12-2007 Rochester Edition

Transcription

Page 2
SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE
From the Publisher
With more snow in a
December weekend than we
saw all month last year, winter arrived early in Western
New York. No offense to Al
Gore, but at press time,
things showed no signs of
warming up in the near
future.
The area’s sports teams
also saw their seasons go into
a deep freeze. The Bills lost a
Blizzard Bowl to Cleveland
with a playoff berth on the
line, and the Sabres spent
much of the month at or near
the bottom of the Northeast
Division standings, but now
are working their way back
up.
Baseball fans huddled
around the hot stove were
also met with a nasty chill as
the Mitchell Report named
nearly seven dozen big leaguers linked to steroids and
HGH. Players outed ran the
gauntlet from legends (Roger
Clemens) to stars (Andy
Pettitte) to memorable contributors (Rondell White and
Chuck Knoblauch) all the
way down to longtime Red
Wings and Bisons like Howie
Clark and Tim Laker.
While winter may be ready
to bury the area under drifts
of white stuff, it doesn’t take
nearly as long for local sports
to heat up. There’s still plenty
of season left for the Sabres.
This month, The Bills
showed plenty of promise
and have a roster of young
talent ready to make another
run next year. Our feature on
Buffalo running back Fred
Jackson is sure to thaw even
the coldest heart. As for baseball fans, they’re always just a
few trades and free agent
signings away from shouting
“play ball.”
And hey, the icy winds
coming off the Nebraska
plains didn’t take promising
UB coach Turner Gill away
from us after all.
We hope you join us in
sending out a special GET
WELL SOON to our longtime hockey columnist Ross
Brewitt. He has been battling
an infection since July. We
wish him better health in
2008! Be sure to read his
moving and heartfelt column
on page 6.
This past November we
celebrated
our
10th
Anniversary. I can’t believe
we have been publishing for
10 years (our first edition
was November 1997 with
Mark Pike on the cover).
Time has flown by. Over
those 10 years many things
have changed. We have celebrated 10 years of sports history in WNY. During those
10 years the high school and
college kids we have written
about have grown up, many
pro athletes have been traded, some have retired, and
others have taken their place.
It’s been an exciting 10-year
journey, which could not
have happened without the
support from our readers and
advertisers as well as all of
the top-notch contributions
from our staff.
Happy Holidays to all of
our readers and best wishes
for a happy, healthy 2008.
Sports & Leisure Magazine
469 Virginia Street, Buffalo, New York 14202
Tel.: (716) 876-2738, Fax: (716) 874-8289
Email to: [email protected]
Check us out on the web at www.sportsandleisuremag.com
Publisher & Editor Marian Giallombardo
Feature Writers Ross Brewitt, Robert Caico, The Careful Gambler, Rick Davenport, Peter
Farrell, Greg Gardner, Shirley Giallombardo, Ivan the Impaler, Ed Kilgore, Shawn Krest
(Buffalo Managing Editor), Brian Koziol, George Kuhn, Andrew Kulyk, Brian Mazurek,
Brian McFarlane, Ron Montesano, Len Mytko, Gary Reeves, Charles Roberts, Dave Sully,
Tim Wright, Rick Zurak (golf editor)
Chief Photographer Jeff Barnes
Staff Photographers Ryan Bartholomew, Nick LoVerde, Joe Valenti
Cover photos Derek Roy & Fred Jackson by Joe Valenti, Patrick Kane courtesy Chicago
Blackhawks, Sled Hockey by Kusumoto Photography/USOC
Contributing Writers Paul Adamo, Corey Erdman, Mike Fox, Alex Genovese, Glen
Jackson, Christopher Koenig, Matt Ladewski, Jeffrey S. Levine, Matt Lyon, Adam McGill,
Brian Michalek, Dave Ricci, Richard Rampello, Phil Taylor
Layout & Cover Scott Appleby, Graphic artist Liz Seivert
Assignment Editors: Shawn Krest
Copy Editors and Office Assistants Todd Grady, Jeffrey Levine, Ben Muchnik, Len
Mytko, Mark Richardson, Justin Vernold, John Williams
Please send your letters, questions, and comments to: Sports & Leisure Magazine, 469
Virginia Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 or e-mail them to [email protected].
Please include your name, address and phone number or your letter can’t be published. All
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or in part without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. ©1997,
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Sports & Leisure
Magazine.
Farewell
to a friend:
So long
Shake ‘n’ Bake
By Dave Ricci
It was the last thing I expected to hear when
I answered my cell phone on Nov. 30 at 10:15
pm.
Nick Siracuse, a running buddy of mine
from stand-up comedy delivered the news that
our long time friend Mike Glosek, had passed
away in his sleep at the age of 40.
In the blink of an eye a friend was gone and
a flood of memories came rushing through my
head.
My life today is the world of print media,
but in the 1990s stand-up comedy was my
vocation and Mike Glosek was one of the best
teachers I had.
At 18, Mike, who would go on to open for
the likes of Dennis Leary, won Amateur of the
Year contest at the Comedy Trap that was
located on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo.
That’s where I met Mike.
When I got into stand-up Mike was one of
the first local guys to compliment my act and
encourage me to come back.
Over the next couple of years Mike became
a comedy big brother to me. He never actually sat down with me and helped me map out a
plan for success. That really wasn’t Mike’s
style. He lived life like he did his act off-thecuff.
Mike, without even knowing it, gave me the
greatest bit of inspiration I ever got from
another performer: How to be myself on stage.
He also set up the first out of state road trip
I ever had.
What I remember most from that trip is that
we were young and stupid, trolling the streets
December 2007-January 2008
of Hartford until all hours in search of fun.
And how, after doing two shows on
Saturday we decided to drive all night to get
back home in time for the Bills game the next
day.
On our way home we encountered every
form of bad weather you could imagine: rain,
snow, sleet, hail and fog.
Driving for hours, running low on gas and
having no idea where we were, suddenly,
around 5 a.m. we found a gas station that I
swear came out of no where. I firmly believe
someone was watching over us that night.
Over the years we had countless shows
together. Laughs were had and we spilled our
guts about the good and bad in our lives.
A South Buffalo guy through and through,
Mike was a diehard Sabres fan and was even
laid to rest wearing a jersey of his beloved
team.
Mike wasn’t perfect and he wasn’t a saint.
Who of us is? But he was one of the nicest,
most genuinely funny people I ever knew.
Whether it was his straitjacket escape or
juggling flaming torches the guy could effortlessly have a crowd eating out of his hands in
a matter of minutes. It was like he was everybody’s best friend.
I’ll always remember his goofy laugh, his
zest for life and for being the biggest Billy Joel
fan I ever knew.
It’s impossible not to shed a tear or two
when you think of how suddenly Mike left us.
But lets also remember Mike was about having
fun.
A more fitting tribute, and the kind I know
Mike would want, would be friends telling
‘Mike stories’ as Billy Joel plays in the background.
Oh yeah, we did make it home in time for
that Bills game. Dead tired, we both passed out
before kick off.
Rest In Peace, brother.
Bills’ future
looks bright
By Ch2 Sports Director
Ed Kilgore
We still don’t know if the
Bills will cap their amazing
2007 by reaching the playoffs as this is written, but it
really doesn’t matter in
terms of what is clearly happening with the Bills, both
on the field and in the front
office.
There is the feeling, for
the first time in many years,
that the entire organization
is on the same page, and it is
the RIGHT page in the
RIGHT book!
Dick Jauron can flat-out
coach and organize, and
general manager Marv
Levy’s decision to hire
Jauron, despite his 35-45
record in five years as head
coach of the Chicago Bears,
is enough in itself to justify
Ralph Wilson’s decision to
“bring some youth into the
organization,” by bringing
Levy back and out of retirement.
I’m not sure the exact
nature of Ralph’s wishes
toward his Hall of Fame
coach
were
instantly
grasped by Marv, who
hemmed and hawed when
first asked if he might under certain circumstances
- return to the sidelines as a
head coach. Wilson cleared
it up very quickly at that initial press conference by saying Marv’s role would be to
give the organization some
stability in the wake of Tom
Donahoe’s disruptive and
mostly failed tenure.
As it turns out, Levy was
exactly the right man for the
job. Part of this is the Ivy
League intelligence connection he had right from the
start with Jauron. Like Levy,
Jauron covets players who
can not only run fast and hit
hard, but players who are
smart. There is no better
example of this than at
quarterback, where Stanford
grad Trent Edwards has
taken the reins of a team
that will be considered a
legitimate playoff contender
in 2008.
Many eyebrows were
raised when the Bills
nabbed Edwards in the third
round of the 2007 draft,
despite the fact they had
their so-called “QB of the
Future” in J.P. Losman
already here. Losman’s outstanding second half in
2006 made it seem that
Donahoe’s deal to get him in
the first round of the 2004
draft would probably work
out. But in retrospect, it’s
now obvious that both Levy
and Jauron - and for sure
offensive coordinator Steve
Fairchild - had misgivings
about Losman.
Sure, they liked Edwards,
and the fact that folks like
the late great Bill Walsh
vouched for him as a “future
NFL star” didn’t hurt.
Besides, they were legitimately surprised Edwards
was still there in the third
round - they always say that,
don’t they? - but I’ll bet their
eyes simply lit up when they
realized they could bring
him in as insurance, should
their doubts about Losman
materialize.
Another “smart” move by
the Levy-Jauron brain trust
was to really make an
EFFORT - both financial
and otherwise - to upgrade
the offensive line. Give
Donahoe credit for recognizing Jason Peters as a football player who could fit
somewhere when the Bills
signed him as a free agent
tight end out of Arkansas.
But there’s also Peters’
upside as a dominant left
tackle. Anybody know how
hard it is to find one of
these? Virtually impossible,
and incredibly expensive.
Bills offensive line coach Jim
McNally was the first to recognize Peters’ potential, and
he now says Peters has the
best upside of any offensive
lineman he’s ever coached.
It’s no coincidence that
Losman’s production skyrocketed after the Bills
moved Peters to the left side
midway through the 2006
season, protecting Losman’s
blind side. Even though
they shelled out Thomas
Vanek-type money for him
– $49 million over seven
years – left guard Derrick
Dockery has been worth
every penny, and big (6foot-8, 366-pound) right
tackle Langston Walker has
been a great fit and improvement over his departed
replacement,
Terrance
Pennington. Brad Butler,
whose name is least known
on the offensive line, has
been a beast at right guard,
and he’ll be a fixture for
years to come there. Melvin
Fowler has been an adequate center, but my hunch
is that the Bills will try to
upgrade that spot either via
the draft or free agency in
the off-season, giving them
a potentially even better line
in 2008.
Defensively, with the
return of Paul Posluszny at
middle linebacker and Ko
Simpson at free safety, the
Bills even as currently constituted should be pretty
good, considering how
young they were as a unit in
2007. I’d look for the Bills to
focus on the defensive line
in the draft in hopes of landing an impact player to help
up front, and another cornerback never hurts in the
now pass-happy NFL.
Speaking of cornerbacks,
the plethora of injuries
revealed just how good
Jabari Greer really is, and
even when Ashton Youboty
and Jason Webster are
healthy, Greer will be the
starter opposite the other
smallish but outstanding
continued on page 18
Page 3
Patrick Kane:
Pride of
South Buffalo
and Chicago
By George Kuhn
Patrick Kane’s reputation
grew after he left South Buffalo
at age 14 in search of higher levels of competition. He excelled
and scored goals playing the
best players in his age group
from around the world. But
when he dominated the world’s
best amateur league, the
Ontario Hockey League, winning the scoring championship
with 62 goals and 83 assists in
only 58 games, he became the
apple of every NHL team’s eye,
and was chosen first overall by
the Chicago Blackhawks in the
2007 NHL entry draft.
Leading his team and all NHL
rookies in scoring this season,
Kane’s goal scoring prowess was
evident in his first NHL game in
his hometown, cruising into the
slot and snapping home the
game’s opening goal for the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
Kane’s goal elicited a mixture of
cheers and jeers from fans, some
eager to support their homegrown player and others their
hometown team.
Has Kane been surprised at
how successful his rookie season has gone so far? “I had a
good start, things started coming together and I started getting a little more ice time here
and there and some more
opportunities to play with better players,” Kane said. “Before
you know it, myself and [rookie] Jonathan [Toews] are playing against the top lines. I didn’t
expect things to happen that
quickly.”
But everything hasn’t been
smooth sailing for the league’s
highest scoring rookie this season. “I’m going through a bit of
a slump right know,” Kane said
in the days leading up to his
Buffalo debut against the Sabres.
“I’ve talked to the coaches and
the GM and the biggest thing is
to keep working hard in prac-
Photo courtesy Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane celebrating his
first goal against goalie
Dominik Hasek.
tice and don’t get down on yourself because this is a tough
league. It’s the best league in the
world and you’re going to go
through these things. As long as
you’re working hard and doing
the right things, things should
work out.”
Confidence plays a big role in
the success of any athlete and
Kane is no different.
“I have become more confident,” Kane said. “In the preseason, I felt kind of lost out there.
The regular season is supposed
to be tougher, but I’ve found
myself more confident and
more ready to play at this level.
I think the biggest thing for me
is to just go out there and play
the game that got me here and I
should be OK. My first shift in
my first game I was so excited. If
I was just a little more calm I
probably would have had a goal
because the puck was up in the
air and if I had my normal confidence I probably would have
had a goal but I missed an open
net.”
The presence of fellow
Western New York native Kevin
Adams on the Blackhawks has
helped Kane’s transition to the
NHL. “Kevin has been great,”
Kane said. “I was with him in
training camp. It’s unfortunate
he got injured because he was
having a great season. His role
on the team was unbelievable.
He’s unbelievable in the [dressing] room. It’s fun seeing him
around the rink again because
he just brings joy to the rink.
He’s a great leader and a great
guy too.”
What does young Kane think
about the possibility of representing the United States in
Olympic ice hockey play? “That
would be unbelievable to play
in the Olympics one day and
put on the USA sweater,” Kane
answered.
At 5-feet-10 inches and only
163 pounds, Patrick Kane feels
that having former Hawk star
Denis Savard, who also stood 510, as his coach is very useful. “I
think it definitely helps,” Kane
said. “We can relate to each
other with the style of game that
we both play. People mention
my size, but if I was 6-feet-3,
230 pounds, maybe I wouldn’t
be the same player I am today.”
The outstanding play of
rookies Patrick Kane and
Jonathan Toews have helped to
turn around the fortunes of the
rather moribund Chicago
Blackhawks, perhaps the
league’s most mis-managed
franchise since the early 1970s
when they decided to let Bobby
Hull sign with the rival World
Hockey Association. “It was
funny coming into the season,”
Kane said. “There wasn’t much
buzz about the Blackhawks and
the attendance hadn’t been very
good. But the first game of the
season we sold out. I think
things are turning around for us
and if I can be a part of that,
that’s great.”
After his first hometown
game, Kane thanked the people
in Buffalo for the positive reception they gave him. “Buffalo is
where my life is, it’s where my
family is. It’s where I started
playing hockey. It’s where I go
back to in the summer; it’s
where my friends are,” Kane
said. “It’s fun, it’s the NHL, I’m
19 years old, playing with
another 19 year old in
[Jonathan] Toews. We’re young
kids and we really don’t know
any better. We just want to go
out there and have fun and do
whatever we can to help the
team win.”
Page 4
Heartbreaks and comebacks: Bills’ season in review
By Shawn Krest
The Buffalo Bills made an
improbable playoff run after
an 0-3 start to the season,
playing truly meaningful lateseason games for the first time
in recent memory. Normally,
that would be the most meaningful headline of the season,
but 2007 was far from a normal season in Western New
York.
It was a season marred by
heartbreak and tragedy that
left observers optimistic for
the future. By midseason,
Buffalo seemed to have closed
the book on its quarterback of
the future, only to end the season with the position filled
capably by a young prospect.
Here is a look back at the
paradoxical season with the
year’s
most
emotional
moments.
Week One, Third Quarter,
15:00 remaining
Buffalo went into halftime
leading a hard-hitting opening
game against Denver. On the
second-half kickoff, the scoreboard became secondary.
Backup tight end Kevin
Everett injured his neck making a tackle and fell motionless to the Ralph Wilson
Stadium turf. The next few
minutes offered more on-field
drama than any game ever
could as paramedics and doctors rushed to Everett’s aid.
The treatment administered in
Against all odds:
Fred Jackson’s rise to prominence
rookie
starter
By Shawn Krest
Marshawn Lynch
NFL
teams
and veteran backspend a fortune
up
Anthony
on college scoutThomas both went
ing so that, on
down with injury.
draft day, they
Jackson was called
can select the
upon to start Week
prospects most
13
against
likely to succeed
Wa s h i n g t o n ,
in the league. It is
becoming the first
a
complicated
Division III player
evaluation
to start at running
process that comback in the NFL in
bines science and
seven years.
instinct.
Earning his first
Of
course,
start
against
sometimes the
Washington held
best prospect is a
special meaning
guy who graduatfor Jackson. “I get
ed five years ago
to go out and I get
from
Coe
to play against one
College.
of
my
idols,
When running
London Fletcher,”
back
Fred
Jackson said before
Jackson appeared
the game. The foron the Bills’ trainmer Bills lineing camp roster,
Photo by Joe Valenti
backer is also a
his stat line was
Fred Jackson went from third string quarterback
Division III prodmet with snickers
to starting running back in a wild rookie season.
uct.
and jeers. Surely
W h e n
the only reason
Washington opened the
opportunity.”
that a 26-year old with no
game with 10 defenders, in
Jackson spent last season
NFL experience would get an
tribute to fallen safety Sean
on Buffalo’s practice squad. “I
invite to camp is that he
Taylor, it was Jackson who
can’t say that there was one
shares an alma mater with
ran for 22 yards, en route to
major event that changed
Buffalo general manager
an 82-yard day. The next
[my fortunes],” Jackson said.
Marv Levy.
week, against Miami, he
“I got the opportunity to go
“We were two different
formed a dual threat with
over to NFL Europe. I was
generations,” said Jackson,
Lynch, as both backs broke
able to perform when I was
who graduated from Coe 53
the 100-yard mark.
over there and able to come
years after Levy. “I can say
“I think it would be a great
back and make it on the practhat much. We have the conopportunity for both of us to
tice squad here. I think if anyversations about the school,
be out there,” Jackson said. “
thing that was it. Just being
but other than that we don’t
I know it’s something that I
able to be a part of this team
have any old alumni stories.”
have talked to Marshawn
on the practice squad. I was
It’s not unheard of for a
about it and he’s talked about
able to get the looks and get
Division III player to make an
it with me. I definitely wouldsome of the coaches to notice
NFL roster. A D-III player
n’t mind doing it ... I feel that
that I was here.”
making the team a half
I could go out and do whatJackson survived the cut
decade after his last college
ever the coaches ask me to
this year and found himself
season, however, is pushing
do. If they asked me to go
on Buffalo’s 53-man roster.
the bounds of probability.
play receiver I think I could
Then came an odd few weeks
Jackson bounced around the
go play receiver.”
where Jackson was deactivatfootball bush leagues. He was
Running back, receiver,
ed on game day. Unlike most
named MVP of something
backup quarterback. After
deactivated players, however,
called the United Indoor
the journey that Fred Jackson
Jackson got to wear a Bills
Football League, then travhas had, he’s not going to be
uniform on Sundays because
eled to Germany and led NFL
picky about where he gets to
the team designated him as
Europa’s Rhein Fire in rushplay. Just as long as it’s sometheir emergency quarterback.
ing. Needless to say, Jackson
where on an NFL field, he’s
While both J.P. Losman and
has worn his share of ugly
content.
Trent Edwards suffered
uniforms, ridden plenty of
“It’s something I definitely
injuries this year, neither
buses, and cashed paychecks
sit down and talk to my wife
went down in the same game.
far too small for the beating
about,” Jackson said. “We
Had they, Jackson would
his body was taking.
know that it was a long
have seen his first action as a
“You definitely start to
process and going from a
quarterback at any level of
think about [life after footDivision III to playing in the
football.
ball],” Jackson said. “You
indoor league to NFL Europe
While the Bills never had
have to have a backup plan. I
to here now, it’s something
to break the glass on emergot my degree, and there was
that I definitely think about
gency quarterback Fred
a point where I was thinking
and know that I’ve put in
Jackson, the running back
maybe this isn’t going to
time. Now I have to make the
position did reach code red
work out. But luckily it did.
best of this opportunity.”
status. Late in the season,
I’m here and I have this
the first time
those first few
all
season,
post-injury
faint glimmers
moments led to
of hope were
the biggest comevisible.
back of the year.
W e e k
Everett eventually
Thirteen,
regained motion
First Quarter,
in his limbs and
7:10 remaintook a few halting
ing
steps on his own.
Buffalo
Week
One,
once
again
Fourth Quarter,
found itself at
0:00 remaining
the center of a
Last-second
tragic story
losses are often
having nothcalled a hearting to do with
break, but with
the score of
the black cloud of
the game. The
Everett’s injury
team traveled
still hanging over
t
o
the stadium, the
Washington
end of the game
on the heels of
seemed an afterRedskin safety
thought. Denver
Sean Taylor’s
kicker Jason Elam
shooting
rushed onto the
Photo by Michael P. Majewski i
death. After
field and kicked a
Trent Edwards helped spur Buffalo’s remarkable turnan emotional
field goal as time
around in 2007.
pre-game cerexpired, giving
emony, the Skins took the field
over a month, the Bills
the Broncos their only lead of
with only 10 defenders, leavwatched a last-second field
the day. The twin body blows
ing Taylor’s spot vacant for
goal give their opponent the
sent the team into a tailspin
one play. The Bills, rememberfirst lead of the game as time
that led to an 0-3 start to the
ing that no one took pity on
expired. And a long season for
season.
them while they coped with
Buffalo got even longer.
Week Three, First Quarter,
the Everett injury, ran for 22
Week Seven, Third Quarter,
8:51 remaining
yards on the play. At game’s
11:31 remaining, and Fourth
It was Trent Edwards’ secend, the last-second field goal
Quarter, 1:49 remaining
ond play in the NFL. Starter
came off the foot of Bills kickIn a tight home game
J.P. Losman, coming off two
er Rian Lindell. As one team’s
against Baltimore, all signs
sub-par weeks to open the seasituation mirrored the start to
pointed toward another
son, went down on a late hit
Buffalo’s season, the Bills’
tough-to-swallow loss. Buffalo
against the New England
comeback continued.
held a slim 9-0 lead at halfPatriots. The rookie quarterWeek 15, About an hour
time, then watched as Willis
back entered the game and
before game time. With the
McGahee broke loose for a 46quickly hit Peerless Price on a
Bills preparing for a road game
yard touchdown run. While
16-yard completion. Edwards’
against Cleveland that would
fans were asking why
first NFL drive led to a touchlikely mean a playoff berth for
McGahee never showed such
down. A week later, his first
the winner, the weather outbreakaway speed while wearNFL start led to the team’s first
side turned frightful. The Bills
ing a Bills uniform, Willis sat
win of 2007. The team eventuwere unable to move the ball
gasping on the sidelines. A
ally went back to Losman
on offense, and the defense
worn-out McGahee took an
before Edwards took the job
couldn’t stop the Browns on a
IV but never saw the field
for keeps.
clock-killing late game drive.
again. Late in the game, with
Week Five, Fourth Quarter,
When the dust, and snow,
Baltimore driving and looking
0:00 remaining
cleared, the Bills suffered an
to wipe out a 19-14 Bills lead,
Monday Night Football
ugly 8-0 loss that ended their
Buffalo defensive end Aaron
returned to Buffalo, and viewpostseason hopes for another
Schobel put pressure on quarers were treated to a wild
year. Still, with a young hardterback Kyle Boller on a
game. Edwards and a ballworking team, the pieces seem
fourth-down play. The pass
hawking defense led the Bills
to be in place for a 2008 filled
sailed wide of its intended
to a late lead against the undewith memorable moments.
receiver, and a couple of
feated Dallas Cowboys. Then,
breaks went the Bills way. For
for the second time in just
Page 5
Veteran goaltender Thibault enjoying journey’s latest stop
By Charles Roberts
Guys like Sabres goaltender Jocelyn Thibault are
what hockey is all about.
Born in the NHL hotbed of
Montreal, the 15-year veteran has seen it all.
In 1991, mega-prospect
Eric Lindros refused to suitup for the Quebec
Nordiques. His holdout
kept him off NHL ice for
the entire 1991-92 season.
About a year later, the team
eventually began considering offers, and eventually
accepting two. The problem
was; which offer did they
actually accept? The speculation at the time was that
they agreed to terms with
both the New York Rangers
and Philadelphia Flyers.
The controversy swirled,
but once it was all said and
done, the Nordiques sent
Lindros to Philadelphia in
exchange for forward Mike
Ricci, goaltender Ron Hextall,
defensemen Steve Duchesne
and Kerry Huffman, future
considerations, $15 million
USD and two first-round draft
picks; one of which was a
wide-eyed
18-year-old
Thibault.
Nothing is more welcoming
to a career at a young age than
a boatload of drama, huh?
“Yeah … that was a little
crazy,” said Thibault, who is
now approaching his 33rd
birthday.
That was only the tip of the
iceberg. Thibault would play
two seasons in Quebec, before
Jocelyn Thibault was “thrilled”
to join the Sabres, and has truly
enjoyed the city’s passion for
hockey.
relocating with the team to
Denver, where they became
the Colorado Avalanche. After
posting a 3-4-2 record,
Thibault was traded back to
his hometown in a deal where
he would swap places with
one of his childhood idols,
goaltender Patrick Roy. He
played the better part of the
next three seasons in
Montreal, where he would
have the honor of winning the
last game ever played at the
fabled Montreal Forum.
On Nov. 16, 1998, Thibualt
was traded to the Chicago
Blackhawks. He became an
immediate impact player,
enjoying five-consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins,
including an All-Star
appearance during the
2002-03 campaign. In
2003-04 however, his season was cut short by injury
and the Blackhawks began
their downward spiral,
dropping
among
the
league’s bottom five teams
for the first time in 16 years.
Following the doom-andgloom season for Thibault
and the Blackhawks came
the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
After the dust cleared,
Thibault
joined
the
Pittsburgh Penguins, where
he had now evolved into a
seasoned veteran, primed to
help mentor the young
team.
“Coming
through
Pittsburgh with a young
team, seeing all the guys so
upbeat helped me understand what I’ve seen and been
through,” Thibault said.
After two seasons in
Pittsburgh, Thibault latched
on with the Sabres, a team
hungry for a solid veteran to
solidify the backup role. He
knew coming into Buffalo that
he wasn’t going to unseat
Miller, but it wasn’t about that.
Knowing that Miller is the face
of this Sabres team, Thibault is
still willing to offer advice to
the 27-year-old, when he asks.
“[There’s] not much [I can
offer] unless he comes to me,”
Thibault said when asked
about giving advice to Miller.
“He’s one of the best goalies in
the league. He’s very consistent, very strong and every
aspect of his game is very
sound. Sometimes I share
things that I know of other
teams, other players, things I
see, and occasionally he
comes to me. For the most
part though, he’s pretty good
with knowing his own game.”
Miller isn’t one to hype his
own game to the level that
Thibault spoke of, but certainly seemed appreciative to have
a veteran in the locker stall
immediately to his right.
“Jocelyn’s really a great
guy,” Miller said earnestly.
“He’s real positive and I’ve had
a great time working with
him. He’s real easy to talk to
and has been a big help to me.
He’s always very interested in
what’s going on, so it’s great to
have conversations with him.
It definitely helps coming in
and being comfortable with
somebody, it gives you the
feeling you’re working toward
the same goal.”
So, how is a guy like
Thibault different from the
guys who occupied the locker
before him?
“Well … Ty [Conklin] is
just a different type of guy all
together,” Miller said, laugh-
ing. “They’re all good guys
though. I like watching the
way [Thibault] works in practice, how he interacts with the
guys and it’s obviously nice to
have someone with his experience to talk to.”
Through
his
travels,
Thibault says his experience
thus far in Buffalo reminds
him a lot of playing across the
border. He enjoys the passion,
the jam-packed HSBC Arena
crowd, the crisp weather and
the pro-hockey atmosphere
that the region has to offer.
“It’s very similar to what
players can experience in
Montreal or Quebec City,”
Thibault said. “This city is a
great hockey town. People are
really into the Sabres.
Everywhere you go you get
recognized and get asked
some questions about the
team. It’s a very Canadian-like
atmosphere in terms of hockey here. Really, it’s awesome.”
Although
the
Sabres
became the fifth team on his
journey, he doesn’t view it as
being another notch on the
belt, or just another stop along
the way. He seems genuinely
excited to be wearing the blue
and gold. When you talk to a
guy of Thibault’s character, it’s
apparent that hockey runs
through his veins. He speaks
with a subtle reminder of his
French-Canadian origins, and
one can tell that he enjoys his
role, regardless of whether he’s
playing three games or 30.
Professional athletes who
have been in the spotlight
often can’t accept being relegated to a backup role. With
Thibault, that doesn’t seem to
be the case.
“I was thrilled,” Thibault
said of joining the Sabres. “I
was joining a good team, a
good organization that’s been
winning the last couple of
years on a steady basis. This is
a young team that is very talented. Everybody is excited to
be at the rink. It’s cool for me,
because, I’ll tell one of the
younger guys: ‘hey, this goalie
does this, or that guy has a
tendency to do this.’ I’m not
just going around and pretending to be some great mentor that has all the answers,
but I’ve been around and there
are a few things that I’ve
noticed.”
Determination and Derek Roy
Number nine
expected to
play like
number one
By George Kuhn
Nicknamed “The Rat” as a
junior player with the
Kitchener Rangers, Derek
Roy had a playing style similar to Ken Linseman or former Sabre Matthew Barnaby.
He would be the skilled player who knew how to get
under his opponents’ skin.
But Derek Roy has not
exhibited any such disagreeable persona so far in his
NHL career. So whatever
happened to “Derek the Rat?”
“I think there were a lot
smaller guys in the OHL
[junior],” Roy said. “The
guys are a lot bigger and
stronger in this league.
Playing 20-22 minutes a
game I try to save energy so
I’m not going to throw checks
against Chara who’s 6-feet-9.
I’m going to pick my spots.
Sometimes you’ve got to lay
off and hope a guy like Chara
doesn’t throw you around the
rink.”
It appears Roy made the
right decision regarding his
career
direction.
Concentrating on his skills
helped Roy enjoy a breakout
season in 2006-07 with 21
goals and 42 assists for 63
points with a plus 37. He
helped
his
line-mates
Thomas Vanek and Max
Afinogenov also enjoy breakout seasons as the line established itself as one of the top
two-way units in the league.
But they benefited from playing against other teams’[ lesser players as last year’s Daniel
Briere and Chris Drury lines,
seeded numbers one and two,
drew the oppositions’ best
Derek Roy, the Sabres’ leading scorer.
opponents.
With off-season personnel
changes seeing Briere and
Drury leaving Buffalo, Roy
and his mates were faced
with the challenge of being
the Sabres’ number one line
and drawing the oppositions’
top checkers. “I knew I
would have to provide more
offense this year and play in
all situations offensively and
defensively, penalty kills and
five on threes,” Roy said. “I
knew my role would change
a lot. I was mentally and
physically ready. I did a good
job of working out in the
summer because I wanted to
get mentally focused for the
season and start off well.”
Roy says his season so far
has met his expectations.
“I’m playing over 20 minutes
a night. That’s where I want
to be, every player wants to
play more and play in tough
situations and get the team to
win.”
The NHL’s increasing focus
on defensive play has not
hindered Roy’s play. “I’ve just
got to keep working, keep my
feet moving, use my speed
and my line mates Thomas
and Drew,” Roy said. “They’re
great players and they move
the puck very well. So, I’ve
just got to get open sometimes and make plays.”
Even though he is one of
the smaller players in the
league, Derek is well prepared for the steadily increasing level of physical play in
the NHL. “I don’t mind the
physical play,” Roy said. “I’ve
just got to keep my head up
and roll off checks and be
ready for it. It seems in the
Western Conference there’s a
lot more hitting and tighter
games. It’s good to see that
even with the rule changes
that’s still in the game.”
Derek Roy’s success as a
hockey player has not been
by accident. “I’m a perfectionist on the ice, but not
really in anything else,” Roy
explained. “I like to work
hard in practice and make
sure everything is right. I like
to make sure every pass is on
the tape. I like to score every
time I get the puck. In junior
I was always the last guy off
the ice working on my game.
I always had that dedication
and drive to make it. Now I’m
here and I want to make a difference for the Buffalo
Sabres.”
When he’s not playing
hockey, Derek enjoys playing
the drums and guitar. “I’m
not very good at the guitar,
but the drums I’m pretty
good at,” Roy said, joking
about not being the backup,
or second-string guitar player
to his teammate Ryan Miller,
who is known for his proficiency with the guitar.
“Ryan’s pretty good and so is
Drew Stafford. I’m not even
near their level. I’m like the
eighth string player compared to them.”
Page 6
All I really
want for
Christmas
By Ross Brewitt
Of all the times I’ve
woken up in a recovery
room setting, this one was
the closest to Christmas.
Regardless, the routine
remains the same.
Loud voices always ask:
“How do you feel?” I usually have an immediate,
silly urge to belt out the
chorus of “Some Kind’a
Wonderful,.” but even at
this early stage, experience
dictates holding off until
the weightless elevator
you’re riding hits the lobby
stop.
Because even the most
rabid sports fan never
squeezes an eye open in a
recovery room and wonders aloud if the Sabres
prevailed over those arrogant Leafs, or if the Bills
lost another in the dying
seconds. In fact, I have
always equated this anesthetic dawning to the
“morning after” syndrome.
Happy to be alive, but
wondering if it’s worth it?
As is the norm, the worst is
yet to come.
In this case, back at the
end of July I was bitten,
twice, inside the ear by an
insect, and the resulting
infection took up residence
in my artificial knee
replacement, a medical
marvel that had never
given me a moment’s pause
over the entire 12 year
period it was in place.
When this mini-disaster
struck I was put on 24-7
antibiotic IV and the battle
was on to beat the infection.
After four months, second opinions from an
infection specialist and
another surgeon, it was
decided to get at the root of
the stubborn problem by
removing the old metal
knee parts, installing an
anti-biotic-laced temporary spacer, and undergoing more vigorous IV treatment in the hopes that this
would overcome the infection and allow a new knee
replacement to be installed
sometime in February.
This is where I found
myself on that recovery
room “morning after,” concerned and mulling over
the effect on my “fluid,
grooved, golf swing,” how
this setback would impact
my freebie tournament
schedule in ‘08, and the
cosmetic effect on my formerly shapely game after
three surgeries. Then,
when I began my way
through the system to
begin my rehab, I met a
man I’ll call “Dar.” All my
worrying and fretting over
golf and bug bites was
about to be cancelled.
“Dar,” I learned, was an
Egyptian derivative, the
equivalent of “Hank” to
Henry in English. We
became roomies in the
“step-down unit,” a place
reserved for those lurking
between the regular wards
and intensive care units.
Suffice it to say we were
there because of our postoperation problems.
An incongruous pairing
to be sure. Dar, a 64-yearold heart patient, small
businessman and academic, had immigrated to
Montreal a week before the
outbreak of the short-lived
Sinai War of 1967. His
knowledge of sports, particularly hockey and football, matched my expertise
in Egyptian antiquities and
hieroglyphics. Our relationship was also helped
by the fact I had seen an
“Indiana Jones” movie or
two.
While he gave me a
crash course in the history
of his country, I provided
insight into his questions
about “the coolest game on
ice.” Surprisingly, the conversations produced a lot
of laughing.
Then came the day
when, trapped by my
mobility limitations, I was
privy to the doctor’s assessment of Dar’s situation.
Those privacy curtains are
not soundproof.
In short, the news hit
like a sledgehammer. His
heart, already in distress,
was only pumping at 25
percent. The outlook was
dire, and long term, a regimen of drugs and good fortune was the only chance
of success. The consequences were left unsaid.
The rest of the day was
quiet and the curtain
remained
in
place.
Through the door to the
hallway, my view showed
only the Christmas decorations and flashing lights on
a small countertop tree at
the nurse’s station.
But by the next morning,
Dar had pulled out of his
enforced face-plant, and
we picked up on Hockey
202 with new dedication,
and a few days later when I
was discharged and on my
way back home to enjoy
non-hospital food, a real
bed, plus the supporting
cast of family and friends
over the holidays, we
shook hands.
As I rolled away in a
wheelchair, I couldn’t help
but wonder about the
number of times we assign
the word “courage” to our
sports “heroes,” when their
aches and pains, in the
overall scheme, are merely
inconveniences. Like mine.
“Courage” was Dar
wishing me the best of luck
with my small problem.
Merry Christmas Dar.
May Santa bring you everything you wish for.
It happened
in hockey
By Brian McFarlane
Someone said to me
recently, “This kid Sidney
Tips on
scoring
By Gary Reeves
To possess the scoring
touch that many hockey
players dream of, one must
incorporate a number of factors. One important factor is
the type of shot that you use
and knowing when it should
be used.
Let’s start with the wrist
shot, probably the most accurate of all shots in hockey.
The wrist shot not only uses
the power from the wrists,
but also from the legs and
upper body. This shot is best
used within 20 feet of the net,
however many wrist shots
have resulted in goals at even
further distances with great
success, a feat that Joe Sakic
has demonstrated many
Crosby is going to make
everyone in Pittsburgh forget
about Mario Lemieux.”
What nonsense. True
Pittsburgh Penguins’ fans will
never forget Super Mario.
Without him there would be
no
NHL
hockey
in
Pittsburgh.
For 17 seasons Lemieux
was an incredible presence on
the ice, one of the most gifted
players ever to perform in the
NHL. He set numerous
records despite a number of
serious injuries and illnesses
that threatened to drive him
to the sidelines - if not into an
early grave.
When Lemieux first retired
from hockey after the 199697 season, following a battle
with Hodgkin’s disease and
two major back surgeries, he
had captured the league scoring crown six times, helped
bring two Stanley Cups to
Pittsburgh and had scored
613 career goals. His goalsper-game average of .823 was
the highest in history, higher
even than Wayne Gretzky’s.
And his points-per-game
average of 2.005 was also the
highest in history.
But there were times his
big, strong body failed him
times. What makes the wrist
shot so dangerous is not only
the quick release, but also the
deceptiveness of the shot. A
player can release the puck in
mid-stride without telegraphing his shot or while making
a deke, both with reasonable
accuracy for an unsuspecting
goaltender.
The snap shot is probably
the most dangerous shot of
all when used approximately
10 to 15 feet or closer to the
net. This shot is usually
released from a quick pass in
front of the net and is especially deadly within a crowd.
The snap shot can be released
as a ‘one-timer’ without trapping the puck if the pass is
right on the stick, or with a
swift curl into the skates and
a quick ‘snap’ within 10 inches of the puck.
The slap shot has more
velocity than either the wrist
or snap shot and can be
released from almost anywhere on the ice surface.
Most slap shots occur from
just inside the blue line, and
are the favored shot among
most defensemen. This shot
is extremely dangerous when
used through a screen, or
when the goaltender’s vision
of the puck is blocked by
players in front of him. This
shot is also very dangerous
because of its velocity where
tip-ins from a stick or a
deflection from a player causes a redirection of the puck –
a nightmare for goaltenders! I
might add, however, that the
slap shot is the least accurate
and also the most telegraphed
of all shots.
I must also point out that
to be a successful goal scorer,
a player must not only master
the mechanics of the shot and
when to use it, but also be
able to shoot the puck when
least expected and by using
peripheral vision. Shooting a
puck when a player or goaltender least expects it is the
most powerful weapon of all.
Be careful not to focus on
where your target is. If you
do, you’re saying to the goaltender: “Get ready, that’s
where I’m going to put the
puck!” You have telegraphed
your shot, and the goaltender
is going to be there. Use your
peripheral vision, look at one
spot, and put the puck in the
other!
For more information or
questions about our pro-skating hockey skills clinic, call
Gary Reeves, (905) 384-0508
or fax, (905) 384-0430.
Well-traveled goaltender finds home in Jamestown
By Corey Erdman
Chris Cuppett is no
stranger to unusual trade situations.
The 27-year-old netminder from Johnstown, Pa. has
spent time with Cincinnati,
Reading,
Dayton,
and
Johnstown of the ‘AA’ East
Coast Hockey League. He
was once a backup for the
Trenton Devils when they
faced
the
Cincinnati
Cyclones, then packed his
bags, switched buses, and
backed up for Cincinnati
against Dayton the following
night.
“I heard it from the fans a
little bit that second night,”
Cuppett said.
Having played Division-I
hockey at Washington &
Jefferson
University,
Jamestown fans will remember Cuppett as the Valley
Forge
goaltender
who
squared against Viking’s
backstop Justin Garay during
the fight-filled Nov. 2 matchup.
On Dec. 1, Cuppett was
traded to Jamestown for a
player to be named later, join-
Photo www,TheCapturedImage.biz
The journeyman ECHLer
Cuppett will bring stability
and experience to the
Jamestown crease.
ing his opponent in the
Vikings crease.
“If you don’t understand
that fighting is part of the
game, then it’s not for you to
criticize,” Cuppett said. “It
was all in good fun, we joked
about round two next time.”
After trying his hand in the
working world post-university, Cuppett “couldn’t handle
the six- and seven-day weeks
sometimes,” and missed playing hockey. After time in the
Northeastern
Hockey
League, he received a call
from the Johnstown Chiefs,
and began his wild ride
through the ECHL.
“It’s an experience I
wouldn’t trade for anything,”
Cuppett said. “But I think the
difference between the ECHL
and the MAHL is just the
love of the game. Some of the
[ECHL] guys are still AHL
affiliated, but everyone here
is playing because they love
it.”
Upon joining the Vikings,
Cuppett made an immediate
impact, stopping 28 of 32
shots in his first start, a 6-4
road win over the Wooster
(Ohio) Warriors.
The veteran no doubt
deserves the playing time he
was not receiving in Valley
Forge, and is grateful to have
landed in Jamestown.
“The fans here have been
incredible,” Cuppett said.
“Would I like to make the
jump back to ‘AA’ again? Of
course. But if it doesn’t happen, I’d be more than thrilled
to spend my career in
Jamestown.”
Big man Mancari coming into his own
Say it ain’t so
By Corey Erdman
As Nelly Furtado soulfully
crooned, “Why do all good
things come to an end?”
The 29-year marriage
between
the
Rochester
Americans and the Buffalo
Sabres will come to an end
this season. It is speculated
that the Florida Panthers will
become the sole NHL affiliate
of the Amerks, and that
Buffalo will seek a new partner, rumored to be the
Portland Pirates.
On more than one occasion, the Amerks made late
payments to the Sabres and
other partners, causing friction in the relationship over
the past year. Not to mention
that the Amerks are nearly $2
million in debt, according to
an audit commissioned by the
city of Rochester.
But how are the Amerks not
profitable? This is a minorleague team that once drew
over 17,000 fans to a game.
Perhaps it’s Nelly and her
stellar album “Loose” that are
keeping Amerks fans at home.
Or perhaps it’s the more plausible explanation: the trickledown effect from all the
hoopla surrounding the starspangled boys this season has
caused fans to stop caring.
Let’s not kid ourselves,
however. Rochester still ranks
third in the AHL in average
attendance, and second in
total attendance behind the
archrival Hershey Bears. They
remain in the upper-echelon
Page 7
of the AHL’s attendance, one of
four teams who draw an average above 6,000. While an
average attendance of 7,410
isn’t jaw-dropping, the fact
remains that hockey’s attendance - NHL, AHL, and ECHL
- is down universally.
Recently, Amerks attendance has been dwindling to
within the 2,500 range, which
isn’t laughable by AHL standards, but is alarming for such
a storied franchise.
Amerks
owner
Steve
Donner has stated that the
team’s troubles boil down to
two major issues: a lack of veteran players, and a lack of
concession revenue sharing.
While Donner makes great
points, there is little that the
Amerks can do - given their
current split-franchise situation - about their lack of veteran players. The Amerks are
consisted of half Sabres-property players, and half
Panthers-property players.
Thus, both teams only have
roughly fourteen total roster
spots on their farm club.
There is simply no room for
veterans that the NHL clubs
have no interest in calling up.
Moreover, the AHL implemented a “developmental
rule” during the lockout
2004-2005 season that creates
a strict limit of 17 skaters (not
counting two goaltenders)
that teams may dress for a regular-season game, with at least
12 qualified as “development
By Corey Erdman
It’s the recurring story with
the Rochester Americans this
season:
another
player
emerges as a leader. On a
team without any AHL veterans—or so much as a
player over 26—the financially strapped Amerks are
a heart-and-soul squad that
relies on grit, and a new
star each night. But, if there
is a stabilizing influence
this season, it is most certainly Mark Mancari.
The 6-foot-4 power forward has been a late
bloomer in every organization he’s spent time with.
Mancari grew up playing
alongside
Philadelphia
Flyers’ center Jeff Carter,
skating together all the way
until junior hockey began.
While his childhood friend
and minor hockey linemate was thrust into a
Calder Cup final with the
Philadelphia
Phantoms
before rising to NHL stardom,
Mancari took the long route.
Following a breakout year in
which he scored 36 goals for
the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario
Hockey League in 2004-2005,
Mancari was selected by the
Sabres in the seventh round of
the NHL Entry Draft.
“It was definitely an honor
to play for [coach] Brian
Kilrea,” Mancari said. “He’s
kind of a hard-ass your first
year, but you learn a lot from
it, how to handle the pressure
of the game. The way he
Pominville and Derek Roy
having lengthy stints with the
Amerks.
“Playing with Brandon was
awesome. He’s a good
captain [and] he’s really
easy to play with. He
helped me mature as a
player,” Mancari recalled.
“I learned a lot from
Brandon both on the ice
and off the ice as well.
“Buffalo is really good
that way. They take their
time in developing their
players and [do] not rush
them into the NHL,”
Mancari added. “That’s
something you can give
them kudos for, because
guys like Roy and
Pominville … almost that
whole team [played in
Rochester]. You can’t just
name a few guys, you can
name almost a whole
Photo by 20 Toe Photo
team.
So they definitely
The Buffalo Sabres have high
understand what they’re
hopes for power forward Mancari.
doing.”
Mancari saw his point
hopes for Mancari, but as a
totals and plus/minus rise in
testament to both the Sabres’
each of his previous two years
patience in development and
with the Amerks. He posted a
Mancari’s maturity, he was not
solid rookie pro campaign in
rushed into high-pressure sit2005-2006 scoring 18 goals
uations. Bounced between
and adding 24 assists. He folplaying forward and the bluelowed up with a 23 goal, 57line, Mancari laughs at the
point effort in his sophomore
very mention of playing
year. He settled in as a foralongside then team captain
ward, and his improvements
Brandon Smith. The slow
earned him his first NHL callgrooming comes as no surup, for three games in 2006prise, as nearly half of the
2007, registering one assist.
Sabres’ current players began
At the time of publication,
their pro careers in Rochester,
the assistant captain was leadwith current stars like Jason
coached his players, we all
definitely felt we were ready
for the next level.”
The Sabres have high
ing the Amerks with 25
points. Also noteworthy are
the ways his points are coming: just six goals, but 17
assists, a stark contrast from
his numbers during his final
year of junior hockey, when
he posted more goals (36)
than assists (32). The comparisons to Joe Thornton and yes, Jeff Carter - are
beginning to pop up in hockey circles. Mancari is sound
defensively, a great passer, and
certainly fits the bill for the
size the Sabres may soon
need.
Mancari is definitely in the
right hands to be developed
into a responsible, unselfish,
two-way forward. Amerks
coach Randy Cunneyworth,
who was selected by the
Sabres in the eighth round of
the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
and spent several seasons in
Rochester and Buffalo, carved
a 19-year niche out for himself in the NHL as a gritty forward who put defense—and
his teammates—first.
“Cunney’s a good coach.
He’s a players coach,” Mancari
said. “He’s had all kinds of different teams, veteran teams,
younger teams like us. For
me, he’s helped in a lot of
ways. And also playing with
Brandon and playing defense
have helped me complete my
game. And I continue to look
for things and work on things
that I think will help me get
better.”
Page 8
Future fantasy eyes
Local boxing
happenings
By Bob Caico
Jimmy Ralston and the Olympia Boxing
Club hosted a 12-bout amateur card at the
Leonard Post in Cheektowaga on Dec. 8. This
is the second month in a row that Ralston has
put on an exciting and highly entertaining
card there.
Sequan Felton (RSM)
Anthony Nunez (Olympia)
Matt Hoelscher (Olympia)
Jeradial Figueroa
(Roc Boxing)
Salahadeen Muhammad
(Bomb Sq.)
Jalal Ricks (Ithaca)
Marshawn Jones (Olympia)
Wilfredo Justiano (Olympia)
Chantel Wier (U.B.)
Kevin Durmai (Olympia)
Mike Shul (Lackawanna)
Guy Maybe (Jo Jo’s)
Kevin Durmai (left) of the Olympia
Boxing Club tangles with Mike
Penque of Thunder Boxing at Jimmy
Ralston’s amateur card at the
Leonard post.
dec 3-2
dec 5-0
dec 5-0
Tyson Coker (RSM)
90 lbs
Alex Tamm (Ithaca)
150 lbs
Randy Everett (Roc Boxing) 168 lbs
RSC-2
Joe Portero (U.B.)
147 lbs
RSC-2
dec 4-1
dec 5-0
dec 4-1
dec 5-0
dec 5-0
dec 4-1
rtm-injury
John Bucks (Jo Jo’s)
Adam Farrell (Erie)
Javano Santago (Erie)
Mauricio Ramos (Erie)
Haleigh Evangelista (Ithaca)
Mike Pengue (Thunder)
Alex Stigleimere (Olympia)
Mike Guzda (Dunkirk)
201+
201+
125 lbs
125 lbs
120 lbs
165 lbs
112 lbs
201+
The Future Boxing Club in Rochester held an amateur show in their gym on Nov. 17. Joe
Frazier’s Club was invited and brought a few of their talented boxers to the show, as did
Rochester St. Martins’ club and the host club.
D’Andres Hockerson (RSM)
Karron Richardon (Frazier)
Nathaniel Keith
(Bflo. NWCC)
Ravelle Harris (RSM)
Lavisis Williams (Future)
Denzell Johnson (RSM)
Laquan Washington (RSM)
Brandon Williams (Future)
Murry Cunningham (Future)
WNY area professional
boxers were busy lately albeit
not locally.
James Ventry of Niagara
Falls won by TKO in the first
round on Dec. 6 in Lemmore,
Calif. Ventry now stands at 44 with 3 KOs.
Russell
Jordan
of
Rochester was stopped in
four rounds by Sergio
Martinez (41-1) in the Bronx
on Dec. 6. The 10-rounder
was part of a card shown on
Versus Network. It seemed
the stoppage was premature
and Jordan could continue.
Jordan also fought on Nov. 9
in Albany where he won a
unanimous eight-round decision over Alphonso Williams.
Russell’s record stands at 145.
Heavyweight
Jermell
Barnes of Rochester dropped
a one-sided 10-round decision to the WBA No. 14
ranked fighter Kevin Johnson
(18-0) in Hollywood, Fla. on
Dec. 5.
Rochester’s
Jonathan
Tubbs lost a close decision to
dec 5-0
dec 4-1
Tyshon Coker (RSM)
Favian Nieves (Future)
85lbs
140 lbs
dec 4-1
dec 5-0
dec 5-0
dec 3-2
dec 4-1
dec 5-0
dec 5-0
Jessie Martin (Future)
Jose Valentin (Future)
Carlos Cruz (RSM
Joshua Jones (Frazier)
Keyon Carter (RSM)
Jorge Santana (Frazier)
Luis Rodriguez (Frazier)
130 lbs
147 lbs
110 lbs
95 lbs
80 lbs
125 lbs
147 lbs
Chris “Mechanic” Smith (214-1) in Albany on Dec. 1.
Scores were 56-58, 55-59 and
58-56 against Tubbs, who
drops to 10-4.
Ella Nunez of Jamestown,
now fighting out of
Rochester, scored an impressive fifth-round TKO over
Kina Malpartida (8-2) on
Nov. 29 in Irvine, Calif. A
vicious right hand from
Nunez at the end of the third
round dropped Malpartida
and stunned the crowd. Ella
came out winging in the fifth
and dropped her opponent
again, and the fight was
stopped. Nunez (5-2) has
won her last five fights and is
now in line for an IBF featherweight title shot in January.
Junior
lightweight
Guillermo Sanchez from
Buffalo made his pro debut
on Nov. 9 in Albany and won
a unanimous four-round
decision (40-36 on all cards).
Sanchez followed that up on
Nov. 21s in Erie, Pa. with a
one-round TKO. Sanchez is
trained and managed by
Jimmy Ralston and trains at
the Olympia Club in downtown Buffalo.
Felix Mercedes of Buffalo
also won his pro debut on
Nov. 17 in Puerto Rico.
Mercedes, who is trained and
managed by Juan DeLeon,
scored a second-round
knockout in his junior welterweight bout.
Darnell Jiles of Rochester
defeated James Helmes in
Reading, Pa on Nov. 15.
Darnell won by unanimous
decision with scores of 60-54,
59-55 and 58-56. Jiles
remains undefeated at 8-0
while Helmes took his first
loss to drop to 6-1.
Harvey Murray (2-0-2) of
Rochester scored another
draw against tough Francisco
Palacios (1-2-4) in Albany on
Nov. 9. The young featherweight fought to a four-round
draw against Palacios in his
pro debut, and this time they
battled to six rounds with no
winner. Scores were 57-57,
57-57 and one judge had it
58-56 for Murray.
By Leonard J. Mytko
In fantasy football circles,
there always exists that new
wave of players that have
been on the radar for a year
or two, but haven’t quite
made their fantasy mark in
this league just yet. Basically,
their full potential is still
untapped. So huddle up fantasy football gurus, when it
comes to this time next year,
some of these players mentioned below may already be
household fantasy stars.
Roddy White, WR, Falcons
Adding truth to the whole
third year breakout theory
for wideouts is the emergence of Roddy White this
season. Despite Atlanta’s
offensive woes and quarterback carousels this year, the
former Alabama-Birmingham
standout has unexpectedly
blossomed into a bona fide
number one receiver that
likely slipped or went overlooked across many fantasy
draft boards this year. So in
case you’ve missed the
memo, White has cranked up
his game to the tune of 65
catches for 995 yards and five
touchdowns through 13
games. He’s also turned in
three 100-yard performances,
including a pair in the last
three weeks and is averaging
a cool 76.5 yards per contest.
Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings
Minnesota used their first
two picks in this past year’s
draft to fill their desperate
need for offensive playmak-
In his third year, Atlantas
Roddy White is developing
into one of the top new
offensive fantasy weapons
in this league.
ers. As everyone is now well
aware of, one turned out
being a scintillating gem in
Oklahoma Sooner Adrian
Peterson. Rice, the 44th draft
pick out of South Carolina,
was the second. The rookie
wide out has fitted in very
nicely in Minnesota, catching
passes from fast-improving
starting quarterback Tarvaris
Jackson. Rice’s 30 catches for
386 yards and four touchdowns won’t ruffle anyone’s
feathers right this minute, but
for a team that produced only
13 touchdowns through their
last season, it’s particularly
noteworthy and promising
for the years to come.
Brandon Marshall, WR,
Broncos
His name might not be too
familiar with many fantasy
football participants yet, but
it will be very soon. As a second year wide receiver out of
the University of Central
Florida, Marshall (“Baby
T.O.”) has rapidly climbed
the Broncos’ depth chart and
is now playing like a true
number one receiver in
Denver’s West Coast system.
His 75 receptions for 1,029
yards and six touchdowns
are all presently team-highs.
We could be seeing a great
young quarterback to wide
receiver combination in the
works with Jay Cutler and
new favorite target Brandon
Marshall.
Ryan Grant, RB, Packers
Since taking over and
locking down the starting
running back position for the
Packers back in Week 9, the
former Irish rusher has
shined in his green and yellow garb. In his past six
games, Grant has 613 yards
rushing, five touchdowns
and 19 catches for 100 yards.
Next year Grant will be a free
agent and serves some excellent long-term potential. As
long as he continues this
2007 success story, he’ll be a
much-wanted commodity for
fantasy owners next season
for sure.
Earnest Graham, RB, Bucs
You might be led to think
that Tampa Bay’s best fantasy
performer and reason for succontinued on page 18
Fantasy hockey
By Mike Fox
We’re midway through the
hockey season, and most
fantasy leagues are starting
to show some separation in
the
standings.
Regardless of whether
you are currently a
front-runner or a bottom-feeder, it’s important to realize that this
year is far from over, and
most fantasy teams still
have a realistic shot at
finishing in the money.
Below are some tips that
might help you gain the
edge if you need to do
so.
Beware of injuries
NFL
regulations
demand that teams offer
full disclosure to the
public regarding player
injuries, but no such
rule exists in the NHL.
This means that you
might not even be aware
that your player has a
nagging injury, and also
means a report of “DTD”
can
often
quickly
change to “IR” in the
hockey world. Assuming
your fantasy squad has
at least reasonable bench
strength,
those
in
leagues that restrict teams to
weekly lineup changes
should generally adhere to
the “when in doubt, sit ‘em
out” rule.
Work the waiver wire
Even the deepest leagues
have a few diamonds in the
rough, waiting to be uncovered. Injuries, trades, or
other developments can
mean new opportunities for
make a positive impact on
your team. Granted, it’s also
a potential express route to
the league basement, but
previously unheralded playthat’s part of the allure!
ers. Ilya Bryzgalov went from
Standard fantasy guidefantasy backup to bona fide
lines say that whomever gets
starter
after
leaving
the best player in a trade
Anaheim, and reigning Conn
wins the skirmish, but
this is not necessarily
always the case. Yes, at
this point in the season,
owners with deep
squads should try to
deal from strength.
Packaging a few players
who are riding your
pine in return for a true
stud can often propel
you to a championship.
On the other hand, if
your usual starting lineup consists of Sidney
Crosby surrounded by a
bunch of stiffs, you
might be better served
to part with ‘The Kid’ in
return for several players who will step directly into your everyday
lineup.
Consider all of your
league’s scoring categories
Actual player values
can
vary
greatly
depending on your forPackaging a couple of sturdy
mat. Those who play in
reserves off your bench could land
straight scoring leagues
you a stud like Dany Heatley.
may not even recognize
the name of low-scoring
Smythe Trophy winner Scott
Phoenix winger Daniel
Niedermayer was still availCarcillo, but in some
able in over one third of CBS
leagues, his huge PIM totals
Sportsline leagues when he
make him anything from a
announced his un-retireviable starter to an actual
ment in early December.
star. Likewise, perennial
Make a trade
Lady Byng contenders may
Waiver discoveries are
not hold as much value in
nice, but most obvious stars
your league as a lower-scoralready have homes in your
ing player with a mean
league, so trading is often
streak, or even as much as a
the only way to quickly
Fantasy NBA: Hoops there it is
By Phil Taylor
Fantasy basketball season
is now about eight weeks
old and what have we
learned? Dwight Howard
might be the best big man in
the league, and Deron
Williams might be the best
little man in the league.
However, rather than inundate you with lists of players, I’ll give you some fantasy rules to live by that will
keep your team in the running for the rest of the season. It’s not always the team
with the best players that
win; it’s usually the team
with the best strategy that
takes home the trophy at
seasons end.
Know your league scoring
rules
It’s rare that any league’s
scoring categories are
weighted equally across the
board.
Examine
your
league’s rules and aim your
trades and free agent pickups towards the type of
players that give you an
edge in more categories.
Also, if your league has field
goal and free throw percentages, don’t ignore these categories as most owners do.
Paying attention will give
you an advantage in lineup
changes, add/drops, and
trading.
Ride the waves
Don’t trade or dump a
player based on a bad
streak. Look at his averages
over the last couple seasons.
Chances are that he’ll work
back toward his mean by
the end of the season. Learn
to ride the waves. No player
is perfectly consistent.
A bird in the hand…
Don’t fall for a two-forone trade. In almost all
instances, the team getting
the one superstar is getting
the better end of the deal.
Ask yourself, if you were to
dump your worst player and
pick up the best player off
waivers, would the combo
of he and your superstar
equal or exceed the total
statistical value of the two
players
you’re
being
offered? Most of the time
the
answer
is
yes.
Sometimes the best trade is
the one you don’t make. On
the other hand, try to offer
two-for-one deals to snag
another team’s superstar if
you can.
Don’t trade for points and
assists
Whether you’re in a roto
or H2H league, points and
assists come cheap on the
waiver wire. The categories
to trade for are the ones
toughest to get, such as
blocks and steals. There are
plenty of one-trick ponies
on the waiver wire who will
give you only blocks, but
they hurt you in all the
other categories and should
be avoided.
Injuries hurt
If you’ve got a superstar
who goes down with injury
and could be out for more
than a month, try to trade
him for equal value, or a
package of players. The
amount of time that a star is
taking up a roster spot gives
you nothing and will hurt
you in both head to head
and roto. More often than
not, players come back later
rather than sooner from
injury. Don’t wait for your
star to come back and save
your team. By the time he
does, it may be too late. Just
ask the guys who owned
Paul Pierce last season.
Set your lineup everyday
It sounds simple, but too
few owners do it. If you pay
attention, have your active
players in every day and
replace your injured players
when they’re out you’ll finish in the middle of the
pack even with the worst
team.
Phil Taylor is author of
Ask the Dr., appearing every
Thursday on www.fantasybasketball.com.
player who is lazy in the
defensive end of the rink.
Plus/minus rating
Another easily overlooked
category is plus/minus rating
but ignoring it altogether is a
strategy as flawed as “punting” a category in roto baseball. For example, Ilya
Kovalchuk’s defensive play
has improved somewhat
Page 9
over the years, but the fact
remains that he has never
posted a plus rating in five
seasons (career –61 entering
this year), which devalues
him in plus/minus leagues.
Conversely, virtually all Red
Wing regulars can be expected to boast a plus rating at
season’s end, so be sure to
give all Detroit players an up
tick in your rankings if
plus/minus is a factor in your
league.
Good luck to everyone in
the second half of your season, except of course those
of you who are members of
my leagues! And remember,
it ain’t over until you hear
Kate Smith singing God
Bless America in April.
Page 10
Local Sabres sledding
onto National Team
By Jeffrey Levine
Hockey players come in
all shapes and sizes.
Although this traditionally
ranges from the scrappy
Briere to the goonish Chara,
several local athletes are
quickly redefining our definition of what it means to be
a hockey player.
Trading in traditional
skates for sleek sleds, forwards Brad Emmerson
(Amherst, NY), Josh Moran
(Jamestown, NY), Bruce
Nelson (Columbus, OH),
Adam Page (Lancaster, NY),
Alexi Salamone (Grand
Island, NY) and goalie Mike
Blabac (Buffalo, NY) will
don Team USA sweaters after
being named to the National
Sled Hockey Team earlier
this fall. All current members of Buffalo Sabres Sled
Hockey, the strong Western
New York contingent will
travel to Marlborough, Mass.
in late March for the Sledge
World Championships, led
by defenseman and National
Team captain, Chris Manns
(Buffalo, NY).
The only current member
of the National Team who
played on the 2002 gold
medal effort in Salt Lake
City, Manns is proud of what
he has accomplished, but
like a true athlete, would
rather look towards the
future than rest on his past
accomplishments. “Having
the ‘C’ on my jersey is like a
dream come true,” the new
captain and 27-year-old veteran blueliner said. “I’ve
always wanted the challenge
and I’m glad that I get to play
for my country as both a role
model and leader. When all
of us [Buffalo Sabres Sled
Hockey players] made
Nationals, I made a pact with
them that my career wouldn’t be complete until we all
got gold medals.”
Invented in Sweden at the
beginning of the 1960s, sled
hockey has gained in popularity and international competition, becoming an official sport of the Paralympic
Games in 1994. Created at a
rehabilitation center by two
men who wanted to continue playing hockey despite
their physical limitations,
sled hockey has changed
very little since its inception
over four decades ago.
Hitting slap shots at
upwards of 70 mph and
checking opponents into the
boards, sled hockey is anything but a carefree skate
around the rink. Digging
into the ice with metal teeth
on their modified hockey
sticks, the athletes propel
themselves towards the net
from a seat at the back of
their sled. Sitting about three
inches off the surface, all
that separates the players
from the ice are two small
blades located directly
beneath their seats and a
small portion of the sled’s
front that is used for stability. Creating a gap between
the blades and the front,
Photo Kusumoto Photography/USOC
Team Captain Chris Manns demonstrates why he anchors
the blueliners.
Adam Page, the youngest member of Team USA, looks down
the ice in international play.
there is just enough clearance in the middle of the
sled to slip a puck by an
unwitting defender or set up
a teammate for a one-timer
from the top of the circle.
Even though the action
may be lower to the ice, the
rules for sled hockey are
identical to those of professional hockey with the
exception of 15-minute periods instead of 20.
Ray Maluta, the new
coach for Team USA,
approaches sled hockey just
like he would any other
game. “I don’t change my
style or personality when I’m
coaching,” Maluta said. “You
have to play defense a little
differently because you can’t
skate backwards and you
have to have a smarter
forecheck because it’s easier
to get trapped, but I treat
them like I would anyone
else. I’m not afraid to push
them, and when they’re
being lazy I get mad and get
in their face. When we’re out
on the ice it doesn’t make a
difference.”
Team USA and their
Buffalo core will need that
encouragement as they
begin their long winter
schedule. Having dropped a
three-game series to Canada
earlier in November at Salt
Lake City, the Americans are
looking to even the score
with their neighbors to the
north at the Four-Nation
Challenge in Asahikawa,
Japan later this January.
Facing teams from Japan and
Norway as well as Canada,
Team USA will head back to
the states before shipping off
north in February for the
USA-Canada Challenge. The
second series with Canada
should be a good warm-up
for Team USA as they
approach the end of the season and the international
championship
in
Massachusetts.
Although the National
Team has certainly been successful in world play, picking
up gold in 2002 and bronze
at Torino, Italy in 2006, there
is much more to sled hockey
then just awards, for the
coaches as well as the players.
“That’s the big challenge
for me with the National
Team,” coach Maluta said,
“to learn more about [my
players] as people. We all
have deficiencies and I was
just blow away by all of the
obstacles they have had to
overcome and their ability to
still go out there and smile
and work harder than most.
After coaching able-bodied
players at all levels for over
25 years, I came home after
my first day and told my wife
that the kids were phenomenonal. I was hooked.”
Regardless of their international results, the members of Team USA will return
to Western New York victorious, earning a welldeserved homecoming.
“As sports fans, do yourself a favor and get out and
watch these players,” coach
Maluta emphatically added.
“They’re athletes, just athletes, and they’re unbelievable.”
For more information,
please consult Buffalo Sabres
Sled Hockey and USA Hockey,
found at www.buffalosledhockey.org and www.usahockey.com respectively.
Page 11
Myrtle Beach Prime Times
If you’re contemplating a
golf vacation in the near
future, no place delivers the
goods like Myrtle Beach, S.C.,
the “golf capital of the
world.” With nearly 100
courses to choose from,
including 10 of the “100
Greatest Public Courses in
America,” Myrtle Beach offers
up the ultimate for buddy
trips. And now with direct
flights from Buffalo to Myrtle
Beach on Myrtle Beach Direct
Air, it’s even easier to head
south.
Myrtle Beach Prime Times
has developed a comprehensive golf website where one
can view course videos, check
rates and tee time availability
online and in real time. If you
have questions, you can chat
online with one of their golf
vacation experts, or call toll
free. Prime Times’ reservations department is staffed
with knowledgeable local
golfers who can provide
advice and assistance with
securing tee times.
Choices of signature courses include King’s North, Long
Bay Club, River Club and
Willbrook Plantation which
have all earned 4.5 stars out
of 5 in Golf Digest’s ‘Best
Places to Play in America.’
King’s North is a sensational Arnold Palmer design that
is ranked among the ‘100
Greatest Public Courses in
America’ by Golf Digest. It
features numerous holes of
notoriety, including the par-5
sixth,
nicknamed
“the
Gambler” and the par-3
twelfth with an island green
protected by two sand traps
shaped into the letters S and
C for South Carolina. The
18th is a par 4 that sports 43
sand traps and a pond to the
right of the fairway. It is visually intimidating and makes
for one of the most memorable finishing holes on the
Myrtle
Beach
Grand
Strand.
Located along the Grand
Strand’s southern shores in
the Pawleys Island area,
Willbrook Plantation is situated on the site of two
18th century plantations.
Massive live oaks and azaleas make the course
appealing in the early
spring. Willbrook is ranked
among the most femalefriendly courses in America,
and Golf Digest awards it
4.5 Stars, so golfers of all
abilities can be assured a
great day at Willbrook
Plantation. Several recent
enhancements to the course
make Willbrook one of the
premier courses in the
Carolinas.
For more details and preferred
tee times, call Prime Times at
1-877-283-2156 or visit
www.WeAreSouthCarolinaGolf
.com
Photos courtesy of SlearShotz/Brandon Advertising
King’s North:
A sensational
Arnold
Palmer
design that is
ranked
among
“America’s
100 Greatest
Public
Courses.”
At Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort guests can enjoy
the poolside gazebo and the resort.
Willbrook
Plantation:
Recently ranked
among “America’s
50 Best” by Golf
for Women for
design, condition
and service, this
Dan Maples signature course
deserves a place
on your schedule.
Page 12
Woods and Water
S
o you finally
bagged that
trophy and
you’re sure it’s
a record book entry.
But what if you’re
not sure exactly how
big it is, how to
measure correctly, or
who to contact?
First of all, there
are separate organizations that maintain and
record entries into the elite
clubs. Secondly, it’s important
to know that a trophy could
possibly qualify for records
within multiple organizations.
Although there are several
clubs, there are also several
misconceptions
regarding
why the club’ function and its
origins. It’s important to recognize that these clubs were
formed for the purpose of
conservation as well as to
record scientific data on game
taken with gun, bow and
arrow for all of posterity.
In the late 1800s, our great
with Tim Wright
president Theodore
Roosevelt recognized
the need for a
national conservation plan and founded the Boone and
Crockett Club. He
witnessed firsthand
that the pioneer settlement of the West
and
unrestricted
killing of wildlife for
markets had taken a
toll on most North American
big game populations as well
as many species of bird and
fish. “From a commitment to
restore wildlife, it is the policy
of the Boone and Crockett
Club to promote the guardianship and provident management of big game and associated wildlife in North America
and maintain the highest standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in all aspects of big
game hunting,” Roosevelt
stated, adding “in order that
this resource of all the people
may survive and prosper in its
natural habitats. Consistent
Doctari’s Fishing Forum
with Rich Davenport
Fishing
winter’s
wonderland
The seasons have definitely
turned, but the cold and snow
does not mean that fishing
excitement has to get cold too.
Trout are on the move, filling
the Great Lakes tributaries as
water temperatures drop.
Inland lakes and ponds start
freezing over, promising hard
water anglers the potential for
an early ice-fishing season.
Great Lakes Trout
Lake Erie feeder streams
show numbers of steelhead,
and with waters still ice-free,
anglers seeking winter excitement should plan a day at one
of the many stellar tributaries
found along Lake Erie from
Buffalo to Barcelona. Egg presentations and wooly buggers
worked in the holes deliver
good results when water conditions permit. The dry weather of October has given way to
normal rainfall in November
and with snows now from
December, water levels should
be right, but clarity could be
the problem. Top streams
include Cattaraugus Creek,
Eighteen
Mile
Creek,
Canadaway
Creek
and
Chautauqua Creek. Don’t
overlook the smaller feeders,
either, like Walnut, Big Sister
and Little Sister creeks, as
these gems usually offer clearer waters when the larger
streams are muddied up by
run-off.
Lake Ontario streams have
wound down from the annual
salmon runs, which showed
late this season due to very
low water levels. Waters were
so low up north that DEC
salmon egg collection efforts
required additional help from
anglers to meet their 3.2 million egg quota; good news for
next year’s Chinook salmon
stocking efforts. Lake Ontario
streams from Eighteen-Mile
Creek east to the Salmon River
with this objective, the Club
supports the use and enjoyment of our wildlife heritage
to the fullest extent by this
and future generations.”
Another organization is the
Pope and Young Club which
began in 1957 as a part of the
National
Field
Archery
Association’s
Hunting
Activities Committee and
emerged in 1961 as North
America’s leading bow hunting and conservation organization. The club, like Boone
and Crocket, also advocates
conservation, and fair chase
hunting, but only records trophies taken with bow and
arrow. Today, through the
Club’s Conservation Program,
members lead others to participate in protecting and promoting wildlife, wildlife conservation,
and
bow
hunting/outdoor heritage to
improve the image of bow
hunting.
Conservation
Program Grants totaling over
600,000 dollars have been
contributed in areas of conservation, wildlife management
and research.
The third club is the
Buckmasters organization,
Early ice can produce good
results, like this northern
pike caught by Collins
angler Dan Stocker.
in Pulaski are showing good
numbers of steelies, with
some streams showing even
better brown trout opportunity. Low light conditions show
best results for orange or chartreuse egg-pattern flies, or egg
sacs drifted in eddies near
pools under a small float.
Lower Niagara River anglers
are at the mercy of water flow
and clarity, but when conditions are favorable, eager steelhead and brown trout, and
also Lake Trout (re-opens Jan.
1), show from Devil’s Hole
downstream to Lewiston.
Spoons or Kwik-Fish drifted
along the 30-foot break line,
worked near the bottom, can
deliver excellent results early
and late, conditions permitting.
Lower Niagara Walleye
This time of year finds big
walleye invading the LNR in
advance of their annual
spawn. Fishing regulations
were changed in 2006, allowing anglers to once again lawfully fish for LNR walleye,
with a daily limit in place of
one fish per day, 18-inch minimum from Jan. 1 – March 15
(season close). This differs
from statewide general regulations,
so
visit
http://www.dec.ny.gov
for
more information. Minnow
presentations work best, as do
jigging spoons. Slow drift near
the Lewiston Sand docks early
evening into dark for best
results.
founded in 1994. They created
the BTR scoring system.
According to the Buckmasters’
philosophy a full-credit scoring system to measure and
record whitetail deer antlers
without forcing them to conform to a criterion of perfect
symmetry should be used.
This full-credit scoring system
takes nothing away from the
rack. It simply measures every
inch of antler, classifies it
accordingly, and eliminates
the spread credit (addition of
the inside spread measurement between a buck’s
antlers). The reason? Critics
claim that the measurement is
merely a measurement of air,
not grown antler. Another difference between the other
organizations is that the
Buckmasters’ system does not
penalize for symmetry differences, which can lower the
score on an otherwise exceptional rack. The Buckmasters
BTR scoring system seeks to
rectify
those
perceived
wrongs, giving credit for horn
growth, and not the air that
surrounds the rack. Entries
are recorded into the
Buckmasters club from tro-
phies taken with gun or bow
and arrow.
The fourth is the Safari
Club, recognized as the worldwide leader in protecting the
freedom to hunt. They also
promote conservation, and
work to portray hunters as
responsible citizens. Not only
is Sarari Club the largest and
the most prestigious organization, but it also does it all.
Recording and maintaining
records of trophy animals
worldwide, Safari is also active
in numerous activities including humanitarian programs
and various foundations that
offer the highest levels of philanthropy by directly reaching
out to people in need throughout the world. Safari Club is
committed to charity, and giving.
Take note that the minimum score required to enter a
white-tailed deer in the B&C
record books is 170; the minimum score for the P&Y Club
is 125. BTR minimum score
for all firearms-harvested deer
is 140 inches. A minimum
score of 105 inches is required
for all bow-harvested deer.
The Safari Club also utilizes
scoring officials and minimum
criteria.
Most record-book entries
require a $25 or more entry
fee, close-up photographs of
the animal and a score by an
official scorer. It’s important to
recognize that there are
requirements that must be met
before an entry will make it
into any record books.
One thing to remember,
however, is that no matter the
score of the buck, his trophy
status is in your own eyes.
While you might not make
any record book, the important thing is whether you see
your buck as a trophy. After
all, a trophy is in the eye of the
beholder and the memory of
the experience.
For more information
please consult the clubs at
their websites: Boone and
Crockett Club, www.boonecrockett.org; Pope and Young
Club, www.pope-young.org;
Buckmasters, www.buckmasters.com;
Safari
Club
International, www.safariclub.org; New York State Big
Buck Club, www.nys-bigbuck.org.
getaway.
Silver Lake perch start
showing well first ice, but
anglers should be prepared to
move about, as fickle schools
follow bait. Depths between 7
feet and 20 feet show good
perch action when you can
find the fish.
NFTA Small Boat Harbor
offers anglers close to Buffalo
good ice fishing opportunities
for perch, bluegill and crappie.
Although the Marine Star is
now gone, a new “eye sore”
has taken its place, the lake
barge Lansdowne, which
could provide the magnet for
panfish the old Marine Star
used to.
Remember to use common
sense during early ice season.
If the ice is heavily covered
with snow, or you see many
wet spots, it’s best to wait
another day during first ice
periods.
Finally, the Niagara River
Angler’s Association is hosting
a Silver Anniversary Gala on
Jan. 19, 2008, at Antonio’s
Restaurant, 7708 Niagara Falls
Blvd. in Niagara Falls. For
tickets, or for more informa-
tion, please contact Dave
Faccini at 716-297-9316, or
email [email protected].
Take a kid fishing, and give
the gift that lasts a lifetime.
Rich Davenport is co-founder
of WeLoveOutdoors.com, an
avid outdoorsman and member
of the NYSOWA. His work is
also published in New York
Outdoor News, Walleye.com
and The Buffalo News. Rich is
also the recording secretary for
the Erie County Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs. Email
[email protected].
Ice Opportunities
Old man winter is icing
down the inland lakes and
ponds, showing a potential for
an early ice season, provided
snow cover remains sparse on
the newly forming ice. At the
time of this writing, no safe ice
exists in Western New York.
Conesus Lake first ice walleye offers good fishing for
hard water anglers looking for
early season excitement.
Although bait is difficult
to find (due to on-going
VHS containment rules),
jigging Rapalas and sonic
blade baits offer a good
artificial alternative.
By Ivan the Impaler
Dusty
Rhodes;
Chautauqua
Lake
He calls himself
Tully Blanchard;
walleye and panfish can
“The
Patrick
Chief
Wahoo
rock during first ice, with
Swayze
of
McDaniel; Stevie
crappie and perch hangProfessional
Richards; Shinya
ing in the shallows in the
Wrestling”
Hashimoto;
south basin between
because, well, he
H o t s t u f f
Celeron and Lakewood,
looks like movie
Hernandez (curand in the north basin in
star
Patrick
rently in TNA).
the flats area off Mayville.
Swayze. Or maybe
We caught up
Wax worms on teardrop
it’s
because
with Parks after a
jigs worked in depths
Swayze looks like
successful
title
less that 15 feet can put
him.
defense at an NWA
W.N.Y. native
fish on the ice in a hurry.
But when you
Upstate show in
Pepper Parks.
Anglers may find getting
think about it,
s u b u r b a n
keepers a task of weeding
what has Patrick
Rochester, N.Y.,
through dinks, but the
Swayze done lately? Not much
where he pinned Homicide
excitement is aplenty.
except sit at home and collect
(ironically, Hernandez’s tag team
Harwood Lake in
royalty checks. The star of
partner in TNA). First, how did
Cattaraugus
County
“Ghost” and “Dirty Dancing” is
he get the chance to battle for
offers some good trout
apparently resting on past lauthe National belt? Pepper tells
fishing through the ice,
rels, not having done anything
us that “(it) came from the
as well as crappie and
remotely significant since “To
exposure I got competing in the
bluegill. Access is ample
Wong Foo....”
opening round of the NWA
off Route 98.
Unlike Swayze, however,
Heavyweight
tournament
Allegany State Park
Pepper Parks’ best days are yet
against Claudio Castignoli and
offers two lakes to visitto come. The Cheektowagafrom causing awesomeness!”
ing anglers, and both Red
born Parks made his mark on
He chose his career path
House and Quaker Lake
the pro wrestling scene by winwhen “as a young child, (he)
harbor good trout fishing
ning the prestigious NWA
saw Outlaw Ron Bass carve up
through the ice. With fall
National Heavyweight Title in
Brutus the Barber Beefcake’s
stocking of Quaker Lake
Lebanon, Tenn. on Oct. 20. He
forehead with one of his spurs
(November) adding largdefeated Kory Williams for the
and they censored it on
er, surplus breeders to
title, which was vacated when
Saturday afternoon television.”
the waters, the promise
Chance Prophet had to forfeit
Pepper is proud to have been
of a nice brookie or
the belt due to injury.
trained by “The Great Les
brown
is
realistic.
The National title is thirdThatcher,” which led to his
Quaker Lake perhaps is
highest on the NWA food chain,
career starting in Thatcher’s
best, however, for early
right behind the World and
backyard
in
the
season northern pike
North American titles. Need
Cincinnati/Kentucky
area.
action. With cabins availfurther proof of the prestige?
Parks
emphasized
that
able for rent year-round
Take a look at the grapplers
“Cincinnati is an awful city,”
in both Quaker Run and
who’ve held it in the past: Jack
declining all suggestions that we
Red House areas, ASP
Briscoe; Tommy Rich; Paul
shouldn’t print that statement.
may be the perfect place
Orndorff; Outlaw Ron Bass;
He worked for such groups as
for a weekend outdoor
Larry Zbyszko; Ted DiBiase;
Heartland
Wrestling
Pepper Parks: YOUR new NWA National Champion
Association (HWA), Northern
Wrestling Federation, IWA MID
South and Ohio Valley
Wrestling (OVW).
Any wrestler knows it’s all
about winning title belts, and
Pepper’s had his share. He held
the
Cruiserweight,
Heavyweight and Tag Team
belts in HWA; his tag partner
was Chet the Jet, currently in
OVW (a WWE developmental
group). It was there he made the
prestigious PWI 500, making
his mark on the pro wrestling
industry.
Returning to his native
Western New York, Pepper didn’t wait too long to make an
impact. On May 19, 2007, he
defeated Brodie Lee to win the
NWA Empire Heavyweight
Championship in Wheatfield,
N.Y. This led to his aforementioned entry into the tourney to
fill the NWA World Title vacancy, which led to the National
Title shot, which led to “awesomeness.”
And don’t think that the folks
in Stamford, Conn. haven’t
noticed. Pepper was invited to
compete on WWE’s Extreme
Championship Wrestling this
past summer. Parks, competing
under his non-wrestling name
of Jesse Guilmette, faced off
against
the
unorthodox
Boogeyman. Although some
non-neutral observers had
Pepper ahead on points,
Boogeyman won, and Pepper
got a mouthful of worms in the
process. Nonetheless, he has no
regrets: “The match against
Robin Burns returns to his roots
at Buffalo Raceway
By Brian J. Mazurek
Buffalo Raceway will
never be mistaken for a bigtime harness track such as
Yonkers Raceway or the
Meadowlands Race Track.
Recently, however, the
track made a “big-time” hire
when it named Robin Burns
its new race announcer and
race secretary for the upcoming 2008 season.
Burns has called over
65,000 races in his career at
such famed tracks as
Hollywood
Park,
The
Meadowlands, Laurel Park,
Pimlico
Race
Course,
Freestate Raceway, and has
also hosted horse racing
shows on TVG-Television
Games Network and Racing
from The Meadowlands.
Besides his duties as
announcer and race secretary, Burns will also lend his
expertise in the simulcast
field, an area Buffalo
Raceway hopes to cash in on.
tinue with Jim Mango, with
whom I worked with for
years in Maryland.”
The 57-year-old
said the challenge
he is facing is in the
race
secretary’s
“I’ve
known
office. “Our purse
Robin Burns for
structure to start
many years,” said
out with in 2008
Buffalo Raceway
will be the same as
general manager
Batavia
Downs
Jim Mango as he
closed with,” Burns
reflected back on
said. “Also, I want
the years when
claimers to race
the two teamed up
against claimers and
at
Freestate
conditioned horses
Raceway
along
Photo: Jon Cramer/Buffalo Raceway
to race against conwith Pimlico and
Veteran announcer Robin Burns will call the
races at Buffalo Raceway in 2008 and will also
ditioned horses. I
Laurel
Race
hold down the job of race secretary at the track
don’t want to comTracks
in
as well.
bine the two. I’ll go
Maryland.
with a seven-horse
“He’s
been
field the first few weeks
back to Buffalo Raceway
involved in simulcasting the
which will allow owners and
where he first started his
last 10 years and the synergy
trainers [to] sort themselves
career some 25 years ago.
he brings to simulcasting
out. They’ll see that the same
“I really look forward to
will be a plus for us,” Mango
conditions will be written
my return to Western New
added. “Robin was also
every week.”
York where I grew up and
named the ‘Best Race
Adding, “I believe every
still have family,” Burns said
Announcer in America’ a few
horse should have an equal
recently from his office at
years ago and he’s been a
opportunity to race. The
Buffalo Raceway. “I began
race secretary. He’s a perfect
lesser caliber horses may not
my career under the guidfit for us. I look forward to
get as many opportunities to
ance of the late Gaston
working with him again.”
race, however, but we will
Valiquette and now have the
Born and raised in Niagara
try.”
opportunity to have it conFalls, Burns is anxious to get
Burns said that odd starting times, such as the 5 p.m.
start on a Wednesday night,
won’t have an effect on how
he will schedule races.
Robbie King Jr. wins second
straight Fort Erie riding title
By Brian J. Mazurek
For the second consecutive season, jockey Robbie
King Jr. captured the riding
title at the recently completed 2007 meet at Fort Erie
Race Track.
King, a native of Ottawa,
Ontario, whipped home 106
wins during the 84-day
meet. Chad Beckon finished
a distant second in the
standings with 73 wins
while Daniel David recorded 60 wins to place third.
On the training side,
Mark Fournier was the
leader as the 36-year-old
native of Welland, Ontario,
saddled 46 winners. Last
year’s leading trainer, Nick
Gonzalez, finished second
in the standings with 34
wins while Scott Fairlie
took the third spot with 26
victories.
A riding triple on the last
day of the meet gave Matt
Moore the apprentice title
as the 25-year-old from
Prince Edward Island rode
20 winners at the meet.
Catherine O’Brien and Tyler
Pizzaro tied for second with
17 winners each.
Three apprentice riders
scored first career wins during the meet. Melanie Pinto
recorded her first win
aboard Campari. Melanie
Giddings found the winner’s
circle for the first time
aboard Blue Eyed Taylor
while Richard Morrow
scored his first win with My
Pal Holly.
Frezacon was named Fort
Erie Horse of the Year. The
4-year-old son of Lexicon
won five races including a
five-length win in the Fort
Erie Slots Cup. Frezacon
also equaled a track record
running 6 1/2 furlongs in
1:15.4.
The
Myckie
Neubauer trained runner
earned $52,440 during
2007.
Frezacon also took Male
Sprinter of the Year honors
while Cut The Mustard was
named Female Sprinter of
the Year and won the Mike
Anderson Memorial Cup.
Turf Male Horse of the
Year was Puss n Boots Cup
winner Silver Strip and the
Female Turf title went to
Flashy Pink, winner of the
Rainbow
Connection
Stakes.
Keith Kash Jr. scores
a “Double” at Batavia Downs
By Brian J. Mazurek
Keith Kash Jr. had a great
2007 season at Batavia
Downs, capturing both the
driving and training titles at
the Genesee County halfmile track.
Kash Jr. drove home 71
winners in 428 starts for
$360,112 in winnings and
had 65 winners in 277 on
the training side to win each
championship.
Tom Agosti kept the pressure on Kash Jr. on the driving side but finished second
with 65 winners in 415 trips
to the starting gate. Ken
Holliday, who was in command of the driving race
until breaking both his
wrists in a racing mishap,
still managed to place third
with 52 wins in 272 starts.
Veteran reinsmen Jack
Flanigen and Ron Bebeck Jr.
tied for fourth with 50 vic-
tories.
Jim Graham finished second behind Kash Jr. in the
training standings with 65
winners in 277 starts while
Sherri Holliday was third
with 45 wins in 280
attempts. Bob Gruber
placed fourth with 31 winners and Bebeck Jr. fifth
with 26 victories.
In a unanimous vote, J D’s
Dragon was selected as
Horse of the Year at Batavia
Downs Gaming.
In 18 Batavia starts, J D’s
Dragon won ten, with four
seconds and one third, earning $41,676. The 6-year-old
son of Dragons Lair is
owned by Janet Herdegen of
Orlando, Fla. and trained
and driven by Kash Jr.
J D’s Dragon has started
46 times in 2007, with 18
wins, 10 seconds and 5
thirds, his seasonal earnings
are $84,631. J D’s Dragon,
racing at Northfield Park in
Cleveland since Batavia
closed, is currently one win
off the national pace
amongst all standard bred
horses. Go On BB and G E’s
Justin each have 19 victories in 2007.
Batavia Downs is scheduled to tentatively open on
July 28, 2008 and close on
Dec. 6. Plans call for just
two racing matinees, one on
Sunday, Aug. 24 and the
other on Monday, Sept. 1,
the traditional Labor Day
afternoon card. There are no
racing
“doubleheaders”
planned and post times are
going to be 1:05 for the
matinees and 7:05 for the
evening cards. These are
subject to approval by the
New York State Racing and
Wagering Board.
Page 13
“We are going to be a
‘bridge’ track in simulcasting,” Burns explained. “That
means we are a track racing
at the end of some other
track’s live card or the track
running before some other
track’s first race. We had like
30 simulcast outlets last season and I’d like to try and get
that up to 50 or more. I have
the connections in the
simulcast field where I think
it can be accomplished.”
“I would have no problem
putting Open races on a
Wednesday night,” Burns
went on to say. “I want other
tracks to see that Buffalo
Raceway can put on a quality card on a Wednesday
night. If we had an extra
$25,000 bet on the Open
pace on a Wednesday night
through simulcasting, I’d
have everyone’s blessing. I
also want to eliminate the 25 shot who is on the rail during the week.”
Burns has seen all sides of
racing, both standard bred
and thoroughbreds, and
thinks that Buffalo Raceway
has an advantage with their
video lottery terminals
(slots). “A lot of tracks without VLT’s are in big trouble
and are going to be in even
bigger trouble,” Burns said.
“Those states are losing
horses to the states who can
offer bigger purses due to the
VLTs.”
Burns loves to call races
and uses one of his famous
catch phrases whenever a
horse is running second and
they are in the home stretch.
“I love that situation as I can
use the line, ‘He [or she] is
cocked, locked and ready to
rock,” Burns explained.
Burns will officially come
to Buffalo in January when
he will start his duties fulltime. His wife, Kate, is a
director for AON in Chicago
and she’ll be shuffling off to
Buffalo a couple times a
month to visit her husband.
“I have her blessing,” Burns
said. “She told me to get a
job in racing again and this is
perfect for me. We are both
15 minutes from either the
Buffalo or Chicago airport so
we’ll see each other a lot.”
It’s been a long time since
Burns worked for Buffalo
Raceway. He’s anxious to get
started and it’s a homecoming that’s been 25 years in
the making.
Western New York race
fans are in for a treat as one
of the best announcers in the
country comes home.
Welcome back, Robin
Burns.
John Davila Jr. wins another riding title
at Finger Lakes
By Brian J. Mazurek
It’s becoming an old habit
that jockey John Davila Jr. is
enjoying every year.
For the sixth consecutive
year and the eighth time in
his career, Davila Jr. has
captured the Finger Lakes’
jockey title.
The 44-year-old from
Juncos, Puerto Rico, set a
new Finger Lakes record
with his sixth straight title,
passing Kevin Whitley who
won five straight jockey
titles from 1986 to 1990.
Davila Jr. whipped home
158 winners in 650 starts
and had his mounts
bankrolled over $1.9 million in winnings in 2007.
After being sidelined for a
good portion of last season
with a career-threatening
injury, John
Grabowski finished second in the jockey standings
with 120 wins this year. The
45-year-old from Coalinga,
Calif. made a full recovery
from a fractured pelvis, the
result of a spill from an accident that occurred before
the running of the first race
on Aug. 6, 2006.
Grabowski, a six-time
leading jockey at Finger
Lakes, also notched the
3,000th victory of his career
on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Earlier
this
year,
Grabowski passed Kevin
Whitley to become the second all-time leading Finger
Lakes jockey. Les Hulet
remains the record holder
for the most wins at “The
Thumb” with 3,244.
Jeremias Flores finished
third in the standing with
102 wins. Bobby Messina
was fourth with 91 victories
while Pedro Rodriguez
rounded out the top five
with 90 trips to the winner’s
circle.
Chris Englehart won his
fifth consecutive trainer
title and seventh overall in
2007 with 117 victories.
Englehart has a total of
2,164 victories in 10,511
career starts at Finger
Lakes, amassing over $16
million in lifetime earnings.
Charlton Baker took
home runner-up honors
with 87 victories while
Michael S. Ferraro saddled
71 winners to finish third in
the trainer’s standings.
Carmen Seguin’s Tiger
Speech was named 2007
Finger Lakes Horse of the
Year. The 5-year-old gelding
won three handicap races at
Finger Lakes this season for
trainer Michael S. Ferraro.
Three other horses under
the care of Ferraro also won
awards at the Finger Lakes
Horsemen’s
Benevolent
and
Protective
Association’s
Annual Awards including
Friendship Circle, Past Post
and Sweet Lorena who were
all honored for their
achievements during the
2007 meet.
The biggest event of the
year at Finger Lakes was on
the Fourth of July when a
crowd of 11,429 fans, the
largest in over 30 years,
watched as Funny Cide
made the final start of his
career. The 2003 Kentucky
Derby and Preakness winner retired after winning the
$100,000
Wadsworth
Memorial Handicap by
three lengths. It was Funny
Cide’s 11th career win.
Buffalo Raceway to open
2008 season on Feb. 15
By Brian J. Mazurek
The 2008 harness racing
season at Buffalo Raceway is
scheduled to begin on
Friday, Feb. 15 and continuing through Saturday, July
26. These dates are tentative
pending approval from the
New State Racing and
Wagering Board.
Racing will be conducted
every Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday evenings with
Sunday afternoon racing to
begin on April 22.
Post times will be 5 pm
on Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m..
on Friday and Saturday
evenings and a 1:05 p.m.
start for the Sunday mati-
nees.
Buffalo Raceway is located on the Erie County
Fairgrounds in Hamburg.
The track offers simulcast
racing throughout the year
along with VLTs (slot
machines) that are available
daily from 10 a.m until 2
a.m.
Page 14
By Mike Fox
The brightest spotlight in
sports shines each year on the
Super Bowl. This month’s quiz
focuses your attention on
some of the more notable
records that have been established on the previous 40
Super Sundays.
1. Who is the only player to
record three interceptions in
one Super Bowl?
a. Mark Kelso
b. Rod Martin
c. Dexter Jackson
d. Jake Scott
2. Which QB holds the
record for most completions in
one Super Bowl?
a. Tom Brady
b. Jim Plunkett
c. Peyton Manning
d. Steve Young
appear in six Super Bowls?
a. Charles Haley
b. Joe Greene
c. Mike Lodish
d. Matt Bahr
4. What quarterback holds
the record for the longest pass
Willie Parker made the most
of his only Super Bowl
appearance.
completion (85 yards)?
a. Doug Williams
b. Joe Montana
c. Mark Rypien
d. Jake Delhomme
5. Who holds the record for
the longest run from scrimmage (75 yards) in the Super
Bowl?
a. Willie Parker
b. Emmitt Smith
c. Larry Csonka
d. Marcus Allen
6. Who holds the record for
the longest field goal in Super
Bowl history (54 yards)?
a. Steve Christie
b. Adam Vinatieri
c. Jason Elam
d. Chip Lohmiller
7. Who is the only kicker
with five career Super Bowl
field goals?
a. Mark Moseley
b. Matt Bahr
c. Ray Wersching
d. Garo Yepremian
8. Who is the last player to
record a safety in a Super Bowl?
a. Troy Polamalu
b. Dexter Jackson
c. Bruce Smith
d. Leon Lett
record three sacks in one Super
Bowl?
a. Chuck Howley
b. Leonard Marshall
c. Randy White
d. Reggie White
10. Which player had the
most career Super Bowl fumbles (5)?
a. Thurman Thomas
b. Roger Staubach
c. Jim Kelly
d. Frank Reich
Answers
1. b 2. a 3. c 4. d 5. a
6. a 7. c 8. c 9. d 10. b
Trivia Quiz
Explorer League celebrates its
35 years of High School Hockey
By Bob Caico
Hockey has always
been huge in the city of
Buffalo but not many of
the high schools have it as
a varsity sport. The
Explorer League was started in 1972 with club
teams from around the
city and suburbs to give
the students a chance to
represent their schools.
Today the league has five
teams,
Hutch
Tech
(Coach Dale Marrs),
Sam Wichlacz (McKinley) and Lyle
South
Park/Riverside
Nowak (Hutch Tech) face off at
(Coach Frank Buttino),
Riverside Rink.
Niagara Catholic (Coach
at Hyde Park in Niagara Falls.
Cary Odonoghue), McKinley
Players from other area high
(Coach Bill Cline) and new this
schools are also able to particiyear Akron (Coach Keith
pate with these teams if they
Bordon). The home games for
have spots open on the squad.
four of the teams are at Bud
The league plays 16
Bakewell Rink in Riverside
regular season games followed
with Niagara Catholic at home
by a playoff. The top two
teams then square off at
HSBC Arena in February
during Super Sunday to
determine the champion.
The South Park/Riverside
team has started out fast
this year with a 5-0 record
and are lead by John
Maloney (6G, 10A) and
Frank Buttino (14G, 1A).
McKinley lead by Brad
Smith (1G, 8A) and Hutch
Tech lead by Josh Szflarski
(4G, 6A) are right on their
heals through the first
third of the season.
So far this year the
attendance has been great and
for an inexpensive ticket ($2
for adult and $1 for student)
you can see quality and exciting hockey from our student
athletes.
Cranberry Cream Pie
1 Keebler Chocolate Oreo Pie Crust
1lb (16oz) cream cheese
Whipping Cream or Cool Whip
1 Can jellied cranberry sauce
1 3oz box cranberry Jell-O
The cream cheese should be room temperature before using, leave it out several hours.
Begin by beating the cream cheese in a very large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Set aside,
but leave beaters in place.
In another bowl mash the cranberry sauce and set aside. Empty the Jell-O into another
small bowl. Add one cup boiling water. Mix well until dissolved and add this to the cranberry sauce, mix well and add this to the cream cheese bowl.
Put the beaters on “low” speed and begin mixing all of this until smooth, moving your
beaters slowly from “low” to “medium” and then to “high” speeds.
To avoid “spilling over,” place your empty pie shell on a dinner or serving plate.
Now pour the filling into the pie shell to the top and refrigerate several hours until well
set. Any filling left over can be poured into paper cups and used as treats.
When the filling is set, just pile on the whipped cream or Cool Whip and maybe even
sprinkle on some nuts, coconut or anything else you like.
Enjoy this light and delicious dessert this holiday season or any day.
Happy Holidays!
Knee injury prevention in female athletes
By Dave Ricci
In this case, an ounce of
prevention is worth a lot
more than just a pound of
cure.
If you frequent the local
scholastic sports scene, you
may have noticed that more
female athletes on the sidelines are on crutches. And
no, this isn’t your imagination playing tricks on you.
As it turns out, the old
saying of “ladies first” is
unfortunately true when it
comes to knee injuries, with
female athletes about four to
10 times more susceptible
then male athletes when it
comes to suffering knee
injuries.
But it has nothing to do
with old fashioned thinking
that girls aren’t as strong as
boys.
As Bambi Horton, an athletic trainer who works at
Nichols School, explained
there are two key factors
female athletes deal with that
male athletes don’t.
The first is called the QAngle.
“Because women are
structurally built different
than men,” Horton said,
“their hips are wider which
causes [the] angle from the
hips to the knees to the
ankles to actually be [at] a
greater angle.”
The wider a woman’s
pelvis and hips, the greater
amount of stress that is put
on the joints, leaving a
female’s ACL and MCL’s
more at risk for injury.
Underdeveloped gluteus
maximus or hamstring
muscles are also a factor.
“It basically comes down
to a muscle imbalance,”
Horton added. “They’re
more susceptible to these
injuries.”
Women are also at risk
for injury during their
menstrual cycle.
“The hormone released
actually allows for more
joint laxity all over the
body and in some cases
that’s helpful because it
helps prevent [some]
injuries,” Horton said. “But
in the instance of the ACL
being the main stabilizer
ligament of the knee [menstruation] makes it more
susceptible for rupture
because it has to do so much
more work.”
Horton said 52 percent of
the injuries she has treated
through the first few months
of this school year have
occurred to female athletes,
and at least half of that number were knee related
injuries.
When added up, the numbers related to knee injuries
are staggering.
An athlete who suffers an
ACL injury usually loses six
to 12 months of playing
time, which, in high school
means losing at least two
Molly Scherer took part in
the Chris Nentarz injury prevention workshops.
sports seasons, but statistics
show that 70 percent of ACL
injuries occur from non-contact incidents such as hard or
improper landings, as well as
twists and turns that a person’s body may not be used
to.
The price tag of ACL
reconstructive
surgery,
including surgery center,
surgeon’s fees, physical therapy and a brace (if needed)
ranges from $10,000 to
$15,000.
People have to get past the
mindset that injuries are just
a part of athletics and that
nothing can be done to prevent them.
Chris Nentarz, a physical
therapist, believes that the
first step in changing these
numbers is changing the way
we think. “Traditional wisdom tells us yes, injuries are
a part of sports and part of
being an athlete,” Nentarz
said. “However, a majority of
the injuries occur because of
repetitive strains and muscle
imbalances, and those issues
can be cleared with proper
training and prevention.”
A
certified
personal
strength training specialist
and performance enhancement specialist, Nentarz
runs injury prevention training workshops around
Western New York. An
intense hour of work,
Nentarz’s program focuses
on the importance of
increased flexibility through
proper stretching during
warm ups.
Page 15
From stretching to leaping
to the throwing of medicine
balls and teaching the art of a
“soft landing” after jumping
in the air, Nentarz’s seminars, which are attended by
both males and females,
instruct attendees how to
properly cross train and balance their overall muscle
structure.
Grace Munro, a 16-yearold Nichols School high
school sophomore, was one
of a dozen people who
recently attended one of
Nentarz’s workshops.
“I think it’s really good. I
like it,” Munro said. “I get
sore afterwards but it’s a
good workout. I’m using
muscles I haven’t used
before. It’s just about injury
prevention, too.”
Although there is a popular belief that injuries occur
because young athletes wear
themselves out by participating in too many sports without allowing their bodies to
properly rest, Nentarz says
that just the opposite is true;
the wider the variety of
sports that an athlete plays,
the less likely they are to
injure themselves.
Additionally, athletes that
are one-sport specific tend to
be at a greater risk for knee
injuries because they are
always working the same
muscles.
The good news, however,
is that a wider range of activity coupled with quality performance
training
can
enhance an athlete’s overall
body efficiency and balance.
For Nentarz, his training
sessions aren’t just about
preparing athletes for competition. It’s about wellness
beyond school and athletics.
“Our belief is to not only
get athletes to perform better
on the field and reduce the
risk of injury,” Nentarz said,
“but to also improve in the
game of life as well.”
You can e-mail Chris at
[email protected]
Cannon aims high:
Brockport wrestler signs with UB
By Brian Michalek
When wrestling is mentioned, the first image that
comes to mind is usually
one of WWE-style matches. But classic wrestling is
still around for those who
know how to find it.
At Brockport High
School,
John-Martin
Cannon is turning heads
and making a name for
himself among the sport’s
followers.
Cannon started dedicating himself to wrestling as a
young child.
“I started on the mat
when I was about 6 years
old,” Cannon said. “The
hard work and dedication
has brought me to where I
am. To be able to do this
sport, you have to sacrifice a
lot.”
His coach and father, Jim
Cannon, is impressed with
his son every time he hits the
mat. “He’s very driven,”
Cannon said. “John-Martin
is very determined. He’s
coach-able. He takes the time
to try and learn from his mistakes. He really brings a
strong desire to succeed in
this sport.”
Cannon’s talent has garnered attention from numerous institutions, but he committed to attend the
University at Buffalo in the
fall.
“Going to UB is a big thrill
for me,” Cannon said.
“When they first got to me, I
had been thinking about
going out of state for a long
time. I don’t know though,
considering UB is right
around the corner, and has a
solid team. The more I got to
see and talk to the team and
coaches, the more I wanted
to be there.”
Jim Cannon is also overwhelmed by what his son has
achieved thusfar.
“To see him reach a goal
and a dream he set for him-
the number of
colleges
who
contacted John
Martin after he
enrolled with
NSR,” Sydeski
said. “Once we
completed his
Preferred
College Search
he had numerous
colleges
from all over the
country express
an
interest,
including several
Photo by Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
D-I programs.
Brockport Star Athlete John-Martin
John-Martin
Cannon is turning a lot of heads in the
and
his father
sport of high school wrestling. Cannon
have
been
will be attending the University of
thrilled to work
Buffalo in the fall of 2008.
with each other,
and will have to adjust once
self has been great,” Jim
the younger Cannon attends
Cannon said. “I’m very excitUN.
ed. There have been times
“I liked it,” John-Martin
where I’ve had to pinch
said. “It’s going to be a new
myself.”
experience for me when I
Cannon has the stats to
enter UB though, and have
back up his success. Tom
three different coaches. They
Sydeski, area director for the
all have qualities that reflect
National Scouting Report
something of my dad.”
(www.nsr-inc.com/ny/tsyJim Cannon said that the
deski), gives a complete
opportunity to coach his son
resume for Cannon that is
has been something that he
hard to ignore. Cannon’s
won’t soon forget.
high school coach, Mike
“I’m
impressed
and
Ferris, praises Cannon’s style
thrilled about the way he carand ability in the profile.
ries himself off the mat,” he
“John-Martin has many
said. “John-Martin is a true
strengths on the mat,” Ferris
gentleman. He respects his
said. “He has a dominating
opponent, no matter how
style of wrestling in which he
good they are, or how averoften scores at will in the
age they are. He respects the
neutral position against even
fact they are in this sport.”
the toughest of competition.
Having found success in
He has a great feel for the
the ring, Cannon has set
various techniques to score
more goals set as an athlete
and is not limited to any parand teacher, and nobody is
ticular move or position.” To
questioning his desire and
see Cannon’s profile on the
ability to succeed.
National Scouting Report
“Wrestling will always be a
website go to http://www.nsrbig part of my life,” Cannon
inc.com/profile.idc?id=1681
said. “I’ll probably be major08.
ing in elementary education
Sydeski is glad that the
and be a wrestling coach. I
Cannons received so many
plan on keeping it going.”
offers before finally deciding
to go to UB.
“I was very pleased with
Page 16
Aquinas
“Li’l Irish”
capture
fourth state
Class A
football title
By Paul ‘Mr. NFL’ Adamo
As the final seconds
ticked off from the Carrier
Dome clock in Syracuse, the
celebration started. On
Friday afternoon, Nov. 23,
after defeating Section II’s
(Albany)
Lansingburgh
Knights 34-12 in the state
Class A championship game,
the Aquinas players ran to the
middle of the field raising
their helmets and signaling
with their fingers that they
were “No. 1”. The most tradition-laden high school football program in Section V had
won another state title and
had ended a perfect 13-0,
adding a fourth state Class A
championship to titles from
1998, 2001, and 2002. The
2007 Li’l Irish had been the
favorite to win the Class A
crown since the season began
in September. From the first
NYS high school sportswriters poll they were picked as
the No. 1 Class A team and
were expected to make a trip
to the Carrier Dome for the
state finals. Nothing is a certainty in high school sports,
but anything less than a state
championship for this team
would have been disappointing for the coaches, players
and fans.
“Our goal from the first
practice was to get to the
coaches
and
high school followers considered this offensive line the
largest ever in
Section V play.
In fact, the team
had six offensive/defensive
linemen
who
tipped the scales
at 300 pounds.
The
passing
game,
which
Photo by Michael P. Majewski
averaged
less
QB, Ben Bostick lead the “Li’l Irish” to a
than 10 attempts
perfect 13-0 season.
per game, was
effective when used, with QB
Carrier Dome,” coach Chris
Ben Bostick throwing to WRs
Battaglia said. “We felt we
Todd Wingate and Matt
had that type of team back
Jones.
LB
Devon
from last year.”
Worthington and Syracuse
In 2006, Aquinas advanced
recruit DE Matt Jones lead a
to the state semi-final game
shutdown defense. All in all,
and was beaten by eventual
this is a very well-coached
state champion Section IV
team that should maintain its
Corning East.
high standards, with over 20
In the championship game
players returning in 2008.
against
Lansingburgh,
Aquinas Institute was
Aquinas quickly established
founded in 1902. The footthe running game and RB
ball tradition of the school
Anthony Fitts scored three
goes back to the 1940s and
times and picked up the
1950s when it was a national
finals MVP. A dominating
prep powerhouse, playing
rushing attack plus a strong
top high schools from all over
defense translated into a perthe country, including Ohio,
fect season as opponents had
Texas and Pennsylvania.
no answer for Aquinas’ physAquinas regularly played in
ical style of football. With
front of crowds of over
spread offensives and passing
20,000 at Aquinas Stadium,
schemes regularly used in
which was patterned after the
high school football, the
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Aquinas offensive approach
Aquinas Stadium was later
could be considered “old
renamed Holleder Memorial
school” in some coaching
Stadium after Aquinas and
quarters. Running backs
West Point football star Don
Anthony Fitts, Cedric Barber
Holleder was killed in
and Dan Young ran behind a
Vietnam in 1967. Tradition,
huge offensive line by high
plus a strong alumni presence
school standards with 304in the greater Rochester area
pound guard Rick Antelli,
will continue to make
300-pound center Ben
Aquinas football a winning
Woolston and 309-pound
program in Section V.
tackle James Thomas. Many
The problem with hockey players
By Matt
Ladewski
I have a big
problem with
hockey players.
Now
before you
jump to conclusions, it’s
not what you
think. The
problem
I
have
concerns their
common
muscular imbalances, due to
years of skating. So quit skating.
Yes, I said it. Due to the
long season of games and
practices, hockey players are
constantly in a bent position,
not to mention the sitting
between shifts. This results
in a tightening of the hip
flexors and the Psoas, more
specifically, is inhibited. But
this can be fixed and a problem can be prevented.
A simple test to see if your
Psoas is working correctly is
to stand on one leg and pull
the other knee to your chest.
When you let go, you should
be able to stand up tall and
keep the top of your thigh
parallel to the floor. Some of
you will cheat and lean back
or your hips
will
roll
under.
Another
common
problem
is
the development of weak
glutes. If your
glutes shut
down, then
something
else must take
over. It could
be the lower
back, quads or hamstrings.
Your body is a wonderful
compensator, but this doubles the work in these other
areas and will most likely
lead to injury. Thankfully, for
your sake, there is a test to
check the glutes as well.
The glute test is even easier the Psoas test. For this test
you should lie on the ground
with your feet pulled in close
to your butt. Lift your toes so
only your heels are on the
floor. Press your heels down
into the floor and contract
your glutes lifting your hips
off the ground. It is really
that simple. Now it is time to
see how you did.
There are a few signs of
weak glutes and one or both
may be present. If you feel
like your hamstring is going
to cramp, it is working too
hard and you need to get
your glutes working more.
When you raise your hips,
give your butt a squeeze. If it
feels like mush it’s also a
problem. It if feels like a contracted muscle, congratulations. That is how it should
feel. Now that you have
determined where you are at,
let’s go back to what I said
about not skating.
In the off-season, I recommend limiting your skating.
It should be reduced to simply maintaining your skill
level, unless you are a poor
skater. During this time,
coaches like to perform bike
tests or use biking as an alternative form of conditioning.
It closely mimics skating and
works the skating muscles
heavily, which in theory is
great, but it does not address
the problems listed above.
There are a number of different things you can do in
the off-season to prevent any
imbalances that typically
occur in hockey players.
If you have problems or
want to learn more about
becoming a better athlete contact me at 716-479-0745 or at
www.LadewskiStrength.com.
New league
and faces for
RazorSharks
By Matthew Lyon
Last season started with the
Rochester RazorSharks hoping to repeat as ABA champions. It ended with the team
leaving
the
American
Basketball Association before
they had a chance to defend
their title in the playoffs. This
season, the team begins play
in a brand new league with a
roster that features only four
returning players.
Entering the 2007 playoffs,
the RazorSharks were the
number four seed and were
one of the favorites to win the
ABA title. After their playoff
opener was snowed out and
had to be rescheduled, the
team and ABA officials couldn’t agree on a new date. The
Sharks decided they had had
enough and decided to leave
the league altogether.
The Sharks’ new domain,
the
Premier
Basketball
League, was formed in the
wake of that decision, and is
led by RazorSharks co-owner
Dr. Severko Hrywnak and
Maryland Nighthawks owner
Tom Doyle. Both franchises
were fed up with the poorly
managed ABA and decided to
form a new league with
greater stability and higher
quality franchises.
The PBL will be comprised
of 10 teams in two divisions.
Six of the teams are former
ABA
clubs:
Rochester,
Maryland, the Jacksonville
Jam, the Wilmington (N.C.)
Sea Dawgs, the Quad City
(Iowa) Riverhawks and the
Rockford (Illinois) Fury. They
will be joined by the expansion Reading (Pa.) Railers,
Arkansas Impact, Chicago
Aztecas and Dallas Defenders.
Each team will play a total of
twenty games, mostly consisting of weekend dates.
This season, the Sharks’ roster will feature many new
names after the departures of
some key players. Starting
point guard and assistant
coach Lazarus Sims is gone, as
is forward Brian Edwards.
Edwards was originally supposed to return for the
upcoming season but accepted an offer to play in Egypt.
Also playing internationally
are Nigel Moore (Germany)
and Lee Cook (Mexico).
Other key players not returning include Eric Coley, Jamal
Nichols, Mike Mackell, and
Ricky Price.
Scoring likely will not be an
issue, as this year’s team does
return the top three scorers
from last season. Coming back
to coach Rod Baker’s squad are
James
Reaves
(Edison
Tech/Niagara),
Demond
Stewart
(Greece
Olympia/Niagara), Keith Friel,
and John Halas. Friel led the
team with 16.4 points per
game. He was also the teams’
best outside shooter, hitting
93 treys and shooting 41 percent from behind the arch.
Reaves and Stewart were next
in scoring with 16.0 and 14.4
points per game, respectively.
Stewart is the only RazorShark
to play in every game since the
team began play in 2005.
The veterans will play a key
role in leading the team this
season.
“[The veterans] have been
taking the lead in camp, showing the new guys how to run
the drills,” said vice president
of basketball operations Chris
Iversen. “They’ve stepped up
and been more vocal leaders,
which has been nice to see.”
Halas spent last season
coming off the bench, relieving Sims. This season, Sims is
on Jim Boeheim’s staff at
Syracuse University, opening
up the point guard role for
Halas, who averaged four
assists per game last season.
“John will be in the mix at
the point guard spot,” Iversen
said. “He is familiar with the
offense and coach Baker’s system, but he will have to compete for the role. There are
others who will be given the
opportunity in training camp
as well. He also could see
some time at the off-guard
spot as well.”
One newcomer to the team
was the first ever draft pick in
RazorSharks history. Vidal
Massiah was selected by
Rochester in the inaugural
PBL lottery draft in October.
The draft consisted of players
who participated in the
league’s two tryout combines
held earlier in the summer.
Massiah, a 6-foot-6 forward
from St. Bonaventure, was the
No. 2 overall pick. The
Toronto native averaged 10.8
points per game for the
Bonnies as a senior, and has
looked impressive so far in
training camp.
The RazorSharks will begin
play in the new league Jan. 4
at Jacksonville and the season
will last until mid-March.
Their first home game will be
Saturday, Jan. 12 against
Reading.
Greywolves bring
Can-Am
lacrosse
excitement back
to Rochester
Staff Report
Starting in 2008, the most talented players in the upstate area
will no longer need to travel
great distances to play in one of
the most competitive lacrosse
leagues in the world; it will be
right in their own backyard, as
Rochester has been given a franchise in the Can-Am lacrosse
league.
The Greywolves can trace
their roots back to the 1930s
when the Rochester Iroquois
were competing in the North
American Amateur Lacrosse
Association.
Before
the
Knighthawks, Rochester residents were lining up to cheer on
the Iroquois. In the 1970s the
league changed its name to the
Can-Am Lacrosse League and up
to 1984 the Greywolves were
competing for the Presidents
cup.
The pool of talent the
Greywolves have to draw from
includes standout players from
the high school, collegiate, and
professional levels. Now these
local stars will have the chance to
showcase their talent against the
best box lacrosse players from
across the US and Canada.
The two players responsible
for the resurrection of the
Greywolves both have experience playing in the Can-Am
League. The general manager,
Craig Marvin, is a five-year veteran of the league, having played
for both the Onondaga
Redhawks and the Allegany
Arrows. Greywolves assistant
manager Ansley Jemison is a
Syracuse University graduate
who played lacrosse both at
Syracuse and professionally for
the Newtown Golden Eagles.
“This is a great chance for
local stars to play lacrosse on a
very high level,” an enthuastic
Marvin said while speaking
about the team. “It is a unique
experience for the Rochester
area to come out and see guys
who work in our community
every day do something really
extraordinary.”
The Greywolves also hope to
serve as a talent pool for the
Knighthawks to draw from.
Much like the Sabres’ relationship with the Rochester
Americans, the Greywolves will
be a place for young players to
develop their talents and showcase their ability to play at the
next level.
The franchises that play in the
Can-Am league are a throwback
to the grassroots of the game.
Every player that takes the field
does it for a love of the game.
The members of the Greywolves
are passionate about the game, a
fact that becomes apparent when
you watch them play.
The Greywolves will be holding open tryouts Jan. 5 and 6 at
Total Sports Experience in
Spencerport.
For more information contact
Craig
Marvin
at
[email protected]
Page 17
Daley Musings
By Richard A. Rampello
After speaking with 63year-old Nazareth hoops
coach Mike Daley, I’m ready
to get up at quarter to nine
in the morning and reenroll in college just so I
could suit up for Coach
Daley.
Beginning our interview
with a discussion of his
players, Daley, one of three
assistant athletic directors
for the Golden Flyers,
spoke about leadership on
the court, especially last
year’s freshman of the year
Cory McAdam.
“He makes it easier to
coach. He’s like a coach on
the floor,” Daley said. “He
was fifth in assists, and fifth
in steals last year, as an 18year-old freshman. He’s a
tremendous talent and asset
that makes the entire program better.”
Daley’s voice inflection
itself is enough to grab
one’s attention. It’s not a
classic radio announcer
voice, boisterous and
booming, but rather it’s
more along the lines of a
Warm 101.3 FM DJ: cool,
calm, collective and comforting. For a man in his
41st year of coaching (22nd
at Nazareth), he speaks
with a “been there, done
that” quality, yet there is no
evidence of boredom or
fatigue.
Part of this seemingly
endless enthusiasm is the
wealth of great experiences and anecdotes that
he has accumulated over
the years. When Daley
was at St. Bonaventure (as
a student and player), 5foot-9 dunking sensation
Calvin Murphy was at
Niagara,
and
Daley
crossed
paths
with
Murphy on and off the
court working together at
basketball camps together
in the Poconos. Daley was
also fortunate enough to
meet legendary coach
Frank Layden, a man he
referred to as “an outstanding
coach
and
teacher of class talent.”
Also thinking of himself
as a teacher, Daley believes
that when you “teach
respect everything else falls
into place, and the sport is
part of it.” That’s not just a
Division III mantra for
players not usually destined
for the pros; Daley feels that
any deficiency he has found
in recruiting has not been
from lack of skill, but rather
from inspired coaching.
A forgiving father figure,
Daley has been around long
enough to tell the difference between what his athletes say and what they
truly mean.
“Kids tell you what you
want to hear,” Daley said,
“but their actions reflect
their true intentions.”
Daley’s first coaching go
was at Niagara under Pete
Mike Daley has a clear view
of what’s right.
Longeran in 1980. He
stayed on until 1986 before
becoming the head man at
Naz. They were 22-6 that
year, but it took him 16
years to match that record
again. His current staff of
assistant coaches is a mixture of old and new, with
two thirds of the staff having over 50 years of coaching experience combined,
while the third is freshfaced youngster Kevin
Downey, who is in his first
full year on Daley’s staff.
“The kids love him,”
Daley said of Downey. “He
was a very great player [at
Canisius College], hardworking and a role model.”
It comes as no surprise
that Daley hires his staff
with character and ethics in
the forefront of his mind.
Unable to resist, I had to
ask coach Daley what he
thought about Barry Bonds
and the accusation of
steroid use over the last
several years.
“Bonds
unfortunately
went for that brass ring at
any cost,” Daley responded.
“I don’t know if he thought
about the health effects
down the road. It’s not just
a competitive edge but an
influence on younger athletes.”
An old school coach,
Daley seemed to feel sorry
for Bonds and all of the
other athletes obsessed
with instant gratification.
Realizing that people
make mistakes, Daley
allows for human error
because he knows that is
inevitable. For Daley, the
mistake is less important
than its correction. Parents
and coaches both teach
from mistakes.
Taking his mentoring
spirit and genuineness to
the hardwood, Daley’s
squad left the gates with an
impressive 5-1 start to
begin the season, after finishing a respectable but
somewhat disappointing
11-14 last year. Under
coach Daley’s leadership
and ability to “get people
into the right place,” there
is no telling how far
Nazareth will climb in the
future.
Page 18
It happened in hockey
and he played in great pain.
“With all my health problems and injuries, I realized
how fragile life can be,” Mario
said. “And how fortunate I
was to be a hockey player and
win two Stanley Cups. But
there were so many people
less fortunate.”
Mario established the Mario
Lemieux Foundation, which
raises money for medical
research and makes grants to
hospitals and families of cancer victims, in 1993.
When Mario’s own health
showed dramatic improvement, he returned to the NHL
in spectacular fashion. In
2000-2001, after an absence of
more than three years, he
scored 35 goals and 76 points
in just 43 games. The Hockey
News called his comeback
“unbelievable.”
When he retired for the second time in 2006, after amassing 690 goals and 1,723
points, he left with the
Penguins owing him millions
from page 6
of dollars in deferred salary.
He literally saved the franchise
by converting the monies
owed to him into equity,
thereby becoming the principal owner of the Pens. It was a
bold gamble and now, with a
deal firmly in place for a
spanking new arena, the Pens
have a home for the next 30
years.
I have a particularly fond
memory of Mario’s kindness
toward me. Years ago, at a
Catskills resort, we taped a
feature on Mario for Hockey
Night in Canada. We showed
him instructing young players
on a mini rink at the resort. At
the end of the session there
was a lively pickup game
involving
Mario,
Larry
Robinson, Steve Duchesne
and other NHLers.
Someone said, “Grab your
skates, Mario needs a right
winger.”
Who could pass on an invitation like that? Another tall
tale for the grandkids some-
Amerks-Sabres
from page 7
players.” Of those 12, 11 must
have played in 260 or fewer
professional games (including
AHL, NHL, IHL and European
elite leagues), and one must
have played in 320 or fewer
professional games.
The use of veteran players
would greatly jeopardize the
development of prospects in
the Sabres’ and Panthers’ systems, given Rochester’s lack of
roster space. In terms of
names, the consistency that
Amerks fans have grown
accustomed to has been lost.
Jody Gage, Chris Taylor and
Jacques Cloutier were all players who enjoyed long runs
with the Amerks and provided
recognizable faces for the fans
and marketability for the
team. From a purely business
standpoint, what good is a
team of unknowns? Despite
their tremendous skill, you
won’t see any Mancari,
MacArthur or Dennis sweaters
in the crowd, but you may still
see those of Gage and Taylor.
Nonetheless, roster issues
would be irrelevant to the
Amerks staying afloat if ownership were able to pocket
some of the concession revenue. Both the Amerks and
the Rochester Knighthawks
are unable to make money
under the current terms of
their lease at the Blue Cross
Arena. The arena is also without a parking lot—more lost
revenue.
The
Rochester
Democrat & Chronicle reported in March that the Amerks
and
Knighthawks
lost
upwards of $390,000 in 20052006 after a net loss of
$138,000 in 2004-2005.
Simply put, the Amerks are
still a first-rate organization
with a second-rate lease.
Both the Binghamton
Senators and Syracuse Crunch
are below Rochester in attendance numbers but remain
profitable as they both share
20 percent of their concession
revenues. On the other
extreme, the Rochester Red
Wings baseball club is the sole
operator and beneficiary of its
concessions, and the team
pulled in $1.1 million from
Pepper
Sat.. Jan. 12:
NWA Upstate Minett
Hall
Henrietta (Rochester), 6 p.m.
Visit
www.nwaupny.com.
Main Event: 3-Way Title
Match - Jimmy Olsen vs.
Fabulous John McChessny vs.
Danny Doring
Fri., Jan. 18: WWE (Raw
House Show), Syracuse, 7:30
p.m., War Memorial Arena at
Onecenter
Sat., Jan. 19: WWE (Raw
House Show), ,Jamestown,
Jamestown Savings Bank Ice
Arena, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 9: NWA Empire,
St. Johnsburg Fire Hall, 7156
Ward Road, Wheatfield (N.
Tonawanda),
6
p.m.,
www.nwaempire.com. Main
event: Pepper Parks defends
the title against Jonny Puma in
a NO DQ match.
Dec. 2008: The WWE
Armageddon PPV is tentatively scheduled for Buffalo!
The WrestleVision Network
from page 12
Boogeyman was definitely a
highlight of my career so far,”
says Pepper. “My friends and
family got to see me on
National TV; I had lots of fun,
and, coincidentally, I love to
eat worms!”
In the words of Curt
Gowdy, Pepper “has his future
ahead of him.” The West
Seneca East graduate is indeed
proud of his Buffalo roots, and
hopes to carry on the tradition
of local wrestlers who’ve made
a mark of excellence on the
national scene.
Perhaps one day, Parks can
square off against Patrick
Swayze himself and avenge
the completely staged, unrealistic and visually discreditable
beating that Swayze gave to
Terry Funk in the film
“Roadhouse.”
Wrestling justice demands
it.
Upcoming events
day. I couldn’t keep pace
with the pros, but Mario
made me feel like Gordie
Howe that day. He threw me a
pass and I tipped it in for a
goal.
“Thank you, Mario,” I told
him. “Thank you. That was an
incredible thrill for a guy
almost 60.”
One of his own personal
thrills had to be a feat he
accomplished during the
1988-89 season. It has never
been matched by any of the
other great scorers in hockey.
He scored five goals in a
game against New Jersey in
1988, and each was scored in
a different manner: even
strength, short-handed, power
play, penalty shot and empty
net. Others have scored five
goals in a game, but Mario is
the only player to do it in five
different ways.
What a talent! What a gentleman!
Sid the Kid still has a long
way to go before matching
Mario’s stature on and off the
ice.
hot dog, popcorn and soda
sales in 2005-2006.
Maybe a few hot dog carts
can pull Amerks owner Steve
Donner out of debt.
Surely, the Amerks will
have a tough road ahead of
them. We will soon find out
how many of the Rochester
fans were indeed fans of the
organization, and how many
were simply displaced Sabres
fans looking for a more convenient game to attend.
If the fans can stay the
course, all of the impeding
problems that hamper the
team right now will soon be
rectified. The Blue Cross lease
expires in June 2008. A soleorganization affiliation will
make room for more veterans,
granted, they may be Panthers
property, and not Sabres. If
coach Randy Cunneyworth is
doing his job as well as he
always has, some of the current Panther prospects may
have breakout seasons in 2008
and vault the Amerks back to
the Calder Cup, where they
haven’t been since 1999.
Surely that’ll sell a few tickets. And some snacks.
is Mandatory Viewing across
W.N.Y.:
Suburban Erie County:
Time Warner Cable Channel
20, Saturdays at 4:05 p.m.
with a replay Mondays at
11:35 p.m.
Niagara County: Channel
20 Saturdays at 4 p.m.
Rochester: WBGT-TV (My
18) on Sundays 3 p.m. with a
replay late Tues. night/early
Wed. at 1 a.m.
Also listen to the Pain
Clinic on WHTK (1280 AM)
in Rochester on Saturdays at
10
a.m.,
along
with
Turnbuckle Talk in Buffalo on
WBNY-FM (91.3) Mondays at
8 p.m. Finally, you can catch
www.mondaynightmayhem.c
om on the Internet.
Looking for those last
minute gift ideas? Get the
wrestling fans in your life a
BallparkBrawl DVD! Go to
www.ballparkbrawl.com for
more exciting info!
Fantasy
numbers that second-year wideout
Greg Jennings is putting on
display has been anything but
chilling to fantasy football
owner’s hearts. One year ago
he caught 45 balls with a total
of three touchdowns fighting
an injury-laden season. This
year though in only 11 games,
he has 46 catches for an average of 17.7 yards per reception, with 12 touchdowns and
is very quietly turning into
one of the league’s impact
wide receivers.
Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
His numbers (235 rushing
yards, one touchdown) won’t
jump out at you nor is he
much of a roster spot on
someone’s bench this year, but
he won’t be a second-stringer
or someone’s insurance policy
for long. He’ll soon be a free
agent and moving to a starting
role outside of San Diego
should shoot up his fantasy
value tremendously. And for
future Turner owners, that
could mean major bang for
your buck depending on
where he lands.
As always, don’t forget
about some of those other
good future picks: Kellen
Clemens, QB, Jets; Chris
Henry, WR, Bengals; Anthony
Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis;
Trent Edwards, QB, Bills;
Derek Hagan, WR, Dolphins;
Bryant
Johnson,
WR,
Cardinals; Brent Celak, TE,
Eagles; Jeff King, TE,
Panthers.
tight end
w i t h
s o m e
with every intention of keeping it right where it is. We
know all about the vacancy in
Los Angeles, but there’s
already informed speculation
that owners would rather slap
an expansion team there and
rake in the billion-plus expansion fee to split among themselves. The NFL has never
been about moving franchises
unless there is no alternative,
which will also work in
Buffalo’s favor.
All things considered, this
is, finally, a good time to jump
on the Bills’ bandwagon.
Another draft even close to
equaling the 2007 draft, and
the 2008 Bills won’t be considered a rebuilding team anymore. If they were a stock, this
would be a great time to buy!
from page 8
cess is quarterback Jeff Garcia
but really it’s more of a thirdstring running back powering
their real and fantasy teams to
victories. Starring as a feature
back for the very first time in
his NFL career due to the
injuries of Cadillac Williams,
Mike Alstott and Michael
Pittman, this former Florida
Gator has done fantastically
well in their absences. In fact,
he’s registered three 100-yard
games in the past five and has
scored a touchdown in five
consecutive games for a current season total of 1,071 total
yards and nine touchdowns.
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers
It might be December and
cold in Green Bay, but the
Bills’ future
corner in Terrence McGee.
Running
back
Fred
Jackson, who was passed up
on draft day, was obviously
another find. Jackson provides
an excellent one-two punch
along with Marshawn Lynch,
who has been every bit as
good or better than advertised.
Another “need” in the offseason, in my view, is at wide
receiver opposite Lee Evans. A
receiver with speed and size
can take a lot of pressure off
Evans, and Josh Reed and
Roscoe Parrish are both more
effective in the slot.
The upgraded wish list on
offense would also include a
from page 3
speed.
The resurgence of the Bills
on the field could not come at
a better time, when the very
future of the Bills in Buffalo is
in question as owner Ralph
Wilson approaches his 90th
birthday. Wilson won’t sell the
team, and he’s on record as
saying he won’t pass it on to
his wife or daughters, so this
$800 million dollar franchise
will eventually be sold.
The continued sellouts at
the Ralph, along with the
expanded marketing role for
Toronto for a team on the rise
make it quite likely, in my
view, that a buyer or group
would purchase the franchise
Page 19

12-2007 Rochester Edition

Transcription

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