The Buffalo News: Sports Columns

Unproven NFL rookies cashing in: Allen Wilson
Updated: 07/03/08 7:11 AM; So NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says rookie contracts are out of whack. Gee, you think?

A Rivers runs through Celtics’ rise: Allen Wilson
Updated: 06/19/08 6:39 AM; Doc Rivers was “the other coach” in this year’s NBA Finals. Rivers’ bench skills were widely believed to be inferior to Phil Jackson’s. Jackson owned nine NBA championships, while Rivers coached in only one playoff series before this year.

Good times on hold at Bills camp: Allen Wilson
Updated: 06/12/08 6:36 AM; It was a beautiful day at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Wednesday. The sun was shining and the players were going through their paces on the field. From the looks of things all would seem to be well in the Buffalo Bills’ world.

Bob Dicesare

Raptors seats are no bargain: Bob DiCesare
Updated: 07/04/08 6:39 AM; Fast food for thought . . .

Fort’s appeal goes beyond horse sense: Bob DiCesare
Updated: 07/01/08 7:13 AM; FORT ERIE, Ont. — “You must be desperate for a column.” I turn and there’s my colleague Bob Summers, the Happy Handicapper, strolling in through the doors of Fort Erie Race Track, a place he frequents with regularity.

Unleashing a bundle of energy: Bob DiCesare
Updated: 06/30/08 7:14 AM; Tanner Krist scales the chain-link fence in his Sardinia backyard and starts throwing softballs overhand in rapid-fire succession, at least a dozen of them, probably two.

It’s time Sabres netted a big fish: Bucky Gleason
Updated: 07/02/08 7:27 AM; Forty minutes before the bell rang and the pool of unrestricted free agency opened Tuesday, Darcy Regier walked back to his office to work the phones. Earlier, he sounded prepared to dip his toes into dangerous waters with the idea they wouldn’t get bitten off by the sharks below.

Tiger’s feat on one leg is unforgettable: Bucky Gleason - COMMENTARY
Updated: 06/20/08 6:39 AM; His performance at the U. S. Open wasn’t Michael Jordan scoring 38 points in the NBA Finals while battling the flu. It wasn’t Curt Schilling beating the Yankees in the American League Championship Series with his bloody sock. It wasn’t Bobby Baun scoring the Stanley Cup winner for Toronto with a broken ankle.

NBA Finals no reason to stay up late: Bucky Gleason
Updated: 06/11/08 6:37 AM; The NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers figured to be a refreshing visit to yesteryear, when it was the greatest rivalry in sports. It was an opportunity to resurrect old story lines and rekindle the deep-seeded passion between two terrific sports towns going back to Russell and Wilt.

Improvement comes surely but slowly: Jerry Sullivan
Updated: 06/27/08 6:33 AM; I’ve received a lot of feedback on the new golfing series. Some of it involves picking up my phone and hearing friends cackle hysterically at the flattering illustrations.

Sabres have some work to do: Jerry Sullivan
Updated: 06/26/08 6:32 AM; Cliff Fletcher isn’t fooling around. Fletcher promised to change the culture of the Toronto Maple Leafs when he returned as general manager. Two weeks ago, he hired Ron Wilson as coach. Last week, he gave the Canadiens negotiating rights with prospective free agent Mats Sundin. On Wednesday, Toronto bought out the last three years of Darcy Tucker’s contract.

Corporations play games with names: Jerry Sullivan
Updated: 06/24/08 7:06 AM; A few days ago, I was listening to an update on sports radio and heard a reference to Citizens Bank Park. I searched my brain for a few seconds and came to a stunning realization. I had no idea who played there.

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Jeter’s numbers refute ‘overrated’ claim: Mike Harrington
Updated: 06/29/08 8:11 AM; PITTSBURGH — The only outlet more self-indulgent in the media world than Sports Illustrated these days is the once-great and now-laughable ESPN. But SI got itself back into the headlines in its June 23 issue with another one of those anonymous polls asking a topic to a sampling of major league players who never get identified. The question asked: Who is the game’s most overrated player. The answer? Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter? Don’t think so. That’s just ridiculous.

Dubious choices soon facing the Bisons: Mike Harrington
Updated: 06/22/08 7:46 AM; Pity the poor Bisons. It’s bad enough that the Cleveland Indians are just about a sure bet to be leaving Dunn Tire Park after the season for Columbus. Now the Herd’s two most logical choices for a new parent club are mired in chaos. If you were Bob Rich, Jon Dandes, Mike Buczkowski & Co., isn’t a choice between the Blue Jays and Mets simply a decision right out of a morbid Pick Your Poison Night promotion?

Give Yankees an error for Chamberlain move: Mike Harrington
Updated: 06/08/08 6:43 AM; I take it back. You may recall last month that I jumped on the bandwagon and said the New York Yankees had to make Joba Chamberlain a starter pronto. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Still does — in 2009. Bottom line: I was out to lunch thinking the Yanks should make the move during the season. Seeing them stretch Chamberlain out and then put him on mini-starts at the big league level is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Happy Handicapper: For Queen's Plate, Not Bourbon is more than sentimental choice: Updated: 06/21/08 10:09 AM; TORONTO — As time goes by, the Happy Handicapper finds himself more and more rooting for the old, er, veteran guys.

Apple’s iTunes lets everyone into all kinds of games: Updated: 06/21/08 6:39 AM; Many sports allegiances are passed on from parent to child, one generation to the next.

Yanks aren’t only New York team: Updated: 06/29/08 6:41 AM; It is apparent from reading Inside Baseball in June 22nd’s Buffalo News that you too fail to realize there are two New York baseball teams. As they say, the Yankees ain’t the only game in town.

Peters gets called for foul: Updated: 06/29/08 6:41 AM; Jason Peters has real good timing in holding out from the Bills and their cash-short fans in a cash-short community in the middle of an obvious recession in this great country we live in dominated by the rich, wealthy politicians.

Dear golfers: Hurry up already!: Updated: 06/29/08 6:41 AM; This is to the two couples who were ahead of us at our favorite golf course in Clarence recently, and to all readers who don’t know, or just don’t follow the rules of golf.