My Letter to Tom Golisano (Plus, it has some of my thoughts on the Sabres summer)

Dear Tom,

I'm sure you must be reading this letter atop your million dollar penthouse balcony in Florida; overlooking the ocean and loving the fact that you don't have to pay outrageous NYS taxes. Maybe the sun or Monica Seles have been frying your brain as of late, but I'd like to remind you that you still own a hockey team. You remember them. You bought the team for the inexpensive price of 60-80 million bucks. Hell, for that rate, Jim Kelly and his former teammates could have actually achieved their dream of owning a team in Buffalo.

Of course, people thought the purchase was nothing more than you saving a hockey team. However, after seven years of running the franchise, I think we can all assume that you were in it for the money. Your motives had nothing to do with helping out WNY or winning a Stanley Cup. I'm sure your homeboy, Larry Quinn, mentioned how the money that the NHL was asking for the team were pennies for a sports franchise.

Hell, you've even admitted that you had only watched three hockey games prior to buying the club. You weren't like Jerry Jones or Mark Cuban, who had always dreamed about owning a professional sports team. I remember when you actually bought the team, I was really excited about it because you were filthy, stinken rich. Some in the media even said that you resembled a hockey version of George Steinbrenner. Well, I guess they must have been talking about the actor who played George on "Seinfeld."

Of course, there were moments that owning the team had become a dream for you. You loved being the head honcho after the lockout. It was the first time in your political career that NYS voters were actually supporting you. Hell, at one point, you could have ran for Governor again and wouldn't have to spend a dime on campaign funds in WNY. We loved you and you knew that. Like all politicians, you couldn't pass up a photo op.

Of course, your version of a photo op consisted of you being shown at every single Sabres game, laughing and greeting anyone that was thankful for you buying the team. You never turned down an interview request and was even getting a large contingent of Buffalo fans wanting you to buy the Bills. Everything was perfect...

Except...

You didn't realize that you were working in the world of professional sports. You didn't understand that like the cost of living, the expenses of owning a sports franchise are always going up. You then didn't understand the concept of "whatever god has giveth, it shall be taken away" (Or something like that). All the credit that you received after the lockout was taken away in one fell swoop during the summer of 2007. Whoever you want to blame in that mess, money was the root of it. You didn't want to pay that sort of money for star players and probably thought you would still get worshiped by WNY. Sorry, but you are only as good as your last game.

You must have been shocked to read the headlines in TBN and to hear people bashing you on WGR. Now, what do politicians do when a scandal breaks out? They can either fight the scandal or go into hiding, and because you didn't have to worry about being impeached, you could just ignore the naysayers and go into a foxhole. Since the start of the 2007 season, you have been to as many Sabres games as Chris Drury and Daniel Briere.

To be frank, you lost intrest. You saw how the fans didn't care anymore about you saving the team. And because no one wanted to shake your hand and worship the ground you walked on, you just took your party down to Florida. You decided to view the Sabres as nothing more than an investment with no bloodline attached to it. No emotion. Nothing.

I'm sure if the Sabres were near and dear to your heart, like a political party, the team would be leading all the polls in contending for a Cup. Hell, you're the same guy who put millions of dollars of your own money into a political run that had no chance of winning. As long as Larry Quinn is mailing you a monthly check and the team is profiting, everything is good in your world.

Of course, you can't let the public in on your charade. You need the Sabres flunkies or apologists to try and brainwash the general public. You have to make all of the sheep believe that you are building a team for the Stanley Cup. You have your PR people build up all these young kids as the second coming by having open practices for rookies.

I swear, we have to be the only hockey market in the country that gives a crap about our prospects in minors or the OHL. Very smooth. I'm sure Larry Quinn had a hand in devising a strategy to advertise the future as a selling point to the fans. Hell, if I even mention Tyler Ennis going to Chicago for Patrick Sharp, I'm renounced as a jackass on Twitter because he's a "Can't miss kid."

Another thing you've added to your PR campaign, is that whenever Sabres fans are at their angriest, you always have your top lieutenants act as if change is on the horizon. Case in point, when the Sabres didn't make the playoffs last year, Mr. Bass Pro himself, Larry Quinn, mentioned how the team was going to have the biggest top to bottom evaluation in the history of the franchise. Fans were naive to think that the Sabres would actually do some house cleaning. Sorry, but as much as I like Mike Grier and Steve Montador, those signings don't equate to major change.

Then came this year, after a disappointing playoff exit against the Bruins, Quinn and Regier put on a press conference that would have gained a standing ovation from the folks on Broadway. Tears shed, emotion was spent, lips were quivering, it looked as if the Sabres brass were giving a eulogy. They talked about change and how losing in the playoffs was unacceptable. People acted as if this was going to be the offseason that the team would be given the tools to finish the job. Of course, nothing really changed. What's going to be the PR statement next year if the Sabres fail? Are you going to come out of hiding and say that you're moving back to NYS, so you can keep a better eye on the team? Yeah, that will get people hoping. I can only assume that you think fans will forget about the promises your staff has made because of other distractions, like the weather getting better and how the city is such a great place during the summer. Well, I'm not there and I don't forget.

As for the actual improvements for the team, I'm Sorry, but I didn't come away from the Boston series saying that the Sabres really needed a 3rd and 4th defenseman and another two-way player that will get 8-10 goals. This team is pretty much the same as last year's squad. Sure, you changed a couple of jersey numbers, but the weak core remains the same and that shouldn't be the case.

The Sabres biggest problem was that their top six forwards weren't good enough. We have had the same core now for the last three years and you continue to ignore their shortcomings. Guys like Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly were the ones that cost the Sabres in the playoffs. Not Tim Kennedy (more on him later) or Toni Lydman.

Now, if you wanted to try and solve the problem, it was going to cost you anywhere between 4-5 million dollars to actually bring in guys who can put the puck in the net. That's the going rate for the standard NHL top 6 forward. It's a lot easier to give 1-year deals to guys that make less than a million dollars.

Then came today's dealings with Kennedy. Now, I am going to be honest with you, I probably wouldn't have even noticed if Kennedy was playing for the Sabres next year. He's a nice player with a good upside, but he was hardly a game changer for the team. I'm also not the type of fan who gets all emotional about having a player from Buffalo on the Sabres squad. I know if this was Matt Ellis getting waived after going to arbitration, there wouldn't have been that much of an uproar. But that fact that you didn't want to give a player, who is the epitome of what you guys have been selling us, a $200,000 raise, reeks of greed. He deserved the money.

Kennedy may as well be the poster boy for your "system." A guy that started his career in the minors and was being touted as a "Can't miss prospect." I understand exactly what you idiots mean by "The System." I know that if you can have all your homegrown players come from the minors, they won't be making serious coin until they hit the age of 27. That gives you a nice 4-5 year stretch at a very low price for a homegrown guy. That's why we will never see a trade involving Ennis or Gerbe for Patrick Sharp. You would then have to pay a guy like Sharp right away, instead of waiting till 2015. Buy low and give away high is your motto.

What makes the Kennedy move even more ridiculous is that this isn't some guy that was going from 2-million dollars a year to 7-million for the next five. This was a lousy difference of $200,000. You know how many sports owners would waste $200,000 to start a camp fire or burn it to light a Cuban cigar? That amount of money is nothing! It's nothing in the sports world!!!

My god, no wonder you idiots don't have HD games or post game shows on the road. If you are this cheap to give a $200,000 raise to someone, then I may as well prepare myself to squint for the next 10 years while watching analog Sabres television.

Now, I know you guys just signed Shaone Morrisonn from Washington. I know he seems like an adequate stay at home defenseman, who can block shots and hit. As of now, I'm not sure what the guy is going to be pulling in money wise. I can only assume that he'll make around 2-million a year (like he made with the caps). Of course, I know the signing will soften the blow of Kennedy leaving and will make apologists come out in droves and claim that the Sabres aren't cheap.

However, what lights a fire under my ass is why the Sabres can't have their cake and eat it too. The way it looks, you must have given Regier a budget and he was painted into a corner, deciding on whether to choose between Morrison and Kennedy. Again, it's a million bucks added to a payroll that isn't even close to the cap. Again, it just reeks of penny pinchers.

(BTW, I just want to make something clear. I know that you and Quinn will talk about how the Sabres are small market and that making a profit is like moving heaven and earth. Sorry, but unlike the majority of Sabres fans that live in a hockey fishbowl, I live in an area where I've met a ton of sports fans, who are transplants from all over the country and they don't even mention the word "hockey." Cities like Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Dallas and Phoenix are almost double the size of Buffalo, yet they can't even get 12,000 people to watch a hockey game. It's a niche sport that will never be more than that.)

Anyways, this letter isn't meant to be just a WGR whiner line call. This is actually a request. Please, sell the team! You can make at least a 200% return on your original investment. Sell the team to someone that actually wants to win a cup first and foremost. Not someone like you, who probably turns down the air conditioner at the Arena at 3pm. Not an owner like you, who has created more jersey designs than actual homegrown stars. I want an owner who gets pissed off whenever the Sabres fail. Not someone, who sits in Florida and is popping Viagra to keep up with Monica Seles.

All insults and kidding aside, you have to understand that the NHL isn't getting cheaper. What the hell is going to happen when Tyler Myers becomes a free agent? What is going to happen when the salary cap goes up to 65 million dollars? Are you going to make the Buffalo Sabres into the NHL's version of the KC Royals? Hell, as of now, we are nothing more than a poor man's version of the Minnesota Twins.

You're in the sunshine state, so go and carpetbag your way into the hearts of Florida's political ring. Maybe the Panthers will declare bankruptcy soon and you can buy the team and perform your version of "flip this franchise."

I'm just over it, Tom. I'm over fans trying to over analyze your motives as being good for the franchise. I'm over Darcy Regier acting like an accountant, rather than a GM. I'm over Larry Quinn going over a stats book about puck possession or being tied for 14th in playoff appearances. I'm just done with it. Enough.

Maybe if this was 2005 again and a $5 million contract wasn't the norm, we can then get along. However, salaries aren't going down anytime soon and I can only imagine what your face is going to look like when you see what Tyler Myers is asking for in 2012. Hell, if anyone made out today, it's Darcy Regier. I feel bad that he can't even give a raise to someone that deserved it. I've always said, look at the moves Darcy pulled off before you bought the team. It's like comparing what Ralph Wilson did with and without Bill Polian.

Just sell the team, please. I assure you, I'll attend a Tom Golisano appreciation night after the sale. I'll even be cool with the Sabres naming a luxury box after you. If Buffalo is so special to you, you can always build an anchor on the waterfront. It's just...sports aren't your thing anymore and frankly, I don't think it ever was.

My ode to the Buffalo Sabres summer: Part 1

Look, I know some of my readers and followers on twitter think I wake up daily and find new ways to hate the Buffalo Sabres. Trust me, I don't want to go on Twitter and strike up fights with other bloggers, who feel that I don't know anything about hockey. Actually, scratch that, I do relish the moments of getting into arguments with people. In fact, I love it. I love to tell the world that I'm right.

However, even when I go on and on about what I perceive to be right, if I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. I don't sugar coat and spin it in a way to make myself look right. I'm not the type that's going to give CPR to a dead horse. If it doesn't fit, then you must acquit. I'm a balls to the wall type of writer, and if it doesn't stick, I'll let it fall to the waste side. In other words, I'm not going to bend over backwards to prove that my point was the correct one. It's all about the bottom line and that bottom line is that the Sabres didn't do enough this summer.
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1)At least he's trying?
It seems like the new rally cry that I'm getting from Regier Apologists on Twitter is the whole "Well, you don't know if Darcy was on the phone, trying to trade or sign someone." You are right, I don't have a phone tap on Regier's line.

However, I don't have to be a fly on Darcy's wall or an FBI agent to know what is really going on with the Sabres GM. First, lets get to consolation prize that some are trying to pass off; It's the whole "trying" garbage.

Maybe working in a job industry, where no one cares how you get the job done has made me just scoff at the notion. I work in the television industry, which is one of the most hardcore industries you will ever work in. As much as I would bust my ass and work the phone to cast people for game, reality and court shows, if I didn't get the job done, my bosses didn't care how exhausted I was. There was no consolation prize, because it was all about about succeeding. Again, it's the bottom line.

Even if Darcy was working the phone and had stock options for Bass Pro (Sigh) on the table for free agents, he still didn't accomplish his task. I also don't buy the notion that no one wants to come here. How many former hockey players live in the area? I'm sure an extra dollar and a recruiting call from Ryan Miller would have been fine. Seriously though, I really don't think the Sabres were beating the telephone lines as some would want to believe. And even if he was, he still didn't do enough.

Maybe if Darcy was my unborn son and he claimed to study day and night for a final exam, only to get an F, I could give him the old "better luck next time" or "at least you tried" sort of rhetoric. However, if my kid failed the same exam year in and year out, then more than likely, he isn't trying or he's just a dumb ass. In Regier's case, I'll take the former (Although, saying that TC and Roy are top 20-centers would fall under the dumb ass category).

All you have to do is look at Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn's track record when it comes to signing and trading for players during the summer. Since the summer of 2003, the Sabres have added two players via trades (Drury and Rivet) and have ponied up less than 10-million dollars annually to free agents. So, the whole "he's trying" thing is something that I just don't buy because of the Sabres history. I mean, a dog has his day once in a while, right?

What made you think this summer was going to be different? This is the same team that spent less than 3-million dollars last year on free agents after missing the playoffs for two straight years. Coming off a division title, I'm sure Darcy Regier felt absolutely no pressure from ownership to make moves. Of course, making moves would cost money and we all know the bottom line for ownership is to make as much money as possible.

Up next: What the Sabres needed to improve on.

Just some quick hits for your reading pleasure

-Hey, the Sabres did something this week! OK, not really, but they did resign Patrick Kaleta to a 2-year deal worth a little under 2 million dollars. I'm cool with the move. Seriously though, I don't think you can find anyone in Buffalo who disapproves of the signing because of Kaleta's popularity. I just hope Kaleta plays more than 55 games next year; Especially when you consider that you can find a lot of guys in the NHL that get can get 200 penalty minutes, 10 goals and play 70 plus games a year for that money-

-Seems like the Sabres latest trend is to bring their RFAs to arbitration and try and work out a deal before the actual hearing. By doing so, it eliminates all 29 other NHL teams from negotiating with free agents prior to the hearing. Smart move by Regier. Of course, it would have been nice if they thought of this prior to Vanek receiving a lucrative offer sheet from the Oilers in 2007. Look for them to do this sort of arrangement in the near future, especially if Tyler Myers gets to the summer of 2012 as a RFA-

-My goodness, do you know how many Joe Klofenstein texts I've gotten from the Bills over the years? Way too many for my taste. "Bills brought in Joe for a workout. Bills sign Joe to a deal. Bills cut Joe. Bills bring back Joe" Blah, blah, blah. Enough! Just let this guy walk or play because I just want him to get off my Sprint phone!-

-Can you believe that training camp begins in like 7 days? Look, I know the Bills are going to suck this year, but there is nothing like football season in Buffalo. Sorry, hockey fans, but this is and will forever be a football town. Now, if only the Bills could be as good as the Sabres-

-Is anyone really surprised that the NHL decided to go against the CBA and reject the Kovalchuk contract? I mean, this is the same league that floated a mystery memo after Brett Hull's foot was in the crease and put in a Sean Avery goaltender interference rule at intermission of one of their games. Anyways, I guess you have to give Bettman credit for killing off the idiotic deal. However, what happens in the future for other NHL free agents? Does this set a precedence that if you have more than five bull$hit years on your contract, the deal will get revoked? What if you only have three years that are fraudulent? I think Gare Bear needs to come out and set legit contract parameters on future dealings, or we are going to be treading down some dangerous waters with what you can and cannot do with contracts-

-Because I'm all about conspiracies and speculating (I'm a blogger and it goes with the territory), I wonder if the NHL decided to revoke the Kovalchuk contract because they didn't want him to sign in New Jersey. Look, I live in NYC and I can tell you from first hand experience that New Jersey teams are like the bastard step-children of the area. No one cares about them. Even when the Devils and Nets were successful and reaching playoff Finals, there was little to no fan fair involving the teams. It's very tough to get excited about NJ because the state has a lot of New York City and Philadelphia transplants living there. Plus, being within a two hour radius of two of the biggest sports meccas in country doesn't exactly help. As far as the Devils go, the NHL has seen the impact of the team's success on the league...and it's not much. Some of the lowest TV ratings came from the Stanley Cup Finals involving Jersey against Anaheim. To add fuel to my conspiracy theory, what about the contracts that Hossa and Pronger signed? Both of those contracts involved two hockey markets that are vital to the success of the NHL. The league wouldn't dare stand in the way of Philly and Chicago. Trust me, pro sports leagues want certain cities to be on top and Jersey isn't one of them-

-So do you think if I were to stereotype Bills and Sabres fans, could I get away with saying that Bills fans would party downtown, while Sabres fans would be in Allentown or Elmwood avenue?-

-Back to arbitration for a minute, anyone want to tell me how Clarke MaCarthur was awarded 2.4 million dollars? Seriously? Did the Atlanta GM forget to show the judge Clarke's highlights from Buffalo? Did the judge think he was reading the case for Wendal Clark or Clark Kent? Someone needs to disbar these judges-

-I haven't gotten to my receiver portion of my Bills previews yet, but can we just stop with the getting the ball in Roscoe Parrish's hands? Every year it's the same thing with this guy, "Oh, he's such a dynamic player and should touch the ball 50 times a year on offense." Please, every time the guy got an opportunity before Owens got here, he blew it. In 2007, he started three games for an injured Josh Reed and average less than 3 catches a game. Sorry, but Parrish is nothing more than a poor man's Dante Hall-

-Do you ever think that if the Bills were successful (record wise), would the Sabres be more pressured into making more moves to keep up with the football team's popularity? In defense of the Sabres lack of moves, I've heard some hockey fans mention the following: "Well, at least they aren't the Bills." Gotta wonder if that sort of mindset comes into play when the Sabres are discussing their offseason plans. It's funny, because if you were to pinpoint when Dacry Regier was aggressive in the trade market, it was when the Bills were making the playoffs yearly and were still living off the buzz of their early 90's run. Just saying-

Just a quick Sabres rant

Look, I'm not going to get into my hell bent rage against the Sabres front office. I've actually gone against my promise of July 7th being the day that I would kill the team for not making substantial changes. However, I'm still giving the team more time, AKA, I'm just not in the mindset of pouring out my guts into why this team doesn't care about winning the cup. I actually may save that for a podcast.

However, I'm here to add a little clarity on what is perceived by Sabres apologists, who act as if other Sabres fans that demand change are nothing more than toothless idiots that call the WGR whiner line daily. We all know the Sabres aren't going to sign a guy like Kovalchuk. We have come to the realization that any player that demands 7-8 million dollars a year will never be on this roster. So, don't come out and act as if we are demanding the team to burn money and put Tom Golisano's trust fund for his kid or Monica Seles in jeopardy.

I assure you, we are not. What bothers me is that there are moves that other teams are making that on the surface, seem to be a little one sided. Chicago gives up a bunch of their key contributors for prospects. Yes, I know, apologists will act as if these prospects are the lifeblood of each of these organizations, but if you can get a proven commodity in return, you make the deal. I know in Buffalo we act as if these kids that come from Portland or Rochester are the second coming to Tyler Myers or Daniel Briere, but that's not always the case.

(On a side note, are we like the only hockey market that looks more forward to prospects playing in Buffalo than any other fan base? I seriously doubt that Flyers and Rangers fans are sitting there and drooling about some 2nd round pick playing on the parent club)

Pretty much my rage is towards Simon Gagne. Here's a proven scorer, who has two 40-goal seasons on his resume, traded to Tampa Bay for a bag of pucks and a philly cheese steak. Yes, I know, apologists will mention that he's injury prone. Of course, that logic doesn't come into play when you're talking about the Sabres giving a raise to Tim Connolly...can you say contradiction?

Anyways, Gagne would have been perfect in Buffalo. He's great on the powerplay, has a ton of playoff experience and would be a legit rental (Unlike Torres and Moore) for the Sabres. I mean, god forbid the Sabres actually decided to go for the Stanley Cup for one year. I mean losing their 12th defenseman from "The System" would just jeopardize the space time continuum for the franchise.

Now, before you all send me the emails and comments about Gagne having a no-trade clause, let me put it to you this way: Now, I'm not a GM or a blogger that has the CBA and the bible of Darcy in my night table. I'm just a stupid blogger who wants the Sabres to win the Cup. Now, if that's my goal, I'm calling Philly and I would pretty much double what Tampa Bay was offering. I mean, that's how lame the deal was for Philly.

Now, if Gagne had a problem with coming to Buffalo, then I'd have Lindy Ruff, or Ryan Miller, or Brad Riter, or Luke Russert, or Jim Kelly call him and say that we are a great city that is aiming to win the cup. It's not like Gagne would have to stay in Buffalo for the next 10 years of his life. He's a free agent at the end of the year and I really don't think he'd be that dead set against coming here for 8 months. Maybe I'm wrong. But you know what, at least I would try. And that's all I want from the Sabres.

I don't need a 10-million dollar player. My expectations are small. I just want a player who can put the puck in the net 20-25 times a year and bring other intangibles to the team. I don't need a school lesson on small market economics to know that Gagne's contract would almost equal out to what Tallinder and Mair were making last year. Plus, the Sabres are going to have even more cap relief next year with Rivet and Connolly's contracts up (And I assure you, they are not coming back). Again, it's not about killing off guys that I don't like on this team, it's about getting better. The Sabres don't have too much money tied into the cap for next year and beyond.

Anyways, the majority of this rant was geared towards people who announce on facebook or twitter that they are sick of people who complain about the Sabres. I'm sorry kids, but the Sabres haven't gotten better and we have lived through too many summers where this team has coasted on trying to act as if Tyler Ennis or some dumb ass prospects are the key additions to this roster. I watched all 82 games last year and came away knowing that their success was NOT a team effort. It was mostly due to Ryan Miller bailing this team out. If it's a one man army, then you need to add more troops to the equation.

Rant over.

Lalime is back

The Sabres have agreed to a one-year deal with Patrick Lalime, who was the No. 2 goaltender the past two seasons.

Lalime, who turned 36 today, went 4-8-2 with the Sabres last season with a 2.81 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. The 12-year veteran has a record of 200-169-48 and a 2.57 GAA with Pittsburgh, Ottawa, St. Louis, Chicago and Buffalo. He is 9-21-5 during his stay with the Sabres.

Lalime's deal will pay him $600,000 for one year. (Sabres Edge)

Mind of Joe
If this is the first time you are visiting my blog, you need to know that I'm a Patrick Lalime apologist. Hey, even I can be an apologist once in a while. I am totally fine with the signing. Look, I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, the reason why back-up goaltenders have struggled for the Sabres is because Lindy Ruff doesn't know how to use them. He was spoiled by Dominik Hasek during the 90's and today, he's spoiled by Ryan Miller.

Patty played just fine at the start of last season with convincing wins over the Hawks and Penguins. However, one bad slip-up on a western road swing and he was doomed to Lindy Ruff's dog house. It's very hard for a back-up goaltender to play once a month and be able to maintain his edge. If Lindy can stick with a formidable goalie rotation, like he did at the start of last season, then Lalime should be fine.

Now, let me get a couple of back-up goaltending rants off my chest:

1) For all you Brion lovers (yes, I know he's off the market), the only reason why Lindy Ruff trusted Marty during the two years after the lockout was because the team that surrounded the goaltending was pretty F'n amazing. During that time, if the Sabres let in four goals, it didn't matter, because the team would be able to produce goals by the boatload. Biron's numbers from 05-07 were around a 3.00 GAA and a .900 save percentage, which happens to be worse than what Lalime put up last year. I assure you, if Lalime was with the Sabres during that time, he wouldn't have gotten booed. Maybe when Biron decides to hang up his skates, the Bironiacs will move on from the back-up quandary.

2) It's the back-up goaltender!! I'm sorry, but do you think the people in New Jersey, Vancouver or NYC (Rangers), give a crap about the back-up goalie? Hell, No. And I assure you, it's not because they are stupid fans, it's because most back-up goaltenders aren't that good. If they were good, they'd be starting. Personally, I just think all back-ups are a dime a dozen. Whoever the Sabres signed, it wouldn't have made a difference because they are all the same.

3)Plus, it's not about the backup, it's about having the team around your scrub goalie be able to elevate their games. The Sabres rely so heavily on Miller's performance that if he struggles, the team loses. It's simple as that. This isn't 2007 when the Sabres had six players who can score 30 goals and take the pressure off the back-up goalie. There have been a number of games over the years that the players in front of Lalime have totally failed.

4) Most importantly: Ryan Miller likes Patty...and if Ryan is happy with Patty, then so should the Sabres front office and coaching staff. It's called star treatment, kids.

Niedermeyer comes to Buffalo

The Sabres, still searching for more grit after a first-round playoff exit, have signed forward Rob Niedermayer.

TSN.ca reports the deal is for one year, $1 million. He is coming off an identical contract with New Jersey.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound center spent last season with the Devils, recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 71 games. The 16-year veteran, who is the younger brother of future Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer, has played 1,082 regular-season games for Florida, Calgary, Anaheim and New Jersey. He has 181 goals, 269 assists and 882 penalty minutes. (Sabres Edge)

Mind of Joe

In short: I'm very cool with the signing. Yes, it took me about two minutes to figure out which Niedermayer we were getting. I think there's like two of them or something. Anyways, I was actually big on the Sabres trying to add some Stanley Cup winning experience at the trade deadline. Hell, I was even advocating for the team to trade for Rod Brind'Amour.

You always hear from the press that the Sabres lack maturity and mental toughness. Now there are three ways you can go about fixing those problems:

1) You can grow up (Um, seems like the core took a pass on that one).

2) You can do a roster overhaul (Yeah, Darcy ain't doing that).

3) You can bring in guys to make other players accountable (Ding, ding, ding).

The Sabres needed more than just Craig Rivet and Mike Grier to provide leadership. It's not a knock against those guys, but maybe having a player with the ring will help the locker room grow up. It's also a bonus that he's coming from two franchises that know a thing or two about winning multiple cups. I mean, this isn't a player from the 2004 Tampa Bay squad that caught lightning in a bottle.

If I had a dollar for every time an expert, coach or former player mentioned the need for a team to get more SCF experience, I'd be a rich man. Too many times over the years the Sabres have coasted through a part of the season (or in last year's playoffs), where having a legit leader might have been beneficial to reel the guys in.

As for what he brings to the ice, well, he's definitely an upgrade over what Adam Mair or Matt Ellis would bring to the table. However, how much more grit do the Sabres really need? I know the city of Buffalo and its fan base would support and love a team filled with blue-collar guys that could score 10-15 goals a year.

However, you need more than just a bunch of those guys to contend for a championship. I can't help but harp on the fact that the Sabres seem to have an abundance of 3rd and 4th line guys. I've said all along that two of the top six forwards on this team (Hecht and Stafford) should be playing on the third line on most NHL teams. Now, if you want to try and sell me on Gerbe or Ennis making the jump, well, I need more than just a 10 game stretch of games to believe that.

Again, I'm not trashing the signing, but there needs to be that signing/breakup of the top six forwards for me to really applaud Regier. The core of this team is what needs to change, not the 3rd and 4th lines. Anything else in my view is just a tweak and I have lived through too many offseasons where the tweaking of the guard was the norm and not the changing of it.

Thoughts on the 1st day of free agency

On the Jordan Leopold signing

Here's what I know about Jordan Leopold: He is a defensemen that can carry the puck into the offensive zone and is a pretty decent passer on the blueline. Is he Tomas Kaberle? No. Is he an upgrade over the Sabres unimaginative offensive defensemen? Yes.

Look, we have said all along that the Sabres needed offensive impact on the blueline. I've gone on and on about the need for the Sabres to get someone who can man the powerplay. I haven't watched enough of Leopold to really judge what he can bring to the table, but you have to think that he's an offensive upgrade over anyone that the Sabres have. Now, that's more of an indictment on what the Sabres have, rather than what kind of player Leopold is.

Now, there are some things that worry me about Leopold. For one, he has zero, I repeat, ZERO playoff goals for his career. That's not good when you are worse off than Tim Connolly in post season credentials. Plus, he's kind of injury prone and will now be playing on his 5th NHL team since 2002. Eh, I'm actually starting to change my mind on liking the signing...No, No...must go with my gut.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and rag on what Leopold is making. Three million dollars a year really isn't that much when it comes to a team that entered today being 13 million under the cap. Now, if Leopold sucks here, then all bets are off. BTW, to all the people that feel the Sabres over payed for Jordan, what did you expect? It's free agency. You aren't going to get cheap players.

Losing Hank and Toni

I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you I didn't think the Sabres were going to resign either of these two guys. I've gone over ad naseum about the Sabres system; Once you get to that UFA category, you are as good as dead to them. Here's the thing about the money Toni and Hank got, if you were to tell me last year that those two players were going to get over 3 million dollars a year on their new contracts, I would have assumed that you were related to both players or your name was Heather B. Both guys were on the verge of exile to the KHL a year ago. Luckily for their bank accounts, both guys rebounded nicely this year, Hank especially.

However, here's the thing you have to consider: Are you really going to give a multi-year deal and a raise to two players that have had years of inconsistency (Putting it mildly) and are now just coming off the ever so mandatory "must do well" contract year? Think about it. It would be kind of like a poor man's version of what they did with resigning Connolly. OK, that's a bit of a stretch. But you get what I'm saying, these are two guys that have been really bad at times during their stay in Buffalo. I'm not talking about going through the peaks and valleys of a season. We have seen what the bad Hank and Toni look like for the Sabres and we all know that the bad can go on for a very lonnnnng stretch.

Frankly, it's because of the Leopold signing that I'm not going crazy about losing both guys. I know, I give plenty of s#@t to Regier, but if there's one thing that I happen to believe in with the Sabres, it's their ability to draft/develop blueline talent. The Sabres have always done well with developing stay at home defensemen. It started with Jay McKee in 1997 and has gone all the way to Tyler Myers. Lindy and Darcy have a proven track record when it comes to drafting your typical boring ass defensemen. As for developing offensive players...well, that's another story. Plus, you have to consider the factors on how much Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers helped out in the rebirth of Lydman and Tallinder. Of course, it could be the other way around or something along those lines. I'll just lean towards M&M helping out L&T more.

Now, before you think that I'm going soft on Darcy, I assure you, I'm not. The dude has to make another move, preferably for a play-making center. By my numbers, the Sabres still have plenty of money or better yet, a player that they can move off their roster for an established center.

Now, if this is your 2010 Buffalo Sabres, I'm going to be plenty ticked off. However, this is a decent start for Regier and company. I truly believe that in order for the Sabres to get better, they have to trade either Roy, Pomer or Connolly to get a top 20 center. We can just lose the idea of the Sabres getting rid of one of their prospects or 1st round picks because Regier will never allow that. If Regier can find that legit centerman (Jeff Carter), then this will be a successful offseason for the Sabres. If not, it's just another summer of the Sabres saving 3 million dollars off their bottom line.

As for today, if you are all about getting more offense than defense, you should be happy with the Sabres blueline. If you are all about stay at home defensemen, then you are probably disappointed. Like I said, the Sabres haven't had any problems in grooming the Lydmans and Tallinders of the world. Instead, it's been trying to find the next Brian Campbell that has been difficult for the Sabres. No, I'm not saying that Leopold is next Campbell, but he's a better option than say Montador and Rivet manning the point.

You are not going to get killed today, Regier. You actually caught me on a good day. My parents are in town and they brought me some homemade sauce. So, I'm actually going to hold onto my "It's still early in the offseason" card a little while longer. However, you still need to make one more move before our July 7th deadline. If not, you will be getting the Bucky Gleason treatment from me.

Random Thoughts: Fans wanting Kotalik...My Sabres wishlist...What I'm looking forward to with the Bills..and Vincent Jackson

---I must have been drunk or on some serious drugs when I came on Twitter the other day. You see, twitterites were leaving statuses about wanting to have Ales Kotalik return to the Sabres. Then I thought, wait, I don't do drugs and I'm not drinking (at the moment), this is really happening!! People, I understand we are desperate for the Sabres to make any move possible. Hell, I'd think if the Sabres signed any guy that played 80 games at the NHL level last year, there would be some sort of parade.

However, Kotalik?? Are you nuts!? Kotalik makes Tim Connolly look like Danny Briere. Do I even need to get into how his intensity resembles a bologna sandwich? Sorry, but I don't care how good he performs in shootouts, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. Honestly, I don't want to sound sexist, but I think the majority of fans that want him to return, happen to be girls. For whatever reason, some girls find the guy to be attractive. Anyways, he's not coming back. So, enjoy the KHL, Ales---

---I know this won't happen and I don't even know why I'm even blogging about it, but why not give the San Diego Chargers a call and see what it would take to get Vincent Jackson. Jackson is an incredible talent and is coming off back to back 1,000 yard seasons. I know he would cost the Bills a lot in salary and compensation (2nd and 4th), but he does have ties with Buddy Nix and my confidence in James Hardy and Stevie Johnson isn't exactly sky high. More importantly, Jackson is still very young and would offer size and ability to catch balls in traffic that has been missing from the Bills since, well, last year with Terrell Owens---

---I know the word excitement and the upcoming Bills 2010 season aren't exactly going to go hand and foot. However, I have to say that I'm kind of intrigued to see how Chan Gailey utilizes Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch and CJ Spiller. I know most fans and media members are too busy trying to figure out ways to poke holes at Lynch staying in a Bills uniform. However, if you put aside your dislike towards Lynch, you could easily make the case that the Bills running back situation may be the team's strongest position.

The cool part is that all three running backs bring something different to the table. Spiller is the scat back, who is going to be used primarily in the passing game and is that home run threat the Bills desperately need. Lynch can be the type of back that can break tackles and has a tendency to make something out of nothing. Jackson can kind of do it all with running, catching and blocking. If the Bills have any chance in going...um, 7-9, they need for their running game to really take the pressure off their below average quarterback play and their new 3-4 defense---

---Alright, so we are on the eve of NHL free agency. Man, you know Sabres fans hate this time of year. It's as if you're at the school dance and everyone is asked to tango, yet, you're the only person sitting there alone and looking on in a jealous state of mind. Yes, that's free agency in a nut shell. Look, I can sit here and list you a bunch of free agents or guys that seem to be on the trading block. Instead, I'm going to make this simple: The Sabres need to find a legit playmaking center and a puck moving defenseman. These seem to be the first two qualifications on anyone's wish list. However, I'd like to add one more qualification to the list. I'd love to get a defenseman, whose M.O. is to decleat (or is it deskate?) any offensive player that skates in the offensive zone.

I remember watching the Bruins/Sabres series and the one player that jumped out at me was Johnny Boychuk. No, it wasn't because he injured Thomas Vanek in game 2, but it was because the Sabres didn't have anyone like him on the blueline. I know everyone is all about finding a playmaking defenseman, but I'd love to have someone that would be able to put the fear of god into the opposition---

Monday Thoughts: Bills quarterback depth chart...Sabres draft...Darcy Regier is insane..What is next for soccer?...and more

Bills Thoughts

--I've said all along that I don't really care who the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills is going to be. If you look at the body of work from all three quarterbacks, they aren't exactly shouting out starter material. If you are going to judge their history, it would seem that whoever wins the job is probably going to start for say...4-5 weeks, if that. Then after that, it becomes a quarterback carousel. If you ask me, the only thing that is up for grabs is going to be who has the first crack at the starting job. However, have no fear quarterbacks (Unless you're talking about pass protection), I'm sure you will get a starting nod sooner or later--

--Here's what concerns me: Don't you think it's a little too much to have three quarterbacks battling for the starting job in training camp? There are only so many reps a player can get, and since they are learning a new system, wouldn't you want your starter to have as many snaps as possible? I can't think of the last NFL team that had a quarterback competition with three guys. Yes, I know, Gailey has his own depth chart for the most important position on the team, but I'd like for him to make it more official on the field, rather than in his own mind--

--If I were a betting man, I think Trent Edwards comes away as the starter. That's just my gut feeling. I think the Bills hierarchy of Ralph Wilson and Tom Modrak have always been high on him. Yes, I know, there's a couple of new sheriffs in town to dispute that, but I still think that hearing how Wilson was all over the selection of Edwards in 2007, has to have some sort of clout--

--BTW, I know some fans think that Gailey is going to be able to come in here and waive his magic wand and turn around the careers of whoever starts at quarterback. Sorry, but if you think I'm suppose to look at Gailey's career in teaching Jay Fielder and Tyler Thigpen how to play quarterback as evidence to have confidence in his coaching abilities, then you must really believe in Santa Clause. Sorry, but those Dolphins teams that people want to point to were successful because of their defense, not because of Fielder.

Oh, and don't get me started on Thigpen. He played on team that had to constantly throw the ball down field because their defense was so deplorable, that they had to play catch-up the entire time. Look, will the Bills quarterbacks play better? Sure, anything is better than having 1st time offensive coordinators (IE: Van Pelt and Schonert) teaching you how to play quarterback, but judging by Gailey's credentials, he's no Mike Shanahan.

Lastly, it should be noted that the only time Gailey had pro-bowl caliber offensive players was during his time in Dallas and those players ran him off because of his offense. If you don't believe me, the proof is in the pudding. From 1996-2002, Gailey's passing offenses were ranked in the following: 27th, 22nd, 9th, 24th, 27th and 19th. Hey, I'm just repeating what I read, so don't shoot the messenger--

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Sabres thoughts

--I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that car accidents in city of Buffalo must have doubled between the time of 5:45-5:46PM on Friday evening. You see, Darcy Regier was on WGR with The Bulldog and stated one of his most insanely, idiotic statements to date. Regier said that he believes that the Sabres have two of the top 20 centers in the NHL.

No, the Sabres didn't trade for Jeff Carter and Patrick Sharp. Instead, he was talking about Derek Roy and Tim Connolly. CRRRRASSSSSSSSSSSH. Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? I've heard some whoppers that have come out of the mouth of Darcy Regier, but with those comments, someone needs to put a blue and gold straight jacket on the GM and drop him off at the same asylum that The Joker and Poison Ivy are staying at. BTW, if you played back Regier's lip quivering press conference at the end of the year, didn't it seem like he was over Connolly? Now, I guess they are back to being BFFs.

If Regier really believes in those two players, there's no way in hell the Sabres are going to shake-up their top six forwards...ever! I mean, we may as well retire the jerseys of those guys. Hell, I may as well not go on Twitter or read Hockeybuzz.com during the offseason. I mean, what's the point?

I really hope that Regier made those comments in order to send a message to other GMs that he's not just giving away Roy and Connolly. You know, posturing the market or whatever it's called. However, something tells me that he truly believes that. This is the same guy who said that resigning Tim Connolly at the trade deadline was considered the biggest deadline move the team could make. I'm sure there are other gems that I can reference from Regier's idiotic quote book, but I'm saving those for July 5th--

--Now, if you are looking for me to bag on the Sabres draft because they decided to select "safe" defenseman, well, you've come to the wrong place. I hate drafts. All of them! Military drafts, drafts from the door being opened, Backdraft the movie, MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL drafts. All of them make my skin crawl. The only kind of draft that I am into, happens to come from the tap at a bar. I said this during the NFL draft and without question it holds even more truer in regards to the NHL draft; Fans and media members who give grades on drafts are complete idiots.

I'm sorry, but I seriously doubt anyone in Buffalo has ever watched the Sabres 1st round pick play in a hockey game. Even if they did, there's no way you can tell if the kid's skills can translate in the pro game. Not to mention, the guy isn't even going to play a lick of NHL hockey until the year 2013 and that's whether he can survive the minors or some Ontario hockey league that I've never heard of. There's no reason to get bent out of shape on who the Sabres select.

The NHL draft is the biggest crapshoot in all of sports. It's really the only draft of the major four sports that the possibility of a player not wearing your jersey happens regularly. Which is why I don't understand the Sabres love for their draft picks.

In the end, you can't judge a draft until 3-4 years from now, so why try doing it now?--

--Now, I know some people weren't thrilled with the Sabres love for drafting more...and more defenseman. However, here's the thing you have to understand about the Sabres, their system is predicated on being able to get rid of older players that start making too much money and replacing them with younger, cheaper talent. As of now, it looks like the Sabres are saying goodbye to Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. From the looks of it, we are going to be talking about a very inexperienced blueline for next year.

The Sabres don't know if Mike Weber, Chris Butler and Andrej Sekera can play in the NHL. As much as I'd love for the Sabres to kill off a couple of their top six forwards, good or bad, those guys can play at the NHL level. More importantly, the core forwards are signed for another 3-5 years (Vanek, Roy and Pommer) and judging by what Regier said about Roy, no one is getting moved.

As for the younger guys I've mentioned, we can't say that those players can play in the NHL. By drafting a ton of d-men, the Sabres are in essence giving their young kids a year or two to get their heads on straight and if they don't, all these young draft picks are going to be next in line. Of course, the simpler solution would have been to resign either Tallinder or Lydman, but that costs too much money (Eye roll)--

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Soccer thoughts:

--I was really sad to see Team USA get knocked out of the round of 16. Yes, it was a nice tournament showing, but the bottom line is that we have seen the US get to this point before, only to get knocked out before we could go out and buy a Landon Donovan jersey. They made it to the round of 16 in 1994 and 2002, and I'm sure the commentary from the experts were probably the same as they are now:

"Oh, this team is on the rise and the next time around, they are going to have plenty of experience to go deep into the World Cup"

Unfortunately, the way it has been working for the States is that every time they take two steps forward, they take another step back when they make their return to The World Cup. In both 1998 and 2006, USA didn't even it make it to the elimination round. Lets hope the third time is a charm in 2014--

--Of course, we are now going to hear the questions on whether soccer can become popular in the states because of the showing at the World Cup. The answer is no. Look, this has nothing to do with the game of soccer, hell you can lump in the NHL when it comes to reasons both respective sports have a long hill battle with becoming relevant in our sports culture. It has to do with competition. There are just too many options out there for the casual sports fan to enjoy.

There's a reason why a sport like UFC has made such strides over the last 5 years, it has to do with the lack of competition. Boxing is a complete joke and unless Steve Austin and The Rock are going back to wrestle, it's a runaway for UFC. Team sports like the NFL, MLB and the NBA are just too much to deal with for MLS and the NHL.

In order for those sports to really make it in American culture, they need for something catastrophic to happen to their competition. I'm talking a major drug/sex/gambling scandal of major proportions. Think the Black Sox scandal meets Ben Roethlisberger's nightlife. Maybe a possible lockout for the NBA and NFL in 2011 can do the trick.

Bottom line: Someone needs to drop the ball--

Sabres fans versus Bills fans

I've been meaning to write a post about this topic for a long time. The problem was that I just couldn't figure out a way to format my thoughts onto my computer. Well, I think I got it figured out. Let me start out with a history lesson. You see, when I was growing up, I was a die hard Bills fans. They were my first love and for the most part, they were head and shoulders above the other sports team in Buffalo, the Sabres. However, even though the Bills were more popular, there didn't seem to be this "us versus them" approach between both fan bases.

In other words: I kind of felt that we were all on the same page. Sure, there were some people who liked the Sabres more or vice verse, but there was always this sort of bond where you would want the other team to do well. You didn't look at the other franchise as being the ugly, red headed step-child. Sure, you had favorites, but in the end, you wanted Buffalo to win no matter what jersey they were wearing.

I think that sort of thought process still holds up with Bills fans today. As for Sabres fans, well, I'm not so sure.

You see, one of the reasons why I started writing this blog was because I was so sick and tired of listening to WGR crap all over the NFL, and then hold the NHL and the Sabres up as if they were part of the royal family. To this day, hosts like Mike Schopp, always find a way to crap on the NFL. Even after the thrilling playoff game between the Saints and Vikings, he wouldn't shut up about some stupid call that may have had a 20% chance of changing the trajectory of the actual game.

If you don't believe me, all you have to do is listen to WGR's round table they aired the other day. They spoke about the Bills for like seven minutes and nearly spent an hour on the Sabres and free agency. Of course, they exchanged a couple of insults on the Bills popularity in Buffalo. What makes me laugh is that the Sabres aren't going to do jack shit in free agency, so why even bother talking about it? Now, I can list you the reasons why WGR gives an abundance of airtime to the Sabres (Does Flagship station mean anything to you?). However, why must the station and for that matter, other fans always seem to find a way to put down the other sport in order to make their personal favorite pastime seem better?

Now, before you point the finger at me, I'll admit; Yes, I have been one to take many jabs towards the NHL and Sabres fans who think their city is hockey royalty, when it was only four years ago that the city didn't give a rats ass about hockey. Honestly, the reason why I've gone after Sabres fans is because I don't feel like hearing hockey enthusiasts crap on my favorite sport. Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth sort of thing. I don't need to hear Schopp crap on the NFL because he's probably jealous that the sport gets more headlines in June than the Stanley Cup Finals does. Sorry to keep on singling out Schopp, but other people in the Buffalo media have been just as guilty of it.

Now, like I said before, Schopp and WGR have their motives for making the NHL seem as the end all be all of Buffalo sports. Keep in mind that Schopp is the same guy who denounced the NHL after the lockout and claimed that he would never watch a hockey game again, yet, it only took him about 8 months to declare Buffalo being a hockey town, rather than a football town. Of course, that statement came the first year WGR had the rights to the Buffalo Sabres broadcasts.

Now, lets get back to the fans for a second. I truly believe that some Sabres fans have a hatred towards the NFL and the Buffalo Bills. Personally, I don't think Bills fans feel the same way about the Sabres and the NHL. I've talked to a number of football fans who passively watch the Sabres play, and they seem to be of the mindset of wishing nothing but the best for the blue and gold. Now, I've also been in chats and have read other Sabres blogs, where their authors seem to have the mindset of having a Bills free zone and if you mention them, you're going to get shit for it.

I can remember one time when I was visiting family in Buffalo, I was hanging out at Buffalo Wild Wings and there was a Sabres preseason game on TV. Next to our table, there were a group of Sabres fans that were really into this exhibition game. These guys were acting as if they were watching game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

They were going crazy and getting all amped up over some douche bag that wasn't even good enough to make the Rochester Americans. Now, during the game, Bills highlights came on the other TV set and these hockey fans just started ripping on the team and the NFL. They just couldn't shut up with the insults. Now, the insults weren't about the Bills sucking, it was mostly geared towards not giving a crap about the team. After hearing all of that, I couldn't help but think to myself: Dudes, you're cheering for the BUFFALO Sabres. You know, the key word happens to be BUFFALO! Why would you decide to just totally shit on the other BUFFALO team? Not to mention, it was preseason hockey!!

There's a reason why I watch the NHL, it's because the Sabres represent Buffalo. Maybe the Sabres success story after the post lockout triggered most fans to decide that enough was enough and it was time for hockey to be in the forefront of popularity in Buffalo. Sometimes success can make people start voicing their opinions more. Sabres fans may have heard enough about the city being a football town and in the process, they stopped pretending to be the football team's little brother. It's kind of like when Kobe Bryant started becoming an all-star and he didn't want to be considered Shaq's little brother anymore.

Now, I can get into a bunch of reasons why I feel that some Sabres fans hate the Bills. It can be a combination of not liking the NFL to being jealous of the publicity the sport gets. However, like I said in my opening, I find it to be that most Bills fans are more inclined to say "Ah salute" to the Sabres. Now, you may be thinking that I'm making Sabres fans out to be these arrogant types of people, who shove their noses up when they think of some drunk wearing Zubaz, who happens to be cheering for a Bills team that are 2-12. Maybe I am.

I just think that if you were to get a group of Bills and Sabres fans together in one room, it would kind of resemble a high school dance where the girls would be on one side of the gym, while the the boys would be on the other side. I think the boys (Representing the Bills), would try to converse with the girls (Sabres), and would mostly get turned away by the ladies.

Now, I get that I'm probably writing about a small percentage of the Buffalo fan base. I know there are a number of Sabres and Bills fans that intertwine with each others love for football and hockey. I just happen to be really sick and tired of hearing others crap on each other's sports. It's as if we are back in Elementary school and kids are saying that "My daddy is better than your daddy because he's an astronaut." It's like with the World Cup. Now, I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I do happen to think it's kind of a cool sport. However, you start getting all these people who come out of the woodwork, who crap on soccer and at the same time, soccer fans then start putting down the NFL.

In the end: Why can't we all just love the Bills and the Sabres? I love professional sports. If there's a cup or jockstrap involved, I'm watching it on TV (Eh, that sounded bad). Whether it's the Bisons, the Blizzard, or the Blitzers, if they have the name Buffalo attached to them, I'm cheering for them. Sure, you can pick favorites, but do you have to make it a point to shit on the other sport to make your sport cooler? I don't think so.

What do you think? Do you sense an adversary relationship between Bills and Sabres fans? Do you find Sabres fans to be haters of the Bills? Do you think Bills fans are more inclined to cheer for the Sabres? Am I just full of shit?

PS: I'm going to do some small posts dedicated to the differences between Bills and Sabres fans. Some of the posts will be comical, while others will be serious.

Random Thoughts

-Now, I haven't been paying attention to soccer as much as I should be, but I have to say that today's soccer game against Algeria was one for the books for USA Soccer. Now, is it the biggest goal in US Soccer history? I guess. However, will the goal be remembered? Well, it depends on how far the US team goes. They have been to the final 16 (Or whatever the playoffs are called) before and haven't had much luck during the elimination round. If they are one and down, the goal will be an afterthought for US Soccer-

-Memo to Ryan Miller: Yes, the Sabres had a nice regular season and maybe the team should get more credit for winning the division. However, how many cities in America are disappointed when their teams are one and done in the playoffs? A majority, and winning the championship is the ultimate goal for any fan base. Not to mention, you must not understand the disappointment that Buffalo fans have gone through yearly with their sports teams. Sorry, but I think it's safe to say that fans are sick of the glass half-full approach with the Sabres (Unless you're an apologist). Winning is what counts, not being average-

-So, let me get this straight: WGR sends Paul Hamilton to the stupid NHL Awards Ceremony and to a Draft, where players won't even make an impact until the year 2013. Yet, WGR refuses to pay for NFL experts to come on their shows to talk about the Bills NFL draft. BTW, I'm still waiting for the afternoon hosts to give me any sort of Bills draft recap. Well, at least we can get recaps of The Bachelor (Sigh)-

-So, you want to know what the Sabres company line is going to be this summer to sugarcoat the discontent from the fan base? I think having Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller winning awards are going to be their rally cry. I can already see Larry Quinn going on WGR and preaching about the future. I'm sure he'll come up with some stupid stat that the Sabres are the youngest team in the Northeast part of the country and have scored the most goals for players under the age of 22. Of course, he'll do the standard putting down of other teams in order to make the Sabres look better. Yup, that's the Sabres MO; they will always point to the future because Buffalo fans will always believe in their youth. They believe because they are so sick and tired of seeing the same average players like Derek Roy and Tim Connolly play on this team. Wait, it's not July 5th, so I can't kill the Sabres...yet-

-Sorry, but just because the Blackhawks had to trade Dustin Byfuglien and others to Atlanta, doesn't mean their world is coming to an end. They are going to be just fine because they have so much depth and talent-

-BTW, I have absolutely no interest in seeing some schmooze of an award show that has a fricken has-been hosting it and a rock band, who hasn't been big outside of Buffalo since 1996 perform/appear on a awards show. Yes, I'll tune in for the Vezina and Calder trophy presentations, but after that, peace out-

-FYI: I'll be shocked if Miller doesn't win the Vezina and that has nothing to do with whether he is better than Brodeur or Bryzgalov. If you were to look at hockey for this season (Including the Olympics and NHL), Miller was easily in the top five for most relevant player in American culture for hockey. The NHL would love to have an Olympic hero like Miller to take home the award for best goalie. No one outside of Phoenix gives a crap about Bryzgalov. As for Brodeur, the guy has been there and done that. Bottom line: The NHL isn't going to let Ryan Miller go home without getting a cheap headline...and I'm NOT talking about the all-star goalie attending the Twilight Movie premiere-