Fast food for thought ...

The Buffalo Sabres will return from the Olympic break with grueling stretches of

seven games in 12 days and eight games in 12 days or, if you prefer, 15 games in 26 days. No

team in the NHL has a heavier schedule load through the end of the season. Add to that the

mental strain endured by Ryan Miller in the Olympics and it's time that General Manager Darcy

Regier obtains a backup goaltender that his head coach might finally consider utilizing.

Would Lindy Ruff have at least a mild inclination to spell Miller more often if he had,

say, Marty Biron at his disposal instead of Patrick Lalime? Or is Ruff incapable of easing up

on the gas no matter who's his second option?

In either case, the Sabres need a sturdier backup plan just in case something happens to

Miller. Organizations hold their breath during the break until their Olympians return healthy.

But it's not the Olympics that magnify the injury risk. It's the compressed NHL schedule that

comes afterward.

LaDainian Tomlinson received his release from the San Diego Chargers, Brian Westbrook

from the Philadelphia Eagles. Both players, once the focal point of their respective offenses,

are all of 30. NFL running back might be the most under-compensated position is all of pro

sports considering the wear, tear and lack of longevity.

Medaille College has the nation's fifth-ranked Division III men's volleyball team, a

23-2 women's basketball team, a 21-4 men's basketball team. The Mavericks' men's soccer team

went 18-3-2 in the fall and advanced to the second round of the NCAAs. A lot of credit for the

meteoric rise goes to Athletic Director Peter Lonergan, the former Niagara men's basketball

coach who doubles as Medaille's women's hoops coach.

Speaking of Niagara, given past criticism it's only right to acknowledge the solid

job coach Kendra Faustin has done with turning around the women's basketball program. A 12-15

overall record and 7-6 conference mark is a gargantuan leap over last year's 3-28 season

during which the team appeared in disarray.

Ruff and PGA Tour pro Dudley Hart are best friends and neighbors, putting Hart in a

pickle when he attended last Sunday's U.S-Canada Olympic hockey showdown.

"I did have to root for the United States but I was definitely torn," Hart said. "I had to

go with my country first and foremost. For the gold, I would be really, really torn, that's

for sure."

Am I the only one who thought that the U.S. victory amounted to the Perfect Storm?

"That's what I said when I walked out of that stadium," Hart said. "I said, "Man, we won

that. Miller stole that game for them. But I don't want any part of that team again.' "

As the NBA season progresses Jonny Flynn and the triangle offense favored by

Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis appear increasingly mismatched. Flynn has played 30 minutes or

more in just five of the T-Wolves' last 16 games and his season average is down to just over

29 minutes. He played more than half the 48 minutes only once in a five-game stretch earlier

this month.

I'm still wondering what the Buffalo Bills have up their sleeve to sell tickets for

next season. Replacing Dick Jauron with Chan Gailey wasn't about to unleash a stampede to the

box office. Could it be that an organization that operates with two eyes on the bottom line

will seek financial gratification by reaching for a quarterback in the first round despite the

draft's wealth at another position of great need, offensive tackle?

You have to admit the last decade's been more about creating a buzz than a playoff

contender. I think this is where the franchise pleads with the fan base to exercise patience.