Archives for March 27, 2014

‘In an interview Wednesday morning at the conclusion of the NFL annual meeting, the prominent sports-franchise consultant said that whoever should buy the Bills in the wake of Ralph Wilson’s death on Tuesday cannot relocate the team from Western New York at any time over the remaining nine years of their lease agreement, which expires after the 2022 season.’

‘In addition to the Bills’ 10-year stadium lease, which was signed last year and brought with it $130-million from the state and Erie County for renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium, there are many other obstacles the Rogers family, which owns Rogers Communications Inc., and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. chairman Larry Tanenbaum face in their campaign to bring an NFL team to Toronto.’

‘And then comes the question of whether you can pay nearly a billion dollars for a team in the 49th-biggest market in America with a 40-year-old stadium and the second-cheapest tickets in the NFL – they cost an average of US$58 in 2013, with the league average at US$209, according to CNN. Buffalo loves its Bills, and deserves them. But it would be hard to pay off that mortgage there.’

‘That the Bills will eventually go to the highest bidder has never really been in question, given Wilson’s refusal to discuss selling while he was alive. The question, today as it was a week ago and two decades ago, is who might buy them?’

‘”This is a hard time for the Bills family,” said Bill Polian, former team president, his eyes welling. “The good part about it is it’s a big family. We’ll mourn Ralph’s loss, and we’ll pray for Jim. But there’s a lot of people doing that.”‘

‘”Our priority right now is to focus on the people at One Bills Drive and to focus on (Wilson). All of that will come at a later time,” Bills president Russ Brandon told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday.’

‘In 1996, angry that Art Modell was abandoning Cleveland, Wilson was one of two owners to vote against the move of the Browns to Baltimore. He never voted in favor of a franchise relocation. He said owning a sports team isn’t like owning a car dealership. If the car dealership founders, it can be closed and consumers will find another place to purchase cars. But an NFL team-that’s a public trust.’

‘Oral cancers are any cancers occurring in the oral cavity, which starts in your throat and extends all the way to your lips. The sad part about this disease is that oral cancers are typically not identified early, which severely reduces survival rates.’

‘”Anyone expecting to see the Los Angeles Bills is sorely mistaken,” SportsCorp President Marc Ganis told The Associated Press. “They can’t move even if they wanted to. It would go against the ironclad agreement done with Ralph’s blessing.”‘

‘The Steelers would host the Bills this summer at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., then would visit the Bills’ camp at St. John Fisher College outside Rochester, N.Y. in 2015. The Steelers held joint training camp practices with the Washington Redskins in the 1980s and 1990s.’

‘She says doctors believe chemotherapy and radiation are the best option given the cancer’s complexity and aggressive nature.’

‘The event will start at 1 p.m. Sunday. Parking will cost $10, with all proceeds to be donated to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. The foundation is named for the late Hunter Kelly, son of former Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.’

‘”The cancer is in areas that surgery cannot successfully eradicate. Therefore, the medical specialists here in (New York City) along with our Buffalo team believe that chemotherapy and radiation are the best option.”‘

‘”We are looking for certain things and things that Coach (Mike) Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers bring to the table that would help us. I think there are things we can do that help them prepare for the season. We’ve talked about the schedule of what we’re going to do, when we practice together. I think it could be a very good working relationship for both teams.”‘

‘”If you’ve dealt with cancer you know that you never really know for sure what each moment will hold,” Jill Kelly wrote. “But..Praise God. We are held in the Strong Mighty hands of an Unchanging God. Thank you for your continued prayer support.”‘