ChevyVanMiller

Travis has got to be in his last 20 minutes as a Bill. TD should deal him to either the Eagles or the Cards before Arizona's time is up.

Tampa took Cadillac. All the top backs are gone, time to get er done with the Cardinals for Shelton and swap of 2nds.

I'm all for drafting Ted's little brother. Let's not forget the lesson learned when we took Gary Anderson out of 'Cuse though. Thought a sure fire superstar Gary went 0 for the preseason and the Bills cut him in favor of keeping (if memory serves me) Nick Mike-Mayer. Anderson then went on to become the most prolific kicker in league history. If we do draft Nugent remember that all rookies need time to adjust to the pro game.

Pic of him and Coy Wire at charity function in today's Buffalo News. Collect a shiny new no-prize if you can identify him before clicking the link> Tory Woodbury How did you do? Be honest!

I am heavily involved in the tourism industry in Niagara Falls and can tell you that there is vehement opposition to this move on both sides of the border here. If this is actually enforced tourism numbers will drop dramatically. Many pols in both countries are working to ensure that the Canadian border will not be grouped in with the Mexican border.

I was in the basement of the Comfort Inn in Niagara Falls. They had a dish and if you knew someone you could get in to see the blackout games. I remember telling my girlfriend at the time during halftime that the Bills had zero chance of coming back. The pick and TD to start the 2nd half seemed to cement my prediction. It was the happiest crow I've ever eaten. Two things I'll never forget about that game: Van's call of "The Bills are back in it now, big time!" and the guy that held up the "I don't hear any fat lady singing" sign. Until we win one, that day was our Super Bowl.

Here's 89 prayers for #89's sister.

I don't know what can be added to this! http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/04/01/ms.wh...r.ap/index.html

I'm happy for Bobby, but why in the world would the ST coaches wait until the end of March to announce an award for last season? Maybe Dorenbos still has a shot at longsnapper of the year when it is awarded on Flag Day.

Thanks for all of the kind words everyone. Sorry that I couldn't plug TSW. THe segment got cut short because thay were concerned that ABC would pre-empt to update the Pope's condition. Linda wants me to come back on and do another show where we have more time. My brother-in-law is dissapointed because I told him that I was going to tell the Gus/TSW story and mention him (I found out during the interview that he was boyhood friends with Thirdborn). At any rate, everyone seemed tickled to have Irv back with them, so I was really glad that I was able to help facilitate that. If any of you are at the Boulevard Mall on Saturday between 2-4 PM please stop by and say hello.

I'm on today's show Beerball, so you still have an opportunity to watch. I plan on acing it!

LOL, If it was Chuck I would have said "biggest" icons.

I'll be appearing on PM Buffalo tomorrow, Thursday, March 31st at 4 PM on Channel 7. I'll be promoting Buffalo Soul Lifters and will do my best to get a TSW plug in. Also, (shameless teaser) one of WNY's greatest icons will be appearing with me via telephone. Hopefully you can tune in.

I think Denney is way too small to move inside. DT's in the NFL today use 300 lbs. as a stepping off point. What's wrong with Tim Anderson? 3rd Rd pick and supposedly aced the Krumrie exam last Spring.

I agree with GMAC, great post. First let me say that I would indeed be interested in hearing the story concerning your wife's family. To answer your question, I'll say something that most of the politicians embroiled in this mess won't, I don't have the answer - at least not all of them. What I do know is that one good to come out of this is the lopping of many patronage jobs - like the County Executive's driver. I manage to drive myself to work and so do you, so there's no reason why Giambra can't do the same. One thing that I think could and should be a logical step taken is to privatize many services, such as the parks department. Thias has been done elsewhere and in many cases the same services are had at much lower (non-union) costs. Also, the practice of Sheriff Deputys working scads of OT in their final two years of service to dramatically drive-up their retirement payouts has got to stop. As I have stated before some sort of tax increase, be it on the sales tax or on property taxes, must take place before the county's bond rating drops again. Also, the State must take on a much larger chunk of the cost of Medicaid. As a final note, the real problem is the loss of industry and, by proxy, the loss of the region's smart, young people (like you). The State needs to find a way to offer a competitive tax base to industry so that we can effectively compete with other states for high tech and new technology jobs. Maybe then, many of the bright people that left the area for employment opportunities will make the choice to come back to WNY. I hope that this is a fair jumping off point in the discussion to begin curing what ails us. I'd love to hear any ideas that other posters may have.

It is CaWingNut. The Collards are wonderful people and Carly's legacy is something to behold. I thought Sully did a great job and dropped him a line to say so.

I just saw the "Stella" episode a couple of days ago. Classic stuff. RIP. Actor Who Played Jerry Seinfeld's Dad Dies -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOS ANGELES (March 24) - Barney Martin, a former New York City detective who went into show business and became best known for playing Jerry Seinfeld's father Morty on the comedian's hit television series, has died. He was 82. Martin died of cancer Monday at his Studio City home, according to his publicist, Jennifer Glassman. Born March 3, 1923, in the New York City borough of Queens, Martin served as a navigator in the Air Force during World War II before starting a 20-year career as a New York City police detective. Martin showed a talent for making deputy police commissioners laugh during presentations. In the 1950s, he began writing on the side for comedy shows such as "Name That Tune" and "The Steve Allen Show." Martin got his start in film when Mel Brooks featured him in "The Producers" in 1968. That role launched Martin into Broadway theater, where he appeared in several musicals, including "South Pacific," "The Fantasticks," All American" and "How Now Dow Jones." Martin, with Liz Sheridan as Seinfeld's mother, appear in a 2002 Denny's commercial. He is credited with creating the role of Roxy's unappreciated husband, Amos Hart, in the musical "Chicago." Martin also appeared in several television series in the 1990s, including "The Tony Randall Show," "US," "Sydney" and "Zorro and Son." In "Seinfeld," Martin was the third actor to play the part of Seinfeld's father and became the one most identified with the role of the Florida retiree. He said at the show's wrap party in 1998: "Playing Jerry's dad was like having whipped cream on top of a mountain of ice cream." He is survived by his wife and son. A daughter died in 2002

Will do.

I knew that I could count on you Darin for an insightful reply. I've always appreciated your posts, your spirit shines through, even on this impersonal medium and it is one that I am sure is kindred. Someday I hope to be able to sit down with you over the beverage of your choice. To respond to your thoughts, again I am not suggesting that things don't need fixing, I am saying that what has been done has made the hole to climb out of much, much deeper. So many people are cheering this, especially the expatriates, but who in their right mind would consider moving back to Erie County now. Last night's news brought more wonderful images. Lines at the DMV that stretched around the block and the news that some clause in the union contract could mean laid-off parks workers being put to work in health care at ECMC. Another issue that distresses me greatly is the harm that this is doing to the regionalism movement here. I am heavily involved in tourism in Niagara Falls and have worked alongside many people in the attempt to sell the region as a whole to visitors. Many people in the Falls have been weary of this concept. They feel that Niagara Falls needs to be proprietary towards its tourists. Just when things seemed to be moving in the right direction comes word that the Erie County libraries will begin charging Niagara County residents a membership fee. The same with Erie County Golf Courses. I've already heard from many readers who feel that this is a slap in the face. Some have even suggested a "counter" move of charging Erie County residents a fee to use Niagara County DMV offices and parks. None of this is productive. The last thing we need is for WNY counties to begin circling the wagons on each other. Frankly, I can't see this mess going on for too long without a major tax increase - be it sales or property - being leveled on Erie County residents. If the bond rating slips again Erie County may find itself in a hole too deep to climb out of.

Just writing to let you know that I will be appearing on the Lester Robinson show on Adelphia Cable in support of Buffalo Soul Lifters. The 1/2 hour interview will air on all Erie County Adelphia systems today, Wednesday, March 23 at 10:35 PM on Channel 20. In Niagara County the program will air on Thursday, March 24 at 6:30 PM & Friday, March 25 at 2:00 PM. It is also on Channel 20 in Niagara County. The book continues to sell briskly and your wonderful support has been greatly appreciated. I hope you'll be able to tune in.

Ouch! I can't say that I didn't ask for your opinions, but I certainly expected respectful, well-reasoned retorts and not the sophomoric attacks on my credibility that many of you resorted to employing. After all I am, to my knowledge, the only member of the Western New York media that is a "self-outed" dues paying member of this site. I am also the person who featured a story about TBD and the son of Third born in my best-selling book Buffalo Soul Lifters. I mention this only because many members of the media lurk here and steal thoughts to fill columns and radio airtime. I'm here because, like all of you, I have a love of our football team and a deep respect for Scott and the other moderators of this site. At the very least I would like to think that those things should not afford me treatment akin to what a flamer from a Fins board might encounter. Of course, as my wife always reminds me, I have a habit of overestimating people. That said, let me exhibit how one goes about responding to an opposing viewpoint with class and dignity. Firstly, in response to: I will not have an argument framed for me. I never said that I favored continued support of a broken system. I did state that I favored a temporary acceptance of the penny tax increase along with a commitment to serve notice that everyone responsible for this mess should start looking for private sector work come election time. Second, I own up to all of my dreck and I take great umbrage at being accused of yellow journalism. As the 100,000 + regular readers of my column know, I am not one to engage in hyperbole. I have spoken off the record with many folks in Erie County politics, law enforcement and social services. Almost to a person they predict a year unlike any ever witnessed here. I'd be more than happy to stand up next January and eat crow, but instead I think that I'll be penning a column about a slew of unfortunate to tragic stories that needn't have ever happened. Third, I'm glad you can find humor in some aspect of this. I surely cannot. Playing the communism card? Wow, Need I remind you that the colors of the team that we love, just like the blood that runs through my veins, are red, white and blue? Finally, The service people in Iraq are brave, the firefighters on 9/11 were brave, the kids battling cancer at Children's Hospital are brave. I was just naive. I thrive on good discussion and spirited debate. I write for one of the most well-respected, and feared, small town newspapers in America. I've been blasted by rednecks and dittoheads. I've have fans and critics and once faced off against the great Steve Malzberg on MSNBC. I'll debate this issue with any of you but only on the condition that you afford me the respect that I hold out to each of you. In the past week the county's bond rating was lowered to BBB, The Bills were asked to waive fees due them (don't think for a second that bells weren't going off in a certain Detroit office) and Charles Swanick was "caught" using the DMV in North Tonawanda. I offer to you once again the thought that this action was ill-conceived and narrow-minded. The long-term damage to the quality Erie County's financial and social future will be severe. As a final note I ask you to read this Buffalo News editorial penned by respected financial analyst James M. Hartman News Editorial In particular I draw your eyes to these quotes: "Well, congratulations to the cheerleaders of the "tax revolution." The guillotine is in full swing and heads are rolling. Sadly, we are now dismantling the basic service delivery capacity of county government. More disturbing, despite the bloodletting, Erie County is still headed for fiscal insolvency. The public has been badly confused and misled. Engaging in babble does not solve a budget crisis." "The citizens of Erie County now have a basic choice. We can acquiesce to the current path initiated by a minority group of misguided, inexperienced legislators. Alternatively, we can decide to restore some level of sanity and stability to our county. This latter choice will be difficult and it will require accepting the needed reality of a major tax increase. " Hopefully, this sober look at what has transpired will help some of you to rethink your positions. Or will you accuse Mr. Hartman and the News of "yellow journalism" as well? The ball's firmly back in your court Gentlemen. I eagerly await your shot selection.

You can blame "Gannongate" on me. It was my newspaper that called on Rep. Louise Slaughter to launch the investigation. You can read our open letter here: Open Letter

Here's my take on the Erie County fiasco. So far the e-mail's been running 75% saying I'm nuts and that county government had to be reeled in at any cost and 25% agreeing with my stance. I'm curious as to what my Bills' brothers (and sisters) think. A Penny For Your Thoughts

"I love it, you're such a pig in bed!"

"I'm really going to catch hell for this. Not because we're shagging, but because I'm Jewish!"