Singing the praises of UNSUNG HEROES

[The_Philster]

Once a year, American Heritage publishes an article on some of the most underrated people, places and things in United States history. The magazine has covered such categories as comedian (Mort Sahl), movie classic ("Dodsworth"), founding father (Gouverneur Morris), teen idol (Bill Haley), and highway (Interstate 40).
But why should that publication have all the fun? Buffalo's sports history is filled with underrated athletes and coaches.

Here's an opportunity to square the ledger by picking out some people who should be more appreciated than they are:...

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[mypoorfriendme]

LADANIAN TOMLINSON!!!

[The_Philster]

Jim Ritcher: Offensive linemen are rather anonymous, particularly if they aren't media darlings. So it's only fair that the most underrated player of the Bills' glory years is a guard.

Ritcher took a back seat to Kent Hull among offensive linemen of that era in terms of publicity, preferring to stay in the background. But he was the first Bill to play 200 games, he made the Pro Bowl twice and was a mainstay on the four Bills' Super Bowl teams.

It took Ritcher until his fourth season for him to become a starter. He moved from center to guard in order to win a job, and kept it until 1993. He left as a free agent after 14 seasons.

He was solid for a long time and kept the LG spot in good hands for many years.

[Historian]

I remember the "Big E" He was a good player. My Bills "Unsung Hero" would be Mark Pike.