Neo

Well, my memory is ... suspect .. and I think heavily borrowed would be the case for these colorful phrases.

I got “older than dirt” from Robitaille, as a young man so many years ago! And now, I am! I do, however, still have my chiclets and am yet to go down like a stack of dishes. Oh, and “beat like a rented mule” ... blue collar poetry as good as it gets.

My first Bills road game was to Pittsburgh to see the 1974 playoff game. The Juice, The Electric Company, The Steel Curtain, Terry and Franco .. 32-14 Pittsburgh. I was 13 at the ol’ Three Rivers Stadium. The confluence of The Allegheny, The Monongahela and The Ohio. Here’s to learning and memorizing, before Google! But, not looking two weeks ahead, I found this at TBD. VERY interesting, a little scary, and a crazy Jumbotron read at +/- 12:00.

What a great evening. I started late, but am catching up with NHL TV’s “Watch from the beginning” option. During my astonishingly Zelig-like life, I had the opportunity to meet the Knox family more than once. I’ll spare everyone a “Devo”-lution into current events and culture wars, but think its worth saying that they were wonderful human beings. I’m the son of humble South Buffalo union workers and the product of public schools and the lessons of working papers on my sixteenth birthday. I’ve delivered papers, mowed lawns, washed dished, mixed concrete and cleaned chimneys. I worked midnight to 8 am at the Ridge Road McDonalds on weekends in Lackawanna (you can’t scare me). I wouldn't have it any other way. But I have no envy of, nor bias against, the wealthy, most of whom I know to be hard working risk takers. It’s not birth or luck that makes them different. I know a lot of them. I think the Knox family has a lot to do with the respect and admiration I have for those who succeed and serve. Hard working, gracious and generous are the first words I think of. We occasionally see the word “patrician”. The Knoxes were patrician. They spent money, lost money, so hockey could be here. They charged less for seats when the league and other owners told them to charge more (“oh, we could never”). They gave. Seymour was gregarious and the face of the family when politicians, business people, educators, artists, and development officers were paraded into board rooms to meet them. Norty was quieter, a serious business man. Seymour greeted you with a broad smile and outstretched hand. Norty greeted you with a steely gaze, arms folded across his chest, and a polite nod. They didn't know me from Adam, but I was around a bit for a few years. “How’s your boy?” When they wanted a partnership, they invited you into their home. They served drinks and mingled. It couldn’t be easy, always being “on”. Gracious. They built, they cared, they gave back. I get “Chet and Muffy”. I make the joke, too. Because of the Knoxes, I don’t forget they’re real, live, people.

The young man is making me re-think my “very good” label.

I booked a flight to Pittsburgh and invited my sons (Buffalo and Charlotte). The flex might mess everything up! My son in Buffalo needs to get Monday off ... no small task. Go Bills!

Iron Bowl was awesome. Now, Go Gators!

“Competing against insurance salesman” is a spectacular way of having four words do the work of forty. Perfect ...

Only a few can analyze and write like you ... I get the island reference. I have enjoyed the games and the season. I think there is a process and they are getting better. I know culture beats strategy .. oh, do I know. I’m loving it for many of the reasons you've pointed out. I just LIKE these guys. I get the snark you feel. I think there are two reasons for snark in the face of success. First, the Bills have been so bad for so long, snark in the face of success is a defense mechanism. “I won’t be fooled or hurt again”. Second, personal snark toward members of a perennial loser can be small ball, but it’s safe small ball if you’re so inclined enjoy that kinda thing. “McClappy ...” I’ve been thinking ... the Bills are giving us everything we’ve spent two days deriding the Sabres for lacking. They improve, they win, they care, they’re gritty. The players want each other to succeed. They’re happy to be in Buffalo. I think Bills-Ravens is the NFL Game of the Week.

Jordan Phillips has a haunting comedic resemblance to the great Jackie Gleason ...

Awesome sauce ... the better team won. Now, boys and girls, get ready for the national hype ...

Well, there has been a building project of this magnitude, before. AND, it’s been expressed in words. Responding to the OP, I propose ... In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. and so on, and so on ....

My favorite holiday ... After raising four kids, my wife and I now live alone in our home. Our families are in Buffalo. Only one of the kids is still in Florida. At noon, today, we will have: Four kids. One Daughter in Law. Five grand kids (oldest is seven). Two kid’s fiancés. One kid’s fiancé’s two parents. One kid’s boyfriend. The boyfriend’s six year old son. A niece who’s an Air Force Captain coincidently stationed at MacDill AFB. The niece’s wife, also an Air Force Captain. Two Air Forcers without family in Florida. Four 50 somethings, twelve 20 somethings, six kiddos. Our empty nest will be seam bursting. Our four kids and their families will be staying with my wife and I through Monday. With college, career, military duty, and significant others, we’ve not all been together for Thanksgiving since 2010. You can only imagine the preparation, from food to drink to pool fences to toys .... my lovely wife made it happen. Me? I get to carve and lead Grace. I can hardly sit still with anticipation. Oh, God, I am grateful! To you and yours!

I get it. You can target the head of the vulnerable IF his skill beats you.

Sabrejaks were essentially school uniforms in the 1970s. That is hyperbole in the smallest amount.

ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI

Head trauma .. targeting .. head trauma .. targeting .. head trauma .. targeting .. head trauma .. targeting .... Two games. Edit to add ... defenseless defenseless defenseless ...

Stafford’s finest moment. Not so much for Gaustad, who appeared to be serving penance lining up for the face off during his first post incident shift with Lucic. Lucic obliged him without histrionics or passion. Both men held their own, obligations fulfilled. It was the TV dinner version of justice or retribution, an unremarkable Kabuki dance pulled from the freezer and warmed up.

I think Jack’s a very good hockey player. Among the best. Is Brad Marchand elite?

Memories ... the guy picked a fight with Stevie Y while Probert was on the ice ...

Rob Ray’s, with no ties to the pants ... with four dollar shoulder pads and fly away elbow pads! You’d be a monster!

Well, this building’s rockin’ ...

Represent!

I don’t want Jack traded. However, that was the same opponent doing the same thing! I don’t get it. You don’t get to the NHL without being an all in effort guy. I trust he knows what he should be doing and I trust he’s done just that for 15 years.

Honest to goodness .. I love ball players having good, clean, FUN!