The Wayward Cynic

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!