Category: Sports

Some reading to take care of first: Campbell won’t negotiate with Sabres until after season.

Sound familiar? It should, as you could substitute Brian Campbell’s name with Jay McKee, Danny Briere, or Chris Drury’s. Let’s take a look at Larry Quinn’s resume in his two stints as Buffalo Sabres managing partner:

• Mishandled a feud between top GM John Muckler, beloved coach Ted Nolan and all-star goalie Dominik Hasek, running the first two out of town and alienating the third before losing him for next to nothing (all apologies to miscreant Slava Kozlov, the lone compensation we got from the Red Wings for Hasek).
• Served as lapdog to corrupt Rigas ownership group; perpetuating myth that owner John Rigas would actually “give (the Sabres) the tools to succeed.” Mercifully for the fans, he was booted along with the Rigases.
• Lost top defenseman and locker room leader Jay McKee to free agency because they didn’t think he was worth negotiating seriously with during the 2005-06 season.

Continue reading “Why bother?”

I’ve never been to a Super Bowl; never to a Stanley Cup Final game; never to the World Cup; never to an MLB playoff game. I’ve never been witness to the in-stadium spectacle and attention one becomes a part of at such major sporting events, but I think I and the other 71,000 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium today can now say we have. What a day for the Sabres, the Penguins, the sport of hockey, the NHL and the city of Buffalo. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed or been more blown away by a sporting event than I was by today’s NHL Winter Classic; it’s not something any of the fans in attendance will soon forget (nor those who watched on TV, for that matter).

Continue reading “A true classic”

Hereth lie my first of many running diaries of sporting events! The stage is Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY for an epic Sunday Night Football showdown between the vaunted New England Patriots and scrappy Buffalo Bills. The Bills have shown they belong in the primetime spotlight with a 4-game winning streak, as well as an impressive but heartrending Monday Night Football showing against the NFC powerhouse Dallas Cowboys.

My friends and I hit the Ralph parking lots early for some tailgating, gradually working ourselves into a lather over the prospects of a Bills football miracle. There was something in the air Sunday night, and it was more than just the chili. This could end up being a special game–one for the ages. I won’t dwell on the details of the pregame; let’s get right into my first running diary.

8:23pm: An inspirational message from injured Bills tight end Kevin Everett is played on the jumbotron, who thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers before imploring his team to “beat New England.” This place is pumped up!

8:24pm: The Bills win the coin toss! Let the magic begin!

8:25pm: Kickoff!

8:27pm: JP Losman throws an interception.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my first and last running diary of a sporting event! I will now jump off Niagara Falls! Cue fireworks!

n.
1. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
2. A total, often ludicrous failure.

No, I will not be writing about the events of a particular sporting event that took place three nights prior. I’ve written posts like it before, using words like “sheer misery,” “agony,” and “horrific.” Throw in some of my patented witty banter and you can envision what I’d write about the-event-that-must-not-be-named yourself. It becomes more difficult to be a Buffalo sports fan with each passing year.

Instead, I will declare that I am extremely excited that my Cleveland Indians and their $60M payroll are headed to the ALCS to do battle with the $140M+ roster of the ever-annoying Boston Red Sox. For the love of God, go Indians! Throw me a bone, sports gods! Give me something! I’m hanging by a thread here!

A much-needed win for the Bills this past Sunday had a lot to do with an enjoyable Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. A packed house bore witness to the team’s first victory of the season and a surprisingly good performance from rookie quarterback Trent Edwards (filling in for the injured J.P. Losman). The hyper-reactionaries are already touting Edwards as the next Joe Montana, and they’re obviously smoking the cheeb. One game does not a Hall of Fame career make. That being said, I like what I see out of the rook, and I think we’ve got quarterback controversy on our hands. I’m wistfully remembering my box of Flutie Flakes…

Click on LEE for the image gallery!

First Briere, then Drury, now this. More bad news out of Sabres camp.

The Buffalo Sabres announced today Jim Lorentz is retiring from his position as color commentator for the Buffalo Sabres after 26 years as a broadcaster with the organization and seven seasons as a player.

“Over the past 26 years, Jim provided expert analysis during our broadcasts and his knowledge of the play on the ice was second to none,” said Larry Quinn Managing Partner of the Buffalo Sabres. “We wish Jim all the best and know that as a former player and broadcaster, he will always be a part of the Sabres family.”

Continue reading “So long”

Another Sunday, another excruciating Bills’ loss. Before I get to the football, I’d just like to extend my thoughts and prayers to Bills tight end Kevin Everett and his family. Everett suffered what is being called a “cervical spine injury” during the opening kickoff of the 2nd half of today’s game. He underwent surgery at approximately 8pm local time, and his prognosis is expected in the next 12-24 hours. Again, best wishes to Everett, who was not the only Bill to suffer a significant injury in the 15-14 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Continue reading “That old, familiar feeling…”