing in the 2007 semifinals.

Overall Record:

Regular Season: 54 Games Played; 27 Wins; 27 Losses; .500 Winning Percentage

Playoffs: 4 Games Played; 2 Wins; 2 Losses; .500 Winning Percentage

Why the Sharks/Silverbacks/Rapids should be Most Insignificant: The team literally spent a year bouncing around from high school gym to high school gym, looking for anyone that would let them play for a game. How can a nomad team be significant?

Why the Sharks/Silverbacks/Rapids should not be Most Insignificant: While virtually no one can tell you a damn thing about anything that has happened on the court, many are somewhat familiar with the cacophony of off-the-court incidents. Also, in the interest of fairness, Lesh hasn't had a whole lot of time to right the ship, so some may argue that we need to give him a few seasons before deeming his franchise insignificant.

Any diehard Sharks fans out there? Let us know in the comments.

SuperSonic Delight

by Ryan

So if you haven't figured out by now, I am currently just over 800 miles away from home. To be specific, I'm spending the week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Let's face it, the life of a blogger is hard work, and even though I'm on vacation, well, the site would shut down if I stopped posting.

Therefore, I am going to tell you about something I promised I would one day do: Visit a Sonic.

If you may remember, a few months back I was watching March Madness and got bombarded with Sonic commercials. Holy crap those drinks look good. Upon checking their website, I found that the nearest one was 180.4 miles away from my house. It was at that moment I decided I had to get to a Sonic eventually, and this trip was going to be the perfect opportunity.

So we were driving down the road one day...



WAIT! TURN IT!



Uh-oh. What are we getting? (That's just side one...)



My selection: a #2 with a large Cherry Limeade.



Indeed.



My meal in the... flesh? Should have gotten more fries.



It's a burger pouch. Amazing.



The ice pellets, which were soon devoured as well. It was as good as it looks on tv.




Yes, we swung around to take a picture of the sign. The moral of the story is this: Sonic is a great fast food restaurant, and not too expensive either. Needless to say, we are going back.

Was it worth the hype? Yeah, it was. For the amount of hype 3,000 commercials showing slushies and burgers can generate, it sure lived up to it. If you are going somewhere this summer, I'd try hitting one up. Be sure to report back here if you do.

The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History: Buffalo Stampede/ Buffalo Wings

By Jon

Today marks the first of a series of posts in an effort to find The Most Insignificant Franchise in Buffalo History. Any current or former sporting franchises from the WNY area will be considered. A poll will be posted by the end of the week, and the franchise receiving the most votes will be deemed Most Insignificant.

Today's nominee comes from sabresfan88 and Brian S.: the Buffalo Stampede and Buffalo Wings (I decided to lump them together, because they were essentially the same team.)

Who?
Buffalo Stampede
Buffalo Wings

What? The Stampede, Cobras, and Wings were all Roller Hockey International franchises, a major professional Roller Hockey league in the 90's. The Wings played their 1998 season in Major League Roller Hockey, however.

When? The Stampede was in existence from 1994-95. The team left for Glens Falls after an ownership change for a year, and returned as the Buffalo Wings until 1999.

Where? The Stampede played at the Aud from 94-95, and the Wings played at (then) Marine Midland Arena for the 1997 season. The Wings played their final two (professional) seasons at Buff State's ice arena.

Why? According to the always trusty Wikipedia, "Roller Hockey International hoped to capitalize on the inline skating boom of the early 1990's, but lost steam as the fad died down." Also, with Buffalo being the hockey town that it is, it was just a matter of time before someone tried to capitalize with a team that played over the summer.

The story: The Buffalo Stampede played for two seasons. In 1994, the team won the Murphy Cup, RHI's top prize. After the 1995 season ended, the team folded. A franchise in Pheonix, the Cobras, relocated to Glens Falls, NY, and took on all of the Stampede player contracts. The Cobras then returned to Buffalo in 1997, changing their name to the Wings.

Overall Record in Buffalo:

Stampede: 45 Games Played; 25 Wins; 16 Losses; 4 Overtime Losses; 54 Points; 1 Championship

Wings: 70 Games Played; 30 Wins; 39 Losses; 1 Overtime Loss; 61 Points; Never past the Quarterfinals

Why the Stampede/Wings should be the Most Insignificant Franchise: Professional Roller Hockey has become completely forgotten in the world of sports. Most people would be shocked to know that a pro roller hockey league that played in many NHL venues even existed.

Why the Stampede/Wings should not be the Most Insignificant Franchise: The Wings have maintained a presence in the WNY area with arguably the best amateur roller hockey league in the area, even counting Tommy McCollum as an alumni.

Feel free to woo us with memories of the Stampede and Wings in the comments.

Tournament of Hearts

by Ryan




Sometime today Brett Favre will strap on the pads wherever the Packers have training camp. I'm not sure where they have training camp, but that's mostly because I don't give a crap.

I may be the only one, however. SportsCenter is going to have a special at camp watching for the moment he touches down on the "playground soil" he will "frolic like a kid" on for the next few weeks.

Every single day from that point on, we will receive updates on his every drill, every snap, and every water break. From 7 on 7s to the running drills that will make him look like a gunslinger to the wind sprints where he will be "just having fun out there". Sometime during the day, he will throw on a pair of jeans and launch footballs over a river. Peter King will orgasm, and Mel Kiper will mock draft their lovechild to go in the first round twenty years from now.

If you are not laughing, I'm glad you understand how serious the above is. If you were at all tired of the Brett Favre Saga at this point, you better stop watching television for the next year or so. Not to scare anyone, but it's about to get all crazy up in here.

I've had some time to think it over, and I've come to this: somehow, in some sick twisted way, we want this.

Sure, ESPN has screwed the pooch on a lot of things. Titletown, Who's Now, Arena Football, Rick Reily, Schrutebag, The Budwieser Hot Seat, Ultimate Highlight, Barbaro, Rush Limbaugh, ESPN Mobile, Woody Paige, Skip Bayless, the entire concept of First and Ten, and the WNBA to name fourteen. However, all of these tragic events have one thing in common: they think we want this.

Think of it this way: ESPN is a business, and every decision they make is based on the idea that they will profit off it. Even stupid things like "Who's Now" are built with profit in mind. It may sound crazy, but they think the average sports fan wants to watch crap like that.

And maybe they do. If there is anything I know about myself, it is that I am not an average sports fan. Maybe there really are millions of people out there that are dying to know what Lo from Laguna Beach thinks about the '04 USC football team, or who want Chris Berman to make up nicknames for players based on popular waffle houses. However, I don't fall into that category, and everyone I know would straight up murder Berman if he made that "WHAP" noise more than six times in person.

However stupid and irritating those things are, somehow they make money for the network. The proof is the fact that there are more of them, and that Norby still has a job. This makes me think that maybe we, the ones who complain about ESPN, are the wrong ones. The coverage of Brett Favre may be the perfect example of this.

For starters, there are people interested in this. Favre is very popular, and a major NFL star coming out of retirement is a big deal. Next are the Packers fans, of which there are a lot of them across the country. Perhaps the green and yellow color palette is alluring, or maybe a Super Bowl does that for you. Whatever.

Beyond that, what good is it to pull Linda Coen from the X Games to sit in a field somewhere and wait for Favre to toss his sweat bands at her? Are casual NFL fans that interested in what is going on? To a certain extent yes, but here is the real audience: The people who hate Brett Favre.

Yes, those of us who are sick of the act, sick of the fanfare. Deep down, we want to know what happens. The fact of the matter is that we are sports fans, and just because we hate all the accolades Favre gets for looking like he enjoys the game of football, we want to know what happens next.

Perhaps it is for fantasy value, or maybe you just because you want to know where to direct your hate. No matter, you want to know about Brett Favre, and just because you don't catch the SportsCenter special doesn't mean you won't catch a recap later. There is a level of schadenfreude involved in this whole thing that, even if you can't stand the whole process, you can't turn away. Even if you just give it a passing glance, you are giving in.

It sucks to know they have you, doesn't it?

Sunday Morning is Football Morning

by Ryan

Training camp is just over a week old, and we still haven't been down to Fisher. Currently I'm hundreds of miles away, but we'll get to that later. In the absence of any actual analysis, here are some solid Bills links to mull over.

- I can't wait for preseason football, just so I can watch football again. I don't care if it is 4th stringers who can't get fit.

- So far the big news out of camp is the injury of 5th round pick Alvin Bowen. He probably won't play this year because of a knee injury suffered on Friday. Here's what Chris Brown says happened:

The injury occurred in the open field and did not involve any contact. Fullback Jonathan Evans had just caught a pass in the flat after coming out of the backfield. Bowen came to close on Evans, who made a cut. The rookie linebacker tried to react to that cut but his right foot stuck in the grass awkwardly as his full body weight bent his leg at an unusual angle over his knee and he fell to the ground.

Bowen was screaming in pain as he immediately grabbed his knee.

That certainly isn't good for our depth at linebacker, which was... a bit of an issue last year. Hopefully we hear better news soon, but for now the Bills have signed Donnie Spragan to fill a camp spot.

- A few days ago I found an interesting article about possible new owners on Yahoo. I didn't have a good reason to post it until now. There are so many questions about an ownership change that I just don't have the brainpower to properly analyze that article at the moment.

- Does anyone actually feel prepared for fantasy football? Like, ever?

- Kevin at BfloBlog has been doing a nice job of tracking the Bills in Toronto ticket sales. Let's just say things don't seem to be going as great as they'd like you to think. Of course, sales have picked up since his posting, but the fact that those four million new fans haven't caught on right away is just so surprising, isn't it?

- Today the team has a day off, and I'm sure they will enjoy hanging around in a concrete cellar all day. Expect Brian Moorman to get together a mean game of pong at his place.

You Make Your Own Destination

by Ryan

Sports are supposed to be fun. You invest a certain amount of time in something and you reap the benefits of a successful team. Isn't that the perfect business model?

This week, however, has not been fun. I stole this from a friend's pictures:



The caption: ManRam in his last game as a Red Sock

Wow. That caption sucks.

Like, I've never been more saddened by a facebook album in my life.

There are many things about Manny Ramirez being traded to the Dodgers that have been talked about. When one of the biggest stars in the game gets traded, of course there are going to be opinions on the matter. However, there is only one way I have been able to describe the move:

It sucks.

Today was the first time someone other than a close friend asked me about the deal. I was wearing my Sox hat, and he (of course) was a Dodgers fan. Saying, "it sucks" was about the only way to coherently describe my thoughts on the matter, and that alarms me.

Of course, I have other reasons to be upset. I really liked Hansen's potential, and the thought of Jason Bay doesn't exactly warm my cockles; but for some reason I couldn't form any of those arguments into words. Trading Manny Ramirez sucks. It just does. Done and done.

Now I know there were problems with the whole "Manny Ramirez" thing. Yeah, he had some issues that we as fans looked past. But that's just it: with Manny on your team, when he was yours, you could look past it for some unexplainable reason. I don't want to read things like this trying to tell me what an awful person he was. I'll be honest, I don't care.

This is not a matter of his on field performance, nor is it a case of falling in love with what Manny has brought the Sox in the form of championships. This is different, and something I still have trouble understanding myself. This is a case of having an unique set of intangibles that lets you off the hook for being borderline crazy.

Even down the final stretch, when he was missing games and mysterious injuries came about; for some reason it didn't matter. There was something so predictable about that home run against the Angels in the 9th, just after a grounded into a double play in his last at bat. Just add it to the goofy things he's done, whether to make owners mad or not. No one will ever know what his intentions were, but you can't help but be entertained by them.

This post is all over the place, and predictably so. I still don't know how I feel about Manny Ramirez. I do know I'm not mad at him, and his thoughts on ownership's treatment of players isn't that far fetched. However, I can't get upset about what happened with either party because of how it percolated. This was a move made in order to satisfy both parties. In the end, it will hurt the fans the most.

I guess that's what this is about: I'm hurt. I'm not moved to tears, I'm not sentimental about the good times, and I'm certainly not asking for solace or some sort. The fact of the matter is that it had to happen, and that is depressing as hell. I was sad tonight when I checked the box score and saw Manny went deep for LA. Even seeing Jason Bay go yard was a bit unsettling.

Watching Manny go is that part of sports we all hate. We can't control much of anything when it comes to sports, but watching someone you really care about get taken away is probably one of the most heartless things that can happen to a fan. Sure, we've won two World Series in the last five years. That is fantastic and the most amazing stretch of being a sports fan I've had the privilege to be a part of.

However, seeing this happen again and again with all my other teams only magnifies how crappy the move was. The precedence of watching players go by the wayside magnifies the craptacular result of Manny leaving the Monster's shadow.

This whole thing sounds pretentious and whiny and I'm sorry for that; but I really needed to see it in print to get it out. No one reads this on Sunday, so here it is.

"I don't believe in curses. I believe you make your own destination"

You said it, man.

Strange

I don't think I've ever seen Scotty Bowman in anything other than a suit. Ever. Considering he's been coaching since his early 20s, that's not too much of a stretch.

Do you think the Blackhawks give you a jersey if you get hired as, like, a beer vendor or something? What if you are an intern? Either way, Chicago has been making some good moves recently.