HopsGuy

I sent an email to some of my buddies about how Brian Murphy "adopted" the Bills yesterday in his "Hangover" column on ESPN.com's Page 2, and then today Peter King sings our boys praises on CNNSI.com. I was worried that all of this attention meant this was a peak for the Bills. Here's one response: {names changes to protect me} I have to say this... After a 0-4 start, my outlook for the Bills playing a game on December 18 that would be relevant was nil. The fact that they have gone on such a run makes this the most exciting season in some time. As I said in previous emails, I would attend the Pittsburgh game only if the Bills are going to make the playoffs. Up until three weekends ago, I was skeptical. Try to score more than 18 points on this D. With McGahee running like OJ from a crime scene, and Bledsoe playing like Jim Plunkett--- we are just coming together. I am not just basing this on this past weekends tuning of the hapless Browns (is Carmella still with Garcia or did he go f#g again?). I am basing this on a super coaching job done by Mularkey. Every week, they get better. How does that happen? Coaching, creative play calling, using the right players at the right time, SPECIAL TEAMS and shutting the oppenent down. What I have witnessed is a resurgence of the early '90's attitude in WNY. Not only do we think that we have a shot at the playoffs (although statistically it will be difficult), we BELIEVE that if we did get into the playoffs-- we would be a contender. The only thing detrimental to this happening would be the fact there would be a snowballs chance in hot sauce that we would play even one home playoff game. Because nothing spells disaster for other teams like Ralph Wilson Stadium in January. So Hops, I feel that the rays of sunny Florida have skewed your faith and resolve as a native Western New Yorker. You gotta BELIEVE!!! I fully expect that if the Steeler game on January 2 has playoff implications for the Bills, that you pack your gloves, pull on your UnderArmour, strap a 12er to your side, hop on a plane and get your a$$ to Buffalo. And if you do, I promise to be there by your side, holding your head up out of the pool of vomit that so frequently meant we had a good pregame bash....and feast on Benburgers and ride the Bus home afterward. The vomit reference is a long story, but I'm sure most of you can imagine. He later went on to question if there was a new girlfriend was making me soft or if it was simply the South FL weather. I might just have to go up there and hold his face in the snow. Here's another response (keep in mind we're mostly stock market guys): Always differentiate between an emerging star, and a long-loved powerhouse that never disappoints(AKA New England). You might get steamrolled if you sell the Bills short this soon...give it a couple years. "A bull market weathers a series of tests until it is considered invulnerable, at which time it is ripe for a bust." Way too early, my friend...not to say they'll win every week, but they are a team on the rise after years of disappointments. Yup, these are my friends.

Can you imagine if some 300# dude that just downed a 4-way at Skyline and washed it down with some Genny Cream Ales sits next to you?

Where does this put the team in terms of the BCS? Poulan Weedeater Bowl?

Using an online inflation calculator, $25k in 1959 is about 152k in 2003 dollars. The Bills are worth about $564 million according to a recent Forbes report. Nice investment, Ralph. Fools Club, indeed.

Wow, a stripper named "Amber". What are the F&$%ing odds?

I can't seem to find this using GG's tool. The Packers have this. The maker is Reebok. It is similar? Where did you watch the game? I watched at my friends house in Coconut Creek.

A bear walks into a bar. The bartender walks up and ask, "What'll ya have?" The Bear says, "I'll have a..................................... beer." The bartender looks at him and asks, "What's with the pause?" The bear replies, "I was born with them." Ba-dum-dum.

My trusty research assistant (Mr. Google) was able to find these stats: TOUCHDOWNS RETURNING PUNTS Most Touchdowns, Punt Returns, Season 5 Chicago Cardinals, 1959 4 Chicago Cardinals, 1948 Detroit, 1951 N.Y. Giants, 1951 Denver, 1976 3 Washington, 1941 Detroit, 1952 Pittsburgh, 1952 Houston, 1975 Los Angeles, 1981 Cleveland, 1993 Green Bay, 1996 Denver, 1997 San Diego, 1997 Most Touchdowns, Kickoff Returns, Season 4 Green Bay, 1967 Chicago, 1970 Detroit, 1994 3 Los Angeles, 1950 Chicago Cardinals, 1954 San Francisco, 1963 Denver, 1966 Chicago, 1967 New England, 1977 L.A. Rams, 1985 2 By many teams I guess the stats are up to and including last season. I didn't find combined stats (didn't try all that hard).

Yup. So you have to ask yourself which of the dogs still has some fight in them. I don't really like any of the games, but I'll go with: CAROLINA -6 over St. Louis MINNESOTA -6 1/2 over Seattle DALLAS -7 over New Orleans I think New England will blow out the Bengals, but 11 points sure is a lot of points when BB might build a lead, then rest his starters. Indy laying 10 at Houston seems like a trap. The Jets getting 5 1/2 at Pittsburgh is looking more attractive each day.

I was at the game the Cleveland-Philly game back in October and I think those Browns were better than Miami. However, these Browns are much different, much like our Bills are much different than the team we saw in the early part of the season. Our team seems to know how to win and more importantly, the coaching staff is getting its legs as far as making in-game adjustments. Feeley was looking like Peyton Manning until Gray decided to unleash the blitz. I think the Bills will win, but I'm leary of the 10.5 line (no one asked about betting potential, but I thought I'd throw that out there). I'll have to analyze how the Redskins responded to Robiskie when he was their interim coach before risking any hard-earned cash. As far as AD's prediction for ICE, I'd go with: (1) Bills win: The Browns are in disarray with a new coach and new QB. (2) Browns win: Bledsoe and TD must go. Anybody wanna lay odds on those picks? Note to ICE: Just playful kidding, but you've become as predictable as the tides.

>>The animal, which the couple have since adopted and named "kitty," was soon back to normal after a few minutes of petting. << I also find that a few minutes of petting to be very therapeutic.

NFL rules call for a sellout 72 hours before kickoff to lift the local TV blackout. For us that almost always means Thursday at 1 PM. Sometimes the team will ask the league for an extension to get the last few tickets sold.

Where are you living that you pay that much? I lived in Deefield Beach in '99 and got had a 1 BR 840 sq ft apartment for $665. It crept up to about $750 about the time my position was dissolved. I was making less than your friend (took the first job available) and I was doing fine. Things turned around pretty quick and I am able to afford more (probably buy pretty soon). I was never in the dire straits you describe. My friend had a 2 BR apartment in City Place a few years ago and I don't think it was >$2k. You must be living large. What did you think of that game? Nothing better than drinking beers outside of PP Park after a Bills' victory. B)

Great thread. The wonderful underlying theme is that the disagreement here is exactly what makes a market.

Strangely enough, I was at both games. I'll go with Sam's romp. It made the cover of SI and the curse kicked in two weeks later when they came down here.

I thought the elf/dentist's name was Ernie so I went and checked out IMdB. So I won't answer the questions (it would be cheating). I watched the other night. It's probably the best Christmas specials... okay, I'll give it a tie with "The Year Without A Santa Claus". Gotta love the Heatmiser.

The away jerseys are horrible. If you really want an away jersey, you might save money by getting a Montreal Alouettes' jersey personalized. They're practically the same. The home jerseys are okay. I'd go with Scott's suggestion an personalize it. Get your own name or go with a former Bills' player. I have the old style with #81 and "Chandler". #61 - Kalsu wouldn't be too bad either in the old style.

1993. BC field goal knocked them out of contention. Here's my take, not that anyone cares: Urban Meyer's father is right in that it will be easier for him to win at FL than it will be at ND. Take a look at the schedules. While ND keeps one patsie (Navy) on the schedule, the rest are usually comprised of "Football Factories" (BCS conference schools). UF opens with Wyoming and La Tech in the Swamp before they get to the SEC schedule. The only non-conference biggie the Gators have next year is FSU. Notre Dame begins next year at Pittsburgh, then at Michigan. So more than likely the new HC at ND will start out 0-2, while Urban "Don't call me Oscar" Meyer will begin 2-0. Meyer Sr. is correct, it will be easier to win at UF. They even get Miss St. at home next year. You remember Miss St. right? They lost to Maine. Then there is that whole academic eligibility thing... All of that having been said, the whole "join a conference" chorus just doesn't make sense at this time. As long as NBC is willing to pay for the rights to broadcast the games, why should ND share it with anyone? If someday it makes sense financially to join a conference, I'm sure the Big 10 (11) will be waiting with open arms. The two things present at each Catholic mass are the Lord and the collection basket. The Church didn't get to be what it is by being fiscally unsound.

Or it could be turned it around and say something like "Dude, you're so pathetic you had to go to the capital of the Evil Empire for some clumsy groping with a Long Island chick in a dank alley outside the Kremlin." But I wouldn't say anything like that.

Woo hoo! I just scored a ticket. I'm not sure what time I'll be getting there. I'm going with two brothers that have wives that probably wouldn't approve of them making it a 16 hour day of tailgating/football/tailgating/sports bar for late games/etc. I hold onto that number if we're wandering around the lot looking for friendlies.

Did you notice that at the press conference welcoming DB that he simply TOWERED over Jim Kelly? I thought that Jimbo was 6' 3"? Like with George O'Leary, some "tall tales" follow you.

The one on the first floor, when not flooded, smells of vomit and death. It's not for the faint of heart. I love the Elbo Room.

This isn't heaven?

In my pool I'm taking: Buff -3.5 NE -7.5 NO -1 Auburn -13 Navy -13 You have to pick 2 college games, 2 pro games and another game from either college or pro that counts twice as much (Best Bet). We have 15 guys in the pool with an entry fee of $200 (amounts to about $10/week). There's a college bowl round and a pro playoff round too. We use Danny Sheridan's Tuesday lines. The payout is: 1st - $1800, 2nd - $800, and 3rd - $400. It's a good way to gamble but limit your losses for us. It also proves that betting is a difficult task. Not that it really stops any of us from making other bets. Im currently in 5th place, but two guys have really distanced themselves from the field. The bowl and playoff rounds are worth a lot, so I still have a decent chance at some money.

Right next to Blondies is The Elbo Room. A fine Ft. Lauderdale institution. I'm still at a loss as to why they didn't profile the Elbo Room bathrooms on the Travel Channel.