COMMENTARY
Honoring Braves is banner idea
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Column as I see ’em:
• It has been an odd confluence of events: The demolition of the Aud, the release of Tim Wendel’s history of the Braves, and the death of Randy Smith last Thursday. The Braves are on people’s minds these days, and a lot of fans are wondering anew why there can’t be some sort of banner in HSBC Arena to honor the Braves.
The idea is long overdue. Basketball had a rich history in the old Aud. The sport was a large part of its identity. It’s not asking too much for the arena to honor our hoop history and hoist a banner in honor of the Braves and our region’s basketball memories.
Last summer, there was talk of bringing preseason Raptors games to the arena, or even regular-season. They could raise a Braves banner at an NBA game, including the jersey numbers of Smith and Bob McAdoo. Maybe honor some of our college greats, like Bob Lanier and Calvin Murphy. The Aud is almost down. Let’s raise Buffalo’s hoop memories to the rafters, where they belong.
• I’m generally at the head of the line ripping the coaches. But I’m tired of the notion that they’re holding Roscoe Parrish back from being a star receiver. Parrish has been here four years. He has 97 catches, a 10.8-yard average and five TDs. Last year, he didn’t have a catch over 22 yards. Two years ago, he had two. It can’t all be coaching. Maybe it has something to do with not getting open.
Sure, the coaches could be more creative. But if it was that easy to get Parrish the ball in space, wouldn’t we have more evidence by now? I’m sure they’d like to justify his salary. Last year, Parrish was ninth on the team in base salary at $3.97 million. That’s a lot for a punt returner who’s at best the No. 4 wide receiver.
• Pirates GM Neal Huntington sent a letter to season-ticket holders to explain the shocking trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves for three prospects. Huntington assured his outraged fans it wasn’t a financial move. Of course, when they say it’s not about the money . . .
Huntington said the deal will pay off down the road. I’m sure that’s little solace to the fans, who have suffered through 16 straight losing seasons. The Pirates are 28th in payroll this season and last in attendance. Sounds like business as usual to me.
• Tiger Woods is gearing up nicely for his U. S. Open defense two weeks from now at Bethpage, don’t you think? It figures to be an especially dramatic Open. The sport’s main rivals, Woods and Phil Mickelson, will both show up as sympathetic figures—Woods coming off knee surgery and Mickelson jarred by the recent discovery that his wife, Amy, has breast cancer.
• Miroslav Satan has found his usual level in the Stanley Cup finals. Satan, who played fairly well early in the playoffs, hasn’t scored in five games and is minus-3 in about nine minutes a game. As you might recall, he didn’t score a goal and was no factor for the Sabres in the ’99 Cup finals against Dallas.
• I don’t know if Roger Federer is the best tennis player ever. But it would be hard to top his performance after winning the French Open final Sunday. Federer spoke eloquently in both English and French. A tear rolled down his cheek during the Swiss anthem. Runner-up Robin Soderling was a lot more gracious in defeat than, say, LeBron James.
• The Yankees and Red Sox start a big three-game series Tuesday in Fenway. I’m guessing the Yanks will be glad to miss Sox lefty Jon Lester, who retired the first 19 Texas hitters in a two-hitter Saturday. In his last two outings, Lester has struck out 23 and allowed five hits.
• We’re still looking to fill out my foursome at the first Tom Borrelli Memorial Golf Tournament on July 20 at Holland Hills. Come see me hit a 290- yard drive or birdie from off the green. Drop me an e-mail or call 849-4461.
jsullivan@buffnews.com
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