The Ten Worst Sports Moments of the Year

by Ryan

Everyone releases a top ten list of some sort around this time of year. Why not do two? Tomorrow I will run down the best, but we should get the worst out of the way, I suppose. These may not be in any particular order, but they all weren't very good times for me.

10. Eight Bells dies.



If only because I saw this at Target and decided I needed to fit it in.

9. Sabres/Panthers, 2/10/08

The Richard Zednik game. The Sabres won, but I've never heard a crowd at HSBC Arena so quiet. Scary stuff, and if not for some fantastic response time by medical staff it could have been a tragedy unfolding right before out eyes.

8. Sabres/Sens, 1/4/08

This was the first game after the Winter Classic, and the Sabres laid an egg on home ice. It continued a ten game winless stretch for the team that pretty much killed the season and any chance for the playoffs. Ah, memories.

7. Brett Favre retires, second guesses himself, comes back, then murders Rachel Nichols in self defense.

Boy I can't wait for the next episode of "Brett Favre Retires". Check local listings in 2009!

6. Sabres/Bruins, 2/8/08

Sabres completely gave this one away, with Phil Kessel sneezing the puck past Ryan Miller it the shootout. An absolute meltdown in a season littered with similar performances.

5. Sabres/Flyers, 2/25/08

See above, plus Danny Briere and the words "poetic justice".

4. Bills/Jets, 12/14/08

Also known as the J.P. Losman Bowl. This was a completely winable game that was blown by a questionable play call and a quarterback's inability to feel pressure coming from behind. Apparently he couldn't hear me scream "GET RID OF IT" from my couch, but he probably should have heard the collective yell coming from Western New York. The cloud of smug emitting from his postgame press conference is floating out over the Atlantic as we speak and will one day destroy a small village in Africa.

3. Boston Red Sox trade Manny

Losing the ALCS to the Rays was tough, but I was more proud of how hard the team fought than anything. Trading one of my favorite players was brutal, and I still haven't really come to grips with it as a sports fan. There's a lot of questionable things that Manny Ramirez did, but I'll never hate him as a player no matter where he goes.

2. Bills vs. Browns, Monday Night Football



Do we even need to talk about it?

1. Bills vs. Dolphins @ Toronto

As much as the Monday Night game hurt, I've never been physically sick after a football game until this one. Everything about what took place in Toronto will bother a part of me that sports never get to. We will never be sure what happens to this team until it already comes to pass, but we will always know where it started. This game will be the fulcrum point, for better or worse.

The Most Depressing Thing You'll See All Day

Wow. What a picture. It's like David Duprey just peered into the depths of my soul.

Hecht looks like he's in between a heavy sigh and a depressed shake of the head. I can't say I have any better way to handle it.

That stick room must be a sad place when it's empty.

Down and Out

By Jon

It's over. No more meaningful games. No more scoreboard watching. No playoffs.

Here's to an offseason chock full of second guessing and Bucky Gleason columns. Color me thrilled.

****

On a more upbeat note, the first intermission was a landmark moment for the Roost. On the way to a commercial break, Kevin Sylvester revealed to the world that our own Chris was named the Sabres Student of the Month! Everyone should be sure to leave a note of congratulations in the replies, because I know the ever-so-studious Chris is completely proud of this incredible accomplishment and not-at-all embarrassed by his name being broadcast to thousands of homes across New York State and Southern Ontario.

Be sure to check in tomorrow for an exclusive interview with this month's Student of the Month (which is almost as good as captain of the month!).

A View from the Roost: 3/25

By Jon

I've never been so affected by the outcome one game. I'm not even sure why. I knew coming into the game that a heart-wrenching loss was a very good possibility, but as Antoine Vermette's shot slid into the empty net, I sat in my seat in section 305 completely speechless and bewildered. I slowly drug my feet to Studio 200 (to meet up with a friend, not to watch Sylvester and co.), and just looked around at the empty arena, wondering what happened.

I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened to the two-goal lead. I don't know what happened to our once elite goaltender. I don't know what happened to Pominville and Hecht and some of the other vets who suffered a brain lapse late in the game. I don't know what happened to this season. I don't know what happened to this team.

The first half of the third period was a party. An absolute party. I high-fived nearly everyone in my section after Roy and Pominville put us up. For my only trip to the arena this season, I got wrapped up in the atmosphere that I had grown to love over the past two seasons. I thought we were well on our way to a victory. Judging by the electricity in the building, I wasn't alone.

Schubert taps home the short-handed goal, but the electricity didn't leave. We were still on the power play (even if it has been absolutely atrocious of late), and we still had a one-goal lead. I was surprised, too. I thought the air would be completely let out of the building, the result of a fan-base that has been let down too many times this year. But it wasn't. The fans were still into it; the building was still rocking. Color me shocked.

A minute and a half later, it was gone. The familiar trio of Alfredsson, Heatley, and Spezza broke our collective heart. You could hear cheers, but it was from the decent amount of Sens fans. I'm not sure there is a worse feeling than seeing opposing fans elated in your building. It's awful; a real punch in the gut. I've always wanted to go to a Leafs game, but now I'm not so sure I could handle it.

The defining moment of the night (maybe the season) came after Alfredsson's second goal put the Sens up by 2. Seventy-five percent of the crowd immediately stood up and rushed to the exit. I've never seen an arena empty so quickly. The fans were angry and utterly disgusted. I didn't leave, and I'm not sure why. If I could have it to do-over, I would have joined the hasty crowd and left my seat. It was a gigantic middle finger to the organization (a well-deserved one at that), and I should have taken part in it.

The puck dropped, and the people booed. I hope the team was ashamed. I hope they heard the boos and felt absolutely awful. This year has been a disgrace. This is a team that had a knack for winning the big game in dramatic fashion over the past two seasons, and now the tables were turned.

Listening to the whiner line on WGR this morning, I heard a caller that said something like this: "This was a team that is two excellent players from not quite being good enough".

At this point it is beating a brutally murdered horse, but that point is more valid than it has been all year.

This Just In

by Ryan
Pretty sweet.

It still doesn't make it a good day after seeing this.

If football had a level of difficulty, the Bills just raised the diving board and drained the pool.

Happy Tuesday From The Hockey News!!!

Thanks guys, I'm just going to go throw up everywhere. Just a stellar week so far...

A moment to reflect

By Chris

I was caught up in a mix of emotions last night. I was so proud of an undermanned Bills team fighting it out against the Goliath that is the Dallas Cowboys. Five interceptions? Two defensive touchdowns? A special teams score? AND WE LOST????

I went to bed just satisfied that it was close. I woke up this morning and my stomach felt empty. This game should not have been close. The makeshift Bills should have carried that lead and momentum all the way to the end of the game.

DiGiorgio's pick should have sealed the deal, right? Greer's stop on the two point conversion should have sealed the deal, right? Countless other plays could have changed the outcome of the game.

Maybe you don't pass on 3rd and eight from the Dallas 11 with six minutes to go. Work for the field goal and stay up by two scores. Jauron and Fairchild wanted to go for the kill there, and since passing worked last week against the Jets, they tried it again. Except this time, it was an awful play call and Edwards made an even worse decision. While that play didn't close the coffin on the Bills' lead, they Bills never got a real chance to score again.

And what was with the offense? For what plays were being called, I thought Edwards looked good. Sure he may have shook off one two many receivers, but he made all the safe throws, kept the chains moving, and kept his defense off the field. Edwards did everything asked of him from the coaching staff, with the exception of that one throw in the red zone.

Still, they didn't score an offensive touchdown and scored just three points on six turnovers. Looking back, that's completely unacceptable. The play calling was terrible and only got worse as the game went on.

Dallas never should have been given the opportunity to get back in the game. The 12th Man was rocking. Everything was going right until that fourth quarter, when everything that could go wrong did.



Even after Owens completion was revered with :13 to go, the Bills still allowed Romo to throw a pass to Creighton to put them in field goal range. How do you let Creighton catch that pass ON THE SIDELINE??? He catches that ball in the middle of the field and the game is over. But, nope, bad coverage schemes led to that one, costing the team the game.

I'm not ready to fire Dick Jauron yet. But I'm close. Coaching up his players going into that game and have them go out and make a statement earlier was truly remarkable. But during the game, he stands emotionless and, it appears at times, clueless. The terrible play calling is something that's going to haunt this team.

The team needed a win last night. The entire city needed a win. And Dick Jauron let us down.

Maybe during the Baltimore game in two weeks, Chargers fans won't be the only ones chanting, "Marty."

Unbillievable

by Ryan


Did they show the Falls tonight? You know, going to or coming back from commercial? It's an open invitation for anyone too weak to stay on board. They should have given directions to get there, just so we can all go hurl ourselves into the Gorge.

Listen, I'm not going to sit here and BS with you guys, because you know what you saw. There were a lot of good things we saw from the Bills tonight, and a whole lot of bad. We also saw that America's Team has a lot of questions to answer next weekend against the New England Monster, and anyone who thinks Romo is the second coming should check their Bible again.

We all saw it, and we all felt it. The question is, are you still willing to do it? Are two humongous punches to the stomach enough for you to hang up the towel and move on to hockey season? From my view, I wouldn't blame you if you shut it down now. I'm certainly not condoning it, but what else can you do if you've had your fill five weeks in?

I only bring it up because no one shut it down out in those seats tonight. If you were in that crowd you know exactly what I mean. I hope you felt it on TV, because that was the loudest I've heard the Ralph in years. We stood the entire game, made noise every down, and never lost thirst for an upset. Every single Bills fan in that place forgot the standings tonight and put on a show on national television. It was beautiful, and made me proud of this area and the fans.

The on field result, however, is what makes our reputation ring true. They don't make commercials like this for just any team, and Dick Jauron did just enough to keep the universe in balance.

Listen, there are at least a half dozen times this game was won, and for everyone a different play will stand out. The fact of the matter is those players did everything they could to win that game, and the Cowboys did everything they could to give it to us. How we sit at a 25-24 final is just mind boggling, and when I think mind boggling, I think Dick Jauron and company.

Trent Edwards made four major mistakes tonight. Two were sacks, one was a fumble he recovered, and the fourth was an interception that wouldn't have happened if they don't call a five wide out package in field goal range. I know some people think otherwise, but there is a time to be aggressive, and a time to run the ball and make it a two score game. A half dozen decisions like this make the difference in a game's end result, and each one tonight went against us.

This isn't an aberration. Opening day our loss was a result of the same type of miscues, and to be quite honest, these decisions are balls. I highly doubt DiGorgio is the one who decided to play off late when the Cowboys needed a mid range sideline completion, nor did Schobel plead for a minimal rush on a quarterback who was flustered all night.

I guess in the end it doesn't matter. A bounce here, a stumble there, and we are 3-2 at the bye with a defense beginning to mesh and an offense doing just enough to win. Instead we are a 1-4 team devastated by injuries and an incompetence that saturates every genuinely outstanding effort this team puts forth.

There are no answers, only the question of whether you have enough in the tank to be there for the next eleven games. Tonight, for both for fans and this team, will either be the turning point of the season, or the pinnacle of our disastrous fate.

My heart says it's worth it, but on nights like this, my mettle is rocked to its very core.

RoosTV: Buffalo gets the four-letter treatment

By Chris

Welcome to Monday Night Football, live from Buffalo, NY--well sort of live, and sort of from Buffalo, NY (the Bills play in Orchard Park and I'm at home in Lockport, a few minutes north).

It's just after 9:00 now and I literally just walked in the door ten minutes ago.

I had class until 8:30 and for the first time, I made it from college to my house in 15 minutes. God bless green lights and a heavy foot.

I've also been rocking my Todd Collins jersey all day and I don't plan on changing it anytime soon.

I did catch the Bills first drive on the radio and here's what transpired:

At 8:37 I turned my car on and switched the radio. John Murphy, the voice of the Bills, and Mark Kelso are on the air. Kelso just called the Cowboys' 4-0 record misleading. I knew there was a reason why I try my hardest not to listen to these games on the radio.

Marshawn Lynch busts out for a 15 yard gain on the Bills first play from scrimmage. I notice Murph and Kelso are on a first name basis with the players. Roscoe on the kick return. Trent takes the snap. Marshawn with a nice gain.

I actually wonder if punters can win Player of the Game awards. After running for a first down on a fake punt to keep the drive alive, the Bills go three and out, setting Moorman up for another punt. Murph goes nuts as Brian pins the Cowboys on the one yard line.

Romo throws a pick to wide receiver turned defensive back George Wilson, who runs it in for the score.

The 12th man is in mid-season form right now.

Lindell's kick is good, 7-0 Bills.



Finally got the laptop set up, I'm ready to write and Roost TV is live:

9:16: Sweet graphic as ESPN shows Tony Romo walking off the field. "Dallas Cowboys: aaaaaaaag." Maybe the Four-Letter is on our side after all.

9:17: Yankees Update (yes, I'll be flipping from time to time): Yanks down 4-1 in the top of the fourth. I think I might start rooting for the Indians the rest of the post season.

9:19: Romo's finally finding his groove. Three straight completions, Cowboys keep moving the chains.

9:22: Great catch by T.O., then takes the spiking penalty. Not much of a call but whatever, we'll take the 5 yards. Romo's taking a lot of hits after the throw.

9:23: Witten takes those extra five yards and catches one in the end zone. We've got a tie game, 7-7.

9:28 Nice shot of Jerry Jones and Michael Irvin in their box having a coke party---errr watching the game intently.

9:28: Lynch with a 23 yard run after a quick dump from Edwards. This guy is the real freaking deal. He works for every yard. Instant fan favorite here, although his hard nosed running style doesn't bode well for a long career.

9:30: Roscoe with a nice run after the catch to pick up a first. He tried the Playmaker button from Madden 04 to call his block, but caught his teammates off guard. Parrish with 3 catches for 24 yards already, all pretty big plays. Edwards looks great.

9:34: Kornheiser telling America what everyone in Buffalo already knows: J.P. Losman is pretty much unemployed after this season. There's no allegiance to J.P. and everyone is already anointing Edwards. Sentiment here is that even if the Bills lose tonight, people are going to want to see how he bounces back after the bye week.

9:37 Does anyone else think that Mike Tirico is boring? I mean the 2007 quarterback draft is interesting and all, but I think I fell asleep after he said, "Edwards was the sixth quarterbaaaaaaaaayaaaaawwwnnnnn..."

9:37: Bills are in the red zone. They're using play action well. As the half winds down, a field goal is a success here.

9:40: Third and goal. Nice little throw to Gaines. Nothing special like Jaws says, but Edwards is doing the right thing by playing it safe on that throw.

9:41: Lindell puts it through the uprights. I'm still trying to figure out when this guy became a legitimately reliable kicker. I remember when he stunk outside of 40, now he can kick it from pretty much anywhere.

This 24-yarder put Buffalo up 10-7 with 3:26 to go.

9:45: Chris Kelsay tips up a Romo pass to himself and catches it in the end zone. TOUCHDOWN!!!! And did I just hear "Song 2" by the Blur after that score? Really?

17-7 Bills.



So much for being satisfied with the 10-7 lead going into half.

Tirico: "Unbelievable."

The 12th man is rocking.

9:45: Waiting for the "Shout" song.

9:46: Still waiting.

9:47: There it is! "BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP THE BILLS MAKE ME WANNA SHOUT!!!"

9:48: On a side note, it's a great thing I've already got a comfortable lead in my fantasy league. Tony Romo is killing my team.

9:49: Romo looks like he's going to cry. Picked off by AFC Defensive Player of the Week Jabari Greer. I just got two instant messages almost instantaneously.

The first one, from the Roost's own Jon: "!!!!!!!!!!1 this is the most fun i have had watching football in years."

The second from my sports editor at the UB newspaper, Rubin: "is this really f**king happening?"

It's been a good night to be a Bills fan.

9:58: Lindell misses a 54-yarder. No worries. The crowd's still roaring and Romo is still jumpy.

10:00: I think they just showed a replay of T.O. on the bench giving Romo some pills that will "make him feel better."

10:01: Dallas now in field goal range as Romo gets blasted by Kelsay but makes the throw to Sam Turd--I mean Hurd.

10:02: Field goal is good, Bills lead 17-10 at half. Cowboys will start with the ball for the second half.

Bills are really playing above their level right now. You wouldn't know they were playing with a patchwork defense and a rookie quarterback. It'll be amazing if Dick Jauron can keep the emotional level up, all while making sure they don't get too over anxious and cough up the lead. It'll also be interesting to see what adjustments Dallas makes coming into the half.

Be back in a few...

10:04: Back sooner than I thought...Quick Yankee update, they're down 6-1 in the middle of the sixth. I'm not sure even Ronan Tynan could save them now.

10:15: Wow. Yanks in the middle of a nice min-rally. 6-2 now in the bottom of the sixth with one out and a man on first. Not a bad half time show.

10:16: Duncan moves to third on a base hit by Johnny Damon. In the words of Mike Tirico, "Unbelievable."

10:20: The usually clutch Jeter pulls an A-Rod and grounds into a double play to end the inning.

Whoops, football game's back on...no worries, it's still 17-10.

10:22: Niagara Falls looks pretty good at night. Just please don't show the rest of the city. Please.

10:23: Bills just won some sort of challenge, either way Dallas earns a first down. I'm more shocked to see Wade Phillips wearing a headset. He never wore them when he was a head coach here.

10:25: Kornheiser agrees with Kelso's earlier assessment that the Cowboys maybe aren't as good as we thought they were. What--what we thought they were. After all they ARE in the NFC.

10:28: Jaws is from Lackawanna, a Buffalo suburb. He freaking loves us.

10:29: Romo's head seems clear, as they're driving on their first drive of the half. The T.O. pick-me-ups seem to be working.

10:30: John "Poppa" DiGiorgio almost picks off a Romo pass of his own. Forces a fourth down.

10:31: Kick from Nick Folk from 29 yards is good, capping off a nine minute, 72 yard drive. Cowboys only trail by a score of 17-13 now.

10:33: TERRENCE MCGEE!!!!!! Gotta love special teams, a 103 yard return. Bobby April for President. And just like that the Bills respond. 23-7. I may never wash this Todd Collins jersey again. And John Murphy just had a heart attack.



10:33: Jerry Jones is in the fetal position, coked out with Playmaker.

10:33: Tony Romo is wrapped up in a towel, crying, humming Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."

10:34: Ronan Tynan singing "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium. Is there anyone who DOESN'T love this guy?

10:38: Coming into this game, I would have been satisfied with a close game midway through the third quarter, as long as the team didn't embarrass themselves and Edwards continued to make progress. Now, it's a totally different ballgame. The Bills need to hang on to win this game. This team looks like it's ready to become something the entire community can rally around.

It's amazing what happens when you put a competent quarterback under center, and not one that lines up behind the guard, like Losman once did. Sustain some long offensive drives and it'll allow your defense to stay fresh so they can make some big plays. I don't know where this Bills team came from, but I'm loving it.

10:40: A bomb to T.O. just ruled incomplete. He looks flustered, maybe he'll punch someone soon and make this game reeeally interesting.

10:41: Another incomplete pass intended for Owens. He's going to flip anytime now. He better go take his medication.

10:44: Josh Reed comes up with a great 50-50 ball. Peerless who?

10:45: Jaws analyzing Edwards' footwork. Staying balanced, looking good. Poised. 17/21, 121 yards. Welcome to the Show, kid. Glad to have you.

10:47: Good God, Edwards looks great. Reads the blitz, gets hit, still makes the quick throw, Roscoe picks up 8 yards. I love this guy. Trent Edwards has thrown just two incomplete passes since the 11:00 mark of the second quarter.

10:49: Slowly but surely, Yankees are coming back. Down 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th with two outs. 3-1 count to Matsui.

10:50: Walk. Missed an A-Rod home run (I couldn't believe it either) and the Yanks look to rally again.

10:51: Another beautiful punt by Moorman. Tirico says it won't be as good as that one in the first quarter...duh.

10:56: ESPN now talking about Kevin Everett's progress and the Miami Project. Glad they were able to fit that in now while we're all feeling good. Keep up the positive stuff, please.

10:58: Good presence by Romo. He's looked kind of syzcho out there lately. On that throw he had a good play action, pump faked deep, when he saw he didn't have that, he just dumped it off for a nine yard gain. Bills need to keep the pressure on him and keep him uncomfortable.

11:00: You know, it's nice to see a lot of former Buffalo Bisons succeeding in the postseason. From Sizemore to Garko to Shoppach, we've seen all these guys play live and it really is a treat to see them come up big in October. And this is coming from a Yankees fan.

11:02: Buffalo forces yet another fourth down and another field goal attempt for Folk. In the words of Butch Cassidy, "Who are these guys?"

11:03: Kick is good. Buffalo still leads 24-16. The Todd Collins jersey isn't coming off.



11:05: It's been 13 years since Monday Night Football was last in town. I have a feeling they'll be making a few more stops here in the future (that is until we get the police reports tomorrow morning).

11:05: Thurman's kissing Suzy Kolber. Best memory: "To go into the Hall of Fame as a Buffalo Bill." I love having the old guys from the Glory Years back together and active with the team.

11:08: Edwards hangs onto the ball too long on consecutive plays. Edwards fumbles but recovers. 3rd and 29 now. Edwards made two bonehead mistakes there, but he still looks really really good. I've got a feeling the Bills are going to need at least one more score.

11:10: Yankees update: Rivera gets Pronk to ground out. Jeter charged and made a great play to get him out. Hafner thinks Posada interfered. Wah. Eighth inning's over.

11:13: FUMBLEROOSKIE!!! Romo fumbles, further sinking my fantasy team. Bills recover, crowd goes wild. Five, count 'em, five, turn overs for Romo. He walks off the field crying again. This is surreal.

11:16: Roy Williams horse collars Lynch. Will this idiot ever learn? Officials call a face mask instead of the horse collar and the late helmet to helmet hit from Newman. Lynch, getting abused but still getting the yards. Already he's one of the toughest runners in the league.

11:17: A thinner Wade Phillips is shown on the sideline coaching the Denver Broncos in a flashback to the last time the Bills hosted Monday Night Football.

11:19: Lynch busting out. The line looks great tonight. Fourteen yard run puts the Bulls on the 13 yard line.

11:20: Now we're going to see what Trent Edwards is all about. This is his real moment of truth. Up 24-16 in the red zone with 7 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Are they going to go the conservative route and settle for three?

11:22: Damn. Edwards throws a pick. Bad decision in the red zone. Terrence Newman returns it for 70 yards back to the Buffalo 17. Lot of heart by Lee Evans on that play. The pass was intended for him, but Newman jumped in front of the route, and Evans tracked him down all the way down the field to make the tackle. Turns out he even forced a fumble, but Dallas recovers.

11:24: Bills need a Billy Fucillo-eque "Huuuuuuge-ah" stop here.

11:25: Romo's garbage tonight. Papa DiGiorgio picks him off in the red zone. Bills get the ball back.

11:26: Tony Kornheiser: "It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!" Damn straight.

11:28: Romo must be -35 in fantasy points tonight. Good thing I've got Marshawn Lynch balancing this one out.

11:32: McGee has a chance to end the game, drops the pick.

11:33: Yankees in the bottom of the ninth, down by three. Heart of the order up, with Jeter leading off.

11:34: Jeter pops out. One out. Back to football.

11:34: IM from Jon: "have you seen Wade Phillips' daughter? shes hottttttt. shes a burlesque dancer."

If anyone's interested:
Here and here.

11:37: Just flipped back to New York. Abreu jacked one. 6-4. A-Rod's up, maybe in his last Yankee at bat. Football can wait.

11:38: Baseball can wait. Dallas completes a first down on the Buffalo 15 with 40 seconds left. Time out Cowboys.

11:39: A-Rod pops out. Final out.

11:39: Barber falls near the goal line. Twenty four seconds left. I'm wearing out the "Prev. Channel" button on my remote. Football game goes to commercial.

11:40: Posada crushes one foul. Jeez I thought that was gone.

11:41: Posada strikes out. Cleveland v Boston. For some reason they're playing Sinatra at Yankee Stadium. They lost.

11:41: Tirico just called the football game the "Game of the Year." We're honored.

11:42: Touchdown pass to Creighton. 24-22 with 20 seconds left. Need the 2 point conversion to tie. Bills are due for another interception, right? Right?

11:43: Play of the season right here. Watch out for Marion Barber.

11:44: Dallas sets up at least eight wide for the two point conversion.

11:44: JABARI GREER JABARI GREER JABARI GREER JABARI GREER JABARI GREER JABARI GREER. BREAKS IT UP! T.O. IS GOING TO MURDER SOMEONE! John Murphy just had another heart attack.

11:45: Twenty seconds left.

11:46: Onside kick...Dallas recovers. Wade Phillips looks confused. Officials discussing. Clock reset. Dallas on the 47. Play of the year coming up.

11:47: :18 left. Bills NEED to close this one out. Please, Bills. We need this one.

11:47: Play under review. Illegal touch? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!

11:48: My editor Rubin is freaking out, has been since that last touchdown.

11:49: Thank you, ESPN for showing the Music City Miracle. Maybe they're not on our side.

11:49: Play stands, Dallas football.

11:50: Catch at the 25 yard line by Owens. Romo spike it with one second left. Oh God.

11:50: Booth to review the Owens catch. Looks like an incomplete pass from replay.

11:51: After that Denver game Week One, I'm not sure if Bills fans can take another last second field goal loss. I know I can't. This is unfreakingbelievable.

11:53: Jaws: "Is there a full moon in Buffalo tonight?" Might as well be...

11:53: The Ruling: Incomplete Pass. Game Clock back to :13, ball goes back to the 47.

11:54: Barber gets out of bounds on a dump pass. Seven seconds left, would be a 60 yard kick. They're going to run one more play. The 12th man needs this one.

11:55: Romo to Creighton. Two seconds left. Ball on the Buffalo 35. Here we go....

11:55: Kick is up

11:56: Kick is good.

11:56: Time out Buffalo, prior to the snap. Wade Phillips looks confused.

11:56: Mike Shannahan-esque. Very nice, Dick Jauron. Very nice.

11:57: Kick attempt #2 coming up. Let's hear you, Buffalo.

11:57: 53 yards. Good. Cowboys win.

11:57: Flag on the play. Offsides against Buffalo. Penalty declined. Game over.

How hard do you have to fight?

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

By Ryan

Some of my favorite quotes from the 2pm news conference:

"The sky is not falling"

"it was more a personal choice" (refering to Drury's departure to New York)

"we were very competitive"

Buuuuuuuuuuut. Then we see this.

In short, Darcy and company openly said they wanted to sign Drury, and pursued him to the end. Fine, good for you. I'm glad you admitted to completely burning the Danny Briere bridge and went after just one player. But here's where you screwed up, and why we want answers: it didn't work.

If Drury didn't want to come back, you better know what he's thinking before you cut ties with Daniel Briere. You didn't, and now they are both gone.

So now what? Where's the Plan B? Did you even have one?

It's not just about the players we lost, either. Look what other teams did, the ones we will have to play 4 or more times a year. Philledelphia will be good. Right now. Briere, Hartnell, Timonen, Gagne, Upshall. That is not a rebuilding year, that's a rebuilt team.

Toronto got better. The Rangers, unquestionably, got much better. Even the Penguins got better. And we lost both captains and get a deadpanned "Sorry" from the boys who let it happen.

Thanks Larry, you always put us down gently.

At 4pm Chris Drury is going to be introduced by the Rangers on MSG NY. Later on tonight, the same channel will show Chris Drury scoring his first career hat trick against the Rangers on October 14th, that magical night when hockey changed the mood of the entire region. While the sky was falling, a hockey team made it all okay, if only for a few hours.

Sure, Darcy, the sky may not be falling today. But our hopes sure are.