rockpile

Here's a link: Be Better

After watching the RV demolition derby in Dundee on Saturday, I do not need rejuvenation. I thought they dropped the "Nitty Gritty" and became just The Dirt Band. IMO they ruined "Mr. Bojangles" - that was BLUES not light folk!

When I entered my zip code, only the premium package offered the YES network at about twice my cable bill now. BTW: there was a smiley face (even though it was the evil one) at the end. I do not get upset easily on TSW.

Here is a blast from the past! The Buffalo Bills Other Number 12 January 12, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Tom "Rockpile" Benson TBD Guest Columnist -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There should be no doubt in any long-time fan's mind that Jim Kelly was the greatest quarterback in Bills history; all one has to do is scan the record book for proof. But there was another number 12 at the helm of the Buffalo Bills during some of their most exciting and most frustrating years who also had the heart of a lion - Joe Ferguson. Ferguson was drafted out of Arkansas in 1973 in the third round, after leading the Razorbacks for three years. His college accomplishments include All-Southwest Conference quarterback where he passed for 4,431 career yards. He set a school record that still stands with 2,203 passing yards in 1971. He was Most Valuable Player of the 1971 Liberty Bowl. In his rookie year with the Bills, Ferguson became the starting quarterback and played in all fourteen games, but his role went from "Air Arkansas" to a role that mostly involved handing the ball to O.J. Simpson. He only attempted 164 passes that entire year (in one game at Arkansas he had passed 51 times!), but he was an integral part of the squad that helped O.J. get his 2003 yard season. Sometimes Ferguson looked at OJ and asked himself why he was needed in Buffalo. But instead of fretting over the lack of an aggressive passing offense, he concentrated on his primary role on the team - play every down, work hard, study the game. There is always room to improve and his day would come. In 1980, the Bills won their first division title in 14 years, and the goal posts came tumbling down! This led to a playoff game against San Diego that, for me, will always be one of the most memorable contests I have ever watched. Ferguson was playing hurt; his ankle caused him so much pain that he could barely stand. But he stood in there and took a pounding, unable to scramble and injured too severely to plant his foot to throw. The Bills held a 14-13 lead until late in the fourth quarter when an across the middle slant pass put the Chargers ahead 20-14. After the game was over, the ankle was examined again. It was sprained, torn, stretched, pulled, and had a cracked bone in the back. But the hardest part for Joe Ferguson was that he knew this was likely the closest his team would get to the Super Bowl. For his tenure with the team, in fact, it was. Ferguson was widely praised when the Bills won, and crucified when they lost. The biggest misunderstanding was his posture when he left the field after an interception, failed conversion attempt, or other offensive miscue. He would walk off the field, head down, which was misinterpreted by fans as hanging his head in defeat. But for Joe it was a personal statement: whatever play he was trying to execute had not worked and he was already concentrating on what he would do the next time he got the ball in his hands. Joe Ferguson retired in 1990. In all, he spent twelve seasons with the Buffalo Bills and six more with Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis. During his NFL tenure, he passed for 29,827 yards and 196 touchdowns (27,590 yards and 181 touchdowns as a Bill). After his career in the NFL was finished, he worked at real estate for a while, and was a football radio commentator and pre-game co-host on Arkansas Razorback Sports Network. In 1995, he filled in for two weeks for an injured David Archer as a favor to an old friend, former Bills quarterback and head coach, Kay Stephenson, then head coach of the San Antonio Texans of the CFL. Stephenson had tried to get him to commit to the entire season, but at 45, he and his family decided playing football was no longer an option! 1995 was also the year Joe Ferguson's name went up on the Wall of Fame in Rich Stadium. Football was still in his blood, even if he was through as a player. He served as quarterbacks coach for Louisiana Tech in 1990 and 1991, eventually returning to Arkansas as quarterbacks coach for the Razorbacks. At the age of 47, he is back at his alma mater, 28 years after he first arrived. He and his wife Sandy have a daughter Kristen, 14, and son Trey, 11. He is in excellent physical shape and still looks like he could come out and take some snaps from center! He will always be one of the players I look up to; he made the most of every opportunity that came his way. He was never a quitter. Now he is teaching those same qualities to a new generation of college and NFL hopefuls - play every down, work hard, study the game. Copyright ©1998 Tom "Rockpile" Benson. All rights reserved.

Rock: I do not watch enough television to justify that expense! Ned: Get DirecTV, I've had it for 8 years...best consumer decision I ever made. What part did you not understand, Ned?

In Rochester, with basic/extended cable, I get all the Yankees games live regardless of who broadcasts them or where they play. I checked DTV website by locality and the Premium package was the only one that listed "YES". Shocking news - I have no digital TVs.

Enjoy!

Rochester is in the 75 mile blackout radius for televised games. Is that an NFL rule or a Bills decision? Is the NFL Network broadcast "locality" being a Buffalo station (Ch7) only an NFL rule or a Bills ecision? I am not challenging what you say. I am just uninformed. Question: If I buy the offer for the DTV Premium package with NFL Network and NFL Sunday ticket (not the same?) for $75 for 4 months, and then it goes up to $105, would that get me NFL Network games in Rochester, NY? Only the Premium package has the YES network that I watch all during the baseball season. I do not watch enough television to justify that expense!

Do you have any tennis balls?

It has been all about the business for a long time. Ask Pete Metzelaars. Ask Leonard Smith. Would I be a fool to suggest Peters honor a contract he signed, while letting his agent work on "Mo Money"? Who made him sign the contract? Who held the knife to his throat? Who put the "PA" in Player's Association? Business morality is an oxymoron, but I agree to a point. When I go to a restaurant, I contract to pay for my meal. From a moral standpoint if the service is superb I tip accordingly. I do not get out my calculator. The bottom line is the fans are screwed. Period. It continues when fans in the local television blackout range are considered to NOT be in the local broadcast area for the NFL Network. Good post, though! Knocked the rust off my brain cells.

Should be Babyrock and Pebbles, a friend of theirs, and maybe Mrs. Rock (Yvonne). Can we post a link to the NY food kitchen for those who do not make the tailgate? It is a VERY good cause.

Sent you a check last week - you should have it! Thanks!

Yeah, I just heard that the game will only be televised on Channel 7 out of Buffalo or the NFL Network. F:you NFL! Between having Buffalo/Miami in December in Toronto, not being able to have the TBD Tailgate group sales, increased parking fees, yaddaa yadda - it is getting really freaking OLD.

Do you know if they are applying the same 75 mile radius rule they use to blackout games that do not sell out? If true, anyone who gets Rochester television stations SHOULD get the game, cable or not.

You mean you hope she does not pull a "Peters"?

Quotes from the Buffalo News: It’s not Buffalo. It never will be. It can’t be,” said Bill Leaman, 50, an Oshawa, Ont., businessman who goes to about three games in Buffalo every year. “It doesn’t give you the same atmosphere, the chills or the goose-bumps you feel in Buffalo.” The pregame atmosphere outside the Rogers Centre left Bills fans longing for the Ralph Wilson Stadium experience. “I’d rather see the Bills in Buffalo,” said Jason Cousins, 32, of Stratford, Ont., wearing his Marshawn Lynch jersey. “You’ve got your tailgating, your barbecuing and your throwing the football around in the parking lot, with the music going. Here you’re in the middle of a big city.” “We’re still going to go to one game a year in Buffalo, just for the experience,” added his buddy, Peter Brickman. The tailgating was limited to the Budweiser-sponsored tailgate party, held in a large fenced-off city block, one block north of the Rogers Centre. Bills fans panned this attempt at tailgating, with most people sitting at round tables, sipping from Budweiser cans. There were a few entertaining moments, like contestants going on stage to do push-ups with someone on their back, to win free tickets to the game. “As a tailgate party, this is weak, really weak,” said Ed Nicholson, 49, a Bills season-ticket holder from Monroeville, Pa., in Steelers country. “This isn’t The Ralph. Nobody’s tailgating in the parking lot, hooting and hollering and having a good time.” Kimberly Kaliszewski, 39, a teacher from Buffalo who was wearing an old Tasker jersey, also missed the Ralph Wilson Stadium atmosphere. “People are dressed in suits and ties, and we had to park underground,” she said with disgust. Bills fans from Ontario, who love to see their heroes on both sides of the border, were quick to defend fellow Canadian fans. “I didn’t expect a great atmosphere today,” said Nathan Doherty, 28, a Bills season-ticket holder from Kingston, Ont. “When the Dolphins come in on Dec. 7, guaranteed it will be sold out and it will be electric. When there’s a game on the line that means something, they’re going to come, and they’re going to care.”

You must be mistaken. Tasker does not say positive things about the Bills and knows nothing about football.

What he said! I hope the two first team drives are a true indication of what this offense can do. OMG, they scored two TDs in the red xone? It was sweet, plus the D and special teams were great. I also do not care if they play an occasional game in Toronto if it keeps the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. Just do not give be that "Toronto Bills" chit the media is calling it.

I am fine with Tasker and Bentley. Think about listening to a Sunday or Monday Night broadcast with annoucers who know nothing about the Bills, and perhaps less about football. I think you would find a lot more to complain about than how they might pronounce a name like Ashton Youboty.

Thanks you have all been a lot of help.

I was waiting. His problem is not the plug hole.

HFB, Your Majesty.

Lori Rules!

You are just pissed The Pussycat Dolls are already booked.

Looks like it's the bus, Jack. Everyone WAS a lot of help, though. Kenny has to be going - anyone know how to contact him?