Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
February 2009 Archives
Second Base
I figured I would go old school Jays for this post. Second base last year was a lost cause for the most part. The Jays missed the bat of Aaron Hill in the line up for the bulk of the year after he suffered a concussion early on and never came back.
The Jays got solid production from guys like Joe Inglett, Marco Scutaro and John Mcdonald but never got Aaron Hill like numbers from any of them. They filled in nicely defensively but they missed the power and production that Hill could give in the say the 2 hole in the lineup.
So, the Jays go into this year with a healthy Aaron Hill. With his bat in the lineup they have a solid number 2 guy in the batting order. A guy who could hit 20-25 HR, 80-100 RBI's and score 100 runs. Hill is also a threat to run too and could put up 20-25 stolen bases.
Defensively he's at par with what the Jays got with the role guys who filled in last year. He will provide solid defense and in a great year maybe a gold glove or two. That is the one thing the Jays are knee deep in as far as middle infielders. Guys who can scrap and play defense. They will never lack this year defensively no matter what happens to their starters healthwise.
This batting order will benefit from having Hill back and mark my words, Wells and Rios will be different hitters with Hill hitting 2nd which is exactly where he should hit in a healthy lineup.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Preview
Pay to Piss?
Lets hope this stays grounded. On second thought, maybe this better stay "up in the air". Apparently a European airline Ryanair is contemplating or at least joking about having people pay to use the bathroom on the plane.
I could just see how that would mushroom into something even more insane like having pay toilets in all public restrooms just so stores, malls, and small businesses could all make a buck. Where does any self respecting business get it into their mind that they could charge people to piss? Even if they are joking, if they are going to even think about this seriously, they would have to make the airline restrooms slightly larger and more comfortable if they expect you to pay to use it.Take the money from luggage fees, take away the snack cart/beverage cart to save a few bucks, charge a little more on tickets, but for the love of all that is good and normal in this world you can not charge people to use the crapper whether it is on a plane or in a public building. That would be going one step too far. What's next? Paying to breathe on board the plane?
If it came down to that here in the States, I would wear depends on the plane, I wouldn't give the airline the satisfaction of seeing me pay to use their on board restroom.
Category: News | Public Restrooms
Hurricanes 2, Sabres 1
Well, its now not whether Patrick Lalime can play or not, he can. It is now whether or not this team can score without Thomas Vanek. The answer is....they can't.
Buffalo threw 37 shots at Cam Ward who is hardly a standout goalie in the league and came up with just one goal. One god damn goal. This team can't finish their chances. The only one who does on a regular basis is Thomas Vanek,
Yeah they might have gotten shots but most where from outside the crease area and still no one was really willing to create traffic immediately in front. Andrej Sekera was willing to step up into a few and had an aggressive game defensively but still, those are shots from a distance that the goalie can see the puck coming, especially with no big bodies in front.
The trade deadline is coming, instead of panicking over whether they need a goalie with Ryan Miller out lets start panicking over them trying to acquire a big forward who is willing to stand in front of the net other than Vanek. Lalime did his part, the forwards need to do theirs.
This loss hurt, it now finds us tied with Carolina for 9th, (or 8th depends on if you're the glass half full or half empty kind of person). The Isles are up next which should be guaranteed win for any team with a pulse.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Work Out Songs
Since I started working out my I Pod very seldom leaves my side. Every once in a while when I am sweating up a storm at the Aquatic and Fitness Center I get a song that takes me to a new level while Im working. Today, that song was Rearview Mirror by Pearl Jam. I was hurting before that came on and for some reason I fell into a zone during that song.
This is a great little live version:
Category: Music
The Ladies Breakup
Its a sad day for Barenaked Ladies and Canadian music fans. The Barenaked Ladies released this statement today:
"A MESSAGE FROM BARENAKED LADIES
By mutual agreement, Steven Page will be parting company with the remaining members of Barenaked Ladies. Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart will continue recording and touring together as Barenaked Ladies. Steven Page will pursue solo projects including theatrical opportunities while the band enters the studio in April 2009, and hits the road in the fall.
Page says "These guys are my brothers. We've grown up together over the past twenty years. I love them and wish them all the best in the future."
The band also wish Steven well in all of his endeavors. Ed Robertson says: "It's the start of a new chapter for all of us. Here's to the future!
Everyone is looking forward to making new music and thanks their fans for their support."
Look, there is more to it than Stephen leaving for other projects. No one leaves a successful band like the Ladies and just decides to do something else. This is more about differences between Page and Robertson after the Stephen Page cocaine incident earlier in the year in Syracuse.
Its sad too because I am like many of the fans here in the Buffalo and Toronto area who probably grew up listening to them on CFNY 102.1 and their great shows on the Humble and Fred Show.
The rest of the Ladies will probably go on as the statement says but it will not be the same. They grew up together. Maybe though distance as they say, will make the heart grow fonder and their pathes will cross again after wounds heal and they have some time to figure things out apart.
For now though, this song, barring them finding a replacement worthy of singing Pages parts, will never sound the same:
Category: Music
Ducks 3, Sabres 2
Okay so they lost in Patrick Lalime's first start. Im not going to get my panties in a knot over his first start in a month. He allowed 3 goals to one of the better teams in the league. Two of the goals Lalime had basically no chance.
The first goal was Toni Lydman being a dink and allowing Teemu Selanne to steal the puck and go in on a two on none. A two on none with Selanne on anybody, my money is on Selanne finding the back of the net.
The second goal was a tip in, again nothing that he could control. I blame more the way the team played in front of him. Lets give Lalime 4-5 games. Regardless of the outcome last night the most important games of the week are coming up yet. One against Carolina who is one point back and one against the lowly Islanders. Two very winnable games.
I am in full agreement with those who are saying that Lalime needs a chance to get his rhthym back. He has played 5 periods of hockey in a month. Oh, would it be asking to much for the team to put a few pucks into the net for him too? 2 goals are not going to win many games. For a team that controlled most of the first half of last nights game they didn't capitalize on nearly enough of their opportunities.
This season is not lost because Miller is hurt, It just becomes a little more interesting. Lalime will be fine, give him a chance, take a breath and relax. If he can't beat the Hurricanes and Islanders, then I get a little worried.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
She's Still Blah Blah Blahhing...Someone Stop Her!!!!!!!
So Sarah Palin can't just stop whining. No one likes a whiner. Sarah talks about the "biased" media and how they attacked her family. No Sarah, they didn't attack your family. They merely wanted to know how a goodie two shoe, Christian do gooder like yourself could have a teenage daughter who was pregnant.
They wanted to know about you because prior to the 15 minutes that John McCain spent vetting you for the Vice Presidential position, NO ONE EVER HEARD OF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY! Barack Obama wasn't the one who had charges being brought against you for abuse of power as governor of your state..... Lets face it you are an idiot and any two bit moron can spend the two months since the election with the help of John Zeigler also theretofore maybe eh, coming up with responses for why you looked like a brainless pig for half of it. Hell even in this clip you stutter your way through it and stumble over your words. Please for the love of all that is good in this word keep your darn forsaken ass in Alaska, support your back roads hubby in his dog sled races and go hunting in helicopters....Hey, you should call John McCain and tell him to back off the helicopters man, you need those to hunt moose! Hell, maybe in order to keep you in your state, Barack can send you one when they are done being built. That can be the state of Alaska's piece of the stimulus package, even though it wasn't a part of the stimulus package, consider it a memento from the Bush years. Even suggesting that the media is biased and they were easier on Barack Obama and Joe Biden than they were on you and John McCain is just stupid! Did you know that Rush Limberger is on 500 stations across the country? Did you know that progressive talk radio only has about 50 stations? Whos biased? Of course you know that don't ya also and maybe so? Now shut up and keep your family up there in Alaska. Barack Obama won because he was the more presidential of the two candidates. He carried himself like a president, he had a plan from the get go and was transparent in what he wanted for the American people.Category: Politics | Television
Captain Senile Strikes Again
John McCain thought it would be prudent to ask Barack Obama about helicopters.......helicopters! The economy is in the toilet and hes worried about helicopters. Barack gave him the best answer in the world and put the senile old man back in his seat. Did John McCain not realize that the helicopters than he and his republican counterparts keep referring to were actually orderred and began being built a year and a half ago when George W. Bush was in office. It is all smoke and mirrors to the republicans, anything to avoid the real issues and concentrate on important issues. Those helicopters were part of the last budget and Obama's first budget plan isn't even out yet. I think its safe to say, we made the right choice folks. Obama was the right guy.Catching Up
Some catching up from a blog free weekend.....
Saturday was a whirlwind. I woke up at 5:30 to get to my final teaching certification exam at 7:00 AM to get a good parking spot. The teacher exams are at Southside Elementary School in Buffalo and if you are not there for the 7:45 registration time by 7:00, you usually have to walk about 3 miles to get to the school as the parking in the school lot is gone a good 45 minutes prior to the doors opening. In bone chilling cold, I was not about to have that happen.
After my test I had swim practice which was followed by a trip downtown to the ECC pool to see the A-10 Swimming and Diving Championships. The swimming was very fast and St. Bonaventure featured a mens 400 yard freestyle relay that split a 1:29 on the final 200 of the relay. For those of you who don't know swimming that is FAST! For those of you who do know swimming, like we were, your jaws are hitting floor. So, as far as this area goes thats about the best swimming that you are going to see come to this area. The Bonaventure men finished second overall for the meet.
Aftert that things got silly, the "C" word was mentioned and off to Niagara Falls we went after the meet. I did pretty well, I played with $50 for the night and had fun until we realized that it was.....3:37 AM when we thought about leaving......I strolled in at about 4:30 and suffice it to say Sunday didn't exist.
So, I missed the hockey game that we won but I saw that Miller was injured. Of all the guys on the team that had to get hurt why him? I saw the hit, its hockey, those things happen, though some response would have been nice. At the same time they did win and when you are up you don't want to chance it. I think had the score been a 4 or 5 goal lead or they had been down by two or three, the ensuing play might have involved a bit more of physical response.
I recieved my Master's Diploma from Canisius over the weekend. I will be walking in May as well. A step up the ladder, I earned it so I want the chance to flaunt it.
The weight loss and workouts are coming along well. Today 2 people mentioned that I looked thinner. I got in the pool today as well. I did 1000 yards swimming that included 200 yards warm up, 4X25 yard kicks on 45 seconds, 4X25 yard swims on 45 seconds, 2x50s anything but freestyle, 2x50's freestyle, 100 IM kick and 100 IM swim and then a 200 cool down. I then did 20 minutes on the eliptical, actually 23 minutes I wanted to get to 2 miles on it today and then I did 35 minutes on the bike. It was a mini indoor triathalon.
Category: Miscellaneous
Sniff, Sniff..... I Smell Spring
I have to admit I like the new uniform. Toronto across the top of the bird is pretty sharp. As much as this offseason brought little in the way of free agency, this guy, Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball and as long as the Jays have him there is always hope in the spring.
If everything goes right around him there is always a chance. 3 more days till spring training game one. "The Doc Watch", Toronto's answer to the "Joba Watch" in which Yankees fans get their panties in a knot over a mediocre pitcher while Jays fans watch the best pitcher in baseball complete games and shut teams out, continues in a few short weeks.
Category: Signs of Spring | The Doc Watch | Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Preview
Not The First To Be Compared to A Chimp
First off, President Obama was not the first President to be compared to a Chimp, so was our last president:
But lets face it there is a huge difference here. First, George was compared to a chimp because well, he looked like a chimp and he wasn't too bright. An idiot if you will. A very light hearted but none the less factual comparison because lets face it, he was an idiot.
Obama on the other hand in the cartoon was depicted as a chimp because African Americans have always been compared to monkeys and not because of their intelligence. It has always been a racial connection when comparing an African American and a monkey no matter what the species. That was done in poor taste. They could have picked another animal and yes I do get the connection between the out of control chimp....go tell that one to someone else because Im not buying that one.
What I am surprised NO ONE is talking about is the fact if the chimp in the cartoon is supposed to represent Obama in any way, shape or form, the caption reads "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill".....The chimp representing Obama is dead, shot.....The cartoon is more than racist, it suggests assassination.
How disgusting is that? How that cartoon could have been run is beyond me. Its racist and promotes the assassination of our president. The creator should be interrogated and potentially charged.
More Lies
Stick your hands out and spread out your fingers A-Rod. You feel that? That feeling of stuff running between your fingers? Those are Hall of Fame votes slipping away as you keep lying.
The latest lies now are those he told to all of us, his teammate backed press conference, to Peter Gammons, ESPN....All of us have been suckers for this bag of lies. The apology was a joke, his demeanor said it all.
The latest news is that he was working with Angel Presinal, a Dominican trainer who was banned by MLB from entering MLB clubhouses because of empty syringes and steroids in an unmarked duffel bag.
Nevermind the Hall of Fame at this point, MLB needs to make him an example while he is still in his prime and suspend him, not for a week or a month, indefinitely until the whole truth comes out. As much as fans don't want to hear it, it needs to come out.
Once it does I think we will be shocked what he has lied about and what is actually the truth. The players who are clean need to demand it of him too. Its hurting the players who have played clean because with the best player in the game dirty, who the hell knows who has and who hasn't now.
Thanks A-Joke for ruining baseball for me. I actually had some hope that things would slowly get better once Bonds, Clemens and Canseco were all out, now I think its clear that the sport is years away from getting to the bottom of this thing and cleaning itself up. Until Bud Selig grows a set of testicles and deals with it and deals with it harshly players will keep doing what they do and hope they don't get caught.
Make an example of A-Rod and you'll scare a lot of players into coming clean and staying clean knowing that the Wayne Gretzky of their sport is not safe from suspension.
Category: Sports
Fantasy Hockey Update
For the rest of this 2008/2009 fantasy hockey season I will be updating on my league and specifically my team, appropriately named, the Sabres. Right now, I am in a bad position. 7th place, with 226 points, 12 points out of a playoff spot.
Last week I went 6-5-1, decent, but if I am to catch up 12 points in the next 4 weeks, I need some stellar numbers. I need a 9-1 week or an undefeated week in here to really move up and into a solid playoff position.
Last week I played the Wings who are the 8th place team, so I did put another two points between myself and 8th place.
My star players from last week were:
Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils with 4 points (4 assists) and a plus 2
and
Ryan Suter who also had 4 points (4 assists).
Not a lot of offense.
Goaltending was solid for me and it has been all year long:
Scott Clemmensen led the way with 3 wins, a 1.67 goals against and 2 shutouts, on any other team than the New Jersey Devils, Clemmensen would be the clear cut starting goalie, however, in a about a week, Clemmensen is going to learn about this word called humility as this guy named Brodeur comes back. BTW, Marty Brodeur is on my IR.
Category: Fantasy Hockey Updates
Suspend Him for Life
Im assuming whoever wrote this article about Michael Vick has absolutely no common sense of decency.
Does this guy seriously expect Vick to return as if nothing had happened? The guy who wrote it Chris Chase must have some desk shoved off in a corner with absolutely nothing to write about.Mark my words, the NFL is not my favorite league to begin with, but if the league allows him to be signed and to play for them again I will never, ever watch another second of NFL football again in my life. I wouldn't want to be a part of a league and its fans ignorant enough to accept a scumbag of his nature into its sport.
I would hope every NFL fan who owns a dog looks at their dog and realizes what Michael Vick has done. His punishment of a year or two in jail did not fit the crime. The real punishment comes when this guy comes looking to play again and make millions of dollars and the league says not in this league, we have moved on and your kind is not welcome here.
What he did and was ultimately found guilty of was totally disgusting and really is only one step ahead of rape and child abuse. To even give this guy press time is just reprehensible. I know Im a little late on this article but its something that has been burning a hole in my stomach since I read it. I partly fault the NFL for not coming out and saying that they will not allow this kind of trash on its field again. It has not officially been said but now that the guy is within shouting distance of getting out of jail, maybe its time Roger Goodell said something and addressed it before more guys like Chris Chase go creating more interest and forcing this non-news out there. The media like Yahoo Sports is also to blame for even printing this and putting the idea out there. Lets be real, since this low life has been in prison has anyone out there even had one thought about gee, I wonder if Michael Vick will play in the NFL again?....The real question is, does he deserve to? Chris Chase should have his head examined for even thinking to write the article. Its fantasy to think this guy should play again. But, then again the NFL is full of criminals, OJ Simpson and Marshawn Lynch just to name a few local guys. The answer to Mr. Chase is nowhere!Category: Sports
Firstbase
The Jays come back with Lyle Overbay this year at first and at 32 he still has a chance to prove something to a team that was counting on so much more. The last two years for Overbay have been injury riddled seasons with little to resemble his first season with the club.
The Jays have to get 20-25 home runs, 100 RBI's, and 170-200 hits out of Overbay. He has that kind of swing that could do it too. They desparately need him to return to a guy that will give them 45-55 doubles as well.
Backing up Overbay and a guy that could potentially turn first base into a very solid platoon should Overbay start slowly is Kevin Millar. Millar is a consistent 20 HR, 80 RBI guy and could provide a nice righty/lefty platoon at first base.
Overbay and Millar could both DH and Millar also could spell Lind/Snider in left field. This is one position though that the Jays need to have running on all cylinders should they hope to compete at all in the AL East this year. With as bad as the offense was last year, if it had been average, they would have made the wild card. That is what they need this year, the offense at first base to return to average.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Preview
Sabres 4 Leafs 1
I would like to preface this post by thanking the Toronto Maple Leafs for rolling over and playing dead last night. It did something that in the end will benefit both teams, first it gets the Sabres that much closer to the playoffs and it got the Leafs one loss closer to the number one overall draftpick in the NHL draft this year.
Keep working Leafers, you know you can do it. You are only three points out of falling behind Tampa, that shouldn't be too hard and you are only five out of falling behind both Tampa and Atlanta. That should get you to that draft in good shape. Catching the Islanders may prove difficult though.
That said, did the Sabres play that well or did the Leafs play that crappy? Im not that impressed with the win, though as the Sabres go they have been known to play to the level of their competition and make things more interesting than they need to be. So to see them get an easy win against a team that should be easy is a good sign.
Tim Connolly had two points and Drew Stafford scored twice. Stafford has now set a career high for goals in a season with 17. Connolly has 17 points in 18 games since coming back from being hurt all year.
The win leaves a total log jam in the Eastern Conference with Montreal, Florida, Buffalo and the Rangers all tied for 5th, or 8th depending on how you look at it. The next game? At Philly who just happens to be 3 points ahead of the 5th-8th place tie and after that, the Rangers come to town. Two huge games, three out of four points would be nice, at the very least.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
The Count Censored
Category: Miscellaneous
Do You Smell It?
Ah yes!!! Spring is in the air, the players are in camp and as of now spring training has begun, folks, it is baseball season. Now the countdown begins for the first spring training game. That is 8 days, 17 hours and 7 minutes away.
Spring has sprung!
Category: Signs of Spring
Peter is Not Playing
It is good to see that Peter Gabriel remains of the few musicians with any integrity left. He turned down his chance to perform at the Oscars because they are only giving musical performers 65 second bits to perform their respective songs. For those of you who went to see Wall-E, Gabriel had the hit song of the movie, "Down To Earth". Gabriel turned down the opportunity because his feelings are that the musicians work equally as hard to create their pieces for the movies that they should have an equal opportunity to showcase their talents if they have earned the right to perform. 65 seconds would hardly do his five minute song justice so he figured what is the point in playing. He has a great point and his decision not to play has cost the Oscars a chance to showcase an artist who in my mind and many others I'm sure is one of the all time great song writers, vocalists, and rock and roll artists of our time. Here is a clip to the tune of "Down to Earth":Sunday Retro
What ever happened to the Smashing Pumpkins? Yes I know they released a record last year and it was, well if you liked the early stuff from Gish and Siamese Dream, it was a disappointment, especially since the band was back in full force with all the original members.
The album was decent but not what Pumpkins fans have come to know from Billy Corgan and company. I saw them in 1994 on the Lollapallooza tour up in Molson Park in Barrie and it was a show that still resonates when I hear this song, Cherub Rock off Siamese Dream. This song featured the Pumpkins at their best:
Category: Sunday Retro
Workout Update
Since mid January I have been consistently back in the gym and since then I can't say I have lost a ton of weight though I have taken off a good 8-10 pounds which actually is just about right for that time span. It may be more like 15 considering for the first week I didn't look. Now I look everyday and write it down in a notebook.
The eliptical is no longer so scary. I slowly have increased the time and now my cardio workout consists of 35 minutes on the bike and 20 minutes on the eliptical. I have had a few rough days this past week where my legs felt like lead and on Thursday I felt just tired and not so right, but I took yesterday off and got back at it today and was back to 35/20.
I hit the weights too, mostly work my way around and do 1-2 sets of 20 on flys, tricep pull downs, lat pulldowns, military press, bicep curls and bench press.
Tomorrow I may get in the pool for a 1000 yards or so in addition to. The biggest thing I am noticing is looser clothing and toning up a bit. I noticed it yesterday in my face. Its slimming down. My goal is about 8-10 pounds per month and about 30-40 pounds by June.
I have also been trying to go mostly in the morning again. 6 AM is a tall order but I have been averaging around 6:45-7 AM arrival at the gym which gives me about a solid hour, 50-55 minutes for cardio and about 10 minutes to hit weights.
The ultimate goal is to return to competitive swimming and race in a meet by the fall if not sooner.
Category: Working out
Big Announcement
I have told just about everyone but those who read my site regularly so I figured what better time to make this announcement than Valentine's Day.
In October 2009 there will be a little Buffalo Boy Mike on the way! My wife and I are expecting our first child. Don't know if its a boy or girl yet, too early to tell. We actually knew a few weeks ago but I was waiting to post on here until we told our families and closest friends. The due date is October 5th.
So, if the bloggage drops you all know why. In the meantime, Happy Valentine's Day Sandie, I love you very much!
BTW, does anyone really like those Sweetheart candies?
Category: Baby Buffalo Boy
Sabres 6, Sharks 5
The best team in the West strolled into Buffalo yesterday with everything that could possibly be going against a solid Sabres performance having happened previous to the game. The plane crash the night before, the recent mini two game slide, Thomas Vanek out for three to four weeks, Paul Gaustad out, and it was Friday the 13th. The only thing going for Buffalo was that the Sharks were playing their third game in four nights and Ryan Miller is probably the best goalie in the NHL in overtime and beyond this year.
So, after a first period that saw the Sabres open up a 3-0 can of whoop ass on the Sharks and play inspired hockey for the grieving fans of Buffalo, the Sharks clawed their way back in but with 3.9 seconds left Captain Craig came up and laid into a shot from the point that was tipped increased the population of Pominville by one more.
It was quite possibly one of those wins that brings a team closer together and lifts them up a little for the playoff push. It was also a game that may find them playing a little more confidently without Vanek. Either way they gave the crowd in attendance a performance to help them forget about the losses of the previous night.
No, sports doesn't mean as much after a tragedy like the previous night, but it sure does help to provide us all with a distraction if only for three hours. We haven't had a game like that since probably the Senators game with the hit on Chris Drury. That game got this team playing together again after a rash of injuries as well.
Captain Craig has finally, after a luke warm first half of the season, come on strong and is developing a great rapport with fans. He says and does all the right things to back up his words. He may not be a Chris Drury, but hes pretty darn close.
After last nights game I think we can look at this community and say once and for all if we had to choose between the Sabres and Bills, I take the Sabres. If that tragedy happens and the Sabres are no longer here, what do we have going on around here to help us take our minds off that incident. Nothing but cold, dark and snow for another two months.
We are a hockey town first and a football town a distant second.
The win leaves us solidly in 8th place, tied with Florida, one point back of Philly and two points back of the Rangers and the falling Habs. More importantly it leaves us five points up on Carolina who resides in 9th and comes in here next game. We could put them seven points out of 8th with a win Sunday.
You'll notice that I have gone back to the green logo. Spring is approaching and St. Patty's Day is the next big holiday so I will go with the green logo for the rest of the season.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Flight 3407
You never think something like this will happen around your area until it happens. Last night, flight 3407 crashed in Clarence and my first thought was where in Clarence and how big. We have had small private planes go down but nothing like this.
It turned out to be the first commercial plane to crash in the history of the Buffalo-Niagara airport. Our hearts go out to all who were lost. There were 49 people who died in the crash, including one man who died on the ground in the home that was struck.
Someone is Getting Hosed
The news today is that oil prices have dropped to $35 a barrel due to a big jump in inventories and some other bull crap.
Meanwhile, myself and many of you are driving around Western New York watching gas prices spike upwards. Mobil on the corner of Forest and Elmwood is $2.19 a gallon, do not go there. boycott them. They are a good 18 cents higher than the others. There is another Mobil on Pine Ave. in Niagara Falls that is also $2.19. Boycott that station too. Besides those two, other stations are running in the low $2 range which seems awfully high considering oil prices are at "multi-year" lows. People need to question the gas station owners and the oil companies just a little more here and get answers. I know there are other variables but when oil goes up, gas goes for the ride, when oil goes down, conventional wisdom would say that gas should follow it down. The fact that oil inventories are going up means we are using less, this all despite the fact that OPEC has cut output by millions of barrels. We use less, there is more supply, price should go down.......I'm starting by boycotting Mobil because they seem to be the worst ones out there.Category: oil/gas
Jays/Expos
Here is a list I found of players who have played for both the Jays and Expos as of April 2007:
Luis Acquino
Tony Batista
Denis Boucher
Sal Butera
John Candeleria
Rick Cerone
Darwin Cubillan
Omal Daal
Rob Ducey
Scott Downs
Ron Fairly
Darrin Fletcher
Willie Fraser
Brad Fullmer
Domaso Garcia
Rene Gonzales
Tommy Hutton
Anthony Johnson
Randy Knorr
Ted Lilly
Tom Lawless
Graeme Lloyd
Ken Mocha
Mickey Mahler
Fred Manrique
Dave Matinez
Sandy Martinez
Jim Mason
Orlando Merced
Bailor Moore
Dale Murray
Steve Nicosia
Otis Nixon
Charlie O'Brien
Al Oliver
Tomo Ohka
Robert Perez
Bill Risley
Randy St. Claire
David Segui
Tony Solaita
Matt Stairs
Hector Torres
Mitch Webster
Brad Wilkerson
Kenny Williams
I was way off on two catchers. The list of catchers on that list includes Rick Cerone, Sal Butera, Charlie O'Brien, Randy Knorr, and Darrin Fletcher.
Category: Miscellaneous | Toronto Blue Jays
The Catchers
The Jays in the offseason had one goal at the catching position, that was to find a worthy backup. The have themselves a couple of options on the roster and in the minors and were pretty successful in finding a guy to compete with Rod Barajas.
The Jays signed Michael Barrett who is still just 32 years old and has had a few injury plagued and down seasons but still capable of leading a team behind the plate. His best seasons so far were three straight years with the Chicago Cubs from 2004-2006 when he hit 16 home runs in each of those seasons.
Behind Rod Barajas and Barrett the Jays have the young JP Arencibia, however it would take a tragic circumstance to see him up in the big leagues for any significant period of time this season. Between Barrett and Barajas you have two guys who have 20 HR potential should one stand out and take most of the playing time while the other provides more than adequate services as a backup.
Barrett could become yet another player and probably the last player to play for both the Jays and the Expos if he breaks camp and has a successful spring. Ill have to see if I can find the full list of players who have done just that. I know Barrett is at least the second catcher to have played for both, the first being Darrin Fletcher.
Next week I will tackle the corner infield slots as we preview the Jays in 2009.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Preview
Morning Moon
Woke up to some post worthy music news this morning. The Tragically Hip have announced the release of their 12th studio album We Are The Same. It is the second straight record that has been produced by Bob Rock who has also worked with Metallica. This was the press statement on the album from the band:
"Greetings to all. We have some very exciting news to deliver. Our twelfth album, We Are The Same, will be released in North America on Tuesday, April 7th. The album was produced by Bob Rock and recorded primarily at the Bathouse Studio. It contains twelve new tracks that range from levity and light to melancholy and anger. We think it has a little bit for everyone and showcases the great range of the band."
Here is the first single Morning Moon:
Category: Music
Patterson is Out of Control
I am a democrat but what David Patterson is doing in this state is ridiculous. I think it is safe to say that we live in the most corrupt state in the entire country and most of that corruptness stems from NYC sitting at the anus of this state.
Yesterday we have been introduced to another bad idea by our Governor David Patterson with his lame brain idea of a "beauty tax". Where does the taxation of people in this state stop? First he attacks the indian treaties and tries to go after a possible $68 million worth of revenue from taxing ciggarettes on indian reservations. I bet if David Patterson and the state politicians looked real hard they could find $68 million in corrupt government spending before breaking an age old treaty. Whether you agree or disagree with indians not being taxed, if $68 million is going to save this states budget then by all means, but its not going to come even close. There are bigger fish to fry.
The beauty tax that is being talked about is another needless tax that we shouldn't have to pay. He is proposing this tax on those seeking massage therapy, hair cuts and other services in the state. Last time I checked when I went to Super Cuts, they do tax you, its called sales tax on hair cuts. Why do we need another tax on top of that? Hair dressers are licensed and have to pay the state for the licensing....so again another cash hog for the state. As far as massage therapy goes, there are people who requrie massage therapy for medical purposes. Massage therapy is rarely covered by health insurance and you would be putting additional burdens on people already paying the high price of massage therapy. David Patterson and our state lawmakers are out of control, they are corrupt and looking for every penny that isn't already in someones pockets. With our economy the way it is, now is not a time for new taxes. Now is not a time to put more people out of work. Take a page from the Obama book and cut taxes for low-middle income workers and businesses. I bet you most "beauty salons" don't make over $250,000 a year. You are hurting those who are already hurting. I look around lately and see a lot of closed up businesses, take a drive down Delaware Ave. in Kenmore, what used to be strings of small businesses have closed up shop. Niagara Falls is another city that should have more going for it than against it, its all boarded up. Mr. Patterson is not helping with his budgetary plans. I know he has a lot on his plate, every level of government does. But lets face it, this state is bleeding money becasue it is full of a bunch of lying bastards running it. Lets start by cutting New York City off the ass end of the state and let NYC govern themselves.Yet Another Great Falls To New Lows
I knew A-Rod was a jerk long ago, despite that, I still believed he was one of the clean ones. No way does he do the juice. Thats why the other day while I was getting onto the stationary bike at the gym and ESPN scrolled the news that A-Rod has been implicated as a 'roid user I stopped doing what I was doing and allowed my jaw to drop.
I'm hearing a lot of things about this too. There are some who are willing to give him a pass, he apologized and move on. However, unlike the Michael Phelps deal, A-Rod took performance enhancing drugs He cheated. He cheated for three years. For him to go on saying that he was naive and stupid or what ever words he used to put himself down is a big line of crap.
He did them for three years! Young and stupid is taking them once or twice and then coming to your senses. He went on to say that his reasons for doing steroids was because of the pressure of playing in Texas......TEXAS! HE PLAYS IN NEW YORK!!!! New York is the biggest pressure cooker in all of sports. So what makes anyone believe that after he left Texas he felt any less pressure while playing in NY? He had the same contract, signed a new, even more ridiculous contract and stayed in NY. Hes trying to make us believe that he left Texas, felt less pressure and therefore stopped taking steroids upon coming to New York?
He's an idiot is what he is. There really is now no player you can trust in baseball. Bonds and A-Rod would have been two of the greatest players in the history of baseball without the drugs. The fact is they cheated and now we will never know. They should never come close to the Hall of Fame. Never. They have to pay to get in as tourists.
He didn't know what he was taking? How stupid do these athletes think we are? You take them for three years, you know exactly what you are taking. Please. Then to plead to Gammons that he wants the baseball writers to reconsider when they vote him in? Just for that Gammons should have walked out of the room. He is so insincere its sickening.
What makes this thing with A-Rod sweet though is it has come out while he is with the Yankees. The Yankees are stuck with him Their greed has brought with it the crap and dirt that superstardom breeds in professional sports. A-Rod will probably get to and surpass the home run records, the true record that Aaron holds and the false one that Bonds holds. He will do so with no fanfare what so ever. He will do so to boos, negativity and shades of doubt circling the achievement.
I would go one step further, MLB should suspend him for a season. Yes its 4 years too late, but make an example of your best player. Your supposed best player.He lied to the fans with Katie Couric, telling the public he didn't need the drugs to do what he did, obviously he did and for that he should be suspended and punished by the sport. That would send a message that no one is exempt whether you did it 5 years ago or today.
Category: Sports
Sunday Retro
One of my top three favorite bands of all time is the Cure. One of their albums is entitled Wild Mood Swings which was released in 1996. It describes them perfectly. Robert Smith who basically is The Cure has continued to write albums to this day that seem to get better and better with each passing release.
What I like most about them is this false pretense that they are a goth band. They are that and then some. They are a band that go from goth to pop songs to angry punk songs. Wild Mood Swings define them perfectly for their ability to shift gears not just from record to record but from song to song within a given release.
The song I give you today is off of the 1982 release Pornography which featured to me one of the angry Cure songs, One Hundred Years. I give you the live performance off of their 2003 live release Trilogy. The premise behind Trilogy was to play three consecutive nights the albums Pornography (1982), Disintegration (1989) and Bloodflowers (2000) respectively.
According to Smith the three albums are linked in many ways and was one of his highlights being able to play those albums on consecutive nights.
One Hundred Years, one of my favorite Cure songs, what other song starts off with "It Doesn't Matter If We All Die"?
Category: Sunday Retro
Bloggage Down For Weekend
Bloggage was down a bit this weekend due to a two and a half day swim meet at ECC's Burt Flickinger Center. It was the STAR ABC meet. Tomorrow night is picture night at practice so I probably won't post much until Tuesday or Wednesday. The next few weekends will be skeleton crew type posts but stay tuned, you never know when I will pop on and throw out my two cents.
Category: Blogging
My Response to Jon In Buffalo
Jon in Buffalo left this post with Freddie P and Freddie got a ton of responses. Jon's attitude pissed me off to say the least. Its so ignorant to make the statements he made it makes me sick. We are less than three weeks into President Obama's presidency and republicans are already blaming him for things that were caused by 8 years of republican leadership and George W. Bush's failed presidency. I am going to address the statements made by Jon one by one.YES WE CAN.....raise taxes
YES WE CAN.....redistribute wealth by robbing from the rich and hard-working and giving to the poor and lazy
YES WE CAN.....give 'pork' to our supporters and call it "stimulus".
YES WE CAN.....raise gas prices (15 cents in the 3 weeks since we took office)
YES WE CAN.....impose income limits (first on corporatons, next on the public)
YES WE CAN......delay the DTV transition because those who voted for us are too stupid to pay attention to deadlines imposed 6 years ago
YES WE CAN......cripple the intelligence-gathering of the country by closing Club Gitmo
YES WE CAN......continue to take over banks and dictate their policies until we control the entire country's money supply from top to bottom
YES WE CAN......institute nationalized health care which will decrease quality and increase cost--but only to those who work for a living
YES WE CAN.....allow unfettered illegal immigration, which will have the double benefit of sapping the rich, while at the same time creating more government dependent Democrat voters.
YES WE CAN......turn the United States into a new Socialist nation--in record time--Welcome to the United Socialist States of America: The USSA
1. Raising taxes: Jon and all of your repuke buddies out there, are you deaf? dumb or just plain stupid? How many times do you have to hear it, maybe you are stupid (which actually means to hit over the head so hard that you can't hear) Barack Obama has no plans to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year. So, unless you are in the top 1% of income earners your taxes will not go up one cent. Those making more than that will see their tax rates go up to pre-George W. Bush rates. The rates they were under Clinton who BTW had record surpluses.
2. Robbing from the rich and redistributing to the poor and lazy? You are an ignorant prick for saying that. In addition to the above I will say that there are those living in inner city environments who are poor not because they had a choice in the matter but because they are the direct result of their environment. They can't escape their situation due to broken families and having to support their families/themselves from an early age. Have a friggin heart. I have worked with families in poor neighborhoods and they are poor not because they are lazy but because they are victims of a broken system. They need goverment support to get off their feet and find their way out. I will agree that there are those who just suck from the government tit and those people need to be addressed with more government oversight which during the Bush administration, governent oversight was decreased on all levels including those who were supposed to oversee the actions on Wallstreet.
You can lump the middle class into that statement as well and unless you are part of those making $250,000 or more, you are one of those who has seen your paycheck buy you less due to inflation and slowed growth of wages when compared to the cost of living. The middle class deserves a break, that is going to come via tax cuts to the middle class, you and I. Tax cuts which BTW are the repukes favorite form of economic stimulus.
3. Give pork to our supporters and call it stimulus: first of all, as Obama clearly stated, it is a spending bill, what the hell do you expect a stimulus package to be. Name the supporters who are benefiting? if by suppoters you mean the working class of this country who voted for him you are absolutely right, the package will put people who voted for him back to work via infrastructure projects and programs.
4. Raise gas prices: Huh? Do you remember back oh say 7 months ago? $4.30 a gallon? Who was president then? Oh yeah, George W. Bush who was quoted as being stupid and saying that he had no idea gas prices were headed for $4 a gallon back in March, you want the sound bite for that Ill post it. Gas prices typically do go up this time a year as refineries make changes overs to the upcoming summer blends of gas. Also, incase you haven't read, OPEC has cut production back significantly. Also, have you paid attention to our local news? Buffalo has the highest gas prices in the country. Brian Higgins and Chuch Schumer are looking into why that is which is most likely that gas stations here simply charge more per gallon here to make a profit on top of the cost of a gallon than other regions. Gas prices went up a lot faster than that when your buddy Bush was in office.
5. Impose income limits: YEAH ON THOSE BANKS AND WALLSTREET FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHO TOOK TARP MONEY AND CHOSE TO HAND OUT FRIGGIN BONUSES WHEN THEY WERE SCREAMING BROKE WHEN THEY GOT THE MONEY!!!!! Good for Obama for finally doing the right thing. As long as those banks and financial institutions take our tax dollars to "get them by" their CEO's deserve no more than $500,000 grand a year do they? Thats actually generous. Its amazing they are still employed considering they are running their companies into the ground supposedly. Only a moron would dole out billions in bonuses while crying broke. I have seen no plans to limit the income of the general public, show me the article from a reliable sorce that says anything like that (not from the fat ass Limbaugh either)
6. Delaying the Digital TV transition: Actually I believe its the republicans who are asking for this. Besides who gives a shit. I do actually believe that if you haven't made the necessary arrangements yet you are either too stupid to watch TV or living under a rock so I say they should do it already so that we don't have to see those scrolls across our screen at least once a day.
How is this Obama's deal by the way? And really, how does this make him a bad president? He is actually being very patient with the American public and giving them a chance, too patient, maybe, but patience is a virtue.
7. Crippling the Intelligence gathering ability of the country by closing Gitmo: First of all, your buddy Rush made his case for closing it simply because all he was worried about was his souvenior sales. He is so out of touch with reality I could vomit in my mouth.
How does closing Gitmo cripple our intelligence capablities? First off, intelligence is gathered by the CIA, the FBI and local law enforcement, not the military whether it be the Marines, Navy, Army or Air Force.
Second, Gitmo was used for torture. Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld have all come out and admitted to it. Eric Holder has come out publicly saying that Water boarding which was used at Gitmo is torture. Torture is a war crime. Cheney and Bush are both guilty of war crimes, for ordering the use of torture to question suspects and prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay.
Third, Torture does not work.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2302-2005Jan11.html
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/03/6810
http://www.alternet.org/rights/28585/
http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/torture_doesnt_work_study.htm
8. Continue to take over the banks..blah blah blah blah: Get real, the take over started with Bush signing off on the original $700 billion dollar no oversight deal. So, blame Obama all you want, but the take over started with George. And realisticall, the lack of oversight of the financial sector is what got us here, lack over oversight that was created by republican policy. Maybe taking over some of the banks is the medicine that is needed, they couldn't possibly be run worse than they have been to get us to this point, let the governement take them over and restabilize them, and then sell them back to the private sector. Technically, with FDIC, if banks go under the Feds take over anyway and insure our money.
9. Nationalize our countries Healthcare: Yeah so what? It would be a blessing if that happened. I have written about it many times on this site including here. Did you know we already are paying for universal healthcare for Iraq? How come the US can pay for Iraqi's to have Universal Healthcare but would just assume piss on its own citizens.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it. You hear the horror stories from Canada, but there are success stories including Canada, all over the world when it comes to universal healthcare. The privatized system has driven up costs and ultimately decreased quality of care because from the private insurance companies on down to the nursing homes and private outpaitent clinics care is provided based on the almighty dollar and ones ability to pay for treatment, if you have the money you get the best, if you have crappy insurance or none at all you get shit on. That is not the caring society that the US claims itself to be.
10. Unfettered immigration.....blah blah blah, where the hell do you get that from. Again, its three weeks in, I didnt see the Bush Administration get anywhere on the issue did you? Give the guy a chance. Im sure immigration will be addressed eventually. Considering how much shit is screwed up from George and Co. Obama has come out swinging.
11. Turn the US into a Socialist Nation......Jon you are sick and demented. If by socialized you mean have government run services I have news for you: The police are socialized, fire protection is socialized, public schools are socialized, Medicare, Medicaid and social security, all socialized. We are essentially already there.
I would just say this, if you privatize fire, police and schools basically you put the American public in a position that if they can't afford it, their house burns down, if they can't afford their privatized police protection then the guy breaking into their home can take what ever he wants with no consequences and no one to protect the average citizen, you would have to pay huge tuition for privatized schooling for your kids. Healthcare is privatized and costs are through the friggin roof.
George started the process of socializing our banking system and Wall Street with his buddy Paulson by signing that $700 Billion bailout. So don't give me socialized, look around you and get the facts straight.
Category: Politics
Pumped Up Speech
Its nice to see President Obama fire back at the idiots in the GOP, especially as they have been criticizing the stimulus package for being a spending bill, thats exactly what a stimulus is! It was quite awesome to watch. The fact is that the things that the republicans are complaining about in the bill are an extremely small percentage of the bill. When you hear them talk of $20 million here, $100 million there, this bill is $850 billion, not $850 million. There are things in this bill for everybody and there are sacrifices for everyone. The bottom line is, regardless of what the republicans want, this bill is going to be passed. They say they want smaller and more tax cuts, guess what, we tried that last May. It didn't work! We tried their no oversight $700 billion thing in the fall, and ultimately it was a republican deal on the TARP thing because George W. signed it, and it didn't work. Now, its our turn. It is time for something different. So they can bitch and complain all they want. Is this stimulus going to be perfect, no, and Obama readily admits that, but neither has the other feeble attempts by the GOP.Sabres 5, Leafs 0
Im not going to rub it in on Leaf fans who read this. Those who bothered to watch their Leafs not show up last night saw this sick goal by Drew Stafford. The guy is finally rounding into form:
Ryan Miller is putting up Vezina type numbers if the Sabres can continue to move up the standings and make a case for him. He recorded his 5th shutout and most in a season for his career.
The Leafs turned out to be the perfect opponent for coming off a west coast road trip. Sabres are now sitting in 7th place still with 59 points, two shy of the Flyers. Up next is Montreal on Friday who is only 5 points ahead.Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Fantasy Hockey Update
Last week I went up against the first place team in my league Headbangerz Hockey and beat them handily, 8-3. Last weeks win leaves me at 89-88-27 with 205 points just two points out of a playoff spot. Unfortunately, Im also still tied for 8th with Wings who also has 205 points.
This week I am going against the second place overall team Plastic Soul, so it doesn't get much easier.
Last weeks top performers for my team, simply named the Sabres were:
Tim Connolly with 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points. He was a plus 3, 2 ppg, 1 shg, and 1 gwg.
Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils had 6 assists.
Drew Stafford had 4 goals
All three of my goaltenders each had two wins and Miikka Kiprusoff had a 1.50 goals against, Ryan Miller had a shutout.
Im going to need more of that this week if I plan on making the playoffs.
Category: Fantasy Hockey Updates
Bloomberg Bitten
Category: Miscellaneous
Phelps Should Not Be Punished
Add me to the list of those who are supporting Michael Phelps after his inopportune photo-op. Im not going to sit here and say that smoking pot is okay, I, like probably 80% of us out there have tried it back in my college days and so to sit here and persecute the guy over a picture that should have never been taken in the first place and certainly should have never been published is insane and unfair to Michael.
Most of us have been there and done that when it comes to taking a huff on a joint or a bong and thats just a fact that we need to deal with.
I am not however going to stick up for the act of doing it. Michael should have been more discreet and if he didn't know the people in the house or where ever he was doing what he was doing, he should have been more careful, instead it came down to a jerkoff photographer looking to make a buck from a publication willing to ruin the life of a big star.
The photographer and the publisher should have known as well. They should have known the ramifications of taking and publishing that photo. If it was a private party or something that wasn't a high profile event then leave Michael alone.
The media also needs to back off and give it a rest. Its a huff on a bong and its not headline news and not an excuse to drag Phelps through the mud.
Jays Front Office 2009 Preview
Jays fans have had a realitively easy target to aim their complaints at the last few years. JP Riccardi hasn't exactly paved a smooth road, from run ins with opposing players (Adam Dunn) to shady decision making and at times telling lies to the fans regarding various player related issues.
That said, I don't think the Jays front office has done a horrific job considering the resources they have had. They have done exactly what any team in a division like the AL East needs to do. They have made some tough choices with hopes that they would pan out, including over paying on some players and not locking up others.
Im giving JP a clean slate this season. I want to see how things go with a couple of things:
1. How does Scott Rolen perform given his shoulder has had an entire offseason to heal. Who knew that Troy Glaus was going to round back into 30 HR form in St. Louis and Scott Rolen would be just a shadow of his former self.
2. How does Travis Snider fare splitting time with Adam Lind in left field and DH.
3. How do the kids do in the rotation and also, how do a couple of these reclaimation projects work out in Matt Clement and Mike Maroth. Most of the these pitchers coming up now are JP draft picks who will show how his drafts have been. If they do well, then JP will get passing grades at year end. David Purcey is the biggest question mark. Can he build on a good 2008.
4. He made a great choice for Manager in CIto Gaston last year and I think a full season with Cito and his staff could pay off huge. The players love Cito and I would like to think that Cito has a lot of say in who they go with in terms of player personel.
5. Paul Beeston is still the CEO in the mean time and something tells me, he wants to see this team turned around before he steps down. He was one of the ones who built this team from the ground up and made it what it was in the early 90's, this front office can only benefit by having him there.
6. I want to see how an expanded scouting department improves their acquisition of players from overseas. They hired scouts who will be focused on Asian players, specifically Japanese players, something they have not explored enough.
Lets give him a chance, he still has two years left, they are not going to buy him out and I think he has made some under the radar type of moves that may pay off if not this year, going ahead into 2010. Lets not forget, JP is still young for a GM, he has some good vision for the team, he has just had the misfortune of trying to compete monetarily against the two richest teams in baseball. I think this past offseason they have changed course a little, they are paring back expenses and trying to do it the Oakland way, where they may have side stepped that in recent years with Frank Thomas, AJ Burnett and BJ Ryan like signings.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays 2009 Preview
Happy Groundhog Day!
Okay, so the little rodent saw his shadow, but if they would have turned off the damn spotlights behind the little putz he would not have seen anything and we wouldn't have 6 more weeks of winter.
Technically, does a shadow created by artificial light count? Shouldn't it have to be natural daylight that creates the shadow?
Category: Groundhog Day 2009
I'd Kick The Crap Out Of Them Too
Im not showing this video for the fight, I could care less if a Boston Bruin and a Montreal Canadien beat the crap out of one another.
However, in this fight I was rooting for Boston more than ever. I don't blame Boston one bit for wanting to beat the crap out of the Canadiens for wearing those butt ugly jerseys.
I don't care what "era" they were throwing back to today, those jerseys the Habs had on had me vomitting in my mouth. There is a reason why they haven't worn those jerseys in decades probably, its because they are the ugliest articles of clothing sports or otherwise I think I have ever set eyes on.
They looked like a bunch of friggin circus clowns:
Category: Hockey
14 Days, 23 Hours and 19 Minutes
That is how much time separates us from the return of the boys of summer. With the last two months of winter I think its safe to say we are starved for anything spring related. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. Tomorrow I will also start my preview of the Jays for the upcoming 2009 season.
It may have officially snowed or precipitated on us for 61 consecutive days, it may have been one of the coldest months in recent memory, there may be 31/2 feet of snow on the ground, but its not all bad and from a Jays perspecitve, 2009 will not be all bad either. Stay tuned.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays
Buffalo 2, Phoenix 0
What a great example of how to play on the road. The Sabres hung in there in the first period, waited for their chances in the second, scored two and handed the game over to Ryan Miller to finish it off.
Miller is as hot as any other goalie in the league right now with another shutout which to this point in the season he has 4 with is a career high for him.
Tim Connolly continued his hot streak with another goal and low and behold, Daniel Paille after a 14-15 game drought found that the puck does go into the net when being shot off his stick.
Next up is Anaheim on Monday and to this point, they have done exactly what they had to do on this big road trip. They are one game over .500. It would be nice to see them get greedy and take this last one against Anaheim before coming home.
Currently we sit in 7th just two points ahead of the 8th place Carolina Hurricanes.We have two games against them in February.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Sunday Retro
For today I picked some different stuff. Today being the Super Bowl I have picked the three songs I predict The Boss will play during half time.
I also predict that Courtney Cox will come up on stage during the first song and dance with him:
Songs will not necessarily appear in that order.Category: Sunday Retro
Andre for Ralph
How many Bills fans would gladly trade Andre in the Hall of Fame for Ralph Wilson?
Yesterdays results were somewhat disappointing I would imagine for Bills fans. How does an owner get elected whose record over all as an owner in the NFL is sub .500 and has not made the playoffs in close to 10 years.
His management of this team has become progressively worse, from an owner that didn't tolerate losing to one that is afraid to lose control and that is a bad way to manage a team you own.
Yes, Ralph had his day in the sun with the AFL and without him the Bills wouldn't exist but once he got to the NFL, what has he done? His team made it to 4 Super Bowls in a row, that was nice but then he proceeded to fire the GM, Bill Polian, that got him there. His refusal to hire any coach of significance has left a black eye on this franchise and now his refusal to do the same with a GM is doing the same.
For all the negativity we have about Ralph, Andre leaves us with only good memories. His play on the field was second to none amongst wide recievers during the Bowl runs and the position he plays and the routes he ran were not condusive to high yardage plays. He played the slot fearlessly and went were few wide outs like to go.
He went to the Pro-Bowl 7 times, he is 4th all time with 951 receptions, 6th in recieving yards with 13,198 and 7th all time with 86 touchdown receptions. Add to that four Super Bowl appearances and 6 AFC titles and it is without a doubt a Hall of Fame resume.
Ralph out, Reed in.
Category: Buffalo Bills
