Typ0
04-10-2013, 04:32 PM
Steve Ott is awesome. He tells it like it is. Listening to him talk about the fans and the booing brought something to light for me. Yes, WNY is as hungry for a title as anywhere ever. If/when it does happen it's going to be amazing. His comments brought about those feelings for me and tears in my eyes. With it came an epiphany why we still hunger without being fed. It has often been said "the game is 90% mental" and I believe this is true. Yes, talent has to be there ... but without the proper mentality you aren't going to make it to the promise land.
The Bills just signed a new QB who is here to win a championship. How many times have we heard this? It is always exciting ... and it ends up being hope the franchises are selling to the public. This whole hunger thing is attracting us the underdog. We have seen it time and again. The underdog wants to come in here and be the saint of WNY and a part of our championship run. The problem is the underdog is lacking in some areas on the talent side which makes him an underdog. And with that also comes an underdog mentality.
The underdog mentality is one of desperation to prove itself. This mind set gets haphazard and permeates the soul and culture of the entire organization. Right now the Sabres are stacked with young players--many of which should probably not even be in the league right now. Yet, they continue to improve and are managing to win games and tonight can position themselves two points out of a playoff spot. This is an amazing feat for this squad. But they come to the table with the underdog mentality. Very admirable. Exciting to watch at times. Frustrating at others.
So goes the way of the world in WNY sports nation. We just can't seem to attract the professional mentality required to make the runs we want to make. We saw it with Drury putting that cup on the wall in the locker room and what that squad subsequently achieved. I would like to think Marrone is making a similar statement about results in the current field house. Only time will tell the story ... but it will need to be told with the attitude of a winner not the underdog.
The Bills just signed a new QB who is here to win a championship. How many times have we heard this? It is always exciting ... and it ends up being hope the franchises are selling to the public. This whole hunger thing is attracting us the underdog. We have seen it time and again. The underdog wants to come in here and be the saint of WNY and a part of our championship run. The problem is the underdog is lacking in some areas on the talent side which makes him an underdog. And with that also comes an underdog mentality.
The underdog mentality is one of desperation to prove itself. This mind set gets haphazard and permeates the soul and culture of the entire organization. Right now the Sabres are stacked with young players--many of which should probably not even be in the league right now. Yet, they continue to improve and are managing to win games and tonight can position themselves two points out of a playoff spot. This is an amazing feat for this squad. But they come to the table with the underdog mentality. Very admirable. Exciting to watch at times. Frustrating at others.
So goes the way of the world in WNY sports nation. We just can't seem to attract the professional mentality required to make the runs we want to make. We saw it with Drury putting that cup on the wall in the locker room and what that squad subsequently achieved. I would like to think Marrone is making a similar statement about results in the current field house. Only time will tell the story ... but it will need to be told with the attitude of a winner not the underdog.