Lurker

The way I look at is that Pataki recommended the name change (knowing the team didn't want to sell it) and Ralph acquiesced. I suppose accepting Pataki's suggestion is the same thing as naming it after himself, but since the idea originated with the Governor, it makes it a bit more "arm's length." I think Ralph's stance on stadiums not "selling out" their naming rights was always an honorable, old school thing. In a multi-billion dollar industry, chasing every last dollar (ie, Jerry Jones) was not necessarily a bad business practice in his view. We can debate whether Ralph's point of view was appropriate, but you have to give him credit for not changing his principals over the past four decades.

The 1998 lease gave control of the naming rights to the team. IIRC, Ralph always disliked the idea of selling the naming rights, and actually tried to keep Rich Products from putting their name on the stadium: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19730517&id=gHskAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zSgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7350,987472

"The stadium, originally called Rich Stadium, was renamed in 1998 for former Bills owner Ralph Wilson, Sr., at the request of former New York Governor George Pataki." http://law.marquette...df/nfl-2013.pdf

Correct. http://www.history.b...Stadium History

Not surprising at all. It's standard practice among Buffalo's "two-percent" class that Cleveland or New York are where you go for cancer treatment.

Love the line "....Smerlas called me this afternoon to talk about something else" Too funny...

Edited for brevity...

"That quote is pitched at employers (i.e., cheap labor costs). Sounds like a planted "story" by the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, actually. Earnings comparisons are really meaningless anyway, since they're based on averages and not position-specific. Cities with more headquarters personnel (translated "not Buffalo") have higher paid managers / senior staff etc that inflate their mean salary numbers. Hence, apples to pears to Buffalo...

Edited for brevity...

But that's what makes TSW such an "must read" destination. Like the saying goes, " comedy is hard"

As you might expect: http://www.walshcollege.edu/jeffreylittmann#.Uw0A-ONdU24

http://www.pressconnects.com/VideoNetwork/3146210983001/Bud-Light-Bruce-Smith-

Big Whoop. Tim Graham is the media equivalent of 90% of TSW...tons of attitude but little (grams?) of substance.

I'm sorry, I guess when I read "Fans have left..." that you were talking in terms of broad generalizations, rather than personal relationships. Carry on...

Gotta disagree. I suspect all the missing posters listed above still love the Bills and always will, through thick and thin. But other than coming here to catch the latest breaking news...the only value TSW still serves, IMO...why would thoughtful, reasonable folks like Lori et al want to hang out in a place filled with quick twitch bomb throwers and 'selfie' posters?

A write in vote for The Stadium Wall...

One bad play overshadows a dozen or more eye-popping things the kid did in that game? Plays like no LB in recent Bills history have been able to make? Yeah, TSW sure has a handle on the problems with this team. Tons of football knowledge here...

+1 To date, the only accomplishment these posters have achieved is diminishing TSW to the point of inanity...

Keep posting brilliant observations like this...TSW will get the problem fixed in no time.

People who start threads like this on Internet message boards...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-bills-sign-tackle-jj-unga-off-ravens-practice-squad-20131120,0,353633.story?track=rss "Run-game coordinator Juan Castillo had spent a considerable amount of time working with Unga to develop his technique, and the team was pleased with his progress." http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/J.J.-Unga/47403510-7f7c-43d2-b2f4-838ad1a2011e "Unga was a member of one of the best O-lines in school history, with three players garnering first-team All-Conference honors, one gaining second-team accolades and one named honorable mention...Blocked for an O-line that led NCAA Division II by allowing just 4 sacks in 11 games... Mustangs boasted the No.3-ranked rushing attack in the nation (323.9 ypg), the 16th-best scoring offense (38.6 ppg) and the 21st-ranked total offense (459.0 ypg) in all of Division II...Helped pave the way for RB Keidrick Jackson, who led the Lone Star Conference with 1,354 rushing yards and 21 TDs..." And why he only played 20 games: "Played in 11 games (one start) at LT as a junior in 2011 behind consensus All-American and 2012 NFL second-round draft pick (Carolina) Amini Silatolu..."

Too funny... http://twicsy.com/i/VRu59b

The coaching staff called a running play...EJ changed it to the pass. That's why these kind of "analyses" are about as useful as TSW...

A long time ago, there used to be an Internet message board full of season ticket holders and knowledgeable fans who had a great time discussing the Bills and the NFL. A silent thread for it's demise was posted a few years back...

SDS seems to be following the same game plan with his membership policy...