May Day 10

New England is #1! Congrats guys! http://sports.yahoo.com/news/new-study-ranks-the-nfls-best-and-worst-fan-bases-wheres-yours-120511265.html We ranked in the bottom 5. Come on guys, we can do better than that

one rule? I would go with the ability to review/challenge PI calls.

I dont really care/mind. I do like being unique and a throwback by having a real named-stadium... but sell the rights and I respect that.

It seems to me that the best target for a mass shooting is the logjam at the gates. The logjam created by excessive searching for stowed away food, drink, and smokes. Improving that imo would go a long way toward prevention

I said Moorman because it makes sense. I thought he was still in the area. Looking at the MO of Terry Pegula, he loves giving ex-players jobs including (and especially) in media. One aspect of keeping a positive image of the organizations with members of the NHLPA and NFLPA. After your career, we can take care of ya and maybe get you started in coaching or broadcasting.... or even just being a dignitary who visits suites, kicks back and schmoozes people. Typically radio shows (and broadcasts) have a straight man/radio guy and a less polished guy. I would think John Murphy plays the straight man role well and is well versed in media, putting on a show, conducting interviews, etc. It seems logical that an ex-player takes the seat next to him. Having Sal in that other chair gives you 2 radio guys and that isn't usually a good combo. I dont believe Sal and Murph would be a good show. I remember when the Sabres had Jeanneret and Harry Neale. Both hall of fame worthy broadcasters.... but they were awful as a pair. Both were too goofy and it fell flat. You need a straight-man. Its hard to believe, but Rob Ray holds that post pretty well.

I think it will be a former player. Maybe moorman or someone. I dont need sal yelling at me through my radio at a scheduled time every day.

Sorry to hear. Positive thoughts to you and jimbo

You know what they say. Its not a tailgate party without planning and salads

I think the NFL was hoping to create a huge buzz and event. Rogers family would keep giving Wilson money for the games (perhaps expanding the series) and keep their placeholder on the team. Once Mr. Wilson passed away, Rogers would have been capable of blowing any offer out of the water and it would be the Toronto Bills, already with the trial run, fan base, and built in disclaimer that it is only 'an hour from Buffalo". The NFL (and Rogers) vastly overestimated the amount of interest and desire from the GTA. Ticket prices were set too high, people were lukewarm up there. It was also a factor that the Bills were in the process of being completely irrelevant as a competitive NFL team. They expected this huge raucous event as an audition for the NFL, but it fell on its face and was on life support at the end. Especially once players started to hint displeasure in the games/venue. Rogers lost money on the deal and had to reel back the preseason portion almost immediately. Also, Rogers passing away so quickly IMO threw a huge monkey wrench in the process as his heirs didn't have the appetite to bring the NFL to Canada like the old man did. There was/is also some deal of family drama that would make it difficult for them to band together the funding for the team, relocating, and a facility. That leaves MLSE and Bon Jovi who arent the juggernaut Rogers is. The lease and NRA is friendly to WNY... but a huge factor is Mr. Wilson passing the way he did. If he passes in March of 2017 or 2018, it could have been a completely different story. The NFL would very much have preferred the Bills relocation to Toronto IMO, but the timing of Mr. Wilson's passing combined with the NRA and Pegula's interest and wealth was the perfect storm that made it impossible. So the verdict: Mr Wilson/family: Victory, earned more money Bills: mixed. Got money through the Wilson family. The regionalization into GTA aspect fell flat (in large part to the quality of team) NFL: Loss Wanted NFL in Toronto out of this. Fell flat. Optics were getting very bad by the end Rogers: Loss Wanted NFL in Toronto. Ted Rogers passed away early leaving a rudderless ship. Certainly lost money on first deal, terms of 2nd were swept under rug but deal was axed anyways Bills Fans: Win. Just because we are where we are now. Maybe if there wasn't a deal, Rogers just buys the team outright in 2008. It stunk at the time and felt like a slap in the face every time the Bills told us we were incapable of selling out December games, but we survived.

I think it was a success because it netted the owner a pile of money and that was its primary intent. Nothing else

Last time I looked, the Steelers have had some success over 2 decades. People shouldnt take it so seriously and have a little fun. Storming the field would be great. It sounds like it is you who have the inferiority complex with so much worry over what others would perceive, and how we need to act "big league". People do it in NCAA sports for far less. It isnt like people will be holding "Mission Accomplished" banners. This city overall would be deep in Bills fever if we were (when we are) at that point. It would be so exciting and put our fans on good display (provided it is an semi-orderly scene). Clinching a wild card (other than maybe a decisive Week 17 game) may be a little over the top of a reaction too. I mean, if they won the Division but nothing else and the team had a ceremony to proudly hang a Division Championship banner front and center, yeah, OK, a little lame.

I really think if a Division title is clinched at home and it is a tight game, people would probably storm the field, and it would be awesome. I think the rest of the sports universe would think it were a very awesome thing. Dont see that stuff in sterile pro sports. Tortured fan base, excited...

Another detriment to the renovation option would be a temporary home. There really isn't a feasible option. You would think a renovation to satisfy the needs/wants of the owners would be pretty major and couldnt be completed during off-seasons

I agree. I wasnt angry about it or anything. Just thought it was silly. Anyways, the uniforms are sharp for the most part. I really hate the "progress" of NCAA football uniforms. Those carbon looking helmets every team needs and 20 sets of different uniforms. Thanks a lot Oregon. jerks.

Lol. What terrorists tailgate before their attacks? Do they fly an isis flag on their rv? Donning an explosives jacket like most put on a bills Jersey? "There they are!"

why in the World would New York not be near the bottom of the list?

From the rumblings the past few days.... it is pretty out in the open that the Pegulas are actively researching and studying the options. Just seemed more concrete than in the past. I do like how Pegula seems to recognize that the Buffalo market is not Atlanta or San Fran (or even Minneapolis). I do think we are a unique situation and that needs to be taken into account. We dont have as much high-end clientele of a lot of other places and our fans will probably be more interested in the game atmosphere as opposed to cigar lounges and such.

I get that... but it just seems like nobody there has much to offer. Most have checked out and self admittedly in schopp and bulldog's case cant even be bothered to watch or follow much sports. I blame it in large part to the program directors. Some mlb talk wouldnt hurt, nor would any number of different sports that arent bills and sabres. The nba talk recently was so refreshing and got me into it a bit. They seem to only focus outside the bills and sabres if there is a monster event or happening though. This is a big week or 2 for the sabres... but they will beat it too far into the ground. Only so much can he said... after july 1, they will begin non stop talk about tyrod and gilmore's contracts.... throw in a couple shows on ryan's job stability.... zzzzzzz. Ive been tuning in more and more to cbs sports radio. I think one of the great things about empire, and even wnsa is they would cover way more than bills and sabres. You would look forward to sabres and bills talk and it wasnt beaten to death. It is also magnified in a miserable stretch for both teams. They both could be given some time to air out

Wgr's hosts do not offer a lot of in depth analysis. Its a lot of "topic of the day", ill take one side, you take the other, lets take callers. Its lazy and uninteresting for the most part. It is driven by management though. A lot of the staff seems too comfortable and goes through the motions. I expect the new incarnations of hockey hotline and the murphy show to offer much more in depth analysis, interviews, etc. We wont get anything critical of the teams, but imo thats not a necessity

well, here we go. MSG WNY is a go http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2016/06/20/wide-ranging-deal-will-keep-sabres-and-other-pegula-sports-entertainment-content-on-msg/

Good news. Online poker needs to happen.

Yeah, his PbP is strange. He is very well spoken has the voice for it, raises excitement at the right times, etc.... But as far as painting the play, the listener is left clueless too much of the time. Van Miller was so good because he painted the picture each play. Down, distance, where the wind was blowing, how the crowd sounded, QB in the shotgun, what side of the field they are on, pass comes out to who and what distance, etc. He would get it all in there and bring the listener into the game. Of course Van is a legend, but Murphy seems to leave too much to mystery. Tough to track down and distance all the time. He will say "pass complete to ______ near the sideline" and proceed to describe the rest of the play but you have no idea how far the pass went. Things like that.

It seems like there is a lot of movement towards the growth of Pegula Sports/Entertainment. IMO they are going to be rolling out a deal for MSG WNY sometime in the next year. I think the Murphy show will be telecast/simulcast. To me, I think Murphy does a heck of a job. Yes, he is an employee and usually tows the company line. He does it in a very professional manner and that show is put together really well. He touches on the entire league and does it well. Also has very intelligent monologue/dialogue about the Bills/team. I think he also runs a very good interview. The rest of WGR is so cynical for the most part. Host A takes this point of view, Host B takes the other point of view.... let's take callers and beat the topic into the ground and repeat tomorrow. A "state radio" program is actually refreshing to me. Im not a big fan of Sal either. He takes his opinion (which is almost always in favor of the team) and yells about it into the mic and gives listeners headaches. edit: well there we go http://www.diebytheblade.com/2016/6/15/11943104/are-pegulas-hiring-for-western-new-york-regional-sports-network

Sounds like the found him 'intact' too, which I would imagine is somewhat big deal for his parents.

this is the worst thing ever