So the Bills whacked the Patriots 31-0 on Sunday, and the Red Sox failed to sweep the Yankees and are only one game up on the Mariners for the Wild Card. It's a good day when you can help put some hurt on another sports town.
Watching the Bills defense on Sunday made me very nostalgic. It reminded me of Talley and Bennett suiting up for the team in the golden days of the early nineties. Only there was one difference. Takeo Spikes was better. He had the best Sunday of any linebacker for the Bills that I had ever seen. In a statement game that needed to be won to earn any kind of respect this year, the defense came up huge. Sam Adams huge.
Make no mistake, that is a very large man, and that was a very large touchdown. People were surprised that he had the energy to run it in for the touchdown. That's not impressive at all. How did he stop? That has to be some major league inertia acting on that doughboy.
Oh, and Brian Moorman is a freak.
If there are any Dolphins fans out there, I hope you enjoyed your opener as well. I know I did. Miami came up in the clutch again to help propel the Bills to first place in the division to open the season. I know it's the first week, but I just have no fear of Miami as a Bills fan. In fact, I just can't get enough of them. The team comes up here every December, and they still act like they've never seen snow, much less played in it. They're the Keystone Cops of football in the winter. Don't think so? Look at their December record.
It's a little late, but I just want to remind Giants fans that they lost a playoff game due to a botched kick and a blown penalty call. Let me say that again. You lost a playoff game due to a botched kick and a blown penalty call. Wow, is that karma or what. That off-season must have sucked for you guys. We knew the Bills weren't good enough to make the playoffs, but you guys made it in and got punked by the 49ers and the league. That was nice. Believe me, as a Bills and Sabres backer, I know how it feels.
Take solace in the fact that your team is better than last year's. Shockey is a gem, and, as far as I am concerned, can open his mouth any time to talk smack. I know it is kind of against my morals to root for them, but I could start to like a blue collar, trash talking New York team. That style is closer to New York than the Yankees. The Yankees act like they are professional, when we all know they hate each other in the locker room. The Giants will tell you what they think, and that whole perception comes from Shockey. He's done wonders for honesty in sports.
About half of our university is from the New York City sphere of influence, sports wise. So I find myself a little outnumbered when it comes to rooting for the home squad. However, for the first time in a long time it looks like a Buffalo franchise is going to do the city proud rather than embarrass it. Frankly, sports are all we have in this town really. That and the Goo Goo Dolls. So when we have a team that is making a run for it, the town tends to be a little pumped up.
I might have been one of the only people on the planet who was fine with the Dennis Miller/Al Michaels/Dan Fouts connection, so I thought I should get that out of the way before I talk about Madden. His football game is one of the best franchises ever, in anything. His commentary might be close to it. Admit it, when he warps his vocal chords into those phrases and mutterings that can just completely blow your mind sometimes, you feel like a smarter person.
"I don't know much abut football, but even I KNEW THAT."
Madden is awesome.
So remember that the Dolphins always stumble in December, the Giants took their medicine last year, Buffalo is a stadium with suburbs, and Madden bumps up your IQ by 20 points.
Did I mention that the Bulls lost? Do any of you care? I know this campus is legendary for it's apathy, but really? I mean, it is your money that's paying for that.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
