Bandits Win Championship

Congratulations to the Bandits and their fans for winning the National Lacrosse League Championship. As I watched the live feed of the game, I couldn't help but admire the enthusiasm of the sellout crowd. Watching any Buffalo team celebrate a title is fun, and I enjoyed the raucous celebration after the game

I know Bandits fans haven't been happy with me this week, and I have learned to appreciate how fanatical they really are. Their responses to my original blog entry have far exceeded anything I could have imagined.

I still stand by the comments I made in the blog entry found five postings down from this one. That's what great about sports. We all have our own opinions, and not everyone agrees with them. I don't have any desire to change anyone's mind, nor should anyone be influenced or offfended by my thoughts.

For those who like to criticize the local media for a "lack" of Bandits coverage, I can tell you that the Bandits championship highlights were featured in the news segment at 10pm and 11pm....along with being the lead story in both sportscasts. We also have extended highlights and player reaction here on wivb.com in our Game of the Night.

Enjoy your championship Bandits fans. You deserve it.

Storm Clouds over NFL Labor

The anticipated NFL labor disruption may come sooner, rather than later, according to reports Friday. The word is, NFL Owners may decide next week to opt out of their agreement with the players union. What it means is the possibility of the 2010 season without a salary cap.
The deal is on the agenda for the owners meeting next Tuesday in Atlanta. And apparently, some owners are ready to move ahead with what's viewed as an inevitable dispute with the players.
While no one wants a labor problem, and a possible disruption in play, there's a part of me that welcomes a new, open discussion about NFL finances. As we learned two years ago, only when the owners are facing down the players association do they address the inequities in their own revenue sharing formula. That's the key for small market teams like the Bills. The player costs have to be brought under control, and the big market franchises have to commit to increased sharing of revneue with the smalls.
Ralph Wilson (and Bengals owner Paul Brown) were right two years ago when they voted against the new collective bargaining agreement. I'm glad the owners will not delay the next day of reckoning, and I'm hoping they figure out a way to make it work.
Let's hear your thoughts on an uncapped 2010 season and a possible labor disruption. Moreover, what might it take to ensure the small market teams like the Bills remain viable in the future? Let us know.

Is Spygate Over?

The NFL says it's over. The Patriots and their fans hope it's over. But US Senator Arlen Specter (right) says not so fast. Spygate, the name to describe the Patriots videotaping opposing coaches on the sidelines, may or may not be over. But after Specter talked to former Patriots Video Assistant Matt Walsh this week, he was not ready to give up.
"What is necessary is an objective investigation," Specter says, "and this one has not been objective."
I think the US Senate has much more important and pressing matters to deal with (the war in Iraq, terrorism in general, a faltering economy, etc.) But read Spector's floor report on his meeting with Walsh, and see what you think. It's about nine pages long. Here's the link:

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/080514/nfl_FloorStatement.pdf

The most intriguing part of Specter's statement, is the part about Roger Goodell's investigation into the charges. The commissioner imposed his penalty on the Patriots on September 13th, 2007, even though the NFL did not look at the tapes until four days later. In addition, Sen. Specter says Goodell changed his story regarding how many tapes the Patriots had, and when the taping began. The Senator also wonders why the Commissioner destroyed the tapes. Good question.
In my opinion, the Patriots have answered most of the questions they've been asked about the taping. The problem is, they may not have been asked enough questions, or the right questions. I'm not looking for a witch hunt against the Patriots, or looking to strip them of their Super Bowl titles; nothing drastic like that. I would like to know how widespread the Patriots taping practices were, and I'd really like assurances that the matter has been fully investigated. The NFL may not be the best agency to conduct such an investigation. I don't think Congress is, either. But Senator Specter's call for an independent, objective probe is probably not a bad idea.
What do you think? Are you sick of the talk about "tainted" Championships for the Patriots? Is there anything here to merit more investigation? Read Spector's statement (link above) and let us know what you think.

Peck-Bad Boy

Is it--- is it safe to blog again? Has everyone calmed down? I've deliberately waited a few days before resuming my regular blogging on the News 4 website, to let my colleague, Paul Peck, soak up the love from the bloggers. Paul's blog on Sunday, wondering whether a Buffalo Bandits win in this week's National Lacrosse League title game would constitute "a real championship," set off a torrent of vitriol and disagreement. Most of them were bona fide Bandits fans who wrote to defend their favorite team. More on some of the others in a moment.
I don't think anyone would argue that a Bandits victory in this week's Champions Cup Final would overshadow a Super Bowl win by the Bills, or a Stanley Cup for the Sabres, when it comes to national interest or media coverage. But that's not the point.
A Bandits victory this weekend would certainly be "real" to their loyal, passionate fans who love the sport. Buffalo has been long established as a flagship franchise in indoor lacrosse and a hotbed for the sport (indoors and outdoors) at almost every level. A Buffalo championship would be just as real as Niagara's basketball team capturing the MAAC Championship two years ago, or UB's womens tennis team winning the MAC title a couple of weeks ago.
One of the great things about covering sports in Western New York is the wide variety of teams and sports we get to follow. Like many of our media colleagues in town, we do the best we can to cover high school, college, and professional sports given the constaints of time and resources.
I know some of the most memorable moments I've had in recent years came while covering the Niagara Purple Eagles in the NCAA Tournament two years ago; their victory in the play-in game in Dayton, followed by a first round loss to Kansas in Chicago. The Purple Eagles were certainly "real" champions, and their fans savored their appearance in "the big time." Longtime Niagara basketball fans soaked up the championship atmosphere and celebrated the fact that their favorite team in their favorite sport had qualified for the Tournament.
By that measure, the Bandits potential championship is more than real. The indoor lacrosse team regularly draws more than several thousand more fans to its' home games than Niagara basketball does.
What makes any championship, or any fan experience 'real" is not so much the attendance, or TV ratings, or position in the USA Sports Section. I think it becomes real when the fans identify with the sport, the team, and the players, and adopt them as their own. I've seen it happen with college basketball teams, high school football teams, even NLL lacrosse teams.
Just one word on the tenor of some of the responses to Paul's initial commentary. Most were fine, and it's certainly acceptable to argue and debate--we actually encourage that. But personal attacks and insults do nothing to elevate the discussion, and in fact, I think they diminish the good blogs and the good points some others make in their commentary. Let's fight the temptation to use the anonymity of the internet to hurl drive-by slams at each other (especially Paul). If you just have to comment on someone's parentage, appearance, educational background, or job qualifications, take it to another website.
Blog-on Buffalo.

St. Francis Grad in Spygate Scandal

A St. Francis High School grad is now the latest name in the Patriots Spygate scandal. Brian Daboll is currently the quarterbacks coach of the Jets, but from 2000-2006 he was an assistant with the Patriots. Its been revealed that video assistant Matt Walsh relayed information to Daboll about the Rams walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI. Now, the league wants to re-interview Daboll because that information contradicts what he told them previously. While Walsh denies there is a videotape of the walk-through, he was in the stadium watching the Rams workout. Afterward, he was asked by Daboll what he saw. Walsh relayed information about kickoff returns and tight end motion on offense.

How angry are you about this entire Spygate scandal? Is the Patriots success tainted? Is this just another reason for Bills fans to hate the Patriots?

Bandits-Real Champions?

The Buffalo Bandits will play for the National Lacrosse League championship on Saturday night at the Arena. They will play Portland, a team with a losing record.
The Bandits have already won three titles, but none since 1996. If they win, will it be a "real" championship for Buffalo?
I don't think so. I enjoy the game, like covering the guys and appreciate the enthusiasm of the fans. But its not a traditional sport, and it shouldn't be considered a championship for this title-starved town. Only a hockey or football victory would count in my book. In the big picture of sports, lacrosse is a minor player. Bigger here than most places, but still minor. It has no national following, no national TV and no nationally-recognized stars. It's a niche sport, big in the few regions of North America that follow lacrosse.
Now I know the Bandits fans will disagree, and I expect plenty of angry posts. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy the sport, and we will cover the title game as extensively as possible.
Convince me I'm wrong. Tell me why there should be a parade and a rally in Niagara Square, and why kids all over town should be wearing Mark Steenhuis (above, left) and John Tavares jerseys.