Greg de'Ville

Hello folks. I've been "off the board" the past two weeks for vacation and to attend a job-related conference. But I wanted to inform you that I received word about 9:45 Friday evening that my Dad passed away. And while I mourn his passing, I feel truly blessed that he was a mentor, a friend--simply the best Dad anyone could want, and that he was a special part of my half-century existence to date. The values and discipline he taught me have been and are being carried to the next generation in my family (my two daughters). And I'll be forever grateful for the times, good and bad, that we shared both as father and son and in family matters. He was special...and I'll always carry those memories of him. I believe in the hereafter--so I will see him again down the line. I'd like to relate a Bills story with you. Back in '66, my brother won a clothing store contest for an autographed football and two tickets to see the Bills play the Boston Patriots at the Old Rockpile. Now, my Dad knew that I'd be heartbroken if I could not go (my brother was 13 at the time to my 11). So, he went to the local Western Union office and wired the Bills' ticket office re: availability. Lo and behold, he secured an obstructed-view ticket (behind a pole) on the press box side of the Rockpile (the two seats we had were on the opposite side, astride the east end zone end line). Will never forget being parked in a sardine-confined lot across the street from the stadium...as well as the game itself (played on a Saturday night). Jim Nance ran amok, and Booth Lusteg couldn't hit the broad side of a barn (blew three makeable FGs). Wray Carlton scored the Bills' only TD in a 20-10 loss. I don't know when I'll be back with you, but take care all. Happy Father's Day (and if you get a chance, read Troy Vincent's Q&A on the BB board--good stuff).

2006--Detroit 2007--Dieami 2008--Phoenix (Glendale, new Cardinals stadium) 2009--Tampa

...agreed. Pass on RW, that's what a lot of QBs do anyway. He's toast.

...Frank Gorshin's distinctive hyena laugh still rings in my ear to this day. The Riddler was a great character--best if the Batman bad guys imho. "Riddle me this, my fine bat fiends..."

...Bo "knows" Idol. He's clearly in the driver's seat--it's his to win or lose. Carrie may edge out Vonzell for a finalist spot, but the clear favorite was established last night.

...record 142 straight tournaments ended at the Byron Nelson today. Lord Byron put together 113 straight until Tiger came along some 50 years later to break it. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...5/13/tiger.cut/

...another reason to dislike Pissburgh--Iron Sh__ty Beer.

...get off the crack, jack.

(whistle) Mabel (wink), Black Label, Carling Black Label Beer!

Current: Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong Il Past: Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin

...dishonorable mention: Koehler. Lake Erie pisswater. Tasted like puke.

...Bud. Mississippi River pisswater. Rots out your guts.

Domestic: Yuengling Lager Import: Labatt Blue

...yepper, Comrade Fedorov shipped to the gulag. Next week will be a toughie.

Of course, it's hard knowing whether to believe a guy who acts like its Mardi Gras every home Sunday at the Superdome. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/foot...a.ap/index.html

...take a listen to this exquisite call by Bill Campbell of the 4th quarter of Wilt Chamberlain's historic 100-point game in Hershey, Pa. in March, 1962. Final score that night was Warriors 169, Knicks 147--obscene by today's standards. The Knicks made the Big Dipper work for his big 1-0-0, and he did it with 46 seconds to spare. By quarter, 23 in the 1st, 18 in the 2nd, 28 in the 3rd, and 31 in the 4th. Unreal--but it happened. Some great anecdotes by Campbell during the call of that final quarter. http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/wilt/

...his third strike by the league may be forthcoming. That's a one-year suspension.

...You Can't Blame Scott Norwood for the Bills Losing 4 Straight Super Bowls. It's at the end of the show's opening teaser so be forewarned. I'll give my five reasons: 5. Mark Ingram. Makes that clutch 3rd-and-long catch that leads to a Jints score in SB XXV. A little better tackling would have helped in that situation. 4. Bruce Smith. If he knocks the ball out of Hostetler's clutches in the Jints' end zone and the Bills get a touchdown, it's 17-0 instead of 12-0. Bills didn't get a score after the safety and that hurt. 3. Frank Reich. The laces, Frank...the laces. 2. Coaching. Fat-Ass TUNA and Belichick had it all over Marv and Swizzlestick Corey in SB XXV. TOP overwhelmingly in the Jints' favor. 1. Three other opportunities to win the Big Game. Bills battled their way back to the SB but could not get it done in the end. Arrggh, the frustration! What are your five reasons? OBTW, was a very good "You Can't Blame" Art Modell for moving the Browns to Baltimore show last night. Man, you think we've experienced pain as Buffalo fans? Clevelanders have had more than their fair share of heartbreak over the last 40 years or so.

...Ol' Bry is right there, but to me the one player I detested most was George Atkinson of the Faiders--he put the dirt in dirty and taught Tatum well.

...an oldie but goodie was Sid Gillman and his bow tie. They don't make 'em like they used to...

...normally, I don't cut & paste articles but since this service is subscription-based, wanted to pass it along. Posted on Tue, May. 10, 2005 Rich Hofmann | Worried about T.O.? Get Travis Henry SO, FREDDIE MITCHELL is gone. As we all rush to insert the appropriate wisecrack into the conversation, just understand three things: that while it might have been overstated, Mitchell's chilly relationship with quarterback Donovan McNabb was an issue in how often he saw the football; that while he was never as good as he thought he was, Mitchell was a better player than most people here recognized; and that the Eagles are headed for some very serious decisions regarding their passing offense. Oh, and how was your Mother's Day, Terrell? That there is no obvious 2005 solution to Mitchell's absence is the least of their issues right now. I know, I know, they drafted Reggie Brown in the second round out of Georgia, and the hopes are all appropriately high, and blah, blah, blah - but he's a rookie, and it's hard for a rookie to make a significant impact in this offense, and the slot receiver is on the field about 50 percent of the time, and that's how that goes. Here is the truth: Had Mitchell not decided to talk his way out of town during the last few months, he would still be here based on his ability. Again, though, that is the least of their worries, as everyone waits for the next Terrell Owens cleat to drop. T.O. wants a new contract and he didn't show up at minicamp - that much we know. He jabbed the quarterback for allegedly getting tired at the Super Bowl, and the quarterback jabbed back, and both of them pretty much avoided using the other's name - a very neat trick, but a very unpleasant circumstance. So that is where we sit. The Eagles ought to redo his contract or trade him now, but that's been said here already. Given that neither of those things appear to be happening, though - which means it'll be High Noon at Lehigh in late July - there is another move they could make that could give them a measure of offensive comfort on several levels, and provide the necessary T.O. insurance, if you really think about it. This is the move: Get Travis Henry. The Eagles have been very open about their desire to figure out a way to work a deal to acquire the disgruntled Bills running back. Even after the draft, Eagles coach Andy Reid said the Henry possibility wasn't completely dead. Most people believe the Eagles' openness was largely a way to put pressure on running back Brian Westbrook to do a long-term deal with them. Besides that, a running back of Henry's accomplishment - he has been over 1,300 yards twice in his 4-year NFL career - would put Correll Buckhalter and his two repaired knees in a more complementary role, and not in a spot where he will be tested too strenuously, too soon. So there is all of that - enough to make the deal without any other considerations. But Henry also would give the Eagles some T.O. insurance because he would give them the ability to show everybody another version of the old-time religion. You remember, the three-headed monster. This has been said last year, and this year, and it will be said again: Owens gave the Eagles a home-run threat, and he changed the appearance of the Eagles' offense, but he did not make it more productive. This quarterback was very good and this offense was very good without T.O. If not for the disaster that was the NFC Championship Game against Carolina following the 2003 season, the excellence of that offense would have been recognized. That was the three-headed monster offense, with Duce Staley, Westbrook and Buckhalter in the backfield. Those Eagles walked the ball up the field more than the T.O. Eagles did last year, and they ran in the red zone more than last season, but they scored slightly more points per game down the stretch of that 2003 season than the Eagles did in 2004. They could do that again next year, with Henry taking the place of Staley. It isn't a perfect exchange of skills - Henry is the more durable runner, Staley the more explosive receiver - but it could work. It would be different but it would be viable. The coaching on this team is good enough that they could make it go. Again, it isn't the best option - a healthy and happy T.O. is the best option, without question - but it really does offer the Eagles some flexibility if they are going to insist on letting this Owens thing play out through the summer (and, maybe, beyond). If you get Henry in here now and get him acclimated, what is the downside? None. If the T.O. thing plays out until August sometime, you (and you quarterback) can sleep at night knowing you have strategic options. If the T.O. thing plays out until mid- November - when Owens would have to report in order to get credit for a year of NFL service - you can win games in the meantime by dusting off the old playbooks. Because if their strategy really is to sit tight and wait for T.O. to crawl home, the Eagles are going to need some protection. Travis Henry is it.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050510/1063220.asp

..."The Miami Dolphins are the mortal enemies of the Buffalo Bills. Always have been, always will be."

....goes to show, you can go home again. Congrats, Andre. Hopefully you'll one day join Thurmal on the Wall and yes, make the Hall. http://www.kutztown.edu/activities/athleti...dgraduation.asp

...honestly, I don't know where folks get the courage to try rides like this. I sometimes wonder if there is an ultimate "limit" on thrill rides' height, acceleration & top speed. Seems like the envelope keeps getting pushed every year. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/11571868.htm