Up My Flagpole for October 24, 2002

by

Bills vs. Miami - No doubt the Bills showed up for this one. Anytime you beat the 'Fins in their home park, it is a good thing. I don't care who the 45 guys dressed in Teal and orange were, and who was on the field. This was a huge game and it was a win. Nobody cried when Mike Williams and Antoine Winfield didn't play.

Ricky Williams - 25 carries for 97 yards?? As I do the math 3.8+3.8+3.8=first down. That's not exactly peanuts. The game was over when Norv Turner took the ball out of Williams hands and put it in Ray Lucas'. The Bills defense did their job, but the Miami cheeses dropped the ball. The six takeways were great, but lack of Williams cost Miami the game. Wanny and the boys must be slipping. I would have ran Williams 40-45 times if needed. They have a bye week this week. What were they saving him for? Marty Shottenheimer ran LaDanian Tomlinson 38 times and they have a bye week. Don't tell me Shottzy is smarter than Wanny? Or is he?

Fake Punt - I want to see that again! Every so often you have to keep people on their toes.

Swinging Gate - Quick copy Miami's fake FG attempt and get it in the play book.

Travis Henry - Anybody still wondering about Antowain Smith, Jonathon Linton or Shawn Bryson?

Nate Clements - AFC Defensive Player of the Week. That sounds nice.

Drew Bledsoe - A very smart game! With the lead in the second half, Drew did little to put the game in jeopardy. He scrambled, threw the ball out of bounds, and even checked off big plays to outlet passes to keep the field position battle alive.

6 Takeaways?? - And to think they could have had 2 more INTs.

Ray Lucas - Fin fans better hope this guy uses the bye week and learns to QB a football team and throw a ball. If Fiedler is out for an extended period of time you can kiss the playoffs good bye with this guy at the helm.

As I listen to my library of Emerson, Lake & Palmer albums I forgot just how good synthesizer player Keith Emerson was and what great lyrics Pete Sinfield wrote!

Buffalo Sabres Negatives - I had the opportunity to support my team and help keep them in Buffalo by going to the Flyers game Tuesday night. The announced crowd of just over 10,000 was generous. More like 7,500. I think I have a handle on the problem with the team. Yes, it's still Bills season. Yes, the tix are expensive. Yes, the team is a little bland. BUT, the major thing this team lacks is TRADITION. There is no history to this team. The clever marketing schemes, gimmicks and sales agenda have stripped this team of its past. OK...there are no Stanley Cups but this team has a history. First, go back to the Blue & Gold. Keep the roaring goat if you must but get away from the Bank colors. Second. How about playing the Sabre Dance every now and then. Like after a goal. Not once was the anthem played or if it was it was souped up punk version. I could not tell. Hey, look. The tix are so expensive that most of the fans are over 35. Call me old school if you want, but these folks, like myself, grew up with the Blue & Gold, Ted Darling and Gil Perreault. You don't need awful contests, collisions of the night voting, and "loudness meters." How did I ever go to a game in the 70s and 80s and not get bored? Win the games and you could put lullabies on the loud speakers between plays. Nobody would mind. By the way, when you put hip hop and disco on the loud speaker, nobody moves. Get rid of it.

Buffalo Sabres Postives - Great Nachos. Concessions do help keep the fans at the games!

A special hello to my daughter on her 3rd Birthday!!

If you saluted anything Up My Flagpole, please feel free to send me some feedback at ebenezer133@yahoo.com. Have a great week.