otterpops

More Freakishness Sincerely, Argopops

Dear buffalobillsfootball, A tad defensive I see. Years of losing will do that. Instead of being so defensive, please refute what I have written. If you re-read the post you will see I do credit Ralph Wilson for keeping the Bills here. But lets be real about why this team is so bad. I hope I am wrong but I don't see how it really changes until there is new ownership. I for one am confident that when Ralph goes an owner will purchase the team and keept them in Buffalo. It's pretty sad that some Bills fans are in a place where they can't criticize their owner for fear he will move their team. Gotta go check out the Argos page!

I should have also included the fact Wilson has run off: Chuck Knox Wade Phillips and supposedly was responsible for Doug Flutie's playoff demotion.

It is great to see RW lament the lost five years of the Donohoe "error." But the sad truth is that blame rests squarely on Wilson's shoulders. Consider... In the entire history of the Bills post AFC/NFC merger they have had one truly great run--the 1990s Bills. That success was largely due to one person: Bill Polian. What happened to Bill Polian? Canned. While John Butler had a nice run, Wilson too drove him off along with A.J. Smith, the now successful GM of the now successful San Diego Chargers. I respect Marv Levy as much as anyone and I wish him the best but really this team has sunk to depths I never thought possible given the rabid fan base and semi-proud tradition. It's hard to imagine this getting better anytime soon. Just as the Sabres couldn't really turn it around until solid ownership was secured I think that is the fate that awaits the Bills. Nothing in Wilson's history leads me to believe he will make the bold necessary moves (a proven coach, willingness to spend on a quality QB, etc.) to deliver a winner again. Even Polian was probably hired more due to monitary considerations than perceived talent. It's great that Wilson has worked hard to ensure the Bills future in Buffalo. But as Taglibue said (something along the lines of): "The Bills long term success has more to due with who is quarterback than anything else." That statment, in the light of what is going on at One Bills Drive, makes me quite uneasy.

I attend the University of New Mexico so I saw quite a bit of Baskett. I think he will find a place in the NFL. Not speedy but can leap and is tall. From what I have heard about him I actually think he fits Marv's definition of a good character guy. I hope he develops.

Mort excels at NFL news and gossip. Does he scout these players? Absolutely not. I think we are affording him far too much credit. If he is indeed being fed info by TD then it just further discredits his ramblings. I wish one of the ESPN channels would rebroadcast a draft from 4 or 5 years ago. It would be quite interesting to hear what the "pundits" said and what turned out to be.

We're not talking first round here with Baskett. The guy can play and being in the Mountain West Conference he's a bit off the radar, particularly in the east coast. And you gotta love a receiver named Baskett. Kind of like the KC guard named Shields.

Remember Elvis Peacock and J.C. Penny?

I attend the University of New Mexico and have seen this guy play. He's tall and can leap. The knock is speed but he excells at making touch catches. Interesting to know that Levy coached at UNM in the late 50s and supposedly (according to his book) that's where he came up with the phrase: "Where else would you rather be?"

I feel like Kramer from the classic "the Contest/Master of My Domain" Seinfeld. I'm done. I used to support Donahoe, no more. Maybe it's really Ralph. Consider.... Fire Polian (Colts now 10-0) Failure to mend fences with Butler/AJ Smith Fire Phillips (respected D coordinator) Hire Donahoe Putting up with this garbage

Hey stuckincincy, We might want to spare Bills fans our debate on this issue here. I encourage you to visit the www.403bwise.com Discussion Board and post your conerns about class size and teacher compensation there. I will caution you against equating what goes on in Cincinnati with national trends. Much of the northeast is experiencing a population retrenchment while the west and south are booming. And I do wince when someone speaks authoritively on an education issue by referencing their experience as a student in days gone by. As I found out first hand being a student some time ago and being a teacher today are two very different beasts. I sincerely encourage you to spend some extended time in a classroom. Your views on teacher compensation and class size may change. Dan Otter

stuckincinncy, I think you have gotten a tad off topic. I respect your opinion that schools are often bloated and wasteful. No argument there. The bloat and waste is rarely at the classroom level, however. I will also tell you from first hand experience that teaching is an enormously difficult endeavor. I have worked in the private sector and have taught in the public schools. The former work was much, much, much less taxing (no pun intended). I will repeat my point before: It has been estimated that more than 2 million teachers will be needed over the next 10 years. Where are they going to come from? In the private sector employees are recruited via financial incentives. I am not lobbying for a massive increase in teacher salaries. I am simply pointing out that despite what many think teaching affords one an opportunity to have an enormously rewarding career with decent, not lucrative, but decent compensation. Please tell me your ideas for recruiting and retaining quality teachers? Dan Otter

stuckincincy, The title Teach and Retire Rich is a play on words and on public perception not an attempt to "milk the taxpayer." The real premise of the book is teaching affords one an opportunity to have an enormously rewarding career with decent (not lucrative), but decent compensation. It has been estimated that more than 2 million teachers will be needed over the next 10 years. Many are turned off by what they perceive to be low pay and an increasingly intrusive federal government (NCLB). Teachers have something called a 403(b) available which is funded purely by the teacher (not the tax payer). However only 2 in 5 teachers contribute to the plan. There is a myriad of reasons for this but the first and foremost is lack of awareness of the plan's existence. That is what my site www.403bwise.com and book attempt to convey to a public very much in the dark on this important issue. Dan Otter

Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback on ABQ. It does look to be a pretty gorgeous area. Maybe I'll look to start some type of Bills gathering at a bar. Someone asked what I will be studying... I'm working on a PhD in Education. My particular area of interest is financial issues (salary, benefits, etc) facing teachers and what impact it has on their decision to enter or leave the profession. I actually have a book out called Teach and Retire Rich. While oxymoronic in title it spells out the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to be reaped from the profession. I also run a website www.403bwise.com on the main retirement plan available to teachers. I encourage any teachers out there to take a look at these sites. The website was recently featured in Forbes magazine. Dan Otter

I am going to be going to grad school at the Univeristy of New Mexico in the fall and I am curious if there are any Bills fans in that area who can report on places to watch Bills games. I just finished Marv's book and found it interesting that he coached the Lobos for a couple of years way back, and also that he coined the phrase "Where else would you rather be?" there.